Half way.

We met with the school and planned out Faith's IEP. She will go from right after breakfast until lunch time except on Monday's we will have lunch at the school (yes with me along). They are making a space for her too kinda like what she has at home for when she gets overloaded. A darker smaller closet type area. That's what type of area she seeks out when it's been too much for her. She doesn't get to start right when the other kids do because they have to hire a para for her and do background checks and stuff. So, she is gonna be in a regular classroom with a para and have an area in the Special Education room that's kinda her "cubbyhole" for half days and we are gonna meet once a week (with everyone...teachers, principal, speech path, special Ed teacher, and me)to make sure the plan is working and if she needs more or less adjust it accordingly.

Makes me feel good when they say (with sincere genuineness) -I can't wait for her to start school here. I am excited to see how far she is gonna come this year...'cause it was amazing to see how far she came last year.

Angelus was a great big help too keeping his sister entertained while we completed the IEP and letting her chase him around (I could see 'em both the whole time, but it was good he was able AND she let him help keep her occupied. I am pleased with the plan we came up with and I totally felt like my voice was heard and ALL of my concerns were listened to and taken into account.
Can't wait to see what happens this school year for BOTH kids.

Stars, Cars, and Great Big Hearts

It's time to begin thinking about a whole new school year and what that's going to look like for the Brownell household this upcoming school year.  Tuesday we are meeting with the school (I think it will be the principal, special education lady, me, and maybe the other lady who finalizes paperwork for the school) to do Faith's Individual Education Plan (IEP), she will need a para to be with her and I *think* we are going to begin half days with her at school.  I'm really not sure what is best for her at this point, and what she will and will not be able to tolerate.  We'll figure it out as we go along.

In recent weeks I've seen her do more parallel play when she was around other kids.  She has also chased and allowed Angelus to chase her around the house.  She just is becoming more "aware" all the time.  It's really fantastic.

She pockets her food like crazy and it's SOO frustrating.  I've tried the chewey rubber hose for her to "gnaw" at, the little bristle nuk brush, vibrating tooth brush, pickles. sour food, spicy food, carbonated drink (had the most luck with the soda) to get her more aware of her mouth and....now I feel almost as if I'm going to have to resort to the mashed up baby food. She pockets the teethers and stuff too. She's tricky with it too, 'cause it can be hiding in there for a while and I don't know it (I usually know, but every once in a while....).

Angelus hasn't really read like he said he wanted to (he could've been not quite sure of what he wanted, though) this summer.  Guess that's what summer break is all about, though. :)  Last summer he read ALL kinds of things, it was a little crazy the stuff you can find to read off of when you're looking.

Faith, my niece, sister and I all went to Firefly Festival for Families, for a special 'Girls Day Out'.  Now I'm gonna have to find a place for Angelus to have a day.  He said he wants to check out the Tulsa Space Museum.  We'll have to look into that, it sounded really cool.

I plan on trying to update around once a week.  Pretty proud I've at least had a post monthly, but I'm gonna *try* to at least do a weekly one, I mean stuff happens ALL the time and Faith and Angelus do something new each week.

'Til next week.

Field trips....await!

Goodness, you all came up with some great ideas for the kids and me to check out this summer.  I'm excited to go to them.  The Jenks Aquarium, Tulsa Zoo, Philbrook Museum,Tulsa Air & Space Museum & Planetarium, The old Civil War Fort at Ft. Gibson, possibly dinosaurs in Wichita, KS.  of course checking out Terra Studios again (it was amazing how much the kids loved it there).  

Finding a pool area for little kids that's not too busy. If you have any other ideas let me know.  I'm looking toward probably Fayetteville, Bentonville, Tulsa, Joplin, Muskogee....maybe OKC/Norman area even possibly Kansas City (I'm just way more familiar with OKC and how to drive around there).  If it sounds cool enough and doesn't cost an arm and a leg and could potentially educate the kids on some new cool stuff, let me know your ideas.--Please.  So far, you all have delivered some great stuff.