had a good day i made it in to the highland school for summer yayayyay have to go somewere to check my ears complicated i can hear dont worry just somethin els. we went to habit da grace had fun there. tomorrow we have stay unplaned but we will have fun. we leave tomorrow

This is a picture of the Highlands School, where Nathan will spend his days this summer.  We spent a considerable part of today here as well.  It turns out that Nathan definitely has Dyslexia.  He qualified to be a student this summer and they will be working on strategies to help him overcome the deficits created from that.  Interestingly though,  they found something we had previously missed.  While doing the full gammet of testing, they found considerable deficits in Nathan's ability to identify and discern sounds.  Thiis is more than just the dyslexia we initially thought.  They found he is actually unable to tell diffences in spoken sounds.  So a simple example is the word set Tab and Tap.  These words sound exactly the same to Nathan.  You can imagine the trouble this has caused in using and gaining language.  Anyway, along with that, they are not sure that he is actually hearing all sounds, especally sounds in words.  So, the long and short of it is that tomorrow we are seeing an Auditory specialist who will test not only Nate's hearing, but his auditory processing ability.  This is an actual physician who will give us an actual diagnosis!!!!  :)  This is a huge piece of ensuring Nathan is given instruction that he can actually process and learn from.  So, flights are changed, rooms rebooked and the rental car extended.  We will be here a little longer.  The bottom line from today is that we will definitely be here this summer.  They have already found the dyslexia and all that goes along with that, so they are planning his instruction around the gaps he shows there.  After tomorrow, we anticipate an diagnosis of CAP or Conceptual Auditory Processing disorder.  This will add to the plan for this summer.  Should they find any actual hearing deficits or birth defects (or scar tissue from all of those wonderful ear infections we dealt with in the toddler years) in the inner ear, then we will have an even larger journey. We aren't quite sure what to expect with that.  I have many questions for the specialist if that is found.  Anyway, it seems today wasn't the big day after all.  Tomorrow will be.  Aggghhhh

After all of that was done, Nate and I went to the historic town of Havre De Grace to clear our minds.   It is a beautiful little town on the Chesapeake Bay.  It was peaceful and quaint.  Exactly what we needed to talk about everything that had been said at the Highland School.  Nate is being a trooper and is so willing to do whatever it takes to figure this out.  I truly admire his motivation and positive attitude.  After visiting there, we came back and had dinner and found a local mall. 

Extra days means we needed more clothes!!!  ::P

Cyndi

ok so if u shaw what my mom posted then you now were we were and for alll those who dont well here we were at the national aquarium and this picture cant explain how big and masive this turtle was o and yes its missing a arm fin whatever you want to calll it poor guy no wonder his in there lol well overall i had a good day. i want that turtle....

Tuesday at Baltimore Inner Harbor

Today was really fun.  We spent the day with Keith and went to the Baltimore Inner Harbor.  Nate was really happy to hang out with his Uncle and we went to the National Aquarium.  It is a really nice one.  They have a great shark exhibit and an actual Whale skeleton.  It is enormous!  I, of course, love the Jellyfish.  Nate loves the sharks, whales and dolphins.  Keith was just a trooper and took us to see it all.  Afterward, we went to play a little at the ESPN Zone.  That place is seriously an arcade on steroids!!  Nathan and Keith did a great job of trying out each and every game and ride.  I did my best to hold discarded jackets and token cards and merely keep up with them.  It was a nice place to hang out though, because I forgot to mention that is was pouring rain all day long!!!  We ended the evening with dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe.   Nate hadn't been to one before and was mesmerized by all of the memorabelia.    It's a pretty good one.  They have alot.  Back at our hotel, Nate is acclimating very well and has already made his presence known in the gym and snack bar.  So far so good.  Tomorrow we go to the school for the first time.  I am really excited to see what they say after the initial tests.  So, tomorrow is the big day. 

Cyndi

first day of nate and cyndi's amazing adventure

ok so today on the first plane went pretty good the landing was rough because the pilot came in to fast. the second flite was perfect had no truble on landing at all. when we got here we went to redlobster then tryed to find tcbys but we couldnt find it so we just went to micdonalds and got a mcflurry.









from nate

couple days till nate&cyndi's amazing eevent trip 1

so we have four more days woot woot so excited cant wait to get there the testing will be kinda boring but after that free to do annything i think i mite use the jim that they have in the place were stayin cant wait happy happy ok so we leave on monday get there late night testing tuesday free day wensday and thursday we leave:( o well i go back in summer baltomore here i come watch out were gunna have so much fun

One week to go

Ahh...the tasks to keep me busy.  I am already starting to pack and be incredibly excited to see what our first trip brings.  Nate will get the full gammet of academic and educational testing this trip.  We are also planning to spend a day with Keith if possible and Nate is choosing one site to see.  I have a feeling we will be heading to the aquarium at the inner harbor.  Anyway, my goal for this week is to stay calm, not have unrealistic expectations and simply get it all done.  I am incredibly nervous for some reason.  Nervous and excited!
~Cyndi

the week before the first trip to baltomore

we have one week till we leave to go to baltomore for me and my moms amazing adventure i can not wait till we are there it will be so fun. the first day were there i will be doing testing for this school to see if i have dislexia if i do i go back in summer. we are hoping that we see my uncle keith on tues.

nathan