Thanks Aunt Jana

Today was AWESOME, Eli did really well being in a room for 2 hours with all the testing, which I guess to him is playing. Tony and I got asked a slew of questions everything from what he eats, how he sleeps, plays, interacts, does he like this, do that.... so that when they write up his profile and his IEP (individualized education plan) they can refer to the testing and our information we gave them. They said that they were encouraged by the way he does communicate because when you don't talk any little thing you do (grunt, point, push away, cover ears) is a way of communicating and they said he does that well. We were really excited to hear that cause when you live with someone who doesn't speak it can be totally frustrating and in that state you sometimes miss things they do and the bigger picture of WHAT they are attempting to do.

Tony and I were under the impression that Eli had to be tested and evaluated before they could decide if he would be accepted into the program but today they told us that he is def. accepted and he will be starting school after Thanksgiving break. Thank you Lord, this is a great next step for him to learn beyond the therapy he has been getting, we couldn't be more excited. 

What we had the most fun watching was how Eli totally gravitated to the teachers we met with, people he had never met and he was crawling up in their laps, making eye contact and playing with them. For him that is amazing because he doesn't do that, but it made me feel good to know that he knew they understood him and he got that. LOVE IT. :)

Jana and Katie came to visit, it was so fun to have them here. It was a fast weekend so we packed in the fun. We took the kids to Aldridge Gardens for pictures and to look at the scarecrows in the park, we spent some time at the science museum, we went to watch Sophie in her first cheerleading experience at the football game, dinners, driving all over town, coffee in the mornings, wishing it were cold but it was HOT and HUMID yuck, fighting over toys, hugs, kisses, lots and lots of snacks, enchilladas for breakfast and a couple of fun projects. Katie introduced Sophie to the world of Webkinz and now she is an addict. I miss my sister all the time but I am so glad her and Katie got to come. And you always get a night of laughing till you can't breathe when Jana and Tony are involved. Love you Jana

Thursday we have our next meeting with Eli's school. They are doing evaluations with him to see where he is with his development. The therapist he has now has been amazing and has loaded us down with so much reading on the rights of someone who needs special education. I have a whole new level of respect for parents that go through this...( I guess that is me now)it is a full time job figuring out what is best for your child and how to protect them, make sure they are getting the best education, training, therapy. Learning all the ins and outs of ADAP, IEE, IEP,IDEA, ESY, AAA, LEA, (learning what all those mean and if and how they apply to Eli) federal law, state law, school policies. All the while just looking at my beautiful little boy and really at my core hoping he gets a teacher that will love him and protect him and that he will respond to that and soak up everything she has to teach him. 

On the 20th he tuns 3, I can't believe he is already that big and I am excited to see where he will be in 3 more years as he is getting ready to start "regular" school...I can not bathe that little man in enough prayers and Tony and I are ALWAYS thankful for your prayers for him also