The "Man Dresser"

The Ugly Dresser transformation

Here is what we call the "Man dresser" Although some if the pics are in the sanding stage, enough of the before was left over.

Andrew had this dresser from who knows when. It's been hiding out in my closet not being used Andrew has been throwing his clothing in a white laundry basket.

There was a whole lot of drama in just choosing a color as Andrew wanted a bright blue and I really just wanted something that would look great.

There is always a power struggle. We chose Valspar Indigo Streamer in Semi gloss.

The after is STUNNING

Maybe now Andrew will actually put clothes in it. :)

I can proudly say this was my idea and it was truly a project that at times got crazy...

Things I learned.

Next time I will use a foam roller as I found the roller I was using leaving pieces behind. Even better I might whip out the sprayer.
Sanding it lightly although it sounded easy wasn't. It took me a while to overcome my fear of the sander.
A quart of paint is all it took (And I have some still left over). the top took 3 coats. Everything else took 2.

Paint always dries darker. I totally panicked when the paint went on bluish gray... I walked away at that point and when I came down later totally let out a sigh of relief.

Honestly I've never done anything like this before. I can see how my friends have become addicted to making things over.
Gorilla glue is to be used sparingly. It can and will multiply itself, and getting the extra off is impossible.
This took me a week and a half as the times I got to do this were when certain little people were sleeping and at school.

This inspired Andrew to want to re paint our bench...

Be very blessed and keep praying for Haiti... The world just got a bunch more Orphans to take care of. :(

What I've been up to

The last couple of days were okay... Meanwhile there was no internet, phone or tv. Andrew's work got horribly busy and he had to work late. Meanwhile he forgot to pay the phone utilities... Nothing more than that and honestly as you can see I'm back.
While all that was going on I put together a video of Jonathan's pictures... I love doing this and he loves looking at them. I think I am getting better at that and I am doing more of the transitions and effects myself instead of letting the program do it for me.



Daniel is walking!!! and driving us all crazy we love him.

We are going through some transitions and contemplating making a change (in churches or the location whichever suits us better).
We made some changes to Jonathan's medications for his allergies and are observing his diet to see what we need to do some blood testing. I didn't know allergic gastroenteritis was a real thing. I just thought he eats an allergic food and he gets massive amounts of gastric/Lower GI symptoms... mainly in his diaper.

On the Potty training front.... We have progress... Last Saturday we went and had tea with a friend and Jonathan grabbed his hand and drug him to the bathroom. He had never done this before and we were waiting for this. We had no clue what he wanted but 10 mins later he came over and motioned for his diaper.
Only then...did it occur to us that he is ready for him to begin this process...He is nearly four but because of his language delay we had to not be pushy.
Again I tell you there is nowhere with parenting advice for kids with health/developmental challenges.

Be blessed because I am.

Urgent Prayers needed-Disaster

Prayers for Haiti and it's People as they recover from the Devastating 7.0 Earthquake yesterday.

Gving something away

Here it is

A Give away

a Mug Buddies mug with a buddy in the shape of a sea shell . I might even for the winner throw in something special.
This will get all my "Lurkers" out of the shadows and into the light. Yes you who tell me in your Holiday cards that you follow my blog. at least 3 of you did this.
You need to leave comments both on my facebook page (If you are my friend) or leave comments here. There is an option to leave comments without having to sign up. If you have a google password you're closer than you think. Since I don't really know how how the linking thing works. don't try. It's okay.(yea Sarah I know you can do it so okay)
Leave comments and I will choose someone at random. Leave more comments and your chances go up of winning.
People who cannot win are anyone who lives at my house. LOL but Andrew tried... see comments.
Knowing I might not get ANY comments I will pull out the Christmas card addresses and pick someone who I am aware that follows me ;)
The last time I did something out of the ordinary like this only ONE person responded. One great friend and I wasn't even expecting her to ever come out of the shadows. I knew about her...

Next up_
The Butt Ugly dresser Transformation... but it's currently still in progress. (just finished the sanding stage)
I've never EVER done a project like this. A friend of mine Sarah has a blog . She is a DIY goddess. She inspired me a while back and silently dared me.
Maybe this dresser will be beautiful enough not to live in my closet.

Being a parent today

Okay, I know what you might be asking...
What is it like having two wonderful kids.... Wonderful, I wouldn't trade a single second.
What is it like to have a child with challenges? To answer that you might want to ask a different question because the more I talk to other parents with these kids, the more I discover that these are their kids and to them they are as normal as it gets.
There are heaping amounts of websites to inform and support parents of kids who have physical, mental and developmental challenges. but to people who have preemies or kids who don't quite fit any one category (like us). There is no real help.
There are to date no websites or books for these parents to use in the area of parenting. (not that I've stumbled upon)It's more or less use what you can to shape your child... This can be very confusing.
2 rules apply when reading articles on parenting my kids. When it somewhat mentions that a child should be doing something by a particular age, I've just got to wonder is that an average they've somehow picked at random or is this a scientifically proven. Secondly, is your advice geared to developmental age or chronological?

If I seem confused when it comes to this: I am.
Like I stated before, when I talk to other parents of kids with challenges...The parents see their kids and not the challenges. Although the challenges DO exist, I think that in a way parents aren't oblivious to it they just are in a form of denial.
Explanation: Imagine this is your child. You see your child as special and unique. nothing is going to change the fact you love your child. Not even what anyone says about how different from everyone else he/she is.
This is a coping mechanism whether consciously or not it is.
Every so often I get the realization I am doing this, but then realize I am his mom and I can see what no one else sees in him.None of what anyone says is going to change it.

I have seen my children as the true gifts that they are. Everything that they do is a miracle. Because of what we had to go through with Jonathan to get him to do what he needs to (walk, talk etc) we don't take anything like this for granted.
Two things happened when I had Daniel. We got to experience the baby  stage fully in all of it's cute, colicky glory. Even when Daniel woke us up with his screaming at 2 am every night we still loved it (even though we were tired).
Everything Daniel seems to be doing is on his own so we are in total awe and wonder. This is super fantastic to us and not a day goes by that we aren't saying wow. He doesn't seem to have to work hard at anything he eventually does it better every time..
We love our kids just in their own special way. Each one has their own unique personality,gifts and special things about them.
With Jonathan we know that he is very sensitive and caring, he is a social butterfly even to a fault. He is tender hearted and has a high tolerance for pain/illness. His love language is Quality time and doing things with him.
We went through the nicu with him, and went through all of his challenges he faced/faces.
Daniel- is very strong, very loving and loyal. He can be shy at times, but mostly can be very loud at times. He loves music and will fill the air with his own if there is none playing.
We went through a lot during our pregnancy with him and Thanked God endlessly for making him come out shouting when he was born.sometimes we wish he would have asked God to only have him be loud at his birth

His love language is both Physical touch and praise.
He is just special because of how God proved Himself to me with him.
I love them both with all of my heart and adore seeing what God is doing with both of them.
Daniel is walking now and Jonathan is picking up more words.


Here is Daniel's first year video.


Be blessed


Erin posted a comment but the web did something so here:
Erin has left a new comment on your post "Being a parent today":

And no one understands as well as you and no one ever will . . . That's a significant part about having children with uncategorized health issues--it's alienating and can throw one in to a spiraling depression. Having two children with signficiant growth disorders gives me pause . . . a lot. And today it's just a panic attack--tomorrow might be better.

Our Christmas break

OK we were going to the beach for our Christmas break.  We had  panned it down to what we were going to do each day.
You know how the saying goes:If you want to hear God laugh, tell Him your plans.
Since Jonathan got his new glasses the week before and our budget was tight, we decided that it would be better if we stayed home.
About  the 22nd we wake up and have a lot of trouble  waking Jonathan up. He was sick and didn't want to do much of anything but lay down and sleep.. He had a fever of 102 and wasn't his crazy, active, and perky self.
This was very scary as we've never seen him act this way. We took him to the pediatrician and had him looked over. He had an ear infection... They tested him for both H1n1 and seasonal flu, both were negative. They gave him Tylenol. 30 minutes later we experienced what we called the Tylenol miracle. We admit that it was probably more an act of God than the tylenol but we can give both the credit.
We were glad we were not in some strange place trying to explain Jonathan's sorted history to someone who may or may not have been listening. We thank God we were able to see our pediatrician. Good ole Dr. S.
When we ever move I will be very sad to leave this one. we like him a whole lot.

He went from just laying in a wrapped blanket wanting to just be left in his cocoon to being his normal self.
We did set up our Christmas tree. but it was put up on Chrtistmas eve and came down on the 27th. Daniel loved the ornaments a bit more than I liked. That and it took up more space in our tiny apartment.

Friends from afar

We got to see friends from afar.
Scott and Stephanie Guth and Family

They live in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. We love them and miss them. So glad they are doing well.

We saw Bonita- a friend of ours that now live in New Mexico.

We went and saw Christmas lights around our area and  some things became obviously worth it when we saw a light display with Pooh and Tigger and Jonathan said "Hi Tigger, Hi Pooh" That had to be something both Andrew and I will cherish because he said it loud and clear. We both had tears in our eyes.
Be blessed and hug those around you that you Love more tightly...
Happy 2010