2012 is ending

I must say that 2012 has been the worst year for me health-wise! I had two surgeries at the beginning of the year, blood transfusions, 3 rounds of iron transfusions, biospy, and major surgery in July. Needless to say, this year has been hard physically, emotionally, and financially.

It has been a rough year for my kiddos in the areas of education and ADHD. For Cinderella, we found a good medicine that will help her focus in school. Mr. C's meds have went off the charts with the lack of effectiveness and now we are waiting for a specialist appointment. Each day is so tough with his hyperactivity. At home he can be manageable, but at school or in another setting, he is too overstimulated. It's really sad that we do not get him out of the house much. For his personal safety, he cannot be out and about a lot.

I am so relieved this year is over and tomorrow will begin a new year filled with hope and promise of better things to come.

Christmas morning

On Christmas morning around 7:30 am, Cinderella comes into the room and announces that Santa had arrived and there were presents under the tree! She could hardly contain her excitement! Mr. C had not yet awakened. She had to wait 45 minutes before I woke him up to start opening presents. They both enjoyed opening new toys and I just loved their excitement and joy!

Christmas Day

Snow Fun

Christmas 2012

We had a wonderful Christmas! We had Christmas with Matt's family on Christmas Eve and we spent Christmas Day with my family. Everyone was healthy and happy and that is all that matters!

Santa was very good to my two and they were very happy with what they received! Toy highlights were a piano bus for Mr. C, Monster High dolls and a Barbie Beach house, and Stompez for Cinderella. Of course grandparents, cousin and an aunt spoiled them as well and it looked like a toy store was in our living room. Toys, toys, and more toys! Eek!

The kids also enjoyed the 4 inches of snow we received the day after Christmas. Of course it HAD to happen AFTER Christmas *sigh* but we built a snowman named Frosty who is a Bengals fan.

I came down with an awful health issue yesterday and am still battling it today. The kids and Matt have been germ-free so we are very happy about that!

Merry Christmas!

From my family to yours....we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2013!

The latest

We are still struggling with Mr. C's behavior. Children's has sent us a letter saying that they received the paperwork and he is now on the waiting list. It could be SEVERAL months before we get an appointment. *sigh

In other better news....today is the kids' last day before Christmas break and I have 1.5 more days to go! Everyone is BEYOND excited for Christmas at my house and in my classroom!

We are planning some fun Christmas activities with the kids this weekend and I will post some photos very soon!

Tough Times

We are in a tough time with Mr. C's behavior. It is something that is beyond our regular pediatrician's realm and we are waiting for an appointment with a specialist. We would appreciate prayer for us, doctors and his educators.

It is so hard not to be able to fix this problem and iris often scary to not know what the future will hold for him,

Naughty elf

Christmas Card Preview

Yesterday, we had our family photo taken for our annual Christmas card. I will be ordering in a day or so. My niece took them outdoors and I can't wait to see how they turned out.

Introducing our elf on a shelf!

We started a new tradition tonight! I read a book called "Elf on a Shelf" that explains the family tradition. Miss Cinderella named our elf "Markle." The elf watches the kids each day and at night he flies back to tell Santa if they are naughty or nice. Each morning, the children have to look for him. They cannot touch him or he loses his magic. Cinderella can't wait to find where he lands tomorrow!

New Group

I have been praying and thinking about creating a private Facebook group for moms of special needs children for a long time. Yesterday, I mustered the courage and asked publicly on Facebook if others would like to join. We have 12 members now and it is growing! I am so excited about this!

If you are a mom to a special needs child, comment and I will add you to the group!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I cooked dinner for my family and Matt's parents. Then, the evening and night was filled with great deals from Black Friday shopping!

Today, we will be putting up the Christmas tree and decorating for Christmas! I love this time of year!

Family Update

I haven't REALLY blogged in a week or so. Well, a lot has been going on in the family. Matt suddenly started losing LOTS of weight due to no change in diet or exercise. He had bloodwork done that indicated his blood sugar is out of con trol. Now, he is on insulin shots and we are hoping that it gets under control with insulin.

Miss Cinderella had her important IEP and MFE meetings on Monday. It's amazing to see her progress and how the IEP's change each year. Math and written expression are the most difficult subjects for her, so I am going to intervene and start working with her on math concepts at home.

Mr. C is holding his own and still enjoying his piano and other musical instruments.

We are hosting Thanksgiving dinner for Matt's parents this year so this will be the first time I have made Thanksgiving dinner in YEARS! Afterwards, I will be getting my wallet on and doing some Black Thursday and Black Friday shopping with my dear sister.

November Fun

National Adoption Month

Yesterday was Orphan Sunday which was a day to advocate help and adoption of orphans worldwide. November is also National Adoption Month. It's very special to me because we adopted our daughter on our county's National Adoption Day 5 years ago. I cannot believe that it has been 5 years! She was 2.5 years old and now she will be 8 in a few months. Time flies!!

Adoption created our family and it will always be very special to me! Adoption is found in Scripture and it is amazing how many times it is mentioned.

All teachers lead one or two devotions each year and last Wednesday God put this very topic on my heart and that was the theme of my devotion. I placed pictures of my two kiddos on the table and passed around Cinderella's adoption book.

As the kids are getting older, I am bringing up adoption more and how they became a part of our family. Mr. C just doesn't fully understand yet, but I think Cinderella is starting to somewhat understand. We had such a special time this weekend just cuddling and talking about it.

Halloween 2012

We had the WORST weather for trick or treating this year! Cold temperatures and misting rain makes it the worst we have had in YEARS! We lasted about 50 minutes. The kids got a lot of candy considering we did not last the whole time.

The kids had fun and that was main thing! I love how they enjoy life so simply!

Low Key Weekend

We had a very low-key weekend with plans. I must say it was really NICE! Friday evening was cold and rainy and once I got home from work, I refused to go out again!

Saturday, Cinderella and I made fall cupcakes and other than playing and hanging out, that is all that we did! Sunday, we had church and then we carved four pumpkins, I did some necessary shopping, and that was about it!

We really needed a low-key weekend with the busy week last week and the new week coming up that is filled with doctor appointments, dentist appointments, school parties and of course Halloween!

Fall has arrived!

Introducing....

le

This year, I was wanting to put them back as a couple again. I think we made the perfect choice! Aren't they adorable??? I have all the "Grease" songs in my head now!

"Danny"

"Sandy"

Wordless Wednesday - Ultimate Trampoline!

Gone in a week

Our dear beloved stray Grazie disappeared Friday night. We haven't seen her since then. Cinderella and Mr. C is crushed. We think someone took her in their home. She has the sweetest personality and would make the perfect pet cat. Hopefully, she is in a good home.

We still have little Maizie which is the little gray and white kitten staying around. We think it might be a boy so Maizie may not be the right name for him!! He is spunky and a bit wild....hmmmm! That sounds perfect for my two!

Movie Night

For this weekend adventure, we took the kids to the movies. Friday night, we saw "Frankenweenie." This was a kiddie horror flick that was centered around the old movie "Frankenstein." It was a cute movie with some hidden adult humor/imagery that kept parents entertained. I was kind of surprised at how "quiet" this movie was. This can be challenging when you have two special needs kiddos! They did remarkable well until the end when it got loud and a bit "scary!" Cinderella exclaimed that she was tired and scared and wanted to sit in her Mommy's lap. (She NEVER does that anymore!) Mr. C was energized (to say the least) when the loud noise came. Overall, I liked it although it had some sad parts!!

They are multiplying!

While looking out the window yesterday morning, I heard cat meowing. This is nothing unusual except for the fact that is was really loud. So, I noticed there were 2 cats now living on our carport.

Grazie invited a smaller gray and white kitten to enjoy the food and milk that we provide every day. Cinderella is in kitty HEAVEN! That girl loves her some kittens! Honestly, I think she could be a cat whisperer because she charms all that she touches. Hopefully we do not multiply anymore because we cannot afford to feed every cat in Butler County!

Grazie

This sweet, adorable kitty followed us home Friday evening after we were visiting my niece. Mr. C shouted "Follow us!" And then, this gray kitten has been with us ever since. She/he is not allowed indoors, but we have been feeding it and the kids have enjoyed holding it ever since.

I named it Grazie due to her color. We are not sure of the gender, but female cats are generally more friendly. She/he has white paws like they were dipped in white paint.

The kids LOVE this little thing and I hope she sticks around to attack all the mice that we get in the winter.

Corn Maze Fun

Yesterday, we had our annual visit to Tom's Maze. It was a VERY fun time! You are given an empty piece of paper with 12 squares. You are given access into the maze and you must find all 12 squares found in 12 mailboxes all over the corn maze. Once it is complete, you will see the design of what the maze is that year. This year, it was in the design of an American flag with stars and the words "Proud to be an American" all written out in the maze.

At first, we could not find any mailboxes! So, I told Matt that we should go to the very back and work our way back. That was a good idea because we started to find the mailboxes quickly! It took us about an hour or so to find all of them. Afterwards, we checked out the farm animals and other fun things that they had at the farm.

Later in the evening, we made a fire in the fire pit that was given to us. The kids loved the fire and I loved making the 'smores the best! It was a very fun Fall day!

Parenting is hard!

Last night was parent-teacher conferences for my own children. When you are a teacher, you know the in's and out's of them, so when it is the teacher's own children, it can be quite the role reversal.

We have hit a rocky patch with parenting. Behavior is something that (with typical kids) can be controlled or modified. However, when it is behavior from an ADHD special needs child, well, it can be the biggest problem ever. Medicine is a great thing when it works, but when it doesn't, it can be quite the headache. All this to say, parenting is HARD! I feel like I need a degree in psychology and special education.

I wish I could fix all their problems, but I am admitting that I just can't! It's out of my realm of control. This is a very hard thing to admit. All I can do is my best and pray that God will intervene. This is what I am doing now. Praying for God to help in both of these incredibly special kids' lives and behavior. I know that He can do ANYTHING and that is what I am doing. I am going to give this to God and let His will be done! I would appreciate prayer for them.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Digging Up Bones

Trick or Treating with the Dinosaurs

Yesterday, the kids went trick or treating with the dinosaurs at "Dinosaurs Alive" at Kings Island. We got see to see all the animatronic dinosaurs that moved and roared as well as go trick-or-treating along the trail. The kids enjoyed getting candy, apples, toys, and little pumpkins. We also visited Howl-a-Palooza again and rode our favorite rides. This will probably be the last trip of the year as a family to KI. If things work out, Matt and I will be going by OURSELVES to the Halloween Haunt one evening very soon!! (We RARELY get time by ourselves so when it does happen, it is such a treat!)

Next weekend will be very fun as well and we are hoping it is warmer than this past weekend!!

Little Kitty