Need your help. HS'ing w/2 kids in intensive therapies

[Mom2Monkeys]

HOW? How do you do it?! DS is 16m and diagnosed today with severe speech delay, Sensory Processing Disorder, Developmental Delay and will be receiving 120minutes per week Speech, 60 Developmental, and 90-120 of OT. DD9 was diagnosed today with issues as well...haven't gotten specific details of the results but likely 120minutes PT and 90-120 of OT. (So, DS will get 2 Speech, 1 Dev, and 2 OT per week....and DD will get 2 OT and 2 PT.) I am trying to get as much as possibly in home, but for maximum effect, we need at least one day in office for each therapy for both kids. Our goal is to line up one day where DS can have all 3 therapies there and DD can have one of both therapies there SAME DAY AND TIME, then do the others throughout the week at home. It's a half hour or so drive one way, maybe 3.5 hours there when we go in office. Plus I have DS4 and DS7.

So, how do you do school with this sort of huge interruption? When are we supposed to get out with friends for fun? There are MOPS meetings I love to go to twice a month (every other Wed 9-11), a monthly Bible study (one monday 9-11), homeschool playdate thursdays @1, and homeschool fieldtrips and "fairs" (art/sci/history/nature) on Fridays....We do NOT go to all of these things by any means...but how can we do any of them plus therapy?! I NEED time with other moms, as we live kinda far from town and I don't really have adult conversation unless I go to some of these things...lol, and the kids need some friend time.

Sorry..I'm venting...I think I was blown away by just how far behind my son is. I'm still in shock a bit, but super happy he will be getting some help now and start making progress. Same for my DD. I've known she's had issues for so long and even had her tested a couple years ago, but no help came of it. I wasn't expecting such intensive therapy to result. So, I'm feeling overwhelmed! It seems life will be on halt. And I have no idea to keep a flow to our days now.

[striving2Bprov31]

I want to start off by telling you that it is A-ok that you do not know what to do right now. This all hit you TODAY! You haven't even had time to stop and think through your options yet.

Also, you will know what to do because the Lord is going to show you. He gave you these kids. He gave them-- YOU. You will know what to do as you persevere through this journey!

Now.....I have to go take my daughter to gymnastics. But I just wanted to encourage you a little now. I am going to get back on here tonight, read your post more thoroughly, pray, and share any thoughts or wisdom that the Lord gives me to help you!! I'll be back tonight!

I know you will get a lot of good feedback here!!

Go and Read Isaiah 50:7---"Because the Lord helps me, I will not be dismayed. Therefore, I will set my face like a flint to do His will and know that I will triumph."

[LynnH]

As a Pediatric Physical Therapist myself in my pre-homeschooling days I would say you definitely should tell them you can only do 1 day in the office. They should be able to do the rest at your home. I also would really push for having the kids there on the same day and hopefully having simultaneous appointments. That way you are dealing with a 4 day school week. On the days that the therapists come to the house you could have the other dc working on things that are more independent when the therapist are there.

I will continue to think on this, but meanwhile I will pray for you. That is a lot to process and hear all at once.

[water2wine]

I have had a similar season in life. I can completely relate to how you are feeling. Your whole life seems to revolve around therapies. One of my children has cerebral palsy and we had a very long season that was filled with therapies of all kinds. And we had other doctor appointments that complicated things. I definitely agree with trying to stream line as much as possible. Whatever you can do to make it easier focus on that as much as possible. Also it really helps to remember this is a season. And sometimes for a season you have to live a little bit differently and say no to the things that do not refresh you in that season just to be able to walk through it.

I was not able to get in home therapy. We were out the door on average about 3 times a week and for a good chunk of time just for therapies, sometimes more. I learned to homeschool in waiting rooms. And we learned to make it fun. You got to know people and we made friends. You will meet people who have much larger burdens that yourself and that helps so much to see your blessings face you that way as you see moms who have things that will never change with no amount of therapies. The gratitude from that powers you and you find strength. You sort of have to live it like an adventure. And above all take God with you everywhere you go. I took my Bible a lot and that helped.

Give yourself time to adjust. You will find a rhythm that works for you and you will walk through it to get to the other side of it and be able to look back. God never calls us to something we can't do in His strength, but He often calls us to things before He equips. And for me that has often been a scary thing. But He is always faithful to equip us along the way and carry us when it becomes too much.

Praying for you that God gives you peace and strength.

[Mom2Monkeys]

I just love the ladies on this board! You're so encouraging and so helpful. Thank you!

We will definitely be streamlining the visits. They are super willing to work with us, and willing to do it all in-home. It's the benefit of the equipment they have in the office that brings us to wanting to have at least some time there. My DD9 spent an entire hour on the platform swing...she LOVED it. She was almost asleep! That's he sensory thing...always has been. Can't do that here! And the sensory rooms there, etc....it really is a good thing to do some in-office. I'm thinking of doing it once every other week in office if we can.

My husband suggested we just break right now...there's only a couple months left of school. DD is just coming home, just starting meds, just starting therapies, and needs to play catch-up in math and grammar now, plus needs some re-training in chores. I'd like to also train her to do school with DS4 She will also be seeing a psychologist once every couple weeks or three for the possible ADD and/or Asperger's...all that's enough!! This gives me some breathing room, some time to process it all, some time to buy the remaining books we need, and we can pick up with PHFHG with her in the fall, and whatever guide DS7 places in. DH is a genius. LOL

But, this fall...I'll be coming back to this thread to re-read the advice b/c I'll be doing THREE guides then, have an almost 2yo, and still doing therapies. Good news is we'll be in the swing of therapy, hopefully will have made quite a bit of progress meaning things should go smoother, and we will be refreshed after a good break

[striving2Bprov31]

Well, I've reread your post and what others have had to say. You've gotten some great words from these ladies!

I definitely agree with what was said about getting your children's therapy scheduled all on the same day. It's great that you are working with an office that will work so well with you on that.

I think the next priority (more important than even schooltime!) right now would be to keep doing as many activities as you can for you to have that mom-to-mom adult interaction time. Maybe you could just set a goal for so many of those "outings" per month....however many you think you need. You are going through a very challenging time right now. It seems like you are like me in that you thrive from social interaction and such. You need that right now. As busy as you are, allow yourself to maintain that part of your life as much as possible.

I think a big key to making it all "work" is to have balance. Decide what the top priorities are right now (that includes what you need in the way of personal support) and balance everything out to meet the various needs that have arisen. I bet you will do a lot of learning as you go.

I think we live in a time that there are so many resources of support available. Plug in to those!

And yes...your dh is a genius!! Taking a break from school right now is probably the best thing you can do!! I applaud him for suggesting and supporting you in that!! Wonderful idea!

I WILL be praying for you! KEEP MOVING FORWARD!!!!

I hope you get some more wonderful feedback on this thread!

[Mommamo]

I just love the ladies on this board! You're so encouraging and so helpful. Thank you!

We will definitely be streamlining the visits. They are super willing to work with us, and willing to do it all in-home. It's the benefit of the equipment they have in the office that brings us to wanting to have at least some time there. My DD9 spent an entire hour on the platform swing...she LOVED it. She was almost asleep! That's he sensory thing...always has been. Can't do that here! And the sensory rooms there, etc....it really is a good thing to do some in-office. I'm thinking of doing it once every other week in office if we can.

My husband suggested we just break right now...there's only a couple months left of school. DD is just coming home, just starting meds, just starting therapies, and needs to play catch-up in math and grammar now, plus needs some re-training in chores. I'd like to also train her to do school with DS4 She will also be seeing a psychologist once every couple weeks or three for the possible ADD and/or Asperger's...all that's enough!! This gives me some breathing room, some time to process it all, some time to buy the remaining books we need, and we can pick up with PHFHG with her in the fall, and whatever guide DS7 places in. DH is a genius. LOL

But, this fall...I'll be coming back to this thread to re-read the advice b/c I'll be doing THREE guides then, have an almost 2yo, and still doing therapies. Good news is we'll be in the swing of therapy, hopefully will have made quite a bit of progress meaning things should go smoother, and we will be refreshed after a good break

So are you going ahead and bring them home from school? Or are you finishing out the school year? I know you've really missed having them at home. That would be great news in and of itself. And I'm so glad that your husband helped you figure out a good plan for now. That's great!

[Mom2Monkeys]

I'm bringing DD9 home and DS7 will finish out the schoolyear. It was too much on her and even though he wants to come home, he's not. Dd NEEDS to. They are home all this week on spring break, and it's been great having them both back I can't wait! Im thinking we will do math, grammar, Latin, and DITHOR with DD starting next week for structure and gauging the effectivness of her treatments in relation to school work. It will take a couple weeks before therapies start.

[Mommamo]

I'm so sorry that you're having to do so many therapies, but I'm so excited that your kiddos are getting the help they need, and that you're getting to bring your dd home early. I know that must be so exciting to have her home again, even with as overwhelmed as you must feel right now.

[Mom2Monkeys]

God is pulling it all together!! DH got a job offer today that would have him home Monday through Friday afternoon about 2pm. He would work Friday 3p-11p them Saturday and Sunday nights he would work 12-hour shifts. The pay is a little better and benefits about the same, and the hours are much more family friendly than where he is now! We were so worried about finding a good job while he was still in school since most hospitals were on hiring freeze. Someone mentioned this place to him recently so he dropped by today to see if it's worth applying to. They ended up giving him a tour an interview and made the offer for a spit that opened TODAY. They otherwise had no positions available until now!! He calls at noon tomorrow to accept or decline. He's a tad conflicted so please pray for his peace of mind. I'm sure Fod has opened these doors for him! With him being home all week except for when he chooses to work overtime which they allow plenty of, he can stay with DS4 at home while I take others to therapy, an I can actually do school with DS7 while we wait on DD9 and DS1. I'm feeling better about it already...still will be crazy, but wow!!

We will also see about what sort of inexpenaice "equipment" we can get for our home to possibly do more therapy here and less in office. Thank you to the HOD mom that PM'd me about that and I'll be in touch soon!