Both represent "inchstones" that we've celebrated in our house.
Climbing a "rock" wall
Playing with siblings cooperatively
Tuesday, June 30
The table that Tripp Trapp built
Okay, confession time. I have only one child with special needs. Only one who needed a "special" chair at the dinner table.
We have three.
When Will got his - paid for conveniently by another funding source - my oldest wanted it. Sat in it. ALL the time.
She got a Hipposmile for her birthday...similar model, different manufacturer. The quality is a bit less, but it was $100+ cheaper.
My littlest came home. We decided to use some of her birthday money and money left from a shower for her own Tripp Trapp.
Check them out. Will doesn't need a ton of help with positioning, but he does have low tone and needed some place to put his feet to "ground him" while eating. We LOVE ours.
Monday, June 29
Very interesting idea...
A friend sent this to me (Thanks Stacey!) and I found the idea intriguing. They are called CARE Memory Wristbands. Will wouldn't wear something like this, or I doubt it anyway...we've talked about getting him a medic alert bracelet as well but haven't.What do you think about this? Would it be something you'd be interested in? Definitely an alternative to medic alert.
Sorry for my absence! Our electric was out Thursday and Friday of last week which put a crimp into my blogging. ;)
Wednesday, June 24
Do you take your own photos?
If so, I highly recommend www.mpix.com!
We just got our Littlest Heroes pictures back today, and oh my goodness...they do such a great job! Our photographer is sending us a CD, but when I asked about printing, she said she recommended Mpix because the photos are the closest thing to what you'd get from out of a studio.
Well, they are awesome, and super cheap! Try them out!
The Weight Gain Battle
Sorry for the lack of Blog Talk posting yesterday. I *think* my computer is finally back up to speed!
We have tried almost everything we can think of to fatten Will up...to help him gain weight. He has a feeding tube, so one would think it would be easy, but even when we were actively using the tube, he had a very difficult time. He has not gained weight in about a year's time. Since then, we stopped using the feeding tube (about 6 months now) and he is eating everything in sight. With no weight gain, much like the prior 6 months with the tube.
It makes no sense. We know all of the easy tricks. For some reason, I just don't think his body absorbs it properly. We assume he has a high metabolism.
For those who are curious, whipping cream, heavy cream, butter, olive oil, and avocado are great additives to food that you are boosting for calories. Carnation Instant Breakfast is good to add to milk, and I know that some make "super milk" by adding powdered milk to whole milk to boost it as well.
Any other ideas to add to this list? What are your tricks for weight gain?
We have tried almost everything we can think of to fatten Will up...to help him gain weight. He has a feeding tube, so one would think it would be easy, but even when we were actively using the tube, he had a very difficult time. He has not gained weight in about a year's time. Since then, we stopped using the feeding tube (about 6 months now) and he is eating everything in sight. With no weight gain, much like the prior 6 months with the tube.
It makes no sense. We know all of the easy tricks. For some reason, I just don't think his body absorbs it properly. We assume he has a high metabolism.
For those who are curious, whipping cream, heavy cream, butter, olive oil, and avocado are great additives to food that you are boosting for calories. Carnation Instant Breakfast is good to add to milk, and I know that some make "super milk" by adding powdered milk to whole milk to boost it as well.
Any other ideas to add to this list? What are your tricks for weight gain?
Monday, June 22
The Roller Coaster of Life
Up and down, up and down. Over and over and over.
Last night, I took all three kids to the pool so that we could give their dad a much needed break for Father's Day. My oldest is a breeze...ran off to swim and play with her friends in the shallow end. I took the youngest two to the baby pool.
It has a locking gate. Baby proofed. Will and my 18 month old merely laughed at the lock. (Fine motor delay, my a$$!) Apparently, while up in the middle of the night, the two of them conspire ways to scatter at separate times, in different directions. Neither one wanted to play in the baby pool where they've been content for weeks now.
And how about that awesome 15 minutes at the end of every hour where adults can swim alone in the big pool? Surely it was meant to cause meltdowns in children. I know someone, somewhere was laughing at me every 45 minutes when the whistle blew.
It was a down moment.
Today, I took all three kids to Will's social group therapy. When he came out, the therapists were pleased with his progress.
We came home and ate, and much to my amazement, Will took over my lunch of brown rice, lentils and veggies, and ate half of it in addition to his ravioli and cheese cubes. He then pulled his younger sister (the one who he barely tolerated for the first several months she was home) into my bedroom to play.
Back up the hill. What a great morning!
Most days, I'm willing to sit back and enjoy the ride. Sometimes, though, it is all I can do to manage the hills on the way down. I'm hoping we can finish our day on the up.
How was Father's Day in your house? Here's hoping all of the men in our kids' lives had a special day!
Last night, I took all three kids to the pool so that we could give their dad a much needed break for Father's Day. My oldest is a breeze...ran off to swim and play with her friends in the shallow end. I took the youngest two to the baby pool.
It has a locking gate. Baby proofed. Will and my 18 month old merely laughed at the lock. (Fine motor delay, my a$$!) Apparently, while up in the middle of the night, the two of them conspire ways to scatter at separate times, in different directions. Neither one wanted to play in the baby pool where they've been content for weeks now.
And how about that awesome 15 minutes at the end of every hour where adults can swim alone in the big pool? Surely it was meant to cause meltdowns in children. I know someone, somewhere was laughing at me every 45 minutes when the whistle blew.
It was a down moment.
Today, I took all three kids to Will's social group therapy. When he came out, the therapists were pleased with his progress.
We came home and ate, and much to my amazement, Will took over my lunch of brown rice, lentils and veggies, and ate half of it in addition to his ravioli and cheese cubes. He then pulled his younger sister (the one who he barely tolerated for the first several months she was home) into my bedroom to play.
Back up the hill. What a great morning!
Most days, I'm willing to sit back and enjoy the ride. Sometimes, though, it is all I can do to manage the hills on the way down. I'm hoping we can finish our day on the up.
How was Father's Day in your house? Here's hoping all of the men in our kids' lives had a special day!
Saturday, June 20
Happy Father's Day!
To my dear husband,
Almost ten years has passed since we first exchanged our vows and dreamed of a life together. We had no idea what this world held in store for us.
Who knew that it would bring three beautiful children in the way that it did? Who knew that one of those beautiful children would face significant challenges in life, and therefore challenge our marriage as well?
So, to the man who has changed as many dirty diapers as I have and given way more baths,
Who takes off of work and holds my hand during tough appointments,
Who wakes in the night with a crying child and allows me to sleep,
Who teaches them to ride their bikes, to fix a broken toy, to dress themselves,
Who sleeps in the hospital when we are there for an overnight stay,
I love you more now than I ever have.
Happy Father's Day!
Love, Heather
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