Weeks 1 & 2 in Bradenton, FL

My lovely roommates, Ellen and Dana (friends and fellow OT peers), and I are all settled into our humble abode. I shall have to remember to capture pictures of our little dwelling and post them in a later blog. Ellen and I are sharing a bedroom, which has been quite fun, and also very stuffy and hot at nights. The picture below is us out on the town last night, capturing a picture with the Woodford Reserve napkin holder--a tribute to our KY home, which we miss oh so much.
The following two pictures are of the Sunrise Service we attended at the beach on Easter morning. Kayla (another OT peer) is a friend of ours who has her current rotation in Tampa. She has been coming to hangout with us on the weekends, which has been a blast.

Ellen and I attended the Sailor Circus (Mary Poppins-themed btw), and, oh yes, it was FUN! It is a circus put on by students (4th-12th grades). These kids are extremely talented and I was amazed by their skill and athletic abilities. I also learned that Ringling Bros. originated in Sarasota, and that is why the circus is a huge deal around this area.
My parents came to FL to visit me the first week I was here. We did a lot of sight-seeing and beach-combing, which was so fun. We also were able to meet up with my friend Kelly (a wonderful OT intern and friend I met at my last rotation in GA) and her boyfriend, Ben. Ben was finishing his rotation up in FL and Kelly came down to see him. I just love this couple and am so happy I got to see Kelly one last time in FL!
Yes, today I learned how to surf on a long board. We met this couple at church today, and after talking for a while found out that they lived on the EXACT street in Anna Marie Island that someone had recommended we visit. The husband is retired from the Army and they have a son in high school and a daughter in college. The husband, Dave, taught Kayla and I how to surf--checking that off my bucklist! :) The wife, Deb, was amazing and so hospitable. They lent us their beach chairs, let us shower at their house, and invited us to hangout in the future. She also gave us Hawaiian flowers for our hair (R ear means you are single and L ear means you are taken). Needless to say, they were truly a blessing, and all of the details of the day were so clearly orchestrated by the Lord. I have a feeling we are going to get really close to them while we are here on the island.

Now, here is a brief synopsis about my second Level II placement at Children's Therapy Solutions in Bradenton, Florida. Monday through Friday I am at Orange Ridge-Bullock Elementary school, and on Mondays and Wednesdays I go over to the outpatient clinic after school. So far I have really enjoyed my placement. The school that I am at is not a typical school setting, in that it has a whole sector of the school which they call exceptional students (ESE or special education). We also have two medically fragile classrooms, which is the largest in the county. A majority of these students are on feeding tubes, non-communicative, and dependent for all ADL's. Children in these classrooms have a variety of diagnoses which include West Syndrome, TBI, seizure disorders, CP, and others.

I work with children from both general education and ESE classrooms. The majority of our children have Autism, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, CP, seizure disorders, and Downs syndrome.

I absolutely adore the kids I have met thus far, and I am REALLY looking forward to the rest of my time here. I think this rotation will really help me identify whether or not Schools is my niche or not. Regardless, I can't wait to see where the Lord leads me over this next year. I am so abundantly blessed and would have never imagined I would have the opportunity to have such a wonderful career that does not feel like a job.....and be living in "paradise" all at the same time!