Aside from harboring fantasies about naps, winning a lottery so we could have a live-in therapist and George Clooney becoming a pediatric neurologist, I regularly dream of equipment in our home that would help Max. Sort of like if George Jetson had a kid with special needs. I'm talking about installing an escalator instead of stairs. A bathtub with mechanical arms to bathe Max. A robot who could dress him, help him drink from a cup at meals and, in her spare time, do all my housework and be my personal trainer.
Last night, I took Max to the pediatrician, which is pretty much the opposite of a fantasy. Not that I don't love this doc, because I do—he is down to earth, realistic yet encouraging and the type of guy you genuinely enjoy talking with. We were visiting because Dr. G had been concerned at Max's annual that he was on the short side. Wouldn't you know it, in the last few months the kid has grown a good inch and packed on 10 pounds (and for that, I have macaroni and cheese with ketchup to thank, although it sure doesn't look as good on me). I was so relieved.
On the way out, Max stopped at a low-lying water fountain. For a good five minutes he pressed the front panel on, slurped, pressed the panel again when he lost his grip, slurped some more, held the panel while I took a drink and, just for fun, pressed it on and off and on and off and....
This was awesome, because Max could drink away without water pouring all over him (as often happens) and because pressing that panel was good flexing of his fingers. And now, I'm fantasizing about having a drinking fountain in our house. Wonder if the insurance company would cover that? BWAHAHAHAHAHAH.
What's on your list of fantasy house stuff that could help your kids? Bet you've got some good ones.
Ellen -- Have you seen these attachments to your faucet that turns it into a drinking fountain? http://www.amazon.com/Dreamfarm-Tapi-Fountain-Rubber-Colors/dp/B004I8V8DI They're cheap enough that you can buy one and see if Max can get a firm enough pinch on it to get it to work. If he can't do it yet, it's great PT, and it's fun!
ReplyDeleteYou mean OT?
DeleteI would love some kind of machine that Mack could get into that would automatically stretch his hamstrings, heel cords and arm so I didn't have to do it every night. Teenagers are not as compliant as younger kids.
ReplyDeleteA robot that's a tuner, metronome, and gives servicing to instruments
ReplyDeleteMy daughter has vision impairment so I would like to have a house with rounded walls for every doorway and florescent tape on every corner and step lol
ReplyDeleteI'd like a science machine that slaps people around the face with peer reviewed journals if they say that pseudo science will magic disabilities away.
ReplyDeleteAlso a body dryer and a pretzel dispenser!
I have a daughter in a wheelchair and none of the water fountains at her school are accessible to her. So many things are not accessible everywhere. I definitely have a huge list of fantasies.
ReplyDeleteA bathing machine or waterproof headphones to mask the screaming.
ReplyDeleteWe all have those fantasies I fantasize about having a robot to do everything for me.
ReplyDeleteWheels in the floor that roll. Like an escalator. Seriously. Oh and one of those wheelchair lifts that go on the stairs to get to the top floor...A jar and box opening machine because my sons hands are too weak to open things like cereal boxes. Absolutely no thresholds anywhere in the house. A built in seat in the tub that neither boy can fall off of. See I don't just have fantasies about the pick up men at the rodeo my fantasies are uber practical...mostly.
ReplyDeleteSweet! Love the water fountain part!
ReplyDeleteI just wish I could make Lindsey's tremors go away. It would make her life so much easier. But she hates escalators/loves elevators. My wish would be for her to have her very own, private, elevator with lots of buttons to push.
Well, first, I need a bigger house. I really want a big crash pad for my son (so he stops doing it in less soft places or on me), but have neither the $ or space. Definitely need a robot maid & cook, plus a personal assistant who understands & has time to deal with health insurance. The entire DVD collection of all of my son's favorite TV shows, so when he has a fit b/c we don't own a particular episode he just saw, well, we'll own it. A magical & safe way to eliminate mosquitoes from my property, so we can play outside in the summer through early fall. Full-day, year round preschool for my son, with a really sweet & skilled ABA therapist, plus one-on-one OT & speech sessions.
ReplyDeleteLove it, I could have written this one!
DeleteIf I could afford it, I would have a weekly house keeper so I could spend more time one on one with Sarah. I'd hire someone to help homeschool the other three as well as find someone amazing to help me with OT and some speech. I'd like hand railings to be at her level, someone to help me cook a couple meals a week, and I'd look into a sleep therapist. I'm sure it has to do with SPD that she doesn't sleep through but still... I can dream.
ReplyDeleteIf I could afford it, I would hire a person who would cook meals for us. I also want a machine which says please dont/seek therapy to people who stare or make unwanted comments/assumptions about children with extra needs.
ReplyDelete