Accepting a "No" Answer

How many of us like to be told "no?" I sure don't. Lately I have been getting many of these. I've had two fairly big projects that I was working on. With one project, I went to a meeting and found out that the assignment had been given to someone else. All the hard work I had put in to the project went down the toilet. With another one, no one got back to me so I assumed it was a go ahead only to find out (after several months) that, no, it is not. I had a mini tantrum last night. Not too pretty. This morning I woke up and realized that sometimes I have to follow the very instruction I have given my children. In this case, try and disagree appropriately and if the answer is still, "no", I must accept the answer and drop the subject. "Teaching Self Government" has helped me again. I'm in the process of disagreeing appropriately. My assumption in this case is that the answer will still be, "no." Now I have to swallow my pride and drop the subject. I have found that sometimes logic and reason don't work with certain people and either am going to be upset or I just have to let it go.

FOOD!

Food, it's been the topic in our home for well over a year. What should we eat, what shouldn't we? We found out Jacob had an allergy to sugar some time ago. We were already eating very well at home. We had gone to almost complete whole grains and had taken out most of the obvious sugars. It seemed that behavior really got out of hand during the school year and holidays. My kids were homeschooled last year and it helped immensely. However, scouts, homeschool activities and sometimes church seemed to hold setbacks. We're still working out those issues.
Recently, I stumbled in to another look at food. It now seems that my son is having yet another allergy to food. We are in the middle of testing to find out for sure. It looks like gluten. We have taken out most gluten for the past several weeks. I have seen a calm in him that hasn't been there before. His impulses also seem to be much better. One great improvement for him is that his terrible headaches have ceased. He had a setback after the 4th of July when he ate a ton of candy that was thrown at the parade. During all of this I have been studying what I can about gluten and other food allergies. Much research suggests that autoimmune disorders (diabetes, fibromyalgia, etc.) can be controlled by finding out what is attacking the body. Apparently, whatever in the body is the weakest is targeted when a person is having an autoimmune response. Many parents of autistic children have found that by removing allergens (most common seems to be gluten and dairy) the children improve in areas like language, behaviour, etc. Just this morning I read an article about inflammation and obesity. It seems that much of the food we eat is literally killing us.
The good news is that by changing what our family has eaten, over time, we are all feeling a great deal better.

Last of my 22 Things I've Learned from Being a Mom

11- If an outfit is loved enough, it might take several days before mom can pry it off your body.
12- On most surfaces, permanent marker really IS permanent.
13- Praise is the best way to a child's heart.
14- Children can sing the "Happy Family" song without a single happy note, BUT by the end of the song every face will at least have a smile.
15- Babies have a way of melting even the coldest heart.
16- You can't disguise certain foods, broccoli is broccoli no matter how you fix it.
17- It really is true, if there is a puddle ANYWHERE, a child will find it and jump in it.
18- White clothes shouldn't even be an option for children.
19- If your teenage girl talks and giggles non-stop about a certain boy, you should not assume that you can now tease her about this boy.
20- A teens' version of a clean room is not always the same as moms version.
21- Just ignore rolling eyes, those eye muscles just need proper exercise.
22- Time really does go too quickly, enjoy!

22 things I've learned from being a mom

So, if you've noticed that my background is still "Happy New Years," you're pretty observant. I can't change my background because I can't get my computer to work right when I'm on the internet. I just might have this background until I get my computer fixed which just might be around next New Years, LOL!

I just read about this great idea to list 22 things I've learned from being a mom. I haven't thought of 22, so I'll start with a few.

1. Pull-ups are not underwear. They may have princesses on them, but the three year old is not fooled in to thinking they are underwear.

2. Babies don't like baby jar peas. Heck, have you tasted them? Giving them peas is like saying, "hey cute baby, here's something you can spit all over mommy and really get a good laugh!"

3. If it sounds too quiet, RUN! If you don't, there might be a pile of hair somewhere and bald spots on a child.

4. I have no actual video footage of this one, but apparently a child can start a fire by tripping over a match.

5. "Mommy, I love you," or "thanks mom," can make the worst days seem pretty darn good.

6. Sticks are a boys best friend. The bigger the stick, the better.

7. Big girls need their mommy just as much as little girls. Same with boys.

8. Never say "uh, huh" when you're pre-occupied. You never know what you just said yes to.

9. There is nothing that can make you smile like a child laughing.

10. Peace is holding a child while they sleep.

11. The times when a child needs you the most are the times it is most difficult to be around that child. Be around them anyway.

So Much Excitement!!!

Ok, so there is something seriously wrong with my computer and I'm having trouble posting, but it looks like I've at least found a workaround for now. So on to the exciting news. Yesterday, after much hard work, Kellie made cheerleader for next year. She was the first one picked up by the 9th grade cheerleaders and so I missed that part, I'm so sad about that. I had to pick up Jacob, Mailaya and Mckenna from grandmas (which is about 2 min. from our house). Anyway, I went to the local restaurant and got pics of the girls. This gorgeous downs syndrome girl tried out and is an honorary cheerleader. She was so cute at the mock tryouts and even remembered her personal cheer. I'll see if I can post a pic later. Kellie really wants to be cheer captain or co-captain so we'll see what happens with that. She'd make a good captain.

Next, Brent has lost almost 10lbs from doing the P90X. He also is getting a little flexibility in his feet and ankles AND he even jumped. Okay, so I wouldn't actually call it jumping, but his feet almost left the floor, LOL! Anything that can help his pain and flexibility is awesome. I have also lost a little weight, 2 lbs. Even better, I'm gaining muscle.

P90X

Anyone ever heard of this? If you haven't, it's a 90 day workout program designed to kick your butt! Well, Brent and I are on day 2 and I'm feeling it. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm hoping to lose about 15-20 lbs before June. I've got my 20 year reunion and I want to look decent.

Penny Boat Fun

Our family is trying to do a family activity each week to get closer and have fun together. We planned an activity. The planning goes like this: everyone throws out a bunch of ideas for the activity and we vote on it. Connor wanted to make penny boats. His won because we had votes for 3 activites (all had two votes) and Mckenna had the deciding vote. I think she liked the sound of money being involved. The kids whose ideas did not win were not too happy about the activity and one complained all day that it would be boring. What are penny boats? Well, everyone gets the same size and shape of tin foil and designs their own boat. The boat goes in water and the one that holds the most pennies before sinking wins. Guess who won? If you guessed the child that complained, you are right. Jacob won with over 20 pennies. Kellie felt he cheated because she was winning and then Jacob changed his boat design and beat her, LOL! Brent decided to spice things up by having tin foil boat races. He had two boats in a cookie sheet of water. Kellie and Connor were on opposite sides of the pan and were supposed to blow the boats to the opposite side, the winner being the one who got the boat there the fastest. Anyone ever heard of this one before? Well, the kids were in position and Brent slapped the water and sprayed the two of them pretty good. That started a mini water fight in the house.