reflections with a little play

The sole purpose for coming to Israel is for the intensive program the institute offers. Sadly their is no such place in Australia but we are working on it! I can't  help but ponder the thought of bringing Naish and the kids to Israel for a year or two so that Noam can work at the institute with these inspirational people for a longer period of time. I honestly believe it would change his life. Practically i know these thought are only dreams. Reality kicks in and well we all know what that means!

Most of you know that I have spent many years in Israel. I connect to the culture and the people and honestly I have always felt Israel to be my home away from home. I feel it even more now! This trip for me has been a very different experience, being here with Noam has shown me a side of Israel i never knew existed. For one i now know where all the parks are in Jerusalem not just the pubs!  It has been hard to move around and see people in our free time as Noam has really struggled with the change and has been finding it hard to settle. One thing he is enjoying is chatting to people as i wheel him around in the pram. Through the shooks (markets) and through the streets I am certain that he too is connecting to country that means so much to me! 

Today we went with my friend Aviv and her son Guy to Neve Tzedek in Telaviv.  As we walked around I was amazed at how much the city of Telaviv has changed. I have to admit I am falling more and more in love with the new Israel every day. 

Its was an amazing today today and it felt great to be free of the emotion that comes with our experiences in Jerusalem. It was amazing to spend time with my dear friend who herself is an inspiration to me!

tomorrow it's back to work and I am really looking forward to learning learning learning and more learning! 

It's been a short week at the institute. A shame but that's what you get in a country that celebrates.. We arrived back in Jerusalem on wednesday after the independence day celebrations. Noam was a little angry to leave Bilu (my families house) but was very excited to see the staff at the institute when we got there. He is still struggling a little to cooperate at the beginning of sessions but is coming around quicker than the past few weeks! Mediation is the key and golly it works! It seems that a few of the staff have tuned into what he likes. Most sessions now start with something to do with sheep, cars or trains. This is a great way to get him involved and interested! WE continued with counting, sorting, up and down lines and to my surprise Noam is starting to think more methodically... He too is very proud of himself. We are starting to see words like WOW and YEY disappear as he begins to embrace language and use phrases like "I DID IT".

One of the sessions we have had weekly is Yoga for children. Besides a tool used to calm and relax the session involves symbolic representation which will give Noam the skill to identify symbols and and relate them to every day experiences and objects. This time it was my turn to say WOW! the therapists showed him a card of a yoga pose, next to it she placed a card (picture) of an animal doing the same pose. Noam has to relate the two cards and then do the pose with his body. The first two session we have had with Ayelet he found it difficult to relate the two. Today he was a pro, achieving all the poses with ease and identifying the relation between the two. he really enjoying the experience at the same time! Video and pics to follow next week.

Next week Noam will participate in group sessions within a combined mainstream and special needs kinder program. This will give me some time to myself (which I soooo need) as well as give the therapists the opportunity to observe and work with Noam within a group session.

For now time to spell check and say goodbye!

SPELL CHECK

Okay this post is for Mum and Naish. I PROMISE TO SPELL CHECK from now on!
I have never been the best at spelling and grammar. When I type, I type fast without really thinking. I have so much in my head that it just comes out. I forget to check. Sorry to all.
A great day was had by all with family for Yom Ha-atsmaut. Back to work tomorrow!

xx

Yom Haatsmaut Sameach! (Happy Independence Day Israel)

                   A NIGHT IN BILU WITH FAMILY - NOAM, A ONE MAN SHOW!!!

BRILLIANT!

Today was the best day we have had since arriving at the institute. Noam seems to have settled and seems to be enjoying the staff and the environment! Thanks goodness as I was starting to really feel like I had put too much pressure on him by taking him aways from his environment and the people he loves!

All four sessions today were amazing.. It seems that I have this mediation technique down pat!! (well maybe not perfect) but I am defiantly on my way...

Today I came to some conclusions on my own about the Feurnstein approach.. I was proud of myself and at the same time fascinated with my discoveries and how they relate to 'Noam's life (of WOW). 
Sequencing and the importance it plays in every aspect of life... starting with numbers leading to language,, sequencing sets the tone for understanding. This understanding gives the child the tools to understand, discover accept and participate. Over the past week and a half at the institute each therapist has worked on a different level of sequencing . Today i discovered why!

Before we left Australia Noam's kinder teacher gave me two drawings that Noam had done. One was a pig and one was a sheep! Noam knew what they were but to the average eye they were not recognisable. This was the start of symbolic drawing. Today at the institute together with the OT they worked on drawing a person. In order to help Noam understanding of the meaning of what they were drawing the Ot called the person 'daddy' Noam was very excited but the idea and decided to take a piece of paper and a texta. Rather than draw a person, Noam drew an aeroplane! WOW!! all that talk about Daddy he wanted to go on the plane to see his daddy! AMAZING

Isn't it amazing to talk to people who understand! to have friends that you can be totally honest with and who totally understand where you are coming from and how you feel. The world of disability is hard. It brings out the best and worst in people. You gain friends you loose friends. You gain strength you loose strength. At times you feel out of control like your whole world is falling apart. At times you feel so empowered that anything is reachable. You develop a sense of determination to do anything in your power to give your child the best life they can have... to help them reach their fullest potential no matter what it takes. Without the understanding of friends and family you could never succeed. I am so blessed to have an amazing family both in Australia and Israel. This trip would not be possible without their support. They say that true friendship is never lost in time! I have always believed in this and have been through stages in my life where i haven't had contact with people for years to reunite to the same friendship..How blessed I feel to be reunited with a friendship. One i believe was always there but was brought back through two amazing and inspirational children.

 Noam, Israel and this trip has given me so much. I don't have the words to describe how this trip has and is changing my life.... I am learning daily to understand my child and myself and how we work together!

 Today at the institute
we played with horses, we did some puzzles, we played with those lying down and standing up icy pole sticks... we attempted to use them to create a square. We used a white board to copy the square made of icy pole sticks to a drawing.... MY fear was that with all the stubbornness of not wanting to co operate the concepts were being lost. For the final session we
went with Sara to the park next to the institute. I wasn't sure how Noam would go trying to cooperate in open space with slides and play equipment to distract him. As Sarah wheeled Noam around the park in his pram showing him all the lying down and standing up lines she explained the important link this had to his understanding of the world around him and his every day environment. Once out of the pram and running around Noam found two icy pole sticks on his own.He picked them up and showed them to Sarah and I "SQUARE" he said... Sarah picked up another stick and together we sat. Sarah made for Noam the letter N. Noam knows his alphabet and was excited by the letter 'N'- Sarah pointed out to him that the letter 'N' was for Noam. 'WOW' said Noam. Noam picked up the sticks and proceeded to make the letter 'N' on his own! HE GOT IT!!!!!

Where to begin?
It's been a few days since I have blogged. In the world of 'Noam' a few days can mean a million experiences and a million emotions.
That pretty much describes the past few days we have had.
I am not even sure where to begin. I think the best thing to do in a situation like this is to simply write and whatever comes out you can either enjoy to read or just skip altogether!

Last Thursday was an interesting day at the institute. Besides the usual tears and anger we saw snippets of Noam's capability. An amazing little boy with so much going on in his head. His determination and passion together with his stubbornness has in the past two weeks made me cry laugh and be proud. Last thursday we had many sessions but one which stood in my mind was that with the head of the intensive program. Chana is a woman who i don't know very well, but one that I already admire. Not only is she compassionate and wise she sees beyond what's being displayed on the outside and see's the child for who he is! In reflection i have to say that all the therapist see 'Noam' Their understanding of the 'child' their development and what makes them tick intrigues me more and more every day! In trying to open his mind in a systematic way through play i was amazed at the imitation she was able to pull out of Noam! I have always and will always believe that a child learns through play! What I have learnt over the years with Noam is that his play at times needs to be directed and realistic! what I have learnt through feurenstien is that his play needs to be 'mediated' there is a difference one which i never understood until now! Over the years we have had many issues with Noam mouthing things!! from all types of objects to his thumb. The answer has been to give him this stimulation in a more appropriate way! A rubber strip maybe.. on thursday it was brought to my attention that his need for this stimulation may very well be  not only due to his lack of language but also the types of food he eats (or should I say doesn't eat)!
Hmmm food for thought!

I have to take a break this evening from this blog, sorry i had so much to say but
i As I sit and type  to you all it is 8pm in Israel... Tonight marks the start of Yom Hazikaron - Remembrance day! The Siren rings and I stand in silence together with a country that mourns!


TILL TOMORROW!