No Lo Compredelo El Engleses. January 16, 2009

I like to explain to people that Ronan communicates like a foreigner learning English as a second language.  He’s in Intermediate English.  Next semester, he should be in Conversational English I . 

Ro started at his school when he was 3 years old. Recently, he was tested by his school staff to evaluate his 3 year progress. 

Here’s the first page of his assessment…

The areas that he has trouble with are understanding what is said to him and speaking correctly what he is thinking.  This is a tough task to do when you are learning a foreign language!  lol

Now note his savantism…19 years old for decoding!!!  LOL  And he would have probably tested higher, but 19 years is the cap age on the test!!

When this child is fluent, what will I have on my hands?! 

NASA will be calling.

Giant Dances September 21, 2008

Ro’s teacher is working on expanding his conversational skills. She suggested that we write down a little something that he did over the weekend, and then send it in on Monday for her to use as a topic. 

He has a journal at school, in which he produces some amazing writing/drawing – thank you Mrs. C. for working on that with him, because he loves it so much.

We thought, hey, why not a home journal to bring in on Mondays!  So, off to Target for Ro to pick out a new weekend journal.  I suggested that he write about the playground that we went to on Saturday.  Ro, being Ro, had other inspiration. Here’s his first entry…

The text reads, “I did my giant 91 dance.  It’s a song on the piano.  It makes me feel happy.”  For those few of you who don’t know, the giant dances are very popular in the house of Ro.  He has a keyboard that has all of those programmed instrumental versions of classic songs – like the ever popular “Livin’ La Vida Loca”  and Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”.  They are all numbered, hence the 91.  Not sure why they are “giant” dances, but he has a great time running around the house “dancing” to his giant numbered songs.  I really have to figure out how to upload video here, so I can post them – we laugh until we need Depends.

What is especially unique about his entry – the pig nose on Ro’s self representation, along with the Captain Hook hand.  What goes on in that mind?  lol I can’t wait to hear the explanations from the future Ronan.

Here’s some other great stuff Mrs. C. and Ro’s speech therapist are working on with him.  The “WH” questions.  He typed these on the computer himself!

And while I’m feeling prolific today, here’s some character art – ocean animals.  How awesome is this kid?  I aspire to be the artist he is already at 6 years old.

He is selling like crazy on his site too, and I have to re-list like crazy tonight!

www.ronanjames.etsy.com

Okay, off to find an Orca costume now.  Which is thankfully a much easier costume to create than the “swimming pool” from last year.  lol

I’m posting something about food addiction later…sigh, my only vice.

The (sniff, sniff) Loudon of the Day…wahhhhhh! September 2, 2008

Look who is going to preschool for the first time tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  WAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!

How Cool Is this?! June 1, 2008

http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/people/Foam-soaks-up-noise-in.4135032.jp

This is a great idea, particularly for Ro’s school – which has a ceiling that sort of defies explanation.  I like to try to describe it as a texture resembling “dirty snow fur” .

It kind of resembles the Abominable Snowman from Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer  if someone dipped him in the La Brea Tar Pits, only scarier.

 

March May 29, 2008

Anyone going to the Green Our Vaccines march in DC on the fourth?  I wish I could go, but Ro’s Dad is going out of town. 

Anyway, it’s starting to catch on…I am less of a quack mother every day now!  Yay!

 

http://www.wsaz.com/blogs/mntv/19330614.html

Oh, yes, that’s the best way to teach the child! May 29, 2008

What world do I freakin’ live in?  This baby is five years old.  They voted the child out of the class, “Survivor” style – to “teach him” that his behavior was alienating.  Umm, FIVE, people, he’s FIVE!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,358956,00.html

At the other end of the spectrum, my 5 year-old literally bloodied his teacher in a tantrum early this year.  He was not voted out of Kindergarten.  Instead, the principal discreetly approached me to say that Ro had a hard time that afternoon, and maybe I should walk down to his class to pick him up, instead of the usual wait to sign out procedure. 

When I got to his room, his teacher, bless her soul, had band-aids and scratches in various places -

“It’s okay, it happens sometimes!”  That was her response when she saw my horror-filled expression.

“He’s been so good all year!”

I was cursing myself, because I knew it had to do with the multivitamin I slipped in his hemp milk the night before.  Whenever I give him a multivite, he reacts like this, but he had just gotten over a virus where he wasn’t eating much, so I thought I would try to give the hypoallergenic multi a chance again.  Obviously, no go.  We worked with his GI doc, and we have decided to just stick to food sources for nutrition, no supplements.  He’s just too sensitive.

Anyway, we are lucky that we have found such great, understanding and nurturing educators. 

It breaks my heart to read about what this poor baby has had to go through, due to the ignorance of these fools. 

Someone needs to vote her off of job island. 

Mama will be the first to sign that petition. 

Green Our Vaccines February 12, 2008

With the green movement so popular, I thought this article from Generation Rescue hit the mark.

http://www.generationrescue.org/pdf/080212.pdf

Gratefully, We Have Terrific Services January 29, 2008

We just got back from Ronan’s parent-teacher conference, and YAY!

The first thing his special ed teacher said to me was, “I have to tell you what he was doing at recess!  He was playing with a tennis ball with all of the kids today – back and forth throwing, chasing and talking.  It was fantastic.  I wish you could have seen him!”

I wish I could have seen him too!!!

So special to hear little things like this. I never thought I would get so excited by news that my five year old was playing ball with another child.

Basically, he is really improving in his ability to tolerate transitions and rules in school.  He is hardly screaming when he gets frustrated at all anymore in his integrated K class.

His academics we don’t have to worry about - he’s got that Einstein syndrome going for him  : )

So, really excited by that!!!  YAY!!!

Of course, he does still have his challenges.  He will still walk around the playground by himself at recess sometimes, and it’s hard for him to sit in Library – and the language is coming, slowly, but still improving all the time.

He is finally showing understanding of the concept of “why”.  This is so huge!  I am getting glimpses of his thoughts now that I wasn’t ever sure I would get to see! 

Autism is a journey I never expected.  But it’s changed me completely, and I am a much better person now. 

Thanks Ronan James!

And many thanks to the staff at his adorable school, too!

Parent Teacher Conference Today! January 29, 2008

We’re meeting with Ronan’s Special Ed. teacher today, along with his teacher in his integrated Kindergarten class.

We’ll update you when we get back!