Thirty - Second Update on Rowan's Evaluation

So, I spoke to the specialist again today and they're pretty confident Rowan has a condition called Sensory Integration Dysfunction (or the newer name for it is Sensory Processing Disorder). The treatment for it is still Occupational Therapy and he will be undergoing therapy strategies that are sometimes used with children who are autistic. I will be attending a meeting in the next couple of weeks to go over all of this and set up his therapy, along with his IEP. Wow, it all sort of makes sense now. They said it's something that should have been looked into awhile ago. With his constantly higher than normal body temperature and the way he eats should have provided early signs, even without all of the other symptoms.

I'll just provide two links, because it's all still a lot for me:

http://www.incrediblehorizons.com/sensory-integration.htm

http://www.spdfoundation.net/index.html

Twenty-Nine - Rowan's OT Evaluation

Rowan had his Occupational Evaluation today. He was such a good boy. He did score below average on almost everything, especially in the sensory skills section, which we expected. He scored mostly average in the fine motor skills area. He has sensory skills overload.

I don't remember if I explained what occupational therapy does. Occupational is split into two groups: fine motor skills and sensory skills (which ranges from the five senses to emotions and mental). He scored average on many of the fine motor skills tests, but below average on the sensory skills, which is what we expected. He has hyperactive senses. He's a picky eater and prefers to eat bland and/or soft foods. He'll eat potato chips and stuff like that, but when it comes to meal times, he prefers less complex foods, such as applesauce, yogurt, pasta without the sauce, etc. He also has to smell a lot of things. He gets overly emotional over things (crying during adult movies as if he understands the concept) and has temper tantrums. Not because he's just misbehaving or anything, but if he can't get something to go his way during independent play (such as not being able to get a spiderman toy figure to bend his legs an EXACT way), or if he attempts something and isn't successful, he'll have a breakdown/meltdown. Because his sensory skills are different than other children's, in order to calm him down we may need to do things like, hold him really close and really tight and apply a blanket for pressure until he calms down, or lay with him on a cool floor (thank god we have hardwoods) with our faces on the floor so he can feel the temperature change sensation, which then triggers a calming feeling. It's hard sometimes, but we love him all the more just because he's NOT like other kids. To us it makes him more special. They tell us that's why he likes music so much, because of sensory reasons. He also has trouble focusing and following directions. Not because of behavior (yet again), but because he's so easily distracted. They say he is REALLY smart and has trouble concentrating on one thing. So the therapy is supposed to help him with his focus and with helping him find his own, independent ways of adapting and coping with a sensory overload. Because, you know, Mommy and Daddy can't always be there with a blanket and we can't go out in public and have to explain to people why we're lying on the floor in the middle of an aisle (yes we've had to do this a couple times) when he's 14 years old. People don't even understand now! They sometimes thinks he's just bratty or misbehaving (he actually behaves MARVELOUSLY) or they probably think we're just freaks. Anyway, if they begin therapy early, hopefully when he's older, it will be hard for an outsider/stranger to see that he sometimes "feels" or "reacts" differently to some situations. There's so much more too, but I'm tired from talking about it with the specialists today. Ha.

On another note, a friend "broke up" with me, I guess. It confuses me. Because to me, either you like someone enough/care about them enough and are interested enough in having them in your life as a friend, or your not. So if they're not, then you'd think they could just be a "mean" person and fess up to that, rather than have to have reasons or excuses as to why "it's not working". Or something like that. I don't know. Honestly, it just isn't as big of a deal to me as it might have been a few months ago.

Twenty-Eight - I Think I Got It This Time

I did one small thing today that I'm really proud of. I analyzed it, like always, and then overanalyzed it, like always, and with a little help I finally saw it. For real, the whole picture. I think next time I'll be able to walk even further away.

Twenty-Seven - Sunday Routine

I think it is an official Sunday routine to hang out with Silver and Vinny. Haha. Yesterday was soooo much fun. Maybe not "fun" to other people, but it was the kind of fun that just warms my heart and makes me feel content with life. Just being around them is nice. It was friggin hot and that gave me a headache halfway through the day, but Silver gave me Excedrin, for tension headaches and that made it go away pretty fast. I was impressed! Normally I just use Excedrin Migraine, and that gets the job done, but not as fast as the other. Anyway, we played Apples to Apples. I love that game! I wanted to play like 45 games of it.

Yesterday while we were outside, Silver said something picking on Vinny (I forget exactly), but Vinny said, "Well Thane is my best friend and I love him" HAHAHA. It was SO adorable. When we came home I asked Thane if he remembered him saying that and Thane was like, "Yeah. That guy's awesome" They're hilarious.

I think Rowan is officially not afraid of Vinny anymore. Haha. When Thane and Vinny were playing a video game yesterday, Rowan hopped up on the couch behind them and put his arms around Vinny's shoulders/neck and was "hugging" him. Also, Rowan called him "Dad" HAHAHAHA. Thane was sitting right there and I was like, "Huh? Rowan! Vinny isn't your dad" (duh) and Vinny was like, "Yeah he called me that before too" So I think Rowan might think that any guy figure that doesn't have a name like "Grandpa" or "Uncle" or something has to be a dad? I mean, it kind of makes sense. The only other adult males he's around, frequently, are all family members with titles. So if he keeps it up we may have to tell him he can call him "Uncle Vinny" Ha.

I am so happy that Madalyn likes me so much. I can remember commenting on Silver's pictures of her, saying, "Ou! I want to squeeze her." or something lame like that. Haha. And now I can! She and Gracie are the cutest little girls ever. They're going to be ridiculously beautiful later on.

Mondays are always mellow days. :] So maybe that means I can hurry up and finish the book I've been working on so that I can start the book Silver let me borrow.

Twenty-Six - More Rain

It is raining again today. I hope that it is dry tomorrow because I think Thane and Vinny are going to set up our tent for a test run in preparation for next weekend! :] We are so stoked about camping. Although, I am a little nervous about being a tad bit moody. I hate dirt and bugs and stuff. Haha. I'm a big baby. But I do love campfires and the "no worry" feeling of being away from home for a couple of nights. It will be fun.

Rowan is napping and Thane is taking his Accounting weekly quiz. Like an hour ago I was practically begging Rowan to be ready for his nap because I wanted to take one so bad. Now I'm wide awake.

Tomorrow we're going to Silver and Vinny's. I think that was made obvious by my opening statement. Whatever. We're going to have belgian waffles. Yum. Silver is such a good cook. I know Thane is in love with the food she makes. He's always talking about it on the way home every week. Haha.

Riley has been accident free since the day before yesterday. Yay. I have no idea what came over her, maybe she got spooked by something we did and she was being really, really submissive for awhile? I don't know. I mean, we don't "yell" at her or discipline her or anything, so if we did do something, it wasn't anything intentional or something that we were aware of. It was probably Rowan. Hahaha. I'm just going to be like Gracie and blame stuff on everyone else. :p

I can't wait until we get another vehicle! It's driving me insane. I'd also like our refund check(s) to come in soon. I want to go shopping. Haha.

Twenty-Five - "The L Word"

I think I may need to go back and watch "The L Word" all over again. Hahaha. Silver has been watching it lately and it's been making me want to reconnect with some of the characters. And stare at Shane all day. Haha.

Twenty-Four - Orientation

My orientation went okay. It was mostly boring, but I did get my schedule, which was important. Now I can let the day care know what it is and finish enrolling Rowan to attend this fall.

I will be going to school Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. My schedule is:

MWF:
9:10-10:05 Meteorology 101 in Park Hall
10:20-11:15 Practical English Grammar in the Campus Center
11:30-12:25 American Lit.: Beginning to the Civil War in the Campus Center (same room as my other CC class above)
12:25-1:50 Break
1:50-2:45 Shakespeare: An Introduction in Lanigan Hall

And then Monday & Wednesdays only:
3:00-4:20 Adolescent Psychology in Lanigan Hall

So not too bad for being one of the last groups of students to make their fall schedule. Since I'm technically a junior, next semester I should have no trouble getting classes that I want, when I want them. I am definitely going to try for Tuesdays and Thursdays next semester.

Rowan will be going to the day care program on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:00am to 4:30pm. Thane doesn't work Fridays during the school year, so we only need two days of child care. Hopefully we can keep it that way until he needs to go more frequently because of preschool.

Student orientation leaders kept calling me "hun" and talking to me like I'm unexperienced in life or wouldn't understand things. Haha. I wanted to scream, "Leave me alone. I'm your elder!"

I only had one minor freak out during the whole thing. I had to eat lunch alone in the cafeteria. I was panicking. I didn't know what to get to eat and I couldn't see what everyone else was eating ahead of time because they were all seated in the cafeteria part and it's in another room than where you get your food. So I got a grilled ham and cheese sandwich, a salad, and pink lemonade. Turns out like every other (skinny) girl got fruit and salad. Sometimes I feel like people my size are supposed to be banned from eating in public. Since I can't even look people in the eye most of the time, I kept my head down and tried to see a spot where no one was out of the corner of my eye. I did and sat down before I realized it was in the back middle of the room, facing the entire room. That made me feel like everyone was looking at me and judging me. Then I was upset because I hadn't analyzed the entire area beforehand to see where I had to take my plate and tray when I was done. So I spent the entire time creating scenarios and plans for that while I ate. I was worried someone would sit near me and try and talk to me and then my poor communication/social skills would make me look like a rude bitch. Ha. Then I worried that if no one sat near me it just meant I was an even bigger loser than I thought. Whatever, I suck.

I can't even type a long entry because I have to get ready for my brother and sister-in-law to visit.

I hate how my anxiety makes me feel so drained. Like yesterday was a friggen marathon or something. Hi, it was just a normal day, calm down.

That's all for now, I suppose. I'll try and write more later today.