13 November, 2009
Timosha is going HOME!!!
I just found out that my little prayer boy is going HOME to his birthfamily. His mother has notifed Reece's Rainbow that she has decided to bring him back home, and also to advocate for the other children in his region with Down Syndrome. Wow, talk about the power of prayer. I never dreamed that praying him home would pray him HOME. Tears of joy for Timosha and his family!
01 November, 2009
Happy Halloween! (Whoopee cushion part II)
Kory the Red Ninja
Marisol the Glitter Witch
Estuardo Spiderman trying hard to see through the tiny eye holes in his mask
Mattea's first Trick-or-Treat...she was SO excited!!!
Onnolee
Jesse laughed about this costume for three day straight waiting for Halloween to come
The whole of us!26 October, 2009
2 boys and a whoopee cushion
Picture it. I was grocery shopping Saturday with my 3 year old and my 13 year old sons. And a whoopee cushion. 13 year old blows it up and hands it to 3 year old who plops it on the ground and then plops himself on top of it. Laughing hysterically.
What happened to my innocent little baby boy?
What happened to my innocent little baby boy?
24 October, 2009
It happened Accord-ing to the way it was supposed to
Well...I had these pipe-dreams of a superfine luxury car.
Little by little I got humbled to the point, yesterday afternoon, when I began to wonder if I would have any car at all or a $500 beater car. From the kids' surgeries during the summer to the car accident to us all taking turns with the H1N1, I missed a lot of work, and I was late to pay on one too many bills, so my credit score really took a nosedive. We waited and waited and waited on gap insurance to finish paying off the totalled van so I could buy a new car, but by yesterday, Carmax couldn't even get me financed without a huge downpayment and 25% interest, so I reached the lowest of lows and came home thinking my husband was going to be driving me to work for the rest of my life. I even scoured Craigslist for a beater car I could pay cash for.
But today was another day. For the 15th time, a salesman from the Honda dealership called me wanting to know if I was still interested in a new car. After yesterday's escapades, I shrugged my shoulders and told him he was totally welcome to see if he could get me approved. Pretty sure he was wasting his time, I went about my morning and halfway forgot about it. A couple of hours later, my cell phone rang and it was him...He said he had some good news. I was approved for financing! We were there in less than half an hour and much to my absolute surprise he led me over to a brand new 2009 Honda Accord!!! And I totally LOVE it!!! One scary, unfortunate chapter in my life has FINALLY come to a close. With an unexpected happy ending.
Little by little I got humbled to the point, yesterday afternoon, when I began to wonder if I would have any car at all or a $500 beater car. From the kids' surgeries during the summer to the car accident to us all taking turns with the H1N1, I missed a lot of work, and I was late to pay on one too many bills, so my credit score really took a nosedive. We waited and waited and waited on gap insurance to finish paying off the totalled van so I could buy a new car, but by yesterday, Carmax couldn't even get me financed without a huge downpayment and 25% interest, so I reached the lowest of lows and came home thinking my husband was going to be driving me to work for the rest of my life. I even scoured Craigslist for a beater car I could pay cash for.
But today was another day. For the 15th time, a salesman from the Honda dealership called me wanting to know if I was still interested in a new car. After yesterday's escapades, I shrugged my shoulders and told him he was totally welcome to see if he could get me approved. Pretty sure he was wasting his time, I went about my morning and halfway forgot about it. A couple of hours later, my cell phone rang and it was him...He said he had some good news. I was approved for financing! We were there in less than half an hour and much to my absolute surprise he led me over to a brand new 2009 Honda Accord!!! And I totally LOVE it!!! One scary, unfortunate chapter in my life has FINALLY come to a close. With an unexpected happy ending.
18 October, 2009
17 October, 2009
Bubs got BONES...and PlayDough!
And he loves the fact that they glow in the dark! He says "I shine!"
Estuardo has enjoyed learning how to play with PlayDough.
Mattea is CLIMBING!
Not a smile, but she's hungry! She climbed up in her high chair all by herself when she saw me getting dinner ready...
Climbed right up into the recliner too!
Mattea is doing a fantastic job at finger feeding now too.
And eating all kinds of new foods...and loving them!Onny wants MORE
Onny has speech delays so at preschool they are working on sign language with her. She has finally started signing at home! So far I have seen "more" and "please" and I am thrilled!
And even better, she is actually SAYING "more" and "please" when she signs!
And it WORKS! She gets MORE!
Please help TIMOSHA!!!
This is little Timosha, a 2 1/2 year old ADORABLE orphan who happens to have Down Syndrome. He is currently in an orphanage overseas waiting for a family. I am Timosha's Prayer Warrior and now I am also his Christmas Warrior. Reece's Rainbow has also chosen Timosha to be their child of the month for October. This means extra prayers and a special donation fund is set up for him at http://www.reecesrainbow.org/waitingchild11.html, where you can also read more about him. Please keep this precious little boy in your prayers for the next few months, and if you are able to, consider donating to his adoption grant fund at the above link. Wouldn't it be awesome if we could pray him a family for Christmas this year?15 October, 2009
Checking in.
I have badly neglected my blogging the past few months. Our house has been busy with surgeries over the summer, and now we have all been taking turns getting sick. I think at least half of us have been blessed with the H1N1--- we just got a call from the blind school that Marisol is in the infirmary with 103 fever. She will be headed home tomorrow to recuperate. I am still driving a rental car. The gap insurance company has received all necessary documents and now I wait while they "process" the claim. I am hoping for mercy, as I have missed a lot of work and finances are tight enough without having to come up with money to pay off the van. I've been shopping for a new car for 2 months now so I am very ready to actually bring one home. Mattea's Make-a-wish trip has been approved and we will head to Orlando right after Christmas for a week. I can hardly wait! My biggest news right now is that I have decided to switch majors mid-stream for my Master's Degree. I am putting the MSN/MHA on hold for now and will be working on a Master's in Mental Health Counseling. My interactions with the drug-exposed newborns and their moms has really sparked an interest in addictions therapy and I hope to someday be able to make a difference with this.
My babies at home are all pretty much fine. Onny is learning new things every day. She is still not talking understandably yet, but every once in awhile we are starting to understand what she is trying to say. That's exciting! She is doing things in her own time and definitely in her own way. She can say everyone's name now and is just all personality. Estuardo is making that change from toddlerhood to preschool and he is talking up a storm, and has the biggest imagination. He knows what he wants and has perfected the 3-year-old temper tantrum to a fine art. He is enjoying his Montessori preschool and I am rewarded several times a week with a new bead necklace to add to my collection, that he has made in school. Mattea continues to be amazing. She is our little explorer and it is usually in the kitchen and involves food. She loves her pasta and gets so excited that it is contagious. When she sees me cooking dinner she is right over to her high chair and trying to climb in by herself. I can't believe how far she has come in 9 months. Kory is trying to catch up at school after being out for a week with the H1N1. So far Jesse has been able to stay pretty healthy and not get too sick, thank goodness.
I am looking forward to attending a conference next week for rehabilitation nurses here in Albquerque. I was lucky enough to be one of the three from our unit that got a scholarship to attend. And I am also hoping to go to a sewing/embroidery class the week after to work on a special project. We are also gearing up for Halloween fun...That's all for now.
My babies at home are all pretty much fine. Onny is learning new things every day. She is still not talking understandably yet, but every once in awhile we are starting to understand what she is trying to say. That's exciting! She is doing things in her own time and definitely in her own way. She can say everyone's name now and is just all personality. Estuardo is making that change from toddlerhood to preschool and he is talking up a storm, and has the biggest imagination. He knows what he wants and has perfected the 3-year-old temper tantrum to a fine art. He is enjoying his Montessori preschool and I am rewarded several times a week with a new bead necklace to add to my collection, that he has made in school. Mattea continues to be amazing. She is our little explorer and it is usually in the kitchen and involves food. She loves her pasta and gets so excited that it is contagious. When she sees me cooking dinner she is right over to her high chair and trying to climb in by herself. I can't believe how far she has come in 9 months. Kory is trying to catch up at school after being out for a week with the H1N1. So far Jesse has been able to stay pretty healthy and not get too sick, thank goodness.
I am looking forward to attending a conference next week for rehabilitation nurses here in Albquerque. I was lucky enough to be one of the three from our unit that got a scholarship to attend. And I am also hoping to go to a sewing/embroidery class the week after to work on a special project. We are also gearing up for Halloween fun...That's all for now.
06 October, 2009
What's been happening in our world
Just to kind of let you know what is going on in our world
Lou's daughter had a heart operation the end of September and Lou went up for a few days to help out and her daughter made out very well.
then October got here and things have been a mad house. I got a very bad sinus infection and have been dealing with that, no fun at all.
The rest of the family is dealing with strep throat and all that fun
Lou went for an interview that we are waiting to hear back from and that could really make things interesting for a while.
I have dropped out of UOP because of issues with the college and getting my degree in my time frame. They still haven't gotten me my withdraw info so I can't get out of the college just yet. May have to get my lawyer in on the deal to get me out of there.
I have found a new college and new degree in mental health counseling that sounds interesting that I may go into as when I am done and if I pass the license test I could be my own boss and set my own hours.
Lou is thinking about it also but who knows if she will switch right now but it would be nice to be able to have the same time off if we wanted to do something for say a few weeks at a time.
The kids are getting into their school stuff, Marisol totally likes the blind school she is going to as she is home maybe two days a week and tells us almost nothing about what goes on there. Kory is finding that real schools hand out home work that teachers expect to be done.
Esturado totally likes his school and is leaning so much that it is fun to see what he has learned come out at home. Mattea and Onni have been home sick for the last two weeks but they both like school so that is good.
Me I am getting ready for the trip to SLC towards the end of the month so Kory's leg can be checked out as to how the operation they did this summer is coming along. We will leave in the afternoon on one day and dad will drive all night so we get there for the next day's appointment and then drive home that same day. It is a short 12 hours each way and if the weather is nice isn't that bad but if the weather isn't nice it is a long drive.
Well I guess I have chewed on your ear long enough that you have some idea of how boring things have been since Lou last updated you. Now maybe she will find time to correct my errors and post some pics. Ha Ha
Lou's daughter had a heart operation the end of September and Lou went up for a few days to help out and her daughter made out very well.
then October got here and things have been a mad house. I got a very bad sinus infection and have been dealing with that, no fun at all.
The rest of the family is dealing with strep throat and all that fun
Lou went for an interview that we are waiting to hear back from and that could really make things interesting for a while.
I have dropped out of UOP because of issues with the college and getting my degree in my time frame. They still haven't gotten me my withdraw info so I can't get out of the college just yet. May have to get my lawyer in on the deal to get me out of there.
I have found a new college and new degree in mental health counseling that sounds interesting that I may go into as when I am done and if I pass the license test I could be my own boss and set my own hours.
Lou is thinking about it also but who knows if she will switch right now but it would be nice to be able to have the same time off if we wanted to do something for say a few weeks at a time.
The kids are getting into their school stuff, Marisol totally likes the blind school she is going to as she is home maybe two days a week and tells us almost nothing about what goes on there. Kory is finding that real schools hand out home work that teachers expect to be done.
Esturado totally likes his school and is leaning so much that it is fun to see what he has learned come out at home. Mattea and Onni have been home sick for the last two weeks but they both like school so that is good.
Me I am getting ready for the trip to SLC towards the end of the month so Kory's leg can be checked out as to how the operation they did this summer is coming along. We will leave in the afternoon on one day and dad will drive all night so we get there for the next day's appointment and then drive home that same day. It is a short 12 hours each way and if the weather is nice isn't that bad but if the weather isn't nice it is a long drive.
Well I guess I have chewed on your ear long enough that you have some idea of how boring things have been since Lou last updated you. Now maybe she will find time to correct my errors and post some pics. Ha Ha
13 September, 2009
10 September, 2009
in between.
This is a very frustrating week. I am on light duty at work and my boss is now off for a week, so I am kind of fending for myself. Insurance is in the process of paying the bank, but I can't commit to another car until the gap insurance is in process cause none of the banks will approve the loan until then. I am anxious to be able to get rid of these crutches but then regret trying by the end of the day when my foot is swollen and hurting.
Estuardo is doing great with his preschool. He has minimal trouble with good-byes in the morning and talks about the kids at school when he gets home. He's wearing real underwear finally, all the time except at night. Little Gym is going great on Saturdays too now that he knows he is supposed to stay with the class and not just run around.
Onnolee had her first lesson last Saturday and she was a little scared at first but then had a really good time with Daddy as her partner.
Mattea is into everything, getting pretty quick on her feet, and much more aware of things and people around her. She is eating well and we think she is finally starting to grow a bit.
Marisol is preparing to transfer into the state school for the blind this coming weekend. I think she's excited and nervous both. She will leave Sunday afternoons, 4 1/2 hours away to Alamagordo, and then they will bus her back on Friday afternoons. She will be totally immersed in braille and mobility stuff for the rest of the year, and maybe next year also.
Kory is thriving at his new school and brings home tons of homework. I spoke with his counselor today and so far so good.
Jesse's fine too, living the leisurely life, waiting for a place of his own through ARCA.
Stew's been excited about canning this year. 2 weeks ago we canned 2 bushels of peaches and now we are working on pears. Tiring but productive. He just ordered a new freezer and wants to go get some corn to freeze now.
School is going well. I am finishing up yet another class this week, yay. Still trying to find time to sew. And my Beatles Rock Band Limited Edition is waiting on my doorstep, thanks Amazon.com!
Estuardo is doing great with his preschool. He has minimal trouble with good-byes in the morning and talks about the kids at school when he gets home. He's wearing real underwear finally, all the time except at night. Little Gym is going great on Saturdays too now that he knows he is supposed to stay with the class and not just run around.
Onnolee had her first lesson last Saturday and she was a little scared at first but then had a really good time with Daddy as her partner.
Mattea is into everything, getting pretty quick on her feet, and much more aware of things and people around her. She is eating well and we think she is finally starting to grow a bit.
Marisol is preparing to transfer into the state school for the blind this coming weekend. I think she's excited and nervous both. She will leave Sunday afternoons, 4 1/2 hours away to Alamagordo, and then they will bus her back on Friday afternoons. She will be totally immersed in braille and mobility stuff for the rest of the year, and maybe next year also.
Kory is thriving at his new school and brings home tons of homework. I spoke with his counselor today and so far so good.
Jesse's fine too, living the leisurely life, waiting for a place of his own through ARCA.
Stew's been excited about canning this year. 2 weeks ago we canned 2 bushels of peaches and now we are working on pears. Tiring but productive. He just ordered a new freezer and wants to go get some corn to freeze now.
School is going well. I am finishing up yet another class this week, yay. Still trying to find time to sew. And my Beatles Rock Band Limited Edition is waiting on my doorstep, thanks Amazon.com!
03 September, 2009
Yay!
I thought for sure I didn't get it, I was almost positive. I called Chrysler Financial this afternoon to check...Did I have it? And she said YES!!! GAP INSURANCE!!! Since my van was $15,000 upside down on the loan, I was SO relieved!!! Whew!!! Now I can go new car shopping!
02 September, 2009
The wife's body work from yesterday
the first two are the van and the last one is the patient and doctor at work making mom all better.
I lived
I totaled my van yesterday morning on the way home from work. I did see my life flash before my eyes, thought I was going to die. Next thought, thank you Lord, I didn't die. The ambulance attendant practically yelled at me, why are you crying, you aren't hurt that bad. Then I sat in the waiting room from 8:30 a.m. till 3 p.m. with broken bones and lots of pain until my boss came down and got them to pay attention to me. I have two broken bones in my right foot, a chipped bone in my ankle (swollen), messed up my knee. The air bags scraped the heck out of my legs and face and whopped me in the chest pretty good. Today I feel like a truck hit me. Underneath it all, very thankful.
22 August, 2009
Firsts--- an overdue update
We've been pretty busy the last couple of weeks. For lack of pictures, I have been procrastinating an update. We have had some firsts around here so I figure I had better update before I forget! Pictures still to come.
Two weeks ago, Marisol and Mattea started back to school Mattea had participated in the summer program which was half a day three days a week but now she is a full-time second-grader! We had her IEP update and what do you know, they figured out it wouldn't work having her in with the regular second graders! No surprise there. We live in a small, rural town and our public school doesn't have any actual self-contained classes for special ed so they "built" Mattea an area all her own in the resource room. She has a full-time aide plus the resource teacher working with her one-on-one then she goes out to the playground with the other kids. They are doing short periods of interactions with her right now, plus her PT, OT and speech sessions. She has a set of drawers that they put different things in for her to explore, lots of cause and effect toys, a bean bag chair and a wagon for long trips. They are giving her two snacks plus lunch and they are toileting her. So far things seem to be going well but we will see how it goes. They said she is too old to integrate with the preschool. I will be watching closely to make sure she is getting services.
Marisol has a new teacher to get to know, but her teacher for the visually impaired is still the same, and has lots of new things for her to learn. As always, she enjoys school and has lots of friends.
This week, Kory and Estuardo both started their new schools in Albuquerque. Kory is going to Menaul School and initially he seems a little overwhelmed (5 subjects of homework on the first day) but I think the challenge is doing him good. I like that they are not "teaching to the test" like they were in public school.
Estuardo started Montessori preschool at La Escuela del Sol Montessori in the Primary group. He will be going half-a-day, five days a week to start with. He cries when I drop him off but they say he is doing well the rest of the day and excited about everything there. He is wearing big boy underwear to school, and also his light-up Spiderman SHOES instead of his cowboy boots.
We had Onnolee's evaluation, now next week is her IEP for preschool, which will be two full days a week, plus she will continue with her hippotherapy, hopefully.
The fun part is figuring out transportation and getting everyone where they need to be when I am at work. The girls will ride the bus, but Dad has to leave before 7 a.m. to get to Albuquerque with the boys, and the bus doesn't come until 8:30 or so. I think he's going to be driving EVERYONE until we get a better plan figured out. Thursdays and Fridays are not so complicated because I am home those days.
Stew has been gardening this summer, and we had some fresh grown squash, beans and potatoes. He had a little better luck than last year, so he's planning even more for next summer.
As for me, I broke down and bought us an X-Box 360 that came bundled with Guitar Hero 3, so Mom has been rocking....
I also signed up for a sewing project class next week. If it turns out nice, I will post pics.
As soon as I get caught up I will also post a whole bunch of family pictures.
Two weeks ago, Marisol and Mattea started back to school Mattea had participated in the summer program which was half a day three days a week but now she is a full-time second-grader! We had her IEP update and what do you know, they figured out it wouldn't work having her in with the regular second graders! No surprise there. We live in a small, rural town and our public school doesn't have any actual self-contained classes for special ed so they "built" Mattea an area all her own in the resource room. She has a full-time aide plus the resource teacher working with her one-on-one then she goes out to the playground with the other kids. They are doing short periods of interactions with her right now, plus her PT, OT and speech sessions. She has a set of drawers that they put different things in for her to explore, lots of cause and effect toys, a bean bag chair and a wagon for long trips. They are giving her two snacks plus lunch and they are toileting her. So far things seem to be going well but we will see how it goes. They said she is too old to integrate with the preschool. I will be watching closely to make sure she is getting services.
Marisol has a new teacher to get to know, but her teacher for the visually impaired is still the same, and has lots of new things for her to learn. As always, she enjoys school and has lots of friends.
This week, Kory and Estuardo both started their new schools in Albuquerque. Kory is going to Menaul School and initially he seems a little overwhelmed (5 subjects of homework on the first day) but I think the challenge is doing him good. I like that they are not "teaching to the test" like they were in public school.
Estuardo started Montessori preschool at La Escuela del Sol Montessori in the Primary group. He will be going half-a-day, five days a week to start with. He cries when I drop him off but they say he is doing well the rest of the day and excited about everything there. He is wearing big boy underwear to school, and also his light-up Spiderman SHOES instead of his cowboy boots.
We had Onnolee's evaluation, now next week is her IEP for preschool, which will be two full days a week, plus she will continue with her hippotherapy, hopefully.
The fun part is figuring out transportation and getting everyone where they need to be when I am at work. The girls will ride the bus, but Dad has to leave before 7 a.m. to get to Albuquerque with the boys, and the bus doesn't come until 8:30 or so. I think he's going to be driving EVERYONE until we get a better plan figured out. Thursdays and Fridays are not so complicated because I am home those days.
Stew has been gardening this summer, and we had some fresh grown squash, beans and potatoes. He had a little better luck than last year, so he's planning even more for next summer.
As for me, I broke down and bought us an X-Box 360 that came bundled with Guitar Hero 3, so Mom has been rocking....
I also signed up for a sewing project class next week. If it turns out nice, I will post pics.
As soon as I get caught up I will also post a whole bunch of family pictures.
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