Tyler's friend texted me these pictures of Tyler.
They were on the bus headed to a choir competition very early in the morning.
Not sure whose pillow pet he's using?
I love this!
I laughed so hard!
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Sunday, September 29, 2013
Watch D.O.G.S
Anthony and Carli went to a Watch D.O.G.S Kick Off Pizza Party at school.
WATCH D.O.G.S.® is the father involvement initiative of the National Center for Fathering that was founded by Jim Moore, a concerned father who chose to take action in response to a 1998 middle-school shooting in Jonesboro, AR. Moore wanted to help prevent violence from occurring at his childrens school or at any school. The first program was launched at George Elementary in Springdale, AR, the school of Moores oldest child. Today, more than 1,659 programs in 38 states and New Zealand participate in WATCH D.O.G.
Watch D.O.G.S stands for Dads Of Great Students.
They're duties are to perform a variety of tasks during their volunteer day at Carleston (e.g. ; assisting with morning arrivals, monitoring the cafeteria, and helping in classrooms).
Our school's very first year with this program was six years ago.
Tyler was in fourth grade and Anthony was one of the first dads! I have a picture of them together that I'll post soon! It's awesome!
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Austin
I don't "link up" to other blogs, but I thought this would be a great one to do.
Kelly's Korner Blog
Moms of Special Needs Children.
Yep, that's me!
I thought it would be comforting or resourceful to other moms who have younger special needs children, since my special needs child is now 19.
For me, the only time I feel not alone in this, is when we're at a Special Olympics event or in his Life Skills class. I hope by reading this, you will feel that you are not alone.
Where to begin...
My love. Who he is.
Austin, 19, bright eyed, full of laughter, and joy.
He has a lot of loves:
Pizza, well ANY food! The boy can eat! Drawing/coloring. ALL things Sponge Bob! Watching movies in his room! He's got quite a collection. Star Wars, Spider man, action figures. Singing. Backsteet Boys, Insync, Green Day. If you come over, he'll call you to his room so he can sing you a song from either Hercules, High School Musical (1, 2,or 3), Hairspray.
He wants a girlfriend, job, and a car. He WILL tell you that within the first five minutes of meeting you!
I had a normal pregnancy. At age two weeks, we found out that he had Hypothyroidism. He was immediately put on Synthroid medication and has taken it every single morning since. He met all his milestones at a normal age. He walked before he was one. He was my first born. I didn't see any difference in him until he was four. I tried not to compare him to other boys his age. Tried. But at play groups, he sat with all of us mommies and played with the younger siblings, the babies. He played with their toys. Finally I quit going to playgroups and putting him into sports because clearly he wasn't going to play with the boys or play the sport.
He went to daycare. He went to a private kindergarten, at church, then onto public kindergarten. That year, age 6, is when he had his first absence seizure (pedi mal. staring/stiffening kind). Testing was done, medication was prescribed. They were pretty much controlled. During this time we found out that he did have some learning disabilities. Nothing major. Auditory Processing disorder and some occupational and speech therapy. He would be pulled out of class for a little bit each day for resources through out his school years. Age 8 came. He had his first grand mal seizure. We were not there to see it. His great grandmother was. Her words still come to my mind often, "I thought he was dying". Since age 8, we've tried so so so many seizure medications. The longest he goes without a seizure is two weeks. He has them often. At times 7-10 a day. There is a percentage of people who never have complete seizure control. He is one of them. Epilepsy is scary. Yes, he has them places other than home. We've been shopping, eating out, beaching it, vacationing. You name it, he's probably had it there. He does get hurt. Sometimes seriously. Stitches. Then there are times when he has one and bounces right back like it never happened. He doesn't know when he's going to have one or when he had one.
School continued to be a big struggle. The older he got, the difference between him and the other kids his age got bigger and bigger. Many many many tests later, he was diagnosed with Mental Retardation. It was quite a blow to us. When he was in 5th grade, we put him in the special education class, Life Skills. BEST decision ever. It was like a whole room of Austins! Talk about comforting!
We have had the best experiences with his schools! They've been fabulous to him and us! Helping him everyday and helping us to know what's next. He even gets to do Special Olympics. His favorite is Bowling. He's done bowling, track, and basketball. He gets to stay in the public school system until he's 22. He receives school credit to be classified as a grade level. He's 19, a SENIOR, and will walk the stage June 2014! Then, he goes to a transitioning center off campus every day until he's 22 years old. After that? Well, we shall see. That's the scary part.
It is very hard to have a mentally disabled child. It's isolating, it's heartbreaking, it's long days, it's confusion and questioning, draining! We have bad days, we have good days. But in the same breathe I can say that it is so wonderful! We have learned so much. Grown so much as parents, a couple, as a family. We do have two other kiddos and I believe they have the most precious hearts from having a special needs brother.
As he's gotten older, many decisions needed to take place. Serious decisions. At age 18, he's legally an adult. But yet he clearly cannot ever take care of himself or live on his own. Well, we had to become his legal guardian. Special needs kids/adults need to receive disability since they'll never be able to provide for themselves, Even though, they have their parents and they have insurance and etc. You never know what can happen. Who will take care of them when we're gone? They'll also need an I.D. card. Something else you don't think about.
Oh there's so much more to tell you!
My post is all over the place. I'm trying my best to tell you about Austin. Tell you about our life with him. Tell you as a parent of a younger special needs child that you are not alone! That there is a lot of resources out there. There is a community for your child. You have bad days and cry. That's normal. That's fine. You will have good days too. Just look at your child...what a gift!
My blog is over five years old, so I have many Austin stories, pictures, and videos that you can see.
Please, feel free to message me with any questions. I want to help!
Kelly's Korner Blog
Moms of Special Needs Children.
Yep, that's me!
I thought it would be comforting or resourceful to other moms who have younger special needs children, since my special needs child is now 19.
Where to begin...
My love. Who he is.
Austin, 19, bright eyed, full of laughter, and joy.
He has a lot of loves:
Pizza, well ANY food! The boy can eat! Drawing/coloring. ALL things Sponge Bob! Watching movies in his room! He's got quite a collection. Star Wars, Spider man, action figures. Singing. Backsteet Boys, Insync, Green Day. If you come over, he'll call you to his room so he can sing you a song from either Hercules, High School Musical (1, 2,or 3), Hairspray.
He wants a girlfriend, job, and a car. He WILL tell you that within the first five minutes of meeting you!
I had a normal pregnancy. At age two weeks, we found out that he had Hypothyroidism. He was immediately put on Synthroid medication and has taken it every single morning since. He met all his milestones at a normal age. He walked before he was one. He was my first born. I didn't see any difference in him until he was four. I tried not to compare him to other boys his age. Tried. But at play groups, he sat with all of us mommies and played with the younger siblings, the babies. He played with their toys. Finally I quit going to playgroups and putting him into sports because clearly he wasn't going to play with the boys or play the sport.
He went to daycare. He went to a private kindergarten, at church, then onto public kindergarten. That year, age 6, is when he had his first absence seizure (pedi mal. staring/stiffening kind). Testing was done, medication was prescribed. They were pretty much controlled. During this time we found out that he did have some learning disabilities. Nothing major. Auditory Processing disorder and some occupational and speech therapy. He would be pulled out of class for a little bit each day for resources through out his school years. Age 8 came. He had his first grand mal seizure. We were not there to see it. His great grandmother was. Her words still come to my mind often, "I thought he was dying". Since age 8, we've tried so so so many seizure medications. The longest he goes without a seizure is two weeks. He has them often. At times 7-10 a day. There is a percentage of people who never have complete seizure control. He is one of them. Epilepsy is scary. Yes, he has them places other than home. We've been shopping, eating out, beaching it, vacationing. You name it, he's probably had it there. He does get hurt. Sometimes seriously. Stitches. Then there are times when he has one and bounces right back like it never happened. He doesn't know when he's going to have one or when he had one.
School continued to be a big struggle. The older he got, the difference between him and the other kids his age got bigger and bigger. Many many many tests later, he was diagnosed with Mental Retardation. It was quite a blow to us. When he was in 5th grade, we put him in the special education class, Life Skills. BEST decision ever. It was like a whole room of Austins! Talk about comforting!
We have had the best experiences with his schools! They've been fabulous to him and us! Helping him everyday and helping us to know what's next. He even gets to do Special Olympics. His favorite is Bowling. He's done bowling, track, and basketball. He gets to stay in the public school system until he's 22. He receives school credit to be classified as a grade level. He's 19, a SENIOR, and will walk the stage June 2014! Then, he goes to a transitioning center off campus every day until he's 22 years old. After that? Well, we shall see. That's the scary part.
As he's gotten older, many decisions needed to take place. Serious decisions. At age 18, he's legally an adult. But yet he clearly cannot ever take care of himself or live on his own. Well, we had to become his legal guardian. Special needs kids/adults need to receive disability since they'll never be able to provide for themselves, Even though, they have their parents and they have insurance and etc. You never know what can happen. Who will take care of them when we're gone? They'll also need an I.D. card. Something else you don't think about.
Oh there's so much more to tell you!
My post is all over the place. I'm trying my best to tell you about Austin. Tell you about our life with him. Tell you as a parent of a younger special needs child that you are not alone! That there is a lot of resources out there. There is a community for your child. You have bad days and cry. That's normal. That's fine. You will have good days too. Just look at your child...what a gift!
My blog is over five years old, so I have many Austin stories, pictures, and videos that you can see.
Please, feel free to message me with any questions. I want to help!
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Big moment for Austin
Wednesday, September the 25th, Austin went to have his SENIOR pictures made for the yearbook!
Unbelievable!
The line was so long, even though we had an appointment at 6:45 P.M.
Because he's special needs, he was able to go to the front of the line
for check-in and then for pictures.
He did really good!
Two poses were done.
One in a tuxedo, one in a cap and gown.
I didn't cry!
I wanted to take pictures with my cell phone, but there were signs everywhere saying cell phones or cameras were not allowed due to copy rights.
Bummer!
I can't wait until we get our proofs in the mail in two-three weeks!
Afterwards, we took a picture in front of the boys' high school mascot.
His name is Derrick. We're the Oilers.
It's in the commons area and it's so gigantic!
Then, on the way out, I needed a picture of all three of the kiddos.
I wanted to capture them with Austin at his big moment!
Senior, Sophomore, Second Grade
Time is flying by.
Monday, September 23, 2013
ME!
I went back to work for the Mother's Day Out Program that
I've worked at for many many many years!
I'm subbing and I love it!
I've been working every week.
It's SO good to be back!
Austin and Bowling
Austin has started his season of Special Olympics Bowling.
HE LOVES IT!
He'll bowl two games every Saturday and then the go to district games.
It's so exciting!
Even more exciting is CODY is there again!
These guys have been friends since the second grade!
They're both 19 years old now!
Tyler and Choir
Already Tyler has been busy with choir and it's only going to get busier!
He's already had a choir concert!
A few of the different choirs are together for this particular number.
Here's a snip it of a song.
It's very hard to see Tyler...he's behind a tall girl!
He made the cut for the auditions for Region Choir.
He's been rehearsing everyday after school for that.
They Choir also had their Welcoming Party.
Basically, it's a bunch of teams competing in all types of icky gooey challenges.
It's crazy and they love it!
You can probably tell he's on the pink team.
.
In the next week, he auditions for Region choir.
In a few weeks, he'll audition for the musical
Carli and School
Carli has been having a grrreat year so far!
She's had a couple of fun events at school.
The first, was meet your teacher night, where we (PTA) had a pizza fundraiser.
The truck pulled right up to our school and made your order!
It was cool!
Also cool, is anytime we have an event at school, our mascot, Carl shows up!
(I protected the lil' kiddos' faces with hearts since we don't know them)
We (PTA) provided a Friday Family Movie Night.
We watched Super Buddies on the big screen, had popcorn, and lemonade.
The kids brought their blankets and pillows.
Parents brought their lawn chairs.
It was a rainy night, so it seemed to make it more fun.
It was also a packed house!
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More Carli fun stuff to come!
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