Just RK

To celebrate her own milestone of getting to 10,000 followers on Twitter, actress Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton, known widely for Everybody Loves Raymond among other things) is sending $1 per Twitter follower of Reece's Rainbow up to $10,000!! How super great is that?!? It's a SUPER way to spread the word about what RR does and to help kids come home to families who are working very hard to add them to a real family! So if you're on Twitter, be sure to follow Reece's Rainbow (@reecesrainbow) and you might even drop a note to Ms. Heaton saying thanks, too!

I'm no longer unemployed. I don't like that term because it sounds like you wish you were employed, and except for the financial implications, I haven't missed it much. But whatever. I've been without a paying job for almost 3 years, but today that ended. I became official at my new part-time job, and as first days go, it was pretty great. The people are super nice...which is not news, since we were already members at the Y before I got a job there. I think I'll like the actual "job" part, too. Today was computer training, part 1, and tomorrow evening will continue that. I am looking forward to the point where I am once again knowledgeable about what I do and am able to do it without thinking about it. It is weird to be in a completely different environment from the medical practice surroundings that I've worked in for the last 15 years where I could do anything in any situation that could be thrown at me. No more big responsibility and people r...

Done with… Early morning private OT session, sensory-focused, for Braska. Had to use or lose flex spending money from M’s soon-to-be-in-4-hours-FORMER-job, so we get a few weeks to see how it goes. I’d love to document this stuff and the reasons behind it so much better for myself and others… but alas… Picked up Kidlet, little snoozalicious. Girls’ Playtime while I got Braska’s meals for the next several days ready to go. Oh how I love a quality stick/immersion/hand blender. Pulse, Pulse, Pulse, Done. Kinlee declined lunch and wanted to go to nap. Not that uncommon. Kidlet went down about the same time. Don’t forget plenty of diaper changes all around and various feeding. But then… As I was preparing to give Braska her mid-day milk, via tube, I sat her on my lap and something was weird. Missing. The belly terrain was too smooth. *eye roll, sigh, then hunt for the button* It was found quickly, near the chair where she had been sitting…probably fell out w...

During my last check on the girls before bed tonight, I found that Kinlee had turned herself around and was sleeping the wrong way in her bed. I debated turning her. She sleeps soundly and can transfer pretty well. Unlike her sister. As I was looking at her with my cell phone for a flashlight, M came in to see how cute she was. I told him I might move her and he said to let her be. I noticed a diaper on her end table of sorts. I thought M might have changed her before bed and not tossed it. As I picked it up, I realized it was dry. Light. Not full. I was confused but M whispered, "She took her diaper off?" I looked at her, pulled her blanket back to find her little bare buns in there. Her sheets and blanket were wet. So I scooped her up, M stripped the bed and blankets and took them downstairs to start the wash. I put her diaper back on and tucked her into my bed while I made hers. She is now back in her bed though not pleased at her missing blanket. Lets hope this is a ...

We got up. Shower dressed and breakfast. Dropped Braska at school. Now we dance in the kitchen to Glee mash-ups...goooood times. M took his last personal day today since his last day at the current job is Friday. It is a beeeeaUtiful day and we are enjoying some midweek playtime. THANK YOU GOD!! We have come a long way and I have to remember to be always aware of our blessings. Loving seeing the sunny day smiles today!

(If you didn’t see the great video full of precious and adorable faces, including one I’m partial to, click here to go to the earlier post.) In our house… It means you get to wear glasses when your sister doesn’t It means you get to go to school and play with lots of the best teachers and therapists It means you sometimes get frustrated with what your body won’t do that it should It means that when you’re frustrated you get to spend extra time with Mommy or Daddy It means you’re loved absolutely to pieces. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, of course. In a place far away… It means that even when there’s a mommy and daddy who are there to pick you up, money in hand, paperwork all filed, pleading for your life, a judge can say no. Just plain no. That little handsome fella just haunts me. I can’t imagine what his parents are experiencing. (Click here and then here for that story. They need your prayer support. Desperately. Please.) I still can’t comprehend th...

3-21-2011  For 3 copies of the 21st chromosome, unique to Down syndrome. In my opinion, creating some of the cutest of the cute out there. Don’t miss the video below. World Down Syndrome Day. Take the chance to tell someone a wonderful thing about someone you know with DS. Or share with someone how your views have changed now that you know and love someone with DS.  If Braska is the only person with DS that you know, be sure to brag on her a bit today. I don’t mind at all!  Feel free to link to the recent post about how far she has come since her heart surgery 4 years ago. Today, make a decision to be intentional about making others aware that a diagnosis of DS does not have to be met with utter despair, it doesn’t have to be a death sentence, and it is not a reason to take an unborn child’s life. Just tell someone.  The IDSC for Life has put together a really nice video of some of our little beauties… I have my favorite in there, and a few who follow c...

So last Saturday I had an interview at 11:30am for a job I'd applied for online on Thursday evening and got a call for on Friday.  It didn't work out, and that's fine by me. Today, I have an interview at 11:30am for a job I applied for online on Thursday evening and got a call for on Friday.  We'll see how the second time goes...  this one seems to have lots of very cool God-winks around it… more on those later.  I only pray for the best for our family. And I’ll accept whatever that looks like.

This girl is smart. And she’s striking. Sometimes I just glance over and see her and MUST take a picture.  They never do justice to the moment. But still… She kind of mindlessly chews on her thumb or fingers when she’s watching Word World or Sid the Science Kid or anything, really.   She watches so intently, taking it all in. There’s an occasional smile that flashes if something funny happens, but usually she is pretty focused.  PRETTY. Focused. The coolest part, in this mom’s opinion?   This girl… this one below… …when the show is over, she will come running and answer any question I throw at her about the show she just watched.  She gets it ALL. She has an amazing ability to comprehend and then recite the whole story in correct order.  My little thoughtful sponge. I just love watching her soak it all up.

A few weeks ago, I did my weekend routine on Saturday or Sunday…straightening all the rooms, vacuuming, general clean up, readying the house for another chaotic week.  As you may have learned in my previous post , cleaning is not the top priority in our house.  This is no secret.  Family interactions are priority. Relaxing is important. Clutter is common. (Piles, Sara??) Dirty is not ok though.  That doesn’t mean sometimes it doesn’t exist, just that it’s on my list, even if I haven’t gotten there yet.  Anyway……….  as I was running the vacuum, it annoyed me, as it has every time I’ve used it for a very long time, that it doesn’t pick up very well. At all.  I gripe about my carpet all the time, and we even looked into replacing it all just last month.  But it’s not in the financial plan right now, so I’m trying to make the best of it.  I try to vacuum frequently, feeling like that’s better than nothing. I finally stopped in frustration, ti...

The bathroom is clean. Like with chemicals and scrubbers and all that. So if you need one and you're in the area, stop on by. (The floor isn't finished..that'll have to wait for naptime.) I'm not even going to pretend. Doesn't happen often. Pretty much only when we're hosting friends or family for the evening or something like that. So today is successful because my living room and bathroom are clean. They aren't just "straightened" in quick fix style. The kitchen is next. But it's different. It's clean at least once a day only to be destroyed several more times a day. But if I have happy, healthy girls who love hanging out with their Mommy and "taking up" my time, the rest can wait.

Whew. What a week. Pardon me while I slump into the couch and put my feet up. It’s been a wild one around here. And it looks like life is going to be far from dull for a while. Where to begin… Well, my husband got a new job, after a flurry of craziness for 72 hours between the interview and the final offer that was accepted.  In that space of time were literally dozens of phone calls, jumping for joy halted promptly by sinking sensations and cruel reality.  There are still many details to figure out, but an agreement was able to be reached and he is very excited.  I’m pleased he has found a place that seems very promising in the “I won’t dread this job every day” category.  He can’t wait to get started. We’ve sent over 30 resumes in the past several months.  He’s been to interviews that were great and with promising follow-up, but then weird things kept happening that prevented a final agreement in each case.   He was getting more frustrated at h...

"Hey, I need $5. Like, I need it bad. Would you help me?" I feel sure that for most of you, if this were me asking you on the sidewalk as we chatted at the park or as we paused to catch up in the aisle at Wal-Mart, you would be happy to share that with me. You would gladly meet that little need I had, and I would appreciate it greatly. But it's not life or death, usually. It's not about whether or not a child will survive or die a very lonely unpleasant death. Too dramatic for ya? Yeah, me too. Usually. But not this time. Don't bail yet...give me 60 seconds and then it's up to you. Little Lera has had families commit to adopt her and then run into unavoidable obstacles that made them unable to continue. I've not known any other child who has been waiting and on the brink of coming home so often only to once again go on the list of kids needing a family. Now her family is ready, all set, paperwork together. Praise God! But the money is the problem. ...