Olivia’s IEP Meeting

This morning we had Olivia’s IEP meeting and it went very well.  Everything they observed was spot on to what we see in Olivia on a day to day basis.  She does not qualify for speech as she is age appropriate in all areas.  We’ve always known her to be a very good communicator. . .even when setting off the alarms in the NICU when she was unhappy.  She also scored very well as far as her intelligence and what she knows.  She will go to preschool one half day a week (I can handle that) and receive OT and PT services.  She was actually farthest behind in self help skills (dressing, undressing, etc.) and ball handling. . .putting her at about 24 months.  Her gross motor skills are actually farther behind than I thought, although that explains our experiences in gymnastics.  She enjoys it, but it’s really tough for her.  They also observed something that we see a lot. . .she can sit at a table and pay attention very well, but when she is in a large area with different stimuli, she gets very distracted.  That also explains the problems that we have in gymnastics.  Can you tell gymnastics is tough on me too?  Most children take gymnastics because they have a natural propensity towards it.  Olivia is in gymnastics to learn those skills because they are difficult for her and I feel that kind of sets us apart.  We’re trying really hard to stick with it.  I do think they teach a lot of skills that would help Olivia.

Anyway, in most areas she is around 30 months, so about 6 months behind.  For a 23 weeker, the fact that she didn’t qualify in some areas is astounding.  She has come farther than we could have ever dreamed and we are so proud of her.  She starts school next Tuesday!