Batteries Recharged...Part One!

A year ago this blog took a little holiday as I completed a challenge I took...a challenge to myself.  I started another blog, 365 Days of Gift from My Nonverbal Daughter

And I did it!  But now it is time to start blogging again....

It feels like a year since I last opened my blogger account...to write.   However, on Wednesday, October 30th it will be only THREE months!

When you do something....anything....every single day it just becomes a routine.  The norm.   And sometimes you have to take a step back to see what others see.  To see your life and every thing around you from a different perspective.  For one day or ten days or months....do not do the norm.

A break.  A hiatus.  A holiday.  A vacation.  Whatever you call it....take it.

That is exactly what I did.  What I needed to do.

Tooth Fairy

I have been trying to write this post FOREVER.  However, it is harder than I thought to manage two blogs!  News flash for myself!!!  So I am hoping to post on this blog at least once a month.

Ok...the post....

Loosing teeth is one of those childhood memories we all remember.   You loose a tooth, tell all your friends, put the tooth under your pillow and then in the morning the tooth fairy left you money.  Who wouldn't be excited over this?   I even tried putting my puppies teeth under my pillow when I was little to see if it would work....to no avail!

Unfortunately, loosing teeth is not like this for Anna Cate.  Most of her teeth she has lost she has swallowed.  She eats something, we see a little blood,  see there is a missing tooth and have a huge feeling of guilt.

We never knew it was loose, we never knew if it was causing her any pain, we never knew anything until it was too late.

10 years of "stuff" saved between 3 children!

Do you save everything your child brings home from school?  Do you save everything they make for you?  I did until it started taking over my attic!

Six months ago my husband and I cleaned out our attic....It was a mess!  What we found was an 8 x10 area of bags and bins filled with all things saved from my children starting when Anna Cate was 2!  It was out of control to say the least!

Of course I had to wait for the right time to purge through everything as I did not want my children to think I didn't care about the things they made.  I actually got "busted" once from Betsie last year for throwing something away of hers....her exact words were "Mom, I spent a lot of time I that"....I felt horrible!  So I just started to save everything....knowing one day I would "organize" it all.

Picky Eaters

Do you have a picky eater or eaters in your house?

I feel like this is always a constant battle in our house.  All my kids used to be GREAT eaters....then one day my middle daughter, Betsie, decided she didn't want to eat anything healthy.  Of course, this was right around the time her little brother was playing "monkey see monkey do" and he decided to follow suit!

Lucky for me, Anna Cate, who has special needs, has always had an incredible appetite.

In the last year, Betsie has started to come around and she pretty much eats anything...as she really wants dessert.  My rule is, no dinner, no dessert.  If you get hungry after dinner, I will heat your dinner up, but after a certain time...still no dessert.  Eli, has gone to bed many nights hungry.....I will not cook more than one dinner.

I find I sometimes get into ruts with cooking, as I care more about the kids eating than anything else.  And not hearing them complain about dinner is also a factor!  However, I like to try new dishes.

So one day, I decided to "try" and make our "kitchen" clean...and the kids had wake up call as to what foods they would be allowed to eat.  I was surprised they didn't give me much complaining at all.  I should have done this sooner!

Slowly, I introduced new foods into their diets and didn't bring the old foods back in.  It was not until Monday night where....for the first time...my son tried something new and LOVED it.  No fuss, no muss, ate the whole thing.  I was so proud of him!

We had Aidells Chicken and Apple Sausage sautéd with onions in coconut oil (the onion were sliced in big piece as I know the kids do not like them and it is easier to pick out), Harvest Blend from Trader Joe's and a salad.  This will be a keeper in our rotation for sure!

However, it didn't end there.  Today, on our day home from school I tried two new items with them. For lunch we had Roasted Red Pepper Bisque from Trader Joe's with a couple of crackers on the side.  Another hit!  At snack time I tried something I had seen recently and I can not remember where...maybe pinterest....anyway...it was sliced bananas drizzled with honey and then sprinkled with cinnamon....yum...yum...yum!

Getting my youngest to eat vegetables has been a challenge.  Fruit he loves..veggies...not so much.  This summer we got a juicer and it changed my world in getting vegetables into his diet.  He will not eat many vegetables; however, if he drinks them it is a different story!  I think it is the whole idea of him helping me make the juice which he likes.  Whatever it takes...I'm game!

Last week a friend mentioned she made apple cider with her kids using their juicer.  My kids LOVE apple cider, so today I thought would be the perfect day to try and make some with them.  Anna Cate didn't want to get too close to the juicer when I offered for her put an apple in, she preferred to stay back and watch.  I wasn't going to push her, as we were having a fun day together.  Betsie and Eli took turns making apple cider for us.  It turned out pretty good!

While Hurricane Sandy was trying to wash out our day, we were cookin' it up in the kitchen!  And it was a huge success!

What are your children/grandchildren's favorite foods?  What do they like to help you do in the kitchen?

Cha-Ryot

Anyone know what Cha-Ryot means?

ATTENTION....in Korean!

Yes, attention everyone....Eli passed his test tonight in Tae Kwon Do and received his Yellow Belt!

He was so proud of himself!!!  I love seeing his expressions on his face which shows how excited his is of his hard work and dedication.  Especially since at the beginning of our Tae Kwon Do journey he was not "loving" it.  Honestly, it was torture to watch!

However, as time went on he started liking it more and more and then one day something "clicked" and now he loves it!

I love how he is not only learning Tae Kwon Do, but also some Korean!

Eli right before he gets his Yellow Belt....

Here is a video of him getting his belt....

And Eli with his new belt....

Congratulations Buddy....we are so proud of your hard work, dedication and focusing!

Little Surprises

Every morning when I ask my 8 year old daughter, Betsie, to make her bed, I also ask Eli, my 5 year old....only to hear "I don't know how".  All I say, is "you can try".

Well, this morning...he tried...and succeeded!!!  While it is not perfect....he still tried and this I am so thankful for....in so many ways!  Four beds in the house....three I have been making....hopefully I am only down to two!!!

Not too bad for a 5 year old, is it......

Happy Tuesday to me!

Have your children surprised you today???

New Title....

As you can see my blog has not only a new look, but a new title.  Her Climb has been replaced by Our Everyday.  

Having a child with special needs is a whole family effort...and I wanted to start blogging about my other two children too.  They are also incredible kids I would like to share with you.

Some days I will have long posts, some short.  Some days I will only post pictures and quotes which remind me of my family and how I am feeling on a particular day....or every day.  I hope to post more laughs than tears, but I will not make any promises.

Having a child with special needs does add some grey to your life, but amidst the grey there is lots of color to share!

Just to end the the post with a little humor....who doesn't like someecards???  This one reminds me so much of my children....always pointing the finger at someone else....

Until next time....

-E