Truth be told.. things are rough. No sleeping and when sleeping does occur, it is at odd hours for infrequent periods. I walk around like the film-version of Frankenstein, arms out-stretched in front of me in order to keep me from bumping into things and a low moan monotonously escapes my mouth. Michael is very aggressive and his stomach is obviously bothering him. He bit the bus driver AGAIN last week, this time drawing blood. They have already completely changed the bus schedule to accommodate us and keep the other kids safe. Picking up Michael almost an hour after the other kids so that he is by himself in the van. More often than not he doesn't ride the bus because he is often sleeping at that time of day since he didn't sleep the night before. The main pre-school teacher called after school last Thursday, the same day the bus driver showed me his hand torn open by my 4 year old's teeth and said that Michael had been biting his helper, Rachel, and pulled a chunk of her hair out that day that filled his fist. She wanted my okay to be able to call me at anytime he started to get out of control and have me come pick him up. I understand the importance for keeping his school safe and I agree with that. Everyone is afraid of him. I also felt the crushing blow when I thought of the small break it gives to me when Michael does attend class.
I am trying not to complain. I am willing myself to continue to function But most importantly to have patience and time that my three other children deserve.
I recognize that now that I have complained the next question to me will be, 'so what are you doing about it?"
I have put my foot down with Verl who likes to take complete advantage of me as our children's babysitter, not as a deserving of respect Mother of his children.
I have arranged a meeting with all of Michael's teachers and therapists at pre-school for next Monday so that a better 'plan' can be put in place.
And I took Michael to the GI Doctor to beg for help with his stomach.
That appointment in Salt Lake sent us home with a "clean out" plan after waiting a hour and half in his waiting room and another appointment for an endoscopy. I am crossing my fingers this will make a difference!
Noah said it best this afternoon, when he turned to Michael seated next to him in the car and said, "You change moods back and forth, back and forth.."
Thank the heavens for Michael's smiles! Tomorrow I'll write about those.

5th Grade Wax Museum

Rock Canyon has an Annual "Wax Museum" the 5th graders put on. Each student picks a person that they are then expected to 'be' for the museum along with a lengthy project and presentation. Noah chose Noah Webster. Together we read a biographical book about him, which I thought was quite poorly written unfortunately, but we did learn a great deal about this man. Such as the fact that his family was quite poor and did not expect him to continue past the beginning years of grade school and that their were very few books at that time and that any books that there were were most often written in Latin and kept by the Priests or religious leaders in a town. The night of the Wax Museum each of the students are to set up their small area in the gym and then dressed in appropriate clothing to depict their character they are expected to sit/stand completely still as all of the parents, brothers and sisters and such run around the gymnasium taking pictures and attempting to spot the slightest motion in the 'wax' or a crack of a smile. It really ends up being quite the fun site and Noah did a great job! He looked great in his Colonial time costume with a feather pen in hand. He stayed quite still as he pretended to write the first Dictionary. I was very proud of him! Two more years and it's Grace's turn.

Sophie pictures! THANK YOU, Mom!!
WE LOVE YOU, SOPHIE!

We made FABULOUS Valentine Boxes

Grace and Noah came over Wednesday. They had been picked up by their nanny after school but when realizing that they needed to bring a Valentine box to school Noah and Grace concluded together that they needed to be at Mom's house.Noah wanted to make something to do with football and Grace just wanted to "Modge Podge!" It took a while to convince Noah we could do something different from last year's replication of Lavell Edward Stadium. He decided on a football field with a hole in one end that his classmates could try and score touchdowns in when depositing their candy and valentines. Equipped with a football player figurine and an interactive score board, he spray painted his popsicle stick goal post black. Noah was very pleased and began 'practicing' himself immediately. Grace started by covering her box pink, adding sparkly hearts and Valentine messages. Both kids were happily occupied with their projects and by dinner time a good size crafty mess had been made. But it wasn't over yet..
The next day when Grace came home from school, she had seen some of her other classmates Valentine's boxes and she was extremely motivated to 'RE-WORK' her own. First, she made a list. Wrote down her ideas as well as the suggestions of those of us around her on a piece of lined pink paper. She needed something fantastic-- something ground breaking when it comes to Valentine Box making in general. Her goal? In Grace's words, "to get the most compliments.." So the brainstorming continued, the list was made and now it was decision time. We were going to make Grace. Yep! GRACE! Red yarn hair, a sparkly heart nose, toilet paper roll shoes she painted with red and pink paint. ALL her ideas! She even hand stitched a pink polka dot skirt by herself! It turned out fabulously. The end result? Grace won first place for her Valentine box affectionately named, "Mini Me!" and we all had such fun in the process! Such great kids!
Happy Valentine's day to you!

Michael is WALKING!!!

Grace's 9th Birthday Party!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Happy 9th Birthday, Grace!

Can it possibly be 9 years since this dream red-head entered our family? Amazing!
Happy Birthday, Grace Catherine! You are ONE IN A MILLION and More!
9 Things I love about Grace...
1~ I love how clever Grace is.
Grace says the funniest things at the most unexpected moments. She is undeniably clever!
2~ I love her red hair!
Grace's red hair is just one of the special things that helps her in standing out in the crowd. It fits her perfectly!
3~ I love how much she loves to be with her Mom!
Grace would sit on my lap all day long if I would let her and I am so lucky!
4~ I love how helpful Grace is!
Grace is very aware of those around her and always ready and willing to help those in need.
5~ I love how loving Grace is!
She is so affectionate and caring and we are all blessed because of it.
6~ I love how intelligent Grace is.
Grace has and continues to excel academically. She truly loves to learn!
7~ I love how fearless Grace is.
Regardless of whether she is smaller, younger, shorter, slower, Grace will try just about anything!
8~ I love her smile!
Grace has the most beautiful smile! While it is extremely difficult to capture in pictures these days, she has no probably sharing her smile with everyone else around her. It brightens up a room!
9~ I love how much Grace has benefited our family by being a part of it!
The world would be a sad, sad place without Grace in it and our family would suffer the most. Grace touches the lives of the people around her and I have no doubt she will continue to create great things!

Grace and Mama on the town to Celebrate 9 years!

Grace and I got to go on a date together Monday night. Just the two of us! We were celebrating Grace's 9th Birthday and Mama surprised Grace with this alone time that she really seems to treasure.
We headed to dinner first. Grace blind folded herself with my scarf--funny girl! We sat across from each other at the restaurant and shared our dinners back and forth. Mama's tacos were the hit. The staff sang a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" and brought her a yummy chocolate shake. When I forgot my card in the car, Grace ran out to get it. The car was parked directly across from the windows our table was set against and on her way back in, Grace stood on the walk waving both hands high in the air at me through the glass. That's my girl!
Next we were off to a special concert of Mindy Gledhill. Grace and I sat second row center and during "Feather in the wind" Grace turned to me and whispered, "I don't want this song to end!" Her favorite part was probably when American Idol hopeful, David Osmond, came on stage to sing. She took a couple of pictures of him, sighed deeply as she watched him doe eyed and then insisted on calling Lexis immediately after the concert to rub it in that she just saw him up close.
A very nice evening with my special sweetheart and Almost 9 year old!
I love you, Grace!