A Pirate Birthday Party!



Nickolas has been obsessed with being a pirate.

 

And I have been encouraging this obsession. So we had a pirate Halloween, followed by a pirate birthday party! Complete with the need to dress up (I do love my dress up parties - remember Katheryn's birthday tea party?)

There is a new Disney show called Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

One of the parts of the show has the Neverland Pirate Band singing songs - including this one Never Say Never to a Neverland Pirate!

There is nothing that you can't do! Definitely a motto I want to take to heart 

 

So Pirate Party here we come!

We had a big pirate ship balloon - that Nick just wanted to stare at!

Some more pirate decorations

 

For the swashbucklers who didn't come in costume - we were all ready!

And for the added authenticity - a whole pile of temporary tattoos!
We tried to put some on Nick, he completely freaked out and said he didn't want to be a pirate! (30 minutes before a complete pirate-themed party)

 

 

Katheryn liked the tattoos (even if she doesn't look very happy)

 

 

And if only I had a pirate ship lying around somewhere for kids to play with?

Oh yeah, I do!

 

My only rule for the pirate ship - they cannot destroy it before the party!
(and yes both kids are in there)

Then it was time for our costumes!

Even Sammie got into it!

Baby "peter pan" is wearing the pirate hat

We even  had a couple of pirate grandma's!

Somehow we were too busy for a pirate family picture - but this is what I got

Better than a bouncy castle!

We had some quiet time to open some pirate presents

Nick got something he's been wanting for a long time!

Now he is a real pirate rock star!

(and I anticipate posting some concerts)

 

 



The base for a birthday party of course came with the birthday cake!
I had the idea for it for a couple of months (and it turned out great - took me forever to find the right characters to put on it - never did find the right boat)

But Nick didn't care, he thought the cake was great!
Was a little unsure about blowing out the candle...

Then we had a very tired little boy.

Until the sugar rush started, and then he was good for round 2!

School Help

Over the last month I have been trying to find resources online to tell me what steps to take to make sure that Nickolas will get everything he needs in the school year. Knowledge is power.

Because we are going to the Catholic School System I started with the school board website. This has had some challenges to begin with. They have a special education section with links. I thought great! This is info available online. Except most of these links don't work, and when I contact the webmaster (because that it was it says and there is no way to contact an actual person online) I am told this email does not exist.

The whole thing has me even more worried now! If their website links don't work for 'exception students' then what does that really say about what the board thinks about these students and the importance of assisting parents.

I did some more digging on the site and came up with a couple of more links a document about exceptional health conditions, as well as Parents Guide to Special Education - which can only be viewed online, not in pdf format. There is information about roles and responsibilities in regards to special education, that says what is expected by everyone involved.

Everything that we have considered in regards to school has been to get the most out of the school experience for Nickolas. And the beliefs about special education in regards to accessibility and diversity makes me think this is the right school of thought.

 We debated both the catholic and the public school board. The Catholic school board was very specific in regards to inclusion of children with exceptional needs. The Public school board said that they will attempt to integrate children (with all the flowering talk) but I just felt that the Catholic school board had the support that we wanted.

 
When I'm stressing out about things I want to collect as much information as I can.

There is a whole bunch of new words and terms that I need to learn about.

• Exceptional student, this is the government etc that is trying not to say disability. I think I like the terminology.
• Special Education
• I.P.R.C. - the Identification, Placement, and Review Committee - this is who determines that a child is exceptional and needs a special education program. It consists of at least 3 people at least is the principal.
• this includes facilities, resources, support people and equipment
• S.E.A.C. - the Special Education Advisory Committee
• I.E.P (individual education plan); meant for every identified student, including students with physical exceptionalities. I take this to mean it is appropriate for kindergarten (regardless of what certain secretaries may think).
• Specialized Health Support Services - nursing, OT, PT, ST, catheterization, toileting are all on the list.

The principal seems to be the go-to person right now for us.

It looks like this is all of the information that I can collect for now.

SBHAO resources (just scroll down to Education) has a number of resource links as well:

• IEP samples, including what resources were used to develop the samples

General Guides (PDF):
the IEP - a resource guide
IEP standards for development, program planning and implementation

I am concentrating that Nickolas will need help because of physical issues. At the moment Nickolas is still age appropriate for other developmental scales and even though I have worries about letters, writing and language I'm reassured this is still within limits for 3 years old.

There are a number of resources concerning learning disabilities and I am just not ready to go there. Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus are associated with learning disabilities. I am aware of this and will keep my mind open to the possibility that this might be something we need to further explore. But not yet.

There are other resources for support for people who are trying to figure out education issues.
Precious Minds is a support for families with children who have barriers to learning (learning, physical, developmental and behavioral disabilities)
Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario, help parents with advocacy.
Holland Bloorview Resource Centre, links to meet education needs

 

I think this is the end of my research for now. I think I have a lot of reading for the next couple of months.

School Daze

It is November, Halloween is done and the costumes are put back away (until our pirate party for Nick's birthday). It is time to think about school.

The idea of sending Nickolas to school has been a bit stressful for me. With all of the excitement with Katheryn starting kindergarten I tried to stifle the little voice that worried about Nick's journey next year. And when we visited the school for the September BBQ I could see how well Katheryn has adjusted, but also how there will be challenges for Nick. Everything from a single fully accessible door into the school (and a back door that has a ramp, but challenges actually fully accessing the ramp), space to move a chair or walker or crutches around the classroom, and that the back indoor play room is down 3 steps. It has me worried about how it will work for Nickolas next year.

Over the last month I have been trying to find resources online to tell  me what steps to take to make sure that Nickolas will get everything he needs in the school year. It started to really bog down this post - so I'm going to post all of the resources as a separate post.

When I'm stressing out about things I want to collect as much information as I can, and make it accessible when I have more questions!

Starting school feels like when I found out that Nickolas had spina bifida! The waiting and the wondering and the stress and the wait and see. I am really hoping, that like when I was pregnant, the waiting was the worse part; and once we actually get started into school I'll find out that all this worry and stress was for nothing (other than try to be super-prepared).

For the last week, since I've been trying to become more proactive getting ready for school I have felt like I am on the edge of tears! I just want it to be easier, and make the right decisions!
I spent last week calling around and sending out emails.
I talked to the secretary at our school which did not help to make me feel better. I was told

1. We do not have to register earlier than January (even thought all of the sites say the Fall prior to school). In fact she said a lot can happen in a year and what is the point of taking his name?! -yes that made me feel very good about sending my kid to this school
2.  Kids in kindergarten don't need an IEP and was told what is the point it's just kindergarten - my head nearly blew off at this
3. What about a school nurse (or someone to help with cathing), that it doesn't need to be set up that much ahead of time.

I did get a chance to talk to the Principal later in the week and plan to have some meetings in January and have been reassured that 9 months is enough time to get things ready for Nickolas. They do have a couple of kids with special needs in the school, including a girl who uses a wheelchair full time. So I imagine they have experience.

 

We have been very, very adamant that we want Nickolas to go to this school with Katheryn. Our local children's centre, Grandview actually has a school attached to it. Campbell Children's School. And every time someone mentions that we are eligible for it we declined.

 

Nick had a reassessment by our developmental pediatrician in October. I wasn't able to be there, but Kyle was and we received a letter outlining the assessment. I think I just read the letter at a time when all I could think of was how are we going to make a smooth transition to school. Because it didn't say anything that I didn't know. But it got me thinking.

 

If Nickolas was able to attend this school he would be able to get physiotherapy, and occupational therapy 2-3 times a week. It finally hit me that maybe we are compromising the potential for Nick to receive more therapy because we want him to be with Katheryn.

I don't want Nick to go to a special school, I want him to be in the same school as Katheryn, make friends in the school he will grow up in. I don't want him to be different, to be segregated. But just because this isn't what I want doesn't mean that isn't what he might need for now.

 

Nick is already going to be facing challenges starting school in September. He will be one of the youngest kids in the class, the only kid in a wheelchair/walker/crutches?, he will have his own special bus (which he is excited about - he tells everyone I'm going to have my own bus when I go to school), we will have to readjust his therapies around his school hours. So now I'm wondering if we are pushing Nick to be in our regular school because of beliefs that we have about kids with a disability, instead of looking at what Nickolas' needs actually are.

 

So Kyle and I are taking a step  back. We are going to go through all of our options. Apply to the Campbell's school, apply to our local school, and if Nick gets accepted (they have a limited number of spots for the kids with the most need) then we will see what the best choice is.

 

I'm not sure if I'm happy about this. What I really wish is that Nick was a January baby and I had another year to think about it. But I know that Nickolas is excited to start school and whatever school he starts in on Sept 3, 2013 it will be the right one.

Trick or Treat!

Today is the day! Halloween!

The kids were very excited to dress up and go to a Halloween party

 

Both of them LOVED their costumes and wanted to keep them on all day/night!

I even got out some makeup. It is supposed to be a stencil, but it didn't work so I tried free-handing it from the picture on the box (it's supposed to be a butterfly)

 

Katheryn had absolutely no desire to take her 'carriage' out trick or treating, but she did pose for a picture in costume.

It was damp but not really raining that much when we started out.

Took some time to pose for some pictures on the front line.
My niece Madison (who is lalaloopsie) came trick or treating with us
I have no idea why Katheryn is making such funny faces...
It probably had something to do with 3 camera's pointed at her (and saying we couldn't leave yet)

And a quick picture with me

And we were off!

They girls were very excited to shout trick or treat.
And we had to collect Nick's candy for him.
There wasn't a single house where Nick could actually go up to the door for candy himself. We got him to yell out trick or treat! Just one of those things you need to problem solve.

He didn't seem to mind. He liked carrying his bag that was getting heavier and heavier.
And they kids eventually started to lose their steam.
It never started to really rain, but it was misting/spitting and we all got very damp (again I was really glad all of Nick's ship was waterproof).

And then we were home again!
Bags were full, kids were tired and wet

 

The kids took stock of their goodies

 

Then Katheryn took over handing out the candy

 

When we asked her what she liked better, handing out candy or giving candy she said she liked handing it out better!

So did the kids she handed it out to! Each kid got gigantic handfuls of candy when they came to the door (and we still have a ton left over!)

Now to think of what we'll do next Halloween...

Pumpkin Masters!