A friend of mine describes her life lately as it looks like a demolition crew went through her house. She’s been so busy canning. I’m jealous as I simply have no clue how to do that. That same demolition crew stopped at my house....but I promise I didn't send them her way! Mine is just from moving. I swear there are boxes, mismatched socks, and stuff waiting for a permanent home EVERYWHERE. Also, it seems like when the place you are looking at is empty, you can envision your furniture and such there. But as you fill it, it always runs out of room. AAAAGGGGG MAKE IT STOP!!!!
Rueben’s IEP meeting was yesterday. It went pretty well considering I thought it was going to be one of those disastrous meetings where school officials think they know your child better than you do after 2-3 days of the school session beginning for the year. Rueben qualifies for services in reading (which includes all aspects of reading: phonics, grammar, language, handwriting etc.), behavior, speech, and math. This year, his speech will also include a communications class in which Rueben will be taught conversational skills from a teacher, but with the help of peer educators. Rueben seems rather comfortable around adults and would rather not deal with children. And even though he’s more comfortable with adults, he doesn’t have the skills necessary that almost come to us automatically. Start, stop, or continue a conversation. Asking if he can play with others, sharing a toy, taking turns reciprocally. He will also be working on the proper way to say both regular and irregular verbs in the past tense. His favorite terms is “I goed” since he just doesn’t accept that the word is “went.” This is the first year that Math will be included in the IEP. Last year, in the Oklahoma district, he qualified for a temp aide in the afternoon just to keep him focused and on task. He happened to have Math in the afternoon, but it was just someone helping him sit at his desk. They’ve written into the IEP a service in which Rueben can get one on one and small group instruction, homework help, and his tests can be read to him aloud. Though it is written into the IEP, the SPED staff and I agree that at this point, Rueben is at grade level in Math skills. He will not be receiving Math services at this time. If there comes a time that he begins to slip behind, since it’s already in the IEP, I’ll have to sign one paper to get his services started instead of waiting for him to be 2 letter grade levels behind and then testing his abilities to see if he qualifies for assistance, he will be able to jump right into his services. So far, Rueben is right on task, but he’s bringing home timed tests in which there are 75 problems and he’s only finishing 3 or 4. Our biggest obstacle as far as his academic skills and not any particular subject is keeping him on task and getting him to finish things.
Overall, the SPED teacher, who I originally thought would be a problem, is on Rueben’s team and ready to help him in any way he needs it. All of the ladies at the meeting took what I had to say into consideration. Some of my suggestions they had not even thought of and they are now going to implement them immediately. At this time, however, we do not have any suggestions on how to stop just taking his things away. Rueben’s classmates have all their things at their desks and function quite fine. Rueben’s pencil box, contents thereof, books, papers, folders etc are all removed from his desk and only given to him when he needs them. He’s also loosing his shoes pretty frequently. He starts playing with them and trying to unlace them, so the teacher takes them away. I’m a bit concerned that this will be a cause of ridicule for Rueben from his classmates. I’m not sure what to do.
Today is clean house day. I’ve been cleaning all morning. At some point, I have to attack my floor. Not so much scouring as just basic picking up, organizing and such. Laundry…the usual stuff. I’m making a list of all the things I want to have put in the house from the storage shed and vise versa. I’ll be calling a local thrift store to come and pick up about 12 boxes and 3 or 4 pieces of furniture. No sense junking it if they can still be used. Hope you all have a great day!!
- Mood: tired, but satisfied
We have landed!! Our new place was ready 4 days early and it gave Randy and I 4 additional days getting 2 loads a day of stuff for the house. We have a little 2 bedroom townhouse, but the master bedroom is roomy and that's where the boys are. Hopefully, we can keep this place until we find a house to buy. Even with the buyers market going on, we'll still need to save the next 5-6 years. By the time Mason enters middle school we should be ready.
Rueben and Tyler started school last Wednesday. They go to a different school than what I had registered them over the summer. It is, however, a school we are familiar with. Rueben had both SPED Preschool and SPED pre-k there before we moved to OK. Rueben is slowly getting used to things and our first disciplinary meeting (MDT/IEP) will be this Friday. I hope I will have good news for you. Tyler enjoys first grade very much so far. He says he feels smarter already. HA!
Mason started "stool" yesterday. When that speech path gets a hold of him, he will no longer sound so adorable. He loves school very much. None of my children had major security things like Linus from Peanuts....teddy bears, blankets. But since we moved here, Mason is especially attached to his pillow. He want to take it everywhere. It's a body pillow, so it is very long. He was very upset that I wouldn't let him take it to school with a quilt he picked out. He came home and he said: "Mom! Teacher said I have to keep my blanky at stool. I so glad I no take my pillow. I no want to keep it there, it stay here with you mommy okay?" It was cute. When he left today he told his van driver that I was "sitting on his baby" pillow for him today. His driver and I both gave him a look...took me a minute to figure out what he was talking about.
We are mostly moved in now with the cable and internet finally being hooked up today. I am so tired at the end of the day, I've had not the ambition to get my two quilts out. Both the mystery and Steven's have been stagnant the last couple weeks. I went and picked up my new clue for the mystery after 2 weeks. Now it's almost time for the last clue #6, even though I've only done basic cutting on clue #4! I have to kick it in the butt!
I have to get dinner ready...feel free to comment. I'm hoping to blog every few days!
We found a place, but it won't be ready for two weeks. I'm moving in with my brother in law until then with the hubby and kids. Won't have internet for a couple weeks. Will try to explain later.
Also....lacy if you have my email address...shoot me an email. It's sometimes easier to keep up with people with email than blogging.
Hope to be back here to update soon.
It looks like there will be complications already in getting Rueben into the clinic. First, there's a waiting list. They've put us on it, but won't tell us an average time per patient, where we are on the list or how many are ahead of us.
Also, insurance co will only pay for 30-45 sessions. 4 sessions a week...that is less time than they alloted for Rueben. They have no idea the waiting list for the new doc to prescribe for Rueben. So, they agreed to type up a little note and fax it to the primary doctor so he can change over to the new medicine since we have no idea how long we'll be in limbo.
We are actively looking for our new house. We have a couple appointments this week. I hope we find something soon....but I don't want to jeopardize my trip to Illinois either.
Off on the run again.
As most of you know, Randy has been fighting a build up of stomach acid, causing great pain since last summer. After ruling it out, twice, they went back again and decided to diagnosis him with GERD: Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. He has been prescribed some different medications to treat the erosions in the esophagus as well as some to help him keep the sphincter in the top of the stomach to open and close. I'm not sure what kind of time we are looking at 3,6,9 or 12 months. I don't know exactly. After the specified time period, if Randy is still in so much pain, like he is now, they will refer us to a gastro-intestinal surgeon. The surgery sounds really icky so we are praying the medication works as it should.
Also, Rueben had his appointment at the clinic yesterday. We had a whole gauntlet of people to talk to in individual appointments in the morning. Education (dealing with your child's school), Speech Pathology, Psychiatry, Developmental Pediatrician and Genetics. Then we broke for lunch and the we all came back as a team to discuss their findings.
Rueben had his at the Monroe Meyer Clinic. We were led around to all the stations like sheep. We discussed their findings on the same day so we don't have to wait for the written report which could take 3 weeks. They decided he does NOT have Asperger's Syndrome, nor does he have most of the more common ASDs (autism spectral disorder's) They have decided he is on the spectrum, but they aren't sure exactly where he falls as some of his behaviors are classic autism and some are more HFA (high functioning autism). His final diagnosis is severe ADHD (no kidding) and PDD-NOS Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified. They even think it'll be easier to get a disability claim through SSI with the PDD-NOS than with the AS. I'm just not a big fan of the change because I've been researching the wrong things for the last year and a half.
They are going to be implementing 2 BIG changes. One, Rueben is accepted into their Autism Clinic. He will be entered into both the severe and mild/moderate clinics. The severe he will be getting "Severe Behavior Modification" to curb his self-abuse behaviors so he stops beating the crap out of himself. Secondly, he will go to mild/moderate clinic to receive social interaction therapy which will teach him how to hold a conversation and such. Eventually as the clinic phases out, members of both clinics will meet with us at home and at school. The clinic personnel will "teach" the school discipline that works for Rueben and show them a good peer conversation modification study to try and get him social help at school as well. The head of both clinics is Dr. Henry Roanne, MD, PHD ANDWHOKNOWSWHATOTHERABC's. He has taken a personal interest in Rueben's behavior, mostly because he had a nasty melt down in his office. He will work on Rueben's behavior modification himself instead of having one of his minions do it.
We cannot start to implement these changes, unfortunately, until after school starts 3 weeks from today. Randy's company is changing insurance carriers and I'm sure they want to get paid for their services. So, they will wait to start all this stuff until the new carrier is here and we have our new cards and such. We have to keep him on the same meds and stuff until then.
Hello all!
As I sit here this gorgeous Sunday night, I sit at the end of a good day and a great weekend. Before I get to the good news, let me give you the well....not fantastic.
We still have not found out anything about Randy's health or the good job. For right now, he has been offered a regional job that will get him through the house 2 nights a week and for a few hours 3 days a week. He's taking it. I hope there comes a time when he can take the other job, if it opens for us. We are letting the Lord stay in charge of this one. Right now, He's providing a regional job and Randy's fine with that. He doesn't want to have to lose insurance for Rueben. Also, the specialist has not called for the next horrible test or even a recap appointment. We will call him by the end of the week if he doesn't call us.
I am doing a mystery quilt right now. I'm pretty sure I blogged about it 2 or 3 entries ago. Got the 3rd clue today. I'm concerned that I bit off more than I can chew, but I really hate triangles and there's a bunch of them. I can do this, I can do this. Can I do this?? I have to or it will be a horrible waste of good fabric that I didn't get for free.
Okay....good news:
1. Rueben's specialist appointment is almost here! July 22 here we come!
2. Randy's daughter B was here this weekend. We had a lovely time. We took the kids to the zoo with her and her family yesterday. We walked all over the place. My calves were SCREAMING by today...when we just walked some more! We are gluttons for punishment I tell you!!! After the darn near perfect day at the zoo yesterday....despite the crowds my kids were good!...we did railroad days today. I can't wait til next year. Maybe I can get my baby brother out here. Railroad Days. You see 5 railroad oriented museums over 2 days with FREE transportation via Trolleys or Buses all for 10.00 per family. It was really a wonderful experience. That being said, my kids were still tuckered out from yesterday so we didn't have as great of a day as I think we could have. We did enjoy what we saw. There was one that Randy and I really wanted to see, but we took the kids home because they were tired. We want to go back this coming weekend to that one place.
My son Rueben, as you know, is Autistic. One of his favorite things is trains. He got to walk in the old trainstation and walk through and on real train cars from the 1800's-1971. We saw costumes that people wore when they worked the trains, train movies (THOMAS...though we avoided those), and the best part for the grown ups were looking at the prices from all those times ago. The best part for the kids aside from walking in and on was being able to operate a model train. Rueben did great and the one he got to operate was Thomas so he was in high heaven. Lots of riding stuff, playing with stuff, very hands on. And yes, I did remember my pocket sanitizer and so Rueben got to wash his hands after he touched all the stuff. I'm glad I packed 2 of them, but we went through one whole one.
They were so excited and it was really worth it. While it was fun, my legs are fighting me to move. Anyone says that the midwest is flat needs their heads examined. I've walked up and down more hills in the last 2 days than I ever have all at once. The only other time my legs hurt bad was when we climbed to Delicate Arch in Utah and that was only because I didn't stretch first. Poor Mason....we had to carry him a lot today. Little legs just hurt.
Enjoy your weekend and I can't wait to hear back from you.
Prayer requests:
Provision of job and necessities for us.
Report of help needed for Rueben.
Safe travels for B and her family as they travel home tonight.
Safe travels for friends D & S as they are on a much deserved vacation.
I forgot to mention that Randy had a very important job interview last Friday. We haven't heard back yet, but the guy who interviewed Randy said it was very promising.
If Randy gets this job, he'll be home nights and weekends. It pays between 17-18 an hour, starting, with a fantastic benefits package. He really needs this job.
Wow. It's only Thursday but it feels like this week has just drug out forever.
Randy got his test results yesterday for the most recent invasion to his body. And just like all the other tests, this one was normal too. I have no idea what they plan to do to him next. I hope they have a clue at least about what's going on with him. He even had the same pain during the test, which we thought was good that it happened during the test, but it didn't make any difference.
Mason had a speech screening and hearing test for the school district last week. He tested about the same as OPS, but he was 3 then (a week from his birthday) and he's 4 now, so he qualifies for services. That being said, he speeks too well and is too smart for the special ed prek that Rueben was in. She wasn't sure exactly what she could do, but she was going to try and get him into the Millard sponsored pre-school. This school is more like a day care. It's 250.00 per month. The good news is, is that they have to have a certain amount of verifiable need students in order to qualify for government funding. We got the packet in the mail on Monday. Mr. Mason will be attending the almost full time preschool. The older boys will be in school m-f 8:45 to 3:45. Mason will be in a different elementary, has to be in the prek that has the speech thing, from 9:10-2:15 each day. He will have transportation to and from school. I know I'm excited. He will be too, when I finally tell him. I don't need him to talk about it every day for the next 6 weeks!
I do have a couple prayer requests today. My foster mom's surgery is next Thursday. I pray her surgery goes well and she's back up on her feet soon.
Here is one for my dear friends the Marvels, I've copied it directly from my outgoing email:
We have dear friends named the Marvels. They are both in their 70's. He's a navy vet with multiple health problems from aging. Mostly diabetic related. Helen has tons and tons of health problems as well. She currently has a stress fracture on her hip, but she spends most of her time creating quilts and clothing for charity. Doing "God's work" makes her feel like she is needed.
Carol woke up from his name in extreme pain. She got him to a hospital. The doctors agreed he had appendicitis. They could not operate while his sugar was over 500. They barely got him stabilized and in surgery when his appendix ruptured. The 20 minute procedure took almost 3 hours. Helen is at the hospital with him. He is in the ICU and unconscious. The doctors said the next 12 hours are critical. They have no idea if Carol will live or die.
Please join me in prayer for my dear friends. I'm trying to figure out how to juggle our finances so I can go to OK if necessary.
Have a great Thursday!
Howdy doody all! Just give me a second to say we are all okay from that horrible storm. We had another bad one come through last night. It didn't produce any tornadoes, but it sure caused damage like it did. 2 dead, 120,000 without power. Scary stuff.
Rueben is technically old enough to be going to Sun Dawgs, but alas, there is not enough caring supervision for me to allow it. Christy won't be going either so Rueben will have some company. I'm not sure if my sanity will survive. I am still trying to get Mason into some form of pre-school for fall....just keep praying on that.
Okay....that's the update that I have, lets get on to the meet and potatoes so to speak. My lovely sewing machine is in the shop. But I've made the first payment and I only have 2 left. The payments aren't horrible expensive either, so I should be able to pay it off within the month. I have a ton to do before then, craft wise, so I'm hoping to have everything ready when I get my machine home.
I started on a Mystery quilt. For those of you who don't know what that is, neither did I until recently. Here is a definition for you:
A Mystery Quilt is a finished quilt that the shop has the pattern to and has made a sample so they know what it looks like. They then rewrite the pattern to break it up into however may "piece clues" or pieced patterns that they want. For example if it was a sampler quilt, each block would be different. They then advertise they have a mystery quilt available. You as the consumer, have NO CLUE about what the blocks or even the finished quilt looks like. You are given only vague ideas on each piece. For example, this one that I'm doing is broken up into 6 pieces. It tells me exact yardage that I need for 4 fabric pieces: Light, Medium Light, Medium Dark, and Dark. It also describes how much material is needed to make the quilt pieces themselves, the finished yardage (70 x 84" or twin) of the quilt itself, the amount of fabric needed for binding, bordering (if you want to make the quilt bigger) and the yardage needed for the back of the quilt in "unfinished" size 70x84 or with an 8-10 in border. The instructions for clue one tell me to cut 5 3"wide strips of the light and medium light fabric. Then I sew them together into 5 containing one strip of each. That's it. The next piece will have the next clue. Clues are given out at certain intervals. This store has them every two weeks until Aug. 23rd. Then, you have until October to "finish" them including batting, backing, quilting and binding. Unfinished quilts, but finished tops are allowed on display and they will have a contest of all the "finished" quilts in October. Everyone who makes a top or a quilt is invited to a party with free refreshments, door prizes and a little "gift" from the store. Then all the ladies vote on their favorite and one quilt wins. Don't ask me what the winner gets. The instructions/clues are free and you don't have to show your work to get the next piece like you would in a block of the month. I get my clues free each time. The money I put into it is in thread and fabric. Of course they will give you a 5% discount on fabric you buy at their store to use on this project. I could only afford their fabric if I had two jobs and Randy had 3. I can get similar fabric of equal quality at Walmart for 1/4 of the price or more. Fabrics I choose at walmart range from 1-2.00/yard and fabric at country sampler ranges from 6-12.00 a yard. I know I'll need 8 yards just for the back!! Hope this helps. There is a mystery involved, and I can't wait to see what others have done with the same instructions. It's just weird when you start a project and have NO CLUE how it will end up.
I picked up my four fabrics last night, and I wish that Walmart had a decent 1-2/yard inventory. The selection was horrible. It ended up being 4.44 a yard for each piece that I needed, which is definitely more than I wanted to pay, but less than what I would find at Hancock's or JoAnn's for example. I'll let you know, periodically, how the mystery is going. I'm hoping I can take a picture and figure out how to add it here, so you can see the finished product.
Enjoy the remainder of the weekend. We are supposed to go off somewhere for breakfast, but I bet Randy will be sleeping a while yet. See you soon!!
Hello all! So sorry it's been so long. We've had quite the uproar around here.
My birthday came and went with no huge to-do. The biggest deal about it, was that a friend of mine with NO memory at all, remembered and called. She knows who she is.
Rueben's birthday also has come and gone. He is officially 7 now. He's getting ready to begin his 3rd and final week of summer school. After this is Sun Dawgs and here soon, his appointment with the developmental specialists at Monroe Meyer Institute will be here. He will be going to the autism clinic there. He's been regressing big time, and I'll have to leave that for another post. It is just so sad to watch my little guy go backwards when he is SO very far behind anyway. I'm not completely sure he will be going to Sun Dawgs yet, I have to talk to them about their accomodations for autistic children.
Tyler's birthday is upon us!! This coming Wednesday my middle son will be 6. He just finished his first VBS of the season at St. Paul's. He really liked it and is looking forward to another VBS at St. Andrew's this summer and Sun Dawgs as well. I have few concerns about him. He is also flying right through his summer reading program at the library. He's reached level one already and is almost to level 2.
I don't really have an update on Mason at this time. He also finished VBS this last week. They were on the road to Jerusalem. Mason was in Zebulen, Tyler in Simeon, Christy in Gad and Tina in Dan. Rueben was in summer school.
We had an F2 tornado come right through here on June 8th about 2:30 am. It was a really horrible thing, though there were few injuries and no deaths. We were without power for just over a day. It wasn't due to the storm persay, as it was to the electric company cut the power as the tree in the neighbors yard was on the line. The had to cut it, but had more pressing areas to go to before they could turn it back on. Big pain in the butt. We (as a family) volunteered with the Red Cross for 3 days. Randy was home during this time too. We moved a lot of tree debris in the Westwood neighborhood including Randy's grandmother's house. I took a lot of pics, and maybe at some point I can finally figure out how to post some here.
We had more horrible storms through here Wednesday night, but the worst hit area was Little Sioux, IA and it's Boys Scout Camp. I'm sure you have all seen the news reports of that.
I'm still trying to keep my sanity with 5 children all the time. The girls are blessings at times, but not so much at others just like any children.
Will try to update more when I can. Been so busy with clean up and trying to keep the kids busy.
Prayer requests:
The family and friends of those affected by Wednesdays storms.
Anyone affected by the flooding in IA (this includes my dear hubby having to drive so far out of his way)
Hubby as he has yet more tests scheduled and he still has no clue what's wrong with him.
RUEBEN: He's having a real tough time right now, which means we are all having a rough time. When I figure out all that's wrong...I'll post it.
Finally, my married friends BJK....unspoken request.
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