Wyatt's Speech...

[Robin0472]

He is also swimming 8 ft to me underwater from the stairs! I want to do lessons, but I honestly think the private or public pool would be too overstimulating for him, with the other kids echos and noises

[Gwenn]

It might be. Sounds like he's doing great with you teaching him, anyway.

Too bad about the copay, but sounds like everything else is going great!

[Robin0472]

Wyatt can now swim about 8-10 feet underwater (face underwater one breath) from the stairs. We are all so shocked at how great he's doing in the water.
We had our friends over last night and their 2 month old baby. Wyatt really took an interest in the baby. This is the first time EVER he has shown interest and he tried to reach down to pick her up out of the carrier but she was strapped in. It was just too cute! He kept pointing to her feet and head. SO awesome!
We have also been working on Safety and hand holding. The past few days we've been going to stores and taking more time and being more assertive to teach him not to run off, stay close or hold hands. He doesn't like to be touched or grabbed and this normally lands with pulling away, or melting to the floor.
We are working on getting a Communication Notebook between all of the therapists/teachers and us as parents.
And another friend came over who's still single and wore her hooker bikini and Wyatt was TOTALLY checking her out, and wanted to swim back and forth to her. (THIS WAS COMPLETELY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR HIM). DH and I Just laughed and laughed. He's slowly coming out of his shell.

[Robin0472]

I have started to read The Out of Sync Child, Thank you so much for those of you that recommended it. There are so many little things I'm reading that sounds like Wyatt.

[Robin0472]

I had our meeting with the 3 therapists. SLP, OT & PT. Wyatt has been Diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder. The most noticeable difference is in his auditory processing, timing and sequencing, when to respond to sound and where it was coming from, how to respond/react. He also has low muscle tone. Not good, not bad. But he is in a school with therapists to address these problems. They are going to give us a name of a developmental Pedi at UNC and request continuity of care with UNC. And seek the allergist from there.

[Gwenn]

Sounds like they know what they're doing. I'm not shocked, as that can tie in together. How are you feeling about things?

[Robin0472]

I'm still not sure how I feel. Another label for the boy. It really ties a lot together, I wish I would have known more about SPD and what do do about it when he was a baby. It could have saved my sanity
I really do hope he comes together. And I know there is nothing more I can do right this second. We love him so much, and he's a great swimmer and none of the other kids would jump off a pontoon boat.

Oh yea, we were in Arkansas for a memorial and DH's Step Brothers took us out on their pontoon boat and Wyatt kept jumping off the back of the boat into the water, over and over again. We also went to the bluffs and I would throw Wyatt in at the 7 ft drop off (I didn't trust him to jump OUT far enough) and he kept wanting to go again and again. Everyone was surprised he would jump on his own and he wasn't freaked out by the jump. My little fish, I have to brag about so
methig.

[Gwenn]

Sounds like he had a lot of fun! I think you will come to find that the label is just a resource to find out good ways to help him. It doesn't change him at all. He's doing great and will continue to do great.

[seaturtle]

Robin.

[Robin0472]

Thanks C.

I just remembered my Cousin attended the Handel Institute when she was younger And is now trained in their therapies and works in Washington State. I need to pick her brain.

We had a really difficult weekend, Verbal and sign regressions. W realized we hadn't gone swimming in a week. We spent two hours in the pool yesterday, and the eye contact, verbal and signs improved. This morning Wyatt grabbed my hand, signed "drink p,ease" and "milk". This is a huge change from the pulling and grunting from yesterday.

[Gwenn]

There is some research being done into the effects of swimming time on children with SPD. You should look into it.

[Robin0472]

I need an "awesome stuff your kid can do" meeting with Wyatt's therapists. Because all those scales they used just tole me his weaknesses. Blah on scales and tests. My kid can do cool stuff too! Just having a moment.

[Gwenn]

I was just wondering how you were doing.

It can be hard to see everything written out in black and white. I try to include the positive as well as the negative in my reports. I hope your therapists will do that, too.

And we know all the cool stuff Wyatt can do because you share it in here! He's really learning a lot of words and making huge strides in being able to communicate his needs to you. He can swim like a fish. He's funny and sweet.

[Robin0472]

I'm doing OK. Everyone loves him and that means a lot to me. I see some children that are worse than he is and have more issues them him and I am grateful. It is hard when I walk into the class and all the kids notice I'm there and say "Hi Wyatt's Mom" and it take him awhile to notice I'm there. He's always happy when I arrive and many times he's playing off by himself. He is getting PT and SLP at the same time combining gross movements and play with sounds.
He is waving good-bye and blowing kisses on demand. And he's giving hugs when the teachers squat down to offer a hug. So would that be conditioned or he's reading body language?
He is now lifting his head while swimming and treads water for a few seconds. He is so comfortable in the water.
I picked up a sensory ball set from Costco last night.
I just love him so much. The library had some books I picked up on Taking control of your Chld's IEPs, "Quirky Kids", Parent's Guide to Developmental Delays. So I've been reading a lot lately.

I'm doing OK. It's just hard to explain these things to people and they go, "well he seems like a normal 2 year old. I think that is all normal 2 year old behavior."

[Gwenn]

I do think it is very hard to explain sometimes. It's never about a single behavior or incident, it's about how everything adds up together and that can be really difficult for others to recognize.

About the hugs, I think there is something about hugging that just cuts across a lot of that. One little guy I worked with I remember the parents telling us that when he was first diagnosed, the doctors told him he would never be affectionate with them (what a ridiculous, ignorant, untrue thing for a doctor to tell parents!). They gave him lots of love and hugs to make up for it and when I knew him from 8-10 he was an extremely affectionate, huggy child. Not to say he didn't have major social interaction problems, but there is something deep within everyone that wants to connect with others that they love and trust and given the chance it will come out.

I would also say, though, that things like waving and blowing kisses are socially learned responses that require reading body language, so he's really doing both. Wyatt has done so well with his signs and gestures and that is the BIGGEST predictor of doing well with communication as he gets older. He's doing really well.

[Robin0472]

Wyatt Watch 2011,
He can jump into the deep end of the pool and swim to the shallow end with no assistance. He does cheat when he gets to the shallow end and bounces a few times before he continues. Everyone is amazed by his swimming ability and have been told to call the hospital (gym) pool for open swim times/family swim times and possibly Aquatic Therapy resources.

Last week they started compression vest, brushing and joint compression and his teachers reported they saw amazing results. He sat during story time and even held a little girl's hand. I put tights (I know, I know tights on boys.. but even the OT said it was worth a shot) on him today and noticed an increase in babbling, I asked him to say "Mom" and he said "ma", I put on Ponyo and said "Ponyo" and then he said "An-Yo". I was like WHOAAAAA.
The week after next, DH and I will meet with the OT for her to teach us the brushing and joint compressions.
Over all doing great. Everyone loves him, he still loves his new school, and so do I.

[Gwenn]

Yay! Good news!

[Robin0472]

Strange occurrence tonight and not sure if it is tights related. My son DID NOT WANT TO SWIM tonight, for the first time EVER!

[Gwenn]

Could go either way, depends. I guess you'll have to see if there's a pattern.

[Robin0472]

Update: I did the tights again for Church Nursery, under his church pants. And the ladies said he was a completely different boy. He made lot of eye contact, lot of vocalizations, they saw him smile for the first time, he let them change his diaper (which for one month he has kicked them ever Sunday and refused to get his diaper changed), he was focused on the toys and actually played with one for awhile before moving onto another, he participated in back and forth play (with more eye contact) with the ladies.
DEFINITELY A CONNECTION! He'll wear them again tomorrow and I'll talk to the OT ASAP.

[Gwenn]

Amazing! So glad to hear it.

[Robin0472]

Got his referral straightened out. 6 months to get into the developmental Pedi at the base. Original referral was denied because it was put in wrong. It was resubmitted to UNC. 2 month wait there.

[Gwenn]

Ugh, ugh, ugh. So to translate, you're going to UNC in 2 months? I hope that's what you're saying!

[Robin0472]

Ugh, ugh, ugh. So to translate, you're going to UNC in 2 months? I hope that's what you're saying!

We have a referral put in for UNC, but it takes 2 months to get an appointment. So waiting for the paper to arrive in the mail with the referral phone numbers from our insurance company. Then Call UNC-Developmental Pedi for the appointment once I have the paperwork in hand. Should be 7-10 days to get the paper.

[Robin0472]

I showed the video of Wyatt swimming to his PT, OT and School Director. Jumping into the Deep end and swimming to the shallow end. They gave me the phone number for The Special Olympics Coordinator with the school system. They meet at the Indoor Pool at the Private Prep School. She'll call back at 4 so we can talk more. That takes care of Thursdays. Now for the other 6 days of the week.

They even said to get him on the swim team. HAA.. But He has to learn to wear swim trunks.

[Robin0472]

I was also taught brushing and joint compression today. I should get his brush and workbook this afternoon. Brushing in the morning and before bed and swimming every evening. They will do brushing 2x a day at school and compression vest as requested by Wyatt or as long as he doesn't fight the idea. When the weather cools down more, he'll wear tights every day for the compression on his legs.
He now will say "Mum" and "MMmmmmm" on command. Mostly only when I have something to offer him something he wants.

[Gwenn]

Wyatt the swim champion! So exciting!

Great news about the brushing and the sounds on command! Bribery works like a charm. Go for it.

[Robin0472]

Swimming is at the same time as the local swim team. We meet 1 day a week. She will see how he does and then ask the swim team coach if we can come the other days of the week. And best of all, it's free! The Swim Team coach has a special needs daughter and let's the two programs run at the same time.

[Gwenn]

Awesome!

[Robin0472]

Talked to our Case Manager. I fill out the paperwork next week for Wyatt to enter into the school system, (For when he turns 3, Feb Birthday). I found out the school system has contracted slots at the Private Developmental Day center where he goes to now. We'll let them know this is where we want him to stay. But it kills my gut that there is no guarantee he will go there.
We will re-evaluate for his IFSP & 1 year evaluation in October. I can't believe in one month it will be a year since I started this process.