I am sad for Nash to be done with his weekly home based Speech, OT and his weekly Preschool Pals Class he attends. I am however even more sad we will not have these amazing teachers in our lives anymore on a weekly basis. His Speech, Occupational and his Preschool teachers have been wonderful.
Nash's speech therapist has been seeing him for a year now and Nash has grown to really care about her, as we all have. It took weeks for him to even come out to play with her but like he does with everyone, once he gets to know them he really comes out of his shell for them. It was bittersweet when she left from our visit this week. Our last visit almost 1 year to the day we started with her. He....we have come so far. He was not talking AT ALL when she came. He had a few words he had used but had stopped using them and just was starting to shut down. She brought him out of that shell and with her help weekly and the tools she gave us to work on and tips at home he was communicating with us in a few weeks (using sign and pictures) and then speaking soon after that. Nash would carry a photo around of her (a transitional aid she had suggested) for weeks and was thrilled when we would tell him she was on her way to *play* with him. She helped us connect and get started with OT and the Playtime Pals (Preschool Class) earlier this year, which we are extremely grateful for.
The Occupational Therapist (OT) that joined Nash's team as I called it came early in 2010. It wasn't until this summer we started more regular visits for consulting (because he was doing so great in Speech!!!) on some concerns we had with Nash especially when it came to Sensory Processing. She is fabulous and we are so lucky to have her on our team. The ideas she had for transitioning, adapting the picture schedule, sensory processing and fine/gross motor (and so much more) were great. Nash took to them all like a fish to water and thrived with these tools. The validation as a parent to work on OT and ST at home and that I COULD do it was just what I needed to take the tools she (and others) had given me and run with them and put them to use and adapt them for my children and our family.
By far the most exciting part of Nash's week this past few months is the Preschool type program we do once a week at Childrens Therapy Center. His teachers are wonderful with all the kids. He thrived with the structure. But like most kids, fought the system the first few days ;).....***you want me to sit in a chair and sing songs for how long?*** but he now asks to go to the "Brown School" to see his teachers and friends regularly. He has made a wonderful new friend who he is excited to invite to his upcoming Birthday Party. I dont know if he will miss it as much as he would had we not been lucky enough to be able to start him in the new preschool next week. One day next week he will go to both classes, it will be our last class at "The brown school" and it will be good closure. He gets to bring a special snack next week to his last class. The teacher suggested it will help with the anxiety of saying goodbye and I think it will help. He wants to bring cupcakes so we will see ;)
As sad as I am to say goodbye, I am so excited for the year ahead at the new school, with new friends and the new learning experiences he will have all while having fun. We are as prepared as we can be thanks to the wonderful team we have had behind us every step of the way. We will never forget these wonderful women who taught Nash and our whole family so much and have touched our lives forever, thank you just doesnt seam like enough.
~Kristen
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