Team8s and Counting

125. A Lot's Changed...

As the Team8s kids grew older, their personalities began to shape, distinguishing themselves from one another in amazingly unique ways.

Thread, now 7 years old, was just starting up her first year of the first grade. Despite the limited use of the lower half of her body, she rarely let it get to her. Her passion for art stayed with her as she got older, expanding to not only just coloring, but also painting, sculpting, and even the art of baking, which Pin was more than eager to teach her about.

Bladey, the curious 6 year old, loved to observe the world around her. She would always notice the details of life, most often being subtle changes in behavior from members of the household. And when she noticed someone feeling down, she would always comfort them, even if it meant snuggles for hours.

Dimey, the energetic 5 year old, always kept his parents on their toes. He was always running around the house, his energy seemingly infinite. From racing through the house to building elaborate structures with blocks, Dimey's days were filled with action.

And Finally, the twins, Sprinkle and Sack, had just turned 4 years old. They may have come from the same womb, but the two of them could not have been more different. While Sprinkle was very outgoing and social, Sack was more shy and content. However, the twins mostly got along, well, at least when their parents weren't breaking up any fights.

After lots of hard work, Gaty finally secured a spot as a school psychologist at a local high school. Saw was overjoyed that Gaty secured the position she's wanted for years, even if it meant she didn't have her to talk to during their lunch break.

Coiny, Pin, and Needle's bakery was doing better each day. As the years passed by, they had expanded their menu more and more, making sure that everyone could enjoy some of Pin's famous recipes. Their most recent additions have been more allergy free recipes, as it had been restricting people from being able to try their goodies.

Barf Bag and Donut were still managing their crazy schedule's at the hospital, although, ever since they had the twins, they had their hours slightly cut back so they could be at home more often. Their dedication to their work remained unwavering, but they cherished the extra time with their children.

Having a dozen members under one roof did have its many challenges. As the kids got older, there would often be fights among them about respecting each other's personal space. However, with the help of their parents, they were able to play in a way that everyone was happy with, which only made the transition into school, a place where they would have to interact with many kids a day, just a little bit easier.

It was the first day of school for all five kids. Sprinkle and Sack had just started their last year of preschool, Dimey his first year of kindergarten, Bladey her first year of 1st grade, and Thread was starting her first year of second grade.

School for Thread definitely looked different for her then her brother and cousins, and it wasn't just because of her wheelchair. During her early years of elementary school, her teachers often noted that Thread wasn't hitting her academic milestones as quickly as they would have liked. Her parents took her to multiple specialists and she took an array of tests, trying to pinpoint exactly what was making school a little harder for her.

Eventually, it became clear: Thread was on the autism spectrum. The diagnosis was both a relief and a challenge for her family. Understanding her needs allowed them to better support her, but it also meant navigating yet another set of challenges and ensuring that her school environment was accommodating.

After talking to many, many, specialists both in and outside of school, a decision was made to put Thread in an Integrated Co-Teaching (ICT) classroom. That way, she could still be in a general education classroom, while also getting some extra help from a special education teacher and an aide.