Alhamdulillah...

It has been more than a week since his circumcision. We had planned to hold a 'majlis kesyukuran' aka thanksgiving specially for him.
Alhamdulillah...for the smooth procedure. Alhamdulillah...because Aqil has been able to adapt well to his restricted condition and thus recuperating well. Alhamdulillah...for all these six years that he's growing up well & healthy despite his unique diet and only meeting milestones at later stages. Alhamdulillah for the patience blessed upon us that we are able to cope well with the meltdowns he suffers as an autistic...syukur alhamdulillah...;))
And it is indeed Aqil's luck aka 'rezeki' that we are able to hold the thanksgiving at a special place...alhamdulillah...
Hence, there wasn't much to do for the event coz everything has been accounted for. I decided to make some 'pulut kuning' aka yellow glutinous rice for the guests. The husbern has suggested just to place an order for the pulut kuning but I'd wanted to make them myself. The satisfaction and the fact that I wanna make something myself...as Aqil's mother...to give to the guests to convey our sincere thanks for gracing the event and for all the doas.
Managed to get all the pulut kunings ready a few hours before the event. And at that moment, suddenly thought of bubur putih bubur merah. I have never made that before...so what I did was to pick up the phone and call my 'helpline' aka my mother! Hehe!
And my awesome mother (as always) obligingly made some for Aqil's event...alhamdulillah...thank you Mak! ;))

We arrived at Mamanda just nice...moments later the guests started streaming in. Opened the event with doa selamat by Al Waris...alhamdulillah. And the event continued with guests coming in and out...with the husbern calling out for me everytime guests were leaving coz I was busy catching up with the guests...hehehe!
Aqil was oblivious of the whole event of course! Alhamdulillah...he was obliging enough to put on the gamis and even lasted the whole day! Seriously, this came as a surprise coz he had been refusing pants ever since he tried putting on once after the circumcision...we had thus expected him to refuse putting on the gamis.
He was pre-occupied with the ipad throughout the event...asking to go toilet only once...and was greeting the guests who came up to him subconciously & parroting me most of the time. Thank you so much to all the guests for understanding Aqil's condition & for all the doas.
Thank you Ya Rabb for everything...alhamdulillah. ;))

Our Brave Heart

He had just slept at 6am that morning. Aqil's sleeping hrs is unique...he sleeps at 4am or 5am daily. We're lucky he's kept occupied by his ipad...that we get to sleep though never a straight deep sleep.
Hence...he was cranky when we had to get him ready that morning. We had to be at the admission counter at 7am. Doctor has arranged for a same day admission for him due to his condition.
Our lil dude fell asleep in the car on the way to hospital. He slept all the way that we were able to do the admission process smoothly. It wasn't a long wait at the day surgery centre...we were called in almost as soon as we sat down.
The doctor at the day surgery had to do a check-up to confirm he was well enough for the procedure...that's when he woke up and the cryings began.
He realised he was at the hospital...he was screaming and crying and kicking and pushing. This started at the day surgery centre all the way until he was pushed into the operation theatre.
The staffs were wonderful...they were very patient & helpful in all ways they could. Even the surgeon & anaethetist were trying to coax him & took out their handphones to show him cartoons!
Finally they decided to sedate him coz it was almost impossible to push him into the OT in his meltdown. Even in the drowsy state after being sedated, he was still cranky. My heart broke as he was being pushed into the OT...still sobbing in his drowsy state.
And he immediately fell asleep once the mask was put over his mouth...and I had to leave the OT....
Half hour was all it took. I went in to him at the Children's Recovery. The nurse taking.care of him showed me to his bed...I couldn't see him frm far coz the bed was padded all sides. Only his bed.
As I looked at him...who was peacefully sleeping still, I stroked his cheeks and whispered "Gd job Sayang...".
Children frm the other beds were awake...some were cranky coz of the after effects of the anaetheist...some vomitted...but our boy was peacefully sleeping.
Half hour of waiting and I was prompted to try wake him up...coz the anaetheist is supposed to have worn off by then. Our lil king refused to open his eyes but he reponded to our irritating attempts to wake him up. So he was pushed into the ward...untill he fully awaken & is able to pass urine well.
We knew he was just catching up on his sleep coz it was only that morning that he slept. And so...it was 5hrs later that he fully awaked.
He wasn't cranky or whatsoever. He was still in a daze then. And soon after he was able to pass urine well...thanks to the husbern, slow talking to him in the toilet! Hehe!
He was all quiet & enjoying the cartoon on TV until the doctor came to check on him. Haha! And the cryings & screamings started again...luckily it wasn't for too long.
Alhamdullilah...he was allowed to go home. Ariq & Arisya had been calling ever since they finished school for the day. They had been anxious to see their lil bro.
We were just so grateful that Aqil has been adapting well to his 'condition'. Since the moment he woke up...until today, he has been calm...no crankiness at all...except for bathing time or applying gel to the wound. But that is normal...any boy after circumcision would be screaming too!
Alhamdullilah...alhamdulillah...alhamdulillah! I am proud to say our boy is a brave one indeed!
Thank you Ya Rabb...thank you! ;))

An Au-some Day!

Both of us on childcare leave today...nope, none of the kidz is sick. Today, we brought Aqil for his psychological assessment. This is necessary for he is entering Primary One next year.
An assessment report is needed for entrance into special schools. Well, the assessment is also to find out the child is suitable for the mainstream.
Aqil was alone in the room with the psychologist. We were 'shooed' away and given a questionaire to complete. Haha! It was akin to taking a test. Both of us answered the questionaire together. ;))
Going through the questionaire, Aqil is indeed missing lots of his milestones. After 'taking the test'...we even had time to have breakfast at the cafeteria. All that took us abt an hr or so...we had to wait for about another hour before the assessment ended.
The psychologist called us in and conveyed to us her findings. Her explanation was very detailed...she told us what she did and what were Aqil's reactions and responses. And her recommendation : special school.
I was actually glad to hear that. I was kinda worried that the psychologist may suggest that Aqil try the mainstream coz he was previously diagnosed with mild autism.
Behaviour-wise...he is stable such that he doesn't experience frequent meltdowns. But following instructions was a bit of a problem. His motor skills such as holding pencil or spoon is very much lacking.
Hence the psychologist gave us recommendations of some special schools...not all are suitable for autism. And I even realised that Pathlight caters to mainstream curriculum. But the psychologist advised against Pathlight for Aqil coz he may not be able to cope. Special schools do IEP (Individual Educational Plan) for pupils. Not just academic subjects but also lifeskills to equip them with...something which Aqil really needs.
And so we have registered for the Open House of several special schools...a new journey for our lil one.

And later in the day we brought the kidz to the movie including Aqil! Hehe! Yup, it was Aqil's first experience watching movie at the cinema. We didn't dare to bring him before coz he can't sit still for too long thus how to sit through a 2hr movie right?
The Lego Movie...we thought it was suitable for Aqil as in intrigue him to watch. But we tried to play safe by choosing to go to a less crowded cinema.
Was happy when we entered an almost empty theatre...but soon more started coming in. Luckily most of them were students...they were kinda noisy too so it will sort of camouflage any sound frm Aqil shld he made any.
As soon as we stepped in...Aqil suddenly became dazed. He was good...no crankiness but he was literally silent throughout the movie! Haha!
Maybe it was the darkness that 'shocked' him? For the first hr...he was practically sitting straight, refusing the lean back even though we tried to make him. He was looking straight at the screen...this made both of us looked straight at him...haha!
As mentioned, he was quiet throughout the movie. Occasionally he covered his ears when there's loudness...not cranky though. We took turns to hug him as an assurance everytime he did that.
I was feeling quite bad when I saw him covering his ears...maybe he is not ready for cinemas yet...suddenly felt like a bad mummy.
However...as we were leaving the theatre, Aqil kept looking back at the screen as though unwilling to leave.
It was indeed an experience for him and also for us. In fact, Ariq & Arisya were surprised too when we said Aqil was joining us.
Alhamdullilah the movie time went smoothly...Ariq & Arisya enjoyed the movie of coz...laughing out loud oblivious of the people around! Hehe!
Its always a learning journey for us...especially for Aqil. No matter what, we'll stay by him throughout his lifelong journey...insyaAllah! ;))

Its the Lil King's Dad's birthday!

Haha! The blog post title can make one goes "What the?!?!" Yeah...just because I am full of nonsense!
So...back to sanity, yesterday was the husbern's birthday! Weee! A birthday on a weekday ain't much fun isn't it? Nevertheless, it was a day for celebration. Had known much earlier that there's no meeting for the day hence planned a movie treat for him. Furthermore, it has been a while since we watched a movie.
There wasn't much of a choice of movies though. The ones interesting to is were just Robocop or I, Frankenstein. Asked the kidz to come along but Arisya declined coz she ain't interested in those kinda movies...so it was just Ariq with us. (It'd been a date if Ariq didn't tag along! Haha!)
We chose I, Frankenstein...or rather Ariq chose that! It was good! We had jumbo hotdogs coz we were hungry...nyehehehe!
After the movie, we went back home coz Atok was gonna give a birthday treat for Ayah. Well, the actual reason was to settle the kids' homeworks prior to the dinner so that we can enjoy with peace...hehehe!
And luckily we did coz the kidz did have homeworks! So once the homeworks were done with...we headed out for dinner. We chose Evertop so that Aqil can have his chicken rice too....and say what....he ate 2 plates yesterday! Woah!
Haha! Alhamdullilah for his appetite! ;))
Back at home...Atok led us in making doa for Ayah. And then the birthday boy aka Ayah cut his birthday cake! Weeee!
A simple celebration which bonds the family! Alhamdullilah...

Happy Birthday Hisham Husin! We love you much! 

Our lil King turns 6! ;))

Had an advance celebration with family for our lil king coz 22 Jan fell on a weekday. Who lil king? Hehe...who else but Aqil Danish!

Cooked simple dishes & made pulut kuning for celebration at home with the family. Made simple decor just to lift up the celebratory atmosphere. Yup...I love doing these for the kidz...especially on their special days.

Am a full time teacher doing part-time study. Ain't I tired? Where do I find the time? Nope...strangely not especially when it comes to celebrating birthdays of my lil ones. They are precious to me and this is one way to show them that their Umi & Ayah love and treasure them all!

Ariq & Arisya will be excited everytime their birthdays are approaching. "Umi...where are we gonna celebrate my birthday?" "Umi...can I invite friends for my birthday?" "Umi...can I hv my birthday at the pool?" These are the questions that will be irritatingly asked by them...everytime. But not Aqil. Aqil doesn't even know his birthday is approaching. Aqil doesn't know that we are celebrating his birthday...not even on the day itself.

Throughout the celebration...when others are enjoying the food, happily playing & chatting...Aqil will be with his ipad...in the room. He laughed & sang along & blew out the candles during cake cutting. Photo-taking wasn't really a smooth one coz he ain't posing for the camera...in fact was kinda reluctant. But everyone wanna snap a pic with the birthday boy...and so he reluctantly posed for the pics.

Ariq & Arisya are always excited when it comes to opening of presents...but not Aqil. We had to coax him to come out coz he just wanna be in the room with his ipad. And thus, our lil king opened his presents, with assistance of coz, without realizing that those presents are for him. Upon the last present being opened, he went back to the room with the ipad....

Nah...I wasn't comparing Aqil with his siblingz. I am just showing how he reacts differently frm others. And nah...I am not sad. I am actually happy coz our lil king acceded to our requests of cake-cutting, photo-taking & presents-opening...instead of melting down.
Alhamdullilah...

The day before his birthday, I went to get the stuffs needed to bake. Made some mini 'cake-in-jar' for him to celebrate his birthday in school. Had meeting that day, rushed to get the stuffs and then baking & packing the cakes & goodie bags.

Sent the cakes & goodie bags to his school..."Mama...you are here!" he exclaimed when he saw me. "I miss you Mama!"....and my heart melted. No...he didn't know his Mama was there coz its his birthday. But I am happy just to hear the words frm him & the smile and hug he gave.

Every year it has been as such...but every year we'll celebrate his birthday still. Just like his brother's & sister's. Because he is our son...and we treasure all three of them...our AriqArisyAqil.

12 years of bliss

29th Dec 2001.
The day the lafaz was said by the one man who has stood by me these 12 years...my husband.
Yesterday marked 12 years of blissful marriage for us. Nah...I can't say ours is the perfect marriage. Just like any other couples, we have our disagreements & our quarrels. Nevertheless, it takes lots of gives & takes...lots of patience...and most importantly, lots of love.
Alhamdullilah...we celebrated our special day simply with our 3 lil angels...not forgetting to spare some quality twosome time just for the 2 of us.
Thank you Ya Rabb for the awesome 12 years together...and many more years to come...insyaAllah! ;))
Not gonna babble much...let these pics do the talking instead. ;))

Autism is not a disability...it is a different kind of ability

My trio have grown up indeed. Ariq & Arisya have been making random calls to us when we are at work. Yup...really random such as "Hello Umi..what are you doing?", "Umi...what time are you coming back?". Such calls last only a few minutes but the warmth & love felt can last for even days! ;))
And Aqil...he's not able to make calls by himself but this boy...is one genius gift. He gets the others to make the calls for him! Hehehe!
Not sure if he's actually observed his siblings and copied them or it just came from him. But with Aqil doing that...it shows that he's no different from Ariq & Arisya. ;)))
However...there is something special abt Aqil's calls. Unlike Ariq's & Arisya's random calls...Aqil's is more transparent abt his feelings.
"I wanna love Mama!"..."Mama, I wanna watch TV." And the heart just melts...
Aqil has no qualms asking for tickles and squeezes and hugs from us..."Can you tickle me?". And he immeadiately apologises when he knew that he has made me sad or angry..."I am sorry Mama"..."I wanna love you".
Maybe it is the age difference...being older Ariq & Arisya are not so transparent abt their feelings. It maybe the condition that Aqil is with...him being himself...just doing and saying what he feels like to. ;))
How I really wish he doesn't have to grow up at times...worried abt him adapting to an adult's life. Ya Rabb...You know best...I seek Your guidance always...amin.