But I'm sure as a journal-keeping blog the future me would like an update of life
I'll keep it short and sweet then I guess
I was working full time at Bank of America from April 2012 to April 2013. It was a wonderful work experience - and by wonderful I mean it helped me learn and grow!! There was lots of stress, anxiety with separating from my kids, dealing with learning so many new things. I liked some parts of the job. It gave me a place where for 8 hours I was distracted and dealing with other things and helped me to get my mind off some of the stresses of Brody's care. I met some awesome people and made a few friends.
I got my Associates degree from University of Phoenix last May. I learned a lot and really enjoyed it even though at times juggling kids and school wasn't easy - luckily online school is the only way I could have done it.
Over the past year we had a ton of stuff with an administrative hearing with the State of Arizona regarding a specific service for Brody. That is a whole big long story and due to legal limitations I cannot even tell it. Suffice it to say it ended where we could settle or pursue a hearing that could have lead to a higher court. We settled and the service we wanted for Brody is starting this summer.
Brody completed Kindergarten and 1st Grade
Ryan had his first brush with preschool from Jan to May of this year - it was just 2 days a week at a home preschool
Jake started the rigorous CPA study and exams. He started last August and it has been difficult. Each test has on average a 50% success rate. We are so proud of Jake and all the endless hours of work and studying for the CPA exam. He has passed three so far exams, retaken one and has his last one more exam to retake at the beginning of August.
I am going back to school in July (next month) to finish and get my Bachelor's degree.
Brody starts at a private school for children with autism this next school year. A place called Pieceful Solutions. I had a tough time with this decision because Kindergarten was a wonderful experience. Also I firmly believe in public schools and their importance. But 1st grade for Brody was difficult and it taught us that perhaps last year was different because his Kindergarten teacher was the difference. Ms Sydnee (his teacher) had much more experience with children with autism. She had done habilitation for children with autism before teaching. She also had a masters in special ed with an emphasis in autism. I realized that those with autism, Brody in particular need to be in an environment that can work on his behavior that inhibits his educational progress. Of course it was easy to make this decision when the scholarship was so easy and fast to do through Arizona Education Department. There is no way we could afford a school normally that is twice as much as the tuition at ASU if we didn't have a scholarship!! We are excited about this upcoming school year.
More Brody news - finally, after a battle with Arizona's government :) the intensive behavioral treatment is starting this next month. There is so much work and battling with Brody ahead and I will have to be so diligent and consistent I am sure I'll want to quit before Brody but it is what we have wanted since Brody was diagnosed almost 4 years ago and it is what we know by study and experts will help!
Well I am not sure what else there is to update on - it has been over a year since posting anything substantial on this blog so I guess all that is left is some pics....okay overload from over a year of pics!!
