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.