Changing things up

Karsen has been using a program called proloquo2go, it's a communication app, since September. It has been going ok, but I don't think it was stretching him enough to continue learning as well as fairly glitchy. It's fairly easy to program but one slip up and you could really mess things up. Not to mention, Karsen could still add buttons (which made no sense) even she guided access is on. So, we've made a switch. We are now using speak for yourself. We just started using it today and he's already really getting the hang of it.
Our almost one year long battle with alta (to get Karsen a behavioral assessment) is coming to an end. We have pushed through and finally got all the paper work needed. Now we just wait, again, for a call to set up the assessment. In the mean time, we are still dealing with behavior issues that seem to be harder the older he gets. He's getting bigger and stronger. Good combination for some fun war wounds. While I've been busy trying to get info lined up for Karsen for an upcoming meeting (I'm requesting speech therapy to continue the entire summer, rather than a break during like most kids), we are less than a week away from listing our house. My stress level has been a little high. We are really hoping to get into the right house, in the right school district, on the right property, all before baby number three arrives in July. No pressure, right?! I need to trust that God will provide the perfect house for our family in Perfect timing.
Other than that, we've been plugging along. Working on the house any second that is free, cruising listings nonstop, and wrangling the two monsters named Karter and Karsen.

Frustrated with the medical system

Who doesn't get frustrated with the medical system?! Today, I have flat out had it. I may be really good at being a squeaky wheel, but that doesn't mean I like to do it all the time.

We have been trying since April, APRIL people, to get Karsen a behavioral assessment through alta regional. There is no one in our area that does them that our insurance will pay for outside of alta. So, we've been going through the process of getting him back in the system. Come to find out, he shouldn't have been discharged in the first place, this would have only take a few short weeks if we didn't. But whatever, what's done is done... I'm not bitter or anything..... I heard from the alta intake worker mid September to get things going so Karsen could receive his assessment and also evaluate him to get him back into the system. Since then, I have called her three times, as well as emailing her a handful of times, to see where we were at in the process. Basically to be a squeaky wheel. I heard nothing back. Finally today I got an email back from her stating she had sent out papers for me to sign and return on September 15th. Weird... because I NEVER GOT THEM! (I hope you guys can hear the irritation/sarcasm in my words). She finally emailed me the papers and asked me to sign them and email them back to her, I have no clue why she didn't do that in the first place. All of these months we could have had help by now, we could have gotten Karsen a behavioral specialist. I've been begging for one and complaining to anyone that will listen about how hard his behavior has been and how we need help. I'm just mad. So mad you guys. I'm mad for the moms out there, going through the same behavioral stuff and not getting any help, feeling on the verge of a break down. I'm not exaggerating. I have a great support system, they are the reason I haven't completely lost my mind, haven't checked out and decided I didn't want to do this anymore. What are those parents out there, with out any support system, suppose to do while you drag your feet and wait for us to squeak?! Why on earth does it take someone three phones calls, over 4 emails just to find out the paper work process hasn't even started. When a parent comes into a medical professionals office and says "I need help, my childs behavior has gotten really bad. It's put a ton of stress on me as well as my family." since when do you think it would be a good idea to put them through months long of a process to even receive any help?! I am more than happy to be Karsen's advocate, make sure he gets everything he needs, as well as done in a timely matter. But for once, When I say I need help, I NEED HELP PEOPLE! Praying this process will pick up soon and we can get the ball rolling faster.

We've had a lot going on lately. I'm meeting with Karsen's speech therapist on Monday to request more speech. I know we will have to do a formal IEP at some point, we are just meeting to go over the options. In two weeks, I'm meeting with our case worker to go see what options are available for Karsen next year, for school that is. I have no clue what other options there are besides TK or Kinder (with an aide of course.).

Karsen has started to take off with his device. He asks frequently to see Aubrey and constantly says "I want to tickle." We've seen a slight improvement on his speech as well. He's starting to say EEE and AHH and MMM on command. Oh is really hard for him. It's a slow, long road for him, hence why I am requesting more speech.

We've got lots of things to push forward and lots to keep me busy. Life is good, I'm blessed to be home with my boys and able to have the time to devote to this stuff. God is good y'all.

Bit of change

I have great news, we are now in a financial situation where I can stay home with the boys. This will be the first full week, post vacation, that I will get to enjoy every moment of being home with my boys are really working on things with Karsen. I'm now able to shift my focus on to what is more important at the moment. I love doing hair but for now, my place is at home with my boys. To be honest I'm a little scared. I'm a social butterfly and a people person, I fear Bing home with the boys full time, might put me in a funk here or there. I'm going to be making a conscious effort on planning stuff with my friends as well.

Other than me staying home, not much ash changed. We just got back from Montana and I fear I left half my heart there. It's so beautiful there. The boys played outside 90% of the time. The weather was perfect and there was a full crew of boys (6 kids, two adults). I'm making it a point to include that slower pace life that we temporarily lived out there for a few short days. I had such joy in slowing down to watch my boys play outside, to ease drop and hear Karter's conversations with out him knowing I was listening, and enjoying the beauty of our world. 

I came home really feeling like we need to look for a new home. I love our house, but we have out grown it, and Karsen has very little flat accessible areas he can play. Kuper and I are thinking in the spring we will list. Finding the new house is going to be the real challenge. We want a bigger house than we are in now, which won't be hard since our house is tiny, but single story (no stairs or weird step ups), a detached garage (Kuper desperately needs a detached one), flat usable property, preferably more than two or three acres. That may not seem like much but you add the need for flat usable property, you bumped up the cost by $100k maybe more. Praying the right house will come in the right timing. 

We are STILL waiting on a behavioral assessment for Karsen. It's been since April when our referral went through to Alta. I'm beyond irritated sinc we should have never been discharged in the first place. Tomorrow is a new day and a Monday, which means I get to do what I do best, squeak away.