A Smile Worth Sharing - 2014

Bertrand's photo for first grade, age 6, 2014-15 school year. The following are school photos from 2011-12 (preschool age 3), 2012-13 (preschool age 4), 2013-14 (kindergarten age 5), and proof that Bertrand is an increasingly happy guy!

I still want to eat these sweet little cheeks!

Victoria's Last Day of Toddler Pre-K

Today was Victoria's last day of preschool.  This was her first year of school, and to say that she loved it would be an understatement.  She would ask to go to school every morning, even on the weekends.  Her amazing teachers and wonderful classmates made all the difference.

I still remember Victoria as this bald, tiny 15 month-old pushing Bertrand's wheelchair to the bus stop, and how she would cry as he left, begging to go to school with him.  Even though I wanted to keep my baby longer, Victoria thought she was ready.  She was right.  She never ceases to amaze me.

Lady V with her wonderful teachers Zoie, Kelsee, and Kim.

Patiently waiting for her special letter and photos.

Enjoying a picnic snack.

Playing in a pool as a special start-of-summer treat.

Wearing her special dress from Abuelita and shoes from Titi Lili.

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For weeks, Victoria had been begging to have a tea party with her "best friends" from school.  So, in an act of pre-labor mommy-guilt, we invited her entire class over for an after school lunch/tea party to celebrate the last week of school.  

Victoria was over the moon!  She loved hosting her class, and we enjoyed getting to know her classmates parents more.  Hopefully this will lead to some play dates over the summer, and maybe another "tea party" come the start of school next Fall.  :)

Funny aside:  Victoria planned the menu, helped to cook/prepare several of the courses, and set the table "all by herself".  But by far her proudest accomplishment (that she relayed to all of her guests) was that she washed all of the tea cups and flatware!  It took me a long while to figure out why that would be more impressive than her tasty mini-tarts or place settings.  Although we involve Victoria in cooking and setting the table regularly, Matthew and I are a "dishwasher" people.  Victoria has been taught to simply put her dishes in the dishwasher but we have never actually hand-washed dishes with her!  Yikes.  I guess there will be more dishwashing in her and (unfortunately) my future. 

Last Day of Kindergarten

Bertrand's last day of kindergarten was a bit anticlimactic after the past few weeks of field trips and celebrations.

I had incorrectly assumed he'd be included in a mainstream kindergarten graduation ceremony the same way he has been integrated all year.  I didn't realize that their program ended a week before his.  I should've simply asked.  Live and learn.

Fortunately, Bertrand's report card made up for everything.  He has really flourished this past year.  His biggest gains at school were in speech and language.   Through both eye gaze and touch, he is accurately and consistently using photos to make choices.  He is also able to indicate "no".  We will be following-up with this at home.

He has also made big strides in feeding himself and drinking independently, as well as using the potty.  He is pretty amazing!

Bertrand will be participating in the Extended School Year program again this summer, so he doesn't have much of a break.  It's a good thing he loves school.  :)

Field Trip: Gone Fishin'

Bertrand's class went on a field trip to Camp Kostopulos today.  Camp Kostopulos is a residential summer camp where kids, teens, and adults with disabilities are able to choose from two options--a five day residential camp or travel trips.  They also offer year-round recreational programs--such as horseback riding and fishing.

Bertrand (and Victoria) were able to fish with the help of student volunteers from the Open Classroom, a local charter school.  The students, teachers, and parents from Open Classroom were wonderful.  I think everyone from both schools had a great time.   :)

Everyone called him "Indiana" since he was dressed like Indiana Jones.  

Victoria got to hold and release a fish.  Highlight of her week.

This is how real fishing is done!  Zzzz...

Field Trip: Little Dell Reservoir

Little Dell Reservoir

Today, Bertrand's class had a field trip to Little Dell Reservoir to go canoeing courtesy of Splore, a great local organization that provides opportunities for adventure to people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities.  And, an adventure it was!  The entire class--including Victoria--had a fantastic time.  :)

On the school bus and ready to go!

Headed down to the boat ramp.

The very first canoe to be loaded and pushing off.

Victoria serves as scout, pointing the way.

Canoeing on a very windy day.

Paddling further out.

Pointing at Mama back on shore.

Paddling out to see some Canada Geese.

Being joined by a classmate in another canoe.

On the way back to shore.

Bertrand was singing a happy song.

Docking and unloading the canoe.

A very happy boater.

Canoeing wiped us out!

Can I go again?!

Surrounded by classmates/friends.

Little sister photobomb.

Boy, was canoeing fun or what?!

Can't wait to do this again next year!

Report Card: Kindergarten Term 2

Reading Bertrand's report card cracks me up! I'm so glad he resolves conflict appropriately.  ;)

Hygiene and Toileting System

Bertrand was fitted for a new hygiene and toiling system today.  We selected the brand new HTS by Rifton.  He'll be one of the first (if not the first) person in Utah with this model.  It is for toilet and shower use.  It should arrive in a month.  My spine will be very happy when it does.  :)

A Smile Worth Sharing - 2013

Bertrand's 2013-14 school photo.

What can I say?  Kindergarten is proving to be Bertrand's best year yet!  Not only is he getting himself to sitting, feeding himself, and using the potty, but he is now taking great school photos!  Need proof?  Check out his school photos from 2011-12 and 2012-13.  Bertrand is a genuinely happy little guy.  :)

Kindergarten Schedule

Bertrand has been doing amazingly well on his new full-day kindergarten schedule.  He is so happy!  Bertrand is in a "Life Skills" classroom so, while they cover some standard academic concepts like math and reading, there is a greater emphasis on "life skills" such as toileting, communication, gross and fine motor activities, etc.

Most days Bertrand does 7 hours of school, 3 hours of intensive physical therapy, and 1 hour of stander at home.  Since several people have asked, here is a overview of Bertrand's weekday schedule:

Monday through Thursday:
6:45 AM - Wake up, eye drops, breakfast, medications
7:00 AM - Wash face, scrub eye lids, brush teeth, eye ointment, clothes
7:30 AM - Bus pick-up
8:00 AM - Arrive at school
8:15 AM - Greeting, toileting, positioning
9:00 AM - Physical therapy, gross motor activities, eye drops
10:15 AM - Recess with student helpers
10:30 AM - Group activity*
11:00 AM - Lunch, clean-up, toileting, eye ointment
1:00 PM - Communication, cognition, fine motor activities, eye drops
1:50 PM - Recess with student helpers
2:00 PM - Additional programming*, toileting
(* These activities are frequently "mainstream" with the regular kindergarten class.)
3:00 PM - Notes, coats, salutations, eye drops
3:15 PM - Bus departs school
3:30 PM - Bus arrives, intensive physical therapy
3:45 PM - "sNAC" (applesauce with N-acetylcysteine)
5:00 PM - Toileting, eye ointment
6:30 PM - Dinner, medications, stander
7:30 PM - Remove from stander
8:00 PM - Bed, eye ointment, overnight diaper, bedtime story

Not long ago we would have thought that a schedule such as this would be too strenuous or tiring for Bertrand.  We are proud that our little fighter has proved us wrong.  Not only is he tolerating this schedule, he is *enjoying* it.  He is thriving!

On Fridays, after Bertrand finishes school at 1pm, he will play with Victoria, go for a walk with Mama, or nap for 2 hours, and then have a typical physical therapy session from 3:30 to 6:30, followed by an hour of stander time.  On the weekends, Bertrand has a couple 2 hour sessions of occupational therapy and a single 3 hour session of physical therapy--this is on top of spending time with family, friends, and going to fun activities with his best friend Victoria.  He is our busy B.  :)

Mr. Kindergarten

Kindergarten clearly agrees with Bertrand.

For 2 weeks, Bertrand has been pushing himself up to sitting position unaided at least once a day.

Over that same period of time, he has also been eating a big school lunch!  He is consuming a variety of foods and textures that he would balk at with us at home.  

And now today's note from school says that Bertrand urinated on the potty for the first time ever!  Yay!

Kindergarten is proving to be a great year for our little man.  :)

"He urinated on the potty chair.  :) "

Whose child is this?

I usually let Victoria decide what to wear and today, for her first full day of school, was no different.  

Victoria picked out a PINK dress and PINK (not quite matching) headband.  She also *insisted* on wearing PINK shoes, and on bringing a PINK purse and her PINK doggie to school.  

How is this my child?  Oh my.

Victoria Starts Pre-K

Today, Victoria attended her preschool open house.  She LOVED it!

She did not want to leave!  We feel fortunate to have two enthusiastic scholars in the family. :)

Actually, make that three!  Today, we also moved Aury into the Univ. of Utah dorms.  Go Utes!

Bertrand's First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Bertrand's first day of Kindergarten!

Doesn't he look handsome?  :)

It was emotional.  

There was a time when we didn't expect him to make it this far.

We don't take this time--this gift--for granted.

Bertrand is lucky to have a team of folks who love him, including his new teacher Noreen, and his bus driver, Ernie, and bus aide, Julie!

We're so proud of our little champ.  :)

Go, Buddy!  Go!