Well that was Christmas

So that was Christmas... Away for 5 days, laundry to do and a major purging of toys and organizing left to do.... I remember now why I wanted to organize and purge before we left, maybe next year.  

This year, Jaelon was actually excited to unwrap and it's pretty safe to say he had a great Christmas!  He absolutely loved his bus pillow and has slept with it everyday since, he did get a few other buses and was just as happy with those of course but the pillow was the topper.  Now we are back home, tired but so happy we have another week off from everything so there's time to get the sleeping routine back in full swing....

I hope everyone was able to enjoy the holiday as best they could. I'll have pictures for you soon!

Take care,
Rox

Merry Christmas!!

A few weeks ago, a wonderful surprise came in the mail.  A couple of my Awesome Mama friends made the most wonderful thing for Jaelon. Sent with a note that read:

Dear Roxi,
Give this to Jaelon from Santa!
♥
"S & R"

I can't remember if it's been mentioned here but I asked Jaelon what he wanted Santa to bring him and he said "buses, so he can sleep with them!"  I'm so excited to give him this and stick another notch on the board for all the reasons why I LOVE my mama group.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! 

Now off to get things in order before we head out for few days.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas ♥♡♥ safe travels and enjoy the holiday.

Talkative Tuesday!

I'm dragging my butt this morning and thankfully so is Jaelon.  Just when I was thinking it was quiet and no one was reading, my mommy friend, Jenn over at techtalk posted her Christmas questions. So awesome!!

We had an easy, low key kind of weekend but Sunday he was just being wild and funny. Having "phone conversations" with his friend, cracking little jokes and his smart remarks.... sometimes it's hard not to laugh!  My favourites coming to mind right now:

(He was a little to quiet while I was in the kitchen)

Me: Hey Jaelon, what are you doing?

Him: Oh just hanging around!

(I look in the living room and he's leaning [or hanging] over the arm of the couch). 

(We just woke up, he's looking out the window)

Him: Oh it's snowing, I can't wait to go play in the snow. Let's go!!

Me: Um, can mommy have some tea first? Maybe we could have breakfast then get dressed...

Him: Oh mommy! 

(I was texting a friend)

Him: Who are you talking to mommy?

Me: Jess, "S" mommy

Him: Oh, hmmm... "S" is coming to my Christmas concert.

Me: I don't think that will work.

(They live out west)

Him: Meh, it's ok!

(I was brushing my teeth when he comes flying in the bathroom)

Him: Mommy, are you kidding me? 

Me: Pardon?
Him: Are you kidding me? Brushing your teeth without me (laughs) Oh, mommy!

I could be here typing all day. The last year and a half have been amazing for his speech, it's so hard to believe but there it is.

His Christmas concert was so cute, he was happy to be sucking his fingers while singing and after there was a little gathering in his class. A few pics to come later. 

One last IBI visit this afternoon before the holiday. I'm looking forward to no appointments for 2 weeks. And a quick business related reminder: Tomorrow (Wed. 18th) is the last day for ENJO Christmas orders. Contact me if you need anything before the new year.

Time for us to get moving. Keep warm and enjoy the day!!!

Cheers :D

Christmas questions 2!

I've been rather quiet this week. I went to an awesome ENJO Team meeting this week and had two days of I.B.I. stuff. Still have to do Christmas baking, we are now in the stretch of every week of IBI and Jaelon, at school has taken an odd turn.  SO, I thought I would look back at my older posts and in the spirit of Christmas (or trying to stay in the spirit) I'd have some new answers to some Christmas questions.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?  Gift bags, I hate wrapping
2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial, though I like a real tree but give me an artificial one. I also always have a little chuckle when I think about my sisters first real tree. LOL! I'll share that story one day ;)
3. When do you put up the tree? This year, after remembrance day
4. When do you take the tree down? Sometime after New Years
5. Do you like eggnog? Ick, NO!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? Still my Cricket doll!
7. Do you have a nativity scene? No
8. Hardest person to buy for? No one that I can think of. Plus, I do homemade gifts.
9. Easiest person to buy for?  Definitely Jaelon
10. Mail or email Christmas cards?  I do both
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  That's never happened.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie?  White Christmas, Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I only shop for Jaelon and my Niece so usually after summer with the end of season sales. This year was a good score with Black Friday!
14. Ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably, nothing is coming to mind.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?  Shortbread, it's so bad for you but I love it up once a year with no guilt!! Which reminds me, time for a new batch :D
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Multi colour though I would go with one solid colour.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Holly Jolly Christmas, One more day till Christmas and O Holy Night. Jaelon likes Holly Jolly Christmas, Little Toy Trains, Jingle bells and Frosty the snowman.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?  We travel.... One year we won't.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? I can!!!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Jaelon gets one present on Christmas Eve and the rest Christmas Day and Boxing day!
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? People spend to much money and seem to forget that it's a time to just be with your loved ones, putting differences aside, enjoy the time and the company. Also, as much as I am welcoming to other cultures and traditions (obviously!) this not saying "MERRY CHRISTMAS" has gotten a little out of hand. Seriously!
23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color?  Jaelon's first ornament
24. What do you want for Christmas this year? Jaelon's happiness and someone else to do the cooking!

Weekend update

I gave Jaelon's teacher and E.A. their Christmas gifts (see the pictures!), along with a picture and some popcorn. Jaelon and his E.A. share popcorn every week, that's why she got popcorn.

This weekend was great, uplifting and refreshing!! Jaelon had a sleepover with Papa and Nana and I had a fun day trip to Toronto with some really great ladies, ENJO ladies to be exact! We had a tour of ENJO Canada's head office on top of some great laughs, inspiring talks and a lot more. I'm very happy have ENJO and look forward to getting to know everyone better.  Thanks for the awesome gifts too, Jaelon has been having fun "playing" with the cat and his new beach ball, the poor kitty!!! Yet it's the funniest thing and the cat goes back for more.

Sunday, was mommy and boy-o movie date day (baabumbum!) We went to see Frozen (highly recommend! ) boy-o got his popcorn, we had some great snuggles and not far into the movie he fell asleep (total missed photo op there). It was a great time, even if my "date" fell asleep!!

Bring on the rest of the week!!

Cheers ♥

Tuesday's tidbits

•  I've been doing a workshop this week that has been interesting and as it turns out not to useful for right now but gotta get it done...  
• I'm super excited for an ENJO day trip coming up and of course Jaelon gets a sleepover with Papa and Nana!    

• I've completely put off all Christmas baking, not something I usually do. In fact, I'm usually done by now so this is going to be fun.  I'm tired just thinking about it. But it will be great.... as soon as I decide what our Christmas baking will be. I know I'm not the only person not ready.

• We have now entered the stage of every week visits for Jaelon and I.B.I. at home. I'm tired just thinking about that. I guess it's a good thing he really likes his ABA Lead. 
• First official school Christmas concert coming up, I. can. not. wait!!

Happy Birthday, Aunties!

Today, Jaelon wants to say Happy Birthday to his Aunts! His Auntie and Great Auntie share the same birthday, they're both loud and crazy and we love them just the same.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my lil sis and my Auntie, love you everyday!!!

Happy Friday!

I hope my American family/friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!

Yesterday, was another IBI meeting for me. This was just the final report from the ABA Lead that came and observed Jaelon in his routine.  What she looked at was his initial presentation, how he does with instructions, play skills and his rate of excessive behaviours.  It was all very positive and I really loved reading the report as I can really see how much he has grown.  Yesterday also marked the first time he got 1/2 dressed by himself!!! I know some of you may think that's not a big deal, but IT REALLY IS!  He put on his undies and pants all by himself (I didn't even need to tell him to focus and use 2 hands!), now he had two feet in one hole for his undies and his pants were on backward but HE TOTALLY DID IT HIMSELF!! 

Today, is a no school day so we're having a slow moving morning. Maybe finally get to some Christmas baking... Though I still have no idea what we're going to bake.  Sometimes it's great not having a plan! I know that the mall is the last place we'll be today with the black Friday sales.  Anyone venturing out, good luck!!  

Happy Friday, until tomorrow!!

Cheers :D

Wordless Wednesday~ getting ready for Christmas!

Weekend catch-up

This past Thursday, I went to an ASD support group. They meet once a month and let me tell you, it was the best thing ever!! Not that I don't have support from the people around us but to talk with other moms that know exactly what you're talking about, share their stories, experiences and a lot of laughs. It was indeed the best thing ever!   

On Friday, we had an early movie night. I even ordered in a pizza, I haven't ordered pizza in a long while... Long enough that Jaelon asked why the pizza was in a box, which actually makes me feel really good. So we had a pizza picnic and watched Frosty the Snowman. Then Grandpa picked him up and off he went for a sleep over at Grandma and Grandpa's.  I get a kid-less weekend and it snows, plans fell through and that was that. But I did get a kid-less weekend, so it's all good!

Yesterday, we just went to the mall. It was going great so Jaelon got to see Santa or I should say show Santa his buses. We had a good morning and the rest of the day, well not so good.... Someone had to have quiet time in his room for the first time in a few weeks and that was how the day went.

 BUT today is a new day, it's a school day and our first time walking to school with snow. I'm not looking forward to it but boy-o is.  It amazes me the amount of parents that drive their kids to school when they are within walking distance and I'm sure that number is going to be bigger with the snow here.  

That said, it's time to get moving for the day. Until tomorrow, keep warm!!!

Mind full of GRIBI

What the hell is GRIBI, you ask??? It stands for Getting Ready for IBI.  Back up what is IBI, you ask??  That stands for Intensive Behaviour Intervention.  Why am I bringing this up??

Well, it's not a shock that Jaelon is diagnosed with Autism. He was "officially" diagnosed in January of this year, it was a lot of waiting leading up to that (I know I've mentioned THAT frustration) and we've still been playing that game since he was diagnosed.  

It took a month for Jaelon to adjust to school, as I'm sure it took other kids to adjust, but he has loved it from the first week.  After about a month and a half, I had a little meeting with his teacher and E.A. just to hear how he really was doing. That ended so positively, not that I was surprised... Well, I was a little but in a good way!  That day, we got home and there was a message saying Jaelon had been picked up for IBI.... Hold the phone.... he's not suppose to be picked up for that for another TWO years.... Of course, my mind starts to go in all these directions and won't shut off, I'm nearly going crazy..... Time to turn to some of  my Mama's! What would I do without them, without ALL of them?? (Oh, I know I've mentioned my Mama group before!!!)  So I feel a little better after talking with them (they know who they are so I won't mention names).  Make the call the next day to set up a meeting.  

That should bring us to this week... On Monday, I had an info meeting and though I'm still overwhelmed with information, I will try my best to keep this brief but have you all updated. So last week, started GRIBI (getting ready for IBI) with observations at home at different times of our routine (Monday being our last day).  It's all about data, so she's collecting data about Jaelon and how he responds at those different times. (The title for her is ABA Lead.) She was here, trying to be "a fly on the wall" which didn't work, Jaelon quite liked her so he wanted to play! And of course she loved him!!! 

I'm getting of track... Anyways, Monday and the info meeting. So GRIBI is "a 6 month consultative service to help families prepare for IBI." Which is where we are right now.

IBI is an "evidence-based approach to change rate of learning in children with ASD"  It is, as the name suggests, Intense "with a schedule of  25-30 hours/week."  Also just so you know not every child with ASD will do IBI, they have to be eligible. How long he stays in IBI depends on him and how he is responding but it typically lasts 1-2 yrs.  The great thing is there is a program called Connections for Students, they start the transition back to school 6 months before IBI would end and then supports them for 6 months afterwards. Jaelon will have this available for him until he is 18 yrs old.  Understand, he only gets this service if he does the IBI program so I need to think of later on down the road.  He will have his own team with someone here in our home everyday working with him. His team will consist of:  

"Service coordinator/social worker (which I requested for after he was diagnosed, so she's been with us for a while).

Clinical Director 

Assessment Team

Clinical Supervisor

Autism Spectrum Disorder Community Consultant (ASDCC)

ABA Lead

Senior Therapist 

Lead Instructor Therapist (IBI Lead)

Instructor Therapists"

Some of these people we won't see, some we see now and some we will see once a week or everyday, once he starts. 

As it stands, he should be starting as early as March of next year. So, yes we still have some time and technically my decision for him to go ahead with IBI isn't official but he will be doing it. 5 days a week at home, that is going to be a MAJOR adjustment and our regular during the day activities will be no longer so I have a lot of planning coming up and there has to be someone home (obviously) at all times, though I'm considering part time daycare but that's not set in stone yet....  But there it all is (I think!) 

I really do have a mind full of GRIBI... time for a drink... Well, ok I'll settle for breakfast, anyone want to come cook for me??  

Love and Hugs,

Rox and Jaelon

(all "quote" information taken from TVCC)

Wordless Wednesday~ Summertime fun!!

It's an ENJO dusting party!

Happy Monday!!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.... and an Enjo dusting party!

That was our weekend, we decorated for Christmas, Jaelon had more fun decorating himself and having the cat chase him all over the house with the dragging tinsel.  I put all the decorations on the tree (though he did try one or two) and of course lights went up around the house. My boy loves his lights!!!  Still have stockings to put up and maybe another set of lights but so far I got a "Wow, it looks pretty Mommy, can I have some candy?"  and "I like Christmas better than Halloween."  Now to get going on gifts and I have no idea what we are doing this year for our homemade gift but I managed to get his teacher/EA gifts done, for the most part.  

I also had my very first ENJO demo this weekend or if your Jaelon, I had my first "ENJO dusting party!" (he has own enjo duster and I've had a few demos at our house.) So Jaelon had a sleepover at Papa and Nana's and I just prepared for that.  I definitely have room for a lot of improvement but it still went well. Thanks to my great great friend, Carey, for hosting.  

This morning we have our last observation for IBI, actually I'm going to have to cut this short, it's a 7:30 am observation time and I lost track of the time.  So time to get moving for the day.

Hope everyone had a great weekend and remember if you clean, there is probably an ENJO for that ;)

CHEERS!!!

Time for change

Another blog-cation! Only this time back and with a new look and yes a new Blog name.  No reason for either, just felt the need to change things up. We've had a lot of changes in the past few months, this one is the easiest of them all.  

What have we been doing lately??? 

 Jaelon is loving school, his teacher and E.A. are awesome! I wish he could have them for the entire duration of his school life, that's how awesome they are.  But alas, he can not and actually from the looks of things, he may only be with them until Jan/Feb. of next year.....

It turns out the 2 year wait list he was on for IBI (Intensive Behaviour Intervention) has turned into a 1 year wait time, he is set to start sometime early of next year.  It makes me sad and happy, I'm so all over the place it's insane. I'm happy because we no longer have to wait, I'm sad because.... well, because he has had such a great positive reaction to school and of course his teacher and E.A. have a lot to do with that.   So we've been busy with having observations at home, appointments/meetings ect.  It's these times where being a single parent takes it's toll... But gotta do what you gotta do. 

As for me, somewhere in there I decided to become self employed. You know because we haven't had enough change.  So I've started to teach people how to clean using NO chemicals!
 I'm an ENJO consultant and I love it!!! It's amazing and yes you will hear more about it.  

For now, quiet time is about over here so check back often, I can't promise a blog everyday but it will be more often then before.  

Cheers!!!

Rox and Jaelon

I know it's almost here....

.... The first day of school..... I know he's going to love it once the routine sets in.... I know it's going to be so good.... I know, I know, I know..... 

What I don't know is if this post has a point??? I don't think it really does, I think it's just random babbling.... It's been known to happen ;) I do know that I'll be the mama that's a mess AFTER her boy goes into his school without me.... It's going to happen, I'm ready for it! 

I do think that my blog is in need of a change. New name perhaps? Maybe some "redecorating?" Something to signify the new changes we have coming... Anything is possible!! And changes are good ;)

Ok random post done. Until next time!!!

Blog-cation

Every once in a while, I'm on here reading up on friend's blogs. I always ask myself why am I not posting???  I don't think there is an answer.... It's just been a nice long blogcation!

I think it's been a rollercoaster ride since October.  Jaelon was "officially" diagnosed in January with ASD. That led to more freaking waiting lists... Now waiting to get into programs that would be beneficial to him, yes we are still waiting. So much for getting into things before he starts school... At least we have the diagnosis... right???



Super Awesome Mama's suffered a loss within our group... I still can not find the words....




Busy summer so far, camping for the first (and last) time, even though Jaelon says "camping and sleeping in a tent is the best time ever!" Sorry buddy, mommy is not doing that again. First time doing Kindermusik and he really enjoyed it.  A LOT of time spent at the YMCA and loving every minute. A trip or two to the beach as well!

One month to go and my not so little boy will be off to JK.... I know he's going to love it (eventually) it's just so hard to believe that this step has come. Why can't I freeze time, just for a little while longer?  Brave face on, anxiety in check (or hidden really well!)  and shopping for school stuff (waaa!!) done. 

Welcome back to the world of blogging ;)