|
| |
The Windmill Project Newsletter
May 2002
Hey… Have You Heard?
Congratulations to the Wuolu family on the birth of their daughter Sabrina!
Check out this website!
“National Fathers Network”
They describe themselves as advocates for fathers and families of children with
chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities.
www.fathersnetwork.org
Special Thanks
During our February fundraiser, we mailed 300 letters, received 57 responses,
and raised $1605 for continued support of our local families! We wish to thank
the numerous individuals, as well as the following Morris businesses who
contributed so generously!
- Willie’s Super Valu
- Steven’s Community Medical Center
- Pedersen Funeral Home
- Ottertail Power
- Bremer Bank
Calendar of Events
Watch your mailboxes for details on a summer event. I’m aiming for mid July or
early Aug.
Someone Once Said…
Loving a child
is a circular business…
the more you give, the more you get,
the more you get, the more you give.
~Penelope Leach
Life Lessons
Some lessons are harder than others. For instance, I have learned that I knew
more about raising children before I actually had any of my own! I have also
learned that I knew a great deal more about my child with special needs than the
professionals who dealt with him.
The specialists had probably seen more children with Williams Syndrome. They
had definitely worked with far more children with Cerebral Palsy than I. But
they saw them for minutes at a time. They studied them from textbooks and
medical journals. They lacked the practical experience of day to day living in
a home setting. My training was on-the-job. It took place 24 hours per day. I
could not simply “call it a day” when my shift was over…my shift was never
over. I could not decide that I didn’t like pediatrics or cardiology, etc. and
go into some other field. I studied Ben and his needs with the determination of
a professional and the passion of a mother.
However, as Mother’s Day approaches, I find myself remembering how sometimes I
was so busy being Ben’s nurse, teacher, therapist, or advocate that I forgot to
make time to be his mom.
During the first year of Ben’s life, (I call it the year of adjustment) Ben,
Emily and I had “Lazy Mondays.” No appointments were scheduled for Monday and
no one was allowed to re-schedule anything on that day. The kids and I stayed
in our pajamas and in bed. I brought snacks, books and meals to the bedroom.
We watched movies, played board games, took catnaps…we ignored the world and our
place in it for one day. The rest of the week belonged to the world of Ben’s
needs but “Lazy Mondays” belonged to us. I was saddened that as Ben’s therapy
schedule and medical appointments increased, it became impossible to keep our
day.
As parents of children with special needs, we need to remember that while tasks
loom over us every day which are life saving (like feedings, medications, and
surgeries) or life-altering (such as rehab. therapies, counseling sessions, or
treatment programs) the first hat we should put on in the morning is that of
“parent.”
Days Like Ours
(Mom’s Day: 5-12-02)
Breakfast Pizzas
8 english muffin halves, toasted
2 eggs, beaten
¼ cup mayo
12 slices bacon, fry crisp, cut into small pieces
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup black olives, chopped
1 tbsp. onion, minced
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toast English muffin halves in toaster then place
on cookie sheet. Beat together eggs and mayo. Add remaining ingredients. Pour
onto muffins. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-18 minutes.
(Dad’s Day: 6-16-02)
Taco Soup
1 lb. ground beef, cooked
¼ cup onion, diced
1 can (16 oz.) stewed tomatoes, with liquid
1 can (16 oz.) kidney beans, with liquid
1 can (17 oz.) whole kernel corn, with liquid
1 can (8 oz.) tomato sauce
1 small package taco seasoning
In a large crockpot or soup pan, stir together all of the ingredients. Simmer
for 1 hour. Serve topped with shredded cheddar cheese, and /or sour cream.
Great with tortilla chips, bread sticks or corn bread!
|
