Quick catch up

I really should blog more often because there certainly isn't a lack of stuff to talk about.  For now I'm just going to do some updates and then I might expand on some of them later.

- I got a phone call last week to set up a meeting date to discuss Oksana's school situation.  Tomorrow morning Larry and I will meet with our whole IEP team as well as 3 district specialists.  We will have an open discussion about our goals, concerns, and feelings about Oksana's placement, and then discuss our options. Larry and I have done our research and already know where we would like to have her placed and where we definitely do not want her.  We will see if they agree.  I think they will.  If not they will get to see a side of me they haven't seen yet ;).

- If you've been following this blog for awhile you might know that I have tried and tried to figure out what to do to help Oksana with her stability.  She is an independent walker but she is still very unstable.  When we are in public she has to be holding a hand or holding onto something at all times or she runs into people, crashes into store displays, etc.  If there is any kind of crowd, even a small one, you can guarantee she will be on the floor.  She just can not balance through people.  She needs wide open spaces to maintain her balance.  For years now we have asked therapists and doctors to help us find a solution.  A walker is more support than she needs but 2 years ago we were told by Shriners that she isn't cognitively able to use forearm crutches.  Well our therapist was determined to help us find a solution so we tried a TON of different options and guess which ones are working out great?  The forearm crutches!  She doesn't use them correctly but since she is an independent walker her therapist doesn't care.  She just needs that little bit of stability and she loves them!!  She made it all the way through church, crowds and all, without holding my hand once!  She only uses them in situations like stores, church, etc.  There are a lot of places she won't need time like at home, or playing outside.  I'll get a video up soon.

- I haven't talked much about Anya, mostly because there isn't much to say!  She is doing AWESOME!  She is still, and will always be, stubborn and disobedient.  She still drives me crazy almost on a daily basis, but oh how I adore her.  We just did her 1 year post placement report and it was so fun to see her progress just from the time that we did her 6 month report. 

-Larry LOOOOOOOVVVVES his new job!  We are experiencing trial by fire since this is the "busy season" at church.  He has been working many hours, but we know it is temporary, and they allow him to be so flexible (for example so he can attend the meeting Tuesday) so it's fine. 

-The boys are another one that don't need much of an update.  They are thriving at their "school".  I just had parent teacher conferences and I couldn't be happier.  Clayton is getting very involved at church.  He is part of their tech team and serves from 1-3 hours a week helping them.  Evan, my incredibly shy guy, came running out of church a couple of weeks ago begging me to sign him up for winter camp with his youth group.  I couldn't believe it!  He goes in January.  We've been here for 2 1/2 years now.  That first year I really wondered if they would find their place here.  They have now and they are doing great.

- As I learn and read (maybe a bit obsessively ;) about bipolar disorder I have more and more compassion for Oksana.  Considering what she is dealing with, the things this child has achieved are mind blowing.  She has now indicated to us that there are balloons that bounce around in her head all day and that one of them tells her to hurt other people, hurt herself, and do bad things when she is angry.  This is not uncommon in bipolar disorder, and while we do not tolerate hurtful behaviors at all and are very firm in our boundaries and our discipline, it does give us new perspective that has been very freeing for us and for our relationship with her.  I think we are in a good place right now with her.  It feels great to say that after months of struggles.  Let's hope this lasts!

More to come soon.....