We've had a great Fall at the school Cole attends...
Carle Auditory Oral School
I've said it before, but I have to say it again...I absolutely LOVE this school! It is such a blessing to be a part of such an incredible community of families, some who have kids with hearing loss, and others who have children with normal hearing who choose to send their kids to our school for a variety of wonderful reasons (small class size (5 or 6:1), highly qualified teachers, 200 day school calendar, diverse population of learners...) the list goes on and on!
One of the challenges I am facing right now as we consider moving wherever the Lord places John in a job, is leaving this incredible school and team of audiologists in the ECHO program who are downstairs in the same building :) The staff from CAOS and ECHO have been with us from the very beginning of this journey we are on with Cole, and I couldn't be more thankful for each one of them that God placed in our life to see us through each step of the way. We'll be leaving more than just a small class of 5 students with one teacher and daily individual therapy, but we'll be leaving a staff who has become like family to us. They care for Cole in such a personal and individualized way, you'd think he was their own. The only comfort I have in moving elsewhere is knowing that if God found this place for us before we even knew of Cole's need for it, He will certainly lead us to another place that will meet his needs as well :)
Here are some pictures of the festivities we've enjoyed together as a community so far this year!
PTO sponsored Pumpkin Party
Kids in costumes
Pumpkin carving as families
Games with prizes
Cookie walk
...it doesn't get much better!...
PTO Sponsored Family Field Trip to Memorial Stadium for
Marching Illini Rehearsal
This is the stadium where John rehearses with the 350 member University of Illinois Marching Band every Tuesday night. They rehearse elsewhere the other nights, but we invited the other CAOS families to join us in the stadium under the lights for a night of music with their music teacher, Mr. John :)
John, talking to the college students who will be helping showcase their instruments to the families attending...
One of almost every instrument in the band...we wanted the kids to hear the difference between the instruments, and then they played a few songs for us that any family who had ever been to a football game would recognize!
Band Members playing and CAOS Families listening...
Ryder and Cole with some of their friends...
They all LOVED the bass drum :)
After they played for us, the college students spread out over the field and let the kids push the valves down as they blew air into their instrument so they could see how pushing the valves down changed the pitch of the note being played :)
Ryder has always been a fan of the sousaphone!
Hardy's Reindeer Ranch
Other than it being FREEZING on the day we went, this was a great place to go for a field trip! My mom arrived the night before for a week long stay, and we were met the next morning with 44 degree weather with really chilly wind on top of it...not the ideal day to be outside but the lady who ran the place encouraged us that it was a great day for the reindeer because they LOVE cold weather! Here's a picture of Cole feeding one...
Cole and one of his best buddies from school :)
A reindeer coming in for a closer look!
Ryder's turn to feed them a graham cracker :)
After feeding the reindeer, going on a hay ride and having lemonade and cookies, each child got to pick a pumpkin :)
In this season of thankfulness, it goes without saying AGAIN that we are so thankful for this place for our boy...and Cora as she joins the playgroup every Wednesday as a hearing peer for the little ones under 2 with cochlear implants. As PTO President this year, it was also a blessing to host a Staff Appreciation lunch last Friday and then attend the school's annual Thanksgiving Feast last Tuesday with the rest of the families of children who attend CAOS! Thank you, Lord for such a wonderful place for us ALL, but especially our Colie. It sure os evident you LOVE Him by the way You lead us here...
