Kindergarten Already!!!!

My goodness how time does fly fast!! Wasn't it just his first birthday last year? What happened, my little handsome is such a big boy now!!

I remember the first day I dropped him off at preschool... I cried that day, and now my Handsome is going to be entering Kindergarten!

So on to my new great news!!!

Today was IEP/Transition meeting with Matthias Teachers, therapist, school Psychologists. So in the meeting(for 3 hours) we spoke about Matthias individucal education plan (IEP) for the next year in Kindergarten and his current IEP for preschool(by the way, he is in a special prek class for children who have autism, speech disorders any special needs).

This years IEP (basically they are goals that are set for him to accomplish by a certain time frame) he has made alot of gains on :) which is good. To make a VERY long story short, Matthias is testing at the age of about a 3 year old, it depends on what you are asking of him. Some things he excels better at. But all in all he made lots of progress with his goals for this semester :) that makes me a very proud Momma!! Yeah Matthias!!!!

Now in regards to next years goals, I am very optimistic that he will be able to accomplish alot of them, and thats what I'm praying for. I met with his new speech therapist for the new school next year and she was great and has LOTS of great ideas for Matthias so that is very encouraging!

They all went over their test results with me for the Kindergarten transition and they all came out with the same catagory I (sometimes) put him in ( I say sometimes cause I try not to label him anymore than he already is). When they scored him in all areas he scored at - Moderate to Severe Autism, but being much closer to Moderate. I completely agree with them. Although it makes me sad that I even have to label my son, I do live in reality and know that because of this label he can get the services and help he needs.

On to the GREAT news!!!! The teachers and therapists and I all agreed that Matthias belongs in the Autism only class at Pueblo. The program is great and they have a structured setting and even have a SENSORY ROOM!!!!! This is a huge blessing for Matthias as he struggles LOTS with sensory issues. I was so impressed when they told me all about the program more and can't wait to see how much progress he will make next year. PLUS its an all day Kindergarten class!! I know many think that its just to much for little 5 year olds, but I must explain something to you about Matthias. The more down time he has and is not productively doing something, the more time he has to stim and zone off into autism land! So, I am hoping being in school for a 6 hour stay will be really good for him.

The only thing that happened today that I did NOT agree with, was the teachers suggestion of yet again, that he may have ADD and maybe if we tried meds with him he woudl be able to sit still. First of all NO he doesn't he has SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDER!!!! Look it up!!! They have the same similarities. SECOND OF ALL I will NOT, I repeat WILL NOT put my son on ANY DRUG until it is my last straw. Meaning I have exhausted all my other options and tried everything and NOTHING else is working THEN and ONLY then will I try drugs. I do not wish to have my son in a drug induced coma. After I explained that to her she agreed and we moved on to the next subject :)

But, all in all, it was a GREAT meeting and I am VERY VERY Optimistic for Matthias first year of Kindergarten starting this fall!

Thank you everyone for praying for me, as everything I had asked for them to include in his current and following IEP was put in and will be followed going forward.

Here's to seeing Matthias succeed!

Much Love,