It's Flashback Friday again! Today I was doing some organizing and came across these photos of dogs I lived with at different times back in my single days. They were the best dogs and honorary roommates....
Zoey, roommate in Draper townhouse
Sami, Scout & Puzzle, roommates in Sugarhouse home
Share your flashbacks too! For some reason, Mr Linky isn't working today, so just leave a comment and everyone can go visit that way. And my friend Colleenwas fabulous enough to also create a Flashback Friday button. (Isn't she wonderful? I know!) Grab the code and include that in your post as well. Thanks Colleen!!!
We've been having a significant problem with Chloe for quite some time.... um, and by 'quite some time' I mean ever since she was born. The girl hates getting dressed. She screams rather loudly until her face turns purple.
Now, I know what the majority of you are thinking. Chloe? No.... She's always so happy!
And to those of you who think Chloe is always happy, let me redirect your attention to this photo....
Yes, she can be a very pleasant and happy child... as long as all the stars are aligned in her favor. But when she gets unhappy (which is quite often) she is not shy in letting anyone within a 5-mile radius know about her discontent. This activity is not uncommon. In fact, it happens many times throughout the day:
When she wakes up. When she gets dressed in the morning. When I lay her down to change her diaper (she thinks I'm about to leave her). When I put her in the highchair for breakfast. When I do her hair (oh, that's the worst). When I first put her in the carseat. When someone other than me tries to hold her (ok, I take it back, that is actually the worst). When I put her in the high chair for breakfast. When we do exercises. When we do stretches. When her therapists try to get her to do exercises or strethes. When I put her in the high chair for dinner. When she gets bored. When she gets overstimulated. When I take her clothes off to get in the bathtub. When I put her in the bathtub. When I put lotion on her. When I get her dressed in her pajamas. When I lay her down to get a book to read. When I'm trying to get her to sleep. When she is asleep and I lay her down in bed. When I try to get her back to sleep. When she is asleep and I lay her down in bed. When I try to get her back to sleep. (this can be repeated multiple times).... When she wakes up in the middle of the night and realizes I'm not holding her.
Keep in mind several things. I'm not trying to complain or make my situation seem harder than any one else's. I know all toddlers can be like this and that all children can be difficult. And even though Chloe is like this, she is quite easily returned to a happy, smiley disposition. Those are the moments when I snap the pictures. I just wanted to set the record straight.
So..... back to the subject at hand. Getting dressed. Her therapists and I have been trying to come up with a solution to this particular problem. A few different techniques worked temporarily, but she got wise to them. Our latest technique has worked now for two days. I consider it a success. I simply play a song every time she's getting dressed (this includes diaper change, lotion application, hair styling, and putting clothes on/taking them off). It took me a few days to find the perfect song, and consistency is key, so I had to find the right song before I attempted this technique. Well, I finally made my decision: We love this song. Tonight it got Chloe from just out of the bathtub, looking pleasant but skeptical:
Well, several people have pointed out that I asked for help in naming the monkey, but never announced our decision.
I absolutely adored almost all of the names suggested for different reasons, but finally decided (and was supported in my decision by popular vote) that the monkey stander would be named Mable. M-for monkey, and able because she makes Chloe able to stand. We call her M-Krizzle as a nickname on occassion. ;o)
It's almost exhausting to think of all the good things Mable does for Chloe. When she is standing in proper position, she gets weight-bearing benefits on her feet, in her ankles, in her hips and knees. It helps build trunk strength and develop head control. She bears weight on her elbows and uses her hands (BOTH hands) to play. She watches Signing Times videos, which are laying the groundwork for future communication. She is independent of me, which helps develop self-assurance and confidence.
There are benefits for me as well. As many of you know, Chloe is highly attached to me and has severe emotional distress if I even consider to do anything other than pay 100% attention to her. However, when she is in the stander, she loves playing with the toys in the bowl and has the support that I usually give her. The videos also help entertain her. Today I was able to clean the kitchen, fold two loads of laundry, and even organize two kitchen cabinets while she was in her stander - not fussing.
To my close friends and family, you understand what a miracle that is. Usually, to get anything done around the house I either take Chloe to my mom's house for a couple hours, or Oby has to take her on drives. Miss Mable baby-sits and while also giving so many therapeutic benefits for Chloe. Thank goodness for Mable!
Plus Chloe's feet and bum look so cute when they're standing, don't you think?....
I have recently been trying to find a balance, a very delicate balance, when it comes to being Chloe's mother.
I want to help her and take care of her in the ways she can't take of herself. But then, I don't want to baby her too much, and prevent her from being a strong and confident young lady.
The Butterfly and the Cocoon
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. The man sat and watched the cocoon for several hours as the butterfly struggled to force its body through the little hole.
Then it seemed to stop making progress. It appeared as if the butterfly had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further. The man decided to help the butterfly in its struggle. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily, but it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.
He continued to watch the butterfly. He expected that, at any moment, the wings would dry out, enlarge and expand to be able to support the body. He knew that in time the body would contract, and the butterfly would be able to fly.
But neither happened. In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were Nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.
We could never fly.
~Author Unknown
I also want to accept her for who she is, rather than trying to force her to be something she is not. Yet, I also want to push her to be her very best self, whatever that is.
One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~Helen Keller
I've had a lot going on in my mind lately. Then, as has happened several times in my life before, peace came when I remembered the lyrics to the hymn Be Still My Soul. My favorite version is by Sheryl Crow, but I think you'll like this version as well....
Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side; With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In ev'ry change he faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake To guide the future as he has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on When we shall be forever with the Lord, When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Oby's grandma and Aunt Sera stopped by today. Grandma Bennett likes Chloe just a little bit....
Grandma Bennett & Chloe, February 2008
They brought a few treats from my new favorite restaurant....
I was introduced to some delightful treats....
Kouing Aman
Key Lime Bar
Madeleines
Oh my, pure deliciousness. Thanks again, ladies!
So I went to their site and found out they are doing classes to teach how to make these types of things! How fun would it be to learn how to make french pastries?!?!
Ah, who am I kidding! The smoke alarm has gone off twice this week because of my cooking. I don't think I can handle such delicate matters! ;o)
My flashback today is a bit different than what I've done before. It's not a photo, but a piece of schoolwork from 3rd grade. It's an 'essay' I guess you could call it, and I think it is hilarious! Enjoy....
Here's what it says (in case it's not clear enough to read):
TaraLee September 21, 1987
Food, Food Lots of Food
"Pizza is yummy to me all the time, I especially like pizza that's crunchy and has lots and lots of pepperoni! I HATE combination pizza! I just don't know what I'd do without pizza! It's just right, it's not supper messy like a sloppy joe, any time with pizza would be the best time of my life, practicly. I hope this tells you just how much I like spicy seasonings, zesty aroma, deluxe pepperoni, and delicate crunchy crusts. {eye} {heart} U pizza!"
LOL. Now I think this essay I wrote when I was 8-years-old says a lot about who I am today.... a dramatic over-eater who has a lot to say about, well, everything. I'm sure when my teacher read this she thought, 'TMI, TMI.' It's foreshadowing, don't you think?
Okay, your turn. Please share your flashbacks. I love them!
I've been in a Photoshop class for a few weeks now. The teacher, bless his heart, has been informative, but has not really touched on any aspects of the program that I'm actually interested in. I have learned a few things that I might use, but, well....
Okay, here's the deal - the class sucks.
So thankfully, I started a digital scrapbooking class tonight. I learned more in that class in the first hour than I have in four weeks at an hour and a half a pop in the other class. Finally, I feel like I understand Photoshop and can use it!
When I got home from the class I spent about 45 minutes creating these digi-scrap pages....
I know, right? Cute! I think I'm in trouble. I really didn't have any extra time in my days, but now I'll have to make room for digital scrapbooking. It's just too much fun!
Have you gone digital? Or do you scrapbook at all?
My dad is and always has been a cowboy... the occassional hat, the big belt buckles, the boots, the horseback ridin', the guitar-pickin'....
Dad and his friend Bud at the cabin July 2006
Well, this past weekend when we were at the cabin, time stood still for a moment when my dad announced that he had forgotten his ipod. This man loves his country music, and none of us could imagine him going an entire weekend without it.
And then I realized my moral duty to come out of the closet. The classic country music closet, that is. Dad was surprised, to say the least, that my iPod was filled with plenty of his classic country songs.
He was surprised because, growing up, I always begged to listen to 'my music' instead of 'his music.'But as I ventured out on my own, I realized his music had become part of my music. A road trip was not complete without some good ol' country songs, which is why every road trip I go on starts out with this song....
And I couldn't have survived dating drama/break-ups without a dose of some of Dad's classic tunes. Nothing hit the spot like some of those good ol' country songs....
When Oby and I were dating, I figured it was only fair that he know my dirty little classic country secret. I shared my Don Williams collection with him when we were on a drive. He loved it. That is how this became 'our song'....
When Oby asked my dad's permission for my hand in marriage, he also asked if my dad would play and sing 'our song' at the wedding. Of course he did. It was the song we first danced to as a married couple!
And, sidenote, I had 'I Believe in You' engraved on Oby's wedding ring. I had it all ready to go in plenty of time for the wedding. But the day before the wedding when I was packing, I was looking at the ring and realized - it was HUGE and would not fit Oby's finger. I took it back and they gave me another ring that was the correct size, but there wasn't time to engrave the new ring. I had good intentions of taking it back to be engraved, but, well.... it hasn't happened (yet).
And now Oby and I have another classic country song that symbolizes our love and marriage. Oh man, if you could see us when this song comes on in the car. It's quite a spectacle! Chloe LOVES it too, she laughs and dances and watches her mom and dad immitate Johnny and June....
So, there you have it. I'm no cowgirl, but I'm a lot more like my dad than even he knew!....
And since I'm being so open about some of my iPod secrets, I might as well come out and tell you all.... I like Miley Cyrus and The Jonas Brothers. Just a few of their songs, but still! Yikes!
Do you have any musical confessions you'd like to share?
Aside from being behind on blogging and coming home with symptoms straight from a NyQuil commercial, I just had the best long weekend! We went snowmobiling and lounging with my parents and two nephews at the family cabin. Here are some of the highlights....
PJ & Jake warm up by the fireplace
PJ sledding
PJ after a minor mishap
The three boys on their three snowmobiles (PJ, Jake & Oby)
Papa, Jake, PJ & Oby
snow angel Chloe
Chloe and her daddy
PJ, Jake, Oby & Chloe
Mom & Dad lounging on the porch
little snowmobiler Chloe
Chloe - so cute
Jake, Chloe & PJ
Oby throwing Jake into the snow....
What goes up....
Must come down!
Jake, Papa & Chloe
Oby at his childhood boy scout campground
The quote of the weekend goes to PJ.
PJ: "Aunt Tara, you should cut your hair like mine."
Zoey, roommate in Draper townhouse
Sami, Scout & Puzzle, roommates in Sugarhouse home
Skinny Cow Mint Chocolate Ice Cream Sandwiches
Grandma Bennett & Chloe, February 2008
Must come down!
Oby at his childhood boy scout campground
The quote of the weekend goes to PJ.