Three Years

What a difference three years can make!  Our Armenian spitfire the day we met her on May 5, 2014 and today.

Neurological Re-Organization 3 Month Update

We had our first follow-up with Bette Lamont this week and she was quite impressed with the progress, particularly for Ella.  She did some of the same tests again that she used in January and the difference in Ella was evident.  For example, with her eyes covered, Ella was able to touch specific spots on her arms within one inch accuracy from where Bette had pointed.  In January, she was about three inches off.

Here's a list of all areas in which Bette noted progress:

1) Outline perception/horizontal eye movement
2) Perception of vital sensation, heat, cold, pain and hunger
3) Crawling in the prone prone position culminating in cross pattern crawling
4) Appreciation of gnostic sensation/proprioception

In addition, Craig and I have seen the following positive changes:

1) More physically affectionate
2) Less physically rough
3) Grade average has improved by a full grade
4) Better understanding of math concepts
5) Overt expression and processing of trauma

Ella graduated from her two floor patterns and has been assigned a new one, along with continuing to crawl/creep, receiving vestibular stimulation and vibrations on her joints.

Emilia's progress was less pronounced because she is scared of some of the activities included in the program and reluctant to participate.  Bette has recognized this about Emilia and reduced her assignments for the next period to what we believe is most crucial right now and will give us the best results.

Emilia has improved in these areas:

1) Outline perception/horizontal eye movement
2) Crawling in the prone prone position culminating in cross pattern crawling

Craig and I have noted progress in:

1) Academics (9 IEP goals met and most of them in the last quarter)
2) Self-help skills (dressing, shoes, hair care)
3) Behavior (less screaming)

Emilia will continue to receive vestibular stimulation and vibrations on her joints, both of which she loves, focus on crawling and creeping, and we'll be trying just one floor pattern.

So far so good.  We're keeping on.

Teacher Appreciation Week

It's teacher appreciation week at our kids' school and our PTO is... let's say... very enthusiastic about it. There are suggestions of what the children should do or bring for their teachers for every day of this week to make them feel special.  Given that I have three kids in the school and that 15 professionals work with them, we whittle it down to two of five things.

Yesterday, I was lucky to find a lot of clearance flowers at our grocery store for just $5.50 and make some lovely little bouquets for our kids' teachers, intervention specialists, and aides.

Each bouquet has a short note of thanks attached and Ella wrote her own.  She did a great job.

Thanks to all the wonderful educators who are part of Team Martini!

IAC Sessions 387-389 Results

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 387 which was held on February 16, 2017:

1) Canadian dossier from May 2012 referred a female child aged 2 years and 4 months with features in health status and a family history

2) Italian dossier from June 2014 referred a female child aged 9 years and 7 months

3) French dossier from November 2015 referred a female child aged 1 year and 7 months with features in health status

4) US dossier from July 2016 referred triplets, male and female, ages 4 years and 4 months

5) US dossier from February 2017 referred a waiting child (#3332) with a profile on the MOJ site

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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 388 which was held on February 22, 2017:

1) Spanish dossier from June 2011 referred a male child aged 1 year and 10 months

2) Spanish dossier from July 2011 referred a female child aged 6 years and 8 months

3) Irish dossier from October 2011 referred a male child aged 1 year and 8 months with features in health status

4) Italian dossier from May 2012 referred a male child aged 7 years and 8 months

5) Italian dossier from February 2013 referred a brother and sister aged 7 years and 3 months & 4 years and 6 months

6) US dossier from June 2014 referred a female child aged 5 years and 2 months with features in health status

7) US dossier from August 2015 referred a male child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status

8) US dossier from February 2017 referred waiting siblings (#2804 & #3140) with profiles on the MOJ site
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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 389 which was held on February 28, 2017:

1) Spanish dossier from April 2011 referred a male child aged 3 years and 5 months

2) Spanish dossier from July 2011 referred a female child aged 3 years and 6 months

3) Spanish dossier from June 2012 referred a waiting child (#3372) with a profile on the MOJ site

4) Dutch dossier from July 2012 referred brothers aged 6 years and 8 months & 4 years

5) Italian dossier from November 2012 referred a female child aged 7 years and 2 months with features in health status

6) US dossier from October 2013 referred sisters aged 8 years and 3 months & 4 years and 6 months

7) Spanish dossier from December 2013 referred a male child aged 8 years and 3 months

8) US dossier from January 2016 referred a female child aged 11 years and 4 months

Weekend Getaway

The stars aligned, we finally pulled it off - our first weekend getaway sans kids since becoming parents six years ago.

Thank you, Ms. Rie and Ms. Ariella, Aunt MB and Uncle B and cousins, Newark Earthworks, Granville, OH (seriously, think Stars Hollow), and Orchard House Bed and Breakfast for an immensely needed and restful break.

Photo Of The Day

Every kid should be so lucky and have a Miss Brooke as a companion for daily adventures...

Quote Of The Day

"Fine, I'll choose happiness - AFTER SCHOOL." - Ella