What's been going on...

We went to AL Thursday night last week and spent Friday in Trussville because Nick had to work. We spent time with his grandparents and then B and I went to his sisters so he could play with his cousins. He's getting better with his soft touches...





and I think he is starting to understand the idea of "baby" a bit more now.



Nick and I went to the game on Saturday. Thank goodness we won otherwise I would have been one disappointed pregnant lady. Luckily, we didn't have to do much walking around campus prior to the game. PwC has a tailgate area, so we got to sit in the shade and watch TV. I even got a chocolate chip cookie.

I was able to make it up the ramp again, but man, did it hurt. I recall Bryant liked to hang out by my lungs making it hard to breath...Well, Bradley prefers to hang out in my pelvis. It's like carrying sandbags around my waist.

This game took a lot more out of me. We were in the sun this time since the game was at 2:30. I made it until near the end of the 2nd qtr and decided to spend some time down by the concession area...much, much cooler there. I stayed there and listened to the game until near the end of the 3rd qtr. I missed seeing some touchdowns, but I heard'em. Plus, I knew I would be able to watch the game on TV later. It was fine with me...I got dippin' dots!

Bryant had his first OT appointment on Wednesday of last week. It was a get to know me session, but we got some homework. We are to expose B to different textures at home. The first on the list is finger paint. Fitting, since they also us finger paints at MMO. So I tried it...

I followed the direction on how to make it using corn starch, but I think the direction I have called for too much water...



He did ok to start, but once he realized he was playing in water, it was over...




His second OT appointment was today. He was of course hesitant and fussy, just like he did the first few times I dropped him off at MMO, but he will get better the more he is exposed to the environment. I was with him, but he was able to participate with Brittany more one-on-one without my help. I was actually able to leave the room at one point.

He will be doing a lot of different activities to help him learn how his body works in space and how to respond to his environment correctly. Today, for example, he was exposed to different textures; he played with play-dough, put his hands in a bucket full of dried beans and rice. He even got to swing...


This is the type of swing they use. I found this image online.

She also knows how much of a struggle it is to brush Bryant's teeth. We can't get near his mouth or he looses it. I purchased a vibrating tooth brush for him because she thought that would help, but turns out he is afraid of it. So, to help us with this she was able to use a vibrating toy in the shape of a reindeer to expose B to vibrations on his body and then his mouth. It was funny because we pretended to feed the reindeer the dried beans he was playing with. She was then able to turn it on so it would vibrate and he again, fed it the dried beans. She was then able to place it on his arm, then on his cheek, until, Bam! he put his mouth on it!!!! I hope this is a regular therapy tool because I really want to brush his teeth.

Because Bryant seeks deep pressure (bites, bangs head against the wall or a door, toe walks) as a calming mechanism Brittany showed me safe deep pressure inputs I can do at home. We are also to use a specific type of brush on his body (arms, legs and back) to help increase his body awareness.

Our goal for next week is for me to float in and out of his session and eventually I won't have to be present at all. I'll just get my homework.

Let's see, what else can I talk about...

He had a meltdown at MMO on Tuesday because he wouldn't touch/hold the ring rope they use to escort the kids to the playground in an organized manner. I'm not surprised. You never know what B will have a strong aversion too. So, in hopes of helping I made my own ring rope and we played follow the leader at home today:



He enjoyed it at home. I told his teacher to leave the ring rope out in the open so he can see it and to also have him touch it during the day so that when it comes time to use it he won't be as afraid of it. I told her it will take some time but after a while he will adjust. Fingers crossed!

I also gave B his first sip of Dr. Pepper tonight. Gotta love his face...



Poor kid, I don't think he's ever had anything carbonated. Despite the first few sour faces he made he asked for more so I assume he didn't mind the feel of the bubbles in his mouth.