Brushing? What's that?

Yesterday was our once a month OT session.  I kind of like just having it once a month, because I can always see improvement and usually have lots of new things to report!  Braeden is ALL ABOUT taking things out of containers.  It doesn't really matter what it is!  He takes his toys of buckets and boxes, at the beach he took shells out of flower pots, and Maggie's food out of her bowl (and it doesn't really matter if she is in the process of trying to eat it). I asked OT of there was anything that we could do to help with his sensory issues.  He doesn't have a problem picking up any type of texture or sticking his hands in sand, water, paint, baby food, but when it comes to his eating...well, putting textures in his mouth doesn't go over so well.  I just wanted to make sure that we are doing everything possible to help, especially since PT, OT, and speech/feeding are so closely connected when it comes to low muscle tone.  After thinking about our GI visit, I am just so frustrated that the doctor would think a feeding tube would be the obvious next step after trying appetite stimulants.  He actually said, "I've had parents who were resistant, but after they had the feeding tube inserted, they said this is so much easier, we should have done this sooner."  I can GUARANTEE those words will NEVER come out of my mouth!  So, again, I just wanted to make sure that we're doing everything we can to help Braeden.  We are now trying a new technique called Deep Pressure Brushing (Wilbarger Protocol).  Here's a picture of the brush that we use:

Basically, you take this brush and firmly rub it up and down his arm, across his shoulders to the other arm, then down his back, then to one leg and foot, then to the other.  This is followed by joint compressions of each major joint (ankles, knees, hips, wrists, elbows, shoulders).   It is supposed to help by "calming and organizing the nervous system."  It is to be repeated every hour and a half to two hours, and it helps to do it right before a meal.  One more thing to add to the schedule, right?  Since it can be done with his clothes on, I won't have to make him strip in public (indecent exposure, anyone?).  OT said we should see some changes in about 2 weeks and to call her to discuss the progress since we don't see her for another month.  So we'll see how it goes.  On a side note, I have not noticed a difference in B's appetite and he's been on the stimulant for almost a week.  I guess we'll be upping the dosage.  I wish I had this problem of not having an appetite!

Speaking of making progress in OT, B finally played in the tupperware cabinet.  I know there are plenty of parents who wish their kids wouldn't make a mess, but not this one!  It almost makes me cry!  We've done so much work on taking objects out of containers and picking things up.  He had lots of fun!  Of course, both of his sisters were excited and had to come see what he was doing...or maybe they were just trying to see what I was making for dinner, and hoping I would drop some!