And They Spread Their Wings

Yes, the little 'birds' spread their wings this past week and started preschool. Mama's nest is empty...not really...but the girls successfully flew into preschool and their fun-filled days!!!

It all started with a parent-day, where Josh and I went to school with the girls. So it was a rush of 20 3-year-olds and all of the parents of those tots, bustling around the preschool classrooms. It was certainly a busy place, but the girls thought it was the best thing ever! Are you kidding me, new toys...toys coming out of their ears...and a motor room with a slide/climber...and a sensory room with a sand table and art...jeeze, why would they ever want to leave?!?!?!? Nevertheless, it was a great start to their school years.

A couple of days later it was time for the girls to go WITHOUT mom and dad...gulp! Well, Logan could hardly contain herself while sitting in the truck waiting for the teachers to come and get her from the car seat...legs kicking, squealing voice, "My school!!!" And Leah sat patiently for Miss Kate to come and take her out of her car seat and all was great! Out she went, walked with Miss Kate and Riley into school, and the day was underway WITHOUT mom and dad! Fortunately, as Logan walked up to the school door, she turned around and yelled, "Bye Mama" and gave the the ILY (I love You) sign in sign language! Ugh, my babies are big girls!

All reports are positive! Leah loved doing puzzles, Logan continued to love the pretend kitchen! And all the kids love Riley! Go figure!

Spreading their wings isn't so bad...a few big gulps from mom (no tears, I did good) and knowing that this is what life should be for our girls!!!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow! Tomorrow!

That seems to be ringing in our ears all day...day in and day out...these September days! Why you may ask? We have two girls in Love with Annie! Yes, the 1982 musical! It's an absolute stitch! We've got the Hard Knocks Life going on and Sandy, the Dumb Dog! But, most precious is TOMORROW, TOMORROW!!!

But speaking of tomorrow, we've got big news about the real tomorrow, Tuesday! It's the first day of Preschool!!! Yes, our baby girls, ahem, our big girls are going to preschool!!! Leah and Logan will be heading out 2 half days per week and Leah will be accompanied by the one-and-only, Riley!

The preschool that we are sending the girls to have been so wonderful in supporting us in the decision to send Leah...and Logan! They have been accommodating of Leah's additional needs and supporting us in the use of Riley and a paraeducator...Ms. Kate...or Ms. Stewart, I've got to figure that one out!

I've got a great story already...We had a parent meeting where we introduced Riley to all of the parents of the children in Leah and Logan's class..to head off any concerns of allergies or fear of dogs in advance. None...thank goodness. Well a story came back to us via the lead teacher telling us that a little boy in her class was told that he was going to have a girl in his class named Leah and she had a service dog. Later that week, that little boy was explaining to his Grandpa that he is going to have a new friend at school, LEAH! Not the dog...just LEAH! See, Leah has already made a friend! That's why we are doing this! (You can cry now...I did!)

Anyway...here's a clip of TOMORROW, by the one, the proud, the beautiful, the nearly naked, Logan!!!!

No-Labor Labor Day

Yes, that's right...we've done nothing that would be included in the "work" category this weekend. We've taken full advantage of the Holiday weekend and the fact that we stayed home from the lake. Since the weather has been absolutely wonderful...and simply hot at times...we decided to do all of the 'vacation' things here at and around home.

It all started on Friday evening on a bit of a sad note when we had to say goodbye to our summer 'sister' Cassondra. Cassondra, or Sarama as the girls pronounced it, stayed with us for the majority of the summer helping with the girls, loving the girls and becoming part of our family. We really felt that we gained another daughter this summer. Nevertheless, we'll be having weekends with Sarama/daughter rather often in the weeks and months to come. But Friday evening before the sad goodbye was fun as we took the crew to Bravo! and out to Scoops for ice cream. A great summer celebration!

Saturday then started off with a question mark...what to do? Then daddy said, "Girls, do you want to go to popcorn?" That means the movie theatre. So daddy and mommy endured the summer blockbuster "Space Monkies"...did I say blockbuster? Ha, sorry, I meant summer bust! But it really doesn't matter what we thought as the girls really had quite a 'fab' time...and the popcorn was a hit as well! Saturday afternoon was a great one for naps...for all three ladies of the house...can I say YES???!!!! And the remainder of the day was outdoor play and bubbles!

Sunday...another labor-free day! Morning was filled with play-time and then off to the MSU Children's Gardens for fishy, froggies, and flowers! It was once again a hot day! But it is a-okay with all of us...but darn those allergies!

We're planning on Monday being a 'home-day'. BBQ for just our family and playing outside and maybe a bit of geocaching.

We feel so blessed to have these times together. Life has been such a rush-rush, go-go, worry-worry! I think with all of the talking with people and "discussions" I've had with myself and the Big Guy upstairs, I'm recognizing the need to take more and more time like weekends like these. Time to lay down with Logan at her nap and talk with her when she wakes up, sit with Leah and play in her bean bucket to simply pour beans on my floor and laugh about it :) or to actually pet Riley for more than 5 seconds! Life means a lot...a lot...and I get it!!! AMEN!!!

A 6 Hour Meeting

Yes, that's right. Josh and I sat through the longest, most difficult meeting we've ever had to. We were at Leah's IEP. For non-special education folks, that's an Individualized Educational Planning meeting. It's to plan her educational program, set goals and objectives for her school year to come...all as a TEAM! HMMMM, a team! Funny concept as we thought that we would have a role in this team and a say in our daughter's educational program. Nope! We heard a lot of "We hear the parents desires and preferences but what does the team decide?" Excuse me, Josh and I are a big part of this team...do our concerns for our daughter, our preferences for her education, therapy and experiences not count? Clearly not as the "team's" decision was not agreeable to us!

It all comes down to what was explained to us as providing Leah the "Cadillac versus the Buick". (Can you say Cha-Ching $$$$$$?????) The school is required to provide the basic of all basics...well that's what they are willing to do. But I'll be damned (excuse the language for our younger readers) if we take steps backward from all of the time that Leah has put in to her therapies in the past 2+ years. All because of their stupid requirement to provide bare bones "appropriate" education. Josh and I are also contending that they are limiting Leah by not allowing her to go to preschool with Logan for a LRE (least restrictive environment) experience. Thus, having her with normal developing peers as much as appropriate. Can you say "Twin" as a very appropriate peer to be at school with and that being at school with Logan is vital to her social and communicative development. Funny, but their staff gave their opinions based on other kids and other situations...not research...not Leah. Strange, but I had research to back up our position and I have 2+ years with Leah, day in and day out, and they wouldn't even hear us!!!!

So from here out, what to do??? Mediation? Due Process? Something...but which one???? We are not accepting that they wouldn't hear us as parents, the only people in the room that knew Leah. We do not accept the fact that they will not place Leah with Logan for Preschool. Give us a break...how can you deem this as not appropriate for Leah's development!?!?!?!

So sorry if this post was incoherent but this day has been one filled with tears, frustration with others, grieving once again, but rejoicing when we arrived home to see the girls in their princess dresses!!!! That's what this is all about!!! Fighting to make more and more strides...like princess dresses and froggies!!!!

New Friends

The Knight Family had visitors this weekend...The Thornburgs! Jen and David are friends from "Indy" and we had a great time. Jen was my roommate at State and we've tried to keep in touch and I say we've done a pretty good job of it!

The girls made great friends with Aunt Jen and Uncle Dave...or "Sweetie" as Logan called him! Both girls established fun little relationships and had a playful time. Jen and David also brought them other new friends...Build-A-Bear's!!!! Logan has named her Bear "Sandy"...I think she's named it from the dog from Annie!!! And Leah hasn't assigned a name to her pink and white fluff-ball!

I wanted to share this with all of you because it's a great stride for Leah! She's made a 'connection' with 'strangers' in a short period of time. No, she didn't bond with Jen and David and didn't hold a conversation with them. But Leah certainly didn't hide in a fetal position like she used to and she didn't scream in fear of people being in her space. She was her normal, happy-go-lucky Leah with people in her home and she was able to hug them for 'thank yous' and give kisses and hugs bye-bye with prompting! These are huge strides for a child with Autism! HUGE! We are making progress! Leah is becoming more social with therapy and with the help of family and friends! Amen!

PS - Down at the bottom I've posted a new video titled RESPECT. It's actually a PSA but it really makes one think! Just an FYI!