Decisions.. decisions...

As a parent, you try to lead your kids in the right direction, and hope they make the right decision... or a choice that is profound.

You want your children to grow into respected adults, and live a life better than you could have ever pictured.

The same wish is true for Michael. With one exception:

Michael can't be lead to make the right choice... He needs his parents to make decisions for him- and we're up for the challenge.

We met with the Director of Special Services for the Public School last Friday.
She assured us that next year will be much better than his 1st grade. She picked a teacher, who in her own words, "wants to teach Michael".

Certainly, that's a start-

But after going over Michael's Testing results (new blog to follow) with a consultant, we came to the conclusion that Michael needs to be in an environment with 1:1 ration and intense therapy.

Can the public school provide that?

And can a private special needs school provide the social interaction that Michael craves?

We did tour several schools and I really like one in particular.

This school provides the option to go to school 3 days a week - therefore allowing for dual enrollment.
Michael could go to an intensive private therapy school three days a week and to the public school two days a week.

There are so many positives to this option. 1. Intense Therapy 2. Integration of mainstream kiddos 3. Flexibility.

Also - what would happen if we just pick one: public/vs. private. And if the one we picked didn't meet our expectations?

With choosing both, we could always, at any time, pick one over the other.

Still determining what the best thing to do is... but our deadline is approaching rather quickly- the private school starts next month.

Just wanted you all to know where my head was, and what we're focusing on now.

Sometimes Waiting Is the hardest part....

Testing Part 2 went well yesterday.

Yesterday was vocabulary testing (Peabody test). Our private SLP gave the test in her office.... the test to me was a little hard.

All of the pages had four pictures, but the pictures were very similar.. ex: Michael, find the picture that is DRIPPING.
His choices were: a shower, a watering can, a faucet, and a hose...

The answer: a faucet drips water.

So what they do, is they start at age three: shapes, nouns, and then they move onto verbs, and action words.

Michael was so proud of himself when he knew the answer.. but when he didn't.. you could tell in his eyes.. he would peer up at me or the tester.. and just point.

but even then.. I'd reach out and give him a high five.. because I know he wanted it!

His test score for that test was a vocabulary knowledge of a 4 year and 2 month old.

I'm a little disappointed with that... but... This isn't the final score from all of the IQ testing..
But it's also a benchmark.. I can still say.. School- he knows his shapes and numbers.. lets move on to "dripping"

We won't get the complete results until late next week...

I'm super proud of Michael.. He worked so hard.. and it tells me again.. how much he wants to learn.. because he was so proud of himself!!!

I love you buddy- good job!

One's Two's and Shapes for you...

Tomorrow Michael goes for his IQ tests.
I have so much anxiety about this.... I guess because a part of me realizes how important this is to his education, his future.. but also to me.

I've spent months fighting the school, fighting with his teachers about how much more he knows.. and what if my expectations are just too high?

So tomorrow at 11:30, we'll sit down with an independent advisor, and Michael will be given a non verbal test- About 100 words (pictures) that he's suppose to identify.

He'll be given a very generic IQ test, the same test that they use to decide whether someone is ready to go to kindergarten.

So I hope Michael is ready.... I'll feed him with lots 'o brain power food tomorrow morning... and hope that he comes ready to work.

Good Luck Mikey.. I know you can do it!!!

Money..Money..Money....

So the answer to last weeks' post is NO.. No you can't pay tuition to go to an out of district school.
So.. back to square one.

We've decided we need to know where Michael is academically... so we're getting him tested (Independently, of course)
www.learningconsultants.com

We are getting a WISC test.. this will show us how Michael learns, ie, with verbal cues, visually, etc.
We're also going to do a Nonverbal test-which should be really cool.

The best part about this testing is.. that the director said I could be in the room with him.. and so can his computer. She said she could 'off the cuff' test him on his computer and his ability to answer questions independently with it.

HOW COOL IS THAT.

Of course.. that is where the MONEY.. Money..Money comes in.. because as I said.. this is the start.

Next week, we start touring private schools, because that is our only alternative at this point.

Then we have to decide what to do, and when.

I read a blog of another mom who has a child with severe autism. She wrote something that really struck me.
She said.
"I'm not the mom who has the shiny new car, I'm not the Mom with the finest clothes.. My family doesn't get to take a vacation every year... because every last cent we have goes to our child. It goes to Therapy, It goes to Hospitals, It goes to Therapy Tools, It goes to Technology, It goes to Consultants, It goes to Private School. "

So maybe I don't have a shiny new car... but I'm doing the best possible thing for my child, and I will continue- God Willing!

I love my child, I love my children, my husband and my family.. and we adjust, we adapt, because we have to.
We live in a world of limits and we are blowing those limits away.. because my child will live a life full of advantages... and not disabilities.

Can you Pay to be in an out of district Public School?

That is the question we need an answer to! Because we think we've found a wonderful school for Michael.. the only thing is.. that it's out of our district, and we are NOT going to move.
I will do anything for Michael, and maybe if Cam and Jacob were off at college, I would consider it- but I'm not uprooting the other two children.

We'll just have to find another outlet.

Brad's left a message for the State Board of Educators- I've emailed our local Director of Special Services- but I'm a little leery of talking in depth with her- because 1. she's paid by our school district and 2. she's been on our team for 2 years now and I can't say I'm uber impressed.

So we hurry up and wait.. Ideally, I'd like to get Michael in somewhere new for summer school- just to test the waters to see how he'd do in a new environment.
We haven't had a tour of a local private school, because we are still trying to see if the public schools are an option.

During another great therapy session yesterday, Julie said again how much more advanced Michael is on his computer than anyone she's ever seen.

As proud as that makes me, it also hurts because the school doesn't see the potential. The knowledge that Michael has.
They are still telling us that Michael can't recognise his name, or shapes.. but yet at therapy and home, he can flip through several screens and tell us all kinds of things.
ARG.

So the search continues.. Anyone that knows about Due Process or IEP Advocates.. please don't hesitate to contact us.

Love you all!

Thank Goodness for Warranties...

So.. the computer is broken- It happened once last year.. it is however.. under warranty.

Which is a GREAT blessing, because this fix will probably require a new hard drive and could have cost us $700.

The bad news is that Michael will be without his computer for a week or so.

Our Private Speech Therapy is going great.. Julie says Michael really WANTS to learn and do a good job for her. Last week, he got 100% of his 'the very hungry caterpillar' quiz correct. That's a pretty big accomplishment for him, because he only had that page/book for two weeks.

We took the family to our first Cardinal baseball game of the year and Michael had a blast...
I'm not sure if it was all of the snacks he ate, or the game.
Actually, I know it was the game.

He would clap and clap and scream when he saw a good play. He didn't like the fireworks when there was a home run.. but than that.. he LOVED it.

I think I found an Open Window...

This week has been another really hard week for me. The conflict, miscommunication at school is breaking my heart.

I thought it was 'the worst' when they didn't seem to know ANYTHING about Michael's computer, or how to alter curriculum for him.. but I was wrong.

It's worse when you approach the school about a cool site you've just found (www.adaptedlearning.com) and come to find out that the SPED teacher already was familiar with the site- or in her words- Very familiar with the site.

WHY WHY aren't you adapting the school work for my child? Why am I left to find these things on my own? Why aren't you giving my child the benefit of the doubt.. that he IS teachable?

While Brad and I are on a hunt for an education advocate, and touring private schools.. I have to think there's a bigger purpose to all of this.

I continue to have this feeling... I am destined to do something more.... Cameron has also felt this way.

A month ago, when Michael got hurt at school, Cameron said she wanted to be Michael's para.. 'cause how did he get hurt if someones with him all the time' (she's her mother's daughter!)

This week- she wants to be a special education teacher.. and wants to know what classes in college she needs to take.... because she wants to help families, just like Michael.

So maybe we're meant to move a mountain- we're suppose to become advocates for not only Michael, but find a way to bridge the gap between schools and homes- and people that need access to computers to help children talk, learn, live.

Maybe this hurdle is really something more- maybe it's an open window in a dark basement that I just have to find a way to open.

Avoiceformichael will be a nonprofit organization.. and the mission statement will be:

A charity designed to help communities, schools and families with Childhood Apraxia live a life full of possibilities... a group created in the hopes that Apraxia won't be something we live with, but something we adapt into our everyday lives so that people can express themselves without verbal words.

Well- I'll have to work on the mission statement- but it's a start!!

An Email from School.... can be enlightening....

So before spring break, I received a letter from Michael's SLP* saying she wanted to share his computer with the class. To take a moment in their regular classroom, and show the kiddos how hard Michael works to say anything...

It was a nice email... certainly a step in the right direction.

In her email she suggested that we print out all of the pages that Michael has to use in order to say hello, or make a statement.

If I went to school and gave each student a 10 page manual.. I think I would loose them on the first page.

BUT.. if I show them how cool it is to take a spelling test on his computer- maybe they would think it's cool that Michael has a computer to help him.


So tomorrow we're meeting with the principal and his speech therapist to discuss what we could do for the classroom.
I'm going to take the opportunity to show them a few different thoughts that I had.. and hopefully they will run with it!

There are math quizzes that we could make, spelling tests... really the possibilities are endless.
www.adaptedlearning.com

So tomorrow's another big day.. and I hope it's a successful one.

(Bringing Brad with me.. because he's my voice of reason.. I typically want what I want.. and I don't back away from speaking my mind... Brad plays the 'good guy in our good guy/bad guy routine..)

*SLP, Speech/Language Pathologist.

One Step Forward.. Two Steps Back...

It's hard. It's never easy.. but some days are really Hard.
Not really at home, or socially, because we've learned as a family to adapt.

But it's the school environment that is so hard. I guess in part because we have no control over the situation or because our expectations are so high.

Regardless, it's hard. - no soap box standing today.. just letting you know how I feel.

Today I'm meeting with the principal to talk about 2nd grade. I want him to know that I would like to be part of the choosing of the second grade teacher.

Our kindergarten teacher was a dream.. she adapted her classroom for Michael.. even taught all of the children sign language so they could talk with Michael. I nominated her for teacher of the year- and I ASSUMED that all teachers were like her.

Then first grade.. the opposite. I'm not saying that our first grade teacher is bad. I've seen her teach... I know she can be funny and can engage the children.

So maybe it's his computer, or maybe it's the fact that she's never encountered someone that can't talk, but WANTS to be involved.. wants to learn. (I rant about autism all the time I know- but that's the MAJOR difference between Michael's APRAXIA and AUTISM. He wants to learn, he wants to be a part of a group. He feeds off of his peers.)

We fought to keep him in a regular classroom at the beginning of the year. This teacher only wanted him in her classroom for 30 minutes a day. We fought and won .. more time in a regular classroom so Michael could learn from his 'normal' peers.. but still, she removes michael from the other kids... I modify his homework weekly, only after I ask for her to send it home..... and the list goes on.

We've fought for nine months to give our child the type of education his twin is getting. We've had monthly meetings, have created books and manuals, anything and everything we could think of.. and still- resistance.

So today- I'm looking forward.. I'm going into that office today and demanding... demanding to either be a part of the 'teacher picking' process or be allowed to change right away if I don't like what I see.

Because honestly, I don't think I can take another year of my child not being taught.

Wish me luck - meeting is at 11:30 today.

Christine-

My baby is growing up...

We got back home last night from our 11 day adventure... Driving to MS and TN to visit family... then getting to our house on Saturday..

The house was wonderful... Michael got his own room.. although he had to be convinced most nights to go to bed.. he did, eventually! The pool was a hit, and everyone spent a lot of time there.

Disney couldn't have been any better.
Michael squealed during the parade at all of the characters. Everytime we saw one, he wanted to get his picture with them.. it was the cutest thing.
I think he loved the rides the most. I know everyone else did.

Honestly, I was nervous at first.. really anxious at how he would do. If it were just me with him.. we would have stayed on the ground, and walked.. a lot- but Brad encouraged the both of us.. that he was ready.. that he could do what everyone else was doing.

And isn't that my platform in life for him? I'm always preaching to everyone that I want Michael to be like everyone else.. let him be NORMAL.

So with a big sigh, and my hands wrapped tightly on his... we rode the rides.. HE DID GREAT.. He loved it.. he wanted to do them again..

We went on a boat ride, it was more of an "educational ride" than a thrill ride- mind you, I didn't ride "splash mountain" with Michael.. (it's a big water ride.. big hills, lots o' thrills)..

now on this educational ride- where there were no hills..
Michael's heart was racing.. and his hands tightly gripped to the rail- his legs started to shake..

(insert evil eye to my husband)..

my poor baby.. he was looking around .. waiting for the earth to escape him.. but it never did.. and eventhough I held onto him tightly.. he managed.. he laughed and at the end he clapped and clapped.
(I'm certain he was scared to death of 'splash mountain' .. but Brad swears he had a great time.. and I'm sure he did! )

So the crowds were fine. Michael did fine- he listened, he stayed close.. he had an adventure.. and he enjoyed his spring break-

We created a scrapbook full of pictures for his class today. He was able to show everyone the book and tell them about his vacation. The teacher said it was a hit!

:)
Great Vacation.. Great Fun.. Lessons learned.. maybe Michael is ready to let go of my hand... and even if he is.. I'll always be close- close enough to take him back.. whenever he's ready!

More pics from Disney

Disney was so COOL....

Michael had a great time.. His favorite Ride was this one.. Speedway Race Track- where he could race.. and drive- all by himself. he could go fast or slow- it was wonderful.. I think we rode this ride the most- he drove everyone!
He's never sat still enough for someone to paint his face.. but his sissy and I got our faces painted.. you can hardly tell in this picture... but it was a green snake! and his Pirate Gear.. can't forget about that.. he and his brother were great pirates!
If you think Michael looks scared to death.. it's because he probably is.. although I probably fretted more than he did!!! He did so great.. I'm so proud of him.. he rode every ride we did (except for space mountain and one other roller coaster). He was always nervous at first.. but then he would clap, clap and laugh at the end of the ride.
This was our first day of vacation- we went to Coco Beach.. it was so much fun.. Michael never went too far in the water.. I'm not sure if it was because the water was too cold, or if he just had more fun running back and forth between me and the waves!

Tomorrow's a BIG Day...

It's a huge day tomorrow.. HUGE..
I will need to give a little back story for you all to understand how BIG this day is for us..

Michael's had his ACD* for three years next month.. and it's taken the school 20 months to understand how important his computer is - not only to him for communication but also from an academic/learning front.

We struggled, we've fought, two lawyers, three advocates, a handful of doctors ranging from neurologists to pediatricians, four speech therapists, oh yeah and two parents that will NOT give up!~ All of these people in a room, with letters, with examples of success stories, and it's still taken 20 months to get the school to use this computer in the classroom everyday.

HOWEVER.. TOMORROW is a new day.. It's a BIG day.. because someone from the school is going to attend an all day training on Michael's computer. They are going to learn the basics and hopefully feel more comfortable with using it at school everyday.

Michael's para** will go to this training and it's a BIG deal. Because this means that the school recognizes how important his ACD is. It shows us that the school is starting to bend.

I can't be too harsh on the school. Looking back on all the struggles, I have to say that I don't think they've ever experienced someone like Michael before.

See, Michael has a process delay, and he's non verbal, but he's super social, and he learns by mimicking his peers. He's not autistic.. so the training that they've had for autistic kids didn't always apply to him. He was different- and then he had this super expensive computer that can do all of these really cool things- but this school that has only been around for five years, has never seen one.

So it's a BIG Day.. It's a Cool day.. I hope the para (Teri) learns a lot tomorrow. I hope she learns not to be scared of the computer.. I hope she takes away from the 6 hour class how helpful his device can be. And how important it is for his communication.

BIG DAY..

*ACD- Alternative Communication device- see previous posts for more info.
**Para- Para professional- It's an adult that has to be with Michael all day during school because Michael is not able to move through the school or learn independently. She basically is there to make sure he doesn't hurt himself- she walks with him to classes and often times is there to apply the lesson the teacher has modified for Michael throughout the school day.

We Lost Michael Once...

Only for about 3 minutes... It was Cam's 10th birthday week, there was a group of us (20 or so) at the AB tour downtown.. we were waiting for our turn to go- and I looked around, no Michael.. not by the truck or the plane... not with Brad or his sissy..
I looked up at Kathrine and she knew.. that panicked look- I felt my stomach in my throat but I didn't know what to do. He was always right next to me, unless something shiny caught his eye. So she told Tom (her husband) and he made a b-line for the front door- the only way out (did I mention that Tom is smart?) and Brad and the rest of us starting walking around, searching for this 5 year old.
He hadn't gone far.. Tom did end up finding him close to the door- but we don't think he was heading out.

But there lies my biggest fear- what do you do when you've lost a non verbal child? A child that looks perfectly normal... and if you didn't know him, you wouldn't know why he's not talking..

So in less than two weeks we're venturing out to Disney World. I'm so excited.. we all are. (Thrilled really) But Disney will be the largest place we've ever gone. Michael isn't as clingy to me as he used to be. Good and Bad. Good, cause whew.. I needed a break, and Bad.. cause he's never met a stranger- he'll go up to anyone- he has no fear.

When we went to Sea World I bought him a tag to wear- It's a tag that he can wear on his belt loop, on his pants or even on his shoe laces. It says his name and it lets anyone know that he's non verbal, and it gives both mine and brad's phone number.

http://www.mypreciouskid.com/dog-tags-personalized.html

I'm just wondering.. is there anything else I can do? I am going to contact the main gate, guest relations, when we're actually in the park. To give them a photo and description of Michael- just in case...

I'm sure I'm overreacting.. But I'm a worrier.. I'd just assume strap Michael to my back and tow him wherever we need to go. But I don't think I can do this for 9 days in Orlando..

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

My Ah-Ha Moment

Another great therapy session today.. Julie wants to add time to Michael's therapy on Tuesday's. She feels that he can handle more than 30 minutes with her now, and that doesn't include getting to jump in the "Ballpit" at the end of his session. (It's his reward- if he works hard, he gets 5 minutes jumping around in the ball pit)

Julie said something today that kinda shocked me. Not in a bad way, but in a way that made me step back and say 'you know what.. you're right... that's pretty cool'

Michael was showing Julie pages on his computer, and he was jumping between six/seven different screens* to tell him about his day, or what he wanted to work on next.
My ah-ha moment was when she said this- "Don't you think it's strange that he can manipulate these screens and go so quickly to where he wants to talk at this age, considering his process delay/apraxia?"

HUH?

She said she's never seen anyone at this age flip through his computer to talk, or to play a game of go fish.(his favorite game)

WOW... It took the ride home to absorb this.. and it was so ironic because Brad and I have battled the school with this fact.. at home, he can tell me within 10 seconds and four screens that he wants "orange juice and oatmeal" for breakfast. But the school said he wasn't using it in a meaningful way at school.

So it was nice to hear someone else mimic what we have thought all along- Actually, it was overwhelming to hear that Michael is doing GREAT with his communication!!!

What a cool day!

*screens- Michael has a 'laptop' (Alternative Communication Device) that holds screens/folders/pop ups. Basically, there's a main page, and from that main page are sub folders, and within those sub folders there are pictures, places, people. From the main page (1) he can go to the 'me and my needs page (2) and then to breakfast (3) and then to drink (4) and he has a variety of choices he can make(5).. if you're still with me.. when he makes his choice.. it says.. I want x . or can I have x to drink. ... this device not only speaks for Michael, it gives him the opportunity to express his wants and needs...

Welcome to Holland

Another great day at therapy.. Seems as though Michael is becoming quite the great prankster.. he's using his computer to make people laugh.. and ofcourse it's contagious..

Below is a letter that Brad shared with me last year.. it's pretty moving.. so get the tissues ready.

Welcome to Holland
Parenting a Special Needs Child
By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this:
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip to Italy. You buy a bunch of guidebooks and make your wonderful plans: the Coliseum, Michelangelo's David, the gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place
So you must go out and buy new guidebooks. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills – and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy ... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away, because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss.
But if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you many never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things about Holland.

Speech Therapy Update....

So here we are .. up to date..

Today we had our second speech therapy session with Julie.. our new/old SLP. She saw Michael for almost a year between his last year of preschool and his first year of elementary school.

She had so many wonderful things to say.. how much more mature he is.. how he's able to go through an entire therapy session without me (which is huge.. LOTs o Tears in previous years).. how well he's able to navigate through his computer. (I'll write a separate note about that another day.)

This is why I decided I needed to start this blog..
You see.. our family lives in the moment.. sometimes it's hard, sometimes it's full of laughter.. just like everyone else! But it's so hard to see how far we've come- how far Michael has come.

It was so refreshing to hear what she said. It was so comforting... It almost made the fact that she said Michael will never talk almost not break my heart.

The neurologist told us that the longer he goes without speaking, the odds are against us..
Our old therapist (Andrea) worked twice a week on trying to get vowel sounds out of him.. some days were good, most days were hard, but never consistent.

So here I sit... with the spoken truth that my son will never form a sentence, or possibly a word. She thinks that because he gets so excited all the time, that maybe we'll hear a "YEAH" when he's happy- but we've decided that we won't try to force sounds from him. Instead we will work to have him independently use his computer to effectively communicate to peers, teachers, family.

Of course we will continue to do everything in our power to help our son... but after 6 years of speech therapy, we are going to change directions.

We love you all.. thanks for reading.. and listening to me ramble- today was a tough day... but it had great news...
We spend so much time thinking about what Michael doesn't have access to, or what he's lacking physically, mentally.. we forget about all he's accomplished, the little things, like being able to be independent, to listen for 30 minutes, and learn.

with all my love-
mom

Updates/ Transitions

Just to give everyone a brief overview of what Michael is diagnosed with, what he doesn't have.. and what we currently are doing to help him.

Michael is diagnosed with a Process Delay and seizure disorder from his neurologist. The good news is that he's been seizure free since age four.. so this month is 3 years seizure free.. WAHOO..
He is completely non verbal. His receptive language is working, but his ability to form words is not easy for him..because of the process delay and the apraxia.
He has Apraxia, not Autism.. although it's tricky and Autism is much more well known, it's not what he has. the link below is VERY helpful in explaining the difference.. please take a moment to look.

http://www.essential-guide-to-autism.com/blog/2008/05/01/what-is-the-difference-between-apraxia-and-autism/

Michael is in first grade. He has an IEP (Individualized Ed. Plan) that 'grades' him on his goals for the year instead of the standardized curriculum. He sees a speech therapist (SLP) four days a week for 30 minutes. He sees an O.T.(occupation therapist) three days a week for 30 minutes, and an P.T. (physical therapist) three days a week for 30 minutes. He's also in a special ed room (now call resource room) for two hours a day..

Basically.. he's a busy 1st grader!... but he LOVES school.. loves it! Especially the bus ride.. and of course LUNCH.

We pay for a private speech therapist once a week for an hour.
Last week Brad and I had a tough decision to make. Our policy changed and our therapist for a year was no longer in our network and our out of pocket expenses tripled... we decided to go back to his old therapist at Children's Hospital.

He does great in therapy, he listens, he wants to work and he wants to give 'high fives' and show everyone that he CAN do it! He's got some serious patience... and tenacity!

Welcome to our Blog....

Well.... I've been putting this off for months.. but I've decided I can't put this off any longer.
Our family, our lives are constantly changing. Good news, great news.. and then news that brings us to our knees and we need you, our family and friends to be there to support us... and bring us back to our feet.

Today is one of those days for me.....

I'll start this blog with the things that I'm so very thankful for.. the things that keeps us going, keeps us striving to be better people.. to be a healthy, loving family.

We are a family of 5... Two parents that love each other... Three wonderful, loving, generous children that are the absolute joy of our lives... and two pets- it's a positive post today.. so we won't comment on them.. other than to say that our kitten is a year old this month and our yellow lab is 5 months old and is house trained and crate trained.. (that is an absolute blessing)

So this is where I will end the first blog- the first for a voice for michael..
yeah!