4th of July Fun!

The 4th was a lot of fun! I took the boys to a parade in the morning and they loved it! I think the only thing they were interested in was the candy that was being thrown out. Then I dropped them off at David's and he took them to a picnic. (meanwhile, I worked on my grad school stuff) The night was really special because all the family up here hung out at the fireworks show together. The kids love playing with their cousins. I promise to post pictures soon, I can't get the ones I took of the parade off my camera and it wasn't working that night so as soon as Derek or Kelly send them out I'll post some. Derek took a lot of great shots! Dawson was doing some of his dance moves...so cute! He looks more and more like the Larson clan. They are all really beautiful people, good genes! River was scared of the fireworks and buried his head in my chest the whole time. Maybe next year he'll like them...

This is my last week of classes. My finals are Wednesday and Thursday. I have a big project to present on Tuesday that I have been working on non-stop. After Thursday, it will officially feel like summer I think!

Dawson's summer school ended last week and so this morning I took him to a rec center special needs camp. It lasts for two weeks...then I'll probably put him in gymnastics camp. He continues with speech therapy. We had to discontinue occupational therapy because the new insurance only is so bad. Luckily, we have learned enough of what to work on with him that we can do most of it ourselves. He has some good friends that he made in Kindergarten last year that I am going to call up for play dates next week and visit some of the cousins that live close by.

Princess Alexa Closets

Yesterday was a really special day. The closets at Children's Medical opened and the kids there were so excited. Cry's foundation is an amazing gift to seriously ill children. Yesterday was her angel day. I can't believe that a year has gone by since she passed, the opening of the closets was the most fitting tribute. Dawson lost a favorite friend and cousin but he still remembers her.

ARD update: River had his ARD yesterday morning to officially be entered in to the PPCD program. I am hopeful and there are some good plans in place.

My job update: I am going to be the academic coordinator at my school next year and I will officially be a part of the administrative team. One more step closer to where I want to be and great on the job training. I will be responsible for the 504/at-risk kids and so I won't be teaching.

Things I am worried about and things I am not...

Things I am not worried about...

The psychologist said that it will be really easy to tell once school starts what problems River actually has and he could be dismissed really quickly if they don't have any major concerns after observing him through several classroom visits. River is very smart and they said that sometimes really smart can sometimes look autistic. He knows all of his letters and what sounds they make, he knows all his numbers up to 20. He knows a lot of stuff! He does love to play with people and interact with others, but so did Dawson.

Things I am worried about...

The evaluator couldn't say without a doubt that River didn't need some kind of services. She did notice several things throughout the observation that were off. I have noticed, and his ECI speech therapist noticed that in the last month River's speech has become a little more garbled where it used to be really clear. His has started babbling again sometimes and he hasn't done that since he was a baby. His eye contact has gotten worse and he wouldn't look people in the eye during the observation. He has a hard time answering questions about what happened in the past and doesn't initiate conversation. Right now 3 (River's 3rd b-day is August 10th), is when all of the behaviors start to really come out if a child is autistic. I used to have in my mind what autism meant, a child flapping their arms in the corner not communicating with others. That is why for so long I thought that couldn't be what was wrong with Dawson, he was so loving, he played with others. What I have learned from dealing with for the past few years is that there is a large spectrum over which children can be. I am very worried just because of how old he is and some recent behavior. With the genetics of it all, I can't help but be worried.

I do know that I am doing everything I can to get him the help he needs, should there be any major problems. I hate the wait and see game but that is where I am right now.

River Update

I wanted to give everyone an update on River. He has been seen by ECI for speech for about a year now and because he turns three soon we have to look at transitioning him into a new program. The preschool assessment team consisted of a Speech-Language Pathologist, an Educational Diagnostician, and a School Psychologist (to look for autism). The determination was that River should be admitted into the PPCD program (preschool program for children with disabilities) starting this August. His speech is great and the speech pathologist didn't really want to admit him. The psychologist however wanted to be cautious because River's eye contact is not really great and some of his social communication is lacking. I am upset about it because I know this age is so critical, and I just don't want him to have anything wrong with him. I have been fearful from the time he was born. I heard all the same jargon, early intervention...I just wish I didn't have to hear it. His official eligibility is "Non-Categorical Early Childhood (suspicion of Autism Spectrum Disorder) and Speech Impairment."

Running...

This is where we spent our afternoon yesterday. Dawson barely made the cut-off to go down the big slide at the rec center. He loved it! I will spare you all the details but I feel like I have been running a million miles a minute. Grad school is keeping me VERY busy! I do really enjoy my classes but they all have a lot of assignments and it is all going at an accelerated rate. Dawson loves summer school, he is doing the PAL program through PISD for three more weeks, then I'll have him in something else. He is also still doing speech therapy. In just a few minutes I am heading out to take him to his soccer class. I signed him up for non-competitive soccer this summer, they just teach the kids the basics. He'll think he is on a team, I hope he likes it. River is doing half-days at his normal day care. He had been complaining about ear owies and so I took him to the doctor yesterday and she pulled this huge dried chunk of ear wax and I don't know what else out of his ear, no infection though so that is good!

Memorial Day Weekend

I went to pick up the boys at Kelly's house and I was finally able to see the picture that David's mom painted for me! I love it and hung it up immediately upon returning home.

We went to my two favorite places to eat, the Oasis and Phil's Ice House! It was good to see everyone and to get back to the town I love. I wish I could transfer Plano schools down there. Also, Kate treated all of the girls to pedicures/manicures and my dad watched all of the boys. It's back to grading/cleaning, only nine more days until summer!

Kelly Cousin Fun

Kelly invited Dawson and River to spend the night at their house last night. I know, I think she is crazy with 3 boys of her own all under Dawson's age. But Kelly is amazing and I don't know how she manages all that she does. Dawson looooooves Isaac and so he always wants to go over there. This is the first time River has ever slept over though. Kelly called me at 9:00 to tell me that they were all in bed, ever baby Oscar. She said the only time River got sad was right at bed time and River asked Kelly "Mommy, Mommy?" Dawson said, "River, that's not mommy, that's Aunt Kelly!" River's response was oh, but I think he was okay because Dawson was there. I am pretty sure that Dawson thinks that River is crazy. I am picking them up pretty soon so that we can head down to Austin for a couple of days.

Last night was also Crys's birthday and so Kelly took this picture of the boys.