Crafty

Maggie is one lucky girl! She is surrounded by educated, talented and very creative teachers and therapists who know how to teach her and children like her. Get creative! If you talk it goes in one ear and out the other so you have to use visuals. And lucky for her, and me, they are awesome! This is a rocket (2L bottle covered in aluminum foil and printed Nasa and American flag for decoration - cool right) She loved learning about stars and the planets.Ice cream anyone? How about cotton balls, paint and fuzzy cherry? Why Yes, thank you! SO cute! and Dairy free :-)
I can't possibly save every single craft project - I try and save a bunch of them but I do take pictures of as many as I can because lets face it no one appreciates a child's art like their own parent and noone is more annoyed by that parent, who pushes their own child's art on everyone, as every other parent on the planet!

Sick Mommy

There is nothing worse than your child, who is unable to tell you where it hurts, being sick. But a close second would be when mommy is sick! And you know it couldn't happen on a worse day. The Autism Society of Minnesota and the Coalition for Autism Rights are having a rally at the capital today! Remember April is Autism Awareness Month!!! And my throat is on fire, my head is spinning, and I can barely compose my thoughts to write this blog. I'm going to miss zumba :(

I have an IEP meeting and 2 year review with Maggie's teachers today and all I can think about is that I need to take a shower and not pass out! Because stitches on top of feeling crumby might send me to a dark unhappy place.

Shower, clean clothes, makeup, drive to school - I can handle that! Maybe... I hate feeling weak and worried that I might snap or have less patience because I don't feel like myself and I never want to lose it! SO Maggie I know your 5 but do you think you could make dinner and put your self to bed tonight? So Mommy can get some extra sleep ... No?

But then Speech and more driving and traffic - It's rough. I need sleep and quiet and something in pill form.

Mommy is at 25 % and Maggie is at 100%

Monday Romance

Blast from the Bast - I originally wrote this post about a year ago and sense then we have reminisced about the past and talked about all that has happened in the years sense. But I was reminded by a dear friend that I am such a romantic - however seeing as I have little new material to work with... Here's your bit of romance.

Happy Surprise

I had a wonderful, unexpected little surprise today which gave me a huge smile that I can't get off my face. I got Maggie on her bus, jumped in the shower, got dressed and was doing my hair when my phone lit up with a Facebook update

- I had a friend request -

Simple thing I know, I get those ever so often and am always happy to catch up with friends and family. But let me take you back about 10 years. My Mom taught at an all boys school where I frequently helped out, went on outings and joined in with theatre productions, movie nights and sports. I know what your thinking 13-14 girl with a whole school of 14-18 boys that never see any girls

*DANGER WILL ROBINSON*

Seriously though many of the boys were like brothers to me protective, harmless, good mates almost. easy to joke around with fun to pick on ... But there was one.

One who was always kind to me. One who always smiled a little more than usual when I walked in the room. One who would run his fingers across the back of my hand as he walked by. One who would run his foot gently next to mine and trace my forearm with his fingertips.

Sweet. Kind. It was really quite simple ...

Boy Meets Girl.

Boy lives at all boy boarding school.

Boy begs his English teacher to deliver messages to her daughter.

Boy begins a romantic streak of handwritten letters, poems, pictures and artwork for this girl.

Boy makes marvelous romantic gestures

Boy leaves incredible first impression of young love on this girl

(I still have some of those letters, all the poems and even the artwork - a piece that included an abstract piece of yours truly that got him an A in art class)

I have several fond memories of Boy - As a group there were about 10 of us maybe 6 students and my family of 4, we went out to dinner and then a movie. I remember him quietly moving people around so he could sit next to me - My heart was racing and I was terrified he could hear my heart as it pounded against my chest - I knew he knew I was nervous but I couldn't tell if he was. But at the perfect moment he slipped his foot in between mine and slid his body closer to me with the arm rest in between us but still I knew he cared he was risking getting in trouble at school he had 5 witnesses next to him ... A couple months later it was my birthday Boy and 2 other close friends had been allowed to partake of my family celebrations. The other 2 boys gave me nice gifts but for the life of me I don't remember what they gave me. But BOY, so smooth during the prayer as we held hands he slipped his fingers in between mine gently holding my hand and with his other hand slid a bracelet of tiger eye stone on my wrist. Beautiful! My first real piece of jewelry from a boy.

But one of my favorite memories was one of his soccer games

I came to watch for fun and to support -

he became distracted when I came to the field He ended up scoring for the other team :)

After he graduated and went to college we lost touch. I thought of him once every year or so but I was so happy and delighted to see HIS friend request today :) He could always make me smile 9 years ago, so it shouldn't surprise me he still could today.

I hope to catch up and hear what exciting adventures he's had the past oh 9 years -

Yes, Yes I Know Stephenie Meyers is thinking "good stuff, lets collaborate!" Hahaaaa

Exercise

I am a little too ADD for a treadmill. I get distracted, which leads to becoming clumpsey, and that could result in injury... Overall I prefer alternative forms of exercise and recently have found a number of options I really enjoy. I love hiking but taking Maggie is challenging to be polite so that's a solo gig. ZUMBA - Oh boy, I have become a trendy work out girl and the shaky shaky - that's a Myk only though. We love swimming but that requires going to the gym at specific times because it's Minnesota, nobody has a pool, unlike Arizona where we always had a pool... And It's so beautiful here I want to be outside all the time! Solution for all ages - Trampoline! Holy Jumping Batman! Everyone loves this baby! No cords or technology required even. It's a fabulous thing when Andy's friend's are leaving their house, where they have a Wii and coming to our house to bounce!

Saturday afternoon Andy and his friend Trevor bounced for hours which was nice but then they let Maggie join them and that was heaven! She loves bouncing and she laughs and gets a great workout!
But on a side note- I love that Andy has been such a great advocate for Maggie. He always tells his friends about her, how to act around her, what not to do, why she doesn't talk. And he always does this in a non demeaning and kind way. Trevor is a good friend too, he knows Andy cares for Maggie so he is nice and will be friendly to her too! I love that he has such wonderful friends! I hope it sets an example for Maggie but if anything she has fantastic older boys who will protect her from anything! That's not a bad gig.
I think the little girl was wearing out the boys!

Caffeine

Oh Diet Coke How I Love Thee...

I need Caffeine and I need it now!

I have one of those headaches only a glass of ice cold Diet Coke can cure. Oh That wonderful combination of stress, anxiety, exhaustion, overwhelmed & on day 700 or so of feeling this way!

Lists

About this time on Sunday afternoon I get that overwhelming feeling and start to think of all the tasks I have waiting for me Monday morning. It's daunting! I do not want to do almost everything on the list... but I have a list of to-do's so I must go and do!

1. I have been watching the mail and finally Maggie's Horse Registration came. Have I filled it out?!? Not Yet But I will!!! Twice a week starting in May Maggie gets to go riding! It's Very Exciting, I just have to fill out the paperwork...

1b. Part of that registration is a medical release form....

2. I have to schedule 3 separate assessments and meeting, which not only involves my schedule but several other individuals which is where it becomes difficult. Especially for Maggie's School, a single meeting can have 7 adults, teachers, and therapists!

3. I have to do my homework - I am currently taking a Politics course at the local community college so basically my brain doesn't turn to mush and I have some contact with verbal adults :)

4. Zumba! I am trying to exercise and have fun and bond with my brothers and the 3 of us love Zumba and dancing and burning a few calories!

5. Laundry - I have no desire to join a nudist colony so...

6. Oil change - It's one of those tasks I have an uncanny ability to forget and then when I have to have one done it turns into the longest hour or 2 hours of my life... But I scheduled one for tomorrow.

7. Once Upon A Child/Goodwill - I saved all of Maggie's old summer clothes last fall knowing that I couldn't get anything for them and now that spring is here I just need to do. Then I need to get more clothes for her - It's going to be shorts and T-shirt time really soon! And the left overs need to be dropped at Goodwill.

8. Send in reimbursement forms for CSG - I copy each receipt and then fill out the form and fax it to her support manager and wait for the check to come, rinse repeat!

9. Call Car insurance about car accident I had almost 18 ago that I'm still dealing with $ drama

10. Send in MNdot forms for mileage reimbursement- similar to CSG, but a lot more to write and my hand always goes numb.

11. Fill out and send in SSI forms for 2012 (yes I know months away the government is prompt on their forms, responding and sending out funds not so much)

12. I have to get some baby shower gifts for 2 friends who are expecting.

13. Find a perfect house warming gift for a young couple ... any suggestions?

14. Music Therapy - find the perfect class at the perfect time - that should be easy... sensing a theme yet? :)

15. Religious School I am debating options for how to approach this but I have the find the perfect fit for my child and her needs and right now I have only one but it's something I still need to do more research into and find out about

16. Me... what do I want to do? what do I need to do?

17. Girls night this Friday and I need to prep some food and get somethings together before - I am so looking forward to this!

18. And of course there is always the usual stuff: fill up gas tank, deposit check at the bank, Trader Joe's for Maggie food, Schedule out the next 6 weeks of therapy, write thank you notes, send out VT report emails, sleep, eat healthy, create countdown calendar till football season starts...

Would anyone like to take over my life for a day?

Physical Therapy A Thank you Note

Not that long ago, I had this adorable little baby who was 16 months old and barely crawling. Along came 19 months and she was standing and taking one, then two steps and it was a slow and steady processes but it was a start! I remember being at a family get together where Maggie's cousin, 2 weeks younger than her, was climbing on the furniture and running, trying to catch his older brother. The rest of the family joked "He's so fast because he has an older brother to compete with, Don't worry" Well obviously I worried! You tell a first time mother, don't worry - that's all she will do! It was clear at that moment that Maggie was not developing as fast as 'normal' - And then I was introduced to the world of Physical Therapy. It was a rocky relationship in the beginning. I was first told that "NO, your child is just slower because she's a first and girls tend to not be as physical" then I was told "Your child is behind in several developmental milestones and we advise you to have her participate in physical therapy twice a month" that later turned into twice a week. Wait? The first said it's no big deal give it time and now the second opinion is saying the opposite! Ultimately I felt that she was behind a little, I felt that it couldn't hurt for some additional help.

I was sitting with the Physical Therapist and she had a questionnaire for me that was about 2 hours long. The questions included:

"Does your child jump?" NO

Does your child kick a ball? No

Does your child walk up stairs? NO How about down? (really?!?) NO

Does your child fall, trip easily? YES (finally a yes, although a negative question...)

Etc... The list goes on and at the age of 2 PT became a regular part of Maggie's life.

I loved her first permanent Physical Therapist, she was energetic and creative and pushed Maggie enough so that she wouldn't have time to get up set she just had to get trying! Her new therapist, although wonderful, has experienced Maggie slightly older 4 & 5 and has seen the vast improvements but the long term issues we are faced with. All sorts of fun!!

But when I think back to when my almost 2 year old was struggling to walk and then I see my 5 yr old balancing on the curb of the walk way - I am SO grateful for the Physical Therapy, the ability of the human body and for my little supermodels stubborn determination.

Moments of Zen as John Stewart says