Dobela
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Posts posted by Dobela
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Our fair entries are put up behind barriers to slow people somewhat. Some are tied down. And while there is a back door, that is where they usually have large cattle gates just for air flow. If you want to enter, or exit, you have to go thru one of 2 narrow doors and there are people posted on each side. And the food is now kept behind large screens to keep those wanting free food out of reach. But really, our fair lasts a week. Even in Spetember it is 90+ outside and the pies, etc will often mold. Who is stupid enough to eat moldy foods???
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You want to find an SLP with experience in feeding disorders. The one my daughter used worked with children part time and a nursing home part time with stroke patients. She was FABULOUS! We lucked into her, but now I know I should have been asking for a feeding specialist all along, and asking what kind of background and current experience they have. Prior to this we briefly worked with a friend of mine that was an SLP specializing in infants with feeding issues but she was not nearly as good as the last SLP.
My dd was a preemie and struggled with weight issues from the beginning. I knew something was wrong but it took me a year to get anyone to listen. Finally a swallow study was ordered and they discovered that she was dealing with silent aspiration and gave an official diagnosis of swallowing dysphagia. We first began thickening all liquids to honey consistency. We also saw a feeding specialist in the Children's Hospital, but she wasn't much help honestly. The feeding specialist was also a SLP, but since dd was young and the diagnoses were new, she didn't give us much more information.
When dd was 3 she finally qualified for PT and OT who also recommended that I have a speech eval 'just in case'. When I began describing the feeding issues the SLP began using different evals than the usual language/articulation ones. At her suggestion we asked the pediatrician for a referral for therapy based on the swallowing dysphagia diagnosis since at that time dd did not qualify for language/articulation therapies. To our surprise, insurance approved the therapy with that diagnosis. Due to dd's low tone, we did all sorts of stretching exercises daily with her tongue, cheeks, lips, and special jaw movements. Interestingly, this same year our dentist determined that dd was slightly tongue tied. The SLP then began lots of work with dd and different foods teaching her how to chew, cleanse/swipe her mouth and teeth with her tongue, lick her lips, and so on.
After 6 months of this oral motor therapy (2 hours weekly with the SLP, daily work at home), a follow up swallow study showed much improvement and much more control of liquids so she was allowed to thicken liquids less - to nectar consistency. A swallow study after one year of therapy showed so much improvement that we were allowed to stop all thickening. By this point dd was also growing so much that her specialists said we could stop the high calorie supplements such as pediasure. As an added bonus, we noticed that dd was eating a wider variety of foods and textures than ever before. Before the age of 4 she would not mix textures or eat foods with mixed textures (like breaded chicken nuggets or sprinkles on ice cream). Dd just turned 5 in March and is finally to the point where we can say she will try new foods and doesn't show fear of them. The only lingering issue we have is the habit to bite straws closed before drinking. In the past this slowed the liquids so she could control them, now it just frustrates her because she can't drink fast enough.
The swallow study was essential though. Without one I don't think we would have ever seen the whole picture and may have treated dd's feeding issues as purely sensory when they were so much more, if that makes sense.
I would love to hear how your eval goes!
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I so wish I could just pick a curriculum with 'fun' being the number 1 criteria.:glare:
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We spent almost 2 years looking for a house and made over 8 offers in the time frame. One seller backed out because the house they were going to buy fell thru over an appraisal. Another we were outbid with a cash only offer. Another we lost after the owners realized that they could rent it for more than they could sell it. Another fell thru as a short sale because the bank kept changing the amount they wanted. Then they decided that the owner had too many other resources to do a short sale. Then they decided that the owner could let the house go into foreclosure. (That was the house we still talk about. We REALLY wanted it). Too many times though the owner owned more than the appraisal and we didn't want to pay more than the appraisals. The owners usually didn't have the means to absorb the extra owed.
There were also a couple of houses that we really liked, but didn't buy because of the federally required flood insurance. One was near a creek that has overflowed the banks once in the last 30 years. The governement says that it is in a flood plain and any new owners must purchase flood insurance thru the government, a year in advance due at the closing. The flood insurance was going to be $6000 for the first year for one house and $4000 for a different house in a similar situation. We couldn't bring that much to closing so we didn't make an offer on the houses. Interestingly, neither has sold yet despite really low prices.
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I used RS with my dd and plan to buy it again to use with my ds. I sold it, sniff, sniff. He's young, so I figured we'd do the Saxon K5 first.
I sold everything I used with my son as well. Except somehow the Saxon K book. Then, 3 months after it was all gone, we were contacted and asked if we would be interested in adopting dd. Funny how that works LOL.
Ottakee, those always interest me. I don't know why, but they don't seem 'complete' enough. Maybe I am just accustomed to more dings and whistles???
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I have a brother that was finally diagnosed with autism in his 30s. He applied for disability but was denied 3 times. We found a fabulous attorney to represent him because he was incapable of holding a job, needed medical care, and we couldn't support him any longer. Since she felt very strongly that he truely met the qualifications for disability with all the evidence we provided, she took the case and did not charge anything in the beginning but rather contracted for a percentage of the settlement he would get - which would be a significant amount since they would have to pay all the way back to the original application date if he won. If he lost, we agreed to pay a small amount for her time involved. With her help, he won and it was very much worth the time and effort. It still took months of hearings though. It is not an easy process.
Also, disability and SSI are different animals but I don't know how to explain the differences. I have a friend who has had a liver transplant and has been told to not work. She qualified for one, but not the other, simply based on her employment history and her medical history.
Also, I would seriously consider getting power of attorney while you can, if she is willing to give that to you or your father. My grandmother did that while she was still capable with the understanding that my mom and uncle wouldn't interfer until she needed help. It really helped open communications between my mom and doctors though that has been vital in the last several months. She has access now that she couldn't have before. My grandmother made sure that her doctors and hospital had the papework on file. When she had the episode with the UTI and was totally inconherent, my mom was able to talk to the professionals by phone and make decisions from afar. For an earlier episode, without the power of attorney, my mom was barely able to find out that my grandmother was even hospitalized (we live 5 hours away).
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Thanks for the ideas! I think we (I) have been in the trenches so long that we (I) need something lively, fun, exciting AND easy to implement. I will look into MFW K5. And, OOOOHHHH those Magnatabs are way cool! Putting those on my wish list!Ok, I have NO CLUE if this is even what you want (because I'm in the middle of a week-long headache and my imagination button is gone), but I would like to tell you how MUCH I'm in love with the MFW K5. It's honestly the most adorable, cute, enjoyable thing ever. With it we're doing fun things and my prep and stress is almost nill. It was the sleeper, the thing I didn't even imagine I'd like so much from my mix.Yes, I got the Saxon K5 and the jury is out. What I like is that the length of the lessons, at this point, fits his attention span. Have you looked at Shiller? That and (the name slips me, there's one more that's the Kahuna for hands-on SN math)... Oh dear, now this will plague me. It's a math curriculum meant for autism and kids who need lots and lots of careful, hands-on presentation. Humbug. Anyway, the MFW K5 has math a math worksheet for each week and in fact it does start pretty carefully like that (draw one thing, write a one, etc.).
My ds wakes up every day asking for school now too. Blows my mind! My dd never loved school this much, still doesn't, lol. Kind of odd how the more SN they are the more they want it. Another friend locally was just saying the same thing, that her extra-SN dc really loves school. I guess it's just a hunger or thirst. The MFW K5 is turning out to be so rich. It makes it easy to do things and just drop off the parts that don't work. For the writing, because he's young, I have apps on the ipad and a magnatab. For right now we're going to stick with the magnatab, just because it gives that sensory as the beads pop up. You can get upper and lower case magnatabs and magnatabs for numerals from Timberdoodle.
I have a friend that is very interested in the Singapore Essentials so I will look at hers if she buys it. I have also have heard very good things about Right Start. I like that both are engaging and dynamic - much like my dd's personality. The price of Singapore vs the price of Right Start is a huge difference! Something to think about more.If you are thinking there will be learning issues, I'd probably start with something O-G to teaching reading from the start. Either Recipe for Reading (adding your own fun as you go), AAR, WRTR, or SWR, or any of the others.For math, we liked Singapore Essentials with c-rods, but Right Start A is also very gentle and uses manipulatives and more games.
I don't know much about AAR? Has anyone used it?
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Hmm, well that makes me feel a little better! I'm just going to watch it and see what happens. I may have just been having a paranoid moment. You think too much about auditory processing and rhyming and things and things that AREN'T working and you start to get a little nuts!
I have been guilty sometimes of being so focused on my children's special needs that I fail to notice children without special needs doing/not doing the same things.
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On her cooking show she recently made soup for co-op day. Her kids and other were working on science projects at the pond. :) I rarely visit her blog, and less often catch her show, but I always enjoy it when I do.
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I ran out of gas once, about 3 years ago, during a stressful, distracted time in my life. I was in the middle of a busy street at a dangerous intersection during a busy traffic time of day. I had my children with me and was terrified as cars nearly rammed into me. I was less than 50 ft from a gas station and had to call my dh from work 3 miles away because no one would help me. Now, it hits a quarter tank and I start looking for gas.
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My grandmother's dementia was much worse during the time she had a bladder infection. She was almost completely out of her senses until a friend finally took her to the doctor. Once the infection was gone, she returned to more normal.
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Interesting replies.... My dd has therapy 3x a week so I do drive around town regularly. Long term we would be more comfortable in the Denali and Bravada. I hate driving the Mitsu now. I love driving the Denali, I admit! I often drive it for my parents when we travel together. It makes either of our other vehicles feel like a soap box car lol.
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My dh drives a 1997 Mitsubishi Mirage that we bought new. It has 135K+ miles. It is very small and looks terrible with peeling paint, very worn upholstry, and so on. However, it has always been an incredibly dependable car. We have never had to put any money into it other routine maintenance and tires.
Currently I am driving a 2002 Olds Bravada. It is a small SUV with 145Kmiles. We bought it used in 2007, with 70K miles and have had to make several expensive 'modulator' repairs and suspension repairs since.
Today my parents called to offer us their 2002 Yukon Denali XL (the suburban sized one) that they bought new, and custom ordered. It has 114,000 miles and has been kept up meticulously. It looks fantastic and just had $1000 of tires put on. It also has a trailer hitch for towing. They love it but my mom needs something smaller and more economical to drive 300 miles regularly to check on my grandmother. My also dad wants her in something with a warranty if she drives that much in case she needs repairs away from home. My parents have offered to take one of our other vehicles as a trade and then sell it as payment. Without doing this we are not in any financial position to buy/trade vehicles right now. My parents know that first on our list if dh can get a job is to buy a larger vehicle. Plus, they are not getting any trade in value for it really.
Would you take the Denali? Which other vehicle would you give up? We have a 12 yr old that is 5 ft 7 and wears size 14 mens shoes with a pediatrican predicted height of 6'8.
Pros of keeping the Mitsubishi - gas mileage and that it has been a mechanical dream. Cons - age and ugliness, plus it is very small, too small for us to be comfortable as a family. Dh only uses it as a commuter vehicle right now. This is the one my dad recommended getting rid of. I think he already knows someone wanting to buy it for about $1000.
Pros of keeping Bravada - newer, larger, more room, what we use mostly now. It also has a trailer hitch and can do light towing. Cons - we are always waiting for some goofy part to stop working, lower gas mileage.
So, what says the hive??
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Granted my dd5 has special needs, so this may not help...but until recently, she couldn't follow sounds to find someone either. I am thinking some of it may be developmental. Or then again, it could be the SN...
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I always think second opinions are a good idea, especially when you have doubts about the first results.
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Dd is 5 (March birthday) and ready for kindergarten. I think. She was a 26 wk preemie with a July due date. She has a current working diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder from the neurologist and receives 3 hours PT, 3 hours OT, and 2 hours SLP per week. PT/OT for mostly issues related to coordination and low tone. She does have some vision issues, wears prism glasses, and is on the waiting list for VT. She recognizes most letters most of the time, and is starting to recognize most numbers to 10. She counts to 20 rote but is still struggling with 1-1 correspondence. Handwriting is much more difficult and she can only make the first letter of her first name consistently with occassional legible rest of the name if she is copying it. She has been in SLP for stuttering, but that is pretty much resolved for the time being. Expressive language is above average with receptive language boarderline for qualifying. While she did see an ed psych briefly in June for evals to determine re-eligibility for SSI, I don't have those results yet.
I am ready to do something more formal with her in reading and math this year. I pulled out my old Saxon K math book and really, I just don't want to use it. I thought I would because it is all hands-on, but I remember now why I moved to MUS primer with ds when he was in K. I am not that crazy about it. Beyond the calendar work, which I do anyway, there is just not much there. Not to mention, dd LOVES workbook pages. I do have several of those cheap workbooks that you can buy at dollar stores and such, but... I would really prefer something more organized and ready to go. I actually sat down to deconstruct some to match with Saxon lessons, but that was going to take a long time. Plus, I want to make sure I am going in sequence, covering what needs to be covered, and so on. With another special learning needs child and dd's therapies I just don't have a lot of time left to create my own.
So, What math? MUS Primer? Singapore? Something else? We are expecting learning issues in the future if that makes a difference.
For reading, I was really wanting to do something fun like Sing, Spell, Read, Write. Would this be a mistake? What else should I consider?
For handwriting we will just be doing HWT. I don't plan on other subjects except occassionally at this point.
Thanks so much for the feedback!
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For math I would look at Math U See. The man who wrote it also has a child with Down Syndrome and has used it with him.
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I learned a song in 5th grade for the states but they were sung in alphabetical order and parts were more or less chanted. Al -a -bam-a, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, (pause).... That's all I can remember lol.
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I am another that drains, and then adds different liquids to canned foods. I make my own broths so I always have some in the freezer. Canned peas and green beans taste way better cooked in chicken broth. But then I also think they taste better cooked in fresh water rather than that salty brine they have been sitting in. I also season liberally. In green beans I may put a little olive oil (or bacon grease if I have any, which is not often), some garlic, and onion and bring to a boil. In carrots I put ginger, brown sugar or honey or molasses, and cook down.
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For some of my family I know lots, for others, almost nothing. I was playing around on Ancestry.com not long ago and found a census record where my grandpa was called Luther. Luther? That isn't his name. I called my dad and learned it was a nickname and lots of people from a certain community called him by that name. Huh? My grandpa lived until I was 32 and I didn't know that!
Another great grandmother, born in the 1880s, had a college degree and married my great grandpa who only had a second grade education and was a share cropper. Why didn't she marry a college man or one that at least wasn't poor?
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This is off topic- so sorry, OP
Diane, if a seller's realtor had asked your realtor about pets beforehand, would they have been told the truth? I'm asking out of curiosity because this will be a very serious (and new) issue for us next time we house hunt. It had never occurred to me that people would hide the presence of a pet.
To the OP, I would ask your realtor for his/her opinion about why the house isn't selling. They should have some feedback from other realtors. I agree with some others that maybe time off the market and then starting fresh with a new realtor and new photos might help. On the other hand, if it is now the only home for sale on the island, maybe you should just hang in there.
If my memory is correct, the seller's disclosure should include whether or not there are/were pets in the house. We purchase our current home empty, but the seller's disclosure told us that the seller's had lived here with cats.When we were looking, our realtor only knew about pets if there were special instructions (Don't let Fluffy out of back room or Bruno outside.). We were surprised a couple of times to be greeted at the door by a pet and I admit it was frustrating if it delayed our looking while the realtor took time to call and find out what needed to be done with the animals. Once someone's bird escaped from the cage and it took our realtor 30 minutes to reach someone to find out if he needed to catch it or let it fly around the house.
And, even though we are pet lovers, pets were distracting, especially if we had our kids with us. Is it friendly, or not, don't let the toddler touch, etc. If we spent more time looking at, talking to, or petting animals that came our way, we weren't noticing important house details.
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I buy whatever is on clearance and just add it to the stash.
In addition to the above, my dd loves
fabric scraps
stickers
scissors with different edges
those decorative hole punches
paper with plain backs and envelopes from junk mail
glitter
colored glue
sequins
tissue paper
rubber stamps and pads
sponges for painting (shapes, or she makes her own designs)
stencils
I also keep on hand old magazines for cutting, comic pages for cutting and inspiration.
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Underpricing your home may also be having an effect. If it is considerably lower than other homes, people may be assumming that there is something seriously wrong with it that is hidden. Potential buyers may be thinking, "wow, the realtor/owner/appraiser must think this needs $60,000 in upgrades and I don't want to do that. That is a lot of work and time. I will just buy one that is already done."
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Lots of great advice so far! My son saw a COVD and VT with tracking issues, convergence issues, and more. What surprised me was learning that he was not consistently seeing in 3D. It was very difficult work and honestly the results were far more than we ever dreamed. Looking back we didn't realize just how much his vision was effecting other issues. He wasn't complaining of headaches, or double vision, or anything else before we began so I don't know just how he was seeing. He did however have all the other signs and symptoms on the list at covd.org. He was receiving OT prior to VT and it had not been successful for us. One, she was not that great and didn't supervise the assstant as she should have, and two, she refused to acknowledge the vision issues we were describing.
My dd5 just received glasses with prisms and in on the waiting list for VT with the same COVD. The difference with the prisms has been huge but I know she still has some other issues. With one eye wanting to drift, we are also patching her eye daily and doing some simple VT exercises sent home with us. Interestingly, it was the COVD that performed additional evals with her and discovered what I had been saying for years - that one eye drifted on occassion. No other eye specialist could make it happen in clinics. My dd qualified for OT a couple of years ago for other reasons, but now that we have identified vision issues, this OT (and her PT) are working hard with her on visual motor skills as well.
I would at least schedule an eval with the COVD. If nothing wrong is found, then you have not lost anything. If there are other issues, then you can start working on them. It can be very expensive if insurance doesn't pay, but reputable VTs will work with you. I know some that create home programs with regular follow-ups, or will work with you to make payments manageable.
X-Post Feeding Therapy
in The Learning Challenges Board
Posted
I hated the stuff called Thick It. Nasty stuff that continued to thicken the foods until they were of an unedible consistency, sometimes before someone could finish the meal. We used Simply Thick mostly and liked it ok. It didn't continue to thicken, but it did change flavors some.