This Just In (Out)!

Ani lost her first tooth today! She lost her tooth without knowing it at her day camp today, so we put this picture under her pillow so the tooth fairy will still come. She's so excited that the tooth fairy is coming tonight. She kicked me out of her room because she was hiding from the tooth fairy. I don't think she believed me when I said she won't come until after she goes to sleep.

Summer is Here!

Anika's last day of school was last Wed. I think I was sadder than Anika about it. I can't believe how far she has come. She's started a summer day camp program this week. It's just 4 hours day. Since it's a mix of 5-12 year olds I thought it best to keep it short for her. Next week she'll start a day summer camp for 4-5 year olds.

She thrives on stimulation, structure, and the company of her peers. I couldn't imagine not having her in some kind of program for the summer.

Sunny survived his isolation at he facility. He's home now. Isolated again. Poor kitty. We can't really tell a difference in him but we only see him briefly each day. He does seem like his fur is growing in a little better. Thursday we'll be able to come out when Anika isn't around.

Here's a video I took of Anika singing one of her favorite songs she learned at preschool. I gave it copy of it to her teacher as a thank you on the last day of school. Her teacher played it on the computer and all her friends gathered round watched and giggled. It was so cute...just like my Anika.

Hot Kitty

Does this kitty have allergies?


No, he's advertising for a radioactive treatment for feline hyperthryoidism by VDIC. I thought it was a funny picture but I guess it's better than the reality.



Our recent adoptee, Sunny, who survived his weeping-abscessed-tumor had a rare life-threatening reaction to his hyperthyroid medication. We almost lost him. Our vet told us his only option was the radioiodine therapy. So he'll be boarded at the VDIC facility until Friday when his radiation levels will be low enough to come home. We can't visit him but we can check on him with the cat cam.

Pretty much all he does at home anymore is eat and sleep so it's not too much different to what he doing there.

He'll be "hot" for two weeks after he comes home will have to be in isolation. Anika won't be able to be around him for five weeks.

The bright side is that this is considered a "cure". A small percentage need a second treatment. As long as he doesn't have another underlying condition we don't know about this should really help him. I sure hope so.

Numbers

It's time periodical check-in's with Anika's specialists. Last Friday Anika had her annual eval with Shriner's OT and PT. They both talked about have mildly Anika is affected and how she's doing well. One of my concerns is not having her in private PT or OT right now. They both said not to worry about that. Her weekly Therapeutic Riding and regular swim classes are great. She had speech eval that said the same 6 weeks ago although she did recommend Anika get weekly speech sessions for articulation in school.

Then you get the numbers. She was scored in the articulation at 1 year and 3/4 behind. OT has her between 1 to 2 years behind. PT said don't even bother comparing her to her typical peers because she is going to be behind, sometimes way behind them.

It's hard for me to reconcile that she's so behind and it's just ok. But I guess that's just her disability.

The PT said he thought it would be a good idea to get her a medical stroller for distances because of her fatigue factor. I agree. She's outgrown her macclaren already. I can't carry her  that far anymore.

Oh, the OT said she seems like she's got the ADHD too. She has a son with it too. She said that it's hard to tell how much comes from her physical disability.

Today she had a 2-year follow-up with the neuro-developmental clinic. We saw a great doctor who was impressed with Anika's progress. He agreed that ADHD seems likely and we should watch and wait to see how she does in school.

He agreed that her episodes warrant further tests during one. She's actually coming out of one now but I just didn't want to pull her out during her last couples of school. Hopefully we'll be able to catch one in the summer.

He also agreed that a medical stroller is a good idea for distances and fatigue. Both he and the PT she saw brought up she might want/need a wheelchair for fatigue where she's older. It was strange to hear that as she walks so well now. But her strength and stamina have increased so much over the past year who knows where she will be down the road.

Bottom line Anika is doing really well. She's bright and funny. She has a great sense of humor. After swim class, for example, she will push the button to turn the shower on. By the time she gets turned around and positions herself stably in the water it shuts off. (It's because she can't push it hard enough to get it all the way on.) She laughs about it and tries it again. She turns it into an old-time comedy routine. She doesn't worry that the other kids have no problem (or that they are all 1 to 2 years younger than her).

I wonder when those types of things will bother her. As bright as she is, emotionally/socially she's pretty immature. I hope I can help foster that resilience as she gets older and more self-conscious.

The IEP and backyard butterflies

We finally had Anika's first IEP meeting to determine what kind of supports she'll have in place to make her kindergarten year a successful one. Up until this point we've been dealing with different county agencies contracted to do the same thing but at preschool (ages 3-5) and at home (birth to three aka early intervention) and they've been IFSPs.  

Finally we are dealing with the actual school district. I've heard many horror stories but so far it seems like a picnic. After trying for two years to get her an aid for the playground we finally are getting one without even asking. Her coordinator observed her playing, falling and retreating to another activity.  The goal is for Anika to independent but not to throw her into it but have someone on the playground not just for Anika so she won't be totally singled out but to keep her safe and teach her how to advocate for herself. Like telling other kids not to push she's slower and that's ok.

I'm really excited for upcoming year. She'll be getting services 1x week now instead 1x or 2x a month.  They'll be provided in the class room so she won't be missing out on the regular classwork.

I also have to say I will MISS her current teacher and head start program. They totally stepped up to provide the services that we couldn't get the county to program to provide or include in her IFSP. Her teacher has been such an advocate for Anika. On days when Ani has been really wobbly and having a hard time she let hold her ear-rings during nap to help settle her. She gave her lunch for two years to sit in on the IFSP meetings and meetings with the PT/OT. She's made sure Anika have been included and supported. I can't imagine a better, kinder teacher. We've been so lucky.

Below are some pictures of Ani's class letting the class butterflies go in our backyard. We are so close to school and across the street from the park where they going to let them go. I love the personal touch. 

Sometimes

I look over at the birds cage and see this:

Then for a horrible moment i think Shelfie died. 

Apparently Dave does too because he comes and does this:

Bird CPR. 

Then I'll look at Anika and she'll be doing this:

Sometimes it's funny around here.

So many things

There are so many things I want to write about. Little things that happen during the day but by the time I'm free at night my brain has other ideas. It's funny, since being laid off I feel like I have less time. I'm not sure how that is possible but apparently it is. Oh and good news on the job front. Oregon has moved up to #2 in unemployment. Look out Michigan here we come! 

The sweetest thing Anika said to me, "Mommy, when I grow up, even after I can live on my own, I want to live you and Daddy so I can help you with your taxes."

Of course the same sweet kid had a huge screaming tantrum on the floor because it was time for a potty break. She still needs reminders and still as Jason puts it, "denies her humanity".

That is Anika in a nutshell. Sweet, funny, charming and observant and painfully stubborn, willful and defiant.  She wants to learn to swim by herself without her teachers help. Going down, over and over, coming up choking out "Wanna to it myself please." On the other hand she wants us to dress and undress her (she can do quite a bit by herself),  carry her, put on the potty, etc..

I went on a school field trip. I could see things are harder for her. She tires much more quickly and she's slower and she falls more. But I was amazed how after the field trip she went straight to dance class and rallied. She followed directions. She ran across the gym and jumped over the rope. (Heart in my throat for that one.) They lowered the rope to ground for her but she jumped. She did this crazy obstacle-course with creativity and enthusiasm. And at the end when they had to jump over a 6 inch high pole, she did it! I know she was exhausted but she pulled it out.

I wonder does she fall apart at home because she expends so much energy out in the world?

But that still leaves me tired!

This and That

This past month we had flu, ear-infection, lice and tomorrow, for Jason, surgery.

I'd been trying to take Ani out since we've spent so much time cooped up recently. But today she didn't want to go out. Instead we took some silly pictures.