Wanna know what a child hoarder looks like?

Well when he is working it may look something like this:

Always hunting for stuff...

I know hilarious right?

Well, I had to clean out Zev's dresser again, 

there was just so much junk piling up.

If it is visible means that there is a lot that is shoved in places and hidden.

So before I show you what I removed from one dresser, 

you need to keep in mind that I just did this less than 6 months ago!

All of this junk,

mostly garbage,

Was all on these shelves, in several buckets and containers, underneath and on top.

I know what you may be thinking:

He's a boy

Kids collect stuff

That's normal

And if so, that's just ok.

Lol, its all funny till you see him on an episode of "Hoarders"

I think I may need to start saving for therapy!

The funny thing is that this kid doesn't even sleep in his room. 

It is like a storage room for garbage.

Anyway, this purge and the last one, he really was ok with it being gone.

I mean I didn't give him a chance to even see any of it really. 

Well, he knew I was doing it, but keeping himself busy with Legos might have taken away the anxiety of loosing leaves, receipts, broken sticks and rocks.

So I guess I will just keep purging and maybe he will just decide 

"might as well not keep this because she will just throw it away" 

Sounds like therapy to me!

He is a great kid, and many times these dumpster treasures become gifts for people he loves. He does have a great big heart. 

Don't worry, as soon as I finished in his room, 

he went to a birthday party and came home with a bag filled with things to start collecting all over again.

I must say, he is becoming quite the godly man and is storing up treasures elsewhere as well!

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also". 

Matthew 6: 19-21

I will pay more for a R.A.K or P.R. then I will for household chores!

Because they make my heart smile more than anything...
So continuing on from my last post~

Back in December I added "get ready in the morning before mom" to the list of things that can earn you a quarter in our house. 
Since then I have also added:
A or B on a test
No black marks on your daily school take home sheet
P.R. -Positive Referral- basically if people come to me and comment on how wonderful you are, 
hard work etc.. = .25
R.A.K- Random act of Kindness-
 you know the kind you do for no reason at all! = .25
Of course the usual chores are on there as well, dishes, laundry, picking up dog poop etc..
But I am more excited about the R.A.K's and P.R's than anything!
We went out to eat one day at Ci-Ci pizzas. The manager was cleaning up around us when he accidentally dropped his tray and the dishes went everywhere, all over the floor. 
Zev jumped up and started picking up these dirty dishes without even caring about how dirty they were or if anyone was watching him, he just wanted to help the man. 
The manager quickly told him "son you don't have to do that" but Zev just kept helping. 
When he sat down I said "R.A.K on the list when you get home". 
The manager came to him about 5 minutes later with 8 Free dinner cards and said "Your a good dude".
 His random act of kindness really paid off, not that he did it for that reason at all. Weeks before that, during Christmas break, we were out shopping when a woman opened the hatchback of her car and stuff was falling all over the road.
 Zev darted across the street to come to her aid. Needless to say he got another R.A.K. 
Sure he and the girls and the rest of the world should do these things all the time but you don't see it very often anymore. So I have no problem paying for something that will turn into a great way to be! 
So this whole new system is really working!!
I was hoping it would last more than a week and it has. I still remind them a lot to go write down what they did so they can get paid, but for the most part they are ahead of me. 
Zev still looses a quarter here and there for not being done before me on a school day (that's right I will pay if they are done before me but if they are not then they pay me!) 
The girls usually get that quarter every day, which is great progress for Hayden who has hard mornings at times. 
So since it is a new year and we are earning money (usually between 2.00-5.00 per week per child) I thought we need to work on saving now. 
The kids are good about tithing to church but then are real quick to blow the rest as quick as they get it. 
I will give them credit that when they buy something they usually put thought into it but I would like to see them start saving a little more.
So I went to our local Walmart got a case of 12 Mason jars and came up with the new savings plan.
10% to tithe
20% to savings
10% to the charity of your choice
10% towards a future vacation
The remaining 50% of what you earned is spending money and goes in your wallet. 
The kids are excited about it, and so am I that they understand that the rest is still theirs but it will grow and produce fruit!
Kelly~

Ecclesiastes 11:2
Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, 
for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth. 
Corinthians 16:2
On the first day of every week each one of you is to put aside and save
Proverbs 21:20
The wise man saves for the future but the foolish man spends whatever he gets

I am paying my kids to get up and get ready in the morning

You may be one of those parents who is saying 
"Ummm...No they need to get up" 
or you may be the parent that gets up an extra hour early to start dragging people out of bed. 
Either way, I think I have tried every way I can to make life easy in the morning with no success yet. 
However I am hopeful that my new plan may change that!
First of all, these kids are not up late running around the neighborhood, watching tv or playing video games. 
They come home, work on their homework, take a break for dinner and bath, finish up any homework and then head to bed. 
Usually that is between 7:30 and 8:30pm. 
Then to fall asleep, 2 out of 3 require a melatonin sleep aid. 
But nighttime, full of its own stresses, is not too bad. 
It is the morning that is so very rough.
I have to start around 5:30am waking them up for two reasons:
 #1 we only have 1 bathroom, so with 4 of us that can get a little hectic 
 #2 they are in the before school day care program, so I need to drop them off and then I go to work. 
It is extremely hard for Hayden and Zev to get up and we have battled for years now. 
Once they get up they cannot focus and stay on the task of getting ready. 
So since I have tried everything with no success, I have decided to pay them!
That's right, pay my kids to get up and get ready. 
So the new plan is, every day that you are done before me you get a quarter. 
You could add $1.25 a week to your Saturday chore paycheck if you made it all week. 
HOWEVER, if you are not done before me, then you have to pay me a quarter!!! 
SO now your saying "Hmmm... that sounds good !" I know right!
We started yesterday, I paid out .50 and took in .25 then today the same. 
It is Christmas time and they are wanting money to buy gifts and things so this was a great time to start. 
I am extremely hopeful that this will work. 
Maybe your kids wont budge for a quarter but mine will, they have learned how fast quarters can add up and turn into dollars. 
They have a chart here where they can earn lots of quarters by doing laundry, washing dishes, bringing home an A or B on quizzes or tests, taking out the garbage etc.. 
Last week, Tavey earned $7.25, Hay got $5.50 while Zev raked in $3
I truly appreciate their help in keeping "our" house up and being responsible. 
If it doesnt work after 2 weeks that's just ok too. I will keep trying till it does.

In all work there is profit
 Proverbs 14:23

The plan for the night is... "Don't let the sun go down on your anger"

See that is where I always go wrong, making a plan. 
Making a plan isn't always a bad thing unless you live here with my children. 
You can make your plans all you want but as the saying goes "life happens!"
I have a test coming up in the morning and I have been studying for it for the past few weeks whenever I get a chance like, after they go to bed, while they are swimming, during a break at work etc. 
Tonight I wanted to take a practice test and my plan was to do that while they were in church. 
It seemed that we had some unfinished school work that had to come to church with us, so first we had to finish "their" work for the day. 
Once that was done my precious hour and a half of alone study time was down to a "Ok I have 20 minutes left now" 
I started to work on it but it seemed that they were losing all sense that God gave them. 
I couldn't concentrate, they were all over the place and it just kept getting worse. 
I got halfway done before we had to pick up the middle child from her class. 
Just then what was already a night that needed to end became a scene of "whose kids are those?" 
Needless to say I "voiced" my frustrations the entire way home and for 10 more minutes after we got here. 
I finally get everyone in bed, start cleaning up and getting laundry together when I was already feeling guilty with the "Kelly, you have 3 amazing children and your just stressed out feeling" but then I had to find THE NOTE. 
It was sitting here in my desk chair.

So I of course went to everyone and apologized for getting so upset. 

I told them that I loved them so much and appreciate who they are and how they make me feel!

I thank God for them and for his gentle reminders. 

I might mess up again tomorrow, but that's just ok because I have some great help!

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry Ephesians 4:26

We went DRUG FREE for Tropical Storm Lee

When things are going great and everything is working as it should it is hard to tell that Autism and some other things reside in my family. 
5 Years ago a pediatrician, behavior analyst, neurologist and neuropsychologist sat me down and said "You have a problem and you shouldn't ignore it or deny it any longer. Here are the statistics that show children in this condition that aren't getting the help and medication that they need and this is what they are doing". They discussed with me children who cannot cope in the world and instead find help in the wrong places. 
I was so against medicine and was just wanting to see if more time would help. 
My first thought like most people that run into us was "She can talk, she doesnt rock back and forth etc.." 
I would soon be more and more convinced that what I had was not a behavior problem but a real disorder.
 One that screamed when toilets flush, that thought playing with things meant lining them up in rows, that spoke in the "3rd" person for 2 years, ran when it felt blades of grass or sand touching its feet, one that barked at people, one that pulled its eyelashes, leg hairs and whole nails out etc etc... There were positive things as well. A memory that would shock people, musical talent, ever so caring and conscious of others in need or hurt, so UNworldly and many more. Some yet to be unlocked behind the chains that an autism spectrum disorder bind. 
Needless to say we did start adding medications to try and help more and more new issues that we seem to be having. We switched, went back, switched again, tweaked, and tweaked until we could get to where we are now which is not where we need to be but my feeling is that there are some things that man just cannot fix. 
And like I said most days we do the best we can, we still struggle a lot and hard as I try I find myself apologizing over a situation or feeling like I want to hide when deep down I just wish everyone would understand. 
So that brings me to weekends like this. Medicaid only approves medications in sets of 30 and never refills early and as you all know many months have more than 30 days. 
I try to never be out of medication on a school day because I would never want a teacher or other students to have a harder day than they would need to so I always "take one for the team" on a weekend day so that we don't run out. 
This weekend we went without everything for the last two days which will keep us in good shape for the month. I thought it was a great time to do it since we were having a tropical storm and all and were kinda shut in. 
And take one for the team I did!! 
I was trying to think of how to explain what it looked like this weekend and the best thing I could think of was a cat stuck in a box full of water with loud music coming out and 17 television sets on different channels.
I guess it was a good reminder of how she is battling inside and how much she still needs help. 
I guess a normal day for her is only 5 or 6 TV's on different channels. 
Some people may never understand or accept it and that is just ok, but if you seen us out of the house today because it got a little stir crazy in here or if you see us one day and wonder "what in the world is wrong with that kid or MOM?" that may just be a day that she and I need your prayers and understanding the most. 

Philippians 1:27 says:

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves 
in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." (NASB


1 Peter 4 and 7 in the Message says:
Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!

It's not itchy & I am not a worry-wart

Traded rash guards for uniforms this week and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!

Shoes that are 2 sizes to big so they don't touch him, hair cuts as soon as the hair starts tickling him, silky shirts that must go under all other shirts so it doesn't itch, socks without a single wrinkle in them, nothing touching his neck etc.. etc..no tags no where!!! This is what he is made of...And that's just ok with me! 

This past week Zev and Hay started a new school that requires wearing uniforms. I will say at first I was really worried about it. I mean there are mornings that we spend over an hour just getting him ready because things have to be just right or he is uncomfortable and fidgety. Not only that but his clothing issues can be a big distraction in school. If he has a wrinkle in his sock he will mess with it and mess with it until it is perfect even if it means missing a lesson being taught. So you can understand my initial worries about him having to wear a uniform and have it tucked in with a belt!! Well my worries led me to even call the new principal and explain my sons (qwerks) and seek help. Two different people told me not to worry about it and that they would join me in prayer over it. So you know what i did? Just that! I didn't worry about it anymore and laid it at the alter. I let God be in control, and once I did he went straight to work. First a teacher (the very one who would have been his teacher had he not switched schools) came to me with a bag full of brand new uniforms including soft polo embroidered shirts. She said she was so proud of him and wanted to get him these. Next his new teacher allowed him to wear his silky undershirts that kind of stick out of the sleeves. I had told him she would never go for that but she has.

 Lastly comes confirmation: Day one he says "My shirt didn't even itch me today" Day 4 "I like these clothes"

So I am a little proud of how quick I handed this over and the outcome we received

The bible says: Who of you by worrying can add one hour to his life?" Matthew 6 and 27

Even what seems like a little thing is important to him if it is important to you. Give him thanks even for the little things ok.

Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5 and 20

So if you see me and wonder why I am not stressing out about the kids, a job, my car troubles etc.. It is because I don't wanna! I don't want to worry anymore about anything. I am just gonna stay out of my fathers way and let him drive the bus

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. James 4 and 8

The message says: You be about his business and he will be about yours!

We love you!

A 9 year old with a heavy heart, worry and pain~ Please intercede!!!

We all have some heavy burdens at times. Sometimes I question them or why someone else's is so much heavier than mine. Today my heart hurts for a 9 year old boy who is worried about his brother and sister staying alive.
He is an amazing kid, an awesome student, he loves his family so much. He has a wonderful mother and father and I mean wonderful! He has 3 siblings , two of which suffer from a terminal illness called Sanfillipo Syndrome Type A. And then he has another brother that his parents adopted (because like I said they are wonderful) The strong marriage that his parents have is what makes this family be able to conquer their daily struggles. We went to visit them this weekend and everyone had such a great time together but when its time to leave them it is very hard because of what you know. You just want to stay and love on them. So imagine never leaving and being with them all the time. If you are their older brother you worry alot. Below is a story he wrote last night after we left and emailed it to his mom at 2:30 in the morning: 

                                   The Wonders of God

The parents came home devastated the children confused but still comforting the parents offering medicine and help making dinner and clean the house it was midnight when the parents went to bed very sad and depressed the kids sad for them in the morning at exactly 6:00 the phone rang the kids were listening or trying at least to hear what was going on in 1 hour the oldest and only one who could read knew what was going on the kids rushed into room. 4e there in bed was there sick brother the only brother with sanfilippo but not the only sibling he was coughing and crying but still hugging his family his sister laela also affected by the life threatening disease was also sick but not quite as much as Ryan jalen the oldest of the children was upset and crying and praying for Ryan and laela and their lives alongside his little brother Justin who was very very sad and crying eventually the nurse came in and said "we will need to do surgery on both of them and if the surgery works out they will both live so do you agree with the surgery "and the parents Allison and Edwin nodded their heads vigorously their faces damp with tears by 4:00 that evening one surgery was done then at 8:00 Ryan came out of the room jumping and having fun with everyone but that was not the end of the streak of good luck the president of vivnt called and told them their story was so touching they decided to let them win instantly and 7 days later the family found 4,000 dollars in their backyard and with that money they bought confort items and toys for everyone and they had fun for months with the new things and the boss at the fathers work was feeling genorous so he let Edwin take the year off and the Baldomero family had fun for years

The End~ Jalen Baldomero

No one should have to worry like this and his dream is too see his brother and sister LIVE! 

You cannot even imagine the life they lead every day as they care for these two and they all do it with a smile on their face and hope in their eyes. 

Would you please keep Jalen along with his brother (Ryan) and sister (Laela) on your nonstop prayer list.

Ryan Baldomero ~8

Laela Baldomero ~4

Jalen Baldomero ~9 with his sister Laela ~4

The Baldomeros

Sanfilippo Syndrome

Sanfilippo syndrome is metabolism disorder passed down through families. It makes the body unable to properly break down long chains of sugar molecules called glycosaminoglycans (formerly called mucopolysaccharides).
The syndrome belongs to a group of diseases called mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS).
Specifically, it is known as MPS III.

Sanfilippo syndrome occurs when the substances (enzymes) needed to break down the heparan sulfate sugar chain are missing or are defective.
There are four main types of Sanfilippo syndrome, also called MPS III. Which type a person has depends on which enzyme is affected.

• Sanfilippo type A is the most severe form. Persons with this type are missing or have an altered form of an enzyme called heparan N-sulfatase.
• Sanfilippo type B occurs when a person is missing or doesn't not produce enough alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase.
• Sanfilippo C occurs when a person is missing or doesn't not produce enough acetyl-CoAlpha-glucosaminide acetyltransferase.
• Sanfilippo D occurs when a person is missing or doesn't not produce enough N-acetylglucosamine 6-sulfatase.
• The syndrome causes significant neurological symptoms, including severe retardation. IQs may be below 50. Most persons with Sanfilippo syndrome live into their teenage years. Some patients live longer, while others with severe forms as die at an earlier age. 
• Symptoms appear most severe in persons with type A Sanfilippo syndrome.
• There is no cure currently 

 Lord,

You know Jalen. You know the burden he carries. You also know his heart. Lord, we ask you to be with him now as you work in his life. 
Lord, we pray for Ryan and Laela just as your Word tells us to pray, for healing. 
Lord, I don't always understand your ways. I don't know why my friends have to suffer, but I trust you. I ask that you look with mercy and grace toward them. Nourish his spirit and soul in this time of suffering and comfort him with your presence. Amen

Psalm 41:3

The LORD sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.