Hello All and Happy New Year!!
I think I may finally have an update note-worthy.
Our Peters Family Christmas was subdued this year. We had 4 of the kids with us. Stephanie and our granddaughter Yazmin joined us for our family dinner this year. This was the first year without Steven, as he is serving in the army in Iraq, and it was quieter without him. Even the boys were a little melancholy wishing he was here with us. Family news wise, Randy is doing well after his surgery and is back to his pre-surgery diet. I think this is the best he's felt in a long time. Rueben completed his intensive therapy at University of Nebraska Medical Center. After over three months of therapy everyday, he is doing better. We all are. He is still autistic as well as having other health problems, as he always will be, but I have a little glimpse of the boy he used to be now. He earned the Honor Roll last quarter and we are all looking forward to report card time this coming week. Tyler and Mason are also fine. They enjoyed their Christmas, despite Steven's tangible absense. Tyler was very sad to be without his brother this year, but he is counting down the months until we can welcome him home. We also found out, that we will be grandparents again. Our newest grandchild will make his or her arrival in July. Yazmin will be a big sister. At 15 months, she is starting to toddle around. She is at the inquisitive age that lasts only briefly. Soon, NO will be her most heard word and she will be getting into everything. Yikes....I can wait a little while for that!
My grandmother fell right before Thankgiving, but she is recuperating at a relatively normal place. She has a new, temporary home while she recuperates. We hope to visit her next month. I have begun my newest project, a sampler, that I will be giving to Gramma. It has 9 different quilt blocks, of which 8 are now complete. I hope to piece the top together quickly so I have a chance to quilt it on my new lap frame. I hope I have it complete by the time I get there. If not, I can at least show it to her. I need a "in person" reaction. Her memory is so frail now, that even after I'm gone, I'm not sure she'll remember I was there. At least the quilt will be useable and keep her company.
Hopefully, soon, I'll be able to start putting my quilt pics on my blog. I know there are others out there, like me, who are beginners. I'm learning things quickly and so far, learning from my many mistakes. I'd like to be able to put it out there, just in case someone blog hopping sees it, may learn from it. I however, am still very challenged in the area of technology and will probably need help to post the pics when the time comes.
I look forward to hearing from you all. May your winter and the coming seasons be a blessing for you.
Prayer Requests:
Safety for Steven for as long as he is away from us.
Normalcy and a return to routine for Rueben.
A special request for my friend D. She was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is recovering from her first chemo treatment. Her and her husband have been married 18 years and have three children 17, 10, and 5.
Until next time,
Melissa
Just wanted to come on...though a day late, to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Been so busy around here. I have so many updates for you. Will try to put them in a Word Doc and transfer to here. Tried to update blog several times...my posts keep getting lost in cyberspace. Will transfer word doc and then I'll have a decent post.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Unfortunately, I have to be quick with this update.
I've tried to post several updates since the last one which had a date on it of December instead of October....don't ask me how that happened.
Ruebens nighttime meds have changed. He "graduates" from the intensive program on December 19, coinciding with the last day of school for the year.
So...starting January, Rueben will be in school full time like all other kids for the first time since early September. The next two weeks will be full of lots of work.
While Rueben's therapy continues...I start parent training. I will have training 3 hours a day 5 days a week for 2 weeks. Then, the therapists come here for home visits. Not sure how long that lasts...but it should be interesting.
I just hope when all this is over...it will have been a good thing. So far it sure is.
Merry Christmas, by the way, in case I don't make it back by then. Just know that there is nothing wrong with saying Merry Christmas....keeps the focus on the right thing. I say bah humbug to happy holidays.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
EDITED TO NOTE CHANGE IN DATE...I WROTE THIS IN OCTOBER, NOT DECEMBER!!!
I wish that I had a whole plethra of wonderful things to tell you.....alas I do not. I will deal with the good news first though....
Randy's surgery was a success. He is feeling fine.
The insurance company has approved Rueben's treatment. I had to sign away my life to pay for our 20% of it, at almost 100.00 a day. But, it is all worth it. I hope his therapy is a success. Also, there is a cap on it, so he should be out of the program within 40 days.
We have really enjoyed having Steven home with us the past 8 days. We have been able to spend a lot of time with him and a little time with his girlfriend. But all of it has been high-quality time. I'm sure we will enjoy the next week and a half or so that he has left, but I'm sure that his departure this year will be much harder on us....all of us. This will be his first holiday season away from the family. We are all counting down the months until he can leave the desert and come home for good.
Randy's recovery has been interesting. He is hoping to be back at work tomorrow instead of waiting the 2 weeks he is supposed to. It sounds as if one of the doctors released him, so he'll be happy to go back to work I'm sure. He's a work-a-holic so his withdrawals have been horrible. But he will be back at work by tomorrow so that should make him happy. He is so insistant on being able to decide what he's going to do. I just hope he doesn't do too much too fast and cause himself harm. That would mean he would have to miss work, and I know he doesn't want to do that.
I am off now. Rueben's therapy has been increased to 3 hours a day, so I have research to do and paperwork to fill out. It's just like having a part time job as I am away from home 20 hours a week. I just wish it was fun I was having, or money I was being paid.....and we do hope to see a difference in him too.
Until then........................................
Good Morning all!!
We have entered crunch time at our house. Randy goes in for stomach surgery tomorrow morning. He will be off work approx 2 weeks.
Rueben started treatment at UNMC the end of last month. The treatment is very expensive and we had a scholarship for the first month....I hope I can find some funding somewhere to help.
Steven is coming home from Iraq for his dad's surgery. He should be here sometime very late tonight or the wee hours of tomorrow.
So I've been cleaning like a woman possessed getting everything ready for when Randy is off work. The problem is I'm on the phone or computer all morning digging up funding applications, then all afternoon I'm juggling getting Rueben to and from the treatment center, and then picking the other two kids up at their different dismissal times. Then dinner, bath for the kids and bed. It doesn't leave a lot of time to pretend I'm Martha Stewart or Sally B. Homemaker.
I'm still trying to see the humor in things.....here's an excerpt of what happened on Friday for little Mason's first field trip EVER! We went to Vala's Pumpkin Patch outside Gretna, NE. These people are only open 2 months a year and I'm sure that they make a KILLING! Just that morning we were there there were 1400 kids on field trips. It was crazy. I wrote this on Friday. Things have not improved in my poor calves yet.
Now that I am home to recuperate I have discovered something EXTREMELY important.
I am sooooooooooo out of shape. There are pedal carts, like pedal boats at this blasted pumpkin patch. It's an excrutiatingly long track somewhere around 100 yards or something. Simply horrible. I had 3 4-year old people who need to go on diets. Two of the little chubbers up front and my baby boy next to me. That blasted kid kept pulling the hand brake. I'm still limping. It took my whole body to get that thing going over a hill, I almost made the kids get out and push. I thought my life was over and I was looking forward to going towards the light....but alas, it was just the sun beating into my eye-balls. I am never going there again. I was thinking about taking the kids when Randy's off work, but no thank you. I'd sooner go through the Death by a Thousand Papercuts than go there again.
I need rest and sleep. It's only 4 oclock and I'm looking forward to bed time like some people look forward to days off.
As if the assault on my physical person with the pedal carts was not bad enough, I had to carry 30 pounds of pumpkin to my car which my children will make pumpkin carvings or whatever with. Mason got one for free with the field trip, so I had to buy two as I knew what would happen with 3 boys and 1 pumpkin. I think I will just curl up and die now.
I think that the Dad needs to start going on these field trips. He needs to get back in shape! I may have to formulate a plan for Tyler's field trip on the 23rd.
I am now going in search of frozen peas for my aching legs. I already have tater tots on my back....which isn't helping at all.
I think that I will avoid the insanity and body mutilation and just avoid Tyler's field trip the 23rd. At least he's not going to the same place, but I've been to his before and I'm not all enthused to go back. So...since Randy has to take 2 weeks off work, and he can start driving again the 5th day, I think he's going to be driving his rear end down to Bellevue.
Will try to check back in as often as possible after the surgery........once I get my head to stop spinning!
- Mood: over joyed and overwhelmed but overall good
- Music: Don't Worry Be Happy
Hello all...just a quick update as it is past 1:30 am and I need to try and get in some more sleep before morning.
In my last post I enumerated some things that were (and are) frustrating to me. I have an update and it is of the good variety!
Received a phone call yesterday from MMI (the clinic). Our first scholarship (as I know I'm going to have to get more) arrived today. Rueben starts treatment tomorrow for 1 1/2 hours each day 5 days a week. As a result, he will be missing half a day, each day of school. This will solve a lot of issues. The faster he gets treatment, the better student, boy, person, son etc. he will be and will be able to excel better and have a better grip on life. Also, missing school each afternoon will be able to concentrate all of his education needs into the morning. Less stress, less down time as he can't seem to function if not busy with work, and it will give his teachers a much needed break from him each afternoon. That way, I don't think that they will feel as pressured as I have been lately. Burned out teachers leads to poor treatment of our children, special needs and otherwise and I don't want that for anyone. Rueben will be re-integrated at the point that he can function better. This is months and months down the road though. The clinic will even come to the school and "teach" the teachers, which they are VERY positive about and look forward to, which is nice.
The scholarship covers one month's treatment at the clinic. So, please keep praying into our fundraising. It will not get to a point where Rueben will be kicked out of the clinic for non-payment, but it will make our lives miserable and we don't need anymore of that garbage!
Will update on Randy's surgery when I have one....hopefully tomorrow!!
You can't see me doing the happy dance, but I am...and have been all day. I'm sure my neighbors thought I had turned into a crazy person doing the jitter bug literally all day in and out of my house!
M
How can I NOT be down when all I get is rejection rejection rejection!!! I'm trying not to be so pessimistic about things...but it's difficult right now. So, I'll be brief.
1. Trying every avenue I can think of or come across or are given to me to find Rueben funding for his intensive treatment at the clinic. ALL DENIED.
2. Met with surgeon this morning. Randy will have 2 procedures done before the first. They will be done at the same time totaling, if all goes well, 10-14 days off work. So, of course, I'm working like a horse to get everything financially ready for then.
3. Fighting with school everyday to keep him there.
4. Fighting with the government for their crappy systems.
5. Fighting insurance company to appeal rejection of authorization for rueben's treatment.
6. Seems like I'm fighting everyone these days.
Still going to bible study on thursday am. Still, miraculously, enjoying it and learning from it. So now, I dislike fighting and am trying to fight in a godly manner...not sure if I'm doing it or not.
Just frustrated and so TIRED from all the fighting and phone calls.
til later all
Boy, when I get a monkey wrench in my works, I get the biggest monkey wrench available.
Update....if you are on my prayer list, then you know the details. If you want to be on my prayer list, email me and I will send you the details.
Randy's doc called yesterday and not only does he want Randy to have surgery, he wants Randy to have surgery NOW. So, we should be seeing the surgeon next week and get a date for the surgery (as early as the end of next week). So...we've put our "vacation" plans for our annual trek to Illinois on hold indefinitely. All the money we would use for that trip, plus 2 pay periods I will be using to pay ALL of our October bills before October gets here. I hope to have all of our bills paid one month in advance. Randy looks to be off work anywhere between 2 weeks and 6 weeks. He is our only bread winner as I am back to being a full time mom and have been since Nov. of 2005.
I've been making phone calls and now know what to do in the way of assistance from Rueben's disability as well as emergency food help. I will probably only be worried about food and gas for the car when that time comes. I'm hoping I can buy some Visa gift cards or maybe Walmart gift cards and use them for gas when the time comes. I'm hoping to be as prepared as I can be.
I promise to update and repost as often as I remember. That's why it's good for me to have your email addresses because I'm better at updating through that avenue.
Please pray over Randy and our whole household as this change will cause tremendous stress on us all including the children. Also, pray that we get through the waiting list at MMI Autism Clinic quickly so Rueben can get the treatments that he needs so desperately.
Until I post again, friends......
Hello all!!!
I cannot believe it is September already. We had one nice day on the 1st and crappy weather ever since. At least we aren't still in OK where we'd have to deal with the aftermath of all these hurricanes.
Forgot to mention that the day of Rueben's IEP was also picture day for the boys. There's a bit of a problem with Rueben's, but the studio said that they'll send his next week. Otherwise, they look like normal pics of the boys. Mason doesn't smile until after he sees the flash, Tyler is a HUMONGO ham with a huge grin on his face and dried blood on his nose from one of his many falls. I don't think I have a school pic of him yet that he doesn't have a cut, blood, stitches or other trauma on his face. This year will be the first year that Rueben will NOT have a bruise on his forehead, but he has no smile so I'm trying to decide if I want them retaken or not.
Got a surprise call from one of my best friends husbands last week. Him and the husband of another friend of mine were going to be here in Omaha Labor Day and wanted to see us. So me and my horrible knee went walking all over the zoo with 3 kids, hubby and friends. It didn't dawn on me until we were leaving that I was the only girl in the group.....it's ok. I didn't cry when my friends husbands said good bye. It was pretty close though. I miss my friends so much and hope that we can run back down to OK to see them soon.
Mason's 7 day virus is going on 12 days now. Doc still thinks he's getting over it. She did see him this am to have 2 stitches removed from his finger. Long story there. But she said he's healing well and she isn't concerned about how much he's sleeping lately as long as his high fever doesn't come back. I just wish I could figure him out. He does so love pre-school and while I haven't done anything more fun than one lunch with a friend...I have found plenty to do in his absence....just no fun. RRRGGGG.
Now that September is here, it is time for our annual trek to Illinois. This year will be different on so many levels. It's the first September that I'm going home after mom died. I"m excited because I"m going home, but sad that she's not there all rolled into one. I'm sure there wil be some form of sleep deprivation involved from either the excitement or the sadness. At least it's not my reunion year as that was last year. I am looking forward to seeing some high school chums.
Just pray safe travels for us. Randy is my stronghold and has been through this whole business with mom. It seems azs if my family has FINALLY accepted him, it's only been 10 years, and we always have a family dinner and stuff now. Him and gramma swap jokes and he always has Aunt K smiling about something. Trust me, that's quite a feat!
I've slowed down a bit on my quilting. I'm so tired at night and during the day I seem to be busy on other stuff. I've misplaced my patriotic one for the son in Iraq. I am still working on the mystery, but it has turned into the bane of my existence. I promised Randy that I wouldn't give this one away, as I give away all or most of my quilts....but I promise I won't be looking at this sucker very often. Maybe I'll put it on the bottom of the quilt shelf..or the bottom layer of quilts on our bed. I'll use it...as long as I won't have to look at it. Triangles still stink and I'll be glad when it's done.
Rueben has had one bad day since school started. I was up at the schoolhouse 2 hours on Wednesday just trying to calm the staff down. We troubleshooted Rueben's issues from that day and we have a plan of action as well for when it happens again. I'm hoping to have his meds changed by the end of this month. I want to see him concentrating more, and smiling again. I think he'll have an easier time in school if he can focus better.
That's all for now. Update me on how you are too. If you've commented and you can't see them...they may have ended up in my spam comments. A lot seem to get over there. But I do receive them all. I look forward to posting when we get back from Illinois!
A friend of mine describes her life lately as it looks like a demolition crew went through her house. She’s been so busy canning. I’m jealous as I simply have no clue how to do that. That same demolition crew stopped at my house....but I promise I didn't send them her way! Mine is just from moving. I swear there are boxes, mismatched socks, and stuff waiting for a permanent home EVERYWHERE. Also, it seems like when the place you are looking at is empty, you can envision your furniture and such there. But as you fill it, it always runs out of room. AAAAGGGGG MAKE IT STOP!!!!
Rueben’s IEP meeting was yesterday. It went pretty well considering I thought it was going to be one of those disastrous meetings where school officials think they know your child better than you do after 2-3 days of the school session beginning for the year. Rueben qualifies for services in reading (which includes all aspects of reading: phonics, grammar, language, handwriting etc.), behavior, speech, and math. This year, his speech will also include a communications class in which Rueben will be taught conversational skills from a teacher, but with the help of peer educators. Rueben seems rather comfortable around adults and would rather not deal with children. And even though he’s more comfortable with adults, he doesn’t have the skills necessary that almost come to us automatically. Start, stop, or continue a conversation. Asking if he can play with others, sharing a toy, taking turns reciprocally. He will also be working on the proper way to say both regular and irregular verbs in the past tense. His favorite terms is “I goed” since he just doesn’t accept that the word is “went.” This is the first year that Math will be included in the IEP. Last year, in the Oklahoma district, he qualified for a temp aide in the afternoon just to keep him focused and on task. He happened to have Math in the afternoon, but it was just someone helping him sit at his desk. They’ve written into the IEP a service in which Rueben can get one on one and small group instruction, homework help, and his tests can be read to him aloud. Though it is written into the IEP, the SPED staff and I agree that at this point, Rueben is at grade level in Math skills. He will not be receiving Math services at this time. If there comes a time that he begins to slip behind, since it’s already in the IEP, I’ll have to sign one paper to get his services started instead of waiting for him to be 2 letter grade levels behind and then testing his abilities to see if he qualifies for assistance, he will be able to jump right into his services. So far, Rueben is right on task, but he’s bringing home timed tests in which there are 75 problems and he’s only finishing 3 or 4. Our biggest obstacle as far as his academic skills and not any particular subject is keeping him on task and getting him to finish things.
Overall, the SPED teacher, who I originally thought would be a problem, is on Rueben’s team and ready to help him in any way he needs it. All of the ladies at the meeting took what I had to say into consideration. Some of my suggestions they had not even thought of and they are now going to implement them immediately. At this time, however, we do not have any suggestions on how to stop just taking his things away. Rueben’s classmates have all their things at their desks and function quite fine. Rueben’s pencil box, contents thereof, books, papers, folders etc are all removed from his desk and only given to him when he needs them. He’s also loosing his shoes pretty frequently. He starts playing with them and trying to unlace them, so the teacher takes them away. I’m a bit concerned that this will be a cause of ridicule for Rueben from his classmates. I’m not sure what to do.
Today is clean house day. I’ve been cleaning all morning. At some point, I have to attack my floor. Not so much scouring as just basic picking up, organizing and such. Laundry…the usual stuff. I’m making a list of all the things I want to have put in the house from the storage shed and vise versa. I’ll be calling a local thrift store to come and pick up about 12 boxes and 3 or 4 pieces of furniture. No sense junking it if they can still be used. Hope you all have a great day!!
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