I should have never said that...

The past week as hard as it has been on me, Joel had actually done fairly well..  He had a few days with slight hiccups so t speak.. But I had said to a few of his therapists and even brought it up at his team meeting that a lot of his sensory behaviors have recessed.. specifically the head banging (which drives me crazy)  I think I even mentioned it in my previous post.. that he hadn't banged his head for a few months.  Well, that streak has now been broken.   He started again yesterday..  After his ABA was over, I knew he was tired.. (because we all had another rough night due to Angie having a stuffy nose.. she was pretty much crying half the night because she couldn't breath... I tried everything.. Vick's, steam, lifting her up at an angle...ugh, it was awful...)  So after Joel's therapy was over I attempted to put him and Angie down for a nap.. (at like noon which is REALLY early for him to even consider taking a nap.. BUT, he was up a lot of the night because of Angie's crying.. and he was acting tired and cranky so I knew he needed one)  Angie went down.. (and slept for almost 3 hours.. which is so unlike her.. shes my 20min nap queen...)  Joel on the other hand refused to go down.. so I gave up.. and let him play with his car... he stood up, went over to the bed.. and started slamming his head into it...its gotten much more violent now that hes older..my heart sank in my chest.. I'm always torn on whether to step in or let him get it out of his system.. I've been told by his therapist as long as he safe to let him do it, others have said to re-direct him if possible.. so I let him do it a few times before trying to re-direct...I managed to pull him out of it by starting to sing and do the hokey pokey (one of his favs) but it was only a temporary fix...  and ever since he did it yesterday, hes been doing it ever since... ugh.. I hate the head banging more than anything...He started it again this morning.. and I packed the kids up and took them to the park.. (even though it was freezing)  we bundled up and braved the cold.. he needed to get out.. and run.. when all else fails (in my attempts to help regulate him) going outside and to the park usually help.. and in today's case it did.. for a little while.  He didn't want to leave the park and had to be carried back to the car.  The rest of the day went OK.. not great, not horrible.. then Tonight he was bent over with his legs spread a bit, and put his head on the floor.. (kinda like a head stand) and started slamming his head into the hardwood floor from that position.. over and over and over again.. obviously its not safe, so I kept intervening.. giving him joint compressions, squishes.. singing... everything I could think of... He just couldn't snap out of it.  I got him on his trampoline.. and he jumped for quite a bit.. and was shaking his head violently side to side... His hair has gotten a little long, my sisters husband was over and he was like "hes just trying to move his hair"  .. I wish that were the case... After the nights events I know he was seeking the vestibular stimulation..  My parents got back from Poland tonight.. I'm really hoping that my mom will watch Angie tomorrow so I can go spend the day with Joel.   We got some free passes to an amusement park over the summer when I wrote them to thank them for their policy regarding children with Autism.   We had the best time at canobie lake park when I brought Joel in late July.  If your child has a disability.. (including autism) they give you a bracelet, and let you go on rides trough the exit and avoid waiting in lines.   You do till have to wait for a little while.. (which was really tough for Joel)  But not anything like waiting in the full line. It also allows him to stay on a ride twice without getting off as well.  Joel had the best time there.  He LOVED the rides, and although he did struggle a bit with wait times. (even if only a few minutes) it didn't put a damper on our day.   Anyway, when we got home I wrote them and simply thanked them.  Let them know about Joel and that he had the most amazing day there.  The rides were awesome for a lot of his sensory issues..  They wrote back, sent 4 free passes, and Joel a free t-shirt!!   We've been back once since, but we still have 2 free passes, and they close at the end of the month, so this is really our last weekend to go.. PLUS, I think with past behaviours emerging again.. its a good time for this break.  I haven't had a mama and Joel day in a while.. we're due.   I need to enjoy him, and make sure he has a "normal" child hood when hes not in therapy.   Finding a balance between everything is so hard and I'm still learning.  Sometimes after our week of therapy is over, I feel like I should just give him a break and let him do what he wants.. But that doesn't usually last long, because he needs structure, he needs constant direction of what to do next, and he needs stimulation and input throughout the day.. there are no lazy Sundays so to speak in this house.  So to end this post I wanted to share our awesome moment of the week.. Hopefully I can make it a trend for end of the week posts..  I feel like Ive been such a Debby downer lately and I want to bring some positivity on here.. SOOO, Thursday my down did its annual down town trick or treating.  They close the streets down, and basically the whole town goes downtown w. their kids all dressed up and trick or treats at the stores!  I like it even more then reg. Halloween.  Its awesome seeing all the kids dressed up, and I loved showing mine off!!  They looked BEYOND cute!!  I had a boutique make them raggedy Anne and Andy costumes!!!  This is the first Halloween that Joel can kinda grasp the concept!  I put them both in a big red wagon and pulled them downtown!  It was so much fun, Joel attempted to say "trick or treat" a few times!   but he was SO happy to get a bag full of POPS!!!!  the boy loves his pops..  one bowl of candy had everything.. chocolate, gummies, sweet tarts, reeces... and Joel looked in.. and what did he pull out???  a single life savers mint!!! LOL.. I'm like a mint?!?!  i need to practice with him on what to grab, lol, mama needs some reeces!  ;P Here's my raggedy Anne and Andy!!!  They pulled it off beautifully!!!

 

Here's a few pics from our park trip today! 

This is how I get through a store.. as you can see threes never much room in the cart for much.. they need to make double wide store carriages with 2 spots to seat kids.. they have them at bjs.. they need them in every store.. its so hard for me to take them both to a store!! 

 

The rest are Just a few randoms.. some from this weeks boutique modeling.. (the penguin hat) and the abominable snowman and Rudolph hats are on this weeks schedule to be shot for the boutique modeling!  I had to throw one of Angie in.. shes been getting brave and letting to when she stands up!!! I'm in SOOOOOO much trouble once she starts running around here.. ::sigh:: I'm exhausted just thinking about it!