I Love You Because...

The Patient...

This past Wednesday Doug had to have surgery. It was nothing major just a ruptured hernia and it was just a one day procedure. Yesterday he was mainly tired and starving and today he's hurting but overall I think the surgery was a success. I loved the hospital he had it at (Emory Johns Creek) and I'm glad he's decided to take it easy in his recovery and not push himself to go back to work immediately. The kids are loving Daddy home and reading to them all the time but they're hating not being able to hug and wrestle and sit on his lap. This next week will be all about trying to get him recovered and moving and keeping him as comfortable as possible. Let's hope it all goes well!

An Ethan Update

Okay I realize that I've been more then lax about the blog since the move but I'm going to go back to normal.... VERY SOON! First things first... I thought I'd give everyone the official ETHAN update. Ever since we started working with Fulton County and the asking questions about the special needs departments we've been more then nervous. The first week of school we had trouble even verifying with the school that they had simply read his IEP (Indiv. Education Plan) from Barrow County. The administration at Abbott's Hill Elementary was less then helpful and since we had such a positive experience in the Georgia special ed public education system in previous years we decided to trust the system and take a leap of faith.... 4 weeks after school started and we had already had enough. His teacher had yet to prove she had complied with the existing IEP at all and the administration was not at all worried when we brought up our concerns. He was complaining about going to school, he said he never got help in class and his teacher was sending home work with giant red F's all over it and complaining that he was unable to do it. At home we'd read to him the instructions and he would immediately do it- successfully! Basically, they weren't giving him the little bit of extra help he needed and they didn't believe in him. His love of learning was practically gone, his confidence was shot and he stopped asking questions (which was the biggest red flag for us!). His teacher even discribed him as quiet and well-mannered. It was obvious she didn't know who he was. It was heartbreaking to watch and frankly, pretty depressing to realize that the work that countless teachers and administrators put into him and beleiving in him was useless in the move. After requesting and being turned down for a meeting with the teacher and then an IEP meeting Doug and I both realized that this was not a battle Ethan needed to suffer from. There was no choice but to remove him from that school. 

After a really stressfull week full of researching our options and praying for a little guidance we found the perfect place for him thanks to Georgia's SB 10.

 Ethan is now in a private school, Hayden's Way. About 1/2 the kids that go there are on the Spectrum and the other 1/2 are not. It's only got about 50-60kids but it dies go K-12. Ethans class has 7 students in grades 2-4. The next class up is 4-6. They are very project driven and his fingers are constantly moving as he's learning (like building a small pyramid whiles he's learning Egyptian history). He has only been going this past week but he loves it. His schedules quite a bit different, Tuesday - Thursday 8-3:30. And Fridays the school is open for additional Art, Music, Science and theatre classes. The teachers are in the building and are available for tutoring and homework help all day Fridays as well. He does get a lot of homework over the weekend and right now he hates that aspect the most but I think he'll adjust. Monday's I've scheduled to be his therapy appointments so Lorali doesn't have to be dragged around anymore and he gets the one on one attention he needs. After only a few days we've already seen a major difference in him and his confidence. It's wonderful to see! 

 

Shakespeare Festival 2011

Death

The only consistent thing on my mind today was death. A play this morning (King of the Cats) about a lost love/a lost life and what is sacrificed/fought for. And is it all worth it??

Then thankfully a light hearted feel good moment in going to the actors luncheon and Noises Off. After that the day took a tragic turn. The last play of the night was Romeo and Juliet. It had me thinking how painful death is on everyone and how different everyone reacts to
It. The tragedy was not limited to the plays but manifest itself in life tonight as well.

Dougs sister, Aimmee, passed away this evening. She had been struggling with her health for weeks but having her gone now is still devastating. It's terrible I can't be there for doug, it's awful she suffered it's heartbreaking news that could never be summed up in one quick post. I just know that this was one amazing person who wasn't given the chances in life she deserved and struggled every minute, always fighting and trying to stay strong. Full of genuine love that was a gift to have received and she was one of the biggest influences on Dougs life. Her handicap and trials throughout her life changed Doug and prepared both of us for our special boy and for that we are thankful for her strength. I wish we had lived closer to her, I wish she hadn't been forbidden to talk to us and I wish I could have helped her THRIVE instead of just survive.

Why is The Lord testing us this way? Last year Dougs nephew died while I was out of town... This year his sister? I need to be there for him! He needs someone to give him strength and he needs to be able to crumble if need be and I can't be there!!!! Why? He is all alone! His family told us about the loss in a text message! He needs family! And I'm not there for him! Why test a man like this? All my prayers seem to only leave me questioning more.

Good night.

Utah Shakespearean Festival Day 1

Every year I come here it seems like something always makes it 'the most' memorable. We're only on day 1 but already I've laughed until my sides hurt and had the time of my life. I woke up this morning at home, well at Mom and Dads in Draper, which for some reason I can't stop considering home. We were up and driving early and yeah! I didn't get car sick. Once we checked into the b&b we stopped for a bite then went straight into see The Music Man. Such a fun, happy feel-good show. Great choreography, amazing acting and of course, the mark of a perfect musical? music I won't be able to get out of my head all weekend.

From there we barely moved seats and watched the behind the scenes- changing of the scenes. Super fascinating to see the teardown and setup between the matinee and evening performances.

After that we had a few minutes to stop by our room and drop off a few gifts I had gotten for the kids before we headed to orientation, the green show and grabbed a quick bite before sitting down in the Adams theatre for an outdoor presentation of A Midsummer Nights Dream. Check out who Dad was sitting next to. Senator Harry Reid (what you don't see is the dozen secret servicemen seated on all sides of us!)- while he wasn't all that impressive to me, his wife was wearing the cutest dress ever- just sayin'. Oh... back to the show, it was hilarious, inspiring and visually delicious! The weather, the costumes, the setting, the actors and the accents... So perfect and relevant and enjoyable. I'm not sure much will be able to top this one. It epitomized the Utah Shakespearean Festival in my book. Okay I am nit on Utah time quite yet so I'm off to bed. More tomorrow!