Dear Noah......the swing not in the proper position at the park Sunday really upset you.....

I do not always see things bothering you like they used to ......where you would obsess and cry and have almost a meltdown over something being out of place....or not quite right.......apart from the "norm" in your immediate environment.

Sunday at the park at the Reunion this happened and I was quickly reminded of how you used to be all the time....what used to be commonplace......a daily occurrence many times over.

You went to swing on the swings at the playground and there was one swing that a group of teenagers had tossed up and over the top bar so it was all messed up and not hanging correctly. This TOTALLY upset you.....and you were having a fit.......and no matter what I said to you to tell you this was OKAY and you had at least 6 other swing choices to choose from.....you were still upset. AND I MEAN getting very very upset.

Well auntie Margaret came along and with her one crutch she is still on from her broken foot she was able to lift the swing up and push it up and over the top bar twice to get it into the proper position for you to swing on. Needless to say you were ecstatic this happened......BIG THANK YOU to MARGARET on this one!






And all was right in your world again...and as fast as the "moment" happened.....it was all over and you were back to yourself again....calm, cool and swinging!

Mommy
XOXOX

Dear Noah.......we made bookmarks for you to take to school tomorrow to give to your teachers....

yep..tomorrow is your last day of school! You will have successfully completed a full year in GRADE school in a public school.....this is HUGE for you!

It sounds like one big party tomorrow and we could not think of what to have you make to give to your teachers.....so we decided on bookmarks. PERSONALIZED ones with YOUR photo on them and we laminated them too!

I think they turned out pretty well..




I love you Noah Wesley and I am so very proud of you and happy for you too. I hope tomorrow won't be too emotional for you!

Mommy
XOXOXO

Dear Noah....today you have an administrative absence from school...

MR. FLEXIBLE HIMSELF.....


They are doing this incredibly long field day combined with walking field trip and putt putt golf.....so you were excused from school today. They know there is no way you could handle the heat, the walk and then the competition very well so they felt it best (and we agreed) to let you stay home today. Tomorrow will be your last day at school and you are all to take in a special treat to share with everyone else as basically it sounds like a big party day. You want to take fruit roll ups.

We took Tom to the vet yesterday (the stray cat from grandma C's house and he is healthy after all so today he will get neutered and his shots. We will pick him up tomorrow late afternoon early evening then to take back to grandma C's house. After that we stopped at the park in grandma and grandpa L's town and you played for awhile....then we stopped at a local car show and checked out some hot rods......and then we went to visit grandma and grandpa L. Finally back home it was about 8:30 already where you spent time on my PC enjoying photos and videos. Next up bedtime around 10:30...and you slept well last night being tired from SUCCESSFULLY doing a walking field trip at school to the local DQ and then all that activity with me after school.

CLICK TO ENLARGE THESE IF YOU WANT!!!





We also saw a gorgeous sunset we took many photos of......




Today you are enjoying time on your computer designing houses.....and watching train videos. IF we have time and the weather holds out (we are to get severe weather later).....we might try to go in search of some trains for you to videotape.

With me working and not finishing till afternoon sometime...there is not much else we can do probably today.

I DID make it up town yesterday in time to RECORD the emergency siren going off. It lasted an entire 3 minutes and 30 seconds with 12 seconds wind down time. WOW was it loud up close and personal.

Anyway.....I love you......and we will have to celebrate your completing a FULL YEAR in GRADE SCHOOL once the year is out. AND today is the day you MUST MAKE presents for your teachers if you are going to.

Mommy
XOXOXOX

Dear Noah.....yesterday was our family reunion....

You and Audrey always have fun together...




The last time we went to the Family Reunion was when I believe you were around 2 years old. We had come back for a visit from Colorado and you had actually accidentally fallen on my parent's front window and busted open your inside lower lip clear through to the outside with one of your teeth so we had to take you to Children's Medical Center before going to the reunion. Now you are 9-1/2 years old already....and you did very well though you got bored a few times because you basically just wanted to stay either playing at the playgrounds or playing in the men's bathroom the entire time.

Yes.....your obsession with bathrooms ....mainly toilets and urinals.....continues. I do always try to satisfy those obsessions so I made time to allow you to play in the bathroom....even recording you flushing the urinal. This after everyone in the park had pretty much gone home and it was empty.

This morning I took you to the park before school and before the park got busy so you could go into the men's restroom there and flush the toilets a few times. You had to also take a peek at the women's stalls.

I stood outside the men's bathroom (AFTER we made sure it was empty) and listened to toilet after toilet flushing.....finally yelling in to you with a STOP TIME because I had to take you to school soon.

You had a fitful night's sleep last night....and came into my room at 2:00 a.m. saying you could not sleep. So instead of just YOU tossing and turning I TOO then could not sleep so we basically were both not sleeping....and next thing I know it was 4:00 a.m.! You finally fell asleep and so did I but today I am fighting off a migraine .....and nasal stuffy crap from being outside all day yesterday probably. Allergy stuff...something. Your nose and right ear has been bothering you.

Today you have another walking field trip if you can handle it. I have given permission for you to go. You are wanting to do more and more and I really want to allow you to try as much as you can do. You are being walked to the Dairy Queen for treats. I know you don't eat anything from Dairy Queen but you were happy to know they do serve SPRITE....so you will get something to drink.

Tonight you may skip group because we are going to try to catch the stray cat at Grandma C's house to take to the vet.

I love you Noah.....I hope you have another great day today......only 2 more days of school left!

Mommy
XOXOXOX



I think I turned the camera sideways to get the entire urinal in......sorry about it being on the side.....

OH....today is the monthly testing of the emergency sirens in town....so I promised you I would head over to the newest one by the post office in time to hopefully record it UP CLOSE. I better get that shower now.....noon will be here before you know it!

my uncle's latest project in the Fairy Forest.....a tepee!

My uncle Sonny built this himself.....it is a full sized tepee and 18 feet in diameter ...fully lined so he can even have fires inside......it is beautifully done. He is so creative and artistic and can make everything seem so magical....Now if I can talk him into coming over here and helping me and Noah make one in our backyard!

Dear Noah......school is winding down.......

We went to Fulton Farms yesterday to get some fresh strawberries and some fresh tomatoes.......WOW......are they ever yummy!






You had fun playing outside in their train.....




AND you were THRILLED because the family bathroom had one of THESE in addition to a regular toilet.....side by side practically......giving going to the bathroom family style and at the same time an entirely new meaning...




AND you were also thrilled to see a toilet with the handle on the right side of the tank instead of the left..




We got extra strawberries and tomatoes to give some to Grandma C. so we stopped by her house on the way home.

We had a good day. You have a walking field trip today at the park....to fly kites.....have a scavenger hunt and do some nature etchings for a nature book....then pizza and soda at the park for lunch.....(though you are taking your own). I hope and pray you have a great day and lots of fun.....I will sneak over and take some pictures of you from a distance to post later.

On the way to Fulton Farms yesterday......you were talking about RR crossings....and then out of the blue said "oh by the way mom......" and I said "yes?" to which you used sign language to tell me you loved me.

That made my day.

I love you too little man!

Mommy
XOXOXOX

this totally ticks me off and is so very sad for this little boy......

Port St. Lucie teacher sidelined after letting kindergarten class kick kid out

May 27, 2008

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — A kindergarten teacher has been reassigned after she allowed her students to oust a fellow 5-year-old from the classroom because of his disciplinary problems.

Morningside Elementary School teacher Wendy Portillo was removed from classroom duties until further action may be determined, according to St. Lucie County School district spokesman Janice Karst said this week.

Last week, Portillo held a vote in her classroom in which the students "voted out" 5-year-old Alex Barton, who is in the process of being tested for Asperger's Disorder, a type of high-functioning autism, said his mother, Melissa Barton.

After each classmate was allowed to say what they didn't like about Alex the teacher said they were going to take a vote, Barton said. They said he was "disgusting" and "annoying," Barton said.

"He was incredibly upset," she said. "The only friend he has ever made in his life was forced to do this."

By a 14 to 2 margin, the students voted him out of the class.

Barton, who said she is considering legal action, said Alex began the testing process in February for an official diagnosis under the suggestion of Morningside Principal Marsha Cully.

Alex has had disciplinary issues because of his disabilities, Barton said. The school and district has met with Barton and her son to create an individual education plan, she said. A veteran of 12 years of teaching, including nine at Morningside, Portillo has attended these meetings, she said.

Barton said after the vote, Alex's teacher asked him how he felt.

"He said, 'I feel sad,'" she said.

Alex left the classroom and spent the rest of the day in the nurse's office, she said.

Barton said when she came to pick up her son at the school last Wednesday, he was leaving the nurse's office.

"He was shaken up," she said. Barton said the nurse told her to talk with the child's teacher, who told her what happened.

Alex hasn't been back to school since then, and Barton said he won't be returning. He starts screaming when she brings him with her to drop off his sibling at school.

Thursday night, his mother heard him saying "I'm not special."

Barton filed a complaint with the school resource officer, who investigated the matter, said Port St. Lucie spokeswoman Michelle Steele said. But the state attorney's office concluded the matter did not meet the criteria for emotional child abuse, so no criminal charges will be filed, Steele said.

Dear Noah......you have made another new friend.....a GIRL!

Yes...you have always been attracted to them......and this little girl also likes Sonic the Hedgehog....so you apparently went up to where she was playing the other day and went to the top of their fort and announced YOU were the new KING!

You came home from school beaming...so happy. Because you are apparently now a MEMBER of THEIR CLUB and you are to meet them UNDER the fort next time you have recess. You are soooo excited and sooooo happy! Friday it rained at recess so you missed out on playing again with her but I know you will be right back there on Tuesday! It is all so very sweet. Your parapro got the biggest kick out of it.

Today your cousin Audrey is to come over and then spend the night and stay into tomorrow. We will have some sort of cook out or something tomorrow after her mom comes ....so you are looking forward to that.

I am so happy all is right in your little world.

I love you very much Noah Wesley...

Mom
XOXOX

Dear Noah...the field trip was a success!

We got there before your class but that was okay. They finally showed up about 30 minutes later. Their journey was over 3 miles. I still cannot believe they had those kids WALK that entire way.....and on a STATE ROUTE instead of getting a couple of buses to haul them out there.

BUT you had a good time...and a short day from school. Back home grandma C. stopped by to say hi as she came to town to do some shopping.

Not many days left in school!

LOVE YOU!

Mommy
XOXOX

Dear Noah.........our local Domino's pizza closing???

OH NO! Grandma C. told us they were closing because the owner is retiring...and the local pizza place bought him out. I am not sure of the details and if they will change it to be another local pizza place or continue with the Domino's......but you and I are both thinking from what grandma said it sounds like Domino's is closing its doors here in town.

If that happens.....I don't know what we will do.......

needless to say......you are stressed.....since that is the main staple of your diet.

We will work out something.......

I love you

Mommy
XOXOXO

UPDATE.....THEY DID CLOSE UP AND ALREADY! Today on the way to school we noticed the SIGN was off the Domino's pizza place already and they were already closed. NO COUNT down warning or anything! I think that is all very weird and very fast even if they were going to retire. I mean they said nothing to us last week about closing up when I picked up a pizza there.

NOW I have to drive at least 20 miles or more to get Noah his pizza....crap

Dear Noah........another rough day for you Friday....

When I picked you up I knew you did not feel well and had a rough day.  You complained of a really really bad headache first of all.  AND I was informed you had a bad day....hitting another student during a competition game your class played with Legos.

Friday morning on the way driving you to school I talked to you about this LEGOS competition you told me would take place in your class....because I KNEW it was an event that could potentially set you off to REACT before thinking or remaining calm.....because I KNEW if someone TOOK your LEGO s or WON over you.......came in FIRST......you would lose it.  So we talked ahead of time about how you SHOULD react.....what you SHOULD DO and not do....etc.

I guess the other team won....and you told me you get tired of ROBBIE always being first.....and so you apparently pushed him or hit him because his team won.  Now ROBBIE is also a boy who causes his own problems and I don't know what happened in the class or if he instigated anything or not.  I got a note from the teacher in your ledger that said your reactions were UNPROVOKED....but I guess she still does not understand that your reaction WAS provoked......by exactly the scenario I was afraid would play out.  

I am not sure how I can make them understand that ANY social situation has a potential for explosive outbursts from you....A) if someone beats you or wins or comes in first over you....B) if someone looks at you the wrong way.....C) if someone says something to you that you don't like....D) If someone laughs at you....I could go on and on.  The point is......anyone coming in first over you bothers you.  TREMENDOUSLY!   HAD I been there.....I would have been in the sidelines and when the other team won BEFORE you reacted like you did (as I am sure if they had really been watching they could have seen you starting to boil and react). ...I would have held you and said to you "that is okay......we need to clap Noah because the other team won...YEAH ....and that is okay!  EVERYONE can take turns at winning.....you don't always have to win.....it is OKAY for someone else to win too sometimes."   Just saying the phrase to you "IT's OKAY!" works so well with so many things!

The teacher PUNISHED YOU however....by removing your noon recess.  I am not sure what you did instead.....but they still don't realize the importance of you receiving SENSORY STIMULATION throughout the day to help you remain calm.   DOCKING you your recess time and not allowing your BODY time to MOVE does nothing but add fuel to the fire.  YOU NEED that time to move.  In the past all the behavioral experts have told previous teachers this.  That you cannot punish a child for doing something they cannot control.....it is not like you are doing something or choosing to do something WRONG over something right.  These are impulsive behaviors you cannot control.  YOU CAN LEARN to control them better with time and  you have made progress....but they are still things you must learn.  They will never come instinctively to you.  Try as I might I don't think I am getting this across to the teachers.

SO she had punished you in school....and then told YOU that she was going to tell me about this and tell me to also punish you here at home which only upset you even more....so you cried and had a hard time and ended up with a really bad headache.

I know you must learn there are consequences for actions.  However......punishing any special needs child for behavior they cannot control is not really correct either is it?  I mean you don't  really even get all this.  You know you should not push or hit.....but you don't really understand the reasons WHY and you cannot always stop yourself from reacting that way.  It is a process....and ongoing one...one you will continue your entire life. 

SO these teachers are trying things the old teachers did.  Punishing you for behavior you cannot easily control.   This always happens.  It always ends up like this.  Somewhere along the way they start assuming they can and should punish you like they would another student who understands these sorts of things....I have already been informed by the staff that next year in 4th grade the teachers may not be as "understanding" or "knowledgeable" about your autism and special needs as your current teachers.  That they may not be as easy on you...etc?  BUT isn't that the entire reason for your IEP?  AND if the staff does not understand you and your needs.....how can they best provide you with the best of anything you need in their school?  AND would it not be appropriate that the staff then be required to receive proper training and education regarding autism?  I mean you are not the only child in that school with that diagnosis.  IGNORANCE on a teacher' s behalf is totally unacceptable to me.

I have thought and thought about this.  I am going to write a letter to the staff this weekend and send it with you on Monday to school for the  principal and all your teachers.   I know it is the end of the year almost but it is never too late to hopefully teach them a little more. 

I got you your KFC on the way home from school anyway for your supper and you were so afraid your punishment from me would not be to eat out because your teacher told you she would tell me to NOT take you out to dinner....and once home and after you ate and had some Motrin for your headache...you crawled into bed and slept for a couple of hours.  I am sure your blood pressure elevated at school today.  ANY time lately when you get mad or upset you end up with a really bad headache.  AND then are wiped out.  NONE of this surprises me.  However, if tomorrow was a school day and not Saturday I already know you would not be going as it will likely take you the better part of the day to recover from this latest episode at school. 

Here at home you are so sweet and good and kind.  EVEN if you get upset you do not act out like you do at school.  I have so many questions and want to do the very best for you.   I am not so sure still about the public classroom setting. 

BUT I AM SURE I LOVE YOU.......and understand  you.....

(we are planning a sleep over for you.....you have requested a sleep over in MY bedroom Saturday night to Sunday morning.  I have a couple of treats in store as I ordered a PLANETARIUM and MOON to put in my room so we will be sleeping under the stars and moon that night.  How cool is that? I cannot wait!)

Noah......don't worry about anything.  It will all be "OKAY".......I promise you that...because that is my job for you as your mom.  To make sure everything will be okay.

 

Love you!

Mommy

XOXOX

Dear Noah....you are so sweet....

(Part of the front of the booklet and the first page only of the inside......)

Tuesday you brought something home from school to give to me as a Mother's Day present. It was a booklet you made with all your personal thoughts or wishes for me. Your opinions on things about me. This booklet means so much to me. It has taken such a very long time for you to finally get to the point where you are able to express yourself with words....and now to state your opinions and write them down!? WOW! I know in the past I wondered if this day would ever come to pass.

I find it fascinating to see the little man you are becoming and how you express yourself. You are showing us all that you are not just a walking shell or zombie....but have true feelings and opinions that have just taken a very long time in finding a way to be unleashed. Now that they have been...I am in awe of how personable you have become. You can make your OWN opinions now on things and have definite likes and dislikes....all based on what YOU feel...not on what we prompt you to feel. This is HUGE. To be able to then take your thoughts and formulate them and express them to someone else (like me in this booklet) is earth shattering for me. It is such a huge accomplishment.

You have gone from not talking at all....to only really being prompted what to say and how to react....to now being able to talk pretty well all on your own.....and most times not needing a prompt or reminder (though you still do sometimes).

I know I am doing a lousy job expressing this to you or anyone else. I know other moms out there with autistic children will understand what I am trying to say.

I will treasure this booklet forever Noah. I love it. I love you. I love reading your thoughts you wrote yourself in this booklet. I love the fact that you are sharing more of YOU with me and the world.

I will love you forever and ever!

Mommy

XOXOX

Dear Noah...Monday's IEP meeting......

(Noah sleeping in strange positions...that white thing on his right arm is his left foot) When he was little many times he would sit but fall forward sitting cross legged and sleep like that. 

It went pretty well.  I feel much more comfortable about things we amended and updated.   The principal at the school is also the school psychologist so I asked her what her opinion was about the proposed changes for you next year.  Your teachers think you should try full days in the regular classroom with an inclusion teacher being in the room.  So there would be 2 teachers in the room and she would be able to help you in areas you needed help if you needed help.....but she would also be there to help anyone...mostly special needs kids but also any other student who might need a helping hand.   I think we all are aware academically you do not belong in the Resource Room.  However.....we all also know being in the regular classroom full time might be too much for you to handle all the time.  The principal is more like me......wanting to try to set you up for success and not have things change so much and become so frustrating before you can handle it that you get burned out on the entire school experience.  There will be many changes for you next year.  SO we have decided to let you try it for the first 4 weeks of school and then reconvene to discuss how things are going after that first full month back to school.   It may work well for you and you will be able to handle it.......or it may not.  We can  then make any changes that might be necessary and update your IEP again.

I was also told as you go to new grade levels....some teachers may not be all that familiar with autism.  However, I personally think since there seems to be quite a few in the school systems now with autism....that the teachers should be required to take some basic class or course to learn the most basics of autism at the very least.  I cannot imagine a school system not seeing that as something definitely warranted.   I hope and pray more schools will send their teachers through some type of training......or maybe bring someone to the school to help EDUCATE them on autism.

Otherwise you have been doing pretty well.  You made me a very nice Mother's Day card.....and then bought me one too.  We saw some old cars at a car show Saturday night and had family over for a cookout on Sunday.  Of course I had to fix you something else entirely to eat....so you had garlic toast and spaghetti sauce.....

It won't be long now and school will be out.  I love you very much and am thankful you have done so well this year in school!

Mommy

XOXOXOX

Dear Noah......you had a really rough day today......

I was sending e-mails back and forth to the principal requesting another IEP meeting when she then sent me one that told me you had been having a very bad day.  Apparently one boy in your class told you to hit another boy...which you did.......several times....on his back.   So they sent you to the principal's office for that.

You then later got into trouble for pushing a girl in her chair up closer to her desk.  I guess maybe she did not want to be pushed up closer.....so I am not sure of those circumstance.....but you were not supposed to do that so again to the principal's office.

FINALLY you ended up trying to bite and scratch the first boy  you hit earlier in the day, later on in the day...because he was butting in trying to do something that had been assigned to you.

You told the principal you woke up grumpy.   When I asked you how you FELT when these episodes happen you said "very very weak.....my bones feel weak and tired."  When I asked you WHY you do what  you do you said "my body tells me to....it feels like it HAS to push or hit or move."

I know this has everything to do with your sensory integration issues.....because from little up you seek EXTRA physical stimulus to remain calm.  You used to body slam people and walls from preschool up.  You only stopped that about right before we moved back here to Ohio.  BUT you have no outlet for those needs to be filled with.....so there is a deficit.  You NEED this need for stimulus filled up in a positive way so you can better cope in other areas of you life.

I don't know what else to say tonight about all this other than we have a long way to go!

It has been raining for nearly 2 days straight.  If it stops by tomorrow morning...the Special Olympics will take place and you get to go watch for a couple of hours.  If not...I think the rain date is Monday but that is also the IEP meeting....though we could go before that.

 

I love you Noah...

mommy

XOXOX

Dear Noah....2-4 servings of fruits each day......

You came home from school yesterday and told me you read in a science book that you should have 2-4 servings of fruits each day and 3-5 servings of vegetables each day. Now you have heard this before and have studied it before but for some reason.....reading this in your science book at school seemed to make a huge impact on you. THIS IS GREAT news because it will help you start healthier foods and make better choices!

You were standing in the kitchen talking to me about it...and I suggested we make a food pyramid-type chart and you could keep track of your servings of the different foods each day. I think it will be a great project for like at least a couple of months. We can start this now and continue into the summer incorporating it into an entire study on Nutrition and the Human Body.

I watched you busily calculate things on your fingers...to see if you had your servings of fruit yesterday. This is HUGE for you.....so I am again...thankful.

IEP meeting went well yesterday. The teachers love you and will miss you at the end of the year. You have done so well they really believe you are ready for total inclusion in the regular classroom setting with some brief snippets of time with an inclusive teacher along with anyone else who might also need some additional assistance...for a couple of areas. You scored off the charts with reading....and are at grade level appropriateness....actually ADVANCED for reading capabilities......off the charts they said.....however.....as far as figurative language and inferencing and comprehension.....you scored very low. COMBINING all areas allowed you to average out to exactly where you need to be.....along with the rest of the class for the appropriate grade level. BUT the differences are extreme in your capability of reading and always understanding what you are reading. SO we have our work cut out for us!

We have already talked about homeschooling during the summer months. You and I are both excited about that. I do love to teach you and I still wish I had an entire room to use as a classroom here or in our future house to be able to organize our school days easier. The way we do it works fine but I would love to have a separate area to use. I am planning on covering a lot and doing a lot of field trips and hands-on activities with you.

Anyway.....a few issues on the IEP....but basically it went well. VERY well. I am proud of you and all the progress you have made and continue to make. I remain thankful.

AND I love you. This morning I heard you playing songs on your keyboard you were making up as you went along. I will post some. The one I would like to post I probably can't because I had no idea when I scanned around the corner with the camera that you were NAKED from the waist down. SO I don't want to get accused of child porn or something by showing your naked butt online. I did take some other clips though and will upload one.

I love you Noah. VERY much!

Mommy
XOXOX

Dear Noah.......a wild, hyper past couple of days!

(a peacock we saw at the park)

Today I have ANOTHER IEP meeting to plan for next year for you in school. Not sure exactly how we can do that right now....but that is how they do things. It is always in May...for the next year.

SINCE the field trip day......you have been VERY HYPER and wound up....not really listening too well at all! I think today..........3 days later you seem like hopefully you will finally be more calm. You stayed home yesterday because you were having such a hard time and a few allergy-type symptoms.

Have to keep this entry short......I have a lot of work to do! Friday is the Special Olympics so I will have to try to make up some time for work because you are being given adminstrative absence from school to attend a couple of hours to watch the olympics...since you wanted to be a part of it......but only by watching. You said maybe next year you would participate. You apparently qualified to participate because you have an IEP in the school. ANYONE who has an IEP apparently is qualified for the Special Olympics.

Anyway.....I LOVE YOU!

Mommy
XOXOX

Dear Noah.......in 2 weeks......

Last night you brought out a Rachel Ray cooking magazine to me and told me to pick out something I wanted to cook......and to buy the ingredients.......

Then while checking your calendar  you told me that in 2 weeks you needed to BUY/GET me something.......so I assume you mean for Mother's Day.

You are so thoughtful and sweet....and it will be interesting to see what you end up making me or wanting to buy me.  I think you also want me to fix myself a special recipe from your cookbook......one where you can help.

You are sweet.......and I love you......not sure what we will do today but it is going to be something!

Mommy

XOXOX

Dear Noah.......the field trip was a success...

All I know is you all headed to the city building and met the mayor.....and then went to the Fire Department and then the Police Department.   While at the Police Department the city people came over and said they got a warning of a bad storm coming through and the skies were black so you all better head back to school.

I guess you all had to RUN almost the entire way back to the school.  You arrived SECONDS before a REALLY BAD storm hit. 

I am thankful it went well. 

I am thankful you made it back before the storm.

I am thankful you listened well and the male teacher escorted you to the restroom.

I am thankful.

 

And I love you very much.

Noah's latest art project at school....studying/drawing hands.....and more....

Now you have to keep in mind Noah could not even draw a simple circular face with 2 eyes and nose and mouth until recently. He could not draw too much of anything to resemble things.....except his highways and homes sometimes and RR stuff. I mean his stuff looks very very primitive and of a child MUCH younger than his years....because he started out so late to develop any skills he might have. Also when he is excited or in a hurry he will color in like this...otherwise he can color much better now when he is relaxed. I can tell here he was WOUND TIGHT when he filled this all in.

ANYWAY......they were doing/studying/drawing HANDS and apparently had to do a MODERN version of the Mona Lisa. Noah is obsessed with SONIC anything......so he of course did this




and called her the SONIC HEDGEHOG GIRL.......putting in the appropriate colors for it to be similar to SONIC.......but.....look closely at her hand........yes.....he ADDED a SONIC tattoo of sorts on her hands......




check out CRAFTMANSHIP on the Art Rubic.....




Now I am not sure what the assignment was but it says MODERN Mona Lisa......and I know "average is okay" but I thought he did an excellent personalized version of a MODERN Mona Lisa......makes me wonder if the teacher only wanted things to be done a SPECIFIC way and not any INDIVIDUAL way? You know what I mean.

Of course he scored well on the other areas.

This is his own hand he did....and again he incorporated SONIC stuff into it.....




HE said this was a practice one and NOT where he actually traced around his hand and arm which is what they were to do. I asked if he had to do it again and he said he did another one but it still had SONIC included...just like this one.

He does this in about all his stuff now......not only doing the drawings of SONIC....but now also adding TEXT or short stories to go along with it! On most of the papers he brings home the backs almost always have SONIC in a scene...

anyway......his field trip will start today after they finish lunch....he goes to lunch at 11:30 and I don't know exactly when but the teacher made it sound like they would not be going till around 1:00 and not coming back till around 3:00. SO who knows. I want to be down there but also part of me does not want to be around to see it...I might feel an urge to run up and step in and I need to butt out if I can.

AND now it looks like it is going to storm. SURELY they won't be marching those kids downtown in a storm!??

Dear Noah.......a walking field trip tomorrow....

First off.....yesterday you had a substitute for your parapro.   When I came to pick you up from school here you came down the sidewalk all by yourself......no aide with you making sure you ended up with ME or in the car with me....etc. 

I asked you who you were with and you said a substitute and I asked you if she knew you were already outside the building and with me and you said you did not know....you thought so.  I told you to march your little butt back up there with me and make sure the staff knew where you were and went so they would not worry (meanwhile me becoming increasingly anxious yet again over the same crap I have been telling them about forever.....HELLO.......he needs an AIDE to make sure he does what he is supposed to do and not wander off...etc.).

Right about the time we got back up to the doors two teachers came running out looking frantic!  Here came the sub.....apologizing....yeah.....save it lady.  I have heard it before....this is exactly how bad things happen to sweet little innocent kids.  She said she got called into a classroom at the last second to help with a student who was causing a problem and Noah saw me pull up and he left without telling her or letting her walk him out....so she said she had no idea he had left because ......yes......she was NOT with him or making sure he did what he was supposed to do. 

sigh.........

And now tomorrow is a walking field trip.  The class is going downtown to the city buildings to meet the mayor and see the Fire Department...basically spend like 2 hours doing city things.  Noah you want to go so badly....but part of me is super anxious about this.  I want to let you go because you are wanting to do so many social things now.....and I don't want to hold you back.  On the other hand I understand the importance still of you having someone being there to MONITOR the situation and making sure what is supposed to happen actually happens.   Your social studies teacher came out today and talked about the field trip.  He said they really wanted you to go along too.....and that he promised they would watch you very well and that your usual parapro was also going to monitor you.  You keep telling me you will be good....but it is not just you I worry about. 

I had decided before to not allow you to go on walking field trips after I heard where a little boy was pulled by the arm by some unknown man at another school event that was also to be heavily monitored.  My faith in the system is nonexistent.  BUT I have decided to allow you to go.....hoping and praying all goes well and I don't receive any phone calls you are missing in action or worse, hurt.  I also hope and pray the weather holds out as of all days....tomorrow I think it is supposed to rain.

You wanted to go so badly you even passed up the chance to go to the Drive-In tonight to see Iron Man where you could  have then stayed home from school tomorrow.  You said you wanted to stay home to go to bed and get up on time to go to school to do the field trip.  SO I KNOW you want to go.  My stomach however would have preferred the Drive In and knowing tomorrow you are safe and sound.  BUT....I also totally understand I have to start allowing you to do more and more on your own and with others....so I will pray for the very best and your protection and safety as well as the protection and safety for all the other kids and teachers. 

We had a busy day after school yesterday.  We ran out to Bushel and  a Peck....and got some bulk items...then to the butcher shop across the street from that store....and then to the pet store......and then to Burger King for your supper and then to the new Kroger's store near grandma and grandpa Lincoln.  We had a good time...lots of running around though!

I have been busy mowing and we both have sinus issues from all the stuff in the air from the pollen and things blooming I guess.

Anyway......

I love you Noah.  So very much.

Mommy

XOXOX

Dear Noah.........you made a new friend at school Friday...

You saw another little boy at school who had a Sonic the Hedgehog mini plushie....you seem to be drawing those children to you lately. So you naturally went up to him to strike up a conversation. According to your parapro you two became the best of friends, really enjoying playing together and having so much fun together. I am so happy you have made another friend at school!

Yesterday you were making movies on your computer. I was very impressed. You walked yourself through a tutorial on Windows and learned how to make "sprites" which you immediately then made some with SONIC the Hedgehog of course. You found some backgrounds and some Sonic images and combined them together and then made a sprite to make it all animated.

Do I have a future filmmaker on my hands? I think that is pretty impressive considering you did it all on your own and most adults would probably not even know what a sprite is (other than a soft drink)...let alone how to make one yourself!

We have not done a lot this weekend. You have wanted to do something but not really wanted to leave the house. I can't complain....I am sort of in the same mood.

I love you Noah!

Mommy

XOXOXOX

Noah made this snippet and also did his own credits and messages at the end of the clip. The last sentence I am not sure he really understood what he said. He tends to get things backwards sometimes. When he said he was sorry for the people who DON'T use guns when I asked him what he meant (since I apparently took this the wrong way and thought he meant he was wanting more people to use guns) after a long discussion he finally said what he meant was he was sorry for the people who could not use guns to help defend themselves.....he felt sorry for them not being able to help themselves.....because they don't use guns and someone else was using guns on them.

WHEW! glad I got that straightened out! This is a classic example however where a teacher let's say....might totally mis-read this and think Noah was intentionally meaning something really bad.....when he was totally innocent here and actually was only feeling bad for someone not being able to help defend themselves. It can be quite complicated sometimes in figuring out exactly what someone like Noah might mean....and he can become quite frustrated in the process of trying to explain it to me or anyone else.

Anyway....there you have it...his snippet above....in the middle......his first animation!

Dear Noah......."You are NOT shoving Sonics down your pants!"

you looked so dejected once I said no!

Yes.......that was your idea the last couple of days. That is all I have heard from you. You are wanting so badly to take your Sonic plushies to school you even try to get the teachers to beg for you at the end of the school day when I pick you up.

Then you came up with the idea the other morning that you could SHOVE them down your pants and sneak them to school. Yeah...like no one would ever NOTICE that massive bulge in your pants!

I have been telling you no.....and all the reasons WHY.....such as you might lose them...or someone will steal them..etc. All to no avail. You are relentless in your attempts to sneak them out of the house.

Today you came up behind me and said to me "do you know what I am thinking?" I turned around to find you standing with pants unzipped.....plushies in hand. As I started to say very loudly "NO!" you began shoving those plushies as fast as you could down your pants giggling the entire time. I will have to say this......after they were in there......you really could not notice it all that much....it resembled football player pads over their thighs. You were content and really thought I was going to let you leave like that......but again I said the infamous "NO!" and all the reasons why.......

You got upset.....but got over it....because I told you maybe we could buy you a T-SHIRT or two with SONIC stuff on it.....to wear THAT to school so you would HAVE the Sonics with you at school but would not have to worry about anyone taking them from you.

You were happy at this idea.....and all was well in your world again.

Until it came time to drop you off at the front door at school. Lately you have reverted back to your kindergarten days when you always felt GETTING INSIDE that front door was a race....and you were determined to never let another child pass you up or beat you into the school. We worked long and hard getting you to realize just entering the school each morning was NOT a race....and that there were always going to be other kids entering the building before you....and that all that was "okay" because in your mind it was not okay let alone acceptable and it used to trigger huge meltdowns outside the school from you.

The entire time since I have been taking you in via the front door now at your current school this obsession has recurred. Today you got rather snotty and took off running as you saw another car pull up......but you took off without your backpack...I was still holding that. I was yelling at you to come back and get your backpack......asking if you wanted to get into big trouble today.....as I approached you as you FINALLY stood right at the doorway ....trying to block anyone else from getting in....I again asked you......"are you wanting to get into big trouble today?" to which you replied, "no....I just want to be first!"

I placed your backpack on your back and off you went through the doorway.....looking back giving me a dirty look....because yes.....some other kids beat you into the building first.

sigh...........

I love you......maybe you should take up track and field events......if you like to race so fast you beat everyone else.........perhaps that could be a good fit for you?

mommy
XOXOX

PLAY AWAY INDOOR PLAYGROUND...A GREAT IDEA!! Check this out!

I am sure many of you have already seen this product or items like it. I know when Noah started occupational therapy and physical therapy I wanted to have a room also at home where I could install a swing much like the one they used in therapy for Noah...which is very similar to this swing you get with this product. If your child is like Noah and MUST swing to help calm down........this could be the answer.....especially if there are times when your child (like Noah in the past) does not want to venture to a park to be around other children. Back when Noah was doing his therapy......it was also during a time when he did not want to be around other kids much if at all......and I wished I had a way to have a swing installed INSIDE my home for him to swing on. We would always just try to pick a park and time it right to where there were NO other people there and once it started to have other people come and Noah freaked out we would leave. During the summer months....it became almost impossible to sometimes find places to go unless we did it very early in the day.

Noah used a swing in therapy similar to this sling swing.....but his in therapy was more like a giant sheet he would crawl into......and then he was not seen by our eyes....and he could swing.....but his swing he could also spin. AND SPIN forever.....he LOVED it and it would calm him down....he finds it very soothing. I don't know if you could buy an attachment for this product that would allow a swing to spin on this or not.....and since it has to be in a doorway the space may not accommodate spinning too.....but to be able to swing!!!!! AND INDOORS? SO cheaply? WITHOUT having to install big items into your ceiling joists and such?

All I can say is WOW! AND I wish I would have seen this product before now. SO since I KNOW there are probably others out there with similar needs and situations....I wanted to share. Of course if you all subscribe to AUTISM TODAY via e-mail you are already aware of this product because you received an e-mail about it. AND as you can tell if you go to the site and see the video clipped demonstrations....once the bar is properly installed 2 men were able to do a chin up on the bar...at the same time......so it is very secure. I guess if you wanted....you could also double it as a work out item in your home to do chin-ups/pull-ups on when your child was not using it to swing by. Your child can swing to soothe themselves.....or you can also have them add the trapeze bar to help build upper body strength. They can hang from the bar......and suspend themselves by their hands and arms.....not always the legs.....they can swing back and forth that way...Noah used to have to do that. In therapy they would stack soft blocks in front of him .....then he would grab the trapeze bar and have to HANG ON while swinging forward to knock the blocks over with his feet! GREAT fun for the kids while also doing therapy! YOU CAN DO THAT WITH THIS PRODUCT!!!!! The same things! SO many ideas and possibilities! I am going to have to get one for Noah....I know he would love it and use it a lot! I think MOST kids would like this product! I mean wouldn't you?

Anyway......you can go here to check it out..... PLAY AWAY INDOOR PLAYGROUND

Dear Noah....you have been doing much better in school ....

as far as your behavior goes. This little snotty attitude of yours lately though is not great....though you can redirect it back to a good attitude when PROMPTED! haha

You got all A's on your report card and 1 B.......well maybe it was 2 B's......I will have to look again....

I let you stay up late last night......11:15....and the snotty attitude resurfaced. It is doubtful I ever let you stay up late again.

still love you though.....this is the start of our weekend.

and I am glad you slept through feeling anything from the earthquake...

mommy
XOXOX

Dear Noah......school dance......

Back in March the week we had the blizzard your school had scheduled a 3rd grade dance for a Friday night but because of the blizzard....the dance was canceled and they rescheduled it for TONIGHT.

You have mentioned a few times about the dance coming up..but never told me you might want to go to it. In fact I wondered what you would do if you did go because I did not think you would want to dance......I did not know if you could be OKAY on your own by yourself at a dance.....so many unknowns. I guess I forget to think you are at that age where doing things like that ...hanging with your friends even if you don't dance.....might appeal to you. I am sure you heard the kids talking about it at school today.

Somehow I found myself slipping back into the old ways of thinking when we always tried to avoid social settings such as those because your behavior was too unpredictable and you could lose it at the drop of a hat ...if someone looked at your wrong......or said something you did not like.....ANY number of things could set you off.....so it was easier to just not expose you to many social situations and added stress.

I found out today when I picked you up from school however when your parapro told me you apparently had wanted to go to the dance. I guess at lunch time you were looking really sad and depressed and was really bummed out so she asked you what was wrong. You told her "I don't have a date for the dance tonight!" And your parapro told you you did not have to have a date...you could come by yourself......but it was a pre-sale dance and the tickets had to be bought in advance and since you never told ME I never sent any money and hence you ended up with NO ticket. (The tickets came with a glow stick.......so at first we thought you might have wanted to go to the dance just to get the glow stick ticket. BUT it was not the glow stick you were interested in. You had wanted to go to the dance).

SO you got very upset to realize you were not even going to get to go to the dance.

I then found out you had a girl already in mind to ASK to the dance.....the one you have seen on the playground carrying HER Sonic plushie doll around. You zoomed in on her the first time you noticed her out on the playground with the Sonic toy (also your favorite). SO I guess you told your parapro you had wanted to ask her to go to the dance with you.....and when I asked what you were going to do there you said "DANCE!" I asked what kind of dances.....and you said "there are no set dances to dance......I would do whatever I felt like......all custom dances!"

I feel horrible. Horrible because you will miss out on this experience which is a HUGE milestone for you.....to even want to go! I know there will be other dances...and I doubt you will ever have any problems asking a girl to go with you.

BUT then I worry and wonder. Would she say yes? Would you dance silly and like a child much younger than your stated age (sort of like the kids on Romper Room) and other kids make fun of you? You are so carefree and oblivious to these things so I doubt even if they did mock you....that it would bother you or you would even be aware of it. But that is upsetting in a way too for me. I never want you to be afraid to just relax and be who you are. I am not wanting you to try to be someone you are not or like everyone else. It is good to be different! BUT I also know other kids can be cruel....and you are rapidly approaching the age where your differences will likely start becoming a lot more noticeable.....and some kids might try to torment you. That is something I wish to avoid for your sake.

You must tell me ahead of time when you want to do something like this....so I can contact the school and make sure someone will be there to help monitor you through this SOCIAL setting....because that is an area where you need the most help. I cannot just drop you off to fend for yourself.....someone would have to monitor you and this was kids only (with a few teacher/chaperones).

In the end the parapro and your teacher made special arrangements for your resource room class to have a BIG DANCE/PARTY after all the state testing is completed next week. This you are excited about now. It will give you a chance to be with the other kids in a dance-like setting monitored by your parapro and teacher. So that is good. However, you have already mentioned you want that little girl to also be there but I told you she probably would not because she was not in your class and this was just for your class. So you are disappointed all over again.

I then asked you if you had ever spoken to her on the playground. You said no. SO I told you one day next week to go up to her at recess and say "Hello, my name is Noah and I see you have a Sonic plushie! I love Sonic the Hedgehog too and I also have a lot of the plushies!" AND from there to just get to know her and play in a general way with her IF she wants to. You are wanting to play with her SONIC toy but I told you she may not want to share it and if not.....that WAS OKAY! AND to NOT grab it from her and take off with it. SO many things to go over. I hope you can make this new friend. I know most of the girls seem to love you and you them.....so hopefully it will go well.

I know you have made some friends this year in school and I am happy for you about that. I love you very much Noah.....I am sorry you missed this dance.

Mommy
XOXOX

Dear Noah....physical therapy evaluation....

We stopped by tonight after school to the hospital's rehab center to see about getting you physical therapy finally since they now accept our insurance plan.  The physical therapist agreed you could use some therapy.   You also need some new or revised orthotics.  Your feet fall in so badly when you stand....that your leg (especially the right one) is also getting thrown off and toward the inside at an angle.....so all those muscles have to work twice as hard all the time to try to compensate...hence one of the biggest reasons you become so exhausted so quickly and have pain in your legs and feet.   Your legs are being thrown all out of whack...and the orthotics do not seem to be correcting your stance like they did before.....so it is time for a new pair or some adjustments.  This will be yet another process but we will tackle it.

Meanwhile when you got out of the tub......you turned around and saw some soap suds on the side and said to me "Mom, that looks like SPAIN!"

I am not sure how many 9-year-old kids even know about Spain let alone what it looks like...the shape of the country.   You can be so funny sometimes.

Not much new here really.  Still working on getting my parental attachment added to the IEP.  Nothing back on that yet.  Either the principal is working on it or they are hoping I forget.  I think they know by now however I would not forget something like that.  We have another IEP meeting coming  up in May ....one for next year.  So maybe we will discuss all of those things then.

Tonight we stopped by to see grandma C.  You did some puzzles with her.  Next week is the big state assessment tests you kids have to take all week long.  I don't remember taking tests like that for the entire week when we were in school in your grade but maybe we did and I just don't remember it. 

Anyway......I love you very much and can't stop rubbing your head!

Mommy

XOXOX

Dear Noah....you finally let me take the pumpkins outside.....

Yes.......here they are. Finally back outside.....where they probably should have been a long time ago. We have had these 2 pumpkins in our home since last fall but anytime I suggested taking them outside to let nature take its course Noah you had a fit. Especially with the little pumpkin which was yours in your room.

Finally a couple of days ago the big pumpkin started leaking on the floor and I announced the day had officially arrived to take them outside. You still did not want to let your little one go......but I said it was best....it had small holes in it and was probably drying up inside or would disintegrate soon. (hey maybe not....it is still fine outside).

Anyway....you agreed to let me take them out to the backyard and told me this year you would get another one........and then on January 1, 2009 you would let me take it outside so we did not keep them as long the next time.

I guess time will tell.

I love you Noah.....very much. Feeling uneasy today about you at school....not sure why. I hope and pray it is for nothing....

Mommy
XOXOX

Dear Noah: IEP meeting, hair cut, and more...

Well it's been a good week or more since I posted.

We went to the Saturn dealer on Monday to get my VUE checked and fixed. I had an O2 sensor that had gone out on it and needed to be replaced. You went with me and we spent the day together. I LOVE those days where we can take off and do things together. Here you are in the SKY at Saturn......you do look pretty good behind the wheel!




I had your IEP meeting on Tuesday and was left with mixed feelings as usual. They brought the BIG SHOTS in for this meeting which I was prepared for....not sure if it was meant to try to intimidate me or just for their benefit to make sure things stayed cool and calm.....or maybe both. I am left wondering if this is the very best choice I could make for you at this time. While I know there have been many benefits....I see some areas that are really lacking too...and of course any mention of HOMESCHOOLING the principal immediately dismissed not wanting to hear it. I gently reminded her that I was the one who would decide what was best for YOU......it did not matter what they might want or even myself....it is what will be best for you. SO lots to think about .....but we are going to see how you do the rest of this year. I am hopeful you will be just fine and of course they all think the only reason you had such a hard time that one week at school was solely due to you not feeling well. NOT because you might have oh let's say "autism" which the biggest characteristic is the improper social skills or lack thereof.....your biggest issue recently at school at least. Most everywhere else you are doing much better. In school this past week you did very well again too. SO who knows. (the meeting started late...no surprise to me......BUT the teachers DID stay till almost 5:30 to finish up.....so that was over 90 minutes!)

You spent Saturday night at your Aunt Melissa's house to be with cousin Audrey. I decided to cut your hair before you went because it was getting very long. I bought some clippers at K-Mart and decided I would be able to trim or cut your hair the way you like it now if needed. Your aunt who normally does it has cancer and is not always feeling up to it now and we cannot always make it down to where she can cut it......so this worked out well. Here is your hair now:




and you with your SONIC video.....




You had a good time at Aunt Melissa's house......but I think exhausted her......so it may be a long time before you can spend the night again!

We stopped by grandma C's. house on the way home from Melissa's house where you headed for the sofa and slept for 2 HOURS! SO grandma C. and I visited while you and Opie slept. Yes.....we took Opie along also. He slept in his big cat carrier cage thing while you napped on the sofa.

This past week has been a whirlwind of emotions and semi-drama and fighting still to get you things you need. What seems to be happening now with you in school is weird. On one hand the teachers are all noticing that you just seem to FIT IN SO well with everyone else......that I think they also along the way because of this.......FORGET you have TRUE DIAGNOSES and needs.......and I think they just look for other everyday normal-kid reasons and explanations for why you do what you do sometimes that is a bit "off" from the norm. I don't know how many times I had to remind them that YES you have made HUGE progress and are doing very well....but you will ALWAYS HAVE AUTISM.........you can improve and learn to COPE in our world and live in our world so well no one will easily be able to tell there is anything different with you.........HOWEVER.......that does not mean you still learn in a DIFFERENT way and PROCESS things differently and have huge EDUCATIONAL NEEDS because of that. They cannot always just expect to swoop you into the same mix along with everyone else because I am afraid you will get lost in that mix.

So anyway.........you got all A's on your report card again this quarter........except for 1.....a B+ in that....I think the Language Arts....and I am not really sure why you got the B+. This quarter in that area you are starting out with an A......I think it has a lot to do with UNDERSTANDING the abstract......INFERENCE questions that are going along with your reading.

The STATE testing is coming up.....and you are required to take it along with everyone else.......and some allowances have been made for you to use a scribe if needed for the long answered questions......and for you to do some things verbally........and for someone to explain some of the questions to you.......

MY parental attachment I made for the IEP meeting that I wanted to be ATTACHED to your amended IEP paperwork so it would become part of the OFFICIAL documentation......of course did not GET placed with the IEP paperwork and addressed as part of the official documentation. When I pressed the principal about this....she told me she had never heard of such a thing?! WOW....I was stunned. Parental attachments are pretty commonplace I thought...and a great tool for parents to use in regards to IEP and expressing YOUR concerns to the school and staff. ...because they are required by LAW then to reject or accept your requests and state WHY on official paperwork documentation......which is something you want to have!

ENOUGH of this......this all exhausts me. I love you so very much Noah.......

you are going to be just fine!

Love

Mommy
XOXOXO

Dear Noah....you do very well.....but then slip up......

Well you said the F-word on the playground the other day at recess. Apparently you and your best friend Travis wanted to play with a ball another kid had.....but they said NO........which you called IMproper English....and then you got so frustrated and upset because they were not sharing the ball.....you told me you called them F--king idiots! You told me that night you almost forgot but that you would have INDOOR recess for FOUR days because you said the F-word on the playground to another student. I thought that seemed a little harsh and you acted funny....

Well today I found out why. I got an e-mail from the principal that told me you also tried to CHOKE the boy while you were calling him a F--king idiot! You left out that part in your story to me last night. I had you demonstrate on me what you did to the boy so I would know and while it was not actually choking it was enough pressure with your hands being pushed against my throat to make it hard for even me to breathe.

sigh........

The principal and aides worked with you and the boys to go over what was wrong about the scenario and what to do next time round. They do not give up on you and I must admit that does impress me.

so........our IEP meeting is next Tuesday. The teachers and staff at the school are working very well with you and to be honest I am amazed they have not mentioned tossing you out but instead are adamant about keeping you IN and helping you. This is new for me to hear because in Colorado they were all too quick to toss you aside in the public schools there.

However I also must pay attention to you and your needs no matter what I or the school might think and if you need a break from the public classroom or partial days or adjustments made.....so you can handle it better and receive more work on behavior and social skills......I MUST do whatever I can to help you. If it means yanking you again from public school I would do it...but we are so close to finishing this year I would really like you to succeed and finish the year out. You have made amazing progress....and are doing so well. A lot will depend on how you respond from here on out. I want you to learn right and wrong and what is and is not appropriate behavior but not at the expense of another child.

I am tired. I have had 2 online friends pass away in less than 2 months. I have work and then I don't have work. Seems all I do is sit here and try to work .....I am on call for work all the time....that is not right. And now I sound like I am complaining when I am not......I am thankful for all we do have. Your grandpa is home from the hospital too so that is good news.

So......with that being said...goodnight Noah. I love you.......but we have lots of work to do!

Mommy
XOXOXOX

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

About 11:30 you flung open your bedroom door and was crying....I came running out asking what was wrong. You said you had really bad stomach pains......and could not stand up.....could not sleep. I grabbed a bucket asking you if you thought you were going to get sick. You said you did not think so. I said maybe since you ate more than usual yesterday you just needed to go to the bathroom and once you had a bowel movement you would feel better. You had already gone a couple of times earlier in the day and said you did not have to go again. You cried and cried saying you should never have eaten FOUR breadsticks at Fazoli's yesterday for lunch with your entire bowl of spaghetti...and then a piece and a half of pizza for supper. I asked if you could try standing up but you could not. You had to pee but could not get to the toilet. I had to carry you in a squatted/semi-seated position to the toilet and sit you on the toilet. You peed. Then fell back down to the floor. I told you we needed to take you to the hospital to find out what was going on inside your tummy area. You were so upset about this prospect. I sat on the floor talking with you, explaining what was going to happen and how and why. I told you I would carry you to the truck and take you to the hospital but if I could not get you in the truck in a comfortable position we needed to call 911 to have the ambulance come and take you.

I then prepared you for that since I tried to get you to the front room and you were screaming in pain. I told you to think of this as a big adventure.....and not every kid got to ride in the back of an ambulance. That this was only for the MOMENT and once these moments passed you would not remain in pain or in this state forever.

SO I called 911 and explained NOAH to the staff there and told them to NOT have the sirens and lights going (though you said maybe the strobes on would be okay). When the 3 paramedics got there they found you at the end of the hallway in a fetal position on your hands and knees.....bent way over........not able to get up.....not able to move. So the man just picked you up in that position and carried you to the cot. They strapped you in and wheeled you out.....I grabbed your shoes and jacket and got in the truck to go to the hospital. I reassured you everything would be fine and I would be right there.

Well I BEAT the ambulance to the hospital ....even though I had to drive super slow behind this other car and then it poured down rain. I registered you and was ready to go back to see you about the time the ambulance finally arrived with you. Not sure what took them so long. The doctor examined you......took an x-ray of your abdomen.....and you had stool all the way from your rectum to your stomach. No wonder you were in pain. They gave you a Fleets enema which you also handled better than most adults.....not even acting like anyone was doing anything to you.......you were able to go to the restroom once there and started to feel much better. Then once more at home......

sigh......

We finally got home around 2:00 a.m. this morning. You were excused from school again today. And finally even though this was hard and difficult for you or me....you handled it all so very well. You retained control and stayed calm. You allowed things to be done to you that in the past would have had you screaming and in fits.

I am using this situation to finally...FINALLY....did I say F-I-N-A-L-L-Y get you to EAT BETTER and healthier foods. I explained the importance of food as fuel for your body and how you NEEDED to eat some real fruits and vegetables and drink more water and exercise with me and take walks with me and today...for the first time in your entire life.......you were willing to try new foods and taste and actually even EAT some new things. You have not eaten any vegetables since you were a baby....unless one would call Ore-Ida frozen potato hashbrowns or fries a veggie. You do NOT eat any real fruit. You drink apple juice or orange juice but that is about as close as you will get to real fruit.

Today....you ate some apple slices and tasted a piece of a banana and ate some more apple slices and carrot sticks and even some LETTUCE (which you said had no taste really whatsoever and of course it doesn't)....and you drank lots of water and ate shredded wheat for breakfast and had some GRILLED chicken for lunch WITH marinade which you loved.....

I am thankful to GOD for actually allowing this experience to happen to you...to us......so we can move you past unhealthy eating into healthier eating and taking care of your body and self and life.

I love you Noah.......and am so thankful you are feeling back to yourself...even before we left the hospital while in the bathroom you started giving me the low down on the toilet.

I love you very much....even if you are full of shit (sorry.....had to say that!)

***Meanwhile please keep grandpa L. in your thoughts and prayers as he is still in the hospital with pneumonia and blocked heart arteries. AND our aunt....as her lung cancer has also spread to her brain now. ***

Mommy

XOXOX

Dear Noah....trip to Versailles....

We took a trip to Versailles on Sunday to check out some houses and the village/city itself......and we fell in love with it.  While there you also pointed out all the train crossings and signals so we went "rail fanning" as you all call it.  I took many photos of the train crossings and lights and BELLS and signals and you posing with the train crossings... but at the very FIRST crossing signal we went to after taking your picture you thought you heard or saw a train coming and sure enough.......one DID!  You said it was an EXCITING DAY and were so happy you were SO UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL to see and hear the train and see the signal crossing gates come down and the bell clang.   Here is one of many photographs taken from yesterday....we ended the day at your aunt Melissa's house where you got your fill of their Sonic the Hedgehog game.....where you also ended up with a headache...again looked very pale.......withdrawn...all signs of over-stimulation again....so home we went.   I let you stay home today from school to RECOVER.....and next will be a trip out for lunch at Fazoli's.  Right now you are busy making movies in your room using Windows Movie Maker.   I received an e-mail message back from your principal.....and I sent some e-mails back.  We are to meet for an IEP meeting on April 8....she allotted an entire 30 minutes to our meeting...which I propose will never be long enough and of course she scheduled it for when I pick you UP from school which means you will be present during that time.  I believe that was done on purpose.  I am going to prepare an itemized LIST of the things we need to address in the meeting AHEAD of time and express my concerns for sufficient time to discuss these issues and they better NOT try to come back and tell me they do NOT have the time to go over all these issues.  They MUST MAKE the time then.   BUT enough of that for now.......the ongoing FIGHT to get APPROPRIATE things in place for you to learn not only academically but socially continues.  I guess it never will go away or get any easier.....although I do become smarter and learn more ways of how to handle these things.  Here you are.....on one of your BEST days ever!  (you also got a souvenir Sunday when you found an old piece of a red light from one of the RR crossing signals.......you were delighted!  I love you Noah.....so very much!

 

Mommy

XOXOX

Watch AUSTISM THE MUSICAL at the link below for free

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/autism/video/