What we did this weekend?

Soccer Game of the Week(end): the Gauchos vs. the Coyotes


Trey's first game (we're not counting last weekends because he refused to play :)






As you can see, he lost interest at certain points, but finished strong. I only have one picture of Jake in this batch. I took a lot of him the weekend before, since he was one of the three players who actually stepped on to the field.

We had 3 soccer games on Saturday. No tears, lots of goals, and sunshine/90 degree weather. So far, Fall soccer is going just fine!

Happy Birthday to Me (yesterday)

My birthday present to myself was skipping a day of posting :)
But, birthday over, post to come.....How's that for a tease-LOL

School district update (as well as ANOTHER broken battery)...

School District-

I'm not sure if I ever updated after our meeting last Friday. It was a shortish meeting (45 minutes or so), and basically the school district still feels strongly that they can teach Trey in their special ed. preschool. However, they did concede that with his frequent hearing fluctuations they would need to have an audiologist available, who is able to map/program cochlear implants on the fly. This will be difficult to work out since I already know that anyone from this area/district has to travel 30 minutes to find an Audiologist who can handle cochlear implant needs. We've also requested that the preschool teacher and SLP utilize Auditory Verbal technique in their teaching process- I'm not sure that can be accomplished either. I love both individuals, but they are not specifically trained in deaf education or more specifically AVT. So, we're meeting again next week to see what changes they have made to the existing, unapproved IEP.

Batteries-

Rob got a call from Em's school yesterday stating that her implant was broken. Freak out moment- Call our trusty Audiologist at the private school and she immediately orders a new cochlear implant. However, when Emily gets home we realize it is really *only* the battery (second one in 3 days....) I call Advanced Bionics and vent with them, and they agree that something is not working as it should in terms of battery longevity, and they are sending me two replacement batteries. I will be sending in the two that have broken the most recently so they can inspect them and see why they are breaking so easily. Yay Advanced Bionics.

Emily's FM system appears to not be functioning properly, so that needs to be taken care of as well. They are going to send someone out from another school district to look into it.

I think that's it for now!

Give Me A Break......

actually give me NO more breaks. While visiting friends during our soccer weekend in Seattle, Emily was playing nerf basketball w/ her friend. Somehow her implant fell off her head on to the hardwood floors, breaking one of our brand new batteries. I wanted to cry. As of right now we have exactly four batteries for four implants. And no additional funds to replace the newly purchased battery. Why on earth are $150 batteries so DARN (insert word of choice there) breakable. In the stress of the moment I ended up getting very angry w/ Emily. But for what??? For playing basketball, for being a typical 8 year old girl. So unfair, so I quickly apologized and gave her a hug. I really should yell at the battery (or the makers of the battery).

I have a bag right now of 7 broken CI batteries. At anywhere from $100-$150 each, that's close to $1,000 gone this year. Ouch.

I will be sending them into AB, and requesting at least a few replacement batteries- sheesh.

Trey's First Day of School/Meeting w/ school district

Trey had his first day of Pre-K yesterday. He now goes to school from 9-2 and has the same teacher he had for summer school, which is great :) He had a very uneventful first day, so not much to report. I have some cute pictures to upload later this afternoon.

We *finally* have a meeting w/ the school district....TODAY! I'll update after the meeting w/ how receptive they are to 'helping' Trey attend our school of choice. I'm still hoping they will realize that by doing the right things now, they are only helping themselves later, in terms of what interventions will be necessary throughout Trey's school career. It makes complete sense to me, but I know sometimes it is difficult to view these things without the budget weighing heavily into the decision making process, and it is a tough year this year budget-wise for the district. Of course, that is not stopping them from putting in an all turf soccer field and new soccer mini complex within the district- I'm going to try not to go there-LOL>

The first week of school has been exciting, crazy, and exhausting. This new start time for middle school (bus pick-up at 7:10 am), is killing me....I'm sure Delaney is not appreciating it too much either. But, I'm sure once we adjust it will be just fine. And, it only gets worse in high school- Bummer! On a GREAT note, I actually have an hour and 15 minutes every day all to myself.

That's it for now. Hopefully I'll be back later w/ FANTASTIC news!

First day of school in pictures....

Delaney- day 1 of middle school

Emily- Day one, 3rd grade

Trey- almost there.....

Jake - day one, Kindergarten!
I'm not sure if this link will work, but if it does, here, http://www.photoshopshowcase.com/ViewFlashMedia.aspx?AID=160595&AT=3, are school pictures of Jake, Emily, and Delaney. You'll have to wait for Trey's since he does not start school until Thursday.

Back To School TODAY!

Well, except for Trey, but that's o.k. 3 out of 4 isn't so bad :) I have taken the obligatory back to school pictures and I'll get them up in a bit. Everything went smoothly until I realized Delaney did not know her bus number and we had made no plan for getting home from school. Oops.....details, details. I'll be meeting her at the middle school for a ride home today :)

More details on first day excitement to follow....