Update on Tristan and thanks

October 5, 2006

Hi Everyone,

About a month back, I posted for help/advice from you all here and

got some wonderful advice and reassurance for my almost five year old

son, Tristan. In the month or so that has passed, I pulled my head

out of the sand (finally), grabbed my courage, and went for it! I

called the head of our Pre-K Early Learning Center here in Barrow

County, Georgia. She was extremely supportive and very informative,

asking loads of questions about Tristan and urging me to quickly

start things moving since he would need to be evaluated and accepted

into the school system/Pre-K program before he turned five. Our first

visit to the school was for an initial meeting with her () and

the speech therapist (Amy), as well as the school psycologist

(Maggie). It went pretty much as I expected - he passed his vision

requirement but not his hearing (he wouldn't cooperate with the

earphones on his head). He had a bit of a melt-down but it wasn't as

bad as I had feared it might be. Step ONE was over. Next I had to

take him to the pediatrician for a 'catch-up' on his immunizations

and the hearing exam. Wonder of wonders, the child who had thrown a

horrendous temper tantrum a year ago wasn't in sight. He did

fantastic! He stepped on the scale to be weighed and only groaned a

bit when they measured him. He was wonderful with the nurse,

cooperating when she took his temp under the arm, looked in his ears

and talked with him. The PA that saw him had mentioned to me in an

earlier conversation where I'd called her to 'inform' her of

Tristan's aversion to Dr's, that she had a niece with autism and was

quite OK with taking on Tristan - *smile* . He cooperated with her

with only a few 'scream-outs' and wanting to go home but otherwise

was fantastic and passed the hearing exam as well as got all his

shots. My 18 year old went with me to help out and was impressed as

well that Tristan did so good closed up in the tiny exam room with

the short wait we had to endure...LOL! I had called to get him the

first appt. of the day but you know Dr's offices and exam room

waits!! SECOND STEP OVER. I then had to register him with the school

system - mostly normal stuff for me, paperwork and such. THIRD STEP

OVER. Yesterday, he went back to the Pre-K for his evaluation. He did

his own thing and interacted in different ways with either ,

Maggie, or Amy - depending on what they needed as I answered

questions, tons of them, from all of them. Two Pre-K teachers also

came into the room and played with/talked with him. They even got him

to go with them into a classroom and took him for a ride down the

hallway in a wagon, while he impressed them with the words he could

read on the wall. Yes, he had several meltdowns, focusing on the

clock on the wall (on of his THINGS!) when he felt threatened or

nervous but all in all, I couldn't have asked for a better

experience! In two weeks, we go back to get the results from his

evaluation. I was told, at that time, I should learn what the

computer says Tristan 'has' or how he's 'ranked'...my words, not

theirs....and will also find out what he's eligible for in terms of

the school system and 'help', I assume. I met the teacher he will

have - they have already pretty much decided he won't go into a

regular Pre-K class, which I expected. She has four other students -

one with autism, 2 that are hearing impaired and one little boy in a

wheel chair (not sure what his diagnosis is - didn't meet the

children, it was nap time). They want him for the all day program

from 8-3 M-F as soon as his Eval. results and our meeting is a done

deal. They told me that three of the children leave after lunch time

so it would be a perfect time for him to get some one on one time

with the teacher in the afternoons. Also, he would be mainstreamed

into regular Pre-K class for one hour a day. STEP FOUR OVER.

I haven't posted since my 2nd post here last time asking a question

or two - but I've read and appreciated each and every post. I've

sympathized with you, hurt with you, and cheered with you. It

comforts me to be here.

The reason I wrote/posted/updated is because I know there are always

new people joining, much like myself, and I wanted to give as much

detail and comfort to you as I could as well as update you all on our

progress.

I will post again soon and I truly appreciate being part of your

group!

Thanks!

Tammi

October 7, 2006

Good for you Tammi! I'm glad you got the ball rolling. :-) Sometimes our best

way of dealing with this is to start finding help and solutions!

Roxanna

( ) Update on Tristan and thanks