Best Friends

I am starting to catch up with my photos! On January 28, 2009 it was a snow day off of school so Madelyn and Cindy Lou had great fun playing together in the snow.

Two More Layouts

This weekend I completed 2 12" x 12" layouts and one entire 5" x 7" album. Try doing that with just a few spare hours and traditional scrapbooking!!! LOVE digital.

Digital Scrapbooking

Okay, so I have found myself too busy to do traditional scrapbooking. You know the kind with actual paper, ribbon, glue etc.... A friend of mine is a Consultant with Creative Memories and for awhile now I have been looking at the digital scrapbooking programs. Last week I purchased the Storybook Maker and Memory Manager programs so I could finally get started. Last night I created my first page.



I kept it simple for my first attempt and I realize there is lots to learn. What I like about it is I can work on my scrapbooks and still be with my family in the living room. I simply have my laptop handy and I don't have to have tons of supplies out on a table. When I am done with a page or an album I simply send it off to get printed. So easy!!! I will never completely give up on traditional scrapbooking but digital scrapbooking will help me get caught up on nearly 2 years of photos! Creative Memories has some wonderful Disney digital kits that I will eventually have to buy.

Damn that School District!!!!

Here I am, my day off yesterday and relaxing at the rec plex pool. I was even glancing up from my book now and then to admire the cute lifeguard that is half my age! Madelyn was at summer school, Jim at work...I was relaxed and enjoying a "me" day when I started getting cell phone calls. It was Madelyn's one on one aide at school telling me that she had been released from summer employment and that she wouldn't be with her for the remaining two weeks of summer school. WHAT!!!???? This is Madelyn's aide that has been with her for one year now and knows her IEP goals and implements her ABA and knows her special programs. What the hell is the district thinking???!!! I immediately pack up everything and leave the pool and start an immediate phone call and email campaign to correct this situation. I knew that if Madelyn had to adjust to a new aide and the new aide to her, there would not be any progress made in summer school and more probable there would be a regression. Regression is not a work I want to hear or have my daughter experience. She has had more than enough of that! I finally spoke to the director of special education late in the afternoon I was assured that her original aide WOULD remain with her for the last two weeks of extended school year (summer school or also simply called ESY). I however have my doubts so I will be there at the school on Monday morning to assure that this does happen. If not, I will be pulling her out of ESY and will just send her to all day camp for the whole summer.
If this districts wants to succeed (and apparently they do not) they need to give ALL the students, not just special educations, some kind of stability. There is constant turnover of staff and now the threats of lay offs. They keep the burnt out teachers/therapists that don't care about educating anymore, just there to earn a pay check, and get rid of those with enthusiasm and new ideas that might actually benefit these children. I wish the economy was better so we could sell our house and move to a more stable district. Right now that is only a wish. Right now I just have to say damn you school district, special ed director, autism and economy!!!! No one messes with MY daughter. NO ONE!

Going to Church

Confession time.....I haven't been to church in months.

Last year I was so excited to have finally found a church home, Compton Heights Christian Church, was baptized and officially became a member. I love my Church family very much. So now you ask why have I not attended service in months...
Well my excuse is simple and truthful. I also love spending time with my daughter and husband on Sundays. Some weeks it is our only family time together because of our work schedule and Madelyn's activity/therapy schedule.

My husband was raised Catholic and says he has attended enough church services to last him a life time. We have argued this point many times but he stands firm and will not attend church with me. I respect his decision and will not nag him anymore on the issue. The church members have been wonderful when I bring Madelyn with me to service, however she spends most of the time verbal stimming (associated with her autism), laughing and trying to run away from me. Honestly, it is not a pleasant experience for me and I really can't enjoy the service.

My church is small and they simply don't have the room, staff, funding or enough children for a special needs ministry/children's church. I had hoped to bring several other families to Compton Heights that also have children with autism or other developmental disabilities but it seems they all already had church homes of their own. If anyone reading this blog that also lives in the St. Louis area, has a special needs child and are looking for a church home, please let me know! Compton Heights is a wonderful church!

So that is my excuse, I have been spending my Sundays with Jim and Madelyn either on vacation, weekend trips, visiting my parents in mid-Missouri, going to pool..... How about a 7am service??!! That way I could attend early while Jim and Madelyn are asleep and still have the whole rest of the day to spent with them??!! Oh, that is a different denomination. 7am mass, 9 am mass, Saturday evening mass.....

Rev. Jacque, the next Sunday it is raining, cold or we simply don't have plans, I WILL be there. My heart and soul are with with Compton Heights Christian Church. Amen.

Welcome

It has been about 2 years since I have blogged and in fact I even deleted my original blog. However, I AM BACK!!! Here I will discuss the important things in my life which include being a mom of a child with autism, being a wife, a working mom, a Christian, a pet lover and a scrapbooker/crafter. There are other things in this list but these come to mind first. So welcome to MOM-Musings of MadScrappermom!