Day 9

Corbin had another trip to see Diana on Friday. She noticed many new things with him. The most remarkable was seeing him play with things and he had a sort line to go with them. He also was able to just sit. Huge!!

Yesterday, day 8 he listened for 30 min. 

Today at church Corbin played with his toys and also just sat on my lap. I was amazed!  He has rarely done thatabd has done that in public even less. 

Today we started the second disc to see how he will do. It is his first time with it at home. When I was in Mankato on Friday I  picked up some things to keep in a basket just for his listening times. There is a fishing pole with fish, a tool kit, a few lizards, a doctor kit, and a grabber toy. I also threw in a few light up balls for a fun sensory response. This is him today. 

Day 6

Today was a more rough day at school. He had a hard time walking around friends. He likes to take the shortest route possible even if that means walking "through" people. Tonight he listened to his listening system for 35 minutes. 

Day 4 and 5

Yesterday Corbin only allowed for 10 minutes of the listening system. I think it was because we did it too late in the day. So today we did it right after preschool. He only got 30 minutes. Tomorrow I plan to try right after lunch. That has worked well for him in the last few days. 

Listening Day 3

Another day, another session.  Corbin is on day 3 of his listening system.  Day 1: 45 min (or was it 50?)  Day 2: 35 min  Day 3: 45 minutes.  Both day 1 and 3 Corbin fell asleep early and not in bed (once on the couch and once at the dinner table).  I wonder if there is a correlation.  time will tell.

He seems to be more calm already.  Able to deal with more than he used to be able to.  Today during his session he was drooling more than normal, he was incredibly focused on building his Legos though, so that may have contributed.

Listening

Who knew that listening could be so important.  Today we started a new venture with Corbin.  We started the SAMONAS listening system.  He listened today for 45 minutes.  I was very impressed.  At the 15 minute mark he wanted to be done but we did a puzzle together and that got us to the 45 minute mark.  For the first day I am very happy.  He is to listen for 30-60 minutes each day.  We will see if this might help out some of his issues with his disorder (like SLEEPING!).

My son with SPD

My Child's Sensory Life

Each child is different, they say.
Each child is special, they say.
Each child has their own gifts and talents, they say.
Each child has their own needs, they say.

What they don't say, is that each child may have their own special world.  For my son, it revolves around his senses.  My son has SPD, Sensory Processing Disorder.

Eating a hamburger isn't just eating a hamburger any more.  It is remembering to make sure they don't add pickles (they are "slimy") and ketchup and mustard (they may "leak" on to his hands).  When the hamburger "leaks" onto my sons hands, he has to wash them.

Ordering Bear Pancakes from a chain restaurant isn't just ordering pancakes.  If they don't look the same, he may have a melt down, like he did tonight.  And if they whipped cream eyes melt before he is ready, he may have a melt down, like he did tonight.  And if we cut them wrong, he may have a melt down, like he did tonight.  Tonight was not a good night.

A day with my son will be one of the brightest that you may have known for a very long time.  My son is an amazing boy.  He can put together a Lego turtle like no other 4 year old that I know.  He can sing a song that he has only heard once, word for word.  My son gives the BEST hugs.  My son is very compassionate.

A day with my son may seem like many others.  A day with my son may also include many coping techniques that you do not see.

You see, my son has to use a certain spoon to eat his cereal.  So, each day I make sure that he can have that spoon at the breakfast table.
You see, my son cannot wear a t-shirt with a tag on it.  So I make sure to cut them all out and make sure all the "pokies" are out.
You see, my son has to wear the same coat every day, the same mittens, the same hat, and the same boots, even when he doesn't need them.
You see, my son has SPD.

Noises may be too loud.  Sand may be too rough.  Shaving cream may be too soft.  A touch on the hand may feel like a smack on the hand or I may not feel it at all.  You see, his body does not process things like you and me.

Please don't judge my son and please don't judge me.  You see this is not his fault nor is it mine.  This is a disorder just like any other.  Just because you cannot see it does not make it real.

New Journey

Emily recently brought this book to my attention: Trim Healthy Mama.

I was very skeptical at first but being SUPER burned out with Transitions made me want to try it.  This is week one.  I am weighing in on Fridays and I am hoping that this Friday will prove the fact that this system does work.

The main gist of the program is that you don't eat carbs and fats in the same meal or within 3 hours of each other.  My plan right now is that I sit down each morning and figure out what I want to make.  So like today I sat down with my THM book and a pack of sticky notes.  I wrote down what I had for breakfast (today was eggs and turkey sausage as well as coffee with cream).  Then I wrote down what I want for snacks (todays options are Easy Peazy Cinnamon Muffins and a Fat Stripping Frappa, am and pm snacks).  I am planning a tortilla pizza for lunch and Fantastic Meatloaf (Serene's version) with cauliflower mash for dinner.  All of that is an "S" meal except for the FSF, that is a Fuel Pull.

My starting weight was 221.

A good drink I have been having is the Good Girl Moon Shine (GGMS).  I fill a quart jar with ice and water and then add RAW apple cider vinegar and ginger as well as some Truvia.  I mix it together and sip away.  :)

So that is what I have so far!  :D

Another allergist

Tomorrow (or today rather) we are going to take Corbin to yet another allergist.  This time Dr. Friedman.  We took Abby to him once...didn't really care for him...so we never went back.  Now we have to see him again with C.  Here's to hoping we can figure out what is up with my little man.  He is now like 25lbs...what a CHUNK!  He is the bestest little guy ever.  He is so happy and snuggly and lovey.  He loves his sisters and is just an amazing kid.  He is such a boy.  As of yet, he is still only saying Da da da da da da da and to no one specifically.  Mostly just says it.  Sometimes we get a dis or dat and even more rarely a ma or is it mmmmm...lol. 
No matter what he is my little man and I am feel so blessed to have been able to experience raising both girls and a boy.  They are each so very different. 

He's doing well

Corbin is doing about as well as we excpected!   YAY!!!  I am so happy that he is growing well, height and weight.  We are switching him to Neocate Jr as opposed to Neocate infant.  He is a big boy now!  We don't have to go back to GI until February!!!  YAY!!!  That just rocks my socks off! 

We had to do some blood work to check why is iron levels were a little low but that was it.  We checked a CBC and the liver function.  With any luck we will do just fine with those tests and not require anything more.

Another GI Appt

Tomorrow we have another GI appt.  Corbin is doing really well.  He is eating some solid foods.  He is eating peaches, sweet potatoes, carrots, white potatoes, lamb, and rice.  We are still using Neocate as the main source of nutrition.  He is 22lbs now so that is good too.  As long as he hasn't lost weight and is doing well otherwise I am hoping that we can be done with the GI specialist.  Wish us luck!

Update

Corbin is doing great.  He just turned one.  He is taking his first steps.  He can now eat peaches, carrots, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, rice and lamb.  It is nothing short of a miracle.  We are getting a few more tests done on him, allergy wise, and hope within six months that we can get him off of the Neocate and onto something different.  He is such an amazing baby.  We love him so much. 

No foods.

 After our last bout of problems with sweet potatoes we are done.  Well, for a while.  I talked to Dr. Carine and we decided that we should hold off for a couple of months to let his belly heal.  :(  Poor guy probably won't be able to have his right of passage with the traditional birthday cake at 1.  :(  So sad.  :(

Sweet Potatoes

Another no go.  :(  His bottom broke out so badly it started to bleed.  I talked to Dr. Carine about it and we decided it would be best if we didn't try any more foods for a while.  Give his gut a chance to heal and then try again.  So that will be 2 to 3 months from now.  Yes it will be nearing his 1st bday...so that probably means no cake for Corbin.  :*(  That makes me sad.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow we will try Corbin on sweet potatoes.  I am expecting him to react to these too.  I guess if I expect him to react and he doesn't then I can be surprised when he doesn't react?  Dan want to try him on liquid alumentim.  I am not sure.  I am really  nervous about it.  Neocate is the only thing that he can tolerate right now and I am afraid to screw it up.  I don't think Dan realizes how hard it is on me when I have a cranky baby for 4 days every time we try something new.  I wish he would just have some faith and let us go see Dr Cheryl.  I know he is skeptical but so am I.  Although I have seen VERY good results from my friends' kids.  They couldn't eat anything and now they can pretty much eat what they want.  It was a miracle for them.  I guess I just want that miracle for my little boy.  How do I get him to understand?

That's our Brenna...

Today during nap she cut herself.  Yup, during "nap".  She went into the bathroom and was playing with my razor.  UGH!  She cut up her finger pretty badly.  After half an hour of pressure and ice I finally got the bleeding to stop.  I wish I had another adult to consult with to find out if I should get her stitched/glued. 

Apples

So I tried applesauce last night.  I was up with Corbin 4x last night and Dan was up 2x.  Not sure if it was the testing we did or if it was the apples.  So, I gave him apples again today.  We shall see what is going on.  I sure hope it isn't a reaction to apples.  I think I would cry.  :(

Allergy Testing

Today we went to Dr. Bagenstose to test Corbin for allergies.
Well, just as Amy predicted, everything came back negetive.  We KNOW that he cannot tolerate things, like alimentum and bananas so far.  But nothing came back positive.  Now we have to figure out what the next step is. 
Tonight we tried apples.  I will try them again tomorrow and see how he does.  If he is fussy or reacts with a rash or something we will need to try something else in a few days.  So we will see.

I think I would take Monday over Tuesday...

Today was another rough day in the Vogel house.
Corbin went to see Dr. Carine again. He has not been feeling well for about a week. I gave it that amount of time to see if it would go away...guess what...it didn't.
He has a second double ear infection (2nd in a month) and is wheezing.
He is on a steroid and a shot for antibiotics. Let's not forget to mention the nebulizer we were sent home with as well. Every four hours until the wheezing goes away.
I am pretty emotional about this. I wasn't prepared for the nebulizer. I knew that an antibiotic and a steroid would probably be on his list of things to get but not the neb. I thought perhaps an inhaler like the girls had...I guess he is just different.

Time to start again...

Well it is time to start this up again.
Corbin is doing well. He is now up to 18lbs and over 26" long. :)
We are now encountering food problems.
We gave Corbin bananas a week or so ago. Well, that didn't go so well.
We now have an appointment on March 8th with an allergist to see what Corbin is actually allergic to. If we find he has significant allergies we my try treatment several of our friends recommend.

The girls are doing great. They are growing leaps and bounds everyday.
Abbie is loving her V. Smile games and is attending AWANA weekly.
Brenna is a very vivacious 2 year old and likes to explore EVERYTHING! :D

Monday, November 9th

I weighed Corbin again today. He is now 10lbs 9oz. YAY! I am so happy for him. We just ordered two cases (8~15oz cans) of formula...oy, $255. Here's to hoping some day we can get him off of this formula and on to something more affordable. But you do what you have to do.

The girls are doing great. Brenna is starting to learn her boundaries...not quickly but she is learning them. Abbie is a petite little girl. I love her to death. She is such a sweetie. She always knows when mommy needs a hug. The other day she caught me without a seatbelt on when I was in the backseat feeding Corbin his bottle. She told me that I needed my seatbelt so I could be safe. :) What a cutie. Of course I put it on. I just hadn't gotten that far yet. :)