Update to "Baby It's Cold Outside"

Well, I knew that the so called emergency with our pipes freezing was kind of an impossibility and it's quite comical.  When I got home, I immediately walked into the kitchen with Danielle, turned on the faucet and within less than 5 minutes the hot water came on.  I had to explain to her that right now it may take a little more time to warm up.  But I think it was her way of trying to get out of doing the dishes...and there lots of dishes.  But she got it all done today and she did an excellent job!

Moral of the story?  There isn't one, just teach with patience and a little laughter! :)

Baby It's Cold Outside...And Inside!

I have found it pretty interesting when my daughter is home, by herself during some kind of school vacation.  Of course this week finds our out due to Christmas and New Year's.  But I have noticed with a child/teen with FASD, that little matters turn into extreme volcanic eruptions and the situation has to be resolved NOW!  But since I am at work down in Salt Lake and she is 40 miles north of where I am...getting it down NOW is an impossibility!  She calls me all frantic saying that there is no hot or warm water coming from our facets...anywhere in the house!  She has tried getting a hold of our landlord and he's not home, in fact she has walked over there a few times.  I told her that the pipes are probably frozen and things will be fine.  But from her stand point, things aren't and won't be fine until the problem is resolved.  So I have reassured her that I will get it taken care of when I get home.  I just feel real bad when she gets that anxious and I'm not home...

And The Beat Goes On...

We've made it through the Christmas holidays in one piece?  Normally, and it did show this year, all the stress, activity, large family gatherings sets Danielle off.  She can't handle too much stimulis but for some unforseen reason, this year she did great.  There were a few episodes to where we were with family members and she had to talk louder and at the same time, this has been one of her coping mechanisms, that's when mom and/or dad, whoever she is with, kind of gently pulls her close and lets her know she is okay.  Christmas is always a fun time because of the little child she is within.  She may be a 15 year old but her mentality is around 10 years of age.  She still has the child-like innocence about her.  I made the mistake of giving her free reign of my glue gun.  She made everyone's gifts this year.  I will take a picture of mine when I get home and post it.  At least I know from family members that her gifts are always appreciated.  This year all she really wanted was music, music, music and then maybe a DVD.  Her room is always filled with some kind of sound coming out, but of course I have my rules of what is allowed and what isn't.  She is pretty respectful in that area.  Now I have to contend with the make-up issues.  I am blessed to have a Mary-Kay lady as my oldest daughter and she has sat down many times with Danielle about how to apply and color coordinate.  But Dani likes to take her tips from girls at school and she comes home with this heavy eye liner on.  OMGosh!  How do you get it through to an FASD teen that this is not right?  Persistence I think is the answer and lots of eye make-up remover.  But that is what I mean...and the beat goes on!

A 15 Year Old's Birthday...

Today is my Danielle's 15th Birthday.  Where has the time gone?  We have been through so much in her 15 years...but it has all been worth it.  To see where she is today.  Just a couple of weeks ago she started full time at her junior high.  No more transitional school.  She is only in two main stream classes, science and choir.  But her science teacher happens to be her resource reading teacher.  In choir are a lot of her friends.  She is so excited because on the 17th of December is her first choir performance.  First time ever performing with a group.  I am excited for her.  She is on the honor roll, and her new progress report just came home a couple of days ago and so far A's.  Right now, things are going good, but there are always going to be hick-ups and bumps, it's just the nature of the beast.  The beast being FASD.  Some days the beast is easily slain, some days it takes longer and I find I have to have a special plan.

But for now I will just tuck that plan in my pocket and enjoy each moment that comes.  She's 15 and that won't last too long.