So Much To Say...

This week has been a crazy one between our regular schedule and then ALL of the other stuff that we have added.

The boys started their gym program at Slippery Rock University on Wednesday. There were probably about 30 kids there, all their parents and then about 60 students. It was quite chaotic, but the boys did OK. Eric went in great, wanted to play with the parachute (was the only one playing with the parachute and about 15 college students). He was having a ball. Then, once the gym started to fill up, he kind of shut down and was having a hard time focusing...though, for once, that isn't necessarily the objective. It's to get up and get moving and to give these kids a chance to have fun. Plus, out by the water fountain, you could see the pool. Eric LOVES the water, so that was a distraction, too. Evan was way more hesitant, but once he got over his initial fears, he was right in there with all the other kids having a blast.

Last night Rob took Eric to his other gym-type class. They got to go swimming at one of the local YMCAs. Rob didn't even have to get in the water. Eric took to his "mentor"--again, a student from SRU. He had a ton of fun. Next week they are going to My Gym--kind of like gymnastics meets Gymboree. And we found out last night that for a few extra dollars, we can take Evan each week, too. It's a little later on Thursday nights than I would like (Fridays are one of our busiest days), but I'm sure they will both have a blast.

I had a meeting at school for Eric on Wednesday with his teacher, the center director, a developmentalist and his BSC just to talk about how things are going, what everyone can be doing to help him, etc. It's always fun to sit for an hour and listen to what your child does wrong--or at least not exactly right. I don't mean to sound super negative because the group really is there to help him and they all adore him, but it's still annoying nonetheless. His TSS in school right now is terrible. She just isn't into it or him and it shows. He usually has bad days with her. She doesn't know how to deal with him or help him. She is forever doing the opposite of what he is used to or needs. In all, she bothers me and Eric just really doesn't like her...which I'm well aware doesn't help the situation.

Evan got his first report card on Thursday. I had a parent-teacher conference and his teachers couldn't be more pleased, calling him the "success story" of the year. He is doing really well, talking more, making friends, sharing, etc. His report card consists of 15 criteria ranging from separating from parents and sharing to making friends and scissoring. The "grades" are V for Very Good, G for Good, I for Improvement Shown and N for Needs Improvement. Evan got (drum roll please....) 14 Vs! He got a G in scissoring. I was thrilled to say the least.

It's all so bittersweet. I am so very, very, very proud of Evan. This is where Rob and I knew he would get being around typical kids, etc. It's just hard because for all my joy and excitement over Evan (and feeling like a normal parent some of the time), I'm still grieving about Eric. You would think after three plus years that would go away, but it simply hasn't. The way Evan has progressed in the last nine months is how I envisioned Eric changing and growing over the last three years. And I know he has come very, very far, his growth is just much slower and less obvious. I know that I cannot give up hope on Eric, for many reasons, but sometimes I wonder if hope and blind faith is just really selfish stupidity.

On a happier note, we finally joined the gym. The boys will now have a pool year-round, which will be wonderful for them. And Rob and I can finally get back into shape--after the years that we have had off. Not that we have been busy or anything.