@Home

As I was squirting homemade saline solution up my 6-month old sons nose this evening, this occurred to me:  I would have never (and I mean never) squirted water/baking soda solution up my daughter's nose to clear out her sinuses when she was an infant. But things change with the second child.

S came down with a little cold last night. He kept me up every hour because he could not breathe and suck on his pacifier at the same time. This evening I decided to take matters into my own hands. Because I was completely out of Little Noses Saline Drops, which I used with my first child, I decided I could make my own drops. I remembered from a family conversation last year about nasal lavage...yeah, that's my family...that you can mix half teaspoon of baking soda into one cup of lukewarm water to create saline solution. I created the solution and during S's bathtime I used a medicine dropper to squeeze the solution into his nose. I have to admit, it worked pretty well. He did breathe much easier. We'll see how long the home remedy works this evening. And hopefully I can get more than one-hour increments of sleep this evening.  

Hubby, kids and I had a great Thanksgiving with extended family. We ate and ate and ate and ate. The last piece of chocolate pecan pie was eaten last night...so sad. On Friday, we loaded up the car with the stroller, pack-n-play portable crib, suitcase (got away with only one), diapers and more diapers, white noise machines for everyone, and large heavy coats and headed to the mountains for a getaway and holiday lights tour.

The cabin in the woods where we lodged was wonderful. It was quiet, with the exception of the 2-year old and 5-month old, and it was warm and cozy with two fireplaces. But we didn't stay in the cabin for long before we headed to Dollywood to see the amazing Christmas lights at dark.

The next morning we loaded up the car again and headed to the nearest pancake house to fuel our bodies for the adventures at Dollywood once again. This time we saw the sights in the daylight and enjoyed some theme park rides. L really had a great time. S catnapped in the stroller and peaked out over his layers of blankets.

We arrived home last night exhausted and ready to collapse in our own beds. It's funny how only one night away can exhaust the little munchkins (and the big ones, too). But I think we'll be up for the challenge again next year...maybe we've started a new family tradition.

That was the title of an article I read today. As if the title was not bad enough. Here's just a sampling of Thanksgiving sins that the article suggests committing:

1. Buy your mashed potatoes from KFC. Are they kidding?!

2. Storebought gravy. Do you know what's in gravy? Me either, especially if I'm not the one making it!

3. Broccoli puree. No comment.

4. Enliven your broccoli puree with Parmigiano-Reggiano. Oh sure, that would help!

5. Purchase an apple pie from a Whole Foods store. Uhhh...If my mashed potatoes are coming from KFC, why shouldn't my apple pie come from McDonald's?

I've been looking forward to this week. Hubby is off work and so I'll be getting full-time help with the kids. Yahooooo! We are looking forward to eating lots and lots on Thursday and then spending the weekend in a cabin in the mountains. We'll see some sights, visit some fun family-friendly places such as the aquarium, and kick back in the cabin in the woods. I hope you will also be enjoying time with your family and praising God for His many blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I know I've talked about my daughter's Sensory Processing Disorder in the past. Maybe more than you care to hear about. But, it's simply fascinating to me, therefore, I have the need to share. L had her very first occupational therapy (OT) appointment today followed by speech therapy. OT is nothing short of amazing how it all works wonders on a person's nervous system. 

We've begun an intensive therapy approach with L to help her reduce sensory defensiveness. Sensory defensiveness is a tendency to respond to certain harmless sensations as if they were dangerous or painful. This defensiveness creates avoidance behaviors, fearfulness, and anxieties if left untreated. Luckily, L's sensory defensiveness falls into the mild category meaning she may appear quite normal, but she may be described sometimes as "picky", "over-sensitive", "slightly overacitve", or "slighty controlling." Even though it's mild, her sensory defensiveness covers a wide range of areas: tactile (touch), oral, gravitational, postural, visual, and auditory. All of these were determined by a trained Occupational Therapist through a series of skill tests. The tests in themselves were amazing how they revealed the levels and areas of defensiveness.

The most amazing thing, however, is the therapy approach. We will use therapressure. In a nutshell, we will use a surgical scrub brush to brush her hands, arms, back, legs, and feet with firm strokes. Then, we will follow up the brushing with joint compressions to the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles. By doing these things, L's body will release more seratonin and dopamine. These hormones are major neurotransmitters in the body and both help to regulate the central nervous system. Because Sensory Processing Disorder is a neurological disorder, these forms of therapy, if done intensively and regularly, can greatly reduce and even remove sensory defensiveness. Nothing short of amazing!

And because her brain does not currently process information accurately, the OT requested L get a speech evaluation to make sure she is processing speech/language properly. L tested great in all areas of speech except for the area of pragmatics: this includes social/interaction and play. L tested about one year behind in these areas. Speech therapy will help her develop proper social skills through interaction, turn-taking and imaginative play. She has not developed these areas very well on her own. But with OT coupled with speech therapy, L will be getting way ahead of the game. And since she is already very gifted with exceptional cognitive skills (tests revealed above average cognition), therapy will help her nervous system be more organized so that she can put her giftedness to work in very effective ways. Watch out, World!   

We moms can be pretty hard on ourselves. We try to be the perfect mom, wife, housekeeper, hospitable hostess with the mostest, Sunday School teacher, classroom mom, PTA member, homeowners' association volunteer, etc... But everyone has a bad day. I don't know about you, but I always feel a lot better when I see someone really flub up bad. It makes me feel better about my mishaps and mistakes. My "feel better" moment came last night while watching the Colts vs. Chargers. Peyton Manning threw six, that was 6, interceptions in one game. Ya'll, this is the world's finest quarterback. He only threw four interceptions the entire season last year. And then in one game last night he throws six! Ahhh. I feel a lot better about myself today. Thanks, Peyton!

5.  Moms never get enough rest even when sick.

4.  Who takes care of the other sick family members if Mommy is sick? Mommy, of course!

3.  It's nearly impossible to breastfeed while taking meds and running a 102-degree fever.

2.  Everyone must settle for wardrobe malfunctions when Daddy is soley responsible for dressing the kids.

1.  Daddy gets really cranky after a week of trying to manage Mommy's job.

 I thoroughly believe this Top 5 list is true. But many kudos to Daddy for a job well done last week in filling my shoes. A "Thank You!" does not seem to be enough.