autism

A big thankyou to the tooth fairy!

September 19, 2007 Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)49 Comments

If you drop in here regularly you'll know that I do my best to keep my blog focused on the happy aspects of my life and mostly on my knitting. But ocassionally there's a need to give it a little flavour of what is going on in the background as there are times when I struggle to be positive and carefree. So today I'm going to be self-indulgent and get something off my chest so that next time we can go on with the business of knitting and having some gentle fun.

Since Toby was diagnosed as severely autistic I've had times where I'd wake each morning with a feeling of expectation and find myself thinking "things will start to get better when…" …he starts nursery, …he starts school, …the summer comes… and thinking in that way is probably a saftey mechanism that has helped me get through some especially tough times. The problem comes when the realisation hits that things haven't got easier and I start to think "what if this is as good as it gets?"

This weekend I realised that I had got through the summer
holidays by thinking that once Toby was back at school
things would be better – foolish thinking because of course they are not. In fact the last week has been one of the toughest for a long while. For a start Toby slept less well than usual (and usual is bad enough!) but he's also been incredibly restless and demanding and the constant high pitched keening noise that he makes when he's distressed is especially hard to take.

Because Toby can't communicate we were left guessing as to why he was so out of sorts and then on Sunday evening I made a breakthrough! I spotted a wobbly tooth. I don't think it was actually causing him pain – it's just the fact that it felt different and in Toby's world different ain't good!

This kind of sums up autism – that something as simple as loosing a first tooth can cause so much angst and distress and in turn push a family to the edge of reason. We're all very grateful that yesterday the tooth fairy zapped the offending tooth and since then Toby has seemed much happier and actually slept through last night!

* Since the offending tooth has disappeared without trace (probably swallowed) I've had to use a stunt tooth – one of Amy's which the tooth fairy let me borrow (just incase she reads this!)

hedgehoggy stuff

A case of mistaken identity?

September 14, 2007 Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)28 Comments

Originally when I peeked under Herbert’s spines I was pretty confident in my assessment of the tackle situation, (albeit quite small and furry) however now I am beginning to have my doubts. It’s largely a matter of toilet ettiquette that has cast doubt in my mind. You see apparently little boy hedgehogs are far more likely to pooh in their beds than little girl hedgehogs (I am now restraining myself from further comment) – I’m told it’s something to do with not having to share a bed as a grown up whereas the girls of course have babies to consider at some point. In the last few days Herbert has been quite scrupulous in exiting the bed chamber to dump his/her load. So for the minute we are pondering whether we should change our little guests name from HErbert to SHErbert – maybe I’ll have another peek and see if anything is clearer.

Anyway sexuality aside the hedgehog is making great progress. His weight has increased from 140gms on the day he was found to 350gms and he’s moved on from completely mashed food to lumpier chunks and some nibbly bits (raisins, kitten biscuits and nuts) as well as developing a keen taste for worms and slugs (good hodger!). I’m keeping all contact to a minimum so am having to curb all my impulses to stroke and cuddle even though he is so adorable cute. He still retains his roll reflex and will freeze and roll into a ball at sudden noises or when picked up and he’s quite vocal with hissing and grunting to warn me away – all of which are positive signs for his re-introduction to the wild.

(this picture shows how much he’s grown in 3 weeks)

The trouble is that the leaves have started falling and there’s a nip to the air so autumn is definitely arriving and the thoughts of little hedgehogs should be now turning to building their nest for hibernation (or a hibernacula). It’s now a race against time to fatten him up enough to get him through the winter ahead.

general stuff

A round the world trip…

September 12, 2007 Julie (little Cotton Rabbits)19 Comments

Talking of giveaways, do you remember my 100th post giveaway won by Jessica at Kerflop back in June? Well, I made a bunny, packaged her up and off she went on her way to Idaho, USA. But the days and weeks passed and she didn’t arrive and as the weeks turned to months we had to assume the worst and consider that we might never see her again and so I made another for Jessica. This was my first ever missing parcel and I felt quite sad as each toy becomes a little individual personality and I don’t like to think of any of them lost and alone! I secretly hoped that the first bunny had found a happy home somewhere
and not met an untimely end mangled in some postal equipment or dropped
out of a plane. Anyway, it turns out that my fears were unjustified as last week this arrived…

and inside, a little battered and squashed but still looking happy I found bunny.

So my faith in the postal service has been restored – quite amazing when you think she has travelled half way around the world and found her way back home again! In view of the fact that she came back I think I’m going to keep her as my lucky mascot. Meanwhile, I’m really pleased to report that this little bunny has reached Jessica at Kerflop who gets a gold star for her patience!