Changes and a new direction

In November we had Brian tested for learning disabilities, and the results were both encouraging and discouraging. The doctor labeled him as developmentally delayed, and said he was borderline mentally retarded, he tests at more than a year delayed in most areas. This was a tough thing to understand and accept about our sweet Brian. However, we've been struggling with basic kindergarten skills at 6 and a half years old. The psychologist told me we should enroll him in school because I could not homeschool a special needs child. Although, she believes that his delays are unrelated to homeschooling, and his self-esteem was very high for a delayed child. In our quest for finding out how to best help him, we had him evaluated for physical, occupational and speech therapy. Physically his upper body is weak, but not needing therapy. The occupational therapist found he was delayed in visual processing and find motor skills, so he is now getting therapy for that. We are still waiting for speech results, but she believes he has auditory processing disorder. Today we took him to a developmental opthamologist, who found his vision was poor even with glasses, that he has a weak eye, and that his tracking skills are not smooth. So now he needs patch therapy every day.

All that to say, I am now a homeschool mother of four, two with special needs. I hope to update this blog more frequently with my new adventures and tips for anyone in the same boat.