"Stryders Journey"

Let me start by saying that my keybo0ard keeps typing in letters random0ly, so I apologize in advance. Not sure why it's doing it though but every time I type the letter "o" it types ano0ther in capital and will even stick until I type a new letter.

Stryder has started preschool, but he has no0t do0ne the evaluatio0n yet, so0 he can't ride the bus. He has that o0n October 15 so until then, I have to0 take him and stay in two0n until he is out because it's so far away. The teachers love him and say they want to 0take him hom0e with them. The SLP, Miss Mo is wonderful! She is really pushing fo0r us to0 learn ASL and feels that because he is so smart it's not goi0ng to be long before he starts getting frustrated. My mo0m and I are able to take two classes at the scho0o0l my daughter goes to0. so0 every Wednesday we are in school from0 8 AM until almost 11 learning sign language. I don't know0 ho0w I will ever remember everything, but I'm trying. Miss Mo is very impressed that he know0s ho0w to count and kno0ws all his co0lors. She said she started his testing fo0r speech and he is pretty severe, which we knew. He o0nly was able to say o0ne wo0rd with an ending co0nsonant: Brush, he said bus, but was not0 able to0 repeat it. If we work o0n it for a long perio0d, saying it o0ver and over, he can say dah ssshhhhh. So0 it's there almo0st. We are now at a cro0ss roads because he needs to0 learn how to0 read and write so0o0n and we (and everyo0ne is spending so0 much time with speech and no o0ne even kno0ws if he will ever be able to 0talk, what do we do? Just do0 signing and spelling with hands and let the therapists do0 the speech or what. Miss Mo thinks we need to0 mo0ve o0n, but no0t give up. I try not to0 be sad abou0t it, he really is happy.

Lately we have no0ticed that his feet and legs are not0 "right" - it's as if he is walking and has braces. I have known that he has lo0w muscle to0ne in his wrists and ankles, fingers and toe0s, but it's getting pretty bad. He can't walk withou0t bending his ankle. We went to0 find him so0me boo0ts to0 help suppo0rt his ankles until we can get insurance and go to 0the DR and went to0 mor0e than 9 sto0res. ALL thou0ght he was wearing braces the way he walked. I am able to0 take his fo0o0t and with no effort, twist it completely around. We are sure he will need some sort of brace to co0rrect it and make them stro0nger. I hate that he will have struggles that we do0n't have, but as I have said, he is a happy little bo0y and so0o0o0o0 eager to please everyo0ne.

Well, we made it! Stryder is doing great, although he does not want to be anywhere alone, in the house, outside, etc. We have spent the last few days getting information on new services they have here. We went yesterday to an open house at the pre-school program they have. I was very impressed and excited! Usually the children need to be 3 to start, but they are making an exception for Stryder. He will go on Tuesdays from 8:30 until 11 and then when he turns three he will go on Fridays too. They have speech pathologist and Occupational therapists there and the class consists of a 50% mixture of special needs and 50% who are not so they have good examples to look up to. He will be riding the bus, but we will transition into it.

The SLP was WONDERFUL! she gave us a lot of resources that we didn't have in South Carolina and even told us about an ASL class we can take for free. That really means a lot to us because it's the only way Stryder is able to communicate. She also gave us info on the children's hospital and how to get into their program and also will be starting a new class called Toddler Talk; this class will teach us proper ways of speaking to our children who are not able to talk.

I am very excited about the new services and help. Stryder LOVED the place and didn't want to leave so that was a great sign.

We will be starting with the occupational therapy soon. In the meantime, my Gray Haired Friend mailed us the book I wrote about in a previous post- THANK YOU Sharon!!!! This book has so many great tips and things that will help Stryder. He does not take baths without screaming terror and when he brushes his teeth, he gags even with the toothbrush on the outside teeth. The book says to put a weighted vest on him and do a few other things and it will help. Who would have knew that weight makes a difference, but I guess with sensory disorders it really helps. I should have known though, Stryder sleeps with a VERY heavy blanket, even in hot weather. Angie told me that most of us only know about the 5 senses but there are two others that are often haywire in kids with sensory disorders, which is Stryders Issue.

All in All, the move seems to be a good thing. I really miss South Carolina, but our son needs family help and support and it seems that we have a lot of resources that were not available in South Carolina, so I'm excited.