A Tribute To My new Found Biological Aunts!

Yesterday, I quickly threw my posting up and didn't get a chance to look at the comments. To my surprise, there were posts from my Aunt Patty and Aunt Colleen that I just saw. These are my biological Aunts that I told you about that I just got in touch with. So how nice that they visited my blog! Thanks! I had given them my blog address because I felt it was a better way for them to get to know who I am (okay, they will probably see the dysfunctional life I lead but hey, that's what family is for right?)
So thank you for stopping by and reading up on my children and me! These are pix that Lisa sent me.
Oh! I think I forgot to mention to all of you that my half sister's name is Lisa too! How freaky is that. My biological mother had no idea my name was Lisa and then she names her daughter that--very scary! Anyway, this pix was actually taken at my biological mother's birthday party I think awhile ago.

Amber Watch- Excellent for Children

As a mom, every parent worries about someone abducting their child. As a mom of a child with a disability, it's petrifies me because they cannot tell anyone. They truly have no chance to even give a warning. Unfortunately, my girls are not able to get this concept of pushing an alarm but I figured I would share with other parents out there whose children are able to do this.

I'm not so worried about Brittany (since there is someone always with her) but little Jessica can run and be gone in three seconds. So I am still in search of something that might ring if she goes out of my range or something like that. Anyway, this is really a great device and I hope it helps someone. Just wanted to share! IF you know others, please let me know.
Child Safety Watch. Just in time for the Holidays

"In My Daughter's Eyes"- A Message of Strength

I was sitting by the computer planning my day out. Thinking about everything that I needed to do and I stopped. I've heard this song a million times but for some reason today I was meant to heard the words. I'm a big believer that things happen for a reason and I felt a chill as I really listened to the words of this song. I could feel a much needed message come across with it. I hope it can give someone else the additional strength this song gave me today!

In My Daughter's Eyes - Martina McBride

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes
In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her handaround my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about
It's hangin' on when your heart has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes
In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

Disability Equipment to Walk and Yummy Black and White Cookies

Well as you can see, it's one of those early mornings. I went to the bagel store already and picked up those black and white mini cookies for Jessica. As I walk in, there is my little partner in crime sitting on the floor waiting for me (of course, my husband is out cold upstairs-a little scary that she is floating around the house by herself).

Anyway, I give her a cookie and within 10 seconds, I am covered in chocolate. I'd like to point out that I was showered and dressed for work at 5:45AM and now look at me. So I had a 50/50 chance here since one side is vanilla frosting and one side chocolate. So why did the vanilla icing make it totally into her mouth and the chocolate is all over the place (including on my pants, my shirt and all over her). Is the vanilla icing magical and it totally goes into your mouth? I know its early and I am tired and I will probably wonder why I posted this but...it's one of the wonders of life.

Quick update: Brittany got her new orthotics today. She finally got orthotics with hinges so she could walk better. I was very excited. I hope it give her more flexbility to try and get around. Brittany has also been on a the Lite Gait which is a phenomenal piece of equipment for children and adults who do not walk. The great thing about it is that it holds you up so a therapist can truly work on your legs. Also the treadmill, subconsciously keeps the person walking. I am so thrilled when she gets on it. Unfortunately, we can't get one at home. It's extremely expensive but she is working on it in school. I really pushed for them to get a unit there and I was lucky they got a grant for it. Hopefully, one day she will be able to get around with a walker!

Looking into your own eyes for the first time

I spent the day today getting pix together for my biological grandmother and the two aunts who wrote to me. My biological grandmother said that she counts me in as her grandchild and my children in her great grandchildren numbers and she wants to put us on her refrigerator with all her grandchildren/great grandchildren since I am the oldest one!! She's so cute, she said nobody at her church noticed her numbers changed because everyone has so many grandchildren now. I think I forgot to mention one key thing. She is a very, very religious Christian woman. Everything revolves around the church. I was raised and I am Jewish. So, she has a lot of guilt from that as well.

My grandmother sent me pix of my biological mother. This may sound weird but it ws so strange to look into someones eyes and see your own...for the first time in my life. Yeah! I do see it in my kids eyes but now I see where my almond eyes came from.

The kid are okay here. Jessica signed more correctly for the first time!! I was so proud of her. Of course, she did it three times and when she saw I was so excited, she wouldn't do it again. She used to clap her hands, this time she put her little fingers together....Hooray! Did I tell you her favorite thing is to do tumbersaults on my back when I am sleeping?!? She makes me laugh so hard. Tough but I wouldn't trade her for anything!

Okay, I'm a little under the weather tonight so I am going to take a hot tub and do some Su Do Ku's and go to sleep. I am addicted to SuDoKu!

Being Adopted - Biological Mother

Honestly, I can write an entirely different blog just on being adopted
but since it is a part of who I am today, I will keep it here.

I was adopted at the age of one day. I have great parents who always told me about being adopted and well, I grew up pretty secure that I was loved. I always thought (which turned out to be the truth) that my biological mother had me out of wedlock and 40 years ago, you didn't keep the child.

Ironically, I rarely thought about looking for my biological parents. Once I wrote a letter when I was in college to ask for my medical history but I never received a response (20 years later I found out they answered but I never got the letter-my biological grandmother sent me a copy of what she wrote. She always wondered why I never wrote again).

Anyway (sorry this is going on and on--its tough summarizing 40 years)... when my daughter Britt was born. I thought about contacting them for the medical history. But I didn't. When Jessica was born with issues, I had to find out. Part of the guilt of having children with disabilities was those doctor questions. You know---does anyone in your family have a history of seizures, mental retardation, heart disease blah, blah, blah. How many times were you asked those questions? So imagine having to say "I dont know, I was adopted" and every doctor looking at you and saying "Oh!".

Well I started feeling like it was my fault. That it wasn't in my husband's family so they always accused me (his family actually said it. Doctors at least just gave that Oh!). Well, my biological family couldn't have been the elephant man. So I decided to search and find my biological family. I found my mother, half sister and my grandmother. My half sister (here name is Lisa too--how weird is that) is great. We talk every week and I am an only child so this is really nice. My biological mother is freaked out a little. She sent one note and a birthday card but she is having a hard time dealing with my resurfacing.

So the point of todays post?! I just got off the phone with my biological grandmother (her name is Betty just like my grandmother) for the first time. We spoke for an hour. She is the most sweetest woman I've ever spoke with. She told me that she always loved me. That she always counted me in her number of grandchildren and she always prayed that I would come back to her. How sweet. We laughed, we cried and I feel real lucky to have found her. Funny how I just spoke to someone for over an hour as if I knew her my whole life. It's a strange feeling but it definitely warms my heart.

And the good news! No one on her side of the family has all these issues so at least I know half my history. As for my biological father, he didn't want to marry my mother so that's why I was put up for adoption. He has a never generic name so it will be hard for me to track him down.

Does anyone know Chuck Taylor (Charles Taylor) who grew up in Florida (near Opa Locka) in the 1950's-60's. He's probably around 65 now and supposedly he was a Detective or on the police force in Miami or somewhere in Florida. Wouldnt' it be funny if I found him because of this post?!?

MEDICAID CUTS! VOTE NO TO HOUSE BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT!

While the bill was put aside this week due to lack of support, it might return again next week. PLEASE, take a second and make a call. We need to support not hurt those with disabilities in our country! Every call from every state counts. Pass this along and have friends call today!!

TELL YOUR REPUBLICAN CONGRESSSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE "NO" ON THE HOUSE BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT !

This bill includes $47 billion in cuts to Medicaid over 10 years. Medicaid funds critical services for people with developmental disabilities:adult day services, some family support services, residential services, and medical and therapeutic services.

Once again, House Republican's are key to stopping the next, and most important, attempt so far to cut Medicaid. If you have REPUBLICAN Congressional Rep in any state you are in;
call toll free at 1-800-426-8073

The following Congress REPS in N.Y.
1.Sue Kelly - Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland
2.Sherwood Boehlert - Seneca, Cayuga, Tompkins, Broome, Tioga, Herkimer,Cortland, Chenango, Otsego and Oneida
3.Vito Fossella - Richmond, Kings
4.Peter King - Nassau, Suffolk,
5.Randy Kuhl - Schuyler, Yates, Ontario, Monroe, Alleghany, Cattaraugus,Steuben, Chemung
6 John McHugh - Hamilton, Madison, Lewis, Franklin, Oswego, Jefferson,Madison, Clinton, Essex, Fulton, Oneida
7.Tom Reynolds - Niagara, Orleans, Monroe, Genesee, Erie, Wyoming,Livingston8.John Sweeney - Saratoga, Essex, Washington, Rensselaer, Warren, Columbia,Dutchess, Greene, Delaware9.James Walsh - Wayne, Onondaga

TELL THEM TO "VOTE NO ON THE HOUSE BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT NEXT WEEK. IT WILL CUT MEDICAID AND HARM PEOPLE WITH MENTAL RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES."If you live in a district with a GOP Congressional Representative, please get your friends and neighbors to call, as well.

The Reality of Being A Mother...

Somebody said that a child is carried in its mother's womb for nine months.
Somebody does not know that a child is carried in its mother's heart forever.

Somebody said it takes six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby.
Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, normal is history.

Somebody said you learn how to be a mother by instinct.
Somebody never took a three-year-old shopping.

Somebody said being a mother is boring.
Somebody never rode in a car driven by a teenager with a driver's permit.

Somebody said if you're a "good" mother, your child will "turn out good." Somebody thinks a child comes with directions and a guarantee.

Somebody said "good" mothers never raise their voices.
Somebody never came out the back door just in time to see her child hit a golf ball through the neighbor's kitchen window.

Somebody said you don't need an education to be a mother.
Somebody never helped a fourth grader with his math.

Somebody said you can't love the fifth child as much as you love the first. Somebody doesn't have five children.

Somebody said a mother can find all the answers to her child-rearing questions in the books.
Somebody never had a child stuff beans up his nose.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery. Somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten.

Somebody said a mother can do her job with her eyes closed and one hand tied behind her back.
Somebody never organized seven giggling Brownies to sell cookies.

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married. Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heartstrings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home. Somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don't need to tell her.
Somebody isn't a mother.
Pass this along to all the "Mothers" and "Grandmothers"in your life!

Advocating For People With Disabilities

Cover of NY Newsday with my daughter on it!
I don't know how durable medical equipment is in other areas, but here in New York, things used to be managable. My daughter is on a special program, Care At Home, through New York State and it is an amazing program. I don't know how I would be able to take care of her if it weren't for the program. I truly thank our State for realizing the importance of such a program for medically fragile children. Does your state have a program like that? If it doesn't, you should advocate to get one. The idea of the program is to keep children out of institutions and at home with parents. The program helps with nursing, therapies, home modifications etc.

Unfortunately, our medical insurance no longer includes durable medical equipment. So, we had to go to Medicaid as the primary and well what a disaster that was. New York closed an office and it ws nearly impossible to get equipment authorized. People couldn't get wheelchairs and other equipment they desperately needed. It is truly pathetic.

Now one thing you will find out about me is that nothing makes me more crazy than people trying to take advantage of the less fortunate. If you are going to try to make budgets meet, don't go after those with disabilities. So, that's where I started my mission. I started to fight for those with disabilities to get approvals for durable medical equipment. It broke my heart to see one man whose communication device was broken and he was unable to get it fixed so he couldn't communicate. Another woman whose chair was broken and she kept falling down because she had to try and walk with a walker. To me that is inhumane. Whether I had a daughter with a disability or not, I would be fighing. Actually, I might even fight louder if I didn't have a daughter who was directly effected.

SO now my point on why advocating is so important. My daughter can't talk for herself so she relies on me to do the talking. I made a pretty strong impression, her picture was on the cover of the NY Newsday (LI Edition), I testified at a 5 year Comprehensive Plan for NYS, I even testified at the NYS Assembly Congressional Investigative Committee looking into this matter. It took all this to finally get her chair approved. However, my heart aches for those who do not have someone to advocate for them in life. I visit the local UCP residential home and these people do not have anyone to come and visit them. They get so excited when I come. My husband thinks it is depressing (as do most of my friends) and it is...I cry. But I feel so good after I leave there that I went and spent time with them.

So, its important to advocate, network and help anyone else you can with whatever energy you may have left. Trust me, you will feel amazing afterwards. I know I do!

George Foreman Grill Conspiracy!

This post is totally unrelated to my family but it really has been bothering me today. You see, I saw the new George Foreman Grill with removable plate in the Bed, Bath & Beyond Catalog. And, well, I feel it was a well thought out marketing ploy to come out with the removable pan so many years later. I have had my George Foreman Grill now for years and years. I love it, don't get me wrong. But from day one I said..what a pain in the a-- to clean. That little spatula to scrape it. I wish I could just throw it in the sink. So do you think I was the only person to say that?! Do you think that I was the only one who was tempted to put the machine into the sink to clean it? I doubt it. I admit it, I tried to wash it a few times watching that the cord didn't get wet. It always reminded me of washing those big coffee perculators that was from the 60's. I still have my grandmothers...the 64 cupper.

So my next question, you are telling me that they never thought of this concept when they released all the various versions--Champion Grill, Lean Mean Fat Grill, Griddle Grill, Indoor/Outdoor Grill OR wait maybe the USB I GRill that hooks up to your computer! You thought to make a unit that hooks up to your computer but never to make it with a removable plate?

I am convinced that they waited until they saturated the market and almost everyone in America owns a George Foreman and they know that every one of those owners wished for the removable plate everytime they have to clean the damn thing. So the marketing team met and said, it's time to release the removable plate. Now everyone will be so excited and go out and get the one with the removable plate for the holidays. Well, I am tempted and everytime I clean that thing with that spatula, I will be cursing those marketing people. But out of principle....I will not get the George Foreman with the removable plate!!!

Okay, I feel better now. Ironically, it's the little things in life that really urk at me all day! I think it was because I wanted to grill vegetables tonight but was too lazy to clean the grill!

The note and poem I included in the journal of the Bowl-A-Thon.
If you've never seen this poem before, it's worth the reading. If you have, I'm sure you will enjoy reading it again! Have a great night!

Dear Friends:
Thank you for attending the Brittany Bowl-A-Thon!
Nothing is more special than to be surrounded by friends and working towards a great cause. Tonight’s charity is very special to me. The Children’s Learning Center’s motto "Capability Not Disability" is exactly how everyone on that staff approaches each day. The children are the most wonderful and special children. Our donation tonight will have a direct effect on their lives. The soft gym will give them something that will allow them to get out of their wheelchairs and experience the world around them!
Thank you for your support (and your raffle purchases). Please review the wonderful list of major sponsors and the contributors who were kind enough to donate to this worthy cause. Be sure to thank them when you go into their stores!

A special poem dedicated to our angel Brittany!
"Special Child" by Sharon Harris
You weren't like other children,
And God was well aware,
You'd need a caring family,
With love enough to share.
And so He sent you to us,
And much to our surprise,
You haven't been a challenge,
But a blessing in disguise.
You winning smiles and laughter,
The pleasures you impart,
Far outweigh your special needs,
And melt the coldest heart.
We're proud that we've been chosen,
To help you learn and grow,
The joy that you have brought us,
Is more than you can know.
A precious gift from Heaven,
A treasure from above,
A child who's taught us many things,
But most of all - "Real Love"