Moving, IEP's, Rett Clinics Oh My (and more)

Hello. It has been awhile, but I am here to update now. We have been quite busy with our lives. First of all, we moved into our new apartment on April 12th. We are desperately hoping this is our last rental and we will be able to purchase a house in a couple of years. Although moving is a pain, let me just explain to you how much easier this move has made my life. At our old apartment, we were on the second floor. In the mornings, I would carry Caitlyns bag and my stuff in one hand, and pick her up under my other arm to go down the stairs. When we came home, as long as my bladder wasn't killing me (have you ever tried using a public restroom with a child who licks/chews on everything? Or tried to maneuver a special needs stroller through a non-handicap stall because some lady all by herself took the handicap one? nah, I'm better off just holding it!) Anyway, if I had the time, I'd make her do the stairs to save my back. And when I say, if I had the time I mean it would take her sometimes 10 minutes to go up. I guess it's hard to coordinate steps when you are holding your breath...have you ever tried? I'm sooo happy to say we now live on the bottom floor!!!! I don't have to carry her!!! (Except the past two days because she fell asleep in the car, which she never does anymore!) Another wonderful thing about our new home is that it is a disability accessible apartment!!! We have wheelchair width hallways and door ways and most cool of all is the HUGE bathroom!!! I can move around when I go in to help Caitlyn! It is incredible! I am already feeling the relief of no stairs on my back.

Unfortunately we weren't able to remain in the same school district. We are nervous and excited all at the same time. Our wonderful teacher this year has agreed to pretend he doesn't know we moved. We will continue driving Caitlyn to school until the end of the year. I went to start registration for her knew district. We don't know yet what sort of class Caitlyn will be in. We are hopeful that we can still get her in a general ed classroom with a 1:1 aide. Her IEP will be done in our current district before the end of the year, so luckily it will hold documentation and recommendations for placement in Kindergarten. If we end up having a fight for general ed, we are willing to settle for a Developmental Kindergarten class that is integrated at a rate of 8:8. There is a huge exciting factor to the new school district!!! They have an Assisted Technology Team!!! This is the team that would handle all of the things like communication and switches and such...We are just so excited that we will have that support. The old district has always been a little scared of technology...I just can't wait to have support in find a "voice" for my daughter!

Next week we have a very exciting appointment!!! We are going to meet a team of doctors that we don't have to spend the first 15 minutes explaining what Rett Syndrome is!! They already know what Rett Syndrome is!!! We will be able to ask them all of our questions, and get the answers we need from people who really know Rett Syndrome. Our appointment is Thursday morning, and the lady from the office told me this week that there is no appointment after ours, so we have 2-3 hours to ask everything we need to and have Caitlyn fully evaluated! I will be sure the update everyone when we get back.

As soon as I find which box my camera is in, I will be sure to get some new pictures of Caitlyn.

And my most exciting news is that I leave for Chicago in 29 days!!! I am going all by myself to attend the International Rett Syndrome Foundations Conference!! I'm sooooo excited!!!