We had a fun weekend up at a cabin near a lake. While we didn’t do any actual camping since we slept in beds in a heated cabin–there was fishing, a fire, roasting marshmallows and s’mores. I used to think I knew how to make a s’more…I have been officially educated by that brilliant husband...
Hey ya’ll….it’s Miggy. Do me a favor before you read this next spotlight. If you’re a parent I want you to imagine one of your children in a wheelchair (if you’re not a parent, imagine a niece or nephew, etc..). Imagine your child being completely immobile, unable to eat or breath on their own, wheelchair dependent and...
Thank you so very much, Miggy, for allowing Erin to tell us about her precious Isabel. Having a young adult son with special needs, I always benefit and gain support from hearing about other families and their experiences with their own special kids. Hugs to Erin and that sweetheart Isabel.ReplyCancel
Oh she is beautiful – something about her eyes! Thank you for sharing your story and your daughter, Erin.
When I was pregnant with our Ellie, our doctors suspected SMA. We tested for it and I remember reading the statistics and being told she wouldn't likely live past 7 months old and sobbing on the bathroom floor as I clutched my daughter in my belly.
Your story is a testament to hope. It is a story of beauty and grace. Isabel is not a statistic. She is a beautiful child.
Thank you for sharing.ReplyCancel
…Make me a mess. I realized I never really posted about Lamp’s progress with scooting since I first announced that little scoot, scoot. Well she got really good at scooting…in a circle. See her left leg is her dominant leg and so she can scoot really well in a circle going left. And that’s...
Before I had Lamp we ate a lot more vegetarian dishes. Being prego and even post-partum I craved meat. So lately I’ve been wanting to get back to more vegetarian fare, and just healthy wholesome, good tasting food. Additionally I’ve been wanting to once again get my sweet tooth under control and finally drop some...
I know this will sound weird…but if you are able to get away once in a while…maybe there is a gym nearby that has one…but Sauna will help kick that sugar habit. No Joke. It was an unexpected bonus for me. I also have been in the special needs trenches for almost 5 years…and sugar is my crutch for the stress. But wow…not only was it relaxing, I didn't want to eat any sweets after.ReplyCancel
The sugar thing is hard. I would usually state that I am a salt kind of girl, but this last pregancy totally changed all that. Instead of binging on the sugar now, I drink flavored water. Yes, I know, not "real" food, but better than bad calories with the added benefit staying hydrated (super important for a breastfeeding momma). I just pick out my flavor and drink the 8oz of water. It works out pretty well. I still eat amazing baked goods and creamy frozen stuff, just not in the middle of the day, three times, before lunch.ReplyCancel
Hello, I followed you here from Design Mom's post about a murmur of starlings–I wanted to see your photos of bats! And then of course I wanted to know more about Lamp. Just wanted to say that I like reading about her. She is darling. Beanie is darling. Your posts about our beliefs as Mormons are spot-on; I should take the time more on my own blog to explain, as you do.
I always gravitate toward learning about families who have something unexpected and hard to experience; like Sister Jones, I also had a baby who was born and died prematurely, though without warning, rhyme, nor reason.
I also wanted to compliment you on the fact that you're sharing, as you said in one post, things that seem so intimate and difficult. I worry about information on the interwebs, too, which is why I kept my blog private. I am not as brave as you are. But I also know that you never know how your blog can affect one person, lift them up, make them smile, help them deal with whatever they do. So I wanted to tell you that it affected me, so that you know.ReplyCancel
I was raised to eat just cookies for dinner… for after all if you eat dinner AND a cookie, its just more calories. So why not just eat what your early want? That's how my mom lives her life. She also excersies so she can eat. Not a very hip way, but she's just a skinny thing! That's a little exaggerated of her healthy habits, but I've learned to be a little more easy with it all. Hard core calorie counting is never fun for me, even if it is just cookies. But then hard core healthy eating can be a bear too. So i think what my mom really taught me was balance in all things… even the sweets, even the hip and "healthy" ways of eating, balance in eating meat, balance in eating sweets, balance in exercise… balance in all things. Don't tell her, but I think she's right.
She also thinks the word "healthy" is bogus! Whenever I say, 'oh THIS is healthy…" she looks at me with that- balance in all things is the healthiest way-look….
but does it help you LOSE weight? Or do you have to get a little extreme to actually LOSE? That's where I'm at a total loss for what I was taught, and what actually works. OH THE BABY WEIGHT.
it has helped me to LOOK UP:) (From my blogpost…)ReplyCancel
Ah, isn't it so hard? Is it the late night (after say 9) snacking? I found, yes, it is an itch, but it's also a HABIT. The first few days suck, but after 2-3 weeks, I find I'm not even craving that snack. If I was a dummy and skipped a meal, so I'm really hungry, I try to eat a sandwich or something not so bad. BUT, if (when!) I fall off the wagon, then I have to work hard for another month or so to break it again. Boo.ReplyCancel
Some weekends are funner than others…this one was on the funner side. Here are my random thoughts. Also, there is a lot of talk about time travel in this post. Friday night Princess Sparkle had a movie night at our house with all the girls from her pre school class–only 4 girls including herself....
i'm still trying to figure out what to do about sleepovers, but i'm leaning towards "not allowed, mostly." my mom didn't usually let me go to them. i could stay late, but she'd come pick me up at bedtime (holy embarrassing, batman). she said it was because they made me too cranky (true), but last year she told me it was actually because her good friend was raped at a sleepover by the older brother. i'm soooo glad she didn't tell me that when i was a kid, but i definitely understand her rules better now. so we might stick to cousins and close friends only? or maybe not at all, haha.ReplyCancel
I LOVED Felicity. My friends and I would gather around our little college apartment and watch it religiously. I was so sad that it was ending that to this day I have still not watched the last episode. Fun story, my friends and I actually told one of our friends who was moving out go to NYU all about Felicity and he thought she was a real person and not a show. He was pretty upset to hear the truth and realize he would never get to be her friend.
I say no to sleep overs. I don't want my kids to sleep at someone else's home where things can happen. I have heard way too many scary stories to ever let my kids stay the night. They will just have to deal with having "Late Nights" at friends.ReplyCancel
My daughter is still too young ot have to deal with the sleepover issue, but my husband and I have basically decided on being a non-sleepover family, at least mostly. I am just too paranoid about the horrible things in the world. Family would be ok with me, I think, and maybe I'd re-think the issue later, but for small children, it seems scary to me.
Also, the grumpy thing is probably true, too!
I loved the first 2 seasons of Lost, but then it got totally bizarre.ReplyCancel
No sleepovers! There was actually a conference talk on that last year … Alwys helps to have the suppot of the brethren. Sorry kids, blame the brethren! My friend's hubby is a sex addiction therapist and I've heard WAY too many stories to feel good about having them. My son is in fifth grade and so far no problem because he's grown up knowing it's not an option. We sleep in our own beds! I'm finding that a lot of parents have the same rule, which helps, and late overs are always lots of fun.ReplyCancel
Yes there is a conference talk on sleep overs (I almost said left overs) because I feel the same. Just plainly said the answer is "no" to sleepovers …, and leftovers for that matter.
Kidding aside, with 4 girls in my fam we later found out how many bullets were dodged when my dads car was there to come pick us up at 11:30. Without being too specific, fights between girls would start with three girls crying. Family secrets would get revealed. I would come home and ask my mom, "what does intercourse mean? Who has incest?" Two words terrifying to my mom of late night antics and pretty much nailing the coffin shut for my 3 remaining sisters. later we learned of 3 girls who had slept with a father of one of the girls. Ewwww.. So my parents were wise to let the Spirit guide them in such a way that they knew was not making their kiddos happywith them. Noe I am.
As far as Felicity, huge fan. I still think about Noel and Ben. Not so big into Lost, I never even watched the finale.ReplyCancel
My parents never let me have sleepovers and honestly I don't remember it being that big of a deal. They didn't want to get into sticky situations and risk offending if we were allowed to sleepover at one friends house but not another house. My daughter is far too young to be even asking about this but my husband and I have already had this discussion . . . we're going with the no sleepover rule for her too. Pretty much for all the same reasons others have mentioned above. The only exception might be cousins. I'll be more then willing to facilitate late overs.ReplyCancel
We allow sleep overs only with a few select friends where I know both parents well. I'm not a huge fan of them in general and, as my kids get older (13, 11 & 8 — the 8 yo has not been to a sleep over yet…..), we're moving away from them for various reasons — mainly because they don't sleep at them and having tired kids is no fun for us the next day. During high school there will be NO sleep overs at all. I hear too many stories of the mischief kids get into to allow that — especially when they are of driving age. They aren't necessary anyways.ReplyCancel
I don't want my kids to go to sleepovers. Will it happen? I don't know. I may only if I know the family well. It stresses me out just thinking about it. My kids are 5 & 7.
Oh, once a mom asked if my son could spend the night and I actually had a good reason at the time and I wasn't lying: he wakes up in the middle of the night sometimes and wanders around the house. Problems solved (that time).ReplyCancel
I actually have no problem with sleep overs IF I know the family REALY REALLY well. Or if its with their cousins or family. My boys are 10 and 6 and they are actually best friends with two of the 4 boys of my best friends family. SO, I feel comfortable with sleep overs ONLY because I know my friend so well and all that. However, I'm not sure I would let them just go have a sleep over with one of their buddies from school. Too many scary stories out there. And about roller skating- My 10 year old son has type 1 diabetes and I took him to a fundraiser at the local skate place about 3 weeks ago. Though I was being a cool mom and threw on some skates to strut my stuff around…. Ended up falling and tore all the ligaments in my right ankle. Nice. So, I've decided that from now on, I will have an absolutely NO SKATING rule for myself!! Ha ha! Btw, I love your blog and think you are such a inspiration!!!ReplyCancel
I always went for sleepovers as a child to families I knew well, and in turn my daughter goes as well. She has since she was 8 BUT there are lots of things that have to be right for me to let her go. We talk about it together to decide. I like to know that they have working fire alarms and carbon monoxide alarms. No guns in house. Will they be sleeping where there is a fire escape plan?
So far none of her friends homes that she has been to have older brothers, the one that did and we didn't know him we said no to sleeping there. She accepts that she cannot always go.
One time she had so many tears when we picked her up at 11 from a sleepover. She forgave us when it became apparent later that week that every girl at the sleepover got head lice from sleeping with their heads together and of course she never had it- yikes!
It depends on so many factors, and you'll know if it feels right.
good luck,
LindaReplyCancel
We have only allowed our kids to sleep over at one other family's house (they have kids our same ages, 8 and 7). We've known them forever, so they're like family. I'm thinking sleepovers in the traditional sense are asking for trouble… at least, if my kids are anything like I was as a preteen/teenager. And I wasn't even all that bad!!ReplyCancel
I am usually a silent reader but since you asked about sleepovers I thought I would put in my 2 cents. We started sleepovers with our now 13 year old, when she was younger and it mostly included her cousins. As she got a little older friends were involved (mostly one friend). We moved to a new area around the time she was 11 and decided that late nights were going to be the norm. We still let cousins and our one friend from our old neighborhood do sleepovers but the rule now is just late nights. She didn't like the change one bit but I felt better knowing she was home and not out roaming the streets with friends, even though she was coming home late she would probably sleep better than at a sleepover, and while you like to think you know the families she is hanging out with you can't always trust everyone (older brothers, older friends, friends relatives). I just decided it would be best to have her home and not worry about anything during sleeping hours.ReplyCancel
My mom and dad said "yes" more often to sleepovers at our house and not so much at other people's houses. I understood why then and didn't argue with them. Plus our house was always so much fun!! I am going to do the same with my daughter. I'd rather have her at home where I know exactly what is going on.ReplyCancel
so interesting to hear a majority of anti-sleepover opinions. i don't feel so outnumbered. i would've gotten in MUCH less trouble if my parents had said no.
and, we had an awesome roller skating date years ago and now that's all i want to do. unfortunately it's not easy to find sitters until one am to facilitate disco skating! so fun to see your husbands talents on wheels!ReplyCancel
so interesting that many folks have said no to sleepovers. I had them growing up- best times of my life with my friends.( but we didnt do anything bad- just good ol late night movies, popcorn and talking till the wee hours) I would consider them carefully for my own kids- must know family and be totally comfortable. Its interesting like many things with children…sometimes you think you will do one thing…but then when presented with the reality- your feelings change. I think its a very personal and situation thing..no one can tell you what might be right for you and your own kids.
Love JJ abrams…one of my fav shows- Alias- he did…LoVED it!ReplyCancel
Sleepovers– no, in our household, including with family except for very special occasions. Maybe we're paranoid, but it works for us.
JJ Abrams– I've decided that all his series {Felicity, Alias, Lost} start of wonderfully and then kind of… fizzle. I generally learn to love the endings, but they are never immediately satisfying. I hadn't made the time-travel connection, but that's interesting. 🙂 {also, did you know the only reason they have that time-travel bit in Felicity is because the show had been cancelled, they'd wrapped everything up, and then- surprise! You actually have til the end of the season. All the actors had to come back and film a few more episodes.}ReplyCancel
After reading all the comments I guess I must have been pretty lucky because I never went to a single bad sleepover. Sure there were confessions made, we stayed up late and ate an overabundance of junk food and talked about boys. Maybe I was just blessed to have a circle of friends who were all on the same page and in the same stage of adolesence. Boys were discussed, clothes swapped and hair crimped. Sure there were late nights, but I bounced back. I guess what I am saying is… that every sleepover isn't a parent's worst nightmare waiting to happen. Screening and talking to other parents is a must, but I would hate for my children to miss out on what could be a completely wonderful experience because I had made some black and white total blanket rule. It's a tough call.
As for J.J. we are a bit FRINGE addicted in this household.ReplyCancel
my favoritest (word?) random post ever. :> I need to time travel back 15 minutes because it is a crazy day and I just sat here reading the post and all the comments! quickly – I just went to a roller rink in Sept and NOTHING HAD CHANGED SINCE 1985, or whenever the last time I was in one. They even played 80s music. And great exercise – I swear I lost a pound just rolling around. Our oldest girl is 6 and there is HUGE pressure in our neighborhood (with only a few girls but I can tell they will be the "popular" ones) for her to go. She keeps getting asked and we keep saying no. A) WHO EVER HEARD OF A 6-YEAR-OLD SLEEPING OVER??? and B) we are just too paranoid. Loved Felicity (gave up before the end, I watched till she cut her hair and then I was kind of over it). Loved LOst but hated the last season. Too much grabbing at straws. HAVE A PLAN, JJ. I would give up sweets but there is a Cheesecake Factory three blocks away. Too much temptation. :>ReplyCancel
Due to slacking on my part there isn’t a Special Needs Spotlight today. Aww. But cheer up because I have a great one lined up for next Friday! Hooray! In the interim I wanted to link to an article several people have actually sent my way that is definitely along the same vein as the...
A while ago I started seeing a few different graphic prints featuring streets and neighborhoods in New York City. This poster from Restoration Hardware: and this chair from Anthropologie. (picture stolen from my friend Erin’s blog) These are particularly sentimental for us since we lived in Washington Heights and 168 was our subway stop. It’s...
Thanks everyone!
MS–I have to admit now that I said that, I feel a little silly…it definitely had this flaxy, fresh-from-the-fields smell to it but I'm not sure that's a hallmark of good linen…but perhaps it is to me now!
Nicol–I'll let you know.
Care–that's why I asked you about the font…but in the end it was just easier to buy those already cut letters anyway…I bet your poster looks cool…I wanna see.
Ness–maybe.
I'm amazed at how the letters turned out so nicely! Every time I try to do stencils like this I always end up with at least one letter with a smudged edge. Nice job 🙂
Michelle | Affordable BlindsReplyCancel
Hey, I'm Amy!
I'm an author, artist, and disability advocate. I live with my handsome husband and three beautiful daughters in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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I know you said the "no sugar" goal was not about numbers on a scale. But I have to share that you will see a number change on the scale if you don't eat sugar! 🙂
You see, I used to think the "don't eat sugar" idea was really silly…until a few weeks ago when I had a mouth infection. My mouth was VERY painful and eating became a real chore. Thus, I conserved my eating energy for only VERY healthy foods, and stayed completely away from sugar – because it hurt like crazy to eat it! I wanted whatever calories I was eating to really count, i.e., good nutrition.
Because of my healthy, NO-sugar diet (for about a week and a half) I LOST four pounds. Just like that! I was truly in shock. Previously, I thought the "No Sugar Diet" was a bunch of bunk, but I've lived the results and I'm changed forever!
I was especially amazed at the weight loss considering that I didn't work out one bit – my miserable mouth made me too cranky to want to exercise! (Exercise is vital…don't get me wrong!) The weight loss truly happened because I eliminated sugar. Wow.
Oh Migs, I wish we could hang out in person- I'm on the same wave-length. Just the whole concept of change has been on my mind a lot since my yoga certification- based on what I learned during the course, I now really and truly believe that even our thought patterns, our habits, our desires, our bodies- everything is so changeable, even on a cellular level and everything is synonymous- our bodies and our thoughts and our spirits. If you're interested in hearing my two bits I can email you so this comment doesn't get obnoxiously long. But put simply, I would suggest meditating- I'll give you a few tips if you want them. It's SO POWERFUL! Let's talk more about it sometime- I love your insights and your thoughtfulness and would love to hear your take on some of these things I just learned about.
P.S. your camping trip sounded dreamy. Sigh. Jealous.
xo
You should try a smore that has a peanut butter cup on it instead of a plain chocolate bar. Now I will not eat a smore's any other way. Yummy!
Just like the season's change within a year, we too can change. If we want to. That's the hardest part. To want it!
I am trying to lessen my sugar intake as well (it was at heroin-like levels) and like Adrie says, I can contribute my latest weight loss to trying to avoid it (well, last Sunday I went a little nutso, but I'm back on track!)
Change is good.
Cabin and being just with my family sounds so divine! Thanks for sharing.