The Front Porch Swing

[Tomtommom]

The cow is finally in the right pasture. Hubby managed to get her locked in today when she was intent on licking a salt block to death.
I am waiting for a phone call right now from my daughter. My granddaughter wants to come right now. They are meeting with the detective right now to see if he will approve the move and drop the charges. I hope it works out that she can come. She might hate it here. Cell phones don't work in the hollow where our house is. You have to go up to the top of the property to get service, then it isn't very good. We don't have cable or satellite tv. We were not watching it enough to justify the expense. Doug says we will reinstate it if she wants. Our internet is satellite and doesn't work when it is too cloudy. The only shopping is 20 minutes away and that is a Wal -mart and k mart. She lives across the street from a huge shopping area and her smart phone is attached to her 24/7. She will have our love and attention. A chance to meet some "country kids" maybe go muddin' and I guess learn to wear camo and shoot a bow!
I hope we can keep her busy and active and let her find her real self without the bad influences she had gotten into at home. Wish us luck and keep us in your prayers. I have been looking into alternative high schools. She only needs 15 hours to graduate and that will be part of the requirement to keep her out of trouble.

She may very well find other things to do. A good wholesome boy to be around? Or find her heart with the animals.

I wasn't raised on a farm, but when I was 12 or so, my mom was dating a man who had an empty barn where he worked on cars. The farmer didn't have kids and he just loved it when we came over. I was happy as a clam, 12 years old, up to my ankles in cow poop

I learned to milk cow, got to drink raw milk, watched calves be born, got to feed the calves (with a bucket)... we climbed to the top of the haystack, where you could always find barn cats with kittens. I certainly found my 'barn heart' on that farm. In high school I got a volunteer job at a local petting zoo. And I actually contemplated going to school to learn how to be a farmer (yes, we had a school for that.)... but changed my mind and went to something a little closer to home (teacher academy). Didn't finish either education.. I have such a hard time dedicating myself to one thing.

To this day, horses scare me some.. one of the horses bit my arm! Not very hard, I'm sure, but it spooked me good. Me and my little brother both ran like heck to get away from the crazy horse

I know she'll be ok, how can she not, with such awesome grandparents?

 

[Tomtommom]

Oh, and Kendra's story is AWESOME Blooie!

My little boy is coming out of his shell at the moment

He's 28 months and until a few weeks ago could not talk. He could say bye bye and dada and that was it. We get in-home therapy for him and she's been pushing him since he was 15 months old to use sign language to communicate, as well as repeating sounds over and over. Everyone blames his hearing, but I know he can hear enough to speak, he just didn't WANT to.

Well, now he has a little sister and he's feeling the pressure. That little goober started talking!

It's shaky, it's hard to understand at times and you can tell he's deaf, he misses some sounds, but by God he's talking. I've heard him count one, two, three (he skips four) and then five. He said milk three times this morning. He says and signs 'more' and 'all done', although they still need a little pushing from us most of the time.. but I've heard 'all done' a time or two after he's emptied a bowl. He repeats random words he hears us say, if he feels like it. But he is using words, with purpose.

Next month we have an appointment to review if he will need special education starting when he's 3. I think we will, just because of his lack of social skills... but this is one less worry! He will talk, at some point!


So many take basic developmental skills for granted: talking, walking etc. It's so very special when those kids that do not possess those skills finally learn them. To others these things are no big deal, but to us they're everything!

 

[Oldmomma]

So good about the young one using her walker. From a little girl I was socialized to folks who were different. My great aunt and uncle were special and when I was young I always preferred the company of special kids. In high school I was among a few students who went to the school for the deaf for shop class and when I had my kids well I got a little of everything. Couple of brainiacs, couple of regular troubles and a few that had issues. My two grandsons are autistic and one has hearing aids and last month found out one of my daughters is losing her hearing too. I had a daycare for kids with special needs and I taught a set of twins how to crawl and walk. Before I came here they graduated from high school one joined the military. Here children with needs are shunned just like we did back in the early years prior 1970s. My own sil is a teacher but when I asked her why she didnt educate my niece she asked me why? During the war there was a group of deaf young men who made the news during the war. They formed their own brigade and did recon. They used their other talents and excelled. They were not allowed to be schooled! The government trested them like untouchables. Now they have started many schools to help kids. I got a call today and I would ask for prayers that its successful, we are starting a drivers awareness program aimed at kids teaching them safety in cars. Pilot programs have been sucessful and we got grant for 8 more cities. Ive been asked to head my city. Since it was reckless driving thst took my sons life im passionate about this. Sadly I reached out to the National Safety Council and they refused to help me! All I asked for was videos and permission to translate their program into arabic to use here. I was going to thebest program and they turned away and told me sorry for your loss! Well its my dinner time. Best move my butt off the stoop let someone else sit down.

 

[Triple Willow]

Seriously,

Oh, and Kendra's story is AWESOME Blooie!

My little boy is coming out of his shell at the moment e

He's 28 months and until a few weeks ago could not talk. He could say bye bye and dada and that was it. We get in-home therapy for him and she's been pushing him since he was 15 months old to use sign language to communicate, as well as repeating sounds over and over. Everyone blames his hearing, but I know he can hear enough to speak, he just didn't WANT to.

Well, now he has a little sister and he's feeling the pressure. That little goober started talking!

It's shaky, it's hard to understand at times and you can tell he's deaf, he misses some sounds, but by God he's talking. I've heard him count one, two, three (he skips four) and then five. He said milk three times this morning. He says and signs 'more' and 'all done', although they still need a little pushing from us most of the time.. but I've heard 'all done' a time or two after he's emptied a bowl. He repeats random words he hears us say, if he feels like it. But he is using words, with purpose.

Next month we have an appointment to review if he will need special education starting when he's 3. I think we will, just because of his lack of social skills... but this is one less worry! He will talk, at some point!

So many take basic developmental skills for granted: talking, walking etc. It's so very special when those kids that do not possess those skills finally learn them. To others these things are no big deal, but to us they're everything!

Don't worry about your little boy, he will start talking in his time. We have one that was born way too early and was tiny tiny. It took him a while to start talking but when he did, well the boy hasn't shut up yet! LOL He would try but just couldn't form the words to where you could understand them. But he finally did and does at top speed and non-stop now. HA! One thing that might help, say a four letter words in front of him then take him somewhere. No doubt he will repeat that word then! I have seen that happen too many times. hahahaha Saying a prayer for you and yours.

^ Joking btw... ^

 

[lazy gardener]

Congrats Tomtommom and Blooie on the progress your little ones have made. We do take so much for granted. My 7 y.o. spent the first month in NICU. She was born with some cardiac problems, as well as some other issues. She was late with all of her developmental milestones. She didn't walk until after she was 2. Still has fine and gross motor issues, has low muscle tone which i think is why she has such issues with bowel and bladder. She had eye surgery on both eyes to correct "lazy eye", and will have long term issues with vision due to lack of stimulation of her "lazy eye" during the developmental period. But that girl is so smart, it scares me some times!

 

[rrrmamma]

My daughter, and both of my granddaughters are leaving St. Joseph Mo on Friday the 23rd. They should get here the next evening. None of them have ever been to our place and everyone is excited. Suzanne, my daughter will drive home and Jayla will fly home after a week or so. Madi will be staying with us. They are arguing over who gets to collect the eggs. I wonder if anybody would fight over feeding and cleaning coops LOL. There is also a very muddy puppy to be bathed and many other chores to do. I am both nervous and very happy. I did not get to raise my daughter, and really never knew my granddaughters. This last year through facebook we have re united and are working on establishing a relationship. Her adoptive parents are very supportive of my relationship with her so that has made it easier. Wish me luck. The fun is just beginning.

 

[Triple Willow]

My daughter, and both of my granddaughters are leaving St. Joseph Mo on Friday the 23rd. They should get here the next evening. None of them have ever been to our place and everyone is excited. Suzanne, my daughter will drive home and Jayla will fly home after a week or so. Madi will be staying with us. They are arguing over who gets to collect the eggs. I wonder if anybody would fight over feeding and cleaning coops LOL. There is also a very muddy puppy to be bathed and many other chores to do. I am both nervous and very happy. I did not get to raise my daughter, and really never  knew my granddaughters. This last year through facebook we have re united and are working on establishing a relationship. Her adoptive parents are very supportive of my relationship with her so that has made it easier. Wish me luck. The fun is just beginning.

God bless you rrrmamma, and your family including your daughter and grand daughter. I'm so glad you are reuniting.

 

[Blooie]

What a wonderful and varied group we are! Obstacles, triumphs, pain and laughter all on one little bitty porch! <sigh> I feel like I've come home!

 

[perchie.girl]

Fire Season is here,

Today the temps jumped up to high ninties and the humidity is down to about 15% The winds are BLOWING.... Santa Anna winds have just started so they arent up to full force yet.

The fire is burning in the area between Rancho Bernardo and Ranch Santa Fe. At three hundred acres right now.... Schools are being evacuated.... This is a residential area not a backwoods area. The schools are evacuatiing to another school out of the burn area. They are evacuating homes in the burn path. One fellow evacuated but had to go back to make sure his gas main was off.

He found his mulch on fire. So he took a moment to get his fire hose out and put that out. While he was doing that a fireman called to him from the canyon and told him to water down his eves and Mulch and Firewood pile. There was even video shots of smoke coming out of the storm drains.... Probably convection pulling air from smoky areas up through.

Things to know.... Where to shut off the Gas. What things are vulnerable to burn on your property.... Here they recommend storing firewood over 50 feet from the house. Keeping a clear defensable space 50 feet from the house.... Then another 50 feet from the house remove 30 percent of the overburden... dead stuff as well as thinning out the green stuff.

I personally would move any barbeque fuel like propane tanks away from the house.

deb

 

[OHhappychicks]

Cindy and Will adjusting straps on Kendra's gait trainer. Her first time in it. She was not happy - don't know if this picture shows the alligator tears in her eyes or if it was the other shot. Who cares? She ain't crying in it any more!

Okay, okay, this is huge! I need to see if my brain will let my fingers keep up. KENDRA WALKED TONIGHT. YEP YEP SHE WALKED!!!
Calming down...taking a breath.....breathing...okay, ready GO! This is a bit of a story!

Every year cash donations from the citizens of Cowley pour in for families in need here in our community. People add 50 bucks to their water bill, or drop off $10 or whatever at the town hall, and since we don't have a large list of people on the gift list it amounts to a pretty good Christmas for lots of people who might not have had much - usually a couple of hundred in the form of gift certificates from the grocery store and cash for each family. I'm in a awkward position because they keep Tam on the list as a single mom, even though every year she lets the council (especially me!) know that she and Evan are fine. But Evan wormed his way into the hearts of every member of the council so they just leave her on the list because of him, and because they admire how hard she's worked to provide. Besides, Evan built the mayor a bat house. LOL Problem is that when her name and Kenny and Jenny's come up, I step outside. I just can't vote for the distribution for my own family for some reason. It doesn't seem right.

Anyway, for Christmas this year the town of Cowley gave the kids the funds to buy Kendra a gait trainer. It's a medical device that puts her in an upright position with her feet on the floor so she can learn how to use her legs in that familiar way we do. The insurance the kids have wouldn't pay for one. They denied it because they'd already bought her the wheelchair, so they determined that they had already provided her with some form of mobility and she didn't need a different one - even with a recommendation from her doctors! But by the time it finally arrived, she was in casts again. No way to get her to be able to use it when she has two casts on each leg and can't bend her knees. Then after the casts came off her legs muscles were very sore and weak, so then we had to start all over from crawling. She simply couldn't stand in the gait trainer. Besides, we're pretty isolated out here and Kendra's amazing physical therapists had never worked with a gait trainer before and they weren't comfortable with trying to fit her when they weren't even sure what the proper fit was. But we got a call on Thursday - a therapist from Billlings had agreed to come down for Kendra's session on Friday afternoon and help get it fitted to her properly and show all of us - Ken, me, Jenny, Katie and Cindy (Kendra's regular therapist) how to teach her what the gait trainer was for. She HATED it. She cried almost the whole time. Didn't help that it was 45 minutes past nap time either.

After the fitting and the lessons, he told us if we had any problems to call him directly, but in the meantime to start her out being in it for about 15 - 20 minutes a couple of times a day until she wasn't fighting it any more. So that's what Jenny was doing all weekend. The most we were hoping for was that she'd figure out that if she stood rather than sat in it she'd be more comfortable. Tonight I got a FaceTime call from Jenny....apparently there was a sleeve of crackers and Kendra's sippy cup on the coffee table in the living room. Jenny was doing supper dishes. Next thing she knew, Kenra was eating a cracker and enjoying her juice. Nobody else was home to help her, so there's only one way Kendra got from the kitchen to the living room.....she walked in her gait trainer! So Jenny held the iPad about 10 feet away from Kendra and I called her. She WALKED over to see me on the iPad screen. And she was grinning - she was walking and she LIKED it! Oh, boy, what a God we have! I'm going over as soon as I get home from my doctor's appointment tomorrow and get it on video!

KENDRA WALKED! I'm so excited tears are running down my leg!

We serve a GREAT GOD!!!

We had a grandson born in 02. He had trisomy 18. He also had spina bifada among other issues. He would have been 12 years old this coming June 3rd. He lived 6 days, but what a sweet 6 days!!