Blogs to read~

There are SO many blogs out there to read-- there are ones for

• Special Needs
• Sewing
• Quilting
• Give-a-ways
• Adoption
• Parenting
• Crafts
• Faith based parenting
• Funny People
• Free Stuff
• Making a lovely home

Honestly the list is endless...
 and as much as I would like to read each and every one of the posts that catch my eye....  I cannot.
Do you limit what you read? How do you keep your blog reading to a manageable amount?

I am OVER WHELMED.... and STUNNED at all the things that I could read and learn about!
Even if I had more time to read, I don't think I'd be happy-- I like to read and think about a post-- I like to leave well thought out comments-- I like to SPELL things correctly in my comments.
yup... I need a clone or two or three. 

Happy Mother's Day

I don't have much to post today ... but I found this from a previous post.
http://frogparenting.blogspot.com/2009/05/little-things.html

or this from Feburary 2nd 2008
http://frogparenting.blogspot.com/2008/02/in-honor-of-erma-bombeckand-another.html


The kids have had breakfast, I have had a cup of coffee-- later we will go to church.
The kids did give me hugs and wish me Happy Mother's Day, but since we are broke-- we might just have a different version of Mother's Day, a cheap or free one! :)


Happy Mother's Day~

The Day after~

In our home we now have a
(tired Mommy, 2 energetic kids)
Jerry had to go back to work

We also have a ~

a Wii

an Easy Bake Oven

6 of the 39 clues books--

a bionicle

a camera for Jessica

and other assorted toys--

Currently the most popular is the Wii... boxing--
Yesterday -- Jessica played golf with Jerry and Shane and I think she won!
We only have one controller so everyone "gets" to wait their turn... even Mommy!
Shane gives instruction (coaching) on EVERYTHING--
Watching the kids play is fun -- they get SO wrapped up in trying to get it right.
I shudder to think what I looked like when I was boxing...

I was going to take a picture of the "pretzel" that Jessica and Jerry created in the Easy Bake Oven-- but it didn't last long enough ! It was NOT the greatest "food" but Jessica and Jerry were sure proud--

I went ahead and read the first of the 39 clues book-MAZE OF BONES - so that I could be prepared-- I was able to finish the first book-- it's really good -- I was rather impressed! I started reading it to Shane last night, and now Jessica wants me to let her catch up to us-- . I REALLY want to read ahead of the kids, but I will try to wait for them to catch up to me.

Yesterday was supposed to be our "normal" grocery day --- and we are out of laundry soap,dishwasher soap and other essentials- so we will have to go to the grocery store-
- I am SO happy we have the 39 clues books-- I bet the trip to the store will be MUCH easier!
(Thanks Grandma Jeanne and Grandpa Hutch)

Last evening we went looking at Christmas Lights-- in the South Hills--(BIG houses on a BIG hill...) Jerry and I like to joke that it's nice to see how the "other half" lives...
I always wonder if the people in those BIG homes with lots of lights and lots of expensive stuff-- are they happy, do they love their...stuff--?
Jerry and I would love to upgrade our home, but not in a hilly area-- most of the homes were really beautiful and multi storied-- but rather small yards-- Jerry and I would love to have some property so that the kids could explore.

Christmas Eve was a long day, and very fun-- Shane even stayed in his outfit for a good part of the night, and then while at church- when the wax dripped on his hand -- he quickly switched hands and then when the wax dripped again he simply blew out the candle and shoved it at me-- "I'm done, Mommy -- no more candles for me... I'm done,done done..." (LOL!)
Jerry was sitting next to Mary who is dating our nephew Jeff and he accidentally dripped wax on her-- Sorry Mary! --
I kept teasing Jeff all night -- about how he needs to still love me after... he unwraps his gift-- Jerry and his brother Rick gave Jeff a shotgun that was Jeff's grandpa's
(Jerry had bought it for his Dad, and now it was passed down to Jeff,eventually it might get passed on to my kids)--
I wrapped it up to look very different than a rifle... -- Jeff was happily annoyed that I used so much wrapping paper, boxes and plastic wrap-- and then Jeff had to take all the wrapping stuff outside-- that was the ONLY down side!
My sister in law Danni was over the moon to get her new mop--:)
I was happy to get a pink Snuggie! (Danni's mom is now done with her radiation -- from her breast cancer)
Our family also got some homemade sweets that are sugar-free in this tin that is so retro cool-- Thanks to Gail and Steven! I also got this candle that smells SO good, (fresh pine wreath) it has been burning off and on since we brought it home!

Taking moments of Joy...

Normally, Jerry works 4 days and then has four days off--- his days are always 12 or 13 hour days-- and he works a month of day shift and then a month of graveyard. This month Jerry is working 18 out of the 31 days-- an then he also has a few days of "shows"(aka gig's ) with the band... Jerry is also golfing one day,in a tournament for his work.
My parent's have also agreed to have the kids for a weekend-- but as it happens Jerry will be working nights the weekend that the kids are gone at my parents'--.
The first full week of August we have sooo much planned,Jerry's family reunion, Jessica has an appointment in PDX with the kidney Dr's-- ultrasound to see if her kidney's are still the same size as last time.(one is a bit larger than the other..but that is Jessica's normal)and also urine tests and I bet yet another blood draw.
We also have an appointment for Jessica with the orthodontist-- We have to take our Betta fish, Marina to our friends' house for fish sitting, we also have to pack for 4 days of camping with my mother's family.
There is so much going on-- I have opted to be really slow with things at home, I have encouraged the kids to sleep in, I have let them just sit in bed and read books, I have sat outside with my feet in a bucket full of water and just laughed at the moment. Honestly, I feel like I am storing up riches of our very simple family life ! Ah...Joy!
My camera seems to "think" that IT gets to choose which pictures it uploads..Arrghhhh... so I need to make a trip to Walmart to get see if I can get a print or two of some pictures-- that I really wanted to post and share.
The kids have been mostly willing to do what is asked of them-- and motivated to earn rewards-- What simple Joy!
It sure feels like I am finally getting the home life I wanted all this school year...
Shane asked me why I named this blog Not for Profit, but for Joy-- I explained that I didn't want to profit off of the kids and the family, but instead value and profit off
of the Joy---
It sure feels like payday --

Preemies & The Things I Want Most

Below is some information that I found,about preemies, Jessica was born at 33 1/3 weeks, and only 3 pounds 4 ounces... so a good portion of these things apply to her.
Jessica has an overwhelming desire to absorb facts, so her vocabulary is AWESOME!

• 
  Learning Problems
  How common are learning problems in former preemies?Learning deficits or learning disabilities at school age occur in about 10% of children born at term. They are more common in former preemies; the smaller and sicker the preemie, the greater the risk. Up to 45% of infants weighing <3 1/4 lbs. at birth have one or more abnormalities on testing at school age. It is usually not possible to predict at the time of discharge or during early development who might develop these problems. Sequential evaluation over time is the best predictor. Knowing what problems might develop can make you alert to signs of difficulty. Early diagnosis enables early evaluation and intervention. On the other hand, being overly concerned and always questioning your child's development may be detrimental in itself. Problems which are normal at a younger age may be abnormal at a later time. If you have a question about your child's development or performance, talk to your child's doctor or teacher or have your child tested.
  What are the most common learning problems at school age?
• Eye-Hand Coordination Problems
• difficulty with copying pictures or words, especially if there are many objects in the picture
• difficulty with puzzles
• difficulty learning handwriting Language Problems
• difficulty following directions, especially if there is more than one step
• difficulty putting things in a logical order
• poor vocabulary for age
• difficulty learning to read
• not understanding the meaning of sentences
• inability to tell one sound from another
• avoiding classroom participation
• difficulty remembering words
• Thinking Problems
• poor memory
• difficulty memorizing words, tables;
• forgetting assignments
• difficulty with spacial relationships such as size, distance
• problems with sounds and their symbols
• difficulty with abstract thinking
• difficulty making decisions or making poor decisions
• poor common sense
• slow to grasp new concepts
• ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I also wanted to mention a REALLY great book I just finished reading,

The Things I want Most by Richard F. Miniter

It's a true story about a family who decided/were lead to become foster parents and the young man who came into their lives and hearts, it is very moving and well written. It will have you crying,and laughing, and thinking about how can I BE the Best parent!

It is in a word,(or two...) courageous and lovely!