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 |  Being a stay at home mom is never as cut and dry as you think it is. |
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Originally my pregnancy blog, now continuing on as the life of a mom and her two wacky kiddos thing till I don't want to write in it anymore  . So come on in and see what's going on in my world for a bit if you like...Be careful where you step, as the kids have all their Pokemon cards out! Feel free to hug a Hello Kitty plush! Come join in the fun, Super Mario Bros. and Hello Kitty style!![Merit Badge in Parenting
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Congratulations on your pregnancy*^*Smile*^*. You already are a wonderful mom to your son and I know this baby will be very blessed also
*^*Heart*^*SS](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Parenting-1180.gif) ![Merit Badge in Family
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In the midst of how you are feeling right now, know that it can be fixed & I'm proud of you for writing the poem that reflects how you feel. The love of your children clearly shines through. *^*Heart*^*](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/genre-Family-584.gif) ![Merit Badge in Journaling
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I'm so glad to be back blogging and reading yours. The kids have grown so much! I'm so glad that you, myself and T are still here journaling together!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/type-Journaling-2180.gif) the wonderful badges my "Sister", silversara, graced me with. Thanks Sis, I  you! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Thanks to all of you for your support, your comments, your love, your generosity and your time! Never met a greater bunch of people then on here! Besides, who else would want to listen to a rambling crazy mom, both during and especially after pregnancy?
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| Journey's doing a quiz about herself, kind of like a game show. She's going around trying to find willing participants to play. So far, Ryan and I have participated. Her questions include "What is Journey's favorite Girl Scout cookie?" (Trefoils), "What is Journey's favorite dessert?" (chocolate ice cream), "What is Journey's favorite food?" (Spaghetti). That's about as far as she's gotten yet, so I decided to turn the tables on her, break out the questionnaire from a year or so ago, and ask her all over again. Fun times! So here it is, "As told by Journey" round 3... Journey, how old are you? Six. What's your favorite color? Pink. What's your favorite food? Spaghetti. What's your favorite drink? Water. What's your favorite animal? A kitty. What's your favorite book? Anything about Hello Kitty. What's your favorite show? I don't know what's my favorite show. (Ryan pipes up with "Isn't it Pokemon?") Oh yeah, it is! What's your favorite movie? Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theaters. What's your favorite song? Up on the House Top. ("That's your favorite Christmas song, what's your favorite regular song?") I dunno what it is. What's your favorite game? Hello Kitty Party. Who's your favorite stuffed animal? Kiki Meow. ("Even more than Mincinno?") Oh, no, it's Mincinno! Which one is your favorite Hello Kitty? (She has 12 stuffed Hello Kitties) Pink! (Some things stay the same!) Who do you love? You! ("Who else?") Ummmm....Mincinno...and Kiki Meow. And, I think that's it. ("What about Daddy and Ryan?") Oh, and Daddy and Ryan. Who are your friends? Let's see, Bradley, Spencer, Grace, Lindsey, and Megan. Anything you want to add? Yeah...hmmmmm....(she's drawing a blank here folks!) And because it's the season, what's your favorite Christmas carol? Up on the House Top. So there you have it, Journey's answers for what's left of 2012. I know that I did this back in May of 2012, so I should've waited to do it again in 2013, but I figured I'd play along since she was doing her quiz show about her! |
| I'm almost ready to say I'm over the edge. When the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary happened on Friday, I went into full fledged panic mode. I've been extremely anxious and tense ever since. I'm constantly either on the verge of tears or crying. It has literally rocked my to my core. I know some of you are thinking "She's so melodramatic", or "She worries too much" or something along those lines. Let me tell you some things. First off, I have high anxiety. I'm currently on an anti-anxiety med. It does NOT take away my anxiety. It curbs it so I can function day to day. I used to be scared of EVERYTHING, and it was crippling. I couldn't even go outside without worrying myself sick. To this day, I'm still this way. My anti-anxiety only keeps my anxiety at bay. It allows me to continue through my anxiety and say "I know this is possible, but we must keep on going. Just keep moving, minute by minute. We'll focus on each minute as it comes along." This, my friends, is the ONLY way I can properly function on a day to day basis. Ever since I got together with Don and I had kids, my anxiety is high. I never used to worry about things when it was just me. Once I was introduced to love, and have people in my life that I would die for, I started to worry that I would lose them. It's just how I am. So, to know that this peaceful, in a good area, wonderful little elementary school was attacked by a monster, and 20 little kids, aged 6 to 7 were murdered, it totally shook me up. The loss of so many little lives just threw me for a loop. I sobbed uncontrollably for them. I feel so much, I can't do anything but let it all spill out. I wish with all my heart that there was something I could do for all those affected. My heart dies with them. I pray like hell that something like this would never happen to someone, no one should have to suffer the loss of a child, ever. And for those kids to have their teachers protect them and lose their lives in the battle? Rips me apart. Do you want to know why this hit me so hard? It's not just that children were involved. It's not just that it was teachers murdered for saving those children. It's not that it's a mass shooting from some psycho taking innocent lives. It's my empathy. My children, ages 6 and 9, go to a very good, wonderfully run, peaceful, well off elementary school. :LES is the prefect little elementary school, in a perfect little town, in a quiet little place. You'd think it was a storybook school. Picture perfect. So was Sandy Hook Elementary. My daughter is 6 years old. The exact ages most of those little kids were. Same age. My empathy kicks in. What if it were my daughter? My precious Journey? What if it were her classroom that suffered this? And what if it were my son? He's in trailers to the side of the school. Anything can happen in those. It doesn't just have to be inside the school, it could be outside of the building itself too. And, I want to be a teacher. I'm trying to work towards that. What if it was my classroom, and I had to protect all those kids? Would I know what to do to save their lives? I would DIE for them, ALL of them. I would do EVERYTHING in my power to keep them alive. And then I think how easy it is to get inside the school building itself. Sure, they have a check in desk in the front office, and yes, most of the doors to get in the school are locked, but who's to say a murderer won't try every door till they find the one that opens? And how silly of us to think that a murderer would stop to check in at the front office. They could easily pull the gun on the two secretaries in the front office, shoot, and make their way into the building without any hassle. Who's to say that can't happen? Who's there to protect all these innocent children? Who's there to look out for all the staff members, the teachers, everyone? There's no police there at the school. It seems too easy to me to get in there and cause some damage. It scares the hell out of me. And so I sit. And cry. And panic. And worry. I hyperventilate. I take an anti-anxiety med. I breathe. I try to take my mind off things. I get bombarded with worry about the kids, I sob some more. I would give ANYTHING to be inside that school with them right now. I wish I could make up a list of excuses to be in there, any at all. I know I can't do much if something were to happen, but dammit I would try. I want to be there with my kids. I wish I could get a needle and thread and attach them to me, so I never had to let them go. The only things keeping me sane are, knowing that I'm literally a 12 minute walk and a 3 minute car ride away from the school. Knowing that I'm going into the school every day this week, and knowing that they only have 4 days, including today, before they're out with me for 13 days, where I can keep them at home with me and we'll be okay. I still worry when Don's not here. I worry about him all the time. When we're together, all under the same roof, I worry a lot less. Again, I know it's silly because anything can happen (believe me, the thought of fires in the house, break ins, etc. just eat me alive...but I'm held at bay by my anti-anxiety med), but I feel better when we're all accounted for and together. All I can do is say "A minute at a time. An hour at a time. One day at a time." Try to breathe. Cry when I need to cry. Know that I told my kids that I love them more than anything when I dropped them off. Rush over there if anything happens. I have to be careful around the kids, and not make this a big deal, because I don't want them to be scared to go to school. I don't want to do that to them. But I'm so afraid that something will happen, that I wish I had an excuse to keep them home, or an excuse to be in the school. I pray something like this never happens again. |
| We're getting to the busier part of December here. Starting on Friday, I have a cookie meeting with troop leader Jenn, and we discuss all we need to discuss on that topic, then I have an eye appointment, then I have to go shopping for a few other things needed for Christmas, (as well as a gift card for troop leader Jenn and one for Ryan's band teacher), then we've got to pack up and get ready to go to my friend Jenn's house, as Jenn and I will be baking the ENTIRE weekend. Then I have to do some spot cleaning on Monday for house inspection, then I go in on Tuesday like I normally do for Journey's class, then I go into Journey's class on Wednesday as well because we're having a special snack and the kids are building gingerbread houses that day. Thursday, I'll be going into Ryan's class to see his presentation of his Family Heritage project. Then Friday, we're going to Don's company Christmas party, and later that night Journey is going caroling at Annmarie Gardens with her Girl Scout troop. We have a few things to buy on the 22nd, and then we have a breather on the 23rd. One whole glorious day to sit around the house in pajamas. We're going to Jenn's house for Christmas Eve, and then Christmas Day I will be busy making Christmas dinner. However, I will be in pajamas that whole day, from the time the kids wake up to open presents to me cooking Christmas dinner to eating said Christmas dinner. Then we have another glorious pajama day with nothing to do on the 26th, then Journey has a dentist appointment on the 27th. From the 28th to the 1st we are completely free to hang around and not bother anyone, and then January 2nd we have another developmental pediatrician appointment in Baltimore for Journey. Action packed, wouldn't you say? Somehow I've got to fit selling Girl Scout cookies into all of this, which is going to take some time in and of itself. Plus, we have to train the girls on what each cookie they're selling is, when we don't really have much time to do so. *Sigh.* The good thing is, the cookies basically sell themselves. I'll teach Journey what each cookie is during the break, so by the time January 4th rolls around, we can canvas the entire neighborhood and see what we come up with. Goodness gracious. So much stuff. Well, off to do a few things before it's dinner time. Wish I could have a nap, but I've got to make dinner and give baths and pick up the hallway, and scrub the kitchen down, etc. Ack. So busy. |
| So, we're gearing up for December and all it's happenings. Journey's so excited she could burst about her best friend Bradley's birthday party on Saturday. I'm going to work scripts with her again before we make it in, to make sure she's on top of her game and ready to answer questions and make comments. If you asked her, it's the event of the season, as she's been carrying around the invitation for a few days now, and she counts down the days until his birthday party. She never does this for any of her other friends; I don't know why. She thinks the world of Bradley though. Money is super tight these days. Our rent went up $16 (which is the downside to having rent based on your income), so now we have to save an extra $20 every first rent check to make sure that rent gets paid fully. We're still waiting on the re-certification paperwork though, which is aggravating because usually this gets done by August. I'm so angry that this has been put off for months. The manager blames it on her supervisor, but she hasn't really pushed hard to get things taken care of BEFORE the due date. Sometimes it makes you question the competency of people, you know? *grouch grouch grumble* On top of that, Don got an $80 speeding ticket a few days ago, so now we have to cough up $80 to pay it off. He said he's going to try to get community service instead, but I doubt that can happen, and he'll probably just have to pay the $80. The good news is, it's not taking away from Christmas for the kids. I've pretty much bought them everything I needed to (sans some hair ties and a Mincinno Pokemon card for Journey, and a pair of shoes for each kid), so Christmas is taken care of, regardless of the ticket Don got. I'd be mighty upset if it took out of our Christmas fund though. He's lucky I start shopping in September. :P Other than that, not much else going on. December is going to be mighty busy, what with Bradley's birthday party, and cookie baking on the 15th, and Don's company Christmas party on the 21st, and we're going over to Jenn's house for Christmas Eve, so a busy, busy time! I'll enjoy it immensely though! It's so crazy to know we're coming to December already. Ryan said it feels like we just got home from our vacation to Ocean City a couple of months ago. Hard to believe that was nearly 8 months ago. Time sure does fly. Bought a Christmas Cookie bear from Build-A-Bear. It was only $11 with a $12 off coupon that I had (if I was smart, I would've saved the coupon and bought the gingerbread Hello Kitty for Journey with it, but it is what it is I suppose), so I didn't bother to wait to put this one under the Christmas tree. I did give her the option to either keep it or give it away as a present. She fell in love with the bear though, so I let her keep it. I should seriously take out stock in Build-A-Bear with how much money I spend there! Journey has 6, soon to be 7 Hello Kitties from Build-A-Bear, as well as the Christmas Cookie bear, a Daisy Girl Scout bear, and a bubble gum bear that Journey's friend Grace bought her for her birthday. The Daisy bear was a gift from my Sis, so two of the bears she has I didn't buy, but boy does she have a lot from Build-A-Bear! Not to mention the two mini Hello Kitties I bought there, $18 a piece for them! Found out when Ryan's first band concert is going to be. It's on the night of my birthday, at 6:30 pm. At first I was kind of bummed, because I want to go to Olive Garden for dinner for my birthday, but seeing as Ryan's concert starts at 6:30, I'm not sure how we're going to pull that off. We may have to wait until that Friday to go out for my birthday. I don't mind too much; I'm thrilled he's doing so well in band! He's learned a whole bunch of Christmas songs, and he's planning on playing a mini concert in his classroom just before school lets out for winter break, as well as on Christmas Eve at Jenn's house. He calls it his holiday mix, and he played it for my mom over the phone. He's such a great kid. Alright, I think I've hit every topic I was going to cover since I last updated. If anything else pops into my mind, I'll be sure to log on again and write more. |
| On this day of Thanks, I am grateful for so many things. I'm grateful for my family, Don and the kids. They are my everything. I live for them. I'm grateful to have a husband that loves me and supports me, and would do anything to make me smile. I'm grateful for my son, whom I wished for all my life, and who came to me as the blessing I prayed for. I'm grateful for my daughter, the blessing I never knew I needed, she is so precious to me, I can't believe how lucky I am to have both a son and a daughter. I'm grateful for my friends. All my best friends, far and wide. Those who love and care about me, those who have my back and brighten my days. Without you, I would know no kindness. I'm grateful for the roof over my head. To some, it may not be much, but to me it is the home of my family, a place we can take refuge in, a place where we can call our own, and be a family in together. I'm grateful for my health. It may not be as good as others, but it is still good. I'm not hospitalized, I'm not a frequent patient of the hospital. My doctors take good care of me, and though I go every 3 months to both my pdoc and my doctor, I know it's for the best, and to keep my healthy and on track. They only want what's best for me, and I respect that. For that I am grateful to them, for taking good care of me. I'm grateful for all the little things. To be able to wake up with sight, breathing in another day, next to my husband every morning. To be able to walk to and from the school to personally see to the safety of my children. To have rights, privileges, and freedom. Most of all, I'm grateful for life. For this life of mine especially. I couldn't imagine a better life for me than the one I have now. We may not have much, but we have all we need, and that's more than enough for me. Happy Thanksgiving to all that celebrate. |
| So, I will get to the kids in just a little bit here, but I thought I'd give you all an update on ME this time. I know, shocker, right? You all remember that I'm diabetic, right? Well, if not, I am. I was diagnosed back in February of 2005. I've been diagnosed for going on 8 years now. I've been through a lot of different insulins in my time, so we test out to see which ones work best on me. Last November, we added a fast acting insulin, Novolog, to the current long acting insulin, Lantus, that I take. At first, the Novolog worked well. I was to take it before every meal, and it would quickly lower my blood sugar levels after eating. It was a great help to me, but I found more often than not that I was able to cheat, and have an extra roll, or more fries, or a cookie, just because this fast acting insulin had granted me that luxury. It also seems that it made it so I wasn't full after eating, thus eating more. Within the year, I ballooned another 28 pounds onto my frame, all from taking the Novolog. I was starting to see some down effects. At first it was working. Then it started working TOO well. I would get serious, serious lows. I'm talking glucose levels of 48. How I was still upright and functioning at that point, I will never know, but I should NEVER go that low. In time, I began having to overcompensate my insulin to my blood sugar levels, and it was starting to get messy. I was spiking like crazy, from the lowest of lows to the high end of things. I thought I could manage it. Apparently, I was wrong. About two weeks ago, my Novolog just stopped working. I don't know why, and I don't know how. I just know I took my shot, ate dinner, and found that I was high. I checked my blood sugar two hours after dinner, which I was supposed to be doing (but kept putting it off...dumb me), only to find that I was at an astonishingly high 283. So, I went to the Novolog again. I took a small shot. Gave myself an hour. My blood sugar didn't lower. So I took another shot of it. Still no lowering. After putting it to a dangerous level of 35 units to see if it would do anything, I got no response of relief from my glucometer. Just like that, I was off Novolog. I no longer was able to compensate for my meals, I was just left to deal with Lantus from that point on. At first, it was kind of messy. I'm used to taking my BIG shot of Lantus (60 units) every night. I would use the Novolog accordingly to help me out with the meals during the day, and wait to take my big shot at night right before bed, which would carry me until 5 pm the next day. No longer could I do that. So then I started splitting it in half. I would take a medium shot sometime in the afternoon, and then another medium shot at night. The system is paying off. My sugars no longer spike. I've been at an even 80-130 after every meal throughout the day. However, I've noticed that I have to give myself less and less insulin each shot I'm taking, as since my levels are leveling out, that's less insulin I have to put into my body to compensate for something. Don't get me wrong if I missed taking one of my two daily shots, I'd be in big trouble. This is a precarious line I have to walk. Now that I'm more stable, there are possibilities of going low. More prolonged than the staggering lows I used to get off the Novolog. I've alerted Ryan to what needs to be done if ever I'm so low I become unresponsive. He's got my plan with me, so now I know that if something happens in front of the kids, Ryan will bring us all to safety and get it taken care of. My hope is that, as I tinker with the initial settings of how much insulin to give myself, I will find a normal balance and will from that point on be able to take a shot, know I'm safe, and check my glucose levels accordingly to maintain that I'm well. Currently, I'm at 40 units at 2 pm, and 40 units before bed. This seems to be working alright though there are some times when my lows hit, and I need to grab a glass of orange juice. However, one thing I'm realizing again is, I don't eat and eat all the time like I was on the Novolog. Now, I eat breakfast (when I'm hungry), eat something small for lunch, take my shot, get ready for dinner, and from there, do all the things I need to do to run the household until bed time comes and I need to take my second nightly shot of 40 units to get me through the day the next day. I've been testing religiously (as I wasn't before...I know, bad thing to do), just to make sure that everything is going well. When I start a new regimen, I test more often than I'm supposed to, only to see if it's working like it should be, and that everything is steady. This time, since I can't count on anything but my two split shots a day, I'm held more accountable for what I intake, and when I do it, whereas with the Novolog, I felt the freedom to do as I pleased without any certain consequences. Personally, I prefer it this way. It's far more level. I don't hit lows or highs all the time, I'm just stable, or so I have been for the last week that I've been doing it this way. I will continue to monitor regularly once more, to make sure the plan stays on effect. This time, I'm glad my little wonder drug stopped working. I think I'm much better off now than I was before. |
| Just got home from Kennedy Krieger. It was a long day, but she was extensively tested, and there were four diagnoses made on her. Full written diagnosis in doctor language-"Minor neuromotor abnormalities (lowmotor tone) (2)Pragmatic/Receptive Language delay (3)ADHD Inattentive subtype (4)Visualmotor/graphomotor delay at risk for L.D.(I have no idea what L.D. is) in written expression". Basically put, the doctor said she has a moderate developmental delay in language, fine motor, gross motor, and development. (She presents as a 5 to 5 1/2 year old). She also has ADHD, the inattentive kind. She's not necessarily "spazzy", she just has difficulties concentrating, following directions, relaying information (that's also on her developmental delay), memorizing information, and staying on task. She also has some autistic tendencies, but she's not on the spectrum. She said her lowmotor tone is attributed to me being on insulin when I was pregnant with her. She's extremely pliable, but she presents low strength throughout. The doctor suggested on top of keeping her in Daisies for the social aspect, that she also would benefit greatly through individualistic sports such as gymnastics, swimming, karate, dance, or horseback riding, to strengthen her core muscles as well as her limbs. Hopefully, we'll look into putting her in something (probably dance, swimming or gymnastics) when we have the money. She also suggested occupational therapy, and doing "Handwriting Without Tears" again, which was what her original special ed teacher was doing with her in Pre-K. She told me she'd like me to work on her handwriting at least 15 minutes a day so she can strengthen her fine motor skills. She gave me what's called a 504, which is an ADHD accommodation plan form for the teachers and the school, which she suggested several key factors being taken care of throughout her school day. She suggested medication, but I don't know if I'm really willing to put her on meds. There are numerous side effects, and I don't want her going through any of those. She's skinny enough as it is, she doesn't need a stimulant appetite suppressant to go with that. I'll discuss it with her regular pediatrician, but I really don't feel comfortable going that route. I feel much more comfortable with this diagnosis than the original one from her first developmental pediatrician. We don't have a follow up appointment with Kennedy Krieger, but we do with her first developmental pediatrician, on January 2nd. I wonder if he'll be mad that we went somewhere else to get an opinion? It was suggested to me by her pediatrician. Either way, I'll bring it to him and see what he has to say. I just hope he's not mad at me for it. |
| Went to Journey's friend Grace's birthday party yesterday. Complete difference this time from last time. Two weeks ago, she was completely inside herself, and not aware of anyone around her. This time, she was aware. We talked in the car, as she was talking to me about Pokemon, I told her that as long as we were at the party, she shouldn't talk about Pokemon, and then we worked on some scripts in the car as we drove up to Michaels.Though she didn't interact the way most kids do, she still interjected herself somewhat. When asked questions, she answered politely, and when Grace said thank you for the gift, Journey responded appropriately with a "You're welcome". Her friend Kaylee was telling her what a beautiful job she was doing on her picture frame, and Journey smiled shyly and said thank you. When asked if she wanted a juice box, she answered no thank you, and when asked if she was having a good time, she answered yes. This was all on their prompting, not by my hand at all. I only had to nudge her once to get her to pay attention to someone that was asking her something, but other than that, she answered for herself for the two hours we were there, and I'm very proud of her. Her speech therapist suggested if she responds appropriately 5-10 times, and does not talk about Pokemon, to give her a reward for following responses promptly and correctly. We're going to get her a small treat on Friday for doing so well at the party. I'm so thrilled, I emailed her speech therapist to let her know how she did. She'll probably be as pleased and excited as I am! |
We are currently in the path of yet another hurricane. Yes, I know, didn't we go through this last August? That's the dangers of living in the Mid-Atlantic, there's always a possibility of a hurricane hitting you. We are well prepared in case the power goes out, so the thing I'm worried about most is that Don will have to go to work tomorrow and Tuesday. I really hope not.  I believe the kids are going to be out of school, but we'll find out by 3 pm today. Other than the hurricane, things are going good. Getting a lot of good information from Journey's teacher and special ed teacher. We've been discussing some things, and we're getting a better feel for the school year so far. I was supposed to have a meeting with Journey's special ed teacher on the 30th, but if school is canceled, we might have to move it to possibly Thursday or Friday instead. I hope she can meet up with me then, as our Kennedy Krieger meeting is on next Tuesday, so not a lot of time between then. I want to gather everything I can for this meeting. Ryan's soccer practice will most likely be canceled on Tuesday, so his next practice will be his last practice on Thursday. They're throwing another party for the last practice, so I will definitely be there to take pictures of Ryan getting his trophy. Other than that, not much to report. I'm sure by next Tuesday I'll have a lot more to say. |
| Journey was invited to her friend Megan's birthday party yesterday. She says she had a great time, which I love hearing. She did a lot of behaviors she's known for; staying in her own little world, talking about Pokemon non-stop, being quiet/not answering when told something, asked a question, or given a general greeting.I had to direct her attention quite a few times, like when her friend Lindsey was saying hello, and when Megan's grandmother told her she had a beautiful skirt, and also when Megan said thank you for her present. Journey's mind was somewhere else (on Pokemon to be precise), and she wouldn't answer until I nudged her and said "Someone said something to you, what do you say back?". We've been working on scripts with her speech teacher to see if we can get her to recognize areas in which she should participate and what she can say. She definitely needed me yesterday to help her with that, and I don't know why, because I've been working here at home with her on scripts for at the store, at birthday parties, at play dates and at the doctor's office. And I know that her speech teacher has been working on her with it, she sends me home her homework for it every Tuesday. I don't know why she didn't use her scripts yesterday, but I had to be there to nudge her along the way to give answers. She did a fantastic job of decorating her picture frame, which I'm glad about. She didn't talk to any of the other girls though, not even to offer paint or stickers, or say hi. There were many familiar faces there, girls from her kindergarten class last year as well as the girls from her Daisy troop. She just didn't interact. She mostly stuck with me, talking about Pokemon. When she gets like this, I feel kind of guilty that she's not participating in the party like she should be. I wish I knew what more I could do to get her involved; she just doesn't do it. But the one thing I want to say is, I am EXTREMELY grateful to all the parents that invite her to birthday parties, and to all the kids that ask to have her come. It means so much to me, and if Journey were more conscious about it, I'm sure she would be too. I don't know if the parents have noticed that she's a little different or not, but if they have, they've yet to say anything about it. She's always welcome at these parties, and the kids are so happy to see her. It makes me feel wonderful to know that she has friends that care about her, and like her being there with them. Everybody is so patient with her, and waits so kindly for her responses (when I nudge them out of her), they treat her just like any other girl invited to a party, and I love them for it. I'm so grateful of them for thinking of her, and letting her be a part of the group, even if she doesn't directly interact with people. It's good for her socialization. Birthday parties are a fantastic place to be in the middle of a social situation and break her out of her shell, take her out of her own little world for a bit and try to get her involved in the world around her. I love everyone that invites her for that fact. I always tell the host thank you. They usually say thank you to me for bringing her, but I say thank you back for inviting her. It means a lot to me. |
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