One Thing I Know

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It’s been rough lately with lots of screaming and too many punches to the head to count. We try to keep a daily tally but some days (most days honestly) it’s impossible to keep track.

Last week I ordered a ‘Cozy Caterpillar’ for Josiah.  According to the website, it  provides a proprioceptive and deep pressure touch experience like no other and is very effective for improved focus and calming for adults and children with: • Stress • Anxiety • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder • Autistic Spectrum Disorders • Sensory Processing Dysfunction.

One of Josiah’s amazing caregivers took the cozy caterpillar to ABA so Josiah’s therapist could advise on the best way to use it.  She suggested he wear it 10 minutes every hour.

When I first put it on him he loved it and did not want to take it off.  He sat at the kitchen table enclosed in the compression tube, quite happy.  And here’s the best part.  He wasn’t punching himself.

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Daily Data

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We keep a Daily Data sheet for Josiah to give us detailed information about his day.  It requires just a check mark or brief comment every so often. It used to be much more complicated, calling for more time and effort.

When Josiah was much younger, we sent a notebook back and forth each day to jot down messages between school and home.  His teachers would highlight anything of great importance.  I would add comments about him from home.  It was helpful since Josiah is non verbal, however it gave a very limited view of his day.  To be honest, who has time to write a paragraph or two everyday when you are responsible for a classroom full of children anyway?

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Hard to Believe

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Josiah struggles with self injurious behaviors, including punching himself in the head. The time between ‘episodes’ has been growing shorter and shorter while the intensity of each incident has been worsening.  It’s painful to witness.

It appears to have started in early May of  this year.  At least that’s what Rick and I shared with the hospital staff in September and October.  But I seem to recall some behaviors earlier in the year as well.

You’d think as parents, focused on ensuring the best for their child, remembering all these little details would be second nature, but apparently not. I’m here to tell you it’s been going on for a long time.  Much longer than I ever imagined and that’s so hard to believe.

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