Grocery shopping with girly girls

I had to to do the monthly shopping trip. I usually shop on Saturdays (in celebration that I don't have to work). This Saturday I had three little tagalongs. Bob had to work and unless I wanted to shop at 4 in the morning. The girls were coming.

I was blown away with how good they were. (Shocking surprise!! They are not always good at the store) Shannon had a major melt down when we were walking into the store but it was soon alleviate by a chocolate doughnut. Once again, a sample saved the day.

We shopped for over 2 hours and we finally had to stop because we had run out of room in the cart. I was busting out with every coupon I had and the orinial total was $256. We paid $223. And to think some people say that coupons don't do anything.

Playing in the snow

The girls loved the snow. I wasn't so fond of it.

I pulled the girls on the sled. It was quite heavy!


Ellie couldn't wait to make a snow angel.



What a beautiful snow angel!



Shannon loves going down the slide.


Lauren tries to start a snowball fight with daddy

Snow storm

We had a storm this week. School was cancelled on Wednesday and Thursday. I was shocked that they went on Friday because I thought the roads were horrible. My dad was in charge of snow removal when I was growing up (still is) so I've become a snow removal snob.

The girls love playing in the snow.

Surgery Rescheduled

Ellie has been rescheduled for March 23rd. That's the day after Lauren 6th (Oh, my she can't turn 6) birthday.

The girls are on spring break and hopefully there will be no snow so my mother in law can come. I don't have that much sick time so I need her to come.

Ellie is feeling much better but I'm glad I cancelled it.

Surgery Cancelled

I just cancelled Ellie's surgery. She has a slight fever, is very congested, and has a cough. It's nothing that would bother her on any other day. I've been through the recovery before and it's difficult. I'd rather her be in optimal health rather than sub-optimal.

They might not have even done it. I'd rather decide to cancel it then spend a few hours at the hospital tomorrow only to find out that no one will operate on her.

Last IEP of 2009

We moved in September and her new school district wanted to do a new MFE. I've now had to go to three official meetings since then. We had the last meeting yesterday. We discussed goals and more importantly how to get them.

The great news is that she will be going to 1st grade. It will be much easier from an intervention standpoint. She is pulled out for four different therapies and looses times in the classroom. In 1st grade, she'll be there all day instead of half day so she'll loose less time overall. Right now, she gets all the services they offer except ESL. We do speak English at home.

Bob is excited that she will be going to extended school year. She'll do some type of school this year. I'm not sure how much or what but she thrives on going to school. It could have been a very long summer for Bob.

Kind-Hearted Lauren

Sometimes, just getting through the day with Lauren is a struggle. I tend to dwell on the negative. I tend to dwell on the things she can't do; instead of focusing on the things she's learning and how far she has come.

One thing that I have always known is that Lauren has a kind heart. She loves people and loves to make people happy. Last weekend, we went to visit my mother in law. We had made apple cinnamon muffins for breaskfast before we left and had two left over. Lauren wrapped them up with a paper towel and put them in a container. I asked her what she was doing and she said "bringing them to Mamaw. She loves muffins".

Earlier this month, Lauren had a doctor appointment. I had to leave from work so Bob and the kids met me at the office. The plan was that Ellie and Shannon would go home from with Bob. Ellie was tired and hadn't seen me all day. She started crying that she wanted to stay. I normally would have let her but I had things I needed to discuss with the doctor and it would be too difficult with Ellie. The nurse told her that if she went home, I would bring her a sticker.

We never found that nurse after the appointment and so I left. I had forgotten about the stickers. Lauren, however, remembered. She cried the entire way home. I first thought she was crying because she didn't get a sticker. She wasn't. She was crying because Ellie needed a sticker and she didn't have one to bring her.