Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Monday Meeting

Today was the meeting to go over the school Psych's findings on Master Elias. Young Master Elias is not getting a recommendation for an IEP relating to an Autism disorder...which actually, is fine with me and I agree with, and he IS getting one for his ADHD/ADD which I also agree with.

We went over their Autism related testing, done with a panel of 4 adults with various credentials and reading what went on, had me interested and impressed. Eli has apparently made a LOT of progress and after some (appropriate given he is a 6 y/o boy taken to a room with 4 adults he did not know at all in it) apprehension he proceeded to interact with the testers, talk with them, laugh with them and look them in the eye. he completed all but a couple tasks and did them in a "non disordered" manner. That is good news as I see it.

Now I am not saying or believing my son does NOT have some sort of small difficulty likely to be some spectrum issue...BUT I agree with the school that those minor difficulties are NOT the reason his schooling is tough right now. That is ALL the ADHD and attention based stuff...well, most of it.

Likely some Learning Disorder too, which the will also be keeping a close watch on. I made it clear that under NO circumstance do I want to be late to the party on that score. My son WILL be checked on, often and ANY LD like issues will be dealt with promptly. There simply is not a crack out there with his name on it..for him to fall into, as far as we are concerned.

I think that was made very clear by us...

The formal ARD meeting where the plan for his education for the next 12 months is going to be presented, will be on Friday and I will certainly have my thoughts on that then for you to peruse LOL.

I feel in a better place now to deal with this, largely due to the man next to me during this meeting. Hubs has been such a rock thru this once I realized it's okay to lean on him and not handle all this weirdness on my own. Why I thought that necessary to begin with is...lame. Work in progress, folks!

I am looking forward to Friday.

Did I mention my daughter brought home STRAIGHT A'S?? I am sure I did lol...but there it is again. She is such a nice breather from all this. NO everything is not easy for her...she struggles and pushes our buttons, too sometimes...but her bright nimble mind is a good reprieve, and I enjoy so much watching her blossom into a very intelligent and confident young lady who knows her stuff and has set goals for herself.

Both my kids are so very different but they love each other so completely and without reservation is it a great comfort to me. They support one another and help one another when it counts...minor squabbles aside. They are a great example of how people should ALWAYS treat one another...with love, with fun, with joy, even thru disagreements and outright wars...you always come back to common ground and rebuild your love.

Happy Monday, all!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Mad Tea Party

Lily found, in her closet an unopened "cherry" Hummel tea set her grandma purchased for her years ago. I had been keeping it out of her reach because it's actual porcelain and well, yeah...you know.


Anywhoo she found it last night and wanted to play with it so we let her...and immediately right there in the living room a Tea Party happened. First the only guests were her stuffed animals...the two wolves and Brownie the dog.




Of course brother came into it late and wanted to play...tea parties are genteel affairs and he came in, boxers exposed, head first slide style onto the living room roaring "TEA PARRRRTTYYY" I swear he should have been wearing a frickin TOGA!!








It was funny to watch Lily visibly flinch everytime he clattered a teacup against a saucer or plate LOL...it's evil of me to laugh but he WAS being as gentle as he knows how to be. She was doing her BEST Hyacinth Bucket lemme tell ya...worried about her "Royal Doulton with the handpainted periwinkles" *cackles* all was well tho, nothing broken.

She packed it up and put it away when they were done exclaiming grandly "I will have to have a tea party every week at least!"

Hope everyone enjoys their Thursday. Kids get out early and as mentioned it's CHIK FIL A NIGHT!!! whoo hoo!!! Where's my toga??






Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Elias, the kiddo has (had?) Fifth's Disease. I figured as much. He showed up with a bright red cheeked rash Friday or maybe Thursday which we assumed was his eczema flaring up due to the extreme cold and lack of humidity...

Sunday he got his bath and dh noted the rash was down the back of his neck and arms too...decided to slather him in lotion, pop him a Benadryl, and send him to bed.

I got him up Monday (yesterday) and dressed and didn't notice much, it'd faded even...but on picking him up from school it had spread and darkened from pink to a nice red. Ugh. I thought heat rash since he was wearing a long sleeved shirt and he is NEVER cold and sweats like a pig.

This morning...it had taken over his legs and torso and was not looking like anything that was going to go away so I kept him home...which he hated.

Appt just now, Fifth'sDisease. Of course once you KNOW you have it via the rash, you are no longer contagious sucks for his class and their parents eh? The symptoms are really no big aside from looking strange lol. Minor cold on the onset...really minor in his case, we thought his allergies got him...gone in a day or two...you think you're fine then you wake up spotty.

I called the school...lettem know. In case there are any preggy ladies on staff. It's bad for preggy ladies.

Elias does like to pick up the exotic stuff! He yelled at me all mean like when I didn't send him to school at 2pm because there's just an hour left.

In other news...our water was briefly turned off! My sister came by to swing us by the docs and handed me the door notice "water turned off for lack of payment" WHHHHAAAAAT! I called "the man" of the house and he figures it was the old card getting switched off and the new one getting switched ON, that he did online that caused the issue. He called them and by the time we were back from the appt it was back on...in fact the guy was out front right when we pulled in! Lordy...for a second there it felt really weird, never had that happen before. But thankfully just a hiccup...

I wanted to make meatloaf tonight...and mashed taters...not sure I have the energy after a day with Elias...and I am sure he'll have some makeup work at school to grab and get thru...*sigh*. Oh well, at least there's a hockey game on tonight...GO WINGS, GO!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

How many acronyms...

Can we stick onto Elias? LOL.
Hmm...I might add another soon...
"LD", learning disability. Most likely...aside from the other two issues his doc suggested, after a discussion about his eye doctor visit today...that his lack of connecting what he SEES...to what he WRITES, or SAYS...is probably a Learning Disability of some type.

I can ge behind that because now that the Concerta has removed a lot of the distraction for the boy, he STILL has trouble writing especially copying...something already printed on his own, and staying within the confines of his lines or paper. Let alone making legible letters or all the same size letters.

I read a bit on "dysgraphia" and boy that does seem to be a possible. It seems there a lot that can be done for it, and he will be able to eventually learn how to make the most of what he can do, in spite of it. Which I already knew...I wouldn't let it be any other way!

So now after Xmas break I am going to grab hold of the school again and make sure they have done some LD testing in addition to the other stuff for ADHD and Aspergers and are adding that into any IEP that comes about. Mustn't let them get away too long without being called to the carpet to report! TEEHEE!!

Christmas nearly upon us I can reflect on what a bumpy end of the year it's been...but I am certainly more educated and invested in my kids, both of them as a result. I feel like I've grown as a parent and as a wife too. So that makes the bumps a lot easier to manage!

Merry Christmas all! I am saying that in case I don't get to the blog again til afterwards! :)

Friday, December 18, 2009

After the fire

Unfortunately not talking about a great album...lol.

My son, my 6 year old son, set a fire tonight in our home...first off everyone is fine...thank the diety of your choice!

The origin would be a candle "I" left foolishy burning in the bathroom to banish a horrendous poop stench...Elias said he was going to go pee...did so...emerged and went back to watching the playroom TV, the rest of us were watching a movie out in the living room.

SOMETHING made me get off the couch and head to the hallway...I don't recall smelling anything BEFORE getting up but maybe it was subconcious who knows?

Anywhoo I got up and went into the hallway and smelled BURNING...thinking at first "oh the candle...someone blew it out" I glanced at the door which was closed and saw a telltale orangey glow UNDER the door. OH.MAI.GAWD.I flung the door open (yeah I saw Backdraft and that was dumb...I confess my stupidity....knob wasn't hot tho) and there was a line of flame from the trashcan...up to a towel hanging over it...onto the wall directly under that...and going up to the window over that...LIVELY flames...eye popping really...just didn't expect that on a nice quiet Friday night...

I shot outta the hallway yelling at hubs to CALL 9-1-1 NOW....repeating when he asked why, FIRE IN THE BATHROOM CALL IT NNNNOW!...and I hustled up the kids, Lily FREAKED OUT...I mean she was staring down the hallway at that flaming towel with these eyes like saucers...OUTSIDE...NOW!! I yelled and she shot outside like a cannonball.

ELIASSSSSS!!! out he comes from the playroom....OUTSIDE NOW!!Meanwhile hubs is IN THE BATHROOM watering the flames down...we waited on the FD which showed up in okay time...hubs had the flames gone but it was making that "crackling" sound...you know a warning "I am not dead, only sleeping" sound...FD made sure it was well and truly, dead before leaving.

I went outside and opened the car and put the kids in there, couple of the firemen walked by and checked on us a couple times...

I proceeded to grill my son...and got it from him...he put a tissue in the candle...it burned and he got scared and threw it in the trashcan. In his mind, that was it....no reason to tell me, he didn't get burned. No big. To him. Yeah...I wanted to choke him briefly...I really did. I thought of him doing that and going up like fatback bacon as an ember caught his shirt...horrendous. More horrendous is it was my fault...that candle was there because I put it there. Lesson learned...never again. Not with an impulse control challenged ADHD kid in the house.All candles went in the trash tonight. Seriously.

Elias and Lily are both in bed...Lily seems better once she was able to talk to us...and graphically describe what she saw and ask questions about it and rationalize it. My Mom came when I called her (much love) and took them to her house...but later because E was crying, saying he wanted to go home, and sad and that's out of character for him...we went and picked them up after we cleaned up.

I think Elias was crying @ my Mom's, because he was worried his home would still burn or be gone, or maybe he thought because I was mad, and the FD guys talked to him and everyone seemed so mad...then he got sent away...maybe he would have to stay gone. So we brought him home...

Feeling a lot of different things right now. The "low" after the adrenaline rush of panic, fear, action, duty, etc.Bless the hubs for jumping in there and putting it out before it could eat more of the wall or get really out of hand...he is braver than I give him credit for.

I am drinking Sangria...LOTS of it...tonight. Anyone care to join me?

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Toofless Tuesday

Elias lost a tooth back on...what was it...Friday? That kid has only lost 2 now...taking his sweet time. lol.

He got his Tooth Fairy dolla's so he was happy. Not that he cares about money...but you know, he still likes getting it. :o)

This week is their last of school before the winter break..sigh...2+ WEEKS of them in my hair counting down the days, hours, minutes and SECONDS before "the day". Most shopping is done for them, just the OK people left...oh and my sisters....should get to that at some point.

We were wracking our brains, hubs and I about what the "big gift" would be for them this year...sometimes we do 1 for both or 1 each...something major...the "oooooh ahhhh" from Santa, gift ya know?

Going round and round and not really coming up with something that felt like "IT" then we hit on one...just hand us our Redneck Cards people...

A trampoline...yep. Complete with enclosure (safety first!)...our yard in back in plenty big enough and there's NOTHING for them to do out there...and they go ballistic with joy anytime they get to go on their Grandpa's in OK...so we figured their lil' punkin heads would 'splode on this one.

Hubs is getting off early Xmas eve so we're sending the two off with Auntie and we'll toil to Raise the Titanic in one night lol. All accounts online make it seem relatively simple, but we'll see. The idea is to erect it...then keep all the windows closed and once it gets dark we won't have to worry since our yard is super black at night. In the morning as they're looking in vain for what "Santa left" for them...we casually open the big, picture window in the kitched to reveal...DUN DUN DUN!! The brain bouncer, complete with big, red bow!!

Lol...I have been grinning evilly all week with the secret knowledge...teehee.
Hope everyone passes their week happily! :o)

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Coq on a Wednesday

Wow that sounds kinda wrong...jes how I like it!

Today I COOKED. Like seriously. I got a Coq au vin recipe online and did the do. It's in the crockpot.

Humorous hightlights?

When I realized the whole chicken I bought needed to be in PIECES...lmao. Chicken and I had a come-ta-Jesus about that, then Mr Cleaver (and I do NOT mean Ward ladies n germs...) had the last word. It was a bit like a murder scene in my kitchen for a bit...but it is good for working out any issues one has...hacking into a lifeless semi frozen body. MWAH HA HA!! *evil grin*

Another? When I realized my heretofore useful and hardy corkscrew was BROKEN. Mind racing for a way to pull the cork. I mean the screw part went in but the counter leverage thingy was just flat busted. No can do pulling a cork with mere force of will. You know who saved the frickin day again? MR CLEAVER! That guy is awesome! I wrapped the bottle then hacked thru the neck. Nice clean break....strained the wine thru my strainer to make extra sure I don't serve any shardage...dare I laugh evilly yet again...I dare...MWAH HA HA!!

Mr Cleaver and I got to know each other really well today...long over due. I mean I have had it for yeaaaaaars and never used it. His edge was still keen and ready for the kill. Lucky!!

Now last night wasn not great as far as Mr and Mrs goes...we needed to talk and we did but I still feel a bit like things are "off" on some level...needs to get that sorted. One shouldn't let things fester and abcess.

Elias brought home a project last night that floored us both. It looked like another child had done it. Cutting? done almost perfectly and on the lines Coloring? multiple colors in areas that made sense, details covered, in the lines Gluing? done fabulously...things were in a nice arrangement and the three lil pigs were looking fine. PROGRESS!! EXULTANT ULULATION COMMENCE!! well, maybe that's the wine there...but anyhow...it was really beautiful and I will keep it always.

I had him do his 5x each spelling on his own the other night and it was also, amazingly improved. Letters of a size, all in a row...ON THE LINE. You guys, that's a major major deal....he worked steadily until he was done...even when I offered a break. Good gawd!

Coming down of the pill is still an issue...but might always be for him. He rages out a bit lol....but last night the hubs had had enough and sent him to his room where he proceeded to smack the door..oh HELL no!! Hubs quite brilliantly suggested as allow the puppy to deal with that..lol. So we did...we opened the door....dodged the shrapnel and shoved in the pup LMAO. Willing sacrifice people....

Raging Elias upon the door opening..."WHAT ARE YOU DOING OPENING MY DOOR...I AM MAD AND I DON'T..." upon seeing the puppy "Hi RC! You wanna play on my bed??" both emerged shortly and if Elias had a tail he'd have been wagging it, fo' sho...

Miraculous healing...Benny Hinn got nothing on RC. Lemme tell ya so!

Reckon I've rabbited on long enough today. Lord I hope that dish comes out okay and that everyone likes it. I doubt the kids will...but hey there's always hot dogs right?? ;o)