Caitlynn's Asking you...

To help her raise money for her School Walk for Diabetes.

Hello Friends and *Blog* Family, I am writing to ask you to help me raise money for the American Diabetes Association. I will be participating in School Walk for Diabetes, a fund-raiser that teaches kids about getting exercise and eating good-for-you foods. The money I raise will be helpful to all people with diabetes. Did you know that more than 20 million people have diabetes and more than 6 million of them don't even know that they have it? That number includes many kids too.

You can help me by making a donation online at my personal Web page. http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?px=3916057&pg=personal&fr_id=4890

Diabetes effects alot of people in my family. I hope you, or even someone you know, may be able to help me donate. Please forward this on to anyone I may have forgotten to add to this email! *blog posting* Thanks soooo much! Caity!!

To donate to me and my School Walk for Diabetes, click here. http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?px=3916057&pg=personal&fr_id=4890

First Day of PreSchool!

A blog in pictures...Enjoy all! I will say he was telling me "square" and "Circle" while pointing. And was counting 'one, two, threeee' the people on the table. The pictures are taken in his Daycare's entry way while waiting for the bus to come. He's on the bus, 3rd seat from the back.

3, Yes THREE Years!

WOW it's so hard to believe that Jacob is a 3 year old today!!! My handsome man has hit a new milestone....3 years old! He doesnt seem to care what the date is. Though he did like getting his giftcard from Gma and Pops and his Shirt, Trains (he slept with them) and book from Nana Hilary! His party is not till Sunday...but that is sneaking up on us fast! I think (humm not sure yet) that we may get him a bean bag chair..he loves the one at daycare.

I have to run out tonight to get him a 2nd lunchbox...guess he get's a cool one now since he needs one for daycare and one for school.

Jacob starts at Houston Tomorrow...we're having a rocky start, but they seem willing to try to figure out solutions to most everything. Keep your fingers crossed that things contiune to go well. They did just add an aid to his class so it's about 1:2 or so ...3 aids in the class and 7? ish kids. He get's to ride the bus there, but then I get to meet him there since they need me to show them how to feed him. I wish I had known in advance I would of set up a meeting ahead of time, poor kids going to wonder why mommy is leaving him in a strange place with strange people. :(

Houston (Elementary) we have...

Lift off! Jacob will be starting at Houston Elem on the 26th of this month. It's from 8:30-2 and has a cap on 12 students. Current enrollment (including him) will be 6-8 ( depending on a child who might be entering). There is a teacher and an aid in the class, so it's a great ratio.

On the sad side...The school Spec. Ed director who was very leary of J's Autisim DX...(she doesnt believe a child should be dx'ed under 4 for Autisim) observed him in his daycare today. After talking to his teachers there (he's been there for 5 months now) she is agreeing that the DX is accurate. there was always that hope that maybe it was not right....especailly now that his talking is starting. Oh well...he's still my sweetie!!

Good news also!
The cut off for Kindergarten in SC is September 1st. Since they are starting to serve J when he turns 3 (07-08 school year) He'll still be 3 come the 9-1 cut off for K4. So he goes back into the 3's. Then he'll go to K4, then K5. If he needs the inclusion room still they will try to transition him for parts of the day to a typical class. Essentially he'll get a extra year of preschool (which he needs! ) without me having to fight for it!! To be continued...I'm going to view the school on Thursday.

Video Sunday?

Well...let's see if I can get them uploaded! I've gotten a few video's lately of Jacob talking. Mom's camera takes great video's ;)

Well it hasn't uploaded yet, so we'll sneak a few pictures in! These are called "uh oh I got caught" He's not allowed food or drink right now. But how can you say no when he's begging. Thick or hard foods are normally ok with him. It's soft foods and liquids that are causing the most problems. So when he found my cinamon toast this morning...we let him have it. 99.9% of it ended up on the floor anyway.

Caitlynn having fun posing for the camera in our room.

Another day...

And finally a delivery!! Our Home Heath finally delivered our first order of supplies! Though they only deliver 2 weeks for the first order...after that it will be by month. We were able to get his Carnation Instant Breakfast though CRS (state org that helps kids with certian disabilities) So we're set on that too! Sooo much of a relief! Now...where to store it all! :) They didn't get the extension size right, but that's ok we can still use these, and they are working on getting the correct length.

The school district called, they are sending someone out to 'observe' Jacob at Daycare on Monday. I guess they are still undecided on where to place him. I will fight tooth and nail for Houston Elem...I think it's a much better fit for him. They dont want to meet with us till the day before he starts school. That's not settling with me...I want the chance to have the school nurse meet him and learn his tube feeds the week before...not the day before. We're not talking about a boo boo and a band aid...it's his nutrition. Speaking of Nutrition...Jacob has gained! He's hit 31 lbs...sooo amazing! We never thought we'd see the day!!

On the loss side though. ;) I've lost 27 lbs!!! Also Amazing...again I never thought i'd see the day! My journey is not over...I have 73 pounds to go to my goal! Doesnt seem like as much as 3 months ago when this started. I havent bought new clothes yet, but by christmas it'll be necessary. What a wonderful though! (except for the $$ it'll cost ;))

Caitlynn is doing great in school. She's loving 4th grade, and learning lots of lessons! Shes averaging about 90+% on all tests. Except for the one lesson...the lesson is "you must study your vocab words to pass the test" .. that was a 40%...and she got an F. Her first ever...in 5 years of school, so not really bad. She now know's she cant just slide by ALL of 4th grade. Part of it she will...Last year in Pennsbury she was learning on a 4th grade level for 80% of her classes. This year with a different gifted program she's learning on a 4th grade level for 90%. So she's basically "relearning" what she learned last year. Lets hope and Pray that it works well for her! Her glasses got broke 3 days ago on the way to school. The bus slammed on it's breaks to avoid a dog, and her face hit the front seat. She's fine, but her glasses were in 2 pieces. We found a eye glass place today that welded them for $12! What a awesome find!!! She's due for new glasses on 12/1 and insurance will pay for everything. So finding someone to repair them (even temporarly) was great!

Franks doing well...healing from his accident at work, and getting back into thing. One day at a time ... right?



Oh yes..One last WOW on Jacob. He's talking up a storm! He's saying "car, go, zoom, click, caitlynn (sorta) Dada, and a few more!" When you ask him "wheres the tree...he'll point to it!!!" Where's the cat/kitty, he'll do too if one of the cats is around." What wonderful strides he's doing!

This was found on a Caring Bridge page for a friends sons...and it touched me very much. It speaks so much for how these kids are. They are strong, couragous and ever so loveable.

Sometimes life seems hard to bear,

Full of sorrow, trouble and woe,

It's then I have to remember

That it's in the valleys I grow.

If I always stayed on the mountain top

And never experienced pain,

I would never appreciate God's love,

And would be living in vain.
I have so much to learn,

And my growth is very slow,

Sometimes I need the mountain tops,

But it's in the valleys I grow.

I do not always understand

Why things happen as they do,

But I am very sure of one thing ...

My Lord will see me through.
My little valleys are nothing

When I picture Christ on the cross

He went through the valley of death;

His victory was Satan's loss.
Forgive me Lord, for complaining

When I'm feeling so very low,

Just give me a gentle reminder

That it's in the valleys I grow.

Continue to strengthen me Lord,

And use my life each day,

To share your love with others

And help them find their way.
Thank you for valleys Lord,

For this one thing I know ...

The mountain tops are glorious,

But it's in the valleys I grow!

God is Great!!!

After a bit of a run around today, Jacob's insurance (Tefra) Though the state of South Carolina is APPROVED! Thank God! That is such a huge weight lifted off our shoulders! And will save us ALOT of money that we cant afford to pay out.

Praise the Lord!!!!

It took 3 months....but it is awesome to have it done!

To everyone that helped us during this struggle, Shannon, Heather (mama), Susan...and others (i'm sure!) THANK YOU!

Some things...

There are some thing's that i've been avoiding posting about on here. They eat me alive, and at times steal my breath away. But ive avoided it knowing that someday...somewhere, he'll see this blog. And with that thought is the hope that someday my father and I can reconcile our differences and become civil to each other. But with each day that turns into months, years...and yes a decade. It becomes harder and harder to think that someday this could end.

Before moving to South Carolina in May of this year I emailed him. (And yes I know he received it, I know from a very reliable source) I gave him the chance to contact me, and to see his grandkids. Caitlynn was 11 months old that last time he saw her. Yes she is 9 now! Jacob...well he's never seen that special boy. Even in the NICU (and yes I had him on the 'allowed visitor' list) he never attempted to see his grandson. I dont want to turn this into a bash, I have wonderful memories as a child. Humm I'll be 30 this year. Of going to my Grandparents with just him. Of camping trips...and holidays. Halloween was the bomb at our place! But with the good comes the bad, the aweful, and the sadness. There are things i've been told that I wont even type. EVER. Mind you he never layed a hand on me or my brother. Unless it was a swat/slap we deserved. BUT verbal is sometimes worse then physical. And what is not worse is just as bad.

I keep hearing songs lately that take me back in time. My dad gave me 2 CD's for Christmas the year my parents divorced. 1991... Reba and John Michael Murphy (cowboy songs). That year he gave me a rose...I pressed the one petal, and just threw it out last year. With that petal went my hope. My hope for even a long distance relationship with him. My Hope that my kids will someday know their grandfather. My hope that my Dad would one day grow up.

Honestly I dont know why i'm typing this. He'll never see it. Even though I know he has this blog address, I dont think he cares enough to check on us. To see how his daughter, son in law, and grandkids are. To care you must have a heart...a heart that has room for everyone around you, not just the ones that do exactly what you say.

Well...I guess that's all for now. I do still send cards. And I even contiplated sending pic's of someone elses kids. He'd never know anyway. But just incase he's reading...

Dad you have my address. You have my phone number. You have the power to change the way things are. I've tried, and failed. I am moving on...someday.

Back to that song thing again...

Dad..

Rascall Flats

I'm Moving on.

I've delt with my ghosts and i've faced all my demons

Finally content with a past I regret.

I've found you find strength in your moments of weakness

For once i'm at peace with myself

I've been burdened with blame, Trapped in the past for too long

I'm movin' on.

Another Song Post...

Tired of them yet?

This one is for a few good, awesome, great friends out there!

http://artists.letssingit.com/tracy-lawrence-lyrics-find-out-who-your-friends-are-lv4x8xm



What else happened today.... Oh yes! Jacob is saying "Set" as in "ready...Set...GO!" he say's go too, so all you have to say is "ready" and he'll say set, go! or "One" and he'll say " Two, Go!" He's getting there! Only took 2 years 11 months, but hey he's trying!

We took Caitlynn to a Greenville Drive game tonight, with fireworks! She had fun, the game was nice to watch. They didnt win....but oh well. www.greenvilledrive.com

Have a good holiday all!

Frank is out of work...& Me!!!

Till Tuesday. Last wednesday he fell at work and got taken to the ER. He hurt is right knee...and his back. So far thankfully it's just bruised, and he is starting to walk on it again some. The doc wants him weaning off the crutches this weekend. So this week Mom-Mom got to take Jacob to daycare one day...and forgot to give them his lunchbox, so she went back. Friday was "B"ear day at school. Bring your favorite bear! So Snowy went to daycare with him Friday, and got left behind...thankfully they were still there when Frank called!! J would of been lost without that bear for a 3 day weekend!

Jacob is still sounding Wheezy. We've upped his flovent/albuteral, and he's not showing outward signs of distress (retracting) ... but something is brewing, please keep him in your prayers.

Caitlynn's school sends home "thursday folders" and a report for their weekly behaviour in it. Out of Great, Good, Fair or Poor. She got a Great!! And they did not have checked off "talking in class" which is a big challange for her. WOOO HOOO! Now that we know this is sent home we've set up an incentive program for them. Greats are worth $2.50, Good's are $1.00, Fairs dont give money, but dont take it away either. And Poor's Take away $2.50. Her teacher (or all of 4th? not sure) is setting up a money "debit" acct for the kids. They get $2 for being in class. And $2 for not getting a check mark that day. So they can earn $20 a week. Then there are other things that would make them loose money. IE: no name on paper -$1, Check Mark -$1 each time.....and other things. They will get a paycheck each week, they can keep it, or cash it. But it's only good towards the general store they will open every other friday. Sounds cool! I'll let you all know how she does!

Now for the MEEE part of this post! Scroll all the way to the bottom...and check out the numbers on that ticker!! OMG i'm sooo stoked! I'm 1/4 of the way to my goal!