update on Mikey

Just a little update as it's been a little while since last post.

So Mikey is nearly 4.5yo... wow time has flown the last 5 months thats for sure!

Mikey is still doing much the same as he was before with a few new little things happening.

He has begun correcting the girls. If Belle is touching something at the shops Mikey is very quick to tell her to 'dont touch' or 'stop it' or 'put it back bellie' he gets very cranky and says 'mikey cranky' . lol.

He also looks after zoe VERY well. he allows her to explore but if she touches something like the powder or nappy cream or remote control, even her toothbrush if Belle has brought it out of the bathroom - mikey corrects her and says 'no zoe! not a toy!' and takes whatever it is off her and replaces it with not any toy, a BABY toy. like a rattle, or teddy bear.
zoe often is quite dissatisfied with this as she loves belle's barbies, mikeys cars, and the cool little computerised toys that sing songs when you press the buttons.

Mikey is becoming more confident when he is in the care of someone else and treats it like a therapy session. he performs whatever is required of him without complaint. it's wonderful to see as i really believe now that he will be ready for preschool or the school for Autism next year whereas up until recently i still felt he wasn't mentally and emotionally ready.

With regards to the school for Autism next year, Mikey will be old enough to begin school as a full time student - as in, he will be starting kindergarten.
If mikey is not given a placement at this school, i already have him waitlisted to have him attend at the gosford preschool which is next door to his Yarran Early Intervention centre. Mikey will attend this school with Annabelle on Fridays.

Another wonderful advance for Mikey has been our puppy Milly.
Milly jumps and mouths a bit which is naughty but normal behaviour for her age... while these are not desirable habits of our dog and we are training her out of them... It has been brilliant therapy for Mikey.
this little dog just LOVES her owners and jumps and gets so excited. the jumping is an intrusion on Mikey's space and while it bothers him, he loves the dog so much that he allows it and I have seen Mikey spend up to 2 hours alone outside with our dog just pottering around the garden playing with the plants and then the dog... it's wonderful and Mikey's Occupational Therapist has seen big improvements in Mikey's every day sensory processing because of how much 'therapy' Milly adds into his normal routines.

In her words - getting this dog has been the best thing we have ever done for Mikey. a stroke of genius! :D

it's very reassuring hearing her say that to us :) i'm so happy that we have Milly and while she's a nuisense sometimes... she really is a beautiful puppy dog and fullfills so much of Mikey's needs.


Overall Mikey's development is the same... he still can't understand alot of things and struggles with going out massively. But occaisionally lately he'll volunteer to come with me or Adam to the shops because he doesn't want us to go without him... and he's been wonderful in that recently he actually walked into the shops - we got about 50metres before he couldn't walk much more... but what an achievement on his behalf to try so hard.

He's such a brilliant kid.