Christmas Cheer

Christmas was great for our family this year!  Thomas was very comfortable on Christmas Eve and Christmas with family.  He had no problem ripping open presents and saying thank you to people when prompted.  Christmas night he went upstairs at his grandparents' house and parallel played with some of his cousins.  He also sat at the kids table for the first time ever!  He really is becoming a typical kid, which is so amazing to see.

Also every year my husband's family has a huge get together with family we only see once a year.  We always do a big cousin picture (about 15 kids) on a small couch.  Thomas has never been willing to do this.  Until this past year, when we discovered his sensory issues, I always thought it was solely an SM thing. Now that we are treating his sensory processing issues with a consistent sensory diet and OT, I have learned that all the bumping and jostling of all the kids combined with his tactile defensiveness made something like a picture extremely anxiety provoking for him.  I would love to post a pic of it here, but because it involves so many people's children, you'll just have to imagine how great it was!    He also got a present from two people he didn't know and gladly went up and said thank you to them in a clear voice.

Yesterday when we were at Target, he said "Mom we haven't done our scavenger hunt in a while.  Can we asked someone for something?"  Of course I said yes and he did great!  Just scheduled our next Dr. E appointment for the beginning of February.  It's been 3 months already.

School Holiday party

On the last day of school before break, Thomas's class had a holiday pj party and he insisted on wearing his blinking Rudolph nose and antlers.  We talked about how a lot of kids would probably be asking him questions and giving him attention and he was excited.  I was cautiously optimistic and you know what, he did great with it!

Parents were invited to come for the last half hour of school that morning and join in the party.  Thomas's baby brother and I went to see him and he was so excited to see us.  All the extra people (parents, siblings, etc.) threw him off a little and he was much more reserved, but he had a great time.  He was chatting with me and his brother.  They played musical chairs, and while he decided he wasn't comfortable doing it with all the people there, he was able to be the dj.  He loved turning the music on and off with his teacher and watching the kids try to find a chair.  He had a huge smile on his face.

In the past, I would have always felt sad for him that he wasn't able to participate in the game, but because he was given a special job and he felt like he was a real part of it, I wasn't sad at all and neither was he.  Some teachers get it and some don't.  Last year's did not, but this year's teacher does and it makes ALL the difference.   She found a way to include him and instead of him or I or anyone else focusing on what he couldn't do, we focused on what he could do.  His smile said it all that day!

Musical Chairs- a big sensory step!

Thomas was sick on Monday and Tuesday this week and missed school.  When he came back after being away for two days, the teacher said he was completely mute for the first hour, which had never happened before.  It took him a long time to warm up, but then things went back to normal from there.  I know we will probably face the same thing after winter break and told the teacher to expect this.  He is really thriving at his school though and enjoys going there.  

We are continuing to do many playdates and he is so comfortable with the children in his class.  Last week Thomas and I went to a pizza place with two other classmates and their moms.  The parents all sat at one table and the kids at another.  He was talking away and having a great time.  A few of the teachers came into the pizza place during their lunch break including his teacher and the gym teacher and he easily talked with both of them in a loud voice! 

Thomas's teacher told me he played musical chairs the other day with his classmates.  He wanted to participate, but only if he got to hold the teacher's hand.  He ended up coming in second place.  This game has a ton of bumping and jostling, as well as noise, so this was a huge step for a sensory defensive child.  The second time they played he was the dj for the radio.  I was so glad he tried.  

A visit with Santa

So in past years, this post would pretty much go like this... Saw Santa, froze, refused to go near Santa, cried, went home.  As with all things that have been happening lately though, we were pleasantly surprised.  We started the conversation with Thomas about seeing Santa right after Thanksgiving.  In past years he has wanted to go, but this year he was super excited.  He started rattling off all the things he wanted to tell him and want he was going to ask him to bring for Christmas.  We wrote out his list and brought it with us just in case.  Luckily we went somewhere that lets the children warm up to Santa before shoving them on his lap and getting a picture.  We belong to a mom's club and every year they have a great Santa event where families get a picture with Santa in exchange for a Toys for Tots donation.  Everyone has an appointment time, so it is a calm, unrushed event which is so essential for children with sensory issues and a complete 180 from a mall experience.  Our appointment was at 5:15- an unideal time for my 17 month old, but my focus was really on how Thomas would do this year. My two boys had about 10 minutes to warm up with Santa.  Thomas was hesitant to speak, but did give him his list and answer a few questions.  He also told Santa what his brother wanted.  This is the first year we even got within 5 feet of Santa and he even talked a little with him.   Little brother, like most 17 month olds, was not thrilled about sitting on a strange man's lap, but we got our first Santa picture with the two of them and no tears.   A huge success for Thomas and our family! 

Gym time

Our school's speech therapist goes way beyond her job title for Thomas.  Since he doesn't need speech therapy, he actually speaks extremely well, he goes to her for one on one help with any area he is struggling with a few times a week.  The speech therapist is currently practicing gym with Thomas in her office.  They practice what will happen in gym for the next week.   They practiced Turkey bowling 2 weeks ago and then had the gym teacher come to her office, so he could practice with them.  We are so lucky that the staff is so amazing and are willing to do this!  Last week Thomas decided he wanted to go to gym and stayed for the entire time and played turkey bowling.  This was the first time ever!  We will continue to do this strategy.  He did not want to stay for gym today, but due to the holiday weekend, he never had a chance to practice for this week’s gym.  We will keep working on this.  I also gave him a red card and green card to take to gym.  Since he sometimes has trouble communicating in this setting, these cards can relay to the teacher whether he wants to stay or go.  He is comfortable using them and did so today.