I just wanted to share a couple bits of exciting news we recently received. First, Avery's application for Medicaid Disability was FINALLY approved by the Medical Review Team at the Medicaid Office. This will finally allow the Medicaid Waiver services she was long ago approved for to begin. The Waiver services include some allowance for RN respite care in our home and an allowance for home and vehicle modifications (for accessibility) should we need them in the future. They may also cover some equipment that regular insurance or Medicaid Disability would exclude as not medically necessary. It may be difficult to piece this all together as I have told it, but the Medicaid disability and Medicaid Waiver are two different things. It is necessary for Medicaid disability to be approved as well, however, before any Medicaid waiver services can begin. Confusing and complicated are the right words for this, but we are so thankful to have this assistance now.
The other cool thing we wanted to share: We received a letter in the mail yesterday that Caiden was selected to attend the new (opening fall 2008) IPS Magnet Elementary School for the Gifted and Talented. We knew this new Magnet option was happening next year as part of IPS's continued improvement plans (which calls for a lot of changes to many of the district's schools...changes in curriculum, boundaries, expectations of students. etc), but last we knew, there had been no details released about how applications would be taken and what exactly would determine a student's acceptance into the program. We had decided to just wait and see, and had kind of forgotten about it....then this letter arrived. Seems Caiden was selected based upon teacher recommendations, a thinking skills test and his reading and math abilities....all without us even knowing this process was occurring. Nonetheless, we are excited about this opportunity should we decide it is right for him to take. From the provided program details, it sure seems like a really fantastic opportunity. We are going to attend the upcoming open house to find out more about the program and teaching staff, etc. If we like what we hear and see, then I think we will accept. No matter what is decided, we are just really proud of his accomplishments and his effort this year in school and of the person he is becoming in other ways. He has really been taking more charge with Avery here lately as well. I think he sees the "differences" in her now too. It is so great to see him become so thrilled by her response to him. I'm not sure we could love our two kiddos any more or be more proud of them! God really has blessed us with the gift of their lives.
Hope you are all doing well. Spring is having a tough time getting through here. Enough rain and clouds already! Oh well, I guess it is needed to have all those pretty flowers and "new" life that Spring brings along with it. So, here is to flowers and new life! Bring them on! We're in the mood to celebrate.
Thanks to all those who continue to support us in every way. We feel humbled to be "chosen" by you each and every time. This seems the right time and place to share something with you that I recently wrote to the hemimegalencephaly group I belong to on Yahoo. It was in response to another Mom who posted about having a bit of a rough time emotionally as of late. I share it here with you all because it is important to me that everyone that cares about Avery and our family knows just how I/we feel about having her in our lives, how we each deal with it, and how we "think" about the future. Here it is:







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