President Obama's Gutterball.

Can't believe this smart man said this. Below from the Seatle Times and they are right... he blew it. I am disappointed in him. Only time will tell if he can make this one right.

Damn, President Obama, you blew it.

Thanks for your apology, but it is not enough. It should be only a start.

By now, everyone has heard what happened. Obama was chatting with Tonight Show host Jay Leno who asked how his bowling game was. President Obama said he got a score of 129 and his bad bowling "was like the Special Olympics or something."

Apparently, at least somebody on his staff had enough sensitivity to recognize this was a stupid thing to say, so the President called Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics to apologize. Great. He wants some Special Olympics athletes to go to the White House. Fine.
Better idea. Go to the Special Olympics and award medals to athletes. Do a promotion for this great organization founded and supported by members of the Kennedy family, your stalwart political patrons.

Help break down the stereotype that you so casually perpetuated in front of the nation. These athletes and others like them -- people with developmental disabilities - will have a hard enough life without the president of the United States, the leader of the free world making fun of them on the Tonight Show.

Shriver was gracious in his statement if also firm that such stereotypes are damaging:
“Words hurt and words matter. Words can cause pain and result in stereotypes that are unfair and damaging to people with intellectual disabilities. And using 'Special Olympics' in a negative or derogatory context can be a humiliating put-down to people with special needs.

The most startling thing on that video is that everybody laughed -- President Obama, Jay Leno, the studio audience. Two generations ago, you could maybe see the same thing happening if somebody made fun of African Americans, Catholics, Jews, or Native Americans.

But that wouldn't happen today.

People with disabilities remain an easy target.

Hard to imagine that President Obama needs to have his sensitivity raised about stereotypes, but merely having a pizza party at the White House bowling alley with Special Olympics athletes is not enough to make amends. Better he get more involved in the movement -- as he suggested to Shriver that he might.

so much....

There is so much going on around here that I thought I would post some updates. Our main thing right now is school for Noah. Just like every spring, the decisions need to be made for next year and the push-back from the school always occurs. Our big IEP meeting (I say big because we sure do have lots of little IEP meetings during the year) is April 13th. Noah's advocate can only be there by phone (frustrating). During this meeting we will be discussing goals for next year (academic, OT, PT, Speech and even social). We don't always agree on these goals so sometimes it becomes sort of a tug-o-war. And one thing is for certain. This yearly meeting is never short-- typically 3+ hours. I try to go in prepared, but there are always disagreements. One of the main topics of conversation this year will be where Noah belongs next year. I want him placed full-time in a typical classroom-- and I want him to remain in Kindergarten one more year. My thinking is that while his is academically holding his own with his peers (and above average in his IVE class) he still struggles with the social side of things. I want him to be successful and have confidence -- the big fish in the little sea, if you will. Not all agree with me keeping him back. Not all agree that he is ready to be with his typically developing peers. I am shutting out those opinions and pushing forward. I know what I know about my guy and I think he can do it. Time will tell. The other obstacle is, unlike the choice program in the past, the district is forcing all kids to go to their zoned school. I am okay with this (even though I hate moving him every year) because there is an amazing general education K teacher at our zoned school that I will push for him to have. What I always hated about our zoned school is the IVE K, 1, 2 teacher-- she is horrible. I would homeschool this child before I let him be placed with her. But hopefully we won't even have to worry about it.

Little Reese is growing and changing everyday. I am amazed by her words and thoughts. It's all new to me-- how she just picks things up. She is in a big girl bed now and doing just great. I am not sure why but when I put her up there at night she stays put. In the morning likes to get herself up. If I hear her in her room in the morning and open her door she yells, "no!" because she wants to get out herself. Very independent, that one. :) Reese is still carrying around multiple "babies" and purses and really, anything pink. I did not teach her this--I am not sure where it comes from. For example, when she plays farm, she only wants to play with the pigs because they are pink. When I change her diaper (potty training is not going as planned) and say "gosh, you are red (diaper rash)" she ALWAYS says, "no mommy, I'm pink." Let's just say she is very unique! :) I couldn't imagine my life without my Reese.

Joe has been out of town all week and returns today. It has been a whirlwind. Today, I catch up.

moving.

love this.
moving in so many ways.
proves that life can change in one instant.
worth the read.

from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/08/fashion/08love.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

forgiveness.

it doesn't always come easy or fast, but forgiveness is something that always, always, always feels good...even if not immediate. it is freeing in so many ways. and some of us are better at it than others. but we call can benefit. i wanted to write a reminder to someone in my life that struggles with it.

The Definition of Forgiveness:

The cancellation of all the conditions in the mind that are blocking the flow of love and life energy--independent of the behavior of others. This heals the memories.

Forgiveness is not condoning someone else's harmful actions. It does not signify weakness of the part of the forgiver. It is not something you must wait until the offender asks for before you do it. It is not something you give to the offender.

It is a gift you give yourself.

It can be taught, learned, practiced and is a useful life skill.

We all make our own decisions. always a choice. Live with the consequences of those decisions. We all say things and do things that we regret. And sometimes there is still time to make it right.

another big feat.

A bike is too big, and frankly, too difficult for Noah. Trike is too small and not stable. We were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Until Noah's teacher reminded me that he has started peddling, yes PEDDLING, at school. It's pretty hard you know. Takes strength and planning. And it took him over five years to be able to do it. So we found a bigger, more durable trike. And he loves it. And I am so, so proud of my little boy.

Photo taken today in our neighborhood.

Go Noah, Go! Pedal! Pedal! Pedal!

Daddy is there for a helping hand...

Breaking News.

From CNN today:

President Obama on Monday will overturn a policy limiting federal funds for embryonic stem cell research, officials say.

[Oh, I love that.]

It's time to listen.

I joined Alpha Xi Delta Women's Fraternity while in college in 1992 (whoa, this ages me!) and at the time it was an easy decision. A group of wonderful women doing charitable work and of course, having tons of fun. At the time of Rush (when you are deciding whether or not to pledge) I remember them saying that this was a life-long decison. That we would be "fuzzies" for life. That we could use our network of sisters across the country to help when we were moving to unfamiliar territory or to find a job. Ehhh.... ok, I thought. I could hardly think beyond that day back then. But what I never imagined was how life would come full circle. That my Fraternity (they really do prefer this over sorority) would have a philanthropic goal that was so alligned with mine. Alpha Xi Delta has alligned with Autism Speaks (whose tagline is "It's time to Listen.") As many know, Autism is something that is close to my heart. I know more kids with autism than any other diagnosis. It's multiplying at crazy rates. Below is part of the press release I received today from AZD and my hat is off. Of all the Autism organizations this is not my favorite (for many reasons) but it's a start and if it helps find a cure I am proud to be part of it.

• 1 in 150 has the Autism diagnosis.
• Every 20 minutes a child is diagnosed with Autism.
• More children are diagnosed with Autism than Cancer, Diabetes and AIDS combined.

I'm listening. Are you?

Press Release:
Alpha Xi Delta is proud to announce that we are developing a philanthropic partnership with AUTISM SPEAKS™ and are turning the Fraternity’s national philanthropic focus toward that partnership. Autism Speaks is inarguably the nation's most prominent autism awareness organization. Autism Speaks is a highly respected, comprehensive, and sophisticated non-profit organization. Autism Speaks draws upon remarkable strategic connections in the business, entertainment, professional sports, government, and medical and research fields.

Some facts and figures about autism:

• 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with autism
• 1 in 94 boys are on the autism spectrum
• 67 children are diagnosed per day
• A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, Diabetes, and cancer combined.

Incidence vs. Private Funding:
• Leukemia: Affects 1 in 25,000/ Funding $310 million
• Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 20,000/ Funding $175 million
• Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 8,000/ Funding: $394 million
• Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500/ Funding: $130 million
• Autism: Affects 1 in 150/ Funding: $15 million


As you can see, autism is an increasingly prevalent fact of life for many families in our communities. Alpha Xi Delta has a clear opportunity to make an enormous difference in the efforts to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. And with several of our collegiate chapters already focusing their community service efforts on autism under the Choose Children rubric, we know this is a cause that already resonates in particular with our youngest Sisters, who personally know more families dealing with autism than most of us did when we were their age.

Autism Speaks has made it clear that they are equally energized and committed to making this pairing a success. It is evident our two organizations have what it takes to partner well together.



Another site worth visiting and really one of the best out there is:
http://www.generationrescue.org/

Jason Mess-nik.

What a mess. Okay, okay I get it, he was infatuated with Molly and couldn't stop thinking about her. So the noble thing to do is get out before it's too late (down the isle sort of late). But blindsiding the cheerleader was classless. The seemingly faux tears were overflowing and I was tempted to turn the channel. Of course I didn't.

At this point who even wants a happily ever after for this guy? DeAnna needs to get him back so she can dump him again.

tisk. tisk.

And what is tonight's episode even about? Can I bear to watch? It better be worth DVR-ing 90210.