On IEP's and Therapy

Avery's preschool teacher has been basically "hinting" to me for the past week that the IEP meeting I have scheduled for Avery this Thursday is going to be tough for me.  She has told me on more than one occasion "I can't find a single thing to put on Avery's IEP as a goal" and "I don't know if he's going to qualify on Thursday, since speech is his only issue."  and also "He's a smart cookie! He knows everything! There's nothing on the 4 year curriculum that he needs to work on next year on his IEP"

What?!?!  Are they serious???  That's awful funny, because both his private therapists and I disagree with that!

He has social issues!  He wouldn't be in a social skills therapy group if he didn't have a problem socially with other children!  Even the preschool teacher has said that Avery will choose where I wants to play and with who he wants to play with.  He doesn't play WITH other children, but will play NEXT TO the other children.  But because he'll go over to the same play area with them there's no social issues?? 

Avery's private therapist has said she would write up a paper to say what goals they need to include on his IEP for social issues, but we all know the school doesn't HAVE to accept her evaluation.

Avery has a diagnosis of Apraxia.  But according to the school they don't accept any "diagnosis" until the kindergarten year.  So are they saying that because they won't accept the diagnosis they don't have to give Avery the therapy he needs on his IEP??  I don't think so!  "Speech isn't enough to qualify him"  No "Speech" isn't, but APRAXIA is!  His speech therapist at the school claims Avery is hitting sounds with "80-85% accuracy."  Which would means he's met his "IEP goal" because they're "goal" is 80%.  Except the fact that that is completely UNTRUE!  The way they have worded it makes it seem that he's met his goals.  In reality yes he does make certain sounds with 80-85% accuracy in a face to face therapy setting.  In spontaneous speech and in more than 2-3 word sentances that drops DRAMATICALLY!


And I don't know how to argue anything they say because I don't know what they are going to say!!  They sent home a "draft" of Avery's IEP for me to review before the meeting.  But what they sent me is the same exact IEP I have from last years IEP meeting!  I can't bring "proof" or any evidence to back what I'm saying if I don't know what proof or evidence I'm going to need!

Grr I'm so frustrated and feeling totally unprepared for his IEP meeting thursday.

Not enough hours in the day!

There just never seems to be enough hours in the day!  The boys are supposed to be in bed.  I say that in italics because I can hear them talking and their bed creaking so I know they aren't sleeping and it's 11pm on a school night! UGH!

My niece has been in the PICU for just over 2 weeks now.  It's to long of a story to get into, but my sister asked me to start a blog to keep everyone informed so if you haven't been keeping up with that blog you can read about the situation (from the begining) here...

Hailey's Healing Blog

Because of this I've spent a couple hours every other day at the hospital with my sister and my brother in law and niece.  Add in the hours upon hours I spend at therapy with my 4 year old every week and the typical daily household chores and my other 3 boys and I'm getting burnt out quick.  The house is suffering the boys are complaining because they want to go to the park or do something else and I just don't have the time to take them.  I need more hours in the day!

Avery has started a social skills class now also on Monday nights.  Because of the time of the social skills class I hit traffic both ways and I end up gone for almost 4 hours for a 1 hour class for him.

I think I'm totally due for a vacation!

Andrew flipped himself out of his swing tonight.  He's now at the point where he needs to be strapped into everything because he just flips and rolls and wiggles.  I can't believe I'm about to have to start baby proofing again!  He's getting so big so fast!

Austin is acting out and I'm sure it's an attention thing with him.  Not sure how to handle that either.

I think I'm just gonna end this blog entry before it gets into a pity party!  It's just been one of those nights I guess.

Ultimate Blog Party 2011

Well Hello There!!

Welcome to my "hiding spot"!  Please close the door behind you and make sure not to let any kids in here!  This is MY area!  I sit in here and whisper so no one can find me.

My name is Heather and I'm a 30 year old mom to 4 boys.  Aidan is 9, Austin is 7, Avery is 4 and Andrew is 4 months.  All boys. All A names.

My 4 year old has speech apraxia, sensory integration, and social anxiety.  His therapists go back and forth on whether he has an aspergers diagnosis or not.  It will probably be a while before we truly know or not.  Right now I spend a lot of my life at his therapies.  He also attends a special needs preschool 4 days a week in the mornings.

Andrew was born in November and spent almost 2 weeks in the NICU.  Although he was born "on time" according to my dates, the NICU team thought he was closer to 35-36 weeks and his lungs were not ready.  He was on a ventilator for a while, then moved to a CPAP, then finally to nothing.  It was a scary time for me.  And it was absolute torture leaving him at the hospital when I was discharged.  We made it though and now he's growing like a weed and doing so well.  Just today he rolled from back to belly!

I participated last year in the UBP and couldn't wait to participate again this year!  I LOVE meeting new people and especially new mom bloggers!

Grab a cup of coffee and stick around!  I've been a slacker at posting lately, but I promise that will change!