Special Needs Links

Here are some links to some articles that I found interesting. Linking to an article does not always mean I agree with everything written there, but it does mean that I feel it has some good food for thought. Enjoy.

Co-Ed Resdidental Treatment Facilities  from Tips for Troubled Teens

Sensory Links from Hartley's Life With 3 Boys

Setting Up an Autism Classroom on a Budget from Autism Classroom.com

Five Benefits of Growing up With an Austistic Sibling from The Autism News

Helping Kids Manage Anger from Dr. Michele Borba's Reality Check

Shut Up from Both Hands and a Flashlight

Closed Doors and Hidden Rooms

We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

                                                            - William Shakespeare

I've had some lofty goals recently and quite often failed fantastically. Actually, most of the time, I've failed fantastically.  I've truly considered giving up. I've had quite a few days when I thought maybe I'm just asking too much of myself.

Maybe these dreams of mine are just pipe dreams, mirages, castles in the air.

Maybe I don't have the backbone, the know-how, or the determination to make them happen.

And maybe it's just selfish of me to want anything other than what I have right now. I have a husband I love, wonderful children, and a thriving business. I have a roof over my head (admittedly it's a sometimes leaky roof, but it's a roof), plenty to eat, decent clothing, health. I have friends, and am blessed with a wonderful church family.

And I love all the people in my life and am very grateful for the blessings that I have. And yet I often feel that I am choosing to crawl at a time when I should be walking, running, maybe even flying. There are nights when I have dreams that I am literally soaring through a huge mansion that is beautiful, well appointed, with more mysterious rooms, nooks and recesses than I can find, filled with potential . . . and yet unused. Other nights I dream that I am living in a house and suddenly discover there are rooms in this house that I have never opened the doors to, filled  with potential and possibility for many uses and again . . . unused.

I've been thinking a lot about these dreams and, while I don't often feel the need to interpret dreams I am beginning to feel that there is something here I need to examine. My life is before me. My house, my mansion is here and ready to be used.  It is well furnished with family, friends, and so many opportunities. And yet I am not making full use of these blessings.

So I ask myself - What are some of the unused rooms in my life? Which rooms have I only peaked into, yet never made use of all they have to offer?

My own home is one. While it is livable and comfortable enough there is so much more potential for beauty, for providing an oasis of calm, of nurturing and caring, as well as of creativity, love and laughter.

My business in another. Business is good and growing and yet I am getting a sense within myself that I have been looking at it too narrowly and missing opportunities for growth, for greater outreach and positive connection to those served directly as well to the wider community.

Writing is yet another. Yes I've dabbled in it, played around with it, but it's time for me to get serious and do what I need to do to make the time to write. I have so many thoughts, ideas, questions and stories, words just welling up inside with no place to go. It's time to get them out and go where they lead me.

These are just a few of the rooms in my life that I need to make full use of.  I know there are more but these are where I need to start now.

What rooms in your life remain unused, gathering dust, and hidden behind closed doors, waiting to be opened and used as they are meant to be?

Vacation is Over

We had a great vacation! Time to relax, time with family and friends, sleeping in (as much as Michael would let us), shopping, eating out, catching up on a few projects here around the house.

And now it's over.

But that's okay.

Today two of our kids were back. It was a slow easy start back into the routine. I got a text earlier this evening from another family saying their daughter was excited about coming back tomorrow. That's always good to hear and makes me happy to be back at work.

Doug is glad to be going back to work as well and anxious to see if the new machine they've been expecting at work has come in yet.

I guess we're lucky to have work we love and are excited about.

Genesis 15

1. After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, your very great reward."
2. But Abram said, "O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?"
3. And Abram said "You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir."
4. Then the word of the Lord came to him: "This man will not be your heir but a son coming from your own body will be you heir."
5. He took him outside and said, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them." Then He said to him, "So shall your offspring be."
6. Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.
7. He also said to him, "I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it."
8. But Abram said, "O Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?"
9. So the Lord said to him, "Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon."
10. Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however he did not cut in half.
11. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.
12. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.
13. Then the Lord said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.
14. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possession.
15. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age.
16. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure."
17. When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeard and passed between the pieces.
18. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates -
19. the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites,
20. Hittites, Perissites, Rephaites,
21. Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.

My Thoughts:

Abram was so close to God that he had conversations with Him. And not just polite, religiously correct conversations that began with "Dear God" and ended with "Amen." These conversations were open, honest and direct. Abram was hurting and he told God about it. And he received an answer. But before he received the answer he was given some instructions. He carried these instructions out. And waited. And chased away birds. And waited. I'm sure during this time of waiting a lot of thoughts were going through Abram's mind. Maybe he questioned what he had just heard. Maybe he wondered if he had been to free with what he said to God. Maybe he thought God had walked away and forgotten him. The Bible doesn't tell us that part but we do know Abram was human and as fellow humans it's easy to imagine that the waiting was probably hard. But in the end - God answered. God answered and Abram believed.

Doug

Although I've written a little about each of us in the About Us page I thought I'd like to write a little more in depth about each family member. So I will be writing about one family member each Sunday for the next few Sundays.

I thought I would start with my dear husband.

Doug is one of the most gentle, calm men I know. He is very patient with the kids, and with me. I'm not always easy to live with.

Doug has worked as a machinest at McKee Foods for 17 years and enjoys his work there. He has an analytical way of thinking and is very mathematically inclined so is a natural at this job.

Doug is also an EMT and volunteers at our local rescue squad one evening a week as well as runs calls if needed throughout the week. His first aid and medical knowledge has been a wonderful asset here with the kids many times.

On Wednesday evenings during the school year he can be found at church, helping with the children and youth program. He is the fill in person there, helping out wherever needed.

Here at home he helps with the kids, does a lot of the paperwork for the business, takes care of all our finances, keeps all our laptops up and running, does the yardwork and the vehicle maintenance, and spends time with the family. He enjoys the Syfy channel when he has some spare time.

He makes me laugh, makes me think and makes me feel safe. I love you Dear.

Zoo Pictures

On Thursday Doug and I took the kids to the Natural Bridge Safari and Animal Park. We had a lot fun and I took a lot of pictures. Here, in no particular order are a bunch of them.

Day Two of Vacation

It's day two of our vacation and I am very much enjoying it. I love my work but am beginning to realize how much I need to schedule regular breaks to refuel. It's easy to think that since I work from home I don't need those down times but that's not true.

The kids have been enjoying it as well.

Amanda had a friend over Saturday evening and she stayed until early afternoon on Sunday. Today Amanda took Michael for a walk to visit the cows. This afternoon she went on a bike ride with another friend. Otherwise she's been busy on her computer playing WebKinz. And this evening she voluntarily cleaned up and vacuumed the playroom and living room.

Austin went with the youth pastor and a few other youth this afternoon out to eat and then to mow an elderly ladies yard. This evening he went over to the farm next door to help feed calves.

Since Doug didn't have to be up early to go to work this morning he agreed to be on call with the Rescue Squad all night last night. It was actually a quiet night but knowing that he could be called out any minute kept him from sleeping, so he's pretty tired today. But he still did some mowing and then took the van to the shop and had two new tires put on.

Later in the week we are taking the kids to the zoo one day and another day we are planning to visit Doug's parents who live about 80 miles south of us.

I told the kids that tomorrow morning they have to be up by 9:00 and we are going to finish the rearranging/reorganizing project we started in their rooms. They weren't excited about that but it has to be done and it's hard for me to help them when we have a house full of daycare kids.

As for me I've been doing a variety of things - writing, cleaning, napping. Just enjoying a slower pace.

As of today all my school age children that I provide childcare for are in school. So begins the days of waiting for the bus, arranging drop-offs and pickups and homework. No homework yet but I know it's coming.

The silence here was almost deafening today. Well, I guess that's an exaggeration because there are still my own three even if no one else shows up but it was much quieter without a houseful of school age kids - mostly boys. Although, honestly, some of the girls are louder than the boys.

This happened to be one of those days when the preschoolers were either home with their parents, parents were working a late shift or, as in the case of one child, were coming late because of a doctors appointment. So we took advantage of the extra time this morning and did a lot of work upstairs. Amanda still has things to rearrange from her room change. Austin needed to just do some general cleaning in his room. And I had lots of clothes to sort through and put away and laundry to do. There were four big boxes of clothes that were given too us to pass on as needed, use for the kids or do whatever with. I knew a lot of them were Michael's size or the next size or two up and needed to be put in his closet. I'm so glad that's done now.

Michael took advantage of the fact that I was busy and decided to give himself a haircut with Doug's electric razor.

I had to laugh every time I looked at him until Doug finally gave him a haircut this evening. He had to cut it down really really short, but it looks better than this anyway.

The salon that was in business right behind us has moved to a new location. Today the salon owners were back to finish cleaning out and offered to let us have four bookcases, and a small table that they no longer had use for. I was more than happy to give them a new home and now I'm full of ideas of how I want to rearrange the playroom. But the actual rearranging may have to wait until next week when we're on vacation and I won't have so many little ones to work around.

I can feel myself getting excited about vacation and feeling less focused on the day to day work. I can hardly wait to sleep in, read, write, and work on some projects that I've been looking for a chance to tackle. We are also planning a couple day trips - to visit Doug's parents and to go to the zoo. We've never taken Michael to the zoo and I'm excited about seeing his reaction to the animals.

As I'm writing this Austin and Amanda are outside with a flashlight looking at all the spiders that have shown up to take advantage of all the bugs that fly around our porch light every night. Because it stays on all night due to parents in and out picking up and dropping off their children their is a steady supply of insects to fly  into the webs. Amanda said there are about 12 spiders out there right now. And now Austin just came running in to tell me he found "a humungous gathering of slugs" outside.  

And on that lovely note I will say goodnight. I wonder what adventures tomorrow will bring?

From Twitter 08-17-2010

• Michael had a rough night and I slept in his room. Overslept and now I`m getting a late start.
  
• It`s the first day of school for my county kids. Waiting for the bus now. city schools start tomorrow.
  
• Michael has been obsessed for the last hour with the idea of a friend of ours picking him up and taking him somewhere.
  
• She occasionally does but there was no mention of her doing so today.
  
• Telling him that has resulted in a screaming rage, throwing things, tipping over kitchen chairs, etc
  
• No consequences (time out, picking up after himself) worked, nor distractions.
  
• He`s finally calming down again. Wish I knew what triggers this.
  
• Sitting on the front porch watching it POUR down rain. I`m loving it and so are the kids.
  

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From Twitter 08-16-2010

• Good morning everyone. Finally getting a minute to check in. It`s Monday.
  
• Outside with the kiddos. It`s hot out here but Michael insists on wearing a long sleeved shirt. Silly kid.
  
• I`m so happy my helper is back! After last week this week looks easy.
  
• I'm feeling a little silly right now. D lost his binky and we looked and looked and looked for it - inside, outside, in kids pockets . . . .
  
• . . . .everywhere we could think of. Doug finally went to the store to buy more pacifiers. He came home, showed me what he bought, and . . .
  
• . . . while we were talking I reached in my pocket for something else and found . . .you guessed it . . D's binky. I stood myself in . . . .
  
• . . . . the corner for that one.
  
• Of course hubby had to say it reminded him of the time I said the dryer wasn't working so he went and bought a new one and then . . . .
  
• . . . . discovered I had the dryer settings set on "fluff" instead of dry.
  
• l'll never live that one down.
  
• RT @LeadToday: RT @czaucha: RT @MAltaee: A year from now you will wish you had started today. ~ Karen Lamb
  

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From Twitter 08-15-2010

• Coffee's ready :-)
  
• On the way home from church. Had to leave early after Austin suddenly passed out and fell in the floor.
  
• It was hot and stuffy and his mouth was hurting from where his tooth was pulled last week.
  
• And he didn`t eat before we left either.
  
• . @jsloan1223 @Karenof4 @allconsoffun Now that he's cooled off and gotten some food in him he seems fine. Second time this has happened.
  
• RT @autismfather: I feel that women should stop having kids at 35. Cause let's face it, 35 kids is just too much!
  
• RT @BarbaraDuke: •Time is Gods way of keeping everything from happening at once. Unknown #TL2U
  
• You Are The One Who Can Make A Difference - http://bit.ly/9YPjlV (via @Nicholas_Cardot)
  
• My kids are totally caught up in WebKinz. They each bought 2 yesterday and have busy on the website ever since.
  
• Just had a sudden moment of realizing how very blessed I really am.
  

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From Twitter 08-14-2010

• Good morning. I`m enjoying my 1st cup of coffee. Hubby made it and it's very strong!
• Wonder if he's thinking I'm going to need some extra caffeine today.
• Making a list and checking it twice - grocery list that is.
• I guess the water for the pasta would boil faster if I actually turned the burner ON. Oops!
• I found something that I can sit in a roomful of kids and eat witout them all begging for a bite. Spinach.
• One by one they walk by, take a look and walk away.
• Wow, it's quiet. Four little ones napping, Doug, Michael and Austin went grocery shopping. Just leaves Amanda & me. :-)
• I guess I better clean up the kitchen and start dinner while I can.
• Dishwasher emptied and reloaded, dinner in the oven, laundry switched and two loads folded and put away, fresh pot of coffee brewed.
• And the kiddos start waking up. I'm surpised they slept so long. Making up for yesterday non-nap I guess.
• Michael just seasoned the green beans with taco seasoning. Wasn't what I had in mind but it wasn't too bad.

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From Twitter 08-13-2010

• So glad it's Friday. I guess this is going to be a full week now with no helper.
• RT @Nicheology: Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow. - Doug Firebaugh
• just had a butterfly come visit the kids while we were playing in the yard. It . . .
• . . . flew all around their heads but stayed just out of reach. The kids were so excited!
• This naptime is a disaster. Little ones can`t sleep because older ones will not be quiet. They keep interuping naptime to say things like .
• "Someone spilled milk on the carpet" (2 drops), "I`m going to go rinse my mouth out with mouthwash now" (I really needed to know that?) .
• "I can't find my shoes" " The bathroom curtain fell down." Ugh!
• I was going to try to do the dishes while the little ones slept but no such luck.
• RT @AutismTips: There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child.There are seven million. (Walt Streightiff)
• WHY does my 3 year old turn the thermostat up to 90 degrees in the middle of summer? This is the second time recently.

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From Twitter 08-12-2010

• I guess this is going to be day four of my helper not coming in. :-(
• Weather forecast says today will be another hot one with thunderstorms this afternoon. Looks like another inside day for us.
• Watching landlord load his truck up with paint cans. Wish I could believe he was coming here to paint.
• I ate way too much junk food yesterday. Today I'm eating heatlhy. Beginning right after I finish this bowl of Lucky Charms. ;-)
• I am seriously considering starting a blog called The Adventures and Misdeeds of Michael. lol
• RT @foldinglaundry: Sibling love: Anna (7yo) singing to Eli (4mos) "you're the #1 tooter but I still love you."
• One of Michael`s favorite activities right now is cutting paper and string.

• I let him do it in the afternoons at nap time (since he refuses to nap) as his special quiet activity.

• I wonder why the cat is so hyper tonight. He`s running around the house like a wild thing!

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Edited to add photo.

From Twitter 08-11-2010

• My helper has been out all week. So hoping she will be back tomorrow.
  
• Austin is complaining (good naturedly) about the salt water I just made him rinse his mouth out with. His mouth is still . .
  
• . . . still hurting from where he had a tooth cut out last Friday.
  
• RT @homeschoolart: Well done is better than well said.~ Benjamin Franklin
  

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From Twitter 08-09-2010

• My helper isnt ccoming in today because her daughter is having surgery. Thankfully its a quiet day.
  

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From Twitter 08-08-2010

• Sitting on front porch eating biscuits and gravy and drinking coffee.
  
• I'm working on cutting out food templates for our nutrition unit this week.
  
• Just finished putting away the weekly supply of groceries. It's amazing how much food we go through in a week.
  
• RT @Project5050: I let God control the landing of the dice... I just keep on rolling
  
• Michael is annoyed with me. In his bed saying "You the bad mommy."
  

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From Twitter 08-07-2010

• it`s a few minutes after midnight and Michael is awake and crying because he wants to go downstairs and play.
• Doug found some good deals on baby items at a yard sale this morning.

• He got a nice high chair with a feeding tray that attaches to the regular tray. It`s also on wheels and has a basket underneath for storage.
  
 
• He also bought a pack and play that has a mobile, a changing "table" and space for storage. it also has a protective cover.
  
 
• I like the cover because we provide care for an autistic 2 year old who throws things and I`m always afraid he will hit the baby.
• Ok, drank my coffee. Now I`m going to go scrape wallpaper off some walls so we can paint.
• Almost fell off the ladder a minute ago. Decided it`s time to take a little break.
• There are so many layers on these walls. Flowered wallpaper, white paint, blue paint, plaid wallpaper, tan wallpaper, tan paint.

• Austin and Aaron finally got up. Austin stayed up until 4AM and Aaron till 6AM.
• Thew were playing games on the playstation and watching DVDs on Austin`s laptop.
• Darn! Michael turned the refrigerater off again. At leasr it ia the extra one and there wasn`t much in it.
• Just placed an order with Amazon for some homeschool supplies. Getting excited about starting the new school year.

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Edited to add photos.

From Twitter 08-06-2010

• I'm getting ready for a new homeschool year. Ordering books from Amazon. This is fun.
  
• . @Yelrose I love shopping online but do NOT like having to go into the stores.
  
• Michael is throwing a huge temper tantrum because he can`t go with Daddy and Austin to the dentist.
  
• He doesnt realize how little fun this is going to be. Austin is having a molar cut out today. :-(
  
• Austin`s back from having one of his molars removed. it was easier than expected. No stitches.
  
• He`s still pretty out of it from the aesthesia though.
  
• RT @Sarah_jbd: There really is nothing worse than black jelly beans.
  
• Watching hubby run around the yard with the kids. Not sure who`s laughing hardest - me or them.
  
• I am so amazed at how fast Austin has bounced back after his oral surgery this morning. Have to keep telling him to slow down!
  
• RT @grnladybug: I'm officially an author! *squeeeee* http://rhymesofarandomsoul.com/ #poetry #mybook #alaurilee
  
• . @Area51josh I'm just wishing this child that isn't leaving until between 2 and 3 AM would GO TO SLEEP so that I can too.
  

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After two days that looked like this . . .

. . . I was glad today was sunny. The kids really needed to get out in the yard and run off some energy.

Austin had a molar surgically removed today. I was so afraid his experience would be like mine when I had mine removed. It was awful for me. I had a bad experience with the removal and lots of pain afterwards. But he is doing awesome. After sleeping off the effects of the anesthesia . . .

. . . he's been hard to keep still. He wants to eat, wants to be up doing things and has very little pain. And he's enjoying his ice cream. His friend Aaron is here again for at least the weekend (I wouldn't be surprised if he stays until school starts) and they are keeping themselves occupied watching movies and looking up trading cards on E-bay.

From Twitter 08-05-2010

• Had the strangest dream kast night. there was "megastorm" coming and I was trying to get a group of teenagers to safety. . .
  
• . . . in a big bunker. The kids kept wandering off. I woke up before the storm hit.
  
• RT @TheSingleWoman: Once u throw away the past, Life will surprise u every day with a brand new Present. :) #TheSW
  
• RT @BgKahuna: Today's Lesson. When a pickup truck carrying Sodium hypochlorite cuts you off in traffic, you let them in.
  
• I am being served cinnamon rolls made out of playdough.
  
• I think we`re about to get our second thunderstorm for today.
  
• Drinking coffee now so I can stay awake and work a few hours after kids go to sleep.
  
• Just heard Michael say "Stop that pillow! Time out. You don`t listen."
  
• Cleaning out cabinets in the office and listening to A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court.
  

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From Twitter 08-04-2010

• Wow! It really rained last night! Sun shining now though.
  
• We have another new child starting today :-)
  
• So many kids! So much drama!
  
• Still slogging through paperwork.
  
• A grandmother who is fighting cancer and has custody of her grandson . . .
  
• , . .went social services yesterday to see about getting assistance with childcare expenses. Social worker said . . .
  
• . . . "You know how expensive it is to raise a child so why did you take him in if you don`t have enough money"
  
• So what was the grandmother supposed to do? Have him placed in foster care?
  
• . @heathrbabes It`s so easy for people in the posotion of making decisions about others lives that . .
  
• . @heathrbabes . . . just because they are in a position of "power" now doesn`t mean they always will be.
  
• National Weather Service just upgraded the severe thunderstorm watch for this area to a warning.
  
• And the storm arrives.
  
• That was a disappointing storm!
  

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From Twitter 08-03-2010

It's amazing how knowing I set an alarm right outside Michael's door to go off 5 minutes after mine does makes me jump up and run . . . . .
. . . upstairs to shut it off. And by the time I do that I'm wide awake. Ensures that I get up on time in the morning. :-)
Michael's awake and crying. Guess I'll go sit with him until he goes back to sleep. It's too early for him to be up for the day.
I'm not sure why this cat is so hyper this morning but running laps under Michael's bed is not helping him go back to sleep!
Okay, Michael finally went back to sleep and now I'm enjoying a cup of coffee with hubby. :-)
Salad for breakfast - lettuce, tomato, cheese, bacon bits, ranch dressing. Yummy!
It is :-) How are you this morning?
It is :-) How are you this morning? @asperger2mom
Yay for relaxing. I`m taking my first vacation in two years the end of the month. Cant wait!
Wow! @Yelrose Sounds like you have a busy one coming up!
Slogging through paperwork. Due to changed childcare regulations all our policies have to be uodated and signed by each parent.
We also have to update the Emergency Preparedness plan and have each parent sign a copy.
I really wish Michael would stop fighting sleep and take his nap!
Two of these kids would rather argue over placement of craft box than simply move over a little to be able to reach it comfortably.
My kids have quite the social life. Austin spent the evening with a friend, Amanda has two friends over, even Michael is spending the night
. . . a good friend who's grandson was staying over and needed someone to play with. Where's my social life?
I guess it's here on twitter. :-)
Impressions http://burkholderrose.blogspot.com
RT @DevelopDiscover: Clones are people two.
Breaking News! . . . . The kids are arguing over the TV!. . . . Oh, . . wait. . . That's nothing new. . . . Carry on everybody.
Who wants scrambled eggs and sweet tea at 10:30 PM? My kids that's who. At least they can make their own.

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Impressions

Today was so busy that I feel like all I have of it are impressions.

Baby smiles.

Phone calls.

Silly squabbles.

Diapers.

Lots of laughter.

Hugs.

Toys.

Paperwork.

Yummy salad.

More silly squabbles.

Questions.

New people.

Stories.

More phone calls.

Giggling girls.

Wrestling matches.

More hugs.

It was a good day.

Special Needs Links

Here are a few things I've read recently that I've found interesting and wanted to pass along.  Each of these posts is good food for thought and I hope you enjoy them.

Alexandra Rohde: Celebrities With Bipolar Depression - Leading a Normal Life?

Stuart Duncan - Austism From a Father's Point of View: Stimming:What Is It? Why Do Autistics Do It?

Life With My Special Ks: I Don't Have Down Syndrome All The Time . . .

Living With RAD: RAD and Social Issues

When Love Was Not Enough: Parenting Our RAD Child: - Choosing Life

Yesterday was a day of change with it being the first day in childcare here for one child and the last day for another. Welcome to our group Sebina and Gabe we will truly miss you.

We had a total of 13 kids in childcare (not all at once) today ages 5 months through 11 years. It was a busy day but good.

Fingerpainting, building,playing with the tool set, playing outside and finding lots of bugs (we had lots of school age boys today) were some of the fun things we did.

Yesterday evening Doug took Austin and Michael along with him to do some mowing at our rental house. On the way home they passed a tractor trailor that had tried to make a turn and went off the side a road a little. When the truck went off the road a tire on the trailor blew, causing the the truck to slide part way down a bank. They went back to see if the driver needed help. No one was injured but they stayed until help arrived and the truck was back on the road. Michael was one tired little boy when he finally got home and Austin was tired of taking care of Michael while they waited.

After the kids went to bed last night I did some cleaning. To keep myself awake and moving I listened to an audio book online. I found this site that has lots of older books recorded and archived. I listened to all of
A Message From the Deep Sea by R. Austin Freeman