new to the group

March 31, 2008

Hi, I'm , a former special education teacher now SAHM and full time Army wife. My husband, , is K9 handler and we go where the Army sends us. Currently, that puts us in Virginia, though we should get word of a new location by the end of the month. I have 5 children, 3 gifted to me through birth and the other 2 through adoption. We are also currently awaiting number 6, who will also join our family through adoption. Our biological children are Jakob(turns 9 in April), Olivia(turns 6 in April) and Zoie(2). All of our adopted children have Down syndrome. We found them through Reece's Rainbow. They are: Xander(age 4, from Ukraine), Lukus(age 4, from Hungary..came to us through an adoption disruption) and we are waiting on a travel date to go and get Grifyn(age 4, waiting in Eastern Europe). All 3 boys are less than 3 months apart in age, so for now I have virtual twins...and that will soon

increase to triplets! We are relatively new to the Ds community since our boys have only been with us for a short time. We're learning as we go, enjoying the newest members of our family and looking forward to what will be the last addition arriving by summer. Adoption has been a small challenge but a huge blessing and we're thankful to have our boys. Now, I just have to learn some of the tricks of the trade to managing multiples..........like how to keep the school system from having a heart attack when I call to enroll 3 boys with Down syndrome all in the same grade!

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March 31, 2008

Welcome! What an incredible family. I know we just had another family join that

adopted children with DS from Europe.

We live in Reno, NV. Our boys turned 8 in February. Davey has DS. I get to VA

once or twice a year. I would love to meet your family.

This is a great group of supportive people. Ask and question, I am sure someone

can help!

Mom to Amy(20), Kelsey(18), Davey, and Will

Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T

new to the group

Hi,

I'm , a former special education teacher now SAHM and full time Army

wife. My husband, , is K9 handler and we go where the Army sends us.

Currently, that puts us in Virginia, though we should get word of a new location

by the end of the month. I have 5 children, 3 gifted to me through birth and the

other 2 through adoption. We are also currently awaiting number 6, who will also

join our family through adoption. Our biological children are Jakob(turns 9 in

April), Olivia(turns 6 in April) and Zoie(2). All of our adopted children have

Down syndrome. We found them through Reece's Rainbow. They are: Xander(age 4,

from Ukraine), Lukus(age 4, from Hungary..came to us through an adoption

disruption) and we are waiting on a travel date to go and get Grifyn(age 4,

waiting in Eastern Europe). All 3 boys are less than 3 months apart in age, so

for now I have virtual twins...and that will soon increase to triplets!

We are relatively new to the Ds community since our boys have only been with us

for a short time. We're learning as we go, enjoying the newest members of our

family and looking forward to what will be the last addition arriving by

summer. Adoption has been a small challenge but a huge blessing and we're

thankful to have our boys. Now, I just have to learn some of the tricks of the

trade to managing multiples..........like how to keep the school system from

having a heart attack when I call to enroll 3 boys with Down syndrome all in the

same grade!

----------------

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> W00t

March 31, 2008

-

Welcome to the group. Congratulations on welcoming 3 little boys into your family.

On your question about notifying the school system. Its never too early. I made contact with the school system when my daughter was about 2 1/2 just to find out what process we had to go through and what the preschool and kindergarten program were all about.

I am from Massachusetts and at 3, children with disabilities receive preschool and all the necessary services through our local school. So, we transitioned from Preschool to kindergarten within the same school, so we were lucky.

My suggestion is to call the school now even before you have your 3rd little boy with DS at home. Start the process for your two children and inform the school of a 3rd one on the way.

Best of luck to you.

You will certainly find this list to be extremely helpful. I know I have.

Inga

Mom to -10, a & Gretchen (DS)-6

-------------- Original message from : --------------

Hi,

I'm , a former special education teacher now SAHM and full time Army wife. My husband, , is K9 handler and we go where the Army sends us. Currently, that puts us in Virginia, though we should get word of a new location by the end of the month. I have 5 children, 3 gifted to me through birth and the other 2 through adoption. We are also currently awaiting number 6, who will also join our family through adoption. Our biological children are Jakob(turns 9 in April), Olivia(turns 6 in April) and Zoie(2). All of our adopted children have Down syndrome. We found them through Reece's Rainbow. They are: Xander(age 4, from Ukraine), Lukus(age 4, from Hungary..came to us through an adoption disruption) and we are waiting on a travel date to go and get Grifyn(age 4, waiting in Eastern Europe). All 3 boys are less than 3 months apart in age, so for now I have virtual twins...and that will soon increase to triplets! We

are relatively new to the Ds community since our boys have only been with us for a short time. We're learning as we go, enjoying the newest members of our family and looking forward to what will be the last addition arriving by summer. Adoption has been a small challenge but a huge blessing and we're thankful to have our boys. Now, I just have to learn some of the tricks of the trade to managing multiples..........like how to keep the school system from having a heart attack when I call to enroll 3 boys with Down syndrome all in the same grade!

OMG, Sweet deal for Yahoo! users/friends: Get A Month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. W00t

March 31, 2008

Dear ,

If you are in Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Loudon, Arlington and the cities inside them), great! Stay there.

We live in Kensington, just north of the Beltway, and I want to go with you when you enroll your triplets. We can get some people from National Down Syndrome Society, The Arc of the United States, the Northern Virginia Down Syndrome Society, the Parents of Multiples of Montgomery County and the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County. We can all go in and blitz the school officials. (What do you mean, "Not fair?")

I salute your adoption decisions and your efforts. You know what you are getting into, and I think you are going to love it. A trifecta! Keep us informed. With a trio of Ds Children, you probably will be giving us more advice than we can give you.

BTW, there are many parents like us in the D.C. area, and we can help you if you have trouble with the federal bureaucracy (inluding DoD). Keep us informed.

Al Veerhoff, father of identical DS twins, Will and , age 17.

new to the group

Hi,

I'm , a former special education teacher now SAHM and full time Army wife. My husband, , is K9 handler and we go where the Army sends us. Currently, that puts us in Virginia, though we should get word of a new location by the end of the month. I have 5 children, 3 gifted to me through birth and the other 2 through adoption. We are also currently awaiting number 6, who will also join our family through adoption. Our biological children are Jakob(turns 9 in April), Olivia(turns 6 in April) and Zoie(2). All of our adopted children have Down syndrome. We found them through Reece's Rainbow. They are: Xander(age 4, from Ukraine), Lukus(age 4, from Hungary..came to us through an adoption disruption) and we are waiting on a travel date to go and get Grifyn(age 4, waiting in Eastern Europe). All 3 boys are less than 3 months apart in age, so for now I have virtual twins...and that will soon increase to triplets!

We are relatively new to the Ds community since our boys have only been with us for a short time. We're learning as we go, enjoying the newest members of our family and looking forward to what will be the last addition arriving by summer. Adoption has been a small challenge but a huge blessing and we're thankful to have our boys. Now, I just have to learn some of the tricks of the trade to managing multiples..........like how to keep the school system from having a heart attack when I call to enroll 3 boys with Down syndrome all in the same grade!

Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.

March 31, 2008

Hi -

Wow! A big welcome to you! That is really awesome to hear how many

children you are welcoming into your home to love and raise up, plus the

ones you already have. We live in Leesburg and would love to do

whatever we can to help out. What city do you live in? Our girls are

fully included in a regular kindergarten class. Let us know what you

need so we can help... BTW, do you need a triple stroller?

Sincerely,

Granata,

Wife to Joe, Chairman of the Disability Services Board of Loudoun

County, and a boardmember of the Community Services Board

Mom to Haley & Nikki, 5 yr identical twin girls both w/DS, & 4 yr son

aveerhoff@... wrote:

>

> Dear ,

>

> If you are in Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Loudon, Arlington and the

> cities inside them), great! Stay there.

>

> We live in Kensington, just north of the Beltway, and I want to go

> with you when you enroll your triplets. We can get some people from

> National Down Syndrome Society, The Arc of the United States, the

> Northern Virginia Down Syndrome Society, the Parents of Multiples of

> Montgomery County and the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County.

> We can all go in and blitz the school officials. (What do you mean,

> " Not fair? " )

>

> I salute your adoption decisions and your efforts. You know what you

> are getting into, and I think you are going to love it. A trifecta!

> Keep us informed. With a trio of Ds Children, you probably will be

> giving us more advice than we can give you.

>

> BTW, there are many parents like us in the D.C. area, and we can help

> you if you have trouble with the federal bureaucracy (inluding DoD).

> Keep us informed.

>

> Al Veerhoff, father of identical DS twins, Will and , age 17.

>

> new to the group

>

> Hi,

> I'm , a former special education teacher now SAHM and full

> time Army wife. My husband, , is K9 handler and we go where the

> Army sends us. Currently, that puts us in Virginia, though we should

> get word of a new location by the end of the month. I have 5 children,

> 3 gifted to me through birth and the other 2 through adoption. We are

> also currently awaiting number 6, who will also join our family

> through adoption. Our biological children are Jakob(turns 9 in April),

> Olivia(turns 6 in April) and Zoie(2). All of our adopted children have

> Down syndrome. We found them through Reece's Rainbow. They are:

> Xander(age 4, from Ukraine), Lukus(age 4, from Hungary..came to us

> through an adoption disruption) and we are waiting on a travel date to

> go and get Grifyn(age 4, waiting in Eastern Europe). All 3 boys are

> less than 3 months apart in age, so for now I have virtual twins...and

> that will soon increase to triplets!

> We are relatively new to the Ds community since our boys have only

> been with us for a short time. We're learning as we go, enjoying the

> newest members of our family and looking forward to what will be the

> last addition arriving by summer. Adoption has been a small challenge

> but a huge blessing and we're thankful to have our boys. Now, I just

> have to learn some of the tricks of the trade to managing

> multiples..........like how to keep the school system from having a

> heart attack when I call to enroll 3 boys with Down syndrome all in

> the same grade!

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides

> <http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000015>.

>

March 31, 2008

We're actually down in Hampton Roads. To give you an idea of our school system, here's my experience so far: We tried to enroll Xander in preschool last fall(he turned 4 in August when we brought him home form Ukraine). I requested they test him in his native language to get an accurate picture of his receptive language and ability to follow directions, preform tasks etc and was told no. So they gave him all these things to do(in English..he'd been home 3 weeks maybe) and then determined he functioned as a 5 month old. Because of their determination, they concluded that he did not need speech(not developmentally appropriate for a 5 month old), he did not need OT(because his needs were considered feeding issues which are not the school's concern and his fine motor skills need could be met through play in the daily classroom activities with no direct services) and he did not need PT(because he can not walk due to having clubbed feet and that is a

medical diagnosis and not the school's problem to deal with). They then went on to say that he only qualified for their medically fragile classroom which would require him to be bussed to the opposite side of the county instead of attending the preschool he was zoned for. When I tried mentioning federal laws and things like that, I was told that my teaching certification was in Georgia and that everything I knew applied in Georgia and Virginia law was completely different. Needless to say, Xander is not enrolled in preschool. We've also already been told that the school we are zoned for in Kindergarten(which technically they qualify for next year and happens to be right across the street from my house) will NOT take children with Down syndrome. Yes, I was told that flat out. So, can you see why I'm praying the Army moves us out of Virginia ASAP? I should mention that Xander has had wonderful private therapy that our insurance pays

for 100% and he has made huge leaps and bounds in progress in 7 months of being home. Accessing school services is the hard part. aveerhoff@... wrote: Dear ,If you are in Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Loudon, Arlington and the cities inside them), great! Stay there.We live in Kensington, just north of the Beltway, and I want to go with you when you enroll your triplets. We can get some people from National Down Syndrome Society, The Arc of the United

States, the Northern Virginia Down Syndrome Society, the Parents of Multiples of Montgomery County and the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County. We can all go in and blitz the school officials. (What do you mean, "Not fair?")I salute your adoption decisions and your efforts. You know what you are getting into, and I think you are going to love it. A trifecta! Keep us informed. With a trio of Ds Children, you probably will be giving us more advice than we can give you.BTW, there are many parents like us in the D.C. area, and we can help you if you have trouble with the federal bureaucracy (inluding DoD). Keep us informed.Al Veerhoff, father of identical DS twins, Will and , age 17. new to the

group Hi, I'm , a former special education teacher now SAHM and full time Army wife. My husband, , is K9 handler and we go where the Army sends us. Currently, that puts us in Virginia, though we should get word of a new location by the end of the month. I have 5 children, 3 gifted to me through birth and the other 2 through adoption. We are also currently awaiting number 6, who will also join our family through adoption. Our biological children are Jakob(turns 9 in April), Olivia(turns 6 in April) and Zoie(2). All of our adopted children have Down syndrome. We found them through Reece's Rainbow. They are: Xander(age 4, from Ukraine), Lukus(age 4, from Hungary..came to us through an adoption disruption) and we are waiting on a travel date to go and get

Grifyn(age 4, waiting in Eastern Europe). All 3 boys are less than 3 months apart in age, so for now I have virtual twins...and that will soon increase to triplets! We are relatively new to the Ds community since our boys have only been with us for a short time. We're learning as we go, enjoying the newest members of our family and looking forward to what will be the last addition arriving by summer. Adoption has been a small challenge but a huge blessing and we're thankful to have our boys. Now, I just have to learn some of the tricks of the trade to managing multiples..........like how to keep the school system from having a heart attack when I call to enroll 3 boys with Down syndrome all in the same grade! Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides. Follow our family at: http://chroniclesofhousehold6.blogspot.com/ Mom to Jakob, Olivia, Zoie, Xander(DS,adopted from Ukraine 8/20/07) & Lukus(DS, adopted from Hungary 12/07-into our family 2/08) waiting on a travel date to adopt Grifyn Jovan in Serbia adoption blog: http://gatheringthemfromtheeast.blogspot.com

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March 31, 2008

We live on post at Ft. Eusits, right by Newport News and Yorktown. I've never even seen a triple stroller except on TV! My husband did mention this weekend that I might want to start thinking about one for when I have to go places alone. Right now I have one not walking at all, one who can walk a little but needs a lot of help...and a 2 year old who needs to be strapped in so I can keep up with her! Granata wrote: Hi

-Wow! A big welcome to you! That is really awesome to hear how many children you are welcoming into your home to love and raise up, plus the ones you already have. We live in Leesburg and would love to do whatever we can to help out. What city do you live in? Our girls are fully included in a regular kindergarten class. Let us know what you need so we can help... BTW, do you need a triple stroller? Sincerely, Granata,Wife to Joe, Chairman of the Disability Services Board of Loudoun County, and a boardmember of the Community Services BoardMom to Haley & Nikki, 5 yr identical twin girls both w/DS, & 4 yr sonaveerhoffaol wrote:>> Dear ,>> If you are in Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Loudon, Arlington and the > cities inside them), great! Stay there.>> We live in Kensington, just north of the

Beltway, and I want to go > with you when you enroll your triplets. We can get some people from > National Down Syndrome Society, The Arc of the United States, the > Northern Virginia Down Syndrome Society, the Parents of Multiples of > Montgomery County and the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County. > We can all go in and blitz the school officials. (What do you mean, > "Not fair?")>> I salute your adoption decisions and your efforts. You know what you > are getting into, and I think you are going to love it. A trifecta! > Keep us informed. With a trio of Ds Children, you probably will be > giving us more advice than we can give you.>> BTW, there are many parents like us in the D.C. area, and we can help > you if you have trouble with the federal bureaucracy (inluding DoD). > Keep us informed.>> Al Veerhoff, father of identical DS twins, Will and

, age 17.>>>>> new to the group>> Hi,> I'm , a former special education teacher now SAHM and full > time Army wife. My husband, , is K9 handler and we go where the > Army sends us. Currently, that puts us in Virginia, though we should > get word of a new location by the end of the month. I have 5 children, > 3 gifted to me through birth and the other 2 through adoption. We are > also currently awaiting number 6, who will also join our family > through adoption. Our biological children are Jakob(turns 9 in April), > Olivia(turns 6 in April) and

Zoie(2). All of our adopted children have > Down syndrome. We found them through Reece's Rainbow. They are: > Xander(age 4, from Ukraine), Lukus(age 4, from Hungary..came to us > through an adoption disruption) and we are waiting on a travel date to > go and get Grifyn(age 4, waiting in Eastern Europe). All 3 boys are > less than 3 months apart in age, so for now I have virtual twins...and > that will soon increase to triplets! > We are relatively new to the Ds community since our boys have only > been with us for a short time. We're learning as we go, enjoying the > newest members of our family and looking forward to what will be the > last addition arriving by summer. Adoption has been a small challenge > but a huge blessing and we're thankful to have our boys. Now, I just > have to learn some of the tricks of the trade to managing > multiples..........like how to keep the

school system from having a > heart attack when I call to enroll 3 boys with Down syndrome all in > the same grade!> > > ---------------------------------------------------------->> ----------------------------------------------------------> Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides > <http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000015>. >> Follow our family at: http://chroniclesofhousehold6.blogspot.com/ Mom to Jakob, Olivia, Zoie, Xander(DS,adopted from Ukraine 8/20/07) & Lukus(DS, adopted from Hungary 12/07-into our family 2/08) waiting on a travel date to adopt Grifyn Jovan in Serbia adoption blog: http://gatheringthemfromtheeast.blogspot.com

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March 31, 2008

,

How awesome triplet from around the world, won't you be a force to be reckoned with

at Kindergarten enrollment. There are several sets of identical twins here to help you

with that. We live in Florida and have triplets Zachary DS/ADHD, , & Nick 9, and

Jake ADHD 11. Can't wait to see pics of your family. welcome to our group, it's like

an extended family with similiar dynamics Irene

new to the group

Hi,

I'm , a former special education teacher now SAHM and full time Army wife. My husband, , is K9 handler and we go where the Army sends us. Currently, that puts us in Virginia, though we should get word of a new location by the end of the month. I have 5 children, 3 gifted to me through birth and the other 2 through adoption. We are also currently awaiting number 6, who will also join our family through adoption. Our biological children are Jakob(turns 9 in April), Olivia(turns 6 in April) and Zoie(2). All of our adopted children have Down syndrome. We found them through Reece's Rainbow. They are: Xander(age 4, from Ukraine), Lukus(age 4, from Hungary..came to us through an adoption disruption) and we are waiting on a travel date to go and get Grifyn(age 4, waiting in Eastern Europe). All 3 boys are less than 3 months apart in age, so for now I have virtual twins...and that will soon increase to triplets! We are relatively new to the Ds community since our boys have only been with us for a short time. We're learning as we go, enjoying the newest members of our family and looking forward to what will be the last addition arriving by summer. Adoption has been a small challenge but a huge blessing and we're thankful to have our boys. Now, I just have to learn some of the tricks of the trade to managing multiples..........like how to keep the school system from having a heart attack when I call to enroll 3 boys with Down syndrome all in the same grade!

OMG, Sweet deal for Yahoo! users/friends: Get A Month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. W00t

March 31, 2008

I have learned NEVER take no for an answer. If you make it to Northern NV, let me know. We have some wonderful things going for our son.We're actually down in Hampton Roads. To give you an idea of our school system, here's my experience so far:We tried to enroll Xander in preschool last fall(he turned 4 in August when we brought him home form Ukraine). I requested they test him in his native language to get an accurate picture of his receptive language and ability to follow directions, preform tasks etc and was told no. So they gave him all these things to do(in English..he'd been home 3 weeks maybe) and then determined he functioned as a 5 month old. Because of their determination, they concluded that he did not need speech(not developmentally appropriate for a 5 month old), he did not need OT(because his needs were considered feeding issues which are not the school's concern and his fine motor skills need could be met through play in the daily classroom activities with no direct services) and he did not need PT(because he can not walk due to having clubbed feet and that is a medical diagnosis and not the school's problem to deal with). They then went on to say that he only qualified for their medically fragile classroom which would require him to be bussed to the opposite side of the county instead of attending the preschool he was zoned for. When I tried mentioning federal laws and things like that, I was told that my teaching certification was in Georgia and that everything I knew applied in Georgia and Virginia law was completely different. Needless to say, Xander is not enrolled in preschool. We've also already been told that the school we are zoned for in Kindergarten(which technically they qualify for next year and happens to be right across the street from my house) will NOT take children with Down syndrome. Yes, I was told that flat out.So, can you see why I'm praying the Army moves us out of Virginia ASAP? I should mention that Xander has had wonderful private therapy that our insurance pays for 100% and he has made huge leaps and bounds in progress in 7 months of being home. Accessing school services is the hard part. aveerhoffaol wrote:Dear ,If you are in Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Loudon, Arlington and the cities inside them), great! Stay there.We live in Kensington, just north of the Beltway, and I want to go with you when you enroll your triplets. We can get some people from National Down Syndrome Society, The Arc of the United States, the Northern Virginia Down Syndrome Society, the Parents of Multiples of Montgomery County and the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County. We can all go in and blitz the school officials. (What do you mean, "Not fair?")I salute your adoption decisions and your efforts. You know what you are getting into, and I think you are going to love it. A trifecta! Keep us informed. With a trio of Ds Children, you probably will be giving us more advice than we can give you.BTW, there are many parents like us in the D.C. area, and we can help you if you have trouble with the federal bureaucracy (inluding DoD). Keep us informed.Al Veerhoff, father of identical DS twins, Will and , age 17. new to the group Hi, I'm , a former special education teacher now SAHM and full time Army wife. My husband, , is K9 handler and we go where the Army sends us. Currently, that puts us in Virginia, though we should get word of a new location by the end of the month. I have 5 children, 3 gifted to me through birth and the other 2 through adoption. We are also currently awaiting number 6, who will also join our family through adoption. Our biological children are Jakob(turns 9 in April), Olivia(turns 6 in April) and Zoie(2). All of our adopted children have Down syndrome. We found them through Reece's Rainbow. They are: Xander(age 4, from Ukraine), Lukus(age 4, from Hungary..came to us through an adoption disruption) and we are waiting on a travel date to go and get Grifyn(age 4, waiting in Eastern Europe). All 3 boys are less than 3 months apart in age, so for now I have virtual twins...and that will soon increase to triplets! We are relatively new to the Ds community since our boys have only been with us for a short time. We're learning as we go, enjoying the newest members of our family and looking forward to what will be the last addition arriving by summer. Adoption has been a small challenge but a huge blessing and we're thankful to have our boys. Now, I just have to learn some of the tricks of the trade to managing multiples..........like how to keep the school system from having a heart attack when I call to enroll 3 boys with Down syndrome all in the same grade! Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.Follow our family at:http://chroniclesofhousehold6.blogspot.com/Mom to Jakob, Olivia, Zoie, Xander(DS,adopted from Ukraine 8/20/07) & Lukus(DS, adopted from Hungary 12/07-into our family 2/08)waiting on a travel date to adopt Grifyn Jovan in Serbiaadoption blog:http://gatheringthemfromtheeast.blogspot.com No Cost - Get a month of Blockbuster Total Access now. Sweet deal for Yahoo! users and friends.

April 1, 2008

Welcome !OMGosh, I know I had read a little of that on your blog I think. But that is horrid! I would be so angry. Our school system is not the best, but still way better than that. I hope you get moved somewhere with better schools! Good luck and let us know!

Gayla, mom to 24, Mercede 17 (DS), Cheyenne 15 (DS) and Aysha 3

We're actually down in Hampton Roads. To give you an idea of our school system, here's my experience so far: We tried to enroll Xander in preschool last fall(he turned 4 in August when we brought him home form Ukraine). I requested they test him in his native language to get an accurate picture of his receptive language and ability to follow directions, preform tasks etc and was told no. So they gave him all these things to do(in English..he'd been home 3 weeks maybe) and then determined he functioned as a 5 month old. Because of their determination, they concluded that he did not need speech(not developmentally appropriate for a 5 month old), he did not need OT(because his needs were considered feeding issues which are not the school's concern and his fine motor skills need could be met through play in the daily classroom activities with no direct services) and he did not need PT(because he can not walk due to having clubbed feet and that is a

medical diagnosis and not the school's problem to deal with). They then went on to say that he only qualified for their medically fragile classroom which would require him to be bussed to the opposite side of the county instead of attending the preschool he was zoned for. When I tried mentioning federal laws and things like that, I was told that my teaching certification was in Georgia and that everything I knew applied in Georgia and Virginia law was completely different. Needless to say, Xander is not enrolled in preschool. We've also already been told that the school we are zoned for in Kindergarten(which technically they qualify for next year and happens to be right across the street from my house) will NOT take children with Down syndrome. Yes, I was told that flat out.

So, can you see why I'm praying the Army moves us out of Virginia ASAP? I should mention that Xander has had wonderful private therapy that our insurance pays

for 100% and he has made huge leaps and bounds in progress in 7 months of being home. Accessing school services is the hard part. aveerhoff@... wrote:

Dear ,If you are in Northern Virginia (Fairfax, Loudon, Arlington and the cities inside them), great! Stay there.We live in Kensington, just north of the Beltway, and I want to go with you when you enroll your triplets. We can get some people from National Down Syndrome Society, The Arc of the United

States, the Northern Virginia Down Syndrome Society, the Parents of Multiples of Montgomery County and the Down Syndrome Network of Montgomery County. We can all go in and blitz the school officials. (What do you mean, " Not fair? " )

I salute your adoption decisions and your efforts. You know what you are getting into, and I think you are going to love it. A trifecta! Keep us informed. With a trio of Ds Children, you probably will be giving us more advice than we can give you.

BTW, there are many parents like us in the D.C. area, and we can help you if you have trouble with the federal bureaucracy (inluding DoD). Keep us informed.Al Veerhoff, father of identical DS twins, Will and , age 17.

new to the

group Hi, I'm , a former special education teacher now SAHM and full time Army wife. My husband, , is K9 handler and we go where the Army sends us. Currently, that puts us in Virginia, though we should get word of a new location by the end of the month. I have 5 children, 3 gifted to me through birth and the other 2 through adoption. We are also currently awaiting number 6, who will also join our family through adoption. Our biological children are Jakob(turns 9 in April), Olivia(turns 6 in April) and Zoie(2). All of our adopted children have Down syndrome. We found them through Reece's Rainbow. They are: Xander(age 4, from Ukraine), Lukus(age 4, from Hungary..came to us through an adoption disruption) and we are waiting on a travel date to go and get

Grifyn(age 4, waiting in Eastern Europe). All 3 boys are less than 3 months apart in age, so for now I have virtual twins...and that will soon increase to triplets! We are relatively new to the Ds community since our boys have only been with us for a short time. We're learning as we go, enjoying the newest members of our family and looking forward to what will be the last addition arriving by summer. Adoption has been a small challenge but a huge blessing and we're thankful to have our boys. Now, I just have to learn some of the tricks of the trade to managing multiples..........like how to keep the school system from having a heart attack when I call to enroll 3 boys with Down syndrome all in the same grade!

Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides.

Follow our family at: http://chroniclesofhousehold6.blogspot.com/

Mom to Jakob, Olivia, Zoie, Xander(DS,adopted from Ukraine 8/20/07) & Lukus(DS, adopted from Hungary 12/07-into our family 2/08)

waiting on a travel date to adopt Grifyn Jovan in Serbia adoption blog: http://gatheringthemfromtheeast.blogspot.com

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-- Gayla

April 1, 2008

I do not know where we would have been without our twin stroller.