A look back at March...

 

Wow! Is it really almost April?

It seems like Christmas was just last month.

Every year seems to get faster for me.

Does it seem that way to you too?

It really makes you want to stop and think about how

you are spending your life.

 

Here is my looking back on March 2015 Post...

March 5th-Blaze met with a new orthosis and was fitted with a pressure vest.

March 5th- Z had a dentist appointment.

March 6th-Blaze was officially registered in preschool.

March 12- Happy Heavenly Birthday to my brother Bryan.

March 16th- Blaze started PT at the Therapy farm. His same therapist just a new location (out of our home into a gym.)! He already goes there for SPEECH, so it worked for us.

March 16th-Blaze had an appointment at the Emory Eye Center. New glasses...again.

March 17th- Our Tiny girl turned one! Oh happy day!!!!!

March 18th- Tiny had her one year well check-up. She is doing great!

March 19th- Fostering classes for the Hubs and I.

March 21st- Dakota and Brittney's shower.

March 22nd- Trip to Alabama to see family.

March 23rd- We said goodbye to our "Curly Top" (foster daughter). She moved to her new adoptive home. It was a sad but happy day.

March 24th- Blaze's first day of preschool.

March 26th- We had a quarterly home evaluation. It went great!

March 27th- Happy Heavenly Birthday to my brother Robby.

March 27th- Tiny had a Babies Can't Wait evaluation. They were very pleased with her progress.

March 29th- Second trip to Alabama to see family.

March 29th- Hubby's mom's birthday.

 

 Blaze was invited by one of our local colleges to join in on a new SLP program they will be starting in May (we haven't decided if we will be joining them yet). He would be working with a group of new SLPs that have just graduated with a promise of Blaze getting the best of the best care and treatment and it would be totally free to us, because they would be using Blaze for training. Blaze will also be starting a feeding program through the Marcus Autism Center in April.

 

Don't think the other kids (fosters) are being forgotten. They aren't. Some do weekly visits with family and all three are in some type of therapy weekly...which is normal for foster children. All have at least one visit a month with their case workers, CASAs, and occasionally GALs. My day is consumed with getting them what they need and where they need to be. It keeps me busy.

 

Someone asked me the other day how I can do all that I do every day (I get asked this often). It's God! I enjoy taking care of my family and these kids and I do the best I can for them every day. Yes, it keeps Brent and I very busy but we truly feel this is our life calling. In the Bible in Matthew 25 verse 40 the words stand out to me, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" But I am also reminded in verse 45 "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it NOT to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me".  So if my calling is to take care of the least among us, I want to do it with all my heart. I can't imagine any greater reward than to hear my Lord say "Well done my good and faithful servant". By serving them I'm serving Him and that brings me great joy!

No, it's not always easy, but God knows my heart and my struggles and He takes care of me. God is good ALWAYS!

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

My Big Preschool Boy....

 

Blaze started 3 year old preschool this week. I would love to be able to tell you how much he loved it and how excited he was this week, but honestly that hasn't been the case. He has had a really hard time.

 

With a typical child it is pretty easy to prepare them for a bus ride and school. However, with Blaze because he can't hear and his understanding is so very limited it has been very hard for us to prepare him. I did the best that I could. I showed him pictures and we watched videos, etc, but I don't really think he made the connection. On day one, he was excited and interested in the big yellow thing (bus) with wheels on it, but he didn't understand that I would not be coming along for the ride. Instead, I sent him off alone with complete strangers and he looked and acted so scared. When you have a child that can't hear at all, has vision problems, is just learning to walk, is just learning to eat,  is just learning to communicate the very basic needs, plus has medical issues, it is so much harder sending them off to school and to top it off I have to send him so far away, because no one here is qualified enough to teach him.  Then when he does come home, he can't tell me anything that happened that day at all or if he is feeling happy or sad or even scared. I can only read his behavior and expressions. I just hope it gets easier and better with time. It has been so hard. I've questioned myself over and over these last few weeks if I am doing the right thing. I personally don't think 3 year olds need to go to school, but with Blaze I feel he needs it for all of the extra services that they can provide and for him to be fully submerged in his own language (ASL). These are the only reasons I am sending him to school this young.

 

I will say our county went above and beyond anything I ever imagined. They gave Blaze his very own bus which means his bus ride won't be nearly as long now because they won't be stopping for other kids. They gave him the sweetest bus driver ever and she is working hard to make him as comfortable as possible during the long ride. They also gave him his own monitor to ride beside him every day and she is also a nurse so that made me feel much better. I couldn't be more pleased than I am with the bus service. I felt bad for getting so aggravated with all of the delays that our county has caused, but now I understand why. It was a process for them. They wanted to make it as safe and as comfortable as possible for Blaze and they did.

 

Now if you wonder how I feel about the school, the teachers, their program, etc, I am not sure how I feel just yet. I've got to give it a little more time. Hopefully this coming week things will run smoother and will get much better. His GSAP lady and I will be making a trip to the school sometime over the next few days to set in on the classroom to be sure the recommended adjustments have been made for Blaze.

 Please just pray for my little boy and throw in a few extras for his dad and I...we sure do need it.

 

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

In honor on my superhero...

 

I share these ribbons to honor my

 favorite Superhero of all time.

My Amazin' Blaze!

 

Despite all of his labels,

he never gives up.

He never stops trying.

He doesn't let it define him,

because he is so much more.

He continues to amaze everyone

that knows him.

He has for sure earned the title of

Super Amazin' Blaze!

and

I get to call him son!

 

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

Our Little Princess is One!...

I'm a little late adding these but I guess it's better late than never. Our sweet baby girl turned ONE on March 17th. We let her try her very first cupcake and she LOVED it!

We will be adopting our sweet girl this year! I still can't share her face pics but it won't be that much longer now. I spoke with the case manager yesterday and she said that she turned us over to a new adoption worker. She said that they are just waiting on some paper work.

 

Here are a few things we can

share about our adorable little girl!

She turned ONE on March 17th.

She came to us at age 10 days old

 (foster care) 

We got her right from the NICU.

She weighed 4.2 pounds when I got her.

She is now 15.5 pounds and 26 inches long...

that is why we call her TINY (her nickname)!

She wears 6/9 months clothes and size

zero shoes (her feet are so teeny tiny).

She has 4 teeth.

She just started crawling on her knees

and pulling up to stand.

She can say ma ma, da da, bubba,

and bye bye.

She LOVES patty cake.

She is a prissy little girl.

Her oldest sister Anna swears she

is going to be the most rotten

of our kids...lol

She has a little temper.

She likes to be silly.

She loves to eat and will eat anything.

She is a doll baby.

 

Her new name will have "Ada" in it after

Brent's grandmother who has passed on.

We are still trying to come up with a

name that works with Ada.

It's funny because Ada was a little lady

and if our GI and Ped are right Tiny

will be a little lady too,

as they say she is genetically small.

She for sure has us all wrapped around her

little finger.

We can not wait to share her with everyone.

We are soooooo excited!!!!!!

Our Blaze is going to be a big brother!!!!

We thought our family was complete.

Now it is!

How blessed are we?!?!

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

We have a date!...

 

After weeks and weeks of going back and forth, we finally have a date! Our little man will be starting Pre-K3 very soon! This has by far been one of the longest and most frustrating things we've experienced with Blaze so far.

 

We've spent weeks waiting as the counties have gone back and forth at each other. Our county has been the hardest. They did not want to cooperate even though they agreed in his IEP to him going to XXXX XXXXX. We ended up having to get our advocate and the State Department of Education involved. I still have no clue what the issues are between the two counties and will probably never know, but it has for sure left us as parents frustrated and almost ready to throw our hands up. I never dreamed it would be so hard to send my child to preschool.

 

Yesterday we finally got the email of confirmation. We are so excited!

 

We have an official start date for Blaze (Pre-K3 class).  He will start on Tuesday, March 24^th and will attend weekly on XXXXXX, XXXXXXX, and XXXXXXX.  He will be transported by XXXXXXXX.  Transportation has been confirmed with the special education office of XXXXX County .  He will not attend on Monday’s due to therapy and since XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

Mom- The Transportation Department will be contacting you with a pick up and drop off time prior to next Tuesday! 

 

We are thrilled to have our newest Tiger join the family!!

 Melissa

 

Thank you Melissa! I am so happy and thankful to get this email. It feels good to know that we are finally at a starting point. What a stressful few weeks it has been. So glad it is behind us now.

~Sandy

 

Mar 17 at 2:08 PM

We are thrilled too.  I have to say I have not ever dealt with a situation like this before with another county.  We are just happy he will be starting next week.  Thanks!  Melissa

 

 

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

We had snow much fun today!...

 

Yes, it was in the 60s here today,

but we built a snowman!

The kids had a blast too.

It was snow much fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The best part is that it doesn't freeze your hand

and my overly sensitive kid sure

 was thankful for that.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6

March Is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month...

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder that affects muscle tone, movement, and motor skills (the ability to move in a coordinated and purposeful way). CP is usually caused by brain damage that occurs before or during a child's birth, or during the first 3 to 5 years of a child's life.
The brain damage that leads to cerebral palsy can also lead to other health issues, including vision, hearing, and speech problems, and learning disabilities.
There is no cure for CP, but treatment, therapy, special equipment, and, in some cases, surgery can help a child who is living with the condition.

 

About Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common congenital (existing before birth or at birth) disorders of childhood. About 500,000 children and adults of all ages in the United States have the condition.

 The three types of CP are:

1. spastic cerebral palsy — causes stiffness and movement difficulties
2. athetoid cerebral palsy — leads to involuntary and uncontrolled movements
3. ataxic cerebral palsy — causes a disturbed sense of balance and depth perception.

Our little guy Blaze has ataxic with hypotonia.
 

Cerebral palsy affects muscle control and coordination, so even simple movements — like standing still — are difficult. Other vital functions that also involve motor skills and muscles — such as breathing, bladder and bowel control, eating, and learning — may also be affected when a child has CP. Cerebral palsy does not get worse over time.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

The exact causes of most cases of CP are unknown, but many are the result of problems during pregnancy in which the brain is either damaged or doesn't develop normally. This can be due to infections, maternal health problems, a genetic disorder, or something else that interferes with normal brain development. Problems during labor and delivery can cause CP in some cases. but this is the exception.
Premature babies — particularly those who weigh less than 3.3 pounds (1,510 grams) — have a higher risk of CP than babies that are carried full-term, as are other low birth weight babies and multiple births, such as twins and triplets.

Diagnosing Cerebral Palsy

CP may be diagnosed very early in an infant known to be at risk for developing the condition because of premature birth or other health problems. Doctors, such as pediatricians and developmental and neurological specialists, usually follow these kids closely from birth so that they can identify and address any developmental delays or problems with muscle function that might indicate CP.
In a baby carried to term with no other obvious risk factors for CP, it may be difficult to diagnose the disorder in the first year of life. Often doctors aren't able to diagnose CP until they see a delay in normal developmental milestones (such as reaching for toys by 4 months or sitting up by 7 months), which can be a sign of CP.
Abnormal muscle tone, poorly coordinated movements, and the persistence of infant reflexes beyond the age at which they are expected to disappear also can be signs. If these developmental milestones are only mildly delayed, the diagnosis of CP may not be made until the child is a toddler.

How Cerebral Palsy Affects Development

Kids with CP have varying degrees of physical disability. Some have only mild impairment, while others are severely affected. This depends on the extent of the damage to the brain. For example, brain damage can be very limited, affecting only the part of the brain that controls walking, or can be much more extensive, affecting muscle control of the entire body.
The brain damage that causes CP can also affect other brain functions, and can lead to other medical issues. Associated medical problems may include visual impairment or blindness, hearing loss, food aspiration (the sucking of food or fluid into the lungs), gastroesophageal reflux (spitting up), speech problems, drooling, tooth decay, sleep disorders, osteoporosis (weak, brittle bones), and behavior problems.
Seizures, speech and communication problems, and mental retardation are more common among kids with the most severe forms of CP. Many have problems that may require ongoing therapy and devices such as braces or wheelchairs.

Treatment of Cerebral Palsy

Currently there's no cure for cerebral palsy, but a variety of resources and therapies can provide help and improve the quality of life for kids with CP.
Different kinds of therapy can help them achieve maximum potential in growth and development. As soon as CP is diagnosed, a child can begin therapy for movement, learning, speech, hearing, and social and emotional development.
In addition, medication, surgery, or braces can help improve muscle function. Orthopedic surgery can help repair dislocated hips and scoliosis (curvature of the spine), which are common problems associated with CP. Severe muscle spasticity can sometimes be helped with medication taken by mouth or administered via a pump (the baclofen pump) implanted under the skin.
A variety of medical specialists might be needed to treat the different medical conditions. (For example, a neurologist might be needed to treat seizures or a pulmonologist might be needed to treat breathing difficulties.) If several medical specialists are needed, it's important to have a primary care doctor or a CP specialist help you coordinate the care of your child.
A team of professionals will work with you to meet your child's needs. That team may include therapists, psychologists, educators, nurses, and social workers.
Many resources are available to help and support you in caring for your child. Talk to your doctor about finding those in your area.

This article was found here- KidsHealth- Cerebral Palsy Info