Snoopy

We broke down and did it. We are now the proud owners of a Shih-poo named Snoopy. After much talk and pondering why on earth we need another living thing to care for...we did it. The boys therapists felt that a dog would be good for their sesnory issues and help calm. He is terribly sweet and hard not to love! Snoopy loves the boys and follows them everywhere. Snoopy is an early Christmas present. Merry Christmas boys!

I think I can...

I am a special needs mom. That isn't the road that I had envisioned myself traveling down. I don't really know what I thought I would be...but not this. I spend at least 2 hours each day at a pediatric therapy office. We have a total of 14 hours of therapy a week. Skeeter gets 5 hours a week and Scrappy gets 9 hours a week. That sure feels like a lot. By the way..we have 4 very awesome therapists!!

I often feel like the little engine that could. I stare up the mountain each day and have to remind myself that because of who God is...I can.

I can... spend 14 hours a week going to therapy.

I can...be patient while Scrappy stutters for what seems like and eternity to get the word "I " out.

I can...give mercy to the 21 month old who can not say anything that sounds like a real word and let him take me for the 100th time to the other room to show me what he wants.

I can... watch Signing Time -AGAIN and again and again.

I can... show mercy to the 3 year old who is emotionally overloaded and is having a melt down in the middle of some public place and I have people staring like I am a terrible mom and should just "wear his backside out."

I can...fight with the insurance company who things 2o visits a year for all 3 therapies is sufficient.

I can...be graceful when the teachers roll their eyes as me as if I am making all this up.

I can ...explain for the millionth time why we have a bath mat with us.

I can... explain why we have a "talker".

I can...empathize with that mom in the store who's kid is having a melt down and it really is out of the kids ability to stop it.

I can...smile and nod when I am told that my family must have some kind of "curse" on it.

I can...carry around a fishing vest with weighted bean bags to help calm if needed.

I can...spend the extra time at bedtime to do a deep pressure rub down so Scrappy can relax and go to sleep.

I can...smile and nod when I am told about someones kid who didn't talk till they were 4 or 5 or 6...

I can...be a tree!

I can...rejoice that after 9 months of speech..Scrappy can not only make but can use the /g/ sound at the beginning of a word!

I can... wait to hear Scrappy say his name instead of "Wae".

I can... wait to hear Skeeter say "momma".

I can...dream of the awesome future that God has created my kids for!

I can...know that my boys were created in the image of God, too.

I can...know that even that no one else sees that I am at the end of my rope...God knows and is hanging on to me to keep me from falling.

I think I can.... I think I can.... I think I can!

I am NOT a tree...

Sensory seeker..that's Scrappy. Scrappy has sensory integration disorder. Which is a big way of saying that he is very easily overwhelmed by things going on around him. He has low tolerance for what I think are odd noises. Wind blowing through the trees, rain and tire noise almost send him into orbit. He has a hard time regulating his engine as we call it, along with a number of other things to but I won't bore you with that.He goes full speed and often it is hard to get him down....today is one of those days.

He went to therapy this morning and I warned them..."Scrappy's engine is rev'ed up..in a big way." They love Scrappy there and respond with their usual "okay we will see what we can do to bring him back down." I go back an hour later and the PT and the OT meet me with the "gaze". They can't get him down either. He did all kinds of heavy work today...carrying around 11 lb. bean bags, wearing skates(that forces him not to go fast), jumped on the trampoline, wore carpet skates...you name it, the therapists tried it. The PT said he was seeking input, but wouldn't slow down long enough to get the benefits. So my thinking is...if these 2 wonderful ladies who do this professionally can't bring him down...what in the world are we going to do with him!! They also told me that this is about the worst they have ever seen him. Every mother loves to hear that kind of comment.

So in talking with them and saying...he has been like this for about 6 days now...what do I do with him? They said to try getting ankle weights for him and see it that helps. So I bravely gather up all 4 kids and head into Walmart to get something...anything that might help. We come out with a mini trampoline and a weighted exercise vest. The therapists also decided that we will go through what ever hassle we need to get him a personalized weighted vest..medicaid pays for them so I said ..."do it, whatever it takes!"So hopefully this will help ALL of us out. Skipper and Scar and really tired of being run into and bumped and rolled on. And I am tired of being climbed on and up and around....I am not a tree.

The Path Less Traveled....

I think that it is interesting that people are so taken back by homeschoolers. The fact that we homeschool is not something that we make public. Simply for the fact that people have all kinds of whacked out assumptions about homeschoolers. I do not grow my own grain and grind into flour. I do not make our clothes. I do not do those things because I haven't the time!!! But often wish I did. We have even had people find out we homeschool and "gently" cut ties with us. Which is totally absurd- in my opinion. I am an educator by trade and I chose the path less traveled.

So here it is to the great void out there...Reasons why we homeschool:

1. I like my kids. I really like my kids.

2. I take the charge in Deuteronomy 6 seriously. It is hard to talk about the love of God when they are at school for 8 hours a day and overly involved in sports or other outside activities for the rest of the day.

3. It's fun.

4.I feel called by God to be doing this.

5. I think I should protect my children while they are young from the world. I want them to be salt and light...but I need to teach them how to be that first.

6. I think that I can do a better job than someone who doesn't know the heart of my boys can do.

7. I think that schools are scary places. For a number of different reasons.

That by no means is an exhaustive list...I could go on and on. I know that there are GREAT schools and teachers out there. I know that there are Christians in the schools...but I really think that it is my job to instruct them, to teach them right from wrong, a values system based on what God wants and expects of us. I think that my kids are more than a test score or a reading grade or how well he stands in line, or how nice he is because he remembers to push in his chair when he stand up. My kids are great because they were created in image of the living God. They are not perfect...but their God is. And his beauty is seen in them daily...when I take the time to look for it. I am not raising a scientist or a sports star or a doctor...I am raising workers for God's kingdom who may be a scientist or a sports star or a doctor.

My house is a wreck. I have crumbs on the floor. I have sticky spots on the table. Unfolded laundry is a common sight here. But make no doubt about it...we have fun together. We play, we laugh. We read under the tree on a blanket on nice days. We chalk our ABC's or spelling words or maybe even math problems on the driveway. We do science experiments and we make a big mess doing it. We make a secret cave in the bedroom with sheets and bunk beds and we read in there with flashlights. We go to zoos, corn maizes, we make boats and go float them in creeks. We rake leaves for neighbors who can't. We go sing songs and visit nursing homes. We visit the library, the fire station, the post office, the news station. We play dictionay games. We go to parks and go bowling. We play board games, card games, read joke books, read science books, and we read the news paper. We don't get caught up in grades...Skipper hasn't a clue about that stuff. He just keeps working until he gets it. I don't have to rush him through because everyone else is ready to go on. I also don't have to wait and hold him back when he is ready to move on. We go at our own pace. He thinks tests are FUN! How many regular school kids wake up and ask..." Is it time for me to take my test now!??"

Yes, homeschooling a 7, 5, 3, and 1 year old is hard work. Yes, getting to therapy and then getting the school work in can be tough sometimes...but motherhood is not for wimps.

Every family gets to pick the path they think is best for their family. What is best for us may not be best for you. And I am okay with that? Are you? I am fine with the choice we made. I don't think that it is the choice for everyone. But if I can extend that kind of grace to you...why can't you extend it back to me?

"Thump, thump" (that is me getting off of my soap box)

Suck it up Buttercup!!!

Ok...I try to be to be sympathetic...really I do. But I am the mom of 4 boys...4 boys...sometimes it takes a lot for me to feel for you.
Case in point:

Scout comes in from work this evening. Has a stomach ache and a headache. Complains a LITTLE bit....and goes to bed. Did you catch that? He goes to bed. For 10 days now off and on I have been dealing with kids barfing ALL over my house and van. I have dealt with fevers and headaches. I have also been PMS-ing like no ones business! Not to mention...I have also had the big D and headaches. Do I sleep? No because I am the mom.

The above mentioned is the reason that women do the childbearing. Women are expected to give birth to people who weigh an amount equivalent to a bowling ball and the get up 24 hours later and get on with the program.

So when he comes home not feeling well, I am tired and worn out...I am not exactly sympathetic and the thought that comes to mind is...."SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP!"

A few hours pass....Now he is puking...lovely! He is in the tub trying to get his body to stop hurting...I meanwhile am trying to get 3 boys in bed.
He calls from the bathroom.. "Hey, Sassy!"
I stop doing bed time stuff and go down the hall. "Yes?" I respond and walk in to see what he needs.
"I wouldn't wish this on anyone." He says.
I respond with..."WHAT??!?"
He repeats.."I wouldn't wish this on anyone."
"Okay...ummm, I'm trying to get the boys in bed."

See...suck it up.

Puke Patrol--Day 6

I have found a negative to having 4 kids....the stomach bug.

We started with Scrappy on Saturday evening...who shared with Skeeter on Monday evening..who then shared with Scar on Wednesday evening ...who shared with Skipper Thursday morning.

To add a little spice to the mix..Scout sleeps through it ALL. WHAT!?? Have you heard kids throw up...I can say that mine do it with flare and gusto! Not to mention all the noise I am adding to the mix. "No! Not there!" "Wait...don't lay in it!" "Hop up." "Lay down." Run run run to the washer...run run run back to the bed room. How in the world he can sleep through that noise is beyond me. Then he says this..."Yeah I heard you had a rough night." Thanks babe, thanks. The bug is only lasting about 24 hours..so here's hoping we're on the mend.

As bad as it has been we have had two days home with no therapies to be running to. A full day here at home...that is nice!

We need a talent!!

Took Scar to the dentist today. He needs $1298.00 worth of work..insurance will pick up the biggest part of that. He's 4...who knew you could spend that kind of $$$$ on a 4 year old's teeth.

I hope these kids have a hidden talent that we are unaware of...because at this rate...they will need it to get to go to college!! I think we have had to spend the least so far on Skipper...so he gets to go to college. The others are just gonna need a talent!!

WHY???

WHY do they insist on eating crayons???? What is that?

What I have learned....

Even kids can built a redneck bike....

Underwear on your head is evidently very funny.

You can have PEE races. I was actually unaware that this was possible or funny.

Gravity means nothing.

They don't know that sound travels.

"Alert! Alert! Alert!" being yelled from another room is not a good sign.

Dirt is a food group.

Kids can live by macaroni alone.

Ketchup is also a food group.

Dog biscuits are tasty.

Never laugh at a toddler with a golf club.

Just cause they got in...doesn't mean they can get out.

2 ER visits in one day with 2 different kids ain't funny!

Pretend farting noises are to die for.

Chalk is yummy!

If once is great the 100 times is awesome!

Puddles have a magnetic pull around them.

Red beads up the nose will get you a trip to the ER.

They are tougher than you think.

They are not nearly as sneaky as they like to think they are.

They really believe in the phrase "accidentally on purpose".

They are organized.

You can actually wear 7 pairs of under wear at once.

Baths are more fun if you can get the water out of the tub.

Friends are the best.

It's OK to cry.

Band-aids cure almost anything.

John Deere tractors ROCK!

Eating off the floor is acceptable.

Knock knock jokes don't have to make sense.

Every house needs monster spray.

Slugs really are neat...as long as they are outside.

Worms don't live long inside...or in pockets.

You can never have too many stuffed animals in bed with you.

What is behind you is way more interesting than what is in front of you.