Friday, November 30, 2007

For You...

Since I love you guys so much I wanted to give you an early Christmas present. Think of it as payment for listening to me whine and complain on the blog. You deserve something for putting up with me.

My husband works for Tommy Hilfiger and every year they offer a coupon for all our friends and family to use. So I am passing along the coupon to you. It is a coupon for 35% off your entire purchase from November 30th - December 9th. There are a few instructions, however. You will have to right click on the picture below and save it to your computer (You might need to make it bigger when you go to print it out). It has a bar code and other information, so please make sure that prints out as well. You will need to print out the coupon (full color) and take it to the nearest Tommy Hilfiger Outlet Store. It will not work if it is photocopied and it will not work in a department store. It must be an outlet.

I don't usually post twice in one day, but I figured that you wouldn't mind if I gave you a present. Feel free to pass along this blog to others so that they may ensure a job in the future for my husband. The more you spend at Tommy, the better our chances are of keeping this job. Enjoy!


S.O.S.

I am heading to the Department of Social Services (DSS) early this morning to try and get Lauren Medicaid to help pay for her hearing aids. If I am not back by the end of the day, please send help.



I was told to show up by 7:30 a.m. or I will have to wait there for the better part of the day.



I think I have all the necessary paperwork and I am pretty sure I killed two trees printing it out.



In case I don't make it back, I love you all.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

The Plan

I know a lot of you are curious about the details of Lauren's IEP meeting. Here's the scoop in a nut shell.

Lauren has qualified for the Meyers Park School for the Hearing Impaired. She will go three days a week to Meyers Park and two days a week to her regular preschool. We originally wanted to do two days at the hearing impaired school and three at the regular preschool. After hearing the details of Lauren's test results, we decided that now would be the best time to spend the majority of her schooling in a place designed to help Lauren catch up, language wise. We have such a small window of opportunity to get Lauren where she needs to be that we couldn't pass it up.

Lauren will be getting physical therapy once a month, occupational therapy twice a week, and speech therapy three times a week. If we only sent Lauren to Meyers park two days a week, she would only get speech therapy two days a week. So we kept it at three. I requested that Lauren do speech therapy by herself. There is a tendency for the teacher to get a lot of kids done at one time and do therapy in a group. Maybe I was being selfish, but I thought she would benefit from one-on-one therapy time. They said they would try their best. I will also go once a week and meet with the therapists to know what to continue at home.

The most shocking part of the meeting came at the end. There was a gentleman there who's sole job was to make sure everything was taken care of on the legal end of things. He was to make sure all the laws, regulations, and policies were followed. He made a discovery that I was trying to tell everyone since September. He looked up at the end and asked, "Why have we waited so long to get this IEP in place? Her birthday was in September and now we are in November." He turned and looked at Tyler and I and said that they were in non-compliance and that he was embarrassed. He said in the 16 years that he has been doing this, he has never seen anyone drop the ball as bad as they have with this IEP. He spent the next five minutes apologizing. In case you aren't up on your special-ed lingo, non-compliance means that they did not implement Lauren's IEP on time. Her IEP was to be in place by her 3rd birthday and they missed it by two months. Pretty big deal and they were sweating it. I told this gentleman that I called a few days before her birthday to remind everyone that she does not have her IEP. That didn't make him happy. It was kind of funny to see everyone in the room falling over themselves trying to figure out what happened. As a result of the late start, Lauren will get something called compensatory education. Since they were two months late starting the IEP, Lauren will get two extra months at the end of the school year. This will actually be very good in the long run. Lauren will be going to school over the summer and not have a huge break before next year. Anyone who has ever taught knows that kids lose a lot of what they learned over the summer. This way Lauren will be able to retain what she learned and start next year a little better off than if she was without therapies over the summer.

All in all, it was a good meeting. It started at 9:30 and we didn't get out of there until 12:00. It was well worth the time to make sure Lauren got the best education possible. Word of advice if you are ever in this situation, get educated about your rights. These meetings can be intimidating and confusing. Drag someone along that has been through it. You can bring anyone you want. Read the parent's handbook. Ask a lot of questions. Don't be afraid to take the time you need. I have been doing IEP's for the better part of 7 years and I still felt like a moron in there. It's all about the child. Keep that in the front of your mind and you won't make a wrong decision.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

IEP Day

Today is the day we meet with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools to come up with an educational plan for Lauren. When a child with a special need turns three, they become part of the public school system even though they are not yet school age. CMS is now responsible for all her therapies. We are meeting today to decide how long each therapy session will last and where each of the sessions will take place.

We will also discuss the option of extended school year. There is a chance Lauren will go to school for 5 weeks this summer to catch her up on language skills that are currently delayed. I think it would be a good opportunity to give her a little more of an advantage. I believe she would go once or twice a week for 5 weeks in the summer.

Our last topic today will be the school for hearing impaired children in Myers Park. Yes, I will finally have to tackle the decision of putting her on a bus. I've been ignoring it for a while, but I guess I have to make a decision.

All in all, I feel pretty confident that today will go well. The experts always say to bring along the father to these meetings. IEP meeting go better when there is a strong male presence. I'll just make sure Ty doesn't wear pink.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Turkey Weekend Drama

My sister-in-law, her husband, their three kids, and my mother-in-law were here for the weekend to partake in turkey bliss. We had a great weekend and Lauren had so much fun playing with her cousins. We were going to end the weekend with a wonderful service at Elevation. At least that was the plan.

We needed to go to the 8:00 service so that the PA crew could get back on the road to head north at a decent hour. Tyler, Lauren, and I were in one car, and the other crew was behind us. As Ty and I pulled out onto a main road, I hear tires squealing for a solid 5-6 seconds. That's a long time to hear tires squeal. My first thought? Wow, Jason is in a real hurry to get to church. He's pealing out. I wish it was just that. As I turned around to see why Jason was peeling out, I saw a green Lincoln Town car bouncing off the back of Jason's car, do a complete 360 and land in a ditch on the side of the road. The airbags deployed and the front of the car was pouring steam. Pretty much the scariest thing I ever did see. Ty and I pulled over and I ran back to see if everything was OK. The driver of the Town car was hurt and needed to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. My mother-in-law went to the hospital last night when she got back to PA. She hit her head on the side of the car. There is a few red marks on her neck from where the seat belt dug in.

The frustrating part of the whole thing was the driver of the car that slammed into the back of Jason's car. He was a 19 year old guy with no licence. He was driving his brother's car and had been drinking. It was 8 a.m. when he hit the car. Still no word if he has insurance. He was going so fast on this little side road that when he slammed on the brakes, his car was going sideways. Luckily, Ty's family was driving a Suburban and the only damage was the back bumper. God Bless big, honkin', cars. None of the kids were hurt and they were all so brave!

It was certainly not the way we wanted to spend our Sunday, but it could have always been worse!

Side note: The cop that took the report was gigantic. He was 6 feet 8 inches and was pretty much the scariest authority figure I have seen. I hope I am never on his bad side.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Boo-Hoo

I am sick. I have a 101.1 degree temperature and 6 people arriving at my house tonight. I sent my hubby to get Turkey dinner for tomorrow and I haven't even touched a vacuum. The bathrooms are dirty and the floors need swept. I want to hang out with my in-laws, nieces and nephew. I have a feeling they won't want to get too close to me. Oh well, I guess I will just milk it for all it's worth. I might actually get out of some cleaning tonight.

I'm having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, day. Not really, I just love the title of that children's book and it fit well with this blog. Better go. My face feels like fire and my muscles feel like I just climbed Everest. Happy Thanksgiving! Be glad you're not coming to my house! You would probably leave with a parting gift...a nasty flu bug.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Denied

It's official. Our dental insurance denied the anesthesia for Lauren's dental work. That means we need to now try to get our medical coverage to deem it a necessity in order for them to assume the cost.

For those of you who don't know, Lauren had some pretty extensive dental work on her teeth this past October. She ended up having 4 crowns and three cavities filled. No, I wasn't feeding her spoons of sugar for breakfast. It was a result of her stroke. My sister-in-law, Kim, worked in a dentist's office for years and she called it 'tongue thrusting'. She was a big help through this whole thing and I am so thankful she is smart. I ended up finding the best dentist because of her expertise. Anyway, because of the stroke, her mouth hangs open as a result of the weak muscles. With the mouth open, germs and bacteria are having a field day and multiplying like Gremlins that just had water spilled on them. (Sorry, I don't know what's up with the 90's references this week. I'll try to stop.) The doctor felt that she needed to go under in order to do all the work. I would think so. I just wish the insurance companies felt the same way. Do they really think that a 3 year old could sit through that with only a shot to numb their mouth? Who makes the decision to deny or approve? I don't know, it just seems obvious that this situation justified anesthesia. Maybe it's just because I'm her mom and I am biased. At least I can still hope that the medical people are a little more reasonable. I'll keep you posted!

Monday, November 19, 2007

Jump Around

I just need to share a quick story about the car ride home from preschool today. I went in to Lauren's class today to enjoy the Thanksgiving feast they were having. There were a ton of parents there and everyone seemed to be having a good time.

On the way home I decided to put my window down to get some of the 70 degree weather on my face before it was gone for the winter. Lauren looked so cute in the backseat that I thought she would enjoy some breeze on her cheeks as well. She loved it! She would squint her eyes as the air blew past her face and giggle the entire time.

I turned on the CD player and a song came on that turned the ride into an adventure. The song 'Jump Around' came on and the madness began. (You would have had to be fan of the 90's to know what song I am talking about. And if you decide to find it on itunes, no worries. It was the edited version.) Anyway, here's the picture. I am in the front seat with the window down and the music blaring. Lauren is in the back seat with her window down and the wind tossing her hair around. We pull up to a stop light and there are two lanes of traffic. Lauren is on the side where the other line of cars is forming. All of a sudden, Lauren starts bobbing her head up and down to the beat of the music and waving one hand above her head. (Put you hands in the air and wave them like you just don't care....sorry, flash back!) The people next to her were dying! A tiny little girl with pigtails bobbing her head and raising the roof on a sunny Monday afternoon. Who would have thought it? It was the cutest thing a little girl ever did. She was breaking it down, proper like! My little thugish-ruggish right in my back seat rocking out to 90's hip-hop. Could a mom be any more proud? Where's a talent scout when you really need one?

Friday, November 16, 2007

Selective Hearing

My mom always told me as a kid that I had selective hearing. I only heard what I wanted to hear. That was probably true. I think God watches and waits for the perfect time to teach you a lesson. I should have never ignored my mother, it came back to bite me in the tush.

Lauren will get a little feisty when she is mad. Usually, she will just tear off down the hall, throw herself on the bed and come out a few minutes later with a smile on her face. She is the Susan Lucci of the house, no doubt. Lately, however, her tantrums have taken a new face. The face of selective hearing. She doesn't bother to run away in a fit of anger. She doesn't stomp her feet and yell. She simply reaches up, rips out her hearing aids, and throws them across the room. Yes, she only hears what she wants to hear...literally. How do you compete with that? It's really hard to have a teachable moment or a heartfelt lecture with a kid who has thrown her aids across the room. I have to stop my train of thought, get the hearing aids, put them back in and start where I left off. Real affective. By the time I get them back in we both forgot what she was getting disciplined for!

I can just hear it now, "Don't you take out those hearing aids when I am talking to you, young lady!". Just another phrase that makes me realize that my life is never boring.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Guest Blog: Girly Man

Ladies and Gentleman, the wait is over. My pink shirt-wearing Marine husband is about to shed his wisdom. Enjoy!

So…I was asked to guest blog about the whole fashion thing. And I agreed. Not because I consider myself any kind of authority, but only at the continued, and continued, and continued urging of my lovely wife.

Not quite sure how to go about this. I’m not really the flashiest dresser. I guess I just know my own personal style, and when the budget allows I try to keep it fresh and updated so I don’t look like I hopped off the fashion train somewhere around Z Cavaricci or double-breasted suits. I think there equal parts do’s and don’t’s that together might provide some guidance. Here goes:

1) Find your style. Especially guys. If you’re a Gap guy, be a Gap guy and don’t go running out to buy the latest thing if it doesn’t fit into to being a Gap guy. If you’re the type to always buy the latest thing, then be that guy, but it takes a lot more money and a lot more attention to what’s going on. If you are already that guy, you don’t need this list.

2) Know what you like. It’s not a bad thing to know what you like. Too many guys think that showing the lightest interest in how they look means they are a girl. No, it means you’re a badly dressed person who people look at and assume that you probably can’t name a band that came out in the past 5 years and have a cassette of Journey in your Walkman. (Not to be confused with someone who simply appreciates a little classic rock and has downloaded it to their iPod….”don’t stop...believein’...hold onto that feeling”…sorry.)

3) Well dressed doesn’t mean you always sport the latest style with the latest accessory and are always riding the edge of fashion. Ralph Lauren has been making light blue oxford shirts and khaki chinos for 40 years and they are as classic and fashionable as they ever were. Just make sure your shirt isn’t 40 years old and your chinos contain no pleats. And…your chinos should be khaki. There should be no forest green or navy chinos…no matter what Dockers told you. Just because they are in the store doesn’t mean you should by them. And I don’t care how they match your shirt. Your pants shouldn’t match your shirt, you are not in grade school.

4) NO PLEATS. I know, you think they are forgiving and that flat fronts will make you look fat and must be confining. Right, because that big bunch of cotton formed by your double pleated trousers makes you look so much thinner. By the way, this goes for ladies too. Just say no. Suit trousers may have pleats, but try to find a brand that offers a single pleat so that you don’t look like you’re ready for Hammer Time.

5) Buy nice shoes. Guys don’t have much to show off. We don’t have handbags, or jewelry, or hair accessories. You have to make the most of the few things that can set you apart. Invest in good shoes. Buy a nice watch. Bracelets are for the Sopranos, keep the necklaces minimal. If you have something around a wrist or neck, it should have some personal value or meaning to you. Guys don’t wear jewelry to be pretty, but rather to tell a story or show some personality.

6) Buy the right size. Nothing looks worse than people wearing the wrong size, big or small. Don’t buy XXL because you think it will hide the fact that you are XL and make you look like a Large. Wrong, you will look like a sloppy XXXL. Extra fabric makes you breathe easier, I know, but it doesn’t make you look better. On the other hand, I know you’ve been a 34 since 10th grade, but you know, God decided that you would grow into a 36 or 38. Unless you are buying clothes with the size printed on the outside, and you shouldn’t be, bite down, and go up a size. Then…get your favorite Journey album on your iPod, and go to the gym. After a month, you can put your 34’s back on and call them vintage.

7) I’m going to stick to seven, since that number makes me feel closer to Jesus, and I’m sure Jesus wants you to look and feel your best, too. Just not at the expense of more important priorities, I’m sure. Here’s what you need to do at the end of the day: look in the mirror and feel comfortable. That may mean you can’t always pull off the latest and greatest, but it doesn’t mean you can’t be dressed well, updated, and just one of the crowd. You don’t have to stick out as the best dressed, just try not to stick out for the wrong reasons. Every pair of pants I have are either denim or khaki. And by khaki I mean the color (see #3). Almost all of my shirts are light blue or white, with a few colors thrown in, and all of my sweaters, jackets, and “layering pieces” are navy or black. Not all that exciting, right. It’s just my style. I jazz it up once in a while, but it’s me. Find your style, if the clothes are wearing you, and not the other way around, move on.

There you go. Feel free to get in touch with Amy with any specific questions about socks, ties, stripes vs. plaid, etc. I’m sure she’ll let me know and we can all work to make the world a better place one piece of cotton at a time. And…if you have the chance, and it fits your style…buy Tommy Hilfiger at every opportunity. Had to get a plug in , right? Job security.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The Ringing in My Ears

There is a problem that is about to drive me to drink. Lauren has grown a little since we got her hearing aids and the molds that fit into her ears are a little loose. Doesn't seem like a big problem, right? Not big, just nerve wracking! There is a CONSTANT ringing coming out of her right hearing aid. It is high pitched and just loud enough to catch your attention anytime the room or surroundings gets the least bit quiet. To give you an idea, the audiologist said to keep them away from dogs because the high pitched sound might cause them to chew up the hearing aids to make the sound stop. Crazy, huh?

Anytime air can seep past the molds in the ear, the high pitched squeaking begins. At first, I was able to reposition the mold deeper into the ear and make it stop. Not anymore. Now I am faced with a decision. Leave the right one in regardless of the squeal and hope that I can eventually tune it out. Take the right one out and let her just use the left one hoping that she can still have decent hearing. I am pretty sure Lauren can't hear the squealing or she is just really good at ignoring it because she never tries to take it out when they are making this dreadful noise.

I am making another appointment to get new molds made. I just hope that I don't throw them out the window before we can get new ones. Kidding! I waited too long to get these aids. They aren't going anywhere!

Monday, November 12, 2007

Secret Desires, Part II

I hate to admit that I wasn't completely honest with you on the entry called Randomness. I shared that I have a secret desire to be a stand up comic. I still do. But the water runs deep when it comes to wanting jobs that I could never have. I have a whole arsenal of secret job desires. I need to come clean and let you know all of them, just in case you have a connection and can hook me up. Kidding!


I have a secret desire to be a black Gospel singer. Yes, I know I'm white, but I've overcome bigger obstacles before. I think I have pretty good rhythm and I feel like I could hold my own. If there is a black Gospel choir that needs a really cool white girl, call me!


I would love to be a morning show DJ on a radio show. I don't care much about playing the music, I just want to entertain people like Ace, TJ, and Yankee Pete do on my local radio station. I have literally wet my pants sometimes listening to their show. I would like to pay it forward and make others do the same.


I would love to have a job that allows me to go on game shows. I would love to be on Wheel of Fortune. Pat is so cute and tiny, I want to rub his head for good luck. Winning a few thousand dollars would be ok, too.


I want to be able to move things with my mind or fly. I know, it will never happen and it's straight from the pits of hell, but wow. How cool would that be? Yes, I've been watching Heroes. Don't lie, some of you have been, too!


Ok, I think that's it. Hope you enjoyed the ride into the depths of my world. The next time you see me I will be hosting a morning show while spinning the big wheel and singing black gospel music. I will be doing all of it while flying. It should be very entertaining.

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Manly Man

You would think that an Ex-Marine in the United States Armed Forces would be considered a manly man. That would be true until they start saying stuff that a girl might say. And when they continuously say things that are unmasculin, you start to get a reputation. My husband has just that problem.


Ty as worked in the fashion industry for a little over 10 years. He is really good at it and has an eye for making things look sharp and match properly. I am not afraid to say that he dresses me most of the time. No, he does not pick out my clothes and tell me what to wear. But, he is not afraid to tell me that I am not leaving the house looking like I do if I am going to embarrass myself.


Yesterday he said two things that really cracked me up and showed a little bit of girl coming through. I thought you would like to hear some of the conversations that have given him this reputation.


Me: Can I wear these navy socks even though my shoes are black?


Ty: Yes, your socks should be an extension of you pants.


Me: Look, my socks are Argyle and so is my sweater. That's neat.


Ty: Your socks shouldn't match you shirt exactly, that's kinda dorky. But since you are a girl and not at a business where people will see your socks all day, you can get away with it. You should never really make your socks match exactly.


(Really, who knows this much about sock etiquette?)


Conversation Number Two
Scene: Target


Ty: We really need to get Lauren a new jacket.


Me: I know, she grew out of all the ones we have here.


Ty: Look, here is a great cable-knit sweater that can be used as a nice layering piece. Let's get this one.


(Wouldn't a simple, 'I like this one' suffice?)

I say all of this because it is Tyler and I love him just the way he is. He really is a strong manly man that only says girly things every once in a while. Most women would love to have a man that actually enjoys shopping as much as mine does. He is all man that occasionally wears pink. I wouldn't have him any other way.


Disclaimer - I got permission from Ty before publishing this post. I didn't want anyone to think I was talking about him behind his back.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Randomness

Just a few random thoughts today. Lauren hasn't done anything funny in a while so I need to buy some time until she gets her act together again.

1) My friends Holly and Tonia would be so proud of me. I went to a brand new resturant and tried brand new food. It was called the Flying Biscuit. Mostly healthy food, but pretty good. I have a new favorite jelly. It's cranberry apple cinnamon. If you go there, try it!

2) We took Rugby, our 115 pound lab, to the groomer yesterday. It cost only $25 to get his toes clipped, bathed, brushed, and his ears cleaned. You better believe that he will be going often.

3) Lauren has 'food radar'. I could be eating something in the kitchen and as soon as it hits my mouth she is right next to me with her mouth open like a baby bird. I haven't eaten a meal by myself in over a year.

4) A lady almost ran into Lauren with her cart in Target yesterday. I had to yank Lauren out of the way at the last second. She looked at me and said, "Oh, I didn't see her". No sorry, no excuse me, nothing. That was the closest I got to telling off a stranger in the middle of a public place.

5) I have a secret desire to be a stand up comic.

6) I have an acute fear of tornadoes. Never been in one, but I can't breathe if the news says one is coming.

7) The scariest animal on the earth? The hairless cat. Really gross!

Hope everyone has a wonderful day! Thanks for taking a walk in my world for a minute. Hope you weren't scarred for life!

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

The Wheels on the Bus

Lauren will be going to a preschool for the hearing impaired two days a week in Charlotte. I believe the day starts at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 2:00 p.m. She will get all of her therapies there and we will not have to try to fit it in her day at the private preschool she attends three days a week. I am really looking forward to her getting specialized attention which will hopefully help catch her up on the language end of things.


One part of this whole adventure is the fact that Lauren will ride a school bus to this new school. Yes, I said school bus. Lauren is three and I have to put her on a school bus every Tuesday and Thursday. Should that alarm me? She is so tiny to be riding such a big vehicle. I know she will be taken care of, it just seems weird to put a three year old on a bus. I asked how they got around the whole car seat issue. I think they use something called a Star Seat. It buckles over them just like the straps on a regular car seat and the little ones sit up front near the driver. She will be helped on and off the bus every time. I am not too worried, just curious. I wonder what I will feel the first day I watch her ride away. I thought I didn't have to do that until she turned five and went to Kindergarten. At least she'll be a pro by the time regular school rolls around. Maybe it won't be so hard to see her go to Kindergarten if I already watched her go once already. I'll keep telling myself that for the next two years. Maybe by then I'll believe it myself.

Monday, November 5, 2007

Celebs and CP

I saw on TV the other night that Colin Farrell, an actor in Hollywood, recently discovered that his four year old son has CP. It was everywhere on the entertainment news programs for about a week or so. About a week or two after the news died down, my brain started turning. Why do celebrities get to be the ones to share what it's like to have a child with a disability? That might sound judgemental and mean, but I don't mean it as harshly as it sounds. Take Colin Farrell for example. I just don't think his experience with CP would be the same if he didn't have millions of dollars in the bank and a celebrity life style. Don't get me wrong. I'm sure that he feels the same things 'regular' people feel. I'm sure that there is still an emotional side that affects you no matter where you are in life. But CP is not just emotional. It's emotional, social, and financial. Let's do a little comparison just for fun. Lauren will probably have someone in her school make fun of her for having a leg brace and hearing aids. She might be picked last for a team. She might have people not accept her as she is. I am ready for it and will try my best to prepare her as well. Do you think there will be anyone in this world that would dare make fun of Colin Farrell or any other celebrity's kid? Maybe, maybe not. Chances are pretty good when your mom or dad is a Hollywood superstar that you will not have problems getting picked for a team at recess. Just a guess.



Secondly, I am sure that celebs don't have to worry about how to pay for therapies, equipment, or doctor appointments. I can only imagine that it wouldn't be a problem for them. I don't think it's a true picture of what everyday people with the same issues are dealing with in their lives. Some of the stress that comes with a special needs child is financial. For example, the doctor feels that Lauren could use a night brace to help stretch her leg at night to prevent having surgery later on. Our insurance won't cover it. If we want it, we pay for it. For us, it's a pretty penny. Probably not so much for movie stars. That's life, that's real. I want to hear the stories of people like that. I want to say, 'Ok, there is someone going through the exact same thing as me. If they can do it, I can do it'. I have to hunt for hours on the web to find one other person dealing with the same things. A celeb has a child with a disability and it's front page news for a week. I have very little in common with celebrities. Well, I guess if you count my sparkling personality and brilliant wit, I do have something in common. But I digress.



I am not picking on celebrities. They have worked hard for their success, so good for them. Maybe I should just walk a mile in their shoes and see what it's like. Anyone want to give me millions of dollars and put me into a movie or two? We can call it research and I will report back the difference between the average person and a movie star with regards to children with disabilities. Anyone? No? Oh, well. It was worth a try.

Friday, November 2, 2007

We have to do what?

Now that the testing phase for Lauren's IEP is complete, the hard work begins for Ty and I. Everyone who has ever tested Lauren has given us recommended goals for her to achieve in the next 12 months. These are things that the school and the parents need to focus on in order to get Lauren where she needs to be before she enters kindergarten. They seem pretty lofty, but I'll let you be the judge.

We, as the parents of Lauren need to:

1) Read 8-10 books with Lauren a day.
2) Have an hour of quiet time practicing letter and sound combinations.
3) Practice her letter and sound goals 4-5 hours a day during everyday activities.
4) Increase her receptive vocabulary to 900 words.
5) Increase her expressive vocabulary to 500 words. (She can only say 10-15)

What do you think? Does it seem reasonable? It's just going to take a routine and a little organization, but I know we can do it. Now's the time that you go into auto pilot and do whatever it takes to make sure your child goes into Kindergarten just like any other kid. It's like I have one shot to get it right. There is an opportunity staring me in the face and I have a decision to take it or ignore it. It might be hard, tiring, boring, or just impossible at times. I refuse to look back and wish I put forth the effort to make it work. These are the times that I am ridiculously glad Ty is around. It's good to know that we can split this up between the both of us and get the job done. It's good to have something to actually do instead of waiting around for someone to tell me what's next. I feel like I actually have a part to play now. The hurry up and wait phase is over and the real work can begin. I just hope I don't let Lauren down.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Butter Fingers

I am so disappointed in myself today. I did a bonehead thing and now I am mad. We took Lauren to go Trick or Treating last night. She looked so cute I could spit. I dressed her up as Peter Pan and she looked adorable. She kept the hat on all night and had the best time. About three or four houses into the night she caught on to the concept of free candy. She ran to every house after that.

Anyway, I took some pictures of her at home and when we got there. I was holding her jacket, her bucket, the camera and my sweatshirt. I bent down to give her the bucket she would use to gather the candy and the digital camera slipped out of my hand and came crashing to the asphalt below. Yup, I broke it. Bonehead! We can take pictures, but the lens will not go back into the camera. I can't get any pictures off the camera either. I am so disappointed. I will probably be broke too if Ty's job makes us pay for it. I guess you will just have to use your imagination to picture Lauren last night. I promise, she was really cute.