Certificate of Birth

 Ben's birth certificate finally came by UPS today.  His adoption was almost 11 years ago. Normally, you are supposed to get a new birth certificate right after the adoption is finalized, but our attorney messed up royally.  He didn't file some of the necessary paperwork.  It took a bit of doing...  we had to go to the courthouse where he was adopted (a 5 hour drive...  over a pass) and have them unseal the sealed documents.  I'm glad all of that is over.  I now I have birth certificates for everyone!  

Yummy Peanut Butter Popcorn

The boys requested peanut butter popcorn.  It is so yummy (although I don't dare have any because of my dreaded corn allergy!) I first found this recipe years ago in the More with Less cook book.  I did alter it a bit...  it called for corn syrup, but I use honey instead...  I think it gives it a "fuller"  flavor.  It has become a family favorite.

Here's the recipe:

4 quarts popped popcorn

1 cup sugar

1 cup honey

1 cup peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

Place sugar and honey in a sauce pan and heat on medium.  Stir until sugar and honey are melted and come to boiling.  Add peanut butter, stirring to be care not to scorch it.  When peanut butter in melted and it is liquidy, take off of heat and add vanilla.  Pour over popped popcorn, making sure to coat all the kernels. You could add peanuts if you wanted.

Doesn't this look yummy?!

Alex and the cow

We took Alex to the zoo today.  We went to the "family farm", where they have farm animals and a petting zoo.  Alex's favorite part was this huge cow statue.  He "milked" that cow for about 10 minutes!

In Search of the Perfect Granola

I love granola!  Granola with yummy dried fruit and nuts...  I like it sweet, but not too sweet.  I like it crunchy, rather than sticky. Besides the dried fruit and nuts, I prefer my granola rather plain, just rolled oats, not a lot of other stuff.


I found the prefect "dry ingredient" amounts, but have been playing with the "wet ingredients" for awhile, trying to find perfection. The search is over!  I found perfection!

Perfect Granola 

Dry ingredients: 
                           13 cups rolled oats
                              2 cups shopped nuts 
                              2 cups dried fruit


Wet ingredients:
                           3/4 cup oil
                              3 T molasses
                              1 T vanilla
                              1 cup honey
                             1/2 t salt


Stir "wet" ingredients into "dry" ingredients (except for dried fruit - leave fruit out until granola has been baked) making sure to coat all of the oats and nuts.  Place onto 2 cookie sheets at bake at 350 for 30 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes.  Take out and let cool.  Add dried fruit.  When cool, place in airtight container.  

To medicate or not to medicate, that is the question...

It's pretty typical for parents of children with ADHD to question if the use of medication will help their child.  So...  I guess that makes me "typical"...  


Alex has been taking Ritalin for about five years now.  His prescription has been increased and decreased over time, mostly depending upon the school's ability to handle his hyperness.  (hmmm... "hyperness" doesn't seem to actually be a word, however it is an actual state-of-being)  Anyway, we try to medicate Alex only to the point where he is slowed down enough to think and enjoy life, but not so much as to be a zombie.  Because his hyperness is still quite evident even while taking the medication, I sometimes question if it is really necessary.


Well, my question was answered this weekend!  I slipped up and didn't get his prescription to the "Ritalin" pharmacy before the weekend.  ( a discussion of Alex's 4 medications and 3 different pharmacies  is will be topic in a later blog entry).  We were okay on Saturday, but Sunday he definitively DID NOT have enough meds!  What a crazy day!!  Alex spent the day bouncing off walls and ceilings.  Every time I turned my back on him (for one second!) he was into something!! He emptied the refrigerator 3 times!!  And that was BEFORE we went to church! 

During church, he was up and down and ran all over.  He darted here and there, making sure to pass by the cookie table each time to grab a cookie (or three).  I am so thankful that Cat, our amazing caregiver, was there to lend a hand.


After church, Steve thought it would be fun  to go out to dinner.  He definitely hadn't noticed how hyper Alex actually was.  Dinner was an event, but we made it through.  After dinner, Steve took Alex into the bathroom.  They were in there for what seemed to me a long time.  When they finally came out, they both were covered in water!  Alex couldn't concentrate long enough to wash his hands...  Lots of splashing, not so much washing.


Today, I had to send Alex to school unmedicated.  As soon as the bus came, I made a mad dash for the pharmacy.  At 10am, I finally got to the school with meds in hand.  All the teachers in Alex's class were happy to see me.  


So...  for us, at this point in time, the answer is "yes".   Medication is helpful for Alex at this time.  

Graduation!

PESM Graduating class 2012

  My last day of classes was March 8th.  March 15th was the deadline for all assignments to be turned in,  (mine were turned in 3 days ahead of schedule!) But the reality of finishing my Master's in Ministry degree, it didn't totally sink in until today!  I'm done!  I really did it!
After 3 long years of writing papers and pages upon pages of collateral reading, this chapter is done.  I received a M Min. - Master's in Ministry.  Yay me!  

Dr. Carl Durhkoop and Linda Hoenhouse (my mentor) hooding me

Receiving my Diploma 

Friday Flowers

One of the many things I love about living in Seattle is Pikes Place Market.  I love going down there.  It is so festive and new every week.  There are always new vendors and different things to look at.  I especially love the flowers.  Each week the flower assortment is just a bit different.  There are only a few weeks in the dead of winter that you can't find some fresh flowers.  And even when there are no fresh flowers to find, you can still find a wonderful assortment of dried flowers.  

Steve and I usually take the bus downtown on Friday mornings.  We get off in the tunnel and when we emerge up to the surface, we find the closest Starbucks.  We then walk around, finding new shops to look in.  Sometimes we venture down to the waterfront.  No matter where we go,  we always stop at Pikes Place Market and pick up a bouquet (or 2) of flowers. I love Friday flowers!   

The Bus

What a morning!  


It started out to be just another Thursday morning...  Cat , Alex's caregiver (an angel in street clothes), came in at the regular time ready to start the day with Alex.  He seemed to be in a pleasant mood (something I have difficulty with in the mornings, until I have enough coffee going through my veins).  Everything seemed to be following our "normal routine".  Granted, our "normal" is a bit different than the average guy's normal... but it's our's and we do okay.


The closer it got to 8:00am, the fussier Alex became...  but that too, is almost a "normal" thing for us.  We "usually" can simply distract him out of his fussy moods, and today was no different.  That is until the bus came.  Now, Alex is a very social young man and loves people and going places.  He has been riding a school bus since he was 4 years old and seems to enjoy getting on the bus and going.... 


Not today!  As soon as the bus turned the corner and was in sight, Alex began to pitch a fit.  While screaming at the top of his voice, he sat down on the pavement in protest.  He then became "one with the ground" and there was no way I could physically pick him up.  This went on for what seemed to be an eternity (in reality, about 2 minutes).  The more I tried to coax him onto the bus, the louder and more agitated he became.  


I finally had more than I could handle, so I sent the bus on it way.  As soon as the bus was out of sight, Alex quietly got up, took my hand and walked into the house.  Alex waited patiently as I changed in appropriate clothing to go out and about (jammies and a robe are okay to meet the bus, but not okay to drive to school).  And off we went to school.


It's time like these that I wish with all my heart, Alex could talk.  If he could just verbalize what the problem is...  Is there something I need to know?  Is something horrible happening on the bus?  Or, did Alex just want some extra "mommy time"?

It fun to dress up!

I'm not totally sure what look Alex was going for...  I was busy fixing dinner and heard this loud mom, mom, mom!  When I looked up, here was Alex, dressed in my swimsuit,  his rain boots and a basket on his head!

Done, Done, DONE!!!

I am finally finished with all my schoolwork and everything is turned in!! 3 days before the deadline!


What a relief!   


Now, I'm just waiting for grades and graduation.  


In some ways, it's been a long 3 years...  but on the other hand, it has gone by so quickly.  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Last night, Alex and I finally got his Valentine's Day cards finished.  I think they turned out cute!

In Alex's Valentine's Day bag, he received a little book of stickers along with some candy.  After eating all the candy in the bag, Alex put all of the stickers on this face and head.  He had great fun!