Neat little boxes

Pampered Chef anyone?

2008-09-11T17:06:00.002-05:00

I am hosting an online party from Sept 25 to Sept 29. Anyone who would like an invitation, please email or IM me.

Otherwise you can look at their catalog to see what they have to offer.
http://www.pamperedchef.biz/donnaharpe?page=home

Wait is a verb.

2008-07-20T17:25:00.002-05:00

Did you realize that? I never even thought about it until today. Wait to me means, to sit, to watch, anything but be active.

I have found a church that keeps me engaged completely. I'm even enjoying Sunday School. Every week that we are there I find it harder and harder to not pay attention. We had stress last weekend and didn't go..one reason was waking up late and the sermon was about Time. I didn't even hear the sermon and knew that's one I should have went to, even if we were late. Its amazing how when your heart is ready how easy it is to just sit and soak it all in.

So anyway.

Today's sermon was about Wait. We were reading Acts about the many times Jesus came to the apostles during the 40 days after he was crucified. He said to them, wait, and you will be babtised in teh Holy Spirit. They asked about when the kingdom would be given back to Israel, and he said, wait, only the Father knows the time and day. As he descended into Heaven in Acts 1:9 two angels appeared and asked them why they were standing there, looking into the sky. The answer was, Jesus said to wait. So they waited.
Our form of time and waiting is not the same as God's. The apostles didn't understand that wait didn't mean, just a second let me finish my sandwich and I'll get back to you. The pastor asked us what we were doing while we waited for Jesus's return. Are we making an impact in lives of those around us? Are we learning and studying and trying to improve? Or are we standing still watching the sky?
He also talked about, how he believes God will keep us waiting until he breaks us, for those of us that are too stubborn to follow God's lead.
How many times have we been waiting for years and years for something to happen...to improve or to flourish only to see that improvement only after we *finally* let God take the reins and steer the cart? Even if the route God chose for us didn't match the plan we so carefully laid out?
Wait, is a good thing. In the process of wait, we should be doing. While we are in college waiting for that dream job that will enable you to retire at 55 with full benefits and a paid for house, we learn patience and financial responsibility. While we wait for our children learn to walk and talk we learn about our own faults as we see a little mirror right in front of us. As we wait, we learn, grow, give and receive blessings. The pastor showed us a heart care commercial with two people on an escalator when it stops working..and they just stood there looking up yelling for help. They were waiting for someone to come fix the problem, instead of simply walking up the stairs. Who does that? Wait on a stalled escalator? In real life, when the chips are down, do we just sit there and wait for our ship to come in and bail us out or do we start digging with shovels blessed by God? While we wait for Jesus, what are we doing? Are you riding a stalled escalator or are you digging?

Really great ideas

2008-06-21T16:29:00.003-05:00

Lets make a list of really great ideas. See how many you didn't think of until you needed it, and feel free to share!

Labeling the breaker box.
Finding your keys before you lock the front door behind you.
Setting your glass on a table that does NOT have a computer(or any other electronic device).
Cleaning up the yard before you mow.
Grippy socks on a wood floor.
Moving all electrical cords and headphones away from a puppy's reach.
Wearing knee pads when you remove wall to wall carpeting.

Just a few things that I have observed that might be really great tips if you haven't thought of them yourself!

In the kitchen

2008-06-17T12:13:00.004-05:00

My kitchen is the only room in the house with adequate storage. Some of that storage I need to use a ladder to get to, but it is storage nonetheless. So the problem is...the kitchen has turned into a lazy Susan of sorts. For those of you who are not from the Midwest, a lazy Susan is a round thing that rotates and you stick it on your table. You fill it up with food at mealtime and when you want something you twirl it around. What happens is that once it gets sat there people start to fill it up with junk that doesn't belong there.

When you want something in my house its always in the kitchen. Food, of coarse. But what else do you want?
Your winter coat? light jacket?
The kitchen.
Medication? First aid kit? Latex free band aids?
The kitchen.(its the only cabinet in the house that locks)
Candles? Batteries? Wine glasses from some anniversary so long ago you cant remember? Hot Glue gun? Bicycle helmet? Cedar shavings for an animal you no longer have?
Kitchen. Kitchen, kitchen.
Lamp oil? Baby box full of newborn items for your 7 and 8 year old? Hairbrush? Dog brush? Laundry? 2 ft tall ceramic basset hound? Cooler? Scissors? Paper bags?

Kitchen kitchen kitchen. Oh, and Kitchen.

See what I mean? Its always in the kitchen.

My kitchen needs a serious overhaul. I suspect it will take a solid week just to unload it. I suspect more than half will be sent off to the yard sale then gifted to a thrift store.(You really think my stuff will sell? No, I don't either.) And then? We might actually eat in there. What a concept, eating in the room you prepare food in. I hear that's the next "big thing". If I had a rolling eye smiley, I would insert it here. Next thing they'll say couches are not for sleeping. You watch, it'll happen.

Nice quiet house

2008-05-29T23:09:00.002-05:00

Kids in bed, dogs resting from a full day romping in the grass. Dh on his computer and me on mine. Headphones in our ears, surfing the net. When I was younger this kind of night would have been a nightmare. Ahh how life changes.

I'm feeling better, thanks for all who asked. The Ibuprofen worked so much better and I only had to take it once. Those type of headaches just grab ahold of me and shake me like a dog. It's not much fun. I'll try Ibuprofen first next time.

Gas went down! Dh is working across the state line and its down to $3.89! whooohooo! Isn't it sad that we are excited for it to be that high? I just wonder what will happen to gas prices as the election comes closer. Who takes credit for it, who promises to keep it that low if we just elect them. I have given up stuff I really don't want to because of this recent economy adventure. Its not going to get much better, so we may as all get used to it. For the same reson they flavor kid's medicine, this stuff is hard to swallow.

How have you been today?

Isnt it funny

2008-05-29T09:19:00.002-05:00

.....when you come face to face with a developmental disability you start to see it in other people? After our son was dx'd with Autism we started doing research and one day I realized I could trace autism like traits back 4 generations in my mothers family. I started coming to grips with the genetic form of autism long before some medical report came out to say hey look was we found. If you think about it, we all have one trait or another. I can remember being the awkward kid in class, not having the ability to make friends or understand social cues, not fitting into a mold and not being one of those follow the crowd kind of kids. But back then, that was just the *awkward preteen* stage. It didn't make it any easier to deal with.

Now brother bear has some very dominant traits, whereas his sister has some very passive ones. So passive that she has control of most of them, and we can talk her thru the rest. Its so odd that if you carry something in your genes and only a select few are passed down. Why is Nicole so higher functioning and Hunter is not? Why did God choose things the way they are? Only time will tell.

I have such a huge headache today its hard to think. I just finished a round of ZPac so I can't get another one for 2 weeks. I just took some Ibuprofen because the Excedrin Sinus Headache wore off too quick. the only thing that helps is lay down very still and since the kids are up and moving I don't think that's a good idea.

Well. You all have a nice day! I really need to get moving.

My settings are off

2008-05-28T11:28:00.003-05:00

Again.

There are a couple places where I change my settings every time I reboot because they go back to default or something. I really need to change them permanently because these settings don't allow me to go into a couple boards I frequent. Its driving me crazy.

The weather cooled off really nice. I don't know how long it will last but I am glad to not be sticky with sweat and have irritable children to boot.

Speaking of children, today is their first official day of summer vacation. It actually feels like Saturday, we haven't gotten used to the time off yet. Already sister bear is finding brother bear's triggers and picking a fight. Its not even noon for pete's sake. We are taking this week to unwind and gear up for a yard sale...next week starts the official summer routine. I'll let you know what that is soon as I make a list.

Daily pet peeve.

Well they sent a robot to Mars. While I know how important it is, it seems like a waste right now. Think about it for just a second. Gas is over $4 a gallon. We have families going without decent food, schools who can't pay their teachers living wages and families without medical insurance. The government is putting a lot of money into the Space program, how many families could get insurance for an 1/3 of that money? Right now schools are getting out for the summer, and for many of those kids the school breakfast/lunch program is the only regular meals they get. What are they doing over the summer?
Now there's an argument about the parents/guardians should just get a job. There was a report on the news about our high number or out of work teenagers because laid off adults are taking all the jobs. Our minimum wage goes to $6.55 in July, it won't even be $7 until next summer. Can you imagine paying your bills and feeding your family on less than $7 an hour? I know it can be done, however with the housing market in the pits, adults having to take huge pay cuts and even teenagers not able to work spending money to visit Mars seems a bit excessive.
Taking classes to better yourself is an option. If you're lucky(and smart, and get financial aid) you can get out of community college in 3 semesters or less, but then you still have to find a job. However in the meantime, things need taking care of.

Yes the world is a mess. I can't say its a surprise tho, people have been predicting stuff like this for a while now. Its just getting used to the way things are getting our butts in gear and making permanent changes. But that whole Mars thing just rubs me raw when there are so many other important things.

Last day of school

2008-05-27T17:41:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited! I like having my kids home with me and summer vacation just started today at 1:00 technically, but we had an IEP so we didn't get out till 2:30. It seems they *finally* agree with me, and think brother bear is stressed out at *that* school and its not my fault. Moms always get blamed don't they? Well guess what happened? He came into the local school for visits and had no issues adjusting whatsoever. I'm really hoping this placement works out because our other two options are not so appealing.

Sister bear got Honor Roll again! We're so proud of her. She fell behind this year because her classroom was just too loud. She can't keep up in a crowded noisy environment. I didn't realize the other class was the polar opposite or I would have moved her. Next year I'll keep better tabs, now that we know what works and what doesn't. She gave up a few recesses(working while it was quiet) to catch up and then got a bug keeping her out of school. So, she was behind again two weeks before school was out. She did catch up, and her lowest grade is a B-. She can work hard when she needs to.

Weather guy says its supposed to thunderstorm tonight, but we'll see. They have been wrong before(often) and anymore its all a big guess. Until the town storm siren goes off I don't take anything to heart.

Plans for the summer? We don't have any. Outside of therapy for brother bear in the next town, possibly swimming lessons if we can swing it, its all bikes, park and library time. All things we can do in town. Gas is $4.02 a gallon and I'm saving it for dire emergencies. Now that school is out we can do more walking, and be out later in the evening because they don't have to be up at 6:30 again until August. Woo Hoo!

Where have I been

2008-05-04T09:40:00.003-05:00

...I can't believe I have ignored this for so long. Sorry about that. We have been busy with this or that, and for the most part, I have been lazy.:)

Right now were doing end of the school year stuff, including a Spring concert for dd and IEP meetings and visits to a new school for ds. Sweet girl was so cute, I sat down in front on the floor to get a good picture and she wouldn't smile so I started making faces at her...yes she smiled...and eventually wouldn't look at me at all.:) When they are on stage they aren't supposed to wave or talk to the audience...just smile. So I did what I do best...aggravate her. She told me later she thought it was funny.
Ds has his case conference. I'm not a happy momma. We want him removed from this school and go to the local school and they are trying to make it difficult. The school they suggested I visit uses restraint and a "time out room" for discipline. That is wrong on so many levels. Thankfully ds's Behavioral Therapist agrees with my concerns and ds won't be attending there.

Earthquakes!

We have had something like 26 tremors. I think that's what the paper said. Anyway a couple weeks back we had a huge 5 pointer. It shook the house and dh and I were nervous Nelly's for a couple days. Most of the tremors are 2 and 3 point somethings and eventually no one felt them, or they were in the middle of the night and we all slept thru them. The base is the New Madrid fault, over in Ill. We have towns near by with 100-ish yr old buildings and they saw some damage. This has become active, the scientist are telling us, and now the media is telling us that "the big one" is in the works. Could be tomorrow, could be next week, or in 60 years. Don't you just love the drama? I mean really?!!? Just inform people of the risks, teach them what they need to know and leave it alone already. They can't be predicted in enough time to do anything anyway. I think the news said it took less than 5 seconds from the quake in the fault to reach us in Indiana.

Well. Life has been so busy the last week that I'm behind on housework. That and my computer died, so dh and FIL created one for me. Its a different laptop where the monitor doesn't work, hooked into a table top monitor(emachine, TV size, LOL). I don't care, long as it works.:)

That's about it for now, I'm off to tackle Mt Laundry. Have a good Sunday!!

While the house is quiet

2008-03-09T09:15:00.003-05:00

I am at my dh's computer blogging. The boy is playing games on my computer quietly, dh is snoring on the couch and dd is still in bed.

We change our clocks today. I forgot. I was filling the crock, saw the clock on the microwave, then came in here to sit only to see the computer clock had jumped ahead an hour. I thought to myself, how long was I in the kitchen anyway, and then I remembered. OY. Its too early.
Mandy the beagle is sick. We really don't know what is wrong with her but if it continues she'll be at the vet. She is a very sweet girl, we would hate to loose her. We might need to change her food. She is acting like she has a cold. Sneezing and throwing up(not constant, but enough). Her nose was warm yesterday, haven't checked her today.She is eating and drinking so, that's a plus.

We are going to work on the kid's rooms today. Its not pretty, LOL. Dd's is almost done and then we need to start on his. This all next week, I'm going to be culling toys and organizing what we keep. Then maybe next week? I'm going to empty the room and strip out his carpet. The house has wood floors, and even unfinished the wood looks better than carpet. The plan is to get a small carpet for there...prolly at Target. (I love Target). The room is small and there is very little floor space so a small rug will cover it.

Dd's room needs serious intervention. Theres going to be insulation and a new roof just over her room, paint and wall to wall carpet, because her room is actually on a slab foundation.

Dinner(or maybe lunch?) is going to be pepper steak. I found a recipe once and dh said he loved it. SO I had all the ingredients, and decided to make it again.

Pepper steak:
2 green peppers
2 red peppers
deer steak(1 pkg, about 4 single servings)
1 jar Ragu meat flavored sauce
pasta or rice

Spray your crock with non stick spray. Chop peppers and onions, place in crock. Slice steak into strips, small enough to bite. Place in crock. Cover with Ragu, stir to combine. Cook on high for about 4 hours or low about 6-7 hours, or until meat and vegies are done. Serve over your favorite pasta or rice.

I'm going to watch this to see if I need to add more sauce. I have some WW Penne, that should be good with it. Ragu is pretty good for you now. The jar says it has a 1/3 cup vegies in every serving. My dd will try new foods, where as ds won't usually. For a kid who has sensory issues new foods pretty much make him gag. This sauce is a lifesaver, getting vegies in him.

In my cleaning binge the other day I threw away my grill. I had a Hamilton Beach. It was one where you could enclose the food or open it all the way and cook on both sides. The hinge on one end broke years ago, and the cover for the timer light disappeared somewhere in the back of the cabinet I'm sure. When I got it out to use it, it refused to heat. It hit the trash can quick before I could talk myself into asking my SIL to fix it. We got our money out of it, it was a smart purchase.

Well the dryer is done, and I need to think about breakfast. I can smell the peppers cooking away, YUM! The dogs should be wanting out, and the house should start to make noise again soon. Have a good Sunday everyone!

It feels like March

2008-03-06T06:35:00.003-06:00

Just like its supposed to. :) We're looking at some cold weather, which is normal. It's nice to be normal. You think we will actually get the snow? The alleged snow is due sometime before Sunday. They keep saying its starting tonight, but then they say a lot of things. We have had some serious weather issues the last couple of years and I think this attitude of being hyper sensitive when the wind blows is almost justified.
Speaking of weather, did you practice the state wide tornado drill yesterday? Our siren went off twice. Once in the morning and once in the evening. I understand the need for it, however, I have one little bear who doesn't understand "practice". This drill upset him a great deal. Its for the greater good of the people in general. So that's a plus, and I'm glad the sirens work. They go off every Friday at noon for "practice" so the bears are used to that. Spring in Indiana means sirens. *Maybe one day*, weather won't bother him so much.

I deleted that post

2008-03-06T06:29:00.002-06:00

Because I felt it had been there long enough. If I have to address it again I will. For now I am just going to move on.

Creepy kids movies, itchy eyes and Barbies I hate

2008-01-03T10:53:00.001-06:00

I watched Narnia the other day. Never read the book. (I guess maybe I should have first.)

Its the first one, the one that came out a couple years ago. I finally got around to watching it with Mike and Nicole sitting near by. Hunter really wasn't interested. So it begins with the war in Europe with underground bunkers and the time they sent off all the children to the countryside for their protection. I remember learning about that, and so did he so that was neat. They had my attention. Fast forward to where the youngest finds the cupboard in an empty room after she convinces her brothers and sister to play hide and seek. She opens the door and gets in, backs up to what she believes is the back and walks into a snowy forest. It was beautiful, as snowy forest goes, and then there's the street light. Its all very strange even for a child's fantasy movie. Then the part comes up that made my skin crawl. The fawn, half man half deer, is startled by her appearance. They hide from each other and then the girl walks up to him and talks to him. See here's the creepy part. He makes her feel comfortable, convinces her to follow him, brings her inside, locks the door and hides the key, gives her a drink and she falls asleep. I understand the point of the story that there is a evil witch lurking in the forest, but that was creepy. I was about ready to turn it off and start on the kids about how wrong it was to follow strangers home, (especially bare chested men who act child like) take any food from people they don't know and walk off from whomever is in charge of them is a huge, gigantic, awful bad idea.
But we watched it, the kids loosing interest here and there, and every time that creepy fawn appeared he would make my skin crawl. It was a good movie overall, minus the fawn. My alternative ending would involve a muzzle loader or a magic spell to return him to a whole fawn so that creepy look he got would now be bear bait.

My kid's eyes are irritated. Hunter's been trying to get sick, and he woke up with horrible red eyes and a but of crust. I made an appt for them both today, and if its not pink eye he might be allergic to something. Because now his eyes are much much better with only a hint of red, strangely enough. They are still going in to get looked at. Eye Dr this time, not family Dr.

So you have heard of Baby wiggles and squirt and the puppy who lifts its leg and you need a puppy pad. Ick. Have you heard about the Barbie who has a dog, who eats pellets, then "deposits" them, only to be placed in the food bag again to be "food"? Yeah that one. Its beyond gross and guess what Nicole got from one of the grandma's?
SO anyway its too cold for the dogs to go outside and they are in here, under my feet. Reba the basset got a hold of that Barbie, striped off her pants and shoes(don't ask me how, Reba's head is bigger than my foot and I have no idea how she managed it), chewed both feet and one shoe before I caught her. I guess she doesn't like poop eating dogs either.

Points list

2007-12-28T11:30:00.001-06:00

So far these are our favorite brands and a couple new ones we haven't tried. I'm using the points calculator mentioned earlier. I'll be adding to this list, as I go thru the cabinet. I don't have a WW book. All I have is the net and a few online friends who are more expierenced than me. I will add to this list as I get more items.
Using this calculator http://www.webmilhouse.com/pointcalc.php this is what I found:

Chunky Ragu, Super Vege Primavera....2 pts per serving
Old World Style Ragu Traditional...........1 pt per serving
Pace Pcante Sauce, MILD........................0 pts per serving
Jif Creamy Peanut Butter........................5 pts per serving(think I'll be skipping this)
Ronzoni Healthy Harvest Whole Wheat Wide Noodles........3 pts per serving
Ronzoni Smart Taste Rotini and Elbow Pasta.........3 pts per serving
Musselman's Home Style Apple sauce....1 pt per serving
Maruchan Ramen Noodles, Chicken Flavor...4 pts per serving
Crystal Wedding Oats...............................2 pts per serving
Prairie Farms Cottage Cheese................3 pts per serving
Bunny Bread, Whole Grain White..........2 pts per serving(2 slices =1 serving)
Stove Top, Chicken Flavor.......................2 pts per serving
Quaker Medium Pearled Barley..............3 pts per serving
Creamette Brand Enriched Spaghetti.....4 pts per serving
Libby's 100% Pure Pumkin(not Pumkin Pie mix)........0 pts per serving
Halstead Acres Chili Hot Beans in sauce....1 pt per serving
Campbell's Healthy Request Cream of Chicken Soup....2 pts per serving
Hunt's Sloppy Joe Sauce(not including meat)...0 pts per serving
Wish Bone Ranch Dressing..........................4 pts per serving(ouch!)
Campbell's Onion Soup Mix........................0 pts per serving
Miracle Whip Dressing.....................................1 pt per serving
Brummel & Brown Vegetable Oil Spread made w/Yogurt...1pt per serving
Lay's Creamy Ranch Dip...........................2 pts per serving
Smucker's Grape Jelly..............................1 pt serving
Grade A Large Brown Eggs........................2 pts per serving
Bar S brand Balogna................................3 pts per serving
Buena Vida Fat Free Flour Tortillas.......2 pts per serving
Deer Meat................................................4 pts per serving

Shedding the pounds

2007-12-28T11:12:00.000-06:00

My new adventure in shedding the pounds involves Weight Watchers, and I have quite a few friends joining me on this quest using their own diet plan. I'm tired of being fat and not finding anything nice to wear. I'm tired of my feet and knees aching. I'm tired of being tired. So here's where I have to start reading labels and watch my servings. I haven't officially started yet, right now I'm changing out ingredients and cutting down servings first. That may sound like a cop out, but really, I just don't "dive in the deep end" very well anymore. Plus there is food in my pantry that I can't afford to just throw out. I'm buying different brands when it's time to replace. I would venture a guess the prep period of replacing stuff, making meal plans and trying new recipes will take a couple months. My weight loss journey will be very slow, I admit. Its how I'm wired, how I function.
When you look on the net you will find millions of WW links. Some good, some bad. I am amazed about just how much there is. The one thing I like about WW is that you can use real food, from real stores right down the road. You don't have to go to some swanky health food store to find whole wheat bread or no yolks pasta. Soon as I get time and collect some favorites, I'll post a list. Right now tho, I'm using a points calculator which is really neat. You type in your calories, fat and fiber and it calculates your points per serving. So if you have some processed food left in the cabinet you can figure your points out.
The other thing that I'm doing which is very anti diet is whole milk. I was reading about how Americans who are always doing the low fat thing are low on omega 3's and 6's. You get that from whole milk, poultry, eggs, etc. To me this is more important to get it in my kids than myself. I'm actually thinking about picking up a carton of Soy for myself and giving the kids the whole milk. Its expensive so I'm looking for a different store. So that's what I've been up to. How are you?

Oh good grief!

2007-12-16T13:38:00.000-06:00

Good news is that my computer works again. Bad news is that in order to get it to work Mike had to dump everything. All my pictures, all my documents, my favorites. Now don't get me wrong, I'm so very glad I have my computer back. But I did the really intelligent thing and promptly forgot all my passwords after setting all my favorite links to "remember me".

So just so you know, that won't be happening again. The next week or so, I'll be making a paper list of links and passwords. So if I complain of forgetting passwords again after this week, somebody smack me with a "go get yer list, woman".

Well anyway so the last couple days I have gotten quite a few things done. Mike found his way to a Goodwill on his way home and found an almost brand new 2 room tent. Mike and I function best in the woods. Or after we have spent time in the woods. Its one thing we share that bonded us, sort of. In the early stages of our relationship(hush, we were legal adults) we went camping as often as we could. These was days before we used cell phones or computers. Other people did but we didn't. If we could have a cabin in the middle of 5 wooded acres, within an hour of everything we and our kids need, we would be happy beyond words. In my neck of the woods, 5 acres will cost you a pretty penny and there's no home owner's association in the world that would let you build anything less than a McMansion on said 5 acre's.

Little bear is still fighting a head cold, sweet girl is heading it off at the pass and we got snow. Some of it is iced over, but for the most part its just slush. I haven't checked to see what our weather holds. I hope its good for a couple more days because I have a few more things to do before Christmas Eve. Mike won't be back until then, and I don't even have the tree put up yet.

Anything going on? I've missed coming here. Hope to see you all soon!

Come one come all, welcome to the show!

2007-12-11T08:41:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the land of Public School! Hurry hurry come on down, today we are celebrating contagious germ week and every germ is B1G1! Fill up your home with snotty, head congested, irritable children! Share them with your friends! Share them with your family! Share them with your families' friends! Hurry hurry while supplies last!

Ugh! Somebody let me know when they make a shot for the common cold and I will buy stock in the company.

The meeting went well...they needed more personal information so they can adjust his behavior plan. The BS(behavioral specialist, LOL) offered to attend the eval with us at Easter Seals for the Psychologist. I was sitting there thinking that I was the only one in the room who really understood what Hunter's real abilities were.*shaking head* I'm not giving up, I'm being realistic. And sometimes, being realistic can really hurt.

Sweet girl needs a bigger room. Yes, she needs less stuff but she also needs a bigger room. She needs her sanctuary just as much as we do. We always say, "in the next house". Well that goal really needs to take foot. In our house hunting adventure so many years ago, we saw houses in the Homes magazine with a single master bedroom suite on the top floor and wouldn't even consider them because we couldn't figure out how we could be on a different floor with the kids(who were still in the planning stages). However now with the kids older, I'm thinking we can handle it now. A smallish house with a single bedroom upstairs is just what a growing girl needs. A cousin just bought a house a few months ago and its just simply adorable. The upstairs needs work to raise the slanted roof, but once that's done it would be a perfect retreat. Next time we buy we will be better informed at what works and what doesn't.

Time for a foot stomping

2007-12-07T15:08:00.000-06:00

Monday I have to go in and meet with ds's teacher and the Behavioral specialist. They started a new charting system and gave it a whopping 3 days to work. Now they want to discuss "anything else" that might be effecting his behavior.
GGRRRRR
You know we went to the Dr because we thought he was adhd. We came home with Autism dx. In the *almost* 3 years since then dh and I have been reading everything we can get our hands on, spending endless hours on the net, finding other adults who have BTDT to educate ourselves. What we don't have is a degree in Special Education. So when the school calls and make me explain typical ASD behavior I just want to scream. They are the "experts" and I'm the one telling them, this is textbook behavior and I'm sorry you are concerned but if you have done your research you would know that.Soooo....taking a deep breath...spending some time in prayer...and going in Monday with God's hand on my shoulder and His hand over my mouth so I can explain, yet again, TEXTBOOK TEXTBOOK TEXTBOOK. And, a couple of Bless your hearts, and maybe even suggest pulling him and finding a placement where they don't get so gosh darn worked up over textbook behavior. Sheesh! Read the book people!!!

Imitation spider bites, gluton for punishment and "gifts that shine"

2007-12-06T16:47:00.000-06:00

*shaking head*
Ok remember the alleged spider bite and the resulting 3 hour ER visit only to be released with a "whatever it was its gone now" response?
Well.
See we were at DQ. What does DQ have? Ice cream. How do they keep it frozen? A very cold freezer. Very cold. I think there's even food inspectors who take the temperature. So he had an ice cream and we saw a blister like mark after earlier having dealt with a wolf spider sitting on his shirt. So tonight, we were there again. Again he had ice cream. Again, a "blister" appeared.
Folks, this was no spider bite. It was freezer burn. That ice cream was so hard he had to chew it sideways(hence ice cream to his ears and a trip to the bathroom).
Its gone now, I checked. And I didn't have to go to the ER to do it either.

So we came home and it's cold. We are under a winter weather advisory which basically means its going to get nasty cold and *if* there's any precipitation there might be snow or ice. Just until the weekend, when it will raise just enough to melt the ice.
Anyhoo we came home and the dogs are happy to see us. Little bear gets a little wild when they are running around but calms down later. The beagle adores little bear. He loves on her, lays on her, grabs her and tries to enclose her in boxes. Every time I separate the two, she runs right back to him. Telling him to stop doesn't stick if she keeps going back for more. I mean the dog will get his attention then roll over on her back and lay there while he attempts to put a toy firefighter hat on her head. Or grabs her legs and make her dance.

Things are calmer now, little bear is tired of the dog and sweet girl has read her library books out loud, asking me questions to make sure I'm listening. In the mail today we got a catalog to Emergency Essentials. Normally, I love this catalog but I'm a off grid buff to begin with. Now this is the Christmas edition. So now instead of the normal"hurry while they last" kind of scheme its a "gifts that shine!" theme. And you know, nothing says love like 3 function knife or a Hand Grain Mill. I don't know about you, but I think I would prefer a pair of purple fuzzy slippers and a stocking full of candy.:)

Insert cute title here

2007-12-06T05:46:00.000-06:00

SO its 5:46 am and I'm not real good at cute catchy titles this early. I'm sitting here at my computer thinking about the day's events. Last night sweet girl did get her nails painted, and what a pretty pink they are! They will match the pants she picked out to wear today. If you're wondering where all your bright pinks oranges and yellow clothes from the 70's went, don't worry it's being safely guarded by today's 8 yr old girls.:)
Today is therapy day for little bear so he doesn't have school. He uses Easter Seals for OT and Speech once a week. He has been dx'd with Autism, HF/Adhd/Processing Disorder. These sessions are in addition to what he gets in the public school. I will save my rant for Early Intervention for one day when I'm a little more rested. I'll just say, forever and a day, if it doesn't seem right it prolly isn't, you need to get that child an evaluation visit!

What's on tap for today? Do you have snow? Do you have wind and rain and a leaky roof?

We're going to leave early and head over to the local Subway for breakfast. The kids will get a blueberry muffin(they are as big as my hand, I tell ya) and I will get some kind of egg sandwhich thing. Which I will duct tape to my hips, because that's where its going to anyway. Sweet girl will get dropped of at school and little bear and I will go home and wait to head out for therapy.

Until later, have a good Thursday!

Wednesday, Dec5.

2007-12-05T18:14:00.000-06:00

I know, I know. Catchy title. I'm tired so this is it.

Random thoughts
How was your day? I canned jelly today. It was my first ever canning session. It has to set for 24 hours so sometime tomorrow afternoon we'll see how I did. My next canning project will either be a diffferent flavor jelly or ketchup. Either seem like fun. I asked for canning suplies for my birthday and that's what I got.(It helps when you get to pick it out yourself:))

Highlights!
Today my son let me brush his hair and teeth and trim his nails. Such huge feat for a little bear with sensory issues. It was a big fat hairy deal to me. Sweet girl wants some mommy time after brother bear goes to bed. I think we can do that. We *need* our nails painted glitter pink. It is a must.:)

Bummer:
My iron is low so I'm feeling blahhh. So it looks like I'll be having tip steak and OJ for the next several days.

Hoping by Friday I won't feel like I'm wearing lead boots.

Have a nice Wednesday everybody!

Boo!

2007-12-05T17:57:00.001-06:00

So here I am, girls, trying to figure out this blog thing. I know you all have blogs so now I have one too. Bwaaahaaahaaa! I'm such the copy cat. Whats next, canning jelly from frozen juice concentrate? Oh wait.....