The times they are a-changin'

Yes, the times in the Kerstiens family are changing.  We have been struggling for several weeks with time.  Time for Mason's therapy.  Time to work with Logan on reading and Caden on handwriting.  Time to spend at the pool and playing games.  Time to clean the house and work on manners, consistency, and behavior issues.  TIME...is a four letter word in our house right now. 

That said, we have decided to make some changes until school starts in the fall.  The major driving force that launched these changes...Mason. 

Last week Mason's therapist asked us to work diligently on his therapy at home.  This meant carving out at least an hour each day to work with him.  An hour where he ABSOLUTELY REFUSES to do anything we ask him to do.  We explained all of this to the Ellen, the OT.  On Tue, she communicated that Mason had plateaued in his therapy.  We have hit a road-block that seems insurmountable.  Mainly, Mason refuses to eat, no matter what therapy techniques we have tried.  Our options were...

1.  stick with current OT at $160/mth and work with him more at home
2.  see OT once a week and a Behavioral Psychologist once a week at who knows how much /mth
3.  move to private OT with is $200/mth, less travel, work at home, see if that changes anything
4.  quit everything and see how he turns out.
5.  Admit him to a 3 month intense inpatient program in Maryland or Colorado, where one of us would have to leave the rest of our family and stay with him...(I had no idea this even existed or that he was bad enough to be a candidate.)

David and I discussed these options in detail last night and again today will Ellen.  She also communicated that by this point in his journey he should have added at least 10 new foods....he has added one...cake. We really can't afford to continue with therapy at this time, especially if we are not seeing progress.  All of us feel the biggest obstacles we have are Mason's learned behaviors and a VERY strong will.  All of which need to be handled at home.  Unless we can get control of him now...we have little hope in the future.  Story of every parent!

SO...beginning in July, I will make it a priority to be home with the kids every morning (when I usually work). We will setup a new routine that includes: schoolwork, therapy and playing with a purpose. Right now, I am overwhelmed to the point of tears.  Sad to say that my own children are that daunting.  Each task by itself is do-able, but when you have a special needs child like Mason...NOTHING IS EASY.  I will have to learn how to balance eating therapy, a sensory diet and a strong will in just ONE child. Not to mention the 1000 other needs we have as a family. Thankfully, I am not alone.  My mom is here to help and David will pitch in when and where he can. 

The bright side...I will not be in the car 3 hours per week driving to and from therapy. Can you say FREEDOM!!!

So all of this is to say 

PRAY FOR US. 

1.  That David and I will be consistent with our parenting and discipline for all the kids
2.  That we would develop a plan for Mason, with the help of Ellen, that meets his SPD needs.
3.  That Mason would start eating.  The goal is that he should be eating like a normal kid by age 4.
4.  That we will not have to return to therapy after 6 months.
5.  That Mary will not feel overwhelmed or like she is failing her family

Overwhelmed,
DMLCM