Every day we change, we change our hair,our clothes,our weight and our names. We change our religion and our beliefs.
Our family has been changing as of late. We have moved, we have changed our children's schools, we have changed our marriage and our family balance. We have changed our beliefs and our look on life.
I have always been some what of a free spirit. I have always had my own ideas of what God and religion is. I can tell you that growing up a preachers kid, I have plenty experience in knowing what the others are led to belief and force fed. I started to realize the older I got the more I saw fault in that belief system. Now I'm not saying I don't believe in God or the Almighty, I'm simply saying I don't believe in the bible. Sure it's inspirational as any other book but, I just don't believe in it. The bible was written by man and well lets face it we mess up everything. We mess up God by making religion instead of just keeping it simple. God is for everyone,just not one religion or another. We mess up nature, we take something so perfect and great and destory it. We trash it,and never see it's beauty. We take our lives,something beautiful that the Almighty has given us and we tear it apart. We fill it full of saddness and harmful things. We find fault in all things bright and beautiful.
For our family we are changing that. We are teaching our children to simply just LOVE. Love the good,the bad,the earth,the simple dragonfly and even the most complex each other and everybody. To love without wanting something in return. To love freely and with a clear vision of pure happiness. To understand that not everyone will feel the same as you or even believe as you but, love them anyways. Love the person that brings you saddness. Not because they hurt you but because the Almighty loves them and created them for a purpose. Show them the love you want the world to see when they look at you. Love is not something physical it's one of the most spiritual connection there can be. The Almighty created love and he made it so simple and pure. So easy it to give and so easy to receive.
Our belief is so simple and pure. Our love is the perfect spiritual connection to the earth,to each other and most of all to the Almighty. It's our truth to share with others.
So embrace all things bright and beautiful and just LOVE.
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Lazy Summer afternoons
OK with 3 kids it's never truly a Lazy Summer afternoon. It is truly nice not to have to be on the go all the time with school being out. We have spent the first 3 weeks of summer rather busy and on the go.
We have spent most of the day time hiding from the heat. It's exhausting just to walk outside to get the mail. It's been in the 100's during the day and not out of the 80's at night. We get blessed with wonderful late afternoon thunder storms and the kids and I look forward to the cool down they bring. We are looking at heading to the library some this summer and maybe a few trips to the beach. The kids and I are going to pull out sometime towards the end of this month and go to my home town to stay with my mom for a week or two. They really enjoy being with their Nana and I love spending time pampering my mom. She works really hard and when I am their her and her husband never have to cook and they get a break from having to worry so much about that. I am hoping to get out to my Granny's farm as well. I haven't seen her in a while and I need that time with her. Then we will do some school shopping and get all the stuff that all 3 of the kids will need and we may even do some shopping for Rob and his back to school items he will need. That seems crazy to say but it looks like it will be a reality soon enough.
Here is a little update on everyone:
Rob is doing great. He is still working hard at Pizza Hut. He has decided to go to school in the fall. We are waiting to here back from the Pell Grant office to find out if he is able to get some assistance in going back. He wants to do story boards for commercials and for TV shows. He is super excited and I am hoping it all works out for him and for us. We need a change.
Jordan is doing wonderful, she is getting ready to enter high school in the fall.She will turn 14 this July and is super excited about the possibility of getting a job soon after her birthday. She is truly an independent soul. She loves to spread those wings of her's and fly. I am really proud of who she is becoming and who she wants to be. We are truly blessed to have such a bright and smart and beautiful daughter.
Logan is doing really well. He will remain in Kindergarten for one more year. He has a few things he has to work on to get him ready for 1st grade. He is happy that he gets to have the same teacher again and is really excited that he will know most of the stuff already. He has been informed by Mrs Dean that he has to be a leader and a big help to her. He loves the idea of being the big helper. So I am sure he will do fine.
Serenity is just a ball of energy. Now that her crohn's is being managed better she is non-stop. She loves to learn and loves to have all eye's on her. She loves to show everyone how smart she is. We can be with people she doesn't know and she will randomly start counting in Spanish or she will start naming shapes and counting to 20 with no help. She loves to have people tell her she is smart. She starts Pre-school for 3 yr old's as a model student at Logan's school in the fall. We are working really hard at losing the pacifier so far it's going well. She really loves that thing.
I am doing great,trying to keep up with everyone and make time for myself. Really enjoying not having to cook so much now that school is out. The kids don't like to eat as much during the summer so I am going with the flow. If they want sandwiches for lunch and dinner then that is what we are doing. If they just want yogurt and home made granola then we are doing that too. I am not getting as worked up as I normally do over what they are eating. I tend to stay pretty worked up over little things and I am trying hard to let all of the worrying I do be only over the things that matter. I have 3 cakes to make at the end of July. One is the wedding cake for my nephew and his beautiful bride. I am really excited about getting the chance to make a wedding cake. It's something I have never attempted before so I am praying with everything I have in me that it all works out well. The heat has me concerned but I am going to work around it the best I can.
Well time to go enjoy that afternoon thunder storm. HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE!! Hope that you all stay safe and that you do something fun with your love ones.
We have spent most of the day time hiding from the heat. It's exhausting just to walk outside to get the mail. It's been in the 100's during the day and not out of the 80's at night. We get blessed with wonderful late afternoon thunder storms and the kids and I look forward to the cool down they bring. We are looking at heading to the library some this summer and maybe a few trips to the beach. The kids and I are going to pull out sometime towards the end of this month and go to my home town to stay with my mom for a week or two. They really enjoy being with their Nana and I love spending time pampering my mom. She works really hard and when I am their her and her husband never have to cook and they get a break from having to worry so much about that. I am hoping to get out to my Granny's farm as well. I haven't seen her in a while and I need that time with her. Then we will do some school shopping and get all the stuff that all 3 of the kids will need and we may even do some shopping for Rob and his back to school items he will need. That seems crazy to say but it looks like it will be a reality soon enough.
Here is a little update on everyone:
Rob is doing great. He is still working hard at Pizza Hut. He has decided to go to school in the fall. We are waiting to here back from the Pell Grant office to find out if he is able to get some assistance in going back. He wants to do story boards for commercials and for TV shows. He is super excited and I am hoping it all works out for him and for us. We need a change.
Jordan is doing wonderful, she is getting ready to enter high school in the fall.She will turn 14 this July and is super excited about the possibility of getting a job soon after her birthday. She is truly an independent soul. She loves to spread those wings of her's and fly. I am really proud of who she is becoming and who she wants to be. We are truly blessed to have such a bright and smart and beautiful daughter.
Logan is doing really well. He will remain in Kindergarten for one more year. He has a few things he has to work on to get him ready for 1st grade. He is happy that he gets to have the same teacher again and is really excited that he will know most of the stuff already. He has been informed by Mrs Dean that he has to be a leader and a big help to her. He loves the idea of being the big helper. So I am sure he will do fine.
Serenity is just a ball of energy. Now that her crohn's is being managed better she is non-stop. She loves to learn and loves to have all eye's on her. She loves to show everyone how smart she is. We can be with people she doesn't know and she will randomly start counting in Spanish or she will start naming shapes and counting to 20 with no help. She loves to have people tell her she is smart. She starts Pre-school for 3 yr old's as a model student at Logan's school in the fall. We are working really hard at losing the pacifier so far it's going well. She really loves that thing.
I am doing great,trying to keep up with everyone and make time for myself. Really enjoying not having to cook so much now that school is out. The kids don't like to eat as much during the summer so I am going with the flow. If they want sandwiches for lunch and dinner then that is what we are doing. If they just want yogurt and home made granola then we are doing that too. I am not getting as worked up as I normally do over what they are eating. I tend to stay pretty worked up over little things and I am trying hard to let all of the worrying I do be only over the things that matter. I have 3 cakes to make at the end of July. One is the wedding cake for my nephew and his beautiful bride. I am really excited about getting the chance to make a wedding cake. It's something I have never attempted before so I am praying with everything I have in me that it all works out well. The heat has me concerned but I am going to work around it the best I can.
Well time to go enjoy that afternoon thunder storm. HAPPY SUMMER EVERYONE!! Hope that you all stay safe and that you do something fun with your love ones.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Should I or Shouldn't I
I have been given a great opportunity to make a wonderful cake for some wonderful people. My nephew and his fiance have asked me to make their wedding cake. I was thrilled with the prospect of making the cake and the process of being creative and getting to do what I love most. Then reality hit and well it took the wind right out of my sail.
First big down fall is when they are planning the wedding, SUMMER.. Anyone who bakes cakes in Florida can tell you the weather here during SUMMER is not ideal for cake making. HUMIDITY is a huge issue and NOT TO mention the HEAT or the chance of RAIN! July is a great month for a beach wedding. So I can't say I blame them for wanting to do it then.
Second they choose to have the reception in a hotel ball room. I am not a license baker so I am not to sure that the Hotel will allow me to bring in the cake. I have asked them to check on this but no word yet from them on what the rules are. I will for sure need a cool room to place the cake in and a place to set the cake up at for the reception. I have read the laws and know what I can and can not do here in the this state. And I for sure don't want to be fined for bring it into a hotel. I just hope they let me know something soon.
Third the task at hand is overwhelming all in it's self. I am worried about getting there, worried about the amount of stuff I will have to buy just to make this cake. And then the set up and the transporting of the cake it's self. IT'S very scary to think about but, really exciting that they would ask me to make the cake.
The bride and the groom have gone through about 60 cake ideas that I sent to them and have picked 3 that they really like.
They really like this one and the way it is set up but they want it in a square shape and they want different flavors per cake. They also want to room the shells and add ribbon and flowers.
I think they are leaning more towards this set up with the square cakes.
I am hoping it all works out and I will for sure keep everyone updated.
First big down fall is when they are planning the wedding, SUMMER.. Anyone who bakes cakes in Florida can tell you the weather here during SUMMER is not ideal for cake making. HUMIDITY is a huge issue and NOT TO mention the HEAT or the chance of RAIN! July is a great month for a beach wedding. So I can't say I blame them for wanting to do it then.
Second they choose to have the reception in a hotel ball room. I am not a license baker so I am not to sure that the Hotel will allow me to bring in the cake. I have asked them to check on this but no word yet from them on what the rules are. I will for sure need a cool room to place the cake in and a place to set the cake up at for the reception. I have read the laws and know what I can and can not do here in the this state. And I for sure don't want to be fined for bring it into a hotel. I just hope they let me know something soon.
Third the task at hand is overwhelming all in it's self. I am worried about getting there, worried about the amount of stuff I will have to buy just to make this cake. And then the set up and the transporting of the cake it's self. IT'S very scary to think about but, really exciting that they would ask me to make the cake.
The bride and the groom have gone through about 60 cake ideas that I sent to them and have picked 3 that they really like.
They really like this one and the way it is set up but they want it in a square shape and they want different flavors per cake. They also want to room the shells and add ribbon and flowers.
I think they are leaning more towards this set up with the square cakes.
I am hoping it all works out and I will for sure keep everyone updated.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Happy 3rd Birthday Serenity
It's so hard to believe that she is just three years old with the year we have had. Seems has if a whole life time of stuff has happen to her in the three short years she has been with us.
We had real reason to celebrate this year and real reason to be grateful for all that has happen and all that we can slowly put behind us. Just two short days before her birthday we were told by her GI doctors that she looked great. That her labs had come back all in healthy range and that she was finally right at the correct weight for her age and height. She was no longer showing signs of flair ups and she seems for once to have her colitis and crohn's disease under control. That was like music to my ears, it had to be right up there with the day she was born and we heard her first cry.
I made a huge cake for a big BBQ and we had tons of family over for her big day. She loved every minute of the all the attention she got. She loves to be the center of the attention. She got tons of barbie's and dress up stuff, a tea party set and clothes. Everything a little girl could ever want.
The BOSTON CREAM PIE is Rob's Birthday cake. He turned 39 this past week as well.
We had real reason to celebrate this year and real reason to be grateful for all that has happen and all that we can slowly put behind us. Just two short days before her birthday we were told by her GI doctors that she looked great. That her labs had come back all in healthy range and that she was finally right at the correct weight for her age and height. She was no longer showing signs of flair ups and she seems for once to have her colitis and crohn's disease under control. That was like music to my ears, it had to be right up there with the day she was born and we heard her first cry.
I made a huge cake for a big BBQ and we had tons of family over for her big day. She loved every minute of the all the attention she got. She loves to be the center of the attention. She got tons of barbie's and dress up stuff, a tea party set and clothes. Everything a little girl could ever want.
The BOSTON CREAM PIE is Rob's Birthday cake. He turned 39 this past week as well.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Chocolate cake to die for
I am always looking for quick and simple recipes. Something my family can enjoy after dinner that doesn't take hours to make. While reading Melinda's Kitchen Diary I stumbled across another blog. Cookie baker lynn, the name alone was begging for me to read. I love making cookies and I was just hoping she had simple cookies to make that would work for what I had in my home already.
I never dreamed that I would find beautiful cakes and simple deserts on her site. The name of her blog it throws you off but, once you start reading and you see all the love that she puts into her deserts you can't help yourself but to try and find just one that you can make right then.
Crunch time, what one do I make first?
I decided that I would make start the with simplest desert she has on her blog.
Texas Fudge Cake
This cake was so super simple to make and the taste is to die for. It's moist and just the right amount of chocolate. There isn't to much frosting and it's not super sweet. I had intentions of posting a picture of this cake but for whatever reason my camera has decided it no longer wants to work. I am hoping that my husband can fix it so that you guys can see this cake.
Texas Fudge Cake
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
5 Tbsp cocoa
1 cup water
2 cups sifted flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
Frosting (recipe below)
1- Preheat oven to 375 deg. F with rack in the center of the oven. Butter and flour a 9 x 13 metal pan.
2- In a medium saucepan combine the butter, cocoa, and water. Bring to a boil.
3- In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.
4- Pour the hot ingredients in the the dry ingredients. Stir well with a wooden spoon.
5- Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Stir until the batter is smooth.
6- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place it in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. (While the cake is baking, wash the saucepan and bowl. You'll use them for the frosting.)
7- Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool. Immediately make the frosting and pour the frosting over the warm cake. Spread the frosting evenly and let the cake cool as much as you can bear before cutting into squares and devouring.
Frosting
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
3 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp cocoa
dash salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
1- In medium saucepan combine the butter, milk, cocoa, salt, and vanilla. Bring to a boil.
2- Place the powdered sugar in a large bowl. Pour the hot ingredients over the powdered sugar and beat with a wooden spoon until the frosting is smooth.
I never dreamed that I would find beautiful cakes and simple deserts on her site. The name of her blog it throws you off but, once you start reading and you see all the love that she puts into her deserts you can't help yourself but to try and find just one that you can make right then.
Crunch time, what one do I make first?
I decided that I would make start the with simplest desert she has on her blog.
Texas Fudge Cake
This cake was so super simple to make and the taste is to die for. It's moist and just the right amount of chocolate. There isn't to much frosting and it's not super sweet. I had intentions of posting a picture of this cake but for whatever reason my camera has decided it no longer wants to work. I am hoping that my husband can fix it so that you guys can see this cake.
Texas Fudge Cake
1 cup butter (2 sticks)
5 Tbsp cocoa
1 cup water
2 cups sifted flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
Frosting (recipe below)
1- Preheat oven to 375 deg. F with rack in the center of the oven. Butter and flour a 9 x 13 metal pan.
2- In a medium saucepan combine the butter, cocoa, and water. Bring to a boil.
3- In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, and baking soda.
4- Pour the hot ingredients in the the dry ingredients. Stir well with a wooden spoon.
5- Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Stir until the batter is smooth.
6- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and place it in the oven. Bake for 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean. (While the cake is baking, wash the saucepan and bowl. You'll use them for the frosting.)
7- Remove the cake from the oven and place it on a wire rack to cool. Immediately make the frosting and pour the frosting over the warm cake. Spread the frosting evenly and let the cake cool as much as you can bear before cutting into squares and devouring.
Frosting
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
3 Tbsp milk
2 Tbsp cocoa
dash salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar
1- In medium saucepan combine the butter, milk, cocoa, salt, and vanilla. Bring to a boil.
2- Place the powdered sugar in a large bowl. Pour the hot ingredients over the powdered sugar and beat with a wooden spoon until the frosting is smooth.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas has come and gone
While it has come and gone, it's not completely over for me. My oldest has taken a trip with her Nana and Papa and isn't home as of yet to celebrate with us. She left on the December 18th and won't be home until after the 1st of the year. While I have been on edge I am so happy she got to go and see parts of the world she may not get to see other wise. It's always nice when anyone things enough of your child to want to them with them on a long car ride and even nicer when a family member has open their home up to your child. So until she is home I have to look at the tree and the stockings all hung up. I am ready to see it down but I want things to be just like she was here on Christmas morning when she opens her presents.
I baked and baked and oh yeah baked. I made so many cookies this years, I can't even being to tell you all the dozens that have come and gone out of my kitchen this year. I made most of the ones I wanted to and a few that I hadn't planned on. I gave many as gifts and many we passed along to people who had stopped by to visit. I made my first ever Yule log. It turned out nicely and it was very tasty.
The little kids got everything they wanted and then some. We opened up our home to a couple who need a place to have a Christmas dinner at. It was really nice to have them in our home. They are lovely people and I hope that we get to have them over more often.
I baked and baked and oh yeah baked. I made so many cookies this years, I can't even being to tell you all the dozens that have come and gone out of my kitchen this year. I made most of the ones I wanted to and a few that I hadn't planned on. I gave many as gifts and many we passed along to people who had stopped by to visit. I made my first ever Yule log. It turned out nicely and it was very tasty.
The little kids got everything they wanted and then some. We opened up our home to a couple who need a place to have a Christmas dinner at. It was really nice to have them in our home. They are lovely people and I hope that we get to have them over more often.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Seasons of change
Seems like things are forever changing. The more you want time to stand still and to slow down the faster it seems to move.
My kids are growing up so fast and they are learning and exploring so many new things.
Jordan is talking of her future and her dreams. And yet when I look at her I see the newborn baby I held at the age of 19. I was so scared that some how I would mess up her life and she would turn into a teenage mom with no real dream of being more then that. While I know she is only 13 and there is still plenty of time for things to go wrong, I just don't believe with her that they will. She is looking forward to going to high school next fall. She is planning on entering the IB program at school and earning some college credits while attending high school. And in 4 years she is hoping to apply to Columbia University. I want her to go to school closer to home but I will never stand in her way to achieve whatever dream she has in mind.
Logan he is loving school. He has to work hard to keep up with is his peers but he seems to do a good job of it. His teachers tells me all the time that his has broken the mold for sweet boys. She says she has never seen a boy as sweet as he is. And I agree with her completely. He has a tender heart and so affection and caring. He loves to take care of people and to make sure that everyone is happy. He seems to be out growing his seizures. He has not had one in a year and a half. Now I'm not saying that he can't have one but so far we have been blessed. I am grateful for any small blessing that is passed our way.
Serenity isn't a baby anymore. She is a toddler and almost a preschooler. She is so smart. She counts to 18 without help, she sings her ABC's and she knows most of her colors and all of her shapes. I would love to say that I did this and I worked with her all the time but a lot of it she picked up on her watching sprout and noggin. She isn't allowed to watch other channels so she has really learned a lot from those shows. She is learning how to use the computer and she plays on starfall to learn her letters and sounds. She has had some set backs with her health as of late. She was diagnosed with Corhn's disease and put on medication. We were doing so well with the medication and it had started to really help her out. But 2.5 weeks ago she had a flair up and it just hasn't gone away as of yet. Flair up or not she is still her bubbly,trouble causing self. She loves to have all eyes on her and she will make sure that she does something cute so that everyone is pay attention.
Rob is still working hard at Pizza Hut. While it isn't his dream job, it's a job. He seems to enjoy the work for the most part. He would love to get back into the technology industry and working with computers. But the area we live in there really isn't much work here.
I am staying busy with the kids being back in school.I joined the PFA and was asked to be apart of the SAC committee at Logan's school. I working in his class room every morning for an hour and I work come in 2-3 days a week in the afternoon for 1-2 hours. I enjoy being up there and I enjoy working with the teachers. I haven't done much baking as of late. I had made a few cakes over summer and they just didn't turn out well. Some it was me rushing them and the humidity really took a total on my frosting. So I kind of just put that to the side for right now. I am going to start getting my stuff gathered up slowly for my Christmas cookies. I already have a few teachers at the kids schools asking for my OMG cookies and another cookie I make.
That is our update for now.I am hoping to post more. I say that every time I post and I mean it each and every time. Just seems that things happen and get in the way of me being able to post.
My kids are growing up so fast and they are learning and exploring so many new things.
Jordan is talking of her future and her dreams. And yet when I look at her I see the newborn baby I held at the age of 19. I was so scared that some how I would mess up her life and she would turn into a teenage mom with no real dream of being more then that. While I know she is only 13 and there is still plenty of time for things to go wrong, I just don't believe with her that they will. She is looking forward to going to high school next fall. She is planning on entering the IB program at school and earning some college credits while attending high school. And in 4 years she is hoping to apply to Columbia University. I want her to go to school closer to home but I will never stand in her way to achieve whatever dream she has in mind.
Logan he is loving school. He has to work hard to keep up with is his peers but he seems to do a good job of it. His teachers tells me all the time that his has broken the mold for sweet boys. She says she has never seen a boy as sweet as he is. And I agree with her completely. He has a tender heart and so affection and caring. He loves to take care of people and to make sure that everyone is happy. He seems to be out growing his seizures. He has not had one in a year and a half. Now I'm not saying that he can't have one but so far we have been blessed. I am grateful for any small blessing that is passed our way.
Serenity isn't a baby anymore. She is a toddler and almost a preschooler. She is so smart. She counts to 18 without help, she sings her ABC's and she knows most of her colors and all of her shapes. I would love to say that I did this and I worked with her all the time but a lot of it she picked up on her watching sprout and noggin. She isn't allowed to watch other channels so she has really learned a lot from those shows. She is learning how to use the computer and she plays on starfall to learn her letters and sounds. She has had some set backs with her health as of late. She was diagnosed with Corhn's disease and put on medication. We were doing so well with the medication and it had started to really help her out. But 2.5 weeks ago she had a flair up and it just hasn't gone away as of yet. Flair up or not she is still her bubbly,trouble causing self. She loves to have all eyes on her and she will make sure that she does something cute so that everyone is pay attention.
Rob is still working hard at Pizza Hut. While it isn't his dream job, it's a job. He seems to enjoy the work for the most part. He would love to get back into the technology industry and working with computers. But the area we live in there really isn't much work here.
I am staying busy with the kids being back in school.I joined the PFA and was asked to be apart of the SAC committee at Logan's school. I working in his class room every morning for an hour and I work come in 2-3 days a week in the afternoon for 1-2 hours. I enjoy being up there and I enjoy working with the teachers. I haven't done much baking as of late. I had made a few cakes over summer and they just didn't turn out well. Some it was me rushing them and the humidity really took a total on my frosting. So I kind of just put that to the side for right now. I am going to start getting my stuff gathered up slowly for my Christmas cookies. I already have a few teachers at the kids schools asking for my OMG cookies and another cookie I make.
That is our update for now.I am hoping to post more. I say that every time I post and I mean it each and every time. Just seems that things happen and get in the way of me being able to post.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Cooked out..
I think I have reached a time where I am just all cooked out. I don't want to anymore at all. I hate the idea of making dinner every night and I hate even more trying to decided what to make.
Here it is Grocery shopping time again and I don't have a clue of what to buy or what we will eat for the month. I shop by the month to cut down on trips to the store. I normally would have my menu done and ready to post on the fridge but I just can't get in the mood to do it.
I feel like all we do is eat the same things over and over again. The many reason is because everyone here is so picky. Rob won't eat baked meat or boil meat. He hates the taste of it and would rather have it sauteed or pan seared or fried or cooked in olive oil. Jordan won't touch fruit and a few veggies. Logan hates tomatoes, so that rules out a lot of foods that are easy to make. Serenity she eats very little, she won't touch ground meat of any kind. I will eat just about anything, cooked any way. But then again I was brought up to eat what was in front of me or starve. So not how I brought my kids up. (Maybe I should have and I wouldn't be sick of cooking)
It's also hot here now and that makes the whole idea of standing in the kitchen for an hour cooking a meal that we may or may not eat not so appealing. My kids tend to eat a lot less during the summer and would much rather be allowed to snack all day long.
I am just so over it.. I need a chief for a month to come and make my family happy.
Here it is Grocery shopping time again and I don't have a clue of what to buy or what we will eat for the month. I shop by the month to cut down on trips to the store. I normally would have my menu done and ready to post on the fridge but I just can't get in the mood to do it.
I feel like all we do is eat the same things over and over again. The many reason is because everyone here is so picky. Rob won't eat baked meat or boil meat. He hates the taste of it and would rather have it sauteed or pan seared or fried or cooked in olive oil. Jordan won't touch fruit and a few veggies. Logan hates tomatoes, so that rules out a lot of foods that are easy to make. Serenity she eats very little, she won't touch ground meat of any kind. I will eat just about anything, cooked any way. But then again I was brought up to eat what was in front of me or starve. So not how I brought my kids up. (Maybe I should have and I wouldn't be sick of cooking)
It's also hot here now and that makes the whole idea of standing in the kitchen for an hour cooking a meal that we may or may not eat not so appealing. My kids tend to eat a lot less during the summer and would much rather be allowed to snack all day long.
I am just so over it.. I need a chief for a month to come and make my family happy.
Friday, June 5, 2009
I am thinking Christmas already
and it's only June.
I am gathering up ideas of what I am wanting to make people for Christmas. I know for sure this year I am going to do some kind of cook book. I am forever being asked how did you make that or what's in this or that. And people are always calling and asking for a recipe that I made or something I brought to a party. While I enjoy making those things I think it's time I start sharing my recipes with them so that they can enjoy the foods with out feeling like they are bothering me by asking for recipes.
I also want to do some kind of photo project for the grandparents of the kids.
And I know for sure I am going to make Serenity some dresses and some PJ's.
For Logan I want to make PJ pants.
For Jordan I would love to try to make her some new bedding and some PJ's.
I think I really want to keep Christmas simple this year. And do more home made things.
Crazy to be thinking about it now but all of that stuff is going to take time and money so I have to start soon..
I am gathering up ideas of what I am wanting to make people for Christmas. I know for sure this year I am going to do some kind of cook book. I am forever being asked how did you make that or what's in this or that. And people are always calling and asking for a recipe that I made or something I brought to a party. While I enjoy making those things I think it's time I start sharing my recipes with them so that they can enjoy the foods with out feeling like they are bothering me by asking for recipes.
I also want to do some kind of photo project for the grandparents of the kids.
And I know for sure I am going to make Serenity some dresses and some PJ's.
For Logan I want to make PJ pants.
For Jordan I would love to try to make her some new bedding and some PJ's.
I think I really want to keep Christmas simple this year. And do more home made things.
Crazy to be thinking about it now but all of that stuff is going to take time and money so I have to start soon..
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Summer is here
And they are bored already.
We have a half day of school left and already they are crying boredom. I dread this time of year but look forward to it as well. For me it's a slow down period and for my kids it's boredom run a muck. They love being at school with their friends and all of their after school things. But I long for the days of when I can sit and do nothing or I can take a trip somewhere and no have to worry about making it back on time to pick one of them up.
I think we are going to be spending a lot of time at the library this summer. Jordan has a mile long of summer reads she has to do for her English class. And I am just ready to get back to reading some of the books I have been wanting for a while now. Logan will love the library as always and Serenity might enjoy it a little more this summer. I am sure we will head to the beach a few times and down the Salt Springs to swim. A trip or two to grandparents and a few trips over to my SIL house to swim in her pool and I think we will then be ready for back to school.
I am sure that with all of those plans I will here a million and 5 times I'm Bored..
We have a half day of school left and already they are crying boredom. I dread this time of year but look forward to it as well. For me it's a slow down period and for my kids it's boredom run a muck. They love being at school with their friends and all of their after school things. But I long for the days of when I can sit and do nothing or I can take a trip somewhere and no have to worry about making it back on time to pick one of them up.
I think we are going to be spending a lot of time at the library this summer. Jordan has a mile long of summer reads she has to do for her English class. And I am just ready to get back to reading some of the books I have been wanting for a while now. Logan will love the library as always and Serenity might enjoy it a little more this summer. I am sure we will head to the beach a few times and down the Salt Springs to swim. A trip or two to grandparents and a few trips over to my SIL house to swim in her pool and I think we will then be ready for back to school.
I am sure that with all of those plans I will here a million and 5 times I'm Bored..
Monday, May 18, 2009
Where we stand.
I know I left everyone hanging with what's going on with Serenity. I never meant to do that I just needed the time to try and wrap my brain around what I do know for sure. Which isn't much considering all the stuff we have had to do to her here lately.
I deleted the Dairy and Gluten Free Princess blog, because gluten isn't an issue anymore. We found out that she isn't allergic to gluten. We still have issues with Dairy but it's not as serve as we once believed. In moderation she can tolerate some dairy. So that was good news.
She is still having trouble with her stomach. We got referred to a GI specialist a few weeks back. We went and seen him and he schedule and Upper and Lower GI test done for June 22nd. To be honest it was the very best he could do to get it done that soon. He is one of 2 specialist at Nemours that do that test and they are super booked. I feel blessed to be able to have it done that soon.
While we were there he was looking at all the blood work and said that he didn't believe she had problems with her Iron levels and that he believed that it was something else. In the back of my mind that sent up TONS AND TONS of RED FLAGS!!! He asked me to bare with him as he went and spoke with a hematologist on the next floor up. What else could I do but wait. All the while I wanted to grab my child up and run and pretend now of this was really happening and that she was just a normal healthy 2 year old. He came back and said to stop giving her the iron that the Ped had order and continue with chewable vitamins with Iron. That he was referring us to the Hematologist who said that she needed to see Serenity as soon as possible. He also let us know that while Serenity was under for what he needed to do that he was be drawing extra blood for the Hematologist. He was reassuring that it was something that could be quickly solved and told us not to worry.
So here we sit. Knowing no more then when all of this started. And feeling like there is something more to it then all of the doctors are really telling us. I can say that we are not dwelling on all of this and we are going on living a normal every day life. It does sit in the back of our minds and it is hard not to call the doctors every 5 minutes to see if we can speed things up. I am truly having my patience tested and my faith.
So if you are praying people, please pray for us and for Serenity and for her doctors. I promise to keep everyone posted on what they find and what is happening here. And I promise to post some happier post soon..
Much Love...
I deleted the Dairy and Gluten Free Princess blog, because gluten isn't an issue anymore. We found out that she isn't allergic to gluten. We still have issues with Dairy but it's not as serve as we once believed. In moderation she can tolerate some dairy. So that was good news.
She is still having trouble with her stomach. We got referred to a GI specialist a few weeks back. We went and seen him and he schedule and Upper and Lower GI test done for June 22nd. To be honest it was the very best he could do to get it done that soon. He is one of 2 specialist at Nemours that do that test and they are super booked. I feel blessed to be able to have it done that soon.
While we were there he was looking at all the blood work and said that he didn't believe she had problems with her Iron levels and that he believed that it was something else. In the back of my mind that sent up TONS AND TONS of RED FLAGS!!! He asked me to bare with him as he went and spoke with a hematologist on the next floor up. What else could I do but wait. All the while I wanted to grab my child up and run and pretend now of this was really happening and that she was just a normal healthy 2 year old. He came back and said to stop giving her the iron that the Ped had order and continue with chewable vitamins with Iron. That he was referring us to the Hematologist who said that she needed to see Serenity as soon as possible. He also let us know that while Serenity was under for what he needed to do that he was be drawing extra blood for the Hematologist. He was reassuring that it was something that could be quickly solved and told us not to worry.
So here we sit. Knowing no more then when all of this started. And feeling like there is something more to it then all of the doctors are really telling us. I can say that we are not dwelling on all of this and we are going on living a normal every day life. It does sit in the back of our minds and it is hard not to call the doctors every 5 minutes to see if we can speed things up. I am truly having my patience tested and my faith.
So if you are praying people, please pray for us and for Serenity and for her doctors. I promise to keep everyone posted on what they find and what is happening here. And I promise to post some happier post soon..
Much Love...
Monday, April 27, 2009
Belly Hurts= No Dairy and now .....
we maybe head towards no Gluten. It's amazing how quickly things have changed since Serenity has stop nursing. She has had a lot of trouble with her stomach and after one round of testing we found she has an allergy to dairy. We fixed that with a simple switch to soy. Easy as can be you would think.
I never realized how much Dairy we consume, until now. We eat cheese at almost every meal. If it's not cheese it's milk in something. I have learned to make two different sides one with soy and one with milk. It makes life easy and she is a happy camper.
While the switch to soy has helped it didn't fix all that we needed it to fix. She is still having a ton of stomach trouble and crying after almost every meal and some days it's all I can do to get her to eat.
After much talk with the Pediatrician, we have decided to have her tested for gluten allergy and whatever else there could be. If we get any new hits on any of the testing we have to go see a GI and dietitian and a nutrition specialist.
This is so hard to wrap my brain around for some reason. I was ok with the Dairy allergy and knew that it was just a change of milk and cheese and yogurt. But this Gluten free life style is not a cheap one and isn't one I know much about. I have done some research and I have gone to the store and priced things and found as many items as I can that would take the place of what she would normally eat. And sadly there just isn't much out there for her. I am hoping I can get her to adjust easily to the new foods. Of course all of this depends on a blood test and it's results.
So if you are reading this and you are spiritual person if you would say a little prayer for her I would be grateful.
I never realized how much Dairy we consume, until now. We eat cheese at almost every meal. If it's not cheese it's milk in something. I have learned to make two different sides one with soy and one with milk. It makes life easy and she is a happy camper.
While the switch to soy has helped it didn't fix all that we needed it to fix. She is still having a ton of stomach trouble and crying after almost every meal and some days it's all I can do to get her to eat.
After much talk with the Pediatrician, we have decided to have her tested for gluten allergy and whatever else there could be. If we get any new hits on any of the testing we have to go see a GI and dietitian and a nutrition specialist.
This is so hard to wrap my brain around for some reason. I was ok with the Dairy allergy and knew that it was just a change of milk and cheese and yogurt. But this Gluten free life style is not a cheap one and isn't one I know much about. I have done some research and I have gone to the store and priced things and found as many items as I can that would take the place of what she would normally eat. And sadly there just isn't much out there for her. I am hoping I can get her to adjust easily to the new foods. Of course all of this depends on a blood test and it's results.
So if you are reading this and you are spiritual person if you would say a little prayer for her I would be grateful.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Princess Crown Cake
Made simple..
After a day of looking around on how to make a princess crown cake, I couldn't find one that I loved or even would think about making. They were either to complicated or just plain boring. (nothing against the great bakers out there) I need something that a average baker could do and one that would be perfect for a little girl. So I am making it up as I go.
Here is what I have so far.
I took 2 cake recipes for chocolate cake. Just your basic cake recipe nothing over the top or fancy.
I poured one into a 9x9 square pan.
Next I poured one a bunt pan.
I am going to make the square pan the pillow and the bunt pan will be transformed into a crown. I will place the bunt pan on top of the square pan and decorate it.
After a day of looking around on how to make a princess crown cake, I couldn't find one that I loved or even would think about making. They were either to complicated or just plain boring. (nothing against the great bakers out there) I need something that a average baker could do and one that would be perfect for a little girl. So I am making it up as I go.
Here is what I have so far.
I took 2 cake recipes for chocolate cake. Just your basic cake recipe nothing over the top or fancy.
I poured one into a 9x9 square pan.
Next I poured one a bunt pan.
I am going to make the square pan the pillow and the bunt pan will be transformed into a crown. I will place the bunt pan on top of the square pan and decorate it.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
What's been going on..
Well the last past 2 months have been super busy for us. Everyone has had some kind of sickness and we have been running like crazy..
February was lots of fun. We moved after 8 years of being in the same place. We moved in the same town. The very first day of our move was crazy. Logan woke up and couldn't not bare any weight on his leg. He looked like a flamingo. So I thought maybe he had some kind of serve leg cramp that need a good day of rest and a good day of rubbing and he would be good as new. Well that night he was just in pain and crying. We were carrying him every where. So I decided the next day he was going to the children's hospital to find out what was going on. They put him through the mill that day and I was there for 10 hours to only be sent back home and told that I need to see an orthopedic specialist that they had found a pocket of fluid on his hip. Not a good feeling to leave the ER and not know what all that meant or what was going on. So we waited on the Doctor to set the appointment up for us. Well after waiting for a little over a week and carrying my son around. I called to find out what was going on. The Doctor still had no clue why we hadn't been contacted by the ortho's office and he said he would check into it. (you are the mercy of all these doctor's who claim to know what they are doing.) Well Rob had started to notice that Logan was trying to use his leg some and had him try to walk on it. He got up and walked with a limp for about 3 days and by the time we got the word to meet the Ortho doctor at the ER he could walk and run on his own. He was released from medical care and able to go back to school. And we were told it was viral and it attacked his joints and now he is better. The very next day after one whole day of school he broke out into a rash. Which turned out to be just the virus leaving his body completely.
Now on to Serenity.. (these two together are trouble I tell you!!) During the move we were eating when we could and eating fast food a lot. (something we don't do, I don't like it and I cook as much as I can so I know what's going into my kids) Day 2 of the move I ran to the store to get some milk for the kids so they could eat some cereal the next day for breakfast. While I was there my husband calls and says Serenity had a poopy diaper. Ok I know what you are thinking, what the heck change it and why do I need to know this. Well I thought the same thing and said the same things to him. He then tells me it had blood in it.. I was like get her cleaned up and ready to leave when I get there. Well in the time it took me to get from the store to my house (which is less then 1/2 a mile) she had two more bowel movements. All of them had blood in them. Off to the ER we went,got asked tons of questions and had to explain that she hadn't had good meals for the last 2 days and that we were moving. They checked her over and realized she was dehydrated. So they gave her fluids and sent us home. Told us that it may take a couple of days but she should be fine and to keep pouring fluid into her and if she got worse to take her to the ped's office. Well we all got the stomach bug shortly after that and things got better.
Fast forward to the last week in 2 weeks in March. Once again we changed her diaper and she had blood in it again. I was able to take the diaper and her to the ped's office and they did samples to test for any bacteria that they could think of. Those test came back a week later negative. Then they sent us to lab to get blood work and test for allergies and anything else they may have missed. Once again we waited and listen to our sweet baby complain of her belly hurting and not knowing what was going on. Well I go the results back yesterday afternoon and it turns out the little stinker is ALLERGIC to MILK.. So we changed her to Soy last night add some chocolate to it and she loves it and tells everyone that it's her special milk.
Jordan has had some exciting stuff as well but nothing like the other two.. She made Junior National Honor Society this year and we are so VERY PROUD of her.. She works her butt of at school and makes great grades with out much effort. She is in all honor classes this year and loves being involved in everything. She is doing volunteer work now and seems to enjoy that. She is getting ready to turn 13 and boy have we noticed that she is almost a teenager.. UGHH the attitude, but all in all she is just a good girl...
Rob and I celebrated our anniversary in March and we were both sick with the some kind of stomach bug. So we didn't do much other then watch TV and sleep. It was perfect.
Rob and Serenity are getting ready for their birthday's this month. He is on the 14th and he will be 38 and Serenity's is on the 17th and she will be 2. He wants a big bowl of banana pudding and Serenity wants either a princess cake or elmo. So we will see what I can pull out of my hat for that one. Maybe do princess crown with little elmo faces as the jewels. Who knows..
That is our update.. Sorry it's a book..
February was lots of fun. We moved after 8 years of being in the same place. We moved in the same town. The very first day of our move was crazy. Logan woke up and couldn't not bare any weight on his leg. He looked like a flamingo. So I thought maybe he had some kind of serve leg cramp that need a good day of rest and a good day of rubbing and he would be good as new. Well that night he was just in pain and crying. We were carrying him every where. So I decided the next day he was going to the children's hospital to find out what was going on. They put him through the mill that day and I was there for 10 hours to only be sent back home and told that I need to see an orthopedic specialist that they had found a pocket of fluid on his hip. Not a good feeling to leave the ER and not know what all that meant or what was going on. So we waited on the Doctor to set the appointment up for us. Well after waiting for a little over a week and carrying my son around. I called to find out what was going on. The Doctor still had no clue why we hadn't been contacted by the ortho's office and he said he would check into it. (you are the mercy of all these doctor's who claim to know what they are doing.) Well Rob had started to notice that Logan was trying to use his leg some and had him try to walk on it. He got up and walked with a limp for about 3 days and by the time we got the word to meet the Ortho doctor at the ER he could walk and run on his own. He was released from medical care and able to go back to school. And we were told it was viral and it attacked his joints and now he is better. The very next day after one whole day of school he broke out into a rash. Which turned out to be just the virus leaving his body completely.
Now on to Serenity.. (these two together are trouble I tell you!!) During the move we were eating when we could and eating fast food a lot. (something we don't do, I don't like it and I cook as much as I can so I know what's going into my kids) Day 2 of the move I ran to the store to get some milk for the kids so they could eat some cereal the next day for breakfast. While I was there my husband calls and says Serenity had a poopy diaper. Ok I know what you are thinking, what the heck change it and why do I need to know this. Well I thought the same thing and said the same things to him. He then tells me it had blood in it.. I was like get her cleaned up and ready to leave when I get there. Well in the time it took me to get from the store to my house (which is less then 1/2 a mile) she had two more bowel movements. All of them had blood in them. Off to the ER we went,got asked tons of questions and had to explain that she hadn't had good meals for the last 2 days and that we were moving. They checked her over and realized she was dehydrated. So they gave her fluids and sent us home. Told us that it may take a couple of days but she should be fine and to keep pouring fluid into her and if she got worse to take her to the ped's office. Well we all got the stomach bug shortly after that and things got better.
Fast forward to the last week in 2 weeks in March. Once again we changed her diaper and she had blood in it again. I was able to take the diaper and her to the ped's office and they did samples to test for any bacteria that they could think of. Those test came back a week later negative. Then they sent us to lab to get blood work and test for allergies and anything else they may have missed. Once again we waited and listen to our sweet baby complain of her belly hurting and not knowing what was going on. Well I go the results back yesterday afternoon and it turns out the little stinker is ALLERGIC to MILK.. So we changed her to Soy last night add some chocolate to it and she loves it and tells everyone that it's her special milk.
Jordan has had some exciting stuff as well but nothing like the other two.. She made Junior National Honor Society this year and we are so VERY PROUD of her.. She works her butt of at school and makes great grades with out much effort. She is in all honor classes this year and loves being involved in everything. She is doing volunteer work now and seems to enjoy that. She is getting ready to turn 13 and boy have we noticed that she is almost a teenager.. UGHH the attitude, but all in all she is just a good girl...
Rob and I celebrated our anniversary in March and we were both sick with the some kind of stomach bug. So we didn't do much other then watch TV and sleep. It was perfect.
Rob and Serenity are getting ready for their birthday's this month. He is on the 14th and he will be 38 and Serenity's is on the 17th and she will be 2. He wants a big bowl of banana pudding and Serenity wants either a princess cake or elmo. So we will see what I can pull out of my hat for that one. Maybe do princess crown with little elmo faces as the jewels. Who knows..
That is our update.. Sorry it's a book..
Friday, March 20, 2009
IEP and what's next
I woke up knowing on the 18th of March we had the IEP conference for Logan. I was excited because we would know what the OT found and if he qualified for in school OT or if we were going to have to find him one in town.
The meeting went well and like always for a paperless system there was a ton of things to sign and a ton of needless paper work to make the county happy. The informed me that Logan did qualify and that he would receive OT once a week and be tested at the end of the school year to see if he would needed for next year. The also let us know that they were in contact with the school he is zoned for and they do know all of his needs and where he is at in his education. We were also told they were doing testing for placement but they were waiting on us to sign off on it to start. Being the protective mother hen that I am, I got mad that they were wasting time by waiting.
So going into mom mode I had to explain to them if they would just send the papers home with Logan when they need to be signed they would have them back the very next day and they could go ahead and start the testing and then at the next IEP we could be ready to discuss all that needs to happen with him. Of course the school guidance counselor has to say well we have to do it by the book and by the way the county wants it. I let her know there are times where I can't just drop things and run to the school every time they need have a meeting for me to sign a paper. And what a even bigger waste of time for them to call all of these people away from their jobs to sit in here to watch me sign 3 pieces of paper when I can do it at home and return them just as quickly. They agreed with me finally so I am hoping that they won't waste time anymore. I was also informed by Logan's teacher that depending on the testing we will know where he will be placed. The goal for the year was to mainstream him next year. But seeing how he is having issues retaining information and not where they thought he would be he may be held back in Pre-K for another year.
Now that isn't an issue for me. But for whatever reason the school and the county is having issues with it. As of right now Logan is 2 heads taller then every kids in his class and is the oldest kid in the class.He turned 5 in February and the other kids are still only 4. If they hold him back he will be 5.5 turning 6 when school starts back and that will make him 2 yrs older then the kids and of course even bigger then he is now. Which has some parents worried.
Also they are worried now with a new studies that have come out that kids that are held back in early education have a higher drop out rate. And with having a learning disability the number is even higher. I had to tell his teacher that "look I don't hold anyone here at this school responsible for what decisions my son makes when he is 15-18yrs old. That it is my job as his mom to make sure that the school is acting in Logan's best interest and that if holding him back will help him in the long run then we are going to do just that. I am not going to let him fall through the cracks just because of some study that only applies to parents of kids who never were involved from day one." Some how they seem to forget when doing these studies that it's not the kids fault or the schools fault that the kid dropped out. It is the PARENTS FAULT!! As parents we took on the job of the kids, the kids need guidance and they need us to instruct them on what to do and when to do it. And if all just throw our hands up and not get involved when the kids are at school then no one is holding each other responsible for what is going on in the school system. As parents we are our kids first advocate, we are the only voice that will ever be heard by any other adult involved in their lives. Whether it be with a failing school system or a failing government system.
Now I am working on keeping Logan at his present school for the rest of elementary. I have been given the heads up by the county to go ahead and register him the first day of early registration for Kindergarten at the new school but to quickly go to the principal and ask for the special pupil form so that I can run it to the school he attends now. With that form I will have to talk with his principal and see if I can get her to sign off on him staying at his school. But I promise you if she doesn't sign off on it I will be going to her boss. As I informed his teacher everyone has a boss and I will be keeping Logan at Rideout. And she smiled and said she knew with out a doubt that I was the kind of mom that would always be involved from day one. I love his teachers and all the hard work they do from the kids.
Stay tuned as this keeps going....I am sure there will be many more post on this as I don't think it will be an easy task to keep him at Rideout with all the budget cuts.
The meeting went well and like always for a paperless system there was a ton of things to sign and a ton of needless paper work to make the county happy. The informed me that Logan did qualify and that he would receive OT once a week and be tested at the end of the school year to see if he would needed for next year. The also let us know that they were in contact with the school he is zoned for and they do know all of his needs and where he is at in his education. We were also told they were doing testing for placement but they were waiting on us to sign off on it to start. Being the protective mother hen that I am, I got mad that they were wasting time by waiting.
So going into mom mode I had to explain to them if they would just send the papers home with Logan when they need to be signed they would have them back the very next day and they could go ahead and start the testing and then at the next IEP we could be ready to discuss all that needs to happen with him. Of course the school guidance counselor has to say well we have to do it by the book and by the way the county wants it. I let her know there are times where I can't just drop things and run to the school every time they need have a meeting for me to sign a paper. And what a even bigger waste of time for them to call all of these people away from their jobs to sit in here to watch me sign 3 pieces of paper when I can do it at home and return them just as quickly. They agreed with me finally so I am hoping that they won't waste time anymore. I was also informed by Logan's teacher that depending on the testing we will know where he will be placed. The goal for the year was to mainstream him next year. But seeing how he is having issues retaining information and not where they thought he would be he may be held back in Pre-K for another year.
Now that isn't an issue for me. But for whatever reason the school and the county is having issues with it. As of right now Logan is 2 heads taller then every kids in his class and is the oldest kid in the class.He turned 5 in February and the other kids are still only 4. If they hold him back he will be 5.5 turning 6 when school starts back and that will make him 2 yrs older then the kids and of course even bigger then he is now. Which has some parents worried.
Also they are worried now with a new studies that have come out that kids that are held back in early education have a higher drop out rate. And with having a learning disability the number is even higher. I had to tell his teacher that "look I don't hold anyone here at this school responsible for what decisions my son makes when he is 15-18yrs old. That it is my job as his mom to make sure that the school is acting in Logan's best interest and that if holding him back will help him in the long run then we are going to do just that. I am not going to let him fall through the cracks just because of some study that only applies to parents of kids who never were involved from day one." Some how they seem to forget when doing these studies that it's not the kids fault or the schools fault that the kid dropped out. It is the PARENTS FAULT!! As parents we took on the job of the kids, the kids need guidance and they need us to instruct them on what to do and when to do it. And if all just throw our hands up and not get involved when the kids are at school then no one is holding each other responsible for what is going on in the school system. As parents we are our kids first advocate, we are the only voice that will ever be heard by any other adult involved in their lives. Whether it be with a failing school system or a failing government system.
Now I am working on keeping Logan at his present school for the rest of elementary. I have been given the heads up by the county to go ahead and register him the first day of early registration for Kindergarten at the new school but to quickly go to the principal and ask for the special pupil form so that I can run it to the school he attends now. With that form I will have to talk with his principal and see if I can get her to sign off on him staying at his school. But I promise you if she doesn't sign off on it I will be going to her boss. As I informed his teacher everyone has a boss and I will be keeping Logan at Rideout. And she smiled and said she knew with out a doubt that I was the kind of mom that would always be involved from day one. I love his teachers and all the hard work they do from the kids.
Stay tuned as this keeps going....I am sure there will be many more post on this as I don't think it will be an easy task to keep him at Rideout with all the budget cuts.
Monday, January 26, 2009
What's the sound track of your life?
One of my neighbors has been doing his homework on my computer this week. He has this English project called sound track of your life. I started thinking about it and decided what an awesome idea.
So here are the categories you only have to pick 8 of them. The object is to pick songs that relate to your life in the different scenes. The songs themselves do not have to mention the events in them at all. They just have to fit your life at that moment.
Your birth
driving in a car
fighting
falling in love
breaking up
sleeping
being alone
being with friends
school
hobbies
Eating
death
So here are my 8
Birth- There Goes My Life by Kenny Chesney- My parents were very young, mom 16,dad 19. I am sure at some point they both felt this. And in the end it showed when they divorced for whatever their reason was at the time.
Falling in Love- Tangled up in You by Staind- Nothing better then being in love and having that person in gulf everything about you and you doing the same for them
Breaking up- I F**King Hate you by Godsmack- I normally would say that it applies if I walked away.
Sleeping-I Can Sleep When I'm Dead by Jason Michael Carroll- being a mom to 3 kids sleep isn't something I get to much of. So this song fits..
Being alone- Listen To The Rain by Evanescence- If I had an alone moment that is what I would do..
Driving- Into the great wide open by Tom Petty- That is how I feel when I am driving. I just love to drive and go no where.
Eating- Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett- That is one of my favorite foods and there is a song all about it..
Death- The Promise by Tracey Chapman- I would want my kids to know I'm always with them all they would have to do is think of me.
So here are the categories you only have to pick 8 of them. The object is to pick songs that relate to your life in the different scenes. The songs themselves do not have to mention the events in them at all. They just have to fit your life at that moment.
Your birth
driving in a car
fighting
falling in love
breaking up
sleeping
being alone
being with friends
school
hobbies
Eating
death
So here are my 8
Birth- There Goes My Life by Kenny Chesney- My parents were very young, mom 16,dad 19. I am sure at some point they both felt this. And in the end it showed when they divorced for whatever their reason was at the time.
Falling in Love- Tangled up in You by Staind- Nothing better then being in love and having that person in gulf everything about you and you doing the same for them
Breaking up- I F**King Hate you by Godsmack- I normally would say that it applies if I walked away.
Sleeping-I Can Sleep When I'm Dead by Jason Michael Carroll- being a mom to 3 kids sleep isn't something I get to much of. So this song fits..
Being alone- Listen To The Rain by Evanescence- If I had an alone moment that is what I would do..
Driving- Into the great wide open by Tom Petty- That is how I feel when I am driving. I just love to drive and go no where.
Eating- Cheeseburger in Paradise by Jimmy Buffett- That is one of my favorite foods and there is a song all about it..
Death- The Promise by Tracey Chapman- I would want my kids to know I'm always with them all they would have to do is think of me.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Finding that middle ground between being a mom and being me
Here lately I am struggling with being a good mom and a good wife.
I want so badly to be back at work doing things away from the home.
Don't get me wrong I wouldn't trade being a mom or a wife for anything in the world. I love my job as both.
But I have been craving something more. I want to be back out there around other adults. I have tried going out with the girls and just Rob and I going out. But it always seems that we turn to talking about our kids or talking about what bills we have to pay or what we are making for the school projects.
I need something more. Something other than dirty diapers and piles of clothes that need washing and dishes that need to be cleaned.
When Rob and I had our first we agreed that I would stay at home and be the primary care giver. And I have done that for 12 years. It has worked out nicely. For the short year I did work at a day care center I took Jordan with me. She loved it because she got more time with her friends from school. While that job was fun it just wasn't for me. After having kids of your own, hang out with more kids that aren't yours just isn't all that fun.
I have started sewing more for other people and that is good and it does bring in extra money for me to spend on what I want to. I also have started baking more and that is fine as well. It's just not away from the home. It's still trapping me in the home. I know most working mom's would probably tell me to stop complaining and be happy I can stay at home and do what I do. And they are probably right. I do sound a bit whinny and ungrateful for what I am able to do for my children.
I guess I need to find that middle ground and do something more for me and not so much for others. Maybe that would solve some of the issues I am having.
I want so badly to be back at work doing things away from the home.
Don't get me wrong I wouldn't trade being a mom or a wife for anything in the world. I love my job as both.
But I have been craving something more. I want to be back out there around other adults. I have tried going out with the girls and just Rob and I going out. But it always seems that we turn to talking about our kids or talking about what bills we have to pay or what we are making for the school projects.
I need something more. Something other than dirty diapers and piles of clothes that need washing and dishes that need to be cleaned.
When Rob and I had our first we agreed that I would stay at home and be the primary care giver. And I have done that for 12 years. It has worked out nicely. For the short year I did work at a day care center I took Jordan with me. She loved it because she got more time with her friends from school. While that job was fun it just wasn't for me. After having kids of your own, hang out with more kids that aren't yours just isn't all that fun.
I have started sewing more for other people and that is good and it does bring in extra money for me to spend on what I want to. I also have started baking more and that is fine as well. It's just not away from the home. It's still trapping me in the home. I know most working mom's would probably tell me to stop complaining and be happy I can stay at home and do what I do. And they are probably right. I do sound a bit whinny and ungrateful for what I am able to do for my children.
I guess I need to find that middle ground and do something more for me and not so much for others. Maybe that would solve some of the issues I am having.
Monday, December 29, 2008
UNPLUGGED AND LOVING IT
I know I have disappeared yet again.
Awhile back I moved my computer out of the family room so that i wouldn't be tempted to use it while the kids were awake. I wanted to start spending more quality time with them doing things they like to do.
And it has helped me out a ton. I no longer spend hours on message boards or myspace or facebook. I don't look for excuses not to go do stuff because I'm busy chatting with people all day. Now we are out and about doing things. We spend the week before Christmas baking tons of cookies,making chocolate covered pretzels and passing them out to our neighbors and friends. We have also spent time going to the library and to the parks and just being outside as a family. It's amazing what being unplugged can do for your married life as well. Seems like Rob and I have started finding new things to do together and new ways to spend our afternoons. We no longer sit in different rooms yelling at each other to check your email. Now we talk and watch movies and laugh about things we have seen while we are traveling around town.
The kids are loving it as well. They are loving doing things as a family. They are loving being able to go out and enjoy the fresh air and ride their bikes and play football.
I recommend UNPLUGGING for a few days for everyone. I PROMISE you won't miss anything and you can even get caught up on everything a couple hours before bed every night. AND in reality those people you talk to online WON'T really miss you all that much.
Take a break from the net and start enjoying the world around you.. Because before you know it things will change and you will have missed it all.
Awhile back I moved my computer out of the family room so that i wouldn't be tempted to use it while the kids were awake. I wanted to start spending more quality time with them doing things they like to do.
And it has helped me out a ton. I no longer spend hours on message boards or myspace or facebook. I don't look for excuses not to go do stuff because I'm busy chatting with people all day. Now we are out and about doing things. We spend the week before Christmas baking tons of cookies,making chocolate covered pretzels and passing them out to our neighbors and friends. We have also spent time going to the library and to the parks and just being outside as a family. It's amazing what being unplugged can do for your married life as well. Seems like Rob and I have started finding new things to do together and new ways to spend our afternoons. We no longer sit in different rooms yelling at each other to check your email. Now we talk and watch movies and laugh about things we have seen while we are traveling around town.
The kids are loving it as well. They are loving doing things as a family. They are loving being able to go out and enjoy the fresh air and ride their bikes and play football.
I recommend UNPLUGGING for a few days for everyone. I PROMISE you won't miss anything and you can even get caught up on everything a couple hours before bed every night. AND in reality those people you talk to online WON'T really miss you all that much.
Take a break from the net and start enjoying the world around you.. Because before you know it things will change and you will have missed it all.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Logan and his new school
We finally got to move forward with getting the help that Logan needs for his education. We have been working really closely with this program called Child find and the school board here in our area. He was going to a day care where he was in a class of 18-20 kids. He was lost and just not able to keep his mind focused on what he was doing. He was getting the hang of things but not as fast as the other kids and unfortunately the teachers could not keep waiting for him to catch up with the rest of the class. They helped get the process started for the testing and then his wonderful neurologist sent a note and her report to Child find and it help keep the ball rolling.
He is now in a Pre-K program at a elementary school with only 5 kids in his class and 3 teachers. He is thriving and is making great progress. He is still waiting to get his speech testing to see where he is at in that area. They may wait until after Thanksgiving break to do that.
He has started singing songs that he has learned at school, he is recognizing letters and is really starting to count more. He is writing his name better each day. He still has issues with focusing and staying on task. They are working with him on that using a reward system that is really working. His teacher told me that if a leaf was to blow by he would pay more attention to that leaf then he would her. And she is right and that is always been a problem with him. They are working on eye contact because he has never really looked anyone in the eyes since he was 1. His teacher has let me know that he is talking more in class and that the kids love him. He is picked first by everyone in the class if they play a game or if they need a buddy to go do something, they all want him to go with him. We leave and everyone has to say goodbye to him. He told me that he was popular and that it meant everyone liked him. So that was a big deal for him.
He is such an amazing little boy and it so sad sometimes to watch him struggle to grasp things. I just hope that we have done what's best for him and that he keeps on loving school.
He is now in a Pre-K program at a elementary school with only 5 kids in his class and 3 teachers. He is thriving and is making great progress. He is still waiting to get his speech testing to see where he is at in that area. They may wait until after Thanksgiving break to do that.
He has started singing songs that he has learned at school, he is recognizing letters and is really starting to count more. He is writing his name better each day. He still has issues with focusing and staying on task. They are working with him on that using a reward system that is really working. His teacher told me that if a leaf was to blow by he would pay more attention to that leaf then he would her. And she is right and that is always been a problem with him. They are working on eye contact because he has never really looked anyone in the eyes since he was 1. His teacher has let me know that he is talking more in class and that the kids love him. He is picked first by everyone in the class if they play a game or if they need a buddy to go do something, they all want him to go with him. We leave and everyone has to say goodbye to him. He told me that he was popular and that it meant everyone liked him. So that was a big deal for him.
He is such an amazing little boy and it so sad sometimes to watch him struggle to grasp things. I just hope that we have done what's best for him and that he keeps on loving school.
Friday, November 14, 2008
I want a real wedding..
When Rob and I got married it was kind of just thrown together in a weeks time. Not much planning and not much thought of how we wanted it to be. We were planning a real wedding but I was pregnant with Jordan and we had a lot of outside influences on us and we just decided to do it and get it over with. ROMANTIC RIGHT!! NOT!!
And now after 12 years of marriage I think I want a real wedding. I want the dress, the great looking man in jeans and a white button down shirt and the cute little kids in cute kid clothes all out on the beach at sun set with not shoes on.
I have the song picked out from me to him and he has always had the song for me. I have my dress picked out and what I would wear in my hair and his outfit we own. The girls I would make them dresses and Logan we would get some cute shorts and a white shirt. Easy as can be. I would make my own cake and do the food myself. Nothing over the top just sweet moment with him and I and our kids and our parents. Not other people.
Now really isn't the time to think of all of this as money is tight. But darn it I have made it through some tough times with him and I have stayed and he has stayed. We deserve to have what we wanted a long time ago.
Now to go about planning something and to get him on board with the whole idea. He says once you do it one time you don't need to do it again.. Just like a man to think that way. I'll just plan it and he will just have to show up.
And now after 12 years of marriage I think I want a real wedding. I want the dress, the great looking man in jeans and a white button down shirt and the cute little kids in cute kid clothes all out on the beach at sun set with not shoes on.
I have the song picked out from me to him and he has always had the song for me. I have my dress picked out and what I would wear in my hair and his outfit we own. The girls I would make them dresses and Logan we would get some cute shorts and a white shirt. Easy as can be. I would make my own cake and do the food myself. Nothing over the top just sweet moment with him and I and our kids and our parents. Not other people.
Now really isn't the time to think of all of this as money is tight. But darn it I have made it through some tough times with him and I have stayed and he has stayed. We deserve to have what we wanted a long time ago.
Now to go about planning something and to get him on board with the whole idea. He says once you do it one time you don't need to do it again.. Just like a man to think that way. I'll just plan it and he will just have to show up.
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