Stories

It’s been just over 6 months since Mason had surgery. Our life continues be completely turned around. Mason is doing amazingly well. Sometimes I wonder if it will all end, but am so very thankful for each day of continued growth in development for Mason. As far as his seizures go, there haven’t been many changes. Occasionally we see something during the day, usually so mild that it’s barely noticeable. He even seems to be having quite a few less seizures at night than even a couple of months ago. His first stretch of sleep at night is getting longer, now he usually doesn’t wake until 3 or 3:30 am, at which point either Daryl or I sleep with him the rest of the night. Although it’s becoming less intense, Mason is still scared to be alone at night.

There are so many things that Mason is doing now. So I’m just going to tell you a few stories!

One of the best things going on right now is “time out”. We’ve never been able to discipline Mason before, because he never understood it and nearly anything new he learned would get wiped out by a seizure. A month ago Mason climbed up onto the raised kitchen counter. I grabbed him and quickly put him in the corner of the red couch. And told him (in a very stern mommy voice) to sit in time out. He voiced his opposition to that decision with great volume, but stayed. I set the timer for 6 minutes. He tried getting off once, and I used my even sterner mommy voice to tell him to get back on. He complied. And although it was obvious he didn’t agree with my way of showing authority, he remained until the timer went and he received verbal permission to leave. Since then, it is a tool I use quite often. There was one time that he started to climb onto the counter again, and I gave him the option of sitting back down on the stool, or to go to time out. He stopped, looked at the red couch, looked back at me, and then quickly sat down. He fully comprehended what I said!!!!! I am still overwhelmed! There are times that he considers the option of behaving, or time out, or continuing his misbehavior and chooses the path of naughtiness, but soon is experiencing mommy’s behavior modification tactic, resulting in a very well behaved boy. I am careful to follow through on any threat I make, or I know it’s not going to work any more.

Another first: Recetly I took Sydney to a friend’s house (that actually happens often). I took Mason to the door with me, and he went right in, making himself very comfortable. I was invited in to stay, so I did. I sat on the couch and chatted with the mom (who has a son with Autism) while Mason wandered around playing with toys and the computer game that was on. I was able to stay for over an hour without having to get up every few seconds to re-direct Mason away from things he shouldn’t be getting into. I have never been able to take him anywhere like that before!! And there were pretty breakable things around and he wasn’t even tempted!

School is going so well. The other kids in grade 1 are amazing. There are a few that have really taken to Mason and are there to help any chance they get. He is also able to go to the grade 1 classroom from the Special Ed classroom by himself! There is another boy in gr. 1 and Sp. Ed. who has become Mason’s right hand man. He is quite a bit ahead of Mason developmentally with good speech. They usually go to gr. 1 together, holding hands. It is so cute. At lunch this boy will pass Mason the next thing he is supposed to eat, or pick up something Mason has dropped. He is actually quite different at school with his peers than at home. Everyone all around is so excited to see Mason be able to become so independent of constant adult help. He continues to receive a full time TA who is being shared with this other boy.

Asia and Sydney have always begged to have friends over after school. Recently I clued in to realizing that Mason would probably want that, too. So he has had two different boys over on three separate occasions now. Mason just loves it. I have not heard him giggle like that after school before! Plus he leaves me alone!

He still goes through separation anxiety when I leave the room, or even to the other end of the room! Spring break was long and hard. (two weeks) Being with me nearly all the time only increased the separation anxiety. But he re-adapted back to school quite well. As did I! Daryl commented on the great mood I was in that first Monday evening!

We’ve been taking Mason to church with us quite often. He is usually pretty good for a couple of songs, then I take him downstairs to the preschool area. While we are waiting for someone to volunteer to be his helper, I just wander around with him. Some weekends there is a man helping downstairs who has taken a shine to Mason and plays around with him, making it fun for both of them. Even though I seldom am able to stay for the service, it feels so good to be able to go to church as a whole family!

Well, I shall sign off for now. There are many more stories to be told, but I’ll save them for another time.

A few dates for you to remember:
April 19 Mason has an EEG in the morning and a Dr’s appointment in the afternoon. It’s the first one since surgery, and we are greatly looking forward to seeing the changes. Pray that the EEG won’t be as traumatic as last May. Now that he is even more aware, it’s going to be tough.

April 11 The hospital has put me in touch with a family in Kelowna. 8-year-old Caden, with very severe seizures, will be having the same brain surgery that Mason had. I will be going to see them the next day. Pray for great success in the surgery and the opportunity for Caden to progress developmentally as well.