Don't make me go all due process on you...

Today was our final IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting to seal the deal on all of our fights this summer. In other words, it's for them to put in writing every single damn thing I asked for IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Well, I am happy to report it is signed and sealed and all is ready for a great school year.....starting TOMORROW!!!

So..this is my time to say suck it, Gilbert School District. We win..and best of all, Nate wins. He wins the therapies and services he is entitled to. WE will not be spoon fed bullshit, but I appreciate your efforts in trying. We are here to stay and if you pull that, "We don't do that here." or "That's not possible" stuff on us again I WILL go all due process on your ass...

In the meantime, we are wiping the slate clean (til next time) and starting fresh. Nate will be receiving all of the therapies I requested in a 1:1 environment and for the amount of time I demanded. We are setting Nate up for success with all of the support he needs in place BEFORE school starts.

I am in shock that my little guy is now a first grader. That blows my mind considering he is still just 5 yrs old. (crazy AZ cutoffs)

Here's to a great new school year! ....and may all our new school therapists and teachers be amazing, or may God be with them. :)

HAPPY NEW SCHOOL YEAR!

Root, Root, Root for the Home Team!

Aaron and I decided to try a baseball game with the kids for the first time. The Diamondbacks had a Sunday afternoon game so we thought we should at least try and see how it goes. Worst case, we just leave early, right?
It actually worked out just fine. Seats were about 5 or 6 rows up from the field so the kids could see really well.

Nateman watching the scoreboard.

Neve checking out all the people sitting up above.

Neve was allowed to pick out a special treat- and she picked cotton candy. Lord- what a sticky freakin mess. lol

Then she realized it might be faster just to attach the feedbag DIRECTLY TO her face.

What harm can a crapload of sugar and artificial color/flavoring do?! (I had a moment of weakness, lol.)

Nate was quite content snacking on dried bananas and berries and lima beans...until Neve's cotton candy arrived and he just kept saying, "ice cream?" over and over. AHHHH..how do you say no? He was allowed a little. :)

Then we headed up a few decks to check out the kids "SANDLOT" play zone. They had fun on the slides and such.

Neve checking out the field from the top deck level.

We survived. We lasted for the whole game and the Dbacks won!

The Home Stretch

We are in the home stretch to back to school....3 more days to go! We have been trying to stay busy and we cram it all into the weekends when Aaron is available to help. Yesterday was swim lessons, back-to-school haircuts, and lunch.

Neve working on floating and blowing bubbles with Tyler the lifeguard.

We belong to the YMCA by our house so she just takes lessons there. It's actually really nice because we can take Nate in the pool at the same time as her lesson and just let him play.

Next we were off for back-to-school haircuts for both kiddos. We just go to those cheesy overpriced kid places with TVs to distract them and glitter to lure in the princesses.

Nate getting Lima Bean rewards for sitting still. :) The kid LOVES lima beans.

Princess getting her sparkles and glitter.

Then it was off to lunch. We tried 5&Diner with the kids since we had never been there. They loved playing with the jukebox.

Weekend is almost over! Sunday is Diamondbacks baseball game(a first for the kids), Monday is Meet the Teacher night for both kiddos, and Tuesday is the dreaded IEP meeting followup. The meeting better go well or heads will roll if they put me in a craptastic mood right before the start of school!!!

Dance, Billy, Dance!

Neve started a new dance class this week. It's a combo tap/ballet/ and gymnastics. She had a great time and can't wait to go back. She has two of her cute little friends in class with her so I know that helps. She gets so excited to see them on dance day. :)

Getting ready to leave for class. Neve looks so old to me in the first picture! She's only three! NOT TWELVE!

She loved the tap part and actually tried really hard to get the moves right most of the time. I was totally surprised because she USUALLY turns into the "Guess who needs Ritalin?" kid at this kind of stuff. hahaha

Then it was time for ballet...

She is looking forward to next Friday for class #2!

...and I thought I would throw these in for comparison and maybe a laugh or two at my expense. I started ballet or tap when I was 5 (I think) and took classes in a room at St Pat's in Kent, Ohio from Mrs. Beats. I was a hot mess (not that that surprises anyone) and really cared more about making everyone in my class laugh. Again, not a surprise.

Meggie's first tap/ballet recital circa 1983.

Enjoy the laugh!

Valley of the Dolls

Neve was cracking me up today while singing and playing dolls. I grabbed the camera and told her we would make a movie she could watch. She is so dang funny...

 Today Grampy Ron and Grammy Koke were the dolls along with, of course, Nate and Neve. My favorite part was when she "sings" her way over to watch the movie..hahahha

Let your conscience be your guide...

This round of allergy test results are back. This year for Nate we just did the food panel. he is still positive for peanuts, treenuts, soy, egg, wheat, and gluten. He did not test positive for a cow milk allergy, but we keep him off of it anyways. He is also still off corn and complex carbs- so no diet changes right now! Same ol' hard core diet. :) Neve's soy and nut came back not a concern for now-HOORAY!!! BUT she will still be gluten and nut free for a couple years at least I am guessing- so no real changes there except I can ease up a little on restricting soy.

After today we have 9 more dasy til school starts for both kiddos. Wahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now if we can just survive the next week. :)

Saturday I took Neve on a Mommy/daughter date to see Pinocchio at the local Children's theater. we LOVE that place. Neve has such a great time every time we go. I forgot my camera (*gasp*) so I was stuck with cell phone pics.

I had planned to take her to Oregano's afterwards for lunch but she started chanting, "SU-SHI!". What's a mom to do?

Nate is doing fine. He won't sit still for photos lately or I would make him pose too-ha! Oh- but his new communication device comes in tomorrow so we are super excited to start that journey! :)

Fun with Allergies

It's that time of year again, my friends....annual allergy testing.

Nate was a champ and we just finished his blood testing and we are waiting on results. I don't expect much to change..but it's ALL good to know so I can go through my yearly spiel with the teacher and nurse of Nate's new school.

Neve was REALLY good for her skin tests. I am always so amazed at how well she does with things. I am so used to Nate and how hard doc visits are for ALL of us with Nate..and then Miss Thang is an angel. I must look like a total fool as I am always telling her how proud I am of her and I usually am teary eyed. I know that sounds RIDICULOUS to anyone that has never been in my shoes, but it's true. She is growing up so fast and I hope she just rolls with things like she is learning to now.

Waiting to see the allergist.

Neve's artwork on the exam table paper. :)

The skin test. We didn't have to do a full panel this time, only food. Neve has not had any known reactions to seasonal or animal allergens- phew!!!!!!!! So we didn't test for those on this visit.