some good things...

Just so you don't think everything is bad around our world, here's some good things that have happened lately.

I'm going to sign up as an It Works distributor this week.  Very excited to begin this new adventure.  :)   The products are amazing and actually do what they say they will. 

We started pool therapy with Monster this past week and i think it's going to go really well!  I think we'll see really great results for her... the only downside, I have to get in the pool with her and the therapist. Ugh.  Oh well, at least the monster loves the water!!

We are in the process of widening the door/entryway into our kitchen and having our kitchen island redone in order to more easily accommodate Monster and her wheelchair/gait trainer or walker in the future.  But, renovation is fun!!  Construction kind of stinks but I'm excited to see the results!

Mr. Goo is about to walk. AHHH!  but that's a good thing, I guess.  He's soo close but he just doesn't trust himself yet.

crying

Last week we had an appointment with the specialist PMR doc from the cities.  Monster sees her every four months or so to keep updated on her movements mainly.  The way her muscles work and don't work, etc. 

I asked if Monster would ever walk since lately I've been very discouraged and frustrated that monster isn't progressing quite as much as I'd hoped.  The doc very bluntly said probably not.  She may never walk on her own without assistance, such as a walker or crutches.  Her muscle tone has two vastly opposite ways that it fires which kind of cancel each other out and leave her without much control.  She did suggest pool therapy and also seemed very excited about the idea of hippotherapy (horseback riding) for Monster in the coming months. 

Talk about a major blow.  When you have a baby you don't think about what could be different about your future.  Mainly you think about the status quo high school kid running around on two legs, being "normal" with normal activities. At least, that's what I did when I was thinking about Monster before she was born.  Even still I think about her in high school as a "normal" kid, not as one who's different than the average.  I mean, we don't know that is our future for sure.  We don't know what she'll turn out like.  I wish we did.  I wish we could see what the future holds for Monster in regards to walking, talking, cognition, etc.  but we can't.  And it's sometimes disheartening.

Anyway.  That same day Monster had the state required preschool screening (needs to be done before kindergarten).  Her name came up on the list which was the only reason I scheduled it at age 3.  It was awful.  There was nothing that she could do during the screening.  She can't stand, walk, answer questions, or do activities.  It made me sad.  All the ladies doing the screening looked at me with this "poor you" look, not to mention the other parents in the waiting room while their kids colored or read books and Monster just sat there being monster-y.  I cried the whole way home.  I don't usually get too down about monster's disabilities but that day was too much for me.  I cried and felt sorry for myself and my baby girl.

It's hard.  Her life is going to be hard and I feel so badly that I can't change that.  She's not going to be the average girl in high school giggling about the football players and complaining about how hard that history test was.  She's going to be in special ed class with other not average kids just trying to get through each day and learn something, anything that she can take with her.  It's just hard.

snowglobe

It's snowing outside today.  In my head I'm in a nice cozy cabin with a fire crackling in the fireplace with a big snuggly blanket, and a cup of hot chocolate with Bailey's in it. 

Photo from http://kittystampede.blogspot.com/2012/01/fireplace-kittehs.html?m=1

Sunday fun day

Went grocery shopping this morning, just to pick up a few things, milk, cheese, etc.  still ended up spending almost $100.  WTF?  

Trying this whole food prep idea for the week.  I'm going to do simply filling for the week and realized that if I don't plan ahead, I'm not going to succeed.  So I made egg cups for breakfast and have oatmeal/fruit ready to go.  Also planning on a big pot of chili, a crockpot meal, and some chicken made ahead this afternoon.  Need to plan some lunches and snacks still, but I'm feeling confident. 

Going through clothes from my nephew and can say that mr. Magoo will be pretty much set from now until age 3!!! I still need to pack up all his baby clothes :-(  when did he get old? 

a dropbox of sorts

When I dream, it's really interesting. I could be a millionaire if I could remember and publish my dreams. 

What's with having a time limit on my garbage collection?  After 6 pm before noon?  If I'm gone I have to call or pay a fine? Hmmm. Not so sure I like this new recycling bin that much, but it is a lot bigger. 

Mr Magoo is one! How did that happen? 

JT joined a gym. Maybe I should too?

My favorite lip glosses are super cheap. One from the dollar store and one in a gift set from target. 

At the same time I want to cut my hair off, grow it out, highlight it blonder and dye it dark dark dark. How do I decide?

2014 in review

1. What did you do in 2014 that you’d never done before? parented two kids

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Nope, not even close... I think I may try again this year.

3. Did anyone close to you have a child? Dottie, Mary, and lots of blog friends did.

4. Where did you travel? No where really... Madison and the cities

5. What would you like to have in 2015 that you lacked in 2014? Motivation!! 

6. What dates from 2014 will remain etched upon your memory? 7-14-14 - Started my new job

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Living

8. What was your biggest failure? Checking out...

9. Did you suffer illness or injury? Pretty bad week of the flu for our whole family... extended included

10. What was the best thing you bought? Good question
 

11. Where did most of your money go? House, bills, baby stuff.

12. What did you get really excited about? Babies.

13. What song will always remind you of 2014? Everything is Awesome

14. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder?b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Happier, thinner, poorer.

15. What do you wish you’d done more of? Dates with Justin.

16. What do you wish you’d done less of? Ate crappy.

17. What was your favorite TV program?  19 kids and counting... don't judge me.

18. What was the best book you read? The Outlander series by Dianna Gabaldon

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?  The River 105.5

20. What did you want and get? Nothing comes to mind.

21. What did you want and not get? A monster walker... 

22. What was your favorite film of this year? Did i see a movie this year?

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Big 3-1 and I can't remember if we did anything... maybe Red Lobster?

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Having enough money...

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2014? I dressed pretty cute I think, I should document this more often.

26. What kept you sane? Ranting to Liz.

27. Who was the best new person you met?  My coworkers are pretty neat
 

28.Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2014? Your life will not change if you don't change.

Books I read in 2014

2014
1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
2. Melissa Explains It All by Melissa Joan Hart
3. Divergent by Veronica Roth (x2)
4. Insurgent by Veronica Roth (x2)
5. Allegiant by Veronica Roth (x2)
6. The World of Divergent: The Path to Allegiant by Veronica Roth
7. Free Four by Veronica Roth
8. Four the Transfer by Veronica Roth
9. The Kill Order by James Dashner
10. The False Princess by Elis O'Neal
11. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan
12. Thankless in Death by JD Robb
13. The 9th Judgment by James Patterson
14. Sorcerer's Christmas by Felicia Tatum
15. Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
16. Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini
17. Inferno by Dan Brown
18. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (x3)
19. Eldest (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini
20. Arena Two by Morgan Rice
21. Sugar and Spice by Joanne Fluke, Fern Michaels, Beverly Barton, & Shirley Jump
22. Brisingr (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini
23. Inheritance (The Inheritance Cycle) by Christopher Paolini
24. Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon (x2.5)
25. Attachments: A Novel by Rainbow Rowell
26. Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline
27. Waiting for Alaska by John Green
28. The Faults in Our Stars by John Green
29. Four the Traitor by Veronica Roth
30. Unbound Destinies by Felicia Tatum
31. Four the Initiate by Veronica Roth
32. Four the Son by Veronica Roth
33. Voyager by Diana Gabaldon (x2)
34. Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
35. Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts
36. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
37. Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts
38. Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts
39. Black Rose by Nora Roberts
40. Red Lily by Nora Roberts
41. Face the Fire by Nora Roberts 
42. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
43. Book of Life by Deborah Harkness
44. Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon
45. Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade by Diana Gabaldon
46. The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
47. Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon (x2)
48.  A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon
49.  Get Pretty, Kick Butt by Alison Lumbatis
50.  Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
51.  The Fudge Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
52.  The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon (x2)
53.  The Cinnamon Roll Murder by Joanne Fluke
54.  A Breath of Snow and Ashes by Diana Gabaldon (x2)
55.  An Echo in the Bone by Diana Gabaldon (x2)
56.  Written in My Own Heart's Blood by Diana Gabaldon (x2)
57.  Silver Angel by Johanna Lindsey

I'm doing a guest post!!

Stop over and check me out at Julia's blog My Life in Transition.  She hosts a series all about moms and today I'm talking about being a mom to a kiddo with special needs.  Come say hello and leave me a comment!!

Here's the link to my post.

Photo by Kate

stuff... things...

1. My fat clothes fit.  Sad face.  I need to step it up.

2.  I had to drive JT's car yesterday, it was weird.  And this  morning I had to put all my stuff back to where I like it in my car, the mirror, the radio, the seat, the fan controls. Oy.

3.  JT has an interview for a paid internship today.  Yay!!

4.  Monster got a wheelchair a week or two ago.  She's so tiny in it and it's so tiny itself... such a strange sight seeing her on the lift on the bus.  But she likes it, I think, so that's good.

5.  Work is busy, busy, busy.  Like so busy that I'm not stressed about how behind we are because there's nothing I can fix by being stressed.

6.  Caught up a little bit yesterday with my high school tennis partner.  We were super good friends but then somewhere in college just lost touch.  Hope to stay in better touch with her now.

soup season

I'm the type of person who doesn't like to eat soup/stew/chili in the hot months.  I just can't do it.  Somewhere around March myself says NO SOUP.  Anyhoo.  Now that it's cooling off again, soup is back on the menu. YAY!!  My favorite canned soup is from Progresso, Light Chicken Noodle.  It's just that perfect amount of noodles to broth that I enjoy.  I also like creamy chicken and wild rice, homemade or from a restaurant but not from a can, especially from Emily Bites. 

Anyone have any good, easy soup recipes to share??

This week

Well, this week sure was a whirlwind.  I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off.  Mr. Goo started at an actual daycare on Wednesday (OhMyGawd) but it turned out pretty good.  AND... Monster had a whole day off preschool... Seriously two weeks in and there's a day off? Turns out the second Tuesday of every month there's a 2-hour late start which means no preschool (since preschool ends at 10:45 anyway).  Yikes.

My mom, had her hip replaced on Wednesday meaning she's out of commission as our daycare for the next 6-12 weeks depending on how she recovers, as to why Goo is at an actual daycare.  Grandma is still going to watch Monster in the afternoons because grandpa will also be home (he works in the morning).  It's going to be an interesting new routine and then once we get used to it, JT will be starting a new schedule and then Grandma will be back to watching both kiddos, or so we hope.  Oy. 

It's okay. It's all good, just a bit of reshuffling and unpaid time off and all that jazz.  We'll figure it out :) But, working for only 3 hours in the morning and then getting to leave to get monster from preschool... pretty sweet and flies by!

First day of school traditions

When I was in school there were certain things that we did every August to get ready for the first day of school.  I'd get a haircut, some new clothes, and possibly new shoes.  My favorite thing was getting new school supplies and a new bag for the year.  I clearly remember after the annual shopping trip, putting all my folders and notebooks in nice piles and sorting through the markers and pencils that we had bought.  I especially remember in 2nd grade having a messenger bag of sorts and making my friend come over so I could show her all the supplies and the new bag that I had.  It was so exciting. 

Now that I'm the mom, I'm trying to establish traditions like that for my kiddos.  Even though it was just preschool (JUST PRESCHOOL!!!) this year, I did the new clothes/shoes for Monster and she even got her first haircut! It was only a little trim but she looked so grown up afterwards. 

We also did the traditional picture on the front steps.  I was going to do a sign saying first day of preschool and all that, but then I realized she can't hold the paper, probably wouldn't look and smile at the camera, and can't stand up by herself anyway, so I just went with her sitting on the steps with her book-bag. It was cute anyway.  Maybe when she's older... there was a super cute sign that I saw on Raising Snowpeas, that Jodi made herself!!

Another tradition I'm hoping to start is muffins for breakfast on the first day of school.  In one of my all-time favorite books, the family always has fresh baked muffins for special occasions like the first day of school.  Always one to get ideas from books, I decided I wanted to do that too.  I made oatmeal blueberry applesauce muffins (say that 3 times fast) that I found on pinterest.  I wasn't extremely impressed with them but they were still pretty good.  I think if I made them again I would cut out the blueberries and ramp up the apple/spices. 

first day of preschool

Yesterday was Monster's first day of preschool and she did AWESOME.  Not a single bit of crying or fussing or bewilderment.  She played with her para and made friends with the little boy who sat next to her at table time/snack time.  It was really great to see! 

We got her all ready to go in the morning and put her on the bus... It all happened so fast that I didn't have time to get upset about it. I didn't even think about it, just waved bye and then got Goo ready to go. 

After dropping Goo off at grandma's I did pass the preschool bus on the way to the school.  I got to her classroom and just settled in to wait over by the windows.  I don't know for sure if she knew I was there at first, but I think she saw me a couple of times.  I know for sure one time she started to come over to me but then got distracted by a new toy to play with. 

She was so great the whole morning, rode the bus like a boss, and I had nothing to worry about after all...

on the eve of preschool

My baby girl, who is almost 3, is going to start preschool next week.  To say I have mixed emotions about it is unrealistic.  When I think about it, I want to curl up under a rock with her and pretend that time isn't going on.  She's my baby and always will be.  However, on the other hand, I know she'll do great in school.  She loves other kids, being around them and being exposed to what they're doing.  She doesn't get a lot of interaction with other kids her age, mostly just way older kids or her baby brother, so I'm interested to see what it's going to be like.  The problem I'm really facing is that she can't communicate with other kids or express her needs.  She's going to be in the special needs classroom and we got special permission so that she could start at the beginning of the year at 2 years old (because her birthday isn't until October) so that she can get the extra help of another year of preschool.  She'll have lots of one-on-one attention and the ability to learn what school is, so that's good.  Also, she'll have all the specialists (Speech, OT, and PT) that will come in the classroom to work with her and teach the teacher and paras what she needs as well. 

We considered putting her in an integrated classroom where there were half "normal" kids and half special needs kids.  The idea behind this was to expose her to other kids who were normally talking and running around like 3 years olds "should."  We decided against it because I just couldn't do it.  We observed a class one day and it seemed to me that the kids were so much older and more "normal" than my monster ever would be.  They were playing together and sitting at the table and doing all the preschool activities that you imagine they'd be doing... while Monster just sat by herself on the floor.  There were a number of adults in the room and they said that she'd have a para especially one-on-one with her, but I still felt uncomfortable.  Would she get the attention she needed? What if she freaked out? What if she didn't?  What if she just sat there?  There were no kids with physical needs that I could see, so Monster would be the only one obviously different.

I don't know how I'm going to feel next week, but at least I've met the teacher and the teacher has met Monster and knows what she's like/what she needs to focus on.  I'm very excited/nervous for this BIG milestone in my baby's life and in my mama life... Now to figure out what to do with Goo...

clothes!

This capsule thing is harder than I thought...  Fall is such a weird season clothing wise in Minnesota.  September can still be summer-like but November is often wintery... Oy.  Plus, I was doing some piled up laundry last night and MAN, do I have a lot of clothes to go through.  I'm pretty sure I don't wear/fit into half of them but... daunting.  Plus, I have to go through Ms. Monster's clothing as well pretty soon.  She's starting preschool in a week and a half, but that's a whole other story.

So far I'm thinking of trying to stick with the prescribed amounts of clothing from the capsule wardrobe, which is 9 pairs of shoes, 9 bottoms, 15 tops, 2 dresses, and 2 jackets to equal 37 items of clothing. 

So far I've got:

2 jackets
2 dresses
6 tops
6 pairs of shoes
5 bottoms

lots to do before Monday. 

PS How nice is it when a month starts on a Monday? I love it. :)

wardrobe building

I've been thinking about clothes a lot lately... like A LOT.  Perhaps it's because I like to visit many fashion blogs or perhaps because I've just started a new job and have to get dressed before leaving the house now... but any way, clothes have been on my mind.  I'm working on cleaning out my wardrobe and organizing my closet (thanks liz!!).  The other day I read this, which led me to this, and I've decided to jump on board with it.  I've just been in the planning stages so far but I'm getting excited to begin.  Fall in my world starts in September so my fall capsule will be September thru November.  yee-haw!

Fall capsule board

Solid food

I think mr goo has been fully indoctrinated into the world of eating. Today he tried chicken, feta cheese, artichoke hearts, and orange sherbet (along with his baby food).Liked it all but wasn't sold on the sherbet. I think the only trouble we'll have feeding this boy will be him eating us out of house and home... By the way, where did that expression come from anyway? 

Current obsessions

Iced coffee

Dexter

Aveda lip gloss

Curly hair

Fashion/beauty blogs

Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon 

Bare minerals

My new deck 

Help wanted

Any of my blog-reading friends out there have any info about or related to school districts and/or special ed programs in the TC area?? We're looking at suburbs south of the cities mostly but anything would be appreciated! Also, info on neighborhoods would be good too...

Please email me caits310@gmail.com

Job

Well, thank the lord! I gots a job. I start on Monday. I had an interview this morning and within an hour got a phone call with an offer! Yay! 

I need to go shopping! 

After 7 months off, going back to work will be a challenge. Hopefully mr goo will decide to start sleeping all night so I can too.