Which is worse? Knowing there's a problem or complete incompetence?

We had an issue with Evan's school this week. Well, to be honest, we weren't happy with the school, but it was the only child care center that would transport him to his new elementary school in the fall. We figured we would keep him there while we looked for other options, in case we needed that seat on the bus.

The school does not have a secure building... anyone can walk in (one of the things I didn't like). The office is right by the front door, but there are many nights when there is no one in the office.

Well, earlier this week, when I went to pick Evan up, I followed another parent in. There was no one in the office. We both walked down the hall, he went into the first class room (filled with about 10 grade school age kids and NO adults) I walked down to Evan's room. As I walked back past the room the other parent was in, he was on one knee, and a girl was sitting on his other knee showing him some stuff. Again, no adults. I went and stood by the front desk and waited because we needed Evan's inhaler. As I stood waiting for someone to come to the front desk, the other parent walked out with the little girl. No school staff had even seen this man enter the building, let alone leave with a child.

The school is completely chaotic at night (well, in the morning too, but not as bad). There are graders running around all the time, and I rarely see anyone supervising them. (Utah law requires Direct Supervision, which for grade school age kids means they must be within hearing distance, and able to intervene and instruct kids.) With the way kids spread throughout the building though, if a child were to be taken by someone other than the person that was suppose to pick them up, the staff wouldn't know for some time.

After that night, I started looking earnestly for a new school. On Thursday, we had an inversion, and Evan had been coughing most of the night, a sign that an attack may be coming. When I dropped his inhaler off, I stressed again that his asthma attacks were different than most kids, and what to watch for, and how to administer the inhaler. That night when I picked him up, they couldn't find his inhaler. It took them several minutes to put their hands on it, the whole time I'm standing there watching the clock tick imagining my son not being able to breathe the whole time they are looking for his medication. This was not the first time they had to search for his inhaler, but seeing as how I had stressed to them just that morning that it was a dangerous time for him (his asthma is allergy induced), and they still couldn't find his meds, it was the final straw. In addition to them not being able to find his inhaler, some nights, I would walk in, see it sitting on the desk in the front office, where a child in "time-out" had been left alone while the front desk staff went to do something in another part of the building. Not only was it NOT locked in a secure location, they had left it out in the reach of children.

That night, we went and signed him up at one of the schools I had looked at. They won't transport to kindergarten, but have their own private class, which from what I saw, and the references they gave me, seems great. We didn't want to do private kindergarten, but I'd rather have issues academically than my son go missing because some stranger walks into the school or worse, him suffocate to death while they try and find his inhaler.

Soooo, on to the title of the blog. When I called and talked to the director, she stated that she had no idea that a child could die from asthma. She stated that I need to remember that I was dealing with people who made $6 an hour, and that I couldn't expect them to know as much about childhood illnesses as I did. WHAT???? I don't care WHAT they make an hour, they are taking CARE OF CHILDREN!!! I mentioned the fact that in the month he had been there, I had seen the inhaler left unattended within reach of children on several occasions. She had no comment for that.

I then told her about my concerns about the parent walking in and out with a child and no one seeing it happen. I told her that the first time my husband had ever come to pick up Evan, he simply asked which classroom he was in, and was pointed down the hall, and walked out with Evan, never having to show ID. I had never once been ID'd and after a month, yes, most of the staff would recognize me, but what about those first few days, when I was meeting new staff EVERYday, and no one cared who I was, and just assumed since Evan recognized me, I must be okay. She said shew as AWARE there was a problem with the grade school kids running wild, and they were working on it. She was AWARE that there were problems with their pick-up procedures, and they were working on it.

I can't decide which is worse... her NOT knowing that asthma could kill... or her knowing that a stranger could walk into her building and take children and her just "working on it". Would it be better if it was the other way around?? Knowing asthma can kill, but disregarding the importance of a child's inhaler and doesn't know there is a problem with strangers in her center?

It's a child care center... everyday a hundred parents bring their most precious things to her, and assume she's got it together enough to make sure they are safe. I know they can't be perfect, and I'm willing to sacrifice in areas like maybe my son not learning all his letters, or not being able to count to 50 while they "work on it". I'm willing to let them work on getting their lessons plans and daily menus posted, and work on their outdoor play policy (Evan hasn't gone outside in the month he's been there). I am NOT willing to allow them to work basic safety.

Look-alike Meter

Just an FYI... Mark did NOT want his picture taken... I'll try it again when I have a decent picture of him and see if it changes the results.

(Thanks Peas, I stole this from your blog!!)

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Pedigree

Photos

Okay, so this blog is sort of like rambling with photos. I was just going through the pictures I took over the last week, and thought I'd share some... even though they have no connections.

First.... Donna... WOULD YOU STOP PRAYING FOR SNOW ALREADY!!!!!!!?????? Please???

We awoke to almost 12 inches... and then it kept snowing until well past noon... we have about 15 inches.

Second... Here is the afghan I finished last weekend (I've been sitting on the blocks for almost three years, and I finally put it together).

And finally, the Man of Steel helping to empty the dishwasher:

Okay, now for the reason I was pulling pictures off the camera. I need some decor help.

What should I do with the all the clock is on? (The area in the close up, the first one is just to give you an idea of the surroundings... oh and it's above the stairs for those who haven't been in my house.)

Scrapping

Ahhhhhh, that felt good!! Creative juices flowing... no pressure of deadlines... just me, some paper and adhesive (oh, and enough misc supplies to cover my kitchen counters and table.)

I would like to announce what I BELIEVE to be the very first ROB ZOMBIE scrapbook page:

The pictures were taken with a camera phone during the concert, which I think actually adds to the over all "look"... blurry, bright, and chaotic!!

(Just pretend the borders are even, because they are, but the scan cut off one side.)

I've been working on my sister's album... which has been TOUGH!! I'm used to little boy themes... trucks, dirt, greens, blues...

Mary's much darker... I wouldn't say Goth, but she loves Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, skulls, black, piercings, etc. The scrapbooking world hasn't come that far yet!

I did find these awesome epoxy stickers by Creative Imaginations that are at least a LITTLE tough looking... even if they are pink.

This one says "I don't do windows, or the floor, the dishes, the closet, the bathroom, the cooking, the trash... basically anything involving manual labor..."

Mary altered this photo of herself, and it looks so awesome (the scan does not do it justice)! She really has a talent for altering images.

She also altered the picture on the next page I did... which is my favorite page of the day:

This one has another of the epoxy stickers... this one says "I dare you to call me cute" and you can't see them in the picture, but the cherries have little skull and crossbones on them. Just "tough" enough I thought I could get away with the super pink background.

And by the way, isn't my sister STUNNINGLY beautiful??

Random.

It's been awhile since I just rambled... and well, tonight is a good night for it.

- I love Federal/State holidays. Most of the city still works, so I feel like I'm playing hooky! Tomorrow a good friend is coming up, and we are scrapping.

- I haven't really sat down and SCRAPPED, just for the fun of it, in over a year. I've worked on some projects, but nothing just random. I'm looking forward to it.

- Two more houses in our neighborhood have sold!! We actually have neighbors on our block now. I like the idea, but I know that it also means that this summer ONE of the lots surrounding us will probably be under construction, and that doesn't sound all that fun.

- Laundry Sucks. I need to work out a schedule to get the majority done during the week so it doesn't take up my entire weekend.

- The scale shows I'm down 6 lbs since the beginning of the year. If it still shows that tomorrow, I'll believe it.

That is all.

The Hindi-Bindi Club, Monica Pradhan

This book was AMAZING!!! I could not put it down, and was totally sucked into the story. I HIGHLY recommend this one!

Saturday Morning

This morning, was one of those LAZY Saturday mornings that don't happen in our house very often. Neither Mark or I had any desire to get out of bed, it was to warm and comfy, and there was nothing in the calendar to make us!

Evan made us "breakfast in bed" with his legos representing toast and pancakes. (My request for bacon was denied because they were "Out of all of that stuff!"

Then he disappeared and we could hear him in the kitchen banging drawers and opening cupboards.

THIS made me leave the comforts of my bed, and I tiptoed into the kitchen to see what he was up to.

(I love that my camera was on the kitchen counter!)

Evan in his boxers and t-shirt making jam and toast!!

Don't Forget!!!!

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/austen/index.html

Jasmine Green Tea

Mmmmmmmm, This is my newest, UN-guilty pleasure!!

Proof Positive, Mother's Love is Unique.

I love my son. Sometimes, he's not my favorite person, but I love him. I'm not sure how that works, but I know that the love I have for my son is a WHOLE lot different than the love I have for my husband, or my parents, or my best friend.

Night before last was a perfect example.

You know how you can FEEL someone next to you while you're sleeping? And when some is there that's not suppose to be, it can pull you from the deepest sleep, even if they make no noise.

It was about 3am... I felt someone. I started to sit up, still half asleep, and then.... My son, my sweet 4 year old, VOMITED on me. It was in my hair, on my pillow, and IN my mouth. Partially digested California Mixed Veggies. (That's all he had wanted for dinner.) And I was WIDE awake now!!

Throwing up still scares him. So he came to his mom.

Now, if my husband (or any other person on this earth) had thrown up on me... No WAY would I have walked around with vomit in my hair while I made sure he was comfortable. No WAY would I have sat in my vomit soaked PJs and rubbed his back while he was bent over the toilet.

For my son, I will.

Mother's Love. That's the only explanation.

Good Grief

By Lolly Winston. I would recommend the book... but only if you stock up on Kleenex first.

It was our title for Book Club... for Jan/Dec (we're sort of messed up on our months).

When I first read the synopsis, I thought it would be terrible. I would never have picked it up on my own... and almost didn't pick it up even with the obligation of book club! Who wants to read a book about someone who's husband died??? It's one of my greatest fears, and I'm NOT ready to face it in my leisure reading time!

The first bit was REALLY tough to read. But I couldn't put it down, despite the fact that I was crying like a fool.

Then slowly, things started to not be SOOO sad... and then they started to be FUNNY. And in the end, the book felt SATISFYING.

While it's not on my "read again" or "absolute favorite" lists, I would recommend this one. But only if you feel like a good cry.

90% off = CRAZY PEOPLE!!

As Evan and I were decorating our tree this year, I looked at the Christmas Balls... and realized I had owned them for EIGHT years... and you could tell. The paint was flaking, some of the stems were broken, and they just looked REALLY used. (And my tree was barren... seeing as when I bought the balls 8 years ago, my tree was all of 4 foot tall, and now I was decorating a monster twice that size).

I refused to pay $10 for a 4 pack of pretty balls knowing that there would be leftovers the week after Christmas for next to nothing. We would make due for this year. Lots of white lights work miracles.

I went to pick up through the leftovers at Target. Evidently, if you smack a 90% off sign on junk, it's worth it. People were seriously walking around with entire carts FULL of crap. One lady had two carts in tow, with JUST wrapping paper and boxes. Who, other than Santa, wraps enough gifts to need TWO shopping carts full of wrapping paper??

Most of the balls were gone. They did have two boxes of pretty, small, red and gold balls. I got those. They were all of 50 cents.

I then went to JoAnns. Their Christmas stuff is only 75% off... and their aisle are still neatly organized, with a large selection of leftovers. There were no crazy eyed women using their arms to sweep the entire contents of a shelf off into their carts.

That is why 75% off equals "a good deal", and 90% off equals CRAZY and not worth the hassle!!!

Blog Layout

For those of you that asked... just click on the orange bar above the title of my blog for the place I got my new look. (I would recommend NOT doing it at work or with small children around as some of the ads are a little on the **ehem** side. )

I did customize it a little, but they have some really fun "as is" layouts!

And it's UP!

http://carries52x3.blogspot.com/

52

Let's face it, I'm not good at "Resolutions".

I am good at lists.

I like to make lists.

I like to cross things off of lists.

I get a sense of accomplishments from lists.

Therefore, I am making LISTS instead of Resolutions.

I'm adding a blog for LISTS. I thought about doing it all on this one, but that could get messy.

I have (or WILL have) three lists of 52.

52 Projects. 52 Self Defining Achievements. 52 Random Stepping Stones.

That's roughly 3 things a week.

I can do three things a week.

Time for a change.

Well, I suppose my blog has been the way it's been for tooooooo long. (Okay, mostly I was bored.)

It's a work in progress.

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