I've been a pretty lame blogger.

Hanging head in shame.  I have fallen into the grips of Facebook. That and I got a real job. One where I show up and they have things for me to do. Important things, that matter. 

I do really like my new job. It's at Paypal.  I work on the software that the agents use. An agent is the person who answers the phone when you call Paypal and say stupid things like "I can't remember my password" and "Show me the money" And yes you do sound stupid, I've listened to the calls.  Please don't sound stupid when you call Paypal, you've been warned.

Alex is enjoying summer.  He likes swimming the best I think.  Who doesn't?

This Saturday we hope to go to an MDA party being thrown in Sam's honor.  Sam is adorable. I only know him thru some pictures and I've met his mom.  Great family!  But the heat is suppose to be that of the Saraha desert, so we shall see.  I don't have time to rent a camel.....

My mom made two quilts for Katie's Comforters. I found Karen's (mom of Katie) site from the Hopeful Parents site. Check them all out, you'll be glad you did. And if you or someone you know loves to quilt.....whip one up and ship it off!

Enjoy your summer! Maybe my next post will come before fall!!! Yeah yeah, promises promises. So friend me on Facebook!

Haven't been blogging much.

Sorry to all my readers out there (yes both of you!).   Just seems like I forget to sit down and write something. Facebook might have something to do with it.

I've got a new job. I start tomorrow.  I am excited! I will be contracting at Paypal. I hate being the new person, but I'm sure it won't take long to fit in.

My cousin Lisa is really battling the beast, known as Cancer. She's having quite a time with it.  She is like a sister to me, she's always been there for me, no matter what.  Please keep her in your prayers.   Her family is going to San Diego in May and she'd love to be well enough to go, see the ocean one more time. Her mother, sister and brothers are devastated as well.  Nasty disease.  We need to find cures for this!

Alex is doing well at school. He's become quite the helper for the younger kids in the class.  It's nice to see him be a buddy.  With his behavior issues, it's nice to see some progress! Stanford has not gone back to school, we'll work on it thru the summer and attend a re-training course and hopefully he can go back in the fall.  We'll see.

Glad you stopped by.  Not very exciting or noteworthy...but hey welcome to my life!!! LOL

Happy Birthday Grandma

We're closing in on our second year without you.  We all still miss you and can't quite figure out why you're gone.  Alex misses you too.  He likes to look at pictures of you, but I'm not sure he understands why he doesn't see you in person.  I'm not sure I understand it either.

I know that I need to come to terms with all that happened during the week you died.  I have to forgive the people who kept me from you because of their jealousy and their own agendas.  We had a lifetime together and they only got that final week.  I have to accept that our time together during the 46 yrs meant way more to each of us, than the last week they spent scrambling to be the most important person in your life and death. But I should have been there for you, I should have fought them harder, but I didn't. I need to forgive myself as well. 

I hope you and Grandpa are celebrating your birthday in heaven today.  We always celebrated both of your birthdays together, during this week...I miss that too. Neither one of you is forgotten, your impact on our lives is still apparent.  Thank you and I miss you both!

Stanford has been going to school

you can check out his blog and see what he's been up too!

Stories of Stanford

~*~*~ HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY ~*~*~

I can believe how time has flown by!  Happy birthday to my sweet boy!

Snowed In!

You can't find much to post about when you've been snowed in for three days.  And it's cooooold!  -40 windchills...so not good.  Lots of ice on the roads.

praying for an early spring!!! Early as in January 15th!!!!

Happy New Year and

Happy New Decade! I wish you all good health, happiness and love!

Merry Christmas and Check It Out!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas!

Check out a new blog. I think you may like it......or not.

Happy Holidays!

Stories of Stanford

Snnnnooooowwww Day!

I am really, really bummed as I sit here in my jammies, wishing I could be AT work instead of working from home!!!

Yeah right!!!

Stanford is Transitioning into School

We'll see how it goes. Daddy is taking him up a few times a week to work with the school and daycare. The school is adament that Alex have full control of the dog and Alex doesn't have full control of himself!! ha! So Stanford may get expelled sooner rather than later.......

Wish us luck!

I really haven't been MIA....

Ok maybe I have. Just haven't had much to say I guess.

The school has agreed to let Stanford come to school with Alex, but and it's a big but...we have to sign an agreement they wrote up. Currently looking for a lawyer to review it for us. No way are we signing something so one sided! As much as we want Stanford at school, we'd prefer to not have the pants sued off of us! So more $$$ to spend yet! It's never easy.

The cold weather has hit. We're hearing talk of snow for the weekend. Did I mention how much I hate winter?? We need to move somewhere warmer.

H1N1 has hit Omaha as well. The school called today and said that Alex threw up. So I leave work and go get him and guess what? He's fine. I swear they panic at every wet burp!!!!

Why a Service Dog????

Why a service dog for Alex?

The placement of a dog with the child enables the child and family to increase their mobility and socialization as a family, and the child individually. In most cases the dog accompanies the child at all times when the child leaves home. The dog goes to school with the child and the presence of the dog calms the child, reduces emotional outbursts and serves as a positive social link for the child to their home, school and community.

Above is a quote from a service dog website and it explains really well what we hope Stanford will do for Alex. In addition to Alex, at school Stanford can help the other kids and he can help with OT and PT ! He is trained both as a service dog and a therapy dog! Alex’s diagnosis of T21 and ADHD were the qualifying factors.

We’ve already noticed a difference in Alex. Going out to eat was a nightmare, but now with Stanford, Alex behaves so much better and eats and remains calm. Stanford provides good exercise since we need to walk him and he loves to play too! Another benefit I never anticipated was that now when we go out, people don’t stare at Alex….they stare at Stanford! If you have encountered “the stares” what a relief to have them watch the dog and also for them to think that Alex is “cool” because he has the dog!

You can have other pets home as well!!! We have two cats and while they're not friends it, it's getting better!

We used CARES (www.caresks.com) in Concordia, KS. They are a wonderful group and work so well with both the dogs and person who is receiving the dog. Their application process is listed on their website if you’re interested! Your ped will need to fill out a form as well. They do offer some scholarships based on need and you can even start making payments or have donations go directly to them (in your child’s name) once you’ve been accepted. It took us about 1 ½ yrs from application to receiving Stanford.

I would highly recommend a service dog!

Introducing.... Stanford!

Taaaa-daaaaa! It's Stanford! Alex's new service dog! Stanford is a 15 month old Golden Retriever. He was puppy raised at the Ellsworth Correctional Facility in Ellsworth, KS.

We spent a week training with Stanford in Concordia, KS. He is a wonderful dog, but since we've been home, he's needed to be reminded that he is a TRAINED dog! LOL Alex is going to love him!

We will be working on the dog going to school with Alex. Since school starts Wednesday, we may not get him right to school the first day or even the first week!

If you are interested in a service dog, the organization we used is CARES. They are a wonderful group of people and truly care about the dogs and the people! Check out their website. Also, if you're looking for some place for donations, they would love to receive donations and give scholarships to those who cannot afford the entire cost of a service dog!

Ice Cream Contest

Entering the contest which you can see here

Updated this post to add: This picture was taken at Give Kids the World, during Alex's Make A Wish trip. He loved the free ice cream shop and we visited it often! The workers in there started making Alex's favorite as soon as they saw them heading towards their shop! It was chocolate chip ice cream in a cone!

Maui was a blast!!!

It was hard to come back home! This was one vacation where I actually wanted to stay! What a great way to celebrate our 10th anniversary!

We had fun parasailing and snorkeling. The water is so clear and blue! We did some shopping and hanging out at the beach. I'd definitely consider going back some time!

Here are some pics for your enjoyment:


A room with a view


snorkeling pic


Sunset


Gorgeous flowers!


Our Anniversary dessert plate at the luau


The happy couple!


Creature from the black lagoon!

Visiting the Puppy People

We had a wonderful time visiting CARES in Concordia, KS. Alex loved the dogs, especially the Great Dane and the St Bernard! Yikes! I'm thinking a tad bit smaller than those!

Alex should be getting his dog in August. These dogs are amazing! I know that Alex is going to benefit from having a dog like this. I can't wait for our training class!

Prayers Please!

My cousin just had a biopsy done on her lymph nodes and it came back cancerous. There wasn't enough tissue to determine which type, but he didn't feel it was a lymphoma. They will be removing her tonsils next week, as they may be the culprit.

She is a survivor of breast cancer too. So she's been thru this hell once already and really doesn't deserve a second round!

She would appreciate your prayers and good thoughts as she starts this journey. I would appreciate your prayers for her as well! We are all scared right now. She is like the sister I never had, we tell each other everything. I am heartbroken right now.

I hate cancer!

I'm so excited!!

We're going to Kansas. Ok I know to most of you...big whoop huh? LOL We're going to the place that is training Alex's therapy dog!!! We get to watch them train and they get to evaluate Alex with the dogs. He'll be in 7th heaven (no not the TV show).

June 3rd! Can't wait!!!

Here's a link if you wanna go visit them: CARES

Hippity Hoppity Happy Easter Day!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter day!

Dear Mr President

You let us down yesterday. Yes you're hip and you're cool. The nation waited with baited breath for you to appear on Jay Leno.

All that charm, all that charisma, so witty. Dazzling smile, so confident. Until...

The dreaded slur againt Special Olympics....all that charisma and charm gone in a split second....and in it's place....Ugliness. Yes Mr President you were ugly.

It's time to take off the shiney armor, put the white steed in the barn and plant your butt in the Oval office. Open your mouth only when you can tell us you've cleaned up the banking system, created new jobs,the auto industry is solvent and the trillions of dollars of debt has been reduced. Otherwise....less is more.