Wrong End...

Today Mini Tahoe #3 is having surgery. It's nothing serious it is just to fix a little problem he has with his boy parts. They told us it will only take about ten minutes and he will be fine to return to school the next day.

Of course, as with any surgery, he cannot eat anything for 12 hours before surgery that are not clear. Then nothing at all for the four hours before the surgery.

Now I know he is only 5 so I am trying to explain all of this to him in a way he understands. I told him that if he eats before he goes to sleep he might throw up on the doctor and she wouldn't like that very much plus his tummy would hurt. His response seriously made me giggle...

"Mommy, they are fixin my penis, not my mouth. That really doesn't make any sense"

I just love this kid.....

Tahoe Girl



I have been there...

I am not sure how much detail I have gone into about each of my kids. As with everyone else, I have three kids with three different personalities, but with that I have gained knowledge and patience on how to help each one of them succeed. I also feel like I can be a resource to friends and family when they too are faced with something I have gone through.

That being said, in the past two weeks I have had the opportunity to help two friends who have boys with ADHD. Now let me back up, my oldest was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 4years old. That is very early, but it was very obvious at the time. He has also been on medication since then and in the past 7 years we have researched, studied and learned everything we can about the situation. He has had more struggles I can count and I have cried buckets of tears over things I have no control over. I have asked "what did I do wrong" or "why him" so many times that I learned to stop and face it HEAD ON. And that we have. Faced it. Owned it and even bragged about it in a way. I grew up in a southern household, we don't hide crazy, we put it on the front porch!

So back to my friends, each one has a different approach....one is accepting (finally) and working with doctors to find the right meds and behavioral plan for her son. She has her husband on board and they are working with their son to help him learn to work with his abilities not to focus on the disability. She called me to ask for other methods to help and I gave her tons of advice on diet and that food is the hardest struggle with a medicated child. I gave her hints and tips with self esteem and confidence and rewards for the good things they do. We talked for hours and I had such a happy heart knowing I was helping a parent to avoid some of the struggles I have had to deal with.

When I talked to my other friend the conversation was totally different and the way I handled it totally shocked my husband! I am not one to hold back and I had finally had with this friend burying her head in the sand. She stopped me at school to ask if mine was having a good first week of school as she had already been called twice and was having a meeting with the teachers to discuss his behavior issues. She was exasperated and feeling at a loss over the situation. When she confirmed she had finally had him diagnosed with ADHD my next question was, which med is he on? She said he wasn't on any because she was scared of side effects, specifically the food issue. When I started talking to her about this I pointed out there are non-stimulant meds, what the meds were for and how to overcome the side effects. She looked at me like I had a third eye ball growing out of my head. She had no idea what I was talking about. This is when I finally got frank with her and told her to go home and do some research because she was not facing it head on and accepting the truth. It was time to get real and HELP HER CHILD! She doesn't even have a good understanding what the real situation is and doesn't understand what ADHD truly is.

I understand that many people do not agree with me about ADHD. BUT I HAVE LIVED IT FOR 7 YEARS! I have seen the good and the very, very bad and open to discussing it with anyone who asks! I will tell the truth about my child and how we have managed things but I do it to help others. IF your going to ignore it and not step up and protect your child then don't ask me about mine.It's not a dirty little secret in our house and I have gone to battle with family members and teachers to make sure my child gets what he needs.

Medication is not the answer for everyone, I agree with that but it is and has been for my son. He has improved at school considerably over the years even with his struggles.He doesn't get in trouble at school and I don't get phone calls about aggressive behavior and defiance. He is taking control of himself on his own and is learning the cues to know when something isn't right for him. He knows he is loved and is learning to embrace his abilities not focusing on the disabilities. He wears his ADHD label like a badge of honor and is proud of himself when he overcomes an obstacle. He is NOT GIVING UP!

So if your wondering why I jumped on my soapbox this morning, here is why. Research, learn and step up for your child. They are the ones living with these many things and diagnosis and they are not in a position to fight for themselves. BE their advocate and DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO HELP THEM BE SUCCESSFUL. There are TONS of resources out their and I will be happy to help anyone who needs it.

But don't ask me if you don't want an honest answer because it will not always be what you want to hear.
Tahoe Girl

Who Are You?

That is what I hear when it has been a few days since I have called my mother. She pretends to not know me and  makes me go through the whole thing explaining who I am. No,she doesn't have alzheimers, she just likes to point out how long it's been since she heard from me.

I am guessing you are feeling the same way my mother does...

Where does the time go? The last time I posted was FEBRUARY! This is crazy....I mean seriously, it's not like I have anything better to do....you know, just running the three kids around, working, cooking, cleaning (yes Titan Boy I DO know what a vacuum is) and just living life.

I pinky swear I will start catching this blog up on all that is happening in Tahoeland soon!

I have missed catching up with ya'll!
Tahoe Girl

Heard from the front seat of the Tahoe...

Yesterday while headed to baseball (it's spring, where else would I be going) I was sitting in the front seat reading something on my phone (Titan Boy was driving) when I heard this....

Littlest Tahoe says: "Ya know I have boy makeup at grandma's house in a special drawer. She says it's ok for boys to wear makeup and I like it"

Ummmm WHAT? Boy Makeup? My inlaws are very conservative so I am now shocked at this comment. What the heck is boy makeup?

As I turn around obviously confused Sassy says: " Don't worry mom, he's just talking about chapstick. That's what he calls boy makeup."

Phewwww, I was getting worried I was gonna find him wearing my lipstick and borrowing my eyeliner...
Tahoe Girl

Perspective

Sometimes, out of nowhere, comes an event that puts everything into perspective. This is that week for me.

This morning a childhood friend called to let me know her brother had passed away. My heart breaks for her as I think of all the fun we all had as children. He was a unique and charismatic character and will truly be missed.

Tomorrow I have the opportunity to witness joy in families where stress normally resides. For four days they will be nothing but pampered and I get to help send them off on their journey.

Recently I have learned of friends with illnesses and family struggles. Nothing seems to be easy for anyone these days.

All of this leaves me wondering how my perspective will change after all of these events. I am blessed with a happy, healthy family and love in all directions. I have been through hell and back in my 36 years on this earth and am looking forward to many more years but will I continue to head in the same direction or will my path change? These are questions I cannot answer but I look forward to the journey that does answer them.

I hope your day is full of sunshine, even though sometimes it hides behind the clouds.
Tahoe Girl

This is fun...

Today I decided it was time to do some sprucing up of my website (www.themonogrammedmarketplace.com), my website's blog (www.monogrammedmarketplace.blogspot.com) and then I thought, well I need to update this blog as well! I have had a morning for creative fun redesigning everything!

Oh, did I mention HUGE CLEARANCE SALE on my other blog? Oh yeah, I added tons of great products and super low pricing in an effort to clean out the studio and get ready for all the new products headed in for spring! I cannot wait to get started on all the new stuff...that means....everything else has to go! Check it out and I am sure you will find something over there you can use (or give!)

Just a couple of the things you might find on sale...

Tahoe Girl

Flashback to 1988

This afternoon I taught Sassy Tahoe and her friend how to make friendship bracelets. You remember those...all the colors of the floss and the clipboard to hold it still while you tied each knot with enthusiasm. I used to make hundred of those things in colors and patterns. Don't even get me started on the ribbon barrettes I used to make.

But Sassy and her friend got bored 1/2 inch into their bracelets then ran off to do something else.

It was fun to be nostalgic even if only for fifteen minutes!
Tahoe Girl

We interrupt this broadbast..

For a Public Service Announcement...

If someone emails you a question or request regarding a service you have purchased or an event they are involved in, PLEASE RESPOND. No response leaves them wondering, are you stealing my money and not going to provide the service I paid for....or...do you not want me at the upcoming event?

I find this situation so frustrating!

Ok, now I feel alittle better!
Tahoe Girl

Hard Work...

When the day comes that you become a parent you are so blindsided by the bliss of that sweet newborn that you never think ahead to the days of adolescence. Babies and toddlers can be a handful and make you want to pull your hair out but they still think you hung the moon because you can make a peanut butter sandwich in the shape of a dinosaur and find their lost blanket.

Fast forward to the year of the "dragon", I mean the 10th year. The year where parents become mean and evil and obviously have nothing better to do than torture their children with horrible things like homework, and teeth brushing. I never thought it would happen to me as i was not going to "be like my mother" and my kids were going to be well behaved and perfect and NEVER say a cross word to anyone including me.

I am sure my mother is laughing hysterically while singing " I told you so!" Why are mothers always right? And how come we don't realize this until we become mothers? Wouldn't it bridge that gap between tweenagers and grown ups if we figured this stuff out at 10?

I love all three of my children with my whole heart and I think that is why it makes me insane when they don't do the "easy" things I ask of them....I am not making them mow the back 40 or clean the horses stalls so is TYING YOUR OWN SHOES WHEN YOUR 10 REALLY THAT MUCH TO ASK? Seriously!!!!

This morning before school did not go well and I am mad at myself for how upset I got at Mini#1. But what are we supposed to do as parents when they didn't come with instructions? There is no troubleshooting guide in the back that explains how to handle issues. If only there was a reboot button or you could "CTRL/ATL/DELETE" and correct the problem. Some days I think animals have it easier....if they step out of line you just nip them and growl and they jump back in line......if only...

So now I sit here second guessing myself since I am now "the mean mom" who obviously plans on torturing her children by making them do their homework today and has "grounded" them from their playdates for bad behavior...

Do you think one day I will get to say "I told you so!" to them like my mother is saying?
Tahoe Girl