Last week I had an eye doctor appointment that I had intended to go to alone, but after my husband got caught up at work, I decided I had no choice but to bring Mr C. along. I thought it wouldn't be a big deal, as the appointment was a follow up for contact lenses. However, I was mostly worried about him touching things he shouldn't or refusing to sit quietly while I had the appointment with the doctor. What happened was not what I expected!
Things started off well with him waiting patiently in the waiting room with me. We went into the exam room and he sat in the corner chair while I hopped up into the examination chair. Then, the doctor came in and dimmed the lights. This is when it all started. At first he got out of the chair and started saying, "I'm scared, it's dark." I tried to reassure him to no avail, but it was when the doctor went to put the eye glass machine on my face that things really started to heat up.
At first he was just crying pretty bad and trying to run out of the room acting as if the doctor was going to hurt me or something with the machine. I tried to console him and convinced him to stand quietly on the other side of the door while holding the handle, hoping he wouldn't look anymore. Unfortunately, he began to peek through the crack in the door and with the widest eyes I have ever seen he began to scream the loudest pitched scream I had ever heard as the doctor tried once again to examine my eyes with the machine.
The look on the doctor's face was priceless. I don't think he had quite had that happen before. I tried to explain Mr C's sensory issues although I'm wondering if other children may have reacted the same?? It's so hard to tell anymore. Finally, a wonderful nurse came along and distracted him with stickers, so that I could finish my appointment.
I admit however, I was a little embarrassed about the loud screaming. I think even the people in the waiting room heard that. He acted like the doctor was murdering me or something. By the time we were leaving he was going in and out of the rooms pointing at the machines with a smile. Go figure....
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Waterpark fun
We went to a waterpark over the weekend and Mr C had a blast. He was able to go down the big slide in a tube with another adult and loved it. He pretty much just asked to do that the entire time we were there. I wasn't able to take him myself because Mr C is going to be a big brother, but my family was great at helping me out.
The waterpark was in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and thankfully it was inside because the weather was cold! It must have dropped 20-30 degrees between our home and the vacation spot. Mr C did great in the car and loved getting to spend time with all of his cousins. I was of course exhausted by the end of it all, but it's worth it when you see the smiles on your child's face.
The only issues we had was with all the fun he didn't get much sleep and ended up being pretty emotional by the last day. Small price to pay for a ton of fun!
The waterpark was in Sheboygan, Wisconsin and thankfully it was inside because the weather was cold! It must have dropped 20-30 degrees between our home and the vacation spot. Mr C did great in the car and loved getting to spend time with all of his cousins. I was of course exhausted by the end of it all, but it's worth it when you see the smiles on your child's face.
The only issues we had was with all the fun he didn't get much sleep and ended up being pretty emotional by the last day. Small price to pay for a ton of fun!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Eating Inedibles
One thing I have noticed lately is that Mr C is getting much better with putting inedibles in his mouth. I’m not sure if he is just slowly maturing or if the brushing has helped to eliminate his desire to mouth objects (symptom of sensory seeking). Just a month or so ago we went to a local gym that offers open recreation for children to be able to rock climb, play on gymnastics equipment, such as trampolines and foam pits, and also play in a sandbox that has small pieces of black rubber instead of sand.
Well, initially Mr. C was playing so well in the sandbox pushing around trucks. Then, suddenly he decides that the small pieces of black rubber might be good to taste. Before I could stop him, he had a mouthful. Of course, he immediately started to spit them out, but not before it hit his gag reflex.
The next thing I know he had thrown up all over the black pieces of rubber in the box and down the front of him. You have got to be kidding me right now?!? I quickly took him into the bathroom to clean him off and then went to go take care of the mess in the sandbox. Luckily, there wasn’t anyone around to notice my awkward situation and the throw up in the box was easily removed with a number of the small pieces of black rubber.
I did mention the incident to the person in charge, but she didn’t seem too worried. She seemed to think it had probably happened before at some point. Yuck! It might be that this incident was punishing enough for him to realize that maybe he shouldn’t put things in his mouth without making sure they are edible.
It’s funny, I can’t get him to even try strawberries or raspberries, but small pieces of black rubber.. mmmm now those look goo-ood!
Well, initially Mr. C was playing so well in the sandbox pushing around trucks. Then, suddenly he decides that the small pieces of black rubber might be good to taste. Before I could stop him, he had a mouthful. Of course, he immediately started to spit them out, but not before it hit his gag reflex.
The next thing I know he had thrown up all over the black pieces of rubber in the box and down the front of him. You have got to be kidding me right now?!? I quickly took him into the bathroom to clean him off and then went to go take care of the mess in the sandbox. Luckily, there wasn’t anyone around to notice my awkward situation and the throw up in the box was easily removed with a number of the small pieces of black rubber.
I did mention the incident to the person in charge, but she didn’t seem too worried. She seemed to think it had probably happened before at some point. Yuck! It might be that this incident was punishing enough for him to realize that maybe he shouldn’t put things in his mouth without making sure they are edible.
It’s funny, I can’t get him to even try strawberries or raspberries, but small pieces of black rubber.. mmmm now those look goo-ood!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Therapeutic Listening
Well, we have continued doing the brushing about 3-4 times a day and have noticed that he starts to have a hard time sleeping at night if we do any less than that. He also still can't seem to sit still unless we have done the brushing protocol with him. So, we will continue for now.
It was pretty funny the other day when my husband went to do his brushing. He had just given Mr C a bath and decided to brush him before getting him into his pajamas. Sometimes to help with cooperation, although he usually loves it, we will sing a song while brushing him. "This is the way we brush your arm, brush your arm, brush your arm. This is the way we brush your arm so early in the evening." We change it for each body part and he will usually sing a long.
Well, this particular time, when my husband was all done brushing him, Mr C picked up the brush and began to sing..."This is the way I brush my pee pee, brush my pee pee, brush my pee pee, so early in the evening." While brushing, well you know where. We were just about rolling on the floor with laughter, but out of decency had to remove the brush from his possession.
I actually thought it was good that he was able to make up his own little part of the song himself. Most if his language is imitiation of phrases he has heard. He will speak spontaneously, but it will usually be sentences he has already heard before.
The occupational therapist we are working with has said that she thinks that therapeutic listening will be very helpful to him with his language. So, that is our next step. We are planning to meet with her in about a week to learn how to do the program. I have also read research that shows therapeutic listening helps with attention, behavior, and other related challenges, so we are excited to get started.
It was pretty funny the other day when my husband went to do his brushing. He had just given Mr C a bath and decided to brush him before getting him into his pajamas. Sometimes to help with cooperation, although he usually loves it, we will sing a song while brushing him. "This is the way we brush your arm, brush your arm, brush your arm. This is the way we brush your arm so early in the evening." We change it for each body part and he will usually sing a long.
Well, this particular time, when my husband was all done brushing him, Mr C picked up the brush and began to sing..."This is the way I brush my pee pee, brush my pee pee, brush my pee pee, so early in the evening." While brushing, well you know where. We were just about rolling on the floor with laughter, but out of decency had to remove the brush from his possession.
I actually thought it was good that he was able to make up his own little part of the song himself. Most if his language is imitiation of phrases he has heard. He will speak spontaneously, but it will usually be sentences he has already heard before.
The occupational therapist we are working with has said that she thinks that therapeutic listening will be very helpful to him with his language. So, that is our next step. We are planning to meet with her in about a week to learn how to do the program. I have also read research that shows therapeutic listening helps with attention, behavior, and other related challenges, so we are excited to get started.
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