The Lock

So we are looking at a house we are considering buying...looking all around...not paying our usual strict attention to what the kids are doing. All of a sudden one of the tattlers comes in to tell us "KU removed the lock from the front door." Seems he found a screwdriver and removed it. Should I do myself in now or let him do it for me?

The Clubhouse

Remember your first clubhouse? The place where you hung the NO GIRLS or NO BOYS allowed sign. Where you told secrets to your friends, shared popcorn together and dreamed dreams that only the clubhouse gang could understand?

Well, me neither. But I would like to think that this is the type of clubhouse that Dave built for the kids. The type of clubhouse that will bring back memories when the kids are older, one that will give them peace when they are down, and a place that will stimulate their imaginations and allow them to explore the world at their own pace. It will be a place for learning, a house for negotiation and just old fashioned good times. Unfortunately, right now it appears to be the bank vault for the family's valuable possessions. Here's why...tonight Dave goes out to the clubhouse with KA and KE and in it he finds:

1. His expensive watch given to him by his company which is being worn by a rather large stuffed bear
2. A necklace of mine being worn by another imposter animal
3. Some sort of small appliance and numerous dishes which come to think about it I have been scratching my head for the past week thinking that I must be going crazy because it seems like cups were disappearing right and left.

And there is only one culprit who has done all of this....KU, KU... where are you? And how do I know this is all KU's doing? Because he is the only one who has nerves of steel which allow him to climb dressers to get the loot. He is the only one to whom the word NO has direct relevance to him and he is the only one who like the rat and the crow is attracted to shiny things and has no problem swooping down to relieve the unsuspecting owner of his possessions.

Someday, as I get a little older, I will be able to attribute the missing car keys and watches to the fact that I am slowly losing my marbles but for now there is only one name I need to call when something is missing....KU....KU.... and mysteriously each and every time he knows where the missing object is. I can only hope he is still around when I am 70.

The Poop Story

I came across an old flash drive the other day and it contained this story from November 24, 2004. Sometimes we forget just how far we have come!

Well I am thrilled to report that KA finally pooped in the potty today. Just wish I had been more on top of things so to speak. It all started when KA was peeing on the potty when I noticed "the look."

"KA, do you have to poop?"

"Yes, Mommy."


"Great. Can you poop in the potty?"

"Yes, Mommy. Go away please."

Okay, upon reflection wanting some privacy when engaging in one's bodily functions is a normal and legitimate request. The BIG mistake was actually doing what a three year old asks.

So I come out to the family room, put a few books away, straighten a few pillows and there is it...that smell. What is that god awful smell, anyway? Turns out it is KU and he is in desperate need of a change. As I am changing him KA comes into the room. In the three minutes since we have parted I completely spaced the fact that when I last saw him he was on the potty doing "IT." Well, little Mr. KA comes up to me as I am intensely concentrating on wrestling KU's diaper on his contorting all-over-the-place little rump and places his sweet hands on my face. Too late...I recognize that particular putrid smell and, oh joy, my face feels somewhat damp. I look up and there is KA with poop all over his hands. Seems he tried to wipe using his hands and now it is all over my unsuspecting face!!! Being the totally cool nonchalant Mom that I am (in order not to lose it and scare her son into never going in the potty again until he is entering college) I stroll into the bathroom to remove the offending "finger paint." And as I walk, not run, I notice that it appears that KA has touched every wall between the bathroom and the family room, which, I guess, is a blessing or else even more would have ended up on me; which proves the point that you can always find good in the not so.

Anyway, since that time I have been cleaning every surface in the bathroom, the hallway, the family room and have rubbed my face raw just so that one of the twenty people visiting tomorrow doesn't find any surprises. Guess I won't repeat this story for them!

You Know Life Sucks When...From My Facebook

So, I just stumbled upon KU who had my toothbrush down his pants. Should I just end my life now or wait for him to do me in?


Alicia at 9:48pm June 29
HA!!!! Oh my. THAT was not the first thing I expected to read upon opening facebook this evening! Oh wow. The mental picture.
Well...I think I'd just be glad I caught him doing it...now, get a new toothbrush and lock it away somewhere safe!!

Barbara at 9:50pm June 29
I am laughing hysterically!!!!! (honest, sorry, I can't stop). Cheryl, you need to write a book about your life with Kullen and Karson.

Amy at 9:51pm June 29
Holy cow, Cheryl. I don't know what to say. Just try not to think about how many times he has done that.

Kindra at 10:10pm June 29
I'm dying to know what his explanation was...

Robin at 10:13pm June 29
Sorry, can't stop laughing here.

Erin at 10:25pm June 29
I'm with Robin. I'm also about to tell hubby and I'm pretty sure he's going to lose it :-)

Erin at 10:28pm June 29
In NJ, we are wondering how often he's done that BEFORE you brushed your teeth???? LOL LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kindra at 10:30pm June 29
I hope you use Listerine after you brush!


and on it went. I guess I will be counting toothbrushes instead of sheep tonight!!! UGH!!!

The H Word

KE: KU said the H word (said in that sing-song tattle tail way)

KA: What is the H word? Hideous?


Later that week KE runs to tattle again

KE: Mom, KU just said the H word!!!

Me: What is the H Word?

KE: I can't tell you

Me: Oh, go ahead

KE: The H word is SHUT UP

An Autograph By God

In the car with Ka today.

KA: I can hardly wait to get God's autograph.
ME: Where will you get that, honey?
KA: In Heaven
ME: So what do you think he/she would write?
KA: GOD, creator of all earth.

Being Hit By A Ton Of Bricks

Today it felt like I was hit by a ton of bricks, happy, wistful bricks, but bricks just the same. I felt crushed by the weight of all the "what could have beens" and the crushing sadness of suddenly missing someone who has been dead for almost 25 years. And not being prepared for the feelings that rushed over me and made me cry; the person who never lets the tears fall. This is what happens when the unexpected arrives so silently and without notice; a mixture of profound happiness and sadness and the wonder that both can exist one within the other.

Today I found an old box with cards in it. Cards congratulating me on Ross' birth 25 years ago. Cards from dear freinds who I miss terribly and friends who have melted away like a snowflake on a warm winter's night. Friends who were mine and friends of my mothers who gave her a grand Baby Shower for me. And tucked within all this happiness and loving memories I found a card that threw me in a tizzy but one I will treasure forever. The card said For You Daughter, On Your First Mother's Day and in it was my mothers instantly recognizable writing...the writing of a teacher whose cursive was book perfect with just the right tilt and curl to her s. She wrote:

"Hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day. Now you know what it's all about and how much love a mother feels for her child. That feeling never leaves. I love you now and I always have and always will. Love, Mom"

Sometimes gifts both happy and sad arrive at unexpected but totally meaingful times. Some say it is pure coincidence some attribute it to divine intervention. But all I know is that it arrived at the perfect time...when Ross was leaving for his own home and when Kylee took the last box to her new home to start her life as an adult. The beauty of words is the meaning they convey and whether they are two years old or twenty-five years later love speaks a language that never grows old and has the power to touch a heart years later. All of which begs the question...what have you written to your loved ones today?

Here Is One Heck Of An Adoption Story

Without debating the whole "family should prevail at all costs" notion along with debating the "at what age is it too old to adopt" concept I have to say that this story is so sad and disturbing on so many levels. For instance, why is our government not helping this family? Frankly there is no excuse for it. These children have a right to medical services and their great-grandparents should not have to go broke providing them! I don't care if they were born in Canada or not. They are in this country legally and should be covered in one way or another. Shame on our government. And shame on people for not helping these great-grandparents. If everyone would just send a buck!
Here is the story!
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/17/difficult-blessing/

National Day of Prayer... I Mean Hypocrisy

Today I went out with a girlfriend for coffee. She was very concerned and upset that President Obama did not attend the big church service for the National Day of Prayer. Frankly, I don't understand why she was so upset. The Bush administration attended all of these and yet was allowing torture and expelling its virtues which is against the law AND certainly not something that Jesus espoused. I mean why does it matter if someone attends an event that for all intensive purposes is used "to see and be seen" esp if you are going to go against the teachings of the one you are suppose to be praying with/to? Standing there saying "the right words" means nothing if you are not going to follow them. Further, National Prayer Day is deemed an event that is suppose to be exclusively for Christians and those of other faiths are not allowed.This according to its organizers. It seems to me that a man who is suppose to be representing ALL of the people sends the wrong message if he attends such a service.Finally, event organizers stipulated that the White House representative who would attend the event MUST be pro-life and against abortion rights. Interesting that so many on the right neglected to mention these facts when reporting this "story" on the airways.

Frankly, I just don't get why "this issue" is so important to some. For people to besmirch President Obama for not attending is just so ludicrous. Some folks act as if Obama is somehow showing he is not moral because he did not attend this event. I wish that they would realize that attending an event does not make you moral nor does it ensure that you even have a relationship with the Lord. One only has to look at Mr. Bush to find a prime example of that.

Post on CNN website

I am the mother of two seven yo boys with autism. They are not biologically related nor are they twins but they do share several commonalities. Both were vaccinated at birth, both experienced materal stress in-utero , both were born in South Korea, both have a huge number of food/airborn allergies, both suffered terrible stress having three caretakers and being removed from two of them the first 6-10 months of their lives and both have my husband and myself as adoptive parents. My bio children do not have autism so I am assuming the last shared commonality is probably not the "cause" of their autism.

What I am getting at is that I have no idea what has contributed to or "caused" my children's autism. But we should all wish to find out if it is one cause, or a combination of issues because we ALL pay for autism's effects on our children and society. Families pay dearly and school systems do too. Medical care is out of reach for many families so the kids that do the best often have the parents who can afford to do whatever it takes to "recover" their children. But with all the burdens on families and society they are in fact small compared to the price our children with autism have to pay for their entire lives. With so many reports of autism developing almost immediately after vaccination it makes sense to research what the effects of all these combinations of vaccines are and it also makes sense to look at alternative vaccine schedules in an effort to decrease the numbers of children that are not developing neurotypically. It also makes sense to do testing on families like mine, on families where their "appears" to be a genetic component and to listen to and learn from families who believe that their children were harmed from vaccines on an accelerated schedule.

Autism kills. It kills the spirit, it kills via seizures, depression, not understanding cause and effect, etc. It is an unwanted intruder in our lives and like any intruder we should use common sense to do what we can to keep our children healthy, safe and autism away.