And seven months later....

...Kennedy got her iPad yesterday from school!!  While she doesn't yet have all the apps on it, she does have a few lite versions of apps to use over Christmas break.  Let me just tell you that my girl has not put the thing down for the last 24 hours!  She is reading books on it, playing math games on it, and spelling words---and she is having fun!! She has no idea she is also learning which is just amazing.  She's also been working on getting familiar with the keyboard and is getting pretty quick at typing her name.

When the week started, I had no idea she would be able to bring it home with her over the break, but I was hoping she would be able to work on learning how to maneuver her way around on it.  The technology assessment happened a month ago and I had to track down the report from Spalding University because it apparently never made it to the school a week after the assessment.... But I emailed Spalding (who did the assessment) and two days later the school had the report. Not sure why it was so easy for me to get it taken care of, but not so easy for the school.  (I have my thoughts and those close to me know my thoughts, but no need to post it here) :)  I have definitely learned that if I don't advocate for my child, no one at her school will.  Who would have thought when the iPad was suggested for her in MAY, it would finally be in her hands by the end of DECEMBER??  Now 1/2 a school year has been wasted on people dragging their feet.....but the good news is she has it and we are very, very thankful for that!

In other news, it should be just a matter of a couple months before Kennedy can begin receiving MPW services.  We have sent in her budget and we have some fantastic people who are willing to work with her so I'm very excited about it!  Also, Kennedy informed me recently that she wanted to change her last name.  I was pretty excited thinking that she wanted to take Jeremy's last name too, but she quickly informed me that she wanted the last name of one of her best buddies.  She already thinks she's part of their family anyway... lol

Lately, I've really been feeling God putting something on my heart-- the need to start a group for Special Needs Parenting.  I hate to call it a support group, but I feel that it would be great to be able to share stories, setbacks, and successes with other parents who understand.  I am not really sure where to start with all of this so it's definitely a work in progress. 

So that's a quick update and I will try my best to update more often now that my computer is fixed.  Hopefully Kennedy will be making lots of progress worth sharing over the next several months.  Merry Christmas to everyone!!