We're going to WDW! Adventures of a Mom & Toddler the TR! 9/24-9/30/2010 - Page 21 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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I truely appologize if the rest of our pictures and my final thoughts don't come for a couple of weeks, until after we return from Chicago. Skyler does start school very shortly (and more than likely next week) since his IEP Meeting is this Thursday. It felt so surreal walking to the office yesterday with Skyler to pick up the draft of his IEP for School after I took him to our Family Doctor for a School Check Up and to make sure we had everything we needed from her for Skyler to start school.
As I realize how possibly unrealistic I may have seemed about her last summer, I'm really happy she's trying to help us realize there was something wrong with Skyler, and all of her referrals for so many specialist doctors weren't for nothing. It has also been a blessing having her help us realize what kind of help we can get for Skyler's Autism instead of making us believe it's all Psychological, and doing nothing to help.
It is starting to hit me hard that after walking into where Skyler's going to go to school until our move, my baby is about to have his 1st day of school soon (I'm glad I went with the backpacks for our trip, so now he has a backpack for school and a lunch box to bring his snacks to school in), and I will be one of those tearful Mommies. It won't be like the days where I used to help walk my little brother to Preschool or go and pick him up, but my own child. Although I am trying to find a job while he's in school for 3 hours a day, I think I may see where there may be some Volunteer Work in his school, since it will be a great way to occupy my time while he's in school.
We'll be here when you come back so don't worry. And it's so hard watching your child grow up. My heart breaks for you knowing that I will be in your shoes sooner than I would like. I still can't believe Hope will be 2 years old in May!!! But, take lots of pictures so you can hold onto those school memories.
Thank you so much Melissa. It is hard seeing them grow up and go off on their own. Erick and I were in total agreement last night though I'm not letting Skyler ride the school bus quite yet, I certainly can't handle that yet.
Hard to believe you mention Hope turning 2 soon, as my twin Nephews turn 2 on April 5th. Time flies when you have kids. I will have to bring my camera to take pictures of Skyler's first day of school.
You may be in luck while we're in Chicago, I have just discovered today I can get on the Passporter Boards from my temporary phone, so you will be treated to some live updates while we're there!
Sounds like you had a nice last few days of your trip and nice visit with your mom. I'm looking forward to seeing the photos but no rush - not like you got nothing else going on.
I know what you mean about the kids growing up so fast. Just becareful if you do volunteer in Skyler's school. sometimes the kids act worse when their parent is around. I've been teaching Evan's Sunday school this year and every week I teach he rolls around on the floor and doesn't want to listen. When the other teacher teaches, she tells me he minds, listens and actually helps clean up the toys.
Holly thank you for the heads up on misbehaving children at school when Mommy is around(memories of my brother in Preschool when I volunteered in his school).
At least Skyler's class is small children wise, his teacher seems very nice, as does the Assistant Principal, and his school Speech Therapist. He's going to have a great time(I just need to learn to let go a little). Skyler's 1st Day of school is Next Wednesday. Besides getting ready for Chicago this weekend is certainly get everything ready for Skyler for School, and label clothing.
I know what you mean about the kids growing up so fast. Just becareful if you do volunteer in Skyler's school. sometimes the kids act worse when their parent is around. I've been teaching Evan's Sunday school this year and every week I teach he rolls around on the floor and doesn't want to listen. When the other teacher teaches, she tells me he minds, listens and actually helps clean up the toys.
SO SO true! At daycare Dylan is an angel and it's like a switch when we get out of the car back home. Everyone tells me that's a good thing, but it's really hard to cope with!
I am not looking forward to the first day of real school (we call daycare school now). :
SO SO true! At daycare Dylan is an angel and it's like a switch when we get out of the car back home. Everyone tells me that's a good thing, but it's really hard to cope with!
I am not looking forward to the first day of real school (we call daycare school now). :
Kelly, that's what I fear Skyler is going to be like at school, a complete Angel (I've already given his teacher and Vice Principal the heads up of some of her challenges with Skyler, like going for the computers in her room and there are 4 of them in there, and his sensory issue of not liking to keep his clothes on) and then him coming home and being a monster for me at home. Thank goodness School for Skyler is early in the morning and ends before noon. It's only 4 hour days for him 3 days a week. Besides this being Preschool, it's the real deal school, not Daycare, which is probably where I'm having a hard time with coming to grips that Skyler is going to school soon.
Sorry I didn't get an update in yesterday. We survived Skyler's IEP Meeting, and I'm happy although I couldn't pull more Speech Therapy time in school out of them than 60 minutes per week (originally they had it at 30, but doubled is still better) it went quite well and wasn't as difficult as I thought it was going to be (maybe because it's accomodations for a 3 year old, not a High Schooler).
We met Skyler's teacher, her assistant, the Vice Principal, and the School Speech Therapist whom all seem very nice. Skyler was having fun exploring all of the different areas in the class room and toys he'll get to play with while at school with DMIL, and even wanted to explore the play area outside of the class room despite it raining (thank goodness it's gated and there's a high wall, so Skyler can't really escape or go too far which nearly gave me a panic attack when I saw him head for that door and although DMIL went with him, I felt nervous that he might be able to wander outside by himself). Perhaps they have the Preschool classroom in that area just for that reason though that the kids can't go too far. Skyler even discovered a trampoline in the class room with a handle bar and had fun jumping on it (so far trampolines have been forbidden for Skyler by Erick as Erick's been afraid Skyler will get hurt on it). We also got to see the other play area for the Preschoolers which had a couple of Little Tykes cars, a slide, sand box, and a few other outdoor toys. Also DMIL & I also got a good laugh when Skyler's Teacher had informed us to bring in one of Erick or DFIL's old worn out shirts they don't care about anymore (neither Daddy nor Grandpa were with us so the teacher couldn't understand why we were laughing until we explained to her that they're both really big men over 6 feet tall and a lot of body mass and their shirts are night gowns on Skyler). We told her either of us would hunt though our shirts and pack one of ours for him which would probably fit much better and not be too long for him to use as a Paint Smock.
I had to go back to the school though as a few vital pieces of paper were missing when his teacher gave me copies of the IEP. There was supposed to be the class list of things that Skyler needs for school and a release form for me to sign to authorize the school to speak with Skyler's private Speech Therapist whom couldn't make the meeting since she was in her other office.
I had fun while Erick and DMIL were at work shopping for half of the items on the list for Skyler for school, although finding a big enough backpack for Skyler that he'd be willing to carry or pull was our scavanger hunt for the night. Apparently the backpack I bought Skyler for Disney isn't big enough for school, so he needed a new one. We finally after hunting at Toys R Us, Target, Walmart, headed to Kmart and found a rolling backpack, which Skyler actually pulled all the way from our parking spot to our front door by himself (I have to get him used to it). Erick had told me Skyler's backpack couldn't be to fru-fru (it's not, just a navy blue, black, and white or silver). Sadly all of the Cars or Toy Story backpacks we saw elsewhere were too small (same size as his other one) and we couldn't find the cool WWE Backpack we saw on Toys R Us' Website that said it was available in our closest store (for anyone who follows Wrestling like we do, Skyler was literally jumping on our bed on his rear end at the sight of John Cena and the Undertaker whom he used to be deathly scared of on the backpack). We did however find Skyler a Cars Lunchbox that fits perfectly in his backpack.
I bought him a couple of new outfits for school too, besides crayons, big boy underwear (Toy Story & Thomas), White Shirts, and 2 Mickey Mouse, and 2 Toy Story Sippy Cups to be kept at school for him. We're getting the rest tomorrow with DMIL since it's grocery day for us and our day to go to Sams for the remaining items. Erick didn't get the whole "Everything needs to be labeled with Skyler's name on it" thinking none of his clothes or personal belongings will get mixed up with the other kids things if they're not (we all know that's not the case). Skyler also needs a hair cut before his first day of school, as it's grown a lot since he last had it cut in November before his pictures with Santa Claus. Erick doesn't seem to think he needs one, but I would like to have his hair cut then especially since I want it looking nice and short when we head to Chicago (more on that in a few minutes).
A positive not to him starting school this week, is it will at least give me the time he's in school to take advantage of packing for our trip without Skyler unpacking our bags.
I'm even now more excited about our trip and I know my mom is too after talking to her last night. She informed me that one of her 5 sisters had scheduled a family photo shoot at JCPenney's for the 7 of them (including Grandma) and had asked my mom if she wanted her to schedule another session for my mom to be able to have a 4 Generations Photo Session for my Grandma, Mom, Skyler, and I and she asked her if she would. My mom is treating Skyler and I to our pictures. I'm so glad she's doing this for us, especially since it will be nice for us to have with my Grandma. The last time we were able to get a 4 Generations pictures taken of us, Skyler was 3 months old on his first trip to Florida as 3 of my Aunts and Grandma flew down to Florida and we extended the dates of our trip so they could meet Skyler as well as my mom. I love having those pictures, and it will be so nice to see how much he's grown since then in the new pictures. I think we're also going to have a 3 Generations shoot too of us with my mom, eventhough we have some with her from Disney, it will still be really nice to have. I can't wait to see how they all come out and I hope a few of my Aunts stick around after their Photo Session so maybe they can help us get Skyler to look at the camera.
Speaking of cameras, I have found my camera that has been MIA since January. I'm so glad it's shown up as I have my SIL's pictures from her Baby Shower on there and I need it for our trip. I was starting to feel a little frantic I was going to have to use my old camera which didn't take the best of pictures. Skyler has been busy hamming it up for the camera the past couple days and keeps handing me my camera case wanting me to take his picture(not always the case with him). I have to laugh every time I hear him say "Cheese" repeatedly until the flash goes off and the picture is taken and then he says "Great".
I should get to bed now. I just thought I'd update everyone and let you know how Skyler's meeting went and my baby is certainly off to school in an Elementary School next Wednesday (School days for him are Wed., Thurs., & Fri.). Time is going to fly.
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