Example of an Introduction Sheet

This is to introduce my child _________________ to you.

1.    All of the people who live with us are:

2.    My child’s favorite subject in school is _____________________.

3.    The subject that he/she am best at is _______________________.

4.    The subject that he/she needs the most help with is _____________________.

5.    The activity that he/she is best at outside of school is ___________________.

6.    Struggles we’ve had during the past year:

7.    Successes we’ve had in the past year:

8.    What hurts his/her feelings the most:

9.    What makes him/her the happiest:

10.                  His/her favorite book:

11.                  He/she is motivated by:

12.                  He/she shuts down when:

13.                  Here is more information concerning my child’s academic success.

14.                  The people you may speak to about my child are/and numbers to reach them:

15.                  The best ways and times to get ahold of me are: 

Trisomy Thursday: Help Your Child Succeed

This is not just for parents of children with Down syndrome but for parents of all children, especially those who struggle in school.  This is also coming from the perspective of a teacher as well as a parent.
It's back-to-school time!  Exciting for many, hated by some, and dreaded by those who struggle to grasp the concepts being thrown out by the teacher.  As parents, we didn't ask for a child with a disability, but that's what we were blessed with.  It is our job to make sure our child is as successful in life as possible, not to enable their disability to control their lives.
Here are some suggestions to help your child be successful:

1. Communicate with the teacher.  Go to open house and meet your child's teachers (grade school through high school).  Give the teachers a sheet introducing your child and explain how your child best learns, what motivates him/her, what sets him/her off, and information on the disability of your child and how it affects his/her learning.  (I will include a second post today on an example introduction sheet).
2.  Don't use the disability as an excuse.  Children who are expected to do great things, do great things (sometimes with help and accommodations), but if they are never challenged to grow and experience working through frustration, they have a very difficult time handling situations later.
3.  Communicate with the teacher often.  Email, go in, or call once a month to see how things are going.  What needs to be coming home, what skills can be worked on at home to enhance what is going on at school, are there any behavior problems, social problems?  When teachers know that you are working as hard as you can at home, they are more willing to work with you.
4.  Teachers are not psychic.  If something is concerning you, please calmly discuss it with the teacher.  Teachers have classrooms full of kids with all variety of problems; upper grade teachers have 80 plus kids a day for 40 minutes at a time (many of whom need extra help of some kind).  Teachers have the best interest of your child at heart so work with them to achieve what's best for your child and listen to what the teacher is seeing in the classroom.
5.  Work with your child every day at home.  Children with special needs have to work with a concept close to 200 hundred times before they really know it.  A teacher can not do it all for every kid.  Parents are ultimately responsible for their child's success.  Read to them, practice math facts, sight words, spelling words, test questions, and talk through appropriate ideas for social and behavior problems.
6. Let your child do things himself/herself.  Don't do their work, let them organize themselves, and help them be responsible for themselves to the fullest extent they can be.

Your child is an amazing person.  Help your child reach his/her fullest potential!
Don't forget to friend PlainPrairie on Facebook or become a fan on the blog so you know when something new is posted!

*These are strictly my opinions and beliefs and do not reflect my school district or other teachers.

Tips for Cloth Diapering

As I was looking up cloth diapering, here are a few of the things I learned.

1. You can order everything from the old-fashioned cloth and diaper pin to one-size-fits-all plastic cover snap-in cloth pad-research what kind you want.  (I ordered Best Bottom diapers from nickisdiapers.com)
2. You need a special detergent, or you will get major stink problems.  Free-and-clear detergents aren't really free and clear.  You need one that really has no dyes, enzymes, brighteners, or scents.  There are cloth diaper detergent charts available on-line, and you can order the detergents on-line very easily.
3.  They have diaper sprayers that hook to your toilet line so you can wash poo off into the toilet.  (There is a video on youtube on how to make one much cheaper than buying the kits if you are a handy person)
4.  You can not use traditional diaper rash cream or the diapers will start to repel water.

Those are the most important tips I've picked up so far, and as I do this longer, I'll keep you posted with how it is going!  If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Beef Stuffed Sopaipillas

This recipe takes a little time but is very good.  To cut down on time for all of my meals, I brown six pounds of hamburger one weekend a month and freeze it in quart sized bags (approx. 1 lb in each bag).  I also dice onion in my dicer and freeze that once a month so that I have ready to use onion for recipes.  It saves LOTs of time to have part of the meal already to go.

Beef Sopaipillas

Fry Bread

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 t. salt

1 t. baking powder

1/4 c. water

1/2 evaporated milk

oil for frying

Filling

1 lbs browned ground beef

3/4 c. onion

dash of salt

1/2 t. garlic

Sauce

1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of chicken soup

1/2 c. chicken broth

1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilis

1/2 t. garlic

2 c. shredded cheddar cheese

In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder. Stir in water  and milk with a fork until a ball forms. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough gently for around 2 minutes. Let stand for 10-15 minutes. Divide into four portions; pat each into a 6-1/2-in. circle.

In a large pan heat oil. Fry circles, one at a time, for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the salt and garlic.

In a large saucepan, combine the soup, broth, chilies and garlic; Add cheese and cook until warm through.

Top fry bread with meat and cheese mixture!  You can also cut a slit in the fry bread and stuff the meat and cheese mixture inside, but we prefer to top it.

To save even more time, I sometimes double the cheese and meat mixtures. Then I freeze and label the leftovers so that all I have to do is make the bread on a night I'm needing something quickly.

Cloth Diapers

After months of debate and straddling the fence, I've taken the leap and started cloth diapering.  Before G was born, I had looked into cloth diapers but decided disposable diapers were worth the convenience.  After several months of emptying the Diaper Genie and seeing how much money and non-biodegradable waste was going into the dump, I started exploring cloth diapers again.
We have several friends who cloth diaper and love it so I started there asking as many questions as I could, and then I studied the surprising number of online cloth diaper choices and how to go about it (the number of kinds of cloth diapers is REALLY amazing).  I wavered back and forth for several months because disposable diapers are very convenient, and I work full time so I don't like wasting time on mundane tasks such as laundry.
Here are the things that finally made me take the leap:
-Our friends who cloth diaper LOVE it and would much rather use the cloth diapers than a disposable diaper.
-Once you pay for the cloth diapers, you can reuse them over and over for each kid.
-No more hauling diapers to town to the dumpster.
-Many people say it is easier to potty train with cloth diapers.
-Cloth diapers have made many improvements since the cloth diapers of our grandparents.

On Wednesday, I will post some of the tips I picked up from my research!

Diaper cover and insert

Back to Work

It’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything to my blog, and I’m very sorry.  I actually really miss writing almost everyday.  It’s the time of year I go back to school, and those of you who are teachers or have been around teachers know that as soon as August hits, it’s time to hit the school.  

The first part of August, I was just getting my room ready.  Unpacking boxes (I had to move rooms), putting up posters, running copies, and organizing for the year.  Then we had a week of inservice, and this past week was our first week with kiddos. 

Nothing says chaos better than the first few days of school especially when it’s hotter than blue blazes (no air conditioning in our building) and school releases at 1:00.  Each class is shortened so you barely have time to introduce a concept, kids are having trouble with lockers so they’re coming in at millions of different times, schedules are changing, everyone is learning the rules, and kids trying to figure out their schedules.  Teachers can spend every moment of their lives working grading, lesson planning, finding activities, figuring out technology, and worrying about this kid or that problem.

Any way, that is why I haven't been blogging lately.  I am going to try to do a little better in the coming weeks.  Stay tuned for tomorrow's blog on our switch to cloth diapers!!!! 

Trisomy Thursday-Great Baby Sitters

Having a child with Down syndrome gives every decision a new level for consideration.  Babysitting is one of those considerations.  I've had many people tell me how much kids with Ds like and need social interactions of kids their age and how they pick up skills from watching older kids.  On the other hand, kids get lost in the number kids in daycare and don't get as much attention and time.  
G can take up to an hour eating a bottle, and I want her working on the skills physical therapy and speech show us so I decided against the normal daycare setting.  We've been blessed with truly AMAZING sitters, and G is thriving (even the doctor's say so).  Our minister's wife watches her several days a week, and this school year, we have a girl from our church coming into our home so G can be with her own things several days a week.  Both ladies are patient, compassionate, God-loving women who work with G on her skills, read to her, sing to her, and play endlessly.  One of the ladies will be taking her to story hour once a week so G can see other kids.  I also plan on getting together with my friends who have kids so G can see what other kids are doing.

Talking to Girls

I read a really interesting article this morning that made me really evaluate how I talk to girls.  This is the link to the article, How to Talk to Little Girls.
I have a friend who has ten year old daughter, and when I recently saw her, what did I compliment her on? Her hair.  She's a brilliant girl who is in the gifted program, loves to read, loves animals, and is very adventurous.  I could have had a really interesting conversation with this little girl, but instead just gave her a compliment on something as passing as nice topknot.  I know how our society pushes little girls to grow up to fast and just be pretty faces, but it took this article to really make me evaluate how I talk to girls.
As a teacher, I see little girls in full faces at make up at fourth and fifth grades, wearing padded bras as soon as they need a bra, being taken on dates in elementary school, worrying about how fatty lunch is, and by sixth and seventh grade making sure the boys do better than them so they can get a boyfriend.  This really makes me sad to see these girls paint on a face and shut the door on their brains and dreams.
The article says we should be asking girls what they are reading, what they want to do when they grow up, current events, and other things that will really get a conversation going.
Every girl likes to be complimented on how she looks and wants to look pretty, but we can't just make it all about pretty.  Let's take Lisa Bloom's challenge and find out something interesting about the girls we run across!

Here are a few questions:
"If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?"  "Why"
"What's your favorite subject in school?"
"If you could learn about anything what would it be?"
"Where all have your shoes taken you this week?"
"What's your favorite thing to eat?"
"How do you feel about....(some current event going on)?

Mommy's Day Out

I LOVE being a mommy, and I have LOVED every minute of getting to spend the summer with G.  BUT.....she does make it much more difficult to shop.  Walking around a mall and spending hours trying on clothes doesn't have nearly the same appeal.
A friend suggested we leave our little ones in Daddy daycare and go to the outlet mall three hours away in Colorado.  We loaded up with her oldest daughter early in the morning for a girls' day out.    It was really nice to shop, chat, and relax.  My friend is really good at making good conversation so the three hour trip didn't seem very long at all.  We did both worry about how our little ones were faring with the daddies.
My friend calls to see how it was going at her house.  Her husband informs her that he has taken the kids to the activities center, the library, the museum, and was having a water balloon fight.
I call my husband worried that G is giving him fits.  He informs me that she had already taken two hour and a half long naps (for me she takes a couple of 20 minute naps and one longer nap).   He'd also had no poopy diapers (the day before I'd gotten three, and I've already gotten one this morning).  Other than that they'd played, sang, worked on standing, and were having a great day.  He also called excitedly to ask if it was normal for her to be sitting in her crib after being laid down for a nap.   No!!!! Not normal!!!!  She had sat up all by herself for the first time for him, and he thinks he heard her say da.  I may have to go shop more often!

A Case of the Mommies

I'm lucky enough to have had a couple of months of being home with my daughter over summer break.  For most of the break, it's been just us all day, every day.  It's been incredibly wonderful to get to see all the changes and spend so much quality time together, but my daughter has caught a case of the mommies.  She really wants me to snuggle her, feed her, play with her, and not pass her off to all the open arms of friends and family (unless I'm nearby so she can see or hear me).  Secretly (or not so secretly anymore), I love having her want me around so much.  I love being the one who can comfort her and make her feel safe.
With school getting ready to start, I've taken her to the babysitter's house a couple of times.  This has resulted in fits of wailing, scrunched up faces, and super pouty bottom lips.  She can screw her face into the saddest looking little face you've ever seen.  It breaks my heart to leave her like that.  I know she'll get over it and probably have more fun with the babysitter than at home, but to start with, it's going to be hard!

Blubbering at Speech

With Down syndrome, there is a wide variance in how well the children communicate.  I am no expert, but I've heard people with Down syndrome be able to barely get out a word or two to communicate a thought to the Glee star Lauren Potter who has Down syndrome.  She stars in the show, and I've heard her do interview.  It is a huge concern of mine that our daughter be able to communicate.
We have been very blessed that G doesn't have major motor development delays, but she is behind on beginning speech.  She is not making baby babble or some of the vowel sounds that babies her age should be so I called the speech therapist I work with through the school system.  She is an amazing lady and does great work with the little kiddos in our district.  She had us come in so she could watch G and give me some pointers.
I've sat through oodles of IEP (individualized educations plan) meeting listening to how to help other children, but it's scary when it's your own child who's behind.  We were all sitting on the floor of speech therapist's office playing, getting pointers for helping develop G's speech when I suddenly burst into waterworks.  Most of the time I accept the fact that our daughter has Ds just fine, but sometimes it sneaks up on me.  I can start up some tears like you've never seen, and once I get started, it's pretty hard to get the leaky faucet stopped.  I'm sure the speech team was ready to have me evaluated....

Oven Chicken Fried Steak

This recipe isn't quite as quick and easy as some, but we really like it.

Oven Chicken Fried Steak

4 round steaks, pounded with meat mallet
Combine
1 sleeve saltine crackers
1/4 c. flour
1/2 t. garlic powder

Combine
2 eggs
some milk

Melt 1/2 cup butter in a 9x13 pan.  Dip meat in cracker then egg then cracker.  Bake 1 hour at 375 degrees on lower rack.  Turn half way through.

School's Almost Here

If I haven't mentioned how much I love summer already, I should have.  I LOVE summer! LOVE it!  I love piddling in my garden, staying inside in my air conditioning, doing what I want all day, and most importantly and my absolute favorite part, being at home with my baby.  We pretty much lay on the floor playing silly baby games all day long.
Today I had to go up to my classroom and start unpacking boxes (this is the second year in a row that I've moved rooms).  Our buildings have no air conditioning which makes me want to go back less (as much as I love summer, I hate being hot).
Plus it was the worst morning ever for me this morning. I had to take one dog to the vet for shots.   I got home and decided I better get stuff unpacked in my room since I only have two weeks left of summer.  I went to  back out of the drive, and our dog who always lays under the vehicle didn't get out like she normally does when I turn the engine over so I hit her.  I don't think it is serious because she is walking around and lets me touch the leg.  Then I went to drop the baby off at the babysitters, and she screamed bloody murder because she's had me home 24/7 all summer long.
Perhaps the district could just extend summer a little longer.....

Coming to See the Baby

You definitely know where you rank after having a baby!  It's been pretty funny to watch both of our families as G has come into our lives, and it's pretty funny to watch all the relatives and friends try to act like they want to see us when they really want to see the baby.  Please don't think I'm upset by this baby phenomenon because I'm not, just amused.  I'm very glad we have such loving, supportive families and friends.  I want our daughter to have as much love and support as she can get so if you've been coming by to see "us" (the baby), please don't stop!
People call to come out to see us, but as soon as they get here they scoop up G.  We barely get a hello as they beat a path to get her.  My parents came out a few times before their first grandchild entered the world, and now they find as many excuses as they can to come see "us".  Brian's parents used to be fine seeing me for a meal once in a while.  Now they call to make sure "I" can come over for a meal about once a week.
I now laugh when someone calls and asks if they can come out to see "us".  The truth has been unveiled!
 

Our Trip

This is probably the last post I'll do on our vacation, but I wanted to share a few more details.
We left Monday morning very early so that the baby could be asleep for a good portion of it.  About half way, we stopped for a late breakfast and to let G roll around on a blanket in a park at Manitou Springs.  It was a really nice break (other than the fact Brian and I decided to get breakfast burritos with jalapeno sausage-not sure what led us to think that was a good idea).  G had a great time rolling around and watching the squirrels before getting back in her car seat.
After getting there, the boys took off to pick some of the wild rhubarb (which grows way bigger out there in the cool temperatures than it does in my garden) so we could have rhubarb pie.  Shelby made excellent food the entire time we were out there, but her rhubarb pie was outstanding.
On Tuesday, we drove over the Continental Divide to Taylor Park which has several lakes and streams for fishing.  The boys fished while Shelby and I took the kids hiking around to look at wildflowers and take pictures.
On Wednesday, we took the four-wheel drive vehicle up to Alpine Tunnel which is the old tunnel blown through the mountain 130 years ago by the immigrant railroad works.  The road up follows where the old railroad tracks were. Scary!!! I wouldn't have wanted to be up there on a train.  The road is VERY narrow with sheer drops as sides, but it is amazingly beautiful.  There is part of road called the Palisades that is rocks notched together 130 years ago by Irish immigrants to build back up a ledge wide enough for the train.  Not one of the rocks has fallen out in all of those years, and the road goes over the today.  A really neat bit of history.
It was really a nice time in the cool temperatures!

Fishing in one of the lakes at Taylor Park.

Stream running through the Taylor Park area.

Fishing in a stream at Taylor park.

The Palisades from below.

Some of the gorgeous columbine flowers we saw.

Colorado

Sorry I haven't been posting as often the last several days.  I FINALLY convinced my husband to leave the farm for a few days (you have no idea how hard that is-it's almost an act of congress).  His college roommate and his family have a family cabin in a town outside of Gunnison and were up there for several weeks.  They had kindly invited us, and after much begging on my part, I convinced Brian to go.  It was amazing.  The temperatures were never above 80 degrees, and in the morning, were right around 40 degrees. Ahhhhh!!!! There were oodles of mountain trails to drive up that overlooked more mountains, streams, lakes, and forests.  The fields of wildflowers were absolutely gorgeous; I wanted to pick armfuls of them.  I also love that in those little mountain towns you don't have to mow your lawn; you can let it grow wild with flowers.
Over the next couple of days, I will post more about our trip and more pictures.  Here are a few pictures for today!

Monster Cookies

I LOVE peanut butter and chocolate so these are some of my favorite cookies!!!


Monster Cookies
1 stick butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
3 eggs
1 tbls vanilla
1 tbls corn syrup
2 t. baking soda
1 1/2 c. peanut butter
4 1/2 c. quick oats
1 c. m&ms
1/2 chocolate chips
Mix wet ingredients first, then add baking soda. Add oats one cup at a time, mixing between cups. Add m&ms and choco chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 min.
I always bake one dozen or so then ball up the rest and freeze them (put them in baggies after they're frozen) so that I have cookies when I want to have fresh ones around.

Worst Forecaster Ever

I am the worst weather woman EVER.  My unofficial job is to watch radar and text the men when they need to tarp grain carts, get off tractors, etc.  The weather out here in western Kansas is very unpredictable, and I have decided to just quit watching radar and get a weather rock.
I can watch a storm on radar follow a path that looks like it is going to pound us, and then disappear at the county line.  I've watched storms make V around us.  I've seen storm after storm disappear around us only to reform just to the east of us.  It's crazy, and it makes predicting when others should quit field work very exasperating.  After watching a storm build at the county line, texting the men to get out the tarps, and then watching it dissipate before getting to us, I told my husband to hook the rock weather station to the front of his equipment.  It will be more accurate than I am.

Country Church

You know the picturesque country churches you see on postcards?  That's the type of church we attend.  It's a little white church in the middle of nowhere at the crossroads of some country roads.  It's a simple place with simple, country people who radiate the love of the Lord.
When we first visited the church, we giggled at the minister's Mickey Mouse tie and the speaker's overalls, but we could see in the people and message that this was the church for us.  The tie and overalls are now a small part of why we love the church.  There's nothing fancy, no projectors, screens, or booming sound system just the Bible and the word of the Lord through our pastor.  I know we are not mainstream to like our church so simple, but it's what works for us.  There's always something in the sermon I find speaks just to me.
The people of the church have welcomed us with open hearts and supported us through the trials of finding out our daughter has Down Syndrome.
Every time I leave, I feel challenged to grow, and I hope that everyone can find a church that makes them feel the same way.

Weighing his Options

We are STILLLLLLLLL harvesting so Brian is out in the field until late.  Grandma makes them sandwiches every night and takes them to the field along with a jug of tea, chips, and some sweets.  After the ridiculously long harvest we have had, the men are getting to the point of never wanting to see a ham sandwich again. EVER.  It will take him until next harvest before he can call a ham sandwich palatable.
The other night he called me at 8:30 and said due to breakdowns they were calling it a night;  did I want to feed him or should he go to Grandma's?  I wanted to see him, but I had no meat thawed and had planned on fixing myself an egg salad sandwich (keep in mind-no meat, no meal is his theory).  He wasn't thrilled so he said he'd see what Grandma was cooking when he switched pick-ups at her house.  About fifteen minutes later, I got a call from Grandma.  "Your husband is heading home as fast as he can.  He left a few minutes ago."
Me: "What are you fixing for supper?"
Grandma: "Fried ham"

New Activity

As a teacher, I know how important learning activities are for kids, and as a mother of a child with Down syndrome, I want to provide as many learning opportunities as I can so I've been working on an activity for  my daughter that helps her explore her world through tactile experiences.
G LOVES feeling things; she rolls across the floor to scratch the linoleum, finger strings endlessly, and pets Daddy's chin stubble.  The other day while feeding her, a big blob of oatmeal/mixed vegetable goo fell on her tray, and she had more fun playing in it.  I decided that I need to make sure I gave her plenty of "feeling" experiences since she seems to be a tactile learner.  I let her play in her food (yes, I know it was a bit of a waste of food, but it was only a spoonful) and talked to her about how it felt.  Then I wiped her hands off and gave her some dry baby oatmeal and let her play with that and talked to her about the differences (if you try this, make sure you are supervising so your child doesn't put a handful of dry oatmeal in his/her mouth).  I know she can't understand what I'm telling her yet, but it is a start in her being able to compare and contrast and tell similarities and differences which are skills tested all throughout the school years.  Besides, talking to your child is very beneficial to brain, social, and communication development.
I am also working on a bag of "feelies" for her to continue her exploration.  I am putting in velcro strips (both sides), fine grain sand paper, strings tied together, silky ribbon, bumpy ribbon, different fabrics, some plastic spoons, and some metal spoons (this is only an activity I'd do when an adult is beside the child so they stick something in their mouth and choke).  As she gets older, I'll stick in smaller items like marbles, rocks, grass, etc, and have her tell me how the item feels, how it feels like or different from the next item she pulls out.

GQ's Response

I was very pleased to have gotten a response from GQ magazine yesterday, and since so many of you ask me to share if I got a reply, here it is.


We received your letter and absolutely understand that we have caused many of our readers and their loved ones pain. Hurting anyone’s feelings or being disrespectful or cruel was certainly never our intent, but your letter helped us understand how poorly chosen our words were. What we initially posted was insensitive and ill-informed, and we’ve removed the offensive language from the website. We deeply regret our error in judgment. There is no excuse. We are both very sorry.
Sincerely,
Sean Fennessey, editor, GQ.com
John B. Thompson, writer, GQ.com

Thank you to all you emailed GQ in response to their article and to all those you read the blog yesterday.  I also wanted to let everyone know PlainPrairie is now on Facebook.  Please look us up and become a friend!!!!

Ignorance is Not Bliss

Writer John Q Thompson takes aim at people with Down syndrome with his comment "Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome, where a little extra ends up ruining everything." This line appeared in an article from GQ magazine.  I realize it was meant to be cute and cheeky, but ignorance is not bliss.  The writer would be in huge trouble if he said this about gays, people of color or other nationalities, or people in wheel chairs.
Yes, my daughter has Down syndrome.  Yes, her life will be different, but it's not ruined.  There are around 400,000 people in the United States with Down syndrome.  Most of these people are working, some are going to college, and all are loved by their family and friends.  This article demeans them and promotes that it is ok to make fun of them.
Please take a moment to send comments about this article to: letters@gq.com.

Super Yummy Breakfast Casserole

It's recipe day again!  This is my very favorite breakfast casserole.  During the school year, I make this on Sunday morning, and then we reheat it for several days during the week.  It also freezes well if you wanted to freeze individual portions to reheat on crazy mornings.

7 eggs
1/2 c. milk or cream
1 tsp. salt
1 lbs. cooked and crumbled sausage
1/4 of an onion
1/2 c. chedder cheese
1 tsp. cumin
2 tbls minced garlic
4 slices bread
If you have it, some jalapeno pepper diced up.

Tear bread into small pieces and put into a 9x13 baking dish.  Cook sausage; add onion, garlic, and jalapeno (if using) towards the end.  Mix eggs, milk, salt, and cumin.  Add sausage mixture over bread.  Sprinkle with some cheese over the bread and sausage mixture.  Then pour egg mixture over all this.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 min.  I usually melt a little more cheese over the top towards the end of cooking.

Where's the Hairspray

I'm pretty low maintenance in terms of amount of time it takes me to get ready these days.  I throw my hair in a ponytail EVERY day; on the very rare occasion I decide to do something else with it, everyone about falls over in disbelief.  Make-up makes my face itch so if I wear any at all, it's just mascara.  I never paint my fingernails, and I wear the same color on my toes until the bottle runs out.  I'm definitely not fashion model material.
This is all fine and dandy to my husband most of the time, but recently after walking through chigger filled grass, he wanted some hairspray or some clear nail polish.  Hairspray and nail polish cut off the oxygen to the little boogers, and he was looking desperately for some to coat his red, bumpy legs.  Unfortunately, I have neither item.  I guess beauty products have their place, and I should purchase a few (for the the chiggers).

What's your remedy for chigger bites?

Giddy for garage sales!

I LOVE a good garage sale!  We don't have much in the way of garage sales in the town I live in so I occasionally load up the baby (and her numerous supplies) and head east to my parents.  I carefully comb the advertisements, picking which sales I want to hit.  The hardest part is deciding which ones I want to hit first..I get sweaty and indecisive with the thrill of the bargain hunt.
I hate buying new stuff when I can find barely used stuff at super cheap prices.  I've bought Gracelyn's clothes for the next year ( I super love finding clothes new with tags for under a $1); I loaded up an entire trash bag with clothes that still had tags for under twenty dollars.  I found brand new toddler toys that she'll be ready for before next garage sale season.  Still on the list are a dresser, a book shelf, and who knows what hidden treasures I'll find to add to the list of things I want to bring home.

Best Sales Tactic Ever

Yesterday a friend invited me to coffee at our town's new coffee place, and I realized that the owners have found the best sales tactic ever.  The man who operates the coffee shop runs it in the corner of his wife's store.  The store has all kinds of neat house decorating items, gift items, a jewelry section, a screen printing business, and sports shop.  All it needs to be one-stop shopping is bait and tackle, groceries, and beer.  I love to look through all their items but usually end up finding something I "need" so I avoid the store unless I need a gift for someone.
After finishing my Milky Way coffee drink (yes, that's right...chocolate, vanilla, caramel, coffee, and whipped cream!!!!), I of course,had to take stroll through the shop where I found the cutest ever pink barrettes that I decided my daughter "needed".  After purchasing the barrettes, I realized that this was going to be a problem.  The Siren song of the coffee would lure me in, and then poof there I'd be in the middle of all the shiny, pretty items.  Perhaps, I can just take in enough money to buy the coffee or maybe develop some self-control.

Never Say Never-A Lesson in My Expectations

I learned an important lesson about my daughter, myself, and my expectations towards the end of last school year.  I think about it quite often and wanted to share it.
One day I was having a hard time dealing with my emotions about our daughter having Down syndrome.  I was watching some kids in my classroom do very mediocre work and use very little effort.  I was talking to the para (a person who comes into our classrooms to help students)  in my room about my daughter, Down syndrome, and how frustrated and angry it made me to watch these kids not use their abilities and intelligence the Lord had given them when my daughter would never be able to do some of these things.  The para then said to me, "Never say never; don't limit your child. You don't know what she can do.".  This may not seem so profound; many people say this, but this was different.  This para has a child with a severe disability.  To have this person whose child can't communicate, show love in a "normal" way, and needs constant care tell me that affected me more than I can tell you. As parents, we can be the greatest limitation to our children or the base from which they shoot for the stars.   I think all parents should remember this and expect the most and the best at all times and never limit what our children can accomplish.

Sharing the Farm

I always loved going to visit friends who lived on farms when I was a kid.  I loved seeing the animals and running wild in the open spaces.  My friends always thought I was crazy to love coming out to the farm so much.  Now that I have my own farm, some of the novelty has worn off, but I love the wonder of farm life in visitors' eyes.  Over the weekend, we had some visitors who have an eighteen month-old son.  It was so much fun to watch him chase our chickens, look for fish in our stock tank, ohhh and ahhh at the big cows, make piggy noises at the pigs, and feed the bottle calf.  It makes me so excited for our daughter to get older and learn to love the farm and bring friends over to share the fun with!
Here's some picture from the visit.

Walmart's Grammar Problem

I'm not sure why this bothers me so much, but it does.  Can you find the homophone problem in the picture below?

Do to cart damage should be due to cart damage. GRRRRRR......no wonder I can't teach kids grammar!

Easy Chicken Recipe

While we are mainly a beef and pork eating household, we do occasionally like a good chicken dish, and this is one of our favorites!

Easy Chicken

4-5 chicken breasts
1 bottle of Russian salad dressing
1 envelope onion soup mix
1 jar apricot jam

Mix salad dressing, soup mix, and jam.  Pour mixture over chicken in an oven safe dish.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 min.   Serve over rice.

I usually serve this with green beans and Grands Southern style biscuits from the freezer section.

Sheet Wars

My husband and I have an ongoing battle: how long to go between sheet washings.  He'd go a couple of months between sheet washings, and I like to wash sheets once a week.  I think during college he washed his sheets once a semester (ewwwww gross), and it's possible he's just telling me that to make me feel better.  I love the feel of clean sheets, and if I had enough get-up-and-go, I might wash them twice a week. Every time he heads to bed on a day I've washed sheets, and I haven't gotten around to making the bed, we have to have this argument.  Brian would like to compromise on once a month.  I've been willing to go every other week, but after that, I'm ready to feel clean sheets when I slide under the covers.
How often do wash sheets?  If you're married, is your significant other on board with the amount you wash them?

Conversation Overheard

This may be too much information about cattle for some of you, but I thought it was pretty funny.

My husband has a friend who is looking to have a few cows to raise as grass-fed beef.  He was wanting to buy six cows and have them AI'd (artificially inseminated) so he could sell the calves. The friend called Brian to ask what it would cost to have it done.  Brian informed him that AI'ing was only like ten dollars a cow, but that the semen could get pricey depending on what bull he wanted to use from.  We had a bull collected several months ago and have the semen stored in liquid nitrogen in the barn so Brian offered to sell him some of our bull's. To that offer, the friend asked, "how much does your semen cost?"  Right at that moment, the friend's wife walked into the room.  Not being around cow breeding lingo very often, she apparently gave her husband a rather creeped out look.  He quickly had to explain what he was talking about.

Laws of Harvest

1. A 20% chance of rain means it WILL rain.  The rest of the year a 70% chance means it's unlikely, but during harvest......

2. If it can break down, it probably will.

3. If you blow a tire, the tire shop will be out of the size you need.

4. Don't plan on getting anywhere quickly.  Every road, trail, and highway are filled with moving, hauling, and cutting equipment (all of which can squish a normal sized vehicle like a tin can and not even notice).

5. Do not plan on seeing your husband except early morning and late night.

6. Do not plan on eating supper before 10:00 pm.

7.  When you're sent to look for a part, take it with you-much easier to explain the thing-a-ma-bob you need when you have it in hand and the salesman doesn't look at you like you're a nin-com-poop.

8.  Buy LOTS of allergy medicine.

9.  Never try to plan a vacation around harvest.  It will come earlier, come later, or last longer than you expect.

10. Be thankful for all the grain going into the bin!

Love It, Hate It

Harvest.....love it, hate it.
It's a beautiful time of year.  The wheat is that perfect golden color only wheat can be; it waves and rustles in the wind.  It is amazing to watch the beauty of a ripe wheat field.  It's also amazing to watch the harvesters run massive combines through a field, fill their bins with the tiny kernels, and then dump into a semi to be hauled to town.  I love watching the crop come full circle.  I watch as it's planted in the fall, sprouts up green and soft in the spring, and ripens to amber waves rolling across the prairie by midsummer.
I hate the allergies that come with harvest.  I sneeze, itch, and swell.  I can't ride on the combine without getting hives.  It's really lovely for a rancher's wife to be allergic to what he farms.  It's also very irritating to try to drive anywhere.  Farm machinery does not move quickly and when every farmer in the county has several combines, grain carts, tractors, and support vehicles going field to field, driving down a country road (and sometimes highway) becomes very SLOOOOOOW.
Harvest is over within a couple of weeks so what I hate I only have to endure for a short time, and what I love isn't around long enough to get old, and I get to look forward to it the next year.

Things I Didn't Know

Since finding out Gracelyn has Down syndrome, I've spent many hours reading information.  I find the things I'm not informed about scare me most, and I think that's true for many of us.  We are scared of what we don't understand and sometimes deal with that by ignoring, bullying, or making fun of the person or idea.  I believe I have an opportunity to help people understand Down syndrome so that hopefully it doesn't scare us so much and perhaps help my daughter and others avoid some the less kind effects of our fear.
Today I want to share a few of the things that stood out to me right away.

1. Down syndrome is chromosome condition that is not caused by anything the parents did.  It is an extra copy of the 21st chromosome.  There is nothing that could have been done to prevent Down syndrome from happening.

2. There are three types of Down syndrome.  The type Gracelyn has is the most common called trisomy 21.   Translocation Down syndrome is where the extra chromosome is translocated from another chromosome and can mean that a parent is a carrier.  Mosiac Down syndrome occurs after fertilization and only effects some cells, not all like the other two types (originally we thought this was they type to hope for, but our Down syndrome specialist says that this can cause major problems).

3. Most of the babies born with Down syndrome are born to mothers under 35.  I thought the likelyhood of having a baby with Down syndrome at my age was rare, but it's not.  It is somewhere around 80% (I believe) of babies with DS are born to mother's under 35.

4. Most cases of Down syndrome result in mild to moderate (not severe) mental retardation.  With the positive support from family and friends, high expectations, and early interventions, people with DS are able to have jobs, live on their own, and take care of themselves.  Expect the most.

5. Some colleges are offering programs for disabled students so students with Down syndrome are now able to go to college.

6. Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring chromosomal condition.

7. There are many support organizations across the United States (and other countries) that support families from day one, provide activities for kids to get together, put on proms just for kids with disabilities, and support research efforts.   I've listed a few on my favorite websites that I follow (either their websites or have like on Facebook).

8. There are Down syndrome specialty centers across the United States.  We go to the Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children's Hospital in Denver.  Doctor's, nurses, physical therapists, counselors, etc all trained specifically to help kids, adults, and families of those with Down syndrome.  Our doctor and the counselor at the Sie Center also have children with Down syndrome so they understand on a level not all medical staff do.

9.  Early intervention services make a world of difference and are provided (at least in the state of Kansas) free to families.  Our service center provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech, and other services from the time they are born through school age.  Please let our legislators know how important it is to keep these services when they are wanting to cut them.

10.   In studies I've read, well over half (in one study it said 9 out of 10) of prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome result in abortion.  If you've received this diagnosis, please check out the support groups and meet a few families with children who have Down syndrome before you make any decisions.  It's hard to swallow, it's a long road, there are lots of fears and tears, but my daughter is a beautiful person who I would not trade for anything in the world.

Cornbread Taco Bake

Another super easy, tasty meal.

1-1/2 pounds ground beef

1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained

1 can black beans drained

1/2 onion, chopped

1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

1 envelope taco seasoning

1 package (8-1/2 ounces) corn bread/muffin mix

 shredded cheddar cheese

In a large skillet, cook beef then add water and taco seasoning. Stir in the corn, onion, black beans, and tomato sauce. Spoon into a greased 2-qt. baking dish. Prepare corn bread mix according to package directions for corn bread.  Spread over beef mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20 minutes.  Top with cheese and bake for another 2-4 minutes until cheese is melted.

Serve with salad or some sort of fruit.

Parenting Strategy

My husband is the youngest (by quite a bit) of four children so we've gotten to observe several sets of good parenting strategies.  Recently his oldest sister, who is sixteen years older, was out to visit with her twin seventeen-year-old boys; their family ranches in Missouri.  These are two of the best teenagers you'll ever find.  They know how to hold a conversation with adults, look you in the eye, be respectful, responsible, get along with peers, and work HARD.  You've never seen two boys who know more about engines (they've been taking things apart since they were eighteen months).
Their dad was raised on a dairy and gets up before the sun comes up, and he believes in gettin' up and gettin' to work.  He lets the boys "sleep in" until seven, and then they're up hauling square bales, working cows, plowing fields, and fixing equipment.  They have chores before and after school.  When their dad had to pay a speeding ticket for one of them, the boy worked it off with extra work.  The boys have time for fun, but they have responsibilities that they must take care of first, and there's not so much free time that they're coming up with trouble.  When asked what their father's parenting strategy is, the unanimous answer is "have you ever seen the show Hell's Kitchen?".

Finally Lost It

I'm sure my husband has thought I've been on the brink of losing my sanity before, but last night he thought I'd just fallen right off the edge.  I try to keep things picked up and in some sort of order, but I have small house with insufficient storage so organization isn't my strong suit.  I'm ok with our disorganization and stacks, but last night I'd reached my limits.
While my husband was in the shower, I was trying to pick up.  I had to keep walking around our growing pile of trash that we can't burn because there is a ripe field of wheat within feet of our burn barrel, tripped over the stroller that won't fit in the boot and coverall filled closet, and stubbed my toe on the vacuum that sits right in the way of my washing machine because it has no other home.  Then I went into the bathroom where my husband was showering to brush my teeth.  Approximately three weeks ago I set three small totes of his in the middle of the bathroom hoping he'd take care of it without me having to nag.  Walking around items doesn't bother him so I was the only one going crazy.  Reaching for the toothbrush, I knocked over his glass of tea because there was no room to maneuver.  That was the last straw.  With tea running down the cabinets, I decided to pitch it ALL.  I started throwing anything in the way into piles, marching it out to the shed to be taken to the dump, and hauling furniture that takes up too much room to our unfinished basement to be sold later.  With a bewildered look on his face, Brian tries to tell me that 11:30 at night is not the time to start a project like this.  Then he asked if I'd like to sit down and have a rational conversation as he grabs things from the boxes I was storming by with.
After I had fizzled down, he asked why I'd put the boxes in the middle of the bathroom any way if it was going to irritate me so much.  I explained that I though he'd put his stuff away without me nagging if it was in his pathway.  His response, "what in our marriage led you to think that?"
I guess I'm back to nagging!

Is She a 7 or an 8?

My recently divorced brother-in-law had some anonymous person subscribe him to Maxim magazine, and it got delivered to Grandma and Grandpa' house instead of his.  The other day I was over there and wanted to look at one of Grandma's cooking magazines so I pulled out a magazine.  Imagine my surprise when instead of cinnamon rolls I see a scantily clad buxom blond!  I quickly shoved that back in before any of the kids in the house could see and decided that I really didn't need to look at magazines that day.  I later shared with Brian what I'd pulled out of the magazine pile.
Yesterday, Grandma and Grandpa were over to help Brian fill out paper work on cows.  He decided to recount my embarrassing moment for them.  Grandpa asked who was on the cover, but since I hadn't spent enough time looking, I didn't know and moved on in conversation with Grandma figuring Brian could take that one.  Next thing I hear is, "she a 7 or an 8?" (while they were looking at a computer)  Whoa, buddy!
I stopped midsentence with Grandma and butted into the boys' conversation.   They quickly turned the computer to me and explained they were talking about udder scores on the cows they were registering.

Quick and Easy's the Name of the Game

Earlier this week my sister called me wanting a quick, easy recipe that her boyfriend (also a rancher) would eat.  He apparently groaned "again" when she suggested fixing meat loaf or spaghetti pie, her two go-to-meals for when he eats with her.  I'm not sure if I should feel flattered or alarmed that she knew she could count on my recipes being quick, easy, and something a rancher would eat.  I cook pretty much every night because after working hard in the field or with cattle all day my husband is hungry and wants "real" food, but I don't love standing over a stove for hours on end (I've also found that having a baby nearby considerably lessens the amount of time I have for cooking).
I thought I'd share a recipe each week with all of you in case you're looking for something that's a home cooked meal but not a whole afternoon.
Here's the meal I suggested to my sister (and her boyfriend loved it).

Pork Chops with Cream of Mushroom Soup
Put your pork chops in a greased pan.  Cover with a can of cream of mushroom soup.  Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. (Yes, it's really that easy!)  If I'm feeling froggy, I like to put a little chopped onion and garlic, but it's just as good without it.  This can be eaten on it's own or over garlic buttered noodles or rice.

Beer Bread

3 c. self rising flour
3 tbls. brown sugar
1/2 t. onion or garlic powder (whichever you prefer or have)
1 (12 oz) beer
1/4 c. melted butter
Mix first 3 ingredients. Pour in beer and mix until moist. Put in bread pan. Pour butter over top.
Bake 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes.  ( You can leave out the onion/garlic powder if you want)  Green chilies, jalapenos, cheese, etc. can be added to this also.

Corn on the Cob
Boil 20 minutes in slightly salty water!

The Line Has Been Crossed

I'll do a lot of things for my husband, but there are a few things that I just won't have anything to do with.  Last night, he crossed one of those lines in the sand when he came home covered in afterbirth, poop, and who knows what all else.
It was nine o'clock, and I was making supper when he arrived home.  I knew from a previous text message that the day had not gone well, and that they'd had to pull a calf from a cow that was brought in from another ranch and was not the calm, easy-going type we keep around.  I did not realize what he would look like until he walked in.
The calf was backwards so they had to hook the calf pullers (chains and a bar that hook to the calf and then it's pulled out by force). This cow did not want to be cornered and helped.  She took off across the pasture, escaping every time they tried to herd her in.  When they did get her surrounded and tried hooking up the equipment, she decided to take Brian as he was in her way to freedom.  Her long horns and glistening hooves headed straight for him.  Realizing she was not stopping, he dove to the side but was slogged down by mud and manure.  Thankfully she just wanted by and did not hurt him other than stepping on the back of his leg pushing it further into the smelly muck.
Once they finally had the calf on the ground my lovely husband had to pick it up to get the fluid out of it's lungs because it was not breathing correctly.  In the process, he became covered in afterbirth.
I immediately sent him to the shower, and I hear the burn barrel calling those clothes. Disgusting!!!!!

Rent-a-Husband

Anyone have a husband for rent?  I'm looking for someone with lots of spare time, good with lawn mowers and weed eaters, good at building things, handy at taking things apart and putting them back together, and did I mention time.  My honey-do list continues to grow, but my poor husband is never home to do it.
My husband fits all of the criteria above except the time part.  Most women have husbands with nine to five jobs, and when their home on evenings and weekends, they can work on household and yard projects.  When you're married to a rancher, that's just not the case.  He leaves by eight in the morning for the ranch (earlier if he's baling) and doesn't get home until around eight in the evening (it can be much later depending on what is going on), and by the time he gets home, he's usually pooped out.  With harvest coming up, it's doubtful I'll see him awake more than an hour maybe two at the most.  There are also no weekends off.  Farm ground and cattle don't count one day more special than the others.  The running joke is "put it on my list".  The problem is the man's going to have to take a couple months off from the ranch to accomplish all of it at this point.
So if you know a deck buildin', basement finishin', weed whackin', chicken house paintin', baby gate hangin', dish washer fixin' kind of a guy laying around let me know.  I'll put him to work!

Like Waking the Dead

My husband can sleep through anything, ANYTHING.  I've seen good sleepers before, but this man should be studied for his ability to snooze right through conversations, babies crying, dogs barking, and trips to the ER.
He snores something awful when laying on his back and last night when I asked him to roll over, his response was "who me?"
No the other snoring man in my bed.  Seriously!  This morning he didn't remember any of this conversation, but that doesn't surprise me.  We have a serious coyote problem, and our outdoor dogs run by our bedroom windows barking their heads off; he doesn't even skip a breath.  Our daughter could have been up several times in the night, and he would tell you she'd slept all night long, but my favorite is the night I had to take my sister to the emergency room.
I had fixed cherry covered pork chops for supper, and Kelli had said it felt like she couldn't swallow.  She was puking up anything she ate or drank after that which was very concerning, but she said it had happened before and always went away so she didn't want to go to the hospital.  She thought she was doing better at bed time so we all went to bed, but about midnight, she was still having problems and knew she needed to have it looked at.  She knocked on our door which sent our inside dog into a frenzy which in turn set her dogs to barking.  I got up, turned on lights, talked to her, and then we called into the emergency room to let them know we were coming.  Brian didn't get out of bed, but I just thought he didn't think he could help. No, no....he was asleep.  I went in to let him know we were leaving; I leaned over, told him.  No acknowledgement.  Shook him and told him we were going to the ER.  Up he jumped! "What? Why?"  Who sleeps through all that racket and lights?

*Kelli was fine.  She had fibers growing around her esophagus which were not allowing food through, but once she had them removed, she was as good as new.

It's All in the Timing

You know that cow I was watching in an earlier post?....her saga continues.
Yesterday, my husband called to get information on when the egg donor cow and the embryo recipient cows needed to be up there, but because Nebraska Bull Service is on central time, he didn't get them called until after hours.  When they returned his call this morning, we were getting ready to go into the doctor's office for our daughter's sixth month check-up and shots.  He gave them the dates of her heat cycle, and after they did some figuring, they informed him that the recipient females needed hormone shots TODAY in McCook, Nebraska.
At that point, the twitterpation started.  Brian was no longer focused on our daughter being in the 97th percentile in weight (chunky monkey!) or how many times the poor little thing was being stuck.  He immediately got on the phone to his dad to organize trailers and the rounding up of the help.  The animals didn't have all the paperwork for crossing state lines filled out so he hurriedly called the vet.  The vet informed him that she had all the shots they would need for today if he wanted her to give them, but he needed to be there by 2:30 central.  Of course that seemed like a better idea than trying to get cows in, loaded, and to Nebraska before closing time, but it would need to be slightly more rushed.
As soon as Gracelyn's appointment was done, we rushed for home so Brian could help finish loading up and drive one of the trailers up.  Unfortunately, there were problems getting help and trailers hooked up so when we arrived, there were cows still in the pasture and no trailers in sight.  After pacing a hole through the carpet, they finally arrived two trailers, three trucks, a four-wheeler, and alfalfa bales in tow.
The first set of cows loaded fine and took off for the vet's and only a little late, but the next load wasn't so easy.  Grandpa bought a new trailer that they found is higher than the cattle like to step up into so it took pushing, prodding, and a lot of grumbling.  The poop and the pee were flying; clothes, boots, and even faces were covered.
I'm not sure what the vet will think when they arrive, but they're on there way!

Three years and Counting

Today's the three year anniversary of the day Brian and I took our vows so I think it's appropriate to share how it all started with three cow hearts, five anatomy and physiology students, and 30 fifth graders.
After studying the heart in science, the other fifth grade teacher decided to invite the high schoolers down to do a heart dissection for both of our classes.  Brian was their fearless leader!
He and his students walked in with trays, gloves, and of course the hearts (not every girl can say got 3 hearts on her first meeting).  His class proceeded to lead the fifth grade students through the valves, aortas, chambers, and veins.  There was lots of "yucking" and grossing out as they stuck their gloved fingers into the hearts.  All the while, I kept wondering what the chances were that the cute teacher was available.
After the kids were calmed down from the "coolest science lesson EVER", the gloves thrown out, and the desks disinfected, I emailed Brian to see if I could thank him by taking him to dinner.  He replied back that he would love to!  And that my friends is how our story began!

How did you meet your spouse/boyfriend/girlfriend?

I Picked a Good One

I grew up with a great dad.  He played with us, took us fishing, and worked hard to provide for us so when it came time for me to pick a husband and future father to our children, I had a great role model.
Dads are such important role models in kids' lives; every year in my classroom I see kids who will grow up to be strong, confident, and hard working because of the role their fathers play.
My daughter and future children are so blessed.  Brian is an amazing father! Every morning he gets up at 5:30 to give Gracelyn her bottle, changes her, and dress her for the day (this may not seem extra loving, but if you know how much he likes to sleep until 9:00, you understand).  He loves laying on the floor playing silly games, explaining cows and pigs, talking about field work, and telling Gracelyn all the things she going to get to help him with.  He can't wait to raise 4-H animals with her, play summer softball, and take her to bull sales.  I love that he loves spending time with Gracelyn and that he can't wait to teach her everything he can.
Happy Father's Day to all the dads!

What a Morning

I'm always leery about what's coming next when my husband calls and asks, "wanna hear about my day?" It's usually cringe worthy and gives me something new to worry about.  There's been three-wheeler accidents, lots of cow run-ins, several electrical problems, equipment malfunctions, and a variety of other very dangerous things. This time it happened to be "I put out three fires in the tractor cab and got chased by a sick skunk."  This all happened before lunch.

Our equipment is old and provides hair-raising moments on a regular basis, but it really gives you the warm fuzzies when your husband has to put out electrical fires in the tractor he's baling with.  Apparently the wire sparks and causes little fires.  It had only been doing it once in a great while so they left it in lieu of fixing bigger and more problematic issues.  It appears that the wire got tired of waiting until they had time to fix it.  Brian put out the first one no biggie.  The second time he thought he'd move it up the list, and by the third time he decided it was time.   They now think they have it fixed for good.  I guess we'll see the next time he goes to bale.

While they were working on the tractor, they spotted a sick skunk.  Unfortunately, they didn't have a rifle, but since it was of a good distance they decided not to worry about it.    After working for awhile, crawling inside the cab, under the tractor, and poking around to get the wire fixed, Brian noticed a noise; he looked up.  There was the skunk investigating what was going on.  Brian's brother was under the tractor so Brian very calmly (or at least that's what he told me) alerted him that it was time to get out from under the tractor.  His brother was irritated because he wasn't done with whatever job he was doing until he looked up and saw sickly skunk near the tire.  Both men took off!

What does your husband do at his job that you'd rather not hear about?

Beautiful Baby Girl

 This post is to introduce our daughter.  It is an emotional post for me, but after reading some new research on new testing for down syndrome, I want to share our story through my eyes.
On December 14th, our little miracle arrived into our world bringing with her the unexpected diagnosis of down syndrome.  Like most first time mommies, I spent my nine months of pregnancy reading EVERYTHING I could on babies, baby care, baby dangers....you get the point.  I decorated the nursery picturing my little girl flouncy through the room running from one adventure to the next; I spent hours at night rocking in glider in her room when I couldn't sleep due to her karate punches, dreaming of our life with her in it.
My pregnancy was relatively uncomplicated except by the normal pregnancy problems.  I did have scare at the 20 week sonogram where they thought they found lesions on her brain, but after going to a high risk pregnancy center in Denver twice to have ultrasounds with their super high-tech and up-to-date equipment, we were assured they were just a normal occurrance.  In fact, by the second time we went, the spots were gone, but due to that scare, our young ages, and the fact that we'd had two sets of friends with false positives on the protein test, we refused the protein test.
On December 14th, I went to school, but decided after several hard contractions that it was best to leave (didn't want to educate fifth graders in the birthing process).  My husband and I arrived at the hospital at 5:00; they broke my water shortly after, and by ten o'clock Gracelyn was here.  When they handed her to me, I thought what a beautiful baby.  I noticed her small features and later it made sense, but despite all the sonograms, I would have been less shocked if they had told me she was a boy instead of the doctor looking at my husband and I telling us he believed she had down syndrome, but that a chromosome test was needed to confirm.
I was devastated.  You never picture anything, but a perfect child in those dreams during pregnancy.  That's always somebody else's child.  I pictured every child I've ever taught or known who'd had down syndrome.  I was drowning in fears.
The experience of giving birth is supposed to be one of the happiest times of your life.  It wasn't for us, and that is my biggest regret.  I wish we'd known ahead of time so we'd have had time to adjust and been able to celebrate and rejoice at her birth and homecoming.
Our families, our church family, and friends have been amazing.  The support and love shown to us during this time has been tremendous.  For me, knowing that God has trusted us with this gift and knows we can make it through the trials, makes all the difference.  I know it is not random that she is ours.  We have all the love in our hearts, a ranch for her to help on on, a garden to grow, cows, pigs, and chickens to take care of, and an amazing set of families to help raise her.
I've since realized that every parent has a special child.  I think back to all the kids in my classroom, and almost all of them are facing something they must overcome whether it's a physical or learning disability, choices their parents make, bullying, language barrier, or any variety of things big or small.  She is her own person, and we will celebrate each milestone, victory, breakthrough, and discovery at her pace.  I love my daughter so much I sometimes think my heart will burst.  I still have huge fears for the future and cry a lot (my husband will tell you I'm a great crier....over everything) and probably have years of crying and worrying ahead of me, but this is the here and now.... and right now I have a baby who loves me, needs me, and has her whole life ahead of her.  I plan to do my best to raise a well-rounded, happy, helpful, God-loving little girl.  Our ranch will offer her experiences and opportunities to do see, do, and learn amazing things.  My grandma gave a verse before she was born, and little did she know how much I would think back to it. Jeremiah 1:5: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart."
I plan to write occasionally about the our experiences with raising a child with down syndrome so keep following along.

Hoodwinked

My daughter LOVES her thumbs....LOVES them.  If she can have one thumb in her mouth, great; if she can have two thumbs in her mouth, even better.  She puts them in while taking a bath (very tricky to get the soap off before she sticks them in), while playing with her toys, and even while taking a bottle (very messy).
My husband is exploiting this thumb adulation.  He has promised her two extra thumbs....in exchange for no poopy diapers.  The worst part is she believes him despite my valiant attempts to make her see that her father has hoodwinked her.  He has avoided changing a poopy diaper for months.  I realize he only changes one diaper a day, but you'd think sooner or later he'd get a messy one.  Statistics say that he should have to take one for the team once in a while, but no.  I change them, the babysitters change them, the grandmas change them, but not Daddy.
Since he heads out for the field each day, he gets up and spends time with her each morning and changes the first diaper of the day.  It's never anything but wet except for the day I decided to let him sleep in.  On that particular morning, she had the stinkiest poo ever filling her diaper, running up her back, through the sleeper onto the blanket. WHY??????  That is the only morning it's been that way before or since.  Just see if he ever gets to sleep in again!

I Just Saved $195

No not on car insurance....on tires.
Every time we have to get a nail hole patched it's fifteen dollars, and I just picked up thirteen nails out of our driveway.  I'm pretty sure I'm on the Christmas card list of the secretary of the tire shop; she gets to spend quality time with me on a regular basis.  Usually, I'm in getting a tire (or two) fixed at least once a month.  I have more patches in my tire than a hobo has in his jeans.  The guys fixing the tires are always impressed with the number of nails my tires can hold.  After one patching session, the repairman came out shaking his head and informed me I'd had eight nails in my tire.  He wasn't sure how it had been holding air.
Three years ago we moved in a modular home, but first had to tear down a hundred year old house that consisted of three rooms hodge podged together so needless to say we have an abundance of loose nails. We have magnet that we take over the drive, but it seems our soil grows them.....after a hard rain like we had the other night, more sprout up.

Coons in the Combine-Raccoons that is

Everyday brings something new on the ranch, and today it was extracting raccoons from the combine.  My in-laws live along the creek and have a terrible coon problem.  The coons get in the garden, in the corn of for the cattle, and even break into the garage to get the cat food.  Over the past three weeks, ten adult coons have been caught in the live trap baited with cat food.  They are the fattest, sassiest looking coons you've ever seen after munching on the easily accessible treats around the farm.
Today, while getting the combines ready for the nearing harvest, my husband and brother-in-law found two baby coons tucked safely away in the feeder house.  The mommy coon had found a warm, dry place to make a home for her little ones not realizing that harvest is nearing.  As the men took apart the combine to replace a belt, they noticed an odd sound.  Opening up the feeder house, they found the two adorable little coons.  They realized they had to get them out, but neither wanted to sacrifice their hands to do it so they devised a plan that involved barbeque tongs and Grandma's trash picker uppers.
The resulting  course of action was amusing for all bystanders.  The carefully reaching in, the careful pulling out, the hissing coons, and most of all the grimacing faces waiting for the coons to wriggle free of the grip and run up the legs of their home wreckers.  It's really too bad no one thinks of a video camera in time to get the good stuff!

Nephewisms

My nephew, Trent, is a born and bred ranch boy.  He's always up to something and his slow down button is broken (or nonexistant).  If he can be up and doing something, he's up and doing it ninety miles an hour.  If there's a fresh cow patty (the juicer and greener the better), he's stomping and dancing in it.  Everything he does is done with gusto.  He loves life and is a joy to watch discover the freedom of ranch life.
He occasionally comes up with sayings or does bizarre things that we've dubbed nephewisms.  Here are a few:
After standing around the corner and seeing him stick a pop tart up his shirt into his armpit, "Why are you sticking a pop tart up your shirt?"
His reply to was to grin and bound off.  You never know what he's up to....

Me: "What's your hungary level?"
Him: "Marven!"
Apparently I've asked a few times too many if he's a starven' marven.

After cooking a stuffed shells for supper, I was incredibly irritated with him for not even trying a bite.  He ate everything else on the plate but wouldn't touch the shell.  He was finally told he had to try two bites.  He started crocodile tears and repeating over and over, "it's gonna taste like soap".   Soap?!?! Seriously, where does this kid come up with stuff.  To my knowledge he's never even tasted soap to know what it tastes like (and why would I serve something that tasted like soap).

"COWABUNGA!!!!!"  This is his favorite thing to yell midair above anyone he can beat out of bed in the morning.  My husband is a very good sport about Trent's enthusiasm for this morning attack.  In fact, he'll even return to bed to pretend to be asleep (although curled up to protect vital organs and sensitive areas) so Trent can get in his morning thrill.

If you ever need a good laugh, let me know, and I'll get you the latest nephewism!

A Cow's a Cow, Right?

Since marrying my husband and moving to the ranch, I've learned more than I ever knew there was to know about cows.  I used to drive by a field of cows and think, "boy what a cute black cow, oreo cow, white cow, or brown cow (I have since learned that Herefords are NOT brown; they are red!)."  I've since learned the breeds that correspond to these colors, names of good bulls, genetic information, genetic problems to avoid in certain animals, and I've learned that hours of conversation can revolve around cattle.  In fact, when calling his sister to share the news we were expecting, my husband first spent about thirty minutes discussing heifers with her.  I have learned to appreciate the warm-eyed creatures, but I have not developed the passion for them my husband wishes I would.
My husband recently gave me a very important job of watching for when a certain Hereford cow was in heat.  He is on a tractor all day, and this cow is in the pasture behind our house.  He has to know exact dates so he can get her eggs flushed.  I won't give all the particulars, but he told me what to watch for.  Unfortunately, we have another Hereford cow who appears very similar to the one I was suppose to be watching(at least to my untrained eye).  When I spotted the signs I was looking for occurring way out in the pasture, I excitedly called my husband to inform him, proud of myself for paying attention and being helpful with the cattle instead of sitting by idl .  I unfortunately was not sure exactly which of the two cows it was, and I figured it was good enough to just alert him that it might be her.  I did not realize we needed exact dates and that if you weren't there at the time, it is more difficult to figure out later.
When he got home, I could see the disappointment that I didn't know precisely which of the two it was.  I'm not naturally in tune to  markings or other unique features of individual cows.  That's just not me (yet....I'm getting more cow savvy).
When the cows came into the corral that evening, I spent some quality time making note of individual markings so that next time, I can tell for sure.  Well, hopefully.......

Our Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are our absolute favorite chocolate chip cookies!  I usually bake a dozen then ball the rest of them up and freeze them so I can take them out whenever I need (or want) cookies.

2 c. butter crisco

1 1/2 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

4 tsp vanilla

4 unbeaten eggs

4 tsp water

blend together

4 c quick oats

3 c flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 c chopped pecans

2 c chocolate chips

blend together then add to wet ingredients

Scoop into balls.  Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes (if you're baking from frozen balls at 2 min.)

Enjoy!!!