Well, my day off has proven to be wonderful from the standpoint that I was able to work on cleaning my house -- which was a huge need. It was so nice to drink coffee and watch "the View" and be able to just get some things done. I need to work on my scrapbooking. My design team layout for next month is sitting on my counter. I'm not real fond of the paper - or the theme - so I'm kind of putting it off. I asked my neighbor (who also crops) what she thought would happen if I didn't do a layout next month. She didn't know what to say. I wondered if I could be permanently banned from ever being on another design team? That would be a huge bummer b/c there are a lot of cool benefits as part of the design team including a 10% discount and one free crop a month -- oh well, I'll be over my attitude in a week or so and then I'll hopefully be able to figure out what pictures I could possibly use on that layout.

Gotta run--- hopefully more tomorrow!

Well, I survived Black Friday in the retail world and have now officially been an employee of Kohls for three years -- that is hard to believe. I am so tired -- it has been quite the weekend. Bill had all of last week off, but with both of the girls being sick and working 42 hours plus the holiday - I am spent.

Mary goes back to school tomorrow - Katie's classroom still has tomorrow off -- she won't remember what school is by the time she goes back on Tuesday -- hee hee!!

Sorry this one is short, but I hope everyone had a fabulous holiday and I have two weekdays off this week, so hopefully I will have a chance to sit down and catch everyone up! Hope your turkey day was terrific!!! Christmas is only 4 weeks away -- Yippee!!!!

I am officially done apologizing for not posting more often. I will just be THANKFUL that I am able to post on occasion :). This is the busiest time of my year -- retail does that to you. I feel as though I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off all day. Not enough time to get things ready for Friday - that is for sure. Bill has the week off of work. He had some vacation to burn, and being that it is a crazy week for me, he thought he'd take the week off, give my mom a break from babysitting - and help me out a ton by being here for the girls.

Mary's teeth are so close to falling out ... I can't wait to see how cute she will be with no bottom teeth (hee hee). Did I mention that both girls are on antibiotics for ear infections? It is almost winter, isn't it? I am kind of ticked because I had to take Mary to the hospital in the middle of the night on Wednesday night into Thursday b/c she was in so much pain from her ear. The Dr. at the ER said it was only an infection in the ear canal and she didn't need antibiotics. The next day I took her to the pediatrician with Katie b/c Katie had been running a fever and had a green nose. The Dr. was like, "Jill, she has an ear infection and she needs meds..." So I guess that was a waste of money at the hospital. That is not the first time that has happened -- but you know you can't take your screaming 5 year old to the Dr's office at 3 am b/c they aren't open. What else can I do????

Well, gotta run -- another busy day tomorrow!!!HAPPY THANKSGIVING if I don't get a chance to post tomorrow!!!

Sorry that I've been a bit delinquent in posting as of late. It's been crazy at work getting ready for the busy holidays coming up -- and I've still got this cold -- 3 weeks and going strong. They put me on an inhaler - she says I have something called a post-viral asthmatic reaction - but I don't have asthma. My lungs are clear but I cough all the time and people look at me as though I have the plague. It's lovely. Mary has it, too -- she has had a cough for 4 weeks -- but she feels good - so there isn't much they can do for her.

Hard to believe that Thanksgiving is next week -- this time of year seems to come too quickly as I get older....

Mary has her first two loose teeth! She is so excited. She keeps asking me to call the tooth fairy and let her know. My response was -- "The tooth fairy and I are very good friends -- I have known her about 36 years (hee hee) and I'm sure that when those teeth come out, she'll be the first to know!" Mary's response was , "Do you know her phone number?" to which I replied -- "Yep - I'm pretty sure I've got that one covered!"

What a week...I've been really sick since last Friday, but in true Mommy fashion I must continue on....I think the whole town has this cough..it's not fun. Thankfully the girls and Bill are pretty healthy....

Halloween was a crazy day..I'll post some pics. The girls had parties at school and then a big party at church in the evening.

Hopefully I'll be healthy and back to my blogging self soon....

Okay, I think I have come out of my depression as a result of the Tigers pitiful World Series performance. They were truly outplayed and deserved to lose. Although it was upsetting for me to see Jeff Weaver, a former Tiger, bask in the glory of kicking their butts. To be honest, I am glad it is finished and I can now move on to bigger and better things -- the Holidays are fast approaching and are much more deserving of my time and energy than the World Series.

What a weekend this is turning out to be. I took the girls Trick or Treating at the local supermarket (Meijers) and that was a blast. They had all kinds of stuff for the kids -- and it is nice for the kids to be able to dress up. Mary is very excited about Halloween. Katie has no clue what Halloween is as far as I can tell. I am one of the room mothers for Mary's class, so I get to be at her party. That will be fun. I have the day off of work for all of the festivities. Our church has a huge party also where they have inflatables and games and dinner -- all free for the community. It is a blast! The girls always have a great time at that - and this year I have two of my girlfriends and their kids coming along, too ...so it will be three times the fun.

I went scrapbooking last night with my friend Alicia -- that was a blast as always. I only got one layout done, but it was a very cute one, thanks to my crop coach (Alicia). She does more coaching than cropping, but that serves as a huge benefit to me --thanks Alicia!

Well, I probably should go...the girls are being too quiet and that is never a good thing :)

How can a world series game get rained out? I mean, seriously? Maybe it's a good thing -- those Cardinals need to be slowed up a bit. I know, the Tigers are really coming up short...but "it ain't over til its' over", right.

Today was crazy. Katie didn't have school at all, and Mary had an extended day, so things were really messed up. I can always tell when Katie's routine is off because it really sends her for a loop.

Does anyone out there watch "The Nine".....we don't seem to talk about TV shows much in blog world, but I am really fascinated by this show. I don't watch (and have never watched) LOST, which I am told is very similar to the NINE --- but it really is an interesting format for a TV show...just wondered if anyone else is intrigued by it...

Well, gotta run..hopefully game 4 will go off without a hitch tomorrow -- but rain is in the forecast....

GO TIGERS!!!

I am watching the World Series and blogging at the same time -- which for me could be a bit challenging. I have had good intentions of blogging more this week, but I have been very busy. We had Katie's IEP at school (Individualized Education Plan- required by law for special ed students) yesterday. It went well. They are keeping Katie's personal aide, and that was my only major concern - so at least until the end of the year we should be okay.

I had today off. That was a good thing. I had worked all weekend and had a lot to do around the house. I feel like I am always coming from behind when I have to work all weekend. There is so much to do with the kids -- Mary's last soccer game of the fall was supposed to be last night, but it was cancelled b/c of snow -- how funny is that. It was only 35 degrees out -- too cold for 5 year olds to be playing soccer if you ask me, so I was thrilled to not have a game.

Okay, the game isn't going so well at this moment, so maybe I should stop blogging -- hee hee -- GO TIGERS!!!

WORLD SERIES BEGINS TONIGHT!! GO TIGERS...

Okay, that is all I will say on that subject...for now. Actually I have really cute pictures of Katie at the Apple Orchard that I want to post. She was such a trooper...and actually picked an apple. It was great! The picture on the right is Katie's aid Amy helping her to pick an apple. Katie wasn't sure at first, but she had a great day.

Well, although the graphic quality of this pic is not the finest, Pudge Rodriguez says it all with his expression ... GO TIGERS!! I am so excited about the Tigers going to the World Series. As I have shared with some of my blogging pals, I have been a Tiger fan since I was 14 years old and I was in love with Lance Parrish, the catcher for the Tigers, who won the world series that year. Ever since, through Thick and Thin -- and there has been a lot of Thin, let me tell you, I have remained a true Tiger fan.

Finally, this year, we have had something to cheer about. I thought it was interesting that my local newspaper stated that it was appropriate that Detroit have a good year in baseball because the state of Michigan as a whole has really needed something to cheer about. Hello, we have to put up with the Detroit Lions -- although they did win today! Seriously, with unemployment and all of that, it is nice to have some nice Michigan news for a change. Go TIGERS~~~

The silly days of soccer are upon us. These kids of mine crack me up! As you can see, Mary is on the Orange Diamonds -- gotta love that orange jersey, and Katie just hangs out and makes me laugh. 3 more weeks of fall soccer - it'll be snowing before the season is over!!

Not too much else going on. Bill and the girls have been sick, so we've all been going to bed early. Work is crazy for both Bill and I. With the threat of snow on Thursday, Bill is crazy busy as people are freaking out that their boats are going to freeze in the lake.

Well...the Tigers are playing!! Go Detroit!! Gotta run....

Wow! I am tired. Seems like it has been quite the week -- nothing out of the norm really, but it seems the further into the fall we get, the busier my life becomes. The girls are doing well. Both are fighting off their first cold of the season. I think they have passed it on to Bill now --

Katie is doing so well. We are really pleased at how she is progressing. She has her IEP (Individualized Education Plan) in a few weeks. I am interested to hear everyone's comments as we don't always see eye to eye. The big thing is that she really needs to continue to have her own aide in the classroom. We are praying that that piece will remain in tact. Katie turns 4 next week -- that is hard for me to believe.

My father-in-law found an ELMO TMK for the girls for Christmas. I work at a retail chain and I can't even get one, but somehow he found one. I'm impressed! I need to come up with some good present ideas this year. Mary's b-day is one week before Christmas, so it means twice the presents and sometimes it is hard to be creative.

Well, I need to get ready for work. I get to scrapbook again tomorrow - I'm excited about that....

Sorry it's been awhile. Things have been so busy. We are running around like freaks lately. Soccer, school, work, family...my mom was out of town for a week fishing in the UP -- which made my life crazy ...she helps me so much with Katie (and Mary, too). I really miss her when she's not around. I also have been trying to scrapbook at least twice a month. It is so much fun to be back into scrapping again. I had really missed it.

Work has been very busy for Bill and I both. I feel like the holidays are almost here. Hard to believe it is October already. Mary is loving school...all she ever says is "school is great". She has a cold, Katie, too... 3 weeks into school before our first sickeness isn't too bad :)

Katie had a Dr's appointment on Friday. We are going to run chelation therapy on her for the next 4 months. I really am excited about this because even after just one session of treatment (they do 3 days on the meds and 11 days off) we have seen some great improvements in her. I will be sure to keep updating her progress with the chelation... it really it is an exciting therapy option for autistic families.

Well, I had better go.. I haven't heard Katie in awhile so I need to see what she is up to. Last night while I was at work she stood in the bathroom sink and turned our master bathroom into a swimming pool. Bill said the water was flowing down the walls and into the kitchen below. I am really glad I missed it!!!

Well it's been a week without a blog from me, so I'm long overdue. Things have been crazy. It seems as though with both girls in school the weeks are clicking off like days and every time I turn around I can't belive how quickly time flies. I think that it just shows how old I am getting (not feeling) -- but the reality is that the older we get, the faster time does seem to go. It will be the holiday's soon...work is an everpresent reminder of that. We already have a small area devoted to Christmas trees and holiday seasonal items. Yikes!

Mary and Katie have an open house at school tonight. I'm actually looking forward to it, mostly because we haven't had much of an opportunity to meet Mary's teacher and see what is going on in the classroom. Also, Mary hardly says anything about Kindergarten. Last year - when she was at the private school in K4 - she couldn't stop talking about all of the things they were doing, but now it's like pulling teeth. Hopefully tonight I will see what she has actually been doing :)

I spent most of my day at the Allegan County Fair with my daughter Katie and her early childhood class on their field trip. It was "handicap" or "special ed" day at the fair. Admission was free and they could ride the rides for about 1 1/2 hours for free. It was great fun for them. Katie was so tired by the time we were done, but it was a great time. I think it is so important for kids like Katie to have exposure to public events like the fair. Even though she did have several meltdowns, she was such a trooper! This is a self-portrait that I took of the two of us when we were hanging out waiting for her class. Katie would not go in any of the animal barns. She caught one whiff of the smell and she was done for the day, so she and I walked around and for awhile we just sat on a picnic table and watched people an animals go by. She loved that!!! She is such a joy to my heart!!! I'm glad I was able to spend the day with her. I think she may be "mommy'd out"!!

Good Morning!

I am enjoying one of my new-found mornings of freedom when I don't have to work and both girls are in school. WOW!!! It is so nice to have some Jill time. I love the girls...but I also need to learn to take care of myself. They are both on the bus by 7:30 so it gives me time to have a cup of coffee and clean the house :). Today I went and got my hair cut without having to chase two kids around while I'm trying to get a decent haircut!!!

The weather here has been crazy...rainy and cold. It feels more like November than September....which is a bummer because both of my girls love to be outside!! It is supposed to be much nicer this weekend.

What a week....

I have not been meaning to be neglectful of my blog...but as I have looked through my blogging pals blogs, they too seem to be running a bit behind in updating. It is just a busy time of year with the kids getting back to school. I feel like we are running at 100 miles an hour all the time. Also, our church has built a new addition and our first day in the new church is tomorrow ..so that is just more "excitement" to our already crazy schedule.

Things are going pretty well with back to school. Katie is not adjusting as well as Mary. Mary loves kindergarten and loves riding the bus. She is doing fine with public school. She has asked a couple of times if she is going back to her old school...but I think she is almost past it. Katie is another story. She either doesn't want to get on the bus, or doesn't want to get off the bus. On Friday, she had her shoes off in the van (at the bus stop on the corner) and I had to carry her to the bus and put her shoes in her backpack. When the bus driver dropped her off at lunch time, he said that by the time he got to school she had her shirt off, too! You have to love autistic kids and how they hate shoes and clothes in general!! It's funny to me now, but I do wish that she could at least wear shoes!!!

Well...it's getting late and I'm actually watching Dale Jr. try and secure a spot in the Nextel chase for the cup. I challenge all of my blogging pals to update their sites very soon as I am dying for an update!!!

MICHIGAN'S ADVENTURE -- This week has been so busy that I didn't get around to writing about our trip to Michigan's Adventure onThursday. My mom watched Katie so that we could have a good day with Mary and give her some quality one on one time. Plus, Katie would have been miserable. I didn't take a lot of pictures, mostly video, but here's one that shows how much fun we were having.

CHELATION THERAPY - It is a controversial thing in the world of autism. But, after doing our research and finding a doctor with whom we are extremely comfortable, we are doing it. The goal of chelation is to give the patient a chelator which binds to the bad things (in this case, the heavy metals) in their body and helps them to pass these things out of their body. It can be administered in several ways, but the safest, especially with little kids, is having them take tablets 3 a day, for 3 days and then you do a test to see what levels of metals they are passing. A lot of people, including Bill & I, believe that if autistic kids can be de-toxed from all of the toxicity in their systems (mostly heavy metals including mercury) that they can show drastic improvement in many areas. Our doctor says the results of improvement are about 50/50, so we'll just have to wait and see! Today is day 2 of 3 with the first round of medicine - we are praying for good results!!!

My husband e-mailed this to me and I couldn't resist passing it on to all of my blogging friends ENJOY!!! SAD NEWS Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in thebelly. He was 71. Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebreties turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours. Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions. Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, two children, John Doughand Jane Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survivedby his elderly father Pop Tart. The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes. If this made you smile for even a brief second, please rise to the occasion and take time to pass it on and share that smile with someone else who may be having a crumby day and kneads it.