Merry Christmas from our Family to yours.
Sorry there have been lack of updates here. Lets just say I am finally getting the chance to sit down and think of this.
Here are updates!
We moved out of our place and into TLF on the 14th. On the 15th, 16th, and 19th the packers were there, packing everything up. Finalled out of the house on the 22nd. Worked on cleaning and organizing everything between the 19th and the 22nd. So happy we were able to final out on the pre-inspection. Took one piece of stress off my back.
Kevin worked on out processing from the base. Due to the amount of stuff we had going on, I sometimes had to ride with so I would be able to meet my appointments. It was a lot of back and forth between both Bitburg and Spang. I think we put more miles on our poor van these past two weeks then we had the year we have had it.
Friday we dropped the van off to get detailed for shipping. Picked up a rental. Ouch on price. Kevin thought he was quoted USD price and relayed it to me. When we got there, found out (after paying) it was EURO. So we had a bit of an issue with our bank due to that. (budgeted the price in USD, NOT the conversion.) The van will be shipped Tuesday.
Kevin and I would love to say we are enjoying the weekend, as it gives us time to relax.... Nope, we spent yesterday doing lots of running around, and not relaxing. Got up early today instead of sleeping in...
But only because I promised the kids a big breakfast. Since I wont be spending the day doing my normal Christmas cooking, I made up Breakfast Burritos and muffins for the kids. Santa even made a stop by last night.
Since I will only be fixing a dinner today, I might get to relax a little. We shall see. The kids are curled up with their stuff, being typical teens. Dokota on his iPod, Kauchana reading. Xavier trying to fall asleep, Derric playing around with his imaginary world. Such a quiet day.
25 December 2011
08 December 2011
Full Speed
Well, we have hit full speed mode. It seems all the waiting around wondering what was going on has ended and we are now moving twice as fast to accomplish all we need to do in a very short amount of time.
The kids' school unenrollment has been submitted.
Derric's papers and files will be picked up on the 16th. They are going to be looking over all his stuff to make sure I leave with the most up to date IEP and progress reports as they can get for him. Once they get me those in hard copy and PDF format, I will need to go by EDIS to get his file from there.
Kauchana's team is looking to have an IEP meeting before she is unenrolled to also get her latest copy and make sure all is up to date. Again, need her hard copy and PDF file and she will be done.
Xavier was honestly the easiest to unenroll. I will be contacted when his file is done and I can sign for it.
Dokota was an interesting snag. Ok, honestly, it wasn't interesting, it was down right stressful. Because we did not have a 30 day advanced notice of leaving (actually having orders in hand 30 days out), they were talking about not letting him claim his credits for the semester. I walked in on Tuesday (Monday I had running to do and didn't make it by the HS) with orders to get him going. They said it was too late to allow him to accelerate to get his full credits. I was livid. After informing them that I brought them orders as quickly as I could from us getting them, it wasn't his or our fault we got the orders so close to us leaving. The principal was at first sympathetic saying ok, he will see what he can do by talking to the school board. But then he read the orders and found that there is a late February Report date. He suddenly changed his tune of wanting to help to basically stating we needed to let Dokota stay and finish out the semester. I told him that was impossible as once we are out processed from the base, Dokota looses his command sponsorship and we do not have the funds to pay the $2,000 tuition fee for him to stay for half a month. He agreed to still look into it for Dokota to accelerate and I said I would be back the next day. Went back and all was good. He is going to accelerate to get as much of his semester credit as he can get.
Today we had our pre-inspection for the movers to show up and start packing. They will start on the 15th, pack the 15th, 16, and 19th. We are going to be moving into TLF on the 14th.
This weekend we will be having a mini Christmas for the kids.
We are at breakneck speeds now...
Very sad to think, we have only a couple more weeks left in country before we had back to the States. But back we will be... and soon... Very soon.
The kids' school unenrollment has been submitted.
Derric's papers and files will be picked up on the 16th. They are going to be looking over all his stuff to make sure I leave with the most up to date IEP and progress reports as they can get for him. Once they get me those in hard copy and PDF format, I will need to go by EDIS to get his file from there.
Kauchana's team is looking to have an IEP meeting before she is unenrolled to also get her latest copy and make sure all is up to date. Again, need her hard copy and PDF file and she will be done.
Xavier was honestly the easiest to unenroll. I will be contacted when his file is done and I can sign for it.
Dokota was an interesting snag. Ok, honestly, it wasn't interesting, it was down right stressful. Because we did not have a 30 day advanced notice of leaving (actually having orders in hand 30 days out), they were talking about not letting him claim his credits for the semester. I walked in on Tuesday (Monday I had running to do and didn't make it by the HS) with orders to get him going. They said it was too late to allow him to accelerate to get his full credits. I was livid. After informing them that I brought them orders as quickly as I could from us getting them, it wasn't his or our fault we got the orders so close to us leaving. The principal was at first sympathetic saying ok, he will see what he can do by talking to the school board. But then he read the orders and found that there is a late February Report date. He suddenly changed his tune of wanting to help to basically stating we needed to let Dokota stay and finish out the semester. I told him that was impossible as once we are out processed from the base, Dokota looses his command sponsorship and we do not have the funds to pay the $2,000 tuition fee for him to stay for half a month. He agreed to still look into it for Dokota to accelerate and I said I would be back the next day. Went back and all was good. He is going to accelerate to get as much of his semester credit as he can get.
Today we had our pre-inspection for the movers to show up and start packing. They will start on the 15th, pack the 15th, 16, and 19th. We are going to be moving into TLF on the 14th.
This weekend we will be having a mini Christmas for the kids.
We are at breakneck speeds now...
Very sad to think, we have only a couple more weeks left in country before we had back to the States. But back we will be... and soon... Very soon.
19 October 2011
Limbo
Yes, we are still sitting in limbo about the PCS.
Monday Kevin got an email with our 1499 approved by the gaining base, but there was nothing about getting orders or anything.
We are not too sure what is going on.
I tried calling our EFMP office, but the phone was never answered on their end. Don't know if I had the wrong number or if they were just busy/out. Will try again tomorrow.
So.. limbo.
In other news:
School Pictures should be coming in soon!
Monday Kevin got an email with our 1499 approved by the gaining base, but there was nothing about getting orders or anything.
We are not too sure what is going on.
I tried calling our EFMP office, but the phone was never answered on their end. Don't know if I had the wrong number or if they were just busy/out. Will try again tomorrow.
So.. limbo.
In other news:
School Pictures should be coming in soon!
06 October 2011
Kauchana & Derric (pt. 2)
Or....
One Step Forward, Who Knows How Many Back.......
Yesterday morning I kept both Kauchana and Derric back from school since we had the EFMP Medical Clearance Interview. I loaded up my bag with the kids' binders, my notes, and questions. Kevin made it home in time for me to go. He had wanted to go with, but due to work being busy, he came home and crashed.
But only because we thought this would be a big production. Common Sense says that since this meeting was to determine if the next base would be able to meet the needs of Special Ed kids, it would go in depth on just what was needed.....
No.
I walked in, and first, one person was missing.... I didn't get there toooo early, only 10 minutes. Appointment was at 10am. They told me to be a bit early, and I didn't really like the fact that it was that late. (We had made it to the main base 30 minutes early, so stopped off to get drinks for everyone, but long lines caused us to get out of the shoppette kinda later then planned......) We didn't even get called back until 10:10. Whatever.
Next, there was no forms of introductions. No, this is what we will be doing. No this is what is expected. It was a line of chairs against a wall while three people sat at a desk. Just motioned for us to sit, and then we were ignored until one guy started asking Kauchana questions. No prep, no nothing to get a child that obviously needs a little extra attention (due to being in this system) and understanding... Just flat out starts asking medical related questions.
Poor Kauchana was lost. She was confused. She was scared. She wasn't expected to be put on the spot like that, and truthfully, neither was I or I would have prepared her for it... She looks to me for all the answers, and because of how it was done, I just answered. She didn't know these people, she didn't know what was going on.
Get Kauchana's medical covered and I have to sign her packet. They pretty much ignored us again while going threw Derric's. It was uncomfortable. Not knowing what to expect was even more unsettling. I hated the idea of even having my kids in that situation. I wouldn't want any child in that situation, with or without special needs....
They move on to Derric's packet, again with the medical questions, but this time they had the brains to ask me instead of him. Maybe it helped get them to understand, when they looked at him, he started randomly talking about his Med Alerts. (He hates to wear them, but loves to show them off now and then...... ) Questions about going to EDIS, how often, what for, and I am like, I could have gone to them for more?! I thought it was an in and out thing... I didn't realize I could go to them for more! I got nothing but the run around when I would try to get things for Derric done.... And now you tell me I shouldn't have. Wow... Just Wow....
Anyway... Once they were done with their questions, again, they ignored us while they made their notes, arranged the papers (20 different times......) stappled them, un-stappled them, clipped them, un-clipped them, shuffled them, reshuffled them.... It was rather annoying.. It was unsettling... It was, "when is it my turn to ask questions?".
Finally, I got informed that they would be sending the packet to the next base, once they opened it on their side, they had 14 days to get back with us, so expect a response in no later then 2 weeks. And that was the end of it.
WHAT?!
No. I don't think so. So while I was signing that Derric's packet was correct, I asked about what would happen if the schools are unable to follow the IEPs or wouldn't. I got told "Call STOMP" every question I asked, was answered with "Call STOMP, that is what they are for". Uhm. If it wasn't for the small chance that I found out about them, I wouldn't have a clue to what they were talking about. If it wasn't for the small chance that I did research STOMP and attend one of the two days of the workshop, I would have been totally lost.
But still annoyed that the ONLY answer I could have been given was "Call STOMP".
So, here we are. We took one step forward in getting set up to go to the next base, but we probably took who knows how many, on getting what we need done, done, back....
One Step Forward, Who Knows How Many Back.......
Yesterday morning I kept both Kauchana and Derric back from school since we had the EFMP Medical Clearance Interview. I loaded up my bag with the kids' binders, my notes, and questions. Kevin made it home in time for me to go. He had wanted to go with, but due to work being busy, he came home and crashed.
But only because we thought this would be a big production. Common Sense says that since this meeting was to determine if the next base would be able to meet the needs of Special Ed kids, it would go in depth on just what was needed.....
No.
I walked in, and first, one person was missing.... I didn't get there toooo early, only 10 minutes. Appointment was at 10am. They told me to be a bit early, and I didn't really like the fact that it was that late. (We had made it to the main base 30 minutes early, so stopped off to get drinks for everyone, but long lines caused us to get out of the shoppette kinda later then planned......) We didn't even get called back until 10:10. Whatever.
Next, there was no forms of introductions. No, this is what we will be doing. No this is what is expected. It was a line of chairs against a wall while three people sat at a desk. Just motioned for us to sit, and then we were ignored until one guy started asking Kauchana questions. No prep, no nothing to get a child that obviously needs a little extra attention (due to being in this system) and understanding... Just flat out starts asking medical related questions.
Poor Kauchana was lost. She was confused. She was scared. She wasn't expected to be put on the spot like that, and truthfully, neither was I or I would have prepared her for it... She looks to me for all the answers, and because of how it was done, I just answered. She didn't know these people, she didn't know what was going on.
Get Kauchana's medical covered and I have to sign her packet. They pretty much ignored us again while going threw Derric's. It was uncomfortable. Not knowing what to expect was even more unsettling. I hated the idea of even having my kids in that situation. I wouldn't want any child in that situation, with or without special needs....
They move on to Derric's packet, again with the medical questions, but this time they had the brains to ask me instead of him. Maybe it helped get them to understand, when they looked at him, he started randomly talking about his Med Alerts. (He hates to wear them, but loves to show them off now and then...... ) Questions about going to EDIS, how often, what for, and I am like, I could have gone to them for more?! I thought it was an in and out thing... I didn't realize I could go to them for more! I got nothing but the run around when I would try to get things for Derric done.... And now you tell me I shouldn't have. Wow... Just Wow....
Anyway... Once they were done with their questions, again, they ignored us while they made their notes, arranged the papers (20 different times......) stappled them, un-stappled them, clipped them, un-clipped them, shuffled them, reshuffled them.... It was rather annoying.. It was unsettling... It was, "when is it my turn to ask questions?".
Finally, I got informed that they would be sending the packet to the next base, once they opened it on their side, they had 14 days to get back with us, so expect a response in no later then 2 weeks. And that was the end of it.
WHAT?!
No. I don't think so. So while I was signing that Derric's packet was correct, I asked about what would happen if the schools are unable to follow the IEPs or wouldn't. I got told "Call STOMP" every question I asked, was answered with "Call STOMP, that is what they are for". Uhm. If it wasn't for the small chance that I found out about them, I wouldn't have a clue to what they were talking about. If it wasn't for the small chance that I did research STOMP and attend one of the two days of the workshop, I would have been totally lost.
But still annoyed that the ONLY answer I could have been given was "Call STOMP".
So, here we are. We took one step forward in getting set up to go to the next base, but we probably took who knows how many, on getting what we need done, done, back....
04 October 2011
Kauchana & Derric (pt. 1)
This will be a two part posting probably, mostly since I have stuff that will be still on hold until tomorrow.
Friday I had an IEP meeting for Kauchana. Kevin was able to make it along, which was a first. (He had made the comment that he knew both Kauchana and Derric were on IEPs, he knew Kauchana's wasn't as big as Derric's, but didn't know why or in what ways. So I told him to start tagging along... when he could) There was a two part reason for the IEP meeting. One part, we needed a full IEP and on updated forms, and the second part, I dug out all of Kauchana's old files and found I couldn't find a single one of her forms, nothing, so I needed copies.
During the meeting, we covered (for Kevin's sake) just what all services Kauchana received and how everything was helping her. Kauchana has matured. They state she is coming in, doing her work, actually studding, asking for help, everything. The main thing she is still lacking is the biggest thing of all..... confidence in herself.
We updated her IEP, made sure everything was put in, went over what files I needed, and headed on home. I am going to start working on a project, but it will be put in place once we move into the new house. It is something I think she will really like. I might be sending out requests for help once I know fully what I will be doing. But I think it will help boost her self-confidence.
Derric
I managed to catch his LI (Learning Intervention) teacher this morning to have a small chat. I put in a request to get updates on how Derric is doing since I don't meet up with the LI daily like I had last year. I hadn't heard back, so I was starting to wonder. I checked today and found that the LI had been trying to call me.... But I haven't had any phone calls.... So I stopped in after getting Derric to class, and was able to chat a bit about how he is doing. Updated contact details and see some of his work. He has had a lot of growth this school year! And we are only, what, a month in? I was really happy to see what he was accomplishing now. Now to get him to do homework!
Tomorrow we go in for the medical clearance interview with the EFMP services. Should be an enlightening experience.
Friday I had an IEP meeting for Kauchana. Kevin was able to make it along, which was a first. (He had made the comment that he knew both Kauchana and Derric were on IEPs, he knew Kauchana's wasn't as big as Derric's, but didn't know why or in what ways. So I told him to start tagging along... when he could) There was a two part reason for the IEP meeting. One part, we needed a full IEP and on updated forms, and the second part, I dug out all of Kauchana's old files and found I couldn't find a single one of her forms, nothing, so I needed copies.
During the meeting, we covered (for Kevin's sake) just what all services Kauchana received and how everything was helping her. Kauchana has matured. They state she is coming in, doing her work, actually studding, asking for help, everything. The main thing she is still lacking is the biggest thing of all..... confidence in herself.
We updated her IEP, made sure everything was put in, went over what files I needed, and headed on home. I am going to start working on a project, but it will be put in place once we move into the new house. It is something I think she will really like. I might be sending out requests for help once I know fully what I will be doing. But I think it will help boost her self-confidence.
Derric
I managed to catch his LI (Learning Intervention) teacher this morning to have a small chat. I put in a request to get updates on how Derric is doing since I don't meet up with the LI daily like I had last year. I hadn't heard back, so I was starting to wonder. I checked today and found that the LI had been trying to call me.... But I haven't had any phone calls.... So I stopped in after getting Derric to class, and was able to chat a bit about how he is doing. Updated contact details and see some of his work. He has had a lot of growth this school year! And we are only, what, a month in? I was really happy to see what he was accomplishing now. Now to get him to do homework!
Tomorrow we go in for the medical clearance interview with the EFMP services. Should be an enlightening experience.
26 September 2011
Cross Country
Dokota is doing Cross Country this year. Due to some issues, he was not able to make it to the first meet, but was able to run at the second one. This was their Home Race so it was held down at the Lake close to Bitburg.
Saturday morning, Dokota, Derric and I headed on down to the lake. Kauchana was meeting a friend at the Home Game for the Foot Ball team, Kevin was home sick, and Xavier had no interest in going. Five other schools showed up, so there was a few runners. You can really see just how small our little school is. Our school had only 8 team members, split between the Boys and Girls. Between all six schools, there were 85 runners in the boys group. Dokota placed 81st. Not bad for his first race. He ran the entire 5K in 28 minutes.
Next week's meet will be somewhere in Belgium. Hope I can make it to watch and cheer him on!
Saturday morning, Dokota, Derric and I headed on down to the lake. Kauchana was meeting a friend at the Home Game for the Foot Ball team, Kevin was home sick, and Xavier had no interest in going. Five other schools showed up, so there was a few runners. You can really see just how small our little school is. Our school had only 8 team members, split between the Boys and Girls. Between all six schools, there were 85 runners in the boys group. Dokota placed 81st. Not bad for his first race. He ran the entire 5K in 28 minutes.
Next week's meet will be somewhere in Belgium. Hope I can make it to watch and cheer him on!
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06 September 2011
One Week Down
The first week of school went off with very little issues.
The Middle School still does not have agendas for the kids, so I have created one for Kauchana, need to look into getting one for Xavier.
Dokota is having issues with a teacher at the High School.
Derric made a new friend at the Elementary School.
All in all, the first week was good.
Today I will be doing a lot of running around, have forms I need to get filled out and submitted. Kauchana has a dental today, so I will get those filled out, then when I drop her off, get the schools' forms filled out. Head over to the main base, get the forms submitted and hopefully get an appointment for the interview. Check mail and make it back home in time to get Derric from school....
Fun filled day!
The Middle School still does not have agendas for the kids, so I have created one for Kauchana, need to look into getting one for Xavier.
Dokota is having issues with a teacher at the High School.
Derric made a new friend at the Elementary School.
All in all, the first week was good.
Today I will be doing a lot of running around, have forms I need to get filled out and submitted. Kauchana has a dental today, so I will get those filled out, then when I drop her off, get the schools' forms filled out. Head over to the main base, get the forms submitted and hopefully get an appointment for the interview. Check mail and make it back home in time to get Derric from school....
Fun filled day!
29 August 2011
First Day
Well, the kids had their first day of school today.
All in all, I want to say it was pretty anti-climatic. I think we have done this once or twice.
Derric of course was the first one up, wanting some mommy-derric time, so we cuddled for about 10 minutes before Kauchana pops in and asks if it is too early to be up. Oh well. Those two get breakfast, then I send Derric down to get dressed. Xavier shows up then to get breakfast himself. I work on Kauchana's hair while we work on getting Coda up. Finish Chana's hair then smooth out Derric's bed head. Coda wanted his braided so I fixed his too. Got a couple pictures of the kids, then off to school, Coda back to the High School, Chana dashed off to the Middle School, Xavier walked with Derric and I, he still lets me give him a good-bye kiss lol. Got Derric to school and went to check to see if his new Autism teacher was in. Stopped by to say hi, then off to his line for his class.
That was about it. I was expecting more of a fight from Derric, but I think taking Trooper Dog with today helped.
Walked back over to get Derric, found he did have a small melt down near the end of the day, but kinda guess he would. It will be tough on him, should be about a week or so before his classes all get back aligned and his schedule finalized. His teacher is fine with him bringing either Trooper Dog or Fluffy to help keep him calm, which I am grateful for.
Xavier got home not long after, I got his class schedule and the lovely forms to fill out for him. He sat down and started right on homework! (Can I hope this will last?!) Kauchana followed, but ran back out the door to give something to a friend that is now up at the high school. She didn't leave without first dropping off her forms and class schedule. Coda walked in right as she walked out, and I got his forms and class list.
All in all, I want to say it was pretty anti-climatic. I think we have done this once or twice.
Derric of course was the first one up, wanting some mommy-derric time, so we cuddled for about 10 minutes before Kauchana pops in and asks if it is too early to be up. Oh well. Those two get breakfast, then I send Derric down to get dressed. Xavier shows up then to get breakfast himself. I work on Kauchana's hair while we work on getting Coda up. Finish Chana's hair then smooth out Derric's bed head. Coda wanted his braided so I fixed his too. Got a couple pictures of the kids, then off to school, Coda back to the High School, Chana dashed off to the Middle School, Xavier walked with Derric and I, he still lets me give him a good-bye kiss lol. Got Derric to school and went to check to see if his new Autism teacher was in. Stopped by to say hi, then off to his line for his class.
 |  |  |  |
That was about it. I was expecting more of a fight from Derric, but I think taking Trooper Dog with today helped.
Walked back over to get Derric, found he did have a small melt down near the end of the day, but kinda guess he would. It will be tough on him, should be about a week or so before his classes all get back aligned and his schedule finalized. His teacher is fine with him bringing either Trooper Dog or Fluffy to help keep him calm, which I am grateful for.
Xavier got home not long after, I got his class schedule and the lovely forms to fill out for him. He sat down and started right on homework! (Can I hope this will last?!) Kauchana followed, but ran back out the door to give something to a friend that is now up at the high school. She didn't leave without first dropping off her forms and class schedule. Coda walked in right as she walked out, and I got his forms and class list.
23 August 2011
Last Week + Crashed.....
First off, I crashed the website.... I was trying to update it, but internal issues required me to go back down to an earlier version.... Somewhere in the mix, configuration files got swapped and deleted. This meant all posts I had here are now gone, fully. I am going to slowly get this site back up, and will be doing my best to keep it updated. I know I have said it a hundred times, but this year, I will do my best.
Now, onto more important things.
We are in the last week of summer vacation for the kids.
Dokota has finished his working time, had lots of fun on his Euro Disney trip, even brought back some pictures from Paris for us to enjoy. He might even let me share with everyone, or I might just let him create an account on here and share them himself. Will have to ask later. Either way, they need editing, so it will be a while.
I met up with Kauchana's new L.S. (Learning Strategies - or - special ed.) teacher on Monday. I can already see that this year will be full of many changes for Miss Kauchana, and non of it what she really wants or will like. This new teacher is very much in the mindset that Kauchana will be responsible for herself and her work. The aids will be there to assist, not do. Kauchana will also not be allowed to leave the school building until either the L.S. teacher or an aid have checked to make sure she has all her homework/notes/etc. and will sign off in her agenda that she did have everything before leaving. I will also get a daily email with just what her homework will be to check against her agenda and what she has. Hopefully this year will reward us with a bit more responsible Kauchana, getting her ready to enter the High School years in only a year's time.
Derric's new Autism teacher has just arrived also, but is not yet ready to meet up with him, so I should hopefully receive an email if and when she is ready before school starts.
This is just about what I had written in the update earlier, before the site crashed. If I missed anything, I am sorry.
Now, onto more important things.
We are in the last week of summer vacation for the kids.
Dokota has finished his working time, had lots of fun on his Euro Disney trip, even brought back some pictures from Paris for us to enjoy. He might even let me share with everyone, or I might just let him create an account on here and share them himself. Will have to ask later. Either way, they need editing, so it will be a while.
I met up with Kauchana's new L.S. (Learning Strategies - or - special ed.) teacher on Monday. I can already see that this year will be full of many changes for Miss Kauchana, and non of it what she really wants or will like. This new teacher is very much in the mindset that Kauchana will be responsible for herself and her work. The aids will be there to assist, not do. Kauchana will also not be allowed to leave the school building until either the L.S. teacher or an aid have checked to make sure she has all her homework/notes/etc. and will sign off in her agenda that she did have everything before leaving. I will also get a daily email with just what her homework will be to check against her agenda and what she has. Hopefully this year will reward us with a bit more responsible Kauchana, getting her ready to enter the High School years in only a year's time.
Derric's new Autism teacher has just arrived also, but is not yet ready to meet up with him, so I should hopefully receive an email if and when she is ready before school starts.
This is just about what I had written in the update earlier, before the site crashed. If I missed anything, I am sorry.
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