The Elder’s Bus
The Elder’s bus broken down way too many times for my comfort level. No call no nothing. It just wouldn’t show up. Because he is one of the last stops, waiting just an extra 10 The Elder’s Bus – continue reading …
Youngerese at its best!
Today is The Younger’s follow-up appointment for his evaluation results. Well, he didn’t have to go, but The Hub and I met with The School Psych, et al (there were 4 total present, it felt like an IEP meeting).
Let’s back up to yesterday. I texted The Teacher to ask her to call me to discuss what we ought to do because he was doing so well at this MDO program. She suggested that I have a visit with The Director and The MDO Teacher. After all The Elder, loved his preschool (the one before the 4 he got kicked out of) but when I went to observe him, I noticed that, yes he did have friends…but they were all playing over there while The Elder was playing in the corner by himself. “Oh he is just the sweetest little boy. We don’t get any trouble from him.” They should have knocked on wood…
So I called and The Director said that she couldn’t but The MDO Teacher could. So I get there a little late (they didn’t charge me) and I sat down in his classroom. The first thing I loved is that when I got there, The Director made herself available for the first 10 minutes. I assured them that nothing was wrong I just wanted to ask some specific questions regarding The Younger.
They talked about how good and sweet he is. The MDO Teacher went through their routine from beginning to end. Very detailed – so there was no room for assumptions.
She said The Younger can pick out his name, he sits nicely on his mat, he’s attentive and follows directions and he is good at cleaning up, which was no surprise to us. When I taught him to bathe himself with a washcloth, as soon as he was done…forget those toy boats! and he started cleaning the shower stall with his washcloth! This is also the guy who got a fire engine and a playset of a broom, mop, dust pan, etc. Guess which one he plays with more. He also was more excited about the vaccuum cleaner I got for him at a consignment sale. “It’s my size!” is one of his favorite phrases. Now we can sweep our floors without hunting for the broom (which was always found in his room).
What was really funny was the clean up chart. They get a sticker each day that they help clean up. Check out his chart:
There were no red flags that got me worked up. I gave her a few things to look for, those things that appear age appropriate, but can linger a little too long. Like playing by himself, which she admitted that he does do sometimes. Also she said that he doesn’t really participate well in Music Class which is in the choir room with ALL the children instead of just his class of 6 or a combined 3-4yo class of 14 total. It’s EVERYBODY. So there might a little bit of anxiety in larger groups because she said he is fine in the classroom.
I made a point to let them know how happy he is with the program because he has huge anxiety of the unknown. To the point that he is a completely different person. But here, he feels loved and secure and I don’t have to hide from him in the mornings to get him to go.
“That is a huge compliment to you and this program.”
Then I asked The AP about gymanstics and the library because when I take him, it is meltdown city. But she said he is fine. So he only performs for me. This is the same guy who just a month ago (August 11) melted down for TWO HOURS at his evaluation before he recovered to be open to testing. He pulled he stripped naked and peed on the floor. It was very intentional, because the assessor said that it was in a perfect arch around him.
So today, I was slightly afraid that they were going to give us a diagnosis that is not appropriate. However The Teacher insinuated that we should take the services if they offer it to us because if we decline then we can’t go back. Even a year later…
Well, this morning we wake up to this:
After I put The Elder on the bus and The Hub went off to work. We decided to do a little art project. I was taking notes and snapping pictures the whole time so i wouldn’t forget just how hilarious this was.
Exhibit A
The Birthday Card
Me: Today is Ms Nanny’s birthday!
The Younger: Yeah, and tomorrow is Daddy’s birthday.
Me: No daddy’s birthday is on Saturday.
The Younger: Oh Daddy’s birthday is Saturday and tomorrow is MY birthday.
Me: Let’s make Ms Nanny a card
Exhibit B
(Click on pictures to enlarge)
Me: Can you make a face?Exhibit A-a
The Younger: That’s Hair.Exhibit B-a
Me: Where are the eyes?
The Younger: I can make a mouth…I’m drawing Daddy.Exhibit B-b
Me: Where’s his eyes?
The Younger: Oh, I can make eyes.Exhibit B-c
Me: Can you draw a picture of Ms Nanny?
The Younger: I can make a road.
Me: Oh ok.
The Younger: That’s not a garage…Exhibit A-bThat’s the garage.Exhibit A-c
Me: What’s that?Exhibit A-d
The Younger: Crashing…there’s lots of crashings.
Me: I think she will love it.
The Younger: WAIT! I not finished yet……there, I finished.Exhibit C-a
Me: What does that say, your name?
The Younger: No. says, happy birfday annie.
Exhibit C
Enlightening Conversation
Me: Guess what? You have gymnastics today!
The Younger: I donwanna go gymnastics.
Me: But you love gymnastics (positive thinking)
The Younger: Gymnastics is BORING.
Me: Why don’t you like gymnastics?
The Younger: I be really sad…..I will miss you
Me: Do you like the feathers at gymnastics?
The Younger: No.
Me: Do you like the bubbles at gymnastics?
The Younger: No….Its BORING. (to the tune of “leave me alone already”)
Me: Do you like the trampoline?
The Younger: No…um, yes. (trick question I guess)
Me: Do you like the Bars?
The Younger: I donwanna go on big bar…is scary…I small…[The Elder] can go on big bar. He’s big. I small, mommy.
Me: Yes you are small. Do you like the balance beam?
The Younger: No, too scary.
Me: Well, [The Gymnastics Teacher] said you are SO good at the balance beam, and the trampoline, and the car, AND following directions.
The Younger: (immediately perked up) Heeeeyyyyy, I do directions at my school!
Me: Do you like school?
The Younger: No…Um YES I happy at my school.**Can you tell he is 3yo? No is the automatic answer to every question!
Me: What makes you happy?
The Younger: I not crying
Me: What do you like best at school?
The Younger: I don’t know.
Me: Do you like music?
The Younger: No
Me: Why?
The Younger: Cause I can’t talk.**He is SO my child! Except I like music class…
Me: Do you like story time?
The Younger: Yes
Me: Is it your favorite?
The Younger: No (to the tune of “duh”)
Me: Cleaning up?
The Younger: No (to the tune of “no, silly mommy”)
Me: What is your favorite thing to do at school?
The Younger: I like to……I like to……I like to…..Play! Outside!
All Boy
No Aspergers
Oops! Update—> The Hub’s birthday is on SUNDAY!! I thought the 28th was on a Saturday. I really did honey…honest! 
Being sick stinks…but at least I got caught up on sleep
Yesterday I was in bed all day. When I say all day, I mean all day. I got up in the morning, put The Elder on the bus, went to bed. The Hub* came home around 6ish, I think. At that I time I got up to pee. The I went back to sleep. I got woke up to eat but even stayed in bed for that…and couldn’t even finish it. So that is my exciting Tuesday in a nutshell.*He got to run with one of his virtual friends who was in town. How cool is that? One day I hope to meet some of mine (other than the ones who live here or are in my family). I wonder if it was because I stayed up late writing this post. And this post, which I had scheduled to post on Tuesday morning. Not because I predicted that I would be sick and not be able to blog, but because I had a lot of work to do and I didn’t want to get distracted in order to be productive.
Productive? Oh well…
This morning I missed my network meeting. The Hub asked me “Are you even going to attempt to go?” and with a slight nod he let me be. Around 10 I felt so gross that I had to get in the shower. I felt better but still so achy and a huge headache. I laid on the couch and watched TV for the first time in a long time (at least not Nick Jr, PBSkids, or Disney Channel). Finally I got prepared to go pick up The Kiddos from school. I didn’t really feel like getting all dolled up so I had time to hop on the computer, check my email, and comment on some blogs. That actually make me feel better!
Then I went to pick up The Elder first. Because I was incapacitated yesterday I didn’t get a change to check his folder to see how he did after the ordeal on Monday. The Hub relayed that he got a Blue Card, which means Great! I was woo-hoo-ing on the inside. I hate that I couldn’t be there to give him a pat on the back. But when I picked him up today he announced:
The Elder: Mommy, I got a blue card on Tuesday and Wednesday today.
Me: You did? That’s great!
The Elder: I know. I almost got my Batter Batter Baseball*!
*He gets a ticket for each blue card. Last week we counted 27 tickets. He has been very patient in earning this prize and has stuck with it even though it has been months. I was hoping he would have earned it by his birthday (July).
So he has recovered from Monday nicely. I put a note on his folder on Monday that we worked on his lowercase a for about 5 minutes before I lost him to distraction and restlessness. I don’t know if that helped or not but I’m going to take credit for it.
Then I went to pick up The Younger. I felt pretty cruddy so I didn’t really feel like making conversation but I did anyway.
Me: How are you doing today?
The Director: Good, and you?
Me: We are good, thanks.
Cue: Awkward silence, then The Younger comes running down the hall to meet me.
The Director: He is so sweet.
Me: Thank you, he absolutely loves it here.
And that is so true. Not just that he is so sweet, because he is for at least 75% of the time. The other 25% he is incredibly cranky but usually due to fatigue or hunger. But he does absolutely love it there. I can’t remember how many times he would be completely defiant to go to Sunday School, Nursery at church, or Summer Camp. it was like prying gum off the bottom of your shoe He wouldn’t get ready, he would throw himself to the floor, he would repeatedly say, “I don’t wanna go to church.” He would be fine once he was there, but it was like prying gum off the bottom of your shoe to get him to get off me. I was really afraid to startover at a new place especially after all we’d gone through in the last couple of weeks. But after the first week, I didn’t have to hide from him in the mornings anymore. The AP would take him because he tends to part with her more easily than me. And if he sees me in the mornings it is gum at the front door instead of at the church.
But in the last 2 weeks he has been soooo happy. He talks about school all the time. I don’t necessarily know what he is saying but you can see the excitement in his eyes and hear the love in his voice. I can tell such a huge difference in his attitude.
Me: Are you excited about going to school tomorrow?
The Younger: Mommy, it’s NOT school. It’s preschool.
Me: Oh, I’m sorry. Are you excited about going to preschool tomorrow?
The Younger: Mmm-hmmm. I like my teacher.
He doesn’t even fret over going just 2 days a week even though The Elder goes everyday. And honestly he does some pretty cool stuff in his class. It’s just a Mother’s Day Out program but I have been so impressed with it. It is more organized, structured, and educational than any preschool that I have had experience with. And the way they organize drop off and pick up is kinda a cross between preschool and Kindergarten which I think is very smart. Like I said. Very impressed. And I love the Director. She is just right. She is just right.Not overbearing, but gets the job done. Not condescending or arrogant, and full of love and modesty. I look forward to getting to know her a little better. She needs to know I so much more perky when I’m not sick.
So I might have been sick today…but overall, it’s been a good day!
Me: So how was school today?
The Younger: Mommy, I have frrrriiieeeennnddsss.**(music to my ears as that was the primary purpose!)
Me: Cool! How many?
The Younger: I don’t know.
The Elder: How many number of friends that they are?
The Younger: eighty-seven.
Btw, thanks for those of you who responded to this post. It is great to have support from those who have walked in the same shoes and also great to know that I’m not insane!
