I feel so much better this evening. Hubby and I went and spoke with the advocate this afternoon. I felt horrible, we were about 10 minutes late. MAC had an issue at summer camp this afternoon and although I was able to pick her up at 3:30 every other day this week today when I really needed to get her at 3:30 she didn't make it to the car until 3:40!
Tomorrow is the show and both Hubby and I will be there. She has a solo! We were so proud to hear it.
We did make it to the the Advocates office and had a really good meeting. It seems as if we have been doing the right things. I could stay a little more on top of the teachers, and if after 6-8 weeks the new 504 plan doesn't work we will get together again and discuss how to approach the school again about an IEP.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Losing Game
The big plans for the evening were to meet my father to see a Baysox game. The Bowie Baysox are a AA team of the Baltimore Orioles. I have lots of friends who work for the team at the stadium so it was nice to know people.
MAC never seems to enjoy going to the games although she always wants to. Tonight Hubby came with us. We had a good time, even though the Baysox lost. I have never seen a winning game of any sport! Tonight was no exception. We did get to see fireworks though! She had a huge smile on her face the entire time the fireworks were going off. I was so happy to see it.
MAC never seems to enjoy going to the games although she always wants to. Tonight Hubby came with us. We had a good time, even though the Baysox lost. I have never seen a winning game of any sport! Tonight was no exception. We did get to see fireworks though! She had a huge smile on her face the entire time the fireworks were going off. I was so happy to see it.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Musical evening
It has been a musical evening for all of us. The Bay Winds Band had a concert this evening. We played such pieces as "Theme from New World Symphony", "Selections from Annie", and "Hooo Raw". Hubby and MAC met up with my friend DS. His wife is playing in the band with me so the three of them sat in the back of the room and yawned, etc.
The five of us went out for dessert after the concert. It ended up that MAC got a brownie sundae and the four of us got drinks and shared two 3 sampler platters. We got home rather late but it was worth it.
The five of us went out for dessert after the concert. It ended up that MAC got a brownie sundae and the four of us got drinks and shared two 3 sampler platters. We got home rather late but it was worth it.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy Father's Day
I would like to take the opportunity to say Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there. You do more than you know and it is appreciated. As the pastor said this morning: without you there wouldn't be a father's day.
We had a great day planned: church and then a real German lunch. It seemed to go well until it was time to go to church. MAC didn't want to get up and Hubby wasn't feeling well. I went by myself. When I got home Hubby had made reservations for lunch and we had to leave right away because the restaurant is in Haggerstown.
It was good food! I have to say that it was the most delicious cream of Asparagus soup I have ever tasted and MAC got an apple strusel a la mode that she refused to give but the smallest of tastes of. Hubby did love the food and the beer but there was a small stomach issue on the way home. It required that we hose down parts of the car and clean the windows.
Oh well, at least we found a good restaurant!
We had a great day planned: church and then a real German lunch. It seemed to go well until it was time to go to church. MAC didn't want to get up and Hubby wasn't feeling well. I went by myself. When I got home Hubby had made reservations for lunch and we had to leave right away because the restaurant is in Haggerstown.
It was good food! I have to say that it was the most delicious cream of Asparagus soup I have ever tasted and MAC got an apple strusel a la mode that she refused to give but the smallest of tastes of. Hubby did love the food and the beer but there was a small stomach issue on the way home. It required that we hose down parts of the car and clean the windows.
Oh well, at least we found a good restaurant!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Summertime
What is MAC doing for the summer? I have been asked this question numerous times over the last few weeks. A lot of her friends were going on family vacations, or are taking extra courses over the summer. We really don't have her scheduled for much, although that is changing...
Week 1: Pool
Week 2: Summer musical through WHBMS where she'll get to see her friend TB.
Week 3: More Pool
Week 4: More sun and pool, with a weekend of camping.
Week 5: Morning math camp with a chaser of pool in the evening.
Week 6: Morning math camp with a side of tv in the evening.
Week 7: Horse camp in Virginia
Week 8: Maybe a trip with her grandparents to Massanutten where they have 3 different pools and a skateboard park she could use.
Week 9: Pool and getting herself ready to go back to school.
The biggest problem we face is that MAC really needs to continue therapy and the girls group over the summer. She doesn't seem to care if she has much to do because she LOVES to sleep in and then watch TV in pjs. Most of our earned vacation time is being used to shuttle her to the Dr. appointments so we don't really have a full week to be able to take off. If you have any suggestions of things she can do please let me know...
Week 1: Pool
Week 2: Summer musical through WHBMS where she'll get to see her friend TB.
Week 3: More Pool
Week 4: More sun and pool, with a weekend of camping.
Week 5: Morning math camp with a chaser of pool in the evening.
Week 6: Morning math camp with a side of tv in the evening.
Week 7: Horse camp in Virginia
Week 8: Maybe a trip with her grandparents to Massanutten where they have 3 different pools and a skateboard park she could use.
Week 9: Pool and getting herself ready to go back to school.
The biggest problem we face is that MAC really needs to continue therapy and the girls group over the summer. She doesn't seem to care if she has much to do because she LOVES to sleep in and then watch TV in pjs. Most of our earned vacation time is being used to shuttle her to the Dr. appointments so we don't really have a full week to be able to take off. If you have any suggestions of things she can do please let me know...
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Good to see you...
For the first time in almost 2 months we had dinner with my friend SG. Both her boys were home and MAC had a wonderful time playing with them. The boys were packing for a trip with their father. I had to laugh, it really reminded me of when we are getting ready for a trip. The boys were having a scavenger hunt through their house for their DSi's. We want her to have as much to do in the car as possible so it is usually the last minute scramble to find the IPod, the cell phone, the DSi, all the games, the chargers and for us a sketch pad.
We had a great dinner and although the kids were trying to find their electronics MAC did a lot of laughing. For the first time this week she ate protein, and fruit together in the same meal.
I picked MAC up from home and headed to SGs house. We stayed for almost 3 hours! It was so good to see SG and talk with someone my age. Of course the best thing for me was to hear MAC have fun and not to fight with her. I am so glad it's summer!
We had a great dinner and although the kids were trying to find their electronics MAC did a lot of laughing. For the first time this week she ate protein, and fruit together in the same meal.
I picked MAC up from home and headed to SGs house. We stayed for almost 3 hours! It was so good to see SG and talk with someone my age. Of course the best thing for me was to hear MAC have fun and not to fight with her. I am so glad it's summer!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
***Sigh***
It was the first day since spring break that I felt calm at work. Yesterday was the last day of school for students. After a sprint to the end we are finally done. It seems that D's are passing grades. She worked really hard and was able to bring up her Italian grade to a B. We both told her how proud we were of her and she seemed to be very pleased with herself too.
Yesterday I had a conversation with the guidance counselor and found that yes MAC would have the grades to pass to 8th grade. It wasn't pretty and it really was a fight at the end but next year is going to be different. We realized that starting with 3 E's 2 weeks ago and never having received a call from any of the teachers that the 504 plan that was in place since the beginning of the year did NOT work.
I will have a meeting with all of MAC's teachers next year. I told the guidance counselor how disappointed I was that when I had spoken with both the social studies teacher and the department chair of language arts they had both acted as if it was my fault for not checking black board and parentconnect earlier. The social studies teacher told me that he had had weekly conferences with MAC herself and he had told her what she needed to turn in and that he had given her several chances to redo failed tests.
I am looking into finding an advocate for us. A friend from church had the name and number of someone who works for Anne Arundel County Public Schools and knows the system. I said that I felt as if we had done the right things, took her to see a private therapist, started her on medication, took away her recess, sent her to a different school and then started going on all the field trips, and that if we weren't able to get the school's help none of it would matter. She said it was time to get an advocate.
I called the number and left a message yesterday. They got back to me last night. I spoke with a Dr. this morning and was told that they charge a $150 per hour and are out of net-work providers. We're going to have to try to find the money, I think we really need the help!
Yesterday I had a conversation with the guidance counselor and found that yes MAC would have the grades to pass to 8th grade. It wasn't pretty and it really was a fight at the end but next year is going to be different. We realized that starting with 3 E's 2 weeks ago and never having received a call from any of the teachers that the 504 plan that was in place since the beginning of the year did NOT work.
I will have a meeting with all of MAC's teachers next year. I told the guidance counselor how disappointed I was that when I had spoken with both the social studies teacher and the department chair of language arts they had both acted as if it was my fault for not checking black board and parentconnect earlier. The social studies teacher told me that he had had weekly conferences with MAC herself and he had told her what she needed to turn in and that he had given her several chances to redo failed tests.
I am looking into finding an advocate for us. A friend from church had the name and number of someone who works for Anne Arundel County Public Schools and knows the system. I said that I felt as if we had done the right things, took her to see a private therapist, started her on medication, took away her recess, sent her to a different school and then started going on all the field trips, and that if we weren't able to get the school's help none of it would matter. She said it was time to get an advocate.
I called the number and left a message yesterday. They got back to me last night. I spoke with a Dr. this morning and was told that they charge a $150 per hour and are out of net-work providers. We're going to have to try to find the money, I think we really need the help!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
See yourself?
Yesterday morning Hubby got up, checked our downstairs toilet, found nothing wrong and went to work. I got up headed downstairs and hour and a half later and we had a mini flood, 3 inches of water all over the floor and seeping into the basement. I called Hubby and he came home and we were able to clean up and dry up in about 5 hours.
I helped clean after I took MAC to school and turned in work that she had done the night before and returned her Italian books. There have been too many issues with "turning in work" for me to leave it up to her this late in the game. I picked up science work and spoke with both the teacher and the guidance counselor before I left. I must say that I didn't leave feeling a whole lot better than when I got there.
Tonight we had dinner watching an HBO movie called Temple Grandin. It was an awesome film! It showed autism from the autistics point of view. It showed in a concrete way how one family was able to make autism work. I really enjoyed the bonus materials where you got to hear from Dr. Grandin herself.
MAC said that she didn't see herself so much in the character but Hubby said he saw a lot of himself.
I helped clean after I took MAC to school and turned in work that she had done the night before and returned her Italian books. There have been too many issues with "turning in work" for me to leave it up to her this late in the game. I picked up science work and spoke with both the teacher and the guidance counselor before I left. I must say that I didn't leave feeling a whole lot better than when I got there.
Tonight we had dinner watching an HBO movie called Temple Grandin. It was an awesome film! It showed autism from the autistics point of view. It showed in a concrete way how one family was able to make autism work. I really enjoyed the bonus materials where you got to hear from Dr. Grandin herself.
MAC said that she didn't see herself so much in the character but Hubby said he saw a lot of himself.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Feelings
Ok, with 5 days left of school I was finally able to take 10 minutes and go to this wonderful place called Parent Connect. Anne Arundel County has made a website where parents can go and check their child's grades. It is wonderful if you're like my friend SG who told me that she checks it at least once a day. I got my log in last year but was just able to get to the site yesterday.
Surprise surprise I found a whole LOT of missing assignments. I contacted the guidance counselor to try to get with the teachers since grades are not final until mid-month. When the counselor called me today she said that there wasn't much that could be done and that grades would be final next Wednesday since the teachers last day is next Wednesday.
Today was a talk therapy appointment. I got to the school 15 minutes early and tried to talk with the teachers. I was able to speak with her social studies teacher. He gave me 2 assignments and said that was all that he could give me, I mentioned the 504 plan and he said that he had had weekly meetings with the students to tell them about their grade and any missing assignments.
There was a blow up in the car on the way to the talk therapy appointment and then there was storming out of the appointment and running down the hall. The therapist says that her feelings run deep and she has trouble accessing just how she feels. It took us an hour and half to get seen and leave. It was not a good afternoon.
I can only hope that she turns in the work she did tonight when she gets to school tomorrow.
Surprise surprise I found a whole LOT of missing assignments. I contacted the guidance counselor to try to get with the teachers since grades are not final until mid-month. When the counselor called me today she said that there wasn't much that could be done and that grades would be final next Wednesday since the teachers last day is next Wednesday.
Today was a talk therapy appointment. I got to the school 15 minutes early and tried to talk with the teachers. I was able to speak with her social studies teacher. He gave me 2 assignments and said that was all that he could give me, I mentioned the 504 plan and he said that he had had weekly meetings with the students to tell them about their grade and any missing assignments.
There was a blow up in the car on the way to the talk therapy appointment and then there was storming out of the appointment and running down the hall. The therapist says that her feelings run deep and she has trouble accessing just how she feels. It took us an hour and half to get seen and leave. It was not a good afternoon.
I can only hope that she turns in the work she did tonight when she gets to school tomorrow.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Long Day...
Last night was so late it was really hard to get up this morning. Neither MAC nor I were able to get up on time but we did make it out of the house in time to make the bus. There were several things that she needed to do today (that we found out about last night).
When she left the car this morning she knew that she needed to go to the Italian teacher and that she needed to bring home the portfolio that she said was in the classroom. I was so glad when I looked up this afternoon and it was 3pm. She had made it through the school day!
When I got a phone call at 3:45 I was disappointed, because it meant that she had not stayed after to talk to the Italian teacher. She said, "Can I please explain before you get mad at me? The afternoon announcements said that only the PVA dance group could stay after, I tried to see Ms. S on my way to the bus but she wasn't in the classroom! Please don't yell at me!" I didn't yell.
I called her father and he picked her up on his way home. They started the Italian Power Point presentation and continued until about 9pm. It did end up being a long day, but the presentation turned out very nice.
When she left the car this morning she knew that she needed to go to the Italian teacher and that she needed to bring home the portfolio that she said was in the classroom. I was so glad when I looked up this afternoon and it was 3pm. She had made it through the school day!
When I got a phone call at 3:45 I was disappointed, because it meant that she had not stayed after to talk to the Italian teacher. She said, "Can I please explain before you get mad at me? The afternoon announcements said that only the PVA dance group could stay after, I tried to see Ms. S on my way to the bus but she wasn't in the classroom! Please don't yell at me!" I didn't yell.
I called her father and he picked her up on his way home. They started the Italian Power Point presentation and continued until about 9pm. It did end up being a long day, but the presentation turned out very nice.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Hopefully Not the last...
Today was the final choral concert of the season. MAC came home like every other day called me. I asked her the same questions I always do: "Have you gotten home ok? Don't eat everything, ok? You have food all your own, but when it's gone its gone! Did you have any homework? Make sure it's done because we have your concert tonight." She gave me the standard teen, "I know"
We got to Maryland Hall at 10 of 6. It gave me a chance to embarrass MAC by talking to her teacher, and helping to hand out the blue buttons that go on the girls dresses and cummerbunds, bow ties, and button studs. This was after an e-mail to her teacher about the time. The teacher said that she had sent a paper to the parents explaining about the concert. The other parent I talked to said that she had not seen it either.
The choir sang 4 songs by themselves and 2 combined with their feeder schools. The strings played afterward and the band began playing.
By the end of the concert I was feeling sad. Unless she has worked really hard (and I don't think so because she has been doing any homework) she will not be able to stay at Bates making this our last PVA concert. I was happy to see her playing with some friends and smiling. It made me sad to think that this could be the last concert she sings for Bates.
Tonight we found out that all this time there has been an Itialian project that was due today. She and her father will work on it tomorrow and she will hand it in on Wednesday. She also has a music paper that was due several months ago. The teacher just decided tonight that she could write a paper on the 2nd act of Eine Kleinenacht musique...I guess that will be Wednesday's chore. I really hope she can pass. The music teacher said that she has been making progress. Please keep us all in your prayers, we are in need of them! Thank you.
We got to Maryland Hall at 10 of 6. It gave me a chance to embarrass MAC by talking to her teacher, and helping to hand out the blue buttons that go on the girls dresses and cummerbunds, bow ties, and button studs. This was after an e-mail to her teacher about the time. The teacher said that she had sent a paper to the parents explaining about the concert. The other parent I talked to said that she had not seen it either.
The choir sang 4 songs by themselves and 2 combined with their feeder schools. The strings played afterward and the band began playing.
By the end of the concert I was feeling sad. Unless she has worked really hard (and I don't think so because she has been doing any homework) she will not be able to stay at Bates making this our last PVA concert. I was happy to see her playing with some friends and smiling. It made me sad to think that this could be the last concert she sings for Bates.
Tonight we found out that all this time there has been an Itialian project that was due today. She and her father will work on it tomorrow and she will hand it in on Wednesday. She also has a music paper that was due several months ago. The teacher just decided tonight that she could write a paper on the 2nd act of Eine Kleinenacht musique...I guess that will be Wednesday's chore. I really hope she can pass. The music teacher said that she has been making progress. Please keep us all in your prayers, we are in need of them! Thank you.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
So Angry...
Last night was late. We decided to go see a movie after girls group. Hubby wanted to see Thor so we ran to the Bowie Theater to make the 8pm movie. It was actually really good, we all had several laughs and are looking forward to the Avengers to see more.
Today we went to see the niece in her dance recital. It was really well put together. It was music from the 80's and called "I want my M-TV". Z was a jellical cat from Cats. She looked so cute in her white cat costume. It took us a little while to get there though, there was a track meet at the same time as the performance. Hubby had to drop us off and then go try to find a parking spot.
There were a lot of people and there was a lot of pushing trying to move around. When we got to our assigned seats there were people in the seats closest to the aisle. They got up but MAC didn't move fast enough and the first lady sat back down. She got upset and started a scene. When I tried to get her to just come into the row and sit down she got nasty. I am at my wits end of what to do with her in public when she gets like this. I have tried to ignore. I have tried to shush her and stay. I have tried to take her away. Nothing works.
It took her 2 hours to get over how angry she was with me. Even at that time she was adamant that it was all my fault and that I never give her any credit.
Today we went to see the niece in her dance recital. It was really well put together. It was music from the 80's and called "I want my M-TV". Z was a jellical cat from Cats. She looked so cute in her white cat costume. It took us a little while to get there though, there was a track meet at the same time as the performance. Hubby had to drop us off and then go try to find a parking spot.
There were a lot of people and there was a lot of pushing trying to move around. When we got to our assigned seats there were people in the seats closest to the aisle. They got up but MAC didn't move fast enough and the first lady sat back down. She got upset and started a scene. When I tried to get her to just come into the row and sit down she got nasty. I am at my wits end of what to do with her in public when she gets like this. I have tried to ignore. I have tried to shush her and stay. I have tried to take her away. Nothing works.
It took her 2 hours to get over how angry she was with me. Even at that time she was adamant that it was all my fault and that I never give her any credit.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Nearing the End
You can tell it is almost the end of school. The kids don't care about homework and books are needing to be turned in. People are asking what plans each has for the summer, and comparing camps. MAC has turned in her library books and is taking the extra text books back one at a time.
She is really excited that the end of school is coming so soon. The last 4 days are half days so next Wednesday is the last full day of school! She has been working hard at paying attention in class. She received 5 buttons last week from the school Psychologist. She received several from me and is looking forward to Saturday when she can cash them out for money.
I'm looking forward to the end of the year almost as much as she is. I'll be able to get to work on time and maybe stay for a TGIT...oh those crazy, hazy days of summer!
She is really excited that the end of school is coming so soon. The last 4 days are half days so next Wednesday is the last full day of school! She has been working hard at paying attention in class. She received 5 buttons last week from the school Psychologist. She received several from me and is looking forward to Saturday when she can cash them out for money.
I'm looking forward to the end of the year almost as much as she is. I'll be able to get to work on time and maybe stay for a TGIT...oh those crazy, hazy days of summer!
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