Schedules and Routines

By Sandy on April 28, 2011

I’ve always known a strict schedule is imperative for helping Josiah feel calm and secure. He had one when he was at the residential treatment center. They saw far fewer challenging behaviors from him there than we do with him at home. I firmly believe it’s because Josiah always knew what his day would be like while living there. He always knew what was coming next. There were no surprises. No curveballs. No reason to feel unsettled. The routine was always the same.

I like structure. I like routine. I like knowing what’s next. Its just that I get bored easily. I also like adventure and change. I like to be spontaneous and impulsive.

Tag Team

By Sandy on April 25, 2011

I wonder if we will ever get past this phase of Tag Team parenting. Lately, it has become the only way we get through anything with Josiah. Except for Church. God bless the wonderful REACH volunteers at our church. They have a heart for special needs children. Volunteers watch children with disabilities so parents can attend church. Every Sunday, Rick and I know we will be able to worship together. Josiah is well cared for in his own service while we go to ours.

We used to have to go separately. Rick would go to one service and I would stay home with Josiah. Then I would meet Rick halfway and drop Josiah off to him. They would go home. I would go to church with the other kids. We were never able to go to church together as a family. Not until now. What a blessing.

Wrestlemania

By Sandy on April 21, 2011

I’ve decided Rick will need to take Josiah to his Dr. appointments from now on. I made that decision today, after taking Josiah to see his pediatrician. It was not a fun visit.

Josiah is small for his age. His current weight is just 53 pounds. But his strength defies his size. Josiah is very, very strong. I notice it mostly when I’m helping him through situations he would much rather avoid.

Fortunately, Josiah held my hand and walked in the Drs. office today with ease. He even sat quite nicely in the waiting room. That hasn’t always been the case. I remember recent visits when Josiah refused to walk through the door into the waiting area. He just plopped himself down on the sidewalk out front and screamed. Today was much easier. Until they called his name.

Why the Incessant Screaming?

By Sandy on April 19, 2011

Josiah is a screamer. Not always, thankfully. But there are times when it seems all he ever does is scream. We haven’t noticed any patterns. We can’t isolate the screaming to one specific reason. He just screams. Loud, ear splitting, rather annoying screams.

We have noticed it’s definitely an avoidance tactic for sure. When given a demand he is not happy with, he screams. It’s his way of protesting. He’s telling us NO as best he can. Typical of most children with or without a disability. Not the screaming part, the protesting part.

Eating Out

By Sandy on April 18, 2011

Eating out with Josiah can be challenging. If you ask his siblings, they would probably describe it as frustrating. Chaotic. Embarrassing. Nevertheless, every once in a while we attempt it anyway. I’m not really sure why.

I’ve been told Josiah does great on school field trips to restaurants. Apparently, he sits well, waits patiently, eats nicely. I believe his teachers when they tell me these things. I’m just not sure why we don’t have the same positive experiences when we take Josiah to restaurants. Last month was free pancake day at I-hop. Rick and Jesse ventured out with Josiah to get some.