This was a typical week of autism. High highs and some lower days, too, but not super bad low so we’ll count it a good overall week.
Monday, we finally got to visit a state park about two hours from us. Casey has been asking to go since last summer (it was one of those, yes, we’ll go and then ran out of summer days!) and she was thrilled. However, despite being happy to go, I was worried. She had had major sinus issues all weekend and I had even told Tracie we would probably be at the doctor for a sinus infection instead of hiking.
She shocked me, though, and seemed better Monday morning. She got out of breath a few times because her nose was stuffy but she laughed and giggled all day. We had a picnic lunch before we began our hike and they both enjoyed that.
We visited Old Man’s Cave in Hocking Hills State Park. The caves aren’t actually caves, but giant rock overhangs that people used to live under many, many years ago. It’s so pretty and the trails are easy to follow. Rob enjoyed looking at the creek and the little waterfalls – until we got to the “cave.”
He was walking with Tracie and seemed okay walking in at first, but he quickly decided he wasn’t staying. There were a lot of people (but not super-crowded) and he turned to go back up the trail. Nothing we could say would convince him to walk farther to see a bigger waterfall. It wasn’t a big deal, so we turned around.
He stayed well ahead of us to make sure we wouldn’t try to make him go back and it wasn’t till we were back near the car that we both had an idea of what the problem might have been. It hit me that he is severely claustrophobic – maybe the overhang (which was barely enough clearance for him to walk) was just too close for him. Tracie remembered it was supposed to rain/storm later and we knew either reason could be right. Or he was hot. Or he had to go to the bathroom. Or… or… or…. who knows?
Because it was so hot, we decided to drive to different parts of the park instead of hiking the entire path (several miles). He jumped out of the car at the next place and happily started the hike. Even when we had to walk down many flights of steps, he was fine. He looked around and laughed. Again, it wasn’t until we got close to another overhang that he got anxious. He stood still (sort of!) for one picture and then took off up the path again. We had to keep telling him to slow down, as this was rocky and we were both afraid he would fall.
There was another spot nearby that had a waterfall and the hike wasn’t too long. As soon as we got into the woods and looked down at the pool of water and the falls, both kids got big smiles on their faces. When we finally got down to it, there were several people wading in the water (it was clearly marked no wading or swimming…. but… 🙂 ) So I took my shoes off and asked Casey if she wanted to go wading. She immediately took hers off. I knew Rob would never go wading, but I had to try.
And he sat down, yanked his shoes and socks off and came right to me! To say I was shocked is an understatement! He never goes wading – ever. I don’t remember the last time I saw him do it – not since he was little, I’m sure. He walked through the cool water, found a big rock to sit on that he could still keep his feet in the water and he let the waterfall hypnotize him. It was the best part of the day! He looked so happy and relaxed!
Unfortunately, after our fun day of hiking, Rob and I both woke up with stuffy noses and coughs. I thought it was allergies, but then we both had no energy. He asked for the doctor one night, but then changed his mind. So we took it easy all week – coughing and resting. It’s just way too early to be dealing with this stuff!
We also had to deal with another issue that had both kids anxious and upset. While I do share a lot on this autism blog, there are things that I believe are too private to the kids – or that may make the problem worse if I write about it. It’s nothing I can change, fix or fight about – nor can I explain it to them to make them understand what is going on. So besides not feeling good, they are both upset about this problem. A low point of the week – trying to explain that they are not the problem. Rob takes things like this very personally and is having a harder time than Casey. She just keeps asking.
On Friday, they were supposed to go swimming with a group of friends from their workshop. I had a feeling it wouldn’t go well, as this was the pool that Rob got stung at last year and he never forgets things like that. But, he wanted to go and I want him to try whatever he’s comfortable with. I told staff that I would be available all day so I could go get him if needed. He wasn’t there long before the anxiety got to be too much. So I brought him home and wondered why exactly he was anxious.
Was it the weather? (more storms coming!) The bee sting? The fact there aren’t any fountains to stand under in the pool? Not feeling good? The stress he was already feeling? As a mom (thank you, Yvette!) commented on our Facebook page (and I LOVE this – it’s perfect for autism!) it’s like the Tootsie Roll commercial – how many licks does it take? The world may never know! I’ll never know why and he can’t tell me. And I’m left thinking that sometimes, autism just isn’t fun for any of us.
So this week has been up and down with autism. I am so proud of the things they accomplished this week! I can’t imagine having a head full of thoughts and not being able to express those thoughts easily. But every day, they keep trying with smiles and giggles. If only we could all face our troubles like this!