Red White and Blue

Okay...

I have a freaking cold. Who gets a cold in April? My throat and ears are all scratchy. I want to bundle up and hide. Of course I can't. I just want the cough to go away. I can't cough my way through IEPs and lectures. What timing! UGH

Tyler's IEP went well. OT wasn't there but allllll the others were. It seems all those who were in attendance loves the kid and truly want to help. I don't want anyone on the team that doesn't care or have given up. He is only nine years old. Let's pray for a good year.

I bought a new camera. My zoom lens quit working. Again, what timing!! I got an updated model of my own and in pink!!! The same battery and charger work with it. That saves me $100+ right there. Now, I just need a 4g memory card. One day...

I bought a new pair of heels today. Two pairs in fact! I LOVE my heels. It still doesn't replace my beautiful butterfly Jimmy Choos my dogs chewed up, but I like them all the same. Now, how did I find time?? Tyler's IEP ended one hour before school let out. I ran up the street to a Persian restaurant and asked them to donate a gift certificate for the school auction, which they so kindly did. I ran it back to the school and still had 35 minutes. So I ran to TJ Maxx. Shoe mission only. I found AK's and BCBG's. I got back to the school with five minutes to spare. Now that is productive. LOL

Time to figure something out for dinner that does not require alot of time.....you know I insist on a family dinner 7 nights a week. It is what keeps it a unit!

For know,
xoxox
rein

OMG, it has been 5 weeks since I posted....

It really isn't intentional. It is IEP season. Tyler has an IEP tomorrow and I just read his reports last night. I have done so much with others IEPs that his went on the back burner. Gee, OT will be po'd when they find out I refuse to dismiss them. Oh well. Life will go on.

Besides IEPs, well lectures. I go around telling people their rights and the laws within the special education system. Then, there's school stuff. Open house is next week and it seems to me I am the only generous parent donating stuff. Real stuff, not 99 cent store stuff. Not tooting my own horn, but come on, get with the program people. Who wants to bid on a basket of crap?! This IS a fundraiser! It falls around the same time every year, so budget it in. I haven't had a Starbucks in a couple of months. That is $4 bucks a day! I sacrificed soooo much...Just kidding, but you get the picture.

What else??? Modeling shoots like crazy for the kids. Always a trip to the beach. Ronald Reagan Library is on the agenda too. I have never been, so I am excited about it. Chloe, you want to go with us???

Beyond that, the same ole. Kids, therapies, tutoring, housework (minimal if I can help it), errands, and so on.. OH OH OH, gluten free is our latest adventure. It is helping Tyler with his self injurious behavior, persevering, and echololia. It has diminished it. Has it cured his autism...ONLY in my dreams! Jenny McCarthy can kiss my behind on that claim. So, every child is different. This is helping Tyler, not curing him. If anyone wants a list of gluten free items, fast food places, and restaurants, just drop a comment.

I think that is my life in an April nutshell. TTYL
xoxo
Rein

Prayer request...

Okay, I haven't been to active lately on the social front. I just have alot going on. Here is a summary:

My uncle Weldon is my mom's younger brother and he is having open heart surgery tomorrow, Wednesday at 7am in Visalia. He is 54 yrs. old if I remember correctly. He lived with us before I was born and while I was born. He graduated from Glendale HS while living with my parents, pre rein. He was there when I was born too and lived with us a bit after. He was always close with my family.

Now, my uncle Eric is my dad's younger brother and he is 54yrs. old too. He was born with MR and Down's. My grandparents who are gravely ill had to put him in a group home for the first time this last week. The courts turned down conservatorship of the one lady citing she was too old. 67 yrs. Now, my dad is her same age. He is retiring just for Eric. He plans to do one of two things. retire with Sonia (my stepmom) and bring Eric to a home down here OR retire without Sonia, move to my grandparent's place (retirees only) and stay next to Eric up there. It is near where he went to high school (Porterville HS) and sort of where he grew up. I think that is more of his preference. The catch, he is not conservator and not sure the courts will grant it to him on his own. So, I would agree to co-coservator with him. Although I don't have a strong bond with Eric, I still am family and very much have the credentials to do right by him. So that is the deal there. I would only take on anything if my dad passed. But then, I would really be the only family left that is responsible enough to do something. I can't just leave my uncle without family. I love the guy :)

I am just stressed out. I am worried of course and expecting my grandparent's passing. That will throw my dad for a loop. He has already buried two brothers. He doesn't deal well with death. He drinks it away and chain smokes. Not good for a man with two sets of heart attacks in his past. So, I have both uncles who are in limbo, my dad, my grandparents, morgen's retention issues, and all the usual stuff...IE autism, rene, brent, my brother, etc.. I am just going a mile a minute and having trouble fitting it all in. ON top of all of that, I literally forgot to take my medicine for a few days and had a med withdrawal. I thought my head was going to explode.

With that said, please pray for Weldon, Eric, Helen, Robert, and John. Helen and Robert are my grandparents and John my dad. Prayers work miracles and ease souls.

Rein

WACKY WEDNESDAY READ ACROSS AMERICA WEEK

AS YOU ALL MAY KNOW, I AM A DR. SEUSS FREAK. THOUGH ONE MIGHT WANT TO CALL ME A GEEK. ONE OF MY FAVORITE STORIES TO READ IS GREEN EGGS AND HAM. I LOVE THAT SAM I AM. HIS BOOKS ARE JUST EASY AND FUN. I CAN READ IT ONCE AND STILL NOT BE DONE. I CAN READ THEM IN CHARACTER AND MAKE IT A SHOW OR JUST READ FOR BED AND IT IS ALWAYS A GO. THE KIDS ARE FULL OF GLEE AND CAN'T WAIT TO SEE, IF MOM WILL GO OVER THE TOP WHILE READING HOP ON POP. I CAN NOT STOP THIS RHYME, WHEN SEUSS IS A GO, IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. HIP HIP HOORAY IT IS WACKY WEDNESDAY TODAY!

ROAD TRIP!!

OKAY, WE ARE OFF ON A DRIVE UP THE COAST. CATCH Y'ALL ON THE RETURN TRIP! OF COURSE I WILL HAVE PICTURES. LOL

My Princess Morgen

This picture is courtesy of my friend Amy. It was a belated bday gift for me. I absolutely LOVE it! I am in awe over it. What a thoughtful present and a beautiful one at that! She was kind enough to take Morgen to Libby Lu's for a princess do, then do photos. When I picked up Morgen that day (1/1/08) I asked her if Amy took pictures. She said no. I told her that was hard to believe. Amy always took pictures. Well, she did and Morgen kept her secret for almost two months!!!! I asked her directly and she didn't give me any indication otherwise. What a girl! I just had to remind her the importance of sharing some things with mommy and when to keep a secret. Got to be safe. Anyhow, enjoy. I love them. Gillian is one of Morgen's best friends and Amy's daughter :)