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.