30 Days and Jo Jo will be 3!!!

Hard to believe that those little toes will be 3! In this picture Jo Jo is enjoying sitting in his basket of book's reading all the page number's from his favorite book's. I find it adorable, funny and cute when I glance over and just see the feet sticking up. Also in this picture is his favorite blanket, it goes everywhere with him, he also like's to chew on the corner of his blanket and make's it all wet and soggy and not to mention disgusting. I have tried to get him to stop chewing on it but he keep's doing it. So I just wash it once a week and the corner is getting frayed but he is happy with his blanket so I have stopped fighting with him over the chewing. I just hope it will be something he will grow out of.

We had three hour's of ABA yesterday and Jo Jo seemed to have a really hard time tolerating the work. He didn't want to clean up when it was time, and had a hard time following commands. But we also had someone training with out Therapist so at the same time it could have been because of the new face in the house. He had almost two week's without ABA so we are all readjusting to our schedule.

One thing I would really like to share, and that is how amazing the Rockland Preschool has been!!! I am overly impressed! They have not missed a beat!!! Before Christmas they observed Jo Jo during his session with the developmental specialist and we had our evaluation at the school, and this week there were three therapist who drove all the way to Jo Jo's play group and observed him during group, and just yesterday his actual teacher came to our house and observed during his ABA session. Next week is our big meeting at the school for his Evaluation/IEP hearing and they requested that Early intervention and Beacon ABA be there. I can't stop bragging about them. They have never been late and have never rescheduled anything. I have heard so many horror stories and this experience has made me realize how lucky we are to be living in Rockland Massachusetts!!!!!!!!!!!!

Time is Everything at the Moment

There is just never enough time in the day!

Hope Everyone had a amazing Christmas and a very Happy New Year!!! Jo Jo enjoyed Christmas, he was really happy with the first thing he opened and could have cared less about opening any other gifts. Caylee opened everything else LOL! We spent the day with family and Jo Jo just ran around my sister's house playing with toys and trying to sit on the dog's. He didn't eat much but I'm pretty sure that was due to all the excitement and visitor's.

Only 5 Weeks till Jo Jo will turn 3 and Early Intervention ends. I'm having a hard time getting past that idea. I just love Early Intervention! The service's have been amazing and we have been very lucky and blessed to have them come into our lives and teach us so much! They have been amazing with Jo Jo and scheduling was always flexible. I just can't say enough about BAMSI!

Things have been quiet at our house around the holidays, Jo Jo's play group was cancelled last week, and we didn't have much ABA therapy due to weather, holidays, and everyone has been getting sick. We did have our developmental specialist so he did get some therapy. We also received some good new's that our ABA Therapy is going from 9 hours a week to 15 hour's a week. 4 days instead of 2 days a week. Then after he turn's 3 and if our insurance will cover ABA, he will continue with 12 hours a week. So much to remember!!!

Lately Jo Jo has been making a lot of changes, most of them are good, some thing's are driving me crazy lol! But mostly he is talking so much! He is mimicking almost everything he is watching. He is picking up on sign language. He is trying to put words together and complete phrases or sentences. He still loves counting and can count to 31 now.

Some of the thing's he is doing that I am not so happy about is his lack of fear for height's! He has been jumping off of thing's, he is climbing on top of his little table and jumping off, then I caught him jumping off one of our kitchen stool's which is like a foot higher than his little table. He is such a boy!!!

But most of all he has been covering his eye's a lot lately, even hiding behind a chair curled up in a ball with his eyes shut tight and hands over them. I wish I knew what was bothering him. I can only assume that is a sensory processing issue and he is over stimulated. There have been commercials that he has been hiding his face too when they come on. I used to be able to take his hands and say hands down and he would follow but now he is fighting me with the hands down. He get's upset and try's to keep his hands up if not he won't open his eye's. It started as a once in a wile thing now it has progressed to several times a day. Anyway hopefully when we have ABA this upcoming week we can talk about it and work on it.

Here is to the next 5 weeks!!!!!

Preschool starts in February!!!!

Jo Jo's first day of preschool will be February 10th 2014!!!

Today Jo Jo had a evaluation at Rockland Preschool and he did a great job. They were really impressed with his attention span and being able to follow through with activities and transition. That's my boy!!! He is such a good little boy. Thank you to Early Intervention and ABA Therapy!!! Without these services Jo Jo would never have been able to complete the evaluation.

During the Evaluation I had to fill out more paperwork. It never ends! Today I had to fill out a sensory processing packet, a general information packet, and another evaluation packet. It becomes extremely repetitive and annoying with all the paperwork. 

We also got to visit Jo Jo's classroom and meet one of his new fellow student's. He was adorable and couldn't wait to play with Jo Jo, and Jo Jo could have cared less. The classroom was very similar to Caylee's classroom which is directly across the hall. Awesomeness!!!! They also have a lot of technology in the classroom, and they even have there own occupational therapy room with a therapy swing! So far loving the program and teacher's! 

There is a little but more left to do for Jo Jo's Eligibility Evaluation. The school will be observing in January at Jo Jo's play group and they will also come and observe ABA Therapy. Then mid January we will have our Eligibility Meeting with the director, therapists, teacher's, early intervention, and us of course. The meeting will be our first IEP Meeting also, They will tell us he is eligible for the program and we will talk about his education plan. 

The director has already told us that Jo Jo is eligible because he has a diagnosis but they still have to complete there evaluation in full by law and they also get to observe Jo Jo which gives them a better picture of what they will need to be doing for him. Jo Jo will go to preschool four days a week from 9 to 11:30. The same time as Caylee which makes everything easier! I'm very excited for Jo Jo to start school. I think he is going to love it! He is a fast learner and I think he will fit in just fine. I am also very sad because my baby is starting school. It's going to be weird not having any kids in the house. Gonna miss my little man!

There is a reason it is called a Safety Harness!

One of my biggest pet peeve's is when someone has to use a safety harness for there child, and people stair or make comments such as "why do you have your kid on a dog leash". Hhhmmm a dog leash what a awful way to describe someone who is trying to keep there child safe. I understand we all have our own belief's on parenting but is this mommy war necessary?

Every parent is different, every child is different, every situation is different. My situation is that I have a 2 1/2 year old son with Autism and he like's to wander, but most of all he run's! He also does not respond to his name. For us a safety harness is necessary for our Jo Jo.

I have once read and have been apart of conversation's with parent's and non parent's opinion's of a safety harness. Some people are very understanding and other people not so much. The excuses and reason's people come up with why a harness is bad is appalling.

Parent's have said thing's like "You should just put him in a stroller". Wow really how about my kid get some exercise and just walk with me. What's the difference, either way your child will still have a safety harness on. I have also heard comment's like "If you can't control your kid, then you shouldn't have had kids". Seriously!!! Who are these nasty mother's to judge my parenting!!!! I think the one that really light's a fire under me is when it is referred to as walking a dog, and last but not least "My child feel's like they have freedom when they can walk on there own". Ok well what toddler should have that much freedom? Your child could disappear in a second, no matter how vigilant you are. Accident's do happen even to the most cautious parent's.

I only want to protect my child, It's not cause I can't control him, it is because he has autism and doesn't understand what a normal developed toddler can. He doesn't understand walk with me, or don't run. The safety harness was designed for it's exact purpose, safety!

At Jo Jo's group I was talking to another mother who also uses a harness on her son. She uses it for all the same reason's as we do. She also expressed how hurt she get's when people stair at her or make comment's when they see her and her son with the harness. She said that times are already tough and the last thing I need is someone making me feel like a bad parent for using a harness, she is only trying to protect her son.

I guess the biggest point I want to get across is that you don't know everyone's unique situation and every parent has the right to use a safety harness if they feel it is necessary. Why bash another parent for protecting there child? Parenting is hard enough, if anything we should be empowering each other to be better parent's!

Every Tuesday

Every Tuesday Jo Jo goes to a Sensory Processing Play Group at the Early Intervention center in Brockton. It's usually about a 1/2 hour drive from our house. If anyone knows Brockton, Ma it is a adventure just driving through. Keep your doors locked and be prepared to see something you don't see every day. This week I just laughed! I needed some humor in my day and when I watched a car make a right hand turn and the driver's side back door swung open and the lady in the back seat screamed and reached for the door and closed it, I just died laughing waiting for the light to turn green. Yup love Tuesday's driving through Brockton!

Play group is from 1:30 to 3:00, it usually ends 10 minutes early. We have been going for about 2 1/2 months and will continue going until Jo Jo turns 3 in February. The group changes all the time. Sometimes there is only 3 kids, sometimes it's up to 7 or 8 kids.

Jo Jo loves his play group. He really enjoy's going. Every time we go I let him walk in first and he marches down to the classroom and heads to the chalk board every time. It is going to be really hard in February when we stop going. Everyone we have met there have been awesome!!! When Jo Jo is in his play group there is a parent group that meet's and I have met some awesome mom's! We usually talk about what our kids have been doing, achievements they have been, and services we are receiving. It has been an amazing support group to be apart of.

So Much to be Thankful for!!!!

Can't believe Thanksgiving is already over! We have so much to be thankful for this year!!! So thankful for our healthy children, and so thankful for our whole family! Most of all thankful that we live in a time with amazing medical and therapeutic professionals. Jo Jo has made such huge steps lately, the words are starting to flow, tantrums are getting better, and he is such a happy little boy!!!

Jo Jo has become very vocal, he is mimicking almost everything he hears. He almost sounds like a babbling baby at times, it is so cute! He can tell us if he wants a drink or if he is hungry. He has also become a very picky eater lately. He used to eat just about anything you fed him. Typical toddler!

We still have our busy schedule of almost everyday someone at the house or somewhere to go. But he is getting the best treatment! Everyone who has helped from Early Intervention, our doctors, and therapist have just been amazing!!! I am so bummed that we only have two months left of working with Early Intervention. When Jo Jo turns 3 in February he will transition to Rockland Public School's and Jo Jo will start school.

Jo Jo started occupational therapy on Monday, she gave us a temporary weighted blanket. We are testing it out for one week to see how he does with it. If he responds well to the blanket they have someone who will make us a blanket and our insurance will cover the cost. The first night seemed to go well, he stayed in bed all night, he was still in bed when I got up in the morning. Night two I did pick him up off the floor twice. Night's 3 and 4 he stayed in bed!!! I hope it stay's this way because it breaks my heart finding him on the cold hardwood floor. The occupational therapist think's the reason he may be getting up is the hardwood floor must be giving him some sensory input, because when he does get up he doesn't try to wake us up. We don't even hear him. The blanket is small, it just cover's him. It is very soft and has many little pocket's that have little bean bags in them for the weight. His blanket is 4 lbs. The blanket can also be very easily washed as long as you take out all the little bean bags first.

Every time Jo Jo makes the littlest step it is like the hugest accomplishment!!! He does things that make me laugh, love, cry and smile!!!

Yesterday was probably one of his sweetest moments. My Hubby Joe was half asleep on the couch watching movies and Jo Jo with his cup in hand opened his Dada's hand and placed his cup into his hand and said "me cup please" in his sweet little voice. It sounds more like "we up pease" but we knew what he wanted. That for us is such a huge accomplishment!!! He is much happier boy now that he can communicate with us! It is the littlest thing's that we are thankful for!!!

Our Top 5 Fun Idea's for Sensory Processing!

I am always looking for some fun activities for the kids and I to do together and I find sensory projects are always the most entertaining. I just wanted to share some fun Sensory Ideas I have found on Pinterest!!! We have also tried all of the example's listed and both of my kids love it!

1. Sensory Board's which can be made from item's found around the house and they are easily stored away in a shoe box or plastic bin. Just take some card board squares and let your imagination do the rest!!!
 
2. Our 5 Senses! This one is also very easy to do and can be down with item's found in your home.

3. Sensory Balloon's! Fill each balloon with a different texture such as rice, flour, coffee beans, sand, or bead's. Very easy!

4. Sensory Bin's! Thank you Mary for this awesome idea! Sensory bin's are easy and it is a lot of fun to do different themed bin's!

5. Sensory Bottle's! Fill with anything! Colorful or noisy, let your kids shake shake shake!!!

Temper Tantrum VS. Autism Meltdown

The past week has been a looooonnnggg one! Jo Jo's tantrums have escalated to a new level for us. We have never seen some of this behavior so it has been shocking and stressful for us. I have been doing my own research and talking with out therapist's to get as much info and education as possible on this matter since it is such a huge safety issue!

We have come to the conclusion that it is not a Temper Tantrum it is a Autism Meltdown. There is a difference between the two. Majority of the time a Temper Tantrum is to gain some sort of attention, and the Autism Meltdown usually is because they are denied a certain activity, or a sensory overload. After that being said I have realized that Jo Jo is not having a Temper Tantrum he is having a Autism Meltdown.

Temper Tantrums
A temper tantrum is very straightforward. A child does not get his or her own way and, as grandma would say, "pitches a fit." This is not to discount the temper tantrum. They are not fun for anyone.
Tantrums have several qualities that distinguish them from meltdowns.

* A child having a tantrum will look occasionally to see if his or her behavior is getting a reaction.
* A child in the middle of a tantrum will take precautions to be sure they won't get hurt.
* A child who throws a tantrum will attempt to use the social situation to his or her benefit.
* When the situation is resolved, the tantrum will end as suddenly as it began.
* A tantrum will give you the feeling that the child is in control, although he would like you to think he is not.
* A tantrum is thrown to achieve a specific goal and once the goal is met, things return to normal.

FACT
If you feel like you are being manipulated by a tantrum, you are right. You are. A tantrum is nothing more than a power play by a person not mature enough to play a subtle game of internal politics. Hold your ground and remember who is in charge.A temper tantrum in a child who is not autistic is simple to handle. Parents simply ignore the behavior and refuse to give the child what he is demanding. Tantrums usually result when a child makes a request to have or do something that the parent denies. Upon hearing the parent's "no," the tantrum is used as a last-ditch effort.The qualities of a temper tantrum vary from child to child. When children decide this is the way they are going to handle a given situation, each child's style will dictate how the tantrum appears. Some children will throw themselves on the floor, screaming and kicking. Others will hold their breath, thinking that his "threat" on their life will cause parents to bend. Some children will be extremely vocal and repeatedly yell, "I hate you," for the world to hear. A few children will attempt bribery or blackmail, and although these are quieter methods, this is just as much of a tantrum as screaming. Of course, there are the very few children who pull out all the stops and use all the methods in a tantrum.Effective parenting, whether a child has autism or not, is learning that you are in control, not the child. This is not a popularity contest. You are not there to wait on your child and indulge her every whim. Buying her every toy she wants isn't going to make her any happier than if you say no. There is no easy way out of this parenting experience. Sometimes you just have to dig in and let the tantrum roar.

Meltdowns

If the tantrum is straightforward, the meltdown is every known form of manipulation, anger, and loss of control that the child can muster up to demonstrate. The problem is that the loss of control soon overtakes the child. He needs you to recognize this behavior and rein him back in, as he is unable to do so. A child with autism in the middle of a meltdown desperately needs help to gain control.

* During a meltdown, a child with autism does not look, nor care, if those around him are reacting to his behavior.
* A child in the middle of a meltdown does not consider her own safety.
* A child in a meltdown has no interest or involvement in the social situation. 
* Meltdowns will usually continue as though they are moving under their own power and wind down slowly.
* A meltdown conveys the feeling that no one is in control.
* A meltdown usually occurs because a specific want has not been permitted and after that point has been reached, nothing can satisfy the child until the situation is over.

Unlike tantrums, meltdowns can leave even experienced parents at their wit's end, unsure of what to do. When you think of a tantrum, the classic image of a child lying on the floor with kicking feet, swinging arms, and a lot of screaming is probably what comes to mind. This is not even close to a meltdown. A meltdown is best defined by saying it is a total loss of behavioral control. It is loud, risky at times, frustrating, and exhausting.

The Tantrum Life

ABA Services has kicked off to a interesting and exhausting start. We started last week on Wednesday and so far I am loving the help we are getting. Marissa and Emmy Lou are so nice!!! Jo Jo is warming up fast and enjoys his time with them. It has been a challenge since we are not used to so many hours of service. For the first couple of week's it will be mostly fun and play time as they collect data to put together the correct programs for Jo Jo. The first week went very well.

This week on the other hand Jo Jo has done a complete 360 in the tantrum department. His typical tantrum usually consists of him throwing himself backwards and falling and he would cry for a minute and it would be over if left alone, usually if you would interfere with him he would tantrum longer. It's best to just let it run it's course as long as there were no safety concerns.

I have noticed in the last few weeks his tantrums have started lasting longer, he would sometimes try to get my attention, or he even get's more physical and will throw a toy or kick me if I was standing near him. I didn't think to much of it other than he is 2 1/2 they have tantrums, we will get through it.

After yesterday I realized I was wrong. Marissa was over for her scheduled time of 8 to 11. Jo Jo seemed himself that morning and he was happy to see Marissa and both kids were playing and having fun. Jo Jo was working on a alphabet puzzle. Just so everyone know's Jo Jo is obsessive with letter's and they all must go in order from A to Z. Anyway he was putting the letter's in order and Caylee tried to help and placed a letter in the puzzle but it was out of order. That's all it took. Jo Jo had the most explosive tantrum I have ever seen!!!

The tantrum lasted a good 15 to 20 minutes. He tossed the puzzle, he tossed himself backwards and hit his head. He got up and started running all over the living room crying and screaming and just tossing him self around. If there was anything in his way it frustrated him. He would kick it or throw it. At this point I was very concerned and I stepped in to try and console him which only enraged him more. He hit me in the face with both hands and arched back and kicked me. I knew at this point he was at his worst that I have ever seen. I got up to get his sippy cup and Marissa followed Jo Jo around to make sure he didn't hurt himself. Finally he calmed down when he got his cup and I snuggled him until he wanted to go play again. He continued to be easily irritated from the rest of the session.

We had a 4 hour break before the next ABA session which would start at 3:30 so we went out to do some Christmas shopping. Jo Jo is always so goof in store's. He sits in the wagon and doesn't say boo! It's like he is in a calm state of mind. We picked up lunch and headed home.

At 3:30 when Emmy Lou arrived I informed her immediately about our eventful morning with Marissa and she seemed extremely concerned. As we talked about addressing his tantrum issues and how to handle them and work on eliminating them and redirecting him, Emmy Lou told me she was going to have to provoke a tantrum. She had to see what was actually going on in order to come to a solution.

After our long morning it wasn't hard to provoke a tantrum. We started with a number puzzle and he was placing all the number's in order and Emmy tried hiding one of the number's from him so he couldn't put them in order and that was it the fuse was lit! Except this time the tantrum was in fact the worst and longest yet!!! It went on for a solid 30 minute's. He was hitting his head, throwing himself, throwing toys, crying and so on. The tantrum didn't end until he exhausted himself and he had nothing left. WOW!!! I was speechless!!! Emmy Lou expressed deep concern for Jo Jo's safety and she did tell me she was going to have to contact her supervisor and just let her know what was going on. She also told me they had some questionnaire's for me to fill out based on his behavior so we could find the underlying cause of these tantrums. for example if they were attention seeking, trying to escape from doing something, or a sensory issue. This would ultimately be the decision maker for the plan for treating and teaching other ways for him to react to situation's.

We ended the session with some fun play to keep him happy and it wasn't long before he was out like a light and he slept 13 hours last night!!!

Today's session was amazing!!! Not one tantrum today!!! Jo Jo was in good spirit's all day. Emmy Lou's Supervisor Michelle did come out to the house today to talk to us about Jo Jo's behavior and help explain what they do to find out why this is happening and how we can work on it. We also completed our questionnaires to find out a possible reason why he is doing this. Majority of the time the tantrums start it because he is not getting what he wants. It is less likely attention seeking, and more so because he may not want to do something we or he is doing. and least likely a sensory issue which is a huge relief!!! If it was due to a sensory issue it is much harder to work on and correct. It would also mean that he like's hitting his head. Thankfully that is not the case.

Well I am one exhausted Mama!!!

Halloween was Awesome!!!

Jo Jo had an amazing and fun Halloween!!! We had ABA in the morning for 3 hours, and Jo Jo's sister Caylee had a fun day at preschool. Caylee had silly hat day and chose to wear her pink princess hat, not surprised LOL! She came home wearing pink butterfly wings, I have no idea where they came from. I brought them back to school and Caylee's teacher told me that Caylee insisted that she was a butterfly LOL! She is something else.

It was our first time taking the kids Trick or Treating! They both had so much fun and really enjoyed it. We used our wagon for Jo Jo. Caylee insisted on walking. We probably went to about 20 houses on our street. Every time we stopped at a house Jo Jo through his leg over the wagon and climbed out and ran up to every door and knocked with his little finger. It was so cute!!! Sometimes he waited for the door to open, sometimes he turned away and ran back to the wagon and climbed back in. Caylee waited patiently and said "Happy Halloween & Trick or Treat". Then off to the next house. It was fun for all of us!!!

Both kids were exhausted and sound asleep in bed shortly after we got home. Couldn't have asked for a better night!