Moving into a different place

This has been a huge time of both growth and change for Riley. For our whole family, really. Moving has been stressful, but wonderful. Settling in to our home, and everything that came with it, has been positive.

Before I get into all of the changes we've seen in Riley this past month, I have to mention that we will be starting with intensive therapy tomorrow. His "number" came up on the medicaid waiver waiting list the same week we moved. I am anxious to start, but I'm also nervous about what changes will happen with our family. We've waited just weeks shy of two years for this therapy. It's here. It's now. I'm so glad Riley's body has had a chance to heal before now. I know that he will retain what he learns. He's been doing so well in school, I have no doubt that this therapy will be life changing. So, our family will have to sacrifice some things for it. I'm sure we will find a rhythm.

Potty training is going very well. He's starting to recognize when he has to go to the bathroom. We have had him mostly "habit" urine trained for quite a while. Now he's trained even during naps and at bedtime. It's been easier lately to just say "Riley, go empty your bladder." He's started to go by himself, completely independent of prompting or help. I'm told at school he's been doing the whole routine on his own, with a little help with washing hands. We're still working on having a BM on the potty, though. He seems to be scared of it and still either goes right in his pants or asks for a diaper. A few nights ago I recognized that he was starting to go and sat him on the potty. He went a little and then finished in a diaper (sorry, TMI?) Last night he went again, this time it was a lot more, but he still went in his pants afterward. It was a huge step, though, that he saw it in the potty and could flush it. I think he understands how it works, but is nervous about how it feels. Of course because he's constipated so often, it's going to be a challenge. He really loves watching "This Old House" (he is really into appliances, plumbing, etc) and so I am using it as a reward for poop on the potty. Last night right when he got off the toilet he said "I can watch This is Old House." So yay for that. We are on our way.

His interactions with Oliver are nothing short of adorable. In fact he's been SO loving to him that I think Oliver is bothered. He gets in his face and touches him a little too much now. But that's pretty normal for a child that's about 2-3 years old, right? At least he's starting to catch up and have SOME interaction with him, even if he's not sure about boundaries yet. I think he's learning a lot from having a baby brother.

His use of language has changed a lot as well. He's really doing well with "I" and "me" and "you" Just this morning he said "You're gonna have a birthday today, mama." (It's my birthday today) He's been using "I" to describe what he wants and needs, and things he doesn't like. He's been talking out his anxieties. He's been so good with that part of life. Since we've moved he's had a lot of anxiety about noise and has been pretty high strung some days. We live on a busier street, and we have emergency vehicles go by quite a bit. The other day we were woken up at 5:45 AM because of one.

Though I was hesitant to put him in early childhood, I'm so glad we chose to do it. He's really thrived with them. I think that it has to do with having a really great teacher, an experienced OT, and having people who "get" him. We had his annual IEP meeting a few weeks ago. That was a very, very good meeting. My concern is that he would become to dependent on the staff and would need a one on one aide in kindergarten, etc. They were really quick to say with complete confidence that would not happen. Riley is not at all delayed cognitively, and they think he will do well academically as he gets older. IEP meetings have not been hard for us thus far. They are a pretty positive experience. He is set for the same program next year, with challenging goals. I expressed very clearly how crucial this next year and a half will be for Riley, and gaining independence he'll need to be in a mainstream kindergarten class. Everyone was in agreement that he would do well with this type of challenge. I look forward to what next year will bring. He's done so well this year.

We do have our fair share of stress. One thing that has happened lately is that Jack (our nearly 3 year old neurotypical son) has I think noticed that something is different with Riley. He very matter-of-fact told me the other day that "That noise bothers Riley." and sometimes will say "Riley needs a break." Jack's awareness and his ability to process things is simply amazing to me. I am so grateful for him, and what he brings to our family.

Hopefully more changes to come.

I am thrilled to blog about this.

Riley has begun interacting with Oliver. It started with him trying to get him to smile a while back. Just in the last week or so, he's really been interested in him. He comes up and "nuzzles" him, he watches him, he makes him smile, he takes note of whether he's awake or sleeping, etc. I think he's begun to realize that Oliver is a person. I must say that of course, at almost 5 months, Oliver is a lot more "fun" than he was at birth. But I'm just loving seeing this relationship begin between the two of them. They are going to do so much for each other. While Jack (our middle son, who will be 3 in June) is too rough with him, sometimes gets too close (uh, tries to poke him with a fork, and other odd things) Riley is very gentle with him. He's very loving, calm, sweet. He still does have trouble with the crying, but that's with anyone. He doesn't like it when Jack cries, when kids at school cry, etc. It's not just Oliver. Used to be Riley didn't want to even be in the same room as him. Now he's getting up next to him and kissing him?

I don't have much to update on with biomedical. I'm frustrated. He seems to have yeast/candida/fungal stuff all the time. Flushed cheeks and ears, nasty poops, rashes everywhere. I just don't know how to fight them anymore. Recently he also began picking at things again, which we channeled into him tearing up pieces of cardboard from the recycling bin. Something is up though and it's been so hard to try and pinpoint it. I may have to start keeping a food diary again. We are moving on Saturday, so life will be nuts for a bit here.

We received a grant toward a visit to our DAN! Dr, so again, after we move. I am thinking it might be time for an anti-fungal. He seems to do so much better when the yeast is gone. Not as much stimming, sleeping better, calmer. Lately he's just been a little more off the wall than usual.