U-FIT again

It's spring time again, which means the kids are enrolled at U-FIT again.  Just like last time, they are lovin' it! Munchkin has completely transformed from this time last year in her swimming abilities.  She's a total fish, and I'm so proud of her.  One year ago she was willing to put her head under water, but wouldn't jump into a pool (even the shallow end) and needed a life jacket.  She's all over the pool now, and it's awesome!

Buddy Boy has really loved it, too.  Last year he would get sensitive at the beginning of the night and took some time warming up.  He also wouldn't ever let go of his friend in the pool.  Now he can't wait to see his "girlfriend" and leave me to go play.  He'll play in the pool without hanging on to anyone, and although he still despises his face getting wet (I don't blame him), he is SO much more comfortable in the water.  The one thing that HASN'T changed since last year is that his swimming shorts still come loose too easily and he regularly almost loses his shorts! :-)

Our Last Few Days

Wednesday - Munchkin diagnosed with Strep Throat.

Wednesday - Car brake squealing gets REALLY bad all the sudden.

Thursday - Buddy Boy diagnosed with Strep Throat.

Thursday - Car's rear brakes are worn all the way through, need replacing along with the rubber and encasing around them...also needs a complete transmission flush and servicing.  $$$

Friday - I get a nice gluten cross contamination while eating ice cream from a restaurant.  Migraines, bloating, and pain for me.

Friday - Buddy Boy wakes up from a nap in a complete panic because he can't breathe.  It's the worst I've seen it in him, so we rush him to the after hours clinic.  After two breathing treatments, one shot and 4 X-rays, we're sent to the hospital ER because the muscles around his lungs are retracting (concave), indicating that they are working way too hard.

Saturday - Still feels like Friday, but technically it's Saturday...we return home from the hospital.  No answers, just more steroids and meds to help Buddy to breathe.  


So....we're broke for the rest of the month...ha ha!

They say that when it rains it pours.  I believe that.  I think, however, that after the rain comes the rainbows and blue skies...right?  


RIGHT?  :-)

Autism Insurance will NOT happen this year...again

I am EXTREMELY hurt and disappointed that SB55 did not even come close to passing.  This bill was meant to mandate health insurance coverage for kids with autism in the state of Utah.  You know, autism, the health condition that has been PROVEN to have a high success rate of being treated with certain therapies?  You know, the condition that Utah has the HIGHEST RATE OF  IN THE NATION?

Insurance lobbyists say that it'll hike up everyone's insurance rates to unbelievable heights.  INSURANCE LOBBYISTS, people!!!  

I'm pretty sure I don't need to go into the details of why I, and millions of other Americans, are 100% convinced of the evils of insurance lobbyists.  (and if I do, please let me know, and I'll gladly do it!)  Of course, all the lobbyists are doing is using scare tactics.  

Did you know that we (the supporters of health insurance coverage for our kids, since they are people too) have data from MANY of the other 32 states that have insurance coverage showing that insurance rates will NOT skyrocket?  The average cost?  Oh, you might look at a 32 cents per member per month raise.  

OH NO...32 WHOLE CENTS A MONTH???  Just so some measly 18,500+ kids can have insurance?  NO WAY!!  I'm not paying that!  Especially when autism isn't a real condition!!  (Didn't you know?  Kids with autism are simply brats who aren't disciplined.  Their cold-hearted mothers gave them the "condition).  Why, that's highway robbery!  Who do these autism parents think they are?  Just more liberals looking for a handout, right?  (And yes, I've been called just that by some)

I mean, after all, I MUST be looking for a handout... I only work a part time job while the kids are at school and also take on as many odd jobs a month as I can to make a little extra money.  I only drive my son over 1,300 miles each month just to get him to and from his special needs school.  I don't even GET my son treatment...obviously I don't need it!  (Or is it that I feel I can't make the choice to send him to therapy if the cost will cause me to lose my home?)  

I am, by that description, nothing but a lazy liberal...looking for a handout. Unwilling to work to provide for my family, but more than happy to sit on my behind doing nothing and expecting assistance from the government.  Right?  

To see video of our family's reaction to the bill not passing, go here: 

You know what?  As ticked off as I am now, it's really truly going to be okay.  You know why?  Because this lazy liberal mother is going to continue to educate herself on any/all treatments that can be done at home.  Because this asking-for-a-handout family is going to continue to make any/all sacrifices we can to provide each other with opportunities for growth and improvement.  Because I will continue looking for a 2nd and 3rd job that I can work around our family schedule (because I ain't sending my kids to daycare) so that we can afford to care for our son and our daughter.  It will be okay because I will NEVER stop being an advocate for my son...and not just a political advocate.  I will never stop being his mother.  

Believe me.  I will NEVER sit on my behind waiting for a "handout".  I will spend every waking hour working, striving, and providing.  

2012 Review

Yeah, so I'm sorta WAY slow on posting the review for last year, but whadya gonna do?  I've fallen behind, what can I say? Ah, well, better late than never.

Basically I asked the kids to tell me a few things that stood out for them in 2012:

Munchkin:

• Went to Bear Lake 3 times, went to Logan, Moab, and Goblin Valley
• Favorite teacher in 2012 was Mr. Campbell
• Started 4th grade
• Got on the honor roll 3 times.
• Learned to swim.
• Grew her first set of crystals.
• Favorite "vacation":  Going to Bloomington and riding a horse for the 1st time, playing with kittens and puppies, and finishing the day at Bear Lake.

Buddy Boy:

• Went to Bear Lake 3 times; went to Logan, Moab, and Goblin Valley.
• Favorite teacher:  Ms Kynzie.
• Started Kindergarten
• Began reading really well (2nd grade reading level)
• Started U-FIT - favorite part of U-FIT was getting in the pool.
• Favorite "Vacation":  Bear Lake

Mom:

• Lost 20 lbs.
• Monetized her blog.

And here are the plans/goals for this new year...once again, the kids' goals are their own:

• Family - Go to Disneyland (probably for the last time).
• Buddy Boy - Get completely potty trained.
• Munchkin - Go skiing for the first time (did it and had a blast!!)
• Mom - face fear of heights by going hang gliding.
• Buddy Boy - Learn art
• Munchkin - Learn to do a back flip on the trampoline.
• Munchkin - Memorize 12 times tables
• Munchkin - Learn to do more new hairstyles.
• Munchkin - Learn to cook more dinners.
• Munchkin - Go camping (preferably in Wyoming or Montana)
• Mom - Lose 10-15 more lbs
• Mom & Munchkin - Begin learning to play piano.
• Parker - Have Green days at school.
• Munchkin - Do a one handed cartwheel.
• 
  

Go Munchkin!!

Proud of my sweet pea...

Love/Hate Relationship with Roller Coasters

This week has been crazy...oh my gosh, a complete roller coaster of emotions!  

At the end of last week I attended the funeral of a cousin.  It was a beautiful service, but sad, of course.  The night before the funeral, my co-worker's mom died.  I feel for her...she's SO close to her mom, and has expressed to me her fear of not being ready to lose her mom yet, and then it happened anyway.  My heart aches for her.  

Between covering for my co-worker (which I am HAPPY to do), putting in extra hours at work, and administering dozens of tests, I have become worn out in the workplace.  

Also between the 8 doctor appointments and 1 dentist appointment in the last 2 weeks, I've become worn out with healthcare.  

Add to that the DOZENS of "accidents" my son has had in just the last two days (but that's another post for another day), I've become a bit ornery in the home.

Oh yeah, and in the last 4 days I've begun experiencing migraines, blurred vision, bloating, stomach aches, nausea, acid reflux, painful joints, and the like...you know, the standard things that come when I eat gluten...except that I haven't come near anything containing gluten in months.

I've not been a real treat to be around, and I am ashamed of it.  My family definitely deserves better than what they've been getting, and I'm feeling like a pretty big schmuck...or something.

(photo)

On Sunday, my daughter (10 years old) got a phone call from one of her best friends.  She was told that her friend has not been at school for the last week because she'd been really sick and during tests doctors found a TUMOR!!  In this sweet 9-year old girl!  My daughter has been heartsick and crying for 2 days straight, even though we didn't yet know if the tumor was malignant.  It's so hard to convince a young child not to worry when they hear the word "tumor" or possibly "cancer".  She kept asking me if I would PROMISE that her friend would be okay.  Oh my gosh.  

It's days like Sunday that I wished there was a parenting manual.

But!  There are always the good times, too, the moments that buoy us back up for another day:

Today we got the fantastic news that the tumor was BENIGN!!!!  Yay!!  The squealing and hugging that went on in my house this afternoon could probably be heard by a few of our neighbors.

(photo)

Munchkin got to go skiing for the first time ever today with her fellow schoolmates.  Best field trip ever, I hear.

I'm exhausted.  Emotionally and physically.  I have become so ditzy in the last few months, it's ridiculous.  I hope it's just me not handling stress well and missing the sun, because I swear, I'm lucky I haven't burned the house down (more than once), driven off the road while losing focus, or left my kids at school.  Eek!