3 2 1 REALITY ROCKS

Faces of Anne Frank; Highlighting the Pringle family

2011-12-06T07:07:00.005-05:00

January 5 - 31, 2012
Join me January 11th for a personal appearance
Project Tolerance: Faces of Anne Frank
4760 Tamiami Trail North
Suite 7
Sandalwood Square
Naples, FL 34103

Sanibel artist, Myra Roberts brings her considerable talent to bear as she explores the life of Anne Frank.

The exhibit consists of 25 original oil paintings with select excerpts from Anne's diary. To accompany the paintings,

Ft. Myers - based journalist, Ella Nayor, explores the stories of Southwest Floridians who experienced the Holocaust, as well as people who have experienced intolerance in our world today.

FUNDRAISER FOR Z'S ADOPTION FEES

2011-12-05T23:37:00.003-05:00

The grant applied for has not rendered a decision,a deposit of $2,700.00 has been paid; it is important this attorney get her fees paid asap; agency's priority. If anyone wishes to assist at any level please feel free....Z is a very special needs child, she has Prader-willi syndrome, a double curve scoliosis on her spine, enlarged head and Von Williebrand disease which will require life long care ... I am capable of caring for her daily needs, meeting all her medical, schooling and Doctors visits which are many...I know PWS well and can meet her many needs, I do not have $6,000.00 to send to this attorney. The progress Z has made is insurmountable as recorded in her therapy notes since in our home Sept 2011 under love and guidance. please see www.pwsausa.org for details of the life long issues PWS presents. Von Williebrand disease which I knew nothing about; I have learned now it gets worse with age and is a bleeding disorder...

Heart of Adoptions, Inc.
418 West Platt Street
Tampa, FL 33606-2244
Ph(813) 258-6505
Fax: (813) 254-9058

File #:11-168

Balance Now Due

$6,030.86

TAX ID Number
59-3742329

BABY GIRL WITH PWS for ADOPTION

2011-12-02T08:03:00.000-05:00

a family trying to decide whether to place their four-month old daughter with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). They are wondering what some of our families are like. If you have experience with adopting and PWS, or are open to this situation, please email the CHASK office (please do not call). Mark your email Attn. PWS

chaskinfo@aol.com

2011-11-27T08:11:00.003-05:00

During this time of year my emotions go all over the board. I miss the old days where my family gathered together bringing hundreds of related people in one place to share fun times and yes be dressed to the 9's and exchange gifts. I miss the snow for moments...lol... I miss being a child unknowing of world problems. The Innocent years. At moments I feel sad that I am single, experiencing such a fulfilled daily life solo, no one to share the moment one of the children made a milestone, said something remarkable or cuddle in adult conversation....and the touch of a man in a loving way.. I crave it in the moments I feel alone.. the times I slip into the what we do not have is also the dark side moments I find myself in every once in awhile...if only we had... AND THEN: I start the project which is the annual Holiday Party. I do call it a holiday party for reasons I am not the founder and I follow rules set forth as I represent a variety of families of all faith. So the planning starts and it sometimes seems overwhelming until a person then two step up to help, another and another volunteer contact me and the invitations to RSVP go out... my email has some days 300 emails to open, my phone rings off the wall and my home mailbox is full daily...and my life is so busy I have no time to think of sadness...until the letter comes.. My world turns completely around when the message that some one who NEEDS to be at our annual parent to parent support Holiday dinner/dance/social/gift giving=FUN NIGHT occurs...yet I read that they have not been able to make their rent nor electric bill this month and even if the car wasn't broke down they would not have the money for gas to make it to the party... I go back to How lucky I am to own a home, have my bills paid, have gas in my van (much of the month) how grateful I am I have means to provide today.. the letter thanks me for all my work in putting together such a party .. then the next letter I open, asking for the gifts to be uniforms as that is priority in the lives of their children, and another that calls on the phone to say thank you for the kindness; crying that she can not afford milk until December 1st and her small child is crying for milk.. I hang up the phone knowing that a small part of my help will make one night, one part of this season shine a tad bit brighter for a family. I share all my knowledge to assist the mom to get milk, I am sure on top of uniforms my firemen will get toys and if I have the magical connections I have in the past, some way the family without rent paid will have a ride to and back from the party so they can have a worry free night on December 20th 2011...so how on earth can I think that my being single, having less than some or any other thought other than grateful for everything here at the Pringle home.. this is my Christmas for Mary...I do not know where my spirit would be this time of year if I did not have this event to lead...I pray for peace, happiness and more than anything I pray our country comes within healthy boundaries before we destroy the true meaning of humanity.

2011-11-20T17:56:00.003-05:00

Today it just deems appropriate to be a blog day and let the face book absorb the rest of you....

So we can start from the top... My oldest is nursing my grandson who has phenomena along with some nasty double ear infections..after a week of fevers a trip to the ER she is ready for a long weekend of calm... THANK GOODNESS IT IS THANKSGIVING WEEKEND in 3 days it will start.. Mandie is doing a quiet family dinner skipping the whole let's all get together and eat ourselves into slumber..

Michelle is join the feast here, the kids all have a piece of the meal to prepare..and we will be doing movies this year..well we had a plan... the plumber will make or break our plans tomorrow...

Kory, you know you just have to say...he is who he is and we love him because of who he is.. I have had much less communication with him over the past year and this wonderful woman up Nor ht took the role ...she is a mom of a 6 year old... she is dealing with all of Kory's talents and not such talents.. Kory is Kory.. So I finally catch up to Kory to learn he and the girlfriend are moving in together.. they have found a home to start family life..He was picking up the key and had a lot of excitement in his voice. He shared it was a big house near the city but in the country.. all about where I grew up...He said 6 bedrooms and a full basement.. I added GREAT we can come crash for a winter vacation.. He said yes yes, we will have spare bedrooms for guests... I said well Kory we can crash in the basement and be out of the way... So here it goes.....Kory is Kory is Kory. Mom, no kids will be aloud in the basement, that is where the hot tub, bar pool table and STRIPPER POLE is.... yes, you know starting FAMILY LIFE... I have no idea who's family this boy grew up in....LOL If he didn't look so much like my mom I would accuse the hospital of switching him at birth, he can not be form my gene pool. Pool girl has a root awakening. He does give me a smile on my face and helps me understand why having him 1000 miles away keeps the long strong...LOL

Erin is in town continuing to move forward in her relation ship with her man.. she has had a long road in relationship building, the whole ups and downs of reality relationship and working through to the other side and surviving through it has been regarding and educational for her. I am so proud of all her effort, I know it is much easier to give up than working through tough relationships but the reward in the end is so worth it.... I can 't wait to share some down time with her and Lara over the holidays. The year passes so quickly being as busy as she is working and raising her daughter we see each other briefly time to time.

Josh is growing up quickly with the approaching child and he becoming a DAD a DAD, the role he seems to be embracing very responsibly. He has been working, saving to get into a home for the three of them before the birth, he has decided if it is a boy it is a Jr... his name sake, I am sure that is HUGE in his world of belonging. I am so proud of his maturity over the past year. April will be life changing for him and I am excited... picked up a bib...what happens at Grandmas stays at grandmas.. too cute. Most everything is made either for a boy or a girl so I need to wait a couple months to start shopping... He wants a boy so I secretly am praying he gets his boy although I know either will be fine once they lay eyes on one another.

Keirsten is days away from her 18th Birthday ... the good lord must have some sort of plan up his sleeve for this child... if not we are all in trouble. I will leave it at that... My frustration might seep through in ways I would rather it not...

Kaitlyn has Cheer comp. this Friday.. means I am driving back to Orlando on Friday like 5 am.. I pray everyone is at the mall ...who in their right mind chose black Friday to have a state wide cheer competition.. obviously, not a bargain shopper..and the day after Thanksgiving. really did they look at the calendar??? i would pay someone to take her at this point.

Steven is letting his hair grow out, slicking it to the side and wanting Sarah to spend the night... WATCH OUT..... he was too cute when asking if Sarah could spend the night and even had the bed (IN HIS ROOM) where she could sleep. you know the girls have girls sleep over, should be OK... NOT!.... he seemed a tad startled when I said no way...

Jordan was a riot today.. first I really wanted home made soup, Brocc/cheese so I started it this morning, in a slow cooker, the ck both, potatoes a couple carrots and broccoli with some spices, butter... so I put the lid on tight and ...I walk into the kitchen to find all the peels and a cup of pepper added... so I remove and rinse and start over..THANKS JORDAN.... we go to the grocery store to pick up cheese (doesn't wash well) and we take our time choose a couple Christmas movies, he chooses a new T shirt for the holidays, and at the check out he has to choose, put something back to get gum or no gum... I am busy and he blurts out HA HA HA I GOT GUM and starts going through the bags in the cart.. I look on the receipt and sure enough he tossed it up as the second to the last item.. I look up and at WALMART customer service is EMPTY... I said..Oh no it must be returned and we walked into returns and I had him tell why he has to return the gum...he did not have permission to put that on the belt and I paid all my money for it after I said no... He signed his name on the return slip J.P. told her he was sorry and we got our dollar six back his head hung low, he looked back at the gum and seemed SHOCKED no one was giving in.... He must have looked back five or six times and we exited the store, maybe he thought the gum would some how come after him?????

Tressa did her photos today for Christmas, too cute, she was excited. Thank goodness we got several bathes out of the way early today because someone stood on the outside sprocket and the pipe ripped and water is squirting out all over the place.$$$$$$ the dishwasher is almost done and laundry almost complete so the main water switch will go off until I get the plumber here in the morning. School tomorrow yeah, I need a 1/2 day yes, half days mon and tues then off Wed to next Monday... but this means 2 more early morning wake ups..YEAH!.

Lucas has been under the weather, his class had a terrible outbreak of chicken pox so I have kept him home and think I will until next Monday.. no sense in chancing it. He has had his shots but there were some pretty sick kids there... Whats 2 more 1/2 days...

Emma well she is a red headed fire cracker... growing and spoiled like no ones business.. she is fascinated in the lights bulbs and music this Holiday season is going to be so much fun with her.

Zoe, no one can believe how much she is walking, talking, progressing..she is a smart little girl and has so much drive...Where's Emma, Where's Emma and she says it so cute.

So there it is, my baby's .... now if Florida would have a slight cool spell because putting Christmas decorations up and in this heat is just dreadful.

2011-10-26T20:47:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth Anne Barrows | October 26, 2011 | Obituary

CAPE CORAL POP WARNER CHEERLEADER

2011-10-26T07:19:00.001-04:00

Kaitlyn is in her first year of cheerleading... She loves it.

Annual Holiday event underway

2011-10-26T07:15:00.001-04:00

HOLIDAY PARTY 2011

December 20th

Families in Area 8 with chilren who have disabilities
A NIGHT TO CELEBRATE

Grace Community Center
4151 Hancock Bridge Parkway
N. Fort. Myers, FL 33903

Check in open at 5:15pm (only registered guests please.)
Dinner is buffet style starting 5:45
Santa and Mrs Claus arrive 6:30~ each family has personal time with Santa
Gifts for all the children 14 yr and younger RSVP required for this reason.

Holiday attire suggested not required, photos available, Dancing via DJ
arts and crafts for the children and much much more

RSVP REQUIRED email pringleclan@msn.com

Falling into place

2011-10-21T07:43:00.002-04:00

Since my face book seems so lop sided on Kaitlyn lately I thought a blog on all the children and our lives would be in order.

#1, yes we have been nominated for the gift Extreme Makeover Home edition with many local/ and beyond writing in for our family. THANK YOU ALL. It is a hurry up and wait to see process. I believe we have all beginning paperwork into be considered. I will not even begin to go into the world of change it would make for us...Life changing for sure.

Because nothing is a given we have had to do some repairs, a new air conditioner went in a couple weeks ago just at the time the weather broke to fall ...NICE, I continued with the attic being blown in insulation as they found bad ducts we patched and then the overall problem of not having AC in the family room continues since the contractor can not reasonably come to a solution to get duct work out the attic over the room and through a flat roof with no room to pull it through Joice's... sound like I know what I am talking about... well it has been one huge head ache a lot of money spent and the overall issue of 80 to 90 degrees during the summer in our family room IS NOT SOLVED. EXTREME MAKEOVER I am sure could solve that problem,,,and many more.. we will tackle one thing at a time.

Keirsten is weeks away from her 18th Birthday; one day it is a positive future plan with the next not Moms idea of positive but one can only pray... She has her good days and her not so good days.

Kaitlyn...well if you are a part of my facebook you know she has a loaded calendar and one BUSY High School freshman...and I could not be happier.

Steven also a freshman is doing well, he is now working at Marshall's 2 hours a day a couple of days a week. He helps them with stock, he is a great helper. Steven will be the first to help me at home, loves routine in chores and life. He is growing into a young man with great character.

Jordan is doing good this year, he has a new male para at school 1:1 which has taken him a bit to get use to the manly man attending vs the Motherly style the past paras have been. He still seeks to stay home often although not much of a chore to get him on the bus when reminded the weekend is coming.. kind of like most working adults. Jordan has lost nearly 35 lbs, grown taller LOOKS AMAZING!!! Cutting out junk food is the key.

Tressa is now in the third grade doing OK, making progress but falling more behind her class peers, I am struggling with how to get her the right help in the right school and right educational setting for Tressa. Even considering home school if the supports are in place.. She is a master at manipulation, OCD can get the best of her but when the pencil hits the paper and she is "on" she can do it. My dream would be for ADA to pass that Matrix funds could be filted to home schooling, all in my dream home of course but the funds that come with IEP supports I could hire a teacher for my children and provide QUALITY hands on education. BUT as far as I know today home school children do not get the funds to follow their need...seems so unfair to me since our schools are failing our children miserably. With that said, I do have a good school although funding cuts have hit ESE and I believe with the $$ they get that is driven for my child, if provided to the child it would be a world of difference. So she has also lost 11 lbs as the house hold has PCA in it now and that is a GREAT SUPPORT having two and sometimes 4 extra eyes..hands to help out. Tressa is an amazing child, what she retains in her mind is incredible, I need it all focused in the right direction to provide her a career and future.

Lucas, he is now in a social communication classroom which reports are coming about how intelligent he is.. YES HE IS... right now all that brain power is going haywire in some negative seeking directions but his master manipulative skills take lots of thought processing. He has mastered pulling the fire alarm with only split second opportunities which are planned NOT TO OCCUR... LOL needless to say on one of the hardest raining days his entire school had to evacuate the building out into the rain for a Lucas pull.. OUCH! Again fast learner...at a conference he say a child do this and within the hour he did it and has managed two more pulls since.. never had an interest until the lights, sirens, hotel went completely mad...(hysterical in his mind) so action vs reaction... works. Otherwise he continues to get so tall, learning and doing very well eating. His playground skills 100% and life is good for little Tibi who no one thought would amount to much... He is set out to prove much different.

Emma will be three in march, we just started her paperwork to transition into the public school although I am seeking a private smaller setting for her. My fear is that she is so oral and so very visual she will pich up every disgusting germ and behavior known to a big school campus. She is a quiet well behaved mommas girl with fire red/orange hair and a disposition to match. I LOVE HER JUST THE WAY SHE IS... she will have so much fire in life to achieve great things.

Zoe, the other two... she has been a Pringle for about a month, she is doing amazing things truly amazing.. Her speech is loaded with words, her tone has increased 10 fold and she is walking to push toys, talking for wants and needs...now you all didn't think it was perfect...she has a temper when she is asked to do a non preferred task LOOK OUT. She can scream, thrash her head and make a grown person say hmmm so we are working on behavior modification which comes with time ... she is learning it just doesn't work for her so no need to even go there. I did have her PT ask for a raise with my two 2 years old so strong willed and non complaint when they are here... both do all therapy tasks when not requested... I see Zoe as a leader, an achiever and for sure very inventive.

Some know we have been asked to expand our family one more time. So much is in the decision stages I can not share at this time although many things depend on many things... As soon as I am able to share more info I will... We are all doing well, planning for this holiday season, starting the Santa lists, planning a month vacation in July to be at the national Down syndrome NDSC in Washington DC for a complete education trip...and many other exciting things... November we are planning our Thanksgiving in Atlanta, the kids are excited. Christmas will be at home, and the new year will bring many new journey's for this Pringle crew...I am excited!

2011-09-30T07:32:00.002-04:00

EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME EDITION casting for our area AGAIN....email for us if you wish
"Hopefully we all can change the lives of a Lee County family.-- Jeff"

Jeff Thieme, Casting Associate Producer
Extreme makeover: Home Edition
Tel: 818.824.9602
Fax: 818.824.9699
E-mail: jeff.thieme@emhe.tv

It is beyond words what this would mean for our family. Email me if you have any specific questions.

Emma and Zoe (Virtual twins).. 2 yrs old a week apart

2011-09-30T00:55:00.002-04:00

Disney Dream provided thru MAKE A WISH

2011-09-30T00:38:00.003-04:00

2011-09-30T00:11:00.002-04:00

I have been quiet I know although it never means I have not been busy...I have to come out of denial and say I am more addicted to Face Book right now. Also some time blogging makes me face the fact my time is limited.

Since school has started I have taken a back seat to my high energy advocacy to watch exactly what happens when I back off.... well Kaitlyn came home last Thurs to tell me what a fun time she had doing puzzles at school, she did three. a cat, a dinosour and a spiderman puzzle.. I have yet to set a meeting as to how that relates to her IEP goals.. PUZZLES ARE FOR HOME and sleepovers not educatioanl HIGH SCHOOL settings. Ok, so many of my peeps know I have an addition.. Her name is Zoe and she is 2 years old with a disability I have no idea how I dove back into again BY CHOICE>.. Prader-willi syndrome and on top of that she also has Von willieburg syndrome... she is a twin and her Mother could not with all her might fall in love to bond. After several attempts to locate an experienced PWS mom to adopt this beautiful little girl the writing was on the wall and she is now here to stay..and... I have found my 9 years experience with Tressa has this journey off on a better ground..wisdom is grand. The journey will be full of ups and downs but I am a wiser PWS momma today and I feel itin my parenting of her already.

So from the top.... Kiersten continues to struggle with almost 18 and her desire to run away with the boyfriend to a fairy land of make believe, to lets take our meds get stable and function in this real world we wake up to .. depends on where she is in her program (bipolar) to how her thinking is...oh dear sweet child of mine, this is horrible as a teen with so much going on inside their bodies.. I am hated then loved in all of three minutes... I pray for a level of peace as she journey's to adulthood and can manage a stable base... pray for her she needs the worlds support.

Kaitlyn, well she is a riot, my High School girl who has so many aspirations. She is back playing the clarinet, in cheerleader, thinks she is Lucas' mom and loves with every ounce of her being having her big sister back in Florida. Michelle moved back to Florida in June which has been such a delight. Kaitlyn is very close with Michelle and missed her immensely while she was away.

Steven is still rocking the Mohawk, he has a girlfriend and is really moving into a very cool dude personality. I have a very hard time keeping girly trash tabloid magazines out of his room, Keirsten is forever searching for her Victoria Secrets catalog... LOL Teen age boys..

Jordan's wish came true and he went on his Disney Cruise.. He did not see much of Peter Pan although Jack Sparrow was at his beck and call one night with Goofy coming along to swipe beads and treasures from the pirate chest and wow did my children have Cpt Jacks back...Kaitlyn took a mighty swing to Goofy and Jordan hunted him down until the loot was returned.. The entire cruise on board the Disney Dream was a dream come true for Jordan. MAKE A WISH rocked that one.

Tressa is doing amazing on her weight, and PWS issues.. I am impressed even with the OCD lately although school has taken a back seat..Why is it she can manage either at home or at school and not both places.. I need her to focus and do well in school.. I signed up for this they well...they did but didn't so for her best interest I need her to fly right and school and do her best at home.. She is such a smart little girl and will make amazing goals in her life.

Lucas is moving forward each month ..He has been a miracle for sure.. I just love watching him manage through each activity, challenge and just life. he has so much going on although works hard to keep people on their toes as he can meticulously manipulate many with out them even realizing it. And walks away laughing..

Emma, she is continuing to hold out on the walking, I see 6 to 8 steps and then down she goes.. Her personality is electric and I just love my days with her.. She keeps me young.

Zoe .. She has been with us a short time.10 days ... about 6 before the honeymoon crash.. for those not in placements it is when they feel at home and test the waters/rules// see what their talents can get away with. She is tough but I am tougher so we have had a few battles of will and you betcha she gave in and put her toys away.. she stopped screaming for food, it is one day at a time. I am patient and persistent. I negotiate and have been to about every rodeo out there so bring it on.. I have experienced it at least once before...she is 2.. how hard can it be...Oh yeah but I have 2 two year olds... really it is keeping me young, life is great.

Week 2, loosing faith.....time to get things turned around.

2011-08-16T06:50:00.002-04:00

A week into this school year and I have not even gotten the first meeting blog posted because things are not going well.....I am figuring to get the kids' education back on track it will require all the professionals MY PROFESSIONALS around the table and possibly getting Tallahassee back involved...It is now getting to the point it is blatant ignorance. Not following their IEP and using grey areas to use against educating my children to their needs. I am sad to have this happen after years of success but it is obvious... Their homework and some lack there of, the placements, conversations, and underhanded games being played to keep the kids secluded from general education and avoiding inclusion.. INCLUSION IS LAW and it might be time our county is held accountable... Building a tight very very tight IEP is on it's way, no more nice gal here.....

J.P.'s cruisewear

2011-08-16T06:20:00.004-04:00

Local couple doing the shirts for us, THANK YOU. Email if you would like their contact info. They are just breaking into this business... makes any event more special.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

2011-08-08T06:37:00.003-04:00

now, what do I do???? The kids are off to school, the wash is started, dishes done, house well, that is an annual project.. it is the first day ya know...it is tidy...my cup of coffee is almost empty and my day is about to begin...it is too quiet, Emma is confused; she is sleeping...

Life seems to be flying by, I can not believe it is the first day of school. I feel like we just finished yesterday last year.. The summer did not give me enough time with the kids, can't wait for our cruise to enjoy non stop alone time, no phones, no meetings, no bills, nothing but fun in the sun.

Lee County (where we live) was named a high-performing district because it received an A grade from the state based on students' Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test results.The district chose the earlier start date so it can end the semester prior to the winter break, allowing students to wrap up exams and projects before they leave for two weeks

The weekend we spent getting things in order, check the lists to be sure all supplies where in book bags, clothes fit and everything is in order on their shelf. If there is anything I have done to get organized is their book bag/shoes/clothes for the day shelf by the front door is my life saver. Everything we need to get out the door is set out the day before and ready to go... We use this for family outings as well like if we have a Sunday event to be at we set it up ...

the kids lost weight (all but one/Kaitlyn) this summer; some of the clothes I had gotten did not fit..Jordan is our biggest looser this summer, her had bulked up giving even further concerns about his health but putting him on a strict 1200 cal day intake brought the pudgy boy back in line. YEAH! Now the one oppps this morning is he only has one shoe... yikes, they are not that old and special made for him..He has flat feet and angulation of his big toes causing all his toes to start moving inward. He has his high tops on for today (not special made) this is the direction of my day, dig for lost treasures...One black boys left shoe... maybe he dropeed it at the mall...LOL LOL LOL no, that can't be.

It is too quiet, I need to get up off this computer and do something......

GET OUT AND V O T E, it is our only hope.

2011-08-05T18:03:00.004-04:00

You know it seemed like maybe not blogging allowed me to live in denial.. I am laughing as I type this but it sure makes me re-think my day when I share parts with you all and in doing so makes many things I encounter come to the surface for a re-boil... I am in the year 2011-2012 right?? We are moving forward in society correct?? Yes yes I know we are in a bit of a depression, they call it recession but my generation this is as bad as it gets, our friends are homeless, many people we know are out of work with terribly high college loans calling while they can't figure out how to put a meal on the table. No, we are not in the desert with tumble weeds blowing over our dehydrated bodies, with cowboys and lone rangers riding up horseback but sure seems like it when you see families walking from the homeless shelters about town trying to fill their day and news reporters rolling by...all the same we feel the drain of the economy as many did in the 30's.. BUT my goodness, turn the corner and there ya go..... you know where this is going, Chevron, GE and all those tax breaks, loop holes folks not paying taxes but getting political forums right where they want them, while they go home to their over 6 figure incomes ---Don't get me wrong, JUST PAY YOUR FAIR SHARE....should make us all want to GET OUT AND VOTE.

What good is getting rights when they can not and are not being given.....who is enforcing them.....

OK, you want to know what the heck happened today...

Today SCHOOL YEAR 2011-2012 at our local school a teacher very proud to be a new member of the faculty introduces herself as the new HANDICAP teacher.... YEPPERS....
H A N D I C A P.... my beloved school has taken a couple steps back which I was warned a few years ago from Dr Jill England who so graciously came to my aide and met with our school to help give inclusion direction...only to learn our district has stacked the deck against the possibility of an INCLUSIVE SCHOOL being inclusive because the number of ESE children being railroaded into one school out weighs normal balances and makes the school itself NO INCLUSIVE by population... OH MY!! Oh I am not surprised.. I will take responsibility for a small piece of the problem. I did brag to the heavens what a great school it is what a wonderful job they did including Kaitlyn and how much Kaitlyn achieved because of this schools inclusive practices... but those are slipping.... and things are not so wonderful..better than others by far. I heard a new teacher who is in the Pre-K say oh I am in the LIFESKILLS CLASS...LIFE SKILLS at 3, 4, 5 and 6 years old...HELLO ....Aren't all 3 to 6 year old learning life's skills (COLORS, NUMBERS, NAME, SHAPES) INCLUSIVE LIFESKILLS....come on cut it out... leave off life skills... such nonsense. Oh yes I have already; many years ago, been bombarded by the assigned bulldog teacher who comes to the IEP to inform the young families that school is way different today kids are reading complete chapter books starting first grade... HOG WASH, some yes are some always have been and a good part of the general population fails the FCAT gets 1 & 2's and slips through the cracks... A HUGE AMOUNT OF OUR POPULATION classified Gen ed getting 1's and 2's on the FCAT have fallen through the cracks. SO stop labeling kids and teach, I remember learning so much from the smart kids where it came easy for them...I remember them helping me learn some short cuts for math, how to win over the social studies teacher with news clips and current events, They made class interesting, then you had the person who made a lesser grade than you and they needed you.. we were peers, students, friends, peers, neighbors... Heck they are some of the most meaningful relationship I ever had. Where is Education gone? Only teach the ones it comes easy for?? I remember some super teachers who I couldn't wait to get to their class because they made learning so interesting, exciting... and yes I had a few that I am not sure they even liked teaching. You must know what I learned more of..From...
Tonight I struggle with my oldest, well my two oldest (at home) although Kaitlyn is my girl the one I learned so much from and want to be there for here to the end. She wants to be a teacher, she wants to work, have a job, pay her own bills and buy her own things, she wants her own apartment and I know when it hits her she is going to want to buy a house with a pool near the beach. I want her to reach as far as she can... I struggle with all the work I put into an IEP and give an inch and they take a mile... I say OK lets use resource classrooms and now she is ONLY in ESE complete classes...Well where is the % what does it mean (more than 40%, but less than or equal to 79% with NON ESE) Lets figure it out... All but her one class is NON ESE and that is a block schedule so only every other day.... REALLY REALLY do you expect her to meet friends who are NON ESE for lunch... WHO is monitoring that?? OH this gives them the right to count because under the roof is NON ESE... NOT IN MY CALCULATIONS... Let's figure the 79% out....the HALLS??? THE BATHROOM??? Please the boil is rising... Time for an IEP at the HIGH SCHOOL TO MEET MRS. PRINGLE and all you condescending people who I have not had the pleasure of working with yet, CUT THE SHIT ..... it is my daughter we are talking about. It is what SHE WANTS!!! She is an AMERICAN, she is 16, she is in HIGH SCHOOL, and she wants to be in the seat next to her PEERS... cut the crap about the law ...BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT THE LAW SAYS... today the ESE staff said, well if you want her to get a special diploma she by law must take this and that... I. E. P. PRINGLE STYLE please....SUNNY SIDE UP!!! I say let's just EDUCATE. VOTE VOTE VOTE....school board members, city, county, state and USA....get leaders who lead in the RIGHT DIRECTION!

Personal interactions equals, EDUCATION

2011-08-05T09:24:00.000-04:00

Today Tressa and Kaitlyn educate a small population of future educators and medical professionals. As students from our local community college prepare to enter FGCU in Ft Myers they celebrate their completion of 2 years of education preparing (AA) Today Kaitlyn and Tressa join the class as part of a meet and greet; their future students/patients. Each of the students are seeking futures working with persons with disabilities. They have gotten basic text book learning about these individuals, heading to learn about teaching and medical through TEXT BOOKS; today they will have faces and personalities which will balance the playing field going in...make it personal...make it NORMAL. Many students had NO IDEA that enrolling my children with special needs into school was any different than enrolling any neighborhood child. Many had NO IDEA that children age 6 would have had an IQ test. They had no idea children would be tested to figure out what class they would fall into. My explanation as a parents view, why I feel so strong not to place my children in group settings with all people in that setting disabled was very informative to them. They "got it" but also admit their training is not geared to my views of inclusion in their upcoming training from what they are hearing. They are choosing a path...teacher or special education teacher... HOW CAN THIS BE in 2011-2012. How can law say one thing and our higher education for learning still be giving instruction back in the 70's.... You know in the 70's is when "inclusion" "mainstreaming" was coming to the surface to be what is best for all children.. we can work on the typical child with stereotypes, prejudices and also include the child that NEEDS to be included to meet their highest potential. I hope today starts their thinking about their path a little differently.

My personal belief is we were clicking along to make that reality and then the boom of Autism occurred and the school system became overwhelmed and fled a safe path, a path a resistance to all.... BLOCK THEM AT THE DOOR like back in the 50's... Change is hard for Humans, change is hard for all living things.. no one said life is easy. I challenge anyone to walk in the shoes of any one of my children for one week to learn how easy life is compared... I often say "I wish I could spend time in Steve's world" He seems so care free, so pure...reality is, he is in this world ALONE without help, if I were to let Steven be at his own will he would be alone, pouring water or sand endlessly... He would never know there are bigger more exciting attractions in our world, that the magazines he so loved to flip through actually have words and meaning ..a story and information. Learning opens our world. I really would never want to be secluded from the friends, world I have open to me...and I know my children are happy that they also have their world open to them. I do not ask Kaitlyn if she wants to be a greeter at Walmart or a bagger at Publix, many times I hear this from the professionals..You know Kaitlyn will be able to be a greeter at Walmart or a bagger at Publix...YOU KNOW WHAT... Kaitlyn can file, copy, fax, clean like no one I know so she could very well work in an office, she is 16 and I will not project anything less than the sky for my children.. We need all the folks that work with or for our children raise their expectations, see the world OPEN to accepting my children, they need higher goals, higher realities...Everyone has a place and no one should be blocked from reaching their goals..
Please do not send hate mail about greeter and baggers, I am full aware there are happy individuals in those positions, I simply say that is not Kaitlyn's goal and no one should say because she has a disability that is her goal... I am a supporter of both and all companies because there are many who hire people with disabilities when many others do not.. KUDDOS to all those who have opened the world already.

I am excited for this small group of individuals, they all have my business card with an invite to hop on the blog, join my facebook and email or call at any time as they journey through the next years for a parents perspective.

Action Plan 2012.......ignite the torch

2011-07-29T23:00:00.004-04:00

INCLUSION, you all know my fight to include my children is priority. I had some wonderful years in Elementary school including the kids..INCLUSION means that my children are not secluded to another area because of their disability..it is being a person like all others.. BUT in the school system they simply do not understand this passion at all.. You see even though some very in depth, expensive completely factual research proved that children with down syndrome should and will succeed in classrooms that are general education settings with the person who has Down syndrome being the ONLY child in the classroom with a disability. THAT IS INCLUSION, in the real would one person with a disability in every 20 so why would a classroom of 20 have any more than one in there that has a disability. THAT IS NOT NORMAL. So now I learn that i have been conned..yep that IA which I was told the past three years is for the children who score a 1 or 2 on their FCAT and need extra help. I learn now the IA is the old VE VARIED ACCEPTIONALITIES and that all students in the IA setting are ALL IEP students varied ages 14 to 22 and THEY CLUSTER 9th to 12th grade TOGETHER..how INCLUSIVE IS THAT??? REALLY??? Come on, so my tiny freshman is in class all day with a senior boy(S) How is that NORMAL...INCLUSIVE in my opinion it is a bad situation waiting to happen. REALLY is that a safe place and REALLY WHAT ARE THEY LEARNING...REALLY. So how is this happening when the LAW IS CLEAR..INCLUSION IS LAW, that the least restrictive environment is the LAW and if that does not work with all the supports and services in place something less can be put on the table for discussion NOT JUST A GIVEN... Where do the officials think they are helping our future.. Do they really believe breaking the law is OK for them?? How is it so wide spread and why is it so under the table.... CRAP I SAY!! If I had some funds I would pay an attorney to take this on...CAN I SAY IA my A**! CLUSTER is the word THEY are CLUSTERING KIDS 9th to 12th grade...REALLY... COME ON!!! So I have a much bigger job than I ever imagined... and it is stewing to figure out my plan of action. I can not continue to sit here saying Liars Liars PANTS on FIRE...ACTION is my plan... yes, I am drafting an ACTION PLAN.

And the journey 2011/2012 has begun

2011-07-26T19:06:00.004-04:00

Getting back at the wheel here is refreshing to have my outlet, I want you to all know these are my views and often I write from my heart so if I offend anyone it is not my intent , it is my intent to share my inner most feelings about my journey parenting today and the daily issues I face...

I struggled if I should post but today I had a meeting with Kaitlyn's new High School to set her schedule. we went on to their website and found the Freshman work sheet that is clearly a choice of classes, choices, lots of choices.. It is easy to follow. You start at the top and these are mandatory classes and then step two you choose and here is step three and you sign your child signs... Seems simple enough. Well that is for THOSE OTHER KIDS. Today we had one option..well I am not really sure option is the factor. You see we went to get the schedule and were put into a conversation about LIFE SKILLS. My child is 16 was FULLY INCLUDED K-5th successfully. Her best education growth was K-5th. We went IA for Middle school because the powers that be said it is best for middle school....for three years Kaitlyn made NO GROWTH.. she reads at the level she read in 5th if not a little less. She loves to read, she loves to learn, she loves school. So today even the words LIFE SKILLS seemed so inappropriate .. of course they added that it is full of HIGH FUNCTIONING GIRLS "we just love our girls in there" OK what is with this.. Come on it is 2011 and INCLUSION IS LAW... I wounder if their child was told she needed to go to the place under the bridge to shop, she can only buy things that are yellow.. I tell you it gets me right to the core of my heart.. HOW DARE PEOPLE.. My child deserves to be educated in the seat next to her peers and I simply and getting tired of repeating that. Why is it so easy for people to just assume my child would be better off in the rooms over there, those that are in close proximity to one another so they are CLUSTERED FOLKS ... they are singled out and DISCRIMINATED... because do not think for a minute you are not LABELING THEM... you have set THEIR CLASSES with lights and sirens for the "cool people" KNOW who is whom... PLEASE STOP !!!! Educate all children all together and do the job TEACH!!! Just TEACH. Especially the child who wants to be taught... I knew when i woke up this morning this was going to be a day.. I thank my higher power for the strength to keep the torch for my kids lit. I have a girl who wants to go to college, she wants to drive a car, she wants to be a teacher, she wants to have an apartment, she wants to shop and buy her own things... WHY THE HELL WOULD ANYONE STOP HER... because putting her in Life Skills is not going to teach her to deal with the real world. placing here in clusters that are not the normal world environments are not where she is going to live, she has no special walmart to shop or Publix to enter.. She is going to enter each place in this community that each and every other freshman is going to walk through the Entrance of and I want her prepared for that. OK, so I got her in sign language ..YEAH me.. LOL It is a foreign language.. it is imperative for her life long abilities because she has no handicap in her arms, hands or fingers so nothing will stop her from communicating like everyone else who signs and her world in signing will open like all other people who sign.. then we go on to signing up for swim team... they need to check on LIABILITY... for real that was said...When you come in Friday please check with the athletics department because we need to check on liability... have you EVER heard any one say that to your NON SPECIAL CHILD... OK ...I held it together because I have waited years for the day my child would enter the front doors of this school and I am excited for her... I really am I just was not fully prepared for the work ahead of me.... I feel like that mom back in 1997 in the front office enrolling her into the Kindergarten class where in a crowd of people I was told if her shots were not up to date she could not start school because of her CONDITION... I must say today I have a little more class than that moment I had not prepared to experience.. To be sure we did not have an epidemic of Down syndrome in the school I assured them her shots were up to date.

SUMMER FUN

2011-07-26T18:43:00.000-04:00

School August 8th the journey continues

2011-07-24T20:50:00.007-04:00

It has been a long time since I posted for many reason but the most disturbing was a letter from my ex husband that stated he is having people get information off my blog about my children. You see he made a choice in life to make it impossible to have any relationship with the children. He resides in a Florida prison for a child crime unthinkable. it was not during the time I had anything to do with him and after the divorce and after the courts had stopped his visits with the children so they were safe ...BUT never the less he is to have no contact with them and I will when his release time comes near file for a lifetime restraining order but the fact that some human would violate my right to have a safe secure home for my children rocked me to the core..To believe there are people out there that would violate my children took me to my knees..The fact one day I loved a man who really was no one I knew. I pray the person feels some sort of remorse.

I think the best way again is to start from the top.
Mandie is back to work but not for me. She is working full time in the world of disabilities as a supported living coach and supportive employment coach. She is loving the new role of helping people with disabilities find their abilities in life and their communities. She is natural. Her baby girl is growing up fast as are her two boys. She and her husband are busy working and love life. they plan to take a vacation in the fall on a cruise..We love cruising.

Michelle has just returned to Florida. She had moved to GA when the housing market went bust here and she was in the market industry but now is moving back to medical and working fro me in the house as a PCA for the children.. I wma very much enjoying Michelle back in my life especially my grandson. Her relationship is strong and the entire family hopefully will be in Florida by years end. It needs to be a safe secure move so taking the time to make it right.

Kory is in Illinois working on a farm, he loves the Independence and seems to enjoy being a big part of my brothers life in racing. Kory is single not in any serious relationship although he lives like a 21 year old; growing up one day, just not tomorrow.. LOL

Erin is living in the Cape, she has been struggling with kidney stones which have caused her great pain this past year. Her daughter did wonderful in school. She is in a new relationship which appears to make her glo.

Josh is in Illinois as well, he is working in the factory world getting back to college and making life long plans, he is in a new relationship although

Keirsten is 17 and a half now, she is making little progress on making plans for INDEPENDANCE, so she is more than likely NOT moving out the day she turns 18 as she has so threatened for a couple years. LOL

Kaitlyn starts HIGH SCHOOL in a couple weeks and it seems impossible!! She is super excited. She will attend some events at the school this week to help get use to the campus. She is going school shopping with her sister this week, she is very very happy to have her big sister Michelle back in her life.

Steven is entering High school, he did not get into the same school as Kaitlyn so he will be out on his own AGAIN.... I wish they could keep the kids in the same schools.. GOOD SCHOOLS. he is not excited at all because he really doesn't seem to be motivated so I need to help him choose a talent area, like his art and get him into some good art activities.

Jordan, he is getting a new para this year, a male and a male teacher so this year is going to be exciting. I am going to have a whole lot of work cut out for me because his last para was motivated to be a teacher and continued education as her choice .. I can not wait to meet these guys and see where this journey leads.. Jordan has been a little needy this summer and is going on anti depressants..one day at a time.

Tressa my million piece puzzle in the game called life.. LIFE... between tween years and PWS and OC .. wow she has taken me to levels of parenting I knew nothing about... we are doing well, she has had some studies this summer, her medical is amazing. I will attach the research studies completed that she is in. We entered many more and will yet another in October.

Lucas, the boy has grown like a weed this summer.. TALL.

Local Family Reacts To Gov. Scott's Change Of Heart On Disability Cuts

2011-04-12T23:08:00.000-04:00

Local Family Reacts To Gov. Scott's Change Of Heart On Disability Cuts

April 8, 2011 6:00 PM

2011-04-11T09:21:00.000-04:00

MY ROCK STARS!

2011-04-07T08:37:00.000-04:00

Gov Scott and staff,

seriously I feel this email is falling on deaf ears, not really deaf ears because that would mean you understood disabilities. I gave birth to three healthy beautiful children. I come from a well standing family; chose when I entered my career in Florida as a single Mother with a fashion degree management background to serve the people of Florida. I worked eleven years in the social welfare departments (economic services to foster/adoption services). I learned the need for foster parents and did my part caring for over 20 needy children, while I worked full time for the state. I then saw the need for adoptive parents; stepped up to the plate to do my civic duty (I had children/ was capable of having more)... I adopted one foster child who had bonded with our family in the 6 years it took his case to come to a decision.. a child with RAD, Bipolar and more.... Then a teen who was called a "lost cause" serous abuse.....she would have been a forgotten soul from the system; from there I worked over 40 hours serving the people of Florida and caring as a single mom for my healthy beautiful children and two more children by choice.. because I care about human life.

My biggest move in this journey was the day I met my daughter Kaitlyn. The day I said to myself, I must offer my life to this little girls family so she does not have to experience foster care.. She was just 3 yrs old having down syndrome, a pure angel. My first private adoption, keeping her from entering the doors of foster care. I continued to work and learn about disabilities.. I did more than my part of humanity serving the people of Florida... it was contagious, I learned more about unconditional love than I knew possible. It didn't take much to say yes again to a little boy with Down syndrome out of Miami Beach who was facing foster care if I did not step up.. and the story moves on to my retirement from the state welfare position to a full time professional mom to Florida's children. Today, I have persoanlly saved the state of Florida hundreds of thousands of dollars by keeping nine children out of foster care through private special needs adoption. I have given every ounce of my being to provide a well rounded medical and educationally enriched home for the children to achieve their highest potential and I am extremely proud of all their accomplishments...

I challenge you and your staff to experience a piece of this ... spend time in the life of a person with disabilities or the parent role and see first hand the hard work it takes; the rewards of feeling unconditional love. .. I am not asking you for anything more than experience because with that you will make more humane decision for our people of Florida who have disabilities. I have seen, I know and live the day to day effects. I ask you to believe in the people who voted you in and seek their insights to fix the broken system, do not cut their throats.... seek their wisdom.

Mary Beth Pringle

April 2, 2011 2:44 PM

2011-04-03T13:04:00.000-04:00

April 2, 2011 2:46 PM

2011-04-03T13:03:00.000-04:00

April 2, 2011 2:50 PM

2011-04-03T13:02:00.000-04:00

Lucas at home turn taking, counting pincer grasp

2011-03-26T12:52:00.000-04:00

Everything about Tressa's education academically is right on

2011-03-26T10:36:00.002-04:00

Tressa is second in the Pringle's in public education. She is repeating the second grade and doing much much better for the most part in completing her work, trying hard more times than not..She is on the general education track with no work modified taking the FCAT. She has her day modified to help meet her disability although her teach in my opinion having her a second year is feeling some parental grieving.. She is struggling with the effects of PWS ... Tressa is doing the "picking" which is consistent to the OCD that comes with a person having this diagnosis. not that we are not trying to deal with ways to curb it. Her teacher is very upset with the self inflicted harm and results which is blood all over her clothing.. I have gotten several calls about the break downs of self injurious behaviors.. I go to the school and Tressa wants to stay because she does not want to miss her AR tests.. Tressa picks her fingers BAD...I agree. She has melt downs over some things we would never see of value... She is food seeking more than 6 months ago (it comes and goes at this level) We are in PWS crisis...and her teacher is very close to her from a second year and it appears she is having more trouble dealing with the PWS behaviors than before...wants them to go away... She is very loving and kind but very very firm and consistent with Tressa which is all the reason why Tressa is doing so well in school. Damn PWS is one of the most cruel disabilities I have been in contact with.

2011-03-26T10:15:00.002-04:00

TWO I E P' s this week are making me think deep on what the future education plan is for the Pringle's...is it time I bring in the Federal level DOE to see the nonsense I live through... I need to figure out exactly where my energy needs directed to better serve my children.. I have fought a good fight here locally and they seem to do for the surface and let my children\en's as well as many many others fall to the side 99% of the time.

I want to share with you all....

Lucas is the youngest in public education. he is learning about space...SPACIAL CONCEPT of where his body is in our world...like here is my arm, there are two arms on my body and lets see what they can do and that they are here every day I wake up... My feet are finally moving in the right direction and I can keep up with a faster pace than last year which I can create some real drama if I just use those feet/legs endlessly, carelessly in any direction that allows me to escape.. (just run to run) he loves to be carefree and just move... (which is very dangerous in most of his situations if not 100% supervised) He has minimal at best concept between a cow and a tea cup. YET..... I am not exaggerating and I will post a photo... he is doing worksheets eons over his head about...well you can see for your own eyes and tell me what is his purpose in this educational setting... REALLY.

He is getting B's and C's on his report card. Says he is a sweet boy, They are pleased with the progress, having more good days than not good days, echoing sounds from adult role models...and is starting to come willingly when he is called..loves coming to school and playing with his classmates... He is in the middle of a BIP because they are having troubles with him being very destructive at school..nothing we have at home, it is not allowed.

Denied a Family

2011-03-26T08:59:00.000-04:00

2011-03-26T08:58:00.001-04:00

This darling little boy is being kept in an institution, when he had two
approved parents come over to adopt him, but they were denied. They were
denied because the judge said he was "socially unadaptable due to his
medical condition." His medical condition is Down syndrome!! He was denied
a loving family, because he has Down syndrome. Please help us get the word
out there about his injustice. Please say prayers for this family, that
somehow a miracle can help them bring their little boy home. Watch this
video and you will see he is not socially unadaptable at all, in fact, watch
to the end, and your heart will melt! This is proof that he is able to love,
and more importantly, able to be loved! Yes, it is possible to love
children with Down syndrome, even if this judge finds it hard to believe.
Not only is it possible, it is impossible not to love our children who have
Down syndrome. Love does not discriminate! Sadly, many believe that with
her, which is why there is an IDSC for Life in the first place!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LO6Tfvd3I&feature=player_embedded

Thank you for keeping this family in your prayers.

Please share this, let's help this family through this time.

International Air Show

2011-03-25T20:45:00.002-04:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMA "TWO YEARS OLD"

2011-03-24T09:08:00.000-04:00

Smiles & hand shakes behind the SUITS

2011-03-24T08:37:00.004-04:00

The ride to Tallahassee was uneventful... The kids watched their DVD's a little Charlie and the Choco Factory, which I never knew used the R word.. Karate kid 2 was played 2 times, Alvin and the chipmunks, Sponge Bob and Scooby Do.... Yes I know them well. I love the person who decided to put DVD's in automobiles. Our first fill up was $80.00, then $97 more got us to tally, $48 topped it off $87 more got us home... man oh man...FCC8 will cover the gas thank goodness. THANK YOU FCC8!

Once at the hotel we went to the pool for the kids to unwind. We then went for showers to get dressed up for a dinner party. The FDDC council invited and covered our room and dinner... THANK YOU FDDC!!!!! The speeches from self advocates always lite me on fire.. and all the helpful tips of how to say what we need to say in 3 minutes or less... Talking points ... We did run into more "officials" on my secret path which I will share in hopes you will not take it over next year...LOL but try it as well...

The night ended with a visit from Kaitlyn's Birth Mother, she drove to have some face to face time not only with Kailtyn but all the kids.

We got to bed fairly early to get up and get moving.. we had 7 appointments to meet with mainly staffers since the powers at be are in meetings. We find staffers are really the information highway to the bills any way. The kids had simple hand outs to leave with each office nicely wrapped for they would remember them...APRONS!!! yes, we took APRONS. our little "extra" please remember who made this for you, when they take it home and put it to use. We found one person in every office who embraced the aprons and tears often followed. The kids were quick to identify which one they made. We lost the camera last night and my camera on my cell phone was min at best for indoors and went dead at 11 am...:o(

So we get a few appointments complete and move to the viewing floor...Floor 22 where we waited over 30 minutes for an elevator when a electrician said "Casey" to my Steven.. and he seemed puzzled he didn't respond...but Casey was another boy who looked like Steven.. but this man was our ticket to floor 22, HE HAD THE KEYS!!! With a turn of the key an elevator came and escorted us straight to floor 22.....LOL

Down to the court yard and pizza is served by ARC of Florida..THANK YOU!!! Jordan thought the Governor ordered it just for him...Jordan actually seized the moment when I was solo with the kids to go to the stand and take an entire case of bagged cookies.. NO ONE STOPPED HIM, I begged him to take the box back...it took a lot of convincing and he got lots of praise by a gentleman for making the right choice...then Keirsten pipes up, why ...other people were taking boxes (staff of ARC passing them out) LOL You would understand the humor at this point that when we went to the Gov office a couple things were too funny. Tressa walked in like she owned the place and informed them she was there for lunch with Gov. Scott...She assumed all this time SHE was having lunch personally with the Governor. Well a little melt down and she wrote him a note in his office we moved on..for Jordan to run up to former Gov Jeb Bush life size photo on the wall yelling "THAT'S MY DAD!" I was shocked... he remembered meeting him but more hysterical he placed the world Dad with him... LOL He was loud and many heard him....LOL

So our secret.... We went out to the side walk which leads to the downtown eateries...YES the officials DO NOT EAT LUNCH IN THE CAPITAL.... they sneak out side doors and swiftly walk to the sidewalks to the down town areas while thousands are seating in the courtyard for speeches.. WHO COULD WALK PAST MY CREW.... We go hand shakes, several 3 minute speeches made , more than 7 which took a lot of time to complete... I focus on those coming back with full bellies and they all stop...They all wish us a wonderful day, shake our hands and make small talk... but they get a card, they put it in their pocket and we get a free ride back to their office where we see our card on their staffers desk later or some maybe kept in their pocket and it rode home with them. One thing is for sure...they will remember the faces of all 7 of my children, their smiles and their mishaps...Jordan cut his thumb and blood was every where which stirred some commotion. VERY NICE MEN IN SUITS.. and yes the woman were equally as nice, not as many stopped, but equally friendly.

2011-03-20T21:52:00.004-04:00

The past week was a busy one for sure yet not near as busy as this week or next for us. I am working with a builder to add on to our home. I have some amazing human beings contacting me to try and make this a reality. When the figure came in that it would be at best about 90K I knew that the credit union would never..Then we had some volunteers from the past and some hopeful product donations which all would help although who knows when the rubber hits the road... but I have a good feeling, I hope it is a good feeling. So that had me digging for plans, past assessments and information collecting to find some one to get blueprints.

I made an appointment to talk to Steven's principal which is in the morning. A simple conversation to get him safely to the end of this year. I did talk to the staffing specialist and gave my plan because she and I seem to have the same goals for Steven and we both see the current is not successful. I am excited for my teens for next year. Very excited.

I did go to Orlando for the state wide meeting. It was a juggling act to get the supports in place in the home for me to get out the door and take a couple to make it all balance. I even took the van for an oil change and fluids filled etc.. As we traveled up to Orlando all excited to hit a few outlet malls for some window shopping...I-4 was BUMPER TO BUMPER, the van alarms going off, it is over heating.

When all else fails find I walmart I say...

I bought supplies but too hot to open, we find the outlet mall and park it in the garage... 2 hours and still too hot... I pray and race to the hotel.. we make it and I park it...

In the evening I put the coolant in and the stop leak ... let it run 15 minutes with the heat on and idle. it doesn't get hot.. Ok, I run with out the heater, it doesn't get hot.. I will check it in the morning to see if it is still full..

I am loving the girl time but really really missing the adult only time... I usually did the state meetings without the kids.. I feel guilty when I have fun without the kids.. not even fun fun fun, just adult conversation and not wiping a face at the table.. just me to be responsible for.

I wake early for my meeting for the day... WOW how much can one brain take in in one day. Lots of notes because I really feel like I need to be up on everything that has to do with the future of my children.

The van appears to be safe to drive home, we will keep a watchful eye and stop for dinner not to push it and see.... it is all good. I vent the entire ride home with other parents about all that is happening in government in our state.. it is what I do after I go to a brain power meeting... get as much out and into the next parent as I can as fresh as it is with all the fire inside me to have them call another parent and so on.

The weekend was full, we had a Birthday party Sunday which all my children were invited to which was in an amazing part of Florida. I love the country, we need the city, just country at heart. now we have one day to prepare to go to Tallahassee and I have no idea how I am going to pull this off... Thursday Emma turns two and Friday we have an event in Punta Gorda for Make A Wish air show event..the kids were invited to Sail on Saturday at Apollo Beach then Bush gardens Sunday-Monday9pre-paid) .... OH MY GOODNESS, OH MY GOODNESS.... gas alone stopped the Sailing event.. then how will I pull the rest out of my hat..I DO NOT KNOW, as Jordan often says. I DO NOT KNOW..

Emma and her self confidence or lacking there of...

2011-03-12T20:50:00.003-05:00

She is not walking free yet. She pushes the chair and now a few toys..BUT THE FUNNIEST is that she will not stand in the middle of the room solo. She crawled over to the LeapFrog hand held toy and got feet and hands on the floor grabbing the toy.. then bends her kneew and gets to a stand in the middle of the room with no one around and she leans forward as if the toy was a solid base she is holding on too... LOL she carefully holds the toy and moves one hand as iff her fingers are holding herself up... I am laughing hysterically on the couch watching this girl trick herself to stand all by herself... This morning it was a big toy you drop balls down into and she was standing next to it and had the idea that she must hold it to stand.. Ms Jan was here and we all sat still watching Miss Emma stand completely on her own, then pick up this large toy as if it was holding her stand...LOL It happens so quickly I can not get it on video... I need a 24/7 video camera on this house hold ... LOL I wish you all could experience the funny moment..

Tonight kaitlyn came up to me with a hige hug said. "Mom, you are my best sister, you are my sister Mom" I explained after a lengthy hug moment that no, I am Mom and not her sister... She pushed me away and said. well I do not like you .. LOL She is a riot. So I go get her to put the dishes away and it was as if it never happened... She must have been thinking something???

Oh isn't teaching teens so much fun....

2011-03-11T16:07:00.003-05:00

It has been a busy week and facebook has been the max of me keeping friends and family informed.

Keirsten...oh Keirsten.... She is 17 going on 7 at times...I only wish I could say different some days.. The reality of turning 18 and the threats she has made for the COUNTDOWN TO LEAVE... LOL are in the face.... She is finding everything a little more real at this point. How do you shop on $50.00 Oh my ... is the bank not the supplier of endless funds, you mean really there is an end to the checking account...balance?? what is that... Yes, we are working on reality 101... I have her figuring out her budget..she is struggling because she would like a 2 story with a pool but thinks $200.00 a month rent is reasonable..yes for a two story with a pool... See, I have my work cut out for me so we are starting small. We have done all the thrift shops and I am logging down all their special days, You can hit the red cross on Tuesday for 1/2 price and Goodwill is 1/2 price if you only look at the color of the week. You can find a deal in about one of them each outing as long as you stick to your NEED list. I need a black pair of slacks for an interview...no that does not mean buy 7 shirts for the beach... Well, you know she is 17 and the whole 2nd hand store is good information to have but she says let's go to Platos closet they are $5.00... well, she thought everything she liked there was $5.00 and what the heck is EACH... EACH means $5.00 times 7 thats $10.00 right??? NOT it is too much money when you have $50 and need to get food too.. remember she really only NEEDS a pair of black slacks...LOL Then she wants steak.. she sees $4.89 a lb and picks up a pack of steaks... gets to pay and says no no no the sign said $4.89... OH A POUND (what does that mean) means your steaks are over a lb... it has been a hard day for her... We went to the stores she likes: Macy's, Dillard's, Justice, Claire's, Bath and Body works, Belks, Beall's, JC Penney's and My point was to show her how I shop in these stores. I showed her how to quickly walk to the back of the store and look for the word Clearance. She was into it...quick stepped to 50% off... I explained no no no we are looking for clearance racks...CLEARANCE.. 70 to 95% off and we have some additional 40% off coupons.. YES I DO~ I got two sweaters from justice..$39.50 each orig price I paid under $3.00 each and a huge pack of socks at justice $2.00... We went to Belk and found Kaitlyn a $45.00 pair of designer jeans for $4.48 and then to Claires where we got $1.00 items and you will not believe the items we found....CHACHING! Then to Dillards where we got many items over $30.00 for $4.00 OK, Did Keirsten do this well... She is in the learning stages..There were the oh mom but look at these shorts...to die for..(yep, when she gets a job we'll see how to die for)Then when places where it said buy 2 get one free...she was so excited.. NOT A DEAL. She was so frustrated at times but I kept pointing out we need to dig, shop and find deals. It will take a few more trips and her exploring on her own and eating roman noodles for a week to really learn.. I can feel she is going to choose the hard road in this lesson planning.

2011-03-08T19:44:00.008-05:00

It seems my days are not as structured as they use to be... Having a teen in the home daily is not the way for me to have balance... She needs to get to school or work. No free ride here baby.... I can already tell Home School for me is not in any one's best interest.... There is a reason Public Schooling came into play. I want my time, I want to have everyone in their space doing their thing to be a better person and laying on the couch watching TV in my opinion is not healthy.. I also feel the financial tug of a teen in my pocket every day...

Well today I discovered much of my un balance is do to my teen not taking her medication... Yes, she feels cured so no longer wants to take her medication... Well last night I suspected and hid her bottles of medication. This morning when she went to take her medication she came out of the kitchen stating she took her medication... I always give her 20 min kick in time.. Today right at 10 minutes I asked..Did you take your medication? YESS!!! Really YESSSSSSS I said sure sounds like you didn't let me see... where was your medication.. She started moving to the kitchen and stating where it belongs... OH REALLY.... GOTCHA!!!

So she took her medication and I checked tongue and cheek without her pleasure... Oh Well....

the day moves on much smoother in 20 minutes... Aihhhhhh I feel the calm.... it is such a difference for me let alone her I can not deal with her off meds. So we get ready for the builder... yes, I am moving forward with the add on... I can not wait until a magical dream house falls from the sky. You know the lottery numbers have not hit, the miracle man has not crossed my path and no blooming money tree in my yard... I move on to plan 4003685.. I have a plan that is a plan... The builder said I have done EVERYTHING right to keep it possible on a shoe string budget.. It is a simple box... no fancy smancy just bedrooms, baths and spaces to put things away... I was thrilled completely tickled pink that my plan for the front of the house is going to work out..TEAR down the front bedroom,, large front room and I am getting a fireplace.... A real wood burning fireplace... no I did not tell him that yet but in time... I will go get the thing and have it sitting here... He said lets get started and I can give him my to do list.. I will have all the supplies he will have the men... lots and lots of men... LOL I will be sure to have ice cold tea.... ok, coolers of cold beer at 5p,. I need to get back over to Budweiser and start smoooozing.... Maybe Coke will donate??? I am going to be a busy girl. NOW I have to work on financing this project... 90K can not be the stumbling block.. I did the loan calculator.. $550 a month... ok, then... I am now doing a remodel, so my taxes are safe under the Homestead... The electric will actually balance out since we will be fixing the major errors in efficiency..new windows and doors...new duct work... I am a planner, I need to know I will be solid on my feet once on the other side of a project. I can envision it.. now it is making all the dollars/ducks fall into row....

STEP ONE: I am on a mission to find a licensed architect to reduce fees to be a nice guy and get me permit able plans...you know everyone needs compensated for their time and talent but please give me Medicaid rate..LOL can you imagine if I asked for that???LOL

2011-03-07T18:54:00.003-05:00

A house with no secrets... no personal conversations, no private space..this is where I live.

My day started out with the lists from the weekend, a productive day it would be --that is what the lists indicated for sure.. on top of productive we were going to walk the mall for some exercise and emotional boost for a teen to be "productive" a long side her Mom. So the plan was in motion... UNTIL, we have one pit stop to a full pick up, Jordan has the runs... we try to stay on course just a new path.. not going well...Teen is disappointed and like many she is showing her teen #*@ So I run into the store and get necessary items to continue our progress.
I am feeling the let down and stress from trying to hold to a plan which we would have never written for four..well not this fourth person... So now.. I am home, Lucas comes in and we are getting on track, the new track, battery changed in Lucas' lowjack... and then Lucas lets loose with the runs... ALL OVER THE PLAYROOM and covering the bottom of his shoes so now all over the house...and Emma is 99% still crawling so she is packed into her Tripp Trapp chair..I grab Lucas, keirsten grabs the bleach.. Ok you feel it... I am not loving it right now and then...the doorbell rings.. low and behold the monthly drop in from the support coordinator is NOW! RIGHT NOW! I need to sit and talk about my NEEDS....LOL boy he went packing with an ear full. LOL
Then the phone rings..it is the builder I contacted to add on to my home.. RIGHT NOW.. in the middle of it all... LOL I press with the conversation not thinking EVERYONE is with in ear range. I am paying dearly right now as I type..Jordan has the entire show planned, he is motioning demolition..LOL he is full of excitement of "more house." "more my house" Oh I just need them to go to sleep. I have so much to do...

Fun at Chuck E Cheese's

2011-03-04T11:40:00.002-05:00

2011-03-03T12:47:00.003-05:00

Today we celebrate Carmelo turning 4 years old, big plans for fun at 3:30 inside Chuck E Cheese. I have printed coupons, we have his gifts in the gift bag and now waiting for the little ones to get out of school.

We went to the thrift shop this morning to find some deals on walking shorts for Jordan and Kaitlyn. Jordan is in real need. Kaitlyn needs a pair of shoes. I found four pair which to me finding like new Abercrombie and Fitch Quality shorts in new condition and size 31 waist for $3.00 CHA CHING!!!! ring em up. I got another Tommy Bahama which will be perfect with a silk shirt for the cruise... yes I am a planner.

Our next stop was Ross for shoes but no go, the size 4 she found were YIKES and she really wanted them but i have a line..the shoes closed that line... She just wants new shoes, well I thought she wanted new shoes...i found a very cute pair of sketchers with Rhine stones, glitter and jewels on the side.. "I AM SIXTEEN MOM"

OK, we did find a really cool rolling bag sorta kinda like the rolling grocery bag if you walk tot he store makes it easy to get your things home. It is bigger and more beautiful and perfect for our travels when we go to a hotel and then need that something something to take everything we need to the pool... So it is our Hotel Pool bag. gotta love ROSS Price's. and Emma got a couple very cute outfits for her Birthday.

Over to Payless, the woman inside the store is trying to tell me a size four shoe for a little foot is the same as a 6 in women's... Ok maybe in their Payless shoes of shoe training it is but I have the foot --- it is attached to Kaitlyn's leg and it needs a teeny tiny foot and she fits into a child's 4 but they are all baby looking... so we go to the woman's 5 and no tennis shoes so we move to 5 1/2 and that was too big... I did look down at these very cute silver sandals... you know girlie girl and not TeVO looking... well they fit yippeee yahooo for me for a second, she quickly said I do not like them... So I look all cute and ask, but will you wear them for mommy??? NO! I WILL NOT WEAR THEM. LOL Gosh why did she have to get 16 so fast. I told her will will keep looking but now we need to go get some food and start home ...

when all else fails READ directions

2011-03-02T15:42:00.001-05:00

FYI: when installing a food disposal DO NOT SKIP #15 you know the one with the RED stop sign that says STOP & READ ..... I read AFTER I smell my dishwasher motor burning up..... GO MARY
I think I just failed my contractors license test
BTW no where on the box did it say I need a hammer... faulty advertising I say
and I was so proud of myself .... before the burning smell....

SW Florida NEEDS FOSTER PARENTS sign up now

2011-03-02T08:47:00.002-05:00

M.A.P.P. a required 10 week class is starting in Cape Coral March 28 tentatively, call Jackie at 239-461-7620 to get registered into the next MAPP class and become a foster parent.... THEY NEED YOU!

A day slash night in the life

2011-03-02T07:32:00.004-05:00

The past few weeks have proven to be a test of my continued strength to push forward for all I believe in. I am facing the world of teenagers who are slightly different to raise than a teenager without a disability. I am all too aware of typical teenage rebellion as this is also part of my teens who have different abilities BUT the side kick is having so many more adults who feel they have a say in my children cause parenting clashes. I am now facing how to deal with a teen boy who feels power in playing Mom against his school and he has won round one... the school is falling right into his game. Well I am not so sure they are not a part of it..... still uncovering much of their part in all this.

I rarely get a full nights sleep, my household doesn't shut down for more than 2 or 3 hours. I have one or two that take until about midnight to fall asleep and I have other 2 or 3 that are up at 2 am, 3am or anywhere from there until the 6 am alarm goes off. Some nights it is a full fledged party going on... I can not count how many times I get up turn lights off, take a TV out, Take radios out, take alarm clock radio out, take toys out, close curtains, put shades back up, change sheets, take drinks or food out, put arts and crafts back out where they belong... Oh my so much goes on when they think Momma is sleeping.

Meanwhile, I get calls from school that Lucas wants to sleep at school, Tressa is tired and cranky at school, Kaitlyn is a bear in the morning. WELL THEY NEED TO SLEEP! (yes some are on meds to help them sleep, it is much worse without meds)

I wake at 3 am to the loud sound of hip hop music blasting from Steven's room, as I get out of bed there is Tressa going over my dresser to see if she can find anything.. She runs as I roll out of bed, and back into her room where I learn she has hooked up her TV and it is on... You must know Tressa went to school and told her teacher...I MAKE HER WATCH TV ALL NIGHT.... and then she has headaches. PLEASEEEEE..... then I open Steven's door he puts down the music to very low and Lucas is up on all fours on the top bunk just rocking away so crazy that he doesn't hear me but when the light goes on he quickly lays down and crawls under his covers... OOOOPPPPPSSSSS the party has ended.. I tell Steven to give me the boom box and it is going into the garbage. (this is not the first time he has pulled this stunt, nor the second) He yells back at me he is going to tell Michael (His ESE teacher) I offered him my phone... and he snarled at me. TEENAGERS!!!! remember it is 3:25 in the morning and I do have her cell number and boy oh boy I would have let him call if he made the slightest gesture he would...that's how I roll!

It comes time to wake up and yes, Lucas is sound asleep, Steven is grumpy and Kaitlyn who has been roaming all night from bed to couch to my room to couch is folded in half asleep on the couch... She is grumpy every morning until she is awake and has a shower so not sure a good nights sleep would change her issues, I hear that comes from her Paternal side...LOL (Hugs Sam) He admits one needs to stay 10 feet from him until he is "awake" she has been this way from the get go.

Steven is not wanting to cooperate, I know teen years are tough on all .. I have blogged about his scribbling in school which is very time consuming VERY TIME CONSUMING so I have questioned the school for a year and a half who is in charge, how does he get so much time so doodle on paper..I can not explain the amount so I will post a photo... It amazes me..He is very honest with me. Steven are you going to go to school to work or make pictures on pieces of paper. "pictures" really Steven? "yes" I have yet to get any work home from him in a year and a half..Yep, nothing comes home to show anything he does in school...nothing. When I get to the IEP the teachers will have folders of all this beautiful work, maybe their refrigerators have all his daily work on them because he brings NOTHING but papers that he has NO IDEA what they are home and none have any writing on them..just work sheets. I thought long and hard about my new plan for Steven and I will be (now that I know how) be adding many more videos of the kids... many many more videos of the kids... so many you might be able to put them together as a sitcom. I am not yet ready to claim home school, we are simply just not set up to make that journey successful but I am placing that on the table as an option in the future... lots of variables for the "if" pile...

Well it was bread run night last night which is always a stress release with Kaitlyn and I on our alone time jamming to tunes rocking out... she is a riot. Now I have to pull it together to deliver the bread and stop at the hardware store to finally install the new garbage disposal... or call a handyman because I am not too swift with tools. Then to walmart for food shopping ... I know my daughter has on her face book post she and her boyfriend are going to the coconut Mall with her mom but that simply was not in my day planner.... maybe tomorrow. That girl needs a J O B !

February 28, 2011 12:10 PM

2011-02-28T14:02:00.000-05:00

2011-02-27T21:55:00.003-05:00

A family day. My parents came down and my daughter came over with my grandchildren. We sure missed the comedy of Lauriano who was home in bed with some sort of reaction illness... yesterday was opening day for his son (T-Ball) and the overwhelming excitement proved to be too much for Daddy...LOL not really, got some sort of bug. We made a family sit down dinner which was in and cooking when everyone arrived. We got time to play and visit for a good amount of time before we ate. The boys played outside, Tressa and Jordan did some TV bickering.... Carmelo made sure all my apps on my phone were working. Olivia did not want for anything, she was the star of the day... Miss Emma thought she could take her down a time or two although so many family members around we shielded her from the red blaze of jealousy no longer being the "baby" LOL

My parents seemed more relaxed this visit with all the children.. This makes everyone else more relaxed as well which is a good thing. I always have many emotions during family times, so much to be thankful for, so many things I never take for granted. I am so very blessed to be living a life full of love. I often forget exactly how blessed I am when I am in the thick of parenting which many know it is a thankless job for the most part...

It seems the little things I hold near and dear may mean nothing to others although paramount for me. The smiles I get that I know are mine, the funny funny giggle after Emma burps and then tries so very hard to force a burp on purpose..she spit and sputtered choked and gagged yet could not muster a forced burp (YET) because with the intense effort she will soon figure it out...LOL Pringle got Talent.

2011-02-27T17:45:00.000-05:00

2011-02-27T12:24:00.000-05:00

yells from the other side of the house: Mom, I found my head!

2011-02-26T22:10:00.002-05:00

LOL some times I just need something like this to make me laugh out loud... makes my day's stress fade. Kaitlyn is brushing her hair and pulls her hair back and it stays so her forehead shows.... she has worn bangs all her life so I guess having her hair longer and pulling it back means something to her... she is very excited. I explain it is her forehead and she can not loose her head. (well she thinks black and white) so it is far to say she can not loose her head... She might loose her grip some times and I might think she has lost her mind but she would not understand that concept... I am going to deep, we all just need to laugh envisioning Kaitlyn yelling "Mom, I found my head"

My day was busy cleaning up for my parents to come, planning the shopping list for tomorrow, staying with the kids therapy... Jordan needs coached to get through therapy, Tressa needs me to be firm that she will do what Ms Jan asks, Steven avoid anything if I leave the area, Emma wants to crawl on top of Jan while working with the others and just hug and kiss which made Lucas crazy because he likes crawling all over Ms Jan (when not doing therapy) so I play referee during therapy and YES THEY ASK FOR PHOTOS... it started a long time ago. I said once, oh do this and i will take your picture. it was a way to get the kids to cooperate and since then it is every time. Mom go get your camera, take our picture... The only one who doesn't want it is Tressa, she figures me out. She did today too. Mom why are you taking so many pictures of me..are you taking pictures of my projects. Why are you taking pictures of my projects. Then when we all left to go to walmart all I heard was. I am not done with my project can I finish my project when we get home, will it be safe, is anyone going to move my project while we are gone...YIKES..... then on the side of all these activities I have an attorney who is emailing with me about the clothing issue and offering some directions which get me thinking, have I done everything.... I put together a second email to the Superintendent explaining I did get the chance to talk to all three people but not one answered what happened. I am so much more concerned now that communication with some key players in the IEP have suddenly stopped that it sends my mind into what do they know,, what are they covering... I have talked to Steven and he can not recall although shows no sign of fear or injury from a moms perspective. Do I take him for an exam...I am so unsure of this because he wasn't distraught when he came home, he wasn't crying, sad or acting odd... he just wouldn't tell me or couldn't tell me what happened to his clothes, how he got the clothes he had on.. Oh my this is a brain bleed for me for sure..... you have no idea where my mind has gone and back in the past week... so tonight after the suggestion of getting outside people to check it out I called DCF and they took the report and will themselves be seeing answers. I have 99% faith in this my 1% lye's in that I know Steven can not communicate and thus far some have put words in his mouth he is not even capable of articulating...will more of this type of stuff occur... I have asked the school for a 504 investigation as well so I can get some answers. I am sure with so much time passed it will be all explained. I just want to know what happened...... let me know what happened......I need to know details any and all and if they were not there and know nothing I want to know that.

So why it is so important to laugh right now at the cute statement "Mom, I found my head" with all her excitement behind it.

what therapy looks like at the Pringle's

2011-02-26T12:38:00.003-05:00

Saturday morning arts and crafts...

2011-02-26T10:45:00.003-05:00

We are having a full day of therapy today so we can have tomorrow off. Tomorrow we are having Grandma and Grandpa LeQuia over with Mandie, Lauriano, Carmelo and Olivia for a home cooked meal with all the trimmings.. it will look a little like Thanksgiving..... the kids are working on arts and crafts to decorate the house. I am trying to change out a food disposal in the sink , awe such fun.... "STINKS"

She stands more, still not walking...

2011-02-26T09:45:00.000-05:00

Kite flying fun

2011-02-26T09:43:00.000-05:00

Pringle's got back; reduction plan

2011-02-24T08:23:00.003-05:00

My Baby's got back is oh so true this spring.... the winter of 2010 did some damage on the Pringleclan....time to shed some lbs...

I had a volunteer offer to come do ZUMBA in the home with the kids...this is going to be great. We have added walks to our daily routine now that our speech in home therapist is going to be out 6 weeks having her baby... now to change our food ...Most of the time we eat healthy food although I have been allowing the kids choice to the point we eat a lot of carbs and this has caught up to the kids....

Well; Jordan is the most obvious, added 18 lbs since Sept 10 to Jan 11... in bathing suits Steven and Kaitlyn showed some thickness.... gotta get it off ..... Kaitlyn told me she couldn't get her jeans on this morning because her butt got too big...LOL you know, like she had nothing to do with that. The others need the endurane building because all of them have low energy in picking up anything they get out so this will be a win win program.

2011-02-23T07:54:00.000-05:00

A day at the beach, great mental therapy

2011-02-23T07:33:00.002-05:00

Well the email seems to have sparked more attention than my calls requesting a meeting. Once anything is in writing and documented it seems accountability begins.

I took yesterday off to relax with the kids. the weekend (vacation) for many is not for us. The idea of driving to the beach which is minutes away during a Holiday weekend where we will sit in the van hours in traffic need to drive around another hour searching for a parking spot only to arrive on a beach that is eyeballs to elbows lawn chairs touching one another...NO THANK YOU.... we live here, love tourists to keep our county vibrant although I will sit home and allow all you to enjoy the vacation on the beach.

Our weekend was full of home bound games, cook out, roasting wienies on an open fire , a zumba class Pringle style, therapy, cooking, cleaning and play time all down in the comforts of our home.

Tuesday when everyone returned to work we loaded up our beach supplies and headed for a day of fun. no traffic, not a moment of tie up, straight to the front row first parking spot handicap accessible therefore no parking fees.... AND we were on the beach with a goo 100 feet surrounding us of no other humans.. The water was warm, shells plentiful and sand clean. We set up and spent hours without a moment of stress. Jordan chased seagulls looking for tourists to toss them food (which is a no no) we went to the light house and pretended to direct in the lost ships... We talked about flashing lights being a way to communicate in the "fog" which it was a morning of thick fog.. we were playing along the shore line when two Dolphins swam up playing very close to us (12 feet) AMAZING area of the country we live. Yes I heard my phone ring in the beach bag although I had no desire to take a call on the beach unless it was one of the schools the children were at. Tressa went to school because she wanted to retake a spelling test she had practiced over the weekend so it would be 100%... Her school called as she had a tummy ache... She was managing to get through the day. Lucas went to school because he would rather be in school than the beach. His sensory issues create much stress and he cries most of the time on the beach unless he is one ot one with someone helping him through the sensory explosions... Jordan was actually suppose to get a blood draw on the way to the beach at the children's hospital although Kaitlyn being the little momma she is fed him breakfast stressing over the whole "fasting" concept... as if... Jordan really couldn't miss a meal... Keirsten made up BLT toasted sandwiches and packed them for the beach. We are in usual Beach mode with a beach bucket of necessary items in the back of the van at all times.. it is a work in progress right now.
The day was successful as we all got color with little burn. Keirsten forgot to lotion her back or says she did and the sunburn clearly tells another story. Emma did something very odd...When taking off her swim top her skin underneath was red, as if a burn and then turned blue..I rushed her to the tub with luke warm water and rinsed her of the sea water... then her hands turned purple... I called her Doctor and we are checking with her heart specialist today although it was moments and she was all pink again and is fine now.. no burns although she was one lathered baby of sunblock.... the circulation issue concerns me a little so we will check on this more today.

The coffee has brewed, kids off to school it is time to lay out my outline of school issues regarding Steven and start the return phone calls. I plan to listen to their ideas until all are in and take a few hours to process and then present my plan...I want Steven to be successful and I have not seen that in a year and a half... I have not seen this school do anything for Kaitlyn as Kaitlyn is self sufficient in her needs for learning and that is fine for Kaitlyn. I see her making a huge leap in High School.... I am very excited for Kaitlyn to enter High School.. I need to get Steven some place where excitement can be part of his plan...

Step two in the process to solve the missing clothes case

2011-02-21T14:17:00.001-05:00

Dear Dr. Tihen and Dr. Brunick

I try not to involve you for anything that is trivial. I hope you see this as serious as I do.

Dr. Tihen to get you up to speed I want you to be aware that last year on the third day of school my son, Steven (has Down syndrome) went missing on the Mariner Middle School campus. He apparently avoided his paraprofessional during a bathroom break and eloped into a vacant classroom. The search for him led to an unlocked gate on campus; 911 was called, Cape Coral police were on site, they had helicopter and search dogs added as well as all child missing teams called to site, I have been reported via the Cape Coral Child find team. I was not called, yes this is true. I was called after the fact when my son was on the bus home. I, at the time was shocked and relieved in one breath. I never made a fuss because it was all well and I was spared an afternoon of worry as well as having our afternoon of ESE bus drop offs totally interrupted. I did not file any complaint.

Last week the same son came home without the clothes I sent him to school in. He is a growing boy so the Levi's were from Christmas, fairly new. A shirt and a brand new zipper hooded sweat jacket. He came home in a pair of shorts and shirt that appeared to be out of a lost and found box and not his size. When I questioned him about his attire he shrugged his shoulders. He would not communicate to me where his clothes are. I searched his book bag for answers. His planner had no note in it. His book bag had nothing to inform me. I checked my answering machine and cell phone for missed calls or messages. I had no communication from any Mariner Middle school employee. I then called the school at about 5:15-5:25 pm and the woman who answered chucked after I explained my call concern and said it was the oddest thing..they found Steven in the gym and could not locate his clothes. She said he was uncooperative to explaining where his clothes were to them either. Steven has a 1:1 para professional and is to be supervised at all times on campus. She told me that "coach" would look for the clothes on Thursday and call me. I heard nothing Thursday and had no communication come home with Steven nor any of the missing clothes. Friday was a very busy day and went by without any communication ... No communication or no clothes came home with Steven.

Monday I called first thing in the morning requesting a meeting to talk to the Principle or a staff meeting and that Steven was not to be in any situation to take off his clothes at school meaning NO PE until some answers. I heard nothing from anyone all day. I posted on facebook at 3 pm my disgust and within the hour I got a call from Mrs. Rodgers. (ESE) .. she would not discuss anything with me other than a plan she has for Steven to change in a private bathroom in an IA classroom near the PE field. Still no clothes....no explanation as to where staff was what happened why he was there.

I think it is important for you to know that the Department of Children and Families came to my home that Saturday claiming that your staff called them to say that Steven reported I punched him in the face, after the missing clothes incident. I have photos of him on my facebook on and before each day that week and I had company in my home and therapy each day of the week in my home THANK GOD! so the tiny scratch on the side of his face was explained and no indicators were there to say ANYONE punched him in the face. I was needless to say now more than before more concerned that a BULLY act took place and some boys took Steven's clothes and threatened to punch him in the face...makes perfect sense because he is not aware of where his clothes are. The clothes have never come home. The clinic made no call to me as to the scratch on Steven, no call at all with any health concerns yet they questioned him.

More importantly your staff have not set a meeting with me, given me an incident report or any explanation as to how my child disrobed, lost his clothes, found some one else's clothes, put them on and was found this way UNSUPERVISED with an IEP that clearly protects him from any of this to happen.

At this time I have lost all trust that my son is safe in the care of Mariner Middle School and need an alternative placement for the remainder of this year. My goal is to get him in the life skills at Ida backer High so an 8th grade class setting prior to that is my goal. Steven's IEP states IA today and this has been a total nightmare for me, I need to be assured he is not bullied, and is not in harms way. I feel the lack of communication has been broken beyond repair at Mariner Middle School.

CC: Nancy Harris, Steven's Education Advocate

Sincerely,
Mary Beth Pringle

Some weeks are all about the journey

2011-02-17T20:14:00.005-05:00

It is time for a post; more important time for my therapy through writting.

A little over a week ago things seemed to be rolling along fairly "normal" for the life I live. I had taken some time to get new staff in place since my oldest daughter was stopping work with us and moving on to other higher employment opportunities. In doing this we found some wonderful family connections through school contacrs who already know my children and worked with them for years. they know how I parent and where i lack so they know where they can assist.. Yes, i admit I lack. I suck at making sure all their home work is done. I try to get them on it and try to keep them going but it some times is so frustrating with everything else. Volunteers are always welcome here for home work time...

So it is a Wed. last Wed to be exact. The kids wake and get ready for school.. it is chilly so they all wear jeans. shirts and hooded swetshirts with zippers and hoods. The day felt like any other. The buses come home, Lucas and his dirty clothes are tied to his book bag, planner written in from the day... time for Lucas to play. tressa and jordan come in with their jackets on and they quickly shed their school atire and move to homework and play (no therapy on Wed) The last bus comes at 5 pm with Kaitlyn and Steven... I will never forget the moment. I look at Steven and he is wearing some sort of old tattered T shirt and shorts way too small. He walks in and puts down his book bag. I ask him where his clothes are. he shrugs his shoulders... I ask again..he shrugs again so I look in his book bag, no clothes, his planner has nothing written in it and no note. I put Steven in time out for refusing to talk and tell him he can get out when he tells me where his clothes are... nothing... I go to my phone to look for missed calls or messages, nothing, no texts... I call the school about 5:15 pm and the lady who answers chuckles with the statement "it was the oddest thing, we found Steven in the gym and we can not find his clothes" "he would not communicate where his clothes are nor get them" She said they were going to have "coach" call me tomorrow after he looks to find the clothes. Thursday Steven goes to school...I hear nothing and he comes home without the lost clothes. Friday was a busy day and I lost track of time before I realized Stven is home again with no notes, nothing in his planner and the lost clothes still not in his possesion. I am going to post and see what families feel I should do (FB) and I get lots of suggestions... Saturday comes...We have out of town guests in our home and we are celebrating JoJo's Birthday ..... A knock at the door delievers DCF to my home stating they have a report on me for abuse?????????????? WHAT???????????????????? they explain the school called stating Stven "SAID" that I punched him in the face.... OK there is not punch marks no black eye nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He did have a scratch on the side of his face..a small scratch he is picking ..... BUT WHAT>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> as I hold my compposure I get Steven from the back yard and she asks him questions... she quickly learns his vocabulary is limited and his face is flawless. I am not going a million directions in my mind...Was the clothes thing a bully act and someo ne said they were going to punch him in the face and rumnmors at school have surfaced by the bully crowd> THEN kaitlyn tells me the police where at the gym and the policeman took Steven's jeans and put Steven's underwear on his head... NOW I am out of my mind. I sit them down and ask them to go through their day. Kaitlyn was not even there in the gym, she had many more stories, Steven said no no no there was not a police man. Then it makes me crazy on why would the ese specialist call in a report because Steven did tell me it was Ms Michael who said I punched him in the face .... WHY the clinic didn't call me asking me about a scratch, the clinic didn't call about anything and I have yet to get a call or incident report on my child taking his clothes off and putting on some one Else's clothes let alone where he had access to the clothes who got them for him, was he naked, was he with WHOM????? I got many many suggestions and took many to heart and have my supports. BUT again what is a parent to believe happened... I am letting the officials now do their jobs.

That all brought me to many levels of disbelief. TO learn that my support company failed to have their files at 100% and my new staff needs to stop immediately for in home support.... Yeah.... does it get any better than this.

The weekend went well despite. Then I get an email about a baby I had sought to adopt months ago back available for adoption...my heart hurt deeply.

The week progresses..... I register for Family CAFE, get Jordan IEP annual meeting completed in one sitting. Very pleased. On to making annual eye appointments, getting their new glasses ordered and setting dental appointments. Lucas is getting boyhood surgery to drop a ball, Kaitlyn her mouth surgery and life goes on.

Today, today..... I get up to get Kaitlyn to the eye center at 8 am (4 blocks away) all is well in and out by 8:08am. Home to drop her off and pick up Emma and Jordan to Healthpark to the Developmental Neurologist... I am in the van 1/4 tank of gas, and rush hour traffic over the bridge into Ft Myers. My appointment is 9 am I am all good. I have my coffee hot and creamy.. Jordan is watching DVD all is good. I look over to my left and a lady looks back.... a bit grumpy but nothing out of the ordinary. I make the last turn on to the bridge leaving Cape Coral..... as I approach the other side of the bridge the same lady that we made eye contact pulls up along side my van and flips up her middle finger... I smile, confused as I am just driving... She slows down looking over her should waving her finger at me trying to communicate something I have no idea what it was about...seriously I do not. I smile and sign GOOD MORNING.... I am not sure she knows American sign but she came back to be sure I saw her sign..maybe she wanted to be sure I had a good morning???? it was comedy at it's best for me. I kept driving through the toll and again signed good morning with a smile....I went to the right and she continued into Ft Myers straight in... I sure hope she had a good day....

My day was loaded with mishaps but made the goals of getting done all I set out to achieve. I think it is all good...If it is not please leave me out of that memo I am off to a wonderful weekend four low key days to be FAMILY and celebrate Steven turning 14

GIRL TIME.......little bitty feet treat

2011-02-13T10:17:00.000-05:00

"Mom, I had my best dream ever!!" says Tressa

2011-02-07T07:39:00.004-05:00

Tressa woke this morning with two issues..She was so excited she said she had three dreams. She said she had the best dream ever... I asked her what was the dream about.

Tressa proceeds to tell me in her dream her Uncle got hurt really bad and had to go to the hospital. She said she went to see her Uncle at the hospital and her Principal's wife and two children were there and she got to see them and spend time with them,.. Her best dream ever..... LOL Yep, that's it. Have no idea how the Uncle is doing...LOL

She then could not recall her other two dreams she was so excited to get to school and tell her Principal about her dream.

Then she tells me she is having severe head aches in the night that wake her up, she said she has a really bad one this morning. These come and go with her. We have a check up in March and a overnight in the hospital in June. I am not sure what causes her head aches. It bothers me that she is so young and gets such intense pain from headaches. her blood sugars are OK, maybe something else if off??? Email to the Docs (specialists) to get ideas.

2011-02-05T22:06:00.000-05:00

Hockey 101 tonight went well B+ I'll give it

2011-02-05T21:43:00.003-05:00

This was the kids' first Hockey game. I have taken them to the arena for Disney on Ice but this was different. I left the house early because i had heard the traffic into the games are long and slow. I got there over an hour early... no traffic, nothing slow and parking right up front. They had a jam session going on in front of the entrance, and a bounce house for small children. My small children would be Lucas who would never jump inside a bounce house and Emma who would not want anyone to know she can bounce on her feet.... ;o) So we watched and Jordan became anxious. We ran into a FB friend Cheryl and her two girls, then Annie Ravis and her crew where there. Was a nice night and everyone was having a good time.

They let us in to watch the kids Hockey game on side ice rinks. This gave me some time to explain the game to the kids and let them see the puck and how it works in the game. Jordan was more interested in the stairs, he has been fascinated in steps lately, any where we go he wants to go up and down stairs. There was food so we stopped for dinner...... we might have gotten comp tickets but they made that up in dinner. $10.00 for 4 nuggets/small fries/soda EACH... then popcorn, chips and cheese... dang.... and I didn't even get a chance to have a drink...

When we enter one of the girls greeting guests talked to Jordan and offered for a photo, Jordan was smiles from ear to ear and asked her to come to our house...LOL
He was saying Hi to many people who responded nicely. I need to teach him what "my type" looks like because he tends to connect with the older men and wants me to introduce them to his mom.

I saw mostly 97% adults, not many kids. Then there we were.... Kaitlyn got very excited to see her teachers come in. She did well, knew many of the chants, watched the signals for cheers caught on to the bangers and rhythm. Steven was eating popcorn and seemed content, Lucas was ready to go as soon as we got there, Emma found kicking the seat in front of us fun..that was OK when Cheryl was sitting in the seat but they left and another man sat there...he did not find my Emma so cute as she kicked his seat and many times his head..Cheryl had the groove to move with her and they made it a game...this man was not into the whole game experience, and then we have Jordan... My big bad Jordan who cried like a baby when the lights went down and the game began. Jumping around crying "I want to go, let's leave" crying hysterically. I had Emma in my lap, Kaitlyn and Lucas on my side and no space to help calm him down. He did the sprint, Keirsten followed him as they took time to get use to the level of noise. One would never think JORDAN would have reacted like this. I never know which one what will bother. I sat and watched ice cold beers some with lime and some so cold I could taste it...LOL the whole attending with seven children and a beer just didn't connect.

We stayed until the 2nd set was near ending and fights were starting. I had no desire to explain the fist fighting so we called it a night at near 9 pm and headed home. Lucas was falling asleep, Emma was tired of sitting and Tressa I had pealed off the floor finding dropped food one too many times so it was time.., we chanted BLADES BLADES BLADES as we left. We were up so hope they won. The kids had fun, they saw a Hockey Game... all is well.

5 minute job, maybe for the professional

2011-02-04T13:08:00.002-05:00

I get the "repair kit" it says right on the front 5 minutes to change out the inside parts to your toilet. OK, we have gone without one toilet for a week it is time I tackle the 5 minute job. FIVE MINUTES BULLLLONEY!! Two days, three outfit changes and one huge headache and the toilet is back in use.

EVERBLADES here we come......

2011-02-04T12:11:00.003-05:00

Thank you Christy for the link for the Dream Home. I must have been on your mind. It was a tough morning. I do not know why I let some little things bother me so much but when it comes to my children it means everything even the little things.

Jordan snuck some soda to school, took care of that. Tressa didn't wipe well and had an odor this morning, I REALLY NEED A BA DAY!!! well TRESSA really needs a baday. Then comes the ever dreaded call back to the middle school...

I called Wed. and they said the Hockey tickets that were being given out to the students are in the kids' bookbags. OK, when Kaitlyn got home no tickets, she was insistent that she was not given the tickets, very sure she did not have anyone give her tickets. She actually got mad that I wanted to go through her book bag. Thursday I call the school and again they say the tickets were given out and her blue slip is in the envelope with the tickets... No tickets, no blue slip and no envelope.. so I look through Steven's bookbag (same school) nope.. So we have to drive to the school because Steven is sick and appears he might vomit on the bus ride home. I drive out and go into the school to discuss tickets...ticket person is gone for the day.. Friday TODAY I cal and ask to speak to the ticket lady... She explains that Kaitlyn never turned in the slip to get tickets.. OH HOLD ON A MINUTE.... I am 100% sure Kaitlyn turned in the slip because it had a request for 10 tickets and it was in question because they were tickets for family only....I explained the kids PCA helpers would be going so that I did not have an issue with steep bleachers..pucks, cool air, etc. Now they say she didn't turn in the slip...AND that all the tickets are spoken for they got 600 tickets sponsored to the school for students and their families to go..OK, well our bus driver is going..... you know me, I love to talk, I am chatty Mary .... GATHERING INFO before you approach situations... I am a good listener. Amazing how many people tell me I am a good listener. Well if you are not a good listener you can not gather information now can you... OK, I get it, my children do get to do a lot of things. That has a lot to do with me searching out free activities, coupons, deals, and advocating for anything out there. I do not steal or lie. I have no problem asking for anything for my children. I would not be so frustrated is so many things pass the kids by when the school doesn't get information to parents with children who have special needs. Most kids "hear" things and can speak up, Kaitlyn is oblivious because she is focused on getting to class, doing the right thing all the time. Steven well he filled out the blue form himself before I ever saw it so that was simply a lost cause...I could have filled both out seeking 5 on each and not gotten the sticker shock of Oh my gosh one family wants ten tickets... yes we are a family of more than 2.5 children. I have all the extra .5's....

No fear, momma Tiger here... The Pringle children will be at the rink tomorrow night per treat of the EVERBLADE'S TEAM... They told me to be sure the kids' come with sweaters. YEAH!! they have never been to a Hockey Game so this is going to be interesting. I am hoping very little fighting this week would be good. I am doing it solo as well..... Pray for me, bleachers 7 little uncoordinated people and no experience to what to expect. LOL the journey of being their mommy.

Nominate us for a DREAM HOME

2011-02-04T12:08:00.001-05:00

APPLICATION IS EASY
http://cdn.origin.dadt.com/live/contest/dreamhome/MailEntryForm.pdf

http://www.dadt.com/live/contest/dreamhome/rules.html

b) To enter and submit a Letter by mail: Starting on February 4, 2011, Contestant may download the Contest Entry Form from the Web Site at http://cdn.origin.dadt.com/live/contest/dreamhome/MailEntryForm.pdf and legibly complete the required Contest entry fields on the Contest Entry Form. Both Contestant and "the nominator" (if applicable) must provide first and last name; street address; city, state/province; ZIP/postal code; daytime phone (include area code); evening phone (include area code); cell phone (including area code) if available; email address; answer the question "Have you or any members of the household been on television? Y/N"; and complete Contestant's Letter in 1,000 words or less ("Online Entry Fields"). Video and Photo are optional Entry components and a URL address will also be accepted. The completed Contest Entry Form; Letter (1,000 words or less); a Video, Photo or link (optional) must be mailed together in an envelope (no larger than 8 x 10) with proper postage affixed to: Regis & Kelly's Dream Home Giveaway, Ansonia Station, P.O. Box 230233, New York, NY 10023-0004 ("Mail Entry"). A Mail Entry Video must be in one of the following formats: VHS or DVD. Mail Entry Photo must not exceed 8" x 10". Contest Entry Form will also be available by mail. Send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: Regis & Kelly's Dream Home Giveaway "Contest Entry Form," P.O. Box 11029, Burbank, CA 91510. All requests must be received by February 24, 2011. All Mail Entries must be received by March 4, 2011. Entries sent to the Contest Entry Form mailing address will be disqualified.

snotty noses yuck

2011-02-01T07:17:00.004-05:00

Buckets of snot flowing around here. I have some with clear constant water type, I have the crusty dried and thick white sneezing blast type... Kleenex loves times like this. Then that another multi tasking... I need the soft lotion type for little noses and the dry type for wiping snot off glasses... ever wipe your child's glasses with lotion tissues and send them on their way...they walk into things I Know.

it was 3 am, Jordan in the shower, he informs me he is not going to school and proceeds to demonstrate this terrible cough (a cough he did great acting on) He then demanding I confirm he will not be going to school.. I convinced him more sleep could tell if he needed to be home. A wake up sneeze (he is the one with the thick white mucus) confirmed OK, lets keep your germs home today. As Tressa was getting to the bus Katie yelled Jordan is not dressed. I explain Jordan is sick going to the Doctor.. he quickly jumps up and say NO I WANT TO GO TO SCHOOL! When I explained he has germs and should take today to rest and we could go get his blood draw this morning he said No, no mom I am sick in my head. I am sick in my head mom, no shots...as he is demonstrating a blood draw. You see when we have been going to all his MRI, CAT scans he has always asked over and over about shots and I said no, no shots at your head doctor... so the whole being sick in the head to him is a good thing in the medical aspects. (his seizure Doctor)

Keirsten is tending to her own snotty nose and Emma well she leaves her every need on my shoulders... LOL literally snot wet shoulder... Steven is congested snot and a cough coming and Katie is the faucet running like water.... I am taking my vitamins like they are gum drops from heaven...

2011-01-31T09:03:00.003-05:00

What is it with me and phones....I get the new EVO 4g IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE FASTER BETTER ETC.... yet for me it doesn't work. Works then stops....all incoming calls go straight to voicemail and when I try to call out it says no signal. FRUSTRATING!!!!!!!!!!! My last phone the palm pre would just shut off on me. I answer a call and it shut down..my daughter said it was me until one day she watched it just decide to shut down, totally charged.. I am going to go back to home phone only if things do not change, this is crazy expensive and if it doesn't work, what's the point... really what's the point. I get calls while trying to pee, Driving and calls come so I wonder who can it be, then there is the ever so embarrassing call when I am in a meeting, yes I forget to put on vibrate. What did we do when we only had home phones.. I find it funny when a school official or medical professional discussing something make it sound like it is necessary to be available 24/7.. Wow we must have been very neglectful parents before cell phones. C-R-A-Z-Y

While on the subject I heard from my sister who was telling me all bout her best friend. She has four actually I think she said. She has two in France, two in Canada and a keep her on her toes in Ohio... talked like they had gone out for tea that morning. She is having such wonderful friend times.... OK, my sister is in the Carolina's and HASN'T BEEN TRAVELING... yes yes you guessed it her FACEBOOK friends...LOL let's avoid human contact next..... we have virtual schools, cell pone facebook friends and on line shopping... see where this is going. I am sorry, I like HUMAN TOUCH. Reach out and touch someone.... Hallmark at least gave you tangible contact... Oh I need my cup of coffee.

Yes, on top of my phone issue I am having ant eater issues as well... My Ant Eater (Tressa) is not stopping this gross nasty bad habit she has picked up. I almost can not even believe the words come out of my mouth; Tressa are you eating ants again? As she tries to hold her mouth closed to hide the evidence.. but what else would you be lapping up off the floor. and she fights to get to them. When it rains we get these tiny ever so tiny ants that are like the song the ants go marching one by one.. they come in lines and move fast and catch her attention but EAT THEM come to mind..oh no!

Treading new waters....all part of the journey

2011-01-28T23:12:00.003-05:00

My life is taking on some new tasks, bringing on exciting challenges; I look forward to succeeding and in the same breath scares me to my core in opening old wounds. I will share when I can just keep me in your prayers for strength and direction on my new venture.

Keirsten is taking an exam on Tuesday night which is very important for her college enrollment and scholarships please lift her confidence in prayer as she is 100% on the right track. When we walk into the school, her entire body shines, she breathes deeper, smiles bigger, glo's brighter. It is obvious the environ met is exciting, invigorating and the right pick for her career. We have one more hurdle to cross and that will be known Tuesday.

Kaitlyn leaves at 6:45am for her 8th grade class trip to Tampa. She is so excited. She is going to bush Garden's with out mom. She can't stop telling me all the things she is going to do with her friends. She has her clothes by the door, her shower taken, hair fixed and now off to sleep. I am excited for her and having a little anxiety too. Kaitlyn knows Bush Gardens well although my fear is she might get a little too independent tomorrow and go off on her own. She forgets sometimes strapping herself in rides and that scares me for her not to have someone 100% aware of her .... but I have gone over and over the rules and when she comes home tomorrow night I will post all her wonderful trip experiences as she dictates them to me.. She is my sunshine.

Steven came home early from school today saying her was sick, it was a pretty nasty headache which made him cry at school not understanding what was going on. Once he took most of the day to sleep he was up and going dinner hour. I had a head ache yesterday which I thought was stress related but it must be something... Tressa had it yesterday too.

Jordan had a 100% day. This week has been a trying week for him. I think the weather is playing a huge issue, cold cold cold then hot, cold / hot, no one knows how to dress and once you get warm, you are over heated.

Tressa, oh my she has had a rough week. OCD in a big way. We see her specialists in March, I can not wait to go over everything. I am trying to take her off one medication which can cause some excessive OCD but her OCD starts when i say I do not want to give her the liquid today... she gets so stuck... just stuck...poor thing. I wish I had better answers on how to help her through those moments.

Lucas continues to slow but sure make progress. His eating is better and better. Emma well you all get daily reports on my little sidekick who is without doubt SPOILED ROTTEN.... Two months and she is going to behavioral class.LOL I am serious she will be two and i have her on the wait list to get into a play group three hours a day all about behaviors.... LOL Red Head STUBBORN...

Really, not something that comes natually?? Really

2011-01-28T23:05:00.003-05:00

Humility is not something that comes naturally to most, especially in today’s busy competitive society. Everyday, people see others taking advantage of a situation trying to get ahead or make themselves look good and it really doesn’t do anything for them. A humble person is someone who does not boast or try to impress themselves on you. They are generally quiet, meek and typically not self serving. This is a good set of attributes to be seen but is a very difficult trait to be known for since being humble involves so many behaviors in our lives and is really the opposite of the way most people are living their lives.

Question your own Humility
•Do you take an opportunity to claim credit for things that you are involved in?
•Do you like to be right and to prove what you know?
•Maybe you think your job role is more important than the next person or that you are smarter than them?
•Are you capable of handling things on your own without help from others?
•Are you proud of your accomplishments or do you ever brag about things you do or can do?
If you answered YES to ANY of these questions maybe you are not as humble as you think
Recognize a humble person by related character traits. They are generally calm, courteous, polite, subdued and modest in their behavior and attitudes. A humble attitude is never pompous, proud or arrogant and a humble person does not attempt to belittle others or make them selves look good in comparison. Humble people are easily liked, very approachable and easy to get along with.

Let's put these skills back into our lives....let's be humble Americans

such a calming moment.... she is priceless

2011-01-26T11:36:00.000-05:00

Prayers for my cousins, lift them from harms way

2011-01-26T07:13:00.005-05:00

Hurting heart this morning, after a rough nights sleep, which if you know me, isn't usual. I am struggling with the thoughts of a cousin and second cousin who have landed themselves in places they need prayers. In so many ways I know moving to Florida was my saving grace to be grounded as I am. In the next thought I miss my family (as I saw it through a child's eyes) I ask you to pray for Ammie for strength to rise above the poisons of drug addiction. My memory of her is so different, this is not even comprehensible to me that this BEAUTIFUL girl, God blessed her with model quality looks; could have fallen into the clenches of such a deadly poison. I remember spending summers with her, envious of her long red locks soft and perfect. Her petite face and perfect bone structure, her ability to eat anything and never gain an ounce. Her grace, intelligence and will. Her Mother my Aunt Peggy now passed who seemed the adult figure of her daughter... Unfortunately, I did not stay in contact over the years since moving to Florida, taking on my strengths and making life for my children here was my focus.. I didn't balance my time for family back thousands of miles; making it all my past, burrying some of that pain. I have never met her daughter Morgan who at this time can be saved before the clinches of anything grab hold...Pray, please pray that God delivers her the strength to rise above the pains of dysfunction, see into her future; a positive life, to make choices that will enhance HER. She is 15 years young. The age that is so very difficult in the best home lives. Morgan unfortunately has not had this foundation from her Mother nor Father and now in the care of our system called foster care, I am terrified for her. I know foster care in ways that this has taken me to my knees. I know the paths the children Morgan will be sharing time with have gone.. I know what horrible things she can learn and be exposed to.. it is causing great pain to my heart. Fifteen is such an impressionable age..I know, I did this to my own daughter. Mandie was fifteen when I brought home foster girls to our home. Thinking I was being a good citizen, I did not take into consideration that the teens I brought into my home would be no person I would wish to build friendships for my children with. I know that is strong from me, but reality is the children I brought into the dark quiet rooms unsupervised taught my pure teenage daughter about prostitution, about sex in ways I never ever wanted her to learn as a teen. It brought out abuse and graphic descriptions of information way before any child should learn... Balance, I pray for balance in Morgan's life and all those surrounding her so everyone can think clearly and make the right decisions for Morgan. Please keep my extended family in prayer as this is very trying on my heart.
The conflict of keeping distance from why I left, to what I know; who I am, my gift to help family.

Late night ramble about our morals...

2011-01-25T22:24:00.004-05:00

I almost posted last night on my view about the show bachelor and his crazy statements he wants the girls to be open and truthful but when they express how BAZAAR it is to have 15 girls dating and kissing and living together hoping to gain the love of one man who if he has fallen in love already is still making out with the others to meet the shows criteria although is asking the girls to not pull away, do not find this difficult just ..... WHAT... WHAT WORLD IS HE FROM.... ok calm down Mary it is made for television and the man is in love at the expense of so many screwed up emotional woman... THANKS DUDE!!! well then we all ask, Mary why are you watching it then??? Again, the main reason I didn't post last night but then here goes tonight's opinion... How does Kaitlyn know the stations on the radio to flip through channels and know ALL THE WORDS to songs that are totally dysfunctional breeding co-dependency at it's finest. I wanna hold a grenade for you, jump in front of a train for you, BASICALLY COMMITTING SUICIDE FOR LOVE....BUT here is the kicker... the love is not returned...You through it in the trash.. they claim, never returned the love at all but again they sing they will catch a grenade, throw myself in front of a train for you. So then I turn the music down to explain to Kaitlyn what she is singing... GHEE should I have done that??? So she asked me a MILLION questions with the repeat of; why? and so I found myself explaining way more about love life to Kaitlyn than she needed or I needed... and here I sit wondering why this crap is even out there for our kids... Why do 30 girls apply to go on a show to expose themselves to the world and what is it...for one guy.. then who would even write the words that they would kill themselves for someone who never loved them; tore their heart out and threw it in the trash..

I sure miss BARNEY.

JOIN YOUR LOCAL KIWANIS

2011-01-25T12:17:00.002-05:00

The Purpose of Kiwanis
To Improve the quality of Life for Children and Families worldwide.

As a thriving organization of men, women, and youth, we are dedicated to serving the children of the world and improving the quality of life worldwide. Being committed to this mission calls each of us to live by the following objects of Kiwanis:

To give primacy to the human and spiritual, rather than to the material values of life.
To encourage the daily living of the Golden Rule in all human relationships.
To promote the adoption and the application of higher social, business, and professional standards.
To develop, by precept and example, a more intelligent, aggressive, and serviceable citizenship.
To provide, through Kiwanis clubs, a practical means to form enduring friendships, to render altruistic service, and to build better communities.
To cooperate in creating and maintaining that sound public opinion and high idealism, which makes possible the increase of righteousness, justice, patriotism, and goodwill.
Vision
We will be the world's premier organization engaging adult and youth volunteers to improve the quality of life worldwide.

time:7:30 AM every Tuesday morning

venue:Faith Presbyterian Church, 4544 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904

Meets on Every Week Tuesday at 7:30 am

OR

Harney Point chapter of Kiwanis
Weekly -- Wednesday 11:30 am
Lazy Dog Grill
3522 Del Prado Blvd. N
Cape Coral, Fl 33904

This club is full of fun. They have so many community activities and action going on in line with our families. They offer our kids as they are young to adults support in the community. JOIN JOIN JOIN JOIN

Inquiring minds ask......

2011-01-24T13:33:00.008-05:00

1. What are your children's names and how did you choose them?
2. Where do you live, and how do you like it there?
3. What has been your toughest moment in the Down Syndrome journey?
4. What are your favorite things to do when you are not being Mommy?

Mandie Marie is my oldest, she is now 32 years old. I had Mandie 10/78 as a teen in High School, marrying her Father to avoid placing her for adoption. My intent was at all times to have a baby so marrying her Father was part of the immature mind processing how to have a baby...In 1978 Mandy was a popular name. She changed the spelling during her years in middle school. Michelle came 9 months after my divorce... fancy that luck. She was to be a boy. In 1980 we could tell by heart beats and how you carried your baby, no sonograms ..the name chosen was Kortney Adam because she was a boy....SURPRISE. I was to the wire with the vital statistics police on my back that you can not leave the hospital without a name.... My nurses name was Michelle although her middle name was one given from tradition in their family and no way would I have ever remembered it or made sense of it...so Christine rolled out nicely. Michelle Christine born 09/81. In college with two children and a dead beat ex husband in tow I gave birth to the BOY.... yep Kortney Adam 05/83 he hates his name and goes only by Kory today..LOL so much for all my thought processing. In the same thought processing (immature) believing moving to Florida might change my not so good luck. I had been living in Illinois most all my life, being still immature I brought the problem to Florida in 1988. Becoming much wiser and in my own career working for the state of Florida I rid myself of baggage; the three children and I moved forward.

I opted to help the desperate cry for foster parents and brought foster children into our home from 1990 to 1996. I adopted Joshua who chose his own name (changed from birth name) Birth given name of William Richard; was shortened when I got custody to, Willie. and then starting playgroups with mean boys..."Dick" for a middle name, he had different ideas for a name at the age of five. I am sure the reason he chose Joshua was from a caseload child of mine I spent a great deal of time with; a boy by the name of Joshua. If I came home late he knew I had to go see Joshua..that case was in Englewood which is far from where we live, So he at 5 became my Joshua. LOL A couple years later I flew to Oregon to adopt a teen who was at the last chance adopt phase and she kept her name Erin Dawn, very pretty name indeed. My Keirsten is the birth daughter of one of the teen/then adult foster girls I had in the 90's. She could not care for her so to prevent Keirsten from entering foster care she placed her at a week old with me. The process of her trying to kick drugs and drinking to parent took too long and the courts placed her in adoption status, I then adopted her. Her name was Kirsten although the pronunciation was to sound like a long e and no one did it as Kirsten so one day we were getting groceries and the cashiers tag said Keirsten, i pronounced it perfect and she said wow how did you know... so we took the e and added it at the time of adoption. A few years passed and I met a little girl 3yrs old with Down syndrome who needed an adoptive home, Her name Kaitlyn Nicole fit her to the tee. Having Kaitlyn home; a local magazine did a Mother's Day article featuring Kaitlyn and I. From that publication brought us a "faxed to my job, a letter-cry for help" to help with a little boy named Steven Lee a 2 year old boy with Down syndrome living with his aging grandparents because his parents could not care for him. Steven Lee grew into his name perfectly, so it remains. In the spring of 2000 while on maternity leave from Steven's placement I got a call about a newborn boy with Down syndrome in Sarasota who needed a family right that minute.. His adoption disrupted. I said YES YES YES. We needed not only every single thing to provide for a newborn baby, we needed a name.... It was decided on the way to the hospital..If he was blond he is Tyler and if dark hair Jordan. He is American / Mexican (LOL) Jordan Tyler is his name (J.T. after my late Grandfather who is, always will be my mentor.) Home for about 18 months another call came in asking if we would take a little baby girl with Prader-willi syndrome. My journey with disabilities thus far was magical and a "yes" came shortly after researching what we could on her disability. Her name is Tressa, given to her from a book her great grandmother wrote. I could never take that from her, beautiful as she is. Her middle name is given from her birth name so we incorporated her birth with adoption. Then came the name game...We went into an adoption dissolution case and the boy born Tibor called Tibi in his orphanage in Hungary, known by this name for four plus years was made David at the age of four+ through adoption..BUT three months later was placed in a friends care who named him unofficially Luke. By the time we took custody, four months later, I saw him respond naturally to Luke/Lucas and Tibi. It was difficult because legally everything is David and in all appointments they will call him David until adoption is final with us.. It became obvious with all his neglect he needed some stability so he is Lucas Tibor (Tibi nickname) He still smiles when he hears Tibi, he is now 7 years old doing fantastic. Amazing what a family can do for a human. In march 2009 we got called about a newborn left in NICU. We knew she was blond hair blue eyes. She was tiny and very medically fragile. I went newborn shopping and the kids all started going through names to see what name the kids could all say. One issue we have is some of the children can not pronounce certain sounds; names are an issue. J is a very difficult sound and Jordan still can not say his own name. By the time I got home Emma was the given first name. I received an email from one of my friends about tummy issues etc..because Emma seems to have some issues. Rose gave me insight and offered help if need be.. Emma Rose is now her name. ironically the next day when I drove across the state to camp out in NICU I met Emma Rose for the first time, sight unseen. SHE HAS BRIGHT RED HAIR. How ironic was it that her name fit her, a gift from God.

We live in Southwest Florida in a community called Cape Coral. I chose to buy a home in the Cape in 1990 because of it's focus on family. The schools are centered around family, we have block parties and many civic organizations focus on their own right here in our community. There is not one area of Cape Coral considered unsafe or "the projects" or any side of town we would not live. I chose the area we are in as the water and sewer were already on city hook up, the neighborhood is older and well established. Our neighbors have been here since we moved in.. A real family environment.

My toughest moment for the journey is the medical. You see, I do not experience the grief of learning my children have Down syndrome, I run as fast as I can when offered the opportunity to part a child with Down syndrome. I do get kicked in the stomach when medical issues come up and at a couple points in the journey I had to face the possibility that my child may not make it to the end of the year. Jordan was diagnosis with Opsocloinsis as an infant and we went into the cancer learning phase for ruling out Neuroblastoma. I cried for the entire two weeks until the ruling out period proved he had precursors but not cancer. I was a wreck each year when the testing to be sure it had not surfaced came around. Then baby Emma's heart surgery had to be the single most walk of faith for me. This precious little angel I had to hand over to have three holes closed on her heart on this tiny lifeless baby girl who could not reach the weight they wished for her surgery was painstakingly difficult to get through seconds that day..and days prior. It wasn't until the day after my heart was filled with such joy and happiness that God delivered again, she was better than new, she was ALIVE. It was amazing the difference from the day before to the day after.

My other difficult moments are getting the professionals to look at the can do's and not the limitation. The schools to place goals high for them to achieve instead of looking at well they won't be able to get to this point..WHO KNOWS... I strive to have all the children fully included for many reasons although the #1 is that in real life when they turn 22, they have no tucked away Walmart to safely shop or a special road or path to travel to keep them safe. They are walking and traveling the population we all live in and I need them prepared. Prepared for the cashier who might not give the right change, the person who might not have their best intentions in mind. I need them to skin their knee to learn how to ride a bike, fall down learning to ski. I am not sure where parents believe because their child has Down syndrome they should be sheltered from normal ugly life experiences. This is what makes us prepared for life. I want my child ready for being called a name... I was called a name a time or two. I had to wear a bandage a time or two.. I think I turned out just fine. I see my Kaitlyn totally capable of holding her own in so many social situations from being fully included her entire life. She is not missing out on anything. She reads at a 3.4 grade level and knows math to number up for shopping. I would not do anything different other than advocating more for others to have what Kaitlyn has had in educational settings.

I love to take long weekends with adult friends to go on exciting trips. A weekend to Utah skiing, BIKEWEEK in Daytona, Disney World without children. I have my days to myself for house keeping which I enjoy. I can go to lunch with a girlfriend. I would love to travel more, take the older two out to other countries to expose all their abilities to foreign countries. I see how our country which is much more exposed to persons with Disabilities act when my children do very independent acts and I feel the more we place our loved ones in successful social setting the more we educate and break down social stereotypes.

I am trying not to impulse buy....my girls want this bed and so do I

2011-01-23T17:07:00.002-05:00

They are asking $1,500.00 used....... oh how I wish I had $1,500. right now.... no reason for the kids to sleep in my room, I won't be in there. To the castle my little ones

HOUSTON we have a problem

2011-01-23T12:09:00.002-05:00

I emailed the company, it was a gift, but clearly a commercial grade trampoline should hold up

Emma attends her first BFF Birthday party

2011-01-23T09:01:00.003-05:00

All dressed up fot Serenity's Birthday Party. Oh so much fun. Emma got Serenity a dance costume pink and purple complete with a hair flower

2011-01-21T23:00:00.000-05:00

2011-01-21T22:20:00.002-05:00

Today was an awesome day... We woke up early for a "free day" no school because it is dedicated to our hard working teachers to wrap up final grades from this quarter.

the alarm went off as set at 6 am... I must admit since not one child was awake I hit the snooze button. At about that exact moment Jordan said..no mom Disney World. I rolled out of bed put the coffee on and they popped out of their beds like none other... WOW, I have to plead and beg on school mornings.. Seven munchkins to the table for breakfast and the front shelf for clothes. Everything was set up as if it was a school day other than back packs filled with goodies, swimsuits and towels. We are off.

Bush gardens opens at 9 am and our plan is to be there when they open to beat the rush... We are staying all day since they close at 6 pm.

The ride up we met some fog and rain... I thought possible we should phone the park to see what rides will be shut down is it is raining. We pushed on. The DVD was playing Merry Christmas Madagascar... and only a fee complaints.. One was a bit concerning, Kaitlyn yells up to me "Jordan is breaking my heart... MOM he is now breaking my stomach. You see I have assigned seating for very good reason. It can take only a hair out of place or some toast stuck in ones tooth to make a miserable moment out of nothing. We were not in our assigned seats. Jordan had decided to get in the back behind Kaitlyn and thought it funny to tug on her shoulder strap to her seat belt making it tight on her chest (heart) and then her waist (stomach) and the tight feeling made her use the words Break... Decoding comes easy in time. I pull over, get everyone to go to their assigned seat and buckle up... We are good to go. Although the rain is getting worse. the fog unbearable and my neck tight from tense driving.. We pull up weather on my cell phone...you know they have every app possible now and it shows Tampa to be clear mid morning. We plan to go to see the shows first to avoid the rain. Then it concerns ,e will they open.. Surely they open... Yes, we pulled into Bush garden's Tampa Florida as the 2 nd car in the very front row.. We saw buses coming but really not many people any where.

For anyone living on a tight budget I have this down to a science. We choose to pay monthly which is $6.00 a month to have a 2 year pass. Each of the kids have one. Being a pass holder you get FREE PARKING and 10% off purchases and other perks. Like $10 family photo 6X8. You can go now and get the day pass at full price and come back all year free... But for me paying the full price times 8 all on one day and no perks because I would have to pay parking each trip... seemed better to do monthly. So all we pay is gas in the van today... You say food.. Well If you go to Subway which is a block before the turn into Bush Gardens order 2 $5.00 subs and have them but them into 4 instead of 2 you have 8 sandwiches for kids. A can of Pringles from home and frozen water and drink boxes packed from home and trail mix. We do have the bracelet which is an all day food pass. With the 10% discount it is about $12.00 if you buy separate your mean is $7, desert$2 and drink $2 for a one time shot. I believe Jordan ate 5 times today one was an OOOPPPS he was suppose to go get a drink and came back with a bowl of Mac n cheese. Not sure how because it was not on the kids menu at this particular place but he advocated for his bowl and told me it was for Lucas... LOL Lucas had a packed lunch. Yes you can take food and drink into Bush Gardens. So we get into the park with one more stop to guest relations for our fast track pass. it gives us a quick on pass ... Grab a few maps and we are off. Jordan is fully aware of what an all day food pass is and he knows each and every stop that provides food . I move the kids on to the first show and the older ones run for the roller coaster while we ( Me Emma and Lucas) hold the front row seats for the show.. MAYBE 20 more people showed up... Ironically we wanted front and center but we were told those are held for platinum members.. Guess no platinum members came out in the rain because the seats stayed empty the entire show.. :o( The show was AMAZING... Held all the kids attention except Jordan who was running by what foods he would like to acquire in the next few minutes. Off to some roller coaster rides. We hit all the roller coasters and most all the shows. We walked and walked and walked. We did get caught in the rain once which was a fast run back to the dinner show. and more food.. Tressa was stressing at this point although the choice to walk in the rain to the van or sit and wait it out where there is food.. she coped well..Yeah Tressa. The day was calm and fun, no real mishaps other than a 17 year old who forgets the world doesn't revolve around her... Our only conflicts were the drive...and why that happens who knows. I have a HUGE van they can all have their own space almost own bench and we have two flat screen DVD's going. they had their DSi and Ipod... BUT low and behold Kaitlyn yells...MOM, JORDAN PEED MY PANTS... WHAT I ASK, and she repeats it with Oh my gosh Jordan you are so gross...I'M OUT OF HERE... now we were rolling about 70MPH on I-75 some where between Bradenton and Venice... I needed clarification... ???Jordan peed "YOUR" pants???? Mom yes it is gross. I turned the DVD down and asked her to explain. My pants are wet now because Jordan peed. I ask, Jordan did you pee your pants... Not they are wet. OK, ??How wet are they??? MOM IT RAINED. so the truth be known they are all tired and the towel Jordan used from the rain is wet and Kaitlyn apparently sat on the towel that she now has given back and it is laying on Jordan.. I am driving laughing inside because they are so darn cute... Guess you just gotta be part of their world to help them decode their feelings... it is awful traveling "moist" as we all were from having so much fun all day at Bush Garden which is all about getting their guests wet as wet as possible. They settled into a move I listened to although was a little, maybe a lot concerned with where the movie came from.. how to eat fried worms.. They say I bought it, I must have not known it.. one of those throw it in the cart and see if she notices events. Not sure if you have watched it and I have not.. I listened to it and wasn't impressed with the mental image it put into my hear let alone where it went for them. We arrived home in time for bath pills and bedtime routine... it did take a little extra time for them to shut down from such an exciting day although they are all sleeping soundly now. I love it when I take them out by myself and we have such a successful day.

2011-01-19T14:35:00.004-05:00

Angelina and Olga need families asap.... we can help

click on link to tax deduct able donation page

http://www.causes.com/causes/523752

You can donate right on FACE BOOK CAUSES
...
or mail to:
SW FL PODS Angels
attn: ORPHANS
3422 SE th Place
Cape Coral, FL 33904-4209

deposit directly into Fifth/Third Bank
SW Florida PODS Angels Family Support Group Inc
******8533

I hope to raise 50K in the year 2011 to help save at least four children with Down syndrome from institutional living or death. Angelina who was born exactly a year before Emma and red headed with holes in her heart. She needs heart surgery living in an orphanage; She WILL DIE without this surgery. Her country of birth not willing to see her life " worthy" for surgery. As much as I would love to hop on a plane and go get her being a single mom with 7 children hinders adoption in many ways where people make judgements. We take so much for granted here. God has sent a challenge which doubles the joy. A family who had hoped to travel to adopt Olga had to back out. Olga is at the age of maturity ans will be locked away in an institution if not adopted... Olga's grant makes it possible to bring her back if we can raise a few funds for the family who might choose her. The country ties the children to their beds because they do not understand Down syndrome and feel their energy level is best served sedated. WE TOGETHER CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.. five or ten dollars from each will make this possible. Please consider helping in other ways.. go to www.reecesrainbow.com

2011-01-18T15:41:00.003-05:00

Today has been very busy for my heart and my mind.. I had to get emma to a morning Doctors appointment, YEAH SHE GAINED... She is now 21.5 lbs giving credit to her being put on Prdiasure for the last three months. She is eating more and more but her body burns calories faster than she is able to eat. We stopped to load up on more pediasure when we got the green light to do so. Then race home for buses and uncover the mystery of why my jewlery was all over the floor this weekend... Jordan decided to gift a friend with some of my things. No worry everything back safe and sound. then to the post op appointment where we discussed Emma's blood pressure issues. We will be back next month for another follow up. The Doctoe being hyspanic fround Jordan in his suit and personaity blaring comical and persoanl.. He stated jordan reminded him of himself at the age of 10... I told him if I get the same end results I will be a happy mom..LOL Yes, Jordan was showing is ODD side along with extreme "GAS" LOL The trip home was graced by a run through the neighborhood market (walmart) found some very good meat buys..yeah me. I am trying to stay on top of Thank yous and all the internet hoopla to get the fundraising for Olga and Angelina well under way. I am waiting to hear back from the Region as to how they feel about my being a single mom with many and seeking to save 2 from their system. Never the easy path.. but well worth it if all goes as planned.

2011-01-17T09:37:00.002-05:00

Today the children did not get out of bed until 8:30 am that is almost scary for how my day will proceed.... I knew that meant i had some wet beds and the house has an odor when that happens so this makes a busy morning for me BUT...I got a good nights sleep to face my day.

Our home is pretty routine. Actually last night I had a recent visitor in our home send me a suggestion to have parenting classes in my home by allowing moms to come and stay in my home for a few days.... not sure that is in the best interest of my kids although I think if i hopped back onto this blog and was more detailed on how I run the ship each day that would be almost the same.. near enough.

I am venturing into a new journey of my life and will be very busy sharpening my time to be more efficient so the blogging might get tighter although I need to expand our ability to get things working in our home. SO many repairs and tweaking to do here.

BOOK LIST, my library choices

2011-01-17T09:35:00.001-05:00

A selection of books for children that depict inclusive community- building, and inclusion of children of diverse abilities in typical classrooms, schools and neighborhoods.

Bouwkamp, J. (2006). Hi! I’m Ben!… and I’ve got a secret. 2nd. edition. Rochester Hills, MI: Band of Angels Press.
3-year-old Ben introduces himself and asks readers to guess his secret. His clues tell about his family, all the things he enjoys doing, things he is afraid of, all very typical of any child his age. The secret he reveals is his Down syndrome, which is explained in positive and age-appropriate language.

Bunnett, R. (1992). Friends in the park. Yardley, PA: Checkerboard Press.
A photo essay, this book depicts friends of mixed abilities playing together and doing the activities that all children enjoy such as playing ball, swinging, and riding toy vehicles.

Bunnett, R. (1996.) Friends at school. Long Island City, NY: Star Bright Books.
This photo essay depicts young children of mixed abilities in an inclusive school setting sharing a busy school day. A Spanish edition is also available.

Brown, Tricia. (1995.) Someone special, just like you. New York: Henry Holt & Company.
Pre-school aged children with disabilities are depicted in this photo essay having fun doing all the things that any children enjoy: blowing bubbles, singing, dancing, resting, and eating. They show that, despite some differences they might have, they explore life’s experiences the way any children do: with enthusiasm and delight.

Carter, A. (1997). Big brother Dustin. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
Dustin, a preschool aged child who has Down syndrome, and his family eagerly await and prepare for their new baby.

Carter, A. (1999). Dustin’s big school day. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
This story follows Dustin, a second grader who has Down syndrome, through his school day. He is attends typical school and learns in a typical classroom, with visits to a speech therapist and an occupational therapist. Dustin is an engaging young man who is more similar to his friends than he is different.

Carter, A. (1998). Seeing things my way. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
Amanda is a second grader who has a vision impairment. She introduces us to her family, her school, her doctors, and the variety of assistive technology available to vision impaired students. Amanda is a busy and happy girl with many interests, and the photographic illustrations show how similar she is to her peers than different.

Cave, K. (2004). That's what friends do. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
This loving illustration of friends who are very different in appearance will inspire children and the adults who care for and teach them.

Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergartners. (1991.) We are all alike… we are all different. New York: Scholastic Inc.
This compilation of kindergarteners’ drawings and words rounded out by Laura Dwight’s photography demonstrates that all children share differences and similarities in their families, houses, bodies, feelings and activities.

Clements, A. (2002). Big Al and Shrimpy. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. A big, strong fish named Big Al who becomes injured during one of their adventures together befriends a very small, smart and lonely fish named Shrimpy. It is Shrimpy’s big ideas and perseverance that builds the team that saves Big Al.

De Bear, Kirsten. (2001). Be quiet, Marina! Long Island City, NY: Star Bright Books.
This photographic story illustrates how two three-year-old girls (one who has cerebral palsy and one who has Down syndrome) learn to appreciate each other's differences in communication style in order to become friends and playmates.

Dwight, L. (2005). Brothers and sisters. Long Island City, NY: Star Bright Books.

Dwight, L. (1992). We can do it! New York: Checkerboard Press.
This book focuses on the abilities of five children with different disabilities: blindness, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and spina bifida. They are shown in inclusive settings enjoying the typical activities young children at home and at school.

Girnis, M. (2001). 1, 2, 3 for you and me. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
This counting book is illustrated with fun photographs of children who have Down syndrome and their typical peers and siblings.

Girnis, M. (2000). A, B, C for you and me. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
This alphabet book is illustrated with fun photographs of children who have Down syndrome and their typical peers and siblings.

Kent, D. (2003). Athletes with disabilities. New York: Franklin Watts.
This chapter book is meant for an older elementary audience, but is worth mentioning here because its photographic illustrations are inspiring and it contains information about athletes with a variety of disabilities who compete in the Special Olympics, the Paralympics and other competitive arenas.

Kraus, R. (1971). Leo the late bloomer. New York: Windmill Books.
This classic tale tells the story of Leo, a tiger who learns things like talking, reading, writing, drawing and eating neatly much more slowly than his father expects him to. His mother believes that he is a “late bloomer,” and she is right: “One day, in his own good time, Leo bloomed.”

Lester, H. (1999). Hooway for wodney wat. New York: Water Lorraine Books.
When a shy classmate who has trouble pronouncing his “R’s” has an opportunity to just be himself and unwittingly save his class from a bully, he becomes a hero.

Levete, S. (1998). How do I feel about making friends. Brookfield, CT: Copper Beech Books.
This book emphasizes the importance of friendship by illustrating and describing scenarios about making friends and keeping peers feeling welcome and included, all in age-appropriate language. The photographic and drawn illustrations are ethnically diverse and inclusive of all abilities.

Lionni, L. (1963). Swimmy. New York: Pantheon.
In this classic, Swimmy is a lone black fish in a school of red fish that learns to be himself, share and get along with others, and use teamwork to conquer a big task.

Mayer, G. & Mayer, M. (1992.) A very special critter. New York: A Golden Book.
When a new student who uses a wheelchair joins the critters’ class, the critters are nervous and curious. But when Alex arrives and they get to know him and learn about the assistance his wheel chair offers him, they realize that he is more similar than different.

McMahon, P. (2000). Dancing wheels. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

McMahon, P. (1995). Listen for the bus: David’s story. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press.
This story follows David through his first days of kindergarten in a typical school and classroom. He rides the bus, finds his cubby, enjoys circle time and story time. Since he is blind and hearing impaired, David experiences all of these new adventures through feeling the textures of objects and using sign language, and receives some help from his teachers and school friends.

Millman, I. (1998). Moses goes to a concert. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux: Frances Foster Books.
Moses, a young deaf student, goes to an orchestra concert on a field trip with his classmates and meets a deaf percussionist. Moses and his friends learn to feel the vibrations of the music, and are able to sample the different percussion instruments after the concert. This book includes pictures of Moses and his teacher and friends using American Sign Language, and the ASL hand alphabet is illustrated.

Millman, I. (2000). Moses goes to school. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux: Frances Foster Books.
This book shows Moses and his ethnically diverse deaf classmates learning in their school, on their playground, and on their school bus. American Sign Language is illustrated throughout.

Moncure, J. B. (1996). The child’s world of kindness. Chanhassen, MN: Child’s World.
In simple language and appealing illustrations, this book introduces what it means to be kind, being gentle with animals, taking turns, and helping others.

Oliver, C. (1999). Animals helping with special needs. New York: Franklin Watts.
This informative book is meant for an older elementary audience, but would benefit a younger group with assistance. Seeing eye dogs, hearing dogs, and other assistance pets (including monkeys!) are introduced, shown in photographic illustrations with the people whom they assist. Interesting and inspiring anecdotes are shared in sidebars.

Osofsky, A. (1994). My Buddy. New York: Henry Holt & Company.
Buddy is a golden retriever who helps a boy who has muscular dystrophy reach his goals of independence. Together, the boy and his buddy make a great team and show that children who have physical disabilities are able to participate in typical activities if they have some help.

Parr, T. (2001). It's okay to be different. Boston: Megan Tingley Books.
Todd Parr's books celebrate differences among people. Illustrations are bold and primitive, so these work well with younger children even if the topics are abstract.

Parr, T. (1999). The okay book. Boston: Megan Tingley Books.

Pitzer, R. (2004). I can, can you? Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
In board book format and illustrated with photographs, this book shows babies and toddlers who have Down syndrome having fun doing the things that all babies and toddlers do.

Rickert, J.E. (2001). Russ and the almost perfect day. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
This story follows Russ, an elementary school student who happens to have Down syndrome, through a day that is typical, but better. He finds a five-dollar bill on the way to school and decides that even though he has fun ideas about how to spend the money, his sad classmate who lost her lunch money deserves it more.

Rickert, J.E. (1999). Russ and the apple tree surprise. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
In the second story in the Russ series, Russ, a pre-schooler who has Down syndrome, learns that the apple trees in his back yard are more fun than a jungle gym. He picks apples with his father, helps make an apple pie with his mother and grandmother, and is excited when his grandfather surprises him with a tree swing.

Rickert, J.E. (2000). Russ and the firehouse. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
In this first story in the Russ series, Russ, a pre-school aged boy who has Down syndrome, enjoys an exciting day visiting his uncle at his firehouse where he learns how to help out with the firefighters’ chores.

Rogers, F. (2001). Let’s talk about it: extraordinary friends. New York: Puffin Books.
Part of the “Let’s Talk About It” series, this book opens discussion about people with disabilities and deals openly with the feelings a child might have upon meeting someone with a disability for the first time, such as curiosity, fear or surprise. With a common sense approach, Rogers assures young children that these feelings are okay, and that once they learn that everyone has differences AND similarities, it will be easier to get to know those they might find intimidating, and make friends.

Ross, D. (1999). A book of friends. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
An age-appropriate discussion of the different kinds of friendships one can have. Diversity is illustrated with animals; one drawback is the use of non-standard fonts and cursive, which make this a book to read aloud to a young audience.

Senisi, E. (1998). All kinds of friends, even green. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
Moses and his pet iguana, Zaki, have disabilities that require them to figure out ways to get around easily: Moses uses a wheelchair and Zaki is missing some toes. This story looks at disability and associated challenges as interesting and positive differences.

Shirley, D.. (2008). Best friend on wheels. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman & Co..
add annotation here

Slate, J. (1998). Miss Bindergarten celebrates the 100th day of kindergarten. New York: Dutton Children's Books.
The Miss Bindergarten series follows a kindergarten class of recurring characters through their adventures. Lenny the Lion uses a wheelchair and he is included naturally in all activities, supported by his friends and teacher, who never mention or direct attention to his disability.

Slate, J. (1996). Miss Bindergarten gets ready for kindergarten. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Slate, J. (2002). Miss Bindergarten plans a circus with kindergarten. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Slate, J. (2000). Miss Bindergarten stays home from kindergarten. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Slate, J. (2001). Miss Bindergarten takes a field trip with kindergarten. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Stuve-Bodeen, S. (2005). The best worst brother. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
A sequel to the story entitled, We'll paint the octopus red, listed below.

Stuve-Bodeen, S. (1998). We’ll paint the octopus red. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
Six-year-old Emma learns that she will soon be a big sister and thinks of all the fun things she will be able to do with her new sibling. When her brother, Isaac, is born with Down syndrome, she is reassured that she will still be able to do all the things she planned, and with patience, she will help him learn to do everything she knows how to do.

Thomas, P. (2005). Don't call me special: a first look at disability. Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series.

Thompson, M. (1996). Andy and his yellow frisbee. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
Sarah attends a new school and notices that a boy named Andy spends all of recess time spinning a yellow Frisbee. She asks him to teach her how to spin her pink Frisbee, but he doesn’t seem to notice her. Rosie, Andy’s sister, is concerned that Sarah might not understand Andy’s autism, but the two girls become friends.

Willis, Jeanne. (2000). Susan laughs. New York: Henry Holt & Company.
This rhyming story depicts Susan, who is an energetic and happy girl who is busy with typical every day fun activities of childhood. Only the last illustration shows Susan’s wheelchair, which serves to illustrate how many more similarities children share than differences.

Woloson, E. (2003). My friend Isabelle. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.
Pre-school aged friends Charlie and Isabelle are the same age and similar in many ways. They both like to dance, go down the big slide, share snacks and hold hands. Isabelle has Down syndrome and her friend Charlie notices that she is smaller, runs slower, and sometimes speaks differently. When Charlie’s mother “says that differences are what make the world so great,” Charlie agrees that “life is more fun with friends like Isabelle.”

Also: Available as a free download from Woodbine House
Thrasher, A. (2004). A teacher's guide to My Friend Isabelle: classroom activities that foster acceptance of differences. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House.

Zeigler, S. (1996). The child’s world of understanding. Chanhassen, MN: Child’s World.
The concept of understanding is defined and illustrated through this simple age-appropriate picture book.

Is she delayed?

2011-01-11T16:15:00.006-05:00

When the anesthesiologist came in this morning to go over the routine questions parents answer before their child is admitted for surgery he stops and pauses to ask ..is she delayed? My answer "She is doing so much better since heart surgery" must have meant to him she has issues... the next question was "is she usually calm like this?" Yes I answered without hesitation, so he asks if she is delayed again and I said..a little... He then says so she is up running around playing and talking??? The look on my face stopped him with this sorta blank stare... I then say in this uncomfortable silence, "you can tell by the chart she has Down syndrome, right?" He says yes, so "she is extremely delayed then?" NO!!!....I said "well she isn't walking or talking yet but she could be if she wanted to, she lacks confidence"...Yes, I did...LOL....it's my Emma we are evaluating here... I think we are both dog paddling around her IQ score..????..... Who cares.... WHY, can you just tell me WHY ARE YOU NEEDING THIS ANSWER.... then it came out. Will she follow commands, if I ask her to do something or a question can she understand and answer me? NO, MY KID IS SIGNIFICANTLY DELAYED....ok I said it is what went shouting through my head ... I am laughing now because as I think back on how much time we danced around this question with out the question actually being asked is now comical... I can see my reluctance to come outward with information and his not wanting to offend this parent who dotes over her Princess.. so now we get it... all is clear... well one would think .... I am known by most of the staff here on a first name basis, comments about how big she is, how is Tressa and Jordan??? they know us well, outpatient surgery..Even Dr D was there telling his not always humorous jokes.

The Inevitable QUESTIONS are here... Ma'am' who are you to this baby? What is her name? What is her date of birth?, and where was she born?...Did you ever get the Extreme home make over? I get all the answers right.. BUT it doesn't match what they have... My first name and Emma birth given name is on their records.. Emma has her Birth Mothers name and it goes on... our last admittance to this hospital was a couple weeks after being home from NICU from the other coast (different hospital ) some pretty funny notes were placed on her computer chart from our last visit... Something along the lines of this Mother is "DIFFICULT" Do you have paperwork on this baby? I give them my court orders and start to explain why I was so fearful of using this hospital weeks before the heart surgery which I was told could not be at this hospital because it wasn't equip.. OK.... so then the anesthesiologist jumps in.. How did Emma do for that surgery. I said she did well, he was thrilled and said he is very pleased to hear that because having a major surgery with a heart that had three holes and no complications means she is a strong healthy girl... YEAH.... so we proceed.

Even after a major major heart surgery it still shakes me to hand my baby over to the surgeons. She goes with a smile, her toy and babbling happy sounds. He says 30 minutes he will be out to get me... time passes 45 minutes hits and he is not out.. I am worried... he comes through the door and says she did fine for the tubes although having a time with high blood pressure... OMGosh how did I forget..how in the world did I forget... after heart surgery this was a major issue causing medications and extra days and I just felt terrible.. The other is she didn't do well..she screamed she wanted on her tummy and nothing but being on her tummy would calm her and she needed to be calm. The heart specialist with lots of resistance placed her right on her tummy on a soft pillow and she fell straight away to sleep..TODAY she wasn't having it. She was screaming so badly they sent for me before 2nd level recovery. She needs her mommy.. I hold her and she quiets so they try for another blood pressure.. she starts up again blood shooting everywhere..even the IV spot is streaming blood... One nurse grabs the location (arm) and squeezes, the other trying to wipe blood from all over me and Emma. It is not a pretty sight. They get a band aid on the IV location very tight... I am told to do whatever I need to do I can walk I can do whatever to calm her down. I act like we are leaving. She starts to calm, but I walked away from all my stuff; stroller, purse her items..I have to go back... she freaks out screaming.. I start stripping her gown off her and put her into her PJ's. The staff are looking at me. The nurse tells me some kids recover better at home, if I feel comfortable I can go home. I tell them to get me the paper we are leaving...I will sign anything.. I walk to the van put her in the car seat and she falls right to sleep. I call back into the hospital and tell them she is sleeping and they can come check her blood pressure. She is much better. We live only minutes from the hospital so I am going home with the understanding if blood starts pouring out I am to come straight back. They are calling me to check on her. The ride home she slept, she slept off and on all day, has drank about 7 OZ of a mix of formula/food. She has smiled a couple times and responded nicely to her siblings returning home from school... She is doing very well....she just needed to be home... When I lower her into her baby bed she isn't having any part of that...she wants to feel warm skin today.. I can tell you all, I have had many many many children in many outpatient surgeries and I can say...you are all right! I have me a RED HEAD!

Some cookin going on....

2011-01-10T08:35:00.001-05:00

Please help me, HELP ANGELINA

2011-01-09T09:44:00.004-05:00

Angelina and Emma could be twins although Angelina was born exactly a year before Emma she resides in an orphanage. The HUGE difference is Angelina will not have early interventions, quality medical care and daily contact with advocating parents if she is not adopted. The most critical is this sweet look alike to my angel baby Emma, is Angelina, she will be forced to go into an institution for life if not adopted by the age of 4. She will be most likely be strapped/tied to her for what they see as safety reasons. She will not be provided any chance of a normal/humane life. This breaks my heart in more ways than I can share. It is very difficult to know this happens more difficult to bare when you look into the eyes of a little Princess that appears to be a twin to one of your own... She needs love and attention to thrive as our Emma has. I would fly over and adopt her but my income is limited so it makes it next to impossible. I do not want to return to "out of the home employment" which hinders/neglects the kids in the home now from getting the proper care... we have the space(we always have room for one more) and obviously I have the environment but funds do not support it> NEXT BEST is advocating she get a family outside of ours. One child at a time we can all do this as a team. PLEASE GIVE WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP GET ANGELINA A FAMILY.

www.reecesrainbow.com
Angelina

fcj4, 3G

Girl, Born March 2008

This beautiful muffin, look how she has grown! She does have a heart condition and will need to seek a cardiologist and surgery once home. She needs a family ASAP!

Additional photos available!

I have $31.5 in my grant fund towards the cost of my adoption!
This $31.50 has come in within the past 24 hours..THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

a mini vacation from my mom role; very mini

2011-01-08T16:48:00.005-05:00

I hit the brick wall of parenting; good thing I had on my protective gear and bounced back quickly.

I just needed to drive, drive solo so I can blast the music and have flash backs of my mom saying "turn that down you, are ruining your hearing" that didn't phase me today nor back when she said it. I just needed to drive... and if I had a hard top convertible the top would have been down but for now they do not make Chevy Express 3500 15 passenger vans with hard top convertibles, so having the windows down had to do... So I drove..... I kinda had to drive in circles because my daughter could text at any minute that she is in labor and I need to be home....BUT I needed to just have a moment alone with really loud music and pretty much shut my brain off other than necessary driving skills and an eye on the cell phone for an incoming text light to come on... and I drove, not sure how many song played, really didn't care if I knew all the words, I pretended I did, sang like nobodies watching.. and I drove... it works for me.. a mini vacation of my responsibilities. You see, I am a 24/7 -- 365 parent without moments of release; no partner to say, go take a shower I got it, or No it is OK you go to the store by yourself, I got it. Noone ever says that. You say; well she has a 17 and 16 year old but neither are capable to "babysit."

AND THERE IT IS...the light to the text on my phone, do I read it or just race home..

A red light aloud me to read it "what do you do when Tressa throws such a fit she tears her room up" I want to text back....go for a drive.. but I called and all I could hear was screaming, a high pitch scream to keep any communication from occurring. I could hear Mandie trying to talk over the scream..."MOM IS ON THE PHONE FOR YOU" after about 3 attempts I hear panting so I say "Tressa?" she half says yeeeesss sniffle sniffle, so I know she is on the phone.. I hear everyone in the back ground saying she was cheating on the game memory and got mad.. I go over the rules if you play with other people you play the game as the rules are written. if you want to alter the game it has to be when you play solo.. then, I am passing Walgreen's so you have less than 5 minutes to get your room back the way it looked when I left or you will pay negative consequences.. Oh it just brings me back to reality in seconds...as I walked in the door Tressa was at the table, all quiet and they were resuming the memory game. With severe OCD she struggles when the pieces are not exactly the same space apart, all facing the same way and if you play you need to let her win.. it has never worked for her so I have no idea why she continues to think it will work. I am home, reality is what it is and now I slide back into the responsible mom role...

read my parenting post to understand......

2011-01-04T12:03:00.000-05:00

My parenting delima, getting through to a 17 year old

2011-01-04T11:43:00.004-05:00

I have a delima... My 17 year old has this entitlement belief you might call it.. I am not really sure why she has NO DESIRE to get a job. Not even a babysitting job, cleaning a home job, a real life big girl job... anything other than the TV and social networking has no appeal to her. I must say "well you could have one of those, if you got a job" "those are things you can have, if you get a job" I set up interviews for her and she makes a reason or sabatouges the time to go... and believe me today they are very hard to arrange. You say limit the giving to her..I DO.. I have bought 2 pair of PJ's in the past eight months for her..that is it..SO SHE TAKES HER SIBLINGS CLOTHES. Even when I tell her it is not permitted, does it any way..
TODAY, it has been two years of constant "we do not eat or drink in the TV room" over and over and over... most of the kids "get it" but I have this 17 year old that feels this rule does not apply to her... I am going to post what i FOUND UNDER THE COUCHES WHICH IS HER ROOM AS HER CHORE TO KEEP UP. I do the deep cleaning.. thus how I found this surprise. I told her two days ago this room better be clean because I was going to "clean" it when they went back to school... "OK MOM" I told her I better not find anything under the couches... "YOU WON'T" well her the photos speak for themselves. I am 100% positive it is my 17 year old... WHHY . Because she is the one who came in and asked if she could fry up some cheese sticks during break..late at night. SEE 12 cheese sticks fried under the couch!!!! The cup of coofee..well cream with a splash of coffee, only her... the cake yes an entire cake (Tressa would not have left the crumbs nor used a fork or left it closed with the fork inside) the bowls dishes etc...noope, if it were any of the other kids they would have left it out on the coffee tables.. I KNOW MY KIDS>.. so what do I do?? She knows she is not to do this....she knows full well and yet has no remorse when I confront her, has no shame that I expose her... She has in home therapy who says "it is normal" IT IS NOT NORMAL after you talk about it, make rules and have repeated consequences...she is not my first rodeo... MY OTHERS would disobey but my goodness they cleaned it up so I didn't know until they were in their late 20's. I am at a loss, she is going to be 18 in a year and I know me I know me well.... it will not be pretty when she violates house rules once she is 18...... call me mean, call me terrible but I do not want rats, I hate bugs and most importantly I am responsible to keep Tressa safe and this is as unsafe as it gets for a home with a child who has Prader-willi syndrome... In a couple years Tressa will learn to clean out from under the couches...she will beat me to it and I am sure Keirsten will be more than happy to let her....URG URG this just gets my last nerve...and the worst is I do not know how to reach her about how gross it is .....

Dear Santa, I have a few things for you to remember

2011-01-04T07:05:00.003-05:00

It was so wonderful, you dropping such child centered toys under our tree. It was apparent you truly went by the wishes the children made and fulfilled their dreams. I am thinking maybe next year it might be best for the wiser of the decision making to think before they deliver...

Think about Keirsten who will be 18 yes, EIGHTEEN, next Christmas and she needs to be reminded about adulthood and that decisions made reflect on her character so possibly some gift job related to get her of gaming and social networking... I think encouraging more of those activities has decreased her desire to FIND A JOB!!!!

Kaitlyn, she needs focused on mature although please keep in mind her innocents. She can use a little grown up style but the thongs, please DO NOT fulfill that wish for her. She struggles with all the fancy big girl lace and skimpy designs you delivered this year. and then next to that a baby doll that eats and wets... well she has two baby alives (Emma and Lucas) so she really has enough feeding and diaper changing. I would also encourage more of the music with words because while using her iPod which she loves it is becoming a public nuisance when she is rocking out and others do not see the whale calling sounds are coming from. I will discuss with her speech teacher as well...

Steven oh my oh my Steven, you sure made life so much fun for Mr Steven, actually I have been up since 4 am yes I have ... You see I was in the deep sleep where you can put together dreams that make sleeping relaxing while I lay on the beaches of so remote island....but some how about 3:45is my dream went into dance party mode and I found myself sweating to the music and at about 4 it came to me that the Daisy Dukes blasting was not a dream but a party going on in the boys room of my own house... The CD Boom Box was BOOMING!!! the boys were both sitting against the wall rocking their backs to the wall with pleasure written all over their faces ...well until I walked in... UH OH was what I recall.. The finger skate boards have taken over his world and homework might be a focus better served next year...Some educational supports which are "making learning fun" I appreciate everything the kids are loving but thinking about me a bit in the plan is where this is heading..

Jordan, well who know how one can plan for him... I think his own apartment might be the only solution. He continues to require 2 am showers and those Scooby Do movies REALLY, entire seasons, ALL OF THEM do you have any idea how many hours they run.. I DO! You can literally watch scooby Do from the time he gets off the bus on Friday until e boards Monday and have some he hasn't seen yet.. CCRRRRAAAAAZZZYYYY and it has little substance for his intellectual growth. I am more pleased with the books, puzzles and games although possibly a storage of some sort to help him learn when you tear a box into 28 pieces there is still a reason we need to put all the pieces to each game separate from another and together for additional plays... Lets think hard about Jordan for next year....like maybe something to encourage him to sleep in his own bed..

Tressa, NO MORE TINY PIECES please.... tiny pieces with OCD are not a good mix at least not in the developmental stage she is at today. I know you wanted to make her happy with all the beads..... and you looked out for me with the containers but to be honest that made sorting more OCD related so she isn't making jewelry pieces more sorting and spilling and what a nightmare for me since Baby Emma is every where these days. Keep in mind more things to keep her off the TV and active, possibly outdoors.

Lucas, you sure made that little boy happy as a pig in mud...He has shown his skills to find each and every piece of musical or noise making item in one spot and orchestrates such a loud continuous sound that goes on and on and on and on and on...and on and on and on.... get it... he is talented.. I hope to See e more purpose play without making noises, he has that mastered..well maybe not the purpose but the how to make something drive mom crazy is down solid. Puzzles are good, also if you get noise related learning focus on ones that headphones can be inserted to silence to the household... that would be wonderful because some noise is good although repeated 8 billion times over and over is not,

Emma, well this girl needs anything that requires her to walk. How about a trike...well she has a 4 wheeler and still refuses to walk... I know she is a baby but by next Christmas she will be the toddler... I have big plans for her Birthday so let's see how she matures in her own room with so many have to walk or stand to play with things to do in her girlie girl room... I will keep you posted.

Well it is onward with my day.... I am one tired mommy since the kids can not seem to get back into step with school days... I am not clear on the reason, Hmmm are they aloud to nap at school or was I totally oblivious to night party hours... Monday night well, Tuesday morning started at 3 am and Wed this morning at 4 am....during break it was 7 am.... something doesn't add up... I figure at this rate we will be in step for the next week where there is no school Monday or Friday and only 1/2 days all week.... being the week Baby O is due to deliver.. Yes I know she has a name... Olivia Lilly, my fifth grand baby is almost here. SPOIL SPOIL SPOIL she is truly already a Princess.

Today we made house slippers

2010-12-22T06:30:00.000-05:00

random December 2010 photos

2010-12-22T06:13:00.002-05:00

facebook has many more photos

2010-12-22T06:10:00.002-05:00

Since I have joined facebook and blogging it is easy for me to shoot a photo with my phone to show you projects the kids are doing verses on the camera and uploading a seperate time. If you join my facebook you will see the day to day activities easier in photos.

we made most of our gifts this year, lots of crafts

2010-12-22T06:02:00.002-05:00

Now that I got that out of the way.................

2010-12-21T22:59:00.004-05:00

Hi, Merry Christmas/Happy Birthday Baby Jesus.. Happy Holidays... I have many friends of varied beliefs so that is my politically correct Intro.

I must say that this is the first breath I have taken without lists around me, worry on my shoulders and stress surrounding me.

The holiday party was a success although many children were ill this year so the attendance was a bit low. We had extra food for sure. I was so busy I forgot to get baby Emma on Santa for a good shot to hang... I hope to get to the mall before he fly's off for the year. The kids enjoyed their time at the party. We are back to our holiday crafts. I am not feeling the feeling of holiday cheer, kinda floating from one issue to another inside my head, which is in a fog... Having an ear infection at fifty is annoying for sure. It doesn't hurt, just keeping me in a fog, like my head is in a fish bowl.

Keirsten informed me this week, we are not poor mom we are on a tight budget and you (me) screwed this month up pretty bad...LOL hate when the kids are right. She is 17 now and doing much better with a new meds mix.

Kaitlyn is 16 and was very cute at her annual physical when she was examined and did not feel her body should be invaded by her doctor. She actual fought his hands off her when he was trying to check her tummy .... then yep...a peek up top to be sure everything is growing correctly and she was upset her looked at "HE looked at my boobs mom".... LOL then came the conversation about her period and if she wanted to take the Depo shot to stop the bleeding.. yep yep yep stop my period until he said she would need to come every three months for a shot.. then it was No SHOTs No SHOTs... so we are holding off on that until next year.

Steven is Mohawk boy, he loves his hair cut in this style as it makes for conversation from many people out in the public. The attention is making Steven more confident. He is growing up fast, has his moments, although over all he is growing up to a nice young man.

Jordan is Jordan and very much mommas boy still. Some days it feels warm and fuzzy and other annoying and stressful. He is doing very well at school which is wonderful. He is picking up more and more as he calms in that setting. His wish for Christmas is the Lego's pirate ship and his dream to get on the Disney ship for a cruise to be with Capt Hook and Peter Pan.

Tressa rides on Jordan's dream telling everyone she wants to spend the day with Windy little John and I think the other little brother is Mathew maybe??? She knows..... well then she says Peter pan and Tinker Bell. She is struggling with her PWS fight OCD and most of the time is in control. The off moments well it is what it is.

Lucas is getting more Mobile, acting like a typical toddler, exploring his environment and testing everyone to be on their toes. He got away the other day while our home had two extra families staying and a one time incident where one families truck needed power boosted with a drop cord,,, front door propped open and whala.... Lucas was all over that opportunity. He is home safe and sound actually before the police got to the neighborhood he was already home, showered and eating. He is oblivious to the dangers in the neighborhood..... we live near many canals, lots and lots of water.

Emma is the cutiest little red head alive. She is a mommas girl although very happy to snuggle with several others as well but now with mommy the giggles melt my heart.

2010-12-21T22:42:00.004-05:00

My problem with blogging is that I was raised if you do not have anything nice to say, say nothing at all.... I am sure I have lots to say nice but lately when something starts out nice it tends to turn not so nice and I for whatever reason am struggling with the whole life just isn't fair..... and I know as a mom I should be able to swallow it to understand everything in life isn't fair although as an adult I want to be a part of making it fair although changing life's history seems a tad bit out of my league of advocacy. Although knowing me I am going to take the hard road and try... where is my head...it is out there...

#1 I have had an ear infection double and feeling miserable although without health insurance I will hold out to every home remedy and many times send myself deeper in pain, who knows what medically I risk but without health insurance it is what it is... some say go to ER for everything, my credit report says that is not a good plan, My brain goes to why does my ex have quality health care paid by tax payers while residing in prison for committing a crime unspeakable..... yet I adopt 9 children all having special needs give up my career, devote my life to the welfare of children and I can not get antibiotics... well I can but I do not QUALIFY for any help so I would have to fit it into the budget...

Then we QUALIFY for nothing, really nothing.... absolutely nothing.... I hear our country did a energy program and to QUALIFY for the perk you have to be elderly, disabled or have a child under the age of 5 years old...I am a shoe in 7 children disabled, one under 1 to boot..... shoe in...NOPE we do not QUALIFY. I know I should be thrilled that our income doesn't QUALIFY us but when you sit in a lobby where every woman has her nails done, hair tied twisted, highlighted fresh cuts and fashion clothes with crystal clean new shoes... with some average cars I wonder..... when they figure the income to QUALIFY do they understand that with 7 children who are disabled I replace the average toilet way more often than the average household, I drive a van that takes 10X more to run, more windows are broken from fly away baseballs, holes repaired..oh refrigerators wear out or stoves get broken more often than the average household.... how about all the doctors appointments hotels for out of town medical needs, hey the fact it is two hotel rooms not one.... but where does that play into the equation.... because we just do not QUALIFY... ''Here is my grip...

A person on SSI receiving 674.00 a month gets additional $180.00 for food... for one person. but because I have more than one... they get nothing because they do not QUALIFY... not that I want food stamps but please if there is some energy credit...for a person with disabilities...toss the perk out where it makes sense... no I do not lie, I will not babysit and not report it, I do not sell any drugs or work under the table and if I earned any income I would report it and do.... so I do not get my nails done any longer, I am in need of a hair cut, I am without medical care and we do save every bit we can by cutting each and every corner possible... who gets a new refrigerator delivered in hours for $20.00 a person who works her budget to the penny..... My house is busting at the seams with kids toys, therapy equipment and kids clothes.... My life is providing for their needs... we are not NEEDING for anything but ghee it would have been nice to have that little extra because we QUALIFIED for a little perk.....

2010-12-11T20:11:00.002-05:00

I have no clue how you moms of two year olds blog, I have NO TIME..... She is into everything if I am not one on one doing things with her and then she takes a nap, I do the household items I use to do when she sat and played solo. NOW, I barely get a handle on those items and she is up from her nap.... I then use to get to have my personal time at 8 pm.... until 11ish. Well since she rested for two hours she feels she is entitled to her time after 8pm.... So here I am with this bright eyes little fire cracker ready for mom and her time and she would very much like to take over this lap top for her time with Sarah Grace...... Ok, I need to get off before she rips my arm off so if I get her off to sleep and have time outside my me time, I will be back on....... HOW DO YOU MOMS DO THIS?????????????????????

Happy Holidays to all.

2010-12-05T17:59:00.002-05:00

Bless me followers for I have not posted, it has been 2 months since my last post.

I have not been too busy nor lacking blog comic material. i have been living with out a lap top or computer in the house. I have had my Palm Pre which if you have one know that the max is getting things uploaded on facebook. Spelling is not corrected, many times words I thought I printed came through totally different.

So today as I am in a slump am here to catch you all up.... since October 5th 2010.... Lucas is now 7 WOW is right, Tressa turned 9, Mandie turned 32 and is not in her last month of pregnancy, Thanksgiving came and went with us boycotting in a sense because we were all going to be together today (Mandie's baby shower..). I tend to take the hard road in learning life lessons...never boycott Thanksgiving. CHECK.... ingrained into my memory forever.

I am in last of the planning for the annual Holiday party, following an awareness walk which was in line with the economy... not enough funding to throw a Holiday party.. $725.00 hall, $300.00 food, $230.00 table dressings, $150.00 centerpieces, $75.00 printing, and all the little things that make it magical... not including the $20.00 per child gift and $5.00 per family package..... $1,500.00 seems like min. to raise to make a stress free party which s so magical I am addicted to throwing it each year.. BUT as I mentioned the economy has take a dive to the point we are getting little funds... The Hall is paid, a family is donating food.... we are trying to be super creative, BUT it is what it is.. I look at the 200 people coming who will have a magical stress free night bonding with families just like theirs, making family to family support connections that will last long after the close of this event... No one can help a mom who is having struggles than a mom who is also raising a child with disabilities. We are a special breed. Our children have shown us a love others can not see or understand... our sense of humor is most often of a different level than the norm... we are just enough different to understand each other..

Let me catch up the families I serve....

Keirsten is turning 17 in a few days.... SCARY as her mom to know she can and most likely will walk out my front door to be "on her own" before long. I completely see she is not at all prepared for this move. She on the other hand has planned to save $200.00 to get her own apartment, not to mention the electric, cable, cell phone...hoping that water is included. Yes that was not a typo...she is planning all of this with $200.00 she hopes to save in the year. I on the other hand have her pre-registered to start at High Tech North which she will dual enroll into starting January in their cosmetology classes and continue in High School. In one year she will have a certificate to cut hair and have her test to give her a High School equivalency which in her graduating year she will walk as a graduate... That is my plan, maybe just as stretched although I am praying I have the better plan and in some odd way it will all fall into place. If all falls apart, I am in need of medication for the first time in my life.

Kaitlyn is making great progress in reading. She is now at or above the 3.0 reading level and getting better. She loves to read, the world opens for those who love to read. The reason this is so important is that when you have a child reading at the 3.0 level heading into High School planning is critical. Is it still important to keep her in general education classes where reading will be laid on the back burner. Is reading so important that she misses out on the electives we all can remember, baking those cookies in home ec. Making the album cover in art class... Having those partners in group activities which built friendships and fond memories. I am going to see schools and classes to make my final decision. She is her sweet self with the spike of wanting to be my roommate and not daughter.... you know she is a teenager. "I am 16 years old MOM" is her favorite saying to me these days.

Steven is doing Ok in his educational setting although A+ in social growth. He can move those finger skate boards like non other. He can maneuver campus like it is his back yard. He is speaking before being spoken to or ordered to speak... He is actually being groomed to be the first in his district to be a student led IEP... I am excited for spring when this will occur. Steven is having a terrible time with a rash that has been called ring worm but I am not convinced... it is "odd" so I am sure we are heading to a specialist..

Jordan...well it was a rough day so lets pass over that bundle of energy so I do not say anything I may regret...LOL

Tressa spent time with her previous speech teacher today at Mandie's shower and she was lovin the time. Tressa loves girl time, social time, time to have attention with adults. she is a hugger, a loving little girl. She is not the physical go getter so she requires a push every now and again.

Lucas ................. I will complete later.