GRAINS of GRATITUDE....

We had a much better week then the past few.....

1. I am very thankful my Jeep will be fixed by Tuesday or Wednesday....I really miss it. What a difference going from a jeep back to a car.

2. I am thankful that I started class but not going to be easy...need to do 20 hrs of observation and not placed yet...but hoping to get Aviva's school if not at least close by.

3. I am thankful to Spider for finishing Aviva's room and she is SLEEPING in their for a 2nd night in a row. Friday night she did 8:20 pm to 6 am...came out at midnight but walked her back. Very proud of her.

4. I am thankful that Spider took Aviva to Chuck E Cheese again this evening so I can have some alone time....I enjoyed the quiet.

5. I am truly thankful that my father is doing much better...still in pain in his fingers, hands and arms but that is to be expected. He will need neck surgery but I will go up to NY to be with him. He is home now and even working from home too.

Thank you Christine for again making me take time to look back at my week.

My conversation in the car with Aviva..

we started talking about why she was off from school on Monday. She goes it is Martin Luther King's birthday. I said yes you are right.

Then asked who he was. She goes he went to places that said for white and was not allowed in because he was brown. And was not allowed to ride on the bus. I did not know she learned this yet.

I asked her was this right. She goes no, she went on to say it does not matter your color we should all be friends and play together. That is my girl.

Then she said he gave a big speech about being nice to each other. I said you are right.

After we talked about how we are all different and it should not matter our color. And she goes mommy I agree.

KEEP those fingers crossed...

that Aviva does well tonight. Told her now that she is 6 she has to stay in her bed. No more sleeping in mommy and daddy's bed.
So sat with her till 8 pm and said now I have to go do some work and I will come back and check on you. Went back at 8:15 and she was snoring away. I told her she needs to stay in bed all night. There is nothing to be scared of.

So this is it. I get my bed back!!! Now to cure Spider's snoring!!

To all my LURKERS (if any) come on out and say HI...

It seems to be National Delurker Week in the land of blogs.....and I would love for you to leave me a note that you were here.

Thanks Michelle...hope you do not mind I borrowed it!

I DID it....I REALLY did it......

I did something I said I would...I watched everything I ate this week and made very good choices...

I decided to join Weight Watchers online...

I am following the points plan and post to the message boards..

So this morning was weigh in day...and to top it off my monthly friend decided to come visit.

So my total lost for my first week...5 pounds...yes you head me right.

I am very happy!

FRUSTRATION....

I am ready to bang my head against the wall. I thought everything was fine with financial aid after the fiasco last week. Since I reregestered......well called today to check on the status of my aid.

You will never believe what I heard...I am sorry Ms. Cousley it was not processed. I was beyond pissed at this point. She transferred me to a supervisor. Who was very helpful and understood how I was feeling. She is not sure what happened and why I was told yesterday that it should be today and get the money at the end of the week. She gave me her direct link to follow up and believe me I will.

So another week passes and no school money....I will be contacting her Friday and see if it came in yet.

UGH...I really could use the money but it will come. Having PATIENCE is not always easy.

BACK to school...

finally. Never thought this day would come.

Last night Aviva would not go to sleep. Mommy I like football, our time is in blue, right? They are winning right? I said Aviva yes but that is enough time to sleep you have school tomorrow. But mommy our team is winning. Yes the Gators are winning but no more talking. Finally at about 9 pm heard some snoring....what a delightful sound.

I thought for sure she would be hard to get up since we have not seen the hour of 6:45 am in a very long time.

Got her up and she went and did her thing and got dressed without complaining or whining...,.,big surprise.

And then took care of other things and off she went to our neighbor so happy.

She came home having a great day. She was non-stop talking.

Aviva had small progress report...she knows all her letters and sounds and all her high frequency words. Which I knew since she is reading much better. I was very proud of her.

Tonight Aviva was asleep by 8:40 so making progress!!!

DO you hear that?

Listen carefully.....do you hear anything now????????????????????????????


Yes that is quiet!!!! No one is home but me, just me alone at last. It is the last day of vacation for Aviva and I am finally alone!!!

Spider took Aviva to Chuck E Cheese.....I do NOT go there....gives me a BIG headache. He promised he take her yesterday but things came up.

SO I am enjoying the quiet.....the dinner is cooking in the oven, laundry is folded and I already packed Aviva's snack and lunch for tomorrow!! Feels good to just have nothing to do.

Just gonna sit back and relax and hope it does not end to soon!

GRAINS of GRATITUDE.....

1. I am grateful that school starts back Tuesday, January 9th. Aviva has been out since December 20th. I loved having her home, sleeping in and just taking it easy was what we needed.

2. I am grateful that my dad is out of the hospital. He truly gave me a scare this week. He still needs surgery and I will go up in a month or so to NY when it is scheduled.

3. I am grateful to start class again. I enjoy learning so it is a good thing.

4. I am grateful because Spider finished Aviva's room and it looks great with the flooring. Now just have to finish arranging it and getting her to sleep in her OWN room.

5. I am grateful that we were able to celebrate Aviva's birthday and she had a good time. It was great to see how excited she was and how we spent the whole day together. She loves all her presents especially the Littlest Pet Shop.

Thanks to Christine for sharing this with me.

POOR POOR SPIDER....

I called him at work and he would not even talk to me. He was not happy, he was angry, not understanding how it can happen and why?

Are you wondering why?

Because I was very happy and he should have listened to me.

Still wondering.....


it is because THE DALLAS COWBOYS LOST IN THE WILD CARD PLAYOFFS TO THE SEATTLE SEAHAWKS!!!!!!!!!

Now say a little prayer that my NEW YORK JETS WIN!!!!

It would be a great victory and no one thought they would win more then 5 or 6 games!!

What a mix up I did...

I cannot wait for this week to end. What a goof up I did when dropping my class because it was 2 credits and added one on classroom management.

Well...I go check if my class is up because it is online....and low and behold I realize I took the class already. But under different letters...I took it and it was EDU 503 and when I just added it on Wednesday it was CBD 503....but did not think they were the same class. Registration ends online today so glad I caught it.

So dropped the class and added this one:

Nature and Needs of the Gifted Student: This course includes basic knowledge of gifted children including characteristics, evaluation, and identification procedures. It also includes fundamentals of curriculum planning utilizing an analysis of the strengths, weakness, and potential of the gifted.

ABSOLUTELY ridiculous and insensative and an UPDATE too

I received this on one of my email groups and utterly disgusted with how the school handled this issue. If it was my child the school would be in some real HOT WATER.

(AP) DANVILLE, Pa. A 12-year-old special education student in Montour County was charged with disorderly conduct after authorities said she deliberately wet her pants at school.Her mother told the Press Enterprise it happened because her daughter was frightened by the principal.

The girl had been preparing a holiday lunch with her classmates and teachers at Danville Middle School on December 20th.Her mother said when her daughter refused to go to the kitchen to wash some pots and pans, teachers summoned principal Kevin Duckwork, who confronted the girl.She then wet her pants.

Her mother said the girl is terrified of Duckwork and has wet herself during previous confrontations with him. But Danville Police Chief Eric Gill said school officials are at their “wit’s end” with the girl, and they believe her actions were deliberate.

http://cbs3.com/topstories/local_story_004113538.html

UPDATE:

Charges dropped against girl for wetting her pantsBy MARTY REDDINGTONAssociated PressDANVILLE, Montour County (AP) — Authorities are dropping a disorderly conduct charge against a 12-year-old special education student who they said deliberately wet her pants at school. It was a mistake to bring police into a case of school discipline, Superintendent Steve Keifer said Thursday. “I think the situation was one where the parents and school officials were frustrated, and that's why it was done,” Keifer said. The girl's mother told the Press Enterprise of Bloomsburg that the girl urinated only because she was frightened by the principal. DisplayAds ('Middle'); The girl, whose name was withheld by the newspaper, had worked with her classmates and teachers preparing a holiday lunch at Danville Middle School on Dec. 20. They ate in the library and the girl was later told to wash some pots and pans, her mother said. After she refused to leave the library, teachers summoned principal Kevin Duckworth, who confronted the girl. She then wet her pants.

YOU would never know....

how good it was to hear my dad's voice this morning. I had to hold back to tears. I was so worried about him...he sounded better. I found out he probably will need two surgeries...one for a pacemaker and one on his neck...the one for his neck will be in about 6 weeks and I will go up to NY for it. They first thought he fractured one of the vertebra in his neck but was not thank G-d.

I just hung up with him tonight and he said what a world a difference from the morning. He is on a course of steroid shots and he had one today. He said he felt like a new person. Even answered the phone with his bad arm. He thinks he may come home Saturday but not sure.

Thank you for the prayers for my dad it means so much to me to know people are praying for him.

Here is a REAL HERO for you.

This man is something else...not many people would do what he did. I read about his act of heroism and saw it on CNN. I applaud this man for being brave enough to save this young man.

What a day...

I tell you not sure why I am not sleeping considering how it went.

First my dad is in the hospital not sure if he needs surgery and if not still going to need a bit of a long rehab. Just so worried. It really stinks living so far away from him. I love him and just want to know that he will be all right.

Went to chck my bank account and was in the red by a considerable amount. Which drove me crazy. Because this was not an error on my part. Realized the bank debited all my transactions on the 2nd and 3rd. SO eventually got that fixed. But still made my heart race.

Then went to check if my school money came in. I was told it would be directly deposited into my account tomorrow or Friday.

Well, I go check after being out at the park with Aviva and there should be a 0 but low in behold there is a figure of $2800. So again my heart begins to race and I am crying (added to everything else). I call the school and they figure out that my class is only 2 credits and needed a 3 credit one. So she says can still register and call back financial aid offce and they will get my school money. OK do this but now need to wait 3 to 5 business days for the review and a day or 2 for the direct deposit. Now have to wait to get my books but taking a class on classroom management for ESE..which seems like it will be really helpful but so wanted to take my class on Autism.

After all this I treated myself to an hour at Barnes and Noble alone thanks to Stephanie for the gift card.

Aviva's 6th Birthday in pictures...

Make an online slideshow at onetruemedia.com

PRAYERS needed...

for my dad...he had some kind of incident they believe is related to a low heartbeat. SO for those that pray please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. He is a terrific dad and a wonderful grandfather. I do not have a relationship with my mother and need him.

He had his wife call so they can wish Aviva a Happy Birthday today.

Thank you.

MY SWEET AVIVA is SIX YEARS OLD.beginning with a year in pictures....

yes you read that right. It is so hard to believe that MY SWEET AVIVA is 6 years old. She has come so far in her short 6 years of life.

She started out being born premature at almost 31 weeks. She came into this world kicking and screaming and that should have been my first warning of how strong this child is going to be!!!

She had a rough first three years of life...spending time in the NICU, going through early intervention (PT, ST, OT, Behavior and Cognitive therapy), having sleep apnea and going through 3 surgical procedures. But going through all that, I believe made her a very strong young lady.

Aviva is a compassionate child who goes out of her way to help others, no matter the issues. She does not see differences: like a child's race or disability. She sees everyone as equals. And that makes me so proud of her.

Aviva is an energetic child and she just goes and goes from the time she wakes up till she goes to bed. And this includes talking...she can talk your ear off.

Aviva loves school and I cannot believe how well she is doing in Kindergarten. She is reading (for a year now), writing..in sentences and doing expository essays. She is doing addition and subtraction. And loves playing with her friends in class. It truly helps that she has an amazing teacher who was teacher of the year last year.

Aviva has come so far in just a short year from turning 5 till turning 6. She did dance and performed in her first dance recital. Now she wants music lessons..maybe piano and singing.

Aviva loves Disney..still. And is always asking when we are going back. We went 4 times this year but that is not enough for her. She loves going on the scary rides. She has no fear.

What a year this has been with Aviva...so many new things were accomplished and now we are onto another year. And I am looking forward to sharing so many more good times with Aviva. What a joy she is in our lives. It is hard to believe the difference she makes everyday we are together.

The last night my baby goes to sleep as a 5 year old.....

My Poor Jeep......

It is still not working...Spider has done all he can and my Jeep is still overheating. So we are a one car family right now and that is not easy.

Aviva has been on vacation since Dec 20th. Last week we were home all week together since Spider had OT. And it was very difficult but Aviva was so good which helped out a great deal.

But we missed going to the park, to the store or where ever when we wanted. We missed that freedom.

So Spider had another friend come look at the Jeep yesterday afternoon and believes there is something wrong with the head or head gasket. Which of course is not cheap to fix...Spider believes it could range from $800 to $1100. OY VEY was all I can say.

Spider is going to call some dealers to find out the price and maybe find a good service station to fix it.

I NEED my JEEP!!