Today...
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I have been working on some designs with goodies from Jenni Bowlin's March Kit. She should have the projects up online later this month. Very cool kit. Fun to play.
I am considering some very serious cleaning up around here. I looked in the drawer of my table today and there are adhesives in there that are completely dried out...and lots of other things I have not seen in ages. Feeling the excess.
I cleaned off my inspiration board last night. Need a fresh view. Changed the furniture around a bit in a few places around our house. Wanting less stuff in my daily view. Less. Less that says more.
Also getting ready for classes next weekend at Apropos in Spokane, Washington.
Oh yea, get this: Simon ate carrots at school yesterday.
We have been dealing with some serious food issues lately and starting to worry a bit about his health. I know that picky eating is a phase that many kids go through, our concern with Simon and his autism is that he will not grow out of this phase.
We had his OT here on Tuesday to talk about his eating issues. She suggested we work in conjunction with the school (who are more than willing to assist) on taking very small steps to get him to try some new foods. Small steps such as simply getting him to keep one baby carrot on his plate - which is a big deal for him. If he does not want it on his plate he has an option to put it in an "all-done" dish. Once he can keep it on his plate we can move to smelling it, then touching it with his mouth, taking a bite etc.
So we sent two baby carrots to school in his lunchbox yesterday. I opened it up when he came home and there were no carrots. Holy cow, I thought, he ate the carrots (or they were thrown away). Chris chatted with the teachers this morning: he did eat the carrots. I LOVE THIS SCHOOL. During lunch he was encouraged to eat/try/touch a carrot before eating his pretzels (that he loves - his "preferred" food). It was a "first this...then this" activity. In addition, the teachers modeled it with the little boy sitting across from him at lunch. After watching the other dude, Simon did it on his own. According to the teachers, the other little boy told Simon, "it is ok, I had to do it too."
And the word from school today is that he was able to eat the carrots simply by following the "first...then" chart at lunch.
Today carrots, tomorrow broccoli!
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37 comments
sensational about the carrots. I was picky as a child but also intolerant of a lot and though the intolerances have somewhat passed now, just looking at certain foods is enough to not make me eat ANYTHING. It makes me difficult to feed and I hate that, but it's how I am now. Great that you are having these advances with Simon.
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Yeehaw! Yay for carrots! That is awesome!
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yay for Simon:)!!
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Yay, go the carrots!
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Yeah for Simon!!!! Love that you have the support of school -- so wonderful
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Ali-
On a side note I was just at our local library and Mothering magazine has a wonderful article on children with autism. All about the lack of need in vaccines and furthermore how that affects children with autism diets. It has some wheat and gluten free recipes. It also talks about a supplement that can be taken that "cures" their autism? Check it out if you haven't already. Very interesting reading.
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That's great....I'll admit I was thrilled when Jack put an apple slice on his lips and licked them. You're right about the autism piece. It's so much more than just being picky about food. Both the boys (who have autism) are picky and we try the same "leave it on your plate" even if you're not going to eat it. Great to see progress. I was just talking about that myself today.
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Go Simon, Go Simon, Go Simon! Come and teach my daughter that carrots aren't all that bad!
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Way to go Simon!! I am glad to hear that you have such a wonderful school willing to work with you!
If you are looking for a home for your clean ups, let me know. I would love to take them off your hands...
melissa
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Great Job Simon!!!
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Wow, awesome job Simon!! That is HUGE:) Good for him. Isn't it fun to see the baby steps. Very exciting!
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If they can get kids to eat broccoli I'm sending Kenzie to that school!! Maybe I need to try the first this.. then this... approach. So cool he at carrots- go simon!!
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We have food issues here too. Raw carrots are simply a non-starter, don't even go there. Cooked carrots, he can deal with; it seems to be more of a texture issue than flavor.
Overall, I have to say Zeb does pretty well. His dislikes are strong, but fairly simple, and don't change day to day. NOTHING vinegar-y (like cole slaw, mustard), just won't go near it. But green is his favorite color, and he will eat virtually any green food. We also found he was pretty interested in food we had grown ourselves, he will eat virtually anything out of the garden (except the afore-mentioned raw carrots).
The Mothering mag issue is wonderful, lots of 'food for thought' (sorry, couldn't resist).
Also, a book "Asperger's Syndrome, the Universe and Everything", written by a 10 yo boy who has AS. In it, he talks about eating, and how many foods feel like glass in his mouth. It's such a sensory thing for our guys, certain things just get to them in ways we can't relate.
It sounds like Simon likes routine, and predictability (ya think?!) and that it extends to his diet; just not into the new stuff, when the old stuff is working so well. Bravo bravo for you, the school, for finding a way for the new-ness to not be threatening, and for Simon to have the courage to try something new. He is a cool little guy. And bravo to the little boy sitting across from him, who modeled for him.
Good luck with future foods - it sounds like you have a great support system, and Simon is one lucky little guy to have you.
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Good deal!! I know how tough it is to sit back with the food issue and just hope all will work out! How lucky you are to have great teachers who will work with Simon!
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I cannot wait to see what you do with Jenni Bowlin's kit. Love the inspiration!!
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Fantastic!! My boys still won't eat vegys. We opted to eat fruit instead.
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kaleigh's favorite food right now ... frozen peas! Not cooked frozen pea ... no frozen right out of the freezer. I think she thinks its like little ice creams without texture. I don't get it! If Simon like frozen popcicles or ice cream ... try frozen peas! Good god i sound like Dr. Suess would you eat then here, would you eat them there. LOL
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way to go, simon! :)
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Yeah for the carrots! My dd went to headstart and there they did a "tastey bite:. We still use it to this day with our 6yo and sometimes even our teens!LOL!
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Congrats, Simon! Love the little steps that mean so much!!
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