Help needed with getting Liquids in my boys...

Ok this is a LONG overdue post. I have been trying different things and asking several people for advice, but to no avail. My boys both have issues with drinking. I don't know if its a sensory thing, if its a flavor thing, or if its just them being stubborn (I don't think its stubbornness).

Ever since they were about 8 months old we have been thickening their liquids due to the fact that they both aspirate thin liquids. We continue to do this still today and they are 4 1/2 years old.

My problem is that today we were at the doctors office, Caleb is close to being dehydrated. We were given another day to push more liquids into him and we were to stay away from milk products. He has a stomach virus going on and its causing him severe diarrhea and occasional vomiting.

This is the conversation between me and doc today:

Doc: Go ahead and give him Pedilyte
Me: he won't drink it.
Doc: Ok then Gatorade will work
Me: he won't drink it
Doc: Ok, well then water down some soda
Me: he won't drink that either
Doc: Humm, well then jello or Popsicle
Me: He won't do either of them either..

So I have no other choice but to continue with the rice milk, but this is not the first time this has happened to us. Does anyone have any advice on how to get them to drink other things? We have tried putting juice in their milk, just to flavor it and see what they would do.. Throw their cup is what they did.

We've tried a small amounts of soda on a spoon before and NO! I don't think they like the coldness of the Popsicle and jello they they spit it right out...

I'm outta things to try. We've only really worked with the speech therapist about two years ago and nothing worked then. Who do we ask about this?? I'm at a loss????

Dinostars!!!

Elijah's K/1 Class just recently had their yearly musical play called Dinostars. It was really cute and the parents in charge of decorations and costumes did such a wonderful job. The play was really cute, and my lil Tranasauras Tex was C-U-T-E!!



Elijah did great with his speaking part...






Then after Elijah performed the 2/3 grade went up and played their fluteaphones, so I got to see Camille perform that day too... I didn't realize she was performing up on stage that day or I might have been a little more persistent about wearing dressier clothing.


She on the bottom left in a white t-shirt with a red shirt tied around her waist. She impresses us very much with how well she plays this instrument. We may just have another musician on our hands. Tristin has played the clarinet now for two years and she really likes it.

That's a Wrap....

This is BIG news!!!



I had to share photos!!



The boys were self-feeding themselves a chicken salad and spinach wrap




This is almost as big and having twins that are potty trained.....I'm hoping to start this over the summer.

Mama's proud of her boys :)



*pssst* Lets keep it up!!!!

31st Annual Run/Walk for Someone Special

When I was a little girl in elementary school I remember getting all excited to walk a walk in Sykesville with my family. We usually raised a little bit of money and had a fun family time together walking for a good cause. Then I moved onto middle school, high school, college, and then life. I honestly can say I didn't realize that the walk was still going strong each and every year. I had the privilege of becoming the Executive Director of The Arc of Jefferson County last year and had a hand in the end of planning for last years Run/Walk.

This year I have a new fire to again make this the biggest and best event yet. Last year we were so excited to have had over 300 participants show up. The Run/Walk for Someone Special is our biggest fund raiser and all monies raised stay completely local. The donations go towards funding a summer camp program we host called Camp Friendship, an autism camp that just started 2 years ago, a sign language workshop we began last year, a lending library available to our members, a parent support group that meets monthly, and the Saturday Adult recreation program we put on. There are so many people who benefit from the funds raised at this event. I have set up a FirstGiving page and would ask you to consider making a contribution towards my little guys future here at The Arc of Jefferson County.

Please visit my firstgiving page HERE or if you would like to read up on more about our organization you can visit http://www.jcarc.org

Bathtub Buddies

Funny thing about bath time photos is that seems to be the only way I can get the twins in a shot together these days. They are busy boys and usually both going in different directions. So when its bath time, I have captured them in one spot where they both love to play together.

I got Adobe Photoshop Elements for Christmas and I'm still learning how to use it. I didn't realize that there were so many functions to learn to make a photo look nice. Thanks to my friend Kacy, I learned how to bring out color in a black and white photo today... THANKS!!



Splish Splash....


Caleb


Isaac



Every single day I thank God for blessing me with these boys!!!

45 Minutes One Way!!??!! and A Wish

There is a new autism center opening in Ridgway, PA. Today they held an Open House. I was going for two reasons. To represent The Arc of Jefferson County so that I might be able to provide information to our own clients and two as a parent of two children with Down Syndrome and PDD Autism. As soon as I stepped into the facility a big smile came across my face because this was the kind of place I had only read about on the internet or in books.

I am one of those crazy mamas that tries real hard to give my kids everything. Thus, we actually have a sensory room in our house. Its no where as developed as this particular autism center, but for a home version I think its pretty cool. Both boys have been diagnosed with Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Trying to research this and find someone to help me provide them with the right kind of sensory has been like banging my head against the wall... I should note here that head banging is something that both my boys do on a daily basis.

I am so convinced that a sensory room is the way to go with my boys that I asked for a sensory room as a wish. Both boys qualified for a wish via the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We thought about what to chose for a few weeks. I know the big wish most people choose is a trip to Disney. Although I KNOW the older three would absolutely love love love to go there (never been there before) I know that being in a busy place like that with all the noises and lights and commotion, that would be WAY WAY WAY too much for the twins. In my opinion I think that would be the last thing they would wish for, at this age. You see this was such a challenge for Tom and I because the boys are completely non-verbal. We wanted something that would give them hours and hours...and hours of joy. Wish #1 Finish our basement into a sensory room Wish #2 and outside play area with swing set and toys. We are anxious to see how it all turns out.

So has anyone else traveled so far for therapy?

Does anyone else have a child with SID?

Snow Day #1

Today was such a beautiful snow day. I love when we get a such large accumulation in one days time. The snow today is airy and light and just dusts everything within sight, its breathtaking. While I am not a fan of the cold weather during the winter months, I certainly would feel like I were missing something without the beauty and awe of snow.

Today I went outside literally to shovel a path for my dogs so they would go to the bathroom outside and not in my house. The more I was outside, the more I began to play in the snow like a child myself. It must have been catchy cause Elijah dressed himself and came outside to play with mom in the snow. When we came out the dogs came out with him and I have to say I have not laughed so hard in a long time watching Rosco our little pug puppy literally drowning in the snow. The snow was deeper than he is high. I couldn't capture just how funny it was with photographs, wish I would have had the camcorder charged....but here's what I got:






The dogs got smart and realized they could follow in Elijah tracks:


Then Elijah and I decided to fall backwards off the deck into the snow





I really had a fun playdate with Elijah and the dogs today :)