James woke me up at 5-frickin'-ack-emma. And I really needed to sleep in, because I've been touched by a tummy bug. And I have to cook some dishes for Thanksgiving.
He is so lucky he is cute.
Slowly drinking coffee and coming up to speed. Luckily my good friend was up for some early morning texting. She's recovering in the hospital.
Family and friends, for you I give thanks (we can skip those 5am wake-ups & sick bugs).
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Magic Marker Monday: Warming a Room
My Dad suffered a setback and went back to the hospital. He's now in another rehab facility to get his strength back to the point where he can stand back up again and help transfer himself from his bed, wheelchair, etc. He's working back to using a walker.
Not only is it very discouraging for him, it's also hard on all our spirits. He's going to be there over Thanksgiving, which is a family holiday that my folks love to host.
The staff try hard and the facility is just about as good as it can be for our price range/health care options. Still, it is so not home.
James, his sister, and cousins have been doing their best to warm up the place. Luckily, the staff are more than willing to share their paper and markers!
For more meaningful artwork, or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.
(yes, I know it's out of order this week -- so is our life!)
Not only is it very discouraging for him, it's also hard on all our spirits. He's going to be there over Thanksgiving, which is a family holiday that my folks love to host.
The staff try hard and the facility is just about as good as it can be for our price range/health care options. Still, it is so not home.
James, his sister, and cousins have been doing their best to warm up the place. Luckily, the staff are more than willing to share their paper and markers!
For more meaningful artwork, or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.
(yes, I know it's out of order this week -- so is our life!)
Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Speechless
I was looking through photos from this past week and came across some I took of James when he was sick. He looks so big - I can hardly believe he's still six.
He's been so chatty recently that I forgot (until I came across these pics) that he stopped talking almost completely for the 3 days he was miserable.
A huge reason to be thankful. I love hearing him script, ask, and pretend. He's found his voice, in more ways than one.
For more expressive images and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.
and ... Wordless Wednesday
He's been so chatty recently that I forgot (until I came across these pics) that he stopped talking almost completely for the 3 days he was miserable.
A huge reason to be thankful. I love hearing him script, ask, and pretend. He's found his voice, in more ways than one.
For more expressive images and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.
and ... Wordless Wednesday
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Tackle It Tuesday: Juggling
I've been not posting these last few days because, well, more stuff fell onto my plate. My Dad's been in a hospital and is now a nursing facility. He'll be there through Thanksgiving, one of the holidays that my folks love to host. This is tough on us all, even though it's temporary. The kids are both off school for the entire week. James is at lose ends, and usually found draped over me. Unless I want him in a certain place, at which time he runs laughing in the other direction. Of course.
With my immediate family, I am juggling schedules for kids, play dates, holidays, extra errand running, and visiting hours. Hey, I even helped troubleshoot fixing an iPhone over my Droid phone (I see some of you shuddering). Yikes. We are doing pretty well, but some things just don't get done as promptly as they used to.
The kitchen calendar and my spiral weekly/monthly planner for the year are getting workouts. I am using up the texting portion of my phone plan. We are using child care at the gym.
This morning we are getting the final ingredients for making some Thanksgiving side dishes to share. Then we are visiting my Dad. The kids really seem to cheer him up. James does well, except for when he loudly announces he wants to go home or bowling. If one of the patients is in pain and crying, that will set him off too.
Ah well. Learning, growing, managing. How are your holiday preparations coming along?
Tackling loves company!
Check out some other challenges this week
and pick up or share some tips at
5 Minute for Moms' Thankful week
in a series of Tackle It Tuesdays.
With my immediate family, I am juggling schedules for kids, play dates, holidays, extra errand running, and visiting hours. Hey, I even helped troubleshoot fixing an iPhone over my Droid phone (I see some of you shuddering). Yikes. We are doing pretty well, but some things just don't get done as promptly as they used to.
The kitchen calendar and my spiral weekly/monthly planner for the year are getting workouts. I am using up the texting portion of my phone plan. We are using child care at the gym.
This morning we are getting the final ingredients for making some Thanksgiving side dishes to share. Then we are visiting my Dad. The kids really seem to cheer him up. James does well, except for when he loudly announces he wants to go home or bowling. If one of the patients is in pain and crying, that will set him off too.
Ah well. Learning, growing, managing. How are your holiday preparations coming along?
Tackling loves company!Check out some other challenges this week
and pick up or share some tips at
5 Minute for Moms' Thankful week
in a series of Tackle It Tuesdays.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Calm Interlude
James overslept this morning. I actually had to wake him up for school. It's so unusual for him to sleep in and not be sick -- it's maybe the 4th time that I can recall having to do this.
He actually talked with me, asking where his Daddy was and if he could say goodbye to him (before he left for work). When I told him his Daddy had already left, he asked if his sister had said goodbye to Daddy, and seemed relieved when I said yes. Then he climbed into my lap nad snuggled with me.
I was struck again with the semi novelty of having James be my buddy, the way his big sister was. It's not that we didn't love each other. There was just no reaching out on is part and establishing a close relationship like this before. James is actively participating, and I just love it.
For a change, James was calm through a shortened breakfast and school prep morning. His sister's testiness did not phase him, as it has on other mornings. He read his books instead. On the sofa, in the car, and after school while we ran errands and then came home.
His aide and teacher both said he had a great day, concentrating well and doing lots of classwork. He even reminded the students to sing Happy Birthday for their classmate. While I was talking with his aide after school, he went up to kids he knew and tried to socialize with them, instead of trying to wander off or fall on the ground, wailing "I want to go HOME!"
He ate a good dinner and cheerfully submitted to doing about half an hour of homework (after the token "NO!!!" and trying to run away to the nearest, plushest piece of upholstered furniture). He took his evening meds and asked me to read to him - another new and unusual thing for him to do. He even produced the books and listened with the biggest smile.
His Daddy came home just as we finished up, so they got to spend some time with each other. He fell asleep soon after. As I tucked the blankets around him and got ready to close his door, I picked his 2 books off the bed and put them on the table.
These guys have been with him all day!
After the upset of last week and weekend, it's so nice to see James calm and happy again. Doing to well. Being my Buddy.
He actually talked with me, asking where his Daddy was and if he could say goodbye to him (before he left for work). When I told him his Daddy had already left, he asked if his sister had said goodbye to Daddy, and seemed relieved when I said yes. Then he climbed into my lap nad snuggled with me.
I was struck again with the semi novelty of having James be my buddy, the way his big sister was. It's not that we didn't love each other. There was just no reaching out on is part and establishing a close relationship like this before. James is actively participating, and I just love it.
For a change, James was calm through a shortened breakfast and school prep morning. His sister's testiness did not phase him, as it has on other mornings. He read his books instead. On the sofa, in the car, and after school while we ran errands and then came home.
His aide and teacher both said he had a great day, concentrating well and doing lots of classwork. He even reminded the students to sing Happy Birthday for their classmate. While I was talking with his aide after school, he went up to kids he knew and tried to socialize with them, instead of trying to wander off or fall on the ground, wailing "I want to go HOME!"
He ate a good dinner and cheerfully submitted to doing about half an hour of homework (after the token "NO!!!" and trying to run away to the nearest, plushest piece of upholstered furniture). He took his evening meds and asked me to read to him - another new and unusual thing for him to do. He even produced the books and listened with the biggest smile.
His Daddy came home just as we finished up, so they got to spend some time with each other. He fell asleep soon after. As I tucked the blankets around him and got ready to close his door, I picked his 2 books off the bed and put them on the table.
These guys have been with him all day!
After the upset of last week and weekend, it's so nice to see James calm and happy again. Doing to well. Being my Buddy.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Clean Freak Out
I hate cleaning surprises, don't you?
 |
| The (family-friendly) word I am searching for is "Eeeek!" |
For more exciting images, or to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.
and ... Wordless Wednesday
Monday, November 14, 2011
Magic Marker Monday: Making Mail
For some reason, James really wanted to go to the post office today. So I told him we could if we had something to post. So we made cards to send to the grandparents.
James picked the theme: Space Station (ship):
I helped him only a little with writing the messages:
And he picked the stamps from Up for the envelopes.
I love this whole Pixar stamp series, by the way.
And I hope to pass my love of writing letters on to my kids.
For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.
James picked the theme: Space Station (ship):
I helped him only a little with writing the messages:
And he picked the stamps from Up for the envelopes.
I love this whole Pixar stamp series, by the way.
And I hope to pass my love of writing letters on to my kids.
For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.
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