Saturday was a DAY

Mabel greeted us at the door yesterday. We went upstairs to find her cage in the above state. Houdini chewed her way out. But first she pulled the area rug into the cage and it being balled up (think making paper snowflakes when you fold the paper and cut)her chewing created little holes all over the rug.

It was a ROUGH day yesterday. We left here at 8:30 for a Special Olympics basketball game that started at 10:30. Sally was in RARE form. Or should I say the Autism was. Crying, whining, pooping her pants - it wasn't pretty. But as soon as the game started she was in heaven. Now, Sal doesn't actually play - she runs up and down the court and stands at either basket - trying hard not to come in contact with the ball. She also stands in the middle of the court and waves to us. :-) But she is one of only 7 and has to be put in for the other kids to have a break. Plus, she provides comedy. :-) But to the family yesterday she was a miserable little brat (and I HATE that word).

So by the time we arrived home *I* had had it! I have some kind of swollen gland thing in my neck - it's not awful - just annoying - so Mabel's little trick was just what was needed to put me over the edge. I just had to laugh. Bill and I collapsed on the couch and watched our new addiction: "House" and just let the day pass by.

JBSRA won one and lost one yesterday. We play at the State Finals in March, down in Bloomington - which means we will be staying overnight in a hotel. Sally and ANYONE in a room with her - NOT a good match. It will prove to be VERY interesting - I'm SURE! :-)

Jack and I sat on the bleachers yesterday - waiting of Bill to bring a drink and popcorn and Sal was warming up. I talked to him about Sally (she's been riding him pretty good lately) and I commented "She's really on your last nerve lately, huh? I know it's hard, Jack. It's hard for me too, but we have to keep trying together as a team." I said

"Mom, you don't even know," he replied "I have 20 at school and 1 at home, that's 21 people on my back,"

It took EVERY ounce of strength I had to not bust out laughing. It was SO funny - but I knew he was serious and would not have appreciated his Mom laughing in his face. That boy can make SO much drama out of nothing. I swear he'll be a politician, lawyer or actor (if he doesn't end up in jail) the way he can deliver a line of bs is unbelievable. :-)

Mabel Goes To Jail

Wednesday morning Mabel got out the front door as Sally was waiting for her bus. Of course, being Mabel, she ran as fast as she could down the sidewalk and out of sight. I have given up chasing her - esp since we now have inches of snow covering the ground and the fact that I have a very time sensitive morning schedule.

So,as you would guess, she wound up in Animal Control doggie jail. I got a call at work around 2:00 telling me that they had Mabel and kind of "scolded" me about letting her out. Ughhh. Telling me that she could get eaten by a coyote - oh if only..... Now don't go giving me grief about that - I love Mabel and I'm just joking - but just like my kids she is very good at pushing my buttons and can rub that last nerve of mine off the scale. And besides, no coyote in his right mind would go after Mabel. Ewww - Mabel germs. So, after telling them that I would indeed retrieve her after work I hung up.

When I got to Animal Control I heard no barking - so that would mean that Mabel was ALL alone. "Good," I thought, "maybe she will have learned her lesson if she didn't have fun this time, playing with all the other doggies."

Oh, what we Americans do when we give a little power AND a badge to a teenager. This monster size, pimply faced man cub let me in and showed me Mabel's "file". Yes, Mabel has a rap sheet AND a mug shot. Seriously - they have a picture of her and all thees papers of the times when they have caught her. Again, I get the dripping water on the head and the light bulb in my eyes about how Mabel keeps getting out. I would have LOVED to confess that I am so attracted to this little man child that I keep letting the dog out just so I can rondevu with him. :-) Let's get a little perspective here, Sparkie - she's a dog - a beagle at that and they are best known for letting their noses get the best of them. So I hung my head and played all sorry like and picked up Mabel and lectured her all the way home.

Of course I got the eyes this morning - you know those eyes from a dog laying in your bed that say "I'm SO tired, I just want to sleep here all day, I won't make a mess or destroy the house, I'll be good - I'll just sleep in this bed all day. You don't need to put me in the cage." Oh, she's good at the eyes. If only she'd use her power for good instead of evil.

Mike Gooding Benefit

www.mikegooding.com

Date: Saturday, 27 February 2010
Time: 2:00 - 10:00
Location: Southeastern Elementary School - Bowen IL


Description: My brother-in-law, Mike worked for Alexander Lumber Co for 38 years. Last May he fell from his roof and is now paralyzed from the chest down. Mike and his wife, Jill (my sister) live in rural LaPrarie.

A meal will begin at 2 pm to include soups, sandwiches, deserts and drinks for a Free Will Offering. There will be a 50/50 drawing and three raffle items to include a 50" flat screen plasma TV, a $500 gift card from Game Masters in Quincy and a Nintendo Wii. You need not be present to win.

Tickets are available for $1.00 each or $5.00 for six. The Hancock County Piecemakers Quitling Guild are now selling tickets and will be on hand that day to raffle off a handmade quilt. There will be an auction beginning at 4 pm and music throughout the day by DJ Danny Veach.

For questions or to hlep with donating auction or raffle items, please call Teresa Wood at (217) 842-5884 or Anita Marlow at (217) 392-2323. Matching funds from the benefit will be provided by Thrivent Financial Lutherans Chapter 30630.

4 Daves: Mike Gooding Benefit!

4 Daves: Mike Gooding Benefit!

Mike Gooding Benefit!

Type: Causes - Fundraiser

Date: Saturday, 27 February 2010
Time: 2:00 - 10:00
Location: Southeastern Elementary School - Bowen IL

Description My brother-in-law, Mike worked for Alexander Lumber Co for 38 years. Last May he fell from his roof and is now paralyzed from the chest down. Mike and his wife, Jill (my sister) live in rural LaPrarie.

A meal will begin at 2 pm to include soups, sandwiches, deserts and drinks for a Free Will Offering. There will be a 50/50 drawing and three raffle items to include a 50" flat screen plasma TV, a $500 gift card from Game Masters in Quincy and a Nintendo Wii. You need not be present to win.

Tickets are available for $1.00 each or $5.00 for six. The Hancock County Piecemakers Quilting Guild are now selling tickets and will be on hand that day to raffle off a handmade quilt. There will be an auction beginning at 4 pm and music throughout the day by DJ Danny Veach.

For questions or to help with donating auction or raffle items, please call Teresa Wood at (217) 842-5884 or Anita Marlow at (217) 392-2323. Matching funds from the benefit will be provided by Thrivent Financial Lutherans Chapter 30630.

If you would like to send a donation, please make check payable to The Mike Gooding Benefit, c/ Marine Bank and Trust - PO Box 216, August IL 62311.

Sigh

Bill and I are weird. We've decided this after watching a Special Needs basketball game where parents - mind you parents who have to help their child get dressed - yell at refs and coaches!!!!! LET'S GET SOME PERSPECTIVE PEOPLE!!!!!! Seriously - you have to zip your child's coat - a child who is at leas 10 years of age and you think that it's really worth your energy to yell at a coach for not playing your child more???

Bill and I also cheer for both teams - it's not like we made a pact or something - it just happens. If you really watch the game and see the intensity in their faces - that just running up and down the court is a BIG deal to them - you HAVE to cheer! I wonder - where is the compassion? Where is the camaraderie? I mean - we, as parents are all in this together. Aren't we THRILLED that there IS a Special Needs basketball team? Bill and I are. We're THRILLED with the coaches - who are young adults who could be doing a LOT of things on a Sat afternoon than this. Sure, they get paid - but you know it's not NEAR what the effort demands.

I'm embarrassed. A LOT. I'm embarrassed to be a Special Needs parent - and it's not the kids that embarrass me - it's the adults and I feel ashamed for their actions. Quite the same way I feel ashamed to be a Christian when Pat Roberts opens his mouth and has the audacity to give REASON to a HUGE tragedy the way he did.

The crazy thing is - a Special Needs person would no more yell at a Ref or a coach than Christ would blame God for Haiti. I question? Where are the camera's? I mean, we're surely on Candid Camera or Punked - right??? I mean - it's CRAZY what goes on in day to day life.

So Bill and I laughed our "we're sorry you're so pathetic" laugh that we share a lot lately. We cheered for our little "Brick" who stands - and I mean STANDS near the top of the key and waves to the crowd or tells the others what they should do. We cheer for the other team and tell the people in front of us how cute their son's smile is. We stand as the cheerleaders from the other team - one who is in a wheel-chair, get up and do a cheer for the other team. We joke with the coaches afterwards and tell them to do a shot for us - cause you KNOW after dealing with those parents they HAVE to unwind somehow. We shake our heads on the way home and try and teach Jack how very lucky he is to have a body that works correctly with his brain and how proud we are of him because he helped Sally during practice. And mostly we wonder if the world has gone mad. We wonder how it is that we have come through all this with the humor we possess and then we keep keeping on.

Life is hard enough with Sal (and Jack) to carry all that ANGER. My back isn't strong enough. But I have to admit to feelings of wanting to cross the court - call time out - and shake the CRAP out of the parents that are IDIOTS! The restraint I've shown is amazing. :-)

Some More Time

Things have really been speeding along lately. Sal has swim club on Monday night, Jack has basketball practice on Tuesday night, Sal has Social Club and basketball games on Saturday and Jack has basketball games on Sunday. In between we have the usual homework and working on mult tables and subtraction and Sal's general upkeep.
:-)

Swim club is SO funny. I have NEVER seen anyone kick SO hard and really go no where - I really mean that - she travels no where. But she's smiling ALL the time! It is SO cute. Those squinty eyes all squished into her goggles, her little hands coming out of the water every so often as if doing a high five and her legs making a HUGE wake. :-) Her coaches love her so much. They all come up and talk to her before and after. I love the Park District staff. I know it's crazy but I always fear loosing such good people. I'm as hateful of change as Sal is.

Sally went to the dance at Humphrey last Friday. She had a GREAT time. As she was getting in the truck she told me "I threw pies". What???? My first question was "were you supposed to?" :-) I guess there were games there too and one of them was throwing pies at the Principal. She hit him twice, she said. :-)

Jack is becoming more and more vocal (nastily) with Sal and his tolerance is VERY low. I'm hoping it's because we haven't been outside playing lately. We decided he needs to be limited on the computer and his DS.

My sister is still going one step forward and 5 back. She has to force feed Mike and make sure he's drinking enough (or he'll end up in the hosp again). She says he's so mixed up sometimes. Last weekend as she quizzed him about the name of his sons and their wives and kids he replied "Jack" many many times. :-) Like I've always said "It's all Jack, all the time" :-) It's hard to hear on the phone. You just want to take it all away from them.

New Year!!!?????

Day number 2 - doesn't seem that different. But then again it does. I've had a realization this week. My sister and I were commiserating on the critics in our lives who, without even being close to us, feel they know better how we should act or what we should say.

We both kind of feel like "when you change your loved one's soiled undies on a daily basis - then you can talk to us", :-) So it got me to thinking.... It's always "family" that feel they can judge us like this. Is it because THEY can't fathom the idea of us being able to handle this? Do we not fit the mold they've made for us? Are we stronger than they've ever given us credit for? See, my theory is that they have placed us in a role (we all do it) and usually it is a role of "much less than" their role and now, suddenly or over time, they can't see us lower than they are - the way they were so comfortable in seeing themselves. Sometimes being around people that *you* feel are *more than you* is uncomfortable because you have to look at yourself and maybe they're not real happy with themselves??? I just say this because I know when I talk to people who have a lot of energy it makes me feel like a slug because I feel like I don't do anything. I think this happens to the older of the siblings. They have placed you in a role of always needing them. Of you never really amounting to much - because you were such a pain in the butt as a kid. I've always said - I could cure cancer tomorrow but I'd always be "Monster" to my siblings - the kid who was always in trouble and got bad grades. :-) And then again - I'm way off and some people are just nasty for the sake of being nasty. :-)

So, Sally said to me yesterday "Do I have to be a teenager?" :-) We were talking about what would be happening this year and such. We also got into a conversation about wishes - and what each kid would wish for. Jack wished for more wishes (big surprise there) but Sal wished that EVERYONE would have a wish! Awww - is that not sweet. :-)

The Holidays have been tough on her. It's an anxious time for all kids but for the Auti's of the world - it's even more crazy and then there's the whole "that was it?" let down that I think we ALL experience.

My brother-in-law has had some set backs. He went to surgery over the holidays and it all went well, BUT he decided he wasn't doing rehab at the hosp so they took him back to the nursing home. He went to the ER over the weekend and at one time it was a very touchy 24 hours. He has recovered and is prob going back to the nursing home on Monday. My sister is really having a rough time! It just seems like one tiny step forward and 4 huge steps back - ALL the time. Seems like she's getting called for all sorts of stupid reasons. His attitude is the WORST. Not that he doesn't deserve to be a butt head - but he had been much better - still a pain in the arse - don't get me wrong - he's still Mike. But this person is SOOOO bad. I wish he'd do therapy at the hosp - I think because *they* work with people like that MUCH more than the N Home they would prob be able to recognize what attitude was "normal" and what was meds, diet, etc. I worry about both of them. It's very hard to be away from everything - but I'm sure it's hard to be there too. You want to just wave a wand and make it all better.

Thank God It's Over

So Merry Christmas is over. It's been a CRAZY week. I worked on Monday and Daddy had the kids. Tues and Wed Daddy was out in a plow and I think we saw him a total of 1 hour. Christmas Eve was VERY hard. Holidays are always hard on typical kids - let alone autie's. Since there has really been no schedule like school since last Friday - Sal has been a basket case. All in all she did well till Christmas Eve and then the whole anxiety of Santa and gifts kind of got the best of her.

We made it till 6pm and then went looking at lights. She did REALLY well with that. We had cookies and coffee and juice and drove around looking at all the lights around town. (one of the perks of having someone working for PW - they know where all the good lights are) :-)

When we got home we opened our new jammies, took a bath, checked NORAD to see where Santa was and hopped into bed.

Mabel woke up around 4am and had to go out. As I left my bedroom to let her out I saw through the darkness two little eyes gleaming back at me. "Santa was here" she said. "I hear him". How can you tell her to go back to bed??? THAT would be a GREAT Christmas memory. :-) So, Sal and I went out to the living room and watched the Christmas Story marathon. :-)

Jack woke up around 6 and we set off a bomb to get Daddy up and they set out tearing open gifts. Grandpa gave Jack a set of Wild West 6-shooter cap guns! (we'll be picking his room at the home soon - he's obviously senile) :-) Granpa said he got a set of those every year when he was a boy and he thought Jack needed a gun. :-) Not to mention several things of caps. :-) Mr Chad had brought over a marsh mellow shooter for each child WITH lots a marshmallows! What is it with people?? :-) Mabel loved the marshmallows that came shooting by but was NOT keen on the cap gun. That sent her under the couch as fast as she could get her fat body under there. :-)

Santa also left an Easy Bake Oven (on both Sal and Jack's list). I can tell you - Santa had a tough time FINDING an EBO! In fact, I have it on good authority that he had elves out the night before trying to find the EBO!


Jack got a DSI - a game boy kind of thing that can connect to the Internet. That's all very foreign to me as Santa had Daddy's help on that one.

So after all the wrapping was flung from here to there, cookies and fudge eaten for breakfast and Mom and Dad were near their very last nerve. The kiddies were sent to watch a movie and fall asleep. Sal slept for a couple hours, but she still was a pain in the butt! Question after question about camp (next week) and Dick and Laurena's and even summer. Ugghh. It sounds like no big deal but after you deal with it for a while it really gets on one's nerves.

So it's been a day of playing "In A Pickle" baking cakes in the EBO, dodging marshmallow bullets and watching Mabel squeeze under the couch as fast as possible.

We have 2 more "down" days and I'm not sure who will weather worse - me or Sally. :-)

Christmas, Shristmas

As most of you know, I'm not a fan of the red and green. So much not a fan that I'm seriously considering other traditions - but that's a whole 'nother story.

One thing that sucks about Christmas is the hyperness it creates in ALL kids - let alone my little freak. Sally is FULL of anxiety. The days off of school (ie: schedule disruption), strange things in the house, many social events, I swear they should make anti-anxiety pills just for Christmas.

She has been a busy bee. Last weekend was the trip on the Polar Express to the North Pole. She had a GREAT time and then on Sunday was a birthday party for our neighbor down the street at the pool. She and Jack were WAY over the edge.

We finally got the tree up yesterday and Jack and Sal decorated it. I think another couple years and they could do ALL of the decorating - which would be just FINE with me! :-)

It's been very cold here and Mabel has been allowed to go out back withOUT her chain on. It lasted for about 3 days - then she made a break for it - ended up at the neighbor's across the street. She comes right in and heads for the couch - squeezes her little fat girl body under it (a REAL sight) and stays there till she thinks you're done being mad at her (or she forgets) .

I'm now in the process of making little Chineese take out containers to hold candy for the teachers. Sal has 12 I need to make up and Jack has 2. I really wish I could give Sal's more - they have REALLY surprised me. We heard such horror stories of Jr High and Special Needs that we went in pretty synical. I have to say, we're VERY pleasently surprised. Not by her Cross Cat teacher - I knew from the day we sat in on her class that she and Sal were kindred spirits. I could tell she had a fantastic sense of humor and was really "into" the kids. Not to mention the aides in her room. But I have to admit - ALL of her teachers have been just terrific! Again, we're either babies or fools -isn't that who God takes car of? We sure have been, that's for sure.

"On Holiday"

We left on Thanksgiving morning around 7am. The ride down was pretty good. We got in to Aunt Jill's around 11. She had gotten Uncle Mike from the Nursing Home, Gma and Gpa were there and Gma was peeling potatoes. Uncle Mick was there and being his usual goofy self. But there a couple 4 legged guests missing. Come to find out, Aunt Jill had to put Ottie down on Monday. He had gotten so sick with the cancer that he was barely eating and up all night restless.

The other 4 legged no show was Tiny. We got a call half way through dinner that Tiny was down a ways at a "neighbors" (on the farm a "neighbor" is well over a mile away). So Gpa and Mick loaded into the wheelchair van and went to pick him up. The wild thing about Tiny is that he thinks he's, well, *tiny*. He doesn't like to walk on the wheel chair lift - I think he thinks he'll fall through the lattice. :-) He also won't lay on the floor of the van - he has to sit on the seat. He is too funny. But when he got home he was chained to the tether ball pole and he was NOT happy. Chunk had a look on her face like "I *told* him not to go - but does he listen, no". :-)

After dinner Brad and Becky and kids showed up. Oh my - the house was up for grabs. 4 kids running through like wild men, playing hide and seek in Aunt Jill's closet, in the basement and in the toy room. Gma and Gpa left --- chickens. Sal, Aunt Jill and I took Uncle Mike back to the nursing home. That's no small task. I can't see why my sister isn't a twig from all the work it takes to get him in and out of anywhere.

Mick entertained us with his version of him being the "bad son" and Brad being the "good son". It was too funny. SO much good food. Turkey, potatoes, gravy, noodles, dressing, dirty pudding, broc casserole, rolls, and all kinds of pies and apple cake. We ate left overs for a couple of days.

On Friday (black Friday) we did nothing. The kids played outside and we took naps and ate. :-) We went into Golden to see Gma and Gpa and Gma took us to the Windmill to show us the Christmas stuff.

Gma has THE chair that used to be in THE Dr's office in Golden. There was no examination table - it was a chair - complete with stirrups. AND with the chair came the Drs bag AND his record book. Jack Beckett was recorded in the book twice. Once for a cough and once for a cut. Total of $1.75. I figure he was more trouble to Gma than he was worth. :-) It's all very interesting. I love all that old history stuff.

So Saturday rolled around and we took all 6 kids bowling, out to eat pizza and then to see lights in Moorman park. (the picture at the top) We were ALL tired by the time we dropped Uncle Mike off at the Nursing Home.

We all truckstered home to Bbk on Sunday. Those weekends are always too short.

Nutcracker was a ball-buster

Full weekend for Sal. Friday night she went to the Pilgrim Dance with all her special needs friends from all over the area. She had a good time and reported that she had danced to "Who Let the Dogs Out" and "YMCA". :-) She didn't get home till 10 and then up early on Saturday and off to the Arboretum for Social Club.

We went as a family to the Nutcracker on Sunday and she was very good - for the first half. In the 2nd act she kept talking - loud and we threatened to take her out. She still didn't settle down too well. I've never been so glad to see the end of something. I'm seriously considering the trip to be just Me and Jack thing - or just me.

I hate when the autism comes roaring in like that. It just seemed like 2 steps forward and 3 back. :-( Bill keeps saying that next year will be better. I don't know. I guess it's my fault because I put importance on it because *I* love the ballet SO much. I want her to share that love - but I need to forget that. I just don't think she gets it.

Sal and several friends were in the paper this week. Honor Roll lists came out. There were a lot from her Cross Cat class and from her 6th grade in general. I've always felt that class was an extra good one. She really enjoyed seeing her name and then looking up all her friends.

We awoke yesterday to find pink flamingos in our yard. It's a fundraiser by the Girl Scouts. There were about 12 pink beasts staked in the yard, along with a sign that read "You've Been Flocked by Girl Scout Troop 370". It was so cute. And what a GREAT idea. There was a bag attached to the door with a form to fill out if you wanted to make a donation and have the flock sent somewhere. As I was asking Bill for ideas of who to send them to that we knew would not only donate but send them along Jack piped up with "Grandpa would". :-) Yes, he would - but he's a *little* out of the flight pattern. :-) We decided to send them westerly - around Denver Drive area. :-)

Sal woke up today and wanted to know where the flamingos had gone. A little difficult to explain "fundraiser". :-)

We pack tomorrow and head out Thurs morning bright and early. Hoping for a nice weekend and lots of time for *them* to play outside. :-)

Jr High

Jr High seems to be going as well as grade school, so far. We got an envelope in the mail yesterday with a bumper sticker in it that says "My HHH Honor Roll student makes me proud". :-) Sal seemed to be very proud.

She's been a little on the "willy" side. Talks back a lot - not following directions - kind of "cagie". School reports the same thing on some days and in some classes. Doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason as to a particular day or class or before or after eating certain things. ughh. Such is life, I guess. I'm chalking it up to tweeness and weather change and being a little off schedule at home lately.

We've had the "sickness" run through the house. Seems like when I'm feeling better - I get worse again. :-/ Of course, little Miss Sally, the carrier, was sick for one day. Threw her guts up till there was nothing left and then - presto - she's fine. I mean - not tired - nothing. Kind of like "I done with being sick". :-)

She has discovered that after certain shows (Sprout)they say "Don't go away" - which she takes literally, of course, and now asks me every time if she can indeed go away and then why do they say that. :-) It's kind of funny.

She has been FULL of more and more questions lately. Annoying questions - stuff I know she knows - just seems she needs to hear herself talk. We've taken to calling her "the quiz Master". :-)

Sally has also been talking a LOT more about when she grows up. That she will have kids, that she will drive, that she will have a house. That's new. Even though she's talked before about what she will do when she grows up she has never talked about family or living arrangements. I just listen like you would to any child. Oh, what an adventure the future will be. (like the ride hasn't been crazy so far)
:-)

She started basketball last week. She loves it. The only thing is she refuses to shoot a basket. I think we need to work on those arm muscles. I even thought it might be prudent to teach her how to throw it from between her legs (think old time free throws). They've commented at swimming also that her arms don't seem to go all the way around.

We recently purchased a label maker for her. It's a very small type-writer looking thing - spits out a line of your words on a sticky label. We've used it to do homework - fill in the blank. We've also used it to write birthday cards and address the envelope. Why the heck didn't I think of this before????? I need to tell my most favorite aides about this too. :-)

So we leave for Aunt Jill's next Thurs morning - IF there's nothing going on with Uncle Mike. Seems Aunt Jill's life is pretty much up in the air - yeah, you plan but you're constantly aware that the plans may have to be cancelled at the last minute. They've also scheduled the benefit for February. I've heard from MANY people "down there" that it will surely be the event of the year! Sooooo - now we plan a trip "south" in Feb (usually the snowiest month of them all) :-)

Tiny is a STAR!

Tiny was featured on KHQA (tv station) in Quincy last week. Write up in the paper to follow.

Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 6:36 p.m.
Golden, IL -- His name may be Tiny...but his heart and his size are quite the opposite.
Meet Tiny, a five year old St. Bernard from LaPrarie Illinois who is proving why dogs are definitely man's best friend.
His owner Mike Gooding fell off his roof earlier this year.
The fall broke Gooding's neck, paralyzing him from the chest down.
Since then Gooding has been staying and being cared for at Golden Good Shepherd Home.
But Tiny couldn't take being away from his owner...so Tiny decided one day to sniff out Gooding...which he eventually did.
But it was no easy task...Their home in LaPrarie is about a seven mile treck to the Good Shepherd Home in Golden.
"It was very amazing to me and stuff and and very refreshing to have him find me out because he had never been to Golden down to the nursing home and it's just amazing that he found me," said Gooding.
By the way Gooding says Tiny has had no special training.
The sad part of this story is Gooding told us Tiny always travels with their cat...Miss Kitty.
But since that day Tiny went looking for Gooding...Miss Kitty has been missing.
They feel she may have gotten lost during the journey.

Fall Colors - 10/24/09

I love fall. I LOVE all the neat colors that nature makes. Sal and I go for a walk every day after she gets off the bus from school. We take Mabel and talk about her day and kind of "waste time" till Jack gets home. I'm always pointing out the pretty colors of the trees and she always picks up leaves and then re-distributes them to other houses. :-)


I traveled south this weekend. Jack, Mabel and I went to Aunt Jill's and stayed the weekend so we could celebrate Gma and Gpa's 60th wedding anniversary. Mick's kids came over and stayed the night. Aunt Jill is also Gma Gooding. :-) They all get along well.

We went to get Mike and loaded him up (no small task) and went to Liberty for dinner. It was a really nice outing and GREAT food! Jack and I then loaded up and drove home as we listened to the Bear's game.

Mabel slept the whole way. All that running and sniffing in the country wears a girl out. :-)

Some Spec Need Parents SUCK

Ughhh. I've had run ins with this specific person before and it's always her whining about people that VOLUNTEER and how they don't do well by her kid. I've never seen HER volunteer for anything and she does nothing but complain. Her latest is that she was told that people at a VOLUNTEER after-school tutoring place can't really help her kid. (personally I believe that her kid is NOT autistic as much as a brat) (and yes, I know, I HATE that word) The real reason autism is on the rise is because of people like her and my favorite friend "Vicky". They want someone else to combat the bad parenting they've done and they want the attention spec needs brings so they can have pity but they don't want to do what' required to be a spec need parent.
You don't just wake up and send your kid to school and poof - when they graduate they come out all ready to have a job and live on their own. It's the same as any other kid (only harder to teach) - YOU teach them to make mac-n-cheese, clean the toilet, put on their coat....... And yes, there are some places that Sal can't go. Well, it's not that she "can't" she shouldn't.

For instance: Sal can't ride a bike - so a bike ride event would NOT be a good idea. She can't read to grade level so a book club for her age group - prob not the best idea. Some parents loose their minds (or they don't have any to begin with) when their kid is diagnosed. They get that "least restricted law stuck in their head and it becomes their mantra. My kid can NOT be refused - no matter what and it's society's responsibility to see to it. NO it's YOUR responsibility. Like any other child - just because you're special needs does NOT mean it's any more acceptable for you to yell fire in an elevator.

So special needs parenting is just like other parenting - in the fact that you run into horrible parents there too. :-) But what really ticks me off is that the people that are *trying* to do good - they get complained about and then why would you volunteer again? It's just a shame. There's SOOO many people that go out of their way to raise money and awareness for special needs people that I hate to see them critiqued in any way.

Ok - I'm done now. :-)

Project Choices

"You drop that people or I hit you" Sally screamed at Mabel
"Sally, we don't hit" I reminded her.
"I do!!!" She yelled back.
Sally calmly walked into the living room and announced "I lock her in my room".


Ugghhh. I swear Mabel knows all about sibling bickering - because she is a CONSTANT thorn in Sal's side. She hides in the shadows till she sees a chance to steal a stuffed animal or a Little People, then she RUNS like a bat our of hell through the halls and I swear she's smiling. :-)

We went to the Project Choices conference today. I was asked to speak about Sally's experience in public school. I was scheduled to speak after lunch but we got there at 9 and sat through the rest of the presentations. Talk about inspiring! I have come home with a whole new excitement for the possibilities for Sal.

Sally did SOOOO well. She sat quietly the whole time. We got there about 8:45 and left around 1:30. We had a little breakfast snack and lunch and then we basically sat and listened to speakers and Sally was quiet and colored the whole time. I'm SO proud of her.

We went to get Jack's hair cut tonight. Sal and I stopped by the $ store first and when we came in Jack was in the chair and was being shaved. The lady asked if we liked it and I said it was whatever Jack wanted. He said he wanted shorter so she basically shaved him. As the lady was asking if Jack liked his hair Sal turns to me and says "That's ok because my hair looks good." :-) I thought I was going to fall on the floor!

Lately Sally has been doing this thing that when she asks a question and I reply she'll say "Ohhhh, I get you". So I've been responding with "Are you feeling me sister? ; Are you picking up what I'm putting down? Are you buying what I'm selling?" So tonight when she asked me something I responded and then said "Do you understand?" Without missing a beat she said "I'm feeling you sister" DANG! That girl is SO funny sometimes. It's the way she delivers the line too. Just cracks me up.

Talked to my Dad tonight. Seems Tiny was on the prowl again. He went down the highway a ways. He started chasing the peoples' chickens. They yelled at him and told him to stop and he did. I guess they recognised him and gave him a ride home. Is that not funny, or what?! My sister has the craziest farm! ;-)

Swim Team

Sal has joined the special needs (JBSRA) swim team. Every Monday night she goes to practice. They swim back and forth across the pool. She is SO funny. They asked that she get and wear goggles, so we did. She is a vision. Her eyes all squinty in these goggles - because she insists on having them tight. But she paddles back and forth and back and forth.

She actually put her whole face in the water tonight. She is finally getting the idea of shutting her mouth when she goes in. It is so funny to watch her.

Mark is on the team too. Man, is he good. Dang. He is really an inspiration to anyone that thinks their life is tough. :-)

So Sal and I have been asked to share her story about her journey in the public school system. Project Choices contacted me and asked if I would give a little talk at their next seminar, which is Wednesday, in Lombard.

I told Sal about it today - that she wouldn't be going to school on Wednesday. I try and wait till the last minute for these things - because of the anxious questions over and over and over, but I'll have to inform her bus driver tomorrow so I thought I better clue her in. :-)

She was pretty good with the information. There were a few tense moments when we talked about her missing school, but I told her I had cleared it with Mrs K and that we kind of "owed" it to other Mommy's with kids like she was that need some support. Mrs Atherton was the one that pretty much forced our hand and talked us into public school, I can't thank her enough so this is kind of my way to "give back".

Jack has basketball clinic at the same time as Sal's swim practice. Tonight Jack brought money for him and Sally to get something from the vending machine. It's so neat to watch him make her do things. He made her push the button for what she wanted. He seems to have more patience and skill for that than I do. Instead of just taking over he does a pretty good job of making her do what she can and he does it with such ease that it's like he's not even doing it. He's a quandary, that boy.

Full, Full Weeks

We're off to a great start this fall. Jack has basketball clinic and Sal has swim team on Mondays, Jack has baseball practice on Tuesdays, NOTHING on Wednesdays, Sal has bowling and Jack has baseball practice on Thursdays, Fridays are free and then baseball games on Saturdays. I LOVE when schedules work out!!! :-)



Baseball is going well for Jack. He's really progressing. He still gives me the 'I don't wanna go' thing when it's time to stop doing whatever and get ready for baseball, but seems he needs to give an opinion on EVERY little thing. :-)



Sal's doing well at school and really loving swimming. She really works her but off in the water. We're going for goggles today. :-)



Jack has a new friend, Anthony. But Sal insists on calling him Matthew. :-) He came over after school and they did their homework together and now he stops in the morning so they can ride to school together on their bikes. He's a handsy kid and actually picked up my camera yesterday and took a picture! I was appalled at how brazen he was! Jack got an earful about how HE better NEVER do stuff like that at other's house. :-)

What a Weekend!

It's been a fun weekend. Sal turned 12 on the 14th and we "partied" on Saturday, after Jack's baseball game. Aunt Jill came up on Friday afternoon and brought Ottie. Mabel showed him all around (as far as her chain would reach) :-)

We all went to watch Jack's Fall Ball game (basically a scrimmage) on Sat morning and then at 12 the bouncy castle was put up and there were children in it till it was taken down at 7 pm that night. :-) We had hot dogs and chips and ice-cream and cake (Sal's very favorites). People from the neighborhood came and went and the kids played ALL day. It's so nice to have kids in the neighborhood that accept Sal and treat her as one of them and not a step below.

We garage saled on Sunday - another favorite of Sal's. SHE was just one big smile ALL weekend!

Uncle Mike is doing well. Aunt Jill gave us the scoop - he had a bedsore and a UT infection so they have to wait for all that to clear up before his next surgery. It's all cleared up now, so they go for a consultation this week for the surgery. I'm not exactly sure what the surgery will do.

Aunt Jill is weary of all the back and forth with the Dr's. I'll tell ya - if you don't think we need insurance reform - maybe you should spend a day in her shoes. It's just UNBELIEVABLE what it's like.

Aunt Jill got home ok last night and was even greeted by Tiny. He's taken to traveling again - with the weather being cooler. He can't stand the heat. :-) He and Miss Kitty ended up in Golden last week (a good 7-10 mile hike). Grandpa loaded Tiny up in the truck and took him back home. I guess he rides with his head in the wind like he's in a parade or something. Poor Miss Kitty rarely gets rides home because she's usually out of site. :-) Wouldn't you LOVE to see video of THOSE travels. :-)

We do the swim team (Sal) and basketball clinic (Jack) tonight. Sally is really loving being involved in this team. Things are going amazingly well with them and their schedules. I even have daycare lined up for them just for tax season. Gotta love my neighbors! :-)

So, for this week, life is good. :-) That could all change in an hour. :-)

Sooooooo Much

Well, I haven't blogged for a long time, huh? Truth be told - I've been angry. Not your normal 'ticked' or on a high horse - but REALLY angry and struggling. So where to start.....



Going backwards: Sal and Jack have started school. Sal is in Jr High now!!! It seems unreal that the tiny baby that wore doll clothes (she was 5 pds) is now in Jr High and is *quite* big. :-) Sally has taken on weight since she was potty trained. I do believe it has something to do with her "holding" herself - and she does this a lot. :-( But I digress... She LOVEs school. She's going right down the street to Hubert Humphrey and so far so good.



Mr Bob picks her up on the "shorty bus" every morn and yesterday she got on and I heard her say to someone in the back "oh, you're here - I missed you yesterday" !!!!!!! OMG! She's growing leaps and bounds - but yet there are those times - like at the dentist the other day when it becomes PAINFULLY obvious how MUCH we have to do.



Jack is Jack. More mouthy this year and I have to *remind* him a LOT that I am NOT his buddy and he cannot speak to me in the tone he does. He came home on Friday and announced that he hated 3rd grade - because they had homework on the WEEKEND!!!! Gasp!!! How WILL he survive. :-) EVERYTHING is a fight with him - and the really exciting part is - I hear from EVERYONE that it only gets worse!!! Oh Joy!!!!


So about me being angry. Well, it's my faith - not that I've lost my faith - I haven't - I've really come away from the whole dogma thing - the whole *religious* thing. I've also had some MAJOR lessons in people. Ok - try and follow me on this:

*I* have always been told how nice it is to be with me because I'm so "open" (for lack of a better word - "not fake") I always took this as a "nice thing people say" (like how are you - they really don't *mean* it - they just *say* it) Because we're all fake. Well, we put on "airs" depending where we are. Like - most of us don't fart at work - or tantrum - or burp - that kind of thing. But I never realized that some people are REALLY fake. Like want the world to think one thing but LIVE - *totally* different. You know, you read it - you see movies about it - it's *other* people - not people in your life that do this - right? Well, because of facebook - I'm seeing that people I really know well are quite the pretenders!!! I even got called on the carpet for being me.

Those that know me - know that there are certain people that I kid a LOT with. One of those people did NOT like that I did this in the open(facebook) and called my husband and "tattled" on me!!! It was HYSTERICAL! I've NEVER encountered grown ups that so RADICALLY pretend. I know, I've lived in a cave evidently. It really ticked me off - at first. But when I stopped tantruming (my childish reaction I try to work on) I realized how really SAD it is.

I don't know how or who or what made me the open this is me kind of person but thank you Lord. Funny, now that I think of it - I couldn't be that way if I wanted to - Sally would SO call me out!!! :-)

Sally - we've started going for a walk when she gets home. We have a new schedule - she goes to school 45 min earlier than Jack and so gets out 45 min earlier - so when she gets off the bus I get her to go potty, put Mabel on the leash and we set out. It's a nice one on one time plus, this way we can all have after-school snack together. Even though the last two times she has stowed away munchies to eat on the way. Yesterday she even took a cup of juice. :-)

The mornings are heaven. Each kid is really out of their elements - Sal's gone before Jack can start the bickering. And since he can get himself ready - I'm done after Sal gets on the bus. So I get almost 45 minutes to get ready on my own!!!

Jack is taking his bike to school now. (3rd graders up can take their bikes). When he asked me about his lock and chain (which cost more than the bike itself) he was amazed that I had never had a bike lock or chain.
"Didn't you ride your bike to school?"
"oh, Yeah all the time. But we never used locks - we knew everyone and knew every one's bike"
I got a look complete with huge eyes and he said "Wow, Mom, where the heck did you go to school?" (I just shake my head) ;-)

Our VA KAY SHUN!

We left for my sister's house in LaPrarie, IL (pop 85)on Sunday morning. We got there around 11:30 and then went into Golden (pop 500) to get my bro-in-law from the Nursing Home. They got a used van with a wheel chair lift and it's really very nice - esp for the price. She leaves it out at the Nursing Home so anyone who wants to pick him up can use it. He had been out to dinner with a friend the night before. This was his first trip back to his house (or the scene of the crime).

It's no small task to load him. The lift brings him up and then he has to recline himself and then we put him into neutral and then push him into the van (once he's reclined the wheel chair won't move) Then put him back in gear so he can sit up. Talk about back seat driver! :-)

His sister - Tee came out and we unloaded and he wheeled all over. That chair is like an all terrain vehicle. He went to the back of the house and looked at where he had fallen and where the helicopter landed and then we sat out in the front yard under the tree and visited.

Aunt Jill made lasagna and deviled eggs - Jack indulged on the lasagna and Sal ate all but 5 of the eggs!!! Not to self: Don't sit Sal by the eggs. :-)

The kids had a ball running all over, playing with the dogs. My sister has 8 cows in her pasture now. They're all preggos and 5 of them are black and look alike. There's also a brown one, beige one and a white faced one with black eye (Popeye). Mabel discovered that she could "herd" them into the back pasture. After the first night they didn't even look at her let alone move when she barked. :-)

When we took Uncle Mike back to the home he was pretty worn out. The next morning they called and his blood pressure was WAY low - like almost dead low. We decided then he prob shouldn't go to the fair with us on the week nights. Seems he gets one step ahead and goes back two. *I* think he's doing too much, too fast. But since I didn't go to med school - ----- :-)

Monday we went to visit Gma and Gpa and had lunch with some people that knew me "when I was just a baby". :-) Our neighbor, Mrs Ihnen's "boy" (he's my Dad's age). He told all kinds of stories about my dad's pitching days. :-) It was pretty entertaining. Their niece, Sally, is who my Sally was named after and so we talked about that.

We went to Tod and Rachel's after that. We were looking at trucks (Bill was) in Camp Point and as we got out - Malachi and Mary Scott came riding by on their way home from Grandma's. We gave Mary Scott a ride home - and didn't beat little brother by much. Rachel appeared very soon after with Elizabeth and new baby, Elijah. Oh, those two make some cute kids. We sat out in their yard and watched the kids swim and Elizabeth played on the swing set. We really enjoy hanging with them.

Bill and I then took a ride out to Tod's new building where he takes round hay bales and makes them into square ones. He designed the machine all by himself. Oh, if our High School teachers could see us now - and they said we'd amount to nothing. :-) The building is HUGE and they're trying to figure out what to do with the front. Tod suggested strip club - Rachel and I laughed politely. :-)

We headed out to the fair - Tod wanted to see the tractor pull. We let Jack, Malachi and Mary Scott go on their own to ride two rides. We then lost them/. :-) Rachel and I walked up and down that midway 50 times. Come to find out they had gone up to the stands and talked to Tod and Bill. THEN they had split up so they could find us easier! Since that fair is really a 2nd home to Tod's kids I wasn't too worried - but you do start to think about what clothes your kid had on. :-)

Tuesday night we went to Aunt Jill's quilt meeting - she had the "lesson". There were a TON of people there. She demonstrated "log cabin" squares. She did a really nice job and a lot of people came up to me afterwards and told me how proud I should be of her and did I quilt. Sally and I sat next to another Sally. :-) My Sally thought it was funny that there were 2 Sallys. My Sally did VERY well during the meeting. She wrote in her notebook and then cut (I had given her scissors) and was quiet the whole night. Her favorite part is that the ladies all go to Dairy Queen after the meeting. :-) Bill and Jack went to see the motorcycle races at the fair. We all got home about the same time and sat outside. That's so much fun - to sit on the porch with all the animals and watch the sky and hear the wild life. :-)

Wed was horse show day and Mary Scott won FIRST prize in her very first time showing and her horse's (Peppy) too. Tod was SO funny - he didn't think she had a chance and so when they called her number he hardly moved - then it started sinking in and he got ALL cocky. :-)

Later in the afternoon was the costume class. The kids and horses are dressed up. Mary Scott got 2nd. Peppy and her were clowns. It was SO cute. The first place was really neat - it was a TOTAL Pink Panther costume that covered the horse's head entirely. It was funny. So we were all on cloud nine when we hit the midway that night. Tod's Mom was there and we got to talk for a while. She's just like Tod. :-)

Jack and Malachi and Elizabeth went with to put Peppy away and they stopped off at Tod's and loaded a trailer and some other things that Jack tried to explain but I really wasn't listening. It's a little scary when Tod is in charge of the children. :-)

We all went to the Demolition derby that night. It wasn't that great. BUT - the kids LOVED it! Jack , Malachi and Mary Scott all went to the very front (where the mud flies) and Sal stayed with us. She didn't even mind the noise and seemed to be really interested in the hits. :-)

Auntie Jill got to hold squishy baby. He's SO good. SO laid back - well, all their kids are like that - Rachel too. 4 kids and NOTHING shakes her up. Of course - living with Tod will prepare you for that. :-)

Thursday we went into Quincy and got all our school shopping done. That night we went to the Harness Racing in Mt Sterling (Brown Co fair) I LOVE that! I could SOOO be into horse racing. I had Sal pick winners for all 10 races and then I had Jack pick and I put bets down on all they picked. We only won about half - but it was still fun. :-) Sally likes it when they bring the winner into the Winner's circle and he gets his picture taken. She thought that when she picked the winner that she should get to go down and get her picture taken too. :-)

We saw all kinds of animals on our travels. Deer, coyotes, foxes and the usual opossum and rabbits. Miss Kitty had to *remind* Mabel that cats rule and dogs drool. :-)

Sally wanted to know why everyone wears a hat (farmers hat) down there. Jack was shocked that we were in "the country".

Now that we're home - Mabel seems VERY depressed. She was outside almost ALL the time down there and she can run where ever she wants. She slept all the way home (Sally and Bill did NOT) and all last night and then all day today. I know who's counting the days till Thanksgiving. :-)

It DID seem short this year. Well, heck the whole summer seemed short. So vacation is over and the real world returns. Woo hoo.

Sickie

Jacky's sick. Headache and temp. Poor guy. Because it's Jack we're very careful to make sure he's not "playing" us. :-) But he actually turned OFF wrestling this morning and laid down. Hes' sick.

But that doesn't stop Sal. She's still picking on him. She finally went to my room (after her life being threatened) and watched George Monkey (Curios George for the rest of you). :-)

I've got quarterly payroll reports due so Bill is coming home at 12 and I'm going in. Why do they always tend to get sick at the most inopportune times. :-)

Weather

Dang! What BEAUTIFUL weather it's been lately. Not too hot - cools off nice at night for GREAT sleeping weather. And best of all --- NO air conditioning! Now THAT'S summer to me.

Growing up we didn't use our air a lot - take that back - we didn't HAVE air. Well, not central air. AFter it became apparent that I was most definitely suffering with allergies and that it was NOT in my head - they put a window air conditioner in my room. But for the most part it's not really NEEDED down south. The houses aren't SO close together and the builders of the homes 100+ years ago knew a little something about cross breezes. These tract homes, I swear, trap the heat.

Plus, as a kid we were never home that much - or at least not INdoors. Jack is a LOT like that. He's begging at 7 to go "knock on doors". We hold him off till 9 - 10 on Sundays - and then he's gone till it gets dark. Well, he checks in once in a while and of course he comes home all ticked off at whoever he's playing with every once in a while - complains about them - and then goes back out to play with them. The joys of being a kid. :-)

Sally has taken "certain" Little People out to the pool this year - they sit on the fence and watch while they each get a turn on the floaty that Sal pushes around. She is obviously the counselor at Camp Davidek and tells them when they've been bad and what their punishment will be. It is very comical.

Jack is on day number 2 of headache. Personally, I didn't think kids GOT headaches - but this boy has had them on and off for a long time. Sometimes they're to the point that he throws up and then feels much better. Honestly, I think the not eating and the lack of sleep is starting to catch up with him. School can't come soon enough for me.

Being a Kennedy

I watched a thing on the Kennedys last night (Hist Channel) and they went on and on about how to be a Kennedy was all about "appearances". It occurred to me that this is NOT a elite thing. We ALL do this. We appear to the public how we WANT to be - not who we really are. Some do more so than others.

For instance - *I* go to work in a skirt and heels. This is NOT who I *really* am. Some people lie on their resume' - this is NOT who they are. So for us to gasp at how the Kennedy's put on airs is kind of funny. Esp in today's world of web pages and such. SO many people lie there.

I wonder about that with Sal. Am I trying to make her fit some kind of "mold" that really isn't *her*. I walk a fine line on that, I have to admit.

Maybe that is something we should all take from these kids. They really don't do ANYTHING for appearances. Sal's hair is now short because she HATES to have her hair combed. Period. She couldn't care less how it looks. She takes you as YOU - not how you look, not how much money you have (or say you have) not what you drive, not where you live, and not by who you are, but by how you treat her. And she's very aware of those things. She can spot bs a mile away (well, all kids can, really). It's as an adult you get sucked in more and more to bs.

So, we have a new resident in Golden IL. When you're a town of only 500 you tend to notice new residents. :-) Mike moved into Golden Good Shepard Home on Friday. From what my sister says he's happy. Has a private room, a nice view and I'm SURE he'll have a LOT of visitors.

Mom said he was received very well by everyone. I bet - it's kind of unusual for them to get someone that young. :-)

Sal and I are starting our walk today. I asked her if she wanted to walk with me every day. You know Sal, she's up for anything. :-)

Time Machine

I obviously entered some kind of time machine over the weekend - it took me back almost 17 years into the same ol' crap. It's amazing how old people can get but still never "grow up". And I'm ashamed to say - I'm right there with them. Or I was. Since it's the month of independence I gave myself permission to be independent from all the bs! Bill and I talked a LOT about it and he thought it best for me to just be done. So I am. And that's all I'll say about that. Confused? Me too.


So, since I've got a renewed spirit I have been doing a little reading and have discovered that the Native Americans had people like Sally too. They considered these people to be 'godlike' and realized they had a true gift.


She continues to amaze me with the connection she has to things that aren't said. I'm also discovering *my* connection. I know, it's a little woo-woo but that's where life is going right now.


Mike comes "home" for a visit this weekend. Talked to Aunt Jill over the weekend (it was her birthday). She had a GREAT time on her quilt trip. It was really good to hear her sound SO much better. I really really worry about her sometimes - someone has to. So he is going to Golden Good Shep and my Mother is busy busy making preparations. :-) I have a feeling he may very well know that "be careful what you wish for" phrase. :-)

I talked to Sally about it this morning and you could just see the wheels turning in her head. She's very familiar with the nursing home due to my mother. She's helped my Mom direct the games and church services there. My Mom is out there a lot. I say "out there" - it's right down the street from my parents' house.

Sal got her last shot yesterday. She is all ready for school and now all I have to do is make copies of everything and then send it in. Can you believe school is right around the corner. In some sense I'm glad and then again it's bitter sweet.

My sister has rented out her pasture and now has cows across the driveway. She was telling me that the weeds are so tall you can't see the cows till they get right up to the fence. This disturbed her dogs because all you could see was weeds moving and you couldn't tell why. She said they barked and paced until finally the cows came wandering up to the fence and then Tiny decided that they were ok. It is such a zoo out there. She said when she came home the other day the dogs had found a hide and had drug it up to the front yard and took turns rolling in it. Ottie - who normally stays inside had to sleep outside that night.

We (the kids and I) went to see Mrs Berg and her daughter play softball on Monday. Mrs Berg coaches . Mrs Berg was Sal's aid last year . You know there should be a different title for that - not that I'm a big title fan but aid just doesn't do her justice. Anyway - Sal had said when we sat down that the blue team was going to win - and they did. Happened that Mrs Berg's team was the blue team! :-) They played REALLY well!!! They're 14u so it was really fun to watch. And dang, the girls' must have had dates afterward because they were done with 7 innings in an hour and a half!!!! We didn't even have time for popcorn! :-)

Works in Progress

What a weekend. I was planning a trip south but Sal's infection put a stop to that. On the 4th we woke up to rain that kept up just enough to make things wet enough to be miserable. We headed to our usual fireworks watching place only to find it blocked off and GUARDED no less, by Bbk's finest. There's good use of tax dollars. We went to the round barn location and watched from there. We were joined by a BUNCH of people who were out of their way nice. Passing soda and cupcakes - mmm - my kind of people.

We had brought a TON of glow sticks and Sally had a BALL passing those out. We had a REALLY nice time.

Today we just took it easy and worked around home. Bill put up the pool again (only to find holes in it). Holes that look a little *too* much like dog teeth. :-( So it looks like we're in for another pool purchase.

Mabel has been pretty good - for Mabel. She's managed not to rush the door every time someone came in (namely Sally) and to reward her, Daddy bought her a swimming pool full of sand. I hid treats all through the sand and tomorrow she will get to find them. :-)

Mabel is scared of fireworks. Pulls an Ottie and sits and shivers the whole time under our bed. It's kind of funny when you know how big and bad she acts whenever anyone walks by .

So all in all it's been a really nice 4th. Tonight is especially nice sitting on the deck and just relaxing.

Have Drs appts tomorrow for the kids to get their school physicals. I think Sally will need shots. I think Jack's ok. Should be interesting.

Trip South Cancelled

I was to leave this a.m. to go to my sister's and then her and I were planning on going to MO - watching Brad ump a Caveman game (MO farm team) , getting a motel room and watching fireworks with Mike and coming back on Sunday - me coming back to my home on Monday.

On Wed I got a call at work that Sally had had an "accident" at the Kane Co Cougar game and would I be at the Park Dist as soon as the bus came. Sure. I'm thinking "accident" of #2 (to spare you gory details).

When I pick her up - she's fine - she had peed her pants. She had used the bathroom like 5 times in an hour and still peed her pants. The smell was distinct - she had a urine infection - I was positive. Dr Wilk and I had discussed this a couple years ago that her having the bowel accidents could very well make infections down there - so I was to be on the look out.

Thurs we got into the Dr and sure enough she has a UTI. The only thing was she was running a temp and Dr is a little concerned that it may mean the infection is in the kidneys. She gave us the antibiotic (5 bottles!!!) and we headed home.

Sal was content to play inside all day - we laid down and watched Blues Clues and then a marathon COPS.

Today she was better - I did send her to camp because she was really pushing to go and it was all day swim - but instructed her aide - to call for ANYTHING. Thus - I'm home this weekend. I just didn't feel comfortable leaving her. You know she'll be fine - but if I had left it would have been in her kidneys - that's just the way things seem to work sometimes.

So my sister is bummed - and I am too. I really wish I could do something for her -but there's really nothing. It's just a LONG rough journey and boy do *I* know it.

The tale from the Dr's appt - you can't go anywhere with Sal that something out of the ordinary doesn't happen. 1st - she wanted to know what the light was for - I'm sure there's a tech name - but she was talking about the light the Dr saddles up to your private area when you're getting a pap smear. When I *delicately* told her what it was for - she gave me a look like I had just told her that for dinner we would be dining on her brother. It was hysterical! I tried to rationalize it with "all women have to go through it". I still think there's some question about her mother's mental health now.

On the way out we got her Rx and the receptionist said "so this is Sally". I had not seen her before and since Wilk left we really hadn't been to the Dr as much. Turned out it was Mrs Einhorn's (teacher at Salk) daughter. I'm not kidding when I say every place you go with Sal - someone knows her. :-)

Bill and I tagged teamed the house today and made a lot of headway. That way we can "play" all weekend and not feel *that* guilty. We need to re-do the pool because *someone* put it up inside out! :-)

Jack is outside for the 2nd night selling stuff in the street. :-) He sold Popsicles last night and tonight it's lemon-aid. He came in all ticked off at Tommy because "he was getting lemon-aide free and he wasn't even working". Those kids play outside from the time they get home till the time they go to bed. We decided tonight we'd run for ice-cream before bed and maybe take a drive.

My Dad's good friend Squirt died yesterday. Dad's kind of down. Even though Squirt had been pretty sick at the end - it's still sad. He was 86. Six weeks ago he was still playing golf. Don't you hope you can go out like that.

"Some" People (not Patty) =)

There are some people in life who just HAVE to make trouble. I think they're referred to as "sh*t stirrers". It's kind of like they're so miserable that they have to make others that way too? Or is it their way of creating drama and therefore giving them something to be pissy about? Or is it that they want so bad to control things that this is the way for them to do it? I think I was like this when I was younger. It was the control thing. I wanted everything to be perfect. Oh how STUPID I was. =) And my, how Sally has put THAT into perspective! :-)

But now I have to deal with people like this. The thing is - it's really quite sad. Sure it's maddening and ticks me off - but it's more sad than anything. I think that's another gift I rec'd with Sal. I can see more deeply into things - I have the time. She really has given me the gift of time. You absolutely cannot rush with Sal - you cannot over schedule. But you must schedule. It's a very crazy life.

Sally's doing well this summer. Summer is very hard for her because there is no set schedule like in school. But camp helps with that a little. She has a GREAT aide at camp too. Jenny (another Jenny) :-) She lets Sally BE Sally. If Sal cries she lets her and just patiently waits and explains what's going on. There are no phone calls to me at work. There are no time outs and talk of "not swimming tomorrow". There was evidently some problems a couple of weeks ago about not following directions but it was only mentioned to me at the end of the day and it was said kind of like "we handled it". Sally seems very happy to be there. Jenny seems very happy to have Sal - *I'm* VERY happy to go to work! :-)

FREEEEEEEE

That's right, baseball season for us (Thunder) is over!!! And I'm VERY happy about it! Now, excuse me while I get on my horse for a moment. If you are one of those parents that yells during the game and criticizes the ump, your kid, or your coach - please go somewhere else - or no, better yet - read and LEARN!!!!



Baseball is a GAME!!!! GAME!!!! GAME!!! Same as Sorry, Chutes and Ladders, Kickball - are you getting this - there is NOTHING that you gain for winning your season, or a particular game. My family happens to be VERY close to a gentleman who pitched the winning World Series Game for the Giants (don't ask me the year). I don't believe ANYONE knows him for that. What I'm trying to say is that he still pays the same as we do for a cup of coffee. His Mom still gets ticked when he forgets Mother's Day and she doesn't remember all his baseball stuff but remembers that he was a good speller or that he could feed the hogs faster than the others. He was one of 8 children - he doesn't stand out any more than the others because he played professional ball. And most people you talk to wouldn't even know his name.



Now, lets talk stats. Statistics say that your kid probably won't even make their High School team - let alone play professionally. AND there's a LOT of ugliness getting to professional ball. I dated a young man when he was in the minors and it was a LOT of EXTRA work - like watering the field and stuff like that - it wasn't all glamorous batting practice and interviews.



So, I ask you - why do you take this very fun game and make it something that is no longer fun? Why do you bicker at the umpire. When you sign your kid up to play you are basically saying that you will accept the umpire's decision - kind of like when you play Sorry and choose your piece - you don't get to decide in the middle that you'd rather be green or yellow because red isn't working out for you.

I can already see that I may not be allowed to go to games anymore. I hear from everyone around me that it gets worse as they get older. ughhhh. So, I broke one of my rules this weekend. I have always tried to live by the rule of "Good Mother's teach their children HOW to think - not WHAT to think" - but this weekend I def. told Jack HOW to think about how the adults were acting at the game.

There's another question that I have for some of you mothers - when your kid brings home a good essay or report card or something from school - do you cheer and give the same positive attention that you do when he/she does something good on the playing field? And if you don't' - what kind of message do you think you're sending? Hmmmmmmm - you can't blame society for putting SO much into sports when you, yourself have started it from a VERY young age.

So that is my little soapbox/high horse speech. My father has always said, since I was WAY young that LL games should be played with no parents/fans. I always thought he was an idiot - I have to say his words are starting to ring true.

More MO

Went south again this last weekend. My bro-in-law was moved to the hospital in Columbia MO because of infection in his lungs. He was there for almost 2 weeks. They put a trachea tube in his throat so they can suction all that crud out.

I drove south on Saturday morning. I didn't know at the time that they had moved him back to the rehab center. The plan that day was to get there - have a bite with Mom - be my sister's date to a wedding in which her youngest was the best man, get up early Sunday morn and drive to Columbia and then come back to Bbk on Monday morning.

Best laid plans....... The first thing that was up was that the "bridge" going into San Jose was out. I say bridge because that's what the sign said - but I do believe the creek that this bridge (culvert) went over was only about 2 foot wide. But I had to find a way around that. Ugghh. After that little escapade I got to my sister's and my little Mabel dog actually jumped OUT of the passenger side window! I get my crap out of the truck - hang out with the dogs for a couple of minutes and head in. To find my sister getting ready for this wedding already!

So, I got ready and we piled into her car and were off to Quincy (about another hour). The wedding was really beautiful. Lance Musick (Mick's best friend - who've I've known most of his life) and Kristie - who I did not know. But we had a really nice time.

We got home - let Mabes out of the cage and she was off. I did get her back in but she and Ottie decided at 3 a.m. they needed to be outside. I got Ottie back in - but Mabel decided she wanted to hang with the big dogs.

We got up and out of the house by 7 on Sunday and made it to Columbia with no problems - I sat in back ........ with Ottie. That's right we took Ottie to see his daddy. :-) When I emerged from the car it looked like my sweater was cashmere. :-)

Mike was in a GREAT mood. He was up and out in the community room. You should have seen the smile on his face when he saw Ottie. Because of the trache he couldn't talk so it was a full day of charades and wheel of fortune! :-) It was hysterical.

We got home and collapsed. My sister went to work at insane o'clock on Monday and I got up around 6:30 and *tried* to get Mabel in the car. After chasing very close to Cindy's I gave up. Went into Golden, had breakfast ( this was all done without coffee and by this time I was in a *mood*) with the folks and then Dad and I went back out to Missy's to find........ that's right - sitting on the porch just as sweet as could be. I could have killed her. She has no idea how close she was to becoming a farm dog.

So by the time I got to Bolingbrook home looked pretty good. Hubby had cleaned the kitchen and living room and put the downstairs bathroom tile in. Man, it was GOOD to be home.

Summer camp is in full swing. Jack lost a tooth after banging his head playing tag. The tooth was loose anyway.

He made a GREAT play at 2nd last night. I taught him how to "take the plate" tonight and how to stare down a pitcher. Also told him about "meat". :-) Also told him to keep that foot planted. He looks like a Ballerina out there.

Tomorrow is field trip day - they're going to a movie. Hopefully we can get some laundry done this weekend and just take it easy. Maybe even put up the pool. :-)

Clapped Out.

Sally and the rest of the 5th grade were clapped out of JES today. The 5th graders gather in the gym and the rest of the school then lines the hall ways and the 5th graders parade through the hallways and out the front of the building while all the kids and staff clap. It's very cool and yes, I cried - but I was standing next to Mrs Harvacek and she had a box of kleenex so I was in good company. :-)



Then all the hugs from my team - well, most of the school because they have ALL had a hand in teaching (and learning from) Sally. They have all become part of her family and man are we going to miss them - but I have a feeling we'll keep in touch.



Mrs Gudjonis just got in contact with me and she was Sal's 2nd grade teacher that had moved to Vegas. Her first question "How is our gal Sal?"



I'm planning on making the trip south again this weekend. Then we'll truck over to MO - via our "secrect shortcut" :-) . I'm kind of looking forward to some quiet time on the road. Just me and Mabes again. :-)



I got all the stuff planted last weekend - but had to put everything up front because of my little digger dog.

Transistions

Bill and I went to observe a program in the district called "Low Incidence" - the one that Sally would go to is housed in Jane Adams. The focus there is more life skill than academics. It's VERY nice. They have a whole kitchen set up to learn to cook and clean up along with washer/dryer. Very interesting.

We did decided, though that we want to continue with the original plan of her going to Humphrey to the Cross Cat. class. The nice thing is - we're not locked into anything - we can call a meeting and do something else at anytime.

Mabel had a tick this morning. It was pretty big, too - which surprised me. She's so short haired that you feel the bump immediately and she usually sits with me enough that I think I would have felt that.

Kyle as in a car accident this weekend. So close to home that he had his blinker on to turn into the driveway. He had a seizure and hit a tree. Things are pretty serious and Lon went to help out.

He's such a good kid and he's been through SO much. Things like this get to me. The whole, why? Why him? When is enough enough?

Mike has been sick and was taken out of rehab and to the hospital. I'm not sure if he's back in rehab now or not.

Feels very gloomy in my life lately.

We Only Argue with an Umpire in Our Mind - right mom?

Oh - ya just gotta love Jack. He says some of the most profound things. We had baseball at 10 am today. As I've mentioned - the house is up for grabs lately - so finding the mitt and batting gloves was a challenge this morning - so when we get there we're all a little frazzled.

It dawns on Bill that Jack's batting gloves and mitt are with the coach - that at the last game he had told the kids to leave their stuff and go to the concession stand and when Jack and Bill had come back everything was gone and Bill then assumed that the mitt and gloves were with the coach and no biggie - we'll get it next game. Soooooo - Bill asked the coach - nope they don't have anything.

Well, as I may or may not have mentioned previously I am NOT a big fan of this coach. I have really tried to give him the benefit of the doubt - but to be very honest he's gotten worse as the season has gone on. So now Bill is starting to get ticked too.

As with every other game Jack gets to sit out the first time they take the field after batting. It's like a tradition now. And as he's in the dug out - low and behold he finds his batting gloves ---- IN the coaches bag!!!!!! Hmmmmm - interesting - but hey - we'll address things later. Come the 4th inning - Jack is sitting out AGAIN!!!!! Ok - NOW Mom and Dad are pissed. This is still an INSTRUCTIONAL league!!!!!! There are children that have NEVER sat out and guess what - HUGE co-incidence- they're the coaches kids! Hmmmmm

We're in the 5h inning now (we only play 6) and there's a call at 3rd base - Ump calls OUT on our team. Our coach (butt-munch) screams "How so?" Ump says again"Out" and throws up a fist. Our coach (butt-munch) starts screaming again - oh and did I tell you - the ump is ...... a 5th GRADER!!!!! As I said - ours is still an INSTRUCTIONAL league and we have KID umps. Both at plate and outfield. Coach (butt-munch) makes a big huge issue of it and ump now calls safe (almost in tears ) - now here's the real kicker: The ump - well, he's the kid of the coach we're PLAYING and that coach - well, he's on the LLeague board AND was the fall ball coach last year and is VERY good, VERY fair, VERY NON-"my kid is perfect - and that's all I'm here for", and just a all around NICE guy who volunteers a lot with the kids. HE holds his temper - just a couple of sarcastic words that only the adults caught (not coach butt-munch).

After the game there were some words - and coach(butt-munch) would NOT leave it alone! We stayed around because I was almost sure that if Coach Bob didn't hit him his wife was going to. (and personally, I would have helped hold him down).

Bill and I both talked to the ump - who happens to be in Sal's class and, like his parents is a VERY good kid, not a mean bone in the kids' body - seriously - I've always thought the world of him and now I REALLY do.

So, when we get into the car we talk to Jack about how the coach was SOOOO wrong and that's when we were told "yeah, you only argue or correct an umpire in your head, right, mom?" :-) I smiled ALL over myself. He gets it. He really does. I told him again how baseball was a game and that games teach us about life and how we want to live it. We talked about how yes, they won but in a nasty, embarrassing way where feelings were hurt and the victory was lost in all the crap that was done. We also talked about how even adults make mistakes but that the sign of someone really worth their salt is that even if you do loose your temper that you apologize. Which butt-munch, of course, did not.

There is ONE good side to this: Butt-munch is trying to get on the Little League board - well, I don't think that's going to happen now. Like I said - we're not the only ones who like Coach Bob - he's a power player in the league and THIS will NOT sit well with the other members. HoooRAH! Sometimes life IS fair and people DO get what they deserve! :-)

Zoo, Zoo, Zoomy Zoom Zoo

Bill and I chaperoned the last field trip for our 5th graders to the zoo. We had a RIOT! We had the usual: Quin and Sal and then Brian, Cresada and Diana. Diana I knew from her helping with Sal's projects and Cresada I knew from her riding around the neighborhood with Jacob. We had a TON of fun. We let them do the map and direct us to what THEY wanted to see. They did this VERY well - worked great as a team and listened to what each other wanted.

They stayed together very well, I felt more like *I* was on the field trip and they were chaperoning me. AND they were ALL very aware of time and when we needed to be back at our bus. Really confirmed my faith in kids.

We also had Mike and Karen on the bus with us. Bill decided we'd have a GREAT graduating class - as long as no one moves. :-)

Cresada taught us how to catch grapes in our mouth. Diana taught us how funny it is when you miss the grapes. Quin taught us how sometimes he likes to talk just to talk. Brian didn't say much but smiled all over himself. :-)

We had no electricity for most of the morning before we left and when we got to school we saw the Challenge students having to be told about the darkness and that they shouldn't freak out. Bill turns to me and says "the *gifted* kids have to be *told* that it's dark?" I smiled and Mrs Legner laughed. Mr O is SO into the *gifted* word and how much better his kids are so it was kind of funny.

Lon and I traveled the country last night to be with Annette at the Depot. We have SUCH a good time. Annette is doing so well she hardly has time for book work anymore. THATS a good problem to have!!! Lonnie and her are a riot together. She reminds me a lot of my sister.

So today we do the baseball thing and then I told Bill the house needs an enema. It's bad. I have slacked SO much this last week. It's weird how Mike's status makes stress all through the family.

Mike: My brother-in-law is still at Rusk Rehab and isn't doing as well. He's got some kind of bug and has been on intravenous stuff for the last couple of days. They (staff) had a meeting Wed about his prognosis but I don't think my sister got to talk to anyone. She's been working the overtime pretty good. Her factory may be closing soon. It just seems like more and more bad news from that area. I'm thinking maybe next weekend I can go down again. Wish I could wriggle my nose and be there - I'd live with her for a couple of weeks - just to make her life more crazy. :-)

Lord, grant me the PATIENCE!!!!

As usual the day started off with children bickering. Jack was especially a grumpus. Nothing was right. But when I picked them up tonight and offered to take him to my office and make a copy of his favorite story out of his reader I was back in his "mother of the year" vote. :-)

So, more about my trip down south. Some history before I tell the tale: My sister (Jill) is 11 years older than I am. When she was 16 she got to take the car (and me - as always) to the movies with explicit instructions to go there and come right home. Well, we didn't. So when we got home I skipped into the house and the folks asked me "how was the movie?"

"Fine, till we hit the ditch" I said.

Soooooooo this last weekend my sister and I were allowed to take my folks' car again - only this time we had to take my Mom. This was my Dad's idea "because of the last time we took the car". :-)

When we set off Jill drove and I got to sit shotgun and be wingman (read the map S) . So, after reading mapquest off to her and driving about 2 1/2 hours she says "oh, this looks familial". Now, this being said - wouldn't you drop your guard and not pay attention to the map anymore? YES, you would - I know you.

So this is what I did. Only after a lot more driving she decides we've gone too far and turns around and then makes a left into what she thinks is Columbia MO. Only it's not. And as we cross the MO river I say "was that the MO river?"

"yes." she says
"I think we're in Jefferson City "
"no, we're not."
"But isn't Jefferson City the capital of Mo? And doesn't that look like a capital building?" I ask seeing a looming domed building on the horizon.
"there are all kinds of buildings like that. Look at Carthage it has a building like that. We're not in Jefferson City."

I then shut up and we make our way to a gas station and when we walk in and my sister begins to get directions she asks "well where are we?"

"you're in Jefferson City ." The two teethed old man replies.

How about that. So then it becomes all my fault because I didn't *say* anything. :-) So I guess my Dad's idea didn't work too well, because my Mom (with her own map in the back seat) didn't say anything either. :-)

We did find Columbia after that and the hospital and settled in for a visit. The trip back to my Mom and Dad's house was non-eventful.

Lord, we have a good time together. It was nice to get out without the hub and the kids too.

My goofy little dog rode on the center console most of the trip south. She likes to see the road and all the goings on. When we came back she slept the whole way. :-)

My nephew(Brad) got a new job. He is now the principal of Carthage High School - only I think they've consolidated with a couple of other schools because they have a name like Western IL or something like that. I didn't get to see him or Mick - I got there too late to go to Gus Macker.

I also forgot to look at my buddy's new Hay Store Building. I'm not exactly sure what they're calling the business - but as we went through Camp Point I forgot all about it. I'm sure I'll get a tour the next time I have some time "back home".

Books to Write

I traveled south this weekend and my sister and I went to visit my bro-in-law in rehab in MO. As I was driving home to my house on Monday (4 hours ALL to myself - :-) I got to thinking about all of their stuff and decided maybe I should write a book about it all. "Wheelchairs in the Real World". You know, we've heard from Christopher Reeves - what about the average middle class family and how a accident of this proportion "reforms" your life. I'm going to put some words down and see how it goes.

Our visit - well, he can move his hands better - enough to operate the joystick on a wheelchair but not enough to feed himself. He's getting some feeling back but they are still saying about a 20% chance of walking again. I'm really hoping the next 3 weeks have some miracles in store.

As we were sitting and talking before I went home we both realized we were now BOTH in the world of special needs. She had to learn the OT and PT lingo (occupational therapy and physical therapy) , he had a speech therapist visit, we are both riding the information highway on how best to care for our loved one in the future, we both have to purchase special items to help our loved ones succeed and we both worry a lot about the future.

So, I told her "Welcome to Holland" (a special needs poem ) and we both cried. :-)

Mabel (the subject of several children's books I have in mind) cornered a raccoon this weekend. The problem was that the coon was out in the hot middle of the day and he/she wasn't running away - even when Missy got Mabe into the car. So we kept the dogs in till later and when we went outside we found Mr Coon had climbed up into the tree and he was so sickly he wasn't moving. We called Tim to bring his gun over and he shot him out of the tree.

I think Mabel was quite proud of herself. Her and Tiny went out to the pasture that night and barked at the coyotes so they wouldn't come any closer. My, did we feel protected. :-)

Mabel also helped plant the field next to Missy's house. She ran after the tractor just like a farm dog. :-) She also thought she was big stuff because she got Chunk's bone and hid it. She just pranced around with it in her mouth.

She's Really Growing Up!

Sal went to her first Jr High social last night. It was just for the incoming 6th graders. She was a little intimidated at first - she didn't want me to leave - but then she spotted Connie from down the street and globed on to her. She then turned to me and said "Ok, you leave".

Don't ask me why - but as I was walking down the hall I started crying. Lord, I'm a mess. Sal started her school life at the tender age of 3. I put her on a bus knowing she had a 45 minute ride to school - never shed a tear. Kindergarten came and went - still nothing. But at a stupid social I'm bawling like someone has just taken my baby. CRAZY!

So this morning I asked her how it went. I had dropped her off and then went to a Lia Sophia party at my friendly farmer's house. :-) She was in bed by the time I got home. So I asked her how things went and who she hung out with. From what I could get out of her she had a good time and she met a new boy, Ryan, from another school!!!! ;-) So I was happy that she is already making new friends.

Jack got a HIT at baseball last night!!! A double! And guess what - I wasn't watching! I was talking to another Mom! :-/ Ok, unless Bill is with me, I rarely talk to people - not that I'm rude - if they talk - I talk - but I don't seek people out usually like Bill does. But this lady was there from last time and we had talked before and she had her dog with her and I was admiring her dog. So, as I sat back down to watch - I noticed Jack was on 3rd! Did he get a hit? I ask? Another Mom says "yeah, a double"! Holy Cow! Jack has been SO upset lately because he hasn't gotten a hit. So THIS is the secret - I just can't watch! :-)

And for another chapter in the Mabel story: Mabel finds a wasp nest. Up inside of our grill is a very small wasp nest - maybe even bee - I don't know - they don't really bother us but Mabel has found them and puts her nose right in the hole and howls at them. It is funny - as soon as any of them move she pulls her nose out and jumps. It's funny to watch.

I'm planning on going south this weekend to visit my sister and then ride with her to see her hubby - who I hear, is wheeling around in an electric wheel chair. (which is scary - knowing how he drives a vehicle). But I can't decide if I should take Mabel or not. I know she would LOVE to go running in the country again. We'll have to see.

Mabel Mabel Mabel

I swear I have to write a book about Mabel. "Mabel Goes To School" - now you're thinking I'm making that title up - Nope. You're thinking "well, she went over to the school yard and was playing with the kids". Nope. She got IN the grade school (before the kids got there) and was running through the halls. The janitor cornered her and called Animal Control. When I pick Mabel up from Animal Control (and I've done this MANY times) you can tell right away that she's there - there's this one lone howl... ughhh.

Mabel went to a birthday party last weekend. No, she wasn't invited and no, she didn't bring a gift. But she got a piece of pizza anyway.

Mabel visited the neighbor dog this morning (Scooter Pie - I added the pie). Scooter usually likes Mabel - they run back and forth in the back yard with the fence between them - BUT when Mabel squeezed UNDER the fence and was in Scooter Pie's face - well, then he didn't think too much of Mabel. She'll squeeze back under for a piece of bacon.

Mabel jumped over the railing of the deck today. Thought for sure she was going to hang herself - I grabbed the other end of the chain as fast as I could and when I leaned over the railing to see how she was - here she was looking up at me with that "what?" face she does so well.

Mabel likes to take George Monkey off of Sally's bed WHEN she's playing school with him and race to the living room with Sally in the chase SCREAMING at her.

Mabel likes to eat toothpaste and will stretch as high as she can to try and get the tube off the counter or even lick the counter if someone forgets to wipe up drips.

Mabel LOVES coffee and if someone forgets this and absentmindedly leaves their cup on the coffee table it will be gone when you come back.

Mabel loves to lay in the sun and is especially fond of the new deck furniture. She will find the smallest crack of sunlight, drag her cushion over to it and lay all curled up in it.

Mabel likes to wrestle and play "bite girl" with Jack. She plays "pinned" and when you let her up she jumps as high as she can and bites whatever is in the vicinity of her teeth. Usually one of Jack's fingers.

Mabel LOVES to chase birds and is very determined to catch one. She even watches them out the window and then howls till they either fly away or get out of her sight.

Mabel does just enough tricks just enough times to keep Daddy thinking she can stay.