More Grant's Farm and Magic House

I think they had a good time.  They fed llamas, birds and goats.  The girls road the camels.  The boys went into a cage thing to hold parakeets and feed them.  They saw the Clydesdales.  I think Jaemin was a little surprised at how large they were.  Jaemin got to see his favorite turtles, but was mesmerized by the elephants for some reason.

We thought about the zoo, but thought Grant's Farm may be less crowded, plus it's cheaper.  At least it was cool outside.  Cole's too 'big' for family outings, so he stayed home.  The Magic House is always fun.  Us adults were getting tired.  Otherwise, I think they could have stayed for awhile.  

 I took this of Chase, so he swiped my camera and took one of me.

 The goats ate everything including trying to eat our shorts, shirts and Chelsi's shirt ties.

 I was too slow, but Jaemin and Chelsi touched the snake too.  It was pretty big!

 Chelsi didn't want to do it by herself and Kaelin was supposed to.  Our theory is Kaelin just didn't get on so that Chelsi would have to do it by herself.  She liked it though.

 The boys didn't want to ride the camels, but did want to go into the bird cage.  Jaemin did hold one and did feed a few, but didn't love it.  They loved Chase.  One crawled from his finger, up his arm, around his neck and onto his hat.

 And there he decided that hat was junk just like we keep telling Chase.

 Magic House!

 The girls get static.  They were told to shake it out first....that's what they're doing.

 Jaemin's hair did not go up, but I'm shocked Chase's did.  The boys shaking.

 Results.

 Jaemin liked the 3 story slide.

 I told Chelsi she looked like a natural in scrubs with a stethoscope.  Her and Jaemin would make great medical partners.

 She's laughing because too little girls next to Chase cracked the safe, but Chase couldn't.

Grants Farm

Some guy was nice enough to take a picture after he saw us trying the group selfie.

School's OUT! Next year, K, 3, 6, 9 and 12! How's that for a fun year!

They're all done.  We left school a little after 10 or right at, went for some ice cream and took the youngest 4 to the movies to see Blended (their choice).  Next year's probably going to be tough with all 5 in school and Jaemin's adjustment, so I'm just going to enjoy this while I can.

Cole had gotten an award this year, Chase got an award this year and Chelsi got 3 awards this year.  5th & 6th grades do not give awards, so no awards for Kaelin, but I'm sure she would have.  Cole had no Cs this quarter!!  He did so much better and considering  the quarter started with his heart surgery he did awesome!  He may even keep his 3.0 for the semester since he brought this quarter's grades up so much (just 1 more final to be graded).  3rd quarter was really rough for him while he was getting more tired and stressed about the surgery, so it was a welcomed change.  Chase finished on the B honor roll for quarter and semester.  This quarter seemed a little more rough for him.  Hopefully freshman year will be great!  Kaelin finished this quarter on the B honor roll, but kept A honor roll for the semester.  Chelsi doesn't get grades yet, but had all pluses and 90%+ on things that did somewhat grade.  I'm looking forward and hopeful for a successful year next year for all and Cole will graduate!!

Big brother is fishing with friends since school is out, but we're having pizza outside tonight and hopefully the zoo tomorrow.  Came home to a get well card from Jaemin's nurse at the hospital and more Ninja Turtle stickers enclosed.  So sweet to think of him like that since it's his favorite ever.  You should have seen his face when they showed a preview for their movie before Blended today.  He yelled "It's a movie!".  

Jaemin took this.

Recuperation

This is what adenoid recuperation looks like.  He only took pain meds once yesterday.  My men are tough!

Jaemin's adenoids are out!

My baby did SO well. They were running 1 1/2 hours late on his surgery, so they didn't start until about 1:20. They was out and we were back with him about 25 minutes later. I was worried, about his reaction to our separation because of his issues so I had spoken with the hospital a couple of weeks ago. They were so great. They prepped all of the staff and brought us back to the point that we said goodbye in the room they would start putting him out before going to the OR. They said he said he was happy as he was going out. That's my boy! They came and got us before he had woken up even. They said usually they wait until they're awake, but they wanted to go with our wishes and make sure he awoke to us. He had his eyes closed when we walked in, but as soon as we started talking to each other he opened them like flipping a switch. His pretty little eyes just glanced at us and closed again. He didn't talk because the trach tube made his throat a bit sore, but as soon as he could whisper something he asked me where we were going to take him after we left the doctor (aka what can I eat?). Imagine that? Our kid worrying about food. We left shortly after since he was drinking juice just fine. We promised ice cream, so we left for Wendy's to get him a vanilla frosty and right as we were pulling in he started to cry and then got sick. It was all snot, so I think the anesthesia and the junk that cleared out with surgery had made him sick. He wanted a bath after that and asked for his Frosty in the tub. Yep....we gave in. He took a bath and then I fed him his Frosty in the tub. Jaemin requested macaroni and cheese for supper and said that no one else could eat it. It took awhile to convince him there was plenty for him and someone else. He didn't share much, but he did share. He's pretty much back to normal, running around and playing already tonight. He is now saying he is going to be a doctor and if you ask why he says "why not?". The hospital staff had put a mask and cap and his puppy, so he LOVED seeing Dr. Puppy when he woke up. But, now he is the one wearing the mask. EVERYWHERE HE GOES! Now, we're just hoping the snoring subsides when the swelling does.

Waiting.

Waiting some more and amazed the tv sound comes out of that remote.

Still waiting and getting hungry.  He did stay up until 11pm, but that's 12+ hours without eating.

Just waking up and trying to stick his tongue out for me.  He didn't have a smile for me yet.

My baby has a plan!

We didn't get an IEP, but we do have an IEP/504.

I had the meeting with the school (principal, a kindergarten teacher, the special needs coordinator and speech therapist) and after 3 years of speech, he's 80% where he should be, but they're going to keep him in so he can retain the IEP in kindergarten. He didn't qualify in the other areas for an IEP. He is gross and fine motor skill delayed, but not enough by the state to require IEP. He is low/average IQ, and language skills are low, but low enough based on his IQ level to qualify. However, the principal very much seems to be on my side when I explained that I think the IQ is a little false since he can read at the 2nd grade level, but the test doesn't reflect that, making his language further behind. His sensory isn't bad enough and since he doesn't have enough of a gross/fine motor delay they can't do an IEP by state standards. The coordinator thought his stimming was a habit because he didn't do it at all last May while in Korea, but I told her that my theory is that since he is sensory seeking being in a different country with all of the new sights, smells, etc. was filling his need he had no need to stim. The principal said she agreed with my theory. So, they decided he was delayed and does need help, so they worked out a 504 plan and he will get speech and physical therapy during kindergarten as a disability (just during naptime since he no longer takes them). It's so odd to be so happy, but I've seen the difference speech has made for him and not just in the speech area, so I know this will progress him even further. I really, really feel that his sensory disorder is a lot of the problem and if we can help him there, it will help him in the other areas. If only we could get him to color for more than 3-4 minutes.

Anyone who has known Jaemin since the day he came home knows how far he's come. He has surgery to get his adenoids out Monday and the hospital, though not a children's is being wonderfully sensitive to his needs. They actually called again tonight so they can be totally prepared for him to make this as great for him as possible. They said they would meet us when we got there and do everything he needs to be comfortable and not stressed. I love it when people understand the situation is unique and he is unique and special!

I love this kid!!!!

More Bills....ugh!

I got a letter in the mail last night for us setting up the payments for Cole's physicians.  The bill was $364, even after we've already paid some of them and now they're saying it's $2,436.54.  This is correct after going through the rest of our EOBs.  However, when I called to make the first $50 payment they told me we had to now make 10% payments which is $243/month.  YIKES!  Too much!  I asked if there was any discount for us to take money out of our emergency savings to pay this and she said we could write a settlement letter.  I had never heard of this.  Apparently, people write these when they've been turned into a collections agency and can pay off a portion in return for it being squared away with the creditor.  I got the fax number and simply asked if we can either continue paying $50/month or get a discount for taking money from our non HSA savings account.  It may not sound like much, but $243 to leave into our HSA will allow us to pay for dental and all of his bills, possibly, by the end of the year.  I'd rather owe myself than them, but if we don't get a discount it's not worth taking it out of my savings account and $243/month is a lot to expect a family of 7 to pay.  I haven't even had a car loan that high in 12+ years.  I can't afford it.  That's why!

So, I'm hoping this lady named Kim will consider either option.  I'd rather the 10% savings, but would take either because it would really, really help us.  Who knows what next year will bring and I'm sure our out-of-pocket max will be higher than the $6600 it is this year.  That's the trend....it only goes up!