I'm an Unschooling mom in Las Vegas, NV. I have all boys! A 14 yr old, a 7 yr old, a 1 yr old and 2 teenage stepsons.
4 of the 5 have some special need or another, and the 5th would be termed "gifted" if he was in school. They all have their own interests and abilities.
Join me as I blog about our Christ-led learning approach...things that work, things that don't, and the antics of family life!
Lately I've really been coming across a lot of blogs of families who have had children with Trisomy 18. Many of these children die soon after entering the world. Their impact is felt though, their lives touch ours....mine, and my children...even though we don't know them. I watch the videos these families create, read their blogs, and cry for them. But I am also moved by how much love they have and how awesome Gos is....these kids truly rest in Jesus' arms now....how much more wonderful can it get?
And here's the most amazing video of a family's journey with their special son.
Faith ~99 Balloons
How hard is it not to be so grateful for our own kids at this point? Be they terrible 2's, be they hormonal teens...they're here. But these parents are just as grateful for the short time they've had their children.
I am truly moved by their grace and by their faith.
Small recap, he was failure to thrive (after thriving for many months) and ended up not taking anything by mouth (oral aversion) for a loooonnnngggg time. So adverse that he even stopped nursing. He has had a G-Tube since Sept. 2007 and was solely fed through it for a long time. Slowly but surely he started feeling better and acting like a "normal baby", exploring with things in his mouth etc. As he started trying more and more foods, we decreased his G-tube feedings.
Our last dr visit I told our GI dr that I think we'll be done with it by the time you see us next! He still hadn't mastered drinking well and was still getting supplemental feeds, but now, 2 months later, he's totally been off the tube at home for close to 2 months! I was very hopeful that today would be the day!
Our Dr is so cool. Plus, he knows me, he knows I've been through this before, he tends to let me do a lot on my own...which is great (usually). He trusts my opinion, trusts my knowledge, and totally partners with me...but today he forgot my "little" problem with stomach contents! He asked me if I just wanted to take the G-tube out at home myself. HECK NO I DON'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost didn't even want to be in the same room! I sure didn't look! I dread changing that pad.....ewwwwwww. But, now it's done!
See the smiley baby? Bandaged up but no more tubey to play with!
It's actually an exciting time because my parents are coming in to town tomorrow and this will be their first time seeing him since they were here last Sept (during his hospitalization). He's looking so perky and alert and happy...it will be great for them to see him with no tubes!!!
A local (off-strip) Casino was having a Cinco de Mayo festival in their parking lot today. Not that Elias knows/understands/cares about Cinco de Mayo...but a it was a family event, with jump houses, merry-go-round, mariachi bands, etc., so we went with our neighbors.
It was borderline too hot, but there was a breeze here and there, plus some shady spots. The kids had a blast...and that's why we went! So it was worth it. Of course, I lucked out...Brian wasn't interested in going, so I left the baby home for his naptime with big brother! This meant I didn't have to drag a cranky baby around in the heat for something that didn't interest him! YEAH! Plus it was nice for Elias to have me take just him.
Look at this beautiful boy! What a mischievous little smile he is wearing! He was weaving in and out of the palm trees, but I caught him! This was a big slide...he loved it.
Here's Elias and our neighbor friend...they are inseparable. I caught him mid-air..he says this picture is "awesome!!"
My little sweaty angel. They had a soccer team doing face paintings..he wanted Spiderman but that was a little too complicated..they gave him a spider. He went back later on and got another one on the other cheek. They're cute!
I'm never in pictures! I'm always the picture taker! My neighbor grabbed my camera and got this one...ok, I'll post it, you may never see another one!
Fun couple of hours, then back home for air conditioning and ice-cream!
Look, I made a widget!!! I don't really know what one does with it? I guess others can add it to their blogs etc? I was looking for cool things to add to my blog, but made this instead! COOL! I think you can get it from this link: Christian Unschooling Widget
On Friday my husband was able to go with us to a local park and help Elias with his Rocket Fishing Rod ! Elias was very excited to finally get to try it out.
Well, the short and long of it is....my husband was NOT impressed, but Elias thought it was cool. Well, that's what really matters isn't it? When you're 7 you want to watch it ZING out with a loud pop! Elias didn't care if he caught a fish, or if it worked well, it was just cool to play with!
Here are the boys throwing rocks in the lake, The baby totally loved this game! His aim is...well...he can throw with force, but not always in the direction he means to...so DUCK if he's around! Seriously!
It was a beautiful day, just lounging, enjoying the air, running around, feeding geese. Loving the in between cold and hotter-than-you-know-what, weather!
Well, in my last entry I thought the week was crazy, little did I know it was just picking up!
While the big boys got through the stomach bug relatively quickly, poor Sebastian did not. Add the fact that he has a metabolic disorder, and we ended up in the hospital.
It was very ugly. Poor guy wasn't hydrated enough for them to find a good vein, multiple pokes later they finally got one. He was becoming acidodic, a condition they need to keep on top of with kids with metabolic disorders, as it can rapidly spin out of control.
On top of all of this you've got me...previously when my kids were hospitalized, I'm right there, taking notes, doing research, advocating etc. This time...it was a throw up thing...when I say I have a throw up phobia, I don't just mean I don't like it..I mean full blown panic attacks, massive anxiety, heart racing, no eating, etc etc etc. I had dealt with Sebastian and Elias all weekend being sick, by the time we got to the hospital I was no good to anyone. It's rather embarrasing to even admit it, because it's sooo dang irrational. I ended up in the ER our 2nd night there, from so much stress that I ended up throwing up. A nice few drugs later, life looked a little better.
Sadly, now, the stomach bug is hitting just about every family we know...so I am constantly being bombarded with the topic, and some families who don't believe in staying home with sick kids (?!?!) I'm even getting to witness it! It's truly too much in my fragile emotional state. I'm about ready to stay indoors for the next few weeks. It's affecting every aspect of my life right now, all my kids are tired of hearing about it, and I'm tired of thinking about it. ACHHH!!! Frustration!!!!!
If I can get a couple of weeks without the topic, without seeing it, hearing about it, witnessing it, I should be able to tone down the anxiety...so, if you know me, and you have sick kids, keep them home! We don't want more germs and I can't handle the topic anymore!!
So, that's where we are..recovering nicely, but not wanting to get re-infected. I'll try to write more soon!
I haven't been blogging much this week..seems life was hectic for one reason or another!
I was to host a yard sale for our Statewide Homeschool Advocacy Organization, Nevada Homeschool Network, today. So, all week we've been collecting donations. It's very exciting to see all the stuff come in!
We've had our normal therapies...speech 4x a week for Elias, speech for baby, state Early Intervention speech, nutritionist and PT (for baby)...
Played at a friend's house...Brian messed around on her computer (he should come with a warning..."I'll help you but I'll also indoctrinate you on the hazards of Microsoft and Windows"..he's so funny!).
Brian started attending a new local Japanese class...which he loved. Hopefully the mom will run the class longer...this is a short introduction try-out.
Elias had his last gymnastics class....for the moment. Because of his birthday he can not sign up for the class we've been taking any longer....too old! But all of the other classes are in the evenings...ewwww!!! He's debating signing up for a HipHop class (his love is street dancing!) or boy scouts. We'll see. We're going to take a break for a little while...Nanny and Pop Pop are coming in May for the month, so it's a good time to rest!
Had 2 parents meetings for different groups...I lead the mentoring at both which I LOVE but the meetings both in the same week is sometimes good (get it over) but sometimes bad (being gone 2 nights in one week!).
Dealt with major allergies...mostly me, at the beginning of the week.
And then the little guys got sick Thursday night..not sure if food poisening or a tummy bug, but it was not fun. We're still recovering from that!
Needless to say, I had to postpone our yard sale...so I can collect more donations! We'll do that next weekend!
I'm not big on allowing my kids to do sleepovers, but Elias just did his first one. It was so cute! He went to one of his friend's birthday party, and when I got there to pick him up he had big crocodile tears. Some of the boys were sleeping over, could he? Oh, way to break my heart! OK! I am like 1 block away, and the mom is my friend, she knows I don't want my baby crying (if he were to cry!)
About an hour later, my friend calls me, to tell me he "peed himself" and needs new undies. Ok, here's the deal with Elias. He doesn't like water. He never has. He didn't even get INTO a bath tub until he was like 5! IF a drop of water gets on his shirt, he HAS to change, immediately. It's so weird! So, his friends got him laughing so hard he must have dribbled. My friend checked and didnt feel ANYTHING, but he is so hyper sensitive, he might have even THOUGHT he dribbled. LOL! So, she ran over and got a new pair of undies! So funny!
He made it overnight just fine...in fact, maybe a little too fine! I got up in the morning, and because I leave my AIM running all the time, there was an Instant Message from my friend, labeled 1:21 AM, "They're still up"
OMG!!! The day's going to be a wash! That's alright, he was having so much fun!!
Then around lunch time my friend calls me, she went out to run an errand, and left the kids with her husband at home. She says, "Call the house and talk to your son." I'm thinking, crap, what'd he do!?! She assured me nothing was wrong, but I was still nervous!!!
So I call, and he had lost a tooth! We didn't even know it was loose!! He bit into an apple and it started coming out! Then he asked the dad to pull it out! For the record, that's major. He has only let his Daddy pull out ONE tooth! Once, he let this one front tooth HANG for so long, it was all crooked and nasty, we were calling him "Snaggle-tooth". It was horrific! Truly.
What a big adventure. Now he wants to sleep over every night! Too funny. My baby/big boy! He's so wonderful.
In case you didn't notice...we're playing with a new look! Allison, over at Mission Field Designs is helping me create "a look" ! Very exciting! While I know old style HTML, the newer CSS and others are beyond my scope. And, Brian knows them well, but hates fiddling with images. Oh, I'm so excited to have a cohesive look, matching header, and more !Yeah! Keep coming back to check it out, hopefully you'll love it too!
I happened upon this Blog Post and thought it SOOOO thought- provoking and so Where I Am (or, where I try to be, and need to be!!), that I had to share! Hope it is meaningful to you.
n the spirit of that great theologian, Jeff Foxworthy, I present to you some rambling thoughts in my head, all completed by the phrase “you might be misrepresenting God”…
If your message is not filled with hope, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you tell people that they need to come to you to understand the message of scripture, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that “being real” means talking more about the wind and waves in your life than about the One who calms the storm, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that people who don’t attend a Sunday morning meeting are outside of God’s covering and protection, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that sickness, financial problems, hurricanes, broken bones, auto accidents, and terrorist attacks are all tools of God “to teach you something”, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that a person can’t live above their circumstances and walk in peace and victory, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that someone is not being real unless they tell you they’re struggling with some huge temptation, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that the only legitimate types of prayer for a Christian are prayers of lament, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you tell someone who is experiencing the peace and joy of the Lord to “hang on, your turn is coming”, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you believe that only “properly authorized leaders” are capable of serving communion or baptizing others, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you believe that Christianity is best represented by a set of propositional statements and/or a systematic theology, you might be misrepresenting God.
If your message does not lead to freedom, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that the Father doesn’t speak to his children in various ways, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that America is “God’s chosen country” and that everything America’s foreign policy represents is ordained by God, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that the Republican party is “God’s party, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that religion and Christianity are compatible, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that you can only “cooperate” in ministry and missions with people who have been baptized by a pastor in your same denomination, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that true Christianity is only represented by a particular denomination or systematic theology, you might be misrepresenting God.
If your belief in Christ does not manifest itself in living the life that Christ commanded us to live, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that you are more capable of articulating what someone else believes than that very person is capable of doing, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you believe that sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, freedom to the captives, and walking to the lame were only for first-century “verification of the message”, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that the only legitimate way to articulate one’s belief in God is found in a 4th-century statement, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that our main responsibility in relationship to God is to study the Bible, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that “everyone needs to have a pastor”, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you believe that leaving the institutional church is what the writer of Hebrews meant when he wrote, “Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together”, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that a relationship with God means that you will accept or reject certain styles of music, certain hairstyles, certain beverages, or hanging out with certain people, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you think that Jesus turned water into mere grape juice, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you believe that a particular translation of the bible is the only inspired version, you might be misrepresenting God.
If you believe that one’s beliefs about baptism, bible translation, rapture timing, tongues, or a particular interpretation of Genesis 1-2 are absolute essentials to salvation and/or fellowship, you might be misrepresenting God.
I'm thinking, WHAT DID THAT KID DO TO MY COMPUTER?!?!
Ok, I restart my computer. Everything will be fine.
My mouse won't work! Why wont it move?!?! Darn thing, whole computer's falling apart!
I pick up my mouse and notice a piece of post it is stuck on the bottom, un-enabling it to move. Ok..my desk is sort of paperfilled, stupid cats must have gotten on my desk (they're not supposed to, but overnight who KNOWS what they do!) NOW it'll work.
But it's still not...it's moving, but very weird, like with a trail of arrows falling it. And nothing I click on is working. I have to like double click on hit Open In A New Window. What the heck did the boy do to my computer? What program did he have to download on MY computer now? He's never allowed on my computer again! WHy is he on mine anyway, he's got his own!
Restart stupid thing, see if it's any better.
SOMEHOW I get to my mail, but like half the letters are missing in my titles and subject lines. And I still cant open a message without opening a new window.
I give up, someone better go get that boy out of bed to tell me what silly program he downloaded and get it OFF MY COMPUTER!
Of course, the whole time I'm screaming WHAT THE HECK?!?! WHAT?!?! MAN! WHAT THE HECKKKKKKKKKK.
These are all my thoughts through this very frustrating 15/20 minutes of wasted time! I HATE wasting time!
Dear beautiful son walks in with a smile, very unlike a child who has just been hauled out of bed and knows he has done something wrong....sits at my computer and basically says, "it's a screensaver, April Fool's".
Little S*&^ !!! Duh! It never crossed my mind! He is a prankster of the uber kind! Look at what all he did!!
switched the mouse button preferences
turned on mouse trails
switched keyboard layout to Dvorak (so anything I type, its the wrong letters!)
Added the Total Confusion Combo Pack firefox extenstion (ohmygosh you have to read what all this does! It's INCREDIBLE! You still have time today to add it to your loved one's computer!! I didn't keep it installed long enough to think I was crazy, thankfully!
Elias had his heart set on going to Chuck E. Cheese for his birthday. Well, I'm not up for the crowds of the weekend...and since we homeschool and so do most of our friends...we decided to go on a Tuesday even though his birthday was today. (Daddy has off on tuesdays!)
We had the place to ourselves! I didn't reserve a party, we just brought our own cake and plates, favors etc and bought tokens and pizza for everyone. It was SOOOO DEAD, it was beautiful!! The kids had a blast
Even the babies had fun!
Just as we were leaving they turned on all of the "noisy stuff" and the kids had a blast looking at "Chuck E."
Then his real birthday was today. We knew it was going to be quiet..Daddy had to work, so he just invited over a friend. Grandma called this morning and wanted to take him to a movie, she ended up taking Elias and his friend! It worked great for Elias. Then his friend came back and we sang Happy Birthday, opened a couple of presents from family back East, and played his new video games!
What a goof!
The hardest toy to find in stock right now! Good job Uncle Dougie!
All in all he's had a great birthday experience this year! What a lovely boy he is!
This week a tragedy struck a friend's family...her mother in law had a heart attack, followed by her husband having a heart attack, followed by his father suddenly dying that same night, followed by a triple bypass surgery the next day for the husband. Can you say WHEW?!?
One of my gifts is organization and the ability to DO. I can easily take action, I can lead, I see what needs to get done and I do it. We have another friend who is much the same, so she and I have "taken charge". We've sat with our friend during the surgery, we've put out calls for donations for various needs the family has, we're coordinating all the donations and kids getting places, and just being there for our friend.
I'm a DOER.
One of our other friends was lamenting to me the fact that I'm such a DOER and shes not. God knows I love her, but its the truth, she's a dawdler, a talker, a hugger, a s--l-o-w----p-o---k--e with little to no organizational skills. She'll admit it!That's not the point though.
She was sad and feeling not as useful as me. In her self esteem of not feeling adequate, she builds me up to HIGH places, when I'm just HUMAN! I'm just being me and DOING, because that's me!
So, in a conversation with her today she suggested that I do something, which I quickly dismissed as not my business, not really necessary etc etc.
Lo and behold, not a half an hour later it was made evident to me through a hysterical phone conversation with our friend who's family is being so affected, that I need to BRING UP doing what was suggested AND DO IT.
And I DID.
But let me tell you. I'm not a fast thinker on my feet. I need things planned out. I need plans a, b and c, and options to choose from if one does not work.
On my own I would NOT have suggested what I did. It just wouldn't have even come to me!
But, God used my friend who was feeling low to bring it to me when she did and I could use it accordingly.
I called my friend up and told her I felt God had used her, but maybe it wasn't the way she had been hoping. I think we all have gifts, but if we're so busy looking at other people's gifts, and lamenting that they aren't our gift, we might not SEE our own gifts!
If you're one of these people, know that God uses you how HE wants to. It may not be how YOU want to, but He will use you if you are open to it!
I always have to laugh when someone new to my house automatically assumes the trash is under the sink and goes to open the cupboard door. There is no opening the door! Not even a crack!
You know how most child proof locks you can stick your finger down in there and release it?!? Not with the sweet ones I have on!
They are magnetic..you have to screw them on, and once the door is shut, you cannot open it until you place the magnet on the outer door. I have them on all my bathroom cabinets and my under the sink kitchen cabinets where cleaners are stored.
For me, I find it easiest to keep the Magnetic Opener ALWAYS to the left of the sink, in each room. It's it's home. When everything has a home, you can find it! We've never lost an opener. Yuo grab it, sweep it over the inside (and you get to where you magically KNOW where it is, even though you can;t see it!) and then you put it right back!
I LOVE them!!! They are slightly more expensive than the little plastic guys...but they are un-cheatable! Lowes carries them, maybe Home Depot too, I haven't looked there. Also Babies R Us.
It makes it so I know the kitchen area is safe for the baby (who's now a toddler) to play in!
Man, the days are flying by!! Last week I spoke at 2 local support group meetings, met Tirzah and family, had a field trip, all in addition to Seb's and Elias' therapies!
This week it's been juts as crazy!
Tuesday we had a Resurrection Party with one support group. They did a nice job, included the teens this year. Sometimes it's hard with kids of all different age ranges to find ONE event that fits them all, but this one was AOK!
Then Wed we had a Egg Hunt/Picnic with our other support group. This was just a fun time at a neat state park...fishing lake, lots of trees and picnic tables, we even saw folks horseback riding! Beautiful day of just free play!
I'd show pics but we can't find the camera right now?!?! This is what happens when your teen is always experimenting with taking interesting photos to then mess around with their images....
Anyway....today Chris and I had to run a bunch of errands. We took the baby with us and stopped at Payless and got him a pair of sneakers. He's walking so well now and the few little hand me down pairs I have are getting too small. Now he has LIGHT-UP CARS shoes like Elias!! He's so cute in them!!
Tomorrow is city-wide homeschool skating..at a horrible hour of 9:30am, so we'll be gone much of the day for that. Kids love it though.
And, we're trying to spend as much time outdoors right now as possible..it's that in between weather where it's not too hot and not too cold!
As soon as baby wakes up, out we'll go! Elias will practice bike riding..after the winter, he needs to practice some more in preparation for taking off his training wheels!
So one of my "friends" here at HSB is Tirzah, over at Yearnin 4 Some Learnin . Recently she let me know she'd be coming to Vegas (where I live) and wanted to hook up! I LOVE meeting other homeschoolers!! If you're ever traveling near by, let me know!
So, I invited her to meet us at a field trip, to a local all you can eat pizza buffet and school tour of their kitchen.
Here are Brian and one of her daughters. They hit it off right away. Brian is such a ladies man!
Here's the youngest of both our clans...how cute!!!
She got there before me and I am proud to say some of the other group members welcomed her and introduced themselves. We have a GREAT GROUP! Very friendly and inclusive.
We had a grand time. Every ate, everyone got along, it was fun! Afterwards they came over to my house...it turns out her mom lives LITERALLY a street up from me. How fun!
Brian and her 2 oldest clicked and just gabbed and laughed all afternoon long. Elias and her 2 youngest went back and forth between playing outside and playing inside...having a grand old time! That left Tirzah and I to chat. What a neat lady, and what a love for The Lord.
Hey, here's hoping to her trip being so awesome they decide they just HAVE to move here!
Just some cute pics of the boys doing what they do best, and loving it!
Here's Little Lovely slamming cupboard doors. It's his favorite pass-time...that and taking all the tupperware out and throwing it on the floor!
Now this one has a story behind it...a couple actually!
Story #1. These were Brian's pajamas when he was little. This is the first year that Elias has been able to wear anything of Brian's. ( I started saving the big boys clothes when I found out I was pregnant with Elias..so size 6 and up) He loves finding out who's clothes they were. Now he wants every day to be "Pajama Day" Too cute!
Which leads me to Story #2. For the 2nd day in a week Elias HAD declared it Pajama Day. He went to speech, came home, put his pajamas back on. When Daddy saw that he made it very clear we are to get dressed during the day, not be wearing pajamas. I had to DIE LAUGHING and he didn't know why.
See...people change. They don't sometimes know they are, but ideas and habits change. When I first married my husband his boys were 5 and barely 6. Brian was 6. I was HORRIFIED coming into this home, finding 3 males who sat around in their tighty-whities all day, watching tv on the couch. What is THIS!?!?! I was used to getting up, getting Brian ready every day for our day, and doing it DRESSED.
I promptly changed this habit, and now dear husband doesn't even remember it. Just like a man.
That brings me to, even though Brian's starting to look like a man, he's just a big boy! He's been waiting for the new Super Smash Brothers game to come out. Here he is playing it.
I had to show Brian these pictures...it's his computer! We told him some little elf got into his desk!
"Who me? I'm not doing anything....well nothing a baby shouldn't anyway! Just dropping some slobber all over, fiddling with keys...oh! What's that sound? I'm downloading something?!?! COOL!! Wait till Big Brother sees what I've done! Playing with the computer IS fun!!"
So, the other morning I'm reading our local paper and start spluttering! The article is about how the school district has already spent 35 MILLLLLLIIIOOONNN DOLLARRRSSS (the exaggeration is not in the amount itself, but that it COST so much!!!) for their upgrading of their computers, and yet it's not enough. The project needs to be put on HOLD until they can get another 12 MILLLIIIOOOONNNNN (no joke!) By which time the system may be outdated, leaving them with a bigger mess. Yeah, I'd say so. Here's the link to the article: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/mar/06/school-district-has-one-bear-computer-system-its-h/
So, I shove the paper over to Brian (techy son) and he wisely proclaims that most of that is probably licensing and program fees, shame, considering so much free stuff is available (like his beloved Linux, and Open Source applications like Open Office, etc).
I say we should write them and let them know of this option. Maybe their high paid consultants don't know, or maybe the district doesn't know of this option. Regardless, the PUBLIC should know of this option and that the school district has naysayed it! And frivolously spent millions of dollars.
Oh, my son. His knowledge astounds me. He starts rattling off how various school districts across the nation already use linux. And all the benefits of using linux. And that there's a version especially MADE for schools, called EduBuntu.
Now I'm fired up, so we sit down and I start typing, while he sends me links in IM from his computer, and on a 3rd computer he's downloading the EduBuntu version to show me how cool it is, and easy to use.
After I finished the document with all of his incredible knowledge, he edited it for technicalities of which I know NOTHING! I didn't write everything just so in computer lingo.
After those finishing touches, we sent it off. To the original Newspaper reporter, to various school district administrators listed in the article, and to the school board trustees.
Today, in my InBox, the reporter sent an email , "Very Interesting. I will be looking into this." WOW!! COOL!
If you want to learn more about EduBuntu, or just for the heck of it, below is the text of his letter
RE: CCSD Computer System March 6, 2008
Mr. Bradford,
It was with interest (and dismay) that I read the March 6th SUN article regarding the school district’s computer system.
You see, my son is a computer geek. Through him my computer education has gone so far! I now know there are Open Source applications widely available that are free parallels to big name brand programs.
We wondered, upon dissecting this article, if your big financial output was due to licensing of Vista etc?
We’d additionally love to know if your computer consultants have researched the possibility of using Linux based computers and/or Open Source applications, versus Windows based computers and programs, thus saving an enormous amount of money?
Presuming that not everyone understands the difference, I’ll briefly try to explain how this could benefit CCSD.
Each computer that uses Windows must have its own license. That costs $. Linux is an alternative to Windows, developed by companies and volunteers alike who don’t want everything to cost so much. There is no fee. Linux is not only for Desktops, but is widely used for servers because of it's stability and security. Many people already use Open Source programs without even being aware of it.
Looking to the future, IT schools already offer classes in Linux certification; it would behoove the students to understand its abilities. As for administrators who would also be using the system, Linux is not hard to learn.
There is a version of Linux called Edubuntu, built for schools. Whether you chose to use that version or one of the many others, the results would be similar….no cost and more crossover in the technical realm for students who might be headed in that way as a career choice. There are already schools across the nation using Edubuntu and Linux.
Whether using Linux, or sticking with Windows, using Open Source applications like Open Office versus Microsoft Office would save a bundle! 200 computers= approx. $12,000 (based on $60each/Microsoft Office Ultimate 2007, discount) That’s a LOT of $! And we KNOW there are more than 200 computers in the district.
Some points to also consider:
· Linux runs easier on older hardware…saving the constant upgrading of machines
· Edubuntu has a long term support release that will be available mid April and be valid through 2011 with continuous updates. After that, an upgrade to the next version will be available, also for free.
· Optional upgrades for Edubuntu come every 6 mo, once in April, once in October
· Linux can easily be installed on existing computers via a CD
· Linux is secure, built from the ground up with that purpose in mind
We’ll attach some links for your perusal:
Edubuntu: http://edubuntu.com/
Using Edubuntu: http://www.edubuntu.org/UsingEdubuntu
An article about Edubuntu: http://www.linux.com/feature/60357
Open Office: http://www.openoffice.org/
We sincerely hope you will give this idea some time and research.
Many thanks to my son who has downloaded Edubuntu and walked me through it and who is helping me write this. He’s a dedicated Linux user!
Sebastian is walking like crazy! Not running yet, but walking for sustained amounts of time. Its so cute!!!!!
Brian decided to chart how many grams of sugar he ate in one day, because I accuse him of eating to much. He presented me with his findings at the end of the day. I stand corrected. At least for THAT day!!!!
Elias....oh Elias!! He had his first appointment with the dentist. Our old insurance didn't cover them until they were 6, so I never worried about taking him in. It's time though! I found a great dentist, my neighbor uses him for her children. A pediatric dentist, you're allowed back with them, they do not restrain....
My poor boy. He was scared going in..understandable. It was a fabulously fun place, video games, etc. But, then the "torture" started. They tried to do XRays. Apparently he's "a gagger". It was not pleasant. They stopped.
Then they moved on to cleaning. It was going ok, until she squirted the water in...laying down, squirting in water...yup, he started gagging. He was hysterically crying. It was so sad. He just wanted to leave and I had to make him stay. They didnt do any more work on him, but we did have to meet with the dentist and determine if there were any cavities. There were a couple small ones. Luckily he calmed down, we watched another little boy get an exam, and then we stayed in the waiting room playing video games for a bit. He's still alive!
The dentist thinks he has subconscious issues from when he was a baby and sick..feeding tube down the nose/throat, lots of throwing up, oral issues...bottom line....and let me preface this with..we don't really medicate our kids. We try to go homeopathic as often as possible, and just avoid all sorts of things, but he's going to be sedated to get through the procedure. It's either that or hospitalize him. Well, I can understand anxiety and how you can't always control it...in this instance I'm ok with it...wish it didn't have to be this way, but it is. So...we'll try, hopefully he'll be able to make it through!
In funnier matters...every morning I have to give Sebastian some prune juice (no, he doesn't drink it, it's through his feeding tube!) He's been very constipated since he started eating real food. Elias saw me doing it and asked me "What's that poop juice called?" HAHAHAH Poop Juice! New name!!
Look at this beautiful boy! What a mischievous little smile he is wearing! He was weaving in and out of the palm trees, but I caught him! This was a big slide...he loved it.
Here's Elias and our neighbor friend...they are inseparable. I caught him mid-air..he says this picture is "awesome!!"
My little sweaty angel. They had a soccer team doing face paintings..he wanted Spiderman but that was a little too complicated..they gave him a spider. He went back later on and got another one on the other cheek. They're cute!
I'm never in pictures! I'm always the picture taker! My neighbor grabbed my camera and got this one...ok, I'll post it, you may never see another one! 
n the spirit of that great theologian, Jeff Foxworthy, I present to you some rambling thoughts in my head, all completed by the phrase “you might be misrepresenting God”…
