Let's Focus on the Positive!

Well, life is never boring at our house!
I am putting a positive spin on things,
because if I let ALL the negative get to me--
well, let's just move on shall we?
Movin' on.... :0)

First the Good things...
I have been able to exercise every day this week!!!!
thanks to my Aunt Sue,
who lives in a place that offers a pool and workout room.
[The weather has been very windy, rainy and dramatic -
- so having a place that we can exercise is AWESOME]
(We have been working out together, it's nice to have a partner in this journey to get healthier! )
The letter about my test results from the Dr. said that I am mostly normal !!!
My cholesterol is on the high side of normal,but I am not diabetic and my thyroid is fine!
So, really if I get my weight and my high blood pressure down then I might be somewhat...typical!!!!!! Typical yahoo.... Typical!
On a suggestion from a really cool chick...:)
Barbara @TherExtras, I purchased the book Autism and Alleluias , by Kathleen Deyer Bolduc
It may only be 140 pages, but I'm already at 114 and I have laughed and cried-- This book would be a GREAT gift to a caregiver of a special needs kiddo.-- My son Shane "only" has SPD, but sometimes it takes a book like this to see the light shining thru the trees. thanks Barbara for the suggestion!

Okay... now on to
the Not, so great things~
Today, Shane was aggressive and physical with two different adults. Although it is clear that he is remorseful, his disrespectful attitude and words are of concern. (and also the physical aggression) He now complains that he hates school and that he just wants to be home schooled. I have tried time and time again to explain that, I WILL not be homeschooling him-- that ship has sailed-- I know that I do not have the patience to teach my son-the way he learns best-. At this point I believe that he (and I) will achieve a better result if he is at school interacting with his peers. Tomorrow Shane's SPED teacher is going to be able to observe Shane in his regular classroom with his IA--. I think her plan is to observe without his knowledge-- Shane is so smart that he will often put on a show for adults--. He is such a seeker of attention!
The staff is working at having a meeting of his regular teacher,his SPED teacher,myself and some other specialists... that might have some new suggestions for us.
He clearly is respectful to his SPED teacher, and he is getting more and more respectful to the principal-- but -- when he is with his IA, it doesn't seem like a good fit. He is somewhat willing to behave for his classroom teacher-- but I think that with the IA-- in the same classroom-- things get lost in the chaos of the room.
I am not sure how to help my son-- in the past I always had an idea or some suggestions-- but now I am out of ideas-- Shane is talkative to the nth--degree (is that even a word?)-- about video games or whatever-- but if you ask Shane , "Why did you choose not to control your body at recess, or ask for help?" your answer is nothing.. and then a shoulder shrug.
I just want the key to unlock the secret of why Shane is like he is !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This year the school has been very flexible, and willing to see my comments as a part of the process-- I just hope that I can figure out something productive to come to the table with.
Any Suggestions?

Now, Patience & Boundaries

VERY Often when I post here, it's all about what is happening with my kids--
 it's not usually "well thought out--" ah hem...
but I figure if you just read it -- eventually it might make sense?
And if it doesn't-- then I take comments... and questions. :)
I like to read other people's blogs, to remind myself that
I am not the only one in the Whole wide world who...
would rather hang with my kids than...
 do what you want me to do-- because you think that I need to do what you want...
 I think that life with kids is so full of guilt ... am I doing this right, will they hate me when they are old, will they every be "normal", is their "normal" enough?, am I enough for what they need?, .
But I also think that sometimes boundaries are IMPORTANT...
 I think that if  I choose to focus with  what others' might see as Obsessive Complusive Disorder on my kids, then fine... I choose to do, what I deem to be the very best for my kids. :)
Learning to say No is key for my sanity...
Learning to say, I am only able to do this-- and stick to IT!
Learning to say, I'll do that tomorrow?
Anyway... when I was reading some blogs this morning,

• 5 minutes for Special Needs
• Allergy Life in Loudon
• Hartley's Life with Three boys
• It's Almost Naptime

while waiting...impatiently for my dear hubby to awake (and help ME with a task, that takes two people...) 
 I am learning that I need to be as patient with others'
                             as I WISH they would be for me.

We are trying to down-size and we have found some new homes for our plastic outdoor play structures--
I want to deliver them NOW, but my dear sweet hubby is sleeping, he was asked to work this evening.

(Well.,..bless his heart--as Missy @ It's only Naptime might say...)

bless his heart that he said Yes, to helping another,
 bless his heart that he is working an extra day-- we can use the extra money...but ...
bless his heart that his wife, needs him!
(to WAKE UP!)



There is also a Tsunami warning for the Oregon Coast, apparently there was an Earthquake in Chile. I'd like to drive to the coast and
see what Mother Nature has up her sleeve.(uh, er NOW!)

I'd like my kids to do their chores now, and with out complaint--
 I'd also like my kids to play together and make compromises....
But, I am learning .... that maybe I need to be patient?

In the past I have worked at the school's book fair, this year I was very vague about committing to helping, and although I feel like I am doing something GOOD for my kids--
 I still hear that little voice in my head saying... go and help...you know you want to-- who cares if they say mean things about you when your back is turned, you are doing this for the "good" of the school, who cares if they ask you why you don't just parent the way they do? 
I am sure the book fair will be great, and maybe I'll enjoy the book fair MORE as a spectator and customer not as a overworked, under appreciated volunteer.

I just want to be like Melody at Slurping Life  (Can I have dessert first?)

Carwashes and Dr visits

The other day we went to a carwash...

and so here are a few of the pictures of what it looked like driving through..

Jessica and I went to Portland today, first the ultrasound of Jessica's bladder and kidneys...

This was the LONGEST ultrasound appointment I have ever sat,and sat and sat through! We got there at 12:30ish and our appointment was for 1pm, they took Jessica back at about 12:45

I didn't see her until...1:40!!!!!!!!!! Then we had to go and check in at the Specialty Clinic-- then more waiting... and waiting and waiting-- finally it was about 2:40 when we got to start our appointment.

Jessica is 132.1 cm(4foot 2)tall 24.9kg

(54lbs 14.3oz)weight

and then the blood pressure... 127/70

Jessica got to pee in a cup and then wait some more...

finally we got to see a medical student and be apart of the teaching process... ~at least she was friendly and willing to "let Jessica" tell her life story...after a while I had to stop Jessica from talking and talking and talking... I think I see a pattern ?

Finally, we talked with the Dr, and all though she agreed that Jessica looked to be very healthy and happy... she was worried some about her blood pressure-- So she changed the prescription of her current meds,and then requested that we get a blood pressure cuff at home to take Jessica's pressure. The Dr, wondered if Jessica might be more calm at home and then we could see a "more regular" blood pressure--- I can't wait to re-search if the insurance company will cover this... or search online for a new cuff for the machine we already have... I can't wait to take Miss Jessica's blood pressure once a week in the am before the meds and then email the results. Jessica did such a great job of being patient and willing... she didn't even shed a tear when they took her blood! (I didn't cry either... and for me that's a FIRST!)

So, we are happily home... and I am beat!

did I mention the fire drill at the hospital? my cousin waving her own flying monkey out her truck window? getting caught in rush hour traffic and thinking we're melting....melting...?

my messy, but cool(thanks to the A/C) home was nice to come home to !

I felt like I had gone thru a carwash without the car to protect me....

as I attempt to proof read this it doesn't make much sense.... so use your creative skills and fill in the blanks you may have...

or leave me a comment... I need comments.... I love comments.... Please, can I have a comment?

Thanks!

Cake,brake fluid and Pressure!

This is what the cake looks like-
I did taste it, in fact I ate this piece- -
but I don't know if it was good !
I haven't any taste buds that are up to par!

This morning, when I discovered that my computer was being slow and difficult...
I was attempting to gauge how sick were my kids,
can we make it to church with out incident~?
Jessica surprised me by being completely dressed in a dress,
with tights on and even a headband in her hair!
Ah, the Joy!
I got away from the computer and into the shower, which was clean and it smelled nice- - I had just started humming a Worship tune in my head while I was washing my hair... and then I realized that my hair wasn't lathering up like usual--- hummm... what was wrong?--
My dear husband, who was nice enough to clean out the shower,
and put a new bar of soap in the shower,
had switched where my shampoo and conditioner normally go!
So, I groaned, quite loudly to myself and then re-washed my hair with shampoo and then re-conditioned it. When I got out of the shower, to my amazement
Jessica and Shane were both dressed,complete with socks and shoes!
Ah, the wonders of my life...may they never stop!
I gathered the snack and juice for the kids and we were off! - -
That is ...until I realized that the ABS light and the brake light were on-- as I was driving down the road!!!! I pulled over and turned off the engine, I did everything that I thought I should --I took the car out of gear, pulled the emergency brake, then released it -- None of these things made the light go off-- I really didn't know what else to do, so I turned the car around and drove home--
I left the kids strapped in the car and ran into the house to ask Jerry what to do
{I know from prior experience to not drive with "dummy lights" on--
the last time that happened, -- the KIA blew up the engine all for a lack of oil !
Which was deemed, not Jerry's fault and not mine}
Poor, dear husband Jerry-- he was sleeping and I woke him asking I am sure what sounded like STUPID questions! He told me to get the brake fluid out of the camo truck, the brake fluid was under the hood of the truck near the head light.-- Then he cautioned me, only drive it to get brake fluid...no further! I went back out to the drive-way to see that the yellow ugly truck and the camo truck were parked so close together that I couldn't pop the hood to even look for the brake fluid!
I decided to check the level of the fluid and I found it was a little low- so I decided to drive to the Dollar- Store to get more Kleenex, and brake fluid!
But on my way to do this~ the lights went off, and then on, and then off again...!
Finally out of desperation I asked the kids to pray
that we got to church safely and in one piece! I am happy to report, we did it!!!!
The message today was "When Under Pressure" Our Pastor, shared with us that pressure can be a good thing and that it can revel character,gifting,conviction, and faith.
Wow, talk about getting a personalized message!
The kids and I left church, our hearts were full of good spirit and we were off to the Dollar-Store.
and the answer is/was -- yup, we were low on brake fluid!
I guess that someone forgot to set Jerry's alarm, and so he is getting a late start out the door for work-- I wonder/pray if the pressure of possibly being late will help him!
At least when he gets to eat, while at work-- he can eat cake!