Andy's IEP was today

Andy's Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) meeting was today. His preschool teacher spoke with
Andy's future kindergarten teacher during the meeting and gave tips on how to soothe Andy, and spoke of his likes and dislikes at school. I also informed them of Andy's new Autism diagnosis, and of how I am going to give Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy a try with him as well.

I also brought up concerns of possibly needing bus transportation next year for Andy, despite living very close to the school. Unfortunately, there are big physical challenges/obstacles to getting him to the school in his wheelchair. One of which used to be missing sidewalks! This issue was resolved, but ramps/approaches still need to be added to current school walkways as they are not handicapped accessible.

The weather has also been a huge issue this year, more so than ever. This winter has been a terrible one, and it makes me worry of how I am going to get Andy to school next year in his wheelchair without constantly getting stuck in the snow all the time. This prompted me to add a transportation statement into the IEP, which notes that "Transportation by bus with a lift and tie downs needs to be available at the request of the parents". The reason for this is because I don't expect to be needing to use a school bus for Andy unless we have bad weather conditions.

This winter 2013-2014, Michigan has had record breaking snowfall of 94.8 inches. This has surpassed the old record of 93.6 inches in the year 1880 to 1881! Which for me, meant that I had trouble getting my son to my daughter's school in his wheelchair at times. His wheelchair became stuck in the snow on several occasions, due to my subdivisions lack of clearing the common area sidewalks, and my daughter's school not doing their job of clearing snow away properly. It was very nerve racking and hair pulling to say the least. Luckily, I didn't have to bring him to the school very often, but next year I will have to daily.

The picture above shows me at the park with Andy just days before the final record breaking snowfall. We were at the park enjoying a lovely 70 degree day, and then several days later the temperatures plummeted down to 30 degrees and we got two inches of snow. I know the weather has been crazy everywhere, and I have come to expect the totally unexpected as normal for the past few years now.

I'm very excited for the upcoming school year, and I think Andy will be too. I think we are going to start seeing some wonderful changes in Andy. It will be so great to have him involved in highly beneficial programs that will help him flourish.

Exercising is helping me be a better mom

It never fails, I was trying to get my new routine started of working out a couple times a week, and I picked up strep throat somewhere along the way. Which I then gave to Andy. It was a bit of a road bump.

I went to some exercise classes for a couple of weeks, and the results of feeling less stressed about Andy and family life were immediate. I really enjoyed exercising and taking time for myself. I seemed much better able to handle the stresses that Andy deals out. I was also happier towards him, more understanding, and sleeping better through the night.

I've also been working on trying to be more understanding with my daughter. A lot of times I am not very forgiving with the fact that she is only six, and doesn't have a lot of logic and comprehension of things. I find myself having a very short fuse with her every day.

My bowling league is coming to an end, which was a night out that I got each week. I should really substitute that night by doing something with my daughter, but I'm sure it will rarely happen. There are always so many things that come up, and it is just easier to stay home.

In more exciting news, Andy is occasionally attempting to put random syllables together! They sometimes sound like real words. He blurted out in the grocery store today after a lot of high-pitched squealing, "Haaaay, ebb-er-body" and then nothing else. It was exciting to think he is attempting to talk.

I am currently on the kick again of giving him the fish oil squeeze packs once a day. I think it is stirring up something in his brain. I am going to try to keep it going a bit longer this time, before giving up on it. It's so easy to throw in the towel with it and think, it isn't showing me any results, just forget it. But I think it has a cumulative effect and you really have to just keep up the faith and give it daily no matter what you are seeing come out of it.

Any other tips on how to get him to talk to us would be great!