I've been meaning to write this blog for a while but I'm just now getting around to it. Last weekend I lived every mother's worst nightmare. Was it different because Christopher is autistic? Hmmmm...probably not. I think the story is one that everyone has at some point whether the child is special needs or not.
I still had my second job (working overnight on the weekend) and had just laid down for my before work nap. (Yep, you read still had....meaning no longer have.) There was the normal noise as the kids are running around and Danny is yelling at them to be quiet. Soon after, Allison is back in the house. She is staying over at mammaw's and forgot some stuff. The next thing I hear is Danny yelling for Christopher. I check the windows to see the pool and down to mammaw's and I don't see him. I call to see if he had already made it down there and was inside but no luck. We all hit outside. Of course, Christopher has never responded to his name so why would he now. I send my mom to the neighbor's house, who is having a big get together and she yells back that they haven't seen him. I head the other direction through the neighbor's yard asking if they have seen a little boy. I make it back around to the "party house" and am relieved to see mom with Christopher. He had joined the other kids at the water hose playing and no one paid any mind to another kid. All of this probably only took about 10 minutes but it was the longest 10 minutes ever. Danny and I bring Christopher back home and get our nerves calmed and then head back over to party. I had planned to work my shift and quit at the end (cause I wasn't scheduled for over two weeks and could do a "notice") but decided it was a sign and sent a text to the supervisor that I was calling off and I'd get my resignation letter sent in.
So that covers the lost and found....but locked up.....I had already scheduled to have a fence put in at the side of the house when we lost Christopher. That fence is now up (minus the 2 gates) and I got my brother-in-law to move the porch rail from the side to block the front entrance. I want to make the front of the porch a gate but the rail looks nice. As soon as the gates get put up this week the kids will be able to play on the porch and in the side yard without the fear of them wondering off. Hopefully the dog will behave in the yard too and the kids can be out with her to throw sticks or whatever. We'll be able to open the front door this fall when its nice outside and the kids and dog can have the run of the place. (we'll have to hide the cat away so she doesn't get out.)
Walk 2011
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
I'm the mom
I was a bit skeptical when Christopher started pre-school after his birthday. My fears have slowly dissipated and I ended the school year feeling good about how it had gone. Summer school has been a totally different matter. For some reason the school and bus don't want to deal with me. Before the term started I expected to receive a phone call regarding the transportation. The call never came so I had to bug the bus garage to make sure Christopher wasn't going to get left at school. When he started in January the driver made an extra trip to meet myself and Christopher and have him get used to the van. I talked to the summer bus driver and it was like I was an annoyance in wanting to make sure everything was set up. Apparently he had called the sitter to arrange for Christopher's drop off. I ended up having to alter his transportation arrangement and called the bus garage to get it set up. I wasn't able to speak to the person in charge so I left a message about the change and was told I would get a call back. I left MY number. The change involved adding a pick-up for Christopher in the morning at his sitters. Did I get the call back? NO. The driver told the sitter that he would be there to get Christopher at 8:15. Don't you think I'd like to know this information. Anyway, its all settled and tomorrow is the first day of the new routine. You better believe I'll be noting this if I get any evaluations to fill out, but then they may just go right to the sitter.
Okay so now I'll move off of the bus and talk about school. Does anyone know what an IEP is? That magic little legal document that outlines the services. I give it a few days and no one is writing in the communication book. I write a note to please write in the communication book, still nothing. I have to call the teacher, and ended up getting a substitute to tell them to write in his communication book. Summer school is only 4-5 weeks long, who needs a substitute the second week? I let it slide. At least now she is writing in the book. When I talk to the sitter she requests a way to know if Christopher has eaten his lunch since he is so picky and she gives him something when he gets off of the bus. I write a somewhat lengthy blurb in his communication book about a particular achievement we have made and at the end I write a request to write how well he ate his lunch. Do you think they did that? NOPE! I also noted for them (because I'm about 100% sure they don't know what an IEP is) that Christopher has an allowance for an adaptable chair. She did let me know that they were not using the chair and he was sitting at the table. I will have to follow-up with his regular teacher about whether or not to use the chair when school starts in August.
My overall opinion of extended school year so far: a D-. That's being hopeful that he is receiving some socialization and educational services while he is there.
By the way, the achievement: I got Christopher to say his name in response to "who are you", although you wouldn't know he said Christopher.
Okay so now I'll move off of the bus and talk about school. Does anyone know what an IEP is? That magic little legal document that outlines the services. I give it a few days and no one is writing in the communication book. I write a note to please write in the communication book, still nothing. I have to call the teacher, and ended up getting a substitute to tell them to write in his communication book. Summer school is only 4-5 weeks long, who needs a substitute the second week? I let it slide. At least now she is writing in the book. When I talk to the sitter she requests a way to know if Christopher has eaten his lunch since he is so picky and she gives him something when he gets off of the bus. I write a somewhat lengthy blurb in his communication book about a particular achievement we have made and at the end I write a request to write how well he ate his lunch. Do you think they did that? NOPE! I also noted for them (because I'm about 100% sure they don't know what an IEP is) that Christopher has an allowance for an adaptable chair. She did let me know that they were not using the chair and he was sitting at the table. I will have to follow-up with his regular teacher about whether or not to use the chair when school starts in August.
My overall opinion of extended school year so far: a D-. That's being hopeful that he is receiving some socialization and educational services while he is there.
By the way, the achievement: I got Christopher to say his name in response to "who are you", although you wouldn't know he said Christopher.
Monday, July 4, 2011
July 4, 2011
We had a pretty awesome July 4th this year. We had family and friends join us for an afternoon of swimming, games, jumping, eating and fireworks. Christopher changed clothes several times throughout the day. He would get in the pool and then get dried off and dressed just to get back in again later. I don't think he ate much beyond chips and the family's secret zucchini chocolate bars. He even enjoyed the fireworks and was able to hold a sparkler without trying to touch the end. We did have to hold him back from trying to blow-out the lit fountains.
My 2 month old niece made an appearance and Christopher is infatuated with his little cousin. He likes to know where she is at all times and really wanted her to get down and play with him. He tried to pry mammaw's hands off of her so she could get down. Ever since our last visit, he has loved babies. He went to the park with Mammaw and every time a baby came by he was on it. I don't know if he thinks all babies are Scarlett or if he just likes babies. He will say "Where Baby At?" and "Baby all gone" in the correct situations. When the family was packing up to go home he kept hanging around their car and I had to go get him. As they pulled up the driveway, Christopher said "Baby all gone" and he was sad.
We haven't had a lot of success in getting Christopher to respond to "what's your name" or to get a reaction when we pretend to be sad or crying but he can put out that pouty lip and be the saddest boy in town when he wants to be.
Overall, it was a great day. I didn't feel stressed over making sure Christopher was where he was supposed to be. He either was or there was enough adults keeping an eye on things that I was alright. I head out of town in the morning for a week and will drop Allison off at her cousin's so it will be just Daddy and Christopher holding down the fort. Christopher goes back to school on Thursday so hopefully daddy can keep it all straight and get him to where he needs to go each day.
My 2 month old niece made an appearance and Christopher is infatuated with his little cousin. He likes to know where she is at all times and really wanted her to get down and play with him. He tried to pry mammaw's hands off of her so she could get down. Ever since our last visit, he has loved babies. He went to the park with Mammaw and every time a baby came by he was on it. I don't know if he thinks all babies are Scarlett or if he just likes babies. He will say "Where Baby At?" and "Baby all gone" in the correct situations. When the family was packing up to go home he kept hanging around their car and I had to go get him. As they pulled up the driveway, Christopher said "Baby all gone" and he was sad.
We haven't had a lot of success in getting Christopher to respond to "what's your name" or to get a reaction when we pretend to be sad or crying but he can put out that pouty lip and be the saddest boy in town when he wants to be.
Overall, it was a great day. I didn't feel stressed over making sure Christopher was where he was supposed to be. He either was or there was enough adults keeping an eye on things that I was alright. I head out of town in the morning for a week and will drop Allison off at her cousin's so it will be just Daddy and Christopher holding down the fort. Christopher goes back to school on Thursday so hopefully daddy can keep it all straight and get him to where he needs to go each day.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Fun in the Sun
We finally had a nice day and was able to get into the pool. Christopher had a good time and didn't fight me too much. He did eventually get cold and was willing to get out of the pool if he could go down to Mammaw's. He has a little girlfriend that he likes to play with. He gets so sad when Tori goes home. We are having a fourth of July bash tomorrow with family and friends. Christopher will get to play with Tori some more. He liked the fireworks last year so hopefully it will be just as good this year. We don't go anywhere to watch since our neighbors usually set off some nice ones and I don't like crowds. I still get frustrated when I have Christopher out in different places.
He did do exceptionally well at lunch today. Usually I put him in a high chair to keep him contained but for some reason I didn't today. I let him set in a chair that didn't have him blocked in a corner. He sat through all of lunch and actually ate this time.
Check out the podcast that I joined my husband to do on lonelyfriday.org
He did do exceptionally well at lunch today. Usually I put him in a high chair to keep him contained but for some reason I didn't today. I let him set in a chair that didn't have him blocked in a corner. He sat through all of lunch and actually ate this time.
Check out the podcast that I joined my husband to do on lonelyfriday.org
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