Living in an Autie World

   My two special needs kids got approved for ID Waivers through the Dept. of Human Services yesterday! A lady came out to our house and talked to me about what our needs are and left approvalletters with me. Apparently Equine Therapy can be covered, along with the Autism Center in Moline, some modifications to our home for safety (like shatterproof windows and a "safe room", whatever that means), overnight pullups for my partially continent child, respite care, and the list goes on and on. Specialists, finally.

   So what happens now? The lady that just did the approval takes the paperwork back to her office and meets with the actual caseworker, who will monitor the plan and have monthly meetings w/ me and the kids. Every six months our case will be evaluated... not really sure how that works but I am willing to let them go through my dresser drawers if they want, my life's an open book lol. These are services that will change the quality of life for my special needs kids, as well as for my oldest son, and for me.

   Hope. Hope's a killer... often I seem to get my hopes up about things and either there's minimal improvement at best, or the improvements happen and then there's a transition, and along with transitions come setbacks. But once again I find myself hoping... hoping that this time I did the right thing for my kids. Hoping these services will brighten their futures more than anything I could offer them at home, where I am essentially on my own. Along with this newfound hope there is, of course, some doubt. I haven't always had the best of luck with professionals (refer to my rant about professionals, lol) but I am keeping my fingers crossed.

   I have more hope right now in my heart than I had last week, last month, or last year. My biggest wish in life is that I can raise my children to live independently one day. That may be unrealistic but if I even get halfway to that, I will be the happiest mom on earth. Some self sufficiency for them is important to me, as one day I won't be around anymore and they are my legacy to the world.

UPDATE: On Wed. January 11th I will be meeting with the respite care agency representative. When the caseworker called me and said are you ready to meet them and get the ball rolling I said, "I was ready yesterday." He thought it was funny, but I, of course, was dead serious. I have a huge amount of demands on my time as a single parent, and my youngest needs all-the-time, round the clock supervision, which can get tiring. BRING ON THE RESPITE!!! A little time to recharge your batteries has never harmed anyone as far as I know...