My Competitive Child and her Non-competitive World

This Friday is Regan's Special Olympics Track meet, and of course we are all very excited to go watch her. Since she is the only special needs child at her school, she looks forward to being around people who have similar needs that she does. The majority of her track teammates go to a special school that children from two counties attend.

This will be their third track meet of five this year....but Regan is always in just one....why?

Because she is mainstreamed she is expected to still meet state standardized testing minimums so since the rest of her team is in a life skills school, she has to pass the Texas TAKS test (well all three of them actually) to meet school requirements. So for her one track meet a year she is thrilled to miss school for the day, and have the rest of her grade (all 10 of them) come and watch her perform athletically.

Here is the rather funny part (from my perspective). Regan is so used to good natured ribbing and competitive kids, that she always assumes all the kids she is competing against will be just like she is.  So she teases one girl that she is "going to take her down"...and the girl just looks at her blankly. She then told another young man (teasingly) that she was "sooooo gonna win the race", and he just tells her "okay". Because the majority of Regan's competition is having a ball just being in the race, and they know it is not whether you win or lose, but how much fun you can have.

So Regan will jump for joy and say "Yes!" when she throws her tennis ball the farthest and not understand why no one else is competitive....when all the kids she knows in her every day life are.

Book Review; Treasure Hunt

Part of our family Easter traditions (which by the way we have a lot of Easter Traditions....lol) is to have a Treasure Hunt for the girl's Easter baskets. Each year we start them off with a clue that send them scurrying off and trying to figure out where the next clue is. Eventually after about three different locations have been deciphered, they get the final clue to the location of the coveted baskets.

Regan, Rebecca, and my niece Kyla look forward to this tradition every year. Last year the basket ended up hidden in the outdoor playscape, but we have hidden them in washer/dryers, bathtubs, and obscure closets before too. This year I am excited in finding some help with my treasure hunt clues in my new book Treasure Hunt A book of Clues for Parties by Nancy Kruse.

This little gem of a book is divided into clever poems using every room in the house, and even the outdoors. Looking to hide something in your kitchen? Then just go straight to the Kitchen section where several fun poems you can use are ready for you. They even had a poem where you can place your next clue in an ice cube to be very tricky. Or if you are looking for a more grown up version, there was a poem involving chugging your favorite brew to get the next clue.

I can see me using this book for many years to come, and as the girls get older, I can make the clues tougher. I can highly recommend Treasure Hunt A book of Clues for Parties for all your treasure game needs. This would be a great birthday party activity, a fun Christmas gift hiding game, or if you want to tempt your sweetheart with a Valentine Treasure Hunt.

Do you have any Treasure Hunting Ideas you can share?

Spring Pics 2009

Today John Mark was still in Austin for a Charity Golf Tournament he was in so I took the girls out to a local park, to take pictures and surprise him. I am somewhat obsessive with getting pictures in the springtime because I love the Bluebonnets that just take over the fields. We had a great time, and I really got some fabulous shots.

Here is Regan's bluebonnet close-up

Then we Have Rebecca's shot

They posed for me together on the slide

Then I caught Regan in a fun moment on the teeter totter

Rebecca lounging by the tree

Finally another great shot of my girls
John Mark is going to love these shots of his girls!

Is She Wearing a What?!!!!!

Well the girls and I were spending a quiet evening hanging out. Regan and Rebecca are watching the Kid's choice awards, and I was randomly doing laundry and Entrecard dropping....when I overhear this juicy little tidbit from my television.

Okay, wait....let me set the scenario. On the screen is Dwayne Johnson who is this year's host dressed up as Myley Cyrus. He is in front of a crowd of kids all in the front row home theater furniture. He looked funny in his dress and brown wig, I'll admit. Then Myley comes out in the same dress, and they have some clever banter....but then Dwayne Johnson asks her if she is wearing a thong!!!

I'm sorry, when is it ever appropriate to ask a teenage girl about her underwear? That has got be one of the worst things I have seen on live television. What a complete perv! There is a crowd of children not three feet away from you, and that is what you want to portray? Luckily she brushed it aside quickly, but I was horrified. Rebecca asked me why he would want to know about that, and I told her I honestly had no idea.

Maybe you can answer that one Mr. Johnson....why would you ask a teenage girl what she is wearing under her dress?

It's Gettin' Hot in Here...so Come and Check my Head

Okay, sorry for the Nelly title reference....I just couldn't help myself. Anyway, to be serious, I can't tell you how often over the years I have struggled with thermometers. When Regan was young she had febrile seizures. Anytime she would start to feel warm, I would start trying to monitor her temp with an ear thermometer that we had. I honestly would get so many different and difficult readings that it left me frustrated. It got so bad, that as soon as she felt the slightest bit warm we would plunge her in a cool bath just to avoid any possible seizures. Due to her cerebral palsy, we couldn't get her to function with a regular or rectal thermometer. What would really bother me was that when her pediatrician would ask what her temperature had gotten to, we were at a loss as to what to say.

Now I am blessed to have had an Exergen Temporal Scanner to work with and evaluate, and I absolutely love that device! First of all it is non-invasive. It gets a correct temperature reading with just a quick scan of the forehead. It was so easy, that everyone in my house could use it with no problems, and it was accurate. Who could ask for more in a thermometer.

The Exergen Temporal Scanner is the fastest, most accurate way to measure body temperature. Even if there is perspiration on the forehead, you can place the probe on the back of the neck to get a reading.

To use, simply place the probe on the forehead, hold down the scan button and slide over to the hairline. Within 2-3 seconds it will beep letting you know the scan is over. Release the scan button and take the thermometer away from the head when it reaches the hairline. It even has an automatic shut off after 30 seconds.

It is the only Thermometer made in the US and is better for the environment since it uses infrared sensor technology and contains no mercury. The Exergen Temporal Scanner runs on one 9-volt battery and meets all regulatory requirements.

You can purchase the Exergen Temporal Scanner in many places including BabiesRUs.....or you can win one from this giveaway...Yippee!

This Giveaway is for one Exergen Temporal Scanner. Entries will be accepted until April 5th, 2009 midnight CST. If you are commenting anonymously please leave an email address so that I can contact you. This giveaway is open to United States Residents Only.

1. Mandatory First Entry: Leave a comment on why you want this thermometer.
2. Earn 2nd Entry by becoming a follower of this blog, or leaving me a separate comment if you already are.
3. Earn an extra entry for twittering about this contest, and leaving me you tweet link in a separate comment
4. Earn another entry by placing my button on your blog sidebar (again leave a comment letting me know you have)
5. Final entry can be earned by blogging about this giveaway, and leaving me a link to the post in a separate comment.

Good Luck everyone and a special thank you to the Family Review Network for this wonderful opportunity.

Bright Star Kids Review

I was thrilled when Family Review Network gave me the opportunity to do a review for Bright Star Kids. This Australian Company has really great wall graphics, Wall letters, Labels, and my own review item Chalkboard Dots.

I chose to review these because I know Regan and Rebecca would want them for their rooms to add their own personal touch. I was right! Rebecca popped hers up above her headboard, and wrote her fun little personal message. If you can't read it from the picture it reads "Becca Boo Rox.....When she pop, lock, and drops!"


Regan is still trying to decide if she wants hers on the door or the wall, but that is the great thing about these versatile chalkboard dots. They are easily removable and can be placed anywhere. I really like the website idea of using them as a fridge messageboard


For a limited time Bright Star Kids
My readers can take 20% off! If you would like to try out their products, they would love to give you 20% off your entire order. To use simply enter the promotional code FAMILYREVIEW into the Promotional Code section of our Shopping Cart and then press Submit.

This offer will be valid for one month from 25th March until the 25th April. Important: If you don't get the products in time and you need to extend the expiry date, please get in touch and I'll sort it out for you.

Notes on using this code: The discount doesn't work with any automatic store discounts. For example if a person buys 2 or more Wall Graphic or Wall Letter kits, they will automatically get between 15 - 25% off. These products won't get the extra 20% off, but any other product that's in the order will.

Da Bib is Da Cutest!

When the Family Review Network first asked for reviewers for a company called Da Bib my first impulse was just to let this one past because both of my girls are way past that bib wearing stage, but then I remembered we have several special needs family friends who have older children still in bibs for several of their feeding issues. With this in mind, I wanted to see if it would suit the needs of special needs family, and I am proud to say it would do the job admirably.

The first thing I wanted to check out when I received it was the quality of the fabric and the stretch of the neckline. Regan and Rebecca were both able to put it around their necks and Velcro it easily. The neckline has a firm feel (they refer to it as a scrunch collar designed to keep the neckline safe from spills and staining. One side is a great terrycloth, and the other side a wipeable side. It even has a food pouch to catch all those stray crumbs.

I am proud to recommend it to any newborn family as an excellent bib, and also to any special needs family, as one that is suited to your needs also. Don't you love things that are versatile?

Now you can have your very own Da Bib for your munchkin. This Giveaway is open to US residents only, and will run through April 4, 2009 until 12:00 midnight CST. If you leave an anonymous comment please also leave your email address so that I will be able to reach you.

1. First Entry (Mandatory) please visit Da Bib and tell me which style you would choose to win. Leave a comment telling me the style
2. Second Entry: become a follower of my blog and leave me a second comment telling me that you are
3. Third Entry: Twitter this post and leave me a URL to find it in a separate comment
4. Fourth Entry: Post my button on your sidebar, and let me know in a separate comment
5. Fifth Entry: Blog about this giveaway on your own site and leave me a URL address in a separate comment.
   
   
   
   

Those Boys and their Science Addictions

Well Tuesdays and volunteering for the school's Gifted and Talented Program go hand in hand here at my house. Before Spring Break we finished making catapults....and this morning I was scouring online for more science related projects, why?

Because our program is mainly boys...in fact it is 9 boys and 3 girls, and since it is an optional pull out program for the district, I try to keep it as fun and entertaining while tricking them into higher learning. We actually have a great time, but I am so tired of science!

Although today I must confess an addiction to the online physics game Fantastic Contraption. That is the coolest game! You have to constantly figure out how to get from point A to point B using the contraption and adding to it.

I also have been intrigued by the science of Roller Coasters and have discovered a cad drawing site that gives you the online drawing tools to do just that. So while I would like to have them build a business model, or learn the stock market.....it is looking more like a wind machine and trebuchet year again. Anyone have any great site tips?

Cinderella Tackles Spring Cleaning

Since Rebecca is still trying to claw her way back into our good graces due to her little incident, we thought that a little Spring Cleaning would do her a world of good. So some of her Spring Break has been spent with me portraying the wicked stepmother character....and her doing a lot of chores. It seemed like the opportune time to try out Windex's Outdoor All-In-One window cleaner.

Rebecca sour-faced dutifully took off the window screens off of 17 windows, and began to read her instructions on the box. Here are Windex's instructions:

• SPRAY window and cleaning pad with garden hose.
• WIPE window with cleaning pad.
• RINSE window with garden hose. No need to hand dry.

The benefits of using Windex on your outdoor windows include:

• Windex's® Special Sheeting Action Formula that prevents streaks and spotting
• Clean 20 windows† with a single pad! (refills available)
• Reach up to 11 ft. so you can safely and easily tackle tough outdoor grime without the hassle of using a ladder.

Here are a few pics of Windex's Outdoor All-In-One in action. By the way you will not see Rebecca in these pictures because she was convinced if I was going to torture ask her to do outdoor chores, then she was going to get a tan while doing it ( not a battle I felt like fighting that day). Anyway, Here it is at work.

It really did a great job. The cleaning pad held up through seventeen windows at my house, and there are no streaks! I can tell you without a doubt, I will buy this again, and figure out another way to get Rebecca to clean my windows again (well surely she will get in trouble again....lol).

Now you can test out Windex's Outdoor All-In-One window cleaner for yourself, because I am giving away a free kit!. This giveaway is open to United States residents only. Just follow the giveaway instructions. Remember if you enter Anonymously....please leave an email address where I can reach you. This giveaway will end April 2, 2009 at 12:00 midnight CST.

1. Please leave me a Spring Cleaning Tip (must do to qualify further entrees) in a comment.
2. Become a follower of my blog or leave me a separate comment letting me know if you already are.
3. Place my button in the sidebar of your blog and leave me a separate comment letting me know
4. Twitter this post and leave me a copy of your tweet in a separate comment.
5. Post about this giveaway and leave me a link to the URL in a separate comment

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program by SC Johnson, who also supplied the product for review and give away.

Brain Injury Awareness Month

It seems like there is a lot going on this month, but I didn't want March to drift by without bringing in some awareness to a cause that is so very dear to us.
. Here are a few facts to let you know more about this disability that effects our daily life.

- The average prevalence of cerebral palsy is about 1 in 278 children. This first report of the prevalence and characteristics of CP, the most common cause of motor disability in childhood, are from Georgia, Alabama and Wisconsin. Can you even begin to imagine the numbers if there was a national surveillance?

- Cerebral palsy is one of the most common developmental disabilities in the US, affecting at least 800,000 children, adolescents and adults in America. Cerebral palsy is NOT a disease nor should it be considered one. It is not even a simple or single disorder but rather a broad range of disorders that disrupt a person’s ability to move, sit, stand, walk, talk and use their hands. The severity of the movement disorder and the type of movement difficulties can vary greatly. Some patients have only mild difficulties with balance, walking and fine motor skills while patients at the other extreme are completely trapped in their own bodies, fighting rigid limbs, and unable to speak or swallow.

- There is currently no cure for cerebral palsy and in most cases, it is not preventable. In over 50 years, treatments for CP have not progressed much at all. In fact, today, there remains little consensus among medical professionals regarding what causes CP or how best to treat it. Why do 800,000 or more Americans have CP, and yet we don’t know much more about what causes it or how to prevent it than we did a half century ago?

Resources: Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Reaching for the Stars (RFTS)

Regan was diagnosed at age 2 1/2 and it is a huge part of who we are as a family, but we do not let it define her or us. We know she is destined for greatness, and we can't wait to see what she does with her life. 

Our Inappropriate President

I have been asked by several people how we feel as a family about Barack Obama's little dig at the Special Olympics. If you did not watch the interview with Jay Leno....then feel free to YouTube the small segment of conversation where Jay asks our president how is bowling game is coming along (because the white house has it's own bowling alley inside).....and our President remarks his bowling is akin to someone from the Special Olympics.

Wow.....I just don't understand if we have been working hard for so many years to be politically correct, and I would not dream of referencing you in any way but just to refer to you as our President, that you can in turn degrade tho whole process and lower yourself to such remarks. Honestly though, I think what bothers me even more....is the lack of media awareness concerning your extremely inappropriate remark. When Dan Quayle years ago misspelled a word we heard about it for weeks. George Bush was regular fodder for his country colloquialisms......but Obama, virtually nothing!

When Regan heard about your remark she had this to say

"Wow mom, that was a really thoughtless thing to say. Maybe, he just needs to use one of those bowling ball ramps that I use at the bowling alley"

Since Special Olympics Track season is upon us, and our eyes are focused on Regan's Tennis Ball Throw, and 50 meter assisted run. We would hope that track is not the next target from our President's lips. I always believe that the highest office in our country is held to a higher standard, I am disheartened that once again it is not so.

What do you think?

I Don't Understand the Twilight Hype

I am sure I will get flack for this, but Jen (my sister) and I were discussing what seems to be the mecca of all things literature these days......Twilight.

Yes, I read it.

Yes, it was a good read and I enjoyed it.

but, what is with all the hype? It was a good book....but not great. I enjoyed it, but really it was just another teen romance novel, until the last few chapters...which finally got my attention. I have read a ton of romance novels in my life....I get it...they are odd and find each other. Mix in some vampires, and it was a little more interesting....but, I really do not like a helpless female character.

I plan to read the next in the series in the next few days, when I have finished the other three novels that I am getting through first, and really that to me says it all. I was not excited enough to jump it to the head of the line. Go ahead and tell me how insanely crazy I am, I can take it.

Just Hangin' Out...Bein' Random

The girl's and I are in Austin today to visit with my sister and my gorgeous nieces. The goal of today is to get our tutu's, belt buckles, and hair bows all finished and ready to sell next weekend so that we can have some spending money. Anyone out there interested? They are all super-cute....and very girlie!

Regan was excited to finally get to meet her cousin Claire because she has anticipated this day for so long, and we had been so busy just trying to get through Rebecca's cheer season that it just hadn't happened yet. Well we got here for the pivotal moment, and Claire was first fussy....then asleep. So, we are still awaiting our baby time.

It is a gorgeous day outside, and I hope to take the girls out later for some fun at the park...and out to eat. Maybe I can even get some geocaching in. All this Spring Break makes me look forward to Summer when we can just get together at the drop of a hat because none of the girls will have school.  How are you spending your Spring Break?

100% success rate....except for one

Yesterday I spent a few hours at the local catholic school cheer/mascot tryouts. So since I had gotten home at two in the morning, unpacked, laundry, clean-up, dealt with my kids, and guzzled enough caffeine to fill Lake Erie....I was ready to face the tryout scene.

See, I had four routines I had choreographed for the two mascot positions. Now before this my success rate has been 100%....every child I had a routine for made mascot. This year I knew some of the routines would not make it.....but I still wanted them to beat out the kids who had not hired a mascot choreographer (did I mention I can be quite petty).

So I headed over to see my girls and make sure they were calm, knew their routines, had their props, and were ready to roll. I found out when I had arrived that one of the girls I had worked with decided to just try out for cheer and not mascot too (fine with me...I had already been paid by her mother...and one less to fret over). While there I also gave out tips like candy to some of the girls trying out for cheerleader. I mean I work at a cheer gym, and am still obscenely peppy for my age, so I just gave out a few words of advice to several girls who had that "deer in the headlights" look.

Anyway, all my girls rocked it out....and two sisters I coached became the two Tiger mascots. They celebrated last night and brought me a gorgeous bouquet of flowers....so I am a happy camper! Then I got a phone call from another little girl who said my advice I gave her on her jumps and smile helped her a lot and she had made cheerleader. She was calling to tell me thanks.

The sad part.....one of my girls did not make anything, and she was so disappointed. She had worked hard with me, and had a really cute routine.....but it just didn't win. So, my success rate is still 100% sort of....I mean do you count when you have so many routines for two spots? Anyway, I still have two more girls for other schools that I will be working with...so let's hope my record stands with this year....in the meantime does anyone know what conversion rate optimization is concerning my computer? Should I be worried...is it a fatal disease for the hopelessly tech challenged?

Our Top Ten list from the Disney World Trip

Well we are happy to be back from our trip to Orlando for the national All-Star Cheer Competition. Rebecca's squad placed 3rd out of 10 teams in their category. I was impressed that in the top four .....three squads were from Texas, which shows the level of competition is very high where we are. To view their Saturday performance click HERE and type "Tumbletown" in the search box.

Ten Best

• Shopping in Epcot (Japan is our favorite)
• Standing in line at Soaring....they have really fun interactive games while you wait.
• A Waffle House at every single exit from Louisiana to Florida on I-10
• Extra Magic Hours at Magic Kingdom....lines are non-existant
• Street Dancing with the Characters
• "Awe-shum" candy from everywhere to satisfy my sweet tooth
• Finding fresh Krispy Kreme at 4:00 am in Alabama
• Having a perfect cheer routine and doing well
• Tasty adult beverages to make standng in line bearable (try Fiesta margaritas from Mexico)
• and our personal favorite *******The rollercoasters****

Ten Worst

• Once again missing out on riding "It's a small world". This is my 5th visit and I have never made it to this classic ride.
• Breaking down in Louisiana and needing a new battery (yuck)
• Mac-n-Cheese *note to Disney....try Kraft
• Turkish Delight that stuff is just nasty
• Animals in hiding on the Safari ride at Animal Kingdom
• The hype for Test Track....the only good thing was we were able to fast pass it
• Rebecca's tiny bladder on a 17 hour road trip.....ugh! And she lost two teeth on the drive home
• Trying to find a trading pin of "Boo" from Monster's Inc. Next place to look-EBay
• High School Cheerleaders dancing trashy...making the after competition party not kid-friendly
• Stitch-The Great Escape.......There is 30 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

We had a wonderful time, and I really hope our gym continues to include this on our competition schedule because it is so much fun! I am glad to be back though and ready to work.

While You are Waiting...

Honestly, I have no idea if and when I might be able to post while at Disney...so here are a few pics from our last vacation to enjoy in the meantime. I should be back on Wednesday (although hopefully I can figure out how to post from my phone, and then this would just be an extra bonus). If I were smart I would have figured out some guest posters while I was gone.....but obviously I am lacking at the moment.


The girls are posing outside our rooms at Disney's Yacht Club. It was a nice hotel, and the steak house there was amazing!


Chilling out in Animal Kingdom in Dino Land....The best ride of the day? Well Expedition Everest of Course!


I swear Regan could make friends with anyone......here she is with her alien posse right before we went on Space Mountain.


Rebecca got roped into doing the hokeypokey with Woody's Roundup! Since she never needs an excuse to perform, this is right up her alley.


Here is the dog that started it all, Regan was terrified of costumed characters (you can find the post somewhere in September archives), and after she adjusted to Pluto she was hooked!

Recipe: Texas Ranch Crackers

Well my game plan for traveling to Disney was to try and bring as much snack food with us as possible. Iwanted things that would keep well, and not fill the kids with sugar. I also needed a really good excuse to make one of my favorite snacks

Warning * These are not that healthy...and crazy addictive
Ranch Crackers:

4 pkg. Saltine Crackers

1 pkg. Ranch Salad Dressing Mix

2 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes

1 1/3 Cup of Canola Oil

Instructions

Mix ranch mix, red pepper flakes and canola oil.

Pour over crackers in a gallon freezer bag.

Seal bag and turn every once in a while until ingrediants have soaked in. This usually takes a few hours.

Enjoy

Having a Life Motto

I have a motto....am I the only one? Is it odd or strange to have a personal motto? Anyway, this phrase has always fit me perfectly, because although many things in my life are not how I would have envisioned me living as a young girl....or even in my early twenties. There is one thing I can say for certain, and that is I stand firm and face all challenges, and try to grow from them. I really beleive that everything can have a good outlook and produce beauty.

If you would have asked me in high school or college what my life would look like I am sure I would have told you that I was going to be a well traveled, well educated successful and empowered woman.

Today I stand as a stay at home mom, to a wonderful special needs child, and a spunky growing up to fast child. I am wife to a very darling man who is stressed continuously during this recession. I am bound and determined to bloom with all my might.

Just watch me....it is glorious!

Arriving Momentarily

Wow, I thought I would be all "clever" and such and make sure I preposted before I left for vacation. I would not want to lose readers (well I confess to being absolutely paranoid about that). So I am assuming that everything you are about to read has actually happened or will happen

Anyway, today we have arrived, and our game plan is to go to Animal Kingdom this evening and get in some rides. I hope most people arriving will not want to waste Friday at the park and will be concentrating more on arrival or departure, and maybe the park won't be so bad.

In the meantime, wish us lots of luck as Rebecca's Cheer squad competes tomorrow morning and again on Sunday. She and her friends are looking forward to serenading Mickey Mouse with a chorus of "Oh Mickey...your so fine" That should be fun for seconds and something he's never heard a million times before.

By the way while I am assuming what will happen on my projected Friday, I am also going to pretend that as I arrived at the park, Walt Disney World announced me as their billionth customer, and has given my family unlimited vacation there for the rest of our lives......Then all of a sudden Ed MacMahon is there for Publishers Clearing House( oh wait isn't he like sick or something?) Okay maybe I am getting to much fantasy out of hand! I hope you read me direct from Disney, but I have never tried to blog from my Iphone, so not sure if anything will take or not.

Boost Kid's Essentials Review

Regan , if I let her, would literally be the most unhealthy kid on the planet. She is my meat and potatoes kid, and has a sweet tooth the size of Texas. The other problem she has is improper growth and development due to her cerebral palsy. She is the smallest in 7th grade and still only weighs in at 75 lbs. This is because most of her body's energy goes to movement and not growth.

The problem is finding her healthy ways to eat that also do not cause meltdowns or bad temper at the table. Thanks to Boost Kid's Essentials I have found a drink that in fact helps a lot. The really great part? Regan loves them. She says they taste just like vanilla milkshakes....I guess there is no point in me telling them how healthy they really are.

Here is the lowdown form the Boost website Parent page:

BOOST Kid Essentials Drink is the only nutritionally complete drink that provides kids ages 1 through 13 with immune-strengthening probiotics plus complete, balanced nutrition. A daily serving of the probiotic found in the BOOST Kid Essentials Drink straw has been clinically shown to help strengthen the immune system. Whether a child is having trouble gaining weight, is below growth percentiles, resists eating enough nutritious foods, or needs extra nutrition to maintain an active lifestyle, BOOST Kid Essentials Drink can fill in nutritional gaps.

Additional facts for parents:

Contains 25 essentials vitamins and minerals
Provides 7 grams of protein
Includes antioxidants
Lactose and Gluten free
Does NOT contain high fructose corn syrup
Available in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry
More information about the benefits of the probiotic straw can be found on the parent page on the Boost website.

Lost in Tech Mumbo Jumbo

I have been treating my computer with kid gloves, and there is no doubt that my tower is on it's last legs....but replacing my computer has put me in quite a quandary. I really love my XP....Am I really going to hate Vista, like so many people have told me? Should I just switch over from desktop to laptop, so that I am portable when I need to be......although I just adore my desktop.

I don't understand a lot of the strange technical language such as what is a KVM switch and do I want one? How many rams and bytes do I need, and can I easily keep all my storage for pictures, files, documents, music, and games?

The problem is the last time I got a new computer over three years ago it was custom built for me....but this time I am frugal, savvy, and want to know more about what is going into it so that I can save money, and not spend it on things and parts I don't need. For example, my monitor, keyboard, mouse, and printer are all great, technically all I need is a new tower....but computers don't seem to be sold by the towers only. Is there a website I should be looking at that will help me solve my tech needs...help a blogger out here!

The "Health" Talk

Well it was the "health talk" day at my girls school, and since Rebecca is in 5th grade she got all kinds of infomation on human growth and development. In typical Rebecca style she breezed into the library where I was stacking books threw a little goodie bag of pads and deoderant down onto the table, and annnounces all they did was talk about "periods and stuff"......one of the other moms who had been in there stifled a giggle, as Rebecca casually picked up her backpack and headed off to PE.

The other mom, was astounded...."Is she not embarrased? Will she talk with you about that stuff?"
I explained that since I have always treated it as part of life and very matter of fact, that in her mind it really was no big deal. She did not even know why they were making a special day to talk about it. Then my friend's daughter walked in....discretely opened her back pack zipper, mumbled hi to us, and then walked out of the library with her head down. Two different kids...two different styles of parenting.

Regan on the other hand had "Abstinence" Class......You know I had the puberty talk when I was Rebecca's age.....but sex ed was never discussed til high school in health class. The fact that it is now at junior high level really says something about the state of our country, and how low moral lifestyle has gotten. Now I had already gone over the basics with Regan, so I knew she would not be shocked by anything......BUT I WAS WRONG!!!!!!!

Their talk was anything but basic....she came home naming STD's and types of sex.....I had no idea they were required to discuss different types. I definitely try to be open for the girls to talk to and ask questions.....but, I was practically blushing reading through all the paperwork she brought home. It's enough for me to want to hide my precious child in a tower and guard her closely, maybe I should look into Machu Picchu travel to get her far away from a civilization that wants to discuss Syphillis and Oral with my thirteen year old. She came home completely baffled and confused, because apparently my basics were not nearly enough!

Muffins With Mom

This week is public schools week in our area of Texas. For us it means the scholastic book fair is going on, and today I got to have breakfast with the girls at the event called "Muffins with Mom".....John Mark will get "Donuts with Dad" on Thursday.

Now I am all about bonding with my girls over breakfast, and I love that the school does something special to honor parents, but do I have to have the same breakfast choices as my kids? Seriously....I do not want my choice of milk with my muffin...and for some reason the juice was just nasty. Where was the caffeine? Do they not understand that to be a functioning parent at 7:30 in the morning I have to have that?

I also understand now why the education budget is in crisis because at $2.00 for muffin, carton of milk, and nasty juice....it is ridiculous. I just bought muffins at Wal-Mart on Sunday and they had them on sale for a box of 8 for $2.50.....surely buying in bulk for a school get's a better price break....or maybe the school needs to start shopping at Wal Mart. Or.....is it that my breakfast was overpriced to offset the costs of those getting free and reduced meals?

Next time I am taking the girls out to breakfast where we can all get what we want and everyone is happy.....since every morning for us is a "morning with mom"

The Packing List Confession

I admit it:

I am an overpacker.

I just can't help it, but I swear I need a lot of clothes. Since I am not typically a jeans and t-shirts kind of gal....I pack outfits for any occasion or possible outcome. So since I am currently in packing mode for Rebecca and I to leave for Disney World on Thursday here are some possible situations (in my head) I need to pack for.

Obviously I need comfortable travel clothes....but they must be cute, because if I stop at a convenience store for gas and caffeine at three in the morning while driving through some podunk bayou town on I-10.....I do not want people (who I don't know) to think I look trashy.

I definitely need supercute wandering around Disney clothes with ultra-comfy shoes....because what if Rebecca and I are randomly picked to be in some great Disney Parade....and I look terrible.

I need some great cheer-mom clothes to support Rebecca in just in case her squad gets featured on ESPN and they pan the parents in the crowd.

I can't forget workout clothes just in case there are is a 1/2 hour to spare that I can work out peacefully for a bit without a nagging child whining at me that she is hungry again.

Also, should we find time to partake in pool-side activities...I need my swimsuit with the cute coverup, big floppy hat, and sunglasses.

When we dine in the evenings I do not want to be seen in same park clothes I have meandered all day in, because what if I have a sweaty look.....or odor(gasp) and the waitstaff has to serve us from afar because we do not look like people who should be in their nice establishment.

Forget the need for travel insurance.....I am in need of some me insurance....I fear a breaking point in the near future if I keep coming up with scenarios in my head. Yes I confess....I am a packing mess.

The Only Reason I Hate Sundays

Well, I have heard talk that as the government (and everyone else) tries to cut back without cutting jobs....that one of the next things that will happen is that mail delivery will go to five days a week intead of six.

As if Sundays aren't torture enough?

You see I LOVE my mail. I start to think about it coming everyday around 9:30 a.m. (even though it won't be there til around 10:00). I wonder which magazines will be arriving, what cool freebie samples or products for me to test/review might be there. Will there be a new book from PaperBackSwap? Will I have cards from family members? Will it fill up the box, and Cindy (my very sweet mail person) will have to honk her horn for me to come outside, or leave it on my front porch for me.....those days are the best!

Even if I walk out there and it is all college alumni letters, credit card offers, or offers for disability insurance. I still get goosebumps to look through it all. Of course it helps that I refuse to open any bills so all the stress of that goes to John Mark not me.

I admit it I am a mail dork....but if you got my mail you might be too. Please don't deprive me of another mail day, USPS......or if you do, can I work out something to where I can have my own key made, and I will sort and find my own mail on the weekends....just to save you the trouble....that's legal, right?

Wheels on the Bus IPhone/ITouch Review

I am completely addicted to finding cool apps (applications) on my Iphone. Needless to say when the Family Review Network asked me to review a new app for children I jumped at the chance. Yes, I know my children are not the ideal age range, but we are around kids all the time. This morning in fact we were entertaining ten kids from six families at my garage sale. The younger ones were fascinated with my Iphone, and asked me constantly if they could see it again (and again.....and again). So apps like the new Duck Duck Moose Wheels on the Bus, always come in handy.

The premise of the game is that you can be interactive with the beloved children's song "Wheels on the Bus". Some of the neat things your child can do, is amke the windsheild wipers swish, Helping the baker serve cake, and my personal favorite recording your own voice as part of the story. Channeling my inner diva....even at my age, who can resist? For a limited time the app store is offering Wheels on the Bus for $.99 instead of it's regular price of $2.99.

It is a sure fire hit and great distractor so don't miss the deal while you have the chance. I really can't wait to share this with all my gym kids, and when I go see my neices during spring break. So, if you think the application is not for you, think about who you could share it with.

Flashback Friday (sort of)

Okay, so it is not my own personal flashback.....but every once in a while I have those days where I have nothing coming to mind to write about.

I actually don't think she is blogging....it looks more like Twitter to me. Yes I have Twitter....at one point I thought it would be fun, but I really don't think anyone cares about the microbits of my day....like my breakfast, getting kids, or cleaning house. Feel free to become a follower if you dare, and I may post a tweet again in the future who knows?

From Juggernauts to Diphthongs

This evening we spent our time at the county-wide spelling bee. Five representatives from each of the schools in our county from grades 4-8 were in attendance. Here is some very random facts about our evening.

• Spelling bees are as quiet as golf tournaments which makes sitting next to Regan very difficult since she likes to clap and cheer for people with her whole heart, so I spent half the evening wrestling her hands to her lap to force her to show respect for the occasion.
• Rebecca should not sit next to her best friend in the spelling bee, because giggling and "peace out" hand signals will appear like crazy
• It is hysterical to 10 year old girls when a boy from a neighboring school (who used to be a pre-K/kindergarten kind of boyfriend but you would not be caught dead with now) has to spell the word leotard.
• It is imperative that you last longer in the spelling bee than former said "pseudo boyfriend" from neighboring school
• Rebecca also thought it was great fun to ask the moderator to use the word "burrito" in a sentence even though she knows very well what that is . She later told me she was just wasting time while she sorted it in her head if it was one"r" or two.
• She also had no idea that the word "juggernaut" even existed in the English language as she turns to me completely baffled, and says to the moderator "what was that word again".....obviously that is what she got out on...although it was with great effort she did spell it jugger-knot.
• Regan finds the word "Diphthong" freakin hysterical....luckily so did most of the adult audience and the child who got the word. I am pretty sure the kid thought it was a dirty word, because he was doing great Beavis and Butthead laughs while trying to spell it.

In the future when she is applying for her preferred Dallas jobs as a Cowboys Cheerleader, I am sure it will come in handy because apparently a juggernaut (by definition) is: anything requiring blind devotion or cruel sacrifice. Did I mention she loves being a cheerleader?

Take your Medical where you can get it

There are several children's hospitals around the country that are strictly non-profit. In Texas we have two big ones that I am aware of; Scottish Rites in Dallas and Shriner's in Houston. After Regan was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and we realized what a lifetime of medical care would do to our health insurance.....we jumped on board for free medical care.

We travel about twice a year to Dallas which is about a five hour road trip (10 hours round trip). The cost of food and gas is worth the price of not using our family health insurance for every one of Regan's needs. The benefit of this is everything we have ever asked from our insurance has been granted because we literally only tap them to pay for things about every 3-4 years. Last year was a big year for health insurance because we needed a new wheelchair and walker, but both of those will last us several years.

Here is what we get for free for Regan's medical care:

• Twice a year we are checked by an Orthopedist and a Neurologist.
• She is checked to see how her AFO's (leg braces) are fitting, and usually a new pair are made for her every year.
• She gets Physical Therapy weekly through her school district....and is also checked twice a year by the hospital's PT program
• She gets twice weekly Recreational Therapy....right now they are practicing track for the Special Olympics track season
• She gets once a Week Occupational Therapy
• She gets once a month At Home Life Skills therapy- they work on Regan washing her own hair, blow drying it, improving teeth brushing skills, making food such as jello and sandwiches.

We have paid for with Insurance:

• Any large medical equipment like walkers and wheelchairs
• Any major surgery....well that has actually only been one, when we elected for her to have Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy at age six. When they say that SDR reduces the need for most other cerebral palsy related surgeries....they were not kidding, it is amazing!

I highly recommend if you have a special needs child to actively search out your closest non-profit children's hospital and see what medical help you can get. Our Insurance company loves us, and it is really important to keep that relationship good, because we never know what the future holds.

Some Things Never Change

Rebecca at age 3 and age 10.....she is still pulling out the same camera poses.

Running on Fumes

Sooooo.....did you notice another day without a post.....ummm sorry! It feels like I am running on fumes these days. Yesterday when I planned on blogging after the girl's went to bed in the evening I fell asleep.....just completely out. Then today, I ran errands, subbed for first grade, ran Rebecca to cheer practice, worked with sisters on their mascot routine....then another girl on her routine. Got both of my girls rounded up...and fell through the door.

Breakfast dishes still in the sink

Laundry in the dryer

Giveaway winner to announce

Blogging work to do

I am in desparate need for a membership card to a gym and spa to completely veg out. I hope Disney World next week is just the thing to completely relax.

Nature Source Review and Giveaway

If you only knew how much I horribly despise cleaning my bathrooms. In fact I have bribed my children on many occasions that I will clean their bedrooms in exchange for their cleaning the bathroom. I used to make it a game like they were Cinderella and I was the wicked stepmother.....but they have gotten wise to me now. So lately I have been resigned to actually doing the job myself....and just gritting my teeth against those chemical smells. I have looked into the "green" cleaners but just doubted that they would do a good job. Boy was I wrong!

Thanks to the Family Review Network and Nature Source I have had the opportunity to review their bathroom cleaner, and I just couldn't be happier with the job that it did. The Natural Bathroom Cleaner contains more than 99% natural and biodegradable ingredients, including plant-based ingredients, lactic acid, and purified water so no need for a face mask when cleaning my bathroom.

You know I honestly do not know why they refer to it as a "bathroom cleaner" because I used it on quite a few surfaces and was very pleased with how well this foamy spray works. The one place I had the most success was actually on my refrigerator shelf that I was cleaning in my sink. There was some stuff ( I don't know what it was....don't ask) stuck to the shelf and after a quick spray it all wiped away pretty easily.

I am thrilled that now one of my readers will be able to see for themselves that even going green can really clean. One lucky reader will win a cleaning spray from the Nature Source company. This giveaway is open to United States Residents and will close March 10, 2009 at midnight. If you comment anonymously please leave me an email address where I can get in touch with you. Here is how to win:

1. Go to the Nature Source website and tell me which cleaner you would like to try and leave me a comment. This is a Mandatory Entry
2. Become a follower of my blog and leave me a separate comment letting me know you did.
3. Twitter about this giveaway and leave me a link to your tweet in a separate comment.
4. Show some button love and add my button to your sidebar, leave me a separate comment letting me know you did.
5. Post about this giveaway, and leave me your link in a separate comment.

Thank you all for entering and Good Luck!

This post was written for Family Review Network as part of a program by SC Johnson, who also supplied the product for review and giveaway.