A breath of fresh air.

Actually, i think that title might be inaccurate. A breath might be better. Because after Mason's OT (occupational therapy) assessment today, I feel like I finally took a breath in regards to helping Mason. And along with that breath come about 3 years of tears. Some that I shed, and some that I held back... but now all being released in the relief that we're gonna get help. We're going to finally get to know what makes Mason tick.

S (the OT) used a lot of big words that I will be Googling once I get her report :) But it would seem as though his need to run, and his need to escape, and his need to play with Play-Doh, and sand, and rice, and water, and shaving cream, are all normal for someone with the degree of Sensory issues Mason has. It would seem that him needing to be wrapped up like a burrito, or to be sitting pushed against someone at circle time, are normal for him. NORMAL. I have finally found my son's normal. And oh my goodness.... I can't ever begin to explain how relieved I am. *insert gush of tears here!*

S said such magical words... "We're going to make sure that the school understands how to accommodate Mason, so that he can reach his full potential." She saw, from the Moment he sat in his special chair, that he is such a fantastically smart little boy. He completed almost all of her challenges. And gave her a delightful display of how sticky, and stubborn he can be when he can't accomplish something. (He had a hard time cutting out a circle. Had a melt down (although, a calm one, for him). And then we were able to re-direct him onto something different. he never did go back to the circle, so that's something I'll have him practice here at home, but really... I'm okay with that :)

Unlike some of the other journey's we've been on with Mason, I'm excited to go down this path. Excited to have something to fall back on. Excited to have found a support system that understands by boy like no other. Speech helped. His resource teacher has become great. His pre-school has been Amazing. But OT? That's where it's at baby :)

Off to breath, and cry (the good tears). Finally.

Attack of the Squirrel.

We went to a local park today to enjoy an end of the year picnic with Mason's Pre-school. It was kinda chilly, but the kids were running around having a fantastic time...so they didn't notice. I joined the committee for the Picnic, so had to get there early to help set up. No biggie. One of the other committee members came, and then one of the mom's of another pre-schooler came. I'll call her The Crazy Squirrel Lady... or WTF!? for short. So, WTF!? brought crackers and cheese as her contribution to the picnic. So, we're standing around, waiting for other families show up, when a squirrel started to wander over. I tried to shoo it. WTF!? started giving it crackers!?!? And THEN she gave my children crackers to give to the squirrel! UGH! I was NOT impressed. I told them to stay away from the squirrel, and to NOT feed it anymore. But, WTF!? was going ON AND ON about how in Toronto the squirrels are so friendly, and how she bets that this Squirrel would just eat from your hand if you were still enough. HA! So, of course the kids are all excited about this, and start approaching the squirrel. I shooed them away. That's when the squirrel decided to stalk the food. When I tried to chase it away, it just hunkered down and glared at me. I was a bit freaked out. I'm pretty sure he was sending mind messages saying that if I took another step, he was going to eat my face. WTF!? was all "I'll get him to leave if he gets too close. He's so friendly! Give him another cracker!" And the rest of us were all "I don't want him near the food!" and "I don't want him near my kids!" So! Finally more people arrived and the squirrel scampered off. We ate, played some games, hung out, went on a scavenger hunt. A few more families went home. Me being on the committee meant that I had to stay later to clean up. No biggie. A few Mom's and I were standing around swapping recipes, and chatting about how to get out berry stains. I probably made that up... I looked over to see poor little Paige approaching the Squirrel. I started to walk towards her to tell her not to, when THE SQUIRREL JUMPED ON HER!!! I did Not make that part up. She was fine, just scared. A bunch of us looked around and discovered that WTF!? had already left!! ARGH!! I knew it!! Aidan ran over to me to show me his mutant caterpillar. Seriously, the thing was 3 inches long! One of the other Mom's suggested he show it to her daughter, so off he ran. I turned back to start clearing tables. Next thing I know, Aidan is running at me, screaming and holding his hand. I thought he had lost his caterpillar (he tends to be a tad dramatic..). but NO! He (foolishly) tried to pet the Squirrel!! And it ATTACKED HIM!! Ran up his leg, and bit the fleshy part between his thumb and hand. He flung it off then :) So, we got it cleaned, and I took him to the Clinic, where they can't do anything for animal bites (PSA). So, then Aidan and i had to spend 3 hours at the hospital. Where they also do nothing for Squirrel bites. Except inform the Public Health Unit. I had to fill out a form for the PHU, and talk to a PH nurse. And that's it. That's the story of how it was all fun and games until your kid gets bitten by a squirrel.