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Speaking of all I am thankful for...

Today I am thankful to get to spend time with my stepsons who both will soon be beginning their first ever deployments, even if they couldnt both bet leave at the same time...one leaves on the 14th the other arrives on the 15th!!

Musings for the day...

How does the undead impregnate someone? This thought is the very reason I have never even started the Twilight saga....and hope I never cave....I will stick with Harry Potter and the Hunger Games, thank you very much!

NaBloPoMo

Every year I intend to participate and every year I am out of the running before things really even get started! Oh well, I am still going to link up this year and aim to post every day the rest of the month even ifi can't win prizes.....

lHappy Halloween!!!

Its Halloween. Tonight a lot of creatures will visit your door. Be open minded. The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy might have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy might have motor planning issues. The child who does not say "trick or treat" or "thank you" might be shy or non-verbal. The child who looks disappoint ed when he sees your bowl might have an allergy. The child who isn't wearing a costume at all might have SPD or autism. The child who is screaming at the top of her lungs probably can't help it. Be nice. Be patient. Its everyone's Halloween. Make a mom feel good by making a big deal of her special child

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back from the dead

Either not too much or so very much has been going on I just haven't been able to but anything in acoma blog. However nablopomo starts Tues so I want to get back to it....here is my attempt to commit to atleast one post a day through Nov....wish me luck. Lol

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it might just be a miracle!

So that social worker can SUCK IT! I found a preschool for baby waffle and signed him up for MWF 9-12. He started this past Monday. They told me he cried off and all for the first 10 mins or so and then had a great day. The next morning when his speech therapist came he was sitting waiting for her and worked for the entire 30 minutes!
Unfortunately both Baby Waffle and I had nice snot filled colds by Tuesday night so I opted to keep him home Wednesday so it was my fear Thursday would suck. Nope! He did wonderful Thursday also!
When he got to school Friday he was very clingybut after I got him to the teacher he cried for all of maybe a minute and then proceeded to have a wonderful day!

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Bodum Pavina review

I received a set of Bodum Pavina 9oz glasses to try out and give my opinion. My first thought upon receiving the glasses was Wow how beautiful. They are simple glasses that are hand blown and truly make it seem your liquid is floating in them. The description says they will keep your hot drinks hotter and your cold drinks colder. I did try them both ways although I never tried steaming hot liquid just luke warm but the glasses did not disappoint!

The one negative I found was really part of the beauty of the glasses and completely my fault. I am a mother of two small children whom I home school. I am sometimes frazzled and very often clumsy. As I mentioned earlier these glasses are hand blown and a wee too delicate for my fat fingers. I did break one a lot sooner than I would have hoped. Like I said that was completely my fault.

Errrr my experience with the social worker and her 'suggestions

First a little background...
So baby Waffle has become quite a handful since turning 2 and then going on vacation. Since we got back his speech therapy sessions have basically been a wash, well until this week but I will come back to that. So it was so bad after we attempted to start kindermusik (you would have thought he was raised by wolves)that I pulled him out of kindermusik and decided the bow could benefit fro. Some preschool (which I am now looking into finding a placement for him). I ALS ended up calling his caseworker from the CDSA who oversees his speech therapy and we decided to have a talk. I was seriously starting to wonder if we were dealing with something more in the Autism spectrum and not just Speech. So our caseworker arranged for the SLP to come out and watch a session. Now I have to say I LOVE our therapist and this discussion has nothing to do with here! Loch is the bomb and I would recommend her to anyone!! I digress.... Anyway, the SLP was thinking probably we need some play therapy and she also suggested we do some room changing which is what spurred the great move shift of 2011 that I mentioned hereErnst meeting ended with the caseworker saying that she would check with the staff psychologist and see if he had any suggestions. Apparently he didn't because a few days later she calls and tells me she is going to bring a social worker by with some suggestions and tips. Sooooo today was that meeting. Of course baby Waffle showed his worst possible behavior soo the social worker got a good look at what we are dealing with. Eventually baby Waffle did calm down and worked quite will with the speech therapist. I should mention I warned them when they came in that it was very close to nap tome and he would probably not be happy. (speech is usually at 9 am and they had switched it to 10:45 so the social worker could come.).
So long story longer, when speech was over the social worker chimes in with her suggestions. After she informs me that she has three children who she never even tried to breastfeeding so she had no real clue what she was saying but here is a suggestion on how to wean. She then proceeds to tell me how to keep him in his bed at night and how to implement time outs. All of which was insulting but understandable. The real kick in the pants was when she addressed my desire to put him in preschool. I have been concerned that three half days a week would be too much and she tells me 'I believe he would really benefit from a full time five day a week program, two or three days isn't going to make any kind of difference'. Oh and ' your caseworker can direct you to Head Start if you can't afford a full time place'.
I pretty much had already checked out of the conversation at the breast feeding comments (did I mention she said it would effect his speech too?) but this really did it. I have stewed over it all day. So my 'problem' with Baby Waffle is he loves me a little too much, too clingy wants me all the time....her SOLUTION is to throw him in a place all day every day so someone else can deal with him?? What is that telling baby waffle? Not to mention I don't know what head start is like in your neck of the woods but around here it is primarily the low income kids and therefore in all the worst parts of town. I'm sorry if that makes me sound bad but my hubby is a cop, I know the bad areas, it is a fact!
Also, he is starting to exhibit behaviors so we out him in a place all day every day with kids who are there because of behaviors and he cant even talk to tell someone whet has happened??

So anyone who reads this, am I completely insane for being upset? I am going tomorrow to see two preschools. I hope I am blown away and can choose which one I think will be the best fit....until then thanks for sticking with me to the end of this very long post....

budding artist

The girl has skills...

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wildlife attack..... nearly wordless Wednesday (hey it is after midnight here!)

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time rolls on by...

The days just slip by sooo quickly and I don't realize I have missed posting until next thing I know another month has passed.  I have reorganized my house though and now I have an office to myself so maybe MAYBE I will be better.... maybe, no promises but maybe. 

So about the moving.  The speech pathologist suggested (and I fully agreed) with her, that we split the bunk beds and simplify the kids room which is what started the moving.  Baby Waffle was climbing up to the top bunk and has NOOOO fear so I totally felt it needed to be done anyway but they had the smallest room in the house and it wouldn't hold the two beds side by side so the great room shift of 2011 began.  We had to gut the playroom, took apart the beds and moved them into what was the playroom.  

Then we gutted my 'classroom' and moved the playroom into that room.  Made sooo much sense because that is the biggest room in the house. 

Now my 'classroom' has become what I am calling the 'teacher's lounge' in the smallest room in the house which also makes perfect sense because with the nice picnic table we stole inherited from my mother we have it set up so nicely to do school at the kitchen table.  I love it. 

I really want to find a small bulletin board to make a calendar spot (thanks Sam) in the kitchen near the table but for now I am happy with the results. I REALLY like being able to close the room to my office and just slip away into the gentle protection of my 'coccoon'!
 

More speech updates

Hi all, I know I know I have been remiss again. Things. We resumed school after a short summer break and jut getting in the flow and trying to get started with my classes as well....well something gets missed.

Anyway, the reason I have drug out my old blog is to put out an update on Baby Waffle. Since the little man turned two, possibly a little before that, he has started REALLY acting up. We went to kindermusik to start a new semester and he was a complete ANIMAL. I was starting to really get concerned but I believe we have now deduced that it is just his intelligence coupled with his frustration with not being able to tell us what he knows he wants to say mixed up with the fact that he is well TWO.

Our early intervention case worker mentions that the SLPs say he is NOT Apraxic. I told the caseworker I am still not of sure of that but what can I do, they are the professionals. We are looking at possibly adding some play therapy but now that I have been doing more reading on all this I am wondering why not OT. They keep saying it is muscle tone and oral muscular in origin, so if that is they case and it is not supposed to be Apraxia, then what more should/can we be doing?

Anyone???

UPDATE on speech

Today we had the semi-annual review for Baby Waffle's speech therapy. I really can't believe it has been 6 months already!  

Basically he hasn't shown a whole lot of improvement yet but the case worker says that the SLP has specifically said that Baby Waffle is NOT apraxic. I told her it is just a little worrisome that we haven't seen much improvement.  I mean I realize it has ONLY been 6 months but then again geesh it has BEEN six months, you know?  She seemed to understand and agree and told me she would see if there were any other services which might help and see if the SLP's think more therapy time per week is maybe called for.  It really seems he forgets everything between times and it takes most of the 30 mins to get him back to 'playing' with the speech therapist. He only has maybe 5 or 6 words that anyone who hears him would be able to understand and maybe just as many that only those closest to him can understand.  I will say he has gotten really good at getting his point across.  He will drag you by the hand and make signs (usually ones he makes up and you have to figure out) until you get it. He really must think we are idiots because he totally knows what he wants and I think he just doesn't get why WE don't get it!

We also began discussing what will happen next year when he turns three.  The 'umbrella' he is under now for assistance will end at 3 and he will become followed by the public school system.  Now I am a home school mother and fully intent to stay that way but I have NO trouble letting my children get their start in life from preschool.  Little Waffle met some really great friends at her preschool and truly learned alot.  She was blessed to have the most fabulous teachers EVERY year and she really did learn a lot there.  Unfortunately there just isn't the same financial situation for Baby Waffle as there was for Little Waffle so if he can get into the public school preschool and be able to continue receiving speech if he needs it(which if he gets into the preschool it will be because he does need it it so...) I have no problem with that!  Heck if it seems like he would be better suited staying in public school I would entertain that idea too.  I would just base it on a child by child basis!  

Well I think that about covers it for now. Thanks for listening..... 

birthday boy and more...

I have been a really bad blogger mommy. It has been almost a month since baby Waffle turned 2 and I never even mentioned it in my blog. I have totally ignored y dear blog in fact! So here we go to make up for it I am going to try to post the year in pictures. Happy birthday my dear son!!
Here are some of Baby Waffle's best bits from the last year, in no particular order!!

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Seriously how does time slip away so quickly??

I swear I thought I just posted a day ago and her it is August 1 st now! Well I guess I haven't posted more because we have been on a wee hits and there hasnt been much to say! Little Waffle had a big adventure today though, I will come back at a more decent hour and post all the details though. In the mean time I am going to sleep in the recliner because between daddy waffle and BABy waffle there is no room in the in!!

concerned...

So speeh therapist just left. They had a really great session. However what I am concerned about is that the therapist brings with her a paper I guess maybe the page from his file that has the goals and such. Anyway of course itwas right there so I was curious and looked it over. There is a place to mark potential for (I think it said) recovery with circles to choose good, fair or poor. I am worried because they only think he has a fair chance. WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN????

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Trying something new..

So I haven't been neglecting you, my dear blog that so few read(but those few that I love and totally appreciate!). It isn't that I have forgotten there just has seriously been nothing to talk about! We have slacked much more than I would like on school work so nothing to talk about there but we haven't really done anything so nothing to say there....

Today however we are getting back on track! Actually we started yesterday easing back into school work. We got through all of language arts but didn't quite get to math, history or science because we had to leave the house for a bit. today we are going to touch on a little of everything. I am going to combine science with some art by doing a wax melt project I found on twitter. If it works I will post pictures and explain in a detail how it was done!

In the meantime the new thing we have implemented is no tv in the morning. Usually, Little Waffle is awake before Baby Waffle and me. And she will turn on the tv and occupy herself until we are up and moving. I told her starting today however no tv she is to use this time to do some fun reading. It has worked out well so far especially since we woke up before her. I have to say it is a little tooo quiet in here for me. We are so trained for that mind numbing background noise!

So basically she is to read until breakfast is ready then after we eat we will start school until Dinosaur train. That is her fav show so I promised if she cooperates she may watch that. If we happen to finish school for the day by then she may watch a little more after, if not tv goes back off until we are done. In the long run it is my goal to have the tv off all day, these kids have gotten so they don't do anything if it is on, at least I can multitask!!!

Productive day!

Today has been a good day. Baby waffle has spit out quite a few words and pretty clearly too. I have heard him say many words but many of them, especially with the hard c starting sound still seem to come out strangely. It is almost like he is gagging on the sound. Two other things I have noted are that it seems when he tries to say yeah or any form of that like ya yes whatever, he will nod his head and his jaw kind of pumps up and down but no sound ever comes out and although he will say many words on request he rarely says anything spontaneously, even after all this time....don't know if that is typical of speech delays or something I should still be keeping my eye on. I am happy to see some new words so I am a little less convinced it is apraxia but yet it still strikes me as more than a typical delay(yeah I know we all think our kids aren't 'typical' even if it is for something like this, lol).

Oh and the one other thing, OF COURSE when I brought up the oddness with the hard c sounds and the chin thing with the yes/yeah stuff he wouldn't do any of it in front of his speech therapist!

Independence Day

So ironic, I didn't even realize it at the time I started typing it but this is in fact the Fourth of July weekend-Independence Day.  I find it ironic because I was going to type about how independent Baby Waffle has become in the water anyway.  He is SOOOO in love with the water.  We went to a cook out today at my sister-in-law's house.  She has a really nice in ground pool.  Baby Waffle made a b line right to the ladder.  I had to fight with him to eat first but then we all headed in.  It didn't take long until he was doing a little war cry and jumping in the side and then NEXT thing you know he was JUMPING OFF THE DIVING BOARD!  Sure he wasn't diving, wasn't doing cannonball into the deep end, but he was jumping in right into Daddy waffle's arms!  

Baby Waffle is such a cutie!  I would post pictures but I had to give my memory card back to my in laws to let them get their pictures off, will add some later.  

science wednesday

We started this project around June 15 but I wanted to wait for some progress before I posted anything.  

I found this kit from miracle gro on clearance at Walmart.  It is three little pots to plant tomatoes, cucumbers and sweet peppers.  

So for 'Science Wednesday' we took class outside and got to work planting.  I am really not sure why the kits were on sale, I only paid $5 for it, because so far it is working out pretty well.  The last we measured the cucumbers are about ready to be replanted and the other two wont be far behind!  Here are a few pictures of Little Waffle in action!!!

 Finally, we had some sunflower seeds that we had been growing that we needed to put in a bigger pot.  

My hubby is a murderer....

well maybe it should be called accidental bird-slaughter.  My parents have(had) three pretty big chestnut trees, they were close to 40 years old.  It was a shame but my parents were having trouble maintaining them and keeping up with picking up the nuts and hulls so they wanted my husband to cut them down.  (If you aren't familiar, chestnuts-yes, like the ones you roast over an open fire at Christmas time- grow in this really painful pointy/pokey hull, like a giant sanspur. They are really painful to step on!  So anyway my husband went over with his trusty chainsaw and started cutting.  We hauled a TON of sticks to the curb (my abs are already back talking me from picking up the heavy trunk sections!) After the first two trees we cut and hauld uneventfully, Baby Waffle was ready to come home and go to sleep...so we went. 

Daddy Waffle comes home a bit later and tells me of the drama I missed out on.  Apparently in the third, yet smallest, tree there was a nest.  Daddy waffle checked the nest and saw it was old so he proceeded to cut.  As the tree fell and slammed the ground Daddy Waffle said he was wondering why the Momma bird in a different tree was being so vocal and freaking out on him.  Then he looked down and saw there must have been a second next which the tree fell on!  One of the birds was smashed the other they have attempted to save.  They picked up the nest put it in a nearby bush and gingerly put the baby birdie into it.  Hopefully the momma wont reject it now.  If the baby is still in the nest tomorrow I am going to try to take some pictures of it. 

this week in speech...

So we have seen he new therapist twice. I think it is going very well. She seems to have a personality better suited to working with children. So fingers crossed we will make some progress now....

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Soooooo sleepy

I don't have a lot to blog about this week. We are on a twoish week break from school for summer (and so I can organize to prepare for the start of our new year, we year round).

The one thing I do have to say is I am tiiirrrrrreeeeedddd I mean sit down eyes close out cold!!!!

Day trip

so we took a day trip to the beach today. We were in the car longer than we were at the shore but it was still a nice trip. We knew little Waffle liked the ocean but after our last trip the jury was still out with Baby Waffle....not any more! He loves it and has NO fear of it! I took some great pictures and video but we just got a new camera and I haven't had a chance to figure out the uploading so i will post them whe I get a chance to hook the camera up.

On a side note, it is a fabulous camera and I couldn't be happier to have it but (of course there is a but) I hav eogtten SO spoiled between jy phone and my iPad I am so used to instant online publication of my pictures. I am not sure how to act with having to actually download to my outer and then upload to either Facebook or my blog. By have we gotten spoiled over all!

Vacation Bible School

This week has been a busy one around the Waffle household. Little waffle has been going to VBS at the church where she attended preschool since she was old enough to go. I like that particular program because it is one of the few that is still held during the day. Also she has friends there still from her preschool which is also nice not to mention we have been going to church there too for the same reason.
Well mid week my friend invited to pick Little Waffle up and bring her home to their program at their church. Little Waffle was allllll over it. SOOO long story short, Little Waffle is walking very closely with God this week.

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speech update

 I just want to send out a quick update on Little Waffles speech therapy before I hit the sack. I have decided I am not very happy with the progress we have made so far and I was talking to my case manager about switching him somewhere that we might be able to get in with an actual SLP.  Well it turns out his therapist has to go in for surgery which has freed us to find somewhere else but first we are going to get in with a different person in the office.  I am not sure of the new persons credentials but I have heard of the amazing work she does so I am up for trying her out before we move on.  So we will be starting with the new lady next Tuesday.  Finger's crossed she will work out and better understand Baby Waffles needs.  Just for the record, I want to make sure I say we LOVE the lady who usually works with him, I am just not sure she is making any progress or even working him the right way.   Fingers Crossed!!!

our camping trip

Sorry this got a little delayed ( I know big surprise)  I really am trying to be better but Baby Waffle really challenges my time.  

So, a couple of weekends ago we went to the beach and camped at Huntington Beach State park in South Carolina.  It is really a great camp area which also has lots of nature exhibits to explore.  Unfortunately the only camera I had at the time was my phone so some of the pictures aren't great but I want to share anyway.  

When you first enter the park you have to cross a causeway and to the right of your car you have to look sharp because there is a lake with actual gators!  Little Waffle enjoys counting to see how many she can find.  If you are lucky you get to see the whole critter, one time we rode by I saw one of the guys actually doing that death roll thing they do, but generally you have to look closely to see the eyes.  We never had a chance to stop to get any pictures of this part though, sorry.  

After setting up camp we went down to the ocean and hung out for a bit but then went back to camp and cleaned up.  While Daddy and Baby Waffle got showered and started the fire, Little Waffle and I along with our borrowed teen walked over to the walking causeway to see what we could see.  The gators are kept on the other side so no close ups of them.  We did get to see lots of other little critters, fiddler crabs, minnerds (as Little Waffle called them) some clams, oysters and other aquatic life.  They actually recycle oyster shells in this area to help keep the oyster bed going.  We walked the whole thing and then went back for some campfire time...dinner, marshmallows and bed. 


The next day we started with a visit to the Education Center.  They do live feedings of the aquatic life and have a 'touch tank' with a sting ray that will actually come to the side for you to pet.  The kids didn't want to leave!

baby gator

 Just after this the worker came and feed the creatures.  The ray eats shrimp and clams.  There was a fish (can't remember what kind) who also at this.  She would drop the food for them to pick up. She then had to hand feed the horseshoe crab who ate the shrimp. 

"I am king of the world!"

 After that we did actually spend the rest of the day down at the beach.  Baby Waffle LOVES the ocean (of course, he is my boy!) The tide had calmed down (it was rough the first day) and we all just had a ball.  I am of course in NO pictures, not going to get one either not in my suit!  

I LOVE this picture!

there were more steaks, Daddy Waffle just has to have his burnt

 We were really beat after spending the day in the sun and waves but decided to really go all out for dinner.  We got steaks, corn on the cob and baked beans ALL cooked on the open fire.  Even after Daddy Waffle accidentally dropped my steak in the cinders, I would have to say it was one of the best meals I have had in a while! 


 I have to give out big thanks to the borrowed teen, after dinner we left her at the tent with the littles and Mommy and Daddy Waffle actually got to have a moonlight stroll on the beach ALONE! It was soooo nice!

So anyway, that is basically our adventure.  It was starting to get really hot by the next day so we got up, broke camp and headed on home.  I just have to close with this one last picture.... kind of says it all.

love that belly!

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my HP marathon

Thee is SO much I should be doing but with the impending release of the final Harry Potter moor I have embarked on a reading marathon. So far I have finished the first four. Just three to go and I still have a month and two days. I can totally do this. Lol.
When I finish the books I will do a movie marathon.....who wants to join me??????

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How I spent my beach trip...

Everyone else is doesn enjoying the ocean and here I sit while Baby Waffle entertains himself in the car...what a nut!

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Outdoor adventures

So we are off on another camping adventure! So far this trip has already been so much nicer than the last! We were treated with storms before we left home today but luckily those were by our home and we traveled a bit away and missed them all. We have gotten to play on the sand and water a little although the surf was really rough and the wind was blowing quite a bit.
When we had our fill we returned to 'camp' to clean off and the set out for a little learning. We will go back on our nature walk tomorrow when I hope to have my camera. I will post pictures from tomorrow's Exciting adventures. I the meantime, I am being eaten alive by bugs so it is off ton the potty for me, then snuggling in between my favorite men in the tent.

Night all!!!

Sleep? Ahh who needs it?

We are leaving for a couple days of camping at the beach today and here it is 3:22 am and I am awake. Am I awake from excitement?? NO. I have a ruddy cough that won't go way. I hope picking up some Zyrtec later is going to help cause this is making me NUTS!

ode yo Mother Nature

Mother Nature you fickle friend
What is this crazy mood you are in?
One day hot
Next day not
Why must you cause me all this sn
Snot???

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hurricane season....

So it is officially hurricane season and I know this is true because I promise, one has hit my classroom!  I try so hard to keep this room in such a manner so as to be able to teach my Waffles in it but I am telling you it is impossible!  I was home all day and Baby Waffle was in my eye sight the whole time so it had to be Little Waffle.  I don't know HOW she does it but it is a terror in here!  What really makes it bad is I ask her to put one thing away before she takes out another- doesn't work, I turn around and it is a disaster.  I walk her through what needs to be picked up step by step, just in case she doesn't understand, after all she is only 6-the next time it starts all over again.  In the end it almost always ends up with me cleaning up the mess myself just to get it done.   

OH and the real kicker is when she has left her own mess behind but INSISTS on doing the dishes before she goes to bed.  I love that girl I do but boy she is a mess!!!! 

since I have been nagged (SAM) ;0)

A quick update and I promise to post more tomorrow.  

We have now made it a week and we are definitely bink FREE!  I threw them all away last Wednesday and we really had no problems.  At one point I had to take him over and physically show him where we used to stash them and the fact that no they weren't there anymore and that was it.  He seemed to accept it! Baby Waffle rocks!!!

Oh and on another note, we have had one speech visit since my last post and I am happy to say that the assistant that works with us does seem to be taking a little different approach to working with him after the SLP saw us last week.  While she was here Tuesday Baby Waffle took me by the hand over to the closet and pointed to the cups.  I asked him did he want a drink and he said drink.  Then he said it again for our speech worker. 

Also while we were at a play date Saturday, he was giving some lunch or something and he not only signed thank you but while he was signing he SAID thank you.  I wasn't the only one that heard it either.  That actually is part of my frustration though, I know he can at times get things out but it is SO rare.  I do see a little hope though so there is something.  I am also starting to make some tot work for him to do that I got partially from his SLP but also from Tot School.  
The downloads and printables on that site are amazing! 

Well that is enough since this was only going to be a quick update.  I will be back tomorrow, promise!!!

An update on Baby Waffles speech process....

I though I would give you a little up date on Baby Waffle. I got to see an actual SLP today. Actually it worked out nicely because the asst who we usually see got vandalized last night(not that THAT is a good thing) so we got the whole time with the SLP. She said she does think it is more oral-motor and not so much neurological. She also said she 'isn't convinced it is Apraxia'. Which is good enough for me right now because that means she is at least taking that into consideration. She said he does have 'softness' in his jaw area. She is the first person to flat out say the paci is not helping that, let's get it gone. (he was melting down for a nap at the time and managed to go out with only about 5 mins of fussing while the SLP was discussing this SO all the paci's are now in the big garbage can in the yard).
Oh she also said before we discussed the Apraxia that the asst thought I was worried about autism (which is when I said no apraxia) but the SLP said she doesn't think anything autism related should be a concern...which I didnt think it was but let's face it it is always good to hear that, lol.

So at this Point we are concentrating on eliminating the paci(done) and surviving that(will keep you posted on how that goes)and she is making up a list of activities for us to work on

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The Waffles go camping...DAY 2

What a difference a day makes!!! The sun came out and dried up all the rain giving us a chance to spend some time out by the ocean. The kids had a blast even though it was still wayyyy too cold to really get in the water.
we decided to go have some dinner and visit some shops before once again returning to the campsite for a fire and s'mores. Baby Waffle was again running from his shadow and this time I was able to catch it on camera!
And



I will wrap up our adventure next time!!!!!

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a little off the mao...

Wow has it really been so long since I last posted a blog? We have been so busy with school which has been going great but also I have not yet found a good blogger app for my ipad so if anyone can suggest one....
Anyway, we are just a few weeks away from ending this school year. We will be schooling year round though so while this year will end mid June, we will start our new year July 5th. I am ready to get to our new work so I can't wait to get through what we have left of this years stuff.
I will update more later and go through not only what we are finishing up but what we will be moving on to.

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the Waffles go camping...

Day 1: EPIC FAIL!
so we are camping in a tent at the Myrtle Beach state park first day down it starts raining like itts never going to stop, the tent was leaking, everyjing was just wet! We were able to get in a quick walk on the beach

and we were able to start a fire. The fire was the highlight of the night, Baby Waffle discovered his shadow! At first we couldn't figure out what the heck he was doing. He kept backing up in an odd way. By the time I figured out what he was doing and got the camera he had stopped but just trust me it was funny!
By about 4 am I was just through! Ready to pack it in and come home. I was sooooo tired of the rain but thankfully we stuck it out....next time, day 2!

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HAPPY EASTER!

The aftermath!
I oils be posting more but I have been working on fi.ding an app for blogger on my ipad that is as user friendly as the one for my droid....WTH???

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Spring break....

I had originally planned a spring break of sorts to fall between what I am considering to be our standard 12 week semester. We are actually a little short of that time but my sister (affectionately known as Fannyface to the small Waffles) is moving to Ft.Campbell, Kentucky Well she will live in Clarksville, Tn and work on Ft. Campbell. anyway little waffle thinks she is so special because she got to ride in the moving truck and helped inspect the new apartment when they got there. She is calling it a 'big girl adventure'!
So we are counting this week as Spring break and will complete our semester when she gets home. (don't you just love homechooling?) I am really glad they had this chance to spend quaility time together BOTH of my Waffles are going to miss their 'Fannyface'.

So anyway, when she gets back next week we will have about a month, maybe two and we will finish this semester. I should mention, she took a handwritig evaluation last month and I can say she aced it. She scored higher than 89% of children her age. Her worst area is sentence structure and that is mostly because we haven't really worked on that much yet.

In other news, baby has started with twice a week speech therapy. He seems to be doing well. We have a visit coming up with the actual SLP soon hopefully. Then someone will be able to give me an idea of what is happening with him.

Homeschool curriculum 'giveaway'

In researching curriculum for next year I can across this site that is sponsoring a giveaway of sorts. It is basically a chance for home school families to share thie used curriculum with others by doing giveaways instead of selling....who doesn't love a giveaway! I don't yet have anything I am done with since this is my first year with my fiirst child and I plan to reuse everything with baby waffle anyway but I am definitely going to see if I can win some! Good luck! The sharing begins April 25 through May 1.

long crappy week

Well it has been a really tough week which is why I haven't posted in a while. Baby Waffle is feeling under the weather and I have to admit that this coupled with his frustration from the speech issues is really starting to weigh on me. He was up all night the night before last(a first in a long time) and he cried the whole time. Needless to say I am still exhausted. Baby Waffle is sop tired he took two naps for the first time in a long time yesterday and then today he woke up around 7 and was back down for a nap by 10...who knows what today will bring.
In the mean time between speech, soccer, kindermusik, enrichment day, and gymnastics I have been finding it hard to balance school work too. I have been following a blog for awhile now that has a focus on working with a child Baby Waffle's age that I am starting to think has what I need to get balance. I am going to spend time trying to see how to impliment her ideas and hopefully that will get us some balance. (I will post a link to her site when I am at my computer instead of on my phone.
Lastly update on my school work not much to day here, with everything else going on I don't know where to find time when I am not tired BUT I do have a thesis committee so I guess that is something.
So that's it for now. I hope to have more to say more regularly. Until then...ttfn

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riding in my car...turn on the radio...

Sorry I wandered. I am in my car and channeling old music as I rock out to the '80s on my satellite radio (gotta love Chevy) as I head down to the Great SouthEast Home School convention in SC. I am so excited not only for the information I expect to gather or the shopping I intend to do but also the fact that for the first tiime in nearly 20 months I will be with my hubby with NO kids!!
I hope to use some of this time to get caught up with so blogging I have been slacking on s expect to be bombarded.
So for now.....

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why i think home schooling is great

Little Waffle reading while baby waffle plays with his balloon.

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Today was a good day!

Baby Waffle joined us at the table while I worked on math with Little Waffle. Baby Waffle played with manipulitives while we did our work. We had all of our schoolwork done by 11 am. Then baby Waffle requested a nap during which I was able to do a work out on my new biggest loser for wii game (which I highly recommend btw) and I was also able to get my lunch in. Then he woke up and now we are preparing to go for his speech eval. I will update when we are done!

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i dont think he quite....

Understands how knocking works. The dog wants in and baby waffle is on the inside knocking for her.

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psych.....

I don't really have any thoughts together to post right now but just wanted to leave a little something for a certain friend to read...... hope you aren't as bored tonight!!!

one step forward, thirteen steps back....

Yesterday was SUCH a good day for us.  We were up and moving by 7 am, breakfast by 8 and by 10 am we had half our school work done for the day as well as a clean kitchen. We were able to get a couple of phonics lessons in and three lessons in math(Little Waffle LOVES her math and would do that all day if I would let her!) 

Today on the other hand, I didn't even get out of bed until after 8 am.  Baby Waffle had an awful night.  I think it was because we slept with the windows open and it was storming outside.  Now me, this makes for a fabulous nights sleep, the baby on the other hand was curious about every sound, move and wind blow.  It is 10 am and we have just finished breakfast and I have Little Waffle working on some handwriting work.  My kitchen is trashed and I have no energy.  I think I picked the wrong day to skip coffee so I may have to break down and have a cup or I wont ever get moving!  

Get moving I must, I have so much to do and when I get this way I just lock down and do nothing.  I have pretty much decided, whether they will give me the financial aid or not for one more semester, there is NO way I can finish my thesis this semester, the forms alone that have to be turned in were late before I even started, so there is reason in itself.  I will just have to find some way to pay out of pocket if they wont see fit to give me just one more semester to get it done.  That actually helps because I was getting myself so worked up about getting work done that I actually couldn't do anything!  This way I will have the rest of this semester and the summer to get the lit review done (which is good because I am still not fully sure what I am doing for the lit review!) and it gives us more time to get the actual research going that we have been working on.  I am just going to have to find some way to actually get work done with these kids home.  (and for anyone thinking well you could send Little Waffle to public school, well yeah maybe but SHE isn't the issue anyway and I wouldn't so it doesn't matter!) 

Anyway, that is my story and sitting here typing about it isn't getting anything else I need to do done so I am out of here.  If you don't hear from me for a few days it is because I am also trying to sort hang and price stuff for a big consignment sale.  (it has to be done by Sat and I haven't even started! eek)  

why I LOVE the South!

I thought I would share a taste of this beautiful February day!!!!

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for those keeping track.....

a quick update on Baby Waffle stuff.  We got our appointment for the official speech evaluation, March 8th at 2:30 pm.  I hope that at that time we can have an official idea of what is going on and dive right into a plan of attach as soon as possible.  

I HATE being in limbo!!!

Quietly bawling...

I am sitting in my quiet living room surrounded by Little Waffle's morning mess with Baby Waffle snoring away in my lap. I decided to take this time to try to catch up in my blogs that I have let built up, over 200 I am afraid. Anyway, the one I read first is from another home school mom who suffered the worst of all tragedies last fall when a dresser fell on her small son and he died. Many of her posts since then have made me heart sick and yes many brought tears to my eyes but his birthday was this week, he should have been two. The family celebrated his short life in a way I don't think I could but in their tragedy I actually found a little peace. I was bawling for the loss they have to deal with but also for Baby Waffle's issues and that was when I realized it can no doubt be worse. So I dried my tears and managed to accomplish a minor miracle.....Baby Waffle is taking his nap in his VERY OWN BED. (For maybe the second time in 6 months!!!
Not to teach little waffle some phonics and math!!

edited to add, Baby Waffle lasted in his own bed for about 45 minutes but then slept another 1 plus in my bed.......well, it is a start anyway!

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The price of gas today made me lose my happy thoughts....

I literally spit out a few words I have not heard out of my own mouth since prior to having children but I guess that is our new reality.  It sucks so bad but it doesn't seem like we will ever see the days of .99 gas EVER again!  (ok so make me feel old how many of my dear friends don't remember those days to begin with?-- no really it wasn't THAT long ago!!!) 

Then tonight Daddy Waffle came in and told me his friend wanted me to share some of my recent money saving discoveries with his wife.  I guess that is because on Sunday I went to Harris Teeter (our best local grocery store that I love dearly) I I came home with $75 worth of food and only paid $23 dollars.  I went BACK to Harris Teeter on Monday again picked up $75 of food and only paid $20.  It was my first experience really working with 'super' double coupons (or really making an effort with coupons at all) and I am no HOOKED.  Unfortunately that deal ended Tuesday but I have so many more things to share SOOOO I am going to make a new blog page for it.  It will MOSTLY be local deals for my area but as I figure out where people are I will try to include everyone. I am by NO means trying to claim to be a pro at this but I figure I might as well share what I can right! If anyone would like to suggest a name for the new page I am listening.  I just don't want to tie this page up as I am afraid I am going to have a lot of rambling to do in the near future as I learn more about what is going on with Baby Waffle.  
 Just to update the Baby Waffle situation, well basically there is nothing to update except that I am feeling more and more certain when I do finally get my appointment for his official speech evaluation with the speech pathologist we are going to hear that he has speech apraxia.  Which I think I explained in my last blog but since I am not certain I will explain it again to the best of my understanding, basically he knows WHAT he wants to say but his brain can't make his mouth understand how to say it.  If you are interested in more exact information it can be found at Apraxia kids . 
 I don't want to dwell on this too much at this time because like I said I am still waiting on an true diagnosis but all signs point in this direction and I would be lying if I said it wasn't just a little scary BUT for now that is why I am going to focus on finding all the deals there are to be found!  I HOPE to at least get our appointment for the eval tomorrow so one way or the other I will update here tomorrow and I HOPE to have a list of deals started by the morning as well.
So off you go, enjoy Grey's Anatomy (or whatever guilty pleasure you may have!) night all.... 

Baby Waffle's eval was today

So we went to the CDSA (Children's Developmental something agency) It's been a long day I just can't remember but it is a state run agency that will evaluate for all types of delays and set up referrals and plans of action and the like.  

Well the just of the results are that he scored ahead on everything EXCEPT expressive speech.  He is actually at a 0 to 1 month range for expressive speech (94% deficit)which leads the evaluators to think there maybe something causing him to not be able to make the words.  Something gets lost between the brain and his mouth.  They said he is VERY smart, just can't seem to find the words SO the next step is we are waiting for a call with information about his speech pathologist appointment where they will do an in depth speech eval and will be able to actually diagnose what is causing this and from there they will set up what ever other work we need to look into, the social worker in charge says 100% he will definitely need speech therapy but other than that I just don't know yet.  

The one good thing that comes of going through the agency is that it is based on income and we fall into the 'if your insurance wont pay, we pay so you don't have to' range.  

They did say he was one of the happiest little boys they had seen!  He actually scored highest on social/emotional.  

Well that is is for now.  I will keep everyone posted as I learn more.  

OH and in case you missed the update on his slightly shorter leg, we did see an ortho specialist last week and the doc seems to think he will grow out of it.  So it is a wait and see kind of thing until we go back in 4 months for a recheck and compare the xrays.  

So in the mean time, thanks for checking in and see ya later!!!

just another day

take two, that first post was CRAZY.  I am not even sure what I was saying.  I was originally posting on my phone and Baby Waffle got his little hands in to the mix!

So I was saying I have been gone for a few but this time it wasn't lack of desire on my part, just got really busy!  School has been going really well and I just ordered some more curriculum tonight for Little Waffle.  We will be adding in First Language Lessons in a few weeks when we get a little further in our Phonics work.  Math, well I LOVE this math curriculum, Right Start.  We are going over things that many government school children will never see... she is even learning how to use an abacus.

We have also started to walk again now that the weather seems to be breaking.  Seeing all the birds outside today makes me feel safe to say SPRING IS ON IT'S WAY!!!!

oh, one last thing, I got more information on the Purex insiders that I got signed up for.  I will be receiving their new products to review and post about on my blog, so look for more information to come soon as they told us we will be getting something sent out in the next few weeks. 

 

kassie, thank you thank you thank you!!!!

Baby waffle is loving his new tub toy!!!

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how we wait for appointments

Waiting for Little Waffles 6 yr well check...boy was the doc running behind....

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baby Waffle from the inside!

Well one appointment down, with good results. It turns out the doc thinks he just has some natural bowing that is taking a little longer to grow out, which is something that happens sometimes.
Now in about a week and a half we have his hearing evaluation and see where we go with his lack of speech. In the mean time I have a ' lady' appt today and I am going to have him check all my levels to see if there is a reason I am so tired.
I am so tired today in fact that between the spots we have and me being so tired we have gotten NO school done. That is the beauty of homeschooling though. We are actually ahead for the week so it is ok we don't accomlish much today!

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[ice cream is the devil]

Today was a great day at our school. Little Waffle got so much work done. I am very proud of her. We managed two days worth of handwriting and math (more about math in a few)and one day of phonics. We are still runni.g a bit behind in history but I am not pushing that cause let's face it she is still young. We are trying to work on a lapbook about shells for science but I find myself a little creatively challanged and I am not sure I quite get how to do the lapbooks.
Back to math. I am really excited about math. We FINALLY got a curriculum to work with and so far I love it. We are starting at the beginning of Right Start math. It is very basic to the point I think we will finish book A very quickly but I wanted to start at the beginning so we learn the right methods.
My last point of interest from today is I am excited because I got picjedyo be a Purex Insider. I am not even sure what all it means yet but I feel like I have been acknowledged as a blogger!( corny I know but still...lol)
Well I guess that is all for tonight. Ttfn

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tough day

Well for starters my little climbing monkey was at it again and pulled a stool down on his head. Up comes yet another goose egg!
Then I go to Harris Teeter where it turns out the have ice cream buy 2 get three FREE( I know I know like o need that much ice cream. ) apparently I didn't think I needed it either because I left two cartons in the store! Now I am home eating like a pig.
on the other hand we got back on track with school now that food the most part we are healthy and little Waffle got started in gymnastics. She was so excited and did really well for her first day.
Oh and just as an aside I sent my wii in for repairs so no weigh in until I get it back.

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meltdown boy

Try to snap a shot of my little man smiling he will stop and pose....try too do it when he is upset and well you see......

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quickie update...

Cause someoone called me out for not weighing(you know who you are, lol) I am happy I did though because I am down 3.3 lbs! Also jam sending my wii in to be fixed. Woo hoo went it gets back I can FINALLY do my Jillian Michaels game!!

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my little water baby

Yay I am finally feeling better enough to post a little something! My little water baby LOVES running water. I tried to get a picture of his mad face when I turned the water off but we got this instead!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE WAFFLE

I wanted to do a through the years in pictures thing but my computer is in the shop so I don't have access.
I can't believe she is six!!!(and we all get to be sick for her big bowling party!)
I will post pictures from the party later.

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I love school books!!!

Going to college I occasionally get refunds from my student loans, you know, once a semester.  Today was that day and it allowed me to first of all send my poor dear Mac book out for repairs(yipee I have been dying with out my girlie!) and second I was FINALLY able to buy the math curriculum I have been dying to start with Little Waffle.  It should be here in a week to 10 days and from what I understand we will probably fly through it.  I love that is holds the parent/teacher by the hand and tells you exactly how to teach.  That has been a tough area for me as a new homeschool teacher.  

I was also able to reserve our room for the homeschool convention we are going to in March and I am starting to get excited. While I really am looking forward to some of the seminars what I am REALLY ready for is the shopping!  I still would like to get a grammar/writing curriculum and some more science stuff. I just love the looking!!!!  We should have tax money by then also so I should have plenty to shop with. 

SOOO happy stuff behind me, time to post a little update on Baby Waffle.  It turns out our insurance doesn't cover speech unless there is a medical need for it (what would a medical need for speech even mean????) so we have switched tactics and my ped is sending us to CDSA (Child Development something something, lol) They are a state agency that works with uninsured or underinsured people.  They will do a FULL eval on Baby Waffle and determine what or even IF any intervention is needed and manage his case.  We start with a hearing test on Feb 21 and will schedule everything else from there.  We also have a Ortho consult on Feb 10th to see what or if anything needs to be done about the short leg. 
I will update this blog as I find anything else.

For now I should really get to working on my assignments for my own school work.  I am outta here! 

my horrible night at Olive Garden...

Ok, so horrible might be too strong a word but it was not the best night ever!  We had a surprise party for my sister in law at the Olive Garden and yes, we had a big group but really we didn't even get menus until I swear we had been there for a good 30 to 45 minutes.  REALLY!!!  We were the only ones of our group with little ones and it was really getting rough.  Baby Waffle can really only stay good for so long and he was really getting hungry.  I finally had to ASK them to bring bread.  Baby Waffle very wisely stuck his crayon in his bread to hold it because it was hot! 
While we waited, Baby Waffle was entertained by the balloons and by making his super tall cousins grab the ones that had broken free from the ceiling.  Little Waffle spent her time drinking 'wine' (sprite in a wine glass) and showing off to all her aunts.  The food was ok when they brought it, I was happy to find they have the soup,salad, breadstick thing at dinner too! Things got better once we finally had food but it was very dicey for awhile.  Dinner ended up taking close to three hours.  Once the cake came out the little Waffles were happy and Baby Waffle climb in the birthday girl's lap and proceeded to poke his finger deeply into the cake over and over to get the good stuff! 

crossing my finger for another good night for Baby Waffle....

I forgot to mention today that we had a FANTASTIC night last night.  Maybe it was the shots, maybe just a fluke what ever the reason, Baby Waffle fell asleep about 9:15 last night and SLEPT ALL NIGHT LONG UNTIL 7 AM!!!!  He slept in the bed with me but I didn't go down when he did and I was up and down all night with my tiny bladder.  Usually the smallest movement wakes him.
SOOO my prayer for tonight is a repeat of last night, he was out by 9:15 or so BUT I put him in HIS bed sooooo we will have to see what happens.  fingers crossed but even if he ends up in my bed I wont mind as long as he doesn't freak out screaming and wakes up as happy as he did today!!!!! 

Night all!

weigh in day

I was all ready to title this post weigh in wednesday cause it sounds so catchy but then I realized duh, its Tuesday. I still will post my weigh in info since I did weigh. I can't believe I have to actually post a number this high but it is what it is so I guess to get it down I have to own it, right. I weighed in today at 257.7. That is down .2 since the last time I weighed but it is still higher than I have ever been even at the time of delivering either child.
So my short term goal for the week is simply one pound and no snacking after 7 pm (8 at the latest if dinner runs late) also to get exercise in at least 3 times.
Ttfn

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