The IEP

So...obviously...I was stressed out for nothing.

We all gathered in the conference room. They each went around the room and talked about where Mason is at currently based on our reports, their visits the last two weeks, and the medical reports they have received from Mason's docs and current therapists. Each of them mentioned their 3-4 goals they have for Mason for this year. I was okay with all of their goals and hopeful that Mason can reach every single one of them. There was one particular goal that they mentioned that brought a tear to my eye.

Speech Therapist: I would like to see Mason pronounce the consonants L, N & M. (Looking at me) Wouldn't it be great if he could say Mom?

Me: Yes! (That's all I could say without crying.)

We discussed his meds, his feeding, his G-tube, etc. etc. All typical stuff. The only part we're nervous about is the transition...so here's the plan:

Monday, February 7th - Mason's first day. It was originally going to be Jan 31st, but that week the class is preparing and putting on a "nursery rhyme show", so it will not be a typical week for Mason to start. We figured it was better to wait a week. Michelle and I will both take him to school and spend the entire day there. They wanted us there the first day to train all the staff on his feeding and his G-tube regimen. This is a good transition plan for Mommy too! :) If all is going well after lunch, I think Michelle and I may duck out for the last 2 hours of the day (sorry, Michelle, I just had this idea), so that Mason understands we won't always be there.

Wednesday, February 9th - Mason will take his first ride on the bus. (AHH!) Chris will take the afternoon off of work to be on-call for lunch time and then will pick Mason up. That way, he is only doing the bus once that week.

The Monday/Wednesday after that...it's the full routine.

Mason will be getting speech/OT/PT each day. The therapists all suggested we continue with clinic-based therapy during the rest of the week. Now that Birth to 3 is done, we need to get a regular OT and PT. Therapies plus, where Mason goes for speech right now, offers OT as well so I'm crossing my fingers that they have an opening right after speech appointments. As far as PT, I got a recommendation, so I need to follow-up and make an appointment. Wow - I thought our schedules would get less crazy with school - NOT SO! It is important to get these therapies lined up because come summer, Mason will not receive school-based therapy.

Jill, our Birth to 3 Coordinator, was there at the IEP meeting to help answer any other questions we had. She also surprised Mason with a b-day present...a Mickey Mouse doll!!! Thank you so much to all the therapists we've worked with through Birth to 3 - You have all been so important in helping Mason get to this point!!! :)

So in the next two weeks, I need to find Mason a decent sized backpack to fit all his daily school items: His food, milk, extra t-shirt and pants, nuk, meds, syringes, emergency G-tube supplies, etc. We also need to find a pair of gloves that stay on his hands...this is actually quite the challenge - little stinker keeps his hands balled up so no gloves will stay on!

So I've got quite the to-do list to get Mason enrolled and ready for school, and only 2 weeks to get it accomplished! What a big boy he's become!

BIG Week! (Finally - a Mason update!)

Today was Mason's 3 year old check-up with pediatrics. Mason's weight was 29 lbs, 12 oz. and his height was 36 inches. This puts him at the 50th percentile...which is great, considering VCFS kids are usually on the smaller side. But I figure the Mrdutt genes kind of even that out...making him average. :) Giant genes + VCFS genes = Normal stature.

Mason had a fever of 101 last night, but it triggered nothing, except a restless night for both Mason and Daddy. :( This morning at the appointment the fever was down, thanks to ibuprofen. A general checkup didn't reveal anything troubling...no spots on his throat, no ear infection, lungs sounded fine. We're keeping an eye on it, hoping everything improves by Saturday for the big b-day party! We talked about Mason's sleep pattern, which is completely irregular. Dr. Shepherd suggested 1 mg of melatonin, which we happen to have on hand thanks to Gramma Barb that suggested it for Chris awhile back. Tonight is the first test. ;)

Due to his little illness, we cancelled speech and OT for tomorrow, but the big IEP meeting is still scheduled. I'm super anxious about it, hoping that they have more answers to my ever-growing concerns about the bus, feeding, etc. I was stressed out at work thinking about it today, but I'm trying to stay realistic. I'm sure it will go better than I imagine. Mason also has a blood draw tomorrow morning to test his seizure drug levels. It's been awhile since we've done that.

(I'll post more about the IEP meeting when it's done...and hopefully its full of positives!)

Wednesday is a relatively calm day, with a long overdue haircut scheduled for Mason. Thursday, too, is pretty calm. Friday, however, is Mason's big birthday!!! I'm taking off at noon to run errands and pick up Mason in time for his 3:00 pictures, then we'll have a small b-day celebration Friday night. Mason is heading to Marshfield with Daddy, Aunt Michelle and Spencer during the day to pick up his long-awaited gait trainer. YAY!! We'll finally have a piece of equipment he can use to get around!

The big party will be Saturday with all the Jan/Feb birthday folks, and cake, and pizza, and bowling, and balloons, and all kinds of fun!

After the party, we head back West to the "land of the Mrdutt's" for Marek's baptism on Sunday.

See! Big week!

How to make an angel food cake...

I never did write my new year's resolution post, but I can tell you that 2011 is going to be a year of "new" for me. I want to do things I've never done.

Making an angel food cake is something I've never done. Never even thought about attempting it. My mother and grandmother are masters of the angel food, so why would I try to compete with that? Here's why...

Gramma Barb makes cakes for everyone's birthday or special occasion. Last year, she made this spectacular cake for our January/February birthdays. She has also made cakes for many family weddings, baptisms, anniversaries, etc. So this year, for her b-day, I told Chris to call her and ask her what her favorite cake was, and I would make it. Was I expecting her to say angel food? Heck no. But it is her favorite. So I'm going to make it.

I contacted the mother master of angel food for assistance. Of course she had a recipe (Grandma Henrichs blue-ribbon winning recipe) handy. And a 10 inch tube pan. I've never used a tube pan. I tried walking away with the original recipe but the Ducklady chased me down and grabbed it away. Give me the original?! HA! A copy will have to do!

So tonight I made an angel food cake. Here's a step by step of the process...pictures and all!

First, gather all of your ingredients. (This was a hint my mom always taught me. It's always a good idea. Nuttin' sucks more than having to run to the store during a critical moment of the baking process.)

Yes - that is a container of egg whites. (I'll explain later.)

Then, wash your hands. I forgot to take a picture of this, but I did it...promise.

The recipe called for sifted flour. You MUST sift your flour before you measure it, it's totally different! So...sift I must.

When you don't own a sifter, a strainer and spoon will do.

After measuring your flour, add in the sugar.

Oooh, action shot!

Then you must sift your sugar and flour four times. Must. Must. Must. Sift. Sift. Sift. Place this to the side.

In your handy dandy kitchen aid mixer, add your cream of tar-tar, salt, vanilla extract, almond extract and egg whites.

What on earth is tartar? And how do you cream it?

Watkins almond extract. The king of almond extracts.

Watkins vanilla extract. The king of vanilla extracts.

Yes...I cheated...but cmon! Who has the time to separate a dozen egg whites from their yolks?

Beat on high until soft peaks form.

Do those look like soft peaks? What are soft peaks?

Add in sugar, in 4 additions, until blended. Then, sift in flour (yes, again) in 4 additions, folding in with large spoon.

Thank you, Chris, for your assistance with the photography.

Pour into tube pan.

Yummy.

Place into preheated oven on lowest rack.

Crossin' my fingers at this point.

Wait.....







I just had to check halfway through to make sure it was rising...

Phew. It's rising.

And DING! It's done...

Gorgeous!

Let it cool, upside down.

Tomorrow...we eat it. With strawberries and whipped cream! Happy Birthday Barb! I hope it tastes okay!!!