Saturday, April 4, 2009

And Again She Reappers!

Man...I do NOT know what my deal is. I've got a full-on case of unmotivation. (yes, that is a new word I have created just for you, fine readers)
The first two weeks of April are going to be big. Well, at least I'm hoping that they are. The amount of butterflies in my stomach better amount to something positive!
Yesterday we (I) met with a special education advocate. Advocates are people who know the wacky laws better than I do that our states have in place to try and confuse the hell out of parents in hopes of scaring them enough to not ask for appropriate education plans for their children. This particular advocate is from a local non-profit; which means that she is assisting me with her knowledge and support for free. This is a good thing since the other half had to take a forced, unpaid week off of work last week, and will have to do it again in the second quarter. (Along with the rest of his company...and hey, it's better than losing a job!) Most advocates, from my understanding, cost about $200/hr. And don't get me started on thinking about what a lawyer would end up costing us if the school decides to file due process against us. The advocate warned me that with all of the budget woes, she is hearing more and more about districts waiving mediation and filing due process against the families. She said it is just a scare tactic, but you know what? I'd definitely be scared if they did that to us! I am totally leery of our legal system and the people that use it as a means to get what they want, no matter how unethical it may be. A little septic system issue and the sale of our last house left those marks on me, unfortunately.
Anyhow, I have digressed....the advocate came to meet with me in preparation for my meeting with the school district this coming Wednesday afternoon. If you're so inclined, around 3pm Pacific time on April 8th, go ahead and say a little prayer, send me some fairy dust, do a dance to the education gods, or whatever, in our honor. I could use it! I am very hopeful that the outcome of the meeting is the district paying for a private school for M. I feel almost desperate about how very much we/he needs this.
The day afterward I am going to take M to meet the director of the Creekside School. This is the small school 55 miles from my home that I absolutely love. It is by far my first choice, but not far enough along in the accreditation process to be covered by school districts. I've bugged the director enough for one of her new scholarships that she has agreed to meet M to see if he'd even be a good fit for the classroom. (I have no doubt that he would) If the stars aligned and I was fortunate enough to have the district pay for a school closer to home AND Creekside offered M a scholarship, I'd say I'd have a nice little dilemma on my hands. One can hope...

Then on the 13th we have a much-anticipated appointment with Stanford's pediatric genetics team. I'm not sure what exactly I think this appointment is going to yield for us. I mean, if something science is currently able to detect is in fact detected, what will it change? I am not sure, but I think it will have an impact in some way. I am very eager for us to get more answers. My ongoing quest to research and learn has hit a stalemate in some ways. Perhaps with more information I'll be able to learn about new treatments that can help M? Who knows...

So share some good mojo with our family over the next two weeks if you can spare it.

5 comments:

little miss mel said...

I had just come to your blog this morning wondering if my reader wasn't updating your blog correctly....

Glad you're back!!

Good luck to you and ALL your upcoming events. Sounds like you are making strides girl!!

55 miles? Where o where would that be?

sarah said...

will do for sure...sending all of my positive thoughts your way, do you need someone to watch the boys on wed? if so, let me know, I am happy to do that!

Miss Kitty said...

The dancing and the prayers are yours. I love you.

Mama Deb said...

Mel-the school is in S. San Jose. If the housing market wasn't down the crapper, we'd totally sell the farm and move closer--maybe to your old stomping grounds, L.G.

Thanks, everyone, for the good thoughts. Less than 24 hours to go-time!

Mandy said...

YEAH! I'm so glad I read this in time. I'm praying for you and thinking of you!!! You're such a good mommy and M is so blessed to have you!

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