The "Happy" Dance

Sharing time!

Last Friday night, my girl attended her first Freshman Dance as a high schooler! Sniff Sniff, we will not discuss the whole High School thing right now and how I am feeling old as dirt and get into trouble when I continue to refer to her as my 'wittle peanut'.

No, no dress remake this year... we went store bought.  Believe me I wanted to make a dress but I have to admit i can't do it all.  So thank you God for allowing us to happen upon this dress!

What a face!  Look at that dimple!

 Attempting to strike a pose had us both cracking up with laughter as she almost fell over!

 The fun of the photo shoot began to wear off.

Can you imagine what she's thinking here?  I bet it's not "I love you Mom"

So lady like... NOT.
Oh my gosh... she even wore makeup!  That is a first for this girl.  I do think there is a girly girl in there somewhere!  Seemed to like Mommy's blingy sparkly earrings as much as I do.

Long story short,  She had a blast!  I made sure she and her friend made it safely inside the school cafeteria which was transformed to a night in Vegas... lovely night for them. 
                                                                                                                              then...
I retreated to the car, where I began to hyperventilate and cry! You'd have thought I just dropped them off on the corner of the worst city in the world for the murders and wrongdoers to have their way with them!  Longest 3 hours of my life.  I was so afraid someone would tease or make fun or stare like we've been experiencing A LOT lately.
The next day she found out that I had cried.  She turned to me and told me I was SillY. No one made fun of them, no one was mean, in fact... she danced!  She danced with her friends from the average classes.  Everyone loved her dress and told her how pretty she was!  Mommy did a Happy Dance of her own!  Just a few more before you go!

What a Week! {advocate}

What a week it's been,  wondering where I've been?  Maybe not but I'll tell you anyway.

Chances are if you are my age {dipping your toes into the 4 Ohhs or older},  you have an aging parent or parents like I do.  Perhaps you have a child or know of a child or a parent of a child with some special need as I do.  I'm here today to tell you a little story about advocacy.

It's okay to fight for them! 

If you don't defend them, chances are no one else will!

If you've been around here for a while you already know my MIL suffers from early to mid Alzheimer's.  What you do not know is that my own Father has some memory issues as well.  Has had them for quite a while, but he was 'functional', or so we thought.  Dad was still driving himself around town and doing his 'thing'.  Denial can be a blessing and a curse.  I can attest to that!

Last week, Dad's mental status took a BIG change and he was hospitalized.  After meeting with several specialists we were informed he had mid to severe Vascular Dementia and was in a Delusional State.  I won't go on and on, the dementia I can handle {I pray},  the delusions and frantic agitated behavior basically scared the crapola outta me and my family and is proving a bit harder to cope with.

Keeping it short and sweet,  I will tell you that the treatment he received from some of the nurses while there was, for lack of better words, DISGUSTING & VILE!  Enough to have me {usually sweet tempered and mild} barge into the lushly decorated {and rarely barged into} Administration Offices to file an official grievance.  {yes, apparently you can walk in there}

This is where I stress again to you...

Fight for the rights and care of  your loved ones and those around you who are unable to fight for themselves!

Stand up for your loved ones.  Your child, your parent, someone else's child, someone else's parent, anyone who is being treated unfairly or cruelly... I beg you to not turn a blind eye.  Step up.  I'm not saying go all Donkey Kong and go ballistic on 'em, but to calmly assess the situation and take action.  Ask questions.  Don't like the response you get?  Climb the chain of command and keep climbing until you get to the top.  Still do not feel like you've accomplished anything?  Find the agency that governs them... there are rules and regs for every school, every public or private facility, every business in every state.

No one loves them like you do.  No one knows them like you do.  Make your voice and opinion known.  If it feels wrong, chances are it is.  I remember when my daughter was a few weeks old and I was sent home repeatedly from a certain pediatricians office for being a 'paranoid new mother'.  I started to question my own sanity at that point, but I knew something was wrong... I just knew it.  If the battle between Doctor and Mother did not continue, if I had just given up because they thought I was nuts  {it would have been easier for me}, my precious Boom Boom would not be here today!

I'm getting off of my soap box now... not trying to lecture, just wanted to offer some unsolicited advice to whom ever may need it.  I'd love to hear from you if you are going through any similar life phases such as a handicapped or special needs child, aging parents... or just issues you'd like to get off your chest.  Not for a blog post or anything, just for the support.   I'd like to pray for you also... without all of the prayers from fantastic friends this past week I'm not sure how I would have made it through!

Also don't worry, {ha ha} T&B is not going all words and no craft on ya!  I will be back again this week with something creative and Oh yeah... a fantastic giveaway too!