Update

[Guest guest]

Hi all

Long time no post.

Life can be pretty busy around here. ANyway we have

decided to have continue in her current school

setting for at least another 2 or 3 yrs. She can go up

until she is 21, and evidently can finish out the school

year the year she turns 21 so we still have time to make

some decisions on what to do following school. At this

time there are no group homes around here that have staff

who use ASL. (she does speak but for communicatin with

those who don't understand her sign works much better

since she has very limited verbal language). We are

thinking of possible placement in a home in the city that

she currently attends school in since they do have the

states deaf school so have a large deaf population, thus

would also have the communication support needed.

She is still attends MSAD as a residential student during

the school year, going up on Monday morning and returning

friday after noon. This works well for us. IT was of

course a very hard decision to make but she really is very

happy with her life there. It's funny cause when we do

take her up she really doesn't want us tohang around to

long. (an independent thing ya know.lol)

She attended prom this year and had a blast. Her and her

date did return to the dorm early, by that I mean they

didn't stay at the rec center til 4 am but returned a

couple hrs before that. I will try to remember to post a

pic. of her all dressed up. It will be just her tho.

Last school year she worked at Bostons (a pizza place I

guess) wrapping the silverware. She also continued to

help with the recycling for school. Most of the kids in

her class (called the NEST) like to do the shredding so

it's a popular job. They also continued to make bird

houses to sell as fund raisers.

This summer she attended the summer program and continues

to ride motorcycle with us. Up until the beginning of

July she still only rode with her Dad on his old Venture.

I never took her because I don't take passenegers on two

wheels. In July we finally bit the bullet and bought a

three wheeled motorcycle. It's something I've been trying

to get her dad to get for about 3 yrs now. She loves it.

She can also take a nap back there and we don't have to

worry about her falling off. I have also been doing all

the driving on this recently, mostly cause I broke my

thumb at work and it's easier to ride the Trike, so hubby

has finally got to ride his own bike alot for the first

time in about 4 yrs.

just had her physical and is doing great. She does

have an upcoming echo and eye exam and then we are through

for the year. She will continue on her thyroid meds,just

waiting to hear if the dosage needs to be changed.

That's about it. She does enjoy her nieces and nephew.

Cailyn just turned 3 yrs old and Mackenzie and Cameron

are now 7 months old so beginning to be alot of fun.

Hope all are meeting their challenges and enjoying life.

Joy and (18, ds)