Priceless at the pool

Just another reason I love UH and our awesome audiologists!!!

     When we were at our mapping appointment today Thomas received this bracelet...which I am very excited about.

                               
 
      Whenever we go to swimming I let the lifeguards know that Thomas is deaf and that if they try to talk to him or whistle that he is not ignoring them, he just can't hear them!

    I'm looking forward to our next pool experience! I will give my spiel to the lifeguard(s) and show them the bracelet. I will also ask him/her to pass on the information to any other lifeguards that he talks with (I will do the same). I'm hoping by physically seeing the bracelet it will help them remember that Thomas will need a little nudge or tap on the shoulder to get his attention.

    This would've come in handy a few times already! Once at the water park Thomas was the next to go down the slide and the lifeguard was blowing the whistle to alert him of his turn. As he stood there, the kids behind him were yelling and the lifeguard was rolling her eyes.  I was waiting at the bottom of the slide for him...so I got his attention and signed him to slide down.

    I took him back up the steps and informed the lifeguard (again) that Thomas couldn't hear her when she was blowing her whistle like she was being attacked, all she had to do was tap him on the shoulder. She apologized.

      We will be going to Kalahari in a few weeks for Thomas' birthday....he will be wearing his new bracelet...I will let you know if it makes a difference!!!!

Merry Christmas

Its been quite some time since I've posted an update. I'm sitting on the couch with my two loves...we're watching ice age and talking. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and there are many things I could be doing to prepare but i'd rather be chatting with my guys. At a time like this...the holidays are around the corner and with what happened in Connecticut last week...I have many things to be thankful for. My health, friends, family and especially my boys. I tend to get a little sad remembering Christmas' past. I miss my Dad, Baba, Grandma, Grandpa,Jerry, Uncle Mark, Zedy,Uncle Pat, Jason...the memories I have bring mixed emotions. Sad that they are not here but happy remembering all of our good times together. I have many angels looking over us. On a different note...both boys are doing well in school. Jon has a 3.9 GPA, playing basketball for his school and enjoying his friends. Thomas is loving school...working hard, waiting for basketball to start and happy that he has the next 2 weeks off! We were asked to do an update on the physician profile we did a few years ago. I was obsessing for a weeks about making sure the house stayed neat, what questions were we going to be asked, what we should wear, should I color my hair and praying that we all stayed healthy (which didn't happen). The day came and our cozy little home was tore apart. No sign of Christmas was allowed...didn't want to date the video ( I didn't blame them). Toy box, chairs, tables, curio cabinet items ...all moved. Lights and extension cords everywhere. They were here about 3 hours, they had me crying at one point, which I'm sure the editor will be happy with (emotion!!!!) but not a great look for me. Thomas lost attentiveness a few times but he did really well too! Jon is the consummate professional and played his role as brother perfectly! From our family to yours we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year!!

Where did summer go?

I absolutely can not believe that the first day of school is 2 days away. Our ( (somewhat) lazy, unscheduled days will be reserved for weekends and waking up early and out of the house by 8am will begin our weekdays. I have my alarm set, uniforms are ready to go, new book bag for Thomas (Jon likes his old bag) and new lunch bags for both. Stood in the deli line at the grocery store for 15 minutes yesterday, have snacks and drinks....let the school lunch packing begin. I'm a but sad that school is here again. But we will still have soccer and basketball after school and on the weekends, fall is around the corner so we will be hay riding, corn stalk mazing and pumpkin carving! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this winter is as mild as last. The school bus schedule has changed....a lot! Although I always drove them last year at least I knew the bus was a back up option...this year, not so much. As far as coming home...they usually took the bus home but as things are now they get out at 325/330 but wouldn't get home til 420. For the first few weeks of school and in the winter it will be later. I'm trying my best to get them excited about school. Thomas is looking forward to it...most of his friends are in his class. Jon is ok with it. 2 of his best friends are going to different schools add in th fact that he will probably be loaded with work make school not that appealing. But he is not dreading it..which makes me happy. I spoke with the principal who told me that Thomas kindergarten teacher has been filling I his new 1st grade teacher with all the ins and outs of Thomas and his ears. He already ordered disposable batteries and the fm system is ready to go. We meet the new teachers tuesday and back to school Wednesday! It's been a great summer, but it went by too fast!

Happy mothers day

Of all the things that I've done in my life, being a mom is my proudest accomplishment. As moms know there are times when you want to pull your out or scream ...maybe even she'd a few tears. But that's being a mom. Part of the job. I couldn't be prouder of my boys. They are awesome! I love waiting for them to come walking down the street after the school bus drops them off, they turn the corner and see me standing there and they race to see who can get to me first (than maybe some arguing between them) and we go inside and they tell me about their day and we start our afternoon routine. I love how mature J is. He is such a well rounded young man. Straight A's, good friends, he can be goofy one minute and adult like the next ( just like me...lol). We have great talks and love to laugh. We share the same strange sense of humor. I can't believe he will be 13 this summer. It makes me sad to think that in just a few years we will be talking about college ( already chatting about high school) at the same time I'm excited for him....he has such a bright future ahead of him. I love how T will come out with some of the most random funny sayings...I should really write them down. He loves to draw and make books. He tells me that "in this book I will be both the illustrator and author...I will tell you what to write....I don't want my hand to be too tired". He likes to buy things for himself but he has a giving heart (just like J). T asked yesterday if I could take him out to the store and I said "no toys Thomas" and he answered " I want to get you some thing for mothers day) ....my mom took them out shopping. I could go and on about how much I love and adore my two little men. I couldn't be a prouder Mom! I love you J and T. Thank you for making every day Mothers day for me!

Happy 6th birthday

Happy birthday Thomas! I can't believe you are 6 yrs old already. The past few years have flown by. We are in a good place now.

We have school under control ( and a very solid IEP),

ears are working properly ( knock on wood)

We have a nice daily routine set...although there are a few hiccups every now and again

Besides my "baby" being 6 I also can't believe kindergarten is almost finished. Can I tell you that this makes me VERY sad. I'm not sure why but it does. I was so nervous before the school year began but his school has been more than accommodating for Thomas. Not to mention his teacher. I can't even begin to tell you amazing she is. I absolutely couldn't have asked for a better teacher. She is a perfect fit for Thomas! We will miss her very much. Now I know why she gets so many former students running into her classroom for a hug!

Because I will forget in a few years as to what Thomas is "into" right now I will jot some down for both of us to enjoy!

Star wars! Specifically Lego star wars....we are slowly starting a mega Lego collection.

Ninjago....he talks about it all the time. I don't know who the guys are or how they fight...but he really likes it

DRAWING! Anyone close to Thomas can agree to his absolute love of drawing and making books. ( which is why along with toys he also received pens, drawing paper and notepads for his birthday),

Basketball....he's pretty aggressive when we play in the backyard but is a good team player on the court

Rachel T. ....she is one of my cousins best friends. Although Thomas likes all of Lexis friends ( and loves Lexi to death) there is something
about Rachel that intrigues him.

Of course, the usual things.....playing outside, going to the park, reading and watching tv.

A funny little story to end this post.....

The other day we were at the park. There is a section for 2-5yr olds and a section for 5-12yr olds. Thomas looked over at me and said "mom, after Wednesday, when I'm 6, I still want to play on these toys." I told him he still could. He responded with "good, i won't say anything and neither will you".
The little things that he worries about!

Happy 6th birthday Thomas! I love you so much and am proud of the little guy you have become and I look forward to watching you grow up!

Uh oh

Oh my goodness....I can't believe it's been sooooo long since I've blogged. Things are so "normal" .... It's nice!

Thomas is doing well in school. He started Title 1 for math and reading. I am so thankful for that...it's only been a short time and I can already tell the difference!

Yesterday his class had a field trip to playhouse square to see Elmo's superheroes.....I was able to go! We had so much fun. We were way up high and I forgot to ask for any type of special accommodations (his teacher found out that they have headphones....love her). I'm not sure if they would have helped though...some of the talking and singing was very fast.....there were things I didn't pick up. Oh well, he said he heard fine and had a good time. That's what counts!!!!

Thomas starts basketball tomorrow! I was excited until I found out that his game (30 min practice followed by a 30 min game) starts at 9am. AND we set out clocks forward tonite. UGH...I'm going to be a tired momma tomorrow!

Jon broke two bones in his foot in February ...he had pins put in a week later. He has been on crutches for the past month. I can not wait until the dr tells him he can start bearing weight on his foot. I can only imagine how happy he will be. Today is his last game so we may go to show our support! They've only lost 1 game this season!!!!

I'm on spring break this week. My assignment that is due on the 20th is already finished so I plan on catching up on my leisure reading.....magazines and whatever book I find interesting.

The boys have spring break at the end of March. We have nothing planned....hopefully it will be a nice combination of relaxing, laziness and fun!!!!
We had our IEP meeting yesterday. I love the support staff and professionals Thomas has....we really lucked out!!!!!

Thomas' birthday is next month. I'm sure it will be at pump it up (again). He loves that place. I can't believe my baby will be 6. I don't even want to discus the fact that in August that Jon will be a teenager! Yikes! Its cute how they keep getting older and I don't!!!!

I'm hoping to update more than every few months!!!!

What I am Thankful for....

The end of the 1st quarter was a couple weeks ago. We had Thomas' conference on Wednesday. I have to start off by saying that I love Thomas' teacher ~ she is an absolute perfect fit for him. She has genuine concern and love for each and every one of her students. One of the things she said to me during the conference was " I have the best job"..she loves what she does and that definitely gets passed on to her students. Thomas LOVES school and his teachers (the gym teacher is another one of his favorites).
Thomas is doing excellent in school. He is making progress in his academics, socially he is friends with everyone and gets along and participates and his teacher loves his personality. She said a few different times that he is very funny and he makes her laugh!
As a Mom in general you worry about your children...but when you have a child with special needs it seems that the worry gets kicked up a few notches. I remember a few years back when one of my biggest concerns (when talking with the early intervention specialists that used to come to the house and "play" with Thomas and I) was that Thomas be in a mainstream school, be at or above the level of his hearing peers...just to be another kid...not the kid with the things on his ears.
If I knew than what I know now I wouldnt have worried (as much)!
I have many things to be thankful for ~ my two beautiful, wonderful boys; my brother being home after 7weeks in the hospital (3 weeks of which were in ICU); my wonderful family and friends; our health...and all of the good times we have had and all of the good times that will be had in the future!
I am one lukcy lady!!!