Doctors and Deers and Sleeping OH MY

This week has been blown by like a tornado and my head is still spinning. Last Friday, Sammy was off school and since I try to avoid scheduling Sam’s doctor’s appointments during his school day he had two scheduled for last Friday. I try to never take Sam out of school for several reasons with the first being that he actually enjoys going to school. Last summer break he actually cried for his van driver, Freda, and stated, “I want to go to school” (note this was a novel statement and a complete sentence). Doctor appointments in the past have been pretty torturous. Sam is a champion fighter, kicker and screamer and he would literally crawl the walls of an exam room even before the doctor came in the room. Sam has never had his blood pressure taken, getting weighed is a crap shoot and a physical exam usually includes two to three of holding him down.

Well this last Friday, Bubbles came with us to our first appointment and I was BLOWN away. So Rachel, Joyce, Sammy, Bubbles and I all went to the first appointment. There was absolutely none of the previous reported problems; Sam occupied himself with feeding Bubbles some treats while we waited. (I would also like to say kudos for Cleveland Clinic Beachwood Pediatric practice; I don’t think we waited for more than a minute in the waiting room or in the exam room.) When the physician entered the exam room, Sammy actually got up on the exam table and laid flat on his back awaiting his physical exam!!! Joyce and I stood there with our mouths open. Sammy allowed a full exam with just a little grimacing.  Rachel also wrote up the experience on her blog as well.

We were not able to take Bubbles into the second doctor visit. They said they have to keep the place hypoallergenic because the physician treats allergies and they have patients with dog allergies. Sammy was actually very calm at the second appointment as well. He really has an aggressive history with this particular physician and always kicked her, even before any exam. (She once yelled very loudly "NO" when he kicked her and it was on since then.) But this visit, there was just the typical trying to keep him distracted and not eloping/escaping. There was no kicking, no hitting, and no crying. Then Sam and Bubbles got to play at the playground after the appointment. Sammy was swinging himself on a horsey swing so high all by himself (he usually needs to be pushed to get going) and he had that magical giggling that is contagious. So nice to see him so happy

Sunday, we decided to get a little exercise and at the same time work on taking Sammy and Bubbles to walk together with numerous distractions. We went to a Chagrin River Park in Willoughby with a nature trail. It’s an interesting place, with a bridge spanning the Chagrin River.

Sammy held onto the handle on Bubbles’ Har-Vest without much prompting, and in spite of numerous distractions, Bubbles walked slowly with the family. Bubbles did begin to suddenly pull hard on the leash and let out a sharp bark. I looked in the direction she was pulling towards and saw a deer running off. Sammy also used the public bathroom at this park as well. It was a nice outing despite the rainy weather, and both Sammy and Bubbles got to burn off some energy.

Sunday night, for the first time in Sammy's five years of life, he went into his own room awake, got in his bed without anyone else with him and fell asleep BY HIMSELF.  Bubbles was in sleeping in the hallway and as soon as Sam settled down she went in his room and now she is sleeping at the foot of his bed.

Sammy now enjoys filling Bubble’s Bob-a-lot (Bubbles’ food dispenser) so much when he gets home from school that it’s almost considered a reward now. He sometimes forgets that he’s filled them that day and tries to refill them when they have already been done. He is almost completely independent with this activity and Joyce says its great to have another 20 minutes to occupy Sam when he gets home from school.  It's also an activity that is great for fine motor skills.  Twisting the lids on and off, putting the morsels of food into the small opening at the top, and manipulating the small doors on the device to keep the food int until it's time to feed Bubbles.

Please consider donating to allow full placement and training of Bubbles for Sammy.

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