Helen...Drums and Basketball

Helen is at the circus today, it's all she has been talking about for the past two days. She has really started to share her day with me, I may hear about it constantly, but at least she is trying to have a conversation. She shared with me yesterday that she had music and played the drums, she loved it. On Tuesday she had gym and played basketball with her friends, and she named all of them. I can see that she is starting to take an interest in sharing with us the day she had. Helen has always showed progress here at home before showing it at school, I hope she starts sharing soon, it would make her teachers so happy. In the evening I lay out the kid's clothes for school the next day, last night, Helen didn't like what I had chosen. It was a blue light weight sweater, I thought it would be perfect for the circus, not too heavy, yet warm enough. She came in my room holding a shirt and pointing at it, "Mommy, this one, look, basketball!" She had picked a long sleeve shirt with a basketball pictured on it, I guess she's liking basketball these days! I wish I had a good spot to put a basketball hoop, not only for her but Robbie as well.

Ted and Robbie have been working on their Pinewood Derby cars for Cub Scouts. Ted made a silver pick up truck, like the one his dad used to have. Robbie made a pencil. I haven't seen Robbie's yet, it's still at his friend's house where he made it. I was told by the dad that Robbie originally wanted to make a monster truck, his new obsession since going to a monster jam program with a friend. There is a website they went to that has patterns for these cars. As soon as Robbie saw the pattern for the pencil, he had to do it. He told the dad, "This is going to be awesome, everyone is going to laugh, this is great!" I can't wait to see the finished product, the race is in a few weeks.

We are starting to get ready for Robbie to make his first communion, we have meetings to attend. It's always an exciting time for the kids, they finally get to participate by taking the bread and wine. I think Helen will be another year or so, she is just now starting to pray at bedtime. Her religion class teacher has taught her how to sign two prayers. I love watching her sign the Hail Mary, and that's the one she prefers. At the beginning of the week, the kids were talking about what they were going to give up for lent. As of yesterday, no one had given anything up, they didn't like my suggestions! Video games, computer time, candy, ice cream, chocolate, TV shows...

I hope everyone that celebrates, has a nice Lenten season.

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue





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Shoes and Pancakes

Today would have been my mom's 75th birthday...Happy Birthday Mom. I know she is on the mind's of many people today, especially my siblings. It will be two years in June that she passed away. I still have her birthday written on my calendar, and when I got a new cell phone last year, I listed her in my contact list. Isn't it funny that those two little things make it seem as though she is not completely gone to me. It is hard to let go 100%. I'm sure she will be with each of us today, her perfect four.

This morning I received a call from Helen's teacher, she had forgotten her tennis shoes and needed them for gym. It was that phone call that reinforced what I was already feeling...Helen needs to be at a school close to home. If she goes to a school far from home, it won't be as easy to swing by and drop things off for her. It will happen, I would be stupid to think it wouldn't. I handed her the shoes and told her to put them in her backpack this morning. She told me she wanted to wear them instead of her boots. We had rain, then a rain/snow mix, and then snow last night, it was very slippery outside, she needed to wear her boots. She gave me her angry grunt while putting them on. I was distracted by Katie coughing and needing medicine. While I was at it, I gave Ted his medicine for strep throat. I forgot all about Helen's shoes, otherwise I would have checked her backpack to make sure she packed them. So, it happens, we forget stuff, the schools call me, and I drop it off. I wouldn't be as able if Helen were farther away. While the teacher had me on the phone she told me, "Great job with the pancakes!" I thought she was talking to someone else, I said, "What pancakes?" "The ones you made this morning for breakfast," she said. "Helen told me all about how you made pancakes and they were very good." "HA," I said "I didn't make pancakes this morning." She turned to Helen and said, "Your mom didn't make pancakes this morning!" I could hear Helen in the background laugh. When I dropped off her shoes, the assistant came to the office to get them. I explained how I had handed them to her to put in her backpack. When I went to get them from the closet, you could tell that she had thrown them in there, she was probably frustrated with me! Then I told her, "Pancakes in the morning, I barely have enough time to get them all ready and out the door!" We had a good chuckle.

Helen was named after my mom, how appropriate I started this day with a good laugh because of her!

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue

PS-jmckayc, I haven't heard from my friend about those bike shorts. I searched all over the web for them, and googled every name I could think of for them. My next step is to look in Helen's keepsake box for the information I had on them, I may have saved it, I don't remember. I'm sorry it has taken so long, I will let you know if I'm successful.






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sigh...IEP

Why do IEP's get harder as the years go by? It is do difficult to sit there and listen to how far behind your child is compared to others their age. I had Helen's meeting a few weeks ago, during my time of strep throat. I don't know if recovering from it, and having an allergic reaction to the medication made me more emotional, but I'd like to think so. I was so sad after I met with her teachers, I have never felt that way before. Helen seems to be at a stand still, she really hasn't advanced very much this school year. Her teacher suggested we look into a different program for her, one that would work better for her. I agree, it was just hard to hear. I really like the school she is at, it is just 2 minutes from home, and the staff have been wonderful to her. A new program would mean a move to a new school, change is always difficult. It is all just rumors for now, but the best program for her is located at a school about 20-30 minutes from home. Our school district just announced a plan to lessen bus routes in order to save money. I don't know if they would provide bus service for her if there is a compatible program for her closer to home. I don't want her on a bus for a long time, I can't put into words why, it's just a gut feeling. Her teacher is going to take me to the different schools that have the program we are looking for and help me with the decision, something she doesn't have to do. She told me she has a lot invested in Helen and she wants to make sure she is placed in the right spot, she is not going to fall through the cracks. The last time I had to make a decision like this, Peter was still here, and he helped a lot. He went to the schools to see the classrooms and meet with the teachers, I was taking care of Robbie, Katie, Grace, and baby Noah, so I didn't go. He was the one that made the decision that Helen would go to the school she is at. I have been so pleased with that decision, it's too bad he was never able to see that he made the right choice. I will miss the school she is at, I'm sure she will too, but we have to do what is best for her. She needs a program that is going to make her blossom and show just how intelligent she is. Please keep us in your prayers.

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue







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Reaction

I have had a rough couple of weeks, yesterday I had an allergic reaction to the medication I was on for strep throat. I actually started having the reaction days ago, but didn't realize what was going on until yesterday when I became very ill. My legs and ankles were swollen and I was getting bad headaches. My mom's legs and ankles used to swell up when she was on them all day, so I just thought I inherited that trait from her. I figured the headaches were stress related so I took Advil and went on with my days. Yesterday when I woke up I felt as though I had gained 50 pounds, I was swollen everywhere. I had another headache so I took some more Advil then headed off to the kid's school. I felt okay, just bloated, so I didn't see any harm in staying and helping with hot lunch. I really look forward to Wednesdays, I have made some wonderful friends. After lunch was served to all the students, my head started pounding. I ate something thinking it could have been from not eating all morning. I helped with the clean up and then grabbed some more to eat and finally sat down. That's when it hit me hard, I felt so sick, I couldn't eat. I used what strength I had in me to get Grace, Noah and myself home. I didn't even take my coat off, I went straight to bed, my head felt like it was going to burst open. I got physically sick at one point and realized there was no way I was going to be able to pick the kids up from school. I called a friend who usually helps me with rides but she wasn't home, I left a message. I called my father-in-law, thank goodness he was around and could help me. He went and picked the kids up and brought them home. He stayed and helped until I was feeling better. I did start feeling better in the evening, it was just my head that still had a bit of a throb to it. I am happy to say I'm feeling much better this morning. I can't believe the effects medication can have on your body, I was very sick. My kids have been wonderful during all of this, Ted has taken charge. He was helping my father-in-law make sandwiches for dinner last night, and I heard him telling the other kids to be quiet because I was resting. Katie has been helping by trying to keep the house clean, not an easy job!

I have a lot to do around here, I also need to get to the grocery store. I was going to shop on Monday but then Grace didn't feel good and stayed home from school. There just isn't enough time in a day!

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue







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