Too cool for preschool

Well, maybe not.   Went and met with the folks at the SE preschool for LJ.    They went over all the evaluation and paperwork and stuff then after an hour finally tell me he's accepted on multiple different areas.    He's not old enough for Kindergarten, but that may have worked out well.  In any other state he would be, but here he's 6 days too young and since he needs an IEP they won't let him in early, no matter what his IQ is.                  

I got to meet his teacher who was there for the meeting along with the speech therapist.   I excused the OT from being there, but she will be working with him as well.  He'll be going three days a week for a few hours a day and having speech and OT once each a week.   The ratio in the classroom will be 1 adult to 3 or 4 kids.   Right now there's a teacher, 2 aides, and he's the 4th student registered for next year.  More will likely be added, but it won't get to more than 12 in the class.      I had mentioned that weighted items and a squishy seat help him in therapies and one of the gals got up, got on the phone, and like that BAM! it was added to the paperwork and they're ordering them for him to have in class -- no cost to me.

I had Erick bring him in to meet them when we were done with all the evaluation discussion/paperwork/IEP things.    His teacher said she was looking forward to having him in her class because his level of intelligence and communication abilities will be a great asset to his peers.   It made me smile.   I can't say I remember anyone saying they WANTED him somewhere and that he'd be able to HELP others.  Usually it's him needing the help.   That was a pretty awesome feeling.  :)   He started telling her a story (a typical LJ rambling) and she was cracking up -- not a fake laugh a legitimate belly laugh.   I told her she would be entertained.  ;)   He's such a smart cookie I'm REALLY hoping we can start getting some of these other 'delays' back on track.

She said she's dealt with a lot of behavior issues over the years (she's older) and that she's confident she'll be able to work things out and help him.  I really hope so.  I declined transportation for him.   I can't imagine him on a bus... let alone 'the short bus' without any real care by his side.    I'm having a hard enough time accepting that he's going to school... I'd like to at least go and see him in and out every day and talk to his teacher.  

He could have started Monday, but there's only 6 school days left in the school year so I figured there's really no point to having him go for two weeks and then having to stop.   It'll be a whole new adventure in August!

Until next time...

Twenty. End of discussion.

Today my son had an early morning evaluation for the special ed preschool.  There's so much irony in that statement, but for now let's go with it.    Since I don't think my blog readers all know about my middle son, I'll do a brief 'irony' explanation.

My son has an IQ of 136.   It's a tested fact.   He's 6 days too young to start Kindergarten in the school system out here this upcoming year.   He misses the cutoff.   Barely.   He's EXTREMELY intelligent and EXTREMELY defiant. I say those in the same sentence because there's some sort of definite correlation.

My son refused to even look at majority of the things they put in front of him today.   He tore papers, threw blocks, kicked, punched, laughed, destroyed the things in the room... outright refusal.

At one point the evaluator put out a set of blocks.   Both evaluators tried to get my son to turn his chair to count the blocks.   He refused.   I asked him to please do this.   I begged and pleaded.   I offered to go to the place I hate the most because I just wanted to get through this freaking evaluation.  At this point we'd spent over an hour and a half of his refusing to do things and telling them he was bored, while we all begged and tried to get him to partake in ANYTHING.   He was defiant as all get out.

He glanced for a split second and yelled "TWENTY!"

They tried to get him to count.   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 100, 138, 190... you get it.   There is no rote count to 20 with him.

We asked again... how many blocks are there -- let's count.   He refused to turn and even look.  He continued facing the other way with his back to the table where the blocks are and he screamed at the top of his lungs:

"TWENTY! TWENTY! TWENTY! TWENTY!"   

Unsure of what to do they prod him.  "Could there be 15 maybe?  I think I count 15"

Still looking at the wall "TWENTY! I TOLD YOU THERE'S TWENTY!"

"I think it's actually 17"

(Looks at evaluator like there's a very strong possibility he's going to punch her)
" I. TOLD. YOU. THERE'S. TWENTY!" 

The evaluators stare at each other and give the "IDK?" look.  They whisper "I mean... I don't know what to put for this one?"

I stop trying to get him to pay attention and I count. It takes me a few seconds.

There's ... twenty.

There's my kiddo, once again, flooring the crap out of people.

Until next time...