So much news - one long post

Eoin is very proud of his Zoob bike

  The last two weeks have been so very busy and for a change I am going to blog a little about what I have been upto (before I change the subject back to Eoin.) I recently applied to fill a place on the Patient Adviser Board at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and I am so exited to say that it was accepted. I join a Board with amazing people who are united by one thing, using their expertise and experiences to shape how the Foundation interacts with patients. In true Saran style I jumped right in at the first meeting and can't wait to get going on a few projects. I am enthusiastic about using my experience as an Administrator and my personal journey as a cancer survivor to help others; both doctors and patients alike. I am very lucky to have a supportive husband who takes care of Eoin when I need to attend meetings or have to do some work at home - thank you Andy.

Ok normal transmission starts again. Let's get back to Eoin. Well I have just blogged about Eoin's crazy height so what else is new. Last Friday Andy and I had a meeting with the IEP school team. It was far less stressful then we had imagined (in fact the whole process was!). There was lots of laughter as we talked about Eoin and what a great kid he is. The consensus was that Eoin is not just clever but very clever. He tested over his age by at least a year in everything except reading which is is testing at his age. His vocabulary and reasoning were the highest scores the team had ever seen for a five year old (testing at age 8 I think). Logic and spatial awareness were the other extremely high points.

As a group we all agreed that Eoin needed support in social skills and behaviour. We settled on a plan that will be implemented in August when Eoin starts school. He will get some one on one time twice a week and social skills lessons in addition to this. A number of goals were set for him but I was so glad to see that the team had made some recommendations for how we can better support Eoin at home- mainly for Andy and I to be on exactly the same page which we normally are but Andy is softer than I am and Eoin has been manipulating this.

On Saturday we sat down as a family and talked through what we all needed to do. We set a bigger consequence for physical behavior but other than that we focused on positive things. What can we improve as a family. What were our family values, what could we work on together and almost forgot Eoin got to set consequences for Mommy and Daddy too if we are naughty. We all agreed that bedtime was something we needed to work on and we also needed to listen to each other more. Eoin got some new responsibilites which he seemed excited about.With all this in mind Eoin finished the meeting with a very earnest "I will try better. I know I can do it if I believe in myself."

That night saw a new bedtime routine, one which took place in Eoin's room and not ours. Eoin protested a little but after stories and some music Eoin was asleep. So far he has gone to sleep in his room every night and stayed there till 8am, 7am and 5am (hoping this isn't going to become a pattern of earlier each morning). He has taken on his new responsibilities with pride and we are ever so proud of our ever growing and maturing little boy.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.....

...... Eoin is going to be a very tall adult. We just a quick visit to the doctor for a TB test and Eoin was measured again. Eoin is more or less 5 and a half and is 4ft 4'' that's 132 cm or 52 inches.To put that into perspective if we plot Eoin's height on a growth chart he is in the 75th percentile for an eight year old; 50th percentile for a 9 year old and the 10th percentile for a 10 year old. Estimated height at 18 years of age has now gone up to 6ft 8. Basketball scholarship here we come!
 
  
PS  Eoin's weight has stayed the same in the last six months still 62 lbs (28 kg). His shoe size is 2.5 going on 3 in some brands. 

Underwater Fun

 Just before our holiday to San Diego we got a little camera that works under water. Eoin thought this was very cool. The first video is of Eoin trying to work out if he could talk underwater.

The second video is just what the camera saw once we let it sink to the bottom of the pool.

 

IEP process and school placement

Eoin getting hair extensions and face painted at Legoland

So way back in December I blogged about how Eoin was asked to leave preschool because of behavior issues and the school not being able to support him. Since then Eoin has been at home with me. I am glad to say things have improved dramatically but we still decided to start the IEP process (individualized education program) with the school district.

We have registered Eoin for our local elementary school which is just round the corner. However he was kid number 340 to register for that kindergarten year. The last few years there have been 8 elementary classes and so as you can imagine our local school is HUGE and not necessarily the best match for Eoin.

Side note - the Cupertino school district has been amazing and so helpful even though Eoin hasn't started in a state school yet.

Help the shark got me!

The last three weeks have seen Eoin go through quite a few observations or assessments. I have filed in paperwork, had multiple interviews, organized for the IEP team to observe in the home, sports class or just at a playdate. We will finally find out what their recommendation will be next week. While we do await their recommendation with abated breath we have not sat on our laurels doing nothing.

Academics were never a concern for Eoin. There is no doubt that he is very very clever (so may have been bored at preschool). We were told after his academic assessment that he is very bright which has been reiterated a number of times since. So considering this we chose for this time at home to be focused on behaviour and on techniques that can help Eoin.


Eoin is amazing in identifying his emotions. He can tell you very clearly what he feels. What he cannot always do is find an appropriate reaction. No matter if it is a good emotion or a hard emotion Eoin struggles in displaying the emotion. If excited or overstimulated Eoin will very often squeal loudly or hit his forehead. If hurt he will cry heavily and if he sees blood well you have a major issue. If angry with people he knows he will hit, kick or even bite on occasion. This means that I am often covered in bruises. This sounds distressing and it is at the time but Eoin can reset so quickly that these reactions could occur many times a day.

Mommy and Eoin at Legoland with little pal Anthony which Eoin won at a target ball throwing game.

We have worked with a great play therapist who helped Eoin give a voice to his experience of Mommy being ill the last couple of years. This really helped reduce the amount of troubling outbursts. I truly believe that the last few months of having Eoin home with me again has been good. He has seen that for the most part I am well. I have enough energy to play with him, to get down on the floor and play and I stay awake longer then he does at night! I have worked a lot with Eoin on identifying appropriate ways to show emotion. We have worked hard on trying to give people personal space, sticky hands (for when he wants to hit) or seeking out a grown up for help. We have multiple sensory input toys for him and also a safe hideaway place when he needs it.

To many this sounds like a hard time, a hard kid to help and parent but for us it is not. We see (as do many who know Eoin) the amazing love he has. He tries to hug all his teammates in soccer and basketball goodbye each week; there are often tears if he cannot give someone a hug; he cheers for his teammates and encourages them; he does not have a problem not winning and will often say I am glad you won because you are strongest at that and then he asks for their help to learn;  he shares his toys pretty well with friends, he has amazing manners and Eoin tries something new everyday whether it is scary or not. Eoin is one of the most loving kids we know and so it is so hard to see hm struggle so much with emotions.

Eoin and Daddy checking out Lego on Easter morning.

There is so much I could write about how amazing Eoin is - clever, funny, loving, sensitive, energetic and very coordinated. I can only hope that with continued hard work from all involved that Eoin will be ready to start kindergarten in August. One more assessment for Eoin and two more interviews for me and then we will meet with the school team next Friday to see how we can all support this amazing kid as he starts school.

Easter 2013

We had a great Easter weekend. On the Friday afternoon I organized an Easter Egg hunt for all the kids on our Court (no photos though I was having too much fun!).

Easter Sunday of course saw Eoin have a hunt of his own. Lego was the main theme as he isn't into chocolate that much. Of course though there were a few chocolatey things hidden though Andy will probably enjoy most of them.

Andy cooked an amazing lamb for Easter dinner which we shared with some friends we haven't seen for a while. It was a great afternoon catching up with friends and their bambino.