Dean’s EI Week

So, I really need to just get Dean’s PEC post written and out of the way, but I’m waiting for my break week in between semesters. I have two final projects due and I don’t want to get behind in doing them. I work hard on my blog posts and make sure that I feel 100% good about them before posting. I am enjoying my posting schedule, but some weeks I still feel like I’m posting too much and I’m losing some of the fun of it. I might be taking a break during Thanksgiving and Christmas, including New Years just to give me a break from the blog. I don’t want to be gone forever, but a week of 3-4 posts break would be nice every once in a while. This is why I won’t be posting during the last week of August. I want to prepare posts for the first few weeks of September, so if I need a break during school I can take one.

8/6/18 – OT

Dean has had an irritable few days. Dean wanted to be held by Hannah all day Sunday. The only thing that helped was swimming and trampoline. Worked on pointing, choosing activities, and eye hand coordination activities. He had several short lived tantrums with a few manipulatives after being told “No” for mouthing. Worked on self feeding with a spoon. He did well with bringing to his mouth. He needed help to scoop, but tolerated it well.

• Continue hand over hand for scooping with a spoon.

8/10/18 – Speech

Family feels like Dean has regressed. Lots of behaviors and need to be held all the time. Dean was seen at home with Mike and Ann. He is in constant motion and wants to be held. He had no interest in toys today, but was very happy with physical play. He enjoyed being squeezed and flipped. He said “up” x1 and “more” x1 during this type of play. Snack time he pushed away choices he didn’t want instead of pointing. Required assistance to use more sign.

• Assessment

I hope you guys don’t mind that I won’t be posting on the last week of August, but I really need the time to get ahead on some posts and get a head start to the semester. Sometimes, you just need a break and I’m feeling it right now with my blog. I’m tired of the content, but I love it at the same time. That’s why I need a break to just write and recharge about it all. No pressure. Plus, I’ll need some time for home buying things. I haven’t bid on a house or anything yet, but I’m really thinking about one that I fell in love with. There is a lot to consider, since it is pricier than what I wanted, but it is exactly what I wanted without having to do much work in order to move in.

With Love,

 

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Dean’s EI Week

You might be seeing two EI weeks one after another soon. ABA went on vacation, so I have a couple of these EI weeks to put up instead. I still have the PEC results to write up, but I am saving that for a week where I don’t have that much going on to be able to work on it for the full hour that I allow myself. I might do it at the end of August where I get a week break between the two semesters. I will be trying during that week to write the whole month of September. It would really help with keeping on top of school. I haven’t been behind on college work yet or in danger of. I have been pacing myself pretty good an give my self an hour off a couple of nights a week from 9 to 10 to de-stress. Speaking of school, I have two papers to fix up (Currently Sunday of week 4) that are due today and then, I can start Week 5. Fun. 🙂

7/23/18 – Speech

No words. Dean used pictures to make choices of snack. He chose raisins by pointing and grabbing. When all done, he needed hand over hand for all done sign. Pushes away when he doesn’t want something. He sat for a story today. Modeled signs for eat, water, and all done. Dean used these words/sounds today: bock bock, water, don’t want them).

• Continue to model animals names and sounds with beads or farm toys.

7/25/18 – OT

Dean has been saying more things spontaneously but not consistently. Dean has improved in his PECS communications from 10 to 12 months old to 13 to 16 months old. Dean was crying when I arrived because he was frustrated. A pillow got taken away due to “humping” behaviors. Spoke to Hannah that this behavior in young kids is not sexual in nature but rather an extreme seeking of deep pressure. Try to replace with other deep pressure activities: jumping, squeezing, etc. Dean did excellent. Worked through 4 puzzles with ease. Signed more after demonstration to request more puzzle pieces.

• Will start to initiate using pictures to request play items.

Unfortunately, Dean’s OT had a lot of personal issues and this was the first time in two or three weeks that he has had a session with her. He was so excited to see her and had a really great, productive session. I love seeing him grow and develop with each passing session. I got a letter in the mail to sign from the school board to give them permission to evaluate Dean. I have a few questions to ask my people first before signing and returning the document. It is all going by way to fast. I also don’t want my son to go to my town’s public school. There has been many problems and the state had to come in and take over. Now, the state is screwing up with minor sex trafficking scandals. I don’t feel comfortable sending my son to the public school here.

With Love,

Dean’s EI Week

I am writing this on July 29th, but this will be going up sometime in August. I just had a scare and I haven’t cried so much since my cat passed away last January. My dog Serena went in on Friday for a standard cleaning and tooth extraction and died on the table. They were able to revive her by taking out the anesthetic with a different drug in about a minute. That’s when we found out that Serena has a congenital heart defect and is in the last stage of heart failure. She will be seeing a cardiologist for chest x-rays to give us a better time line and way to treat her to prolong her life. It has been very upsetting for me and I’ll mention the results when I have them.

7/16/18 – Speech

“He didn’t do it” x1 “Help mom” x1 Dean was seen at home today. He was chewing a lot and is getting molars. He made some sounds during play and made nice eye contact. Worked on nose, belly with hand over hand. He responded to his name several times today. an, ba, ee.

• Continue to label animals with name and sounds when playing with beads.

Dean actually noticed that Serena was gone all day and kept looking for her underneath her blanket that is on the chair that she likes to sit on. When Serena got home from the vet, she cried/talked for a hour about whatever happened to her. She had to be held for two hours, the poor thing. I have been giving her half a pill in the morning and at night. She eats it right up. I think she knows that something is wrong with her. Makes sense now, all of her honking which previous vets had labeled asthma. It is actually a symptom of fluid collection in the lungs from heart failure. She doesn’t have heart disease though. Her heart just doesn’t worth right. Instead of pumping blood out of the heart, a good percentage of the blood comes back into it, so it has to work really hard to keep the blood flowing. I’m not ready for her to go. I’m not sure I ever will be.

With Love,

Dean’s EI Week

Dean has been an active boy this week. He has gone swimming and jumping on his trampoline. We even had a cookout and ate outside on the picnic table. If I had to guess, I would say that Dean loves his life and lives a pretty happy life too. I don’t want him to grow up and have life disappoint him. I always want him to have that love of life and joy in his heart. I want him to be a man, but a sensible and sensitive one as well. I want him to be a well-rounded person. I want to see him get married and cry at his wedding. I want the world for him. I love him to the moon and back. There is nothing that I wouldn’t do for him to help him.

7/9/18 – Speech

Nothing new to speak of. Better eye contact. Dean was a happy, very energetic boy today. Sensory seeking with running, jumping, spinning, and fingers by face. HE completed 2 puzzles, put on a couple of beads but his focus was short today. Nice eye contact today. Happy and vocal. “Roar” x2.

• Continue to repeat animal sounds when looking at pictures in books and beads.

7/9/18 – OT

Dean is doing okay. He just hit his head against door jam right before my arrival from spinning and falling. He had a busy day with ABA and Speech. Dean did well today. He actively chose items to play with and sat in working chair. He was more mouthy than he has been but settled in when given chewy tube. Continues to do well with manipulatives and he did great choosing pictures, too.

• Continue to use pictures to have him make choices.

Except to commit murder, I draw the line there. As a mother, I could never see the day where I wouldn’t love him. I think that makes me different, where my mother never loved me especially as I got older. I started off this blog saying that I would never be my mother and I would love my son in a way that I never was. I think I outdid myself, because we are doing everything that I wanted to do, too. Next Christmas, he’s getting one of those motorized cars that I never got when I was little. He is still too young this year, but it will be great next year. The backyard is nice and hilly. Great terrain for a 4 by 4 Ford truck to climb up. 🙂

With Love,

Dean’s EI Week

I was on vacation during this week and since it was the week of the fourth, Dean only had one session with his Speech therapist. His OT cancelled, because she was on vacation. He only sees his OT once a week, so maybe this upcoming week she will want to book a second session as a makeup for last week. I am a fan of making up sessions, but I also understand if you are booked and don’t have the time to do so. With ABA, if they have cancellations that fit into Dean’s schedule, they will text for permission to come over. That is one of the reasons that I look forward to saying goodbye to EI, they don’t act like my time is worth anything. They cancel at the last minute all the time. I could have planned my day differently if I would have known an hour ago that you are cancelling or will be late. Occasionally, cancelling at the last minute is human. Habitually is disrespectful.

7/2/18 – Speech

Dean “hello”, “I do”, “all done”, “hi” (new), whispers to himself (like practicing). Dean was seen at home with his family. He was in a very good mood. He vocalized when looking at books. Once seated he did 9 beads independently. He said “all done” when I used hand over hand.

• Continue to model words with actions.

I don’t want this post to be a downer, but I don’t see his speech therapist really doing anything to elicit speech. She isn’t doing word flashcards, which is what ABA does to help him with his speech and vocabulary. I guess, now that I know ABA and I have seen so much progress with them, that I am just ready for him to graduate from Early Intervention. I am not saying that the service is bad. It was great when he had nothing and they helped us connect with his current ABA. Plus, ABA doesn’t start until 2, so there was that. I learned a lot with the almost year that I’ve been with EI. I just prefer the professionalism and teachings of ABA.

With Love,

Dean’s EI Week

I have been having so much fun with Dean this summer. He can do more than he could last summer and I love going outside everyday to go swim in the pool or jump on the trampoline. He even took a nap on me after he took a dip in the pool in the shade. I really want to have a cookout by the pool and just roast a few hot dogs after swimming. I think Dean would really enjoy it. We have to have chips, of course! Dean has been super into chips lately. I love chips as well, but he burns off the calories and I don’t. lol. I think if Dean could really speak his mind, he would say that he is having an amazing summer with his mommy. I can’t always be the fun mom, because I work and now go to school full time. I make the time that we have together count.

6/25/18 – Speech

Using words 1x and then not again. Dean had a great session. He sat on floor for 3 puzzles, pointed to choices, and said “more” x3. He was vocal while playing. He needed a 10 minute break and then sat in his chair for snack and beading. He beaded 6 beads independently. He said “bock bock bock” for chicken (after a model). Nice Session.

• Continue to model words with actions.

6/29/18 – OT

Mike reported that Dean has been having some difficulty lately. He cried for 10 minutes before bed last night and he has been having slight tantrums/task refusal with ABA. Talked with Mike about bedtime crying. Dean is more aware of his environment and may not want to go to bed, but it is okay as adult caregiver to say, “I see you are sad, but it is still bedtime.” Tried to complete following direction activity, simple of get the animal to string onto string. He had a lot of difficulty because it was out of routine with assistance and support he was able to follow simple direction 5/12 times.

• Pictures for fun/play activities explore

Honestly, I am kind of excited for the end of EI. It means that he will be turning 3 and have a lot more opportunities to learn and grow. It is a bit bittersweet, but I think it is time. He has his year evaluation in August and I am excited to see how much he learned in that time, compared to ABA’s six month evaluation. Also, his school evaluation is around the corner and I have a meet and greet in September. My life is so full lately, but I found that I am actually getting more done. Now, that I don’t have time to squander, I am getting more stuff done around the house.

With Love,

Dean’s EI Week

I love writing these little recap summaries for Dean and it saddens me to know that soon, EI will be done for Dean and I will just be doing the ABA updates. I am getting ready for the public school evaluation of services they will offer to Dean. Honestly though? I am thinking of skipping preschool all together. I think Dean will benefit more from the constant ABA therapy than a preschool setting right now. He has gone so far with ABA that I think that I will stick with it for the next 3 years. The way Dean’s birthday falls, he will be one month short of starting school with the rest of the 5 year olds turning six. He will be six going on 7 when he finally goes to kindergarten. I am thinking of either going private (by then, I should be making enough money as a Data Analyst that I would own my own home and be able to support a private school education) or home schooling.

6/18/18 – OT

Dean has been coming out with phrases spontaneously. Dean did well today Played on move in sit cushion sat and attended to several puzzles with excessive motion/movement. He did well. In swing, he would grab my hands to sign more, but would not do spontaneously. Sat and choose pictures for snack even with switching places of pictures and using two circular snacks. He did excellent scanning to choose cracker.

• Continue to offer pictures for him to choose what to eat.
• May want to try to use this for play activities, too.

6/18/18 – Speech

Dean is repeating some words. “Good night” is consistent. “Hello” is new. “Happy day” 1x. Dean was seen at home with his mom. He was very vocal today and Hannah said that this is typical now. Worked on LEA referral to (Town where I live) Public and will request a TPC meeting. 9/10 at 9 am. Also changed services from OT from 2x to 1x a week. He enjoyed his lunch in his chair. Lots of smiles.

• Continue to model words and repeat, repeat, repeat.

I am looking forward to the future of coloring with Dean, getting handmade mother’s day gifts, and helping him do his Christmas shopping. I am looking forward to everything that wasn’t important to my mother when it came to me and the things that I never did with my mom. I hope that I can be a better mother to my son. Actually, scratch that. I KNOW that I can be a better mother to my son than what I had growing up and I plan on giving him the life that I wished that I had growing up. A life filled with love and feeling important and worth loving. Along the way, I plan on treating him to respect women, himself, and to stand up for what he believes in. His voice counts. All of our voices count.

With Love,

Dean’s EI Week

I cannot believe that life is going by do fast. Now, that school is steadily approaching, I know that life will slow down a bit. Time always seemed to go slower when I was in school. Time stretched on. It’s funny how as kids we cannot wait to grow up and once you actually do, you realize that work just replaces school. You don’t get more time to do what you want and yeah, you get freedom to go with it but also all the responsibilities as well. If I could do it again, I would savor that time being a kid. This is what I want to give Dean. Time to be a kid and have fun with your parents. I want to have fun vacations and great days off with him. I hope he appreciates it as he gets older.

6/11/18 – Speech

Some words and phrases over weekend. Dean was seen at home with Mike. He sat for puzzles and books. He was able to string 3 of the smaller wooden beads independently. He needed help with the larger ones. He vocalized during play and initiated a “meow” x1. He continues to point to what he wants.

• Continue to model words related to his toys and snacks.

6/14/18 – OT

Dean is doing well with using utensils, especially with bringing to mouth. He can bring utensil to mouth, but doesn’t quite get scooping. Dean did well today. Explored spiky more in sit cushion. Sat with a lot of movement but completed 4 puzzles, shape sorter, and stringing beads not seated in booster seat. Dean continues to do excellent scanning between 2 pictures to make choice of snack to eat. He was 100% accurate even when placement of picture changed. Spoke about decreasing OT for summer to once a week instead of two. Will speak to service coordinator.

• Try hand over hand for scooping. Try to let him scoop first few bites himself when bowl container is filled up so even if dipping spoon, he will increase independence.

Speaking of school, it is so overwhelming seeing my assignment schedule and wondering how I am going to get all this work done. I haven’t started school yet. I’m still completing the overview stuff and planning out the next 8 weeks in my planner. I know I will find a balance of work (Basically a necessity to live), school, free reading, tv/netflix, blogging, house work, and spending time with Dean (also a basic necessity). I have already cut down my blogging to an hour on Sunday and my day off during the week. So, 2 hours a week to work on it. I get everything done during that time, so it is pretty easy. I am confident that I will find a balance in my life.

With Love,

Dean’s EI Week

Dean has been frustrated lately, because I have been starting to more vigorously discourage him putting any toy in his mouth. I have been redirecting him to mouth his chew tube instead. Dean will no longer be having two OT sessions a week, not because he doesn’t need it. His OT finally admitted that she can only commit to once a week. She has a lot of personal stuff going on in her life right now and I wish her the best. She will no longer be coming on Mondays, so this frees up Monday mornings for ABA to start another session and to run the full week Monday through Friday. This way, Dean gets more service hours with the group that I think has been making such a big difference in his life and I credit them with helping him learn to talk just as much as us.

6/7/18 – OT

Dean was a little more tired than typical. Mike reported he had gotten up earlier than typical. He is drooling more and isn’t allowing tooth brushing as easy, so he probably is getting some molars. Dean did excellent. He has loved working with manipulatives. Puzzles are his favorite. He sat for about 40 minutes working through a variety of toys. He placed 2 beads on string independently today and all other beads he only needed minimal help. Could not do pictures for snack time, because he did not want a snack. Will try to print pictures of toys/TV, so he needs to use those to ask for things.

6/8/18 – Speech

Mom reports – He is answering some yes/no questions, “Good night, Good boy”, “I love you”, “yes”, “no”, “nuh-uh”, “I don’t want it”, “Have it”, “Gimmie”, and “mom”. Dean was seen at home with his family and ABA team. He had a nice attention span to books and shape sorter. He is allowing hand over hand for help sign. He continues to point on his own. Using more vocalizations with intonation. “See” and “pick me up”.

• LEA referral with Hannah on 6/18/18

I am very proud of Dean’s accomplishments and look forward to spending my Sundays and days off with him. He is a big part of my life and happiness. With college starting around the corner, I want to cram in as much Dean time as I can. Later today, we are going to go in the pool and have a swim. I hope the life jacket fits better this year and I can at least have my hands free. I would love to show him how to paddle. Even just sitting in the pool with him is fun. I love watching him grow and turn into a little boy. He has changed so much other these past few months.

With Love,

Dean’s EI Week

Because of the Memorial day Holiday, Dean only had one OT session this past week. He has been doing very well. He is very independent, but does initiate play with me. He’ll be reading a book (looking at the pages) and he will come over to me with the book. He just wants to share it with me, so I will point things out in the pictures for him. He loves to be chased from his room to the living room couch and play “monster” where I chase him on all fours. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I don’t think I’ll ever have another person this great in my life. He’s good for me and he loves me, even when I get frustrated. He understands more than others think.

5/31/18 – OT

Dean said the word “star” the other day and “hot dog”. He sounded like he said help 1X today. He was obviously tired today. He was eager and willing to complete manipulatives today, but any demands for interaction except pointing to desired items, he would get frustrated. Bead stringing he did well with attempting to place dowel in hole and was independent 2xs.

• Continue to use pictures for food especially during snack times.
• Offer chewy tube throughout the day so hopefully it will replace biting dresser.

It’s times like these where I love him even more, because he shows me just how lovable he can be. His foulest mood makes me smile. His cries make me giggle sometimes, because he just looks so cute doing it. I couldn’t imagine life without this beautiful boy in my life. I always knew that something was missing inside of me. I walked through life aimlessly with no purpose, until he came along and showed me that I was worth being loved. He loved me without me having to love him first. He saw me and loved me. Your first love doesn’t have to be sexual. My first true love is my son. John didn’t love me. He loved the thought of me and how I looked. He didn’t care when he hit me and verbally lowered my self worth.

Dean loves me with the purest kind of love. The kind of love that having a child links you with. I would never hurt him and sever that love that I hold so precious. The love that I never had as a child that made me vulnerable to the likes of John: the first guy to show me any kindness and then broke me. Dean put me back together again. I was broken before him. I don’t know if anyone knew, but I was. Now, I have a purpose again. To give this boy the best life that I never had and it requires me to give thought to myself. What do I want? What do I want that I can give to Dean? And so, my journey to a degree begins. The first thing I want for Dean is a home and I want to give that to him.

With Love,