Cherokee teacher pleads guilty to duct-taping autistic student | ajc.com

Cherokee teacher pleads guilty to duct-taping autistic student  | ajc.com

Dear Noah.....

things are going pretty well.....we are plugging along with school although it is a little stressful sometimes with the demands ....this year there is a lot of essay writing and even if you type or have someone write for you....that entire process is just completely overwhelming and daunting...and many times I think we are spending a lot of time on things that you do not really need in the future...and I am not having some time to teach you things I want to teach you. SO I need to sit down and rework my ideas of curriculum into the online school's ideas and see if I can make an acceptable mix.

I have not made an entry here in awhile because things are going well otherwise. I cannot believe it will be March soon. Won't be long and you will be on another summer break from school...and approaching 13. I cannot believe that either!

Remember I always love you....

mommy
xoxoxo

Dear Noah...a Jib Jab Star Wars

my mom made this JIB JAB STAR WARS movie using Noah as Luke, his cousin Audrey as Princess Leia and a few other cousins and uncle..it is hilarious and I love it!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Dear Noah.....a present from Jen!

We have a fantastic friend who lives in Florida who sent us up a BIG package at Christmas. We held off on opening it until just the other day...and wow were you ever excited and happy to see what was inside for you!

Here is a picture of you with some of your gifts....you were thrilled and I believe you have already read the books! We had no idea there were AVATAR books out....so now you are excited about finding more to read!

I was also given some gifts from Jen....wonderful art journals and pads...books of inspiration. It was such a treat and so nice of her to do this for us both.

Sending a BIG thanks out to you Jenny...we love you and are so thankful to have you in our lives as a friend!

Meanwhile Mr. Noah.....we went to see uncle Sonny's new apartment last night...he has really fixed it up so nice. I made peanut butter fudge and he popped popcorn. Of course you did not eat either of these things. You ate pizza when we got back home. We had a nice visit...his place is just so nice and cozy.

I took the Christmas tree down today. This next week I will spend putting everything back into the garage...sorting a few things..cleaning it up a bit.

SO much to do...but I am thankful you have a day off school tomorrow on my day off! It will be nice.

I love you!

Mommy
XOXOXO

Dear Noah...another trip to Webb's antique mall...

and we happened across this old wringer washer. You were fascinated with it...and I have to say..it was in EXCELLENT shape and condition for such an old washing machine...and it was clean...and I bet it worked.

I then informed you...I was old enough to remember when WE used to wash our clothes when I was a kid with a wringer washer very similar to this one......sort of.....ours was a lot larger and I believe more stainless steel to it...

wow.....that seem like so long ago!

We have had a lot of snow....been super cold outside....and you are still enjoying all your new Wii games and PC games you got for Christmas and your birthday.

I love you Mr. Noah!

Mommy
XOXOX

Dear Noah....your cousin Wesley....

has been over a few times this winter break to play with you. He is the same age as you minus only a few months. He will turn 12 in March. You both hit it off really well....and had a great time playing together with your new Wii games and PC games. He had so much fun (as did you) he never wanted to go home! I am so happy you have found someone you really enjoy playing with.....another boy your age...and his grandpa has recently moved into an apartment here in town..so now when he comes to see his grandpa...he will likely come over to spend time with you as well. I rememeber what it is like to have a special cousin/friend and grow up with them...and do things with them and have fun with them. I wish you the same happiness and joy.

I love you Noah....you have done so very well this winter break....this past year....you almost cried last night in the car going through the drive through with Wesley and his grandpa and me....because we had ordered you something slightly different from what you normally get...which is the 6 piece chicken tender kids meal with a Sprite. Wesley wanted 10 pcs...and the regular meal...but they only sell an 8 pc. SO we figured that was a better buy for you both since it was actually cheaper than the kids meal....and you got more. BUT you got very upset...though did not show it...you said you could not eat 8 pcs of chicken and you put your hands over your eyes and you almost started to cry....and you turned your head to the window to look out it. I am sure you did not want to cry in front of Wesley. THEN I realized you had probably wanted the TOY that came with the kids meal...so I asked you and you said yes in between suppressed tears...so I said I could still BUY you that...and you could give 2 of your nuggets to Wesley so he would end up with 10...you with 6...still get the toy but have MORE french fries and larger drink! THIS made you instantly happy and you were able to get past that distressful moment in time.

I am proud of you and how you are learning to deal with disappointments and handling your emotions better. In the past...not all that long ago..this same situation would have likely ended in a major meltdown moment for you.

Anyway...I am happy for you...and only wish you the very best life has to offer you...this year and ever year forever.

I LOVE YOU!!

Mom
XOXOXOX

Dear Noah: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Wow we have been super busy....my head is spinning with how quickly the time is passing. You have been out of school already for winter break 2 weeks and it seems only yesterday it was starting!

Time goes by so fast. We have been busy here at home...doing holiday things...and visting family and friends. We have had sleepovers and play dates...You have really enjoyed yourself and have been so very happy.

Over this break you had time to play with your cousins....which has thrilled YOU..especially since both cousins are very close to your age.

We also celebrated your 12th birthday! SO hard to believe you are already 12 years old and growing up so fast!


We celebrated Grandma C.'s 88th birthday yesterday and now will be welcoming in the new year with my uncle and your cousin. I think.

We have enjoyed ourselves immensely this winter break and all the holidays and joy and family, friends, and loved ones.

Noah and I want to wish you all a very happy, healthy, prosperous, and blessed new year!

Dear Noah....HUGE milestone...you are now 100% officially toilet trained....

and right before you turn 12 years old. I never thought in a million years it would take this long to get you to this point and to be honest I was starting to wonder if you would ever completely be able to do all your wiping yourself anywhere outside of home. Here at home you are and have been 100% toilet trained since age 9 years. BUT anywhere outside or away from home you still needed my help from time to time. Well..I started working with you the last month on this and telling you...you could do it....and how...and you needed to try because you did not want to go into being a teenager and still having your MOM come into the bathroom to help you wipe up!

I am so PROUD of you and happy because the other day at grandma C's house you came running on the way to the bathroom..asked for the wipes we brought...and ran to the bathroom all by yourself and DID EVERYTHING IN THERE ALL BY YOURSELF!!!!!!!!! No calling for me to come help you...nothing. YOU DID IT. FINALLY! I KNOW you had to be happy and proud too. I praised you up and down....and I just am amazed..once again...in your own time...you finally do something all on your own.

So for all those other parents out there who think their autistic child will never be able to handle all toileting on their own...don't give up hope. IT can be possible.....be patient....do your best with them.....they may just one day surprise you. AND some may need help forever...but I still alwys kept hope in Noah...and I am thankful he finally is able to do this all on his own!

YIPPEEE for you Noah. I love you and am so very proud of you....something everyone else probably takes for granted or has had their kids accomplish at 2 or 3 years of age...you too now have finally succeeded!

ALL MY LOVE always!

Mommy
XOXOXOXO

Dear Noah.....I can tell by the reduced postings that things are going better here!

School wise I mean ..for sure. The stress level and drama we had with you attending a public school is just not present in our lives anymore. There is still some pressure feelings sometimes when it seems we have a lot of required things to accomplish...but we plug along and get it done. I still sometimes wonder and wish I just homeschooled you by myself straight out like I did in Colorado...picking what I wanted to teach you in the way I WANTED to do it....and not via any online virtual school..and sometimes when we are pressured to get work done I am tempted to try it all that way again...but online school is also good and has many benefits as well as making sure you are taught what you need to learn according to the state's standards. BUT then I have to wonder WHO really determines what you should learn and why...and by doing all these required things I am sometimes not left with enough time on my own to teach you things I WANT you to learn. So I have to come up with a better schedule or something...maybe incorporating both into the day or some on weekends or some solution.

But as far as the daily drama of life in school I do not miss that. You are much happier and less stressed. I am less stressed. I heard some kids about your age in the public library on Monday and they were back in the kid section that is set up for kids to meet in and play games and read, etc...and they were talking so inappropriately. All had come over from school...talking OUT LOUD about being HORNY and "go sit in the corner to get raped" and all this other stuff. I am so THANKFUL you are not being exposed to that crap on a daily basis and to be honest I thought someone in the library should have told those kids to tone it down a bit.

Wow....maybe I am an old fuddy duddy but I don't care. Right is right and appropriate is appropriate and that was not it.

MY SURGERY has been put on hold...I am hoping I won't need it.....time will tell...but I want to go through all options before having a surgery I may not need.

We had a good Thanksgiving....and here it is time to get ready for Christmas already! We will finish decorating the tree this weekend.

Today Opie got stuck under your bed again...he crawled up into the outer cover of the boxspring mattress..there he was stuck in the material but not in any big hurry to get back out once I lifted the mattress up. We have since blocked all areas he could get under your bed again.

Snowing here today...very chilly outside...and very much looking more like winter!

I love you lots.....really do....to the moon and back again Noah..forever.

OH...almost forgot. You have been designing your apartment and houses....I will have to post pics later. You designed a very nice small 1 bedroom place above a 3 car garage you said you could live in...and then designed a slightly larger place....over a 4 car garage. You seem to want to live above a garage one day....and not one necessarily attached to any house I own!

Then you designed a home.....and it is very nice too. I am very amazed when I see all you can do designing homes and making floor plans. I suggested you make a book about this! You said you had not even thought about that before.

So ...I say SO a lot don't I?

LOVE YOU!

Mom
XOXOXOX

Dear Noah...you are missing your dad....

You woke up today and came out acting very funny...like you either did not feel well or were extremely sad. When I finally went through a complete listing of all your body parts and asking you if they hurt and you replying no..I finally asked you if you were sad. You started to cry and said you were and it was because you really wanted to see your dad. You miss him a lot I will have to have some surgery coming up and I think he is trying to time his next visit with that so he can be here for you during that time to help out which will be great. You are only hoping if that happens he stays longer than a couple of days. You need some serious time with him one-on-one.

We had to travel to Columbus the other day so I could see a surgeon...and on our way back we stopped at a combo KFC/Long John Silvers and they had a special parking place for classic old cars and beside it an old gas station and drive in speakers. We had to take a pic of you. We had a nice day together away from school and work and we actually got a lot accomplished since we began our day so early!

Otherwise Noah I love you so much. Hopefully you will get to see your dad and have a wonderful visit before you know it!

LOVE YOU!

Mommy
XOXOX

Dear Noah.....Dayton PhilharMONSTER concert and TRICK OR TREAT!

SO Saturday I took you to the Dayton Schuster Center for the first time to attend the Dayton Philharmonic concert they put on for Halloween...the PHILHARMONSTER concert. I got us seats in the front row! You could actually lean on the stage we were so close. The place was so beautiful....and we will definitely be going back for other concerts or shows. There were many levels of balconies...and the very top of the ceiling led to an open area that looked as if you were gazing out onto the stars. SO beautiful!

You went trick-or-treating with your cousin Audrey that evening ....you went as Avatar the Last Airbender from the cartoon series...and she has a Victorian dead bride......you had a good time but everyone tired out fast this year.

We eventually got back here to finish watching the Ohio State football game....where they beat Minnesota 52 to 10!

Lots to do...so I am keeping this short. I love you...tonight you want to make it movie night! I think you said you wanted to watch Polar Express because it was the time of year you wanted to start watching Christmas movies!

LOVE YOU NOAH!

Mommy XOXOXOX

Dear Noah....our hometown DID have a tornado confirmed...

no wonder we felt such hard winds driving home....and rain....we were probably driving on the outskirts of it all like you thought.

Dear Noah: Your stress test was normal!

THESE photos do not do the clouds and black skies justice. They skies were very black at one point..something you only see in movies....eerie and scary!

(excerpt from our day)

We had to go to Children's Medical Center today for Noah to have some tests done. I did not want to go knowing it was supposed to be bad weather...even before we left the conditions were perfect for tornadoes...very warm and windy...our skies up here were almost black when we left but cleared in the Dayton area. Then coming back I wanted to come straight home to beat the storm but Noah was hungry. We stopped in Englewood at Perkins...it was not bad there BUT the farther we drove the worst it got. We hit approached our exit to take us the next 20 plus miles home and it was BLACK skies with unbelievable clouds and rain was starting and the winds! We turned on WHIO radio and tornado warnings were all around us. We did not know what to do. I called dad...he was just waking up from a nap so did not even know the conditions...I wanted to ask him if our area was bad and if so I figured we would make a pit stop at their house...but he had not heard. I kept listening to the radio and we decided to try going on North. BIG MISTAKE...the winds about blew me off the road numerous times...the rain was blowing across the road and car in WAVES...WAVES I tell you WAVES......it looked like we were riding on an ocean....and it sounded like something under my car was grinding. Noah took videoclips till he got too scared....the inside of the car sounded so loud.....the wind was unbelievable. We were almost near another small town and I decided we better pull off. A semi had almost hit us coming into our lane...no one could see.....I reached a little dairy bar restaurant right before you go into town....everyone was pulling off there....and I should have recorded that...the wind blew the car all around....the wind...I cannot say enough about the sound and the rain....and poor Noah crying and crying saying he did not want to die.....he just wanted to go home...etc...it was sooooooo nerve wracking. I kept the radio on....it seemed to chill a bit....and we started to leave...passed police cars and ambulance.....and the TORNADO SIREN RIGHT THERE BESIDE US WENT OFF......Noah was really scared then. I had no where to go take shelter.....and thought about a few places....but it looked a little clearer closer to our hometown area so we kept going....we were both praying...just wanted to not break down or have to get in a ditch off the St. Rt we were on.....almost to the town before our exit. Thought about going to my grandma's ...all the power seemed out up there....and there appeared to be a funnel cloud...so we kept heading North even though our town also had a tornado warning too.....so scary....SO scary.....I told Noah I did not know how he would ever be a storm chaser if he got that scared and cried....he said he would not mind if but from a SAFE distance. We were in the middle surrounded by tornado warnings to each direction we drove or came from...and again...the winds...sound of the wind and the rain....unbelievable. I told Noah next time he had to listen to me and when I said we were coming HOME we were coming straight HOME to beat a storm and not go through this again!

LOTS of damage in our area and many other cities around us. They have so far confirmed 6 tornado touch downs in surrounding areas....it was a very active weather day!

Noah and I were so thankful to be home. He was so afraid he was going to die. He was crying so much and was so very upset in the car. He kept telling me all the facts about fall tornadoes and how dangerous they are...and how they are rain wrapped like these were and you could not see them...until they were on top of you...and we needed to be taking shelter immediately. We had no where to take shelter...so I kept driving. Once home he was upset because our closet in the hallway is not accessible at the present time...our tornado safe zone. I told him I would clear it out fast or we could sit in the hallway. What a hectic day and evening.

Today the winds were still blowing but NOTHING like yesterday. I am thankful we could stay home today and chill.....we both needed to recover from that nerve wracking event!

Giving thanks we made it home and all was okay with us and my family and friends and others in the surrounding areas were not injured.

I love you Noah!

I was proud of your efforts on the stress test. You did much better than I thought you could do!

Mommy
XOXOXOX

Dear Noah......License to Wed???

I fell asleep on the sofa the other night with the TV on and woke up finding you on the love seat watching a movie...when I asked you what it was it was called LICENSE TO WED...with Robin Williams in it...and you were enthralled...told me you had already gotten up and checked it out on Wikipedia. I was stunned...you seemed to not only like the movie but were intent on it and stayed up to watch the entire movie.

You are all about girls and love and things to do with love right now..so sweet.

You were looking at yourself in the full length mirror the other night after getting washed off and into some pajamas...you were sliding your hands up and down your belly and said it looked like waves.....rolling in and out...like a Tsunami! I about lost it laughing so hard...you did too.

Your personality and humor is really growing...as are YOU physically...you are really shooting up right now. I told you we both need to start working out together for exercise to tone up........get your coordination improved and muscles developing.

I love you a lot...we have had a lot of fun together recently....and today we went to mom and dad's for a birthday celebration.

LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK AGAIN....and again and again..forever I will!

Mommy
XOXOXOXO

Dear Noah...a song dedicated to you ...

Since you are all about IN MY ROOM lately for everything and it is all I can do to get you OUT of your room..I dedicate a song to you....



I LOVE you Noah.....in or out of your room.....

Mommy
XOXOXO

Dear Noah....you designed a Sonic Chatroom movie

it is actually a pretty cool storyline and you came up with the words and ideas all on your own. I think you had seen some similar things on You Tube and decided to make your own. I am pretty impressed with all the work you did and the text you added and pics you added all on your own and the flow of it all. Great job for your first one....you told me you included a LOVE triangle which I thought was pretty cute...I asked you if you KNEW what a LOVE TRIANGLE was and you very clearly and matter-of-factly told me!

We watched old Supermarket Sweep episodes on You Tube together in your room last night....had a ball. We both miss that show. You pronounced bologna BOW-LOG-NA instead of BALONEY which I found so funny....we busted out laughing big time on that!

Anyway...here is the movie you made!



I LOVE YOU!

Mommy
XOXOX

Dear Noah....you and I both love scientific notations!

We have been working in math and pre-algebra.....order of operations...and scientific notations...some very long math problems at times...and today we had such fun working out scientific notations and order of operation problems! I actually asked you if you ever thought you would have been working on such long math problems like that one day and not only working on them but KNOWING how to figure out the answers!?? You shook your head no.....but we laughed and WANTED to keep going and figuring out the answers to the problems! I am so thankful!

You are also doing so much better with comprehension of things you read...inferences....etc. I am so impressed with how much you know...and some of the answers on language arts and literature you disagreed with me and YOU GOT THEM CORRECT! HA! How about that! You are doing very well and I love you very much Noah Wesley!

I can't wait to see what tomorrow holds for us both!

I love you!

Mommy

xoxoxo

Dear Noah....trip to the new ER last night....

well you were talking online to your dad last night....and came out crying saying you had something weird happen...a bad pain in your head.....felt like a blood vessel burst you said. You were afraid you had "brain damage" or a "brain tumor." WHERE you have even heard those things or come up with those ideas is beyond me. ANYWAY....because of the way you described it and the fact you have never had pain like this before...I ended up taking you to the ER. They think (like I did) that it may be related to being on the computer TOO MUCH at one time and your eyes...etc....so we need to take you next to an eye doctor. You passed your vision test fine last night...but I know you have issues with the muscles in your eyes. So that will be next up on your list.

I had my routine annual physical today so you stayed with your grandma and grandpa L while I was gone...when I got back you came running out and hugged me and said, "I missed you!" That made me feel good because to be honest I did not really think you would miss me. BUT this was the FIRST TIME you have really stayed somewhere like that for a couple of hours without me being around....or you with your cousin...etc. You played on the Wii and visited with grandpa and grandma...we then stopped at grandma C's house on our way back home.

I had your 3-year meeting today with your teachers to determine your current needs pertaining to your IEP coming up in October/November. That went well. We think we will be able to drop the OT from your list this year and just continue the ST and I will work on things here at home.

It is rainy outside today and very very chilly....since you were in the ER last night and we had to get up early today you only had 6-1/2 hours of sleep and are super super tired. You will hit the bed early tonight!

I LOVE YOU NOAH and am proud of all the work you have been doing in school and just how you are personally as a young man. You lost a tooth today which is good...it is one you have been working on for awhile now.

Today you had Chick-Fil-A for lunch....McDonalds for breakfast...I guess an official "eat out day" for you! Those tear my intestinal system up...I can't do it...which is actually a good thing.

Well...more later...you are doing great...you scored MUCH HIGHER on your Scantron tests recently....so you are improving on reading and math...and in fact...were ABOVE the state/district levels for both!

I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK AGAIN AND FOREVER NOAH WESLEY!

Mommy xoxoxoxo

Dear Noah....school is going....

We are plugging along in school this year. Not much new news to report. Last night we stayed up until 3:00 a.m. watching movies..way too late.

I love you...you are growing up fast.

Mommy
XOXOXOX

Dear Noah....The Great Darke County Fair....

well we decided to go to the county fair yesterday afternoon and early evening. We had a great time...did a lot of walking though and it was a little hotter than you thought it would be...you got super hot and tired pretty fast. We scoped out where everything was to be prepared next time we go back. We saw SOME of the animals and exhibits....still need to see the chicken house.....and rabbits....and rest of the pigs. You saw a cute and very friendly cat in the horse barn. He was a sweetie...and must belong to someone there because he had a collar on. We will be going back and forth a few times during fair week. School officially starts for you on Wednesday too...so it will be weird this week I think for both of us.

I love you.....hope my knee and back holds out for walking some more!

Mommy

XOXOXO