Life is an endless Developmental process. We all have unique Abilities and Disabilities. The Day we choose Awareness instead of ignorance, is the DAY we start to see everyone as equal. Gary Spears, DSP



Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Report Cards

We got all 3 report cards this week!

Colin of course, continues to blow our minds at his level of academic learning. His OT teacher actually thought he was in 1st grade until I pointed out on his paperwork that he is in Kindergarten  Some of the homework he comes home with is 2nd grade and he just blows through it! Here is the breakdown for Colin

He is at the beginning of a first grade reading level
He is exceeding proficiency in English language arts and comprehension
He is Meeting Proficiency in writing and speaking
He exceeds in language
Exceeds in All math standards, including algebraic thinking and number groupings
And meets standards in geometry (for his grade level of course)
He meets standards in Science, social studies and library
He exceeds in Art, Music and gym
The only thing is a bit behind in as far as academics goes is Effective Communicating – And that would make sense because of the anxiety.

And Caden - Our super intelligent man, so wise in his years. He is so wise, that school is a struggle for him. He tries his darnedest though! And actually learns a TON from Colin. So here is Caden's 2nd grade report card this quarter:
He is a first grade reading level, about mid year in first grade
At reading and language arts he is Still Developing
Still Developing in Writing
Meeting standards in speaking and Language
In Math, all areas across the Board, he is meeting standards
He is meeting standards also in Science, Social Studies, and keyboarding
He exceeds in Art, Music and gym
The thing that surprised me the most is that he rated only a 2 (out of 4) in complex thinking. Maybe because of the WAY his complex thinking is? Interesting. 

And Courtney- Her sophomore year of High school! She has always struggled at school. I always did too. School was NEVER easy for me at all and I had to work just to pass with a low grade. With everything Courtney has going on, she is doing well, and I am proud of her! Here's the low down on her:
Her final grade in accounting was 87 (1/2 year course)
Final in Career & Management was 88 (1/2 year course)
Creative Crafts 100
Earth Science 81
English 75
Geometry 82
Global 74
Keyboarding 98
Gym 94
And her final 3rd quarter grade was a 86.28 - Go Courtney for the merit roll!! 

Thursday, April 25, 2013

A Week of Tragedy

I've actually been meaning to write this for a few days now, and wish I had sooner, since the longer I wait, the more I tend to forgot. Last week, so much tragedy happened around the world, it completely blew my mind. Really. None of it was personal to me or my life, yet it all effects us anyway doesn't it?

Monday, April 15th, at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, just after the 4 hour mark, 2 bombs were set off, killing 3 people, one of them being an 8 year boy, and 2 young women. Hundreds of people were injured and more then a dozen people had to have limbs amputated because of damage. Even more so, thousands upon thousands of people, we not able to finish a race, that they have probably dreamed about running in years and years. If your a runner, the Boston Marathon is typically a dream race. You train for days, months, years, decades even, to be able to get a qualifying time to be accepted into this road race. For many, it's a once in a lifetime dream, and accomplishment. It's something to be more then proud of. These poor people, had to stop short of that dream, get off the course, and be re-directed into libraries and churches, strangers homes, anywhere off the street in case more bombs were going to go off. People running the race, didn't know where or how their loved ones who were at the finish lining waiting for them were, or where to find them. Vise Versa, those at the finish line, waiting for their loved ones, have no idea where they were shuffled off too. EVERYONE came together to help those who were injured. Not only security and medics, but runners, civilians standing by watching, all while 2 brothers, radical terrorists  walk away as if nothing is different. So sad and so scary. Needless to say, I went for a run that night. In honor of those who were not able to finish, who did finish, who finished while the bombs were going off, and those that may never be able to run again. Most importantly, for those who passed away at the evil hands of 2 young men.

I can't really remember what days the following things happened on, but they happened, none the less, all within the Monday to Friday time frame of last week.

I woke up in the morning, to hear of the Thruway (90 @ Silver Creek) being shut down due to a fatal accident. It was closed for hours. And hours. I think around 10 or so in the end. 4 Helicopters were called in, to air transport people to hospitals etc. It wasn't until the evening, when we were watching the news that we found out what happened. A mini Van, with 10 people in it, from the Buffalo area, driving back from Vacation in Florida, Hit a construction vehicle that was parking in the middle, between the East and West bound lanes. The Driver apparently feel asleep at the wheel. The thing is, there were 10 people, 3 of those adults, all in their late 20's, including the driver. 7 of them were children. A mini van, seats on 7 passengers  More then half of those children were not in Car seats. INCLUDING a one month baby, who was sitting on the mothers lap in the passenger front seat.. It's sad to just write this. So tragic and unnecessary.  The 3 passengers in the front seat were killed immediately  :( that Included that little one month old innocent baby infant. My heart breaks for them all. Please, Please, Follow the law, buckle up, and put children in their car seats!!

That same evening, we heard of a couple found dead in their house, in a small town not too far from us (well maybe 100 miles)  A young couple, in their 20's. He was in the air force, and she was a teacher. Had never caused any harm and it was determined not to be anything domestic. We learned the next day, they had been murdered, by 4 men. Another innocent death, of 2 people. I am thankful the men were caught and charged.

Wednesday morning we wake up to hear that there has been a deadly explosion in West, Texas. An explosion so big, that it leveled 4 city blocks and registered a 2.1 earthquake on the Richter scale. A fertilizer plant had exploded. In the devastation, 15 people have been confirmed dead thus far, and hundreds more, injured. A school, a nursing home, apartments, businesses, homes, all wiped away.

Thursday evening, pictures of the bombers, the brothers were released to the public.

We woke up Friday morning  learning that Within hours of the pictures going public, the brothers were found, gun fire and bombs were thrown around, and one cop had been killed, as well as the older brother involved. This left the 19 year old brother, now alone, and on the run from the people. The City of Boston, was put on a lock down. No one was able to leave their homes and a 20 block perimeter in Watertown, MA was being searched door by door.

On my way into work that morning, 2 suspicious Russian people had been pulled over in Niagara falls, NY, possible suspects. Part of Niagara falls was perimetered off, the car being searched and Niagara falls in Lock down  That was WAY to close to home for me. 30 minutes away!! In the end, they were let go, and charged with nothing, thankfully.

That evening, less then an hour after the stay in place was lifted in Watertown, a resident found the bomber hiding in his boat. Long story short, called 911, he eventually surrendered and was arrested. He was brought to the hospital in Serious condition, and is now listed in fair. He should live, which is great, answers as to WHY would be wonderful. I just learned today, in another news report, that the brothers had intended to place bombs in times square as well. I am glad he's been caught and am sure that justice will be served.

Then on Monday, we hear that 2 people are arrested in Toronto Canada (2 hours from home) they were planning on planting bombs on a passenger train, running from Ottawa, ON, Canada, through Buffalo, NY (5 mins from our home) to NYC. Terriosts of course. I guess this had been in the making for months, they were being watched and follow, and intelligence knew what was going on. Thankfully, they were caught in time, and no damage had been done.

All of this within a 7day time frame. I am scared for the future. For our children and grandchildren's futures. Alas, this is all history and things I will one day say, that I lived through. Documenting it here, may give us answers to the questions our grandchildren may ask one day. As sad as it is. So much tragedy in our world, in our country. So much sadness.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Colin can ride a Bike & other updates.

I am so proud of this guy!! It's been one our top goals on his IEP for a good 2 years now. Out of the blue, he asked Mike if he would get his bike out for him. Got it out, put it on the sidewalk, he got on, and within a few minutes he was pedaling ! Just for those who don't know, this is not riding a 2 wheel bike, it's simply pedaling with training wheels. Colin has never had strong enough muscle tone in his legs to pedal a bike. he is loving the freedom being able to get on and go brings to him! It's the first thing he does each day when we get home from the sitters house now! :-) I'll bet by the end of summer he'll be riding with NO training wheels. 


We also did our intake paperwork for Colin's medicaid waiver with our service coordinator this past week. It will still take time for the actual services to be given to him, but for now, we are on first base, so it's a start.  It will be awesome once he does get on the waiver. So many things will be opened up for him. The biggest thing is health insurance. We won't have to pay for it any longer, it will be covered in full by medicaid, so that's $60 a month we'll be saving. They are going to try to get us an adaptive stroller, for his size, since with his low muscle tone in his legs, he can't walk long distances, and he's way to heavy to carry. This way, we CAN go lots of places with him, long distances etc and not have to worry about him tiring or not being able to make it. We can put in a request for respite, for reimbursement for yoga classes ( to strengthen those weak muscles), for any additional therapy we think needs to be required outside of school. He'll be able to see a HUGE amount of different doctors, we won't be limited to only the small number of those in the Univera network.  Also - this coming Monday, we have someone coming to Colin's school to evaluate his legs/feet to see he requires some sort of prosthetic to help with the bones/muscles and the way they lay. I am hoping they will be able to him, because his feet are just not normal. Here's an example: 

As soon as he sits down, they bend in like this. They should not do that. Even sitting on the couch they do the same thing. Walking, the same thing. So, we'll see what comes of that. 

Caden ~ Caden has been craving friends these days. He takes Mya for a walk, and I am sure it's because he wants so badly to be included with the other kids, and Mya kind of gives him that "in", because who doesn't like dogs? He sits at the end of the driveways and watches them play, longing to be able to interact in a way that children do. They kind of don't even notice him there. It's sad really. they are all basically the same age, and have grown up together, but Caden has always been different to them. he's the one who never spoke, or talked to them, or played with then. The kid who would walk back and forth with his little push mower all summer long making lines in the grass. The one who has been in the same classroom for 2 years and not moving up with the rest of them.  So of course, they still perceive him, as this kid who doesn't talk, look at them, or interact with them. Thankfully with therapy, he can speak, and make eye contact and he wants to play. Of course, he doesn't know how though, to speak with other kids, on adults. So we got involved and ask the little guy across the street who is a week younger then Caden is Caden could play with him. Jacob was awesome to him. He stopped playing hockey and colored in Chalk with Caden instead. Then yesterday, Caden wanted to play again, so he went over and they played some basketball together  I love it. It's hard for me to watch him at first. the other kids are rough, and they do still ignore him most of the time, so it makes me nervous when he goes over there, that they will be mean to him, but so far, so good. On weekends when Emma is over, she is very protective of him, so I don't think otherwise, but alone, like this, I feel like he's exposed to hurt. I do not however, want him to miss out of these types of things. He needs them. I am thrilled that he wants to play with kids. Almost 8 years it's been and he's not played with other children, so this is huge. My fingers are crossed he doesn't get hurt in the process. 

Still no approval for Caden for the waiver though. Now, they want him to go through all of the Autism testing again for another Diagnosis. So they are working on finding a provider now he will do the ADOS testing for free.  Since It's already been paid for and done once, it is no longer our responsibility to get it done again, it's theirs. While at our house, Tammi even agreed, that he does have his issues still. Although he has come MILES over the past 5 years, and is doing great, that does not mean that he no longer has a disability. Lots of people believe because he's doing well, he's "healed" not so.  


My Western Beauties

How cute do these two look with cowboy hats on? It totally fits the look of both of them. Maybe one of them will end up living out West as they grow older. They both sure would fit in with the "look" of the west. :-) 




 
Colin has officially lost both of his front teeth! How adorable is my littlest man? Love him. The first one he lost during school. About a month later, last Friday he lost the other one. Funny story on how he lost it? He was at the babysitters house, eating his Bagel that I had bought for him to eat for Breakfast at school (apparently he didn't eat it huh?!). So he bit into it and the tooth got stuck in the bagel! Too adorable. I love that my kids have interesting tooth stories. Caden lost one of his teeth when we were on our family cruise in 2010. fun fun. 

Colin has just the cutest no front tooth smile. Caden never got to have no front teeth :( Because he lost them during an accident instead of naturally, he kind of had no tooth at all, then 1/2 of a tooth while it came back down from the gums, then when it fell out, the other one that was lost at 3 years old was coming in already, so no cute no teeth pictures for Caden man.. He might like it better that way when he's 30 :) 

Thursday, April 18, 2013

I've seen this done on Pinterest a million times. LOVE it. I've always wanted to do, In fact, there's LOTS of things I've always wanted to do but never have. Courtney was lucky enough to have to do this for her creative arts class. Lucky girl. She did a great job, I love it!

Here's my bright idea - I want to have one day a month and have a craft day..A sat evening, or sun afternoon, I don't care. But I think we should pick a craft from Pinterest, get the supplies and do it! Each month pick a new one, people can rotate with the picking so we all get our own styles, but we all do the project, and the cost of the supplies can just be split equally among whoever is going to do it. I so want to do this!! I actually found a flip flop wreath this morning that I am DYING to make for our back door! Hm......

Wednesday, April 17, 2013


2 days ago it actually got into the 70's here! FINALLY. But, alas, only for a day :-) Don't expect too much too soon of course! So, while waiting for Courtney to finish track practice, we stopped at the school play ground to run around. It was great until Colin freaked out because he was thirsty. Of course, coming from work, I had nothing to drink. Full blown temper tantrum. Home we headed, and daddy picked up Courtney. :-) Yep, that's our life! 


Friday, April 12, 2013

Spoiled Mya

She sits like such a good girl on car rides. 

And sleeps like a baby in the evening. So much so, that she even gets covered up! 
Spoiled pup. 

Random

A few more random pictures from my cell phone... 

Handsome Colin. He loves hats, headbands, bunny ears..... anything really! One day he wore his burger king crown to church. the priest loved it! 

 This was Courtney's flower head piece from the Wizard of Oz. Too bad she couldn't bring it home... Colin would gladly wear it! 

My baby is growing up. It was sad to see the odometer on the Nissan Murano turn to 100,000 miles. :-( However, it's still in such grate shape. Only 5 years old and I am sure before we know it, we'll she her cross that 200,000 mile mark too! 

Caden the Vet

 This boy does things that crack me up someday that I just can't think of anything better. His newest thing, is being a Vet, and Mya is the patient. I've been looking for the picture of the bog on the vet table and just can't find it, so for now, this will have to do. 

Here is Dr Caden Beyer PHD, working on his lap top, with another patient looking on. 

This here, Mya, is the patient in question this session. She is such a good dog. He puts the leash on her, and walks her around the house and on the table to examine her etc and she just lets him do it. 

This visit, he did a full routine check. He gave her a treat to watch her chew. He let her out, to make sure she walked and urinated ok. He made her drink to see she was drinking Ok. He made her run to make sure she ran ok. 
In the end though... she was still stick, and ended up having to get a "needle {shot}" in her paw. :-( Ouch! 

her put the diagnosis right on his lap top and saves the file, so next visit, he can pick up right where he left off! What a little smarty pants. 

I could just eat this kid up with his missing front tooth. Seriously. how freaking cute is he???

These two are just awesome. Can you believe they are in the same size clothes? Yes, I know the pants are a bit long on Colin, but I can't button then if I go down a size! And Caden.. Love these skinny jeans on him. Only he can pull them off. 

Adorable.

New Hair

I've been ready for a change for a bit now.  My awesome friend Tracy has her own little salon in her house and does an amazing job. She always does our hair, and Courtney's for special occasions etc. Let me know if your in our area and need a new stylist, she is awesome. 

So I called her and said, I need a change. We made arrangement for the next day. I said I want a dye, highlights, low lights and a cut. Just make sure I look nice in the end :) 

Well, of course, she killed it! Love the length. we went back to my natural dark brown color, added some red low lights, and blond highlight and chopped a good few inches off. 

LOVE! Even Mike likes it... and he could care less most of the time! 



Build a Bear


 Colin has ALWAYS wanted to go to Build a bear. Have you ever been there? It's insanely expensive...and the kids want one of everything. So, the week before Easter, they came out with the Autism Awareness Bear, and a portion of the $ went to Autism Speaks. Since we are on the spectrum and encourage all the awareness possible, Of course, I pre ordered two of them. Well, that great Easter bunny, put them in the boys Easter baskets, and each got as well $40 in gift cards! Wahoo. So last weekend, we went to "build" our bears :) The boys has a lot of Fun. I didn't get a finished picture of Caden's. I'll have to get it later. 
Here they are wishing on their hearts before they go inside. 

Before the stuffing. 

Here's Colin's afterward. His name is Blue Puzzle Piece, and he likes to fish. He's really adorable. He has a lullabye tune in one hand, and a cotton candy scent in the other. I love checking on Colin before bed, he always smells like sweet cotton candy :-) 

Caden's has Carly Rae's song, Call me Maybe in one hand and Bubble gum scent in the other (smells like the old bazooka joe bubble gum!) 

Here they are with their new creations at the mall before going home! 

They are BOTH already talking about going back to get more clothes/sleeping bags/accessories etc. 


School Pictures

I might be a little prejudice since they are my kiddos and all, but they sure do take the cutest pictures!! 

These are their spring school pictures. Which of course, cost a million dollars to buy..... so we don't. 

 Colin... he is just beyond photo genetic. I've never seen a not good picture of this handsome man. 

Selfies



Apparently the "thing" to do as a teen these days, is to take pictures of yourself and post them on whatever social networking site is out there at the moment... SO, yesterday, I walk in the living room to find Courtney and Colin, Taking selfies... and then posting them.. Too funny. 

Please ignore my picture quality, these are all taken with my cell phone! 


Tuesday, April 2, 2013

April Fools Day 2013

About 4 years ago, we were really good friends with a couple who we hung out with often. Mike and the husband had the same crazy personaility and were ALWAYS playing jokes on each other. That April Fools Day, was super nice outside, probably in the 60's, and I remember going out for lunch, and stopping at home to grab shaving cream and toilet paper on my way back to the office. I said to my boss who was with me, I am going to, for the first time ever, get Mike and he'll have NO idea it's me. We did too. We had a ton of fun, got him good. I am sure there is a post on it in here somewhere. The best part was, he really had no idea it was me. He DID think it was Dave. It was perfect timing. 

We'll since then, I've made it my goal, to continue the tradition every April 1st. The only year I missed was last year and that was only because it fell on a Sunday, and there wasn't much I could do with him when he was WITH me!

So this year... I didn't have a Key for the new car, nor was he giving one up prior to April 1st. he even said a couple times that he was going to hide his car. Since i Couldn't get inside to do what I had planned, I had to settle for the outside. Brown craft paper, lots of packing tape and some silly string, do wonders :) It took me forever to do this though. It was FREEZING outside and super windy. I was all alone, and the wind was whipping like crazy, it even snowed a couple times on me. I had to hold the paper to keep it from blowing away. Hold the tape and scissors in my pocket and keep the wind from getting under the paper to rip it off! Whew. I even had to run to the store once because I ran out of tape! 

And here is the end result:

Mike got a wrapped car. I ran out of paper so I couldn't do the whole thing, but the parts he would see pulling in where done. Then I made the Got Ya sign for the hood. 
 I also sprayed the whole car with silly string, oh, and i taped a tube of peanut butter cups to be nice :)
Courtney, Caden and I drove to penske when he was on the way home to see his reaction. When we got there, he was already in the fuel line! SO we hid behind a truck, but he saw us peaking around :( before he saw us though, he sent me a text that read:

LMAO, You got me again! 

He, he, I love it. It never gets old. 

Caden had fun tearing the paper off so they could move it out of the way so he could pull the truck inside the spot. 

He's always saying he'll get me someday, but I don't know... 4 years and counting. 

And here is our April Fools Day trick from Mother Nature.... MORE freaking snow and cold temps. *sigh* Spring, hurry up!


"When a loved one becomes a memory ~ That memory becomes a treasure"