My morning routine. Five am to Five thirty Tressa wakes up for the day needing to rinse herself from an overnight pull up. Even if she empties herself before bed she wets and many nights #2. Once she is in the tub, I start their lunches and Lucas' breakfast which all get made and packed for school. This morning Jordan woke up which is not usual and he said he needs a snack. This starts the balance of our routine shifting. Tressa hears and wants her grapefruit for a snack. (She got a grapefruit from the tree last night) I quickly get kitchen duty over to lock up. The morning medications are complete the deadbolt is locked..Hench, Jordan's "snack" locked inside and he is not mentioning anything,,,, He must not have been that hungry. He is really packing on weight now at the age of 8 when he has been skin and bones up until this point. I remember the Doc telling me I needed cookie parties before bed to get weight on him..

On to getting teeth brushed and clothes on.. We use to get clothes on first then I would change half of them for having tooth paste on their shirts. So once their faces are washed teeth brushed potty over and ready to get dressed we are like robots... one at a time assembly line they do as much as they can (some of them) and I finish by tightening shoe laces, adjusting pants, checking belts, then to their hair. Tressa HATES HATES HATES to have her hair brushed. I mean it sounds like she is being tortured which sets others into stress so I try very hard to have her hair as much done the night before after her shower. Some times I braid it into small sections which last 2 days. It is a nightmare to deal with. Lucas and Jordan are easy and Steven can manage his own morning care although leaning over him during piano this morning his hair smelled like outside and sweat... Sorry teachers..the bus was coming so we sprayed with body fresh after shower... Hope that didn't make it worse. He also is just getting use to wearing deodorant every day and many I think he misses. He is 11 but needs the protection.

Once the bus comes 6:45 the three little ones are off and Steven starts his piano. (He is not into it) Kaitlyn jumped on first today and he thought he was getting out of practice. Actually Steven would love it is I just let him play in the water and sand his entire life and not seek anything from him.. Well not true, he enjoys his "chores" It is rewarding to him to have responsibility. He cleans his room, takes out the garbage everyday and out to the road and back for pick up. I want to get him recycling next. I remember when he was little his chore was to turn off the lights in rooms no one was in. Took it serous. Lucas has that chore now and keeping the garbage can lid shut. He seeks it when he enters rooms. Lucas doesn't have the whole concept people in the room and not yet, it will come. Light are off a lot.. it is getting dark early now so it has become annoying although I told the kids the response he gets, reinforces his action. He turns off the light, they are scream.... He laughs and runs off only to return and turn the light off again.

With the three gone, Steven's bus comes about 7 am, use to be 15 after but now it is earlier. Keirsten is tough to wake up now and I put coffee on for the smell can help rise her. She gets herself ready for school with some morning on target and others... She does not see the importance in taking her ADHD medication although admits her life is out of control when she does not take it.. Has trouble with her mind she says. OK, then help me out at almost 15 why would the two not connect... on medication things go better, off medications out of control.. This is a pit fall in some morning between her and I. She doesn't want me to watch her take it like a little girl but if I don't she goes out into the kitchen, gets distracted and "forgets" to take it and then off the bus 5 days for acting up in the morning, out of school for disrespect verses perfect reports when on medication.... HELP!

Kaitlyn who is 14 is primping herself in the bathroom during this time and many days packing her book bag with things that SHOULD NOT GO TO SCHOOL. I have to be very careful about her packing. Some calls from school have been extremely embarrassing.

Keirsten leaves for her bus at 8 and Kaitlyn's bus comes at 8:45. She has ample time to practice piano and clarinet.

9:00 am I am in front of the washing machine, dishwasher, bathrooms etc with a cup of coffee near by. I have a routine for the house t stay on top of things. I must say it hasn't been going as smooth with the extra volunteering. I have put in about 32 hours each of the past two weeks volunteering to the community holiday party and it shows.

What a day, I am in full speed ahead with the holiday party. FIFTY FIVE families signed up to date. Doing a large spread sheet is interesting learning all the features as I stumble upon them.
I am logging the family, their address and phone, all the children age and gender and their gift wish. The next is after the party logging what they got and where it came from. I am learning a lot from the folks who have done this for years. Some still have the spirit and another needs to retire. (Scrooge)

Kaitlyn had her braces tightened today, the appointment was made awhile back not thinking it was during school near band time. We raced to and back from the appointment so she was able to play her new clarinet in band today. She didn't have to fine #142 case and it not there... SHE HAS HER OWN. She is so proud.

Returning home I learn Jordan is not keeping on his patch over his eye at school and it is interfering with his education. I will do it at home, his Doctor called and we are switching medications to help him get over this cold/cough.

Lucas' appointment for his gag reflux has been rescheduled because CMS scheduled during Kaitlyn's Wed Doctors appointment and now it is of all times on the date and time of another appointment... I will call to try and re-schedule myself with my calendar to plan from.

Camera located, most children asleep and it is 7:30 THIS ROCKS!

While pulling out clothes for morning the missing camera was in Tressa's underwear drawer...HHHuuuummmmm and she promises she didn't take it. She said a mean person would take "your" camera only. Real drama in her talking. When I "view" photos the last few are of her headboard, hamper and throw rug, and HER FEET lol I show her the photos and she maintains her innocence. I am not sure she really understood how I know it was her. So we made a deal, if she wants to take some pictures she is going to ask, have me help her the first few times and then try to take some on her own but ALWAYS WITH PERMISSION. Might be a Santa idea... She asked Santa today for Play-doe and the flower making factory or DORA??? i had no idea she liked Dora still. Jordan wants to be Santa...can't seem to give in on that wish. He will not tell anything material he wants for Christmas only states he wants; TO BE SANTA. Kaitlyn wants a DS and Keirsten a PSP, Steven giggles and if you suggest items very enthusiastically he respond OH YEAH. Lucas is all good with a plastic hanger.. It is so funny he has to move hangers..He can reach the lower level closet shelf and so he "Collects" the empty hangers.. You can tell when he has been around by the amount of hangers in the room...LOL It is a running joke when the subject comes up for Christmas gift ideas...LUCAS HANGERS.... He is a mover boy. Just picks up anything, no damage just moves it to another area of the house and where he drops that items he picks up something else and moves that to yet another location.. I am sure the laughter this brings today will fade soon.

OH I NEED TO RUN, Most of the children are asleep and I hear a clarinet warming up and it is too cold to put her out on the back porch. HOT TUB is my goal before 9 pm.

I AM COLD!

I must admit I like a little weather change although I can not shake a chill today. I took the kids to the park all afternoon while I worked on the Holiday party spread sheets to add all the RSVP families and preparing Santa's wish list. I moved the picnic table into direct sunlight. The sun in the afternoon kept me able to deal with being outside. NOW, Oh my goodness, I am bundled as if it were 5 below zero. I guess the cold I am fighting isn't helping. The kids seem unfazed, figures. At the park the kids all ran into friends they knew from around town. We were at a park far from our home, one that is a favorite for the kids. (no photos, missing camera alert) YIKES!

Hot Lasagna and Texas toast for dinner, hot cider and quilts on their beds... I hear more coughs from Keirsten, Jordan, Tressa and myself. Early to bed.

She is loving her own clarinet

One row of the garden planted

We have reg. and cherry tomatoes planted in the ground.

Pumpkin seeds went into the ground on the far side..???

Squash and cucumbers are going in this week.

They are upset as the move has wilted them a bit and they are not as healthy looking as when they were in their pots.

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

The real question is; will practice make perfect...LOL

LAST NIGHT'S LIFT OFF

Three hours from our front door.

SEEDS to PLANTS

Boys area

It is written into my planner "today is the day to stay home and clear the clutter."... I have always had the ten minute madness rule. If you have never done this it is amazing what a household can clear up (pick up and put away) around the house with a timer going for ten minutes and made to be a game for fast fast fast... you can literally get your house picked up and presentable in ten minutes with everyone working it. It even becomes more productive over time when the kids have a "spot" to focus on. This started back when we were a foster home and got the call "I am on my way" I KNOW I KNOW normal households are not spotless if they are living healthy lifestyles but my OCD shines in some areas and this is one. Trust me there is dust, something under the couch and bedrooms which need attention...but when the front door opens I do not go into anxiety mode....LOL

ALL THE KIDS IN SCHOOL today, yippee... We are holding on to the semi annual cold and cough longer than I 'd like. I believe the handling of all the money and in the face of all the public at the return to SW FL time is adding to this. When the seasonal residence flock back into the city the locals are exposed to virus' from all our the world as we are a vacation destination. Lucas got his flu shot the other day while at the Doctors.

The fundraising for the holiday party has become a job. It is so humbling to hear how others are having it right now, we are all fortunate who have our heads above water. I remember last year how grand it felt to host this party for the community and yesterday it started for this season. I listened to a women who has faith as the only answer why she is holding on to optimism for life. This party will be spectacular for families here.

I smell coffee...

Somebody??? Anybody??? I need a push....

It was a good day

Not as productive as wished, but all in all a good day... we are at 450 dollars to reach 695 by the 19th of this month, I feel good we will reach the goal. The remainder of the funds can come in spurts as time get closer to the Dec 19th party. The hall requires to be paid 30 days in advance. The next is table top items and insurance.. We are close.

The kids are ready to get back to school, Kaitlyn and Steven were with me until dinner time when I drove them home for preparations to be up for their buses in the morning. Keirsten finished out the night with us. Mandie was wiped out when I got back and went home a little early.

Jordan was clingy tonight as they went down to sleep. The others were ready and asleep quickly.

Some cute kid memories today is Keirsten having "gas" today and Mandie making comment about it... Keirsten said "I do not have gas" I asked her why Mandie was saying that and she said "Because I have been farting all day and I do not know why"

Each of the kids have their Walmart holiday catalog full of toys... They circled pretty much EVERYTHING in the book. I told them to go back in the book and choose their 4 favorite items. Kaitlyn said " Mom Santa is broke too" Steve snaps out "WHAT DID YOU SAY" Kaitlyn tells Steve Santa is broke, Steven says "OH NO HE'S NOT" and keeps circling many items... I am cracking up as the two of them went into a conversation about Santa, money , the sleigh and endless toy bags.... They have it all figured out.

Keirsten's voice is raspy tonight so we will officially all be on antibiotics tomorrow... Our medication regiment is getting more complex... flu shots are in order!!!!

Working at Walmart today..

We are setting up the PODS Angels (501c3) collection table to get the funds for the Holiday party being held December 19th. We get 8 hours to be set up today and Thursday and that is it for our Walmart.. Wish us luck... I will post pics tonight, Kaitlyn and Steven are going with me.

Tressa sends Thank you notes to friends and family

The first part of each note was written personal to the relative/friend about the gift she received for her Birthday therefore private, although I found her recap of camp cute and willing to share.....


straight from Tress'a mouth....(keep in mind she has Prader Willi syndrome)
I want to tell you about camp, I sleep and lost my flashlight and cried loud and louder to wake everybody up but I didn't wake up Kassie and Elizabeth who are my very best friends. Kassie came in my room and read my Tinker Bell book to me and when it was morning Kassie come in and wake me up saying "Tressa, wake up and come down" And then I had a little accident on the top bunk bed so I took a shower and then get ready for everybody wake up and for we go and eat breakfast and I say I want cereal, and toast no butter. And go to breakfast, and sit down, and Kassie makes my breakfast for me and my toast and after her give me my breakfast I started eating and when we were done finished I sit by Kassie and say Hi to ELizabeth (these are two camp counselors) And Elizabeth says Hi Tressa How are you doing, then I said Fine Elizabeth. When we get done eating breakfast and then I went on a walk in the trees and I needed to go poop and I needed to go into a place (out house) to go to the bathroom with Kassie and Elizabeth and I sit down and there was toilet paper and then Kassie helped me. And I said yes Kassie please help me and her say alright Tressa I will help you and next them called the nurse and said do you have a book bag for Tressa and I said yes them have a book bag for me. I had a little poop on my underwear and I needed to put on clean ones and we come back to that place and eat some lunch......

NOTE: I coach her now about the walk they went on because she went from lunch to dinner---MARY

On the walk, I ask Kassie what will we have for dinner and her say, we have different foods for dinner......(Ok what did you see on the walk) I see water and in the water I see fish and they were jump and jump and jump and they go down in the water and make big splash. We sit down and then I get up and go to one of the campers on that place on the road and see that fish again. And then when the boys leave and we wait a couple minutes and we leave too and go back to the cabin, girls in cabin 4 my cabin and boys are in 2. Nurse in cabin 3. And next we sit down for dinner and then after that I have a little bit of Birthday cake and we sing Happy Birthday to another person who was 100 years old that is very very old. I sleep two times at camp. Mom came to get me after I sleep two times. At camp we saw a fire outside it was rid and yellow and orange. We had to stay far back it get really really hot. We sing songs when we saw the fire. OH I made bead bracelets and I made one for Kassie and one for Elizabeth they loved them. I made one to bring home too for Mrs Lacata. I loved my camp.Hugs,Tressa

The plumbing issue is fixed

YEAH!!!! No more water sopping out the side of my house. It appears that when my son, Kory "fixed" an issue last January he bent the copper pipe and it scrapped the concrete block it was in cased in and it tore... They busted the concrete block, replaced the pipe, reset everything and put concrete back to cover the hole. Brought in a bill and WALLA .... Not near as bad $$$ as I had expected. I can take the repair invoice to the water company for a reduction in my bill. Win win should come out even.

BIG SISTER POWER and the little brother LOOK!

Kaitlyn wanted to make "SOUP" today.... She was having a maternal day and Lucas had enough... I know the soup was started with broth, a cup of frozen mixed veggies and a piece of fish then some instant potato's all boiled, blended and cooled for eating...
All kidding aside, he loved it and his bond with Kaitlyn is GRAND. The two of them are best buds, he just gets a little tired of her some times.

No school, plumber is on his way...

We have no school today, hanging out for the plumber and after he is done we are heading for the nature walk. I have yet to get the children into rhythm of sleeping in on days off from school..anyone please give suggestions.. they not only get up but get up earlier than school days. 5 am this morning and with no school Miss Keirstens friends were calling at 1 AM and she was not here...I suppose she USUALLY intercepts and I would not know calls are coming in at 1AM since phone privileges are off at 9 pm....

Simple things in life we do not even think about.

How many of us really think about our kitchens??

I was able to leave mine unlocked and move freely for 2 days and today I must admit it was a tug to have it locked completely. Not such a tug when you feel the struggles brought on from it not being locked. SO a little out of step my first hours back on although now like an old shoe.

The kids had a wonderful time, were happy to see me and tell me about their weekend. Tressa especially giving details with all the hype and fine detail. Her hair was french braided down both sides of her head to cover the odd hair cut job. Her 7th Birthday weekend will forever be her first camp experience. She told me she cried a little but her nurse told her first time campers usually cry their first time... Tressa's version is she got bit by a bug the nurse couldn't find... the more likely story. Tressa is highly allergic to bug bites and has two bites on her side. No one would know other than the day after a knot forms where the bug saliva is. She would not have a problem sleeping away from me for a weekend....any where, with almost anyone. Her first account was cereal this morning and toast, THANKSGIVING DINNER last night and all the foods specifically along with not forgetting the small one piece of pizza I agreed to Friday night.

The report from camp is that they were all perfect. Jordan surprised them and Steven didn't speak the entire weekend. Keirsten reports Kaitlyn was a handful of attitude... It all went past too fast as they report as well. Their clothes smelled of camp fire which was a grand memory smell for me. Many High School bon fires have lasting memories in my mind.

The new puppy (stuffed) was the favorite gift and her name is RIVER of course. Tressa's, River, a female stuffed black lab puppy. .

From the wee hours of morning to the wee hours of night.

Today has been full and productive. Last night after dropping the kids off to camp Lucas and I returned home late and fell asleep fairly quickly. It is amazing how I seem to always feel the need to be Mother... I found myself on half my bed to give room for the children coming in through out the night...BUT no children came...LOL so I scrunched in a portion of my bed for no reason...but HABIT.

Lucas and I took our time to get up this morning, had a hot breakfast and went into cleaning mode. Well I did, it started with washing the couch cushions, throw pillows and arm rests. Then a trip to Tressa's room starting the transformation from hearts and flowers to Tinker bell, fairies and flowers. With no need for two dressers I moved one out, added a shelf and put a dresser in the boys room. This move required major cleaning.. even dusting ceiling fans and frames on the walls.. Almost like nesting although I did have a few cups of COFFEE... off to laundry because cleaning anything that includes my children means laundry is involved. The washer was going all day even getting to throw rugs.. Lucas was happy to be home alone, finding all sort of things to move and rearrange from where I had put them. I took all the Halloween items down and replaced with Thanksgiving. New things interest the little man. I was smokin' to even take EVERYTHING out of the china cabinet, hand wash paper towel dry and replace along with getting ready for our 5 pm Miss Quince' party. This would be my first, and boy was it fun. We dressed to the 9's and headed to the party. My grandsons were in the ceremony and many friends attended. Lucas was GREAT with the loud music sound system and tons of food and drinks. He ate his first peanut M&M tonight. The first went well, second not so well and he wanted more although visually you'd think he didn't want it although he would put more into his mouth..HUGE step for him!! By 8 pm he was not holding on much longer so we headed out for home. Lots of missed calls to return and follow ups on some upcoming events.

UPS brought a couple packages today; Tressa has regular contact with her birth family as they are extended family to us now. They live in the state of WA and had gotten a new puppy this past summer. A black lab named River. Tressa calls this puppy her "new birth dog" and today she got a stuffed black lab from her birth family for her Birthday. She will be so happy when she comes home to find her "River" on her bed. Her grandparents got her Tinker Bell bedding and her birth parents a couple wonderful dress up outfits she will LOVE. Tressa is into comfort,,,and these are perfect. Kaitlyn (Birthday a couple weeks ago) got a new Bible today with her name engraved on the front leather cover. Tomorrow when they return they will all be very happy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TRESSA GIRL

7 YEARS OLD TODAY! she meets camp eligibility TODAY!!!!!

She is wearing her new High School musical outfit to school and we built her up to remind her today is CAMP DAY! Foundation for Dreams, DREAM OAKS CAMP, check it out on line.

Yesterday was most likely her worst day ever. I am having difficulty with the note sent home from her school. She had a really bad, very bad day....so bad the school could not locate her book bag after a total melt down and a BUCKET OF CANDY THROWN TO THE FLOOR....Now, even my new readers can put 2 and 2 together. If there is a bucket of candy ANYWHERE near Tressa YOU are asking for difficult behaviors. I just can not seem to educate the folks in charge just exactly what a piece of candy, soda machine, anything edible in her sight or hearing (wrappers) can do to a moment, a day.... life in general for her. Even if she doesn't respond at that moment it is in her mind, it is working her mental ability and she is heading for some sort of BEHAVIOR we will not like.. So she had a really bad day yesterday and it didn't seem right to allow for all the hoopla last night for a family "party" so we are on track with stopping to "go out for dinner" (still sticking to her list) on the way to camp.

Jordan has a broken arm, sinus infection and chronic cough on extra meds. Kaitlyn has an ear infection, psoriasis on her scalp with all the other mumbo jumbo in her life, on extra meds. Steven woke up with a raspy voice....YIKES, Tressa-well , Lord please guide her today....she is just usual Miss Tressa, Keirsten has been kicked off the bus for five days for excessive talking..yep no excessive talking on the school bus??? AND! No school Monday or Tuesday here. So "I" NEED THEM IN CAMP ......LOL HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TRESSA... right... she has been so looking forward to camp since she knew camp was NOVEMBER 7th... I can only laugh as my throat is fighting off something, it calls for rain, it is still in the cold snap and my children are scheduled for a weekend of camp. Mandie suggests I get a hotel room down the street from camp and sleep the two days. lol Our in home behavioral person text to be sure I was doing something special for ME this Tressa darlings Birthday camp weekend.... well this is all in the crossing fingers stages at this point. Once I get through the 6 pm camp intake physicals and I actually walk back to my van ALONE.... I will believe...I WILL BELIEVE.....LOL so off the computer and finish packing, driving Keirsten to school, getting something over to the school for her BIRTHDAY celebration and gas up the tank! THEY ARE GOING TO CAMP! I will catch up with photos, the camera is going to camp.