Autisim testing

Today we had to have Annabelle tested for autisim.  It is something that is done when you already have a child that has been diagnosed with autisim.  Her results were very good.  She has no signs of autisim or any other problems.  She does have a speech delay, but as our autisim dr, Dr White, told us that is actually quite common in families with one child that already has autisim.  They believe the delay is genetic and right now there is no need for concern as she is right where she should be in all other areas.  There was one slight concern with her left eye.  She goes crosseyed in that one a little more than they usually see in kids her age so we will have to get her eyes checked and see if she will need glasses or surgery to correct the problem.  However the best thing of all happened at this appointment.
Dr White decided to do a evaluation of Kaden since it has been one year (as of tomorrow) since he was diagnosed.   He then got very upset to hear nothing has happened since then because the insurance cut us off of speech after 3 months (very big no, no according to Dr White) and that the Regional Center where Kaden was supposed to be getting ABA therapy is still jerking us around and not doing what needs to be done.  Apparently them doing such things is very common, but not to worry for us.  Dr White is fighting on our behalf to get them to give us the services he needs.  He is also helping us get other services for Kaden through the navy's ECHO program and the EFMP as well.  This is a huge weight off of my shoulders.  This has been a struggle of knowing what to do for so long now that to have someone willing to help us out is a tremendous blessing. All we have to do is fill out some more paperwork (yup thats the navy for you) and turn it in and make a few phone calls.  Dr White will be doing the rest.  I just pray that things will work out for us so that things fall into place so Kaden will get the help he needs.

Busy Busy

We've been on the go every weekend since Jay went underway. This last weekend was super packed. We had a birthday party that the kids were invited to for Photina's daughter (one of the fellow Navy wives) on Saturday. The kids had so much fun and it was great to see the other navy wives. We came home and I was a lobster, still am. The kids nicely tanned and I crisped. Then yesterday we were at a potluck welcoming Wendy (another navy wife) to San Diego. She just moved from a different base. It was so much fun. Good food, great company with loads of laughter. Even the kids had fun. Kaden was off playing with all of the kids and Annabelle just stayed with me and the other wives. Yes, my daughter is a major wimp. It has been great to get together and be out of the house spending time with other wives.

This week is going to be just as packed, if not more so. We have the Wild Animal Park on Wednesday with the other navy wives, Sea World on Friday again with the other navy wives, and then Photina's baby shower on Saturday. Yeah we're going to be busy. But we all love it. We're getting out of the house (which is super important to my sanity) and getting to spend time with some awsome women. I am truly greatful for being invited all those months ago to join ASA (my navy wife support site) and all of the great people I'm getting to know. I have sat back at times and wondered how I ever made it through those last two deployments without such a support system in place. I don't know how I found the strength, but now I do have a great support system and these ladies are amazing. Well off for more fun. This means tons of photos are to come from all of the fun activites we're going to.

Kaden's IEP results

Today we had Kaden's IEP (Individula Education Plan) at the local elementary school.  It was by far the best meeting I've delt with so far with all of the testing we've done with Kaden.  We sat down with the speech therapist, psychologist, special ed preaschool teachers and went over all of the test results.  In the areas where his autisim is affected him he was low, but there were some areas where he was right where a child his age should be.  The end results of all of it are that he will be going to a special Summer School program starting up next month and then will start his special preschool class in the fall!  They have set some amazing goals for him, speech, writing, counting, social interaction, ect. where he will be able to have things to work towards.  The nice thing is they have it set up in 3 incriments of how to reach the ultimate goal for each area.  This meeting was amazing.  I came away feeling so hopeful and like we're finally getting somewhere with some of his needs.  And the ultimate goal for all of this is to have in intergrate into a regular kindergarten class in 2010!

Dedication to the USS Nimitz

Yesterday Jay's ship had a very tragic accident happen.  A helocopter doing a training exercise crashed while they have been out at sea.  The crew of 5 tragically have died.  They have recovered 3 of the sailor's bodies and are still searching for the other 2.  My thoughts and prayers are with the crew of the USS Nimitz during this hard time.  I know it has affected Jay's entire ship, especially the captian.  Jay's captian deeply cares for the safety and well being of his crew and so I know this will have hit him hard.  Here is the link to the news story about this tragic event: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,520778,00.html

BBQ with friends

Last night I threw a BBQ and it was a blast.  A few months back I was invited to join an amazing site for Navy wives and did.  It has become my support system and link to sanity when Jay is gone.  While family can be a support system these amazing ladies are a support system.  They know what its like to go through deployments and the sometimes uncertainy that comes with having a spouse in the Navy.  So after much encouragement from Jay I invited all of the San Diego ladies to our place for a BBQ, which took place last night.  It was so much fun.  Kids were everywhere and the gals were so much fun to get to know better.  Many of us have husbands on the same ship and so we go through the "joys" of being alone at the same time.  After meeting these fantastic women I am not even sure how I found the strength to make it through 2 previous deployments alone, and yes family I do mean alone.  And being part of this new network of friends has suddenly opened up so many opportunities for me to (heaven forbid) get out of the house.  I think my next few weekends are filled with BBQ's, baby showers and birthday parties.  So if I suddenly have a life, this is why.

Meet Mr. Lizzard

We had gone out to get some groceries this morning and when we came home we saw this little guy sunbathing on our patio. Kaden was so facinated with the lizzard that we had to take photos to send off to Jay and then we had to call Grandma and tell her all about the lizzard. The lizzard also got a name: Mr. Lizzard. Thankfully he isn't in the house, but it is something fun for Kaden to observe and watch.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day weekend was horrible at our house. Saturday morning Kaden woke up with a stomache virus that required me to clean up throw up all morning long, all the while trying to get a hold of Jay who just happened to be on duty. He got so bad that when I finally had Jay tracked down, thanks to some awsome friends, that I had to tell him to get his butt home so he could take Kaden to the ER. Luckily he was able to get off the ship and do so since we only have the one car. Kaden was fine but we were warned it could get worse and then we would have to bring him back in. This brings us to Sunday. I got the virus next. And I got it ten times worse than Kaden did (or anyone else in the family for that matter). I spent my time between the bathroom and throwing up. I was so sick and Jay got super worried so back to the ER we went. This brings us to 10 ER trips for the year and 8 of those were for me. By the time we decided I needed tobe checked out Annabelle was throwing up too. So we get to the ER and of course I am super dehydrated and require an IV. It took them 3 times to get my IV in since the first two times my veins blew. Needless to say that by the time we got home it hit Jay. So mother's day was another bust for the second year in a row.
Though Jay did order me some beautiful roses. He had them delivered on Saturday and then he graciously put them together in the vase they came with. I got a dozen roses for each kid. Here are the only pictures I've taken of them. While everyone else is on the mend or feeling better, I'm still not. Oh I hope it get over this crap soon.