Re: Yo, where is everyone?

[Guest guest]

My question also, it has been quiet. Gwen here Mom to Breezy 18 and the

best kiddo in the world. Take care all and God Bless

In a message dated 1/29/2011 9:00:40 P.M. Central Standard Time,

cindysue@... writes:

Hello....how is everyone doing? Are you all ready for a roll call?

,<----Mom to Mattie, age 17.5 years old

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Guest guest]

Well if you haven't been following me on facebook I've been sick since the

beginning of December and it has only gotten worse so it means specialists for

me to go to. Oh joy - NOT I just want to be able to function to have some sort

of energy. I go to school for an hour and come home and not want to do anything

because I'm tired. To top it off of not feeling good means I haven't been eating

too much, I'm trying to drink my calories but since I switched to either diet

pop or sobe 0 calorie lifewaters. Not any fun I tell you.

Mel

Mom to 11 (DS) and Abbey and a 5

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Yo, where is everyone?

Hello....how is everyone doing? Are you all ready for a roll call?

,<----Mom to Mattie, age 17.5 years old

[Guest guest]

One of the quiet ones here... in Sydney, Australia. Wife to Tony, mum

to (19 - 2nd year university doing Bachelor of Medical Science),

(nearly 18, DS, last year of high school, prefect), Greg (15, 2nd last year high

school).

I work full time as an oncology (cancer) Clinical Trial Coordinator and am half

way through a Bachelor of Science studying part-time. Not a lot of spare hours

or minutes in my days!

Regards Jenn

Sent from my iPhone

On 30/01/2011, at 2:00 PM, " cindy casten " <cindysue@...> wrote:

> Hello....how is everyone doing? Are you all ready for a roll call?

>

> ,<----Mom to Mattie, age 17.5 years old

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi all!

Not too much going on except real life!!!! Sam in Kindie, it is going well -

finally had a breakthrough - he played one-on-one with a friend at recess.

First time. He started initiating conversations with peers and teachers, too! I

am very happy at how things are going.

My girls have a serious case of the teenager. I am not sure i will survive this

stage without going to jail ;-)))

Hubby and I spent our 15th anniversary in Las Vegas. That about wraps it up!

Staying warm and not too dry on the west coast!

Barb R. mom to Sam (5)ds, (11) and (13) in sunny (not) Potlandia!

On Jan 29, 2011, at 7:00 PM, cindy casten wrote:

> Hello....how is everyone doing? Are you all ready for a roll call?

>

> ,<----Mom to Mattie, age 17.5 years old

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ohhhh.. good timing Cindi! I am just getting ready to post in ISSUE on

.. I'll do the roll call first and THEN in my next email share my

problem.

Hi, I'm .. who is ALWAYS ready and willing to share my opinion, take it or

leave it. LOL.

and I are the happy parents of 9, caretakers of 1, and guardians of 2..

although that guardianship is of my grandsons and will be ending this month.

We have , 49 ds. We have Maverick 20 ds, and we have Logan 8 ds.

We live in AZ... transplated from WI (Go Packers!) and MN. just retired

as a social worker working with families with sp needs children.

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I'm Jan, mother of Trent 26yo with DS, we live in Australia. Trent has 3

siblings - an older Brother and his wife Fiona who have an adorable

puppy Lucy and are expecting their first child in April. His older sister

is a teacher who along with her partner Ross are building their first

home. You could say it is one of those building nightmares, 11 months and

they are still not in. Last but not least is his baby sister Shannen,

Shannen is a Dental Assistant and still lives at home, I am not looking

forward to the day she eventually 'grows up' and moves on. Can be bad

enough when she goes away on holiday without him. My husband is a mobile

automotive spray painter and we do so enjoy the nights he stays away, which

is generally only one night a week.

We have 1 goat, use to have 2 others until one of our neighbours continually

complained to the council about them getting out to munch on the roadside

grasses of a dead end street. We also have a cat named tosh, who is nearly

13 years of age but has serious health problems, not sure whether he will

survive the heat of summer, which after the rain I am expecting to arrive in

February.

Keep smiling

Jan.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf

Of and FRANK

Sent: Sunday, 30 January 2011 4:14 PM

UpsAndDowns

Subject: Re: Yo, where is everyone?

Ohhhh.. good timing Cindi! I am just getting ready to post in ISSUE on

.. I'll do the roll call first and THEN in my next email share my

problem.

Hi, I'm .. who is ALWAYS ready and willing to share my opinion, take it

or leave it. LOL.

and I are the happy parents of 9, caretakers of 1, and guardians of 2..

although that guardianship is of my grandsons and will be ending this month.

We have , 49 ds. We have Maverick 20 ds, and we have Logan 8 ds.

We live in AZ... transplated from WI (Go Packers!) and MN. just retired

as a social worker working with families with sp needs children.

[Guest guest]

Well, Hi. This is Jessie and I have been out of touch for a long

time, it's good to be back. I have a son with DS who was just 46, and he has

an older sister who is a nurse and lives in the Houston, Texas area. We

live in Kansas City and have really been having snow for a month, more than

usual. We spent most of last winter with her, her name is , which was a

stupid thing to do. I was having some problems and she knew this wonderful

doctor who she was sure could cure anything and she finally talked me into

going. So we packed up my car and a small U-Haul, us 3 people and our 3 cats

and drove to Texas. the doctor there did the same tests the ones here did

and told me the same thing : There wasn't anything wrong with me that could

be fixed. Big deal. But by the then the winter here was so bad and

Oklahoma was buried so we had to stay there till be could drive back. Turned

out

to be 3 or 4 months. Our littlest cat still complains if we even mention

Texas. has a different computer set up than we do and I didn't figure

it out. had his lap top and of course, he figured it out, but I

didn't do much with it and that's how I got out of touch. I would rather have

the snow we're having now, will never go to Texas again. I tried to get

some of the " kids " in our neighborhood to help me build a snowman the other

day but no one would. and they are all younger than I am. would do

it but since he uses a wheelchair that would be a problem.

is an artist, we took classes for some years but the teacher

died and there were complications and the class gave up. But he spends

most of his time at home painting beautiful pictures. It is getting harder

for me to handle his wheelchair, getting it in and out of the car, so he

doesn't get out as much. He uses the computer a lot and has several friends he

keeps in close touch with. We have lost several friends in recent months

too.

I'm anxious to hear from many of you, especially and her

" brood " so I hope many will join in. Jessie, mom to , , and 3

wonderful cats, well, 5 if you count the ones outside who won't come in.

[Guest guest]

Joy here, Mom to 21, ds and 3 older girls. Plus one 5 yo

granddaughter and a boy/girl set of twins 3yo's. And one grandson on

the way!! Living in MN which experienced a heat way today got all the

way up into the 30's I think, warm! Back into the ice box tonight tho.

is graduating from MSAD this year, she has attended school there

since she entered 7th grade. Instead of a big party to celebrate her

graduation we are flying down to FL in Feb to do Disney and a few other

assorted attractions. Hopefully it will be WARM down there. Her

sisters, their spouses and the nieces and nephew are coming to. The

only sister not coming is the one in AZ as she will be about 7 1/2

months pg and is it really worth the flight and cost to get into those

various attractions when you can't do much? Not to mention all the

walking that would be required, we shall miss having her and her husband

with us.

And that is the excitement in our lives at this time. .....

Joy

On 1/29/2011 9:00 PM, cindy casten wrote:

>

> Hello....how is everyone doing? Are you all ready for a roll call?

>

> ,<----Mom to Mattie, age 17.5 years old

>

>

[Guest guest]

Good morning!

I am Sue, mom to two daughters. Kate is now 21 and lives in her own

apartment near SIUC. She is a senior already and is majoring in musical

theatre. Karrie is in 8th grade, is 14 (almost 15 as she reminds me

daily!) and just got registered for high school! She is a cheerleader

for the Y here, and just got her first " job " as a volunteer at the Y!

When she got her t-shirt that said Y Staff, I cried

Karrie has up and down medical issues...last year was very difficult,

with seizures, migraines, the dx of a cyst that was growing in her

brain, and 3 different bacterial infections under her skin. She had 3

surgeries last year. This year, though, has seen an end to the skin

bacterial infections, the cyst is deflated and the seizures and

migraines are things of the past! She has made huge gains from getting

outside speech therapy again.

I work as a pediatric therapist in Early Intervention. I also started

back to school full-time last August and will have my degree in 6

months! I am setting up a human service co-op for Karrie and some other

families. So life is rarely stagnant around here!

It's great to catch up with everyone!! I just don't understand how all

the kids here have gotten so old!!

Sue (in IL) mom to Kate 21 and Karrie 14 w/ds and mild autism

[Guest guest]

----- Original Message -----

From: <JB66111@...>

> Well, Hi. This is Jessie and I have been out of touch for a long

> time, it's good to be back.

Yes, too long and you had us all worried!!!!! Next time you go off line for

an extended period of time, call one of us ) Glad you are back, and if I

were with you, I'd make the snow man.

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm Lori, My husband and I are both teachers in Texas. We are parents

to 5...-26, -26, Brent-25, Garrett-16 and -14(DS). We are

also Grandparents to 5. is in 8th grade and is doing fairly well in an

inclusion setting at the Jr High her dad works at. She is a very outgoing,

opinionated teenager who loves to sing, dance and watch movies. She never

misses an episode of The Suite Life on Deck (on the Disney Channel) because she

is " in love " with the boys who play Zack and Cody. Her dream is to go to

Hollywood and meet them!

In Aug. we found out she has type 1 diabetes, it's been a little difficult but

we are adjusting and she is starting to do her own blood sugar checks! She also

has hypothyroidism and is on 137 mcg of synthroid.

is involved in Special Olympics and will be participating in the state

games in Austin this week. She is very excited, and so are we because we have

been asked to go as chaperones so we all get to go!

It's really nice to " meet " everyone, it's fun to see where all the families are

from!

Lori

[Guest guest]

We're still here in Fairmont, WV. Nick is now 17 years old and is in second

year at the local high school. He has a facebook account too and many of his

high school friends have asked to be his friends on facebook. (Nick started

kindergarten as a 6 year old and repeated 1st grade which puts him behind many

of the other 17 year olds. At this point in time, we are looking at Nick

graduating with his current class of typical peers. We are debating having him

return to the high school for 1 more year of vocational training but may just

end with him graduating.)

My younger two boys are currently in 5th & 3rd grade respectively and Jeff is

still enjoying working as a nurse in a local nursing/rehab center. I'm still

home full-time (and enjoying Jeff's days off with him) and I still sale Kay

Cosmetics.

That's about it for a quick summary.

Cari

[Guest guest]

It is great to see your update Jessie - a few of us wondered (and worried!)

about you.

 

Boy, it is too bad we aren't closer - I don't like the snow, and I wouldn't

really want to help with the snowman, but Olivia sure would! And she is always

looking for someone to play in the snow with.

 

Patty, in snowy Ohio

From: JB66111@... <JB66111@...>

Subject: Re: Yo, where is everyone?

janmarie21@...,

Date: Sunday, January 30, 2011, 2:02 AM

 

Well, Hi. This is Jessie and I have been out of touch for a long

time, it's good to be back. I have a son with DS who was just 46, and he has

an older sister who is a nurse and lives in the Houston, Texas area. We

live in Kansas City and have really been having snow for a month, more than

usual. We spent most of last winter with her, her name is , which was a

stupid thing to do. I was having some problems and she knew this wonderful

doctor who she was sure could cure anything and she finally talked me into

going. So we packed up my car and a small U-Haul, us 3 people and our 3 cats

and drove to Texas. the doctor there did the same tests the ones here did

and told me the same thing : There wasn't anything wrong with me that could

be fixed. Big deal. But by the then the winter here was so bad and

Oklahoma was buried so we had to stay there till be could drive back. Turned out

to be 3 or 4 months. Our littlest cat still complains if we even mention

Texas. has a different computer set up than we do and I didn't figure

it out. had his lap top and of course, he figured it out, but I

didn't do much with it and that's how I got out of touch. I would rather have

the snow we're having now, will never go to Texas again. I tried to get

some of the " kids " in our neighborhood to help me build a snowman the other

day but no one would. and they are all younger than I am. would do

it but since he uses a wheelchair that would be a problem.

is an artist, we took classes for some years but the teacher

died and there were complications and the class gave up. But he spends

most of his time at home painting beautiful pictures. It is getting harder

for me to handle his wheelchair, getting it in and out of the car, so he

doesn't get out as much. He uses the computer a lot and has several friends he

keeps in close touch with. We have lost several friends in recent months

too.

I'm anxious to hear from many of you, especially and her

" brood " so I hope many will join in. Jessie, mom to , , and 3

wonderful cats, well, 5 if you count the ones outside who won't come in.

[Guest guest]

here, mom to 3 amazing teen/tween girls... (15),

(JUST TURNED 13, DS) and Sammy (11). We're in the San Diego area, and

life is going well. is a sophomore, plays basketball on the high

school team, sings in choir and in classical voice competitions, and

dabbles in musical theater... currently doing Fiddler on the Roof and we

can't wait for opening night next week! She's starting driver's Ed

soon, and will be getting her license this year, which is great and

terrifying at the same time. Sammy is in 6th grade, plays competitive

soccer year round, rec basketball, and is doing Science Olympiad next

week (which of course, I got roped into coaching!) She passed

up in height this year,which is determined to fix somehow :-)

is now in 7th grade, and the bumps of the middle school

transition are long past (of course, it helps to have Sammy at the same

school now, with a cell phone....). She's fully included, and we are

loving the fact that her friends at school really care about her and

watch out for her. We had considered switching schools this year

because the case manager has trouble following the IEP, but decided that

giving up friends since kindergarten who will actually speak out on her

behalf, both big and small (like the one who came to me and said " you

know, sits by the CD player in Social Studies and I think it's

too loud for her... should I ask the teacher to move her to a quieter

spot? " ) loves playing in the local Challenger divisions of our

family sports (soccer and basketball) and would LOVE to be a cheerleader

if I could find a non-competitive program. She is currently very

focused on her new teenage status and this weekend took everything

" babyish " out of her room and put it in the hall, asking for a room

makeover for a " teenage " room. I think she's picked up a teenage

attitude from some of her favorite TV shows, but she's quite funny these

days, and as compared to many 13 year old girls, quite a joy to be

around. She loves school, her computer, TV and books... much more of a

quiet child than her sisters, which to us is a welcome relief from the

chaos of the other two :-) All three are Girl Scouts, and today is the

first day of cookie sales.... was dressed, with her vest on,

hair brushed, ready to go at 8 am... had to hold her back until 10,which

seemed like a reasonable time to ring doorbells on a Sunday morning! I

can't wait to see her excitement when she returns with her boxes

(hopefully) empty!

DH is at the same job he's had for 20+ years and we are thankful

for that, and I'm still staying at home with kids, after leaving my job

as a research scientist shortly after was born. I was going

to go back, but now it's been too long, and I'd like to figure out how

to get a teaching credential without having to redo everything I did

years ago. But, I've managed to fill my time with PTA, volunteering in

the classroom, being a Girl Scout leader for all their troops, team mom

for basketball, and doing whatever for band and choir.. you know, the

days just fill up and my house is still as messy as when I worked full

time outside the home, LOL. Although we have no family in the area, we

are blessed to have fairly healthy parents who love to come down and

escape the cold weather they live in and visit for extended periods of

time... it's great for the girls to have so much time with the

grandparents, and I they are a great help when they are here!

I joined this group when was a baby, and often think how cool

it would be to meet with so many of you... luckily we have the internet!

, mom to (15) (13 DS) and Sammy (11)

[Guest guest]

I am so glad you called for a roll call CIndy.  I miss everyone...to much

facebook lol!  I miss the old questions and answers from everyone and it feels

like my family is gone.  Anyway...I am Loree mom to Micah 10 (can't believe

it). We live on Long Island in New York.  Also have one other son at home Caleb

who is 15.  Three adult children 35, 32, and Cameron 26, two of

whom will be getting married this year within 6 months of each other YIKES!

Micah is doing well and is is the third grade.  Should be in the fourth but we

held him back another year because of his tiny stature and my beleif that the

best part of his education will probably come in elementary school so we get one

more year (next) until we have to face the dreaded middle school)  He is still

in the program we created where he starts and ends his day in the general ed

classroom.  Spends 50 percent of his time in each.  The added bonus is that

all the parties, field trips etc are done with both classes so his SPED peers

also get to be in the gen ed classroom at times.  The Emard program is working

well for him along with fundations for phonics.  He is doing better in math but

this remains his problem area.  He is in the miracle league and enjoys it as

well as horseback riding with the Police Athletic League program.  He was in

the school bowling leagues and we may sign up for that again this year depending

on scheduling.  Swimming remains his passion and I would so love to see him in

a special olympics swim program but alas cannot find one here close to home. 

Not much in the way of special olympics in our county and to travel to the next

county means around and hour and a half travel time to get to and

from practices on school nights so it is out of the question at least for now.

All in all things are well here. Have had a few bumps in the road in the last

few weeks health wise but overall good.  Of course if we get anymore snow I am

going to scream..we got 19 inches last week and  around 14 the week before. 

They are now calling for either freezing rain on Tuesday-wed. or the possibility

of 30 inches of snow if two storms come together.  NOT!!!!!!  My poor hubby

spent his saturday shoveling snow off the roof.  He also is not looking for

more snow and  this from a man who loves the cold...winter and the snow~~anyway

people I miss you all and am enjoying hearing from each and every one of you!

Loree

 

Yo, where is everyone?

  Hello....how is everyone doing? Are you all ready for a roll call?

, & lt;----Mom to Mattie, age 17.5 years old

[Guest guest]

Loree - I'll take that snow! I left work last week, just minutes after that

storm started. What normally takes an hour to get home, took 4...and I was

" ahead " of the DC commuters headed west bound. But still, I want more I

know we are expecting the ice Tuesday or Wednesday, too. Anything to keep me

home with my baby boy!

Speaking of which, had his 17 year physical on Friday. Because of the

bad weather, his doctor brought her son to work with her. He is 15 years old

and also has DS and PDD. The boys acted very shy towards each other, but when

one hugged their mom, so did the other. Lots of hugs going on, I tell you!

From: loree5@...

cindysue@... ;

Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 4:26 PM

Subject: Re: Yo, where is everyone?

I am so glad you called for a roll call CIndy. I miss everyone...to much

facebook lol! I miss the old questions and answers from everyone and it feels

like my family is gone. Anyway...I am Loree mom to Micah 10 (can't believe it).

We live on Long Island in New York. Also have one other son at home Caleb who

is 15. Three adult children 35, 32, and Cameron 26, two of whom

will be getting married this year within 6 months of each other YIKES!

Micah is doing well and is is the third grade. Should be in the fourth but we

held him back another year because of his tiny stature and my beleif that the

best part of his education will probably come in elementary school so we get one

more year (next) until we have to face the dreaded middle school) He is still

in the program we created where he starts and ends his day in the general ed

classroom. Spends 50 percent of his time in each. The added bonus is that all

the parties, field trips etc are done with both classes so his SPED peers also

get to be in the gen ed classroom at times. The Emard program is working well

for him along with fundations for phonics. He is doing better in math but this

remains his problem area. He is in the miracle league and enjoys it as well as

horseback riding with the Police Athletic League program. He was in the school

bowling leagues and we may sign up for that again this year depending on

scheduling. Swimming remains his passion and I would so love to see him in a

special olympics swim program but alas cannot find one here close to home. Not

much in the way of special olympics in our county and to travel to the next

county means around and hour and a half travel time to get to and from practices

on school nights so it is out of the question at least for now.

All in all things are well here. Have had a few bumps in the road in the last

few weeks health wise but overall good. Of course if we get anymore snow I am

going to scream..we got 19 inches last week and around 14 the week before.

They are now calling for either freezing rain on Tuesday-wed. or the possibility

of 30 inches of snow if two storms come together. NOT!!!!!! My poor hubby

spent his saturday shoveling snow off the roof. He also is not looking for more

snow and this from a man who loves the cold...winter and the snow~~anyway

people I miss you all and am enjoying hearing from each and every one of you!

Loree

Yo, where is everyone?

Hello....how is everyone doing? Are you all ready for a roll call?

,<----Mom to Mattie, age 17.5 years old

[Guest guest]

That is so sweet with and the hugs.  I love the way they can be so shy

sometimes.  Just today someone Micah didn't know was trying to talk to him in

church and he puts his head down and when I said to him " Micah say hi " he said

" too shy " .  Everyone had a good laugh.

If I could package up and send the snow to you I would.  We have mountains of

the stuff and it  makes it dangerous at corners to see what is comimg at you. 

I am looking for spring melt!!

Still praying for Tim and and hoping they are both safe.  Can't wait

until all our boys come home!!

 

Loree

Yo, where is everyone?

  Hello....how is everyone doing? Are you all ready for a roll call?

, & lt;----Mom to Mattie, age 17.5 years old

[Guest guest]

Hi,

- Mom to the 20 year old Brooklyn College student with Down

Syndrome, Diabetes Type 1 and Celiac Disease. is an amazing creature

of the universe. She was in inclusion all through high school and is in a

small inclusion program at Brooklyn College where this year she is in a

transition to work program.

She does secretarial skills in the offices at BC.

loves to sing and sings in our church choir. She is also involved

in a young adult group at church where they meet for fun stuff once a month

and they fully accept her.

She attends a Friday night social with other young adults with Special

Needs and a Saturday program for teens, children and young adults with

disabilities. They go on outings to the movies, restaurants, shopping,etc.

It's

great. She loves it.

She just interviewed for another program with AHRC and the Riggio

foundation at Kingsborough College near the beach in Brooklyn. She will

take regular college classes and be assigned a mentor student.

She has a boyfriend who is one year younger than her that she knows from

school. They have had a few dates to the movies and bowling and Coney

Island- they are very cute together.

has a special sib- my son who is 16 and a junior in a

specialized HS. He is doing amazing in school and got his learner's permit on

his

16th bd.

I am one and a half years from retiring as a NYC public school teacher.

This year I am teaching Social Studies to 6th graders. I love the beach and

am pine-ing for warmer weather as most of you know me.

I miss many of you I have met over the years from our many gatherings.

Facebook has helped us keep up with each other's lives. I would love to have

an East Coast gathering again soon.

and 's dad lives in Florida.

I have been seeing someone for a year and a half and that is great. He

has the most adorable 8 year old son by himself and it is wonderful to have

an 8 year old in my life again.

So all in all, life is good, but sometimes very hectic and stressful.

This group and our connection on facebook has helped me over the years to get

through life's Ups N Downs.

~

[Guest guest]

Hi, I'm Rick .. dad to Jan

I'm around and kick in whenever it seems that I have something

significant to say.

Jan is now 28 and spends most weekends with her parents. Weekdays are

at her place with day activities that include her working as a volunteer

in a day program for people more handicapped than herself. We still

have lots of issues to work on, but things are really pretty good.

I'm retired and working harder than ever. I'm completing restoration of

our historic house, involvedin a non-profit which finds appropriate

housing for adults like ours (or like our kids will be). I also have a

bunch of other things going.

Rick in New Almaden Ca.

[Guest guest]

Oh _ i wish I could have seen that exchange in the doctor's office! Sounds

so sweet! I can't believe is so old! Geesh!

From: cindy casten <cindysue@...>

Subject: Re: Yo, where is everyone?

, loree5@...

Date: Sunday, January 30, 2011, 7:43 PM

 

Loree - I'll take that snow! I left work last week, just minutes after that

storm started. What normally takes an hour to get home, took 4...and I was

" ahead " of the DC commuters headed west bound. But still, I want more I know

we are expecting the ice Tuesday or Wednesday, too. Anything to keep me home

with my baby boy!

Speaking of which, had his 17 year physical on Friday. Because of the

bad weather, his doctor brought her son to work with her. He is 15 years old and

also has DS and PDD. The boys acted very shy towards each other, but when one

hugged their mom, so did the other. Lots of hugs going on, I tell you!

From: loree5@...

cindysue@... ;

Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 4:26 PM

Subject: Re: Yo, where is everyone?

I am so glad you called for a roll call CIndy. I miss everyone...to much

facebook lol! I miss the old questions and answers from everyone and it feels

like my family is gone. Anyway...I am Loree mom to Micah 10 (can't believe it).

We live on Long Island in New York. Also have one other son at home Caleb who is

15. Three adult children 35, 32, and Cameron 26, two of whom will

be getting married this year within 6 months of each other YIKES!

Micah is doing well and is is the third grade. Should be in the fourth but we

held him back another year because of his tiny stature and my beleif that the

best part of his education will probably come in elementary school so we get one

more year (next) until we have to face the dreaded middle school) He is still in

the program we created where he starts and ends his day in the general ed

classroom. Spends 50 percent of his time in each. The added bonus is that all

the parties, field trips etc are done with both classes so his SPED peers also

get to be in the gen ed classroom at times. The Emard program is working well

for him along with fundations for phonics. He is doing better in math but this

remains his problem area. He is in the miracle league and enjoys it as well as

horseback riding with the Police Athletic League program. He was in the school

bowling leagues and we may sign up for that again this year depending on

scheduling. Swimming remains

his passion and I would so love to see him in a special olympics swim program

but alas cannot find one here close to home. Not much in the way of special

olympics in our county and to travel to the next county means around and hour

and a half travel time to get to and from practices on school nights so it is

out of the question at least for now.

All in all things are well here. Have had a few bumps in the road in the last

few weeks health wise but overall good. Of course if we get anymore snow I am

going to scream..we got 19 inches last week and around 14 the week before. They

are now calling for either freezing rain on Tuesday-wed. or the possibility of

30 inches of snow if two storms come together. NOT!!!!!! My poor hubby spent his

saturday shoveling snow off the roof. He also is not looking for more snow and

this from a man who loves the cold...winter and the snow~~anyway people I miss

you all and am enjoying hearing from each and every one of you!

Loree

Yo, where is everyone?

Hello....how is everyone doing? Are you all ready for a roll call?

,<----Mom to Mattie, age 17.5 years old