Selecitve Listening

I have been using my iphone to make some of my posts, but I now am on a computer so I can post this cute story. It is a real hassle on the iphone.

On the Friday after Thanksgiving, my sister and SIL volunteered to take all of the kids to see Planet 51 while my mom and I went to see The Blind Side. We would then watch the kids and both of them would go see it later in the afternoon. Elijah's behavior had been pretty good while there, but he is handful. Plus they would have their kids, my nephew Trent, age 6 and niece Tabbie, age 5. We would be at the same theater, so they knew they could call me if needed.

Well my mom and I left before they did and I got no phone calls. YEA! We finished the movie, which was GREAT by the way and then we went to the store to grab a few things for dinner. We got home and they had already beaten us home, because their movie was shorter.

Elijah was back in my mom's room playing the Wii and the other kids were on the computer. So, I asked my sister and SIL how things went. They said he was good, just wanted CANDY! ha! My SIL then demonstrated how he said CANDY, I want CANDY, and she said "yea Elijah really wanted that CANDY!". Well from down the hallway we hear this "WHAT?". The next thing we know Elijah is standing in the den with us saying "WHAT DID YOU SAY?" He had heard Elijah and CANDY and that was all he needed to hear to get moving. This is a child who at times SEEMS not to hear me when we are in the same room and now from DOWN a hallway, while playing the Wii, he heard his name and Candy and came running! Needless to say, he has selecitve listening just like every other kid out there does!

Life

We had a nice day today. My SIL and I braved Walmart at 5:00am and missed out on the laptops. However while looking at computers a woman walked up and asked if I wanted a laptop she had gotten earlier, but didn't want. It was the one on sale, and is the one I am typing on now. I snatched it up. So it was a good day, to start off with.

Later in the day, Elijah had issues playing with his two cousins. He just doesn't get how to socialize and get along with others. They decided not to play with him and that is fine. He has to learn. It is just hard, because I know he just "doesn't get it". It is due to the Tourettes, I believe. His brain just doesn't work like other people's brains work.

My sister and sister-in-law took the kids to the movies while my mom and I went to see the Blind Side. We then ate a good dinner and sister and SIL went to see the Blind Side while we watched the kids. Things started off rough, but now they are playing together and sharing and having a great time. I put away the Wii and they are actually playing with toys. Everyone is doing great and it is nice to see Elijah can get it together and share.

Three weeks and counting until Christmas Break!

Thankful

As I sit at my mother's house there is so much to be thankful for. I have my two boys, my family, and a good job. We went to the Christmas lighting at the courthouse. Elijah enjoyed running around with his cousin Trent. They were really enjoying themselves. Elijah saw a ramp and asked me what it was. I said "a ramp.". He replied, "no it's not. It is an inclined plane." well of course he was right. My jaw nearly dropped. What a big word for him. He is doing so well as far as language goes. Behavior is what drives me nuts. I have had to put him in to e out three times today.
I am thankful, but we still have a long way to go!

Time Flies!

Where has the time gone? I took Jacob in for a med check up for his ADHD meds and he is 5 foot 6 inches tall! Officially taller than me now! Where did my baby go? When did he get so tall and become this TEENAGER! He also is eating me out of house and home! I sure hope I can survive these teen years. I still have four more years before Elijah turns 13.

We went to Elijah's "old" school, where the deaf ed program is for a visit. Everyone was excited to see him and noticed he had grown taller and had put on weight. It was a nice visit. We saw his principal and teacher as well as a few others. They have school this week and we are out!

I sure hope time doesn't keep moving so fast! I don't know if I can keep up!

The Sounds of Christmas

This is our first Christmas since the boys dad and I divorced over the summer. I wanted to go ahead and get the tree down and do some deocrating. Jacob and his friend Chris were able to help me get everything down from the attic, however the tree was no where to be seen. I searched all over the attic and in the garage. I finally just went out and bought a new one. The other one was pretty old and we needed a new one anyway. I ran to Walmart and bought one that was pre-lit so that was very nice.

Jacob did not want to help decorate the tree, but Elijah stopped playing the Wii and joined me in decorating. We had a great time. He then found several of the wind up decorations! He sat and wound them up and listened to the music each one played. He really enjoyed it! I am so glad he has his implants so he can enjoy that part of the Christmas! I didn't put up all of our decorations and may not! We may just have the tree this year and a few other decorations that play the music!

I have already started some Christmas shopping! The boys are pretty much done, just have a few more people to buy for and I'll be about done. I also do a lot of baking and give those items as gifts!

Iphone and memories

I got an Iphone back in September and both boys enjoy playing games on it. One day I was in settings and was checking out some of the choices I had for ringtones. Elijah happened to be around and got facinated with listening to the different choice. They ranged from a dog barking to a robot type sound. A few days later he asked for my iphone and wanted to find those SOUNDS! I showed him how to find them under the settings menu. Now when he asks for my iphone he likes to go into settings and listen to the different sounds. It amazes me that here we are 8 years after his activiation of his first CI and he still is fascinated by sounds. He got his second CI at the age of 4 1/2.

It reminds me of another story from when he was six years old. We had gone to Mobile, Alabama for my grandmother's 80th birthday party. She has 10 children, 17 grandchildren and at that time 9 great grandchildren. She was also from a large family and so as you can imagine it was a HUGE celebration once you added in friends. She had a live band and food! This is a mardi gras town y'all so it was a PARTY to beat all parties. We danced and had all kinds of fun. Elijah liked to go up and just watch the band. Now he had heard music before, but I don't think he really knew the instruments or how music was made, so he wanted to WATCH and figure out the sounds. He later danced and had a grand time.


Around midnight(yes ya'll we were up that late), my grandmother had a dixieland band come in. This is a band that consists of a drum, trumpet, trombone player and I think there was a bass violen. Well a little while after they started playing I look over to find Elijah standing in front of the trumpet CUPPING his ear(not that it would help with a CI on, but hey). He then stepped in front of the trombone and again cupped his ear. It was so cute to watch. He really wanted to know the sound that each instrument made. This was 5 years after activation.

I find that Elijah's cochlear implants and his learning to hear with them has been such a true blessing. He is now able to communicate and function as most 9 year olds would. He was diagnosed with Tourettes back in the summer of 2008 as well as OCD and anxiety. he was diagnosed with ADHD in 2006. I truly don't know if we could handle these disorders as well as we and HE does if he didn't have language. These disorders are harder for me to deal with at this point, but he is doing better and we are seeing progress with behavior. LANGUAGE is so important and he has that. We are still on our journey, and I always wonder what it will lead to next.

Museum Day

Today we went to the Museum of Science and Nature in Dallas with the Tourette Syndrome support group. The boys had a great time. Jacob enjoyed making some bubbles. He also enjoyed the spy exhibits! He was able to roam around and do his own thing and not have to hang with me and little brother. It is nice when they get older AND they have a cell phone!



Elijah really enjoyed going to the children's part of the museum and dressing up like a fireman. There were all kinds of things to do! He is ALMOST too big for the fireman's outfit, which is a good thing! He needs to be growing. He also went into the home part and played in the kitchen and such.

We finished up with an IMAX movie about dinousars. it was really good and interesting. Elijah ticced through the whole thing though. All of the sudden his tics have been quite extreme. He is on a steroid right now for a cough and that might be causing it or it just could be cuz it is! It is so hard to know. It doesn't bother me, I just hate it for him. He doesn't seem to like it. Behavior always seems to be more of an issue when he tics more,so it all must be related. He just has that chemical imbalance. I am hoping he can have a good day at school tomorrow.

I am just so ready for Thanksgiving break. I have a crazy work week this coming week!

Home for the day!

Well I got an uplanned day off today. Elijah got sick last night and threw up! He at least made it to the bathroom! He woke me up around 4:00 and tossed and turned after that. He then got sick while in bed with me! OH FUN FUN! I was UP at that point!

I got Jacob up and off to school. I have avoided giving Elijah his usual morning medicaiton because I figure it will just upset his stomach. I have not given him his antibiotic yet either, but he did have a breathing treatment. He has held down teaspoons of water/gatorade every 30 min since this morning and even ate a cracker. Now we are just on wait and see!

I have been busy cleaning up the mess from this morning! I also got a head start on paying bills! Feels wierd being home with no PLAN for the day! I am getting some Christmas stuff handled, but can't say much just in case my oldest decided to check out his mom's blog!

Cute Conversation

So, why a picture of the beach in November! Well, as I said before Elijah has been asking me WHY questions a lot lately. On Friday morning, as we were driving to school he asks, "Why are the leaves fall from the trees?" I said, "well because it is the Fall, Autumn, and the leaves fall. Then winter comes and it gets cold and then the spring comes." Elijah says, "Oh the snow melts!" We don't get much snow here, so that was cute! I wish we got a little just for him! Anyway, I said "Yea, then then summer is after spring." He replied with "Oh the summer....We going to the beach??"

How in the heck did we get to the BEACH from a conversation about leaves falling from the tree! He does love the beach. He loves the wind coming off of the water. He had the best time the last time we went. He was the only kid who got in the gulf water and he wanted to be on the beach every second he could! He would just rip off off those processors and hand them over to me, then run for the water! I do hope we can go this next summer. I love the beach too, but I love it even more with both my boys.

Jacob enjoys building sand castles and roaming for things to look at on the beach. He isn't into swimming as much. On this last visit, we both got sick so that was no fun! He was sicker than me and had to spend one day in.

We could also see my grandmother. She is in her 80s and I have so many fond memories of my time with her as a child. I enjoy going to her house and just being with her. The boys really enjoy it too! I'll just have to see if I can put some money away so we can go!

IEP Meeting

We had Elijah's IEP meeting today. It went well. An adaptive PE evaluation will be done. I also got it written into the paperwork that he will attend one mainstream class a week. I just want it written down to be sure it gets done. I asked about participating in school events and not basing it on his behavior. The teacher and everyone were fine with that. The teacher finally seems to get that this is truly neurological and some days just aren't good days and he can't help it.

Why, Why, Why???

Elijah seems to be going through a spurt in development these days. He sounds like a 3-4 year old who drives his parents crazy asking WHY? He even has a whiney sort of voice to go with it. It is nice to see him going through this stage, but boy is he late in going through it.

This morning we were drivng to school and the WHYs started again. I jokingly said, "you sound like a record saying why, why, why..."(I even motioned a record spinning, since most kids these days probably don't even know what a record is!) and I hear this...."because, because, because.." in a teasing voice. I look back to him just grinning at me!! What an appropriate joke he made!

Elijah has been using more complex sentences and asking very inquisitive questions! I have been wondering if this has caused the behavior issues since SO much seems to be going on in his head right now! He did have a good day today!

We have his IEP meeting tomorrow! I'll think it will go well!

Jacob just asked if he could eat the left over chinese food from last night! I said SURE! I won't eat it! What a teenage boy he is!

Headed to bed!

Sweets and video games!

So Elijah wakes up this morning and all is fine! Well before we leave he starts to have an attitude, and then I find CANDY wrappers in the kitchen. UGH! Sugar is never good for him in the morning or any part of the day.
He has a total attitude with me, pointing that finger and such. Later I realize he had played a game on the computer that he had not played before(this was yesterday) and I am thinking....between the game and the sugar he was bound to have a bad start to the day.
He at least didn't hit or kick anyone today, but did have an attitude at school. His points are still frozen. He came home today wanting to play that same game and I let him but only for 30 min. If the attitude is still around, well then NO MORE game! It is roblox, sort of like legos on line, but he gets way to into it.
Oh and the candy is WAY UP high so he can't get to it, so hopefully we won't have that issue again!

Jacob is sitting and doing make up work that was due last week, but is now LATE, because he just didn't do it. There is no good reason....he says he just forgot. It is a lot of work and he aint happy, but OH WELL, that is life. He had plenty of time last week and over the weekend to do it. I just got to keep a better eye on his grades. What did we do before the internet....I so need that gradebook online!