This is the life of one kid that is a Congenital Heart Defect survivor and is battling through life with sensory integration disorder.
Friday, March 28, 2008
The Wheels On The Bus
This is from last week. Benji was having some fun in the car while we were waiting for everybody to get in. He was tired so it's not perfect.. but this is his favorite song...
BTW, it's the Veggie Tales Rocks CD.
BTW, it's the Veggie Tales Rocks CD.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
3rd day of school
Benji is tired out after a week (3 days) of preschool. Today was a difficult day with sharing. He didn't want to and it seems he got agressive and pushed another child. So he didn't get a treat today.
His teacher also told me that they are trying to get him to not suck his thumb at school. I understand the germ thing.... it's just the thumb sucking is how he deals and now I wonder if the reason he got aggitated with the other child was because the teachers were on him about the thumb sucking. hmmm....
Just thoughts. the good thing is we ran to the store after school and on the way home he fell asleep. So I get to enjoy his nap time..... and hopefully he will get to bed at a better time.
His teacher also told me that they are trying to get him to not suck his thumb at school. I understand the germ thing.... it's just the thumb sucking is how he deals and now I wonder if the reason he got aggitated with the other child was because the teachers were on him about the thumb sucking. hmmm....
Just thoughts. the good thing is we ran to the store after school and on the way home he fell asleep. So I get to enjoy his nap time..... and hopefully he will get to bed at a better time.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
On the 2nd day of Preschool...
This morning Benji was up at 5:30 along with the rest of his siblings, with 3 sisters and 2 brothers, it takes a while for everybody to get ready. Benji was antsy, didn't really want to eat, daddy gave in and let him eat graham crackers and almond milk. He seemed to be okay other than demanding to have his "silky". (It's a piece of satin fabric I cut down so he could hold on to it. He loves silky fabrics.)
Then the bus came. We had to keep him in the house while his 5 sibs went to the bus. He was not happy about that at all. I told him he would be okay, we were going to leave in just a little bit to go to school. He said, "No ool. URCH." (meaning is No School, Church.)
I was for sure the trip in and dropping him off was going to be a blast. (read sarcasm here) So, thankfully the Veggie Rocks CD was still in the CD player and we sang "The Wheels on the Bus" all the way to school. (That is repeated 3 times) Even once we got to school he was saying he wanted to go to church. Poor thing, I suppose he knows it's Wednesday... I don't know.
He demanded that the silky go to school with him and his teacher said it was okay. With him just getting acclimated to the structure he probably needs it. (As he is sucking thumb and twirling hair a whole heck of alot more than he was even last week.) I didn't go in with him just dropped him off with his teacher and he was fine with that.
When I picked up Benji he was holding his head down a little bit. Seems he was testing boundaries today. The little guy likes doing things his way. I pick and choose fights so he does get away with more than he probably should. He still got a treat so all and all he must have done good.
I am having a little more trouble understanding him, but I think it's the change of routine. I pray that is all it is. The words of the CDC haunts me when ever he regresses at all. They had said that him being in the preschool program will either make all the autism like stuff go away or it will bring it out even further. We are praying that it goes away.
.... the pic is from when I picked him up.
BTW... he napped from 2:30 until 6:30 last night. Then was still lounging and sucking thumb until I got back from Bible Study. Then he got hyper for a little while until he finally went to bed about 9:30.
Labels:
change of routine,
pics,
preschool
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
First day of preschool
Benji's in the red shirt with the long sleeve black shirt under it and blue jeans with red crocs that feature Lightening McQueen.
Benji went to school today. He did well. He was noticeably anxious, lots of thumb sucking and hair twirling the hour I hung around. He wanted to run every which way and get into everything. There are so many things in a preschool classroom, ya know? Anyhow... he did good at school.
Before school he was upset he wasn't getting on the bus with the other kiddos and the same again when school was over. He goes 3 hours Tue-Thur. Hopefully after the rest of the week he will get used to it. I think we will do good.
In other news... the booger made me take a nap this afternoon when I wanted to get housework done. UGH!
Oh well... tomorrow's another day.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Saturday, March 08, 2008
A Real Snow Day
WE have discovered the one thing that Benji loves more than anything else..... SNOW.
Last night he hung around windows and then the back door staring at the snow/sleet falling. He kept watching it and saying snow. It was so cute. This morning we woke up to 4-6 inches and he didn't even want to eat breakfast he was so excited. After we convinced him to eat we went outside and he had a ball just running around in the snow.
We are a bit excited though, while at the grocery we found some dairy free ice cream. It's a soy version and Benji loves it! He got chocolate and peanut butter. So far so good... no tummy upset. Which is a wonderful thing. Poor guy, his favorite foods disrupt his tummy and make him anything but a happy camper.
Enjoy the slide show! I am hoping to use picasa for the pictures now... it makes it a tidbit easier to share.
Stay warm! Now that we are in and dry we are making chili and I might make some bread depending on time.
Last night he hung around windows and then the back door staring at the snow/sleet falling. He kept watching it and saying snow. It was so cute. This morning we woke up to 4-6 inches and he didn't even want to eat breakfast he was so excited. After we convinced him to eat we went outside and he had a ball just running around in the snow.
We are a bit excited though, while at the grocery we found some dairy free ice cream. It's a soy version and Benji loves it! He got chocolate and peanut butter. So far so good... no tummy upset. Which is a wonderful thing. Poor guy, his favorite foods disrupt his tummy and make him anything but a happy camper.
Enjoy the slide show! I am hoping to use picasa for the pictures now... it makes it a tidbit easier to share.
Stay warm! Now that we are in and dry we are making chili and I might make some bread depending on time.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Growing Up is So hard to do, especially for Mom
This last month has been crazy with me sick and Benji having lots of stuff going on.
I think I am going to just go with a gist of it post. If I can.
Benji has given me a few surprises here and there, or as I call them glimmers of hope.
He went two days of staying dry during the day and using the potty. He however wouldn't have a BM and ended up a very unhappy camper. We believe it's a sensory issue. He will use the potty and even ask to on occasion. It was so funny towards the end of the week last week we had gone into Walmart and did some shopping. Once we were done Benji said something about potty and we just kinda shrugged it off. Then as we were leaving the store he demands "to go potty". Jeff and half the kids were ahead so I gave the truck keys to Brittany and sent her on with Micah and the "rest of the groceries" while I took Benji in to go potty. He went... boy did he. I was proud of him he did good.
As I shared two weeks ago Benji had a good time with finger paints. He hasn't done it since, insisting on using brushes and other things. LOL... I am looking for the goop recipe so he can play with some slime.
Let's see....
We had Benji's M-team meeting Friday (2/29/08) He qualifies for the special ed preschool. Which that did not come as a surprise at all. I will still need to get with Bill Wilkerson and get the feeding therapy set up with them. I don't enjoy driving into Nashville, but I will do it if it helps him. It will be once a week. Back to the meeting. Benji will go to preschool 3 half days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7.45 to 10.45. The down side is that unless Nana can pick him up I will miss MOPs. (It's on Thursdays from 9-12, but I haven't talked to her yet and I am sure we can work out something.) While he is in the preschool he will receive his therapies. He will get Occupational Therapy once a week to focus on his fine motor skills (pencil and scissor grasp) and sensory integration (textures, sensory overload, etc). He will get Physical Therapy once a week in addition to wearing his shoe inserts, this will be to work on his stability in walking and running, strengthening his coordination. Speech therapy will be twice a week and will focus on the formation of 3-4 word sentences, articulation, plus naming colors, objects, shapes, etc. So... little man is going to be working hard.
Saturday was Benji's birthday party. He was so happy, he didn't even mind that he didn't get the Cars cake he wanted. It was okay I think, it had a 4 wheeler on it, so to him it was a car... LOL... For his birthday Benji got a stuffed musical rabbit from Nana and a Cars shirt. Uncle Ron and Aunt Wanda gave him Money, as did Great Grandma and Aunt Jean. Gale got him the Go Fish, Snazzy CD. He loves to dance to it. And while it is catchy we have discovered that after listening to it 5-6 times we need to change CDs. He also got... The Cars racetrack, Cars balloon, party pack of playdoh, a Cars T-shirt, and a Little People Construction set. With his money he bought.... Cars kick ball, Cars Dinoco McQueen, Cars sunglasses, and a 3 ring pool that we are going to use as a ball pit. So... little man loaded up. LOL..
Tuesday Benji got to go up to the school and meet the School Nurse and his class. I met with the nurse and the principal to make sure we were all on the same page with the hypoglycemia and also his heart condition. They took pictures of Benji so his picture is on his medical file. That way they have a picture ID. (I think this is a WONDERFUL idea) And the nurse will get a plan of action. I am also going to take some juice boxes up there along with some snacks that will help him in the event his sugar were to drop.
After we were done with the nurse we went to visit the classroom. Benji got to meet his classmates and his teachers. He was a little anxious, but I really think that was just a matter of new place new people. He was looking around alot, very inquisitive. Hopefully a good sign. The class was very well behaved even with it being during centers and another child was visiting too.
I am very impressed with this school. It just blows me away. I wish the elementary school the other kids are going to would impress me like this.
It's all in God hands though. The Lord has provided for the kiddos and I am sure that He will continue to do so.
Spring Break is next week, so don't be surprised to see lots of pictures!
I think I am going to just go with a gist of it post. If I can.
Benji has given me a few surprises here and there, or as I call them glimmers of hope.
He went two days of staying dry during the day and using the potty. He however wouldn't have a BM and ended up a very unhappy camper. We believe it's a sensory issue. He will use the potty and even ask to on occasion. It was so funny towards the end of the week last week we had gone into Walmart and did some shopping. Once we were done Benji said something about potty and we just kinda shrugged it off. Then as we were leaving the store he demands "to go potty". Jeff and half the kids were ahead so I gave the truck keys to Brittany and sent her on with Micah and the "rest of the groceries" while I took Benji in to go potty. He went... boy did he. I was proud of him he did good.
As I shared two weeks ago Benji had a good time with finger paints. He hasn't done it since, insisting on using brushes and other things. LOL... I am looking for the goop recipe so he can play with some slime.
Let's see....
We had Benji's M-team meeting Friday (2/29/08) He qualifies for the special ed preschool. Which that did not come as a surprise at all. I will still need to get with Bill Wilkerson and get the feeding therapy set up with them. I don't enjoy driving into Nashville, but I will do it if it helps him. It will be once a week. Back to the meeting. Benji will go to preschool 3 half days a week, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 7.45 to 10.45. The down side is that unless Nana can pick him up I will miss MOPs. (It's on Thursdays from 9-12, but I haven't talked to her yet and I am sure we can work out something.) While he is in the preschool he will receive his therapies. He will get Occupational Therapy once a week to focus on his fine motor skills (pencil and scissor grasp) and sensory integration (textures, sensory overload, etc). He will get Physical Therapy once a week in addition to wearing his shoe inserts, this will be to work on his stability in walking and running, strengthening his coordination. Speech therapy will be twice a week and will focus on the formation of 3-4 word sentences, articulation, plus naming colors, objects, shapes, etc. So... little man is going to be working hard.
Saturday was Benji's birthday party. He was so happy, he didn't even mind that he didn't get the Cars cake he wanted. It was okay I think, it had a 4 wheeler on it, so to him it was a car... LOL... For his birthday Benji got a stuffed musical rabbit from Nana and a Cars shirt. Uncle Ron and Aunt Wanda gave him Money, as did Great Grandma and Aunt Jean. Gale got him the Go Fish, Snazzy CD. He loves to dance to it. And while it is catchy we have discovered that after listening to it 5-6 times we need to change CDs. He also got... The Cars racetrack, Cars balloon, party pack of playdoh, a Cars T-shirt, and a Little People Construction set. With his money he bought.... Cars kick ball, Cars Dinoco McQueen, Cars sunglasses, and a 3 ring pool that we are going to use as a ball pit. So... little man loaded up. LOL..
Tuesday Benji got to go up to the school and meet the School Nurse and his class. I met with the nurse and the principal to make sure we were all on the same page with the hypoglycemia and also his heart condition. They took pictures of Benji so his picture is on his medical file. That way they have a picture ID. (I think this is a WONDERFUL idea) And the nurse will get a plan of action. I am also going to take some juice boxes up there along with some snacks that will help him in the event his sugar were to drop.
After we were done with the nurse we went to visit the classroom. Benji got to meet his classmates and his teachers. He was a little anxious, but I really think that was just a matter of new place new people. He was looking around alot, very inquisitive. Hopefully a good sign. The class was very well behaved even with it being during centers and another child was visiting too.
I am very impressed with this school. It just blows me away. I wish the elementary school the other kids are going to would impress me like this.
It's all in God hands though. The Lord has provided for the kiddos and I am sure that He will continue to do so.
Spring Break is next week, so don't be surprised to see lots of pictures!
Saturday, March 01, 2008
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