Adoption Interview

Adoption Bloggers Interview Project 2012

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Big Changes







Big changes have happened since I last wrote. We've headed back to school. Hannah got ANOTHER office referral at school. We finally got our evaluation date scheduled for the severe behavior clinic. We got Hannah's newest set of diagnoses (ADHD and Oppositional Defiance Disorder, Aspergers is still waiting to be ruled out or in by the severe behavior clinic) We started a new behavior plan with the help of the current psychologist. Our foster care license finally cleared AND we got our first placement! That's A LOT to happen in 2 1/2 weeks!


Now that we've actually begun accepting foster care placements I can't really talk about our lives with those kids and how that relates to Hannah and our lives on this blog anymore since it's totally not private. I'm going to continue to write on here about day to day stuff and Hannah, but I will also start up an anonymous blog where I can chronicle our foster care journey. If you are at all interested in reading that blog please leave me your email address in a comment and I'll email you the address to the new blog since I don't want to post it on this blog and have the two connected and the wrong people find out who we are in the new blog.



Ok, back to Hannah. Hannah's new behavior plan is interesting. It's too soon now to tell if will do any good, but one thing is certain. . . . she DOES NOT like it. It is essentially a psuedo grounding of all privileges where a chore is given as a consequence that has to be completed before the grounding is lifted. Basically she chooses how long the grounding lasts by how quickly she decides to get the chore done. There's also a positive reinforcement piece to it as well where she earns small rewards (special time with mom or dad, tv time, computer time, etc) randomly for being obedient. Along with this new system (which the psych calls the Job Card System), we were also taught a safe hold to use when she becomes aggressive which has been happening more and more lately and had become increasingly difficult to manage because she is getting so big and so strong. I don't like the thought of having to use restraint in any form, but I have to admit the few times I've had to use it everyone has been a lot safer. We'll keep everyone posted as things continue along. I'm sure things will get even more rocky before they get smoother especially considering the big changes that have happened in the house.

Photo Notes: These pictures were from a Daddy-Daughter project that Kyle and Hannah are working on for her room. It's still not finished yet, but hopefully soon it'll be done and up on the wall. I'll be sure to post a picture of the finished product when they get it done.


10 comments:

Jaimie said...

Jgoeble@gmail.com - thank you, I'd be very interested in reading about your experiences with the foster few system.

Anonymous said...

I have been following your blog for a long time. We adopted through IAC, and are on the books for the second time. I would love to read about your foster care journey.
Stacy
sll_1975@yahoo.com

Anne said...

I'm very interested in reading about your journey with foster care. I have two children diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Foster care is something I have been interested in for some time.

ja1smitty@yahoo.com

Danielle said...

I would love to follow your foster care journey. We adopted our daughter using the IAC, as well and have been reading your current blog for years.

Take care,
Danielle
mamaewan@gmail.com

Rene said...

Hi there, I've been folowing your blog for some time too. We adopted through IAC not long before you did. Would love to follow your foster blog. lloydrene@att.net

Anonymous said...

Another IAC family here, who would like to follow along.

clbrooke@mindspring.com

Lora said...

I'd love to follow you along to your new blog! lorarichardson@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read your blog about the children you are fostering. I am a special education teacher who has enjoyed reading your blog.
My email is : gr8teacher32@hotmail.com .

Anonymous said...

I love reading your blog, and would love to be included on the new one. jswickard@hotmail.com

m said...

m13way@yahoo.com

my address, you know i want to hear your stories...love your writing and your wonderful ability to put us in your shoes. thanks so much for these posts, natalie...hope you're well, more soon.