tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52349693322026625102024-03-12T20:49:41.144-06:00The Fied's... UncensoredThis is going to be randomness at it's finest. Updates of Texas. My crazy rants and raves about society. My photography. Completed knitting/crochet/sewing projects. Who knows where this blog will take me...
Check back once in a while.Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.comBlogger90125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-59990230977616943982009-07-31T13:46:00.008-06:002009-07-31T16:46:05.013-06:00A Blog of PicsMum is out of town. Right before she left, we rescued a Mum Pug & her wee one. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNSXfG9ewI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/vxuXy8vQEGA/s1600-h/IMG_8618.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNSXfG9ewI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/vxuXy8vQEGA/s320/IMG_8618.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364722144569555714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNMOuRg1iI/AAAAAAAAAfg/xP2AxtUwBZU/s1600-h/IMG_8622.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNMOuRg1iI/AAAAAAAAAfg/xP2AxtUwBZU/s320/IMG_8622.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364715396951758370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNMPHucaiI/AAAAAAAAAfo/12-LOSPmTGY/s1600-h/IMG_8626.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNMPHucaiI/AAAAAAAAAfo/12-LOSPmTGY/s320/IMG_8626.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364715403783989794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNSW6tSrhI/AAAAAAAAAgI/qsw_STfjQug/s1600-h/IMG_8563.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNSW6tSrhI/AAAAAAAAAgI/qsw_STfjQug/s320/IMG_8563.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364722134798216722" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNSWixguQI/AAAAAAAAAgA/FQokvhFp030/s1600-h/IMG_8592.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNSWixguQI/AAAAAAAAAgA/FQokvhFp030/s320/IMG_8592.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364722128373463298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNMPjoYC0I/AAAAAAAAAfw/Ugh74QpSuWg/s1600-h/IMG_8576.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNMPjoYC0I/AAAAAAAAAfw/Ugh74QpSuWg/s320/IMG_8576.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364715411274730306" /></a><br /><br />GOATS! Bella, Mary, Mikey, George-Josh (long story), Denae & Dudley<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNSWJ5DsHI/AAAAAAAAAf4/3KN7ocStj9M/s1600-h/IMG_8608.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNSWJ5DsHI/AAAAAAAAAf4/3KN7ocStj9M/s320/IMG_8608.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364722121694228594" /></a><br />Punky Rooster. The big man around the yard.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNr61qAr0I/AAAAAAAAAgg/a_4rek3GtRk/s1600-h/IMG_8611.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNr61qAr0I/AAAAAAAAAgg/a_4rek3GtRk/s320/IMG_8611.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364750239708262210" /></a><br />The first batch of chicks I hatched in the incubator<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNr526_NII/AAAAAAAAAgY/DtpiVyY6MeY/s1600-h/IMG_8562.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNr526_NII/AAAAAAAAAgY/DtpiVyY6MeY/s320/IMG_8562.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364750222868034690" /></a><br />Duckies! Pom-Pom, Mack, Gravy & Quack<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNr7IzLsgI/AAAAAAAAAgo/n0CWSFgnACY/s1600-h/IMG_8614.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SnNr7IzLsgI/AAAAAAAAAgo/n0CWSFgnACY/s320/IMG_8614.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364750244847006210" /></a>Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-67447790935531633102009-07-17T13:35:00.002-06:002009-07-17T14:02:26.871-06:00Screw the doors opening... they keep slammingwhat should have been a fairly easy project to get everyone help and together has turned into a nightmare. we have a real estate agent, the housing & loan guy, mum & i... nobody can find something that works w/in a respectable price range. sure, we can go to 60 acres and have no housing restrictions... um... only 1 million smackeroos! no biggy. we found a property that we can do whatever we want to... we just have a giant watertower cutting out a huge slice of the property and live with the trashiest of trash on the other side. oh wait, there was that really great property that the owner "thinks" there are no restrictions. can anyone get an answer on it, of course not! so day after day after day everyone is upset, angry, frustrated... *sigh*<br /><br />okay... vent over.<br /><br />so what's going on? everyone feels frustrated and defeated. the purpose of this exercise was:<br /> 1. Get Sue & Jake out here with us. We can help take care of her. They can't afford to live in CA any longer. they need out.... immediately.<br /> 2. Get mum out from this upside down house that is draining her financially. sure, when dad was alive things were okay because they had the money from the equity in CA... right when he died the stock market crashed... and he never put "transfer upon death" on ANY of the money.<br /> 3. Get the kids out of the current school district. i have been fighting with these people since we moved here over my kids educational needs and they are fighting me non-bloody-stop.<br /> 4. Get me out of mum's house and into my own. granted, living with mum isn't too bad. we take care of each other... but if i ever wanted to date or anything... kinda gets awkward :D<br /><br />sssoooo.... back to the drawing board we go... again... my dear friend, nichole, keeps telling me to hold onto faith. over and over and over having the same problems, same restrictions, same frustrations, it gets hard. i guess w/o these trials and tribulations there would be no need for faith...?!?!?!?<br /><br />more to come... if anything does come... *sigh*Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-42878951054006343902009-07-14T21:08:00.003-06:002009-07-14T21:55:13.872-06:00The door to one house closes.... a new one opens....Well, we went in for a pushed extremely fast escrow on the house with the land.... and... at the last minute someone noticed a line on the title that said "one home only." Well, that wasn't going to work since we need at least a second home for Susie and Jake to move into (for those who have forgotten or didn't hear, my Aunt was in a nearly fatal car accident and is now paralyzed). SSSOOOO... back to the drawing board we went.<br /><br />We found 8 acres for sale with a home one it. We are going to leave the home in front there and fix it up and turn it into a rental or guest house... who knows right now. Susie, Jake, Mum and I are going to put our homes in the middle of the property. So... with FAITH (that's for you, Nich) we are hopefully going to get this land.<br /><br />More to come later...Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-49323442768873144002009-07-14T21:03:00.003-06:002009-07-14T21:08:02.896-06:00Welcome Lucy & Jillian Gibson!I just wanted to take a second to welcome the birth of the new <a href="http://gibsonsurprise.blogspot.com/2009/07/update-and-pictures.html">Gibson twins</a>! <br /><br />Little Jillian has been having some complications and giving her new parents a nice little scare. Please pray for little Jillian!Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-57610768013964948142009-07-06T21:11:00.003-06:002009-07-06T21:27:28.637-06:00Summer and Chickens and Moving... OH MY!Summer is in full swing. We have gone to Chuck E. Cheese. We swim most afternoons. The kids are doing wonderfully well. A few chickens have died from the heat (which has been pretty depressing). I have made a wonderful chicken friend, Josh, and he and I are setting up to be breeding partners. I have a full sized cabinet incubator and just had my first hatch!!! We are now the proud owners of 6 goats (thanks Josh!). And... for the excitement of it all....<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">WE ARE MOVING</span><br /><br />It goes a little something like this. Mum came back from her taking care of my Aunt who was in the nearly fatal car accident 10 weeks ago. We went to Farmer's Market and started talking to the cattle woman about her land. We found a real estate agent and 7 days later, put in an offer. 7 3/4 acres with about 5ish acres fenced for livestock. The house on it is about 10 years old and is 2,400 sq ft. Comes with a pool table, big fridge, and front loading washer and dryer. OH, and did I mention the HUGE in ground salt water swimming pool?!?! So, they accepted Mum's offer and we close a week from tomorrow. One of the best parts of it, the school district rates better than the current one AND I won't have to deal with that horrid really bad string of profanity principal any more. There is hope for a fresh start for KeelyMonster and the help that Colin needs. Now... to build a chicken coop.... :D<br /><br />So, as it stands right now, the kids and I will be rattling around on the land by ourselves. In 6-12 months Mum is going to leave this house and join us out there, most likely in a new home, but if not, there should be plenty of room for all of us in the current house on the land. My aunt and uncle are hoping to leave CA as soon as they can and live with mum at the current house.... and they will have their home built on mum's land once they are ready. With Susie being in a wheelchair and all the complications of the accident, being with Mum is going to be the greatest thing for her. And having everyone apart, yet so close together is going to be one of the greatest feelings.<br /><br />SO... pictures and updates to come soon. Now... time to find some boxes....Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-67355028678793868172009-06-20T08:24:00.002-06:002009-06-20T08:29:15.315-06:00"Mum, I'm a BIG BOY"We went to Target to pick up a few essentials. A few of Colin's undies were starting to get a little snug, so we stopped to check the prices on some new ones. We walk over and he exclaims, "Mum, I'm a big boy! We need to get rid of my undies that my friends laugh at (he still has a pair of Thomas the Tank Engine) and get me all new BOXERS! I want boxers like a big boy!" So, we bought him a 5-pack of little boxer-briefs and he wears them SO proud! Through the day yesterday, he kept reminding me about how big he is now that he has his boxers on. *sigh* My baby is making his own underwear decisions...Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-39024681343387535912009-06-09T20:23:00.002-06:002009-06-09T20:26:18.500-06:00Graduation 2009My baby is all grown up.... Kindergarten C/O '09 *sigh*<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/Si8Zm7LE-kI/AAAAAAAAAfU/bEPHaGsJhCQ/s1600-h/0604091527.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/Si8Zm7LE-kI/AAAAAAAAAfU/bEPHaGsJhCQ/s400/0604091527.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345519439221946946" /></a>Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-86631209886616399352009-05-20T15:58:00.002-06:002009-05-20T16:44:29.209-06:00Colin's Evaluation ResultsTwo formal diagnoses in one week. I recorded my sessions with the Psychologists so that I would be able to transcript this to everyone. Sorry it has taken so long, but that is a LONG conversation and A LOT of information I have to sift through. <br /><br />Christian and I went back to the psychologist. What we learned about Colin really did not surprise us. However, hearing the actual age equivalents for his development was hard. <br /><br />Most interestingly, the two psychologists "debated for a few days" on what his diagnosis should be. Colin exhibits a number of social difficulties often found in children exhibiting problems with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). He has a history of engulfing perseverative preoccupations, as well as the social deficits and behavioral rigidity typically found in Asperger's Disorder (AD). He is unusual in that he also continues to show some behaviors more typical of a high level autism. So, after much debate, it was decided that he would be diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome with Residual Autistic Characteristics.<br /><br />Colin's intellectual functioning and academic knowledge were both in the low average level. He also ranges low average with expressive and receptive speech, manipulating phonological manipulation and speech articulation. Colin does have an average to above average level for his memory.<br /><br />Colin's emotional development is delayed, with his sense determined by his immediate impulses and desires, but beginning to be influenced by his enduring interests, abilities and beliefs. His capacity to inhibit impulses, regulate emotions, tolerate frustration and delay gratification is poorer than his peers. He is insecure in his attachment due to ASD, with both separation anxiety and a functional/instrumental use of me. Basically, I am here to serve his every desire and whim at the moment he desires it. I have no purpose in life other than to wait and and foot on him.<br /><br />Besides AD with residual traits of ASD, he has also been diagnosed with severe Separation Disorder and a sensory integration disorder, as well as ADHD. <br /><br />Soon, the battle between the school district and I will resume. With the diagnosis in hand, advice from the woman across the street (she is a special education teacher in a nearby city) and the fact that I WILL NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH THEIR BULL SHIT ANYMORE... Colin <span style="font-style:italic;">SHOULD</span> be going into 1st grade with a special education support team on his side. Should the school district try to deny him, we are prepared to get an advocate and get the Texas Education Agency involved. I WILL NOT let them tell me that he is "too smart" for services and is only able to receive them if he has "educational needs." The bloody diagnosis papers directly state that he needs services. <br /><br />SSSOOOO.... that's the story of my little guy.Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-29431082497467404382009-05-11T10:34:00.006-06:002009-05-11T12:03:20.954-06:00Some Chicken Pictures...It's been hard putting everything together with Keely's Eval, so I figured I would throw in a few pictures of the chicken-friends.<br /><br />What do you do with a dog run and old dog house? Build a chicken house!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghaSEjSysI/AAAAAAAAAeM/_SEJ5TGLvdE/s1600-h/IMG_8229.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghaSEjSysI/AAAAAAAAAeM/_SEJ5TGLvdE/s200/IMG_8229.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334613025126271682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghaR4vt1uI/AAAAAAAAAeE/NZLFOva2zys/s1600-h/IMG_8167.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghaR4vt1uI/AAAAAAAAAeE/NZLFOva2zys/s200/IMG_8167.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334613021957150434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghaRYyzqBI/AAAAAAAAAd8/9FluWPysLyc/s1600-h/IMG_8136.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghaRYyzqBI/AAAAAAAAAd8/9FluWPysLyc/s200/IMG_8136.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334613013380179986" /></a><br /><br />The ducks... The week we got them, their first water play, and this week. Pom-Pom has the giant pom-pom. Quack is pure white (both female). Mack is the mallard (his green head fathers are starting to come in). And lastly is Gravy (the last two are male)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghfnQ1foqI/AAAAAAAAAeU/-7WoBHHtZTQ/s1600-h/IMG_8131.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghfnQ1foqI/AAAAAAAAAeU/-7WoBHHtZTQ/s200/IMG_8131.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334618886759228066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghfnvvNnHI/AAAAAAAAAec/NKyNWXoMFUA/s1600-h/IMG_8200.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghfnvvNnHI/AAAAAAAAAec/NKyNWXoMFUA/s200/IMG_8200.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334618895054380146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghfoBz-9qI/AAAAAAAAAek/gidF18CsF8U/s1600-h/IMG_8281.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghfoBz-9qI/AAAAAAAAAek/gidF18CsF8U/s200/IMG_8281.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334618899906229922" /></a><br /><br />CHICKENS! Here are some of the girls in their house just after a HUGE storm.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghlS8N2-3I/AAAAAAAAAes/rXYqlvvAAEY/s1600-h/IMG_8335.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghlS8N2-3I/AAAAAAAAAes/rXYqlvvAAEY/s200/IMG_8335.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334625134696659826" /></a><br />Gloria, one of our Ameraucana hens. They lay green & blue eggs!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghlTnMq3jI/AAAAAAAAAfM/NtvhBNDfnOQ/s1600-h/IMG_8318.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghlTnMq3jI/AAAAAAAAAfM/NtvhBNDfnOQ/s200/IMG_8318.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334625146234396210" /></a><br />Silkies! The buff one is Bullet the Roo. We have 2 whites that we can't tell apart! Squished in the middle is an Easter Egger. She's a cross breed similar to an Ameraucana.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghlTAv-C2I/AAAAAAAAAe8/w-2APCo8IpU/s1600-h/IMG_8257.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghlTAv-C2I/AAAAAAAAAe8/w-2APCo8IpU/s200/IMG_8257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334625135913470818" /></a><br />POLISH! They are a fun breed. We have two. This girl is named Elvis because of her crest.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghlS4LsvCI/AAAAAAAAAe0/ddoirjgjYC4/s1600-h/IMG_8321.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SghlS4LsvCI/AAAAAAAAAe0/ddoirjgjYC4/s200/IMG_8321.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334625133613857826" /></a>Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-33156250561230238142009-05-05T11:36:00.005-06:002009-05-12T16:36:18.908-06:00Keely's Evaluation ResultsChristian and I met with the psychologist. We thought we knew what to expect; what we heard surprised us.<br /><br />FIRST, everything that is wrong with her is NOT due to some circumstance in her life. It is not due to a traumatic incident or what has been going on between Christian and I. It is genetic. These problems surfaced as a toddler... as some of you know, she was always... different. When she was 3, it was hard to really diagnose her with anything because she was so young. So, when she was young, they said "it looks like it will be this and looks like that..." they wouldn't formally diagnose her because she was so young. She DOES NOT have Asperger's Syndrome like they thought. AS kids are not this aware of their feelings and emotions. They are not this aware of what's going on inside them or outside around them. This surprised us the most, but when the psychologist explained everything, it made a lot of sense.<br /><br />Keely was anxious through the evaluation, sometimes angry, sometimes oppositional. She has a very negative overall perception over life, and a VERY negative perception of me. Her "working memory," where you take in info in the environment and try to figure out what you may or may not already know, is being affected by her emotional problems. The attention problems may not be from ADHD, but instead because she is so focused on her anxiety, negativity and emotional problems. The medication that she was on at the time of testing stays in the body for a longer period of time, so the test was inconclusive (she failed 1 of 3 tests). Basically, her cognitive tests all came back in the average to superior range (that means her brain is working great).<br /><br />She is 7. A normal 7 year old is usually pretty oblivious to what is going on internally. Oh, not with Keely. She is very aware of her anxiety, depression, strain on her social interactions and behaviours; she is very emotionally distressed and has a very low self concept. A VERY SIGNIFICANT level of depression. She has a pretty significant level of anxiety which she manifests into physical problems (being tired, tummy aches, potty problems, headaches). This anxiety is almost obsessive compulsive. She has to have things in order and if they aren't they stress her out and she dwells on it until it is changed.<br /><br />She is a highly reactive child. This has been since birth. She has an over reactive central nervous system and gets set off by stimulation. She is very hyper reactive and this leads to a lot of anxiety. A situation to explain this is if someone bumps into you. You and I would see it as, "Oh, we bumped into each other," whereas Keely interprets it as, "This person did it on purpose." She has no rational thought, she thinks purely on emotion.<br /><br />She also has an attachment disorder. This had been since she was a baby. The core is that she has problems with trust and this results in problems with relationships. As long as things are going okay in her mind, everything is fine. Once something changes (and this is usually a misperception on her part) and it is not her way, all hell breaks loose. She perceives this as being done directly to her as a result of her trust issues. It's a vicious cycle because you never know what is going to set her off.Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-66890423680995210032009-04-26T12:45:00.003-06:002009-05-04T18:45:48.054-06:001st Quarter, 20094 months into 2009. Things have been chaotic, stressful, extremely hard to deal with and there has been a few glimpses of fun. I have tried so many times to write a new blog, but the emotional side of Marce took over and I couldn't finish. This is going to be scatterbrained and terribly wrote. I'm running on 4 1/2 hours of sleep, a whole lot of stress and just plain exhaustion. This has taken a few attempts to write and get across right.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">January and February:</span><br />Kids behaviours started to spiral downwards. Keely became very angry, hard to even talk to. She would temper tantrum in her room for over an hour at a time 1-3 times a day. She wasn't the same child. She started talking about ways to kill herself (and for those of you who think "She's 7, she is looking for a reaction out of you..." NO.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">March:</span><br />The spirling Keely went from depressed with huge outbursts to the kid who pulled away from my hand in parking lots and running in front of moving cars. The kid who tried to get out of the house to lay down in the street and wait for a car to run her down. The kid who in the middle of eating dinner looked up and said, "I wish I knew how to get over the back fence so I could get hit by the train right now." SO... March 04, I took her to the pediatrician and told him how far down she had gotten in the past 3 weeks. He wanted to have her admitted to a Mental Health Hospital about an hour a way. That was one of the hardest things I have ever had to hear or do. During her week there, I saw her every day and talked to her on the phone every night. It was good for her to be there. The psychiatrist said that she has a mood disorder but didn't want to do a full diagnosis on her. Now she is on Prosac for her depression and Concerta for her ADHD (which has also made a huge difference on her behaviours). She started seeing her pediatrician weekly. She started seeing her counselor weekly. Although she seems so much happier, the counseling has seemed to bring up A LOT of emotional issues regarding me.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />April:</span><br />Keely is continuing to see her counselor once a week. She had an evaluation on the 6th; I get the results May 4th. Colin has started weekly counseling with a FANTASTIC man who is a Certified Anger Resolution Therapist. On the 23rd, he had a full evaluation; I get the results May 12th. He started a new dosage of Concerta the first week of April and it has made an AMAZING change in his attention span. His teacher has reported that all of a sudden with the change of medication dosage he has made leaps and bounds. He has started to grasp sounding out words and started trying to write. The lightbulb turned on in his head and he grasps simple addition and subtraction. The best part is that when he starts to count, he does pretend dots in a straight row. Nobody can figure out how he knows when to stop the straight line of numbers, but in his head, he somehow does. It's rather impressive to watch. <br /><br />During the first week of April, we added a new hobby to the mess. It's been a great new hobby on many levels. We have become owners of chickens. How? Why? Well, it all started like this... Mum and I were talking and joked about turning the garden area into a chicken coop and turning the doghouse into a henhouse for fresh eggs. 3 days later, construction began. We started with 3 fluffy day-old chicks and four day-old ducklings (the key word in that sentence is "started"). So, the girl with an absolute fear of birds has found herself loving ugly chickens. <br /><br />The moral of the story, I've been pretty damn busy with going to doctors appointments and counseling appointments. I also take Mum out all the time due to her needing double knee replacement; I'm the chauffeur. More to come soon...Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-36747825195024769172009-01-03T09:00:00.002-06:002009-01-03T09:03:08.306-06:00Hi January, How ya Doin'?Hello January! I know that I've only known you for 3 days now, but I just wanted to say one thing... thanks for starting out uneventfully.Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-60600359626575601382008-12-30T19:20:00.002-06:002008-12-30T19:36:07.828-06:00The End of DecemberSo Christmas has come and gone. It's almost a new year. What a year. I know I said it last year... "2008, can't be worse than 2007" but that was a BLOODY TERRIBLE LIE!!!!! 2008 was MUCH worse than 2007. So I'm crossing my fingers with this one.... 2009 PLEASE DO NOT LET IT BE WORSE THAN 2008!!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />I would recap the year for you, but I'm not in the mood.<br /><br />The kids had a VERY small Christmas this year. We didn't have a tree or many gifts at all. The highlights: Keely is IN LOVE with her Easy Bake Oven. Colin got 2 Star Wars Transformers. Keely got some new books and workbooks. Colin got new clothes... Star Wars clothes rather. :) <br /><br />Well... I'm off to go get some chompers brushed and toss them into bed. I just wanted to give a small update on Christmas. Woo! (can you read my enthusiasm?)<br /><br />XooX to all my friends and family who tune in.Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-428339848434994572008-12-21T10:20:00.002-06:002008-12-21T11:12:32.973-06:004 Days 'Til Christmas...This isn't going to be a typical bouncy blog.. not that they have been the past few months... for those who I have been ignoring... for those who keep wondering why I'm not returning calls or emails or texts... I am sorry. The Marcia that everyone knows is still here... just in fleeting spurts. Today's blog will be some rambling about the inner workings of my mind. Again... not the happiest of places right now. And why am I publishing everything in a blog and not email individuals... I have ZERO email addy's! I have the laptop here and the PC (with EVERYTHING on it) is still at Christian's house. It's funny calling it his house... Anyway.... so... the only way I can get the info out is thru... tada... the blog. So... without further ado... My ramblings (stream of conscious style because I don't have it in me for proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, proof reading or paragraphs)....<br /><br />I feel myself shutting down. I'm having trouble getting excited about anything. I'm finding myself just sitting alone in my room while the kids were at school just laying. I look at the clock and 3 hours had passed. Not sleeping. Not playing online. Not thinking. Just laying. I don't know if the anti-depressants aren't enough anymore even though I'm on a pretty big dosage? I know the anti-anxiety pills side of the Lexapro hasn't been enough. I'm taking the Xanax pretty constant right now. As soon as I let myself think it seems like I go into a panic. Such simple tiny things send me into a huge wave of anxiety. I've never felt quite this bad in my life. I'll send someone a text... and if I don't get a response suddenly I'm thrown into a wave of fear that I have upset the person????? Yeah... not like me AT ALL. I feel like I'm some 15 year old high school girl all over again with the huge waves of drama... even though this time it's unintentional. As a lot of you know, I have always had issues sleeping. I'm back on that same roller coaster... getting maybe 2 hours of sound sleep per night. The rest I'm up every 20-40 minutes... The only nights I really sleep decent are the nights that I have a phone sleep-over with someone (and if you happen to read this, I know I tell you often, but i REALLY REALLY appreciate the nights you are there for me). And for all of you who are thinking "you have got to be kidding me... falling asleep on the phone all night long stuck to your ear... blah blah blah...." shut up. I don't care what you think. Yes, it's psychosomatic. Leave me alone. It could be just the rhythm of breathing that is white noise in the background... it could be a lot of things. All I know is that the phone sleep-overs help me get thru the night. I feel comfortable and safe... And YES... I do have my good days. I'm just overwhelmed by grief and stress. I'm sleeping in my dads bedroom.. in his bed... I think about him non-stop... I never thought I would be admitting this, but I miss his looking down at me with a cocked head to one side with "that tone" saying, "Little Girl...." Sadly when I do something he would have said it to me, I actually hear it in my head. I'm doing the bbq turkeys, I'm making the hamburgers, I'm mowing the lawn, I'm cleaning up the newspapers (the man had 3 delivered each day???), I'm taking out the trash and recycling... I'm doing the vacuuming.... I'm doing his jobs now. It really eats me up on a daily basis. And what am I doing with my grief... doing what I do best... burying it deep. I'm not talking about it... I'm just stuffing it as deep inside me as I can... I have to be the rock for my Mum. I have to be strong for my kids. Colin still asks questions about my dad... "when is Gramps coming back," "Did it hurt when he died," "Will I die on the floor like Gramps did." BLAH. <br /><br />So now that my eyes are so irritated from the tears and wiping them, I think it's time to say g'bye for now. I have to go suck it up... and vacuum the living room.Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-45683917165808325602008-12-15T19:05:00.003-06:002008-12-15T19:20:44.889-06:00RetaliationLife... thrown into utter upheaval. I am walking in a constant daydream. I don't know which end is up anymore.<br /><br />My dad died. I left Christian and moved in with Mum. I'm now unemployed. Christian and I are getting a divorce. We are trying to keep this as friendly as possible... and so far we are doing good. The kids are in a constant state of frustration and confusion. Andy (that's my brother for those who do not know) is CONSTANTLY on my ass about being a financial drain on my Mum and being a huge loser. <br /><br />Yeah.... so... in a moment of retaliation I decided to dye my hair purple. I like it. In one move, I became the coolest Mum according to all the kids at the elementary school.... and at that same moment became the most despised parent :) Aaaahhhhhh screw them. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SUcB797LjII/AAAAAAAAAVM/IRi4TPAVoIM/s1600-h/1212081324.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SUcB797LjII/AAAAAAAAAVM/IRi4TPAVoIM/s320/1212081324.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280191217861889154" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SUcB7k8iC4I/AAAAAAAAAVE/oLpzVtabORc/s1600-h/1212081535.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SUcB7k8iC4I/AAAAAAAAAVE/oLpzVtabORc/s320/1212081535.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280191211156671362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SUcB7cBdKJI/AAAAAAAAAU8/MMe6HYkMcEc/s1600-h/IMG_8045.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SUcB7cBdKJI/AAAAAAAAAU8/MMe6HYkMcEc/s320/IMG_8045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280191208761403538" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SUcB8LKXcVI/AAAAAAAAAVU/lkJxCigINeQ/s1600-h/1212080741.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SUcB8LKXcVI/AAAAAAAAAVU/lkJxCigINeQ/s320/1212080741.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280191221415244114" /></a>Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-55468785286874725642008-11-27T21:02:00.002-06:002008-11-27T21:09:52.801-06:00The Past Month...It's been a little over a month since Dad died. Life has been thrown upside down. Highlights of the month:<br /><br />Colin turned 6 on Monday. Keely will turn 7 on Saturday. Happy Birthday to my babies!!!!<br /><br />The kids and I have moved in with Mum. We moved in shortly after my dad died. It's been quite a transition, but it is working well. The kids now have bunk beds. Colin thinks they are the greatest! Dogzilla loves living here... she runs and runs and runs with Mum's dogs. <br /><br />yeah... that's the quick update. Sorry I've been so silent. It's been.... difficult.Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-75033329001964461162008-10-28T07:41:00.002-06:002017-10-20T05:25:15.556-06:00RIP Daddy... I Miss You SO SO SO SO SO MuchI don't know if I will even be able to get thru this blog. Just starting it has my hands shaking and the tears pouring down my round cheeks. <br />
<br />
On the 21st, Nana (my Mum's Mum) had her foot partially amputated. She had been in the hospital for 2 weeks prior with some serious issues and had already had two toe amputations during the two weeks. Mum was at the hospital all day.<br />
<br />
On the 22nd, Mum spent the whole day with Nana at the hospital again. Nana kept telling my Mum to go home and spend some time with her husband. She had been at the hospital at least 6 hours every day that Nana was in there. <br />
<br />
Mum got home later and my Dad had made her dinner. They ate and watched Boston Legal on the Tivo. She got up when it ended and went into the bathroom to start getting ready for bed. She was in the bathroom 20 minutes when he dogs started barking. She was agitated that my Dad wasn't quieting them. She walked around the corner yelling, "Thomas! Shut the dogs up!" and saw him laying in an odd place on the floor. She thought he was playing one of the dog's favourite games, so she walked over and smacked him. He was ice cold. <br />
<br />
While the paramedics were on their way, the 911 operator walked her through CPR. As soon as the paramedics arrived and started working on him, she phoned me. I had NO idea what she was saying... it was 11:13pm and I had already fallen asleep. I just KNEW that I had to get there and in my heart I knew why. I drove a mere 80 mph to her house and saw as they were lifting him into the back of the ambulance. There was no urgency. There was no rush. I knew he was gone.<br />
<br />
Andy wouldn't answer his phone so I called Jessica. She woke him. He called me as I was walking into Mum's- he was pissed off at me. <br />
"What the f- is going on." <br />
"Andy, you need to get here... NOW."<br />
"I will, but you need to tell me what the f-is going on. I just woke up."<br />
"Andy, get here. I'm pretty sure Dad is dead."<br />
"Why the f-would you say that? Don't be stupid."<br />
"Get here... NOW."<br />
<br />
After a few minutes of looking for Dad's wallet the ambulance finally left. I got Mum into my car. She was in shock; terrified. I watched the sky as I drove. Looking at the clouds, the moon, the few stars I could see. I nattered on and on and on about them... trying to keep my mind clear so I didn't kill Mum and I on the way. <br />
<br />
When we got there, they took us to the conference room. That only means one thing. They pronounced him dead at 11:59. They said it was a heart attack. His heart just stopped. It was instant.... no pain. We couldn't pull Mum from his side. She wouldn't leave him. She couldn't leave him. They met when they were 15... high school sweethearts. You don't find your soul mate at 15 years old.... <br />
<br />
My Dad and I didn't always have the greatest relationship, but we loved each other. He and I always vexed one another. Neither of us could walk away from an argument; we always had to get the last word in. His jokes were terrible and I would always tell him to stop telling them. He was always on my case about stealing from him... if something cost $29.86 and he gave me $30, he would ALWAYS demand the change I was "trying to steal."<br />
<br />
However, we had our documentary's, getting the pleasure of rubbing Udder Balm on his dry feet, random knowledge brought us close, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Rocky Horror Picture Show, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, smoked turkeys at every chance, "Little Girl, live your life by A Charlie Brown Christmas and you will always find happiness," astronomy, meteor showers (especially Orionids), watching Alton Brown cook and dry humour of Good Eats, MythBusters.... October through January we were side by side. Deciding he would be called "Gramps" and from that moment on, all the vexing of earlier years washed away.<br />
<br />
Keely took his death VERY hard. She cried and cried and cried. Her relationship with him was EXACTLY like mine. Those two butted heads NON STOP. The day he died, he had picked the kids up from school just because he wanted to. They had their typical day together. This is all she can fixate on; "Gramps said I had a red-day at his house just like I did at school." <br />
<br />
Colin tried so so hard to understand. He's taking it pretty badly, too. He and his Gramps were best buddies. They played Mr. Potato Head all the time. It was something special they did with each other. He said he never wants to play Potato Head again. <br />
<br />
RIP Daddy.....<br />
<br />
THOMAS ALLEN DAMIANO<br />
04/13/1952-10/22/08Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-64458824493592196842008-10-02T04:39:00.002-06:002008-10-02T05:09:34.408-06:00I'm not dead...It's been a month. I have had a few ask if I'm dead. Nope... just head in the clouds.<br /><br />Colin is doing SO SO SO well in school. I can't believe the change between this year and last. Yes, he has matured and I worked my bumm off over the summer to help him control some of his anger issues, but this teacher... he adores her and she works SSSOOO well with him!!!! <br /><br />Keely's school year... well, you can probably guess how it is going. Not much has changed between this year and last. This week I have started a new reward system for her behaviours at school. granted, I am on two days in, but I have seen progress already!!! Let's hope this lasts a few weeks!!!<br /><br />Work. We all know how hesitant I was to go back. We all know I wanted to stay home and sew all day long. So, now that I have been there a month, what do I think. I think it's a great job for me. 9-2. I'm off in time to pick the kids up from school. I'm guaranteed at least one of the weekend days off. I get to make embroideries each day. I get to play on sewing machines. Once I "learn" all the machines, I will be able to take my own projects in and work on my stuff there. I guess it's pretty great. The hourly is pretty horrible, but the commissions are nice; not a lot, but enough to make a difference... surprise money each check. <br /><br />I am trying to get my trip to England planned for March over Easter. Auntie Sheila is SSSOOO excited about it. I really think that due to her age and health, someone really must make the attempt to get to know the family there. Someone has to keep the lines of communication going. If we don't we lose that huge branch of the family. I can't wait. Most of you know it has ALWAYS been my dream to go to England. I just never did anything about it... until now. I have a friend who lives in England and he said he will be my tour guide :) <br /><br />I have sewn 6 skirts over the month. I have to dress "semi-professional" for work. We all know I have my wrap skirts... Elvis, giant mermaids... my Peter Pan syndrome lives in thru my clothes. Now I actually have to look... decent. In the beginning, I thought it was going to be the deal breaker for the job! It's not so bad. I actually have been enjoying the skirts. *gasp* Yes, you heard it right. I don't mind the skirts. I do get to have my pigtails, so I think that has helped the situation!!!!!<br /><br />I have to confess that I have been reading the Twilight series. First Amy told me about them. Then 'Stina. Then 'Stina talked my mum into reading Twilight and I got my hands on it moments after she finished. I started and thought it was lame. I couldn't believe that THIS is what EVERYONE was talking about. It was so... high schhol angst. Then it happened.... I became a girl obsessed. Maybe that's half the reason that I haven't been sewing much... I've had my nose stuck in the books as often as I can!!! It is NO Harry Potter, but I am head over heels in love with Edward Cullins! <br /><br />My brain is all over the place. Sorry for the disjointed blog. This past month my head has been in the clouds. <br /><br />Well, it's 6am now. I really must get up and moving. I have lunches to make, myself to get ready, kitties to feed, kids to wake.... fun fun fun!Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-64243819424430669782008-09-03T07:20:00.005-06:002008-09-03T11:57:46.617-06:00One Week in One BlogWell, the week sure has been busy. I figured instead of making a different blog for each topic, I would jot everything in one.<br /><br /><u><span style="font-weight:bold;">SCHOOL</span></u><br /><br />The first week has come and gone. The kids are very happy in their classes. <br /><br />Colin's teacher is PERFECT for him!! This is his first year with "specials" and he LOVES art and computer class, likes PE and doesn't care much for music. The extent to Colin's art so far has just been a smiley face with a square around it. Yesterday he came home with a VERY elaborate picture of his art teacher, a cat and himself. I'm VERY impressed!!!<br /><br />Keely is still Keely. Her teacher lives 4 houses from us which is what happens when you live in a small town! She said that Keely really is a blast to have in class and she is a sweetheart. I said it's still the honeymoon :) Her behaviour is charted in a rainbow. Purple=excellent, Blue=great, Green=good, Yellow=warning, Orange=busted and Red... let's just hope we never get there. So far Keely has managed to pull off one green day... and 5 yellows. This doesn't surprise me at all. She's only had one accident, too! If we stay here all year, I wouldn't mind one bit!!!!<br /><br /><u><span style="font-weight:bold;">Gardening</span></u><br /><br />The heat has killed most of my garden. Most of the soybeans have dried and I picked them all. I'm just waiting for the mildly green ones to finish drying before I start my soymilk/tofu making. I'm excited about it.<br /><br />There has been a war against the three mockingbirds who live nearby. EVERY SINGLE TIME a tomato starts to have a bit of an orange colour, those bloody birds eat them. The plants are huge and they have tons of flowers and small green tomatoes all over them... it's too bad we won't get to eat any. I do have to say that I miss my daily squash and zucchini lunch. I also miss my abundance of zucchini bread. The 2nd planting of Texas started yesterday, but with our pal Tropical Depression Gustav here, I can't get into the garden. <br /><br /><u><span style="font-weight:bold;">The New Job</span></u><br /><br />As posted before, I am now an employee of Viking Sewing Gallery located inside of the Frisco Joann's. I was VERY skeptical about keeping the job. I'm still not 100% sold on this being the best thing, but I'm feeling MUCH better about the decision. My manager has said 1,261 times that I am the greatest thing that has happened to her so far this year. I get to be her right hand man. I am paid hourly and I get commission from the machines and software that I sell. In my first 6 days, I sold on my own two machines and helped sell one machine and software. Not too bad, if I do say so myself. I'm really enjoying the job so far. <br /><br /><u><span style="font-weight:bold;">My New Toy</span></u><br /><br />I've always had an interest in getting an embroidery machine. Now that I'm actually learning about the differences in machines, I picked the one of my future (I have to save up my newly earned income and for my employee discount to start in 90 days, of course). Well, the machine that I picked as my starting machine just happened to come in on a trade, in stellar condition, and a price that was far too good to be true. I called Christian and asked if I had permission; "We will talk about it when I get home tonight," was the reply. That meant probably not. I called my Mum. "Remember how you love me? Remember how we have dreamed about an embroidery machine? What if I said the price was too good to be true and I have until tomorrow morning to buy it or put it out for sale?" I'm in her debt once again for the rest of my life. Not only did she buy the machine for me, but the software that goes with it.<br /><a href="http://www.husqvarnaviking.com/us/7118_7119.htm">My New Designer 1</a><br />This little baby can sew through 15 layers of denim like a butter knife in a tub of whipped margarine. <br />The software not only has something like 300 images already installed, you can find clip art or make your own designs and translate it into embroidery. That's right, I can scan in a colouring book page, fiddle with it in the software and embroider it. I can take 15 separate embroidery pictures, pick and chose what I like out of each and mold them into one. Now to learn how....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The time has come to start the dreaded housework that hat been neglected for the past week. More to come in the next day or two!Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-46277725578335245212008-08-25T10:42:00.005-06:002008-08-25T11:05:26.416-06:00First Day of School Pictures!It's official. Keely's in 1st grade and Colin's in kindergarten. My babies aren't babies anymore.<br />(Click the pictures to make them bigger)<br /><br />Walking out the door for the first day of Kindergarten & 1st Grade!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLjW56JaZI/AAAAAAAAAT8/uTW4RyxxrsA/s1600-h/1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLjW56JaZI/AAAAAAAAAT8/uTW4RyxxrsA/s320/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238499299226642834" /></a><br /><br />Keely showing off her new backpack<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLjXOEKnyI/AAAAAAAAAUE/1VdykwBAaQ0/s1600-h/2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLjXOEKnyI/AAAAAAAAAUE/1VdykwBAaQ0/s320/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238499304637374242" /></a><br /><br />Sibling Love???<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLjXZotaDI/AAAAAAAAAUM/Kk46D7hNJyw/s1600-h/3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLjXZotaDI/AAAAAAAAAUM/Kk46D7hNJyw/s320/3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238499307743438898" /></a><br /><br />Colin's usual face regarding going back to school<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLjXuNFrHI/AAAAAAAAAUU/e0CVycXlAMM/s1600-h/4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLjXuNFrHI/AAAAAAAAAUU/e0CVycXlAMM/s320/4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238499313264733298" /></a><br /><br />Keely doing a before school spin in her new dress<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLkevDikjI/AAAAAAAAAUc/c1GHYrSuhPU/s1600-h/5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLkevDikjI/AAAAAAAAAUc/c1GHYrSuhPU/s320/5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238500533263831602" /></a><br /><br />Keely with her friend Malia. They were in kinder together and again now in 1st!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLke-rUhqI/AAAAAAAAAUk/QlkfLaKY_Jo/s1600-h/6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLke-rUhqI/AAAAAAAAAUk/QlkfLaKY_Jo/s320/6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238500537457215138" /></a><br /><br />Colin and his fiancee Caitlyn. They were SSOOO happy to see each other again. Sadly, they are not in the same class.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLkhP8-tAI/AAAAAAAAAUs/h1ays3Nyx5s/s1600-h/7.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLkhP8-tAI/AAAAAAAAAUs/h1ays3Nyx5s/s320/7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238500576454423554" /></a><br /><br />Colin with his teacher Mrs. Ulrich<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLkiemTndI/AAAAAAAAAU0/D5k6YDKZXdQ/s1600-h/8.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLLkiemTndI/AAAAAAAAAU0/D5k6YDKZXdQ/s320/8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238500597565726162" /></a>Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-35379211080356864062008-08-24T20:11:00.005-06:002008-08-25T07:40:24.204-06:00BFFIt's been a lot of years since someone has called me their best friend. Until today. <br /><br /><a href="http://gibsonsurprise.blogspot.com/">Jeannett</a> has been in my life for 15 years. We have our obligatory 6-week phone call. We talk about everything and anything. She's never called me her best friend.<br /><br />Karen has been in my life for 11 years. We were two peas in a pod. We were soul-sistas, but not best friends.<br /><br />Christina has been in my life for 9 years. We have been through a lot. She's called me one of her closest friends, but never her best friend.<br /><br />Wendy came over with the family to spend a fun day before school starts with us. One of the first things she said was, "I have an opening for best friend. You get to be it." I think I won by default because nobody else lives around here :) <br /><br />She moved me to her top spot on her myspace friends list AND she made plans to spend her 5th wedding anniversary with us next Saturday!!! <br /><br />This is what we would look like if we took a Totem Pole picture (I really suck at photoshop, can you tell?)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLIleo0BJpI/AAAAAAAAAT0/PfIEOC4og9E/s1600-h/Wendy+%26+Marci+copy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SLIleo0BJpI/AAAAAAAAAT0/PfIEOC4og9E/s320/Wendy+%26+Marci+copy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238290524867208850" /></a>Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-67955725122347738782008-08-21T20:56:00.002-06:002008-08-21T21:19:17.362-06:00I Am.... Employed!?!?!?!It happened purely by chance. I really didn't want to start working so soon, but I knew it would be inevitable once Colin started kindergarten. 7 hours a day 5 days a week alone.... I would go insane. Yes, I have my crafts to keep me busy and happy. Yes, I am actually starting to make some money doing my crafts... but that's a lot of hours to keep sane alone in a house. <br /><br />Yesterday I was at Joann's doing a little shopping. The cutting counter gals all know me, so we talk and joke around as they cut my fabric. One of the gals mentioned to me that Viking/Husqvarna is hiring. They are the little department inside Joann's that sell sewing machines, embroidery machines, felt embellishers and overlocks. I took an application since I was there and went home. Christian and I talked about it for quite a while and he really wanted me to go for it. Well, I turned in my application, we talked about my availability and was hired right then and there. The manager recognized me since I have talked to her quite a few times to learn more about my serger. SSSOOOO.... I start Thursday. I will be selling machines and teaching classes to the people who purchase a machine. <br /><br />The reason I accepted the job is she is willing to work around the kids. I will work 9a-2p. I will be home to pick the kids up from school. Unfortunately i will be working on weekends, but again, she is willing to work around my kids. If it doesn't work out... I don't have to stay.Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-59181536427927274692008-08-21T20:28:00.002-06:002008-08-21T20:56:35.545-06:00School is StartingSchool starts on Monday. That's right, just 4 days and they will be sitting in their little chairs listening to the teacher.<br /><br />Colin is going into KINDERGARTEN!!! My baby is going to school for 7 hours this year. his teacher is Mrs. Ulrich. She's a great teacher who I met last year with Keely in kindergarten. She's very mellow and calm, cute as a button, and Ulysses really warmed up to her. I think that it will be a good match for him.<br /><br />Keely is going into 1st grade!!! Her teacher is Mrs. Boyette. Mrs. Boyette lives 4 houses away. Her kindergarten teacher feels that she is the best match for Keely's personality. She has one of her friends in her class so I think that it will help some of her anxiety.<br /><br />On a very exciting note, the autism specialist for the school (Mrs. Pacheco) who had taken a large interest in my kids last year, continued her quest in helping me out over the summer. She went to the Collin County Co-Op and talked to them about Colin and re-opening his IEP. We have to wait a few weeks just to get everything started in motion, but it looks like this year is starting off in a positive light!!!Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-37189864566746106782008-08-09T08:42:00.003-06:002008-08-09T08:53:32.706-06:00Pickles, Anyone???This was my first time making pickles. I learned one VERY important thing.... do it on a day when you can open the windows and air out the house. It still smells of dill pickles 15 hours later!!!<br /><br />Making pickles is fairly easy. A good way to use up all of those cucumbers from the garden at my parents house. Keely tends to love pickles as much as my dad, so why not make a few jars.<br /><br />Slice cucumbers thin.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJ2uLGNCURI/AAAAAAAAATY/WB0tkExeS7Q/s1600-h/IMG_6762.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJ2uLGNCURI/AAAAAAAAATY/WB0tkExeS7Q/s320/IMG_6762.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232529847741468946" /></a><br /><br />Mix up the all important pickling brine (For my first batch, I cheated and bought the pre-mixed stuff. Next batch I will do everything myself).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJ2uLPydSeI/AAAAAAAAATQ/Ute3B39n5OQ/s1600-h/IMG_6761.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJ2uLPydSeI/AAAAAAAAATQ/Ute3B39n5OQ/s320/IMG_6761.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232529850314344930" /></a><br /><br />Place cucumbers into hot mason jar. Ladle the brine on top leaving 1/2" headspace. Process for 10 minutes in the canner.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJ2uLfcEsqI/AAAAAAAAATg/6xmJjTo8vBA/s1600-h/IMG_6763.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJ2uLfcEsqI/AAAAAAAAATg/6xmJjTo8vBA/s320/IMG_6763.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232529854515425954" /></a><br /><br />Wait 24 hours to check the seals.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJ2uLf7lGEI/AAAAAAAAATo/VSu9WHnGIOs/s1600-h/IMG_6765.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJ2uLf7lGEI/AAAAAAAAATo/VSu9WHnGIOs/s320/IMG_6765.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232529854647572546" /></a><br /><br />1 jar for us. 1 jar for my dad. 1 jar for Grandma Gerry. 1 jar for Leonard. 1 jar left over.Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5234969332202662510.post-78160916633841222462008-08-01T08:40:00.004-06:002008-08-01T08:58:57.308-06:00Mmmm..... Blueberry JamI don't really sit down much. If I'm not working with or playing with the kids, I'm cleaning and in between the kids and cleaning, there are the crafts. <br /><br />Last night, I put the kids to bed and pulled out 6 cups of fresh blueberries. It was time...<br /><br />Take room temperature berries and smush the daylights out of them. Add 4 cups of sugar and bring slowly to a boil. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMizLwNoNI/AAAAAAAAASg/uagK5mLJnYo/s1600-h/IMG_6719.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMizLwNoNI/AAAAAAAAASg/uagK5mLJnYo/s320/IMG_6719.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229561855030960338" /></a><br /><br />Once the berries start to boil, turn up the heat, and boil until it reaches the gelling point (when the jam sheets off a spoon held away from the steam).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMizVRn-fI/AAAAAAAAASo/brDhUHn1Gnk/s1600-h/IMG_6722.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMizVRn-fI/AAAAAAAAASo/brDhUHn1Gnk/s320/IMG_6722.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229561857587018226" /></a><br /><br />Ladle it into hot jars, attach lids, and stick into boiling water making sure to have at least an inch or two of water over the top of the jars.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMiz0ndtXI/AAAAAAAAASw/jDlY-N7EQIQ/s1600-h/IMG_6723.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMiz0ndtXI/AAAAAAAAASw/jDlY-N7EQIQ/s320/IMG_6723.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229561866000119154" /></a><br /><br />Boil jars in water for 15 minutes. Remove. Let sit for 24 hours. Check the seals on the jar by pushing the center. Hide the jars from the kids so they have no idea you have made such a special treat.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMi0ONLZoI/AAAAAAAAAS4/kGWtsOYsFmw/s1600-h/IMG_6725.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMi0ONLZoI/AAAAAAAAAS4/kGWtsOYsFmw/s320/IMG_6725.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229561872869189250" /></a><br /><br />The following morning, wake kids up early exclaiming about the special surprise and they have to get out of bed before the breakfast train leaves. When they sit down half asleep in the chairs, present them with toast smothered in jam!!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMi_pQD5RI/AAAAAAAAATI/a932afng1OA/s1600-h/IMG_6730.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMi_pQD5RI/AAAAAAAAATI/a932afng1OA/s320/IMG_6730.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229562069107598610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMi0bfaHpI/AAAAAAAAATA/kjjHXnt-ncU/s1600-h/IMG_6729.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kQ0lDsB3ZNs/SJMi0bfaHpI/AAAAAAAAATA/kjjHXnt-ncU/s320/IMG_6729.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5229561876435312274" /></a>Marcia Fiedorowiczhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11735239962172450174noreply@blogger.com2