Sunday, August 26, 2012

Sausage Skillet Fry


While my Mother in Law is here and keeping track of the little Baers I am catching up on the Blog. This is an amazing, super easy dinner I made last week. It was completely gone and everyone loved it! *Score*

My favorite part was it was a one skillet meal and took only 30 minutes. :) Perfect in my book. 

Sausage Skillet Fry:

1 lb of sausage, coined. I used smoked Sausage
8-10 medium Idaho potatoes, sliced with skin on
2 medium Bell Peppers (Mine were from the garden so not big) cut into strips
1 medium Red Onion sliced
Canola Oil for frying
Garlic Powder
Paprika
Salt and Pepper to taste

Heat the Oil in the frying pan, add everything....I added Sausage and Potatoes first and chopped the rest and added it as I went. Cook over medium heat until it is golden brown and everything is cooked thoroughly. 

Served it with a Cucumber Salad and that was dinner! :)


Basket Bliss


How did I spend my Friday night? With my favorite girls....In the Basement.


Every year at this time our basement becomes a hub of Basket making activity. Mended Little Hearts of SWPA has their annual Basket Bash in October, and we start putting together Gift Baskets of all sorts to give away!


Toys Galore, Bath Basket, Italian, Kitchen, Grill Baskets.....You name it, we will have that kind of Basket made!


Even Kitty Baer wanted to hep


We log them, tag them, and number them as we go. 


Care Care Baskets, Christmas Baskets.....We have those too!


Riding Toys for raffle.....And 40 Baskets all logged and tagged ready to go. 


We are only half way to the end.....Over 100 Baskets will be given away that day! Plus there will be 50/50, Cash raffles, Food, Drink, DJ, you name it! Tons of fun for an awesome cause. 

To find out the details of this Bash and Why we do it, you can go to here:






Tuesday, August 14, 2012

God's Work

I have to admit, I am a work in progress when it comes to God and Faith. I have always been a believer, but my faith hasn't always been as strong as it should be. But, 3 years ago when little baer was born I found myself at a very important crossroad. And my faith began to evolve. I remember it like it was yesterday, I was sorting through some baby clothes that brother baer had worn. I pulled out a pair of yellow pajamas that had been bought my a dear friend of mine for brother baer and on the front of them it read: "And a Little Child Shall Lead Them" - Isiah 11:6. And at that very moment, sitting in the bedroom on the floor, with a baby with a broken heart laying beside me, I realized that this perfect little son of mine was given to me because he was leading me to where I needed to be.

I picked up my old Bible, and started searching. I wasn't really sure what for exactly. But just felt the need to read it. Then I called my mom, who called a dear old friend, to find me passages to read in strength and courage. I began to rely on it, daily reading the Bible to get through those months. The upcoming Open Heart surgery, the life after that. All of it. Then I felt God calling me to give back, to do his work for others. To open my heart and mind to his calling. And so I did.

It's been three years since that time. And some days I feel like I might be wrong about my path. The days that I find myself overwhelmed or feeling inadequate. The days that I feel very ill equipped to be a special needs mom, or some days even a mom at all. The days that I feel like this "job" is to big for me and it's not something I can accomplish. Or the worst days that I think....Why me? why on earth did you think that I could do this?

But that quickly fades, as an email comes in from a friend, or a phone call from a new family. The days that my kids shine with so much love and grace. It reminds me that I am doing what I was meant to be doing. I was meant to be this special needs mom, a heart mom, a voice for others. When things get dark and times get tough....something ALWAYS happens. Every.Single.Time. An offer of help, a donation from a stranger, a carload of donations for Care Bags, or just a smile from those babies of mine. It's like a voice from God saying.....You are doing the right thing, you are doing my work, and I am supporting you through this.

There has NEVER been a time on this journey that I (or We) needed something and the person we needed or the thing we needed to be supplied with has not been placed in front of me just as it is needed. From the very first person placed in my life, at the exact right time to the endless supply of love and encouragement that comes my way. That is how I know that I am following God's plan for me. I am following the journey as it is laid out for me to walk. It is certainly not easy. And I guess it was never meant to be. but, I am not alone. And that my friends, is a wonderful feeling.




Wednesday, August 8, 2012

A Day of Victory and some Funnies

Today we had brother Baer's evaluation for TSS hours in school this year. It's a procedural thing. Once we see the Pyschologist, who says we need a TSS then we can go in front of the Mental Health Board in the county, who aren't doctors, who will listen to us tell her why we need TSS and how bad my kid is so that they can decide if he really needs it. It's a really silly process, likely they will turn us down, but we will try anyways. We have been approved in the past. Having Brother Baer kick the board member probably helped that....Not that I think he should kick people, but...I get kicked everyday and if there was ever a good time to kick someone that might be the time.

I gotta tell you I felt like a real supermom today. Left that meeting without one tear being shed, not one of the three little baers cried, no one yelled, and their office was in one piece when we left. It was amazing. I claimed Victory today! And it felt great.

Anyways....We are in the eval and we are talking and she is asking Brother Baer questions and the conversation went like this:

Do you know what today's date is?

ummm.....Let me think, two days ago was Aug. 6th....so Aug. 6th, 7th, 8th. Today is Aug.8th.

How did you know that two days ago was Aug 6th?

August 6th,2012 is the day my stupid ass mom took my IPAD, Wii, and DS away from me

Nice,  Real Nice Brother Baer.

On good note, apparently being grounded from all electronics for 5 days has made an impression.

*Giggles*

Supermom  - 1
Brother Baer- 0

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

I didn't mean it like "THAT"

The whole "R" word debate....It gets me angry. The "R" word you say? Yes...The word Retard (For those of you who don't understand) And the most common response is "I didn't mean it like that!" when I say something to the person using it. I advocate, I speak up, I say things. Sometimes it comes from funny ignorant pictures people post. People who are "friends" of mine. People who are family. People who KNOW that we have Little Baer and the love and life he brings to us. Sometimes I can't find the words.  Sometimes, my words shake when I speak them. When I'm not able to openly say something, that is the time it hurts the worst. I feel like I am failing my child. I am allowing him to grow up in a world that is so bias against him and others like him. Would you hate this child? Want to oppress him and bring him down?


But here is the thing....We have TEACHERS....educators.....COACHES who are using this word and then demanding it was a "joke". Demonizing people who stand up to them about using the word. People making excuses for why hate speech is ok. People telling parents that we are "overly sensitive" Seriously? Overly sensitive? We stand for these children....We are their voice..And even when my voice shakes I must speak.


Look....I have used the word. Many times actually, I didn't realize the hurt and hate that came along with it. Because, I like others was ignorant to the entire world in which I lived. no one took the time to tell me. I knew all about the "N" word (I don't have to explain that one do I?) and the "F" word. I made a conscious decision NOT to use those words of hate. And I did the same with the "R" word. But for those people who are told about the "R" word and the hate speech that it is....to then say that we are overly sensitive? Tell that to an African American after you use the "N" word. Or after you call a Gay American the "F" word. See how they like your explanation. Because I'm telling you now, using the "R" word is hate speech. It ranks up there with the other words. It diminishes the respect for my child every time you use it. And for every child like him. Even if you didn't mean it "THAT" way.


So...here is yet another attempt to educate and advocate for those of our society you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. This is from another blogger, who has a much better way of speaking (writing) then I do. Given to me by yet another friend who feels the pain and sting of that word. These words are NOT mine per say....but they represent how I feel and why I stand among so many others who advocate against why using the "R" word is so damaging.

While your reading, understand that my little Baer is a person with feelings. With love and a heart of Gold. This little guy can not speak for himself. but that does not diminish the fact that he is a person...just like you. For that reason I am not overly sensitive and I am pleading for you to understand EXACTLY what the word retard represents and understand the "real people" behind that word. And then vow to not use the word and allow my child, my little Baer, and others like him to be victimized and hated. This is who the REAL PEOPLE are:



It's time to recognize that the 'R' word is an attack against who people with with intellectual disabilities 'are', it is an attack against the group that they belong to. It is like other words that exist to slur an entire people, unacceptable. The fact that people do not see the seriousness of the word and the attack it represents is simply a result of the fact that they do not take the 'people' who wear that label seriously. The concerns of those with intellectual disabilities have always been diminished and trivialized. There is a sneaking suspicion that they 'don't understand, poor dears', that they 'miss the point, little lambs' so therefore their anger need not be feared as justified. The people who 'ARE' what the 'R' word refers to have a long history.

 They have been torn from families and cast into institutions.

 They have been beaten, hosed down, over medicated, under nourished, sterilized, brutalized, victimized. 

They have been held captive, have been enslaved, have had their being given over to the state.

 They are the group in society most likely to be physically, sexually and financially abused.

 They are the group least likely to see justice, experience fair play, receive accommodation or support within the justice system.

 They are the group most likely to be bullied, most likely to be tyrannized, most likely to be the target of taunts.

 They are the least likely to have their hurt taken seriously, physical hurt, emotional hurt, spiritual hurt.

 They are most likely to be ignored when they speak of pain, have their words diminished by an assumption of diminished capacity. 

They are the least likely to ever be seen as equal, as equivalent and entirely whole.

 They are the victim of some of the most widespread and pervasive prejudices imaginable.

 They are those that the Nazi's thought unworthy of life, they are those targeted by geneticists for non-existence, they need fear those who wear black hats and those who wear white coats.

 They are educated only under protest, they are included as a concession rather than a right, they are neighbours only because petitions failed to keep them out.

 http://davehingsburger.blogspot.com/2010/08/people-who-are.html