Quote of the Day

"I bit my toe. It hurt."
- one of my teens, who wishes to remain anonymous

Miss Smartypants

Yesterday Amelia displayed some problem-solving skills. She had turned on the television to watch Martha Speaks and then apparently decided she needed a snack. (I had no clue what she was up to!) Ame went into the kitchen, poured herself a glass of juice and got out a sleeve of crackers and package of pepperoni. Then, and here is the brilliant part, she found an empty clementine box on the counter and used it as a tray to bring her snack into the living room! We don't even have any small serving trays that we use, so she came up with this idea completely on her own.

Backing up to first thing yesterday morning, I had to run to the grocery store for milk and Dante snacks....Amelia went with me. I have mentioned before she is self-proclaimed bagger for us at any store. Yesterday she decided to bag for the gentleman in front of us. We are familiar faces to the cashier who was working, and she did not say no to Amelia, so Ame got the job done. To my surprise and hers, the man was so touched that he gave her a dollar!! Ame did not know quite what to do, so I told her to say Thank You and put it into her pocket. Later in the morning Zachary walked her up to the Podunk Deli where she bought herself a pack of M&Ms.

I am so proud of her! And thankful for Zachary being such a wonderful big brother!

Boston Ballet Adaptive Dance Class

Yesterday was the final class of the Fall session, and parents/family were invited to watch the children perform. Sunny has been participating fairly well, but did wonderfully yesterday. Amelia takes her self-appointed job as assistant teacher very seriously and put on a great show. Micah was even able to join in when siblings were invited onto the floor. Oddly, Zachary and Alexander felt no need to go jump about in joy.

Their ten week Spring session will start in March, but I'm sure I will see them practicing in the living room often!

Also, here is a photo of a pheasant that Zachary spotted in our yard last week. He was a beautiful bird, and we are hoping he'll come to visit again.

It was a morning I should have slept in...

I try to keep this blog positive, but I was so frustrated today!!!

Back in July when Dante was going to summer school, one of his therapists recommended a very good low vision clinic for evaluating him because of some things she noticed. I had been less than pleased with his opthalmologist to that point so was eager to make the appointment at this place out near Boston. The appointment was for today; we have been waiting four months for this evaluation!

I woke up Dante at 7am, Nik and I left the house at 7:20 to get there on time. The googlemap directions told me an hour ten minutes, but I left an extra thirty to account for traffic. It was not enough time, and we were ten minutes late arriving. When I checked in the receptionist told me that when she called here yesterday to confirm, she was told we were cancelling and would reschedule, so they filled Dante's spot.

WHAT?!??! I don't know who she called yesterday, but it was no one at my house. (No, the teens did not forget to pass on a message, there was nothing on caller id...and they would never have told her that anyhow.)

I told her I did not drive two hours (almost) for her to tell me she had cancelled my appointment. "I'm sorry you are frustrated, but there is an opening at 3 if you want to come back." When I asked what I am supposed to do for 6 hours she suggested I go into Boston for the day. Sure, with my 4yo Down Syndrome/Autistic son and empty wallet. She then suggested I sit in the waiting room all day in case someone arrived late. Lunch? Toys? Sanity?!

Grrr. When I asked to whom I could complain (If she said "I'm sorry you are frustrated" one more time I would have really lost it), she sweetly told me all the administrators were in meetings. On my way out I stopped at the information desk and left a voice mail for one of them, the woman up there was very sincerely sorry to hear about it and was helpful. And the man in charge of the program called me later to apologize for the whole incident and how it was handled.

So we go back December 22nd. Praying for no snow storm that day!!

Micah's Ear Tubes

This morning Micah had day surgery to have ear tubes put in. He was supposed to have them last Thursday at an independent day surgery, but they cancelled last minute when they found out he has Down Syndrome (apparently a medical condition), and we had to go to the hospital today instead.

We arrived at 7:45AM, and the poor guy had not been allowed to eat or drink at all yet. He did not complain though, because they set him up in his own room in the day surgery wing. He was quite relaxed in his hospital johnny, sitting back and watching Curious George in his private room with his own television.

The procedure was simple, and he recovered quickly. This time when he went to his room they served him ginger ale and cheerios while he watched Sesame Street!

He really did not see the need to go home after his recovery time, but they gave us the boot.

Thank the Lord it went so well!

My Dad

Two years ago today, at 4:18AM, I received a phone call from Mom that Dad had just died. They had left New York on Monday and driven to California to spend the winter with Mom's family. The day they arrived he died. How can you not question God's timing? Flying to California was not in my calendar for that day, and all of the h*ll my mother went through in the next four months, dragging me and my family with her, was certainly not in my lesson plan book.

But how can I begrudge God spending time with my Dad? He was after all, a great guy. I look forward to the day we are reunited.








I miss you Dad.

Sunday Afternoon Football

Don't Tell Zachary...

...but this post is about him!

Zachary is one heck of a hard worker. Wednesday evening I showed him how to milk the cows, and tonight on his first try he milked two of them...Star and Spark.

Way to go Zachary!!

I'd better stop here or he'll have a cow...

Christmas Angel Tree

Today is the first day of the Christmas Angel Tree project of Reeces Rainbow. It is an opportunity for individuals and families to change the life of an orphan forever.

It is an unchangeable fact that there are orphans, and that adopting them costs money. There are countries that simply cannot take care of their orphans, and quite simply do not know the potential of every child. That every child was "knit" by God and is known by Him. I firmly believe it is our responsibility to take care of the Lord's children (see some of the verses in the sidebar). It is our privilege to take care of these orphans, whether it be through prayer, financial support, or adoption.

Just as there are countries that cannot meet the needs of their orphans, there are families who strongly desire to adopt, but cannot afford the associated expenses. Social worker fees, government fees, transportation and hotel fees...it adds up. And you can help!

If you click on the link at the top of this entry, or on the Christmas bauble in the sidebar, you can read about how your donation can be a Christmas gift given in someone's honor, and a personalized ornament will be sent to you.

I have committed to praying for two Eastern European orphans, Isaac and Anna (2). No, we are not adopting them, but I am praying daily that the family the Lord has chosen for each of them will know this, and step forward for them. And this Christmas season I am encouraging anyone who reads this to please click on their picture and sponsor one or both of them, to help their families afford the adoption process.

Please, let the Lord use you to save Isaac and Anna from life in an institution.