Moving on Up

Congrats to Courtney for passing 7th grade with an 85 average (merit roll!!) and moving up to 8th grade next year! Man, I can't believe she'll be high school before I know it!

We had a rough year this year, which grades slipping quite drastically in the 3rd marking period. Barley even passing some classes and failing a few others. I am very proud of her for changing that around and making the merit roll and passing onto the next grade. I know it wasn't easy, but you did it!

Congrats Courtney! 

Social Story Picture Chain

These are the Picture Social Stories that I made for the boys to countdown and prep them both for the start of summer school in a couple weeks. This we knew would be a hard transition becuase Colin is JUST starting school and Caden is starting a BRAND new school for the summer time. Each school we took pictures of, made a picture board, then a made paper chains to attach to them so they can rip them off every night. This way they know how much longer until it starts. There are notes on some of them too, for special things, like Colin's 3rd birthday! I hope this makes the transition for them much easier! 

This is of both of them together hanging up. Only problem i've come across? When Colin wakes up early he rips off links before he comes to wake me up, so it seems everyday I have to add extra's! LOL 

Caden's Kindergarden School

This is Alden Primary school, in Alden , NY. this is where Caden will be in a 6:1:1 class for kindergarden for the upcoming school year. Last week, Caden and I had the opportunity to tour the school. It was the day after the classes ended, so no students were in the building and the rooms were in the process of either moving, or clean up, but we got a good feel for it. The school is huge and most of it's brand new. I really enjoyed it, and really like the Special Ed. teacher that took us on the tour, unfortunatly she is moving schools, and wont' be there next year, so we didn't get to meet his teacher, but before we know it september will be here anyway! Because students were gone, we were able to take pictures, so I could make some social story pictures chains to better prep him. I gave him total control of the camera, so please excuse the blurry pictures, but these are the things that HE wanted on his picture board.

This is obvioulsy the cafeteria. The special needs kids DO eat with the typcial kids, I am concered about this, only becuase the amount of people in one spot at one time, and the amount of noise involved in the setting. If it ends up to be too overwheleming for him, they will move him somewhere else to eat.

This is one of the playgrounds. this picture was taken from the inside of the awesome air conditioned library!

Posing on the colored risers in the music room. this was by far his favorite room to be in. He really enjoyed touching all the different muscial instruements. the risers were all different colors, red and yellow that you can see here and green and blue. So perfect for these little guys! it made the room so fun!

This is the gym. The kids once again do an intergrated gym class with the typcial children, but they close the wall, so it's only 1/2 the size of the gym, which is good.

This room WILL be caden's room next year. The teachers were in the process of changing rooms, so they had stuff everywhere, this was only 1/2 of the room, it turned out really dark becuase of the bright sun. That's caden in the back there, trying on some LARGE sunglasses!!

This is the kindergarden wing/common area. All the kindergarden classes surround this awesome common area in a circle, it's SUPER neat! And air conditioned as well. Cadens class does NOT surround this becuase his is a BOCES room. So that's a bummer, but they will still use the space at times as well.

There were also 3 or 4 courtyards. The school is a HUGE square, with a bunch of hallways going through the middle to create these great outdoor green spaces/courtyards that they use. The one, I really like and wanted a picture of, but caden didn't. It was the alphabet garden. Along the walls, they had each letter of the alphabet and under it, planted were flowers that began with the letter representing it. It was REALLY neat!

I really enjoyed the tour and loved the school. Hopefully this will be the only year that he'll have to be here though and can transition to our home school district for 1st grade.

African Lion Safari

 I have always wanted to go to the African Lion Safari. These animals walk right up to your car! It's in Canada, about 1.5 hours from where we live. It's VERY expensive. So we've never gone. BUT I just WON us tickets on our local radio station! I can't even begin to say how freaking excited I am ! I know the boys will LOVE this! Since there are only 4 passes, we'll still have to pay $30 for Colin to go. And I dont' plan on driving our vechicle through the jungle to get ruined either, so we'll have to pay $6 per person to ride their bus. BUT STILL!! It will be very costly, but not as much as if we had to pay ourself. I can't wait to pick a day to go.. which should prove interesting since Every weekend between now and the end of August are pretty much booked already! 

Caden's New School ~ 6 Weeks for summer

As I posted before, Caden will be transiting to his new school starting July 12th. The parents and kids were given the opportunity for a field trip to visit the new building. I of COURSE brought along the camera and let Caden take any pictures that he wanted , to help the adjustment. I will print these out as well as post them on there, and try my best to make him a Social Story to prep him the best we can. Here are some shots that Caden took, that he thought would be important. He did pretty good too!

These are the cubbys outside of the classes in the hallway. Currently they have pictures identifying, so this time they will have their actual name.

I am a bit bummed this picture turned out so blurry, he takes em too fast! LOL The lady right in front there, with the blue jeans and white/red top is his new teacher Ms. Jeanine.

These are the paints under the easel.

The fish tank. EVERYTHING in the class is labeled. He didn't get a picture of the kitchen/house area, but I wish he would have. It was complete with a washer/dryer, sink, fridge, stove, pantry, windows, you name it!

This is Wally, he is from Dinosaur school and has helped to teach the kids about their feelings and many other things over the past couple of years. I thought it was great that Wally was sitting in the reading area. I am sure it will be nice to have a piece of the old school at the new one.

This is one of the cushioned chairs in the reading area.

The computer area.

This is one of 3 gyms. This one is 1/2 gym which you see here and 1/2 cafeteria. Our kids will eat in the class though. the building is actually a CAO head start program and gateway has 3 classrooms there, so those kids will eat in this room. The kitchen also has a door off of this space. Caden loved that we have the same huge STEP 2 play thing that is in this picture as well. Theirs is in much better shape!

This is a fake strawberry that was on the desk, I actually thought it was real until he took the picture then moved it out of the way.

I am glad we did the picture thing. I'll have to get these printed out soon for him. I am still not so comfortable with the whole thing, but there aren't alot of other options either. So it is what it is. I am bummed that there is no real OT room, since that is ALOT of what Caden requires, outside of speech. I know Maria will be there keeping a good eye on him as well. He may surprise me and LOVE it. And will be great, and then what happens? Yep, we pull him out in August and start all over again in 6:1:1 in Alden! The joys!!

Mikes Mini Garden

This is Mike's new baby! One of the girls at work gave me some Tomatoes  for Mike to plant. He got so excited that he went out and got some Peppers and Cucumbers as well. So here is out little garden that we *hope* will produce some nice veggies for us to munch on soon!

In the meantime the CSA that we joined for 22 weeks starts next Saturday and I am looking VERY forward to the over abundance of fresh organic veggies that we'll be getting!!!

Fantasy Island

I got this email in my inbox yesterday:

Hi Lorraine
Please pass this along to interested parents.
Fantasy Island Day!
Special Group rate: $8.95 for students with disabilities and their families
Sat. July 17@ Fantasy Island on Grand Island.---from 11:30AM-
Call: Buffalo Excels at 510-0317 or 931-9889 to register. Pre-payment is required.
We have a shelter reserved near Slide 2, and everyone is asked to bring a dish to pass.
We will have a cook-out ALL day!!!
Come and enjoy the fun---
Sponsored by Buffao Excels, Inc--nonprofit group for students with special needs and those "at-risk" in WNY
Thank You,
Robin

First let me start by saying this ~ I am lucky enough to be part of a huge mass email for parents of special needs children. This is how I find MOST if not ALL of my infomation about new programs, sensory friendly viewings, workshops and fun things in the community to include special needs/disabiities.

So I got that email yesterday and of course JUMPED on it! As I stated a couple of posts back, it's hard to get out with the boys. BUT so much easier when your with a group of people who wont' look at you stange when you child flips out over dirt on their fingers or a tag in their jacket, or melts down just becuase. SO I contacted this Robin today, and it really is ONLY $8.95 per person! And you just bring a dish to pass, unless your children has a special diet and they cook ALL day long! They will even buy specific things for you if you eat differently. They are a non for profit organization that meets monthly WITH THE KIDS, to do new fun things, after they found not along of things in the community for special needs kids to do. What a great networking tool! They even have a special needs bowling league, that I think Caden sure would LOVE! So I hurried up and wrote a check to her so we can make sure to get tickets for that day. I am really really excited to meet Robin, the orgainizer and to network with other parents/families! I think we'll all have a great time (except maybe Mike, who is not the most social person when it comes to new people, LOL Sorry honey!) Not to mention that tickets are typically $24.95 per person and we can NOT afford that at all! Thanks to Buffalo Excel for organizing a great event and to Fantasy Island for giving us a GREAT deal!

Courtney

Courtney has gone and made herself her own blog for her and her friends. Just in case anyone is interested, you can check it out HERE. She is learning to format and add/downloaded pictures. I guess in the long run, it's a big learning tool as well!

CPSE to CSE & everything in between

At 15 months old, Caden entered the EI Program(early intervention), 2 years ago at 3 years old he transitioned to the CPSE program (commitee of preschool education) and started at Gateway Theraputic Preschool. This year at 5 years old, he will transition yet again to CSE (commitee of school education), and attend Alden Primary School in Alden, NY (not our district school, which would be Cayuga heights, in Depew)

He's growing up on us. Yesterday we had our CSE meeting to determine what will happen to him come September, since he is of kindergarden age {when did THAT HAPPEN??} We actually found a 6:1:1 classroom for him in Alden Central School District. Alden is a small town, Not to far from us, maybe 15-20 mintues from us. My choices were Cheektowaga (a HUGE district) or Alden. I choose Alden for the smallness of it. And I know it's a better system then Cheektowaga. Alden has 2 6:1:1 classes, so occasionly they will intergrate the 2 classes together. Lunch and gym are intergrated with typical students as well. Lunch conerns me, but we'll play that by ear I guess. He'll be on a small bus still, which I am happy about. I walked into the meeting yesterday, a bit akward. I am very used to the CPSE meetings, where you have a parent rep with you, and a school rep. as well. Not this time. There 5 other teachers there. that was IT. I felt very alone. I *HATE* having to do this all alone all the time anyway, and yesterday was just that much worse. I was already stressing, and this just added to it. We read off Caden's goal and achimements and noted where he currently was. In MOST area's he is still functioning at around 36 months, which seems about right. I am waiting to get a call back from from the BOCES program that he'll be in so I can go and tour the school and classroom. Being that it's the last week of school, I hope this happens SOON, so I can see them in action! He will continue to get his OT and speech. I actually got to meet his OT yesterday, she was great and has an autistic daughter as well, so understood that on the "outside" Caden is fine. You have to dig deep to be able to help him. I also met the SP who will be writing the goals for Caden. She was very nice and helpful as well. We are actually going to start him in some group theapy as well. 1 OT and 1 Speech session will be group based to up that peer interaction that he so badly needs.

In the meantime, Caden will continue to get Summer services through Gateway. Last week we had yet another loop thrown at us, explaing that Caden's class was MOVING to a new school *sigh* This bothered me on many, many levels. First I just fought by BUTT off to get Colin in gateway, so they would be together for a little bit. Colin would have Caden on the bus and in school and he would transition easy. Not so much. Now they will be on different busses in different schools. *bummer* The school that they are moving too, will intergrate Caden's class with typical children. 8 of them. 6 plus 8 = 14. yep. 14 kids in one class. I dont' see this working out so well. Again, I just fought my BUTT off to get Caden a 6:1:1 class for september and now he's in a class of 14 for summer? With a NEW teacher? NEW building? NEW thearapists?? Talk about change. This is major. I have NO idea what the next few weeks will hold for us. Neither boys handles transition/change well at all. they are both going through major changes in this time period. I am going to plan for the worst and hope for the best. I guess it's the best we can do right?

Caden may suprise me and handle it well. Colin too. BUT remember that summer is only 6 weeks long, then Caden gets thrown AGAIN into a new class and new building again. The next few months we are going to do what ever we have to do to keep things at home as simple as possible to make for smooth transitions.

So Excited! I got our ticket's to Eclipse from Fandango today! That means that at Midnight on Tuesday June 29th Courtney and I will be THERE!

Love Fandango!

Family Time at the Marina

This past Saturday, we woke up early, had a 9:30am meeting with Colin's service coordinator to discuss our plans for him for the next couple weeks. After Megan left, Mike said, what can we do today? I am bored already. I though, why not take the kids down to the water? We NEVER get out and do things with them. It's usually just too difficult to have to tame them. So I went out on a limb, thinking they can't cause that much trouble at the marina and can run around as well. Not to mention that free is good too! So off we went. It was a beautiful day, which temps in the upper 70's low 80's, another great reason to go to the water! The wonderful breeze!

Here is Mike and Colin watching the boats race. There happened to be a Speed Boat race that afternoon, it was pretty neat to watch. Mike squated down, and Colin followed suit. Too cute!

Walking along the wall. I was proud of Colin for getting up there, he is typically scared of EVERYTHING, but he did great!

Caden stayed on the sidewalk with me to "mow" of Course! Yes we had to bring Mow's with us, but that's OK!

Hand in Hand with Daddy.

We crossed the street so Colin could get a better look at the boats that we docked, and Caden was tired of Mowing the sidewalk, he needed grass!

Mike, Caden and Courtney went to the top of the lighthouse, That's Colin and I way down there waving. Col was too scared to go up there.

Courtney in the lighthouse

Skyline looking at Canada

Another view from the TOP of the lighthouse-towards downtown

The beach (no swimming allowed)

Caden had to Mow the sand of course. When we got back up to the top, we had to stop at and shake the sand out of sneakers.

The speedboats lining up to race!

Racing!

After we walked by the water, we went back to the car, got out our lawn chairs, went over to the ice cream gazebo, got some ice cream and sat down and relaxed for a good 45 mins. the boy were having a blast mowing the lawn and the rest of us just relaxed watching the water. How funny is it that Mike saw our neighbor Bob drive by? We yelled, so he backed up and came and hung out with us for a little bit.

5 mintues after we hit the car, Colin passed out, It didn't last long though.

We went to drive by another local marina, but didn't get out, that was right when Colin passed out. So we drove around some more, some area's in Lackawanna and Buffalo along the waterfront that they are builidng up quite nicely. It's weird to go back to an area that you grew up in and lived for over 20 years, and NOW 30+ years later, they finally decide to do nice things with it. So on the way home after that we decided to take Clinton home to see if Strawberrie's were ready to be picked yet (I REALLY want to take the kids to do this, they aren't ready yet BTW) and we passed the cemetary that my best friend Jen is buried in. Since I missed her 2 year anniversary, I wanted to stop. So we turned in It's been 2 years since we've stopped to visit her and Colin never had the chance to meet her. So in search of her plot we go. Both Mike and I could remember the AREA that she was in, but couldn't find her at all. Him and I must have walked around for a good 15 mintues, before I said, let's go to the office and check. It was during this time, crabby Colin woke up when we weren't in the car, but seaching hard for Jen! To the office we go, and get directions. We were in the right area, just 1 garden over. Once we got the directions, Courtney spotted Jen pretty quick. Jen was Courtney's god mom as well. Caden came with us to chat with her and we expalined to him that Jen was in heaven with Grandpa Les Bug. That we miss her and loved her very much. He said, yea mommy I know you miss her, she come back down one day. I cried. The simple minds of toddlers. If only. I said yes, honey, We will see her again one day. Mike was busy chasing a temper tanturming Colin around the cemetary (it was funny to watch)and later after we left, Colin was STILL crying, when I FINALLY got out of him what was wrong? He was MAD becuase he wanted to talk to Jen too! Her birthday is later this month, so we'll get back there agian, we need to make this a habit, so my boys will always know special she was to me. We cleaned off her headstone, threw out old flowers and pulled out some weeds. I felt refresed after that.

Here Courtney is laying with Jen.

All in all we had a great day. Colin never did nap more then 30 mins. the night before he only got 5 hours of sleep. But we had a nice relaxing afternoon and that we don't usually get!

In Memory of Grandpa Les Bug, who passes away 2 short years ago today. 

Les, Your always in our hearts & thoughts and will never be forgotten, I only wish Colin would have gotten to know you better. He knows of you through us though!

**And Caden LOVES when you bowl! LOL {thunderstorms} **

Random

I got a message in Caden's communication notebook yesterday that stated this:

"Caden looked a peer in the eye today and told him my mommy run a race!"

I thought this was so wonderful! For many reasons.  1-He looked a peer in the eye, which he has been getting pretty good at lately. 2- Not only did he look at said peer, he conversated as well. And 3 - he really does pay attention to what I do and is excited enough to share it with "friends"!

Thanks Caden ~ You made my night when I read that!

Today is National Running Day! I encourage everyone to get up, and go for a short or long run. Even if it's just around the block, down to the corner, or to the next driveway. The body is an amazing thing that never ceases to amaze me, Today, Treat it extra special and give it a RUN!

 

I'll be taking my last 3 mile run tonight before my 5K on Saturday!

Colin Got Placement!

I just got a call from Caden's counsler (who is the intake coordinator at his program as well) and the summer class that Colin was on the waiting list for, opened up and they accepted him into the program! I am SUPER excited! So he'll start in the summer program with Caden on July 12th, then just transition to the regular fall program come September. I just had to share the news, I am SO happy for him!!

**It sure helps to have a child in the program already and to get bugs in ears early!**

Now I just have to wait for a call back from the school district to see what we have to do next! :-)

Memorial Day 2010

We had such a fun busy memorial day weekend! On Sunday we decided to go and have a cookout/party with my friend Pam and her Family. To recap, for those of you who don't know. Pam & I grew up in the same neighborhood. Lost touch, then reconnected years later in our teens working at McDonald's together. Lost touch again as we grew up and I got pregnant with Courtney. Only to of course, you guessed it, find each other once again on Facebook! I've blogged about it and we've been back together now since December. It's so wonderful. Never did we stop talking over petty fights or anything like that, we just grew up and moved on. I guess it's meant to be when you continue to reconnect, even after 29 years huh? She has a daughter now as well, who is the same age as the boys. So we always have a ton of fun when we hang out. They live in marilla, and have a lot of land, with tons of cows for neighbors! We had a great cookout, the boys and Haley played like crazy! We fed the cows, rode the 4 wheeler, had yummy desert, got nice and dirty, took nice clean bathes and settled in for a nice fire and some smores!

Thanks Pam & Jason for a great Memorial Day!

The memorial Day Cupcakes, sorry for the turned pictures, but they still look good!

Mike getting the grill ready

Pam & Haley!

Haley feeding the neighbor cows!

Mike & his best friend Waldo.

Courtney & Haley making/playing hopscotch boards

Poor Caden just DYING to get into that barn on one the lawn mower. It KILLED him for HOURS!

inside of the yummy cupcakes. all patriotic!

Here's our men {Mike & Jason} bonding over the fire!

Pam & I

Colin Coloring with Chalk

Me & the boys.

Courtney having fun on the swings

Love this picture. We were all waiting in line to get on the 4 wheeler and Haley was pouting for first place.

Pam & I ready to head out on the open road!

We stalled it out at the bottom of the drivway. Jason came to our rescue, but then between the 2 guys we still couldn't get it going!

Courntey's turn. She was SO scared to go on at first. But LOVED it!

Posing

Caden's turn riding it!~

All clean after bath time, ready to make smores!

The fire, thanks Mike and Jason.

Haley & Colin

Mike with the kids

The best picture we could get of the 3 kids!