Alex and home school

This may get long and rambly and turn into a vent so bare with me. lol

So, Alex. My oldest. My boy. He is 11 years old. I know I am a little biased but I think he is just the most amazing, thoughtful kid ever. I have 2 girls who are so sweet and I love them to pieces but Alex is a rare gem these days. He thinks carefully about decisions because he never wants to hurt people's feelings. He is smart and kind and considerate.

So when I heard he was being picked on it broke my heart (as it would any parent) Ayden doesn't get picked on. She is the popular one that everyone likes. Alex is a little shy and quiet........and tiny. He is 4 years older than Ayden but only about 2 or 3 inches taller. Anyway, I would always ask him how his day was and he would just say "good" while Ayden would tell me every detail that happened from the time I dropped her off till I picked her up.

I know kids get picked on but this was getting ridiculous. Apparently some of the boys in his class wouldn't touch anything that Alex had touched because they said he was nasty. The called him other names and either completely ignored him when he would try to talk to them or they would tell him to shut up. He brought his Nintendo Power magazine to school and none of the boys would touch it and they all told him that it was stupid. Stuff like that. We had already planned on homeschooling Alex & Ayden next year anyway but once I found out all of this was going on (I should say STILL going on because I did know some stuff was going on) we had debated on starting in January.

Well he had a field trip a few weeks ago and his teacher sat next to him on the bus so no one was mean to him. I broke my heart that she even had to do that. So for the next few days I cried when I would think about sending him into that. No wonder he never wanted to go to school. I found out that this stuff was happening DAILY!

So, over the weekend D and I decided that we would homeschool starting in January. I went Monday and filled out their withdrawal slips and told the kids that they could tell their teachers and friends. Alex came home that day and said those boys cheered that he wasn't coming back. Then on Tuesday they told him that the party they were having Friday was because everyone was so glad he wasn't coming back. I couldn't believe it.

Finally on Thursday the Dean of Students called me to tell me that she had Alex in her office and he had something to tell me. It just all came out. Everything these boys had been doing to him. I had emailed his teacher the night before so she asked Alex about it and he said they had said all the same stuff again that morning and she burst into tears and said she had had enough. The boys were in the principals office and their parents were called and they were all made to apologize to Alex. Some of the parents were so shocked at what their kids had been doing.

So, Friday was their party and a few of the boys wrote him notes telling him how sorry they were and to please not leave the school because of them. That they were trying to be cool and fit in and now realize how wrong they were. Part of me wanted to tell them "too little too late" but Alex said of course he would forgive them. *sniff* He is a much better person than I am. One boy (my guess is he is the ring leader) wrote him a letter that was heartless and forced. He also got some letters from some of the girls in class telling him how sweet he always is and how much they liked him.


Alex's poor teacher (who I have to say is absolutely, hands down, the most amazing teacher ever) was so, so sad to see him go but we will keep in touch with her. She knew some of the stuff that was going on but since a lot of it happened before school and Alex wouldn't tell anyone, it was difficult for her to do anything. Alex didn't tell me a lot of it so I was shocked to hear all of it. I have been crying (feels like non stop) since Thursday but I am so glad he won't have to deal with it there anymore.

I hope these boys have learned a lesson. We are going to have Alex evaluated for Asperger's Syndrome since I have had about 5 people (teachers and parents) recommend that I do. It sure would explain A LOT! Once they told me about it and I read about it I was so relieved that something can explain why he has such a hard time with things.

I am going to do my best to make homeschooling so much fun. Ayden (even as social as she is) is so excited.

SO, thanks for "listening". Being a mom is so tough sometimes.

Oh yeah, I have a blog.

Ok, so where was I? Oh yeah, I'm going to be an Aunt! My sister is due mid June! We are all so excited.

School is almost over for the semester. YAY. We all could use the break.

I made a slide show of the past few days. Making some cookies, putting up the tree, and St Nicholas (today). I love watching the kids open their stockings. Ayden has been waiting for "The Nightmare Before Christmas" for a few months and was really surprised that she got it. She thought she was getting Tinkerbell............(shhh........that one is being saved for Christmas)

Things are still crazy busy here with D at the Mayo clinic a few times a month and with school and everything, but I will try to keep this updated as much as I can.

Hope everyone is having a great December!

I have a secret........

.....and I am soooo excited :)

I'm going to me an Aunt again :) I can't tell you who the mommy is though. Soon!

Better late than never, right?

Since there are a few of you who still read this I thought I'd better at least keep up with it. Thanks all!

Anyway, Ashlynn turned 3 on August 21. :( Here is a slideshow I made about her day. Her b-day was Friday and D and I took her out for the day. I first made her hot pink pancakes, then we took her to get her hair cut. Then we were off to Build-a-Bear where we were 1 of 2 families there. They made a big deal about her and she loved it. Then to lunch at Culver's and there we picked up frozen custard for her party the next day. This was definitely the most fun she has been on a birthday or any holiday really. We asked her what she wanted to do and she knew.

I also started school. I am going back and forth on what I actually want to do because it's so hard for me to actually GO to school. Right now all my classes are online. But enough about me, enjoy the slideshow.

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Does anyone even read this?

Just curious. Most of my friends are on Facebook and I update everything there. Should I even bother updating here too? No skin off my shoulders if no one reads it. One less thing for me to do. lol

Stressing = Baking

If you have been following on Facebook then you know the cause of my stress. My husband.......or rather, his health.

This all started July 21. D called me from work to tell me he was coming home since he was feeling dizzy and was having a hard time seeing. Of course I didn't think it was a good idea that he drove home but he assured me he was fine. 10 minutes later he calls me to tell me that he is pulled over to the side of the rode because he feels like he is going to pass out - so I headed out to go get him.

When I reach him the ambulance that passed me was there assessing him. A few of the police guys he works with heard the call so they were there with him as well and the firefighters he knew were nice enough to take his car to the FD for us while D was off to the hospital.

This doc said he had severe dehydration.........and it went down hill from there. To make a REALLY long story a little shorter, he had a total of 5 trips to the ER, 2 hospital stays, countless tests and a number of things the doctors *thought* was wrong. Pericarditis, tachycardia, GERD, but more likely a combination of something since all the symptoms he had (or IS having) couldn't be explained by one thing. Rapid heart rate, almost fainting, high blood pressure.....then all the heart burn he has always had.

So he was on a heart monitor this weekend, he had an endoscopy on Thursday - those results were a little worse than I thought but not as bad as they could be. He basically has to be monitored closely because as of now he seems to be following along the same lines as his dad who passed away of esophageal cancer in 2006 - 2 months to the day before Ashlynn was born.


ANYWAY ~ this is what has been causing all my stress - and the baking. Apparently baking is a great stress reliever. But then I eat it and gain weight which causes more stress. Hmmmmm.....

So far I have made - all from scratch!! - in 3 weeks time........

Brownies - 3 batches
Bread - 4 loaves (I don't have a bread machine - boo)
Banana bread - 1
Zucchini bread - 2
Pancakes - 1 batch (I usually made them with bisquick lol)
Oatmeal butterscotch cookies - 1 batch
Cinnamon rolls - 1 batch (these took FOREVER. Probably won't do it again any time soon)
And.......a cake I thought up all by myself. Andes mint cake. I thought up the recipe, put it all together and made it. YAY

Here are the cinnamon rolls (well, some of them - they were HUGE but super yummy)

Here is the Andes mint cake. I baked a dark chocolate cake (from scratch - 1st time. It was a little dry) and added peppermint instead of vanilla. For the filling I made a cream cheese frosting, tinted it green, added a little peppermint and chunks of Andes mint candies

Instead of frosting (because I used frosting as filling) I made a chocolate ganache to pour over the top and let it soak in. I have to say, I was pretty impressed. LOL

Oh, and the kids started school July 30th. Alex is in *gasp* 6th grade and Ayden is in 2nd. As you see Ashlynn had to have a lunch box too and she packs it every morning. :) Usually with loose crackers and cereal.
D is doing ok. The meds he is on are supposed to heal the erosion in the duodenum and hopefully stop the changes in the esophagus before it becomes Barrett's. We should find out what the deal with his heart this week. I'm sure there will be more baking. :)

A month later.......

Not a whole lot as gone on this past month other than doctor and dentist appointments before the kiddos start school so this is just a mush of updated info :)

We had a camp out in........it was really hot but sooooo much fun!

We pitched the tent in the living room for the kids to sleep in. Alex is the only one who actually slept in it though.

Our campfire

I tell ya, all these people having babies (2 friends just delivered and 7 more are expecting.........congratulations to you all!!) is giving me baby fever. It's crazy!! Anyway, I have really been having the urge to cook.........a lot! One of mine and D's favorite things to get at one particular restaurant is Pollo Fundido. So, I decided to try to make it at home. It was SOOOOO GOOOOOOOD! Fattening, but good.

By the way, if someone has a yummy recipe for Spanish rice I would love to have it :) The plate just doesn't look right without it.

We also made bread. One of those things I want to try to make and not have to buy so it's healthier. I think I need a bread machine though.

Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. It is too hot here to enjoy summer so in a couple of weeks we'll get out of town........hopefully.