Doing Well

Both boys are now in school--Eric every afternoon from 1-3:45 and Evan M-W-F from 12:30-3. They are both doing awesome. The running might just kill me by the end of the year--or I might have to pick up an afternoon Starbuck's habit.

Evan's class only has 12 kids in it--seven of which were in his class last year. He is doing really well. Following directions, sitting, playing. On the first day, I had to go in with him to meet the teachers, etc. He had to make a nametag. Last year when he had to make the nametag, it was ugly and embarrassing. This year, he sat, kept adding more and more decorations, writing his name, etc. I know it seems small, but getting him to sit for any type of art project last year was one of his biggest struggles. It doesn't appear that will be the case this year.

He also just had his re-evaluation for speech this past week. It is an annual evaluation to see what he has achieved, how his goals need to be augmented, etc. Last year, he was speaking at a 2y, 7m old and understanding at a 2y, 2m old. This time when he was evaluated, he is speaking and understanding at a 3y, 7m old. Still behind, I know, but he has jumped between 1 and 1 1/2 years in his language in 12 months. It's just more evidence to me that he will eventually catch up!

I texted some of you about how Eric is rockin' Kindergarten. I get notes home every day from the teacher/aid and I haven't gotten anything less than a good since he started. I went into his classroom the other day to speak to his classmates about communication (sort of a roundabout way to explain why Eric (not using his name) may not talk back when they talk to him, that not all kids use their voices to speak, etc.) When I went into the building to sign in and have the secretary call the teacher to tell her I was there, she asked if I was Eric's mom. When I said yes she began to gush about how he is the most beautiful child she has ever seen. Now I know this is not necessarily the case (though he is one of the two cutest kids I've ever seen), but there is a certain light that is emitted from Eric when he is in a supportive, nurturing environment and I'm sure this is exactly what she meant. When he is in such a place, his eyes light up, his face beams and there is truly nothing better than just being around him!

Then, I ran into his speech therapist in the hallway and she was telling me how great he was doing. She asked where the difficult child was that she was warned about during his school evaluations. I explained to her that he hated his TSS in preschool last year and he must really be enjoying himself this year to be behaving so well and listening so attentively. If you hated the people you worked with everyday, you wouldn't work so hard and you would be cranky and miserable. If you like the people you work with everyday, you are more willing to work a bit harder, put in longer hours, etc. Eric's no different.

I could bore you with specific instances about how well he is listening in class, doing things on his own and for himself. More independence then I have ever seen from him. But I won't. There are too many to mention at this point and I am just so proud of him.

We moved into this district simply after hearsay that it was better than the district we had been in. We traded a cozy house with a reasonable mortgage and taxes, for, well, the opposite of that (well, the house is still comfy). We've been here two years and repeatedly question our decision to move. After the horror stories I have heard from another parent in our old district (they had to fight to keep their child out of life skills and the only other alternative was regular ed--no services even close to what we have here), along with the amazing job Eric is doing because of his fabulous teachers and staff....we now know why we moved and are more than thrilled that we did!

Summer Has Come and Passed

I can't believe school has already started--at least for Eric--and vacation is over, day trips are done and the pools are closing. I'm happy for the cooler weather, but sad because this was the first summer that felt semi-normal in our house, i.e. doing things we couldn't do in the past and really enjoying spending time together as a family doing regular family stuff!

School for Eric seems to be going well. It was questionable about how the day would go, could he/would he ride the bus, etc., but once all of that got ironed out (I won't bore you with the inconsequential details), it is going well. I really love his teachers. They are both young, energetic and full of great ideas! No tears were shed on the first day, although I will admit that having to relinquish control over some portion of my child's day is tearing me apart!

There are four kids in his autism support classroom, along with the teacher and three aides. He starts his day in his regular ed classroom with an aide. I'm not sure how the day progresses from there, i.e. when they pull him out to go to his autism room, if they wait for him to be having a difficult time, if he has to leave to go to speech or OT. I know it isn't all ironed out yet as school hasn't even been in session a full week yet.

We have been busy around here--with the usual stuff, but with some fun stuff too! We decided to take an overnight trip to Hershey last weekend. Rob was already in Carlisle for a Corvette show, so the boys and I drove out to meet him. We spent Saturday afternoon at the M&H Railroad where the boys got to ride a real train. Then, we checked into our hotel and took the boys swimming. After we showered and got ready, we headed out to dinner and then to the Park. It was great. Evan really loves the rides and Eric was quite excited to do the water park on Sunday. We woke up Sunday morning and met my sister, Dad and Lauren for breakfast and then went to Chocolate World. After that, we went into the park. Eric only rode the Carousel and the trains, Evan was into just about everything and kept asking if he could ride the roller coaster--sorry buddy, still too small. Rob and Eric eventually took off for the water park. We met them there and Eric was having a blast. He had a life jacket on and just thought it was the bee's knees because he could bob up and down and float all over. He kept going under and didn't care! All in all, it was a really, really nice weekend.

Evan doesn't start school until September 9, but when I asked him the other day why we go to school, he told me "to have fun." Hopefully that attitude lasts the next 14+ years!

We are going to a Pirates game on Sunday with the boys. They have never been so I'm anxious to see how it goes. Eric isn't much for loud crowds, so it could be interesting. We thought his hands might become permanently attached to his ears at Hershey Park, so I can only imagine the ballgame will be the same.

The boys and I went downtown to ride the incline and walk through Station Square. This is them on one of the lookouts from Mt. Washington.

First day of school in Eric's regular ed classroom.

M&H train ride.

M&H train ride.