Denver Diary Day 7: Wubbzy, yellow rings and just breathing...

I am happy to report that today we had a positive therapy session!!!  And not before we needed it...after yesterday I was feeling pretty beaten down.  The social worker yesterday had suggested that we begin limiting Cade to the "Big Gym" area - basically the area with the ball pit, zip line, monkey bars, etc.  Because he has been running from place to place uncontrollably she felt that we needed to set limits for him.  And she wanted to teach cause and effect - when he runs out of the gym we (and by we she meant me) put him in a "therapeutic hold."  OK, so I'm not opposed to this -- Eric and I use the hold at home when Cade's meltdowns occur.  But all I could think was a hold equals a meltdown...and a meltdown every OT session equals much less OT that we desperately need!!

When we went into OT today Julianna met me in the lobby to talk to me about a plan.  She had decided to first try the route of positive reinforcement with Cade to help him with cause and effect.  She had made a velcro chart and made little pictures that she found on the computer.  Each time he didn't run out of the big gym then he got to put a picture on his chart.  If he earned 5 pictures he could choose something to take back to the Ron McD House with him (that had to be the size to fit in a little tote bag she brought along).

So I could have hugged her!!  I was anxious about the meltdowns and was so happy that Julianna had decided to try something else first.  And another funny note...the little pictures she found on the computer?  Yep, "Wow, Wow Wubbzy" - one of Cade's favorite characters!  He was thrilled, but probably not nearly as thrilled as me! 

This new strategy worked beautifully!!  Cade did so well...he even stayed on task with lots of distractions in the gym, which is always super hard for him.  He played his "sneezing game" with her - pretending to sneeze every time he does something.  Julianna told me that he is doing this as a "form" of communication -- because his body is trying so hard to regulate at OT typical verbal communication becomes hard for him.  Hey, whatever works.  Oh yeah, and what did he pick to bring back?  2 big yellow rings from a ring toss game.  Not what I would have chosen from the zillions of things the STAR Center had that would have fit in that bag...but again, whatever works...

Cade is playing in the ball pit finding "fuzzy creatures" -- this is excellent for his sensory development!

Today before OT I was able to have lunch with Dr. Lucy Miller, the founder of the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation and the STAR Center.  I met her briefly when I went to Austin, TX in March for the SPD Symposium, but I was thrilled to be able to sit with her and 5 other parents to discuss our kids.  She allowed us to just ask questions, whatever we wanted.  We could have kept her at lunch forever...it was so remarkable to see just how much she knows about SPD and how truly vested she is in our special kids. 

Equally valuable to me was the chance to talk to other parents about their kiddos, the experiences they've gone through, and what they've tried.  We've been so down over the last few days about Cade's deficits, and when you're living and breathing SPD like we are here then there's not much else to think about.  But I was so encouraged to hear all of them say that they were so happy Eric and I had caught Cade's SPD early...most of their kiddos were 7 or 8.  It was nice to hear that we are hopefully on the right page with everything that we're doing.  And it was so nice to just breathe...it seems as though I have been holding my breath for a few days without realizing it.  It's amazing how getting into the company of other moms and dads fighting for their kids like we are fighting for Cade can help to rejuvenate my spirit!

Just a couple of fun notes...Cade has discovered the Wii since we've been here.  We have one at home that we haven't even hooked up...seems life just got in the way and we didn't want one more thing that could cause frustration in our life!  But he has started to love it, and is very good at the CARS racing game that is included.  I am happy to report that I found that very same game on clearance (you know me...never buy anything full price!), so we will be hooking that baby up when we get home!

Cade with a buddy he met playing the Wii

Also, we had a sweet group of people who call themselves the "Empty Nesters" come tonight and fix supper for us.  We had yummy tacos, and the boys chowed down!  Of course Kai had to socialize with them...and even invited himself into a picture they were taking as they were leaving today.  It has been so nice to see his sweet spirit come through here...he has made quite a name for himself and I now have people from the House that I don't even know saying, "Hey Kai...how are you today?"  Now if I can just keep him out of trouble...but that's another story...

Kai with Ronald and an "Empty Nester"