720 Ευρω..

20 Χρονια κλεινει ο αντρας μου στο Πολεμικο Ναυτικο φετος... 20 χρονια απο τα οποια τα μισα τα περασε ταξιδευοντας για την πατριδα... Καποιες φορες τον μηνα εχει βαρδια, δηλαδη δεν γυρναει καθολου σπιτι παρα την επομενη μερα. Εχασε Χριστουγεννα, Πασχα, ακομα και τα γεννεθλια των παιδιων του... για την Πατριδα.
Ξερετε ποσα χρηματα τον πληρωσε το Ναυτικο αυτον τον μηνα μετα τις περικοπες? 720 Ευρω!! Επτακοσια εικοσι ευρω, ειναι ο μισθος του...ο βαθμος του ειναι Ανθυπασπιστης.
Μου λεει επισης οτι τον Ιουλιο θα κοψουνε κι αλλο...
Τι να πω? Τα παιδια μου, μου ζητανε παγωτο και εγω ψαχνω πως θα τους πεισω να παρουμε απο το σουπερ μαρκετ αντι να δωσω τοα 2.5 ευρω ανα κεφαλι στο περιπτερο :(

Σημερα πηγα πρωι πρωι στο σουπερ μαρκετ... οχι ομως στο κανονικο που παω εδω και χρονια. Ειναι λιγοι μηνες τωρα που πηγαινω στα "αλλα", τα φθηνα. Οχι οτι αυτο ειναι απαραιτητα κακο... ειμαι ευχαριστημενη απο τα προιοντα τους. Εξαλλου πηρα ενα κιλο κιμα σημερα με 4 ευρω!! Και φαγητο για την γατα με 0.25 το κουτακι αντι για 0.80 που πληρωνα μεχρι τωρα σε γνωστη μαρκα γατοτροφων.
Μπορω να ζησω με ολα αυτα, και οι γατα μου επισης... και τα παιδια μου και ο αντρας μου.
Μπορω να ζησω με την γνωση οτι φετος δεν θα παμε διακοπες (μιας και δεν εχουμε εξοχικο) και περισυ χρησιμοποιησαμε τα εισητηρια κοινωνικου τουρισμου, οποτε φετος δεν δικαιουμαστε. Δεν πειραζει.
Η Θαλασσα ειναι κοντα και αν και η βενζινη ειναι ακριβη, θα φροντισω τα αγορακια μου να περασουν ενα υπεροχο καλοκαιρι...

Ειμαι συννεφιασμενη, ναι, ομως ποτε τα συννεφα δεν κρατανε για παντα... εχω επισης ελπιδα οτι θα τα καταφερουμε... εμεις εννοω, η οικογενεια μου. Κοψε κοψε, κατι θα καταφερουμε.. ισως μαλιστα βρουμε την χαρα στα μη υλικα πραγματα. Γιατι να τα παω παιδοτοπο και οχι θαλασσα πχ? Να μου πεις τα 14 ευρω που θα γλιτωσεις την εισοδο θα τα φας σε βενζινη (καιει και πολυ το ρημαδο-αμαξι και δεν ειναι και κανενα μεγαλο ή πολυτελειας, ενα Χιουνται ταπεινο ειναι - δηλαδη φτηνιαρικο, ας μην κρυβομαστε)... αλλα τεσπα.

Ελπιζουμε... μπορουμε να κανουμε και τιποτα αλλο?

Απο τωρα στα Ελληνικα!

Η αληθεια ειναι πως εχω πολλα blogs και ειναι ολα στα Αγγλικα που θεωρω και μητρικη μου γλωσσα.
Τα Ελληνικα μου (τα γραπτα τουλαχιστον) ειναι λιγακι... παραμελλημενη. Σπανια χρειαζεται να γραψω στα Ελληνικα πια ... εχω ξεχασει και την ορθογραφια μου!!
Τι ειναι λοιπον αυτο το blog, το "Πανω, Κατω και Ενδιαμεσα"??
Να σας συστηθω λοιπον...

Με λενε Τινα, χαιδευτικο του Bettina που βγαινει απο το Elizabeth, κοινοτατο στην Γερμανια, σπανιο στην Ελλαδα.
Ως παιδακι με κοροιδευαν συχνα για το Μπεττινα, οταν θυμοταν πως με λενε δηλαδη, οποτε οταν αρχισα να διδασκω το εκοψα σε "Τινα"... και ξερετε κατι? Μου ταιριαζει γαντι!

Ειμαι 32 ετων και μαμα δυο απιθανων, υπερκινητικων, πανεξυπνων, εκνευριστικων, αξιαγαπητων αγοριων που ειναι 4 1/2 ετων.
Ζουμε σε ενα μικροσκοπικο διαμερισμα και εχουμε δυο γατια, τον Σιαμεζο Μπο και τον Μερλιν που ανηκει στην "Κοινη Ευρωπαικη Φυλη" (ειναι δηλαδη κοπρακος! ;))

Παλεψα πολυ, παρα πολυ, να γινω μαμα... για χρονια!
Δοκιμαστηκα αφανταστα και σωματικα και ψυχικα και οικονομικα και εβαλα σε δοκιμασια τον γαμο μου και τις σχεσεις μου με τους γυρω μου... ομως τον Μαρτιο του 2005, ξημερωματα 25ης Μαρτιου, κρατουσα στα χερια μου αυτο που προσευχομουν να εχω... ενα θετικοτατο τεστ εγκυμοσυνης και σχεδον 8 μηνες μετα, ενα μαυρομαλλικο αγορακι... μετα απο λιγες μερες, μολις βγηκε απο την ΜΕΝΝ, κραταγα και ενα ξανθο και τα πηγαινα σπιτι.

Θα μου πειτε, καλα ολα αυτα, αλλα γιατι πιστευεις οτι το blog σου εχει ενδιαφερον?
Ισως να μην εχει για κανεναν εκτος απο τους φιλους και συγγενεις... αλλα ισως να εχω κατα καιρους και κατι ενδιαφερον να πω... βλεπετε, το δικο μου "νορμαλ" δεν ειναι το νορμαλ των αλλων... Γιατι αφου εγινα μαμα μετα απο 2 χρονια παλης με την υπογονιμοτητα και μια πολυ δυσκολη εγκυμοσυνη, ανακαλυψαμε οτι τα αγορακια μου, ηρθαν πακετο με μερικες... ιδιαιτεροτητες! Καθενας μας ειναι μοναδικος αλλα τα δικα μου σπανε ακομα περισσοτερο το καλουπι καθοτι ανηκουν στο ελιτ γκρουπ των παιδιων με ειδικες αναγκες... ιδιαιτεροτητες αν θελετε πιο πολιτικως ορθα.
(αν και εγω δεν τον φοβαμαι τον ορο, οντως θελουν ειδικο χειρισμο και οι αναγκες τους δεν ειναι ιδιες με των αλλων παιδιων)

Πως ειναι λοιπον να εισαι εργαζομενη μαμα με δυο παιδακια με ειδικες αναγκες και να ζεις στην συγχρονη Αθηνα?
Αυτο θελω να καταγραψω λοιπον... πολυ απλα... την ζωη μου μαζι τους.
Αν βρισκετε το θεμα ενδιαφερον, καλως ηρθατε λοιπον, ξεκιναμε απο την αρχη και ας εχω το blog αυτο χρονια και χρονια :)

Καινουρια σελιδα, καινουρια αρχη...

Coughing, vomitting & a shower at 2am!

You guessed it!! The boys are sick... well technically *John* is sick. Cody was sick for like 3 seconds and he is fine now so geez, that A&T removal really did him good.
John has had a cough for a week now but no other symptoms and it wasn't getting any better. In fact Sunday and Monday nights were the worst.
So I took him to the ped and he put him on antibiotics for it.
On Monday night, I stayed up late after a crazy day (due to the presidential elections, the boys didn't have school Friday and Monday), to get some work done as I am leaving for the show on Friday... I went to bed before 1am... and as soon as I laid down, John started coughing up a lung...
So I rush in there and get him up and as I am holding him high up, he throws up all over me from my head down to my toes... Because of his GI issues, he throws up very easily!!
So I had to get him settled, get him his inhaler and then once he was ok, I took a shower...at 2am!
I didn't get a wink of sleep Monday night... Tuesday I kept them from school and Tuesday night I had a better night, John only coughed a little bit but I did sleep for 3 hrs on the couch, sitting upright with John clutched to my chest but we had an OK night...
I sent them to school today after the 3rd day of antibiotics. What he has is not contagious anymore because of the antibiotics, it's just a common upper respiratory infection (no fever, no runny nose, no change in appetite or mood) so we will see :)

Hope you are all well!!
T.

Carolyn Savage... a saint in my book!!

On Thursday, Caroly Savage had a c-section and delivered a healthy baby boy, who was given to his biological parents immediately.
Carolyn Savage went through IVF to have one more baby but the clinic which they used, messed up, and she was implanted with the wrong embryo. The Savages continued with the pregnancy anyway knowing at the end of it, they will have to give the baby up to his biological parents. You might think "oh that's mighty gracious of them, what wonderful people" and you know, they are... even if the next sentence wasn't true. You see, this would be Carolyn's *last* pregnancy. Her health was so compromised that she has *no* other chance to have another baby...

As I sat there reading this incredible moving story, I thought, how can legislation be like this? Why not allow the couple to keep the baby as their own??
And then I put myself into their position: Imagine my John or my Cody, accidentally implanted into someone else's womb, being raised by someone else... it could have happened since the boys were the result of a cancelled IVF cycle (well not cancelled, converted let's say - I didn't get to retrieval but I did all the previous steps).

I am awed and humbled by this couple and I pray to God, that please, someone, carry *their* child for them so they can have the baby they so crave... since this is the only way Carolyn and her husband will now be able to have just one more...

(and now this whole think makes me re-think our decision of having one more if we decide to do IVF - yikes!)

First week of SCHOOL!!!!

Hello friends!!
Today is Saturday and we've just completed an entire week of pre-school!!!
First of all, let me tell you, we all survived... two of us actually had FUN, one of us drove a gazillion times back and forth but we all survived it!

My boys going to school is a huuuuge deal people; it is the first time in four years, I gave been in any kind of schedule that does not revolve around the kids. Also it is the first time if four years that they are not home for a few hours and my time IS really MY time. There are no interruptions, I can concentrate, I can plan and execute and work...
At least in theory.. because the first 3 days weren't going so well.
Monday was ok but I was behind on errands so I spent the entire time the boys were in school, getting those done.
Tuesday I had to go early to introduce Anna (the therapist) to their teacher because Anna will be picking the boys up twice a week for their therapy (since the Center is next to the school).
On Wednesday we had a horrid day; John bit a girl and his teacher and Cody had such a huge meltdown, I was forced to pick them up early. The next day I was told it's best if they didn't stay overtime because Cody couldn't handle it. Two teachers and the principal (former teacher and the kindest person on earth) couldn't calm him down. He wanted mommy :(

Thursday was better, except, Therapy again and Friday was the only day I really DID have all to myself and got some work done!!
Unfortunately by 10pm, my eyes were drooping. A whole week's worth of getting up at 6.30am really got to me and by 10.30 I was out like a Christmas light!

It is a big change for us and the boys but a positive one I'd like to think.
An amazing thing happened this week right off the bat. The boys are playing by themselves. They are in the house, and they are playing all alone... the two of them. Quietly (mostly).
We've been trying to get this to happen forever... one week of school and they are pros!
I kept thinking back to when I was a kid; I used to play alone... but then I remembered that during the day, there was a ton of other kids to play with.
You could walk out of the house, into the front yard and into the street and play with other kids.
My kids can't do that. We live in an apartment building and there are no other kids to play with here. No wonder they didn't know how to play on their own, with each other and they wanted mommy there all the time.
But already they have gone from winning for mommy all day, to playing on their own and interacting.

I am looking forward to more days like Friday when I do my routine and have time to work. I am looking forward to going to all their school stuff, baking cakes for the class and the bazaars and just being a regular mommy for once, not a crazed one.
I am SO looking forward to meeting new moms and making a few friends.. God, I miss friends! No offense to my online friends, I mean local friends, that I can go over for coffee and do stuff with...
School rocks!

John, love my life...

(before I start, just wanted to say that I know I talk about John a lot and in the past I had been accused of not loving Cody as much or playing favorites. This is NOT true. I love both my boys equally but I chose to share more things about John because John is in a special place right now and I know many other moms go through this and I am hoping that if they read this, they might not feel so alone...)

Yesterday we had our meet and greet at the school...
I had to fight back tears several times, seeing my boys in MY school, in MY classroom.
George thought the school was "old"... it is... it was built in 1933 and has been in continuous operation since then. Today's principal, is my age, the grand-daughter of the founder and we were in the same class for 7 years...
It really FELLS like MY school and I hope my boys are as comfortable in there as I was...
It's old but clean and at the same time, modern... it kind of feels like Hogwarths!
It doesn't look like it but it feels like it.
Before me and my brothers, my mom was in that school.. so you see, it's kind of a family tradition.

It's a private school and it costs quite a bit to attend.
For those out there who find my job prestigious and think I make a ton of money, well, I don't! Yes my dolls sell for good money BUT they also cost me a good amount of money to make. Each doll costs me around $500 to make if you count my time into it. My supplies come from abroad (add tax and customs and shipping) so yeah... expensive.
Plus I don't really make that many anyway per month.
It's not like we are dirt poor; we own our tiny apartment, and two inexpensive cars (one 20 years old) but private school tuition for two, well that's a big price tag even for a rich person.
HOWEVER, my father is a supervisor in this school! And I get 45% off... THAT's how I can afford it. Could I have afforded it otherwise? NO!

I didn't intend to send the boys to this school... but when John was diagnosed and then refused acceptance to our local public pre-school, I had to search for alternatives.
In this school, I know they will be well cared for... and their grandfather will be there all day should they need something.
It was the best solution for us even if it wasn't the most economical (500 Euros a month for the two).

A lot of people see John, the way he is now and give me funny looks. He doesn't LOOK special needs.. true! Most of his life-hampering problems have been worked through in the last 2 years. We have pretty intense therapy and from February onwards we are taking 7 hrs a week worth of therapy. So yeah, John has improved LOADS.
So why are still IN therapy?
He walks, talks, kind of runs, climbs and he is super smart...
But is he up to par with other (almost) 4 year olds?
No... on the inside, his soul, his way of understanding certain things, John is still 2 years old. Not his mental state, he is not mentally disabled... but his soul, his psyche... John is still a baby.
He understands consequence like a baby does... or danger...
Physically he is doing great ... his gait is almost gone, most of the hand flapping is gone and the days of toe walking are in the past.
He still doesn't have muscle tone from the navel up. His arms are like straws due to the lack of muscle. He still can't do things like kick a ball or turn his waist... some said I am focusing on the details and I am putting a little boy through a lot... but you see, it's those details that remain that will set him apart from his peers. He will be the one who can't do PE or performs poorly... the one with the odd body shape and the match figure body and the huge head (he totally still sports the preemie look!!)...

Some days his behavioral issues become to much... his quirks and his sensory problems are so many... Some days this all I see... a special needs, "different" child... when I am tired and worn out, a couple of times I have thought that "if only he didn't have this"... but then I snap of it. John is who he is and I love him BECAUSE he has "this"... "This" is what makes him JOHN... and I love John... as he is.
Would I trade the past years for a child with no brain damage? No! Because I would be trading in JOHN and I want JOHN in my life... I don't want to "cure" John... I want to help him improve on what he IS and deal with it and one day stay alone and proud and confident... even we never get rid of the weak muscles, even if he walks with a gait that (could get) worse over time... Even if he wears glasses for the rest of his life...
He is the love of my life along with his brother... and is a very special child whose intellect amazes EVERYONE around him and he CHARMS the socks out of everyone who meets him... and *I* alone was CHOSEN to be his mom...and THAT is a huge PRIVILEDGE... it is a priviledge to me, to be the mom of a SPECIAL NEEDS child...
And I am humbled and a better person because of that fact. It changed my life, it changed me to my core and I fear John and Cody have taught me far more than I can EVER teach them... and for that I will always be in their debt.

"Different" doesn't always mean defective or undesirable!

My sons, I want you to stand up to life and look it straight in the eye and then say "Bring it on!!" with a smile...

"You're SO pushing your luck mister!"

Says Beau the Cat...
Had to share this picture... he certainly has purrsonality my boy... seriously, he is SO human, he scares me some times...
Don't mess with the Beau ;)