Experiencing LIfe Differently - Camping (Tackle Box Math)

If you are going camping you have to go fishing as well. Today Junior made a tackle box for some "Tackle Box Math".

We made quite a few changes so this would fit our needs but the original idea came from the MailBox Magazine.

Supplies - an egg carton(12 or 18 count size), a thin sheet of foam(2 colors), paint, glue, scissors, white paper, marker, fishing bobbers
Before starting I cut out several small circles(one for each egg holder) and added a number to each one. Then I cut out a piece of thin foam the same size as the top of the egg carton
Add two small slits to the top. Cut a second piece of foam to use for a handle and slide each end into the slits. Tape the ends to the bottom.
Paint the egg carton
Once it is dry glue the foam piece to the top
Add your numbered circles
Toss in a couple fishing bobbers and you are all set. Close the box and shake. Open the box and the two numbers the bobbers landed on are the numbers to be added or subtracted(For Junior we will be using his felt board to do the actual addition/subtraction problem). You could also put a number on each bobber and have the child match the number on the bobber to the number in the egg cup.
Sleepy but smiling boy with his tackle box

Experiencing Life Differently - Camping (lightning bugs)

Yesterday we started Junior's next school unit and it is on Camping/Summer. We did a quick introduction of everything and talked about the many things we do during the summer and also about camping. He painted part of the "pond" we are making and made a fish to go in it(one of many which he will make).

Today during our session we will be making lightning bugs. I made one last night so I could have everything ready today. I had thought of the idea a while back but had no idea if it would really work. They actually turned out cute and I think Junior will get a kick out of making some more and hanging them over his tent.

For making these we used: ping pong balls, a string of battery operated lcd(they don't get hot) Christmas lights, electrical tape, scissors, googly eyes, black paper, white paper, double sided tape or glue, and a black marker.
Ahead of time I put a small hole in the back of each ping pong ball. You want the hole large enough for one of the Christmas lights to fit into it. I also cut out several pairs of wings. I just kind of guessed at the size and kept trying them until one looked right. Be sure to leave a little extra length on each wing so you can fold over enough to glue/tape to the side of the ball. I also cut some tiny strips of black paper to use as antenna.
To start I put some double sided tape one the front of the ball and added two googly eyes. Then I drew on a mouth with a black marker(you will want to use a permanent marker). I then added a small piece of double sided tape on each side and added wings. More double sided tape slightly above the eyes to attach the antenna. I like using the double sided tape because we don't have to wait for anything dry before moving to the next step.
I then slid a light into the hole in the back of the ball and used a strip of electrical tape to secure it. Thats it, now you have your very own lightning bug. I do wish I had gotten lights that blink so we could get the real lightning bug effect.
I will add a few pics to this post after todays session when I make these with Junior.

Fire Works Painting

I have shared about our yo-yo ball painting in the past and this is just a variation on that.

Junior's lungs don't always handle being outside at night but it is the 4th of July so we have to have some fire works. Since we can't go see them we will make our own.

You need yo-yo balls(I have been unable to find these again in the store but Amazon has them for .99cents and free shipping. Just looking under yo-yo squishy ball)
Add paint, paper, and glitter and you are all set.
This craft is best done outside because it can be messy. Pick out your paint colors and put a small amount in a dish. With it being the 4th of July we chose blue and red.
Put a large piece of paper in front of your child, dip a yo-yo ball in paint(best to knock off the excess so the fireworks pattern shows better), then let them start bouncing. Bounce on a second color(more if you would like) and thats it.
Of course if you are like Junior you think everything is better with glitter
Sprinkle on plenty of glitter so those fireworks really sparkle and you are all done.
Junior loves doing this so much that we are doing it again today and this time adding a big USA cut out to the center along with some stars.

Junior's 4th of July Craft

Happy 4th of July everyone. Wow, I continue to be so very behind on here. At some point things will slow down and I can get back to regular posts. I also have an issue because our regular computer died so I am trying to do things on our "hospital" mini which is slow and not always cooperative. I just realized I have yet to post a bunch of our "insect" activities from our last school unit. They may get put on hold until our current unit is done. I am going to post what we are doing as we go this time. Our unit on camping/summer starts later this week so lookout for some posts sharing our fun. Thanks to those who shared some wonderful ideas.

I thought I would share the craft Junior did today for the 4th.
Before we started I had taken an empty hydrogen peroxide bottle and punctured a hole at 3 spots around the top(any kind of bottle would work). We then covered it with paper and painted it(we only did the paper because peroxide bottles are so dark that white paint wasn't covering it enough). We then poured in some beads so it stood up securely.
We added stickers and puff paint
Junior got upset that I was helping too much and stopped to tell me "I want to do it myself".
We then added these little flags(I picked this pack of 3 up in the Target dollar section) and it was all finished
Junior thought it was oh so very cool.

Happy 4th Of July !!!!!

We Are Home

We made it home from an amazing week at camp. Joni and Friends retreat was an experience we will never forget. Be sure to click on over to Junior's regular blog to hear all about it and see the many pictures. Click the picture below to visit Junior's blog.

Off To Camp

For months now we have been planning for camp. Through the amazing generosity of some wonderful people Junior, Abby, and I have the opportunity to attend one of the Joni and Friends Family Retreats.
Last Saturday we thought it might all be off when Junior spiked a fever. Monday he saw the doctor and was put on antibiotics. We had the all clear to still attend camp as long as he was significantly better by this weekend. He had a few rough days but yesterday was off his oxygen and only needed minimal support during the night. So the camp is a go and now I am off to get packed. So much to do, so much to prepare, and so much excitement about it all. Junior is thrilled and can't wait to head to Santa Cruz on Monday morning. Junior has never been to "camp" so this will be an amazing adventure for all of us. Our next post will be next weekend after we get home. I posted more about camp over on his regular blog so feel free to jump on over there.

So Far Behind

This poor blog continues to get neglected. Life has been crazy and Junior has been keeping me on my toes. This crazy weather means lots of asthma and the little guy gets so frustrated about not being able to go outside. We ended up running to the hospital for emergency labs on Friday because labs the day before came back with a very high clotting time. It ended up being a lab error but we still are trying to work out why he has such increased bruising. Feel free to jump over to his regular blog if you would like to take a peak at our amazing and sometimes crazy journey.
Sunday was the 10th anniversary of Junior becoming part of my family so there is a special post up on his regular blog about that. Also feel free to visit Junior's ipad blog to see how things are going with his communication.

In mid June we are going to camp. This is a first ever for us and I am very nervous but excited. Junior can't wait and starts giggling anytime it is discussed. It is a family camp for families with a disabled family member. Here is the link for Joni & Friends retreats. They have them in several states and even internationally if you are looking for a camp for your family.

I promise to get to back to regular blog posts in the near future once life slows down a bit. We are so happy to have summer arrive but sure wish the warm weather would show up as well.

Camping Theme

We have been trying to figure out what school unit to do over the summer now that our insect unit is done. If all goes as planned Junior, Abby, and I will be going to camp in June so we decided that a camping themed unit would be perfect. Now I need ideas. I would love any suggestions for camping activities that could be done indoors. With it being summer we will be(hopefully be) getting outside some as well but I want to be prepared with indoor activities. I will be trying to connect all his basic educational subjects to the unit theme but also with it being summer want lots of just for fun activities. Camping is actually kind of a broad theme since it can include things like the forest, animals you would find while camping, etc. etc.
So all you wonderful, creative folks out there share your ideas. Should be a fun unit and I know Junior will love it.

With Junior's asthma and large number of appointments I am again behind on posts here. I haven't even gotten up posts about our insect school unit and all the activities we did. We have some computer issues and all the "buggy" pics are on the computer that crashed. As soon as I have time I will download the pics from my camera memory cards so I can get them up. Junior loved the insect unit and did some great sensory activities.
Not sure the summer will be any less busy but I promise to get some posts up very soon.

If you have something to share please let me know. I would love to have others share their ideas, adaptions, or piece of must have equipment.

Apps For Special Needs

I recently found this great website as well as face book page for special needs apps. They review an app each day and even have videos showing the apps in action. Coming up in June they are having an app party on face book so be sure to check it out.

Reading Comprehension

I put this post on Junior's ipad blog and decided to share it here as well. It shares about how we use the Proloquo2go app and the ipad for reading comprehension.

Junior has been using boards I made with boardmaker for reading comprehension. It takes a lot of time to create the boards(create, then laminate, add velcro, etc.) so he has been using the same ones for awhile and can answer the questions without even hearing the story.
I decided to try using his ipad and the proloquo2go app to make him some new ones. It was so easy and only took a few minutes. I plan to get out the books we will be reading over the next few weeks and make comprehension question sets for each. I will also do sets of questions for each couple chapters as we read through chapter books(then just change them as we go so I don't have tons of question sets).
Yesterday he listened to the MegaMind story on the ipad and then answered 6 questions about the story.
Listening to the story
Then we went to his board with his story choices and touched the MegaMind box.
I linked that box so when we touch it, it automatically goes to the first question. One of the few things in proloquo2go that I would like to see changed is the ability to make a specific box larger. For now when you set the size it is for all boxes so you don't have a choice to adjust just one.
Touching the question box verbally asks the question and takes us to the next board with the answer choices. Touching the correct answer takes you to the next question until you reach the last one.
I didn't take pics of each question and answers but here are a few of them.
You will notice in this question I have a space between Met and ro in Metro man. The program was unable to correctly pronounce the word without the space. That would be the one other things I would love for proloquo2go to add, the option to record my own voice with the symbols.
the question preceding this set of answers was: What did Megamind try to do to Metro Man?
So proud of himself after answering the last question.
(the last question was: What did Megamind become at the end of the story?)

LightGait Jr. and Treadmill

I am copying this post from Junior's regular blog. Though it isn't an "adaption" I wanted to share, so others could see some of the equipment available. We do not have this at home but used it at the therapy office and Junior did so well, he also really enjoyed it and got quite the workout.

Gait Trainer and Treadmill Therapy
Junior had his PT evaluation a couple weeks ago but then his asthma was so bad we couldn't start the therapy. Today was his first session and it went so well. He started with a good stretch then worked on some sitting. He has lots of "homework" to do before next weeks session.

Then it was time to try out the walker and treadmill. We got Junior all set up and in the walker, this walker is so neat. It supports him as much as needed and can be placed over a treadmill(it is called the LiteGait Jr).
The therapist told me she didn't expect to see any muscle activation during this first session and just wanted him to get used to the walker. Well after a few minutes the therapist said that she could feel muscle activation. Wow, woohoo go Junior. He will be working on weight shifting and pushing with his legs over the coming weeks. The goal being getting Junior into a special walker that moves very easily so just him pushing or shifting his weight could move it.
Leaving for therapy this morning, he was looking a little tired but was very excited.
In the walker and looking very serious as he works hard
Junior on a treadmill, wow, I never thought I would see this. I am overjoyed that he is getting this therapy and so proud of him. He is determined to get the most out of life, if only everyone had his attitude.

Today I saw a lot of hope, I saw the possibility that with some work Junior could move himself. No his legs aren't suddenly going to start working, he is not going to "walk" in the typical sense of the word. But that doesn't mean he can't learn to use his legs to help move around. I can't wait to see how Junior does with his therapy.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter everyone!
This has not been an easy week but we did find some time for a little Easter fun.

Junior loves bubble wrap so first we made a spring time bubble wrap painting. Paint on the bubblewrap then cover it with paper and press down. Yeah, finally got around to making covers for Junior's arm straps.
Then when it was dry we had to add some butterfly stickers.
Then when it was time to decorate eggs he wanted his bubble wrap again. Each egg ended up painted differently. One bubble wrap, one just finger paint, dot markers, and regular markers. Not fancy but we had fun.
Yesterday evening we made these little Easter birds nest cookies. They turned out cute and are very yummy. Just chocolate, peanut butter, and chow mein noodles, add some jelly beans for eggs(It would have been perfect with the little chocolate robin eggs and also butterscotch chips make for more real looking nests but we like the chocolate better).
Here is the recipe just in case you want to give them a try.
Melt 12 ounces of chocolate chips with 1 1/2 cup peanut butter. Carefully stir in 4 cups chow mein noodles. Spoon onto wax paper and add jelly beans or other egg shaped candy to the top.

Asthma

We are still alive, just dealing with spring time and the severe asthma/allergies that go along with it.
Junior is having an especially hard time this year and his asthma has changed quite a bit. Now instead of just getting super gunky he also is dealing with some very scary broncho spasms and airway constriction. Hearing whistling as your child tries to breathe is not a good thing. Our pulmo is great and we are working to come up with the best plan to deal with this. Feel free to visit his regular blog for more detail.

This may not be something that is useful to others but thought I would share since it fits the adaption category.
One of Junior's nebulizer treatments is mucomyst and that stuff is awful smelling. Not only does it stink it also causes a sticky film which ruins air purifiers and makes our dvd players go out every couple months. We had to find some way to try and contain the mucomyst mist during his treatments so made this little tent. Talk about super low tech adaptions. We made a square out of pvc, attached a plastic clothes hanger to two sides and covered it with a cloth shower curtain(we cut tow small slits in the shower curtain for the hangers to go through).
Not fancy but it seems to be working and my house doesn't always smell like rotten eggs any more.
We have it hanging from his lift.

Bowling Ramp Revisited

Thought I would post this on here since it is another use for the bowling ramp. You can check out our bowling ramp and directions for creating your own HERE.
When the weather is nice Junior loves to be outside. One of his favorite things to do while out on our porch is play basketball. To make his basketball hoop(we have the little tykes hoop) more accessible we put Junior in his stander and then flip his bowling ramp so the top is inside the basketball hoop.
Then end of the ramp is on Junior's stander tray. I raise his tray a bit so the ramp is pretty much level with the basketball hoop.
Here are a couple pics of Junior playing basketball.

Sick

Junior has been sick the last couple weeks so I haven't gotten any new posts up. Today is going better so hopefully I can get back to regular posting in a few more days. Feel free to jump on over to his regular blog to see what has been going on.