Monday, September 27, 2010
Coping
Nothing about this perfect girl is any different. We just know more about her. Telling myself that seems to help.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
A real blog post for once
This blog will be shifting gears a little for a little while. Hopefully a little while anyway.
i finally had the conference with Charlotte's school director. She said Char doesn't seem to be biting out of the usual reasons kids bite: 1) Teething, 2) Lack of Communication/Frustration, 3) Aggression/Mean-spiritedness. She said that the way she bites is different, so while she is teething, she doesn't bite the way teething toddlers bite. She seems to be getting some sensory satisfaction from it. She (the school director) has a lot of training in Sensory Integration Dysfunction, which is now known as Sensory Processing Disorder, or SPD. She feels that Charlotte shows some signs of sensory processing issues.
Charlotte's prenatal history certainly puts her at increased risk of neurological issues including sensory issues, but plenty of kids (most, in fact) with SPD did not have any prenatal exposures. She could have developed it totally ransdomly, or it could be tied to her exposures.
Something i don't talk about a lot in this blog is that i have a nephew with Asperger's Syndrome, which is a type of high-functioning autism. When he was diagnosed about 6 years ago, i learned a lot about it, as well as sensory issues. i saw a LOT of myself in what i read, and also my brother. i have received confirmation both peer-related and professional that i display the characteristics of high-functioning Asperger's. And i have significant sensory issues. i've outgrown some of them, i've learned to deal with most of them, and i still deal with some of them daily. Some days are worse than others and if anyone even touches me, i want to scream. Those are the hardest days for me as a mom because they tend to correspond to Charlotte's needs to be held and touched. Babywearing is a life-saver on those days!
Anyway, i find it incredibly ironic that of course one of my TTC fears was passing those genes along, as well as my other health issues. i usually joke that i inherited the sludge at the bottom of my gene pool. And here i am with a child who may have some similar issues to mine, who isn't biologically related to me at all but looks so similar strangers comment on how she looks "just like me" everywhere we go. I suppose it's a blessing to her that she has a mom who understands those days she just needs to open the window (even in the middle of winter) and lie under a dozen heavy blankets. Obviously i would rather not have her go through anything adverse, though, especially something i know the pain of.
What next? Well, tomorrow we set up an appointment with her pediatrician for her 15 month vaccines (she's a little behind because she was way behind with the 12 month; oops). We will discuss the biting as a behavior concern and also will ask for a referral to an Occupational Therapist or a Developmental Pediatrician, the 2 types best prepared to make an SPD diagnosis. Future blog entries will discuss things like her current and past symptoms, and how looking back from this new perspective just makes my tendency to over-analyze everything go all haywire ;). i do know some babies are diagnosed as babies younger than Char, so my hope is that if she does have SPD, that it is mild. i will probably also talk about Montessori and SPD, as i'm actually finding interesting blogs and articles about how Maria Montessori's method is very beneficial to kids with sensory processing issues.
i finally had the conference with Charlotte's school director. She said Char doesn't seem to be biting out of the usual reasons kids bite: 1) Teething, 2) Lack of Communication/Frustration, 3) Aggression/Mean-spiritedness. She said that the way she bites is different, so while she is teething, she doesn't bite the way teething toddlers bite. She seems to be getting some sensory satisfaction from it. She (the school director) has a lot of training in Sensory Integration Dysfunction, which is now known as Sensory Processing Disorder, or SPD. She feels that Charlotte shows some signs of sensory processing issues.
Charlotte's prenatal history certainly puts her at increased risk of neurological issues including sensory issues, but plenty of kids (most, in fact) with SPD did not have any prenatal exposures. She could have developed it totally ransdomly, or it could be tied to her exposures.
Something i don't talk about a lot in this blog is that i have a nephew with Asperger's Syndrome, which is a type of high-functioning autism. When he was diagnosed about 6 years ago, i learned a lot about it, as well as sensory issues. i saw a LOT of myself in what i read, and also my brother. i have received confirmation both peer-related and professional that i display the characteristics of high-functioning Asperger's. And i have significant sensory issues. i've outgrown some of them, i've learned to deal with most of them, and i still deal with some of them daily. Some days are worse than others and if anyone even touches me, i want to scream. Those are the hardest days for me as a mom because they tend to correspond to Charlotte's needs to be held and touched. Babywearing is a life-saver on those days!
Anyway, i find it incredibly ironic that of course one of my TTC fears was passing those genes along, as well as my other health issues. i usually joke that i inherited the sludge at the bottom of my gene pool. And here i am with a child who may have some similar issues to mine, who isn't biologically related to me at all but looks so similar strangers comment on how she looks "just like me" everywhere we go. I suppose it's a blessing to her that she has a mom who understands those days she just needs to open the window (even in the middle of winter) and lie under a dozen heavy blankets. Obviously i would rather not have her go through anything adverse, though, especially something i know the pain of.
What next? Well, tomorrow we set up an appointment with her pediatrician for her 15 month vaccines (she's a little behind because she was way behind with the 12 month; oops). We will discuss the biting as a behavior concern and also will ask for a referral to an Occupational Therapist or a Developmental Pediatrician, the 2 types best prepared to make an SPD diagnosis. Future blog entries will discuss things like her current and past symptoms, and how looking back from this new perspective just makes my tendency to over-analyze everything go all haywire ;). i do know some babies are diagnosed as babies younger than Char, so my hope is that if she does have SPD, that it is mild. i will probably also talk about Montessori and SPD, as i'm actually finding interesting blogs and articles about how Maria Montessori's method is very beneficial to kids with sensory processing issues.
Monday, September 20, 2010
A major milestone
in many ways, the weekend was supremely craptastic (poor Alan is still sick after almost 2 weeks, i had to miss the design team meeting for the playgroung group and thus have to drop out, and a very crappy misunderstanding). However there was one very noteworthy event yesterday. Drumroll, please...
Charlotte kept one diaper clean and dry all day! Sometimes she asked for potty by name or walked to the bathroom, sometimes we took her at regular times (after eating, before and after car rides, after nap), and sometimes we just gave her random chances. We didn't pressure her or make a fuss if she didn't go, and it's not like we spent all day in the bathroom. It was just a normal day with no diaper laundry lol.
Monday, September 13, 2010
This and that
i'm happy on a personal level because we've started cloth diapering full-time (except overnight). We started with 12 BG Organics (Elementals), and i have a few BG 3.0 seconds and WAHM AIO's on the way. So far, so good! No leaks, first day at school without issues, etc.
i also bought "The Everything Potty Training Book" and have started implementing some of the "pre-potty training" ideas, like vocabulary, etc. i was thrilled to see that book actually included a nice chapter on EC, though they don't call it that. My hope is that the cloth diapers (esp. the organics which don't have a stay-dry liner) will help her feel wet and ask for the potty more. i feel like a few more months and we will be at a real turning point.
A cute story from today: This morning Alan brought down the crib sheets and blanket for school (they send them home Fridays for washing). Char wrapped a teddy bear in the sheet and "tossed" him over her shoulder like i "toss" her when i wear her in a woven wrap. Too cute! i think i need to make her a doll sling.
i also bought "The Everything Potty Training Book" and have started implementing some of the "pre-potty training" ideas, like vocabulary, etc. i was thrilled to see that book actually included a nice chapter on EC, though they don't call it that. My hope is that the cloth diapers (esp. the organics which don't have a stay-dry liner) will help her feel wet and ask for the potty more. i feel like a few more months and we will be at a real turning point.
A cute story from today: This morning Alan brought down the crib sheets and blanket for school (they send them home Fridays for washing). Char wrapped a teddy bear in the sheet and "tossed" him over her shoulder like i "toss" her when i wear her in a woven wrap. Too cute! i think i need to make her a doll sling.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
2 excursions - enjoy the pictures!
Saturday we went to the zoo. This was Char's first trip to ANY zoo and mom and dad's first trip to the Nashville Zoo. (As a aside, i wasn't that impressed. The habitats were very nice but were spaced really far apart, so too much walking really, and the paths were too narrow. It was also hard to see most of the animals).
The giraffes were a huge hit, though, because they were pretty close, very large of course, and quite active, so we took a lot of pics there.
Yes, i do still wear my 22+ pounder on my back. We both love it! The Beco is great for trips like this because it's pretty easy up and down with a husband/helper, and she can ALMOST see over my shoulders.
Giraffes run in slow mo.
Taking a water break :). Such a big girl!
Alan caught a BIG FISH!
The petting zoo was another huge hit! Here's Char playing with a baby goat.
i call this "really good picture of really bad parenting". LOL But seriously, sweetest baby camel ever :).
The giraffes were a huge hit, though, because they were pretty close, very large of course, and quite active, so we took a lot of pics there.
Yes, i do still wear my 22+ pounder on my back. We both love it! The Beco is great for trips like this because it's pretty easy up and down with a husband/helper, and she can ALMOST see over my shoulders.
Giraffes run in slow mo.
Taking a water break :). Such a big girl!
Alan caught a BIG FISH!
The petting zoo was another huge hit! Here's Char playing with a baby goat.
i call this "really good picture of really bad parenting". LOL But seriously, sweetest baby camel ever :).
On Sunday we went to the redneck family reunion on the Cumberland Plateau. My cousin Scott has hosted it for he last few years, and he has a really fabulous garden. It's worth the trip just for the photo ops.
Help!
(Not really)
Char's afternoon teacher told me that Char learned a new word: "Help". Char is (frowny face) usually the last child to go home in the afternoon, and she helps the teacher clean the classroom. The teacher usually gives her a tissue or baby wipe and she wipes down the shelve with it, or sweeps with a little broom, or dusts with a little duster. Montessori education is all about making housework fun.
Today the teacher mopped, and Char mopped with her own little mop, and ran around saying, "Hep! Hep!" At home she spilled my drink, so i tossed her a rag and told her to help me clean it up, which she happily did. (As long as she doesn't start thinking it's all a game, no problems lol). i wasn't thrilled about the drink spilling, but i was so impressed by her cleaning it up!
And yesterday she sang "H-I-J-K-alalalala-Q-R-S---double-la-Y" That's practically half the alphabet lol. Such a litte smartypants.
Char's afternoon teacher told me that Char learned a new word: "Help". Char is (frowny face) usually the last child to go home in the afternoon, and she helps the teacher clean the classroom. The teacher usually gives her a tissue or baby wipe and she wipes down the shelve with it, or sweeps with a little broom, or dusts with a little duster. Montessori education is all about making housework fun.
Today the teacher mopped, and Char mopped with her own little mop, and ran around saying, "Hep! Hep!" At home she spilled my drink, so i tossed her a rag and told her to help me clean it up, which she happily did. (As long as she doesn't start thinking it's all a game, no problems lol). i wasn't thrilled about the drink spilling, but i was so impressed by her cleaning it up!
And yesterday she sang "H-I-J-K-alalalala-Q-R-S---double-la-Y" That's practically half the alphabet lol. Such a litte smartypants.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Check out this awesome giveaway!
http://www.breastfeedbabywearclothdiaper.com/mmb-gimme-giveaway-2
Mom's Milk Boutique is giving away a gorgeous new Weehuggers wetbag that really looks like a hip purse or diaper bag. i LOVE them, especially the "groovy" design.
Mom's Milk Boutique is giving away a gorgeous new Weehuggers wetbag that really looks like a hip purse or diaper bag. i LOVE them, especially the "groovy" design.
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