Friday, May 31, 2013

Progress Report on William

I am so amazed at how far William has come in his anxiety issues since the beginning of school.  I wish I was able to get a video of him in public the way he used to act, but by the time I thought of doing it, he was already starting to come out of his shell.  This video is similar to how he used to act, though.  He used to withdraw inside himself when there were other people around (other than immediate family and Grandpa and Grandma).  His face would look sort of blank and he'd be stiff.  He avoided eye contact and if asked a direct question, he'd often walk away.  He would always pick or chew on his fingers.  He doesn't do any of those things anymore!  He still is  reserved around new people, but not nearly to the extent that he was.   The other day, we went to Pizza Hut to use the free pizza coupons from BOOK IT and he was telling the waiter what he wanted on his pizza and which pizza belonged to his sisters and brother.  I used to have to find out what he wanted to eat and place his order for him, now he just tells them himself!   He raises his hand to answer questions at school and his teacher even has to remind him to talk less sometimes!  His teacher is the one who clued us into the fact that William might have more going on than just shyness.  And although he didn't get an official diagnosis of Selective Mutism (he was diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder), I still am sure that he did in deed have SM.  Especially since the main symptom of Selective Mutism is lack of speech in specific social situations (but not all situations) and his total lack of speaking in public was the main "red flag" for us.  As we near the end of school and look forward to the next year, we are a little afraid of how far back he'll slide in his progress with a new teacher and new situations.  He has already been introduced to his teacher for next year and has been doing small things with her to get to know her a little. We pray that he "bounces back" well and continues to improve and conquer his anxiety while he is young. 

These pictures are small (they'll get bigger if you click on them), but I think it shows Will's progress well.  The one on the left is (obviously) from the first day of Kindergarten and the one on the right is from mid March.  It isn't just that he's smiling a little more in the 2nd picture, but his eyes are what makes me notice the change.  Maybe it's just me, but I can see the fear and anxiety in the first picture and his eyes in the 2nd picture are more relaxed and at ease.  And that makes me so happy!


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Memorial Day 2013

Here are pictures of our trip to the cemetery to put flowers on Grandpa and Grandma's graves.  Grandpa didn't have a flag again this year.  It was a little chilly this year!










Friday, May 17, 2013

Happy Birthday, Dan!

Today is Dan's birthday.  He doesn't like big fusses about birthdays, but the kids LOVE giving gifts, so we had a surprise birthday party at my parents' house.  Since it was a day off from school for the kids, they were already at Grandpa and Grandma's while we took Will to his therapy appointment.

Warming his hands over the fire


From William

William enjoying Daddy opening a gift from him


From Emily



From Andy

From Sarah 

From me


Thursday, May 16, 2013

We Have Robins

Pretty much every Spring, a robin wants to build a nest on the window ledge outside of our bathroom window.  They usually give up after a few days of bringing twigs and grass over.  This year, I walked into the bathroom and found that there was a complete finished nest just outside the window!

Even decorated with a blue ribbon!
But it seemed that they were not using it for a week before I found a robin was sitting/nesting in it.


I decided to put up a piece of cardboard so the poor bird wouldn't fly away every time I went into the bathroom!


It is easy enough to see around/peek at the birds, but gives them more of a feeling of safety.

On April 24th, I noticed there were 2 eggs in the nest, on April 25th, 3 eggs, and on the 26th, there were 4 eggs ☺


Here is the nest as seen from outside:


This is the nest on May 2nd:


I was able to sneak this picture of mommy robin sitting on the nest from the corner of the house:


On May 7th, 2 babies have hatched:


May 8th, baby 3 hatches:


May 9th, the last baby hatches:


The ugly little things (May 11)☺


May 13th:





May 14th:


I was trying to get another picture of the babies when Mommy came back with food!


She flew off again and I got the picture I was trying for:

 
May 15th:
 


 
 

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Spring Music Program

This is the first year that we've gone to the Spring Music Program.  The kindergarten through 2nd graders have their music program at Christmas time.  The 3rd through 5th graders have theirs in the Spring.


Sarah is the 4th from the right in the middle row (orange dress)


Sarah got to do the head on the Chinese dragon


This song about a cat had a little "play" that went with it




I have no idea who this 5th grader is, but wanted a picture of his tiny bass!

Finale with all the 3rd  - 5th graders