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WELCOME, GUEST |
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(1 member)
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niylnnrae @a…6 |
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LINDSAY'S LATEST
lvazquez |
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| Category: Home | Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | | | | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
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ANOTHER YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE
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Dec 31, 2011 05:17pm (EST)
Right before Break, Donovyn came home with a special announcement. He received "Student of the Month" for showing respect. There was a little awards ceremony and it was really sweet. I was able to go, but hubby couldn't find coverage and felt bad. The last name on his certificate was spelled wrong, but it's getting fixed, and a new one should be coming his way at some point. We also got a note from his teacher that read he no longer needs to go to outside reading group. Wonderful!
The kids had a blast opening up their presents. Tristyn understands about the whole gift thing now and it was really neat to see him tear into stuff! He is doing so much more imaginative play and that's a good sign. My parents came up on Christmas Eve to do their exchange. We had planned on driving to them, but we had a change of plans. Hubby cooked a turkey and we actually made all the leftovers disappear in a few days.
Lots going on at the start of a new year. We have four appointments with a private pay psychologist for futher testing and most of those are happening within the next two weeks. We are looking forward to more information, maybe a diagnosis if possible, and more tools to help Tristyn along. No way can we afford to keep paying out-of-pocket, so we are on a wait list as well with a doctor. At least he'll be an exisiting patient, so we can get in a bit sooner for follow-up.
I'm a planner, but I am trying to take it one day at a time. Still so many overwhelming days, but trying, so trying to just focus on what needs to get done. Can't believe another year has gone by! What will 2012 bring us? I hope that it will bring information that we can use to help our son, ourselves, and will give us more direction in a new year.
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Posted by lvazquez | Comments: (5) | Permalink
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MY 32 WEEKER IS 6 YEARS OLD
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Dec 02, 2011 02:31am (EST)
It's been crazy with teaching, Donovyn's elementary school projects, Tristyn's preschool and developmental preschool, Thanksgiving, holiday planning, and li'l MOD fundraisers. And breathe . . . this I need to really do and more deeply. I was in the shower awhile back and almost fainted. No joke! I have a tendancy to breathe shallow and not enough oxygen is getting up there. Not good and need to slow it down. Come on Winter Break!
Alright, so my 32 weeker turned 6 years old last week! Donovyn was born on a Monday and 6 years later, we were celebrating on Monday again. I didn't get to hold him on his birthday and didn't get a good look at him until the following day when I was well enough to get wheeled down to the NICU. Oh those days, I'll never forget them. Here we are, 6 years later. He's learning A LOT with his 1st grade teacher. He's in a whole year early by AZ standards. Some of my friends hate that I did that, but I can't imagine him in Kinder this year. He'd be bored for sure. He's sweet, smart, curious, gentle, funny, and just a happy kiddo. I am so AMAZED by him!
We gave him the choice of party or a few more "bigger" gifts and he went with more gifts. We took Donovyn to Chuck E. Cheese's and he loved that. It's funny though . . . I get a ton of tokens, but after playing a few dollars worth, the kids are happy just chasing each other in the the play tube! Great! I think I can divide up the tokens and make 2-3 more trips out of them. He got his Autobot Arc and many Transformer Cyberverse people. We've graduated from Thomas the Train to Transformers now, oh, and Ben 10! Loves that show!
We spent Thanksgiving in San Diego where our friends spoiled him a bit more. Even though our friends are in their 50's, they have all the current gadgets and electronics that we don't. The boys had a fun time playing with the XBOX and various other computer games. Geez, I couldn't rewind a video at their age and these kids navigate the Internet. It's weird! The drive out and back was easier. We stopped twice for pee breaks, but they are both doing so well at longer car rides.
It was nice to get away and have a change of scenery. With Wednesday off, the week/end felt longer. For many years, we would buy a fresh cut tree, but after x-mas of 2008, we went plastic. We took the tree out of the box last weekend and it's ready for ornaments. It's getting cold and had to finally turn on the heater today. Yes, people decorate cactus here with lights:)
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Posted by lvazquez | Comments: (8) | Permalink
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PURSES FOR PREEMIES
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Nov 20, 2011 03:27pm (EST)
I was hesitant to get this going because it was so last minute, but I thought I'd try it anyway. I called a store that sells authentic handbags as well as pre-owned ones. They were willing to help me set up a fundraiser this past Thursday night for PAD. It wasn't the best turn out, but we maybe made another $50 for MOD. They were giving us 10% of every sale, but these purses are expensive and with budgets and holiday shopping, it may not be on everyone's list. It was important to me to have it on PAD. I don't think the store would've given me a weekend anyhow.
The store stayed open and extra two hours for us. The store only had one location, so I drove a good 45 minutes and back. It was worth it. With each fundraiser, you learn a little more. I had a great idea on the drive down there. Why does one get the best ideas while driving or on the toilet?! Urgh, I should have cut out purple and white foot prints that led a trail to the store! That would've been SO cute! Next time for sure and I'll get 'em laminated to last for a few fundraisers.
Tristyn has now been at his developmental preschool for two weeks. He attends 4 days a week for 2 1/2 hours. It's helping along with his morning preschool time. I'm hearing more and more words and longer sentences. He's already caught on to the classroom routine of hanging up his backpack and getting in line to wash hands, so that he can then start on a table activity. He's HAPPY to go and we call it "second school." I am kicking myself that I didn't have him screened last year. I know that kids had to be potty trained though to attend and well, he wasn't last year.
My 32 weeker will be turning 6 tomorrow at 5:12 a.m. I can't believe this! I wish they could stay little . . .
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Posted by lvazquez | Comments: (4) | Permalink
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SU, HALLOWEEN, AND AN IEP
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Nov 06, 2011 07:40pm (EST)
SU 2011 was exciting! It was really nice to see familiar faces and to have the opportunity to meet and welcome some new ones:) At first, it is strange to share such personal feelings over the Internet, but when you finally meet one another in person, it's as if we've known each other for years:) I love that part!
Halloween was fun for the boys! They both KNOW what it's all about now. The idea was for the kids and hubby to go dressed as officers from Star Trek, but I couldn't find another small costume for Mr. T. We thought we'd make something creative and he'd be the Borg, but that didn't happen. So, he was totally fine wearing his older bro's costume from last year. They were out for about an hour and hubby said to turn out the lights, some familiar students were coming this way. Turned out the outside lights, blew out the candles, and headed towards the back of the house like no one's business! Don't want my students to know exactly which house is mine if you know what I mean.
So, this past Wednesday was a big day! There can't ever be just one thing going on. No, never the way it works. Before SU, I had gotten a call from a high school in San Diego who was in desperate need of a French teacher. The offer from HR was the biggest I'd ever seen and I took my time to make that decision. It would've been a challenge to figure so many things out quickly, and even though it was a great offer, who needs the extra stress? I think. I called the Principal and declined. I'm sure the school will figure something out. Too bad I didn't get this call a few months ago . . . it's all about timing:( So, after I made that call, hubby and I were off to an IEP meeting for Tristyn.
It was all the same people from the screenings except the classroom teacher. The meeting didn't take as long as we told them we were very familiar with this process being on the other side of the table. No cognitive delays, so okay, but Tristyn will get speech therapy and some OT. If I can get the enrollment paperwork turned in Monday, he could start Tuesday. This would be fabulous considering next week is a shorter week with Veteran's. The part we were holding our breath for . . . autism. They weren't comfortable making a diagnosis. He is exhibiting characteristics, so they wrote "possibility" and urged us to seek outside testing. We felt comfortable enough with the goals and everything, so we went ahead and signed.
Went to T's peds office this past Friday to get the numbers for various places for developmental screenings/psychologists, etc. I have the names for a few places who always have folks leaving with a "certain" diagnosis. I want someone who's going to be objective and really spend time with my son. The team also said that it really could be a social thing/exposure. I told them that in just the last three months of being in preschool, we've seen/heard major differences:) When I hear a sentence comprised of more than three words coming from Tristyn AND it's crystal clear, I sure do smile big. We all tend to stop whatever it is that we're doing because these moments just take us by surprise. So proud of him! Both of them!
November is a very special month for us. It's the month I became a mom for the first time. I had no idea way back when that it was Prematurity Awareness month. My first miracle will be turning 6 just days before Thanksgiving. He came into this world 11 days after my birthday. The best birthday present I could ever receive. I really don't know where the time goes . . .
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Posted by lvazquez | Comments: (5) | Permalink
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LAST ONE
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Oct 18, 2011 09:39pm (EST)
Urgh . . . we did the last of the testing today with Tristyn. This was some occupational therapy testing his fine/gross motor skills. He did GREAT! He's had some practice now, so he was able to build and space the blocks into a pyramid just so and make the bridges. He threw balls and hit most of the targets, but he doesn't walk on his tippy toes or balance well with one foot in front of the other. There are no balance beams at our park and this is not something I've practiced doing with him at home or on the curb. Is this partly due to exposure? Some of it has to.
We'll meet with the panel in early November for the results. Secretly, the speech pathologist told me that he's going to qualify with his speech delay. I had an interview yesterday with her as well for autism. I said NEVER and SELDOM for many of the questions. Does he fit into a particular spectrum? We're going to find out shortly. When we do get those results, I have a peds appointment a few days later to get a referral for an outside testing place. Yes, I want multiple opinions. If that's one thing I've learned from all of this, get several opinions before any final decisions. Urgh, the topic of redshirting came up again too. It's so controversial.
I think what bothers me the most is that we haven't even officially qualified for services yet and someone is already proposing the possibility of holding him back to give him that extra year. There are still months to go here people, like 6-7 months, plus a Kinder Jumpstart program over the summer that will last 2 weeks and is 4 days a week to help get him acquainted with his Kinder teacher. Why don't we see how he's doing toward the end of May before we decide his future? That's what bothered me the most. Can't we let kids TRY before we tell them they CAN'T?
Tristyn had fallen asleep in the car on the way to the testing. His appt. was at noon. I carried him to the office and this woman was nice enough to hold the door open for me. "He must be heavy," she said. "Yeah, he's getting bigger," I told her. "But he could be our 'last one,' so I don't mind as much."
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Posted by lvazquez | Comments: (6) | Permalink
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A STEP FORWARD?
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Oct 09, 2011 12:27am (EST)
It could've been yesterday as I'm still so stuck in 2009. We were just about to transition Tristyn to a bed of his own and ready his crib for his baby brother. We had just purchased another full and I can still remember what the delivery guys looked like when it came in mid-February. Urgh . . . when our tragedy unfolded and we learned that we would not be leaving the hospital with our son in tow, I couldn't move the boys back. We had prepared that room for Naethyn and the nursery was his now. It still has all of those clothes and baby items in the closet. I still have to decide how I want to store those.
Last weekend, we did something big. Well, it was big for me. We split the boys up and they no longer share a bedroom. They enjoyed being together and I'd love hearing them wake up in the morning talking to each other and laughing. I so hesitated doing this, but bedtime has been challenging lately and we thought it best to set them up in separate rooms. Donovyn likes the privacy I think, but Tristyn still goes in there to watch his VHS videos.
It's weird. I'm not sure how I feel about it. What does it mean? I still have to take down the wallpaper and do some painting and of course move that stuff out of the closet. I don't want to confuse my kid. I guess we figure, we can always move them back in together should we need the extra room. We had that talk again yesterday. I'm glad that we're still at least talking about it (but trying to be very realistic about expectations and outcomes).
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Posted by lvazquez | Comments: (5) | Permalink
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MORE TESTING
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Sep 29, 2011 06:54pm (EST)
Yesterday, Tristyn had more testing. This one was for speech. Our appointment was a little over an hour and a half and that's a long time to sit for a four year old! I watched and sat quietly as my son was asked numerous questions and given multiple directions. I watched his eyes, his little fingers manipulate squares into various and complex patterns, and his little mind working away trying so hard to understand at times what was being asked of him. When he doesn't understand, he just repeats the last thing one says.
We have to come back for part #2 of speech tomorrow as he was getting tired and they want to score him accurately based on his ability and not what he can do when he's tired. I appreciated that, so I'm more than happy to bring him back. Well, I still have an appointment for occupational therapy in mid-October, but unofficially, the psych said that he is showing characteristics of . . . autism, what level they can't say yet. More testing and an interview for parents next week. When I heard it, I know I felt a tear form in the corner of my eye, but I made it stop. I didn't want to be a blubbering mother, not there anyway. While very unofficial, I am so relieved to know what "it" could be and if so, we have a direction to go now. We can get him help so that he can continue to grow and be a happy child.
I'm so glad that I didn't take on the extra sections. I have the time to absorb all of this, make and keep appointments, and be there for Tristyn. And exhale . . .
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Posted by lvazquez | Comments: (6) | Permalink
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TESTING TRISTYN
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Sep 13, 2011 07:23pm (EST)
I took Tristyn to get tested yesterday. They weren't kidding. It really did take about three hours to get through all of those observations and tests! He did great with vision and hearing. I wasn't ever concerned there. He went willingly with each specialist and they had a good time with him:) He's so easy going and fun loving!
So many forms to fill out, my goodness! I was kept pretty busy with those, so I didn't hear each and every question or direction asked of him. They want to test him more in fine motor skills. He was asked to do so many different things, I knew he wouldn't be able to process and do them all. So, we have an appointment for that toward the end of the month. And then came the speech which was the main reason for us being there. Yes, he will be getting more testing for speech - hands down. That one is going to be happening in mid October and then really, I won't get the final results of all of this good stuff until the beginning of November. That's kind of disappointing, but I understand the process.
So that's where we are right now. I'm thinking if I had him in daycare a bit longer everyday, some of this might resolve itself. Poor kid hasn't had much exposure to his own age group since this current semester. He's been in daycare for 6 weeks and we've already noticed such a huge difference. I'm excited to get even more answers soon, so that we can be helping Tristyn get to where he needs to be.
While I contemplate more daycare options, I might have an opportunity to take on a few more sections - teaching SPANISH! This would make me a FT teacher and of course, benefits, discretionary days, and a larger salary (the way it used to be all those years ago). I'm not sure what I'll do. I have a few days to mull it over I guess. This could be a solution to so many things, but the morning is already a bit of a handful.
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Posted by lvazquez | Comments: (6) | Permalink
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THIS CLOSET . . .
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Sep 01, 2011 11:54pm (EST)
Aaah, September. It isn't too difficult to take myself back to three years ago. This room, now transformed into a playroom for his brothers, was ready to welcome another precious being. Still haven't brought myself to change the color of paint or take down the wallpaper. This closet . . . it keeps many things safe for me, but it is truly a part of my life still frozen in time.
I open it now and again. We had a garage sale during the first part of summer. I was able to let go of a few items and clothes that had already gotten their share of washings and spot treatments. When I do slide a door open, I see the new changing mat we purchased and the green and blue chenille covers. The clothes, the clothes . . . we didn't know what size he'd be. I washed up the preemie sizes just in case and had it all ready in a drawer like any expectant mom with time would do.
Will these clothes ever get used again by another baby or child? Of course, but the reality is . . . it may not be one of our own. So happy for so many new moms out there and ones on the way:) What do you do when you want more, but are literally scared to death that it might kill you too? Such a decision we made 2 1/2 years ago. One that should have never been made under such circumstances.
I've lost 5 more pounds. That's it. My classroom is on the second floor, so everyday I attack those stairs! I'm fitting into my work clothes from a few years ago, so it's like I have a new wardrobe again. I literally found clothes in a dry cleaning bag that I had put there back in December of 2008!!! So many more pounds to lose before I can really make a decision about the surgery.
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Posted by lvazquez | Comments: (5) | Permalink
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