End of the School Year. Beginning of Summer.

So with the beginning of June, comes lots of changes:  end of the school year, beginning of summer,vacations, even wearing cooler clothes.  All things that are going to take some prep for Jonathan.

Let's start with school...
He has had his teacher, Miss Jaime for over a year and a half.  He moved to her room January of 2011.  And when he talks about school, it's not just school.  It is "School and Miss Jaime."  He loves her.  She has been a wonderful teacher.  And not to play second fiddle, but the other teacher, Miss Andrea has been stellar. 

Miss Jaime

Miss Andrea

I was kindly reminded how attached he was to his teacher and room prior to Miss Jaime (awesome Miss Kelsey and Miss "Bicki").  And it's true.  He loved that room. And he did great with that transition .   

Jonathan's birthday is only 1 week before the cut off for Kindergarten.  So he is eligible to enter Kindergarten in the fall.  But we have opted to hold him back.  He will be in the 4K class at his current preschool.  This way, we have another year of preschool and intensive therapy under our belt.    So while I'm a little sad he is not going to Kindergarten yet, I know he is going to be better for it.

So come mid-June, they are going to switch him to his next classroom.  We've been working with his therapy team for this transition.  We have a book, a video, a count-down calendar.  I'm nervous.  I think the teachers are a little nervous too.  His new teacher, Miss Shannon has been awesome to let us come take pictures, video, etc her room.  I know it will be fine.  This is just the first of MANY transitions.
 The Pond Room!  We're getting ready for ya!

 Calendar time. Jonathan's FAVORITE!

One transition he is having a problem with are summer clothes.  He INSISTS on wearing pants in the summer, and would often wear shorts in the winter.  It is kinda funny.  But I feel bad that he is sweating it out in sweat pants on the playground.  Oh, and no more jeans.  Must be comfy type pants.  The boy knows what he wants!

Shorts? Flip flops?  Not for me!

 
 All in all though, we are looking forward to a fun summer ahead.  I signed Jonathan up for swim lessons.  We have a fresh sandbox ready for play.  And TONS of carnivals with rides, which currently is his favorite thing to do!  Happy Summer!!!!

This ride goes round and round, and I love it!

My Mother's Day

This morning, you came into bed to cuddle with me at 7am.  Your hot little head against mine.  Your heavy arm around my neck.  Your eyes were still closed with sleep despite you walking across the hall into my room.  You just wanted to be next to me.

Later in the morning, while Daddy and I sat and drank coffee, you hurt your foot.  You started crying and ran to me,"Mommy.  Mommy."  I didn't know what was wrong, so I just held you.  You either stepped on something or you stubbed your toe.  I still don't know.  But you said "owie foot" so I gave you a Mommy kiss to make it all better.  Your tears stopped.

We all went for a ride.  You sang along to the "Sesame Street" theme song.  You looked out the window.  You said, "We go to see strawberries."

Even after the strawberry farm didn't work out, you did fine.  When we pulled into McDonalds for a rest, you said, "We go inside!"  This McDonalds had a playland.  You took your shoes off, and kept your socks on, something you would have never done last year.  After playing a while, you came over, took my hand and said, "Jonathan and Mommy go down slide."  Luckily, no one else was there, so I climbed into the playland with you, while Daddy sat and laughed at me.  My knees hurt, but it didn't really matter.  Daddy bought you a milk shake.  I think that was better than picking strawberries. 

Later we went swimming at the gym.  In your little swimmy-floaty vest, you took off, walking into the pool alone, squealing with excitement.  You swam (ok, floated) across the entire length of the pool.  We played surfing upon your request and counted to three for me to go under the water.  You kept climbing on my shoulders and would say,"gracias, mommy!"

We played outside on the swing set.  I pushed you in the big swing and then the "blue" swing.  We later snacked on goldfish.  You pretended they were swimming by you.  "One fish.  Two fish.  A school of fish!"

Just being with you and Daddy today made this Mother's Day perfect.  We got to play without distractions of work and school and chores.  And watching you, watching you just being you, reminds me how much you've grown.  How sweet and special and funny you are.  You made me a Mother.  You've taught me so much already....how to be more patient, more understanding and accepting of things I don't know or understand, that my "Mama Bear" instincts are valid and usually right. You've taught me that the road map of life has a lot of back roads I never knew were there...and that going places I didn't expect usually are worth the ride.  I'm so proud to be your Mommy.  Thank you for being you.

One of our first pictures together

Being sweet, smart and funny

PS.  Daddy is pretty awesome too.  But I'll save my gushy Daddy sentiments for Father's Day ;) 

The Dentist

His appointment was May 1st.

We've been practicing for a month.  Literally, a month.

First there was "The Dentist Story."  It was a handwritten story that one of his therapist wrote.  It laid out  how we were going to practice going to the Dentist, what the list would look like on the big day of the things we would do at the Dentist, and how he will be a big boy.  He was OBSESSED with the book.  Took it to school, made everyone read it, and even took it to bed with him.

Then it was practicing Dentist during therapy.  The therapists made video models (where we tape them doing the desired activity for Jonathan to watch).  He would watch the videos over and over and over.  He had them memorized.  Then he wanted to perform them, like a little play.  They would practice during therapy too.  He was letting the girls brush his teeth and count them.  He even wanted to play Dentist at school.

Then we hit a snag.  When it was time to brush his teeth in the morning and at night, he HAD to do it like the video models.  I don't blame him.  This was his current favorite thing to do. But lately he's been getting stuck on activities, so brushing teeth before bed would take an hour sometimes.  In frustration when trying to get him to lay down to sleep, I would grumble, "Lay down!"  He would respond, "Open mouth!"  Touche, young man.  Touche.

So the big day came.  He was ready.  I left work early to go pick him up.  One of his therapist had a bag ready for me with all the practice items...Handy Manny, toothbrushes, a blanket to lay down on the chair, his book, the lists....we were set up for success!

We arrived at the Dentist.  Stephanie, Jonathan's senior therapist, was there to help too.  Jonathan was reading down the list, crossing off completed tasks.  He was excited!  We even got to the part of "going into the Dentist's room and sitting in chair."  We were rocking the list!

And then.....lay down.

Forget it!  He wanted no part.  We let him practice on Handy Manny.  We let him practice on Stephanie.  But now, it was go time.  And he wanted no part. 

So what do you think I did?  What any mother would do of course.  I laid on his legs and held his arms while the Dentist brush, counted and did his thing.  Jonathan screamed the whole time.  But I have to say, he knew what he wanted.  "STAND UP!  ALL DONE!  STAND UP!"

The best was when the Dentist said, "OK, I'm going to count to 20."  And Jonathan yelled back, "26!  You want 26!"  (They had been practicing counting 26 teeth in therapy). 

So when it was over, Jonathan got up, gave the Dentist a high-five, and was ready to roll.  Tears were gone, and he was fine.  Except, there was an elevator under repair in the lobby.  He has a new fascination with elevators.  As a friend said, it was like salt in the wound because he could not ride the broken elevator.  The elevator repair man was there and let us look inside.  After that, we were good.

The appointment, with all the practice and preparation, was a little bit of a disappointment.  But at least we got over it.  And I can only hope each time will get better and better.  I'm glad I don't have to lie to my son about where we are going and what is going to happen on these appointments. And I"m thankful for the Dentist staff for being understanding.  And for all our therapists who let Jonathan brush their teeth and get all up close to them in practice.  Small steps.  Small steps.

Oh, and he still has to lay down to brush his teeth in the morning and at night.  And he does have 26 teeth.  He counts them twice a day too.

Autism Awareness Month will have to wait.

My last post was about Autism Awareness Month. And I haven't written since.

Things have been a little crazy in my house.  And at work.

I have not felt a sense of calm and peace in a while.

Meltdowns, tantrum, tears and frustration are a norm at the moment.  I thought we had moved past it and settled into an adjusted routine, but I was wrong.

So for now, I'm going to go back undercover, and wait out this storm.  We move forward everyday, but sometimes there is no energy to do anything extra.

We're OK.  We have to get through this.  I hope to have better insight another day.  But for now, I'm in survival mode, while under siege of this current shift.

I'm sorry for being so vague. And really, what we are experiencing is nothing catastrophic.  Just a hard go of things at the moment.

Maybe I'll be able to share awareness for "Autism Awareness Month" later.  For now, I look forward to the end of April.

April is Autism Awareness Month

Today marks the official kick-off to Autism Awareness month.  Tomorrow, April 2nd is the Autism Speaks big campaign to "Light it Up Blue."

April also marks our one year of having an "official" diagnosis for Jonathan.

But I've been thinking a lot about Autism Awareness.  When was I first aware of Autism?

I think back at my childhood.  Did I know someone with Autism?  Was it called that when I was growing up?  I know there were some kids that were a little different.  Then there were the special needs kids that were in other classes too.  There was the non-verbal boy in middle school that won the school talent show for dancing like Michael Jackson.  He would practice his moves at lunch time.  His name was Chris.  And he did have moves.  But did he have Autism?

I also think about a special needs girl, Tiffany who could remember your name and face in an instant.  When she walked down the halls at school, she would wave at everyone and saying hi to each person by name.  Her aids always were prodding her on, because she took a while making sure she said hi to everyone.  She always was smiling and had a childish joy about her.  I remember I saw her years after we graduated.  I walked past her, and I heard "Hi Jen!"  It may have been five years since the last time I saw her.  But nothing changed.  Did she have Autism?  I don't know.

I remember hearing about Jenny McCarthy's son and Holly Robinson Peete's son in the media.  But really, it is like the word "Autism" just hung around in the air...sneaking up here and there in various conversations and news reports.

I don't know when I became aware of the WORD Autism.  But I know when I became aware of the MEANING Autism.   It was a feeling...long before it became officially attached to my son.  A nagging hum. A buzz in the back of my head.  A small feeling in my gut.  No other way to explain it. I tried to fight it off, but the hum, the buzz, the feeling grew louder. 



A new CDC reports that 1 out of 88 US children are on the Autism Spectrum now.  If that statistic doesn't make us AWARE of Autism, then I don't know what will.  1 out of 88.  Last year it as 1 out of 100.  And not too long before that it was 1 out of 150.  It's not just a handful of kids you remember from your childhood anymore.  It's your neighbor, your cousin, your kid's classmate, your nephew or even your child.

I look at my son, and I don't see Autism.  I see Jonathan.  (OK, some days I see Autism, but mostly I see Jonathan.)  Autism is a part of our lives, whether we want it to be or not.  And while I don't want Autism to be the definition of my son, it will be attached to him in some way, for better or worse.

Autism Awareness Month should be about the meaning of Autism, which is far more reaching than just the word.

List-mania!

This past week was a bit rough.  Since Jonathan was sick the previous week, getting back into the routine was hard for him. But we found he really liked and relied on mini "to-do" lists we started making for him.  Like, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY liked them.

We have a morning routine list:
Potty
Ipad
Potty
Brush Teeth
Get Dressed
Ipad
Eat
Calendar
Put on Shoes and Socks
Blue Car
School

We have a night time routine list too.  (I won't bore you with that one, but it is pretty similar to the morning one).  

We would write them on little scraps of paper.  He really enjoyed crossing off the items he accomplished and recap what he did.  "I all done potty!  Good job!" for example.

School and therapy used lists too.  At school they have a mini dry erase board.
So I picked one up, in anticipation to do away with the scrap paper.  He was giddy when I gave him the dry erase board.  Simply giddy!

So this whole weekend, that board followed us.  On our errands, in the stores, on walks, even tucked in with him in bed.   At first, I tried to have him leave the board in the car when we went to the store.  But he really wanted to bring it, so I said fine.

While at World Market, he decided to settle in, and start writing too.

It got even more complex as the weekend went on.  This morning, I went upstairs, and discovered he had started writing a list on his own.  He asked for some help on a few words, but he mostly wrote it all out himself.

"Pootty."  We got a laugh at that.  I only wrote 2 of the items.  He did the rest.

Dude was spelling!  My 4 year old was totally spelling!  We also did a list to go for a walk to the park.  He didn't ask to go, he just started spouting off the steps to go to the park.
"First potty.  Then put on the shoes and socks.  Then walk in the wagon.  Then we go swings.  Then we go slide.  Then we go walk in wagon.  Then we go home!"

As tedious as these lists can be, I can see his comfort in knowing what is ahead.  We can add things to the lists that he doesn't like (ie, take medicine), but he can see there are more desired items after, and we keep going.

I better go.  "Potty" is coming up soon on his current list.  And you never want to miss that one. 

What a Whirlwind Week(s)

Well Hello!
So if you've read any of my most recent Facebook statuses, you've seen that Jonathan and I were a bit under the weather last week. He had a high fever from Monday through Saturday.  I had one from Wednesday through Friday.  Official diagnosis is unknown.  Mine may have been strep.  His may have been pneumonia.  Same antibiotics prescribed.  Regardless, we are fine now.  Hooray!

But it was a rough week for my buddy to get back into his routine and schedule.  We've started writing down lists for him, and he has discovered how much he loves to cross off accomplished items.  We make a list in the morning, the school makes a list for him while he is there, afternoon therapy makes a list, and we have a list for our bedtime routine.  If it helps, we'll take it!

We also had his IEP meeting today for his 4K school year.  This morning, we had 7 educators at our house at 7:45am, plus Mike and me (and guest appearance from Aunt Kathy and cousin Kristin...they stopped on their way through Madison on the way to Seattle!).  We set up some really great goals for Jonathan for the next school year.  And his teacher that he will have next year was able to join us too.  We were happy she was here so we could get to know her better and for her to be able to get up to speed with the amazing team we have. 

I think our most touchy part was that our school district has been pushing Jonathan's eligibility to regular Kindergarten.  Jonathan's birthday falls eight days before the cut-off date.  So he is eligible for Kindergarten, however we elected to keep him a year back.  The district calls it retention.  I call it crazy.  EIGHT DAYS!  If he was born one week later, this would be a non-issue!  But no.  We had to gain special permission, read a letter telling us how detrimental retention is to children in later grades, a visit to the elementary school to view classrooms, and the written explanation as to why we made the decision that what we made.  And really, this issue has been following us for over three months. 

I told Mike, when we received Jonathan's diagnosis, of all the battles I knew we would have to fight on behalf of our son, kindergarten placement was not one of them. 

But our team seemed to be in agreement that our plan (keeping him in his current Preschool for 4K next year) is the best plan for him.  And I have never felt so confident going into a school year as I do with our plan and team.  We plan on working on a lot of social skills with Jonathan.  And I think we will really be able to incorporate some of the amazing things he is doing in his one-on-one therapy into the classroom. 

So it is a sigh of relief that we are healthy, the IEP is done, the 4K placement is complete, and we now get to keep moving forward.

And I write all this without having to "lay down under tent" until someone fell asleep.  Small victories.  Hooray for that!