On to 1st

We are two full weeks out from the last day of kindergarten and Liam is already bored. He cried on the last day of school. It could have been the loop of Pharrel Williams "Happy" being blasted through the intercom system on continual loop, but I'm pretty sure he was sad that the year was coming to an end.

First & last day of school. Mostly just longer hair, and a crappy pic but otherwise looks the same.

We had an IEP meeting the last week of school and I learned a few things about how Liam's year and goals were going. I was surprised to hear that some goals were met and excited to hear that he was holding his head in prone for 5 seconds at a time. That is so very, very hard for him. The most important was his communication skills and seeing the progress he has made and how they are going to move forward this next year. He's got a good team on board working with the PODD communication system and will be implementing them at the beginning of the year. His aid will be wearing pictures in order to provide constant opportunities for Liam to see and use the pictures.

Liam's one to one aid was a fabulous fit for him and she worked very hard with him and for him.  She knows him really well, can read his cues, and makes sure he gets to participate and be an active member of his class. It's not a definite that she will be hired back this next year and if she's not I will be one irate momma. It's in Liam's IEP that he requires a one to one and she's perfect so we are praying she gets to come back. It doesn't make sense not to hire her back.

The dynamic duo- and look at that awesome t-shirt!

We are 82% funded for our stem cell trip!  If we keep on the path we are on it will be Sept before we will be able to go, but that's just fine. It's still early in the year and God's timing is always perfect. Please pray we continue to sell the remaining tees and if you'd like to donate anything at all, you can click on the link below. It goes right to Liam's account for his medical trip only.

Thanks for all your prayers, for following along, and the kind words of your support. Liam doesn't understand what all everyone has done to make his life better, but his family will never forget! :)

A month of changes

God has been so good to us during this season of changes. Liam being in school was always a bad idea when we first considered it and having a team on board that thought he could do it along with the positive changes we saw take place in Liam over the last year brought us to the decision that we should try it.

I am truly ecstatic to see Liam loving it. Liam only goes 3 1/2 hours a day and last week when I picked him up, wheeled him out to the truck, and opened his door, he started crying. He had full on tears with the rumpled up face. Liam pretty much never cries so I asked him if he was upset about leaving school and if he wanted to go back inside. He immediately stopped crying and looked at me. I told him he could have five more minutes and I wheeled him back inside where we surprised everyone by showing back up.

The staff was so happy to hear the story and it makes this momma's heart glad to know that he loves being there as much as he does and they love having him there. To know that your child is loved on by others is such a gift and when dealing with the needs Liam has, it's a special soul that looks past it all and loves on him anyway. Honestly, we have been truly blessed to have a lot of caring people in Liam's life, from church, to friends, to school, Liam's challenges have been overlooked by many an adult and they have loved on him in spite of them.

Math lesson

Circle time around the board for math

Liam's awesome one to one mentor Ronnie. He LOVES her.

I had Liam's annual IEP yesterday and it went really well. I think the goals they have are well thought out and the amount of interaction between therapists looks promising. One of the biggest changes for us is that because of Liam's success in the room and his desire to be there we are increasing his time to 4 hours 15 min a day.  Liam will start his day at 8:45 and end at 1:00.  I am really happy about the increase because when I would pick Liam up at 12:30 he would be in the middle of the math lesson and I always feel bad about having him leave before it's over. I would be taking him out of the circle and interrupting his lesson. It's probably part of the reason he got so upset at me the other day.

 

Liam's stamped tree

Liam was really proud of this cat mask.  He chose brown ears and the orange for the face and whenever I talk to him about it he just grins his silly grin. His teacher wasn't sure he really wanted brown because everyone else was choosing black but he told her twice that that was what he wanted and I think he's super proud of himself for making his own choices and seeing the results of it. 

Liam is having a great time. He's learning a lot. He's engaged with his teachers, therapists, and peers and he loves being there.  I'm so grateful for the support we are receiving and for the mentor God provided. It's truly been a wonderful season of change.