Reflections

2019 is upon us!

Aiden--and our entire family--are thriving!  

Sometimes CHANGE is GOOD.  The new School District has been a great gift to our family. All 4 boys are in school this year, and doing well.  Aiden's needs are being MET.  For the first time, we had an incredible IEP meeting.  The principal was there, and Aiden was "in charge".  He actually ran the meeting!  I was so impressed, and I continue to be impressed with how well they have made up for the fact that Aiden missed 4th grade material!  Aiden is now SUCCEEDING in school.  He gets 100% on spelling tests (previously 1-2 correct) because they have taken it to HIS LEVEL.  No division or complex math programs--just multiplication.  I remember last year I actually had to stop the math lessons and give them to the teacher.  They were just too complex.  We also had to skip spelling lists.  He could recognize how the word was spelled correctly, but he couldn't spell it on paper himself.  It is a shock to me how much he has grown this year, and I couldn't be more grateful that the pressure is NOT ON ME for once. 

If you want a killer workout or a meal plan, I can nail that for you, but I'm not a special education teacher.  I'm so grateful for the people who are!  A special "thank you" needs to go out to Aiden's mentor Joy, who came into our lives exactly when we needed her.  She goes above and beyond for Aiden.  Two days a week, this beautiful woman of God takes Aiden after school to do homework, read, and socialize with a fellow classmate that also has autism.  There is no doubt in my mind that Heavenly Father had a hand in this!  It turns out, this other student is also Aiden's new classmate, and they have become good friends!

This is the first year in a decade where I feel I can breathe a little, and even have moments of boredom!  What in the world is THAT?! 

Even though our new home is a temporary one, we are thriving here, and happy.  It will be very challenging to move again next year, but I will go where our Heavenly Father wants us to go!  

Meals on Wheels 2018!

Back to School

Summer 2018-

*Move #3 in 1 year

*Reading/Caption Underpants/Dog Man

*Tutoring/horseback riding 

*PASSED level 2 swimming this summer!

*A Chinese student makes us a family of 7

We are ready for a fresh start back to school!

We were all set to homeschool Aiden again this year, then ARISE Virtual Learning decided that Aiden was going to skip 4th-grade material and go right to 5th DESPITE doing THIRD-grade curriculum last year.  

Absolutely not.

We are now in a new school district with our move, and I met with the Special Ed director and Assistant Principal.  I explained that Aiden needed 1:1 help for math, writing, and reading, and he didn't do grade level work last year.  They assured me they could meet Aiden's needs.  Honestly, I've fought so hard for this kiddo for 10 years...I was ready to give this to someone else.

I'm burnt out. 

Last year was a challenge on so many levels, and I'm grateful to be able to give myself some much earned/needed "time back".  I now have 4 hours for just ME every day.  For the first time in a decade, I have plenty of time to cook, clean, workout, and REST.

I just pray this is what is best for Aiden.   

Aiden continues to receive tutoring 2 days a week after school.  He has a wonderful teacher named Joy who is a gift and a blessing.  She came into our lives just when we needed her.

Our Heavenly Father loves and looks after His children!

First Day of School 2018

Waiting for the bus...impatiently

Neuropsychology

In a continued attempt to support Aiden's growth, the doctor ordered a neuropsychology consult.  

The results were tough to hear.  

After 2 and a half hours of testing, the doctor concluded that Aiden has a "mild cognitive delay" related to anoxia (lack of oxygen) at childbirth.  His medical opinion is that Aiden's struggle to learn and process information is not related to autism, but cognitive delay.  

The 2 are a different diagnosis.  

"Cognitive delay" is the updated medical term for mentally re....I won't even write it.

While these words keep running through my head, I still don't quite agree or believe them.  What we did agree on, Aiden is a visual learner and needs a lot more time to process information.  I was told by the autism specialist that IQ tests are not accurate for autism (Aiden's was below average a year ago).  This man was NOT an autism specialist.  

The positive from this?  Documenting our journey with EVERYTHING has provided Aiden all the services he needs to succeed along the way.  The 3 years of autism therapy wouldn't have happened if I wasn't diligent about seeking help and keeping the documentation.  This new "information" however I take it, will help Aiden receive the support he needs in school.  It was confirmed that Aiden is 2 years behind.  We WILL catch up!  He is a kind, sweet, good-natured kid and he is smart!

Personally, I think Aiden is going to surprise us all one day, and that isn't because I'm his mom.  I just feel it.  There is something beautiful about his spirit that is going to affect many lives for good, and what more can a mother ask for than that?!

ARISE

ARISE Virtual Learning was best for Aiden, but for Mom, it has been tough....

The Pros:

*Aiden was able to complete assignments at his level and in his time.  

*We were able to repeat 3rd grade because of ARISE (a closed door without a fight through the "traditional" school).

*We were blessed to have horseback riding lessons on Thursdays in the Spring and Fall through our former neighbor.

*I had 1 morning a week to spend with just Avery (my 3-year-old) while Aiden worked with an instructor.  We went to the library together :)

*We had 2 tutors who helped me with the constant 1:1 instruction.

*Aiden was able to return to the school of our choice to complete art class with friends.

The Cons:

*I feel burnt out from getting in and out of the van 8-12 times a day (ARISE 2 days a week, Art 2 days a week, karate 1-2 days a week, Scouts on Wednesdays).

*I struggle with patience, and that doesn't lend well to 1:1 instruction for 2+ hours a day.  You have to redirect Aiden often to get him to complete the tasks he is given.  

*I long for a time when I have more than an hour to myself each day.  I love my children, but working 14 hours a day is a lot for anyone (even workaholics like me!)

Ultimately, we decided to keep Aiden in ARISE for 4th grade (technically 5th) because it is what is best for HIM.  What is best for ME?  

A vacation!

OHI

A year later, Aiden qualifies for OHI--other health impairment!

Is that a good thing?

Last year at Aiden's IEP meeting, we met with the psychologist (and other members of his "team") to see if Aiden qualified for more help at school.

He didn't.  

I walked away from that meeting knowing that Aiden needed more support than he was going to get.  After an hour outlying Aiden's weaknesses, they STILL didn't feel Aiden qualified for an "educational diagnosis" (OHI).  

THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I PULLED HIM OUT OF SCHOOL.

This year, after 2.5 hours + 2 additional hours with the psychologist (and a whole lot of paperwork), he qualifies!  It helps to have a new, PROACTIVE team on Aiden's side!

Why am I excited about a new "diagnosis"?  Because, I want Aiden to return to school, and when he does, he will need 1:1 support to help him learn.  I know that because I am currently his teacher, and I have 2 other women helping me teach my son. Lessons are so tough.  We are a year behind, and the information is still so challenging for him.  Aiden is reading independently at a 1st grade level (technically in 4th grade).  He struggles with spelling words correctly (although he recognizes when they are spelled right), and he can't put information together to answer a question (math is so tough).  Putting him in 4th grade was NOT the right answer, and I'm so grateful I listened to my heart and found a different way to teach him.  

The school said "no".  I said, "then I will find another way!"  And I did!  

 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

1 Nephi 3:7

Spectracell

When your blood test for nutritional deficiencies presents red flags, you dig a little deeper and do a cellular lab test (or at least, that is what this Dietitian did).  

Just like a finger prick for blood sugar testing, a blood test for nutritional deficiencies can only tell you what is happening in the blood at that moment.  Akin to an A1c for diabetes (which tests the blood sugar over 3 months), Spectracell does cellular testing of micronutrients to measure the bodies stores.  

The test results indicated that Aiden is unable to produce components the body uses to maintain normal cell function such as CoQ10 and glutathione.  Given Aiden's food intake, this wasn't a shock, but it is very disappointing.  What is knowledge when you can't do anything to change the outcome?

I believe in food first, and supplements only when needed.  It was so hard to find a multivitamin that Aiden would take and didn't have chemicals I didn't want him to ingest every day.  Now I have to figure out how to bypass supplements I don't have faith in.  First stop, increase the fat and amino acids he gets daily in hopes that he can create a healthier balance in his body on his own.

Whole milk and a few more desserts for Aiden!  I'm sure he won't mind!

Age 10

Aiden's first "real" haircut since his diagnosis in 2011.  He did so great!  

GOODBYE 2017!

A 30+hour drive, a snowstorm in the mountains, puke, a fever and 4 kids in a rental...what a holiday!

We are back safely from our holiday trip to Utah and back at reality after the holidays.  Last year was a little too much on so many levels--

*Building a business from the ground up

*Starting homeschool for the first time

*1/2 marathon training

*TWO moves

*TWO new business certifications

*Weekly business meetings

*Nutrition presentations

*9 PM filming of workout programs

Needless to say, I'm grateful to have a fresh start in 2018, and ready to change it up and let some things GO!  We are currently pondering and praying about what is next for our family of 6.  Avery is potty training well, and we are entering a new stage of life.  Aiden is going to be TEN, which means we have been parents now for an entire DECADE.

Homeschooling is a success and the right move for Aiden.  I'm finally feeling like I can handle it now that I've taken my business down a step.  We are blessed to have a GREAT support system set up for him.  

Repeating 3rd grade was inspired and necessary.  I hope we can keep this success up with our pending move to a new home.  Aiden needs consistency and support, and that is what he is getting....for now.

Cheers for new beginnings in 2018!