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. 

Reading online...

Sent to my local professional...

.I was reading online, again and I came across this...


http://yourtherapysource.blogspot.com/2010/06/sensory-processing-disorders-and-social.html
and I was wondering what you thought-- cause I was stumped at what this article might mean or not mean...!


His REPLY….

You, online? No, tell me it isn't so! :-)



Actually, I would say it doesn't mean much - and not just because it is a very small sample size study with questionable research design. Since the term sensory processing disorder was created by the Occupational Therapy community (and is not referenced in the universally accepted diagnostic manuals), it is open to interpretation as to whether a student "has" or "doesn't" have SPD. At the least, they mention that (at the bottom). These studies are very limited with regard to us normal people trying to generalize or learn anything from the results.
Keep a lookin'!

:-)

JP
Justin Potts, MS NCSP
School Psychologist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So anyway... I just wanted to share!

My Mother's Day

Prayers are needed and Happy news

Currently praying for Haiti,

and also for Ester-Faith at HennHouse.

I am also hoping that all our prayers will be

multipied and good works, and good health will return.

On another topic... my sister-in-law Sara and my brother Peter,

already have one son Miles, but now they are expecting a daughter in June!

I am so very excited for them-- SO VERY EXCITED

There aren't very many girls on my mom's side of the family-- so any excuse to bring out the pink,ruffles and lace... ah , pure and simple JOY!

Jessica was playing with my pink Snuggie-- thanks to Aunt Danni~

I played with the editing...

one picture is the coloring book feature

and the other is fisheye, black and white and spotlight.

How do I take pictures of Jessica without getting those two spots on her glasses?

Jerry is home this morning and so Shane and Jerry are watching cartoons in our bedroom, and Jessica and I are reading books and watching TV, and blogging in the living room. It feels good to be home with family, and not to have a ton of places to go. I guess this means I am a homebody? :)

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!

Parent Teacher conferences

I just want to take this post to brag about my kids,

Shane

• his reading fluency is at 98%
• his oral reading fluency is at 99%
• his math skills are in the 66th%

The teacher and the school counselor both were very pleased with all of Shane's progress-- They were both happy to report that although Shane still has his twitchy & twirly moments, he is getting better at being polite and asking for a break, or at least taking a break when suggested!

The teacher made sure to comment that since his reading scores are SO high that all we need to do is use his great reading skills to improve some of his other skills that are a bit behind.Writing is not something he enjoys, but that seems to be coming along.

Jessica~

• her reading scores exceed the standard 150 words per minute! (93%)
• her vocabulary is at 72%
• her comprehension 52%
• her spelling-- better than her Daddy...:) 13/14 !
• math needs a bit of help from Daddy-- cause mom doesn't do well with math!

Once again the teacher was happy to report that Jessica is a sweet, well mannered child and that her reading will help her with the few things that are a bit behind.

I feel SO BLESSED, I could not be prouder of my kids, and the school -- this year is going great and the staff is really focused on getting the kids to be well-rounded in their skills.

Aw, simple Joy!

I kept giving complements to the teachers and staff about how nice it was to go and hear GREAT things about my kids... even the few things that the kids are a bit behind were not talked about in a negative way, they were talked about as something to work on but, very achievable! Gosh, I love hearing about things in a positive way!

I still feel a bit sick, but between the Theraflu caplets and the large quantities of tea,and fruits-- I seem to be somewhat normal!

Only Five days of school so far

Last evening, Shane,Jessica and I went to church to see Jeff baptized ~ Jeff is my 16 year old nephew-- he recently passed his driving test without ANY mistakes... he is dating a very sweet and quiet, young, lovely lady-- and he is an all around great kid. It was so nice that he called to invite us, however, we couldn't stay for the whole church service - it was going to run too late. On the way home both of the kids fell asleep in the truck--
I even went to sleep at ....8:30pm! I haven't been that early to bed in a LONG time...

Normally, when we go to church, I drop the kids off in their classrooms, and then I go to the sanctuary-- but because we were there to see Jeff baptized -- and then leave, I figured it was smarter? to have the kids with me--On Wednesday nights there aren't very many people and so I didn't think that it would be a huge deal if the kids were in with the adults.
When the kids knew the songs we were singing-- they stood and sang...(yelled) the words-- Danni-- my sister in law and I, sat with the kids between us-- and neither of us wanted to admonish the kids for yelling, but we did make eye contact and roll our eyes.. at least the kids were enthusiastic! (Danni was so helpful she went and got them two, "keep them busy bags..." and that seemed to calm the kids down a bit)
After Jeff was done getting dunked... :) I packed the kids up and left-- I felt like I had just given blood and I needed to sit and drink some orange juice.

Then this morning Shane was trying everything he could to stay home,

• I 'm bored,
• School just isn't for me,
• Mommy, I want to stay home and hug you all day,
• Mommy, you can teach me at home...
• I don't feel good, I have bumps in my nose...(that must of been why he has been constantly picking his nose... ewwwwwww gross!)
• Mommy, I think I have the swine flu
• Mommy, my neck feels weird, and my stomach just isn't normal.
• Mommy, I want to play that game with Daddy.
  All this week it has been hard for me to be at home alone while the kids are at school--

I have a ton of things to do... but I worry that if I start a project-- the phone will ring and I will have to go to school to pick up Shane... who has melted down.

I know that this is just "a mommy worry..." and yet I still can't figure another thing to think about.... It is SO hard to try to change the tape that is in your child's head... if the tape in your head is echoing the child's. (Does that make ANY sense?)

So, I did manage to get the kids to school and by then Shane was somewhat willing. I took the time to talk with his teacher, the principal and the special ED teacher -- so that they would be aware that Mr.Smarty pants...Shane... was doing a great job of manipulating his mommy's emotions!

Back when I was "young"...(in my twenty's) I thought that having kids was -- to have cute kids that looked like you -- and to maybe parent, how you would of wished you were parented.
I NEVER thought....that I might have to spend my "spare" time researching how best to convince my kids that I they have to go to school, because their Mom is scared... that she can't home school them.
Now... I have dear friends who home school and I am very proud of them :)
... but I really feel -- that Shane and Jessica will do better if they are at school -
I need some alone time !
Gosh, this parenting stuff... never gets easier does it?
Both Shane and Jessica have really great teachers, so the home school question -- really isn't a question- except that Shane is good at finding Mommy's weak spots...

It was helpful to talk with all the people involved with Shane today-- they all were SUPER supportive of me, and each gave me a bit of advice--- I never would of thought that teaching would involve a counseling degree! LOL I was reminded that Shane might very well be tired, after all he is spending more time in school,(during the school day) this year than he did last year.. His teacher also talked about how quickly he finishes tasks-he seems to be reading ahead of most of the other kids, he is also ahead in math skills. It will take some planning to keep him focused, but still keep in an appropriate peer group.

To-morrow is grocery day, Jerry is home, and Jessica and I are going to gather the light weight stuff that we "need" to go hiking with Aunt Danni...
I am nervous,scared...worried and a bit freaked out-- I know that Danni will not lead me into the Valley of the Shadow of Death... but since she is in SUPERB shape, and I ...am not, I am a bit concerned that I ... may not meet expectations! (It's sad when the mom, is not able to perform like she expects her kids to)

I guess this week is about Wake up calls? ... a wake up call for me to get healthy, and a wake up call for me to find ...an identity that is productive, for being at home and is not ALWAYS associated with my kids?

Because of ~

Because of my parents selling their camper-trailer via Craigslist
I had to return the keys for the trailer to my Aunt
and because of meeting my Aunt at a local grocery store
The kids and I got to see Ivy -- a really great teacher from Shane's EEP (preschool class...)
Even though I had not seen Ivy in over a year, she had been here at this blog reading and so she knew of all of our recent trials--- It was great to hear that I had some more invisible means of support!
Then when I opened my inbox--
I got to read the draft of the report -- determining if Shane would get the classification of Autism... -- reading it was very ummm.... eye-opening... seeing my scores next to Jerry's and then next to the teachers' on a graph... well that was kinda funny.
It doesn't seem that Shane will receive an IEP, he doesn't fit enough of the criteria! (well...duh!)
The report was 12 pages long-- so I think I will be going back and re-reading every so often.
The very last page had some great recommendations on it --
that seemed to be from...mine own mouth...(lol)
I am almost eager to go to the meeting on Wes, and hear what everyone has to say--- I am praying and hoping for the best... --- cause I am done with the yuck stuff... it's time to move on!

Find Joy, where you can...

My Joy today is~
the beautiful colors outside, because of the rain
~(not to mention the smell of the rain! yumm! )
keeping the puke in the bucket!
My prayer is that only one of us has to use the bucket!

--- Shane didn't seem to feel very well this morning,
and so we are staying home and trying to fight off the sickies!

• I had such plans today:
• going to church
• dropping off the heat able socks for my mother-in-law --
• visit the library (again)
• wash the car...
• wash more dishes
• wash more laundry
• plan clothes for kids -- school tomorrow

Ah, well... we have soup in the cupboard and
...I get to catch up on the dishes and laundry! yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiipppeeeeeeeeee
I wish there was an icon, or something to show , sarcasm-- but then I imagine that most of you understand my~ random sarcastic thoughts?
Jessica tried a grapefruit this morning, and she seemed to like it---she did however have some (Splenda) aka : fake sugar to sprinkle on top.{most of the time Jessica is not interested in eating much of anything, so when she did say Yes ! to eating the grapefruit, I was willing to let her have it anyway she wanted!}

The kids are watching one of the videos from the library this one is all about YOGA--- it seems to be calming--
should I be nervous that the YOGA will create more puking?--
Stay Tuned for more non-essential information -- including TMI...(too much information)
LOL!
I am currently reading Saving Graces, by Elizabeth Edwards
~ I am only to chapter 5 but this seems to be a good read.
Mrs. Edwards,is an every mom--she just keeps moving along and making the best of everything.

Other people I know...(http://inlifeofachild.blogspot.com/ ) have blogs that seem to be more organized and each post seems to really have a message !
Since this is a NEW blog, -- don't expect much!
LOL and then when I do get better at creating the posts,
I'll accept praise then! LOL!