IAC Results 562-569

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 562 held on October 7, 2022:

1) Spanish dossier from November 2014 referred a male child aged 7 years and 1 month

2) US dossier from December 2019 referred a make child aged 2 years and 4 months with features in health status

3) Canadian dossier from February 2020 referred a male child aged 3 years and 4 months with features in health status and a family history

4) Maltese dossier from July 2021 referred a male child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 563 held on October 14, 2022:

1) US dossier from November 2021 referred a female child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health status

2) Italian dossier from February 2022 referred a male child aged 1 year and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

3) Italian dossier from September 2022 referred a female child aged 10 years and 10 months with a family history

4) Italian dossier from October 2022 referred a brother and sister aged 6 years and 8 months & 9 years with a family history

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 564 held on October 28, 2022:

1) Spanish dossier from April 2015 referred a female child aged 9 years and 7 months with features in health status

2) Italian dossier from September 2016 referred brothers aged 2 years and 10 months & 4 years and 10 months

3) Canadian dossier from April 2017 referred a brother and sister aged 3 years and 1 month & 4 years and 1 month

4) Italian dossier from December 2020 referred a male child aged 11 years and 6 months, clinically healthy

5) US dossier from March 2021 referred a female child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status and a family history

6) US dossier from October 2022 referred an identified waiting child

7) US dossier from October 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 565 held on November 11, 2022:

1) Italian dossier from July 2022 referred a female child aged 10 years and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

2) US dossier from November 2022 referred an identified waiting child

3) US dossier from November 2022 referred an identified waiting child

4) Italian dossier from November 2022 referred an identified waiting child

5) US dossier from November 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 566 held on November 18, 2022:

1) Spanish dossier from November 2013 referred a male child aged 7 years and 6 months with features in health status

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 567 held on November 25, 2022:

1) Italian dossier from August 2015 referred a male child aged 3 years and 6 months with features in health status and a family history

2) Canadian dossier from September 2019 referred a female child aged 5 years and 1 month with features in health status

3) Italian dossier from April 2021 referred a female child aged 12 years and 6 months with features in health status and a family history

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 568 held on December 2, 2022:

1) French dossier from December 2014 referred a female child aged 9 years and 8 months with features in health status

2) Luxembourg dossier from June 2022 referred a brother and sister aged 4 years and 9 months & 3 years and 8 months, part of a larger sibling group that must remain in contact

3) Canadian dossier from July 2022 referred a female child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status

4) Luxembourg dossier from October 2022 referred twin sisters aged 7 years and 6 months, part of a larger sibling group that must remain in contact

5) US dossier from November 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 569 held on December 9, 2022:

1) Italian dossier from November 2015 referred brothers aged 6 years and 3 months & 7 years and 5 months

2) Italian dossier from August 2020 referred a brother and sister aged 4 years and 3 months & 6 years and 8 months, part of a larger sibling group that must remain in contact

3) Italian dossier from August 2022 referred brothers aged 9 years and 1 month & 5 years and 7 months, part of a larger sibling group that must remain in contact

4) Canadian dossier from September 2022 referred a female child aged 6 years and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

5) US dossier from December 2022 referred an identified waiting child

6) US dossier from December 2022 referred an identified waiting child

7) US dossier from December 2022 referred an identified waiting child

Happy New Year

 Wishing those who stop here to read a healthy, joyous 2023!  

- The Martinis

P.S. I had an informal goal of blogging more this year than I did last year and I succeeded.

Hip Hip Pooray

I was cleaning out some stacks of old papers over the weekend and came across this laminated visual aid that had been created for Middle Kiddo at some long-ago point.  Looking at it made me realize how far he has come.  He is independent with toileting skills now.

Once upon a time when I was a brand-new mom, a geneticist told me that I should prepare myself to diaper my adult son.  While I would do whatever is needed for my child, he, his dad, his therapists and I worked hard to defy the odds.  It took time and many quirky steps along the way, so much practice and encouragement, as well as figuring out some medical stuff along with his own intrinsic motivation to see him succeed.  This week, with the visual aid still fresh on my mind, I caught myself watching him as he exited the bathroom, toilet flushing behind him and hands smelling of soap with his shirt just slightly askew across his back... and I smiled.

My son's human worth has never been and will never be determined by his skills or by how he navigates the world. I would love him the same wearing a diaper as I do when he sports boxer briefs.  But I still want to acknowledge and celebrate his hard-won victories toward increased independence and a wonderful quality of life unique to him.

November 2022 Home School

Our main book was Leaf Man and we also read Seeds Move.  It was a science and art focused month.

Middle Kiddo: types of trees, grocery sort

Little One: wind/wind power, photosynthesis, 50 states

Despite the lovely weather throughout the month, our trees lost their leaves early this year, so instead of all the nature crafts I had planned, we had to divert to Thanksgiving related projects for art.  We took multiple field trips, including forest hikes and a performance of Black Violin.

I also wanted to mention, in case you're wondering, that the teachers and therapists that work with our 6th graders in-home address the majority of the material in the core subjects of math and language arts, so what I primarily do with them is "everything else."

IAC Results 559 - 561

The following referrals were issued by the IAC at MOJ in Bulgaria on September 9, 2022 - session 559:

1) Italian dossier from January 2014 referred a brother and sister ages 2 years and 11 months & 4 years

2) Italian dossier from October 2021 referred a male child aged 8 years and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

3) Italian dossier from April 2022 referred a brother and sister ages 9 years and 4 months & 7 years and 11 months

4) US dossier from August 2022 referred a male child aged 1 year and 7 months with features in health status

5) US dossier from August 2022 referred an identified waiting child

6) US dossier from August 2022 referred an identified waiting child

The following referrals were issued by the IAC at MOJ in Bulgaria on September 16, 2022 - session 560:

1) Luxembourg dossier from August 2017 referred a female child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health status

2) French dossier from October 2020 referred a male child aged 3 years and 7 months with features in health status and a family history

3) US dossier from April 2021 referred a male child aged 5 years and 11 months with features in health status and a family history

4) US dossier from March 2022 referred a female child aged 3 years and 3 months with features in health status

5) US dossier from July 2022 referred a female child aged 2 years and 9 months with features in health status

6) US dossier from September 2022 referred an identified waiting child

7) US dossier from September 2022 referred an identified waiting child

The following referrals were issued by the IAC at MOJ in Bulgaria on September 30, 2022 - session 561:

1) Spanish dossier from April 2015 referred brothers ages 2 years and 9 months & 4 years and 9 months

2) US dossier from June 2021 referred a male child aged 11 years and 6 months with features in health status

3) Canadian dossier from October 2021 referred a male child aged 4 years and 8 months with features in health status and a family history

4) Italian dossier from March 2022 referred a male child aged 6 years and 11 months with features in health status

5) Italian dossier from June 2022 referred brothers ages 9 years and 7 months & 11 years and 4 months

6) Canadian dossier from July 2022 referred a female child aged 9 years and 8 months with features in health status

7) Maltese dossier from September 2022 referred an identified waiting child

'Twas The Night Before Thanksgiving

'Twas the night before Thanksgiving and the hostess was tired,

But glad that her prep had turned out as desired.

The potatoes were peeled and the veggies were cleaned,

And the baking was done for she'd worked like a fiend.

She had stirred, she had whipped, she had measured and tasted -

May none of her efforts for the feasting be wasted.

Caramel and nutmeg and cranberry, too,

Orange and clove in the air through and through.

The counters were cleared and the plates counted right,

The flowers arranged and the tablecloths bright,

The bathroom so fresh and the floors spic and span,

She had toiled and pushed through like no one else can.

Then she hung up her apron and hid out of sight

Happy Thanksgiving to all and to all a good night.

~ by Viviane Martini, November 23, 2022

Snow Salad

During the season's first snow today, I was making a lunch salad from the garden's last tomatoes, harvested on Thursday.  The irony was not lost on me.

Frida - A Self Portrait

Home school field trips are the best, especially if your BFF comes along.

And then seeing an intense one woman show performed by an actress with a LD was a completely unexpected bonus for our child with LDs.

October 2022 Home School

This was a busy month for us, including a lot of cool home school work.  Our book was Fruit Bowl by Mark Hoffman which both 6th graders enjoyed.  We made baked apples and a bunch of crafts related to fall and fruits.

Middle Kiddo: learned about various fruits that he'll probably never eat, patterns (math), multiple golf outings

Little One: apple life cycle, Paul Cezanne and his apple still life paintings, 50 US states

Field Trips: pumpkin patch, Flight 93 Memorial, Ballet Hispanico at the Aronoff

This is just a bonus picture of these happy home schoolers.  I love seeing them together, relaxed and thriving.

First Art Exhibit

Big Girl is a budding artist and was able to show her first piece in a community exhibit earlier this month.  The theme was Continuity and Big Girl chose the moon as an entity which appears to be ever changing and which we nonetheless associate with continuity from our planetary vantage point.

We're proud to see her passion and creativity take shape as she's headed toward adulthood with what seems to be lightening speed.

Little One's A Teen

You'd never know it by looking at her petite and spritely self, but our youngest is a teen now.  Her height and body type mirror that of her family of origin and she looks so much like her first mom of whom we speak often with great emotion.

Little One enjoys a good party and was thrilled to welcome family and friends to a brunch, serving - among other selections - one of her favorite dishes: buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries and homemade whipped cream.  She appreciated the thoughtful and personalized gifts from everyone and basked in the attention lavished on her.

On her actual birthday, we had our traditional birthday table at home and a layer cake (cherry almond).  Little One loves a tasty layer cake and was sure to remind me of her expectations.  She properly made a wish!

At 13, Little One dreams of getting married, traveling to Paris to see the Eiffel Tower, and continuing her studies in ballet.  She has so many plans and is enthusiastic about her future.  She is, as she likes to say about herself, so much.

September 2022 Home School

I'll admit I worried about this month a little bit because I wasn't sure how well the book I chose as the basis for all lessons would work.  But Infinity and Me by Kate Hosford was a huge hit with both the kids and with me.  We addressed music, art, life skills, and science.

Both: learned to recognize and draw the infinity symbol, read/listened to Infinity and Me, made universe jars, pondered/expressed the meaning of infinity and forever through art

Middle Kiddo: listened to musical rounds, learned about our galaxy

Little One: learned to sing a musical round, completed mindfulness activities

Fun fact: When we were at the airport to drop off my sister, we could see a large wooden bench in the level below ticketing that was shaped like the infinity symbol.  Little One immediately exclaimed, "It's infinity."

42 Hours

What do you do when you have 42 hours with your sister you haven't seen since just before the pandemic?  You pack it full.

The first night we stayed up very late talking until my sister literally fell asleep in the middle of our conversation.  The next morning, we started leisurely with a carry-out brunch from our favorite spot. Since my sister is, among other accomplishments, an artist, Big Girl received a free art lesson and took what she'd learned to paper right away, creating this drawing:

We had to make a quick pit stop at the craft store, so that my sister could help me put together Little One's jellyfish Halloween costume and we carved pumpkins to boot.

Sister and I had time for a long walk before she started cooking Persian Adas Polo - she's married to an Iranian man and, therefore, quite well versed in this type of cuisine.  Plus cooking is one of her love languages.  Yum!

After dinner we lounged around the family room and talked about some plans for our hopeful next visit with one another and we told the kids stories from our childhood.  Our conversation continued after the children went to bed.

On our final morning Sister was up early due to frustrating news regarding her transatlantic flight having been canceled.  A much more stressful itinerary had already been booked for her and despite our best efforts, we could not find anything better.  We chatted in bed for two hours and then just had time for breakfast and some backyard photos.

Even though the time went too fast and was too short, I am so thankful we had it.

Big Girl's Birthday Week

Big Girl recently turned 14 and instead of a party, she had a whole week of celebratory activities.

She had a morning on the town with her BFF.  They went out to breakfast, got pedicures and then did some book shopping.  The outing turned into a sleepover at her friend's house that lasted well into the next afternoon.

At home, we had our traditional birthday breakfast table of gifts and cake (chocolate espresso raspberry courtesy of yours truly) along with the birthday child's choice of dinner which we knew would be Thai food.

On another day, Big Girl went out to breakfast with her cousins and she got to go to Kings Island to boot.  

Finally, Grams and Grandpa took her on a mystery date which included a movie, Chinese buffet and another sleepover.

I am pretty sure Big Girl thought all of the above was better than a pool party, so a win win if you know what I mean.

First Day Of Home School School

Today's Big Girl's first day back to her home school program which she attends full day twice a week.  As part of her Health class that I have been teaching here at home all summer, we have been preparing for her to pack her own lunches on those days. Day 1 was a success.

Cucumber, green apple, hardboiled egg, 
salami with a mozzarella stick rolled in,
crackers, and a banana oat muffin
from the batch she baked yesterday

August Home School 2022

This year I organized each home school month around a single book with spin off lessons for Little One and Middle Kiddo according to their individual needs, abilities and interests.  This is in addition to math and language arts work which is addressed primarily by their in-home teachers.  I hope to post a few pictures from each month, but no promises.

August's book was Dragons Love Tacos to ease us back into an academic routine.  With this unit we addressed art, health, life skills, and social studies.

Middle Kiddo: kitchen tools and gadgets, herbs and spices

Little One: all about salt, what's a recipe, herbs and spices, kitchen tools

Both: read/listen to the book, make spicy salsa and Nutella mug cake, dragon crafts

Bonus for Little One: an interest-based and requested foray into ornithology

Bonus for Middle Kiddo: he learned to pretend to breathe fire - should come in handy soon ;-)

MOJ Bulgaria Referrals IAC Sessions 549-558

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 549 on May 12, 2022:

1) US dossier from May 2016 referred siblings, male and female, aged 7 years and 8 months and 3 years and 10 months.

2) Canadian dossier from April 2017 referred a female child aged 3 years and 9 months with features in health status and a family history

3) US dossier from November 2021 referred a female child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status

4) US dossier from May 2022 referred an identified waiting child

5) US dossier from May 2022 referred an identified waiting child

6) US dossier from May 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 550 on May 19, 2022:

1) US dossier from March 2020 referred a female child aged 1 years and 11 months with features in health status

2) German dossier from October 2020 referred a male child aged 3 years and 9 months with features in health status and a family history

3) Italian dossier from June 2021 referred brothers aged 7 years and 9 months and 9 years and 2 months with features in health status

4) US dossier from December 2021 referred a female child aged 1 year and 3 months with features in health status

5) US dossier from May 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 551 on June 2, 2022:

1) German dossier from July 2015 referred siblings, male and female, aged 6 years and 9 months and 8 years and 6 months

2) Us dossier from September 2018 referred a female child aged 12 months with features in health status

3) US dossier from February 2021 referred a female child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status and a family history

4) US dossier from July 2021 referred a male child aged 1 year and 8 months with features in health status

5) US dossier from May 2022 referred a female child aged2 years with features in health status

6) US dossier from May 2022 referred an identified waiting child

7) US dossier from May 2022 referred an identified waiting child

8) US dossier from May 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 552 on June 9, 2022:

1) Italian dossier from August 2014 referred a male child aged 10 years and 9 months

2) San Marino dossier from March 2015 referred siblings, male and female, aged 2 years and 8 months & 3 years and 9 months

3) Italian dossier from July 2021 referred brothers aged 6 years and 9 months & 9 years and 2 months

4) US dossier from May 2022 referred an identified waiting child

5) Canadian dossier from June 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 553 on June 16, 2022:

1) US dossier from September 2018 referred siblings, male and female, aged 5 years & 6 years and 6 months with a family history

2) US dossier from September 2021 referred sisters aged 12 years and 9 months & 10 years and 4 months with features in health status

3) US dossier from June 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 554 on June 30, 2022:

1) Italian dossier from September 2018 referred siblings, male and female, aged 9 years and 1 month & 7 years and 8 months

2) US dossier from June 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 555 on July 7, 2022:

1) Finnish dossier from May 2014 referred a female child aged 1 year and 4 months

2) German dossier from May 2017 referred a female child aged 11 years and 8 months

3) US dossier from November 2017 referred a male child aged 5 years and 8 months with features in health status and a family history

4) Italian dossier from August 2021 referred brothers aged 9 years and 4 months & 11 years

5) US dossier from July 2022 referred an identified waiting child

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 556 on July 14, 2022:

1) French dossier from August 2015 referred a male child aged 8 years and 9 months with features in health status and a family history

2) Canadian dossier from July 2020 referred twin sisters aged 3 years and 4 months with features in health status

3) US dossier from June 2021 referred an identified waiting child

4) US dossier from October 2021 referred a male child aged 6 years and 8 months with features in health status and a family history

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 557 on July 21, 2022:

1) Spanish dossier from October 2014 referred a female child aged 1 year and 10 months with features in health status

2) Belgian dossier from February 2015 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status

3) US dossier from March 2019 referred a male child aged 4 years and 5 months with features in health status and a family history

4) Canadian dossier from August 2020 referred sisters aged 3 years and 6 months & 8 years and 6 months

5) Italian dossier from September 2021 referred a female child aged 12 years and 8 months

6) US dossier from June 2022 referred a female child aged 1 year and 3 months with features in health status

 The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 558 on July 28, 2022:

1) Italian dossier from July 2022 referred three siblings, male and female, aged 5 years and 3 months & 6 years and 11 months & 9 years and 8 months

Sensory Friendly Shopping

A big shout out and thank you from our family to Macy's for their sensory friendly shopping event this weekend.  The store opened 90 mins early by invitation only and each child invited received a gift card to spend and was paired with a personal shopper to help with choosing items.

We decided to make this a practice in self-advocacy and self-determination for Little One and did not put any restrictions, other than financial, on what she was allowed to select and purchase for herself.  True to form, she was a very decisive shopper that put her assistant through the wringer with her clear preferences and vision for herself.  Eventually and without a doubt, she ended up with a pair of golden high heels and a white cocktail dress.

We're thankful that our community creates targeted opportunities for our children to safely explore, learn, and grow.

First Week Of School

Last week our sixth graders officially started the new school year.

While Little One remains with the same trusted teacher whom she will see in our home three times a week, she still struggled to leave summer mode and come back to the proverbial school table.  On Friday she finally seemed more balanced and relaxed again which we all were glad to see.  We expect noticeable progress for Little One this school year, especially in areas that may not be traditionally associated with academics.  We're always tweaking what she does and how and always trying to build on her strengths.

Meanwhile Middle Kiddo's team is not yet fully assembled which has been disappointing and stressful.  I don't do well with uncertainty when it's immediately impacting our daily lives and missing ten hours of weekly coverage over three mornings is definitely measurable in its effect on our home and family.  The search for an EA continues.  Let's hope it won't take much longer, so Middle Kiddo can really get rolling again with academics.

Big Girl is well into her 8th grade year with over 100 hours already logged.  Her first day in her home school school will be after Labor Day.  She's earned her high school PE credit through swimming, yoga, and hiking.  She's about 20 hours away from her high school Health credit.

I hope to post one or two photos each month to summarize our home school work with our younger children.  Let's see if it happens.

Picture Of The Day

 Friday morning 18 holes with Dad and Cousin (more like an uncle) B.

Eleven Years Ago

I cannot let this day end without taking note: 11 years ago today, also a Thursday, our Middle Kiddo set foot on US soil and started his new life.  How hard even the simplest things were for him then, how he struggled and fought against his past to open his heart to us and to the world.

I hadn't remembered today's significance until we were hiking through woods alongside a stream and Middle Kiddo was looking wide-eyed at the tree tops and making his way over rocks and roots, stopping to wait for us and forging ahead, smiling and interacting.  And suddenly I realized... it's been 11 years.

After the hike, we went out to lunch, and Kiddo had his favorite: 12 slices of bacon and water.  And he sat at the table so calmly, so much a beloved part of our family, so secure, so confident and the difference was striking.  Then he went with us to an old grist mill and the mechanics of the thing fascinated him to no end.  He listened when called, accepted our arms around his shoulders, and walked by our side in the knowledge that we are his people, now and always.

Today was a really good day.  There are more and more of them with some tough ones sprinkled in to keep us on our toes.  I am in awe of what has been overcome and accomplished through hard work, through love, through a supportive village.  I look at my son's face and it couldn't be more beautiful to me, radiating humor, curiosity, affection, and happiness.  This is life at its best and we're thankful to be a part of his.

Summer Brunch

We're so excited that old friends have moved much closer to us now, so our village just got a little bigger.   We celebrated with brunch at our house.

Carbs, proteins and fats were provided by us and fruits and veggies by friends.  What a spread!

Hocking Hills

We had a bigger trip in mind for July, but based on a gut feeling we scrapped that idea and decided to stay closer to home for a quick mid-week getaway.  We had a wonderful time in the woods of Hocking Hills.

For starters, we hiked a trail that was like a fairytale forest, a story book setting where we wouldn't have been surprised to see gnomes and elves along the way.

Then we treated ourselves to icecream and dinner and an evening of hot tubbing, followed by a simple breakfast the next morning, including homemade coffee cake, freshly picked blackberries, Goetta and hot coffee.

Ready for the day, we set out for two more trails that had a much more prehistoric feel with lush green vegetation and caves.  We hiked through all of this beautiful nature.

And at the end we were able to cool down by a small waterfall.

Little One called this whole experience an adventure and has already asked for more.  We don't disagree.