tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16172530873956082032024-03-14T10:48:02.311-04:00The Quirk Factor: Resistance is futile...Parenting on the Autism spectrum, while trying to survive Murphy's Law one day at a time.mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.comBlogger471125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-88561947770986060442020-03-08T23:43:00.001-04:002020-03-08T23:43:26.951-04:00Update 2020Holy shit y'all. <div><br></div><div>Look.At.My.Boys.</div><div>How did this happen??? <br></div><div><br></div><div>Also, see that adorable chubkin' baby there? As much as I wish he was minez... he's our grandbaby! 😍 (Property rights due to the amazing parents BenNBri). </div><div>Love you guys. 💕</div><div><br></div><div>Jazz band</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div><div>This is what your face looks like when you volunteer to try sardines, and it comes to fruition. 😆</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div><div>Yes, he's wearing a "fuck off" shirt.</div><div>He's sleeping. It's good advice. Lol.</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div></div><div>Jaysen beat hubs in high score.</div><div>...for now...</div><div><br></div>mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-75507869393592544892018-05-29T23:04:00.001-04:002018-05-29T23:04:04.861-04:00Doods<p dir="ltr">Yeah.</p>
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-91021524331106887032018-05-18T17:29:00.001-04:002018-05-18T17:29:14.982-04:00Should I Stay Or Should I Go.<p dir="ltr"><br>
*Summoning Joe Strummer*</p>
<p dir="ltr">I started this blog to document the trials and tribulations regarding Jaysen's adventures in our public school district. Read: I needed a paper trail. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Seeing as that doesn't necessarily  apply  anymore, I've grappled with the decision to either end Le Chateau de Quirk, or to morph it into a snazzier, more updated (don't worry, it would still be plenty dramatastic because, well, hi.) blog, with current issues and stories. </p>
<p dir="ltr">I mean, my family IS still hella quirky...</p>
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-30356721130427935332018-02-24T11:07:00.001-05:002018-02-24T11:08:08.912-05:00New Beginnings <p dir="ltr">Dreams <i>really</i> <i>can</i> come true. ♥️</p>
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<p dir="ltr">We just returned from a much needed vacation in Florida, and in 2 days, I get to marry my best friend. I am a lucky girl indeed. ❤️</p>
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text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMcQ2JahR8A5iYdMVSqiZQ6WYJwnBfFEVg8oEgeEAbLF7wRgdWsf_PHhh4yQePYIRShXi0VCM1H2iFq7X7jOcYAVVI9mRcPJAPtuf39IYUit9DpwBIPlYjDrG5GB8XffMr-cPWWhQ-QE/s1600/image000000%25288%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSMcQ2JahR8A5iYdMVSqiZQ6WYJwnBfFEVg8oEgeEAbLF7wRgdWsf_PHhh4yQePYIRShXi0VCM1H2iFq7X7jOcYAVVI9mRcPJAPtuf39IYUit9DpwBIPlYjDrG5GB8XffMr-cPWWhQ-QE/s640/image000000%25288%2529.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAghZZJ9yvaARAyLOdusyvjt0ytFk831faHI-6OcJTb5RWOwH76bOVMHnyGeyWGcYvWV0KuSEZLPIBhxvwOqxg0hbpYDybt2dYS-AyvHEIoCarBCp6DQCVvNOZXdnRo01OH9V3h8eNPI/s1600/20180212_143649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAghZZJ9yvaARAyLOdusyvjt0ytFk831faHI-6OcJTb5RWOwH76bOVMHnyGeyWGcYvWV0KuSEZLPIBhxvwOqxg0hbpYDybt2dYS-AyvHEIoCarBCp6DQCVvNOZXdnRo01OH9V3h8eNPI/s640/20180212_143649.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OsX_5S18DUjUP3ovIxDxvJLKUMYI9QbvL0aanADjLWOdXRiOoiO_7u6cDhVTa8qBinI0lgZAWnHAZH4J9EM0e_KPEPk8f8xGykWWR8pjqLzdS1gHR28VT5tv6waPVWmoyD5eKInT-_c/s1600/image000000%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0OsX_5S18DUjUP3ovIxDxvJLKUMYI9QbvL0aanADjLWOdXRiOoiO_7u6cDhVTa8qBinI0lgZAWnHAZH4J9EM0e_KPEPk8f8xGykWWR8pjqLzdS1gHR28VT5tv6waPVWmoyD5eKInT-_c/s640/image000000%25285%2529.jpg"> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-HvbmKX-OCGAG3H0royipFsSv2r8z5KLhpnXxP96OWi0-T0DK4qPlwuU96PgiHlu9RvBwNHFiKkG7ZYCGK2ghXOxWxs5fE1r4fIPN_AieRnY8aDcFCQF8u-QNStS1FAlU7X6KTUx0rI/s1600/20180211_124947_HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-HvbmKX-OCGAG3H0royipFsSv2r8z5KLhpnXxP96OWi0-T0DK4qPlwuU96PgiHlu9RvBwNHFiKkG7ZYCGK2ghXOxWxs5fE1r4fIPN_AieRnY8aDcFCQF8u-QNStS1FAlU7X6KTUx0rI/s640/20180211_124947_HDR.jpg"> </a> </div>mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-91795133010525410312017-11-21T16:59:00.001-05:002017-11-21T17:00:02.685-05:00Holidays 2017<p dir="ltr">Here we go... </p>
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-23992975689095691912017-10-05T14:11:00.003-04:002017-10-05T14:21:22.501-04:00Newsflash.<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS <i>SOCIAL AUTISM</i>.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Please, stop.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-36019938336483210182017-10-05T14:03:00.000-04:002017-10-05T14:12:24.866-04:00No Title is a Good Title.So here we are, a few weeks into the new school year.<br />
<br />
Jaysen is still having a little bit of a rough time, but he usually doesn't settle in until mid-October anyway. He's had some trouble with "bullies" again this year. The issue being that at this school, all of the kids there have some social-struggle of one kind or another. Jaysen has to learn to be tolerant of other's differences, just as we want others to be of his. This is not an easy concept.<br />
<br />
Rylan is settling in, but I'm noticing how bad his anxiety truly is.<br />
No thanks to me and SH#2. We're both anxiety messes.<br />
I supppose the positive side there is, I am able to make sense of his anxiety. I know it well. Hopefully, I can be supportive enough in the right ways, that he doesn't end up in a jacket that hugs him back, later in life.<br />
<br />
The rest of the fam is great-<br />
I don't want to write about them too much, without their permission, but we're good.<br />
Things are good.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-59200004091238793612017-10-02T08:23:00.001-04:002017-10-02T08:24:38.210-04:00Fingers crossed <p dir="ltr">Good juju for TW today!<br>
🍀❤️🍀❤️🍀❤️🍀</p>
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-46425752614480543662017-09-12T13:54:00.002-04:002017-09-12T13:54:50.953-04:00Proud Momma<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just look at this weekly report.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpvpTYGCAIal2EdKJKUyIyBfMpe2kQ2oPhJSDwHlAE9FFV0ZY0LLh9zPwn07BAwYNN-VYBU-V-lI0ElII7RkdggVEKQOCxUn4vX92wFx4G82VIZH-bVRSVFIBXmAie_jRg1Ypimmnt6U/s1600/Weekly+Report.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1338" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpvpTYGCAIal2EdKJKUyIyBfMpe2kQ2oPhJSDwHlAE9FFV0ZY0LLh9zPwn07BAwYNN-VYBU-V-lI0ElII7RkdggVEKQOCxUn4vX92wFx4G82VIZH-bVRSVFIBXmAie_jRg1Ypimmnt6U/s320/Weekly+Report.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
In your face, Barmington.</div>
<br />
<br />mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-39814930671570651512017-09-05T13:09:00.002-04:002017-09-05T13:09:55.679-04:00AIM High!First day of school here.<br />
Usually this means I have not slept, and have probably gotten this far in my day on klonopin and coffee.<br />
<br />
However-<br />
Jaysen started a new school last year.<br />
<br />
Ugh.I Know! ANOTHER NEW SCHOOL?!?!?<br />
<br />
Yes. And this one is amazeballs.<br />
Like bring tears to your eyes, amazeballs.<br />
Like smack-yo-momma, make you cry, amazeballs.<br />
<br />
I was going to keep the name of this school anon as well, but it really does deserve recognition.<br />
<a href="http://www.aimhighschool.com/index.php" target="_blank">AIM High</a> is a school for kids like mine. Maybe like yours. But really, all kids would benefit from education like this.<br />
It has<i> literally changed his life</i>.<br />
And mine.<br />
<br />
AIM is designed for kids on the Spectrum.<br />
I was freaked out because as a private school, they "don't do" IEP's. ACK!<br />
In fact, there is <u>not one</u> Special Education teacher on staff! Not one! *cue arrhythmia and sweating*<br />
<br />
It was explained to me that they don't need those things. The teachers (and ancillary staff) are <i>so freaking compassionate,</i> this is their passion in life. They don't need IEP's because the <i>whole building </i>is an accommodation. The way the days are laid out and the class sizes (averaging 6-10 students per class!), the individualized instruction, the support of the entire staff, and student body...it's honestly more like a huge family.<br />
<br />
But education is still paramount. They use an evidence based education model. They have a full curriculum with core academics as prescribed by the MMC. They have electives. They have a band. They teach life skills. They teach social skills.You can get an actual diploma and they assist in transition planning like college visits, ACT prep, and job internships. And if the student is not college-bound, they have a 5th year option for dual enrollment at a post secondary school.<br />
<b>They do not give up on these kids.</b><br />
<br />
<i>*Squeeeeeeeeeeee!*</i><br />
<br />
The suck side is it is a tuition-based private school, and VERY expensive.<br />
I cannot afford this school, even with financial aid. ShittyEx has agreed per decree, to a minimal contribution of less than 1/4 of expenses (Gee, thanks).<br />
I will do everything in my power to keep Jaysen at this school, and continue to do so with the help of my family. He is absolutely worth every penny.<br />
<br />
The principal disclosed to me, after our first year was coming to a close-<br />
This school was created for kids like Jaysen.<br />
Kids who are lost in the public schools despite the "support and services" they received.<br />
Kids whom the public schools failed, and as a result, do not have an educational foundation to draw on.<br />
He told me he was <i>warned </i>about Jaysen. Did he really want to take him on?? He's a lot of trouble, aggressive, "not teachable". He is "volatile" and a "behavior problem". Good luck with <i>that kid</i>.<br />
The principal wanted to take a chance on him anyway. <i>He ain't no sissy. </i><br />
A few months in, he admitted to me that Jaysen was nothing like the prior administration described. He found Jaysen to be sweet, polite, eager, hardworking...Yes, he needed help with self-regulation and managing his frustrations, but he had made so many improvements in that area already.<br />
<br />
There were no meltdowns last year.<br />
There were no faking sick days.<br />
There were no tears or arguments.<br />
There was no frustration with homework, because they do their homework after "regular school", with teacher support. I know, right?!?!?<br />
Jaysen actually learned stuff, guys. Not only that, but he learned, retained, and applied stuff!<br />
He was excited for school to start again this year, and that has NEVER happened.<br />
<br />
Best.School.Ever.<br />
<a href="http://www.aimhighschool.com/index.php" target="_blank">AIM High School</a><br />
<br />
We love this place.mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-81095784438067878722017-09-01T13:11:00.002-04:002017-09-05T13:10:44.018-04:00One Ex, Two Ex<div dir="ltr">
<br />
One Ex<br />
Two Ex<br />
Red Ex<br />
Blue Ex</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
This one has a little scar<br />
This one has a little car<br />
Say! What a lot<br />
of Exes there are.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Some are pink<br />
And some are black<br />
Some will even have your back.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Yes, some are dirty<br />
And some are clean<br />
Some are very very mean.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Some use their sleeve<br />
And some use tissues<br />
Lookout for those mommy-issues!</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Some sleep on floors<br />
Some sleep in beds<br />
And some are stupid liar-heads.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Some are thin<br />
And some are thick<br />
Some just try to be a dick.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Why so they insist on causing drama?<br />
I do not know<br />
Go ask a llama.</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
In short....don't be a dick Ex. </div>
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-7186893385733705052017-09-01T12:31:00.002-04:002017-09-09T12:33:41.131-04:00Introducing TW<p dir="ltr">I'm a believer in that sometimes one door has to close, so another can open.<br>
And I can tell you that you <i>can</i> find love in heartbreak.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Had it not been for ShittyHusband#2, I never would have met TW.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Guys. When I tell you this man has changed my life, I mean it quite literally.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Coming from freakishly similar backgrounds, he understood the importance of attention, affection, and compassion. He's happy and proud to be seen with me. He loves my kids and brought 5 of his own into the mix, giving me the big family I've always wanted. He is kind, thoughtful, helpful, brilliant, hilarious, caring, talented, and a great role model as a father. He is everything I've ever wanted in a partner.</p>
<p dir="ltr">And he's super cute.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Life is good. <br><br><br></p>
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-19560057582223043722017-08-31T14:46:00.002-04:002017-08-31T14:46:40.930-04:00And This Is Why I've Been A Hermit...<div class="MsoNormal">
It had been a very dark couple of years, and I wasn't sure I could post anything before anything was finalized. Y'all ready for this?</div>
<br />
In November of 2014, Companion and I got married. (Yeah, I know, right?)<br />
Things sucked.<br />
<br />
In short, I married a habitual liar, and a sexual predator.<br />
<br />
You would not believe the shit I uncovered. But trust me when I tell you, there is no better detective, than a suspicious wife.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>I learned Companion has a pretty significant porn addiction. I'm talking like sometimes 7 hours a day kind of habit.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>He was more comfortable with porn than having an intimate relationship with a real live person. Which made me unbearably lonely. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I learned he would stalk other women and take secret pictures of their feet (a philia of his), without consent.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>I found nude pictures of myself, that he had taken. <i><b>Pictures he did <u>not</u> have my consent to take.</b> </i>He would pull down the covers while I was sleeping, or leer through the crack in the door when I was changing or getting into the shower. Creeper.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
But check <i>this</i> out-<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Over the
course of our 13 years together, he and a co-worker had a relationship for over 5 years. He admitted that the only
reason the affair ended, was because she left the company. Which by the way,
was three months after our wedding. <i>After</i>.
Talk about a knife to the chest. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After 10 years of neglect, and 5 years of betrayal, I had no more tolerance for any form of cheating, whether emotional, physical, through words, or other secret exchanges. I will stand by this until the day I die.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You stuck your dick in a goat? You cheated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wife begging for your attention and affection, but you’re giving it to another woman instead? Cheating.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Went on a date with another woman, but “didn’t have sex”? Sweetpea…you still cheat-a-ma-tated.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Infidelity is more than just adultery. Infidelity is about broken trust. Breaking bonds. </i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I stayed and we tried to work things out through therapy. I stayed not only because of my fierce loyalty, but more importantly, because I tried to convince myself I wasn't being abused. He promised to stop the lies. To stop the porn. To stop
seeing this woman, and never contact her again. There were lots of promises. But I guess
<i>dat</i> <i>ass</i> was just too enticing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I soon found out the affair had rekindled. Or maybe it never
stopped. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was told he was going to a friend’s house who lives about
2 hours away. He was not. He and the girlfriend met for dinner and drinks. His tab, of
course. When I questioned him if he was still at his "friend's" house, he affirmed-
<b>but I was staring dead at his car in a local restaurant’s parking lot. </b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Despite therapy and watching my anxiety spiral into CPTSD, he just could.not.stop.lying to me.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><br /></b></div>
Our therapist made the observation that despite all we had invested into therapy, Companion never shouldered any responsibility or accountability, and had actually gotten <i>worse</i> as therapy progressed.<br />
The man is a weak, pathetic son-husband, and malignant covert narcissist.<br />
He constantly plays the victim.<br />
And he lies...lies...lies.<br />
He is an abuser.<br />
<br />
I had finally had enough, and ended it.<br />
<br />
The kids were bummed, to say the least, but they understood because they knew that things weren't good. They saw me in tears, non-stop. They knew it was because of their father. And they knew it wasn't healthy.<br />
We didn't even make it 2 years, peeps. Our separation was almost as long as our marriage. It was absolutely grueling.<br />
<br />
Fast forward.<br />
My divorce has finalized! <b>😄</b><br />
*happy dance*<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">More updates to come.... </span><br />
<br />mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-22920890754671975062016-11-30T13:15:00.000-05:002016-11-30T13:15:45.812-05:00You Guys...Just wait. <br />
You won't even believe this shit. <br />
<br /><br />
~MDmommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-76139736596327312362014-04-02T08:38:00.002-04:002014-04-02T08:38:26.516-04:00My 1 in 68<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTPJEJkejOAUmCoOm5vDhSLoZchGCoJeDmEcRcPBVco2RMXT8X6EXbV9AyziLZtis5oxC_XG56UnZn_ZhGlmOMOfDYIYhTUvyRqC7dJ2MGXRmBfCAvun-3uGtNvpG9TOQGEZwVqsNAHs/s1600/20140319_144257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKTPJEJkejOAUmCoOm5vDhSLoZchGCoJeDmEcRcPBVco2RMXT8X6EXbV9AyziLZtis5oxC_XG56UnZn_ZhGlmOMOfDYIYhTUvyRqC7dJ2MGXRmBfCAvun-3uGtNvpG9TOQGEZwVqsNAHs/s1600/20140319_144257.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love this kid with all my heart.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-12435426714649367862014-03-04T11:34:00.001-05:002014-03-04T11:34:34.983-05:00La Petite UpdateNo excuses, I've just been busy. And lazy. But mostly busy.<br />
Okay, so maybe a few excuses...<br />
Let's recap, shall we?<br />
<br />
First off, <em>I love you Stimey</em>! <br />
She gets my #1 fan award. <br />
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<br />
<strong><u>School</u></strong><br />
School has had it's ups and downs. <br />
<br />
Rylan is doing awesome in big fat first grade. <br />
He just did his science fair project on hovercrafts. <br />
Him are smert.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p6OF0U1JWy37cabIAWDqmB1vZi7C77Tgt5O7Vm19tGm-HEyZQAP396qJVDNCBco5RYIovqCldUyCX7APhuMic6SjHvhYzBS19nLgV1p89i8xFjrH5pE7mBlUH0yoa6-VDl9QhuJ5Gp0/s1600/20140227_142750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0p6OF0U1JWy37cabIAWDqmB1vZi7C77Tgt5O7Vm19tGm-HEyZQAP396qJVDNCBco5RYIovqCldUyCX7APhuMic6SjHvhYzBS19nLgV1p89i8xFjrH5pE7mBlUH0yoa6-VDl9QhuJ5Gp0/s1600/20140227_142750.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let me tell you alllll about hovercrafts.....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz-3iWcW0TSQM0Le8uSKDlmqeNB1JqchJrTXdrJ2va50CnUwxFEyS1UjSqGrFykC0uwmGBwSlSsmajeuDjVMUnx33cQauLkgOK8v-pj63fAaPXwcQR8DV2sphIR5JKoLx3ZZT7ESLFjI/s1600/20140114_151025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz-3iWcW0TSQM0Le8uSKDlmqeNB1JqchJrTXdrJ2va50CnUwxFEyS1UjSqGrFykC0uwmGBwSlSsmajeuDjVMUnx33cQauLkgOK8v-pj63fAaPXwcQR8DV2sphIR5JKoLx3ZZT7ESLFjI/s1600/20140114_151025.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta-da! I'm just awesome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Jaysen is doing really well too. <br />
He's in 7th grade, and although it was a heart-wrenching move to a self-contained classroom, it's proven to be a really good thing for him. He's still getting lost, but he's gradually catching up. Last year, he was doing 3 column addition. This year he's doing pre-algebra. Wow. <br />
His MEAP scores went up too, which doesn't really mean much because we all know how I feel about standardized testing....but it was cool to see how much growth he had himself, from last year to this.<br />
<br />
Behaviorally, he's having some setbacks, has gotten picked on, but his outbursts are nowhere near where they used to be, and much shorter in duration. More on this later.<br />
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<strong><u>Sunny</u></strong> is amazing. She continues to be the best addition to our family in a long time. <br />
We just adore her. She's kinda sweet on us too. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEind4DUKAVEPm8dLYsaIuasPZmDH8VG_PuD4ayJIVLvWDJYzU8PhFehAPn1otQUnEweR588pusgPEKtC7lG-9oQZEMiRa9uN52jBYrJ1n7zl79fHXaOLWhlBD6lpbRQiVwLb_Qj8AC4xI8/s1600/20140119_150248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEind4DUKAVEPm8dLYsaIuasPZmDH8VG_PuD4ayJIVLvWDJYzU8PhFehAPn1otQUnEweR588pusgPEKtC7lG-9oQZEMiRa9uN52jBYrJ1n7zl79fHXaOLWhlBD6lpbRQiVwLb_Qj8AC4xI8/s1600/20140119_150248.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuddle time!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QZInGdjSDQGfZUxKOZ44fCBLQPfvax3KDZBrg24GDSH3Q_O0gsP9q1MlBnzNCCWcmn2ETENzcca9chLWdp-Y-qCZaXOSrlKp5ZFLOQneafMk6MsbzGBjFtjwqBJxPEA3xmfX5zp4t-4/s1600/20140104_100655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7QZInGdjSDQGfZUxKOZ44fCBLQPfvax3KDZBrg24GDSH3Q_O0gsP9q1MlBnzNCCWcmn2ETENzcca9chLWdp-Y-qCZaXOSrlKp5ZFLOQneafMk6MsbzGBjFtjwqBJxPEA3xmfX5zp4t-4/s1600/20140104_100655.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at that silly face!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<strong><u>This</u></strong> happened in December...<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HnJEEsKDgXiZBayIroAaMCI19NKx94t4213yQeaLbzJnAd2PXkE0UXXh1qMbQz9kE9zGSk1GAl4mPaqWIJr56AIr-L9mPOh7sZ3qQdN1ar1LD6oVkugIDL-C57kHzPPLsBkhhahB9Mg/s1600/ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2HnJEEsKDgXiZBayIroAaMCI19NKx94t4213yQeaLbzJnAd2PXkE0UXXh1qMbQz9kE9zGSk1GAl4mPaqWIJr56AIr-L9mPOh7sZ3qQdN1ar1LD6oVkugIDL-C57kHzPPLsBkhhahB9Mg/s1600/ring.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bling!</td></tr>
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<strong><u>And!</u></strong> I had another amazing birthday a'la Companion and The Minions. <br />
I love them bazillions.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cc2LHg9OzBZTS2t6tmtBi5l-laVH-rK1eYziHDq1bz7LtPRGDanspEZFxtvSSLUagTXjPX_fDX5Py-30yz2WaPKNOJfdg0uk5BuXML6LlKj8PgU7m8D-cjMHuK-jwz65QCZ03qe-s0U/s1600/20140222_093932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cc2LHg9OzBZTS2t6tmtBi5l-laVH-rK1eYziHDq1bz7LtPRGDanspEZFxtvSSLUagTXjPX_fDX5Py-30yz2WaPKNOJfdg0uk5BuXML6LlKj8PgU7m8D-cjMHuK-jwz65QCZ03qe-s0U/s1600/20140222_093932.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French press coffee and bacon.<br />
Enough said.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-WeAaAo08XmQWq2KfCckPyUuiIuMD7s-EkoK66fFezHrwbkBsBP2dzwzG9NlL4Fsi2lbGtLM8JgLJKtK8fR5rjooFKPDqJBNPRV_gw_bPddOiWAOVmNSwX-HKUWuletA_zowsL2ODgE/s1600/20140222_094023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-WeAaAo08XmQWq2KfCckPyUuiIuMD7s-EkoK66fFezHrwbkBsBP2dzwzG9NlL4Fsi2lbGtLM8JgLJKtK8fR5rjooFKPDqJBNPRV_gw_bPddOiWAOVmNSwX-HKUWuletA_zowsL2ODgE/s1600/20140222_094023.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JlCN1GDwSuqMVPnm0M_0wzMSlY0AT6lvBFsTFgkbWp1WuxA_LU_Quygw0uWrarFeqlTQArBCtWz4EYZwpanJsx7Q4w3wIw9V_jDrScqiQprJ4VCZCMYll1gftDuHX5w_4ozSUEOchNs/s1600/20140222_094002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JlCN1GDwSuqMVPnm0M_0wzMSlY0AT6lvBFsTFgkbWp1WuxA_LU_Quygw0uWrarFeqlTQArBCtWz4EYZwpanJsx7Q4w3wIw9V_jDrScqiQprJ4VCZCMYll1gftDuHX5w_4ozSUEOchNs/s1600/20140222_094002.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choo choo! It's the Birthday Balloon Train!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
And this brings me to the conclusion of La Petite Update.<br />
Thank you for your continued support, and I will be back soon because I actually have lots to discuss.<br />
My lunchbreak is only so long.<br />
<br />
*smooches*<br />
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</div>
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-53185214142524347162014-02-04T11:27:00.001-05:002014-02-04T11:27:10.229-05:00Pssssssst......Anyone still around?? :)mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-29615527946137761612013-10-15T09:16:00.002-04:002013-10-15T09:16:17.589-04:00Go Jaysen, it's your birfday...<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">HAPPY 12th BIRTHDAY</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>JAYSEN!</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong> </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NI1ePWXcHJrJPN4hFq380K6TmkAUcvTITlrD5oSMKmUa6qRZAzCusViKaLm7-EVDW904RsdF2tcn6sEZRukR6YcGTPG3pW2fO75rrpOvC60D0uo5pyjZNQQKLyE3tynZt6NjIZuQZJg/s1600/IMAG3130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NI1ePWXcHJrJPN4hFq380K6TmkAUcvTITlrD5oSMKmUa6qRZAzCusViKaLm7-EVDW904RsdF2tcn6sEZRukR6YcGTPG3pW2fO75rrpOvC60D0uo5pyjZNQQKLyE3tynZt6NjIZuQZJg/s400/IMAG3130.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ipod touch. That is a happy kid, folks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>We love you bunches!</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>~xoxoxo~</strong></div>
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-33299823115617067772013-10-11T12:07:00.002-04:002013-10-11T12:07:25.294-04:00Our Little Ray of Sunshine (Sunny) <br />
Working with <a href="http://www.furgetusnotrescue.org/" target="_blank">Furget Us Not Rescue</a>, we found the newest member of our family!<br />
<br />
Furget Us Not was absolutely great. Our volunteer, Nicole, was the best. She was so helpful, understanding, and knew that a good "match" meant on both sides. <br />
Happy people + Happy pooch = Happy family. <br />
It's not rocket surgery, folks.<br />
<br />
So, let me introduce you to Sunny!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51H6D4DEVpccv1SHgepNDxYuOwpJN54EvNC5GADusbjs2pikFn02zpjUhB6AvPBrYhPahv3WIrMFUArT2lTgj87BGTRf0GVxPEJJnYvtyQBWQX8FiiJnFexqcVPDooHKUTAKXjrJzc3k/s1600/IMG_5386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51H6D4DEVpccv1SHgepNDxYuOwpJN54EvNC5GADusbjs2pikFn02zpjUhB6AvPBrYhPahv3WIrMFUArT2lTgj87BGTRf0GVxPEJJnYvtyQBWQX8FiiJnFexqcVPDooHKUTAKXjrJzc3k/s400/IMG_5386.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meet the fam!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFrxJunUmZsiIRbUt0dXwMBXcETHQo0DYan-OB-qwXcayu0Hge-4USEpFiwoHjbZErFTxw5Eg5vPoWkcQpGilzf0e0bwvlTQ_EF9oL0OxM2UK13nJ3o7xUCk2Fi0MKmxWUs4wacghgV8/s1600/downsized_Image10082013084709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFrxJunUmZsiIRbUt0dXwMBXcETHQo0DYan-OB-qwXcayu0Hge-4USEpFiwoHjbZErFTxw5Eg5vPoWkcQpGilzf0e0bwvlTQ_EF9oL0OxM2UK13nJ3o7xUCk2Fi0MKmxWUs4wacghgV8/s400/downsized_Image10082013084709.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoa!....She is beautiful!...<br />
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</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTnXqjywa_fEG5N3vFoiPxf-ElHtrbhdsBp1AFIj79-w2IuqzwqXtK8C1_21PpFmhgpd7XQbKUV9Cp4kboT7rYcFIEi_dp6xnVth5h2BwZ9b88VsAO81Sr06K-Znu7b3XcqrIrAC7-Zk/s1600/IMAG3027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilTnXqjywa_fEG5N3vFoiPxf-ElHtrbhdsBp1AFIj79-w2IuqzwqXtK8C1_21PpFmhgpd7XQbKUV9Cp4kboT7rYcFIEi_dp6xnVth5h2BwZ9b88VsAO81Sr06K-Znu7b3XcqrIrAC7-Zk/s320/IMAG3027.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunny LOVES her ball!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkRQEWSBdVvpGqbIt2DQDwBVBHIRHQcEc0Wkvmf-KQ99S7WNL-ALgAuc9gA8FJSuwbHBhoCuq1LLJM8YTTBXdhMrNJTTOjwKolWLaestlB7d6goYZ5BF62BCg0wR8trT5WK3z51ZDvb8/s1600/IMAG3011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJkRQEWSBdVvpGqbIt2DQDwBVBHIRHQcEc0Wkvmf-KQ99S7WNL-ALgAuc9gA8FJSuwbHBhoCuq1LLJM8YTTBXdhMrNJTTOjwKolWLaestlB7d6goYZ5BF62BCg0wR8trT5WK3z51ZDvb8/s320/IMAG3011.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big pawz.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrS8f150-ZEO4tu3Yu4hzdyJUg9nZgCoG0v0zxSaqJ5P_Hkh25vMckTzYb1KROIaGt8ypkzWiF2TsjNUqMO80ZI7nD07wWiXrlhJx96X2mufvtxgF3o_7-AznbMHz-tHzqRIb0zMuqFs/s1600/IMAG3028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrS8f150-ZEO4tu3Yu4hzdyJUg9nZgCoG0v0zxSaqJ5P_Hkh25vMckTzYb1KROIaGt8ypkzWiF2TsjNUqMO80ZI7nD07wWiXrlhJx96X2mufvtxgF3o_7-AznbMHz-tHzqRIb0zMuqFs/s320/IMAG3028.jpg" width="189" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay walks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMz3Vqgds4G9wkD3yc99kM2XHsgkTxj-j7oAVqzcI2voM0uh2Mz44e-Jun8IheUQQPw8a9tThj5cdbdyijNo-RnDaBmAbOOEHPewTrNhbbZw7gw8E0mPJAKC7fgtrHZ54nAZR0bsFZIs/s1600/100MEDIA_IMAG0666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMz3Vqgds4G9wkD3yc99kM2XHsgkTxj-j7oAVqzcI2voM0uh2Mz44e-Jun8IheUQQPw8a9tThj5cdbdyijNo-RnDaBmAbOOEHPewTrNhbbZw7gw8E0mPJAKC7fgtrHZ54nAZR0bsFZIs/s320/100MEDIA_IMAG0666.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lurve her!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiSwKhyQtVr1xxo14FRKGyyJREljRH7n4AHvxxK7GntCWMFG1E5MBNfGwWtI8CXChyp4iJnt0igIv0fK7xA3FHNPhqse0bbb_nTaPX6EiS9TCJ1eFr9yaDE6MDReDdm6SVXYdGyONv30/s1600/Honey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiSwKhyQtVr1xxo14FRKGyyJREljRH7n4AHvxxK7GntCWMFG1E5MBNfGwWtI8CXChyp4iJnt0igIv0fK7xA3FHNPhqse0bbb_nTaPX6EiS9TCJ1eFr9yaDE6MDReDdm6SVXYdGyONv30/s400/Honey.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This face makes me melt....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So that's Sunny! <br />
She is 140 lbs of English Mastiff awesomeness! GREAT with the kids, GREAT with the cats, and we absolutely ADORE her! <br />
<br />
Jaysen loves to check the mail with her and take her for walks. Rylan loves to play ball and fetch with her. I love to basically just love on her and snuzzle. It warms my heart to see her so happy and tail-waggy when I get home. And how happy they all are playing or just chillin' out together.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you, </span><a href="http://www.furgetusnotrescue.org/our-adoptable-pets.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Furget Us Not</span></a> (and of course Matt and Nicole)~<br />
Much love!<br />
<br />
<br />
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-85767010286867678172013-10-11T11:00:00.001-04:002013-10-11T11:00:38.756-04:00Calling out Last Day Dog Rescue<br />
I believe in rescuing animals. <br />
<em>Every</em> pet I've <em>ever</em> had (except my kitty, Tiki), has been a rescue. <br />
Rescues are the best. <br />
<br />
Except when they're not.<br />
<br />
We recently expanded our family to include a new furface. And she has been amazing! Seriously, we couldn't have asked for a better dog. She is absolutely awesome in every way. Companion would disagree with me and say that her slobber is far from awesome, but I digress. Sadly, the journey to find our dog, had not been so magical. <br />
<br />
Let me start by saying that I understand rescues are run by volunteers. I understand that volunteering takes time and is hard work. I admire these people, despite they can be a bit overzealous and judgemental, and totally make it difficult for you, when it comes to adopting their foster.<br />
<br />
Let me tell you, Last Day Dog Rescue (LDDR) is horrible.<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(also not linking because they deserve no love from me)</span><br />
<br />
After no contact and a no call/no show scheduled home visit, we were finally able to start meeting dogs to potentially adopt. It seemed that every dog we were interested in was either already adopted or "not a good fit" for us. They denied us pretty much every dog we were interested in. We were looking for a med/large sized dog (preferably a Golden or Lab), that's good with kids and cats. That was it. We couldn't find any Goldens (yes, I tried <a href="http://www.grrom.com/" target="_blank">GRRoM</a>), and LDDR deemed all the Labs "too hyper" for us. <br />
<br />
They described a very sweet dog, Bennett, who was good with cats and kids. He was a sweetheart. He loved everyone he met. He was desperate to get out of the kennel he was in because he has severe kennel anxiety.... they kept pushing him on me, and assuring me he was perfect for us. My heart started to break for poor Bennett, and we decided we would love to adopt him. We were so excited! We drove over an hour and waited 4 hours just to meet him. I almost cried when I saw him, I was so happy.<br />
<br />
Fast forward.<br />
<br />
We didn't even have Bennett 24 hours. <br />
Within hours of being in our home, he became overly protective of Companion, and would "guard" him from the rest of the family. He growled and postured at my sister. He bristled, growled, and lunged at Jaysen (thank baby Jeebus Companion was able to hold him back). He would posture and track Rylan. He was showing aggression toward the kids, and I just could not accept that. <br />
<br />
I contacted LDDR. I was told to "ignore him. Don't show him any affection for 72 hours". <br />
<em>Uh...okay.</em><br />
They wanted to know which kid he was showing aggression to. <br />
<em>Does it fucking matter???</em><br />
Bennett kept going. That night, Companion slept in the living room with the dog, while I slept in my bedroom with the cats. The boys slept in their rooms with the doors closed. Needless to say, we were terrified of what would happen if one of the kids woke up first and came out of their bedroom. It would have been different, had I been without kids. But I'm a mom, and that usually means you have children of some sort. I am in no effing way going to put my kids in danger like that.<br />
<br />
We decided to return Bennett to the rescue. <br />
They were pissed. Their argument was I didn't give him time to adjust. My argument was I couldn't put my children in a situation like that with a dog that has aggressive tendencies. They didn't care.<br />
They picked Bennett up in the morning. <br />
They didn't want to hear about anything, and I made her take a written description of what happened, and how I didn't think he should be in a home with children. <br />
They were pissed, and banned me from the rescue.<br />
<br />
Ha.<br />
<br />
So... <strong>I got blacklisted for being concerned about my children's safety?</strong><br />
Interesting. I'm fine with that, and I guess it just speaks to what kind of "rescue" LDDR really is.<br />
<br />
I understand that rescue people only care about the dog's well being. I get that, you crazy motherfuckers. But isn't part of the dog's well being, to find the right family? If a dog has a taste for children, it should not be in a house with children. <br />
<br />
Don't get me wrong- Bennett was a great dog. Very smart, fast learner, good companion.....just not for a house with kids. Yet, he's still on LDDR's website as being good with kids. That's totally irresponsible and someone's potentially going to get hurt. <br />
<br />
I wasn't able to get a straight answer about anything. I had one person saying I was a bad dog-mom, and another saying I was great, just "the board" was being unfair and she was going to help me on the side, to adopt a better dog. She later turned out to be a huge two-faced, backstabbing, spineless jackass, but that's just par for LDDR apparently. I had them saying my adoption fee check was in the mail, but it never showed, so I put a stop payment on my check (c'mon, we had the dog less than 24 hours). They sure didn't like that because it cost them $30 when they tried to cash it. Haha bitches. <br />
<br />
This isn't a butthurt post either. I was denied by another rescue (my cats were late on their vaccines- don't tell Jenny!), and although I thought that was BS, it was handled much differently and professionally.<br />
<br />
In not-so-short, Last Day Dog Rescue is run by a bunch of daft volunteers, who have no freakin' clue what a "rescue" is. I'm sure David Arquette would disagree, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume we didn't get the same treatment. <br />
<br />
I'll tell you all about the rescue that we ended up working with (who ironically branched out from LDDR because they couldn't stand LDDR's politics), in another post. I don't want to even associate the two, plus I still have to upload pics. *lazy*<br />
<br />
Bottom line is-<br />
Even though our experience was horrible, please consider rescuing. Just not from LDDR. They're deceitful and really don't care. About you, or their dogs.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Stay tuned for an awesome post on adoption!</span> </div>
mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-74885949777081575212013-10-02T15:54:00.001-04:002013-10-02T15:54:48.042-04:00Counting Mah ChikkunsJaysen's teacher.<br />
I luff this man.<br />
<br />
I've mentioned oh....maybe 50 billion, trillion, megazillion times, that Jaysen has not had a supportive school environment. I think that's a nice way of describing it, because in actuality, it sucks major donkey balls. He basically has received NO formal education, and the education he has received, has been secondhand from his paras and supplemented at home.<br />
<br />
Which is the main reason I decided to pull him from GenEd. He needs to build a stronger foundation. Get a sense of the educational system. Have some exposure to authority other than Mom. Learn about making mistakes and how to fix them. <br />
<br />
He's currently in the EI (Emotionally Impaired) classroom. While there is an ASD classroom at his school, I felt the EI teacher would be better equipped to deal with Jaysen's outbursts and behaviors. He would be more used to seeing things like that, and not overreact to them. He would hopefully have the skills to help Jaysen work through them and teach him more accceptable replacement behaviors.<br />
<br />
And I was right. :)<br />
<br />
At curriculum night (I was the only parent to show. It was sad, but I got his teacher 1:1 for over an hour), Mr. Smith told me of the potential he saw in Jaysen. Jaysen is the farthest behind in the whole class, but he was confident he could get him caught up. He said Jaysen is very smart, he just lacks the confidence that he <em>can </em>do the tasks, and his anxiety gets the better of him. Yes. This is true.<br />
<br />
We talked about Jaysen's self-harming. that his self-injury is driven by the sensory input. That we have tried alternate things, increasing his sensory diet, redirection, ignoring, etc. Nothing seems to sate that need for that proprioceptive feedback. <br />
<br />
Then he asked me a most magical question. Mr. Smith stopped, looked at me, and sincerely asked me, "Has anyone looked into <em>why</em> he needs that feedback? Because I think that's important to know." <br />
<br />
I was stunned. Nobody has ever asked me that before. Nobody has ever cared enough to even <em>think</em> of as to why that particular outlet (self-injury) serves a purpose for him. Nobody. And then the tears started flowing. Because I'm sensitive, dammit- and omg you actually care about and want to understand my kid.<br />
<br />
Another awesome thing about this class? <br />
Mr. Smith fosters a sense of Community. <br />
This is huge. And I didn't fully understand the magnitude of it until he gave me an example. <br />
Jaysen has a bully. One that he knew from the last school. This bully targets Jaysen, and generally makes his day miserable.<br />
One day this bully was being especially assholish to Jaysen, he was calling him names and got up to go over to Jaysen's desk. The 3 kids surrounding Jaysen stood up from their desks, walked over to Jaysen's desk, and stood behind him. One of the kids turned to address the bully. He told him to leave Jaysen alone, and to go back to his seat; while the other two kids flanked Jaysen, bent down to him, and told him "Okay, look. You need to ignore him. That's how we handle him. Mr. Smith will be over here in a minute, and he'll give us instruction. Then we're going to follow his instruction, because he'll know what to do." They not only <em>redirected</em> Jaysen, they <em>diffused</em> a situation. Without instruction. <strong>That's</strong> Community, bitches.<br />
<br />
And that? Is how it's done.<br />
Rawk.mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-64587449518612336142013-09-30T15:12:00.001-04:002013-09-30T15:12:44.097-04:00Fingers crossed Well...we started 7th grade. <br />
<br />
You may recall my gut-wrenching decision to pull Jaysen out of mainstream education, and to place him in a self-contained EI classroom. And believe me, it was gut-wrenching. There were many tears. And wine. There was lots of wine.<br />
<br />
The verdict-<br />
BEST.DECISION.EVER.<br />
<br />
I never thought I'd say that, but he is absolutely in the best environment for him at this time. <br />
Not only is my kid doing real classwork- he's in a super supportive environment to boot.<br />
<br />
<u>Case in point</u>: There is an obnoxious kid in the class (I can totally call him obnoxious a) because he is and b) because he picks on and bullies Jaysen). So this obnoxious kid...decides he's going to keep targeting Jaysen. Nothing remarkable here, just your everyday typical bullying that Jaysen had been exposed to. <br />
Here's what makes it different. The teacher (I'll get to his wonderfulness in a bit), has created a sense of community in the classroom. So when this kid got up to bully Jaysen, as he does frequently, the 3 kids whose desks are around Jaysen, saw this kid coming towards him. They all <em>got up</em>, and <em>stood</em> <em>behind</em> Jaysen, who was still seated at his desk. <br />
<br />
Then...<br />
One of the kids stopped the bully and was telling him to stop and turn around, and go back to his seat. <br />
<br />
While...<br />
The other two kids flanked Jaysen, and reassured him to just ignore the kid, and that Mr. Smith would be there soon to tell them what to do. When they had instruction from Mr. Smith, they would follow his instruction because he'll know what to do.<br />
<br />
Wow.<br />
<br />
Did you catch all of that awesomeness???<br />
I know it's a lot. Allow me to bullet point.<br />
<br />
* My child is <strong>learning</strong>. He's never had an educational environment that's been supportive of him in any way, let alone academically. <br />
<br />
* My child's classroom is not only educational, it's a <strong>community</strong>. They look out for each other.<br />
<br />
* My child has peers looking out for him. They not only look out for him, they <strong>encourage</strong> and <strong>mentor</strong> him! <br />
<br />
So full of awesome, I can't even contain it.<br />
<br />
I'll get to the awesome teacher in an upcoming post. I just had to reestablish myself in the blog world before my fans (namely, my father) leave me. <br />
<br />
If you <em>are</em> still here, from back when I actually blogged for real...thank you and I love you!<br />
<br />
<br />
*<span style="font-size: x-small;">These are not <em>actual</em> asterisks, I am just <em>that</em> computer illiterate and can't master actual bulletpoints.</span>mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-58111764939031786172013-02-28T14:51:00.002-05:002013-02-28T14:51:41.958-05:00Not everything about winter is blah...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpIDcr0Gd6S2icHnTacjhiLI8Btmfb2DL3BxLVC7rP5bFQXyycL-LhK1zJ3FYEqbPTsNwM4oA06vAbxtC8ZWjN63GUmCLuD44Rj2WvT0gJogh61UTsSf_60tp8f-vQMUmGJR9j4wP13c/s1600/IMAG1646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpIDcr0Gd6S2icHnTacjhiLI8Btmfb2DL3BxLVC7rP5bFQXyycL-LhK1zJ3FYEqbPTsNwM4oA06vAbxtC8ZWjN63GUmCLuD44Rj2WvT0gJogh61UTsSf_60tp8f-vQMUmGJR9j4wP13c/s640/IMAG1646.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
<br />mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1617253087395608203.post-31453364025158358862013-02-22T09:42:00.002-05:002013-02-22T09:43:05.364-05:00I am loved...<br />
How do you know you are loved on your birthday?<br />
By awesome birthday surprises like this!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHtJCCcKZSMCn-cl2J6rjAaQcBzK3LfMKULmPOo2FoKOcq7OyJTSwL1BbHxO82flc8-dZaI1UZp25la8GirP67c4-eYVm04YAgbTdRVE90BLN8SUVniyoddGvxT_k1CaOC2mZp0O7t0s/s1600/IMAG1585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHtJCCcKZSMCn-cl2J6rjAaQcBzK3LfMKULmPOo2FoKOcq7OyJTSwL1BbHxO82flc8-dZaI1UZp25la8GirP67c4-eYVm04YAgbTdRVE90BLN8SUVniyoddGvxT_k1CaOC2mZp0O7t0s/s320/IMAG1585.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bY12w8ZYpmvGpmcOsCI44hOjWCnoNS2GFhtjLwv1354NECawHi_XbrqYH2P-4A7hsHKvEZLrjIHoUW7lwbSrT2weRHN_qxLQ7IY18Y7kntJsi9vHhzOoqXi4wJ6NGFeMTszOugUIGno/s1600/IMAG1579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bY12w8ZYpmvGpmcOsCI44hOjWCnoNS2GFhtjLwv1354NECawHi_XbrqYH2P-4A7hsHKvEZLrjIHoUW7lwbSrT2weRHN_qxLQ7IY18Y7kntJsi9vHhzOoqXi4wJ6NGFeMTszOugUIGno/s320/IMAG1579.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
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No birthday is complete until your toilet is covered in toast.<br />
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They love me in strategically placed toast.</div>
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<em>Totally</em> made my day.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>I love you guys!</strong></span></div>
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And just because you may be wondering...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmvF714CcNYMAZyZkD42hMsvPAiS-PTULSflIK6Q04XL-zdQv6GGdoRGtF2mNaQnek6bgxm_vUSS9viBxBd71RePeGwpD67ysKp7M2NRwPwCtN46lTCq7pg2EJUmM7ZUNqyWPNfbv-do/s1600/IMAG1591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFmvF714CcNYMAZyZkD42hMsvPAiS-PTULSflIK6Q04XL-zdQv6GGdoRGtF2mNaQnek6bgxm_vUSS9viBxBd71RePeGwpD67ysKp7M2NRwPwCtN46lTCq7pg2EJUmM7ZUNqyWPNfbv-do/s320/IMAG1591.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Compliments of Jaysen. </div>
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Thanks, buddy. ;)</div>
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mommy~dearesthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07851309941513538983noreply@blogger.com3