let the good times roll!

Asher's wheelchair is in!

We won't be able to pick it up until mid-October because the clinic is so backed up, but I'm just excited to know that it's there waiting for us.

Watch out, world!

Asher's on the honor roll

For PT, that is!

Okay, so there's not really an Honor Roll.  I made that up.  But, Asher did receive the following progress report the other day:

Progress to date: Asher has made excellent progress with his physical therapy program.  He now sits independently for indefinite periods of time, pivots in sitting, reaches for and obtains a toy and plays with it in upright sitting for indefinite periods.  He can transition to standing from short sitting with hands at an anterior support surface.  He can stand with two hands held.  He will stand in parallel bars and has been observed to take two steps with minimal assistance.  He can transition from floor sitting to supine independently.

Look at all those things our boy can do!  We're very proud of him, and eternally grateful for his two wonderful physical therapists.

One step at a time...

Why not start today?  :)

where has August gone?

I can't believe it's the 17th already.  Eep.

On the update front:
-therapy continues on 5 days a week
-presently there is no OT because of BCBS paperwork issues... this should be all worked out soon
-Asher's wheelchair is not in yet, which is not uncommon
-on the other hand, he has made quite a bit of progress with his standing, so we're temporarily holding off on ordering the walker (woohoo!)
-temper tantrums now involve hurling things to the ground :/
-^he must get that from his daddy because I never had tantrums (okay, that might be is a lie)
-we're attempting to sell our house and upgrade to one with more bedrooms and a bonus room - oh my!

An Interesting Discovery

Transition

We had Asher's Transition meeting with the school system the other day.  The lady who typically runs it was out, so another person stepped in.  We went over our rights, which Chad and I are already both familiar with due to our teaching backgrounds.  Then we talked about specific questions related to Asher.

One of the main ones I've had is where he would be going to school.  We literally live right on a zoning line.  The school we're zoned to (St. B) doesn't have a special needs preschool classroom, so all kids zoned there go to Rossview.  I prefer for Asher to go to the elementary school that's right around the corner, Glenellen.  It's MUCH closer to us than Rossview is, and I'm going to be driving him anyway.  It's looking like it will be possible through Chad's contract, which states:

Teachers may enroll children for whom they are legal guardian in the
school nearest to their respective schools of employment, subject to
the following conditions: The teacher will submit a written plan for
having the child dropped off and picked up at the appropriate times.
This report will be submitted to the principal of the school where
the child is enrolled at the time of enrollment for his or her approval.
No child will be left unattended; and no school employee will assume
responsibility for teacher's child either before or after school. The
principal of the school in which the teacher wishes to enroll the child
will be the approving authority for enrollment. Principals will be
held responsible for enforcing the provision at their respective
schools.
Article XXVI, Memorandum of Agreement, section D (emphasis added)

The closest school to Chad's place of employment is Northeast, which doesn't have a special needs preschool.  The next closest is Hazelwood - also no SN preschool.  The NEXT closest is - you guessed it - Glenellen.
So we shall see.
p.s. a friend pointed out the other day that Glenellen's mascot is a Turtle... how perfect is that!?  Slow and steady wins the race!

Elmo... with a twist

http://www.youtube.com/v/0bMzhgdp5hM&hl=en_US&fs=1