Regular Moms vs Special Needs Moms

Regular moms tell their kids to wake up and get dressed in the morning. And they do it.
Special needs moms put on battle gear to get our kids ready to start their day.

Regular moms ask their kids if they brushed their teeth. 
Special needs moms prompt, “Brush your top teeth. Brush your bottom teeth. Did you get the sides? Open your mouth. My God, give me that toothbrush! You’ve left half your meal in there!”

Regular moms wave goodbye as their kids run off to catch the school bus.
Special needs moms get awesome door-to-door bus service for their child.

Regular moms know the names of all their friends.
Special needs moms know most of their friends by their username.

Regular moms judge other moms when kids have tantrums in stores.
Special needs moms say to themselves, “Hmm, I wonder which disability he has?”

Regular moms complain about driving their kids to sports and recreation classes.
Special needs mom grin and bear the weekly trips to tutors, doctors, and therapists.

Regular moms’ kids have a teacher.
Special needs moms’ kids have a team.

Regular moms talk about accomplishments.
Special needs moms talk about skills, as in play skills, conversation skills, life skills, social skills and vocational skills.

Regular moms relax with their kids during the summer.
Special needs moms start their second job as home teachers, therapists and skills coaches.

Regular moms think accommodations refer to hotels.
Special needs moms have memorized the top 20 accommodations for their child.

Regular moms hope their child finds a good career.
Special needs moms are hopeful someone gives our child the chance to work.

Regular moms soak in the tub when they want to unwind.
Special needs moms consider a bathroom break a luxury.

Regular moms enjoy reading the latest best selling book.
Special needs moms should receive an honorary degree for all the disability books they've read.

Regular moms go out for dinner and a movie with their husbands every month.
Special needs moms have a date night with their husbands every…wait, what decade is this?

Regular moms complain their kids won’t eat their vegetables.
Special needs moms are so desperate we consider chicken nuggets to be a legitimate meat product and throw in ketchup as a vegetable.

Regular moms’ kids go to play groups.
Special needs moms’ kids go to therapy groups.

Regular moms meet for a ladies night out.
Special needs moms get together at support groups and forums.

Regular moms have medical claim forms that fit in one file folder.
Special needs moms will tell you a small forest was cut down so we could receive our claims.

Regular moms think OT means overtime.
Special needs moms know more acronyms than a NASA engineer.

Regular moms have time to cook a full dinner every evening.
Special needs moms will never admit how many times we've picked up fast food.

Regular moms complain their husbands sit on the couch and watch TV while they do all the work.

Special needs moms...well how about that? Some things do stay the same!
(Just kidding Dads, we know you do your part!!!!)

Blog Hop - Tell me more about your connection with disability

My connection with a disability, you ask?

I have three kids - those of you who know me, know how amazing they are. Those of you who don't, well, you are missing out!!

Skylar - Age 12 ( Oh MY gosh! I can not believe she is 12!!) ASPERGER SYNDROME

When Skylar was a baby, her father and I always knew something was "off". She always had these odd tendencies and strange way of dealing with things. We called them "quirks". After she got kicked out of her 3rd Preschool, I took action. I knew something was going on. I just didn't know what. I was 22 and a first time mom. My daughter was supposed to be perfect! We brought her to a few doctors who kept telling us it was ADHD. But I refused to think that was all that it was. I knew there had to be more. Her father and I separated and I still went to more doctors. They then blamed it on our separation. I was less then thrilled. More and more docs, more and more opinions, which all boiled down to ADHD. They tried to shove meds at me and I said no. Fast forward to age 7. First Grade. HUGE issues in school. Getting referrals and more. I jumped back on track and went to more doctors. I finally was sent to a developmental pediatrician. Where FINALLY, I got some answers. 2 years pass by... more testing, more paperwork. 

Here came the term, Asperger Syndrome.  What in the world is that?? 

More testing and finally a diagnosis. Asperger Syndrome with Semi Pragmatic Disorder, with a dose of ADHD for good measure.  So what does this mean? It means, my daughter is super smart, but socially lacking. She doesn't have a third eye, she doesn't go around beating other kids up, she doesn't even have bad grades. She does, however, have an inability to look people in the eye, the inability to have appropriate conversation and often talks about nothing pertaining to the topic at hand. She is an amazing artist and knows more about cats then the zoo! She is currently medicated, but only for the ADHD aspect of her disability. And it is such a low dose, that it is really only to help her pay attention better...

She is amazing, and I wouldn't have her any other way.

Dakota - Age 6 DOWN SYNDROME

When Dakota was in utero, I took the AFP test. This test gives you a ratio on your chances of having a child with Down Syndrome. Now, so you know, this test is optional. I only took it because it was paid for and why not? When my results came back as "failing", I still wasn't really concerned. Because they have to put the mark somewhere, results under 1:300 are considered failing. That's one in 300 chances of having a child with down syndrome.My results were 1:174, that's one in 174 chances of having a child with down syndrome. Less then one percent. I was given the abort question, which was never a thought or option. And we continued our pregnancy as usual. They did an ultrasound to check his heart and it was perfect. He measured perfect, nothing was abnormal. 

August 14th, 2005, Dakota came flying into the world. As he was being lifted out of me I saw it. The eyes of an angel. I knew. The first words out of my mouth, as if in slow motion..."He has Down Syndrome!" 

Suddenly everything was fast forwarding, tears, crying, shouting, consoling. As I sat there watching everyone buzz around me. 

6 years later, we are still learning, everyday. He never ceases to amaze us with what he can do! He may be a little slow at things, but he can do it! He is talking more and more. He can run, jump and dance. Oh boy, can he dance!! 

Eli - Age 1 

Eli doesn't have a disability, that we are aware of. But I cant mention two kids and not the third. I will say for Eli, that he is as spoiled as they come. He cries, a lot. Over stupid stuff. Ha Ha! But we adore him just the same. And its amazing to see his brother and sister interact with him. Skylar loves babying him and Dakota loves hugging him. Hmm, wonder where the spoiling comes from :) He is an amazing addition to our family and makes us complete.

I am thankful for all the friends I have made along the way of our journey, which is just beginning! It seems every day we meet more and more friends!

I am also thankful for the friends we lost along the way. They have made us stronger and more aware that we need to spread awareness across the world for these disabilities! 

For now, we are just gonna keep on, keeping on...

This is my first Blog Hop with thanks to With A Little Moxie! I hope you enjoyed it!

Pineapple Chicken - Recipe

Ingredients

3 Chicken Breasts Halved

• 1 cups packed brown sugar
• 2 tbs prepared mustard
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1/4 cup grated onion
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Juice from Pineapple Rings
• 1 Small Can of pineapple rings
• 1 tsp salt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Layer chicken in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. In a large saucepan over low heat, combine the brown sugar, mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, onion, 1/2 teaspoon salt and water. Bring to a boil, and pour over chicken.  Top each piece with a pineapple ring.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 1/2 hour, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear. 

We served ours with mashed potatoes and carrots...

Enjoy!

Creamy Chicken Recipe

Creamy Chicken

Ingredients:

3 Chicken Breasts Chopped

1 Green Pepper Sliced

1 Cup Onion Sliced

1 Cup Baby Bella Mushrooms Sliced

1 Can Cream of Chicken soup

1/2 Cup Water

1 Tbs Butter

Directions:

Saute Pepper, Onion, Mushrooms in butter.

Add Chicken, cook until no longer pink.

Add Soup and water.

Simmer 20 minutes.

Serve over Rice.

Publix Trip 5/7/12

Today was an OK day... 

I havent really found anything on sale or worth couponing lately! Makes for a small shopping trip...

Today I spent $31 and saved $38.92

Here is what I got for the price:

1 Publix Boston Butt Roast

1 Stouffers Family Size Meal Chicken and Noodles

1 Stouffers Family Size Meal Meatloaf

6 Hormel Kids Ready Eat Meals - Ravioli, Chicken, Penne Pasta

1 Box Crusteaz Blueberry Muffin Mix

1 Box Crusteaz Banana Nut Muffin Mix

1 Box Rice A Roni Pilaf

1 Box Rice a Roni Spanish

1 Box Pasta Roni Cheddar Shells

1 Box Pasta Roni Butter and Herb

8 Packs of Lawry Brown Gravy - CLEARANCE 2 for .59

4 Packs Frenches Chili with Onion Seasoning CLEARANCE 2 for .95

2 6 Packs of Musselman Cinnamon Applesauce

Bunch of Bananas

Thats what I got! How did you do this week?

No Beef Chili - Recipe

No Beef Chili

Ingredients:

2 lbs of Ground Turkey

1 lb of Ground Chicken

1 Pack of Chili Seasoning

1 Small Can of Tomato Sauce ( I used Zesty Rotel Tomato Sauce)

1 Can of Rotel Diced Tomatoes and Peppers

1 Large Can of Diced Tomatoes

2 Cans of Pinto Beans

Directions:

Brown both meats with Chili packet.

Add all canned ingredients.

Simmer for an hour or more.

Serve.

Yep, its that easy!

We served ours with Cornbread Muffins...

The Longest Gallbladder

My wednesday was like any other day, the kids went to school, came home, relaxed, cooked dinner. Mmm Sausage and peppers!

Nearly the death of me!

After dinner we settled down and were getting the kids ready for bed, baths - jammies - American Idol.
As I layed in bed I noticed some fierce heartburn starting to come over me, so I got up and grabbed my Zantac and popped one in the chute.  Waiting for relief the pain got worse and worse. I waited a half hour and took another. Worse and worse, eventually I found myself in the bathroom curled up in excruciating pain! I could find one position to relive it. I sat, I stood, I bent over, I curled up. It was horrible. After realizing something may be wrong I started calling my mom. Finally after what seemed hours ( it was only 20 minutes) She called me back... COME GET ME!  She rushed me over to the E.R.

We think its your gallbladder...
No way I say, I think its bad heartburn...
We are pretty sure its your gallbladder we have to transfer you to a hospital.
Seriously??

Off I went to the hospital in my fancy ambulance.

The next morning I went for some sort of gallbladder scan. Where I layed on a metal board with a xray machine one inch from my chest for TWO HOURS! My back was killing me! They injected dye into my IV and I sat there and watched it move through my liver and into my gallbladder where it then should have moved to my intestines... and nothing. It stopped. I was broken!

The Death Chamber

So after they were 100% convinced it was indeed my gallbladder they scheduled me for surgery. Removed it and I sat in the hospital trying to recuperate until Saturday. And I say try, because I had two roommates from H E double hockey sticks! They were both old and both didn't know how to use their nurse call button so they screamed constantly. UGH!
My doctor came in to let me know the surgery went well and told me I had the biggest gallbladder he had ever seen in all his years working as a surgeon. Appalled I asked what that meant and he said nothing, its like as if I complimented that you had a large big toe. I laughed. Alrighty then. Good bye abnormally large gallbladder....

Dinner is served... Before surgery

Dessert After Surgery... Peanut Butter Pie!

I am home now thank goodness, but am still in a lot of pain. I feel like I have nine lives... These crazy things keep happening to me and I keep surviving. I dont know what I have left to accomplish here on earth but am so thankful for the chance!

That was my weekend, how was yours??