What Happened to Summer?

On August 27, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

I think something is wrong with my calendar. It seems as though we’re in the last week of August, summer is coming to an end and school starts next week.

It went way too fast. I had ideas for the summer, things I would be doing with the extra time we’d have everyday and most of those things didn’t happen. Don’t get me wrong, we had fun, saw friends for playdates, saw immediate family and some of our adult friends. At the same time it seems like we should have done more. But in the paraphrased words of Carrie Bradshaw, we shouldn’t “should” all over ourselves.

Let’s recap what I had hoped for from my pre summer posts.

Potty Training
- Attempted, no success
A daily schedule
- Written out, happened twice
A road trip to visit some of our friends
- I can’t remember if I wrote about this one but regardless, it didn’t happen

Here we are at the end of summer. As I await details of ‘J’s’ class information, I wonder how his adjustment back into the routine will go. Monday and Wednesdays he’ll have Speech and OT again and Tuesday/Thursdays will be school. He went two days a week last year for about 2.5 hours a day. This year, he will be there for 5. I wonder which of his friends will be in his class again and my hope is that he’ll love it as much as he did last year. I know that won’t always be the case so if we cant hang onto it for now, that would be great. As for ‘Baby J,’ we’ll get back into a Mommy and Me class routine and I’m sure she’ll be missing her playmate around the house during the day.

A schedule is great but I want to hang onto these summer days just a bit longer.

Hear Ye Hear Ye

On May 15, 2018May 15, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

About 7 years ago, my brother and I started a blog about our love for Disney. Although we’ve never kept up with it too much, it kept pulling us back.

In the last year, we’ve worked on our social media presence and in recent months we started hosting Theme Park Thursdays on The Improviser’s Guide Podcast.

But why am I talking about Disney? Well, The Improviser’s Guide Podcast has a new episode 4 days a week with a new topic for each day. This week I was lucky enough to be featured on “IT’S [Talk] TUESDAY” as a guest to discuss this blog!

I’ve mentioned before that I appreciate articles, blogs and groups I’ve come across that have helped me navigate speech delays and sensory processing difficulties. If reading this blog does that for someone else, even if it’s just providing some comfort that the reader is not alone, than I will consider that a success.

I really appreciated being able to speak on the podcast and educate others who may not know much about these topics, or might be starting on a similar journey.

The Improviser’s Guide Podcast is available via Apple, Stitcher, Castbox and Libsyn. Click here for quicker access to the Just My MomSense episode.

And now for cross promotion. If you’re a Disney lover like me, check out dillosdiz.com or @dillosdiz on Twitter and Instagram!

Heavy Work Activities (Proprioceptive Input)

On May 4, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Yesterday I talked about how Brushing Therapy can be used as a calming effect. ‘J’s’ Occupational Therapist and I have also discussed implementing some heavy work activities. She gave me a print out with some background information on how this may help:

Propriocepive input is the performance of tasks that involves heavy resistance and input to the muscles and joints. It is essential in helping our bodies integrate and process both movement (vestibular) and touch (tactile) information. Proprioception is a form of sensory input to the muscles and joints which makes us aware of our “position in space” (where we are in relation to other objects or people). Children to have difficulty grading and planning their movements and regulating their level of arousal.”

Heavy work activities include:

Whole body actions involving pushing, pulling, lifting ,playing and moving
Oral actions such as chewing sucking and blowing
Use of hands for squeezing, pinching or “fidgeting”

The resistive input obtained through heavy work activities is generally organizing and can improve attention, arousal level, body awareness and muscle tone, as well as descrease defensiveness.

The activities are broken up into the categories of: carrying objects, pushing or pulling objects, jumping and bouncing, climbing/hanging, sandwich/squishing, working on a vertical surface, resistive tools or toys, chewy foods, resistive sucking and blowing activities.

We’re not on any sort of schedule with these activities and most of them are already in his daily routine while he’s playing. We got a trampoline last year and he’s been obsessed with it ever since. If he can’t go jump on that, he is just fine jumping on the floor. He loves playing on his easel and writing with chalk. And lucky for us, he offers to help bring in groceries! Of course he can’t hold the bags that are too heavy.

I’ll definitely try some others on the list that we haven’t already to see how he responds. Like I’ve said before, a lot of this is trial and error and I’m willing to go through it all if it means helping him get through his daily activities.

Brushing…And I don’t Mean Your Teeth

On May 3, 2018May 3, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

‘J’ will not be receiving Speech or Occupational Therapy (OT) over the summer. Both will start back up again in September.

We did have speech last summer and he just started OT in February. Therefore, I’m a little skiddish about not having either for a couple of months, while at the same time welcoming the break. In the meantime, we’re finally in a good groove with OT after a rough and late winter of snow storms in the midst of school breaks and I want to make sure we maximize the resource while we have it.

The Wilbarger Protocol

One of the newest activities of our days has been incorporating “The Wilbarger Protocol” or in simpler terms “Brushing Therapy.” The following was taken from nationalautismresources.com:

The Wilbarger Protocol (also referred to as brushing therapy) is often a part of a sensory integration or sensory therapy program. It involves brushing the body with a small surgical brush throughout the day. People who exhibit symptoms of tactile defensiveness are extremely sensitive to touch.

The complete protocol usually takes 2-3 minutes to administer. The first step involves using a soft, plastic, sensory brush or Therapressure Brush which is run over the child’s skin, using very firm pressure; it is like a deep pressure massage.

After Brushing, we also do joint compressions in his arms and legs. Since it is similar to a deep pressure massage, serotonin and dopamine are released throughout the body resulting in a calming effect. For the first two weeks (we’re on Day 4) it is done on a schedule of every 2 hours unless the child is sleeping. In ‘J’s’ case, we’re also not doing it while he is in school. After the two weeks, we can reassess how much it has helped, if at all, and create a less vigorous schedule. So far he likes it. There is not a ton of research behind this technique but it has helped many.

Worst case scenario-it definitely can’t hurt. Stay tuned for updates!

*Image taken from Google Images

Bag ‘O Fun

On April 23, 2018April 23, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized4 Comments

As I mentioned in my last blog, “It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” we took a trip to Pittsburgh two weeks ago for Spring Break. We’re lucky and thankful that our kids are great on car trips, as long as plenty of snacks and activities are packed. They normally make it to the final hour or two before they need the iPhones.

Although having activities and snacks comes with dropping activities and snack which results in me turning around to get them most of the trip. But it’s a small price to pay for having them locked in seats for 7 hours.

The times the car rides become less fun is when ‘J’s’ sister (‘Baby J’) becomes unhappy because that is an automatic trigger for him. This was one of my earliest red flags of thinking this was all more than just empathy. The result is screaming and crying long after ‘Baby J’ is done whining or crying.

Along with checking out the Mister Rogers exhibit at the Heinz History Center, we also stopped by the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh. If you haven’t been there, I recommend it. It’s huge and there’s so much to see and do!

Since it’s so big and it was a Saturday, there was a big crowd. ‘J’ was definitely overwhelmed. He wasn’t unhappy just unsettled. He didn’t stay in one place too long, didn’t go over to exhibits if there were too many people around it and was extra clingy. Luckily they have a great art area with painting and clay. This was a much quieter space and we spent most of our time in this spot.

I was talking to ‘J’s’ Occupational Therapist after our trip about his triggers and she suggested having a backpack with some items they may help calm him in these situations. At home, he’s good about going to his room to reset himself if he’s feeling overwhelmed. When we’re out in public or he’s locked into a car seat, it’s not as easy. Luckily we have quite a few backpacks on hand and I’ve since put one together with his headphones, sensory bottle, his squishy fidget dinosaur, small toys and his water bottle. We brought the headphones on our last plane ride and for some reason I didn’t think to bring them on the car trip. They definitely would’ve been helpful for when ‘Baby J’ was upset.

She also mentioned carrying the backpack may help him since weighted items can provide comfort. We’ve already tried this on shorter car rides (30+ minutes) and so far it has come in handy.

I’m willing to try any and everything that will provide him any comfort or organization for his mind and body. Not all will work, but through trial and error, I know we’ll find the best combination of sensory items and activities.

Wiggling Our Way Through Meals

On April 18, 2018April 18, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized3 Comments

For the last few weeks, ‘J’ has been getting up mid-meal to jump, spin or run. He’s not upset when he’s doing it, not having a tantrum, it’s almost as if he just needs to do it.

‘J’ loves jumping on the floor, trampoline or his bed. He loves climbing anywhere he can. The fact that he’s a fan of this in general, it’s not surprising that once he’s sitting and eating for awhile, he needs to change things up.

He’s always been good about sitting at the table to eat. I’m torn in the sense that if he feels like that’s what he needs at that time because of how he’s feeling, I don’t want to stop him. At the same time, it’s not the best habit to teach, especially if he carries it over to a restaurant (knock on wood-that hasn’t happened yet).

I mentioned it to our OT and she suggested a wiggle seat. When I was talking with our speech therapist about it, she mentioned she had one we could try out. The last few days have gone well and he seems to like it. I don’t see him jumping or spinning as much. Who knew that a tiny little seat can do so much?

But what is it actually doing? The following was taken from sensorysolutions.co

The inflated chair has a slight texture on the surface, which already works to provide a certain amount of sensory stimulation. The angle and shape of the chair causes the child to engage their core section and balance themselves on top while sitting.

This stimulation actually sends signals to the brain to allow their minds to focus easier. What this means is that your child’s subconscious focusing on their posture and balance while sitting on the wiggle chair directly influences how their mind focuses. This makes the chair perfect for classroom settings.

The seat can help calm and organize the body. Since it’s working so far, I’ll keep it going. Stay tuned for updates!

Listen to Becky, from Sensory Spectacle talk about why someone with Sensory Processing difficulties may bounce on their bed:

A Hairy Situation

On April 17, 2018April 17, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized6 Comments

‘J’ had his first haircut on the day he turned 1. We were in Disney World and went to the Barber Shop on Main Street. It was so much fun and he did great! He may have been ok with a haircut or two after that one but since that timeframe, it has been a struggle.

As time has gone on, it’s not just a struggle to cut his hair. Washing his hair is usually being done as he is screaming or crying. Brushing his hair is a big battle in the morning. Sometimes I try wetting the brush a bit since he definitely has a big case of bed head every morning. I’m trying to give up wetting the brush since he hates feeling the water and only makes him hate the experience more.

It’s tough when we’re getting ready for school and he’s running away screaming not wanting his hair brushed. Or if I was able to brush it, he then has to rub his head in the couch, bed or on his hand while screaming which puts us back to square one.

This is an ongoing process to see what may help him get through these activities. It’s another example of something most people take for granted, but for him, it’s an extra sensitive situation. Like most things in parenthood, it’s trial and error until we find the key to what works.

Below are two videos from Sensory Spectacle. The first talks about why someone with SPD may not like brushing their hair, the second discusses why they may not like washing their hair and the last is all about haircuts.

Transitioning Back to a Routine

On April 11, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Last week was spring break here in NY which meant no school, no speech therapy and no occupational therapy. The week started pretty gloomy weather wise and we had 3 indoor days. On Thursday we decided to take a trip to Pittsburgh to check out the Mr. Rogers exhibit. If you haven’t been, I definitely recommend it! The Heinz History Center, where the exhibit is located, is great for kids in addition to seeing all the cool Mr. Rogers memorabilia. More on the trip in another blog.

When I was working and would take time off for a trip, I would always make sure there was a buffer day when I returned. A day to come home, chill out, do some laundry, etc. before jumping back into work. Probably seems silly considering I was just on a vacation, but I never wanted to go right back into the normal daily routine.

‘J’ loves routine. If he doesn’t know the agenda for the day or if curveballs are thrown in, he’s not a happy camper. Of course after a week away from school and services, while doing a small trip away, there would be a readjustment period. It’s Wednesday and I think we’re still in it.

He’s had periods of acting out, two meltdowns during school yesterday and hesitation with OT and Speech today. I’m pretty sure he’s had a small cold the last few days as well, which I’m sure isn’t helping. But it all makes sense and coming from someone who needed a buffer day after a cruise, how could I not understand?

I’m hoping over the next few days the ups and downs return to more ups and less downs. I hate seeing him upset and affected by his surroundings. I know he does too.

It’s Too Loud!

On March 30, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

A big trigger for ‘J’ are sounds. He absolutely hates when our dog (or my parents’ dog) does her alert bark. If someone rings the doorbell, of course our dog is going to respond and let us know. Although she feels like she is protecting us, ‘J’ sees it as something that is being done to him.

One of my first red flags was seeing ‘J’ react to his sister or cousin crying. At first I thought he was just being empathetic (and I’m sure there is an aspect of that) but over time I felt like there was more behind it. It’s so hard to watch him react to their crying, especially if we’re in a car or somewhere else where he can’t remove himself from the situation. It completely overwhelms him and he cries and screams to express the hurt it’s causing him.

I think because he has started to realize that things that are too loud are overwhelming, he describes certain situations as “too loud” or “too big.” At this point we are try to work with him to understand what can soothe him in these situations. Sometimes it’s playing a Super Why game on our phones and other times it’s having a snack. Unfortunately sometimes we just have to wait it out, which is the hardest one of all.

In The Out-Of-Sync Child, Carol Stock Kranowitz discusses determining if a child has an issue with each sense. For the auditory sense, she details overrresponsitivity, underresponsitivty and sensory craving. Although I can relate ‘J’ to a few different aspects, one line stuck out for me: “If he can’t get away from the hubbub, he may raise his own voice, hollering, La-La-La-La! to counteract noise, rather like fighting fire with fire.” If ‘J’ doesn’t respond by crying to a sound that is bothering him, he starts screaming or talking louder to try to deal with the overwhelming sound.

Although these are my experiences, Sensory Spectacle has a video on their YouTube page that explains why some people may cry at sudden noises:

Sensory Spectacle Resources

On March 26, 2018 By justmymomsenseIn Uncategorized1 Comment

I am so thankful for Becky Lyddon, of Sensory Spectacle, for taking the time out of her busy schedule to be a guest blogger this weekend.

Sensory Spectacle is working to bring awareness to the Sensory Processing Difficulties community. Although based in the UK, they are providing information that spreads throughout the world.

If you missed this weekend’s 3 Part series from Becky, please click below for links:

Supporting a Sensory Lifestyle for People with SPD Part 1

Supporting a Sensory Lifestyle for People with SPD Part 2

Supporting a Sensory Lifestyle for People with SPD Part 3

Make sure to check out the Sensory Spectacle website and shop for more resources. Their presence on YouTube is so valuable for educating the public about sensory processing. I am thankful for having found the videos and being able to share them with family and friends. Click on the links below to follow Sensory Spectacle!