SOS Day 1

Today actually went fairly well. Liz ate pretty good. The hardest part for her was to sit at the table. She wanted to sit at her kids' table. I made sure we all sat down together as a family for every snack or meal. At lunch time, she wanted to go and play instead of eating. I told her she did not have to eat, but she did have to sit down with the family. She ended up eating something even if it was not as much as I would have liked. Today went SO smoothly. I was really glad that I took the time to divide up out snacks. It was really easy to just grab what I needed out of the fridge already in its ziploc bag. Here's to tomorrow going even better!

Rules Of the Game

Next week we begin the SOS Diet. I felt a bit overwhelmed. Normally, my kids tend to snack on the same things. This is going to be very different for my family. These are main rules.

Rule #1 and the most important rule is that nothing can be served the same way in a 48 hour period. Something about the taste, texture, shape, etc. must be changed.
Rule #2 is that Liz needs to eat every meal at the table even her snacks.
Rule #3 is that our meals need to stay between 15-20 minutes.
Rule #4 she needs to be given 3 options at every meal (even snack time).

As soon as we got home from grocery shopping I divided up the snacks. I planned for 2 snacks a day. Liz has school in the A.M. so I think 2 is more than enough when you consider that she is getting 3 things with each snack. I divided each one into ziploc bags (unless something needs to be made, in that case I put in a slip of paper). Each zip loc bag was labeled with Day and Snack #. I told my bigs that they can only have the food in the ziplocs when mommy says it is time. I actually like this divinding of the snacks, and I think I will continue to do it. I bought a few extra snacks for my youngest child to have in the mornings.

Some things I got for snacks:
Apples (green and red)
PB&J sandwiches (different bread, different jam, different texture PB)
Cheese (string cheese, cubed cheese)
Animal Crackers
Goldfish
Granola Bars (different flavors)
Gogurt (different flavors)
Nutrigrain Bars (different flavors)
Raisins

I basically planned 2 menus and repeated them every 48 hours. This made the planning SO much easier for snacks. The actual meals were easy, the snack were the hard part.

As my husband works nights, Lunch is our family meal most days (even though Liz has lunch at school). Liz is starved by the time she gets of the bus so it works out anyway. Dinners are our lighter "lunch" type meal.

So my plan is (Liz eats Breakfast at school):
Lunch when Liz gets off the bus
Nap Time
Snack
Dinner
Snack

Hopefully this works out. The weekend will be a little more tricky. I might have to add in a third snack for those days. We will see. Monday I will begin a daily log on how things are going.

SOS!

Monday we will start the SOS Approach to Feeding. I am slightly nervous about this. It's a lot to take in, but I think we are ready. The hope is that we will be able to expand Liz's diet, and help her establish some better eating habits. After reading up on it, I think all kids could benefit, not just kids with sensory issues. It focuses a lot on getting them to branch out and try new things. It also helps them establish some good habits.

I loved the page with myths. I love, love, love that is stated kids need 5-6 meals a day! I don't know how many times I have heard people say kids shouldn't snack. I snack, so I would assume my kids would need to as well. Especially with the amount of energy they use. I also love that it addressed that some kids WILL starve themselves. I always hear that Liz won't, but the thing is, she will.

This should be an interesting experiment for our family. I plan to update regularly on our progress over the next 2 weeks. I am hoping that we see some major results. I am so glad that we have a therapist who listens to our concerns and helps us find solutions. She has worked some serious miracles in our home.

Moving Forward

Liz has been excelling in her private OT. She has now met 2 out of 3 of her major goals. Today her OT told me that she doesn't for see seeing Liz after July. Just a few months ago if I had heard this I would have ran home in tears. I would have been terrified, but I do feel like Liz is having some major break throughs lately. I also know that of she regresses we can always go back. It is still scary to think about, but not nearly as scary as I would have found it 3-4 months ago.
This is a huge step for Liz. When I compare her behavior and struggles to where we were a year ago, I can see a major difference. OT brought out a different side of Liz. She became for social and suddenly less afraid to show who she is to others. This is really a huge mile stone for her.
She is still struggling in speech. While she is more verbal,  her auditory processing disorder will be her greatest obstacle to overcome. I see her struggle with it on a regular basis, but I still see progress. She is talking to us non stop now. It's like she is trying to make up for all those years when she could barely tell us what she wanted or needed. I don't think she ever stops.
It feels so good to be moving forward and seeing progress. Way to go Liz! I am so thankful for the fabulous therapists that we have been able to work with. They have all taken the time to get to know Liz and spend time with her. It has been worth every penny to hire someone private.

Dear Lizzybug,

Today you turn 5. I can't believe it! Your Daddy and I have loved every second that we have spent with you. From the day that you were born we knew you would stand out. You were so bright eyed, so alert, so unique, so you. I will never forget the look on your dad's face after I pulled through sedation. He was so happy. I instantly loved him more than I ever thought possible. You sealed a bond between us that can never be broken. You made us a family.

Lizzybug, I know this life will be hard and full of challenges. I know there will be times that you will think you can't take another step. There will be times when you want to throw in the towel and declare yourself done. Don't give in. You are worth it. You are beautiful. You are amazing. I will always believe in you. I know that Heavenly Father has great things in store for you. When you feel alone, lost, or scared trust in him. Give him your burdens.

My bug, you made me a Mommy. You taught me more than any other human being could. You taught me how to love, how to fight, how to care, how to laugh, and how to see beauty in everything. Every day you inspire me to be a better person. You and your sister are my everything.

So today, laugh a lot, have fun, grow a little bigger, but please let me cuddle you for a few.

All My Love,
Mommy

This Week Has Been Tough

It seems like some weeks/days are harder than others. This week has certainly been one of them. Usually, when a week is like this I hide out. Unfortunately, it's been way too busy around our house for that. So most days I was forced to shower, get dressed, and actually go somewhere. I guess that's not a bad thing.

But instead of focusing on the bad parts of my week I won't to focus on the good. On Sunday, I felt love when someone took the time to come sit with me and help out with Liz. That small gesture went farther than that person will probably ever understand. Just knowing that someone cared enough to leave their pew with their family to tend to mine made my day. This week I am thankful for a network of friends who understand what I am going through. Friends who are able to tell me to snap out of it. Friends who aren't afraid to be honest with me. I am thankful for a husband who helps out aorund the house, who helps with the girls, and who loves me even at my worst. I am thankful for those who have called me just to see how I am doing (even if I don't always answer the phone) and for those who have dropped off brownies (hey that was on my list of ways to help out). 

I find that too often I become so consumed my all the negative around me. I need to take the time to focus on the blessings and the angels sent my way. This isn't easy, but gosh dang it, it is worth it! Now I need to find a way to pass on the love.

So What Have I Been Up To?

A few posts back, I talked about wanting to make a difference. With the help of a new friend, I set the plan in motion. It has been such an awesome experience for me. We offcially have a support group in Jackson County, Kansas for special needs parents! Details are in the news clip here.

I want this post to be about my feelings regarding this group. I feel like it is nothing short of a mission from my Heavenly Father. As we have organized this group, we have watched things fall into place better than we could have ever imagined. I feel like people in Jackson County have been praying for something, maybe they never saw it coming in this shape or form, but I do think it was something that was prayed for.

I beleive this group will benefit so many parents who might be feeling lonely or overwhelmed. I think it will give them a place to go.