What A Day

This week has been interesting (to say the least). I feel like I've been running around blindfolded and bumping into every obstacle.

Monday I had to see a geneticist who told me that I am a Cystic Fibrosis carrier. 1 in every 25 caucasians of European decent are carriers of this desease. That took all of 3 minutes for him to tell me that as a carrier I am not effected at all by the disease. Wow! I could have gone the rest of my life without wasting that 3 minutes of my day! Then, around 11:00, I received a phone call from the school secretary asking me to come take care of M... He got a step 4 in the lunch line because he hit a child who was standing too close to him. Then, he called the lunch room teacher a "Liar" when she called him on it (she had watched him do it). So, I had to meet the teacher and took M home for a bit of homeschooling, which is something he dislikes, as punishment.

Tuesday I had an appointment with M's behavioral therapist at 8:00 in the morning and a meeting with C's principal to address some issues with her deaf/HoH teacher. Matt and I had stayed up talking until nearly midnight the previous night about both M's appointment with this particular physician and C's school possibilities. The therapist doesn't work with M. Rather, she sees Matt and I to "tweak" our parenting skills. In fact, she has claimed on more than one visit that she doesn't know why we're seeing her because we're doing everything right. In regards to C's teacher... She had sent home notes about my daughter that I didn't appreciate 3 days in a row. She was critiquing my ability to send C to school with a full battery for her Cochlear Processor (an insult to any responsible mother) and claimed that C was having behavior problems associated with the inoperable state of her processor. A complete fabrication, even if I do say so myself. The teacher and the entire deaf/HoH team and I utterly disagree on what is an appopriate learning situation for C, which, in turn, causes us to be sensitive towards each other and what each has to say.

Here's what actually happened: Matt went to the behavioral health therapist and told her our opinion. He explained that we only really wanted a confirmed diagnosis for M so that he can get the additional help from school that he would qualify for. She totally understood and was utterly appreciative that we were considerate enough to keep our appointment and tell her in person of our viewpoint (I, in fact, came across her today and she was super sweet). We then cancelled our appointment with the principal and said we'd work it out with the teacher first. If things escalate then we'll go through the pricinipal. I just got tired of this woman being so adamant about how I should raise my deaf daughter (just because she is a deaf woman herself) that I wanted to take action. Sadly, the day got worse!!! M's reading teacher called me and asked if I would come sit with M. He, apparently, decided not to do his school work. He had done the same thing on Monday, too. But, she simply had to do something to ensure his work got done. So, off I rushed to the school (after calling Matt to get the van) to sit with M. He DID NOT like this treatment and I can only hope that he has learned a valuable lesson. I can tell you that I did not make this pleasant. Upon arriving home I found I had received a call from M's Developmental Pediatrician, whom I was supposed to call at 9:30 but didn't have an opportunity because of my time spent at the school. I called her back and we discussed Matt's conversation with the behavioral therapist and our desire to get M the help he needed, even if it meant putting him on ADHD meds (that's the official diagnosis).

Once the kids arrived home from school we went to the pharmacy (on post the wait is usually an hour to an hour and a half). We arrived around 3:45 and left around 4:45. I had some coloring/activity books and crayons along with some playdough and snacks and juice. The kids (both of them) actually sat quietly for then entire time!!! I was so PROUD of them... It was a difficult task for any child and excessively so for M! What a trooper! They did so well we treated them to dinner and an extra desert. We picked up M's ADHD medicine (10mg of Adderall XR) and gathered the instructions for things to watch for (positive and negative) to be implimented the following moring.

Wednesday has been just as busy. I started my day with explaining to M about his medication before shipping him off to school. C and I took Matt to work before coming home to get ready for her Developmental Pediatrician visit. In our visit I explained the new school situation. To say that the two doctors who were seeing C today were not pleased at her situation is a severe understatement. In fact, they've determined that if we cannot get C into her old school with like-hearing peers that they wanted to get her seen by a signing therapist so she can learn to express herself. They are VERY anxious about C's social skills and mental health because of this placement. They strongly feel she is being isolated at a stage when she really needs to further her communication skills and can truly benefit from socializing with other deaf children. They were especially adamant about this when they learned that she cannot even recognize the sound of her own name using the Cochlear Implant. Plus, poor C had to have her final Hep B shot. Her previous series she got in China did not "take", according to her Titers, so we had to start over again with this. Then, while we were there, they gave her the nasal flu vaccine. Needless to say, I kept her home today.

After today's visit I'm feeling frustrated again... I can't provide transportation for C and the school refuses since they already have a program in our own school, but if I can arrange transportation for the old school then M will have to move schools, too, just when we're getting to a point that he NEEDS to stay where he is to verify how the new medication is effecting him. Not fun at all!

Here's what M's teachers said about M's behavior today:
Home Room:
"Hello!He had a pretty good day today.He had a little bit of a hard time getting settled at the school wideassembly.But, that was quickly resolved and we moved on."

Reading Teacher:
"His behavior and academic performance was not as good as it has been but better than the last two days... he seemed "sullen" sad and mad at the same time. He did what we asked but not with real effort or excitement. Mrs. ____ gave him compliments on his word cards, I thought I almost seen a smile but it was fleeting. May be the review this week will help. Full week of reading next week! Thank you for coming in. I really appreciate it!"

In Loving Memory

In Loving Memory of:
Nonni
Grandma
Big Nonni
Aunt Donna
Uncle Bud
Uncle Jim
Grandpa C
Grandpa M
And the list just keeps on going! You are loved and missed so dearly! We'll see you again in the future.

And for my family and friends who have been touched by cancer but have survived... You are an inspiration! May you always win this fight:
Aunt Sher
Susan
Kim-Berly
And so many others!


All you are asked to do is keep this circulating, even if it's to one more person.
In memory of anyone you know that has been struck by cancer.


A Candle Loses Nothing By Lighting Another Candle.


Please Keep These Candles Going!

New Clothes... Finally

After 6 years of having children I got to go out and buy some clothes that were NOT for C or M. Well, that's only partially true...

Today, we were planning on taking a drive down to Aunt D and Uncle C's house in south-western Washington. It can be nearly a 2 hour trip, depending on weather. But, I started my girl days on Friday and found myself in a bit of pain. Apparently, the polyps that the doctor removed back in September finally decided to dislodge themselves. This excretion process is quite painful. Like my cycles weren't painful enough... I now have to deal with even further pain. Apparently, in a few months I should be loving life with far less pain. If this doesn't work we'll be aiming at a hystorectomy... Wonder if I can talk the doc into that in a year or two?!? Hmmm... Worth thinkin' 'bout! ;)

Anyway, this afternoon I finally started feeling the pain go away. I began waking up at around 2:00, so we decided to take a quick run to the store (fighting the pain was wearing me out enough that I practically slept the weekend away). I needed to buy Halloween Candy (I'm a stickler for buy and giving out candy if my kids are trick-or-treating) and M and C needed some new jeans.

I purchased 3 pairs of 7 slim pants and 2 pairs of 8 slim pants for M and little "tight" outfits for C (the kind with long dress-like shorts with matching tights underneath) in lieu of jeans. M had 2 pairs of 7 slim pants from late last year and C had several jeans that still fit (though quite snuggly). So, we went to Ross and found a great deal on jeans for both the kids. I ended up buying C 3 pairs of designer jeans for $9.00 each while M got 3 pairs of desiner jeans for $10.00 each. He got 2 more pairs from Target for $10.00 each, also. It was a fabulous find because it is always so difficult to find slim sized pants at all, never-the-less at Ross. M is simply too tall... He's lanky, super skinny and long legged like a little colt (knobby knees and all). Hopefully these pants will last both the kids through spring!!!

So, how can I get away with saying I bought clothes other than for the kids? Easy... Ross was having a decent clearance section where I was able to buy my nephews so great clothes!!! Plus, I bought myself 3 new bras! I have 1 bra that is comfy and I pull the wash and wear every day routine with it. My other 3 bras are awkward and mostly uncomfortable. We'll see how well these new bras work. I don't care what a bra looks like as long as it is confortable and holds up my girl parts! ;)

Needless to say, I was thrilled with my finds but was totally worn out by the time we got back to the van. I should have waited to do my shopping until I felt better... Like on Wednesday.

I found my dream kitchen. It's by IKEA and I saw it while we were visiting the IKEA store in Seattle when my friend from Texas was visiting earlier this month. These pictures don't show it's true beauty by any means, but at least you'll have an idea. For those of you who have seen my kitchen in my house in Kansas you'll know just how beautiful this design could look. It's somewhat country with lots of elegance! The backsplash emulates pounded tin (it's actually a plastic of some kind). I think the backsplash in this kitchen could look great if it were done with black chalkboard paint. The the top/tall cabinets are white, some are glass fronted while others are fronted with wainscoating. The lower/base cabinets are a dark stained wood. There is a breakfast island in the center of the layout with some open storage underneath. The sink is a country sink with a fabulous country faucet that reminds me of a hose. It's so cool and this kitchen is unbeatable!

The Bucket List

THE BUCKET LIST

( ) Gone on a blind date
(X) Skipped school
(X) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
( ) Been to Mexico
(X) Been to Florida
(X) Been on a plane
(X) Been lost
(X) Been on the opposite side of the country
(X) Gone to Washington , DC
(X) Swam in the ocean
(X) Cried yourself to sleep
(X) Played cops and robber
(X) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Sang Karaoke
(X) Paid for a meal with coins only?
(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?
(X) Made prank phone calls (Does that count to family/friends? Then Yes.)
(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose or peed your pants
(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(X) Danced in the rain
(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(X) Watched the sunrise with someone
(X) Blown bubbles
(X) Gone ice-skating
( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors
(X) Gone to the movies

1. Any nickname?
yes

2. Mother's name?
Mom

3. Favorite drink?
Anything with Chocolate

4. Body Piercings?
My ears and belly-button

5. How much do you love your job?
I adore my job... I get to be a mom!!!

6. Birthplace?
California

7. Favorite vacation spot?
My family's traditional annual camping trip to the Northern California Coast.

8. Ever been to Africa?
No, but I sincerely hope to get there some day (we hope to adopt from Ethiopia)!

9. Ever eaten just cookies for dinner?
Probably

10. Ever been on TV?
Yes; Matt and I were in a commercial at Ft. Eustis. I sucked but Matt was great.

11. Ever steal any traffic signs??
No

12. Ever been in a car accident?
Yes

13. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle?
Both at some point in my driving career.

14. Can you drive a standard car?
Yes... My parents required us to learn on a stick shift. My dad's philosophy is if you can drive a stick you can drive anything... And it turned out to be very true since I've also driven an 18-wheeler.

15. Favorite pie?
What isn't?

16. Favorite number?
Seven

17. Favorite movie?
Sense and Sensibility

18. Favorite holiday?
Christmas

19. Favorite dessert?
Do I have to pick just one?!?

20. Favorite food?
Pasta, especially spaghetti

21. Favorite day of the week?
Friday... Because that's the last day of work and school so I can have my family all together for the weekend!

22. Favorite brand of body wash?
Lever 2000

23. Favorite toothpaste ?
Aquafresh Extreme Clean

24. Favorite smell?
Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo

25. How do you relax?
Sitting in my parents front yard with a glass of wine or a bottle of beer and being able to chill with them.

26. How do you see yourself in 10 years?
As the mother of numerous healthy, happy and well adjusted children (grandchildren to follow) and the wife of an awesome (and hopefully retired) soldier!

27. Furthest place you will send this message?
Around The World!

28. What is your favorite breed of dog?
German Shephards (but I also like Dobermans, Giant Schnauzers, American Mastiffs and Labs)

29. Favorite sound?
My children's laughter

Sylvan Learning Center Update

I met with the teacher at Sylvan Learning Center to review the results of M's evaluation. It will take approximately 194 hours to bring M up to speed (just for reading). The program will run us nearly $10,000!!! I utterly wish I could afford that because he deserves a break in his little life... He deserves more than what he has been given! I feel so helpless!!!

So, after taking a deep breath we have decided to impliment some strategies at home to help him learn to read better. At the end of last year of kindergarten we had withdrawn M and began homeschooling him. We utilized the k12 program (an awesome program that is perfect for inexperienced home educators like myself). Even though M had attended a regular kindergarten through last February k12 required him to start over. So, we got many wonderful supplies to help educate M, about 1/2 of which we did not have to return. One of the things we were able to keep was the Phonics workbook and teacher's book. So, we're going to pull that back out and use it to give M extra education on Saturdays and Sundays.

Wish us and M lots luck!

Having Fun

This past weekend was a blast. We hosted a long time friend for a few days. She flew in from Texas and brought the kids each a ton of stuff (she spoils them rotten). The kids, Matt and I all enjoyed having her. We went to Mt. St. Helens and saw it smoking and then we went to Seattle to check out Pike's Market. While we were there we took the short cruise around Puget Sound. That was really nice. We saw some California Sea Lions while we were out cruising along with a few jelly fish. They were huge! I was the only one interested in the jelly fish while everyone else were checking out the Sea Lions, which were pretty cool, too. I thought I saw a few whales surfacing, but since I was the only one seeing these few surfaces I must have been imagining things (though there are a pod of Orcas in the vacinity as well as Humbacks that have swum up the canal and reached Tacoma, two arrived and departed just two months ago, so it's not impossible). "K" brought the kids a lot of things from Tombstone, Arizona as well as Texas. Pictured here are M and C wearing their authentic cowboy attire from Tombstone (we'll have to have professional pics done, too).