Caden's going to school!!

So we had our meeting with the school district this morning and Caden is giong to get put Center based!! YEAH!! We couldn't have gotten any better news. Originally the special Ed. director wanted to put him in an intergrated classroom, where there would be 12 children, 6 w/disabilities & 6 typical children from their head start program. After listening to our therapists and their concerns, the rep from gateway (where Caden will be going) thought he would be better in the center based class, with only the 6 disabled children and 2 teachers. he needs the one on one attention more and in order to help him transition into the structure easier, we thought this would be best for him. We can review the program again in May, and if Caden is showing more signs of progress rather then the current regression, we might be able to move into more integrated class, but we'll play that by ear. So my baby boy starts school next Wednesday the 22nd! He will take a school bus (a van with aide and they made notes of this behavior problems). So we are going to head to Target tonight and get Caden his first little back pack (awwww.....)

As for the logistics of the class. He will be getting his special ed needs taken care off all day while in school, which is a 5 day per week, full time class from 9-2. He'll get taken out of class from speech 3 times per week for 30 min. each & taken out 2 times per week for 30 min ea for Occupational Therapy. In addition to that, Caden will also receive group counseling 3 times per week for 30 minutes each. AND we will also get a school counselor to come to our home 2 times per month for 1 hour to help us as a family deal with his disabilities. This is beyond great for us and him as well!! We are hoping this program will do wonders for him. We also finally got an appt. with the autism clinic at Strong Memorial Hospital for Caden in May- 8 months away, but that's better then 12! He will be on the cancellation list as well, so maybe even sooner.

IN other news, I grabbed Colin in the stroller last night & walked over 2 miles! We walked Courtney to religion at church, which is just over a mile and then back home again. It took me only 1 hour and 15 minutes, not too bad, considering I was pushing a stroller as well. I'll think I'll walk to target tonight to grab that bag for Caden, Target is my new favorite place to WALK to (of course it's ALWAYS been my favorite place to begin with :-)