My dear Cuties, I feel like I must explain my not taking too much part on Cute this summer.I know I don't have to explain, but I want to let you know, as I feel a closeness as if you were family too.

There have been many tears, prayers and sleepless nights. My daughter has made the decision to enroll Avery in a new school this year. It's not just a school, she lives there now. She can come home on the week-ends.
Ashley came to us a while back and said she wanted to talk to us and what she had to say would upset us, but to hear her out please. She then told us about this school and how she became aware of it.
I have not been able to lift Avery. My husband does, but with disc gone in his back, he shouldn't. Ashley even hurt her back lifting her and had to go to the doctor. She also quit working months back, as the only sitter she could get approved for, would be just that, a sitter. The sitter wouldn't be qualified/licensed to tube feed Avery or deep suction Avery, when needed. My daughter told them, no thanks, that was no help at all. She couldn't work all day and Avery not be fed. She couldn't leave her with someone that may let her choke to death, because she wasn't 'allowed' to suction her. My daughter had applied for a lift and until this day, still hasn't been approved.
So Avery moved in 8 days ago.
Before she did though, Avery's mom and stepdad, Avery's dad and step mom, myself and my husband, all toured the school and girls dorm. We had a three hour tour and met a lot of workers.
Time passed and as school start up was nearing, Ashley turned in an application for Avery to go there. A meeting was then set up around a conference table, with all of us again (except Avery's dad's mom came instead of his wife). I asked Ashley when she wanted us to go, if they would allow us to. She said we were the only ones that ever took care of Avery besides her parents and she wanted to include us.
We met each therapist, OT, PT, some I don't remember the title of,head of nursing, her teacher, Principle,head of girls dorm, etc. After each introduced themselves one by one, they told how they would be working with Avery. Then Ashley read them a story she had written for Avery, as if Avery would be the one speaking as Avery doesn't speak, about from the conception of Twin To Twin Syndrome until her life now. The Kleenex boxes were passed along the table.
I must say before I go any further, Avery is happy and doing well, so it is a great relief to us.
When Ashley first found out about this place, she didn't say anything to us for quite a while. She said after the third person recommended this place to her, she thought it must be from God. As we investigated, we learned a Respiratory therapist there is my husbands cousins daughter. She said she loves working there and with the children. We also met another lady my husband knew but I still don't know what she does there. Then the niece I take trips with knows the Director/head guy there. Everyone seems to be happy to work there and the kids we saw and spoke with seem so too.
Then just yesterday, my friend Trudy gave me a number to call. She said they were shopping and she said it was as if God put this lady in her path. She knew the lady from years ago and of course they spoke about how each had retired now, Trudy from teaching and Jo from nursing. Jo said she nursed 45 years and the last 21 years were spent in the best place... the school Avery is! When Trudy found this out she had to tell her about Avery. The lady gave Trudy her number and of course I called. I told her my biggest fear but also how hard it's been just letting her go. She uplifted me so much and fully understood my fears. Avery is non-verbal, legally blind and quadriplegic. She can't call out nor remove herself from danger. Jo assured me in the 21 years she was there, there was no abuse. She said the workers truly love the children and the children love each other. (Wish this was so in all the schools!)
It has been extremely hard for me to talk about to anyone, but each time we see her and we can 'pop' in anytime, although she is an hour away, she has been laughing and happy.
We know they have the equipment needed to teach and care for her. We could have cried when we saw her bath, as Grayson and I both exclaimed at once, we need this at home. The nurses are there 24 hours, seven days a week. They have a doctor on staff and gives them a check up weekly. They use the same neurologist and orthopedic that Avery already has. They make her appointments and transport her, but Ashley will still go too.
I was naive nearly 12 years ago, thinking we would never place Avery somewhere. We found it hard to believe, this baby that had the legs the size and length of your middle finger, would ever be too big to handle. I told Ashley the day she first told us about this place, that I knew she loved her child and she was struggling trying to accept that Avery needed more. I also knew she always made the best decision she could concerning Avery and we always supported her even though the decision was always hers alone. I told her we would support her now. We got all our family together here, by that I mean my other two kids and grown grands and asked them what they thought. None of them would keep Avery as they were too scared of emergency situations. They all know just by seeing that Avery requires medical help. I still am so proud of Ashley for the times she has brought Avery through, but I can also see the strain it's been on her.
Well, that has been what has kept me away so much. I am enclosing a photo I snapped a few months ago, of Avery and her mom. Also one of her in her new room, 'watching' her own TV. The last one here at home on my porch.
So you know I want prayers for Avery. For her safety, for her learning, for her to remain the happy child we always have loved. If it be His will, for another miracle that we know God is fully capable of, to give her a normal functioning body. To God be the Glory for however He moves in Avery's life. Love to you all-Toogie