H2O

No, the sensory smart mama has gone astray from our new "smart life."  We are living in God's blessing of a 70+ degree March and spending plenty of time outside!  Sandy floors, sandy baby hair, and sandy shoes have become a way of life for the Sensory Smart home...but only a year ago little Xabe cried when we put him in the sand and now he can't get enough!  Natalee loves it as well, and I sit in awe when I sit back and watch them scamper up the slide unassisted or run and play without stumbling.  My babies...well they aren't such babies any more.  *sniff, sniff*

I do want to update you all to let you know that Mike and I finally bit the bullet and bought a Brita water filter for our kitchen faucet! :)  It was only $20 but, as I've mentioned before, I'm cheap. :)  We're adjusting to flipping the switch back and forth to filtered/unfiltered water for drinking and washing/cooking.  I have to admit, the filtered water tastes different...something I wouldn't have thought was possible, but I keep telling myself it's because there's so much less chlorine and other "bad things" in it!  One more step towards hitting our goals...!

I also was the recipient of the gift of a huge aloe vera plant...I call her Miss Sue and she's living out on my porch right now.  I was able to split her when we re-potted her and so we have a big Miss Sue pot and a smaller Little Susy plant. :)  Living naturally is exciting...and it's coming more and more 'naturally' to me!

Goal Update!

I haven't fallen of the "wagon" of sensory smart living...we've been working hard at our home to be consistent with the children and are continually training in the area of obedience and desirable behavior.  We are putting sensory activities in our daily lives and working them into our routines.  It's nice to see these things become "the norm" and to see them working!

An update on my original goals that I hadn't met yet last month:
Short Term Goals:

• Start replacing personal & household products with gentler alternatives free of petrochemicals & other "yuckies".  ONGOING but daily improving.  Every time I shop or order I replace an old product with something "healthier" or better for us.  I'm dabbling in making many of our daily use items (lotion, for example).
• Spend time in prayer weekly for my family's health and the decisions we are making for our life style.  GETTING BETTER!
• Find a filtered water pitcher or tap filter for at home.  NOT COMPLETE - We've decided on a tap filter...now to just fit it into the budget!
• Buy more organic fruits & veggies.  IMPROVEMENT! - I chose organic fruits last shopping trip and there are several things that we are just cutting out of our diets.
• Get a full length mirror for home & the classroom (great for teaching eye contact and self affirmation).  HALFWAY - I have one for the classroom but still need one for home.
• Introduce self talk to Natalee - "I am okay. I can handle this!"  ONGOING - I've tried this a few times and she is resistant to it.  She replies "I'm NOT okay!"  But I'll persist.
• Stay calm when parenting both children. ONGOING - This will always be ongoing.  I'm trying, really REALLY trying.  I'm also trying hard at school.
  
• Introduce "A Rule/B Rule" concept at home and school. "A" rules are non-negotiable, parent/teacher stated & enforced rules. "B" rules are when child gets a say in decision. Develop clear "A" rules at home and in classroom.  NOT DEVELOPED - I had forgotten about these...I'm glad to be reminded so we can get on this!
  
• Be more diligent in use my Time Timer so children have a clear cut ending to a task.  CHECK - Working well at home and at school.
• Stop telling my children and my students not to have their feelings. (Ex: Don't tell Natalee "that doesn't hurt" when she cries when we brush hair. For a sensory child it probably does hurt and I shouldn't stomp on her feelings. Help her express herself as a replacement for crying.). Listen like Minnie Mouse - 2 big ears, 2 big eyes, 1 small mouth.  CHECK - Am very conscious of this.
  
• Find a place for self calming for home and students at school. Use this when I see children (Natalee/Xabe & students) are becoming overwhelmed.  STILL STRUGGLING - anyone have any ideas?
• Increase fatty acids & amino acids for my children (real whole milk, butter, protein rich snacks).  CHECK - I feel good about this.  There are no margarine sticks in my home and we've made lots of other improvements! :)
• Buy Boston Ferns (oxygen generators) for home & school. One for children's bedroom, classroom, and living area!  STILL LOOKING - looks like I'll have to order some!

Long Term Goals (within the next year):

• Cut out -ites & -ates in foods (nitrites, nitrates, sulfites, sulfates) & MSG.  HALFWAY - MSG is pretty much gone...working on ites and ates.
• Reduce petrochemicals (cosmetic food additives, pesticides) & phenols (fragrances, dry erase markers, candles, etc).  HALFWAY - food dyes are gone, dry erase markers gone (using dry erase crayons), working on fragrances and candles.
• Reduce microwave use - consider (not for certain) getting rid of (I'm giving Mike a heart attack now!).  IMPROVING - using it much, much less!
• Read Raising a Sensory Smart Child and Creative Answers to Misbehavior.  HALFWAY - Continually reading Raising a Sensory Smart Child but finished the other book.
• Get a juicer.  NOT YET - Xavier really likes "juiced" drinks and will drink the Naked brand green machine juice with lots of good fruits & veggies in it including cholera.
• Try to find a rebounder (small trampoline) for school.  NOT YET
• Research & consider Dr. T.'s recommendation for all children with SPD/ASD/ADHD to take AFA (super blue-green algae) from SimpleXity Health and try some (for me first, then Natalee)! Dr. T sent a 9 page email detailing AFA, which considered all my questions such as side effects from "overdose" - NONE, it's likened to eating too much broccoli or spinach; there would be no side effect except maybe a tummy ache if you ate too much broccoli.  NOT YET - but not dismissed.
• Plan something monthly with my children individually that is high in quality time (no movies, etc) to fill their love tanks. AND something with my husband!  CHECK!  Natalee accompanied me grocery shopping and chose items for her lunches, Xavier and I went to dinner and for new sheets for his bed, Mike & I went for supper - all on separate nights!  (I was in high demand.)
  
• Set aside a weekly family night.  ONGOING - Mike and I are "turned off" (no computer, TV, etc.) until after the kids go to bed, so unless we have church or a meeting every night is family night!
• Step back and let my children & students be more independent.  ONGOING! but IMPROVING! - messes are what children are all about and I'm embracing this lifestyle. 
• Increase high quality centers at school (pretend shopping, more dress-up/imaginative play items, junior office area, etc).  CHECK - always thinking and open to ideas for new centers.
• Spend time in prayer daily (bumped up from weekly above) for my family's health and the decisions we are making for our life style. WORKING ON IT.
• Go to bed by 10:00 on weeknights!  SOME NIGHTS I DO ACTUALLY MAKE IT BY 10...I'm much more conscious about bedtime for myself.

Goal Update! {short term goals}

An update of my short term goals!

Short Term (within the next couple of months):

• Start replacing personal & household products with gentler alternatives free of petrochemicals & other "yuckies".  ONGOING - We've replaced our deodorant, shampoos, my body wash (& the kids'), toothpaste (ours, the kids were already using flouride/dye free), and lotion.  I still have a long way to go but this weekend I did clean out the upstairs bathroom cabinets and removed excess products that weren't natural.  I'm struggled with myself but have decided to go ahead and donate the unopened ones...I can't see throwing them away when 90% of the people I know are still using them.  Baby steps...
• Quit heating my food in plastic containers at work.  DONE - for the most part I'm successful at this.  Occasionally I miss and heat in plastic but for the most part this is going well.
• Spend time in prayer weekly for my family's health and the decisions we are making for our life style.  STRUGGLING - shame on me!!  I'll do better!
  
• Find a filtered water pitcher or tap filter for at home.  NOT COMPLETE - We've decided on a tap filter...now to just fit it into the budget!
• Buy more organic fruits & veggies.  FAIL! - Confession time...the last time we grocery shopped looking at the organic fruit didn't even cross my mind!!  ARGH!  I'll try harder!
• Be thankful everyday for our home grown beef! CHECK! - My folks just had a new beef butchered and I'm so grateful we were blessed with some!
• Continue persuing recipes using natural sweeteners...reintroduce refined sugar but no longer as a lifestyle. ONGOING - I've found many recipes using agave nectar as the sweetener...not so many using stevia.  However, I've had some discussions with people regarding these natural sugar substitutes and am still trying to decide if this is a lifestyle change for us or a period of time.  I definitely see a change in Natalee when she has something sugary but would like to eventually teach her how to control those moods rather than continually substituting sugar for her.  She's young..we'll see.
• Cut out food dyes.  CHECK! - I'm feeling good about this one.  Our families have been great and it's not been as challenging as I thought to cut out.  Food dyes were something I was pretty conscious off prior to our "big" revolution.
• Get a full length mirror for home & the classroom (great for teaching eye contact and self affirmation).  STILL LOOKING - I was hoping to not have to buy new but may not have a choice.
• Introduce self talk to Natalee - "I am okay. I can handle this!"  ONGOING - I've tried this a few times and she is resistant to it.  She replies "I'm NOT okay!"  But I'll persist.
• Stay calm when parenting Natalee (huge challenge for me). Be specific with her - don't say, "be good", say what I want her to do and not what I don't want her to do. This applies to a couple of my students, also!  ONGOING - This will always be ongoing.  I'm trying, really REALLY trying.
  
• Introduce "A Rule/B Rule" concept at home and school. "A" rules are non-negotiable, parent/teacher stated & enforced rules. "B" rules are when child gets a say in decision. Develop clear "A" rules at home and in classroom.  NOT DEVELOPED - I haven't attempted this yet.  Mike needs to help with the A rules at home.
  
• Be more diligent in use my Time Timer so children have a clear cut ending to a task.  ONGOING - I've been using it for Natalee's time outs and for almost all time outs in my classroom.  However, I need to be better about using it for activities.
• Stop telling my children and my students not to have their feelings. (Ex: Don't tell Natalee "that doesn't hurt" when she cries when we brush hair. For a sensory child it probably does hurt and I shouldn't stomp on her feelings. Help her express herself as a replacement for crying.). Listen like Minnie Mouse - 2 big ears, 2 big eyes, 1 small mouth.  WORKING - I'm doing this, especially at home!
  
• Create a calming "sleep environment" for my children.   CHECK - The children like the lava lamps we've put in, and I try to remember to go up when I get home & turn on their heater until bedtime and then turn it off so they don't get too hot.  They also listen to their Christian lullabies every night.  Strangely enough, they've switched beds & Natalee wants to sleep in the crib & Xabe in her daybed.  We'll work on transitioning Natalee back out of the crib and into her bed & Xabe into a twin bed.
• Find a place for self calming for home and students at school. Use this when I see children (Natalee/Xabe & students) are becoming overwhelmed.  STRUGGLING - anyone have any ideas?
• Increase fatty acids & amino acids for my children (real whole milk, butter, protein rich snacks).  ONGOING - the children are on raw milk 24/7 and we're all using real butter.  I'm much more conscious about our snacks, although we still do often have fruit which isn't very protein rich. 
• Buy Boston Ferns (oxygen generators) for home & school. One for children's bedroom, classroom, and living area!  STILL LOOKING - looks like I'll have to order some!
• Go to bed by 10:30 on weeknights!  CHECK! - for the most part I'm am accomplishing this one!
  

Why Real Milk?

I had a couple of comments asking why we've switched the children to real milk and in turn real butter and other seemingly "fattier" foods so here's the "skinny" (or not so skinny) on why:

I went to a conference a couple of weeks ago with Dr. John Taylor and in it he spoke about how all children, but especially children with SPD (sensory processing disorder), autism, ADHD, & Asperger's, exhibit many of their behaviors and symptoms because they aren't getting enough real good fats and amino acids.  He noted that the easiest, #1 way to increase these for children would be to put them back on whole milk.  For adults?  The verdict is agreeably the same.  Mike and I are working our way to whole milk...maybe we'll never make it to retraining our taste buds to love fresh cow's milk but whole milk would be a step up from the 2% we're drinking. 

So why did WE choose fresh farm milk instead of just whole milk from the store?  Well...we didn't.  It chose us.  Actually, I don't believe in coincidence but I do believe in God's power and His work...a couple of days before my conference when I was dropping the children off at the babysitter I commented to her that Xabe hadn't eaten well but thankfully he was still drinking his milk by the gallons.  I joked that I was going to have to buy a milk cow for the back yard and our sitter's husband graciously said, "if you all want milk, just let us know...we have plenty to go around" (they are dairy farmers).  So after the conference I texted our babysitter and asked if they were serious???  And, {blessing to us} they were serious!  I do not in any way feel like the fresh milk will harm our children, and in reality, they've been drinking this milk since they were weaned from the bottle (while at the sitter's) so their bodies are already adjusted to it.  Here's what I considered before deciding for certain to make this switch, given the warnings by many people and organizations about how dangerous raw milk can be:  God designed the cow and it's milk WAY before he made machines and 'stuff' to 'fix' it, my mom grew up drinking raw milk (they were dairy farmers) and it didn't kill her, my brother-in-law grew up drinking raw milk & it didn't kill him, my sister's friend, Leann, grew up drinking raw milk & it didn't kill her and she's sure it made her have super healthy antibodies (ask her...she'll tell you!)...do you see the trend?  So now you know...our children are happy little cow juice drinkers and I'm learning new things like shake the cream before you pour. :)

If I had it to do all over again I would have never switched them off whole milk after starting them on it when they weaned from the bottle and I probably would have searched for a healthier alternative than soy milk for Natalee when she was going through her stage of allergies.  But we're in the here and now...not the past!

We have also switched completely to butter in cooking, baking, etc., however I mentioned in a goals update post that I hadn't convinced Mike it would be a great idea to get rid of his soft tub of margarine to go to butter.  Little did I know that you can leave butter out so it's soft & servable but I've gotten many comments telling me that you can!  (Thanks you all!!)  While at the store this weekend I bought a small tub of butter just for trial - ingredients are only cream and salt and we had it with bread tonight with no complaints from the eating crew.  It looks like the Beeler's will be looking for a butter dish just like Grandma had!  (Wonder how I thought SHE kept her butter soft??)  I'm not currently making my own butter but I'm intrigued by trying new things so maybe someday...probably not until summer though.

So there you have it...how our dear friends and children's babysitter & her husband saved us from putting a cow in our back yard {smile} and why we switched to whole milk & butter when all of America swears they'll make you fat.


Photo Courtesy of: http://www.raw-milk-facts.com/raw_milk_health_benefits.html

We've also been blessed to find a co-worker friend of mine who will sell us good brown chicken eggs.  During the spring & summer we were able to buy eggs from my niece's very happy, wholesome chickens but they are taking a season off so we were back to the store for our eggs until just today when I got 3 dozen pretty brown eggs!  Thanks, Leslie!

This article gives a lot of good information on the benefits of raw cow's milk:
http://www.raw-milk-facts.com/raw_milk_health_benefits.html

I really do enjoy & appreciate your comments AND questions!  Answering them helps me remember WHY we're doing this and how we're getting there!

Confession

Today the sensory smart mommy {me} lost my patience with my preschoolers.  *sigh* 
They are growing in number.  My patience is not.
I'm not complaining.  I'm just overwhelmed with finding a way into each and every one of their little systems.
They are all so different.  So complex.  So diverse.

Tomorrow I vow to try harder to take more deep breaths.  I vow to try to remember that each one of my preschoolers could easily be my own child.  I vow to remember that most of their behaviors stem from a sensory need.  I vow to *try* to uncover what that need is.

And when I get home tomorrow night....I vow to do it all over again with my own children.

Goal Update!

Today we replaced the children's 2% milk with not just whole milk but with real 'from the tank' whole cow's milk.  Our babysitter, Lora Jean, and her husband, Dean, are dairy farmers and have blessed us with milk for the children from their tank.  Mike was amazed at how much more milk they drank at supper tonight than they do usually (and we thought Xavier drank a lot of milk on a regular day!!).  Changing Mike & I's taste buds over from 2% will be another process... :)

Also, in the goals update, I have not used margarine in recipes or baking for almost 2 months.  Our next step will be changing over our Country Crock soft margarine to butter.  I so like having soft margarine ready for me in the tub.  Baby steps, baby steps...

I am looking for Boston Ferns and full length mirrors still.  Mike and I have also looked online at juicers and water filters but will look in the store when we go this weekend. 

I helped Natalee self talk her way through hair brushing this morning...I empathized with her hurt when we unsnarled her hair and talked about other options instead of brushing (letting it stay ratty for the birds to live in or cutting it shorter).  She is frightened of hair cuts and didn't think letting birdies live in her hair was a good idea (although funny) but the talk helped her get through the brushing much easier than me saying, "you're fine, that doesn't hurt, sit still."

My classroom store center is off to a great start!  The recycled goods are coming in and a fellow teacher has a shopping cart & cash register for us!  I'm excited about it!

I went to bed at 10 last night and am pushing my 10:30 night tonight but will be close!  I felt better this morning, having had a decent night's rest.

Progress is progress, no matter how small!

Adding to the GOALS!

2 more goals to add...

Short Term = get over my fear of baking with yeast and try make homemade breads and other "yeasty" yummies!

Long Term = learn to can!  Stop being intimidated by canners and learn to use one (oh Mrs. Biiiishhh!!!).

GOALS

I said in my last post that knowledge is dangerous...because when you know better you have no excuse for not trying to do better.
It's exciting to have a positive mindset when thinking about making changes for the better but also exhausting, intimidating, and overwhelming. I tend to be a "right now" personality with a not "right now" budget. In order to not overwhelm my husband (interpreted as "him not want to kill me") or our extended families (interpreted as "them not want to disown me") I decided this has to be a gentle, affordable, step-by-step process that makes gradual changes.
To hold myself accountable and organize my thoughts I'm thinking of this in terms of "short term" (immediate) and "long term" goals.

Short Term (within the next couple of months):

• Start replacing personal & household products with gentler alternatives free of petrochemicals & other "yuckies". This week we started with our deodorants (Mike & I) and shampoo when I placed a Vitacost order for the kids' multi-vitamin. Okay, DID YOU KNOW that your deodorant/antiperspirant has ALUMINUM in it??? When I learn junk like that I just want to scream "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Aluminum in it's many forms is a huge no-no for ASD and SPD kiddos...their brains can't process the toxin and sends them into overload. I'm thinking if it's a no-no for kids on the spectrum it just as well be a no-no for everyone. Come on commercial manufacturers...give me a break! It's in my lotion, too. :(
  
• Quit heating my food in plastic containers at work (I already knew better, just need to be held accountable).
• Spend time in prayer weekly for my family's health and the decisions we are making for our life style.
  
• Find a filtered water pitcher or tap filter for at home.
• Buy more organic fruits & veggies (I'm bad about his - insert personality attribute #1, cheap!).
• Be thankful everyday for our home grown beef!
• Continue persuing recipes using natural sweeteners...reintroduce refined sugar but no longer as a lifestyle.
• Cut out food dyes.
• Get a full length mirror for home & the classroom (great for teaching eye contact and self affirmation).
• Introduce self talk to Natalee - "I am okay. I can handle this!"
• Stay calm when parenting Natalee (huge challenge for me). Be specific with her - don't say, "be good", say what I want her to do and not what I don't want her to do. This applies to a couple of my students, also!
  
• Introduce "A Rule/B Rule" concept at home and school. "A" rules are non-negotiable, parent/teacher stated & enforced rules. "B" rules are when child gets a say in decision. Develop clear "A" rules at home and in classroom.
  
• Be more diligent in use my Time Timer so children have a clear cut ending to a task.
• Stop telling my children and my students not to have their feelings. (Ex: Don't tell Natalee "that doesn't hurt" when she cries when we brush hair. For a sensory child it probably does hurt and I shouldn't stomp on her feelings. Help her express herself as a replacement for crying.). Listen like Minnie Mouse - 2 big ears, 2 big eyes, 1 small mouth.
  
• Create a calming "sleep environment" for my children. (After the conference I obtained some lava lamps and we're using those for calming. Natalee likes them very much.)
• Find a place for self calming for home and students at school. Use this when I see children (Natalee/Xabe & students) are becoming overwhelmed.
• Increase fatty acids & amino acids for my children (real whole milk, butter, protein rich snacks).
• Buy Boston Ferns (oxygen generators) for home & school. One for children's bedroom, classroom, and living area!
• Go to bed by 10:30 on weeknights!
  

Long Term Goals (within the next year):

• Cut out -ites & -ates in foods (nitrites, nitrates, sulfites, sulfates) & MSG.
• Reduce petrochemicals (cosmetic food additives, pesticides) & phenols (fragrances, dry erase markers, candles, etc)
• Reduce microwave use - consider (not for certain) getting rid of (I'm giving Mike a heart attack now!).
• Read Raising a Sensory Smart Child and Creative Answers to Misbehavior.
• Get a juicer.
• Try to find a rebounder (small trampoline) for school.
• Research & consider Dr. T.'s recommendation for all children with SPD/ASD/ADHD to take AFA (super blue-green algae) from SimpleXity Health and try some (for me first, then Natalee)! Dr. T sent a 9 page email detailing AFA, which considered all my questions such as side effects from "overdose" - NONE, it's likened to eating too much broccoli or spinach; there would be no side effect except maybe a tummy ache if you ate too much broccoli.
• Plan something monthly with my children individually that is high in quality time (no movies, etc) to fill their love tanks. AND something with my husband!
  
• Set aside a weekly family night.
• Step back and let my children & students be more independent.
• Increase high quality centers at school (pretend shopping, more dress-up/imaginative play items, junior office area, etc).
• Incorporate sensory rich activities into home (showering, hair & teeth brushing, toileting,) and school routines.
• Spend time in prayer daily (bumped up from weekly above) for my family's health and the decisions we are making for our life style.
• Go to bed by 10:00 on weeknights!

Anybody want to join me in any of this???