Our Journey with EFD & SPD

August 28, 2017

Our Sensory Processing Symptoms

During our time in Vancouver, I have learned so much more about the sensory processing struggles HD faces on a daily basis. Everyone is aware of our five senses - taste, touch, hearing, sight, and smell, but there are three more senses the rest of the world is a little less knowledgeable about - vestibular, proprioception, and interoception. When our bodies get too much or too little of a sense, our behavior seems to mirror it. In learning about HD, I've also learned quite a bit about myself too!
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August 4, 2017

OT in Vancouver + Zone Regulation

The first few weeks after the move were a whirlwind between unpacking and getting the kids registered for school and then having snow days on top of it all. It was chaos around here.

One thing I super love about their new school is the amount of papers sent home with them about activities in the area. They bring home information on swimming lessons, dance programs, soccer league, basketball sign-ups, day-camps, etc. It is so helpful, especially being brand new to the area and not knowing what all is available and where to go to sign them up for the extra things.
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July 31, 2017

A Neuro Exam Provides Explanations

As our time in Missoula was coming to an end, we were able to squeeze HD in for a neurological evaluation, as recommended by his OT, so we could have a better picture of what problems HD was facing. A year ago I was presented with that opportunity and I passed on it, but this time around, though I was still hesitant, I proceeded with the process. More forms and more questionnaires. It seemed endless.
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June 29, 2017

HD: The Start of Our OT Journey

If you look at HD and watch him for a while he looks like a normal kid. That's because he is a normal kid - his brain just processes things differently than a typical kid's brain. He is so so so smart too but he often can't show it on paper. Ultimately I want him to have friends and I don't want him to struggle with school. But reality is often not what we want it to be. When it was first suggested that HD could benefit from a little bit of occupational therapy, I didn't even know what occupational therapy meant. What do they even do at occupational therapy and how could he benefit from it? I'm not even close to the right person to answer those questions, so I'll just give you my view of it. 

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June 26, 2017

I Hated My Child Because I Didn't Understand Him

Those four words are the worst thing a parent can say or think about their child. I hated myself for saying them to Perry, and I hated myself for even allowing them to be thought. I loved him endlessly, but there were times when he made it really hard. I thought he was being a defiant little jerk all the time, but I was just missing the biggest part of the picture. I didn't understand him.

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June 22, 2017

 HD: A Struggle to Find Help

HD has always been a very active kid. He's been known as our wild child and watching him as a young kid, you could clearly see why. He kept us on our toes to say the least. He was impulsive. Always doing things before thinking them through. Granted some of that is just kids being kids, but he never seemed to learn right from wrong.
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October 28, 2015

 Hunter: A First Grade Update

It's already the end of October and in a few short weeks, I'll have a 7 year old. Yikes! He's been planning his party for close to a year.

This school year started off pretty good. We were glad to hear Hunter's teacher this year was going to be a male. Hunter really likes him too. The first couple weeks of school Hunter insisted on wearing a tie, you know because dad wears one everyday, so I ended up making him a few. They turned out really cute too! He thinks it's just the best that his teacher wears ties too!
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September 2, 2015

Our First Week of School So Far

We're officially a week into the school year and so far it's going *fairly* smoothly. We're still trying to get back into the swing of the things but we're getting there! I am very anxious for Perry to get the lockers done that he's been working on for the last couple weekends. So far it looks great! I love when I can draw and describe something I want, and he can build it for me. Like the gate at the top of our stairs - the best idea I've had in a long time! More on the lockers, next week?, when they're done!
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March 26, 2015

Parent-Teacher Conferences

A few weeks ago Hunter's teacher, Perry and I took a couple tests to assess Hunter's behavior at school. We cannot get this kid to sit still and focus. In one ear and out the other. 
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March 5, 2015

Hunter - That's Our Boy

I think it's pretty safe to say that this kindergarten year has been pretty rough on us. Perry and I both knew with Hunter starting kindergarten that there was going be a learning curve, but seriously... 
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March 4, 2015

When A Trip to the Park Makes You Question Your Parenting

Monday [the 26th of January] was the perfect winter day for our first bike ride to the park this year. JP took a nap (with a lot of my prompting) in an attempt to have enough energy to go to the park when Hunter came home from school. Just as soon as he hopped off the bus, we gathered our stuff to get ready to go to the dinosaur park. I said we were taking our bikes, but strong-willed Hunter opted to take his new scooter. I tried to reason with him, but with no luck. Before I even had a moment to stop him, he was already half way down the road trying to catch up with JP, who was on his new Ninja Turtle bike. 
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September 11, 2014

Hunter: A Kindergarten Update

We're now two full weeks into Kindergarten. That's it two weeks. Do I really need to say what all has happened in that two weeks? Seriously it's only been two weeks. 
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August 30, 2014

Hunter's First Week of Kindergarten is Done!

We're done with our first week of school. Hunter had a half day with me on Wednesday, an early our on Thursday and a full day on Friday. As I said in Hunter's kindergarten post, he left for school on Thursday morning via the bus, and was so focused on getting on the bus that he didn't say good-bye or at least look back and wave. I was a little heartbroken! But that was nothing compared to after school. 

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August 28, 2014

I Officially Have a Kindergartner!

I've been in denial for quite awhile about Hunter being in Kindergarten this year. In fact, he's at school now, and even though JP and B are still home, I feel....empty? I don't know if that's the right word, but I feel like something is missing. Yet, at the same time, I feel calm, which is a HUGE 360 from yesterday.
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