Letting Go

Jaylin started a new program this week where he has someone work with him 20 hours a week to help with Daily Living Skills, getting him out in the community, and getting him use to not always having me be around. This program is going to be great for us. It has social groups and lots of events which are really going to help Jaylin. Marilyn (his helper) is great. I really like her and Jaylin really does too. I am learning to trust more people with Jaylin and know that's going to be benefical to both of us.

Marilyn agreed to work some Saturdays with him and then take a Monday off but Anne (helper from old agency) said she would still love to work with Jaylin which made us both happy. So the Saturdays that Marilyn doesn't take Jaylin then Anne will. Anne took him today and he was so excited. He loves and needs down time but also love to be out and about.

I am so glad that Jaylin has these two wonderful ladies that enjoy working with him. I've seen so much growth in him.

For Will

Friday I got a text message from Will, my best friend, telling me he was in the hospital. He found out he has diabetes. He is feeling a lot better and will hopefully be going home on Monday.

A little history about Will, we have been friends since Jaylin was 3 years old. He has been my biggest support system over the years. When your a single mother its hard to understand things that go on with your son. I am lucky to have Will who will talk to me about anything and has given me a better understanding of "guy stuff". Jaylin and Will have always had a great bond with each other. We don't get to see him as much as we would like since he moved to DC 2 1/2 years ago but Jaylin enjoys the times they do get to spend together. We are lucky to have him in our lives and love him very much.

When we were driving to bowling this morning I was talking to Jaylin about Will being in the hospital. Normally if I talk to Will on a Sunday night he asks me what Jaylin's bowling scores were that day. So I told Jaylin that if he bowled a good game I bet it would make Will feel better. Jaylin got a big smile on his face. As you can see Jaylin scored a 130 on his first game, which is his new high score (before today it was 124). When his name was announced he had a huge smile on his face. Then he grabbed my cell phone and handed it to me. I asked him if he wanted me to send Will a text message and he answered yes. So I sent a message explaining our convo in the car and Jaylin's score. Will texted Jaylin back and told him he was very touch and he felt a lot better.

Snowmobiling

Today the Town of Clay Recreation did a snowmobiling event for people with disabilities. All the people involved were great. Jaylin had a blast!

Bowling with Friends

Yesterday afternoon we met up with Jaylin's bowling team mates, Mike and Darius, to go bowling. Tina (Darius mom), Sam and Lucas (Darius brothers), Kenny (Sam's friend), and Ann (Mike's mom) joined us as well. The boys bowl together in a league at Bowl Mor Lanes every Sunday from September to May. Jaylin, Darius, his family, and I went bowling together over Christmas break and had a great time. This time we were glad to add Mike and Ann to the mix. We bowled 2 games and ate lunch at the bowling alley. They have the best food. Jaylin of course beat me both games. Man, he is good.

25 Random Things About Me

I just got off the Jeffery Family blog and she tagged anyone who read it so here I go:

1- I am going to be 28 next month

2- I became a mother 1 1/2 months after my 14th birthday

3-My middle name is Hope

4-I was born almost a month late (was due 1/21 and born 2/19)

5- I love reality tv

6- I would love to have at least one more baby

7- I know some sign language

8- Jaylin and I both celebrated our golden birthdays the same year

9- My favorite color is pink

10- Days of Our Lives is my favorite soap

11- I got a pea stuck up my nose when I was 2 years old

12- I got picked up by the police walking down the street at 2 years old

13- My eyes look beautiful when I cry

14- I was a cheerleader for 8 years

15-I cried through the movie Radio the first time I saw it

16- My Grandmother was my hero

17- I'm trying to learn to trust more people when it comes to Jaylin

18- I love to read

19- I am excited to go back to school

20- I am finally going to be moving into my own place

21- I coach Jaylin's baseball team and love it

22- Lettuce makes me sick

23- I am extremely sarcastic

24- I tried to get the last 4 digits of my phone number to spell Jess but it wasn't available

25- The last 4 digits of my phone number is Jaylin's birthday

Indoor Soccer

Tonight was Jaylin's last night of indoor soccer. He did outdoor soccer this summer which was mainly just learning the skills. He liked indoor soccer a lot. Being inside with the boundaries of walls helped him a lot.

Disney on Ice

For the past 4 years Jaylin, Annie, Kali and I have gone to Disney on Ice. Last year we had more people join us. We don't get to see Annie and Kali as much as we would like so I wanted to make sure there would be just time for the four of us. So we headed to lunch at Friendly's before we went to the show. Man Friendly's was mobbed and we actually took our ice cream to go because it was getting late and we wanted to make it to the show on time.

We met up with Paige, Lisa, Donald, Lori, Alena, Michelle, Alyssa, Barb, Kathleen, Tommy, Bobby, and Marcia at the War Memorial. This years show was 100 Years of Magic. The first act was Aladdin, Finding Nemo, A Rose is a Rose (Mickey and Minnie), Beauty and the Beast, Princesses, Toy Story, and It's a Small World which was amazing.

There was an intermission. We normally get souvenirs before the show so I can take some pictures of all of us during intermission but since we got backed up in Friendly's we took that opportunity to get them then instead of waiting until the end of the show. Jaylin chose a Mickey Mouse stuffed animal and the shows program which came with a rose. Jaylin also bought popcorn with his allowance money. This year it came in a little container which we plan to clean out and reuse at home for his magnetic letters. Annie bought some cotton candy and gave Jaylin the crown that came with it. I was able to take a picture of Annie, Jaylin, and Kali before the show started again.

The second act was Mickey Leads the Band, Pinocchio, Mulan, Incredibles, Lion King, and Finale. Jaylin really enjoyed The Lion King and the finale. My mom bought me a digital camera for Christmas and I am not liking it. I didn't get as many pictures as I normally do. My wonderful friend, Lisa, was taking pictures as well. I love that we are both always taking pictures. We are good about sharing with each other to make sure we both get great pictures.

After the show everyone minus Annie, Kali, Kathleen, and Tommy met up at Applebee's for dinner. Of course Jaylin got his steak and fries (favorite at Applebee's). Applebee's was really busy, but we had an amazing waitress. Last year we had a bad experience with a waitress so were happy to have a good one this year.

I always look forward to Disney on Ice. Jaylin always gets his tickets in his stocking and its a nice present for him to get after Christmas. That's why we go out to eat and he gets souvenirs. We enjoy the special time we get with some amazing people. Definitely worth the money that was spent. Can't wait for next year.

Haircut

Tonight I went to get my haircut with my best friend, Annie. I bought her a gift certificate for Christmas so she would actually not have an excuse not to go. Funny thing is her mom got her one too. So I will be dragging her again.

This picture is not the greatest. It was the best I could get taking it myself. Its a cute little bob with side bangs. I am always nervous to cut it shorter afraid that its going to make my face look fatter. I have come to realize that most of the time I'm just throwing it into a "floppy" (bun like) ponytail so it looks shorter pulled back like that lol. So I figured I would try it this way.

Our New Years

Jaylin and I rung in the New Year at home. We ordered pizza and wings for dinner and enjoyed spending time together. My mom and stepdad were out celebrating their 2 year marriage anniversary but came home a little before midnight and asked us to join them upstairs to watch the ball drop. So we all sat, watched the ball drop, and counted down to the new year. This morning we were both actually up by 930 which is probably the earliest we have both been up this week since we have fallen into a bad habit of staying up late and sleeping in. We got dressed and went out to breakfast with Aimee and Alex. We got home from breakfast around 1130 when Jaylin decided to be a bum and go back to sleep. I had to wake him up at 2 to go over to Annie's (my best friend/Jaylin's godmothers) house to exchange Christmas presents. Kali (Annie's neice) moved about an hour away this summer so it made it difficult to plan a time where we could all get together for our Christmas this year. Today was the day we could do it. We were excited to see them and to exchange presents with them. Jaylin got two computer games from Annie and a gift card to Applebees from Kali. I got 2 picture frames and scrapbook paper from Annie. Annie and Kali loved their gifts from us. We are looking forward to next weekend when we are going to Disney on Ice (part of their Christmas present from us) together for the 4th year. We enjoyed hanging out with them for an hour before Kali had to go back to her mother's house. When we got home we sat down and had dinner with my mom, stepdad, and brother. We enjoyed a nice, relaxing day spent with some of the most important people in our lives.