Once again, here I sit and we are already into February of the New Year and I am looking at this sad little blog and seeing how little I have posted!
My New Year's goal was to try to post something every week..then it changed to monthly..and well..well, who keeps New Year's goals anyways..?!!
Our little family is trotting along. Evan just got a palate expander placed into his mouth yesterday, and after trying to eat and realizing it was not going to be as easy as it should, said that "this palate expander is ruining my life!".
I accidentally blurted out "No, children do that!"
Yeah..I didn't mean it as a nasty comment, but of a certain truth that children will ruin us parents..but it is for our benefit that they do!
What we thought we all knew before they came was so much..and then realize that we actually know more about ourselves than we do about anything.
I guess it's the circle of life, ya'll..as we hold our little Lion cub's up in the air and see what they are made of...and at the same time..what exactly we parents are made of!!
This school year we also decided to get a tutor for Evan. It was an easy decision for us, due to it being his 1st grade teacher that is just brilliant at what she does. I can't tell you how fantastic she is and how much Evan absolutely loves her. On days I do homework with him, he says he wishes she was there..and admit I do too!
Another major milestone was he is moving from an IEP to a 504 plan, meaning he needs less help in the classroom. His issue is mainly with focus..focus..focus..! So we are moving along with fewer needs and hopefully, with tutoring, we'll get where we need to be over the next few years.
At the close of the meeting, the coordinator looked at me a little teary eyed and said, "I have to tell you that we are so proud of Evan and how much he's progressed! Very rarely do we get to see these kids move forward from needing and IEP, but it's so nice to see it when it happens."
I will take that comment..wrap it in a bow and give it over as an offering to God. It will be a milestone that he marked with his grace, because HE moved me here. I wish I could tell you that I did the work..but most of it was one prayer after another..one day moving forward, then back, then back farther..then slowly forward. (Although,I think I was mostly pushed like a stubborn mule, most of the time!)
I remember vividly how difficult it was when we moved here about 5+ years ago. We we staring down a diagnosis of high functioning autism and nothing was easy. Every time we dropped him off, we wondered if we'd get called to pick him up..everywhere..the gym, church. One Sunday, we sat in church and I remember very weakly singing the song, "You are a great God" and we would get to the part where we would sing "you are good, you are good, when there's nothing good in me..", and my heart would sink and I would think, "what good could possibly come out of this?" ..and "how can I think you are good, when I have to watch my child go through this?". There is no answer in those moments, folks..there are no words when you feel like your heart is being squeezed dry. You just keep singing..you just keep praying and you just keep searching for those moments when heaven can break through!
Life isn't all rainbows and sunshine these days (actually, it' serious snow and slush!)and we have our days. But, I'm praying for different things now. Something happens when you feel like your joy has been squandered in life..and now it's about taking back the ground I've lost.
Oh..and as to our dear Olivia..she is still our little star and she's taking kindergarten hostage!! I am humbled to watch her do things that Evan struggled with (still struggles with, somewhat!) at that age, with complete ease and without any hesitation. Sometimes I have to tell her that I'm proud of her in a whisper, because I don't want to make another pair of ears upset. It's just an odd place to be in as a parent, but we all have our strengths and weaknesses, I suppose.
Both children are revealing themselves to us. Scott and I are doing our best to lean in and listen and to try to catch what we can. Some of you know that parenting isn't for the weak..! No..as a matter of fact, it takes an insane amount of strength. More than we even know we have.
Perhaps it comes from our prayers, our tears and our moments of pure frustration..but it's strength that hides itself into "we'll do this better next time!"
Until we meet again on here..!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
My New Year's goal was to try to post something every week..then it changed to monthly..and well..well, who keeps New Year's goals anyways..?!!
Our little family is trotting along. Evan just got a palate expander placed into his mouth yesterday, and after trying to eat and realizing it was not going to be as easy as it should, said that "this palate expander is ruining my life!".
I accidentally blurted out "No, children do that!"
Yeah..I didn't mean it as a nasty comment, but of a certain truth that children will ruin us parents..but it is for our benefit that they do!
What we thought we all knew before they came was so much..and then realize that we actually know more about ourselves than we do about anything.
I guess it's the circle of life, ya'll..as we hold our little Lion cub's up in the air and see what they are made of...and at the same time..what exactly we parents are made of!!
This school year we also decided to get a tutor for Evan. It was an easy decision for us, due to it being his 1st grade teacher that is just brilliant at what she does. I can't tell you how fantastic she is and how much Evan absolutely loves her. On days I do homework with him, he says he wishes she was there..and admit I do too!
Another major milestone was he is moving from an IEP to a 504 plan, meaning he needs less help in the classroom. His issue is mainly with focus..focus..focus..! So we are moving along with fewer needs and hopefully, with tutoring, we'll get where we need to be over the next few years.
At the close of the meeting, the coordinator looked at me a little teary eyed and said, "I have to tell you that we are so proud of Evan and how much he's progressed! Very rarely do we get to see these kids move forward from needing and IEP, but it's so nice to see it when it happens."
I will take that comment..wrap it in a bow and give it over as an offering to God. It will be a milestone that he marked with his grace, because HE moved me here. I wish I could tell you that I did the work..but most of it was one prayer after another..one day moving forward, then back, then back farther..then slowly forward. (Although,I think I was mostly pushed like a stubborn mule, most of the time!)
I remember vividly how difficult it was when we moved here about 5+ years ago. We we staring down a diagnosis of high functioning autism and nothing was easy. Every time we dropped him off, we wondered if we'd get called to pick him up..everywhere..the gym, church. One Sunday, we sat in church and I remember very weakly singing the song, "You are a great God" and we would get to the part where we would sing "you are good, you are good, when there's nothing good in me..", and my heart would sink and I would think, "what good could possibly come out of this?" ..and "how can I think you are good, when I have to watch my child go through this?". There is no answer in those moments, folks..there are no words when you feel like your heart is being squeezed dry. You just keep singing..you just keep praying and you just keep searching for those moments when heaven can break through!
Life isn't all rainbows and sunshine these days (actually, it' serious snow and slush!)and we have our days. But, I'm praying for different things now. Something happens when you feel like your joy has been squandered in life..and now it's about taking back the ground I've lost.
Oh..and as to our dear Olivia..she is still our little star and she's taking kindergarten hostage!! I am humbled to watch her do things that Evan struggled with (still struggles with, somewhat!) at that age, with complete ease and without any hesitation. Sometimes I have to tell her that I'm proud of her in a whisper, because I don't want to make another pair of ears upset. It's just an odd place to be in as a parent, but we all have our strengths and weaknesses, I suppose.
Both children are revealing themselves to us. Scott and I are doing our best to lean in and listen and to try to catch what we can. Some of you know that parenting isn't for the weak..! No..as a matter of fact, it takes an insane amount of strength. More than we even know we have.
Perhaps it comes from our prayers, our tears and our moments of pure frustration..but it's strength that hides itself into "we'll do this better next time!"
Until we meet again on here..!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
So enjoying your blogs. We had our struggles, albeit it different from yours with several of our five kids. Our hearts understand and delight in the daily progress Evan is making. With God you will make it through the challenging and tough times, it will not be easy some days. But I always say the days can be long, but the years are short. Praying for you and if you ever need encouragement, give me a call. Tresa
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