I just wanted to share the videos I made for the girls from Santa. I think they are the coolest things ever! I literally got teary eyed (probably cuz I'm a hormonal, pregnant girl) because I was imagining how excited they will be. I can't imagine getting a video message from Santa at their age! I mean HOW COOL RIGHT! Check them out and don't be a tool, make one for your kids! It's free! :D
Alexis's Video from Santa
Mae's Video from Santa
AJ's Video from Santa
Friday, December 16, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
So this is my first blog....
So I had no idea what to write about....then that wonderful topix website inspired me....
It wasn't an actual thread that inspired me, it was a comment under one of the threads. It was referring to an older toddler still using a pacifier, which normally I am against. I think when they can talk...it's time to go. Just my opinion. I know it's hard for many parents and they don't want to "traumatize" the kid, BUT if that's the worst thing that happens to your kid, count yourself lucky. There will be MUCH MORE traumatizing events that occur rather than the time you took their pacifier away at 2 or 3...just saying. Now off my soapbox and onto my originally inspired thoughts..
I have a step-daughter who is five, will be six in March. Her name is AJ (Aubry Joe) and she has something called Angelman Syndrome. They are very slow in a lot of ways...physically, mentally...etc. AJ didn't walk til the summer after she turned 3. She doesn't talk except every once in awhile when she gets extremely mad, she will yell momma!!!! And I swear, one day, while following me-trying to catch up with me, she said "Iga" which I decided was positively "meant" to be Erica..since Alexis, our little one (2 years younger) originally called me "Icka". She's not potty trained and I don't know if she ever will truly be, because I'm not sure if she will put two and two together. Like "Oh I have to pee so I should go to the bathroom" BUT I could be wrong! I HOPE to be wrong! AJ will always need 24 hour assistance. Period. I think everyone has come to terms with that and a lot of people ask me "What will ya'll do when she's 10, 15, 20 years old"....My answer, as is my husband's, is pretty much, "I don't know, we'll all cross that bridge when we get there I guess". She is so fast too. I mean, I think of her almost like a big 1-2 year old. When they reach that age where they are super curious about everything. You might take them to the store and they might pull everything off the shelf...AJ is like that...except she's exceptionally bigger than a 1-2 year old. When we go eat, we have a slight freak-out if the waitress sets anything down in front of her lol. Sunday we went and ate at McAlister's and the worker brought the whole tray and set it right in front of AJ. AJ was about to be on cloud 9, but dad did a quick two hand grab of her hands while I grabbed everything lol. We have to push everything away from her because she will turn over everyone's glass, plate, etc if it's in arm's length.
On the flip side, AJ is extremely happy 95% of the time. She rarely gets mad. Which is a beautiful thing because when she does, she's strong as an ox! When she does want to fight you from doing something, you truly have to use a little strength with her..sometimes more than a little! Joe and I call her the beast sometimes, just because she's so strong haha. So we are extremely happy that she is extremely happy most of the time lol. She is OBSESSED with water. If there was another word that meant more than obsessed, I would use it. She can be mad and you can spray water in her face and that frown will flip upside down in a matter of milliseconds. One other thing that will turn that frown upside down is a swing. She LOVES to swing. She loves wind in her face. Joe will roll down the window while driving sometimes and she just SMILES for days. She's also a great cuddler when she WANTS to be. This is usually right before, after her meds are taken (For the record, Angelman kids are not known for sleeping without some help. It's not in their nature...they are 90 to nothing All. The. Time.) She is a great wrestler lol. She absolutely goes nuts when anyone gets in the floor with her, but guys must beware. She has no qualms about kneeing or stepping on your precious jewels during a title match. It's a wonder Joe has any left!
I say all that to say this. AJ is normal looking. She doesn't have any facial deformities, nor anything physical that would make people automatically assume she is mentally challenged. The most you can probably tell about her is that she has a funny gait in her walk. When we take her out, we usually give her a pacifier, BECAUSE she is so orally fixated on everything. She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth. The pacifier cures that. People stare at her, especially when she's wearing the paci because I'm sure they are thinking "Um hello!! Your kid is like five!" We get stares like who knows what for a lot of things AJ does because people look at her and don't put two and two together because she doesn't LOOK the part.
One day we took the girls to Jumpzone in Conway. There was a grandmother there with her grandchildren and there was an empty candy box on their table. They were right next to us and AJ grabbed it a total of 3 times. Of course, I kept telling her to stop. The lady kept giving her a funny look. The third time, the grandmother gave AJ the most HEINOUS look to which I responded with a dare of "Look at her like that again..."...probably not the most mature thing I've done, but I couldn't control my anger...I mean it was an empty candy box for crying out loud, not like she was digging her hands in her grandkid's birthday cake or something!
So here is my Soapbox Announcement---Do not stare at other people's kids when you think things they are doing, are odd. You have no idea what's up with the kid or not up with the kid. It can be very offensive to the parent. Very. If you have a question, most parents would rather you ask to be honest. I mean I would. So if you're going to stare, make sure it's because you think the kid is cute and you're smiling at them...not because you're enamored by what you THINK might be wrong with them.
It wasn't an actual thread that inspired me, it was a comment under one of the threads. It was referring to an older toddler still using a pacifier, which normally I am against. I think when they can talk...it's time to go. Just my opinion. I know it's hard for many parents and they don't want to "traumatize" the kid, BUT if that's the worst thing that happens to your kid, count yourself lucky. There will be MUCH MORE traumatizing events that occur rather than the time you took their pacifier away at 2 or 3...just saying. Now off my soapbox and onto my originally inspired thoughts..
I have a step-daughter who is five, will be six in March. Her name is AJ (Aubry Joe) and she has something called Angelman Syndrome. They are very slow in a lot of ways...physically, mentally...etc. AJ didn't walk til the summer after she turned 3. She doesn't talk except every once in awhile when she gets extremely mad, she will yell momma!!!! And I swear, one day, while following me-trying to catch up with me, she said "Iga" which I decided was positively "meant" to be Erica..since Alexis, our little one (2 years younger) originally called me "Icka". She's not potty trained and I don't know if she ever will truly be, because I'm not sure if she will put two and two together. Like "Oh I have to pee so I should go to the bathroom" BUT I could be wrong! I HOPE to be wrong! AJ will always need 24 hour assistance. Period. I think everyone has come to terms with that and a lot of people ask me "What will ya'll do when she's 10, 15, 20 years old"....My answer, as is my husband's, is pretty much, "I don't know, we'll all cross that bridge when we get there I guess". She is so fast too. I mean, I think of her almost like a big 1-2 year old. When they reach that age where they are super curious about everything. You might take them to the store and they might pull everything off the shelf...AJ is like that...except she's exceptionally bigger than a 1-2 year old. When we go eat, we have a slight freak-out if the waitress sets anything down in front of her lol. Sunday we went and ate at McAlister's and the worker brought the whole tray and set it right in front of AJ. AJ was about to be on cloud 9, but dad did a quick two hand grab of her hands while I grabbed everything lol. We have to push everything away from her because she will turn over everyone's glass, plate, etc if it's in arm's length.
I say all that to say this. AJ is normal looking. She doesn't have any facial deformities, nor anything physical that would make people automatically assume she is mentally challenged. The most you can probably tell about her is that she has a funny gait in her walk. When we take her out, we usually give her a pacifier, BECAUSE she is so orally fixated on everything. She puts EVERYTHING in her mouth. The pacifier cures that. People stare at her, especially when she's wearing the paci because I'm sure they are thinking "Um hello!! Your kid is like five!" We get stares like who knows what for a lot of things AJ does because people look at her and don't put two and two together because she doesn't LOOK the part.
One day we took the girls to Jumpzone in Conway. There was a grandmother there with her grandchildren and there was an empty candy box on their table. They were right next to us and AJ grabbed it a total of 3 times. Of course, I kept telling her to stop. The lady kept giving her a funny look. The third time, the grandmother gave AJ the most HEINOUS look to which I responded with a dare of "Look at her like that again..."...probably not the most mature thing I've done, but I couldn't control my anger...I mean it was an empty candy box for crying out loud, not like she was digging her hands in her grandkid's birthday cake or something!
So here is my Soapbox Announcement---Do not stare at other people's kids when you think things they are doing, are odd. You have no idea what's up with the kid or not up with the kid. It can be very offensive to the parent. Very. If you have a question, most parents would rather you ask to be honest. I mean I would. So if you're going to stare, make sure it's because you think the kid is cute and you're smiling at them...not because you're enamored by what you THINK might be wrong with them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)