Brushing Therapy

We are on week two of Adeline's brushing program. This is a program designed for kids that are sensory defensive. That is Adeline in a nutshell. She doesn't like to hold hands, touch paint or (for the moment) get wet. It goes far beyond what I just mentioned but unless you are in my house everyday, there is really no way to get a handle on her sensory needs.

I have put the brushing program off until now because I knew I could never follow through on it when by myself. It involves stripping clothes off, brushing Adeline's back, arms, hands, legs and feet. We use the brushes in the picture above and apply quite a bit of pressure. The brushing is followed by joint compressions working from the shoulders down to the toes. This is her least favorite part. This kicker is that we have to do this five times a day. Yes, Occupational Therapists will tell you that it should only take five minutes but that does not include the dressing and redressing. The other complicating factor is that we are rarely home during the times that Adeline needs brushing.

Thankfully, daddy is home for these two weeks and we are on holiday which places us at home with an extra set of hands. Most days we get five brushes in. Adeline doesn't like it and I can't say that her defensiveness had decreased. We are half way through the two week program. Hopefully, I will be singing a different tune when it is over. I feel that Miss Belle puts up with a lot and being brushed five times a day is certainly not a walk in the park for any of us.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning couldn't have fulfilled me more. All of the hiding, closet wrapping and running from store to store paid off when I saw the delight in my girls' eyes. This video pretty much sums up my girls. . .

Savannah - So very sweet! You will hear her call for her sister because she isn't only excited for her gifts but for her sisters' as well. She also states in the clip, "Santa is so sweet," and, "I'm going to write him a thank you note." Write she did. Somehow she slipped away, wrote a card, addressed it and stamped it before 9:00 a.m. that morning.

Lila - Over the top excited about everything. You will hear her scream "Ernie," over and over again. Forget the the trampoline, she is stuck on the Ernie coloring book.

Adeline - My quiet observer. She stood back, observed the room and identified which gift she was going to get into first. Of course it was Lila's trampoline and not her garage full of cars. The trampoline is really for her physical development any way but we all know that Miss Grace is our jumping bean.

I must also note that this was the anniversary of Adeline's homecoming. Never in a million years would have I guess two years later she would be healthy, happy and jumping on a trampoline!