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.............