Working in Occupational Therapy and dealing with kids with special needs, there comes a time when not only do you start recognizing the child's sensory issues but your own. It has only recently come upon me and it is interesting to see how sensory integration can really affect you as a person and how you deal with things throughout your day. We are all sensory seeking individuals, we may just not know it.
There are many types of sensory inputs, tactile, visual, and taste are a few to name. For me, I seek tactile input, but can also experience other inputs to regulate my body. When I talk about regulating the body it is not a physical regulation, but a mental regulation.
Tactile refers to touching objects or being touched, I am not one for the being touched but seeking surfaces that are different than smooth help me a lot. I noticed that I was like this after volunteering for two OT's this past school year (one in a clinic and one in a school) and noticing that when I walk down particular hallways that I have to have my hands on the wall. The hallways that appeal to my sensory system are hallways made of cement or bricks. I like anything with a surface on it and that I can feel. I will hopefully be making a sensory board to keep for when I become an OT but I know that it will be beneficial to not only me but the kids that I work with now.
Figure out what you seek or try to pay attention, do you like listening to music (if so, what kinds), do you like to eat, what type of foods (salty or sweet). Do you like visual cues, does TV calm you down, or looking at pictures. Once you have this figured out you will know what your body desires and what your sensory needs are.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Recapping the past 4 months
January/February:
The biggest part of these months were dedicated to my job and my love for the Men's Basketball Team. The season was still pretty rough but, we became the tight nit family anyways and we enjoyed every moment of it. So between classes and games that is where those two months went. The worst part of those months was February 13th when I walked across the gym floor and officially became a basketball alumni. Knowing that my job and college days would be over soon was extremely overwhelming, especially since I would not be seeing my basketball family everyday like I had been.
I traveled to Louisville in February in between the ridiculous amounts of snow that my area received from the great Mother Nature. I think that overall we received 50 inches of snow in a matter of a month. At one point a snow storm was on its way and we weren't sure where it was going to go :) However, my friends and I always made it an adventure.
March:
This month deserves a section all to itself considering this was the best month of the second semester. I went on a fabulous cruise with some friends from college and my oldest best friend for spring break. We traveled with Norwegian Cruise Lines and went to the Bahamas. Our crazy trip started out with a nineteen hour drive to Florida, yes nineteen hours straight! We visited Grand Bahama Island and Nassau. We were supposed to visit Great Stirrup Cay (private island owned by the cruise line), but the waters were too rough that day so we tanned instead. I tried so many different foods and things that I didn't know who I was! :) Following the cruise my friends and I drove another nineteen hours home so I could travel to Washington D.C. for two days. My sister placed a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier during her senior class trip so my other sister, mom, aunt and I went to see it. Next we went to the Smithsonian's American History Museum and then headed home.
April:
This month was semi slow but I did find a new love, Men's Lacrosse. Besides babysitting, volunteering at an OT clinic and local elementary school, I picked up working for Men's Lacrosse. I wasn't sure if I would like it but I missed my basketball team and wanted to work with a high impact sport. Little did I know how much I would love it. The best part of April was working with this team and seeing them beat our biggest rivals in an awesome game. Along with working I also participated in the Relay for Life again and all of my friends came over to my house for Easter where we had Just Dance competitions all day. April went so fast and then came dreaded May.
May:
The first sixteen days of May were an absolutely circus for me. I was finishing classes, preparing for finals, taking finals, and graduating that I had very little time for anything else but sleep (which I usually did not get). During finals week, a good friend of mine officially adopted two of her three children (the third is biologically hers). It was a very exciting time and we had a blast preparing and celebrating for it. Next came my graduation party which was exactly what I wanted: liquor and cupcakes :) Following my party, my fellow classmates and I entered six days of bliss where security allows pretty much anything on campus, no required classes are taking up our time, and all we had to do was smile and party because we were graduating. For six straight days we celebrated our great accomplishment. During this week my friends and I went on a pub crawl through the county considering that we typically only visited the same pub every weekend. I also went to the zoo to see the premier of the Polar Frontier and the return of the Polar Bears to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Then graduation occurred and I am now moved home. It has not hit me yet that I have graduated but I am looking forward to the future. My plans for now are to be summer nanny and then go to school in the fall. I did not get into any masters programs, but I did get into a COTA (OT assistant) program that I will have completed in two years. From there I will work on my Masters.
Well that is a recap for now, I know that I will probably think of either more stories or have new experiences to tell you about. I am really looking forward to this coming summer and what it may bring :) I also and redecorating my room so I will be blogging about that soon as well!
The biggest part of these months were dedicated to my job and my love for the Men's Basketball Team. The season was still pretty rough but, we became the tight nit family anyways and we enjoyed every moment of it. So between classes and games that is where those two months went. The worst part of those months was February 13th when I walked across the gym floor and officially became a basketball alumni. Knowing that my job and college days would be over soon was extremely overwhelming, especially since I would not be seeing my basketball family everyday like I had been.
I traveled to Louisville in February in between the ridiculous amounts of snow that my area received from the great Mother Nature. I think that overall we received 50 inches of snow in a matter of a month. At one point a snow storm was on its way and we weren't sure where it was going to go :) However, my friends and I always made it an adventure.
March:
This month deserves a section all to itself considering this was the best month of the second semester. I went on a fabulous cruise with some friends from college and my oldest best friend for spring break. We traveled with Norwegian Cruise Lines and went to the Bahamas. Our crazy trip started out with a nineteen hour drive to Florida, yes nineteen hours straight! We visited Grand Bahama Island and Nassau. We were supposed to visit Great Stirrup Cay (private island owned by the cruise line), but the waters were too rough that day so we tanned instead. I tried so many different foods and things that I didn't know who I was! :) Following the cruise my friends and I drove another nineteen hours home so I could travel to Washington D.C. for two days. My sister placed a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier during her senior class trip so my other sister, mom, aunt and I went to see it. Next we went to the Smithsonian's American History Museum and then headed home.
April:
This month was semi slow but I did find a new love, Men's Lacrosse. Besides babysitting, volunteering at an OT clinic and local elementary school, I picked up working for Men's Lacrosse. I wasn't sure if I would like it but I missed my basketball team and wanted to work with a high impact sport. Little did I know how much I would love it. The best part of April was working with this team and seeing them beat our biggest rivals in an awesome game. Along with working I also participated in the Relay for Life again and all of my friends came over to my house for Easter where we had Just Dance competitions all day. April went so fast and then came dreaded May.
May:
The first sixteen days of May were an absolutely circus for me. I was finishing classes, preparing for finals, taking finals, and graduating that I had very little time for anything else but sleep (which I usually did not get). During finals week, a good friend of mine officially adopted two of her three children (the third is biologically hers). It was a very exciting time and we had a blast preparing and celebrating for it. Next came my graduation party which was exactly what I wanted: liquor and cupcakes :) Following my party, my fellow classmates and I entered six days of bliss where security allows pretty much anything on campus, no required classes are taking up our time, and all we had to do was smile and party because we were graduating. For six straight days we celebrated our great accomplishment. During this week my friends and I went on a pub crawl through the county considering that we typically only visited the same pub every weekend. I also went to the zoo to see the premier of the Polar Frontier and the return of the Polar Bears to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Then graduation occurred and I am now moved home. It has not hit me yet that I have graduated but I am looking forward to the future. My plans for now are to be summer nanny and then go to school in the fall. I did not get into any masters programs, but I did get into a COTA (OT assistant) program that I will have completed in two years. From there I will work on my Masters.
Well that is a recap for now, I know that I will probably think of either more stories or have new experiences to tell you about. I am really looking forward to this coming summer and what it may bring :) I also and redecorating my room so I will be blogging about that soon as well!
4 MONTHS......
What a whirlwind the past four months have been. I have been go go go and I finally can stop to breathe or sleep (my body is preferring the sleep more than the breathing). So much has happened in the past four months that I want to blog about so I will probably be recapping each month instead of listing everything in this one post! :)
Monday, January 4, 2010
Team Max
I follow a young boy on facebook who has cancer. I wanted to blog about him to get his story out there and to show you what an amazing little boy he is! The rest of this blog is taken from his website and tells you about him.
-----THE WARRIORS ARE READY,THE BATTLE HAS BEGUN, WE ARE TAKING NO CANCER CELLS PRISONER.
Max has been diagnosed with a Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET) of the Central Nervous System (CNS). In other words a malignant brain tumor which has metastasized to his spinal column. This type of cancer is a grade four which means that it is very aggressive and quick growing.
Max's father took Max to ER at MCMC on March 16, 2009 after he had complained of a headache and backache for most of the weekend. MCMC ran some preliminary tests and ruled to send him to DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. Max at this point was suffering from brain swelling which impaired motor skills on the right side of his body along with losing his ability to speak. After four days of testing, the doctors told us that Max had cancer (March 19, 2009). They did not know at this time which kind but would continue to do further testing until they pinpointed the cancer so they could start the appropriate treatment.
After numerous tests and a brain biopsy the doctors have ruled that the cancer is the above mentioned.
The support from the school, the community, family and friends has been very welcomed during this time. I am amazed and truly grateful that we live in such a caring community. Every well wish and positive thought keeps us strong as Max fights this battle.
As for Max, he only can grasp as much as a six year old can understand. He knows he is sick and is very frustrated that he is unable to do what any typical six year old can do. He has his moments of sadness but for the most part we can arouse a smile or two out of him each day.
The most difficult part of this experience has been not having our family at home all together. We also have a nine year old daughter and are trying to keep things as "normal" as possible for her. She as an nine year old does not quite grasp the whole concept of Max's illness either.
Max started the first of his treatment on Tuesday (March 31) with treatment consisting of chemo, high dose chemo and stem cell rescue. If all goes as planned Max will be able to return to school full time by September of 2010. He is currently inpatient undergoing a bone marrow Transplant at Devos Childrens Hospital in Grand Rapids Michigan as of Mid December 2009.
Jodie Nunn and family---------
Please pray for Max and his family. If you would like to follow him, here is the link to his team page on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=175899346667&ref=ts
-----THE WARRIORS ARE READY,THE BATTLE HAS BEGUN, WE ARE TAKING NO CANCER CELLS PRISONER.
Max has been diagnosed with a Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET) of the Central Nervous System (CNS). In other words a malignant brain tumor which has metastasized to his spinal column. This type of cancer is a grade four which means that it is very aggressive and quick growing.
Max's father took Max to ER at MCMC on March 16, 2009 after he had complained of a headache and backache for most of the weekend. MCMC ran some preliminary tests and ruled to send him to DeVos Children's Hospital in Grand Rapids. Max at this point was suffering from brain swelling which impaired motor skills on the right side of his body along with losing his ability to speak. After four days of testing, the doctors told us that Max had cancer (March 19, 2009). They did not know at this time which kind but would continue to do further testing until they pinpointed the cancer so they could start the appropriate treatment.
After numerous tests and a brain biopsy the doctors have ruled that the cancer is the above mentioned.
The support from the school, the community, family and friends has been very welcomed during this time. I am amazed and truly grateful that we live in such a caring community. Every well wish and positive thought keeps us strong as Max fights this battle.
As for Max, he only can grasp as much as a six year old can understand. He knows he is sick and is very frustrated that he is unable to do what any typical six year old can do. He has his moments of sadness but for the most part we can arouse a smile or two out of him each day.
The most difficult part of this experience has been not having our family at home all together. We also have a nine year old daughter and are trying to keep things as "normal" as possible for her. She as an nine year old does not quite grasp the whole concept of Max's illness either.
Max started the first of his treatment on Tuesday (March 31) with treatment consisting of chemo, high dose chemo and stem cell rescue. If all goes as planned Max will be able to return to school full time by September of 2010. He is currently inpatient undergoing a bone marrow Transplant at Devos Childrens Hospital in Grand Rapids Michigan as of Mid December 2009.
Jodie Nunn and family---------
Please pray for Max and his family. If you would like to follow him, here is the link to his team page on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=175899346667&ref=ts
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Happy New Year
Welcome 2010! I have been waiting for this year to come since I figured out that it would be the year I graduated college. I now have less than 4 months till I graduate from college and besides being very excited for the event, I am also very nervous. I am not sure what I am doing post college but hopefully I will soon know.
I have been working on grad school applications for MSOT programs and I am extremely nervous. It has made me look back on my past regarding my education and whether or not I made the right decisions. Oh well, It is too late now and I can not let it bother me.
My break from school has been well needed and typically I like to get a lot accomplished with this break however, I have not done that. I like to read and clean (I did do some cleaning, but not everything) and I have not picked up a single book. All I have basically done is run, run, and run some more. I did go to the Library today though and got a James Patterson book that I will soon be reviewing on here so come back and check it out.
Our Christmas Tree is on its way out of the house and we celebrated New Year's fantastically! We had friends and family over to our house and played wii and card games all night! We toasted with champagne to the new year and stayed up way past all of our bed times!
I have been working on grad school applications for MSOT programs and I am extremely nervous. It has made me look back on my past regarding my education and whether or not I made the right decisions. Oh well, It is too late now and I can not let it bother me.
My break from school has been well needed and typically I like to get a lot accomplished with this break however, I have not done that. I like to read and clean (I did do some cleaning, but not everything) and I have not picked up a single book. All I have basically done is run, run, and run some more. I did go to the Library today though and got a James Patterson book that I will soon be reviewing on here so come back and check it out.
Our Christmas Tree is on its way out of the house and we celebrated New Year's fantastically! We had friends and family over to our house and played wii and card games all night! We toasted with champagne to the new year and stayed up way past all of our bed times!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas
For some reason this Christmas has seem to have flown by...I am not sure if it was my finals taking me all the way into the 19th of December or that time really is flying by as I get older, but I am going to miss Christmas when it is gone this year. I have really enjoyed preparing by purchasing gifts and attending church and spending time with my family. Typically I am not a winter holiday person because many people I know get to busy and try to do a lot. For some reason I feel like I have taken a step back to soak it all in, I have let a lot of things roll off my shoulder, even if it does not seem like it at the time. I also am enjoying and savoring the traditions that my parents and family have set forth for me and my siblings. We have so many holiday traditions that I hope to continue on with my kids. One tradition is Kris Kringle. My middle sister was born 12 days before Christmas so to do something special for us and my my sister's birth, my parents came up with Kris Kringle. Every night beginning on my sister's birthday up to Christmas Eve we receive tiny gifts from Santa. This could be anything from a chapstick to a small gift card. But there are specific things we also receive...the first night we always get our ornament. Mine is Mary's Angels by Hallmark and on Christmas Eve morning we receive pajamas that we wear that night to bed. After these small gifts Santa comes with the big gifts on Christmas.
The fourth tradition (ornaments are second, pj's are third) is Christmas morning breakfast. It used to be this huge feast my mom would start once all the presents were open. Now it is this delicious casserole that I absolutely cannot get enough of. It is so yummy and I love it with a big glass of orange juice! We also eat lasagna on Christmas instead of turkey or ham and I love that we incorporate our heritage into it. The fifth tradition is probably ever since 1995 (or when we got the CD) we have listened to Steven Curtis Chapman's Christmas CD while opening presents. His CD always puts me in the holiday spirit and I love to listen to it year round because of how great of a CD it is.
The sixth tradition is probably how we decorate. As a family we love to decorate for the holidays and typically decorating takes us two days. It's not that we have that much stuff it is just that we are so particular about how things go and where they are placed. For instance the mistletoe must be hung in the door frame (unfortunately ours has seen its last days so we need a new one), We also put a ceramic Santa that my dad received at the end of our hallway.
The seventh tradition is my mom's Christmas cookies. She spends so much time and energy on making delicious Christmas cookies that everyone gets to enjoy. My favorite are her fruit cake cookies. The eighth and I think final one is the pickle ornament. We do not do it the traditional way that the Germans do but my dad does hide the pickle ornament in the tree and we search for it. Typically whichever child finds it receives an extra present, but I think we would fight to much if that happened.
After going through these traditions it makes me excited to think that I will be able to pass these on to my kids one day. :)
The fourth tradition (ornaments are second, pj's are third) is Christmas morning breakfast. It used to be this huge feast my mom would start once all the presents were open. Now it is this delicious casserole that I absolutely cannot get enough of. It is so yummy and I love it with a big glass of orange juice! We also eat lasagna on Christmas instead of turkey or ham and I love that we incorporate our heritage into it. The fifth tradition is probably ever since 1995 (or when we got the CD) we have listened to Steven Curtis Chapman's Christmas CD while opening presents. His CD always puts me in the holiday spirit and I love to listen to it year round because of how great of a CD it is.
The sixth tradition is probably how we decorate. As a family we love to decorate for the holidays and typically decorating takes us two days. It's not that we have that much stuff it is just that we are so particular about how things go and where they are placed. For instance the mistletoe must be hung in the door frame (unfortunately ours has seen its last days so we need a new one), We also put a ceramic Santa that my dad received at the end of our hallway.
The seventh tradition is my mom's Christmas cookies. She spends so much time and energy on making delicious Christmas cookies that everyone gets to enjoy. My favorite are her fruit cake cookies. The eighth and I think final one is the pickle ornament. We do not do it the traditional way that the Germans do but my dad does hide the pickle ornament in the tree and we search for it. Typically whichever child finds it receives an extra present, but I think we would fight to much if that happened.
After going through these traditions it makes me excited to think that I will be able to pass these on to my kids one day. :)
100 posts later!
I am so proud of myself for keeping up with my blogging...and when I mean keeping it up I mean more than one every three months. I was unsure of blogging when I first began it but now it is sort of a release for me. I love it and even though no one probably reads my blogs for some reason it makes me feel good to write one. So here is a blog "toast" to my first 100 posts and to many more to come!!! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)