Can Your 3 Year Old Count to 120?

Cuz mine can =-)  And I finally have video proof.  Well, actually this video only goes to 112 but I swear she can make it to 120.  And she normally doesn't make as many mistakes as she did this time.

Perspectives

For those of you who don't know I am currently in school working on my Master's Degree in Special Education.  One of the classes I have this summer is a special education intro class that all students in the education program have to take regardless of whether they are going into special education or not.  So, the majority of the class are not special education majors but rather early or secondary education.  A lot of what this class is about is making sure those teachers who are not in special education understand children with special needs a little bit better.  Our teacher has done a great job at explaining the importance of focusing on what the student can do instead of what they can't and showing us how not to judge without getting more information.

There was an exercise he used in class that I thought was really good to use not for just special education but for life.  It's an exercise that teaches not to judge based on just what someone tells you or make assumptions based on that.  So what I want you to do is read the following paragraph and when you are done think about where you think these people live and think of five or so adjectives that you think describe these people.

Body Ritual of the Nacirema

"The magical beliefs and practices of this tribe have been described in great detail; yet there is concern over several slightly masochistic tendencies.  Nacirema tribal customs include: scarping and lacerating the face or legs with a sharp instrument, piercing the skin with sharp instruments and then taking great care to keep the holes from closed again, ceremonial painting of the body, and insertion and ritualistic movement of a bundle of hog hairs in the mouth several times a day.  The people of this tribe seek out the assistance of medicine men many times during the course of a year to treat physical ailments, release them from the power of devils that have lodged in their heads, and gouge holes in their teeth (this is done in order to prevent oral decay and offend ones friends).  The Nacirema gather in large numbers to watch clans within the tribe enact small battles often with many physical injuries and to observe individual tribal members fight to unconsciousness." 

So?  Where do you think these people live?  How would you describe them?  Barbaric?  Uncivilized?  Inhumane?  Those are some of the words used to describe them when we did this exercise in class.

Would you believe that this passage is about us?  Americans?  Well....it is.  The magical beliefs and practices mentioned is talking about religion.  Scarping and lacerating the face and legs with sharp instruments is referring to shaving.  Piercing the skin and keeping the hole open is talking about our ear (or any other place on our body) that we pierce.  Ceremonial painting of the body refers to tattoos.  Insertion of a bundle of hog hairs in the mouth?  The first toothbrushes were made out of hog hair.  Seeking out the assistance of medicine men several times a year is the same thing as going to the doctor when we are sick or get checkups.  Gouging holes in the teeth refers to root canals.  Watching clans enact small battles with physical injuries is talking about football and fighting to unconsciousness is talking about ultimate fighting.

So, did you learn your lesson?

Five Question Friday

It's 830 in the morning and I am already doing Mama M's Five Question Friday.  This may be an all time personal record.  Here are my answers for this weeks questions!

1.  Do you know how to play a musical instrument?
No.  Not even a little bit.  I have no musical talent at all whatsoever.

2.  What is your pet peeve while driving?
Oh let me just tell you...I have many.  I have a full post including a list here.  But my biggest one is people who don't use the entrance ramp to the interstate to speed up.  Instead they just go their normal speed and then get to the interstate and speed up there.  Idiots!

3.  Would you rather have a housekeeper or unlimitied spa service?
Housekeeper!  I've never been to the spa so if I have lived without it this long I still can.  Plus one of my goals in life is to marry someone who gives good massages so then I will have unlimited massage service.

4.  Is there a song that you hear that will take you back in the moment?
No, but whenever I hear Boom Boom Pow by Balck Eyed Peas I think of Kate.

5.  What song best represents your life now?

FYI 2

Just wanted to let everyone know that Belli's appointment went well today.  Nothing has changed since the last checkup.  So we are still looking at another fusion some time in the next couple of years but for now she is good.  I will of course continue to pray for her spine to straighten and not require this surgery but for now I'm just happy it doesn't have to be now. 

FYI

This is going to be quick because it's almost bed time.  Just wanted to let everyone know that Belli has an appointment with her neurosurgeon tomorrow.  It's just a routine checkup but as those who have been following my blog know that our routine checkups generally produce more bad news.  As a matter of fact out of the many visits we have had with the neurosurgeon all of them have turned out bad with the exception of one.  And that one wasn't even good news.  Just no news really.

I am really dreading this appointment because the odds are against us.  Prayers would be appreciated both for a good appointment and that I don't puke while I am waiting in the room for the doctor to come in like I frequently feel like doing.  Thanks!

5 Question Friday

Look at me doing Mama M's Five Question Friday early in the morning!  Mad props to me!  Here are my answers to this weeks questions.

1.  What is your favorite thing about summer time?
Ha!  Hahahahah!!!  See this post and this post. 

2.  What is your ideal retirement location (if money didn't matter)?
Probably a place on the beach in the northeast.  That way I would be on the beach but not have to worry about hurricanes.

3.  Do you live in the same town you grew up in?
I live in the same house I grew up in!

4.  What nervous habit did you have as a child that you kicked to the curb before becoming and adult?
I sucked my thumb until I was in 7th grade.  Don't tell anyone though!

5.  What is the most embarrassing thing that happened to you while on the job?
I don't think I have ever been embarrassed at work.  There have been a couple of times at my current job (leasing agent) when either residents or prospective residents have gotten mad about something and took it out on me.  That's always awkward but I wouldn't say it is embarrassing. 

Make sure and go check out Mama M's blog to join in the fun!

My Good Day the Other Day

A few days ago I tweeted about what a great day I had and that I would blog about it later.  Then I forgot.  So, I'm going to do it now!

Last week I was looking on my church website for information about getting Belli signed up for Sunday school in the fall.  I fell upon the information for their preschool program and on the application it asks if your child has an IEP or if they have any other physical problems that you are concerned about.  I figured if they had those questions on the applications then they might be willing to take Belli.  So I called the principal of the school (the school goes from preschool to 8th grade) and she was more than willing to meet with me to talk about Belli.

So I went Monday morning and it went GREAT!  The principal said she did not see any reason why Belli would not be able to attend their preschool.  I told her all of Belli's needs and without me even asking she told me all of the accommodations they can make for her, like having and area on the playground for her and other kids to play on that does not involve climbing on the equipment and setting up a different activity during gym time for her and other kids if they are doing something that is not safe for Belli.  She said the class sizes are small so she will be closely supervised and everywhere they will be going are all on the same floor within a close range so Belli would not have to walk too far.  All she wanted was a letter from her neurosurgeon briefly describing her condition and some of the accommodations she might need.

The only bad part is that there is a wait list so she might not be able to go until she is four.  But at least it's something!

Then to top of my good day when I got home from the meeting we went to Publix and Belli went in panties and didn't have an accident.  She also walked around in her walker while we were there and she did great!  And boy did she think she was cute stuff.  One of the employees gave her a balloon to tie to her walker and some random lady stopped her and gave her a sucker.

So that was my great day that I had!     

Conversation I Just Had With Belli

Belli:  Where's daddy?

Me:  He's on a boat.

B:  Where's Gigi?

M:  In Mobile.

B:  Where's PawPaw?

M:  In Mobile.

B:  Where's Uncle Justin?

M:  He's on a boat with daddy.

B:  Where's MawMaw?

M:  In Mobile.

B:  Where's Uncle Smitty?

M:  In Mobile.

B:  Where's Uncle Adam?

M:  In Mobile.

B:  Where's Aunt Katie?

M:  In Mobile.

B:  Where's Ms. Brittany?

M:  In Mobile.

B:  Where's Bert and Ernie?

M:  ......Sesame Street?

Talk about random!

Five Question Friday

Time for Mama M's 5 Question Friday.  I'm going to do my answers again this week instead of Belli's like normal.  I don't have the mental capacity to make up her answers right now!

1.  What do you think makes a good friend or friendship?
The other person is willing to both listen and give advice but is also able to take advice when given.  And they need to actually call a sister back!

2.  What is the last thing you bought and later regretted?
Probably my car.  I love it but I think I should have waited a little longer and I may have been able to find something with a higher MPG rating.

3.  Have you ever had a prank played on you?
Not that I can remember but I did play this really great prank on my big sister from my sorority.  It involved making it look like someone had just run into her car and having her run out of the sorority house to come see and then me and a few other girls hiding behind the cars with tons of water ballons.  It was awesome. 

4.  What is your favorite theme park?
I don't like theme parks.  I'm terrified of height so I can't ride the rides.  I can't wait to take Belli to Disney World one day though.  I've never been!

5.  Have you ever seen someone else give birth?
I've never even seen myself give birth.  So no.

Belliisms 3

Here are some of Belli's recent funnies.

On the way to The Bell Center for her summer class I turned up the radio to drown Belli out because her constant chatter was slowly pushing me over the edge.  After a few seconds I hear her yelling, "MOMMY!  WOULD YOU MIND TURNING THAT DOWN.  YOU CAN'T HEAR ME TALK WHEN ITS TURNED UP LIKE THAT."  Exactly dear.  Exactly.

The other day my mom and I were going somewhere and my dad was staying home with Belli.  I explained to her that we were leaving and that Granddad was going to stay home with her and she said, "Can Granddad go to?  I wanna stay home allllll by myself."  I asked her who would feed her and put her too bed and she said, "Oh...I'll do it alllllll by myself."  Right.  If she could do all that my life would be much easier!

Sometimes when she's going potty she will cup her hand over her ear like she's listening for something then she'll say, "I hear tee tee coming!"

At random times through out the day she'll say, "OH, I have an idea," and then quickly scoots away.  I have never figured out what the ideas are yet.

Hope you enjoyed!  It's not as many as usual but that's all I could think of.  Happy Wednesday!

I Bet YOUR Kid Can't Do This

This is typical thing with Larsen's kids but it's still totally weird.  I mean seriously.  It looks like she should be facing toward the bottom of the picture but no.  Her arm is just twisted around backwards.  She actually sleeps like this a lot.