Out with the old, in with the new......

We have a few days left of 2009 but I figured I'd better get a jump on this post or it will be a few more weeks before I get to it.

I am looking forward to the new year. I like the idea of wiping the slate clean and starting anew. I don't like to make resolutions but this year I'm making an exception. It will be interesting in a year from now to reflect back and see if I've kept any of them ;) I'm still working on that list so I'll post it once it's polished.

In the meantime, I'm focusing on celebrating 17 years of marriage with my wonderful husband this Saturday! It's hard to believe that 17 years have passed when it feels like yesterday we were barely going on our first date! The time has certainly passed quickly and although we have gone through some pretty difficult times, I wouldn't change it for the world.

I should have known he was a keeper from early on in our relationship when I told him I wanted ten children and he didn't run...LOL! While we're still learning and growing, I am looking forward to the next 17 years and what/who they will bring to us.

Until next time...or next year ;) ................

Forgetting to take care of yourself when you have Special needs children...

This isn't unique to special needs parenting as many moms put off their own health issues to concentrate on their children's needs. However, I am super guilty of putting off all of my Dr's appts.
I was supposed to see a specialist last year and kept putting it off, canceled an appt due to babysitting issues, etc.
I have three referrals in my purse for different doctors and thankfully I finally took care of one appt. on Friday. It was for a (dun dun duuuun) mammogram! I had never had one and was not looking forward to it because A. I had heard not so fun stories about them and B. I was having one due to a lump so it was extra stressful. It all turned out fine in the end but it was really scary, stressful and full of emotions that I wasn't prepared for. I don't like to be on the patient end of things.
I have countless health problems and I don't have the luxury of spending my days and money at the Dr's office. Yes I realize that if I don't take care of myself, then I won't be around to take care of my children but those thoughts don't cross my mind when I'm just trying to get through each day.
So what's a mom to do? How do you juggle your own health and advocacy for a proper diagnosis when you are busy doing the same for two other children?
One of my New Years resolutions will be making and keeping all of my appts. I know that once I get everything taken care of, I will feel much better so I just need to do it...but I need to find the time...and a babysitter...
Until next time......

Some resources to share....

In my pursuit of finding some curriculum that will help support Bo and Boo's specific needs, I've stumbled upon a few websites I thought I'd share with the blogging world :)

First I found Tuned Into Learning
This is a fabulous site with a great curriculum set to songs! You can order a free sample CD too and it comes fast! (It focuses on not only academics but also social skills!)

The next one is Move To Learn
It is another site for children with learning disabilities. It even has a free LD evaluation to help parents. The products themselves are pricey but it seems worth it if you can afford it.

The third is a site that I will make into a permanent link on my site. It is called 4 Paws for Ability
It is a wonderful agency that provides service dogs to children with all different disabilities. It is also the first agency to train services dogs for children with FASD. They will also train dogs for more than one child in a family (with a disability). We are very excited about this and are looking into this as an option for our boys!

I hope these sites will help and while I have many more to share, I need to figure out a way to better bundle them. Until next time.............

"In all things, give thanks" 1 Thessalonians 5:18

I am thankful for my husband, my children, my family and friends. I am thankful for the roof over our heads and for the food in our pantry. I am thankful for my husband's job and the income it brings. I am thankful for my new vacuum (donated by an extremely generous friend). I am thankful for all the people who are sensitive towards our sons' special needs.....

I could go on forever but you get the gist ;)

I hope that everyone has a peaceful and blessed Thanksgiving!

How about some consideration?

I am fuming right now. Our house was just TP'd by one of my oldest daughter's friends. This is the second time they have done this. The first time I was seething because I hadn't slept well the night before and I had to be early to get all the dang toilet paper out of the trees, etc before it blew into our neighbors yards.

I tried to politely explain last time that it's not amusing to us. It's not funny or silly or "fun". It's obnoxious and inconsiderate. Now I'm honestly not a party pooper BUT....the parent/s drove these girls over to our house and gave them their blessing to do this. It's not some silly thing teenage girls did on their own.

I don't mean to sound like a bit** but I have a little boy who BARELY sleeps at night. He keeps me running all day long. I am always exhausted and stressed. It is all I can do to keep from drawing attention to our house from all his screaming and tantruming. The LAST thing I need is an unsightly front yard to tick off our neighbors! The last thing I need is to go out early in the morning and clean up this stupid mess (did I mention they threw rolls up into our tree that is probably 40 ft tall!?!).

The last time this happened, the mom told me that she hoped I wasn't mad but they were just doing it out of "love" and "fun". They weren't trying to be malicious. Honestly, I don't care if you sign all the dang toilet paper with hugs and kisses, just DON'T come into my yard at 11pm at night, waking up my son who doesn't sleep well, making a huge mess in my yard that will most likely affect my neighbors because the TP will blow everywhere!!!!!

Ok, I just had to get that off my chest. I wouldn't dream of doing something like this to a family I knew had special needs children.

So much to update but no time to do it.....

Life has a way of just taking hold and not giving you time to take a breath. This has been my life lately. There have been big decisions made, lots of stress, lots of frustration, etc.

I'm not going to give specifics because honestly I just don't have it in me to write it all out right now. I'm tired. I'm hurting both emotionally and physically. I don't have all the answers to the many challenges we are faced with each day and after a while, it just wears me down.

I'm not going to lie and say that my bible is open every day and that I take time out each day to pray uninterrupted. I do pray but not nearly enough. I have found myself praying more in recent months than ever before in my life. I know this is a good thing. I know that God is trying to tell me that I need to rely on Him for strength and answers. I tend to forget that. I tend to call out to Him in ways that are not necessarily "prayerful" if you know what I mean. Example: Boo is screaming at the top of his lungs at 3 in the morning because he has woken up and his engine is turned on and he decides he NEEDS a bowl of cereal right that moment. That is a moment in which God hears me call His name in a less than prayerful manner.

I am working on this. I am realizing each day that I need Him. I have always "known" this but never realized just how much until recently.

As far as my journey as an author is concerned, I am still tossing this idea around. Thanks to my dear friend Heather (Zoey's mom)
I'll keep everyone posted on this but lately I've just been in deep thought about so much. I apologize for not updating more frequently. I am working on it.

Until next time........

Should I start writing a book?

I have often thought of writing a book on our experiences as parents/foster parents/adoptive parents, special needs parenting, homeschooling special needs children, etc.

Life is a journey. My/our journey has been filled with more twists and turns than a Six Flags roller coaster! I just wouldn't know where to start. I also am unsure of my abilities to captivate readers. While I certainly think our life thus far has been pretty exciting and eventful (at times it resembles a soap opera or a really good Lifetime movie and at others, a Loony Tunes cartoon), I don't know if I could truly convey it all in book form.

I've also had the thought of pulling together different experiences from other parents of special needs and/or fost/adopt children. Maybe a compilation of stories to inspire and encourage others on their journeys. I'm still giving it deep consideration and of course prayer.

Now I could get real crazy and write my autobiography but I'm not sure I want to share THAT much.

Anyhow, what do you all think?