I have been busy battling the state. This means that I am just standing precipitously close to the edge but I still have not fallen off... yet.
As some of you know, my 4 year old is a special needs child. He has dyspraxia, apraxia of speech, sensory integration disorder, and developmental delays. He is not autistic. I work with him every day with the advice from his therapists and he has $2000 in therapy each month to try to bring him up to speed. Our insurance pays for the first 20 visits and our son qualified for Medicaid for disabled children which paid for the rest.
Well, they used to.
The state has recently denied him Medicaid. Apparently, being a four year old child who is at 20 months ability in speech and in the 2% in preschool abilities is just not disabled enough to matter. It would seem that, I need to wait until he is a young adult who can not, speak, write, or dress himself before the state views him as "qualified for services." Of course, by then it will be too late to do anything about it.
I am fighting it.
It has been especially hard because all the letters I am collecting to fight the state bring up things that I just haven't thought about before. What if he makes no further significant gains?
What if he is 16 years old and can't zip his pants or tie his shoes. What if he can never carry on a conversation with adults? What if he never learns to write or read? How will he drive a car if he can not judge dangerous situations? How will he hold down a job if he can't tell where he is in space or how to manipulate objects? Will he be able to cook a meal if he can't even use a fork?
I know it's a worst case scenario. I know he's only 4 and no one can tell what progress he will make. I've just never thought of much past next month or next year. I've never entertained the thought that he would be anything other than a productive citizen, father, and husband possibly with a mild speech problem and some reading slowness.
It just never occurred to me
Now that it has...I'm all set to fight the state. My letters are written, copied and prepared to certified mailed. My letter to the Governor is ready. I've already drafted another to his Director of the Council of Developmental disabilities.
I am fighting, not for myself, but for one little guy who doesn't have the voice or ability to fight.
He just happens to be my son.
A man on our support list once wrote, "Apraxia took my voice and a world that equates muteness with ignorance took everything else."
My child will not have that experience.
Not while I'm still standing.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Outside, I'm smiling and friendly
Inside, I am grumpy and resentful.
I am tired. I am tired of feeling annoyed by cattiness. I'm tired of superiority issues. I'm tired of feeling that I should keep my (well-researched and passionate) ideas to myself so we can all enjoy a spirit of "diversity."
I've never understood why tolerance meant "everybody but Christians" or why people feel that I must accept their beliefs.
And if the question doesn't apply to you...don't answer it. If someone asks "How often do you study Latin each week," an answer like "We don't." is not a polite option. If you don't, keep it to yourself. You are putting down another person decision when you do that.
Any statement that begins with "I might be in the minority here..." Should also not be said. Your attempt is not to educate but the belittle ,shame, and demean. (Oh, that poor ignorant majority.
I'm aggravated and I am tired of dealing with it.
I'm ready to crawl into a cave and ignore everyone.
So I've decided to not deal with it anymore.
I'll just smile....and move me and mine to the other side of the room.
I am tired. I am tired of feeling annoyed by cattiness. I'm tired of superiority issues. I'm tired of feeling that I should keep my (well-researched and passionate) ideas to myself so we can all enjoy a spirit of "diversity."
I've never understood why tolerance meant "everybody but Christians" or why people feel that I must accept their beliefs.
And if the question doesn't apply to you...don't answer it. If someone asks "How often do you study Latin each week," an answer like "We don't." is not a polite option. If you don't, keep it to yourself. You are putting down another person decision when you do that.
Any statement that begins with "I might be in the minority here..." Should also not be said. Your attempt is not to educate but the belittle ,shame, and demean. (Oh, that poor ignorant majority.
I'm aggravated and I am tired of dealing with it.
I'm ready to crawl into a cave and ignore everyone.
So I've decided to not deal with it anymore.
I'll just smile....and move me and mine to the other side of the room.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
We did it all.
Yep, we got our very overloaded schedule finished today.
ZooDad got home late last night. This was his third trip in as many weeks. The boys are excited to have Daddy home on a weeknight for a change.
Because he was driving most of the night, he stayed home today.
Yep, it was a miracle. We managed a full school day with Daddy home and A's 2 hours of ST and OT. I am so amazed with myself. Usually, when ZooDad is home, everything goes right down the drain. We just all kind of hang out and bum around.
J started his new LCI DVD lesson today. He totally loves it. ZooDad said that he (J) spent and hour afterwards trying to teach him (ZooDad) Latin. It was a exercise in futility.
ZooDad's idea of a dead language is FORTRAN.
M had a sentence quandary in R&S English. The sentence was
"School is"..."a gift from God." or "a lot of work." He couldn't bring himself to answer that one. This is the same kid who announced yesterday that if he did go away from school, his favorite part of the day would be going home.
Hee, hee, hee. Thank goodness we homeschool.
A is plugging right along. He's so intelligent. I'm dragging out my Reading Reflex book to start teaching him to read. He already knows all the letters and sounds. His K level math book is far too easy for him but he lack the fine motor skills to do harder work.
It the writing that is holding him back and it will for a long time to come. I just have to find a way around it.
Quote of the day:
From The Frog and Toad Treasury
"The whole world is covered with buttons and not one of them is mine." This was said by 9 year-old J while his Daddy looked everywhere for the wall charger for his cell phone. He found everything but the one fitting the current phone. We all cracked up but ZooDad could not see the humor.
ZooDad got home late last night. This was his third trip in as many weeks. The boys are excited to have Daddy home on a weeknight for a change.
Because he was driving most of the night, he stayed home today.
Yep, it was a miracle. We managed a full school day with Daddy home and A's 2 hours of ST and OT. I am so amazed with myself. Usually, when ZooDad is home, everything goes right down the drain. We just all kind of hang out and bum around.
J started his new LCI DVD lesson today. He totally loves it. ZooDad said that he (J) spent and hour afterwards trying to teach him (ZooDad) Latin. It was a exercise in futility.
ZooDad's idea of a dead language is FORTRAN.
M had a sentence quandary in R&S English. The sentence was
"School is"..."a gift from God." or "a lot of work." He couldn't bring himself to answer that one. This is the same kid who announced yesterday that if he did go away from school, his favorite part of the day would be going home.
Hee, hee, hee. Thank goodness we homeschool.
A is plugging right along. He's so intelligent. I'm dragging out my Reading Reflex book to start teaching him to read. He already knows all the letters and sounds. His K level math book is far too easy for him but he lack the fine motor skills to do harder work.
It the writing that is holding him back and it will for a long time to come. I just have to find a way around it.
Quote of the day:
From The Frog and Toad Treasury
"The whole world is covered with buttons and not one of them is mine." This was said by 9 year-old J while his Daddy looked everywhere for the wall charger for his cell phone. He found everything but the one fitting the current phone. We all cracked up but ZooDad could not see the humor.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
The last one makes up for the third one's delay
The baby can talk. Oh boy, can he talk. And talk he does. He just talks and talks. I know he's making up for A's quiet times but still. Woooweee. My ears get tired.
and because I feel like sharing my pain, here's this evening bedtime conversation.
The setting: the youngest two Zoo Children's room. S in one bed. A and myself in the other.
S begins:
Mom, Andrew's downstairs.
Andrew's downstairs.
He's downstairs.
Mom
Andrew's downstairs.
Andrew's downstairs.
He is.
Sam, Andrew is in his bed.
Where is he?
I don't see him.
Where's Andrew?
Where is he?
Where's Andrew?
Where's Andrew, Mom?
Where's Andrew?
I don't see him'
Andrew sits up and glares at his brother who will not be quiet.
Oh, There he is!
There's Andrew.
He's in his bed.
Andrew is in his bed.
in his bed.
Not in my bad.
You in his bed.
You not in my bed.
Oh no.
My blankie.
My blankie
blanky
help
fusses and grunts while pulling his blanket.
my blanky
help, mom
I get up and fix the blanket
There. It's all good now.
All good
Thank you mom.
Thank you
all good now.
Andrew finally loses it.
Go to sleep Sammy.
See outside
It is dark
it is night
it's time to sleep
stop talking and go to sleep.
you sleep at night.
you don't talk all night
you sleep
GO TO SLEEP.
10 seconds of quiet and then I hear a sigh from the other bed.
I want something to drink.
I want something to drink.
ooohhhh, blankie.
Where's Elmo.
Andrew then loudly complains:
He just doesn't want to go to sleep.
It was all could do not to crack up laughing.
and because I feel like sharing my pain, here's this evening bedtime conversation.
The setting: the youngest two Zoo Children's room. S in one bed. A and myself in the other.
S begins:
Mom, Andrew's downstairs.
Andrew's downstairs.
He's downstairs.
Mom
Andrew's downstairs.
Andrew's downstairs.
He is.
Sam, Andrew is in his bed.
Where is he?
I don't see him.
Where's Andrew?
Where is he?
Where's Andrew?
Where's Andrew, Mom?
Where's Andrew?
I don't see him'
Andrew sits up and glares at his brother who will not be quiet.
Oh, There he is!
There's Andrew.
He's in his bed.
Andrew is in his bed.
in his bed.
Not in my bad.
You in his bed.
You not in my bed.
Oh no.
My blankie.
My blankie
blanky
help
fusses and grunts while pulling his blanket.
my blanky
help, mom
I get up and fix the blanket
There. It's all good now.
All good
Thank you mom.
Thank you
all good now.
Andrew finally loses it.
Go to sleep Sammy.
See outside
It is dark
it is night
it's time to sleep
stop talking and go to sleep.
you sleep at night.
you don't talk all night
you sleep
GO TO SLEEP.
10 seconds of quiet and then I hear a sigh from the other bed.
I want something to drink.
I want something to drink.
ooohhhh, blankie.
Where's Elmo.
Andrew then loudly complains:
He just doesn't want to go to sleep.
It was all could do not to crack up laughing.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
41 things
That's like, 40 things too many. Since I am a literalist and Harriette said I had to do this just because I stoped by to look at her pretty pictures. Here's this meme because I am procrastinating.
I'm tagging Jacqui and Penny to do this one. Local love for ya'. Anybody else that wants it can join in too.
1. What is your full name? Sheila I don't tell people the rest online. It's kind of distinctive and I already have a crazy stalker that teaches high school english.
2. What color pants are you wearing? none...scandalous
3. What are you listening to right now? Shep Smith on Fox News, 4 boys giggling over Spongebob squarepants. In the CD player: James Taylor.
4. What was the last thing you ate? McDonald's! ZooDad is in NJ and we grabbed something on the way home from scouts
5. Do you wish on stars? Nope. I do look for constellations and planets.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Crayola Razzmatazz
7. How is the weather right now? 84 and little humidity. Very nice
8. Who is the last person you spoke to on the phone? My mom
9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes, she's a great Southerner and mom of boys.
10. How old are you today? I had to to do the math. I'm 35.
11. Favorite drink? Sweet tea and good margaritas
12. Favorite sport to play? I don't play anything. I love coaching baseball and basketball.
13. Hair color? dark brown with some chocolate highlights
14. Do you wear contacts? Ewwww...no. I have glasses that I am too vain to wear. I can't put stuff in my eyes.
15. Do you have any siblings? My sister and brother are 17 and 16 years older than me. I'm the baby baby.
16. Favorite month? April. Flowers, nice weather, Easter
17. Favorite food? Pizza and boiled peanuts. Not together of course.
18. What was the last movie you saw? At home: Constantine, In the theatre: National Treasure
19. Favorite day of the year? Halloween, Our neighborhood is great. It is just a fun, fun day.
20. What do you do to vent anger? My poor hubby listens to me. He just listens, and listens, and listens.
21. What were your favorite toys as a child? I really didn't play with toys. I did love my Tree Tots though.
22. Summer or winter? spring?
23. Hugs or kisses? Caramel kisses...oh yes
24. Chocolate or vanilla? chocolate with that magic shell stuff
28. When was the last time you cried? Today
29. What is under your bed? Dy will love this one. Ok...6 gas masks, replacement filters, a bug out kit, a wind up radio, and a wind up flashlight. oh and some shoes.
30. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Dale and he's a democrat
31. What did you do last night? I ironed and I hated it.
33. Plain, buttered or salted popcorn? buttered and salted
34. Favorite car? I love my van, a town and country. I wish I had leather though.
35. Favorite flower? The big pom-pom mums
36. Number of keys on your key ring? 2, I lead a simple life.
37. How many years at your current job? 9 it's a lifetime appointment
38. Favorite day of the week? Saturday, that's family day.
39. What did you do on your last birthday? I had cake and ice cream and was serenaded by 5 handsome men. (are you envious?)
40. How many states have you lived in? 3 (GA, SC, and NC)
41. How many cities have you lived in? city, town, suburb???? Now this gets complicated. 3 cities, 1 suburb, 3 towns
I'm tagging Jacqui and Penny to do this one. Local love for ya'. Anybody else that wants it can join in too.
1. What is your full name? Sheila I don't tell people the rest online. It's kind of distinctive and I already have a crazy stalker that teaches high school english.
2. What color pants are you wearing? none...scandalous
3. What are you listening to right now? Shep Smith on Fox News, 4 boys giggling over Spongebob squarepants. In the CD player: James Taylor.
4. What was the last thing you ate? McDonald's! ZooDad is in NJ and we grabbed something on the way home from scouts
5. Do you wish on stars? Nope. I do look for constellations and planets.
6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Crayola Razzmatazz
7. How is the weather right now? 84 and little humidity. Very nice
8. Who is the last person you spoke to on the phone? My mom
9. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Yes, she's a great Southerner and mom of boys.
10. How old are you today? I had to to do the math. I'm 35.
11. Favorite drink? Sweet tea and good margaritas
12. Favorite sport to play? I don't play anything. I love coaching baseball and basketball.
13. Hair color? dark brown with some chocolate highlights
14. Do you wear contacts? Ewwww...no. I have glasses that I am too vain to wear. I can't put stuff in my eyes.
15. Do you have any siblings? My sister and brother are 17 and 16 years older than me. I'm the baby baby.
16. Favorite month? April. Flowers, nice weather, Easter
17. Favorite food? Pizza and boiled peanuts. Not together of course.
18. What was the last movie you saw? At home: Constantine, In the theatre: National Treasure
19. Favorite day of the year? Halloween, Our neighborhood is great. It is just a fun, fun day.
20. What do you do to vent anger? My poor hubby listens to me. He just listens, and listens, and listens.
21. What were your favorite toys as a child? I really didn't play with toys. I did love my Tree Tots though.
22. Summer or winter? spring?
23. Hugs or kisses? Caramel kisses...oh yes
24. Chocolate or vanilla? chocolate with that magic shell stuff
28. When was the last time you cried? Today
29. What is under your bed? Dy will love this one. Ok...6 gas masks, replacement filters, a bug out kit, a wind up radio, and a wind up flashlight. oh and some shoes.
30. Who is the friend you have had the longest? Dale and he's a democrat
31. What did you do last night? I ironed and I hated it.
33. Plain, buttered or salted popcorn? buttered and salted
34. Favorite car? I love my van, a town and country. I wish I had leather though.
35. Favorite flower? The big pom-pom mums
36. Number of keys on your key ring? 2, I lead a simple life.
37. How many years at your current job? 9 it's a lifetime appointment
38. Favorite day of the week? Saturday, that's family day.
39. What did you do on your last birthday? I had cake and ice cream and was serenaded by 5 handsome men. (are you envious?)
40. How many states have you lived in? 3 (GA, SC, and NC)
41. How many cities have you lived in? city, town, suburb???? Now this gets complicated. 3 cities, 1 suburb, 3 towns
Hurricanes and Governors
I am a hurricane junkie. I was in Columbia when Hugo hit; in Augusta when David hit, and in Fayetteville when Fran hit.
I also took meteorology as an elective right after Hugo. My professor concentrated on Thunderstorms and hurricanes. Lots of Lightening. Lots of Hugo.
So I watch everything hurricane related. I even plot them on my own little map and make strike predictions.
I am nerd.
Here's what I have noticed:
A hurricane (or four) hits Florida and Jeb Bush is out rallying. Supplies come in and the people are taken care of. Or course, his brother is the President of the United States. So you know brothers have each others backs.
A hurricane hits Alabama and the Governor is out rallying. Supplies come in and the people are taken care of. But he is Republican if that matters.
A hurricane hits Mississippi and the Governor is out rallying. Supplies come in and the people are taken care of. But he is Republican and one super strong political dynamo. In fact, he is the possible next presidential choice, if that matters.
A hurricane hits Louisiana and nobody is out rallying. The mayor is cussing and blaming. The governor was crying on TV and I haven't seen her since. According to her office, she started making some emergency orders on the 31st.
The 31st, she ordered the Special officers commission to, in a sense, deputize more officers
On the 1st, she ordered the emergency occupation of hotel and motel rooms.
On the 2nd, she ordered the evacuation of the affected area using buses, specifically school buses.
On the 3rd, was an order stating that there was a public health emergency. (Which the federal government did on Friday also.)
And also an order to commandeer private property and reduce state restrictions on imported items and supplies. There was a third order to release restrictions of road rules for transport trucks as in weight limits, size of beds,…ect.
That was Friday.
Before that, you had to follow state law.
If your truck was too big, you couldn't go.
If you didn't have paperwork, you couldn't go.
If you didn't pay the state tax, you couldn't bring in gas.
If you didn't have a CDL liscence, you couldn't throw people on a bus and head to Houston like that 18 year-old New Orleans young man did.
And speaking of the evacuees in Texas, there's a lot of them. They seem to have a very good emergency plan for disasters and massive releif. Who is the governor there? And who used to be?
Hmmm...well, that's all I know or can say. It's a deplorable situation on all levels.
I also took meteorology as an elective right after Hugo. My professor concentrated on Thunderstorms and hurricanes. Lots of Lightening. Lots of Hugo.
So I watch everything hurricane related. I even plot them on my own little map and make strike predictions.
I am nerd.
Here's what I have noticed:
A hurricane (or four) hits Florida and Jeb Bush is out rallying. Supplies come in and the people are taken care of. Or course, his brother is the President of the United States. So you know brothers have each others backs.
A hurricane hits Alabama and the Governor is out rallying. Supplies come in and the people are taken care of. But he is Republican if that matters.
A hurricane hits Mississippi and the Governor is out rallying. Supplies come in and the people are taken care of. But he is Republican and one super strong political dynamo. In fact, he is the possible next presidential choice, if that matters.
A hurricane hits Louisiana and nobody is out rallying. The mayor is cussing and blaming. The governor was crying on TV and I haven't seen her since. According to her office, she started making some emergency orders on the 31st.
The 31st, she ordered the Special officers commission to, in a sense, deputize more officers
On the 1st, she ordered the emergency occupation of hotel and motel rooms.
On the 2nd, she ordered the evacuation of the affected area using buses, specifically school buses.
On the 3rd, was an order stating that there was a public health emergency. (Which the federal government did on Friday also.)
And also an order to commandeer private property and reduce state restrictions on imported items and supplies. There was a third order to release restrictions of road rules for transport trucks as in weight limits, size of beds,…ect.
That was Friday.
Before that, you had to follow state law.
If your truck was too big, you couldn't go.
If you didn't have paperwork, you couldn't go.
If you didn't pay the state tax, you couldn't bring in gas.
If you didn't have a CDL liscence, you couldn't throw people on a bus and head to Houston like that 18 year-old New Orleans young man did.
And speaking of the evacuees in Texas, there's a lot of them. They seem to have a very good emergency plan for disasters and massive releif. Who is the governor there? And who used to be?
Hmmm...well, that's all I know or can say. It's a deplorable situation on all levels.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
A reminder for everyone
Over the past few days, we have been watching the footage of the destruction in our sister states.
I've never been one to shelter the boys, so they have watched it also and I have explained what has happened and what is going on.
As I explained to the boys that these people had lost every single thing they had, six-year-old M piped up, "No Mama. They still have their souls."
I was speechless.
Then my 10 year old chimed in. "It's ok Mom. God knows everything. He has those people in heaven now where He can keep them safe. He's watching over all the other people even if they forget."
I wish I could get their message to those people. I think we all could use the reminder.
I've never been one to shelter the boys, so they have watched it also and I have explained what has happened and what is going on.
As I explained to the boys that these people had lost every single thing they had, six-year-old M piped up, "No Mama. They still have their souls."
I was speechless.
Then my 10 year old chimed in. "It's ok Mom. God knows everything. He has those people in heaven now where He can keep them safe. He's watching over all the other people even if they forget."
I wish I could get their message to those people. I think we all could use the reminder.
Grumpy grump rant
The very grumpy elderly gentleman in the Occupational therapy waiting room.
I am very sorry that my 2-year-olds 3 minute crying spell bothered you. I am even more sorry that you chose to grump and complain about it for 10 minutes after he stopped.
He was crying because I made him sit in his stroller as time out for misbehaving. I am not going to risk teaching my son discipline because his quiet crying bothers you. Trust me, in the long run we'll all be happier for it.
On the other hand, I chose to keep my displeasure of you cursing to myself out of respect for your age. Your copious usage of h*ll, d@mn, sh!t, and even the big f bomb was shocking. Thankfully, my children were too busy doing their school work to pay you too much attention. And they were unaware of your wrath.
They just thought you were crazy and felt sorry for you.
I am very sorry that my 2-year-olds 3 minute crying spell bothered you. I am even more sorry that you chose to grump and complain about it for 10 minutes after he stopped.
He was crying because I made him sit in his stroller as time out for misbehaving. I am not going to risk teaching my son discipline because his quiet crying bothers you. Trust me, in the long run we'll all be happier for it.
On the other hand, I chose to keep my displeasure of you cursing to myself out of respect for your age. Your copious usage of h*ll, d@mn, sh!t, and even the big f bomb was shocking. Thankfully, my children were too busy doing their school work to pay you too much attention. And they were unaware of your wrath.
They just thought you were crazy and felt sorry for you.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
It's all good
My van is fixed and is parks like sweet dream.
It took an extra day since transmission cables aren't an "in Stock" item. So we rented a van for cheap and went along on our merry little ways.
Today I picked up the blue whale. I'm now $250 poorer (including the cost of the rental) and my blue baby is parked in the driveway.
Oh yeah.
I did discover that I hate the new stow and go seat on the Chrysler T&C. Blech! Skinny, dinky, cheapy looking seats. When to old blue bus bites the big one and goes off to the great junk yard...down on Gordon Highway, I think I'll have to get a Honda Odyssey or something.
We had art today. The boys painted. The mamma's talked. It was all good.
Then the sky opened up and everybody freaked. Thankfully, it was one of those typical GA monsoons that flares up then high tails it away leaving a path of sogginess and humidity to rival the finest sauna.
We had sandwiches for dinner and I'm currently overhauling our homeschool support group's web page. It's a total re-do.
I'm a self taught MS Publisher chick and the self taught part is tough. Let's just say I make things harder than they should be.
I'm getting better though.
It took an extra day since transmission cables aren't an "in Stock" item. So we rented a van for cheap and went along on our merry little ways.
Today I picked up the blue whale. I'm now $250 poorer (including the cost of the rental) and my blue baby is parked in the driveway.
Oh yeah.
I did discover that I hate the new stow and go seat on the Chrysler T&C. Blech! Skinny, dinky, cheapy looking seats. When to old blue bus bites the big one and goes off to the great junk yard...down on Gordon Highway, I think I'll have to get a Honda Odyssey or something.
We had art today. The boys painted. The mamma's talked. It was all good.
Then the sky opened up and everybody freaked. Thankfully, it was one of those typical GA monsoons that flares up then high tails it away leaving a path of sogginess and humidity to rival the finest sauna.
We had sandwiches for dinner and I'm currently overhauling our homeschool support group's web page. It's a total re-do.
I'm a self taught MS Publisher chick and the self taught part is tough. Let's just say I make things harder than they should be.
I'm getting better though.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
My van won't park and other small potatoes
That's right. It won't park. It'll do every other gear and sometimes I can get into park but I can't count on it. There's something wrong with the actual gear shifty thingy. That stick thing on the steering column. I don't think it's a transmission problem because it parks quite well when it does go into park.
By the way, I have discovered that "park" is a very important gear. I just didn't realize just how useful it was. So while I can still go places. I can't stay long.
So tomorrow, I will haul all the boys to my mom's while I hang out at the Chrysler place and work on cub scout plans while waiting for my van to regain its parking ability. I can't wait to explain that problem to the car-fix guys. No run of the mill basic auto problems for me. No sir-ree. I always have to go straight for the freaky deaky.
Those of you in the know should have a big clue as to why my van is no longer behaving itself. Yep...my hubby left for a series of trips today. He's on his way to Germany right now. Then next week is another trip and the week after that is yet another trip. Fate knows when these trips are planned and she pulls out her big problems just for the drama.
Oddly, I'm not even the least bit concerned about the traveling nor the van problems.
My issues are small potatoes compared to the people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
And I know one mom who would give everything she had just to have every last one of my problems.
She lost her 10 year old son to brain cancer today. A cancer he fought for half his short and precious life. She wrote: "Today at 3:21 pm C's journey here on earth ended as Jesus met him and took his broken body and healed it forever and carried him to heaven. His passing was peaceful and quick and his suffering has ended. I feel like a part of my soul is missing, but my heart knows he is at peace and that he is better off, even if I am not."
I can understand that emotion of relief and then the guilt of feeling that relief. I felt it when my Daddy finally ended his own great battle. It was almost a joyous feeling of "Oh, thank you God. He's finally stopped suffering." Immediately followed by the selfish pain of loss that feels as though someone has reached in and pulled out your heart.
As hard as it was for me to lose my father, I can't even imagine what I would do if I lost one of my children.
I look at my own son who is almost 10 and the concept is unfathomable.
It sure makes van problems seem insignificant.
So hug your precious gifts and be thankful to God for loaning you these souls to love and cherish. And pray for all those in the path of this storm.
By the way, I have discovered that "park" is a very important gear. I just didn't realize just how useful it was. So while I can still go places. I can't stay long.
So tomorrow, I will haul all the boys to my mom's while I hang out at the Chrysler place and work on cub scout plans while waiting for my van to regain its parking ability. I can't wait to explain that problem to the car-fix guys. No run of the mill basic auto problems for me. No sir-ree. I always have to go straight for the freaky deaky.
Those of you in the know should have a big clue as to why my van is no longer behaving itself. Yep...my hubby left for a series of trips today. He's on his way to Germany right now. Then next week is another trip and the week after that is yet another trip. Fate knows when these trips are planned and she pulls out her big problems just for the drama.
Oddly, I'm not even the least bit concerned about the traveling nor the van problems.
My issues are small potatoes compared to the people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
And I know one mom who would give everything she had just to have every last one of my problems.
She lost her 10 year old son to brain cancer today. A cancer he fought for half his short and precious life. She wrote: "Today at 3:21 pm C's journey here on earth ended as Jesus met him and took his broken body and healed it forever and carried him to heaven. His passing was peaceful and quick and his suffering has ended. I feel like a part of my soul is missing, but my heart knows he is at peace and that he is better off, even if I am not."
I can understand that emotion of relief and then the guilt of feeling that relief. I felt it when my Daddy finally ended his own great battle. It was almost a joyous feeling of "Oh, thank you God. He's finally stopped suffering." Immediately followed by the selfish pain of loss that feels as though someone has reached in and pulled out your heart.
As hard as it was for me to lose my father, I can't even imagine what I would do if I lost one of my children.
I look at my own son who is almost 10 and the concept is unfathomable.
It sure makes van problems seem insignificant.
So hug your precious gifts and be thankful to God for loaning you these souls to love and cherish. And pray for all those in the path of this storm.
Friday, August 26, 2005
You can come too, too, too
We took the Zoo to the zoo yesterday. Guess which kid isn't mine?
(Mouse over for the answer.)
I have been going to the Riverbanks Zoo since they opened in 1974. In fact a pair of Gibbons on the monkey island have been at the zoo since it opened its doors.
I've been looking at the same monkeys for 30 years. This zoo specializes in breeding endangered and threatened species. It doesn't look like some fancy Zoo but it does far more.
The zoo was a second home for me while I was in college at USC. As a biology major, I had several assignments that required a trip to the zoo and there was always Free Fridays for a little zoo fun for poor college kids.
But Riverbanks is never boring. There is always something new to see. Yesterday's trip held the following treats.
New baby Penguin
His head is too the right and burrowed into the towl. This baby Emporer Penguin is only one week old. He was on display at the bird care center. The day we visited was only his second day on display. He'll be out for another week and then the public won't be able to see him until he is 9 months old and joins the rest of the flock. Emporer Penguins get about 3 feet tall. This little guy was about 5 inches long.
Three Baby Tigers
These Siberian Tiger Cubs are three months old. They just came on display. They are triplets who were born to a second time mom. She was unabel to nurse her first cubs so they were hand fed. She is nursing these on her own so the family gets to stay together.
Their father was an orphaned cub who was found in Russia then hand reared and brought to America. New baby tigers with wild blood.
And finally....
the smiling goat
I don't know anything clever about the goat. I've just never seen a smiling goat before.
He just kept grinning at us. It was kind of wierd.
(Mouse over for the answer.)
I have been going to the Riverbanks Zoo since they opened in 1974. In fact a pair of Gibbons on the monkey island have been at the zoo since it opened its doors.
I've been looking at the same monkeys for 30 years. This zoo specializes in breeding endangered and threatened species. It doesn't look like some fancy Zoo but it does far more.
The zoo was a second home for me while I was in college at USC. As a biology major, I had several assignments that required a trip to the zoo and there was always Free Fridays for a little zoo fun for poor college kids.
But Riverbanks is never boring. There is always something new to see. Yesterday's trip held the following treats.
New baby Penguin
His head is too the right and burrowed into the towl. This baby Emporer Penguin is only one week old. He was on display at the bird care center. The day we visited was only his second day on display. He'll be out for another week and then the public won't be able to see him until he is 9 months old and joins the rest of the flock. Emporer Penguins get about 3 feet tall. This little guy was about 5 inches long.
Three Baby Tigers
These Siberian Tiger Cubs are three months old. They just came on display. They are triplets who were born to a second time mom. She was unabel to nurse her first cubs so they were hand fed. She is nursing these on her own so the family gets to stay together.
Their father was an orphaned cub who was found in Russia then hand reared and brought to America. New baby tigers with wild blood.
And finally....
the smiling goat
I don't know anything clever about the goat. I've just never seen a smiling goat before.
He just kept grinning at us. It was kind of wierd.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
He's Dr. Doolittle
A is 4. From what I remember about 4 year olds, they are a bit odd at times.
Setting: my dining room where I can hear things going on in 5 different rooms.
A screams in Mock pain, "Yaaaaaaaaaaah"
"Mom, mom...Max tried to bite my bum."
Your bum?
"No...my fffffffuuum. See?"
Shows the me the thumb
He'd tried to bite your thumb?
"No. But he said Meooooooow. And that means, 'I'm going to bite your thumb'."
Then he tracks down poor Max in the kitchen where I hear him saying (the kid, not the cat) "What did you say Max? Are you hungry? Would you like a mouse?"
This is normal four-year-old behavior right? Lie to me if it isn't.
Setting: my dining room where I can hear things going on in 5 different rooms.
A screams in Mock pain, "Yaaaaaaaaaaah"
"Mom, mom...Max tried to bite my bum."
Your bum?
"No...my fffffffuuum. See?"
Shows the me the thumb
He'd tried to bite your thumb?
"No. But he said Meooooooow. And that means, 'I'm going to bite your thumb'."
Then he tracks down poor Max in the kitchen where I hear him saying (the kid, not the cat) "What did you say Max? Are you hungry? Would you like a mouse?"
This is normal four-year-old behavior right? Lie to me if it isn't.
That Target commercial.
The backpack one that is a parody of Sir Mix-alot. I love that commercial. My guys dance their rears off when they hear that song. I have to embarrassedly admit that they knew the tune before the commercial ever aired because I sing that one. No, I don't actually sing *those* lyrics but that is my diaper changing song.
That one and a creative version of a Queen song in which I sing "Stink Bottom Boy."
You gotta stinky butt and I can not lie
Your other brothers can't deny.
When the little guy walks in, stinkin' up the place
and puts that rank thing in your face.
Oh Brothers...Brothers
Does the baby got a stinky butt? (Oh yeah)
Let's change it, change it
Change that stinky butt.
Oh yes, all kind of high brow entertainment here at the Zoo.
To my credit, A's favorite song of all time...even over "Who Let the Dogs Out" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is Wagner's "Ride of the Walkyres."
That's has got to give me some credit, right?
That one and a creative version of a Queen song in which I sing "Stink Bottom Boy."
You gotta stinky butt and I can not lie
Your other brothers can't deny.
When the little guy walks in, stinkin' up the place
and puts that rank thing in your face.
Oh Brothers...Brothers
Does the baby got a stinky butt? (Oh yeah)
Let's change it, change it
Change that stinky butt.
Oh yes, all kind of high brow entertainment here at the Zoo.
To my credit, A's favorite song of all time...even over "Who Let the Dogs Out" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" is Wagner's "Ride of the Walkyres."
That's has got to give me some credit, right?
Monday, August 22, 2005
I'm sure the "Rod and Staff" publishers never meant for sentence like these.
Today was lesson 8 of Rod and Staff English 4.
J is loving it. Oh my goodness. I have raised a language nerd. He said he liked it better than the Easy Grammar that we used last year.
I thought he would balk at all the writing but instead he has welcomed it.
Today's lesson was on Noun Phrases. J was given a list of Noun Phrases that he had to use as the subject of sentences. I'm sure the sentences he came up with are not at all what the R&S people had in mind.
Miss Marilyn Foster was eaten by a wildebeest
Sister Elizabeth is very ugly and quite mean.
Brother John jumped in a lake.
See the entertainment I get each day. I couldn't make this stuff up.
J is loving it. Oh my goodness. I have raised a language nerd. He said he liked it better than the Easy Grammar that we used last year.
I thought he would balk at all the writing but instead he has welcomed it.
Today's lesson was on Noun Phrases. J was given a list of Noun Phrases that he had to use as the subject of sentences. I'm sure the sentences he came up with are not at all what the R&S people had in mind.
Miss Marilyn Foster was eaten by a wildebeest
Sister Elizabeth is very ugly and quite mean.
Brother John jumped in a lake.
See the entertainment I get each day. I couldn't make this stuff up.
Reason #43,675 to homeschool
Here's an actual blog post from a 14 year old girl.
ok i was lookin a my frends journals to see how there first week of schoolWoo, hoooo....boy am I glad I have boys.
went. but i realized that they hate 1 thing . ....HOMEWORK!!!! i dont blame
them! Ok my Math teacher gives us homework.. we had school ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL week
she gives us homework on a FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its like dude? its
friday?so yea. and it takes like 15 min to do so its like if it takes that short
or time then y assign it? she doesnt make sense at all. She talks on and on and
on. and u kno wat i hear? blah blah blah blah BLAH! lol seroiusly its wat i
hear.but i will sit in class and watch her eue brows. wenever she talks 1
eyebrow ALWAYS goes up. seroiusly it does ive watched cuz its sooooo boring in
there. iu think its cuz its 7th hour and im ready to leave. i dunno. but its
rediculous. i dont like ne of my classes from after lunch.
I showed this to my 9 year old son. His comments: She doesn't spell very well. She doesn't capitalize anything. When asked how old he thought the writer was...he answered "five." He added that she must not be paying attention in school. (Obviously. She's to preoccupied with eyebrow watching.)
He was also shocked at the 7th hour comment. 7 HOURS of school. That's beyond his comprehension. If we start by 10 am, we're done by 2:30 and that includes lunch. I guess homegirl would be shocked too.
Sunday, August 21, 2005
The rush to not be four
"I'm almost 5."
That's what A told me. The boys who is "almost 5" just turned 4 at the end of June."When will I get to sleep on the top of a bunk bed?'
When you are 6, little man. That's the rules. It's even printed on the new bed.
"Oh, but what happens if I get stuck at 4?"
Stuck at four?
I can wish can't I?
How do I explain to a little boy who can't wait to be bigger, that I wish time could just slow down a bit. That I would take a few more hours in the day or a few more weeks in the year.
What I wouldn't give just to stop time for a while so I could enjoy these boys just as they are for just a little longer. To keep them 9, 6, 4, and 2 for just a while. Because I know that all too soon they'll be 29, 26, 24, and 22.
And though I will love those no-so-little men just as much, I'll mourn the loss of my little children. The funny things they say. The way they entertain each other with a couple of rolled up posters. The little boy hugs which are unlike any other gift on the earth.
Stuck at this very moment. Is it terrible to wish for such a thing?
Or course the boys will grow up. They'll become husbands and fathers.
Maybe one day, A will hold his own little four-year-old son who is wistfully wishing to be older. Maybe at that moment he will remember when he was four with the same wish. Maybe he will remember how I looked at him with tears welling up and said,
No, you won't get stuck at 4. You'll grow up and be a big like Daddy one day.
But don't grow up too soon.
And at that moment he will finally understand just how much I love him.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
And as a public service announcement
For the people coming to visit to find out how to pronounce tilapia:
It's pronounced
Tuh-lah-pee-uh. Accent on the "la."
For all the folks looking for birthday cakes:
I can post some and my friend Jacqui can critique them. She's seem 'em in real life. I just have to dig out the pictures. I got my ideas from others online so I am happy to share the love.
For the person searching for help on a dishwasher leaking around the door:
Don't buy a new dishwasher form Sears.
For the person whose backspace key stopped working:
I'm sorry I laughed, but I thought that was funny. You haven't had a two year old playing around with your keyboard, have you?
For the people looking for high ankle sprain information:
Mine is still bothering me. It's been almost 4 months and nothing is helping. May yours heal better.
For those other people..you know who you are:
Eeeewwwww gross. You are nasty. Go to church. Confess you sins and get a normal life.
Blech!
It's pronounced
Tuh-lah-pee-uh. Accent on the "la."
For all the folks looking for birthday cakes:
I can post some and my friend Jacqui can critique them. She's seem 'em in real life. I just have to dig out the pictures. I got my ideas from others online so I am happy to share the love.
For the person searching for help on a dishwasher leaking around the door:
Don't buy a new dishwasher form Sears.
For the person whose backspace key stopped working:
I'm sorry I laughed, but I thought that was funny. You haven't had a two year old playing around with your keyboard, have you?
For the people looking for high ankle sprain information:
Mine is still bothering me. It's been almost 4 months and nothing is helping. May yours heal better.
For those other people..you know who you are:
Eeeewwwww gross. You are nasty. Go to church. Confess you sins and get a normal life.
Blech!
to the other Sheila
Your fabric is on it's way. It shouldn't take long to get from OR to Washington State. It would take a lot longer to get here.
There's this other Sheila. Sometimes she buys things online. She has friends who forward funny jokes to her. She has a BIL who mails cute photos of his kids to her. She is in some dancing club and she quilts.
She also doesn't get a lot of her messages because she doesn't know her own email address. Instead, she gives out mine.
So I get the tracking emails with her order information and her address.
I get the funny jokes from her friends.
I get the photos from her BIL.
I also get the reminders of meetings for her dance club and quilting clubs.
It's kind of odd.
I've tried emailing the various groups/people who send out these messages to let them know that the "wrong" Sheila got the news. It hasn't helped. They still email me.
Now, I'm just living vicariously.
So Sheila...I don't know what you ordered. But whatever it is, it'll be there in 3 to 7 days. Have fun with it.
For everybody else, make sure you are giving people your own email address.
Don't give them mine
There's this other Sheila. Sometimes she buys things online. She has friends who forward funny jokes to her. She has a BIL who mails cute photos of his kids to her. She is in some dancing club and she quilts.
She also doesn't get a lot of her messages because she doesn't know her own email address. Instead, she gives out mine.
So I get the tracking emails with her order information and her address.
I get the funny jokes from her friends.
I get the photos from her BIL.
I also get the reminders of meetings for her dance club and quilting clubs.
It's kind of odd.
I've tried emailing the various groups/people who send out these messages to let them know that the "wrong" Sheila got the news. It hasn't helped. They still email me.
Now, I'm just living vicariously.
So Sheila...I don't know what you ordered. But whatever it is, it'll be there in 3 to 7 days. Have fun with it.
For everybody else, make sure you are giving people your own email address.
Don't give them mine
An odd thing about me.
I've noticed an odd thing about myself. I'm assuming it is a character flaw. It's not a pretty thing, that's for sure.
In any group of people there is usually this one person that everyone** thinks is the greatest, nicest, more knowledgeable, or hardest working person in the whole group.
Everyone just loves this person.
Inevitably, that person annoys me to death.
It's not that I feel threatened. I sure don't. I'm not envious beaus my life is good from where I see. I have no delusions of grandeur and I never expect any recognition, praise, or reward for anything I do. (I do things to get them done. Not to make other people proud of me.) But yet, in every group...real world or online...there is this one beloved person that I just can not understand why this person is so highly revered.
I go through stages of annoyance too.
Stage 1: Who is this person?
Stage 2: ok, everyone else likes her. I should like her too.
Stage 3: I do not like this person, what's wrong with me?
Stage 4: I still don't like this person, what's wrong with everybody else?
Stage 5: Ignore your annoyance and feign a smile when she's a round.
Stage 6: Just ignore her.
Strange.
Then I have to wonder. Does anyone feel this way about me? I am busy in quite a few activities but I like to think that I'm more of a stealth volunteer and not a chick out to run the show. When I offer what measly advice I have, I hope I seem like a mom who has walked that path with some failure and some success and not a big ol' know-it-all who just can't keep her lips shut.
hmmmm......
Of course this has nothing to do with the current drama on the WTM board. I actually wrote this post back in July. It's just popped up again.
This is why I had guy friends in high school. I relate better to men.
**This is an assumed "everyone." Other people may be just as annoyed as I am and do a better job of hiding it.
In any group of people there is usually this one person that everyone** thinks is the greatest, nicest, more knowledgeable, or hardest working person in the whole group.
Everyone just loves this person.
Inevitably, that person annoys me to death.
It's not that I feel threatened. I sure don't. I'm not envious beaus my life is good from where I see. I have no delusions of grandeur and I never expect any recognition, praise, or reward for anything I do. (I do things to get them done. Not to make other people proud of me.) But yet, in every group...real world or online...there is this one beloved person that I just can not understand why this person is so highly revered.
I go through stages of annoyance too.
Stage 1: Who is this person?
Stage 2: ok, everyone else likes her. I should like her too.
Stage 3: I do not like this person, what's wrong with me?
Stage 4: I still don't like this person, what's wrong with everybody else?
Stage 5: Ignore your annoyance and feign a smile when she's a round.
Stage 6: Just ignore her.
Strange.
Then I have to wonder. Does anyone feel this way about me? I am busy in quite a few activities but I like to think that I'm more of a stealth volunteer and not a chick out to run the show. When I offer what measly advice I have, I hope I seem like a mom who has walked that path with some failure and some success and not a big ol' know-it-all who just can't keep her lips shut.
hmmmm......
Of course this has nothing to do with the current drama on the WTM board. I actually wrote this post back in July. It's just popped up again.
This is why I had guy friends in high school. I relate better to men.
**This is an assumed "everyone." Other people may be just as annoyed as I am and do a better job of hiding it.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
An almost unbearable weight
The Anchoress writes about the Newsweek's glimpse of President bush with the War families.
And Trying to Grok points out something I haven't thought of.
I'm all for keeping out American noses out of everyone else business but I'm also for finishing a fight that someone else started.
We didn't start this fight but we need to be the ones who end it. If we don't, no one else will. And I say this as the wife of a Reserves officer who has a green light to be called up and deployed.
We need to bring our county back to the point of power where we can grin and say, "If you don't start no trouble, there won't be no trouble."
And Trying to Grok points out something I haven't thought of.
I'm all for keeping out American noses out of everyone else business but I'm also for finishing a fight that someone else started.
We didn't start this fight but we need to be the ones who end it. If we don't, no one else will. And I say this as the wife of a Reserves officer who has a green light to be called up and deployed.
We need to bring our county back to the point of power where we can grin and say, "If you don't start no trouble, there won't be no trouble."
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