Happy Birthday, Dad

There are memories that I have of you that I hope time never erases:

How I used to be so excited when you came home from work

How you used to let me help wash your truck, which meant extra work for you

How helping you change the oil in the car meant me standing next you just talking your ear off

How on Saturday mornings, when mom was still asleep, you woulp play stupid made up games with me.

How we used to go out to dinner just the two of us

How when my date came for the prom, you got in the limo and mom had to make you get out so we could go

How you used to cart me and my girlfriends around, which probably drove you crazy

How I got your love of animals

How you used to pop my toes when you were playing with me - I HATED that!

How you can just clear your throat and I know that means I need to shut up even at 38 years old

How when I was pregnant with Court and it was your birthday you called me to see how I was doing. I secretly hoped she would be born on your birthday, but she waited until the next day.

How you called me mom got home with pictures of her to tell me how pretty she was.

How when you call me on my birthday and ask me how old I am you act shocked, but can remember how when you were driving mom to the hospital to have me it was raining.

There are a ton of things I could still write, but I just want you to know that I love you and hope you have a happy birthday!

Lissa

The Love Of A Dog

When I was little we didn't have a dog. We had pets, but no dogs.

When I moved out of my parents house the first pet I got was a cat. She was a good cat, but she was just that a cat. But since I never had a dog, I did not know what I was missing.

When Courtney was about 2 years old, we rescued a black lab from the pound in Key West. She came with worms and was so skinny you could see her spine and ribs. She had seperation anxiety and acted like the village idiot in public. But we kept her and worked with her and now she old. She has bad hips that she has to take medicine for. That medicine is making her liver do something funky, so she can only take half of a pill every other day. Most days, it is hard for her to get up and down, and she can no longer get on our bed without help. Her nose is now white and her hearing isn't the best anymore. Lately, she has lost a lotof weight and is licking a pot on her paw until it is swollen and raw.

But everyday when I come home from work, she still greets me at the door wagging her tail the best that she can and ready to just love me. I can be too busy to pay attention to her, but that doesn't stop her from being content to lay on top of my feet, or to put her head in my lap while we are eating dinner, waiting for some bit of something, or to put her head in my hand while I am talking to Courtney to remind me she is there.

She has a vet appointment tomorrow. I think our time with her is limited. Scott thinks I am crazy. But I think I will go home and share a pop tart with her anyway.

She is a good dog.

We Are Not Moring People Or Middle Of The Night People O

After the Gator's won their championship game on Monday night, we found ourselves tired.

So last night we decided to head to bed around 9:00pm, which means we actually get to bed about 9:30pm.

At 11:00pm, Courtney comes in to tell me there is something chirping in her room and it is not her birds. I get up and go to her room and discover it is the smoke alarm giving us a low battery alert. I am too short to reach it, even standing on a chair, and Scott was snoring, so I asked Courtney if she wanted to sleep on the couch. She did. I closed her bedroom door and tried to go back to sleep.

At 2:00am. Blue, our 11 year old lab decided that she needed to be let out. I took her out so she could do her business and came back in to try to go back to sleep. Blue proceeded to take a bath right in the middle of our bedroom. She is not a quite dog. In fact, she woke up Scott.

Scott heard the alarm and asked what it was. I explained and told him Court was on the couch. He went to her room and took it down and put court back in bed. He tried to take the battery out to shut the damn thing up, but he couldn't get it opened and refused to turn on the lights.

So he threw it outside.

And I tried to go back to sleep.

Parental Controls

We got Courtney an iPod for Christmas.

I decided that in order to keep tabs on what she is listening to, I would be the only one who is allowed to download music to it. I set it up at my office.

Yesterday, I brought the iPod to work in order to load some music. I downloaded 7 songs. I was very careful not to buy any song with the note of "explicit" language.

I was a very responsible mother.

She comes to me this morning telling me I needed to remove a song becuase it had a bad word in it.

Turns out I didn't listen to the songs prior to downloading them to make sure.

My first time trying to be responsible and I failed.

Go figure!

Bitch Session

Sorry but I just need to get this off my chest -

I absolutley hate it when an e-mail is sent out from the school regarding a decision THEY have made about MY daughter WITHOUT consulting me. Yet, when something goes wrong, I will be called to the school so fast, my head will spin.

and I don't hate too many things.

Happy New Year

My Chirstmas Vacation by Melissa Coleman, 37 years old.

WOW! What a whirlwind kind of time I just came out of!

Friday, December 22nd, we left for our Christams Vacation. We drove 4 hours and stayed the night at Scott's parents house.

Saturday, December 23rd, we drove 4 hours and arrived at my brother's house in Florida. Also there were my parents from California. We went to church that night and out to dinner.

Sunday, December 24th, we played Nathan's new Wii and a bunch of board games. Scott and I took Courtney and Sarah to see A Night At The Museum, while the rest of the group went to see We Are Marshall. Both movies got great reviews from all family members. We then went to dinner at the Olive Garden. After we got home, and got the kids to bed to prepare for Santa's arrival, Scott and Kim watched the original Christmas Carole.

Monday, December 25th, we were all up at 7:00am to open gifts. Courtney's head about exploded when she opend her Cheetah Girls concert tickets. Nathan's head exploding gift was his cell phone, Joshua's was his Magic Bullet, Sarah's was EVERYTHING she got. I stayed in my pajamas all day until my mom told me that I couldn't come to the dinner table without showering. Kim cooked a great dinner and we ate ourselves stupid. Some of us napped while others played new games. I got back in my pajama's and we all watched Deal Or No Deal. then we watched Nathan's movie Babies Are Evil. You can view this yourself on You Tube. He won a radio contest for the movie most viewed. We are very proud of our 15 year old nephew. Bed time was early for everyone that night.

Tuesday, December 26th, Kim and I were up and out the door by 9:00am to return some items at Kohls. We were home by 10:30am. We all went to lunch at Moe's and said our goodbyes to the Graves' Family. We then drove the 4 hours back to Scott's parents house where his Grandparents were there also. Judy cooked a great dinner and we excahnged gifts with all of Scott's family.

Wednesday, December 27th, we said goodbye to Scott's grandparents and just hung out with his Dad, Mom and Brother. We all went to dinner and then to Walmart (there is not much to do in Valdosta)

Thursday, December 28th, Judy and I went to the movies and saw The Holiday. It was very good. We all ate dinner and then loaded the car and headed back home. We arrived home at Midnight.

Friday, December 29th, Laundry, laundry and laundry. Oh wait, our washer is broken. Courtney strapped on her Heely's and we all wnet shopping. Courtney fell in H&H Greg, Best Buy and at dinner. She finally figured out how to use them in Kohls and can even round a corner.

Satruday, December 30th, we went to the Titanic Exhibit downtown. What a great exhibit. I high recommend going to see it.

Sunday, December 31st, I took Courtney to the Cheetah Girls concert. I definitley earned my mother of the year award for that! Her and Ashley had a great time and are going to wear their shirts when school starts back. Then Court spent the night at Ashley's so Scott and I could attend the Ocean's Ball at the Georgia Aquarium. We had a lovely adult time.

Monday, January 1st, we all just laid around. I had to comeback to work today to get some rest!!

Here is to a great 2007!

Melissa

The Trombone

This is a conversation that went on at my house at 2:00am this morning.....

Courtney: Mom?

Me: Hmm?

Courtney: Who invented the trombone?

Me: What?

Courtney: I want to take the trombone next year in middle school. Do you know who invented it?

Me: *maybe if I keep my eyes closed and don't respond, she will go away*

Courtney: I have a stuffy nose

Me: Go to bed Courtney

Do YOU know who invented the trombone?

Hope

It is one of my favorite words.

Everybody needs hope.

Everybody deserves hope.

Last night was the holiday party for Camp Spectrum. This is the group that Courtney belongs to. It is for everyone in the Autism spectrum.

We didn't really have the time to go, but I thought it was important that we do, as they have been great with all of my family. They are a great group of people.

Last night we watched a presentation on last summer's camps and got all of the information for this summer's camps. It was sweet, but I kept looking at my watch trying to make sure we were out of there in time for Court to get to bed at a decent time. It was all about me.

Until......

I met Laura.

This was Laura's first visit. She has a 6 year old boy with Asperger's Syndrome. I introduced my whole family. Looking at her, I thought that she might "have something", but then, there are days I think everybody does, so I am not the best judge.

We were talking about our kids and (I don't know why I said this) I was talking about how I am worried about the future for Court. How it is so rare that a girl have Asperger's. That I really wish I knew what to expect.

She looked at me and told me she has Asperger's syndrome.

She is married with two kids, one is "normal".

She drives.

She lives with a husband just like normal people do.

She wound up being my hope.

And somehow it was no longer about me.

Let's be honest. It was never about me!