As I was tucking DS2 into bed, when oked up at  me and lovingly said Mommy. I told him that that was my favorite name and how I had always wanted to be a Mommy and how blessed I am that God has allowed me to be a Mommy; and that I wouldn't want to be anything else. So he says, what about a hot dog seller. I said, no, just your Mommy. What about a hot dog seller with your kids with you. I said, no, I just want to be at home with my kids. He thought that selling hot dogs would be boring, so he says he wants to sell marshmallows. For me, they would be free, but he would charge everyone else $5.00 and $86,000 to a bad guy. Of course, if the pirates came then we would have to run the other way! Then he says that he wants to be a Daddy. Just like his Daddy, because he is strong and tall. It was just such a sweet time with my son.  I wouldn't trade that time for all the hot dog selling booths in the world!

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The meeting tonight was excellent!  In just 4 meetings with DS1, she had him pegged. It was such an answer to prayer. It was such an eye-opener to us. Big Daddy and my parents came and it was so great that they were there.  We had lots of questions for her and she gave us some really helpful things to do with Sam. We also started to understand why he does what he does. There is a reason (whether it is sensory issue, reflex issue, visual tracking issue) for everything he does! We all kept saying, so that is why he does that! Of course, my mom starts crying. In part for relief, we finally have answers, in part because all these years we have been yelling at him and punishing him for things that he can't help. I feel terrible about that too, but we didn't know.  I am so glad we know now. She said that in time we will begin to see what is a sensory issue and what is a behavior issue. Right now though, it seems that everything is connected to the sensory issues.  We have a long road ahead of us. We really need to change our entire way of doing things with DS1. The OT has great ideas she will be implementing and then having us carry them through at home.  And like I said, she gave us ideas for some of the main issues we are dealing with right now, that we needed immediate help with. 

We all actually have 7 senses. For DS1, as the different senses are trying to interact with his brain, his brain is not allowing enough of the senses in, so he has to seek those senses himself (whether it is through hitting, running around, climbing on furniture, etc.).  He is working so hard at dealing with all the sensory stuff (which is just automatic for us, we don't even know our bodies are doing it) that he can't think about what I am teaching him in school or trying to get him to do.  It's just all so fasinating what she was telling us.  So, we need to help him finds ways to get the sensory imput he needs through other more appropriate ways. Instead of hitting his brother or himself, he can hit a punching bag. Instead of jumping on the furniture and crashing to the floor, he can have a section just for him filled with pillows that he can jump and crash into. Also, before starting school, have him do something physical so that it won't be so difficult to sit for 5 minutes to do a little school at a time. The same thing before sitting down to eat a meal, etc.  Thank you all for your prayers and support. I am feeling so much better after meeting with her.