Its a life

I had an iep meeting with Joshua’s teachers last Friday. Other than Jays and myself, there were 7 people: principle, vice-principle, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, school psychologist, the nurse, and a person from the school district that Joshua will attend for next school year as a kindegartener. We took Elizabeth with us. In the beginning of the meeting, Joshua threw a temper tandrum that lasted for about 15 minutes. He screamed and cried lying on the floor. I kept wanting to get up from my seat to go to carry him or something. The psychologist patted my shoulder and said, “Mom, its ok. He will be ok.” So, we started the meeting trying to talk overJoshua’s sound. Eventually he calmed down and began to play with the toys that his teacher provided. Elizabeth quietly and patiently played with the toys until the meeting was over. We talked about Joshua’s strength and the things he needs to work on and each person presented what they observed and learned about Joshua and what they recommend. The individualized education plan and goals were created. I was quite surprised the principle typed the whole thing and at the end summarized the notes and read them aloud before the file was printed out and made a copy for us. They all agreed that Joshua lies on the severe side of autism spectrum and recommended the maximum of therapy sessions and other things. The people were not just professional and doing their job, but they were very sincere and caring. I felt the warmth in them. I wanted to cry all throughout the meetting, not because Joshua had severe autism but feeling very thankful an that I wasn’t alone in this. They seemed like angels to me. Jays and I felt like we came to a right place and became more encouraged. Also, I found out that once all the paperwork goes thru and the process is done, the regional center will provide all the necessities for Joshua that includes his diapers! Right now, his one sheet of diaper costs a dollar. The meeting gave me hopes and encouragement. I cried all the way to home in the car. Elizabeth asked me, “Mommy, are you said?” and patted my leg. I replied, “no, honey,mommy is crying because I’m happy. Sometimes, people cry when they are happy, too.”

For Valentine’s day, I bought chocolate cookies for Joshua’s 7 classmates. Each cookie was wrapped and came in a pretty tin. The teacher sent a note for Valentine cards for the kids because they were going to exchange cards with each other. Joshua received cute goodies from his classmates and brought it in a bag that Joshua finger painted with a handly made card for us. we bought couple bags of Godiva chocolate from big lot’s and opened all of them and mixed them in a gift bag for Joshua’s class teachers. There are 7 of them in a class for the kids. Jays and I wished that we could get better ones for them, but that was all we could do in our budget. We skipped our Valentine’s day this year. We’ll have to not do our anniversaries and birthdays because of money except the kids’.

In March, we’re buying the water store by our store. The man who owns it right now got a cancer and wants to just sell it rediculously cheap to us. We’re going to pay him monthly by October. Elizabeth is going to preschool/daycare starting Tuesdays and Thursdays for few weeks before she attends every day. While both of our kids are in school, I have to work at the water store with Selene. From 9-7 I think. The kids will have to stay at the store for 2 hours after school. The water store has an area where I can cook dinner for us. I hope we could pay up the debts in few years and bring us real income. We are letting go of one of our employees next month. We just can’t aford much right now. We might have to sell our car to pay this water store person.

Selene gets up only once or twice during night for feeding. She’s growing bigger. She laughed at the cartoon on TV yesterday. I was surprised. I turned around where she can’t see the TV, then she got upset. So, she was laughing at the TV. I was like She’s 3 months old, and already watching TV. lol On 24, we’re celebaring her 100th day as our tradition. Its celebrating her survival for 3 months. This is because, back in the days, when Korea was poor, there were many babies died in first 3 months sick. So the 100th day was created. This day, we decorate the table and take pictures. The main food is white rice cake. Its believed to be that as many people who eat the rice kake will bring blessings to the baby. Well, we can’t do it big for Selene. We’re going to just homemake the rice cake and bake a regular cake an decorate her little table. I think I want to buy a small flour pot and decorate it with fruits and chocolate like we did for Elizabeth 100th day.

I better go and sleep at least an hour before kids get up.