Hmmm
I really should write more often. It clears my head and gives me a bit of peace in a chaotic world. Maybe this summer is the time to get back on that horse.
The last two months have had their fair share of ups and downs. Thankfully, there have been more ups than downs, but it's been a bit exhausting.
Kamden finished his first year of school and was given the Memory Award. He managed to memorize the names of all the students in the entire kindergarten (between 60 and 70 students). We also had an ARD meeting (aka IEP meeting) with the school regarding his autism. The school officially recognizes him as autistic and have provided a confirming diagnosis by way of the school psychologist. They did emphasize that he's extremely high functioning and that he's incredibly bright, but that they do see areas that he definitely needs help. The team we met with was very apologetic that it had taken a full year to get him evaluated and set up for help, but we were all in agreement that had it had to happen this way, it was a good thing that it happened in Kindergarten. Going into first grade, Kamden is going to have an amazing team of people, both in and out of school, to help him be the best he can be. He will continue to have physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy outside of school, but he will also be getting speech and occupational therapy within the school. They will be focusing on pragmatics of speech and the fine motor skills that he is lacking. He needs a lot of help with writing and using a pair of scissors. They are going to adapt his classroom environment to be more "step-by-step" friendly. He will have a velcro strip at his desk that will allow the teacher to place a strip with the time, a picture, and a description of the next activity that will be done in class. One of his biggest distractions through his Kindergarten year was wanting to know what time it was and how much longer until the next classroom event, lunch or P.E. The hope is that giving him visual cues will help hold off that distraction somewhat. He is also going to be getting a "visual timer" to have placed at his desk or at least in close proximity. It will have both a countdown timer and a color coded timer to let him know when a certain amount of time is remaining. There will also be a spot on his desk for a step-by-step picture schedule of each activity they do. It's difficult for him to follow steps when given them all orally and all at one time. This written version should allow for him to be more independent and be able to keep on task more easily. For part of the school day, Kamden will have an in classroom assistant. This person will be placed to help everyone in the classroom, but his/her main focus will be to help Kamden with his writing, cutting, and focus on subjects he does not quite get. He excels in reading, but has a difficult time with concepts like science and social studies. When it comes to time to work on the math portion of class, Kamden will be removed for one on one assistance. Math was the biggest struggle for him in Kindergarten because he couldn't wrap his head around the abstract nature of the subject. He will be allowed "abbreviated assignments" where he will do the same work as his classmates, but not in as great of detail so that he is not tempted to quit out of frustration. At this point in time, he is going to be able to stay in a mainstream classroom. All the members of the team, which included his Kindergarten teacher, saw that he did gain from being in a regular classroom setting and he left the end of the year markedly improved from when he went in. There will always be an option for him to be moved to a classroom with a smaller student ratio, but there is not a need for it right now.
Frustratingly enough, we are still working on potty training. If he's not reminded hourly, he won't take the time to go and pee. It's not that he doesn't know how, he actually forgets. As to pooping... I'm starting to feel hopeless. He does regularly tell us when he needs to be changed, but ahead of that, he doesn't seem to know when it's coming most of the time. The times he does get the urge, he's willing to try sitting on the potty, but seems scared to actually go there. We did have a small victory on Monday night when he went to the bathroom after being told to pee pee before he went to bed. He sat down and pooped a bit on his own! It was the only time that he has done so, but it was a victory. I know we have to just keep plodding along and that one day it will all click...but man I hope it is sooner rather than later.
He is currently in swimming lessons and is doing really well. We were blessed to find a teacher who has a special needs child of her own and who has also taught swimming lessons to several special needs kids. Kamden completely enjoys the lessons and keeps her laughing the entire time.
I am a little under a year away from graduating with my A.S. of Biology. I didn't do as well in the spring semester as I'd have liked to do, and in the fall I am going to have to retake the lecture portion of my chemistry class. This summer I am enrolled in full time course hours so that I'll be on track to graduate in May of 2016. It has been a really intense summer as far as the coursework, but I know it's going to pay off in the end. I've been looking for a full time job, but as of the time I post this entry I have not had any luck. Instead, I'm hoping to get loaded up on cleaning clientele and go back to tutor for the last two semesters I am enrolled. After graduation, I'll be transferring to a 4-year university and completing my bachelors level work.
I'm back in the gym after having taken nearly 6 months off and I have never felt better. I'm down 11 pounds from when I started back and am working out 5-6 days a week. This time around, I've gotten in with a workout partner for at least 4 days a week and it has helped immensely. I get the extra push I need when I'm ready to stop because I feel tired. I've been back in a little over a month and it feels like second nature to get in those workouts again. I'm meeting goals slowly but surely.
I feel like there is much, much more I could write, but my tired brain will not allow me to form coherent sentences. I have a sweet little guy dressed as Batman who is desperate to save Gotham from the evil clutches of the Joker...duty calls.
The last two months have had their fair share of ups and downs. Thankfully, there have been more ups than downs, but it's been a bit exhausting.
Kamden finished his first year of school and was given the Memory Award. He managed to memorize the names of all the students in the entire kindergarten (between 60 and 70 students). We also had an ARD meeting (aka IEP meeting) with the school regarding his autism. The school officially recognizes him as autistic and have provided a confirming diagnosis by way of the school psychologist. They did emphasize that he's extremely high functioning and that he's incredibly bright, but that they do see areas that he definitely needs help. The team we met with was very apologetic that it had taken a full year to get him evaluated and set up for help, but we were all in agreement that had it had to happen this way, it was a good thing that it happened in Kindergarten. Going into first grade, Kamden is going to have an amazing team of people, both in and out of school, to help him be the best he can be. He will continue to have physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy outside of school, but he will also be getting speech and occupational therapy within the school. They will be focusing on pragmatics of speech and the fine motor skills that he is lacking. He needs a lot of help with writing and using a pair of scissors. They are going to adapt his classroom environment to be more "step-by-step" friendly. He will have a velcro strip at his desk that will allow the teacher to place a strip with the time, a picture, and a description of the next activity that will be done in class. One of his biggest distractions through his Kindergarten year was wanting to know what time it was and how much longer until the next classroom event, lunch or P.E. The hope is that giving him visual cues will help hold off that distraction somewhat. He is also going to be getting a "visual timer" to have placed at his desk or at least in close proximity. It will have both a countdown timer and a color coded timer to let him know when a certain amount of time is remaining. There will also be a spot on his desk for a step-by-step picture schedule of each activity they do. It's difficult for him to follow steps when given them all orally and all at one time. This written version should allow for him to be more independent and be able to keep on task more easily. For part of the school day, Kamden will have an in classroom assistant. This person will be placed to help everyone in the classroom, but his/her main focus will be to help Kamden with his writing, cutting, and focus on subjects he does not quite get. He excels in reading, but has a difficult time with concepts like science and social studies. When it comes to time to work on the math portion of class, Kamden will be removed for one on one assistance. Math was the biggest struggle for him in Kindergarten because he couldn't wrap his head around the abstract nature of the subject. He will be allowed "abbreviated assignments" where he will do the same work as his classmates, but not in as great of detail so that he is not tempted to quit out of frustration. At this point in time, he is going to be able to stay in a mainstream classroom. All the members of the team, which included his Kindergarten teacher, saw that he did gain from being in a regular classroom setting and he left the end of the year markedly improved from when he went in. There will always be an option for him to be moved to a classroom with a smaller student ratio, but there is not a need for it right now.
Frustratingly enough, we are still working on potty training. If he's not reminded hourly, he won't take the time to go and pee. It's not that he doesn't know how, he actually forgets. As to pooping... I'm starting to feel hopeless. He does regularly tell us when he needs to be changed, but ahead of that, he doesn't seem to know when it's coming most of the time. The times he does get the urge, he's willing to try sitting on the potty, but seems scared to actually go there. We did have a small victory on Monday night when he went to the bathroom after being told to pee pee before he went to bed. He sat down and pooped a bit on his own! It was the only time that he has done so, but it was a victory. I know we have to just keep plodding along and that one day it will all click...but man I hope it is sooner rather than later.
He is currently in swimming lessons and is doing really well. We were blessed to find a teacher who has a special needs child of her own and who has also taught swimming lessons to several special needs kids. Kamden completely enjoys the lessons and keeps her laughing the entire time.
I am a little under a year away from graduating with my A.S. of Biology. I didn't do as well in the spring semester as I'd have liked to do, and in the fall I am going to have to retake the lecture portion of my chemistry class. This summer I am enrolled in full time course hours so that I'll be on track to graduate in May of 2016. It has been a really intense summer as far as the coursework, but I know it's going to pay off in the end. I've been looking for a full time job, but as of the time I post this entry I have not had any luck. Instead, I'm hoping to get loaded up on cleaning clientele and go back to tutor for the last two semesters I am enrolled. After graduation, I'll be transferring to a 4-year university and completing my bachelors level work.
I'm back in the gym after having taken nearly 6 months off and I have never felt better. I'm down 11 pounds from when I started back and am working out 5-6 days a week. This time around, I've gotten in with a workout partner for at least 4 days a week and it has helped immensely. I get the extra push I need when I'm ready to stop because I feel tired. I've been back in a little over a month and it feels like second nature to get in those workouts again. I'm meeting goals slowly but surely.
I feel like there is much, much more I could write, but my tired brain will not allow me to form coherent sentences. I have a sweet little guy dressed as Batman who is desperate to save Gotham from the evil clutches of the Joker...duty calls.
Keep strong. If it helps my son is the same age as your and is ADHD and has issues with Potty and Pooping. As Mr. Andre (Pre School Teacher) told me. Doesn't matter when they are potty trained it is not like it goes on a resume. So take your time and don't stress over it.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I know that we aren't the only ones who struggle with it, but so few chime in and let me know they are dealing with the same! This encouraged me a lot. :)
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