What happened?

Kipper is now 4.5 months old....he's so dang big, he could eat a toddler at this point. And he enjoy's peeing on your foot when he's excited......nice....my crocs have been clorox wiped so many times it's so wonder they have color. Who's idea was this anyways? 

I love Shoes!

I love Bazooka Joe High Top sneakers, that's what I love! You have to admit these are dang cute! Called the man from Walmart and said do you think kids would beat Perry up if he wore Bazooka Joe gym shoes? He's like um...yes....do not buy those. Hung up and put them directly in my cart. Hello they were $5! Got to the register....$3, the man can shut the hell up. Perry loves them, and I think he can hold his own if someone trys to woop up on him.....actually he'll be like his mama and be a trend setter.....WHO CALLED THE CROC PHENOMINON. Thank you! I bet Crocs are Oprahs "My favorite things show...." Who knows she might have Bazooka Joe Sneaker....it's even a brand, how cool is that?
SUESSICAL THE MUSICAL

We saw Suessical this weekend and it was awesome. Perry loved it, now I need the soundtrack. It was so colorful and lovely. Really funny, and incorporated a lot of Dr. Suess's books. The main character Horton is my favorite, and from my absolute favorite Suess book. Horton Hears a Who, and now I can't find mine. It was my favorite when I was a kid, grandma used to read it too me, along with if you put me in
the zoo...and the Sleep Book....But I remember Horton, because he said "A persons a person no matter how small", cause I was always the shortest. Ok this could be a first here on my blog.....

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Cyndi....Happy Birthday to you!!!! She's 35 today everyone wish her a happy birthday....dang she looks good for 35!

I should really consider going to bed now good Lord it's almost 2am.

Cincykids 06

Good Times! I think it's going to be a huge thing someday like SOS. I am sure that's encouraging to VCC staff, as long as it's just 3 evenings and not 5 entire days. They pretty much live at the church during SOS....long crazy days. It was wonderful, for it's inaugural year. Perry had fun. Such cute stories from the block party today. Block party= Vineyard providing everything needed to throw a block party in an low income neighborhood, everythings free, lunch included. Music, games, prizes, raffles....love on a neighborhood for an afternoon. I didn't get to go, I was at work so I sent Geegaw. Signed her up to take tickets for prizes with Perry. I was curious how this would work to attempt to get 6-12 year olds to help, when you'd know they'd want to play. And play they did, although many of them helped a little. I guess the best part was that our kids were basically playing alongside the kids from the neighborhood, Hartwell for those local folks. That's when the ministry started to happen. Just for our kids to who can experience that stuff often, experiencing it with kids who wouldn't normally get to do that kind of thing.

They were sharing prize tickets, sharing prizes, and all having a blast together. So many cute stories shared this evening from the block party. With the help of some hand genstures, and strategic stomping Perry learned his bible verse.

Acts 1:8 "but the Holy Spirit, will come upon you and give you power, then you will tell everyone about me, in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world." One of the best scriptures ever!

They did a little salvation prayer thing at the end. So cute. It was after the awesome juggler evangelist named Jessie. He was great. So they had a little altar call, and almost all the kids went up. Perry didn't, he stayed in his seat, but as she was saying the prayer of salvation. I looked over and he had his little praying hands on, with his little eyes closed, repeating the prayer right along with her, all by himself no prompting. Yeah it got me a little misty myself, so sweet. The interactive prayer rooms were probably my favorite part. Perrys favorite was the super cool juggler. I'll post more picture tomorrow....I'm wore out.

Hands and Feet

I know I've been a blog slacker all week. I throw in one activity, and my life is consumed. Perry and I are doing Cincykids. The Vineyards version of VBS sort of, but not really. They never do things that are normal, but always good stuff. Good God stuff going on with the kids. Worship songs, a memory verse (Act 1:8), bible lessons about Peter and John healing the lame man, and all sorts of fun stuff. My favorite part by far has been the interactive prayer rooms. So cool, it really grabs the kids attention to show them that prayer is truly dialogue between you and God and it can be totally interactive. I took some pictures tonight of parts of one of the rooms. Stuff like praying about taking a leap of faith and loving those who are different than you. At which point the kids got to hop on some pillows. Praying for kids who like to do the same things you like to do, and while you pray for them draw a picture on this big banner of what you like to do. Perry drew a picture of a TV, I drew a scrapbook. Praying for those who haven't been nice to you or may have said mean things to you, while doing that they got to write their prayer on a heart and stick it to a picture of a bully. Those are just a few examples. So cool. I hope to take more pictures of of some of the things tomorrow. Tomorrow, mom and Perry are headed out to help with a block party in Hartwell as part of Cincykids, to show God's love in a practicle way. So if you aren't busy head over to Vine and Galbraith to the Hartwell Community Center to play some games and hang out and have fun with some kids from a different neighborhood. It's from 11 to 2pm........If you can't make it, send up some words the weather is nice and not too hot, my mom's an old lady.

Amazing!

We sat in awe of these ginormous Hot Air Balloons, lauch right over top of us. Simply Amazing. This was my favorite shot of the day.....so cool, they inflated them right in front of us in a large field, in Middletown, Ohio. This was the final launch of the weekend, all the others were in an airfield farther away from the park. How lucky we chose the final launch to check out.




 

It's a Date

So I have a date with a younger man at 9:30 pm. So I guess you are wondering whatever for? Well it's this little thing called Toontown, it's this game you subscribe to, and in so doing you get to defeat Cogs (robot bad guys), with a toon you created yourself. And you can interact with other toons who are hanging out in toontown.....CRAZINESS.....You get toon tasks to complete and with each task you complete you get access to more of toontown....SWEET! I have a Toon, P has a Toon, and Ron has a toon....not to mention, my co-worker and her family, they all have toons. So her son is super excited that I am a resident of Toontown....so I am to meet him at the Gagshop at 9:30....cool....if I make him my friend he can use his Jellybeans to buy me a present.

Ok I just read through all of that and I am a little bit scared of me.....

Art Love....

At the end of my first successful small group, I asked everyone to write down things they liked about everyone in the small group and give it to them. Or they could be creative and do something fancy. I can't remember what I did honestly it was like 2 or 3 years ago. 2 of the guys in the group got really creative. One made us all magnets with our names on it and the other made me this flippin sweet bowl. He's got major pottery throwing skills. This is amazingly cool, he's so creative. And me the non-hugger......gave him a hug, in front of a crowd of people at church. This is definately something for Stacies Art and Faith blog! 

I Scrapped....

Yes I know it's nearly 3 am....but it's what I do. I scrap, then I post what I scrapped, it's how I role. It's almost that time again to start making ATC's for Stamp Away. I got some practive for a RMH swap, and I used Connie's Art Declassified stamps....love them....need to get me some, or hang out at Connies more often.




With the creation of this 3 page spread. I am officially done scrapping last years summer camp. Now on to this years. It never ends.....and Thank God for that!

God's Plan....

So when you are in the midst of a crisis, you don't necessarily consider, hey this right now may not be part of God's plan. You just keep thinking "I" have a plan and this is how it goes. Forgetting that God is the one clearly in control. Duh! Boy I was somewhat of a pathetic mess 2 days ago. I got my hopes up and had told myself I wouldn't do that. I heard back from Springer and she mentioned briefly that we'd be better off waiting until the following school year. So the doors not completely shut. I still haven't a clue why, as in details, I know he has a borderline IQ score, which makes it difficult to label him for sure. Funny when he started school I was reluctant to even go down that road of labels. But once you know what it is that is wrong with your kid and know how to treat it, it makes a world of difference. That doesn't mean I am always willing to inform folks upfront that theres something "different/special" about Perry, because they then form an opinion about him before they even meet him. Which I think is what happened with Springer partially, and it could have very well effected her approach to him. I'm sure he picked up on that vibe. She had access to his entire file before even meeting him. There are people he warms up to immediately, and isn't shy around at all upon first meeting others, he is shy around. His basketball coach, was very warm to Perry and Perry responded positively to him immediately, because I think the coach could tell Perry was going to be some extra effort on his part, and he took that time to be one on one with him, this really helped Perry feel like a part of the team.
So now I get on my armor to take on the public school system. Prepare myself to be assertive and make sure he gets the help he needs. Possibly throw in a parent advocate for good measure. Keep prayin.

Why I do what I do....look at that silly grin....

Jeremy....

I think Jeremy Camp is my latest musical love. Thanks Spirit Song and Cyndi! Through my most recent major meltdown, instead of turning to Limp Bizkit to let out my frustrations, I turned to Jeremy....and found it to be a bit more healthy. Take my Life for instance, he gets pretty loud, and says what needs to be said, and he's not cussing someone out. Ahhhh....theraputic indeed. Although at one point in that song he says "I can place you on my shoulder, and know that you are there......." Which to me sounds a bit comical, I picture Tom and Jerry, when Jerry would have an angel on one shoulder and a devil on another. Other than that it's a great song.

Thanks so much to everyone for your kind comments, your prayers, and making me feel genuinely loved. It's means a lot to me. Thanks Heather for your comments...or as my husband referred to it as your "mini blog", LOL.....it was a tremendous help. Thanks for being real smart in an area I otherwise would not know much about. Makes me greatful to God for planting folks in your life that live clear across the country. If you ever need help getting a life insurance policy reinstated I'm your girl. Or I can cook a decent meal. Just don't ask me to do a cartwheel....cause well that wouldn't be pretty. And thanks to Cyndi for going to get Coldstone with me, something about good ice cream and a listening ear, erases the calories and fat grams you are consuming.

I e-mailed the lady at Springer, just like Heather told me to, shared my thoughts and asked a few questions, I'm back in the game. Keep sending up words.

CAUTION....

I am a women scorned, is that a phrase? Not even sure it's an accurate statement to describe how I feel. I feel like crap. So many questions and not even sure how to even begin to form them. Why does God give you a peak of how life could be only to not give it to you? Or maybe he is going to give me what I want or desire, he's just making me work really really hard for it. I don't get it, why, what's it all for? For those of you keeping up with the saga that is my life, with a child with special needs, lets have a little recap shall we.

First I'd like to thank all the folks (like 3 maybe) who read my blog on a regular basis. To those of you who have left kind comments to let me know you are thinking about me. And to those who are sincerely have been keeping us in your prayers, I feel it, I know God has a plan, he's just keeping it top secret, for whatever reason.

Now lets recap....

In March Perry completed his evaluations with Childrens hospital, and was diagnosed with a language based learning disability. Diagnosed may or more may not be the correct term since I'm not so sure anyone has actually said "Perry has a language based learning disability, although all the therapists in their reports said "it could be".....why can't anyone be straight with me....and just freakin say this is what he has. The entire report has conflicting information, like them asking me questions and them taking it in a different way and typing stuff out of context....wow feel like a misquoted celebrity. There was only a few instances in the rather lengthy report. For the most part it appears to be an accurate assessment. When we went for our closing interview with Dr. Mason when all the evaluation were complete.

She reccommended Springer. This is the first I had heard of the place, but it sounded interesting, ecspecially after the 2 years in hell otherwise known as public school IEP-BS! So I began investigating. The website described children much like Perry. And lucky us, there was an Open house in a few weeks. This was April. Ron and I attended the Open House. As different administrators descibed Springer and their philosophy on teaching and the types of kids they help to succeed in life, I wanted to cry because it was just so perfect. Like you know that sigh of relief sort of thing.....like someone might actually understand what's going on with my kid. Then we heard the cost of the tuition.....which was like paying for college. And our hearts sank there was no way we could afford it. I took a financial aid form and split, thinking we probably make to much money to qualify, and too little to actually pay for it. I sent it in reluctantly. And heard back from them that we scored 50% tuition aid. It was still pricey but completely doable. Felt like God was on my side. So we met with the admissions director, Ron and I. She had looked over Perry's rather lengthy file, seeing that his IQ was lower than they usually see in their students, and he had some social skill issues they don't normally see. She wasn't sure Perry would be a good fit for Springer. Yeah I know I was devastated too.......How could she say all this having never met the kid? His IQ score is 75-77 for those of you who know what that means. However the therapist who did the test at Childrens said in his report that those numbers should not be considered since he has other focusing issue that could hinder him from being tested properly HELLO, did she skim that part? She said she'd take Perry's file and have a meeting with other administrators, and come to a decision if they wanted to move forward with the admission process. UGH.....

Finally heard back from her, although much longer than she had said it would take. Not sure how that happened but I lose track of time too, it happens. She said they'd like to move forward with the admissions process the next step was for Perry to visit the school. We scheduled a date. Which was today.

I did everything I knew to do to prepare him for the visit. I talked about what kind of school it was. I told him when we'd be going and what I thought we'd do while we were there. I show'd him pictures from their website of what it looked like. I show'd him some things they do there, ect....He was excited. Said he might make new friends at his new school and that would be fun. So we head out, we get to the school and met the admissions director, who is a lovely lady, she reminds me of Cheri Oteri from SNL, the one who did the crazy lady on the porch who'd yell "it's mine I keep it.." and she did the spartan cheerleader with Will Farrel, but I digress....so she's nice. She asked Perry if he'd come back and talk with her in her office for a few minutes, and then they'd take a tour of the school. He was ok with that and went back with her. They were gone at the most 10 minutes. She came out and said that she thought they'd do the tour first. She stated he was pretty much unresponsive to any question she'd ask. Yeah that's cause he don't know you.

So we walked around and he was acting kind of shy, and not saying ANYTHING, he'd point at the ceiling in the artroom that had planets on it and said "cool", but expressive in anyway he was not. She'd ask him general questions like how is this school different than your school, and he'd give a one word response..."bigger"....we finished the tour, which was rather short. We went back to her office, and she said "maybe your mom can come back with us would that make you feel better, he shrugged then nodded......she had a paper with general questions like favorite holiday, what do you like about school, favorite toy, pets name, ect......yeah he answered none of it. As far as I could tell. So she sat right next to him at her desk I was behind them, so she was pretty close, asking him questions and waiting....in silence for a response. "what's your favorite holiday?......." He would look around, squeeze his lips together and look at me....as if to say why is she asking all these questions....I DON'T KNOW HER.... I had this sick feeling in my stomach as I sat back and watched this back and forth of nothingness. Knowing that him getting to go to Springer was going to be solely based on his file of low IQ scores and this strange meeting with the admissions director. It's like the people who are suppose to know the most about kids with learning disabilities, do the things to them that they have to know aren't going to work, as if they are set up to fail. As we ended the meeting of nothingness which lasted a total of less than 45 minutes, she said "we're kind of stuck aren't we?" You think? She said "we'll keep in touch, I'd like to see him here but maybe next year....." That's it? You aren't going to take my kid in your school, because he won't answer your questions about his life? HE DON'T KNOW YOU! Apparently shy kids don't go to Springer. Did you happen to notice LANGUAGE BASED LEARNING DISABILITY?

I am so freakin confused. What was I suppose to do beg? Answer the questions for him? Explain to her it'd be helpful if you got to know him a little bit before you drilled him with question after question and then just sit there while he doesn't answer. As she was behind me, and I was leaving, I had to walk away no eye contact because I was going to cry. And cry I did in the car. I was mad, and I lashed out a tiny bit at Perry. Why not just answer her simple questions? Why not? Why not be your charming cute self you normally are on any other given day? Why clam up when I need you to talk? WHY? Why not draw her a picture something to show your personality? So we went to Deweys, and I sat alone at the table and discreetly wiped my tears, while my non-interactive kid interacted with the pizza making guys, as he watched them toss dough through the window. Waving, smiling and playing peek-a-boo. So I sat a cried.......what happens now? I don't know. I'm numb......

Tagged....officially....

Ok Kathryn tagged me via e-mail. Although I wasn't in her top 4 of people who would respond...I am. Before I do that I have to say the word BOOBIES....makes me laugh! Say it outloud, bet you laugh! Ok...tagged right, here goes....

How well do you know me?
Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Life Insurance Administration
2. 411 Directory Assistance Operator
3. Assistant Lodge Manager
4. Kings Island Food Service Supervisor

Four movies I would watch over and over
1. Life is Beautiful
2. Millions
3. Mansfield Park
4. Napoleon Dynamite

Four places I have lived:
1. Mt. Healthy, Ohio
2. Clifton, OH ( college)
3. Columbus, Georgia
4. College Hill, Ohio

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. Greys Anatomy
2. Dirty Jobs
3. Little House on the Prairie
4. Dick Van Dyke Show

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Smokey Mountains
2. Ocean Isle Beach
3. Cub World
4. Virginia Beach

Four websites I visit daily:
1. Rocky Mountain Hobbies
2. 2Peas
3. National City Bank
4. A whole bunch of blogs

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Beef Jerky
2. Almonds
3. Chipotle
4. Lu Lu's (chinese noodle place)

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Camping Anywhere
2. Downstairs Scrapping somemore
3. Mexico
4. At a broadway play

Ok if you don't have a blog, I can still tag you, send me an e-mail with your answers. If you do have a blog and you are reading my blog.....you are tagged....do this and leave me a comment that you did it on your blog. Woohoo...good times.

Hooray for Boobies.....

Ha Ha Ha.....after Connie's mention of leaking boobs, not something you see mentioned on my blog, as my child is 9 years old and even when he was a baby I only breast fed for 1 whole day, so no mention of leaky boobs around here. Although my new favorite song entitled "The Bad Touch, by the bloodhound Gang, off the album Hooray for Boobies. The song is RAUNCHY, but really funny and has a good beat you can dance to. I wouldn't suggest listening to it when small children under the age of 18 are in the room. You've been warned. Thanks for the comic relief Connie, I'm sure you needed it more than I, hang in there friend, before you know it both kids will be in charge of their own lives.

Happy 4th....

Since we've been viewing fireworks for many years on the 3rd, the 4th is never all that exciting for us. Just a day off really. We went to the Aquatic Center last night with Cyndi and Ben, David and his dad Mark were there as well along with 100's of other people. It was quite crowded but a great spot to view the fireworks. Probably the second best we've experienced. The best by far was at Harbin Park, which is where the set them off from, that year we were right under the fireworks, very cool. This year we were a few miles away but up on a hill. Something about swimming that relaxes you. Except when you got on an old ass (or should I say ASS SHOWING) swim suit, which you knew was getting kind of thin but you didn't think you were exposing anything. I've had this suit for 5 years I love how it fits, and I feel comfortable in it, until I find out, it's so thin in the back you can see my butt crack.....apparently clear as day. Ron was sure to point that out last night as I'm walking towards the pool, he says holy cow you can see you butt. I can't really see my back, so how the heck would I know? I just wore my suit in front of him Memorial day weekend. Guess he didn't notice my backside. Not only that but I've worn that suit to Cub Scout camp 2 years in a row. So I said to Cyndi, you didn't notice that you could see my butt through my suit? She said "I thought you knew...." Bahahahahaha.....Ok to Cyndi's credit she's only known me for a little over a year, so for all she knows I'm somewhat of an exhibition's....or I'm French! So needless to say the tightwad of man who's got a tight reign on our finances let me purchase a swim suit. Same brand, same style different color, so all is well and it's one size smaller than the last one....woohooo....

Wee Gnome goes to Cub World

Nice Spray of Water
Originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

Well you've not seen him in a while, but he made an appearence at Summer Camp. Their hero of the week was a dude dressed up as a garden gnome. So the Wee Gnome had to make an appearence.

While you were out....

It appears the dogs have fell in love. This was taking before we went to summer camp. Mind you we had to put the end of the rope in Maizy's mouth, otherwise she wouldn't have anything to do with Kipper. He however always wanted to play, and she didn't get it. Well apparenlty while we were at camp.....a "love connection" may have happened.

Now it appears they like to be close to each other. No I've got no pictures of the pornographic behavior you sicko's. Not to mention I can't remember if Maizy's been fixed. I'm all over that little investigation tomorrow. You'd think I'd know something like that, well I don't.

Perry and I had a blast at summer camp. Interesting mix of personalities as far as the mom's are concerned but we all seemed to get along ok. We definately all have different parenting styles, some are more tolerant than others. I would like to think I fit right in the middle. Perry was good, seemed to be more of a joiner this year. Not to mention it wasn't as hot as it was last year. We did have a big storm Wednesday night, we had to take emergency shelter in our rooms and weren't allowed out. We entertained with ghost stories, and the boys were almost unaware there was even a storm going on. Perry was so cute with his "Give me my bone" ghost story.

One of Perry's most favorite things to do at camp is to high five the counselors as they come out in the morning or evening for the flag ceremony. Last year the kids would line up.....but this year Perry seemed to be the only one, since the counselors would then go around the circle and high five all the packs in the circle. But it was dang cute Perry with one hand over his ear to block the loud music, and the other out ready for a high five. Granted the counselors were less eager to high five by day 4, probably tired and ready for the week to end. So the last nights flag ceremony one of the other parents told Perry no when he went to high five them as they came out, and wouldn't let him do it. I don't see what the harm was for him to do that? Perry wasn't bothering anyone, even if the counselors were high fiving him he didn't notice, he just liked to do that. And if I'm there who is he to discipline my kid? I was way fired up. Wishing I was someone else more outspoken and could have told him to lay off my kid. That is my major gripe of the week. It's one thing if you have a bad kid and you are there and you aren't disciplining him, and he's annoying to everyone around, then sure others have the right to discipline your kid. But if you have a good kid and you do discipline him when needed then folks need to leave him alone. Nuff said! Back to work tomorrow....then off for the holiday....work 2 more days....off Friday, going to take Perry to visit Springer, then I'm off to Spirit Song.