Apple Does it Again

It is no secret that we are an Apple family. In 2007 the world changed when the iPhone was announced. People may think that it is kind of a cliche' statement, but for people with disabilities a whole new world was opened up.

From Autism to blindness, this company has reached into their lives and simplified them in one way or another. When they opened the app store to developers without having the grueling approval process, the options were endless and affordable. 

For us, Tyler has limited movement in his arms, fingers and legs. So playing video games is not happening. Neither is writing. So since the iPad came out, their are plenty of apps for handicapped children and other accessories, make it so that Tyler can write and trace using his finger and use his fine motor skills to do what he can't do otherwise. 

Tyler does have games, I would be lying if I said it was strictly for educational purposes. He finds apps on his own. He works to earn money to buy apps if I refuse to purchase them. Sometimes it takes him weeks. Sometimes I just say no. But he finds what he wants. 

HE FINDS IT. 

Today the new Apple watch was announced. I rolled my eyes and thought DUMB! Then I listened to a brief ( very brief) stint of what it had to offer on 2 or 3 features. But what stole my heart. The maps! 

So get this, Google Maps will work on this watch. It will give you walking directions to where ever you want to go. Since Google maps is on the ground and has photos it can tell you when you need to turn left or right etc. But the BIGGEST: They are 2 different types of vibration. Do you have ANY idea what that means????!!!!!!!!!

A legally blind boy/man/teen/executive has made it to the big apple for a job interview, a vacation or whatever. Has the desire to walk around the city. This person has very sense going nuts with sounds, smells and visually bombarded by times square. So he puts in that he wants to go to Central park. He gets a vibration on his arm where his watch is telling him what direction to take off too. It uses 2 different vibrations. One for left and a different for left!! One last thing on his mind where he can now use his cane and other adaptive pieces of life to LIVE!!! 

I guess the answer for why I like Apple.....

It allows my son to live. To live like any other little boy. To love games on the iPad, ( since he can't play them on a gaming console) to loving books on the kindle because they enlarge as he reads the words. To Parking Mobility apps where they tell us where the closest parking spot is to events. AND gives you a way to turn in those illegal parked. 

I have high hopes that apple will make even more devices that will open the world up even more for our special kids. Maybe next... a computer driven car! 

A diaper bag?

For those that are still in the "baby" stage, a diaper bag is a must. But when we hit the big boy stage, no diapers should be needed...... Unless you have a special needs kiddo. We still need to a small bag. Tyler is mostly potty trained and so is the 3 year old we have!

We like to have a few things with us at all times. Like trains and planes and a book. So my GENIUS mind thought up the best way to take the stuff we have to have with us, without toting a large diaper bag.

Here is the 101 on a genius way to bring a few supplies in a cool Mom of a boy way:

At "back to school time", it is the best time to find lunch boxes of different varieties. For us, having a excited 3 year old who has an obsession with fire trucks, that is our current lunch box of choice.



First in our lunch pack is a large garbage bag. It is a HUGE necessity.



The largest garbage bag that you can find is perfect for using as a large child changing pad. Most places don't have changing tables for kids who have special needs that are larger than infant sizes. If you have to put them on the floor in a bathroom this is a MUST HAVE. You can then open the garbage bag and dispose of the diapers that need to be taken care of.

Next add a bag of wipes and a few diapers of whatever size diaper you need. It is big enough to hold my wallet, and a small bag of cars and trains. We take this bag FOR SURE to the pediatrician's office, because it has a train table and no trains. And the trains that are there generally have lots of germs.




The bag actually holds quite a bit of stuff. It also holds a change of clothes and a small book.

So there is my little hack of the day... A special needs changing bag.

What a busy week

I don't have much information this week but thought I would stay  caught up. I hate being behind and I know some people enjoy stalking us, so I better give them content to keep staring.

We had a TON of appointments last week and way to much extra stuff that I was over my head. But as we took a deep breathe and relaxed we started to get a few things done.

Ty has finally gotten into therapy and we are in full swing with  ALL THREE all week!! We love it. We see his Physical therapist on Tuesday afternoons and his respite girl takes him. He loves it. He works harder if I am not there. We do have to bribe. Massively bribe.

Wednesdays we have Speech therapy in which we know that Grayson won't be getting a nap so we try really hard to wear everyone out and make it home ASAP! He gets to hang out with me at therapy and he doesn't love it. I think all therapy places need to offer sibling courses while we hang and wait.

Thursdays Ty's occupational therapist comes to our house. We LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I haven't done home therapy since he was a baby. We stopped having home therapy when he aged out of the Early intervention program. I love it. Not only do a get a few minutes of them playing and no sound in my house, but Ty loves it. The past few weeks they have worked on using utensils, dressing and playing angry birds. Not on a computer, but real angry birds. Grays likes to take advantage but mostly he just comes and goes.

This last week we had some horrible experiences that were turned positive by an outpouring of service. It was so wonderful to see something good come out of something SO BAD! It helped us look forward to our visit with our grandparents and Aunt Ti Ti.

We had some wonderful adventures with them.

Oh and I got my grove on.... LITERALLY with my old flames NKOTB and the fab Nick Leche!


Posts with photos coming up.



I forgot that we instagramed our therapy session. We did get a nap in because our therapy was done at noon. But it was not a long nap. But that is ok!

Next up, A birthday boy!

Cerebral Palsy Awareness: Activities of Daily Living

We recently saw a new doctor for Tyler. It was a rehab doctor. It has taken us so much time to get into one down here. In the mean time we are heading to Utah for phenol injections the end of March. While in the appointment the physiatrist, she was concerned about his lack of Activity of Daily living ( or ADL’s) and the amount of stuff that I am doing for him. It was a very hard visit for me.

Cerebral Palsy limits what Tyler can do for himself.  THEN, Tyler’s mom limits the stuff he WILL do for himself. He has a manipulative side that he uses. And I am a sucker and plays into it. Sometimes it is a matter of time instead of manipulation, but still the same concept.

So, what does the CP limit? 

For Ty he can’t rotate his arms or reach up and touch his shoulders by bending at the elbow. That makes it almost impossible to take off his shirt alone. If we do one arm out he can do the rest, but it takes him a LONG time. So the majority of his dressing is done by me.

Pants. Holy MESS! He can get them down but it is really difficult because of his arm movement. So pulling UP is even more of a disaster. It also makes going to the bathroom a joke. I am the one that does the dressing of the pants because he can’t bend down to even get them on.

Shoes are a no go. He can’t bend to get them on. I do that part. He can’t do socks. Same problem.

Brushing his teeth is somewhat OK. But he needs extra help to get to the other part of his mouth. So one side gets done really well and I do the other side. He also can’t spit! Who knew!

Going to the bathroom. This is where we are totally at a loss. He is finally getting to where he will tell us he had an accident but it is always right after the fact. No one is sure if his muscles don’t work in that region or not. He is not dry in the morning times and he really doesn’t care, until recently, that he is dirty or wet. But adding the difficulty of moving quickly, feeling he has to go, getting his pants up and down on his own, it creates a disaster!

Getting in and out of the shower or tub. He does most of that on his own. It is very awkward looking and kind of scary to watch but he does great. He however, can’t wash himself in the shower. That is also my job.

Getting in the car is something he can do. He however, cannot do up his seat belt. I do that for him. He can’t get OUT of the car easily so I do that for him. Also, after going grocery shopping or something that he has had to work really hard doing, he needs help. So I have to carry and/or put him in the car myself.

Going into school on his own. He cannot do that. I can’t drive up to the curb and drop him off, however, that isn’t JUST from his Cerebral palsy. The cerebral palsy just makes it so that he needs us to help him get across the street so he is safe. His blindness makes it so he doesnt’ see the cars or the curb.

Tyler can’t work the remote on the TV. He relies on us to do that. Not just a vision thing either. His fine motor skills are terrible. He can’t even right his name.

He can’t make any breakfast on his own. He can’t use a spoon or a fork for a long time so he tends to use his fingers for everything.

His cerebral palsy also inhibits his sensory system and he doesn’t and CAN’T drink water. He gags. So he has to have other accommodations.

Going to the grocery store. He can’t walk the whole time. He has to sit in a cart. I get to only do half the grocery shopping because there isn’t any place for the food with a 7 year old in the cart. And I get to lift him in and out of the cart. If we have a baby in the cart with us, we have a good time.

Tyler also can’t process things in certain situations. His Cerebral Palsy and sensory system sure took a beating. But he has meltdowns. To the outsider, it looks like a temper tantrum. But for kids with sensory issues and problems, they don’t care who is watching. They don’t stop when they get the attention they want. He meltsdown for the literal fact that he can’t process what is going on.

( This was a sensory overload for Tyler. He was all done within a few minutes)

That might help people understand what I do for Tyler. But what he does for me....

He is always so thankful for me to help him. When I pick his shirt up or get it on him, he says “Oh Thank you mommy.”

When I change his diaper, he always tells me he is sorry he had an accident and that poopies have germs. And when we get done he says “ oh mom you are the best!”

Please and thank you are always there.

When I read him a story he is so excited and tells me that I am the best story teller in the whole world and maybe even the mystery planet.

He tells me that I am the best mom. He also says that his Dad gives the best kisses. He also thinks that we have some of the BEST ideas ever!

The smallest things make him so happy. And the best and easiest thing is to be his mom because he really does try so hard.