Got through the school battle with for my son and am still alive!!!  This is a very good group of people and we hit on an agreement and understanding.  One battle down-who knows how many more to go???

  Now my daughter is having some trouble at school.  We went through this last year as well for her.  They are required to read a certain number of books a year and give both written and oral reports on them.  Problem-my daughter is an advanced reader.  Big deal right?  Not really.  She is a 4th grader and the books she has chosen have been rejected for her.  She needs to read books on a 7th grade level.  But-7th grade level books have a maturity level that we find inappropriate.  So did her teacher last year.  I don't want my 9 year old daughter reading books for 12 and 13 year olds.  Many of them deal with subjects that she is not mature enough to process such as divorce, boyfriends, having your period etc......if you are not familiar, you would be suprised at children's literature these days.  I really wish we had a return to classic literature!!!  Clean stories with good morals and no confusing adult themes added to them.  For children who do have to deal in their daily lives with adult themes-it is a shame.  Shame on us adults for not shielding from these things.  But I don't want to have to explain things to my daughter that she has no idea of such as abuse, alcholism, drug abuse etc....these themes are now prevalent in many pre-teen/teen books.  And this is her reading level. 

  I am always open with my kids on any subject and do NOT wear rose colored glasses but even her teacher last year had problems with books for my daughter based on her reading level and the fact that she is so young.  Whatever happened to reading Mark Twain?  CS Lewis?  Roald Dahl????  Whatever happened to literature as fun?  Why so much heavy topics for kids?  Even kids who have to deal with problems in their life, might enjoy a break in literature.

  More of my rambling but I want my daughter to enjoy learning instead of being forced into reading material that is too emotionally mature for her.  I want my little girl to enjoy being a little girl.

Ann

Waiting on the the new computer to be delivered.  There goes another boat load of money!

I have been fairly busy.  Working on photography and uploads.  My daughter has a karate competition coming up-there goes another 70 dollars!  She is also testing in a couple of weeks for a new rank.  We are very proud of her!

Tomorrow, I have a meeting with the school concerning my son who if you remember, has Asperger's syndrome (autism).  I am dusting off my battle armor.  It is always a struggle and a battle when dealing with the schools when you have a special needs kid.  We have a very opposing view with the school on what they call one of their "just standard policies and release forms".  This policy concerns restraint policies.  Funny, for the last 3 years we have had a special agreement with this policy and now they are saying that it can't be on the form???  Very curious.  So off to battle we go.  For pete's sake-he is an autistic child-not Hannibal Lector!!!! 

This school deals with children and teens with many disorders.  Some of these kids may need mecahnical restraints to keep them and others safe at times.  But my son's own team at this same school all say that this is contraindicated in his case-they all agree it would cause him damage!!!!  He doesn't need this!!!  But the director, supposedly, says that all kids at this school have to have their parents sign giving them permission to do so.  I think not!  So wish me luck as I put on my armor and draw my sword!!!

Ann

Well, now my computer is dead!  I am on our laptop which is old and almost dead.  The mother board in our computer died today after we just got that computer last year.  Gone are all my photo files.  Most things I had backed up but not the shots I took in the past month.  Needless to say, I am PO'd!!!

On the other hand, I am hoping that you all have a great holiday weekend and I do hope that at some point, I can catch up with all of you.  Especially new friends that I haven't been able to visit yet.

Ann

Sheesh!  This week has been rough too.  My daughter has been home sick for the last two days.  And today, our basset hound had to go to the vet for an injury.  She just all of a sudden couldn't move her neck without yelping really loud and her back legs were like jello!!!  Turns out that she pulled something in her neck which is pinching a nerve which is affecting her back legs....We figure she did this while playing with our mini poodle pup.  He loves to try and play with her constantly.

The vet put her on a muscle relaxer and a pain killer.  While her neck is doing better, her back legs are worse on the "happy pills".  Basset hounds are long dogs and right now, she is like a fire truck that doesn't have a driver in the back-her back end is all over the road and not following the front!  She is falling down and banging into things so we have to keep her confined.  We also have to carry her in and out to do her business.  We have a raised ranch and so there are stairs to go up and down to both the front and the back doors.  And she weighs almost 50 lbs!!!!  The poor thing. 

Not to mention that this cost a whopping 165.00 today at the vet!!!  Ouch! 

Ann

Sorry I have MIA lately.  This will probably be long!

First, the hubby was away all last week.  (Not something I like to say over the web while he is actively gone-never know who is reading etc)  He had to travel for work and although I cannot say what for, I had no way to contact him or speak with him for 8 days.  (no, not CIA or anything-LOL-but still classified type of work.)  So I was worried about him.

While he was gone, I was sick.  My daughter had been invited to a sleepover birthday party that was to last about 24 hours!  She is 9 years old and this worried me.  For one, if she wanted to come home during the night, I would have to wake my autistic son and take him with me to pick her up.  Next, this friend has some "issues".  Her family is military so she has moved quite a bit, her sister is bi-polar and is no longer able to live at home (a thing she has in common with my daughter-they both have sibs that have disabilities) and her parents are divorcing-poor kid.  Her parents do still stay at the same house and really pull together for the kids but it is still taking a toll on this little girl and the way it is showing itself is in her behaviour.  She has a tendancy to be very mean and act out.  And it did happen again at her birthday party.  She was so mean to one little girl that she called her mom and went home.  My daughter stayed for the whole time but when she got home the next day, she burst out in tears.  She said that her friend was very mean, wouldn't let anyone sleep, her dad couldn't get her to stop saying things and pushing other kids etc.  I felt horrible!!!!  Her friend is really a good kid, smart, funny and very sweet but at times, she is out of control.  I know her parents are working hard with her and she is really going through some rough stuff right now.  This whole thing added to my stress level!!!

My autistic son did wonderfully with the change of dad being gone.  But since he has been back, it is like he is really letting loose!  His behaviour has just been off the mark.  I think the stress of his dad being gone has finally caught up with him and he is having a tough time.  It doesn't help that the kids all have the state wide assessment testing this week and next either.  This always stresses my kids out.

As for me, I come from a large family but none of them is ever of any help.  They come to me for help but never offer any.  So here I was, sick, with the hubby gone and no support or help from anyone.  Worried about my husband and kids.  And as anyone with a special needs kids knows, you need a break!!!  24/7 is very tough!  God bless all you single moms!  Especially those with a special kid!  And my kids were up at night as well.  My son does this when his anxiety level is up and my daughter was just plain nervous with daddy gone-so no sleep either!

Now that the hubby is back, my family calls!!!!  They need me to give them rides here and there, want help with things etc.  Where were they last week????  Right now, I need to get myself back on track-have meetings with the school about my son, Dr's appts for him, need to do more photography(have a request for lighthouse shots) and would really like to have a day of rest and catch up on osme time with my husband.  And this is just the tip of the iceberg!  LOL

Sorry this is so long and I will be by to visit you all! 

Ann

  Did you ever have one of those days where you are so short tempered, you can't even stand to be around yourself?  I am having one of those days.

  Harry went back to school after being home sick for 2 days.  I have so much to do and seem to be getting nothing done.  Or at least it feels that way.  Harry has the habit of asking questions non stop-we used to call him the question boy.  I am used to him asking for clarification and explanations on social issues-comes with the Asperger's syndrome.  But for some reason, today I have had no patience with the non stop questions.  I hate when I feel like this!  Between that, the homework, the driving kids to karate, and my two kids fighting, I am about to rip my hair out!!!!  My son is 11 and my daughter is 9.  She is in that nagging little girl stage where she tells him what to do and tattles on him all the time.  He is at that bratty boy stage of loving to tease his sister.  The petty arguing is making me crazy.  These two could argue over the color of an orange!!!!!  "He went in my room-she looked at me-he stuck his tongue out..."  Arghhhh.....

  Now, normally, I can deal with it but I am having one of those occasional days where I just can't deal with it!  My head is pounding and I can't wait until bedtime! 

Ann

  My son has a cold and was home from school today.  I think he is feeling better and will be able to go back to school tomorrow.  He has had this cold for 3 days already.  Needless to say, with a sick kid at home, I didn't get much done.

  I really need to have some time to shoot more photos and to get this mess of a house clean.  Oh well.  LOL

  Hope all of you are doing well and I will be visiting you tonight if the kids give me a break!

Ann

  Good day today.  My daughter's two best friends came for her "buddy day" at karate.  One had to leave after that but I took the other friend and my daughter to lunch.

  I found a new place to sell my photos from!!!!  Great previews, create your own watermark, set your own price...Wish me luck!

  Hope you are all having a good weekend.  Ann

Same old, same old.  Raining here all day.  I am looking forward to the weekend.  It is supposed to clear up and we can get out and about.

I am looking into a new place to market my photos.  Being a stay at home mom with a child with a disability, I need to work on my own time schedule, which is often interrupted.  I would much prefer doing more artistic photos but when selling stock...you have to photograph mundane objects and subjects that can be used.  But hey, take what is given to you and run with it!

I am so happy to see my new friends posting here!!!  You are an interesting, fun group!  Although, you still haven't told me how to get my avatar into my messages!!!  I am such a computer idiot.  Can one of you please tell me how to do this?

Take care, Ann

Did get to exercise today and had rabbit food for supper.  I found this terrific blazer that I wanted.  I had to order it in a larger size because of weight gain but being so short, the sleeves are way too long.  Depressing but motivating as well.  Oh, who am I kidding.  I am not that motivated.  I would rather sit on my fat rump and eat ice cream!

Already in the new school year, I have to have a meeting with the school.  Not over Harry really but over their paperwork/legaleze.  I never sign anything I am uncomfortable with and the wording on a document they have is shaky.  It is something that we had a specification on in the past and now they are saying they can't have it written that way .  After 3 years, now they have an issue with the wording.  I am on it and I have a supportive,brainiac for a husband and he is on it as well.  I usually handle things with the school these days but if it is out of the routine, he insists on coming as well.  He used to go to every meeting but once Harry got on an even keel...So Tuesday, we get to duke this one out.  (have to say though that this is a terrific school and the staff is excellent)

Had the opportunity to take some more shots and have them posted for stock.  Now I just need to start a new site for independent sales of my photos.  The other one is having issues and the response from them is "we are working on it but I wouldn't look for improvement in the near future".  Nice huh?  They get a commision from images but just don't seem interested in really dealing with them.

Now for my big secret!  I know you all just can't wait to hear this.  I am addicted...to reality shows!  Project Runway is my favorite but tonight starts the new season of Survivor!  (the other one I watch is Bravo's Top Chef)  Tonight, I will lay down the biography I am reading on the life of Emily Dickinson and watch trash tv!!!!  Hey.  We all need a hobby right?