Bath Time

Jason's sensory needs have been pretty over the top.  He has to be naked.  He has to have something going all the time.  He is taking about eight baths a day, just to feel ok.  

This picture was taken because he was sideways in the tub and had his feet above his head.  He is a very flexible boy, but I think this is another sensory need.  He does do this quite often.  Just not usually in the bath tub.  

too much

Whenever we go to my parents house there is almost a guarantee that it will be a packed house.  Some days Jason can not handle this.  He will disappear downstairs into the basement kitchen, or the basement bathroom.  The bathroom of course is a problem because he gets into the tub.  You never know what he's going to do so some one has to follow him into solitary.  

This time it was my turn, and he was in the kitchen stimming in the spot that the fridge used to be.  A nice little pocket of quiet and solitude.  

It can be hard to be the one to go with him.  You just sit and listen to everyone chatting away upstairs.  That adult conversation that you crave so much is going on with out you....again. So once again you sit down and pull out your phone, or just try and stay sane as Jason gets the quiet time he needs.  Eventually he decides he can venture upstairs again, and you get to join in the fun for a few minutes.  At least until Jason decides he's really done and then you round up the rest of the kids and say goodbye.

Not afraid of the cold

Jason has absolutely no problem with the cold.  I don't think I've ever seen this boy shiver.  He will eventually feel the pain that is involved with being too cold, but even that is nothing like it should be.  Jason would go naked everywhere if we let him.  His sensory issues seem to involve clothes.  It doesn't matter what I put him in, he wants to be naked as soon as he walks in the front door.  He does the same thing at Grandma's and Grandpa's houses.  If he feels at home, he was to have his clothes off.

Eye Doctor

There is something about the eye doctor that Jason hates with a passion!  I don't know what it is for sure.  He started freaking out about a year and a half ago.  First it was just for his appointments, now it's even for the girls.  This is how he was attempting to get through the time in the room while we had them checked.  The sad thing, he needs to have his retina's checked as well, but this is something that he won't even let us do when he's asleep.  So it will have to be done under anesthetic.  Something that we just can't afford right now.  So we are going to have to wait until it's a financial possibility.  

January 28th

There have been nights that just look hopeless.  Jason will move between the master bedroom and the waterbed room. During these nights Brett and I attempt to sleep in seperate beds.  Brett sleeps in the waterbed and I sleep in the other.  Jason jumps on the regular bed and swings and then goes and lays on the waterbed for some sensory input.  We have to unplug the space heater or he would have that on all night.

I have discovered that he likes Pinky Dinky Doo.  It's on Hulu thankfully, so he will mainly stay in the master bedroom with me.  Thankfully I can lightly dose while he jumps around the room.  I used to say I could sleep through and earthquake, as a joke.  Now I'm pretty sure that I could.

Sensory Needs

This truly sums up my days at times. Jason's sensory needs are so intense sometimes it's just easier to let him be naked.  And then when he has to do headstands......??? I know we are truly in for a joyous day!

Access to Music

This January we went to the Access to Music event.  It's a special event that the Utah Symphony puts on for families with members who have special needs.  Before it started it was apparent that all the families there were fighting similar battles.  It was loud and chaotic.  Right as the conductor walked out on the stage a young lady shouted something about macaroni and cheese.  Then another when the music started yelled, "I hate this music!"  That was about all I noticed though.  My kids were enjoying every minute of it.  My favorite part was during the William Tell Overture.  The kids just started clapping along to the beat.  There wasn't anything to be done, the conductor just kept going and laughed the whole time.  When he was done, he turned around with a big smile on his face and had the orchestra stand up to acknowledge them.  When it was all done, my neuro-typical kids asked if we could go again next year.  I think it was a success!

Taco Soup

My kids, like their Mother.  Don't like left overs.  Well three of my kids don't like leftovers.  Jason loves anything with ground or shredded meat.  This day the leftovers were Taco Soup.  Something that is often asked for by the children.  It's not my husbands favorite dish, after all it's soup and soup is not a meal.  At least that's the attitude of the men in my side of the family.  

The thing with Autism is there are MANY things that either the kids won't touch, or just plain makes them sick.  So when he likes something, this non-verbal boy lets you know!

Taco soup

gr beef

1 can kidney beans

1 can pinto beans

1 can white beans

1 can corn

2 cans ro-tel tomatoes

1 package taco seasoning

1 package ranch spices

1 box chicken broth

dump everything into a pot.  let come to a boil.  serve with chips and cheese.  

(we crush the chips and poor on top.)

Strange

Jason will not sit for a picture book.  He never has.  The only thing he used to do with books is peel the paper off the board books.  Reading was something that we never did.  You always hear how reading is good for their brain.  How reading too your kids helps them develop language skills.  Blah...blah...blah...blah...blah!

Well I finally decided that I was going to read to Jason.  But really I was going to read myself.  I decided that I was going read books I like out loud.  That way I'm not frustrated by the time reading.  Low and behold......he stayed and listened.  I don't know what it is.....If it's the droning of my voice....or he's actually listening. Either way we have almost finished four novels since January.  

You just never know with Autism!