A New Start

Today we finally had our IEP (individualized education plan) meeting with the hillsborough county school system regarding Trey. We have been setting things up for this for almost two months, so it has been a huge buildup. We met at Roosevelt Elementary school, the proposed site for him to be in the Early Exceptional Learning Program. The meeting went very well, all attending were very positive, yet wanted his needs addressed. We left feeling very encouraged and hopeful about what is and will be possible for him. He was approved to begin the EELP program at Roosevelt, and will begin next week. It was hard to say goodbye to his old teachers at Bayshore Baptist who have been so supportive, caring, and patient with him for the last two years. I appreciate all they have done for him, but know that he needs more help, and now he is where he will get it! Hopefully this is just a small step forward on our road to helping him overcome his disability. Today was a good day!

New Year, New Start

So I have not been blogging lately because I have been a little busy to say the least.  I wanted to start the year out right by updating my blog and specifically reflecting on the current status of our family.  As previously posted, our son Trey has been undergoing the assessment process for his developmental delays.  It has been an emotional and exhausting process, but I feel much better being on the other side of a diagnosis and plan for his future.  He was diagnosed as having PDD-NOS or an ASD (autism spectrum disorder).  It has  been very hard for us to come to grips with this reality, yet we have suspected this for some time and it is nice to finally have an answer to some of our questions.  There are days where the reality that my child is not like other children is overwhelming and all to plain to see.  Yet, there are days like today, where progress is evident, and I am hopeful for his future.  Today, he said to me, out of the blue, " I need to go to church".  Six words at one time!  We were not even talking about church at all, I was amazed.  He also spent the better part of the afternoon having a pretend gun battle, sound effects and all, with his big brother Hayden.  Pretend play and socialization in one shot, I was so proud of him.  He also was moved to a new classroom at school for the first time, and I thought for sure he would have a meltdown due to the change in his routine, but all he did was hesitate a little and frown when I left, I was extremely pleased with his progress.  We did have a major battle at dinner tonight, would not eat one bite of food, and sat in time out several times for interrupting the meal.  Little battles consistently will create long term learning for him.  The other children are doing great.  Connor is so smart, he amazes me.  He is reading on a 5th grade level in 2nd grade.  He loves it, can't get enough!  Hayden is as funny and independent as ever.  Loves to be a big boy, and never asks for help.  He is constantly cracking me up.  He is all about Sarah Kate, and is so thoughtful and caring of others.  Sarah Kate is such a blessing.  The best baby ever!!!!  She is always smiling and easygoing, such a pleasure in my life.  I can't get enough of her and her chubby little thighs!  Dion is working hard as usual, and will have a very busy and challenging year work wise.  We are very thankful for his job, what a blessing he has been given.  We are hopeful about our home situation and praying that the banks will modify our loans so we can stay here, we really don't want to leave.  It is a crazy time in our lives, having four children under 7, but we are trying to cherish this time, knowing all to well that we will blink and they will be off creating their own lives without our supervision and guidance.  I pray in 2009 we will look back and say, what a great year, God has richly blessed our lives!