I went with Hubby to visit his father, who is currently residing in a Rehabilitation Home. Over the past few years he has fought and beat throat cancer, but it left him not able to swallow well. As he increasingly drank his meals his behavior became more and more erratic. In the last few months he has spent a lot of money and done some things that have had the family scratching their head.
I received a phone call from my sister in law saying that if Hubby wanted to say anything to him while he might still remember we needed to go see him soon. When I told MAC where we were going, the first words out of her mouth were, "Can't I come?" I said unfortunately not and she wanted to make sure that I told him how much she loves him.
Hubby was a little surprised because when they went to visit him at Christmas she left crying because Pop-pop couldn't be bothered to look at her hand made gift, and he kept telling them to leave. Hubby said that this reminds him of how his Grandmother was. She was a little over 90 though when she started having the dementia/Alzheimer's set in.
We would like to have MAC's memories of Pop-pop be of the big man who had a hearty laugh, gruff "I love you's" and strong one armed hugs.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Pictures
Today was our visit with Angel Kidwell to order our pictures. MAC had a doctor appointment for her first med check since getting out of IOP. Things went well and we kept the same meds at the same doses.
When I told MAC what I was planning on doing after the doctor appointment she was very excited and said that she wanted to go too.
We had several pictures to look at and we were able to purchase several wallet size photos so she can give some out to her friends at school. She said, "isn't it kind of selfish to think they'd want a picture of me?" I told her that they would want one to remember her by over the summer.
We met Angel at Caribou. MAC got a medium cooler and I got a small iced white chocolate mocha. It was a nice, relaxing afternoon and I can't wait to get my new fridge magnet!
When I told MAC what I was planning on doing after the doctor appointment she was very excited and said that she wanted to go too.
We had several pictures to look at and we were able to purchase several wallet size photos so she can give some out to her friends at school. She said, "isn't it kind of selfish to think they'd want a picture of me?" I told her that they would want one to remember her by over the summer.
We met Angel at Caribou. MAC got a medium cooler and I got a small iced white chocolate mocha. It was a nice, relaxing afternoon and I can't wait to get my new fridge magnet!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Worn Out
Today was the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center's Open House on the bay. It started for the public at 10. Hubby and I got there around 7:30. We did a lot of running around and trying to get things set up before the first bus arrived.
For the most part things were very good today. There was rain early on. Not only did it spritz for the first hour and half but at 11:30 it really started to rain and then the thunder started...It seemed as if the public really enjoyed itself. We had to stop the boat rides for about an hour due to the thunder.
MAC had said she wanted to go and all the way until yesterday evening I thought she was going. Last night she decided the weather was going to be too wet and yucky to go.
Hubby and I are ready to go to bed. It is early but we feel as if we have been wrung through the wringer.
For the most part things were very good today. There was rain early on. Not only did it spritz for the first hour and half but at 11:30 it really started to rain and then the thunder started...It seemed as if the public really enjoyed itself. We had to stop the boat rides for about an hour due to the thunder.
MAC had said she wanted to go and all the way until yesterday evening I thought she was going. Last night she decided the weather was going to be too wet and yucky to go.
Hubby and I are ready to go to bed. It is early but we feel as if we have been wrung through the wringer.
Maybe not such a good end
“It’s just that I hate Friday the 13th. “ I asked her why and if she had gotten into trouble. She laughed and said, “YES”.
I asked her what happened and she said that she had to go to guidance twice today. She said she yelled in 2nd period and threw a tantrum in 4th period. She wouldn’t say what brought these things on, nor would she say what happened after.
It was a little surprising because I had a message from the guidance counselor today about the 504 meeting date and she didn’t mention anything about having seen MAC twice today. I guess I’ll need to talk to her about this too.
I am feeling so tired. I feel as if I need someone to meet me halfway, MAC, the school, the rest of the family…
I asked her what happened and she said that she had to go to guidance twice today. She said she yelled in 2nd period and threw a tantrum in 4th period. She wouldn’t say what brought these things on, nor would she say what happened after.
It was a little surprising because I had a message from the guidance counselor today about the 504 meeting date and she didn’t mention anything about having seen MAC twice today. I guess I’ll need to talk to her about this too.
I am feeling so tired. I feel as if I need someone to meet me halfway, MAC, the school, the rest of the family…
Friday, May 13, 2011
Learning to remove oneself
I had this all ready to go last night, but blogger had other plans. I tried to update this morning but Blogger was still down. Here is yesterday's blog:
Today I received a phone call from the Guidance Counselor at MAC’s school. We went back and forth over what happened at the IEP meeting and where we need to go from here to help her be more successful.
I said that I was disappointed that the School Psychologist did not observe MAC in Italian class. He found that she was well behaved and transitioned well. I said that did not seem to be the case in Italian. The counselor told me that MAC had removed herself from Italian class today. She said that MAC used one of the “coping strategies” that the School Psychologist had given her and that her “anger was at a 7” and she needed to remove herself from the situation.
The counselor said that it was a step in the right direction for her. I too was very proud that she was able to keep things from escalating but wished that she could finish the year on a high note.
Today I received a phone call from the Guidance Counselor at MAC’s school. We went back and forth over what happened at the IEP meeting and where we need to go from here to help her be more successful.
I said that I was disappointed that the School Psychologist did not observe MAC in Italian class. He found that she was well behaved and transitioned well. I said that did not seem to be the case in Italian. The counselor told me that MAC had removed herself from Italian class today. She said that MAC used one of the “coping strategies” that the School Psychologist had given her and that her “anger was at a 7” and she needed to remove herself from the situation.
The counselor said that it was a step in the right direction for her. I too was very proud that she was able to keep things from escalating but wished that she could finish the year on a high note.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Final Week
Today was the last Strengthening Families program. It started with new brain teasers such as: how many animals did Moses take on the ark. We had a family dinner as usual, tonight was stuffed shells with salad and bread sticks. MAC wasn't too hungry so she only had one shell and no bread. She was trying to be good and asked for water, it was funny that of the 14 weeks tonight was the only night they did not have any.
After dinner each of the groups (the children and the teenagers) presented the posters that they created about staying off drugs or not smoking. The teenagers also presented a play and then we had a small talent show. The talent in the group was amazing: there was a guitar player, 3 singers, and a comedian. After the talent show we all received certificates of completion. One family (the one with 7 people) had perfect attendance!
After all the talent was shown and we each got our certificate there was a cake for everyone to share. It was chocolate and vanilla. There was a final incentive for reaching graduation: 6 Flags tickets, a free meal while at the park and a parking pass.
Everyone, including the instructors, seemed to be sad that 14 weeks had come and gone so quickly. The reunion is Saturday and unfortunately we will be unable to attend since it is SERC's open house. It sounded as if there might be another reunion around Christmas and I hope we'll be able to go to that one. We made some very good acquaintances and MAC seemed to have gotten along well with several of the other teenagers. It will be sad to not see them next week.
After dinner each of the groups (the children and the teenagers) presented the posters that they created about staying off drugs or not smoking. The teenagers also presented a play and then we had a small talent show. The talent in the group was amazing: there was a guitar player, 3 singers, and a comedian. After the talent show we all received certificates of completion. One family (the one with 7 people) had perfect attendance!
After all the talent was shown and we each got our certificate there was a cake for everyone to share. It was chocolate and vanilla. There was a final incentive for reaching graduation: 6 Flags tickets, a free meal while at the park and a parking pass.
Everyone, including the instructors, seemed to be sad that 14 weeks had come and gone so quickly. The reunion is Saturday and unfortunately we will be unable to attend since it is SERC's open house. It sounded as if there might be another reunion around Christmas and I hope we'll be able to go to that one. We made some very good acquaintances and MAC seemed to have gotten along well with several of the other teenagers. It will be sad to not see them next week.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
IEP meeting
Monday I had an IEPb meeting. This means that it was the second meeting to determine if MAC should have an IEP. The first meeting was held a little over a month ago. There were several tests given over the course of a week. (It also happened to be MSA week so she was tired of tests.)
Most of the tests came out with the information we expected: she is "High Average" or "Above Average" in all academic testing and "Low Average" or "Below Average" in emotional or social emotional testing. It was interesting to me to find out that even though she has 7 teachers only 1 was given the social/emotional scale to rate her on. When I questioned this the Psychologist said that it was impossible to have all the teachers fill one out. He also said that they only give these type of scales to "core" class teachers (the 4 main classes: Math, Science, Social Studies, or Language Arts) since they see them every day. He said that he didn't expect that any of the other teachers would have said much different since both Hubby and I had about the same answers.
I was disappointed that although the teacher that had filled out the survey was there, the guidance counselor whom we have worked the most with was unable to attend, the Vice-Principal who works exclusively with the 7th grade did not attend, and the Special Ed teacher who had given her the academic testing was not able to be there either. The Psychologist was the same one that we have been talking with for the last two years and the school nurse came in about half way through the meeting.
Although there were a few significant findings the determination was that IEP's only address academic failings or behavior issues that happen daily. It is so difficult to know what is the full truth and what is the system trying to make less work for themselves.
Hubby was upset with me because although he understands where my mind is he feels that the 504 plan gives us NO recourse if it is not followed. I could not come up with anything to be able to put in the IEP which was solely academic. The in school programs for special ed. have very significantly academically delayed students and everyone felt that she is fully capable of completing and comprehending the work in the classroom and just isn't. The Psychologist said that the Phoenix school and the Monarch Academy that I had looked at were not options because she was not having daily issues.
MAC was called in after school and asked what we could do to help her be successful and she said she couldn't come up with anything. I feel at a loss...how do you help someone who doesn't seem to want to accept the help?
Most of the tests came out with the information we expected: she is "High Average" or "Above Average" in all academic testing and "Low Average" or "Below Average" in emotional or social emotional testing. It was interesting to me to find out that even though she has 7 teachers only 1 was given the social/emotional scale to rate her on. When I questioned this the Psychologist said that it was impossible to have all the teachers fill one out. He also said that they only give these type of scales to "core" class teachers (the 4 main classes: Math, Science, Social Studies, or Language Arts) since they see them every day. He said that he didn't expect that any of the other teachers would have said much different since both Hubby and I had about the same answers.
I was disappointed that although the teacher that had filled out the survey was there, the guidance counselor whom we have worked the most with was unable to attend, the Vice-Principal who works exclusively with the 7th grade did not attend, and the Special Ed teacher who had given her the academic testing was not able to be there either. The Psychologist was the same one that we have been talking with for the last two years and the school nurse came in about half way through the meeting.
Although there were a few significant findings the determination was that IEP's only address academic failings or behavior issues that happen daily. It is so difficult to know what is the full truth and what is the system trying to make less work for themselves.
Hubby was upset with me because although he understands where my mind is he feels that the 504 plan gives us NO recourse if it is not followed. I could not come up with anything to be able to put in the IEP which was solely academic. The in school programs for special ed. have very significantly academically delayed students and everyone felt that she is fully capable of completing and comprehending the work in the classroom and just isn't. The Psychologist said that the Phoenix school and the Monarch Academy that I had looked at were not options because she was not having daily issues.
MAC was called in after school and asked what we could do to help her be successful and she said she couldn't come up with anything. I feel at a loss...how do you help someone who doesn't seem to want to accept the help?
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