Are your kids afraid of white vans?

When I was a child a girl I went to school with (had attended her birthday party) was kidnapped sexually abused and murdered.  She was walking from the horse stables on her families property along a road to the house.  It took them a couple of weeks to find the body.  Her killer was found and convicted.  It was the summer after 3rd grade.  I think that was the first time I ever realized their was evil in the world. Stories about abduced children like the one on babycenter today always make me think of her.  I think of her from the perspective of a child still.  I think she was the first person I ever knew who died.  (I know I didn't go to a funeral until the summer after 5th grade when my mothers Unce Chuck died.)  It was a lot to process that not only did people die but that someone my age had died and not only that but that she had been so brutally abused and killed.  My parents didn't hid it from me we watched the news every night whether my school mate was featured or not.  I know that summer and other times we would run and hide from white vans because there is always white box trucks and vans around so of course no matter what happens that is the first vehicle that is reported on the news. DC Sniper for the locals here. Often like wiht the DC Snipers it is not even a white van involved.  But to us kids nothing could get us running into a neighbors backyard faster than seeing a white van.

I know my girls are too young to know there is evil in the world.  So it is my duty to watch out for the white van for them.

My Little Sensory Seeker aka Tomboy

I am excited to say that I often have to remind mysef that Piper was born preemie.  This is a good thing.  However as her advocate.  I must remember that I am not an expert in child development.  The therapist who I now also refer to as Lorna.  Is a godsend.  I am thankful that I am not the only one that is tracking Piper's progress.  Lorna truely cares.  We had Piper's anual Individualized Education Plan review at the end of April.  Piper is tracking between 11-14 month on everything which is good because she was 12 months adjusted age.  But in three months they stop adjusting.  Right now she is 15 months old and without adjustment that would mean she was delayed in every area. 

Her biggest issues are sensory processing disorder (sensory seeking) and toticollis.  Her low muscle tone is minor at this point, but could reimerge as she develops.  I am worried about her social development moving forward, being a sensory seeking person is not very feminine. It is kind of absurde to worry about whether or not my 15 month old will be a tomoy but I am a mom with anxiety issues I worry :)  I am hoping that she will be able to sit in circle time or a classroom and listen when the other kids do and not climb the bookshelves instead.

No Spend Lent

Jake and I decided to not spend any money during Lent other than paying bills and buying groceries.  This was much harder for me than it was Jake.  Mostly because I am addicted to Starbucks and I eat lunch out at work instead of packing a lunch.  I broke No Spend Lent by buying some facial items at the mall because I was overly confident and went into the den of temptation to get Sary a haircut and use my free STBX Birthday coupon.  It was very easy to fall into the old habit of buying things I wanted but didn't necessarily need.  I partially bought it out of guilt that I got a "free" facial and used the sales ladies time.  So I "owed" her a sale right?  I am proud that I didn't buy any lunches or coffee though.  We decided that we needed fastfood on a long car drive to OBX that was supposed to take 5 hours and took us 11.  We also stopped on the way home because the return trip was 9 hours. 


What I observed from No Spend Lent:

1. I am addicted to spending $5 for the same coffee I can get out of a machine at work 
2. I like to buy things when I am stressed out (doesn’t solve anything when I am stressed about $) 
3. I buy fattier foods than I make (hence the NSL weight loss) 
4. I often spend $ when I socialize I was very anti-social during NSL

What I learned from NSL:

1. Keurig Coffee is pretty good
2. I do not need new shoes for every important meeting
3. Packing my lunch will save money and calories
4. I can invite my friends over for no reason and eating at a restaurant does not equal quality time
5. Jake does not understand facial products are a need not a want ;-)
6. God does not want us to be mean to each other even if tht means breaking NSL to stop at a fast food joint on a car trip that has turned into 11 hours instead of 5

The first things I bought after Lent: 

1. Starbucks Iced Caramel Macchiato
2. Premier jewelry from a friend
3. Picture frames from Target