This is the seventh day out of ten for Auditory Integration Training (AIT - or a listening/sound frequency program used to facilitate auditory and movement processing) for the girls to address their Sensory Integration Dysfunction.

Although I don't quite understand how it works, it is making a marked difference in the girls:

- Sophia - is sitting up much straighter (this was an issue with her as she would slump forward when she sat because she didn't have the strength in her torso).  She's been doing a lot of jumping on the trampoline during AIT and between AIT sessions.  She's been climbing the slide and sliding down.  Lots of physical activity during the past seven days. 

She will be starting gymnastics in a couple of weeks, and I know that will continue to build upon her vertical/trunk strength.

She is still pretty sensitive when Olivia wants to play on her own, or only wants to be brushed and not touched.  She's taking it as a personal rejection, almost.  I was told to expect changes, and definitely she is more expressive regarding her feelings. 

- Olivia - is using new words each day.  She is learning the names of the fingers, and is really trying to name each one.  She has the thumb and pinky mastered.  About 95% of the time she gets the ring finger correct.  Still trying to remember the index and middle finger.  She repeats the names, but can't identify them on her own.

Brushed her teeth tonight and noticed that she didn't fidget or cry at all.  Good improvement even over a month ago...HUGE improvement over three months ago.  She's even taking an interest in flossing.  Not sure if that's after her visit to the dentist, or just that she's comfortable now with having me floss her teeth. 

She enjoys swinging.  Today at AIT, she used the platform and frog swings.  She now picks which swings she wants to use at AIT, and knows the names of each one. 

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In between AIT sessions, the girls enjoyed lunch at Burger King (okay...perhaps not the most healthy lunch, but they enjoyed playing in the tubes together).  Both Sophia and Olivia are craving lots of physical activity, and they are getting that each ay.

After the second AIT session, the girls went to the health club.  They talked with the children there, saw a baby, and relaxed. 

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As I was browsing this morning on the homeschoolblogger website, I found an interesting blog (http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Adrienne/66531/#c121982).

On the site, the mother made her son a therapy quilt.  Here's a picture of it:

She made it with squares of different textured materials (all fabric that she had around her home) and backed it with fleece.  Her son's therapist suggested the quilt for children who are "sensory seekers."   The girls would love a quilt like this...and I have quite a bit of fabric on hand.  This weekend there's lots of free time to sew.    I'm also going to make weighted blankets since Sophia and Olivia like those as well at the Special Children Center where they go each each day. One of the therapists at SCC suggested a simple idea for a weighted blanket:  simply fill a zipped pillowcase with beans...quick, easy, and inexpensive.