Busy December, catching up

I stayed quiet during most of the month of December on my blog b/c I just had a lot going on that I was processing, and wasn't ready to talk about, plus being busy, and sick.... 

I was so committed to homeschooling this year, I was organized, had my learning plan in place, more so than I have ever done.  I was ready, and committed to being a homeschooler, no more wishy washy, sending to school threats.  And then we made the decision to pull the boys out of their theraputic daycare, b/c we felt like having them home with us was the best decision.  And it has been good for the boys.  It was good for our family to be together, as a family, with all the DHS, fostering, adoption, moving and drama behind us.  The only problem was me.  It was all too much for me.  I enjoy having my children home with me all the time.  Spending time with them is not the problem, but finding the patience and time and quiet for me to teach them was too hard.  So, we decided they did need to be back in school.  I have not felt as good about that decision this time as I did last year.  I don't know why.  I think it is b/c I was really, really wanting to homeschool them this year.  I wanted to have everyone home together, but with a 1 and 2 yr old, therapy, high energy, special needs, this just isn't the season for me to be able to do both.  And that is hard for me to accept, b/c I want to be able to be all of that to all my children.  The kids were o.k. with it.  It is such a blessing that they do well being homeschooled or going to public school.  They transition well, and were o.k. with starting mid year.  We wanted to start them after Christmas break, but they got really excited, so we started them before Christmas break.  I think it was good for them to get their feet wet, and then have a 2 week break.   They got to go on a field trip already, and all have a Christmas party too.

Little Brother wanted to go with them, it looked like fun to him!

I was really nervous how Z would do with the big kids being gone, but he has adjusted just fine to that.  He is much calmer throughout the day, and it is great to be able to focus closely on behavior and teaching him.  And, during the boy's naptime, I have time to rest, or clean, and not have to stress about getting as much school in as possible during that time.

 So of course, with starting school, came sicknesses.  It happens everytime.  This time, it got me good.  I got sick with a respiratory infection, and it really got me down, and then the kids got the stomach bug that passed around everyone, and finally to me right after Christmas.  So, can you imagine how behind that got me on everything?  It really got me out of sorts.

Then we had the holidays that throws everyone for a loop, and did a number on an already destroyed house.  There was no order or structure, and lots of messes! 

Then, last Thursday, Z had surgery to get tubes in his ears, and adnoids removed.

 My mom and mother in law were sweet to help out by keeping 2 children so that I had time to devote to Z's recovery.  Not that he really needed to recover....he came out of that surgery raring to go.  Never acted like he was in pain, and had about double his normal energy level :)

 So, these events all lead up to today.  The big kids first day back to school.  I was sad to see them go, I enjoyed having them home for Christmas break without having the responsiblity of teaching them hanging over my head. I am just sad that over half our break was spent being sick. 

As you can imagine, with a child with FAS, all of the above mentioned can really throw him off.  He does well with structure and schedule, and we haven't been able to have any of that. To describe him, it is kinda like the fast forward button on the dvd player.  You hit it once, and it goes faster.  Then if you hit the button a couple of times, that would be Z's normal energy level.  Then bump it up to the highest speeds, and that is how it seems he runs when he is disregulated.  So fast and strong, mega energy all day long, with everything he does.   I am so thankful to good friends and therapist that let me talk to them about it. That I can say to them, "things are hard right now" and they give me pointers, listen, and just help me refresh myself to get back on track. It seems that sometimes, when  Z gets disregulated, I get disregulated too.  And then I forget all my knowledge, advice I give to others, and tools I have.  I "know" what I need to do to get him regulated again, but I just forget, or get tired, or can't get focused.  Just getting to talk it out yesterday, and be reminded of what I know helped a lot.  We got home from therapy, worked on a night schedule, and I got up focused this morning.  The difference between his energy level yesterday and today is huge.  It feels good to feel back in control, well as much as I can be....haha

 This tunnel was one of C's X-mas presents, and both boys love it!

I also want to add that I LOVE Sesame Street.  This is the only show that Z has ever shown any interest in.  I wondered why, and today a light bulb went off in my brain.  This show changes it up between puppets, people, cartoons, skits, music, singing, dancing, bright colors.  Perfect for a little brain that has trouble focusing and paying attention.  It is so easy for him to be drawn back into the program, or for me to redirect him by getting him interested in the music or dancing.  When you have a child that is never still, it is nice to find a program that you can look forward to everyday.  It is so educational too.  The Sesame Street people are geniuses in my opinion, no wonder it has been around longer than my lifetime.   Last night we had out one of his books with Elmo, and he was calling him by name, saying it so clearly, and trying to sing the "Elmo's World" song with me, it was so cute!

 No, he isn't wearing a leash backpack....well he kinda is.  I love this thing.  Z does well wearing weight.  It helps balance out some of his energy.  We don't have a weighted vest right now, so I took the leash off this monkey, filled his pocket with as many beans as I could, and now I have a secure weighted backpack for him to wear.  It works great.

 We are also working on transitioning C to a sippy cup.  B/c his liquids have to be as thick as pudding b/c of his aspiration, it has been hard to find a sippy cup that would work.  I got this one that was *gasp* $10 and had to cut a larger hole in it, but he seems to be adjusting to it fine. 

 One thing, which makes me so happy, is that he loves books.  That is one thing that is good at holding his attention, so we do a lot of book reading and looking at.  This is one I found at our library, and he looked at it more than any book he has ever had, so I was so excited when I stumbled upon it at Wally World last week.  He still loves it.



 This photo is one of my all time favorite pics of little C.  When he was born, he was an easy baby...if you were holding him.  Bless his heart, he didn't want to be put down at all.  That was perfectly fine though b/c there were lots of arms wanting to hold him.  He would only nap while being held too.  That was o.k. too.  Daddy C was driving a school bus at the time, and he would come home right about the time C was ready for a nap...so they would curl up together and nap.  It was absolutely precious, and I have this photo on my wall, and it makes me smile everytime.  It was great bonding time for him and daddy. 

well those days have come and gone, and this energetic boy doesn't like to fall asleep on anyone anymore.  He did today though, and it was just as sweet as ever.  I had to take their picture!