Leap into Love Share February Cafe

Thanks for the well wishes. Ansley is feeling much better, but still has the lingering cough and stuffiness. Know how I can tell she's feeling better?? She's talking constantly to anything and everything.....even when it's not a living thing.

Liz~ I say you do what you feel is best for your family and your child. If you want to worry, you have plenty of reason to do so. Those who have never experienced a loss and a child struggle have no idea what it feels like.

Stacy~ Woohoo for Elim being fever free!!! I know you took a deep breath today!! Shhh....we won't celebrate too loud so it doesn't come back!

How does a weekend go by so quickly??? I know that I have an extra day to my weekend, but still.....it's already Monday! That means that tomorrow starts my school week, class tomorrow night, and the big announcement from our superintendent about the school situation.

Fly by xoxoxoxooxox

Liz-I am glad that everyone got out of that house safe, now scary.

Tracy-Major hugs to you.

John and Landen are at the Daytona 500 for one more night! The rainout caused it to be postpones until tonight at 7. So, one more quiet night for me!!!!!!

Mother knows best! Dr. sent us to the hospital for concerns.Hopefully nothing more than a chest xray and some meds.

I've been cursing my bleeping SIL in my head. And, I am slightly angry/irritated right now. I'm not even sure why. I feel like crying, for pete's sake.

Who the heck is Pete? (haha)

bbl...

Liz: So sorry to hear of your neighbor's house. Mom always knows best. Um, what about Tori's health does she not understand?! She JUST got over pneumonia which is serious business for little ones! I'm sure her lungs weren't back to 100% for her just yet, so glad that you just had to get xrays and then go home. Only you know Tori best and know when she needs an extra look. Hugs momma!

Tracy: Glad Ansley is feeling better! Tons of prayers to you and your coworkers for tomorrow.

Now I'm debating going up to Illinois or not. It's about nine or ten hours of travel each way and we'll be there for two or three days not including travel days. Is it really worth the travel for Elim just to go see my Grandparent's house one last time? Their stuff won't all be in place, and I was going to drive by this summer too. So....hmm.....part of me wants to go, but part of me says it's not a good idea.

Liz~ Mommy always knows best!

Katie~ Woohoo for another quiet night! I saw that the race had been rained out yesterday, but didn't know what time it would air today.

The funeral was a beautiful celebration of Papa James' life! The kind words and funny stories about this man would've made him proud!

Ugh----got homework to do and really don't know where to start..... Seriously, why can't this be easier???

Tracy: So sorry about your friend's grandparent, I know you are a true friend of hers....... so you don't hate Mondays as much as we do.....

Stacy: So glad Elim is fever free, he really deserves a break, hope all the sick germs go away.... And just a piece of advice, try to get to the Baby Gym in the summer, less sickness kids, by experience S got all the flu viruses there......

Liz: So sorry for your neighbor's home, and your insensible SIL, and you are T mother so you knows what is best for her, I prefer to play it safe than sorry......

Katie: Oh you must be so proud of your kids..... congratulations Alex and Landen, and enjoy that girly time together......

Jackie: Glad you had a nice vacations down in Miami.....

So I got robbed on internet........ for that flower girl dress for my niece's wedding...... since a friend is staying in US I asked if I can send the dress so he can bring it to me......well I go to that dress site, and it said that my order couldn't be processed, to try again, so I try with a different card.... and nope I couldn't placed the order, so my credit card holder called me that they did 3 times the charge and they continue trying but the company holder saw it suspicious and block my card....... but those 3 charges I can't take off, only if the dress company delete them, I wrote an e mail, I even called to US and no answer.......... so angry here.......

Morning,

Have a good day everyone!

bbl...

Lorena-That is awful. I would dispute the charges.

Tracy-Good luck today with the big announcement.

We are FCAT testing today, boring!!!!!!!!! I am not testing, I am sitting with the kids that are not testing. Only the 8th graders test, so I am sitting here with the 7th graders.

Tracy - I'm so sorry to hear about "Papa James." He sounds like a really special person and I'm so glad to know that you were pleased with the services. I hope Ainsley feels better soon. Ear aches hurt:( I'll be thinking about you today as you learn more about the fate of your schools/job. Hate the wait!

Liz - Yes, moms know BEST:) Well, not my mom, but most moms. Hope your little one is okay. Urgh, ER visit.

Jackie - Good that you were able to get away. A change of scenry is always nice for sure:)

Katie - Ooh, two nights of girl time and the house to yourself? Awesome! Sounds like a fun time for the men in your life too:) My school has AIMS testing today too. Got to love those state exams. Hubby has to proctor both days, but I'm sure there's a pee break in there somewhere.

Lorena - That's awful! I'm so sorry about that. I hope it wasn't too expensive. Still, that's such a bummer.

Lauren - I'm keeping so many things in mind to prepare for the home visit. The lady who called me to set up the appointment is super new and she's bringing someone with her. That sort of makes me nervous, but we'll see . . .

Stacy - Geez, that is quite a long drive. If you waited, will Charles be able to go with you in the summer? I can understand how sentimental and special it is. In 17 years, I've only gone back once to see the San Diego house I grew up in. It's weird and hard. To see what people do to the place you once called home is hard to swallow. So many memories . . .

I think I'm going to try and take Mr. T to get his hair cut this morning. It's time. He does really well with that now. Plus, he knows that my gal has tons of incentives waiting for him if he sits still. Whenever I tell him that he's getting a haircut, he says, "No, mommy moustache." Yeah, mommy gets that done there too:)

Liz-I hope Tori is feeling better now. I think some people are just insensitive. Just trust your instincts.

Lorena- I am so sorry about the internet. Internet charges are really hard to get rid of. I hope you have some luck.

Jackie- I could really go for a sunburn. It is spring break here but I am in my office. Not getting alot done but not getting tan either...I think I need to work on that.

Stacy- that is a tough call on the trip. SOmetimes it is better to have the memories but sometimes those types of trips can be fun with family recalling all of the memories together. I am glad Elim is feeling better.

Lindsay- Good luck with the home visit.

Tracy- Glad Ansley is better and I hope your homework got done.

I know I missed a lot of other things but I am so behind.
I met my first Share member last night and it was wonderful to put a face to such a great person. Got to meet Erin at our Family Teams Committee meeting. Also, Kaelin was even cuter in person.
Parent-teacher conference day. Sort of dreading the handwriting discussion since I already know the teacher wants to "discuss" our future strategy. Plus she barely has legible printing and in just six months she has to start cursive. Ugh. We'll see how this goes. Two more dental appts this week....Other than that just recovering from my FIL visiting...All in all not bad but definitely looking forward to the weekend...already Oh and Erin said she doesn't remember a pic of Abigail so here's one

Lorena, holy snooks! I'm so sorry about the brides maid dress site.

Stacy, I was scanning back through posts and noticed an error I made to you. I meant to say the inhaler isn't working, not the nebulizer. It wasn't working because it is a maintenance inhaler not the albuterol.

Any of you have a pencil tree? I can't find my st patty's day decorations for mine. Booo.

I've had the bubble guts all day, I'm not sure why my stomach hurts like this.

Season finale of Parenthood tonight. I love that show.

bbl...

Lorena: Wow, I hope you're able to get a refund on that dress, how horrible!!

Katie: Booo!!! So what're you doing all day to keep you and the kids busy?

Lindsay: I decided to go, it'll give me a chance to look through the house to see if there's anything else of my Grandparents' that I really want. I'll be driving with my mom and brother in addition to Elim. This summer it'll just be Elim and I and Charles will be deployed so he couldn't come! LOL! Love what comes out of kids mouths.

Ellen: Aww, so glad that you got to meet Erin! What a cute picture! I hope the meeting goes better than expected and she's got a plan!

Took Molly in for her yearly checkup, this dog costs us a fortune! She's lucky we love her. They keep trying to pressure me to take her off of her steroids that she's been on for years. Um, no. Keeping her on them may shorten her life, but getting skin and ear infections every other week would too! At least on the steroids she's not miserable!

Ellen; So glad you met Erin, she is such a nice gal, and so envious you met Kaelin..... Didn't know your FIL visited you.... hahaha recovering from his visit, nice way to say it, hope you have "pleasant" dentist visit (if that could ever be possible) Oh Abby is so big, I remembered her last pic she looked younger, she is much older now, ooh cursive writing, S school has a very strange/hard cursive letter, old Spaniard (from Spain)......Enjoy your holidays...... Sandy is coming to visit my country.....

Stacy: Glad you decided for the trip.... with your bro and mother must be nice, and it is a nice way to chat all in a car....besides all the memories that you will have with them in your grandparent's house.... My DH wants to take us to Belgium were he grew up.... must be nice, besides they have the best chocolate......What causes the ear infections in Molly??? Maybe you can find another way around the problem......

Lindsay: What home visit??? Hope Mr. T had a nice hair cut visit, it is still a problem with S..... I have never cut miss V hair since she was born, but I am sure there will be no problem she loves that I do her hair and she stays very still, I was planning to cut her hair after the wedding in May, since she is going to be flower girl, and it is more easy with long hair.....

Katie: No idea what AIMS test are..... but they surely sound boring......

Tracy: I have been thinking of you all day, hope all is fine, I know you must be so nervous, but I think you are one of the teachers that schools can't turn down, so prepared, so responsible.....

So still arguing with the bank credit holder, and the dress company, I am even reading the Code of Federal Regulations 226.12(c) and 226.13 and California Civil Code to state my "credit back card charge" interesting..... so I am gathering all the documents to take to the bank, and also my country law of credit cards, but usually when a issuing bank signed with a credit card agrees to follow all the card regulations, and that can not be alter, even if the card was issued outside US...... Now I am so angry with my niece since she told me first that her future SIL already had the dresses now she told me that nope she has not.....ugh!

On a bright note I am enjoying my interior design class, now we are studying the theory of colors....interesting....

S and miss V are fine, just V has a strange rash, I better check that out.......summer and very hot days are starting here, and big holiday is approaching, also two-months unit tests for S..... I didn't remember all the parts of the cell I had to memorized in 4th grade, but I loved Science class....... S doesn't......

Lauren, Jackie, Geri, Donna, Samantha, Erin......hope all of you are fine.....

Lorena

Stacy: That's neat! It will definitely be nice to see it again and to have that special something (a future heirloom for Elim) to remember her by. Very cool. Drive safe when you go and lots of stops for your little man. Yes, that's one lucky pooch.

Ellen: How cool that you got to see/meet Erin! That's so awesome! I'm sure her cursive will come along. I dread parent/teacher conferences. I'm sending my hubby for the next one coming up soon.

Liz: Have fun with your show! Mine was on last night - 2 Broke Girls! FUN! My Wednesday line-up, after Nightly News with Brian Williams and some re-runs of 2 1/2 Men are Whitney and Are You There Chelsea? What's your sleep number? Do you know yet?

Lorena: AIMS (Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards) are the state exams for Arizona:) It takes two days to administer. A few years ago, students who scored HIGH could get FREE in-state college tuition. So, that was really cool and such a deal for parents. They did away with it though, so I'm going to keep saving and hope for a scholarship of some kind. The home visit is for Mr. T. He qualified for state services, but now we have to see if he is eligible for ALTCS (AZ Long-term care services). This would allow him 40 hours of habilitation, speech, OT, and other therapies.

I'm kind of with S. I didn't care for science too much. I was more into liberal arts. Your interior design class sounds fun!!! Can you come visit and make over my home on the cheap?

Oy! You guys have been super chatty!! There's no way in heck I'll catch up. Something about sick kiddos - hope they're all better. Ryley started coughing yesterday. Something about credit card issues for a flower girl dress - Lorena....hope that gets resolved quickly. Babyproofing....Lauren I'm still finding cabinet locks and door latch covers in random drawers. Good luck with that. Liz - Hoping the in-home goes well!! I agree with Lauren. Ellen - Yay on meeting Erin and getting to see that sweet baby girl! Tracy - Hugs on the loss of your pseudo-grandfather.

Ski trip went pretty well (blog coming), except for my friend's son getting the stomach flu the night we all arrived. Grrrrrr. Totally praying none of my three get it, especially as Ryley has his overnight trip to the Revolutionary ship Friday. Book club for me tonight - YIPPEE!!!

Happy Leap Year Day! Abigail was super excited about it today. Her tutor get her revved up yesterday for it. She is so bubbly. Ahhh, to be 26 again.

I hope Ryley stays away from the flu.

Lorena- I am glad the classes are fun. I would love to know what to do in my house. I hope you get the dress fiasco resolved.

Lindsay- Sounds like a long week for you. Keeping my fingers crossed for long term services. How long until they tell you.

Stacy- Have a great time on the trip. I am sure you will find something there to remember your grandmother by. I always think heirlooms are not the expensive items but the best memories. Hope Molly stays healthy on the steroids.

P-T conference went fine. I still don't really understand the grading or not grading system. Anyhoo, it went fine and we came up with a handwriting plan. Now I just have to talk to her tutor. I went to my eighth (and hopefully last dentist) appt today so now I should get back to work. Talk to y'all later.

I'm leaping back into the "Love" cafe, lol...only one more day right! Happy Leap Day!

Liz- sorry to hear that Tori's been sick, i hope she's feeling better. As for you SIL- she's clueless! just because she has a psych degree doesn't mean she understands your perspective! of course you're going to worry about Tori!
Lorena- that sucks! i've been robbed before and it left me feeling so helpless and violated. good for you for trying to get back what you can, i hope it works.
Stacy- i say go for it! if you have the slightest urge to go, then you should go no regrets!

There's so much to catch up on, i guess i shouldn't wait so long to come back to the cafe. Thanks to everyone for making me feel so welcome
I'm feeling much better these days after my last blog post- i guess i just needed to vent and shouldn't let things build so much!
Yay for hump day, ready for the weekend already.

Stacy-I would do the same for my dog. Whatever it takes! I'd rather have a happy dog than a miserable dog!

Lorena-I would be fuming mad at future SIL. Why say you got the dresses if you didn't? As for the credit card...I'm so sorry. What holiday?

Lindsay-My Wednesday lineup is the same! Sleep number is 45!

Donna- Yuck on the little one's stomach flu! Praying it stays away from your family!

Ellen, 8 dentist appointments? -bitingmynails- I've an appointment on the 6th to START the work I need done. I'd rather poke my eyes out with pencils than go to the dentist.

Jennifer-So glad you are feeling better and nice to see you back in the cafe. Venting is good!

Tori had her final IFSP today. I'm overwhelmed at the thought we only have 6 more months of Early Intervention and then I'm on my own when it comes to advocacy for my child. Tori was overwhelmed by the time everyone was ready to go. There were 6 of us here and she had it....The Ipad was the only thing keeping her sane.(talking tom) She then proceded to go into anxious mode and cry for her bottle and Elly(her elephant). She cries for a bottle every time she gets nervous/scared/anxious...whatever.
17 days till my birthday. I'm inching closer to 40. I say this because I found my pencil tree decor for St. Patty's day...ha!

Happy leap day, everyone!

Liz: I forgot to ask what is a pencil tree decor? I would have to google it....... yes the future in laws of my niece are so snob, since the future SIL choose the dresses (I am still wondering why her and no my niece, the bride to be) in this site, I thought also they already had buy in there......I truly feel sorry for my niece and my sister, none in my family can stand the groom.......

Ellen: yooohooo for the last dentist appointment....

Jennifer: that is the feeling ....... but I won't let them get away even if I have to spend more money for that..... I will go to your blog.....

I didn't know that it is called leap year day, today.... So I head back to my homework I have to decorate 3 living rooms (pictures) with colors using 3 different color theories she gave us.......

Tracy ; I hope all is fine

Lindsay: ah yes I know that visit, I thought you go to somewhere to do the test, not that they come to your house......

Happy Wednesday everyone

Lorena

Ah Donna: hope your kids are fine, but glad they didn't got sick on the trip......could you please send me that list of food your Dr. gave you so I can have a look at it?

You'd think having an extra day in the year would help get more things done... buuuuut nope!

Fly by xoxoxoxoxox!

Lorena: She gets the ear infections because of her allergies, they said it's very common for their allergy dogs to have skin and ear problems, which she has both when she's not on medication. Luckily the new meds are much cheaper than the old ones!

Ellen: After my Grandpa died, the thing I took was his hat, it was so Grandpa! Glad to hear that the appointment went well!

Jen: Glad you're feeling better after letting your feelings out!

Could've been a scary moment this morning, went in to get Elim from his crib and reached down to unzip his sleepsack and the zipper just fell apart in my hands. So glad it did it when I was in there and not when he was in there alone playing with it, because he could've choked on those bits! I called Halo and they're replacing it and sending me an envelope to return the broken one to send to quality control.

Stacy-Yikes!! How scary! I lived by the Halo sleep sacks with Tori. OOooh I would snuggle her up and swaddle her with those. Loved them. I don't know how I would have reacted to that situation.

Yeah, I forgot to mention, 2nd week in a row T lost weight. We were an exact 19 pounds. Cry? No. She was sick all week. She also grew an inch length.

bbl...

Hey ya'll!

I'm beat, but wanted to thank all of you for your well wishes.

The recommendation from the Superintendent last night only told what his wishes are for the school consolidation plans. I was hoping he would tell how they will decided who stays and who goes, but no so lucky to hear that. We do know that there will be a lot of people cut at the elementary level, but I'm trying to hang in there and stay positive.

Ellen~ So awesome that you got to meet Erin and the cutie pie!! Also, thanks for posting a newer pic of Abigail!! She's getting so tall!!

Liz~ Nah...no crying for you! She's not been 100%....who feels like eating when they don't feel good???

Lorena~ Wow! I hope you get the dress disaster fixed!

Donna~ Yuck on the stomach bug! That's totally my luck!!! I hope that your children dodged it all together!

Well girls.....since Lauren is a bit busy, does anyone have ideas for a March Cafe' name???

HAPPY LEAP DAY!

Tracy: Um, how about Shamrock For Your Thoughts cafe! No? I tried.

Jennifer: HELLO! So good to see you in here. Thinking about you since your last post. By the way, check your last one. I need to know what your Family Team name is. It feels so good to vent sometimes:)

Ellen: The home visit is in two weeks and I'm told that it will take a few more weeks until we find out for certain. I've heard horror stories about the whole state services system. So far, everything is moving at a good pace. I'm trying to stay hopeful.

Lorena: Yeah, they want to check out the home environment while asking you the same question 5 different ways to see if your answers stay consistant. My husband and I are quizzing each other. Yes, I want our answers to sound rehearsed, but not too rehearsed. I bet it's fun to do a lot of different hairstyles with Miss V. Pretty cool Lorena:)

Liz: Hopefully she'll gain what she lost here soon. Got to be tough. Glad to know that you found your sleep number:) When your b-day?

Lauren: Hi! I know you're busy. Hope all is well with you. Feeling okay?

School fundraiser tonight. I've been e-mailing my derriere off and dropping off last minute flyers to get interest for this MOD fundraiser this weekend. This is the last one I've got planned for 2012 season, so I'm trying. One coin box I leave at my friend's store brings in at least $40, so that helps. Another appt. for Mr. T tomorrow with a developmental ped. I'm not sure how he'll do if she requests bloodwork:(

Wow you girls have been super chatty lately.
Sorry I havent been on as much....so much going on between the house and other stuff. Promise will explain very soon just not ready yet.
Hope all is well with everyone.

Tracy...keeping fingers crossed for you. Terrible they are doing such lay offs. Nothing like keeping you stressed for so long. Praying your safe.

Maddie had her IEP today and must say it was easy breezy. See they arent all bad. Her teachers are the absolute best. We were really blessed this year. They are two of the sweetest women. They truly look out for her and keep her best interest in mind.
I didnt even need to ask for anything....all her therapist and teachers pretty much did everything I could want. In fact...one thing I wasnt to sure of was they wanted to get her a board of ed laptop cause she is so weak and cannot write more than 4 sentences at a time. I was a little opposed cause I didnt want her to *forget* how to write but they assured me they wouldnt let that happen and are only thinking how much harder second grade would be. They are awesome.

Lauren ...hope your feeling ok.

Donna fingers crossed no bug in your house...Maddies best friend at school was throwing up all day Maddie said...of course Maddie sits next to her and her mom couldnt get her so she had to suck it up in school....awesome. Praying Maddie didnt get to close

Marching for Babies Madness?
Marching to the beat of Healthy babies?
so not good at that stuff...

Tomorrow is our MOD's Moms night out. Where we basically call every preemie mom we know and that we get off the *fred* list and beg them to come join us for some wine, cheese and lots of chit chat.

Liz: Aww, I'm sure it's so hard seeing her lose when I know you fight for every ounce! Hugs momma!

Tracy: Ugh, bummer! So unfair they're making you wait even longer, any idea when everyone will find out?

Lindsay: Fingers crossed no bloodwork tomorrow

Jessica: Glad to hear her IEP meeting went great! Sounds like a great time!

So we have a girl in our ladies night that was pregnant and due a week ago. She said she didn't care when she came once she was full term as long as it wasn't leap day. Any guesses as to which day she came? It's a curse I tell you! I said the same thing about Valentines day, and hello Elim! Best valentines day gift ever though.

Hey Ladies! Head on over to the community blog and check out the newest post! This is the first of a four part series on grief, so keep your eyes open for our follow up posts!

The Ties That Bind, A Shared Journey