Lonnie FINALLY got hired !

We have been waiting for months for Lonnie to be hired on full time with Burton Lumber . His supervisor has finally sealed the deal with the HR department , and was even able to back date his hiring by a few weeks so that the health insurance would start a bit sooner [ although we still have to wait 90 days ] . Unfortunately he did have to take a pay cut to secure full time employment .... which I think is just a sign of the times . So we are now looking for part time work for either one of us, to replace the lost income . We feel very blessed that he now has a career with a good company , and hope that as the economy improves so will his pay .

Winter is coming !

This is a picture of both the swing and hanging bar , obviously we would only use one at a time. This is Lonnie's genius mounting system, very versatile !

With winter coming and a VERY active little boy on our hands , we had decided to construct a large motor / sensory area for Zach . Lonnie is so great when it comes to building and designing stuff that he was able to make this swing that is very similar to the one at Zach's school , with only my verbal instruction [ in woman- ese / aka = man - jibberish ] and a picture from the Internet . He also made a hanging bar , and we are looking into a hammock swing of some sort .... sounds like an excuse to make a trip to Ikea !And perhaps a small plastic slide . So far it has worked wonders for Zach to get his wiggles out , and has reduced aggression some .

In other news Zach has been moved up yet again in school . He will be starting in November in the Play and Learn class at DDI Vantage . This new class is structured more like a "regular" preschool and is an "inclusive " classroom , which just means it is for kids of mixed abilities . Although I am very excited for him to be advancing so well , I am nervous to see how he will do in a more "mainstream " peer group and environment. It is however a necessary evil , he is getting older and will be going to preschool at Peyton's school after Christmas break .... so this will help us decide what type of classroom will suite him best when he "transitions" to big boy school.

Peyton's last T ball game is tonight , and the weather is going to be COLD ! I am going to try to remember to get pictures of her playing ...[ Sorry Julie , I keep forgetting . I am so busy coaching I have missed alot of her playing ] Or maybe just a picture of her in her Jerzee , because honestly why does a girl play sports but for the cute outfit !?

Zach's new favorite song .

These are the lyric's from a song that is on the ending credits of the "new " Charlotte's web dvd .
Zach & Madilyn can sing the entire song ! Sadly when Zach sings it you can not understand what he is saying , but can identify the melody .

A place in the Sun
Originally performed by Stevie Wonder

Like a long lonely stream
I keep runnin' towards a dream
Like a branch on a tree
I keep reachin' to be free
movin' on , movin' on

'Cause there's a place in the sun
Where there's hope for everyone
Where my poor restless heart's gotta run
There's a place in the sun
And before my life is done
Got to find me a place in the sun

Like an old dusty road
I get weary from the load
movin' on , movin' on
Like this tired troubled earth
I've been rollin' since my birth
Movin' on , movin' on

'Cause there's a place in the sun
Where there's hope for everyone .
Where my poor restless heart's gotta run
And before my life is done
got to find me a place in the sun

When times are bad
and your feeling sad
Always remember that ,
There's a place in the sun
where there's hope for everyone.

Dry Sensory Play

Beans


Wheat

Today being Tuesday , is my "light " day as far as the schedule is concerned . I always try to get in a few sensory activities on tuesdays . We have wheat , beans, rolled oats , flax seeds , flour that we play with on a regular basis . Today is was wheat and beans . Zach really enjoys the beans and he will touch them and play with little hesitation . However, the wheat because it has a smaller hull , tends to more of a sensory challenge for him so you see alot of "tools" in the bin to hopefully encourage him to touch . The sensations proved to be too much for him today , he got OVER stimulated and became aggressive so that was the end of that .

Zach will be starting in a preschool class at USDB [ Utah school for the deaf and blind ] on Fridays . This will hopefully expand his functional vocabulary , whether through sign or speech . He will also be able to choose the communication method that is most comfortable for him to use . The class is for kids between 2 1/2 and 3 , with mild to profound hearing loss . We are very excited for him to have the chance to explore different peer groups .

Peyton is still is T ball and having fun building sand castles while she is supposed to be catching the balls . Lonnie and I have had a ball as the coaches , we have a great team .