tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56241623043939824032024-02-20T20:22:08.714-08:00Moonstruck in OshvegasWendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-4787671248825283512010-01-10T09:42:00.000-08:002010-01-10T09:42:08.533-08:00Kicking into High GearI've gotta be completely honest--my ass hurts.<br />
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Sorry if that sounds crass, but it's the toasted toad's truth, as Chris would say. I went over to Sarah's last night to help with some shelves and wallpaper removal, and we ended up doing one of the Biggest Loser's strength training routines. A bajillion squats and lunges later, I find that my backside is rebelling, saying, "Ha HA! You thought you could break me! Not gonna happen, wussy!" <br />
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Today ends the first week of half marathon training, and later today I'm heading to the Y for a moderate temperature under which I can manage the 3-4 mile walk required today. The 20th Ave Y has a new gymnasium with an elevated track overlooking it that is, on the whole, rather nice. Eleven laps on the track equals a mile, so I'll be heading there today, ipod in hand, to complete the first leg of this journey.<br />
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I have to admit there's something very cool about participating in training, the idea of preparing for something greater than yourself. A half marathon, or 13.1 miles, is quite a distance, and I must admit that I'm lucky the only hills in Oshkosh are the bridges over the Fox River. But still, I feel invigorated by the goal, comforted by the support of friends, and a strong desire to see this through. As walkers, we'll probably be some of the last to cross the finish line, but who cares? Crossing the finish line is what it's all about. I may just have to look ahead to another.<br />
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In many ways 2009 felt like the year of tying up loose ends, completing the degrees, getting past wait lists and waivers so that the real changes can begin. With the advent of 2010, it's amazing to think how much has changed already, and how much will continue to change over the next couple of months.And I think I'm ready to face what comes.<br />
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Peace.Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-34514460278073306582010-01-03T11:51:00.000-08:002010-01-03T11:51:15.441-08:00Jarod's "Fancy Dinner"In this 21st century style of living, what I used to call a regular everyday family dinner as a child is what my son calls a "fancy dinner". Our family sitting around the table, bowls and platters filled with flavorful, steaming food on the table, place settings gleaming in candle light--that was regular stuff as a child. But for Jarod, that's the fancy dinner he's been waiting for.<br />
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Since Thanksgiving at Grandma and Papa's house, Jarod has been asking if we can have a fancy dinner at home. While we usually plate the food in the kitchen and serve the plates at the table in the family/dining room, he wanted a table cloth, a perfectly set table, "food in bowls" as he commanded, and "lots of candles burning". We had hoped to have our fancy dinner at Christmas Eve, but since Jarod was just over his stomach flu, we didn't want to chance it. So last night, Grandma and Papa came over for the fancy dinner and a Wii family game night.<br />
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Chris made his sage meatloaf recipe that he loves, I made mashed potatoes and gravy and home made dinner rolls, and mom brought green beans with toasted almonds. Jarod set the tables perfectly--a table for grown ups, and a table for kids--both complete with table cloths, napkins, place settings and glasses, everything in the perfect spot--and we sat down to a lovely meal. <br />
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Jarod had a big smile on his face as the family sat down together. He seemed very excited, and absolutely loved being in charge of setting the tables. We were very, very proud of his efforts. Dinner was excellent, and the games were fun. I can think of few better ways to spend a Saturday night!Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-47497072640734167632009-12-28T11:08:00.000-08:002009-12-28T11:08:28.469-08:00It's a Wrap!The sun is shining outside, but the chill in the air is like a 2x4 to the head reminding us all it's winter. As December draws to a close, I'm thinking ahead, as many are, to the year 2010.<br />
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Christmas was a mixed bag for the Falk family this year. As excited as we were to begin celebrating the holidays (the anticipation beginning on November 1, since Halloween was over), the stomach flu germs invaded our home, requiring that we juggle our plans for celebration. With four of the five family members having had the flu over with by the evening of December 23, we felt certain that better things were coming with the holidays. And we were right. And although I did get a bit ill yesterday, little could dampen our enjoyment of the holidays as they finally arrived.<br />
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Christmas Eve was a quiet affair for the family with the kids retiring for the evening by 7:30 (their choice) to allow Santa ample time to make his visit. Nestled in their beds, dreaming of wondrous things, Santa did indeed arrive, bringing many things the kids looked forward to for some time. For Jarod, there was an ipod he had been wanting. Natalie found a large fire station with truck, furniture and fire fighters under the tree, much to her delight. And Maria found American Girl Kit Kittredge, with her dog, Grace, waiting patiently for her under the tree. And for the entire Falk family, it was a Wii Christmas. Each child received a Wii game, Mom opened the Wii Fit Plus, and Dad opened the Wii Sports Resort with the appropriate accessories. Santa was very, very kind to bless our family with so many goodies!<br />
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Christmas Day we spent traveling to Fort Atkinson to meet with the rest of the Falk and Sanders families. We enjoyed some treats, but mostly the chance for quiet conversation with family we rarely get the chance to see. Natalie decided to make her own snow in the basement, and so she took the ash bucket from next to the fireplace and proceeded to spread them out over the entire basement. Aside from the 30 minutes it took to clean that up, the visit was a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.<br />
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On the 26th, it was a Super Duper Mueller Family Christmas Day--two parties at once! Chris was working in Sheboygan that day, but caught up with us at mom and dad's. We began in Chilton at the community center with the extended Mueller family Christmas. Of course we sang our dinner blessing songs (to the tune of Edel Weiss) and Happy Birthday to Jesus, as is Mueller family tradition. After a wonderful meal (complete with Grandma's poppy seed birthday cake for Jesus), we spent time visitng with family. I headed home with enough time to give the kids some quiet time at home before the next hurrah. Around 5 p.m., we left for Mom and Dad's house and caught up again with our family. No Mueller family Christmas is complete without pizza, of which there was plenty, and we also enjoyed grasshoppers. After a flurry of gift opening, hugs and swoons of delight, kids retired to the basement for videos while the adults played a family card game favorite, golf.<br />
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Sunday dawned cold and bright, and left Chris with a problem. A sore knee from the day before began swelling immensely, forcing him to call in sick (especially since he couldn't stand in the shower). Jarod and Maria had spent the night at grandma and Papa's house, so Natalie and I took Chris to urgent care where we were told he has a massive cyst in his knee. He will need an ultrasound this week to confirm this, and then eventually a visit to an orthopoedic surgeon for treatment. A brace and meds are helping in the meantime.<br />
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We joined the family out at mom and dad's again, playing games and relaxing until early afternoon when Mom and Dad treated the entire family to movies at the cinema. Many of us watched Alvin and the Chipmunks: the Squeakuel, while the rest caught The Blind Side. Jarod and Maria had seen a movie in the theater once before, but for Natalie, this was a first. She was a very good girl and seemed only mildly disappointed when Theodore didn't reply to her as she cried out, waving frantically, "Hi Theodore! Hi! It's me, Natalie!" Popcorn certainly made her smile, too!<br />
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Although my upset stomach canceled our plans for a final Christmas party with dear friends from work, the holiday season showcased how much love and joy the season can bring. Thanks to all of our family and friends who shared in this beautiful season--you are, by far, the greatest gifts our family has known.<br />
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God bless you all in the coming year!Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-21945230190173972212009-11-27T13:26:00.000-08:002009-11-27T13:26:37.458-08:00Thanksgiving 2009Germs have finally invaded the Falk household. Natalie has a fever, nothing terrible, but it certainly doesn't bode well. Ever the worrier about the kids getting sick, I'm taking it in stride, especially when Natalie wants to "snuggle and cuddle" placing her warm little cheek against mine. Absolutely adorable...I hope I still think so when my own fever starts cooking. :)<br />
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Thanksgiving this year was a quiet affair, but enjoyable, too. We had a lovely dinner with mom and dad at their place, during which mom and dad announced they feel it's my turn for next year. Not a problem, but since it is also our turn to host the Falk family for Christmas next year, I anticipate this will be an expensive and intense proposition. Still, I love the holidays and being able to welcome everyone into our home is a joy. I'm already looking ahead and making plans...a little obsessive, I must admit.<br />
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Tonight we'll deck our halls with boughs of fake fir trees as we set up our Christmas tree and watch Bill Murray in Scooged. The kiddos have been making paper chains to hang around the house, and the front entrance of our house is aglow with multicolored lights. I'm already feeling that twinkle of magic that comes with the holiday season, and I'm looking forward to rest of the joyous events the season will bring.<br />
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I have to say, though, that as always, I'm grateful this year for the many blessings in my life. Family, friends, career, a warm home, enough food for us all, and vehicles that function most of the time remind me that I have more blessings than I can count. Now that is a beautiful thought to fall asleep to each night.<br />
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I pray for the same blessings for all of you, friends. Be well.<br />
Peace.Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-69003823971512589202009-11-15T08:17:00.001-08:002009-11-15T08:41:04.513-08:00Lord, I feel like a slackerAs I look back here, I realize my last post was February 11, and all I can say is I have no excuse for my procrastinating ways! My apologies, as always.<br /><br />As I sit here Jarod has just informed me that Natalie used water colors to paint her own face in the therapy room. Maria is pecking away at the piano keyboard jamming to some melody of her own creation. And Jarod is busy telling Natalie that she's naughty.<br /><br />So, see? Even though it's been 10 months, some things never change.<br /><br />But some things do change. Here's the summary of the past months:<br /><br />I graduated from Lakeland College with my masters degree in counseling back in August 2009. I underwent one interview and was told that while my interview was perfect, the principal prefers someone she can control who is less strong minded. Whatever. And because the district closed a couple of schools, my interview at North was canceled because a displaced counselor took the open position. That decidedly ende my attempts to attain new employment before the beginning of the school year. I'm back at North teaching freshman English and Pre-college English for seniors. I'm enjoying myself, I relish being back with good friends, and I'm hopeful about a future in counseling down the road.<br /><br />Mostly though, I'm enjoying being able to just be a mom and wife again. I forgot how much I missed out on during grad school, and just being home to keep the house clean (a losing battle to be sure), or to read stories, help with homework, chat with the therapists, it all seems like a luxury I forgot I had. I'm grateful for the gift of time.<br /><br />Chris continues to work at the Affinity Clinic on Koeller, though is bored by the work. He's used to full hospital sized labs and medical technology work, and a clinic is definitely a slower pace that focuses a lot on phlebotomy and basic testing which is less his style. He accepted a second position at St. Nicholas Hospital of Sheboygan and is finding that although he doesn't like having to be gone from home more, it helps him enjoy a position with more of the work he enjoys doing. For now, he's staying put, and make consider other jobs down the road. Who wants to rock the boat in this economy?<br /><br />Jarod and Natalie are now in school together at Carl Traeger. Jarod has moved on to 3rd grade and spends his entire day in the regular classroom doing grade level work. He has a few friends, and has mastered the playground monkey bars--something of which he is very proud! He excels in Science, Art, and Social studies. He continues to work hard at Math and Literacy. We are extremely proud of him, like any other mom and dad would be!<br /><br />Natalie is also at Traeger in kindergarten, and likes riding the bus every day with her big brother (who reminds her she cannot pur her head on him and sleep on the bus). Natalie often talks about a boy named Max in her class ("I love Max, he's my boy"), and gets along well with classmates, spending the entire day in the classroom. She struggles with behaviors sometimes, but the teacher keeps a hula hoop around that tends to be a great motivator for her to behave. She reads extremely well, and looks forward to school as well as therapy. Natalie continues with full time therapy in addition to full time school. Her day is fully booked and she drops off to sleep easily each night. But the development we've seen is absolutely wonderful. it's rewarding to see what a funny and sweet little girl she is becoming.<br /><br />And then there is our Maria. A first grader at Washington Elementary, Maria is known by her teachers, I am told, as the most compassionate student they've had in a long time. Maria is the first one to help a student who has fallen, clean up when there's a spill, say "good job!" when someone has done something well. She is always smiling, and her teachers adore her dimples the most! She is also very bright. Recently her teacher told me that first graders need to be reading at a level 10 by end of first semester, and Maria is currently at level 20. She also scored an advanced in singing for music class. Yes, that's MY baby! She is completely proficient on her report card, which is a testament to her enthusiasm for school and ability to follow rules and work hard. She loves playing with friends, playing games on the computer, and gives some of the best hugs you could hope for in the world.<br /><br />Other news is that Jarod finally got over his fear of dogs this summer, and underwent his interview with Canine Companions for Independence to receive a skilled companion animal. Jarod made it through the interview with flying colors, and we are thrilled for him! He won't get a dog yet for another year at least as the waiting list is long, but we are already preparing for the trip we'll make to Ohio when that day comes.<br /><br />As life can be filled with many joys, so, too, come the sorrows. Only a week ago we celebrated the funeral service for Henry Morgan Anderson, the beloved 3 year old son of our dear friends, Sarah and Darrin Anderson. While no anwers are yet available to explain this tragedy to the family, I admire the courage they've shown in beginning to slow, tedious, painful journey toward healing. I ask that you pause a moment to not only pray for Henry and the Anderson family, but also to give thanks for the many blessings the rest of us take for granted in every day life. It should never take a tragey like this to remind us how blessed we are, and yet that's often how it works. I know I thank God every day, in the midst of the natural fervor of my busy life, for the beautiful family with which I've been abundantly blessed. May I never, never forget how lucky I am, and may I never take one moment with them for granted.<br /><br />And as Thanksgiving draws closer, know too, dear friends, how grateful I am for all of you. It is the nature of life these days to become distracted with many things, but know that I am thinking of you, grateful for the role you play in my life, and the opportunity to serve as a friend to you as well. Just one more proof there is a God, dear friends. The beauty of human relationships and connections is the best evidence there is.<br /><br />God bless, be well.<br /><br />WendyWendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-5596947794175142542009-02-11T16:26:00.000-08:002009-02-11T16:47:56.661-08:00Rookie Road RulesPracticum time has arrived, and I'm now embroiled in the everyday semantics of academic and career counseling, along with the occasional social emotional encounter to round it out. To be honest, it has been wonderful so far, though I find it difficult to live in a constant state of worrying about whether I'm doing enough, learning enough, gaining enough experience, doing things well, etc. I have some confidence, but as I've said before--I'm used to have interns, not being one. The paradox is frightening!<br /><br />It helps to have terrific people to work with, and I'm surrounded by other supportive, helpful counselors who make me laugh and give excellent guidance. Each has his/her very distinct style, but they complement one another. I'm almost halfway through this first placement, I'm working with a group counseling project, working with our "tweenies"--students who should be seniors but are actually juniors credit wise--and mostly seniors prepping for graduation, college and tech school. I've been able to participate in numerous meetings and sessions that give me a very different view of my school. And I like what I see. I worry though, this is all a mirage. And just when I get comfortable the mirage will disappear and I'll be back where I started.<br /><br /> But I digress.<br /><br />The family is engrossed, at the moment, in a Max and Ruby video. Our kids are nuts for Max and Ruby--two little bunnies that get into a bit of trouble. You can imagine how Jarod, who stims on people doing naughty things, likes this video!<br /><br />Speaking of the little boy, he had his IEP this past week, and is lasted for 2.5 hours! It was a reevaluation IEP, which is done every three years. Therefore, there were a lot of reports to go through before we could discuss current progress and IEP goals. His team is excellent and the information was very helpful. There is discussion about Jarod's placement next year--autism program, or CDB, which means cognitively disabled borderline. If her were to stay in the autism program at Traeger, he would remain largely in the regular classroom. However, there is concern about his ability to progress when 3rd grade is likely to be tough and the district may not be able to provide him with as much para support as he has had in the past. On the other hand, if he were to go to CDB, he would spend more time with similarly abled peers, but this may cause a regression in his behavior which has improved via inclusion. In CDB, he would be on this side of town and have more para support. If he stays at Traeger, he would be with people he knows in a school he likes. It is difficult to know which way to go. However, since one of my practicum placements is at the school CDB would be in for Jarod, I plan to do my homework, check out the school and teachers, and make a decision toward the end of the year. I'm not worried so much about the program as I am about which placement will best meet his needs.<br /><br />As I mentioned in an earlier post, we were invited to Ohio to CCI regarding a possible dog for Jarod. Our appointment will be on April 20 at 1 p.m. We plan to drive down on the 19th, and drive home on the 21st. The drive takes 10 hours nonstop, so the 19th and 21st will be long days. I've also thought of driving back part of the way on the 20th, but we wouldn't get to a hotel until 10 p.m., and then I doubt it's worth it! So we'll plan it this way for now and see how it goes.<br />In the meantime, I'm setting up an appointment to discuss medication modifications for Jarod since his current regimen isn't helping as much as we'd like. We're also putting together a social story and hopefully a video of the facility before we go so he knows what to expect.<br /><br />The girls and Chris are fine. Chris is applying for part time weekend jobs to pick up just a few extra hours a month. I'm working with homebound students and Carroll Electric has hired me to do some writing for them. A publishing company called Eye on Education also hired me to review a textbook and I just completed that, which was an interesting experience. I kept the manuscript and will definitely be checking out the text once it is published!<br /><br />Natalie's therapy starts on March 5--only 3 weeks more to wait! Our neighbor will be serving as our nanny since we must have someone in the house for therapy to occur--the therapist is not responsible for her. So the neighbor, Jessica, will be in charge of Nat, and will be helping to keep the house clean since she won't have to actually watch Nat very much. It's a great help and gives the neighbor some much needed income as well. It will be difficult, though, to say goodbye to Cathy who has watched our children for 7 years. Lord knows I'll be working to keep in touch!<br /><br />I'll stop rambling, dear friends, and leave it there. Our happy thoughts and good wishes go with you wherever you are! Be well.Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-24231194413465501802009-01-26T15:07:00.000-08:002009-01-26T15:09:06.965-08:00Just a quick note that we've been invited by CCI to a personal interview in Delaware OH. This is the company with which we're working to possibly obtain a therapeutic dog for Jarod. It is a difficult application process, and the final step before a tentative acceptance is the personal interview. We are attempting to schedule this during spring break. Wish us luck!Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-76385156850414318652009-01-22T08:48:00.000-08:002009-01-22T08:55:19.181-08:00Obama wasn't kidding when he said Change had arrived.<br />And it isn't just true for the country.<br /><br />This week marks the end of my teaching time, and counseling practicum officially begins on Monday, January 26th. Natalie begins therapy on March 5. Maria's speech instruction is coming to a close, and piano lessons are o the horizon. And for Jarod, with his IEP on February 5, things are looking to possibly change even more.<br /><br />Shari Hart, the district's autism consultant, called me today to chat. Jarod is due for his three year evaluation. They are doing a full assessment on him. His IEP is scheduled for Feb. 5. But this is particularly important because the autism program in elementary goes K-2. Once they hit third grade, they have to be pretty independent in order to stay at Traeger. If they cannot, they are usually shipped back out to the CD program.<br /><br />The issues Shari was concerned about are his serious lack of socialization at school--really isolating himself, no friends to speak of, though thankfully he's unaware of that. However, once third grade comes, the kindness of students tends to wear off and they aren't so tolerant anymore. She's worried that in regular classes he might be a target. Also, she is concerned about how dependent he is on the para, Mary. He relies on her all the time, and it's her efforts that keep him going at school. They often aren't sure how much he processes without her. So yes, he can do the work, but he needs cues and lots of extra time. He is pulled out for speech, special help with literacy, and math is likely to follow soon.<br /><br />So we talked about what CDB would mean (it is the less severe--it stands for Cognitive Disability-Borderline). He may not even have to have his label changed (from autism). But it would mean he would go to school at Emmeline Cook, where my good friends Julie Anderson and Amy Sippert are. They talk a blue streak about the CDB teacher, how great she is, so that's a plus. Shari said he'd still be able to be involved in regular ed, but would have more pull out and smaller groups. She said it would cater to his need for more processing time, and that smaller groups might help him socially, not to mention the fact he wouldn't have to drive across town everyday. But then she said they could maybe make all of those arrangements at Traeger, too.<br /><br />When the IEP happens on the 5th, we're going to do goals and discuss tentative placement. Since there's a semester left, we may call an interim IEP meeting to discuss placement only sometime in May, if it's needed.<br /><br />I'm not sure which way things will go. We have time, we need to look at all the data, and we need to keep in mind what's best for Jarod's needs. I'm a huge proponent for inclusion (especially since Jarod behaves so much more appropriately when spending time with his regula ed peers), but third grade gets tougher. If he needs the extra time and a smaller setting (for pull out times), perhaps that is something to consider as well. Lots to think and pray about.<br /><br />After the winter comes the spring. And hopefully some light will be shed so we can help Jarod blossom as I know he can.Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-1319262396621151682009-01-10T19:36:00.000-08:002009-01-10T19:54:53.259-08:00Delaney the Wonder Dog!2009 finds our family in the midst of new challenges. The holiday season for all of us was wonderful, though I feel terrible I never got around to sending out Christmas cards! But then Jesus never did them either, so really, I don't feel that bad about it! :) We did, however, do the traditional birthday cake and song for Jesus at the Mueller family Christmas! He is, after all, the reason for the season!<br /><br />Anyway, one of our biggest challenges of late, as most of you know, is Jarod's issue with dogs. His fears have limited our ability to get around and visit others since so many families we know have dogs. We've decided this has gone on long enough, and have made some efforts in helping him. We've applied to Canine Companions for Independece for a skilled companion dog for Jarod. A friend of mine at school, John, is a puppy raiser for CCI, and he has a dog right now he is raising and will be returned to the facility in Ohio in May. The puppy's name is Delaney, and we have helped Jarod to grow comfortable with petting and playing fetch with Delaney. He asks about her often, and requests visits with her because he figures he can trust her, whereas he has little trust with other animals. Our idea is that we can help Jarod learn how to work with and control dogs in our own home, and help him generalize that to the community (as opposed to attempting to avoid dogs for life).<br /><br />The application process is arduous. After filling out a 15 page application, Chris and I completed the first major hurdle which was a 90 minute telephone interview. We were honest with them about Jarod's limitations with dogs, and they appreciated our honesty since many parents of autistic children apply and lie about their child's feelings with animals, only to show up and the child has serious issues. The second step is then to complete a professional referral from the therapists which we send down. If CCI still likes us, our family is invited to Ohio for a personal interview in which Jarod would meet and briefly attempt to work with some of the dogs for the day. Next, if the personal interview is successful, we are placed on a waiting list lasting anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Once the wait is complete, we would be invited to a team training session which is 2 weeks of daylong classes and workshops with the dog. Jarod and Chris would travel down to learn to work with the animal and care for it properly. Chris and Jarod would have to learn all of the dog's commands (more than 50!), pass written quizzes (that's Chris) and demonstrate proficiency in controlling the dog. If, at the end of the two weeks, they complete the course successfully, they bring the animal they are matched with home. The dog would then be Jarod's constant companion (except for at school), and would travel with him.<br /><br />Although it is an involved process, we believe this will be helpful in many ways. First, he'll learn to adapt to the reality of dogs in life, secondly he'll have a social ice breaker--something concrete and appropriate to discuss aside from toilets and ceiling fans, and finally, he'll always have a constant friend and companion who is his best bud. As a bonus, the girls, especially Natty, love dogs, so this is a two for one deal!<br /><br />Speaking of Natalie, her challenges approach as well. Natalie has completed her 2 year wait for a therapy slot and has made it to the top of the list. I'd celebrate, but then Winnebago County must still verify her eiligibility--in other words, did she improve too much in the last two years? We're waiting, but if she makes it, therapy would begin February 20th, and we're thrilled! Think of what that could mean for her and for our family!<br /><br />And poor Maria had a rough day just today. First she was attempting to pull a soda out of a plastic pack and pulled the entire pack into her face, giving herself a black eye! Later, we took the kids sledding at garbag hill. She started sledding down the hill, her sled turned around, and she didn't see she was heading right for a light pole. She ran smack into it and hit the back of her head along the pole as she was thrown from the boogie board. She remained conscious (thank God!), cried big tears and peed her pants from fright--literally. We called her pediatrician who assured us that although this was possibly a first degree concussion, she was not in danger since she neither lost consciousness, nor was she vomiting, which would be expected in more severe head injuries. As I write this, she's jumping on her bed, so I'm no longer worried. Still, I think she aged me 10 years today!<br /><br />In the meantime, I hope this blog finds you and your family well. I wish you all the blessings of health, family, friendship and love in the coming year!Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-56920481421527634232008-12-24T21:03:00.000-08:002008-12-24T21:18:16.870-08:00Snowbabies: Falk Edition<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGvhkkCS3ISpiyB2a53q63OY9oubUZdJVhoE-C_sWHIVPiAuVCpCl7MJMqMUm53yXAMqoc35tllKQQwOex9ueyGsgo8YbSEnW6VmwebPJICDkBU2h2JyT6WzdzxCu0m4_wZlFAdpShpQF/s1600-h/Christmas+2008+031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283590246085961330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGvhkkCS3ISpiyB2a53q63OY9oubUZdJVhoE-C_sWHIVPiAuVCpCl7MJMqMUm53yXAMqoc35tllKQQwOex9ueyGsgo8YbSEnW6VmwebPJICDkBU2h2JyT6WzdzxCu0m4_wZlFAdpShpQF/s400/Christmas+2008+031.JPG" border="0" /></a> On this most blessed of nights, I pause to thank friends and family, and mostly God, for the wondrous blessings in my life. Three of them are pictured here (and see the profile pic for the fourth!:)), and though I realize I'm biased, they are as close to perfection as I've come on this earth. Here Natalie is making snow angels for mom after 14 inches of snow blanketed Oshkosh.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrPQd_-iAjhhOldFZtPt9GdcXnAEgO8by6Z0PCZuIdMV_3e02Px_7HL0WoIbiKvj4xqbGp0sgSCb05HWGfO6OV0QBwku_WLaVqiR2NZchRW4saWFdejiiKZgmglewR4aLCBZ0WmFHrVve/s1600-h/Christmas+2008+030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283590246645169138" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrPQd_-iAjhhOldFZtPt9GdcXnAEgO8by6Z0PCZuIdMV_3e02Px_7HL0WoIbiKvj4xqbGp0sgSCb05HWGfO6OV0QBwku_WLaVqiR2NZchRW4saWFdejiiKZgmglewR4aLCBZ0WmFHrVve/s400/Christmas+2008+030.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Snow angels continue as Maria takes to the snow. Her favorite part of this winter's heavy snow has been that she can climb the snow bank over the fence to her friend's house, instead of using the sidewalk and walking around. Cool, huh?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq2sfCHlThgf1ujxv8r9GYgR0wTavY2aRwoYy1Ct_OfQULViHRZS_rTaCbVSydIGmOiBWhY566kE5HxhNxBdl6sP1rAtOOxkIinCRbmpLYOpycVo5n1FeLQqoFo2qjYFB7x4djgkHTtrg/s1600-h/Christmas+2008+029.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283590235183424466" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqq2sfCHlThgf1ujxv8r9GYgR0wTavY2aRwoYy1Ct_OfQULViHRZS_rTaCbVSydIGmOiBWhY566kE5HxhNxBdl6sP1rAtOOxkIinCRbmpLYOpycVo5n1FeLQqoFo2qjYFB7x4djgkHTtrg/s400/Christmas+2008+029.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Jarod's first stop during the snow play was at the swings. He carved out a place for his feet to fit under the swing, and took back to it like it was any other summer day to play outside. Simple pleasures aren't that hard to come by in your own backyard!</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><br /> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurUwBb-ZZEM0R9WcxMAZVcRb5YoHqE4azsiheFXTv1uDuYGMgSnWldp3BcBGIUeVyojn-9bAM7uLjLlHy1A-o5HomeC9L3rr-9tyLac3nVYqD_DTb9UNmP6ohOb6S_7n8WTSgcf4liscL/s1600-h/Maria+and+Seth.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283590202244030786" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurUwBb-ZZEM0R9WcxMAZVcRb5YoHqE4azsiheFXTv1uDuYGMgSnWldp3BcBGIUeVyojn-9bAM7uLjLlHy1A-o5HomeC9L3rr-9tyLac3nVYqD_DTb9UNmP6ohOb6S_7n8WTSgcf4liscL/s400/Maria+and+Seth.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />According to the kindergarten class of Washington Elementary School, "Mary Had a Baby"--or so they sang during their Christmas program at the Civic Auditorium. Here Maria is pictured with her friend/neighbor/classmate, Seth. Maria sure knew how to shake her booty on stage, too. She had a great time singing and dancing--she sure likes to practice at home!</div><div> </div><div>Perhaps it's cliche, but Dickens still has it right: God bless us, everyone. Peace.<br /><br /><br /></div><div></div>Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-2153147680018385302008-12-14T08:59:00.001-08:002008-12-14T09:32:53.238-08:00Merry Christmas, friends! Again, my apologies for the lack of updates.<br /><br />December finds the Falk family busy as usual. Tomorrow we'll be attending the Washington Elementary School Holiday Concert at the Civic Auditorium at West High School. This will be Maria's first school concert, though her second time on the stage (she had her dance recital on the stage this summer). She has a gorgeous little dress to wear and family joining her for the festivities. We're looking forward to the holiday mood the concert should instill. Her class is singing, "Mary Had a Baby", and she has been practicing in the car for weeks!<br /><br />Jarod had his school concert at the same auditorium, and he did very well. He looked handsome in his new red sweater, and he sang along with all of the songs, even joining in the movements for some of them. He seems more excited, however, about watching Maria's concert, and being part of the audience rather than the main event. He's doing very well in school, also. He scored a perfect score in his catterpillar and butterfly science unit test, and he is scoring perfect scores on his spelling tests every week. Subtraction is his tough point in school right now, so we're going to see if Santa can bring some flash cards to share with the family. Jarod was home sick from school on Friday with a fever, and I taught him to play slapjack. He kept giggling, telling the jacks they were naughty as we smacked them on the pile of cards. This is a favorite new game!<br /><br />Natalie is growing by leaps and bounds, and she says the funniest things (though not always under funny circumstances). She loves to read right now, and is memorizing her favorite books, like "Pinkalicious" and "My Many Colored Days". She steals my sodas and gingerbread men, and when I find her completes the transaction with a kiss and a "Aww...I love you mommy." She may be autistic, but she's NO dummy! The good news is Natalie should access her therapy waiver slot in early January. Once she passes the county's evaluation for therapy (they have to make sure she's bad off enough to still qualify), WEAP will begin the process of assembling her team. Hopefully she will begin therapy sometime in February. That will be a tremendous change for her, but an important one at that.<br /><br />Chris received a pretty perfect evaluation from hsi employer, and is pretty happy with his current job. He's looking for ways to pick up a few extra bucks working part time since my practicum time is closing in, and I'm doing the same. With all of the snow we've had, he's been borrowing the neighbor's snowblower because the baby is powerful! Our little one isn't keeping up with the snowfall and our drifts are usually taller than the blower! Chris is grateful this holiday season for generous neighbors!<br /><br />And as for me, I'm keeping busy, but am enjoying the relaxed pace compared to first quarter. My student teacher is a dream--excellent with students, well prepared, and very thorough. There's little I have to do to help, and that has allowed me some time to work on my graduate class work for my final class Research and Evaluation. This week I'm prepping a presentation, and I scored an A on the last test--wasn't so sure that was going to happen, but I'm grateful it did. January 26 is the first day of my practicum, and with it only five weeks away, the butterflies are already fluttering in my tummy. I've also recently begun singing with the Lifeteen band at the Lifeteen masses 6 p.m. Sunday evenings. A friend leads the band and invited me to join, which I did. I've really enjoyed singing again, though it's intimidating. She described it as a choir, and when I realized it's usually three of us with microphones in hand, I realized there's no where to hide if I mess up!!!!! It's fun though, and it's a nice finish to the weekends.<br /><br />The holidays are heading into full speed. We enjoyed Thanksgiving with my folks, and we went through the Celebration of Lights in Menomonee Park the same night. St. Nick visited and brought treats for the kids, which they loved, and we're planning a visit back to the Celebration of Lights so the kids can visit Santa. They emailed their Christmas lists to Santa, and he promptly replied, which had them pretty excited. And we hear Santa's elves have been busy making and wrapping special presents for the kids to open on Christmas morning. Next weekend I'll be taking Maria to the Paine Art Center for the Nutcracker in the Castle event along with a friend who is bringing her daughter, and afterward we'll take them to lunch. Our extended vacation this year is already planned with playdates, visits, and parties throughout the entire two weeks. We feel very blessed to have so many friends and family to share our lives with, and we hope the holidays find your family equally blessed.<br /><br />God bless us every one...our families, our friends, ourselves, and our world. Peace be with us all.Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-85774537931463671202008-11-15T17:27:00.000-08:002008-11-15T17:38:14.432-08:00In the depths of autumnI feel as though I've been asleep.<br />And that sleep was anything but restful.<br /><br />November is almost halfway through, but I find I am awakening from some kind of hazy autumnal existence that was less than memorable. I am at the end of my first full week of being without classes (well, I'm down to one now) and having a student teacher. And the end result is the constant refrain running in my head that there is a tremendous difference between survival and living.<br /><br />But living I am. My "hell semester" of grad classes has come to a close and I am on home stretch. One class, and it's time for practicum.<br /><br />I'm nervous about the practicum stuff, and elated, too. It's hard to know I'm leaving friends for a pretty long stretch, know I'll not see them nearly as I used to, but knowing, too, that I'm making positive life changes. It is, to say the least, bittersweet.<br /><br />The brightest spot in life, as always, are family and friends. Chris is doing well. He's up for his annual eval and things are looking good. And as for the kids, well, what can I say? Maria is, as I write this, leaping off the livingroom furniture showing me her "superspy moves". Jarod is making a caterpillar out of playdough (and accurately naming all of the parts, thank you very much), and Natalie is fully clothed and playing webkinz on the computer. In other words, they are wonderful, bright, and healthy--and absolutely perfect, of course! Jarod and Maria's report cards show things are progressing well. Maria is quite the little helper at school, and the teacher has had to tell her to let other kids do things for themselves or they'll never learn! And Jarod did extremely well with his latest science test. He received a perfect score on his science test on the caterpillar. He also has had perfect spelling tests all quarter, except for the one where he wrote "shit" on the test. They were testing "sh" words, and he knowingly added this little tidbit to his test before turning it in. I got such a note from the teacher! But the English teacher in me is just happy he spelled it right! (JK) And Natty spends most of her days at school hugging and kissing her friends and dressing up like a fire fighter. Jarod says he wants to be a teacher when he grows up, Maria wants to be a police officer "like Uncle Steve", and Natty wants to be a fire fighter in a "quiet" firehouse. Go figure.<br /><br />My hope is this finds our friends and family well. Keep in touch, and know you can also find us on facebook!<br /><br />With love,<br />WendyWendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-76639680516058848002008-10-22T19:08:00.000-07:002008-10-22T19:16:40.158-07:00It's been 20 days since I've last posted, and again, my sincere apologies in not doing a better job of keeping up! I'll try to do better.<br /><br />This month began with a sigh of relief as I completed my freelance project for Carroll Electric. Each year this electrical contractor participates in the Association of Builders and Contractors Projects of Distinction Awards. Since they don't like to write, and the submission requires extensive writing, they hire me. And they won again this year! I'm two for two now, which was why they were just fine when I raised the price of my work a touch. Yeah for me!<br /><br />Classes and school have continued on in a desperately strenuous grind. Soon after Chris's birthday the stomach flu hit the house swiftly and mercilessly, and I found myself falling out of my patterns of working out. I'm slowly getting back into it, but the stress of classes has left me longing for sleep and time with my family.<br /><br />Speaking of the loved ones, they continue to blossom. Jarod turned 8 on September 28, and Maria will be 6 this Saturday. Natalie has been wonderful also, and I keep getting funny notes about all of the goofy things she says in class from her teacher. This weekend, with the birthday on the horizon, we'll be carving pumpkins and hanging out at home, enjoying the beautiful autumn weather. And of course cake is part of the equation!<br /><br />I'm two weeks away from completing this round of classes, and in that time I have 7 papers to write, so I'll definitely be working on that. I also have the end of quarter grades approaching, so as soon as I can, I'll be tackling that as well. I'm a mere two weeks from being mostly finished with my grad work, and my final class will begin--this time only one class per week for seven weeks. By the time the holidays roll around, I should be almost finished.<br /><br />In the meantime, my happy thoughts are with you as Wisconsin's brilliance grows increasingly golden this fall. Be well, friends.Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-41139337218035712962008-10-02T16:46:00.001-07:002008-10-02T16:56:08.220-07:00Turn of Events...Sorry for the delay in updates. I've been a little buried the last few days.<br /><br />The past couple of weeks have been an endless windfall of blessings and chaos. I was thrilled this week when I finally submitted the final copies of my freelance project for Carroll Electric of Janesville. It was a huge amount of work that I struggled balancing against my classes and school, so it is a tremendous relief to have it behind me.<br /><br />The kids are sick this week, though, and that always takes a toll. Stomach flu is rampant in the schools these days, and our kids are no exception. Natalie had it first, and now Maria. I'm crossing my fingers and saying a prayer that it passes Jarod by (not to mention Chris and me), but time will tell.<br /><br />School is, otherwise, going well for everyone. Jarod's doing well, though he struggles with math and social studies. SS is particularly difficult for him since the concepts are rather abstract, so the teachers are working to find ways to help Jarod connect with the material. Natalie will be going on a field trip with her class to a fire house, and Maria's class is going on a walking field trip to Menomonee Park so she can collect leaves and other autumn treasures.<br /><br />Thank God, though, for Chris. He's been wonderful these last few weeks as things get pretty hectic around here. Things are going well at the lab, and he's pondering whether he wishes to pursue a graduate degree as well.<br /><br />Good news came that we did not use our entire budget this last year for Jarod's therapy, and we have money left over for respite. And, as long s/he fits the county's requirements, we are allowed to hire the individual of our choosing. Kathy, a former therapist of Jarod's who has babysat our kids and knows them very very well, will be doing respite for us. We're thrilled to have this opportunity, and it'll be an extra support for our family. We're always grateful for the blessings we have in family and friends!<br /><br />Jarod's birthday was a nice day. We had a special breakfast, and took the kids to the toy store to let him pick out his own present. Later, he and Chris went swimming at the Y while I took the girls to a birthday party for their friend next door. In the evening, we had dinner with mom and dad, including Jarod's birthday cake of choice--white cake, white frosting, white ice cream!<br /><br />We're looking forward to celebrating the kids' birthdays on the 11th with our family. We can't wait to see you! Until then, be well friends.Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-37699962198814037102008-09-21T07:45:00.000-07:002008-09-21T07:57:04.742-07:00The Days of DragonsThe Dragon Boat races have returned to Oshkosh, and this is the first year we ventured out to witness them. Held on the Fox River in Oshkosh, alongside the Leach Ampitheater, the Dragon Boats carry a crew of 20 paddling to the beat of a drum. Three or four boats race at a time, and over 50 boats participated this year. It was quite a sight. Teams were very colorful in their presentations, wearing clown wigs, cow hats, face paint, and lots of team spirit. Various Oshkosh organizations sponsored the teams, and a walk through Athlete's Village gave spectators a glimpse into community supporters.<br /><br />I took Jarod and Maria to see the Dragon Boats this year, and in addition to the races, many stands were created to offer face painting, children's tattoo's, a fun house, and book sales. Another one held a guy bearing a 30 foot boa constrictor. We avoided that tent COMPLETELY. Snakes are instruments of the devil.<br /><br />After getting their tattoos, and after bouncing in the fun house, we wandered to the riverside banks and took a seat to watch the action. The kids cheered loudly for the teams we saw racing, and had lots of questions. After two hours, the kids had had their fill and the high noon sun and heat called us home to enjoy a little lunch.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Natty and Chris journeyed to Menards for a new toilet seat, and to Festival Foods for groceries. She digs the car carts and was happily "racing" through the aisles with Daddy.<br /><br />Saturday night brought swimming at an Appleton hotel with Steve and Virginia, and family, as they are in town for Virginia's half marathon run today. As I type this, she should be within 2-3 miles of finishing, and we're very proud of her. We splashed in the pool of the Country Inn and Suites, and Steve took all of the kids to play video games. Valorie has a special talent for winning animals out of those claw machines, and Maria walked away with one of them, thanks to Val.<br /><br />Today my work takes precedent for me as I work to finish freelance assignments and prep for school. We're taking the kids to Washington School's 50th birthday party this afternoon, and we're cleaning up the house.<br /><br />I'll be posting pictures here, or on facebook, eventually, of the races and of my adventures during spirit week for North's homecoming. For the last few years our team has won the faculty spirit contests (judged by our ability to dress up for the dress up days), and we intend to continue the tradition. Wish me luck!<br /><br />In the meantime, it's back to family time. Be well, friends.Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-34373268796001124022008-09-12T07:14:00.000-07:002008-09-12T07:22:27.734-07:00Meds???It's always good to know the kids in great health, and yesterday was no exception! Chris and I took the kids for their well-child checkups with the pediatrician, and it was defeinitely an adventure. Natalie kept trying to climb up on the table, rip off the paper and then jump off the table, wearing only cupcake underwear and a hospital gown tied loosely around her neck. Maria was stealing juiceboxes from Mom's purse, and Jarod was trying to use as much of the doctors equipment as he could without getting into trouble. I'm so grateful Chris met me there!!!<br /><br />But all are in good health. Jarod and Natalie are way off the charts in height. Nat is, in particular, since the doctor said she's the size she should be when she's 6. Seeing as she just turned 4, she tends to tower over her peers and have people wondering why she isn't in 1st grade.<br /><br />This time we updated Matty's meds (she's on a bit higher dosage), and we started Jarod as well. While his normal home and school behavior is pretty good, he still has a lot of anxiety, and his reactions to things he dislikes can be extreme. We're using a low dosage so that we can help his anxieties calm while maintaining the good behavior and personality he has the rest of the time. We're also hoping it will slow doan some of his stimming that he has been engaging in so much.<br /><br />It all ended with Maria getting a shot. Though she had her vaccinations earlier in August, the office was out of the chickenpox vaccine which is required for school. So she had to go back and get it when we went for the appointment. She was NOT pleased by any means and screamed bloody murder. She was stoked, though, when she realized she got Strawberry Shortcake stickers and pencils out of the deal.<br /><br />Hmmm....maybe I need to get a shot too....Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-5073631820681614552008-09-07T18:39:00.000-07:002008-09-07T18:45:45.085-07:00Around the cornerAutumn is peeking at us from behind the curtain. I've been noticing the chill in the night air, the sniffles in the kids' noses, the desire to bring sweatshirts and jeans to the front of my wardrobe. I love fall, and though it also means the start of the new school year and busy times, I'm filled with excitement for the promise of beautiful days and fun family times each year.<br /><br />Our weekend was a nice one. Mom and Dad (thankfully!) took the kids overnight, and Chris and I were able to get so much done. We took four boxes of books to the library, 7 bags of clothes and items to the Goodwill store, and five bags of garbage. We can finally use our storage room in a meaningful way again! It took almost 6 hours, but we've reclaimed the room. After a lovely evening at the Melting Pot and a very quiet night of uninterrupted sleep, we had breakfast and picked the kids up, heading to Sam's for some staples around the house. Though the trip costs mucho dinero, it's great to be well-supplied for the next two months on many items! I went in to work today to catch up for the week, and then headed back home where we bathed the kids and prepped things for the week. Time passed quickly, but we can sleep well knowing we got a lot done!<br /><br />Be well, friends! Hope to see you soon!Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-21189859197573573752008-09-03T19:46:00.000-07:002008-09-03T19:54:54.762-07:00Starting SchoolThe school year is off with a bang as four of five family members trot back to class. Jarod began second grade at Traeger Elementary in Oshkosh. He has a wonderful teacher and a great assistant, and he is spending his entire day in the regular room! He has received very positive comments from his teachers so far, and he is already doing homework, counting by 2's, 5's and 10's to 100, or reading for fifteen minutes per day.<br /><br />Maria's first words when she got home from school were, "Mom, kindergarten rocked!" And she meant it, too. She loved coloring, recess, gym class, and making friends. She enjoys her teacher, and she talks mostly about her boy classmates. Tomorrow she has to wear red clothes to school because the class is studying different colors each day--tomorrow is red.<br /><br />Natalie also transitioned well to school. We made a picture schedule for her so she could see how her day would progress, and it helped alleviate some of her anxiety. She had her hair cut the other night, and she looks like a little elf, if I do say so myself. It also minimizes Maria's hack job on her bangs from a month ago!<br /><br />My return to school has gone well, though it's not just my own classes as a teacher, but as a student. The first two days of school I also had my first two days of grad class. My students at school amuse me (though I think they see me as totally insane), and my grad classes will be challenging--and a lot of work! I'm trying not to freak out too much, and take it a week at a time. Most devastating, of course, was realizing my grad class interferes with my ability to watch Project Runway Wednesday nights! A travesty! :):)<br /><br />Chris has been awesome this week. He's been super productive, has gotten the kids off to school and such, just taking it all in stride. Friday we're planning to take the kids swimming at the Y and have a bonfire that evening. My folks are taking the kids overnight this weekend so Chris and I can have alone time and clean the entire basement. It's romantic among the dust bunnies!<br /><br />Time to get to bed. Chat soon!Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5624162304393982403.post-38190281354743779612008-09-01T09:34:00.001-07:002008-09-01T09:40:24.783-07:00Labor DayI want to invent some sort of super-mom tool that keeps my kids from recreating the same messes day in and day out. I'm depressed that I find myself on the last day of summer vacation, cleaning my house. Again. I know I'm not alone in this, but I'd like to be doing something more fun with the family.<br /><br />The summer was a good one for the Falk family, though bursting with business. Chris took vacation so I could take a trip to Vegas (I'll post photos soon) with my Mom and sisters-in-law to celebrate my Mom's 60th. We then went up North and visited Chris's family which was a good time also. His family saved fireworks from the 4th since we couldn't make it, and we still had a good show with smores on the side. Can't beat that!<br /><br />I took a full load of grad classes this summer toward my degree, and thank goodness I have a great husband because he has been incredibly supportive and helpful. The kids took swimming lessons and played every day with friends in the neighborhood.<br /><br />Jarod and Maria taught themselves to ride two wheeler bikes, and Maria lost her first two teeth. Natalie made nice gains this summer as well, learning more about compliance and boundaries, which wa so helpful. She also spent most of her summer in a swimsuit since she prefers to be naked--at least we could get her to keep her "wimsuit" on most of the time!<br /><br />A few bonfires with friends and visits with family made it a great summer. I wish I could see you all more often. We miss you!Wendy Falkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08880929711055157856noreply@blogger.com1