We are officially in "countdown mode" for our John Tracy Clinic session. In exactly one month, we will board our plane and fly off to sunny Southern California for three weeks of education and fun!
I am still waiting for our audiology report from Nolan's most recent hearing test, and for the rest of the audiological information requested by the John Tracy Clinic staff. Our audiologist has been on vacation, and I am sure the requested materials will arrive soon.
We are still sorting out the logistics of our stay. Matthew is too young to attend the sibling program offered by John Tracy, so he will stay with his grandparents. Fortunately for us, both sets of grandparents live within two hours of the John Tracy Clinic! Matt is only four, though, and we felt three weeks would be too long for him to go without a parent present. Dennis will stay part-time with Matt, and part-time with Nolan and me in the apartments near John Tracy.
I will not have a rental car for the three weeks, so I won't be able to drive anywhere during the week. With family so close, however, I am sure people will come to visit over the course of the session. We also get out at noon every Friday, so we are plotting many fun adventures for the weekends!
Our three weeks will be very full of experiences. We fly out on Dennis's birthday, so that Saturday will be filled with travel, checking into the Annenberg Apartments near John Tracy, and a birthday dinner. Our general plan for Sunday includes leaving Matt with my parents (if they are free, of course) and having Dennis drive Nolan and me down to the John Tracy orientation. We can both attend the orientation, and then Dennis can drive back "home" to stay with Matt and his parents overnight. Nolan and I will be on our own throughout the first week, but family will come and pick us up on Friday.
The next weekend (July 16-18) is "Disney Delight," and I plan on booking a hotel through hotwire or priceline. We want to do Disneyland and California Adventure, and I am sure extended family will join us on our outing. I can't wait to see Nolan's face when he sees his beloved "Mitty Mouse."
The toughest part of the trip will be the separation of our family unit over the three weeks. The opportunity is priceless, however, and I cannot wait until we embark on our learning adventure!
12 comments:
Leah,
It's such a great opportunity for you (all) - I'm really excited for you! My sympathies with the family separation. I always feel just a little "off" when we're separated... like a puzzle with missing pieces. But how great that Matt will get to have so much time with his grandparents.
You know, I've always appreciated that my kids get to spend time with my parents when it's not a holiday or birthday, when it's just "ordinary time", because you get to know each other so much better. I bet Matt and his grandparents will really enjoy the time they have.
One month to go!
Julie
I'm so excited to read all about it! It's sure to be such a great experience!
We'll have a car so feel free to take advantage of us if you need to get out during the week. I can't believe it's coming up so soon. JTC has been the last thing on my mind lately. Thanks for the reminder!
Emily, I can't imagine going through IEP season, MOVING, and getting ready for John Tracy in the same month. You are a busy woman!
I was reading X's blog and they said that the local playground was a gang hang-out spot, so not safe for the kids. Sounds like the kids are pretty tired after a full day of school, though, so that probably won't be a problem! Thanks for any future rides we take, lol! I'm really looking forward to the program- I think Nolan will get a LOT out of their preschool environment!
Seriously, could that picture of Nolan be any more adorable?
I hope that you have an absolutely amazing time in California and you regale us with your John Tracy Clinic and "Mitty Mouse" experiences!
This is going to be an amazing experience for you all! I am so excited and happy for what you are about to embark on.
But, I will miss chatting with you.
Will you be able to update during that 3 week timeframe?
I cannot tell you how excited I am for you and Nolan to experience JTC. After four days here, my mind is spinning and my face hurts from smiling. The entire staff is extremely helpful and engaging. It really is the kind of incredible experience I could have never conjured up in my wildest dreams for my deaf son. I hope that you can post while you're here because I don't think I could wait for three weeks to hear your stories!
We are not renting a car during the week. X is so exhausted by 3 p.m. when school lets out and then rush hour is starting, so we walk everywhere. That being said, we never walk more than 10 minutes in any directions and never after the sun begins to set, as advised by USC security and several friends who live here.
Ralph's grocery is the only exception. It's 15 minutes up the street, but is FAR superior to Superior grocery store which is only slightly closer.
There are loads of fast food restaurants within 15 minutes, including chain restaurants and a cheap and cheerful food court in University Village near USC with a wide variety of "healthy" fast food options.
Very cheap and entertaining toys are available at the UV dollar store, local 7-11 and Ralph's. Most children have balls and bubbles, but they prefer to chase after each other on the lawn for 2 hours every afternoon when school is done!
All this sounds like so much fun. Do fill us in with details. One month to go and pack up and enjoy.
I can't wait to read about YOUR experience! It is definitely an experience of a lifetime!
I am very excited for your family. Matt is at a fun age. I am sure all grandparents will thoroughly enjoy his stay and all he has to share with them!
One of my Montana Mom friends is going to be there along with you. Funny enough, you'll meet her (in person) before I do!
I am SO excited for you all! I can't wait to hear about your JTC experiences and all you learn. Although separation is always hard, I'm sure the three weeks will fly by (especially with all the traveling on the weekends) and Matt will have an experience of a lifetime as well! In fact, you may have some "grandparent deprogramming" to do once you're home! lol
oh, and can that picture of Nolan be any cuter!?! Love it!
Counting down the days with you! Yippee!
Just a thought, Matt could still stay at night with all of you in the dorms, that way you won't have a split family for 3 weeks. Couldn't family watch him during the day, and then you could all be together when school lets out, all afternoon and evening?
Melissa, I thought about that- the drive is a bit much, though. Oxnard is about 70 miles from JTC. We thought about just driving every day, but that is a LONG drive with traffic (can take 3 hours each way). Matt could come and stay some nights, though- we might try it on a Thursday night into Friday!
Post a Comment