Iowa City

Yesterday morning I dropped the 2 two's off at Nita's house then Sam, Amaris and I headed to Iowa City to the Disabilities and Behavior Clinics. We have been struggling a long time with behaviors and some other issues. When we realized these struggles were not unique to home but presented everywhere the children went: school, church etc. We consulted with a post adoption specialist whom we met at the IFAPA conference this Spring. Brian has turned out to be a diamond in the rough for me. He is an amazing person, full of resources, ideas and the best supporter and cheerleader EVER!! His recommendation was to contact Iowa City clinics. So I did. The process has taken a while to play out but I am so pleased we chose to do this. I feel better equipped now to help the children reach their full potential both at hoe and out in their world.
Both children were amazingly good on the ride out to the clinics (3 hours due to a detour from road construction). We arrived 15 minutes early, checked in, and were promptly taken care of. Samuel was assigned to a male psychologist and Amaris to a female. Both docs took me into a conference room first while the children played in a play room and watched cartoons. We talked about history family history (of which we have little) and what is currently going on with both children. Then they took the children.
One of the many great things about the clinics was that they had read all the records we had sent in prior to our visit, the school reports, health histories etc. Both docs had notes of questions they wanted clarified. Then they based all the testing on the preliminary results of the evaluations we all had filled out. This way the children did not have to suffer through unnecessary testing. 
When they were done about 2 hours later give or take a few minutes the docs scored all the tests. Then Sam's doc came to get me. We went into a little room where he had been working with Sam and we went over all the tests and he shared with me what he thinks is going on with Sam. About half way through our conference the doc for Amaris joined us and shared all her findings. I can not tell you how good it felt to sit there in that room and actually get feed back and answers right then. With Madison we have always had to wait days and sometimes months for answers and in the mean time they always would give her medications to  hold us over. Not so here. They gave me diagnosis for both children and recommendations for what we should do next. So, not only do we have names for what is going on but also understanding for what it all means and a plan of action to take in order to improve their over all performances every where!!
I have to say I was surprised by some of what I was told and down right shocked at others. But overall. I left there feeling encouraged and empowered to fight for their best chance at the best life ever!
I would absolutely do this again if I had the need and I desperately wish we would have had this opportunity for Madison when she was little. Can you imagine the difference it would have made.....
Love you all!!
Ang