February 2013 - Forever In Mom Genes

It’s A New Meme…Verbose Vendredi!

Feb 22 2013

I’ve participated in Wordless Wednesday, but almost always unsuccessfully. I’m rarely wordless. I even talk in my sleep. So I’ve created a new meme —Verbose Vendredi. I planned on calling it “Wordy Wednesday” but since it’s now Friday, I added the french bit for you know, alliteration, which is a key element in all viral memes. Isn’t it? I honestly have no idea. I don’t even know how to pronounce the word meme. Is it ‘meem’ or ‘mem’? Now that I think about it, I should’ve I added MEME to the hate list… Anyway, a few chatty girlfriends and I got together for a good ol’ blab session and came up with this word list; words that make us smile and words that get stuck in our throats and make us gag. Do you see any of your most beloved or deeply despised words here? Any suggestions for ones we missed? Verbose Vendredi Related: Lisa’s Lexicon (words I made up that don’t exist in a dictionary but should)

Feb 11 2013

When your child needs to take meds, whether occasionally for an infection, or daily for a chronic condition, being the adult on “dispensing duty” can be difficult. My memory is not what it use to be. I can barely remember to change out of my slippers before I leave the house (true story). So what’s my point? I forget. Oh yes, it’s tricky keeping track of your child’s medications, especially if they require several doses, at different times of day. Hubby: “Did you give Avery her *whatever drug* yet?” Me: “Um. Ah. I think so. Maybe. I’m not sure. Crap.” Here’s a little trick we use around here now to keep track. A simple a.m./p.m pill dispenser works like a charm but….most young children’s medications are in liquid form – which does not jive with the pill dispenser thingamabobber. So we use an M&M in place of the liquid med. When your child takes the medicine, you give them the candy. Not only is it a bribe to take the icky medicine, it acts as a visual so you or your spouse or any other pill dispensing adult in your home, knows whether or not the medication has been given. Setting an[…]

Feb 10 2013

I’m a compulsive planner which means I need like to know what’s going to happen next; and if I can control what that is, even better. FYI — I know what we’re having for dinner every night for the next two months. When it comes to my children, I have to remind myself to stop obsessively looking forward. However, there are some things that really must be arranged in advance when you have a child with a disability. Though I hope to be around for a long time to care for my family, even I, the master of control, can’t control that. So as unpleasant as it seems, we recently updated our wills and named our children’s guardians and Powers of Attorney. We also created a document listing all accounts, assets, debts, passwords, and any other crucial information family members would need in the case of, you know, our demise. We set up an RESP for our son. He’ll need it to help with law and medical school. After that, he’s on his own. I’m sure his astronaut salary and Pulitzer prize money will be enough to get by on. (What? I tend to dream big.) So with those details in place, I can relax and just enjoy my kids,[…]

Feb 05 2013

Our family just went to Disney World for the first time and it was spectacular. Here are a few planning tips and suggestions that helped make our Disney vacation a trip of a lifetime. The Disney website is a great place to start. The site has lots of great info like where to stay, attractions, where to eat, park pass options, a Planning Centre, etc. There’s a lot to consider and it can feel overwhelming but don’t panic! Here’s the process broken down for you. 1. Pick your dates: Based on your availability, seat sales (flights) and possibly free dining. We bumped our trip back a few days in order to take advantage of free dining when it was offered. You can read about that option here. Essentially, your dining plan is included if you stay on site and also buy a minimum of a 2-day park pass during “Free Dining” periods. 2. Decide where to stay: If you decide to stay on site you can opt into the meal plan (paid or free depending when you go), your transportation to Downtown Disney and to all of the parks is included as well. The shuttle buses come every few minutes all day/night long and you can[…]

Feb 04 2013

When you wish upon a star, sometimes your wish really does come true and you end up sitting beside a princess in the Orlando airport. When we arrived in Florida and boarded the Magical Express to our hotel, it started–the happy tears. Each seat on the bus had its own T.V. playing images of Disney. I challenge even the coldest heart not to melt during a “Let the memories begin” video. Seriously. So while her sappy mum indulged in a misty moment, a little girl looked out the window pointing and laughing, bouncing up and down unable to contain her excitement. “I so happy!” she shouted. The lady in front of me turned and smiled warmly saying, “How sweet. She’s so excited.” Then my daughter added, “I on a bus!!!” Sigh. Perhaps we could have just stayed home and ridden around town on the city bus a few times? But then we would have missed the magical moments that followed over the next few days. Avery soon realized that though the bus ride was fun, riding the Tower of Terror, going on safari, and meeting Mickey Mouse IRL were more fun than any bus. Even a double decker. My husband[…]

Archive - February 2013

It’s A New Meme…Verbose Vendredi!

A Spoonful of M&Ms Helps The Medicine Go Down

Planning For Your Special Needs Child’s Future

Disney Planning for Newbies

Making Disney With Your Child With Special Needs Even More Special