I am soooo excited. I was planning on attending the National Convention for The Arc in November since it's being held in Pittsburgh. The fee to attend was pretty steep at $99 per person, per day. Tom and I were going to try and swing us both going for one day. I was sad because there is great information being presented on Friday and Saturday and I was having trouble deciding which day to attend. I didn't think there would be any way for us to come up with $400 before October 1st.
Well, last week our president of our local Arc group and I found a place to submit and application for a scholarship to attend the conferance. I had to explain why I wanted to go and why I needed help with the funding.
WE GOT IT!!!!!
There were only 4 families awarded this in Pennsylvania by the ACHIEVA group in Pittsburgh and Tom and I were one of the families. Now we don't have to decide which day to attend and we can attend both. I am so excited. Not only will this benefit us as parents and advocates, but it will benefit me in my Executive Director position with The Arc of Jefferson County AND now it will benefit Tom in his Vice President postion on our board. YUP.. he was just nominated VP at this month's board meeting. Elections will be held next month but there is no one running against him, I think he will be a great addition to our board.
If anyone reading this is attending, maybe we can meet up at some point!!! I'd love to meet new people there ;)
Friday, September 25, 2009
Hey Guess What?? It's working....
If your looking to lose weight the best motivation is to have someone take a photo of you bending over making mountain pies...LOL
My daughter Camille took some photos of me during our camping trip two weeks ago, and as I sat down and looked through them I honestly could not believe how big my a** was!!! I don't feel that big. I know I'm overweight, there's no complaining there, but I didn't realize HOW OVERWEIGHT until I saw that photo. As embarrassed as I am by this, it was the best thing that could have happened to me right now. Right now is the perfect time for me to put M-E back in line for being taken care of, right now is the best time to find time for M-E, right now is the best time to get M-E back in shape. The twins are in school four mornings a week. I stared walking the walkway downtown last week while they are in school and I still have time to come home and relax and enjoy the quite for a bit before kids come home.
I started walking 3 miles. At first I didn't know if I could even do it, but I did and it felt great. Then I wanted to do it faster and I didn't care what I looked like or how funny all my rolls looked bouncing with each step, I just WANT IT OFF, ( bounce baby bounce )!!! So I have already moved up to a 15 minute mile and can walk 3 miles in 45 to 48 minutes. That is exciting to me. I am feeling better, it has made me eat better, I am sleeping better, and ....and.... I lost 8.2 lbs last week!!
I'm just happy for M-E, for doing something with my free time that is beneficial to me and not just sitting around catching up on laundry, tv shows, or playing Farm Town on facebook :)
My daughter Camille took some photos of me during our camping trip two weeks ago, and as I sat down and looked through them I honestly could not believe how big my a** was!!! I don't feel that big. I know I'm overweight, there's no complaining there, but I didn't realize HOW OVERWEIGHT until I saw that photo. As embarrassed as I am by this, it was the best thing that could have happened to me right now. Right now is the perfect time for me to put M-E back in line for being taken care of, right now is the best time to find time for M-E, right now is the best time to get M-E back in shape. The twins are in school four mornings a week. I stared walking the walkway downtown last week while they are in school and I still have time to come home and relax and enjoy the quite for a bit before kids come home.
I started walking 3 miles. At first I didn't know if I could even do it, but I did and it felt great. Then I wanted to do it faster and I didn't care what I looked like or how funny all my rolls looked bouncing with each step, I just WANT IT OFF, ( bounce baby bounce )!!! So I have already moved up to a 15 minute mile and can walk 3 miles in 45 to 48 minutes. That is exciting to me. I am feeling better, it has made me eat better, I am sleeping better, and ....and.... I lost 8.2 lbs last week!!
I'm just happy for M-E, for doing something with my free time that is beneficial to me and not just sitting around catching up on laundry, tv shows, or playing Farm Town on facebook :)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Twin's first day of School Photos
Oh Geesh, I was looking through my photos this morning and realized I never posted the twins first day. I couldn't resist dressing them almost the same. The teachers discourage it cause its hard to tell them apart, but both boys TSS workers get to accompany them to this preschool and they can tell them apart, so I did it anyway :)
This was some TV time before school
Colleen and Caleb
Johnny and Issac
In front of the school building:
The teachers have all said they are very plesantley surprised at how well they are doing in the classroom setting. Up until now we have had all home services. Due to their low immunities we were able to keep them in home services past the age of 3. That was a great blessing to us as we only had one hospital stay this year in April. Now we're in school and cold and flu season is just around the corner and I'm a nervous wreck....
I have to say though. I am one proud mama!!!
This was some TV time before school
Colleen and Caleb
Johnny and Issac
In front of the school building:
The teachers have all said they are very plesantley surprised at how well they are doing in the classroom setting. Up until now we have had all home services. Due to their low immunities we were able to keep them in home services past the age of 3. That was a great blessing to us as we only had one hospital stay this year in April. Now we're in school and cold and flu season is just around the corner and I'm a nervous wreck....
I have to say though. I am one proud mama!!!
Handpainting 101
Uncle Jimmy (Tom's brother) is training very hard to run the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 11th. He is doing this in celebration of his 30th Birthday on October 5th. He asked all the nieces and nephews to make up a jersey for him with handprints on the back to push him along and wish him a happy birthday. I thought this was a great idea and we had fun with the kids doing it. Nothing like getting out the paints and letting five children get messy. UGH!! The twins had a great time. We got out paintbrushes for them and sponges and paper and let them have at it. Caleb was much more into it and Isaac just did what we made him do and enjoyed painting his hands more than the paper. When the jersey is finished I will post the end result, but its pretty cool :)
Isaac signing OUT....he was done!
Isaac signing OUT....he was done!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Transition
Wow, I guess I had not realized how long its been since I've last blogged. The kids went back to school, we're starting a new schedule with everyone, new wake times, new bed times, new teachers, new mobile therapist (for kids), its starting to get dark earlier.... How much can change in less than three weeks??
I cannot recall ever even hearing the word "transition" before having my twins. But now we plan for transitions. Transitioning from early intervention to preschool. Transitioning from preschool to school. Transitioning from school to adult life. Transition, transition, transition. Life is nothing but a big ole transition in which we can never expect what it may bring to us. We can goto the school and develop an IEP for our children to work on certain goals in hopes of them accomplishing them by a certain time....and then OOPS a transition. We have something unexpected happen in our lives, we move, new job, death in the family, we bring in a new family member, whatever the case may be happy or sad or otherwise, there's always life going on that is so unpredictable that how do we plan for these things?
I am happy with chaos, really I think I thrive on it. I have some many people ask me how I do what all I do, but I'm one of those people who take everything to the deadline and then finish it with gold stars. I know that during big times of transition life gets crazier than normal...such as now. But one of my favorite things to tell myself when I so often talk to myself is, "This Too Shall Pass" and I am learning that this too shall pass faster than I'm ready to accept it. I love having my kids little, I love wiping tears and kissing boo boo's, I love giving big ole bear hugs so hard I make the kids fart...heheheee Looks like this post is coming to the point that I'm not ready to move onto the next phase of parenting...a teenager!! LOL
Sorry to rant about this subject, but I think that so many people are putting way to much into planning planning planning. I like it one day at a time.
I cannot recall ever even hearing the word "transition" before having my twins. But now we plan for transitions. Transitioning from early intervention to preschool. Transitioning from preschool to school. Transitioning from school to adult life. Transition, transition, transition. Life is nothing but a big ole transition in which we can never expect what it may bring to us. We can goto the school and develop an IEP for our children to work on certain goals in hopes of them accomplishing them by a certain time....and then OOPS a transition. We have something unexpected happen in our lives, we move, new job, death in the family, we bring in a new family member, whatever the case may be happy or sad or otherwise, there's always life going on that is so unpredictable that how do we plan for these things?
I am happy with chaos, really I think I thrive on it. I have some many people ask me how I do what all I do, but I'm one of those people who take everything to the deadline and then finish it with gold stars. I know that during big times of transition life gets crazier than normal...such as now. But one of my favorite things to tell myself when I so often talk to myself is, "This Too Shall Pass" and I am learning that this too shall pass faster than I'm ready to accept it. I love having my kids little, I love wiping tears and kissing boo boo's, I love giving big ole bear hugs so hard I make the kids fart...heheheee Looks like this post is coming to the point that I'm not ready to move onto the next phase of parenting...a teenager!! LOL
Sorry to rant about this subject, but I think that so many people are putting way to much into planning planning planning. I like it one day at a time.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Our LiL Celebrities and the first day of school
Today is such a memory packed day for us all.
First of all, its the first day of school for the older kids. My sweet sweet Tristin is going to middle school now. Oh how the years have gone by and I couldn't be prouder of her. She is so ready to take this big step and I am excited to see what this year brings her. I keep telling her that she is at such a hard step in her life right now, she wants to do things...like have a cell phone..or walk the mall with a friend...or go off by herself at a fair, yet I want her to stay a kid for just a wee bit longer. If she can bear with me through the next year or so she will be allowed to grow her wings and start to fly. This protective mama bear is still keeping those wings clipped for a little while longer. She is a beautiful person inside and out, and I'm so happy to be her mom.
Camille is going into the second grade. I love the elementary school my kids attend as its a multi-aged classroom. Kindergarten and 1st grade are together, 2nd and 3rd are together, and 4th and 5th are together. This is great because you get to keep your teacher for two years and not only is it comforting for the kids to know who their teacher is when they go back, but the teachers also get to know eachs child's personality and can work with them for two years. As long as the student and teacher get along...its a great thing. Camille is going to a new teacher, Mrs. Sayers and she's really excited because one of her good friends from K-1 now followed her to 2-3 so Izzy and Camille will remain "school sisters" for another two years. I hope that Camille has a great year and she connects with this teacher as she did with the past teacher.
Elijah....oh my Elijah. He's probably the most excited to go back to school. He loves the structure of it all. He's very intelligent and I was surprised at how much he calmed down after going to Kindergarten for just a few weeks. I know he'll do great and I'm excited for him too. A tradition of mine is to make the kids hold signs on the first day of what grade their going into that way when I look at them years down the road I don't have to calculate what year equaled what grade. Tom thinks its silly, I think its genius!!
And Second, a few weeks back I was contacted by the local chapter of The American Red Cross. They are getting ready to launch a new campaign and was looking at past blood recipients to use as models for advertising. They said we had a very encouraging story with Isaac and asked if we would consider allowing them to photograph him and use his story. I was honored and excited about this. We set up the photo shoot for today and I was nervous myself because we were told last week that they intended to make a video clip to share on their website, use some of us in a tv commercial, use our voices in radio advertising, and the photos will be used for various advertising things. WoW! I was a little nervous this morning as both boys were snotty nosed and fussy, but boy when we got there their moods changed. And for the BETTER YaY!!! They were all smiles and they were plesant and we really enjoyed our time there. It took about an hour to do everything. We all sported American Red Cross shirts, they gave us lines to say for the commercial and for the radio and took tons and tons of photos. It really was fun! I'm excited to see the end product and truly thankful for them choosing us so that we can show everyone our beautiful twins and let them know what a blessing they are to us.
First of all, its the first day of school for the older kids. My sweet sweet Tristin is going to middle school now. Oh how the years have gone by and I couldn't be prouder of her. She is so ready to take this big step and I am excited to see what this year brings her. I keep telling her that she is at such a hard step in her life right now, she wants to do things...like have a cell phone..or walk the mall with a friend...or go off by herself at a fair, yet I want her to stay a kid for just a wee bit longer. If she can bear with me through the next year or so she will be allowed to grow her wings and start to fly. This protective mama bear is still keeping those wings clipped for a little while longer. She is a beautiful person inside and out, and I'm so happy to be her mom.
Camille is going into the second grade. I love the elementary school my kids attend as its a multi-aged classroom. Kindergarten and 1st grade are together, 2nd and 3rd are together, and 4th and 5th are together. This is great because you get to keep your teacher for two years and not only is it comforting for the kids to know who their teacher is when they go back, but the teachers also get to know eachs child's personality and can work with them for two years. As long as the student and teacher get along...its a great thing. Camille is going to a new teacher, Mrs. Sayers and she's really excited because one of her good friends from K-1 now followed her to 2-3 so Izzy and Camille will remain "school sisters" for another two years. I hope that Camille has a great year and she connects with this teacher as she did with the past teacher.
Elijah....oh my Elijah. He's probably the most excited to go back to school. He loves the structure of it all. He's very intelligent and I was surprised at how much he calmed down after going to Kindergarten for just a few weeks. I know he'll do great and I'm excited for him too. A tradition of mine is to make the kids hold signs on the first day of what grade their going into that way when I look at them years down the road I don't have to calculate what year equaled what grade. Tom thinks its silly, I think its genius!!
And Second, a few weeks back I was contacted by the local chapter of The American Red Cross. They are getting ready to launch a new campaign and was looking at past blood recipients to use as models for advertising. They said we had a very encouraging story with Isaac and asked if we would consider allowing them to photograph him and use his story. I was honored and excited about this. We set up the photo shoot for today and I was nervous myself because we were told last week that they intended to make a video clip to share on their website, use some of us in a tv commercial, use our voices in radio advertising, and the photos will be used for various advertising things. WoW! I was a little nervous this morning as both boys were snotty nosed and fussy, but boy when we got there their moods changed. And for the BETTER YaY!!! They were all smiles and they were plesant and we really enjoyed our time there. It took about an hour to do everything. We all sported American Red Cross shirts, they gave us lines to say for the commercial and for the radio and took tons and tons of photos. It really was fun! I'm excited to see the end product and truly thankful for them choosing us so that we can show everyone our beautiful twins and let them know what a blessing they are to us.
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