Time to take a break

I am feeling so overwhelmed right now. I have to get organized and get Sarah's medical needs taken care of. I'll try to update in a couple weeks. I recently decided to switch our Early Intervention "Ongoing Service Coordinator" to some one who is a friend of mine. Our original "Ongoing" is really nice but has been dropping the ball alot lately and not communicating. We have every service there is for Sarah and I need to know what is going on, not be left in the dark for over a month at a time. So switching to the new OSC apparently has struck a wrong chord with our PT. She must have had issues with her in the past and now there is drama. I feel like I'm in the middle and I want no part of it. I just want Sarah's services to continue as they are. I don't have the emotional strength to deal with this crap right now. Sarah is due for her yearly meeting and needs to be tested again in all areas. I've not been feeling well for months and still haven't had a chance to see my doctor.

Sarah needs to see the gastro, the opthamologist, and the neurologist. She needs to get in for a hearing test. And I'm still waiting to hear back from Shriners. I just need to get my head together. I don't need added stress. Hopefully next time I log on to the computer, I'll be feeling better. I just need to prioritize and get things straightened out.

WWTV Day #10

We're getting closer to having it all cleared! Hugh's been working at the property with a small crew of guys this week and they've been clearing trees where the houses and studio will go. We just had a discussion about buying the property right next to ours(the same guy owns it that sold us our land). I think it would be an excellent opportunity for some rental income. There's a small house on it already and we could eventually build another. That lot is 3 acres as well. The best part is that the owner wants to work out a barter with Hugh. He wants to build another house for himself and his wife and it's a good possibilty we could trade labor for part of the cost of the land. That is one thing I love about this area is that the barter system is still alive and well. LOL. We never have much money but always manage to get by on Hugh's talent for buildng and for making really good trades!

WWTV Day #9

Today I'm dreaming of Spring. LOL. I just bought a new pair of hiking boots and found some bedding at the thrift for our rv. I cannot wait to go camping and hiking. I was looking through old pics to find one of Sam's Point. This was my favorite hike. It was so beautiful. The kids absolutely loved it. We went from the high peaks to a lake and then to a cave. It was so cool. This pic is of Hugh and Jess waving from the lookout. *Sigh* It's 18* out there today. Waaaahhh!!! I want the warm sunshine and the green leaves back again.

WWTV Day #8

Today is offically "Stay in Your Jammies" Day. Need I say more?

WWTV Day #7

Spent some time today scanning old pics that Hugh and I have taken. We both love this one. It's from a few years ago. He was driving around in the boonies trying to find a house where he was supposed to do an estimate. He wound up getting hopelessly lost and drove by this truck. "The Guitar-Pickin' Congressman"...love it!

WWTV Day 6

This is another one of Hugh's "findings". It is now hanging in our bathroom right over the tub. Is it a musical instrument? A piece of art? It has strings but doesn't make very pretty noises..LOL. If you know what it is..please enlighten me!

WWTV Day #5

I cannot wait until we move back to the boonies. I love our apartment but hate looking out the window and seeing a gas station at the bottom of the hill. We have a beautiful view of the mountains as well but still...the gas station definitely puts a damper on it. I had to drive through Palenville to take Hugh his lunch today and everything looked so beautiful as we drove up through the mountains. I pulled over to snap this pic of the ice hanging off the side of the cliff.

WWTV Day #4

Every evening before dinner, we have "play with Sarah" time. She loves to play with the big girls. I usually put her Listening Therapy cd on during this time as well. I love watching the three of them together.

WWTV Day #3

Wednesday is our "free day". Sarah has no therapy and we always do something fun. I decided that we needed this little break in the middle of the week. I even put the house phone on "Do Not Disturb" so we don't get interupted all day. We cook a nice big dinner and the girls help prepare it. Hannah is cutting celery for our stuffing that we will have with some seitan cutlets and mushroom gravy. Then tomorrow it is back to being frazzled and hurried.

WWTV Day 2

Sarah is getting ready for her day. She likes to help with her socks. We have a long day of therapy ahead of us. I caught this photo as the sun was coming up and peeking through the window.

Winter Walk to Valentine Day 1

I know that it doesn't look like much but this is the beginnings of the road that will lead to our new house. When we first went to look at the property, I was having a hard time envisioning what could be. It just looked like woods to me. Hugh started clearing trees and all of the sudden, I can see "it". I can see exactly where the house will be, the studio, my gardens, the swingsets...everything. I'm so excited about having our own place that we built together.

I've decided that I need to get Sarah a new Ongoing Service Coordinator. I really like the one she has but things are just not getting done anymore. I signed papers for an increase in respite hours and for a vision eval. back in October. It took almost two months to get the vision eval. It should have taken two weeks. Once we had one the first week of December, the therapist told me straight out that Sarah qualifies for services because she has Cortical Visual Impairment. We decided on a day for therapy sessions and she tells me that it will take about 10 days for it to actually start up because she has to send a report to our OSC. No problem.

Well, here we are at the end of the second week in January, I still have no vision services in place and no increase in respite. I'm frustrated and stressed out. She never even calls me anymore to give me updates or let me know how things are going.

I met another OSC in our homeschooling group. She's great. I love her personality and I'll be seeing her just about every week anyway for homeschool related things. So I'm switching. I've been feeling so bad about it. I've actually lost sleep over it because I hate hurting people's feelings. I don't know if the switch was made yet but I hope it happens soon because I just want to get it over with.

Getting back into the swing of things

Now that the holidays are over, I'm trying to get us back on a schedule. I think I have all of Sarah's therapies worked out so that we can consolidate as much as possible without overwhelming her. The only one we haven't started yet is vision therapy. It should start in another week or so.

I asked Sarah's PT and OT(who are both amazing, by the way) if they would mind if I videotaped some of the sessions. Here are a couple clips. The first is from PT. Sarah is now keeping feet on the floor and allowing her PT to assist her with standing. She is able to move her feet in a walking motion while being supported. The second is during OT. We have been doing deep compressions on her fingers, arms, feet, and legs. The hope is that it will help her with some of her sensory issues and help her to remain more organized and calm. In just a few weeks, she went from totally freaking out when her hands were touched, to what you see in the video!

First one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkJLkiXBrL4

Second one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9RT1QhUciY&feature=related

And lastly, the picture at the top is of her doing her new favorite activity. She sits on the bike while I push her around the house. The hardwood floors are killing my knees but she loves it so much.