On the first day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a child with a disability.
On the second day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a heart full of love for my child with a disability.
On the third day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: an ache in my heart and a heart full of love for my child with a disability.
On the fourth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a tear in my eyes, an ache in my heart, and a heart full of love for my child with a disability.
On the fifth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.
On the sixth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.
On the seventh day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.
On the eighth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: supportive friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.
On the ninth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: remarkable doctors, supportive friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hop e, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.
On the tenth day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: an appreciation of small accomplishments, remarkable doctors, supportive friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with disability.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, the good Lord gave to me: a sense of pride, an appreciation of small accomplishments, remarkable doctors, supportive friends, a sense of humor, a ray of hope, an unsuspected strength for the tear in my eyes and the ache in my heart and my heart full of love for my child with a disability.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, the good Lord said to me: Reach out and SHARE your sense of pride, your appreciation of small accomplishments, your remarkable doctors, your supportive friends, your sense of humor, your ray of hope, your unsuspected strength for the tear in your eyes and the ache in your heart and your heart full of love for you child with a disability.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Dear Santa......
Dear Santa,
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled mychildren on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my doctorand sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.
I was hoping you could spread my list outover several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son'sred crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, andwho knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple,which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze;but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle inthe grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the third month ofmy last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music;
a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence,
along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of powertools.
I could use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting don't eat in the livingroom' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury ofeating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season.
Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable?It will clear my conscience immensely.
It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.
Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.
Help yourself to cookies on the table butdon't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours Always, MOM...!
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.
Santa has asked that this gets passed on to all the Mommy's you know*
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!
I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and cuddled mychildren on demand, visited their doctor's office more than my doctorand sold sixty-two cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.
I was hoping you could spread my list outover several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son'sred crayon, on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, andwho knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.
Here are my Christmas wishes:
I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple,which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze;but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy aisle inthe grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the third month ofmy last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music;
a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.
On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, 'Yes, Mommy' to boost my parental confidence,
along with two kids who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of powertools.
I could use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting don't eat in the livingroom' and 'Take your hands off your brother,' because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury ofeating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season.
Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable?It will clear my conscience immensely.
It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family.
Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back.
Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.
Help yourself to cookies on the table butdon't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.
Yours Always, MOM...!
P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep my children young enough to believe in Santa.
Santa has asked that this gets passed on to all the Mommy's you know*
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!
Friday, December 14, 2007
A Smile in the Mail :)
Thanks Secret Sis {{HUGS}}
I got your note yesterday and I have read and re-read it at least a dozen times. LOLOLOL
Talk about making my day!!!!!It really made my heart smile as it was filled with such love and encouragement-THANKS!!!! :)
I got your note yesterday and I have read and re-read it at least a dozen times. LOLOLOL
Talk about making my day!!!!!It really made my heart smile as it was filled with such love and encouragement-THANKS!!!! :)
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Tis the Season....
Well last night was our last play practise. One family has strep *knocking on wood that it passes us*(they have three boys), many othe rlittel ones are getting sick-with stomach bugs and what not....sigh...tis the season eh?
Before practice started the Pastors wife ordered us all hamburgers and we had cake and chips and punch. It was really nice of her. Monkey Boy was in Heaven having his double cheese-and Flamingo with her nuggets. Stingers hamburger sat on the table not even touched. Seams he had a problem with everyone touching the wrapper when they were handing them out and refused to even look at his burger let alone eat it. He wouldnt even have any Pringles-which are his ultimate favorite chips :(
We had discussed the issue of him eating with everyone before we went which resulted in a meltdown and him hiding in the pantry just crying and crying.....I told him that i understood that these thinsg were hard,that he didndt have to like being ard other kids or people, but he needed to learn to tolerate it-to think it was OKay. He procedded to tell me in tears how hard it was and how everyone looked at him etc. I stressed that all I was asking him to do was try and sit with everyone, to sit with me etc. He finally through teras said okay and off we went.
So he ended up not eating, but he sat there at the table with me and I was very proud of him for that and for trying and tolerating being in a very uncomforteable situation for him and handling it so well :) So that was all I asked of him and he did it :)
Things like this which should be such a fun time are just misery for him....I get sad becuse I tend to forget that and think he is missing out on having fun...but to him its just not fun in no such fashion.
He's content to just play with his siblings at home and woudl do so and never leave the house I am sure if he had any say abt it. He would be in Heaven to be able and allowed to stay at home and not have to be put in social situations.....but I cant do that . I can shelter him and hide him and protect him...but how is that preparing him for a life on his own? Which again makes me feel bad wishing I could just let him be-let him be alone-as that is how he is happy being....sigh....I feel bad as a Mother anyway I look at it...any way you look at it...its just hard :(
Well enough of my festering.......
Im going to start Christmas baking tonight-Stinger is anxiously awaiting FUDGE-LOLOLOL, and is asking me every morning if I have made it yet...LOLOLOL
So I had better get a move on........
He's still sleeping-every since we took him off of his med he doesnt sleep so well-he just isnt tired at night like he used to be, which makes for a rough morning as of late......but hes doing really well otherwise.
Well I had better go and start our day :)
Hey-have I mentioned Christmas is right ard the corner and Im LOVIN IT!!!!!LOLOLOL-That cheered me up-eh? LOLOLOL :)
Before practice started the Pastors wife ordered us all hamburgers and we had cake and chips and punch. It was really nice of her. Monkey Boy was in Heaven having his double cheese-and Flamingo with her nuggets. Stingers hamburger sat on the table not even touched. Seams he had a problem with everyone touching the wrapper when they were handing them out and refused to even look at his burger let alone eat it. He wouldnt even have any Pringles-which are his ultimate favorite chips :(
We had discussed the issue of him eating with everyone before we went which resulted in a meltdown and him hiding in the pantry just crying and crying.....I told him that i understood that these thinsg were hard,that he didndt have to like being ard other kids or people, but he needed to learn to tolerate it-to think it was OKay. He procedded to tell me in tears how hard it was and how everyone looked at him etc. I stressed that all I was asking him to do was try and sit with everyone, to sit with me etc. He finally through teras said okay and off we went.
So he ended up not eating, but he sat there at the table with me and I was very proud of him for that and for trying and tolerating being in a very uncomforteable situation for him and handling it so well :) So that was all I asked of him and he did it :)
Things like this which should be such a fun time are just misery for him....I get sad becuse I tend to forget that and think he is missing out on having fun...but to him its just not fun in no such fashion.
He's content to just play with his siblings at home and woudl do so and never leave the house I am sure if he had any say abt it. He would be in Heaven to be able and allowed to stay at home and not have to be put in social situations.....but I cant do that . I can shelter him and hide him and protect him...but how is that preparing him for a life on his own? Which again makes me feel bad wishing I could just let him be-let him be alone-as that is how he is happy being....sigh....I feel bad as a Mother anyway I look at it...any way you look at it...its just hard :(
Well enough of my festering.......
Im going to start Christmas baking tonight-Stinger is anxiously awaiting FUDGE-LOLOLOL, and is asking me every morning if I have made it yet...LOLOLOL
So I had better get a move on........
He's still sleeping-every since we took him off of his med he doesnt sleep so well-he just isnt tired at night like he used to be, which makes for a rough morning as of late......but hes doing really well otherwise.
Well I had better go and start our day :)
Hey-have I mentioned Christmas is right ard the corner and Im LOVIN IT!!!!!LOLOLOL-That cheered me up-eh? LOLOLOL :)
Monday, December 03, 2007
Gutenburg.....
We learned abt the Gutenburg Press today.
We cut potatoes in half and carved out designs-like they did with metal letters and painted them then stamped them. THIS finally sank in to Stinger as to what a wonderful invention this was and how hard and long it took to wright books before it etc.
But it was alot of fun too ;)
I have finally figured out how to keep Stingers interest in history...WHOOT!!!
We do a timeline for each and every thing we need to cover. Ive set up a binder and we make a page for each topic, event, or person on each page with the time period. Stinger seams to really understand this ALOT better. Its not just a bunch of confusing facts anymore-kwim? Hmmm-thinking how much this would have helped me, and yes-I am VERY History challenged and Ive been getting frustrated with it until now as well-LOLOL
So its helped me and its helped him to actually see when all these events were taking place.
We are still struggling with "WHY is this important MOM??? It happend SOOOOOOOOO long ago"but its somewhat easier to understand now anyway...LOLOLOL
Ive been trying to teach him mistakes people made, and how we can look back and see these mistakes and that maybee we can prevent them from happening again to us, taht we can learn from past mistakes etc...but ist not really meaning alot to a 8 yr old who is so in the here and now-kwim? LOLOLOL
But we are plugging along.
Today we finished abt 12: 30-it was incredible-LOLOLOL, Stinger worked so well and Monkey Boy played quietly when his lessons were done. Today I kinda did it different. Monkey boy math then Stinger math. Monkey boy Alphabet and Phonics then Stinger Phonics and Language etc. It ran much smoother from how it usually goes with interuptions - "Mom Im done" a zillion times with Monkey Boy etc. I worked with each one seperatly instead of together and it went MUCH better. So we'll see abt doing that from now on-eh?
Flamingo-sigh........I found out some distressing news from her this weekend. Seams her teacher is only allowing the kids( 1st grade-sheesh)to use the restroom at morning break, lunch and afternoon break, and if they need to go again-they are punished by making up the time at their breaks-sigh.....she actually writes down the time and then that time is owed. So little sweet Flamingo-who never wants to get in to trouble by asking to use the restroom when she really just HAS to go-instead has been having accidents secretly at school.
I could NOT believe this-boy it had me hot-not only are they 1st graders for goodness sake, but being in wet undies all day long is just screaming of wonderful infections going on and that sort etc. UGH-I was torked. So off went a note-I was nice;), abt letting Flamingo please take restroom breaks when she needs to go!!!!!!and not to recieve punishments for it good grief-as I am not liking what has been going on.
Flamingo reported back to me today that the reason the teacher does this is because kids mess ard in the hall-but Flamingo doesnt so she is free to go when needed-so says Mrs Teacher. BROTHER-okay so if she knows this abt Flamingo why hasnt she just let her go all this time...sigh...ugh......
Man-I feel like I have been here before...knock on wood! LOLOLOLOL
Tonight she told me she doesnt want to go to school tomorrow and wants to be home with us :(I said well what abt all your friends and of course she responds back "Well I dont have any" which i KNOW isnt true...or is it????hmmmmmm........sheeesh......
Yep-I'll be festering abt this for sure-LOLOLOLOL
We cut potatoes in half and carved out designs-like they did with metal letters and painted them then stamped them. THIS finally sank in to Stinger as to what a wonderful invention this was and how hard and long it took to wright books before it etc.
But it was alot of fun too ;)
I have finally figured out how to keep Stingers interest in history...WHOOT!!!
We do a timeline for each and every thing we need to cover. Ive set up a binder and we make a page for each topic, event, or person on each page with the time period. Stinger seams to really understand this ALOT better. Its not just a bunch of confusing facts anymore-kwim? Hmmm-thinking how much this would have helped me, and yes-I am VERY History challenged and Ive been getting frustrated with it until now as well-LOLOL
So its helped me and its helped him to actually see when all these events were taking place.
We are still struggling with "WHY is this important MOM??? It happend SOOOOOOOOO long ago"but its somewhat easier to understand now anyway...LOLOLOL
Ive been trying to teach him mistakes people made, and how we can look back and see these mistakes and that maybee we can prevent them from happening again to us, taht we can learn from past mistakes etc...but ist not really meaning alot to a 8 yr old who is so in the here and now-kwim? LOLOLOL
But we are plugging along.
Today we finished abt 12: 30-it was incredible-LOLOLOL, Stinger worked so well and Monkey Boy played quietly when his lessons were done. Today I kinda did it different. Monkey boy math then Stinger math. Monkey boy Alphabet and Phonics then Stinger Phonics and Language etc. It ran much smoother from how it usually goes with interuptions - "Mom Im done" a zillion times with Monkey Boy etc. I worked with each one seperatly instead of together and it went MUCH better. So we'll see abt doing that from now on-eh?
Flamingo-sigh........I found out some distressing news from her this weekend. Seams her teacher is only allowing the kids( 1st grade-sheesh)to use the restroom at morning break, lunch and afternoon break, and if they need to go again-they are punished by making up the time at their breaks-sigh.....she actually writes down the time and then that time is owed. So little sweet Flamingo-who never wants to get in to trouble by asking to use the restroom when she really just HAS to go-instead has been having accidents secretly at school.
I could NOT believe this-boy it had me hot-not only are they 1st graders for goodness sake, but being in wet undies all day long is just screaming of wonderful infections going on and that sort etc. UGH-I was torked. So off went a note-I was nice;), abt letting Flamingo please take restroom breaks when she needs to go!!!!!!and not to recieve punishments for it good grief-as I am not liking what has been going on.
Flamingo reported back to me today that the reason the teacher does this is because kids mess ard in the hall-but Flamingo doesnt so she is free to go when needed-so says Mrs Teacher. BROTHER-okay so if she knows this abt Flamingo why hasnt she just let her go all this time...sigh...ugh......
Man-I feel like I have been here before...knock on wood! LOLOLOLOL
Tonight she told me she doesnt want to go to school tomorrow and wants to be home with us :(I said well what abt all your friends and of course she responds back "Well I dont have any" which i KNOW isnt true...or is it????hmmmmmm........sheeesh......
Yep-I'll be festering abt this for sure-LOLOLOLOL
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Found a photo sight :)
Okay-Im going to be experimenting here with this new sight I found-its called Photobucket-and its REALLY neat!!!!!
K-so here's some of Stingers art work...LOLOL
K-so here's some of Stingers art work...LOLOL
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
MY PRECIOUS JOY-poem
okay-this hit me deep.....
MY PRECIOUS JOY (AUTISM)
Author: Unknown
Sweet Father in Heaven whose love is divine,
Thank-you so much for the son that is mine.
To others he'd be a burden to bear,
But to me he's a joy to which none can compare.
I know that he's different from most girls and boys,
He speaks kind of funny and plays strange with toys.
For him, change is hard, he can get so upset,
He must seem so odd to those he has met.
Sometimes his anger gets out of control
And he has a huge meltdown which torments my soul.
Yet as I look into those precious blue eyes,
I know that you, Lord, gave me this surprise.
For life doesn't always turn out like we hope,
You know what is best, and it's through you I cope.
You help me to see as others do stare
That this is My precious boy, not a burden to bear.
Although he is different than some other kid,
I'm so glad that you did what you did.
When others comment "I don't know how you do it!"
It feels as arrows in my shoulder they have hit.
How could they not see what I see?
I just can't believe they don't envy me!
And then it occurs as if from above,
You knew that I was the one for this love.
You knew I'd rejoice in his triumphs though small they might be,
And urge him to greatness despite what they see.
I'd find joy and laughter where there could be tears,
I'd see his limits and proceed without fears.
You knew I'd be best for this special boy,
So, thank you Dear Lord, for my precious joy.
MY PRECIOUS JOY (AUTISM)
Author: Unknown
Sweet Father in Heaven whose love is divine,
Thank-you so much for the son that is mine.
To others he'd be a burden to bear,
But to me he's a joy to which none can compare.
I know that he's different from most girls and boys,
He speaks kind of funny and plays strange with toys.
For him, change is hard, he can get so upset,
He must seem so odd to those he has met.
Sometimes his anger gets out of control
And he has a huge meltdown which torments my soul.
Yet as I look into those precious blue eyes,
I know that you, Lord, gave me this surprise.
For life doesn't always turn out like we hope,
You know what is best, and it's through you I cope.
You help me to see as others do stare
That this is My precious boy, not a burden to bear.
Although he is different than some other kid,
I'm so glad that you did what you did.
When others comment "I don't know how you do it!"
It feels as arrows in my shoulder they have hit.
How could they not see what I see?
I just can't believe they don't envy me!
And then it occurs as if from above,
You knew that I was the one for this love.
You knew I'd rejoice in his triumphs though small they might be,
And urge him to greatness despite what they see.
I'd find joy and laughter where there could be tears,
I'd see his limits and proceed without fears.
You knew I'd be best for this special boy,
So, thank you Dear Lord, for my precious joy.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Im a Secret Sister....but dont tell anyone......:)
I found the greatest sight last week-its called Training Hearts. Its all about motivating homeschooling Moms and this secret sister is just the way to motivate us all :) Sometimes I feel Im all alone in doing this.
WHOOT!!!!!! Im so excited to start-only 4 days left-so there is still time if ya wanna join too :)
WHOOT!!!!!! Im so excited to start-only 4 days left-so there is still time if ya wanna join too :)
Thursday, November 08, 2007
"Meanest Mom on Earth"
Okay- so aparrantly I have won this title tonight-LOLOLOL
There was a new playground put up behind the library. We noticed it yesterday when we were at the Library. I told the kids I would take them today. So when Flamingo comes home we have to go.
Flamingo and Monkey boy hop out of the car and hit the toys as fast as they can. Stinger isnt so fast.....he notices some kids and wont get out of the car. I try and coax him out for abt a 1/2 hr as he repeated to me that he would go as soon as ALL the kids left......yeah-not going to happen at a new cool playground-kwim? But he proceeds to wait patiently for this to happen....
I notice that there are some toys and kids are sitting on them aparently digging with them. AH-HA moment here! THIS is it- This is what will get him out of the car. I tell him-"WOW-look at what those kids are doing-they are digging with something!" Stingers ears perk up. " Oh my gosh Stinger! There are toys you can sit on and make them dig-how cool is that?" Stinger presses his nose to the window and looks. Flamingo and Monkey boy are now on them. I tell Stinger "Doesnt Monkey Boy look like he is having sooo much fun? He's got a big smile on his face and I bet he'd let you have a turn if you asked nicely Stinger"
So he got out of the car-TA DA! -going all the way ard the playground to avoid the other kids there. But he was in Heaven and Monkey Boy hoped right off-what a nice bro-eh? After abt 2 hours...sigh...LOLOL we needed to go so I could come home and get baths going and dinner made.
Can you say fits GALORE from all 3! LOLOLOL They want to go tomorrow as well-but I cant run into town every day-sheesh.....
Now Im the Meanest Mom on Earth -per Stinger-I NEVER do what they want to do-If Its all messed up when they go again-you guessed it-its MY fault-LOLOLOL. "Can we go???-waits 5-10 min-can we go????-wait -can we go...... "
Oh they have the hardest life........LOLOLOL Im soooo mean.
ANYWAY..........
School is going good. We are learning abt Ecosystems and today we were studying the Borial Forest. Abt 5 minutes into it we were suddenly talking abt Big Foot-LOLOLOL, how we got there I can only imagine-but for the rest of the lesson thats all he could focus on-truly stuck. "Where do they live? I bet they live in these forests.....Do they have kids? What do they look like?-do they smell? eh-yiyi ;) Okay-so I didnt know ALL the answers to his questions.....so sue me. LOLOL "But Mom-you need to find this stuff out-I NEED to know this stuff!!!!" LOLOLOL-too funny-so anyone want to guess what Ill be looking up tonight and what we will be discussing tomorrow? LOLOLOLOL Anyone have or know of any sights out there? Guess Ill just be googling it as I have NO idea-LOLOLOL;)
But it was fun-I made sure I somehow got in all the objectives-but Im going with things he interupts with and letting him lead me sometimes-and it is SOOO much more stressless( is that a word? ) I got some homeschool books at Borders last weekend and Im learning alot from them and surprise surprise-they are actually HELPING and he's learning like they say-even if its not in the "curriculum" seams the more questions I answer the more he gets into it-he gets this big smile on his face and just goes and goes and goes, and gets more in depth etc.....they say be as interested in the things and questions they ask and they will naturally learn and want to learn more. Had my doubts-but its true it looks like.
Anyway-its going good ard here :)
There was a new playground put up behind the library. We noticed it yesterday when we were at the Library. I told the kids I would take them today. So when Flamingo comes home we have to go.
Flamingo and Monkey boy hop out of the car and hit the toys as fast as they can. Stinger isnt so fast.....he notices some kids and wont get out of the car. I try and coax him out for abt a 1/2 hr as he repeated to me that he would go as soon as ALL the kids left......yeah-not going to happen at a new cool playground-kwim? But he proceeds to wait patiently for this to happen....
I notice that there are some toys and kids are sitting on them aparently digging with them. AH-HA moment here! THIS is it- This is what will get him out of the car. I tell him-"WOW-look at what those kids are doing-they are digging with something!" Stingers ears perk up. " Oh my gosh Stinger! There are toys you can sit on and make them dig-how cool is that?" Stinger presses his nose to the window and looks. Flamingo and Monkey boy are now on them. I tell Stinger "Doesnt Monkey Boy look like he is having sooo much fun? He's got a big smile on his face and I bet he'd let you have a turn if you asked nicely Stinger"
So he got out of the car-TA DA! -going all the way ard the playground to avoid the other kids there. But he was in Heaven and Monkey Boy hoped right off-what a nice bro-eh? After abt 2 hours...sigh...LOLOL we needed to go so I could come home and get baths going and dinner made.
Can you say fits GALORE from all 3! LOLOLOL They want to go tomorrow as well-but I cant run into town every day-sheesh.....
Now Im the Meanest Mom on Earth -per Stinger-I NEVER do what they want to do-If Its all messed up when they go again-you guessed it-its MY fault-LOLOLOL. "Can we go???-waits 5-10 min-can we go????-wait -can we go...... "
Oh they have the hardest life........LOLOLOL Im soooo mean.
ANYWAY..........
School is going good. We are learning abt Ecosystems and today we were studying the Borial Forest. Abt 5 minutes into it we were suddenly talking abt Big Foot-LOLOLOL, how we got there I can only imagine-but for the rest of the lesson thats all he could focus on-truly stuck. "Where do they live? I bet they live in these forests.....Do they have kids? What do they look like?-do they smell? eh-yiyi ;) Okay-so I didnt know ALL the answers to his questions.....so sue me. LOLOL "But Mom-you need to find this stuff out-I NEED to know this stuff!!!!" LOLOLOL-too funny-so anyone want to guess what Ill be looking up tonight and what we will be discussing tomorrow? LOLOLOLOL Anyone have or know of any sights out there? Guess Ill just be googling it as I have NO idea-LOLOLOL;)
But it was fun-I made sure I somehow got in all the objectives-but Im going with things he interupts with and letting him lead me sometimes-and it is SOOO much more stressless( is that a word? ) I got some homeschool books at Borders last weekend and Im learning alot from them and surprise surprise-they are actually HELPING and he's learning like they say-even if its not in the "curriculum" seams the more questions I answer the more he gets into it-he gets this big smile on his face and just goes and goes and goes, and gets more in depth etc.....they say be as interested in the things and questions they ask and they will naturally learn and want to learn more. Had my doubts-but its true it looks like.
Anyway-its going good ard here :)
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
What IS Your Story??????????
Okay this is my 1st LAMP training assignment:
I had to explain to the group tonight( its a training thing I got nominated for at the Utah Parent Training Center-they deal with helping parents with disabilities and the school etc)what our "story " was. I get to do teh conference online as I live so far out here :)
This is what I shared with the group:
I had to explain to the group tonight( its a training thing I got nominated for at the Utah Parent Training Center-they deal with helping parents with disabilities and the school etc)what our "story " was. I get to do teh conference online as I live so far out here :)
This is what I shared with the group:
My Story.........
I guess you could say my "story" began with the birth of my son Stinger.
To say he was a high needs baby simply doesnt do justice. I still to this day remember crying night after night as he cried and cried trying anything under the sun-what every book said to do
to soothe him. He had to be constantly bounced, juggled, and swaddled up really tight each and every night. Touchy to noises, sunlight. Not responding to his name-running away.....
to soothe him. He had to be constantly bounced, juggled, and swaddled up really tight each and every night. Touchy to noises, sunlight. Not responding to his name-running away.....
Stinger being my first child, I think I missed alot of signs. Limited imagination play, eye contact, lining up toys, walking on tip-toes, aggressive play with others and objects, banging head,spitting. Things like this I must have just dismissed -after all he was my first child-my baby and he couldnt have been more PERFECT. :)
I'd say he was abt 2 1/2 when my mommy gut started telling me something was off. He had such a temper and I never knew what was the matter.
I called Early Intervention and he started a 1:1 play therapy where they signed and sang songs. He showed improvement and he was moved up to EI pre-school. They then recommended Head Start where he again did fairly well. My fears subsided as I quickly dismissed his behaviors as a maturity issue he was just growing out of.
Kindergarden started out well, but day after day the phone calls started coming in. "Stinger is hitting, Stinger wont share, Stinger cant learn his alphabet or his numbers, Stinger wont participate in class." Again I dismissd it blaming the teacher as she was known to have favorites and she well..she just hated my son....LOLOLOL But as the year went on I realized it was more than that.
1st grade we started the process of evaluating for special education. It took more than a year-yes, I wasnt familiar with the time frame laws then- for the school and I to agree on what the issues were-in the meantime they just decided to do nothing abt anything...sigh....
It was at this time that the word Autism became known to me. I started living at the computer. I just could not believe how the signs of ASD( Autism Spectrum Disorder) fit my son. I fought with the school all year abt which evals and testing scores-they had no idea and wouldnt even accept their own test eval results. They wanted to classify him as ED(Emotional Disturbance) I knew it went much deeper than that. I even had some advocates go to bat for us at some of the meetings-nothing changed.
During all of this nothing was being done. Stinger was getting suspended, I was getting calls every other day to come and pick him up etc. He was smacking, running away, kicking throwing things-his behaviors were just getting worse and worse.
I finally went outside the school to get him evaluated at a Childrens Hospital. There they diagnosed him with Pdd-Nos, Anxiety-Nos, and adhd tendancies, SID( sensory). I went back to the school with these papers in hand and he was finally classified as if by magic.
By the end of 1st grade everyone was overwhelmed and had no idea what to do. Stinger was getting Speech therapy, group therapy at mental Health, 1: 1 with some academics and things were just getting worse. I guess in my mind I thought their magical "system" was going to be able to fix everything-yes, I was very naive and way too trusting.
They incorporated a time out room just for Stinger which only served to escalate his behaviors-he was running every day now-afraid to be put into the timeout room. So they would use it more and more and not tell me about it.
The school at the middle of 2nd grade basically told me they could no longer handle my son-even though the aide I requested had helped tremendously and it was charted. We ended up talking about a change of placement.
About this time last year he was transferred to a self contained classroom. Having been lied to by the homeschool abt the time they had my son in the timeout room I was alread having trust issues and when NO phone calls came from this new school and visiting rights were denied I was starting to have doubts as to what exactly they were doing there. Stinger also started having accidents at school.
I guess the last straw came when Stinger got off the bus, with no note or phone call, all scratched up-his face, back and chest, raw red marks under his arms where they had been forcing him to stand, bruising ard both his wrists where he had been dragged to the timeout room. And Stinger explained to me abt a "box" he was placed in that they locked.
We immediately had an emergency meeting and they procedded to brush me off simply stating that they had all just had a "rough" day.
Later I found out that they had put him in that box frequently, covered the little window, locked the door, and he was not allowed to use the restroom while he was doing his "time" in there. They also had him in there for numerous hours where he would miss his lunch and wet himself and was required to clean this up himself.
THIS was when I said ENOUGH-I GIVE.
This past summer I pulled him out of the "program" if thats what youd call it.....
Trust has been broken, my sons spirit was broken and he and I will never get over what these individuals did in the name of " treatment."
I was done.
Done with the fighting, done with the retaliation whenever I said something was unjust. They treated him worse when I fought for his right to an education. Due Process was the only next step and even then I had no desire to even be in the same room with these people, let alone fight in court only to have him placed right back into their evil arms.
This summer I decided to Homeschool Stinger. Its as if he has been reborn-the once happy boy I once knew-the once happy smiling boy has come back. Behaviors arent an issue now that understanding, love and patience have been introduced to his learning. Its been wonderful and Im seeing growth each and every day. He is so far behind academically as the schools seamed to think his punishments were more important that his education. And we have our days. But everyday he is learning more, becoming more confident and growing into the young man I am so proud of.
One day I hope to try Public School again. I let the schools intimidate me and my son as I lacked the courage and known every law( which is basically what you need) to really stand up to them.
I am still studying every day and will continue to learn all that I can so that when and if we do decided to go back we will be able to stand strong and get the supports he needs and we will NOT stop fighting until my son gets a fair and appropriate education.
I look forward to getting to know you all and am looking forward to this training.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Its Finally Out :)
Well today is the long awaited premier of THE BEE MOVIE. Yes, we are all ready set to go out and see it on Saturday-LOLOLOL
For anyone who does not know Stinger-BEES are his "thing." Bees-what they do, how many different kinds, their homes, their colors-yes they all are different;), their work orders and routines, where they live, what they eat, how long they live, how the colonies are set up, what flowers they like, whatthey do during teh winter, their life cycles. Yes-we here are all very familiar with Bees-like it or not we have all had to hear the how and whys of every detail concerning them.
Bees in teh house are not uncommon-and if you should happen to venture into that room of his-you will find bee nests-empty-sometimes;)LOLOL), stuffed bees, bee pictures, bee books, bee plastic toys, bee kites, bee magnetic toys you can assemble-you name it.
So tomorrow is the BIG day. :) WHOOT!!! The movie actually looks really cute-so Im even looking forward to it.
School is going VERY well-his reading is getting better and better each week-amazing!!!!!We have had fun this past week with Halloween and doing crafts and learning abt the History of Halloween.
Haloween went well-Stinger wanted nothing to do with the trick or treat ard town as it wasnt in his regular routine set up. We ususally just go to the parking lot and not ard town. He refused to get out of the car and after many minutes of coaxing he finally agreed if he didnt have to go into the shops or talk to anyone.But we had fun going to the parking lot and eating chilli and cinnamon rolls:)
Then we all came home and looked at the loot- No candy needed ard here for awhile-at least till Christmas anyway-LOLOLOL:)
For anyone who does not know Stinger-BEES are his "thing." Bees-what they do, how many different kinds, their homes, their colors-yes they all are different;), their work orders and routines, where they live, what they eat, how long they live, how the colonies are set up, what flowers they like, whatthey do during teh winter, their life cycles. Yes-we here are all very familiar with Bees-like it or not we have all had to hear the how and whys of every detail concerning them.
Bees in teh house are not uncommon-and if you should happen to venture into that room of his-you will find bee nests-empty-sometimes;)LOLOL), stuffed bees, bee pictures, bee books, bee plastic toys, bee kites, bee magnetic toys you can assemble-you name it.
So tomorrow is the BIG day. :) WHOOT!!! The movie actually looks really cute-so Im even looking forward to it.
School is going VERY well-his reading is getting better and better each week-amazing!!!!!We have had fun this past week with Halloween and doing crafts and learning abt the History of Halloween.
Haloween went well-Stinger wanted nothing to do with the trick or treat ard town as it wasnt in his regular routine set up. We ususally just go to the parking lot and not ard town. He refused to get out of the car and after many minutes of coaxing he finally agreed if he didnt have to go into the shops or talk to anyone.But we had fun going to the parking lot and eating chilli and cinnamon rolls:)
Then we all came home and looked at the loot- No candy needed ard here for awhile-at least till Christmas anyway-LOLOLOL:)
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