Happy Surprises

I've posted before how eventful it is to try and feed our children. They are beyond picky. Well last night I made chili and cornbread knowing fully that my kids would not eat it. As such, I made quesadillas for the kids to eat, but I still included cornbread and a dab of chili on the plates.  Halfway through dinner Juniper reaches over, grabs his dad's fork and starts eating the chili.  Frank was so flabbergasted he actually turned giddy.  I don't know which made me more happy--seeing my son eating something other than pizza, or pb&j,  or watching his dad react. It made my day.

Surprises

Illness has been spreading around our house for the last few weeks.  First it was colds and then it migrated into the stomach flu. Mom and Dad were the last ones to get it. So while three special needs kids ran rampant around the house my husband and I were doubled over or flat in bed.  Happy day.  On one of the few moments that I could climb out of bed and come downstairs to spend time with the kids I sat on the couch and watched the kids play.  After a little while Cyprus pulls out an alphabet book about Noah's Ark and starts to read it. He actually read it.  He's 4.  I was flabbergasted.  He got through the Es all by himself.  My jaw dropped and I looked at my husband.  He said, "Yeah, he started last night."

Took us all by surprise. That's what we get for be physically/mentally out of it for a while. The kids surprise us.  Granted I gladly blame his preschool teacher. She is awesome that way.  I'm really impressed by Cyprus right now.

Preschool Testing

Today was the magic day. Juniper completed his final round of testing with the local school district to determine if he qualifies for services. Each time we go to the Special Ed department I have to bring Juniper in a stroller because he loves that place. Anytime we try and leave he throws an all out major fit and is getting too big for me to carry him back to the car.  As soon as we got to the appointment my son ran for the play area in the foyer where there this huge wooden toy that has beaded spirals on top, and each side of the pentagon has a different activity.

When it came time to do the gross motor skills portion of the test, he didn't want to leave.  The room where they did the test was this long narrow room that allows space for the kids to run, kick balls, jump, etc.  The tester tried to get Juniper to walk down this red line on the floor.  He shook his head and said, "No."   Then they wanted him to jump off a low chair. Again he said, "No." But he would do it if the tester would hold both of his hands. Then he did it again with one hand. When it came time to do it by himself, he shook his head and said, "No."

When they wanted him to kick the ball he threw it across the room.  Ten minutes later, when they were testing a different activity he suddenly started kicking the ball. When they wanted him to walk backwards he pulled out the chair and started jumping off of it all on his own. 

Get the picture.

However, I was quite impressed that when the tester said "freeze" he would actually stand still.  That's a newbie.  And when they asked him to hop over the line it took him a few moments to understand the concept, then he didn't want to stop. And when they wanted him to stand on one foot I was totally surprised when he copy-catted her (though he did keep one hand on the wall while he did it).

After the gross motor skills test he went in a different room for the fine motor skills test. He had the stacking of blocks part down to a skill. But when they mixed it up and told him to make them into a train he built a longer tower.  When they wanted him to color a straight line, he squiggled all over the paper. Then, 5 minutes later started drawing straight lines.  When the tester wanted him to crumple up a paper, he looked totally confused. However, a few minutes later when they wanted him to fold a piece of paper he was busy crumpling his paper up and walking it over to the trash can. 

So I've learned something about my son.  It takes him a few minutes to digest what he has seen and what he's been asked to do.  If given the time to think about and work it out in his mind, then he's quite capable of doing it. He doesn't just mimic. He thinks it through until his mind understands it and then he'll to it.  It maybe slower than a "typical" child, but I think its kind of cool that he can pick things up that quickly.

In the end, I was showed his ratings from all of the tests and was told "We agree with all of your concerns."  Well, I'm glad it wasn't just my imagination. ;-)   The next step is for the education team to get together, review his results and formulate and Individual Education Plan or IEP. Then they will discuss his placement.  Seeing how he is going to be 3 in one week, they're going to have to step on it and quickly (especially since Monday is a holiday).

I asked the coordinator what were the chances of him getting into the preschool program and was told that they "can't" discuss that until at the IEP review meeting.  I told her that my other son was already in the preschool program and it would mean the world to me if Juniper got in as well.

"Oh, so you already know about Miss Jenn."

When I said yes, she started circling the different areas on the paper where Juniper had "developmental delays" and started doing a dramatic nod. "When we have kids with delays in more than one area, then there is a high likelihood that they will assigned to the preschool program."

I smiled and laughed and thanked her for not telling me before the IEP meeting.  Yahoo!!!!  Now I just have to work with the teacher to establish the necessary goals for Juniper to work on, find out what days he'll be going to school, and get him set up to ride the bus with his brother.

Happy Dance!!!

#2 is Out of Here + Paranoid Mommy Smiling

Lest you think that #2 is in relations to the bathroom you can relax.  My second child, Cyprus started pre-school today.  So that makes two down and one to go.  On a day when I'm struggling with dislocated ribs, a migraine, a sinus infection and a dislocated collar bone, it was a huge relief to have him go off to school.

As for the paranoia update, well because Cyprus started school today I needed to be home to get him on the bus. However, I've been walking with Rose to and from school for the last week making sure she was used to the routine before I forced myself to let go and trust the other awesome kids to get her there.  Oh my was that ever hard for me.  With her Sensory Processing Disorder it is easily for things to distract her. She doesn't do it intentionally, its just how her brain is wired.  But I trust the older girl who is walking with her and I needed to teach Rose to take responsibility.

Having said that, I dropped Rose off at my friend's house so that her daughter, and a few other kids could walk to school together. Then, as I rushed home, I prayed for her safety and success. A few minutes later the bus for the special needs preschool showed up. I stood back as Cyprus climbed aboard and immediately took the same seat he had last year. Though I waved and said my goodbyes and love you's, he failed to even look at me once. He was set and eager to go.

Once he was gone I called and made an appointment with the chiropractor to deal with my own out of sync body. On the way I detoured over to the elementary school. . . just to make sure that Rose had gotten there safely and was lined up where she was supposed to be.  From the street I couldn't see her as her class lines next up to all the Kindergartners starting their very first day of school.  So, being the paranoid mom I am, I parked the car and snuck up to the school until I could actually see her, while simultaneously staying out of sight so she wouldn't notice me.   I was so relieved, happy, excited, overjoyed, emotionally ecstatic. You name it. I am proud.  And over the moon for my angel helpers watching over my daughter. 

So double happy dance going on for this mom.  Two kids in school and safe with good people surrounding them.  And the necessary doctors visits done and medication in my system to help me recover.  Now I just need to get little Juniper's fine/gross motor skills test out of the way later this week and then, hopefully, he'll get to start school two weeks from today. 

Then, I'll just pass out in utter delirium.

Doctor Visits

I took Cyprus to the doctor today. We've had this weird sinus pressure/runny nose thing going around the house.  I've got it full blown and am down for the count. Juniper's turned into an ear infection and Rose has had a runny nose.  So since Cyprus starts school tomorrow at the special needs preschool I needed to make sure that if he did have an infection he'd be able to take the antibiotic for a day before starting school.

The funny thing about Cyprus is he always surprises me.  Whatever I expect him to do he rarely does, but not necessarily in a bad way. I had taken Juniper to the doctor on Friday and had to hold him as he fought to get free during the check up (granted he ended up having an ear infection).  With Cyprus he ran to get on the scales to be weighed. When the nurse took his temperature, he grabbed the oxygen meter and put it on his finger correctly. Then when we got back in the room he started taking deep breaths even though the doctor wasn't there to listen to his lungs yet.  When the nurse went to tell the doctor we were ready Cyprus called after her and said, "Thank you."

Our pediatrician likes to give the kids their own tongue depressor to hold and play with during the exam. With Juniper he immediately threw it on the floor. With Cyprus he opened his mouth, pressed his tongue down with the stick and said, "Ahhhhh."  What a remarkable kid. And it was wide enough for the doctor to get a great look at Cyprus's throat.

And after all that the doctor said his ears and throat are not infected and that he is not contagious. So he is cleared to start school tomorrow. Hip hip hooray!!!! Apparently though if a runny nose lasts more than two weeks you should have your child checked out again just to make sure it hasn't turned into a sinus infection.  Huh, now I know.

Happy Dance

My son, Juniper had me doing the happy dance today. He is almost three and knows how to talk, but not necessarily to communicate. But when he does make certain connections then he can use speak 3-5 word sentences with no difficulty and usually in the right instances. We've been working with his brother, Cyprus, to learn sign language. The benefit of that is that Juniper watches all the Signing Time videos with his brother.

Today Juniper must have made a certain connection because all of a sudden he's started using signs that we've been trying to get him to use for months.  I asked him if he was ready to go get in the car and Juniper said, and signed, the word for car and then ran outside to get in the car.  When he was hurt he signed/said "help me please".  I was astounded.  And earlier in the day when it was almost time to walk to the school to pick up Rose, Juniper signed "coat" and then ran and got his coat.

I love it when a plan comes together in that little guy's head. It's AWESOME.

Being Surprised

Cyprus surprised me yesterday. While I was working with Juniper and his learning specialist I got out blocks for Cyprus to play with.  Within a half an hour he was picking through the pile of blocks for specific letters, then lining them up in a row, then reading them allowed.

These words included:

Pie
Team
Bake
Sheep
Shut
Cut
Wait

And so much more.  I was flabbergasted. One of the things I struggle with how Cyprus manifests his autism is that I never know what he is thinking nor what he comprehends. And yet here he was putting words together, sounding them out, and reading them.

The specialist and I just stared at each other.  I had no clue Cyprus could read.  I knew he knew the alphabet and I knew he knew some word association from educational videos we watch frequently. But some of the words he was using I do not recall being on those programs.   I am so proud of him and quite impressed.  Go Cyprus!!!!

Today's Win

Ever since I had Juniper, nearly three years ago, it has been a slow progression getting to a point where I feel like I could "handle" things again.  Once I hit three kids (and long before I knew all three were special needs) I found it difficult to let my kids go play outside. For one thing the kids now outnumbered the parents.  We simply didn't have enough hands.  For another thing its hard to watch one kid sneak behind the nearby buildings while another is running into the busy street and the third is randomly walking into our neighbors houses.

In all honesty it was a bit overwhelming for me.  Plus, for a while I was going through postpartum depression that did nothing to help the situation. Then throw in back surgery for good measure.  Usually I would wait until my husband got home and asked him to take the kids outside.  He was better at not freaking out over whatever our kids were doing.  He was more calm and collected and kept better tabs over our motley crew.

Well, today was a win for me because I let all three kids out front this morning into the communal grassy area to play.  I even brought out their toddler slide and popped up a blanket and pillow in the shade for me to keep a careful I on them.  My eyes still darted nervously around the common area and I still had to call for Juniper when he wondered to close to the road (my neighbor and I were totally astounded when he actually listened and came back without me having to chase him down). 

We were actually out there for at least an hour or longer and I'm still mentally sane and didn't lose any children in the process.  I would call that a WIN on my part.  Now time for some celebratory chocolate and maybe a nap.  ;-)

Happy Dance - Last Day of School

I'm so weird. I've been so hyper this morning singing out "Last day of school. Last day of school. Hooray Hurrah" but its not why you think.  I am actually terrified of summer with its two and a half months of three little kids at home.


I love and adore my kids. They are amazing, brilliant, talented and very strong willed and I'm a person who sucks at conflict.


When I learned that two of my kids were showing developmental delays I went through lots of guilt wondering if somehow I caused it. But thanks to an awesome psychologist working with the Kids on the Move program I learned that I wasn't helping anyone, especially me or my kids, by figuring out who was to blame.  So I started focusing on what I could do to help my kids thrive in life. And in the end that meant getting them into the special needs preschool.

When we first met with the teacher and her team of fantastic therapists I felt a sudden relief and immediately thanked them for the help I knew they were going to provide. Now someone who knew what they were doing could teach my kids in a way that they would understand.  I'm glad to help the teachers in anyway and to work with my kids at home as I can, but they're the experts and I love them.


One of the awesome side effects of having the kids accepted into the preschool was that my kids got to start going to school when they were three instead of five. As such I have been totally spoiled during the school year. It has given me a few much needed hours to regroup myself and to spend time with Juniper.


So then why I am so ecstatic that today is the last day of school when I won't have those hours of respite anymore.  Because Rose just completed kindergarten which means. . . . she gets to start first grade next year, which means . . . she will be in school all day.  YEAH!!!!!!  With people trained to teach her in a way that she can connect with.  DOUBLE YEAH!!!!!!   And she gets to be in a class with some of the same friends she met this year.  TRIPLE YEAH!!!!!  (angels singing in the background).


Happy last day of school everyone. And here's to the first day of school in August.  I'm so looking forward to meeting you.