Summer is almost over and back to school.....

Olivia had a great summer this year, she attended the "Campgourou" and had a fantabulous time.  There were so many activities that done with the special needs kids at the camp and the best part was that the ratio is 1:1.

Olivia visited Le Pays des Merveilles in Ste. Agathe, went to
watch Cavalia spent many days enjoying the pool and various parks, and they also went on window shopping days at Carrefour Laval when the weather was not so nice.  The monitors and camp counselors are great and always there for help.

Olivia needs routine and with camp she was in a routine, this past week that camp has terminated things have been a little rough.  She is up at the crack of dawn, and by that i mean 5am every morning, refuses to nap and is very cranky and whiny throughout the day.  Lets just say that I am looking forward to August 28, that will be the first day of 2nd grade for Olivia.  Although when I think back, i always envisioned my second grader being a typical child, and fussing over school supplies and clothes.  I would not change my princess for anything or anyone, she is special and unique in her own ways and has her little drama queen moments as well.

I will keep you posted on her return to school, oh yeah a brand new school this year for Jean Piaget....

How do you Explain to a Special Needs Child there is NO POWER?????

Well on Friday we had a pretty nasty rain and wind storm that blew many electrical transformers, our house being one of the many without power.  At 345pm on Friday the power went off and we thought it would be a few hours and all would be good.  Olivia loves to watch TV and therefore we knew it was going to be a tough few hours.  Little did we know that it was going to last 27 hours for us and many others are still with no power.

Saturday morning started off with Olivia waking up at 5am at her nonna's after spending the night which Olivia loves to do.  When she woke up she could sense that something was not right and the TV was closed, the portable DVD palyer helped for a few hours but then eventually the battery had no more life.  All Olivia kept doing was bring us the TV converter to turn on the TV, and we kept trying to explain to her that there was no power and nothing was working but my baby girl did not understand that.  We tried to sing songs and play games on the Ipad as long as the batter lasted. We could see that she was getting very frustrated and nervous and constantly whining for the whole time.  With the nervousness obviously she would not nap and that made her mood even worse.  Let's just say that thanks to my sister in law who had power but no TV we managed to get Olivia to calm down a little by some distraction from her cousins.

So how does one explain it to a child with an intellectual disability that they are not able to watch TV, and that the house is dark yet to not be afraid and feel safe.  All I can say is that is was our first experience and it was not easy but we managed.  My hat off to all the families whom have suffered threw hurricanes and worse with a special needs child.

Power is back, Olivia is happy and so are we...........

Way too long...................

WOW, it has been so long since my last blog and so much has happened in Olivia's life. 

Where to start, oh yeah the best news ever that Olivia began to walk independently in December of 2010 at the age of 5 years old.  With lots of tears and determination, my husband was the great therapist that made his little girl start to walk.  It was the best joy that I could see radiating from both their eyes, something we new in our hearts that Olivia would accomplish despite what the doctors told us.  In January of 2011 we took Olivia to Peru for some natural treatments which was an amazing experience with great results.

During that same year Olivia was out of day care and into pre-k at Ecole Jean-Piaget, what an experience that was for me as a mom.  My first steps into a special needs school was like a slap in the face for my reality, something I guess I wasn't ready for.  It was the hardest thing that I had to do, the school is amazing, as so is the staff the student's in the school range from 5 to 21 years old with a variety of physical and severe intellectual disabilities.  They are all beautiful and innocent with great big smiles on their faces everytime they see you.  Olivia loves going to school and will be starting Grade 2 in September 2013, where does the time go.  Although the school is great, there is a lack in therapy services due to the Ministry of Education cut backs in the schools.  Something that we will have to battle in the new year, although probably a losing battle.

In April 2012 Olivia was diagnosed with Epilepsy after suffering from more that 20 seizures in 2 months.  It was very scary to see your child seizing and not be able to help them, but my husband and I have learned that staying calm is the best help we can give Olivia, something that is not always easy to do.  Although with the proper medications Olivia was seizure free for over a year up until June 5, 2013 when she had 3 seizures.  Children with Epilpsy are much more suseptible to seizures when they are sick, and that is the case for Olivia...a mere case of Strep Throat will trigger 3 or more seizures.  A quick visit to the pediatrician and some antibiotics and the she is all better.

We are so grateful for all the milestones Olivia has been able to attain in the last few years, some that we never thought she would do, and many that we are hope that she will attain.  She still has a long way to go but has come such a long way.  She is a vibrant little girl, so full of life and determination.  Although after almost 8 years we still have no diagnosis, we have not given up and continue to have her tested appoximately every 6-9 months, and continue to provide her with all the special needs that she requires. 

We thank you all for your continued support and words of encouragement.

Franca, Gino and Olivia