My Child's Story

OK, I found this blog carnival at In The Life of a Child, and decided to join in. However, I have 3 kids with Spec Needs, So I will write a brief overview of each, rather than a comprehensive post on one.

Bert (aka Alex) was my second child, but he introduced me to the world of Special Needs. After an emergency C-section because somehow he no longer found my womb compatible with life, Bert came into this world gentle as a lamb. His first cry was when he was 3 weeks old, I'll never forget it. Beaner stepped on his hand while he was basking in a sunny spot in the living room. I was thrilled, he cried! Bert was born with a little bonus in the 21st chromosome. Most people associate this condition, called Down syndrome, with mental retardation and the obvious facial differences that those especially blessed kiddos carry. I, instead associate this with an incredible ability to live in, and enjoy the present moment, a delight in this world, and an especially large heart.

When Bert was <2, the Chief left to check on his sister, who was in heroin withdrawal, and came home with our Rockstar (Chels). She was 13-1/2, but the size of a rather small 10 year old. She had long, scraggly hair, was pale and drawn, with haunted eyes. At the time I had no idea that she would become my daughter, but through time and experiences, she is. Her mother passes away nearly 3 years ago, leaving me to parent an orphaned teenager. Rockstar has since been diagnosed with PTSD, bipolar, and RAD. There were times in parenting her that I had resigned myself to believe that she may never be a productive citizen, that if helping her find Jesus was all I did for her, that would be enough. I am thrilled to say that by the power of the Holy Spirit, she has found Jesus, and much more. She is living abudantly, and though she doesn't always make great choices, she is learning and growing, and has blessed our family beyond measure.

The last child to enter our family is Schmoozer (Ben). In early 2006 we submitted our information to Robin Steele of the Adoption Awareness program, hoping to adopt a second child with Down syndrome. Within 3 weeks we got a call, matching us to Schmoozer's natural parents. After waiting 3-1/2 months for research and decisions to be made, and for paperwork to clear, we brought Schmoozer home from the District of Columbia. Within days, we realized 2 things: 1. that he didn't poop right at all and 2. that he didn't hear right at all. As time has gone by, we found that not only does Schmoozer have DS, but is also moderately to moderately severely hearing impaired, he has Hirschsprung's disease, he has hypothyroidism, and to top it off, he has Cyclical Vomitting Syndrome. Talk about getting more than you bargained for! Schmoozer has filled, not only our hands, but also our hearts, to capacity. Through 8 hospital admissions and more tests and proceedures that I care to remember, his delightful presence has blessed us by his will to live, his spirit, and his ability to learn, despite all the odds against him.

It has been a delight and pleasure to parent these amazing kids. I have learned so much about myself, my priorities, about my Lord and Savior, and about living in the moment from these kids. Though they have brought with them struggles beyond measure, they have blessed us far more abundantly than that!

May I add, last but not least, my Beaner (Hannah). She was my first child, but now she's not my oldest. She is totally typical, bright, precocious, gentle and sweet. She never asked for such a house full of crazy sibs, but she wouldn't change them. She is, by virtue of being the only typical child in a house of 4 kids, also a child with special needs. Of all of my amazing kids, she amazes me the most. What a blessing she is!

See No Evil, Hear No Evil

Drive your mom crazy.

If you haven't guessed, Schmoozer's vision is "extremely farsighted" putting him
"very high on the Opthalmologist's radar". No wonder the kid is busy, he gets
little input from 2 of his main senses. If you want more info on farsightedness
in kiddos, read this.

Since Beaner had nothing better to do, she decided to bring selective listening
to a high art. Hey, it works for Schmoozer, right? Well, after months of
frustration, we got her hearing tested, and she failed in the high frequencies.
Off we go to the ENT. I hear his retirement portfolio is looking great these
days!

Did I mention the ENT? Bert gets new tubes on Tuesday, and they are checking
his sinuses for obstruction (at my insistence), while he's under without
optimism of finding anything fixable .

Speaking of fixable. We have a Rockstar whose vision is nearly perfect, but has
mild nearsightedness (per the optometrist, glasses are strictly optional). With
the persistence of a teenage girl with a new accessory in sight, she insisted
that it really is troublesome, and she NEEDS glasses. She will be charged the
full cost if they are not worn nearly continuously for about 6 months.


The Chief and I can still hear and see as well as ever, thank God. Whatever happened
to the axiom that duct tape can fix anything?

Spring

I love Spring. Blessed beautiful days outside. Gardening, exercising, chasing kids...

Tomorrow, Beaner, Goober (Rockstar's lil sis) and I are going here with our GEMS group.

In other news, I have stepped up to become our new GEMS Club Coordinator. A (volunteer) job rivaling that of youth director. We have over 60 girls, and are expanding next year.

What is a mom as busy as me doing taking on this challenge? Obeying. There was a growing niggling in my heart, and I tried desperately to avoid it. Finally I made a phone call, hoping the position was full. Indeed, it was not. I shall be doing one full year of intern-type training before taking over the whole ship. I have been scared to death of doing this, but I know God is asking this of me. It has been confirmed to me so many times in these past days in Scripture and devotion that this is where I need to be. Now as my "One Month to Live" book has said, my only job as the branch, is to be connected to the vine (God). It is the Spirit of Christ who is responsible for the fruit I bear.

It's Been a Week

The vicious icky bugs hit our house, like 3 different kinds, all in a week. First is the week long stomach ache bug, then the pukey/poopy bug, then the achy chest cold sore throat bug. Bert was the only poor soul who got all 3. Since he is still in diapers, he was quarantined to his room during the pukey/poopies, and with hand sanitizer at the bedroom door, we managed to keep that one down to one person. Everyone shared the tummy ache bug, but the Rockstar gets the award for overplaying that one during a routine physical and getting a trip to the local hospital for an ultrasound to rule out appendicitis (she's fine, a drama queen, but fine). Last but not least is the chest cold with the sore throat and achies, which Bert and I have taken the brunt of, but don't touch that dial, the chest cold is still alive and kickin' and could easily jump to anyone else in the house in a heartbeat!

Schmoozer had his BAER, and the results were 10 decibels worse than his BAER from 7 months of age. This is perplexing as supposedly conductive hearing loss should improve with age. Alas, this is where we are. On to get hearing aids.

Bert's appointment was cancelled and rescheduled for next week, but somehow I have stopped puzzling over that one, probably because I spent 3 days sleeping off a virus.

Beaner's 9th birthday came on the heels of the pukey/poopies, and while mom was in full blown chest cold with major aches and sore throat. We managed to pull off quite a day for her, though it nearly killed me. We had to cancel her slumber party to reschedule for a later date....to be determined. Grammy stepped in to save the day, and swooped in to rescue Beaner as the healthiest person in a house full of vicious icky bugs, and brought her up to Grammy's for a weekend of fun. Thank God for good Grammy's

My dear husband must get mention here for taking his 2 days off, during great steel head fishing time, and babying me and running the house. He selflessly took care of business, great and small, and kept things running smoothly while I slept on the couch. He's priceless!!!

~Edited to add: I did find out that if a child has a sinus infection, and that same child barfs stomach acid out his nose, that the stomach acid will actually kill off the nasties causing the sinus infection, thereby curing the sinus infection, not that I plan to use that method again any time soon, but it isn't worse than 20 days of penicillin~

Gerbils and Colleges and Bras, OH MY!

Yesterday was a big day here in the Smugglerschmoo house. After much discussion, we believe that Rockstar is totally on board with starting college by taking a year at Community College! Rockstar and I went to look at the campus, and she was excited and a bit relieved to be going there. She found a yoga/pilates class she wants to take for PE, and was surprised at the variety of offerings she could delve into. We are signed up for spring orientation!

On Saturday, Beaner announced that her BFF had a bra, a real one, like the kind I wear. WHOOOO DOGGIE. After confirming this information, and confirming that Beaner was dying to have her own bra, I stopped at Target and picked up two little teensy tiny bras for $6.99. She wanted a "real" bra, so I ensured that the have clasps. She slept in the one with the hearts on it.

Last but not least, my hard shelled, soft hearted husband who was dead set against the purchase of a hamster, came home with a gerbil. He made the mistake of informing his partner, Starfish, that Beaner wanted a hamster. You see, Starfish's wife works at the animal shelter, and is an animal freak. Coincidentally, she had a very sweet natured little black gerbil that was hand-friendly right there that we could have, for FREE! In fact, Starfish's animal loving wife, Peta, had even had a guinea pig before, and still had a cage and some feed that we could have. Alas, Ivan the black gerbil has joined our family, and Beaner was last seen soaring past Jupiter in delight.

GAR-DEN-ING

I am so excited for my garden this year! SO STINKIN' EXCITED!!!! I'm starting broccoli seeds this week, cabbage and celery next week, then my peppers and tomatoes. I plan to have different kinds of squash, rhubarb, lettuce and spinach, of course pumpkins and melons and a few big ole sunflowers for the kids.

Bert will be in school for most of the summer as his school is transitioning to year 'round, so that will free up so much of my time, and Beaner plans to be my garden helper.

Last year was utter chaos, so I left my garden largely untended, but this year, baby, I'm on it!

Wordless Wednesday - Getaway

(no, Sandy the squirrel is no relation to the Chief)

You Can't Have One Without The OTHER

OK, so the Chief and I decided to include Beaner on our 2 night getaway. We decided to do this because we are going to a waterpark resort, primarily. The secondary reasons are that Beaner needs a break too, she needs total attention of just mommy and daddy, and because she is our only typical child.

It all made perfect sense.....until we told the Rockstar. She is still really struggling in school, and we are going during the week for good rates, she is at least 1/3 of our stress (sometimes more), and she usually doesn't want to go places with us anyway. Really I'm not sure she would even want to go, she just doesn't want to be left uninvited. I don't blame her.

What we came up with is a spa day for just her and me during graduation week. Facial, manicure, pedicure, and some serious girl time. I think we're all set. Phew!

What Have I Done?!

Yesterday, on the heels of a couple more snow days in which we were all blessed to be stuck inside together, Beaner made an announcement, after dinner, during dishes.

I'm never, ever, ever having kids!

Me: Why not?

Because all you ever do is work. You work to change diapers, do chores, do laundry, pay bills, cook dinner, do dishes (smile inserted here). No WAY I'm gonna do that. (yes, she was helping with the dishes)

Great, I have an 8 year old who thinks my life is utter drudgery, from first hand observation.

A New Spring in My Step

I knew that having my typical daughter, first son with DS, then adding a teenager and a second son with DS would not be an easy lifestyle. I knew that when my husband took a job that had him living outside of our home for 10 months, that I would be spread even thinner. Then when Schmoozer started having medical issue after issue, and Bert's behavior would not get any better, and Rockstar just kept having trouble, I started going down hill. I got tired, very tired, then exhausted, then depressed.

I am familiar with situational vs. clinical depression, and I knew that I had a severe situational depression, but never got treated. After all, how do I find time to take care of me?

Finally, with Schmoozer mostly under control and just hearing aids left in a long line of ailments, with Bert settling in and just awaiting the results of the sleep study and whatever intervention that necessitates, and with Rockstar settling in and getting ready for college, I have a wee bit of time to indulge myself. I am finally getting treated for a neck issue that I've had for years, and feel so much better. I am seeing easier days coming, and man does it feel good. My burden is lightening little by little, and it finally feels manageable.

The corner turned when I found out that we will most likely have zero out of pocket expense for Schmoozer's hearing aids. (Picture me with a giddy mom face here).

....and did I mention that the Chief and I are getting away for a night. To a resort with an indoor waterpark. :-)

I'm putting it Together

2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2+2

For the first time in a long time, I am hoping that things are all adding up, that we are getting somewhere, and that there is a break in my reasonably near future. Schmoozer's getting hearing aids. That is the last of the significant medical stuff we've had going on with him. We've been able to manage his Cyclical Vomiting better since we know what it is and have meds to deal with it. I can hardly believe it's been 2-1/2 months since he's been admitted to the hospital! He was admitted 8 times last year, for at least one night, and up to 10 nights.

We have Bert's sleeps study done, we have Speech lined up (waiting for the therapist to get approval from our insurance to start), he's doing well in his new school. So once we get the sleep study results and whatever treatment is required (possible surgery?), we should be sailing pretty smooth with him too.

Beaner is hanging in, but needing extra lovin'. Rockstar has an enormous Grad Party to prepare for, but that's cake.

I think I see light at the end of the tunnel, and I think I like it. What would a semi-normal family life be like?

Not Gonna Go There

Beaner informed me the other day that she is considered "dumb" at school.

Me: What?! You have 5 A's and a B+, how is that dumb?

Bean: No, not that kind of dumb. Like, I looook dumb.

Me: How do you look dumb?

Bean: Oh, it's my clothes, my friends think they are dumb.

Me: What's dumb about your clothes?

Bean: Well, K shops at Macy's, and her clothes are really cool. And E goes to Younkers, she has cool clothes too.

Me: What about C? (another girl who wears a lot of hand-me-downs, like Beaner).

Bean: She just went shopping, she has all kinds of new clothes.

Me: Do you like your clothes?

Bean: Yup.

Me: Do you wish you had new clothes?

Bean: Weeeeeellllllll, kind of. I like my clothes, but my friends don't. K always has to tell everyone when she gets a new outfit, and that's like, every week. Last week she noticed that I never get a new outfit.

Me: Hmmmmmmmmmm.

OK, every mommy bone in my body wanted to hope in the minivan, go screaming to the mall with a pocket full of credit cards, and remedy the situation. The Chief popped into the conversation and said, "They're just jealous."

Eh, not really. But overall, Beaner is secure and in balance. She is a bit too passive at school, and struggles to insert herself in group settings, but she is amiable, outgoing, fun and funny.

She wears primarily hand-me-downs. These hand-me-downs are not junky, they actually come from the child of a real estate mogul and golf pro. They are nicer clothes than I would buy myself, but they are far from trendy. They are the styles of just a few years ago. They are not threadbare, this child attends parochial school, so her uniforms and sports clothes get all the wear and tear, her "regular" clothes are worn only a few hours/week.

So what's a mom to do? We really don't have the money to go buy a few new outfits. Rockstar's graduation package and Cheerleading uniforms got ordered yesterday, and that put a dent into the budget that won't soon be smoothed over. Add that up with the Christmas goods (yes, she gets one outfit for Christmas), and you have a drained savings and bills still rollin' in.

Does any of that really matter? To me, at the end of the day, it's a matter of priority, of what really does matter.

My daughter has a Christlike heart, she is filled with the Spirit. She's a bit on the dorky side, but we're all like that in the Smugglerschmoo house. If I spend $500 and get her all decked out in this year's trends, will it change a thing? Eh, maybe for a week. The catty girls will still be catty, and Beaner wills still be too sweet, too passive, to dorky to play that game. Will she ever really fit in with that crowd? I think not. Would I ever even want her to? Heaven forbid!

A Day in the Life

So, the other day, Bert came up to me with his shirt off. I asked if he wanted a bath, and he said, "K". Well, I was busy arguing with a resounding gong and clanging symbol on a discussion forum, and had to get my 2cents in, so I popped my answer up, and went to get Bert into the tub.

He had completely disrobed, sat on my bed, and peed. The upside was that when I asked him about it, he signed potty and said, "Pee", so I chalked it up to experience, and stripped my bed before plopping him into the tub with Schmoozer.

The bath went smoothly until Bert threw a plush crab bath toy at me and soaked me, at which point I decided to pursue dry ground.

Off we go to Bert's room. I am busy clothing Schmoozer (after changing my wet clothes), and after several minutes, I notice that the still naked Bert is busy matching all his Lucky Ducks to the correct colored lilly pads. OK, now let me impress upon you how HUGE this accomplishment is. I was geeked. Beaner had just walked in, so I told her what Bert did, and she didn't believe it. So with prompting, I had him do it again. We were giving him high 5's and screeching with delight, when Bert started freaking a bit. Looking down was the evidence to why. In all of the excitement, I had yet to clothe him, and...well...he was pooping on my floor.

Beaner got Schmoozer, and I ran Bert to the toilet, shutting his bedroom door to lock in the odor. Bert "finished" on the toilet, got his big boy pat on the back, got cleaned back up, and sent on his way. I returned to his room to clean up the toxic waste. As I became nearly finished, Bert started screaming. This time it was because little Schmoozer had taken something of his. Another poop pile, and Schmoozer was eating it.

Springing back into action, Beaner and I managed the situation, and got both boys cleaned up again (reminder, don't kiss Schmoozer), and I was just about to get Bert's pull ups on him, when he starts laughing. This time he made a sprinkler, and was delighted with the results.

By the time I finally got Bert's parts covered, he was done pottying for the night.

I highly recommend a Stanley Steamer gift card for my Christmas present.

Quasi Crunchy

I don't blog my crunchy side much, but it's certainly there. Here are a few crunchy thoughts for after Thanksgiving.

Have you ever showered with your same sex child? In the interest of saving time, hot water, etc, we sometimes hop in with one of the kids with the same 'parts' as us. Now you may think that I got off easy since Rockstar is too old, and Beaner would appear to be easier to shower with than Bert or Schmoozer, but you would be dead wrong. Now there are many unspoken bonuses to showering in tandem. There is a certain body acceptance that is implied in being willing to cleanse your parts in front of each other, and there is a venue to interesting conversation. That's where the Chief gets off easy, showering with the nonverbal kids. Beaner has in incredible curiosity. I delight in it, feed it, and get extraordinarily annoyed by it. Here is a sample of shower conversation:

Beaner: What's that"

Me: The scar from my appendectomy.

Beaner: Appen-what?

Me: Appendectomy, that's a surgery they do to take out your appendix.

Beaner: What's your appendix, and why did they take it out?

Me: (full explanation given, not necessary here)

Beaner: Oh, cool, where is the scar from when they cut Bert out of you?

Me: Right here (drawing a line across my lower abdomen).

Bean: WOW, it goes way further on this side than over here, how come?

Me: Cuz your crazy brother had his head stuck against my illeac crest, which is a hip bone. They had to hurry to get him out because they were afraid he would die, so they just made the cut bigger instead of taking the time to try and turn him.

Bean: WOW, I'm glad they did that!

Me: Me too.

Beaner: So how does milk come out of nipples?

Me; Well, it's hard to see, but there are a bunch of tiny holes, ducts, that go to glands that make milk after you have a baby.

Bean: Really, how do they make milk?

Me: They are glands that God gave us to feed a baby, he knew just what a baby would need to eat, so he created our bodies to make the best baby food ever.

Bean: That's weird to suck milk out of your boobs.

Me: Well, if you decided to try to do that today, it would certainly seem very weird, but when a baby comes out of your tummy, your body is all set to give them the milk they need, and it feels nice and warm and cozy and perfect.

Bean: Does it hurt.

Me: Yep, it does at first, I got blisters and my boobs got big and hard and sore, and sometimes it was hard to help you and Bert understand what you needed to do to eat, but since I knew that's the best food, I really wanted you to have it, so I stuck with it, and in the end I really loved to feed you that way.

Bean: Why didn't you feed Ben that way.

Me: Well,since he came out of a different mama's tummy, it would have been hard to get my body ready to nurse him, but I could have done it, especially since I already nursed you and Bert. I wish I would have, but now it's too late.

Beaner: Bummer. Boobs are cool!

It was after the fact that I realized how much one shower can do for sex ed, body confidence, and overall education. You may think I'm a crunchy freak, but I think my Beaner will be a more confident, comfortable, overall well-adjusted kid for showers like this. We'll see.


Have I ever mentioned cloth diapers? I don't think I've ever addressed that issue, but I heart my cloth diapers. With Schmoozer's surgery and the resulting plethora of poopy diapees, the cloth diapers paid for themselves in about 6-8 weeks. (He was using about as many diapers as a newborn.) In my experience, with regular poopy blowouts, the cloth diapers contain the gynormous poops better, and are not much harder to manage. The odor of the diaper pail is easily managed with essential oils, and other than about 2-3 more loads of very easy laundry a week, its not any more work. If you are on the bubble about cloth diapers, go for it! If you have never thought about it, give it some thought. It's easier than it sounds, and so nice for our beautiful planet!

I have more crunch for the future, but my children are trying to take over the house, so I will have to save it.

Conversations with Beaner and other observations

***Picture added just for fun.***

Yesterday was the opener of the firearm deer season here in our grand state, which meant the Chief was MIA for 15 hours, and upon arriving home, spent 2 more hours doing paperwork. Rockstar has cheerleading now, which means she is gone from 7:30am-7:30pm on Thursdays, and that leaves me having dinner with Beaner, Bert and Schmoozer.

We had PHENOMENAL fresh mock chicken legs from Frank's Market in Downtown GR, and some pretty impressive conversation to go with them. Bert and Schmoozer are not verbal, but that's OK, since Beaner is ready, willing and able to make up for it. Here is a sample:

Beaner: Mom, have you ever heard of Elvis?

Me: Yup.

Beaner: Why was he so popular, his voice is kinda weird, ya know, really low, like.

Me: Well, he was one of the first Rock n Roll stars, he pioneered a new kind of music.

Beaner: But his hair, it went kinda like whoop over his head, it looked funny.

Me: But the girls at the time thought hair like that was so cool. Papa Jack did his hair like that, ya know.

Beaner: He DID?! (bubbling over with laughter)

Me: Yup, and he looked pretty handsome that way, Grammy sure did think he was handsome!

Beaner: EEEEEWWWWW. So girls liked Elvis a lot, huh?

Me: Yup.

Beaner: Did he really dance like this? (holds right hand out in front of her while right foot is in front of the left, shakes her hand and hips)

Me: Yup, they thought that was really scandalous then.

Beaner: Why was is scandalous?

Me: They thought it was too sexy.

Beaner: Eeeeeeeewwwww. Elvis grew up in a little log house, with dirt floors, did you know that?

Me: Hmmmmmmm....really?

Beaner: What was Elvis' middle name?

Me: Hmmmmmmm....I know I know it, but I can't think of it! (I just looked it up, it's Aaron, which is what I couldn't come up with, but knew.)

Beaner: Was Elvis a Christian?

Me: I know he sang a lot of songs about Jesus, but I don't know what was in his heart.

Beaner: If he sang about Jesus, I bet he's a Christian, I'm gonna meet him when we go to heaven.

Me: Cool.

Beaner: Why were the 70's sooooo cool?

Me: I didn't know the 70's were cool, I thought the 70's were groovy.

Beaner: What's groovy?

Me: It's the word people used for cool in the 70's.

Beaner: They wore pants that went out to HERE (holding her hand about 8 inches from her ankle).

Me: Yup.

Beaner: I think they looked funny, why was that so cool, er GROOVY?

Me: It was just what people thought was cool at the time. We change our minds about what is cool a lot, like every year or two, so when we look at what was cool about 30 years ago, it looks really funny now.

Beaner: Did you have pants like that?

Me: No, my mom has a kind heart.

Beaner: What songs did Elvis sing?

Me: Oh, like "Heartbreak Hotel", or "Love Me Tender".

Beaner: Sing 'em for me.

Me: No, I'm not that mean.

Beaner: How old were you when Elvis died?

Me: I'm not sure, I was really little.

Beaner: What were you like when you were little?

Me: A lot like you.

Bert slept through the night last night. Yep, he's 5-1/2, but it's still a thrill when he sleeps through the night! He's had the cold that won't quit, and for 4 weeks has been struggling to sleep. It's typical for him to get up at least once a night, average of 2 times, but with this cold, it's been several times a night, every night. Now this is what sucks; I woke up several times and had to go check him because I was certain he could not still be alive and sleep through the night. He was, and he did. Today is swimming day at his school. YAY Bert!

Schmoozer woke up with a fever. With his tummy, of course he had to barf a couple times because anything not quite right makes him barf. Not the CVS barfing though, just normal kid-sick.

I've been on birth control again. We don't use it for pregnancy prevention, more as horemone therapy for my freaky ovaries. I have PCOS, so BC is therapeutic for me. I was off BC for awhile, and we all suffered for it. (I'm not so nice without horemonal intervention). But the best thing, the very best thing about BC is the boob effect. I am VERY small breasted. I maxed out at a small B in my late teens, and blossomed to a full C during pregnancy and nursing, but the after affect of all of that hard work has left my boobs rather flat and saggy, and barely an A cup. Thankfully, a little bit of horemone therapy has plumped them up a bit, and I am the proud owner of one nearly B, and one decent A cup breast that no longer reach below my xyphoid process. YAY ME!

Crazy Mixed up Stuff

Schmoozer: His diagnosis looks like either childhood migraines or Cyclical Vomiting Syndrome. We are going to try treating the mirgraines proactively to determine if that helps. Here's hoping!

Bert: Started new school yesterday, and did awesome. This is truly the place for him, and I am so thankful he gets to attend this school. The developmental psych believes that rather than a true autism, he may have autistic symptoms secondary to Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, and of course the Cognitive Impairment he has with his Down syndrome. He wants to treat the above, and see how it goes. Here's hopin'.

Beaner: The rockinest kid around. She is such a spunky, wonderful soul, her heart is so beautiful. What an amazingly blessed mommy I am! She has fantastic grades, a heart for Christ, and a love of life. WOW!

Rockstar: Every once in awhile it just hits me square in the face just how crappy it is being her. She's got brothers in her dad's house, sisters in her mom's former husband's house (who is now remarried, so her sisters have step sibs and she has a step mom of sorts). She's got us here to parent her, but when you start at age 13-1/2 how do you really feel like you belong in a family. She's got a gazillion grandparents from all of these parents, and her original only set of grandparents who did nearly 40% of the job of raising her till the age of 13. UGH. What that kid hasn't been through....

The Chief: Is probably getting a pink slip today. Our stupid state cannot settle simple budget issues like raising the price of a deer tag from the very low cost of $15, or a turkey tag to more than $4, so instead they are laying off Conservation Officers to fix the budget. That sucks, it just really sucks. We got past one scare, and here we are face to face with another.

Me: I'm just mom.

Now Serving

Welcome to The Smugglerschmoos.

Today we are serving a fine selection of viral infections.

To start, we have the Bert Special, our first, and still most famous. That selection comes with thick, yellow boogers, a cruddy cough, and ear infection with drainage. On the side we have a fine selection of Delsym cough medicine and Ibuprofen. We recently added Amoxicillan to this one for Otitis Media and Sinusitis. This is by far our finest and most complete offering.

The LeeJo is the Chef's Special. Not only do you have a runny nose and cough, but a sore throat and throbbing sinuses are complimentary. We are pleased to have a lovely appetizer of a random selection of kid snot smeared in a lovely plating technique. Of course there are frequent night-time awakenings added to this lovely mix. The recommended beverage selection with the LeeJo is Alka Seltzer Plus Cold, and plenty of water and tea.

The Schmoozer also offers a wide variety of ailments. He specializes in the face-covered-in-snot-sneeze, the low grade temp, and of course, his personal favorite, vomiting. The Schmoozer comes with Tylenol, Pedialyte, and frequent bathing.

The Rockstar is a stomach-ache and tears salad. Light and fruity, with a dramatic flair. Served up with a lovely Ginger tea and warmed rice pack, the Rockstar is the perfect side for any heavy virus.

The Beaner is a scrumptious blend of light sniffles, head ache, sore throat and stomach-ache. A fantastic lay on the couch all day seasoning is added, and Tylenol as needed with plenty of lemon water sets this plate off nicely.

The Chief is similar to the Beaner, but with far more whine added. The Chief also adds his own nutty flair of broken-fourth-toe-on-left-foot, that is certain to make anyone howl and roll around on the floor. The Chief comes with ice, Alka Seltzer Plus Cold, Tea, and did I mention whine?

All of today's specials include Ibuprofen, boatloads of nasty laundry, and lots of warm comfy blankeys. Watching Scooby Doo with the family is optional.

Climbing and Opening and Escaping, Oh My!

Schmoozer has taken to climbing. He's a whopping 30 inches at 21 months, so he's big stuff, ya know. He climbs on the coffee table and shouts out calls to all who walk by in his biggest, loudest voice. Schmoozer may not be much for size, but he's got a voice, loud and strong. Ya just can't miss him.

Last night the Chief walked in from hunting, said "hi" and grabbed his keys to move his work truck. That must not have sat well with Bert. "How dare he come home and walk right back out?!" So Bert went to the window, unlocked it, opened it, pushed the screen out, and climbed out, just in time to walk right behind the truck the Chief was backing into the drive.

Fortunately he was seen in time, and no tragic incidents took place.

I just wonder how the child who can't/won't cut with scissors or draw a straight line or circle can unlock a window for which the lock is at the very end of his reach, out of sight. The only answer is motivation.

Beaner piped up at supper saying, "It's weird being me!" We went on discussing all of the ways in which she is so far from typical, even though she herself is as typical as the grass is green. Yes, Bean, it's weird being you, and it's weird being me too!

Fab Foto Friday

That is my beaner and her cousing wearing their Pimpster Red Cowboy Hats at a rural county fair with Grandma. Does life get better than that?

Poetic Justice

My sweet little princess just rode off into the sunset.

Allow me to backtrack a moment. Beaner made "best friends" with the little girl next door at the sweet young age of 2-1/2 years old. As time went on, the little girl next door got into the habit of dissing Hannah any time a "cooler" or "better" friend came along. For a very long time Hannah turned the other cheek, and she never once has played dirty with this little girl.

As time went on I encouraged Beaner to befriend another little girl who often fell victim to had a hard time with the rotten little bully little girl who lives next door to us. This other young lady is a triplet, and is shy and passive in a group setting, but has a spunky confidence and a great sense of humor. Just recently Beaner and this little girl have taken the friendship to the next level, and are spending time after school together. As the friendship progressed, we found out that triplet has horses, every third grade girl's dream.

So today a Yukon with a horse trailer pulls up in front of our house, and out step 2 out of 3 triplets. Beaner gets an invite to go horse back riding. I bring the boys out to see the horses, and triplet's dad decides that my little dudes need to see the horses up close and personal, not just through the windows of the trailer. Out comes the horse, triplet girl mounts up, and her big dad plops Beaner up there behind her. My sweet Beaner just rode a horse right by the stinky little snot little girl next doors, house, and her sycophantic suck up other little friend's house further down the road. I hope the neighbor girls were drooling all over their bratty selves happily observing Beaner in her glory. In case the scoundrel girl next door didn't see it, I did happen to mention it to her little sister who saw the horse, but after Beaner had dismounted.

I can now officially call the prayer for Beaner to develop more healthy friendships answered.