Well, I think I wrote in here about my meeting with the superintendent of Education of our District. I wrote him a few days later restateing what I heard him say when he phoned me with 'his' plans for Shandi and himself. I've not heard from that letter.
I've also mentioned, I think, that before writing the newspaper and the Supt. of Ed., I had contacted the Protection and Advocacy Services for our state. They got a signed release form from Stacie, then sent some other form to her to sign indicating they had looked over her situation and had decided to take her case. I had sent some pertinent information when we returned the forms.
On July 9, (yesterday) Stacie received the following letter from Sue Cannimore, Senior Advocate/Education Team Co-Leader
Disability Rights Mississippi (which is a part of Protection and Advocacy Services)
It was a copy of an email Sue had written to the Director of SPED in Tylertown, Cherry Smith. (The same Cherry Smith I have met with at least 4 times, and pointed out to her Shandi's difficulties and my frustrations each time)The email was written on July 7, 2009.
It states:
Good morning, Cherry. I’m writing regarding Shandi Marie Rogers who attends Salem Elementary School in your District. Shandi has been in the Tier Process but has been removed due to the fact that she improved with the intervention provided. Because of the following information, I am requesting that you do not place Shandi back into the Tier Process, but begin to immediately evaluate her for special services.
Shandi’s second grade report card indicates A’s in reading, English and math, but it is noted that these were earned with “special assistance”. In addition, under Work Habits, it is noted that Shandi has an “S” in works independently, but on the first and third terms, it is indicated that those were earned “with one-on-one assistance”. Finally, under “special notices” it is indicated that Shandi is below grade level.
In addition, Dr. John Jolly in 2005, diagnosed Shandi with ADHD, Combined Type, ODD with conduct problems and aggressiveness, Adjustment Disorder, Unspecified, Social Skills Deficits and Mild Mental Retardation.
Dr. William Osborne in 2006 diagnosed her with ADHD, Combined Type, ODD, Adjustment Disorder with Anxiety and Depressed Mood, Bipolar Disorder and Social Skills deficits.
It seems quite apparent to me that this young child is in need of evaluation and that it should be done now, not a year or two down the road when lack of appropriate services has caused her to drop further and further behind and her mood becomes more and more depressed. If you are willing to do the evaluation, please let me know when it can be begun. If you are not willing to do it, please send justification for that.
I need your answer no later than 10/17/09. Thank you.
What comes of this is anybody's guess. But I sure feel validated that someone else sees the situation the same way I see it.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
The 4th, 09
There is nothing like sitting quietly on the patio, the breeze cooling off the heat of the day, watching a child play in a huge box. The sounds of her giggles and her occasional ‘mama mia’ fill the air, as she bounces around inside her toy, rolling down the hill in it, jumping across the grass in it and living out her imagination as she finds all sorts of things to do within her own private little castle.
Such was the scene this evening as Shandi played in a box that the central heat unit was boxed in. Such fun she had after we had the hamburgers on cooking and had rested from our work at the nursery. Papa had taken a shower, then Ana took one. Shandi and I were still dirty and sweaty. She and I are swinging and Ana is sitting in papa’s lap. Such a peaceful scene, as we listen to the jingle jangle of the swing chain, the birds singing in the background, the frogs croaking asking for just a bit more rain and the crickets chirping. Can life get any better?
Such was the scene this evening as Shandi played in a box that the central heat unit was boxed in. Such fun she had after we had the hamburgers on cooking and had rested from our work at the nursery. Papa had taken a shower, then Ana took one. Shandi and I were still dirty and sweaty. She and I are swinging and Ana is sitting in papa’s lap. Such a peaceful scene, as we listen to the jingle jangle of the swing chain, the birds singing in the background, the frogs croaking asking for just a bit more rain and the crickets chirping. Can life get any better?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
other people's money
June 26 was Beth’s weekend to go stay with mother. During her visit Mother mentioned that she had asked Judy for her bank statement several times, but as of yet Judy hadn’t produced it. Mother asked Beth to check and see if the statement had come in.
So Beth looked on the table and in the mail box, but no statement. She then noticed a couple of bags of garbage Judy hadn’t taken out. She opened one and found all the envelopes from the mail Judy had opened. She closed that bag, and opened the other one. The first thing she saw was mother’s bank statement shredded.
She went back to the nursing home and told mother the statement wasn’t in the mailbox or on the table. She didn’t have the heart to tell her she had found a bank statement shredded—yet there was a stack of them on the kitchen table unshredded.
On Tuesday, June 30, Beth called me and shared this info with me. We discussed what should be done. She then called Terry and Brenda and by Wednesday, today, they had decided they would all 3 go down and have mother give the bank permission to give them a copy of her missing bank statement.
They did this and in doing so discovered that Judy had spend close to 4000.00 during the month at the casinos according to the statement dated May 15-June 15. According to the bank records, another 2000.00 was unaccounted for also.
The told mother about this and showed her the bank statements. While she looks at the bank statement, Judy walks in the room. However, Judy doesn’t say a word. Mother decides that when she confronts Judy she wants Robert, Judy’s husband there also. She also is having the 3 go to the credit union tomorrow and check to see if the 30,000.00 she had cashed in from savings bonds had been deposited and also to deposit close to another 30,000.00 from an accident settlement she just got. They are also going to have Judy’s name removed from any account dealing with money and have the other 3 kid’s name put on it. Mother will call the bank and have her atm card number changed as well as call her credit card company and have that number changed because Judy has possession of both of those.
But, Judy bowls on Wednesday nite and she informed them she had to bowl tomorrow for someone else. She also goes to the casino after bowling, and Terry and his other two sisters believe the bowling for someone else is an excuse to not come see mother tomorrow. So whether or not they all confront her or not remains to be seen. If Judy doesn’t show her face at the home, confrontation isn’t possible.
Lord what a mess. Mother trusted Judy. Judy was the one who lives nearest and mother believed she would handle her money properly. Yet that isn’t how addiction works and mother simply doesn’t understand addiction.
So Beth looked on the table and in the mail box, but no statement. She then noticed a couple of bags of garbage Judy hadn’t taken out. She opened one and found all the envelopes from the mail Judy had opened. She closed that bag, and opened the other one. The first thing she saw was mother’s bank statement shredded.
She went back to the nursing home and told mother the statement wasn’t in the mailbox or on the table. She didn’t have the heart to tell her she had found a bank statement shredded—yet there was a stack of them on the kitchen table unshredded.
On Tuesday, June 30, Beth called me and shared this info with me. We discussed what should be done. She then called Terry and Brenda and by Wednesday, today, they had decided they would all 3 go down and have mother give the bank permission to give them a copy of her missing bank statement.
They did this and in doing so discovered that Judy had spend close to 4000.00 during the month at the casinos according to the statement dated May 15-June 15. According to the bank records, another 2000.00 was unaccounted for also.
The told mother about this and showed her the bank statements. While she looks at the bank statement, Judy walks in the room. However, Judy doesn’t say a word. Mother decides that when she confronts Judy she wants Robert, Judy’s husband there also. She also is having the 3 go to the credit union tomorrow and check to see if the 30,000.00 she had cashed in from savings bonds had been deposited and also to deposit close to another 30,000.00 from an accident settlement she just got. They are also going to have Judy’s name removed from any account dealing with money and have the other 3 kid’s name put on it. Mother will call the bank and have her atm card number changed as well as call her credit card company and have that number changed because Judy has possession of both of those.
But, Judy bowls on Wednesday nite and she informed them she had to bowl tomorrow for someone else. She also goes to the casino after bowling, and Terry and his other two sisters believe the bowling for someone else is an excuse to not come see mother tomorrow. So whether or not they all confront her or not remains to be seen. If Judy doesn’t show her face at the home, confrontation isn’t possible.
Lord what a mess. Mother trusted Judy. Judy was the one who lives nearest and mother believed she would handle her money properly. Yet that isn’t how addiction works and mother simply doesn’t understand addiction.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Friends and snakes
I'm sitting down taking a break and heard a car drive up. I watch to see if the 'customer' will walk in and tell me what she wants or if she's one of those who just starts looking around.
I see a lady start walking toward the front door and as she enters where I can see well, I recognize her. It's a dear friend whom I've not heard from in about 10 years. I'd try to call her, she wouldn't be home or wouldn't answer the phone. She has lots of mental issues-depression, anxiety, etc, so I figure she's off in one of her 'places'. Al-anon taught me to not take these things personal.
Anyway......I jumped up and met her half way. We hugged, sat down and began catching up. Hours passed, with the only breaks being me getting up to wait on customers. Finally I say to her--hon, come on and follow me; I have to pee. So down through the greenhouse, out the door and toward the bathroom we go.
Now--when we built that bathroom, we built it big enough for storage too. I've told ya'll about the shelves and the old freezer in there so you know kinda how it is.
Well, I get to the door and do my normal checking it out before I step in and
Yep......I stepped back and said......Ahh, Jen, I don't think we want to use this potty. We'll go to the house. Lying across my toilet, my toilet mind you is a chicken snake. Well, he/she can have that toilet.
About that time my eyes turned to the freezer and yep......there lay another one on it curled here and there among the pots setting on top of the freezer. Shit. Not 1 but 2 snakes.
After we had gone to the house and peed, I came back to the nursery, got my camera and took off back there again. I got a shot of the one on the freezer, but the one on the toilet had already gone. Jen said he was crawling off as we turned to go to the house.
Then, this afternoon around 5, a guy I went to school with came over to buy some plants. I had not seen him since we finished high school. He's a year or two younger than me, in bad health and has to weigh over 300 pounds. The passenger door was open while his friend bought his flowers for him; so I sat on the floor of the truck and we talked like there had never been 30 some odd years since we'd last seen each other. That just blew my mind because most of the people I run into from high school days are distant, we don't have anything to talk about and it's uncomfortable. Not so with Ottis.
And.......We finished up a whole section of the roof this evening; part of the worst section too.
And......Robby has a few days off work and is coming Saturday to help Terry work on the roof, IF nothing happens between now and then.
And....Stacie has been such help this week, coming in and helping pull some supper together while I helped Terry on the roof; plus the main store manager at WM told her today that she needed to start putting in for different departments in order to learn the departments so she could move on up. He told her he wanted to help her advance.
And.....for some reason I haven't slept worth a toot all week. I think I'm hyper from lack of proper rest.
I see a lady start walking toward the front door and as she enters where I can see well, I recognize her. It's a dear friend whom I've not heard from in about 10 years. I'd try to call her, she wouldn't be home or wouldn't answer the phone. She has lots of mental issues-depression, anxiety, etc, so I figure she's off in one of her 'places'. Al-anon taught me to not take these things personal.
Anyway......I jumped up and met her half way. We hugged, sat down and began catching up. Hours passed, with the only breaks being me getting up to wait on customers. Finally I say to her--hon, come on and follow me; I have to pee. So down through the greenhouse, out the door and toward the bathroom we go.
Now--when we built that bathroom, we built it big enough for storage too. I've told ya'll about the shelves and the old freezer in there so you know kinda how it is.
Well, I get to the door and do my normal checking it out before I step in and
Yep......I stepped back and said......Ahh, Jen, I don't think we want to use this potty. We'll go to the house. Lying across my toilet, my toilet mind you is a chicken snake. Well, he/she can have that toilet.
About that time my eyes turned to the freezer and yep......there lay another one on it curled here and there among the pots setting on top of the freezer. Shit. Not 1 but 2 snakes.
After we had gone to the house and peed, I came back to the nursery, got my camera and took off back there again. I got a shot of the one on the freezer, but the one on the toilet had already gone. Jen said he was crawling off as we turned to go to the house.
Then, this afternoon around 5, a guy I went to school with came over to buy some plants. I had not seen him since we finished high school. He's a year or two younger than me, in bad health and has to weigh over 300 pounds. The passenger door was open while his friend bought his flowers for him; so I sat on the floor of the truck and we talked like there had never been 30 some odd years since we'd last seen each other. That just blew my mind because most of the people I run into from high school days are distant, we don't have anything to talk about and it's uncomfortable. Not so with Ottis.
And.......We finished up a whole section of the roof this evening; part of the worst section too.
And......Robby has a few days off work and is coming Saturday to help Terry work on the roof, IF nothing happens between now and then.
And....Stacie has been such help this week, coming in and helping pull some supper together while I helped Terry on the roof; plus the main store manager at WM told her today that she needed to start putting in for different departments in order to learn the departments so she could move on up. He told her he wanted to help her advance.
And.....for some reason I haven't slept worth a toot all week. I think I'm hyper from lack of proper rest.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
this and that
Around here, we're finally getting the roof done from Katrina. The patio is fixed and the felt it down. The shingles are off the house except for a patch near the satellite dish. Hopefully by this time next weekend, I can say the roof is done. Poor Terry is doing it all alone, so it will take a while; unless some angel comes along to help him out. I have to tend the nursery and water.
The gardenias are blooming their hearts out and perfuming the yard up, almost to the point of being a bit much for my poor allergies; but they do smell so good. I have much weeding and pruning to do still but will get back on that once the roof is done.
I'm excited about the roof. It's a job I've dreaded having done for a while now. I've also let the patio get it terrible disarray due to the roof being messed up--but Terry was hurt the next year and we couldn't fix it; last year and the year before we just stayed so busy and then he worked with the county--so it wasn't done. And they may call him to work with them starting Monday--but maybe the felt will be one the house and then he can work in the evenings when he comes in. I may can have the watering done and help him too. I just have a tendency to overshoot the roofing nailer and shoot out 2 or 3 nails at a time. :D Maybe I can just position the shingles this time.
Ana is spending a week--supposedly with her friend, Brigette. Brigette stayed with us all last week and attended Bible School. They got along really well and only argued twice, which is great I think. Brigette is a pleasant child to be around so it wasn't any problem.
Mother is still about the same.....no movement in her legs. She has 20 more days that Medicare will pay for her stay in the rehab, then she will have to go home or what? I don't know. I haven't heard them say; pay herself I guess.
I've a good church friend who has something that sounds like mylodsyplasia......her white count is way low. It isn't leukemia yet, but if they can't find a treatment then it will turn into leukemia. Her white count is too low for chemo, her spleen is swollen and they can't do the hormone treatment that is sometimes used for this.
My neighbor has a breast removed last Wednesday and was home on Thursday. We don't know the final result of the testing as to whether she will have to have radiation and chemo or not.
Terry and I are doing fine, just tired
The gardenias are blooming their hearts out and perfuming the yard up, almost to the point of being a bit much for my poor allergies; but they do smell so good. I have much weeding and pruning to do still but will get back on that once the roof is done.
I'm excited about the roof. It's a job I've dreaded having done for a while now. I've also let the patio get it terrible disarray due to the roof being messed up--but Terry was hurt the next year and we couldn't fix it; last year and the year before we just stayed so busy and then he worked with the county--so it wasn't done. And they may call him to work with them starting Monday--but maybe the felt will be one the house and then he can work in the evenings when he comes in. I may can have the watering done and help him too. I just have a tendency to overshoot the roofing nailer and shoot out 2 or 3 nails at a time. :D Maybe I can just position the shingles this time.
Ana is spending a week--supposedly with her friend, Brigette. Brigette stayed with us all last week and attended Bible School. They got along really well and only argued twice, which is great I think. Brigette is a pleasant child to be around so it wasn't any problem.
Mother is still about the same.....no movement in her legs. She has 20 more days that Medicare will pay for her stay in the rehab, then she will have to go home or what? I don't know. I haven't heard them say; pay herself I guess.
I've a good church friend who has something that sounds like mylodsyplasia......her white count is way low. It isn't leukemia yet, but if they can't find a treatment then it will turn into leukemia. Her white count is too low for chemo, her spleen is swollen and they can't do the hormone treatment that is sometimes used for this.
My neighbor has a breast removed last Wednesday and was home on Thursday. We don't know the final result of the testing as to whether she will have to have radiation and chemo or not.
Terry and I are doing fine, just tired
Monday, June 1, 2009
reading
Once I had read all the books appropriate for my age, I moved on Zane Grey westerns and various others whose title escape me.
Grandma had a peach tree that I'd climb up in during the summer and read. Every week when they went to town, I went along so I could return my books and find new ones. I knew the librarian personally and she would always hug me when I came in. Her name was Hattie Pittman. The library sat at the corner of the jail and initally it was just one room. Eventually they expanded it to another room.
The jail, courthouse and library sat on a hill and there were steps going down to a gravel parking area with an artesian well in the middle of it. The area around the jail, courthouse and library was paved of course. Grandpa always parked down 'under the hill'. I'd sit on the top step and start reading while they did their town business.
When I had a new book, there was no time to be wasted shopping. I had to read.
I was not a comic book fan in my youth. I did get some sort of little summer magazine. It was only a few pages, and I'd anxiously await the mailman's coming daily, hoping it would arrive.
The mail man's name was Tate Simmons and he always gave me a piece of Juicy Fruit gum when I met him for the mail, which I did almost daily during summer break.
Grandma had a peach tree that I'd climb up in during the summer and read. Every week when they went to town, I went along so I could return my books and find new ones. I knew the librarian personally and she would always hug me when I came in. Her name was Hattie Pittman. The library sat at the corner of the jail and initally it was just one room. Eventually they expanded it to another room.
The jail, courthouse and library sat on a hill and there were steps going down to a gravel parking area with an artesian well in the middle of it. The area around the jail, courthouse and library was paved of course. Grandpa always parked down 'under the hill'. I'd sit on the top step and start reading while they did their town business.
When I had a new book, there was no time to be wasted shopping. I had to read.
I was not a comic book fan in my youth. I did get some sort of little summer magazine. It was only a few pages, and I'd anxiously await the mailman's coming daily, hoping it would arrive.
The mail man's name was Tate Simmons and he always gave me a piece of Juicy Fruit gum when I met him for the mail, which I did almost daily during summer break.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Gratitude
Wow, gratitude was part of my spiritual awakening....learning to be grateful for the little things instead of griping about the even smaller things.....or bigger things, whichever the case might be.
But today I'm so very aware of how much I have to be grateful for.
I spent the morning in waiting rooms at the children's hospital. The shape some of the children are in is enough to break the hardest heart. If ever I had been exasperated with my grandchildren or even my adult children, I need to remember those children who are far less healthy than mine are.....and their parents.
There's nothing like putting things into perspective than seeing the little ones who are unable to do a thing for themselves, those who appear shrunken from whatever their ailment is, those with mental and/or physical handicaps of some sort.......and then to look at my beautiful, perfectly physically formed grand. Yes, I have much to be grateful for today, regardless of what the alcoholic in my life may or may not be doing.
I must always remember that whatever my problem is--there is another soul with a problem much more serious than mine.
Yes, I am grateful!
But today I'm so very aware of how much I have to be grateful for.
I spent the morning in waiting rooms at the children's hospital. The shape some of the children are in is enough to break the hardest heart. If ever I had been exasperated with my grandchildren or even my adult children, I need to remember those children who are far less healthy than mine are.....and their parents.
There's nothing like putting things into perspective than seeing the little ones who are unable to do a thing for themselves, those who appear shrunken from whatever their ailment is, those with mental and/or physical handicaps of some sort.......and then to look at my beautiful, perfectly physically formed grand. Yes, I have much to be grateful for today, regardless of what the alcoholic in my life may or may not be doing.
I must always remember that whatever my problem is--there is another soul with a problem much more serious than mine.
Yes, I am grateful!
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