School District

Yesterday was Anderson's big day with the school district. The meeting was at 9AM on Thursday. Charlie ran into work first thing in the AM, to check in with work and pull together a packet for us to present. He put a cover page with a picture of Anderson, a table of contents, label pages for the info in the packet...he did such a great job. My Aunt and I had printed copies of Anderson's "Chiari" MRI and printed a copy of my MRI of a "normal brain"...well, lets say mine is normal at least anatomically :) hA! Anyway, it is an amazing visual for someone to physically SEE what is wrong with Anderson's brain.

We decide to take Ryan with us b/c Anna has to come (since she is nursing every 2 hours)...and they wanted to meet Anderson. So, we were not going to get a sitter for Ryan. The boys and I stop at Star*bucks on our way over to the school. We pull up to the special education school....wait for Charlie.

As I am sitting there, I just start crying. I CAN'T believe I am sitting in this parking lot. I can't believe the knots in my stomach as I walk into this school for special needs children, I can't believe I have to go into this school and discuss MY special needs child with a school psychologist who has probably never heard of Chiari and probably can't spell it! AHH!!!

Charlie pulls up, comes up to my window, gives me a kiss and he can tell I am in tears. He asks me what is wrong. I try to say b/w my tears that I can't believe I am here, I can't believe we are doing this, I DO NOT WANT to be here....and he said, what do you mean, you do not want to be here. I told him, we have to be here, but I DO NOT want to be here. All I could think about was wishing I was at the zoo with the boys, or at the park with them getting ready to go run and play...and for Anderson to yell...MOMMY across the playground, WATCH THIS. Instead, I am getting ready to go into a room with my son's case worker and a school psychiatrist to "fight" for the BEST possible education we can get our son at this point who can't even utter 1 word that a stranger can understand.

WOW, what a hard day it was yesterday.

In the end...the meeting was great. I felt great when I left. The school psychologist was wonderful, intelligent and sweet. I felt that she "listened" to us, and is going to do her best to help Anderson. Felt like we had a partner...but, this is only meeting #1 :) I am cautiously optimistic at this point.

We shall see....they will do 6 assessments on Anderson in 2 - 45 minute sessions (now, you tell me....think that is going to work....1.5 hours to determine in 6 different areas where he should be placed?). Anyway, we are trying to "trust the system" and see what happens......

Big Week at our home.

Sorry for the delay in posts...I usually post at night when all the kids are asleep...with a newborn baby, it is a bit harder...I tend to go to bed WITH the kids :) HA!!

But, I had to write about the week we had the week of March 9th!

It was a great week at our home.

Ryan was line leader at school (which, when you are 3...is a BIG deal!!) He was line leader and got to bring in a share item to school on Friday. He loved it.

Anderson said 3 words at therapy...YES, 3!! We were so excited...he said, "Oh, WOW", "dog", and "duck". The "g" and "ck" were not too clear, but the therapist said he was making distinct sounds that were different and identifying the object as well. WAY to go little guy!!

And then ,Kaitlyn...was awarded the "Franciscan Award" at school!! The teacher told us ahead of time that they were going to give her this award. It is given to 1 student in ech classroom every month. They present it to the kids at the weekly flagpole ceremony on Wednesday. Charlie and I, Ryan, Anderson and Anna surprised Kaitlyn and showed up to that flagpole ceremony when she was presented the award. The award its given to a student "who has cheerfully shared a spirit of friendship, cooperation, responsibility, punctuality, good study habits, and courtesy." We are so very proud of Kaitlyn for receiving this award!

What a big week. We had a celebration with ice cream and popsicles at the end of the week!

XOXO

ONE YEAR AGO

Yes...one year ago Anderson had his brain surgery in Chicago! It is so hard to believe that 1 year has passed us by already. We are so very proud of Anderson and all of his accomplishments this past year. Most importantly, we are so very happy he is no longer in the pain that he was in prior to surgery. Anderson continues to teach US something all the time!

This day 1 year ago is still so vivid in our minds.....I can remember so many of the details of the day...what time things happened, where we were sitting in the hospital, what we ate, the look in Charlie's eyes, talking to the doc after surgery, etc. It is so "real" in my mind still today. One year ago tonight, the NSG came into Anderson's room and told us how the surgery went. I can still hear him say...Anderson was "special", he had the 4th ventricle of his brain blocked, and when the NSG sees this....it typically means that the surgery will be "more successful"!!! We could not believe it! A "best case" scenario was happening in this terrifying event in our lives. I can still picture little Anderson lying in his hospital bed after surgery, I just wanted to pick him and take away all of the pain. Still brings tears to my eyes. But...1 year later....WOW...is all I can say!

It has been a remarkable year.....we have a long way to go, but we believe we are on the correct path. We are so very thankful for the neurosurgeon who believed in Anderson and how he could help Anderson. Thank goodness for that doctor. We feel so very blessed.

We had a celebration tonight with the kids to mark this milestone for Anderson!

Congrats little buddy, we are so proud of you!! We love you!