Welcome to OUR World!: Pics from week of School before break....

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Pics from week of School before break....

I am SO slacking, I just realized I forgot to post the couple cute pics I took with the last blog, So here it goes.....
Enjoy!!!

Seans class had their party on Thursday because they were doing a performance on Friday and didnt want to pack too much in on one day.... They did a pizza party with Root Beer floats too and a gift exchange.....

(Presents: His friend got him an Ironman bubble set for the gift exchange and Miss Tonee gave all the boys balloon rockets for Christmas, it was a HIT with the class)

(The boys playing, they had SO much FUN with those things, it was fun to watch them just chuckle everytime someone would blow one up and set it off)

Then it was time to practice for their performance the next day.....

(Teachers: Mrs. Swart (the print top) is Seans classroom teacher, Mrs. Dennis (the striped top) is their music teacher, and Miss Lisa (used to be one of Seans favorite classroom aides, but she teaches the other younger class now))

Friday!!!
We started off the day with Lexi performing for cheer, she was such a cutie in her new uniform, they still have to get Lions printed on the front of them all, but after fitting them for them earlier in the week the girls ALL decided that they HAD to wear them on Friday.... I was glad they did, they looked AWESOME!!!

It was also a very bitter sweet day for us, while the performances were GREAT and the kids did AWESOME... We had to say good-bye to two people on Friday that we will miss dearly....
The first one was the kids new principle Mrs. Smithson, it was her last day, she was AWESOME and we LOVED her. We are wishing her the best of luck in her new endeavors......

Then it was time for Seans performance....
(See the videos in the previous blog)

(waiting patiently for things to get started)

(Lexi got to come watch the performance, she was SO proud of her brother : ) )

After performances and After school (early release), we rushed off to drop of sissy with daddy and go to our second good-bye for the day....
It was Seans LAST therapy appointment with his behavioral therapist. Another one of those VERY bittersweet moments.
Last appointment is a good thing in this case, it means that he has made enough progress in learning how to deal with his anger and how to express himself better that we dont need therapy anymore (atleast not at the moment). It also means that we as a family have more tools to deal with his "outbursts" and "meltdowns" besides losing it and dont need weekly or monthly check-ups with her as well.
But she has been such a BIG part of our lives this last year that it is HARD to say good-bye. She has helped us make such AMAZING progress with him that when she asked if I was ok with closing out his therapy I almost wanted to scream "NO I CANT DO IT WITOUT YOU!!!" But I know thats not true. While we still have our struggles with him, daily, they are MUCH better than they used to be. And with his Aspergers, we know they are nothing that will go away completely. We also know that she is just a phone call and referral request away if any new issues were to come up, so that is a relief to know.

So we reluctantly say good-bye to our dear friend and therapist Laura : (

She brought Sean a completion certificate and a box of chocolate cupcakes for their last appointment. She really didnt have anything planned (which is unusual, but expected since it was their good-bye day) and so she talked to Sean a little about how good he has been doing, and about how he feels about no more therapy. He likes going to see Laura, but lately has been HATING having to "talk" so much because its seems to always be the same subject to him. Learning to communicate better. He went back and forth about whether he was ok with it, but settled on it was ok. Then asked about his surprise she had promised him. Once he got his certificate and the cupcakes, he was done for the day. She would have read a story or played a game, but he shut down and plugged into his sisters MP3 player that he had brought in with him (I think whether he would admit it or not it was an emotional moment for him and that was his way of dealing with it. Earlier in the appointment when she started trying to talk about it being their last visit and how that made him feel he crawled under his chair with his head facing the wall and refused to come out until we told him he would lose his "surprise" then he came out but didnt want to talk about it. Poor punkin, its hard when he doesnt always know how to tell you what he is thinking and feeling, it was obviously VERY overwhelming for him at that moment though). So we cut the appointment short, gave our hugs, said our good-byes and left.

So All in All it was a good day with some sad moments in the middle. Now off to Christmas and some break time : )

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More About Us.....

Sean is doing AMAZINGLY well (considering), If you missed the last couple updates Sean has been diagnosed with Aspergers (High Functioning Autism). It was a tough road to get to that end result, but we are picking ourselves up and dusting ourselves off and moving on in the direction that is best for the little man. Always making sure that the end result will be in his best interest.

Sean was able to be a part of a program this last couple years that has helped immensely with his sensory needs, coping mechanisms, language helps and keeping him on track educationally without the chaos of a "normal" classroom getting in the way. He made so many friends, friends that understand him and his quirks and LOVE him despite them. He was finally able to see that there are people out there like him and he is not alone in the world. We were SO blessed to have that oppurtunity. After a couple months of waiting for the new school year and homeschooling he is back in the program at a new campus and loving it (Pieceful Solutions) they are a God send for us. This next school year they are going private BUT due to a scholarship program offered by the state we are able to continue him in this amazing program AND their new campus is right around the corner from us. Couldnt be happier for them or for our little man. New adventures on the horizon. SO exciting! Check back to see how our Aspie survives the new school year at his new campus!!!

Lexi has had a rough school year last year BUT she is LOVING her new school and her new teacher, her and her BFF (in Florida) are enjoying being pen pals still. Miles cannot come between them, they are still forever friends and always have each others backs. Its nice for her to have a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen from someone who is her "two peas in a pod" bud and will always get what she is going through. She loves her and misses her terribly, but they are making it through. They are both SO excited (AND so are us moms) that we will be taking a vacation to Florida in July to see them. Its been over a year and we miss them SO much. Cant wait. It will be a great adventure; first trip to Disney World, first flight and reuniting with great friends.

After a couple months of being homeschooled last year (which really turned out to be a great experience for both of us despite the added stress at times) Lexi is very excited about being back in a brick and mortar school. She is enjoying the cheer and dance club as well and chapel time on Fridays. Its been great for her to make new friends. This year has been tough again, ups and downs with friends. BUT she is learning to make it through and cope with the fact that not everyone is nice and kind all the time. She has had a boyfriend this year and they are adorably cute together. This year has not been without its drama, but we are expecting that to be the new norm as the kids get older. If we can just make it day by day, step by step we will make it through. Keep checking back for updates on her going ons at school and with her friends.

For both kids this new school year is a BIG change and an oppurtunity for them to grown in their own ways, It has been good for them to have much different experiences and growths. As much as they grow apart in some ways they are growing closer in others. Its been a struggle, but a good life lesson for Sean to be attending Lexis class for some parts of the day. Its good to watch her friends reach out to him, and to hear her want to stand up for him with the couple kids that dont understand him. Hopefully this trend will continue and they will remain close. As much as they get on each others nerves, they both know they have each others backs. We have made it through most of the year and in one peice, thats progress in and of itself =) Hoping this will continue next year as Lexi moves onto her Middle School Campus and Sean moves onto his new campus. This will be the biggest change ever for them, Two totally different schools, new adventures around the corner.

Brandon has been working hard and traveling ALOT (still, some things never change). We have been VERY blessed that he has been able to keep steady work this last couple years or so with the economy the way that it is. And we are hoping that it just stays that way. He is looking forward to our vacation this summer and a break from work. He is getting close to burn out but hanging in there. He is AMAZING and we appreciate the hard work that he does for our family. We love him dearly and miss him like crazy!

As for me: I have been enjoying just being a mom and having the oppurtunity to help my kids learn and grow this last year or so. I was blessed with the oppurtunity to give them all of me and everything they needed this last year. And they blessed me right back with a few lessons I needed to get out of life on perserverance and endurance. I love those guys to peices; and none of it would have been possible without the hard work of my loving husband. He is amazing, and although things arent always perfect between us he never gives up and always fights hard to provide us with everything we need. I love him more than words can describe.

I am looking forward to this school year and being able to take a more stand off approach. Still being involved but seeing how much they can flourish on their own. Still being there to help them with homework and attend their fieldtrips and events. Still helping occasionally in the class, but allowing them space to thrive. The stand off approach has been good for all of us, they are settling into that well. They know I am around when they need me but they are becoming much more independent. Love those little monkies!