We joined the Y when Matt was 2 years old so we could enroll him in their swimming program. Little did we know how many activities and adventures we would find there. I am not sure if every Y is as wonderful as our Y in Torrance. Our Y has been a most welcoming place with lots of different adventures for Matt to experience at various stages.
At two, we did the mommy and me swimming classes and he also did tumbling classes. The social butterfly also had a wonderful time in the child care area while Chris and I worked out.
As he got older we added to his repertory sports 'n fun (intro to various sports), basketball and safety training/baby karate while continuing the swimming classes.
It has been a treat to watch Matt and Amir and all of their peers grow and develop on the basketball court. Matt played basketball from the age of four through eight. At nine years old the kids are moved to a league in which the score is kept. After a few discussions with the director of youth athletics, we decided that we would not advance Matt to the next level (although they were most welcoming to have him try). Up to this point, his teammates have always welcomed Matt and enjoyed having him on their team. I did not think it would be fair to anyone to have him play once the score was being kept and I did not want it to come to a point that his teammates resented having him there.
That did not mean that the Y did not still have sports or activities for Matt. We are currently in Adventure Guides and enjoying that a lots. Next year, Matt is going to try out a new sport - track and field.
And there still is swimming to be mastered. Over the years Matt has progressed from sinking like a stone to beginning dog paddle. I am determined to have Matt become a procificient swimmer. There are too many pools and bodies of water out there to tempt a boy. Knowing what to do once you're in over your head is important.
We have yet to make it to the family night at the Y. I know that Matt would have fun if we could remember to go!!
I foresee a number of grand adventures still be found at our Y. I am looking forward to each of them!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Soup
A nine year old boy sitting down to eat a bowl of minestrone-type soup isn't an extraordinary thing for most households. For us, it is a pinnacle of success after a long, hard fought journey.
The journey began at birth. Matt had difficulty drinking from a bottle. The nurses in the NICU found a type of nipple that basically caused the milk to flow into his mouth with little effort on his part. He started with tiny amounts in the bottle which he slowly learned to drink without choking. As he grasped the drink without choking skill, they were able to put an ounce and then two ounces in at a time.
We attempted breastfeeding for a number of weeks, but it just never worked. At the time we did not have a complete picture of all of the challenges Matt had with motor planning. But it was clear that breastfeeding wasn't going to be in the picture for him.
It took a while, but Matt slowly worked up from a no-effort nipple to more standard ones that he had to work to get a drink. Who knew that having to coordinate all of those mouth muscles to eat was so important for muscle development beyond just eating but for speaking in the future!
Matt did surprisingly well with the beginning solids (basically just liquid rice cereal) but really struggled with true solids. I'll never forget him working with Sally and literally choking down tiny cubes of mango. She taught us how to help him learn to use his mouth to eat. We became proficient at dealing with him gagging and choking - slapping him on the back to dislodge a stuck piece of food or sticking our fingers into his mouth/throat to retrieve what he was choking on or ripping him out of the high chair, turning him upside down, dislodging whatever and returning him to his chair and trying again.
Amazingly, almost choking didn't seem to put Matt off of his food. He'd happily put the next bit of food into his mouth moments after choking. Which was a good thing as it happen every time at the beginning.
Once he was able to handle soft foods like mangoes and bananas, we had other challenges to overcome (beyond having him learn how to eat crunchier foods like raw carrots - which was a challenge on its own!). He wasn't able to feel how much food was in his mouth, therefore he would over stuff it and gag. He also had a high gag reflects so he would easily gag (from food, coughing, anything!) and end up losing the contents of his stomach. (He didn't lose that high gag reflects for years.)
Sally and the early childhood development school had a number of tricks and tools to help him overcome those issues. Before eating, we would ice his mouth (to bring more awareness to it) and throughout the day we would have him chew on all sorts of different things - knobbly things, vibrating things, tube things, and more (I am sure that all of these tools have official names - but knobbly thing works, right?!!).
We would all try to keep an eye on him constantly while he was eating - to get him to slow down and not to over stuff his mouth. Even with constant valiance, he'd still manage to over stuff it on regular basis - causing himself to gag and often lose the contents of his stomach (fun, fun, fun).
Over the years he made progress. Around six or seven, his high gag reflect lessened (I think he'll always have a hair trigger response - but it is sooo much better!!). To this day he'll still cram his mouth overly full, but he is getting much better.
Next challenge was the same that all kids have - how to use a fork and spoon (LOL - we'll work on cutting and knives at some point in the future!). It has taken years, but Matt has conquered using silverware to get the food from his bowl/plate to his mouth. He's learned to hold his fork and spoon level when bringing it to him - so as not to slip everything everywhere! Just this year he start to eat bowls of cereal with milk in them (he had a hard time coordinating liquids and solids on his spoon at the same time and working out how to eat the solid and liquid at the same type without choking - but he's enjoyed eating dry cereal for years!).
Just this week he sat down to his first bowl of minestrone type soup (that liquid and solid on the spoon at the same time issue) and ate it like a champ (not saying there wasn't a bit of a mess - but we'll take a messy success any day!!).
Matt has experienced all sorts of triumphs since he began his journey. This week's triumph was eating a bowl of soup. Who knows what next week's triumph will be!
The journey began at birth. Matt had difficulty drinking from a bottle. The nurses in the NICU found a type of nipple that basically caused the milk to flow into his mouth with little effort on his part. He started with tiny amounts in the bottle which he slowly learned to drink without choking. As he grasped the drink without choking skill, they were able to put an ounce and then two ounces in at a time.
We attempted breastfeeding for a number of weeks, but it just never worked. At the time we did not have a complete picture of all of the challenges Matt had with motor planning. But it was clear that breastfeeding wasn't going to be in the picture for him.
It took a while, but Matt slowly worked up from a no-effort nipple to more standard ones that he had to work to get a drink. Who knew that having to coordinate all of those mouth muscles to eat was so important for muscle development beyond just eating but for speaking in the future!
Matt did surprisingly well with the beginning solids (basically just liquid rice cereal) but really struggled with true solids. I'll never forget him working with Sally and literally choking down tiny cubes of mango. She taught us how to help him learn to use his mouth to eat. We became proficient at dealing with him gagging and choking - slapping him on the back to dislodge a stuck piece of food or sticking our fingers into his mouth/throat to retrieve what he was choking on or ripping him out of the high chair, turning him upside down, dislodging whatever and returning him to his chair and trying again.
Amazingly, almost choking didn't seem to put Matt off of his food. He'd happily put the next bit of food into his mouth moments after choking. Which was a good thing as it happen every time at the beginning.
Once he was able to handle soft foods like mangoes and bananas, we had other challenges to overcome (beyond having him learn how to eat crunchier foods like raw carrots - which was a challenge on its own!). He wasn't able to feel how much food was in his mouth, therefore he would over stuff it and gag. He also had a high gag reflects so he would easily gag (from food, coughing, anything!) and end up losing the contents of his stomach. (He didn't lose that high gag reflects for years.)
Sally and the early childhood development school had a number of tricks and tools to help him overcome those issues. Before eating, we would ice his mouth (to bring more awareness to it) and throughout the day we would have him chew on all sorts of different things - knobbly things, vibrating things, tube things, and more (I am sure that all of these tools have official names - but knobbly thing works, right?!!).
We would all try to keep an eye on him constantly while he was eating - to get him to slow down and not to over stuff his mouth. Even with constant valiance, he'd still manage to over stuff it on regular basis - causing himself to gag and often lose the contents of his stomach (fun, fun, fun).
Over the years he made progress. Around six or seven, his high gag reflect lessened (I think he'll always have a hair trigger response - but it is sooo much better!!). To this day he'll still cram his mouth overly full, but he is getting much better.
Next challenge was the same that all kids have - how to use a fork and spoon (LOL - we'll work on cutting and knives at some point in the future!). It has taken years, but Matt has conquered using silverware to get the food from his bowl/plate to his mouth. He's learned to hold his fork and spoon level when bringing it to him - so as not to slip everything everywhere! Just this year he start to eat bowls of cereal with milk in them (he had a hard time coordinating liquids and solids on his spoon at the same time and working out how to eat the solid and liquid at the same type without choking - but he's enjoyed eating dry cereal for years!).
Just this week he sat down to his first bowl of minestrone type soup (that liquid and solid on the spoon at the same time issue) and ate it like a champ (not saying there wasn't a bit of a mess - but we'll take a messy success any day!!).
Matt has experienced all sorts of triumphs since he began his journey. This week's triumph was eating a bowl of soup. Who knows what next week's triumph will be!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Dribble for the Cure at UCLA
Matt and Amir, his best friend (since they were both 2 years old!) , did Dribble for the Cure at UCLA to raise funds for Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation. Well, I did the fundraising by asking if anyone at my office would like to sponsor Matt. Six of my coworkers stepped forward and donated money to him (well, to the charity!).
I had no idea how Matt would do. In the past Matt has gotten overwhelmed by the crowds and the noise at the walk for charity type of events. At the charity walk near my office earlier in the year, Matt ran from the noise and crowd at the start of the walk but did stand out in front of my office and cheer on the crowd as they passed us. Once they passed us, he refused to go back to the event (too noisy and chaotic for him) so we just went home.
When Kerri told me about Dribble for the Cure and asked us to join them, I warned her that she and Amir may end up doing the course without us - but we would deal with whatever happened when it happened. While driving to UCLA, Matt and I talked about what we thought the event would be like. We strategized ideas of how he could handle the noise - like covering his ears - and what we should do about the crowds of people - he should stay close to me. I told him that I thought we were going to have a great time.
Matt and I arrived before Kerri and Amir. As directed, we brought a basketball from home for Matt to use on the course. While I waited in line to register us, he practiced dribbling and passes against a wall (a number of other boys were doing the same so I just kept an eye on him and let him be). He was so busy with his basketball that he did not notice the crush of people around us.
His fundraising level awarded him a new basketball. Very exciting. We walked back to the car to put away the old basketball from home. Matt did not let go of his new basketball.
Our timing was perfect. As we were leaving the garage, Kerri and Amir arrived. I took the boys to a quiet corner of the plaza to practice dribbling and passing while Kerri registered. Kerri realized that I missed a whole section of the signing in portion and hadn't yet received my gift bags and t-shirts. Thank goodness for Kerri's awareness! Would have hated to miss out on our goodies and new t-shirts!
We stayed in our quiet corner during the before the walk speeches and allowed the crush of people to start and the band to finish playing before we joined the walk. We were the true tail of the walk. BUT Matt did the whole course!! He dribbled his new basketball the whole way. Amir didn't want to go at Matt's slower pace so he and Kerri would race ahead at Amir's pace and then waited for us at different points along the course. They would join us for a time and then off Amir would go.
The course ended at the gym. As we were the last of the walkers, a portion of the gym was filled with the other walkers. Matt did a great job handling the noise and crowd. He followed Kerri and Amir across the gym floor and up the stairs. We sat above the bulk of the people.
After the speeches and while the majority of the people were leaving the gym, we let the boys join the crowd of kids clusters around the basketball hoops and attempt to shot baskets. Amir made a good number of his shots. Matt had fun trying.
After a lunch on the campus, we went our separate ways. Amir had basketball practice and I had one tired boy on my hands. After all, he did the whole walk, he successfully handled the mass of people, and he spent time with his best friend. It was a full, fun day.
I had no idea how Matt would do. In the past Matt has gotten overwhelmed by the crowds and the noise at the walk for charity type of events. At the charity walk near my office earlier in the year, Matt ran from the noise and crowd at the start of the walk but did stand out in front of my office and cheer on the crowd as they passed us. Once they passed us, he refused to go back to the event (too noisy and chaotic for him) so we just went home.
When Kerri told me about Dribble for the Cure and asked us to join them, I warned her that she and Amir may end up doing the course without us - but we would deal with whatever happened when it happened. While driving to UCLA, Matt and I talked about what we thought the event would be like. We strategized ideas of how he could handle the noise - like covering his ears - and what we should do about the crowds of people - he should stay close to me. I told him that I thought we were going to have a great time.
Matt and I arrived before Kerri and Amir. As directed, we brought a basketball from home for Matt to use on the course. While I waited in line to register us, he practiced dribbling and passes against a wall (a number of other boys were doing the same so I just kept an eye on him and let him be). He was so busy with his basketball that he did not notice the crush of people around us.
His fundraising level awarded him a new basketball. Very exciting. We walked back to the car to put away the old basketball from home. Matt did not let go of his new basketball.
Our timing was perfect. As we were leaving the garage, Kerri and Amir arrived. I took the boys to a quiet corner of the plaza to practice dribbling and passing while Kerri registered. Kerri realized that I missed a whole section of the signing in portion and hadn't yet received my gift bags and t-shirts. Thank goodness for Kerri's awareness! Would have hated to miss out on our goodies and new t-shirts!
We stayed in our quiet corner during the before the walk speeches and allowed the crush of people to start and the band to finish playing before we joined the walk. We were the true tail of the walk. BUT Matt did the whole course!! He dribbled his new basketball the whole way. Amir didn't want to go at Matt's slower pace so he and Kerri would race ahead at Amir's pace and then waited for us at different points along the course. They would join us for a time and then off Amir would go.
The course ended at the gym. As we were the last of the walkers, a portion of the gym was filled with the other walkers. Matt did a great job handling the noise and crowd. He followed Kerri and Amir across the gym floor and up the stairs. We sat above the bulk of the people.
After the speeches and while the majority of the people were leaving the gym, we let the boys join the crowd of kids clusters around the basketball hoops and attempt to shot baskets. Amir made a good number of his shots. Matt had fun trying.
After a lunch on the campus, we went our separate ways. Amir had basketball practice and I had one tired boy on my hands. After all, he did the whole walk, he successfully handled the mass of people, and he spent time with his best friend. It was a full, fun day.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Halloween
What a fun Halloween!
Since Matt was so nervous about wearing his Harry Potter robe and glasses, I wasn't sure if he'd just be carrying his Harry Potter wand as a costume while trick or treating.
For two months Matt would pick up his Harry Potter robe, yell and toss it away (oh the drama!). I didn't make a big deal out of it. I left the picture that came with the costume on his dresser. I let him put his robe where he wanted it to be at that moment (in the dresser, over a chair, on top of his dresser, on top of his toy box). Every few days he would pick it up, examine it, yell and toss it to a new location.
It was love at first sight with the wand - so I knew we'd at least have that portion of his costume - if nothing else!
I knew the glasses were a long shot. Matt really doesn't like to wear anything on his head. Occasionally I'll be able to convince him to wear a hat. For example, a baseball cap is part of the baseball uniform; therefore EVERYONE who plays wears a hat. When playing for his baseball team, he'll wear his hat. I have sunglasses for him in my purse. Every once in a while, he'll put them on for a little while. Like everything, we make progress slowly but surely. But for a Halloween costume, as opposed to safety, it is not worth the fight to make him wear the glasses portion of his costume. After all, Halloween is supposed to be fun!!
He did put his glasses on for the pictures - both at school and at home. He wore his robe for the pictures at school, but didn't wear his robe - only carried his wand - for the school's Halloween parade. While trick or treating, he carried his glasses in his pumpkin - close! But he wore his robe while trick or treating!! He had on his robe, carried his wand, glow stick and pumpkin (at least until the pumpkin got heavy with all of his candy - then I got to carry it!!).
For trick or treating, Chris took him around the neighborhood and then I took him to Janine's. He really wanted to trick or treat with Aunt Janine again like he did last year. After all, Aunt Janine can scary away the ghosts!! (Imagination - a blessing and a cure!!).
One of the streets near Janine's really gets into Halloween. Amazingly decorated homes! Janine told Matt about each home we were looking at but let Matt decide if he wanted to approach the door. He avoided the houses that were too frightening for him. He trick or treated for over an hour with Janine and me. He was in a great mood the whole time. I think he felt in control since he was the one deciding which houses he'd approach.
When we returned to Janine's house, he watch the baseball game and helped give candy to the kids for another hour. I think he may have enjoyed that even more than trick or treating and getting the candy for himself!!
Janine could not believe how much better he was about trick or treating this year compared to last year. While he was still nervous and some stuff frightened him, he had fun and talked to everyone out on the streets with us.
All in all, Halloween was a complete success!!
Since Matt was so nervous about wearing his Harry Potter robe and glasses, I wasn't sure if he'd just be carrying his Harry Potter wand as a costume while trick or treating.
For two months Matt would pick up his Harry Potter robe, yell and toss it away (oh the drama!). I didn't make a big deal out of it. I left the picture that came with the costume on his dresser. I let him put his robe where he wanted it to be at that moment (in the dresser, over a chair, on top of his dresser, on top of his toy box). Every few days he would pick it up, examine it, yell and toss it to a new location.
It was love at first sight with the wand - so I knew we'd at least have that portion of his costume - if nothing else!
I knew the glasses were a long shot. Matt really doesn't like to wear anything on his head. Occasionally I'll be able to convince him to wear a hat. For example, a baseball cap is part of the baseball uniform; therefore EVERYONE who plays wears a hat. When playing for his baseball team, he'll wear his hat. I have sunglasses for him in my purse. Every once in a while, he'll put them on for a little while. Like everything, we make progress slowly but surely. But for a Halloween costume, as opposed to safety, it is not worth the fight to make him wear the glasses portion of his costume. After all, Halloween is supposed to be fun!!
He did put his glasses on for the pictures - both at school and at home. He wore his robe for the pictures at school, but didn't wear his robe - only carried his wand - for the school's Halloween parade. While trick or treating, he carried his glasses in his pumpkin - close! But he wore his robe while trick or treating!! He had on his robe, carried his wand, glow stick and pumpkin (at least until the pumpkin got heavy with all of his candy - then I got to carry it!!).
For trick or treating, Chris took him around the neighborhood and then I took him to Janine's. He really wanted to trick or treat with Aunt Janine again like he did last year. After all, Aunt Janine can scary away the ghosts!! (Imagination - a blessing and a cure!!).
One of the streets near Janine's really gets into Halloween. Amazingly decorated homes! Janine told Matt about each home we were looking at but let Matt decide if he wanted to approach the door. He avoided the houses that were too frightening for him. He trick or treated for over an hour with Janine and me. He was in a great mood the whole time. I think he felt in control since he was the one deciding which houses he'd approach.
When we returned to Janine's house, he watch the baseball game and helped give candy to the kids for another hour. I think he may have enjoyed that even more than trick or treating and getting the candy for himself!!
Janine could not believe how much better he was about trick or treating this year compared to last year. While he was still nervous and some stuff frightened him, he had fun and talked to everyone out on the streets with us.
All in all, Halloween was a complete success!!
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