Autism Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month, and we at NASOM Alor Setar had planned to celebrate the month by having a special day dedicated to the children as well as adults suffering from autism. We call it Autism Day and yesterday, 20th April 2013, was that special day.

NASOM Alor Setar, together with other select private companies and Government Departments like AKR Sdn. Bhd., the Health Department, Kedah State Library, Universiti Utara Malaysia, POLITECH and several others worked together to make this day a special day for everyone, especially the autistic kids. We had activities like the big giant bouncing castle, magic show, sand art, fashion show, colouring contest, a mini concert by Umar Hasfizal, food decoration contest, jumbo sale and also they can get health and teeth check ups from the mobile health department.

Nadiah's favourite was that big bunch of balloons that was going to be used as the opening ceremony where the president of NASOM Alor Setar would cut the ribbons and the balloons would fly away. Nadiah was also excited to see the mobile dental clinic. She waited in the clinic for hours for the dentist to finally show up. But then again, mama did not mind because the inside is air conditioned so it's cool and breezy rather than sitting outside in the hot sun. When the dentist appeared and it was finally her turn to get her teeth checked out, she pulled out her iPod and took a video of herself getting her teeth checked up. Hahahaa.. funny Nadiah. The dentist said her teeth are very clean and healthy. That was really good to know, but then Nadiah brushes her teeth twice a day religiously without fail. I'm glad she keeps up this good habit from when she was little.

Me on the other hand could not wait to meet up with other parents coming up from KL whom I met through the FB group Autisme Malaysia. This group is an amazing support group that I found, sharing our mutual concerns and interests in autism. They are parents, teachers, caregivers and therapists who are directly involved with autistic kids and adults. If you have any queries about autism, especially in Malaysia.. do join this group. 

Today, my friends from Autisme Malaysia came over for breakfast and we had an absolute wonderful time chatting and laughing. Mom cooked nasi lemak lemuni with sambal ikan bilis (yumms!!!) and we also bought some roti canai in case the kids were not keen on the nasi lemak. 

All in all both days were great days and we all had a good time. I hope we can have Autism Day every year for the kids.

We Got New Cats

One night, we were coming down the elevator in Souq Al-Bukhary and as soon as the doors opened down in the basement, there were 2 adorable kittens right in front of us. One was white and the other black and they were about 3 weeks old.

Nadiah of course wanted to take them home. She just wouldn't leave the spot unless the cats go with us. We asked the people at the shops around there and they said the kittens' mommy is dead. So hubby grab them and placed them in the car and we drove home.

When we arrived home, we realized that both cats have eye infections, fleas and the black one is so sickly I was afraid she wasn't going to make it through the night. Since it was already night time, all the pet stores are closed so hubby searched on the internet about feeding sickly kittens. We found out that egg is good so mix that with some warm milk and spoonfed them during the night.

The next day we went to the pet store and got some kitty milk and these cute tiny bottles and started feeding them and praying they would survive.

That was 2 months ago. Now they are big and healthy and so cute and naughty I just feel like squeezing them to bits. Honestly I am actually allergic to cats but I just can't help it. They are just so cute!! I'll pet them and groom them everyday and when my eyes starts to get itchy, I just pop a tablet of Clarityne and I'm good to go. Heee....

Ironically, the one person who soooo wanted the cats and had refused to come home if the kittens didn't come with her... played with the kittens for a few days and that's it. She'll come out and play with them when we force her to but only for a few minutes. Sighhhh... it's left to her baba and me to care for the cats in the end.

                                      

                                      

Swimming Classes

This year, we decided to sign Nadiah up for swimming lessons. She has always loved swimming but we did not know how to teach her the right way to swim. Mostly she just floats in the water and play around. 

We found an instructor who is experienced in teaching and coaching kids with disabilities. He is also the coach for the Kedah Paralympics team. So we signed Nadiah up for classes every Tuesday morning. 

During the first lesson Nadiah was so excited that she could hardly concentrate on what the coach was telling her. Plus the coach was too gentle with her that she wasn't listening to a word that he was saying. Me and hubby were on the side telling her off to stop playing and listen. Needless to say that that first lesson was a failure but she definitely had a wonderful time splashing around.

But we persevered and Nadiah attended her classes regularly and slowly she starts to learn the breathing techniques and slowly moving to leg movements. It's been two months now and I can see some progress albeit slow, but she's doing it. She's learning to swim the proper way. 

I'm glad we signed her up. I hope she would be a good swimmer one day.

  

              

Abang Rizal's Passing

Wednesday, 20th March 2013, marks the saddest day for our whole family. My eldest brother, Rizal, has passed away. We are all devastated. It came as a shock to all of us. 

It was in the wee hours of the night, around 3am, when my dad received a call from Abg Rizal's phone but it was a total stranger on the other end, telling him that Rizal was in an accident. 

My parents and hubby rushed to SP to see what had happened. Even my SIL did not know about it until my dad called her. My nephew, Daniel quickly called his father's hand phone to speak with the good samaritan to get details and place of the accident. 

When my parents got to SP, they were informed that Rizal was taken to the hospital and so they went straight there while hubby and Daniel went to the place of accident to gather Rizal's personal belongings and make a police report etc. 

Meanwhile at the hospital my parents and SIL was told that Rizal had already passed on. Innalillah wainna ilaihiroji'un. Surely we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return.

According to the coroner, Rizal had a massive heart attack while driving, which made his car went out of control. But fortunately he did not suffer long because apparently he passed on quite quickly. What's amazing is that he only had a small bruise on his forehead, probably due to the air bags being exploded.

Meanwhile, at home I was busy getting the house ready and fetching my other brother and family and cousin from the airport and contacting people for the funeral arrangement. This is the time when I am thankful that my dad has many good friends who were ever willing to help with just about anything.

By eleven oçlock, my parents, hubby, SIL, Daniel and SIL's family from Shah Alam arrived home with the jenazah. Hundreds of people came to pay their respects including almost all of my aunts and uncles and cousins on both sides of the family.. all the way from KL and Johor. I was so touched by their presence and felt very blessed to have such thoughtful and concerned relatives.

Just before Asr, our immediate family was given time to say our last goodbyes before the jenazah was taken to the masjid for the last prayers and burial. I did not follow the others as I couldn't leave Nadiah at home. It was sad not to be able to but I have said my goodbye and sedekah lots of duas and read the Al-Quran for my brother, which I think is more important and meaningful.

Rizal has always been the family joker; the one who was always cracking jokes at family gatherings. He had an amazing sense of business and was an amature engineer. He was a laidback kind of guy, not one who easily panics in a situation but thinks fast on his feet. I'm going to miss him so much. We all will.

Rest in peace, my beloved brother. May Allah bless you and places you with the people of Jannah. Amin Ya Rab.

Campfire Nights

One day at NASOM, Nadiah had a outdoor day where the teachers took her and her friends to the park. But instead of playing on the slides and swings, Nadiah asked for a plastic bag from teacher so that she can pick up sticks to make firewood. Hahaahaa.. I found that so very funny. Anyway, she picked up a full bag of sticks and brought it home.

At home she beg and beg and beg for us to go camping and light a campfire. Seriously.. where on earth are we going to go for camping that would be safe for her? 

In the end, we decided to have one at the back of the house. Hubby found a sheet of zinc big enough to build a fire on it and I got out some stools and fashioned 2 long sticks out of chopsticks so Nadiah can use them for sticking her marshmallow to roast over the fire. 

Simple but effective! What's important is that she had a wonderful time and we didn't even have to leave the house.

A few weeks later, Nadiah brought back some more sticks to make firewood. Again we had a campfire night at the back of the house but this time we brought out the tent and sleeping bag. Making it feel a lot more like we're on a camping trip. But I wish I could have brought out the air condition too. It was a warm night and the fire wasn't helping either.

If it was up to Nadiah... she would have spent the night out there in the tent and sleeping bag. But after a while we put the fire out and make her get in the house. All of us were sweating profusely and smelled of soot. I got Nadiah in the shower, pajamas and in bed within half an hour and she was out like a light a few minutes later, probably dreaming of sleeping in a tent in the outdoors. Ahhh blisssss.....

Sunday Morning

It's only 8.30 in the morning and Nadiah has asked the same question more than 20 times already.

She asked, "Wanna go camping? At night?"

How many times more do you think she will ask before night actually comes? Oh dear....

Oh oh another progress today. When I sent her off to school today, I said "Bye-bye, Nadiah."

She said, "Bye-bye, Mama."

What is so great about that? Well, for the first time she did not repeat what I say when I said "bye-bye, Nadiah." Because all this time she would repeat "bye-bye,Nadiah" rather than responding to what I say.

So that's progress, baby!!!

Playing With A Friend

Today marks another milestone in Nadiah's improved social skills. Today, for the first time ever, my special girl made the initiative to ask her cousin to play with her. All on her own! No prompting was needed. We didn't even ask her to play with her little cousin, Irfan. All of a sudden, while holding on to a ball, she turned to Irfan and said, "Catch".

We were so surprised. And Irfan was such a champ because he quickly ran to fetch a basket to catch the ball Nadiah was ready to throw to him, ever willing to play with 'kakak Nadiah'.

Syukur alhamdulillah. Praise be to Allah for this memorable moment. I am ever thankful for every little improvement that Nadiah shows.

What Is Nadiah Writing?

Last night when I told Nadiah to go to sleep, she refused. Too busy concentrating writing on a piece of paper.

I was curious as to what was taking much of her attention, so I went to investigate.

This was what I found:

Nadiah's Obsession With DVDs & VCDs

Ever since she was small, Nadiah likes to collect VCDs. It started out with Barney & Friends, then to Sesame Street, Hi5 and whatever else that she likes to watch. At that time they come mostly in VCD versions. Only the past few years that these videos come in DVD versions. Or as Nadiah would call them "small CD" and "big CD". 

She has tons!! I mean, literally tons!!! In the beginning, I would buy them for her, and as kids are known to do, she would take the discs out of the casings and carry 20 or 30 at a time everywhere she goes, in an obsessively particular order that we are NEVER, EVER to try and mess around with them. She would remember which disc come first, second, third and so on. 

Over the years, she has lost, scratched and broken many, many discs. When she was a little bit older, around 7 years old, she starts to care for her CDs and would obsessively keep them in the right boxes and, when she realized that most of her discs are gone or broken and deemed unworkable, she would bug me and her baba to get new ones. But now she's more careful, keeping her CDs in proper order and taking good care of them. 

But now that her videos are out in DVD versions, she wants those too. Honestly, I can't even remember what VCDs she has or hasn't. I have to take pictures of her collection so that I don'y buy the same ones, which I had done countless times already. 

Making a tower of her CDs

Fixing something on her CDs. That's only part of her collection. She has many, many more..

We encourage her in this obsession because they help for in a lot of things, like her language, simple everyday tasks, playing games and reading and writing. Because of Nadiah's lack of cooperation in communicating with people, these videos of hers has increased her social and communication skills tremendously. 

She likes to write down the titles of the CDs, the names of characters in each of the episodes of Barney and Sesame Street and list down the titles of the songs that you get in Barney videos. Before, she would write down on a paper, now she would type out in in the computer using Microsoft Power Point program. She loves making lists... just like her mama.. :D

Nadiah's "books". 

This is her "Memory Book", which she copied out of one of the episodes of Barney. There are hand prints of the characters (which mama and baba had to contribute), photos which I printed for her from scenes in the video, and titles of Barney videos. 

This is another of her book, which I have not compiled and bind because it's an ongoing project. You can see that she has written down the title of a particular video and the names of the characters that appears in that particular episode. Look how thick it is. That's how much she has been writing!

Another story that I would like to tell, which is related to her CD obsession, happened a few days ago. Usually Nadiah would check on the internet what new titles are there in the market, either for Barney or Elmo's World or Sesame Street or Play With Me Sesame, or what other titles are not in her collection. Then she would tell us what she wants. Bugging us to go out to the CD shops and get them. Not understanding that the shops may not have what she wants or going to the same shop the very next day does not mean that they would magically appear. So anyway, the other day she told me, "Mama, Elmo's World Happy Holidays, small CD". I understand that she wants that particular CD but she wants it in the VCD version.

So we were in KL at MPH Mid Valley, and she was looking around the educational CD section when suddenly she grabbed a DVD and showed it to me. 

"Mama, Elmo's World, big CD." She had this crushed looked on her face. 

"I want small CD" she told me. 

I know she was feeling frustrated. Probably because she was so close to getting what she wants. Only the size of the box of CD was wrong. My poor girl!

But I was happy because she could tell me verbally; one, what she wanted, and secondly, that what's out there was not what she wanted. Rather than getting upset and throwing tantrums and I'll be lost to her wants and feelings, which is what would have happened a long time ago. 

I am actually thankful for her obsession with her videos. She is communicating a lot more, not just with us but also with the people around her. 

So if you have any old Barney or Sesame Street VCD/DVDs to dispose, please let me know. I would gladly take them off your hands..

Seminar Celik Al Quran Bagi Anak-Anak Autisme

Last Saturday I went to a seminar on “Celik Al Quran Bagi Anak-Anak Autisme” which was held at Wisma R&D, Universiti Malaya. The seminar was jointly organized by UM’s Centre of Quran Research and Autisme Malaysia (a FB group).

Incidentally, me and hubby have been looking for ways on how to teach Nadiah the Al Quran. So when I saw that the seminar was to be held then, we decided to attend even though it was already Friday. We decided to leave for KL that afternoon after Jumaat and arrived in Bangsar at 9.30pm.

On Saturday, I went to the seminar and was totally blown away by the kids who could not only read the Quran, but also memorize. I wish I had started Nadiah early on and I am now worried that it could be too late for her.

But nothing is ever too late. To pursue knowledge, age matters not. Anytime and anywhere is just as precious.There was one boy, who is about the same age as Nadiah. He started reciting the Quran by listening to the ayats repeatedly. Which is one of the methods of introducing the Quran to an autistic child. All these while I have always been rigid in my method of teaching something from the basics, which is teaching the ABC before reading. So does the method of teaching alif ba ta before reading the Quran. And I have been looking for ideas on how to introduce the method to Nadiah. And now I’m kicking myself (figuratively and not literally, mind you). Why didn’t I think of that. It’s something so simple. It’s not that she hasn’t been doing the same thing for everything else anyway. I was worried that it would be too difficult to learn alif ba ta, then spelling the kalimahs and go on to teaching the tajweed. I mean, why not just make her memorize the Quran with perfect mahraj and tajweed from early on. Problem solved!

So that was one of the things that I learned from the seminar, among other things. There was also a very touching video that was shown which captured the hearts of everyone and brought realization to the words of Allah. Why do we read the Quran? Why do we believe in Allah? I’ve attached the video below. Every time I watched the video I cried..

Subhanallah.. Allahu Akbar..

My Autism And Me

"No School"

Baba: C'mon Nadiah, go to sleep. Tomorrow you have--

Nadiah: No school!! No school is great..

LOL!!

Julie & Julia

I seldom get to watch movies these days. Mostly due to lack of time and also due to the hundreds of other things that I have to be doing. Catching movies at the cinema is like.... NEVER!! The last time I watched a movie at the cinema was probably in 2009. That was one time only in that year and the one before was probably in 2006. 

Anyway, when I do watch a movie it's usually online or DVD. Don't get me wrong.. I love buying movies. I just don't get to watch them. But last night I decided to watch Julie & Julia. 

It's a beautiful story based on TWO true stories. Both Julie and Julia are armature cooks. Not just any cooks, but French cooks. Julia's story tells the story of learning to cook French food in Paris while accompanying her husband who works with the American Embassy in Paris and bored with her life. That was in the 50's. While Julie lives in present day New York and unsatisfied with her work tries to emulate Julia by challenging herself to cook French food everyday for 1 year from Julia's 524 recipes. 

The story tells the struggle of both woman in mastering French cooking while at the same time coping with husbands, families, friends and everyday life. Both have very supporting husbands who loves them no matter what and both went through frustrations with the other side of cooking, which is publishing a book or a blog or critiques. 

I loved it and plus I love Meryl Streep who plays Julia and Stanley Tucci who plays her husband, Paul. I mean it's MERYL STREEP!!! Nuff said!

Although I was very disappointed with one part of the story which was what Julia commented on Julie's project of cooking all 524 recipes and blogging about it. It just did not seem like what Julia would have said. But I found an article in the New York Times online about that particular scene. Here's the link: Julia, Julie and me: Now it can be told. Although I should warn you that there are some spoilers, and advice that you watch the movie first before reading the article.

Dinosaurs

Funny thing happened tonight. Today me, Nadiah and hubby were looking at different types of dinosaurs.

So tonight as Nadiah was getting ready to sleep, I just called out the names of the dinosaurs..

"Pterodactyl, stegosaurus, triceratops"

And suddenly Nadiah called out, "Stethoscope!"

LOL!!! Hubby and I couldn't stop laughing our heads off..  

Disneyland - It's A Dream

Nadiah was watching Disneyland Main Street parade on YouTube today, and so I said to her, "That's in Disneyland, Nadiah."

And she replied, "It's great. Disneyland is great."

Oh yes it is, my dear. Disneyland is absolutely great! Looks like she's interested. We gotta start saving!

I wish we could go to the one in Anaheim, or even Orlando. But I guess the closest one in Hong Kong would be just as great, and much more attainable. We'll see..

Peaceeee....

When Nadiah says, "Peaceeee..." it means she wants you to take her picture.

Good Quality Shoes

Shoes are an essential. Everybody needs shoes. Everybody don't really wear shoes sometimes but you and me agree that it's something that we cannot do without.

I believe that in order to own a really good quality, long lasting pair of shoes, you have got to spend good money on them. I've bought shoes that I only pay RM 20.00 or so and lasted for 1 whole week before they started to fall apart. And I've bought shoes that are RM 200.00++, and after 3 years of wearing them for every single day, they are still as good as new.

But the bad thing about good quality shoes is that they last so long and after some time, you feel like getting new shoes with new styles that's in trend. But you feel guilty because your present ones are perfectly wearable and you can't throw them away. Plus, there's 5 more in the closet which are also good quality shoes and in good condition which you still bought anyway even when the first are still good.

So good quality shoes are not so good after all, right?

The objective of the story is that... I want new shoes but the present ones that I have are still in annoyingly very good condition. And I have a few more in the closet like them. But I still want new ones...

Decisions, decisions...

Selamat Hari Raya

We wish you a Hari Raya,

We wish you a Hari Raya,

We wish you a Hari Raya,

And a Happy Holiday.

*sing to the tune of 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas"

LOL!! That is Nadiah's hari raya song for the year. 

Since we're still in the month of Syawal, I would like to wish all my Muslim readers Eid Mubarak and may Allah bless you always.

Cheese Rice, I Hungry

Yes, yes I know. It's been absolutely ages. I have no excuse except laziness.

But I wanted to update on Nadiah and her progress, especially her spoken language. It's coming along slowly, but it's coming. So that's the most important thing. We can now argue verbally which is real fun for her. For me.. well, not so much.

Her sentences are still broken but they are now longer with 3-5 word sentences. Tonight while we were having dinner which consist of roti jala, which she eats plain, she suddenly said, "Eat cheese rice. I hungry."

Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised and very proud of her.

Then while she was eating her cheese rice, she said "A glass of lemonade." At the same time holding out her empty glass. So I added, "Please."

She repeated, "A glass of lemonade, please."

You can't imagine how over the moon I am with her and it makes me feel like anything is possible.

This is her cheese rice. It's white rice, friend chicken chunks with soy sauce and pieces of cheese. Then I have to microwave it for 10 seconds so that the cheese melt. Then Nadiah eats it with chopsticks.

Talking about possibilities, we have been planning to take her on a boat/ferry ride for the longest time. Not the ferry ride that crosses the ocean to Penang. That's like a 10 minute ride. But a big sea-crossing boat ride like crossing to Langkawi Island.

So last Eid/school holidays, we took her to Langkawi. She had the best time. The crossing to was a bit choppy and I think she had a headache, although she didn't say so but she said she felt sleepy and slept almost all of the way. We had to wake her up when we got to the jetty in Langkawi while everybody else were busy exiting. So that was a blessing because the kid in front of us were throwing up left and right and thank God for Tiger Balm because I quickly swiped some around my nose and Nadiah's as well. So did hubby. Or else we would have been throwing up along with the girl. Not from seasickness, but from all the not-so-lovely aroma around us.

The return journey was a lot better. The sea was pleasantly calm that we hardly feel like we were on a boat. Plus we were on the upper deck and next to the window. Nadiah stood right at the window looking out for dolphins all of the one hour and 30 minutes ride.

We had a great time in Langkawi. The cable car ride was the pinnacle of the trip. Nadiah loved being on top of the clouds, but hubby was shaking in his slippers. He is NOT a fan of heights. 

We had some beach time and some pool time and the view was exceptional from our hotel. We hope to go again soon.

Shall we have pictures? I think... Oh yeahh!!!

Arrived at the jetty in Langkawi Island. 

In the cable car going up Machinchang Mountain

Going down the mountain. Hubby looks happy because we were finally going down :P

Cenang Beach - lovely fine sandy beach and CLEAN!!

Nadiah's sandy lump creation

View from our hotel

Pool at the hotel. A few hours before we checked out.

So that's a little bit of what's happening recently. I hope to be back blogging and not be a stranger to my own page :D. Till then, thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day ahead!!

Happy Mother's Day

This is surely THE one Mother's Day that I will never forget. Today, May 13th 2012, my ten year old Nadiah has her period for the first time. Yes, she is now officially a woman. I pray to Allah that everything would turn out alright. That she would be calm and accepting and doesn't fuss about wearing sanitary pads. 

I have heard many tales from parents with children of autism or down's syndrome, about how hard a time their children have when having their periods. So far Nadiah seems calm and happy as always. And I pray she will always be so.

Here's Nadiah.. on THIS day in her life..

Happy Mother's Day 

to all the mothers out there!!