Love this! but a thought...

I read this article by Stefanie Wilder Taylor regarding her daughter. Its a great article, but my thoughts are what if this was a boy instead of a girl? I don't think parents would be as apt to let their young 3 year old wear a tutu or some sparkly Sketchers. Not saying this is right or wrong but it is something to think about.

http://blogs.babble.com/babble-voices/stefanie-wilder-tayler-baby-on-bored-electric-boogaloo/2011/09/19/my-shopping-spree-with-chaz-bono/

Research Study

When we discovered Graydon had a flat head, misshaped in a big way we started seeing specialists. I know I have mentioned it before but he was fitted for a helmet when he was 6 months old. He was to wear it for 4-6 months 23 hours a day. At our initial visit at Seattle Children's Hospital when our baby was just 3 months old the ARNP we saw said he had plagiocephaly and brachiocephaly. She initially thought he had torticollis and referred us to physical therapy for him immediately. It turns out that he did not have tort but had overall hypotonia. After the ARNP wrote the referral she asked if we would like to be part of a research study for children and infants with plagio and brachio. We agreed and signed up. We figured if nothing else they may figure out what is wrong with him and possibly give us more resources. He went to several visits over 3 years and had one MRI relating to the study. (He had another MRI later for medical reasons.) They would send us updates and so on but never really heard the results. I belong to a group on Facebook that is for people with hypotonia. It is a great support group. Many people from all over the globe sharing stories and advice. I wish I knew about this years ago instead of just a couple months. There is a mother there that was denied helmet therapy for her child and while I was looking for links for her to campaign to her insurance company to show its medically needed and not cosmetic I found a link from an article detailing the research study Graydon was in. He was one of the 472 babies in the study, obviously not part of the control group. I know initially we were told he was the first child with plagio that had a successful non sedated MRI. Thankfully it was clear and showed nothing wrong. All of his Bayley tests showed significant global delays. 6-12 months behind "normal" children. It was the urging of Dr. Brent Collett that made me push to have Graydon retested for speech delays, after the initial one showed he didn't need speech therapy. A copy of that Bayley test from a high ranking professional at an acclaimed children's hospital held merit when I waved it in front of the people who said my child didn't NEED speech therapy. They suddenly agreed he did. Anyhow...this is the link.

I am so glad to share and hopefully some good came from the study and it gives other parents more of an edge to fight for their children when professionals refuse to listen.

Another link to a similar story.

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I R Suck. Update and Update.

Seriously the blog thing has not been happening like I would like. I have lots to say but really not sat down to write it out. Here is the mini update for the year.
Finished college in June just 2 days before my youngest turned 4. (Where did that time go?) I got a degree and 2 certificates. Of course I didn't have to worry about finding a job, because I always had one. One I might add that I am very grateful for. Everyone gets along, usually. They understand needs to leave for medical appointments for my child with hypotonia and other medical issues, specialists and ongoing speech therapy. But it is good to be done. I *thought* I would have a ton more time for stuff like blogging, and ebay...HAH! Yeah no...not sure how I coped before with homework and everything school, work and family.

Moving on...G turned 4. He is doing pretty well progressing with his delays. Still not on the level of other kids his age but not too noticeable to others that meet him. Potty training is the big frustration now. He can pee every time, usually. But pooh is another story. He freaks out, tells me he doesn't know how, runs, hides...UGH! It is hard to tell whether he is internally damaged (Thanks to the wonderful doctors that wouldn't listen) or just fearful, or maybe a little of both. We hope that he makes progress before next fall when he is supposed to start kindergarten.

KC did another summer at theater camp (maybe that is where my time went?). She LOVED it. She even had a lead role with a singing solo. I certainly would love to get her some lessons and maybe get her involved in more theater stuff. It costs money which is scarce these days thank to a certain person that refuses to help with things that...well never mind. Tay spent the summer at my parents working as a laborer. He also helped other family members out and earned some cash. It was good for him. He turns 18 in a few weeks. CRAZY. I am so not old enough for him to be my kid. He has a lot to do this year. He needs to pick a college, we need to do some senior pictures. He has some super hard classes, calculus...physics. ACK! KC is taking algebra in 6th grade...I am not smart enough to help with homework anymore.

I also came to a realization that maybe I knew but never really sat down to ponder. My oldest will be graduating from high school on June 13. The day before his baby brother turns 5, yes FIVE! This means one graduates and another begins. HOLY F()
Speaking of the above mentioned grandmother, we also lost her this year as she left to join my grandfather. She had a broken heard for the last 4-5 yrs. My mother, bless her heart, took care of her until the day she died. Spending nights with her at home and even in the hospital till she took her final breath. There is another story to this I will tell later.

The rest of the year will be busy too. My son turns 18, my daughter will be 12 in a couple months, then Christmas....oh my.

But for now I am going to sign off. More to come!

Wordpress: Fail

I attempted to make the switch to Wordpress and I just can't figure it out, or really have the time too. The box to type the blog in doesn't look right. So here I am, back to my good old reliable blog that I neglect far too often. If its not broke, don't fix it.

My Personal Magic Kingdom

I have been busy. But I am almost done and will be moving on to other projects long forgotten about. But for now I am posting an essay I wrote for a class I am taking. Let me know your thoughts. I am sure what I wrote is not at all what my teacher expects.

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Q: I would like you to write a 1-3 page double spaced reflection paper on your future career or job. In this paper you should discuss your dream job and how you are going to make that happen. Also integrate the other areas of your life and talk about the ideal of what the next 5, 10, 15, 20 years can look like.

Walt Disney looked at an everglade in Florida and saw a magic kingdom, by following these simple principles: Dream, Dare, Believe, Do.

I want you to create your personal magic kingdom.
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Self Assessment 9

I have been thinking of what I should write for this. Of course there are dream jobs but I am a bit more realistic. I also don’t have regrets. When I first came to GRCC I was on the edge of losing my job with a company I had been at for nearly 7 years. I had learned with the company, grown and possibly even became a little outdated. My field is marketing and design but as the economy tanked, so did the company. The owner put me in the bookkeeping/accounting position as well as my regular duties that were dwindling because of our budget cuts and no money for advertising. He had a hard time finding someone he trusted so he put me there and trained me as I had no real experience in accounting other than working as a teller years before and the ability to balance my checking accounts to the penny.

A year after mostly self learning, and having the mindset of saving the company money anywhere I could, which is much different than the advertising mindset, I was doing very well. Then the owner died suddenly. I was faced with this uncertainty of the company, even more than just the bad economy. I thought about my options, I am not one to dwell on the bad. I am more of the take action and make things work mindset. So with the company slowly going under because of the death and family squabbles because these people had no clue about the company business, I decided to check into making my accounting skills more official. Only a few months after starting school the company closed, but I was fortunate enough because of my connections to find another part time job in the industry I was coming from. The company knew me and my capabilities already and being versatile helps. I have been there almost 2 years now and love it. I really don’t think much about a dream job. The economy still scares me and you just never know.

I could write a paper about how my dream job was to be a great photojournalist or a personal assistant to someone high up. Both of which I feel I would be good doing. But I really don’t know for sure if that would be my dream job. I guess what I am trying to get to is I am already doing what I like and at the same time on a path where I am continuing to grow and learn. I know eventually I will move on to another company for some reason or another because nothing is permanent. To say where I think I might be in 5, 10, or even 20 years is not something I can honestly predict with any accuracy. Looking back I am not where I would have at all guessed I would be even 10 years ago. Especially 20 years ago.

Right now my focus is on doing well and taking care of my family. I don’t think I could write about my dream job because I already have it within my current life and family. Maybe if I were asked this question 20 years ago, I would have a whole different answer for you, but I am being realistic and the dream job I may have had then, is not something I would be happy with now. So I am happy to say I am living my dream and I have no regrets. I believe if I at least continue to appreciate life and take things as they come whether they are planned ahead or come up by surprise, no matter where I end up I will be happy. That to me is the only point to life. That is my magic kingdom.

New year?

So far it blows. Big ass chunks. I am about to fail Excel. Seriously excel. I did awesome in all my other classes but excel will be my Achilles heal. I think everything is falling apart. My child has been getting hives, was diagnosed with asthma, my grandmother died, my best friends nephew passe away. I am planning a seminar for work, have tons to do, Have doctor appointments, choir concerts, I don't know what to do. I can't keep my house clean, dishes done. Laundry washed and folded. I know these things are trivial but when my house is messy I just feel more chaotic and in turmoil. I just had a panic attack because there is no way I am going to finish these 4 more assignments by noon. Its almost midnight. I have to be up at 6 to get the kids ready for school, take my daughter to choir in the morning then get to work. I am beginning to not care if I finish school but that will mean it will hurt me later, like if I need a new job. I have to finish these 2 classes. Take a typing test, and do 2 more non accounting classes. So sad that if I don't finish it won't be because I can't handle accounting, it will be because I can't perform detailed whatif functions and scenarios. It will be because I cannot correctly make tables in HTML. Or pass a typing test because of chronic tendinitis. I know there are worse things to be worrying about. I am just so unbelievably stressed and sad that I don't know what to do. I really just want to go to sleep. Oh sleep I miss you. I don't ever get to sleep in. I never really have a day off. I felt guilty for going shopping this weekend. I should have stayed home and cleaned.

I miss fun. I miss hanging with my family. I miss friends that I probably don't have anymore. I just suck at life.

Sorry I am always venting to you.

A gift...Merry Christmas

Now that school is done for a month I plan to do some cooking/baking. When I was in Atlanta in August we went to a restaurant that was awesome. They had real southern food to die for, or to die from if you eat too much. They had this pudding like substance and to my surprise it was Sweet Potatoes. One of our dealers said its a staple come Christmas time and later emailed me his recipe. So I am going to share it for all those brave enough to try. Honestly I have never bought a sweet potato in my entire life so this will be an experience for me as well. (If I am brave enough to try it) Please let me know how it works for you if you do try it and if you make it already any advice would be awesome. Here you go...

3 - cups mashed sweet potatoes

1/2 - cup sugar

1/2 - teaspoon salt

2 - beaten eggs

1/2 - stick margarine

1/2 - cup milk (evaporated makes a richer taste)

1 - teaspoon vanilla

4 - large sweet potatoes cooked measures out to be approx. 3 cups of mashed potatoes.

Whip cooked sweet potatoes with electric mixer until fluffy mix in remaining ingredients put into casserole dish (spray with Pam prior) & bake at 350 degrees for approx. 30 minutes until thickens.

Remove from oven & add your toppings.



Topping:

1 - cup brown sugar

1 - cup chopped pecans (I like to keep some of the pecan whole)

1/3 - cup melted margarine

1/3 - cup flour


Blend these ingredients well & spread evenly on top of casserole & bake another 30 - 45 minutes to form a crusty top.

Test by inserting knife, if knife comes out clean the casserole is done.