In July we took a family vacation to Boston and Maine. Riley got to ride the T for the first time, and learned how to play the Wii. It was very fortunate that his cousin is also left-handed and could teach Riley how to hold the control. He became really good at bowling. Riley also enjoyed playing Lego Star Wars on the X-Box. He still talks about going back to Boston to play that game.
We also had good times at the beach in Maine and Massachusetts. The beach trips and playing video games were the highlights of our trip for Riley. We also got to meet Riley's uncle at the airport and seeing his uncle in uniform was very cool to Riley.
At the end of July the Lego store opened in our town. We went on the first day that it opened and stood in line for three and a half hours to get into the store. Having seen the store in Orlando, I thought that it was going to be a big store, but it is not. It is actually a very small space, but exciting for Riley nonetheless. Riley is really into Star Wars The Clone Wars Lego Sets and bought one that had a spider droid and a missile launcher.
In August we participated as a family in a 5K run/walk. It was a pretty tough course that we mostly walked and came in second to last. Riley walked the last half lap and did really well.
Riley also helped Mommy to set up her classroom. He was a great help getting all the milk crates out of my room and stacking them in the hallway. The stack was five crates long and six crates high when we were done. He stacked them all by himself with some help from a chair. Riley did it quietly and without knocking any over and making a big racket or mess. I was really proud of him.
We did end up finishing the Summer Reading Program at the library, and Riley got his backpack. I thought that he was going to use the backpack that we bought from LL Bean on vacation, but he decided that he wanted to use the library one instead.
Right before school started we had family friends come to town and bring their boat. Riley and his dad got to go fishing with the other boys, and Riley really had a good time out on the lake. All the boys and men caught one fish all day!
Lilypie Kids Birthday tickers
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Update
Riley has done lots of things since I last posted for him.
In May he attended his first birthday party without parents. His friend's dad took him and some of his friends to a college baseball game. Riley was really excited to go and did very well.
At the beginning of June Riley finished Kindergaten. He is reading at grade level and did well in all subjects except writing. We are trying to continue to work together on his writing and his reading over the summer. We joined the Summer Reading Program at the library so that we can get a backpack for Riley to use next school year. He is doing very well and we are about a third of the way done, but he enjoys me reading to him rather than reading to me!
We also finally got a time slot for physical therapy. We only have it through the end of August, but some time is better than none. We got lucky with the physical therapy because he has never been evaluated for PT, but was somehow put on the waiting list. He did end up qualifying for PT because his age appropriate skills are good, but when he has to slow down and do more complicated steps, he cannot do them.
For a summer activity Riley has attended three weeks of gymnastics day camp. He enjoyed the first and the last week because there were a lot of kids that attended those weeks. The middle week, he did not enjoy because there were only four kids including him. His gymnastics skills have greatly improved this year. He is able to do some moves on the trampoline like the seat drop. He was hanging on the bar over the pit and was able to hold on with one hand and switch directions on the bar and put his toes up before dropping into the pit. He is able to do forward and backward rolls and jump over the mat with his hands in cartwheel position.
The clothing issue for this summer is Riley would like to wear pants everyday. He likes his uniform of white t-shirt and blue jersey knit pants. He tolerates wearing shorts on most days, but usually puts up some fuss.
Riley has a new friend in the neighborhood. He is a boy that is 3 years younger than Riley, but they have a lot in common and play very well together. They both have a crush on the same girl, but have kind of moved away from playing with her to playing together much to my happiness.
In May he attended his first birthday party without parents. His friend's dad took him and some of his friends to a college baseball game. Riley was really excited to go and did very well.
At the beginning of June Riley finished Kindergaten. He is reading at grade level and did well in all subjects except writing. We are trying to continue to work together on his writing and his reading over the summer. We joined the Summer Reading Program at the library so that we can get a backpack for Riley to use next school year. He is doing very well and we are about a third of the way done, but he enjoys me reading to him rather than reading to me!
We also finally got a time slot for physical therapy. We only have it through the end of August, but some time is better than none. We got lucky with the physical therapy because he has never been evaluated for PT, but was somehow put on the waiting list. He did end up qualifying for PT because his age appropriate skills are good, but when he has to slow down and do more complicated steps, he cannot do them.
For a summer activity Riley has attended three weeks of gymnastics day camp. He enjoyed the first and the last week because there were a lot of kids that attended those weeks. The middle week, he did not enjoy because there were only four kids including him. His gymnastics skills have greatly improved this year. He is able to do some moves on the trampoline like the seat drop. He was hanging on the bar over the pit and was able to hold on with one hand and switch directions on the bar and put his toes up before dropping into the pit. He is able to do forward and backward rolls and jump over the mat with his hands in cartwheel position.
The clothing issue for this summer is Riley would like to wear pants everyday. He likes his uniform of white t-shirt and blue jersey knit pants. He tolerates wearing shorts on most days, but usually puts up some fuss.
Riley has a new friend in the neighborhood. He is a boy that is 3 years younger than Riley, but they have a lot in common and play very well together. They both have a crush on the same girl, but have kind of moved away from playing with her to playing together much to my happiness.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sidewalk Chalk
Riley has never really shown an interest in sidewalk chalk. We have had some since last summer and the neighbors have played with it, and Riley has not really ever joined them in writing on the driveway. I have to admit I hate the stuff and never really encouraged its use either.
Well, last Sunday, Reese got out the chalk and starting drawing on the driveway. Riley decided that he wanted to help also and started drawing shapes. I let him draw shapes for awhile and then asked him to write a word that he knew. He wrote THE and then can, come, in, etc. He was writing the words, and I was happy to see that he was forming his letters correctly! He then wrote his last name and then wanted to add his first name. He wrote his first name backwards in order to get it in front of his last name that he had already written.
I was happy to see Riley show some interest in writing and drawing because it shows that he has a little bit more confidence and success in his ability to write.
Well, last Sunday, Reese got out the chalk and starting drawing on the driveway. Riley decided that he wanted to help also and started drawing shapes. I let him draw shapes for awhile and then asked him to write a word that he knew. He wrote THE and then can, come, in, etc. He was writing the words, and I was happy to see that he was forming his letters correctly! He then wrote his last name and then wanted to add his first name. He wrote his first name backwards in order to get it in front of his last name that he had already written.
I was happy to see Riley show some interest in writing and drawing because it shows that he has a little bit more confidence and success in his ability to write.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
First Phone Conversation
Riley had his first friend want to talk to him on the phone today. We met J at the indoor carnival at Riley's school earlier. I just got a message left over from last night that they had invited Riley to the movies yesterday. I thought that it was for today, but we made plans to go to another movie tonight. Riley says that J is one of his best friends and after J's dad and I made plans for the boys tonight, J's dad had to call back to say that his son wanted to talk to Riley on the phone.
They had a really short phone conversation where Riley was just talking his normal crazy talk. We look forward to tonight when Riley finally gets to go out with a friend. He was just complaining yesterday that no one wanted to play with him. I know that he needs to have friends and wants them to come over, but I have not really had the chance to go and volunteer or get to know any of the parents. We should have fun tonight...
They had a really short phone conversation where Riley was just talking his normal crazy talk. We look forward to tonight when Riley finally gets to go out with a friend. He was just complaining yesterday that no one wanted to play with him. I know that he needs to have friends and wants them to come over, but I have not really had the chance to go and volunteer or get to know any of the parents. We should have fun tonight...
Monday, February 16, 2009
Parent Teacher Conference
We went to Riley's parent teacher conference, and I was pleasantly surprised. He seems to do well in reading and has a great deal of background knowledge about everything, but has a great deal of trouble with writing and the sound he hears in writing.
Both of his teacher had stories of background knowledge that only Riley knew as a kindergartner. His morning teacher said that he was the only one who knew what a moat was in a Katy story. His afternoon teacher said that she read a book about the president and at the end there was a picture of the Statue of Liberty, and Riley was the only one who could identify it and tell everyone that it was in New York City. (He has never been to NYC.)
His reading level is a level B. He is expected to be at a level C by the end of the school year. He also seems to have a grasp on his sight words. He has 40 to learn this year and another 60 next year. He just got his last set of 10.
We discussed Riley's sideways vision issues, and I outlined what I have done with regards to specialists in dealing with this issue. We also talked about the sideways vision of the uncles and some of Riley's generation. I talked about how I had read once that it was a sensory issue; trying to block out too much visual imput.
The teachers felt that we should work on Riley's writing and writing the sounds that he hears in words. I believe that it is a good idea and will work on it with him. We are all at a loss as to what else to do and hopefully, IAT will have some new ideas.
Both of his teacher had stories of background knowledge that only Riley knew as a kindergartner. His morning teacher said that he was the only one who knew what a moat was in a Katy story. His afternoon teacher said that she read a book about the president and at the end there was a picture of the Statue of Liberty, and Riley was the only one who could identify it and tell everyone that it was in New York City. (He has never been to NYC.)
His reading level is a level B. He is expected to be at a level C by the end of the school year. He also seems to have a grasp on his sight words. He has 40 to learn this year and another 60 next year. He just got his last set of 10.
We discussed Riley's sideways vision issues, and I outlined what I have done with regards to specialists in dealing with this issue. We also talked about the sideways vision of the uncles and some of Riley's generation. I talked about how I had read once that it was a sensory issue; trying to block out too much visual imput.
The teachers felt that we should work on Riley's writing and writing the sounds that he hears in words. I believe that it is a good idea and will work on it with him. We are all at a loss as to what else to do and hopefully, IAT will have some new ideas.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
OT Again
We had to stop OT for awhile because Riley started going to school all day. We finally got a new time slot and he goes every other week now.
I am starting to see the discrepancies between Riley's abilities and the abilities of the typical kindergartner with regards to fine motor skills. Riley's school just celebrated the 100th day of school and as part of their celebration, they had to color 100 small things on the numbers 1, 0, 0. I use to use this sheet when I taught, and I know what I expected from my students and the way that Riley colored this sheet would not have been acceptable for me as a teacher. We really need to get to work on improving his coloring.
I can say that he seems to be doing well with the Handwriting Without Tears program that the OT started with him. He seems to get that system and keeping in the space that it gives. I see his handwriting when he comes home from enrichment and because they use a dot to tell the students where to start, his handwriting is a mess. The fine motor needs to become a priority.
I am meeting with his teacher on Monday and I am somewhat anxious to see what she is going to say. I know about the fine motor, the lack of ability to follow directions, and being easily distracted. I know that he has made some improvements because of his oral knowledge, but I do not know if they are going to be enough. He has already been referred to IAT, so I am waiting to see what they are going to say also.
I still mostly believe that Riley has mostly sensory issues although the book that I am reading right now says that SPD is not recognized by the DSM, and therefore is usually a secondary diagnosis with a primary diagnosis of Autism, Asberger's, ADD, etc. Maybe I should have Riley evaluated by a clinical psychologist as was suggested at his end of the year IEP conference last year since they knew that Riley still needed services, but was not eligible in the school setting and therefore graduated out. I think I am going to wait until after the IAT meeting to tackle that one.
I am starting to see the discrepancies between Riley's abilities and the abilities of the typical kindergartner with regards to fine motor skills. Riley's school just celebrated the 100th day of school and as part of their celebration, they had to color 100 small things on the numbers 1, 0, 0. I use to use this sheet when I taught, and I know what I expected from my students and the way that Riley colored this sheet would not have been acceptable for me as a teacher. We really need to get to work on improving his coloring.
I can say that he seems to be doing well with the Handwriting Without Tears program that the OT started with him. He seems to get that system and keeping in the space that it gives. I see his handwriting when he comes home from enrichment and because they use a dot to tell the students where to start, his handwriting is a mess. The fine motor needs to become a priority.
I am meeting with his teacher on Monday and I am somewhat anxious to see what she is going to say. I know about the fine motor, the lack of ability to follow directions, and being easily distracted. I know that he has made some improvements because of his oral knowledge, but I do not know if they are going to be enough. He has already been referred to IAT, so I am waiting to see what they are going to say also.
I still mostly believe that Riley has mostly sensory issues although the book that I am reading right now says that SPD is not recognized by the DSM, and therefore is usually a secondary diagnosis with a primary diagnosis of Autism, Asberger's, ADD, etc. Maybe I should have Riley evaluated by a clinical psychologist as was suggested at his end of the year IEP conference last year since they knew that Riley still needed services, but was not eligible in the school setting and therefore graduated out. I think I am going to wait until after the IAT meeting to tackle that one.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Riley's Sixth Birthday
This was originally published as Hawaii Day Seven: Riley's Sixth Birthday on Penny's Next Phase.
My son got to celebrate his sixth birthday on Maui. We started out the day with breakfast at Kihei Caffe where Riley got his favorites, French toast, bacon, and sausage. I was also impressed because Reese actually ate the same thing. She has not been eating much since we have been here, and her favorites are usually rice and pasta related.
After breakfast we traveled along the coast to see Kapalua, where the Mercedes Championship is being held the weekend after we leave, Napali, where we saw some whales off the coast, and Ka'anapali, where I believe that one of the Big Breaks was held. We stopped off at Whaler's Village for some shopping, and where Riley got a special birthday gift from his dad, a Hot Wheels Airport. We left Whaler's Village to go to Lahaina to have lunch. Ron and I have fond memories of Lahaina from our honeymoon when we had dinner at the Lahaina Fish Co. right on the ocean. Lahaina was very crowded because there was a cruise ship in port. We ended up eating lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise, which says it is the original one. We ate on the second floor where it was open and you could see out into the ocean. (Earlier in the week, we discovered that the hotel that we stayed at for one night on our honeymoon is on the main strip in Kihei directly down the hill from my sister in law's house.
Once lunch was over, the kids had enough car riding and we dropped them off at home. My sister in law ordered a cake for Riley at the Four Seasons Hotel because it was the only bakery she could find that would make a special cake that tasted like mainland cake without having a grocery store cake. She said that most of the bakeries in the area bake a traditional Hawaiian cake that was spongy, and she wanted a homemade cake for her nephew/godson. The cake was absolutely beautiful, tastefully decorated and just right for a six year old at the same time. Riley really enjoyed the cars/trucks that came with the cake and finally being able to open his presents. He now has a complete collection of Thomas the Tank Engine videos as well as a new big wheel and more construction toys. We also had pizza at home for dinner which is what Riley wanted, pepperoni, of course.
Once lunch was over, the kids had enough car riding and we dropped them off at home. My sister in law ordered a cake for Riley at the Four Seasons Hotel because it was the only bakery she could find that would make a special cake that tasted like mainland cake without having a grocery store cake. She said that most of the bakeries in the area bake a traditional Hawaiian cake that was spongy, and she wanted a homemade cake for her nephew/godson. The cake was absolutely beautiful, tastefully decorated and just right for a six year old at the same time. Riley really enjoyed the cars/trucks that came with the cake and finally being able to open his presents. He now has a complete collection of Thomas the Tank Engine videos as well as a new big wheel and more construction toys. We also had pizza at home for dinner which is what Riley wanted, pepperoni, of course.
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