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Miss Bonnie, Welcome home :bouncing_off_wall: happy to hear mom is doing so well and you and all other made it through your trip well too. Your absence here was felt and you were greatly missed. We muddled through and held down the fort without you, but it just wasn't the same without our ray of sunshine. If we could we'd all jump up on your lap and lick your face like your furry friends ~ just thought you'd enjoy that mental image. love you, Maria :friends:

Kathy, My mother was also very much enjoying her feeder when she first moved here from NY 2 years ago until the fallout attracted every critter in her development and they ate her expensive newly planted flowers. In addition to her morning coffee and bird watching she called to moan about this daily so out it came. They are beautiful and very relaxing enjoy them and your refound climate. Good luck with your cake. I'm sure it will turn out fine. As long as it's red and as sweet as you, he'll be just as tickled as Elmo. Enjoy! Maria :friends:

Jean, I have to admit. You had me going there for a bit with your title ~ lol the wonders of brain damage. You blew Seinfeld's theory out of the water. The baby is absolutely adorable Maria

bill, Don't waste your time trying to analyze who should bear the brunt of the blame, it really doesn't matter. In 10 years you'll look back see it all differently and it still won't matter. It's not worth the energy, it won't change anything. There really is nothing to win except the chance to have the final nanadodo I was right all along. Who cares? You're going to part ways in the end anyway. It's not worth the stress. People spend a fortune and have strokes for that final haha. It never made sense to me. If they're willing to sacrifice that much for the other person, they must mean an awful lot to them ~ just stay married to them. You're so right. Keep it out of court, keep the kids out it, give her what she wants (within reason), be the bad guy, and get it over with with your health and sanity. Good luck, Maria :friends:

Sherry, I'm so glad and relieved that you have Ann yo help you with your angst and the emotion impact of this. It's great that she put you in touch with the resources you need to enable you to further your recovery and get much needed financial assistance. See there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it's not the oncoming train. You sound soooo much better already. You're looking ahead and sounding positive...something you hadn't done before. Keep up the good work!(((((((hugs)))))) Maria :friends:

Sherry, First, this may help you better understand the crying http://www.ieed.org/pc/about/ Secondly, people are probably just staring at your dazzling beauty but you're just self conscious because of your stroke. Wouldn't you have more sense than to stare if you knew that someone had a problem or handicap? Then look how much better off than them you are... who is really at the disadvantage? Keep chuggin' along kid it makes you stronger in the end Maria :friends:

Pumpkin, On the upside....sure beats still being in Florida and not getting to hang with your grandson until he had his car keys and drove down for spring break with a host of different animals. The rain isn't helping the whole pain thing. Once the weather breaks a bit, hopefully it will ease up a bit. Maria :friends:

Honey, I know I keep telling you this and I'm sure they sound like empty words right now, but you are going to be fine. The crying is normal and all part of the nightmare, but it goes away in time and your smile comes back. It takes a while but it really does happen, this is the hardest part. Starting a blog was great. Keep at it, it helps to work through your feelings. Maria :friends:

Elondie, I'm crying on my keyboard. Don't for a second underestimate Tootie and think she is not aware of every event you attend and moment you are there for her. She feels your love in everything you do and say just as we do here. She's always loved you just hadn't yet found a way to verbalize it. I can only imagine how incredibly wonderful it felt to actually hear her say it and am so happy for you to have delighted in that long awaited precious moment. Maria :friends: xoxo

Honey, Sorry you're having to deal with this. You're sort of doing this in reverse. Most of us wake up and have to deal with the facing we lost our job/career and must deal with that loss. You were away from it when it happened and now have stepped back in to your old world so you're in a sense back at go. Not really, but only in that you never had to deal with that aspect of it and now you do. It's no picnic, but it goes away. Give yourself a chance to start anew rather than recreate. Love, Maria

Katrina, Your poem is beautiful, but honey please don't feel that way. Of course I know what it's like to have a stroke and what it was like to be 18. It breaks my heart to think you have to deal with this at that age, but don't offer to give it any more than it has already taken.The pressure and stress of having a lot going on with school certainly doesn't help. You can wait around being miserable until something changes or you can make the best of the moment. Your dad is afraid something will happen to you, parents are like that. I'm 46 years old and when I had my aneurysm, my mother sold her house in New York and bought one right near my house so she could make sure I didn't do things that she didn't think I should be doing. She hides my car keys. Most of her statements to me are still you can't do that...to which I bark back WHY NOT? As I've gotten better and more back to my former self, I sometimes make a run for it only to look in my rear view mirror and see her tailing me. I'm sorry in good conscience I can't tell you to defy your father despite his over protectiveness, although I did it for years ~ so I guess I'm a hypocrite but he just loves you, would rather see you miss out a bit than lose you to something worse, and would gladly trade places with you in a second if he could. You're not going to change him, trust me I've been trying for years, you'll only frustrate yourself trying. Please please don't give up hope for the future or for being happy ~ it may not be in exactly what you think you want, but something you hadn't anticipated. Maria :friends:

Deenie, Apologies for overdue condolences. I will keep you and your family in my prayers. Maria

Elondie, Challenger ball is great! My friend's son is autistic, has been playing for years, and has really gotten a lot out of it. Enjoy every minute of how adorable teeball is. I'd love how no one would notice the ball in play because they would all be too busy sitting on the floor playing with the dirt or a kid would hit the ball and run to third instead of first, or when one has to go to the bathroom and then the whole field realizes they have to go. I know you have that video camera fired up...been there. She'll have a great time and so will you. Maria :friends:

Elondie, Just 4 and already a prima ballerina and equestrian. You know it's only a matter of time before she takes the spotlight on the red carpet. I'm happy you guys enjoyed your outing Maria :friends:

Donna, Congratulations on your anniversary and thank you for all you do for us. Kristi will never in a million years go to the teacher about the other kids. Kids don't give one another up about things like that; they know it's social suicide. Ask her if the group was assigned and if it was could she be in a different one next time because everyone is not pulling their own weight. The teacher will get it without her having to spell it out. The school system and teachers all know which kids get high and drink so the teacher will know Kristi's problem is working with the element she's with. The other side of peer pressure is how to avoid them without blatantly ratting on them

Bonnie, Great job with smoking! Fortunately we're not much of a market with chemo caps, but knowing how we're all always freezing I'd bet you'd make a killing with throws around here. Continued prayers for mom and your family. Maria :friends:

Anne dear, if you need a little check on whether it's you or the 4 year-old...I'll be happy to send the boys down to visit Auntie Anne for the summer. They're not 4, but sure to put you over the edge just the same. They do mow so to kill two birds ~ as a means of transport I can have them head out on the tractor when they get home from school. That gives you ample time to relocate to your new undisclosed address. Glad your new home will be ready for summer so you'll have time to enjoy the surroundings and Bill can sun himself. Love ya, Maria

Donna, Pogo/Avery is very cute and fortunately had an owner to claim him.With the possibility that the next may not and the girls on the lookout for strays, I would clearly let them know that the next one is Kristi's friend's mom's turn. Now that you're survived your first winter back home, you'll really enjoy buzzing around in the spring on your scooter. Maria :friends:

Dear lady, Congrats and very cool that you made it 30 days especially with the added stress of John's absence. Fortunately you didn't compensate for the oral fixation by nibbling on the pellets, kibble, or beating anyone with your Barbie dumbbells. That was the hardest part from here it should get easier. Glad to hear John's mother is holding up pretty well. Continued prayers, Maria xoxo :friends:

Elondie, As Donna suggested the classroom teacher well knows that a stern no, time out, and notifying the parent should address the problem. If the behavior continuesthe child may not be in the appropriate setting for his specific classification. Inclusion is wonderful and works well but should not be at the expense of the other children in the class. You or your children should have been given a handbook outlining "rights of parents and children of special education".Part of her inclusion is to be a mainstream setting in the least restrictive environment free of ridicule and abuse, whether that her mainstream or special education peers. Being bitten is a violation of her right to feel safe in that classroom free from abuse. The school needs to address his issue and that may mean a class change for him. Speak to the child study team. They do their job but especially in special ed you really need to be an advocate for your child.

Elondie, Most five-year-olds tend to become easily distracted in anything less than highly organized settings with one directive given at a time very slowly. In as much as they love receiving attention, they don't like to be the focal point and many times will react as Taylor did because they feel embarrassed. She actually sounds like an an average 5 year-old with one advantage...she's already figured out that the prima ballerina is expected to be temperamental.

Elondie, As she is your miracle, she is our little site mascot angel and we all anxiously await and are excited to hear of such miraculous and wonderful milestones. Looking forward to pictures of our prima ballerina

Stu, Sounds like despite a little difficulty to and fro, a good time was had by all and that's what counts :Clap-Hands: Maria

Thank you guys for your replies and support. When there's a will there's a way and of course always a motive.After resetting his phone to the European towers he called to say this is such a great experience he's considering the multi-cultural exchange program. My husband's response was try considering the Peace Corp because after this the only excursion he's financing is bus fare to their office to sign up. My next blog may be from Rahway State Prison.

Kim, Welcome to blog world. Congrats on the cycling! I'll hang with Donna and offer encouragement and cool drinks from the sidelines. Great job Maria