Retaining, rethinking

So it's that time of year, time to make a decision on where Elias will land next year. I know they are going to pass him out of 1st Grade but not 100% sure that will be okay with us.

Hubs and I have had many discussions on Eli and his status next year. We almost are ready to send him along to 2nd grade but the fact that his IEP and extra help plan ONLY got enacted about 2 months ago is holding us back.

He is making some real progress filling those gaps that were glaringly apparent when we all discussed the goals for his IEP...but I think about how much MORE they could have closed if only it'd been a FULL YEAR under the plan and I pause to consider. I think it would benefit him...and if we send him along it seems like tho his IEP would still be there, he'd now have the gaps remaining from THIS year...and adding IN the ones still to come because the cirriculum builds upon itself.


Lily's year has been all about that TAKS test and she looks ready to ace that thing...but I honestlly cannot see Eli being as comfortable or ready if we send him on now.

I called the Counselor today and she said she'd discuss it with She Who, and his Special Ed teachers to get their thoughts...and they'd call me back to discuss it. It's completely up to us but I would like to hear what they have to say since they know him from a "school" point of view likely more than I do.


Just want to get this right, make sure we give him every chance. I know retaining him now in 1st will carry a lot less stigma than him getting held due to that TAKS test in 3rd...where the kids are much older and quite a bit crueler from what Lily tells me. He relates better to younger kids anyways...and he will ONLY be turning 7 come August just before the 2nd Grade year starts...so he'd hardly be older if at all, than the kids entering 1st.

I think at this point, the best thing would be to give him that extra year NOW...as opposed to regretting not doing it. He will NOT be happy because he is already talking about 2nd Grade...not sure how I will handle that part of things, but I guess we will deal when it happens.

IN OTHER NEWS! My dearest husband dropped the news today that the Browns have a game in New Orleans right on our ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND! I mean how big a coinky-dink is that?? We must go...you simply do not ignore things like that LOL. I know they'll get CREAMED but it will still be fun...I am really looking forward to the trip. It was hard to pick between Las Vegas and Nawlins but I am really excited about headed to the Big Easy now.

The kittens are growing too fast! But that's how babies are..*sigh*

Enjoy your Wednesday, all!

Baseball buddies

Hey all. Not much to report since the last blog BUT I did want to share something about Lily,


She is headed out to the Texas Rangers game tonight with a little girl from school. This is BIG news for her because it's the first time she's done something with a friends "sans parental units". So needless to say she is very excited and nervous too I think.


I admit I am worried...I have such a hard time allowing space for them sometimes. Remnants of some pretty serious trust issues. I can count on one hand...the number of people I trust with my kids. Something to work on...cautiously LOL!


I am spending today presentifying the house so they won't be assaulted by dog hair when they walk in LMAO, 'tis the season. Or by cat stink...yeah we got that too thanks to Flopsy and crew! But all will be well. I've met the gal's pop before at a school function and he seemed very nice...if a bit conservative.


Let's hope Lily keeps the bare chest comments to herself tonight folks! (she's been noticing boys and men without shirts and clucking her tongue or saying PUT ON A SHIRT...SHEESH!).  I had a talk with her about not everyone being as silly as we are as a family and trying her best to respect their rules and still enjoy herself at the game.


I need to get outside and blow out this DOG of mine, no sense vacuuming like I did if she is still dropping it like it's hot! Have a GREAT Friday all. Busy weekend so I mighn't see you's til Monday!

A Story: I Always Feel Like...

yep...somebodies watching me.


You put your dog outside to do their business...stretch their legs...get some mental stimulation beyond watching you move from room to room from a prone position on the tile...


Suddenly as you make your coffee you feel that itch...you know that itch? *no not THAT one you sicko, besides the medication cleared that all up*, and you KNOW someone is watching you.


Creepy. Who can it be?...you look around...almost expecting someone to be behind you...

Nope. No such excitement. It's just the above mentioned DOG sitting someplace in the yard when they can STARE at you thru the windows. In a snit...you slam down the blinds and move out of there to another room...maybe the dining room where you can Facebook in peace...

*chhchcchcch* that itch AGAIN....you whip your head around like an owl on crack...and yes yes THERE...again...from behind a frickin TREE, the dog...AGAIN. Staring at you.

WHY DOES THIS HOUSE HAVE SO MANY WINDOWS!!

It's scary because you didn't even hear the tags jingle that time as the dog moved from peeping place to peeping place, almost like they did it ON PURPOSE to be sneaky. You slam down the blinds again...and then go on a mad blind slamming spree thruout the entire house.


Chest heaving you finally finally are ALONE...
at least that's what you THINK...until you feel it again...and, insanity now not just lurking but pounding on the door to your brain, you see right in the notched out hole in the blinds, where one's end has snapped off thanks to one of the cat's efforts....a brown eye...unblinking, piercing thru you.


*AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH*


The End.

You Put Your Ass On It

Lemme tell you a little story about buying a couch.

IT SUCKS.

The end.

I kid, but not really. So we are buying a new couch. We have some very nice secondhand Bassett deals right now...probably super expensive new, and owned by some snooty rich folks so gently used when we got them a year or so back. But it's time for new ones...and therein lies the dilemma...

First, you always have a budget and the budget dictates that custom furniture...is out. Picking your own configuration and size, style and color, fabric etc is a wonderful thing, but only if you can affford it. We can't lol. So we are stuck with the run of the mill stuff at the various chain furniture places.

We found a couple that we liked well enough (nothing that I loved) in such places...then we (I) decided to change things around in the room and having done that, we realize that the room can take a sectional and that a sectional is really a good choice. Back to looking within these new parameters...

Yep, back to looking again with these new bigger more grand ideas of what would fill the space best and offer the most comfort. We're not tailored people but neither are we squooshy people. Not microfiber people...or leather people. *sigh* you see the issue?

Well I did manage to find a semi custom sectional...we can pick the fabric BUT the bad thing? It's only online...no opportunity to sit, or feel, or measure IRL, but the price is LOVELY...and the reviews are positive. I think we need to make a leap of faith on this...but gosh it is hard to commit to something you have not seen.

Buying a couch should not be this big a production....after all, you put your ASS on it. But, you don't want to end up with something your ass, don't like.

My Funny Valentine, well..Lily's

So first off I have to post here since I posted just about everywhere else LMAO!!

For this VDay writing assignment in her class everyone picked a person to write to (real or made up/famous/etc), Lily picked me, this boy...picked her. LOL.

Here is what the boy wrote, mind you these were hung outside thier class hallway. Dude is brave, I will give him that

"dear Lily,
How are you doing? Are you going to get pizza tonight? Because you flirt me up like 7-up. You are my soul mate. You are so pretty my eyes light up.

You are the prettiest girl in the whole class. I love the way you dress, talk, and walk. And what I love about you the most is your personality. And I love you!
Your friend,
namehere"

She brought it home since he gave it to her after they took them down for the weekend...lol. Now does this kid...have GAME...or does he have game? I'm jes saying.

Lemme paint you a mental picture. Kid is a big boy...BIG, brutha think Biggy Smalls but about 9y/o size. LOL. Lily and he hit it off right away and he likes her a lot I think because she does not judge his size...she tells me a lot of the other kids would make comments that were none too kind..but not Lily...I am proud to say. He's given her a book this year and always addresses me as "Mrs. LastName" so his manners are nice from what I have seen. Not one of "those boys" that are always clownin' and acting a fool in class.

I think it's cute. The hubs was less amused...lol. He threatened to take all Lily's cute gear from Justice back and buy her Walmart clothes instead LMAO!!

The snow today was spectacular and the kids and dogs all had such fun. I will be sad to see it go but am so happy I was here in Texas when the new "record for snowfall" was set! :)

Now..all the melting leads to MUD...urg. Bleah. bleck. etc.

Have a great Friday all!

Friday, Final

Final is what this whole thing with Elias and school is. At least for the next 12 months. The ARD was today and at the end of it? A totally acceptable and indeed, comprehensive and impressive...IEP. A roadmap with visible markers, leading to his academic future. Guides to help ease him on his way, and concrete finite goals the school will be held to helping him attain.

The Holy Grail of parenting a special needs kids I am told...an IEP...and now my boy has one.

Since that comment by Elias's teacher all those months ago, this road has been very bumpy and jarring in places, and I am glad to be at the end of it. Even more glad because thanks to those jars and bumps...the NEXT time we tread down the same path as a family (and we will) we will have the shock absorber called "experience"...you feel me?

I am proud of all of us...everyone in this family pulled for Eli including Elias himself...submitting to test after test, doctor's visits, fearsome events for a six year old...but he did it. We as a family unit are stronger than we've ever been...closer it feels, and more able to deal with bad stuff that may occur.

I have to admit I do feel a bit of personal pride that comes from the fearsome Mama Bear stuff that happened with me, hoping I'll be allowed that with no crash and burn to bring me back down. That's me, always wary and watching for the other shoe to drop...no, not drop...kick me in the arse.

Positive, be positive...how's that work again?

Before I get too far into downerville I will end this, happy and grinning, feeling accomplished for once...like I've seen something thru.

Funny, that is on our whiteboard in the kitchen...it's our "Thought of the Week": FOLLOW THROUGH.

I think, I have :o)

Monday Meeting

Today was the meeting to go over the school Psych's findings on Master Elias. Young Master Elias is not getting a recommendation for an IEP relating to an Autism disorder...which actually, is fine with me and I agree with, and he IS getting one for his ADHD/ADD which I also agree with.

We went over their Autism related testing, done with a panel of 4 adults with various credentials and reading what went on, had me interested and impressed. Eli has apparently made a LOT of progress and after some (appropriate given he is a 6 y/o boy taken to a room with 4 adults he did not know at all in it) apprehension he proceeded to interact with the testers, talk with them, laugh with them and look them in the eye. he completed all but a couple tasks and did them in a "non disordered" manner. That is good news as I see it.

Now I am not saying or believing my son does NOT have some sort of small difficulty likely to be some spectrum issue...BUT I agree with the school that those minor difficulties are NOT the reason his schooling is tough right now. That is ALL the ADHD and attention based stuff...well, most of it.

Likely some Learning Disorder too, which the will also be keeping a close watch on. I made it clear that under NO circumstance do I want to be late to the party on that score. My son WILL be checked on, often and ANY LD like issues will be dealt with promptly. There simply is not a crack out there with his name on it..for him to fall into, as far as we are concerned.

I think that was made very clear by us...

The formal ARD meeting where the plan for his education for the next 12 months is going to be presented, will be on Friday and I will certainly have my thoughts on that then for you to peruse LOL.

I feel in a better place now to deal with this, largely due to the man next to me during this meeting. Hubs has been such a rock thru this once I realized it's okay to lean on him and not handle all this weirdness on my own. Why I thought that necessary to begin with is...lame. Work in progress, folks!

I am looking forward to Friday.

Did I mention my daughter brought home STRAIGHT A'S?? I am sure I did lol...but there it is again. She is such a nice breather from all this. NO everything is not easy for her...she struggles and pushes our buttons, too sometimes...but her bright nimble mind is a good reprieve, and I enjoy so much watching her blossom into a very intelligent and confident young lady who knows her stuff and has set goals for herself.

Both my kids are so very different but they love each other so completely and without reservation is it a great comfort to me. They support one another and help one another when it counts...minor squabbles aside. They are a great example of how people should ALWAYS treat one another...with love, with fun, with joy, even thru disagreements and outright wars...you always come back to common ground and rebuild your love.

Happy Monday, all!

Mad Tea Party

Lily found, in her closet an unopened "cherry" Hummel tea set her grandma purchased for her years ago. I had been keeping it out of her reach because it's actual porcelain and well, yeah...you know.


Anywhoo she found it last night and wanted to play with it so we let her...and immediately right there in the living room a Tea Party happened. First the only guests were her stuffed animals...the two wolves and Brownie the dog.




Of course brother came into it late and wanted to play...tea parties are genteel affairs and he came in, boxers exposed, head first slide style onto the living room roaring "TEA PARRRRTTYYY" I swear he should have been wearing a frickin TOGA!!








It was funny to watch Lily visibly flinch everytime he clattered a teacup against a saucer or plate LOL...it's evil of me to laugh but he WAS being as gentle as he knows how to be. She was doing her BEST Hyacinth Bucket lemme tell ya...worried about her "Royal Doulton with the handpainted periwinkles" *cackles* all was well tho, nothing broken.

She packed it up and put it away when they were done exclaiming grandly "I will have to have a tea party every week at least!"

Hope everyone enjoys their Thursday. Kids get out early and as mentioned it's CHIK FIL A NIGHT!!! whoo hoo!!! Where's my toga??

Elias, the kiddo has (had?) Fifth's Disease. I figured as much. He showed up with a bright red cheeked rash Friday or maybe Thursday which we assumed was his eczema flaring up due to the extreme cold and lack of humidity...

Sunday he got his bath and dh noted the rash was down the back of his neck and arms too...decided to slather him in lotion, pop him a Benadryl, and send him to bed.

I got him up Monday (yesterday) and dressed and didn't notice much, it'd faded even...but on picking him up from school it had spread and darkened from pink to a nice red. Ugh. I thought heat rash since he was wearing a long sleeved shirt and he is NEVER cold and sweats like a pig.

This morning...it had taken over his legs and torso and was not looking like anything that was going to go away so I kept him home...which he hated.

Appt just now, Fifth'sDisease. Of course once you KNOW you have it via the rash, you are no longer contagious sucks for his class and their parents eh? The symptoms are really no big aside from looking strange lol. Minor cold on the onset...really minor in his case, we thought his allergies got him...gone in a day or two...you think you're fine then you wake up spotty.

I called the school...lettem know. In case there are any preggy ladies on staff. It's bad for preggy ladies.

Elias does like to pick up the exotic stuff! He yelled at me all mean like when I didn't send him to school at 2pm because there's just an hour left.

In other news...our water was briefly turned off! My sister came by to swing us by the docs and handed me the door notice "water turned off for lack of payment" WHHHHAAAAAT! I called "the man" of the house and he figures it was the old card getting switched off and the new one getting switched ON, that he did online that caused the issue. He called them and by the time we were back from the appt it was back on...in fact the guy was out front right when we pulled in! Lordy...for a second there it felt really weird, never had that happen before. But thankfully just a hiccup...

I wanted to make meatloaf tonight...and mashed taters...not sure I have the energy after a day with Elias...and I am sure he'll have some makeup work at school to grab and get thru...*sigh*. Oh well, at least there's a hockey game on tonight...GO WINGS, GO!