Jackson's Journey!!

Back to school and a new hair do!! :o)

2008-09-09T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. Well i can't quite believe that summer is over. When'd that happen??..LOL It went by so very fast this year. I have been working alot and i went back to college last May (for a health care aid) so things have just been nonestop between work and school. To think this time last year i was a stay at home mom!..LOL

Jackson has had a great summer. He has spent many hours swimming in his pool, trips to the park and playing outside with his friends.

Last week was the first week of school. So we have some new pics to post. Jackson has recieved alot of compliments on his new hair do....I think it just matches his additude..LOL

Enjoy!! Hope eveyone had a great summer!!

Summer fun!!

2008-08-26T20:56:00.000-07:00

Painting fun!!

2008-01-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

Looky who got to do some creative painting with chocolate pudding!! I bet that was a fun day at school. I have to tell you, that i am really loving Jackson's new school this year. He has made so many accomplishments in just the few short months since September. And the big news?? We have Pretend play!!! I know that this may not seem like such a major milestone, but after playing only with toys over the last 8 years that involved pressing buttons (all cause and effect) we have actually seen Jackson making two of his fave Wiggles "talk" to each other!! This is such a big step!! It was just so amazing to see his imagination at work. I am well impressed!! This also means.....bumbumbum...you guessed it...new toys!!...LOL If we need to encourage this burst in his cognitive play.....we must go shopping!! (Like I need an excuse..lol) :o)

To all my blogging friends

2007-12-30T17:08:00.000-08:00

From my family to yours, we hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and we wish you good health and happiness for 2008!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-12-05T15:29:00.000-08:00

Winter Fun!!

Hey!! I'm On T.V!!!

2007-11-29T05:41:00.000-08:00

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-11-28T14:12:00.001-08:00

Look What I Can Do!! Adapted Bowling!!

Horsey Halloween

2007-11-08T06:12:00.001-08:00

It was a horsey Halloween around these parts. We had a wild and crazy little horse on the loose!...LOL

Hope you all had a great Halloween!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-10-17T16:43:00.001-07:00

Beautiful! (Jackson's older sis Jennifer)

Work work work!! :o)

2007-10-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

Well hi there everyone. I'm so sorry that i have let Jackson's blog go. I just recently started a new job after being a stay at home mom for 17 years!! I am working straight nights in a local hospital cafe...and while i enjoy the job, it is definitely taking it's toll as i adjust to this new routine.
Jackson is adjusting well, as i sleep while he is at school and wake up not long before his bus rolls up. He is really enjoying his new school this year so i think that helps. So many new changes. I was really worried with how he would take it all but have to admit that i am quite proud of my guy for adjusting so well. (probably better than me...LOL)
I am sure that once things settle, i will begin to write again..as i miss sharing pictures of my adventurous little guy getting up to everything that he does. :o)
Until then...please keep checking in..... :o)

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-09-19T03:47:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-09-12T16:58:00.001-07:00

First day of school!!

2007-09-11T06:49:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. I am sorry that i have neglected my blog for the last few weeks. I really don't know where the time has gone. With the last minute rush around before school started, to the madness run around after it started...LOL, to me now looking for work after being a stay at home mom for 17 years. Needless to say..it has been hectic.

Jackson started his new school last week and is settling in just nicely. He has already seen a speech disorder therapist and his O&M worker. I am very pleased!!

Jackson is in a class with 9 students altogether, one classroom teacher and 4 EA's. I like that he can have a bit more independence this year as he doesn't have his own EA, so while i know that there is always someone there when he needs someone, he can also have the chance to do a bit more on his own! I think that this will be great for Jackson and i am so excited to see the changes in him. :o)

I will try and be a little better with my posts as a routine sets in. Hope everyone had a smooth transition back into the school routine and I'll leave you with a couple of pics of my guy waiting for his first school bus of the year!!

Cheers!! :o)

T21 community in mourning.

2007-08-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

I would like to light a candle today for two little ones that have both gone on to earn their angel wings this month. It has been an incredibly hard month in the Down syndrome community and we can only imagine the pain and sorrow that their families must be feeling. Our first little angel Eric, lost his fight and earned his wings on August 8th. He was son to Debbie and David,and brother of Zack, Madison, Isaac and Evan.

Our second little angel, Gabi lost her fight just last night, and has now gone on to earn her wings.

She was daughter to Micah and Jason and sister to Gracie.

Our thoughts and prayers are with both of these families during this incredibly difficult time.

We are so very sorry for your loss.

Please join me in lighting a candle to celebrate the lives of these two beautiful angels!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-08-15T13:38:00.001-07:00

Funny Friday

2007-08-10T08:35:00.001-07:00

"Anything YOU can do, I can do BETTER......I can Do anything Better than YOU!!"...LOL

These were taken the other day at the playground, and boy oh boy, was Jackson in a mood that day. He wanted to do every little thing that the other kids were doing. Nothing was going to stop him. These pictures kind of show that he wanted to do the same things as the older kids, and the smile shows that he KNOWS he did a great job!! Now if i could just figure out how to load videos on here...... LOL

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-08-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

Mama? Are you in there??

Jack in the box!!

2007-08-05T18:13:00.001-07:00

Jackson has this thing lately with dumping all of his toys out of the toybox and sitting in it. He's too funny. Then he looks at me like "what"??...LOL

And then his little kitty Gizmo goes nuts with all the toys all over the floor!!...Somedays this house is a zoo!!..LOL

Funny Friday

2007-07-27T12:19:00.001-07:00

I honestly don't know what was so funny....All we said was "smile"!!!...LOL Jackson has really learned how to play it up for the camera and i have to admit...i love it!! He has the best smile and the most catching giggle!!!

P.s...please don't mind the undie pictures, we are toilet training.

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-07-25T14:10:00.001-07:00

(Can ya feel the love?)

Look what I did.....

2007-07-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Half way through, i thought, "oh boy, my mother's gonna kill me!!"...LOL

I have wanted a tattoo for years but have always been too much of a chicken to go and get one done. I also wanted to have something that would mean as much to me at the age of 65 as it does now. Because we all know that what is cool at 35 might not be cool at 65..lol

I decided on an awareness ribbon for Jackson. Raising awareness about Down syndrome is something i try to do every day and is something that i will always do. So this just felt right. I have two blue stars on one side of the ribbon that represent my daughter, Jennifer, and my son, Jeremy. The yellow star represents Jackson. I Love it and wil treasure it for the rest of my life!!

P.s....these pics were taken right afterwards and it turns out i am a 'bleeder'..lol so my yellow half of the ribbon is a little "pink"..lol

I will post better pics in a few weeks once it has completely healed. :o)

All Loved Up!!

2007-07-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

I know that I usually do a "Funny Friday" but you see today is a special day for me, so I'd like to take a minute and let you know why.

Today is me and my husbands wedding anniversary. We have been married for 11 years and together for 17 years.

17 years!! Wow!! It has flown by so fast that i can hardly believe it. We were just kids ourselves when we first got together. Aged 16 and 19. Nobody thought we would last. When i became pregnant at such a young age we got the "sighs" from people who basically told us that we were too young to be parents and that not only did we stand no chance of having a decent future, but now we would be bringing a child into the mix.

Now i know that none of those people read this blog, in fact, most have moved on with their lives, but i would just love for them to see us today. Stronger than ever. Still very much in love with each other, and hell, i happen to actually enjoy spending time with my husband!!..LOL

Our daughter Jennifer turned out just fine, and afterwards along came Jeremy, who also is turning out to be a great, smart, and handsome young man, and then there is Jackson, whom people where sure would rip us apart because of the stress that comes from raising a child with special needs. Well let me tell you how much stronger Jackson has made us as a couple. Everyone should only be so lucky to have such an amazing little boy in their lives.

Anyhow...this wasn't meant to be about the children...not today, but about how much i love my husband. 17 years baby.....I can only hope that we will be lucky enough to 17 more!!

(ps.....i've added a few pics...some from when we first met, and some from about a year ago)

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-07-18T03:31:00.001-07:00

Funny Friday!!

2007-07-13T19:59:00.001-07:00

I thought this was sooo funny, and had to share!!

P.s and sending out a very happy 13th birthday to my son Jeremy. God help me, i officially have two teenagers in the house!!! Hope that you had a great day baby!!! xoxoxoox

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-07-11T06:56:00.001-07:00

Summer, summer, summer.

2007-07-09T11:41:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official, summer has taken over at our house. There has been no time for blogging, checking DS groups, facebook, even myspace.....there is only time for summer fun..lol
Well....according to Jackson..LOL
Play with me in the pool mama, lets go to the park mama, push me on the swings mama. :o)
As much as i am not thrilled about neglecting our blog, i am soooo happy to have my little guy at home to spend some time with.
When the kids are in school all year round, things seem very rushed, but now that the kids are home i am really enjoying hanging out with them.
Jackson is at a great stage!! We went to the beach on the weekend and wow, what a change from last year!! Last year Jackson wanted nothing to do with the sand, and this year he loved it!! We even managed to bury him up to his waist. And in the water....holy did this little boy every have fun!! Running and splashing!! I can't even describe how happy i was to watch him play and know that he was loving having a bit of independence!!
I will try to post some pictures later this week.
Hope that your all having as great of a summer as we are!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-06-27T17:56:00.000-07:00

Jackson making a "splash" on a hot summer day!!

EA and Teacher gifts

2007-06-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of the year again, and this year i have been asked by a few friends about what i was planning on doing for EA and teacher gifts this year. Every year i find it harder and harder to come up with something original. I can only imagine how many apple knick knacks, or coffee mugs teachers must get each year.

I find it important to give something with a personal touch, but don't want to give something that will end up packed away in a box gathering dust. I try to stay away from anything that resembles an apple....LOL

I do try to give gifts that can be used rather than showcased. If i buy scented candles, i might try to find out what scents they like. The same goes for any soap sets.

I try to stay away from coffee mugs as well, as you can only own so many mugs, and not everyone actually drinks coffee.

Gift certificates are always a good idea. This year i opted for plants that could be re potted in their gardens. (i will post a picture)

I hear from many who have done camping chairs or tote bags and have added the teachers/EA's name. I think that is always a neat idea. Something i may try next year.

I do think though, that it is really important to add your own personal touch to any gift/card you may give. I like making sure that each gift i give has a little something that was done just for them. :o)

If anyone would like to add more idea's, please do....as every year..i find myself having a harder time coming up with something that i hope they will enjoy.

P.s.....the card read

Jackson taught me patience to rejoice in the small things that others take for granted.

Jackson taught me tolerance to accept that his perspective is different and deserves respect.

Jackson taught me courage to fight for him, when no one else would.

Jackson taught me endurance to go on when i felt i couldn't anymore.

Jackson taught me humility to accept when i can't make things any better but can only be there for him.

Jackson taught me to love at a deeper level than i ever thought possible.

What did Jackson teach you??

For teaching and believing in me, June 2007

Introducing......Gizmo!!

2007-06-23T20:15:00.001-07:00

As promised, here are a couple of pictures of our new family member, Gizmo. In the pics he is meeting "Chopper" our chihuahua, sleeping in the 'dog' bed, playing in the pillows on the couch, and my favorite, sleeping with Jackson. :o)

Funny Friday!!

2007-06-22T17:49:00.001-07:00

These pictures were inspired by the newest addition to our family. Our daughter has just adopted a 7 week old kitten, named Gizmo.Here's a couple of cute/funny kittens to start off the weekend!! I will post some pics of our new little one next week. Hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-06-20T19:55:00.001-07:00

Funny Friday!!

2007-06-15T11:18:00.001-07:00

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-06-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

Varoom Varoom!!!

Proud of my guy!!

2007-06-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

Today when Jackson was at school, two teachers from the special needs school that he will be attending in the Fall stopped in to meet and observe Jackson so that they can be prepared to meet his needs come September. I wasn't informed that they would be there today, but I knew that they would be stopping in before the school year was done. Well, when Jackson came home from school today I pulled out his communication book, like every other day, to read and see how his day had gone, and there was this note from his EA.

"Hi, Great news. The teachers came today from Glenwood to see Jackson. (they were here about 40 minutes) Both of them were VERY impressed with him and with everything that he could do. Of course he did show off some, but I was glad!!"

When I read that, I just teared up!! I am so very proud of Jackson. He always trys his best and he always seems to shine the brightest when needs be. I am soooo very proud that he showed them more of what he COULD do so that they were busy being impressed by that instead of worrying about what he couldn't.
He is a total original, this child of mine...and I've said it before, and I'll say it again...I wouldn't change this child of mine for anything in the world!!

P.s....for all the new readers who had come over from "critique my blog", thank you for all your wonderful comments, welcome, and we hope that you'll stay awhile!! :o)

Fun Friday

2007-06-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

Well i know that I usually do Funny Fridays, but today i couldn't resist doing a "Fun Friday" instead. You see, Jackson has been taking swimming lessons, and he has been doing really well, so we thought he would really enjoy having a pool in his own backyard. Well, seeing as we live in a townhouse we hardly have a large backyard. In fact i wouldn't even call it a small backyard. More like a glorified deck...LOL

But we settled on an 8 foot by 8 foot pool. Well, after watching daddy spend all day building the deck for it to go on(so that it would be level) and then the temp dropping for a week, today he finally got a chance to get into his pool! And boy oh boy, is he ever one happy boy. Shivering, and giggling, Purple, yet refusing to come out....LOL And Loving every minute of it.

Bring on Summer!!

My Blog Was Critiqued!!

2007-06-07T06:30:00.000-07:00

Awhile back, not long after i started this blog, i found a website called "Critique my blog" and decided to send them the link to this here blog...lol
Well, this morning, i open my e-mail and what do i see?? Only an e-mail from Billy Mac to say that he had posted my review this morning. :o)
Here it is:

Thursday

Jackson's Journey
http://jacksonsjourney-jenjerjack.blogspot.com/
What a wonderful blog to start Thursday morning off about a young man with Down Syndrome. This is again a perfect example of putting the blog format to great use. Blogs can raise awareness and I think this blog, although new, will gain in popularity as people start to follow the story of Jackson. The blog is set up perfectly and very well written with a very easy to read style. Very inspirational and very well done. Keep up the good work and look forward to watching this blog grow as your son does.
Posted by blogger at 6/07/2007 0 comments

Wow!! I'm actually really touched!! Thanks for such a great review, and i would highly recommend "Critique my blog" to anyone else out there with a blog who is interested in the opinions of others, is looking to increase their blog traffic, or is just looking for other interesting blogs to read!

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-06-06T05:08:00.001-07:00

Hard at work. :o)

Havn't been around much

2007-06-05T11:36:00.000-07:00

well, I am hoping that i will be able to get back on track with my posts this week as i am hoping that things are settling down a lttle bit. Jackson has been sick and has been put back on the puffers. We are getting things ready for the new school in the fall and trying to wrap up things at his current school now. It's time for exams, year end trips, EA gifts and the whole shabang, and needless to say, things have been busy but hopefully

the end is near. :o)

Be back tomorrow for Wordless Wednesday!!

You've Come A Long Way, Baby!!

2007-05-24T18:56:00.000-07:00

I was cleaning out some files on my computer today and came across these old pictures from when Jackson was first born. Jackson was born 9 weeks early weighing in at 2 lbs 5 1/2 ounces. Now, eight years later, he is 45 lbs, which is still quite small by most 8 year old standards, but wow, has he ever come along way!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-05-23T04:37:00.000-07:00

Cuddle Time!!

2007-05-18T11:29:00.001-07:00

Jackson's New School

2007-05-17T09:05:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official. Jackson has been approved for a spot at his new school in the fall. This school is a school for children with special needs. It has taken me quite some time to realise that this is the right place for Jackson.
For so long i have fought and pushed for full inclusion(this was what i was told was the right thing for me to do for my child . I have since realised that each child is an individual and that what is right for one child isn't necessarily right for another.) and for his preschool days, this worked well. Even junior kindergarten and senior kindergarten went okay with Jackson being fully included with his peers, but by grade one,things had just gotten so out of control.
Jackson still has difficulty sitting for long periods of time. And when i say long, i really mean longer than 10 minutes at a time. He still has issues with holding pencils, crayons and paintbrushes. These are things he really doesn't like to do. I can't help but wonder if his vision is a part of why he doesn't like to sit and do desk work.....would you want to do something you really couldn't see?? (and this is totally off topic here, but i hear so much from people who think that because Jackson uses a seeing eye cane, and that he is classed legally blind, that he can't see anything at all. Well, that is just not true, Jackson's vision is 20/380 in both eyes. He can see, probably to the end of his arm. Which is why he holds everything right up to his nose..lol I just wanted to add that 95% of people that are labeled "blind" are not 100% blind. Most have some vision)
He has also spent much of this year training to use his seeing eye cane but can't be swinging a cane while everyone is in the hallways, so he has spent most of this training time, walking the hallways with his EA while his peers are in class. And when i say peers, i mean the children in his class, because Jackson is at a point right now, where he really doesn't have any "real" friends. It has taken me ages to really admit this. Jackson is popular. Very popular. Everywhere we go, people know who he is. Everyone in his school knows him.....but it's not really the same as having a friend, is it?
So with this new school, he will be with other children who have disabilities. He will have the chance to make some "real" friends. He won't be in a "grade". The children are in classes according to where they are in their development. They go swimming once a week, they have a snoezelen room, the playground is fully assessable, and they are fully staffed with OT's, PT's, and SLP's.
I am sure that i will receive comments from both sides of the board for this post, but you have to understand that Jackson doesn't just have Down syndrome. Being blind is another disability that we have had to come to terms with over the years. He is quite behind where his peers with Ds are, because of his vision, so this is my way of finding him a place where i think he will grow to be the very best person he can be, learning at his own rate, in his own unique way, with friendships that i can only hope will last throughout his lifetime!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-05-16T12:33:00.000-07:00

Loving Jackson!!

Prayers for Gabe!!

2007-05-15T05:53:00.000-07:00

Sending lots of prayers out today for little baby Gabe as he undergoes his second open heart surgery. Please keep this precious little boy and his family in your thoughts and prayers today.
You can use the photo to link to Gabes blog to read updates on how he is doing.
((thoughts and prayers))

Blogs

2007-05-14T09:32:00.000-07:00

I have added the photos for both Gabe and Parkers websites, but being new to the blogging world cannot for the life of me figure out how to turn them into links. I mean, i have a website, and i have turned photos into links there, but just can't figure it out on here. HELP!!! If anyone can help me, please please do........i'm so lost...LOL
Thanks

Mother's Day!

2007-05-14T03:34:00.000-07:00

Hope that All the mom's out in "cyber land" had a GREAT Mother's Day!!

(((hugs)))

Jo and Jackson

My funny, beautiful, baby girl!!!

2007-05-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

May 8th was my daughter Jennifer's, 16th birthday. My beautiful, witty, smart, funny, awesome, baby girl is sweet sixteen!! God I feel old...LMAO

Happy sweet sixteen baby!!!

Balanced school day

2007-05-07T10:21:00.000-07:00

Jeremy called me today, wanting to come home for second lunch because he was hungry. He was hungry because he had eaten everything i had packed him at first lunch. (1 sandwich, 1 apple, 1 juice box, and 2 school snacks) First lunch, second lunch?? Yep, that's right, you read correctly. For the last few years the school that my children go to has decided that instead of doing the morning recess, lunch, then the afternoon recess, that they would do what they call "the balanced school day."
This means that at 10:30 am the children go out for their first lunch. They get 1/2 hour to eat and then 1/2 hour to play outside. Then comes 12:50pm. That is when second lunch starts. Again they have 1/2 to eat and 20Min's outside. The big problem with this is that the kids are expected to bring in two lunches. Now hold on....never mind the fact that i have 3 children in school and all these lunches add up, ignore the fact that allot of families are struggling to send in enough for one child, (with one lunch), but what about the same school sending home newsletters about our obese children?? Hello??? You want us to send in an extra meal and your complaining that the kids are obese?/ WHAT??
Now call me crazy, but when the weekend is here, i am NOT feeding my children 4 meals a day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Snacks in between, sure, but not extra meals.
Am i the only one who completely hates this new schedual? They say it is a way of preparing our children for the REAL world.
Well, i have yet to see two lunches in the REAL world. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Geeeessh. It amazes me how "they" can change the whole day.
It's almost as bad as the letter J losing it's top at schools nowadays. Yup. My children (whose names all happen to begin with a J) have gotten into trouble for topping their J's. It is no longer done. What?? Changing the alphabet, changing the way we eat meals each day..........what is our school system coming to?

Funny Friday!!

2007-05-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

What?? You said get in the highchair!!!......LOL

AARRGGG!! Venting today

2007-05-03T10:24:00.000-07:00

Well, i caved under the peer pressure and joined facebook recently. I had joined myspace a few months ago and was quite happy with that expierence, but i still had a few friends who wanted me to join facebook. So, i joined, and after i join somewhere the first thing i do is check out their groups. I searched and added myself to some of the Down syndrome groups. But as i am doing this, i run across all of these groups that people have set up to make fun of people wth disabilites, mainly Down syndrome. I couldn't believe it. The things some of these people were saying. I am so appalled!!. I have reported a bunch of these groups (so has a friend who i was talking to on msn while looking through these groups) but wonder if one voice alone is going to be enough. Should i fight the fight here, or walk away? Everything in me wants to freak out about this!! This is uncalled for! I can't believe that there are people out there who have nothing better to do with their time than to make fun of those who can't defend themselves.
For those of you who have facebook accounts, click groups, search Down syndrome and read away.........let me know what you think. Am i upset for nothing? Should i let it go as there is always someone, somewhere who is completely ignorant? or should i keep on fighting?

Sick, sick, sick

2007-05-01T17:47:00.000-07:00

Last friday i had a bit of a sore throat. By Saturday it was really sore, and my right ear was killing me. I was barely sleeping. By Sunday morning, i woke my hubby up and asked him to drive me to the clinic. I had hardly slept, my head was pounding, my ear was really hurting and my throat was just raw. Turns out that i have Tonsellitis. (the other option is Mono) neither one is really appealing at my age. sooooooooooo, after 3 days on antibiotics, and no body rash, i am assuming that it is not mono, and seeing as i am beginning to feel a bit better, it must be tonsellitis. Oh joy, oh fun. Now Jen says her throat hurts......aarrggggg........so to make a long story short....sorry for the lack of new posts....i just haven't had the energy. Maybe in the next day or so.

Funny Friday!!

2007-04-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

And the next Canadian Idol is..........................Jackson!!!....LOL (with a little help from his sister Jennifer) :p

Sibling love

2007-04-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

There is just something wonderful about the love siblings have for one another. Don't get me wrong, these guys can still fight with the best of them, but mainly the older 2, Jennifer and Jeremy. What is it about Jackson that makes it impossible for them to stay mad? Is it because he is the baby? Is it because he is just so darn cute? Is it because he has special needs so they feel like they can't get upset with him? Truth is, i really don't know why it is that Jackson's siblings can't stay upset with him, but i do know that i love the way he seems to bring out the best in them. Gotta Love Sibling Love!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-04-25T03:36:00.000-07:00

Swinging Little Monkey!!

It was a Karate kind of weekend!!

2007-04-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

This weekend was yet again very busy. Jackson's older brother Jeremy, had his first Karate Tournament. This was for kids that have had no or very little tournament experience, so it was a great first step for Jeremy if doing this sort of thing would be something he would be interested in in the future. He did great (especially because he had his broken finger and splinted hand) and came away with his two tropys!! Yeah Jeremy!! Way to Go!!!

Funny Friday!!

2007-04-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

No More Pictures!!! (I guess some days he has just had enough!!...LOL)

Where oh where is Jackson?

2007-04-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

Does anyone else have a child that likes to hangout in unusual places? I have a few pictures here of Jackson hanging out here and there. He really seems to enjoy being in enclosed places. As you walk into our home, there is a closet on the left hand side to hang up coats and what not. Well, this has become Jackson's closet. I'm not sure if it is a sensory thing (loves closed in places) or a vision thing (he takes his light up toys into the closet as it is really dark in there so he can see them really well). If i attempted to use this closet for hanging up coats or storing shoes, it all very nicely gets chucked back out into the hallway by the little closet monster. (better known as Jackson..LOL) He likes dumping out the toyboxes so he can climb in too!! (And when we catch him doing that we call him "Jack in the box")

Anyhoooo, here are a few pics of my little hodini

Wordless Wednesday!!

2007-04-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

Geeeeesh, I'm just too darn Cute!!

2007-04-16T11:46:00.000-07:00

Todays posting is about prayers. Prayers going out to those who have been affected by this very tragic day!!

Gunman kills many at Virginia Tech before being killed

AFP
WASHINGTON - A shooting spree believed to be by a lone gunman left at least 22 people dead at a Virginia university Monday in the bloodiest school shooting in U.S. history, authorities said.
Fox News reported that 32 people were killed and at least 28 wounded in the attacks at Virginia Tech University, a venerable southern institution, but there was no official confirmation.

Officials have ordered the Virginia Tech campus closed, the second time in less than a year because of a shooting.

Police said the gunman had been killed after the rampage in a dormitory at Virginia Tech and a separate, much deadlier, fusillade in an engineering classroom building two hours later.
Student Michael O'Brien told Fox News he was walking across the school's drill field when he heard a gunshot and saw students scrambling out of the building.
"You could see students carrying what looked like bodies out of Norris Hall (the engineering building) and there were ambulances out there that drove down to pick them up and sped off towards the hospital."
The school reported on its web site that a total of 22 people had been confirmed killed, surpassing the 15 who died in a shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado in April 1999 that shocked the nation.
The White House said US President George W. Bush was "horrified" by the school carnage, overshadowed only by a 1927 bombing at a Michigan school that killed 38 children and seven teachers.
"His immediate reaction was one of deep concern for the families of the victims, the victims themselves, the students, the professors and all of the people of Virginia who have dealt with this shocking incident," said spokeswoman Dana Perino.
Police gave only sketchy details of the bloodfest that started around 7:15 am (1115 GMT) when the gunman walked into a dormitory at the 135-year-old university and opened fire, killing at least one person.
The others were killed later in the classroom building. Virginia Tech Police Chief Wendell Flinchum gave no details of the horror but said people died in "multiple locations" in the building.
"At this time we believe it was only one gunman. He is deceased," Flinchum said, without elaborating on the circumstances of his death.
But authorities also said a search was launched for a second possible assailant as a precautionary measure at the university in Blacksburg, Virginia, some 425 kilometers (264 miles) southwest of Washington, DC.
Authorities canceled classes and locked down the sprawling engineering and research university which has some 28,000 students and more than 100 buildings spread across 2,600 acres (1,040 hectares).
Counseling centers were set up for students as the authorities moved to evacuate the campus and start the process of recovering from what university president Charles Steger called a tragedy of "monumental proportion."
"The university is shocked and indeed horrified that this would befall us," Steger told a news conference. "I cannot begin to convey my own personal sense of loss over this senseless and incomprehensible heinous act."
The chaos was captured in dramatic cell-phone video footage that picked up the clatter of bullets fired in the attack, which came just days ahead of the anniversary of the shooting rampage at Columbine on April 20, 1999.
Television showed heavily armed police rushing across the grounds in a light snowfall while witnesses reported scenes of terror and panic with school officials urging people to stay indoors.
"The police officers were trying to, you know, settle everyone down and keep everything under control," Amy Steele, chief editor of the student newspaper, told CNN. "One of the injuries happened from a student jumping out of a window."
The incident renewed concern over school security and access to guns that was rekindled last year by a rash of shootings. Virginia Tech itself was no stranger to violence.
In August, an escaped prisoner tried to hide on the campus, US media reported. A security guard and a policeman were killed before the man was re-arrested.
Virginia Tech's website also announced that a reward of 5,000 dollars had been posted on Sunday for information leading to the arrest of those behind two bomb hoaxes at the campus on April 2 and 13.

My boys busy weekend!

2007-04-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting yesterday. Saturdays have always been a busy day in our family. The pictures above are of Jackson swimming, and his brother Jeremy at Karate. :o) Jackson has been going to swimming lessons for kids with special needs for awhile now, and has been doing quite well with getting used to the water, learning how to float and so on. Well today he learned how to kick which opened a whole new world for Jackson. Instead of just moving his arms and moving very slowly in the water Jackson was kicking....and away he went. Jackson swam the whole length of the pool!!

He has always worn his life jacket and used a pool noodle, but if this keeps up he will be giving up the pool noodle very very soon, and maybe before long, the life jacket too!! I am so very proud of him!!

Jackson's brother Jeremy also had his grading at karate on Saturday to see if he could make his purple belt. This was a more difficult grading for Jeremy this time as he was doing it with a broken finger and an awkward splint on his hand.

But that didn't stop him!! And he came out victorious with his purple belt!! I am so very proud of my boys this weekend!!!

Funny Friday!!

2007-04-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

yogurt anyone??

Finally Friday!!

2007-04-13T12:29:00.000-07:00

It's friday!! Hurray!! Do you know what that means?? It means that we all get to sleep in a little later than 5:30am tomorrow. Woohoo!!...LOL
I know that Jackson will be happy with this as he has been sooooo tired the last few mornings. Ever since he came home from his latest trip to the hospital (when he had the cellulitis) he has been having a hard time getting back into the swing of things, so sleeping in will probably do him good. Today i received some good news and some bad news. The good news is that Jackson went pee on the toilet at school today!! Oh yeah!! That's my guy!! We have slowly been re- introducing toilet training back into Jackson's life. (We had stopped last June due to a problem Jackson was having that was causing all his BM's to be overly soft) I am very happy to say that he is picking things right up where we left off. He is such a smart cookie!!
The bad news is that we received a letter from the school today about a possible EA strike in 2 weeks. UUGGG!! Now the school board wants to keep all the students at school if possible during the strike but have made it clear that this will mean changing their routines to keep them safe. I'm really trying to decide what to do if there is going to be a strike because changing Jackson's routine could be harder on him than taking him out of school for a week or two. ARRG. So frustrating!! Yet on the other side of the coin, i really understand where the EA's are coming from. These are the people that we trust to care for our children everyday and while to some of them it is just their jobs, most truely care for our children. These are people who really deserve what they are asking for. I wish them luck, hope that they can reach an agreement so that they get what they feel they deserve and hopefully stop a strike before it starts in the process.

Dreary, rainy, Thursday.

2007-04-12T08:47:00.000-07:00

What is it about rainy days that make you want to climb right back into bed?

I'm not sure myself, and while I'm grateful that we didn't get the 10cm of snow that we were supposed to get last night, I can't help just craving my nice warm cosy bed.

Nobody wanted to get up and motivated today. This picture shows just how badly Jackson wanted to go to school this morning.......LOL

Anyone else find that we take way too many pictures of our kiddos when they fall asleep? It's at the point now, where if Jackson falls asleep in the living room, or anywhere that's not his bedroom, the kids will automatically bring me the camera!! What does that say about me??..LOL

Oh well, above are a couple more pictures of my sleepy little Jackson to help get you through this wet, dreary, rainy Thursday. They are just the sunshine I need to get on with my day!! :o)

Check out my Slide Show!

2007-04-11T18:25:00.001-07:00

2007-04-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

"Wordless Wednesday"

2007-04-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

Back on February 22nd, a sweet baby boy earned his angel wings. His name was Mikey. I think of Mikey and his mom Danielle and their family all the time. What they went through and what they still go through on a daily basis, knowing sweet Mikey is in Heaven. Connie posted this beautiful song and pictures of Mikey on her blog and Amy asked her If she could copy it as well in honor Mikey. Amy thought, wouldnt it be great if we all had him on our blog? If any of you would like to do the same, please do! It would be wonderful seeing sweet Mikey's face all over on blogs in his honor.....This is for you Mikey!!!!!

Dancing with the Angels by Monk & Neagle

Memories surround me

But sadness has found me

I’d do anything for more time

Never before has someone meant more

And I can’t get you out of my mind

There is so much that I don’t understand

But I knowYou’re dancing with the angels

Walking in new life

You’re dancing with the angels

Heaven fills your eyes

Now that you’re dancing with the angels

You had love for your family

Love for all people

Love for the Father, and Son

Your heart will be heard

In your unspoken words

Through generations to come

There is so much that I don’t understand

But I know you’re dancing with the angels…

We’re only here for such a short time

So I’m gonna stand up

Shout out And sing Hallelujah

One day I’ll see you again!!

Cold's Back!!

2007-04-10T05:32:00.000-07:00

I've decided to start this blog off by hoping something will end. WINTER!! It has been a pretty hard winter on our family this year, both health wise and financially and we are so ready for Spring!!

I'll start with Craig (dad) as health wise, he has done the best. And he didn't even get a flu shot this year!!..lol

His main upset, is financial. Money lost for doctors visits, hospital parking, time off work, and his most recent beef is the windshield on the car. We finally traded in our 1996 minivan in January and came away with a 2002 GrandAm. Craig was over the moon!! He loves this car. So it was a little more cash each month, he deserves it, right? Well the other day while driving on the highway, the windshield suddenly got hit with a rock!! BAM!! Scared the you know what out of me!! I looked (as much as you can on the freeway going 100km an hour) and didn't see a mark. Thank goodness!. Well, spoke too soon because not 10 minutes later*Craaaaack* this crack starts from where the rock had hit. So now Craig is worried because we need to come up with the cash for a new windshield!! UUGGGG!!

Lets move on to Jennifer. Jennifer has had more than her fair shair of colds this winter (and she DID get the flu shot) and she lost time off school while her younger brother was in the hospital (a completely different story)and also lost time off school because she had hurt her knee. Nothing too serious, but it hurt enough to keep her home for a few more days. UUGG!!!

Now it's Jeremy's turn. Here's another one that seems to have been run over by the never ending cold this winter. And when he is finally all better, and back in school, Karate and everything else he breaks a finger!! Not the "check with your family doctor in a few weeks just to make sure it healed okay, "kind of break. Oh nooooo, the " you will need to see a hand specialist next week" kind of break.

So today after school, Jeremy has to go and see the specialist and hopefully get good news as this is his "cheque writing hand" so school (that he has already missed so much of being sick) hasn't been fun and now his Karate is becoming an issue too. He has his grading for his purple belt (yay Jer!!) this coming Saturday and his very first tournament the following Saturday.

Now for Jackson. Poor little Jackson has been none stop sick since November. (yes, he had his flu shot!!) It has been cold after cold, then pneumonia, then more colds, then sinus infections that eventually turned into cellulitis on his poor little face, which turned into a 5 day hospital stay. And now, after all of this. He has just been off the anibiotics for two weeks (after being on them for 3 weeks) and take a wild guess who is sick with a cold again??!! Does it ever end!!??

Now me, Jo(mum) well, what can i say. I've made it through with only a handful of colds, no broken bones...LOL I do have a kidney infection right now though. UGGGGG!!!...LOL

Need i say more??!!!

As much as i am enjoying all the cuddles, bring on Spring!!!!!!!

Please!!

**Jackson's Journey!!**

Back to school and a new hair do!! :o)

Summer fun!!

Painting fun!!

To all my blogging friends

Wordless Wednesday!!

Hey!! I'm On T.V!!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

Horsey Halloween

Wordless Wednesday!!

Work work work!! :o)

Wordless Wednesday!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

First day of school!!

T21 community in mourning.

Wordless Wednesday!!

Funny Friday

Wordless Wednesday!!

Jack in the box!!

Funny Friday

Wordless Wednesday!!

Look what I did.....

All Loved Up!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

Funny Friday!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

Summer, summer, summer.

Wordless Wednesday!!

EA and Teacher gifts

Introducing......Gizmo!!

Funny Friday!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

Funny Friday!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

Proud of my guy!!

Fun Friday

My Blog Was Critiqued!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

Havn't been around much

You've Come A Long Way, Baby!!

Wordless Wednesday!!

Jackson's New School

Wordless Wednesday!!

Prayers for Gabe!!

Blogs

Mother's Day!

My funny, beautiful, baby girl!!!

Balanced school day

Funny Friday!!

AARRGGG!! Venting today

Sick, sick, sick

Funny Friday!!

Sibling love

Wordless Wednesday!!

It was a Karate kind of weekend!!

Funny Friday!!

Where oh where is Jackson?

Wordless Wednesday!!

My boys busy weekend!

Funny Friday!!

Finally Friday!!

Dreary, rainy, Thursday.

Check out my Slide Show!

Cold's Back!!

Jackson's Journey!!