Kiera is 6 Years Old Today!

I know I haven't updated the blog in a long time. Since my discovery of Facebook, it became easier to briefly post in that forum, and combined with going back to work, blogging fell by the wayside. That said, Kiera is 6 years old today. It is hard to believe that it has been 6 years since that day that changed our lives. Kiera is still trached and living with oxygen and a g-tube for feedings. She advances in many ways, and still struggles in others. Feeding by mouth  is still experimental...she tastes foods and makes messes but rarely swallows anything. Kiera's sign language is getting better, but we have depleted our repertoire of vocabulary and need to find other resources. Kiera still receives homebound education services from the public school, but is developmentally delayed, and we have her on a waitlist for the ASL Academy charter school. I would like to send her to school, but the charter school seems to be the most appropriate for her needs, and she is 4th down on the list. I think any of the regular public schools would overwhelm her, and frankly I have trouble figuring out the logistics of getting her there and keeping her safe. It is hard to see her peers and children younger than she head off to school, while she waits.

Life has been taking a toll on us these last few years, and I am holding on for an upswing. I cetainly hope it happens soon. In the meantime, we will just celebrate getting Kiera to the 6 year mark. It definitely took a lot of hard work and persistence.