Different stuff, different day

Yesterday was a bit difficult for Zachary, there was a half day at the elementary school, so he went to HS earlier than he was used to. The teacher said you could tell by his behavior that he was a little out of whack. He was really whiny when he got home too, so he went to bed early (7:36 instead of the usual 8pm). He seems to do better during the day when he goes to bed earlier in the evening. He woke up in a stellar mood this morning, and the only issue I had with him was that he didn't want to give up the super huge umbrella so he could get on the bus. We'll see how his day goes, I hope it's a pleasant one for him.

I'm going to start using this to journal Zachary's progress.

I am certain that there will also be updates on Jonathan and Nate too, but I'm determined keep a written account of his progress. I've tried writing it in a notebook, but find that it's much easier for me to record my thoughts whilst typing, that and I am way to critical of my own handwriting, so it becomes more about the handwriting than how Zachary is doing.

I'm going to go back a day on this one, and continue on to today. Zach is making strides in his learning, it's so wonderful to witness everything he's learning in such a short time it seems. We are getting better and better reports from school, it took him quite a while to transition well into the ASD classroom at the elementary school. They are teaching him so much, and we had good news, if his transitional and a few minor behavior issues are resolved by the end of the year, he will be able to go into the EELP program next year, and possibly be able to attend regular kindergarten in two years.

We (Scott and I) received his progress report from Head Start today we are so impressed, as are his teachers. He know's all of his alphabet by sight, knows 9 different colors, and can correctly count to 10. He's also learning more and more words by sight, yesterdays big word was "Seasons," he read it off a Seasons Greetings plaque we have hanging on the front of the house. He surprises us at least twice a week with words that he has learned that we didn't know about. I also love that the first word that he says when coming in the door from Scott picking him up at School is usually "Mommy!"

Potty training is sort of going, not progressing a lot, but I've not been putting a whole lot of effort into it as he didn't seem interested. Now his interest in it has gotten a bit better, so I put up a chart on what he needs to do (pull pants and pull up down, etc.) on the wall by the toilet and added some little smiley faces doing a thumbs up for him to put up when he's done each step. We're going to really start this weekend, as I dont want to heap too much on him during the week, and as it is easier to keep him semi naked for the potty at home.

A little funny about him, he has learned the song "Jingle Bells" and loves to sing it, though he doesn't remember the part about the one horse open sleigh, so it goes normally, then at the end it's " a one two bee bop day, HAY!" The "Hay" being his most favorite part of course.

I'm a blog slacker

Whew, it's been a rough week. I truly enjoy the boys being home from school, but man are they exhausting. Combine that with our roof being replaced and no naps on top of having a massive sinus headache and it makes for some stressful days.

I went today and got Jon and Nate registered for school. Jon will be going into 4th grade and Nate into Kindergarten. I've never known a child to be as excited as Nate is about starting school. He asks me practically every day if he's going to school the next day. I feel a little bad about telling him he still has a little while to wait until school starts. Zach will be starting in an ESE (ASD) classroom at another school, I'm a bit nervous about that, but hope it will go smoothly. I definately need to take him to his open house so he gets to meet his teacher.

Zach is starting to talk a bit more which is so wonderful, it's great to hear him ask for things instead of just screaming until he gets his way. Hopefully he'll keep improving and his vocabulary will keep growing. I'm not expecting miracles, but every small step for him is a good one. I've found if I dont focus on the negative that goes along with his disability that I'm much less stressed out. Besides, it's nice just focusing on the positive, and dealing with the not so good things as they come.

Happy Birthday Sweet Zachary

A montage of photos from Zachary's first 3 years. I love you sweet boy, I'm so happy you're my little boy.


Three Years of Zachary 5/10/08


This is for you Mom! I love you! HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!

Grieving?

I'm sitting here bored out of my mind, can't find anything in particular that I'd like to watch on TV, boys are in bed and I've got nothing to do. I figured now is as good a time as any other for a new post.

Zachary is going to be 3 years old on the 10th of this month. I was feeling nostalgic yesterday and decided to look through my photobucket pictures and find ones of him from the past few years. They were so wonderful to look at, and to see how much he's grown and changed in these fast moving years. While looking at them I started to feel a bit sad and guilty too. I wonder what he will be like as an adult considering what he's dealing with now, will he be able to lead a normal life? Will he have the social abilities to make friends, date and hopefully get married? The guilt because I wonder if I should have pushed to have tubes put in his ears earlier so it wouldn't have affected his speech development so much. Should I and could I have noticed differences in him earlier? Should I have breast fed him longer, should I have spent more time holding him? By the time I was ready to go to bed, I couldn't sleep, I was longing for him to lay next to me so I could cuddle him and just hold on to him in order to allay all my fears and concerns. Then as if he heard my thoughts, I hear him rustling through the hallway and see him climbing over Scott and then he plops down next to me and makes me wrap my arms around him. I knew at that time that all will work out as it is supposed to, I just need to put my faith in God and know that he has a plan for Zachary and for all of us.

A Public Service Announcement from Sarah

As most of you know, we had quite a scare with Zachary this week. He decided to eat some poisonous beans off of a vine/bush in our backyard. These beans are called Rosary Peas (also known as: crab's eye, and jequerity beans.) they are highly toxic and are mostly found in subtropical states. If chewed, just one can cause death in an adult. There is no known antidote to the poison they release if chewed or cracked open. They grow on a vine that attaches itself to other bushes and plants.

This is what the actual Pea/bean looks like;

Argh!

I think I'm going fully insane this week. The boys have been off school for spring break and, considering it's Friday, I think we're all going a little stir crazy and are getting on each others nerves. Zach is being super clingy today, he keeps getting behind me on the couch so I'll lean back against him and squish him (he loves the pressure I think.). In the process of sitting back there, he's scratching and pulling hair and being generally forcefull.

Nate is being Mr. Question. It's "Mom, can I play on the computer", " no Nate you cant right now" then five minutes later (if that) it's the same question again.

Jon is being relatively good, just a few minor incedences with him. Mainly about not listening or not paying attention, which is the usual for him.

Nate and Jon did get a little treat yesterday though, my Mother in law took them to see the movie Nim's Island, and then to McDonalds for a late lunch. I know they really enjoyed it. Zach napped most of the time they were gone, so I enjoyed it a bit too.

I need to find something for Jonathan to do all summer. I'm not too keen about him staying home and just playing outside all day for a few months. I think I'll call the Y and see what summer program they have.

Update on Zachary

Seeing as his birthday is coming up next month, we had to update his IFSP (individual family support plan). It was over a year since his last update, and they basically just updated it to ensure he will get continued speech therapy and will get an Occupational therapy evaluation before he goes into the school system program.

The plan goes like this, he will continue getting his speech at his school until his birthday, the same place that he's getting his speech therapy from will evaluate him for occupational therapy. Once his 3rd birthday passes, hopefully the OT evaluation will be done, and we will start "in house/office" visits.

I also had the chance to visit the classroom they are recommending for him for next year. It's an ASD classroom with less than 10 kids in it, they are all about integrating what therapists are working on with them into the childrens daily curriculum. They're also very into self sufficiency wich is nice too. I was able to chat with the teacher a bit, and she seems so wonderful, there's also a paraprofessional in the classroom too so the child teacher ratio is very small in that classroom. I think one of the reasons I was so enamored with the teacher is that she herself has a child with ASD, and seems very knowledgeable as to parenting challenges, etc.

I'm still waiting on a call from the school system program regarding when our meeting will be to determine placement for sure (we're almost 100% sure it will be the classroom I visited) and determine the services he will get in school as well as setting up is first IEP.

He asked a question!!

Something cool that Zach did this evening. He was pointing to my ears and saying ears (we're working with him on learning the parts of the face, he has mouth and nose down, but usually calls our eyes "ears".) which was good in itself, then he asked something that sounded like a question. He was messing with my earrings and kept saying "wacolisach?" Scott looked at me with a shocked look on his face and said " I think he's asking what color your earrings are!" So I look at Zach in the face and ask him "what color are my earrings?" He looks really happy, and I tell him they are pink and blue, and he repeated what I said. It was so cool to hear him ask a question, even cooler that it was Scott who figured it out and not me.

The big 3-0!

Whelp, I turn 30 tommorow. Not phased by it at all, odd as that is. I figure I have bigger things to worry about than my age, that and it's merely a number. Don't have any plans other than having cake and ice cream with the boys and Scott tomorrow evening, I know that will be the highlight of my day too. I know how those boys like the sweet treats.

The three things I'm most proud of doing in my 30 years are my boys. I love them with all my heart and soul and would be lost without them. I have been truly blessed to have a wonderful husband too, I should add.

Interesting

Scott took Jon and Nate to see some wrestling event this evening. It's at his second job where he bounces and they were showing it on the big screens. I don't think they're supposed to be home until 10 or so. I know it's a school night, but I'm sure this is something they'll really enjoy and be talking about the rest of the week. Only bad thing about them being gone past bed time is, Zach's a bear to get to bed if they aren't in the room with him. Didn't know this until I tried to get him into bed and I left the room. He pitched a heck of a fit, and you could tell it was a different cry than the usual "I'm mad that I have to go to bed and miss all the action" cry at bedtime. I think it's a wonderful, adorable thing that Zach's brothers are part of his night time routine/comfort.

One silly, cute thing. Zach said "hi" to my mom on the phone this evening. She said "Hi buddy, this is Nana" and to him "Nana" is not grandma, it's a banana. So of course he wanted one.

One down, one to go

Jon and Nate's hair was just getting way to long. Jons was so long and sticking straight out that It looked as though someone scared him pretty bad, or he'd stuck his finger in a light socket. So, I got out the clippers, and did it myself. We took at least three breaks because he'd start fidgeting and messing with his face. Needless to say, that's frustrating when you're trying to cut someones hair. I suppose I shouldn't complain, I'm sure his hair cut will be easier than Nates as he's super fidgety especially while cutting hair. At least I know I saved myself over $20 and that makes dealing with fidgety boys a bit better.

All is quiet, for now!

the boys have been asleep for a while now, and I'm sitting on my porch. Watched "Run, Fat boy, Run" what a sweet and funny movie. I loved it. I know I should be heading to bed, but I am just not tired yet. I'm certain the boys will be up early, early tomorrow (around 6:30 or so). I'm praying they'll sleep in, but that happens rarely, especially with Nate and Zach, Jon maybe, but never the young ones. Zach will probably wake me up by jumping on my and trying to pry my eye's open while saying "Hi!", "Juice?" Which reminds me, I need to trim his nails, wake up call this morning was not very nice, fingernails are a bit like daggers when placed near your eyes, especially when you're just waking up.

I suppose I really should at least try to go to bed. Hopefully one of Scott's buddies won't drunk dial the phone like he did last night. I was asleep and don't even remember what he said, I just remember saying "uh huh" and "yeah". Yeah apparently I'm very eloquent when I'm half asleep.

Oooh, my first post!

Don't quite know what to say here, but I'm going to make a go of it anyways. I am a mom to three boys, of varying ages. Though having three boys is a crazy and hectic, I view it as an adventure, otherwise I'd be fully mental by now. I suppose that's all for my first post.