Hearty

Did you see this on the SPD Blogger Network?  Just wanted to make sure you didn't miss out on such a great giveaway.  : ) From the SPDBN site: "We are so pleased to be co-sponsoring an amazing Spring-tacular giveaway with Soft Clothing! We are giving away, two beautiful soft sided Easter baskets from Pottery Barn Kids, filled to the gills with sensational treats for your sensory kiddo!" Here's w hat you can win! Puffy Easter Basket (Chick) Pottery Barn Kids (boys prize) You don't want to miss out on this fabulous Spring Sensory Giveaway! Puffy Easter Basket (Rabbit) from Pottery Barn Kids (girls prize)  "I'll Tell You Why I Can't Wear Those Clothes," by Noreen O'Sullivan Soft Seamless Sock 2-packVestibular WedgeSensory Body Sock Alex Toys Monster Bubbles Alex Toys Sack Racing: Frog and Monkey Squiglet Fidget Bracelets One complete Springy Soft look for girls OR One complete Springy Soft look for boys ENTER HERE

Guest post by Patty of Pancakes Gone Awry When my son, Danny was diagnosed with high functioning autism a year and a half ago, the doctor asked if he had any "special interests." I knew what he was asking; I had heard and read plenty about "passions" or "obsessions" or whatever you want to call them. I know they are relatively common among children with autism. At the time, I couldn't really identify one specific passion of Danny's. And to be honest, I was a bit relieved to know that there was one autism criterion that my son did not meet. Shortly after that doctor's visit, Danny discovered Legos, and our whole world has been engulfed in a cyclone of those pesky multi-colored blocks . To say that Legos have become Danny's "special interest" would be a gross understatement. The kid is completely, 100% obsessed. He talks about them, plays with them, reads about them and surfs the Internet to find more Legos to covet. His face light...

This last week I have been rather MIA.  My apologies. My husband is away on business in Europe (this time without me, boo!), and I threw my back out last weekend, which meant I was laying in bed.  In pain. Then on Monday, my good friend Megan - single mom to a darling 8 year old boy with Autism - came to stay with me for a few days while she recovered from her cornea transplant surgery.  Yes TRANSPLANT SURGERY.  Having Megan here was great, but getting her here took some convincing.  (I hear you gasping - " What?  An autism-mom who doesn't know how to ask and receive help ?!!" - shocking, I know.) You see she had surgery a week (or more) before she came, and after her surgery she actually popped the stitches out (OMG talk about pain!), and had a second surgery.  How did she pop the stitches?  By doing too much.  By continuing on with regular life and not putting her own needs first because she didn't know what to ask for - what exactly she needed people to do for her...

You Can't Always Get What You Want by Alysia Butler of Try Defying Gravity I have seen the promised land of therapy rooms. I have visited these amazing basements equipped with swings, trampolines, a trapeze and quiet tent spaces.  Rooms filled with sensory balls and body socks and noise canceling headphones.  I have stood in the doorways of these spaces but have never crossed in.  Because it's not my house.  Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's therapy room. I'll admit it.  I'm envious of what they have.  I want that.  How different our lives could be if we only had...all that. This popped into my head at our most recent IEP meeting for my 4 year old son Howie.  Every morning when he gets to preschool, his amazing aide takes him immediately to the school's OT room.  Each day they assess what he needs at that moment.  Maybe it's time in the swing.  Maybe it's the trampoline.  Or maybe it's just quiet time doing a puzzle.  After 10 or 15 minutes in the...

The funny thing - or maybe the best thing - about having a blog for this long (damn near 3 years) is that I can look back and see patterns.  Patterns of my kids' behavior and patterns of my own reactions. I have come back to this post a dozen or so times in the last two weeks.  "Just Be Mom or Dad" was its original title, but really it is about letting kids be kids . So, because I am feeling a little hyper-focused on what the kids need to be doing (before Kindergarten next year, before therapy stops for the summer, before whatever...), I have needed this post as a reminder to settle down.  And when I feel that way, it is usually the case that one of you all is feeling the same way.  Hence, the repost.  And the wish for all of you to have a good week - one that has less to do with running to therapy, aruging over homework, or squabbling over whether or not today is a 'hair wash day' - and more to do with enjoying each other.  And now the post.... "Let The Ki...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - YOU ALL ROCK! In all seriousness, I started this blog years ago to share my story - my life struggles raising a complex child.  You have seen me through diagnosis after diagnosis, challenges, embarrassment, joys, more chaos, and of course, successes - you have been true friends to me! Thank you for supporting me and giving me over 7500 votes at About.com - but more importantly.... Thank you to the 11,000+ visitors that have come to Hartley's Life With 3 Boys so far this month.  Thank you to those new followers who have 'joined me' by RSS and Google!  Welcome!  Thank you to the 300+ new people now following me on twitter. Thank you for the HUNDREDS of comments here - we are a community! And thank you to the women who lend their talents, their stories and their passion to HLW3B every month - Patty, Alysia, Michelle and Caitlin ! What we have done these last two weeks is spread awareness of Autism, Sensory Processing D...

Continued from Part 1 ... ****** Movin’ and Groovin’ for Vestibular Input Mini Trampoline. This is a common sensory tool for many families; however, if you don’t have one, just know that you don’t have to spend a fortune on a “therapy-grade” one. I own the Jumpsmart™ Electronic Trampoline because of its triangular shape, ergonomic and intuitive handle bars, and integrated sound system. Just think, by having a trampoline that counts up (or down) for your child, he or she can get quality movement with less hands-on guidance from you, because all you have to say is, “Go do 100 jumps!” or “Can you jump for an entire song?” The Good News: All of that jumping provides great vestibular input, and making sensory activities fun encourages self-regulation. For information on the Jumpsmart™ Trampoline, and other great products for sensorimotor input, log onto: www.digginactive.com Egg Chair. The people at IKEA deserve some kind of “Genius-Idea” award for this one! Not only does this chair offer g...

“Squeeze me.” Gabe asks for the tenth time, “Squeeze me hard mom.” I lean over, and press his body against mine, gripping my hands together at the wrist behind him and squeezing as hard as I can. “Harder,” he says quietly. My oldest son Gabriel is a “sensory seeker.” He needs deep pressure (proprioceptive) input so that his body can stay calm and organized. He also seeks vestibular input (that which is related to balance and movement). As a toddler he would climb to the very tippy top of the jungle gym and then stand on it. Because of his increased need for sensory input, I have acquired a virtual arsenal of therapy tools to help him meet his needs. And with my youngest son Matthew being diagnosed with Asperger’s just days ago, having these tools at my disposal has become even more vital. For Gabriel, I am happy to report that the time and effort I have put into meeting his sensory needs over the past few years has paid off. Gabriel is learning to find adaptive ways he can independentl...

A young couple walked into a support group meeting I attended the other day; holding hands, exchanging glances, and looking worried and nervous. I quickly offered them a seat next to me, and listened closely when it was their turn to introduce themselves. They had two young boys, one four and one two. Their oldest was newly diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder and they were very confused. I could relate immediately – that was me five years ago. Before long I was sharing information on resources, support organizations and what books to read. I even made suggestions on to how to help their child eat better and get a haircut without melting down. But then, the husband asked me a question I just wasn’t expecting: How do I tell my child he has Sensory Processing Disorder? Great question . As I began sharing with them the benefits of talking openly about SPD with their child, I thought about how crucial understanding SPD was to my son’s development, self-regulation and self esteem. S...

This year's First Things First series of guest posts is kicking off with a great post from Sarah Hoffman ! Sarah Hoffman is the mother of a pink boy and a girl whose favorite color is yellow. She writes for national magazines, newspapers, and radio, and speaks publicly about raising her gender-non-conforming son. She uses a pseudonym to protect the safety of her family. If you haven't visited Sarah's blog , you are missing out.  Her humor, insight, and charm make her writing a true joy to read.  ****** "Up and Screaming" by Sarah Hoffman At birth, Sam was blue—but the doctor was not worried. He pinked up quickly with oxygen and gave a hearty cry. In the hospital, he seemed normal, with only a few small oddities: he picked up his own head an hour after he was born, and he refused to stay in even the military-crisp swaddle enforced by the three nurses who tried. Within moments, he broke free of the blankets, flailing his arms and crying. The real crying didn’t star...