Dr. Seuss

Like most parents, I LOVE Dr. Seuss! He is silly, funny, genius, brilliant, and profound all at the same time. So, this past week, we celebrated Dr. Seuss's Birthday EVERY DAY!!! I pulled out my old Dr. Seuss Unit from my teaching files, and tweaked it to better suit the needs of a 2, 3 & 5 year old. It was a hoot! Here are some things we did!

We read I Can Read With My Eyes Shut, and made Dr. Seuss Hats! All of the kids that I babysit did something different. The oldest cut & glued strips for a hat. Ethan traced the hat's lines with different markers. He held his markers so well!!!! And the youngest traced her hands onto her hat. Then, we taped a strip of construction paper to the hat in order to actually wear them. But I think Ethan thought I was taking a picture of his car. :0)

We also did some "marble painting" to go with the The Foot Book. We traced our feet or shoes, cut them out & place it in our pan. Then, the kids picked out their paint colors, and I dabbed the paint around the edges. Then, we place our marble in the pan & let the marble roll around. I thought Ethan would really like this because he doesn't like to paint with his hands. He doesn't like getting paint on his fingers. He didn't really seem to want to paint this way either, but it was during snack time too. Maybe next time...

Here is the oldest painting one of his feet. He LOVED it!

 

Here are the final results!

We read & made Green Eggs & Ham. I also gave the kids cereal in case green eggs were too weird to eat. The oldest ate his eggs plus Ethan's eggs....because Ethan put it up to his lips & then said, "All done." And the youngest just played with it. It was fun though!

We read One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and we glued gummy fish to our paper....working on fine motor skills. The two boys were more interested in eating the fish than gluing them, and that was okay. I was actually glad to see Ethan eating them because they are similar to taffy or Twizzlers in that you need to pull with your teeth to eat them...and that is part of his sensory diet. YEAH! The youngest...the only girl....LOVED this activity & her entire paper was filled with fish!

A Church's Pampering

This article was posted on one of the blogs that I follow. A church presented a DAY OF PAMPERING for women who are caring for someone with special needs in their family. AMAZING! I love it when churches reach out to their community & become the hands & feet of Jesus. It truly touches my heart, and brings tears to my eyes. You can see the article & images at http://www.theworksofgoddisplayed.com or read below.....

"Sandra Peoples is a pastor's wife, a mom, and an excellent writer, and I am thankful to know her. I featured her e-book, Speechless: Finding Grace in My Son's Autism, on this blog a few months ago. When I saw a post from her on Facebook about enjoying a day of pampering at a local church, I wanted to know more, and she graciously agreed to share. Read her guest post below, and visit the Facebook page for her book!" ~Shannon Dingle

"A special  needs mom's work is never done. We have to be "on" all the time. So a couple months ago when our son's behavioral therapist mentioned that her church was hosting a day of pampering for moms of kids with special needs and wives of husband with disabilities, I signed up!

I had never been to this church before, but as soon as I drove through the front entrance, a man greeted me by asking, "Good morning! Are you here to be pampered?" I told him I was and he told me where to park. When I got to the right lot, another man greeted me and asked if I would like the inside of my car detailed while I was being pampered. He handed me a baggie with a key ring and piece of paper (for the dashboard) with the number 3 on them.

When I walked through the doors I was greeted by ladies at the registration table. They took my keys with the numbered key ring. They handed me all the paper work for the day and I signed up for my choice of a table or chair massage, at the time that was best for me. One of the ladies walked me down the hall to the coffee area where there were light refreshments and drinks. The coffee area was across from the church library, which had books like Same Lake, Different Boat on display. I was impressed by their attention to detail! Even the books were specifically chosen for us!

At 10:00 we were led into the sanctuary for a time of worship. There was a "blessing of the hands" ceremony and a speaker who shared how her life changed when her son was injured and paralyzed at the age of 20.

After the service, the moms and wives headed to lunch in the gym. There were tables set up, each uniquely decorated by a hostess who ate with us. (The other volunteers and service providers ate in another room.) I enjoyed getting to know the women at my table. I was one of the youngest moms in attendance, and was in awe of the decades of love and compassion the women around me had invested into their children and husbands.

After lunch, the pampering began! I had signed up for a table massage first, so I headed down the hall to enjoy that treat. Then I went back into the gym, which was set up for hand scrubs, manicures, make-up application, facials, eyebrow waxing, satin lips, and hair cuts. I just started on one side of the room and worked my way around! Everyone was so friendly. Most started off the conversation by asking, "So, who do you care for?" They were sensitive and encouraging.

While we were being pampered. the coffee area was set up with gourmet teas and desserts. A trio of instrumentalists provided music through the afternoon. There were also volunteers available to pray with any of the women in attendance.

After getting as pampered as possible and enjoying dessert and tea with other moms, I was ready to head home. The inside of my car was spotless--even the cup holders! I felt encouraged, appreciated, and blessed by so many who took time to serve those of use who serve someone with special needs in our families. I can't wait for next year" ~Sandra Peoples

It's a Mess!!!!

Well...it's kind of a mess now!! But that means it can only get better from here, right?! So, this week....

1. Ethan's Uncle Scott came over & helped us remove the gas stove & cap the gas line.

Here is what part of the kitchenette area in our basement looked like when we first moved in..none of the appliances worked, but we could envision an updated look. In fact, the oven is being held closed by cardboard jammed between it's door & closure. And how about that 70s carpeting!?!? But love the space & the possibilities!!! This kitchenette is right next to the playroom area.

Here is that same space now...torn down to the studs. The beautiful fireplace was given to us by my husband's parents. It used to be in their home but it was just too big for their needs. We are planning on using this in the playroom because it gets cold in the basement!!! Eventually this area will be lots & lots of shelving to contain all of our sensory play items.

2. All of the paneling has been removed! I have been on Craigslist looking for materials & items that we can use in our playroom, and I came across a family WANTING 70s paneling!!! They are planning on using it to renovate & extend the living quarters in a horse trailer! They came and got all of our paneling this past week. I was so glad that someone else could use this paneling....and they saved us from having to haul it all away! So we are officially down to the studs!

 

Now, Corey & I have been talking & planning about where to go from here. There are many options, but I think we are going to focus on the walls. We are going to remove the studs, wash the walls with a strong cleaner & then paint on a couple of coats of sealer. That really wasn't in my plan, but my husband convinced me that it would be the smart thing to do since we already have everything torn out...and he is right. I'm just getting impatient! LOL! Lots to do, but it's going to be so nice when it's done!!!!

Overhead Projector

Although our playroom is still in construction mode, that hasn't stopped us from trying new kinds of sensory play. We have been doing a lot of "in the dark" activities because Ethan has been turning all the lights off in the house. We think that he is becoming more & more sensitive to light. Thanks to one of the schools that I worked for, they have loaned me an overhead projector. Based on some ideas from PlayAtHomeMom3.blogspot.com, we are trying out some new sensory-based activities.

A couple of nights ago, Ethan once again asked if he could turn the lights out. I saw this as a perfect opportunity to get out the overhead projector. While Ethan turned out the lights, I set up the projector & my husband put a white flat sheet over our curtains. I started to get out my transparent objects to show how color shows up on the white sheet as well as make pictures out of objects, but Ethan found my bag of transparent numbers...0-100. "Numbers, numbers, numbers....." So, he played with numbers.....for about 2 hours! Daddy tried to play with him, and Ethan obliged for awhile. Then, he said, "All done sharing numbers with Daddy." It was hilarious because we are always trying to get him to "use his words"....and he definitely conveyed his wants with his words that time!!! We are still working on sharing...

The pictures are hard to see, but he was pulling out a transparent number tile one at a time, saying the number & then putting it on the overhead. When all the tiles were on the projector, he would look at us and ask, "We do it again?" After receiving an okay from us, he would push all the tiles off the overhead onto the floor & do it all again. After awhile, he did include us by asking us if we knew the number he was holding up. If we knew it, he would say, "Daddy got one!", and if we didn't know it, he would say, "Mommy missed it, and that's okay." He loved this game so much that he asked to play it as soon as he got out of bed the next morning. Out of pure selfishness of not wanting to add to the craziness of our mornings, I told him that he had to be dark outside for the game to work. He was satisfied with that answer.....otherwise I believe he would play it all day.

Here is Ethan looking at one of the transparent number tiles next to the overhead projector. There are several tiles already on the projector, but it is hard to see it in this picture.

Again, it is difficult to see, but you can tell that there are more tiles on the projector by looking at the "screen".

More tiles...and Ethan knew every single number. Amazing!

Here is a short video of Ethan playing with the overhead projector.

Handwriting

A couple of weeks ago, I was telling Ethan's Occupational Therapist that I couldn't get Ethan to write for me. I can barely get him to write his name anymore. She gave me some things to try....writing in shaving cream and so on.....and I have been doing it with Ethan. Then, a couple of days ago, Ethan brought me his iPad with a chalkboard app pulled up on the screen. You are able to take your finger & mimic writing on a chalkboard. He was asking me to write $11.99.....his new favorite game/commercial (Pizza Hut). I told him that I thought he could write it....and he took off!!!!! Granted he was using his finger & not a writing utensil, but I was able to see just how well he CAN write! I was amazed. And, as the game goes, we start with $11.99 then go to 12.99, 13.99, 14.99 and so on until 24.99...then we start back at 11.99. Here are some pictures that I took of Ethan proudly showing his work! YEAH!!!!

16.99...Look how proud he is!!!!

What a great smile!

18.99...I was so impressed that he could do an "8"...that's hard!!!

*****UPDATE! This morning after breakfast, Ethan & his cousins were drawing....and Ethan wrote with a crayon these same numbers!!!! Sooooo....he CAN use a writing instrument for me! I was so excited to witness his progress first hand! GO ETHAN!!!!!

Goodbye Winter?

Several of my friends have had a difficult winter dealing with sickness....and we have too. Someone in our family has been sick since October 2011. It just hasn't gotten cold enough this winter to get rid of the germs, I guess. Severe sinus infections, flu, pink eye, bad coughing and strep throat have set up camp in our house this winter, and I'm so ready to kick them out of the house. In fact, as I'm typing this, I am dealing with sinus stuff & really bad nausea. So no coffee today...just Pepto. :0(

I was able to manage taking Ethan to school today....who is on medicine for sinus junk too.....and when I came home, I saw a beautiful sight.......signs of Spring!!!! I am praying that the end of our sickness season is coming to a close. I am tired of missing opportunities for Ethan to socialize, to learn, to play, and to be a kid! We have missed several birthday parties, many church events, and lots of our typical weekly activities.....like visiting the library & playgroup. So, as I sit here & listen to the birds outside, I am filled with hope! Maybe our days of being ill are going to be gone soon!

Last week, I talked about how having Ethan socialize is difficult for me to watch. BUT...NOT being able to socialize is even HARDER!!!!!! I see all of these missed opportunities, and it makes me sad because maybe something would have helped Ethan during that birthday party or maybe something would have clicked for Ethan during that day at school. UGH! So....seeing signs of spring is really lifting my spirits!!!! COME ON SPRING!!!!! LET'S KICK THE SICKNESS OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm tired of missing opportunities!

COME ON SPRING!!!!!!

Meet Math Prodigy, Jake

This video is about 20 minutes, but it is amazing. Does it remind you of anyone???