Mmmmm…marshmallow soup, garnished with milk and white chocolate swirl chips and dusted with cocoa. 
It’s an old North Pole recipe.
Author: Melissa
Do you know four square?
Not the social media site but the game? Until two days ago I had never heard of it, then Eric reported that Caleb is now playing it at school. Wait, what?
Four square, also known as Square Ball or handball, is usually played with a rubber playground ball, a volleyball, or a tennis ball on a square court with four maximum players, depending on the rules (Big Four Square, Six Square, etc.). The objectives of four square are to get another player into dunce (out) and achieve the rank of king, or ace.
There are rules and strategy, though I am positive that the games on the playground at Caleb’s school are not nearly as cut throat as Eric was describing. Caleb has been very interested in the game but he wasn’t able to play. It involves a lot of hand-eye coordination (which he rocks) but it also includes turn taking (umm) and motor planning to get the ball to land in specific spots…this isn’t easy stuff for this boy of mine. He stuck to games of chase or shooting hoops, things he gets and enjoys immensely.
Over time though his interest has not waned and over the last couple of weeks, it was reported, he has moved from observer to participant. And he’s doing much better at playing even. Do you think it’s a coincidence that the last couple of weeks lines up with the highest dose of the study drug…if he’s not getting the placebo?
I guess we’ll find out when the weaning starts…
Day 21 – Homework.
Sneaky is hard at work this evening, he’s preparing for a very exciting day tomorrow.
Caleb has been writing all sorts of stories at school about this Sneaky elf. I have been sending the teacher the photos every morning and they have been using them as story starters. They not only hold Caleb’s attention but they fascinate the other kids in the class. It’s become quite the social event, seeing what Sneaky has done now. His friends ask Caleb lots of questions about the pictures and Caleb answers them. How awesome is that??
Last week his teacher, who seems to love the adventures of Sneaky too, mentioned to Eric in passing that it would be fun to have Sneaky come to school. As soon as I heard, I sent her an e-mail to start making arrangements. SO! Tomorrow Sneaky will be secretly smuggled to school. His teacher and his aid have something planned there and have promised to take photos. Tomorrow also happens to be Caleb’s day to share so he will be sharing his pal Sneaky with his friends too.
I cannot wait to see what he gets up to!
Day 20 – Rest and research
I think poor Sneaky is getting a little worn out from all the trips back and forth between our house and the North Pole, it’s hard to believe he’s been doing this for almost 3 weeks already!
Last night he hung a hammock in the tree and took a little extra time for some rest. He seems to be catching up on what our neighbors have been up to this year…I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about there…
Day 19 – A test.
Caleb is not a fan of puzzles. He has done a very few willingly, mostly he leaves the room telling anyone within earshot, “No.” very firmly. So, fine, it’s not his thing. Do you think that ever stops me from trying to convince him it’s his thing? No? I guess you do know me!
Last night I thought we’d test the power of Sneaky. Sneaky (mostly) set up a puzzle, a THOMAS puzzle. I thought the power of Sneaky + the power of Thomas might result in a complete puzzle. I even stacked the deck further by suggesting to Sneaky that he only leave the faces out but complete the rest. See! We were even using the fragile X need for closure to our advantage too. It couldn’t fail.
So at bedtime, this is what was left for Caleb to find…
Can’t miss, right?
Yeah. My sneaky child woke up sometime last night and left this response.
*sigh* We left Sneak yet another vitamin to help keep his strength up.
Anyone need a wooden Thomas puzzle that was used 3/4’s of one time?
Day 18 – Sneaky the Adventurer
Our elf Sneak appears to have either undergone a name change *or* Caleb’s language has caught up a bit and he’s finally able to say his name properly…either way…the elf is now called Sneaky. Very appropriate.
Sneaky caught a bit of Toy Story with Caleb last night just before bed, it appears to have inspired him.
It really looks to me like he is flying…not just falling with style like some toys!
Day 17 – A special breakfast.
Sneak can be such a sweetie, last night he set the table for us!
It inspired Eric to make us a big breakfast of french toast and sausages…I might whisper a request to Sneak today to set the table every night if that is the result!
**As an aside, last night as Eric watched me glue all those ornaments to the trees for our place mats he said, “I didn’t think you would take it to this extreme.” Umm, hello? It’s like he’d never met me before 😉
Day 16 – He’s a braver elf than I.
I really, really, really hope this isn’t on my bucket list…it isn’t is it, Holly??
Dunkin Donuts, revisited
Last Monday I mentioned that Caleb had taken a “field trip” to Dunkin Donuts while at school (“Um, we have to tell you something.“) I know for parents of typically developing kids this sounds like a complete waste of school hours but those of us with kids with fragile X know that real life experiences are better teaching tools at times than 1:1 instruction. SO, we have no problem whatsoever with these trips.
Yesterday, they did a repeat trip but this time they did an amazing job of tying this in to Caleb’s IEP goals.
Yesterday, they didn’t go just for themselves, they took orders! Caleb had to visit all of the first and second grade classrooms and take the teacher’s order. He did the asking, the teacher wrote the order down for him. Once they had all of the orders, they went to Dunkins.
After one brief misfire, when Caleb tried to order lettuce (that’s a Subway thing), he proceeded to place the entire order with the cashier. There was no line so the cashier was able to take the time to slow down and listen to him and she was able to understand him! He paid the bill, in cash and then they returned to school and delivered the drinks.
How awesome is that? He did a fantastic job and it hit on math, social skills and speech all in one trip. They also noted that he “did better” at sharing the munchkins they brought back to the classroom…I’ve played that game with him before and gotten nothing, the kids are more persuasive apparently.
I’m thinking maybe we need to work on this skill at home, it’s important that skills be generalized beyond a school setting, right? Which means, I get educational Munchkins…my very favorite kind! Mmmmmm…learning….