A New Year, a New Me

January 2012

December 2009

As you can see, quite a change! I've lost almost 60 lbs in the last year, 18 in the last two months working the personal trainer. Life is so much easier and better with out that extra weight! Still have some work to do but well on my way. Keeping everyone happy and healthy. Hope your year is off to a great start too!

Hugs,

Dawn 

Parenting Article ~ The Never-Empty Nest

I  want to take a moment to let you know about an article I just read in the July 2011 issue of Good Housekeeping. It's called "The Never-Empty Nest" by Michael Callahan. I'm not sure if it's on news stands yet but it should be soon. The cover has Angie Harmon and is done in red white and blue.

Mr. Callahan is an uncle to two young adults with autism. Neither will ever be able to take care of himself. This article is interesting as it's from the point of view from someone who is close to the family, loves them dearly, but is still on the outside. One can't really know what it's like to be a full time caretaker unless you've been there. The author touches on sacrifice, fear and acceptance as well as the simple, happy moments that make life good. It also delves into the often unspoken feelings and perceived responsibilities of extended family.

Even if you aren't currently dealing with a developmentally disabled child this is a very interesting article. The issues of dependent adult care are being brought to the forefront more and more. Most people are aware of autism and Alzheimer's but other factors like traumatic brain injury can lead to the immediate need for home health care. While most focus is on the monetary cost the bigger issue for me is the mental and emotional toll on the caregivers. 

Just yesterday I stopped by "English Cottage in Georgia" to check in on my friend Lucy. I was sad to find that her husband Terry has passed away. Terry had suffered traumatic brain injury when knocked down on the sideline of a high school football game several year ago.  I left a note of condolence for this wonderfully strong, loving lady then clicked over to her second blog, "Life is Too Short". It is dedicated to Terry's journey. Her recent post there was about accepting her husband's condition and what it meant in her day to day life. Please stop by and offer Lucy a hug. You'll gain a new perspective on life in return.

Life's Plan B

Just a little bouquet

to show my appreciation

for the friendships and inspiration I've found

since starting my blog two years ago today.

Summer vacation starts in two weeks

and the kids always want to pack in

as much fun and adventure as possible.

Things are a little different this year though.

I'm going to use their initial enthusiasm

to sneak in some work on life skills and bus training.

They don't like riding the bus but if there is

something fun at the end of the ride

it should go a little easier.

My son is graduating and will be attending

a transition program next fall.

It combines work and social activities.

One of the goals is getting him comfortable with public transit so he

won't always be dependent on someone else to get around.

My daughter will be in a similar situation when she graduates in a few years.

We've known from the beginning that our children would most likely be living with us long into adulthood. Our lives will not follow the path of most families but we've done our best to adjust and plan for that. Still, it's daunting. A fellow blogger and mother of children with special needs recently commented that she feels like she needs to live forever to care for them. I can relate to that.  

I've been struggling for a while about my blog. My posts are more and more random in timing and content than I would like.  I feel guilty that I can't take the time to visit everyone I'd like to and respond to comments. Even as I started this post I was unsure about where I was headed. Then I re-read my last post, one thrown together just to have something to show. The quote was searched out just to have something to say but falls right into place with what I'm feeling now. "But a man or woman becomes fully human only by his or her choices and his or her commitment to them." Commitment. I don't feel the same excitement now as when I first started blogging. It was a wonderful way to tap back into my creative side and meet fabulous friends but it also became an escape from the everyday stresses. For the first year it was an like an addiction, taking all my time and attention, and as I tried to pull back and regain perspective I realized I couldn't do it half-way and be happy about it.

I won't say goodbye because I will still be lurking occasionally. I've become very fond of so many of you and will do my best to stay in touch. I hope to return to blogging in the future but for now I'll just say

Until we link up again...

Hugs,

Dawn

Two Great Women

 MY MIL

 MY MOM

Thank you both for helping me be a better mom. I couldn't do it without all your guidance and support. Not to mention you're both great sock sorters!

Happy Mother's Day!

We're Not Lazy...

just hanging out

and enjoying

quality time.

BYOG ~ Bring Your Own Grub Party

There's an impromptu party over at Wit Behind the Ears today and it has no rules so it's easy to join, which made it really appealing to me. You can even link up an old post, anything grub related, and don't have to link back to them. Seriously, no rules!

Anna and her co-writers at Wit, Gwen and Rachael, keep it real and keep me laughing. It's a great place to go to steal ideas get inspiration because you never know what you'll find there.

I don't do many food posts because I'm not much of a cook. I was even foiled by an "easy" to use toy oven! Click here if you want to know what's on that plate and why a screwdriver was part of the recipe.

Little Smokies wrapped in small pieces of crescent roll dough is our idea of a fancy appetizer and a New Year's Eve party tradition. Just cook them a minute or two longer than the dough package calls for. If you forget to set the timer and start smelling smoke don't worry. It just means the kids will be having PB&J again instead and you can put off going to the store for dog food one more day. Husbands usually prefer burned weenies and dough over PB&J so make sure you save some for your man.

Occasionally a miracle happens and the stars align. If I have time to plan, shop, and clear the lunch bags, empty soda bottles and science experiments from the kitchen counters, I can prepare a decent meal. This stew was so awesome I was going to blog about it. Then I looked at the photo and thought...looks like dog food.

My son is the real foodie of the house. He knows all the chefs names on all the food shows. He expresses his appreciation for my cooking in his own special way. He often says things like, "Mmm, this is good, did you cook it or just microwave it?" I just say yes, I cooked it, knowing he means well. Microwaving is cooking, technically. He's catching on though, he's starting to ask if I used real food and a recipe or just opened a box or a can! The other two family members aren't near as picky.  Every day my daughter begs for McDonald's. Every day Hubby prays we're not having McDonald's. You can't please everyone all the time!

Speaking of science experiments...

Onion soup anyone?

LOL! I looked up the date of the photo with my son cooking, where this same onion is in the background, and it was early December! This photo was taken today. I'm beginning to think of it more as a houseplant than dinner.

I hope you'll pay the girls at Wit a visit. You're bound to leave with some good ideas to steal try and maybe some blogging inspiration too. And I know you'll have a laugh or two. If you have time read the comments sections, there's even more fun there!



Tag!

Have you ever played tag with a ladybug?

I know a very special ladybug who blogs about her fun loving dogs, sweet family and that big Texas sky. She always has her camera in hand and can put the most interesting spin on everyday objects. Her name is Deb, and her blog is A Ladybug from Texas. She tagged me for a little game of

5 Things I Never Leave Home Without.

1. Sunglasses, duh! It's California after all.

On bad hair days they're partnered with a baseball cap for that Hollywood starlet in disguise look.

2. Trifocals, not near as cool as the sunglasses but necessary.

3. My rosy pink cell phone.

4. A book by my favorite author or a home decor magazine for all the time I spend waiting for kids or at appointments.

5. A little plastic envelope that contains family photos, I.D.s and fingerprints of my kids.

You see, our family members look very different from each other. When my son was young he would often bolt when scared of, say, a cowboy clown wearing  an ostrich riding costume. You know, the kind where the person's legs look like the ostrich's and there are floppy fake people legs hanging over the stupid bird. Any clown or bird scared him. So combine the two and you've got one hysterical little boy fighting to run as fast and as far as possible while his new adoptive parents desperately try not to loose him at a crowded fair. A woman actually intervened, thinking we were trying to kidnap him! Ever since then I've carried my little "emergency kit".

So those are the five things I take with me everywhere. How about you? What makes you stop and head back home if you forget it?

Scrappy Quilts

It's another cold and dreary winter day {{{sigh}}}. Whether you have to deal with mounds of snow and icy sidewalks or fog so dense you lose your bearings, it's nice to get home and cuddle up under a warm quilt. 

I think quilts are LOVE in a tangible form. I'll take an old fashioned scrappy quilt over a designer comforter any day! The only problem, like with childhood blankies and teddy bears, quilts passed through generations get loved to death and reach a point where you can't use them as they were meant to be. But they are still worthy.

I bought this fan quilt at an estate sale. Several people picked it up and admired it until seeing the flaws then casually tossed it aside. While they only saw imperfection I saw LOVE. Endless hours of tedious hand work, treasured scraps of fabric, memories, warmth, comfort...LOVE. 

Like this quilt. It was made in the late seventies by my grandmother with the help of my mom and aunts. I don't know who did the black stitching but I think it was done years earlier. I do remember the blocks being arranged and sewn together. 

I remember helping to tie the little pieces of green yarn. I was 13. It was the year my grandmother passed away. The prints are all scraps from my great-grandmother's dresses.  She had passed when I was about 7.  Four generations have had their hands on this fabric. Four generations separated for now, but tied together with little pieces of string. I hope that if this scrappy quilt ever finds it's way into a stranger's hands it will be recognized as LOVE worthy of saving.

 *********

I want to apologize for not getting out to visit more of you. I'm kind of muddling through a lot of things right now. I hope you'll bear with me as I work on some other aspects of my life for a couple of months. I will be by from time to time.  Don't fret, I know how you all worry, everything is okay. I just need to get a handle on some things. I'll try to keep posting once a week or so but real life doesn't have a "preview" button so we'll have to see how it goes!

Copy Cat ...or...Dog

My daughter and I like to play a game where we draw pictures line by line and try to guess what the final picture is. I drew this dog, starting with the lines of the mouth and she had no idea where I was going. When we were done she asked why I did the mouth that way instead of just a happy face smile. I told her it's just one way it can be drawn.

A few days later I woke to find a pile of papers she had been drawing on in the middle of the night. One of them was a dog and cat with cute little noses and mouths. And ta da! They had legs! Rectangle legs straight from the heads but definitely legs!

Do you remember your child's progress as their fine motor skills developed? Each new body part is a celebration of growing, learning, and advancing. Of course everyone thinks their own child is brilliant and I'm no exception. These pictures really are special though. Why? Because my daughter is 15 years old.

At an age when most teens are learning to drive and grumbling about homework, my daughter is just finding the joy in being able to draw her best friends. And we celebrate it! Each little step gives her the confidence to go a little further along this path we call life.

On a Lighter Note

 

The rainy weather last week made for beautiful

sunrises over the Sierra's.

As the storm ended Monday it brought my favorite clouds,

big, low, puffy ones.

 They look like you could sit on the edge and dangle your feet over.

If only my ladder was a bit taller!

Even their reflection in the pool was cool.

The sky was a brilliant deep blue that we only get after a good storm has cleared the air.

Later we went for a drive and spotted this family out for a walk.

Whimsy is alive and well after all!

We stopped at a drive-thru and I was horrified to see what I thought was several dead birds.

Too much orange chicken from the Panda Express patio?

I was glad to see my first impression was wrong.

It turned out to be

The Red Rock Bird Spa.

As we sat and waited 5 to 10 birds at a time would be in this one spot. It was so amusing to watch bird after bird flutter over from the nearby bushes and take their turn in the sauna made by the water under the warm rocks. There were many puddles nearby but this was the place to be!

We have a busy day planned today but I will get back to visiting soon. Everyone is well (knock on wood!) and we're all back in our routines. My son is assisting with his high school's varsity basketball team and his Special Olympics team starts practicing soon so he's happy as a clam. My daughter is back to her chipper self and enjoying friends at school instead of playing with mommy! I missed all the New Year's posts so I'll be checking in to see how you all are and what your plans for 2011 are. For me it will THE year to get organized and get fit. Oh, wait, that was last year's resolutions...

Pink on Pink

Today I'm joining  all the Pinkies at Beverly's How Sweet the Sound for the first time in a long while. I've always enjoyed seeing the lovely pink posts each Saturday. I haven't joined in more often because I'm too disorganized to sign up on time for the email links. When I heard Beverly was switching to the linky tool I knew I'd have a better chance to sneak in a post at the last minute! That's right, I'm a pink procrastinator!  So I hopped over to Beverly's tonight to grab her link, only to learn we're supposed to post a holiday recipe. Now, if I had my act together earlier I would have known that. But you're probably lucky I didn't because I'm really not much of a cook anyway!  So without further ado I give you...

A Pink Pop-quiz!

What kind of ornaments should be used on a pink Christmas tree?

Concentrate, this is really serious!*

Pink velvet balls? Good answer!

Pink ponies with packages? Yes!

Pink snowmen? Absolutely!

Ha! Gottcha!  This one is too heavy for the branches!

We'll just wrap this sweet package up and put her under the tree!

My daughter and my new niece

say you all get a pink star for your answers

and for putting up with my verbose introduction to this post!

They also wish you a Merry Christmas

from the bottom of their little pink hearts!

Please click on the link at the top to visit Beverly and see what all the pink lovers are sharing!

*I just have to add this little disclaimer. I don't usually dress my daughter in orange t-shirts over red and blue snowmen but she chose this outfit this morning for a PACIFIC club Christmas party at school. The club shirt is orange and, well, she wanted to be festive too! 

In case you're wondering the PACIFIC club is:

Pals (regular students who assist in the special ed classes)

And

Challenged

Individuals having

Fun

In the

Community

A Late but Very Thankful Thanksgiving

Introducing Miss Kathryn Grace,

my sister's first child.

She was due Nov. 15 but was in no hurry to make an appearance.

Sis was induced on Thanksgiving day but Kathryn was still taking her own sweet time. The doctor decided a C-section was in order and mom and baby are doing fine. According to her daddy, she was "21 inches and change" and 7lbs 13 oz. 

Welcome to the family little Katie Grace!

Where Has October Gone?

Thank you friends for all the sweet comments and emails. After two weeks of fighting nasty colds my daughter is back at school and I'm able to put down the Kleenex box! Lucky for you I wasn't in the mood for taking photos. Lucky for me my mom has spent the last month or so going back and forth, up and down the state and is letting me share some of her photos so I have something to post!

Mom and dad spent a few days in Carmel

for Walter and Tracy's wedding.

They visited the mission and had a beautiful time at the coast.

I just love the verdigris on the bell

in contrast to all the warm terracotta colors.

Walter and Tracy enjoying dinner

and the sunset over the Pacific.

They were married on the beach the next day.

Then mom and dad headed up to Chico in

Northern California to watch

John, Rochelle and Dane run in the Mozart Mile.

Trent played in the band.

The Mozart Mile is a fundraiser for the arts

and is held in Bidwell Park.



Last stop, Southern California

for a baby shower.

Three more weeks, Sis!

Thanks to my family for this post. Love you guys!