I am so happy that the weekend is finally here.
It's been a messy and very cold week here. Our temps have been way colder than normal. I live in the south for a reason. I don't like cold, but, if it has to be cold then I want it to snow. Instead we got sleet and a cold rain....grrrrr The kids were so disappointed, especially Z. He really wanted snow.
I've been trying to visit the deaf preschool all week, but the weather kept me from making it because they kept cancelling school there. Finally Friday I made the trip. It was well worth the trip. It is everything and more that I was looking for in a preschool. I was very satisfied. I think we have found our school. Yes it will be a pretty long bus ride, but Blaze enjoys riding and for all the benefits it will be worth it. Now the BOE meeting on Monday probably want go so well when I announce my decision, but it's my child and I know him best and I won't settle for less.
At the PreK, I got to meet one of the teachers that will be Blaze's teacher. Blaze just took right up with her...which is unusual for him. Maybe that was my sign that I have been praying for. This has been very hard for me. It has taken 6 months and numerous meetings to get to this point. Sending Blaze to preschool has been a hard decision for me and getting Brent on board was even harder, but I truly believe I'm doing the right thing for him. He needs so much help and he needs the extra services. I truly believe they will be able to meet all of his needs unlike the schools closer to us. He will have 2 teachers and 4 classmates. I am very pleased with that ratio. No other school could give me that. Blaze wants so much to learn and he is so curious about every thing around him, but it is so hard for me to teach him with his lack of communication/understanding, his lack of eye contact, his extreme energy and his frustration level. My concerns with sending him to preschool of course first was his health ( would they know what to do), then his safety because he has such a lack of safety awareness, and his feeding difficulties (they will prepare his food pureed but will continue to work on textures with him). I think if Blaze can learn to sign more it will help him with his frustration level. I think he has a lot to say, but he just can't get it out, so he cries constantly. I think working with this teacher is going to be huge for him. She knows ASL and she knows how to work with kids like Blaze. I hope Blaze does well and loves going there and will want to continue. If I see he is not thriving and doing well or if he starts staying sick then I'll pull him back home.
It does make me sad knowing this coming week will probably be his last full week at home with me at least for a while. He has 2 specialist appointments this coming week and he is meeting with a new orthopedic this week to be fitted with a pressure vest. Blaze's preschool room is set up for sensory kids (unlike the other schools). The kids all wear pressure vests and they do deep muscle massage and body brushing at the start of every day. This will be huge for Blaze because it continues what his therapists already do and he loves it. Blaze will stay home on therapy days and continue therapy at the farm. However, his PT is no longer going to come to our home instead she is going to start seeing Blaze at the farm. She feels Blaze is at a point that he needs more PT then what he is getting in our home, so he will get Speech and PT at the therapy farm and at school. His PT wants him to start working in a gym setting with equipment since he is getting more mobile now. In PT he will also be starting hippotherapy soon. It seems to do wonders with CP kids. His OT will continue in our home for now and he will get OT at the school too. I think the extra services will be good for him. Blaze will also be admitted into CHOA sometime in the next few weeks to have a procedure done. Yes, he is a mighty busy boy these days, but that's ok. He's got a mom that thinks he is the stuff and is always right here beside him.
For the first time in very long time I will be out shopping next week for school supplies. Wow! I thought those days were far behind me. He will be wearing uniforms to school but I only have to buy his khaki pants, because they will supply his shirts.
Well, I had planned to share more, but that is all the time I have for now. Have a good weekend!
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6
