US Olympic Training Center

I LOVE the Olympics.  I love the stories behind the athletes.  I love the sight of the winners on the podium and the tears in their eyes as their national anthem plays.  I cannot wait till next Friday when the opening games will be held in Vancouver.  

We've been wanting to checkout the US Olympic Training Center here in Colorado Springs, but seems like something always comes up, or we are worn out from the gym.  Gunner had training this morning and his trainer is wonderful and lets me join in on Saturday mornings.  We both hurt, but we headed out anyway.

I was trying to get a picture of the kids poking their heads through the rings, but no one wanted to cooperate.  The story of our lives in pictures.

The tours are given ever thirty minutes, so we checked out the gift shop.

We hit the Hall of Fame and tried out the bobsled.

They showed a video of Olympic moments, that made me want to cry throughout, and run back to the gym and workout like crazy.

Instead we went on the tour, since that seemed easier.  I'll hit the gym tomorrow.  You aren't allowed to stop any of the athletes to take pictures because so many of them live there too.  Talk about a deal!  You get free training, room, board, college, and more.  You have to be the top 10-15 in your sport though, so I'm not there yet, maybe next year? 

They have a board when you walk in that lists all of the sponsors of the OTC, and so while the lady was talking, I see Abs hand go up.  I put it down, and then it went back up.  Then Junior looked over and saw his sister's hand up, so his went up.  Our tour guide finally stopped talking and took Ab's question.

Tour Guide:  Do you have a question?
Abs:  Oh yeah.  Can you tell me why there is a beer company that is a sponsor?  It seems to me that if they are athletes and take care of their bodies, that beer probably shouldn't be on their mind. 
(By this point everyone is giggling and agreeing with her)
Tour Guide:  Well it has a lot to do with them having a lot of money and wanting to help.  (She wasn't sure how to answer that question)

We watched some wrestling matches, and one athlete fell in love with Junior.  She was talking to him and asking for high fives. 

We saw the pool, the shooting range was closed, and met paraolympians, saw people working out in the gym, training, etc.  It was really neat, I recommend it if you are in the area.

I took a bunch of pictures of the kids on the medal stand, which turned into tears because Em only wanted gold, and Abs was tired of being the silver medalist.  Finally someone took a picture of all of us so I can say that I was there.

Sick Diet, it's what's for dinner

I made this extensive menu plan for the week, and can't find it anywhere, and can't remember what I was making.  It's okay though since Em returned home from school with an upset stomach. 

Germaphobic mother kicked in.  I've scrubbed the toilets and bathrooms, I gave up on the laundry strike and have been madly washing clothes, towels, sheets and blankets.  All the door knobs and light switches have been scrubbed.

Gunner came and asked me what was for dinner.

Me:  The sick diet of course.
Gunner:  No seriously.
Me:  I am being serious, if she doesn't feel well, we are bound to get it.
Gunner:  That's ridiculous, no one has gotten sick.

He's obviously not around when one of us gets sick and within 24 hours we have all caught it.  

The Mrs. sent us a great care package of treats for the kiddos.  Apparently Abs LOVED them because I found the wrappers underneath the bathroom sink (during my cleaning frenzy) to the gummies and the sour worms.  I thought I had them well hidden, but apparently not.  On the bright side, at least they were organic!  Thankfully she didn't find the lollipops, so I can ration those out.

Disney Live is this weekend and Abs is not excited about it.  I thought she would like it, but she opted not to go.  The tickets were bought, so she's going.  She now walks around saying "Fictional characters, woohoo" in a monotone voice, or "I can hardly stand the anticipation I feel for seeing people in costumes".  I know once she gets there she'll enjoy it, I hope.  At least Junior will be excited.

I watched Hoarders last night for the first time, and I now want to get rid of everything that I own.  It's a good thing that we move so frequently, but I still hang on to too much.  I guess if we are sick all weekend we can sort and toss!

Gunner's Kids....

Where do I find these kids?

Today Gunner's son Junior announced to the entire 3 year old class that I have a who-who, using proper terminology.  I'm having flashbacks to the movie Kindergarten Cop.  Then he told them I also have bobs.  His version of....well you know.

I ordered a shirt on clearance last year from Talbot's for a steal, and forgot to put him in it for Halloween.  I stumbled on it again, and he loves it.

He calls it his "Bad Mommy" shirt.  I tried to explain it to him that it was a MUMMY, but he refuses to believe it.  He calls me the "Good Mommy" at least.  

Notice his big boy haircut.  I love it!  Unfortunately a big boy haircut doesn't help him stop pooping in his pants, which he did at the gym tonight.  We knew when we heard the page what the deal was.  We've unfortunately come to expect it, even though we potty him right before we take him in the room.  I don't know what else to try!

Today I ran 3 miles, biked 10, and worked my core.  Monday was a run day as well.  I think Friday will be a swim day as my knees need a break.  Triathlon season is fast approaching and I bought my membership for the season, so I have to do at least 4 triathlons to break even.  My tri partner in Texas wants me to go back for an Olympic distance in May, so I am working out the logistics of it all--shipping the bike, ticket, training, etc. 

Gunner is doing great in his class!  Abs doesn't want to do any homework, but at least she is bringing it home.  Em is Em, the fastest texter in the world. 

The big news around here....

I went on a laundry strike and no one noticed. 

So much for making a statement!

How to have a bubble bath Abs style

1.  Fill the tub with water until your parents come in and tell you to turn it off.

2.  Wait until you think they aren't listening and turn the water back on.

3.  Hope that your parents get distracted by your baby brother pooping in his pants AGAIN.

4.  Turn off water again and let some out after your parents come in and stand there until the water is at an acceptable level.

5.  Look for bottles of shampoo and conditioner that you have not emptied yet and see if you can squeeze any more bubbles out of them.

6.  If that doesn't work then fill them up and empty the water into the toilet until you get bored or your parents check on you again and confiscate all the bottles.

7.  Turn the water on again until your parents notice.

8.  Splash around trying to make your own bubbles and instead get water all over the floor.

9.  Get out of tub and lock bathroom so your parents don't see wet floor.

10.  Parents are too smart for their own good, hear the click, and unlock the bathroom to find you cleaning up the mess with a towel.  (Note:  They are thankful that she is trying to clean up the mess for once)

11.  Listen to your parents tell you to wash your body and get out of tub.

12.  Remind parents there is no soap.

13.  Parents will give you brand new bar of soap.

14.  Turn water a murky color due to amount of lathering up.

15.  Get soap soft.

16.  Cram entire bar of soap into faucet and turn the water on high, creating a bubble bath.

17.  Get removed from the tub after having to sit there with your mom and pull soap out of the faucet.

18.  Promise not to do it again.  Rinse.  Repeat as often as possible, because they left out a bar of soap on accident.

The last time I bought bubble bath stuff, we had the glass shower doors and we had bubbles almost up to the top. 

P.S.  She wanted me to note that it didn't make that great of a bubble bath. 

My Junior

I was looking for the cord to the CD player tonight so we can try some classical music in Junior's room and maybe he will go to sleep.  The boy LOVES classical music.  Anyway, I stumbled on a CD with pictures that were taken of Junior when he was a few months old.

The day that Gunner went back on R&R, we were sitting in the airport saying goodbye, and Junior was 13 days old.  I was taking pictures of the two of them together when a lady stopped by and offered to shoot a couple of family shots.  We agreed, although I wasn't exactly feeling up to working it for the camera. 

She took a few pictures and then handed me her card, because she was a photographer and a military wife.  She offered to do a session of Junior for free, and another friend of hers came over to help, Tina Cho.  I looked for a recent webpage for her, but couldn't locate one.  Anyway, she got some great shots of my little guy to send to Gunner.

He's always had kind of a funky haircut.

Why the heck is everyone looking at me, and why am I hanging out in a basket?

Notice how he is leaning towards his left in each picture?  Torticollis.  I had no clue at the time, but he spent about 6 months in physical therapy getting it straightend out.  Apparently since he was kind of hefty (10 lbs 1 oz), he was out of room and just got lodged in there in one position while he baked.  I actually had to sleep with him for several months, because he could only sleep on one side in order to make sure that his features remained symmetrical (they were a little bit lopsided because of the torticollis and him sleeping on one side all the time).  I got no sleep because I was either nursing or checking on him, the little stinker.

But it all worked out, and he is healthy and not lopsided anymore, but the wild hair remains!

P.S.  The classical music worked and he was out within 5 minutes. 

Gunner's Abs

If she was my Abs, she would require more sleep.  Gunner always says "Sleep is a crutch". 

My Abs would not have spread an entire brand new box of expensive dog treats all over the house in an obstacle course to see if she could get Sammy to follow the trail.

If Abs was my child, then she would not have put the roll of toilet paper in the tub, over the shower curtain rod, and then the end in the toilet and sat there and flushed to see if the toilet was strong enough to unroll the entire roll of toilet paper.  Guess what, it is.

If Abs was my child, she would not have eaten the entire box of cheese crackers that I got for snack.  Six crackers in each package, 6 packages.  She was at least able to tell me that she ate 36 crackers.

My Abs would not be in her room trying to take a nap because she was tired from staying up all night.

To the mom of the little boy at Junior's daycare--back off!

My 9 blisters from my 6 mile run on Wednesday are not gone, but I might have to run this morning to work off some frustration.

Another 4 weeks

After Ab's IM training, they want to do some more training for another 4 weeks for 90 minutes, three times a week.  If it helps, I am all for it.  Will it stress me out to do it while Gunner is gone?  You betcha.

I think Em's bus driver was fired.  She wasn't on her afternoon run, and I know of two other people that called.  Em returned home with 25 signatures of people that said that they have seen her bus driver texting and driving.  They don't make laws for the heck of it people, don't text and drive!

I had Ab's 504 meeting today, and the counselor told me that she wanted to have weekly contact with me, but not if I was going to be contacting the school district.  Ummmm....if you did your job, I wouldn't have to.  My friend and I were talking about the other day--if people just did their jobs, then we wouldn't have half of the problems that we do.  Do what you say you will do!

Volunteering tomorrow.  Hopefully I can go check on a trial I have been watching.

Abs didn't have a wii party, but she did break into the Halloween candy and then go into her brother's room to play with his toys and turn his light on, and when he woke up, he was so excited to see her and get up.  She brought out the candy and I found them engrossed in building train tracks all over the room and setting up little people while sucking on lollipops.  (They weren't even gluten free)  All Halloween candy is in the trash now.

While I was at the meeting this afternoon, Gunner had to take off early so he could run Em to Girl Scouts, go pick up Junior, run to my neighbor's and pickup Abs, then drop Abs off at OT, then back to get Em, then home to make dinner while I went to sit at OT and wait on Abs.  I did get to see the IM in action, and it's pretty interesting.  They said that the majority of the effects are usually seen 3-6 months after completion. 

I did stop by Ab's desk after my meeting and found all the homework that she hasn't done since school resumed.  I found the notes the teacher had written me. She spent tonight cranking out all her homework.  Her teacher told me that she wasn't bringing her homework folder back to school or her agenda book.  It's in her backpack every day, but always empty.  We are working on some changes, which will hopefully help.

I think I might go visit a friend this weekend since Em will be gone and Gunner can have a slumber party/wii tournament with the kids.  Well if you can call it a visit when you have Bikram Yoga, P90x, and the gym thrown in for good measure.  I forsee pho in our future too, and with all that working out we should have a glass or two of wine shouldn't we?

A post about deployments coming up.

Whirlwind

I was on the news Friday night here, for reporting my daughter's bus driver texting while driving, and the school telling me "it's not our problem!". 

Ab's OT told me that I needed to get her 504 in place and to tell them that I was told to seek legal counsel and drop the name she gave me.  They have scheduled it for Monday.  It should have been done back in October when I first requested it. 

Em had a tournament this weekend for her public speaking group, and had a great time and gained some valuable experience.  She spent the night with a friend, and I guess we wore Junior and Abs out as they were asleep by 7:30 last night. 

We just got home from the pool and Gunner and Junior went to pick up our dinner.  The best pizza ever.  They even make gluten free pizza! 

Another busy week on the way.  One day I'll be able to rest, I hope...

We're still going gluten free...

and I honestly think it is messing with her ability to bring her homework from school to the house.  I guess they had a ton of it tonight, but of course it's not here.  I told her I would still love her if she had to repeat 3rd grade.

Abs used to constantly make her own meals, and now I refuse to let her.  She has to eat what is served, which is what I used to do before Gunner deployed when I was pregnant with Junior and well, good intentions flew out the window.

We have juiced.

We have baked.  She loved the muffins I made.  The gluten free brownies out of a Betty Crocker box, were actually really good.

We still haven't stumbled on a mac and cheese that she's liked, but we are trying. 

Now The Mrs. is having a giveaway with gluten free lollipops.  It has to be better than what Abs was eating out of her Halloween basked in the fall!

This morning I heard the loudspeakers go off, and they kept going off repeatedly, but I just ignored them.  Abs was already at the bus stop, and it was a few minutes before her bus was to come and a siren went off.  I figured I would sit with her till the bus came, before I went to the gym.  I got in the car went out of the parking lot, and was met with dozens of little kids running around. 

The kids heard the word "Lockdown, lockdown, lockdown" and were running home.  Actually Abs was headed to her friend's house, where I would have never found her, and they all missed the bus.  I drove Abs to school and then went to hit the gym on post since I couldn't leave.  It was locked down.  Everything was closed, so I came home and took a nap.  It was too cold for my old bones to be running outside. 

Tomorrow is volunteer day, and I am looking into volunteering at a food bank.  I really need to focus on getting a job too.

Having problems with Abs and school again.  Apparently she is not doing her writing assignments--something she struggles with because of her fine motor skill delays.  Her teacher's solution is to give her zeroes.  Seriously?  She has tons to write about, but the problem is getting her to put it on paper, and her handwriting is already so far behind.  The teacher said she has too many students to worry about one.  My principal would have had my hide if I had ever said something like that. 

Anyway, I got an email from the counselor today about it, and I lost it.  I emailed her back and asked once again about the 504 that I requested back in October, that they have been dragging their feet on, and haven't received a response yet. 

Maybe I should homeschool her the rest of this year.  24/7 with Abs...I have to think on that.  I'm still going to work with the school and get them to provide her with what she needs. 

Gunner has training tonight, and we don't have Interactive Metronome training.  Yea!

I got tickets for Disney Live for Junior and Abs.
The new coffee pot arrived.
I am still trying to figure out a way to go to the Walking With Dinosaurs exhibit without it costing $400 for our entire family to attend.  That's crazy!

I found a cool place to go this weekend, we just need to fit it around Em's Forensics meet, training, gym, swimming, and everything else, like conquering that pile of laundry I have.

My next craft project is in the works...in the meantime, here's the finished nightstand.  We were going to distress it, but after the whole royal vs navy incident, we just wanted it done.  We bought new hardware and noticed that the holes weren't even, but at this point, we're calling it personality.

Not a great picture, but the end results were worth the effort.  There's two of them, and anything had to be better than the colors they started out!

Poor Gunner

He promised me tonight that next time I want to "paint and fix some piece of crap furniture" that he is out.  The chests were not as easy as they looked and required a lot of work to get the drawers back to working properly.  At least they look good painted navy blue.  :)

We hit the gym this morning and Abs was trained to use the equipment so that she could work out with us.  She pretty much flitted from machine to machine and yelled across the room each time declaring her love for me.  I did manage to get a 5 mile run in before we had to get moving though.

My neighbors are moving and I don't want them to go. 

I volunteer tomorrow.  I'm enjoying learning everything, and there are so many different things to see and do.  Maybe I have found a new career field.

I was going to take one class this term, but I can't manage to sign up for one reason or another, so unless I can get it straightend out after work, I think I will take a break.  I have plenty to keep me busy with all of Ab's appointments, and getting her squared away is the most important job that I have right now.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Another project completed, and a great, great, great recipe!

I loathe to run errands by myself most days.  Gunner and Junior joined me while we went back to Home Depot, so I could show my husband the difference between navy blue and royal blue.  I like navy, but Gunner managed to find a fluorescent blue that he thought was navy.  It was awful, but led to jokes the rest of the night and into today.

We finished one project. 

It's a magnet board for Junior's room.  It hasn't made it to his room yet, and we haven't moved all the magnets yet, but hopefully tomorrow.  It was soooooo easy!  I got it off a website, that now I can't find again.  We bought a frame from the Arc, spray painted it, took out the glass, put in sheet metal, and we're done.  I'm all about simple.

Em has requested one for her room to put up pictures (I'm sure of Mr. Beiber himself) and a Team Jacob sign.  The life of a tween.

We hit the commissary.

It had been a few days since we hit the pool, so we went swimming for almost two hours.  Waterlogged, we returned home so I could do the wii fit and Gunner made dinner.

We love PF Chang's, but I am hate to go out to eat since a family of 5 can cost and arm and a leg.  We do like Pei Wei, and it's somewhat cheaper, but I don't think we will ever eat there again after discovering this recipe for Mongolian Beef.     

Abs and Junior love the stuff, and the rest of us eat almost everything anyway.  We did make it with one flank steak, but I also put some tofu in there, and it was to die for.  It tastes just like the real version, but so much better since it is cheap to make!

The girls want it again.  I want it again.

Tomorrow is visual therapy, gym (hoping to make step and then run), maybe a bike ride after the house gets picked up, and we are hoping that the lego table will be completed so that they can start making the city that they are planning.  Have you ever been to Legoland?  We LOVE it, and I can't wait to go back to take Junior.

Trying to plan our summer trip, once Gunner can pin down block leave.  I can't believe January is half over already.  I sure hope Gunner's next deployment goes by this fast....I know, wishful thinking.

I have a problem...

Gunner and I hit the gym this morning after Ab's OT appointment.  A quick workout of Abs and legs (Gunner can barely walk so we didn't do any cardio) and we were on our way. 

We went to the Arc.  My friend Dave tells me to stay away.

I try, but there are always things that I need.

I got two of these:

Okay, okay, okay, so you have to look past the bad paint job and the ugly handles, but aren't they cute?  Of course they will be repainted and will look much better when I Gunner is done.  I like real wood.

Then I came across this:

Very rough, but I like the lines on it.  It will be stained or something by me Gunner and I see new handles in store.

We won't talk about the pyrex I found. 

Then I decided I was going to make a tutu.  It was soooooo easy.  Of course we have a huge static problem here, so it probably needs to go in the dryer a bit to make them lie down a little better.  I'll be making one for my niece next I think.

It actually looks cuter in person, and I straightened out the pieces afterward and it looked better and not so rough.  It took about a good 45 minutes to make from start to finish.

Em is making spaghetti for dinner tonight.  Yum.

Junior needs a haircut.  Em had Girl Scouts--anyone want Girl Scout cookies? 

Gunner and I had pho for lunch and some Vietnamese eggrolls that were the best I have ever had.  The eggrolls came on top of noodles with peanuts and green onions, lettuce leaves, a sauce, cucumbers, carrots, and bean sprouts.  We had never seen that before and guessed that we were supposed to make lettuce wraps out of the extras?

Yea for 4 day weekends!

I volunteered again today.  Very, very, very, interesting.  I think I know what I want to be when I grow up.  At least this week.

If you live in the Colorado Springs area and want your child to attend a brand new charter school for gifted and talented kids, go here.  I've reviewed the curriculum before it was submitted, and it is great.  Small classes that will meet the needs of Abs.  Perfect.

Metronome training tonight for Abs.  This three days a week business is killing me.  What's worse?  Gunner is going to the field soon.  Why is it I know I can survive with him gone, but when I initially here he is leaving, a bit of panic sets in?  Please tell me I am not alone.

Gunner had his first training session last night and a road march this morning.  He's covered in blisters and is sore.  Tomorrow we are hitting the gym and he is going to teach me everything he learned in the first training session.  Can't wait!  We are hoping to follow it up with a bike ride.

I guess the road marches for Gunner will continue since they are prepping for a 22 mile road march.  I want to do it! 

One of Gunner's friends gave him a wii guitar and more songs for our band hero.  I feel a wii tournament coming on this weekend. 

I want to get out and see something this weekend too, since we totally slacked last weekend.  A friend of mine from Texas is coming in this weekend and I am going to visit with her for a bit too. 

School starts up again next week and I decided to take a class.  One class.  I just need to decide which one to take since I want to take both of them.  With Gunner leaving I can't devote the time to two classes, not to mention I want to keep my sanity and my workout schedule.

Junior wants breakfast every morning before he goes to school.....where he turns around and eats another whole breakfast.  He's going to put us in the poor house when he's a teenager. 

My 20 year high school reunion is this summer.  I'm not sure if I am going to go, depends on what else we have going on.  Are they really worth going to?  I didn't particularly enjoy high school, and via facebook I can keep up with most of them, so what's the point?

I keep looking at all these crafty blogs, thinking "I can do that".  I've got big plans!  Time to pull out my sewing machine and get started!

Invitation

You're Invited!!!

What:  The party of all parties!

When:  Every morning at 3 AM

Where:  Our living room

Why:  Apparently everything is more fun at 3 AM

Who:  It's Abs being Abs

Don't worry, this morning she had pizza and a wii party.  Who knows what the future holds.  Maybe an ice cream party?  Sundaes?  Banana splits?

It is apparently always a good time judging from the mess that is left behind, so no worries, she apparently has a monther that is used to cleaning up after her and making her and only her join in the fun of cleaning up after the festivities.

Come as you are, pajamas welcome, bring a wii game as she is getting really good at the few that we have and is looking for some variety.

Be there.

P.S.  Don't worry about a clean bathroom, Abs has covered the toilet in green stars again, so make sure you don't have any breathing problems as it is overwhelming.

Why are Mondays always so hard?

After Gunner being off for almost a month, I didn't want him to go back to work this morning.  Not that I even woke up when his alarm went off.  I was out cold.  But I am sure I was thinking "Have a safe day sweetie". 

For some reason the girls both had appointments this morning.  I dragged Em with us to take Abs to visual therapy, and then raced Abs back to school, and took Em to the orthodontist.  Finished up there and raced to drop Em off at school, then go get Abs again to take her to a doctor's appointment.  Somehow that comsumed 5 hours of my morning.

Em's hair was looking kind of funky this afternoon and I asked her about it--apparently Abs used all of her shampoo so she washed her hair with shower gel.  Ewwww!  I assured her I would get her some real shampoo and conditioner.

Abs started her interactive metrenome training tonight and it went well, but that meant another hour and a half at OT.  I did finish a third of New Moon. 

Tomorrow I start my volunteer job.  Let's see if I can fit it in the schedule.

Tonight Gunner was running the tub for Junior, and Junior started saying he had to pee.  Gunner told him to go potty, and then turned around to see him not using the toilet but peeing all over the clothes that the girls had left on the floor after their showers.  Good times in our house.

Tomorrow we have another night of metronome training, and Abs has to miss her Brownie field trip.  She's fine with it though, so hopefully all these different treatements work.  The metoenome training is supposed to help her work on her impulstivity.  I can only hope!

The weather is beautiful here, and after my 3000 yard swim yesterday, I need to hit the gym tomorrow or definitely Wednesday for a long run.  My sorority in college is talking about meeting and doing a race together sometime.  I can't wait! 

More Junior

He thought I wasn't taking enough pictures of him in the snow. He gets his drama from his sisters.

730 in 365

Amy over at The Finer Things in Life is having a challenge to get rid of clutter.

I attract clutter.

I can't part with anything because I have the unfortunate sometimes amazing ability to remember the stories behind it.

Isn't it genetic?  It has to be.  My brother was here and walked into my basement over Christmas and told me I was just like our mother.  Seriously?

I can think of worse things to be, but I do save everything.  I have a ton of books.  Tons of toys.  Tons of stuff I don't use, so I am going to take Amy's challenge to eliminate 760 things in 365 days.

Can I do it?  I hope so.
It's only two things per day.  Do I really need to keep stuff just because so and so gave it to me?  Okay, honestly, it depends on who that so and so is. 

How hard can it be to get rid of two things a day?  (Might help if I stop bringing stuff in the house too, but that's a whole other issue.)

So, if it doesn't make me happy, doesn't serve a use, isn't functional, it is gone.

Don't worry mom, I won't get rid of anything too sentimental and if I find anything really good, I'll save my crap I mean treasures for you.  (Don't worry, my sisters and mom and I get together and call it the great "crap" exchange.  See, it has to be hereditary!)

More Sledding

Since our three inches never materialized we won't be doing any of this over the weekend. We bought these cheap sleds over Christmas and they work great!

Taken in St. Elmo, Colorado.

No more boxes

Gunner made boxed mac and cheese for Abs yesterday that was gluten free.  I couldn't even eat it, it was so horrible.

So I bought some gluten free noodles and some soy cheese and we will try it that way.  Maybe it is just the noodles?  Is there something else to use in place of noodles?

I bought the book The Kid Friendly ADHD & Autism Cookbook at the recommendation of her OT.  Tonight we are having meatloaf with veggie puree from our juicer.

Since we are just getting into this, I am realizing how much I don't know, and how much "crap" we have that she can't eat.  At least not yet.  Her OT, her pediatrician and her psychiatrist all said to get her going on this diet and then we'll add a few things back in and see how it goes from there.

Maybe it will make no difference.  Maybe all the difference in the world?  Even soy is controversial, but her doctor said to leave that in for now since we know she will eat cheese.  She ate chicken last night which is a first in a long time. 

Anyone have any good recipes?

We're off to hit the pool and the hot tub!

Priceless Gift

I know I have blogged before about my parents and their love of the Triumph car.  They had one when they were married, but you can't exactly cart around 4 children in the back of one safely, so they traded up for bigger (not better!) cars.  When I was in junior high my dad purchased another one and had it restored.  My mom and dad traveled all over the United States attending car shows in their speedy red car and collected tshirts at each event. 

When my dad passed away, we were sorting through his clothes and we came across the pile of tshirts.  We told my mom she should keep them and make a quilt out of them....someday.  When I was calling my mom before she left for The House of Love and Joy, she was madly sewing and wouldn't tell me what it was.  It drove me nuts! 

The four of us unwrapped a priceless gift from my mom this year.

She used all of my dad's tshirts to make the four of us each a quilt.

My brother holding up his.  One of the shirts used in his quilts was one that my dad wore to work on the car all the time, so there are even small spatters of oil on it.

I still miss my dad and think about him every.single.day.  I can't even put into words what this quilt means to me.  Thanks Mom, once again you have given us a priceless gift and I can't thank you enough!