Beauty in the Mess ~ Edition 11.10.14

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It’s been quite some time since the last edition, and there is so much beauty to share.

Ezra is responding incredibly well to treatment at his therapeutic day program (TDP) – aka “school.” The staff is amazing and is giving us a lot of evidence-based parenting advice that is tailored to Ezra’s specific needs. We are already seeing improvements in his moods, sleep, and behavior – not just at school but also at home AND out in the community!

Ezra’s first day of the program:

Here are some incredible things that we have witnessed over the last few weeks:

• Ezra riding a tricycle (including pedaling!) – a skill he had refused to even try to master over the last two years! At school he gets to ride tricycles in the gym several times a week and with the positive peer pressure, he quickly caught up!

• Watching Ezra color for ten solid minutes, at Chickfila, specifically to color 3 separate pictures for all of us. (All while holding the crayon correctly!)

• Being able to go to the park nearly every afternoon and not have to correct Ezra for physical aggression or spitting.
• Having Ezra explain to us the concept of “personal space” (ie. “This is my personal space, that is your personal space”) after being taught at the TDP.
• Ezra regularly putting on his shoes and socks on his own!

Russ and I have both been able to be extensively involved with his care by attending parent wellness connections workshops, meeting with our licensed clinical social worker regularly, and directly observing care at the TDP. It’s truly been amazing and life-changing, not just for Ezra, but for the entire way that we parent him.

We are reshaping our parenting to be positive – firm and consistent yet kind and gentle. We are amping up our adherence to a MUCH stricter routine while still allowing for flexibility. We are instilling boundaries, especially physical and visual boundaries. And it’s all happening in a way that works and makes sense specifically for Ezra.

In more sobering news, Russ lost his job toward the end of October. While this has been a shock to us, there are definitely still some blessings in it all. His job was very stressful for him, agitating his anxiety problems. As he’s been out of work and subsequently started anxiety and sleep medication, his anxiety levels have started to go down.

God has also already come through in very big ways financially for us, including giving us over $1400 in checks and gift cards from different sources, which has helped us get through at least the first few weeks of unemployment!

Having Russ home, in spite of the circumstances, has given us a lot of time as a couple to reconnect, rest, and relax. It’s also giving Russ more opportunity to interact with Ezra in positive ways and be more involved with his treatment. The timing of all of this is working out well.

There is also beauty in…