Hello!

I could write a novel over everything that has happened over the last few months. But, if I don't have time to really update here I certainly don't have time to write a novel! One day..perhaps.

Emmie has had a rough school year and sadly we have NO idea what we are going to do next year. Education in California is just plain awful. She's struggling in so many areas, but those that make the laws seem to think shoving more kids in a classroom and cutting the school year by 30 days is the answer.

We have also had two trips to the Neurologist and an EEG since I last updated. We think she's having absence seizures, although the EEG was normal. It actually wasn't a clear picture of her day because the process was so exhausting for her that she slept the next 24 hours while she was wearing it! We are currently waiting 8 months for a NeuroPsych evaluation before an MRI can be ordered. I have spent the last few months thinking over and over that she was misdiagnosed in the first place. But thanks to the awful Pediatrician we have, no one will listen.

Finally, any change in her schedule now makes her ill. For example, this morning I had to take her older sister to school at 5:45 am for a Band event. I woke her and her brother up because my husband is on night shift. We came home and the kids went back to bed. But because this was a change in her routine, she has been sleeping all day. Right now, she's curled up under a blanket with her koala pillow pet sound asleep. She woke up long enough to run to the store to purchase a birthday gift. But, she spent the time huddled inside the shopping cart.

I'm not sure what the summer is going to bring us. But, I'm pushing for the lazy Pediatrician to do more. After all, the only thing I need her to do is write a referral..she doesn't even have to talk to my child. Oh yeah, she doesn't anyway!

I didn't forget you..

So, you are thinking, "wow, she totally forgot about this little blog!" I promise I didn't. I will update this weekend with all the adventures of life with Emmie. Trust me folks...it's never a boring trip!

No words

I have sat here for over an hour trying to figure out the "nice" way to begin this post. I can't find it in me to say anything positive at this time. We have had some major regression, frustration, and little understanding. Major.

The more later...

I am on another roller coaster ride. Tri-Care approved the 50 visits. However, what they approved was 50 twenty minutes visits. Em's speech therapist has recommended 45 minutes visits 2-3 times a week. Tri-Care will not allow us to bill two visits at a time and have a 40 minute instead of 20 minute visit. We are trying to figure out what our plan Y is...I think we have been through the rest of the letters of the alphabet!

We are in full swing at a new school. I'm not sure what to think yet. It's educating a new staff on Emmie's disorder and it's overwhelming for me. The Resource Specialist and Speech Therapist have experience with CAPD, which is a bonus for us. The classroom teacher, however, does not. I am really trying to be patient. She is a very nice lady and seems to be willing to learn how to teach Em, but I am so use to people who already know her. We'll see how it plays out. We do have a plan B for this one!

More coming...

I have so much to tell you. First, we did finally hear from Tri-Care. We have been approved for 50 therapy visits. It amazes me that it took this long. The only reason we were approved now instead of a year ago is in Emmie's latest report are the words "receptive language"...are you freaking kidding me? I think as a society we are getting dumber with each passing day. Now, we are working out the logistics of the visits and she'll be starting therapy soon! Yay!

We decided to move Emmie and Jensen to Travis Elementary. I'm not thrilled with that decision, but a lot of tears went into it. More info on that later.

Today was their first day of school. Emmie didn't want to go and I stayed for a few minutes to get her settled. I'm picking her up in an hour....God please tell me she had a good day.

More coming...

I hope you are listening

Still no word from TriCare...

I have had a horrible headache for two days now and I honestly think it is because I am so stressed about what will happen in 4th grade. The decision has been made to allow Jensen and Emmie to attend Travis Elem. I'm not excited by this decision by any means, but I can't see putting her back at Center. I am going to miss her Learning Center teacher like you would not believe. She has been such an important part of Emmie's development and I can't tell you how many tears have been shed over this decision. But, I have to take the step forward and pray to God that it was the right choice.

So, the process begins of taking Emmie's "binder" and recreating it for the new school. If the transfer of records goes as it usually does, the new school will have no idea of any allergies, medical information, or about her disorder. So, I am prepared to share this information within the first few days of school with both the school office, Resource and Speech Teacher, and her classroom instructor. I pray I will get the support needed to make Emmie's year a success. I hope God is listening to this prayer.

Invitation, no thanks

I was hoping the next time I posted we would be beginning private speech therapy. However, still NO word from Tri-Care about the approval of services. The Case Manager emailed me a few days ago to assure me he was keeping up with the case and he would call or email as soon as he heard something. Luckily, I have a solid full time job lined up for the fall because we'll have to start paying for therapy for Emmie to be successful in the 4th grade.

It's so frustrating these days having zero support. Which brings me to another problem...invitations. Em was invited to a local Vacation Bible School. I'm not letting her go for many reasons. One, I don't know the people and/or church (it was a neighborhood kid that invited her) and two, I don't like putting her in unfamiliar social situations. I know they will come up, trust me, these days the world is ONLY about social situations and how you react to them. But, right now, I can control most of her environment. Putting her in that situation could be a positive or a negative...and it's a chance I don't want to take right now. Not a few weeks before school starts! I know when the mother came down to ask if I had any questions, she probably thought I was being a pain. But, I didn't have any questions because Em isn't going to attend. It's hard for people to understand why, so I told her we had family coming into town (which we do! The Mother in Law, her boyfriend, and Doug's Grandmother is coming). But the real reason I won't let her go is the uncomfortable feeling I have about putting her in that situation. I didn't explain this to that mother although I probably should have. Maybe when the time is right. I should make Em wear an advertisement for her blog on her shirt everyday so people will visit her blog and understand what our life is like in "huhs".

Carrington and Jensen are doing fine...enjoying everyday of summer vacation outside riding bikes, talking to friends, and eating their weight in ice cream! They aren't ready to start getting up at 7 for school!

Since my last post, we found out that Doug is getting promoted! We are so excited for him and his accomplishments. He has worked so hard for us and he certainly deserves this promotion! We are hoping the promotion comes with better work hours (and secretly PCS orders!) but we'll see.

As for me, there is so much going on. We still aren't sure where the kids will go to school. I have been offered the job with the County, but still not sure which site. That will determine where the kids go...but it's still the hurry up and wait game. I will be working my butt off (literally) and transferring to Kansas State University hopefully next summer. I'm excited! There are many reasons why I am transferring and even more reasons why the major is changing. These reasons are mine and not something I'll post here for all to read..well..all three of you! LOL

Anyway...off to enjoy the day!