Big Girl once again submitted an art panel to the annual Under One Roof exhibit at our local JCC. This year, she was chosen for one of the Superlative Category awards. Congrats to our resident artist. She worked hard on this piece and it was recognized.
I don't know why but sometimes you live through a month that seems busier than the rest and also busier than you had expected. October was that for us this year.
We had...
1) Two IEP meetings
2) One driver's test
3) One long weekend vacation with friends
4) One art show opening with dinner
5) Three ballet classes
6) One visit to the zoo
7) One school open house
8) Two blood draws
9) One medical appointment
10) Two neurofeedback appointments
11) One photography class
12) One Daddy Daughter Dance
13) One performing arts event: Cirque Kalabanté: Afrique en Cirque
14) Halloween
15) Blink Cincinnati
16) Two dental appointments
And you know what we did after all of this? We made November 1 a vacation day and gave ourselves a long weekend to rest... except, of course, for that additional blood draw and the impossible to miss ballet class because Little One keeps her own calendar. Life is good.
.... ummmmmm...
Just this week we had an art dinner/reception for an exhibit in which one of our kids has a piece on display, one community photography class through Artswave, two therapy appointments, volunteering, ballet class, a father/daughter dance, a teen hang-out party, a trip to the library, and we went to see a performance by Cirque Kalabante.
If only these home schoolers would get out more...
The girls' birthdays have come and gone for the year.
We had a big surprise Sweet 16 party for Big Girl and I can still hardly believe that we were able to pull it off amid the renovations here. I planned everything in secret and then we took Big Girl out to breakfast and to get a haircut and second ear piercings. Meanwhile at home, grandma and auntie put up the decorations, helped the caterer set up, and welcomed in the guests. It takes a village, of course, so we were thankful to our neighbors for letting the guests park in their driveways and to our Ms, Rie for watching Little One and Middle Kiddo before the party.
We kept it much smaller for Little One who was still reeling from the year-long construction here and invited only a few valued teachers and friends.
What are they like right now?
Little One loves Dutch conductor Andre Rieu and opera singers Kimmy Skota and Montserrat Caballe (yes, she listens to opera for fun several times a week) as well as all kinds of music and dance from the latest releases to classical. She dances daily at home and continues to take ballet at the Cincinnati Ballet where she has also announced her plans for future employment. She has made great progress with self-help skills and communication. She showers all of us with hugs, kisses and exuberant declarations of her love. At her own insistence, she now sleeps in her own bedroom and sits with the family for dinner.
Big Girl is into all the trends in fashion, hair, make-up and contemporary music. She continues to pursue her interests in drawing and painting and has also added photography to that list. She writes poetry, prepares her own lunches and breakfasts, and takes self-care rather seriously with long baths and yoga. She makes her own spending money via regular babysitting. Friendships are front and center now with sleepovers and hang-outs/outings and communication throughout the day.
Big Girl has worked hard since February and jumped through many extra hoops that non-disabled teens in our state do not have to face, but she persevered and passed her driving test this morning on first try. We're very proud of her and looking forward to the expanded opportunities that driving will afford her.
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Next up, we have to get Big Girl's car adapted with hand controls, so she can hit the road.
And just like that our middle kiddo is off to his first volunteer shift at a local food bank. This is a trial and error endeavor, so wish him luck.
Update! He did great and will return next week for another shift.
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 610 which was held on June 6, 2024:
1) Canadian dossier from June 2017 referred a brother and sister aged 4 years and 7 months & 3 years and 9 months
2) US dossier from April 2024 referred a female child aged 3 years with features in health status and a family history
3) US dossier from June 2024 referred an identified waiting child
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 611 which was held on July 7, 2024:
1) US dossier from August 2023 referred an identified waiting child
2) US dossier from June 2024 referred an identified waiting child
3) US dossier from June 2024 referred an identified waiting child
4) US dossier from June 2024 referred an identified waiting child
5) US dossier from July 2024 referred an identified waiting child
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 612 which was held on July 16, 2024:
1) Spanish dossier from May 2016 referred a female child aged 10 years and 4 months
2) US dossier from November 2021 referred a female child aged 1 year and 1 month with features in health status
3) US dossier from March 2023 referred a female child aged 1 year and 2 months with features in health status
4) Italian dossier from March 2023 referred an identified waiting child
5) US dossier from April 2023 referred a male child aged 4 years and 4 months with features in health status and a family history
6) US dossier from July 2024 referred a female child aged 4 years and 6 months with features in health status
The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 613 which was held on July 18, 2024:
1) Spanish dossier from October 2014 referred a male child aged 1 year and 5 months with features in health status
2) US dossier from November 2021 referred twin girls aged 7 years and 6 months with features in health status
3) Swiss dossier from February 2024 referred a brother and sister aged 5 years and 3 months & 11 years and 3 months
4) Canadian dossier from June 2024 referred a male child aged 12 years and 8 months
