Teamwork

So I've thought about this post for over a week now. I didn't want to jinx anything by talking prematurely about the lovely experience we had with LJ's Medicaid waiver evaluation two Fridays ago. They had told us we would find out if he is approved in a week or so...I've been waiting for the good news to tell you how that process went. We finally got the call that he passed his screening!! Yay.

I'll start with the actual evaluation. Nate was wonderful...well not really! But they needed to see the chaos we now call "life". The thing I loved most is that Nate hid the social worker's car keys!!! What a bargaining strategy...waiver for your freedom. He's already such a great big brother, already advocating for his little brother's rights! And the teamwork between the two. Just imagine..."Ok, Lewis, you distract her with some retching, and I'll go hide the keys. We won't let her leave until she gives you that waiver TODAY!" Top off the meeting with Nate running out of the house to go home with them. I bump Noodles' poor little head on the storm door and voila, the tears (his and mine) flood. Sounds like a fiasco right?

"Next steps" are yet another evaluation to see what services he qualifies for and we have many more things to consider. One thing we're considering is getting on a waiting list for either the MR or DD waiver. The unfortunate thing is the DD waiver he can not go on the waiting list until he is 5 yrs and 8 months, and the MR waiver he may not qualify for once he is eligible to receive, but we'll probably cross that bridge when we get there. If he's not eligible, we'll remove him. He can only be on one waiting list at a time, and right now he's only old enough for the MR list...so we think we want to put him on it. If he ever is to qualify for it...we will have saved YEARS from a waiting list that is currently DECADES long. There are still some qualifying factors, but especially since he qualifies for the ED/CD waiver, he should qualify for the MR waiver.

In other news, Didi is going to relieve us for a spell tonight. Everybody is totally, completely 100% looking forward to her sleepover...hopefully LJ lets her sleep a little;) And LJ's Uncle Jeff found us the farrell valve bags for a fraction of the retail price with his internet surfing prowess! Many many thanks in advance....