Feeding Col.
Mar. 4th, 2014 12:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
geminigirlAfter years of going in circles over Naomi's behavior with multiple doctors...super resetricted diet, sensory seeking behavior, attention issues, extreme reactions to small stimuli, et, leading me to suspect Sensory Processing Disorder, and her soft joints, I finally convinced her orthopedist to refer her to occupational therapy-not for any of that, but because her handwriting was atrocious, even for a kindergartener, and her stamina was really poor, too. The soft joints led to obvious fine motor issues, and so he had no hesitation writing that referral.
Mostly unsurprisingly, the therapist noticed Naomi's sensory issues, and though she can't officially diagnois the SPD, is treating Naomi for it-in essence her treatment plan includes both the fine motor skills and "poor sensory integration." There's a lot of talking in circles about whether it's worth actually going to the other doctor to get the official diagnosis, or not. It doesn't change anything, so right now it seems mostly meaningless. If we need the official, on paper stuff, then we'll do it.
But...feeding Col. Naomi has decided that she has a monster, whose name is Col. He has a boyfriend named Batha, and a girlfriend named Ashley. And the three of them eat her sillies and wiggles-she describes it as "my whole body is laughing at me, even my teeth, and I can't make it stop." Sometimes bringing her back into focus takes a few push ups or sit ups or jumping jacks (she told me this a few months ago when I asked how I could help her get ready to focus...even before we'd seen the OT.) Sometimes she likes to have a firm massage on her arms-basically, firm pressure, downward from her upper arms towards her wrists. She calls this "feeding Col." When Col gets hungry, she gets sillies and wiggles, and out of control. Today was just a rough day all around-Andy forgot to set his alarm, so we all woke up an hour late, just about the time people are supposed to leave the house, Naomi fell at the playground and scraped her knee, and I could tell, she was just "off." And after some squabbling with Miriam, I asked her if she thought she was being kind or nice? She knew right away that she wasn't, and I asked her what would help her remember. She asked me to help her feed Col, and we did feed him. And things improved after that.
I'm fortunate to have such an insightful kid-one who is so self aware and knows what she needs to get back to okay. She's still working on catching herself before she starts chewing inappropriately, but she's getting there. She is mindblowingly tuned in to her own needs and her own limits though, and it really makes it pleasant to spend time with her.
Mostly unsurprisingly, the therapist noticed Naomi's sensory issues, and though she can't officially diagnois the SPD, is treating Naomi for it-in essence her treatment plan includes both the fine motor skills and "poor sensory integration." There's a lot of talking in circles about whether it's worth actually going to the other doctor to get the official diagnosis, or not. It doesn't change anything, so right now it seems mostly meaningless. If we need the official, on paper stuff, then we'll do it.
But...feeding Col. Naomi has decided that she has a monster, whose name is Col. He has a boyfriend named Batha, and a girlfriend named Ashley. And the three of them eat her sillies and wiggles-she describes it as "my whole body is laughing at me, even my teeth, and I can't make it stop." Sometimes bringing her back into focus takes a few push ups or sit ups or jumping jacks (she told me this a few months ago when I asked how I could help her get ready to focus...even before we'd seen the OT.) Sometimes she likes to have a firm massage on her arms-basically, firm pressure, downward from her upper arms towards her wrists. She calls this "feeding Col." When Col gets hungry, she gets sillies and wiggles, and out of control. Today was just a rough day all around-Andy forgot to set his alarm, so we all woke up an hour late, just about the time people are supposed to leave the house, Naomi fell at the playground and scraped her knee, and I could tell, she was just "off." And after some squabbling with Miriam, I asked her if she thought she was being kind or nice? She knew right away that she wasn't, and I asked her what would help her remember. She asked me to help her feed Col, and we did feed him. And things improved after that.
I'm fortunate to have such an insightful kid-one who is so self aware and knows what she needs to get back to okay. She's still working on catching herself before she starts chewing inappropriately, but she's getting there. She is mindblowingly tuned in to her own needs and her own limits though, and it really makes it pleasant to spend time with her.
