It’s sad, but true, that when things are busiest and most “interesting” in my life, I don’t update the people who want to know! But, I guess it makes sense that when I can barely keep my head above the water, I wouldn’t find time to sit and write. I don’t really have time, now, but I gotta. It’s cathartic for me.
Dave: He’s tired, but seems to be enjoying the academy. He got to do the week at the “driving range” last week. Don’t confuse that with golfing! He said it was the weirdest to have police officers telling him to “go faster!” He seemed to really enjoy it. I could relay all the fun stuff he did, but I’m sure I wouldn’t do it justice. He’ll have to tell you himself. While he is enjoying it, it’s a lot of work and he’s ready for it to be over and be with him family again. Two more months!
Audra: Oh, what to say? Life is so crazy right now. We got a new, high-needs student in class and another student needs more support, so I’ve spend the past couple weeks trying to get them settled in. I had to sign up and am now going to emergency “crisis prevention intervention” training, or what I like to call, “how to treat a hostile student.” It’s all about de-escalation techniques and, in a worse case scenario, how to keep the student, yourself, and others safe around a volatile student. Oh, so fun. I’ve also been called to be Nursery leader (18 months to 3 year olds), and while I LOVE that, I have two kids in their with autism, and I can’t just be in there and lead the rest and not do anything specific for them. But, then again, that takes a lot of extra work and time and attention. Regardless, I have to do it because I love it and feel that need. So, I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking, preparing (myself as well as materials), and doing that new position at church. In addition, I will be taking my BCBA exam (the “bar” exam of behavior analysts) hopefully in March. I heard from the organization that they are waiting on one more piece of paperwork before they can approve me to take it. That means studying and prepare for that beast of a test. So, all that, and a missing husband, two busy kids (one with bumloads of doctor’s appointments), financial strain, and frequent back pain makes for a fun life. It’s all good. It’s busy, crazy, hardly able to handle it and all that, but it is fulfilling and I know it will not be like this forever. I do miss close friends and family to lean on during this time. I don’t really have a support system down here. Someday, but I think I’m still too new to the area to really have that core network, yet.
Isaak: Not much new to speak of. Hangs out with his best friend, plays games, gets his homework done, cruises through his Algebra at school, and just signed up for little league. He started a new social group and is in a group with several 12 year olds. He’s small, already, for his age, so he looks extra small with them! But, it seems to be a good fit socially as they’re all working on the same skills. He also wants to take a college math course over the summer, so I have to look into making that happen if it’s possible. He’s been doing SO much better since off the other medication, and we’ve started a new one that really seems to be helping his ability to maintain attention and calm his body. He’s in a good place right now.
Audra/Maggie: Just a busy, playing machine. All she wants to do all day is hang out with her friends. If we had a mall nearby, I’d be afraid she’s be lost in that lovely land each day. Luckily, she hasn’t taken to spend hours on the phone, yet, but I see that just around the corner. She is about to be evaluated for ADHD which probably wouldn’t surprise us. I’m not sure we’ll do anything differently with her. She’s always been this way, and I think we’ve been good at helping her handle her energy and focus it appropriately, but we might learn some additional tools. And, it may turn out she’s just like me–high energy but which causes no impairment. We’ll know in a few weeks.
Here’s Isaak explaining the rules to a card game a couple weeks ago at grandma’s house. He is doing so well these day, even though the traces are still there. Notice what I used to call “stammering” but I have learned is “cluttering” (tripping over words, saying them multiple times), some rocking, sounding like he’s reading the rules (he’s probably memorized the rules and is saying them word-for-word), and most the lack of interest or even awareness of all the crazy cousin activity going on around him. Just interesting to see. 
Some fun picts:
