One down…
…who knows how many to go. I’ve been on the wait list for a month already. Who knew? I’ve gone from #13 to #11, but I haven’t moved from there since the day I got onto the list. Glad I’m not as obsessed with getting my referral as I was with Oscar (although you wouldn’t believe that from the amount of time I spend online). I might be waiting for some time yet.
Speech therapy
My governor recently made some sweeping cuts to non-essential programs like, oh, Early Start. Luckily, the cuts won’t impact Oscar’s weekly visit from his nice teacher from Easter Seals (who has been very helpful), but it did eliminate the funding for assessments for speech therapy. Really clever thinking there, Arnold, cut off funding for assessments, which precludes children from actually getting into the system to siphon funds from the state’s budget. Way to teach those little parasites.
We’ve been on wait lists for private speech therapy since January, when it became clear that Early Start was not going to help us in that regard until Oscar turned two. I stayed on the list even when they told me that they finally were going to recommend that he receive speech therapy, not wanting to “count my chickens before they were hatched” or anything. My cynicism paid off! Eight months after going on our first list, we received a call from a program with an opening. Of course, now that state funds are being cut for needless extravagances like therapy for children, families are flocking to the private programs, so this, too, has become competitive. In order to receive a weekly speech therapy slot, Oscar has to show that his delay in this area is more profound than the delays of two other kids his age. How screwed up is this?
We meet with them tomorrow to begin our campaign to prove just how delayed Oscar’s speech skills are so I can spend thousands in an attempt to have them help us in some fashion. Utterly absurd.
Meanwhile, back in Viet Nam…
I’ve been reading about this foundation in Viet Nam that is focused on breaking the cycle of poverty by focusing on educating street kids, including victims of trafficking, and offering them job opportunities. A single AP of a little girl from VN has moved there to volunteer with the foundation, which I think would be an amazing opportunity. Since I know nothing about them specifically, I’m simply passing on information for those of you interested in researching other avenues to continue to support those who could use some assistance back in Viet Nam.
The name of the foundation is The Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation, founded about 7 years ago by an Australian teacher. According to its website, it has done the following (all of which I find fantastic – even the soccer):
Sent 928 kids back to school and training
Provided accommodation to 74 girls and boys
Served 71,327 meals
Built or repaired 16 homes for families
Distributed 2,610 litres of milk
Handed out 12,120 kgs of rice
Reunited 47 runaway children with their families
Taken 254 kids to a doctor or hospital
Put 5 teens through drug rehab
Obtained legal registration papers for 119 children
Rescued 42 trafficked children
Placed 37 teens in jobs
Played 557 games of soccer
I think it’s worth at least checking out.
Birthday Pics
Lame as I am, it’s taken me this long to add pictures to the post about Oscar’s birthday. Just linking in case the grandparents want to see…
Awww, look!
I got my I-171H today! I’m so psyched!! I’m approved to adopt, and my notice has been sent to . . . Nepal. Yep, Nepal. Apparently USCIS didn’t read the part of my home study that has the word Ethiopia on it approximately 200 times or the letter where I told them I was switching to Ethiopia. Not sure what this means exactly, other than (1) it’s going to take a long time to fix and (2) I’m sure I’ll be paying tons more for this. Loving the immigration process right about now.
Four eyes
Oscar needs glasses. Not a surprise, given his eye condition. The “eye thing” appears to have improved externally (no more ptosis and less “shakiness” of his pupil), but possibly has worsened internally, meaning his vision might be really bad now. I like to think the worsening of his vision might explain why he frequently bonks his head when I’m carrying him through doorways. Well, I like to think that, but that might be more accurately attributed to my lack of depth perception.
I just don’t know how we’re going to get him the correct prescription. How do they do the exam on a kid who cannot talk (oh, but we’ve got him quacking like a duck now, so there’s some progress on that front – maybe quack once if the letter is clearer with the first lens; twice if it’s clearer with the second – you’ll get it if you wear contacts or glasses)? We’ve been waiting until he could communicate in some fashion, but I’m pretty concerned that he really does need glasses now, though. When we watch tv on the sofa on the weekends he screws up his entire face squinting to see the screen. I guess I could get an even bigger tv, but glasses might be more practical.
I suspect I’m supposed to buy him those generic industrial frames in light blue plastic in a nondescript shape. Not happening. I got my first pair of glasses in the 9th grade, and I’m not sticking my kid with unattractive frames. Sure, he’s only two, but he’s the most handsome two year old ever. He needs glasses as stylish as he is. Plus, after the damage I did last weekend buying clothes for Baby Etta? Holy. Crap. Let’s just say Oscar should get his due. I went to a couple of opticians, and I was kind of surprised by the choices. Aside from the crummy D0ra and Di3go selections, most of the “toddler” glasses were actually quite mature (read that to mean – way too mature – like some look disturbingly similar to mine). I found one pair I really like (although I have to drag the kid in to try them on, so who knows how they’ll look on his sweet little face). Preferences, anyone?
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Etta’s Hats
Where I’ve Been
