I want to share a moment which derived from the years my older children have worked for me and make our daily lives enriched with sibling pranks pros and cons but sibling love 100%.
When the kids were reaching teen years years and recognized there is no "Father" here, no one showed up at the Fathers night movies, when Father came up it was mom to the rescue.. Well part of Mandie's plan was to be sure the kids knew how to protect themselves from stranger danger....in part of her lessons she taught the children that if asked about their Dad they would respond My Dad is a police officer. Yes, this seemed harmless tale telling (he is by far not) therefore years have passed it has come up a few times when Kaitlyn was preparing to go to public dances she knew to say if in trouble my parents will be coming and my dad is a police officer.....if a boy put his hand on her rear end she responded; do not touch me, my dad is a police officer...not sure why the tale wasn't my Mom is a world wrestler but that was Mandie's doing.
So fast forward to last night....... AT approx. 6:30 pm when my life begins decent into the night time routine we decide to break the routine and head to Target for we heard there are $5.00 bathing suits that we need to cover large teen hind ends. The Justice suits just do not offer enough coverage for my 18 yr olds. SO knowing full well this is not my best decision....but we are ALL....ALL 12 children, yes we have two grand kids with us....going to Target.
As we enter the store Jordan spots this 6foot plus very dark man in a police uniform , immediately he VERY LOUDLY informs Kaitlyn "Dad is here" yes he sure did not once but with giggles, jumps excitement television craves to capture.... This guy had no idea what was about to happen. I quickly divert Jordan to the cart to push Emma, be my helper...but the swim suits are right there, three feet from this innocent police officer. Jordan is beside himself (it is meds time) so this man acknowledges him....."hey son, how was your Christmas" or something....All I heard was son...... I know it is used widely by men talking to young boys but now, right now this could not have been more awkward... Jordan turns with a spin and a huge grin and says to all of us "see that's my Dad" Kaitlyn is looking at this man like OK, he is a police officer but nothing is ringing any memory for her and she has minimal memory. She is willing to join in the party feeling of this reunion of sort...LOL Michelle and I are in hysteria hoping not to wet ourselves from holding deep laughter...I had only wished this happened while they were in Mandie's care.... So the man now has figured out what Jordan is saying and trying to avoid us.... I get Jordan to go to the back of the store and things calm.... I try to talk to him about how many police officers there are in the city....his response "but not my Dad" we manage to avoid any more contact until we are completely checked out and Jordan screams across the store "BYE DAD" about four times..... so now do I get photos of the real "Dad" out but then the whole story follows...and not really feeling they will ever understand divorce and loss of parental contact...so we move on....and I will continue to shop at Walmart..LOL
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The end of 2011-2012 school year brings on the summer activities and sleep in a bit.
Kaitlyn finished her first year of High School with all the bells and whistles. She was in the school play, played the clarinet in the end of the year concert. She got good grades, making strides in American sign language (general education) and her many new friends rave about her. Her year book shows the love support she has not only with Seniors who have given her strong wings to fly solo with but many under classmen who see her as their peer and also protect her as a little sister. Kaitlyn is completely focused on Disney world and camp. Our annual trip to Family cafe in Orlando where we meet up with (annual family) Families around the state who come together one weekend a year to arm themselves with information and ideas to get through another year with success in parenting children with so many needs with enormous deficits in every ..
Steven the honor roll freshman year dude and shaving now has so many positives from being promoted socially to High School, skipping eith grade totally; best move I have ever donw for him... He has grown into an ingrediable young man. Swimming like a champ. He is looking forward to transition into the work force and moving into the boys dorm (group home of men with Down syndrome in Cape Coral) He has his sights on the "good life". He has plans to work in a garden company watering all their plans keeping everything in order and growing.. bieng 15 he has solid goals for a solid future.
Alyssa is making progress every moment of every day... so many fears to work through but each day one more conquered... took over a year to get her home but she is here and all has been a mush smoother transition than we could have prayed for. The weeks have been sorting meds, making life for her a bit more inclusive and not sedated.. she is alrert more now and able to talk, share do puzzles, play as siblings do, swim, she is actually doing many word games showing us she knows so much more than she has let anyone know she could for a very long time. Abuse memories are deep and create many fears so one day at a time I push through and love her through each step...I give it yet another year to be on the playing field of "keeping up with the Pringle kids" but she will get there I am totally sure of that.
Jordan is adjusting to the aditions of girls creeping out of control in our household...He has his music as his salvation, he must know every Disney song out there. He remaines fully included in genera education classes entering the fifth grade this year and lord only knows my plan for after fifth so we are taking this year with everything we can. He continues to struggle with learning although is getting more and more socially appropriate as we enter into puberty (YIKES IS RIGHT) He has fantastic male role models at school (Para professional)and home (PCA) His health contiues to be of high priority as I do everything to keep him stable. He is swimmg like a fish looking into many Speciall Olympics activities at this point.
Tressa has another year of schooling behind her, she is fully included on the General Education track to receeive a Full education credit diploma which she has to work hard at. her attention span is second to her OCD issues which continue to test her every day tasks. She has managed to be PERFECT in height and weight again this year, right on the money line, brought her speciallist to tears. She is doing fantastic in daily exercize. She has some social needs in that she feels many of the Disney shows are "real life" and talks to the general public about what she sees on TV like it is a real life event she was part of or they are her "friends" so we have some more joinging to do to expand her circle of friends in the real life which for her is hard with all the quirks OCD has put upon her. We are so very proud of how hard life is for Tressa yet she meets it head on.
Lucas, he is amazing, has come so far since June 2008. His emotions are still a work in progress, he is in a social communication classrooom which has brought him alog and we have many hopes to gain so much more, he speaks simple requests, has many signs and is more "normal than not" He steals everyone's heart when he meets folks in the community. He continuesto remain a small staure so more tests with Endo but he is doing amazingly well.
Emma, she started pre-K broke my heart but she is loving school. She is excited to ride the bus, get to school and is excited to see me when she gets home so that helps my issues...yes my issues. Emma is doing a lot of side line play at school but comes home and role plays for me everything she saw at school. It is so cute to see her play with purpose and she walks with her hands to the side.
I wanted to share our family update and most importantly the latest IEP...
Kaitlyn is 17 yrs old now, can not even believe it for a minute. SHe is in her final months of her freshman in High School years. Her favorite classes are American Sign Language, Band (clarinet) and Drama. She is in the band concert this spring and also a role in the annual school play this year Beauty and the Beast. She is in charge of sewing 12 aprons for the set, she started on them this weekend. She is confused on why they are asking for boring white cheap looking aprons when she makes beautifull colorful ones with ruffles and color fabric. Kaitlyn just traveled to Tallahassee with the family for Developmental Disabilities Day and made 5 appointments wth Senators and Representatives. Most of the meetings went remarkbly well. She will be meetingwith the local reps in March for more detailed discussin on the shortfals i Kailtyn's future if cuts continue and door shut..and most importantly opening a couple from laws set into motion not understadin large families like ours.. meaning it is law that siblings can not live together and no more than 3 for supported living or supported employment so our long term plans of keeping their home and family if they choose is taken away from their options an them forced into a much higher costing living situation "not theirs" so we have some word changing to do. Kaitlyn is looking forward to her sef advocate role in the summer for National NDSC. Going to washington DC (grants) to attend will once again be life changing for her. Each time she learns so much more about her abilities. Kailtyn also spent a couple days with her birth mom andthat is always the highlight of any get together.
Steven is in love andwill meltat the mention of "her name" too cute. He is lettin his hair grow so no mohowk right now..h is trying to take over Justi Beibers network at this time.. Steven continus to love school, the experiences he is getting from going out into the community on CBI (community based instruction) are highlights for him. He is also in charge of Birthday cakes for his class. I on the other hand am having to remind myself of "shaving" Steven or the facil hair is all over... a young man for sure.
Jordan is having some health issues which are setting off morenegative behaviors. I hope soon the medications bring his blood levels within range and he can feel better. He continues to loose weight as this all plays a role on him daily. School has been understanding and supprtive. He remains fully included in ge ed classes with his paraprofessional helping ward off isues..
Tressa is flying on clouds as she is acouple days way from a birth family visit and she can not wait to have her special time. She has been struggling with he PWS issues and I hope this helps calm her anxiety.
Kaitlyn is 17 yrs old now, can not even believe it for a minute. SHe is in her final months of her freshman in High School years. Her favorite classes are American Sign Language, Band (clarinet) and Drama. She is in the band concert this spring and also a role in the annual school play this year Beauty and the Beast. She is in charge of sewing 12 aprons for the set, she started on them this weekend. She is confused on why they are asking for boring white cheap looking aprons when she makes beautifull colorful ones with ruffles and color fabric. Kaitlyn just traveled to Tallahassee with the family for Developmental Disabilities Day and made 5 appointments wth Senators and Representatives. Most of the meetings went remarkbly well. She will be meetingwith the local reps in March for more detailed discussin on the shortfals i Kailtyn's future if cuts continue and door shut..and most importantly opening a couple from laws set into motion not understadin large families like ours.. meaning it is law that siblings can not live together and no more than 3 for supported living or supported employment so our long term plans of keeping their home and family if they choose is taken away from their options an them forced into a much higher costing living situation "not theirs" so we have some word changing to do. Kaitlyn is looking forward to her sef advocate role in the summer for National NDSC. Going to washington DC (grants) to attend will once again be life changing for her. Each time she learns so much more about her abilities. Kailtyn also spent a couple days with her birth mom andthat is always the highlight of any get together.
Steven is in love andwill meltat the mention of "her name" too cute. He is lettin his hair grow so no mohowk right now..h is trying to take over Justi Beibers network at this time.. Steven continus to love school, the experiences he is getting from going out into the community on CBI (community based instruction) are highlights for him. He is also in charge of Birthday cakes for his class. I on the other hand am having to remind myself of "shaving" Steven or the facil hair is all over... a young man for sure.
Jordan is having some health issues which are setting off morenegative behaviors. I hope soon the medications bring his blood levels within range and he can feel better. He continues to loose weight as this all plays a role on him daily. School has been understanding and supprtive. He remains fully included in ge ed classes with his paraprofessional helping ward off isues..
Tressa is flying on clouds as she is acouple days way from a birth family visit and she can not wait to have her special time. She has been struggling with he PWS issues and I hope this helps calm her anxiety.
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