The Education Debate

We are getting closer to a new school year and I am trying to decide the best place for Kyara. There is a school close to us (the Joseph Sams School) for children with disabilities, and we are also looking at good old public school with our county school system. We have been thrilled with Skylar and Kyara's schooling at Willis Road Elementary, but after having an evaluation done for Kyara yesterday, it doesn't sound like Kyara will be able to attend that school anymore. The evaluator was suggesting a self-contained classroom at a different school across the county. I am not so sure I am happy with this idea. First off, I think Kyara is stuck in a body that is not working the way she wants it too. I think she needs to be in a regular classroom as much as possible. If she is not going to be in a regular classroom, then I want her in a school that will provide lots of therapy, cognitive development, and specialize in alternative communication. Am I asking for too much? I don't know... If I could have it my way, I would split time, part time in the school that specializes in children with disabilities, and part time in a regular classroom with her peers. She needs to have motivation. She needs to be with friends. She needs to learn. Kyara loved reading and doing math problems. She loved the computer. I want her to have access to these things again.

We are looking into a couple of different therapies for Kyara. One therapy is suit-therapy. Kyara would wear a suit that was designed in Poland and go through physical therapy for 4 hours a day/5 days a week/ for 3 consecutive weeks. The program is offered at a therapy center about an hour from our house. They claim that some kids get 6 months worth of improvement during those 3 weeks. We are also looking into Hyperbaric Chambers, which provide an increased amount of oxygen to the body to help the brain heal. We are also considering hippotherapy (horseback therapy - which is suppose to be great for trunk control) and aquatherapy (therapy in the pool). Unfortunately, none of these therapies are covered by insurance, and for some strange reason, money doesn't grow on trees. So, we are going to have to be selective in which therapies we pursue.

Kyara has been working on tasting foods. We are using a mesh bag to put food in and allow her to chew on it without getting large pieces that she would have a hard time swallowing. We are also spoon feeding her tiny amounts. The thing that is exciting about this is that she is moving her lips and tongue to move the food from her lips into her mouth. This is a great movement to see and shows that she has the capability to learn to eat again! Praise God!! We are also using small dum-dum suckers to encourage lip movements.

Skylar and Kassey have had busy summers. Kassey is learning all kinds of new stuff and loves going down the slide. She has learned to climb ladders, so I have to be on my toes...she like to climb up on Skylar's loft bed! Scary!! Skylar has been going to gymnastic camp, karate, and swimming lessons this past week. Exhausting!!

Gunars is busy with work. I am not sure where to time goes. It seems like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. My house is a disaster, my kids don't always get a bath, and I have forgotten how to cook. But, we find time each day to laugh, love, and hug. And, when the day is over, and I am climbing into bed (on sheets that haven't been changed in 3 weeks) I know that my girls and my husband know how much I love them. I can always plan to clean the house....tomorrow.