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.