Beautiful Flowers, Beautiful Neighbors

With spring time weather in Eastern Oregon today, it reminded me of some beautiful pictures I took. We used to live in a pretty old house. We didn't like it and for many years wanted to move. What was keeping us was our neighbors. To one side of us was a sweet older couple. We loved them and our kids did too. She always had beautiful flowers growing in her backyard. Roger and Norma traveled to Nebraska every spring and summer to visit family and for many years I was there to tend to her flower and feed their cat. Oh how I miss tending to her flowers and visiting with their cat. We miss their great friendship and learned many wonderful things from our dear neighbors.

Now for the pictures. Oh how I love summer and beautiful flowers!

Learning About Disabilities

Our son Andrew (6 almost 7) has a small disability. When he was a toddler and preschooler I was sure it was big and he really needed help. But as he has grown and learned how to cope, the disability has slowly decreased. He has never fit a diagnosis. I have searched and searched to diagnose him, but to no avail, he doesn't fit. He has a little of this and a little of that. So far I think he has Sensory Processing Disorder (Hyposensitive). The diagnosis is mainly just for me because I feel for some reason that I need to know. Today I went to a class about Aspergers and ADHD. It was informative. Most of it didn't fit into Andrew's life. He does well in school and most of the class was about how to help the teachers teaching them and how as parents to give the right information to teachers to help the child learn. Some of the ideas I can use at home when he is doing his homework. For a while I thought. Why am I here. My kids are being babysat while I listen to what I already know. Then at the end of the class, I realized why God put me into that class. I was talking to a preschool teacher who was just taking the class for a certification, but her grandchild showed small sighs of issues. So as I was describing Andrew she was amazed and gleaned from me everything I was saying! And what she thought was the best????? I had explained that Andrew never slept very long. As an infant, to toddler, to preschooler, to schoolager. This past year we accidentally put a very heavy blanket on his bed and for the first time he slept through the night! We didn't realize it till 3 days later that it was a trend. Why didn't we think of it sooner? He needed pressure and security to sleep! :) We were happy. Then as school started he would do great in school and then breakdown when he got into the van for the ride home. Sometimes in the parking lot. From this, I learned to have a heavy lap blanket in the car and a chewy snack and drink for the 2 minute drive home! It works wonders!

We still have many more quirks to work out, but I am happy God led me to this class to help someone else out like me! I also learned of a resource I can use in the area I live and I great woman who has 2 children with disabilities that I can call on if I ever need advice or new ideas! YES!!

Here are some websites I use that have helped me with Andrew:

Sensory Precessing Disorder
SPD Parent Share

The Out Of Sync Child

well, I can't seem to find my list, so if you have any other great sites, let me know! :)

How things have changed.

We are at a cross roads in our life. It is uplifting, scary, sad, exciting, and refreshing all at the same time. My good friends know that my DH was laid off in January and I took in more daycare kids to help with the bills. This made me exausted and hating my job. Jealous of my DH who was able to sleep in, hang out, and do as he pleases. 5 months went buy of this and after talking to my mother-in-law, I decided to ask my DH about moving to eastern Oregon where things are cheeper and he could go back to school. I could be home with my kids with no distractions. My in-laws live there and they did the dirty work for us. They found out how much things cost there. What the good schools are and found us a cute, little house. We are going from $1200.00 a month rent to $750.00. AHHH and also smaller bills...$50.00 electric bills instead of $200.00. Casey starts school in the fall and is going for his firefighter/paramedic. I am so excited for him. Eventually I will go back to school too. BMCC has a great nursing program! So we are now packing up our things, going through old paperwork, and preparing for a garage sale. I know this move will help us for the future, but I will truly miss my family, friends, and church I have here. :(

5 year old photography

My 5 year old really has enjoyed taking pictures and wanted to see them on my blog! So here I am changing Lillie.

All clean and happy

WOW! I have a Blogspot now!

Well, I have a blog now! yay! I have stepped up into the world now! This blog is for keeping reord of what my children have been doing so that I remember and can tell them in the future what it was like having them when they were young. Also for my family to see how we are doing.

A little about myself and family...My name is Karrie and I am a daycare provider. I have 3 children of my own and my DH has another daughter from a prev. That makes 2 boys and 2 girls. I just had my first girl in August and am loving it. My DH works for a electric supply company and also is a hunting guide. I am cloth diapering for the first time and really enjoy it. I hope to start making my own sometime and that will be fun.