Nov. 6, 2009 - Going to Japan (in our minds)
We have been visiting Japan in our minds for the last 3 weeks, we are going to be wrapping up our Japan study this next week. The 1st week we studied Geography & Weather, the second week Ancient Times & History, the third week Government & Science (plants & animals) then the last week People and Language.
I asked them to pick 2 projects for this study and today we made a map of Japan and next week we are going to be making ninja or samurai outfits, I have to look for cheap or free material this weekend.
I feel like we could spend a year in Japan, I found this to be fascinating. Here are there maps, I helped my ds/w autism on cutting, but he had to put on his own glue and color the seas and ocean without help he also write the words and say the countries (verbal)....
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Nov. 4, 2009 - Accepting a challenge when you are scared to death
I have debated in my head about writing this blog. I struggle with self esteem, weight, and depression issues. My life is not balanced, and I am not sure what a balanced life would look like for me. I want to lose about 80 lbs total but I don’t want to become obsessed with it. I want my ds w/ autism to carry on a conversation with a person and this has been the driving force in my life for the last 8 ½ years. I want to teach my children about the word of God, and I don’t want to be so strict or overbearing that they rebel in later years.
I have a darling friend from church that I email my weight to every Monday. Well, she has challenged me to run a 5K. I have never done anything like this in my life. And I have lost 20 of the 80 lbs, but I think that I am so big that I would be an embarrassment to any of my friends. I know in reality that my friends love me and they don’t think that—I still battle those attacks by satan.
I think that one of the biggest lies that we as women buy into is the lie that we have to do it all. And we have to do it all well. I don’t know that I have a weight problem where my weight goes up and down, once I got big, I have stayed big. I believe that my weight problem represents my depression/self esteem problems. When I am sad I eat, and being from the south, I eat gravy and biscuits, pasta, apple pie with ice cream and things of this nature. Writing this is making me hungry. LOL!
When you have a child with special needs you struggle with is it my fault (both parents) and you wonder could I have prevented this. And it is quite an adjustment to give up or set aside your hopes and dreams that you had for that child. And as in our case the first year my husband would not talk to me about it—my weight is not his fault—it’s mine and mine alone. God however taught me that I could depend on Him, and that He would provide all that I and my son would need.
I am grateful that God has been with me through my journey, and I know that I have a long way to go to reach my 60 lb mark. But through Him I can do all things and He will teach me how to balance my life so that it will glorify Him in every way. I believe that lots of women are struggling with self esteem and depression issues and we need to stop hiding from them and ask our friends to pray for us, and believe that God loves us. When I did the study by Beth Moore- Believing God, that was one of the best blessing of my life, I pray that I can make that study a daily practice in my life.
If God lays it on your heart set aside one day and pray for your women friends wether they homeschool or not.
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Oct. 29, 2009 - On Cloud Nine Training
On Cloud Nine was developed by Lindamood-Bell. The company is best know (I think) as Visualizing and Verbalizing. I was so excited to get to go to this training, because I have been using this at home and I wanted to make sure I was doing it right. Also I was hoping it would give me insight to their Visualizing and Verbalizing program.
Their approach in math is going from concrete to imagery then to paper. They say that we assume that children go from concrete (manipulatives) to understanding the process well enough for paper work. They teach that children need to understand how to visualize the number or process, say it, then write it. This way it stays with them and they actually understand the process and it's not just memorization. I am going to check all 3 kids to make sure they are understanding the process of math.
One of the best things is that they have developed a ladder process, and a way to check to make sure the child understands the concept. I love it, because now I understand I wasn't doing the whole process, I had missed the double checking.
It was awesome. I am so glad that I went. The funny part is that my brain really did hurt, cause I was trying to focus and learn. I wonder if that's they way my ds w/autism feels.
My hope is to go next year to the actual 2 day training on Visualing and Verbalizing. We will just have to see what next year holds.
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Oct. 23, 2009 - New Son --Happy Son
When you have a son or daughter with autism your life is turned up on it's head. No one really understands why autism is happening, or what causes it. How then are we suppose to figure out how to help our children recover.
I think that every child has their own story. My son's story goes like this, he was born 10lb 9 oz, health (big, but healthy) he was some where between 22 & 24" long. He developed normally, up until about 16 1/2 months (this is also when our daughter was born). He lost all his words, even his sound. His ability to sit and scribble was gone also his fine motor ability was no longer there. I didn't know what happen to our son.
Well we had the fight of our lives we experienced all kinds of therapy, seminars, doctors appointments and tears. We even tried the public school system.
What worked for our son doesn't work for all but here is what has worked so far.
The gluten/casien free diet (1st thing we did for 2 1/2 to 3 years)
ABA- applied behavior analysis
Floortime
In home program (28 hours a week, with volunteers)
Speech and OT (which he is still in- this is year 7 )
DAN doctors (they were good to help analysis what was going on physically)
Natural Detox, from the time he was 5 years old until he was 7 we went to a lady that help take away the mercury and other metals that were in his body, the speech and occupational therapist saw so much progress one of them went with us to see the treatment for herself.
We even tried SSRI's (this year starting in Jan) we tried them, and for my son, he became angry, quite being as verbal and started hitting and kicking- we almost got kicked out of therapy.
So I took him off of the SSRI's and then found another person close by that could help him naturally. She has been working to detox the body again and now I have my son back. He is more verbal than before, happier and has stopped all kicking and hitting.
Please know that I am not saying that SSRI's are bad--for some they are a life saver and most children do have success. But not for all. If you have a child that has autism, don't give up look. I do believe that there is a physical reason that autism is happening to our children.
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Oct. 14, 2009 - Pumpkin Patch
This was our first year to go to the pumpkin patch. My ds w/autism's sunday school class all went together. We had a blast, they had a hillbilly slide with dd w/autism loved. He would yell down and then listen to the echo and then go down. He would be happy if that was all that he did.
The kids go pumpkins we have not carved them yet, we are going to wait until close to time for halloween. But the kids cannot wait.
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Oct. 8, 2009 - Being available to God's direction
We went to a Joni and friends camp over the summer. I will say that it has changed our lives forever. Before this summer we had never had a family vacation and now we will always have some kind of vacation. I had shared this with the administration at Joni and Friends and I wanted them to know how much they had affected and touched our lives.
Well, they asked me if I would come and speak to a group about this effect. I was nervous but I did. My personality is such that one on one I am comfortable and when I am in front of a group I am scared to death. My dh is the opposite. They showed slides of my family while I was talking and I am so glad that I did. I want to be available to the Lord to do what He asks me to do even if I am scared.
A blessing occurred that I could have never anticipated, someone at this event has sponsored our family to go to camp next year. I have no idea who they are and I hope they know how much we appreciate it.
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Sep. 20, 2009 - Field Trip Week
We experience field trip week, we had a great week.
Monday - Rocky Mount (The Cobb Family). Here the kids learned about candle making, 1900's games kids played, stenciling and how people lived in general. It was an awesome experience, we would like to go back at Christmas.
Tuesday we went to the fair and saw all the 4-H's exhibits and to the planturm and watched a show on the planets. (I left the camera in the car) which turned out to be good, not my ds w/autism's best day.
Wednesday we went to Wonderworks. I was a little afraid here, because my dh was not with me and I was not sure what to expect. We had a blast, my ds w/autism loved the equake cafe, he bellied laugh it was so funny. I am looking forward to going back, we also ran into some friends we and got to have lunch with them. It was an awesome experience.
Thursay we had coop
Friday my nephews birthday party (and a hike before that)
Saturday- The Jeruslam Experience, they learned about Jewish customs, the 3 feast and we got to do jewish dance and go to the temple and the Lord's supper. This was the coolest. Next year we are going later and staying for the show. (we just didn't know).
We learned so much this week.
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Aug. 28, 2009 - The Lost Sea
We had a field trip and it was great. We went to the Lost Sea, it is a wonder place.
I love our friends we are truly blessed.
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Aug. 21, 2009 - Going to Canada in our minds
This month we visited Canada (in our minds *L*).
The kids learned about where it was, what industry is there, what the landscape looks like, what they are famous for, some history about how they came to be, and their symbols like their flag, amoung others.
I also wanted to teach them how to cook simple things, so we are taking a traditional food from the country we are studing and making a receipe from that country.
For Canada we made pancakes, if I would have know this in its self was a 3 hour project I would have eaten breakfast before we started. LOL.
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Aug. 15, 2009 - Coop
At Coop this year I am teaching US History -The American Republic and the History of Hymns. Both of the classes are for middle school age and I am looking forward to doing this.
The kids are taking
ds--takes chess, Nim's Island, This is my country & zoology
ds/w autism- one on one, kindermusic, one on one for the next 2 hours
dd-- handwriting w/out tears, violin, science, ballet, and keeper of home.
I love coop sometimes I wonder however if we are doing to much.
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Aug. 10, 2009 - Our School Year- Subjects
In having 3 kids so close in age, they all have different learning styles. This makes life interesting, I am however thankful and they are learning to be independent learners. Well, not all of them are right now, just the oldest. I still like to ensure that he is grasping the concept because I like that interaction.
As a family we are doing, Story of the World Vol 3, Biology, Bible and we are visiting a country together.
Then their individual subjects vary.
Oldest DS (4th grade)
Latin’s Not So Tough Level 5
Rod & Staff 4 (Grammar)
Spelling Workout E
Cursive Handwriting without Tears
Math U See Delta
DS w/Autism (3rd grade)
No Glamour Grammar
On Cloud Nine (math-visualizing/verbalizing)
Spelling Workout B
Alpha Phonics
Handwriting without Tears
Lots of speech, communication, and play stuff mixed in
DD (2nd grade)
Math U See Beta
Rod & Staff 2 (Grammar)
Spelling workout A/B?
Pentime/Handwriting without Tears
McGuffeys Electic Readers
Hopefully I didn’t forget anything.
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Aug. 8, 2009 - Annual School Pictures Yeah!
We general take our own school pictures just because it's so expensive to have them done professional and not many people have the patience to work with my ds with autism. We took 110 pictures in all and I would say that we have 10 that are "school" quality approved. *L*.
My ds with autism did really well, but we were outdoors and by water. Those are winners.
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Jul. 30, 2009 - Joni & Friends Camp
This was our first family vacation ever. I can say that we had a blast, we were so blessed by this camp. I will let the pictures say what I am trouble finding the words to say. I do appreciate everyone who worked to make this camp possible.
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Jul. 6, 2009 - The 4th of July weekend
This year we went back to the aircraft muesum on the 3rd then the Science Museum on the 4th. The Science Museum is a annual event and over the last couple of years my father in law has joined us. What better way to celebrate the 4th then we always stop by a fireworks place and get a few to shoot off.
While we were at the Aircraft Museum on Friday we got to watch a plane take off (it was cool). I thought my oldest ds was going to come unglued. LOL!
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Jun. 30, 2009 - Vacation Bible School
This year for VBS they went to the Outback and it was great. I cancelled of my ds therapies so he would not have to miss a day. (this is the first year I have done that). Our church is such a blessing, I love them dearly. This is the first church since our move that I have felt like it was family. I so appreciate God for leading us there and I appreciate how the people at the church are not uncomfortable with my ds with autism.
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Jun. 23, 2009 - Another Birthday Celebration
As you know from reading my blogs, my 2nd son has autism. Today he turned 9 and although we still have a long way to go on the recovery, he has made great progress from where he had to start.
He is a blessing to our lives:
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Jun. 7, 2009 - DS turns 10!
To celebrated my ds birthday this year we took him and some friends to the aircraft museum and to play putt putt, my dd stayed with one of my friends while we had a boys day. Boys are so very cool, they crack me up.
This year my oldest son turned 10. I look back at his life and I wonder what have I done with the time. Here this little boy is getting to the point where he is not going to be little for long.
My dream for him is that he lets nothing hold him back in doing what the Lord has called him to do. And that he will walk with the Lord everyday of his life.
He is a blessing and I am so thankful to be his mom.
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May. 10, 2009 - Ballet Recital
My beautiful blessed child. What do you say, my dh as me if we should get her tested for autism at the recital. LOL! She was more worried about where to stand than anything else. And she was very upset because the X she was suppose to stand on was hard to find and bent.
But, when she was not looking for the X (becasue it marked the spot) she did a great job...and in fact they all did a great job. And we are proud of her.
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May. 2, 2009 - Field Day for Coop
This was field day...the kids have a lot of fun (so do the parents).
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Apr. 29, 2009 - For the Birds!
This week we wrapped up the bird's unit in our science book. And it was interesting, we learned about different types of birds, how they are classified and what they eat. We also compared birds and planes. So along the way we documented our study.
Biology is not my strongest subject...I am learning a lot.
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