I thought it would be fun to jump on the FTSF sentence of the week.

“Speaking from experience, I’m going to give you a little advice on…”

At first I thought, experience? Really, the Boo experience. I am so putting that on my resume! But the more I thought about it, and the reason I chimed in on this post by Finding Ninee was to me, this is the best part of blogging. Learning how we all cope in this Special Needs World.

Speaking from experience, I’m going to give you a little advice on….following your gut. I know, you are thinking seriously? Following my gut? I know how to do that.

And most of us do. Except when it comes to what I call white-coat syndrome. We put so much faith in the doctors, therapists, teachers that take care of our children we sometimes forget that their college degree does not trump our mom degree. (oh, another tag on the resume!)

Here is what I know. When Boo was born I knew there was something wrong. She was adorable, don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t that she looked like a troll or anything. But she breathed funny. And I listened to the doctor’s and nurses who told me I was just a new mom.

When Boo was being cared for Early Intervention, I listened to her nurse that told me she was just ‘mildly’ delayed. That Boo did not need the added therapies I was advocating. EI did not want us to seek alternative therapies. Our insurance company really did not. But they were wrong. Boo started physical therapy at 6M old. She could not roll over. It took almost another 6M to gain that skill. Boo also needed feeding therapy, speech and occupational therapy. When Boo was 2 and still not making any attempt to walk her PT decided to try a pediatric walker. Her theory was that although Boo was not physically I(or developmentally) ready. Each time, EI would say that I had Boo in too much. That she was going to shut down.

Bull crap.

Boo excelled. It took her a month to master the pediatric walker. From there she was chasing Allie around the house. She loved it and in just 8 months was walking independently.

In fact, this two-week vacation from her school/therapies once again proved that Boo needs intense therapy to succeed (slight pat on my own back there).

I am not pooh-poohing EI. I am not saying not to listen to your child’s doctors, teachers or therapist. We are so lucky. Boo’s peditrician has always backed us 100%. They have assisted us in advocating for Boo. But always remember, their degree while important does not make them an expert on your kid.

Your mommy degree always trumps theirs! I am just speaking from experience, and giving you a little advice on following your gut. (And we should totally find a way to put our experience on our resume!)


Finish the Sentence Friday is hosted by:

Boo is not potty trained. I know in my heart (and have a doctor’s note) that she is just not ready. But she may be ready to give up the diaper, if not for big girl pants. During this extended vacation, she has managed to take her diaper off…while leaving her clothes on.

I am giving her total points for the magic act. But am a cross road. Am I holding her back by keeping her in a diaper or is she truly not ready? I do so much for Boo that I would not have done for a 4YO Allie. I carry her, even though she can walk. Why? Because it is faster and I am in a hurry. I sometimes feed her, because she is tired and I want to get some food into her anyway I can. She cannot dress herself or manuever herself onto the toliet.

Or can she?

This is the girl that in the past week has managed to climb onto Allie’s bed in the pitch dark and remove her diaper while wearing jeans and a sleeper.

Am I just making excuses and being lazy? Because let’s face it, having her in a diaper is much easier.

Did I waste the time provided by Nemo when we were housebound for four days? That would have, in retrospect, been the best time to try to train Boo.

I just do not know. She doesn’t tell me she has to go potty, that her diaper is soiled or that she has to poop. She does not have the language skills for requesting anything other than “Charlie” on the IPAD. She is either constipated or having diarrhea, not the optimal thing to clean out of clothes. (there I go being lazy again)

But that doesn’t stop me from wondering if I am putting limits on Boo instead of pushing them.

I would like to take a moment and raise my wine glass to the stay at home mom. Especially the SAHM that has a child with special needs. Although if you have a ‘typical’ child like Allie that can numb your ear drums with her stories, my glass is up for you too.




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I am not sure how you do it. You are my hero. The girls have had an extended February vacation thanks to Nemo. I have played countless games of Sorry and Yatzee. I have tried to keep ahead of the mess that two children can make in under 5 minutes. I have tried, really tried, to keep Boo in a therapeutic environment.

I have failed. I have allowed more TV in the past 10 days than in the 9 years of Allie’s life. I think I can recite the words of every theme song on the Disney Channel. This morning Boo woke up and demanded “Charlie” (for Good Luck Charlie). It was 6am. I let her watch it on her IPAD.

Work has been an escape. Even if only for a couple of hours, work has allowed me some respite care.

There is only 4 days left until the girls return to their routine. I am starting to count down the minutes.

So I take a moment to raise my wine glass to the moms who survive the stay at home experience while maintaining their sanity. Cheers!

The girls have seperate bedrooms. To be honest, Boo’s room is technically our guest room with a toddler bed in the corner. When Boo was first born all Allie wanted to do was share her room. But with all of Boo’s issues it made sense to seperate them. Add to the fact that Boo didn’t sleep in her own room until she was almost two.

With their extended February vacation due to Nemo, Allie asked if she and Boo could have a sleep over in Boo’s room. I figured, sure why not? Of course, since Allie has a later bedtime their sleep over consisted of Boo going to bed and Allie following an hour or so (hey it’s extended vacation) later.

It was such a success every night since then Allie has asked to sleep over “at Boo’s Room”. How much of a success you ask (come on, you were going to ask)?  Because BOTH girls have been sleeping through the night. Through the night my friends!!!

And when Boo wakes up early, she has been seeing Allie sleep and lay back down. When Allie starts stirring, Boo crawls into bed and Allie doesn’t mind as long as it is close to 7AM. Allie then reads a story to Boo until the clock says 7:30 and Allie knows that means the TV can go on. They then leave Boo’s room and I get to shower in peace.

Allie has been making the bed since she is in the ‘guest’ bed and helping Boo make hers. This morning they rearranged Boo’s bed to be closer to Allie. Allie also placed a bench close to her ‘new’ bed so Boo could crawl in easier.

Because I know how easy Allie’s dream can shatter, I reminded her that this weekend and next we had company. This means the sleep overs will have to be interrupted. Allie asked if Boo could sleep in her room, which I nixed. Boo has proven in the past that she cannot fall asleep anywhere but her own bed, in her own room (yes, I have tried moving her bed into another room. Epic fail). When we have company I put Boo to sleep in her own bed and then move her to mine when she is sound asleep. To compromise with Allie I told her that I would move Boo to her room.

Always the thinker, Allie has a new plan:

I’m thinking if this helps you both sleep through the night AND I get to shower without interruption AND the beds get made without asking AND a playroom is supposed to be messy so I won’t be after Allie to clean her room all the time this is a win-win-win-win plan of Allie’s, right?

The girls are on February vacation….

Husband tries. He really does. He also manages to work every Valentines Day/Night. So I was not expecting much this morning. I woke up this morning to a card from him, “to my lovely wife” and a box of Lindor Chocolates. Now you have to understand, I LOVE Lindor chocolates. But I gave up chocolate for Lent so I figured he was just messing with me.

When I thanked him, but reminded everyone I gave up chocolate for Lent Allie replied:

Then I got a card from the girls. Except it wasn’t a card a daughter(s) give their mommy. It was a card that a husband would give his mother from him and his wife. Seriously, it said….”To My Devoted Mother from the Both of Us”.

It was signed: Allie, Boo, Husband and Bailey the Crazy Puppy. I asked her, why she signed everyone’s name and she replied: Well, I figured Daddy is kind of your kid too.

Ha, gotta love that girl!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

We do not generally get a lot of snow. So getting almost 3 feet of snow has been a novelty, even if it did shut down our area. But here are things I learned over the weekend:

My Allie is spoiled. We were part of the 5% in our town that never lost power, cable or internet. Allie: I’m bored.

Husbands are foolish. If you offer them a thermos of chowder or stew and they refuse to take it with them to work, they should not call you during the height of the storm to say they are hungry and expect sympathy.

Friends are easy to let go of. As I have written about before, Boo really hates snow. To the point that it is almost traumatic for her. When a “friend” suggested that I just put her in the snow and make her “deal with it” I realized some friends are worth it.

Friends are really easy to cultivate. Especially when you are in the 5% who have power 🙂

We are a spoiled generation. I offered hot showers, flushable toliets, heat, hot meals to everyone I know. What did most take me up on? Coming over to charge their lap tops, IPADS, cell phones and DVD players. I really wish some of them had taken me up on the offer of a shower.

Boo is really protective of Allie. Usually Allie looks out of Boo. But when Allie is out playing in the snow, Boo called to her to “OME ERE”. She wanted Allie inside where it was safe.

People are funny. The minute the driving ban was lifted, what did they do? Form a two mile line to Dunkin Donuts drive thru. You think I am kidding? They local D&D ran out of coffee.

My friends really like beer and wine. The ones that did come over to charge their electronics they managed to drink everything I had in the house. Next time I am charging a bottle of Pinot Grigio for every outlet that is used. Honestly, did they not get my memo about having the proper provisions? This is what happens when you concentrate on milk and bread rather than the essentials.

If you really want to get people crazy, during the height of a storm put this as your status on Facebook: Is anyone else craving Chinese food? (Yes, yes, I did!)
The girls really need to go back to school. I understand they cannot go if the school has no power. But to the power company, please make it a priority.

So long Nemo. Thanks for stopping by. It is time for you to go now. Like right now.

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Okay, there is only 3 days left. Go vote for Ninee!!! She just made the top 50 and totally deserves to make the top 10. http://www.circleofmoms.com//top25/Top-25-Funny-Moms-2013?trk=t25_Top-25-Funny-Moms-2013

 Proving my point that snow is puppy crack, you can see the powder on his nose!

Allie and Boo got a half-day due to the pending storm. Allie is a little upset that it is falling on a Friday night which means she won’t get to skip school tomorrow. Boo is screaming at the window “I NO LIKE” at the falling snowflakes. Puppy is acting like the snow is crack and is pacing with excitement. Husband, of course, is working. But not to worry! I’ve got the provisions for either the biggest storm of 2013 or PMS. The girls are really hoping it is a snow storm!

We have:

M&M’s

And of course,

So, sweet & salty are not covered

And the most important provision:

Barefoot makes me think of summer.

 Hope your house is stocked and everyone stays warm!

Disclaimer: The wine is not to be shared with the girls.

2nd Disclaimer: I am making the girls watch Nemo during Nemo. Who came up with the name of this storm anyway?I know, they say it is the Submarine Captain. But seriously, they didn’t think we would all make the jump to….

Sorry, this was too funny not to steal from a friend’s Facebook post!

Oh, and before I forget…did you vote for Ninee today? Come on people she is up to #54 and there is only 6 more days left! http://www.circleofmoms.com/top25/Top-25-Funny-Moms-2013?trk=t25_Top-25-Funny-Moms-2013#_

Boo got a report card. Now this would be funny even if she wasn’t Boo. Seriously, they did a report card (or progress report may be the new PC term) for a preschooler. In Boo’s case her report card from the preschool was just down right comical, with lots of exclamation marks (!). Here are some of my favorites:

• Draws or builds a planned construction: Boo stacked two blocks into a tower! (I really wanted to know if she was going to be an architect!)
• Knows that print carries a message (Reading Readiness): Enjoys story time!
• Knows her name: Boo knows her name but refuses to say it!
• Follows routine of the class: Boo is doing better with less redirection!
• Copies pre-writing shapes and letter like forms: blank. But the teacher wrote: Boo recently drew a straight line with help!
• Uses sentences to express ideas and feelings: (they circled “feelings”) Boo says, Don’t Like!
• Prosocial behavior/Uses thinking skills to relsolve conflicts: No Conflict!

Okay, really. She is in a class of 4 & 5 year old. Do they really need report cards in preschool?  I am all for academic readiness, but this is taking it a bit too far (although Allie wishes her report card was this easy).

What I loved about the report was that you could tell the teacher was trying really hard to be positive. There were so many blank spots where Boo just doesn’t have the skill. The teacher didn’t write “needs improvement” instead she left it blank and then wrote something sweet in that spot instead. Under knowing her name:

“Boo is stubborn about saying her name, since I do not like to lose battles I just don’t ask.”
 

And my favorite….She ended the report with this comment:

Which is code for: Boo is the only one not “graduating” to the kindergarten or pre-K next year. But apparently I am not the only one who is okay with that!


Oh and if you have a quick, quick moment please visit http://www.circleofmoms.com/top25/Top-25-Funny-Moms-2013?trk=t25_Top-25-Funny-Moms-2013#_ and vote for Finding Ninee. Right now she is at #59 but I think we can improve on her ranking, don’t you? She truly is one the funniest bloggers. You won’t be disappointed.