Hurry up and wait

I've got a lot to share with you, but just haven't had the time to sit down and blog about it, or to upload pictures from our vacation, which was wonderful. So, until I have some uplifting bloggy stuff, allow me to vent my frustration regarding the competency of the state run speech and occupational therapy department.

I've already spent several thousand dollars out of pocket on speech therapy for J, and would do so again in a heartbeat, but since there is a free service available to all school age children in the state, I decided that we should go ahead and take advantage of it when his teacher approached me about it back at the beginning of the school year. That week I called to set an appointment, and waited and waited to hear back from someone. Just about the time that I'd given up hope, I finally got a voice mail asking me to come to the school board for an evaluation... that was more than 2 months ago. The therapist there was delightful, experienced, gave me some idea of the progress that needed to be made in order for J to be successful in school, and then mentioned that she'd also like for him to meet with someone in the OT department, and that they'd call to set that appointment just as soon as possible.

Just as soon as possible happened to be today. Two months later, and just a month before the end of the school year. Today's appointment was a total waste of time, in my opinion. The girl didn't even have all of her supplies with her. She was not very encouraging or engaging with J, and relied more on my oral history than any sort of 'evaluation'. She did toss a ball with him, and did try and get him to use a pair of scissors, and she had him try and copy a few shapes.

We signed another sheet of paper and was told to wait for the next phone call to meet with the next phase, whatever that phase may be. I've been working on this since the first six weeks of school and now it looks like we won't even get started until next year. I asked the girl if they worked through the summer vacation, and whether J would be able to get started before next school year. She was clueless. And until they finish shuffling their paper and scratching their asses, I can't apply for the necessary scholarship to get him the help he needs in public school, so Kindergarten will be a total waste of time. Homeschooling sounds like a better option with every passing day. I have no confidence in our school system or any of it's related services at this point.

And as if he's not far enough behind the eight ball here, he's also zoned into one of the most failing elementary schools in the county. I can either put him in private school, or I can let him fail a year and then have the freedom to move him to another public school. Some decision...

I know I sound pretty negative right now, but it's hard to remain positive when someone tells you that your child is in the 9th percentile for motor function, that he needs some pretty heavy therapy, and yet, you'll just have to sit and wait.

In order to lift my spirits a little we stopped on the way home and picked up a few new plants for the garden. Digging in the dirt is sure to make me feel better.

So much for frequent blogging

Gaah! It's not that I don't enjoy blogging anymore, it's just that there are these things that I must do... like sleep, eat, clean house. While not nearly so much fun, they sort of demand my attention while the blog sits here ever so patiently.

Apologies to all 3 of my regular readers for not being as diligent as I should. I really do love that you take the time to come here and read the junk I post.

So, without further ado-- the latest rundown.

J continues to grow like a weed. Seriously! I had no idea that I'd given birth to a linebacker, but apparently I have.

The boy loves him some Popeyes!

Every day he amazes me with his intelligence and curiosity. He still loves to play his 'worst case scenario' games with me. "Mama, what if...", and then when that question gets answered, its "but what if..., and then "but what if, butwhatif, butwhatif, butwhatif". It's almost become a singular word. I think it's cool that his mind is working so hard a processing all the possible options involved in everything, but sometimes it's too much!

Still, I love those long conversations with him and wouldn't trade them for anything.

I've beek crocheting my hands numb over the past month, too. All in an effort to finish this sweater that I wanted to make for myself. Just about everything I've ever made has been given away, so it was time to be just a tad self-indulgent. I found a pattern I loved, Genevieve, and set to work in hopes of finishing it before our Easter vacation to TN. That way I might stand a chance of getting to wear it before next year. Well, I finished it, and it's quite pretty, but it looks like I'll be giving this one away, too... providing I can find someone it fits. The construction of the garment is a little odd. You start at the bottom edge of the back, work in one piece all the way to the bottom of the fronts, fold it in half and seam the sides and arms. It would work out perfectly, if I had a giant hump back and thin little arms, but as is, it's very tight through the shoulders and underarms, and pulls hard across the back of the neck where all the extra fabric lays. I thought I did something wrong, and checked the pattern a dozen or so times, but I made it exactly as written. After reading some reviews on Ravelry from other people that have made it, I find that I'm not alone here. Oh well. It's still wearable, just not the comfy, cozy thing I was looking for.




At least I finished it before the deadline, which is more than I can say for my step-mom's birthday socks. Sadly, they are still not a pair. I'm hoping I can finish them up while on vacation.

Speaking of vacations. We leave at the buttcrack of dawn tomorrow for Tennessee to go visit with the family. I'm really looking forward to some quiet relaxing time away from all the chaos of every day life around here. That, and Dad's cooking. :)

So, dear readers, thanks for hanging around for another quiet month. I've said it before, and I have a feeling I'll say it again, but I promise I'll try and do better!