Two weeks in a row

Woohoo! My family has made it to church two weeks in a row! Not an easy feat considering someone seems to always be too sick to go. Jackson has a cold and an ugly cough, so I am hoping he did not spread his icky germs too far today.

I have been attending my church for nearly 9 years. I have dedicated my children in this church. I have nursed babies in this church. I have cried, rejoiced and been convicted in this church. I have learned so much during the past 9 years. I have missed a LOT of church in the past 3.5 years.

I miss my church family, I miss the sermons but my connection to God has stayed steadfast. I have to say today's sermon was written and spoken as if it were directed straight at me. I was moved. I have a calling, a purpose designed by God. I have much to learn.

How often do you.......

I was just asked the other night, by a woman I consider a friend and extended family member, "How often do you do therapies with Joseph? Honestly." My reply? (this will be shocker to many of you) "None. Never have." WHAT??????

Now, let me rephrase this, I play with my kids. Is it therapeutic? I dunno, maybe, probably. But, I have never, not once, sat and done "therapy" with my child. I don't want his days filled with work. He is a baby. He needs exposure, repetition, love and fun stuff to challenge him. Not work, that is what the therapists are for. Let them anger him by making him complete tasks he does not like. I am gonna love my little bugger and just play.

Joseph has never ceased to amaze me. He is fascinating in his abilities. See, there was mom that was soooo stressed over fitting in therapy time daily with her son that she was driving herself bonkers and, maybe, even letting the mommy guilt start to set in. She made a post on babycenter and asked about therapy time at home. I changed her perspective with my answer to simply "Love him and play with him and the rest will come". (this momma is blogging now and you should check her out UpsideDown21)

Honestly, I truly believe no child can be forced, pushed, coerced, or therapied (I just made that word up, do you like it?) into doing anything their body and minds are not ready to accomplish. So, why center my day on working my kids to boredom? Playing is sooo much better. Sure, you can add in specifics for you child so it is still play.

Blow bubbles and encourage speech by saying "POP!" Encourage fine motor skills by working on pointing with that chubby, little, pointer finger to!" those bubbles. And work on gross motor skills by catching a bubble on your bubble wand and putting juuuuust out of reach so they must use their tippy toes to, "POP" that bubble with their pointer finger. OR, if they are not standing, teach them to "POP" that bubble with their feet! LOL

Color! Coloring is great! Do crafts, match shapes, jump, stomp, sing a song from a favorite movie, PLAY!!!!!! That's what we do. And I don't feel one bit of regret or guilt in the path that I have chosen in teaching my kids. Will this work for your family? I dunno, but this is what works for us. And, I don't mind sharing that there is not any directed therapy in this house.

GET READY, GET SET, HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!!

The blog donation/fundraiser is live and ready to go!!!!!

Check out A Walk In Lily's Garden for the information on how to donate money to The Sader Family Adoption fund, have a chance to win some great stuff AND, most importantly, BRING MELANIE HOME!!!!

I don't wanna be a downer here, but the fact is, kids like Melanie are truly living on borrowed time. WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE and save her. We can make a difference, ONE child at a time. SO, what do you say? Do you have $1? That is all it takes for a donation and a chance to be the selected new owner of the item you comment on. Do you have $5? How about $10.........how about $21 for a sweetie pie with an extra 21st chromosome? For every dollar you donate you can leave a comment under an item you would like to become the new owner of and the amount of entries is only limited by what you can spare to save the life of Melanie.


Thanks so much, and hey, if you came by to visit, pass this on. Share the link to A Walk In Lily's Garden and lets see if we can raise the last $8,000 the Sader's need. Since September/October God has BLESSED this family with funds through the help of donations like ours. Right now, they have raised $18,805.53...they are soooo close to final dollar amount needed. COME ON LET'S GET TO GIVING!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!

My word, I am so happy to see the months of November 2010 and December 2010 pass and an exciting, healthier New Year ahead of my me and my family!!

So, as many of you know, Joseph was very sick in November. Just 15 days after finishing his IV antibiotics he got his first sinus infection following the one he had in October (that is number 8 for the year I think). I believe I will be taking him to Dr. Matesic very soon. He is board certified in pediatric and adult Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Jackson got the croup just before Joseph got the sinus infection.

I was very sick the last part of the month of December with a very wicked case of bronchitis and sinus infection. I ran a very high temp for a week. I still cannot hear out of my right ear at all. My sinuses are cleared up and I feel alive.

Matter of fact, I felt so alive today that I went to our local Y (where my lovely Secret Santa helped me get my membership in December) and worked out for the first time in YEARS. I did group flex (thanks, Patty for turning me on to that class) and then came home and made lunch for everyone. Put the boys in bed and went for a brisk 1.3 mile, 19 minute walk, in 28 degree weather. Don't worry, Aunt Banana was here so I did not leave the kids alone! LOL

So, that is it, that is what we have been up to and why I have not blogged in a bit. I am excited to start this healthy journey and am totally digging the myfitnesspal app on my Android phone. I have made it a point to select my meal, prepare it, and then add all the information into my calorie tracker on my phone. I like it. It is doing a good job of keeping me accountable. And I need all the help I can get.

(and my niece just said the color of Aunt Kiki's shirt is plastic.....for what it is worth, I have on a gray t-shirt)