Hi all,
Happy Birthday to our Isabella Grace, who turned 12 last week!
I know, I know, I know........I've been a bad blogger and facebooker (my friends make sure to remind me:) ) the past few months. I have no excuses but the truth is that this year, especially this past six months, has been one of the craziest, busiest times I can remember in years with Nick's graduating, turning 18, and all if the disability stuff/transition stuff that we have to take care of to get him settled into college with the services be needs. I started working on all of this back in March but apparently, that wasn't soon enough.
Let me go back first to say that Isabella is loving Jr. High and the 6th grade, playing the saxophone this year, in student council, and dance. She had the best idea for her birthday. She wanted the family to go out to Port Clinton/Marblehead at the Lighthouse on the water for a picnic. So we did and it was the PERFECT day. The weather was perfect, we had great food and a lot of fun by the water and hanging out with family! We then topped it off with ice cream on the way home and she said it was a perfect day.
Nick is loving college by the way, the freedom of it, and he is "kicking butt and taking names" with his grades so far! We have note takers now for each class. The downsides are, the modified van won't be ready this semester, but we hope by December so we have it for next semester. This is due to Red Tape by RSC/The State of Ohio and nothing ever happens quickly I guess. Anyhow, we feel like we just have to be grateful for their assistance so we can't complain. The issue is, without it, Nick can't get his power chair to and from school or drive himself there, so we need to take him to and from school every day. Not only that, but we don't have a PCA (Personal Care Assistant) to help him with personal care tasks (lunch, restroom, lots of other little things people wouldn't imagine unless they had his disability) so we have to stay with him the entire time he's there, which will probably be the case this entire semester. We had no idea we would be in this place, but we are, so we are a "team" and we're doing what we have to do so Nick can attend college this semester, until we can get all of his services in place. We're so busy doing this, and Greg's work and the usual family/house obligations as well, Isabella's activities, that it's hard to get it all done. The best way to put it is, we are in "survival mode" or "day to day mode". We're working on it. (the van, the PCA, social security, adult services for Nick, all of it.....and have been for the past six months) Hopefully, by the end of the year, we'll have some of these things taken care of finally so Nick can be more independent. It's been a lot for us, but we're happy to do it, it's just hard right now. I'm still trying to heal the second degree burns on my feet I got on the beach in June in Hilton Head. I'm going to the wound care clinic every two weeks and they are about half way healed. It takes longer than I thought and because the burns are on the balls of my feet, where you walk, and I can't be off my feet right now, it's just taking longer. My Dad's been helping us too a couple of days a week.
I am behind on everything! (pictures, paperwork for Nick, house projects and just cleaning in general, and yes, blogging!) If we can just take care of Bella and Nick at this point and do what has to be done, we feel like we're doing pretty well! We've always been a busy family but this period of time has, by far, been busier than any period I can remember in recent years. I'm still committed to this blog and the purpose behind it. I have a lot of ideas and plans for it, I just have to have the time to catch up and then get going on them. And, I WILL get pics up soon! Did I mention that we've had our TWO computers CRASH (first one, then the other) in the past two months??????????? The ones with our pictures on them? We've got our pics up on snapfish but I haven't had time to do anything with them yet. We have two new laptops now finally.
Also, I wanted to say, Nick's party (graduation/18th b-day) was SO fun and a great success. We had the best time with our family and friends and with all of the people who were there to support Nick and us all of these years and that day. THANK you to everyone for making that a special day for Nick and us! There is nothing better than being with family and friends and there were people there who worked with Nick when he was little, up until this year. It was great! We have had a great team of professionals over the years to support us. Now we have to focus on getting services in place and a new team of professionals to support Nick as an adult.
I also had my first article published this month! In Exceptional Parent Magazine, September 2011 issue. The magazine has been one of our favorites since Nick was a baby and for the past few years, it's been available online only, not in hard print, as many magazines in this economy. Anyhow, I was contacted by the Editor-in Chief a few months ago and the article was published this month. I'll try to get that on there too. I'm having trouble with the link to it, getting it on blogger, so I'll need Greg's help to figure it out. (www.eparent.com)
Finally, I want to say that my husband, Greg, is the "Dad of the year" in my opinion! He has worked so hard for our family and works a 12-hour swing shift. He usually works 3 days one week and 4 days another, and although he has to work every other weekend and some holidays, his schedule has been GREAT for the family as he can be there for a lot of things for the kids. He has to occasionally work overtime to cover vacations or time off, but most of the time, it's three days one week and four days another. He's going to school part time to finish his degree and has been off and on for years as he has always put us first. If it weren't for Greg, Nick would not be able to go to school right now, because we don't have a modified van or PCA. He spends all of his days off during the week taking Nick as my feet have second degree burns. He never complains and he's always here for our important things when we need him. He's a true family man, and the best Dad I've ever witnessed. He does everything with the kids and I, the day to day hard stuff, the fun stuff, all of it. I think he deserves some recognition for having his priorities straight. I don't know how our family would survive and thrive without him. We love you Greg / Dad!
Until next time........(and I'll make sure it's not so long!)
Blessings:)
Amy
