Logan and Preschool

(I started typing this in April.  Sorry..but this Mama is more than overwhelmed.)
At the end of February Logan was evaluated by our local school systems to see about receiving preschool services through them.
We could send him to private preschool like we do with Aidan however, he will not receive his occupational therapy or speech in class and also we may need to have an aide be with him.  That would mean finding and hiring someone to be with him during the school day and increasing the cost of school.  At this time this is not anywhere near an option.
We met the other week to review the results of his evaluation.  At times the therapists would almost cringe while telling you the results.  I know at times they receive backlash from Parents.   The things they told us were not anything we did not already know.  We don't rate him a number on a scale or an age on a scale but the information of what he appears to know/understand and not to know/understand was not a shocker.
He "qualifies" for services (Duh) and they were very attentive to his needs.  They had the same concerns we do and wanted to make sure that all of the therapies he needs and may need in the future were covered in his IEP.  (Individualized Education Plan)
We were very pleased with the Occupational Therapist.  She really understood Logan's needs.  It was very nice to see someone show as much care and concern as we feel especially since she had only met him once.  At the end of the meeting they said they wanted him in a Autism Class versus a Mixed Needs and they wanted him in 5 days a week (all day.)
 In the beginning we made it clear that a full day was not an option.  He is a little man and at freshly three we think those are very extreme hours.  We also stated 5 days was too much.  Aidan is still only in school 3 half days a week.  Why on earth would we send Logan in for more?!  They told us there was no room in any Autism classes and the only school with an opening (this was only because it was a NEW class) would be at a school over 25 minutes away from us.  We were overwhelmed.  Two incredibly non-ideal situations.  They googled the directions and saw exactly how far it was from us.  They told us that nothing was set in stone and it wasn't up to them in the end where he could go.
 Fast forward to the week before Logan turned 3 and we get a call from his Teacher.  Logan is enrolled at the school closest to us and in the Autism class!!
We met with Ms. Patty and checked out the classroom.
We were set for the his first day of school.

  Walking in.  One day we will get a camera that can focus while moving.

Logan was in school for 6 weeks and the changes in our Child were dramatic.  He loves school and started saying so many more words!  Communication is still a large challenge but he is learning more words and using some of them appropriately.  He really loves it and our experience could not have been better!
Fast forward and we are now at the end of Summer.  Tomorrow is Open House at his school and we will meet with Ms. Patty again.
We can't even imagine how much our Bitty will change after a "full" school year.  Of course he will only go half days and still 3 days a week.  We still will maintain his Private Therapies too.
He is still wildly changing and more often than not the things he does (good and bad) overwhelm us with emotion.
Just the other day he ran up next to me.  (Not looking at me, but he WAS next to me.) He said, "Hi Mom! It's me, Whoa-Ghan!"
I know this can seem silly, but really truly in our home this is AMAZING!  I know some Parent's are not lucky enough to hear their children speak or they wait 5 or more years.  We are so very happy that he has only taken just over 3 years to start with some words and at times now very appropriate to the situation.
Here's to another school year!!