McBean is now 9. He is doing great at school and has actually had services removed and decreased on his IEP. The folks at the school can't believe how much he has changed since the beginning of the year. We are really happy with his school (which is different from the one he was at when we first moved to Minnesota). It is 2 minutes from our house and the McBean is really happy there. He has friends and is doing great at KidStop as well. We will be having his 9th birthday party at AirMaxx (trampolines) in a couple of weekends. I actually had to limit the number of friends for him to invite because he has too many.

We absolutely love having our house. We are completely settled in and have made a few minor changes/improvements. I think the best part is having a garage, but we are really looking forward to working in our HUGE yard this spring. Bob wants to plant some trees and lots of veggies and herbs to go with the stuff that is already out there (raspberries and asparagus).

It is also great to have a big space for the McBean to run around in. Having the fence is nice as well, as I don't worry about him running into the street.

WE ARE GOING TO BE HOMEOWNERS!!!

If you are reading this then you understand how long we have been waiting to be able to live in a house. Tonight we are having the home inspection and we should be getting the keys to our first house on June 28!!!!


I am most excited for our McBean to have a huge (fenced-in) yard to run and play in. I can't wait to be able to tell him, "Go play outside!!"

So, we live in Minnesota now! We have been here in St Cloud since November 2010. Bob got a great job working for St Cloud State University. I am currently working as a contract employee for Wolters Kluwer, but hoping to get a permanent spot there in the near future. We are currently living in an apartment near campus, but have put an offer in on a house! A real house where I can paint and put as many holes in the walls as I want. Unfortunately it is a short sale house and it seems to be taking FOREVER for the mortgage company to decide if they will accept our offer. As we have been waiting almost 10 years to buy a house, I guess a few months aren't really so bad. Our McBean has made a suprisingly good transition to his new school and town. He became an instant fan of all Minnesota sports teams and now owns Twins, Wild and Golden Gopher shirts, plus thanks to ESPN, he actually knows the names of the players from the various teams. We have been lucky with the school. We got his IEP moved over and they are working to get the McBean the extra help he needs in school. We have also found a great new psychologist, who I think is going to really help us navigate some scary new territory that we are headed toward. The McBean has been trying to assert his independence a lot lately, as is typical for a 8-year-old boy. Some of our struggles occur when he is not able to cope with disappointment or frustration as well as we want and his Autism adds some extra fuel to the fire. I am hoping that Bob and I can stay just enough ahead of him to get us all through the tween-teen years. I read lots of books, some more helpful than others, and know that we just have to take it one day at a time. Our McBean is an original and sometimes it takes original and creative ideas to keep up with him.

12 more days until the McBean starts second grade. He is VERY excited. He talks about it every day. I think he is anxious to see his friends and ready for the structure and routine of school. We know who his teacher will be and are very pleased. She is the mom of one of his classmates. Plus the school he goes to is fantastic and really works with us and the McBean to meet his needs.

The McBean has been off his meds for the whole summer and has done extremely well. A few minor incidents, mostly revolved around him asserting his indedependence. He really doesn't want anyone telling him what to do. We try to find a balance. I read a great book this summer, The Explosive Child, that really helped me understand where the McBean's outbursts are coming from.

Here's hoping for a great start to the school year.

Seven, Thirty, Thirty-Two, and Eight

These are important numbers in our lives in the upcoming weeks and months. The McBean will be 7 on Monday. He is very excited and impatient for his birthday to be here. He keeps saying, "I want to be seven years old!" Bob turns 30 on April 1, which is so appropriate for him. I am 32 in May and our 8th Wedding Anniversary is in June.

Plus, we have 2 weddings this spring/summer as well. Bob's brother is getting married in May and my brother is getting married in June. The McBean will be in both weddings. He is very excited to wear a tuxedo. I am positive he will be adorable.

It is hard to have anything but a positive attitude on this beautiful, sunny day in March. I am hopeful for good things to come, and not just cake-filled birthdays.

Thanksgiving

The McBean told us yesterday that he is thankful for "pumpkins and leaves." I am thankful that he is doing well in school. I am thankful for the wonderful teachers, aides, and staff that work with our McBean. He is doing great in reading and coming along with math. He is doing well with memorizing his "doubles" in addition.

We are heading to Lake Orion for turkey day with my Mom and Dad. My sister and her family will be there. The McBean is very excited to spend time with his cousins. He keeps saying, "It's almost Thanksgiving" and checking the dates on the calendar. My brother and his fiance will be there as well. Just missing Dr. Aunt, who has to work. I am excited for us to be together. It will be crazy, but fun.

I am looking forward to having some girly time with my nieces.

Tubes

In one week my baby is getting tubes in his ears!! Number 542 on my list of "Things you really only understand when you are a parent" is having to make tough decisions that affect another human being that you are responsible for, especially when there is no clear right or wrong decision. So, we decided to have tubes put in the McBean's ears. This is not a decision we came to lightly or rashly. He has had some fluid in his ear for about 6 months. Luckily it is not infected. While one ear cleared on its own, this ear has not. The ENT said that we could keep waiting, but the chances of it clearing on its own decrease as time goes on. And as we are headed into fall, back to school, etc. We decided to "Tube Him." Wish me luck. I think it is harder on me than the McBean.