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! :)

We are a family that loves baby wearing!

When I saw posts on moms talking about baby wearing, I always though I loved my stroller too much to start wearing Lillie. But as I was doing daycare and could not afford a double stroller, I decided to buy a sling for Lillie. I loved my sling even though sometimes it was hard to use. I then found the mei tai and loved how it looked, but knew I couldn't afford a good one. That is when I started looking on line for paterns. Eventually I found a patern and changed it to look more like a Baby Hawk carrier. Then I went to work. I found an old curtain to use for the fabric and a part of some cool sheets we weren't using anymore. I used one of the think fabric pads you can use to change baby on for head support for a littler baby (the head support was tucked in on this picture for some reason). Doesn't look exactly like a Baby Hawk, but good enough for me!Anways, I have loved my mei tai and am so glad I am a baby wearing mama now! So much that when deciding to go for a walk and pick up the boys at school, I used a stroller for Lillie and she just kept saying that she was going to fall out. She ended up walking the whole way! My oldest boy loves to carry Lillie too. I will post one of him when I can find it! :)

And on another note: Can anyone tell me how to post a picture on blogger and not have it the first thing on my post?

Want to eat healthier this year?

We do and have been doing pretty well! But we really miss certain things. One major one is popcorn with yummy butter, or sauteeing in yummy butter! Well, I just read one of my favorite blogs and Amy is giving away a free bottle of grapeseed oil! SO I had to do some research. The grapeseed oil she is giving away is from Wildtree. I checked out their catalog and yummy, it all looks great! Here is some info from their catolog: " Grapeseed oil is low in saturated fat, even lower than olive oil. It is high in Antioxidents, like vitamin E. It has no colesterol. And there are even studies showing that it helps raise HDL (good colesterol) and lowers LDL (bad colesterol) and may have other health benefits like lowering blood pressure. " Sounds good to me! Amy even gives a couple recipies to use it in! The popcorn idea looks awsome! We love buttery stovetop popcorn! Check it out and get some for yourself!

This past Mother's day and other happenings!

We decided to go tot he beach and have some yummy Mo's clam chowder. It was a wonderful day and we really enjoyed our time together!

Lillie real first time playing in the water and she loved it. It was freezing cold!!! The northern Oregon beach is always cold. Brrr!

Casey and Andrew dug a huge hole!

We tried to make a big sand castle, but it mostly just broke down.

Packing is going well. One room is totally packed and cleaned all the others are half way there. This week the boys are going to a local VBS. It is a pretty big church and so it is really "happening" there. So many cool props and fun things to do. While the boys are having fun there we are frantically packing and cleaning. Casey has been busy at the yard work and it looks better than it did when we moved in! What an awesome husband! I better get back to work. :(

P.S. I finally got to use my Christmas present from 2 years back and had a one hour massage today! It was wonderful. Hurt a little bit but still wonderful!

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. :(

Back to blogging and moving!

Okay, I am seriously back to blogging! Well, at least I hope I am. I want this for myself and my kids! I want to remember the fun times and help my kids remember. So, I will try my hardest to take pictures of my kids and post and write about our days!

We are moving again. We moved to the current house in October after living in a small hoouse for 5 years. Now we go back to a really small house! Smaller than before. Casey was layed off in January and after lots of thinking and praying we decided to pack up and move to Pendleton. Casey's family is there to help us and be of suppport. Casey is registered to start school in the fall and will get his GED this summer. We hope and pray that I will be able to stay home and be the mom I have always wanted to be. If needed I can take one daycare kid, or get a morning coffee making job. But I really want to try to stay home. Housing prices and cheeper there and their is alot of support for low income families there. We will be able to get a free pass to the aquatic center for the summer because of lay offs. Their children's museum is only $3 to get into versus our $9 price here. I am excited, but also scared about the big change!

More to come and pictures too!

More Catch up - Lillie's Birthday

LILLIE'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

August 13th, 2008

Happy 1st birthday LILLIE

Her cake was home made chocolate zuchinni cake!

YUM! YUM!

That was amazing!

Time for a Bath!

This was the cake for everyone else. Chocolate Zuchinni cake with choc. frosting!

We love you Lillie! And so happy God gave you to us.

Love, Mommy and Daddy, Joe and Andrew