Our new family blog is up!! Please go HERE to read more about Evangeline and the rest about the family.
Or if you'd like to read the story of adopting Evangeline ( three years old, Down syndrome) from Ukraine, go to the beginning of our story HERE.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Our new family blog!
Our new family blog is up!! Please go HERE to read more about Evangeline and the rest about the family.
Or if you'd like to read the story of adopting Evangeline ( three years old, Down syndrome) from Ukraine, go to the beginning of our story HERE.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Expecting Evangeline is moving!
Expecting Evangeline is going to be folded into a new family blog I'm working on. The new 'Pocket Lint' should be ready in a few days.
Please stay tuned for the switch-over.
Please stay tuned for the switch-over.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thankful for Grandpa
We had a great Thanksgiving weekend in Michigan with my parents.
Early on it became clear that Evangeline has a thing for her Grandpa. Whenever he was in the room she was either sitting with him or walking to him. She even tried to stand next to him and hold onto his pant leg with her pudgy little hand while he carved the turkey.
It was precious to watch.
Evie has good taste. My dad is a rock in my life and is one of the kindest people I know.
He loves his grand kids and welcomed Evie with open arms when we adopted her.
I couldn't get a great picture of them together because Evangeline likes to move but here is a picture of Evie and her buddy:
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and more importantly, a chance to actually give thanks to God for all the blessings you receive.
Early on it became clear that Evangeline has a thing for her Grandpa. Whenever he was in the room she was either sitting with him or walking to him. She even tried to stand next to him and hold onto his pant leg with her pudgy little hand while he carved the turkey.
It was precious to watch.
Evie has good taste. My dad is a rock in my life and is one of the kindest people I know.
He loves his grand kids and welcomed Evie with open arms when we adopted her.
I couldn't get a great picture of them together because Evangeline likes to move but here is a picture of Evie and her buddy:
I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and more importantly, a chance to actually give thanks to God for all the blessings you receive.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Pictures
We had our family picture taken a few weeks ago and snuck a few in of just Evie. She's so sweet looking in all of these shots! A couple years ago she was on the Reece's Rainbow Christmas Angel Tree...and now we have her.
What a blessing...
What a blessing...
Friday, November 20, 2009
Evangeline's IEP
Yesterday we had Evie's IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting at our neighborhood school. The purpose for the meeting was to determine eligibility for services for Evie in school and to decide what classroom would best meet her needs.
We've had Evangeline home for three and a half months and now she is three and we are talking preschool. Sergei and I were joined by Evie's occupational Therapist and her Early Intervention Coordinator. The school team was essentially the same group we met with a year and a half ago for Polly's IEP.
I brought cookies and a sheet of strengths and goals for Evie. It was easier the second time around to sit through a two hour meeting discussing seemingly every detail of my child's development. I realize that these meetings need to take place for services to be put in place and at the end of the day Evie is still the same little kid we love regardless of how she scores.
The consensus was that Evie will benefit from an instructional classroom setting, and she qualifies for OT, PT and ST.
Last week I had a chance to visit the instructional classroom at Polly's school. It's right next door to Polly's blended pre-K. Right now the class consists of eight students, one special ed teacher and two aids, I think. I liked the class and I liked the teacher even more. She has a wide smile and a calming demeanor.
It makes me feel better to think of her in that classroom with peers her size (the kids in Polly's class are huge!) and with her sister right next door.
We'll see what happens. All along I've been game to go through this process and see where we end up. Then the plan is to try it out and see how it works for our family.
I'll let you know how it goes.
We've had Evangeline home for three and a half months and now she is three and we are talking preschool. Sergei and I were joined by Evie's occupational Therapist and her Early Intervention Coordinator. The school team was essentially the same group we met with a year and a half ago for Polly's IEP.
I brought cookies and a sheet of strengths and goals for Evie. It was easier the second time around to sit through a two hour meeting discussing seemingly every detail of my child's development. I realize that these meetings need to take place for services to be put in place and at the end of the day Evie is still the same little kid we love regardless of how she scores.
The consensus was that Evie will benefit from an instructional classroom setting, and she qualifies for OT, PT and ST.
Last week I had a chance to visit the instructional classroom at Polly's school. It's right next door to Polly's blended pre-K. Right now the class consists of eight students, one special ed teacher and two aids, I think. I liked the class and I liked the teacher even more. She has a wide smile and a calming demeanor.
It makes me feel better to think of her in that classroom with peers her size (the kids in Polly's class are huge!) and with her sister right next door.
We'll see what happens. All along I've been game to go through this process and see where we end up. Then the plan is to try it out and see how it works for our family.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Evie's hanging out
There is a new post about Polly and her diagnosis of Moyamoya at Pocket Lint.
But I wanted to also update on Ms. Evangeline.
The time Polly was in the hospital was tough on Evie. In one week she had multiple caregivers other than Sergei and me. By the time life got back to 'normal' Evie had regressed a bit in most areas. She was back to refusing any food but baby cereal, spitting out any other texture or taste. Her eye contact was scattered again and she held her hand up to her eye a lot again. We caught her hitting her head in bed several night in a row.
Poor thing. The prior few weeks had been going a little bit better. She really responds to the sensory diet her OT laid out for us and she loves her swing. I was starting to feel a bit of a connection and felt less and less frustrated over small set backs or having to go slowly in bonding with her.
But such is life; a big thing happens in a family and everyone is off kilter for a while.
I was thankful that upon my arrival home the night we learned that Polly had Moyamoya my inclination was to find Evie and rock her. It isn't always like that nor will it be. It's a struggle to deal with Polly's new diagnosis and attempt to meet Evie where she is at. But that night it was right. I held her.
And she let me.
So we have that.
Here's Evie swinging in her swing...she LOVES it!
She even fell asleep in it last week.
But I wanted to also update on Ms. Evangeline.
The time Polly was in the hospital was tough on Evie. In one week she had multiple caregivers other than Sergei and me. By the time life got back to 'normal' Evie had regressed a bit in most areas. She was back to refusing any food but baby cereal, spitting out any other texture or taste. Her eye contact was scattered again and she held her hand up to her eye a lot again. We caught her hitting her head in bed several night in a row.
Poor thing. The prior few weeks had been going a little bit better. She really responds to the sensory diet her OT laid out for us and she loves her swing. I was starting to feel a bit of a connection and felt less and less frustrated over small set backs or having to go slowly in bonding with her.
But such is life; a big thing happens in a family and everyone is off kilter for a while.
I was thankful that upon my arrival home the night we learned that Polly had Moyamoya my inclination was to find Evie and rock her. It isn't always like that nor will it be. It's a struggle to deal with Polly's new diagnosis and attempt to meet Evie where she is at. But that night it was right. I held her.
And she let me.
So we have that.
Here's Evie swinging in her swing...she LOVES it!
She even fell asleep in it last week.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
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