I know

I read something just barely--that I needed to hear, that I will share in just a minute.  Lately, I've been thinking there is no way Eli will be ready for kindergarten next year.  Don't get me wrong, he is making a TON of improvements but he is starting from pretty much ground zero I feel like.  Every time we do his homework I just think, there is no way he will be doing this in a year because he doesn't understand most of it.  So I've been a little bummed when I would think about it.

Anyhow, before I continue..  Regarding my post about, "A Friend" the girl is still saving him a spot before class, during circle time & asking him to play during recess.  The other day we walked in & she gave him a big hug!  Her mom says she wants to do a play date & Eli is one of the reasons her daughter is excited about school!!  (Why do I worry?!)  FYI, Chad didn't agree with that last post.  Eli & friends is something Chad doesn't worry about with him.  And that last post was me just being a worrier, which most moms are good at--so I am sorry!

And another progress update: Eli is no good at sharing, anyone who has had their kid play with Eli knows this to be a FACT.  But today the therapist told me Eli did great playing with a few kids & a dollhouse.  A kid would ask for something Eli had & he would share it.  AMAZING.  I almost cried tears, my little boy is getting it.  Slowly but surely.

K back to what I read & needed to hear & wanted to share.

"..hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes."
                                                                                                        -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

I don't know what Eli's future is going to bring.  Maybe he will be ready for kindergarten next year, maybe not.  I think it's OK for me to hope that he will be ready & do all I can do to help make that happen.  But because I don't know, I need to remember the things I do know.

Random photo: 4th of July--Eli enjoying the fireworks.

And this is what I know:

1. Eli is a child of God.
2. Heavenly Father loves Eli more than I do.
3. Heavenly Father knows Eli better than I do.
4. Heavenly Father gave Eli this struggle for a purpose.  (And me this struggle for a purpose.)
5. I was given Eli to love, nurture, teach, & help him reach his potential--& am capable of this.
And last but not least.
6. Heavenly Father hears my prayers & answers them.  (Not always how I expect them to be answered---BUT because He loves me & Eli & has a plan for us, I know He knows best.)

I LOVE what I know.  It makes me not stress so much about the future, about things I can't do anything about right now.  We are getting Eli the help he needs & doing what we can for him.  Everything is going to be OK.  I LOVE IT.  Heavenly Father has our backs, if we just let Him.

Remind me of this post--if I get a little down. ;)

Goodnight.
Love,
Katie

A Friend

It warmed my heart to hear just last week that Eli has a friend.  Something that right now he doesn't have a lot of--in the sense of your typical 5 year old friend(s).  The therapist mentioned this to me as we were leaving school.  He said, "Eli has a friend.  She asked him to sit by her today."  He told me her name as well & that she's very nice to him.  And just this morning when I dropped Eli off at school, the teacher said to him, "You like to sit by _____, come sit here."  The same girl the therapist told me about.
It made me SO happy!  A little scared--I have no idea how long he can keep a friend & hope he doesn't ruin it.  (As bad as that sounds, it's true.)  But this girl must be a sweetheart and can see that he needs someone.  Who knows though... I am just happy he has a friend, even if it's for a short period.

In another sense--Eli has a lot of friends!!  He turned 5 August 23rd & although it causes me so much stress to throw a party, I did.  And Eli had a blast, making all the effort put into it worth it.
Everyone came & I was so worried no one would.  So we had a house full of  handsome little boys with a beautiful girl cousin to celebrate Eli's birthday!  I was going to post a pic of all the kids & their fun, but I didn't get permission from parents & didn't want to worry about that.  So you will have to believe me..

We stayed up late the night after his party--playing with all his new, fun toys!

One of Eli's cake--luckily it tasted better than it looked!

Always, gotta have a grandparent party :)

One happy birthday boy!

Although, friends may not be the easiest for him to make right now, with the progress he is making I believe it will get better in the future.  The hardest part for me, is knowing he wants to make friends.  Seeing the joy it brings him to have friends to run around with & getting excited to see his cousins--I know he wants those relationships.
When both therapists went to school with Eli the other day, when they came home to do therapy with Eli they told me about something they witnessed.  Two girls were just chatting away while Eli was sitting across from them during snack time & he would look from one girl to the other as they were talking & would smile like he knew what they were talking about.  Which I believe he did know what they were talking about, just for right now he is unable to join in.  And it hurts at times but I am slowly getting tougher.
I believe I will always worry for my little boy, but it's OK.  He will be made strong early on in life, with the hand he has been dealt.
Love him & even though he may have some setbacks he is still a blessed boy.

Love,
Katie  

Fire Truck

Summer is over & now he is off to school!  He started at Bravo Arts Academy August 15th & it is going well.  I once mentioned how Eli during preschool, when I would ask him, "what did you do at school today?"He would ALWAYS reply, "bus!"  Well, Monday after picking him up from school, I asked, "What did you do at school today?" And he said, "Firetruck!"  I just held my breath & crossed my fingers that in his backpack was proof of something of a firetruck.  Opened his backpack to find this:

Eli is showing improvement, quicker than I can post!  I was so happy that he could tell me what happened at school, if he chooses to do so.  At least for the most part.  Someday, hopefully I will get to hear about friends/girls & teachers!
But I am thrilled to see progress!

This is a short post, but I had to at least post so you knew we were alive and well!!
Thanks for reading.

Love,
Katie

Eli & his ABC's

It's been over a month since my last post.  But no one has complained--I think it's because it's summer. (Well, & I probably don't have a ton of readers--which is fine.  This blog is more for me to look back on & Eli someday.) I hope everyone is enjoying their summer as much as I am.  This is the quickest summer of my life & I can't believe it's mid-July.  I had to stop and take time to post, because even though the summer is going by quick--Eli is making progress that I wanted to take note of.

I tried to share a video once & I don't think anyone was able to watch it.  So I finally got a youtube account and posted my video online--hoping you will be able to view his progress! (I don't know any other way to share a video..)

Eli's therapist has been working like crazy with Eli & his ABC's.  When Eli left preschool he could identify only a couple of his alphabet.  So that was end of May when he graduated.  Eli right now is going to summer school, besides his therapy sessions.  And just this week when I picked Eli up from his preschool, his teacher said, "Eli is doing so well with his alphabet.  Even in random order, and he knows the hard ones like, W."  I was so pleased to hear this!!  Sometimes I wonder if he does things only for his therapist, so it is nice to hear him use the knowledge he is learning somewhere else!!

Here is a video of Eli practicing his ABC's:

Eli's YouTube Video


Hopefully, you can click the above line & it will take you to Eli's movie!  Let me know if it doesn't work..

Eli is talking SO much more.  He is putting sentences together & he is copying things he hears Chad & I say.  He is also learning to be more independent.  He is finally dressing himself.  And just two days ago he went potty without having to tell Chad & I that he was going!  Which is nice, so that he doesn't have an accident if he can't reach us.

You can tell Eli is so happy with his own progress--being able to communicate better & proud when he says or does new things.  It's crazy to think he has a therapist come 5 days a week, from 1:15-3:45 each day.  Poor guy--& some days it isn't easy on him.  But because of this ABA therapy, he is making this progress & one day he will be grateful for us pushing him so hard.

I am so happy Eli is able to continue learning, each day I am learning to be ok that it's at a different speed than most kids.  I am just so grateful that he is able to learn & keep progressing.  I love this boy SO much!  He is teaching me A LOT & helping me to be a better person, (although it's a very slow process & hope he can forgive me for my mistakes & impatience a long the way.)

Here's some pics from our latest vacation in Lava.  LOVED this trip & so did this boy!

He calls swimming, "swims!" 

Eli had SO much fun with his cousins!  We have a great family.

I have more I want to post--but should get started on my Monday.  Enjoy your week!

Love,
Katie

Bravo Arts Academy

I said I would let you know my new plan for Eli--& I would do it pretty soon.  First off, I shouldn't tell people what I am going to do, because usually the opposite happens unfortunately.  I was hoping to post before our vacation--but it never happened & I am gonna quickly let you know what we decided for Eli next year, right now. :)

First we were going to meet the teacher at Freedom Elementary for his life skills class, if we felt like it was a good fit--we would then sign the papers & that is where Eli would be going to school.  So we met the teacher--seemed like an awesome lady & I was feeling excited for Eli.  Well shortly after meeting the teacher, the lady in charge took us to the meeting room--me thinking we would be signing the papers--but instead she tells us that Eli would no longer be going to Freedom Elementary & instead Roy Elementary.  Which was the first bummer--although I am sure Roy would of been fine.  The BIGGEST DECISION CHANGER was that they weren't going to let Eli's ABA therapist go to school with him.

As soon as she said this, my mind was made up.  Because I already had the impression to give Eli another year to try and catch up--and Chad & I had a back up plan.

He will be 5, August 23.  So I am guessing the deadline for school is Sept 1st (correct me if I'm wrong), so Eli misses the deadline by a week!  My first hope was that they would let Eli do another year of preschool--but that wasn't even an option.  And in the IEP meeting (a meeting you can have each year if your kid has special needs) when I talked about letting Eli do another year of kindergarten--they first let me know it would be hard to make that happen BUT they think parents should make that decision with an emphasis on it being HARD to do.  :)

Oh my goodness--I hope I am not writing too late and this all makes sense when I am through!

So IF Eli would of went to Freedom Elementary this year--he would go to school ALL DAY Monday through Friday in life skills--then have his 15 hours a week of one on one therapy with his ABA instructor.  And I just thought of this little boy, barely 5 who still falls asleep in the car when I drive anywhere at 4PM--going to school all day & therapy on top of that each night.  His little brain being exhausted, tired, & never having time as a family or to himself.  So when the school wouldn't allow the therapist & I knew it'd be hard to hold him back if I ever wanted to--it felt SO RIGHT to take him out of the system this coming year.

We decided on Bravo Arts Academy in Washington Terrace.  He will be going to kindergarten there.  It's nice because in his preschool he had a lot of peers as examples & at Bravo it will be the same.  I like that.  It will be a small class & his therapist gets to join him!  Which I like cause I can ask the therapist how Eli is doing with the kids!  And his therapist will know what the teacher expects & can work on those things with Eli.  And I am sure his therapist can help determine how to help Eli with social skills.

Anyhow, I feel at peace with my decision.  Eli is coming a far way--he just graduated preschool & is going to summer school.  His therapist is working on Eli's alphabet & it's so nice to see him start to recognize letters & learn the alphabet song.  Just yesterday his therapist asked him out of ten letters, "what is this letter?"  And Eli said, "Y."  Then the therapist said, "point to the letter R."  And Eli pointed to the right letter.  I am THRILLED.

So that's the plan: Bravo Arts Academy--kindergarten.  Then I am sure they will test him again next year in the public system & my goal for him is Alternative K.  It's a step up from life skills.  Then I hope for him to be able to start going to 1st grade 2015.  It's nice to have goals.  I am going to shoot for the stars & hopefully be emotionally prepared if life deals me differently.  No I will be ready.

That was a short post, right?  Ha ha.  Night.  If you have any questions let me know!  Also, they are opening the program for 35 more kids with autism.  The ABA program that I seriously LOVE!!  If you know anyone that has a kid with autism--(I think they have to be 5 & under unfortunately, but I can check)--that would LOVE to have a chance for these services please let me know!

(Also, I am not mad at the school system.  I understand that the people really do want what's best for the individual child--but there's rules that need to be followed which is just part of life.)

Night
Katie

"Love you"

I have wanted to post about this for about a month now--but just haven't. I love documenting Eli's progress & know that looking back on this will be enjoyable in the long run.

I don't remember if I've posted about how BADLY I have wanted Eli to tell me, "I love you."  In case I haven't--this is something that I wanted very badly!  For my boy to tell me he loves me--with words. Don't worry I already knew he did--with his super big, long, cuddly hugs---thank goodness. But I knew I'd be super excited when he said it with words!!

In the past, right before leaving his bedroom for bedtime I'd say, "Eli say I."  Then he'd say, "I." I'd say, "love." And you get the point--I'd force my boy to say, "I love you" one word at a time with me encouraging each word! Ha ha--I am ridiculous. I just hoped one day it'd catch on. And trust me I've been doing this for WELL over a year.

So about a month ago, the first time he said it--I wasn't quite sure I heard him right. It was to his sister as he was leaving her room for her to go to bed. I may have said, "say I love you." And Eli said, "love you!" As he was walking out of her room. Because I wasn't sure I didn't make a big deal about it. Then the next morning as chad was walking out the door to leave to work, Eli says, "love you."  I was so excited--crying tears of joy!! Didn't matter that his first two times were directed to everyone else in the family but me--ha ha! But now he says it every night. I no longer have to ask him to say it. As I'm walking out and say, "I love you."  He replies, "love you."  Sweetest thing ever. And means the world to me. The other night as Chad finished putting him to bed--chad comes over and says, "you know it's not easy for Eli to say that."  As in Eli has to put a lot of thought into it & concentrate. And it's so true--with everything he is learning he has to put forward SO much effort & nothing in the learning category comes easy for him.  


I love that little boy & am so grateful for him putting those two words together for me. I hope he keeps trying to progress & puts forth the effort to learn new things and grow in ways that are hard for him.

I love you Eli!

We can all do hard things.  I need to try harder to do harder things :) Hope you all enjoyed your Memorial weekend.

With love,
Katie

P.S. I want to be posting soon about what we decided to do for Eli next year--its not Freedom Elementary any more!  I will post soon about our decision without putting it on FB.

Eli & his sentences!

Eli is now putting three words together for sentences!! I LOVE it!!  I know that it's because of his ABA training, the one on one help he gets for three hours a day.  Because they were working on, "I want...", he now says it ALL the time for things he wants.  Chad & I couldn't be happier.  Plus he started saying other sentences!  When he grabs a hold of Chads leg, he says, "I got leg!" And the other day he went to grab himself a fork, & as he was coming back to the table he said, "I got fork!"

Then just yesterday--we have the sweetest neighbors & Dale came over & brought Eli a package of Goldfish.  It was so cute, Eli couldn't be happier!  After giving Dale a hug & saying thanks he brought the package to me.  He first said, "I want fish!" Then he said, "I need help!"  To open the package.  I was stoked!  Usually when he asks for help, he will only say, "help!"  But I think he is starting to understand how to use more words for the things he needs.  I am in love.  Seriously.

He is making a lot of progress.  His teacher sent home a note saying that Eli sang the words to the song, "Pete the cod" & "I love my red shoes."  She said it was so cute & she wishes she could of recorded it! With his ABA training he is also learning, "If you're happy & you know it" & "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes."  I don't know how many times I have tried to get him to do "Head, Shoulders, Knees, & Toes" with me but to no avail.  And now he sings all the words--he isn't fast yet but he knows what to do!

I am so excited for Eli's future.  I feel bad when I share moments of discouragement, I am sorry.  Especially to those moms who have special needs kids, who aren't going to get better in different aspects of life such as physical or cognitive.  My heart goes out to moms of special needs kids.  It's crazy how everyone has a different trial & I hope whichever yours is, it only makes you stronger, resilient, & grateful for the life you have.  And if you don't have a trial right now, count your many blessings!

We just went on a trip to St. George & the kids had a blast!  It was funny because Chad & I came home exhausted--it made me remember the camping trips my parents took us on & it was really for us kids--not my mom & dad.  It's crazy what parents do for their little ones, to help them explore life, give them fond memories & hope with all their heart they grow up well.  Any--who-- here are some photos from the trip!

Swimming everyday--Eli did so well with his floaty's & would say, "swims!" for swimming.  I didn't have a fun picture of him but you get the point.  I think he is ready for swimming lessons this year...  Last time was awful.

Sand Hollow, rode the four wheeler.  It was hot, but at least he will wear his helmet!

Eli was a determined hiker.  So focused.  We were proud.  I think we need to teach him how to rock climb this summer.

There he was at the top!

Eli did so well crossing this path at the park--but after doing it once he didn't stop.  He kept going up the stairs to get to this path, then went down the slide--then back up the stairs.  I think it might be an autism thing--but this boy LOVES sticking to routine & what he is familiar with!

And I wanted to let people know--although Occupational Therapy wasn't for Eli at this time, I still believe it to be great for kids with autism.  But with his therapist leaving & them not having one for us until they hired someone else, plus ABA therapy giving him 15 hours a week, I just didn't feel it worth our time right now.

Hope you enjoy your Wednesday!

Love,
Katie