Shock and awe

(I was unable to properly embed this video, however if you click on it you can then click on the "full screen" option and it will play, I am such a novice at this stuff)





This is heartbreaking, truly shocking in my opinion. How most families in earlier days were led to believe that these types of institutions were the best place for their children.  After watching this video I wept for the Molly's of the world.  I am left to wonder what kind of life these children, men and women, might have had if understanding could have been different.  I am so sad that these people endured the life that they did.  I wonder if they had any laughter, was there any sunshine?  Did they see the sun set?  Were there candles on their birthday cakes?  Did they even have a birthday cake?  Were there presents under the tree?  Was there  education?  Did. they.  feel.  LOVED?   The reality is that I doubt any of those things happened for them.  In Molly's eyes I see Alyse's strabismus left untreated.

50 years, that is such a small amount of time in the true scope of things.

Alyse does feel loved, of that I am sure.

Awe.  My grandmother gave birth to a son who was mentally retarded.  I can only imagine the pressure she must of felt to "do what is right for her family" and place him in an institution at an early age.  I am honored to know that her same blood flows through my veins.  That this feeling of conviction for our children is shared.  I feel connected to her  especially in this way.  I can shut my eyes and experience what she might have felt when she said no to the institution early on and then yes in her later years when she herself  was facing her own mortality.  How incredibly hard that must of been for her, for her too I weep.  For the woman,  I will also become when I can no longer care for my youngest daughter.

Christmas, crappity, crap, crap, crap

So I accomplished a lot today.  I bought two of the onehundredseventyfivethousandsixtysix gifts that I actually have to purchase this year, which only leaves me onehundredseventyfivethousandandsixtyfour to go.  Hip hip hooray for me!!  I'm not sure why I am having such a hard time coming up with absolutely ANYTHING to buy this year.

Ms Shelby is absolutely dying to procure a cell phone, unfortunately Secret Agent Man is hearing nothing of that, insisting that he didn't have a cell phone until he was well past legal age and post living in his parents abode.

Doesn't he realize that we have left the eighteenth century well behind us. Does he not see that I have to call Shelby on her FRIEND'S phone?  I actually get texts from Shelby's friends when we are in the mall.  I have all their numbers on speed dial hoping that they might actually BE with Shelby when she has gone missing. Only to find out she has switched teams and is now with the Brookster, and they are playing hide and seek IN THE MALL. Now I can remember spending time (i.e. wasting time and following boys) in this same mall when I was her age, and never once did we come up with the idea to play hide and seek in the freaking mall.  Seriously, just who does that??  Only people who have immediate, lightening fast access to one an other.  People with CELL PHONES.  Are you hearing this Secret Agent Man?  You are impeding your flesh and blood's ability to stay connected and text "all-y, all-y, all come free" at Gap?  Seriously, just let me get the cell phone so I can bring that number down to onehundredseventyfivethousandandsixtythree.

Then there is Mr T.  Mr T has decided that he might be satisfied with a go cart.  However, his choice in go cart's is one that has been officially clocked at acceleration speeds over 120 mph.  Now, as if that wasn't bad enough, he would like it have the ground clearance of a Bassett Hound.  This to ensure that none of the grown-up, tired people driving nonchalantly home after a hard day's work in their ever so large SUV's with a ground clearance that would swallow said go cart and "fruit of my loin" under their chassis without totally being aware, are actually NOT aware that their beast of a vehicle just swallowed my boy.  Mr T doesn't see this as a threat to his well being and insists I worry too much.

Of course there is also my sweet Leece.  Ms girl might just be satisfied if I wrapped up her sock drawer, but I'm guessing that would not get me any "mother-of-the-year" type awards come January 1. It is my Alyse that I would like to really nail, because she is not very verbal, yet still so animated. It makes my heart happy (and every one else who happens to be within hearing distance) when she adores something.  Lately she has been a bit obsessed with pictures of puppies.  While Secret Agent Man (who is a huge animal lover) might say yes to this little endeavor, I really would not like that proposition much at all, so nada to that one as well.

So if you see someone on a lightening fast, low riding go cart with a puppy nestled firmly in the Snuggli texting last minute orders to wally world for onehundredseventyfivethousandandsixty gift cards you should assume that I couldn't come up with anything better.

Stir Crazy

Today is day 4 of being cooped up inside with Ms Alyse. She still feels rotten and her cough doesn't seem to be getting much better. My baby was diagnosed with pneumonia on Tuesday. She has not been her funny, happy self since since Friday of last week. I thought she might have been feeling better yesterday and went so far as to call work and tell them I could come in today, but as the evening wore on her cough once again became deep, and each breathe she took came with it's own snap, crackle or pop.

By morning I was up, showering early hoping for improvement, anticipating a new day and different scenery for us both. Instead I was greeted with a little munch-kin who coughs so hard and so long that she makes herself sick. My heart always feels heavy when this little of mine feels bad.

Sooo lemons to lemonade and all that, today we will make cookies. No bakes I think, some thing a bit chocolaty and quick and wholesome to sweeten that lemonade. I love how easy and quick these cookies are to make, did you know they were called "preachers cookies" in days past because you might be able to catch a glimpse of the preacher at the bottom of your land making his way to your house and still have time to whip up these cookies before he got to your door? Funny little factoid huh? The last time I made these I ran out of regular oatmeal and added several of those little packets of raisin & spice instant oatmeal, oh baby, was that ever good. Even better than the original recipe I think!

Just in case you might like to try them out someday here is the recipe

Preachers Cookies

1 stick butter

2 cups sugar

3 Table spoons unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (heaping) creamy peanut butter

2 teaspoons vanilla

3 cups oatmeal*

*I use 1 cup of regular quick oats and 2 cups of Raisin and spice packets, yum!

Place butter, sugar, cocoa, evaporated milk, salt and vanilla in a heavy sauce pan. Melt butter and combine all other ingredients until they are well blended. Boil mixture for two minutes. Remove from heat. Stir peanut butter in mixture until it is melted. Add vanilla and oatmeal. Stir until combined. Working quickly before it hardens place by the spoon full on waxed paper. Wait until cookies have hardened to move.

So here we are

Finally going to do this, I've been thinking of starting a blog for quite some time now and decided today is the day.  Hopefully it will be something I will be able to maintain.

Cast of characters:
Ms Alyse, our youngest.  Alyse is 8 and in second grade.



Thomas, our youngest son.  Thomas is 11 and in the fifth grade.

Ms Shelby, our oldest daughter.  Shelby is 12 going on 22 in the seventh grade.

My oldest son Alex, 26 and in college, still.....

My hubby, aka Secret Agent Man

And then there's me, but I'm always the one holding the camera!