Working the Room

We received a form from school telling us about the annual resource fair held by the SEPTA program. (Special Education Parent/Teacher Association). This is a very strong program in our school district. I have never heard of such a PTA and was impressed enough to want to check it out.

I'm so glad I went! The resource fair comprised of about 45 various vendors, providers, etc. that are in our area. There was a booth from the state, county, hospital, therapy providers, adaptive recreation programs, Special Olympics and respite agencies.

The lady at the Easter Seals booth was the most informative as far as giving concrete facts. She gave me an 8 page handout explaining what each of the various medicaid waiver programs are in the state of Texas. It even describes which services are provided by which programs. The bad news is that there is an 8-10 YEAR wait list for some of the programs.

On a positive note, we found out that there are several agencies that don't need the waivers, and just require the medicaid qualification. Steven had that in AZ and will qualify for it here in TX. But, we can't apply until 6/1 as services in AZ cancel 5/31. There is a sliding scale of what the family pays for, but we are fortunate to be in a position to afford that.

I also found information regarding local support groups and sibling workshops and camps for Megan to attend. I think the best connection I made was a man named Lamarque. He is a Dad to 2 children with autism. When his children were first diagnosed, the doctor handed he and his wife a sheet of paper with grim statistics and sent them on their way. He decided then and there that he would someday start a program that advocates for people with autism. He and his wife started the "Connections" program that links people with us with programs that meet their child's needs.

I was invited to several group meetings and everyone was very welcoming and helpful. Kinda cool day!

Betsy

He wears pants!!!

It's true! Troy owns and wears pants and collared shirts!! I tortured him and made him pose for this picture on his second day of work! Gone are the days of shorts and wife-beater tank tops! He's a professional now! We're so proud!

Yesterday was his first day in the office. He marveled at not having a full kitchen at his disposal for coffee, etc. He went prepared today! He took his coffee carafe, equal, coffee cup and creamer!

He also got to go out to lunch with REAL people yesterday! They had "tex-mex" for lunch. When they suggested the restaurant, Troy's initial thought was "It's mexican food. How different can it be?" Well, turns out very different! I don't know if that means he liked it or not.....

I'm ready to experience my second day of alone time. Fortunately, I have a few things to do today, including taking Megan to the GI doc. It's amazing how long the days are at home. I gotta find a job before I go insane!

Bets

Summer Fun

Today, Steven and I decided to brave the crowds at the Community Activity Center. The outdoor pool, lazy river, waterslides and water playground opened yesterday. We got there about 20 minutes early and played foosball in the "Teen Chill Room", then went out to the water right at 11:00. Steven was thrilled and splashed around for about 15 minutes. Then, they turned the music up LOUD. Steven put his fingers in his ears and proclaimed he was "Done. Bye." He did great and lasted longer at the center than I expected. We'll continue to try and go for short visits and eventually get to longer stays. I was really impressed with how welcoming everyone was. Some boys about Steven's age tried to interact with him in the chill room....that was a refreshing change!

Time Change...in my favor!

This morning, I realized that ever since we moved here, Steven has been sleeping in later. He wakes up about 7:30 or 8:00 am. I've always been jealous of people whose children sleep in because sleep has always been an issue in our house. When he wakes up, I look at the clock and feel joy because I got to sleep in.

Today, I realized that Steven hasn't adjusted to Texas time. His body is still on Arizona time. He really thinks he is getting up at 5:30 or 6:00 which was his sleeping in time in Arizona.

But, it doesn't diminish my joy to see the clock and know I'm putting one over on the little man!!!

B

Grow, Grass! Grow!

We piled all the mulch against the fence and will move that out when we find a wheelbarrow! In the meantime, the grass is planted! Let's hope it takes! The yard would be so much prettier if there was grass and some colorful flowers!

The Backyard...for Uncle Randy

This is the backyard project I have taken on. As you can see, the backyard is currently covered in mulch. We want grass. It's not a huge yard, but it's a huge project! I already have blisters!

Free Bagel Friday and Code Enforcement

We just got back from a nice little outing at Einstein's Bagels. Turns out they have "Free Bagel Fridays" according to a mailer we received! We got yummy bagels and were feeling refreshed and happy.

As we were driving up our street, we saw a city code enforcement vehicle parked in front of our house. Now, you know we aren't the "bad neighbor" type, but apparently, someone in this neighborhood thinks so! Here's a little background....

Last Friday, at 2pm, the moving trailers were dropped off. We got them unloaded Friday night before it started raining again on Saturday. We called the moving company and requested they pick up the trailers. Saturday at 4pm, the police dropped by. Turns out there is an ordinance against trailers being parked in front of a house for longer than 24 hours. So, the trailers were going to be towed.....Troy talked to the very nice police officer and explained our situation. Then, he called the moving company and had them get moved asap. Problem solved. We were now neighbors in good standing.

Until today.

This morning, I tackled the front yard. Now, this house has been vacant for 18 months. The people who lived here before then really didn't care much for the house. Ivan bought it and fixed it up, planted grass in front, and here we are living in it. The inside is beautiful, but the outside still needs some TLC.

This morning I mowed, weed eated, edged, trimmed bushes, sprayed round up where needed, and cleaned up sidewalks, etc. In the meantime, our trash bucket is missing one wheel and a lid. The city has been saying they will replace it since last Tuesday....in the meantime, we should not put anything in it. So, we have nicely stacked the trash bags in front of the garage until the new bin is delivered. I added the yard debris, nicely stacked, with the other trash.

I made the effort to tidy up the yard. I made the effort to neatly stack the debris. I even weed-eated the front of my shins and drew blood. But, code enforcement gave us a warning and 7 days to clean it up. Our new best friend is Sasha at the Code Enforcement Department. She said she gets a lot of "nit picky" calls from this neighborhood and she appreciated our cooperation.

I'm never mowing the yard again.

I wonder what the neighborhood "picky person" would do if Steven ran out of the house naked?!!! Could make for an interesting Memorial Day weekend!

Betsy

Entering the Bus

Today was Steven's first day riding the bus. God bless the school district for sending the driver, the bus aide and Steven's classroom aide. This district offers "Home Based Intervention" just because we are residents of the district. For instance, since we anticipated Steven would have difficulty getting on the bus, they sent Mr. Dunn, Steven's classroom aide, as a familiar person to help guide him into the bus. If today was unsuccessful, they offered to send a behavior specialist to our home each morning for "a few weeks or until Steven can successfully enter the bus independently."

Yesterday, Megan experienced a first at school....actually, a couple! Her elective class is Home Ec. They have "real kitchens" and the kids got to make and bake and EAT chocolate chip cookies! Also, they got to begin dissecting "a real live, dead frog!" They will finish that today! She's loving school and the kids are very friendly!

We have an appointments for Megan with the hematologist tomorrow and with the GI doc next Wednesday. The GI doc's nurse said, "he loves abdominal pain!" and that he likes to get to the ultimate root of the problem!

I'm off to take Megan to school and find something to do for myself today!
Troy is getting a haircut and heading to his office to get his parking decal and security badge!

Have a great day everyone!

Yep, we're loving Texas!

Both kids enjoyed their first two days of school. Megan was especially excited and has already exchanged her phone number with others! According to Megan, "school is awesome, and the bonus is there are hot guys!"

Steven has only had one aggressive episode at school in two days! He has a male aide named Troy who he really likes. Yesterday, Steven attempted to blow bubbles and even said, "bubbles".

Our upstairs a/c was repaired yesterday. The downstairs a/c is being replaced today! Fortunately, the weather has been very nice the past few days and is nice enough to sleep with windows open and need a blanket!

We finally heard from the GI doc office last night. They are prescribing a med for Megan to take for her stomach and want us to follow up with a GI doc here regarding follow up. It's not officially Crohn's disease, but they want her followed. We'll see what that means when the doc himself calls today to answer our questions!

I'm off to get the kids to school!

Betsy

First Day of School Photos

1st Day of School

It's here. The first day of school for the kids. They've both had their shots. I've filled out tons of paperwork. We have dotted all of the i's and crossed all of the t's. We're ready.

Megan has her outfit AND accessories all picked out. She has her backpack. She gets her schedule when she arrives at the office. She's ready.

Steven has a surprise coming to him. I have his outfit picked out. I have his backpack. His teacher gets a surprise when Steven arrives:) We've packed the m&ms. He's ready.

I'm hoping that their schools are as wonderful for them as they appear to be to us parents. Every aspect of moving here has been great. We chose our home based on school district, narrowed down to best schools within the district, narrowed down to distance to the schools. I'm hoping that tonight I can post that both kids had a wonderful day at school and are looking forward to going back tomorrow......

To be continued.

AAAH....a mattress!

This one is for my Dad! I got his email this morning reminding me to post on the blog! I can't email out to people right now...I need to find some computer guy to take a look at that!

In the meantime, the past two days have been VERY busy! Thursday was a day filled with....immunizations for the kids and running proof of such to each of their schools. Megs was a trooper and had to have 6 shots! Steven only had to have 3. Ya all pay attention now, ya hear?....when Texas seceeds from the U.S., don't worry about disease taking us out! The immunizations that we put off in AZ are required in TX unless we want to go through a huge long process via the state to get an exemption that is only good for 2 years.

After that....no plans! The house was too hot to stay home in, so we had a vacation day! We all went to run a few errands, then went to the movies and stopped for ice cream on the way home! Megan was thrilled they have Marble Slab Creamery here! Steven was thrilled they have popcorn at the movies! Troy, John and I were excited just to have air conditioning!

By Thursday night, I was done being hot. I went to Home Depot (whose signs are brown here) and bought a stand up air conditioner that plugs into the wall and vents through a window. Not the old fashioned window air units, this one rolls from room to room! We're semi cool now in the living areas and definitely cool in the bedrooms at night!

Yesterday, the moving trailers arrived right on schedule between 12-2. The movers also arrived right on schedule at 4pm. Troy and I did some unloading of what we could before they arrived. These 4 moving guys were amazing! They had us unloaded in 2.5 hours. We felt VERY old as we saw them hoisting heavy items into the house, then literally RUNNING back to the truck to get more! Last night, I got a lot of the kitchen put away, Steven's room done, and made beds. Troy and John were busy putting beds together, running back and forth to Home Depot (with the brown signs!) to get the ice maker valve thingy, dryer vent and new cord for the dryer! When everyone wakes up today, I will be able to make a great breakfast! Troy and John will be able to get the ice maker and dryer running and we will have a fabulous day unpacking. Megan will get to put her room together and Steven will get to tap on all his familiar items!

It's a good day in Flower Mound, Texas.

Bets

It's a nice, quiet morning here! It's gently raining and cool. I'm looking forward to a day inside getting stuff in it's place!

We miss everyone!

Ya know that saying, "But, it's a dry heat!"?....

Now we know why! The humidity here is 87%....the temp is 86. Our a/c is out...repairman coming Monday. We got some fans today and have the house open...just having the air moving is an improvement.

We had a busy day today....met with Steven's IEP team, enrolled Megs at school, went to the laundromat, etc. We're starting to settle in and met a neighbor today. They are happy to see we are normal....(well as normal as we seem when you first meet us)... turns out the prior residents left a lot to be desired as neighbors!

Our moving trailers arrive on Friday between 12-2 and the movers come at 2pm to unload it all. By Friday night, we hope to be sleeping on real mattresses! All in all things are good!

Does this mean we're Texans?

We made it to Midland, TX tonight....a few mishaps, including a fender bender (sorry Uncle Chris), some carsickness, some sibling arguing, and some exhausted parents. True to form, I forgot something VERY important...this time is was Steven's harness for the car left hanging on the rack at the old house.

Last night we stayed in Tucson. We arrived about 8:30 pm and Megan and Troy were able to fall asleep pretty quickly. Steven, however, had a HUGE bout of autism last night!!! He didn't like the change of scenery, wanted to go home and didn't understand why Mommy was making him sleep in this strange place! He finally fell asleep about 1:30am....and gave us an early start at 5:30am!

We hit the road about 7am and realized by 9am that we were missing Steven's harness. After spending 8 hours reminding him to "stay buckled", I devised a great alternative......we zip tied his seat belt to the buckle part. I wish we would have figured that out much sooner in the day! He was fascinated with his new freedom to unbuckle and taunt Mommy! But, alas, I WON THIS BATTLE!!!

We are currently relaxing in the beautiful 2 bedroom suite at Residence Inn that Anisa was able to procure for us! I threw in a load of laundry and we are all eating pizza and thinking how nice it's 8pm instead of 6pm (AZ time)!

We'll finish the drive tomorrow and we are all excited to arrive at the new house! Nobody besides me has seen it, so I'm excited to see their reactions!

Moving Day

It's moving day today! Our friends and family will be here in about 1 1/2 hours. We have a few little things to wrap up and the house will be ready to pack when everyone arrives.

Megan's procedures went well yesterday and we should have final diagnosis on Wednesday or Thursday. We will all leave AZ tomorrow morning and head to Texas!

PS. Remember when I said I loved my neighbors? Well, I really do! Besides being amazing and wonderful people, they also have unsecured wireless internet!!! I'm not having to do without my internet!!!

Next time I post, we will be Texans......ya all.

It's finally here!!!

Yesterday was our last work and school days for Troy, Betsy and Megan. Tomorrow is Steven's last day at school. Our moving trailers get dropped off this afternoon. We're seeing friends and family at Dave & Buster's in Tempe tonight. Tomorrow Megan will have her procedures at PCH while Troy starts packing. We will finish packing on Saturday, with the help of friends and family! The plan is to leave on Sunday morning and drive to Midland, TX. Whew! A busy few days!