hall pass to pout

 

I know I should be happy that he's screaming "NO NO NO" every time I look at him.

 

 

 

 

 

It shows that on some level he understands he shouldn't be pooping in his pants.

 

 

I should be happy about that.

 

 

But mostly, I am just sick to death of changing poops and urine drenched undies and pull ups and bedding almost every night.

 

 

And today, I'm giving myself the liberty to be sick to death of it. I'm giving myself the freedom to not "look for the silver lining". I'm giving me a hall pass to pout. For today.

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow. Back to our regularly schedule programming.

 

 

…danielle

Trevy’s February Montessori/Tot School Trays

 

 

Sensory Bin

We shout out to the month of looooove with all things red and pink.  In our bin, Trevy and Bristel will find magnetic (I already have gobs of these, I just had to sort out the red/pinks) and sticker (Target $1 bin) letters, music makers (pink harmonics in Target $1), whistle lips (Michaels) and little red or pink cars and other odds n’ ends we have around the house. 

 

I don’t have any real focus with the sensory bin other than to expose Trevor to a variety of sensations.  He’s a sensory seeking guy. 

 

Bristel loves our sensory bins the most, though.  She made super cute little necklaces out of yarn and the sticker letters for herself and a friend.  She is amazingly already…but playing in the sensory bin just gets her juices flowing even more!  Which can be dangerous for a not so crafty creative mommy!

 

T for Trevy Tray

I’m still using our sand tray because it’s still a hit!  I found the most adorable little open-up-able hearts (Target $1) to hide the letters of his name.  I’m always trying to combine OT/PT with our activities!  Because Trevy still isn’t able to independently spell his name, I used a sentence strip to help him out.  As he finds the letters he can place them on the sentence strip matching letters.  He loves matching things.  And once he’s done matching all the letters we’ll spell his name together.

 

 

All About Reading Tray

I am SO thrilled to be part of the TOS All About Reading review team!  They granted me a special Trevy review – and gave me Pre Level 1.  I believe with all my heart that Trevy CAN and WILL read.  If there is anything I’m going to pour myself into the most…it’s this and his speech.  I spent the weekend organizing the worksheets (I like to hole punch and keep them in a binder for ease of use) and laminating the alphabet cards (because Trevy likes to eat random things ).  Next up, is adding the music to iTunes so we can use our iPad to listen to our lesson’s music/poems.  CDs are not off limits, when it comes to Trevy munching.  I did mention he’s sensory seeking, right?  Much of it oral!  Which is why I cannot say enough how essential the iPad has been to our homeschooling/theraplaying!  Seriously, if you’re wondering if it would help you?  I’m giving it a resounding YEEEES! 

 

For Trevy’s AAR tray, I have Ziggy the Zebra plus a couple other puppets hiding inside.  Because I know Trevy (and Bristel, she <3’s “helping” me teach Trevy) will enjoy playing with his own puppet too.  Everything else is my adorable AAR tote in a closet.  Some things just aren’t safe in Trevy range!

 

 

Music Lovers Tray

Grams & PopPop gave Trevy his cd player for Christmas and he still LOVES it!

 

 

Counting to 10 Tray

We were crazy fools and took all three kiddos to the last Home Depot workshop.  Where Trevy almost impaled me and everyone else within reach with his hammer before he made that super cute little piggy bank shed.  I had been thinking to make something with a slot for fine motor work anyway…so it was GREAT!  Even if I did swear – NEVER AGAIN!  Seriously, you haven’t seen the kid swing a hammer!  Trust me.  You want to be at the far end of the table! 

 

I’m using (in red, of course) 10 counting stix.  We count them as we put them in.

 

 

Speech Therapy Tray

Ah, the good ol’ speech therapy tray.  Where keep all things speech-y.

For pre flash card or PECS work, we use a variety of oral motor fun tools. 

 

Bubbles (in a spill proof bottle)

Whistle lips (Trevy totally loooooves them)

Newborn brush (rub cheeks and lips and face to wake up the muscles)

Straws

Cotton Ball (Trevy loves this one too. I’ll place the cotton ball on my hand and he has to blow it off.)

 

Inside the binder I have a plastic folder holding his current and past flash cards.  I try to do them all each time we work.

A pencil hold is GREAT for all those loose PECS cards!

Trevy love love loooooves just rifling through all the cards.

I have his I want _______ strip hung permanently on the white board.  He’s mastered I want, so I don’t emphasize him using the strip any more.  But he still enjoys seeing it and using it.

 

 

More ABCs Tray

(because there’s no such thing as too much!)

Recycled from last month’s trays.  Letter Recognition of Upper and Lower Case A & B.

 

 

Big Bigger Biggest Tray

I printed these super cute Big Bigger Biggest Hearts.  One for Trevy.  One for Bristel – cause she is all about this kinda stuff!

 

We’ll find the biggest and littlest and the middlest.

 

And then tear up bits of tissue paper to paste on.  Tearing tissue paper is great fine motor work and gift tearing into prep!

 

 

Fun With Friends Tray

Super cute Sesame Street workbooks found at Michaels.  But I also saw them at The Dollar Store too.  I *heart* these!  For just a buck…I don’t get psycho mommy when Trevy scribbles in them rather than letting me hand over hand help him!

 

 

And that’s what we’re doing for February! 

 

 

ps.  I’m using and loving the IKEA Trofast system for Trevy’s Trays.

We only have the small green bins that fit them but it would be GREAT to have some bigger ones for bigger toys/projects.  To be entirely transparent, when I first switched to this system out in open Trevy reach…I was terrified!  I thought he’d be munching and ripping and throwing and spreading things EVERYWHERE!  But so far so good.  He’s doing great.  I’ve found that having things broken into trays helps him understand the concept of First Then.  First finish this tray Then we do that tray. 

 

 

…danielle

ABA update

 

I had to advocate hard (read: get an attorney involved) for Trevor to receive ABA therapy through school.  In our state, ABA therapy is primarily a Medicaid approved home-based program.  Which is great.  If you have Medicaid.  And also, if your child’s primary needs are self care or behavioral.  Which Trevor has as well because by God I want the boy to dress himself eventually!    However, I passionately believe that the ABA model is what he needs to receive and retain academics.  Almost more important (to me) than dressing himself.

 

 

With the help of RI Disability Law Center, the school agreed.

 

 

Trevor has been receiving 8 hours of ABA instruction as part of his Individualized Education Plan for a little over a year now.  He goes to school about an hour and a half before his friends.  And the remaining half an hour is in class to help with generalization (layman’s terms:  being able to use the skills gained in ABA in other settings as well). 

 

 

At this point, I think it safe to say – MOMMY WAS RIGHT!

 

 

Every gain Trevor has made can be traced back to his ABA program!  Every gain.  Which is not my way of saying ABA is the right choice for every child.  I don’t believe that at all!  In fact, I don’t use the ABA model when I work with him at home because I think children learn best when they have a variety of learning input/output avenues.  But I do think that ABA (which has shown great success among those with Autism) is a good model for children with brain injury.  I also think, when in doubt, try it it out!  I’m not sure how other ABA providers collect data.  I only know our provider.  And our provider is AH-mazing!  In fact, I’m going to show you some of the data right now.  That’s how impressive it is!

 

 

Trevor was given and ABLLS-R evaluation in September 2010 (blue) and again in September 2011 (green).  So what is ABLLS-R?  Lucky you…I’m linking in this great explaination  .

 

 

 

 

Trevor has 25 lessons on a variety of skills.  If you’d like to know more specifically what skills…just shoot me an email.

 

 

The number of lessons completed each day really depends on him.  Some days his focus is spot on and he’s flying through lessons.  Other days he’s seizure-y or more distracted (which Dr. Neuro believes means spiking in that pesky right frontal lobe) and his momentum is less organized.  The next day, lessons will pick up where he left off.  And they continue through the cycle. 

 

 

Remember blue is last year green this. 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve seen the largest growth in his receptive language! 

 

 

Amazing. 

 

 

Considering. 

 

 

When they took our his left hemisphere that included removing his SPEECH CENTER! 

 

 

A week or so ago, I had the joy of playing 1:1 Aide with Trevy for a whooooole week!  During that week I was able to capture some cute little clips of him working hard in his ABA sessions.  How could I not share?

 

 

 

He’s getting pretty darn good at spelling his name!

 

 

One of my fave things about ABA (Montessori does this too) is the simplification process.  I love how she have the squares drawn on the board for him.  And is only giving him one letter at a time!  Which promotes success NOT stress.  Success, in turn, promotes LEARNING!  Also, a super happy Trevy!   He loves being praised for a job well done.

 

 

And he’s a super pro at shapes.  If you’re not a Seizure Mommy or Daddy, you probably didn’t notice.  And then even if you are more seizure educated than you ever wanted to be…but maybe not a Trevy expert…chances are you missed it too.  How sloooow he was moving in the Shapes lesson.  The way his words were slurring.  How his eyes look confused.  Grips the air right out of my heart. 

 

 

That is one of the seizures we’re seeing more often than we’d like.

 

 

He earns a token for each correct response.  After earning 5 tokens he gets to choose a fun activity.  The timer is set for 2 minutes.  When it beeps he is allowed to ask for one more minute.  <3  His favorite choices include using the iPad or Pod and walking to the gym where he can run and be crazy.  Or maybe just roll some hotwheels around. 

 

 

There is SO much more I want and could say about Trevy’s ABA…

 

 

but alas.  I’m mommy of more than one.  And the other two happen to need my help with their language arts right now.  You’ll give a wink at any typos or scrambled thoughts, right?  

 

 

…danielle

app(s) of the day

 

 

 

 

DialSafe Pro

 

 

FREE today and works for both the iPad and iPod!  I can’t say enough great things about this app!  I’m working on Bristel and Trevy with learning our phone numbers and this app is just the perfect fit!  One of the best perks is that you can record little messages so they feel like they’re talking to you.  What little one isn’t over the moon for recorded love notes from daddy while he’s at work?!  

 

 

 

 

Wood Puzzle USA Map

 

FREE today!  Only iPad.  This is the PERFECT Geography app! 

 

 

 

Color Uncovered

 

is FREE today!  Only iPad friendly.  A great little app for the science geek or budding artist in your house.  Also, a cool supplement if you’re studying the stars with Apologia as they explore colors a bit too.

 

 

 

LEGO App4+

 

FREE today!  Compatible with iPad and Pod.  Cause even virtual legos are fun. 

 

 

 

 

Montessori Counting Board

 

FREE today!  Works on iPad and Pod.  I’m a sucker for anything Montessori and I have to say this app is SOOOOO great!  Especially, for Trevy who doesn’t catch on to counting things easily.  Counting is Montessori-fied which makes it easier to digest. 

 

 

 

 

Gube

 

FREE today.  Works with iPad and Pod.  I have been WAITING for this app for, like, ever!  Trevy is a YouTube-ing fool.  But somehow he always finds disturbing videos.  I mean, seriously, people…do we really need to see Barney killing Dora?!  Sheesh!  Gube solves that!  Only safe YouTube videos are accessible!  The only downside is Trevy loooooves watching videos of himself and they’re not Gube approved.  But other than that…this app is PERFECT! 

 

Enjoy your Pad!

 

…danielle

how we survive being snowed in

 

 

Well, so much for that 2-3 inches. 

 

 

Says the mom.  Cozy on the couch.  Watching the Hubs and Firstborn dig the family out. 

 

 

 

 

The weather guessers haven’t given us the total accumulation yet.  But watching them wade through drifts over their knees, looks to be more than we expected.

 

 

The kids are loving it!  And the quiet this morning while all three plus the mutt were outside playing inspired me to make pancakes for breakfast.  To the delight of all!   

 

 

But mostly, day like these…

 

 

 

 

Have me dreaming of moving to Florida.  Warm year round.  And discounts to Disney!  Sounds like paradise…

 

 

Since moving is out of the question for now, I decided comfort food was the next best thing.  And since Little Caesar's is also out of the question, I opted to crock it. 

 

 

My faaaaave easy-peasy dinner has been slow cookin’ all day.  The picture does not do it justice!

 

 

 

 

Steak (whatever is on sale)

Smothered in a blend of cream of mushroom soup and steak sauce.

On low for 8-10 hours.

Served over mashed potatoes (or rice. or pasta).  Yuuuuuuum.   

 

 

Later, I’m thinking to whip up a batch of brownies.  To go with the 4 gallons of milk we picked up last night.  Storm food prep.  Or with the ginormous box of Swiss Miss.  The Keurig is SOOOO amazing for quick cups of cocoa!   

 

 

And then tonight, I’m scheming for The Hubs and I to catch up on our Netflix que after putting the snow-loving-thoroughly-exhausted kiddos down early. 

 

 

Maybe being snowed in once in a while really isn’t that bad?

 

 

If you’re in the North East like me.  And a big snow baby too.

Let’s enjoy today…and think warm, melty thoughts tomorrow!

 

 

…danielle

peek at a homeschooling moment in our house

 

 

I like to consider myself an eclectic homeschooler. 

 

 

We have some structured learning.  Hence the passion for workboxes.  I’m addicted to anything that smacks of  Montessori .  I like to sprinkle in some Read Aloud-ing.  Cause really, is there any such thing as too much couch cuddling?

 

 

And of course there’s some un-schooling-ish…or kid imagined…things happening here on a daily basis as well. 

 

 

For instance, I walked into the therapy/school room to find Bristel – who is ever trying to practice her learnin’ on her baby brother.  She was armed with the iPod Touch.  Trying like crazy to catch a clip of Trevy playing with his puzzle.  The trouble with Trevy is that he needs a lot of assistance to complete a task from start to finish.  She was getting a little frustrated.  So I stepped in to help her accomplish her goal – create a “documentary” to help give other parents “good ideas on how to work with their special needs kids”.  Her real life words are in the quotes.    

 

 

I keep telling her she’s going to make an amazing therapist or teacher someday!  Or maybe pediatric specialist of some kind…like neurology? 

 

 

Anywho…

 

 

We were finally successful!  So it’s a two for one clip. 

 

 

1) You get to see me working with Trevy.  I like to get him on his tummy as much as possible.  This clip is an example of an extended attention span moment. 

 

 

2) Bristel working on her producing and editing (you did hear her whisper coaching at me?) skills for some (un)school learning.

 

 

 

 

…danielle

 

The Tractor Fairy (who happens to live two streets over) left Trevy a surprise while we were at church this morning…

 

 

It was super deliciously adorable when Trevy ran in the yard and cried…

 

 

Ohhhhhh WOOOOOW!

 

 

It’s also adorable that Bristel is sneaking in a ride while he’s napping. 

 

 

…danielle

you know you’re a special needs mommy when…

 

 

you pause to admire the fine motor skills he's flaunting

 

for a few moments

 

before telling him to stop pickin' his boogies!

 

 

…danielle

Grams

 

 

I haven’t shared much about it for a multitude of reasons.  I don’t want to sound like a cry baby when I blubber that life is just so much harder without her help.  I want to protect her privacy.  I believe that my family…and all their unique needs… was Given to me and I should be able to care for them on my own.  I’m stubborn sometimes.  I also thought we’d be back to our “normal” routine by now.  It’s been months though.  And I didn’t know what to say.  Or how to say it.  Mostly, because I’m worried and I tend to hold my worry close to my heart.  It makes me uncomfortable sharing this, and I’m not sure why. 

 

 

So I’ve been quiet.

 

 

For the last five months my mom (otherwise known as Super Grams) has had a significant decline in her health. 

 

 

Five months ago she helped at least three days a week with Trevy.  They practically spent the summer in the pool together.  She gave me a weekly “errand day”.  Helped corral the kids whenever we had doctors appointments or what not.  Would be a substitute teacher when I was sick.  If I wanted spontaneous company on an errand, I could call and she’d be ready to join me in a heart beat.  And was always there to fill in any time I had a need.  She (and my dad) are the only family we have in the area.  And I really don’t have any one else who will volunteer to help.  Or that I feel comfortable asking.  Trevy does qualify for some “helper hours” so I can pay someone to help here and there.  But it’s not the same.  

 

 

And something happened to Grams. 

 

 

Almost over night.

 

 

Suddenly she was struggling to breath.  Her left side extremities are all weakened.  And a whole constellation of symptoms which surely must be connected and yet the doctor she was seeing didn’t seem to be putting it together.  And as a result she has yet to have a diagnosis or treatment plan. 

 

 

And she has yet to move back towards health.

 

 

I’ve been telling her for months that just because a doctor is the “chief of xyz” doesn’t mean he has a clue!  In fact, if we’d listened to the chief of pedi neurology at our local hospital Trevy never would have been a surgical candidate. I do have a little experience with navigating murky medical issues.  Alas, she followed my advice but only when it came through another source.  My dad’s employer offers a service called Best Doctors which they are using now to help guide their medical direction.  The nurse advocate told my mom she needed to be her own health advocate which meant aggressively pursuing a diagnosis and treatment plan.  And finding a new doctor.   

 

 

I was like, duh, I’ve been telling you that for months!

 

 

Sheesh…moms…

 

 

She has found a new doctor.  Who has ordered yet more tests.  More thorough tests.  One which is happening today. 

 

 

I’m hoping and praying that this test at least gives her more information than she had yesterday.  And brings her one step closer to health again.  Cause we want our Grams back! 

 

 

…danielle

I handsome

 

Holy Moly…this iPod touch is dangerously addictive!

 

I can’t stop taking video clips.  Which are inevitably too cute not to share with the whole wide world!  God help us, if they start limiting our digital airspace usage!   

 

 

His “handsome” move is too much!

 

 

And that giggle. I mean.  For real.

 

:: wink ::

 

 

…danielle