Monthly Archives: June 2019

Here Chicky Chicky Chicky

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Guess what?

My kids got chickens!! I never thought in all my life that I would have kids that were so incredibly excited about chickens. But here I am, chasing chickens around trying to catch them so the kids can hold their chicken.

Now I’m not a bird person at all. I like to watch birds outside. I don’t like to have birds in a cage in the house and I certainly never planned on holding any chickens. I think they are all gross and I feel like if I touch anything that a bird has touched I will get a disease…even a feather! Do not touch me with some random feather you found on the ground! Now I know some people are bird people. I have a friend who’s daughter is amazing with birds…but that’s just not me.

So when Pa said he was getting a chicken coup and my kids could each pick a chicken I responded with “As long as they stay at your house!” And they did just that. These little chickees are living the best life at Ma and Pa’s. And every day when we are there we definitely have to go check on them.

Matthew’s chicken is Flugal (I know he will be so mad at me because I probably got that wrong) which means wing in some language. She’s a pretty black chick with white lines. He does awesome at helping take care of them. He gives them food and water and when he’s there and they need let out or put away for the night he’s on it.

Grant’s chicken is Snowball (She’s all white!). Snowball is the smarty pants of the bunch. She has to show them all how things are done. She was the first to go up the ramp into the roosting area and the first to lead the pack back out. She’s one smart chick! Grant loves Snowball as long as Snowball isn’t on his lap. He’s not fond of holding her.

Gracie on the other hand is my little animal lover. Her chicks name is Leah (yes she’s named after a character on Shimmer and Shine). She came up with it all on her own. She’s a black chick with white splotches. Gracie is so cute to watch with her chick. She talks so sweet to it and is constantly wanting to hold Leah and have her play with Grace. When I was trying to take a picture Gracie was saying “Come on Leah, come on girl, look at mom” then she took Leah into the playhouse so she could play with her.

So yes…my kids are now chicken kids and it’s the cutest thing to watch! Now if I can convince my parents to get goats!!

Moral of the story: It’s (usually) never a bad thing to get a new pet. It teaches the kids great responsibility.

My Parents Bought A Pop-Up

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We used to go camping all the time when we were kids. So many summers were spent in a tent or in the pop-up trailer we had that my mom decorated and made more amazing than any pop-up I’d ever seen. Camping was our jam! And we loved it.

There were so many memories made sitting around a campfire, sleeping in a tent, riding rollerblades around the campground and watching my dad wipe out, making cookies over a campfire, having to evacuate to a Dairy Queen while a bad, bad storm rolled through. Those are all memories we still talk about today.

But I have a confession…my kids have never been camping!! I cannot believe that I have a ten year old, nine year old and three year old and they have never been camping. One of my absolute most favorite things to do as a kid and I haven’t made those memories with them.

I plan on changing that because my parents bought a pop-up!! Now I have to admit I was pretty excited when I found out. And even though it isn’t exactly like the one we had it still brought back so many memories. But to see my kids walk into this pop-up and just make it their home made me realize that it’s time.

Matthew was blown away by the fact that there was a stove in it and he just kept showing all the things he had no idea were in a pop-up…like how you can zip the windows up when it rains. Gracie was immediately obsessed with the beds. She had to go into Ma and Pa’s house and get some toys. All three kids sat on/by the bed and played with toys just like my brothers and I did when we were little. It was so awesome to watch.

So now we must go camping!! It might start out just in the yard down at the lake but that start is better than nothing at all.

Moral of the story: Make the memories. Stop coming up with excuses or putting it off and just go out and make the memories!

High Five to Special Needs Moms

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Yea that’s right! I mean you!

To you, the mom who just took your kiddo (or kiddos) to the store and barely survived the breakdowns of your special needs kid. You, who made it through the rude stares and tisks from those “perfect” moms who have no clue what your day looks like. High five to you!!

To you, the mom whose child has never said a word. You, the mom who has never heard “Mom” or “I love you” or “thank you, Mom.” To you, the mom who, even though your child can’t speak, you know exactly what he’s saying, or needs, or wants. To the mom who has a thousand conversations with your nonverbal child. High five to you!!

To you, the mom who sits here and reads this as your eyes get heavy and you want so badly to sleep but you know that’s not happening yet again tonight. To the mom who is running on so little sleep that your body is literally exhausted. To the mom who doesn’t know if you can make it through another sleepless night but yet you continue to night after night. High five to you!!

To you, the mom who has become a taxi and whose whole life is consumed with driving to therapy and doctors appointments. High five to you!!

To you, the mom who spends more time on the phone than any human should have to. Calling insurance to fight for that piece of equipment that your child DOES need to have a good quality of life. To you, the mom who has to call and schedule all those therapy and doctors appointments. Who has to repeat your child’s information and life story so many times you could say it in your sleep. High five to you!!

To you, the mom who is sitting in a hospital room, in a stiff hospital chair beside your child’s bed as you pray for God to protect your baby!! You, the mom who doesn’t know what the next moment will bring. You, the mom who the hospital staff knows by name. High five to you!!

To you, the mom who just watched your child accomplish a HUGE milestone. Whose smile is so big people would think you won the lottery. To you, the mom who is so filled with pride right now that you literally feel like you might explode! High five to you!!

To you, the mom who is about to enter yet another IEP meeting only to be beat up and torn down hearing everything your child can’t do. You, the mom who gets in the car after the meeting and the tears fall. You, the mom who has to fight to get the services your child needs from the school. High five to you!!

To you, the mom who stands in the shower and let’s the tears fall and silently cries because this life is hard. This life isn’t fair for your child. This life is a constant uphill struggle. It’s a marathon that doesn’t end. High five to you!!

Moral of the story: This special needs mom life is not easy. Most days it’s hard…very hard! But you’re not in this alone! We’ve all got this! Some days it may not feel like it. Some days It may feel like the world is falling down around us. But there are those days that we feel like we are walking on the clouds. Use those days to push through the tough ones. Because when life knocks us down to our knees we always come out of it standing tall! So high five to that!!