Dean Update 12/7/17

I just had my interview with Social Security yesterday, so now I am just waiting up to 120 days for a decision on Dean’s medical disability. According to the website, he can get half of what would be allotted to me when I retire. So, that would be a good chunk of money to be able to buy him furniture and clothes. His food and diapers get expensive too, so that would help with that as well. Also, if he wants to do dance, karate, or peewee baseball or soccer, the money would help out a lot. It’s tough being a single mom on a single income. It’s even harder when a child is special needs. I’d love to be able to afford to go out and see most of a movie with him in a theater. I just can’t afford these things. It’s hard not being able to provide, but I’m doing every thing I can to try to make more money. Like going back to college and finishing my Environmental Science degree.

12/4/17 – Speech

HMEA provider of choice. Dean is making more eye contact when I arrive and when he is interested in something. He stood in front of me with eye contact and making noises – he was trying to tell me something. He independently put 4 shapes into shape sorter and then needed hand over hand. Modeled and did hand over hand for more and all done.

• Continue to model more and all done

12/5/17 – OT

Mike reported that Dean was able to place about seven shapes in his shape sorter with mother last night. Dean did excellent today. We continue to work in booster seat followed by sensory free play in bean bucket. He attempted to place shapes into sorter immediately followed by as long as he wasn’t allowed to twirl item, he brought to sorter. Placed marshmallows into slotted container. Worked (cautiously with constant vigilance so he didn’t mouth item) placing coins into piggy bank which he did with 75% accuracy. Also worked on pointing for choices as long as he had the facilitation “spark” or prompt of my finger in his palm, he tried pointing to desired object. He is not ready for prompt folding to arm.

• Encourage pointing to desired items as you give verbal prompt “I want”.

12/7/17 – OT

Dean had a hard time falling asleep last night. Family has not heard from HMEA yet to schedule evaluation. Dean did well today in terms of tolerating the structure of time to play, time to work. His balance was poor today. He fell and stumbled more frequently and fell. Still working on fine motor skills and communication such as pointing. He grabbed my hand one time to help point to his bottle. He brought hands together three separate occasions with minimal prompting to sign more for more bubbles.

• Work on pointing to desired item such as snack or bottle

I’ve been trying to get a hold of Dean’s OT to no avail. Hopefully, she just took a vacation and didn’t tell us this week. Dean really likes her, but she was a no call no show on Tuesday. We haven’t heard anything from her since Friday.

With Love,

Advertisement

Autism Talk on Beauty Blog

Hey guys!

I am trying to gauge your reaction to me introducing a new topic on my blog instead of creating a whole separate blog for it. My son Dean was just diagnosed with disabling autism. Yes, my son isn’t even 2 and is mentally disabled. It’s tough and emotional and I want to take you guys on this journey with me. I just want to make sure that this is okay to mix in with my beauty stuff. I know that this is my blog and all, but I don’t want to turn my followers away. Don’t worry! There will still be PLENTY of beauty posts to keep you going through the week, but I thought once or twice a week, I can write about my journey dealing with my son’s autism. The first post I have planned will be about the day that I found out, which was this past Monday. Depending on your response, I could do posts on any topic of autism you guys want. Feel free to give me ideas about what topics to post about like when I first thought he had it and dealing with tantrums. Whatever you guys want. Let me know that you would be fine with this new content change. Like this post and/or post a comment to show your support. My man bean man Dean thanks you. 🙂

Thank you for reading as always.

With Love,

 

Mighty Sticks

For Plum Organics Mighty Sticks in Berry Beet

These were so healthy for Dean and he really enjoyed them. They are really overpriced for how many that you get in the box. Over $3 for six snacks. I like that they are made with 100% whole grains and that the brand gives back to the community. This snack is great for toddlers that are still gumming food, but this food goes too fast with a toddler who has a full mouth of teeth. I highly recommend this product, but I will not be repurchasing it.

With Love,

❤ Selena Hannah ❤

Paw Patrol

For Nickelodeon Paw Patrol 3-in-1 Blueberry Bark

I loved washing Dean with this product. It is thicker than the other washes and moisturizing. It has a nice slip to it and smells like blueberry oatmeal. It has enough moisture to condition Dean’s thin hair, but I always moisturize his body after a bath/shower. He has a tendency to have dry arms and legs. Dean loves that he gets to play with his T.V. friends in the tub. I keep the empty bottles for him to play with as long as the caps stay intact. They have a tendency to break and I chuck them out when that happens. I used the Marshall one for the first time and the cap broke. He’s still playing with Chase though.

With Love,

❤ Selena Hannah ❤

Fruit Pick-Ups

For Gerber Fruit Pick-Ups Diced Apples

Dean really loves these cut up apples. I will not be repurchasing again, though. Dean eats pieces of fresh cut up apples now. I am not afraid that he will choke on a piece anymore. These bowls had two servings of fruit and he generally ate these in four sittings. I like that there aren’t a ton of preservatives in Gerber foods and I feel like Gerber wasn’t always like that. I have only seen the apple option at all of the stores that I shop at, so I am unsure if they make anymore kinds of diced up fruit. I highly recommend these, because they are soft, easy to mash up, and swallow. They are great for early chewers.

With Love,

❤ Selena Hannah ❤

Lil’ Meals

For Gerber Graduates Lil’ Meals White Turkey Stew with Rice & Vegetables

Dean was not a big fan of this one and only ate half of the container before I had to throw it out. For reference, I keep these containers for about a week before tossing them if he doesn’t finish them. It is a 6 oz meal that he just didn’t like the taste off. I have since backed off of the little meals and have been feeding him more from the table. I think I might pick up a few meals now, since he has had a break. He’s been eating the fruit and veggie pouches good. He can finish off a pouch in two to three days. He loves his fruit and veggies. I think he might have not been ready for a soup, when I tried this one. I will probably repurchase and try it again, but I will definitely buy some of the other kinds.

With Love,

❤ Selena Hannah ❤

May Empties

I have a whole lot of empties this month that my basket was overflowing. I had to photograph everything and start this post in mid-May. That is how many empties I have this month. I actually even cut May a few days short. I’m writing this on May 28th, because the basket filled up good again. It’s close enough to the end of May and it will just give a little bit of a boost to June. Although, I don’t have anything really close to being empty yet, which is why I just decided to do my count today.

1.2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Gerber Lil’ Beanies

10. Nickelodeon Paw Patrol 3-in-1 in Blueberry Bark

11. Tresemme Curl Moisturizing Shampoo

12. 13. International Delight Coffee Creamer

14. 15. Softsoap Coconut Butter Body Scrub

16. Mott’s Medleys Fruit Flavored Snacks

17. Jimmy Dean Stuffed Hash Browns in Bacon & Veggies

18. Parent’s Choice Toddler Cookies in Banana

19. Bath & Body Works Dancing Waters Body Lotion

20. Ecowix Candle in Ocean Breeze

21. The Body Shop Tea Tree Face Mask

22. Lush Snow Fairy Body Wash

23. Hydro Silk Sensitive Care Razor Head 4 pack

24. New England EyeOpener Coffee Blend

25. Cover Girl Loose Powder in Translucent Fair

26. Marc Anthony Beach Spray

27. Nicole by OPI Roughles Nail Polish in On What Grounds?

28. Teething Toothbrush

29. Arm & Hammer Spinbrush Paw Patrol Themed

30. Wen Sweet Almond Mint Styling Creme

31. Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap

32. Equate Acetaminophen

33. Nuk Tooth & Gum Cleanser

34. Cotton Rounds 100 ct

35. Scented Secrets Vanilla Sugar Body Lotion

36. Clarisonic Acne Brush Head

37. Maybelline Dream Velvet Gel-Whipped Foundation

38. Avene Intensive Cream

39. 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream

40. BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in Moxie

41. Goodie Hair Tie

42. Versace Eros Perfume Sample

43. Stilla Lip Glaze in Sparkling Grape

44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. Paper Mate Ink Joy Pens and Sharpie

I think 51 empties is enough for one month. I’m happy ending it here early. This was such a heavy month. I look forward to seeing what I can accomplish next month. You’ll be seeing plenty of reviews for the next few months to come. I’m behind in my product reviews. I have so many prewritten on paper for my blog. I probably have 50 reviews right now, waiting to be featured. I continue to write them throughout the month as well on paper. I tend to review around 40 items a month on paper, but there is not that many days in a month. Naturally, I got behind. I hope you don’t mind seeing reviews 5 days a week and my more unique posts on the weekends/holidays.

With Love ❤

Strawberry In Your Banana

For MZB Accessories Strawberry-Banana 3-In-1 Body Wash, Shampoo, & Conditioner

First of all, this scent is to die for. It is so sweet with a hint of real bananas. It is like candy, gummy strawberry scent with a real banana scent in it. I really love how my son’s hair smells after using. The wash itself is a bright red color, which can be alarming. I was expecting a pinker color. Dean loves the Minion character, so he learned to love bath time to be able to play with the bottle. The eyes are holographic which is neat. I bought this at Walmart for like 6 bucks. I have already repurchased this. I love to sniff my boy’s hair when I rock him in my arms before bed time. I hope that isn’t too weird.

With Love,

❤ Selena Hannah ❤

Turkey Hotdogs

For Gerber Graduates Lil’ Sticks Meat Sticks in Turkey

I find it funny that even though it says Turkey, the first ingredient is pork, then beef, then ground turkey. I also think that one jar of meat sticks is too much for one meal. He eats one to two sticks at every meal. He really enjoyed them and I bought the jar of chicken sticks, which are only made of chicken. I think maybe because they are called meat sticks, they put other “meat” in it? I don’t know, but that is very misleading. This is why I encourage everyone to read labels. You never really know what you are actually eating, until then. These sticks are great to have around for a quick meal. Dean will have them whole, steamed with veggies, or I’ll cut them up and fry them a bit in the pan. He loves them any way you make them.

With Love,

<3Selena Hannah<3

Foodie Post

For Gerber Lil’ Beanies With Cheddar and Broccoli

Dean loves these and I love how healthy these are for him. These have been featured so much on my blog and this review includes the plain ones as well. They have 2 grams of protein per serving, because they are made of beans. It also contains less than 1 gram of sugar, which is a nice added benefit. I have repurchased these again and again. I will keep repurchasing, until I can find a good adult alternative. Possibly, veggie sticks? Those are made with veggies instead of beans though. Dean can eat these all day and he asks for them with his hands when he sees the container. I highly recommend these for toddlers everywhere. They are a great nutritious, filling snack. I might do an Amazon order, if they come in more flavors, so Dean can try some new tastes. Also, they are less expensive when bought in bulk.

With Love,

❤ Selena Hannah ❤