Celebrate Every Day

Organizing Paper Work for Special Needs

2012-01-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

Lee and I are not good at organizing paper work. But, God called us to adoption and autism, both of which require lots of paper work. So we're getting better!

I spent time this week organizing #2's paper work. I created a binder with sections for:

Occupational Therapy- all receipts from weekly sessions, information on his therapeutic listening, records of his goals and progress.
Behavioral Therapy- all receipts and records from his sessions. (I have another binder specifically for his goals and progress.)
School Records- IEP meeting information, correspondence, special work he did.
Insurance- copies of all the insurance forms we've filed.
Medical Information- doctor contact information, records from appointments, ordering information & receipts for supplements.

When I finished his 2011 binder, I made his 2012 binder so we'd be ready for this year!

Celebrating Snow Days

2012-01-23T21:58:00.001-05:00

#1 has been a busy boy playing in the snow! I'm glad he's old enough to play outside independently, so I can stay inside and get his hot chocolate ready!

Sure is a lot of snow for that little truck to handle!

(There's a little ketchup in the corner of his mouth, left from lunch!)

This Week

2012-01-21T05:30:00.000-05:00

It was a very typical week at our house!

There was cleaning

and music

and therapy

and reading

and hugs!

When the Going Gets Tough

2012-01-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

#2's behavioral therapy has not been easy this week. He's getting the picture cards right (TV, couch, and backpack), but he's having trouble meeting some of his others goals. We're asking him to do some higher level thinking, like filling in the blank when I say, "You sleep in a ____" and "You ride in a ____." We're also working on words he isn't pronouncing correctly, like calling his Sunday school teacher "Mister" Corey instead of "Miss" Corey.

When we have hard weeks, I focus on all he has accomplished. Look at this stack of cards below. That's picture cards he can identify and things he can do, all because he's working so hard and learning so much!

We'll keep working and adjust if we need to!

This Week

2012-01-14T20:15:00.001-05:00

It has been a busy week around our house!

Hanging out, reading & watching a movie.

At the dentist. Added a new toothbrush to the collection.

Library trip.

Playing outside (chance of rain!).

New bed.

Watching Brother play in his first basketball game. Go Mavs!

Changing It Up

2012-01-13T22:18:00.001-05:00

We made a big change to our firstergarten curriculum this week—we stopped our reading lessons. #1 hated them. He would cry, I would get mad, and we got nothing accomplished. I talked to another homeschool mom and a kindergarten teacher and they both said to go with my gut and change it up. So we are still doing lots of reading together and he's still working on his sight words, we just aren't using the text book we were using. Our school time went much smoother this week!

#1 enjoyed learning about Egyptian pharaohs, mummies, and pyramids. He enjoyed it so much, we may carry the lessons over into next week. We check out some pretty cool looking books from the library! He's doing well with his new math curriculum and also did well on his penmanship.

We incorporated science this week at the dentist and the optometrist! He learned more about taking care of his teeth, saw an x-ray of my teeth, learned about how his eyes need rest after screen time, and saw an image of the inside of his eyeball. He did great for both appointments.

He also enjoyed playing outside in the sunshine! It was a great week!

All Smiles

2012-01-12T20:18:00.001-05:00

This week #2 was back in his regular routine with three days in school and one day of private occupational therapy. But we also had four nights away from the house, so he was up later than usual. When I picked him up from school today his teacher said he seemed exhausted, so I was thankful the sun was shinning this afternoon and we were able to spend some time outside. He loves to be outside! This therapy goals for this week will actually carry over to next week, so expect a big post then. For today, I thought you'd like to see that we don't work him hard all the time. We have fun too!

This Week

2012-01-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

New journals and new pens to kick off my year of joy.

One day I couldn't decide between my Africa necklace and my autism necklace, so I wore the both (from The Vintage Pearl).

First day of homeschool after Christmas break calls for a new box of crayons.

His very first basketball practice! He's on the Mavs (Mommy's favorite team!).

It's Christmas in Ethiopia! Praying for our little one there!

Counting his money.

Old and New in the New Year

2012-01-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

#1 learned some new things this week, and he learned about some really old things!

He's still working hard on writing letters and numbers. Being left handed, I think it takes a little more effort on his part and patience on my part. We added the Math-U-See curriculum this week. We started off by building numbers with the cubes. #1 also worked hard on reading from Ordinary Parents Guild to Teaching Reading and is doing great on his sight words. For science, we will be studying animals for the next two months. With some of his Christmas money, I ordered Wild Kratts DVDs, which he loves. Most of our conversations start out, "Mommy, did you know..." and I get to learn something new about the animal from the episode he watched.

In history, we talked about hieroglyphics. He learned that long ago some people wrote on tablets and other people wrote on clay. Then they started making paper. We used play-doh to try to carve in it like clay. Then we painted like they did on papyrus. We talked about how paper was better because it was smaller, didn't have to be baked in the sun to harden, and was easier to store. But, paper can get damaged and doesn't last as long. #1 loves history and does a great job retaining what he learns. It's always fun for me to hear him tell his dad everything that he did that day so I know what's he's really getting and enjoying!

Therapy Time This Week

2012-01-05T20:10:00.001-05:00

#2 worked hard in therapy this week! He didn't do his occupational therapy session because he had an appointment with his DAN doctor in Baltimore on the day he usual does OT. We did work on his behavioral therapy goals though. He's been doing well with puzzles, so Miss Pam set a goal for him to match shapes. He wants to play with them more than he wants to match them, but by the end of the week he was matching and then playing! He is also learning to labeling actions like clapping, stomping, jumping, and laughing. That is lots of fun to do together! Even after the days we took off over Christmas, he did great with his flashcards, remembering our newest pictures, "bathtub" and "potty." His teacher said he did great at school this week too and was very talkative. Thankful for a good week as we get back into our usual routine after the holidays!

10 Books We Got for Christmas

2012-01-03T05:00:00.000-05:00

Books are one of our favorite things to get for Christmas! Here are ten books we can't wait to get into:

What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs? by Morris and Ham
World of Animals
First Human Body Encyclopedia
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (slide and find edition)
Big Book of History by Laura Welch
The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Paula Deen's Southern Cooking Bible
7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess by Jen Hatmaker
Educating the Whole Hearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson

Linked up to Oh Amanda's Top Ten Tuesday!

Our 2012 Blogging Schedule

2012-01-02T20:09:00.002-05:00

2011 was such a busy year for us, with lots of changes to our routine! In 2012, I'd like to get back to blogging about what the boys are learning and doing each week. My plan is to write about #2, his therapy at home and preschool activities on Thursdays and about #1, his "firstergarten" fun on Fridays. On Saturdays I'll post Instagram pics from our week. Sunday-Wednesday will have sporadic posts when we have something to share about the adoption process, church activities, or things going on around the house. I'm excited to share more consistently about our homeschool/home therapy time!

This Week in Pictures

2011-12-31T17:20:00.000-05:00

On Christmas day we opened presents at home, went to church, then headed to Houston to celebrate Christmas there. Here are some of the highlights of our week!

Christmas morning!

Christmas food at Grandma and Paw-Paw's house.

#2 had lots of fun putting balls down his shirt and checking himself out in the mirror.

#1 got a new hat.

I was reunited with the hula-hoop I got for Daughters Day (yes, we created that holiday) back in 1986. I still have serious skills. #2 kept telling me to "go outside" and "wiggle."

Our sunshine. Mainly because he gets up so early!

Fun time at the Kemah boardwalk!

Kemah Boardwalk

2011-12-29T20:14:00.000-05:00

We spent the afternoon on the Kemah boardwalk. #1 had a fun time on the rides, especially the big drop! (The pictures at the very bottom.) He rode it at least three times! We were so thankful for the nice weather while we were in Houston and for all the time we got to spend outside.

Christmas in Houston

2011-12-26T20:29:00.000-05:00

We had a fun visit to Houston spending time with family! My Mam-Maw came down from Oklahoma and my sister and her family were there from Alaska. #1 especially had fun playing with his cousin, even though they spent most of the time deciding between playing Barbie hair dresser or super heroes!

Christmas Day 2011

2011-12-25T19:59:00.000-05:00

We got the boys a few gifts and a few books for Christmas. They had fun opening their gifts Christmas morning before church.

#1 liked the super hero notebook in his stocking.

#2 found his favorite snack deep in his stocking—Goldfish!

We got #2 a Dinosaur Train Track. He loved it! (He's hard to shop for, so we were really excited he liked it!)

#1 got his first set of Legos. Looking forward to seeing what he will build!

New Adoption Wait List Numbers

2011-12-23T15:47:00.002-05:00

We are now 58 on the girls list and 46 on the boy list! We have your stocking ready Joel/Anna and are praying for you and those who are taking care of you until we meet you!

Top Ten Picture Collages

2011-12-21T14:16:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I shared my favorite Instagram pics from 2011 and many of you said in the comments that it would be hard to narrow down to ten. It was! So today I'm sharing my ten favorite picture collages from 2011!

Showing he's excited to go back to school.

Being silly in the yellow leaves.

Therapy.

More therapy.

Asleep in the same position.

Two silly monkeys.

In the sprinkler. (If I had to pick just one favorite, this would be it!)

Taking an "are you ready for first grade" assessment.

Sweet and silly!

Getting kisses.

(Want to see what apps I use to make the collages? Here's my top ten list!)

Top Ten Favorite Instagram Pics from 2011

2011-12-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

I narrowed down the 497 Instagram pics I've taken so far this year and came up with a top ten! I'm so thankful for my family and the memories we made this year.

First time wearing a tie.

Drum set.

First day back to school.

First day of first grade with his Bible teacher.

Reading the Jesus Storybook Bible with Daddy.

Therapeutic listening.

In his tree.

In the tub!

In NYC!

Big brother.

This Week in Pictures

2011-12-18T19:27:00.001-05:00

Getting ready for church.

More apple sauce.

Angry Birds

Therapeutic listening

Sight words and a comic book

Trying out Daddy's new chair

Making Daddy's favorite cookies

Laundry folding entertainment.

Bath time.

Therapy This Week

2011-12-15T14:18:00.001-05:00

This week in therapy, #2 worked on identifying flashcards with pictures of a tractor, fridge, bathtub, and potty. He did puzzles and matched same-colored bears. We have started doing his behavioral therapy at his little table in the basement and he's done better staying in his chair. (When we were at the dining room table, I had to help him get back up in his booster seat.) In occupational therapy, he's building new things with his blocks and working on his pincher grasp.

He is also starting new supplements this week, including Enhansa, which will help with his yeast overgrowth.We'll keep you posted on his progress!

Two Spectrums

2011-12-13T21:50:00.000-05:00

The LA Times is doing a four-part series on autism this week. Their second post is entitled, "Warrior parents fare best in securing autism services." It profiles different families who have children with autism and the benefits they receive (or don't receive). Those of us in the autism world know there are really two spectrums--there's the autism spectrum our children are on and there's the spectrum of benefits our children receive. As the LA Times article points out, white, middle-class families get more benefits for our autistic children than minority and/or lower-class families do.

Let's take this week for example. We will spend $150 on James's private therapy (occupational and behavioral). We ordered vitamins and supplements that totaled over $200. He will do therapeutic listening with a set of headphones and specialty music that costs over $100. He will play with toys in his sensory room. He will eat organic food.

Many families can't afford the therapy and treatment their children need. We can afford what James needs because I've had a steady stream of editing jobs recently and all the money I'm making from my eBook goes into his therapy account. When we can't afford what he needs, like the autism specialist we see who charges $400 an hour, we get help from our parents. (And we hope, help from insurance, but we are still waiting.)

Some parents don't have the education, opportunities, and sheer determination it takes to get what their children need. In hard economic times, resources to kids with special needs are often the first to get cut. Many parents stop asking when they hear "no" from school systems or state services. As the article points out, the parents who continue to ask, push, and even threaten are getting what they need for their children.

I don't have the solution. I do what I can by sharing information and resources through blogging and with friends we are making, both on-line and in person. I'm thankful for so many others who share what they know too. I'm thankful for bloggers like Ellen at Love That Max who give away iPads to kids who need them. I'm thankful for special needs parents (like my own) who thirty years ago fought battles we don't have to fight today, battles for basic necessities and the right to an education. I'm thankful the LA Times is sharing their research so more people will know. When families know what they can get for their children, they are less likely to stop when they hear "no." Knowledge will help level the playing field.

Children's Choir

2011-12-12T19:38:00.000-05:00

#1 was in our church's children's choir and they had their performance yesterday. They did a wonderful job. This song was #1's favorite!

Being a Brother

2011-12-11T15:30:00.000-05:00

We got the sign here and we love it!

Day in NYC

2011-12-10T09:42:00.000-05:00

Lee and I took a day trip up to New York City this week! It was a rainy, cold day, but we still have lots of fun!

We ducked out of the rain for a snack at Magnolia Bakery.

We saw the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall! What a great show!

We also enjoyed seeing Times Square, Trump Tower, and St. Patrick's Cathedral. We shopped for the boys at the Disney Store and Toys R Us. We had a great time and are thankful Grandma came out to babysit the boys!