Okay, so I am going to attempt to explain Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in hopes that people will better understand our Cole. We haven't told anyone about our life with SPD other than close friends and family. You start thinking about the labels, be treated differently, etc. and we didn't want any of that for Cole. But, ignoring it doesn't mean it isn't there so hopefully I can explain this in a way that makes some kind of sense!
Copying from the SPD Foundation's website, Sensory processing (sometimes called "sensory integration" or SI) is a term that refers to the way the nervous system receives messages from the senses and turns them into appropriate motor and behavioral responses. Whether you are biting into a hamburger, riding a bicycle, or reading a book, your successful completion of the activity requires processing sensation or "sensory integration." Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, formerly known as "sensory integration dysfunction") is a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses. Pioneering occupational therapist and neuroscientist A. Jean Ayres, PhD, likened SPD to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other impacts may result if the disorder is not treated effectively.
Also, there are actually 7 senses, not just the 5 that we all learn. I have borrowed from a SPD mother's blog her discription of these senses...
Sight -- Your eyes help you see
Hearing -- Your ears help you hear sound
Touch -- Your skin and fingers help you feel things around you
Taste -- Your tongue and mouth help you determine taste and texture
Smell -- Your nose helps you smell which is closely connected to your taste system
Vestibular -- located in your inner ear, it is the basis for balance and understanding where your body is in relation to its surroundings
Proprioception -- located in the muscles and joints and controls how much pressures is used (pushing and pulling)
Now just imagine that these senses don't work correctly! You smell everything, even things that no one else smells and it is STRONG. You hear everything to the point that you just have to cover your hears. Even the light's buzzing are distracting. You can't go up and down stairs because you feel like you are falling. Not every SPD child struggles with all of these areas and some children struggle more than others. And, a child may struggle in one area for a while, learn how to self-regulate for that area and then struggle with another area. For example, we have done Occupational Therapy with Cole. He did amazing by the way and has since been discharged!!! He doesn't mind messy play anymore and is able to get his hands dirty and sticky and cope. But now smells and clothing seem to bother him more than they used to. When I say smells, like I said earlier, he smells everything, even things that no one else smells and to him they smell awful. Like to the point where they make him gag. Clothing actually hurts to wear. We aren't struggling with this one too bad yet but it I am afraid it is heading in that direction.
And, you can't talk about SPD without addressing the "meltdown" issue. Sometimes when these children are over-stimulated or are just having an "off" day they can meltdown. This isn't the normal tantrum that most people think of. The kids truly can't help it. It is a "flight or fight" reaction and if you have never seen one, just trust me, it is ugly. While the parent may realize what is going on with the child, from the outside it just looks like the child is out of control. We have gotten many looks in public places because of meltdowns. Lot's of well-meaning friends and family say to just punish the behavior or tell him to get over. Oh for it to be that easy!
There is no "cure", only teaching how to cope.
This certainly isn't what we had envisioned for our Cole but it makes his victories that much sweeter! The first time he jumped off a curb without holding on was amazing. The first time he walked in the yard barefoot without flipping was amazing. He can sit in a swing without his feet touching the ground and we are so proud. He played soccer this past fall and he ran with the group and kicked the ball. AMAZING!!! He is so very smart and I am excited for him because I know that God is going to use him in big ways. And there is such relief in knowing that God knew what Cole (and all of us, for that matter) would struggle with even before he was born. There are no mistakes. And God knows what this journey holds for us. We are so so so blessed!
Okay, so that is a little explanation of SPD and while we can only tell you how it has affected our life, I hope that this offers a little better understanding!
Be Blessed,
Kristi
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Sharing it all.....
So, I said I would try to update regularly but you can see how that has turned out! Over a month and I haven't posted anything! There are a few reasons for that... First, I never have time at home to post so I have to do it before work, during my lunch break, or stay late at work. That is the only time I can complete a thought! However, when I am at work, I don't have my pics with me! I couldn't get past having blog posts with no pics. But, I am going to release myself from that mommy guilt and just post, pictures or no pictures. :) The second reason I haven't posted is because I wasn't sure of what all I wanted to include in the blog. Was it just going to be funny stories from our two precious little ones, our family's day-to-day life, etc. The biggest thing I wasn't going to write about was Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), something our Cole struggles with. And since that has been all consuming the past few months, no posts! But I think I will include our journey with SPD too. I want a record of how far our little man has come! So, this is going to be a record of it ALL. Funny stories, struggles, and the day-to-day craziness that is the James family!
Today's not-so-funny story is that Cole was up at 4:00 a.m.!!! He laid in bed SCREAMING. He just wasn't tired anymore he said and just wanted to get up. Not at 4:00 he's not! So, I told him he can lay in bed until he sees the sun coming in his window. Fat chance. So, finally at 5:15 I went in to get him up only because he was screaming so loud he was waking Annalise up. Wow. It's going to be a long day.
Annalise started her lazer treatment yesterday and was such a big girl about it! Well, actually she slept right through it! A few days after she was born, she developed a little red spot on her forehead. That just grew bigger and bigger and now she has a hemangioma which is a cluster of blood cells making up a benign tumor. She started to have problems with it so her pediatrician decided to send her on to have it looked at rather than let it go away on it's own (usually around ages 2-5 I think) which is the typical practice. She will have lazer treatment once a month for about 9 sessions. Prayers that there will be no significant scaring for the little one!
Just in case we had too much free time on our hands with an infant and 3 year old, we have decided to build a house now as well. We closed on our construction loan this week and hope to be moving dirt first of next week! We are really excited about getting into our new house because we have outgrown the one we are in but I am not looking forward to Tyler being away so much these next few months!
That gets us pretty caught up to now! I really will try to share more frequently!
Today's not-so-funny story is that Cole was up at 4:00 a.m.!!! He laid in bed SCREAMING. He just wasn't tired anymore he said and just wanted to get up. Not at 4:00 he's not! So, I told him he can lay in bed until he sees the sun coming in his window. Fat chance. So, finally at 5:15 I went in to get him up only because he was screaming so loud he was waking Annalise up. Wow. It's going to be a long day.
Annalise started her lazer treatment yesterday and was such a big girl about it! Well, actually she slept right through it! A few days after she was born, she developed a little red spot on her forehead. That just grew bigger and bigger and now she has a hemangioma which is a cluster of blood cells making up a benign tumor. She started to have problems with it so her pediatrician decided to send her on to have it looked at rather than let it go away on it's own (usually around ages 2-5 I think) which is the typical practice. She will have lazer treatment once a month for about 9 sessions. Prayers that there will be no significant scaring for the little one!
Just in case we had too much free time on our hands with an infant and 3 year old, we have decided to build a house now as well. We closed on our construction loan this week and hope to be moving dirt first of next week! We are really excited about getting into our new house because we have outgrown the one we are in but I am not looking forward to Tyler being away so much these next few months!
That gets us pretty caught up to now! I really will try to share more frequently!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
All About Us!
Welcome to our blog! We are going to try to update this regularly but no promises! To get caught up to now, Tyler and I have been married for over 6 years and have two amazing children. Cole will be 4 in December and Annalise will be 8 weeks Saturday!
Tyler and I both work full-time and we are just adjusting to this new addition! Life with two kids is SO different than with one but we wouldn't change it for the world. We LOVE the Lord and are committed to raising our family the way He leads us to. We attend Crossgates Baptist Church (amazing!) and help with the preschool ministry there. We love being with our family and friends!
Cole is a busy boy who loves big machines (think bulldozers and track hoes...) and spending lots of time with the family. He loves his little sister and is always wanting to help out with her. He just started playing soccer and seems to really enjoy it which is a relief! For those of you who witnessed us at t-ball you know what I mean! He spends his days at Mrs. Nancy's and Lakeside Preschool which he loves!
Our newest little joy is Annalise Grace. She surprised us on August 7 by deciding she would make her debut a little earlier than expected! I went in to labor early and off we went!
She is such a sweet baby and loves her big brother! She started sleeping through the night at 7 weeks (YAY!!!) and is happiest cuddling with us! We really couldn't ask for anything better from a newborn!
So that is the quick version of us! Like I said, I'll try to update this regularly but we'll just see how that goes. To be honest, I started a blog in 2008 (only did 2 posts in 2 years) and just deleted it and started all over again! So, it is my hope that this blog will be a record of all the crazy things that happen day to day that we forget all about as time goes on! I heard another mother on the radio the other day say that she is just going to "Enjoy the Journey". Sounds like a good idea to me!
Be Blessed,
Kristi
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| This is our first family photo with all four of us! |
Tyler and I both work full-time and we are just adjusting to this new addition! Life with two kids is SO different than with one but we wouldn't change it for the world. We LOVE the Lord and are committed to raising our family the way He leads us to. We attend Crossgates Baptist Church (amazing!) and help with the preschool ministry there. We love being with our family and friends!
Cole is a busy boy who loves big machines (think bulldozers and track hoes...) and spending lots of time with the family. He loves his little sister and is always wanting to help out with her. He just started playing soccer and seems to really enjoy it which is a relief! For those of you who witnessed us at t-ball you know what I mean! He spends his days at Mrs. Nancy's and Lakeside Preschool which he loves!
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| Cole's first day of soccer practice! |
So that is the quick version of us! Like I said, I'll try to update this regularly but we'll just see how that goes. To be honest, I started a blog in 2008 (only did 2 posts in 2 years) and just deleted it and started all over again! So, it is my hope that this blog will be a record of all the crazy things that happen day to day that we forget all about as time goes on! I heard another mother on the radio the other day say that she is just going to "Enjoy the Journey". Sounds like a good idea to me!
Be Blessed,
Kristi
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