Locked In

We all know Samantha loves to open and close doors. This usually isn't a problem, unless she locks herself in the bathroom. She's done it twice now. She goes into the bathroom, because who doesn't love playing in the bathroom?, and then opens up drawers. Those drawers make it so we can't open the door, and she's trapped. She's done it once before, and after that we realized we had to keep a close eye on her so she doesn't really get stuck in there. Well, this past week she snuck in and did it again!

I tried to push the drawer back in, but I just couldn't get the leverage I needed. After quite some time, I decided this would be a good video moment, and then she complied...shut the drawer, and opened the door. What a sweet, obedient little girl.

Coloring

Callie has discovered that she loves to color. We have to be very careful with this. Sometimes it's great. Church is a little easier when you have a kid who likes to color and draw. But the other day, Callie found a Sharpie laying around...and well, we are very lucky that Marcus noticed very quickly. I was out and got a phone call.

"Jenny? How close are you to being home?"
"Maybe 10 minutes. Why?"
"We could use your help scrubbing."

hmmm Is Sharpie permanent marker removable? I guess when the angels are on your side because after some intense scrubbing, they were able to get it off of the piano and wood floors. Woa. That was a close call friends.

Problems with Blogger

One thing that really frustrates me is when I want to edit a post or upload something or whatever...and blogger won't let me do it. Grrrr I want to EDIT for pete's sake. Is that too much to ask?!

Replacing TV with TV

Lately, I have dropped a lot of my tv shows realizing that I am up way too late watching shows that are basically stupid. So, instead, when I need some tv, I sit and watch Gilmore Girls on dvd. Great replacement...I know! New tv shows replaced by old tv shows. hmmm I'm still up too late watching tv, but I'm hooked. I never watched it while it was on, but someone gave me seasons 3 and 4 to borrow -- claiming I'd like them. They were wrong...I love them! I'm obsessed. Aside from some of the bad acting, I love it. And I need to go back to see seasons 1 and 2 -- through the end.

And it's got me thinking about all the old teenyboppery shows I've liked in the past, and if they were still on...I'd still be watching. They are filled with bad plot and bad acting, but that's partly what makes it so great. Though, I think Gilmore Girls is a step above the ones listed below. So, I now introduce my embarrassing list of Jenny's Television Greats -- this really should have a different title I'm sure.

Dawson's Creek. I shudder as I think about it. I'm really embarrassed about this one, mainly because I was so old when it was on, and it's really just that lame. Just before I went on my mission I was watching this show...so I was like 20 years old watching Dawson's Creek! Barf. But there was something about it that I liked. It definitely got annoying -- Dawson got super annoying, just plain out ridiculous. But then you have Pacey who was just a good guy -- cuter-the-more-you-get-to-know-him guy. So plot was not always the best, but that's ok. That's not why you watch a show like Dawson's Creek. Actually, I'm not sure why you do watch a show like Dawson's, but I did, and I enjoyed it. (Until I decided to stop watching it because, I believe, it was just too much.) I even have the soundtrack. Gag! But if there were re-runs, I could place a pretty good bet that I'd get sucked in again.


Roswell. Roswell was a gem of a show. It brings me back to my college years. Dido became popular around this time, since her song with the theme song. "Oh I am what I am, I do what I want...but Iiiiiiiii can't hide. I won't go, I won't sleep, and I can't breathe, until you're resting here with me..." Great start for her. Great cast. I didn't even remember that Katherine Heigl was on the show...but this Grey's star was on the WB hit Roswell. Oh, how I loved this show and looked forward to it each week. A good mix of teenage love, angst, and aliens. I'm sure it was super cheesy, and over the top, and ridiculous, and at times inappropriate. But I'm tempted to go buy all the seasons on dvd as we speak...or type. Whatever.




Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I never watched Buffy, though after watching only 1/2 an episode with Analisa the other day, I regretted not partaking in the years that Buffy was on the air. Oh the acting is horrible, the vampires and other monster-like creatures look hideous, but there is a definite draw. And this little (once again, too long) clip made me giggle a little bit. Oh, vampires are great aren't they?



So, I clearly have a weakness for tacky tv shows. And as long as there are people out there in the world like me, those shows will continue to thrive...at least for a few seasons. There's something about these teenybopper shows that make me happy. I mean, won't we -- who are in my generation-- all have fond memories of Saved by the Bell? I mean, didn't we all learn from Saved by the Bell? If not about friendship and love, we at least learned that there's no hope with dope. Yes, I'm quite sure we will all hold a special place in our hearts for SBTB. And though Dawson's and Roswell, and shows of the like, may not fall into that category. But for a short season of my life, they filled an entertainment void in my life.

Wahoo!

It's official. Sammy says "MO" -- translation: more.

Yep. My girl is so smart I'm about doing flips here. I've been thinking for a little bit that she was saying it...but today there was no way to deny it.

Driving home from school. Handing pretzels to her in the back seat.

"Sammy? Do you want more? Mmmmmore?" silence as I wait for a response.

"Mmmmooooo."

"Yeah!!!! Sammy, mmmmore mmmmore mmmmore pretzels!"

She giggled and giggled and ate her pretzels while I laughed my little heart out...and she laughed more. Life is joyous isn't it?

We Are Here For A Reason

In my short (almost) 30 years, I have found that there are a lot of questions to be asked. I have some of the answers. But more often than not, I find that others have the answers that I'm in need of. And usually, I find out who has my answer after on-my-knees, pleading prayer. And always (so far), I find the people who have answers to my hardest, most life-altering questions after a lot of prayer. Not just some...but a heckuva-lotta prayer.

Samantha has been an area of concern for me, well, her entire earthly existence. Certainly there were the ups and downs because of health-related issues. But, no matter how "great" things are going, I always wonder about...and have concern for...her future. I have felt time and again that there is more to this little girl than what she is able to show us...that there is more for us to see here, while she is living and with us, on this earth. My faith enables me to immediately believe, and know, that more understanding will be given to us after this life...but I honestly believe that there is more HERE that we will see. Though we have seen many miracles in Sammy's life, I believe there is more to be witnessed.

So I pray. We are c o n s t a n t l y praying. And I pray that we will find what it is that will help her achieve her full potential here. And after this life, when she is resurrected into a perfect, beautiful little bundle of Sammy-Sam...she will be perfect. And here, I will be able to do all I can, as her mother, to help her achieve what she was -- is -- meant to accomplish and achieve.

About 2 weeks ago I had a conversation with a friend. I am tutoring her son, and she was telling me what some of his difficulties are in school. This discussion, led to a discussion about learning, in general. (I also am constantly praying that I will be able to help Callie develop her mind and talents as much as she can. You see, I feel like I have 2 children on opposite ends of the spectrum. Sammy is definitely way behind, while Callie is achieving far beyond her age. I am constantly looking for things that will continue to stimulate her and make her happy in learning.) My friend introduced me to a program (which once we really get rolling I'll blog about), and Callie is loving it. This program led me to another program that I feel is an answer to my prayers -- for Samantha.

We are in the early early early stages. All my projects are on hold until I read about 1,000,000 books. But we are meeting with a clinician who works in this certain field. That meeting will be sometime in June or July. She is the only clinician outside of Philadelphia, PA who does this...and she just happens to come to San Jose, CA every 6 months to follow-up on patients she has here.

We are in San Jose for a reason. We are living with Marcus' parents for a reason -- sure to save money...but also to be in this ward, so I could connect with this friend I've made, so she could connect me to this program, that connected me to a woman in our stake who has used it with FOUR of her special needs children, whose cousin is the only clinician outside of Philadelphia who sets up individual plans for these kiddos and comes to SAN JOSE every SIX MONTHS so she can help her cousin's kids...but in the meantime has created a clientele here...I mean, really people. The Lord often provides answers to our questions and concerns through others. And I'm so grateful for it.

Now, we haven't officially begun, as I've previously mentioned. But both Marcus and I are so excited. I'm reading during any free time I have and we're trying to save as much money as I can to pay for it...but I believe that this will greatly benefit our little sammy-sam...and of course, I'll be writing more on this topic as things unfold. It's so early I'm not quite ready to generally blog about the program, but the more information I get, the more I'll share, as it's a program that can benefit ANY child.

How Much?

Ok, so if someone was asking you to possibly watch their little boy -- not sure on the age...I think under 1 year old -- while they went back to work....possibly part-time...possibly full-time -- how much would you charge?

Because I have no idea.

Here's the scoop. Someone we know has a little boy. She needs to go back to work. Someone has offered a part-time position, but because of some other issues, she may not take it. As she has looked around for other jobs, she can only find full-time positions. We have no idea what the situation will be. I asked how much she was thinking of paying me...I asked nicely of course...and she said she wasn't sure yet about all of that because she had never done this before. So, I said I'd do some research and ask friends who have done it what they were paid and get back to her.

Any of you ever been a nanny? How much did you get paid? I know they need the money, that's why she's going back to work. She knows we can use the money, that's why she's talking to me. Is there a good hourly price? Or should we just do a flat weekly rate? But it may be 2 days a week, or maybe up to 5 days a week (I'd probably have the little boy from 11am - 6:30pm). So folks, what's a girl to do? Help help help me.