The countdown continues...

I heard that we were postponing Christmas this year until June of 2010?

Did you hear that too?

I hope so...cause I have yet to shop....

hmm....

Maybe I can remedy that this weekend!!

My Christmas Wish For You...#1

I wish.....

that you would never have to share a bathroom with 4 boys under the age of 10....their dad, not so bad-but not 4 boys!

We're building a house...

...have I mentioned that?

Well we are.

And I say that I mean to say that WE are BUILDING it.

W.E.

That seems to include me in there somewhere.

This Thanksgiving we spent our time by putting up all the walls! The guys did great! And by the time we were forced out Sunday afternoon we the exterior walls up, and the interior walls up and some of the trusses got put up today. We got 4 out of 28 up before the rain set in on us.

It was a lot of work..for the guys. Cause really, I just did what I was told and made 1.6 billion trips to Lowe's to buy what ever I was told to buy. I am not sure, but I think the checkers think I am stalking them.

Not much to tell..But I'll stick in a few pictures for your enjoyment!

Birthday Boy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOPER!!!

In case you missed this last year, here it is again to read what a miracle this little guy is!

Righty Tighty-Lefty Loosey

Just in case you thought that nothing exciting was going on around here this past week. I thought I would fill you in.

Remember Labor Day and our field trip to the ER?

Well, we decided it was time for another field trip.....to the ER.

Monday around 5:30 pm...Skeeter decided to see how painful it would be if he stepped on a screw.

He found out it is terribly painful.

Brothers freaked out and carried on like a group of crazy people!

Called Scout to tell him he needed to hurry and get home.

We get to the ER and do the check in thing and then we wait. Oh by the way, if you go to the ER during the H1N1 outbreak.....you will have to wait....even with a screw sticking half way in your foot.

Cause evidently people coughing is worse than a screw lodged in your flesh. I'm just saying...

Anyway. We get back to a room and they order X-rays to see exactly how far the screw is stuck in his little foot and where exactly is was.

The doctor comes is and he is great! Ready.....it was the SAME doctor that stitched Jake's face up Labor Day.

He laughed.

I laughed.

I asked if they had some kind of punch card we could have.

I told him that I have 4 boys under the age of 10 and that I was sure that we would come to be great friends.

He laughed and jammed a needle in Skeeter's foot to numb it, and then proceeded to unscrew the screw.

Yes, you read that right, he unscrewed it. Said it was better than just pulling it out.

It was about an 1 inch screw and it was half way in. It was also stuck perfectly between his big toe and his next toe(does that toe have a name? I am not sure!)

Gave him some Tylenol #3 and some antibiotics and sent us home.

Skeeter was down for about a day. And is now trying to make up for that downtime.

He is one tough kid.

I am learning that I have way more spunk and grit than I ever would have thought.

I will show you the picture..but be warned-it is gross..so if you can't hack it...don't say I didn't warn you.

Mindless drivel...don't say I didn't warn you...

Well Scout got even with the dog bite family.

Their other dog liked(notice that is a past tense verb) to run cars...and she ran and then cut right in front of the car. Scout was so sad for the kids. Bless their hearts. He knew that the poor dog wasn't going to make it.

Lovely way to end last week. "Hi..you know us, your new neighbors from up the hill..yea, the one's whose kid your dog bit? Yea, um well, I just killed your other dog. Hey wanna come up for a cook out?"

#####

My brother has a new baby. He is precious. Makes we want another...and then I hear mine yelling and screaming and professing their life long eternal brotherly love for each other. And then I COMPLETELY change my mind.

#####

Just heard a neighborhood kid say.."Well at least we aren't racist anymore!"

Wow that is refreshing. Yea at least your not a racist--anymore.

Seriously?? Kids scare me! That is all I am going to say about that.

#####

We have a dinosaur book here at the house that Skeeter is OBSESSED with. I have to be completely honest with you, cause I think you deserve at least that...I HATE THAT BOOK. With a passion. There are 112 pages of dinosaurs. He wants to look at everyone of them and for me to tell him its name. And really I don't mind doing this every once in a while...but 2 and 3 times a day is a bit much...even for this homeschooling mom!!

Here's the ONLY redeeming factor for this book....there is a pronunciation key...he thinks I am a genius because I know the names of all 6.3 million dinos listed in the book. Awesome.

However, I am a little concerned about something and I am going to take this time to share my concern with you...cause it's my blog and I like to strong arm you this way...where in the world did all these dinosaurs come from??

Here is what I mean. When I was attending Westwood Elementary (Go Wolverines! that later became the Wolves)and we were learning about dinosaurs-we learned about Bertha Brontosaurus, Trini the Triceratops, Stanley Stegosaurus and Tom Tyrannosaurus (he is carnivorous, try it once again and sing another chorus!!)

So my question is this...where did these other guys come from??

I mean, I have never heard of Casey Cynognathus or Ellie Elasmosaurus and I certainly don't know who Gertie Gomphotherium is!! I think I need to file a complaint with the school board.

Another dino story....When I was teaching, I had college students working in my classroom once a week(cause for some reason they local colleges think we liked it!?) and when I told them about the next unit we were doing(mandated by the state and the district-mind you) and that they would need to work on a lesson, let me see what they wanted to do with the kids and then teach it...one told me that she wouldn't do it....because she didn't "believe in dinosaurs."

Somewhere...this girl is in a classroom...teaching children.

She was the butt of a few jokes in the teacher's workroom for a while, a loooong while..like every year when the dino unit came up...

Well, I think I have exhausted the few brain cells that I have for today!

Later ya'll!

Two things...

Labor Day 2009 is a day that will go into the record books around here. Wanna see why?

Yup...stitches! Caused by a dog bite. I will save you from seeing the before shot. It makes me a little queasy! However...If you like that kind of stuff, they are on my facebook site and you can see the picture of his cheek bit open there. There were a total of 14-16 stitches..2 layers of them..ugh. I did not pass out...but I freely admit I did come dangerously close!!

He is FINE. We are not asking the dog be killed, we didn't offer to kill the dog, and we are not going to sue the owners. Those seem to be the most common questions we have gotten.

Scrappy has a very hard time understanding when he is in someone else's space...and we now know that includes animals. The dog did not run up and attack him. Scrappy does not understand the concept of personal space. His space is his space and your space is his space.

It was an accident and he is fine. He skipped out of the ER with much enthusiasm and yelled "BYE!!!" across the hallway to the nice doctor that fixed him up!! And he thought it was cool that the police came to take pictures of his dog bite!

And #2...

This is completely theoretical..of course...but if you came in to your computer room and found your younger brother's Facebook site pulled up and still functioning...would you feel obligated to write something on his status??

Not that I would do something like that...I was just wondering.

However, I may soon be joining the witness protection program. I may have to change my name and move to a far away place...like Iowa and learn to be a corn farmer...

....for something that I may or may not have done!! :O)

Ramble, Ramble, Ramble...Hear This Mommy Ramble

I have a special announcement...I am an Aunt...again!

My sweet nephew graced this world with his presence about 5:00 pm yesterday!!

His name is Evan Curry...he was 7 lbs. and 14 oz. And he is SO precious!!

Everyone is doing great and they all went home this evening to begin their lives as a family of 4.

I vaguely remember being a family of 4...cause we were only a family of 4 for 8 months when we found out that we were going to be a family of 5! ha ha ha..I laugh case there is nothing I can do about it now!! And actually I don't remember being a family of 5 for very long before we were adjusting to the idea of become a family of 6! But I digress.

ummm...

We are spending Labor Day weekend working out at the property. We are running the water lines and the electrical conduits. Does is sound like I know what I am talking about? I hope so...cause really, all I got out of it is that I am going to be gluing pipes together.

Jealous aren't you!?

Well you can't come! Unless you really want to and then I might be able to work out a deal for you.

My dear brother spent an entire day at work last week trying to come up with a name for the "homestead", cause he is weird like that. He came up with the name "Antebellum Ridge." Now, I am looking for the perfect pieces of wood to paint a large sign! Cause I am weird like that.

I have fought with the scary neighbor people again this week. I am trying so hard to be nice...but nice is about to run dry. I am about to have an exposition of my ninja/ticked off momma skills. Should it happen I'll take pictures for you.

My parents are here, cause I am their favorite kid and they love me more than anything in the whole world (and maybe the fact that there is a new grandbaby has something to do with them being here too, whatever) and my dad...the man who it took 26 years of my life for him to get an answering machine, the man who reads college western civ books and math books... FOR FUN...is going to get on FACEBOOK.

Folks, I am not positive, but that may be a sign of the apocalypse!!!!!

That is all I am gonna say about that. But I am stocking up on canned goods and water.

School is going to get into full swing on Tuesday. We had a few new kinks come up and I have had to try to get a fresh perspective on our situations, so we scaled way back for the last 2 1/2 weeks while I get refocused on what needs to be done.

It is amazing to me that I am still having to look at our situation and redefine what "normal" is for our family. It isn't bad...it is just different and it takes some time to let the cloud of pity blow away and really just figure out what normal is for our family. We are getting there. I am sure that all special needs families deal with this. It is yucky and I wish it were different...so very different, but these are the cards that have been dealt to us and we will make the best out of them. We will make it and we will shine as we go!

I have been blessed lately with meeting more special needs moms who have questions about a certain diagnosis, or funding for a compression vest or questions about how to deal with others or the school administration that isn't helping, or doctors...and I am greatful. Grateful that I can help them see that it really is manageable. That they will figure this scary road out and that they CAN walk the road laid before them.

They are in Holland and nobody asked if they wanted to go.

I get that.

I am in Holland too.

I know this is somewhere on my blog..but it's my blog and I like it so I am putting it here again.....and I changed it a little to fit my family.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising multiple children with disabilities - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

If you can't say anything nice....

I would like to clarify that just because I live in Arkansas, homeschool have more than the accepted 2.4 children does not mean that I know the Duggers.

They seem like a completely wonderful, loving and stable family. I think that it is wonderful that they have such a large family. I have absolutely no problem with them having 19 or 25 kids. Really. I don't think they are freaks or crazy or stupid.

Yes, I know that MANY of you have a very different opinion of them and the chioces they have made. But my questions are these...Why do you care? What is to you?

I have heard SO many ugly comments made about them. And I just don't get it. They aren't asking you to do it. They aren't condeming you for not doing it. They are just trying to live a life pleasing to God.

So please...hear me say that I don't really care how awful you think it is. I hate hearing Christians bashing them. It make us look bad folks...looks real bad! Remember when your momma used to say.."If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." Well, now would be a great time to put that into practice!!

I will now return you to your regularly scheduled programming!

Maid service

Okay...forget the break...

PLEASE do not take offense, but

I was cleaning the other day.

Scrubbing the bathroom and I dawned on me...

Now I know why those cute little French Maids wore those little outfits!!!

A girl wants to feel cute and pretty and attractive...EVEN when she is cleaning the toilet!!

The End

Stick a fork in me...

I am taking a blogging break.

I am tired of it.

I am tired of facebook and twitter.

I am tired of letting myself feel bad for being "unplugged."

I am tired of feeling like I owe the Internet world my time and energy.

I think I need to take a break and see what becomes of it.

I have only a limited amount of time and energy to spend...and I let this stuff eat up way too much of it.

Happy blogging and facebooking and twittering to you all in the meantime!!

See ya around...sooner or later.

I could eat it with a spoon, except I am sure there is a warning label!

This is Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products.

They are wonderful and I can not say enough about the scent!!

This one is Lemon Verbena(like the perfume that Miss Beadle wore on Little House on the Prairie).

It is my favorote!!

You need to get stop what you are doing and go get you some!

Seriously...what are you still doing here?

Go..now! Off with you!

It's Only Wednesday...

We have had a busy week:.

• therapies
• pediatrician appointment
• psychiatrist appointment
• trying to start school
• medicine change
• children attacked by yellow jackets
• last minute curriculum changes
• speech and language testing
• support group meeting
• family in town
• baby shower for my sweet SIL
• family out of town
• hammering out our budget
• trying to stick to the budget
• confirmation of a few new diagnoses
• having to "drop" papers off at the DHS office
• children having total unexpected meltdowns...multiple times!!

We have a lot going on and a lot still to do.....and it is only Wednesday!

Dear Complete Stranger Lady

Dear Complete Stranger Lady,

I recognize in the world we live in that sometimes parents do not do right by their children. Sometimes, kids are allowed to wander the neighborhood and ride bikes in the street without regard for their safety, or the cars around them.

However, that being said, if you feel it necessary to call the police on my children again, please do me the favor of making sure they are my kids!!!! Those kids do not belong to me. They are not mine- now or ever!!

Thank you for the excitement though...we enjoyed it immensely.


PS...Mine are usually the naked kids...that's how you can "tell us apart".

Alphabet Soup

Today I met with the Educational Psychologist.

We have more diagnoses.

I really wonder just how many different diagnoses one child is legally allowed to have!?

I think we might be approaching that limit. And if there isn't one, there sure should be. :O)

I like to think that the new diagnoses don't change anything. 

It is just hard to see those scores in black and white like that. I felt kind of like I got the wind knocked out of me.

I just hate to tell him..and really, I don't think I will. Scout and I know and that is enough for now. 

I don't really see how any good can come of it right now.

A few weeks ago he told me he was tired of all the things he had and hoped there wasn't anything else.

 Well, there are..there are about 3 more things.

He just needs to know that he is loved and accepted and that everyone is fighting some kind of battle...everyone.

And that he is a 'Can Do Kid'!!

He is my Alphabet Soup kid. 

I have always loved Alphabet Soup...

.........especially the kind with the little meatballs!!

They may not ask us back...

I need to say something here, so please indulge me this for just a moment....

Dear Church Family,

I AM SOOOOO SORRY!



I swear to you that we really are a good family.



I would not send my 6 year old to church functions if I thought he was going to puke all over Noah's ark..maybe he was just a little sea sick? Maybe I should have given him a dramamine before he boarded..or those wristbands?



I do not encourage my 5 year old to tell "penis stories" in bible class-so, so sorry Valarie and other adults that had to cover their faces to hide the shock and horror!!! I will tell the teachers tonight not to let him speak!



I promise we are a good family...




...it's just that we are that family!



No, really.....we are.




I can take it-at least with a dose of something prescribed for me by my doctor!




Maybe our sole purpose here on Earth is to show you that God does in fact have a sense of humor?!?

Be there...or be a quadrilateral!

VBS starts tonight. 

And while it gives me nightmares and headaches getting things ready for it...

It is COMPLETELY awesome!!!

If you are in the area..you really should come!!

At a loss for words

We just found out today that my mother in law has Alzheimer's.

We have wondered for a while, but we got the word today.

She is 70...

...and stubborn 

...and strong willed 

...and feisty 

...and a control freak. (Not that I know anything about those things!)

... and she is slipping away. 

My FIL has had to take the responsibility of taking her medications away from her.

I am at a loss.

My heart is broken.

Long Stories-Even Longer...

What a crazy week we have had around here! Let me give you the run down.....

Last weekend, Scout and I went to Branson and then stopped by Harrison for a hike. I am a hiker by marriage. I am not nor will I ever be a rugged gal. He took me to a place that he had hiked and rappelled(sp?) a few times as a teenager and after we got married(without me). 

It was the LONGEST day of my life. 

We hiked Hemmed-In-Hollow. It boasts the highest waterfall between the Rocky Mountains and the Smokey Mountains. We hiked for 2 hours to get there. The waterfall was beautiful!! Do not get me wrong..very beautiful. We ate lunch and played in the water a bit and then headed out. 

I was told we could go back the way we came, 2 hours going almost straight up or we could go 4 hours the other way and it was going to be "less steep."

Ha ha ha ha ha...huh?

Well 4 1/2 hours later...we made it back to the top. We had taken the horse trail up.

 The small, narrow, muddy, steep, rocky horse trail-without a horse. Walked it, crossed the river like 6 times...in my white and pink Nikes.  

Picture to show just how beautiful and yet how far down we were..that is Scout at the bottom of the Falls.

--------

Then we had our day at the library where Skeeter  taught me not to let him wander around the Juvenile Non-Fiction section alone....see previous post. 

----------

I have been reading a great book on boys called Wild Things: the art of nurturing boys, by Stephen James and Davis Thomas. 

This is a must read if you have boys or know boys or have even heard of boys.

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 6: A Boy's Brain:

Six year old Mark was visiting his friend Luke's house. Boys being boys, it wasn't too long before they found Luke's big sister's stash of green nail polish. Both boys loved to play superheroes, and it made sense to them that this fingernail polish was perfect for turning themselves into the Incredible Hulk. Luke convinced Mark he could become the Hulk only if he painted himself green-which Mark proceeded to do, right down to the green weenie. Later, as Mark's mother wiped off his genitals  with fingernail polish remover, she asked, "What in the world were you thinking?"

I laughed and laughed at this chapter. It basically says...they aren't thinking, they are impulsive. 

Two nights later I am getting all the boys showered and ready for bed by myself,cause Scout is out of town. Everyone is clothed except Skeeter. He has been clean for 10-15 minutes. I lay him down to put his diaper on him and I fell over laughing because of what I saw.

In the few minutes I was dealing with the others, he found a marker......and..... he.... colored his boys parts! 

BLUE!

No way I just read that in a book and now I am dealing with it!?! 

Really we are a hopeless cause.

-------

Scrappy runs a fever Tuesday night out of no where...nothing hurts, just a fever. I give him some meds and put him to bed. Wednesday morning he wakes up and I do the Mommy thermometer thing and feel his head. I notice he is still warm, and tell him he has a fever again. 

He then informs me that he does not have a fever, "That is just his brain thinking."

Who knew thinking caused so much heat?

Later that day Skeeter comes up and tells me, pointing to his forehead, that "I have beavers in there." 

--------

This week we have rescued a turtle, a bird egg and 2 frogs..or toads. *note to self...find out the difference and teach that.*

 I like frogs, just not near me and not in my house. I am just weird like that! Scar loves animals. He has a very tender spot of them...ALL of them. And he feels compelled to bring them all to me for my praise and approval.

When we found the poor turtle, I said a small prayer for it...

Dear God,

Please protect this 

sweet little turtle 

from the love 

the boys are about 

to inflict upon it! 

Amen.

And there you have it... a "short" synopsis of....the last 6 days!!!

Is this really appropriate reading material??

Look what Skeeter picked up at the Library today...

Seriously?!? 

Everything You Need to Know About Date Rape???

Oh, and the book behind it was on illegal drugs!!

Needless to say, I did the old 'distract and switch' with a book  on sharks!!

No Kids...Day 3

Well, it's day 3 and I actually have something to do today!

I am going to eat lunch with my Granny.

She is a fruit...I mean that in the most loving way, but really, she is a fruit!!

She has way too much spunk for a gal her age-she's 85....ohh is that okay to shout out your Granny's age on your blog? 

I could get written out of the will for that one..oh wait, I already achieved that last year when she found out I got a tattoo for my birthday!! Nevermind. :O)

 About 3 years ago she fell off of a ladder while trying to paint the gutters and broke her hip and shoulder. It was very hard on her. She likes to go and do. Her going and doing have had to slow down-and she hates it. Can't blame her though.

Well, I am off...hope today is a great one for you..where ever you are!

No kids--Day 2

Welcome to day 2 of my no kids adventure.

I cleaned the school room today. I went thru stuff that I have been holding on to for the past 9 years and trashed a lot of stuff. I figure that I am not going back to the regular classroom anytime soon-so it is time it is gone!

Evidently the boys are having a grand time. I talked to all 4 of them on the phone at once(what are my parents thinking??) Soon after I put a stop to it and then found out that they have all gotten new shoes and socks, swam, made smores, rode on the tractor, the gator, the 4 wheelers, found a snake, fished and had taco's for dinner.

That sounds way more fun than cleaning out the schoolroom!

I am glad they are having a great time-some of my best childhood memories are from the farm when my grandparents lived there!!

No Kids...Day 1

Well, it is day 1 of no kids..and I am going crazy.

So far today I have: 

• gotten up at my regular time..no way Scout is going to let me sleep in!
• cleaned underneath the couches
  
• gone to the gym
  
• went to School Squared to pick up more handwriting paper
• watched a chick-flick while soaking my feet and eating popcorn on the couch
  
• been to Wal-mart to pick up  stuff for dinner.
  

Sounds like a blast huh??

Simmer down now....I hear you all begging  to come along. 

No, you can't come an have all this fun with me. 

Hey wait, you know really, if you want to come along, I will come and pick you up. 

No really, it's no problem. 

No problem at all!!

I have no idea what fun and excitement await me tomorrow! *sigh*

...really I may have to go get the boys and make them come home.

A Little Bling

Look what my sweet 3 year old got me.

Yea, he's a charmer all right!

Tourette's and his mean spirited buddies have taken their toll on me today. 

For the past 2-3 weeks, Skipper's tics have slowed down. They have been almost unnoticeable. This is the first time in 5 years that we have has a time like this. Part of the diagnostic criteria is that the patient can not have been "free" of tics for longer than 3 months. 3 months tic free?!? We would throw the biggest party if we could go 3 months with out tics. We have never gone that long. 

However, being tic free, seems to open ones eyes to the other co-morbid issues.

For what ever reason, not that there has to be one, the tics are coming back. With a punch. Lots of head, neck and shoulder stuff. It is just sad to watch it. He cannot focus well while reading or drawing, because his head is turning to the side and he has to tap his chin on his shoulder.

He is having a hard time focusing on the here and now. He tends to get wrapped up in the things on the calendar 2 weeks away and can not function today. He is such a black and white child that it is making things difficult-for all of us. He does not get sarcasm. It just hits him in the forehead and falls to the ground. We are finding we have to very literal with him.

I think the hardest thing is realizing that there are just some things he is just not going to "get". We have to teach it.  

I want things to be easy. I want things to be fair. I want things to be "normal".

I want to just go and do and not worry about him or how others will respond to him or how they won't respond to him. 

There is a new diagnosis that is floating around out there, that is being spoken of softly. I am tired of diagnoses. I am tired of testing and wondering and worrying. I am trying to remind my self that if this diagnosis gets added that really it changes nothing.  

On the flip side of that coin though, it changes everything.

I am a 'need the facts' kind of girl. If I have the facts, we can map out a plan and attack it head on.  

I am afraid of the facts this time.

I am afraid that is reflects on me..yea I know, what a stupid place for pride to show itself, but I am afraid what people will think of us. What will they think of a family where 3 out of the 4 kids have some fairly serious issues. What does that say about me. What does that say about my husband?

Special needs families tend to be secretive. We want people with to think that there is nothing wrong or that we are just gifted at doing it all. When in reality things feel crazy most days and you feel like there really isn't anyone who would understand. So when you ask, we will tell you things are great and fine. 

Unless you happen to run into me in the bathroom at church and you ask and it all just spills out. 

Part of the reason that I started the homeschool co-op is so that families like ours can have a place to belong. My prayer is that First Class can be THE place for special needs homeschoolers. Call it selfish on my part, but it is what it is.

I have nothing profound or deep to say tonight. Just some thoughts from a mom who wished she could wave her magic wand and make it better for everyone...everywhere.

My new toy

I am a nerd. No really I am, it's okay. I am actually a homeschooling nerd, but that is a completely different post!!

I broke down and got a laptop...a mini laptop though. I love it and I am all about the cuteness of it!! I wanted the pink one, but the boys promised a mass revolt, so I got the blue one. Okay, maybe I got the blue one because the pink one wasn't available in the store!!

Any way, I am now loving this and the ease now with schooling with 2 computers available to the kids, the ability to take it with us to be productive during therapy times and to also have the ability to work on the Co-op site is a big plus!!

Redeeming my gift....

Awesome night with my sweetie! 

Great concert. 

Darius Rucker is a great performer. If you ever get the chance to see him in concert...do it. Lots of great music. Some of his, some Hootie, a little Prince,  and a little Hank Williams Jr.

Lots of fun..my throat hurts now and I am going to bed!! Later.

**********************
Tonight, Scout and I are headed to the Darius Rucker concert at the AMP!!

The tickets were my Mother's Day gift. To say I am super pumped is a huge understatement!!

Thank  you to the 2 families that have agreed to take a few boys for a little while this evening so we can go! I SO appreciate it!!

Don't make me beg...please!

In a few very short weeks...all our boys are going to spend an entire week with my parents.

A whole week..away from home..all 4 of them-at the same time. 

What in the world am I going to do for a whole week with out my kids here??

I will tell you what I am going to do...

My hubby is taking me on a trip for our 15th anniversary!!

Do you know the last time we went on a trip with our our kids??? 

Me either!

Here is where you can help a girl out:

Where should we go? 

Charleston? Williamsburg? A beach? North? South? 

It DOES have to be in the continental United States.

I have been so very few places that I haven't a clue where it would be fun to go.

So I am enlisting  your help. 

Send me your ideas?? I am in need. Desperate need.

 And if  you don't mind...can I pass your ideas off as my own? Scout told me to come up with someplace fun and he would take me. And I got nothin'!

Alright folks....let's see what ya got!!

A Rare Sighting...

No way!

Look at this:

It is a picture of Scout AND me... at the same time!

Those things are rare.

And look..we are dressed up too!

The planets must have been in perfect alignment that day.

WAIT!

What the.....

Who is that back there? 

Man.....that is his dad trying to be stealthy and sneak into our picture!

Ok..it is a picture of Scout, Me and his dad!!

Whatever.

First Class Co-op Rogers

Since I just do not have enough to do with my time, I am starting a Homeschool Co-op this fall. Things are already in the works and we are now looking for a meeting place. Hopefully a really great church I know will come thru!!! 

We have been without a group for a while and  are very ready to get involved again. However, most of the groups we have found are full, will have a spot for 1 of my boys or are just too expensive. 

So we took thing into our own hands and we are now the First Class Homeschool Co-op Rogers. If you know of a family in the area looking for a group send them our way!! Or if you have a something that you are passionate about--- maybe something like scrapbooking or bugs, or arts and crafts...maybe you are really good at outside organized gmes) and would like to teach an 8-10 week session(45 minute lesson)...please let me know..I am friends with the Coordinator, I can hook you up. ;O)

Here is our website.

Clara Mae

Early Saturday morning, we got word that Scout's Aunt Clara was not doing well. We decided to load up for a quick run up to Springfiled. We thought that we would just go check in on her and visit a little bit. 

We left our house at about 1:00 or so. We were in Springfiled about 30 minutes when we got a call. Aunt Clara had gone to be with her Jesus at about 1:30.

We were heart broken that we didn't get to say goodbye.

She was diagnosed with liver cancer on Thursday.

I am pretty sure the God has given her the job of Information Lady, there in heaven. See, Aunt Clara knows about everyone and everything-not in a bad way either. She just remembers people and what they tell her. She is as listener. I can guarantee you that if you told Aunt Clara that on March 28, 1987 you bought a green car with gray interior and like to eat  Twizzlers...she would remember it. If you called and mentioned that last Tuesday you got the oil changed in your car...she would remember it. For her life was in the details. 

She loved everyone and was like a second mom to Scout. She will be deeply missed. I think deeply doesn't actually do that justice. What a blessing for me to have known her these past 15 years. What a blessing that I was loved by Aunt Clara, that Scout was loved by Aunt Clara, that our boys were loved by Aunt Clara!

Sometimes I think I am SO funny

I really think I am funny. Actually, I think I am pretty dad-gum funny. And then I say things aloud or blog it...and it still seems so blooming funny to me. 

However...based on the number of comments (thanks Cass...nice to know someone saw that last one!!) Not everyone thinks I am as funny as I do.

So, I will try again...Ahem.

Here are a few real highlights of our trip!

Our first night in, we had a wonderful dinner in the courtyard for all the Rainbird visitors and they were great enough to bring Mickey to us! The kids got  pictures with him and his autograph. I would like to add that he has wonderful penmanship for a mouse! I was quite impressed. They also prepared a special meal for Scar and he raved about how great the chicken was and then asked for ketchup! He is his father's son! The Chef even made him 3 yummy cheesecake pops dipped in white and dark chocolate for dessert! They were yummy too. I won't tell you how I know, but I do.

Here we are with Pluto. Yes, the boys are all wearing the same shirt. Scout had "business" stuff each morning and that meant that I had the boys in a Park by myself  until lunch time. I figured if someone got away, I could point to whoever was left and say, "This is what he was wearing." Plus I ALWAYS take a picture on my phone before we go somewhere like this just in case something does happen so I can show exactly what they look like. I also bought these awesome no water needed tattoos. I love them and highly recommend them. By the way...Pluto knows how to write also!!

Then there is this guy. I am not a huge fan of his, but hey "when in Rome..." so we walked up and snapped a few with him. He can write his name...but I think I see summer school in his future.

This is the picture that almost didn't happen. When we first got in line it was just Belle. They boys weren't thrilled about her, but I begged and pleaded and then offered a cash bribe if they would do this for me. As we are walking up to Belle, Beast comes up and Skeeter FREAKS!!! Mind you, Beast is a very large guy and way more so to a 3 year old!  Belle was kind enough to talk with Beast and explain Skeeter's situation and we were able to convince him that Beast would stay way on the other side and not look at him! Belle has beautiful handwriting..but it is the least we should be able to expect from a princess.

The first thing I did with the boys was to take them to the "It's tough to be a bug" 3-D show. 

BIG MISTAKE!

VERY BIG MISTAKE!

They screamed and yelled and screamed and hollered and I am sure if they knew any bad words they would have used them. It truly scared the crap out of them...sorry if that if offensive, but it is the truth! I felt SO bad. We had to leave before it was over.

See, I am an idiot. 

I took 3 children with sensory issues into a theatre where they squirt water, blow smoke, spray with big puffs of air and drop giant spider out of the ceiling on you, all while you are wearing 3-D glasses.  I had my mom of the year award waiting for me as I drug, carried and shoved 3 children who were paralyzed with fear out of the theatre!!

YEA me!

I won't ever do that agin. Much to their pleasure--I'm sure!

It was a great trip. Rain bird was  great host and showered our family with t-shirts, bags, hats, and lots of gift cards for us while we were there! The resort was wonderful. The Chef was able to prepare anything Scar wanted and he had lots of choices. It was a huge blessing for us and we are deeply humbled to have been treated to something so wonderful. 

Memories....of what exactly??

Here are a few highlights of our trip!!

Look..it's a big pink and blue pipe! 

Everyone loves a big pink and blue pipe!

Here is the famous Disney's cracked sidewalk!! 

Cool huh??

We thought so! 

So we commemorated the sight!

We were going to have the boys lay down next to the crack, but decided that would just be silly!

And here is a sprinkler head! 

You can't see those things just anywhere!

No sir, you must jump on a plane with 4 small people and head across the country to warmer climates to see those!!

Aren't you glad we have this?

Think of the trouble I just saved you!!

And those dear friends are just a few of our Disney trip pictures! 

Hope you enjoyed them!!

NO NO NO...............I have more real pictures to show...I just thought those were funny as I was looking thru and saw some crazy things Scout took pictures of!!

I'll show you the real ones soon!!

It appears that it is dinner time and these people around here expect to be fed...what is up with that?? Selfish little buggers!!

Back home

We made it home.

 It was an amazing trip!

 Nobody got lost.

I  took on a TSA guy at the Orlando International Airport who seemed to think I wasn't getting thru the x ray line with 4 children and a husband still in line behind me fast enough!

Dude-I just spent 2 mornings at Disney Parks with 4 small people---BY MYSELF...you really wanna go there with me?!? 

He was big, but I am the mother of 4 boys--he didn't scare me and in fact I think he knows it now!!

I will post pictures soon...but right now I am still fighting the pile of laundry that seemed to follow me all the way back from Disney and 2 sick kiddos!

Disney Bound!!!

Look out Mickey...here we come. 

Tomorrow morning at 8:50 we fly out of XNA and make our way to Orlando.

Scout's business trip worked out and we are packing as we speak. Okay not really. I had to take a break. I am kind of an organization freak, however I prefer the phrase "Organizationally Gifted." 

 I do not take a trip lugging 4 kids 9 and under on a plane halfway across the continental United States lightly. Especially when I have an OCD child who has already started his thing and is going to need a small dose of meds to get him on the plane and keep him settled, and an Apraxic kid who goes 90 to nothin' the vast majority of the time and another child who requires a special diet.

But regardless of all of that, we are going to go and enjoy 4 days together in the Magic Kingdom. We are going to go until we can't go anymore!!

Thank you Rainbird Corporation for doing this for us! It is definitely a bright spot in our rather hectic life.

Thank you to our great therapists who have written letters and written up travel tips for me and help with things like chewy tubes and fidget toys! You all rock!!

Well, I am off to continue to organize and pack and organize and organize some more!!

I will 'tweet' a bit while we are gone and will come back with TONS of pictures to share!!

9 and 5

Look! It's me! I am back..well sorta.

Come to find out...Scout has been holding out on me. His old laptop is apparently hooked up to the internet!! I have been spending all my time trying to peck stuff out on my iphone..which I love..but come on folks. There is only so much of those tiny letters a person can stand!!

My computer is at the Mac place being thoroughly gone through. When I called to check..they told me it was on the diagnostics bench. Sounds serious. They should just call it computer triage!! That means something to me!

Anyway since I do not have my computer and access to my pictures. I will have to do this from here and fill in after my computer comes home.

Tomorrow is a very special day. It is Skipper AND Scrappy's birthdays!! Skipper will be 9 and Scrappy will be 5.

Skipper is a great kid. He is funny and quirky and I love his freckles. He is loyal and creative. He loves Star Wars and Indiana Jones. He loves to wear his shirts buttoned all the way to the top and his shirts tucked in! He has to have long socks and collects all kinds of things. He is sentimental and finds value in everything. He tries hard and wants the world to follow God. I am so proud to be his mommy. 9 years ago I never could have imagined what God had in store for us as took on the role of mom and dad.

Skipper you are a champ and you are one of my heroes! Don't ever let anyone tell you that you are not worthy. You my friend, have more heart and compassion and spunk than most people I know! I know that Tourette's has been an unwelcome part of your life...but make no doubt that God has mighty plans for you dear boy...mighty plans!!


Then there is my little Scrappy. He was suppose to be born on the 19 of April. We were going to induce that day. But that little guy had plans of his own. My water broke at about 5:00 am, Sunday, April 18 and Scrappy made his grand entrance into this world by 8:30 am. By the way..for those who don't know..this child broke my tailbone during delivery. I should have known that we were in for a real treat with this one!!

Scrappy is full of vim and vigor! He is a whirlwind. He is my butterfly. He goes quickly from one thing to the next, staying just long enough and then he is on to the next thing. He is silly and sweet and cares deeply. He talks to God often and loudly! He has come a very very long way in his 5 years. A year ago he couldn't even say his name. He talks ALL THE TIME now! He has coordination issues, but he never lets that stop him. He loves with his whole body and assumes everyone appreciate that.

Scrappy, you my friend are my other hero. You never give up and I am in awe of you. Most kids with Apraxia never get to where you are. Most can't ride a bike without training wheels and you my friend just accomplished that goal. You are learning to hold your pencil correctly and have a lot of dedication for a 5 year old. You are funny and I love that you have a true friend in Jesus. I love to hear you talk to him. It does my heart good. Keep up the hard work! God isn't finished with you yet!

Boys, I know that God looked the WHOLE world over and chose me to be your mommy. I am thankful that he thought we would be perfect together! It is a tough job and there are days when I want to say that you need a break. Enough is enough. It isn't fair that you both have so much extra "stuff" to deal with. But I am confident of this...He loves you way more than me or daddy ever could. He chose you. He chose you. Get that. He looked all over heaven and said...him. Give him to that mommy and daddy. He is perfect for them!

I love you both...forever. God bless you my little men!!

That's what ya get for jumping on the bed...

except it was a trampoline and no one fell off. Praise the Lord!

Skeeter's eye.....met Skipper's knee. 

This is what it looked like yesterday....

Which wasn't pretty, but overnight it kept swelling and bruising. He woke up with lots of green goo. We are hoping it is becauseof the swelling. Now he will have a very nice shiner for Easter 2009. 

Here is his eye today. I don't think the pictures really to this thing justice!!

My computer also crashed last night. We lost everything...everything. However, ALL of the pictures are on my iPhone. Now if we can figure out how to get it all back-we will be set.

We had to re-install the OS for the computer and after about 5 hours of work this morning, I have it running again. So instead of doing school the more traditional way...we studied computers and following directions. By the way if any of you are computer literate and know how to fix our situation...we are all ears!

Things are going well around here. We are in the process of getting some major decisions made, finalized, etc. God has been so faithful. We are very excited about the plans that have been made.

Next Saturday is a very special day around here! You'll have to come back later and see what is going on!!!

I hope that you have a very blessed Good  Friday and a beautiful Easter!!

Parting is such sweet sorrow!

I am a devoted fan of Sonic Vanilla Cokes.

Okay, make that I was a devoted fan of Sonic Vanilla Cokes.

I drink WAY to many of those things-in a day! (Don't judge me.) 

And even though some of you are going to roll you eyes and make ugly comments about me for saying this...I am almost positive that these luscious beverages are to blame for the almost 10 pounds that I have put on recently! Yes, I know what you girls are going to say and you can save it! ;O) 10 pounds on me is just as uncomfortable as 10 would be on you. However, maybe you are perfectly at ease with your body-and if you are then, God bless you my friend!!! I though, I have a few things that I would like to change, or at least relocate.

So I am saying goodbye to them. Or at least "see ya a lot less often."

It is tearing my heart out...and giving me a major headache! 

I think one coke a week is fair. So, I will save up and I will completely enjoy my coke this weekend!

Actually I will always be a fan of Sonic Vanilla Cokes.

The headache though, I think that is unfair and uncalled for!

What if...

What if I make a conscious, purposeful effort to speak kindness over and to all I come in contact with.

What if I choose to speak love over and to all those I come in contact with.

What if I take Ephesians 4:29 seriously:

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (emphasis mine)

What if.....well, I think it's time to see what would happen. 

Hey you!!! Yeah you..right there...

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope you are having a great day! 

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Pr. 4:23

Scout and I have has about 2 days of serious talks about our situation.

The paycut is a drastic one for us. We have to cut--big time. 

And yes, rest assured, we are indeed very thankful that he still has a job.

After looking things over and over and shuffling the papers and turning them upside down and looking at then again...we have an idea of where we need to go. Tomorrow, Scout will go to the bank and see what kind of options we have. 

We are giving it to God and have asked Him to open this door for us. We have asked for Him to direct our steps and show us the path He wants for us to take.

As soon as we have our path, I will let you in on it...right now we are leaving that between us and God.

------------------

I love how God choses to show himself.

Throughout this whole layoff process, the song Blessed Be Your Name has spoken to me and I have listened to it over and over and over-and now it plays here on my blog. 

It was the first song we sang this morning at church..coincidence? I think not.

I think it is God reminding me that no matter what-good or bad, plenty or want, it is my calling to bless His name. 

He gives, he sustains...he holds me in his hand and if he is for me then nothing can get to me with out first coming thru Him. 

Is isn't always easy, it isn't always fun-but I will choose to bless his name.

I can wallow in self pity or I can choose to give Him the glory for what I do have.

I can be selfish and hold on to my possessions or I can let go and lay them at his feet and walk away. He gives and he takes away. Which will I chose to do? 

We will lay it down. We will lay it down and walk away and find happiness in Him. We will find joy in Him. We will find peace in Him. 

It is stuff- just a house, just furniture, just clothes, just a desk-whatever-and it is all His.

Right now for us is where the rubber meets the road. 

Are we willing to walk the walk and not just talk the talk? 

You bet! 

It is a sacrifice? 

Indeed it is.

But we choose to bless His name....we choose freedom from material possessions and choose a life filled with the abundance of God. 

He will take care of our needs. 

He will provide better for us than a life lived to keep up with the so and so's. 

That is what we are seeking. A simpler, God filled life of love and happiness!

Do you have any idea how freeing that is? Man, it is amazing how different my heart feels to say it and really mean it!!

Proverbs 4:26  "Make level paths for your feet and take only the ways that are firm."

Love to all...