Korea ~ June 2012 ( i )

Planned a trip to Seoul, South Korea for the June holidays. It was a free & easy one...but lil sista tagged along. This would be her 3rd trip to Korea hence we felt kinda safe with her around! Haha!
We took AirAsia which was absolutely much much cheaper! But the hassle is that we had to do a transit. Taking the flight frm SG was ok with Aqil as it was direct entrance to the plane. In fact he was excited abt taking a plane as he went "It's a plane! A big plane!"
Aqil even napped during the short flight frm SG to KL. We were so thankful that he was not cranky!
But over at KL LCCT, it was different! We had to walk over to the place coz budget terminals and normal terminals functions differently. As we approached the plane, Aqil began feeling scared...he started crying and covered his ears! :(
As we climbed up the stairs to the plane, he was struggling to free himself frm Ayah. Even in the plane, he was crying so loudly...attracting attention frm everyone.
And the stewardesses started coming over, trying to render some help in settling him down. But one charming steward who came over, carried him and brought him around the plane! And that did some kinda magic! He quietened down...as he was returned to us, he started crying again but we managed to hush him and get him to settle down.
He clung on to me as the plane took off as he was scared of the shaking and all. As the plane stabilised, managed to get him in his seat and distract him with iPad.
We were travelling at night so after an hr or so, he fell asleep all the way till we reached! So, alhamdullilah...we arrived safely!

Ku Bersyukur atas Segala-galanya...

Perjalanan masih jauh harus kau tempuh
Ku di sini memerhati tanpa rasa sangsi
Jangan gentar ada sabar semai di jiwa
Ku di sini mendampingi agar kau mengerti
Berlarilah kau berlari, terbanglah dikau terbang tinggi
Bumi yang engkau jejaki...janganlah dikau lupai
Andai ku capai si pelangi...akan ku serah kepadamu
Agar dapat kau mewarnai seluruh hidup nanti
Yang hitam harus dijauhi, jangan disimpan dalam hati
Putihkan jiwamu dengan kasih suci

Ku terima dirimu dengan seadanya
Dalam sukar dalam duka, kau tetap cahaya

Berlarilah kau berlari, terbanglah dikau terbang tinggi

Bumi yang engkau jejaki...janganlah dikau lupai

Andai ku capai si pelangi...akan ku serah kepadamu

Agar dapat kau mewarnai seluruh hidup nanti

Yang hitam harus dijauhi, jangan disimpan dalam hati

Putihkan jiwamu dengan kasih suci

Ku bersyukur pada yg Esa...punya segala-galanya

Sederhana tapi ia sempurna

The Spectrum

Autism is a developmental disorder that onsets before the age of 3. It is a spectrum of disorders, hence no two are alike. Autism is not a disease....thus there is no cure. However, those with autism can learn to manage their autistic traits well enough to pass for normal. It is but just an impairment in social interaction.
Aqil started talking late...in fact, it is only after seeing the speech therapist did he start with his first words. 2+ and still not talking, pulling us but unable to tell what he wanted. Cried and wailed when we couldn't understand what he wanted and he got frustrated.
Visitings during the festive season was a challenge, not wanting to enter unfamiliar homes. Home was the best place. His diet was terrible. Only milk and plain porridge. Yup, plain porridge...add condiments and he'd refuse it. Even now, it is still plain porridge. Oh yes, he eats rice....chicken rice. But just the rice. No chicken meat nor soup to go along. Just rice.
Snacks? He eats wafers of a particular brand. Other brands....NO. Chocolates....he love it. Cadbury milk chocolate. Other types....NO. Other brands....NO. French fries....yes! He love it too! McDonald's fries. Other fries....NO. Tried frying home-made fries...NO. Cheated by putting other fries into McDee's fries container......NO. He knows.
With such a diet, we need supplement for him. Pediasure. He love it. And now, no Pediasure...NO. He won't drink the milk.
Bringing our worries to the experts was a right move. We were set up with speech therapists to start him off with his first words. We were referred to EIPIC Centre for special needs children. A lot of improvements were seen. His vocabulary has increased....he is socially much more interactive, responsive....he is behaving almost normal! NO....he is normal. He just need help with social interaction.

Similar to how Aqil is. Looks normal.....behaving almost normal. And yes....this boy is wearing diapers....same like Aqil. Still with diapers. 

We never regret. We don't feel sorry for him or ourselves. We are thankful to God for blessing us with this handsome gift. He opens our eyes. He shows us the meaning of patience, understanding, love. He made us realize that there are many, many like him all around us. There are even others worse than him. 

Being able to make us smile. Being able to make us love him. Being able to break / melt our hearts. ~

HE IS AWESOME! We love you sweetheart!

Blessed!

As per norm, every year we celebrate birthdays. This is MY family I am talking about ya! Hee! So went over to parents in AMK...waited for all my other sistaz to come and we had a small celebration at home. 

There were lots of food which includes KFC, rojak, mee goreng, murtabak....and not forgeting the birthday cake from Swensen's! 

And presents from them to end the celebration....really really feel blessed and much loved!

And later that night, reached home to another birthday cake waiting for me! This time from my parents-in-law. Hehehe! Hence another round of birthday cake cutting for me! Blessed blessed blessed! Alhamdullilah! ;))

32nd!

20th May...the day I was born 32 years ago. Born to wonderful parents who were strict enough to make sure their children received all the necessities in life and education. Luv them much!
As Sunday has been family day with the ABFamily, we'd had a lil simple celebration with the kidz.
Anniversary celebration, we leave the kidz out. But birthdays, we involve the kidz as they are part of our lives. And so Saturday it was. But hubby dragged us to the soccer field first saying that there's some small celebration for Mother's Day by the Al Waris Al Fursan. Hence, we went to the soccer field...the kidz were asking what were we doing there and so that question was answered by their father! Haha!

There was a small cake-cutting by all mothers and then, came another cake jus for me! *blush*
Apparently, hubby has planned with my dear cuzz and his wife abt it! I was so 'paiseh'....well, it was supposed to be a celebration for all mothers but now my birthday was included! Haiyah!
And soon after that, we didn't stay throughout the soccer match....we went ahead with our mini celebration.
The airport it was! Kidz luv that place....they can simply run all over the airport and still be dry! Hehehehe! Typical me! And we asked the kids to decide on what to have for dinner. Me and hub were looking at Breeks, Fish & Co , Swensen's but kids wanted Pastamania! Arisya love the pepperoni pizza and Ariq wants the bolognaise....and so dinner was settled! As usual, Aqil was crying and screaming....but the supervisor there was sweet enough to come over with some coloring stuffs and that kept him quiet! Pastamania is the place! ;))

After the dinner, we strolled in the airport. Hahaha! Strolling in an air-conditioned place is simply cool! No sweat! Instead of the normal birthday cake, we decided to have ice-cream! And Swensen's has free Firehouse for birthday babies! Again, the kidz' opinions were asked. They asked for the Earthquake! Haha! But they were full soon after and it me n hub who had to finish up the ice-creams! 

My Lil Sweetheart ❤

Aqil has been attending EIPIC Centre for a semester now. And he has shown a lot of improvement! With that Umie is a very happy person! ;))
Nevertheless, me & hubby didn't stop trying to help our lil sweetheart. We've been to & fro KKH and HPB for check-ups, tests, therapies and assessments. As long as he shows developments, we are willing to do anything.
From not talking to single words and now to phrases and sentences! Our lil sweetheart is AWESOME!
And EIPIC Centre keeps close contact with parents. We are always keep updated with any developments and they always do reviews. Thumbs up for that! And being able to see what he does at the centre is really heart-melting! And here are some pictures of him so engrossed in his artwork!

Aqil is AMAZING! ❤

It has been a long, long time since Aqil reads a book. Well, he wasn't actually reading the books. He identified the pictures in the books. ;)) That is an amazing feat for me coz my lil Aqil, he's not like big bro Ariq. He's diagnosed with mild autism.
To be able to hear him say those few words is really precious. Even when we talked to him, most of the time he's not respond. This was what worried us and prompted us the need to refer him to the specialists. Alhamdullilah, much improvement has been seen.
To be able to identify the animals, things, colours....was just awesome. As a matter of fact, me and husband, we didn't do much on our part to really teach him. We are rather taken up by our work, house chores and coping with Ariq and Arisya's school work.
And pls do not point the finger at us and accuse us of being unfair.
As much as we could, we talked and played with him everyday. Made that a point. ;)) But as mentioned, daily chores took up most of our time.
Thus, seeing him holding the books and hear all the wonderful words coming out from his mouth...it just left us awed!
Umie and Ayah are proud of you sweetheart! You still have a long way to go and we are all the way with you...together with Abang and Kakak! ❤