Tomorrow is going to be a big day for the children... We signed up for a Sailing experience upon a Sail boat with a real live Captain...LOL They are so excited...(Good thing he calls to remind parents) LOL
I have to get e new day planner..It has been 2 months and I realize I can not remember nor live with a pocket calendar.... This is a real job keeping up.
I will take a ton of photos as I love the water and am excited for my children to experience this and pray it is all positive!!!
http://www.heartofsailing.org/default.asp
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Still hopeful
Hello all my friends and family. We have not been notified either way on the nomination for Extreme Home Makeover. Last word I have is that the date for the South Florida build is not set. Once that date is set then we will wait like the other families here that are in it to win it...LOL I know my heart will be crushed because the time it has been I have been in this roller coaster of emotions of how much it would mean to us, how much more I could do for so many...The reality is.... So no we have heard nothing but we are still hopeful. Many of you wrote in for support and they are collecting information and doing what it is they do. I believe it is a builder to come forward and then volunteers in the community for help and supports. So that is all in God's hands.
I am here, doing what I do best.... helping the kids and finding ways to help more kids. I have my application in to host baby's from Haiti if they need me. I have my email out to all existing agency's who have been working in Haiti for years and now have more help requests and media attention than ever before. They need medical personal now and that I do not have.
I stay to our routine and plan for our weekend get aways coming. We have not been out for months like before Baby Emma and the children are looking forward to some "hotel" stays. Conferences are coming, a weekend to Bush Gardens is set and they are studying the park maps for making it to as much as possible in a day with the Pringle children (all of them) We will go back with the older one's for a roller coaster extravaganza...meaning all we do is go on one to the next to the next roller coaster.... The older ones.. and play play play hard... then another time the baby's will go in the water park area and just be LAZY all day. (warmer weather) I am a planner....lol makes life much easier with many.
If you have not or wish to write again...to Extreme Home Makeover to let them know you wish to volunteer or support the choice of our family getting a new home through their show the email lines are still open.
castingsouthflorida@gmail.com
I am here, doing what I do best.... helping the kids and finding ways to help more kids. I have my application in to host baby's from Haiti if they need me. I have my email out to all existing agency's who have been working in Haiti for years and now have more help requests and media attention than ever before. They need medical personal now and that I do not have.
I stay to our routine and plan for our weekend get aways coming. We have not been out for months like before Baby Emma and the children are looking forward to some "hotel" stays. Conferences are coming, a weekend to Bush Gardens is set and they are studying the park maps for making it to as much as possible in a day with the Pringle children (all of them) We will go back with the older one's for a roller coaster extravaganza...meaning all we do is go on one to the next to the next roller coaster.... The older ones.. and play play play hard... then another time the baby's will go in the water park area and just be LAZY all day. (warmer weather) I am a planner....lol makes life much easier with many.
If you have not or wish to write again...to Extreme Home Makeover to let them know you wish to volunteer or support the choice of our family getting a new home through their show the email lines are still open.
castingsouthflorida@gmail.com
conference call Earthquake relief effort, join us
conference call on Saturday night, January 30th, at 8pm EST. Dan will be calling from Cayes, Haiti. He will be giving an update on RMI's Earthquake Relief Effort (Progress so far, Current Issues, Observations, Short and Long Term Plans).
Everyone is invited to listen in! Spread the word!
Instructions and notes...
•How to access the call... On Saturday night, at 8 pm EST, dial (712) 432-0111. You will be asked to enter an access code. Please enter: 1007501#
•Normal long distance fees apply.
•Due to the large number of expected participants, all callers will be muted by default to avoid us talking over each other.
•If you have a question that you would like Dan to consider addressing on the conference call, please email them to both Dan and Rob.
http://www.rminet.org/
Everyone is invited to listen in! Spread the word!
Instructions and notes...
•How to access the call... On Saturday night, at 8 pm EST, dial (712) 432-0111. You will be asked to enter an access code. Please enter: 1007501#
•Normal long distance fees apply.
•Due to the large number of expected participants, all callers will be muted by default to avoid us talking over each other.
•If you have a question that you would like Dan to consider addressing on the conference call, please email them to both Dan and Rob.
http://www.rminet.org/
Friday, January 29, 2010
and the day rolls on
My day has been a whirl wind...Off to the Doc. uneventful...lots of questions..HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING? No, we have heard nothing. No word is good so we will take that.
Then I call to get details on the up coming Walk-a-thon and now I am part of the committee team and in hook line and sinker..WITH A SMILE.
I heard from the photographer who did the piece on our family and spent the week in Haiti. He is planning to return and is seeking answers to the questions about the orphans and is very interested in the local orphanage. I am pushing it out into the media world. I have sent him with tons of hugs for angel baby's.. HE ROCK! You do Andrew.
I learned to gather items and send them to Haiti safely then we can pay $4.00 a lb and have it flown every Wed. from a local organization that goes over regularly and has for 200 years. Amazing work this man from Lehigh has been doing.
I got a call that Jordan's medication needs approved through the insurance to continue..so I need to "find" some to hold me over... calls to his Doc finds samples so now that the buses are here I need to go pick those up.
The sun is so wonderful it is hard to come inside ...but need to be responsible...
Then I call to get details on the up coming Walk-a-thon and now I am part of the committee team and in hook line and sinker..WITH A SMILE.
I heard from the photographer who did the piece on our family and spent the week in Haiti. He is planning to return and is seeking answers to the questions about the orphans and is very interested in the local orphanage. I am pushing it out into the media world. I have sent him with tons of hugs for angel baby's.. HE ROCK! You do Andrew.
I learned to gather items and send them to Haiti safely then we can pay $4.00 a lb and have it flown every Wed. from a local organization that goes over regularly and has for 200 years. Amazing work this man from Lehigh has been doing.
I got a call that Jordan's medication needs approved through the insurance to continue..so I need to "find" some to hold me over... calls to his Doc finds samples so now that the buses are here I need to go pick those up.
The sun is so wonderful it is hard to come inside ...but need to be responsible...
Adoption Haiti Money Questions
I am a bit puzzled. The past week I have been learning more and more about all angles of Haiti, adoption and the orphans over there.
To adopt it runs 20 to 25K and 518 orphans adopted came last week.
To offer a year of education you can give $250.00 a one time fee per year or another organization asks $30.00 a month for school and lunch.
I found one organization that can build a 3 classroom school for $20K
I actually found a ton of organizations who have been working over there quietly for years and years. One right in my back yard I had never heard of before.
OK, all of you know I 100% support helping, reunification when possible and of course adoption.
Now, the Department of Children and Families is in the front line taking control and putting Haitian children into FOSTER CARE??? The governmental system which is high dollar, dysfunctional and certainly doesn't have the #1 record for efficiency to get children into permanent placements... YET that is the path for the Haitian orphans???
I am confused...When the public is calling emailing and asking to do their civic duty, private industry of adoption has been on the front lines doing the work and now our government feels they should take over???? I am confused.
Ii need to run Emma to the Doctor but this subject is not closed...
To adopt it runs 20 to 25K and 518 orphans adopted came last week.
To offer a year of education you can give $250.00 a one time fee per year or another organization asks $30.00 a month for school and lunch.
I found one organization that can build a 3 classroom school for $20K
I actually found a ton of organizations who have been working over there quietly for years and years. One right in my back yard I had never heard of before.
OK, all of you know I 100% support helping, reunification when possible and of course adoption.
Now, the Department of Children and Families is in the front line taking control and putting Haitian children into FOSTER CARE??? The governmental system which is high dollar, dysfunctional and certainly doesn't have the #1 record for efficiency to get children into permanent placements... YET that is the path for the Haitian orphans???
I am confused...When the public is calling emailing and asking to do their civic duty, private industry of adoption has been on the front lines doing the work and now our government feels they should take over???? I am confused.
Ii need to run Emma to the Doctor but this subject is not closed...
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Another 4 day weekend coming so we are planning...
The Pringle's are busting out as the next four day weekend is in the planning..
We have a BOY in our house turning 13 THIRTEEN, THIRTEEN...how can that be???
Kids in Bed, I need to prepare Emma for an early morning Doctors appointment and settle into my room. Possibly be back on later if anyone needs to chat.
We have a BOY in our house turning 13 THIRTEEN, THIRTEEN...how can that be???
Kids in Bed, I need to prepare Emma for an early morning Doctors appointment and settle into my room. Possibly be back on later if anyone needs to chat.
Emma reaches to be picked up now
I have to share a funny moment today..
Emma does not watch television. I don't, so it just isn't on and not even one in the room we hang in. So today I am going to my bathroom which I pass in front in front of a television on in my room. THE VIEW is on and it is going to commercial so they zoom in on the lady who points into the front of the camera view...Emma is there at that exact moment and reaches to the woman in the television...I laughed so hard because she really thought the lady was putting her arms out to take her from me...
I guess it is one of those moments you just had to be there to experience.. the look on her face when I didn't let her go..
Emma does not watch television. I don't, so it just isn't on and not even one in the room we hang in. So today I am going to my bathroom which I pass in front in front of a television on in my room. THE VIEW is on and it is going to commercial so they zoom in on the lady who points into the front of the camera view...Emma is there at that exact moment and reaches to the woman in the television...I laughed so hard because she really thought the lady was putting her arms out to take her from me...
I guess it is one of those moments you just had to be there to experience.. the look on her face when I didn't let her go..
The sun is shining brightly
It has been a productive yet not overwhelming couple of days, maybe I can even say week. I have all the laundry done, no dishes to do, kids off to school, Emma bathed and fed playing on her floor mat. I am about to start sipping on coffee. and it is before 9 am.. I am not tired, feel like I could get windows washed to day... well right at this moment I feel that so let's see.
Emma sat in the shopping cart yesterday for the first time. She was focused and somewhat seemed stressed in holding a knuckle grip even though she was belted with the insert and the cart strap. I have one of those germ protectors yet no idea how they really work so i wrapped her in it inside the seat the best I could figure without instruction. When I was having baby's it was sad the daily germs were good for them --builds immune... so here I am in the year 2010 protecting baby Emma from every germ possible. Hand sanitizers, germ wipes, cover and clothes and even signs on her travel equipment that clearly states don't touch my baby...LOL Actually says wash your hands before you touch mine. Big Red Stop sign shape. So she sat going through the store.. no looking around, just eyes on the cart and focused on not falling over. I could see the work it took as the cart moved, her tummy muscles were in full swing..her little arms tried as hard as they could and for the most part was a total work out without her complaining.. the problem came when she simply passed out. Out like a light and nothing was going to wake her... a work out to pass out.. and then I was working all my skills to hold her head, push the cart and steer without running into people, off to check out one handed... talent was the key.... Thank goodness it was a short list to fill and self check out was clear.
It is very cute to watch her now build her confidence to try and sit, she sits but she needs to convince herself each time. She also forgets how it is she starts...Like on her back she lifts her head and starts to lift the chest to sit straight up, well that doesn't work so she pushes..her feet against the floor and she is in a near back bend. head still on the floor, you can see through her eyes she is working on how it is she sits, how did I get my body upright...then she squirms and twists and her body feels the position and quick as you can say sit she is up...a bit startled at first she looks around like she is in a new environment and she then gets eye contact and smiles a huge gum filled smile of pride...and over she goes as she lets loose of her balance...she has it down now to get the arm out to break the head bonk. I watch now, not racing to protect her, she has it and each time she sits longer, falls less and enjoys the toys around her for a longer amount of time.. It is clear it wears her out.so she gets to her tummy, grabs a toy starts babbling her story and rolls to her back for play
Emma sat in the shopping cart yesterday for the first time. She was focused and somewhat seemed stressed in holding a knuckle grip even though she was belted with the insert and the cart strap. I have one of those germ protectors yet no idea how they really work so i wrapped her in it inside the seat the best I could figure without instruction. When I was having baby's it was sad the daily germs were good for them --builds immune... so here I am in the year 2010 protecting baby Emma from every germ possible. Hand sanitizers, germ wipes, cover and clothes and even signs on her travel equipment that clearly states don't touch my baby...LOL Actually says wash your hands before you touch mine. Big Red Stop sign shape. So she sat going through the store.. no looking around, just eyes on the cart and focused on not falling over. I could see the work it took as the cart moved, her tummy muscles were in full swing..her little arms tried as hard as they could and for the most part was a total work out without her complaining.. the problem came when she simply passed out. Out like a light and nothing was going to wake her... a work out to pass out.. and then I was working all my skills to hold her head, push the cart and steer without running into people, off to check out one handed... talent was the key.... Thank goodness it was a short list to fill and self check out was clear.
It is very cute to watch her now build her confidence to try and sit, she sits but she needs to convince herself each time. She also forgets how it is she starts...Like on her back she lifts her head and starts to lift the chest to sit straight up, well that doesn't work so she pushes..her feet against the floor and she is in a near back bend. head still on the floor, you can see through her eyes she is working on how it is she sits, how did I get my body upright...then she squirms and twists and her body feels the position and quick as you can say sit she is up...a bit startled at first she looks around like she is in a new environment and she then gets eye contact and smiles a huge gum filled smile of pride...and over she goes as she lets loose of her balance...she has it down now to get the arm out to break the head bonk. I watch now, not racing to protect her, she has it and each time she sits longer, falls less and enjoys the toys around her for a longer amount of time.. It is clear it wears her out.so she gets to her tummy, grabs a toy starts babbling her story and rolls to her back for play
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Mandie came today, the pool well.....
I refuse to get into the pool until it is at least 70's upper 70's yes I prefer 90's hot tub material...lol
Mandie swears (she was dumb enough to get in) that the water has to be in the 30's. Her legs went numb..lol the thermometer says 52 but FIFTY TWO in water is cold. Ice water..the kids are saying "it is not ice water" they are playing splashing and having a great time.
It is about time to be thinking of dinner. I took a cat nap today as it is Tues. and I pick up for the food shelter tonight and that run is late... I do not feel safe delivering that late at night so I will pick up and then deliver tomorrow.
Therapy is coming tonight and lots to prepare for school is back in session tomorrow therefore the alarm needs on and 5 am will be seen...YIKES.
Reflect on what a wonderful life us American's have. Humble for our lives as we live them. Not letting my goals down but I sure am thankful, very Thankful.
Mandie swears (she was dumb enough to get in) that the water has to be in the 30's. Her legs went numb..lol the thermometer says 52 but FIFTY TWO in water is cold. Ice water..the kids are saying "it is not ice water" they are playing splashing and having a great time.
It is about time to be thinking of dinner. I took a cat nap today as it is Tues. and I pick up for the food shelter tonight and that run is late... I do not feel safe delivering that late at night so I will pick up and then deliver tomorrow.
Therapy is coming tonight and lots to prepare for school is back in session tomorrow therefore the alarm needs on and 5 am will be seen...YIKES.
Reflect on what a wonderful life us American's have. Humble for our lives as we live them. Not letting my goals down but I sure am thankful, very Thankful.
One person at a time
I am doing all I can with my abilities. I collected all the local hospitals, numbers contacts, names. Alerting any family willing to fill out an application to host a medically needy child from Haiti for about 18 months. I am emailing to let outside the area know of facilities here in SW Florida in case they can use our resources..
I have been emailing with some on the ground in Haiti, reporters Doctors, director's and who actually knows but reading and learning and doing what small part I can makes the fact I do not have cash to spare but time, energy and love helps equally.
I hope everyone has done what they can or feel they should or could and if you have that inner drive to help a child and you are in the SW FL area please email me so we can keep giving the medical advocacy team enough resources to get a handful of children here and well so they can return to their country whole. A little wiser, a little more stable to move forward in the journey they have ahead of them.
I have been emailing with some on the ground in Haiti, reporters Doctors, director's and who actually knows but reading and learning and doing what small part I can makes the fact I do not have cash to spare but time, energy and love helps equally.
I hope everyone has done what they can or feel they should or could and if you have that inner drive to help a child and you are in the SW FL area please email me so we can keep giving the medical advocacy team enough resources to get a handful of children here and well so they can return to their country whole. A little wiser, a little more stable to move forward in the journey they have ahead of them.
And... the children are 1 1/2 hr away by plane to Quality Children's Hospitals
QUOTE: please go read the entire article...
About a third of these victims were children. The entire hospital smelled of infected, rotting limbs and death. Later on, we would judge our surgical progress by the diminishment of the stench.
In our naïveté, we didn't expect that the two anesthesia machines would not work; that there would be only one cautery available in the entire hospital to stop bleeding; that an operating room sterilizer fit only instruments the size of a cigar box; that there would be no sterile saline, no functioning fluoroscopy machine, no blood for transfusions, no ability to do lab work; and the only local staff was a ragtag group of voluntary health providers who, like us, had made it there on their own.
As we got up and running and organized the patients for surgery, we told our contacts in the United States what we needed. More supplies were loaded for a second trip. Those included a battery-operated pulse lavage, a huge supply of sterile saline and the soft goods we needed desperately in the operating room.
The plane landed as planned Sunday night, and the new equipment was loaded onto a truck. Then that truck, loaded with life-saving equipment, was hijacked somewhere between the airport and the hospital.
We had planned to run a marathon round-the-clock operation and leave at 11 p.m. Tuesday. We worked for 60-plus hours without stopping. The plane that would take us home would bring with it not only a new medical staff, but also equipment that was nonexistent in the hospital, or even the country.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/25/doctors.haiti.hardships/index.html#cnnSTCTextA
About a third of these victims were children. The entire hospital smelled of infected, rotting limbs and death. Later on, we would judge our surgical progress by the diminishment of the stench.
In our naïveté, we didn't expect that the two anesthesia machines would not work; that there would be only one cautery available in the entire hospital to stop bleeding; that an operating room sterilizer fit only instruments the size of a cigar box; that there would be no sterile saline, no functioning fluoroscopy machine, no blood for transfusions, no ability to do lab work; and the only local staff was a ragtag group of voluntary health providers who, like us, had made it there on their own.
As we got up and running and organized the patients for surgery, we told our contacts in the United States what we needed. More supplies were loaded for a second trip. Those included a battery-operated pulse lavage, a huge supply of sterile saline and the soft goods we needed desperately in the operating room.
The plane landed as planned Sunday night, and the new equipment was loaded onto a truck. Then that truck, loaded with life-saving equipment, was hijacked somewhere between the airport and the hospital.
We had planned to run a marathon round-the-clock operation and leave at 11 p.m. Tuesday. We worked for 60-plus hours without stopping. The plane that would take us home would bring with it not only a new medical staff, but also equipment that was nonexistent in the hospital, or even the country.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/25/doctors.haiti.hardships/index.html#cnnSTCTextA
Monday, January 25, 2010
Just another day in the neighborhood...
The sun came out at about noonish the kids played outside. Tressa stayed in the pool almost 4 hours. She loved having it to herself much of the time. The boys played in the fort (playhouse) Keirsten stayed near the TV. Being grounded from the phone changes the dynamics in her day. She did have a couple make up sessions with her sisters and the nail polish ...Oh my goodness Jordan does not like the fact boys do not wear nail polish. He sure watches everything the girls do and wishes sometimes he can do that...Such as short skirts...wiggle the Bum.
Uh OH.......... Dinner ended, Tressa had a healthy dinner and just realized she hasn't had DINNER....she counted that as LUNCH.. (really she didn't have lunch, she was in the pool) LOL She is trying so hard to remember what she had all day...LOL She is wracking her brain as I type and because i have a smile on my face she keeps saying...what is so funny??? Mom what is so funny, I didn't get my dinner. So I stopped and explained yes dear you just had dinner an hour ago... her reply, what did I have for lunch? I said pool...that's not lunch....she says. SO I said Ok, you can have a cup of popcorn. SHE IS SO EXCITED....
The kitchen continues to flood, I must deal with it soon. The kids came running to tell me the water had filled the kitchen and moved into the dining room...and it looks like coffee.... NOT GOOD.
Off the computer, garbage night to get it out to the road. and of course The Bachelor...my must laugh out loud night of comedy TV... I am sure he doesn't feel this way but I sure do... a conversation shared many times in a week with me...I am blessed to be single in most situations. I do love my life. Just wish I had more money or a handyman to fix the house.....see you all tomorrow. NO SCHOOL HERE!
Uh OH.......... Dinner ended, Tressa had a healthy dinner and just realized she hasn't had DINNER....she counted that as LUNCH.. (really she didn't have lunch, she was in the pool) LOL She is trying so hard to remember what she had all day...LOL She is wracking her brain as I type and because i have a smile on my face she keeps saying...what is so funny??? Mom what is so funny, I didn't get my dinner. So I stopped and explained yes dear you just had dinner an hour ago... her reply, what did I have for lunch? I said pool...that's not lunch....she says. SO I said Ok, you can have a cup of popcorn. SHE IS SO EXCITED....
The kitchen continues to flood, I must deal with it soon. The kids came running to tell me the water had filled the kitchen and moved into the dining room...and it looks like coffee.... NOT GOOD.
Off the computer, garbage night to get it out to the road. and of course The Bachelor...my must laugh out loud night of comedy TV... I am sure he doesn't feel this way but I sure do... a conversation shared many times in a week with me...I am blessed to be single in most situations. I do love my life. Just wish I had more money or a handyman to fix the house.....see you all tomorrow. NO SCHOOL HERE!
Kaitlyn says she tried to make her make up match her bathing suit...
Tye dye.....purple, CHECK! Green, CHECK! reddish, CHECK! LOL Yep she accomplished her goal...she looks a little--- Tye dyad
It is a lazy day around here. The thunder freezes the kids if it makes the windows rattle...they do not like the noise and my brave loud husky boys turn into mama's wimpy pups....lol Too funny. and they act like I can stop it.
The smell of french toast helped them keep their minds off the noise and feeding their tummies was also a distraction. Tressa had her bowl of cereal although her plan was to have oatmeal but that OCD just did not allow the change...LOL She is off playing Barbie's in her room. Kaitlyn helps Lucas dig out his trucks for some floor play, Jordan and Steven go to the Christmas gifts that have not been played with or used and choose table activities.
I was able to finish some copying for the medical advocacy and get that out to the mail.
We say a prayer for the families workers and all in Haiti as this storm appears to be heading that direction. We pray they are spared more harm.
Keirsten has been getting more informed, watching extreme home make over last night they donated shoes to Jamaica and she related the conditions she saw to what Haiti was like before the earthquake. This seemed to move her in a small way. She asked lots of questions, I hope she stays interested. I would be thrilled if she got onto some mission work.
The smell of french toast helped them keep their minds off the noise and feeding their tummies was also a distraction. Tressa had her bowl of cereal although her plan was to have oatmeal but that OCD just did not allow the change...LOL She is off playing Barbie's in her room. Kaitlyn helps Lucas dig out his trucks for some floor play, Jordan and Steven go to the Christmas gifts that have not been played with or used and choose table activities.
I was able to finish some copying for the medical advocacy and get that out to the mail.
We say a prayer for the families workers and all in Haiti as this storm appears to be heading that direction. We pray they are spared more harm.
Keirsten has been getting more informed, watching extreme home make over last night they donated shoes to Jamaica and she related the conditions she saw to what Haiti was like before the earthquake. This seemed to move her in a small way. She asked lots of questions, I hope she stays interested. I would be thrilled if she got onto some mission work.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Today has been a calm day... I day I might take this time to update on each of the kids
Keirsten being 16 is all that...a teenager. She pushes the limit on everything. She spent the night at her girlfriends Friday night and had a great time. To be home at noon calls to stay longer and then late at that...
Kaitlyn brought home her art work. She slid in a page of pasted photos of things she would like to have. She put a cell phone on it and a 2nd cell phone that had texts listed she said to be sure her phone text. Then a cruise ship to Alaska and a photo of a fish to go fishing and a lap top that has a stylist and swivel screen... she has good taste.. LOL I am not sure what class that was made in.
Steven is such a little man. He is planning his 13th Birthday party on Feb. 20th...He is excited. I need to get busty inviting his friends and figure out where it is we will have it.
Jordan went to the Hospital to pick up the newborn this week. He got a little possessive when the adoptive parents came to pick her up. He is doing so well in school. His class reports are perfect. I love hearing about the bonds he has with classmates..Academically he isn't doing so well. He is not retaining and we keep giving input and will not give up but his learning is difficult.
Tressa is doing so much better in school. I am making plans to have her repeat second grade so she has a solid foundation in reading and math to move forward on. She hasn't connected with any "friends" to have it be a social blow this year. I hope to get on top of finances this year and have Tressa back in outside activities which offer physical activity.
Lucas is doing so well. Mom is a word used more and more. He is signing and getting into the family more and more without coaching. His age being 6 makes it mandatory he move on in school and if I keep him included he will be at a desk with pen and paper which is not in his best interest. He needs housekeeping, arts and crafts and days full of pre-school activities. I am thinking of having him home for a year. Even possibly a pre-school with other children.
Emma, WOW Emma is going to be a year old..CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! I can not.
Ally is growing as fast as Emma although tripling in weight unlike Emma. She is active but a great dog, she is learning although it takes time.
Keirsten being 16 is all that...a teenager. She pushes the limit on everything. She spent the night at her girlfriends Friday night and had a great time. To be home at noon calls to stay longer and then late at that...
Kaitlyn brought home her art work. She slid in a page of pasted photos of things she would like to have. She put a cell phone on it and a 2nd cell phone that had texts listed she said to be sure her phone text. Then a cruise ship to Alaska and a photo of a fish to go fishing and a lap top that has a stylist and swivel screen... she has good taste.. LOL I am not sure what class that was made in.
Steven is such a little man. He is planning his 13th Birthday party on Feb. 20th...He is excited. I need to get busty inviting his friends and figure out where it is we will have it.
Jordan went to the Hospital to pick up the newborn this week. He got a little possessive when the adoptive parents came to pick her up. He is doing so well in school. His class reports are perfect. I love hearing about the bonds he has with classmates..Academically he isn't doing so well. He is not retaining and we keep giving input and will not give up but his learning is difficult.
Tressa is doing so much better in school. I am making plans to have her repeat second grade so she has a solid foundation in reading and math to move forward on. She hasn't connected with any "friends" to have it be a social blow this year. I hope to get on top of finances this year and have Tressa back in outside activities which offer physical activity.
Lucas is doing so well. Mom is a word used more and more. He is signing and getting into the family more and more without coaching. His age being 6 makes it mandatory he move on in school and if I keep him included he will be at a desk with pen and paper which is not in his best interest. He needs housekeeping, arts and crafts and days full of pre-school activities. I am thinking of having him home for a year. Even possibly a pre-school with other children.
Emma, WOW Emma is going to be a year old..CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! I can not.
Ally is growing as fast as Emma although tripling in weight unlike Emma. She is active but a great dog, she is learning although it takes time.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
It has been a very busy few days.
We had a placement from the newborn nursery Thursday to Friday and this week has been 1/2 days of school. I was tired going into the 9 hour ride to the hospital and back not to mention no sleep that night and on to having the kids home, new parents needing time with me and all that I feel drawn to do to get word out and keep the pot stirred to get children out of Haiti an here for medical. It is so frustrating...because small children can be kept accountable-accounted for..not like they are going to split ...It is awful to see he reports that no medical supplies to help with pain, or infection and masks etc, equipment being sent for adults.. URG! we are 2 hours away!!! Please write to the powers that be to let them know so we can keep the pressure on to put those baby's on the planes to our local hospitals.
Sen Bill Nelson is being very out spoken to allow the kids to get here for medical and he feels the same..be accountable but for goodness sakes get them here and keep track but get them here now...
So passion.... I am full of it... and it wears me out so this is short, we are all fine, I have a couple pics of the past few days. Kids playing in the pool YES THEY ARE!... LOL and the baby who is with her new mommy and daddy..that is a post in itself but not tonight. I need to relax and sleep. I worked hard on the house today because it felt like it was getting away from me.. so it is an early night, time to have me time... Good night.
We had a placement from the newborn nursery Thursday to Friday and this week has been 1/2 days of school. I was tired going into the 9 hour ride to the hospital and back not to mention no sleep that night and on to having the kids home, new parents needing time with me and all that I feel drawn to do to get word out and keep the pot stirred to get children out of Haiti an here for medical. It is so frustrating...because small children can be kept accountable-accounted for..not like they are going to split ...It is awful to see he reports that no medical supplies to help with pain, or infection and masks etc, equipment being sent for adults.. URG! we are 2 hours away!!! Please write to the powers that be to let them know so we can keep the pressure on to put those baby's on the planes to our local hospitals.
Sen Bill Nelson is being very out spoken to allow the kids to get here for medical and he feels the same..be accountable but for goodness sakes get them here and keep track but get them here now...
So passion.... I am full of it... and it wears me out so this is short, we are all fine, I have a couple pics of the past few days. Kids playing in the pool YES THEY ARE!... LOL and the baby who is with her new mommy and daddy..that is a post in itself but not tonight. I need to relax and sleep. I worked hard on the house today because it felt like it was getting away from me.. so it is an early night, time to have me time... Good night.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I do not have any desire to re-live yesterdays moments so it is what it is today.
Today I woke up a little more tired than yesterday... Last night I did a run for the food pantry..I pick up for a local food pantry when a friend can not do it. We did it during the summer for a 10 day time and now we committed to every Tuesday night. Once time a week should not take too much out of us..
SO I wake and learn Haiti has been hit AGAIN. Bless all those people as they must be scared to death... what a life and we take ours for granted.. I do not want to stress my children but I do want them to take a moment and feel thankful for what they have. It is part of learning that not everyone in life has a bed of their own. I want them to be grateful for what they have as much as an adolescent can. It will be a seed we build on.
Kaitlyn went to the pantry with me so got home at 10 pm, she was tired and slept an extra 30 minutes this morning..I am not sure what this morning is going to be like because as she was running to catch the bus she told me she took a melatonin ??? She has never done anything like this before. She knows if Keirsten is not able to sleep she can take a melatonin and she has in the past but today she took one before school.. her explanation is she is a little tired and can't sleep...
Jordan is home this morning, he wanted time with mom so he managed a little BM spot and claimed it to be diareah and he needs to stay home. It is a half day today so we will get some one on one time. we actually have and now he is running outside with Ali.
Today I need to get the pool filled, finish today's laundry and get the house back in order. I am more of a multi tasker than my daughter which I noticed yesterday.. must be to keep things rolling and balanced here it is the multi tasking.
I realized I did not eat yesterday which lent to my not feeling mentally strong late in the day. Orange juice this morning and a slice of toasted pumpernickel and a wedge of laughing cow french onion...mmmmmmm my morning and now with Emma laying next to me playing with a tummy full, smiles and chatter... we need to go check on Jordan.
Today I woke up a little more tired than yesterday... Last night I did a run for the food pantry..I pick up for a local food pantry when a friend can not do it. We did it during the summer for a 10 day time and now we committed to every Tuesday night. Once time a week should not take too much out of us..
SO I wake and learn Haiti has been hit AGAIN. Bless all those people as they must be scared to death... what a life and we take ours for granted.. I do not want to stress my children but I do want them to take a moment and feel thankful for what they have. It is part of learning that not everyone in life has a bed of their own. I want them to be grateful for what they have as much as an adolescent can. It will be a seed we build on.
Kaitlyn went to the pantry with me so got home at 10 pm, she was tired and slept an extra 30 minutes this morning..I am not sure what this morning is going to be like because as she was running to catch the bus she told me she took a melatonin ??? She has never done anything like this before. She knows if Keirsten is not able to sleep she can take a melatonin and she has in the past but today she took one before school.. her explanation is she is a little tired and can't sleep...
Jordan is home this morning, he wanted time with mom so he managed a little BM spot and claimed it to be diareah and he needs to stay home. It is a half day today so we will get some one on one time. we actually have and now he is running outside with Ali.
Today I need to get the pool filled, finish today's laundry and get the house back in order. I am more of a multi tasker than my daughter which I noticed yesterday.. must be to keep things rolling and balanced here it is the multi tasking.
I realized I did not eat yesterday which lent to my not feeling mentally strong late in the day. Orange juice this morning and a slice of toasted pumpernickel and a wedge of laughing cow french onion...mmmmmmm my morning and now with Emma laying next to me playing with a tummy full, smiles and chatter... we need to go check on Jordan.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
DRAFT BUT THE JUST OF MY DAY
As you all read yesterday was an over productive day... REMEMBER those valentine's cards and Spaghetti Dinner post cards I was bragging about? Well seems that the company www.janzoon.com says my credit card and address do not match...now not that I haven't purchased from them a number of times in the past but they said there is an error so I tried 5 times to get the order to process..... Some of you know where this is going..I DID NOT. SO I tried a number of times and then called them. The woman calls me back (it is on my saved voice mail) stating this is MY BANKS PROBLEM... that my bank is not allowing the process because the address on my profile with janzoon does not match my bank address...Well funny how another purchase over the weekend through paypal as I explained to this lady went through with the same card same address SINCE 1991..SAME SAME SAME.... my bank has never gotten my address wrong since 1991 and for this order they have???? SO I go about my business...
I wake up, get Emma fed at 5 am so she is ready for Therapy, get coffee, all kids to school, then Emma a bath, talk to friend coming to perm daughters hair, talk to daughter all on schedule..therapist comes, Mandie comes I get a shower and the day is underway ...9am... now we perm, we visit, therapy over and off to the hospital to deliver Down syndrome supplies to a new baby boy.. I dig out the box of books, put together packets and seem surprised but excited because this hospital has never called before in all these years since 2002 not once... I got a call later that a baby with DS was sent home from this hospital and that was an emergency run to Miami the day after contact for heart failure that was over looked...so I am excited.. I go out of my way, to get to this hospital before a 1:30 meeting at social security... I get to the hospital and the social worker comes to greet me to day..Oh, I was wrong the baby does not have Down syndrome, I was mistaken.... URG!
Race to Social Security only a couple minutes late and all goes well meeting with a service provider,,I know what a meeting place but it went well while she did what t she needed, I got what I needed...and off I go to Walmart for house items.. I get to the check out and my card says NOT TODAY MS PRINGLE... I tell the lady, no way do it again... Not today...so I figure the bank must have a security hold on it because of all the Internet issues.... OK, suspend the order run to the van for a security check hidden for such emergency's... went through.... I go home, pull up my account and OMG OMG OMG each time I "tried" and was "DENIED" the order to be processed they held funds.. and held funds and held funds.. over and over and over so the bank started doing over drafts after so many holds and I am still "TRYING" so $27.00 on top of $27.00 it is a mess...It is now 3:20pm. I call the bank, oh crap my phone is dying... I am on hold..5 minutes... now I get someone. She is so nice she is willing to call janzoon.. she sees the issues and starts reversing the $27 charges. AS A ONE TIME COURTEOUS..... ;o) So We get on hold with Janzoon and I get the house phone.. you know the one the kids use...I call Janzoon on that line.. OMG my cell phone dies with the bank.....I tell Janzoon what is going on that call went out at 3:40.... Ok this is where I am holding my head wondering why it hurts and I am shacking...THE PHONE NEEDS TO BE PLACED ON THE CHARGING DEVICE,,,,,, ;O)) so I explain the situation I now have my cell phone plugged in and tell Janzoon... she says I can have the bank call them back or I can get their fax number and then they can fax verification to let the holds off. I know have 3 people on the phone the call is into 30 minutes and that phone is dead...lost her. I call the bank.. Now the bank says we do not call companies..this after a 12 minute wait to talk to a representative... and I explain that last lady did call and she gets off to check with her supervisor and say..no maam we are not aloud to call out for customers...You will need to do a 3 way...Hello I am on my cell with is plugged to the outlet and I have inches to move and my head hurts... I have not eaten anything and only strong coffee.. SO I look at both phones that show they need to be charged... I take my laptop and cell phone to my room set up a multi outlet on my dresser, take a deep breath and call Janzoon. This is not almost 5 pm.. Janzoon says, we can not type up any generic letter to fax, where would you get the idea we would do that.... OH I PLUCKED IT OUT OF THE SKY........The last rep told me to get the fax number to the bank so they could fax a release statement... so she hears my frustration... and she offers to do a conference call... we hook to the bank...15 minutes expected wait time...the prefer we hang up and call when there is less call volume.. I telllthe woman DO NOT HANG UP... it is 5:20....5:30.... my bank answers and she says she needs to verify everything...so I have to tell all my codes, passwords etc. with a stranger on the line????? not good! And then the bank needs an authorization for releasing the holds.... Janzoon says there is no authorizations because there was no transactions........ So we are put on hold... I inform them both that this dog and pony show started over 2 hours ago and my head hurts..... I ask that a supervisor from the bank and a supervisor from Janzoon GET ON THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY...... with a supervisor from each we are able to get authorization release the non holds from the non transactions , so I jump out there ans say..so since we are all here can we get the card and address to match so the order can be processed so this can have some meaning.... the bank verifies that the address I have put into my Janzoon profile is EXACTLY as the card states on the billing address,, The supervisor states she has it noted for her finance Department and they will TOMORROW walk me through an order to get it processed..
Bank hangs up, I thank her.. Janzoon now says that they are going to need me to create an entirely new profile tomorrow...so I say, can you please transfer my work to this order to the new profile...well no Ms. Pringle we are so sorry, you will need to recreate your order...START ALL OVER!!!!!
I wake up, get Emma fed at 5 am so she is ready for Therapy, get coffee, all kids to school, then Emma a bath, talk to friend coming to perm daughters hair, talk to daughter all on schedule..therapist comes, Mandie comes I get a shower and the day is underway ...9am... now we perm, we visit, therapy over and off to the hospital to deliver Down syndrome supplies to a new baby boy.. I dig out the box of books, put together packets and seem surprised but excited because this hospital has never called before in all these years since 2002 not once... I got a call later that a baby with DS was sent home from this hospital and that was an emergency run to Miami the day after contact for heart failure that was over looked...so I am excited.. I go out of my way, to get to this hospital before a 1:30 meeting at social security... I get to the hospital and the social worker comes to greet me to day..Oh, I was wrong the baby does not have Down syndrome, I was mistaken.... URG!
Race to Social Security only a couple minutes late and all goes well meeting with a service provider,,I know what a meeting place but it went well while she did what t she needed, I got what I needed...and off I go to Walmart for house items.. I get to the check out and my card says NOT TODAY MS PRINGLE... I tell the lady, no way do it again... Not today...so I figure the bank must have a security hold on it because of all the Internet issues.... OK, suspend the order run to the van for a security check hidden for such emergency's... went through.... I go home, pull up my account and OMG OMG OMG each time I "tried" and was "DENIED" the order to be processed they held funds.. and held funds and held funds.. over and over and over so the bank started doing over drafts after so many holds and I am still "TRYING" so $27.00 on top of $27.00 it is a mess...It is now 3:20pm. I call the bank, oh crap my phone is dying... I am on hold..5 minutes... now I get someone. She is so nice she is willing to call janzoon.. she sees the issues and starts reversing the $27 charges. AS A ONE TIME COURTEOUS..... ;o) So We get on hold with Janzoon and I get the house phone.. you know the one the kids use...I call Janzoon on that line.. OMG my cell phone dies with the bank.....I tell Janzoon what is going on that call went out at 3:40.... Ok this is where I am holding my head wondering why it hurts and I am shacking...THE PHONE NEEDS TO BE PLACED ON THE CHARGING DEVICE,,,,,, ;O)) so I explain the situation I now have my cell phone plugged in and tell Janzoon... she says I can have the bank call them back or I can get their fax number and then they can fax verification to let the holds off. I know have 3 people on the phone the call is into 30 minutes and that phone is dead...lost her. I call the bank.. Now the bank says we do not call companies..this after a 12 minute wait to talk to a representative... and I explain that last lady did call and she gets off to check with her supervisor and say..no maam we are not aloud to call out for customers...You will need to do a 3 way...Hello I am on my cell with is plugged to the outlet and I have inches to move and my head hurts... I have not eaten anything and only strong coffee.. SO I look at both phones that show they need to be charged... I take my laptop and cell phone to my room set up a multi outlet on my dresser, take a deep breath and call Janzoon. This is not almost 5 pm.. Janzoon says, we can not type up any generic letter to fax, where would you get the idea we would do that.... OH I PLUCKED IT OUT OF THE SKY........The last rep told me to get the fax number to the bank so they could fax a release statement... so she hears my frustration... and she offers to do a conference call... we hook to the bank...15 minutes expected wait time...the prefer we hang up and call when there is less call volume.. I telllthe woman DO NOT HANG UP... it is 5:20....5:30.... my bank answers and she says she needs to verify everything...so I have to tell all my codes, passwords etc. with a stranger on the line????? not good! And then the bank needs an authorization for releasing the holds.... Janzoon says there is no authorizations because there was no transactions........ So we are put on hold... I inform them both that this dog and pony show started over 2 hours ago and my head hurts..... I ask that a supervisor from the bank and a supervisor from Janzoon GET ON THE PHONE IMMEDIATELY...... with a supervisor from each we are able to get authorization release the non holds from the non transactions , so I jump out there ans say..so since we are all here can we get the card and address to match so the order can be processed so this can have some meaning.... the bank verifies that the address I have put into my Janzoon profile is EXACTLY as the card states on the billing address,, The supervisor states she has it noted for her finance Department and they will TOMORROW walk me through an order to get it processed..
Bank hangs up, I thank her.. Janzoon now says that they are going to need me to create an entirely new profile tomorrow...so I say, can you please transfer my work to this order to the new profile...well no Ms. Pringle we are so sorry, you will need to recreate your order...START ALL OVER!!!!!
Monday, January 18, 2010
and I wore no shoes to say " walk in my shoes for a day"
Today has been a kid filled day of work and fun... We had the time to take the trash to the road AND clean all around the trash can area..A separate locked area of our property due to Tressa have Prader-Willi syndrome. It sure needed some attention and I found a cabinet outside full of wasps I need to deal with tomorrow.
In my moment of energy I took the ladder to the back yard to saw down branches covering the front of their basketball hoop and the blade broke in the branch, for fear the kids would climb and slice their finger I tried to pull it out...Yes, it was HOT.
The ole wagon was picked up by some garage pickers today, sure hope they line it with new metal and get good use of it as we did... That wagon held all the Pringle children when we were out in Orlando... nothing better.. Hands down better than a double stroller
I am following the orphan crisis in Haiti close and things are falling fast. Desperation breeds greed...and they are going down fast and furious. The local orphanage director and i have been emailing and I have offered to fly over if needed to bring children back. If they pave the way for the PA duo where none of the children were harmed by the Earthquake there is high hope to get all the children with Down syndrome out because they are HIGH RISK. Without order, structure and high supervision their lives are at risk from having low cognitive ability. I am writing endlessly to all the powers that be so they hear me about the need for children with Down syndrome to be considered high risk. Not to discredit any disability as I advocate all get out into our local orphanage. We have a place here in Ft Myers for children with missing limbs, blind, hearing loss, and all disabilities.. It has been running for twenty years, it is about getting it back in full capacity and efficiently running at full capacity. The local church stands behind it and the community with a little education will as well.
So I got our Prader-willi T-shirts ordered today...
The valentine's cards for Tressa since she does not share candy are ordered. I will post a photo when they come in. It is an information card with her photo and asking for a $1 donation to PWFL in her name.
I got the post cards made for the spaghetti Dinner and Dance..the hall secured and I need to pay on that tomorrow... and flyer's made to send out Internet along with a donation form for raffle items made and into attachment form for helppppppp
3 meals, two sink fulls of dishes have no idea how many diapers I've changed, fights I have broken up and re-directions done today but in the midst of this all I managed to get 9 loads of laundry done....yes I got two calls for support today and not sure but a half a dozen emails (state offices are closed) call Mary when all else fails :o) Oh yeah, the neighbors have out of town guests so some of Emma's equipment is next door..
Tonight I just need to finish closing the kitchen down, locking it up and moping the floors for the second time today, setting out the kids clothes making tomorrows school lunch, bedtime routine and load book bags.... and I will be ready to watch the comedy called the Bachelor... for a good end of my day laugh!
In my moment of energy I took the ladder to the back yard to saw down branches covering the front of their basketball hoop and the blade broke in the branch, for fear the kids would climb and slice their finger I tried to pull it out...Yes, it was HOT.
The ole wagon was picked up by some garage pickers today, sure hope they line it with new metal and get good use of it as we did... That wagon held all the Pringle children when we were out in Orlando... nothing better.. Hands down better than a double stroller
I am following the orphan crisis in Haiti close and things are falling fast. Desperation breeds greed...and they are going down fast and furious. The local orphanage director and i have been emailing and I have offered to fly over if needed to bring children back. If they pave the way for the PA duo where none of the children were harmed by the Earthquake there is high hope to get all the children with Down syndrome out because they are HIGH RISK. Without order, structure and high supervision their lives are at risk from having low cognitive ability. I am writing endlessly to all the powers that be so they hear me about the need for children with Down syndrome to be considered high risk. Not to discredit any disability as I advocate all get out into our local orphanage. We have a place here in Ft Myers for children with missing limbs, blind, hearing loss, and all disabilities.. It has been running for twenty years, it is about getting it back in full capacity and efficiently running at full capacity. The local church stands behind it and the community with a little education will as well.
So I got our Prader-willi T-shirts ordered today...
The valentine's cards for Tressa since she does not share candy are ordered. I will post a photo when they come in. It is an information card with her photo and asking for a $1 donation to PWFL in her name.
I got the post cards made for the spaghetti Dinner and Dance..the hall secured and I need to pay on that tomorrow... and flyer's made to send out Internet along with a donation form for raffle items made and into attachment form for helppppppp
3 meals, two sink fulls of dishes have no idea how many diapers I've changed, fights I have broken up and re-directions done today but in the midst of this all I managed to get 9 loads of laundry done....yes I got two calls for support today and not sure but a half a dozen emails (state offices are closed) call Mary when all else fails :o) Oh yeah, the neighbors have out of town guests so some of Emma's equipment is next door..
Tonight I just need to finish closing the kitchen down, locking it up and moping the floors for the second time today, setting out the kids clothes making tomorrows school lunch, bedtime routine and load book bags.... and I will be ready to watch the comedy called the Bachelor... for a good end of my day laugh!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Milestone GIGGLE
For those who know, Emma has not shared her giggles with anyone but Mommy. She will giggle during the day with any little thing I do..and giggle over and over. Friday Keirsten walked in and Emma was in full giggle mode and did not hear her enter... She continued to giggle and Keirstens face lit up and she moved towards us to join but sure as that Emma stopped immediately and refused to giggle..when I did all the giggle tactics she wiggles and her face appeared to be giggling but not a sound... LOL Keirsten said "BYE MOM" and walked to the front door, opened and closed the door and dropped down behind the side end table...not in view of Emma... YOU GUESSED IT, Emma began giggling but with guard..she turned her head to look and saw Keirsten and YEP she stopped giggling.
TONIGHT, she giggled for her family. This is such a hoot. At 9 months this girl knows she has this control... It was funny how it started and when Keirsten came to join she looked at her held out for Keirstens feelings to get hurt and then..she giggled for Keirsten. I am going to be looking to see how tomorrow is...LOL
Oh it is late but I do not feel tired... I am mentally going in a million directions.. I have some events coming up that cost money to be at Prader-willi events. Getting the hotel paid, t-shirts for all the kids ordered and all the extra in traveling with my crew..what is there to do when we get there.. the first event is a fishing event where we would have to own our own boat...entry is $500.00 and $1,000.00. We are NOT doing that, they have a family movie night which we are signed up for.. and our friends will be i town but we are all in different hotels... I have never gone so causing a little stress for me..
I have some procrastinating things to tidy up this week and Steven is having a visit with his Birth grandparents for the first time in a long time...they only want Steven to go so that makes for creative planning during a week we have many days off and 1/2 days...
So we move towards my dream to get Gabriel House full of hurting children from Haiti.. I know like my hands are not full already but until my days are so full I do not even look at this computer...then my life will be working 100%... It is that one more child I can help.
TONIGHT, she giggled for her family. This is such a hoot. At 9 months this girl knows she has this control... It was funny how it started and when Keirsten came to join she looked at her held out for Keirstens feelings to get hurt and then..she giggled for Keirsten. I am going to be looking to see how tomorrow is...LOL
Oh it is late but I do not feel tired... I am mentally going in a million directions.. I have some events coming up that cost money to be at Prader-willi events. Getting the hotel paid, t-shirts for all the kids ordered and all the extra in traveling with my crew..what is there to do when we get there.. the first event is a fishing event where we would have to own our own boat...entry is $500.00 and $1,000.00. We are NOT doing that, they have a family movie night which we are signed up for.. and our friends will be i town but we are all in different hotels... I have never gone so causing a little stress for me..
I have some procrastinating things to tidy up this week and Steven is having a visit with his Birth grandparents for the first time in a long time...they only want Steven to go so that makes for creative planning during a week we have many days off and 1/2 days...
So we move towards my dream to get Gabriel House full of hurting children from Haiti.. I know like my hands are not full already but until my days are so full I do not even look at this computer...then my life will be working 100%... It is that one more child I can help.
What have I been up to?
The morning started fresh. I got a solid night sleep and no news before bed simply because I was asleep.
I woke up this morning to hear Emma and that cough back..CROUP again??? I am not use to children who have illnesses..?? LOL You must laugh but I see and hear about those Down syndrome noses and I simply HADN'T had that in our life until now..She sneezes some chunks but hey they are heading out so that is all good right?? Her cough sounds so painful but she doesn't complain??? I am getting great big gum filled smiles.
SO we did not make it to church but I used my time productively;
I sent a letter to President Obama, Former presidents Bush and Clinton, then a letter off to Bill Nelson FL Senator and then started working my way closer to home...Each message strong in that the children of Haiti need our help even if it is temp, while the adults get order and life back. I wrote about an orphanage that has been blocked from their mission for years since the Hague agreement was signed. It is a beautiful country setting with lots of room, therapy items and all set with no children...well only a couple I believe.
www.gabrielhouse.org
and that we all can write to the Miami Catholic Charities and let them know if we have a bed to offer or in the future willing to adopt after no family is found or their return not their future.
Those who want to help can send an e-mail with what they have to offer to: info@ccadm.org.
So I may not have been in the house of worship this morning but I have been doing God's work as his follower.
I woke up this morning to hear Emma and that cough back..CROUP again??? I am not use to children who have illnesses..?? LOL You must laugh but I see and hear about those Down syndrome noses and I simply HADN'T had that in our life until now..She sneezes some chunks but hey they are heading out so that is all good right?? Her cough sounds so painful but she doesn't complain??? I am getting great big gum filled smiles.
SO we did not make it to church but I used my time productively;
I sent a letter to President Obama, Former presidents Bush and Clinton, then a letter off to Bill Nelson FL Senator and then started working my way closer to home...Each message strong in that the children of Haiti need our help even if it is temp, while the adults get order and life back. I wrote about an orphanage that has been blocked from their mission for years since the Hague agreement was signed. It is a beautiful country setting with lots of room, therapy items and all set with no children...well only a couple I believe.
www.gabrielhouse.org
and that we all can write to the Miami Catholic Charities and let them know if we have a bed to offer or in the future willing to adopt after no family is found or their return not their future.
Those who want to help can send an e-mail with what they have to offer to: info@ccadm.org.
So I may not have been in the house of worship this morning but I have been doing God's work as his follower.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
We kicked some trash!!!!!
It started early, just before noon. Pulled out all the under brush, cut down old bushes and trim trim and more trim for the palms we have ..some just go on forever... I get on a step ladder..try to get as high as can be. Did you know step ladders for inside the house do not work well outside because they sink into the dirt.. Then what ever way is softest..is the direction you fall. I couldn't believe how much we got done..I was raking and did my best not to alert anyone I hit a nest of black racers..SNAKES... and ended up knocking a wasp nest which got them all in a buzz.... My teens took breaks of about 15 minutes for every 5 minutes if that they worked..then she says, Mom you are bleeding.. all over.... I had cactus bites, thorn cuts and what have you punctures..all part of it right??? I had boots on, pants and a long shirt but it is HOT HOT HOT outside and I really wanted to get this done. The neighbor lady came over to compliment us and the pile at the rode grew very large.. Our Pringle wagon bit the dust.. the rust is too bad it is a danger now for the kids. I will have to save for a new one. $250.00 at Northern tool but it has been the best wagon for over 8 years.
SO you think we stopped there, lunch was salad and slice of pizza and off to the back yard they went. I headed to walmart for necessary items and red mulch.. Mandie cleaned the kitchen and we met back for more cleaning outside. The pool was empty so we scrubbed that clean and all the items are here to fill it tomorrow... The mulch is down the yard is picked up and the play house is screed back together. Tomorrow we should be able to pull it all together and fill the pool!!
SO you think we stopped there, lunch was salad and slice of pizza and off to the back yard they went. I headed to walmart for necessary items and red mulch.. Mandie cleaned the kitchen and we met back for more cleaning outside. The pool was empty so we scrubbed that clean and all the items are here to fill it tomorrow... The mulch is down the yard is picked up and the play house is screed back together. Tomorrow we should be able to pull it all together and fill the pool!!
warm with an overcast, YARD WORK
Today is my Yard clean up day, at least that is what I have in my plans. I had a rough night and woke to the alarm and realized I had not set the kids closes out or done the night routine for buses so scrabbled quick quick in panic the kids will miss the bus when Keirsten yells; Mom no school it is Saturday. Well my alarm went off .... sets me in motion. lack of quality sleep maybe. How can I sleep after seeing a front end loader scrape buckets of dead humans off a road like nothing and dump into the bucket of a huge dump truck, wow that is only miles from my front door.... surreal. It just can not be...... I see/hear that they are bringing the children to Florida for medical and safe care. I have a friend in town who has an orphanage she has taken in Haitian children for many years until the Hague agreement was set in place, that ended her rescue missions as she knew them. The Catholic Church announced their plan to airlift orphans and bring them in to locate family members and get the children out into group homes, foster care ets. I emailed my friend to offer volunteer time and if any child with DS needs help I will get them to their medical, I think I know that routine..... My goodness what those children have experienced.. it will be a life time of recovery... when my kids are belly aching that I think $55.00 for ride bracelets are too much for a road side carnival. Which by the way got shut down easy due to violence...so making the decision my teens will not go was not so far from knowing our country is not the same as it was..and further more...GET REAL
I went to the carnival in 1977 and look how that turned out.. Mandie tells that story all the time. The first carnival she went to was when she was old enough to get herself there and pay her way...
So the kids are up to the table eating breakfast and i am waiting for Lucas' hot cereal to cool. The boys made bacon and pancakes with orange juice...Tressa was quick to get her bowl of cereal and move to her television. Lucas eats a mix of grits, meat, egg, cheese and what ever else I can find, fruit and left over fattening foods..IT WORKS because her gained 8 lbs over Christmas break and is holding on because I am back to feeding him as soon as he gets off the bus. His blood work comes back this week so we will see what is up. Well I need to go, he is doing his mix of cry laugh squeal, laugh squeal cry.... trying to figure out how to verbalize I WANT TO EAT... I coach say eat and he can sign it but he doesn't initiate it until prompted.
I went to the carnival in 1977 and look how that turned out.. Mandie tells that story all the time. The first carnival she went to was when she was old enough to get herself there and pay her way...
So the kids are up to the table eating breakfast and i am waiting for Lucas' hot cereal to cool. The boys made bacon and pancakes with orange juice...Tressa was quick to get her bowl of cereal and move to her television. Lucas eats a mix of grits, meat, egg, cheese and what ever else I can find, fruit and left over fattening foods..IT WORKS because her gained 8 lbs over Christmas break and is holding on because I am back to feeding him as soon as he gets off the bus. His blood work comes back this week so we will see what is up. Well I need to go, he is doing his mix of cry laugh squeal, laugh squeal cry.... trying to figure out how to verbalize I WANT TO EAT... I coach say eat and he can sign it but he doesn't initiate it until prompted.
Friday, January 15, 2010
P.T.S.D. Down syndrome style
Post traumatic stress disorder is powerful... If you were reading my blog about a year ago I think, Kaitlyn and I were heading into Ft Myers and got to a large intersection at Colonial and Summerlyn. While we sat on that rainy day at the red light a garbage truck made the turn in front of us and rolled on to a shinny black SUV rolled right over on it's side. The view caused many bottle necks which created a chain of wrecks all over the place from sheer shock. I remember looking at the SUV as if it was slow motion and seeing a woman in the drivers seat. My mind does not allow me to see anything more until it was over. The truck clearly smashed the SUV, killing the woman I had just looked at the second she was killed..Horrific for me and I had no idea who she was. The entire event happened as if we were watching something in slow motion and not real. Kaitlyn looked at me and said He is Dead. She automatically assumed with the truck on it's side he had to die.. When my light turned green I got out of the area and pulled over to cry and call my daughter to be able to verbally let it out. Kaitlyn talked about the man dying and I allowed her to think that but said he might have lived. I did not tell her the person in that car is dead... Kaitlyn talked about it while we were out.. When we got home that afternoon it was on the news as a lead into the dinner hour news.. Kaitlyn recognized the pictures and commented on the Dead "man" then she listened intensely and learned it was a 53 yr old woman and it was the black SUV... she was glued to the news and listened to it all. We talked about it until she could let it go.
When she and I drove to Miami last month she said to me while we were driving next to a garbage truck " HE LIVED MOM HE LIVED" as if that truck was the same driver as the one that tipped. She let it go as we went on our way and that was it....
Until today....
Apparently on their way home a bad car accident was on one of the roads which she saw. She came running in the house screaming mom a fire, a car on fire mom she is dead. She ran straight to my television as she did the news of that accident a year ago. Her face was an inch from the front of the TV...only it wasn't the news and it wasn't a lead...it was just whatever was on. She stood there almost shacking in fear. I asked her to calm down and tell me what happened. She said she was on the bus and they had to wait because a car was on fire. She said there were police, ambulance and a fire truck. When I questioned her if she saw the lady she said yes, she was talking to the police man. We talked about being dead she would not be talking to the police man so he must be helping her find a ride home since her car caught on fire But I agreed I would watch the news to see if anything was on to help her know what happened....
A minute later it was over and she was off to make her dinner, meet with her speech therapy and on to play... she has not said anything more.
When she and I drove to Miami last month she said to me while we were driving next to a garbage truck " HE LIVED MOM HE LIVED" as if that truck was the same driver as the one that tipped. She let it go as we went on our way and that was it....
Until today....
Apparently on their way home a bad car accident was on one of the roads which she saw. She came running in the house screaming mom a fire, a car on fire mom she is dead. She ran straight to my television as she did the news of that accident a year ago. Her face was an inch from the front of the TV...only it wasn't the news and it wasn't a lead...it was just whatever was on. She stood there almost shacking in fear. I asked her to calm down and tell me what happened. She said she was on the bus and they had to wait because a car was on fire. She said there were police, ambulance and a fire truck. When I questioned her if she saw the lady she said yes, she was talking to the police man. We talked about being dead she would not be talking to the police man so he must be helping her find a ride home since her car caught on fire But I agreed I would watch the news to see if anything was on to help her know what happened....
A minute later it was over and she was off to make her dinner, meet with her speech therapy and on to play... she has not said anything more.
Home schooling information seeking
I am looking to educate myself on all avenues of home school in the fall
ESE with a current IEP although my district doe not have a classroom setting that meets my child's needs. My child is 6 years old and was waived in an additional year of ESE Pre-K but any kindy class with typical peer role models is all desk, pencil and paper 90% of the day. Lucas was in an orphanage the entire first four plus years of his life. Today he is 100% improved from when he entered the USA BUT not ready to site in an educational setting all day.. He needs dramatic play learning, he needs interactive math and social stories...Many many 5 and 6 year olds in our district would benefit from a kindy classroom for easier learning but no we have an all or nothing look at placing children here. SO as his mommy and when you say life skills it means being home in your environment and learning life skills...A school is for education... I have been the life skills route...that child of mine is so far behind it makes me ill to even think about it. I am not willing to place another child on that path. So here I go... HOME SCHOOLING....
So on this journey I have to ask myself about all the children.. I have said more than once it would be my plan to home school middle school years for any further children because I see NO GAINS from my middle school children academically.. Socially yes..My son who has been in life skills really blossomed in middle school with the big boys.. BUT had he not been in a low functioning setting then it would not have been an issue at all any way.. so the education system created that deficit. So HOME SCHOOLING 3 next year??? well four if you count EMMA and then lets talk about the oldest Hmmmm, she has struggled for years and really only attends High School to collect email and phone information. So which is it...do I send the kids to the education department to collect a TON OF MONEY from the children to baby sit them or do I keep them home???? I have 2 thriving... is that fair to those two and I would hate to interferer with their beautiful path they are on but if everyone else stays home and the two of them get on the bus, how will they feel??? But I know I can not do better than their placement...And after all why am I put in this situation??? I did not go to college to teach children and I will not earn any type of salary to tech these children but shouldn't I if our paid education system isn't....What is wrong with this picture???
ESE with a current IEP although my district doe not have a classroom setting that meets my child's needs. My child is 6 years old and was waived in an additional year of ESE Pre-K but any kindy class with typical peer role models is all desk, pencil and paper 90% of the day. Lucas was in an orphanage the entire first four plus years of his life. Today he is 100% improved from when he entered the USA BUT not ready to site in an educational setting all day.. He needs dramatic play learning, he needs interactive math and social stories...Many many 5 and 6 year olds in our district would benefit from a kindy classroom for easier learning but no we have an all or nothing look at placing children here. SO as his mommy and when you say life skills it means being home in your environment and learning life skills...A school is for education... I have been the life skills route...that child of mine is so far behind it makes me ill to even think about it. I am not willing to place another child on that path. So here I go... HOME SCHOOLING....
So on this journey I have to ask myself about all the children.. I have said more than once it would be my plan to home school middle school years for any further children because I see NO GAINS from my middle school children academically.. Socially yes..My son who has been in life skills really blossomed in middle school with the big boys.. BUT had he not been in a low functioning setting then it would not have been an issue at all any way.. so the education system created that deficit. So HOME SCHOOLING 3 next year??? well four if you count EMMA and then lets talk about the oldest Hmmmm, she has struggled for years and really only attends High School to collect email and phone information. So which is it...do I send the kids to the education department to collect a TON OF MONEY from the children to baby sit them or do I keep them home???? I have 2 thriving... is that fair to those two and I would hate to interferer with their beautiful path they are on but if everyone else stays home and the two of them get on the bus, how will they feel??? But I know I can not do better than their placement...And after all why am I put in this situation??? I did not go to college to teach children and I will not earn any type of salary to tech these children but shouldn't I if our paid education system isn't....What is wrong with this picture???
LIFE SKILLS...
I will blog later about this but it is my opinion that life skills in the early years for a stay at home mom is nothing more than being home so can anyone explain to me what the advantage is to send a young child (6 yrs old) to school to a life skills class???? I do not see the point.
I officially won the Easter egg hunt today....
LOL I got a bee in my bonnet this morning after the Doctors office called to cancel their appointment today.. I went out front and started thinning my Forrest and weeding along with pulling out the under brush and YIPPPPEEEEE I found tons of Easter eggs....I got the Mother load..... 6 had 25 cents in them; several had nickles and one had $1.00 bill....... Yes, MOM... LOl made the clearing more fun and I got to celebrate all by myself.. Emma stayed inside the house playing in her seat..
The front of my house is so over grown and now so brown. I lost a ton of plants to the cold snap. Not all bad because it has brought me out to focus on clearing the excess.
I also find myself overloaded on news so it was a good thing.
Let me in on something I did not know. I planted pencil cactus a couple years ago because I thought it looked pretty cool in a friends yard. It has been growing and spreading to other plants and I actually moved some clips to start in the back yard..
NOBODY TOLD ME THEY ARE POISONOUS... I was willing to share these clippings.. SO when Nancy came over to visit like others, I went out and clipped pieces and put them in water for when they were ready to go. Nancy had Jim cut several more to share in Ft Lauderdale... Well.. after I took my clippings I had an eye irritation but didn't tell anyone just dealt with it and felt a little odd but dealt with it while they were here..I am oblivious to much of my body signs any more with so many outside distractions I do not thinking about "me." Well about an hour after Jim and Nancy left I get a call...Mary can you tell us more about these plants...I said well I am on the computer.. She said Jim is swollen, can hardly talk CAN NOT SEE and has nasal blockage ..Jim got on the phone and he sounded like he was on his death bed??? I pull up pencil Cactus.... google it....OUCH...can cause blindness.. POISONOUS!!! as I am reading OUT LOUD, Nancy is freaking out..thinking one minute i am actually reading these facts and the next thinking I am kidding... I was not kidding.. so I click and click to find WHAT TO DO.. then I read an ER visit that said they treated like anaphylactic shock and administered antihistamine.. so they ran into the convenience store and bout all they could locate.. I am reading more about dangerous to small children and for sure to pets....WHAT THE HECK!!! This is not a plant to be in my yard. SO as of today we have no more and I knew how to protect my eyes and body to not get the milky sap on me.
The front of my house is so over grown and now so brown. I lost a ton of plants to the cold snap. Not all bad because it has brought me out to focus on clearing the excess.
I also find myself overloaded on news so it was a good thing.
Let me in on something I did not know. I planted pencil cactus a couple years ago because I thought it looked pretty cool in a friends yard. It has been growing and spreading to other plants and I actually moved some clips to start in the back yard..
NOBODY TOLD ME THEY ARE POISONOUS... I was willing to share these clippings.. SO when Nancy came over to visit like others, I went out and clipped pieces and put them in water for when they were ready to go. Nancy had Jim cut several more to share in Ft Lauderdale... Well.. after I took my clippings I had an eye irritation but didn't tell anyone just dealt with it and felt a little odd but dealt with it while they were here..I am oblivious to much of my body signs any more with so many outside distractions I do not thinking about "me." Well about an hour after Jim and Nancy left I get a call...Mary can you tell us more about these plants...I said well I am on the computer.. She said Jim is swollen, can hardly talk CAN NOT SEE and has nasal blockage ..Jim got on the phone and he sounded like he was on his death bed??? I pull up pencil Cactus.... google it....OUCH...can cause blindness.. POISONOUS!!! as I am reading OUT LOUD, Nancy is freaking out..thinking one minute i am actually reading these facts and the next thinking I am kidding... I was not kidding.. so I click and click to find WHAT TO DO.. then I read an ER visit that said they treated like anaphylactic shock and administered antihistamine.. so they ran into the convenience store and bout all they could locate.. I am reading more about dangerous to small children and for sure to pets....WHAT THE HECK!!! This is not a plant to be in my yard. SO as of today we have no more and I knew how to protect my eyes and body to not get the milky sap on me.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
turning into one of those weeks
I got up this morning to Keirsten missing the bus...this is not the worst morning for her to miss her bus. I have three kids needing blood work. Jordan who HATES giving blood, Lucas who freaks out the moment they come in with the white lab coat and little Emma who doesn't share her blood well....Nothing I had been looking forward to.
#1, when I left their Docs a week ago I got the print out for the lab. I did not read it, just knew it needed to go with me. One for Lucas, one for Jordan. Well both print outs were for Lucas. Then I took Emma and her adoption is not legally final..so the paperwork was for Emma and legally she is still Baby girl... so I either pay cash or get the paperwork done in the right name. I paid cash for her medications because the same name issue occurred.
I call the Doc, they tell me to do it another day..not the answer I wanted. I have them home, they are fasting. I am moving forward. I go to the lab show them all the blunders, they call and three hours later..THREE, YES! THREE hours later we are done with labs.
Lucas went first as his was sorta simple. He gave his blood just a little hysterical.
Jordan was next and he waited in the lobby with me while the others watched TV in the van with Keirsten... He was a mess. The entire time was negotiations, if I do not get a shot but give blood, I get McDonald's and to stay home with mom... and that was begged about 100 times...
Then Emma, sweet sweet Emma who doesn't cry the first stick, little pouting the second stick, then all out screams the third stick as drips of blood exited into the containers... I am a mess, ready to pass out as this is not my strongest parenting skill...the fourth poke into her right hand...for later reference....she let it flow...
off to McDonald's, Keirsten to school and pharmacy and home.. Emma is sleeping, Lucas is sleeping , Jordan is playing quietly on the floor with his toys.... maybe it isn't so bad after all???
Tomorrow little Emma has her monthly shot, she is not going to like me.... maybe she and I can go play at the park after. Her little eyes looked into mine with such questions of trust, I was holding her but I was letting two people hurt her!!! How can my Mommy do this she looked..
more emails.... nope; sitting on pins and needles...... trying not to feel defeat with so much more happening in our world, I am really a lucky lady. I just know it could be better-easier.
#1, when I left their Docs a week ago I got the print out for the lab. I did not read it, just knew it needed to go with me. One for Lucas, one for Jordan. Well both print outs were for Lucas. Then I took Emma and her adoption is not legally final..so the paperwork was for Emma and legally she is still Baby girl... so I either pay cash or get the paperwork done in the right name. I paid cash for her medications because the same name issue occurred.
I call the Doc, they tell me to do it another day..not the answer I wanted. I have them home, they are fasting. I am moving forward. I go to the lab show them all the blunders, they call and three hours later..THREE, YES! THREE hours later we are done with labs.
Lucas went first as his was sorta simple. He gave his blood just a little hysterical.
Jordan was next and he waited in the lobby with me while the others watched TV in the van with Keirsten... He was a mess. The entire time was negotiations, if I do not get a shot but give blood, I get McDonald's and to stay home with mom... and that was begged about 100 times...
Then Emma, sweet sweet Emma who doesn't cry the first stick, little pouting the second stick, then all out screams the third stick as drips of blood exited into the containers... I am a mess, ready to pass out as this is not my strongest parenting skill...the fourth poke into her right hand...for later reference....she let it flow...
off to McDonald's, Keirsten to school and pharmacy and home.. Emma is sleeping, Lucas is sleeping , Jordan is playing quietly on the floor with his toys.... maybe it isn't so bad after all???
Tomorrow little Emma has her monthly shot, she is not going to like me.... maybe she and I can go play at the park after. Her little eyes looked into mine with such questions of trust, I was holding her but I was letting two people hurt her!!! How can my Mommy do this she looked..
more emails.... nope; sitting on pins and needles...... trying not to feel defeat with so much more happening in our world, I am really a lucky lady. I just know it could be better-easier.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
One of those days
Woke up to "forgetting" our monthly in home therapy with a specialist...ooops, but we were home so no harm done... then our scheduled and remembered 10 until 12:30 QSI interviews for Tressa, Jordan and Lucas to stay on the wait list for the next ten years..why is someone getting paid to come out to my home to take paperwork on children there is no funding to support????? I guess I am not current on government spending...the woman shows up in a BMW new and dressed to the 9's with rocks on her fingers and she is here to inform me there is no funding available to offer supports and services to my children who have disabilities and could benefit from in home supports... SORRY FOR YOUR LUCK MAAAAMMM..--no I didn't offer her any coffee..Tee hee hee....and then the call came...
Remember in December I posted I lost my calendar..well the issues are starting...I get the call that my seat is empty at my sons IEP.... YIKES...... Me not at my child's IEP... and from the way I answered the phone his teacher KNEW, I was totally caught off guard. They claimed they couldn't proceed with the updated levels and leave it as a draft for me to catch up because they all gathered. They claim it is OK and we can go over the placement.... You see I ALREADY know the fate of my child... I have been around the block and rode this donkey at the rodeo more than once... I was pleased to get the year in Pre-K ese after his birthday... so I am in for the bronco bucking.... I am certain as my name is Mary that NO ONE on the teem recommended gen ed kindy for my child... SO all I did is pass up a long aggravating afternoon sitting in a no win IEP.... Little do they know I have plan B... I have had plan B in my vision for awhile.... so they may feel like round one bell rang and things are going the way the "team" seeks it to but I know otherwise.
Then...... my teen GIRL cell phone, can I go to a boys house after school off the bus with his parents not home and be alone with him in their apartment all by our selves... WELL she really didn't ask like that but it is exactly what she was asking to do.... I believe she said, can I go over to ****'s house and see his dog. She called me on the bus ride home.... HECK NO!!!! his mom is at work and this is totally not acceptable... and guess what...... It took her 45 minutes to walk from her bus stop home...... and she has no idea why she is in time out in her room.... Again, a rodeo I have been to a couple of times. Just think if I had been at the school in an IEP.... lord help her. LOL
MY FEET ARE COLD.... I am tired of winter time for some hot sand between my toes.
Off to make dinner, it is almost time for speech to pull up and OT after. Homework, baths and bedtime routine.. A long weekend is about to face us...YIPPEEE.. isn't it summer yet? This mama loves summer time...no buses, no school, no hassle, and all about beach, fun and lots of time to play in the pool!
Remember in December I posted I lost my calendar..well the issues are starting...I get the call that my seat is empty at my sons IEP.... YIKES...... Me not at my child's IEP... and from the way I answered the phone his teacher KNEW, I was totally caught off guard. They claimed they couldn't proceed with the updated levels and leave it as a draft for me to catch up because they all gathered. They claim it is OK and we can go over the placement.... You see I ALREADY know the fate of my child... I have been around the block and rode this donkey at the rodeo more than once... I was pleased to get the year in Pre-K ese after his birthday... so I am in for the bronco bucking.... I am certain as my name is Mary that NO ONE on the teem recommended gen ed kindy for my child... SO all I did is pass up a long aggravating afternoon sitting in a no win IEP.... Little do they know I have plan B... I have had plan B in my vision for awhile.... so they may feel like round one bell rang and things are going the way the "team" seeks it to but I know otherwise.
Then...... my teen GIRL cell phone, can I go to a boys house after school off the bus with his parents not home and be alone with him in their apartment all by our selves... WELL she really didn't ask like that but it is exactly what she was asking to do.... I believe she said, can I go over to ****'s house and see his dog. She called me on the bus ride home.... HECK NO!!!! his mom is at work and this is totally not acceptable... and guess what...... It took her 45 minutes to walk from her bus stop home...... and she has no idea why she is in time out in her room.... Again, a rodeo I have been to a couple of times. Just think if I had been at the school in an IEP.... lord help her. LOL
MY FEET ARE COLD.... I am tired of winter time for some hot sand between my toes.
Off to make dinner, it is almost time for speech to pull up and OT after. Homework, baths and bedtime routine.. A long weekend is about to face us...YIPPEEE.. isn't it summer yet? This mama loves summer time...no buses, no school, no hassle, and all about beach, fun and lots of time to play in the pool!
AA Newborn girl for adoption in Florida
AA baby girl preemie ready for release later this week, now 5lbs. medical summery available 20k total fees
This little girl lost her twin brother. She is a fighter...she needs a family to come home to, can you come get her?
contact:
Alice Van Sickle for Mikal W. Grass, Esq.
Attorney for All About Adoptions, Inc.
Mailing address: P O Box 998, Melbourne, Fl. 32902
Fed Ex address: 600 Hyder St NE, Palm Bay, Fl. 32907
Telephone: 321-952-1953
Fax: 321-952-1494
email: aliceadopt@att.net
This little girl lost her twin brother. She is a fighter...she needs a family to come home to, can you come get her?
contact:
Alice Van Sickle for Mikal W. Grass, Esq.
Attorney for All About Adoptions, Inc.
Mailing address: P O Box 998, Melbourne, Fl. 32902
Fed Ex address: 600 Hyder St NE, Palm Bay, Fl. 32907
Telephone: 321-952-1953
Fax: 321-952-1494
email: aliceadopt@att.net
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Just gotta laugh some times.
Some days I wonder what parenting skills I am lacking.... I have parented a number of children yet parenting this last teen with what many of you feel has typical learning skills stumps me beyond any other.
She just came into the kitches as I am cleaning up from a day of cooking and says...
"Mom, how do they make turkey's" I stop and try to process the question she posed... So I repeat the question. You want to know "HOW" they "MAKE" turkey's ?
Yes, she says and says...do you know???? I said yeah, turkeys are like chickens, like hens, kinda like cows and pigs and all the other things that live and die for us to eat as food.... "Yeah, but how do they make turkeys to be butterballs".....LOL
Gotta laugh because this is the same girl asking why I won't sign for her drivers license.....
She just came into the kitches as I am cleaning up from a day of cooking and says...
"Mom, how do they make turkey's" I stop and try to process the question she posed... So I repeat the question. You want to know "HOW" they "MAKE" turkey's ?
Yes, she says and says...do you know???? I said yeah, turkeys are like chickens, like hens, kinda like cows and pigs and all the other things that live and die for us to eat as food.... "Yeah, but how do they make turkeys to be butterballs".....LOL
Gotta laugh because this is the same girl asking why I won't sign for her drivers license.....
AWE, back in the 70's by Wed..winter is over!
I stayed asleep past 5 am this morning and slept until 8 am....most would say "way to go" but that sure made a difference... the house gets down to 64 or 65 usually which is not dangerous at all but this morning it was 60 at 8 am...my cheeks were cool is what made me wake up... I jump out of bed, turn on the heater and race to the main part of the house to get the oven heating. Today is another "Thanksgiving" family day. A turkey basting in the oven all day. That will get us through the next 24 hours and then we are heading to warmer weather...
for now cuddle under covers and as a family ....eating hot oatmeal and drinking coffee...
We are in no danger, there is gas in my van to go elsewhere if necessary. I have a plan to leave if the house gets "cold" we live near a Hotel and also have friends offering to take some of the kids.. I am confident we are going to be fine here.
The kids are all doing more dance off contests which is making their bodies move and active bodies never get cold. The test is keeping the kitchen door open which is the danger for Tressa. I have placed mirrors full length on all my interior doors which offers me extra eyes..lol I can actually see out into the main part of my house by mirrors placed inside the house. Tressa is a little stressed about the door being open so we will see how this goes.. She needs to keep busy.
I am allowing myself to fall into dreaming of a new big big home with space, everything that works and even lend to having sleepovers and entertaining families here to assist in educating about raising children with DS... AT the pancake breakfast it was clear I am a support to families and yet I avoid people coming here because it is small and cozy for the kids and I but to have another family visit...a place to have private conversations....it does not do that and to have sleepovers...just can not go there.. I can feel the weight lifted off my shoulders one minute and the next in sheer panic that my guard has been down and I am hit with all the problems...and then stress takes over by body, mind yet I fight it from going deep into my soul...my optimism is still fighting it back...
I do not know if any of you watch desperate housewives.. tonight it has a piece that is on commercials and it reminds me of my kids so much... the little girl obviously Hispanic questions her family if she is Mexican...LOL My kids at about the same age realized they have Down syndrome and with little comprehension of what that really means when you are about 12 years old it comes back very cute...
Kaitlyn saw photos of the New York on line faces in time square when she said to me "They're just like me" I asked her what that means "They have Down syndrome" I said yes they do, what does that mean Kaitlyn? "They sell hot dogs" We had been raising funds for an event by selling Hot dogs outside walmart, She had been hearing me talk to many people about Down syndrome and at the same time we sold them a hot dog chip and drink.... Now she is 15 she has a little deeper understanding of what Down syndrome is and each year she grasps a little bit more about her disability but more about her ABILITY; she is well on her way to self advocating.
Warming up, need to move forward with my day....The sun is shining high and bright.
Tonight is Brothers and Sisters...the show that makes me know how "normal" my family really is...LOL
for now cuddle under covers and as a family ....eating hot oatmeal and drinking coffee...
We are in no danger, there is gas in my van to go elsewhere if necessary. I have a plan to leave if the house gets "cold" we live near a Hotel and also have friends offering to take some of the kids.. I am confident we are going to be fine here.
The kids are all doing more dance off contests which is making their bodies move and active bodies never get cold. The test is keeping the kitchen door open which is the danger for Tressa. I have placed mirrors full length on all my interior doors which offers me extra eyes..lol I can actually see out into the main part of my house by mirrors placed inside the house. Tressa is a little stressed about the door being open so we will see how this goes.. She needs to keep busy.
I am allowing myself to fall into dreaming of a new big big home with space, everything that works and even lend to having sleepovers and entertaining families here to assist in educating about raising children with DS... AT the pancake breakfast it was clear I am a support to families and yet I avoid people coming here because it is small and cozy for the kids and I but to have another family visit...a place to have private conversations....it does not do that and to have sleepovers...just can not go there.. I can feel the weight lifted off my shoulders one minute and the next in sheer panic that my guard has been down and I am hit with all the problems...and then stress takes over by body, mind yet I fight it from going deep into my soul...my optimism is still fighting it back...
I do not know if any of you watch desperate housewives.. tonight it has a piece that is on commercials and it reminds me of my kids so much... the little girl obviously Hispanic questions her family if she is Mexican...LOL My kids at about the same age realized they have Down syndrome and with little comprehension of what that really means when you are about 12 years old it comes back very cute...
Kaitlyn saw photos of the New York on line faces in time square when she said to me "They're just like me" I asked her what that means "They have Down syndrome" I said yes they do, what does that mean Kaitlyn? "They sell hot dogs" We had been raising funds for an event by selling Hot dogs outside walmart, She had been hearing me talk to many people about Down syndrome and at the same time we sold them a hot dog chip and drink.... Now she is 15 she has a little deeper understanding of what Down syndrome is and each year she grasps a little bit more about her disability but more about her ABILITY; she is well on her way to self advocating.
Warming up, need to move forward with my day....The sun is shining high and bright.
Tonight is Brothers and Sisters...the show that makes me know how "normal" my family really is...LOL
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Sensory movie time
Today has been a wonderful day ... wet and cold--getting colder by the hour... but we made the best of it.
We started off waking up well after the 5 am alarm, dressing up to go to a Pancake breakfast at Beef O'Brady's in Cape Coral as a fundraiser. The neat thing was by placing the event on my facebook, some of the people who I communicate with via face book came to meet face to face. It was wonderful to meet you all. Then a family who use to go to the kids' school came and that proved perfect for future play dates being scheduled.
Face book also was the way we learned of a neat thing the local movie theater is doing for our sensory kids... They have a show (today Alvin and the Chipmunks) each month and they show it in a way our kids do not experience such sensory issues...The lights did not go down all the way but was perfect..the sound was not blasting, very good and the company was PERFECT... They even came in to welcome everyone and make sure everyone was getting their needs met, asked for comments and had a quiet area set aside for any issues that might come up... VERY KIND!!!
I looked down the isle of my seven, a friend and my grandson..NINE kiddo's all holding their popcorn, with big smiles and eyes focused on the show. Not one melt down. It was perfect. Next month it is (THE TOOTH FAIRY) so they got me to the movie theater. The price was right...$5.00 I am pleased with many of the things my community is doing for our kids.
We started off waking up well after the 5 am alarm, dressing up to go to a Pancake breakfast at Beef O'Brady's in Cape Coral as a fundraiser. The neat thing was by placing the event on my facebook, some of the people who I communicate with via face book came to meet face to face. It was wonderful to meet you all. Then a family who use to go to the kids' school came and that proved perfect for future play dates being scheduled.
Face book also was the way we learned of a neat thing the local movie theater is doing for our sensory kids... They have a show (today Alvin and the Chipmunks) each month and they show it in a way our kids do not experience such sensory issues...The lights did not go down all the way but was perfect..the sound was not blasting, very good and the company was PERFECT... They even came in to welcome everyone and make sure everyone was getting their needs met, asked for comments and had a quiet area set aside for any issues that might come up... VERY KIND!!!
I looked down the isle of my seven, a friend and my grandson..NINE kiddo's all holding their popcorn, with big smiles and eyes focused on the show. Not one melt down. It was perfect. Next month it is (THE TOOTH FAIRY) so they got me to the movie theater. The price was right...$5.00 I am pleased with many of the things my community is doing for our kids.
Friday, January 8, 2010
TOTALLY BLEW MY MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Harlem Globetrotters
Germain Arena, Estero, FL
Wed, Feb 24, 2010 07:00 PM
Section
Row
Seats
Description 116
AA
3 - 9
Price Level 1
VIP FLOOR SEATING (1ST ROW OF FLOOR) TypeSTANDARD ADULT PURCHASETicket PriceUS $119.00 x 7 Price Details Facility ChargeUS $4.00 x 7Convenience ChargeUS $14.90 x 7
SUBTOTALUS $965.30
I thought..... it would be nice to get floor seats.... my kids love these guys ON TV!!!!! I have NEVER even known it would cost this much....... OMG!!!!!!
no, I did not purchase them..... OMG...... I am in shock....
Germain Arena, Estero, FL
Wed, Feb 24, 2010 07:00 PM
Section
Row
Seats
Description 116
AA
3 - 9
Price Level 1
VIP FLOOR SEATING (1ST ROW OF FLOOR) TypeSTANDARD ADULT PURCHASETicket PriceUS $119.00 x 7 Price Details Facility ChargeUS $4.00 x 7Convenience ChargeUS $14.90 x 7
SUBTOTALUS $965.30
I thought..... it would be nice to get floor seats.... my kids love these guys ON TV!!!!! I have NEVER even known it would cost this much....... OMG!!!!!!
no, I did not purchase them..... OMG...... I am in shock....
Doesn't take much to revitalize my self esteem....LOL
It is yet another cold morning, but the good news is it is Friday and we do not need to get out of bed until much later tomorrow. We have a pancake breakfast to be at so no staying in PJ's all day, out by 9:30 will be a blessing.
We do not have a furnace here; only air. I have a space heater that I can only have on when I am awake. I wake up about 2:30 in the morning after shutting it off after the 11 pm news..then at 5 am again..we are not cold. I find an oven made meal for dinner and like today we made Cinnamon rolls for breakfast which requires the oven. The house rises from 63 to 68 degrees quickly.
Emma seems to feel the need to get up with me at 2 am for a warm 4 oz bottle... hope this doesn't turn into a habit she is not willing to break.
well it is now 2 pm...so note it has been a day of interruptions from am to pm...
I got the kids off to school, got coffee and spent quality time with Emma... I just love hearing her giggle. Her smile is so big and wide it covers her entire face and all gums.
We bundled up to go to get necessary items; trash bags, paper plates, exchange PJ's and pick up milk, lunch meat and a few things to tide us over the weekend...Imagine I picked up most everything that needs to be heated via the oven..LOL so funny the isles I usually avoid. I am making a whole turkey this weekend to double as heat (they say Sunday is going to be killer cold) and a food item that allows us to save some cash.
We are looking to make a trip to Aventuria FL on the weekend of the 17th to see grandparents of Steven's. They are Grandparents to all but by blood joined us when Steven did.
I got a few calls from a friend who is without internet to look things up and a blast from the past which was a real shock in more ways than I can say... you know when you look at a number that has 666 in it ans you should just trust your gut and not go there...That call...only problem is I answered it.
It amazes me when men come into our lives, leave and we hear nothing as they are happy and moving through their own needs with ease...then when they hit a bump or like today seem to be under a pile of bricks, seek us to make them feel better.... This chipper good girl is all over those days.. I am a VERY NICE PERSON. if you need to vent about something you are willing to correct I am here for you...If you want to belly ache and you are past your teens, pass me over. So I hear, I have been thinking about you...NOW PLEASE, I have not talked to this person since say 1992.... so if I have been on their mind, really.... pushing 50 is no time for high school games...I hear: and I kid you not...... His mom is going to prison for multiple DUI's, his brother off to jail and is disabled for a crime he didn't commit but convicted of..his ex wife no longer speaks to him, his 14 year long girl friend left home ,they have not been having S--ual relations for 2 years and he believes he should move back to Illinois, he lost one of his two jobs here and almost really to loose the other and is behind on his mortgage 4 months after refinancing his 60K property up to 107K...... OH BABY i am all over this one.....N O T!!!!! Why call, go to church, say some prayers or make some friggin changes in your life to make it better.....DO NOT CALL MARY!!!!!!!! LOL
The sad part is me, being who I am needed a second call to come in to say I needed to get off the phone.... you better believe I will let it go to voice mail next time...
Now, I feel so good about my life, I am so fortunate that I am self motivated and willing to step out to keep what I have and always seek ways to make thing better, always looking forward and willing to fight to make things happen!!!! I rock!!
LOL LOL LOL
We do not have a furnace here; only air. I have a space heater that I can only have on when I am awake. I wake up about 2:30 in the morning after shutting it off after the 11 pm news..then at 5 am again..we are not cold. I find an oven made meal for dinner and like today we made Cinnamon rolls for breakfast which requires the oven. The house rises from 63 to 68 degrees quickly.
Emma seems to feel the need to get up with me at 2 am for a warm 4 oz bottle... hope this doesn't turn into a habit she is not willing to break.
well it is now 2 pm...so note it has been a day of interruptions from am to pm...
I got the kids off to school, got coffee and spent quality time with Emma... I just love hearing her giggle. Her smile is so big and wide it covers her entire face and all gums.
We bundled up to go to get necessary items; trash bags, paper plates, exchange PJ's and pick up milk, lunch meat and a few things to tide us over the weekend...Imagine I picked up most everything that needs to be heated via the oven..LOL so funny the isles I usually avoid. I am making a whole turkey this weekend to double as heat (they say Sunday is going to be killer cold) and a food item that allows us to save some cash.
We are looking to make a trip to Aventuria FL on the weekend of the 17th to see grandparents of Steven's. They are Grandparents to all but by blood joined us when Steven did.
I got a few calls from a friend who is without internet to look things up and a blast from the past which was a real shock in more ways than I can say... you know when you look at a number that has 666 in it ans you should just trust your gut and not go there...That call...only problem is I answered it.
It amazes me when men come into our lives, leave and we hear nothing as they are happy and moving through their own needs with ease...then when they hit a bump or like today seem to be under a pile of bricks, seek us to make them feel better.... This chipper good girl is all over those days.. I am a VERY NICE PERSON. if you need to vent about something you are willing to correct I am here for you...If you want to belly ache and you are past your teens, pass me over. So I hear, I have been thinking about you...NOW PLEASE, I have not talked to this person since say 1992.... so if I have been on their mind, really.... pushing 50 is no time for high school games...I hear: and I kid you not...... His mom is going to prison for multiple DUI's, his brother off to jail and is disabled for a crime he didn't commit but convicted of..his ex wife no longer speaks to him, his 14 year long girl friend left home ,they have not been having S--ual relations for 2 years and he believes he should move back to Illinois, he lost one of his two jobs here and almost really to loose the other and is behind on his mortgage 4 months after refinancing his 60K property up to 107K...... OH BABY i am all over this one.....N O T!!!!! Why call, go to church, say some prayers or make some friggin changes in your life to make it better.....DO NOT CALL MARY!!!!!!!! LOL
The sad part is me, being who I am needed a second call to come in to say I needed to get off the phone.... you better believe I will let it go to voice mail next time...
Now, I feel so good about my life, I am so fortunate that I am self motivated and willing to step out to keep what I have and always seek ways to make thing better, always looking forward and willing to fight to make things happen!!!! I rock!!
LOL LOL LOL
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Great research
Down syndrome and golf
Victor J Bishop
Around age 10, if not hopefully way before, parents with a child with Down syndrome
make the transition from therapy to sports and recreation; from aquatic therapy to
swimming; from hippotherapy to horseback riding. It was readily apparent from
Emmanuel’s first golf range practice that he had an innate ability to swing a golf club. It is in his genes. He is at a disadvantage with his typically developing peers that his father has never wielded a golf club in his life.
take him to the driving range and Emmanuel is
so happy putting a couple of dollar bills in the
golf ball machine, “all by myself, I can do that
papá” and carries his little basket to the tee and
flings away. Have I mentioned that my wife wants
Emmanuel to play tennis and she throws a fit
when she sees my son, well, our son, proudly carrying
his golf bag strapped to his back? I am sure
our paediatrician was bemused, here is a couple
with a child with a disability with a ‘problem,’
asking if a golf bag full of clubs would break my
son’s back and the Doctor rules in my favour, the
triumph of modern medicine.
How did he learn? For the first outings I printed a
golf swing sequence and laid it on the ground, you
know, break down the task into discrete manageable
chunks, yada, yada, but it was almost superfluous,
he did not need to be taught the shoulder
turn, hip rotation, the backswing, he came
In our house there is a major philosophical
schism: my wife, Gloria, bless her soul, thinks
that Emmanuel can be good at tennis. He has
been to four tennis camps and still cannot hit a
tennis ball for the life of him, but he never misses
a golf swing. Furthermore, Emmanuel cannot
bounce a basketball or catch a baseball. The
moral of the story is to follow your child’s sports’
strengths, ability and interests. This is diametrically
opposed to the therapeutic model of
remediating weaknesses we were drilled at during
Early Intervention, which I consider myself
now cured of. The purpose of physical therapy is
not to accelerate the acquisition of gross motor
skills in Down syndrome, but rather to prevent
compensatory movement patterns[1], but we do
have two recent evidence-based therapies, 1) Dr.
Ulrich’s treadmill research[2] to help babies walk
earlier by several months; and 2) Dr. Klein’s Lose
the Training Wheels™ bicycle camps[3] to teach
children how to ride a two wheeler in five sessions.
For my wife, it is a matter of finding that
elusive adapted teaching method for Emmanuel
to learn how to hit that pesky tennis ball; for me,
after Emmanuel hits two large baskets at the golf
range and asks for a third bucket, why bother
with tennis or basketball or baseball?
We did flashcards and Emmanuel was an early
sight-reader[4] – sight-reading is the single most
significant intervention for pre-school age children
with Down syndrome – my son had a set
of sports flash cards, images of bowling balls
and softballs and volleyballs, etc., but the one
he always gravitated to as a toddler was the golf
ball flash card. Hmm…light bulb. I buy my son a
plastic set of golf clubs at Wal-Mart and my wife
goes bonkers because Emmanuel is redecorating
the house, but check out his swing, and my wife
looks at the pocket holes in the wall and maybe a
casualty lamp. Must be a guy thing. So then I buy
him some real Nike youth golf clubs at Target and
Clinton Hills Country Club. Age 10: Ceremonial First Drive: Five consecutive balls.
Photo: Tim Nienhaus.
Riverbend Down Syndrome
Parent Support Group, 528
Grafton Hills Drive, Grafton, IL
62037, USA http://www.riverbendds.
org
doi:10.3104/case-studies.2085
© 2008 The Author. Journal
Compilation © 2009 Down
Syndrome Education International.
www.down-syndrome.org/research-practice 249
Down Syndrome Research and Practice • Volume 12 • Issue 3 • February 2009
CASE STUDIES
Decatur, Illinois: Emmanuel Bishop, age 10.
Photo: Michele Henson, Special Olympics Illinois.
equipped with it. It was only after he won a gold
medal at the Special Olympics district qualifiers
to go on to State that we found Dan Polites,
the golf pro at Clinton Hill Country Club in
O’Fallon, to teach my son. Dan has an excellent
golf video[5], which Emmanuel promptly memorised.
Scaffolding upon my son’s relative visual
strengths, he learned from the Golf for Kids
video[6] the grip: “hotdog-in-a-bun” and how to
chip or pitch: “over-the-bench”.
Likewise, I had to make sure that Emmanuel
practised at the golf range with good role model
golfers; else he would try to imitate a hacker’s
swing, including all the hilarious hitches.
Another pro, Mark Morfey, at the Belk Park Golf
Course in Wood River, helped my son groove
his putt with a 2 x 4 with markings and a centre
point for proper stance and direction. Tim
Emmanuel Bishop, age 8. Three months after starting to play golf.
Photo: Tim Nienhaus.
Nienhaus gave Emmanuel the opportunity to hit
the ceremonial first drive at the Puttin’ for Down
Syndrome charity event.
At the golf range I would place the ball on the
rubber tee, so once Emmanuel figured out the
distance from the golf ball, he only had to concentrate
on the swing, putting him in a win-win
situation. If my son’s backswing became too
unwieldy, we would simplify by abbreviating his
swing. There are moulded golf grips to encourage
a correct grip during practice and for Special
Olympics we used a step-down tee so the golf
ball would always be at the right height. Proper
equipment is paramount: use only Junior golf
clubs with the correct shaft length to the child’s
height and just like sight-reading, the first step is
to ensure that your child has good (or corrected)
vision.
Given the option my son will choose golf over
McDonald’s. Before I bought him a golf glove,
he would hide his blisters behind his back, so he
could keep on practising until dusk: that is how
much he loves the life long game of golf.
The golf community has embraced him; golfers
stop to admire his swing at the Spencer T. Olin
Golf Course in Alton or challenge him at the
putting greens and give my son their favourite
embossed golf ball, so it can be my son’s special
golf ball too – I do need to buy one of those racks.
There is no pity, he is one of them, they all share
a handicap.
Victor J. Bishop is founder of the Riverbend Down Syndrome
Support Group and presented at the 9th World
Down Syndrome Congress on Early Literacy and Down
Syndrome. Emmanuel J. Bishop is homeschooled, studies
Suzuki violin, is tutored in French and Latin, and plays
golf, swims and bikes. He is a self-advocate speaker, starting
at age six by reading a welcoming statement in three
languages at the NDSS Annual Congress Plenary Session in
front of 650 people.
Submitted: 9 April 2008, resubmitted 22 October 2008;
Accepted 29 October 2008; Published online: March 2009
1. Winders PC. The goal and opportunity of physical therapy
for children with Down syndrome. Down Syndrome
Quarterly. 2001;6(2):1-4.
2. Ulrich DA, Ulrich BD, Angulo-Kinzler RM, Yun J. Treadmill
training of infants with Down syndrome: Evidencebased
developmental outcomes. Pediatrics. 2001;
Nov:108(5);e84.
3. Lose the Training Wheels [cited 2008 June 4]. Available
from: http://www.losethetrainingwheels.org
4. Buckley S, Bird G, producers. Understanding Down Syndrome
(2) – Learning to Read [videocassette]. Portsmouth,
UK: Portsmouth Polytechnic; 1995.
5. Polites D, from Improve your Golf Swing [cited 2008 June
4]. Available from: http://dpgolf.com/video.htm
6. Junior Golf Productions, producer, Osgood J, director.
Golf is for Kids with Kevin Roberts. The Essentials of Golf
Made Simple. [DVD]. DeSoto, TX: Junior
Victor J Bishop
Around age 10, if not hopefully way before, parents with a child with Down syndrome
make the transition from therapy to sports and recreation; from aquatic therapy to
swimming; from hippotherapy to horseback riding. It was readily apparent from
Emmanuel’s first golf range practice that he had an innate ability to swing a golf club. It is in his genes. He is at a disadvantage with his typically developing peers that his father has never wielded a golf club in his life.
take him to the driving range and Emmanuel is
so happy putting a couple of dollar bills in the
golf ball machine, “all by myself, I can do that
papá” and carries his little basket to the tee and
flings away. Have I mentioned that my wife wants
Emmanuel to play tennis and she throws a fit
when she sees my son, well, our son, proudly carrying
his golf bag strapped to his back? I am sure
our paediatrician was bemused, here is a couple
with a child with a disability with a ‘problem,’
asking if a golf bag full of clubs would break my
son’s back and the Doctor rules in my favour, the
triumph of modern medicine.
How did he learn? For the first outings I printed a
golf swing sequence and laid it on the ground, you
know, break down the task into discrete manageable
chunks, yada, yada, but it was almost superfluous,
he did not need to be taught the shoulder
turn, hip rotation, the backswing, he came
In our house there is a major philosophical
schism: my wife, Gloria, bless her soul, thinks
that Emmanuel can be good at tennis. He has
been to four tennis camps and still cannot hit a
tennis ball for the life of him, but he never misses
a golf swing. Furthermore, Emmanuel cannot
bounce a basketball or catch a baseball. The
moral of the story is to follow your child’s sports’
strengths, ability and interests. This is diametrically
opposed to the therapeutic model of
remediating weaknesses we were drilled at during
Early Intervention, which I consider myself
now cured of. The purpose of physical therapy is
not to accelerate the acquisition of gross motor
skills in Down syndrome, but rather to prevent
compensatory movement patterns[1], but we do
have two recent evidence-based therapies, 1) Dr.
Ulrich’s treadmill research[2] to help babies walk
earlier by several months; and 2) Dr. Klein’s Lose
the Training Wheels™ bicycle camps[3] to teach
children how to ride a two wheeler in five sessions.
For my wife, it is a matter of finding that
elusive adapted teaching method for Emmanuel
to learn how to hit that pesky tennis ball; for me,
after Emmanuel hits two large baskets at the golf
range and asks for a third bucket, why bother
with tennis or basketball or baseball?
We did flashcards and Emmanuel was an early
sight-reader[4] – sight-reading is the single most
significant intervention for pre-school age children
with Down syndrome – my son had a set
of sports flash cards, images of bowling balls
and softballs and volleyballs, etc., but the one
he always gravitated to as a toddler was the golf
ball flash card. Hmm…light bulb. I buy my son a
plastic set of golf clubs at Wal-Mart and my wife
goes bonkers because Emmanuel is redecorating
the house, but check out his swing, and my wife
looks at the pocket holes in the wall and maybe a
casualty lamp. Must be a guy thing. So then I buy
him some real Nike youth golf clubs at Target and
Clinton Hills Country Club. Age 10: Ceremonial First Drive: Five consecutive balls.
Photo: Tim Nienhaus.
Riverbend Down Syndrome
Parent Support Group, 528
Grafton Hills Drive, Grafton, IL
62037, USA http://www.riverbendds.
org
doi:10.3104/case-studies.2085
© 2008 The Author. Journal
Compilation © 2009 Down
Syndrome Education International.
www.down-syndrome.org/research-practice 249
Down Syndrome Research and Practice • Volume 12 • Issue 3 • February 2009
CASE STUDIES
Decatur, Illinois: Emmanuel Bishop, age 10.
Photo: Michele Henson, Special Olympics Illinois.
equipped with it. It was only after he won a gold
medal at the Special Olympics district qualifiers
to go on to State that we found Dan Polites,
the golf pro at Clinton Hill Country Club in
O’Fallon, to teach my son. Dan has an excellent
golf video[5], which Emmanuel promptly memorised.
Scaffolding upon my son’s relative visual
strengths, he learned from the Golf for Kids
video[6] the grip: “hotdog-in-a-bun” and how to
chip or pitch: “over-the-bench”.
Likewise, I had to make sure that Emmanuel
practised at the golf range with good role model
golfers; else he would try to imitate a hacker’s
swing, including all the hilarious hitches.
Another pro, Mark Morfey, at the Belk Park Golf
Course in Wood River, helped my son groove
his putt with a 2 x 4 with markings and a centre
point for proper stance and direction. Tim
Emmanuel Bishop, age 8. Three months after starting to play golf.
Photo: Tim Nienhaus.
Nienhaus gave Emmanuel the opportunity to hit
the ceremonial first drive at the Puttin’ for Down
Syndrome charity event.
At the golf range I would place the ball on the
rubber tee, so once Emmanuel figured out the
distance from the golf ball, he only had to concentrate
on the swing, putting him in a win-win
situation. If my son’s backswing became too
unwieldy, we would simplify by abbreviating his
swing. There are moulded golf grips to encourage
a correct grip during practice and for Special
Olympics we used a step-down tee so the golf
ball would always be at the right height. Proper
equipment is paramount: use only Junior golf
clubs with the correct shaft length to the child’s
height and just like sight-reading, the first step is
to ensure that your child has good (or corrected)
vision.
Given the option my son will choose golf over
McDonald’s. Before I bought him a golf glove,
he would hide his blisters behind his back, so he
could keep on practising until dusk: that is how
much he loves the life long game of golf.
The golf community has embraced him; golfers
stop to admire his swing at the Spencer T. Olin
Golf Course in Alton or challenge him at the
putting greens and give my son their favourite
embossed golf ball, so it can be my son’s special
golf ball too – I do need to buy one of those racks.
There is no pity, he is one of them, they all share
a handicap.
Victor J. Bishop is founder of the Riverbend Down Syndrome
Support Group and presented at the 9th World
Down Syndrome Congress on Early Literacy and Down
Syndrome. Emmanuel J. Bishop is homeschooled, studies
Suzuki violin, is tutored in French and Latin, and plays
golf, swims and bikes. He is a self-advocate speaker, starting
at age six by reading a welcoming statement in three
languages at the NDSS Annual Congress Plenary Session in
front of 650 people.
Submitted: 9 April 2008, resubmitted 22 October 2008;
Accepted 29 October 2008; Published online: March 2009
1. Winders PC. The goal and opportunity of physical therapy
for children with Down syndrome. Down Syndrome
Quarterly. 2001;6(2):1-4.
2. Ulrich DA, Ulrich BD, Angulo-Kinzler RM, Yun J. Treadmill
training of infants with Down syndrome: Evidencebased
developmental outcomes. Pediatrics. 2001;
Nov:108(5);e84.
3. Lose the Training Wheels [cited 2008 June 4]. Available
from: http://www.losethetrainingwheels.org
4. Buckley S, Bird G, producers. Understanding Down Syndrome
(2) – Learning to Read [videocassette]. Portsmouth,
UK: Portsmouth Polytechnic; 1995.
5. Polites D, from Improve your Golf Swing [cited 2008 June
4]. Available from: http://dpgolf.com/video.htm
6. Junior Golf Productions, producer, Osgood J, director.
Golf is for Kids with Kevin Roberts. The Essentials of Golf
Made Simple. [DVD]. DeSoto, TX: Junior
A meatball night
Yesterday was a very productive day for me although I did not meet my intended gaol...I need to find some important documentation to provide for a grant...I know I put it somewhere although during the months of Emma's surgeries etc...I put things away to do later and I have no mental image of where it is I thought was safe and secure... So yesterday I started going through all the Rubbermaid bins of "stuff" that "stff" I said I would deal with later....and my oh my I had been putting off things for some time.. It appears I was using the Rubbermaid tubs more than I remembered..You know fill a tub, take it to the shed and it is out of sight out of mind.. SO the garbage is full just hours after our weekly Tuesdat pick up...lol Junk mail ...oh my save our trees guys, stop sending out junk mail.
So I made it through the morning of cleaning the kids' rooms after two weeks of break. That was about as disgusting as anything I have done in awhile.... It is amazing the stuff they can pack in every corner of their rooms. So that is done... then the laundry, I cleaned the garbage area and found a pile of Thomas train track??? so that was soaking and scrubbed cleaned when the kids got home... and I continued on with tub de-cluttering. Dinner time came, meatballs for dinner, when home work was complete and speech therapy over; "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" the movie came from Netflicks which was family time. It ran on to about 8:20 which is past bedtime although they scurried to their rooms and quickly fell asleep...Yeah me! I got some of the paperwork faxed out to CA but not all...on to that project today.
So I made it through the morning of cleaning the kids' rooms after two weeks of break. That was about as disgusting as anything I have done in awhile.... It is amazing the stuff they can pack in every corner of their rooms. So that is done... then the laundry, I cleaned the garbage area and found a pile of Thomas train track??? so that was soaking and scrubbed cleaned when the kids got home... and I continued on with tub de-cluttering. Dinner time came, meatballs for dinner, when home work was complete and speech therapy over; "Cloudy with a chance of meatballs" the movie came from Netflicks which was family time. It ran on to about 8:20 which is past bedtime although they scurried to their rooms and quickly fell asleep...Yeah me! I got some of the paperwork faxed out to CA but not all...on to that project today.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Things I catch myself saying and can not believe it myself...
Please do not sit on her head
We do not eat out of the toilet
get her clarinet cloth out of your underpants
Get off him!
we do not drink out of the dog scoop
can someone pick up that poop
stop rocking.....
turn that down to loud only
who's pull up is on the table
lock the refrigerator
please stop farting
IT'S FUNNY, STOP CRYING
take the food out of your pockets
put your tongue in your mouth
your pants are on backwards, your underwear is on backwards, your shirt is on backward.. OMG who's t back? It is on backwards...
you are not old enough for that..
you are too old for that....
take off the coat it is 98 degrees out
We do not eat out of the toilet
get her clarinet cloth out of your underpants
Get off him!
we do not drink out of the dog scoop
can someone pick up that poop
stop rocking.....
turn that down to loud only
who's pull up is on the table
lock the refrigerator
please stop farting
IT'S FUNNY, STOP CRYING
take the food out of your pockets
put your tongue in your mouth
your pants are on backwards, your underwear is on backwards, your shirt is on backward.. OMG who's t back? It is on backwards...
you are not old enough for that..
you are too old for that....
take off the coat it is 98 degrees out
see why I vent, then advocate!!!!!
This young man was featured at the National OSEP Conference last year about
young adults in Secondary Education settings. The presentation showed his
determination to go to college and the effort (2hours) on a bus to get to
there. He has become quite an advocate!
Micah Fialka-Feldman attends Oakland University, one of many schools and
community colleges that are setting up programs for students with Down
syndrome.
December 29, 2009
Here's one reason Micah Fialka-Feldman wants to live on his college campus,
instead of remaining at home with his parents: To get to college in the
morning, he takes the public bus near his home, then transfers to a second
bus. The trip takes about two hours.
Fialka-Feldman, 24, attends classes at Oakland University, as part of a
program for students like him, with intellectual disabilities. The campus is
about 20 miles from where he lives with his parents in Huntington Woods,
Mich.
A few years ago, Fialka-Feldman helped his younger sister Emma move into her
dorm room when she went off to college at Mount Holyoke. It gave him another
reason to want to live on campus: He thought he was missing out on an
important part of college life. But his school said because he was in a
special program and not a full-time student, he couldn't live on campus.
So Micah sued.
Early yesterday morning, his cell phone rang. It was his lawyer with the
news: He had won. "I'm happy and I'm proud," say Fialka-Feldman.
A U.S. District Court judge in Michigan ruled that Oakland University had
discriminated against Fialka-Feldman. The new school term starts Tuesday.
And Fialka-Feldman says he hopes to move into his new dorm room by Sunday.
He's got his computer, his radio and his bedding ready. He's got the posters
he wants to put on the wall, including ones with quotes from civil rights
leaders. One says: "A community that excludes one member is not a community
at all."
To live on campus, he says, "means I would have the full college life and
... I could go to Friday night things in the dorm, like Friday night
activities like a film night or like a basketball game and going out with
friends."
His father, Rich Feldman, adds: "The judge's decision is a wonderful victory
for Micah's dream to live in the dorm and a victory for so many other
students and folks with cognitive disabilities. Now it's their right to be
fully included in the college dormitory experience."
A spokesman for the university said officials there have not had time to
evaluate the decision. The school can appeal.
It's pretty common these days for kids with intellectual disabilities like
Down syndrome to go to their neighborhood schools and to be mainstreamed
with all the other kids. And when these disabled students finish high
school, they often want to go to college. In recent years, scores of
community colleges and universities have opened special programs and invited
students with intellectual disabilities to enroll. Oakland University has
been a pioneer in opening up to these students. But the colleges can't
always keep up with the rising expectations of disabled students and their
parents.
Fialka-Feldman takes regular classes, and students act as tutors to help him
follow along in class and keep up with his homework.
He has taken classes at Oakland since 2003 and the new term will be his last
on campus. "I'm taking a class on public speaking. And a class on
persuasion," he says.
He's already been pretty good at persuasion. In the course of fighting this
case, he has spoken twice to the school's board of trustees, and he pressed
his case in court. The university's study government voted to support
Fialka-Feldman's right to live on campus, and the student body president,
Kristin Dayag, was at his side at his court hearing earlier this month.
"Micah has really found his voice," says his mother, Janice Fialka. She
remembers when Micah was 2 or 3, and still didn't speak. "I remember vividly
asking the speech therapist, do you think that Micah will ever talk. And she
hesitated. And that hesitation, which was probably only four seconds, felt
like a lifetime," says Fialka, a social worker who now is a speaker on
disability issues. "And basically she was saying, 'We don't know.' And now
he's speaking in front of all kinds of people. So this is quite a journey of
surprise, and the importance of believing that every person has a gift and
should be supported in their dreams."
A generation ago, parents couldn't dream for their kids with disabilities.
Before the 1975 special education law, public schools weren't even required
to teach them - and about 1 million then didn't get any education at all.
Even today, lots of these kids aren't capable of going to college - and for
many of them the future remains bleak.
But Paul Marchand, with the advocacy group The Arc, says parents now have
higher expectations. "Parents want the best for their kids. They want their
kids to get a job; they want their kids to be as independent as possible.
They want society to accept them. They want their kids to be as typical as
all the other kids of their age, including going to a college."
Last year, Congress passed legislation that for the first time makes it
possible for people with intellectual disabilities to get federal college
loans - even if they're not in a full-time program.
young adults in Secondary Education settings. The presentation showed his
determination to go to college and the effort (2hours) on a bus to get to
there. He has become quite an advocate!
Micah Fialka-Feldman attends Oakland University, one of many schools and
community colleges that are setting up programs for students with Down
syndrome.
December 29, 2009
Here's one reason Micah Fialka-Feldman wants to live on his college campus,
instead of remaining at home with his parents: To get to college in the
morning, he takes the public bus near his home, then transfers to a second
bus. The trip takes about two hours.
Fialka-Feldman, 24, attends classes at Oakland University, as part of a
program for students like him, with intellectual disabilities. The campus is
about 20 miles from where he lives with his parents in Huntington Woods,
Mich.
A few years ago, Fialka-Feldman helped his younger sister Emma move into her
dorm room when she went off to college at Mount Holyoke. It gave him another
reason to want to live on campus: He thought he was missing out on an
important part of college life. But his school said because he was in a
special program and not a full-time student, he couldn't live on campus.
So Micah sued.
Early yesterday morning, his cell phone rang. It was his lawyer with the
news: He had won. "I'm happy and I'm proud," say Fialka-Feldman.
A U.S. District Court judge in Michigan ruled that Oakland University had
discriminated against Fialka-Feldman. The new school term starts Tuesday.
And Fialka-Feldman says he hopes to move into his new dorm room by Sunday.
He's got his computer, his radio and his bedding ready. He's got the posters
he wants to put on the wall, including ones with quotes from civil rights
leaders. One says: "A community that excludes one member is not a community
at all."
To live on campus, he says, "means I would have the full college life and
... I could go to Friday night things in the dorm, like Friday night
activities like a film night or like a basketball game and going out with
friends."
His father, Rich Feldman, adds: "The judge's decision is a wonderful victory
for Micah's dream to live in the dorm and a victory for so many other
students and folks with cognitive disabilities. Now it's their right to be
fully included in the college dormitory experience."
A spokesman for the university said officials there have not had time to
evaluate the decision. The school can appeal.
It's pretty common these days for kids with intellectual disabilities like
Down syndrome to go to their neighborhood schools and to be mainstreamed
with all the other kids. And when these disabled students finish high
school, they often want to go to college. In recent years, scores of
community colleges and universities have opened special programs and invited
students with intellectual disabilities to enroll. Oakland University has
been a pioneer in opening up to these students. But the colleges can't
always keep up with the rising expectations of disabled students and their
parents.
Fialka-Feldman takes regular classes, and students act as tutors to help him
follow along in class and keep up with his homework.
He has taken classes at Oakland since 2003 and the new term will be his last
on campus. "I'm taking a class on public speaking. And a class on
persuasion," he says.
He's already been pretty good at persuasion. In the course of fighting this
case, he has spoken twice to the school's board of trustees, and he pressed
his case in court. The university's study government voted to support
Fialka-Feldman's right to live on campus, and the student body president,
Kristin Dayag, was at his side at his court hearing earlier this month.
"Micah has really found his voice," says his mother, Janice Fialka. She
remembers when Micah was 2 or 3, and still didn't speak. "I remember vividly
asking the speech therapist, do you think that Micah will ever talk. And she
hesitated. And that hesitation, which was probably only four seconds, felt
like a lifetime," says Fialka, a social worker who now is a speaker on
disability issues. "And basically she was saying, 'We don't know.' And now
he's speaking in front of all kinds of people. So this is quite a journey of
surprise, and the importance of believing that every person has a gift and
should be supported in their dreams."
A generation ago, parents couldn't dream for their kids with disabilities.
Before the 1975 special education law, public schools weren't even required
to teach them - and about 1 million then didn't get any education at all.
Even today, lots of these kids aren't capable of going to college - and for
many of them the future remains bleak.
But Paul Marchand, with the advocacy group The Arc, says parents now have
higher expectations. "Parents want the best for their kids. They want their
kids to get a job; they want their kids to be as independent as possible.
They want society to accept them. They want their kids to be as typical as
all the other kids of their age, including going to a college."
Last year, Congress passed legislation that for the first time makes it
possible for people with intellectual disabilities to get federal college
loans - even if they're not in a full-time program.
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