tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78339978998259335362024-03-13T01:58:12.834-05:00Not the (real) MommaYears of living with kids from the foster care system have made me a little nuts. Despite having adopted some kids, they constantly remind me, in so many little subversive ways, that I'm not the REAL momma and I never will be, no matter how hard I try.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.comBlogger409125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-74625342931053684302010-02-20T09:13:00.002-06:002010-02-20T09:20:56.527-06:00I am soooo not a gardener, but...I find this idea simply irresistible. <a href="http://www.gardensandcrafts.com/tipsypots.html">Tipsy Pots</a>. Absolutely too cool. Has anyone made them in real life? Any tips? Because I plan to make two towers very soon.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-90333008242846066722009-09-14T20:26:00.000-05:002009-09-14T20:27:42.555-05:00At his best...Nobody puts Baby in the corner... *sigh* RIP Patrick<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/y97bWP33d8I&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/y97bWP33d8I&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-55222677407748938202009-09-12T08:05:00.001-05:002009-09-12T08:06:31.071-05:00Wow.How many of us have lived this? <br /><br /><a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/parenting/2009/07/a_daughter_gained_a_daughter_l.html">http://voices.washingtonpost.com/parenting/2009/07/a_daughter_gained_a_daughter_l.html</a>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-22427142235357970592009-09-06T20:02:00.003-05:002009-09-06T20:05:32.818-05:00Kindergarten.......kicks Elvis' butt. He's so tired after school. Want to know just how tired he is? Check out the picture. He is passed out. However, he LOVES school so it's well worth the exhaustion. We're a month into school and it's going well. Answered prayers, for sure!<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378525037814086322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1TwMd3QL6haRk7oQGAYZlFVOaAhDKC1aNA6VPegu9Y9sG0VqNKBDhzSUn_bAgK24PKDPYquLaFf-we1Pc_Z42Ne4aDsLJpm_NUvC-xgAlba3at28PbwhW1b11mX1NieRFr6fKojDhz9v/s320/100_0628.jpg" border="0" />Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-56563943247654005692009-09-06T19:55:00.003-05:002009-09-06T20:02:32.286-05:00I did it...I opened <a href="http://nottherealmomma.blogspot.com/2008/02/3-weeks.html">the box</a>. Here is most of what was in it. Now, I don't know what to do with all this. Logically, Miss Piggy could use it. Alli, however, said it wouldn't feel right "because it wasn't bought for her." So, I guess it just hangs in my closet for now. Luckily, my closet is so full of junk. It will just join the chaos.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378524228415661698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 219px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVqvVQ8o19Bc4R_T_wcVyw2-ueW3bOQOkRjCWyih53ySZgbGmhIE_6E3shvjlySh7N6QPmlOI6898FTBRa2efkFQ2AAZJWNzyVMxshsjhUu5x8QTCfiYXwhP9wqJHLCliqSyVjmfn85kG-/s320/100_0630.jpg" border="0" />Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-30515215619399797022009-08-01T16:21:00.002-05:002009-08-01T16:26:22.115-05:00We have a new Batman!It was a long summer of waiting but it's official....Our old <a href="http://nottherealmomma.blogspot.com/2009/03/this-picture.html">Robin</a> is our new Batman, um BatWOman???<br /><br />We've actually been back to work over a week now. Teacher training started on July 22. The kids came for registration day Wednesday. We have a million kindergarten kids this year. Well, not actually a million but it may was well be. As of yesterday afternoon, we have 219 kids registered for kindergarten. I guess I also need to mention that we have 8 kindergarten teachers. Do the math and, well, YIKES! <br /><br />Luckily, Robin can also do math and we had a little faculty meeting before we left yesterday. She's moving a 2nd grade teacher to kindergarten and we are getting not one, but TWO new teachers. So we'll have 11 kindy teachers this year. We'll all still be at 20 or 21 students but that's much better than 30. Thanks, Robin!!!!Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-64661551933774126742009-08-01T16:10:00.002-05:002009-08-01T16:14:59.470-05:00Adoptive Parent SurveyI got an email asking me to post info on this survey. It's for parents who have adopted children from the foster care system. I got the email a week or two ago but didn't want to post the link until I had taken the survey. I just did and it was painless. <br /><br />Rather then try to summarize the info for you, I'll just copy and paste the email. If you are so inclined and qualify, please take the survey. It never hurts to help someone else out. She is one of us, after all. I'm sure she will appreciate all responses.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em>"Hello. I am a foster and adoptive parent in Charleston, Illinois and am also a graduate student in Family & Consumer Science at Eastern Illinois University. I am currently working on a thesis examining post-adoption birthparent contact in families that adopted through the foster care system. I am trying to recruit a national sample for my thesis survey and am trying to reach as many adoptive parents as I can. I have started contacting adoption related blog owners to get some help spreading the word about my survey. It appears that your blog would attract the people I am looking for to take my survey. Would you consider writing a short post on your blog about my survey? I have included sample language below. Feel free to contact me at this email with any questions. If you have suggestions for other ways to reach adoptive parents in your area, that would also be helpful! :) I would also appreciate it if you would take a minute to take the survey yourself if you meet the guidelines. Thank you so much for your help!Michelle Roberts</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em>If you adopted an unrelated child from foster care, your input is needed for a survey on post adoption birthparent contact. Michelle Roberts, a foster and adoptive parent herself, is doing a graduate thesis on post adoption contact in foster care adoptions. Even if you have had no contact with your child's birthparents, your input is valuable to the study. The online survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and contains no identifying information. As a special thank you, you will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the store of your choice. Please take a moment to help with this study. Go to </em></span><a href="http://www.adoptionstudy.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em>www.AdoptionStudy.org</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em> for the online survey or contact Michelle at </em></span><a href="http://us.mc1802.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=meroberts2@eiu.edu" ymailto="mailto:meroberts2@eiu.edu"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em>meroberts2@eiu.edu</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><em> if you would prefer to have a paper survey mailed to you. Your help is greatly appreciated!"</em></span>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-38276300702004077682009-07-17T14:52:00.004-05:002009-07-17T18:49:39.953-05:00Ms. PatsyMany, many years ago (I was in first grade, just to give you an idea of exactly how many years ago this was), a new girl showed up in my classroom at school. Her name was Renae. She lived in my neighborhood (with her mom and grandmother). She also began attending my church. We had so much in common that we became fast friends. We were in the same class almost every year of elementary school. We went to the same junior high and high school. We were in band together. We still attended the same church. We were together a lot for many years.<br /><br />Somewhere along the way, Renae's parents divorced. I didn't know a lot about that word then but I did understand that her mom was no longer married to her father. He worked away from home and this didn't directly affect my life. Soon, Larry appeared on the scene. He and Mrs. A had been friends in their teens and had reconnected after her divorce. Larry was cool. I could call him by his first name because Renae did. This was unheard of back in the day when your friends' parents didn't have first names. We were always taught to address them as Mr. Last Name and Mrs. Last Name. Larry didn't have a last name as far as I was concerned. His joining the family (bringing with him a young daughter), becoming Renae's stepfather eventually, just added to the fun. Mrs. A became Mrs N. (I still didn't dare call her by her first name!) He was one of the most fun adults I'd ever encountered. Even at my young age, I knew Larry and Mrs. A were destined to be together. They just seemed to complete each other...sounds corny, I know, but it's still true.<br /><br />We grew up. Renae moved away out of state. I was in college and had other friends. I was home a lot but didn't see much of Renae's family. My mom was still a part of their lives so I kept up with them all through her. I'd occasionally see them in passing at church. Even though I was legally an adult, I just couldn't bring myself to call her by her first name. I did finally drop her last name and call her Ms. Patsy.<br /><br />Then came one of my favorite holiday traditions... Thanksgiving at Larry and Ms. Patsy's house. They opened their home to anyone who needed a place to go for the holiday. Both sides of their families were invited. My mom and I joined them many years. My brother and his family came a few times. My assorted foster/adoptive kids came. People who worked with Ms. Patsy at a nearby hospital lab were invited to drive down on their lunch breaks to share the meal. It was always a nice mix of people who got along well together. That is just the kind of people the whole family is...They will do <em>anything </em>to help <em>anybody</em>. What a great world we'd live in if more people were like them!<br /><br />As always happens, times change. Both of their daughters (and their families) moved to FL. Larry and Ms. Patsy retired from their jobs and headed to FL to spend more time with their daughters and grandchildren. They kept their house here and traveled back and forth. My mom was in frequent contact with them and I, again, got my updates on them through her.<br /><br />About 5 years ago, I heard from my mom that Ms. Patsy had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery and chemo and radiation. After a long, difficult battle, our prayers were answered and she was declared well again. She looked great. Her hair grew back. In my mind, it was over. I honestly never considered the fact that it could happen again. My mom had cancer three times during my school years and she's been fine for years. I'd heard stories of others getting cancer over and over and eventually losing the battle, but in my personal experience, once you beat it, you were done.<br /><br />I'm sure by now you have guessed where this is going. Last month, Ms. Patsy went in for a routine scan as part of her cancer follow up. Three spots were detected on one of her lungs. We all tensed up but still had hopes for the best. A PET scan was scheduled for about 3 weeks later to better assess what was up. That scan was on a Thursday and the results were not to be available until Monday. What a long weekend. And the results were not what any of us wanted. The three spots on her lung were confirmed to be malignant. And, in addition to those three spots, the scan identified three more cancerous spots. Those were in her backbone. A brain scan was ordered and thankfully, that was normal. That has been the first piece of good news in Ms. Patsy's new battle.<br /><br />The prognosis is not good. However, a treatment plan has been established and there are numerous prayer warriors on the case, too. We've got that part covered. Here is what I need from you (well, more prayers are ALWAYS welcomed) but please click on <a href="http://www.the3day.org/site/TR?px=1200848&fr_id=1301&pg=personal">this link </a>and consider donating to Renae's <a href="http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer?pagename=experience">60-mile walk</a> to help <a href="http://www.the3day.org/site/PageServer?pagename=end_bc">end breast cancer</a>. (Proceeds go to <a href="http://ww5.komen.org/">Susan G. Komen For The Cure</a>.) Clicking on Renae's link will give you the chance to donate online. She's determined to do this walk again. She's been very dedicated to raising funds in the fight against breast cancer. ALL donations would be greatly appreciated. Don't worry about an amount - even $5 will help.<br /><br />Your donation will help Renae. It will help Ms. Patsy. It will help me. It will help my mom. And, more importantly, it might be helping you or your mom or your sister or your grandmother...or even your "Ms. Patsy." All women are at risk for developing this disease. I can't haul my big butt on a 60 mile walk to raise money. I <em>can</em> donate what I can and help find others to donate. I'm doing my part. Will you do yours?<br /><br />If you donate, please add a comment here. You don't need to post the amount - just the fact that you donated is all we need. If you are unable to donate, feel free to post any comments or thoughts for the family. Even if you will just commit to praying for Ms. Patsy and the family through the tough days ahead, please add that in a comment. Sadly, many women have to fight this battle every day. I sincerely hope no one has to fight it alone.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-62927671356996572222009-07-03T08:05:00.004-05:002009-07-03T08:23:07.264-05:00Updates...I've got your updatesElvis' surgery went fine. We got there at 2:00 and they took him from us about 3:30 after I'd answered the same 20 questions for about 10 different people. Beth and I sat in the waiting room and watched the Jumbo-tron which scrolled the first name of the patients and where they were in the process - getting ready for surgery, in the operating room, recovering in PACU, and finally - discharged. He was in surgery for longer than we expected but the doctor said everything went well. After a little while in recovery, we were sent home with a very drugged little guy. He needed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrocodone">Lortab</a> every 6 hours the first day and you could still tell he was hurting when moved or jostled. However, he slept really well Wednesday night and I could tell he felt much better Thursday. Motrin seems to be handling the pain although I did give him a dose of Lortab last night before I had to peel the sticky bandages off. It just seemed the compassionate thing to do.<br /><br />Before:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354223055880097458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2d190QCjWeYnfKgY8eg6hGpaUrqYQin8nA7mMUKlq9YCyvQ0ZdfAdXMZRB9MAvtXZcbjJasvwpgC5b9irCpHPeK3c3EiaT4Xa5Pk0fer5Y8oUrXbiaWAWftvCc27iLKBRkGpQGhbirp9/s320/100_0555.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><div></div><br />After:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354223059735672642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoINgOliUXJRQNA97uWxWGkdUvhigZuwBJ9ZD0QtbM13CelBebKiZkxwmGLbAXrNlWB-Jap-Kcy5jJcaAe5s7R4mxFvnp4Qd4CG3s_9Tt-E-EdVlJDBZ59fbyLUuwkklkUb9CpJrC-wyQJ/s320/100_0558.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Baby Briley arrived on July 1 at 1:31 PM. (7 pounds, 13 ounces; 20.5 inches long) She has ten fingers and ten toes and is learning to nurse like a champ. Mom and baby are doing well...tired but good. They were discharged from the hospital last night and have hopefully survived their first night at home. (The day of her birth was a really difficult day for me emotionally. I'll spare the details on the public blog but will probably attempt to sort out my thoughts on my private one. If you haven't joined that one yet, feel free to email me through my profile. All I'll need to add you is your email address. Don't fear rejection...as long as you don't live in my house, I'll add you. ;-)</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354223047868616850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5Mx-bwp-7o6oH2OBXewhMhI1Pi68ZpJTOHviYfQ27mRqrzA6ov67rMp1KvT6Hejt1kwNUVLSraKtV7v8SF4QUylzyqBHc7FHSJWZV-w0lHBfF0z186Hw0kMFzdMvycVEKw2ClF3eFKC8/s320/100_0571.jpg" border="0" /></div></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-5480415195486881022009-06-30T10:47:00.002-05:002009-06-30T10:53:56.692-05:00Elvis' surgery dayToday is the day the urologist goes looking for <a href="http://nottherealmomma.blogspot.com/2008/09/found-em.html">Elvis' testicles</a>. What fun! When he locates them, he'll pull them down and stitch them in place where they belong. I've never owned that equipment but I'm 100% sure that my day today will be better than Elvis'.<br /><br />We don't have to be at the hospital (an hour from home) until 2:30 this afternoon. I fear we may be there well into the evening hours. I'd much rather have gone in the wee morning hours and be done by now. We didn't get a choice. He did get to eat breakfast this morning. He could eat before 8:00 and then can have only clear liquids between 8 and 1. He can't have anything after 1.<br /><br />Alli is not going with us. She's pretty miserable with the pregnancy so she's staying home. Beth is going with me. I was afraid to try this adventure without another set of hands along for the ride. Elvis loves his Aunt Beth and she's great with him. We'll be fine. And, Elvis will be cranky afterward but he will have earned that right.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-76442561454318428112009-06-29T09:37:00.002-05:002009-06-29T09:39:47.570-05:00Still no babyI went with Alli to her appointment on Friday and she was still only dilated to "a loose two but we can call it almost a three if it makes you feel better." However, the baby is measuring BIG - 88 percentile and he wants to get her out soon. So, unless she goes into labor before, she will be induced on Wednesday...Boy Wonder's birthday. Can you tell I'm just thrilled about that last part?<br /><br />Elvis has surgery scheduled for Tuesday so it looks to be a busy week around here. I'll keep you posted.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-49998174877935757642009-06-20T07:49:00.002-05:002009-06-20T07:52:52.128-05:00Baby Watch, 2009Alli had her cerclage removed (fairly painfully, evidently) yesterday. That means the baby could join them at any time. All of her restrictions are removed and she can carry Elvis again. After 5 months of toting that guy around, I think this part makes me happiest of all. ;-)<br /><br />So now we wait...and wait. She's not technically due until July 13 so the baby may come soon. Or we may still have a month.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-60909939348376536982009-06-14T08:45:00.003-05:002009-06-14T15:40:17.252-05:00Thinking ahead...Father's DayMy own father has been dead for about 9 years. I'm single so my kids don't have a father here. Their own bio father is...interesting, to put it nicely. Elvis' bio father surrendered parental rights several years ago. Father's Day just isn't an issue in my house. There's really no mention of it since it doesn't apply to anyone.<br /><br />In the spirit of the season though, I'd like to "introduce" you to someone - Dick Hoyt. If you've already seen/read about/heard about "Team Hoyt" take the time to meet them again. Their story is a blessing. It kind of restores my faith in fathers. <br /><br />Team Hoyt <a href="http://www.teamhoyt.com/">website</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GRHxHapwirw&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GRHxHapwirw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-17087444943543343582009-06-13T10:15:00.002-05:002009-06-13T10:28:31.231-05:00June Birthday-maniaLots of family members have June birthdays. Alli's is June 2. Beth's is the 10th. My brother's is also the 10th. My aunt's is the 12th. Add to that the birthday of a close friend's son on June 1, and we have a looot of June birthdays.<br /><br />I combined Alli's and Beth's birthdays and took them out to lunch right between their actual birthdays. We also went to a local park Wednesday and celebrated Alli, Beth, and friend's son's birthdays all together. The candles on the cupcakes were the numbers 52 - their ages added together.<br /><br />I took my brother and aunt out to eat last night to celebrate theirs. It was a nice evening. I can't remember the last time just the three of us did anything together. It was a different vibe without spouses or kids but it was a nice change.<br /><br />Today, we are getting up and heading to my mom's hometown for...another birthday celebration - LOL! However, we will be celebrating everyone's birthday there today. Her family lives about 2 hours away and we don't get together as often as we should. So, we pick a Saturday every summer and celebrate all at once. Everyone brings a funny birthday card. We sign them and drop them in a box. Everyone draws one out and reads it to the group. Surprisingly, both my girls (and SpiderPig) are going along today. (Just Elvis and I went with my mom last year.) I'm not quite sure why the change of plans but I'm glad they are going. They really like one of my aunts there and she may be the draw. Doesn't matter. It looks to be a good day!Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-34894745688898899132009-06-07T21:55:00.002-05:002009-06-07T22:04:02.496-05:00Up to no goodRemember Beth's former BFF's brother? Take a moment to refresh your memories from last summer <a href="http://nottherealmomma.blogspot.com/2008/08/annoying-morning.html">here</a> and <a href="http://nottherealmomma.blogspot.com/2008/08/now-i-really-want-to-beat-him.html">here.</a><br /><br />Bff came by to visit me last Monday. We had a nice visit. She even brought me flowers and her new boyfriend for me to meet. I asked about her brother and she said he was still making horrible choices. The very day of that visit, this occurred:<br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">"Xxxxx Co. Sheriff's Dept.</span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br />Monday, June 1<br /><br />Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx, 19, (<em>address deleted</em>), was arrested and charged with theft, two counts of sale of marijuana, possession of marijuana for resale, attempted sale of a schedule I counterfeit narcotic, burglary, tampering with evidence, underage consumption of alcohol, possession of schedule IV narcotic and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remained jailed Tuesday in lieu of $73,500 bond."</span><br /></span><br />Bless his heart. From 8th in his huge high school class to all those charges. He's not just using drugs now, he's also selling them. Everyone hoped he had learned from his problems last summer. Obviously, not. He seems determined to self-destruct. What can you do?Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-4715127698705545842009-06-05T11:24:00.002-05:002009-06-05T11:28:02.330-05:00Hi, Fielding! Hi, Blair!*waves toward Heaven* It's <a href="http://nottherealmomma.blogspot.com/2008/06/and.html">June</a> again and I'm thinking of you both. In some ways, last June seems like just last month. In other ways, it feels like 10 years ago.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-38575453652632816972009-06-05T11:09:00.002-05:002009-06-05T11:23:28.063-05:00Breaking upElvis' speech therapist is breaking up with him. She's worked with him since before he was a year old. It feels like she's always been there. We've followed her to 3 different clinics, driving further to see her each time, just to continue the great working relationship with her. Now, she's quitting at the current clinic and won't be taking his insurance in her private practice. I feel like I've been dumped, too. You search and search for people who will love your kids and really make them work. This almost feels like a death in the family. We've got to find a new therapist and then spend the time to build a relationship with the him/her before expecting Elvis to make any progress.<br /><br />On the upside, we've been driving a long way to these therapy sessions - over 100 miles round trip each week. Hopefully we can find a super speech therapist (who takes his stinky insurance) who also happens to be in an office with a great OT and PT and who all happen to be much closer to our home. That's not asking too much, is it? **insert hysterical laughter from parents of other kids with special needs here**<br /><br />In other news, we've been busy here. Alli went with us to Elvis' speech appointment yesterday and we stopped at Walmart on the way home. I'd been invited to a baby shower and needed to buy a gift. We were gone a long time but had a good afternoon. This morning Elvis and I went with Alli to her OB appointment. We got to watch her ultrasound. Alli is 34 weeks pregnant and the baby is measuring 35 weeks and the doctor said she looks good. They will take out her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerclage">cerclage</a> two weeks from today and we'll wait for nature to take its course. Now, we're off to the baby shower. It's for a girl who was a student at a day care I worked at in college. (Yes, I'm that old.) It's at the park and the family is....different. So there promises to be many funny moments from today's shower.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-4609115048597603072009-06-02T07:28:00.002-05:002009-06-02T07:40:50.987-05:00They are sure this timeAlli got another text yesterday telling her that her uncle had died.. (<a href="http://nottherealmomma.blogspot.com/2009/05/someone-had-their-wires-crossed.html">again - LOL</a>). I asked if she was sure he was really dead and she read me the text message from her cousin that said, "Uncle C is dead. I'm sure this time." The family has no money for final expenses so he's being cremated and not having a service.<br /><br />Pardon me if I seem a little cavalier about this death but, simply put, he was not a nice person. He was young enough and (until a couple months ago) healthy enough to work. He chose to spend his time pursuing illegal activities instead of honestly trying to provide for himself and his family. This left his now 19 year old daughter to financially support the whole family (bum father, 21 year old sister, and herself). Ordinarily I could have gotten past that but literally hours after his mother's funeral in January, he demanded that his father give him some of his mother's furniture and belongings. He wanted them so badly that he almost came to blows with his father. Did he was them for sentimental reasons? Nope, wanted to sell them to pay off a drug debt. That was the last straw in my book. <br /><br />I feel really sorry for his daughters. As most good daughters do, they loved him dearly despite his faults. I'm sure his siblings and father (on some level) will miss him, too. The rest of the world? Should probably breathe a sigh of relief. RIP, Uncle C.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-50641199054796363432009-06-01T10:31:00.001-05:002009-06-01T10:33:18.744-05:0011/20/09The new movie in the Twilight saga will be released. The trailer was released last night. I.can't.wait!!!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=58185785">THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON trailer in HD</a><br/><object width="425px" height="360px" ><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="movie" value="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=58185785,t=1,mt=video"/><embed src="http://mediaservices.myspace.com/services/media/embed.aspx/m=58185785,t=1,mt=video" width="425" height="360" allowFullScreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent"></embed></object>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-81999346893295388502009-05-30T20:35:00.002-05:002009-05-30T20:47:24.499-05:00Someone had their wires crossedAlli and Beth's bio uncle (father of Cousin It, grandfather of <a href="http://nottherealmomma.blogspot.com/2008/11/im-great-aunt.html">this baby</a>) has been declared terminal with cancer for a couple of months now. He has hospice services in place. Alli got a text yesterday that he'd had another stroke and a seizure. It was really no surprise tonight when Alli got a text saying he'd died. I was sitting here trying to figure out when the service would be and what I had appropriate to wear to it when I got a text from Alli saying, "He's still alive. LOL!"<br /><br />Alli had called Beth to get the details. (Beth works with Cousin It now so she has all the family news more accessible to her.) Anyway, Beth said he HADN'T died. He was still gravely ill but very much alive. She even called Cousin It to confirm that he was still breathing.<br /><br />Guess someone along the texting chain sent or received the wrong message. Kind of like that old game of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_game">Telephone or Gossip </a>where everyone sits in a circle and you whisper a word around the circle and the word at the end usually doesn't even come close to being the word they started with. Only this time, we didn't have a funny word at the end. We had a dead uncle that wasn't dead. Again, only in my family...Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-11118117112566671202009-05-29T09:09:00.003-05:002009-05-29T09:26:53.627-05:00Endings, Beginnings...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24Z1tzTfExOYAbcla3NNR2yFSmMq7Nl2gF7NFp7p8PAenm_Epv54k3XgxeN6Hk6FhXidzeoKEvctVqzgXCctGNmGsOOzP9PvN0iRvX52zJIvhqS8M3JfbOiAFgZO17ts8QITwBsg-LH1s/s1600-h/lyngrad3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341251757730136226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24Z1tzTfExOYAbcla3NNR2yFSmMq7Nl2gF7NFp7p8PAenm_Epv54k3XgxeN6Hk6FhXidzeoKEvctVqzgXCctGNmGsOOzP9PvN0iRvX52zJIvhqS8M3JfbOiAFgZO17ts8QITwBsg-LH1s/s320/lyngrad3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>It's that time of year when some things come to an end and other things are only beginning. The school year ended yesterday. The kids came just for a few minutes - grabbed their report cards and left. It's usually bittersweet but this year I was just ready for it to be over. I liked my class but it was a stressful year (both at home and at school) and I was just ready for the end. As of noon yesterday, I'm officially on summer break. I'm off work until July 23. It will be a busy summer. Elvis has one surgery scheduled for the end of June and many, many other appointments (speech therapy, neurosurgery consults, etc.) so I'll be busy but I can handle that.</div><br /><div>Beth graduated from high school Tuesday night. She got her diploma and everything. She's been with me just over 5 years and there were many, many times over those 5 years that I didn't think she'd ever graduate. I'm proud of her for sticking with it and graduating. With that ending comes a new beginning. She's officially moved in with her boyfriend. While I wish she hadn't been in such a hurry, she's old enough to make that choice. Of course, she left almost all of her stuff here. So she's making a new start and I've got a room full of her stuff and no idea what to do with it all.</div><br /><div>It's also time for an ending with Alli and Boy Wonder. Two weeks ago he snapped and came into my bedroom waving his arms, cussing me, and making some threats. All because I'd had a conversation with Alli about the ethics of raising kids on welfare. That one action on his part was a loud, clear message to me that they needed to move on. I will NOT be threatened in my home. I will not be afraid to live in my own home. I've not given them a time frame yet but it's coming. It's time for a new beginning for them to learn to live on their own. The new beginning for me will be to learn to live alone. It will be an adjustment but it will be a peaceful one and I think I'm ready for it. I'm not naive enough to think it won't hurt when Alli leaves. I just think the relief of being free from BW's outbursts will be worth it.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, the summer of 2009 will be one of endings and beginnings...some good and some painful. I'm just glad it's starting because the sooner it starts, the sooner it's all done. It's time. We all know it.</div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-79246776808227188092009-05-25T14:32:00.003-05:002009-05-25T18:08:40.668-05:00Happy Memorial DayLest we forget the reason for the holiday...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TGzuvmut3Hs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TGzuvmut3Hs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Thank you to those who serve.<br />Thank you those who served.<br />Thank you to the families of those who gave their lives.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-74438813184422779692009-05-23T20:53:00.002-05:002009-05-23T20:59:25.075-05:00Holy Bat-Retirement!Our <a href="http://nottherealmomma.blogspot.com/2009/03/this-picture.html">Batman</a> is retiring. He called the faculty and staff together Thursday afternoon to tell us. I've been expecting him to retire at the end of every one of the past 5 years. This year, however, I'd never even considered it. He's had, what appears to me anyway, a great year - maybe one of his best. I'm going to miss him. He kept the school running without trying to micromanage all the details. He trusted us to do our jobs and we knew - with 100% certainty, he had our backs when we needed him.<br /><br />I don't do well with change and transitions. I'll spend my summer wondering who will take his place and what the new school year (with a new "Batman") will be like.Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-12802260005305923462009-05-20T19:29:00.003-05:002009-05-20T20:02:53.533-05:00Looking on the bright sideDespite all the crap in my life these days, some good things are happening, too.<br /><br />A week ago, my brother graduated from nursing school! He skipped his actual graduation but the whole family went to his pinning the night before. It was a lovely ceremony and my brother was even a speaker. He was, evidently, quite the presence in his classes, as a few of the other speakers mentioned him by name during their speeches. And, never one to risk being boring, he gave the interim director of the nursing program a little surprise after she pinned him...<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyv9nCi5CodgllBB4KWDbIpuSoHJTcNoWu553tAmMAHF2rjQwEy3ewLKojebdTfBeV46Kcg1Zto09FPnGTVGg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />And, in Elvis news, I survived his IEP meeting yesterday! For those who have never had a kid in special ed and never had to sit through meeting after meeting of professionals telling you everything that's wrong with your kid, you'll never understand the feeling of relief when you can survive a meeting without crying before, during, and/or after. Well, I did it yesterday! I'd gotten a heads up last Friday that this meeting was going to be okay but I can't relax until it's actually over. The special ed class that Elvis has been a part of this year is moving to another school next year. A school quite far from both my home and my school. However, my principal agreed to let Elvis continue attending my school! He's going to be based in a regular kindergarten class and spend an hour and 45 minutes a day with a resource teacher. They doubled the amount of speech therapy he got this year AND gave him a full-time assistant. I didn't ask for any of this. They just offered it all. If I could have written up my dream placement for him, this would have been it. And I didn't have to ask for any of it...they just offered it! <br /><br />So Elvis is going to real kindergarten in the fall. I hope they are ready for him and his attitude!Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7833997899825933536.post-55800093952112691702009-05-12T23:26:00.002-05:002009-05-17T23:37:17.767-05:00The Tooth Fairy came!<div>Elvis' bottom front tooth is finally disconnected from his head. For the first time in my life, I pulled someone else's tooth. Yuck. When my students need one pulled, I take them across the hall to another K teacher who doesn't mind yanking them. Since she doesn't live with me however, I had to be the one to pull Elvis' tooth when it was obviously time for it to come out. I did get it out without much effort (but there was quite a bit of blood, though).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>After I pulled it, we cleaned him and it up and then stuck the tooth in a ziploc bag and put it under the pillow. Since he's non-verbal, I really felt we were doing this more for us than for him but it felt right to go through the motions. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>At bedtime, he wouldn't go to sleep. He just laid in bed and laughed. All night long, he dozed then laughed. We were up and down all night but not in the usual way. He wasn't crying or upset - he was just giggly. Finally, about 5:00 AM, I put him in bed with me, planning to doze until the alarm went off at 5:30. However, as soon as I put him down, he curled towards his bed and was staring intently at his pillow. It finally hit me that he was wanting to see what the tooth fairy had brought. As soon as I picked up his pillow and he saw his money, he was fine. He clutched the dollar but kept on laughing. I felt better at least knowing what his deal was. I also felt better knowing he had the cognitive ability to know about the tooth fairy and know that it was something to be excited about. Way to go, Elvis!!!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337018333013482098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj36BxNBT1QddFVav9roLgoAzxsza2gKOj3YbvjsdXD2MtOH_yDMmk3N5s0ArwjsvQBeYkOt9DSb5RxA5tKiFxRURmIIPgIvRU-84Rh_mQ1K03q2iVfq9gS-GNsceN_I8IoEpvkxLGsHylf/s320/100_0460.jpg" border="0" /></div>Janehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12631510309519235378noreply@blogger.com0