It has been a while.

I have been having a lot of trouble getting to my blog. Not sure what I am doing wrong but I am sure it is me and nothing else. But I manage to get here so I decided to update whoever still looks at my blog. Nathan finished school and we have been having a fun summer. We went to Texas for a family reunion and my great aunt's 100th birthday. We also got to see Uncle Shawn and Aunt Khristy and their nice new house with a nice pool that we enjoyed swimming in. We have been going to see the Travelers play baseball and always have a fun time there and of course we have been going to Magic Springs a lot and are definitely having fun. But if there was not a water park I am not sure I would be going. It has been one HOT HOT summer so far.

Nathan does start a new school in August and we feel very good about it. His class will be smaller and they do the STARS program which is for Autistic children and he did it in the transition class and did real well.

So that is an update in a nutshell. I will try to keep everyone updated better. I hope everyone is having a great summer.

Spring has definitely Sprung

Spring has definitely sprung and it has been gorgeous these past few weeks. We did have some rain a week or so ago but the shorts and sandals have officially been pulled out and are now the wardrobe we are wearing. I am just hoping that this does not mean we will have a hotter summer than last year. Last year we had a day of 115 degrees so I can't imagine any hotter than that. We had a very very mild winter and Nathan was not out for any bad weather so there were no snow days so that means school gets out on May 25. We are very excited about this because normally school does not get out until the second week of June.

Really not much new has been going on since I last blogged. We did have Nathan's parent/teacher conference and he is doing good but he is having some struggles. He does not like to read and is behind grade level on reading. He has improved since the last nine weeks and that is good but his main problem is comprehension. He really struggles when he has a test asking what a story is about. We are not sure if that part of his brain just has not developed and will develop later or it that just comes with the autism. So we are a little concerned about 2nd grade next year and if he will be able to handle it. So I have been trying to find short stories with questions to work of his comprehension. The State took over Nathan's district last year and got rid of the school board. Since they have taken over I have not been able to see any improvements. They are starting to make cuts and the rumor I had is they are going to cut Paraprofessionals and get rid of all of them. Of course Nathan has a Para and we do not think he can make it through the school day without one so this really concerns us. If they do remove all the Paras we will probably have to take Nathan out of Sylvan Hills and look at another school. I am trying not to worry about it and am trying to turn it over to God and put it is his hands. I figure God has taken care of him since day one and I know he is not going to stop now. So we are taking it one day at a time and we will have to just see what happens.

Well I guess that is enough for now. I hope everyone has a wonderful week and a wonderful Easter.

Already 2012

Well here we are already well started in January of the new year. It is so hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone for another year. We had a great Christmas and a great Christmas break. I really enjoy having Nathan home and I am already wanting Summer to get here, but I know it will get here fast. We went to the State Capitol and saw the lights one night during the break. We always go each year and Nathan always likes seeing the lights and walking around inside the capitol looking at the big Christmas tree they have each year. We had Christmas dinner at Memaw and Granddad's and had a good time and opened gifts. There was also a train exhibit at the local library that we went to see and Nathan really enjoyed that also. Time is just flying by and it is hard to believe that we have started another year.

It is also report card time again and once again Nathan made all A's. Donald and I are so proud of him and he is doing so well. We also LOVE his teacher because she is so good and it really patient with Nathan. I am already thinking about next year and what teacher would be the best for Nathan. I have talked with a few people and they keep telling me the same teacher so I am going to try my best to get Nathan in her class. Also if Nathan needs a paraprofessional(which we think he will)the para that is with him this year said she would probably go with him next year. We would love that because Nathan really does like her.

Nathan lost another tooth over the break and we did not even know that he had a loose tooth. Donald noticed that he had a new hole. I found the tooth on the floor and told Nathan that we would have to put it under his pillow so the tooth fairy could come and leave him some money. So Nathan told me that Ms. Susan was going to come.(Ms. Susan is our dental hygienist). So I guess he figured it was his tooth and Ms. Susan took care of his teeth so she had to be the tooth fairy.

Well I think this pretty much updates everyone. I hope everyone had a great holiday season and hope the new year is starting out great.

Holiday Fun

I can't believe how time is flying by. Just two weeks and Nathan goes on Christmas break and it just seems like we got done with Thanksgiving. We had a very nice Thanksgiving. Of course my family was here and Donald's mom was here and Shawn and his family so we had about 15 here at our house for Thanksgiving. Now we are trying to get ready for Christmas I have done some of my shopping and still have a little left. MeMaw has surgery on her shoulder Tuesday. Those of you that know my mom know she can handle a lot of pain but she is so ready to get her shoulder fixed she has been in some pain for some time. We are having our annual ornament exchange party Sat. so I am really hoping the mother gets out of the hospital in time and will be able to be at the party. We got Nathan's interim report from school and he has got A's again. So Donald and I are very pleased with how well he is doing. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Happy Veteran's Day

I hope everyone has had a wonderful Veteran's Day so far. Today was gorgeous here. Donald was off so we went to lunch and had a nice day. Today at Nathan's school they had an awards assembly. I went and saw Nathan get his awards. He got three awards, Principal Honor Roll(which is all A's), Perfect Attendance, Citizenship Honor Roll. We are so so proud of him he has done so good. He does have a wonderful teacher and we are so glad. It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only two weeks away. Then Christmas will be here before we know it. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween. Happy Birthday to Donald. Today is Donald's birthday. He always said it was a great day to have a birthday because he got gifts and also candy. We did trunk or treat last night at church. Nathan had fun but did not care about the candy. He did say trick or treat to a few people but he had more fun just jumping around and having fun.

Nathan gets his report card today. We know he got straight A's and we are so proud of him. There will probably be a awards ceremony in the next couple of weeks. Nathan did not miss any days at school. So he will probably get a couple of awards.

We went to Magic Springs(the theme park we go to in the summer). In Oct. they do Magic Screams, where they have haunted houses and people dress up. We had a good time. There was a creepy clown that kept looking at Nathan and got real close to him. Nathan was not sure about him. We did have fun and went ahead and got our season passes for next summer. So now we are ready for them to open again in April.

I guess that updates everyone I hope everyone has a wonderful Halloween.

Fall Fun

Well it finally feels like Fall and I am loving it. We went to the pumpkin patch today and it was a gorgeous day to go. Rachel went with us and got a pumpkin in the pumpkin patch. We had a fun day.

The first nine weeks of school is done and it is hard to believe. Time has gone by fast. Nathan is doing so well in school he has A's and we are very pleased and proud of him. I think he is now getting it and it is clicking. He just had a lost look at the end of last year so I think Donald and I made the best decision about having him repeat first grade.

I went with my mom, her friend and my friend for an overnight trip to Northwest Arkansas for some craft shopping. We had a great time shopping and good eating. We met John, Donald's cousin, for dinner on Friday night and had a good visit.

It is hard to believe that Halloween is in a few weeks. There is going to be trunk of treat at church on Sunday night the 30th so that is probably all the trick or treating we will do. Since Halloween is on a week night and Nathan has a schedule for week nights we will probably not go trick or treating. Nathan won't care and he does not care about the candy he just wants to walk around and look at the lights.

I guess that updates everyone. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

The Birthday Party

Yesterday we had Nathan's birthday party. Once again we had it at Jump Zone, which is such an awesome place to have birthday parties. There were 8 kids including Nathan and that was a good amount. Nathan did have fun he always likes to play at the Jump Zone going down the slides. It took him a while to start sliding because he was watching one of the games you pay for that had lights and circles going around, so he liked watching that and then Donald finally got him to go down a slide and after the first time he started playing. There was one time that he was following a little boy, who was not even in our group and he was sliding with him. I don't know what about this little boy attracted Nathan but he played with him for a while. Today is Memaw's birthday so we went over there and gave her some birthday cards. Nathan's birthday is actually on Tuesday the 13th so I am planning on taking a package of Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip Cookies to school to share with the class. I figure that is his favorite and he does not like cake and it will be a lot easier and not messy.

Nathan is still doing good in school. He had one bad day and it really was not a day, I was standing out in the hall to pick him up school was over and something upset him and I had to go into his class and get him. He threw his folder and hit his teacher. I felt so bad and was upset. I really apologized to his teacher the next day and she said it was fine. I am sure she understands because she always has kids that are from the transition class in her class. But sometimes things set him off and we don't know why and he won't tell us what it is. Donald said that he might not even know himself it might just be a feeling he gets that he does not like. But I am thankful that he is not worse off than he is, I always know there is someone out there worse off than me. I guess that updates everyone. I hope everyone has a wonderful week. Tomorrow at school is Grandparents day so Memaw and I are going to have lunch with Nathan tomorrow.

Back to School

Well the summer is over and Nathan went back to school today and now we have to get back on the school routine. Nathan did fine going to his class and sitting in his chair. He was thinking he was going to go to Ms. Penney's(his transition teacher)and was pointing to where her class is. But I told him the he might see Ms. Penney sometime during the day but he had a new teacher. I think he will do fine. We did go to open house Friday night and she seemed real nice. So I am hoping that his first day goes real well.

I had a wonderful birthday. Aunt Trish and Uncle Terry came down Friday night because my Dad decided it was the right time for him to be baptized. This of course was a thrill for all of us. My Dad just turned 77. Of course Aunt Trish is the best Aunt ever and so wonderful words can't even describe her. She had a lot to do with him making up his mind, since she had been writing and communicating with him for a long time. Thanks again Aunt Trish you are the best and I love you so much. That was the best birthday present ever. They went back to Oklahoma yesterday after a wonderful birthday lunch.

We did decide to continue having Nathan go to Occupational Therapy over the school year after school. He will be going on Tuesdays at 4. He only gets an hour at school and he will get another hour after school so we figure it definitely can't hurt. He really does like the therapist that he had over the summer and I know will like seeing her during the school year. I guess that is about all the news. Just keep Nathan in your prayers that he does great this year at school and adjusts well. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Very Successful Dentist Visit

Yeah! Nathan had a very successful trip to the dentist today. He actually laid down on the seat for the very first time and let Susan, the best dental hygienist, clean his teeth. Thanks to Stacy, an awesome OT, who was there to help. I was so happy and proud of him because that is a big deal for him and this is the first time that Susan has actually been able to do anything to his teeth besides just counting them. He even opened his mouth and let Dr. Dacus look at his teeth. Stacy told me that now that he has had a good experience he will probably not have a problem next time because he will remember what she did. So another worry off my mind.

This is the last week of summer break and I am starting to get a little more nervous about Nathan starting school. I know he will do good and that Ms. Penney, his teacher from last year, will check on him. Open house is Friday night and we get to meet his teacher and see his classroom. It is just so hard to believe that Summer break is almost over it has gone by so fast but we did have a fun one. Well I guess that is about it I just wanted to update everyone on the dentist visit.

Tax Free Weekend

Yeah! Arkansas finally decided to do a tax free weekend mainly for back to school stuff. But it does include shoes and clothes and a lot of other stuff. We went to the shoe store this morning and got Nathan some new shoes for school. Then we went and bought all of his school supplies so we are ready for school to start. Nathan has one more week of summer break then school starts. Next Friday is the open house at school. I am still a little nervous about him being in a regular class all day but I know he will do fine it will just be a change for him and me.

He has been going to Occupational Therapy this summer twice a week and she has been really working with him on his sensory issues. I posted a couple of pictures of him one with a little smiley on his face and one with a fish. It is real big for Nathan to let his OT paint on his face. I was proud of him because that is good for him. He will get OT at school but he does not get a lot(just one hour a week)so we think we are going to keep taking him to the same therapist after school probably once a week during the school year also. They think it will be beneficial for him and so do we. We have good insurance that covers 50 visits a year. So in Jan. his 50 visits will start again.

Nathan goes to the dentist on Tuesday. He has never really had a successful trip, she has been able to just look in his mouth and count his teeth. The OT that has the clinic that we take Nathan to offered to go with me. She said she has gone with other kids that have had trouble. She has a service dog, Omari and took him the other times. I don't know if she will bring Omari or not but I know she will be able to help. She is so wonderful and the best, it is her gift being an OT for kids. I will let everyone know how his trip goes. Just keep us in mind on Tuesday and maybe say a little prayer for us.

Well I guess that updates everyone. I will probably post pictures of the first day of school.

It is HOT HOT HOT

It is hard to believe that there are only 5 weeks until school starts. Where has the summer break gone? We have been pretty busy and it has been so hot. I am thankful for air conditioning in the car and house. We have gone to Magic Springs a lot and have had great fun. Nathan is going to occupational therapy twice a week. He really likes his therapist. Nathan has started taking 15mg of his medicine. And it has been a battle on getting him to take it. I have tried to sprinkle it in his breakfast drink and when we increased the dose I guess it had more little round things inside the capsule and Nathan would say his drink was gritty and he did not like it. Well one day he refused to drink his instant breakfast so he did not take his meds.(which was not a huge deal since he would be with me all day)but I knew once school started he had to take it. Well after a big battle one morning Donald told me to go get a pill and we held him down and pretty much forced it down him(awful sounding I know but had to be done). Donald took off last week and with both of us we managed to get him to swallow his pill. Well this morning Donald was gone riding his bike so I was really dreading trying to get him to take his medicine. So when he got up and came downstairs he sat on the couch and I told him to open his mouth real wide and I put the pill it his mouth and gave him some water and after a few drinks he finally swallowed the pill. So I know it will be so much easier giving him his medicine from now on. I was so realieved and just went on and on about how proud I was of him and how happy he had made me. So that is one worry off my mind.

Other than going to Magic Springs and therapy we did have VBS a couple of weeks ago. Our church and two other churches alternate having VBS at their church. This year was our year so I was a helper. I helped with Nathan's age group so they were all good. Other than the outside recreation play time I was OK. But it was very HOT playing outside. But it was a very good VBS. Donald is planning on riding in a 100 mile bike ride in Wichita Falls the end of August. It is the Hotter than Hell ride and is really a big deal. He rode in it a couple of years ago. One of his friends who rides with him is planning on going with him this time. So I know that will make it a more enjoyable trip because he won't be by himself. Well I guess that updates everyone. I hope everyone tries to stay cool.

One more thing. Memaw had surgery a week ago. She had hernia surgery and had 3 hernias repaired. The Dr. was able to do it laproscopic so she is doing great. She is already driving and we even went shopping at Kohl's today. For those of you that know Memaw know it takes a lot to keep her down. I have posted a few cute pictures for your enjoyment.

Yeah! Summer Break

Yeah summer break has officially begun. Nathan's last day of school was Thursday and Friday we went to Magic Springs and spent the day then went to the Arkansas Travelers baseball game that night. So we had a fun filled first day of summer break. We are planning on going to Magic Springs tomorrow and go back next week. Nathan starts his occupational therapy next week. Then VBS is the next week and I am helping with Nathan's age. Of course the summer break will fly by since Nathan will only be out for 9 weeks and then he starts back to school on August 15. I am feeling good about next year. I talked to one of the paraprofessionals that was in Nathan's class and she said her daughter had Mrs. Bailey(the teacher Nathan will have next year)and she said she was wonderful and her daughter learned a lot. She also was a para in her room for a year. So I feel good about next year. I am a little nervous about Nathan having to be in a regular class all day but I know everyone up there knows what is best for him. We did have a appointment with his Dr. about his meds. His teacher said that he noticed that he had a hard time staying in his chair and the meds seem to be out of his system by 2:00 and school does not get out until 3:10. So his Dr. upped the mg. to 15. So he will start taking 15 mg. after this bottle is done. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

It feels like Summer

It already feels like summer. We just skipped right over the 70 and 80 degree temps and jumped right to the 90s. They are saying next week it might get to 100. But that is Arkansas weather. But I am ready for summer and warm weather. We went to Magic Springs last Saturday and had a great day. We are planning on going there as much as we can because we always have a great time. There are 4 more days of school left, I am so ready for it to be over for the summer. They were supposed to get out of the 1st but because of all the snow days they go until the 9th. But they are not doing much now just trying to get ready for the end. I did find out today that the Assistant Principle is retiring. I really really like her and the school is going to really miss her. She said that she had to take care of some of the kids and Nathan was one of those by making sure he got in a good class next year. His teacher will be a different teacher than the regular 1st grade teacher he had this year which I kind of wanted him to have her again. But the Assistant Principle told me that the teacher he will have always has some of the transition kids in her class and works real well with them. She said the teacher is very structured and very routine. Which is what Nathan likes he likes to know what is going to happen and the order of things. There is also going to be a paraprofessional(aide)in his class and Nathan met her last week. The best part is she made sure Payton(Nathan's friend from Kindergarten last year)is going to be in his class. Payton repeated Kindergarten this year is a regular class he was in the transition Kindergarten class with Nathan last year and they became friends. So I feel better about next year. I took a few pictures of Nathan and Rachel today.
I guess I have rambled enough so I will stop for now. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

School is almost out for summer

There is officially a little less than 3 weeks of school left, Nathan gets out on June 9th. We are very excited about starting our summer break. And we had a conference at school and Nathan is going to repeat 1st grade and be in a regular 1st grade class all day with an paraprofessional(aide)in the classroom. I was a little sad that he is going to repeat 1st grade but Donald and I don't want to push him and make him more behind and we don't feel that he is ready for 2nd grade. He can read and write but not up to grade level. He does good in adding and subtracting but can't understand the word problems on the math worksheets. I was a little surprised that they had word problems in 1st grade but they do. And they should be able to read small chapter books by the end of 1st grade and Nathan is not there. So I am ok with him repeating because I know it is best for him and he will not mind or even know that he is repeating. His writing is awful so he can use a small keyboard called an Alpha Smart for his work and to use for writing. He can also do tests and work orally and have them transcribed for him. He is also going to go to the resource class(special ed)for 30 minutes a day next year just to work on writing. He did test out of Physical Therapy and will not have PT next year. He will still have Speech and Occupational Therapy. He is also going to get Occupational Therapy this summer just like he did last summer. So I guess that is it he is going to be in 1st grade next year.

I posted some pictures of Nathan doing one of his favorite things watching Daddy mow. He loves to watch him mow and decided to help with the blowing. So now Daddy lets him walk next to him while he mows. Cheap entertainment.

We are planning on doing about the same as we did last summer. Spend a lot of time at Magic Springs and in July we are planning on taking a trip to New Mexico to visit Uncle Robert and Aunt Becca. So we are looking forward to that trip. Then school starts again on August 15th.

Well I guess that updates everyone on what is happening here. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

First Arkansas Travelers Baseball game

We went to our first Travs baseball game of the season last night. Memaw still has her season passes and awesome seats so Memaw went with us. We always have a lot of fun at the games. It has been rainy all night and pretty much all day and it is supposed to rain tomorrow also. We have had a lot of rain and a lot of tornadoes more than usual. So hopefully the weather will get better and we will start having nice sunny days. It is hard to believe that there are only about 5 weeks left of school. We are really looking forward to summer and going to Magic Springs again this summer. Our big trip we have planned this summer is to go to New Mexico and visit Uncle Robert and Aunt Becca and Aiden and Ethan. We are planning that trip in July. We are planning on going to Texas and pick up Memaw Hullett so she can take the trip with us. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to everyone. I hope everyone has had a good day. We had a nice service at church and then we ate lunch at Memaw and Granddad's. We colored some Easter eggs yesterday and Nathan hunted them in the backyard. It has been a beautiful day. Donald wanted Nathan to wear a button down shirt and tie this morning. Nathan does not like button down shirts for some reason and did not want to put it on so that was a battle I did not pick and Nathan picked his shirt out and he still looked cute. There is a book fair at Nathan's school this week so I might go help a few days. I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

School fundraiser night at McDonald's

Last night was Sylvan Hills elementary night at McDonald's. It was from 5 until 9. So guess where we ate for dinner. Memaw and Granddad met us there and ate dinner with us. It was fun, Ronald McDonald was there and there were some of the teachers working in the kitchen and the Assistant Principal was walking around the restaurant. Nathan was not scared of Ronald(which kind of surprised me)they took a picture of him with Ronald and he kept looking at him like he was really trying to figure him out. He did good though and let them get a picture. They took Benchmark tests(state required tests)at school on Monday and Tuesday. Nathan could take his test orally he would give the answer to the teacher and she would fill in the little bubble. Last year he filled or tried to fill in the little bubble himself and it was not too successful so this year he had someone else do it. One of the teachers told me Tuesday that he did good. The weather is going to be gorgeous this weekend and looks like next week. I sent Nathan to school in shorts for the first time this year and put his shorts in the drawer and took out his long pants. So hopefully the warm weather is here to stay. I guess we will see if Donald goes to work on Monday. If the government closes then he will probably not go to work Monday. Pray that if it does close they get things straightened out soon and it will not be closed for long. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Happy April Fools Day

I am not sure if that is what you say about April Fools Day but it sounded good to me. I hope everyone had a good day. I had a good day. Donald was off so we went to breakfast then we went to Nathan's school for an awards assembly and Nathan got two awards and then we went to the Military Museum in Jacksonville and then went to lunch. So I had a very nice day. Nathan got two awards one for Citizenship and one for Perfect Attendance. They have increased the time in regular 1st grade class and Nathan has started going to the regular class for 4 hours a day. His teacher said he is doing real well. I am trying not to worry about what the next 9 weeks will bring about Nathan staying in 1st grade or moving on to 2nd grade. Well I guess that updates everyone. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Spring Break

Well Spring Break is coming to an end. We have had a very good Spring Break. We went to Texas for a few days and just did some stuff around here. So we have had a good Spring Break.

We had a conference with Nathan's teachers before Spring Break and we were told that Nathan might need to repeat the 1st grade next year. He will be in a regular 1st grade class all day with a paraproffesional. That was really not what I was expecting to hear and it made me sad. But what they are going to do is increase his time in the regular 1st grade class to 4 hours a day. They want to see how he will be in the regular class that long and are going to try to make him more independent doing some things. So after this 9 weeks we will see where he is and if they feel like he is ready to move up. Donald and I definitely do not want to push him into 2nd grade if he is not ready and we really trust his teachers and feel that they know what is best for him. The 1st grade class he is in now, the Transition class, does not do all that the regular 1st grade does so that is one reason they are going to increase his time in the regular class. He also has a hard time with his fine motor skills and his writing is awful. We are planning on getting him Occupational Therapy this summer again and we are going to ask them to really work with him on his writing. I really don't know why it is hard for me about him repeating 1st grade because we have always known he is delayed and behind his peers and will always struggle in school. So we will see what happens in this 9 weeks. I am just praying that God directs us to make the right decision. It is kind of scary and it is a challenge but I know we can make it because God has always taken care of us and Nathan and I know he will continue to do so.

We did have a good visit at Texas. We got to visit with Memaw Hullett and got to see Aunt Janice, Uncle Norman and Aunt Dorothy. We also got to see my sweet great Aunt Billie. She will be 99 in a few months and still lives on her own and looked good. Well I guess that updates everyone on what is happening here.