Calen's First Day

Calen enjoyed his half-day of preschool on Aug. 11. He had a few tantrums when switching from one activity to the next. He also became upset at leaving because he had to put away toys. He found a string of purple beads that he kept running along the train tracks and making them go through the tunnel. He pitched a bit of a fit when having to put them away. I can see a little regression in his actions since May, but all I can say is I did the best I could to help him over the summer. If my application for a home from Habitat for Humanity is turned down, I will resume my quest to leave this area. I blame the lack of services for his regression. I feel that maybe if he had the proper help during the summer, he wouldn't be going through this. I don't know. I just want to make sure I'm doing my part as his mom before I go blaming someone else. I'm so sick of feeling powerless.

I bought some gluten-free muffin mix from Valley health food. I didn't have any dried fruit to put in it so I used McCormick's sugar cinnamon. It tasted pretty good! Calen loves them. It made about 22 muffins. Well...I didn't try to make muffins. They're more like cupcakes. I let the kids have a few while fresh from the oven. That bought the number down to 16. Now, I have the rest for reserve just for him so he can have 2 per day at school. I also purchased gluten-free baking mix. I plan to make him some banana bread using the recipe on the back of the box. I finally have the non-aluminum baking powder, so we're ready to roll. I just have to get some bananas. I know he misses the texture of breads.


I finally received an e-mail from Dr. Kalb, and a phone call from the Wellness Pharmacy in B-ham about Calen's Nyastatin. It's on its way. I've also contacted my children's dad, who is trying to get another job to send me money every pay period so I won't have to call and "ask" for it.

I've also got great news on other things going on. I applied for a home through Habitat for Humanity. They sent a nice couple out to take a look at my apartment. They also made a list of everything I reported wrong with the place. They said they would write up the report and turn it in. I'm not sure when to expect word. I'm pretty excited about the thought of paying a house payment instead of rent. How great it would be to be able to give something to my children...a place to grow up in and call "HOME". It will be hard on me to leave the apartment we're in now. I'm such a sentimental fool, but that was the place I bought my babies to when they were born. First steps, first words...first everything took place in our apartment. It will be so hard to let it go, but so wonderful at the same time. New memories will be made in our new house!!! I will have to work a total of 4oo "sweat equity" hours. 200 of those hours can be worked by friends/family. The other 2oo has to be worked by myself. Since I am a single person, 100 of my hours can be worked by another person I pick. I can work a few hours on a construction site helping to build other homes for families, and I can work in their thrift store. I don't feel comfortable asking other people to help work these hours, so I'm bracing myself to have to do all 400 alone. I will ask others to help, but I'm not doing it with expectations. Others have jobs and responsibilities and children just like I do. I can rely on myself if I have to. I just want to make sure someone is available to keep my kids while I work these hours.

I'm ready to start my classes with UA! At first, it wasn't looking too good. All the classes were closed! My sis, who attended UA before, told me to speak with the teachers and ask them to let me in. My advisor told me to take History, Math and English classes. I managed to snag the English class, but the rest were closed. I sent an e-mail to the History and Math teachers. The Math teacher, Mr. Zhijian Wu, told me "no problem" and let me in right away. I'm now signed up for MTH110 (Finite Mathematics). Will be in touch with Mr. T on that one! The other teacher, Mr. Jonathon Hooks, is "hesitant" about expanding his American Civilization Since 1865 class. He asked me to find other classes and if I can't, he would consider letting me in his class. I kept digging and found a class that sounded interesting...Principles of Human Geography with Jeffrey Richetto. I signed up for it. Now, it doesn't matter if I hear from Mr. Hooks. I will have 9 hours and I won't lose my financial aid. If I get good news from Mr. Hooks, I may drop the Human Geo. class since I don't think it would count toward my degree. I prefer to take the History class. My advisor told me that I had 60 hours transferred over from NWSCC. All I have left for my Bachelor's is 60 hours....I hope I didn't misunderstand because I'm in shock with that bit of news.