Tishia’s Thoughts

The deaf community have decided on a sign name for Obama. You can see Kirsti’s vlog here where she tells all about it. You hearies, it is captioned.

It’s about the cost of food. Go vote on what you think the maximum cost a frugal meal should be. *NOT a normal meal, but a thrifty meal*
http://cheapchow.wordpress.com

I thought that I would share about Wigglebutt’s delays; more specifically, his physical development. I still am waiting on the results of what kind of delays he has in speech, occupational, fine motor skills, and cognitive areas. He will have a different therapist for each of these, in addition to the evaluations for him to be fitted with leg braces. I will share more as I get his results in the other areas. He already has physical, cognitive, and in-home occupational therapists established and we call them “his special friends” that he gets to play with.

For now, I will share what I have discovered about his physical ability. He is 30 months old and he is physically like a 15 month old. Here is the broken down list that the physical therapist provided me with.

Locomotion skills:

• 15 month level: Creep down three steps backwards without support – Fail
• 15 month level: Walk up four steps without support – Fail
• 16 month level: Walk 10 feet quickly – Pass, with limitations for it wasn’t in a straight line
• 16 month level: Walk backwards 5 steps while pulling something – Fail
• 17 month level: With support only from adult’s finger, walk down four steps – Fail
• 17 month level: Walk backward 5 steps without support – Fail
• 18 month level: Run forward 10 feet – Fail
• 18 month level: Stand on curb with one foot in front of other – Fail
• 19 month level: Walk sideways for 10 feet, leading with same foot – Fail
• 20 month level: Jump at least 2 inches off the ground and both feet leaving ground together – Fail
• 21 month level: Jump forward 4 inches without falling – Fail
• 22 month level: Jump down off step without assistance – Fail
• 24 month level: Walk up 4 steps without touching rails or walls – N/A Knew he couldn’t
• 25 month level: walk down 4 steps without touching rails or walls – N/A Knew he couldn’t
• 26 month level: Walk backward 10 feet- N/A (this is a goal we want to reach)
• 27 month level: Jumps up while reaching to touch toy 2 inches above standing reach – this is a goal we want to reach.
• 27 month level: Walk up 4 steps while placing one foot on each step (we’ll worry about this later)
• 28 month level: Jump down from object 16 inches high without assistance (later)
• 29 month level: With hands on hips and without heels touching floor at all, walk on tiptoes for 5 feet (Later)
• 30 months old: Runs 30 feet (Later)

Reflexes and Manipulating Skills:

• 15 months level: Throws tennis or other 3 inch ball by extending arm at shoulder or elbow – Fail
• 16 months level: Lifts foot to make contact with a soccer or other 8 inch ball – Fail
• 17 month level: Maintaining balance: throw tennis or other 3 inch ball ball by extending arm – Fail
• 18 month level: Kick ball forward 3 feet – Fail
• 19 month level: Throw small ball overhead 3 feet before it touches floor – Fail
• 20 month level: Throw small ball underhand 3 feet forward before it touches floor – Fail
• 21 month level: Extending arms directly in front, palms facing upward or each other, attempts to catch ball – Fail
• 22 month level: Initiates overhand throw by moving arm upward and back; small ball travels 7 feet before touching floor – Fail
• 23 month level: Using opposing arm an leg movements and initiating kick by extending leg back with bent knee, kicks ball forward 6 feet – Fail
• 24 month level: Catch ball with arms extended – Fail
• 25-30 month level: Using an underhand toss, hits target with small ball – Fail
• 25-30 month level: With arms bent and palms facing each other, catches ball with hands – Fail

Wow, it’s sobering to see how he should be able to move at his age. There’s a lot of work to do and that is the sort of thing they work on in his physical therapy sessions and they tell me to work on it at home too. For example, to get Wigglebutt to do the side to side steps, take his hands and tell him we’re dancing! They said it would take a little bit for him to catch on and it could take longer if it turns out he needs leg braces to correct the way he moves his legs as he walks. We (my husband and I) will work harder on making games with balls seem more fun for him to improve his seemingly nonexistent reflexes. This is the kid who does not flinch when a ball is thrown at him! He even failed the 8 month old level reflex tests, where they had him sit down and they came up behind him and shoved him to see if he would fling his arms up in front of him to plant on the floor. He didn’t. The other 8 month old level test was the same in reverse- they shoved him from the front to see if he would fling his extended arms backwards to plant on the floor. He didn’t… but his sister did! I took the chart home with me and did all the same tests on Snicklebritches. She comes out to the 13 month old level, which is a little over 2 months ahead and makes the two of them very close in ability. For now. I hope with therapy, Wigglebutt will shoot off the charts and go way ahead of her, where he should be.

Dear Springfield Deaf Community,

Shawn and I will be returning to Springfield on February 4th from 6:30pmto 8:30 pm at the Library for Legislative and systems advocacy training. We will focus on the legislative process, how to talk with legislators and their staff, the elements of good talking points and other methods of effective advocacy. This will help you prepare to voice your concerns and advocate for appropriate services in mental health.

If you are planning to attend, please RSVP to Jeff Prail: Jprail(at)paraquad(dot)org

We look forward to seeing you all again.

Jeff Prail
Paraquad, Inc.
Coordinator of Deaf and
Hard of Hearing Services
Voice: 314-289-4254
Videophone: 1-866-765-1160
Fax: 314-289-4201
E-mail: JPrail(at)Paraquad(dot)org

First, read those two news stories to get an idea of the subject that I’m going to blog about today.

New safety rules for children’s clothes have stores in a fit
and
New law seems to ban resale of toys

Does this mean we will have to go underground as a hand-me-down toys and clothes along with the wahm cloth-diapering community?

You can read more about the Act and its text at this government website.

You can vote that you think amending this act to ensure the exclusion of second-hand goods and handmade goods is a good idea here.

I am concerned about the toys for special needs children. Does this mean schools will no longer be able to afford to buy specially made toys and products for the deaf students, the blind students, and the students requiring adaptive devices?

It’s difficult as it is to try to find toys that uses sign language, such as cute stuffed bears signing “ILY”, sign language flash cards, puzzles that show the finger spelled alphabet, and hearing aids/cochlear implants for the dolls of deaf children, so after this act takes effect, will it become impossible to find these? Will deaf crafters be still allowed to make “ILY” paperweights to sell at deaf town craft fairs because they cannot guarantee no child under 12 will play with them? It is such a small niche in the handmade goods market as it is. This act would shut them all down or fine them huge amounts of money for doing it anyway.

What about my own son? I buy his sensory toys handmade. Now that the Act is putting handmade toys out of business, am I stuck without the appropriate toys and device for my son. A work at home mother I have contacted is able to make a weighed vest for around $40. Abilitions vests start at $110 each and they haven’t been tested yet. That will probably raise the price even higher, making it unaffordable for us. What about all those other families with children who need equipment that aren’t meant to fall under the category of medical devices; such as those things that help parents bathe their children?

You think I’m kidding? No, I’m not. Here’s a quote from the CPSIA website.

Does the new requirement for total lead on children’s products apply to children’s books, cassettes and CD’s, printed game boards, posters and other printed goods used for children’s education?
In general, yes. CPSIA defines children’s products as those products intended primarily for use by children 12 and under. Accordingly, these products would be subject to the lead limit for paint and surface coatings at 16 CFR part 1303 (and the 90 ppm lead paint limit effective August 14, 2009) as well as the new lead limits for children’s products containing lead (600 ppm lead limit effective February 10, 2009, and 300 ppm lead limit effective August 14, 2009). If the children’s products use printing inks or materials which actually become a part of the substrate, such as the pigment in a plastic article, or those materials which are actually bonded to the substrate, such as by electroplating or ceramic glazing, they would be excluded from the lead paint limit. However, these products are still considered to be lead containing products irrespective of whether such products are excluded from the lead paint limit and are subject to the lead limits for children’s products containing lead. For lead containing children’s products, CPSIA specifically provides that paint, coatings, or electroplating may not be considered a barrier that would render lead in the substrate inaccessible to a child.

That includes all educational devices, which includes sensory equipment and art supplies… I won’t be surprised when Crayola jacks up the prices on everything.

Are children’s art materials subject to the new lead limits?
Generally yes. To the extent that such art materials are designed or intended primarily for children 12 years of age or younger, they are subject to the lead limits under the CPSIA. Moreover, all art materials, whether or not intended primarily for children, must comply with the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act (LHAMA) codified at 16 C.F.R. § 1500.14(b)(8), which requires that art materials be properly labeled if they present a chronic adverse health effect.

Back to school shopping this fall looks like it will be a headache for all families with school age children. Those of you breathing a sigh of relief because none of your children are special needs… and you home school. Not so fast! Frugal families will be affected in a huge way. Read this blog entry from the Simple Dollar

And boy… let’s not even get started on cloth diapering and families that want to go eco-friendly! There’s already plenty of blogs around covering that specific angle.

I have been slacking off in writing in my diary/journal because of my other writing commitments to myself. I’m trying to decide if my diary is a vital component of me or not… I think it’s important to contact the world in my blogging, work on my book little by little, and emailing key people behind the scenes about issues important to me. With all of that writing on my to-do list, my journaling gets pushed to the backburner. But should I do that?

Is it silly to have a self-centered diary or is it a crucial exercise for my mental well-being? I have my diary that I write in with my favorite fountain pens, smearing my hands with ink in the process and enjoying every minute of it. Yet I don’t make it an important part of my life. Other things should come first. My children. Cooking. Laundry. Replying to emails that I shouldn’t ignore. Life gets in the way of me chronicling my life. How ironic!

Is this a problem that needs fixing or is that just the way things are for now? I know I like flipping back in my journal and reading about life events I had completely forgotten about. I enjoy the way my body slows down as I watch my hand waltz with the ink across the page. So why have I let it go wayside lately?

That is not the only thing that I’ve let slide those days. I have not been keeping up with my Bible studies and my devotionals. Perhaps I have just whacked myself in the head with the answer… I let my journaling slide because I let my relationship with God get shoved to the side in all of this economic distress. Oops, I did it again. I let the waves of life toss me around and forgot to cling onto the Rock for dear life. I’m off to have a serious heart to heart chat with God and wetting my nibs with ink in the meanwhile…

What about all of you? How is your relationship with God today? Close this window and go talk to God for a few minutes. He’ll be waiting.

http://cheapchow.wordpress.com/

I have not been blogging lately because of the craziness lately. I already told you our car died. Since then, my husband was laid off right when he was due for a promotion and transfer. He applied for unemployment immediately (December 14, and those of you who may remember, yes, that is my birthday) and we are still waiting to hear anything from there. Nearly every day, my husband has been pounding the pavement hunting for jobs (no car, remember?) and he got his last paycheck yesterday for a big whooping eighteen dollar *grumble grumble* I’m faced with the challenge of making $40 last as long as it can for food. I’m probably going to start a blog chronicling what we have for meals because I’m realizing others are not that creative about s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g their food funds like I do. I have been discussing it and I am surprised at how many of them did not even think to turn leftovers into meals the next days and I plan my menus out using leftovers the next day. I hope the side blog will help give those of you feeling the pinch fresh ideas too.

I’ve also been busy trying to sell off whatever I can find on Craigslist, but no takers. I’m trying to sell everything from kitchen tables to cloth diapers I’m done with to toys I think the kids don’t really need to clothes, books, and dvds that my husband and I can do without. I am debating whether or not to sell the things we do use to see if that will hold us over, such as the double stroller. I could make do by carrying one kid in a sling and pushing the other kid in an umbrella stroller. So far, I sold only two items and made $25 off these. I’m hoping for more buyers in the future so I can add more funds to our food budget. I hate it, but if we still haven’t heard anything from unemployment by the 15th (a full month) and my husband nor I (we’re both looking for jobs) haven’t gotten any job offers, we will look into signing up for WIC, the formula costs is what’s killing us the most of all. I’m tempted to go off my medication and relactate so we can cut out that expense, but that got a big resounding NO WAY from my husband and my doctor.

It’s a challenge not having a car, with all the appointments my children have. My Wigglebutt is a medical special needs child, he has doctor appointments, neurologist appointments, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, special education meetings, and soon to add orthopedic appointments. Snicklebritches has the usual monthly well-baby checks, but she’s turning one next month (wah, already?!) so those will be done with soon. Did you catch the new one yet? Yeah, you read that right, orthopedic appointments. Wigglebutt’s funny gait is turning out to be not so funny after all. He needs leg braces. I’m overwhelmed by yet another thing to watch for and fix. If any of you readers have any children with leg braces, what has your experiences been? Are they a hassle to get on and off? What if the kid kicks and screams while you put them on, will the braces cut one of us? Will they attract way more attention than he’s already getting, I mean, will him wearing leg braces scream “Look at me, something’s wrong with me!” I’d like to hear about what you all have gone through with leg braces.

Nothing new on the deaf rights front, I have been busy with my own life- although I did get a few angry emails from some of you about who am I to say that you are lazy. I will only say one thing again, like I said in my email back to you- in that same time you took to write me that angry email would have been much more productive in writing an email to Barry or Jeff. Complain to them about me, if you must, but I’m just a private citizen. They are in positions to help you. You can also contact the same counselor you told me you were seeing and tell her about your feelings toward me. That would be a much better way to spend your time and energy and will get you more results.