Purple Day 2011

Every March 26th is Purple Day. It is a day to promote Epilepsy awareness. It is worldwide and there are lots of walks and parades that go on. Unfortunately, there aren't any events close to us this year. So this year, we are asking all of you (all of our friends and family, extended or otherwise or anyone else who would be so inclined) to please wear purple on March 26th and take a picture of yourself and your families and send them to us via email (ksully4@live.com) or snail mail (email me for our address,) so that we can make a little scrapbook for Cierra so that she can feel like she was part of the festivities and to help her know that she isn't alone in her battle. If you would like to include a little note or some kind of encouragement, we would love to include it in the scrapbook with your picture.

Epilepsy has robbed Cierra of a normal childhood. She is on a high dose of a strong medication that has serious side effects and she still continues to have daily seizures. She is possibly facing major surgery this summer that could cause her to lose her speech and other motor skills that she will have to relearn.

Please show Cierra your love and support by doing this one small, simple thing this year. Please feel free to pass this along to anyone you know who would be willing to help with this project-friends, neighbors, church members, etc. We would like to get as much support as possible with this. This will also help to spread Epilepsy awareness. Thank you all so much. I know that this will mean so much to Cierra.



Click the link below for more info about Purple Day.
http://www.purpleday.org/

Another meeting with Caden's teachers

I met with Caden's teacher, the autism teacher, and the director of the school this afternoon. We were meeting to talk about Caden's transition to kindergarten. They had previously told me that Caden would be getting an aide for 1/2 day, every day next year. Not so much anymore. His academics are too high for him to qualify. They can put him in an inclusion class that has a special needs aide in the classroom, but she will be working with all the kids, not just Caden.



They also told me that they don't think he will qualify for speech therapy anymore. These were my fears when we had PT conferences, but I thought they were resolved. Again, not so much. The speech therapist was supposed to be at the meeting, too, but was sick or something. So the ST is still on the fence. He does still need ST and I have a feeling that it is going to be a battle to get it for him. He is NOT meeting the goals on his IEP in the speech area, so I'm not sure how they can decide that he doesn't need it anymore. I guess I will have to take his IEP in and fight them about it. I feel like they don't have a whole lot of experience with high functioning autism. They are great with severely autistic kids, but I'm not sure they really understand Asperger Syndrome.

Again, let me stress that I am thrilled that Caden is doing so well. He knows most of the alphabet, he can almost count to twenty, and he knows shapes and colors. He does really well with concrete information. But abstract information goes completely over his head. It's not even on his radar. For example: I had a rough day the other day about all the things that are going on with Tyler and I was sitting on the couch talking to Erick and crying about all of it. Caden was on the floor playing. After a few minutes, he climbed in my lap and I thought he was being so sweet, but he pulled my eyelids open and informed me that he was hungry. He didn't have a clue that I was crying. And if he did notice, it didn't occur to him that I might be upset. Emotions are abstract and confusing and Caden doesn't really understand them at all. We are working on it though and many other issues, but I need the help and cooperation of the school to make sure that Caden reaches his fullest potential. Next year he will be at school 7 hours a day, 5 days week and they need to be aware and understanding of the areas that he needs help with.

So next week I will be evaluating kindergarten classes at ECEC and at JMA and hopefully be able to make a prayerful decision about where to send Caden next year. Wish me luck.

In the mean time, enjoy some pictures of my cute boys :)

Maria Tortilla and the 7 Mexican Midget Wrestlers

Kenz had an assignment at school to rewrite a fairy tale. This is what she came up with. I love it and had to to share :)

Maria Tortilla and the 7 Mexican Midget Wrestlers

By Kenzie Sullivan

Once upon a time, a lonely girl named Maria Tortilla was wandering aimlessly through the woods. After some time of wandering, Maria found a cottage. Coming from the cottage was salsa music and the smell of fresh corn tortillas. Maria rushed over to the cottage. She was hungry and fatigued from her walk. Maria knocked on the tiny front door.

“Pedro! Open the door!” Maria heard footsteps before the door swung open.
“Oi! It’s a woman!” Pedro yelled. 6 other men, all short and buff, appeared behind Pedro.
“Senorita!” The midgets cried. Maria noticed the men were all dressed in shiny spandex speedo’s and wrestling masks.

“I,” Pedro said, “am Pedro. That’s Xavier, Miguel, Jose, Jorge and Rafael. Oh. And that’s Lenny.” He said gesturing to a dwarf with thick glasses and flab instead of ab. “I’m Lenny!” The fat dwarf squeaked.
“Oh.” Said Maria.
“Please come in senorita.” said Xavier.
“Oh…well…. I suppose.” Maria said. She was intimidated by their speedo’s.
“We were just about to sit down to dinner. Please come and join us.” Jose said.
Maria and the 7 Mexican midget wrestlers dined together and played games after dinner.”

“So tell us Maria,” Miguel said, “why you have come here.”
“Well…” Maria said,” My step-mother wants me dead. So I ran to try to preserve my life.”
The midgets gasped.

“Never fear! Your step-mother will never hurt you! We will protect you! We are the 7 Mexican Midget Wrestlers!” the midgets cried with determination in their faces. Maria Tortilla smiled warmly at her new friends. “Thank you ever so much.” Maria said.

Just then, the cottage door flew open. A scary looking old woman came in wearing a wicked grin. “Stepmother!” Maria cried. “leave me alone!” But the old lady just laughed and lunged at Maria. The midgets stood there helplessly, staring at the fight unfurling in front of them. Maria’s stepmother held a jalapeño up. “This is poison!” The old woman cackled before shoving it down Maria’s throat. Maria gasped then collapsed as her stepmother ran out the door.

The Mexican wrestlers started screaming as the impact of the recent event hit them.
“That evil lady!”
“Poor Maria! We said we would protect her! We have failed!”
“Wahhhh!”
In all the chaos, Lenny had gotten an idea.
“Brothers, what about a kiss? Do you think that will wake her?” said Lenny.
“Yes! Of course! Try it Lenny!” Pedro said
Lenny kissed Maria and she woke up. “Oh thank you!” Maria cried. “That evil woman tried to kill me! And you saved me Lenny!”

Maria lived with the 7 Mexican midget wrestlers for years after the incident. The 7 midget wrestlers became professional wrestlers and turned out to be very wealthy. Maria never saw her stepmother again and they all lived happily ever after.

The End