To lighten up...

Another year older, hopeful another year wiser!

If you didn't guess the apple orchard is one of my favorite places.

Vincent guiding the ladies out of the orchard today!  Quite a hoot.

I get it

Claudia is on a mission to have a helper dog, and I know why.

We received our first rejection letter from Canine Companions for Independence out of Delaware, Ohio.  I was devastated.  Claudia was amazing.. she said that we'll see what they say in Georgia (Canine Assistants), and we will.

Last night we were talking together while I was helping her get ready for bed.  She loves to dream about what she is going to be when she grows up.  Maybe a doctor, a lawyer or a firefighter, she's not quite sure.  I was mentioning to her that perhaps she would be a good psychologist because she is so insightful and perceptive.  She said that her therapy dog could work well helping people too.  Yes, I replied, and that people would be inspired by all of her hard work and perseverance.  She wanted to know what inspire meant!

It's you babe!  You inspire me every day.  

And today was one of those tough days when having a disability just sucks, and I needed inspiration.

We had an average to stinky IEP meeting.  Nothing major, just not usually productive or helpful.  No one commenting on how wonderful and clever you are.. more of the I can't do that, I'm too busy, we don't have that and that would be too much to ask of the school district.  

But the icing on the cake for me was the call that I received an hour later about you being too "sick" to be in school.  No fever, no running nose, no bodily fluids, just that "the life is out of your eyes" and that you were not yourself.  Apparently you ran into too many chairs in your classroom.

Against my better judgement, I took you home today.  Not your choice I know, I heard the cries.  I see your frustration, isolation and struggle.  I get it.  

I know why that dog would be so nice to have by your side.  Someone that doesn't pass judgement on you because you use wheels.   A dog wouldn't underestimate your abilities or say that you couldn't play.  A dog could love you unconditionally and constantly be there for you. Believe me, I get it, I'm on your side.  Love you Claudia.

Claudia meeting Emily and her service dog Stryde

(plus the sisters Molly and Eloise)

Fieldtrips

What would first grade be without a few fieldtrips?  Today the girls ventured to Quarry Hill Nature Center.  Fall colors are starting to show in the trees, and the creepy crawlies were hiding under the logs.

This little toad was nice enough to let the kids pet his bumpy back.

The smart turtles were basking in the warm sun.

And my brave Claudia is learning to navigate a very unaccessible, segregated world.  We fought for her to be included on a wheelchair accessible bus for fieldtrips (rather than transported separately in a van minus her classmates).  This did happen but I didn't anticipate the bus to be totally empty in the middle (for wheelchairs) and the "regular" ed. seats to all be in the back.  The bus driver was unwilling to move the tie-downs for Claudia to be close to her peers, so again Claudia is separate and far from equally treated.

Special plunger

I do my best to keep the little ones occupied in our house and away from the many precious treasures of the older girls.  But there is that little part of me that remembers the allure of an older sibling's room, full of forbidden objects.  

So today, like most days when there is silence there is trouble.  I knew it wasn't Vincent because I could hear the clinking of metal matchbox cars.  Julianne must be the cause of the flushing I was hearing!

Tho and behold I discover her little hand welding the special "Snow White" glowing wand posed to plunge the toilet!  I can help but chuckle.  

Without further delay...

Ftwo a'missing as of the Fffifth

Off to First Grade

Off the girls went to 1st grade.  They had a really great first day.  Tonight both melted into their beds but I'll take that as a good sign.

Eloise meeting Miss Carlson

Claudia with Mrs. Fritcher

Not just apples

While celebrating the Labor Day here in MN, we went to a local apple orchard.  With four helpers the picking only lasts about three minutes.  I'm thinking of hiring them out for business.  The kids also found a few other treats while we were there.

Not quite big enough yet!

Let it be known that this little one is sneaky..

Claudia carrying all the loot.