Refresh (Kregel Book Tours)

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I received Refresh, in exchange for honest review from Kregel Book Tours. The book was written by Kimberly M. Drew and Jocelyn Green.

I wanted to read the book because being a special needs parent is lonely, depressing, and frustrating. I need encouragement daily. Between the screaming; head banging (Kalen); and potty training issues, I feel on the verge of a break down any day now.

Brad is 16, Autistic with ADHD and a Creatine deficiency disorder. Brad is not potty trained, but hates being wiped. Brad doesn't like being told no. He throws things. He punches holes in walls (luckily, not here yet), and can get very aggressive towards people. Brad's mental age is 0 -6 months. Brad can walk, dress his self to a point, and eats like a regular teenager. Brad's latest incident was he broke a window at school. He also cracked my bedroom door.

Kalen has Global Development Delays; Autism; Sensory Processing Disorder; Creatine Deficiency Disorder; Sleep Apnea, and Static Encephalopathy. Kalen has a heart monitor and a pacemaker. Kalen is a helper monkey. He loves to help people, sometimes at a cost. Imagine using the bathroom and a toddler hands you one square of tissue at a time lol. Kalen also hates water in his face and head. Once, he climbed into the shower and got hit by a blast of water and was traumatized. He hid in the back of the tub and refused to move. I had to pick him up and calm him down. He did not speak or cry for hours that day.

Kalen functions on a 2-3 year range, mentally and functionally. Kalen had early intervention, occupational therapy; physical therapy; and preschool for children with developmental disabilities, but these services was not available when Brad was diagnosed. Brad fell through the cracks and functions at a lower level than his younger brother.

Trying to work with both of them is mentally draining. Don't let both need something at the same time because it can be too much.

At the end of each chapter, you do have a few questions to answer in a section called "digging deeper".


You can purchase the book, using the link above. The book comes in Kindle and paperback format. The book is prime-eligible.