Random January Happenings

Things remain busy around here.  Even though I really try hard not to commit to much or take on too much, still things are busy.  I thought I'd share a few things that have happened this month in a kind of catch up post.

Christopher ran in his first race.  It was a 5k on New Years Day.

He has been diligent in training and setting up his own schedule of running to meet his goals.  He is planning to run in another race next month.  I'm proud of him for setting goals and working hard to reach them, for choosing his own interests and pursuing them. 

He is also busy with schoolwork and looking into colleges.  We attended a workshop at which several admissions counselors were there to talk about their schools.  I can't believe we are at that point!  I'm not ready.  I know though that he is quickly becoming ready and I pray for us both as we approach this new time. 

Rebecca has started doing more babysitting.  I know she is a blessing to the moms and to the children.  I know this because she has SOOOO much experience with a variety of younger children - typical and special needs and really enjoys them.   

She has been wanting to babysit for a long while so she could earn some money.  Want to know what she is doing with her money?  For the first two months of babysitting she is donating all of it to Anya.  I love her heart for others. 

She also auditioned for a play this week - and was chosen to be in it.  (Charlotte's Web)  It will be a heavy commitment for her for the next several months, but also a lot of fun I'm sure.

Joshua is doing well.  He is staying healthy (all of us are for which I give thanks daily!).  Diabetes continues to be a rollercoaster ride - and not always a fun one!  He is still in his "honeymoon" which means his numbers can really fluctuate.  Maybe this won't change when he is out of it either.  I really don't know.  He had his lowest low a week ago - 41 - and didn't even feel it.  :-(  I think this will make him a candidate for continuous glucose monitoring though I'm not sure if he'll want it.  (Another thing attached to you that will take constant readings of his blood sugar) 

We weren't able to attend the pump info night last month.  My parents had just gotten into town and he wanted to stay home.  (Which I think was a really good choice, after all the pump can wait and people are more important!)  We'll see about going this month.  We are attending a Family Retreat sponsored by the JDRF later this month.  I think we'll all be going.  It will be nice to try to connect with some others and other families dealing with diabetes.  I'm hoping this week-end will be a blessing for all of us able to go. 

Isaiah is doing well too.  He is really enjoying some of the new games we have (as are the others).  The karate on Wii and Civilizations are huge favorites.  I'm amazed at all that he learns from playing them and the retention of information from them. 

We are still working on figuring out how best to help him learn with some of his unique learning challenges.  He is an incredibly smart little boy and I want learning to be fun and interesting and not leave him feeling frustrated.  He was diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder (this week) in addition to the other diagnoses earlier this year. 

It hurts my heart sometimes to know how hard things are for some of my children.  I know it could be much harder and that there are children facing much more.  I'm praying that working through the challenges that they face will help them cultivate understanding, patience and strength - and that through these challenges they will learn how to rely on God.  I know that God has a plan for each one of them and I pray that these challenges will prepare them well for what God has in store for them.  While I sometimes wish that the road was a little smoother, I'm so thankful to be walking it with God!  I pray that God would give us the grace, patience and wisdom needed to encourage them, prepare them and just love them as they are! 

How am I handling the news?  Pretty well.  I haven't had a lot of "feelings" over it (which is probably good since usually the feelings are stressed and overwhelmed).  Am I finally just learning to accept things?  Did God prepare my heart?  Am I finally learning to rest a little better in His arms?  I'm not sure, though I'm certain it has nothing to do with me and everything to do with God.  Perhaps it's just that He is holding me and all that I have to carry.

I do know that none of this is a surprise to God.  He has great plans for each one of us - and these bumps in the road will not deter His plans!  I continue to remind myself of these truths - He is good.  He is in control.  He loves us very, very much! 

It's hard to know how much to share sometimes in a public forum like this.  I hope that some of what I share will be of help or encouragment to someone else and at the same time don't want to share anything that would be upsetting to my children.  Please pray for our sweet boy and all that he is dealing with.  Please pray too as I try to learn how best to teach him, encourage him and help him navigate life. 

Daniel has lost his first tooth!  I can't believe my baby has already reached this milestone!  The earliest of all my children.  He also got his first tooth the earliest too - at 5 months (yes, I do remember it!). 

Daniel and I have scaled back on some of his schooling and are rowing again the Before FIAR books.  It's a relaxing time when he has me all to himself.  I think it's a sweet time for both of us.  He is still little and there is plenty of time ahead for him to be a big boy.

Eliana is doing great.  While I've missed seeing our therapists, it has been nice to have more free time in our days and in our week.  We have several days now where we have nothing planned!  It's nice to have the freedom to make the days what we want them to be. 

We've started doing workboxes officially with her and I think it is helping to have some routine in her day.  At this point, the routine is more that she is getting more done in a day and that the children working with her have specific things to do with her.  I know that actually building some timed routines in her day will be a good thing too, but that hasn't happened yet. 

Roger's work is going well and he has a birthday coming up soon.  No news on how we'll be celebrating as he does read here. 

Me - I'm staying busy.  We are working on getting into a good routine with schooling and so far things are going well.  I've started a new Bible study which has been encouraging.  I'm also going to be doing a new study thanks to the gifts of some sweet friends.  I look forward to seeing what God is going to teach me!

This is getting long and I realize needs more pictures, but I'm going to post and more pics will have to come later.  Its late as I'm up checking Joshua who has been dealing with lows tonight.  Trying to make sure his numbers stay well - and hoping that maybe I can get a nap in tomorrow!

Blessings

Leslie   

Happy New Year

It really was my intent to get this up earlier.  Oh, well, here it is.

New Year’s Eve 2009

We had a fun time celebrating leaving the old year and ringing in the new!  We were joined by friends for our annual tradition and as always - it was a blast!  My children love the bags and couting down to the New Year.  We've done it often enough now that it is considered a tradition and one that they look forward too. 

I started a little earlier this year (2pm) thinking I'd include some things just for the younger children.  I did this since both Roger and our friend's dh had to work.  It was fun, but definitely pushed me to get things going earlier than I was ready.  LOL  Thankfully, we approach this in a really relaxed way and if we are a little off schedule, we just work in order and don't worry about the times. 

Our theme this year - Monsters and Aliens

Here are our clues, what was in the bags and of course pictures!

1^st clue:

It’s New Years Eve, the countdown has begun!

Are you ready to have some fun?

We’ll spend time eating and creating too.

Can you figure out the theme of all that we’ll do?

In the bag:  items for making noisemakers; we played charades to guess the theme.

 

Getting some help from big brother.

Guess these monsters weren't too happy.

The kids like reading the clue and then guessing what might be in the bag.  Some of the ideas are the same or similar from year to year.

2^nd clue:

Monsters are silly and funny too!

Do you think they are sometimes blue?

Maybe they’re happy or perhaps mad

A game of expressions will make you glad!

In the bag:  The game Silly Expressions. 

The general idea of the game is to draw a card with a face pictured on it.  You then try to make the face (the mirror is to help you get it just right). 

The others try to guess which face (pictured on the board) you are making.

3^rd clue:

They come from a planet far away

Sometimes to visit and sometimes to stay

Would you like to travel?  Ready let’s go!

Let’s make a rocket out of play-doh!

In the bag - play-doh.

Eliana even skipped her nap (she went to bed early) so she could join in on the play-doh.  This is one of her favorite activities - if only she didn't eat it!

 

They  made rockets and aliens - all versions from cute, to creative to clever to fierce.

4^th clue:

We’ve been busy, is your tummy starting to rumble?

You’ll like the next step, so don’t start to grumble.

We’re making more spaceships, but these for our guests

They’ll look like a saucer or maybe a nest?

In the bag:  some of the pizza ingredients.  This is a traditional item.  I thought about changing the food this year, but when one of my children listed this as a favorite activity for the night, I knew it needed to stay the same.

5^th clue:

When people travel they often keep a log

It reminds them of the past when their mind is in a fog

Its time to look back and ponder the past

This years almost over, today is the last.

In the bag:  Questions on pieces of paper for everyone to fill out.  This is also a favorite activity that is repeated.  After everyone finishes, we read one question and then all the answers to that question.  We then try to guess who wrote each answer.

 

Here are the questions for this year.

*Favorite book you’ve read this year

 

*Favorite trip/outing you’ve taken this year 

 

*Name something you are most thankful for 

 

*Something you have learned 

 

*Something you hope to do next year

6^th clue:

We’re going to make aliens

These will be sweet

Decorate how you’d like

And then you can eat!

In the bag:  sprinkles, frosting, candy  This again is a repeat.  We may need to find something a little lower carb for next year though. 

7^th clue:

It’s time for adventure and maybe a giggle

Find a spot to sit and don’t wiggle

Does anyone need something to eat

You can have some popcorn while in your seat

In the bag:  movie and popcorn

We enjoyed watching a movie on the "big screen".  We hung up a sheet and used a projector to make it a big.  It's fun to see it this way.

 

8^th clue:

The monsters are gone and the days near the end

Still a little more time with our friends

Let’s play a game – or maybe more

We’ll split into teams and then start to score

In the bag:  chalk and pictionary cards.  This is a fun game that everyone can play!  We split into boys v girls and had some fun.

This one was funny in person and I'll try to explain.  The cards had "themes" to them and if you could figure out the theme sometimes it was easier to guess the rest of the words.  After guessing the first word (which was tooth), they were then guessing for the second word ... dental floss, and other words related to teeth.  They were stumped.  Daniel walked up and looked at it and said "triangle" which was the correct answer.  It made for a great laugh all the way around. 

9^th clue:

It’s time to say good-bye to ‘09

Watching the ball drop is a fun time again

A hug, a prayer, a sweet drink for the toast

Happy New Year, it’s 2010

In the bag:  Bible verses to read.  I picked verses that had to do with how we were perfectly made to accomplish God's purposes.  (Tied in with the theme of the movie.)  We discussed briefly and then prayed.  We also had bubbly cider to toast in the New Year.  I didn't get a picture of all of us in the New Year. 

Hoping the formatting on this works as it is a long post.  We had a fun time and I highly recommend the "bags" as a fun way to bring in the new year - or to count down to anything.  Hope you enjoyed reading about our fun time ringing in the new year with friends. 

Blessings

Leslie

FIAR Ornaments

This is the last Christmas post.  Our FIAR group did an ornament swap again this year.  I love these ornaments.  I'm hoping to eventually have a full set of ornaments from ALL of the FIAR titles.  We are making sure progress. 

Here are the ornaments from this year.  I wish you could see the details.  They are really wonderful.  These represent Mrs. Katz  and Tush (notice the Star of David necklace on the cat) and Owl Moon.

Next is Night of the Moonjellies (notice the little moonjellies) and The Runaway Bunny.

These are both from Beyond - Neil Armstrong (all of this is made from sculpy!) and Thomas Edison.

Next is Gullywasher (also individually made from sculpy) and Who Owns the Sun (from a cotton plant).

Last up are The Bee Tree, Little Nino's Pizzeria and Harold and the Purple Crayon. 

Love the ornaments and the memories that they represent for our family!

Blessings

Leslie

New Year Warrior - Anya

I know, I posted just a couple of days ago that I was going to post new info on Ashleigh.  Well, I do have information to share on Ashleigh ...

a family has committed to her!!!

So very exciting and what an answer to prayer!  Since she has a family now fundraising for her, we are going to turn our efforts to another little girl.  Anya.  She is in the same orphanage as Ashleigh. 



Isn't she cute?  I've been told that she received money during the Angel Tree last year and again this year, but nothing in between.  Her grant is small and we would love to do what we can to change that!

Anya just celebrated her 3rd birthday.  Just two days before our little Eliana.  Here is the information listed on the reecesrainbow site about Anya.

Girl, Born December 14, 2006

 

Anya is a pretty little girl with unique facial features.  She was born with a minor defect of  interventricular and interatrial septum.  A family visiting with her felt she may have some autistic tendencies, but it is also possible she has adual diagnosis of Moebius Syndrome.  We are trying to confirm this.  http://www.faces-cranio.org/Disord/Moebius.htm

There is no blood test to confirm Moebius, so it is diagnosed on clinical symptoms such as a lack of facial expression

and a uniquely shaped nose. 

 

I've posted a new chip-in in my sidebar if you would like to donate.  All money will go directly to Reeces Rainbow and is tax deductible.  Rebecca has made a lovely necklace that we will be posting about in a few days that we hope to use to raise some money. 

 

 

Please join me in praying for Anya and the others like her that would love to be living in a home with a family.  Please consider helping to make a difference in the life of this little girl.  Due to paypal fees we've been asked that donations be at least $10.  Sorry about that.  If you would like to donate a smaller amount you can do that by sending a check.

 

Reeces Rainbow

P.O. Box 4024

Gaithersburg, MD  20885

 

 

Thank you!

Leslie

Look at this!

This is an amazing answer to a lot of prayers.  Here are the stats from the Angel Tree Project this year.  Look at how much it has grown from last year!  Praise God!  I'm hoping and praying we see another doubling this year! 

Rebecca and I have committed to be New Year Warriors for a little girl named Ashleigh.  We are going to be raising funds for her this month in order to hopefully help her find a family.  (See the new chip-in on my sidebar)  I'll write more tomorrow and post a picture  I want it to have a separate post. 

For now, just thanking God that He is moving in the hearts of people to pray, give and adopt.  Please continue to pray for these precious children.

Blessings

Leslie

Hanna's Cold Winter - Co-op

This was a December co-op, but I haven't posted about it yet.  We had another great day at co-op.  I just love being a part of this co-op and it is such a blessing to all of us!  I'm thankful to God for bringing us together to share our talents, interests and creativity with this group of children and moms.

We started with reading the story.



Next, the children learned about mammals.  They discussed the various traits of mammals first and then played a game. 



Each child was given a field journal.  In the front was a pocket with a picture of an animal.  Inside were spaces for drawing as they tried to figure out clues to determine which animal each of the other children had.



Each child had a turn where the others tried to figure out what type of animal he or she had.  The animal pictures also had facts on the back of the card.  The children took turns asking questions.  After asking a question, then they could try to guess what the animal could be.  There was a list of questions such as "What do you eat?", "What are your special characteristics?"  "Are you a mammal?"  "What are your predators?"



After a correct guess, the children would record in their journals what the name of the animal was and then could either draw the animal or it's special characteristic.





All of the animals ended up being ones from Africa that were also mammals.  It was a fun way to learn about animals that we were familiar with and some we had never heard of before!  They then tried to figure out where their animal lived - grasslands, rainforest or desert.  They then went outside to play a little in these areas.  (She had labelled and defined some areas in the backyard and I unfortunately have no photos of this.)

Next, it was time to play a game to learn more about Hungary.



Did you want a closer look at the game?  This is an incredible hand-made game!  There are pictures on the spaces of various sites in Hungary. 



Each child had an animal piece that they could move around the board.  They drew cards to learn facts and to find out what they were to do on each turn. 



They also learned about Hungarian money.  My boys all loved that they were able to bring some home!  They each wanted one that was a large denomination. 



The last activity of the day was an art activity.  The children learned about what was going on in the world of art at the time of the story and how the war affected artists. 



They learned that many of the artists painted "dark" things during this time as a reflection of the mood of the country. 



While the big kids were learning at co-op, Rebecca kept the younger ones entertained.  She had brought crafts for them to make an ornament and paints for another activity.  Have I mentioned how wonderful she is with children?!  If you are local and need a babysitter, she is great!



No co-op day would be complete without Daniel having time to hang out with his buddy, Ms Lynn.



Thank you friends for another amazing day!  I look forward to our next one!

Love
Leslie