The Cabbage Patch

The True Jewel

My oldest daughter played Princess Nadia.  She opens the box which releases evil and kills Queen Adalia, her mother.  The box beckons to her and she takes it and runs away.  

 

Princess Nadia right before she opens the box

 

Sister is very good at playing a naughty girl.  It's a bit disturbing.  

The ballet had canaries, butterflies, and villagers.

 

My butterfly

 

 

My canary

 

 

My villager

 

I made the princess bodices and tutus.  The M.O.B. (Mothers Of Ballerinas) helped quite a bit with the decorations.  

 

The princesses

 

The Queen Who Lives aka Queen Gemma

 

I made this one as well.  

We are all still recovering from the spring performance.  The girls should've been tired except they've been playing "ballet school" since yesterday.  To Nutcracker music of all things.  I guess they're ready to move on to the next thing.  I have a house to clean for the summer.  A very late spring cleaning.

Pumpkin

Dear Pumpkin,

Wow.  You're seven!  I can't imagine where the time went.  If I remember correctly, just yesterday you were in my arms nursing.  

Instead, you are such a fun-loving child.  This coming year is going to bring so much for you.  You'll receive two sacraments.  You'll be in the 2nd grade.  

You bring a lot of joy to this family and to this world.  You do everything with passion whether it be happy passion...or not.

You're the only sister that Brother teases.  It's really kind of cute even though you react with such vigor.  I almost don't want to stop him because it's so neuro-typical.  He loves you.  And, who wouldn't.  

I remember the day you were born.  I said Hail Marys throughout the entire c-section.  They had changed procedure so you were brought to me as soon as I was brought back into the recovery room from the OR.  We were together from the get-go.  

I miss that little baby, but oh, I am just loving who you are today.  

Happy birthday, sweet Pumpkin.  I love you!

My Brother's Wedding

I wanted to post some pictures of the wedding for my cousin in Korea.  And, for you all.

Divine Office

A couple of weeks ago, I read this about the Divine Office app on the iPhone.  I considered it, but then decided to wait.  It does have a higher price tag for an app.  Then another one of my friends mentioned it as well on Facebook.  I thought once again about purchasing it, but didn't do it.

Then, I went to a homeschool conference.  Once again, it came up.  Well, I often ask God for big obvious signs.  Not subtle ones because well, I just don't catch them.  So, I purchased the app.

I listen to it.  I'm not on schedule as I should be.  And, I don't always have my full focus on it.  I usually put my headphones on and start listening as I sew.  It's been great.  

God hammered me over the head about this app.  I listened.  Eventually.

Autism Awareness ~ Miscellaneous Ramblings

Today is the last day of April.  I have lots of words but even more feelings locked up inside.  I don't know if they'll ever come out.

Adolescence is hard for my child.  It's hard for any child, but for someone who is developmentally 10 and yet physically is 13 going on 14, it's even harder.  

I homeschool for many reasons.  One of them is so my son won't get bullied.  His life is difficult enough without the added burden of being bullied.  He's just off enough that he'd get bullied.  I know it.  

But, even as a homeschool mom, I can't guarantee that he'll have friends.  

He's at the age where he really wants friends.  He wants that social interaction.  But, this is where he's weakest.  I'll have to say that the people who have known him for many years brace themselves for his brand of conversation.  I know they tend to brush him off.  I try not to hold it against them.

Baseball has been difficult because there are too many unknowns.  Unknowns are not easy for people with autism.  He has to be first when doing anything because first is a known.  Last is never a known because last can actually be 4th, 3rd, 6th, or any manner of number.  He doesn't know what position he'll be playing.  It's been hard for him to have to try all sorts of different positions.  He has his first game this Thursday at 7:45.  

7 Quick Takes ~ Austim Awareness

One

I grieve occasionally.  At times I might even get jealous.  Jealous, but not so that I wish others didn't have it.  Of what you might wonder.  Well, conversation.  I want to hold a conversation with my son.  A real one.  Okay, well all of ours are real.  I want to talk about him.  Not about facts.  Not about trivia.  Him.  I want to know how he is.  What he's thinking.  Everything.  I read books with sons as characters.  I want those types of conversations.  I wonder if I'll ever get them.  Then I feel badly because, well, my son is verbal.  There are many who are not.  Don't get me wrong.  We do speak and have conversations.  But, I'd really like to delve deeper with him.  Because he truly is a neat and interesting character.  He's funny.  

Two

Baseball.  Wow.  He's playing well.  However, he won't start.  And, because of his age, he is not in the recreation league where everyone HAS to play.  I hope he gets a shot.  I want this to be a good experience for him.  He got one of the better coaches.  He is suited to coach a guy like Brother.  The other coaches are pretty hardcore.  The other teams even have a team shout out after practice.  Not Brother's.  Unless they developed one since last week.  Oh, he's playing as a Ranger.  I'm so happy he's not a Yankee.  It'd be hard to cheer for the team.  

Three

School.  We are constantly working on reading with him.  He can't comprehend much in the way of a story.  He reads facts and will remember them.  Great mind and memory there.  However, give him a story, and he gets lost.  Sometimes he gets lost reading.  The words I think are too much on that page.  Also, he can't make a picture in his head so following what's happened is difficult.  He also can't pick out the main idea so every detail is important.  When everything seems important, it's hard to follow a storyline.

Four

Piano.  He loves music.  It is one of the few things that actually calms him.  He needs to listen to it at high volume.  I try not to wince at the damage I'm sure it's causing his hearing.  He plays the piano well if not always with the proper placement.  He tends to remember music instead of following the sheet music.  I think he tends to lose his place.  It's about the same as reading a book.

Five

Math.  Sigh.  He's behind in math.  But, he's doing well at what he is learning.  And, I'm pleased.  I want him to be able to write smaller when he does math, but he says he can't see the numbers.  It's not that he can't see the numbers.  I think it's that his brain doesn't process it well when he looks at a column of numbers.  So, he needs to write big.  Well, that's an easy accommodation.

Six

College.  Will he go?  He wants to.  I really wish the local Texas A&M Central Texas campus would have an autism center of sorts.  This area has a lot of special needs children.  I think it would be so nice that have that available so that he can live with us and attend college.  These are all things that are looming in the future.  Near more than far.  How did that happen?  

Seven

My dream.  My dream is that he will live independently.  Okay, here's my real big dream.  I want to buy a big-ish piece of land.  Build a house on it.  Then build a smaller house on it for Brother.  He can be independent but near.  I've heard of high functioning adults with autism doing this.  They're independent but close by to family so they can be watched over.  

I need to win the lottery...

Autism Awareness ~ Baseball Practice

I guess this isn't necessarily about autism awareness, but about what it's like to live with a child with autism.  

This week Ben is away in Washington DC for some briefings about the past deployment.  We were not too thrilled.  Anyway, because of that, baseball duty fell to me.

I arrived home after Kidz ballet (ballet class for special needs children that Sister volunteers for) and took him to baseball practice.  We were one of the first ones to arrive.  The coach gave us the game and practice schedule.  Brother has been worried sick about missing the first game.  The first game of the baseball season for this league is scheduled on the same day as my brother's wedding.  Brother is a groomsman.  He's had this on his schedule for two years.  But, the game had become more important.  Why?  He thought if he missed the first game, he wouldn't be playing in any of the games.  The schedule?  We have a bye.  YAY!!!  Thank you, God.  Truly, this was His handiwork.  

After a quick warmup and a run around the field (can I tell you how happy I am that he's not the last one to finish?), the coach divided the boys up.  Five to seven of them were brought to the pitchers mound while the others were sent off to work on fielding.  Brother was picked!!!  My heart was glad.  He wants to pitch.  He has worked so very hard the past year learning proper form and well, just learning how to pitch.

He still needs to work on learning fundamentals about things like base running.  But, he's doing well.  This is the first time he's ever been on a team.  This is the first time he's ever wanted to.  

And, you know where he got this interest in baseball?  He wanted to watch a non-girly show on Netflix.  The only thing he could find he would be allowed to watch that he was interested in?  A Cal Ripken, Jr.'s video about baseball.  

I'm proud of my boy.  And, me.  I didn't dissolve into a mass of nerves.  Much.

Autism Awareness ~ Trying New Things

Brother always shies away from new things.  If it's not familiar he won't do it.  He has gotten better.  Much, much better.  

Well, today, he's going out to do something new in a big way.  At age 13, he has decided he wants to play baseball.  He has NEVER played an organized sport.  I'm nervous for him.  Very, very nervous.  He is nervous.  But, I'm so proud of him.  He has worked very hard to learn to throw a baseball and to catch.  He worked hard on his own with his "come-backer net" while Ben was deployed.  

And, I'll have to admit that I'm worried about the social aspects.  This age is difficult.  I can only hope for kindness.  Okay, I'm a wreck, but I can't let my dear son know it.

Autism Awareness ~ The Numbers

U.S. kids and autism Overall:

• 1 in 88 U.S. kids have autism; up 78% from 2002 
•  Total: Estimated 1,000,000 children with autism 
•  Boys: 1 in 54; up 82% from 2002 
•  Girls: 1 in 252; up 63% from 2002 
•  Non-Hispanic white children: 1 in 83; up 70% from 2002 
•  Non-Hispanic black children: 1 in 98; up 91% from 2002 
•  Hispanic children: 1 in 127; up 110% from 2002

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Face of Autism

My son is 13.  

He likes to recite facts incessantly.  

His voice is changing.  He likes it.  

He's growing and is an inch taller than I.

His mental age and his emotional age is around 10.  I'm not worried.  He'll catch up.

Baseball has become his newest obsession fascination.

He needs to be exposed to as many experiences as possible so he can refer to them to properly react.  His mind will need to be like a database.  He doesn't understand social clues so he'll need to add to his database so he can pull the proper responses out of his hard drive aka his brain.

He still cries when he gets upset.  It still breaks my heart to see those tears roll out of his eyes.

He plays house with his 6 year old sister.  How many 13 year olds would do that?

He acts like a teenager sometimes.

He will still hold his mother's hand while walking in the parking lot.  His hand is bigger than mine.  

He will also sit in his mother's lap still.  I can only handle that for a few minutes.

My son has autism.  

This is the face of autism.  And, I love him.

April is Autism Awareness Month.  

7 Quick Takes ~ When It Rains It Pours Edition

One

Rain.  I've been loving the rain.  However, I was a bit annoyed with it when it arrived on Wednesday, the day after I had 6 cubic yards of topsoil delivered.  Perhaps I should've waited to have it delivered.  Luckily, my dad was still around and we were able to cover it with tarp.  I don't think we lost but a handful.  

Two

So, on Tuesday night, I went into the garage.  It must've been the blessed silence in there, but I heard a drip.  A drip...drip...drip.  I feared looking in the corner.  But, I had to.  Alas, it was the hot water heater.  Darn!  The plumber came out.  The hot water heaters are under warranty.  I guess I'll be getting the same kind.  But, do I want to?  Well, I don't really have a choice as I don't necessarily want to shell out more money than I have to.  So, almost $800 to install the water heaters.  Did I mention I have two?

Three

Thursday night.  The refrigerator.  Darn it.  

Four

Gas prices keep rising.  I'm not pleased.  That means EVERYTHING will go up.  And, they say the economy is getting better?  Really?  Because I'm not seeing it.  Even here where the economy must be pretty good as a great deal of the citizens are employed via the armed services.  Ben makes a decent amount of money.  But, I'm getting stressed.

Five

I need a vacation.  It's no longer a want.  I NEED a vacation.  Beach anyone?  But, see above.  How will we afford it?  

Six

I'm afraid to find out what else will break.  I shouldn't ask.

Seven

Hunger Games.  Have you seen it?  It was awesome.  I had some issues with it.  Main one?  These people are supposed to be half starved.  None of them looked half starved.  Isn't that one of the big points of the book?  Keep them hungry and control them with food.

7 Quick Takes

One

We went strawberry picking at Sweet Berry Farm in Marble Falls.  We left at 7:30 arrived at the farm at 9 and finished picking by 10:30.  There have been some  years where we don't even finish one box in an hour because there weren't any strawberries.  One time we had only the bottom layer filled in.  I think that was the year Pumpkin was a toddler.  We have all matured and grown since then.  

Two

Our spring performance season is about heat up.  I've started working on patterns.  I know the girls are very excited to find out what they will be.  The name of the show is "The True Jewel".  As always I know it will be spectacular.  It will be bittersweet as we are losing many of the company girls and friends to PCS (permanent change of station) moves.  

Three

Ben received a Bronze Star last week.  It is the 4th highest military honor.  We are all very proud of him and were happy that his mom flew in for the award's ceremony.  The children all had a great time with Gramma.  A very good, fun visit as always.  

Four

As we were driving away from Marble Falls, Brother asked if PFC Payton Jones was famous.  We told him that sadly, no.  Then he asked what famous meant.  Ben replied that famous is when lots of people know who you are.  So, my first thought was, well, why isn't he?  Why don't we know his name?  Why did I not know that he was one of the two soldiers killed by an Afghan soldier they were mentoring when that soldier turned a weapon on them?  Instead, all we hear about is that woman.  That person who elected to go out in public to talk about her personal life.  It's an upside down world we live in.  This young man was 19.  My heart just hurts for his family.  I had to fight the urge to kneel right there and sob.  As it was I was weeping quietly.  

Five

The Patriot Guard rode as an escort for the return of PFC Jones.  I really love these volunteers.  They ride at the invitation of the families.  They were there at the funeral of my friend, Dave.  That awful "church" group was there as well yelling during the funeral.  Someone came out with hymnals and they sang to drown out them out.  When I read that I became an instant fan although I would've been a big fan anyway for what they do.

Six

Brother is going to play baseball at the local rec center.  I'm very nervous for him.  His love of baseball came from nowhere last year and it's been going strong.  I'm not worried about his skills because I know he can catch and throw.  I'm worried about him socially.  Prayers (for me and him)?

Seven

Pumpkin has a stye the size of a pea.  It's awful.  I'm waiting for it to pop.  Ewww....she's still really cute though.

Requiem in Pacem PFC Payton A. Jones

PFC Payton A. Jones returned home today.  Ben, the children and I had just walked out of the Bluebonnet Cafe when we saw the flags. 

We were honored and privileged to have been present to welcome home a hero.  He gave his life in service to this country.  May we learn his name.  May we honor his sacrifice and the sacrifice of his family.

 

This hero died at the young age of 19.   

Child Safety

On Saturday, we took the children to a child safety class.  They learned stranger danger and how to recognize and run from it.  They learned that unless we, the parents, tell them, everyone is a stranger.  And, that every stranger is bad.  Why?  Because you can't tell by looking at them.

This training has affected us all differently.  Sister is very scared.  I want her to be but I also want it tempered with caution.  It is scary out there, but we must use our minds and try not to get into dangerous situations.  For now, it's No, run away and tell your parents.  

It is a very delicate balance.  At the end of class, the instructor gave them ways to break the hold of the bad guy.  The truth is, the children are small and probably won't be able to break the hold of any big adult.  If they do, it will only be temporary.  I think it gave them a false sense of power. So, I spoke with my older three and told them pretty bluntly that if they are ever in a situation like that, the chances of coming back are nonexistent.  I told them to work very hard to not get into that point.

I pray constantly that nothing like that happens to my children.  My stomach knots up terribly if I think of it happening to them.  Now, I can only hope we have instilled some good things to think about.  I hope (and pray), they'll never get into any of these types of scenarios.

Then, I have Brother who just didn't get the playacting part.  Oh, what's my address?  Well, I'll tell you. He thought the other kids who were yelling at him to stop giving it out, were the ones being bad.  Poor kid.  A new thing to work with him on.  He has been taught to answer questions.  A social skill.  Now, I have to teach him the nuances somehow.  

This parenting thing is scary.  Fulfilling, but seriously scary.  

I hope Sister rebounds soon.  I hate to see her so afraid.  I hate to see some of her innocence go.  

7 Quick Takes

One

My mind is filled with tutus.  Ideas for bodices and decorations.  Styles of bodices.  Fabrics.  

Two

One of my favorite cooking shows is "Worst Cooks".  Oh, my goodness.  I'm not a great cook but a not a bad one.  Makes me feel better.  It's awful, but...

Three

I'm an alum of Boston University.  I recently learned that the hockey team has been working to raise money for autism awareness.  Their uniforms have a blue puzzle piece on their shoulders.  I am so proud of them.

Four

I have to say, I love Texas weather.  At least in the winter.  It was 86 degrees Thursday.  Short sleeves!  

Five

I need a trip to the beach.  Preferably at a beach house where I can walk down to the water.  It's been years since we've been down to the Gulf.  Pumpkin has never even been.  The last time was when Honey was not yet one.

Six

The children are all too young to fast for Ash Wednesday.  We worked on fasting from snacks.  You would've thought we'd starved Pumpkin for days.  We then had a discussion about how some kids go without meals constantly.  And, for them to think about how they felt.  I saw the words hit Pumpkin.  She was keenly feeling hungry.  And, she felt sad.  I could see the sadness go over her face as she processed the information.  

Seven

Honey learned to ride a two wheeler on Thursday.  I'm so proud of her.

Lent

I'm not ready.  I mean I'm really not ready.  I don't want to fast tomorrow.  I don't want to give anything up.  I'm really not ready.  And, I don't wanna.

I feel like I've already lived my Lent.  And, I'm tired.  I think six months is enough of a "lent".

This past deployment was very, very hard.  It shouldn't have been.  My parents are living with me so I had adult company.  I had physical help.  But, no one can really take the burden of parenting away.  

Toddlers are easier.  You can move them physically.  It's easier to cuddle them and read a book to them.  Littler kids are easy to distract.  They don't feel the absence of the other parent as keenly as the older ones.

I had a 10 year old girl and a 13 year old boy who is actually developmentally around 10.  So, it was hard.  They were hard.  The 10 year old girl was extremely emotional.  She missed her dad.  A lot.  The 13 year old boy had so many changes within his body (did I mention he's got a mustache?) but is really only at a 10 year old level.  He had no idea what was going on.  It didn't get to him much, but it did make him more difficult to handle.  

Looking back, I can't pinpoint why it was so hard except for the above.  But, I can make a pretty good guess that deployment followed very closely by my sister-in-law's death followed by deployment probably didn't help.  I'm not sure I grieved fully.  I jumped right into helping my brother so I don't know if I really did.  But, then I'm not sure I grieved fully my friend, Dave's, death.  And, that was at the end of deployment.  

My shoulders can hold a lot.  I'm a very strong person.  But, I haven't been able to shrug things away as easily these past few years.  

So, I guess my Lent will be in working to get myself back on track.  To work at getting back to an even keel.  

As Father Tyson, a priest we just loved who is now at Fort Stewart, used to say, "I'll pray for you.  Pray for me."

7 Quick Takes ~ No Number Edition

One

Raising a child with special needs is a challenge.  Often, I think, "Oh, we're finally making headway."  Then, I get a report.  An evaluation.  The latest one marks Brother at a 7 year old level on some things.  I won't get into what items here, as I don't want to violate his privacy too much.  It's not a HUGE thing, but it's enough to see it in writing to make me want to weep.  He struggles on a daily basis to navigate in the world while we neurotypical people just breeze on through.  I've shed many a tear for him.  I worry incessantly over his future.  He is a wonderful boy.  A teen.  New challenges keep cropping up.  Sometimes I worry that I won't be able to keep up with them.  

Two

In case you haven't heard, the Obama administration has mandated that the Catholic church and affiliated organizations should provide for free, contraceptives via their health insurance for their employers.  I am incensed that the President of this great nation would do this.  How could he?  Or as one article says, "How dare he?"  This is not about contraceptives.  If you think so, you are a blinded.  This is all about taking away rights.  If this right to our freedom of religion is trampled on now, it will be worse later.  There will be more and more taken away.  

Three

Doom and gloom, huh?  That's how I've been feeling.  Sometimes I feel the walls are crumbling.  What walls?  The walls I've erected to keep all the stressors compartmentalized.  Brother, deployment, car accident, grief unexplored, reintegration.  Just lots and lots of stress.  I'm afraid of it all boiling over.  Pray for me?

Four

The spring ballet season is in full swing.  I know that company rehearsals start next week.  I'm excited about what will be coming.  We're discussing costume ideas.  I'm doing research.  This is the FUN part for me.  Besides seeing my beautiful girls dance.  I just love it all.

Five

I have a special intention that needs prayers.  Saint John of God, please pray for us.

Six

Ben is off for the next three weeks.  It will be good for the children to have him home.  I'm sure they all thought they'd be off from school the whole time, but I had to disabuse them of that notion.  I did tell them that if they worked extra hard and did extra stuff each day, they could take the last week of his leave off from school.

Seven

I am actually making a craft from something I pinned on Pinterest.  Are you on it?  It's a wonderful world of visual yumminess.  I'll post pictures once I'm done.  I didn't get enough stuff to finish it.  That's on tomorrow's agenda.

Facebook

It's interesting.  Some people love it.  Some people hate it.  If you know me at all, you know I love it.  I have friends from high school, college, local friends, and friends I've never met in person.  The Catholic homeschool community is amazing.  I've met so many people on-line.  After having met them on-line, I've made the effort to meet them in person.  

Homeschooling can be isolating.  Oh, sure, we have a great community here.  But, our daily lives consist of being at home and well, learning.  So, sometimes when I have to complain about something or if something excites me, I have to shout it to the world.  The best thing about Facebook?  The prayers.  

I've been made fun of because of my propensity to post to Facebook.  I post pictures.  I post events.  I post complaints.  I post my views and articles which illuminate my views.  Some people are offended.  I've recently made a list of people.  A list of people who won't be seeing my posts.  I'm too lazy to change it each time I post innocuous things.  So, I won't.  

Another thing I won't do?  Apologize for my faith and my convictions.

Homecoming Pictures

I am hoping this is the last one.  But, it's the Army and we have 2 1/2 more years before he will retire.  He can retire this October.  But, we will wait longer.  Although truth be told, I might have to ask him to wait until after 2016.  You see, his retirement certificate will be signed by the Commander-in-Chief.  We will see after November.

There he is!

7 Quick Takes ~ Home Again Edition

 

One

Ben returned on Sunday around 9pm.  The children were kept in the dark until about 7 when my dad hung up the welcome home sign.  They were very happy.  Sister was too but you could see in her face that the past six months had been painful for her.  A suffering of sorts.  It was written all over her face.  And, Brother.  He broke down after processing it.  

Two

Reunions are great.  Reintegrations are not.  Enough said, right military wives?

Three

It's upsetting to learn that a young girl's heart has been hurt repeatedly for a year as she was bullied in what is considered a pretty safe environment.  But, the adult leader is not able to be near every child as she teaches.  And, can't hear the mean words being said.  I know once she finds out what's been happening she'll be upset.  Words can hurt.  And, this beautiful soul has been carrying the pain silently for too long. 

Four

So many people need prayers right now.  Please pray for them all.  

Five

The ballet school had open curtain today.  It's always so fun to watch my girls.  Sister and Pumpkin both had their classes on Thursday.  Honey will have hers on Friday.  They've all gotten much stronger.  Sister and I stuck around and watched a little bit of the advanced group of gals.  I felt sort of sad watching them because I knew we were going to lose a few of them to PCS moves this summer.

Six

It's tax season.  I need to get our taxes done.  I also take care of my parents' taxes and one of my brothers.  My parents are going to visit Patrick and pick up his tax information for me.  I wish he lived closer so I could see him more often.

Seven

Sunday is the Super Bowl.  I need to dig out my Patriot bows.  Go PATRIOTS!!!