Musical Interlude

Kieren and Ian disappeared the other day for a couple of minutes. I found them in the living room playing the piano together. Aren't they cute?!

Chasing Bubbles

Enjoying Each Other

Advocating Is Just Another Word For Threatening - Pt 1

For those of you waiting for your child (especially your first child), I just want to give you some advice: "advocating" is just another word for threatening until you get your way! Never give up no matter how many brick walls you have to beat your head against. NEVER let anyone make you doubt yourself! Don't play nice! It's not a lie if it gets your child the help they need. Don't be afraid to piss people off!!! And NEVER back down when you know you are right!!!

If you ask anyone who knows me, they will tell you that I am basically an honest person. I discovered at about age 10 that telling the truth freaks people out and diffuses them. Nothing freaked my Mom out more than when I would loudly and quickly admit that I was the one who broke something or did something wrong. It's hard to get pissed when your child is telling the truth and not making up lies or excuses! I took my lumps without complaint too. Do the crime, serve the time. My brother Sean hated me for this!!! Trouble followed him like a second shadow. He never did understand that I didn't get into as much trouble as him because I told the truth.

What does this have to do with Kieren's testing? Well, I had to lie a little, threaten a little, and deal with the aftermath of someone lying about what I said. I don't like to lie. I don't believe in setting that example for my kids, but sometimes you just gotta do what you just gotta do!

A couple of weeks ago, I received a phone call from "Mrs. R" at the preschool. She called to set up a Preschool Evaluation for Kieren. (Yeah, I about pooped myself that someone involved in this process finally used the word "evaluation" in connection with Kieren!) She wanted to set it up for last Friday. Would morning or afternoon be better? Hmmm... That's funny! I had on my "parent invitation" that we already had a scheduled meeting that afternoon. So I asked her if she was aware of this meeting. Uh...no. (Not real shocked there!) So we scheduled the eval for 9am last Friday. Andy took off the whole day so I wouldn't have to deal with all this crap alone.

I prepped Kieren for this test. It's not what you think. We drove by the school 2-3 times and talked about how she was going to meet a nice lady who might be her teacher soon. I told her how Mommy and Daddy would wait for her in the office while she went with the teacher into a cool room with lots of things to do! We stressed how we would be just down the hall and how it was okay to go with the teacher. After the disaster caused by our first meeting with the school system (where they pretty much just jerked Kieren from my arms, told her they had some neat toys to show her and totally freaked her out!), I wanted to make sure Kieren wouldn't shut-down again. She was excited to go!

We got to the school a couple of minutes early and checked in at the office. The preschool is in an elementary school in the country (about 10-15 minutes from our house). It's an older school and is showing it's age, but it was clean and cheerful. "Mrs. R" came to get Kieren about 5 minutes after we arrived. She is YOUNG!!! She is so cute that you just want to pat her on the top of her head and hand her a dolly! (Damn I'm feeling old!) Kieren did the shy act for a minute until I reminded her we would be waiting right there and also about the neat things she was going to do. Then she willingly grabbed the teacher's hand, waved bye, and took off!

"Mrs. R" did a very thorough test of Kieren's abilities. It took about 35 minutes and then she and Kieren came to get us. Now, I am trying to adapt, but Cullen went to Montessori school from preschool through second grade. I am so used to that way of learning and a ruthlessly organized classroom where only the items being taught are visible. This classroom was overload for me! There is soooo much crammed into this room! There is even a climber (Kieren's favorite part of the room!). It was just too much to take in! Kieren loved it and seemed to really like the teacher. So we talked for a bit, she asked questions, we asked questions, and Kieren explored. I really wish we could put Kieren in Montessori because I love it and really understand it, but she would not do well with her lack of speech. At least I know Kieren will be getting the attention and help she needs here. "Mrs. R" feels that Kieren will be a good fit in her class.

We like "Mrs. R" and she is in love with Kieren. She was not able to make our afternoon meeting (she was ill but came in for Kieren's eval), but she faxed her eval over. We feel comfortable with her and her assessment. Most of the areas Kieren is lacking are associated in one way or another to her speech. Just hearing the list of things she isn't doing makes me feel like a total failure. It's so hard to hear those things and not be able to do a damn thing to help! It's going to be a very long road.

To be continued...

Out Of Our Hands

So Andy had his "interview" for the new positions at work today. His employer is cutting his department from 120 to (at most) 54 people. One department was totally done away with. All jobs gone. I feel bad for them. They didn't really see it coming.

Andy's department is being totally revamped as they out-source all their work to India (Really pisses me off! No wonder this country is heading down the toilet!). The company has created two kinds of positions. Anyone interested in staying with the company has to interview for these jobs INCLUDING ANDY'S SUPERVISORS. It is going to be damn ugly. If Andy gets one of these coveted positions, he will be spending 3-6 weeks of the year in India. Yay...

We won't know anything until June or July. Stressed doesn't even cover it! But what can we do? It's out of our hands. Thanks for the support, thoughts, prayers, vibes, and whatnot!!!

Not Trying To Be "Koi"... UPDATED

Please be patient with me. I'm working on my post about Friday's meetings with the School System From Hell. There's a lot to sort through and I have to scrub my house for the Preschool Supervisor (Lee) to pay a visit on Tuesday morning. I promise to explain that one too! My thoughts are kind of like the picture above. Everything is squished into a tiny little container and I'm trying to sort them into a bigger bowl!

I never ask you for anything, right? I need you today. Please, please, please send good thoughts, prayers, vibes or whatever to Andy today. He is meeting with his boss. God, I hope he still has a job when all of this is over...

UPDATE: Andy's meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon. Let's just drag this out, you know?!

Won The Battle & The War - BUT...

Just a quick note because I'm still digesting today's meetings and we are meeting my aunt (who is visiting from Florida) for dinner. As the title says we have won the battle and the war, BUT we still have many things to finalize and fight for. I'm going to leave you with a few bullets to bite down on until I have time to blog later tonight!

• Being a bitch does pay off in the end sometimes.
• Kieren is being accepted into the preschool and will receive speech therapy, BUT not until September 2nd.
• Only the Preschool Supervisor showed up for our meeting today (District Rep, Special Ed teacher, psychologist, speech pathologist were all no-shows).
• Blowing up at the Preschool Supervisor on the phone had many positive affects!!!
• The school psychologist dropped the ball in a HUGE way.
• She also lied and that really pisses me off!
• Kieren may have to be evaluated AGAIN this summer due to the State changing codes and classifications.
• Kieren's eval with the preschool teacher went well. They have a mutal love-thing going!
• The speech eval report left me with a cold burning feeling in my stomach.
• I feel like I suck as a parent due to some of the results.
• I have names and numbers so I can start filing complaints and kicking butt!

More later! Sorry to leave you hanging, but I have to go play nicey-nice (my dad so owes me for this one!)!

...

Sorry I haven't been blogging much this week or last. A lot on my mind. Tomorrow afternoon is our meeting with the school system. We also have an "evaluation" (her words, not mine!!!) with the preschool teacher at 9am. (Amusing story to tell you later.) I'm feeling uptight about the whole thing. I'm trying not to go in with a HUGE chip on my shoulder, but after after all we've been through it's hard not to.

I'm still trying to find a job. Yeah, that's not going anywhere. Also, Andy's work is cutting the staff in his group from 120 to 54 people AT MOST. We're just praying he still has a job. God this sucks!

I'll let you know what happens after our meeting tomorrow afternoon.

Walking On Sunshine...

Are You 3 or 13?

Kieren is 3 going on 13. She is very choosy about clothing now. If I lay out her clothes, she looks them over carefully and then will usually go pull something else out of the laundry basket or dryer. Today, I was chewed out in Kieren-speak for the panties I chose. I guess today was an Elmo-panty day not the pretty flowered ones! SHEESH!!! Some days Kieren will come out of the bedroom with three different outfits. You just NEVER know what she'll have on next! BTW, her outfits always seem to be coordinated. This child is scary!!!

OY!!! Kieren is now into lipstick. Her own, of course! She wears it more than I do. I can't remember the last time I wore lipstick. Shoot! I can't even remember where I put it. What's scary is how good she is at applying it!!! Even without a mirror!

Then there's the shoe thing...The girl has SHOES. Heaven forbid you hand her the "wrong" pair when trying to leave the house! And we can't go anywhere without the right purse too. Did I mention how important her shoes are?! If she's like this now at 3 years-old, I'm scared to even think of how she might be at 13!

A Letter To My Pets

My friend Sandi sent me this in an email today. I am still giggling!!! Thanks, Sandi!!! I really needed this today!

(To be posted VERY LOW on the refrigerator door - nose height.)

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print are yours and contain your food. The
other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw
print in the middle of my plate and food does not stake a claim for it
becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing
in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating
me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I
fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry
about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to
ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when
they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other
stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking
tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to
maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by
some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is
not necessary to claw, whine, meow, try to turn the knob or get your
paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through
the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years
-- canine or feline attendance isn't required.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell the other dog or cats butt.
I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our
front door:

To All Non-Pet Owners Who Visit & Like to Complain About Our Pets:
1. They live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.
(That's why they call it "fur"nature.)
3. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who
is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Remember: In many ways, dogs and cats are better than kids because they:
1. Eat less
2. Don't ask for money all the time
3. Are easier to train
4. Normally come when called
5. Never ask to drive the car
6. Don't hang out with drug-using friends

7. Don't smoke or drink

8. Don't have to buy the latest fashions

9. Don't want to wear your clothes
10. Don't need a "gazillion" dollars for college.
And finally,
11. If they get pregnant, you can sell their children.

Weird Wednesday - Harry The Cat

"Go away...I want my dinner! Not a photo session!"
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"My toy! You go play somewhere else!!"
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"But I'm still your baby, right????"
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Alien Cat comes with radar dish and laser vision.
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Christine at Sophia's Journey Continues has created Weird Wednesday. We are supposed to post our weird photos every week for all of blogdom's amusement. For more weirdness, click here!

Silly Sunday

A "Letter" From Ian

A "Letter" From Ian
Video sent by drewnsam

Heather and Mark are out of town for a wedding. Ian is holding down the fort at home. I rescued the kid from total boredom today and took him on a playdate with Kieren and our friends! I promised Heather I would post the photos (so she can have a good cry and question herself again for the ten-millionth time)! Enjoy!!!

Weird Wednesday - Kieren's Turn

Every Memorial Day Weekend, Andy and his college buddies spend the weekend at Lizard Lodge (Grandpa Carl & Uncle Jeff's cottage at the lake). The kids are expected to attend at some point during the weekend. The guys are great with them! Cullen is their buddy and he is allowed to spend the night there. They all adore Kieren though.

She, on the other hand, seems unimpressed. No, make that embarrassed, by the attention!

"Uncle Larry, can I get down now? I'm bored...Let's go for a boat ride..."

Seasick??? Nope, trying to touch the water.

Christine at Sophia's Journey Continues has created Weird Wednesday. We are supposed to post our weird photos every week for all of blogdom's amusement. For more weirdness, click here!

...The German Judge Gave Her A 10...

My Mother...

Sunday was my parents' wedding anniversary. Cullen had spent the night with them as he usually does on the weekends. We all played hooky from church (Like YOU have never done that!). My folks (and Cull) went to breakfast and shopping. We (Andy, Kieren, and I) had to go buy a new washer (oh, yay...) and pump out a washer full of nasty soapy water (Why do washers always die when there is a full load of towels inside?). But we aren't talking about my problems right now. Just an average Sunday for the most part.

(Does anyone else hear the "Jaws" theme?)

After finding an AWESOME deal on our new washer (I'll gloat more about that later), we called my parents and offered to buy them dinner (Yeah, that doesn't happen very often!). I was talking to my Mom but I could hear my Dad saying something in the background. So here is the tale from my Mom's point of view:

"I had just hung the new drapes in my bedroom. I stepped back to take a
look. And then I took another step back and another. At that point my
foot got tangled up in the baby gate I forgot was sitting there. So I was
hopping on one foot (gate attached to the other foot) still going backward,
trying to shake it loose, when I lost my battle with gravity and did a
backflip over the gate. I remember seeing my feet go up over my head and my
shoes went flying off my feet and across the room. I hit the floor and
surprisingly bounced right back up. Shaken, but not hurt, I took another
step back to get away from the gate. I forgot about the vacuum cleaner
behind me. So I tripped over the vacuum and did another backflip, this time
landing with a loud thud on my back. As I lay there on the floor, I looked up and watched the handle of the vacuum come crashing down on my head in slow-motion. Your Dad came into the room at this point, followed by Cullen (who was upstairs watching a movie and had heard the thud too). I was just laying on the floor, looking at the ceiling, and trying to figure out what part of me hurt the most. It was a toss-up with my leg, my back, and my wrist."

Cullen gave her a 9.5 for the backflip, but a 2 for the landing. The German judge gave her a 10. BTW, her wrist IS broken. She got her cast on this morning.

Cutting Pro

The Artist At Work

Silly Sunday

Cousins?

Hmmm...kind of resemble each other, don't they?!

Cooking With Kieren

"Today, on Cooking With Kieren, we are making a special dish called Kieren's Mess. Before we get started I like to make sure my shirt is the same color as the ingredients I'm using. This gives the impression that I'm not getting any on my clothing until it's too late to make me stop."
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"It is very important to pour all your ingredients into as many small containers as you can find before starting. Don't forget to spill some on the counter! Pouring ingredients all over the counter adds a lightness to the final dish."
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"Make sure you carefully measure nothing. It won't matter because we are just going to pour it back in the bowl a hundred times. This adds air into the dish! Or maybe I should say it adds the dish into the air..."
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"And finally, make sure you add a HUGE dose of charm while making your Mess. This keeps Mom from using too many naughty words as she wipes out while walking around the counter. Cuteness is one of those ingredients that you just can't skimp on! I hope you make a big batch of Mess this weekend too!!! Happy Cooking!!!"