My little project

I have always liked things organized and in place, as well as, planning my next project. My husband gets a little overwhelmed with my little projects, because it is constantly. I really don't know why, but my mind never stops. I always have the question 'What if...?' so I go and try what I am thinking. Which I think Francis is getting this from me. So my new little project is to create a place for the kids to play during winter and a work station for Tommy's Individualized Neuro-developmental Program (INP). The only place in the house for my project is the basement, which in the process to get done some day. Meanwhile, I will be using the basement for my active boys to play during this coming winter, so my play/intervention room is looking really good.

An overview of my play/intervention room

Art Station

Sensory Play

Music Station

Active Play

Dramatic Play

This area needs to get more organized

Academics

This area needs to get organized and 

bring more toys

There are four therapeutic tools that I need in our play/intervention room. Those are:

• A trampoline with protective net. Our mini trampoline is getting too small for Tommy. This trampoline is for just one kid, but my boys want to jump on the trampoline at the same time. Both of my boys don't need the bar anymore because they can independently jump on the trampoline. The locks for the bar are not working anymore, so we need a replacement. I searched online and the "Little Tikes First Trampoline with Safety Enclouser - 7 foot" seems to be the perfect size to put in the basement. I am putting this trampoline in our Christmas wish list.

• A hanging seat. There are two hanging seat that I like from IKEA. One is EKORRE and the other one is IKEA PS SVINGA. Both seats help to develop balance and body perception. So either or works fine for Tommy's INP. But the IKEA PS SVINGA seat will force Tommy to use more his cord muscle and arm muscle for our sensory activity. I will also put these seats in our Christmas wish list. 

• Doman's Brachilation ladder. (monkey bars). The brachilation ladder has to be custom-made, so I was planning to build it myself, but I don't have the equipment. So I began to ask to my friends for help, and I got a volunteer who will build the ladder for Tommy. I am so excited about it. I will use the Doman brachilation ladder design as a reference, but I will adapt it to our available space and Tommy's preference and needs. 

• A huge bean bag.  The bean bag will be made by me. I got the fabric on sale from Jo-Ann Store plus an extra 15% OFF of the total purchase, so I paid $21.41 including taxes and shipping.  I still need the fiberfil that I will get from Walmart. Every 10 lb box costs $10.77, so I will spend a little over $30 in fiberfil. The total amount to make the bean bag will be around $60, which I will save around $100.00.

Doing Tommy's INP is something that I enjoy, something I have passion for, something that I take seriously and something I have fun with. I think when I talk about Tommy's INP, people think in "work," but it is completely the opposite. I am having fun doing it because it also involves a lot of play. The best of all, we are seeing real progress. The poor guy got sick yesterday. He had a horrible stomach pain and for the first time he used his voice to yield "mommy" as his way to ask for help. This program is not just healing Tommy is also healing me. Because it makes me happy to see him progressing.  My husband has also joined to work in Tommy's INP in the mornings before Tommy goes to school, so he has became my allied in my fight against Autism and T21. This program has also helped me to find a balance between my kids developmental differences and including Francis as a key partner in Tommy's INP. This program more than helping Tommy is making us stronger as a family.

Here are the boys enjoying the play/intervention room

the first day I finished it.

Working on the sensory ball

Future Professional Baseball Player

THE SKY IS THE LIMIT