education & nutrition....Part 2

A few posts back I wrote about the dilemmas we are facing in regards to Audra's education and nutrition.

Well, here is the follow up to that post...

Education:
Last week we had Audra's IEP meeting with the school district.

Now...I am used to IEP meetings...and I have dealt with this school district for all 8 years of Riley's education so far.

So, I was prepared.

Prepared to advocate and fight for every precious little thing that Audra needs and deserves regarding her education.

But surprised is what I was instead...

Surprised that I didn't have to fight and rationalize and even beg!
Surprised that the school district acknowledged that Audra is unique.
and
Surprised that they actually asked me to pass a picture of her around for everyone to see.

She is a beautiful, spunky little girl, whose educational fate was at the table that day...
Right next to her gorgeous little face. 

I am used to trying to convince the school district to see beyond the paperwork...the evaluations, and test scores and diagnoses...
And instead look into the eyes of the precious child they are discussing.
But this team of people at this IEP meeting got it!

And they were willing to give Audra what she needs...
even if that meant something very outside of the box.

Next fall, my newly 7 year old little girl will stay in preschool.

And, yes...I am happy about that!

After much thought and discussion, we began to realize that this is exactly what Audra needs.  She has only been hearing well for about 6 months...which means she has the hearing age of a 6 month old.  She still has so much exploring and developing to do.  It would be wrong to rush her, which might result in her missing crucial developmental stages.  She needs to be met at her own developmental level, and taught like a 2 year old at a pace that fits her needs. 

They also increased all of the therapies she will receive next year.  Just last month her services at preschool were increased!
She went from speech once a week to twice a week and next year will be three times per week.
Same thing for OT.
And they are adding PT once per week.
Her hearing therapist was recently increased from 5 to 8 hours per week, and next year it will be 10 hours per week.

Yes, she is very far behind...
but her potential is huge!
Once she starts catching up, I don't think she's gonna stop!
I just know this is going to be a big year for my little girl.

I am both thrilled and thankful for the willingness of the school district and her preschool to see Audra for who she is, and think outside of the box regarding what is in her best interest.

Nutrition:
In late May it was decided by Audra's GI doctor that we should go ahead and do a trial of tube feedings to see if it will result in any improvement in her growth and nutrition.  Sean and I have thought about this issue and discussed it multiple times since day one.  We knew that tube feedings was very likely to be in her future from the first day we read her file.  And we have managed to hold off until now. 

But now it's time.
And the timing is quite perfect.

She is out of school for 3 weeks
and
she was already scheduled for surgery on her ear drum.

So, tomorrow is a big day for our girl.  She will have her ear drum repaired (tympanoplasty) by the ENT surgeon (which we are very hopeful will improve her hearing even more!) and then the general surgeon will place a G-tube.  Sean and I both agreed we didn't want to do the NG tube with Audra.  We would have been responsible for placing that tube repeatedly...at home...through her nose and down to her stomach.  Not pleasant.  The decision to go straight to a G-tube was easier since she was already scheduled for the OR, and the G-tube could be done the same day.

Surgery is scheduled to begin around 1:30pm.  And she'll be in the hospital for at least a few days...
or as long as it takes for her sensitive tummy to recover.