Xmas Sensory Nativity

There are a lot of things that we would be experiencing with Arjan as he grows up. Being at school gives him the opportunity to experience new things and one of them being his first ever Christmas nativity. 

We have really been looking forward to this not only because it was his first one but because it was a sensory nativity. We have never experienced a sensory nativity and really didn't know what to expect. I had been hearing from his key worker how all the children have been rehearsing. No wonder he's been so tired when I've been collecting him from school. I don't know who was more excited about it us or Arjan. 

Today was the big day - the sensory nativity. After doing our usual dropping the kids off. The parents were gathered together in the meeting room where we all had a bit of a chat before the children's teacher came in to brief us. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures but we were told that it would be a experience that we would never forget. 

We were taking into the assembly hall and it was dark but little with the projector. On the floor on different mats with all our children sitting there with their teaching assistant's. We went and sat with our children and then the experience began.

Arjan's teacher started to narrate the story of Xmas but with a twist. She changed the story slightly so it was more like a bedtime story but also incorporate different objects of reference for the children to feel , see and hear. In the projector there were pictures and videos of all the kids in their nativity costumes. It was wonderful to experience this as a family. Something we have never done before. That was the end of it. 

We then were told to exit through a side door which lead us through a frozen themed tunnel - which was amazing! . At the end of the tunnel we ended up at the other side of hall where the staff had set up activities such as Xmas card making, Xmas decoration making, unwrapping boxes, tasting Xmas treats and dressing the Xmas tree. There were also fun play like Arjan sitting in one of the empty box's whilst the box was pulled. He loved it! It was like being on a sledge. 

The cherry on top was finally meeting Santa. Once again I think I was more excited to see Santa than Arjan.

I have to say hats off to the staff . Why they did was amazing for all the children and us parents. Thank you doesn't even come close to what they did for us. I know the staff were taking lots of pics for us parents but Arjan's teacher was right.......... This was definitely an experience that we will never forgot. 

Thank you for helping us make another unforgettable memories for us as a family X 

I will be posting more pics once I receive them

This time 3years ago .....

9th April 2012 

Arjan Surjit Singh Dosanjh

Aged 13mths and 12days 

Just shy of his 1st birthday he was finally diagnosed with cerebral palsy. At this point we still didn't understand what it was. You probably find this quite surprising but we were relieved to have a name to Arjan's condition. Now we knew what we were dealing with.

He was able to sit against something like a sofa. Before this he would have just collapsed forward or to the side. It's amazing to see how much he has improved over the years. 

I really do miss his little curly locks - so cute! So many changes in his life. But one thing that hasn't changed is his love for that particular toy (yes! He still plays with that steering wheel toy) 

Thought I'd share this positive #throwback with you xxx

P-pod seating system

So it has finally arrived and we could be any happier. 

The first time I saw a p-pod it was about 2years ago whilst at Arjans group Physio session at the Ronnie mackeith centre in the Royal Derby Hospital . As Arjan was a really unsettled child back then and never got to get him to sit in it. However, I was able to see The other children sit in it. 

What is a p-pod? 

So in Lehmans terms it's just a beanbag base with a detachable moulded/padded seat on top of it. It may be as simple as that but this seat has major benefits for the posture maintenance of a child especially with cerebral palsy. 

You can also opt to have a cushioned head rest which you can remove whenever you like. You can even buy a table, frame and foot rest for it but they will come at an additional cost.

The one thing we were struggling with was for our son to have a comfortable chillout seed justice fitted when he's playing or just wants to relax. Like all of us we like to sit on the sofa and watch a bit of T.V or just want to relax, but we always want to sit on something comfortable and it really was upsetting that there wasn't anything out there that was like a so far chair for a child with special needs. We were in desperate need to get him a comfortable seat for him to have his milk in before he goes to bed rather than have him on a conventional rocker which had no lateral supports or any padding. Knowing that our son had posture issues we needed something that was going to be comfortable as well as maintain his posture. And this is where the P – pod  comes in. 

The great thing about the p-pod is that it's lightweight, portable, and best of all machine washable!!

You are able to mould the base so your child can be in a more horizontal position – as demonstrated by Arjan 

Call in a more upright position for say feeding , playing or watching TV

We are so pleased with it and would recommend it to anyone who has a child with cp or who needs lateral support.

Comfortable and practical- what else do you need ? 

You can check out all the products on SOS (specialist orthotic services) website 

www.specialisedorthoticservices.co.uk

Magic moments:- when Arjan discovered how to roll (18months old)

We have been trying for months on end in fact, 18 months on end, to try and get Arjan to roll. Whether it was the physiotherapist, Tony, or myself we found it extremely difficult. He would cry, whinge and moan throughout which made it extremely difficult for us to do the exercises. After 18 months of crying every single day, even three times a day, we started to feel like we were fighting a losing battle. But then something amazing happened. 

One afternoon we went to visit Arjan's new born cousin. Arjan was on carpeted lounge floor where he had some of his toys around him just to keep them occupied whilst I was able to see my new baby niece. A couple of minutes later my three-year-old niece came running up to me saying " aunty, Arjan was in the fireplace!" Shocked by her comment I have turned around and saw him in the fireplace. I was a bit baffled to how we got there because even though he was only 18 months old he was just as tall as my 3year-old niece. And there was no way she would've been able to carry him. So I pick them up and put them back in the centre of the Lounge near his toys again. But as I was walking away from him I felt like I needed to turn around and that's when it happened. Arjan started to roll towards the fireplace again.  I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I've run across the living room into the conservatory and was screaming with joy at tony telling him what Arjan had done. 

Although I've can never bring back that moment where he first rolled I'm managed to film him the following day rolling. 

So here it is guys the day after Aj and discovered how to roll. I hope you find joy in watching this video and see that miracles can happen. 

Enjoy ! 

http://youtu.be/N7jMCfhnBm0

Magic Moment :- Able to suck,swallow and breathe

From the moment Arjan survived in intensive care, we were told that he will have a lot of problems. Of course i know understand that all medical staff have to give you the worst case sinario however, saying that they alway did have faith and hope in how are Arjan will be in the future. NO-ONE can predict the future so we decided to take it a day at a time. Taking note of every single goal Arjan reached

sometimes as parents we do get deflated and wonder why and what is the point.......until something like this happens


I thought i would share some moments will you all starting off with this gem. Arjan had an NG tube for meds and feeding as the S.A.L.T team believed that after nearly 2weeks of being on a ventilator, he had lost the ability to perform the motion of suck,swallow and breathe (something we all do when we drink).........and then he did it. Please do ignore my silly talking. Don't know what I was going on about. Think I was abit too excited about what had just happened. 

enjoy peeps!

http://youtu.be/gY0N5EvE6oE

Best car seat for children with special needs

One of the hardest things your have to deal with is making sure that any seating equipment our children are in is safe and secure. Especially around their hips, torso and head. Good support and positioning is crucial . I mean the last thing we want to worry about whilst we are driving is to see our child flop thru the rear view mirror. But having a seat that is permently facing forward can make our backs very sore 

Well no need to fear- this beauty is here! (Well in the shops anyway) 

Meet the best thing we have brought for Arjan in the last 2years- the MAXI COSI AXISS

After Arjan had grown out of his first car seat before we had planned we were researching for a while for a seat that would meet his and out needs. And this seat won - hands down!!

The best thing about it is it swivels towards the door so you can place your child in securely without having to twist yourself! 

Modelled by my handsome choppy! 

The head rest is easily adjusted by pulling it up or down - very easy

There is a slide button underneath the seat so you can adjust if you want the seat to turn either left or right. 

AND AND!! Wait for it!! ........ It has 3 reclining settings - yes you can say it ......WOW!!! 

With the max weight being 18kg you can have this seat for a very long time. Arjan sits in it so well and it really does support his body well. 

If you would like one Mothercare are price matching it at £165 (rrp £225) 

I know it's abit pricey but I promise you- you won't be disappointed 

Cheap and cheerful sensory tools - dish washing brushes

Now as we all know sensory toys and equipment can become very very expensive , so what we decided was to update some of our Arjan's equipment by going to IKEA

We ended up buying a lot of different things but I think what I'll do is talk you through each one in different posts

Let's start off with these beauties

Yesterday I do not deceive you they are dishwashing brushes. Now you might be wondering why I bought these. Well the fact that they're hard object means that if Archer and wanted to buy Tony it won't be no danger to him. They are bright colourful and great for tactile uses. But the best thing about is the suckers at the bottom of each brush. Which means that I can actually stick them onto any surface that ARJAN may be using. For instance I can stick it on the surface of his chair or his standing frame. 

Doing this helps us to get Arjun to use his site more as well as choose objects so he's not only choosing the object because he wants it but because he wants to pick that colour as well. What I do sometimes is distracting from one side and stick one of the brushes down on the other side so when he turned around and he looks around till notice the brush and therefore wanting to go for it. This is a great game to help your child not only use their vision but to actually progress with their hand eye coordination making live reach more accurate. 

I'm so glad we actually purchased this because its now helped to identify which colours Argent don't find harder to see and at only 90p each you not exactly breaking the bank

A great tool for making choices, building hand eye coordination, sensory play, and helping any child who is tactile sensitive

A massive thumbs up from us and from ARJAN :)