Annual review

Today we had Laura's annual review and service co-ordination meeting. It was very well attended and very positive. School are pleased with her progress this year, saying that she has been much more focused and motivated since starting on Concerta/Ritalin. They still have some times when she drops but far far fewer than before. Her new school chair, (or throne as we refer to it because of its resemblance to one and how she sits in it and lords it over the class!!) is being modified or maybe even changed. I wasn't too sure which, but I think she is still skooting a bit in it and it needs a lot more padding as her back is getting badly bruised in it. I will be interested to see what happens with it as we still need one at home.

Glenfield reported that she has settled wonderfully, seems happy to be there and is getting to know many of the staff members. They appear to have no problems with her at all, which is great news.

It was good to hear so many good reports!

I shared with everyone the news on my hysterectomy operation in August/September as I thought that this was a good opportunity to start the ball rolling on getting support for Laura after the op. Everyone committed to give us extra respite during this time which was good to hear as I won't be able to bend, lift or drive for 6 weeks after the operation. I am going to ask Rainbows if they will have Laura for the duration of my hospital stay (about 5 days) and we will hopefully manage with getting help before and after school from Home Care and some extra nights at Glenfield. The weekends will be the hardest and I am thinking of asking Sophie if she will help out filling in the gaps, on a paid basis of course, as it should be a few weeks before she goes back to Cambridge Uni. So fingers crossed things are starting to fall into place.

Of course we have the house move happening at that time too! Actually I had totally forgotten about that when I asked for this date at the hospital on Monday. But as Mick says, you cannot schedule things round a house move as it may all fall apart still and in any case it wouldn't be a bad thing if it did happen at around the same time as we would ahve the extra childcare/respite for Laura. The ideal of course would be for it all to happen the day I go into hospital!!! Leaving it all to Mick, or perhaps not such a great idea as he may forget something crucial, like moving the chickens!!!

So a good day, finished off by a brisk 1 hour walk across Bradgate park as part of my weight-loss camapign!