Kaycie is 3!

Kaycie is 3! Well, 3 and a few weeks, but who's counting 😉 Turning 3 has meant some changes in the life of Kaycie, and she is thriving!

We celebrated Kaycie's birthday with the family...my sister's family came in town from Chattanooga, and we got to spend the weekend playing and celebrating. We haven't gotten in to big birthday parties because so far the kids just love being with their family for a special weekend...we are holding on to that!

Now for a quick, not so quick update on the rest of the excitement! Upon turning 3, Kaycie aged out of her Early Intervention programs, so our support that we have received (besides our private therapies) was dropped. At age 3, they get rolled over to the public school system, if they qualify for services. We were honestly doubtful about receiving services because she is doing so well in so many areas, and they have to significantly qualify in at least 2 areas in order to get help. Long story short, we went to her first elligibility/IEP meeting not expecting much. Matt has never been involved in the process of IEPs, but being a teacher in my former life, I had an idea. I walked out of that meeting shocked, nervous, hesitant, and excited...all at the same time. Some things were not what I had expected, nor wanted, but we came to an agreement. Shockingly, where I thought I was going to have to fight for any services, we had to negotiate fewer services! They wanted her in their deaf/hard of hearing program 5 full days a week. That is the same times of an elementary school student. 7:45-2:15. No way. She just turned 3. We agreed that they can write the IEP however they want as far as times, but we would send her from 7:45-11:15 four days a week. The 5th day, we go to a bible study that has been wonderful for all of us.

She is 3 weeks in...I was so scared to send my baby to the elementary school everyday. Playing on the playground, the cafeteria, the building. They gave us the option of a special ed school bus, and I drew the line when they said it would come between 6:15 and 6:25. She is doing awesome! She loves going to school everyday to see "Ace"cuff (Mrs. Acuff), her teacher. And Joseph. Joseph is becoming  a new fixture in our lives. He is in 1st grade. He has cochlear implants and spends alot of time in Kaycie's class for services. They took to each other immediately. Joseph has a 3 year old little sister, and he watches out for her. He plays with her on the playground. He plays dolls with her in class. Everyday when we pick her up from school, Joseph walks her to the office holding her hand. He never says a word to us, but his little eyes say it all. There is this crazy immediate bond between the two. Kaycie is in a class of 3 (Joseph is a 4th that comes in part of the morning). They also have a parapro 100% of the time. Next week a little girl will start, who is completely deaf and only speaks sign language. Kaycie is gaining confidence. For the first time in her life she is around kids just like her. They have "ears".

In 3 weeks time, she has become a chatterbox...she is talking non-stop. She is self-advocating...she is telling me when she can't hear, and when her batteries die. She is asking for her aids in the morning, but telling me when she just needs a break. I am in awe of the little girl she is becoming. God is so good. So good.

Aside from school...Kaycie graduated from Occupational Therapy today! She insisted on wearing her fanciest dress...so yes, yes we did! They have some behavior interventions and goals in place at school that seem to be working, and we are making progress at home. She also had her 3 year follow up mri to see if the issues that showed in her first mri had resolved, and we got an all clear for that too! The minor issues have resolved, and her vestibules have remained stable (the cause of her hearing loss).

We are starting year 3 on such a positive note! I am so proud, I am so thankful, and I am so blessed by this little girl. I feel like now that we are getting clearance on some of our lingering bits and pieces, we are really getting to enjoy more time together and less at doctors offices. My little chicken nugget has big things ahead, I just know it!

The boys are doing so much too...I plan that update after LJ'S birthday on Thursday! Also..pictures. I will add some pictures! Only so much time in a day!