School

We are on day 7 of school so I thought I'd just post some thoughts on these early days.  This year I have kids in 8th, 5th, and 1st.  Clayton and Evan are homeschooled and Oksana is in public school.  There isn't a ton to tell about Clayton and Evan....at least not that I would share publicly since they read this!  It's been a good start for them.  They are taking writing classes online this year which takes a big load off of me.  I love to write but I despise teaching it to 2 children who despise doing it!  They are especially enjoying science.  We are using Apologia for the first time this year and I'm kicking myself for not using this earlier.  Evan is studying Anatomy and Physiology and Clayton is studying General Science.

This is Clayton's experiment on density in nature.  He refused to be in the picture.  I wanted him to wear those awesome goggles that came with his science kit :).  Such a spoil sport!

This is Evan's edible cell complete with gelatin for cytoplasm, jelly bean mitochondria, Skittles lysomes, Smarties golgi body, fruit roll up endoplasmic reticulum, sprinkles for centrioles, and a gumball nucleus!  He is downstairs right now telling Clayton "The mitochondria was pretty good!"

Oksana's story of school is, as usual, far more involved. Here she is on the first day of first grade (if you are a Veggie Tales fan like me you can't help singing "Billy Joe McGuffrey" when you read that)!

I'll start with the good.  She has a new special ed teacher this year.  I ADORE her and so does Oksana!  She has a TON of experience with autistic kids and behavior problems.  It is like she was brought to this school for Oksana.  I had heard about her from other parents, and from Oksana, but I met her for the first time last night.  I seriously almost did back flips out of the school.  She is all I'd hoped she would be!  Oksana's whole team this year blows my mind.  We are so incredibly blessed by them.  I had heard so many horror stories about kids with special needs in the public school system, but I have had the opposite experience.  I am listened to as if I am one of the most important parts of the team and they truly respect my opinion.  I feel the same way about each of them. 

Now the not so good news.  Her aggression has already started.  When she is stressed she is grabbing at children.  Now this might sound innocent enough but it isn't at all.  It is a classic Oksana response and one that will send my blood pressure through the roof in .2 seconds.  Her grabbing is mean, it is a grip of steel, and she does not let go for anything.  Now, in the scope of things this is still mild.  She hasn't had the huge outbursts with the massive aggression but still, I am shocked that it is happening again so fast.  When I found out I immediately sent a text to my friend, whose son is autistic and also on Risperdal.  I told her I was freaking out because I was afraid the meds weren't working and I was going to have to live through last year all over again.  She assured me that I need to give it at least 6 weeks to fully work into her system (we are one day away from 2 weeks and not all of that has been at the full dose).  She also reminded me that this isn't a cure all.  She will still be obsessive and she will still be aggressive but it will be better.  I could breathe better after that.  Her special ed teacher is already on it and has a plan in place for when she gets like that.

We have an IEP meeting scheduled for September 10th.  I'll be counting down the days.  We are going to talk about lots of ways that we can reduce that stress in Oksana.  She did FABULOUS at summer school so we know it isn't all about school but more about the setting we have her in.  Time for some changes.