Black Friday

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving yesterday, we had a nice relaxing one. It was just Sherry and her family, and my brother Rick and his wife Anne Marie. My brother John was in Arizona with his family. Sherry was the chef for the day, I helped, it was at my house. After dinner, my Aunt, Uncle, cousin and his family came over for dessert. I was exhausted by the end of the evening. The kids and I got into our jammies and watched Home Alone, they fell asleep one by one. It was a good day!

Last Friday I took the kids to a swine flu shot clinic, I didn't realize how crowded it would be. We waited in line for almost an hour, going through two check points. Helen was starting to loose her patience, she wanted to keep walking once we started, and got so frustrated when we had to stop and wait again. She was starting to stamp her foot and say, "Go, Mom, Goooo!" At the second check point I asked them if there were anyway we could move ahead in line in order to get Helen the shot. I explained she was loosing her patience, and what would happen if she lost them completely. She would have a "meltdown" and would not cooperate when receiving her shot, in other words...it would get ugly. They moved us right on through and not only gave Helen her shot, but my other kids also. I knew someone who was a couple of people ahead of us, and they told me it was another 1/2 hour waiting from that check point. I made the right decision. I don't like using Helen for an excuse, but it would have turned into a nightmare very quickly!

On Monday I had Helen's conference at school, it went okay. The problem we are having is, Helen's program is really geared for higher functioning. If we moved her to the next level down, it would be the low functioning program. There is NO in between, which is not good. They used to have something for that group, but they did away with it because of the funding. Helen's teachers are going to meet with the supervisor of special education and see if they can't do something about it. Helen is not the only one with the problem and if they see a need, maybe they bring it back. I am ready for the fight, I'm just waiting on the teachers. I will keep you posted on the progress.

I put up our outdoor decorations today, it's not much, I don't do lights, I don't know how to put them up. I hate to say that our 12 foot Santa is on the injured list, the kids are very disappointed. I went to change one of the lights and found the cord had broken. It actually looks like it had been cut. In order to get to the cord you have to unzip the compartment on the bottom of his foot. I thought maybe my neighbor got frustrated during the night with the light and went out and cut it. I highly doubt it though, he would have to know about the zipper. I'm going to have a friend come over and take a look, maybe he can fix it. It's always something!!

Well, happy black Friday, I hope those of you brave enough to shop found and got what you were looking for!

Until next time-

Take Care,

Sue

Tough Week

This is my first blog on my office computer, sweet!! My friend gave me her old computer so I could have a computer to myself for the business, it is working out fantastic! Katie and Robbie's basketball games were very exciting. Katie's score was 20-21, they won by just one point! Robbie's team lost by two points, but it was non-stop. I'm looking forward to Saturday's games. They both have practice on Wednesdays, so every other week they miss Greek school in order to go. Grace screamed on the way to Greek school, she didn't want to go because Katie wasn't going to be there. This started a couple weeks ago, the same week basketball practice started. I'm baffled by her behavior, this is the same girl who didn't want me to come into her classroom on the first day of Kindergarten, Miss Independent! She would not let me go when I dropped her off at school, I had to peel her off of me. If I didn't make her stay, this would happen every single Wednesday. When I picked them up, I went inside so I could see how she did. There she was, standing in the classroom with all her friends, singing Jingle Bells! She said, "Mommy, I didn't know I'd have a good time." I don't get it, she has been going to Greek school since September. So I asked her if she was going to cry next time she has to go, and she said, "Um, maybe, we'll see!"...Miss Independent, no doubt!

Helen has been having a rough week, I'm not looking forward to her conference on Monday. She has been so naughty, she has been poking her friends, even after I tell her not to touch her friends at school. She has been making noises, being very disruptive. She was kicked out of religion class last night because she wouldn't listen and calm down. She is now getting her privileges on the WII taken away from her, I don't know what else I can do about her behavior issues. If any of you have any suggestions, please share, at this point, I will try anything.

Until next time-

Take Care,

Sue

Back To My Regularly Scheduled Blog

Aaahhh, back on track! Noah went to his first birthday party over the week-end, he had a great time. I was able to drop him off and leave right away...no staying until he transitioned. Last year when I dropped him off at school, I could never leave until after the class said the Pledge of Allegiance. I was the only parent sitting on the rug singing "Hi good morning friends, how are you today?..." After the song we would stand up and say the Pledge, then it was free time, which was my cue to leave. My goal this year was to be able to just drop him off and leave, I wanted to reach it by the end of the school year. Well, to my surprise, I have already reached that goal thanks to Noah. One day, out of the blue, while walking to his class, he told me, "Just leave, don't come to my class." Now he gets mad at me if I go with him. Yesterday when I was helping him with his coat he told me, "Now, go to the kitchen Mom, don't come to my class."(it was hot lunch day) Now that I can't go with him, I miss going! I am so glad he has found some independence and doesn't need me with him every second of the day. I now watch other parents go through what I did last year and think to myself, a year really makes a difference.

Helen had another issue at school yesterday, this time she left a mark on a first grader's face. I didn't get the whole story because her teacher didn't see it, she was told what happened. After Helen arrived at school, she went on the playground before the bell rang. It was there that she pushed a little girl off the equipment, I think it was the slide. The girl hit her face, I don't know on what, and cut her cheek. She was taken to the nurse, where they called home to let her parents know what happened. The dad was not too pleased, which, no parent would be! Helen can no longer play in the morning, she has to go from the bus directly to the second grade line. She doesn't get recess today or tomorrow, because she didn't listen to the principal yesterday. I didn't quite understand what happened with him, I think he told her to stay off the playground and she went anyway. My question is, WHO THE HECK IS KEEPING AN EYE ON HER! They know the kids can get her wound up, and egg her on. They know she doesn't know her limits and does it all in good fun. I tell her everyday, "Have a good day at school, don't touch any of the kids at school, play nice, and listen to your teachers." I take privileges away, or even her favorite snack if she gets a sad face on her daily chart, or if the teacher tells me she has been naughty. She now understands the difference between behaving and being naughty. She tells me every Saturday before we go to church, "Noah has to behave, right?" That tells me she understands. I don't know what else I can do, I'm afraid one of these days she will hurt someone a lot worse than a cut on the cheek. Pray, pray, pray...

Ted and I went to my niece's sweet sixteen party on Sunday, we had a great time. He made the age cut off, that's why he was the only one invited. That was a great idea to do that, otherwise, I would have had kids complaining it was taking too long, or it was boring. It was at my sister-in-law, Maria's, restaurant, so there wasn't any place to go and play. Maria decorated the place beautifully, it was gorgeous. The food, once again, was fantastic...I have no complaints, well, maybe one. I had to see some relatives I could do without (extended family). Some of the things they did to us when Peter was alive was deplorable, I have no respect for them, nor will I EVER! Family should not be treated that way. Maybe they don't have the same standards as I do when it comes to the way you treat family...respect, respect, respect!

Basketball starts Saturday, bright and early for Katie...8:00am...UGGGHHHH!!! Robbie's game is later in the day...YEAH!!! Everyone have a nice week-end, can you believe Thanksgiving is two weeks away? I can't! That means Christmas is not far behind, YIKES, I need to start shopping!

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue

Going Once, Twice...$30.00

I took Helen to the thyroid doctor today, it went very well. My other kids were home from school, yesterday and today were parent/teacher conferences at their school. I asked my father-in-law to watch them while I took Helen to her appointment. We were at Children's Hospital, and who knows what germs are floating around there, I didn't want to take any chances. While we were there, every time I came across hand sanitizer, I squirted my hands and then rubbed Helen's. In the past, I would have brought all the kids with me, it's scary! After her appointment we had to go to the lab so she could have blood drawn. It used to be that the doctor's office put the orders in the computer for the blood draw while we made our way down to the lab. Now, they make an appointment for you, it's usually within 10-15 minutes from the time you leave the doctor's office. We only had to wait 10 minutes, one time we waited an hour for Helen to get called for blood work! I bet it's because of the H1N1, they don't want people hanging around for long periods of time. They have already prohibited young children from visiting anyone in the hospital. If you are exhibiting any of the symptoms of H1N1, you have to wear a mask. Thank goodness we didn't come across anyone in a mask, that's frightening.

All the conferences went well, thank goodness! My only beef...they scheduled 10 minutes for each conference, they gave me no time for the commute from classroom to classroom. Grace's meeting was at 12:30, Katie at 12:40, Robbie at 12:50, and Ted at 1:00. I didn't get to Ted's conference until almost 1:30! I had to wait to get into one of my conferences which also threw the whole schedule off.

We had a good time last week-end, we started it off with the Fall Frolic at the kid's school. Helen did such a great job, I set her up at a table right in front of the kitchen, gave her popcorn and juice, she was good to go! I was helping out in the kitchen, this way I could keep an eye on her. Fall Frolic is our school's Halloween party, we have games, mad scientist lab, bake sale, pie auction, popcorn, drinks, and trick or treat at the end. The kids really enjoy it! I bid for a chocolate pie that Robbie really wanted. The starting bid they were asking for was $10.00, so I bid that. My friend Catherine called out $20.00! I knew from an earlier pie that she wouldn't go over $30.00, I waited. $20.00 going once, going twice...that was my cue..."$30.00" I yelled. I caused quite a roar in the room, which is what I had wanted to do, make it exciting. I was right with my strategy, Catherine would not go over $30.00, so we won. I love to hear Helen tell the story! She throws in 25 cents, $4.00, and some other figures, it's very cute. When we got home I wanted to taste the pie to see if it's the same one I make...it was. It costs about $7.00 to make that pie, even less for this one, they didn't put cool whip on it. Anything for the kids!(well...almost anything.)

Sunday night is my niece's (Peter's side) sweet sixteen party. Ted was the only one of my kids invited, I don't know why, but I know there is a reason. It is being held at my sister-in-law's restaurant, so really, not much to do. It will make it less stressful for me, I won't have kids complaining whats taking so long. It is going to be date night for Ted and I, we are also going to celebrate his report card. He got four A's and three B's, and received a higher grade in gym than the "jocks" in his class. He is doing a great job in school this year! Basketball has started, the first games are next week-end. Katie and Robbie are both playing, it has been crazy busy around here lately.

Sherry usually blogs about the business, but seeing how it's already November and we still don't have product, I thought I should update a little. We had every intention of launching the clothing line in October, it was perfect timing since it coincided with Down Syndrome Awareness Month. When Sherry first started this endeavor, she was no longer working in corporate America. Since then, in order for her to fund this, and, not to mention, pay her bills, she has had to go back to work. She isn't able to spend as much time as she used to on it, so it's taking a little longer than expected. We still have our pattern maker, and have just recently brought on board someone to help with the production. We also have our website under construction. So although you don't see anything, yet, things are moving along, just mostly behind the scenes for now. Please bear with us, we have great ideas, and have used a lot of the comments that you have shared with us, so please, keep them coming. Thanks for your patience.

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue

Illness

The past couple of weeks have been crazy around here. Ted competed in his last cross country meet and placed 7th out of 15. He beat his time by 2 minutes, and this was the longest race, so he did awesome. Robbie played his last football game for the season, the team finished in 4th, out of 5 teams. Ted ran in the rain, and Robbie played on a cold windy day. We had other things going on that week also, it felt like we were burning a candle at both ends. I was the first one to get sick, I thought maybe I had overdone it while working in the yard. I was very achy, and very tired. When I woke up the next morning I knew I was sick, my head was killing me. I tried to rest most of the day, but I had errands to do, and things to get done around the house. I shouldn't have pushed myself so hard, it only made things worse. When the kids got dropped off from school, I was on the couch with a fever, chills, body aches, and no energy. Thank goodness my father-in-law stopped by, he stayed and looked after the kids while I rested. Soon after, the kids started dropping like flies! Ted was the first, his complaint was a sore throat. I thought it was sore because of all the coughing he had been doing. He wound up going to the doctor and was diagnosed with strep throat. Helen got sick very soon after Ted, she had a fever and vomited once before bed. She also had a cough, I thought the cough medicine I had given her might have caused her to get sick, because she didn't get sick again. I got sick on Sunday evening, Ted and Helen Monday night. Tuesday morning I asked everyone how they felt, the kids that were well anyway. Ted and Helen still had fevers so they couldn't go to school. I sent, Grace, Katie and Robbie to school that morning, only to have the school secretary call me about an hour after school started, "Come and pick up Robbie, he doesn't feel well, he's warm, and he doesn't look good." Robbie had body aches, cough, and a fever. I had Ted laying on one couch, Robbie on another, and Helen on the other, with Noah laying across the big chair. I decided to take his temperature, sure enough...he was sick too. Katie and Grace made it the whole day at school, Katie started to complain that evening. Come Wednesday morning, I had one child in school, Grace. I called everyone in sick to school, Greek school, and religion class, we weren't going anywhere. Fevers were starting to break, I was starting to feel good myself, finally a light at the end of the tunnel. Thursday rolls around, Helen is back at school, she had been fever free for 24 hours, she was the only one. Robbie was starting to feel much better and was on his way to the 24 hour rule. I got a call from the school secretary, Grace wasn't feeling well and wanted to come home. She had a low grade fever, and had the sniffles. She didn't seem as sick as the others had been, she must have picked up another bug. Ted had been on his antibiotic and was fever free for 24 hours, he was going back to school on Friday. Robbie too had made it 24 hours without a fever, along with Katie and Noah. Everyone was able to go back to school on Friday, I even sent Grace because she said she felt fine. I helped hang art work at the school for our Fall Frolic party coming up on the 30th. I felt terrible, I had caught the cold that Grace had. I was sneezing, my eyes were watering, I was miserable. I picked up Noah from preschool and headed home to rest until the kids were done at school. I received a phone call from Grace's teacher, she isn't feeling very well, come and get her. Then Grace says in the background, "No, I don't want to go home." The teacher says, okay, and tells me she will call if things change. Well, of course she called, Grace was sick, so I went and picked her up. I got to rest for a very short time and then it was time to pick everyone up. I was being blown away by the wind when I picked up Helen, I have to get out of the car and meet her and her teacher. I was miserable waiting in the stuffy car for the other kids to come out of school. My eyes were so hot, they needed to close for awhile. As soon as we got home, I went and laid down and closed my eyes. That was the best thing I could have done. I had been so busy taking care of everyone else, I let myself fall to the wayside...not good! After a couple of hours, I felt a little better, so I checked on everyone and got started with dinner. I was able to get a full night's sleep on Friday, nobody got up during the night needing anything. Saturday I felt much better, I still had the eye issue, but it was doing much better. All the kids were doing better too, they all had coughs, but nothing else. Come Sunday, yesterday, Grace was not feeling well, she looked like I did with the cold. I told her she wasn't going to school today, she said, "Wait, do I have anything going on today?" She was busted...she should have never gone to school on Friday, she went because they were having movie day. The teacher brought in a movie and they had treats while watching it. She made it through getting the treats passed out, and that's when the teacher called. I know this because she brought all her treats home with her! About a half hour after school started my phone rings, it's the school secretary, Katie isn't feeling well. I question this one, she had no complaints this morning, and she was fine all week-end. I brought her home, she is in her pj's and is laying on the big chair, while Grace is on the couch. Both are fever free, let's hope it stays that way for tomorrow. Sometimes Katie cries wolf, I think today is one of those days. The thing about crying wolf these days with the H1N1, the school doesn't care, they'll send her home, they don't want anyone there who may pass it along. It's been rough, but thank goodness, they could have been a lot sicker than what they were. I heard there is a lot going around out there, I think we had it all under this roof! "Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!" That's about all I've been saying lately!!!

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue

Conflict

We have had such gloomy weather these past couple of days. It rained yesterday, off and on, and this morning it's raining again. Helen is the only one who has school today, the kids were off yesterday too. When I woke up with Helen yesterday to get her ready for school, I was so tired. The weather didn't help matters, I wanted to crawl back in bed. After she left for school, I did just that, and regretted it the rest of the day. I was tired all day yesterday, and had no motivation. This morning, once again, I wanted to crawl back in bed after she left. I made myself stay up remembering how I felt yesterday. I have already gotten quite a few things done, hopefully this will be a much better day.

Ted ran in his first cross country meet the other day, I don't think he really knew what was in store for him. He finished, that's all that matters, I was very proud of him. He ran 1.24 miles, the farthest he has ever gone. Later that night I asked him how he felt, he told me, "Okay, my legs hurt though!" He definitely needs more training. Robbie has his last football game tomorrow, and then they start the play-offs. His team is ranked #4, that's out of 5 teams. For his sake and his team, I hope they go far in the play-offs, but for me and the kids, I hope not. It is starting to get cold, and the kids sit there the whole game and complain how cold they are. I tell them to bundle up, and they still complain. They don't appreciate attending sporting events...yet. We have many years attending these games, I think Robbie will always be involved with one sport or another. Ted has his track, and who knows what Noah will be interested in. Let's not forget Katie, who starts basketball next month. Like Noah, we still don't know where Grace's interests lie. Then there's Helen, I was told of a program that sounds like something she would enjoy, and she is getting to the point where she will be able to participate. Oh my goodness...my head is starting to spin! I have a feeling there may be some time conflicts, I already have one this week-end. Robbie has his football game, and Ted has an activity he needs to do with the Boy Scouts in order for him to cross over in February. The game is at 10:30, but Robbie needs to be there at 9:45 for warm up. Ted's Cub Scout activity starts at 10:00, I can't be two places at once. Luckily, I put my distress signal out, and it was answered. My brother John is going to take Ted, and I will take Robbie. John and Ted will be busy cleaning the section of highway the Boy Scouts have adopted, while the rest of us are at the football game. You're probably thinking, "Oh sure, she gives the harder job to her brother!", but not really, he will have Ted ONLY...enough said.

I can't believe Halloween is right around the corner, and with it, the headache of costumes! The kids are older now and getting quite picky about what they want to be. Gone are the days when I bought the costumes at 90% off after Halloween and held on to them for the following year. They didn't care if their costumes were last year's news! Besides sewing them myself (I don't sew), anyone know where I can get them for cheap? Leave me a comment, thanks!:0)

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue

Coupons

I finally remembered to bring my coupons to the grocery store with me, I saved $14.20! It helped that I stuck to the list. I also used my coupons when shopping at ShopKo, which is similar to K-Mart. I had to buy other things that I didn't have a coupon for, but to my surprise, it was all on sale. I saved $8.25 with my coupons. They don't calculate total savings at that store, but I can only imagine how much I saved. Most things were 60% off, and also buy one, get one 1/2 off. My biggest savings came from Kohl's, I couldn't believe it when the cashier told me how much my savings were. I had to get Ted uniform pants since he sprouted over the summer and I didn't even realize it. While getting his pants, I noticed they also had uniform shirts on sale too, so I bought him a few of those in the bigger size. Since I was there, I decided to check the sale rack for Helen. I found capri stretch pants on sale for $4.20, the length will hit the top of her shoe...perfect! I also needed a few unmentionables...total savings...$80.41! I am quite proud of myself!:0)

This afternoon I am picking Helen up early and we are taking Toby to the kid's school for the pet blessing, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. I am also taking Robbie's Eeyore, and Grace's Baby Bear. I am a bit nervous about how Toby will act, being a scaredy cat and all. All the kids in the school will be there, along with other pets and their owners. Last year I was bombarded with kids wanting to see Toby, although last year he was just a puppy. I'm hoping for the best, wish me luck.

Until next time-
Take Care,
Sue..................sorry so short!:0(