Hard Work Pays Off!

Year End A/B Honor Roll!!

We have been working hard this school year. Academics and sensory tolerance has grown wonderfully. And while there is always room for improvement, we have ended our 1st grade year with A/B Honor Roll!

Sure there have been days (or weeks) when I have begged mom to home school me. There have been days that I was excited to be going to school! (Like when we had the field trip to the farm a couple weeks ago.) All and all it is a learning experience. I met new people this year, and I think I made new friends.

Now we have one more day of school and we get our report cards Friday. :)

Best Friends

Benji and our cat Neko have become the best of friends in the last 18 months. Neko will seek Benji out and cuddle up to him while napping, watching tv, reading, or even sometimes while eating.
We have been blessed that Neko is as big as he gets rolled over and squished a lot. (He's 17 lbs and not fat.)
Benji has also enjoyed taking on the responsibility of feeding Neko. It has given Benji a sense of accomplishment and confidence. Chores are such good confidence boosters in letting a child see what they can do.

Tuckered Out

This is what happens when you start your day early and you just keep going. LOL

Saving Little Hearts Christmas Party

Benji was so excited to see Ronnie the Raccoon at the Saving Little Hearts Christmas Party he gave Santa the boot... lol

He had so much fun! We made a snowman picture frame and a miniature Christmas Tree. (I did more of it then he did, but we still had fun.) Benji's aversion to sticky stuff came out, he didn't want to touch the glue but had no problem squeezing it from the bottle.

When it got to picture taking time Santa was sitting where Ronnie is in the above pic, Benji was on the opposite side of the couch. LOL... He kept looking at Ronnie and going on about him so Santa got up and Ronnie sat down. As you can see, Benji has NO aversion to Ronnie the Raccoon. Plus we got a replacement stuffed Ronnie for his other one because it apparently got a little hole in it while at school for the bear hunt.

Bear Hunt

So... last week at school Benji and his friends did a bear hunt. They also learned about bear. (Brown Bear, Bear Hunt, etc.)

We got a couple of the crafts they did from it today. I think Benji did a great job even though last Thursday was hard for him. (We think the bear hunt scared him or the anticipation got him worked up. He had a hard time listening Thursday.)

So... one bear was covered in glue and he put oatmeal on it. It's cute!

The other bear is a small paper plate with ripped construction paper and all glued on. It looks like he did a good job there.

This is such an improvement from just six months ago!

Benji still doesn't like to get sticky or to get paint or glue on his hands, but he sees that if he tolerates it long enough he can make the craft and enjoy it. Then wash hands. I am sorta glad he insists on being clean. His brothers could learn from that. LOL...

12 of 12

This is the first time on this blog doing the 12 of 12, but I figure why not? Sure... I'm only 3 and they say I might be less than perfect by why should that keep me doing the 12 of 12? Maybe it will help somebody... you never know until you get yourself out there..

So, as I said I am 3. The name is Benji, I like my full name though because it's Benjamin as in ben-jamin. Cool huh? Anyhow... I was born with a couple heart defects, nothing too major, they repaired the bad one and the other is doing a wait and see. The awesome thing is that right now I am just being observed. No meds, no restrictions really... aside from no football or other things that could involve a strong impact. I also have hypoglycemia, my sugar drops if I go too long without eating or if I get too hot. Sometimes it will drop when I am sick too... this can be tricky for mom because some days I just don't want to eat.

Getting to the other stuff... I have developmental delays and the doctors told my mom that I may have a form of autism. I do have sensory processing disorder and that gives mom alot of fun. I am sensory seeking and sensory defensive. Mom walks a fine line many days. But I love her and she's really good with it. She tries to be understanding when I have my bad moments or days. I think it's hard for her sometimes especially if I get tired at a store. People give her strange looks and tell her that she should spank me sometimes. I don't know how to express my self all the time, and sometimes I get so over stimulated it even catches me off guard.

So.. on to the 12... that is.. if you are still with me. You are aren't you?

7:45am Hello!

I got up this morning about 7:30. I was missing my sister Brittany at first, then I realized everybody but mom was gone. Then I remembered, they had to go to school... I just wasn't ready to face that this morning. So, I got in my swing (It's really cool, mom made it and it hangs from the ceiling. I am all wrapped up snug and can swing to my heart's content... most of the time at least.) I stayed in the swing until my stomach woke up.. LOL... I suppose that's how most of us are huh?

8:10am Breakfast

Breakfast was simple. Honey Nut Cheerios. I know that is not what the box says, but saving a couple dollars and avoiding High Fructose Corn Syrup is a good thing for me. My body doesn't recognize HFCS as sugar so it doesn't help keep my sugar levels healthy. I didn't have milk in my cereal this morning, usually have almond milk. (I am allergic to cow's milk and intolerant to soy, makes it interesting at the dinner table...)

10:35am Potty Time!

Yeah... little bit on the personal side, but this is a big step for me. I have had a hard time learning to stay clean and dry. Mom thinks it's because of the sensory issues. Which it is possible because the surgery to fix my heart could have caused some damage to my spinal cord and I may not feel everything I should. Or... as mom says it may just be because I am a boy... not sure how to take that mom. Anyhow.. I can most of the time use the potty when I just need to go pee. Go ME!

10:45am Lunch!

I eat lunch early since I go to school. I only have snack at school since it's only 3 hours. On the menu today was peanut butter and honey on wheat bread with almond milk mixed with Ovaltine. Yummy!

11:30am Off to School

Off to school we go. I'm holding the door open for mom here. I like my school, I have fun there with my friends and today I get to meet some new friends.

11:30am Look!

Isn't it pretty? I love flutter byes... Mom has alot of flowers that the flutter byes visit and dance around. This one said hello to us on the way to the truck.

2:45pm Going back home

Mom just picked me up from school. I had a good day aside from having to go #2. I just don't like #2...

I did all my activities and centers well. I even shared with my friends today. I was just so happy to see them! During the summer we only had a couple play dates with other friends so being back in school is great! And guess what? Because I was good and did everything my teachers asked me to i got a toy! And it's a toy car! I love toy cars!

2:45pm Wow...

My school is way back in the background... look at all these parents picking up their kids... I didn't know there were that many kids in my school. WOW.

5:30pm Don't adjust your screen

I'm not happy. Micah got a transformer toy from his teacher and I didn't get anything. I have a transformer toy but I can't find it and it's not fair. Mom says I got a toy car at school but that was then... this is now... I want a transformer toy.

Mom!!! I want it!! I really really want it!!! MOM!!!

5:35pm Crash

Okay, so I'm tired and I didn't think it was fair that Micah got the toy and I couldn't find mine... can we get over it already? Turn Noggin on already... seriously... er...
I went outside and played for about an hour with my brothers... Mom took a picture but the camera ate it so I can't put it here. I love playing in the willow tree though... letting the branches run across me as I run under it. I also like playing in the dog's pool.. LOL... it's one of those turtles that most people fill up with sand. The dog like to cool off in it.

10:22pm Sleepy

Finally, I fell asleep while watching Noggin in mom and dad's bed. I don't like sleeping because I might miss something. I also don't like to sleep alone. I will probably end up in Mom and Dad's bed or in bed with Britt. I just don't like being alone.

i would have one more picture but the memory on mom's phone filled up too fast.... sorry...

A Real Snow Day

WE have discovered the one thing that Benji loves more than anything else..... SNOW.

Last night he hung around windows and then the back door staring at the snow/sleet falling. He kept watching it and saying snow. It was so cute. This morning we woke up to 4-6 inches and he didn't even want to eat breakfast he was so excited. After we convinced him to eat we went outside and he had a ball just running around in the snow.

We are a bit excited though, while at the grocery we found some dairy free ice cream. It's a soy version and Benji loves it! He got chocolate and peanut butter. So far so good... no tummy upset. Which is a wonderful thing. Poor guy, his favorite foods disrupt his tummy and make him anything but a happy camper.



Enjoy the slide show! I am hoping to use picasa for the pictures now... it makes it a tidbit easier to share.

Stay warm! Now that we are in and dry we are making chili and I might make some bread depending on time.

Benji's Christmas Picture 2007

Busy Day

So, our Wednesday was a very busy day. We started off by going to speech and working on 'yes' or 'sure'. We are also pushing the beginning sounds of the words. Benji likes to ignore them and still expect us to know what he is saying. =]

After speech we decided to go to storytime at the public library. We got there a little early, so Benji kept himself busy while I picked out a couple books for him. (This Old Man: the counting song, Trupp: a fuzzhead tale, & Hush, little ones)

Once storytime started, Benji wasn't sure what to do. He did not want to sit still. And then there was alot of things to distract him in the room. Which he made sure to investigate.

Story time had things we didn't expect but made it all the better. The librarian read two books. (I think they were Figaro and then Grandma's Cat) The letter of the day was C. There were also a small show and tell where some of the kids brought things that started with C, like a cookie, can strainer, cake pan, costume, and clownfish. We will have to make sure to bring something with a D next week.

During the story time, Benji did start rocking while I was holding him. I am not sure if it was just he wanted down or the stimulation got to him. He did seem a bit glassy eyed.

After the reading they played music. It was a cow song, because it started with a C... LOL. They did sorta like a line dance and Benji had a blast. He absolutely LOVED it.

After the line dancing, the kids got coloring sheets featuring things that start with C. I really like the way storytime is set up. It's an actual learning time not just sit and listen and drive your mom crazy time. =]

So Benji colored and colored. And then he colored some more. He actually went back and forth between coloring and dancing for several minutes. It was so cute. After coloring they played a game that was a cross between mother may I and simon says. Hard to explain. Benji enjoyed mimicking the other kids. He was the youngest one there save one little girl that was only a month younger. She was able to do so much more than Benji. It's hard to realize that Benji has definite delays until we get around other children his age.

Anyhow, while we were attempting to leave the library Benji found the reading room and it had a couch in it like Nana's. So he decided he had to go see Nana... and we did. He got lunch at McD's first though. Chicken Nuggets and Fries with sweet tea. (We are southern ya know) At Nana's he played and had fun and gave hugs and seemed to come out of his hyperness. We left Nana's about 2:20p and by the time I got half a mile from her house he was dead to the world.

Once home he slept until about 5 and was grouchy when he woke up, but it quickly changed once we got dinner and then went to church. He loves his church. It is so cute.

But that was our Wednesday.

A rather eventful week.

Actually not really. This week has been a good one. (Which I know it's been awhile since I have updated and I really need to get on it.) Monday Benji had speech for the full hour and he did really good. Many spontaneous words and he is also using signs. Tuesday was a day of relaxation. Wednesday, Micah's preschool teacher and assistant came over for a home visit. (School starts September 10th for him) Then the fun begins.

Wednesday evening we went to church at DFA, we've been going for about a month and this was our 2nd Wednesday night. Jeff had gotten Benji from the nursery while me and mom were talking with a few other people. While we were talking Benji was being cute, trying out pews. Then Jeff tried to catch him before he took off but was too late. Benji took off running and ran smack into the pew. To the best of our ability we believe he smacked his head on the communion cup holder. Still we didn't realize what had happened. Jeff got to him and he was laying face down with his hands up to his head, sorta crying. Then Jeff saw the blood and said uh-oh. I ran over there and as Jeff got Benji up blood started pouring down his face.

So, we had a mild heart attack.... several ladies and a few men gathered around our crying little guy and Wes went and got an ice pack. The prayer calmed Benji (and us) and the ice started to slow the bleeding. We decided he needed to get stitches and headed in to Vanderbilt Childrens.

Did I mention that during service we had prayed for rain?

About the time we got in to Cheatham county it was raining. Not too bad, but it was raining. Then we got into Davidson county, all of a sudden the bottom let out and there was a gullywasher. Driving a rear wheel vehicle on flooded roads is not fun. Add to that I have never had a rear wheel vehicle until we were blessed with the Expedition. So I made it with many "Jesus take the wheel" type prayers. I had made the brilliant decision to get on the interstate to skip the street lights and all... That was a close call I don't want to relive.

Got to the hospital (I forgot to mention I called the triage line ahead to let them know we were coming.) Dropped Jeff off with Benji and went to park. By the time I got there they had him in the triage room assessing him. My only complaint there is we had told them that Benji was a heart baby and they didn't believe us. That is until they pulled up his records.

Long story short we had to wait 2 hours in the waiting room, nearly and then when we were called back they put the numbing gel on his head and we had to wait another hour. By the time we had gone back, Benji was very tired and had fallen asleep right after the gel was put on.

As you can see in the picture, he wasn't distressed really at all and I contribute that to the prayers. The wound went from when we first cleaned to thinking we could see the skull to by the time the doctor cleaned it that it don't really look that deep.

So that's through Wednesday. WE left the hospital I think around 1am... with the incident happening at 8:20pm. God is good... Benji might have a slight scar from it, but all and all he's fine. It's sore and bruised, but I have been keeping a clean and dry bandaid on it. I know the nurse said to leave it uncovered, but when we tried that Benji started picking at the stitches. So, hopefully the stitches will dissolve in a few days and all will be well.

Rompin' Stompin' Reading Roundup

So... today was a busy day. This morning we went to the library and signed everybody up for the summer reading program.
Benji got to pick out 5 books for us to read to him. He really enjoyed the kids area alot. There was a train table similar to his wooden Thomas trains and then there were computers.

Both Micah and Benji were very interested in the computers that were there. Benji was almost too excited...... LOL Micah played the games a little bit, Benji just wanted to hit on the keyboard.

So... we do plan on visiting the library at least weekly. The boys were also excited that they got library cards with their names on them. =]

Books that Benji(28 months) Checked out:
Let's Look at Mouths by Simona Sideri
Colors and Shapes Everywhere (Caillou, Concept Book)
Like a Windy Day by Frank Asch & Devin Asch
Little Yau: A Fuzzhead Tale by Janell Cannon
Pinduli by Janell Cannon


Books that Micah(46 months) Checked Out:
Scoop Saves the Day by Diane Redmond
Space Case by Kim Yaged
The BIRD Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta
Transformers Energon: Terrorcon Attack by Andrew Donkin
Transformers Energon: Megatron Returns by Andrew Donkin

Boredom strikes....

I'm so bored..... sitting in the parking lot waiting on the kiddos. Benji's evaluation went well... He is 28 months and his speech is 14-16 months. They are recommending 2-3 days of speech therapy a week for an hour at a time.
And they speech pathologist also suggested based on the behaviors he presented that he has a sensory integration thing going on and recommends Occupational Therapy eval. I'm gonna be eval'ed out by August... At least then I will get a little break thanks to school starting.
So on to enjoyment.... once I pick up the kiddos I get an extra one and she will go home around 2 or 3. Then tonight is softball at 6.

ending with a cute pic of my cutie.... taken when we went to Michael's Saturday. It's Benji.

Spring Fling

the kiddos had lots of fun today at the spring fling.....my feet hurt.

spring fling pt #2

and to and.. the girls on the sizzler.... they had fun... I'm glad we went.

Tuckered Out

Birthday party at CiCi's resulted in this Saturday evening....

New Pictures

I Wanna Ride!!! Let's feel the wind in my hair.

Whew! I'm tuckered out.

Wanna go for a spin? I think Mom realizes she has to make sure the door stays closed... I like this place.