Everything is working out!

This past week has been great for TRex.  Hard to believe that his training will be complete by this time next week.  TRex now tells me what he did at school during the day.  Today, his class had a football player and a cheerleader visit which he told me about plus who all was in his class today..

He was very focused at training today.  We came home for a quick snack and then went to karate.  I was amazed at how focused he was.  We had practiced the first part of Chon Ji at home and he did it for Mr. David.  Also he has improved on his balances and block.  Today a pair of the higher belts brought their sparing gear and for the first time I noticed TRex paying attention.

On the way home, TRex mumbled something so I asked him to repeat.  He said I want to fight.  I asked him what he meant and he said fight like at Mr. David's.  I asked him do you mean you want to spar and he said yes I want to spar.  I explained that he has to get to the next belt to be able to spar and that is what he repeated to his Poppa when we arrived home.  I feel like everything is finally paying off for TRex.

I talked with a friend on the way to karate and said she could come by - which she didn't but will next week.  On the way home, TRex also asked me who didn't come to karate.  I asked him what he meant and he said "Who did you want to come to karate?"  I still acted like I didn't know what he meant and he actually named her.

TRex had wanted me to go a certain route on the way home from training but I told him no because of the school zone and that we would go after karate.  I went straight home because I was caught up in the fact that he was able to discuss his wants and such as I stated previously.  As I pulled into the driveway, TRex said "Momma, where didn't we go?"  I was kind of taken aback and asked him what he meant and he said "You said we could go on Mimosa after karate."  I high-fived him and drove up to Mimosa.

Before his bath, TRex used his number wall chart and counted to 100 for me.  He also did the "at" family of words.  After his bath, TRex read his first book to me EVER - the BOB book Mat.  I would say this has been an amazing and blessed day.   I don't believe he could have done this in May before his neurofeedback training.

Headed into the homestretch!!

TRex is on the last protocol with only 4 more training sessions left!!  His PE teachers at curriculum day commented that he is paying attention now. So far, we have had all positive reports from school which is very different than the previous two years.  I can't wait to hear the feedback from his parent teacher conference scheduled Oct 31st.

We have been practicing his skills from school.  He can count up to 100 and is starting to read three letter words using the family word methodology - at, it, etc.

End of first week of preK5

Friday was the end of the first week of pre-K5.  TRex was disappointed that he was not able to go to school on Saturday and Sunday so I would say that is a sign that he likes his class.  I have to admit I have had some nervousness about how this year would go.

Last year in pre-K4 TRex was socially isolated.  I could tell that he was sad about it because he would come home and cry about it (and as his mom this breaks my heart).  I think the social isolation was in part due to the fact that he was “different” from his classmates.  He only went half days.  He got special attention, etc.  The other part was also due to the speech issues.  I am hoping to help this pattern not repeat this year.  I was concerned because one of the students who he had said “doesn’t like him” was in his class this year when we were looking at the roster.  However, I have asked him this week if said classmate is being nice to him and he had so yes.  TRex is becoming very willing to talk about his feelings with me so I will continue to ask and hopefully this situation will resolve and we can move past it.

I saw his teacher on friday at release and she said she still has to direct him to start activities but that once he gets started he is ok (I hope I am not projected my wishes upon how I interpret what she said).  So that is part of what we will be working on for the coming weeks.

With school on-going, TRex's training sessions are in the evening during the week.  I am trying to schedule one of the two weekly sessions on Saturday morning.  He was very tired Wednesday with school, neurofeedback, and reciting his memory verses at church.  We skipped karate that night.  I think we will not go to karate on Wednesdays while he has training.

Aug 22, 2012

What a day and week for TRex!!  He did well on his training session Monday which was his first one in this protocol.  He had a 63% reward.  Today he had a 75% reward.  Lynsey said next one will have more difficulty.  TRex's speech and thought patterns continue to improve.  An example of speak this week:

On the way back from the store tonight
TRex: Mom how old are you?
Me: I am 5 just like you.
TRex: Mom 5 year olds don't drive.

Um busted. Guess I need to fess up to being 16.

Today was TRex's first day at pre-K5. This summer he worked his rear end off on school work. The only day of the week he got totally off was Sunday. Additionally he has been in karate since the end of May, had 10 Saturdays of soccer fundamentals, and 5 Saturdays of basketball fundamentals. Today was be the 17th neurofeedback training session out of a total 25 scheduled. Lots of activity and lots of hitting his brain.

When I picked him up in car pool, his teacher said "He drew the ginger bread man on his own, he ate his lunch on his own, he answered and participated in conversation. I took him down to talk to his teacher from last year. She amazed at the difference." All I have to say is AMEN! Thank you God. 

At home, he told his Poppa and M'Dear that he did his work by himself.  TRex was very proud as was his mother.   I am sure the neurofeedback isn't the only thing that made the difference, but I do give it lots of credit.  I am thrilled that he stayed on task.  I hope tomorrow brings as much success but need to keep my hopes in check.

TRex finished his third protocol on Wednesday.  The extra sleep seems to have worked as he was able to focus and had one of his best training sessions so far.  Only 10 left to go and I am looking forward to the protocol starting on Monday morning.  The focus will be on short term memory and verbal processing - the two areas that are at the heart of his issues.

I haven't post about the last three training sessions as they were uneventful.  I had expressed to Dr. Rey my concerns about TRex zoning out - that had been part of the issues with him in the past that had led to understanding about the speech delay and verbal processing.  Dr. Rey explained that this is similar to me being bored in a meeting and using that time to think about what I need to buy at the store.  He did indicate that TRex will learn how to deal with boredom as he gets older and that the neurotherapy should help him.

TRex was very fidgety today at neurofeedback.  So I guess it is time to institute an earlier bedtime.  I have put this off for as long as possible because I cherish the evening time with him since I work.  Starting tonight bath time is 8 pm followed by bed (in his own bed!) at 830pm.  I am a little sad but he needs the sleep time so he can be ready for Mrs. Roach's class.  I guess this means I can go to the gym at 9 pm instead of having to get up before the butt crack of dawn. (In my previous life BT I worked out at 9 pm so this will be good.)

Tuesday -July 31st (Neuro 10) and Thursday - August 2nd (Neuro 11)
Both appointments were rather normal.  TRex knows what to expect.  He ate well before the appointments and trained well.  I talked to Dr. Ray about TRex still using some jargoning and basically he told me to not be so uptight about it.  Obviously TRex knows how to talk so he is just messing with me.  So since then, when TRex does that I ask him if he wants a bottle to go with the baby talk and he quits it.

TRex has been so very verbal lately which of course I have craved.  Some examples are:


TRex:I am getting a new car when I am 16
Me: Oh really?
TRex: Yeah a Kia or a Mustang or a truck and it is going to go fast
Me: I guess you need to save your pennies
TRex: No problem Mom. I have pennies in my room.

TRex: Mom there are two parts of the Bible. Did you know that? What are the two parts?
Me: What?
TRex: Silly Momma. The old testament and the new testament.

His class roster arrived on Saturday.  I am very excited as he likes all the classmates he knows (4 are new students) and he loves his new teacher.  All the paperwork is complete.  He asked to buy his lunches at school.  So we are ready.