Happy Homecoming

My Grandma Carbine finally passed away yesterday. She has been going down hill for years now and I have been silently praying for her to be able to go home to her Father in Heaven.

My mom sometimes tells me that Dave and I remind her of Grandma and Grandpa because we are so much in love. My Grandpa died when I was only 5 and my poor Grandma had to spend almost 27 years without him. My heart ached for her. She also had a little boy, Michael, who died right before he was born who she never got to see. When I think of the reunion they are finally getting in Heaven I can't help but smile.

However, I will miss her so much. Her name was Bertha Marjorie Thomson Carbine but she never went by Bertha. In fact she hated the name and always went by Marjorie. She also use to tell me about a little girl she once knew named Elizabeth but that her family called Becky. She loved the name Becky but thought Rebecca was a much prettier name and bugged everyone whenever they had a girl to name her Rebecca so she could call her Becky. When I was born my Mom called everyone and said they wouldn't have to worry about Grandma bugging them because they were going to name me Rebecca Marjorie. I'm also also the 3rd of 4 generations of Marjories since my grandma was Bertha Marjorie, my mom is Susan Marjorie, I'm Rebecca Marjorie and my daughter is Lily Marjorie.

It also happens that I am a 3rd generation look alike from my Grandma down through my mom. I use to spend a week or so every summer at my grandma's house visiting. She would teach me how to crochet and knit every summer and by the next summer I would have forgotten and I would have to be retaught. When I was really sad and upset I use to cry in my room saying, "I want my Grandma" over and over again. My brothers and sister use to think this was very funny.

This morning has been very hard for me. I know Grandma is finally home and happy but I am going to miss her so much. I feel trapped in Colorado and wish so badly I could just be home with my family. I am extremely sensitive and am not good with dealing with any kind of emotional pain. But I know she's more happy now then she's been in years and all her pain and suffering is now over. I Love you Grandma and Happy Homecoming. My Grandma and Grandpa. It's hard to imagine two people more in love.

My grandma is the girl on the bottom left. I see a lot of myself in this picture.

My grandma and me.

12 Inches

I finally got around to getting my hair cut. I've been wanting to donate it for awhile but hadn't gotten around to going to the salon. Dave needed to get his hair cut before he went to Argentina so I decided to go with him and do it at the same time. I really really like it. I thought it would need to be shorter but the hair stylist said it was plenty long enough.

Tough day

A few days ago we started our kids in a local Charter School to give me a chance to regain some of my energy and health that I've lost since we have been home schooling. We knew this would be a challenge for the kids but mostly for Joe. Dave and I really felt that he needed a completely structured environment to help him through some of his problems and this school seemed like the best place for him to get that.

Well, today Joe and Isaac had their yearly check-ups at the doctor. We discussed several things that we need to do to help Joe with his Asperger's and different ways we could accomplish these. It was a bit overwhelming knowing how much I still need to do to help my little boy. I then went and dropped him and Isaac off at school and went about my day.

I know it's been hard for him to adjust to school but so far he says he loves it their. His teacher is really sweet and is also a very experienced teacher. She works really hard to make sure Joe understands what is going on and to teach him the routine. We have still had a lot of problems though, he tells her he won't do things and climbs over the desks. He runs off whenever he wants to and tends to ignore her when she's teaching. Well, this evening I got an email from his teacher that said that during recess he slapped a little girl for no reason. When he was asked why he simply stated that he wanted to. He admitted she had done nothing wrong he just wanted to do it.

I am beginning to think that this school is not going to work for him after all. I always knew I might have to pull him out of this school but I was hoping a regular routine would help. He acts like an almost normal kid at home but that's because I've taught him everything he has to do to socialize at home. In the outside world he doesn't understand that hitting strangers isn't okay. I know that may seem strange but he really doesn't know that. I think many would think that is why he needs to be in school but I disagree. It's hard because to much stimulation and information tends to shut kids like this down. They become overwhelmed and lose all confidence in themselves and there ability to control themselves.

I have to admit I'm mourning my child today. I love him for who he is and always will but I can't help but worry about the future. The amount of things I need to teach him are stagering and it's impossible for me to know all the things that he still doesn't know. It's also heartbreaking to discipline a child who really didn't know what he was doing was wrong and to watch him lose all chances of making friends at this new school. I wish so much that he could just understand why what he did was wrong but I know he can't and that is the most heart breaking of all.

So tonight I'll talk with him. We'll role play the situation over and over again so he can know what to do when he's in that situation again. I'll also instruct him some more on how to treat his teacher, his classmates, and school property....in that order. We'll then discuss proper recess behavior and finally how to apologize when you've done something wrong. Tomorrow I'll send him to school reciting the added social rules he's just learned and then hope and pray that it's a better day then today.

Isaac's Birthday

Today most people in the the United States are celebrating the love they have for there spouse but not us. Today we celebrate the love we have for our son. Isaac David Thomas was born a month early on Valentines day in 2001. A month earlier I had spent a week in the hospital stopping preterm labor. It was a miracle he stayed in for as long as he did and even more that he was healthy and strong when he was born.

I tried to attempt to scan some baby pictures but I couldn't get my stupid scanner to work but I did get a few. He is the light of my life and I can't imagine it without my crazy little (big) boy.





















Isaac, you are so awesome. I am sure that there is nothing you can't accomplish. Thank you for coming to our family. If I had to list your qualities in one word I'd say AMAZING! We love you so much.

Happy Birthday Joe!

Happy 7th Birthday Joe! I wanted to post just a few pictures of Joe for his birthday but it was so hard to choose that I totally got carried away. Luckily I don't have digital pictures of him when he was really little or I'd be here all day. Just know he was an adorable baby and toddler. Once I get those pictures scanned I'll probably post them too but back to what I'm doing today.

Joe is such a delight in our family. He may do things a little different but that also one of the things that makes him so charming. He is so unique and funny. He has a great sense of humor and loves to tease his brother and sisters. He is so easy going and usually is the peacemaker in the family. I love him to pieces and am so glad he is in our family.



















Thank you Joe for coming to our family. Thank you for being you. Thank you for teaching me that people are wonderful just the way they are and that love is universal no matter how you say it. I Love You.