Melissa is now in high school.  It was going well, but the last few weeks she has dropped the ball, badly.  Hopefully she pulls her act together for this next quarter as she has had a lot of things taken away in the past few weeks that she wants back, including her freedom.  Haha!

Logan is progressing well.  His big excitement was a trip to the ER a couple weeks ago for a large cut on his finger.  He stuck it in a soup type can in the trash and cut a large flap open on his finger tip.  It doesn’t hold him back and he still uses that hand for everything. 

Derek is now walking.  Oy.  He is definitely all boy and very different from Logan.  Logan would open and close cabinets, but he doesn’t like things out… not Derek.  He loves to pull out all the bowls and pots and pans.  He is big into pretending to cook and will stir and scoop and share for hours if you let him.

My daycare is full. Full. Full.  10 kids total, but usually only 5-6 at a time.  I also hired a helper who is here 5 hours a week for lunchtime help and another 5 so I can do therapy with Logan.  We love her, and I really appreciated how great she is when we had to run to the ER because I felt 100% comfortable leaving her on a moments notice to do lunch.  It was cooked, but she brought the kids up, served it, got them cleaned up and down for naps, and cleaned the kitche and washed the dishes!  Joe got here part way through that, and even he was impressed with her.

Well, I know that is a short update, but there is almost TOO much to update on!  I promise to come in here at least once a week now and keep this thing current.  Promise!!!

He can almost sit on his own, loves to sit in his bumbo or boppy pillow.  And LOOOOOVES to bounce around in his exersaucer or walker.  He is now eating 2-3 solid meals a day and is still nursing like a champ.  Nights are at least becoming consistent with him usually only waking once around 4-5am.  He ends up sleeping with me until we get up for the day after that. 

Logan had the first part of his evaluation yesterday and I will go into more detail in the autism blog, but it went well.  It was obvious to all of them he will be diagnosed with at least PDD, probably mild classic autism.  I have filled out the inventories they sent home and the child psychologist will visit Logan here at our house sometime soon to finish the evaluation.  We have our first IEP meeting on the 8th. 

Mel is starting her final quarter in 8th grade.  The 3rd quarter was a rough one, but she is shooting to do a LOT better this quarter and we have a lot of incentives in place.  Hard to believe she will be in HIGH SCHOOL soon!!

I am still trying to quit my wedding coordinator position, but this is proving to be difficult.  The pastors have been too busy to meet with me and get things nailed down for the transition and I worry that the girls that were interested have probably lost interest by now, or may be hesitant to get into a position with such slow communication (a big reason I am leaving). 

The daycare is doing ok.  I have 1 full time kid and 2 part time kids (less than 20 hours each).  This is just right for now.  I have had to take on almost all of Logan’s ABA therapy myself, so having fewer kids makes that more possible right now. 

We can’t wait for spring and are already gearing up for summer camping!!

Of course we had to hit the mall for dinner and for Logan to play at the play area, which he LOOOVES.  After that a quick trip to Target to get a new camera and we headed home.  We didn’t do a whole lot while there, but it sure wore us all out! 

We are also enjoying this nice weather we are having right now.  I am hosting my friend Robin’s baby shower next weekend, so I am glad to have some warm weather since we have a few things in the sunroom that need to be put away as it has become home to a couple things we have replaced and/or are looking to get rid of.  After the boys wake up from naps today we may have to get out some riding toys and play in the driveway!

Asside from that, we are still struggling to get Logan’s evaluation and diagnosis set up and now it sounds like he will NEVER get ABA through Birth to Three or the school, so I have jumped in with both feet to train myself to be his ABA therapist.

Derek was 15lbs 4oz, dropping to just below the 25th percentile.  He has been around the 30th-40th consistently, so this is just fine for him.  He was 26.75″ long, and his head is 17.25″ around.  Derek also got one shot, and he did amazinly.  Not the slightest cry.  He was more crabby about his wild legs being held down.  He is playing catch up with shots because they are always out of things when he goes in it seems.  That is ok.  While I am not anti-vaccination, I am open to delayed vaccinations, so essentially that is what he is doing.  He is doing well this afternoon as well, just a wee bit fussy, but the ibuprofen has helped that.

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The trip to pierre yesterday went well.  We went to testify in support of Senate bill 203, which would ensure Birth to Three 2.1 million for the 2009 budget.  The bill passed the Senate Affairs Committee and will now go through the Senate, House, and Governor.  There is also talk of additional funding being provided by the stimulus package.  Yay!

I also got to speak with the supervisor of the man who will be providing Logan’s ABA therapy.  He has been out of town, so that has been the delay.  His supervisor didn’t know Logan had been approved yet, so she is going to get the ball rolling on her end so we can get the meeting done to agree as a team he needs the therapy even if it means she comes to the meeting instead of Ryan. 

The boys did great on the trip and it was a long day for them both.  Logan today is Mr. High Energy after spending all day on a bus or in a stroller.

We are planning to go to Pierre on Wednesday to support the senate bill that will support the Birth to Three program.  Joe was thinking of going, but it is such a hassle for me to take any time off.  Then Carmen invited me to speak as a parent while we are there.  And being on the “inside” it is not sounding like there is going to be the numbers there we want.  So I have talked to 3 out of the 4 parents who would need care that day and they have back ups.  I have rescheduled Logan’s OT for the day and left a message with his SLP to reschedule is ST for that day.  I told my handbells director I would be gone.  And I lined up for Melissa and/or my aunt to get Melissa where she needs to be that day.  I still need to reschedule Derek’s well baby check up set for that day.  I was thinking tomorrow would be great, but he will get shots, so maybe AFTER Wednesday would be better.  It will be a long day as it is.

I think we are going to drive down to my dad’s the night before as we need to be at the chartered bus by 5:30am.  I need to figure out what we need to bring with as well.  It will be a LONG day and we will be very limited in what we can bring.  Diapers, wipes, snacks for Logan, vitamins, tylenol for Derek (teething), and so on.  The committee is meeting at 10am, and then there is the afternoon session.  Logan is probably going to need a nap.  I wish/hope we would have room to bring our bigger stroller.  He will doze in that if needed.  We will see. 

I also need to get an idea of what I am going to say.  I have 5 minutes.  For those that know me, you KNOW this is near impossible for me to do!  Haha!  I think I am going to set my phone to vibrate after 4.5 minutes if I can.  Hehe!

I need to decide what I want to do with this opportunity.  After well over a year of struggling with the daycare and opperating on SUCH a small scale, I really need to get some stuff paid off and recover.  I currently have 7 kids, 3 of them part time (and 2 my own).  I am debating enrolling up to 10 kids, especially since I have part timers.  I would consider 12 if I could find a couple quality helpers.  I would hire someone to come every day from 10:30 to 12:30 to help with lunch and getting naps going.  Then I might hire someone to come help a couple later afternoons so we can go to the park or something.  Some of the extra $$ would definitely go to fencing in the yard, and I will probably hire someone to help clean the house as soon as I get that 8th enrollment.  Just someone to come in every week or two and do things like bathrooms, windows, dusting, maybe vacuum bedrooms.  I will still do my daily stuff (dishes, cleaning the kitchen, sweeping the floors) and will vacuum the family room 2-3x a week as usual.  But someone to do the stuff I usually do during nap time would help out a LOT! 

I need to consider Logan as well though.  He is about to start ABA therapy and I don’t know how that is going to go yet.  One thing to think about is that if I can get this extra income for a while, get stuff paid off, build up some savings, then we could better afford to pay for the extra therapies I feel he needs once his funding from Birth to Three ends. 

I won’t count my chickens before they hatch, but with so many possible enrollments I need to decide how many I will accept.

Plus my new daycare kid is here this afternoon so no resting during nap time for me. 

I also have a new daycare kid starting this week.  My friend Joelle’s daughter Morgan.  She will also be part time.  That is 2 full time and 3 part time kids.  I will have one opening, and I think at this point I will hold out for full time.  That REALLY helps the budget a lot. 

Joe also found someone seeking a treadmill and while I wasn’t looking to sell mine, the thought had crossed my mind.  I have only used it a couple times this past year.  We have such a nice walking path now, if it is nice enough I walk on that, and if there is snow on the ground it is probably too cold for using it in the sunroom (3 season) anyway.  They were looking to spend $500, so we offered it for that price.  I paid $1000 for it like 4 years ago, and it was on sale from $1500.  It is in excellent shape, so they are getting a great deal.  I could really use that $500.  I am sure most all of it will go towards redecorating the master bedroom and main bathroom.  I could maybe even squeeze some living/dining materials out of it as well.  I hope we hear from them soon!

Still progressing with Logan and the path to a diagnosis.  The school will probably get him in in March, but they of course said as far as their program once he turns 3, he will probably be integrated into their preschool program.  NOT good enough.  I have seen daycare kids go through all that, and it is just that… a preschool.  Not anything specific to each child’s needs at all.  It isn’t all autistic kids or anything like that either.  Ethan (PDD-NOS/Speech Apraxia) was in the same class as Ava (ADHD).  Both ENTIRELY different needs.  Neither really progressed much either.  In fact, when Ava started kindergarten, she actually progressed a LOT more and was pulled out of all her special ed classes by mid-year. 

Ok… fussy baby.

Derek still has a fever.  I am debating taking him and Logan in today.  I think Manda works nights, so she might be able to come in.  I think Logan has an ear infection.  I think Derek is just teething badly, but he has been taking tylenol regularly for 3 days now.  

I had a new calendar program all set up on my BlackBerry (BB) and it is empty now!  I don’t know if that is because it is a trial, but it didn’t say anything about that… just that you could only use it for 2 weeks.  Makes me worry about using it.

We had Logan’s autism screening on the 19th of January.  He was found to be in the “possible significant challenges” range and recommended for a full evaluation.  The screening was conducted by a hearing specialist (Logan’s hearing was checked), a speech and language pathologist (SLP), occupational therapist (OT), and a child psychologist (CP).  It was about an hour long and was at Children’s Care Hospital and School (CCHS).  They played with Logan, asked us questions, and we also filled out a questionaire. 

I have contacted the Brookings School about having his full evaluation done here, but haven’t heard back.
CCHS has called to see if we want to schedule it there, but I don’t think the school will cover that since they can provide it here.
Our service provider is looking at what we can get through Birth to Three as far as ABA therapy goes. 
She is also checking into Birth to Three covering the home ABA Therapy program CCHS provides.

I need to follow up with all of that since no one has gotten back to me about anything in 2 weeks now.  Each day is a day lost, so I am anxious to get the ball rolling and get him ABA as soon as possible.  In the meantime, I am doing all the research I can on ABA therapy techniques and utilizing them in our daily activities as much as possible.  Logan has gotten better with coming when we call him, understanding “No” (especially if I sign it as well), and asking for more through signing (although not very consistent quite yet).   He also knows what jump means and will help me help him practice jumping by bending his knees on the count of three. 

I will post some good Autism and ABA links here soon so that all of you following along can learn more about the disorder as well as the therapies and their possible outcomes.  All in all, I am optimistic and I think that Logan could very well be a fairly normal functioning child by school age if we work hard with him.  I don’t feel that he will be found fully autistic and will be diagnosed as PDD-NOS (as in he is on the spectrum, but doesn’t fit nicely into the disorders within it.  He can make sounds, has no behavior issues, and at least somewhat views people as people whereas many autistic children see people as things. 

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As some of you may or may not know, our governor recently proposed cutting all funding to Birth to Three as well as reducing funding for school special education programs.  I can’t describe how livid this makes me.  Our schools spend exponentially more on school sports but would never reduce that funding.  Grr!!  There is a group forming called “Voices: Advocating for Families and Children with Special Needs” and I have joined as a charter member and have been asked to be the Brookings area contact person.  I need to get something lined up following the local Legislative Forum on the 21st.  I have a couple moms on board to help, but can always use more!  I have never done anything like this, but the few who started this group have been a huge help.  If anyone reading this is in South Dakota and is willing to send a letter or make a call to the governor or a few state legislators and committees, PLEASE CONTACT ME!!!  I have letters to use that you can use as base. 

Well, I was going to type more about Derek, but that will have to wait.  He is totally going through a growth spurt and his sleeping is all out of whack.  I started giving him a serving of solids daily this week.  He had in the past few weeks tried oatmeal, applesauce, and the 2 combined but didn’t much like either.  He has had avocado the last 2 days and LOVES it!  Today we will do avocado again, and tomorrow try bananas.  But he is finally waking up for the day, so I better go get him out of bed… sleepy guy!