Inchie Mondy:: Pretend

Not many Inchie Monday challenges left, this week's challenge was "pretend".
After teaching preschool for so many years I naturally think like a four year old. One of my favorite art projects for the kids was puppets. You remember a brown lunch bag and a bunch of "stuff' always ended up with wonderful puppets to pretend with. Here's my inchie bag puppet. Much easier with a lunch bag than just an inch of space.



Inchie Monday : Daring

Can't believe I actually have my inchie ready for a Monday! This week's word was "daring". I didn't have to think long to come up with my idea.
 Grace and her bestie, Kayla, are often on "an adventure" as they call them. I'm never too sure what they're up to, but I'm glad we live in the country where it doesn't involve harassing other people. usually they manage to tie ropes to Grace's chair, find something for Kayla to sit or stand on and off Grace goes towing Kayla around as fast as she can.
The last video I saw of their "adventure" involved a hill of dirt and so much laughing it was hard to tell what they were doing. Not sure if this qualifies as "daring" or 'crazy".

Happy Monday

Parking

We've all seen this sign. I search for it everytime we go somewhere. I also am always complaining about how difficult it is to find an empty parking space near this sign. This spring we bought a van with a lift on the side, which means we have to find parking spaces with the wider space on the side. One day last week we actually drove from one town to another to get groceries because I couldn't find parking. I know when you don't use these parking spaces it feels like there are too many saved for handicap parking, but trust me they're hard to come by.
My point is that if anyone knows how rare these spaces are I do. I also know the laws attach a hefty fine if you get caught parking in handicap parking space illegally.
So, Saturday my sister and I went shopping, Grace wasn't with us, but I was driving the wheelchair van. The first place we stopped at I happily found a parking space and was actually half way out of the van when I realized I was in a handicap space!! I couldn't believe that I, queen of parking police, was trying to park there. I moved the van and we had a good laugh about it. The next store we went to I headed straight for another handicap space! I managed to catch myself before I pulled into the space. We had another laugh at my expense. I have to wonder something...............how many times have I run to the grocery store without Grace, and parked in a handicap space without realizing what I was doing? How many people that really needed that space drove away or risked injury parking in a regular space?
I'm sure I will still be the queen of all complainers when I can't find a space, just think I'll be a little more aware of where I park when I don't have Grace with me.
 So if you see me parked in a space leave me a note asking    "Are you sure you should be parked here  :) " Because I never know what I'm doing.

Pain & Patience

Wanted to give an update on Grace. She is still having pain in her hips and back.
Her insurance wouldn't OK a referral to a pain management specialist, said she had to see her orthopedic surgeon and muscle doctors. Yesterday was her appointment with the ortho doctor. We were both nervous that somehow her rods, pins or screws were causing the pain, but thankfully everything looked perfect to his team of doctors. He examined her hips where the pain was the worst yesterday, and he didn't think it was in her bones. He agreed that the new wheelchair seat, which we're still waiting on, would probably help, and that the muscle doctor is the next place to visit for help. I just got an appointment for next week, they squeezed her in, usually you have to wait months to get into his office.
That's it, still missing too much school, but she's managing to get caught up, just hard to learn when you're not there to hear the lectures. Good thing she knows how to self teach. It's just hard to concentrate when you're in pain. Breaks my heart to see her suffer ):

Halloween

This last Monday was Halloween, not many kids at the high school dressed in costumes. But, of course Grace couldn't wait. She had several ideas the past month or so as to what to wear. She thought of zombies, bumblebee, some character from a video game( can't remember which one). She finally decided on a character from one of her favorite movies The Nightmare Before Christmas. She wanted to be Sally. I think sally is kind of a put together rag doll type person, sort of a female Frankenstein. It wasn't too hard to make her costume, just some fusible webbing and scrap fabric on an old skirt and t-shirt. She loved her costume and was even more thrilled when a few people actually knew who she was.

Inchies X4

Once again I'm playing catch up with my inchie art. You wouldn't think making just an inch of art every week wold be such a hard task to get to. I think some participants have given it up, but I'm determined to get my entire year done. Except for house cleaning and dieting I usually follow through with commitments, and honestly this is a fun one. Some of the words are just difficult to be inspired by. Anyway, here goes;
This week's topic is "graffiti", I would love to be a graffiti artist, but I just don't have that type of talent, probably a good thing, I really don't think an old gal such as myself needs to be tagging railroad cars or government building, although it would be tempting. So, here's my graffiti. Tipi is my artist nickname, so I decided to use it.

Not sure which order the weeks I missed were in but they were for the words 'dream" and "encourage".

I even managed to get a week ahead with this "life" inchie. Maybe this time I will keep up. But don't hold your breath :)

 



Who's the Student?

Well, Grace has been at school the last two days, she's almost caught up, just has to finish an essay for English. She's still very uncomfortable, but I think she's resigned herself to believe this for now, is her cross to bear. Thank you for your continued prayers.
I just have to share something that I always chuckle at. It never fails, whenever there is a paper or project due at school, someone will ask me if I've finished my paper! It's crazy I always tell them no, but Grace has hers.  My sister even asked me something about my teacher the other day. It's so funny that since I'm there all the time it's just natural to think I'm the student. Now I know everyone does know better. Just funny how our minds work. Off to do my homework LOL.

Too Much Pain

Not much to post about school the last couple of weeks, Grace has missed a lot of school due to pain. Her back seems to hurt every day ,all day unless she is in bed. We had her chair looked at and she needs a new seat cushion for it. the gel in it has worn out and could be causing the pain. Also went to her doctor for some pain meds, which have horrible side effects. She now has the choice of either being in constant pain or limited pain and severe dizziness and nausea. So far the dizzy/sickness wins over pain. I also need to make appointments to see her muscle Dr and ortho Dr for check ups.
Friday she actually got up, took meds and went to school at lunch, only to decide that she was either too high or dizzy or ready to "puke". So we didn't go to classes. I talked with a couple of her teachers who are very understanding and caring about her situation. I don't think it will take her too long to catch up on her school work. We had her best friend spend the night Friday, and tried to do some things Saturday. I could see that Grace wasn't feeling her best at times. I think having some company was good medicine though. Today was a horrible day. Grace wasn't sure if she has a bug or the pain meds made her sick. She mostly slept, watched TV and took a bath. I helped a little with some school work and she's listening to music and trying to go to sleep with plans of going to school again tomorrow.
I think we'll skip the meds in the morning, try some salon pas on her back and pray for the best. Please keep her in your prayers. For her pain, seat cushion to get here soon, ability to catch up at school, and for her attitude to remain positive. She's a tough cookie, I love you Grace !!

Spider Buddies

This week in kindergarten it was spider week. You name it they did it. Grace is only there for a short time in the mornings, but she managed to get involved in some of the fun. Here she is with a couple spider buddies wearing their new spider hats. There's probably not much the kindergartners don't know about spiders, from what their bodies look like to what juices they suck out of their prey. yummyyy!



Rough Week

So far this has been a rough week for Grace. Aside from being in more physical pain than usual she's also in emotional pain. A young man that was one of my pre-schoolers with her passed away this weekend. He was a year ahead of her and she probably walked by him several times a day at school. She is so sad.
I remember him as an adorable four year old always ready to run outside and play. I think one of Grace's favorite memories of him comes from a rough time in her life. When she was in seventh grade she had back surgery and was out of school for a few months. The first day she returned to school for a short visit he was the first person that approached her and asked how she was doing. I know he surprised her. He wasn't someone that usually asked her those kinds of things, but he showed her another side of him. the side that had compassion for others.
It's always hard when anyone dies, I think especially when it's a young person. Grace is having a rough time accepting that he's gone. She's sad and angry that it was him and not someone that has already lived a long life.
It's hard to find the right thing to say to her, I don't have the answers that she wants, don't know that anyone does.
Please pray for all the kids in our community and especially the family of this young man. He will be forever missed.

Inchie Monday: Curiosity

I'm actually posting an Inchie on Monday! Ok now I have to say I'm posting two inchies, as I missed last week.
This week is "curiosity" well of course we all know curiosity killed the cat, there was no way I could do anything but a cat with a young cat in our house. He is into EVERYTHING!!

Last week's inchie was "destination" I have struggled with this one, the only destination I ever think of is heaven. Now I don't struggle with it being heaven, I just struggle with trying to interpret something that I honestly don't think any of us can comprehend. I decided to just make something sparkly and call it heaven.



Secret Language?

Hi all, oh just a sec while I drag my trusty soap box out and climb on.
Grace had a chemistry test today, and for a minute it seemed like she had the wrong one. I don't understand why tests have to be worded in an entirely different language than the subject is taught in. I know neither the book nor the teacher used any of the terms that were on the test.
Now she was absent one day, you don't suppose they had the "secret chemistry language" lesson that day do you? It may be a conspiracy. One just to confuse Grace and ruin her grades. I think it worked! But only this time......we're on to you!!!