Day At the Aquarium

Kevin's parents came up and spent the weekend with us. They were ever so kind to bring some bricks so we could block in gaps around the fence. It looks really nice and I don't have to worry about small dogs getting into the yard or Freya getting out. Works wonders and like I said, looks great!

After getting those put down, it was lunch time, so we headed over to the main base and had Arby's for lunch. Nothing tastes better! lol.

Then we drove around looking for the old Vehicle Maintenance, which after a half hour of driving, finally found tucked back out of the way. It was fun.

After our adventure around the base, we headed over to Mandalay Bay for the Shark Reef Aquarium. Of course we hadn't told Derric this, so he got a wonderful surprise. While in line to get tickets, we kept telling him we were getting Subway since it was next door to the ticket area. He was getting so frustrated, but that was ok, it kept him excited.

Derric had a blast inside. He so enjoyed every exhibit and he was so knowledgeable with just about everything. Grandma and Grandpa were getting more knowledge then I am sure they cared for, but they enjoyed him sharing what he knew. And we were all impressed with just how much the little tour guide knew as we walked around. Those apps really taught him a LOT.

New Home

Well, I have decided to close down gypsy-clan.com
It is a sad day, but honestly, I think it is for the best. Instead of paying for a host, I can utilize the free one I get with my email address. So this will be the new home for the Gypsy Clan. Please take the time to look around and settled in.
I am still working on getting everything formatted to it's new home, wordpress and blogger do not play well together and many layouts and such have been effected by this. So if you happen to run into a post or such that is not looking right, please let me know, I might have missed that one, or I haven't made my way there yet.
With this as the new home, I will be able to update more often, and I should be able to keep it much neater, as I wont have to handle all the backdoor coding myself. It will be a much simpler set-up.
Enjoy.

Swimming on a Hot Day

The Treasure Valley is currently in a Heat Advisory until the 2nd. Temps are estimated to be as high as 103 degrees, sometimes higher. It is currently 104 outside. I tossed three kids into the pool and they are having a blast. Added photos to the family album on Shutterfly. Head over and take a look at them splashing and having fun.

I am currently fixing supper, and hopefully it will cool off enough that I can head out and mow. Couldn't mow last weekend as it rained all weekend, but this weekend it is almost too hot. Will have lots of water on hand.

Really missing Xavier, wish he was here with us. Went grocery shopping this morning and I went to start buying foods I know he loves. Then I remember he isn't here for another month or so. Really miss that kid, he always could make me smile. Dokota and Kauchana are doing good. Kauchana is really enjoying her job, she is even looking into the charter schools to see if they have more in food then the public high school has. If they do, she is wanting to change schools. I am really glad to see her finally find her drive.

Well, time to go check the food.

A Couple Hours of Archery

Took the kids to the Track & Skeet range today to see how Dokota and Kauchana took to archery.

They really enjoyed it lol. Dokota is a natural left handed archer, while Kauchana is a natural right handed archer. Might have to look into getting them their own gear. Here are some pictures of today's adventure.

[gallery columns="4" ids="158,142,143,144,145,146,147,148,149,150,151,152,153,154,155,156"]

I am really glad they had fun. Looking to head back next week. Sadly the range is really only open (for renting supplies) Thursday and Friday, so until we can get them their own supplies, we are limited on when we can go, since Kauchana's work schedule and Derric's school schedule. Might look into Derric also starting to shoot, kinda curious if he will be right handed or left.

Quick Update

Dokota was off and attended the 70th Gem Boy's State up at NNU in Nampa. On Friday he graduated from the program, and from the sounds of it, didn't really want it to end. He made some good friends and really enjoyed himself. Here is a part of his FaceBook status:

So It seems I enjoyed Boys State more than i thought I would. I managed to get on the Elections Board (Where I counted ballots once and sorted money another time, and my job was complete XD), a member of the Boys State Board of Education and Regents, Head of the State Board of Education, and even was on the Dean's Special Committee. I think overall, my favorite part of the entire program was this feeling of belonging that started on day one. Despite being set against one another in competitions for food and points, everyone was there and belonged. This really was an abstract concept for me, and one that allowed us to focus and learn better than I think we could have without this sense of unity and family.

Though, visiting the Capitol was really cool. Actually being in the House and Senate here in Boise was really cool, even though I didn't participate directly in those. At one point Andrew Welker and I went to see Tom Luna so we could talk to him, and it surprised me that we could have, if he hadn't been out of his office at the time. Sheesh, it's almost as if this program creates some of the future politicians or something..... XD

I think the only thing I didn't care for really was being in the assemblies with the temperature being close to a million and a half degrees and climbing... That and forgetting my pillow at home XD

Today Kauchana had an interview for a job position via the Y.E.S. Program. We were to meet the manager of the Gunfighters' Club to find out more. Of course we get there and they didn't have much of a clue of what was going on, but after a little confusion, we got everything settled. Kauchana will get to work in the kitchen at the club. She will start off shadowing on of the extra chefs and learning the ins and outs of the kitchen. The manager said she will be not only getting her feet wet, but soaking them, as she will get to handle and become very familiar with every part of the kitchen. Kauchana will get to help out in prepping, serving, and cleaning. She will even get some cooking in. This will be a very good, and fast paced, introduction into the culinary arts.

As of now, it sounds like she will work from 8-1 Monday through Friday, but Thursdays and Fridays are going to be mixed up as they also want her working (again to gain experience, remember those soaking feet?) events that the club hosts.

Got the call today that her paper work has been processed and she is good to go. Sadly it was after the manager left, so she will need to contact them again tomorrow to get her schedule set up.

Start of Summer

I know I messed up this weekend. I had lots of photo opportunities with the Grandparents here, and I didn't get a single one!

Grandparents got here Friday night. Saturday was spent in Boise, had a really yummy lunch at Olive Garden, wandered the Aquarium for a bit (Derric of course never wants to leave that place!), then ended it all with a trip to Cold Stone. Back home to get Xavier packed and Sunday they were back on the road.

The house feels different with Xavier gone. It feels off. I honestly can't stand not having the kids home, so having only one gone, feels off. Need to make a trip back to Boise to get his cell reactivated so I can send that down to him.

Derric started his ESY today. The older grades seem to actually have a schedule, pretty tight one too. Which of course made Derric "have the worst day possible" because he didn't have time to work on his iPad. Looks like that will be an afternoon activity instead.

Just waiting on the pool to warm up, after a fill up, drain, and refill, the pool is back up and chemicals are good. But that water is still cold! Only 68 degrees.

Here is to a summer of fun, I hope.

Another School Year Down

Yes, Yes, I am very far behind on everything. Trust me, I realize this.

I managed to lose all passwords and access to my server for the most part. But I had a wonderful hour and half, almost two hour conversation with tech support from my host and I am back in business. I am working on getting everything back up and fully updated, but it will be a process.

I have also added the ability to update the site via my phone, so I should be able to post more often with the littlest things LOL. At least I will try to.

So what is all going on?

Lets see. The school year has ended. Grades have been posted! This year's grades are current. I need to go and do a back fill, will get to that... eventually. Derric is now officially a Middle Schooler! That boy has moved out of the Elementary Field and will attend Hacker Middle in the fall. Where has the time gone? Dokota is officially a Senior. So next school year will be filled with getting him graduated and off to college. I swear, time is just flying by! Xavier is on his last year of Jr. High! Wow, he starts the fall as an 8th Grader?! And Miss. Kauchana will be in the 10th grade this fall. Wow. Everyone is moving on.

For here at the home, Kevin is off on Deployment. 35 Days down, no clue on how many to go.

Xavier is preparing to head down to Arizona with his one-on-one time with the Grandparents. Dokota and Kauchana are looking to get Y.E.S. employment here on the base this summer, along with whatever else they have going on. Kauchana is looking to spend her spare time babysitting and taking swimming lessons. Dokota has Boy's State in June. Derric has his Extended School Year starting June 3rd, where he will have school until mid July. Busy summer.

Well, guess that is enough to somewhat get you updated on what is going on. I will work on keeping this site updated more now that I have all passwords and such. That is what I get for keeping my information on a small sheet of paper in the back of a book. But now I am good lol.

Back to Normal

Many things have been happening that have thrown our family threw a loop this year.

Slowly, things are settling and getting back to normal. It is never fun having life interrupted, but we learn to adjust and re-settle.

The kids are home, Xavier is out of his cast, and Derric is back to being Derric. School has started and the kids are slowly falling back into a school routine. The hardest hit has been Dokota. With no sleep schedule during the summer, he is now finding it hard to sleep at night and actually get up in the morning. I had hoped I could get him back to being close to adjusted in the two weeks he was home before school started, but it is just not happening. It is going to take a lot of time and hopefully it wont effect him to much with school.

Xavier goes in on Monday to get his thumb looked at, but in all honesty, he will have to attend physical therapy. He found many ways to get around using his thumb, even when giving him things to do to work on it. Took away the motion controlled games and gave him old school D-Pad games, but he still found ways to not use his thumb and play them. Reminding him daily, hourly, sometimes minutely did nothing. So, not listening to anyone, he has let his thumb sit. Monday we will get the referral to physical therapy and he will be forced to work it. He will learn that we were not lieing and it will be painful because they will not be nice about it.

Kauchana seems happy to be home, back in her bed, with her stuff, meeting up with her friends. Being able to disappear for hours and not be bothered, headphones in her ears just like Dokota. (tho she will scowl if told that) And like Dokota, her nose is stuck to the iPod, texting and playing games. Or head phones in listening to music while she is curled up on the couch reading a book. Ever so much the teenage girl she is.

The biggest adjustment has been with Derric. He has latched to Dokota and Kauchana like glue. He can't really handle them being out of his site for long now. He has to be near one of them almost at all times.

School:
there really isn't much to say in that field yet. Today is only their third day and everything is still settling with classes. There were a couple of teachers for Xavier I just didn't care for, Kauchana seems to enjoy most of her teachers, and Dokota is, well, Dokota. He is working on getting out of one class and also seeing about getting things set up so he can have Senior status after the semester so next year he can spread his classes out and get a job.

Well, that is about it. Time for me to get back into my morning routine and get out the door soon for physical therapy. Oh the joy.

Goodnight

It's been a rather busy week here. Nights like this, sitting around a fire, teenage kids arguing, and a good drink... Yes, we have a good life.

A Spring Day

After school today, I took the kids to the big park on base. It was a fight to get Derric to go, one that resulted in him having a major meltdown and crying fit. I think four years in an apartment wasn't that great for him, he doesn't like going outside now. It is such an odd behavior. I think the meltdown was a mixture of him just not wanting to go to the park, and me trying to get him into sandals. Whenever we change his shoes, even when he out grows a pair, it is always an adjustment and lots of meltdowns. So the sandals were just a cherry to the top of an already meltdown.

Once there, he opened up and started playing with the rest of us. First it was fun with Cody pushing Xavier on the tire swing. Then we moved over to the swings, and from there the marry-go-round. We spent a good hour and half having fun. Pictures are posted on the picture site, stop by and take a look. The kids have grown so much!

Fun Weekend

Wow! We had such great weather this past weekend!

Friday, Kevin asked what I wanted to do this weekend. I said I want to run by Costco and get some bulk shopping done, BBQ, then veg the rest of the weekend. Made plans with friends here for them picking up the bed they loaned to us and seeing about us getting the Fridge they are selling us.

Saturday rolled around and most of us slept in a bit. I ended up waking up around 9, but lounged in bed until my back couldn't take it any more. Waited for Kevin to get up so we could head out. He finally got up around 1, and we were off to Costco by 2:30. Since Costco is in Boise, it was a good 45 minute drive, which I really don't like driving. Very flat, very dull, very straight.

Saturdays are probably NOT good Costco days. That place was packed and tho I probably wanted to look around more, we got a few items and left, fast. Neither of us could take the crowd. If not for the BBQ meat, and some Dinosaur Chicken Nuggets for Derric, I would feel the trip was wasted. But we got some good meat for the BBQ, enough that we managed two days!

Got home and started the grill. Had some yummy steaks, hamburgers, and baked beans. Yum. Managed to get some family gaming in, then little ones wandered off to bed. I followed not too long after. Talked Kevin into playing on the PS3 so I could fall asleep listening to him play. All in all, Saturday was a very relaxing day.

Sunday turned out to be just beautiful. Kauchana was able to talk Derric into playing at the Park (with the promise of bubbles). So those two disappeared for a couple hours. Xavier didn't want to give up his DS, which he managed to finally bring his grades up long enough to have his game this weekend, so he didn't go out. Dokota and Kevin slept most of the day.

Enjoyed some more family gaming until the internet went down, then Kevin decided he was hungry. There wasn't much left over from the BBQ, so he fired up the grill to fix the rest. Since it was so nice and warm out, I wanted to head to the BX to get a sprinkler the kids could play in, but they only had cheap plastic ones that wouldn't last more then a day. Headed to WalMart, but they didn't have any better of a selection, almost ended up getting a blow up pool for the kids to play in, until we get the garage cleared and can get a good look at our old pool. But Derric managed to find a water toy that looked fun for him.

Got home in time for the back yard to be in shadow, and to find out that I need to get a work order in for the back faucet, water seems to be coming out around the spiket, not threw it. So even when we hook the hose up to it, no water actually goes into the hose. Grrr. Guess we will need to wait on any back yard fun until we can get that fixed. Hopefully the weather will stay nice so we can enjoy it.

My physically therapy got approved to continue, so I will be continuing that this week. Not sure how many more weeks the insurance has approved, but just glad I get to continue.

Not much else going on. Kauchana has her dental today, so I will be heading out to that soon. Derric's next IEP meeting isn't until the 26th, so got a bit to wait on for that. All in all, the kids are doing really good.

Priced it out, and might be able to get the kids into swimming lessons again this summer. The pool on base is open, and they have some Family Splash Nights coming up, I think the kids would really enjoy heading to those.

Well, that is all for this update. Once I know more, I will post more. Have a good week.

Spring Update

Well, I think we are in Spring Time, but I am not too sure here.

The weather here is never one to set a trend, it is a guess each day how it will be. And forget weather apps and websites. They never help.

The kids had their Spring Break, but it rained and was almost too windy most of it, for them to go out and enjoy it. Which didn't bother the kids too much. Right before Spring Break, the 3rd Quarter ended. Grades were sent out. I know, I had meant to get them posted, but honestly, when the kids are on break, my mind tends to head that direction too. It was rough getting up on my Physical Therapy days....

But, Kauchana and Xavier's grades have been posted. I didn't get a report card for Dokota ...... hmmm? And I miss placed Derric's. Ooops. Links to their grades are up top, just click their grade level. I will see about logging onto the online site for their grades and getting them posted.

Not much has been going on. Kevin has been working, the kids going to school, if I am able to move after PT, I try to get chores done. It is pretty much the same. I do want to see about take the kids up to see a movie this weekend, but not sure if Derric will be able to handle the movie everyone wants to see.

Speaking of which, did you know this month is Autism Awareness Month? I only found out about it due to a few favorites on FaceBook constantly posting about it. It is interesting to see the sudden jump in care, just because of this Awareness Month. Some online support groups talked about "writing letters" to their kids. I thought that was kinda a neat idea, but then I realized, I actually suck at writing letters. Really I do. I mean come-on, I can hardly write a blog post without months going in between... How would I be able to write a letter? Plus, I see him, daily. What would I write about? What would I write to a future him about today?

Instead, Dokota wrote a beautiful peace. I got his permission, so I am going to post it. It really touches the heart. So I am going to end this post with Dokota's writing.

My Brother Is Disabled

By: Dokota
My brother has Autism. To be specific, he has high functioning autism, which means he is really hyper all the time. He doesn't realize that everyone else sees the world different than him. I have best heard it described like this: how we view the world is like a movie projector, with the pictures on the film in order. How People with autism see it is the same, but the pictures aren't in any order. My brother is eight, and has the mentality of a kindergartner. He loves to have fun, play, question the world around, laugh at his older brother, eat dessert all day, have friends, enjoy school, love his family, and just live life. He is in his own world, one that makes sense to him. We realize this, and all hope that he will invite us in, it is all we can hope for. Why would we want to change him? Putting him in classes only would only be trying to force him into our world so he is 'normal' and can interact 'normally' with others. He does that just fine, he sees the truth of the matter more often than I ever could, and people call me a genius. I have lived with him for all his life so far. It hurts to see kids avoid him because he wants to run around and pretend play Stormtroopers or Transformers. It hurts to have his peers come to me and say he is weird, that all he does is talk about Star Wrs or Transformers, that he is annoying. I have stopped caring, for I learned from my brother. As an adult, I learned from my (at the time) six year old brother. He didn't care. If they didn't want to play, he would expand his world, and he would put himself in the middle of a titanic struggle between clones and giant robots, with him being th center of it all. He doesn't care what his peers think, never has. He has taught me far more about life and how I view it than any other person could. He has a disability. The world states that a disability is a limit or difficulty of some form. Yes he has trouble understanding the way the rest of us do, but that doesn't limit him from being the best teacher I have ever had. It is because of my goofy, spontaneous, insane, lovable, cute, Autistic brother that the world makes sense. It is because of him that I can proudly hold my head high and say with vast pride and love that "Yes my brother has a disability, a mental handicap. Yet he doesn't care, for he views everyone equal, and this has never had to be explained. He doesn't discriminate, hold grudges, or care. What's your excuse?" Thank you dear brother of mine. You will reach the sky Little One.

And Dokota says he isn't a writer....

 

Out of the Systems

On Monday, I had Kauchana's, now, last IEP meeting. She is now out of the Special Education system.

According to the nation wide tests that they did with her, she now falls in the "Average" range. Due to the way the system here tests, her scores would have actually been even higher in some areas, but due to the format, she sits a little on the lower end.

Instead of being in the Special Ed room for a class period to catch up and process everything, she now attends a Study Hall. The team did state that her processing speed and short term memory are her only hindrances, but they are not enough to warrant being in the special ed system.

So, Kauchana has "graduated" out and is now fully in regular classrooms with normal assistance. No more behind the scenes help.

All teachers stated that Kauchana has been a very open and easy going child, asks questions and participates in the class. Her only downfall is not turning in her note folder for credit weekly in one class. She is making friends and is working hard.

Honestly, after everything I heard, I started to wonder if they were talking about a different child.

I hope all goes well with her and she can keep up.

A new base, a new start, a new...

Well everyone out there, I am going to sit here and say I am rather sorry that it has taken this long for an update.

We are back in the states, we flew in on the First of January. Kevin's parents and our sponsor met us at the air port and helped get us get back down to base. Since Kevin's parents were loaning us their truck until our van arrived, they did not stay for long. But we were able to spend a couple days with them as we visited Boise and did some window shopping/pricing of appliances that we would need to buy.

Pretty much everything was closed, military wise, on the second, so we headed to Boise. It was a relaxful end to the full day of traveling that we had done the day before.

The next day, still on German time a bit, Kevin and I woke up rather early and called up the housing office to find out when they would be open. We got lucky and they were already open. We headed over rather early and checked in. They offered us two houses to choose from, so we went and took a look, deciding on one.

This was rather nice, as the TLF we had on this side was rather small. We were very thankful that Kevin's parents were here, allowing us to let kids sleep in there TLF room, giving everyone an actual bed. The day Kevin's parents left we checked out of the TLF and moved into the house.

Everyone has been sleeping on air mattresses right now, as our household goods still have not arrived.
At WalMart one day, Kevin and I found a rather nice bunk bed for Xavier and Derric, rather decently priced. So we went ahead and picked that up, putting their air mattresses on it. But all the playing around those two do on it, popped Xavier's and it has required a fill up on air just about nightly.

Thanks to the travel money paid, we were able to pick up a washer and dryer, which has been really nice! I am sad to say, I am honestly happy I can do laundry whenever needed, instead of loading up the vehicle to drive it to a laundry mat. Kevin got me a rather nice set, one big enough to wash our King size bedding.

We are still waiting on the Tax refund to arrive to pay off credit cards, put away for when we need to go pick up the van, and also buy Kauchana's new bed. Hopefully this will all be able to be taken care of soon. (Tho the van is still not at the port of call, so still unable to go pick it up.)

Today we did manage to pick up two small mattresses, for the bunk bed, allowing the boys to sleep on something a little more solid and also (honestly) cut down on the noise at night. Found a couple different beds I thought Kauchana would enjoy, but Kevin and I both agreed, it would be much better for her to go pick it out and get a bed she liked then paying the money for one she will hate. 

Merry Christmas

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.

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.

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!

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....

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.

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!