Random Friday

I decided that since my life is insane and I'll start dedicating Friday's to those random bits of stuff that don't make a full post.  And really, my life and my Fridays are usually pretty random.

I think the biggest news of the week is my computer woes are soon to be solved.  I've been doing everything on Andy's laptop, which while functioning well, is not set up with my calendar, contacts and other bits of info necessary for me.  Well, TODAY, Andy is buying and bringing home the new family (MINE!) computer.  And get this....it's a MAC!!!!  My mac died last fall and I have been making do on a pieced together Winbox for about a year now.  It's going to be great to be home again.

Micah continues to just make me both smile and cry all at once.  My baby is growing up FAST.  And the list of things he is behind on continues to dwindle.  He's such a BOY and a big one at that.  OT continues to go well and he is making great strides socially in preschool.  My only gripe is the potty training thing.  I don't think it's happening anytime soon.  He just doesn't KNOW when he has to go and has very little sensation when he does.  It's getting better, but I am really tired of paying for diapers.  Especially since they decreased the number in the box.  Ugh.

Hannah is just growing up to be such a neat kid.  She's still working hard on learning to read and write.  I'm constantly being given note and cards she made and am asked to help her read things she sees around her. This morning she copied "The Cat in the Hat" for a title of her drawing.  The drawing was of a cat IN a hat. And she talks ALL the time.  I'm told this is a trait she inherited from me.  All I can say now is..I'm sorry.

Jason's had a pretty good week overall.  We've had some miscommunication concerning homework and I think we need to change how his assignments are sent home.  He's working so hard to keep up in class, but I don't always get the full story at home.  Ah, the joys of language processing disorders.  I think the greatest thing is that he isn't taking his anger and frustration out on me any more.  He's starting to use some of those strategies we've been teaching him for dealing with his feeling on his own.  Things aren't perfect, but we're making progress.  He's a really fun kid too.  Very creative, kind and a joy to be with.

Andy is working really hard.  His boss is offering him a lot of overtime to make up for the statewide pay-cut our governor gave us.  The money helps, but it makes for long days for the both of us.  At home he's been trying out this cool swirled paint technique for the latest guitar he's building,  After a successful sample, he painted one of the kids pumpkins and a light switch.  Who knows what he'll paint next.  I think he'd do the front door if he could.

Loss

There are many things in life that are hard.  One of those is taking your 10 year old son to visit the grave of his biological older brother.  Jason's brother, Jordan, passed away 3 years before Jason ever came into our lives.

Jordan was born with Jarcho-Levin Syndrome, a very rare genetic disorder that lead to his death.  His arrival put Jason's birth family on social services map.  Because of his complex care, social workers would start to regularly visit the house. Before Jordan was 2, an investigation was launched and it lead to the removal of all the children from the home.  Jason was born a couple months after this and came into foster care then.

Jason's file said very little about Jordan.  It simply noted his name, how his case tied to Jason's and how he had passed away.  Jason's foster mother remembers him fondly.  She told us he was a sweet joyful boy who loved life.  He is smiling in nearly every picture we have of him.  Jason knows him through pictures and stories we have relayed to him.

I don't know if I can properly explain what Jordan means to Jason.  We spoke a lot today over the brother he never knew and the one he did but doesn't see.  About the family he lives with and the one he can't.  I can only imagine how hard it is to be so young and to have lost so much.

And although today involved a visit to the grave of one of those losses, the tears that flowed were surely for so much more.

Prairie Peddler Festival

Last weekend, we joined Grandma and Grandpa Fenner, Aunt Paula and cousins Leonard and Allie at the Prairie Peddler Festival in Butler, Ohio.  Despite my initial fears of losing the kids in the crowds, it turned out to be a really nice day.  We took a real horse drawn hayride through the woods, the kids rode some ponies and we spend some time listening to some bluegrass music.  I was also able to score some homemade, natural jams, butters and soaps and Andy found some awesome honey from a local bee-keeper.

Due to technical difficulties I wasn't able to post the pictures, so I am doing them now.

In all it was a fun day.

Soccer Recap - Hannah

Today was the final game for Hannah's first soccer season.  Watching Hannah play is such a joy.  She has a smile on her face the whole time and whether they win or lose, she still has fun.  I think it probably helps that she is the scorer extraordinaire for the group.

It's been really neat to see her pick up some skills while she plays her first season.  At this level, the kids sort of move in a pack chasing the ball around the field.  The games are usually played 4 on 4 although the coaches can change that depending on how deep their bench is.  At the first game, Hannah stuck to the pack, but showed everyone how fast she was with a couple of breakaways, scoring 3 times.  By today's came, she was stripping the ball from her opponents and cutting then off as they approached the goal and keeping clear of the pack. Not bad for only having played 5 games in her first season.

It was bitter cold this morning and we bundled her up sufficiently.  Unfortunately, we didn't realize just how cold it gets standing on the sidelines. We froze while she ran her little butt off up and down that field to score 9 times.  The final score was 9-3 and at the end, the other team was so frustrated they were resorting to violence to keep her back.  Once during a breakaway, the poor girl chasing her grabbed Hannah's penny to stop her.  Hannah scored anyway.

I'm looking forward to Spring when Micah will join her too.  It's the only time they will be on the same team and I relish the idea of one more season with only 2 games a Saturday as opposed to 3.

Random Bits of Nothing

The kids had the day off today.  Our plans for friends and errands hit a snag when Jason and Hannah could not seem to finish their chores. I love that they have so much fun together, but they need to do their work first.  Micah got a pass since he woke up still running a fever.  He spent the day relaxing, napping and giving his body a chance to fight the infection.  Thankfully, the fever was gone after his nap.  However, the day ended with a none to happy Mommy sending them back to their rooms to clean while Daddy played Wii with Micah after dinner.

I'm still trying to dig out of the laundry backlog created when we all had the flu.  So far a bunch of it is clean, but still needs folded.  Mt. St. Laundry is towering next to me as I type this.  Obviously I'm really motivated to fold.

This weekend promises to be busy.  Both Hannah and Jason have their final soccer games tomorrow.  It will be cold, but hopefully not wet.  Last week Micah got to sub in Hannah's game because they didn't have enough kids.  I think I'll dress him appropriately just in case.

We also have the Fall Festival at church.  I'm helping with set-up and Andy is playing guitar at the bonfire.  We are entering the Chili Cook-off as well.  Last year Andy won the "Strangest Chili" category with his Verde Chicken Chili.  I think this year he's going for the hottest although he hasn't come up with a name.

Lastly, I am on my annual "Prepare for Winter" mission with the kids.   The kids will have to try on their boots and snow gear and we'll gather all the hats and gloves. I've already bought the boys new coats as they both outgrew them last year, but I don't know if there are any other major pieces we will need.  Also, Target has stretch gloves and knit hats for $1.  I think Ill grab a couple sets as back-up because I always have a kid in late March with only one glove and by then the stores have switched to bikinis.

Oh, and Andy and I are looking to replace my defunct computer soon.  I'm sure I'll be inundated with the technical aspects of various Macs, but as long as I have something working with my photos on it in the end, I'll be happy.

In all, it looks to be a full weekend.

Think Before You Speak Please

Today at Hannah's dance class I over heard a comment by another mom about the outfit her daughter chose to wear that day.

"She looks like she belongs in special ed."

The other mom she was speaking to guffawed a bit and the conversation took another turn before I could pick my jaw up off the floor and say something.  Just a few moments earlier I had been talking about how I had visited a new special education room for Jason.  No details, just that it was something I had done.  I don't think the mom even registered that what she had said was offensive but it still cut me to the core.  I'm kicking myself because I didn't jump in and say something, but at the same time, I know I will get further with people if I keep my red-headed temper in check too.  Turning into a crazed lunatic mom would not have been helpful.  

However, had Jason been there or one of my other kids heard her, I would have.  As it was, only myself and the other two women were present.

I am the proud parent of a child in special education.  Things are HARD for him.  Things that come easy to so many of us out there.  He works constantly to achieve the goals set before him.  Yet, still he's falling behind.  His brain doesn't work like mine.  And what's even worse is that he UNDERSTANDS that it doesn't and why it is that way.  He sees his little sister catching up to him and passing him in some areas, but he still get up every morning with a smile on his face and greets the day ready to try again.  

Yet, our society celebrates intelligence and makes fun of people who differ from the norm.  Since becoming a special education mom I am so much more aware of this.  Much the way I became aware about comments people make about adoption and mental health.  You can hear it in comics routines, watch it in cartoons and hear the names called at recess.  Sponge Bob is outlawed in our house as are a lot of shows that depict people being teased and picked on because it's fun to pick on the slow kid.  

Next week, when I take Hannah to dance, I'll be calmer and have a clearer head.  I'm hoping I can bring up how hurtful her comments were and do a little social educating while I'm at it.  But the next time you are talking with someone, think about what you are saying.  You never know when the words you are using might be harmful to the people around you.

The Roller Coaster of My Day (Part 2)

You didn't think it ended with getting kids from school, did you?

Micah was none to happy to be dragged back out again.  And I don't blame him.  Although we now knew what was wrong, it'd be another 24 hours before he felt well (or more as we are on hour 24 while I write this).  Plus, he was tired and needed a nap.  Something that just wasn't happening that day.

So, off we went for the school pick-ups.  I was the very last car in the line at Jason's school.  He's gotten used to this although I always feel badly.  Now in the car, he starts chattering away about his day and we drive off to pick up Hannah and her friend, T.  A quick stop at the pharmacy to drop off Micah's prescription and we're off to drop off T.

Here I learned that earlier in the day when they were driving Hannah to pick up their son before school, Hannah shared with T's dad her newfound knowledge concerning babies.

"Did you know that babies come out of VAGINAS?  VAGINA is a silly word.  Isn't it? VAGINA, VAGINA, VAGINA!"

Apparently, we need to cover private parts being private words too.  Oy!

Home again for a quick snack and for Jason to practice his recorder.  (As excited as I am that he is showing an interest in an instrument, did it have to be one so annoying? I think I now understand why my parents were thrilled when I quit the violin.)

Back in the car for a run down to Jason's occupational therapy.  It's the second day of his evaluation and on the way down, I realized I didn't have my parent score sheet.  Ugh.  Too late to turn back, I have his therapist give me a new one to fill out while we wait.

Jason's OT is in the same OT gym that Micah's class used last year.  This made Micah MAD and Hannah thrilled to be reunited with the toys she played with so much while we waited last year.  By now my head was pounding and Micah's wails of distress didn't help.  I so get that he was over-tired and sick, but there wasn't anything else I could do.

Thankfully, one of Micah's old teachers was setting up for tomorrow's class which stopped the tears.  Micah ran over and gave her a big hug.

"I have missed you ALL DAY LONG!"

I love a 3yo's concept of time.  Miss L was thrilled to see Micah and was super impressed with how well his speech has continued to progress since school ended last year.  Off she went and Micah was sufficiently distracted that he forgot his tears enough to play house with Hannah while I filled out my forgotten form.

Finally, the form was completed and Jason was done.  A quick review of the session with Miss J while I tried to keep my kids from bouncing off the walls in the waiting area and we left.

Ah, rush hour traffic...what a joy.

The kids were hungry and crank and so was I.  I pulled in the driveway, handed they kids off to their dad, declared I didn't want to talk to or see anyone, including him, for the next 30 minutes and disappeared into my bedroom.

They gave me an hour because apparently I had THAT look.

It was a LONG day and thankfully it is over and we are onto a new, much better one.