Holly: Week in the Life Day 5 - Photos and Words

Drew. 5am? Feet pounding down the hall to our bedroom. Must cuddle. Must take up the most room. 

The coffee I made last night and bag I packed. Drew had an important morning today. We hurried off after school drop off to Garfield Park where the CPS building was located for his evaluation. His speech is the main concern.

We arrived 15 minutes early to my relief. With Morning Chicago rush hour traffic, I wasn't sure how long it would take. We got started right away. It was super stressful, but I'll spare you the suspense, he qualified for speech services. This is huge. At the beginning of our meeting, the speech pathologist was basically telling me he did not qualify since the report his EI speech therapist provided stated that he was only 23% delayed. I was shocked. He needs this. And CPS didn't get the preK app process started yet. Most other non-CPS options are filled up for the fall. Preference in CPS preK is given to 4-yr-olds. Our particular neighborhood school gets 600+ preK applicants. The stress was building as she told me why he probably wouldn't qualify. Meanwhile, Drew was upset and crying so hard I could barely carry on a conversation or think straight, wanting to tell them everything I could. I asked for a break. I tried everything. Finally, the idea of eating Oat Squares calmed him and sat in my lap quietly eating. When, she was finally able to do an evaluation for him due to his willingness to participate, she agreed with the 23% language delay but felt he was far less intelligible (the average person can't understand him) than indicated. Less than 50%, and this qualified for services. 

We had 45 minutes to eat a snack, change a diaper and relax with the iPad mini, while they wrote up their evaluation and created his IEP.

I was super thankful that this was the conclusion and that we were done. Drew was very happy to be walking out the doors. As we walked to the car, I held him in my arms and he planted a big kiss on my cheek.

Poor guy fell asleep holding his Dinos ("Rawrs") and Mac Truck. Throwing a full blown tantrum is exhausting (for everyone).

But we needed to make a stop at Target on our way home.

"Eat nana" His language is at the low end of normal, according to that evaluation. He wanted these at Target and ate two when we got home!

I finished up my sample of the Daisy Troop craft for today.

And got a little food prep done for tonight's meal.

Amy came at 3pm (she has Kendall on Thursdays) and once a month also comes over here to stay with the boys during Audrey and my Daisy Troop Meeting.

Our last meeting of the year! All that is left is our Build-a-Bear Party and Bridging Ceremony. They become Brownies!

Pink elephant! I love it!

(I chose to not post the photo for privacy for this next bit of words)

I was checking in with Facebook and discovered that my Dad's best friend passed away. I'm friends with his daughter and just couldn't believe it. I haven't talked to Dad yet. So sad to hear this. Ed was always around when I was growing up. They worked together and most days rode in together, so Ed was usually at our house at some point in the late afternoon/evening, picking up his truck. He was always so funny and liked to tease my sister and I. Our family dog hated him for that reason. R.I.P. Eddie.

Taco Night!

Daddy was home early enough to sit down and eat as a family tonight. I love when this happens.

Audrey gets a homework packet on Monday and it is due on Friday. We usually work on a few pages every day after we get back from school with a snack. But tonight, we had that Daisy Meeting. Working on fractions! First Grade.

Quick PJ change. Daddy took them to the playground at 7pm! What a treat. But now we have to rush through bedtime.

This whole week A and K have been going to bed without pull-ups!! Only a few accidents.

We make sure to use the potty again right before bed.

Audrey up to the top bunk.

I was looking at emails this evening and discovered that I got a request for a guest post! I applied to do a guest post for her on a travelogue and I'm in!  I started looking at what I need to do to finish that up!

Drew just goes until he can't some days. Just laid right down on the floor and went to sleep.

Watching Sideways with a glass of Pinot Noir and my sweetie. "If anyone starts drinking merlot, I'm leaving. I won't drink merlot!!!!"