Happiness & Relief - Cheslakeese Elem.

A couple of weeks ago I posted about planting seeds with the kids at school. I'm delighted to share that we actually have seedlings.  These shots are a few days old now.  The kids are so pleased with themselves.....I relieved that we only have a couple of cups that needed replanting !!!

Quest 2010 - Naniamo

The last few days have been a whirlwind and it's only the start !  This past weekend we traveled down island to Naniamo for this years Girl Guides Quest weekend.  Quest is a fun filled 24 hours of Science. This years Quest was held at the university.  Each group of 6 girls were assigned 2 quads to call our own.  We start with orientation & a tour of the campus.

The girls first session was: Is this Slytherin House?  We were able to visit with approx. 10 different types of snakes.  Every one of them handled the snakes even the leery ones !

Their second session was: Frightfully Fun Physics !  They studied gravity, motion & various forms of electricity.

Their third session was: Surveying Super-Sleuths !  They studied maps, used compasses & had a opportunity to check out all the various surveying equiptment.

(Dinner !!!)

After dinner we had just enough time to do some geocaching.  The girls have recently earned their Geocaching Badge.  Cathy had looked up some caches located on the campus just in case the opportunity arose.  Sadly, the girls were not able to find it......

The " bummed" feeling quickly passed when we hit the aquatic center.  Two hours a craziness !!!

We ended the evening with an extremely enjoyable session on Astronomy & " Mug up".  By the time we hit our beds it was after 11pm.  The girls didn't have the energy to party even if they wanted too !!  We were up & going by 7am, packed & loaded by 7:45am & eating breakfast by 8am.  After breakfast the girls had some more time to visit with the other troops & do some exchanging of their " traders". 

Their fourth session was: Dem Bones ! The girls split up into groups of 4 & made their way through 10 different centers.  This session & their next one where both facilitated by the " North Island Wildlife Recovery Center"

Their last session was: Owl Pellets!  After visiting with the owls the girls had the pleasure of dissecting owl pellets !!

It was crazy busy enjoyable weekend !  I want to thank Cathy for giving me the opportunity to make it work for Keisha to attend.  I would also like to thank our wonderful Nana Val for offering to have the others hang with her so that I could focus on Keish !!

Beavers /Scouts / Port McNeill, B.C.

This evening the boys had their " Swimming up " potluck for Beaver's & Scouts.  The weather cooperated for us to be outside most of the evening.  I'm having mixed feelings about our first year in beavers/scouting.  Liam has had an amazing his first year of beavers.  He has wonderful leaders, which is why I think it has been so successful.  Every mtg is full of exciting activities.  They have also planned several extra fun events. Liam more than LOVES going every week.

Anthony's year in scouting has not been so enjoyable.  He's actually thinking of not going next year.  I'm disappointed, he was so excited to be a scout.  He has friend who have been in scouting for years in other regions and had high expectations.  Our scouting troop is small & totally disorganized.  They have had 1/3 of the mtgs / activities as the other levels/groups in town.  Many of those mtg were spent playing ping pong & eating popcorn.  They have done minimal badge works or outings.

We have heard of another group that may work out better for next year.  It's a version of Cadets.  We'll have to check into it over the summer to see if it will be a more positive experience.

My Wheels.....

        I feel bad for my wheels.  Our " big white van" is so well loved....I feel guilty for not taking better care of her.  Don't get me wrong her engine & mechanical bits get all the necessary attention.  It's her fashionable parts that get neglected.  My neighbors vehicles are all shiny & clean.  Some seem to get washed and all polished up every other weekend. My girl might get clean twice/three time a year if that.

      So in an effort to do better, I decided today would be a great day to give her a good make over. I hauled a 1/3 of my kids clothing, 2 bags of garbage, 7 books, 23 felt markers, 2 pillows, 4 jackets, 3 grocery bins, a dozen or so fabric grocery bags & 1 dog blanket out of her & back to there appropriate places.  I then vacumed & washed every inch of the inside of her !!

 

My goal is to keep her all clean & tidy hence worth !!!

Friendships & FASD

If you read any FASD information you will read about how difficult it most likely is for them to make & maintain relationships.  This is diffently something I have witnessed in each of my kids.  My youngest son is desperate to have everyone like him !  However, his adhd & lack of edit is a little much for some people. Today we had his buddy Bradley over to play in the sun.  These two work well with each other.  It was nice to see him enjoying this play date.

  

a good visit

Thanks Grandma Chris for a lovely visit....we're already missing you !!

Quote's

While passively parenting this morning I came across this perfect quote on the Coffee Catharsis's blog :

"FASD is devastating. What disability results in sufferers being good at small talk but without substance? Then add a kind heart but a violent temper, complex needs but no insight, a small frame with big expectations and perhaps worst of all, a damaged mind but a beautiful face."

- Elizabeth Russell 

a good Saturday here in little Port McNeill

......we start with a leisurely wake up.  It was a perfect morning for a drive out to the Quatse River Hatchery.  Keisha's Guide group was having a three day camp out with the Port Hardy troop.  We worked it out for Keish to go most of today.  I'll be picking her up after dinner tonight.  Since we were so close to Hardy, we decided to have lunch & do a little shopping.

The weather just kept getting sunnier & warmer and Ana really had the urge to go swimming.  The boys decided to hang at home with Grandma while Ana & I enjoyed a lovely walked to the pool.

On the walk home I notice that our fire station was all opened up for a fund raiser for " Walk for a Cure".  We ( meaning Liam) loves anything mighty machine ish !  So we slipped our shoes back on for a looky loo.

I was also able to make a little more head way on my gardens........slowly but surely I'm getting done !

 ( flowering mint & petunias)

( Blackeyed Susan's)

( Cherry tomatoes galore)

( lettuce, celery & rows of chard seeds)

Today is also " Grad night"  at NISS ( North island Secondary School).  Ana, Liam & I wondered down to the corner to take in the traditional parade.  We smiled, waved & cheered on our local grads. A small but very significant tradition for our kids/young adults.  Then it was onto pizza, Spider man 2 and a good game of " Good Guy vs  Bad Guy " out in the yard as the sun sets......Oh what a lovely day !!

Movie Night with Grandma Chris

Last night we decided to crack open our very own copy of Avatar from my mom.  Well let start be saying that we had heard all of the wonderful revues and had high expectations.  I had reminded everyone to be patient with our " movie talkers" & that since we own it we can always watch it again if necessary.

( Our movie talkers)

This was the most enjoyable movie I have seen in YEARS !! The movie itself lived up to all the hype...and these three little darlings barely made a peep !!!

( An extremely pleased big boy !!!)

Processing / Advocacy / FASD

This large black binder contains my oldest children's newest Neuropsychological, Speech & OT assessments.  We have also finally received in writing an official diagnosis for them both.  These assessment didn't hold any major surprises.  However, despite that I have been in "processing" mode since receiving it.  Seeing in print that your beautiful daughter should never be left unsupervised for her own safety is HARD.  That it's very unlikely that she will ever truly be able to be independent or mature much more is heart breaking.  Having that quiet knawing feeling confirmed has brought a flood of emotion that I'm told is "natural". What is natural is growing up !  

Over this past year I have been struggling with an enormus amount of ill feeling towards my child's birth mothers.  This is not my "norm" or natural way.  It's actually something that is extremely hard for me to admit or share with them or myself.  I know without a shadow of a doubt that they never intended to harm their children or themselves. I also know that they deeply love our shared children.  I resent that all of this was preventable !!

My mom gifted me my own copy of " The blind side" for my birthday.  Which we just finished watching....it's was the nudge I needed to not get stuck in the sadness or lack of potential options. I know first hand how you can look in the eye's of someone else child and fall instantly in love.  How you can rearrange every aspect of yourself & life to help them heal, bond, attach & achieve their best!  I'm sure this will not be the last time that I will have to dig deep and push forward.  I'm thankful for them, for the journey I'm seem to be destine to travel and eager to see where it/we end up.

Another one down....

......hopefully many more to come ! As an adult I find birthdays to be a funny thing.  Most of my girlfriends suffer from a certain degree of age trauma.  Being 36 is great...and I'm not counting down the days to the big 4 0 either.  To be honest I'm happy to be still having birthdays......


My mom has flown in to visit for this week.  We had intended to go for dinner last night.  Since Liam's feeling better we decided to try again tonight.  We decided to try out the " Sportsman steak house".  It was nice.  We went early to avoid the crowds and being it's school night & Liam was in the ER the night before I didn't want to be out to late.  It was lovely !!  It was decided that instead of us each ordering dessert we would pick up something from the bakery and enjoy it at home.  Since my kids first birthday we have used the large birthday candles to celebrate & document the milestone year.

Here's to another year....I'm curious to see what it holds !!

not as planned....

I woke this morning to a clear sky & a calm household....what more could I have asked for on my 36th birthday !!  My friends & family showered me with best wishes & phone calls.  My ali Danielle treated me to a very enjoyable breakfast out....it was a totally lovely birthday.

Then I picked up my little Liam up from kindergarten.......he didn't look well !!  He was pale, quiet & mellow,  however, he said nothing was wrong.  When we got home he refused lunch & went and put himself to bed.  By 2 pm he had a raging fever, neck pain and a headache to caused him to scream out randomly !!

So instead of going out for fancy birthday dinner.......Grandma & the " bigs" had soup & nibblelies for dinner....and Liam & I went to the ER to met up with our local doctor.  The Tylenol that I had administered shortly after 2pm finally started to relieve his fever around 5pm.  By the time we were on our way home is fever was on the rise again.  At this point it looks like a viral of some kind.  He's on mom watch & Tylenol....

......here's hoping that this is just a bug & that my wonderful boy will be back to his lively happy self again soon !!!

Boys redo part 2 / Port McNeill, B.C.

....well the boys room is slowly coming along.  On our last trip down island I was able to pick up the new dresser I had ordered.  We have also organized everything completely.  My big boy Anthony doesn't really see the point !  However, because he truly wants to please his Momma he went along with my plan.

We are still planning on painting the walls, door & trim.  While Papa was here, he started on the floor molding.  I'm hoping to finish it up.  Papa decided he could leave his prized miter saw, compressor & nailer with his " favorite oldest daughter".  Ha ha that has always cracked me up....he thinks he's so cleaver.....I Love him sooo.