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.
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.
More to come later...
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Welcome Lucy & Jillian Gibson!
I just wanted to take a second to welcome the birth of the new Gibson twins!
Little Jillian has been having some complications and giving her new parents a nice little scare. Please pray for little Jillian!
Little Jillian has been having some complications and giving her new parents a nice little scare. Please pray for little Jillian!
Monday, July 6, 2009
Summer 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....
WE ARE MOVING
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
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.
SO... pictures and updates to come soon. Now... time to find some boxes....
WE ARE MOVING
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
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.
SO... pictures and updates to come soon. Now... time to find some boxes....
Saturday, June 20, 2009
"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...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Colin's Evaluation Results
Two 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 SHOULD 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.
SSSOOOO.... that's the story of my little guy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 SHOULD 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.
SSSOOOO.... that's the story of my little guy.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Some 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.
What do you do with a dog run and old dog house? Build a chicken house!
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)
CHICKENS! Here are some of the girls in their house just after a HUGE storm.
Gloria, one of our Ameraucana hens. They lay green & blue eggs!!!
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.
POLISH! They are a fun breed. We have two. This girl is named Elvis because of her crest.
What do you do with a dog run and old dog house? Build a chicken house!
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)
CHICKENS! Here are some of the girls in their house just after a HUGE storm.
Gloria, one of our Ameraucana hens. They lay green & blue eggs!!!
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.
POLISH! They are a fun breed. We have two. This girl is named Elvis because of her crest.
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