Look Mom...No Cavities!

Today's gift is look mom, no cavities.

I think you can guess by my title, my daughter went to the dentist today.  She was a such a good patient...and I have to say this was one of her best appointments.

I always take my dad or mom with me when I take my daughter to the dentist.  I never know if I am going to need the reinforcements of an extra set of hands or not.  When my daughter goes to the dentist it is a different experience from when my other two children go and probably the way your child goes to the dentist too.

For starters, my daughter's anxiety level increases as soon as we walk into the dentist's office.  You can see it in the intensity of how she wrings her hands.  And it only increases once we get back into our private room.  This is usually a room they would perform filling a cavity or doing an extraction as it is out of the way, in case the person in the room becomes unhappy.

She isn't the only one sitting in the examine chair....I am too!  I sit down first and then I put her between my legs.  I need to hold her still while the dentist does her dental examine and this is the best way I can make sure her third arm isn't going to come out giving the dentist a surprise.

Once we are all seated she starts looking all over the room wondering what is going to be going on.  I know she knows she is at the dentist, as she never forgets a face.  But I also know she still gets anxious. Luckily there is so much to look at in the different exam rooms, I try to take her mind off what is to come.  Today, I also explained to her that he was going to be counting her teeth and checking for cavities.  I even went as far as to put my hands into her mouth, hoping she was not going to clinch down on me!

And then the dentist walked in.

She starts looking from side to side really fast...looking at the dentist...and then the assistant....the dentist....and then the assistant.  When it was time for her "exam", I place one hand on the top of her forehand, keeping her head steady against mine and my other hand on top of her two hands so she doesn't try and give the dentist a nice bop.  Within minutes my hand which is holding her hand is sliding off her hands due to the fact her hands are so sweaty....from being nervous.  But other than that...she was the most still she has been I think ever!

I was so proud of her today!  I don't know what it was.  I didn't even have to break out my singing...lucky for them, right!?!  She kept her head still the entire time too, which usually becomes a little wiggly!

And the best part....she has no cavities and we are to keep up the good work!

I hate how she gets so anxious when she has to go to the dentist every six months.  I wish she could enjoy the experience like her siblings of getting the "cool" sunglasses to wear so the bright light doesn't shine right into her eyes, of a "typical" cleaning, of going to the prize bin and picking out a prize for being a super patient (the prizes are nothing she would be interested in....trust me...and I think her "prize" is getting out of the office!) and being able to relax herself and know everything is going to be okay.

Just like everything else we do for her, I truly believe the repetition of going every six months and seeing the same dentist, has truly helped us get her to the place where she is starting to be more and more comfortable when she gets her teeth cleaned.

Having fun and trying to "relax" while we wait for the dentist to come in!

Here is a quote for today I found and thought it was funny....
Keep calm and don't bite the dentist

Fun Snow Day

Today's gift is a fun snow day.

We didn't get the call until 6:30 (ish) this morning that school was closed.  My kids get up early...so they were already up for the day.  However, my daughter with special needs had fallen back to sleep (since she was up at 5:00) and I had just woken her up to give her her medicine she takes before breakfast.

I couldn't believe it...she could still be sleeping...

When I went in to get her up to bring her down for breakfast...at our normal time...she had fallen back to sleep.   I was so excited (and jealous) for her!  At least someone could take advantage of sleeping in.

The kids and I had a pajama day.  It was also a day where we would be helping each other out too and they knew this included helping me out with their sister.

I remembered around 10:00 that I had defrosted a pork loin and I wanted to try a new crock pot recipe. In order to get it in the crock pot, I was going to need the help of all three of my kids...the oldest one to listen and play with the younger two and the younger two to entertain their sister.

Not only did they play well with each other...they did so for an hour!!!  I love when they play with her...they will not do things she wants until she tells them verbally if they know she knows the word.  I think they are tougher with her sometimes than I am!

They were playing so nicely with one another I not only got dinner in the crock pot (it was delicious by the way!), I also made them apple cinnamon muffins for a morning snack!

Dinner!

Here are some pictures I took of them playing with her in the playroom.  She had to count to three and then say "go" and their name in order for the other one to push the chair off the sofa...which prompted a laugh out of my daughter!  Before this game, they were playing pass the ball...and saying a name and then bouncing it to that person.

Here is a video of the action too!!!

My oldest daughter is just like me...a sun bunny...so she and I stayed inside today, while my youngest two definitely earned play time in the snow.  While they were outside playing in the cold, we were cuddled up by the fire, watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (the original version), playing games and making hot chocolate for her siblings when they came in!

Snow days don't always have to be about the snow...especially in our house...but we enjoy them nonetheless!

Here is a quote for today...

Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever- Walt Disney

Her iPad

Today's gift is her iPad.

Just like any other 11 year old my daughter loves her iPad!  Actually, just like any child my daughter loves her iPad.

Whether it is looking at pictures of her family and friends, listening to music (One Direction, Jack Johnson, soundtrack to Soul Surfer and China McClain from Ant Farm are her favorites), watching episodes of Hannah Montana, playing games (like Cake Doodle), or using her Touch Chat software to tell us something....she loves being on her iPad.  It truly brings her so much joy.

And it is great for me too...obviously the most obvious reason is for her to communicate with us.  But it helps her be occupied so I can get dinner ready or do something else around the house.  If you read my post from the other day, you know she can be the energizer bunny.  When she wants to be engaged on her iPad she can and will be for a long time.

I also love watching her and listening to see what she finds interesting.  I love how she will pick a song and then continue to navigate her iPad to another app and then will go back into music to switch the song.  When you watch her do this....you think...apraxia...what apraxia?  How can she do this with such ease, when other tasks using her hands are difficult for her?

Tonight I needed her to be engaged with her iPad so I could get dinner rolling.  Early in the evening she was very active and I was having to ask my other two children to help out...which they always do.  Thankfully tonight she was into her iPad and I was able to get dinner made without any issues (and it was a great dinner if I might add...a keeper!)

And she did a first all by herself with her iPad!   Earlier in the evening my middle daughter was helping her FaceTime me in the kitchen on my cell phone.  They wanted to know when dinner was going to be ready.  Then about 10 minutes later they were FaceTiming me again.  I called to my middle daughter and said, I can't FaceTime, please come in here and tell me what you need.  To which she replied, "I am not FaceTiming you."  My other daughter was!!!!

I could not believe it....and I answered it immediately!  She had FaceTimed me....but I don't think she knew she had.  I was talking to her and she was looking at me....and then she got up.  I think she was a little confused too because she could hear me (as I was only in the next room over) so she probably thought she would just come see me.  Usually when we FaceTime someone they are not in the house at the time.  I would be confused too!

I love how she can use technology like an iPad just like her peers.  I love how she can be engaged with something for a period of time, to allow me to get dinner ready.  I love how tonight, when I looked into the family room, my three children looked like a "typical" family.  If you didn't know my story, would you know one of my children had special needs?  Would you be able to pick the child with Rett Syndrome out?

And since she is the "energizer bunny" you will notice shelves and tables do not have much on them...for she is also known as "swiper".  I learned many posts ago...to just not let things like that bother me anymore....it is what it is! 

(the sign on the playroom door is from my son to the dog, telling him he is not allowed in the playroom!)

I love how she amazes me....every...single....day!


Here is a quote for today....

Sometimes superhero's reside in the heart's of small children fighting big battles- Author Unknown

"E"

Today's gift is "E".

My daughter says "e" all the time.  And I wish I knew what it meant.

Some think she is calling me, by my first name as it begins with an "E".  Some think she is calling her brother's name as his name begins with an "E" too.  I don't think so.

I am at a loss.

Today it is a gift because she said it constantly and saying it brought her much happiness.  I wish I knew what "e" meant...what it stood for...

I asked her if she was saying my name or her brothers and she didn't respond.   If it was a yes, she would respond with a "la" which is her "yes".  But I didn't get a yes.  I got another "e" followed by laughter.

I can't help but smile too when she says it, because she says it with such excitement in her voice....it is impossible not to be excited with her.  Hey, maybe that is what "e" means...she is "excited" about something.

I hope one day she will be able to share with me, what "e" really means.  In the mean time I will keep trying to figure it out and listen to the sweet sound of her voice when she says it.

Here is a quote for today....

Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do.  Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong- Ella Fitzgerald

Lazy Day Together

Today's gift is a lazy day together.

We had a family lazy day today...and it was great! I love lazy days! Between the cold weather and having had a late, late night out ( wow, my body does not bounce back after a late night out like it used to!) and my daughter with special needs waking up 3 hours after we went to bed....a lazy day was the answer.

Luckily, my daughter fell back to sleep...in our bed and slept in in the morning. But let me tell you, there was nothing productive about our day...(well, I did finish a book I was reading!).

I love how we did not have to be someplace at a particular time, I love how we were all snuggling in one room together (even the dog) having true family time filled with laughs, I love how there were silent moments too where you could reflect and take a deep breath, I love how we were in our pjs all day (ok...3 out of the 5 as my husband went to get milkshake treats for all of us from Cookout...if you never had them, they are incredible!) and I love how we could be lazy today.

The kids enjoyed it too. My daughter would snuggle any time, any day...but hearing my son say how he just loved having snuggle time and being lazy with me today was worth it too! My middle daughter's favorite part of the day was cuddling under the covers after eating our milkshakes as we were cold!

We ended the day watching one of our family's favorite movies, Soul Surfer. This movie is so uplifting and inspiring, it just leaves you feeling like you can do anything. So after a non productive day, but one filled with relaxation and after watching the incredible movie I am ready for the week to begin! Sometimes we need to put the brakes on and do absolutely nothing...and today was that day!

Here's to a great week!

 

Here is a quote for today...one of my favorite lines from the movie Soul Surfer.....

I don't need easy, I just need possible.

Tickle Monster

Today's gift is tickle monster.

Have you read this adorable book? I think it is one of my favorite books my children have now. I remember being tickled as a child, just like I tickle my children today. I think the best part of tickling them is hearing their sweet laughter. The laughter that comes from a tickle is like none other...especially the deep belly laugh.

My daughter does not laugh when she is tickled...it is like she is not ticklish. Not on her belly, above the knee, under her arms, under her chin, on her feet...no where. My other two children start squirming just at the word tickle.

I often wondered if tickle to her was just like pain...as in she doesn't experience it on the same level as most.

Until yesterday and today.

We tickled her while we were playing around and the sweetest giggle emerged! A giggle we haven't heard before...a giggle with her eyes squeezed shut like she was anticipating the next tickle...a giggle we have longed to hear from her!

Here is one of my favorite parts of the book...does it bring back memories from when you were a kid or memories of you tickling your children?

For my crowning achievement I' ll tickle your toes, and your elbows and your knees, your neck and your nose. And your earlobes, eyebrows and your chin quite a tally, I'll tickle them all for my big grand finale! - excerpt from The Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett

Regrouping

Today's gift is regrouping.

Today's gift from my daughter is more of an eye opening experience of how something comes so easily to me, but to my daughter it does not. Not that this was a news flash, but it made me see things differently.

This afternoon my daughter was all over the place...up...down...and all around. It is from times like these where she got the nickname the energizer bunny. She was nonstop and it was truly exhausting to watch...and be on her.

When she gets like this, she can not regroup like you or I, rather she needs help. She needs someone to sit her down on the sofa...sit next to her (sometime with a leg on her to keep her still or in her body soc for some pressure) and help her calm down.

When we get like this, we know we need to calm down and relax and don't need assistance in doing so.

I sometimes get so frustrated with her when she gets like this, but today the experience hit me differently. I always know she can't help it...but it was like the three ring circus today hit me head on and the light bulb went off!

I always help her to calm down when she gets like this, but today it was the fact of how she can't regulate her body...on her own...to even start to calm down that hit me head on.

So instead of waiting and waiting and waiting for her to try and calm down on her own, I intervened sooner to get her to regulate before I lost my mind. And it worked!

Where have I been, right?

I guess since I am always trying to get her to do things on her own, I was always waiting for her to do this too. And maybe she will one day, but in the meantime, I will continue to redirect her before the energizer bunny takes over!

Here is a quote for today....

Holding hands is a promise to another, that just for a moment, the two of you don't have to face the world alone- Author Unknown