Another journey

My little Bug and I have been very busy. I started a new job in August working at an elementary school in the Highly Structured Classroom. I work with Special Needs children and have to say that I LOVE IT! I have learned so much, but still wasn't prepared for the news that I received at Bug's ARC meeting at school this year. I can't say that I was surprised about anything, after all, no one knows my child any better than me. It just wasn't something I was expecting to hear from someone else. I have noticed that Bug has been having a hard time socially. We have had difficulties at church and I also noticed something strange at a friends house one day. So, when the OT let me know that she thinks that I need to get Bug further evaluated, I wasn't surprised. It also wasn't the first time that I have heard this. His pediatrician suggested this to me back in January, but I wasn't ready and didn't totally agree at the time. I asked the OT what exactly was she thinking that I needed to get him evaluated for. She told me that she is almost certain that he is on the Spectrum...What is the Spectrum, you ask? Autism Spectrum Disorder - needless to say, my heart sunk to the floor. So, I asked if she was thinking maybe Asperger's? She said that she thinks it is possible. Apparently, he has been having a hard time playing games and getting upset if his team doesn't win or if he doesn't get picked to the team that he likes, etc. This is just a brief description of what goes on with him at school. His inability of communicating hasn't gotten any better. His handwriting skills are sorely lacking. I could go on and on... So, I called the pediatrician and we had a long talk about it all and she wholeheartedly agreed that there are some concerns that need to be addressed and she is working on getting him scheduled to see a Psychiatrist to have him evaluated to see if he has a type of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Please pray for us during this time. We need lots of prayers! I know that no matter what happens and what diagnosis that we receive, my little Bug is still my sweet, loving, adorable child that I would die for. I just hate that things are so difficult for him and worrying that they are going to be more difficult in the future. I hate that he has to work so much harder than other kids in his class. I am thankful that he got the best 2nd grade teacher that he can get. Of course, I am biased since she is one of my best friends and she treats Bug like one of her own. She really takes care of him and me and she has already been wonderful with the recent news that we received. I will keep you posted on what we find out, hopefully it will be very soon.

Busy Carefree Summer Days!

Goodness, it has been a month since Bug ended first grade with a bang! He missed the last 4 days of school due to a terrible virus. I joke that he was ready for summer and decided to take an early break. I did take him in on the last day for his awards ceremony and am happy to say that he received 4 awards! I took pictures and you can tell that even though he was happy about his awards, but that he felt so bad! So glad that he finally got better and we began our summer of no schedules and just having fun. I am happy to say that Bug finally learned to ride his bicycle without training wheels. That was such a big deal for him! He is so excited that he tells everyone he sees and you can tell just how proud of himself he is. (Not to mention, how proud Mommy and Daddy are too!) He has been participating in a reading camp twice a week, hopefully to help boost his reading skills. He is enjoying it, thank goodness. We have also been on a camping trip at a campground near our home. Bug brought along a friend for one night and they had such a good time riding bikes, playing basketball, playing on the playground and, of course, roasting marshmallows to make s'mores.! I just wish he would eat the marshmallows, but that is whole another post! He is enjoying sleeping in, going swimming with his friends and just having no schedule to worry about and getting him in overload. Mommy really enjoys spending this stress free time with him and sometimes makes me dread the grind of getting back to school. I wish he didn't have such a hard time at school, but at least I know that he will have an awesome teacher next year, who I know will take very good care of him and make sure that he has a very successful year. I am thankful that I have gotten to know the teachers at his school so well this past year and know that I won't have to worry about him when I start my job in August. Oh, did I mention that I have a new job? I will be working at another elementary school in our county. I really wanted to work at Bug's school, but this opportunity came and I just could not pass it up. I know that it will take some getting used too on both mine and Bug's part, but I feel confident that it will be okay. I hope everyone has a wonderful, carefree summer too!

Weighted Vest

I just realized that I had not posted an update about the weighted vest! They have tried the weighted vest out at school and it has been a huge success! He loves the vest and it has been so helpful. He has even told his OT when he needs to wear it and where (like the loud lunchroom) he needs it most. That is such a huge relief to know that something so small is making a big impact in his abilities to function at school. His teacher has said that he has been doing much better. He still needs some work on being more independent. Little by little, he is making some progress. He has come such a long way though, makes Mommy proud!

The Misunderstood Child by Kathy Winters

I have a few things that I wanted to share that I found on another blog that I just could not resist sharing.

Please feel free to go check out the blog!


What is Sensory Processing Disorder?

"Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD, formerly known as "sensory integration dysfunction") is a condition that exists when sensory signals don't get organized into appropriate responses. Pioneering occupational therapist and neuroscientist A. Jean Ayres, PhD, likened SPD to a neurological "traffic jam" that prevents certain parts of the brain from receiving the information needed to interpret sensory information correctly. A person with SPD finds it difficult to process and act upon information received through the senses, which creates challenges in performing countless everyday tasks. Motor clumsiness, behavioral problems, anxiety, depression, school failure, and other impacts may result if the disorder is not treated effectively."

The Misunderstood Child
By Kathy Winters

I am the child that looks healthy and fine.
I was born with ten fingers and toes.
But something is different,somewhere in my mind,
And what it is, nobody knows.

I am the child that struggles in school,
Though they say that I'm perfectly smart.
They tell me I'm lazy-can learn if I try-
But I don't seem to know where to start.

I am the child that won't wear the clothes
Which hurt me or bother my feet.
I dread sudden noises, can't handle most smells,
And tastes-there are few foods I'll eat.

I am the child that can't catch the ball
And runs with an awkward gait.
I am the one chosen last on the team
And I cringe as I stand there and wait.

I am the child with whom no one will play-
The one that gets bullied and teased.
I try to fit in and I want to be liked,
But nothing I do seems to please.

I am the child that tantrums and freaks
Over things that seem petty and trite.
You'll never know how I panic inside,
When I'm lost in my anger and fright.

I am the child that fidgets and squirms
Though I'm told to sit still and be good.
Do you think that I choose to be out of control?
Don't you know that I would if I could?

I am the child with the broken heart
Though I act like I don't really care.
Perhaps there's a reason God made me this way-
Some message he sent me to share.

For I am the child that needs to be loved
And accepted and valued too.
I am the child that is misunderstood.
I am different-but look just like you.

Now that poem/definition really comes so close to home. I almost want to print it out and hand it to every person that comes into contact with my child so that he will not be judged so harshly. Is that crazy or just the worried Mom in me?

School adventures...

Wow! I knew that I had not posted in awhile, but didn't realize just how long. It is not that I don't have anything to post about, it is the opposite, I have so much to post about! I went back to work in September and life around our house has been quite crazy...

Luckily, Bug has taken it pretty well having Mommy going to work outside of the home. I am a classified substitute for the school system, so lucky for me, I can always say no to a job if I need too. That has happened quite a few times, sometimes things just can't be helped. It has been great though, I am at Bug's school alot of the time and can be reached fairly easily if I am needed.

Bug's ARC meeting at school was last week. I was very concerned because I found out the night before the meeting that they were thinking about placing Bug into the PASS program at school. If you don't know what PASS is, it is a program for dealing with the children that have emotional and behavior disorders. I couldn't understand why they wanted to place him in that program, because I didn't know that there was any problems. What I found out was that when Bug has to move his popcorn (it is part of their discipline, they lose part of their recess), he gets so undone and upset that he cannot function for a while. It takes a long time to get him focused back on the task at hand and can disrupt class time. They wanted to try PASS by giving him that extra chance before moving his popcorn. I have to say that I didn't foresee PASS as being a good resolution for that. I feared that he would only be labeled as a PASS kid and that would follow him the remainder of his school years. So, we decided that they would attempt the PASS colors and see how that would work for him and not place him in that program. I hope that it does help, but I still think he will be upset when they move him from green to yellow the same as moving his popcorn. I know that this is confusing, but it is kind of difficult to explain what the colors mean.

He is having difficulty staying on task in the classroom and trying to stay in his seat. The OT and I discussed maybe how a weighted vest might help and she is going to try using one at school and see if that helps. He loves his weighted blanket and lap mats, so maybe this could be beneficial. Will just have to wait and see.

Now, if only we could get him over this illness that he has had since mid-October...He seems to be catching every single bug that is going around. We can't seem to get him well. He has been to the doctor 8 times since October 13. Ear infections, sinus infections, allergies, you name it! He has had this same cough since the beginning. Poor little guy, makes me wish I could just home school! I have to give his teachers a lot of credit, I couldn't home school...he would drive me insane...but I still love my little bug :)

Triple Whammy!

Bug went back to school last week and he had a pretty good week. He seems to be adjusting well to all the changes with this school year. He even told his teacher that he loved her yesterday :) That is so nice to know that he does love his teacher, he does not give out his love freely or to just anyone.

Yesterday started out as a good day until the required fire drill. There are few things that Bug just has a VERY HARD time dealing with.

1. Loud noises
2. Fire (we can't hardly light a candle in our house.)
3. Lightning/Storms

So, you can see how a fire drill could send my son into a frenzy. You have the loud noise from the fire alarm itself, the very thought that the school was really on fire and the light flashing around on the fire alarm looked like lightning to him.

While all of this is going on at school, I am at home totally redoing my walk-in closet. One of Bug's teachers tried to call me during his overload breakdown because all he wanted to do was talk to his Mommy and I did not hear my phone. I check my phone fifteen minutes later to find that I had a missed call, voice mail and text. I climbed in my truck and drove down to the school. Normally, I would have just let the teachers deal with him, not wanting him to have to have me everytime he needs to be calmed down, but this time, I had to go see him. When I walked in his classroom, his teacher told me that he was doing much better. He seemed relieved to see me and just kept telling me how scared he was. After we got home, we kept talking about how the school has to have the fire drills so that the kids will all know what to do if there is a real fire. He seemed to be feeling better about it until bedtime. He had a really hard time going to sleep and saying that he didn't want to be alone. I didn't know what to do, should I lay down with him? After a few minutes talking to him, he seemed better and I left him to fall asleep alone.

This morning was rough and he had more anxiety about going to school today. I did email his teachers to let them know that he would probably have a hard day. I did double joint compressions and brushed him and left him at school. I have already received three texts from his teachers this morning telling me that he was doing okay. He is more nervous and needy today, but seems to be doing well. Thank goodness for the wonderful support system that we have at school. I don't know how I would make it thru the day if we didn't have it. I am praying that Bug can get over this very quickly...

Is it time for school already?

Yes, it is time for school and today is Bug's second day of school. Yesterday, I helped out at his school all day, so that I could be close in case he had a rough day. This being the first time that he had been at school for all day, I have to say that I am very proud of him. He did quite well until around 1:00 or so, when he asked me if we could go home now...

His teacher said that he had done very well yesterday, so hoping today goes just as well. He decided that he wanted to ride the bus home, so I am sitting here chomping at the bit waiting for the bus to bring my Bug home. I am trying really hard to NOT email the teacher and ask how he is. I mean, if she needs me, she will call or email me, right? Errrrrr, I don't need to email her, I don't need to email her, I don't need to email her......