speaking out

Background note: Aliyah is unable to receive her group therapy during times when the regular schools are on vacations (CDS falls under their calander) simply because she doesn't have insurance, not because she doesn't need therapy. This has always outraged me and yesterday I got the chance to do something about it...

My mom and I went over to the state house and I gave testimony in front of the educational committee comprised of a bunch of Maine Representatives. I, of course, cried like a baby while speaking my mind about the discrimination our family has been through. It was terrifying, but as I looked at the committee, I saw sympathetic faces and felt better. This isn't something I would normally do and may not have even known about it if my boss wouldn't have asked me to go, but now that it's over, I am glad that I advocated for my daughter and am in the hopes that a new bill will be passed that will right this injustice....as a side note, when I left the room, a lawyer from the Disability Rights Council gave me her card and asked me to call her....i don't know if i will but it's nice to have the option....i'm proud of myself for doing that because i don't like speaking in front of people, but with my mom and aliyah in the crowd, i felt supported.

I have Aliyah's transition meeting with the school tommorrow...i feel like it could be a tough fight to get her support when she goes to kindergarten...please pray that she will receive the help that she will need ( I can't even believe she is going to kindergarten already)!!! And I call the school today to set up an appointment for Kindergarten screening! Scary!

Loose Tooth

Aliyah has a loose tooth! She is very excited, but a little nervous about loosing her first tooth....She knows exactly what to do once she looses it and has decided that the tooth fairy is going to leave her 2 $...yikes...used to be a few quarters back in the 80's! I can't believe how big my girl is getting...next month she'll be five and then the day after she leaves for Florida without me! Going to visit my sister with Memere and Malcolm, she is excited to meet the real princesses and I am happy for her, but sad that I will miss it all...she'll say, "don't worry mom, you can go in a couple weeks"! I love how kids have no concept of time at all! She'll have a great time and I'll miss her aweful!

Yada Yada

There is a new great series of books I am addicted to....The Yada Yada Prayer Group....the jist is....it is about a 3rd grade teacher who portrays herself as the "good Christian". Or so she thinks...She attends a women's conference and gets placed into a prayer group with a lot of different kinds of people, an ex-con, a newly christian japenese student...etc....believe me, lots of different types...as they pray together they become like the closest of sisters and Jodi (the main character) realizes that she is a sinner just like everyone else...

These books have really lifted my spirit to the Lord and given me a few ideas to try myself...for instance, every day I walk to the end of my street in the morning because I carpool with a friend to work....well after reading these books, I now pray out loud during the whole walk and I praise Jesus more than anything now! It's been eye opening....I suggest these books if you are looking for a good read! Let me know what you think!

Amber :)

By the way MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Thanks for the great blogging this year...I like this way to outlet my happy and frustrating times! Keep em coming!

FINALLY

Good news!! We had an IEP meeting for Aliyah last Tuesday and she finally received developmental therapy in the behavior program that we have here at my work! We also will receive psychological services for our family. She was diagnosed with Relationship Disorder, but that isn't something that she will have foreve, it is something that can be turned around...we are very excited and I'll keep everyone posted on how things are progressing! Gotta get back to work! Thanks for the prayers...keep them coming!

My sweet little girl is coming back!

This is Aliyah and a coworker enjoying the local fun fair that our center was a part of....Aliyah loved riding in the horse drawn carriage. The above picture is the expression she had when she saw her dad arrive....

So, for the past 8 or so months, Aliyah has had some really tough behavior issues. I racked my brain to figure out what was going on...was it my parenting, was it a growth stage...it got so bad that I decided I had to do something. I felt very bad, especially since I am a developmental therapist and every day deal with challenging behaviors from kids her age, but I just couldn't do it anymore....i was frustrated...so I called our local Child Development Services (I didn't even cry when I talked to them)! I got hooked up with a psychologist who has been sent my God....he has helped us so much with the way to deal with her behaviors, how to help her sleep (she sometimes doesn't go to bed until 11:00 and we get up at 615!!) So, this weekend was a three day weekend and we spent every minute together and it was GREAT! We had fun hanging out, playing games, watching Barbie movies and just being together. She had a few meltdowns, but nothing compared to what it used to be.....She looked at me on Saturday afternoon and said, "Mom, you make my heart happy, I love you!" I was speechless, but felt the same way. When I saw my mom on Tuesday, I told her that it was nice to be able to enjoy your child and not feel trapped in a world of anger and frustration on both of our parts! She is coming back!!!!! I feel like God sent me a message, "Never be afraid, ashamed, embarrased to advocate for anything your child needs"....I wasn't afraid and she is getting the help that she needs!

only when i'm three

So, last weekend Aliyah was up camping with my parents and our friends Kirk and Jess. Kirk and Jess took Aliyah fishing and here's the conversation that ensued...

Aliyah: "Why does that sign say stop?"
Jess: "How did you know that?"
Aliyah: "Cuz, I read it"
Jess: "It's a hectagon"
Aliyah: "No, it's a hexagon"
Jess: "You're right, you're really smart"
Aliyah: "Yah, I know, I'm smarter than everyone"
Jess: "That must be stressful"
Aliyah: "Not any more, it was only stressful when I was three"



I just don't know where she comes up with this stuff...every day she never ceases to amaze me!

funny things

Every day I look at Aliyah and think, "what will she say today?" she says the funniest, weirdest, most insightful things a four year old could say. here are a few!

• So, we watch Jeopardy every night, partly because I like it and partly because I don't want to pay for cable any more. Now, I consider myself a relatively smart person, nothing compared to the people on jeopardy. I get a few answers right during each round and I always say them out loud, kinda habit. Well, when Aliyah is in the room, she is amazed. I'll say the answer, then the contestant (or Alex) will say the same thing. She looks at me and smiles every time. One time she says, "WOW, mom why are you so smart?" I like that she thinks I am smart, but I didn't know how to answer, so of course I said, "Because mommy is so great!" Gotta toot my horn when I can...So, when they get to the end of jeopardy when they all answer the same question and the music comes on...Aliyah will say in her most excited voice, "Mommy, this is where they get serious!" I die laughing every time she says it. And of course, she sings the theme song...too funny!
• So, in our living room we have a ceiling fan with a light on it...if you are sitting on the couch and look out toward the dining room, you are looking right at it. so, aliyah and I were sitting on the couch the other night and Shawn came out of the bedroom to tell us something....so, he was standing right under the light and you couldn't really see his face at all because of the glare...so, Aliyah says, "Daddy you look like darkness"...then of course she gets into the questioning of why she is brown, daddy is black and i am yellow (she thinks white people are yellow and when i think about it she's right!)

I gotta go, but i'll post some more soon about her crazy ideas/thoughts......