SM Family Fun Day and Boot Camp 2015

Another great year at the SM Family Day!  Thomas did so great this year and even came up with the name for his group!  He was really a rock star today.  He did lots of brave talking, high fives, playing with new friends, swimming, answering choice questions, etc.  Here he is playing with new friends (holding ball) and in the orange and green bathing suit after getting his brave metal for the day, which he walked down and got all by himself! :)  Here is a video link I found on the Smart Center's site from the day: SM Family Day video

Super Hero Party and separation anxiety creeping in again

Thomas had a great end of the school year this June.  A complete 180 from last year.  He fully participated in field day, including the potato sack race (was blown away by this!).   We had our IEP meeting with the school and he will be eligible for services again next year.  This will include helping him with transitions to activities including gym, music, computers, etc.  He was evaluated by an OT that the school uses and she determined that he is not eligible for this at school, because his difficulties are not affecting his academic learning.   He had a small super hero birthday party with 5 friends at our house that went amazing.  There were no issues with talking or sensory problems with the games.  We let him practice all the games before everyone came.   He is really coming along amazing except for a separation anxiety issue that is getting worse.

We are starting to have a HUGE separation anxiety problem.  Towards the end of school  I noticed him being more clingy on the playground with me and he started not wanting to go on playdates without me again.  I’ll ask him if he wants to go to a friends’ house and he says not unless you are there.  Now that he is home with me all day, he gets upset if I go out to the car to get something or to the garage.  He comes running out the door screaming for me.  I started telling him where I am going, but it doesn’t help.  If we are outside and I need to use the bathroom, he runs back in with me until I’m done.   It is so draining on me and I find myself yelling at him a lot because it is driving me crazy.  No surprise he has trouble sleeping at night now too.  He wants to know what room I am going to be in after I put him to sleep and if he hears the door open down stairs he bolts down the steps screaming for me.   If my husband and I go out for the night, he gets so upset and will wait up in bed until we get home.
Separation anxiety was a huge issue at the end of the last school year too.  Coincidence or is there something to this?

Other than the severe separation anxiety right now, things are going really well.  He is talking to adults, friends, and  children he doesn’t know.   He also tried a trampoline for the first time the other day when no children were on it and has been enjoying his playdates if I stay with him.  

Here's a picture of him from his super hero bday.

IEP reevaluation meeting

Today I met with the child study team and Thomas's teacher to discuss an IEP reevaluation for next year and how we will transition him from preschool to kindergarten.  They told me how incredibly well he is doing with speaking at school.  He is very verbal with classmates at his stations and centers.  He is sometime yelling across the room about what he brought for snack and giving high fives to some of the more outgoing children in the class.  Sometimes the teacher said she even has to tell him to quiet down.  I LOVE that he is getting in trouble for being loud-LOL!  This year has truly been a dream come true.  The progress he has made is unparallel.

We as parents have put in a tremendous amount of work and time, and so has his school.  But the person who has worked the hardest and has done so many new scary things is Thomas, and I couldn't be prouder of our little boy!  He does still need assistance in several areas that involve transitions and movement, so he will definitely be eligible for an IEP next year.  The plan is to reevaluate him in the area of SP, OT and in the classroom and we will meet again in June.

There are two kindergarten teachers next year, but since one will be going out on leave half way through the year, we all decided that it is best he has the other teacher.  This way there will be no change in routine and no new person to throw him off.  They also told me that some of his closest buddies will be placed in his class as well to keep the comfort level the same.  So awesome!

1st t-ball game

So I was super nervous for how a t-ball game would go with a whole other team and parents, but it went pretty well.  He was extremely hesitant to have a warm up catch with his teammates and kind of moped around.  He cried some and wanted me to stay with him.  Luckily his team batted first so he had time to warm up on the bench.  He sat next to his good friend and when it was his turn he got a helmet on and went up and batted and ran the bases.  He is a pretty good hitter.  He loves to bat, but fielding is not his thing.  He doesn't really like going in the field and while all the other kids rush to the same spot to catch the ball, Lucas is very happy to stay in his spot and let the others get it.  It is so adorable to see these little guys play t-ball and honestly they all are doing weird things in the field- twirling around, looking up at the sky and talking to others, so he really doesn't stick out :)  The fact that he is even doing it, is amazing.  We are so proud of our little slugger- #4!

Tranistioning back to school after spring break

Thomas’s spring break went very well.  We had a few playdates that went great and he had a wonderful OT session.   He transitioned back into the school routine pretty well.  He didn’t want to go to gym this week, but it was on his first day back from break.   One thing I have noticed is that he is getting more comfortable conversing with friends.  We unexpectedly saw a friend out of the school environment the other day and when the two were by themselves, he started chatting with him right away.  Wow!  He still is very awkward with his greetings with friends, but that takes time.  They will excitedly say "Hi Lucas!" "Bye Lucas" when we are on the school playground.  He has no problem saying hi or bye now, but I need to remind him or prompt him by saying, "Lucas your friend is saying hi."  Then he will respond.  

T-ball!

Sensory wise there has been so much improvement in the past few weeks.  He is swinging very high on certain types of swings now.  He is jumping off and climbing everything.  He is gaining much more body awareness.   He also started playing games like duck, duck goose and 4 corners (classroom games) which he never would participate in before.  He also started doing gym without an aide.  We have been trying to keep up with his sensory diet and getting to OT when we can.

And the biggest thing we have started …. T-ball!  We were super hesitant about starting it, but I wanted him to try it as he has been making so much progress.  We got him on a team with his two best buddies and a coach that I know.  The first practice was rough, but by the third he was fielding and batting.  He did amazing!!!  When he was younger, I never thought sports would be something he could do. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever see him doing this!  Games start next week, so we will see what happens.

Playdates this spring

Thomas has done a complete 180 from last spring.  I used to dread how playdates would go and now I don't even think twice about it.  There are many times when moms are telling me that their child wants to have a playdate with Thomas.  Last year they were asking their moms why he doesn't talk.  I can't explain how wonderful it feels.

Thomas had two playdates this week and for both of them he was SO excited.  When they got back to our house they just went off playing.  No running to mommy and no crying.  So this is what a good playdate looks like?  No wonder so many moms like having them!  Things are looking up!

He did it!!!! - gym part 5

He did it!!!!  Thomas participated in gym with all the other children!  No crying, no resistance, no holding the teacher's hand!  This is a super proud day for him and our family.  The speech therapist who has been helping him with gym sent me an email today to give me the good news and sent this priceless picture of him and his best buddy!  (He's in the blue)  Happy tears :)

Playground time

Thomas is completely in his element running around with the boys on the playground after preschool.  They run in a pack as superheros defending the world against bad guys with imaginary blasters, lasers, explosions, etc.  It is amazing to see him so carefree and talking up a storm with his friends.  Another thing I found to be interesting is that recently he started being the leader during play.  Telling others to "Follow him"  or "Go this way."  We always stay on the playground as long as we can after school.  As a walking district, we are so lucky to have this opportunity and it has been so instrumental in helping Thomas.  It is a great social and confidence booster for him!  I get to chat with the other moms and it also counts as play dates. Win! Win! Win!

Getting a feel for gym part 4

Thomas was really comfortable at gym today.  The speech therapist held his hand throughout gym and he felt confident participating with her by his side.  The fact that the SP is going out of her job description to help him is absolutely amazing and is just another reason why I love his school and he is prospering so much this year.

Getting a feel for gym-part 3

So we wanted to build on Thomas's success at the preschool Olympics, but there was a little set back today. From what I was told, Thomas seemed very nervous and scared to participate today in gym, so he only stayed a few minutes.  One step forward, two steps back.  We will keep working on it!

Preschool Olympics

Every year Thomas's school holds a Preschool Olympics event after their unit on nutrition and health.  It is a big event in the gym that parents and extended family can attend.  Since Thomas had been having trouble entering the gym for some time, his teacher and I had been brainstorming ideas to make him feel involved with this big event in the gym :(  The first goal was to get him comfortable entering the gym, which we worked on earlier this month and accomplished!  Thomas was not ready to participate in the games, so we came up with the idea of making him a score keeper.  He loved the idea and he helped make the scoring flip chart and practiced it with the speech teacher leading up to the event.  

Today was the big day.  The children had all decorated their own Olympic shirt and made torches.   They all marched into loud, booming Olympic music.  I was nervous, for Thomas, but I knew he was prepared for what was going to happen during the event.  The teachers really helped out and the speech therapist held his hand as they marched, and she sat with him while he kept score.  Again can't emphasize the importance of helpful staff.  He did amazing!!!  From not being able to enter the gym a few weeks ago to walking around a crowded gym with Olympic music, and smiling while keeping score!  At the end, when they announced his name for a medal he went up by himself to receive it.  Super proud of him as this was a very brave thing for him to do!  He was truly proud of himself and he felt like part of the team!  

This could have been a disaster, had the school and I not communicated and planned for how to help Thomas through this day.  This time last year, we couldn't even dream of this moment.  I have learned this year to always be my child's advocate.  If they WANT to do something that is challenging for them at school (or anywhere) and are scared, try to work with the school, coach, etc. to figure out how they can participate in a way that is comfortable for them.  So happy he was able to do this instead of avoiding it!  It is the victories like this that make all of Thomas's hard work and our diligent efforts absolutely worth it!!!!  Here he is being the score keeper and waiting to get his medal. (He's the one with the teacher's arm around him)

Getting a feel for the gym ... part 2

A few days later I came to school one morning and went in the gym with Thomas.  He did great!  At first he said he wanted to leave, but I pushed him a little.  I asked what made it scary, the smell, the bright lights, the noise and he said the noise.  We asked the gym teacher what the buzzing noises were and he told us it was the heater.  Thomas and I joked that if they turned it off the whole school would be freezing and need to wear their hats, etc (Humor really works with him.)  He thought this was funny, so then I walked him around the gym and we started looking at the pictures and stuff around the room, then he started galloping and eventually I said I bet you can't beat me to the other side of the gym and then he took off.  After that he was fine.  Running all over, throwing balls, etc.  I am hoping he remembers the experience and how fun it was.  Plus knowing what the buzzing sound is might help him too.  Who knows, but I am hoping!!  I am going to join him for a gym class or two 

Getting a feel for the gym

Thomas is really terrified of going in the school gym.  This has everything to do with sensory processing issues.  He would go in for a minute or two and want to leave.  The teacher said his body stiffens and she can feel his anxiety.  I sat down with the teacher and SP therapist last week to come up with a plan for getting him in there at a time other than gym class to get a feel for the space.  The speech therapist tried taking him and his buddy down there this week to play super heroes.  Thomas was super excited about this all the way down the hall, but when they got to the gym door he froze and refused to go in.  She called me later that day and after discussing it with her, we decided that I would come in one morning and try to work with him one on one in there.

School progress and goals for new year

Got some feedback from Thomas's preschool teacher about how great he is doing and we came up with some goals for the second part of school year.  Right now he is:

 Raising his hand (about 3-4 times a day on average)

Asking verbally to use the bathroom - just started doing this

He is standing for movement activities. He holds teacher's hand and takes prompting, 

He will verbally communicate with his peers during play time and center time when he is in a small group.  Teacher says she can sometimes hear his voice from across the room.

Goals for new year per teacher:

Calendar job:  just adding the verbal part to it by saying the numbers and the numbered day.

Standing for pledge on his own...he still seeks one of the teachers out, but he stands very relaxed. 

Participating in some way in Preschool Olympics in February in the Gym.

Transitioning back into the school environment

Thomas transitioned back to school pretty well after Christmas break.  Transitioning back into the school environment after a break is often difficult for SM children, but luckily we now know some strategies to help with this.  I spoke with his teacher and she said he has been doing great the past three days since they have been back.  He is raising his hand, playing with friends and answering questions asked by the teacher.  We had a few playdates over break to keep him seeing his friends from school, so I think that helped.

When it is really cold out or bad weather, the students wait in the hallway instead of on the playground and now that it is winter, Thomas is having trouble with this.  The hallway is crowded, chaotic and very loud -  a bad combination for his sensory defensiveness.  He does not like separating from me to go in on these days. I am trying to make sure to drop him off as late as possible to avoid long periods of time in the hallway.