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she will be attending a DD program with the local school district. She'll start after the Christmas break. Unfortunately our local elementary is full, so I will have to drive her this semester to another one in the county, which is about 25 minutes away. Its a 4 day program, 4 hours a day. It seems like a lot for her right now, but I think once she settles in she will do great. She'll get speech (yeah, finally!) and OT there, and we will continue taking her to PT so we can keep her current therapist whom we absolutely love.
I know its the best thing for Kaelin to go, and I'm hoping she will blossom like Aaron did when he started preschool. That seems like a lifetime ago though, so if you guys don't mind, I may need to call on you for your thoughts. Even though she doesn't have T21 in some areas she is even more delayed than Aaron was. I pulled out his first preschool IEP to see about some ideas and I cried. Language-wise she is nowhere near where Aaron was. It makes me realize what a long road ahead of us we have with her...sigh. She is awesome though, just like he is
I'm also feeling a little sad that my last child will be going off to school and out of the house, ya know? Anyway, enough rambling this morning. I get to take her to the class next week and see how she likes it. I am looking forward to that too!
Vicki, mom to
Aaron, Jacob and Kaelin
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength."
It must be hard sending the last kiddo off to school! Zachary and I ran all over the place while Johnny was in pre-school today and I kept thinking how lonely it would be without at least one kid tagging along. Then I wondered if I'd still talk to myself, but people would think I'm crazy then. (you know how you always walk around talking when there are kids around....bet it looks silly talking and then realizing you are by yourself. )
It sounds like a great program you're getting Kaelin into though it sort of drags that it has to be 25 miles away 4 times/week. Are you going to be able to stay out there to do stuff or will you go back and forth each time? (or do they supply a ride?) Hoping you get some time to do something for yourself and can relax enough to enjoy it. I look forward to that day but fear it too!
I'm not a pro, but I'm fresh in the midst of stuff so maybe I can help in some small ways.
but I visited by myself and then took her to visit one day as well. It went great! She enjoyed it. The kids seemed to like her. I think one of the little girls was excited to have someone smaller than her in the class LOL! (Kaelin is pretty tiny and by far the youngest) I think it will be a good fit.
I am increasingly concerned with the IEP. I learned when I went to visit that they like to give the kids a generic IEP (a list of state preschool goals) with an individualized accomodations/modifications page. This is what has been done for Aaron the last few years and I absolutlety HATE it. I think it is even more innapropriate for Kaelin, as many of the things we are working on with her are not even at a preschool level yet. So, this past week I found out some interesting info about all this generic stuff (long story for another day), so when it comes time to have her meeting, I am going to insist that we have individual goals and not the generic stuff.
So, after we get through the IEP battle, I think it will be a great learning atmosphere and fit for her. I am excited for her! Thanks for asking! How is it going for Johnny?
Vicki, mom to
Aaron, Jacob and Kaelin
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength."
That sounds like a great classroom! You'll have to update on what all that generic stuff is about. I stopped using the phrase I-E-P and started saying "Johnny's education plan". It made them think a little bit and sort of put what we were doing into perspective that it is a plan for HIS education and needs, not just a piece of paper. Good luck with that...not fun, huh?
Johnny's doing really well and loves school and loves his one-on-one aide who I couldn't be happier with. She works better with him than the therapists and teacher, even though THEY ARE all great too. He just has a bond with her and he's been in and out sick a lot or with doc appointments, so yesterday and today he cried at school which makes me sad...but since he loves his aide, and she is such a mommy-type person, he calms down a lot for her. Not all the way, but no one is as good as your real mommy when you're not feeling 100%, ya know? He's out until Monday because he has a follow-up appnt with a doc tomorrow too.
She cried the 2nd and 3rd days I left her. Poor baby, we walked over to her cubby. I hung her backpack up but she knew if she put her lunchbox in there I would leave, so she wouldn't put it up, so I put it in there and she would grab it back out. I felt bad, but we've been there before and I knew as soon as i left she would stop crying, and she did.
They worked mainly on getting her to stay in her seat (we affectionately call her our little hummingbird because she is always buzzing about from place to place at home). One great thing is that the teacher noted she was staying dry most of the morning and asked if I wanted to send her in pullups for her to work on potty training. All the other kids are trained so she is happy to do this. So, we are officially potty training now. I hope I'm up for it. This morning we sat on the potty. She stood u 3 times and peed on the floor in front of the potty. We'll keep trying, its only day one, right?
I am actually going to a seminar/class on potty training next week. Its geared for autistic kids but the coordinator thinks any child with communication difficulties would benefit. I hope to get some good tips. I did have Kaelin saying "TT" today though, which is HUGE, HUGE, HUGE for her to repeat something!
I think this will be a positive experience for her. We have her IEP meeting next week. (she already had one and received EI through them)
Vicki, mom to
Aaron, Jacob and Kaelin
"Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength."
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