Sensory overload?

And I'm not talking about Jaymes. Well actually, in a way I am. This week is a crazy week for me. I've spent the summer trying to make this week less crazy, and obviously you can see all the good -that- endeavor did me. I start college today. I am terrified. I wish I'd gotten all online classes. Anyone who has read the blog for long knows that I am much better in writing than I am in person. I get so anxious over everything that I just can't function properly. Already today I've found several things to panic about. Because i'm something of a masochist (and I love lists) I'll list them:

1. I don't have a parking pass. I don't know if you can pay for one with the Pell grant money like I can with my books for school. I don't have $15 until wednesday, so I hope it can be charged to the Pell grant money or.. I don't know.
2. I don't have any of my books. I was told not to get them till the first week of school, but I get the sinking suspicion that when I get to class this evening, I'll be the only one without a book.
   
3. I don't know where the bookstore is
4. I don't know how you find the right book (I know, this sounds ridiculous)
5. I don't know where the room is
6. What if I get there too early?
7. What if I get there too late?
8. What if I go into the wrong room?
9. What if I can't find parking?
10. I don't know how to cite references (this one is aimed at what I read in the online classes course info). I suspect I will learn, or fail.

All school related issues aside, I'm still dealing with Jaymes' school. As you may or may not remember, Jaymes attended an inclusive Pre-K class at this school for the last 2 years. Now that he is going into Kindergarten, he has been placed in a self contained "AU" classroom with NO inclusion. At best I think they may eat lunch in the same room as the other kids, and do recess together.

Obviously, this is unacceptable. Jaymes does very well at school, and learns more from his typically developing peers than he does from his teachers. He copies behavior he sees around him. He gets so much out of watching his classmates model correct/appropriate behavior and communicating. Stuffing him into a separate class takes this away, and it will take away some of the immense progress we have made.

I have been trying to get an IEP meeting set up all summer. Finally got in touch with the vice principal, who said he was setting it up.. And yet I've heard nothing. I'll be calling again today. I didn't want Jaymes starting without an acceptable placement and IEP in place.

Another issue is this.. Jaymes speech therapist at school attended a training for how to use his Vantage Lite. We all came away from that 6 hours with a BASIC understanding of the thing. Enough to implement it at least. Except they assigned Jaymes a new therapist this year, after 2 years with the same one. normally, I'd be annoyed but understanding. this time I'm annoyed. This new therapist has no clue how to use the device! She also didn't seem to understand that we're talking about using a device that costs more than my CAR did. it's not a little toy, this is a big deal, and it's easy to mess the thing up. I can't afford to replace it if it's ruined.

And the biggest current issue... They changed Jaymes' bus stop. They now have him a full 10 min walk away (hello, seriously injured hip, can't walk that far carrying a 2 year old and walking Jaymes!). The stop is at the top of the hill, on a very busy road with a 60 MPH speed limit. People go much faster. No sidewalk, nor even a shoulder to the road. Also, a house on the other side of the road with a very nasty, very large dog. So no, Jaymes cannot get on there. He needs his old stop. He may miss the first few days of school if they can't figure this one out.

So, long story short, I'm very frustrated, stressed, and anxious over everything. And jaymes is shredding paper all over the house, which my husband will freak out at me for if he sees it like this.

Off I go to clean!