You have tape. Well, I have scissors!!

Today is the second day that public schools are in session here.  Spencer is still home.  I left a message on Friday, the 6th with the special ed department even though they were closed.  I then called back at 10:30 yesterday morning and left another message.  I didn't really think that they would have his placement, but I wanted to talk to a human being.  I needed to know that they received the IEP and psychological evaluation (from Georgia) that I faxed to them on December 21 (the day before they closed for the holiday period).  I was starting to panic.  Where do I turn?  You're right if you answered: Facebook.

My husband often makes fun of my social networking, but it has become an incredibly useful tool for me. I wouldn't have found Brain Balance if not for Facebook.  I wouldn't have gotten help in Georgia, had I not turned to my FB friends.  And they came through for me again yesterday.  After posting about the trouble I was having, a friend (who I haven't seen or talked to in almost 20 years) gets me a name and a contact number. (Many thanks, Robin J.!!)  I talked to a person!! She not only had Spencer's most recent IEP form Georgia, she apprised me of the current situation.  So, I feel better.  My district school does not have space for him in the first grade autistic class (teacher to student ratio is limited to 1:2). So, a teacher needs to be assigned to the school, or he needs to attend another school in the vicinity.  I really hate red tape.

On another note, I got an invoice from the apartment in Georgia.  They are refunding me my deposit.  Say what?  I was expecting to have to pay.  Spencer grab a slat of the blind and pull it toward him to look outside.  Since they were cheap metal blinds, they bent when he did this.  ALL of my blinds were horribly bent due to him doing this.  I'm not complaining, but they are not charging me for them.  They charged me when I moved from one apartment to another because he bent one set before we could switch blinds.  I'll take it.  

That's it.  Laundry is calling.  Will blog again soon.  I'm trying to do better this year!!

The Nekkid Werewoof

For a while now we have been dealing with Spencer's unwillingness to wear clothes around the house.  JUST around the house.  He is fine when we are out in public and when he is at school (thank goodness!), so I know that it is not a sensory issue.  I'm pretty sure he does it just to drive me insane.  We have tried trying to make him wear just his undies, but as soon as you get them on him, he pulls them off. We've tried tying wearing clothes to getting to play.  You get the toy if you put on your underwear.  He puts on his underwear until he gets the toy.  Once he has the toy, you guessed it, he drops trough.  At this point, I have run out of ideas.  He doesn't do this ANYWHERE else!!!  (Okay, Tammy, you were the one exception!!) Just at home (or wherever 'home' may be).  I will tell him that he will get to keep the toy if he keeps his underwear on.  He isn't buying that one.  

I have noticed an increase in his flexibility.  You should see the stuff he can do with an exercise ball!  He is ready for a spot with the Cirque du Soleil. Unfortunately, he likes to howl like a wolf (which Peyton used to pronounce as woof) while doing his various acrobatics.  You have to laugh. Thus, he has earned a new nickname- the nekkid werewoof.  

I've had a few people criticize me for not being 'serious' enough.  (I thank them for not doing this publicly)  I have to face adversity with a laugh.  I've done the crying, stressing, denial and depression thing.  It just made my eyes red, my anxiety increase, my kid's special needs and my family neglected.  I'd rather have laugh lines than frown lines.  Trust me, this attitude is a much healthier one for the whole family, but Spencer in particular.  I stand behind everything I've done and said.  People are more willing to listen (and learn) when you temper it with humor.  I'd like to think that I have not only entertained you, but taught you something as well.  Dang, we're getting deep here- time to lighten it back up!!

I'm ready for Spencer to go back to school, so we can establish some kind of routine.  He has had a very long time off since Fayette County got off of school on December 15 and Jefferson Parish doesn't go back to school until January 9.  I think he is ready, as well.  He loves school.  We will be doing some videos soon (fully clothed, ind you!) to update everyone on his progress!

"Humor is the instinct for taking pain playfully." -  Max Eastman

Happy New Year!!

I haven't written for a while.  (It seems like I start ALL of my blogs that way now.) But, things have been CRAZY.  Spence and I had an emotional few days after my last blog post saying goodbye to some truly incredible people in Georgia.  Then we packed up the apartment and with the help of my husband moved back home one week before Christmas.  So, I am trying to unpack, shop (which didn't happen), spend time with the family I haven't seen in months, reorganize items that were misplaced when the entire house was painted...oh and not lose my mind! 

It is now January 3 and I am finally getting a moment to breathe.  Here is a brief overview of what is going on these days:

On one of my first days back, I called the school system to inquire about registration for Spencer.  I was transferred three times and finally was told that I needed to go to the school to get a packet.  I then called the school and was told to pick up a registration packet and then I could return it on the first day of school (January 9).  No problem.  Right?  Wrong.  While I am there, the secretary tells me that I need to contact special education services on January 6 to ensure that Spence will be able to attend the district school, as they are at their capacity in the special ed room and a new teacher would need to be assigned if there are no students leaving.  Oh, and the office may not even be open on the 6th.  I may need to wait until the 9th to find out.  For those of you who are unaware of this, public schools in Jefferson Parish wear uniforms.  So, I can't even buy his uniforms since I don't know where he will be going to school.  I really should be freaking out around now, but I'm not.

I still haven't completely unpacked, there are boxes everywhere.  I need to take down my Christmas decorations and put up my Mardi Gras ones.  Despite my best efforts, I still have not caught up on the laundry.  And you know what, I don't care.  I am so happy to be home and my boys are so happy that Spence and I are home that no one even mentions the clutter.  Of course, once the kids are back in school (Pey starts tomorrow), I plan on having everything completed.  

You would think that resolutions would be the furthest thing from my mind.  But, instead they are at the forefront of my mind.  Instead of the usual: lose weight, become more organized and  take more control of Spencer's recovery, I have decided to make one blanket resolution for the family- We are adopting a healthier lifestyle.  While Spencer and I were on track in Georgia, I would often cheat when I was stressed out.  Fast food is bad.  Fast food several days in a row is worse.  Fast food scarfed down in the car between appointments is horrendous.  My new mantra is moderation.  Easy to say when I live in the mecca of excess.  I am also relinquishing some control of Spencer's recovery and getting the entire family involved.  Everyone will have a stake and enjoy the rewards and the milestones we reach.  And we will continue to reach milestones.