Battery HELL!

I am convince that battery operated toys are nothing but a cruel joke created by toy manufacturers to make psychiatric asylums more money by driving parents bat shit insane! It seems there is nothing toy wise short of buying everyone a bag of dirt that doesn't take batteries for something. When I was a kid almost nothing seemed to have batteries, or they did and my parents tossed away or returned the dreaded gifts usually supplied by grandparents, aunts and uncles because "Hey, they aren't our kids!" so we'll spoil um and make mom and dad suffer the consequences. The worst part about it is that having a blind child in our mix we kind of HAVE to aid in the noise making revolution of battery operated toy hell. We don't even get the joy of saying "Dammit Grandma, we're gunna kill her for this!" and unlike most parents who have figured out that batteries eventually die and as far as the kids are concerned the toy dies with it we have to keep stock in the battery chain. From noise making balls to talking barbie without noise makers our house would be toy hell for Miriam. I try to take comfort in knowing the joy my daughter gets out of battery operated toys but when all 4 of my kids have four or a thousand different noise makers going off at any given time I can't help but the wish I myself were deaf. Though I can't live without you , I hate you batteries, you are making me prematurely bald!

Feeling low

I am so frustrated today, i'm trying to lift myself up with prayer and positive thoughts but I just want to break down into tears. First off we get news that there are some issues with Griffin's custody. I can't go into details but there are some things preventing it from going through and we have now once again let Griffin down. For the last six years it feels as if that is all we have ever done, let him down. I know he is here now, getting what he needs but we are all tired of living our lives under a microscope like lab rats.

On top of that we heard from the school psychiatrist who along with the Autism & blindness she is most likely going to be diagnosed with a speech disability and what "used" to be know as Mental retardation but they now call "intellectual disability". As if the old diagnoses wasn't enough of a sword through the heart for us they have to tack on something else. We know Miriam is not like other children, we know she most likely won't have her own apartment, find true love, have babies or live in her own apartment. She is going to live with us for the rest of our lives. We accept that, but for some reason adding the Mental diagnosis on top of everything hurts and gives my faith a big kick in the gut. I know these are just words but as the saying goes, words hurt! Tomorrow I will be meeting with the psychiatrist to complete Miriam's assessment, I don't look forward to it because it feels as if I a walking my daughter to the end of the plank.

I hate labels and I hate CPS for hurting the good people while the bad people get away with abuse time and time again. I want to scream!

On a happier and more tasty note and because I like to drown my sorrows in food stop on by my Shoe Nation blog for a great delicious Vegetarian Lasagna recipe.

Idaho bound!

I finally decided it is time to update everyone on our lives and get this blog moving again. First off to those of you who have been following us for years you know the battle we have had with my step-son Griffin. Well, finally after being removed from his mothers home by CPS he was sent to live with us. Tom and I after years of not knowing where he was have full custody of him. He has been through all sorts of hell but he is back with us and thriving. It is partially for his sake that we have decided to move. Griffin has greatly expressed his fears of his past to us and we decided a new start for us all as a family unit would be the perfect way to put it all behind us and start the road to being a healthy happy family united. And we decided on Ohio!

Because of the rules with Griffin we sent all of the kids back to school to help him adapt to life with NORMAL rules. It was a hard decision but everything is working out for the best. It is going to be hard to pick up and leave a good school for Miriam but the school isn't that great for Griffin. I won't go into why but all of our issues will be easily solved by moving away from Texas. Miriam would still get a good school and Griffin's issues would be worked out. He has so many fears of his mother and step father from being kidnapped to being killed, all because we live so close to them. It's sad that a child has to deal with such horrific thoughts. Since we made the decision to move we have noticed less anxiety and he has been so happy, telling everyone about the move.

As far as the girls, well Miriam is speaking, engaging, learning, she can count to 10 with assistance and has been officially diagnosed with Autism. Georgia is enjoying her first year at school, she is in kindergarten and is smart as a whip and Sophia is enjoying her time alone with ME during the day.

I sure do hope to be able to get the fire started again in my family blog. There is just so much going on at a single given time that I never know what to do with myself. Blogging relaxes me but once it starts becoming something I "have" to do I get bored easily. How do you mommy bloggers stay focused on blogging?

Anyway, on another note, anyone want to come blog hop with me? :)

HELLO!

Hey everyone! I know I haven't blogged about the family in a long time. We are all doing great and getting ready for a long move to Ohio in a few months. I hope to start updating this blog a bit more often but it always seems life gets in the way. I am keeping a fashion blog which takes loads less time than a family blog. Something to take the edge off and make me feel human when the "mommy blues" get a bit overwhelming. I would love it if all my followers here would come say hello there. We have a great giveaway going on right now and also one on our FB page. Hope to see you there! http://ashoenation.blogspot.com/