Can’t Sell the Kids

Our town passed a new ordinance this past week that will inhibit me from selling my children.  Sorry to all of you out there that were interested in them.

I was very sad about this turn in events so I went home to tell my children the news.

“Well, guys.  Mom can’t sell you.  I’m so incredibly sorry that you to live with us horrible evil parents until you turn 18.”

“Why do you say that?” Rachel asked me.

“Why I can’t sell you?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, because last night they passed an ordinance stating that we can no longer sell animals on the side of the road.”

“Ugh!” Rachel said in disgust.

“Very funny, Mom,” Lauren replied with a roll of her eyes.

Well, I thought it was.

Pretty Picture

I love this picture of my area. I had to share it   It is very “citified” but I love the huge harvest moon and all the trees surrounding the streets.  I don’t actually live in the city.  I’m more of a country girl.  But I still like it  

Children for Sale….

And they clean the house really well….sometimes.

Lauren and Austin are just doing awful with school.  I’m terribly disappointed. 

Lauren is actually only struggling with Geometry.  A huge part of that is that she isn’t getting her assignments turned in.  The other part of it is that she is failing the tests.  BUT the teacher told us that if the students fail a test they have the opportunity to retake it to raise her grade.  And if the students fail an assignment they can redo that as well.  On top of that she is giving them homework packets to do to help raise their grades too.  There is also tutoring available if she just doesn’t get it.  So she has no excuse. 

Austin, on the other hand, seems to grasp what he is doing but is not getting his homework turned in.  Or he rushes through it, so he has no homework, and turns it in at school.

The Smackdown

Kevin has stepped in.  The children are banned from their televisions and video consoles.  The only tv time they will get is if we are watching a family movie together.  This puts the emphasis on their homework.  They have nothing to rush off to do now. 

They are both to bring home their math homework.  That way Kevin can look over it.  He is also in constant talks with the childrens teachers.  Tomorrow is the final day of the 1st 6 weeks so we will see what happens. 

Cursive Conundrum

Rachel is really struggling with cursive.  She has put too much pressure on herself to get it perfect.  Plus she thinks it is really hard so in turn it is.  The teacher is looking for ideas on how to help her.  Anyone have any tips/tricks/books/etc. that worked to teach your child to write in cursive??

It Happens in Threes

I lost another individual suddenly this week.  He was a former coworker from the church.  He was only 22.  I’ve known him since he was 16.  When he used to come into the church office he used to always make us laugh about something.  He was an only child.  I’m sure, only child or not, his parents are just devestated right now.  Here is the story on the accident from my local newspaper.

*  *  *

A motorcycle accident Monday afternoon took the life of Neil Adams, known by many as the drummer of the First United Methodist Church band.

Adams, 22, was returning to work after his lunch break just before 1 p.m. when his bike hit a curb and threw him into a tree.

“He made a turn coming from Windsor (Drive) onto College (Boulevard), and it looked like the turn went a little wide and he struck the curb,” [my town] Police Sgt. Darin Hardy said.

Adams was wearing a helmet, and there is no indication that he had been drinking, Hardy said.

Adams suffered a traumatic head injury and was transported to [the hospital], where he was pronounced dead soon after the accident.

“He was extremely involved in the church,” said Melinda Roberts, the church’s minister of youth. “He always wanted to know how he could help and what he could do.”

The accident is “an absolute shock,” she said.

No other vehicles were involved in the incident, Hardy said. Police are investigating other factors that may have caused the accident.

The accident is the second motorcycle fatality in [my town] this year, Hardy said.

Neil Charles Adams

Jan. 10, 1985 – Sept. 24, 2007

Neil Charles Adams, 22, beloved son of Robert Charles and Diane Carol Adams, of Farmington, was tragically taken Sept. 24, 2007, due to an accident, and has gone to be with his Heavenly Father.

Neil was born and raised in Farmington and graduated from Piedra Vista High School. He was an energetic young man who lived life to the fullest. Neil was very active in his church and played the drums in the praise team. He also played bluegrass music with his mom and dad, and not only respected them as his parents, but considered them to be his best friends. They spent quality time camping and just being in the mountains.

Neil loved to ride his motorcycle, giving him the feeling of freedom. He loved his grandparents and would do anything for them; his bond with them was unbreakable and unique. His faith in Christ made him the man he was growing to be. Such a kind and gentle young man.

Neil was preceded in death by his grandmother, Linda Justis.

Neil is survived by his parents, Robert Charles and Diane Carol Adams of the family home; grandparents, John and Joanie Huffman, of Farmington, and Ken and Viola Adams, of Albuquerque; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of friends.

A public viewing for Neil will be from 3 to 7 p.m. today, Thursday, Sept. 27, at Alternative Choice.

Services will be at 1 p.m., Friday Sept. 28, at First United Methodist Church in Farmington, with Craig Curry officiating. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Steven Huffman, Brian Wilson, Major Robert A. Wilson, Mitchell Wheatcraft, Jeff Wheatcraft, Richard Wheatcraft, Craig Adams, David Adams, and Kerry Adams.

Serving as honorary bearers are Bruce Adams, Brad Plies, Jacob Copeland, John Ziemer, Mark Keeney, Cody DeClusin, and Myron Aspaas.

Morning Math Musings

Math and I have never been friends.  It all started in kindergarten.  My 1′s looked like l’s.  My 5′s looked like s’s.  I wanted my 2′s to have the cool little loop on the base but the teacher wanted the straight line.  And what is the big deal with the 0 and the o.  A letter and a number should never look the same.  It was just way too much for me.

It got a little bit better until 2nd grade when we learned time.  First they tell me that a 1 is a 1 and now they tell me that a 1 is a 5.  How does that work??  So, when I learned how it worked they decided to confuse me all over again, because now a 12 is not a 60, it is just a couple of 00′s (or is that oo’s).  When I wrote that the clock said 12:60, my paper was the one that was used to show how wrong it was.  Rude!!  I still hate that teacher.  Only class I ever got sent to the principal in. 

Fifth grade was when I learned my brain was wired wrong.  Math was a piece of cake in the beginning.  I was whipping those figures out left and right.  It was easy peasy.  My teacher was so impressed that she put me in advanced math.  I was on cloud nine.  Then we started subtraction.  My cloud evaporated.  I was put back in regular math.  My teacher was baffled.  So was I. 

All of my friends were in the advanced math so they were one math ahead of me for the next few years.  I hated this.  It made me feel dumb.  Or at least dumber than them. But it could never make me feel as dumb as Algebra did in 9th grade.  That rocked my world.  Actually, it more fuzzed, than rocked.  In high school, they don’t take the time to help you understand it.  They leave you in the dust.  Once I was completely covered in the dust and my mind was full of fuzz, my advanced friends ganged up on me.   They unburied me and helped me to see the light through the fuzz.  Once that light bulb turned on, I was back on my cloud. 

My sophomore year I took two math classes to catch up to my friends: Geometry and Algebra II.  If it wasn’t for my friends, I would have hated school that year, but I passed with A’s.  My junior year I took trigonometry with my buds.  It was great.  I had a good instructor that took time before and after school to work with me.  My senior year I signed up for Calculus with my friends.  After the first month of that, I decided I made my point.  I wasn’t dumb.  I could do math.  I dropped it and happily volunteered in the library.

I decided right after Matt was born to start college and major in accounting.  It was all fun and games till we started working on stocks and bonds in Accounting II.  At that same time I learned of Matt’s diagnosis.  I decided this was God’s way of saying that he had better, brighter things for my future and accounting was not one of them.

As I learned more and more about fragile x, to help my son, I realized so much about myself.  All of my struggles with math were part of being a fragile x carrier.  I wasn’t crazy or dumb.  I was just wired different than everyone else.  And I’m glad I didn’t know I was wired different until that moment.  I may not have had the ambition that I did in school.  I may have used it as an excuse. 

This whole story played out in my mind at 2 a.m. (or is that 1:60). I was dreaming of numbers.  I realized when I woke up that my life is surrounded by numbers.  I deal with them all day long.  My favorite class this semester is actually math!  It has structure and doesn’t change much.  My fragilistic mind loves stuff that has structure and stays pretty consistent.  Though if it wasn’t for calculators, I think I would be a dog walker or permanent baby sitter. 

Oh and by the way, if anyone knows why my company’s bank account is off 2 cents this morning I’d love to know too.     

Did you know that “they” think Einstein was autistic??  Check it out at this

link:  Einstein Autistic

National Fragile X Survey

If you haven’t signed up for the Fragile X Survey here is all the who what when where and why’s.  I just enrolled our family with 4 children and it took about 30 minutes

What Is The National Fragile X Survey?

The survey will provide researchers with important information about how fragile X syndrome affects families, including the medical and nutritional needs of children with fragile X, the use of educational services and supports, and the cost of raising a child with fragile X. We are interested in having all kinds of families participate in the survey. Any family with a child who has fragile X, whether they are a carrier or have the full mutation, is eligible.

Why Is this Study Important?

This study is the first national survey of families who have a child with fragile X. The results of the survey will be shared with national fragile X organizations, researchers, and legislators to help change policy and improve practice.

Why Should I Participate?

Although many studies have been conducted with families of children with fragile X, this study will be the first to survey a large number of families. Your participation will provide researchers with a national picture of the needs of families with a child who has fragile X.

At least 2,500 families are needed for the survey, so your participation is very important!

What Does My Participation Involve?

Enrollment in the survey will start in August and continue through December 2007. During enrollment, families will be asked to provide information about each child in their family, regardless of whether they live in the household. For each child, we will ask their age, gender, whether they have been diagnosed with fragile X, and some general health information, such as have they ever had a seizure. We will ask for similar information about each adult living in the household.

 

Enrollment will take about 20 minutes and can be completed on the Internet at https://fragilex.rti.org or by calling toll-free 1-866-860-5229 to speak with an interviewer.

 

The national survey will begin in January 2008 and will include more in-depth questions about your family. It will take about 35 to 40 minutes and can be completed online or by telephone. We will send information about the national survey to all families enrolled in the study.

Will the Information I Provide Be Kept Confidential?

All information collected will be kept confidential. Your answers will be combined with the information we get from other families. Individual answers and names will not be published in any study report or disclosed to any individual or organization.

Where Can I Learn More about My Rights as a Study Participant?

Participation in the study is voluntary and you have the right to stop your participation at any time. In addition, you may choose to skip any questions that you do not want to answer. If you have questions about your rights as a survey participant, please contact the RTI Office of Research Protection by calling toll-free 1-866-214-2043.

Who Is Doing the Study?

Dr. Don Bailey, an expert in fragile X research at RTI International, is directing the study. RTI is collaborating with several national fragile X organizations, researchers, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Our research partners are mailing letters and this study brochure on our behalf to families on their distribution lists. You were contacted because you have an existing relationship with one of our research partners.

Research Partners

• The National Fragile X Foundation

• FRAXA Research Foundation

• Conquer Fragile X Foundation

• Elwyn Institute

• Emory University School of Medicine

• Greenwood Genetic Center

• Kennedy Krieger Institute

• New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities

• Rush University Medical Center

• University of California , Davis , M.I.N.D. Institute

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, FPG Child Development Institute

• University of Wisconsin , Waisman Center

• Other research groups or fragile X clinics

Where Can I Learn More about The National Fragile X Survey?

For more information or to enroll, please visit our Web site at https://fragilex.rti.org.

Who Do I Contact If I Have Questions?

Please contact Melissa Raspa, the project manager, if you have any questions about the study.

Melissa Raspa, Ph.D.

RTI International

3040 Cornwallis Road

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

Telephone: 1-866-860-5229

E-mail: mraspa@rti.org

This study is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through a grant to RTI International. RTI International is a trade name of Research Triangle Institute.