The dentist appointment!

Yesterday I called Nate's PT and told her that we now have some units available with early intervention and would like to get a recommendation for an occupational therapist who is very knowledgable about sensory integration issues. She was able to give me a recommendation, but she also told me about a conference she went to this weekend about the same subject. She said she was reading about one kind of sensory issue dealing with the "proprioceptive" senses, and she said it was like reading a description of Nate Payne--doesn't like putting weight on his feet, doesn't like being off the ground, has problems with any kind of resistance, even like biting a chicken nugget. That's Nate. So she spoke with some others and came up with a new plan for him. The main thing is that I have to follow this brushing routine ... indefinitely. I have tried doing it before and have been unable to keep up with it for more than a week. It involves me using a little therapy brush on his skin every 2 hours during the day, and it's supposed to line out his system. We need to do it until all his symptoms go away. Could be months. But I really think this will be the key to getting him walking. So I'll figure out a way to do it. We'll also have this new OT who is an expert at sensory stuff coming to our home once every week or two, and we're trying to add another day of PT--this time in the pool! :)

Anyway, I was really dreading this dentist appointment today. But I did some sensory stuff with Nate this morning to help him feel more in sync, and I read him a story about Elmo going to the dentist, and he took a long nap and ate a good lunch. I took him to the UK pediatric dental clinic, which is 1.5 hours away, because that's where Lucas (my brother) works and he recommended a dentist there. Unfortunately, Uncle Lucas wasn't there this afternoon, but Nate got to meet his coworkers. Dr. Haney was his dentist, and she was AWESOME! She knew all the right things to say and how to make him feel at ease. Everything that could possible scare him--from the mask to the gloves to the instruments--she was able to make it fun for him. He cried some when she had to scrape his teeth, but she said he did better than most kids his age when she has to do that! Wow! He loved her. She said his teeth are healthy, so that's great. Even though it was a pain to get there and was an all-day event, she's worth going back for.

He walked all the way back to our car, which was quite a ways through the Kentucky clinic, and got lots of attention in his walker. Some girls were looking at him and smiling and waving, and he flirted big time. He walked around a column and peeked out the other side and said, "SURPRISE!"

So it was a good day, and I'm really proud of how Nate did at what could have been a nightmare of a day. Tomorrow is another big day--It's the second and last meeting of my spina bifida committee meeting, and Nate's new respite care worker, Rachel, is going to come play with Nate while I go to Bible study. I think I need to go to bed now. :)