spring has sprung

the boys are so enjoying the outdoors. it is so cute to see Ethan stomping down the drive way with Bobby running after him. I can't wait for this weeks weather. It is supposed to be in the 50's and 60's this week. Harry only school one time this week but my  new classes start tomorrow and I have one final paper to finish by tonight. We all have spring fever and can't wait for all the snow to melt.

So stinking proud

Harry has been in school since October and to say it has been easy would be a lie. We have had several med changes and this not only affected home life but life at school to. I am happy to say though that we found the correct med and we have been tweaking the dose when need be. In preparation for a trip to Marshfield for a med check and speech/ot eval Harry's teacher emailed me his progress report and I wanted to share it with all who want to read.

HARRY DYE PROGRESS REPORT MARCH 2012

*Harry walks into the classroom by himself. Mom no longer needs to hold him by the hand or carry him.

*He will say hi & bye appropriately in imitation. Harry doesn’t generally play with anyone or with toys in general for more than 1-2 minutes. He did sit at circle with the kids for approximately 20 seconds one day. He initiated this himself. Harry will go and play in the sensory table when the other kids are playing there for 2-3 minutes!

*PECS—he is able to choose from a choice of 3 and with a little help or no help gives the icon to the aide to get his choice. He spends at least one minute with each activity (visual timer set). On one occasion he took the pudding icon out of the all done pocket and gave it to the aide to get pudding. He did this all on his own! He knows where the pudding is kept and he will also go and get it on his own!

*Harry loves to color, sound books, books in general, sound toys, bubbles, sensory table, Lily Doll and the Smartboard. He will draw on the board for 5-10 minutes. The Smartboard is also being introduced in Phy. Ed. and he is very attentive for 5 min. or more. He will also try to move with the music.

*He is aware of the other kids and he becomes upset if the other kids leave for music class. He cries and looks through the door looking for them. He can be redirected after a minute or two with bubbles or the Smartboard.

*Harry is following simple one-step directions related to the routine. He has a visual schedule and he takes off the icon and puts it in the all done pocket when directed. He will walk in the hallway in the direction you want him to go without needing a lot of physical direction.

*Imitates more words than ever!! Ex. “Let’s go!” The aide sings “Old McDonald Had A Farm” when Harry is taken to the bathroom and she indicates that he is singing the song with her. The words are not exact but she knows what he is singing. He will also count with you when going down the steps to the elementary gym (counted to 6)!

*Fine Motor: Harry will complete 4-piece formboard independently when pieces are put in random order. He will also put magnetic pieces back into a puzzle with hidden doors and correlate the correct item with the door. Ex. Dog goes into the doghouse. The physical therapist reported that Harry makes circle scribbles on the iPad—allowing hand-over-hand and when support was withdrawn, he reached for her hand to help him!

Harry is making wonderful gains and he is a welcome addition to the classroom!

I am just so proud of my little man. He is making leaps and bounds and while we still struggle I know we can get through this.

So I don't seem like I am leaving Ethan out of this wonderful progress. He is starting to talk more and developing a little attitude. I'll say Ethan did you ca ca and he'll proudly say YAA. But he will say YAA to many things but I just think it is so cute. He is also such a ham. He loves hugs and kisses and even will give them to the pets. It looks like he is trying to eat them but it's just that he wants to be loving. A couple of weeks ago for example we were at a snow day with our church and there was this 80 year old woman and Ethan gave me a kiss and then she asked for one to. Ethan gave her a nice big open mouth kiss on the cheek and then at the end of the night when we were getting ready to leave he gave her another one. You could just see that it made her day. I was one proud mama. He is also my little helper. If I ask him to pick something up he will and then he gives it to me.
I am just so lucky to have two wonderful loving boys. I am truly blessed.

give us a break

My birthday was June 9th and do you want to know how i spent it? At the ER with Harry. His foot was double the size of his other foot plus it was warm and the back of his leg was red and warm as well. he didn't want me to touch it so i called the pedi's office and they said to take him in to get checked out. it's a infection they said and sent us home with a antibiotic and said to return if it worsened. it's getting better after a few days on antibiotics thank God.
Now it's Ethans turn for some discomfort. he has the worst diaper rash/yeast infection and i am trying to get rid of it for him and make him feel better. I'd like to avoid a trip to the pedi's office this week if possible. so lots of naked baby time and baths. can't wait till next weekend. i have company coming. that should be a nice break.

seems to be working

today is day 7 of the new med for Harry and day 2 of the increased dose. he seem to be doing better. he sure is listening better and we are having fewer melt downs. i know it's to soon to know the full effect of it but i am beginning to feel less like a bad mommy for putting him on it. one day at a time :)

updates

sorry it's been so long since i last updated. life in our house has been crazy to say the least. So lets start with Harry.


Harry: he has been having lots of challenging behavior. he has been having out bursts of anger and it's directed at Ethan and at times me. He stomps his feet spins in circles, bangs his head on the floor or walls, he's been biting himself, screams and screeches all the time. I know it's going to be a bad day when he wakes up screaming and screeching. I made a appointment with a pediatric behavior doctor 3 hours away a few weeks back and the soonest they could get us in was Aug 17th but they put us on the cancellation list and the next day they called and said there was a opening for June 2nd. WOW. I was scrambling to find a person to trade with at work and thankfully I found someone who was willing. Harry and I left the day before and stayed at a hotel while Ethan stayed with Grandma and Papa. Our appointment went good. Harry is now on a medication to hopefully help control some of his behaviors. Medications were never my first choice but i didn't know what else to do. our insurance does not cover ABA therapy that would help but we are getting on the Wisconsin Autism waver waiting list but that's a 8-12 wait at
least. Harry also had a transition meeting for school. he is supposed to start in Oct after his 3rd birthday. How exciting for him. he was super excited to see his class room.
Recently Harry has been enjoying time outside with Papa playing on the swing and in the sandbox and taking walks with Papa. I think it's wonderful that since his dad is not a active part of his life that Papa can be there for him and i know they both enjoy it.

Ethan: He is now 10 months old and getting into EVERY THING!! It's fun to see him explore his world. I did have a scare with him Memorial day. He woke up happy and playing. but shortly after Harry got up Ethan started throwing up and I called my mom who came over very quickly. When she got here she took him and i told her what was going on more and that he looked purple to me. she said she didn't see what i was seeing but to get Harry ready and we would take Ethan to the ER. I said no I'll DJ (my niece) to come and take care of Harry. After i got DJ to come over my mom said call 911. when they got here Ethan had thrown up at least 6 times and he was now pale and non responsive. we got hooked up in the ambulance and off we went. they gave him oxygen because his stats were low. we had a paramedic intercept half way to the hospital. they attempted to put a IV in and when they poked him he barely squeaked. not my boy. I was so scared. by the time we got the hospital he had come around and after 3 hours in the hospital they sent us home still not knowing what happened but he was better and mostly back to normal.

So life to say the least has been challenging but we just take it one day at a time and at moments when it's real crazy it's one minute at a time. I hope to be better at posting updates on the boys. thanks for those who read.

Ethan first word

Ethan said mama last night. Oh what music to my ears that was to hear. I told Bobby this morning because well it's Ethans first and he cried. i know it's hard for him to miss the firsts. i did get it on video so i sent it to him so he could enjoy it as well. Ethans also trying to crawl. he has the being on his hands and knees down pat just not the moving the knees to crawl. he does more of a bunny hop . that's cute to see to. my baby is growing up way to fast.

Austism Eval update

Harry had a eval for autism on March 1st. it has been determined that he does have autism. not really sure where at on the spectrum he is but may be as time goes one we will learn more. the doctor who did the eval said that he will be putting a team of people together to come to the house 30+ hours a week to work with Harry. They think that maybe this will help him greatly and when harry turns 3 in Oct he will then be going to school. well at least that's the plan for now. a lot can happen in a few short months. I also have a appointment with social security on March 16th to sign harry up for SSI.