Another glimpse into our life on the spectrum... This is buddy waiting for church to start on Easter Sunday. From the outside it could appear that he is disrespectfully playing electronics and listening to his headphones. In reality, these are coping mechanisms for him to deal with his anxiety and sensory issues. He is actually playing a game that helps with Neuro feedback and helps his brain stay calm and logical. The headphones are a tool that we have begged him for years to use in social settings to help block out some of the chaos. At one point during the meeting he was using my tweezers to pull arm hairs- it helps release some of his anxiety and gives him the sensory input that he needs. Rewind to the Sunday before when his ear buds were broken and he wouldn't take his headphones because he worries about people around him noticing them. While waiting for church to begin, he was about to go crazy as it got louder and louder with everyone talking in the chapel. At one point Brandt looked over at me and said he wished bishop would stand up to the microphone and tell everyone to just shut up. Couple that with the fact that his pants didn't feel right and were driving him crazy and we barely made it through the first part of the meeting before leaving for some quiet time and a change of clothes. He was able to get himself decompressed and calmed down enough to return to the chapel and finish out sacrament meeting as well as the next 2 hours of primary. It has been a long journey for him and us to be able to recognize when he is sensory overloaded and to be able to step out of the situation, get control, and come back. There is a constantly changing learning curve for all of us and we appreciate those around us who understand and support us in the process.

So this happened tonight!!! Brandt has now had 3 sessions with his OT, John Beenfield, and he's been working on getting him to wash his face and brush his teeth. His idea to have him set his own timer to remind himself was brilliant! First time ever he's brushed his teeth on his own without a battle and nagging, bribing, or threatening from us. It was almost a no go when he got stuck on the fact that I didn't have paper cups for him to use for his swishing water and his spitting cup like John did, but finally he was able to adjust and use our plastic cups. For those of you who don't understand buddy's sensory issues or what it's like when he gets stuck on something and has to adjust, let me just tell you that both of these are HUGE accomplishments for him and have taken years of hard work on his and our parts and in counseling with Shaun. I was so proud of him and the best part was that he was actually smiling and proud of himself! Now he's safely tucked away for bed with Mollie between the head of his bed and the wall. Who needs a full bed when you can be nice and cozy squished in a tight space on a pile of blankets and reading a book before going to sleep with your best friend?

First Official Ride of the Year

Buddy has been riding Buck bareback all winter-whether we wanted him to or not. Kylie has been begging to ride, so we finally got around to brushing down Buck and Sunny and saddling up Buck.  Brandt rode around for quite a while, which was a bit of a surprise since he doesn't usually like using a saddle. Sunny was acting up a little, so Kylie took her turn on Buck as well. She couldn't get him to budge for her, so Bryce walked around the field with Buck following close behind. After a long winter it felt so good to be out in the sunshine! It was a beautiful spring afternoon made even better by doing something that we love together as a family.

Now that I'm not working on Fridays, I get to spend the entire day with my kids. Today was super packed with activities.  We started out at Occupational Therapy with Brandt.  He just started in the past few weeks and he loves working with John Beenfield.  They are working on washing his face and brushing his teeth.  Buddy is cooperative and does everything he asks him to do, but getting him to do it at home has been a whole different story.  Brandt says John is fun and I am not.  Hahaha
While we were at the hospital we took some time to visit with Sister Pat Keetch who has been there for the last couple months following a broken ankle and surgery.  She loves seeing the kids and spoils them with treats while they are there.  They thought it was hilarious that she had a crocheted bunny that pooped out jelly beans when they squeezed it.  We also visited Aunt Norma Arnell who has been in the ICU since yesterday with pneumonia.  She just had her 97th birthday over the weekend and her dementia is pretty bad. She was not in a very good mood and she had no idea who we were.  The kids were telling her daughter, Maxine, about Brandt working on brushing his teeth and Aunt Norma started singing "all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth."  She can't remember what happened 2 minutes earlier, but I don't think she's ever forgotten a lyric she's learned.  After we left the kids and I talked a bit about our family history and figured out that Aunt Norma is their great, great, great aunt.  Then it was off to Brandt's appointment with Shaun and Kylie's dance class.  We had some extra time in town, so we went to the Chinese Restaurant to eat.  Buddy has been wanting to go there and try his hand at eating with chopsticks ever since watching the Karate Kid.  He actually tried 3 new foods!!! Fried rice, Sweet and Sour Pork, and a bamboo shoot- and he liked them all!  Kylie stuck with her same old favorite-hamburger and fries.  Next we were off to Paris where we killed some time playing at the Paris Elementary playground until it was time to meet Officer Bart Heslington at the Sheriff's office to work on finishing passing off Brandt's Forensics belt loop for Cub Scouts.  While we were there, Bart talked to them about collecting evidence as well as internet safety.  He showed them how to dust for fingerprints, took them on a tour of the sheriff's office and explained how the dispatchers do their work, took their fingerprints, and let them try out the handcuffs.  Before they left, he gave them each a Sheriff's patch.  I'm so thankful for good people in our community who are willing to go out of their way to make an impact on my children.