In the summer of 2009, it became clear that something was off with Liam's development and I threw myself into research, and most of it focused on Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). I learned there are actually 8 senses. Then Liam was diagnosed with PDD-NOS and I remained aware of SPD but started researching other things as well.
In fall 2010, I became worried about Ben and blogged about it: http://routhierfam.blogspot.com/2010/11/it-is-probably-nothing.html
Obviously, it wasn't nothing. Ben started Early Intervention and a year later was evaluated by a developmental pediatrician, who confirmed Ben has SPD and is at risk for a future diagnosis and recommended speech therapy, OT, ABA, and social skills groups. Without the autism diagnosis and without his delays being severe, we have been unable to secure much of the recommended treatment.
While all this was happening, I was trying to potty train Liam, which was not easy. Around the time, Liam turned 4, he finally became dry during the daytime. He is still in nighttime diapers and that will not be changing in the near future. The problem is that Ben turned 2.5 about a month after Liam was finally consistently dry during the day. Then shortly after he turned 3, we moved from Alaska to Alabama.
Since arriving in Alabama, we have been trying to encourage Ben to use the potty and it has been a dismal failure. Initially he refused to sit on a potty for longer than 5 seconds as he won't sit still. Now he will sit, but he has NEVER once managed to produce anything in the potty. If I let him run around naked, he will pee on himself and deny he has done so with urine running down his leg. He can poop while doing gymnastics. When I change his diaper, he asks me if he has peed or pooped. He seems to have no awareness.
His OT recently left for another job and he has a new OT, and Wednesday she mentioned that Ben has poor body awareness which is why he drools so much and why he is still in diapers. I knew body awareness was "part" of SPD but I had forgotten about it. I had confused it with motor planning (which Ben excels at but Liam struggles with) and with vestibular sense (which is why both boys crash). Body awareness is actually called interoception and what I discovered about caused all sorts of light bulb moments.
This website about interoception had this to say: "If a person is under-responsive to interoception, they may not feel or respond to these sensations appropriately, quickly enough, or at all. They may rarely feel themselves breathing or their hearts beating. They may not feel hungry or thirsty often, so they may not perform these everyday tasks as often as others because they do not sense the need to. They will often be slow potty trainers and may end up developing enuresis because they do not feel the need to eliminate bowel waste or urine before the body begins to perform the task anyway. They may not breathe or sweat when their bodies should because they do not feel the need to."
Light bulb!
Ben happily skips meals and has never been interested in eating. He didn't nurse often. I always attributed it to reflux and even SPD and oral defensiveness, but what if he didn't get hunger cues? That makes a lot more sense, as it explains multiple issues for him.
Then there is this website on interoception. It affects digestion! Digestion! In another website it mentions that individuals with a poor sense of interoception often have digestive problems, such as constipation and/or diarrhea.
Light bulb!
That same websites and others show that much research has been done to connect interoception to mood, as that is the sense which regulates are sense of well being.
Light bulb!
Ben is my child who has always bounced between strong emotions--screaming one minute, giggling the next. This cycling of emotions has always worried me as I have a family history of bipolar disorder. It has also made him hard to evaluate as his compliance varies day to day and moment to moment.
I was going to wait until we moved to have Ben re-evaluated but am starting now. He has a first appointment with a psychologist on February 7th.
In the meantime, I am going to dig out our old brushes and start Wilabarger brushing protocol as I read somewhere that it helps interoception and brushing was quite successful with Liam. Here is a list of things I am going to look into for improving interoception: http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/interoceptive-sense.html I am also considering buying some musical sensors that go inside a pull up as it sounds like a good way to alert Ben by sound that he is peeing.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
New Year, New Start
I found this post this morning from a year ago, the start of 2012. It was interesting to read back on it. Some things I got wrong: Ben is not daytime trained and has never once peed on a potty. Travel is not easier as evidenced by Liam staying awake for 48 hours straight during our move from Alaska, despite being given 4mg of melatonin. Other things I got right..... I DID come to acceptance of our therapy schedule and life and I did start exercising. I am proud of me.
Here is the year old post:
_________________________________________________________________
I went back to re-read my summary of the year 2010. Thankfully, my summary of 2011 is much more positive, and thank goodness 2009 and 2010 were tough years, and I needed a break.
2011 was the start of a new chapter for our family. Liam changed so very much over the last year and is now such a talkative, social little guy that it is hard to remember where we were at 2 years ago. Liam finally became daytime potty trained. He has finally started to answer questions and after the age of 4 F-I-N-A-L-L-Y started to ask questions! Ben stopped nursing this summer and seems to have mostly stopped spitting up, and he was weaned off reflux medicine. It wasn't all roses as Ben has been given several diagnoses this year: Sensory Processing Disorder, Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder, and Early Childhood Developmental Delay, but having travelled the special needs/special education path once, I feel more peace the 2nd time around. As for me, I met many of my goals for 2011, and have spent the year enjoying my boys, reading, hiking (though not as often as I hoped), and trying to find happiness in everyday moments.
2012 will bring more change....another move for us....it will be Liam's 4th house and Ben's 3rd. It will be Dave's 5th assigment (6 if you count the deployment) since Liam was born. Ben will start preschool and our years of raising a baby will be over for good. This is the year I say goodbye to all things baby related. Liam might or might not (I keep changing my mind) start Kindergarten in the fall. We are at the cusp of entering the stage of childhood where we can more easily travel and our boys are independent enough to participate in activities. Hopefully at some point this year we will finally have two children that can talk. We should have two daytime trained boys at the end of this year. I would like for me to gain an acceptance of our therapy schedule (for Liam--speech 2 days a week, OT 3 days a week, ABA 2 days a week, special education 5 days a week; for Ben--Early Intervention-1 day a week, speech--1 day a week, OT--1 day a week, Social Skills group--1 day a week, and Floortime 1 day every 2 weeks). I hate the non-stop going but both boys have made so much progress that I need to accept it as something that is needed at the moment. When Ben starts school, I want to start an exercise schedule. I have tried to exercise regularly over the last year but fail at it as I seem to have no free time (see schedule above).
____________________________________________________________________
2013 will bring yet another move. For 2013, I am again hoping for two daytime trained boys and an end to diapers. I'd like to keep going with the exercise routine I started. I'd like the boys to have re-evaluations by a developmental pediatrician and school evaluations for IEPs. Maybe I can even start thinking about what type of part-time work I can do.
Here is the year old post:
_________________________________________________________________
I went back to re-read my summary of the year 2010. Thankfully, my summary of 2011 is much more positive, and thank goodness 2009 and 2010 were tough years, and I needed a break.
2011 was the start of a new chapter for our family. Liam changed so very much over the last year and is now such a talkative, social little guy that it is hard to remember where we were at 2 years ago. Liam finally became daytime potty trained. He has finally started to answer questions and after the age of 4 F-I-N-A-L-L-Y started to ask questions! Ben stopped nursing this summer and seems to have mostly stopped spitting up, and he was weaned off reflux medicine. It wasn't all roses as Ben has been given several diagnoses this year: Sensory Processing Disorder, Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder, and Early Childhood Developmental Delay, but having travelled the special needs/special education path once, I feel more peace the 2nd time around. As for me, I met many of my goals for 2011, and have spent the year enjoying my boys, reading, hiking (though not as often as I hoped), and trying to find happiness in everyday moments.
2012 will bring more change....another move for us....it will be Liam's 4th house and Ben's 3rd. It will be Dave's 5th assigment (6 if you count the deployment) since Liam was born. Ben will start preschool and our years of raising a baby will be over for good. This is the year I say goodbye to all things baby related. Liam might or might not (I keep changing my mind) start Kindergarten in the fall. We are at the cusp of entering the stage of childhood where we can more easily travel and our boys are independent enough to participate in activities. Hopefully at some point this year we will finally have two children that can talk. We should have two daytime trained boys at the end of this year. I would like for me to gain an acceptance of our therapy schedule (for Liam--speech 2 days a week, OT 3 days a week, ABA 2 days a week, special education 5 days a week; for Ben--Early Intervention-1 day a week, speech--1 day a week, OT--1 day a week, Social Skills group--1 day a week, and Floortime 1 day every 2 weeks). I hate the non-stop going but both boys have made so much progress that I need to accept it as something that is needed at the moment. When Ben starts school, I want to start an exercise schedule. I have tried to exercise regularly over the last year but fail at it as I seem to have no free time (see schedule above).
____________________________________________________________________
2013 will bring yet another move. For 2013, I am again hoping for two daytime trained boys and an end to diapers. I'd like to keep going with the exercise routine I started. I'd like the boys to have re-evaluations by a developmental pediatrician and school evaluations for IEPs. Maybe I can even start thinking about what type of part-time work I can do.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Christmas Eve
We have started little Christmas Eve traditions.
First we feed the reindeer:
Then we take matching pajama photos....poor Ollie dog!
Then we read "Rudolph" and "The Night Before Christmas" from the books my mom bought me in 1978.
Then we put out cookies for Santa:
Then it is lights out!
First we feed the reindeer:
Then we take matching pajama photos....poor Ollie dog!
In case you wonder how we get photos like this, it involves alot of outtakes.....A LOT!
Then we read "Rudolph" and "The Night Before Christmas" from the books my mom bought me in 1978.
Then we put out cookies for Santa:
Then it is lights out!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Christmases through the years
I am copying Kelly's idea as I think it is awesome.
My Christmases through the years.....starting in 2001.
2001: I was living alone in an apartment, and it was my first Christmas where I had my own tree. My grandmother gave me boxes of ornaments that had been my Mom's. I was so proud....I dragged that tree up to my 3rd floor attic apartment all by myself and got it in a stand by myself and decorated it myself. I had been dating someone who was Jewish but we broke up just before the Holidays. I spent Christmas Eve in Scranton and then woke up alone in my apartment the next morning. Murray was 9 months old and I opened his presents. I vowed to spend the next Christmas with a special someone.
2002: Dave and I were dating and he had recently moved to Florida. I spent Christmas Eve in Scranton and at 4am, my ex boyfriend from the year before drove me and Murray to the airport so I could spend Christmas with Dave. We had no money so there was no presents and no tree. We celebrated in an empty apartment.
2003: Dave and I were engaged and living together in Florida. It was my first Christmas away from Pennsylvania, and we actually flew back to be with my family on Christmas. We had fun decorating our first townhome before we left. I remember stuffing our tree into the trunk of Dave's Mustang.
Here is Murray and I that year:
2004: Our first Christmas married. We got Sammy on December 22nd so he was my Christmas present. We did Christmas Eve alone at our townhome and I missed my family. We drove to spend Christmas Day with Dave's mom. A photoof me with friends who we spent a lot of time with. I don't even recognize myself here.
2005: Our first Christmas in England. We were far from family and "going home" was not an option. We worked hard to start making our own traditions. I remember it as a wonderful holiday filled with friends and parties.
My work party:
Christmas Market in Aachen, Germany:
Our tree on our English Volvo:
Making a traditional Christmas Eve dinner inh our English kitchen:
I got Dave a box of English beer and it was packed with real hay!
2006: I was very newly pregnant with Liam and not telling anyone until we heard the heartbeat. I remember having anxiety over the poregnancy not being real.
We always got our tree from a farm where these giant dogs would pull the tree back to your car:
With Murray by our tree and fireplace:
2007: Liam was 4 months old and we were so excited to spend our first Christmas with him.
Christmas Eve:
I have a thing for big trees:
Family photo:
2008: We were back in the United States and Liam was 16 months old. I was 6 months pregnant with Ben and had not spent a Christmas "home" in 5 years. I could hear "There is No Place Like Home for the Holidays" in my head and we decided to travel from Alabama to Pennsylvania to visit my family. From the start, the trip was a disaster and was the bginning of highlighting that fact that Liam had severe sensory issues and social delays. On the way up, he refused to sleep at the first overnight stop. At 4am, after being awake for 24 hours straight we packed him back into the minivan and took off. Once in PA, things did not improve. My family had not babyproofed and Liam ran wild from one room to another and tried to avoid people by playing on the stairs. The trip to Scranton was a disaster. Grammy and Poppy are losing their hearing and play their TV loudly and Liam spent the whole time trying to escape their house. He came down with a horrible cold and fever. We got kicked out of Christmas Eve Mass for Liam being too disruptive. Christmas Day was worse as the excitement of my step-family overwhelmed him. He refused to show interest in presents and cried the whole time. There are few pictures as we were so overwhelmed.
Christmas Eve at Grammy and Poppy's:
The only time he was happy was carrying around on apple or hiding in my Dad's bedroom. I didn't realize the path we were about to go down.
2009: Liam was 28 months and Ben was 8 months. Dave had been deployed about 7 weeks, and Liam was recently diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Ben was suffering from GERD and was labeled "failure to thrive." I was expected to travel to PA but the disaster the year before was too fresh and neither boy slept and I did not see how I'd manage. Liam did not talk, both boys were in diapers, and I was alone for the most part. My Dad flew in on Christmas at 10pm so Christmas Day was quiet and lonely. I was never more afraid of what the future held as I was that year.
Breakfast with Santa on the base:
2010: Dave was home and we were in Alaska. Liam was 3 and Ben was 19 months and had recently started Early Intervention. Liam was FINALLY speaking in sentences and seemed to understand Christmas and had asked for a train table. We had recently decided our family was complete and to take actions to ensure there would be no 3rd baby and I was struggling with having missed so much of Ben's infancy due to lack of sleep.
I REALLY like big trees:
On Christmas Day we lost power for about 5 hours. Our ham was not done cooking and inside temperatures fell into the 40's as it was negative degrees outside:
We bundled in 3 layers and hudled near the fireplace.
2011: Still in Alaska and Liam was 4 and Ben was 2......We started the tradition of an elf and got our first non-crying Santa photos. Liam asked for a big firetruck and airplane for Christmas but then promptly ignored them. Ben still did not have the language to ask for any presents.
Showing Santa the list of what he wanted:
I miss that staircase:
2012: Liam is now 5 and Ben 3, and the trials of 2009 seem far from my mind these days. Liam wrote his own list and it has more items on it then he will get, but include: a bike, a stuffed, anklysaurus, Sorry, a treasure box, space Wii game, and Angry Birds Space game. Ben wants two things: a cupcake and a bike.
My Christmases through the years.....starting in 2001.
2001: I was living alone in an apartment, and it was my first Christmas where I had my own tree. My grandmother gave me boxes of ornaments that had been my Mom's. I was so proud....I dragged that tree up to my 3rd floor attic apartment all by myself and got it in a stand by myself and decorated it myself. I had been dating someone who was Jewish but we broke up just before the Holidays. I spent Christmas Eve in Scranton and then woke up alone in my apartment the next morning. Murray was 9 months old and I opened his presents. I vowed to spend the next Christmas with a special someone.
2002: Dave and I were dating and he had recently moved to Florida. I spent Christmas Eve in Scranton and at 4am, my ex boyfriend from the year before drove me and Murray to the airport so I could spend Christmas with Dave. We had no money so there was no presents and no tree. We celebrated in an empty apartment.
2003: Dave and I were engaged and living together in Florida. It was my first Christmas away from Pennsylvania, and we actually flew back to be with my family on Christmas. We had fun decorating our first townhome before we left. I remember stuffing our tree into the trunk of Dave's Mustang.
Here is Murray and I that year:
2004: Our first Christmas married. We got Sammy on December 22nd so he was my Christmas present. We did Christmas Eve alone at our townhome and I missed my family. We drove to spend Christmas Day with Dave's mom. A photoof me with friends who we spent a lot of time with. I don't even recognize myself here.
2005: Our first Christmas in England. We were far from family and "going home" was not an option. We worked hard to start making our own traditions. I remember it as a wonderful holiday filled with friends and parties.
My work party:
2006: I was very newly pregnant with Liam and not telling anyone until we heard the heartbeat. I remember having anxiety over the poregnancy not being real.
We always got our tree from a farm where these giant dogs would pull the tree back to your car:
With Murray by our tree and fireplace:
2007: Liam was 4 months old and we were so excited to spend our first Christmas with him.
Christmas Eve:
I have a thing for big trees:
2008: We were back in the United States and Liam was 16 months old. I was 6 months pregnant with Ben and had not spent a Christmas "home" in 5 years. I could hear "There is No Place Like Home for the Holidays" in my head and we decided to travel from Alabama to Pennsylvania to visit my family. From the start, the trip was a disaster and was the bginning of highlighting that fact that Liam had severe sensory issues and social delays. On the way up, he refused to sleep at the first overnight stop. At 4am, after being awake for 24 hours straight we packed him back into the minivan and took off. Once in PA, things did not improve. My family had not babyproofed and Liam ran wild from one room to another and tried to avoid people by playing on the stairs. The trip to Scranton was a disaster. Grammy and Poppy are losing their hearing and play their TV loudly and Liam spent the whole time trying to escape their house. He came down with a horrible cold and fever. We got kicked out of Christmas Eve Mass for Liam being too disruptive. Christmas Day was worse as the excitement of my step-family overwhelmed him. He refused to show interest in presents and cried the whole time. There are few pictures as we were so overwhelmed.
Christmas Eve at Grammy and Poppy's:
The only time he was happy was carrying around on apple or hiding in my Dad's bedroom. I didn't realize the path we were about to go down.
2009: Liam was 28 months and Ben was 8 months. Dave had been deployed about 7 weeks, and Liam was recently diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Ben was suffering from GERD and was labeled "failure to thrive." I was expected to travel to PA but the disaster the year before was too fresh and neither boy slept and I did not see how I'd manage. Liam did not talk, both boys were in diapers, and I was alone for the most part. My Dad flew in on Christmas at 10pm so Christmas Day was quiet and lonely. I was never more afraid of what the future held as I was that year.
Breakfast with Santa on the base:
2010: Dave was home and we were in Alaska. Liam was 3 and Ben was 19 months and had recently started Early Intervention. Liam was FINALLY speaking in sentences and seemed to understand Christmas and had asked for a train table. We had recently decided our family was complete and to take actions to ensure there would be no 3rd baby and I was struggling with having missed so much of Ben's infancy due to lack of sleep.
I REALLY like big trees:
On Christmas Day we lost power for about 5 hours. Our ham was not done cooking and inside temperatures fell into the 40's as it was negative degrees outside:
2011: Still in Alaska and Liam was 4 and Ben was 2......We started the tradition of an elf and got our first non-crying Santa photos. Liam asked for a big firetruck and airplane for Christmas but then promptly ignored them. Ben still did not have the language to ask for any presents.
Showing Santa the list of what he wanted:
I miss that staircase:
2012: Liam is now 5 and Ben 3, and the trials of 2009 seem far from my mind these days. Liam wrote his own list and it has more items on it then he will get, but include: a bike, a stuffed, anklysaurus, Sorry, a treasure box, space Wii game, and Angry Birds Space game. Ben wants two things: a cupcake and a bike.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
North Pole Express
Christopher, our elf, surprised us this weekend with First Class Tickets on the North Pole Express (a knock off of the Polar Express).
The boys had a blast!
Meeting Mrs. Claus....she particularly like Liam's reindeer
Ben charming Santa, and when Ben decides to charm you, there is no fighting it
The boys had a blast!
Meeting Mrs. Claus....she particularly like Liam's reindeer
Ben charming Santa, and when Ben decides to charm you, there is no fighting it
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Santa 2012
The boys went to see Santa this morning. Liam hopped right up on his lap and opened his notebook with his infamous list: treasure box, bike, little firetruck, Sorry, Hyperdash, Angry Birds Space, Wii space game, and my favorite an anklysaurus. Ben was wary about Santa and told him he wants a cupcake. He was smiling until an elf put Ben ON Santa's lap for the photo....and we got this:
I realized it was the SAME Santa (with real beard) from December 2008.....15 month LIam and me 5 months pregnant with Ben:
I realized it was the SAME Santa (with real beard) from December 2008.....15 month LIam and me 5 months pregnant with Ben:
Holiday Ball
I don't get to dress up often, and by not often, I mean that I have not worn a non-maternity semi-formal or formal dress since 2006.
Last night was the Holiday Ball for Dave's school, and I got to wear a cocktail dress. With babysitters hard to find (or being told afterwards that they have never sat any kids with as much energy as mine), I had a friend watch the boys.
Some photo proof that I can wear make-up, although not apply it, the make-up was courtesy of a free make-over:
Me and my hubby:
At the ball:
Last night was the Holiday Ball for Dave's school, and I got to wear a cocktail dress. With babysitters hard to find (or being told afterwards that they have never sat any kids with as much energy as mine), I had a friend watch the boys.
Some photo proof that I can wear make-up, although not apply it, the make-up was courtesy of a free make-over:
Me and my hubby:
At the ball:
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