1. G's eardrum ruptured for the second time in two months. We went to the ENT th other day and though she has signs of infection and is now on ABX, the hearing test was good--showed some signs of lowered drum movement in the effected ear, but things are looking relatively okay. The amazing thing? G did AWESOME at the doctor. We opted for a new ENT (and a second opinion on the tubes) and she just did so well. It may be a combo of new place, new doc, and (ideally) her age, but whatever it is WE. WILL. TAKE. IT! This doctor thinks G's ears have grown enough since last summer that he can probably do tubes in the fall. We'll couple that with her AAI x-ray so she can be sedated when it happens.
2. DS picnic was this past weekend. We had a really great time. Danced the hokey-pokey, as well as that "Left foot, left stomp" song (you know the one?), and played carnival games. Took G a good 20 minutes to warm up, but once she did it was so much fun. It is such an incredible relief when she can participate and enjoy herself. (Unlike LAST weekend at the DS group ice cream social where she wailed.) The circumstances were different (the picnic was outdoors and not loud, whereas the opposite was true for the IC social), but let me just tell you....it can already be difficult when you are the family with a child who has special needs to get out and do much without feeling....observed...but when you are AT a DS function and your are STILL being "observed" (although I have to say, people tend to be MUCH more forgiving in the DS setting and a lot of it is most-likely my own insecurities raring their ugly little heads), but...it does make you feel ostracized. I would say at this point the social anxiety is G's biggest barrier. Not DS or any of the things that go along with that.
3. Georgia has been saying "I love you" with prompts. It's awesome. In this pic I caught her saying "you" and you can see that she is signing "I love you" as well. I honestly don't know if this was on purpose or not. Her signs are not usually done quite so well (her fine motor needs a little work), but heck...it's a perfect sign and we were saying "I love you" so I'll take it!
4. Have I told you that Rainer says "heedle deedle" for "here you go"? And then he proceeds to give me all sorts of specks from the carpet.
5. He also still quite loves his Tubby. Tubby is brought up and down to bed at nap and night time. He also gets fed, hugged, kissed, dressed in hats, and wrassled. Regularly. Tubby is seen here in the quintessential dangling-bear pose.
6.Alex brought home flowers the other day. I love them.
7. We have a date for our IEP team meeting. June 1st. Looking for a sitter for the kids. I think it bodes well that a representative from the inclusion classroom is going to be there. I am both excited about the prospect of a change of school for Georgia, and, of course, nervous. I really think this is right for her. I had a conference with her teacher last week and while I think there are pros and cons to most placements, I really think she will do well with typical peer models for speech and behavior. I have concerns which I will talk about at the IEP, but I really think Georgia can rise to this occasion. I also don't mean to discount this half a year of experience she has had in the self-contained classroom. She got experience on the bus, learning a routine, with new classmates and teachers. I really feel like we are fortunate in that her birthday falls in December. I will also admit that I will be sorry to give up morning bus service (they only offer drop off AFTER school), especially on those cold, wet, winter days, but really, the bus service has been an "extra" and most kids are dropped off at the pre-k level anyway, so I can certainly live with it. (It helps that Rainer can now walk and Georgia is walking WITH ME a lot better.)
8. The other day my friend RK posted some pics of her kids napping. I basically told her she was nuts and that I wouldn't risk waking up the kids since naps (at least from G) are rare. (Hi, RK!!) But then, that self-same day I had a hard time waking Georgia UP from her nap and I thought, "Hey! Look at that! I can take her picture!" She is a little pill bug when she sleeps.
9. This weekend is my first training session for the inclusive education advocacy program. I leave in a few hours. I am excited (I get to learn AND have a night away in a hotel with a friend)!
10. Georgia is going to take a four week swim class starting next weekend at the Y. I hope she does ok. With the crowd/noises. It's a class geared for kids with special needs taught by a friend who has a daughter with DS. Georgia really liked swimming last year so hopefully it will go well.
11. That's all I got.
