Almost time

for school that is.  10 days and counting.  Jonathon is ready.  He has been ready all vacation.

Today we went up to the school to show Jonathon his new playground.  I let him check it out and play for 20 minutes like he will at school and then had him line up at the door like he will be doing all this year.

I was pretty amazed how well he did.  The new playground is huge compared to the playground he was on for the last 3 years.  He enjoyed playing on the playground.  He worried Kenny alot, but I explained to Kenny that we have to back off and let him go.  And that he is ready!  Yes, I do believe he is ready.  Is mom ready?  No, not really.  Jonathon is my baby.  It will be hard to have him gone all day.  We are together all the time.  He is my little shadow.  But we will adjust and change is good.

We will continue to travel to school all this week so that Jonathon can get more familiar with his new surroundings.

I am trying to prepare him for the changes that are taking place.


Here are some pictures to share of Jonathon exploring and getting ready for a fun filled year.

walking the bridge

Checking out the teeter totter

Ok  I'll just go under

Time to line up!

Almost there!

"Made it"  

Missing Family

grandma Martindale, Jonathon, me, Kenny, Gil and Andrew in the back.

Doesn't seem like it has been over 1 week since my mom came to visit from Florida.  This was Jonathon's second time meeting her and this time he remembers grandma and has asked me where she is.
Now I have to figure out how to teach him that we live in Michigan and grandma Martindale lives in Florida.....which is very far away and we just cannot go visit.....

We had a busy weekend....On Saturday we went bowling...Jonathon had lots of fun.
On Sunday we had a birthday party to go too.. and once again Jonathon had a riot.

St. Clair County Down Syndrome Picnic

someone like Jonathon very much

was on Sunday afternoon at Cheri's house.  This year there was swimming, a clown, balloons, painting, and a hayride with lots of food and great people.

This was our second year attending the picnic and we had a great time again this year.  It is nice to be able to sit and watch all the children play and a good time to just sit and chat with other parents.

Jonathon had a great time.  He got to swim in the big pool for a few minutes(before he got cold) and then he really enjoyed just running around and playing with some big balls and they had a huge slide.  He did quite well with the clown.  He got a cat balloon made and even let the clown paint his arm with a snake.  I am so proud of him because last year he would have never let anyone paint his arm.  He was one of the younger ones this year, but that didn't seem to bother him at all.

We met a new family who has a 3yr. old boy who is a typical child and a 4 month old who is blessed with an extra chromosome. I got the chance to talk with the mom for a few minutes and hope to see her again at our local monthly meetings.  Her boys were so cute.

Before we went home we went down the road with the rest of the party goers to feed some Alpacas.  But the Alpacas were pretty shy and didn't want to come close to the fence so Jonathon decided to eat their carrots instead and throw some out to them.

All in all a great day ~ we all enjoyed ourselves very much and can't wait to go again next year.

playing ball with daddy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                                      

snake!

 

 

 

Alpaca

 

BAYORAMA 2010

Kenny, Jonathon and I packed up Sunday afternoon and headed out to New Baltimore to the Bayorama festival to support my sister.  My sister was running a hot dog stand (hot dog, chips, cookie, drink) for $5.00 to raise money for her 3 day walk(Breast Cancer) that is coming up in August.  My sister is a 6 year survivor! (HOORAY)  I love my sis very very much and will help her out in any way that I am able too.

Jonathon had a great time.  He played the duckie game and won a car.  After we chatted with Aunt Carol-Ann we went over to the swings, and playground and then headed down to the beach to walk/run in the water.  We went down the boardwalk to look at all the water.  Watched an owner with his dog playing fetch the stick in the water.

Kenny was just happy getting his large container of french fries ~ he loves french fries.

Then a storm was headed in so we packed back up and headed for home.

Good day!

My Swimmer

We went to our local YMCA last Saturday for a swim evaluation.  Jonathon will be starting swimming lessons this week.

We have a class on Saturdays from 11-12p.m. This class will be one on one with an instructor and is mainly playtime.(ASD-Autism Spectrum Disorder) Even though Jonathon does not have ASD he is still able to join this class.

I am waiting for Katie (YMCA) to call me back on what other class Jonathon will be taking.

At our swim evaluation we had the best lifeguard work with us - Miss Maggie from Woodlands - she retired from Woodlands last year and after 24 hours she got a job at the YMCA.  And Jonathon loved her!

I am very excited about Jonathon taking swimming lessons~ he really loves the water!

Update on what's new with us.....

I guess I have lost days again on blogging. I get so busy with all 3 boys that I just don't find the time to even turn on my computer and we have been very busy these last few days.

On Sunday August 23rd we traveled out to the Detroit Zoo. We figured out half way through that next year we will do some things differently. At the beginning of the zoo there is mostly inside animals(reptiles, butterflies, birds)etc.

We love to feed the giraffe(which are at the other end)and feeding time is 1p.m. Last year AND this year we literally had to run to get to the feeding on time.....plus eat OUR lunch. When we noticed that if we take the train when we first arrive and ride to the back of the park we can take our time seeing ALL the big outside animals(tiger,lion,zebra)etc. and be there for the morning feeding of the giraffe AND Jonathon won't be sleeping and miss some of the big animals(yes he took a nap on schedule and missed lots).

It started to mist(rain)around 1:30p.m. and continued off and on for the remainder of our visit. I was pretty bummed out~the animals went in AND it wasn't supposed to rain at all. I am very glad that I took the stroller this year instead of the wagon. Jonathon was able to nap comfortably AND I was able to cover him from the rain.

Kenny got to go in the dinosaur simulator with Randy, Andrew and Gilbert.(Jonathon and I stayed out). Kenny said it was very cool and really enjoyed the ride. I was told that I would never make it......(ok, no dinosaur simulator for me...). Further through the zoo Kenny did some one on one time with Dad(Gilbert). They walked thru Dinotopia(dinosaur exhibit). Was told that it was interesting too. Maybe next year we will take Jonathon through that one.(noise issue this year).

Monday evening Jonathon had an ENT appt.(check up). Alot of wax build up in his ears~we do peroxide drops once per month~no, not anymore, Dr. ENT thinks it is making his ears worse and drying them out really bad~we need to pick up sweet oil, 1-2 drops per ear once per week until our next visit. Tympanogram was taken~Right ear:Type A -Normal(Hooray!!) Left ear: Type B -Flat(Bummer!) Difficulty obtaining a hermetic seal bilaterally (L-R). SOOO Dr. ENT thinks that there could be some fluid. We go back in 6 weeks for a recheck. He is not too concerned just yet. I also asked him about Jonathon's noise issue~it was terrrible at the zoo. He informed me that it's not b/c of him having Down Syndrome, it's not an ear problem, some children just have noise issues.....Ok. Still makes me wonder. Just certain noises really bother him. I helped him out though(different post to come).

And I took my boys out to eat dinner at Olive Garden. Expensive? Yes. Did I NEED to go to Olive Garden? No. Did I WANT to go to Olive Garden? Yes. It was my dinner to my son who will be starting highschool in 2 weeks. It was my I love you for all you do and want you to have a great first year in highschool. It was my I am very proud of you and know you will do just fine. DINNER! (and of course Jonathon loves spaghetti too)

Tuesday - Took the boys school shopping. Left at 9:30a.m. and got back home at 4p.m. Terrible terrible shopping day. Kenny is ridiculous this year(no, don't like that)ALL DAY Long! I bought him one pair of jeans on sale for 16.99 and one tshirt on sale for 7.99. 1 pair of gym shorts for 6.00. Done ~ that's it ALL DAY LONG!!!!! I practically went to every store in the mall. And on this trip Jonathon threw his shoe out of the stroller, I did not notice til it was too late.....We backed tracked,we checked lost and found, we asked passers by......SANDAL is gone!!!!! Good thing summer is almost over. I guess I did get my $15.00 worth out of them.

Wednesday - seen Jc Penny was having a huge sale and it was on the $16.99 jeans I just bought Kenny, plus I had a 15% off discount for filling out survery. Decided I would go back and get" picky" Kenny more jeans that he does like.

First we had to run to Richmond ~ I sold my high chair on Craigslist and needed to meet up with lady who was buying it.(Hooray!!!) Then we ran to Krogers really quick to get a few items. Then I went to Kmart real quick ~ I have officially started Christmas shopping! I cannot believe I just said that, but it's true. I put some stuff in layaway. Then off to the mall AGAIN(crazzzzzy....)Go to JC Penny, get the jeans for Kenny and Andrew also got 2 pair. Soooo for 4 pairs of jeans I paid 64.00. Now these jeans were normally 36.00 per pair so I say thats a deal and my 2 oldest boys are done. I just have to get them gym bags for their clothes. Jonathon has been done since June. He was easy. one garage sale ~27 items for $27.00. All like brand new and name brand too.

OOOOHHHH , by the way, I was sooo stressed about going back to the mall that after JC Penny I walked down to younkers and Sears really quick to see if they had rain coats for Jonathon or winter coats. Of course nothing. So we get ready to leave the mall and Andrew says" WHERE ARE THE JEANS"!!!!!!!?????? OMG! I left them at JC Penny........ Thank Goodness I had my receipt and they remembered me AND I didn't drive all the way home first.

Which brings me to today! Cleaning, laundry washing and drying. Playing with Jonathon, movie watching with Jonathon, catching up on my computer, paperwork and RELAXING!!!!

A Day at the Fair

Hi Mr. Cow!

Ohhhh I like this sheep!

Mama Goat and her babies(born this morning)

Meeting the Goat

Lots of Ducks

Quick hello to a Big Horse

Jonathon DID NOT like the piggies........

Taking a quick break

By Far~Jonathons favorite.....He kept clapping!

As always......My 3 Angels........

Lunch Time

Going fishing for a Duckie.......

Got to meet Bugs Bunny! How Fun!

Jonathons favorite pastime~The Carousel

Tired Little Boy after a Busy Day.....

Wordless Wednesday

Hand Me Downs are Great

What ya got brothers?
OOOOHHH A Tent for ME!
Ok Andrew, Let me get in here
This is fun Kenny!
Huh? What?
Thank you Kenny! What a great Big Brother!

Some people may say that we are pack rats, but we say that we just know how to hang onto special items that one day will come to good use and make someone very happy!!!!!

This tent has been in our family since Kenny was 2 years old! And he just decided that it was time for Jonathon to enjoy and start exploring the world of IMAGINATION.

School Today

went well for Jonathon. He showed O.T.(Amanda) how he can put all his shapes in his shape sorter bucket and then he stacked all his cups together, which ends up being taller than him almost.(used to be, but Jonathon has grown). Then they worked on a puzzle together~this one had little pegs~he needs to use his pincher finger to get the piece out. We have these puzzles at home, so we will start working on these now.

Amanda gave me a great idea to do with bubbles. Blow the bubbles and have Jonathon use his pointer finger to "pop" the bubbles. Never thought of that~so when we go outside later we will get our bubbles out and try popping them.

On to P.T.(Annette) Got some good news from her today. We will be having summer services(school)once per week. She is going to start the summer off and then Miss Jen(my previous P.T. from last year)will end the summer. Miss Jen is having her second baby anyday now(this I did not know, so will be sending her a gift). I am very excited that we will be able to continue on with school through out the summer just like last year. And it is centrally located this year at Woodlands~this is 20 minutes from my house.

We will also be doing summer activities again this summer with all the children located in St.Clair County. I had alot of fun last summer and Andrew and Kenny enjoyed the time also with Jonathon.
Bad news about summer activities is that we might not be able to swim like last year. The swim teacher has retired and they are not sure what will take place. I really hope something opens up b/c that was one of Jonathon's favorite activities. He so enjoys the water.

I really need to look into us getting into the YMCA. My social worker was trying to get a scholarship for us, but said they were put on hold because of the economy. I think I will just pop in there and see what it is all about.