Days 109, 110, 111, and 112

Did it again - too many days without writing. Yeesh.

The daily sheet on Thursday and Friday (Days 109 and 110) show that there seems to be a couple of times that are consistently hard for Josh and his transitions at school - goes into "meltdowns" or whatevers - right about lunchtime and afterward when they go out or for their "leisure" time. And, it doesn't seem to matter whether it's at school or when they are at SEDOM or the greenhouse - so I'm wondering if he's just tired (so sensory stuff is exacerbated), or maybe just plain hungry/low sugar/headache before lunch. Josh's p-t conference is coming up in two weeks so definitely something to talk about, if not before then. Josh's teacher is, understandably, a bit on the busy side especially with one new student to her classroom, so I need to remember to be patient.

Thursday (Day 109) Josh came home with a pink envelope for me. They had been playing a listening bingo game during the day and I guess he got to choose a prize for winning a round - he chose a present for me! This is the first time he has, on his own initiative, chosen to give a present to anyone - surprising! And it was appropriate - it was a really cute bracelet!

His teacher wrote that she was helping him make a card for me (the card in the pink envelope)and he hit her a couple of times in the face - he has had a couple of hitting incidents (hit a kid in the lunchroom also that day). I know this sounds wacky, but hitting was always Josh's response (that fight or flight thing) to sensory and anxiety overloads. When he broke the leg last Fall, the fight went out of him - he didn't even really hit the people in the hospital even with all the pain and fear. He went "into himself" and that's when the seizures started - both epileptic and non, as well as the anxiety stuff. It's been heck trying to figure out things this past year since it has been so incredibly different with him retreating into himself. The hitting in the last few weeks maybe is him turning the corner and coming back to himself - not that it's great to be hitting, but it seems like this is a return to the Josh he's been until last Fall. I don't know, just a theory.

Josh did an "excellent" job on Friday, Day 110, with the buses, and, except for the meltdowns before and after lunch, he had a great day it seems - participated in things, worked well with the adults, was "compliant," and did a great job getting off the bus even with workers next door banging away putting a new roof on the neighbors house!

Yesterday, Day 111 (Saturday), I had to go to the office again (wish Francis would come back, or let me know when she'll be back so I can figure out a better schedule for the time being) so Gramma and Boompah kidsat for the day. Mom said he was terrific, played with the train, watched a little TV, they all snoozed a little, he was helpful in the kitchen - and she said he was such a gentleman! At one point, she was getting up to go the bathroom and Josh got up, held her walker to stabilize it, went ahead of her to the bathroom and turned on the light and lifted the toilet seat lid! What a guy! She said later that, at one point, she was worried Josh was going to hit Dad - Josh was going to the fridge to get his milk for lunch and Dad was leaning right next to him at the fridge door to help him find it - up close and personal, so to speak. But, Josh did great! And, back to bathroom stuff (sorry), Josh has been more particular about his modesty, shall we say.. Mom would normally check on him in the bathroom when he goes to pee or whatever (!), but now he's asking for Boompah - maybe a guy thing, but, and I just thought of this, maybe it's Josh being nice to Gramma - make it easier on her to not have to get up the stairs to the bathroom? Hhhmmm...

Today, Day 112, Josh and I were totally lazy. We were going to go train hunting but after breakfast we both just plopped down on the couches and fell back to sleep. We didn't get up again until almost 11:00! I was going to mow the lawn, wash the kitchen floor, vacuum some, make some breakfast cookies, etc., etc. Nope, zip, nada - we both just were, as I said, totally lazy! It felt good!

Tomorrow, Day 113, back to the plan, Stan!