But I’m on the computer.  It’s a bad habit.  I know I’m not the only one, either.  Tell me, who procrastinates whilst packing?

Anyway, it’s time for our annual trip westward.  Okay, just California, but still.  We kind of make it a big deal.  Because it kind of is.  This time o’ year Emma and I head out to California to visit The Great Dr. Borchert of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.  We love him.  Why?  Because he’s number one at what he does.  ANd what he does is research about optic nerve hypoplasia.  Quite awhile ago, Emma was supposed to be in his study.  His study is (in a few words) to try and find any patterns or origins of this disease (which, by the way, is the leading cause of blindness in children).  Anyway, she couldn’t be a part of his study because of paperwork mix-up. It was sucky.  BUT, he was awesome enough to see her anyway, free of charge, because we were already in L.A.  Well, fast forward 4 years and here we are.  Emma and I have now made it our trip…no boys allowed!  (actually, it’s just cheaper this way) and we totally make a vacay out of it.

Plans this time?  Sailing in San Diego (more on that later) and Disneyland, of course.  It’s our place.  This girl can’t wait.  Her favorite ride?  Thunder Mountain.  No joke, my girl is a thrill seeker! We shall have a blast, like we always do.  And to tell you the truth, I don’t think this trip could come at a better time.  This school situation is so stressful right now, just trying to make sure she’s happy and content and loving school like she always has been.  Apparently easier said than done.  Right now, though, we’re working on getting her more time in with her resource teacher, and less time in the general classroom setting.  Sad, but true.  This is what she needs.  And I need less meltdowns at home.  But, the story isn’t over.  When these situations come up, I am always thinking about it.  Always.  Trying to find consistencies or patterns to her behavior.  Searching for clues to make her job (and her aide and therapists and teachers jobs) easier.  It becomes my number one priority and stays in that number one spot until an answer has been found.  It’s kind of exhausting.

Anyhoo.  Back to our fun trip.  So tomorrow Emma and I will head out in the morning.  She, with her latest Tinkerbell movie.  And I, with my latest book on iPod and latest songs downloaded.  We will take our typical stops…Quartzite for gas and Subway, Cabazon for the cleanest bathrooms ever (and maybe shopping. maybe), and Winchester Farms for that farmer’s market produce that I love.  We can’t wait to see family and friends out there.  Oh, and the ocean.  You know she’s a beach rat, right?

Westward Ho!

My blurry Tink last year in front of Thunder Mountain

This weather is getting a bit ridiculous.  Really.  This weekend was still in the 100′s.  And I mean like 104-105*.  Not fun.  So after Mason helped Daddy with the reseeding of the grass (or whatever you call it), they had a nice outdoor shower.  Check out my ham for a son!

Yeah, I apologize for my absence.  Or maybe you didn’t notice- I shouldn’t be presumptuous!  Anyway, last week was kind of long.  With peaks and valleys.  On Monday, it was my birthday.  Yes, I’m 33 now.  Brett says it’s still considered early 30′s.  Whew!  We had a BBQ with friends last weekend, and then on Monday Brett and I went out to dinner.  It was great fun!  Thursday, however, I hit my valley when we had a meeting with Emma’s Team (a.k.a. Team Emma).  Well, what they said honestly came as a surprise to me.  I wasn’t expecting it.  Because Emma was doing better at home.  But now?  Not only is she (still) aggressive towards other kids (which is so not Emma), but she’s not progressing academically.  Cognitively.  Not at all.  When you’re not expecting to hear that, it kind of feels like a punch in the gut.  Like I seriously had a hard time breathing.  Because I wasn’t expecting it.  It’s one thing if you’re expecting the news.  Which, in retrospect, is kind of shocking.  I mean, I’m pretty much on my A Game all the time with her.  Pretty observant, and in the know.  Notsomuch.

So what do you do in that situation?  Well, if you’re me, you have a pretty rotten day where you bite your lip for most of it.  You go through “why Emma?” and “why me?” spells sporadically.  You cherish the time at work so your mind stays preoccupied.  You trudge through your workout, pouring out all your energy into it.  And you pause on the food consumption for the day.  You also email the resource teacher for clarification and questions.

And Friday?  You put on your big girl panties, damnit, and get to work. Fortunately, I’ve learned to feel sorry for myself for very short periods of time.  And then I just figure out what I need to do and get to it.  Unfortunately, at this point, there’s not much I can do.  The good news?  The resource teacher and I want the same things for Emma.  Basically, more time with her aide, and more time in the resource room.  It’s become apparent that Emma gets too frustrated in the general ed setting.  Therefore she acts out, becomes disruptive, and can be a bully.  So, let’s take her out of that situation.  Right now we’re on hold, waiting for the psychologist to get back with her schedule so we can set up an IEP meeting to revise it.  As it seems, no one will have to be bowing down because we’re all on the same page.

I’ll keep you posted on when the IEP meeting occurs.  At this point I’m just ready to get the ball rolling.  When it comes to Emma and what she needs, I can become impatient.  I’m not going to sit around for too long.

Onward and Upward!

I should’ve known.  Of course this would happen.  Emma was doing so well…and then CRASH!  It all came tumbling down.  Not listening in class.  Unable to focus.  BULLYING!!  What?  My sweet girl?  I am always afraid she’ll be the target of bullying.  Not the perpetrator.

At this point I’m really not sure what it is.  But I have written an email to her team.  And the special ed teacher wants to meet in person to discuss her behavior. <punch in gut>

So, at this point we’re waiting to meet.  And I am halfway through the book 123 Magic, by Thomas W. Phelan, PhD.  I actually heard him speak at the MAGIC Convention in ’09.  And I bought 2 books.  And then they sat on my shelf.  No more, though.  A fresh highlighter and motivation to change behaviors in hand, I’m reading through that baby.

I’ll tell you how it goes.  For now, though, I’m feeling deflated.

One way to beat the heat in the Arizona Desert?  Ice Skating.  It was a welcome relief from the suffocating heat outside.  We had never taken the kids skating before, but it was something we wanted to do, and Emma really wanted to do.  So we did. Ohmygosh did we have fun!  Okay, I was sore and Brett was sore.  Our feet killed us (those skates suck. sorry) and our backs were hurting but it was sooo worth it!  The kids had a blast!  Grandma and Grandpa came along to witness the adventure, and cousins Cheryl and Patrick helped us out on the ice.  Okay, Cheryl was just trying to keep upright herself, but Patrick-who is an amazing ice hockey goalie- helped out the littler ones. <thank you!>  Enjoy these pictures!

These girls were READY!

Not as sure as his big sis

Tips from Cousin Patrick

Getting help from Daddy!

And he's off!

Okay, I’m certain we’re past the roughest part and on our way up.  Emma had a wonderful week last week.  Every day was a good day.  Do you know how nice that is to hear?  And at home she’s been improving as well.  The temper tantrums are fewer and less extreme.  She’s recently been able to calm herself down by saying, “Look, Mom, I’m taking a deep breath” followed by said deep breath.  It’s nice to see she’s finding and using her own coping mechanisms.  Of course these deep breaths come after I threaten to cancel whatever (fun) plans we have if she doesn’t ix-nay the aforementioned tantrum.  It’s a cycle. But she’s learning.  The “earning of rewards” is helping.  She’s recognizing actions and consequences. Phew.  I can only hope this continues and that her first grade is a wonderful year.  She’s surrounded by people who truly care about her, and I couldn’t ask for anything more in the world.

How is your child coping with the beginning of the year?

Last week I took Emma to her first gymnastics class.  It was a trial class, just to see if she liked it.  Who am I kidding?  She has gymnastics in her blood.  My dad was 4th in the nation in rings…you know, back in the day.  My mom was in gymnastics in college too.  I took gymnastics as well.  Unfortunately my career was short-lived as the gym was “too far away”.  Still not completely over that. Can you tell?

Anywhoo.  Emma is mad strong.  Her upper body strength amazes her physical therapist.  I think two things.  A) it’s in her blood.  B) she developed quite the upper body strength when she spent 10 weeks in a half-body (spica) cast recovering from hip dysplasia.  By the end of her 10 weeks she was standing and walking in the cast and it had to be repaired.  But from that little girl in a half-body cast  to an able-bodied girl who participates in ballet and gymnastics, she’s come a long way!

2-7-07, right before her 3rd birthday

I asked the instructor how she did in class.  Of course I watched her the whole time, but I wanted to hear what the instructor thought.  She thought that Emma might be better-suited for the special needs gymnastics class.  Kind of a punch in the guy.  BUT  this class is one-on-one with a gymnastics coach.  And the instructor did say that it was very possible Emma would be able to “graduate” from the special needs class to join a typical gymnastics class.  So at this point, I’m thinking this “special needs” gymnastics class is really just a one-on-one session with an instructor who will move at Emma’s speed.

And Emma?  She’s fast.

Good form!

Emma’s been really into her easel and the white board markers.  She practices quite a bit with her numbers and letters.  I love it!  I’m not saying anything because I don’t want to jinx it.

However, I do have to show you the word that she wrote up all by herself.  I was sooooo proud of her! I’m not sure where she came up with the word, but I’ll take it none-the-less.