I'M STILL HERE!

Well...not here
But around. Still writing.

Check me out at UrbanMoms

and also at HeyIrish

Go. See what we've been up to!

Here We GO!

Well this is it.
My new venture that I mentioned in my last post.
I have been asked by this pretty amazing site to be a blogger! PAID!

So I will now be blogging over there regularly - a minimum of twice a week. My blog name remains the same so if you feel so inclined to join me over there - which you should :-) please bookmark me:

http://www.urbanmoms.ca/sometimes_holland_feels_like_hell/

I am going to try and find a way to get this blog on a harcopy as I will not be posting here anymore...makes me a little sad but my excitement about urbanmoms makes me happy.

I'm a slacker

It's been almost 3 months since I've posted.
I blame facebook and twitter. I feel like I update enough on those networks - sometimes several times a day...
I do feel guilty that I no longer blog the way I used to. When I do write - I love it. but it's like the gym. I don't want to go until I get there, then I have a killer workout. I feel like I never have anything to write, until I click on "new post" then my fingers are a flyin!

Over the winter I gained more weight than I am willing to admit. I think I got sad and got fat. I have been somewhat depressed and full of anxiety since Fiona passed away. I realized that things absolutely had to change so I have put things in plac to change them. And they are working. I am getting healthy again. Feeling happy again. And I have stopped getting Sean to feel all the "lumps and tumours" that I had convinced myself were cancer...

Aside from all of that we had a good winter. Lots of hockey. Lots of sledding. Lots of snow. And happy kids. What more can you ask for?


And with spring comes Rrrroll Up The Rim! And if you know me - you know I'm a winner. Several times a week. Sometimes several times a day:


I am also extremely excited about a potential new venture for me. Not a huge deal, but I am totally excited about it nonetheless. I hope to have more to post about in within the next week!

Twas The Night Before Christmas...

Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the house
The creatures were stirring
Yes, even the mouse

We tried melatonin
And gave a hot bath
Asleep early for Christmas?
...an unlikely path

The children were finally
All nestled in bed
When visions of Christmas
Ran through my OWN head

Did I get the right gift?
The right color and style?
Would there be a blank stare
Or even, maybe, a smile?

Friends & family come
But they don't understand
The pleasure he gets
Just from bending his hands.

"Just make him stop it," some say
"Just tell him "no",
You must learn to be tough.."
On, and on they do go...

We smile and nod
Because we know deep inside
The debate is moot
Let them all take a side

We know what it's like
To live with the spectrum
The struggles and triumphs
Achievements, regressions

But what some don't know
And what some don't see
Is the joy that we feel
Over simplicity.

He said "hello"!
He ate something green!
He looked me in my eyes
He did not cause a scene!

He peed on the potty!
Who cares if he's ten;
He stopped saying the same thing
Again and again!

Some others don't realize
Just how we can cope
How we bravely hang on
At the end of our rope

But what they don't see
Is the joy we can't hide
When our children with autism
Make the tiniest stride

We may look at others
Without the problems we face
With envy, with wonder,
Or even distaste,

What we want them to know
What's important to see
Is that children with autism
Bring simplicity.

We don't get excited
Over expensive things
We jump for joy
With the progress work brings

Children with autism
Try so hard every day
That they make us proud
More than words can say.

They work even harder
Than you or I
To achieve something small
To reach a star in the sky

So to those who don't get it
Or can't get a clue
Take a walk in our shoes
And I'll assure you…

That even 10 minutes
Into the walk
You'll look at us all
With respect, even shock.

You will realize
What it is we go through
And the next time you see us
I can assure you

That you won't say a thing
You'll be quiet and learn,
Like the years I learned too
When the tables were turned."

Author: Cindy Waeltermann, Director, AutismLink

Brodeur's got nothin on him!

A short highlight pack featuring Cam, courtesy of one of the hockey dads.
(Cam's the goalie btw)