Ok, here's the story......

I apologize for my total lack of blogging.... we have been under a butt-load of stress, even more so than usual! I know!!!!!

So, here we go. When we moved into this house it was managed by the friend of the owner. we moved in happy to have a "lead free" home, according to the paperwork they had us sign. And enjoyed a warm Christmas in our home. In January the lead department came out and found some lead (not very much) on the outside of the house and said that the owner had to fix this ASAP. At this same time the owner decided that he needed a management company to handle all the work here. So, who does he hire but Portage Management. Now, why is this important? They are the same company that jerked us around before.

So, spring comes and I go to turn on the Central Air because the Tobey Jude can not handle heat (he will get seizures). But, low and behold it doesn't work and now I am hearing all this information from the lead department about how they are getting cussed out from the owner....he got no information from Portage. So, here I am in a house with lead again and no CA for Tobey Jude. At this point I am pissed and decide to not pay the rent until everything is fixed. That makes the owner super mad and also Portage who simply stopped taking our calls. Because I was scared to get evicted I started paying on the rent in payments, even though nothing was getting fixed. Then they said that the payments were not enough...we would pay more nearly bankrupting ourselves, they would add fees and the vicious cycle continued. Finally we came to the conclusion that they are not going to fix a thing and we might as well let them evict us at this point.

So, now we come to this past week. First they said we had to move in 5 days....that is not legal.
Then they came out to and threatened my daughter that she was going to have to leave our home by midnight that night or they would call the cops.....again, not legal.
Then today we noticed a little bit more traffic than usual...they put an ad in the paper that the house is for rent, and they even increased the rent amount.

From what the cops told us we have 30 days after the eviction paperwork has hit the courts. They haven't even done that yet....but we are sitting here in limbo not sure what is going to happen from one day to the next.

We are waiting to hear back from 2 houses tomorrow...we are just praying that one pans out. We tried not to do some knee jerk reaction and just take any place with just any landlord. We have our hopes up for 3 different houses in safe areas and all 3 of the owners are either contractors or maintenance guys. I will let you know as soon as we find out what happens with them.

So, there you have it....thank you to everyone who sent the kind messages and hit "Like" on all of Eddie's elusive posts on facebook! Have a good night my friends.....

Hello. Hello

Hey there! I did not drop off the face of the earth! And I am over my little pity party. We had a good weekend but I have GOT to tell you about our friends Aaron and Jenni!!!!

First off, let me say that we needed a break, to just get out of town and forget our worries. We got it in the form of visiting 2 amazing friends of ours Aaron and Jenni (and their beautiful Brianne). They are a Mennonite family that we adore. We probably looked like a weird combo with me and the weird hair colors and my kids with their shorts and all. They had skirts on...Jenni with her hair covered. But we all serve the same God and that is all we need to be friends. So, we arrived to a campfire and she pre-made everything you could ever want for hobo dinners with veggies from her own garden (wow), and then we cooked them over the campfire. Then she set up a water balloon fight for the kids. After that we had homemade ice cream with homemade cookies and strawberry preserves that she had made. Then she had a treasure hunt for the kids with clues and prizes for all of them! Then...(I know, they must have worked forever planning all of this!) we went to her garden and picked fresh veggies to take home. Emily was fascinated by this. and them the kids put on glow sticks and lit sparklers and ran around like crazt until like 10:30 at night. The final thing we did was pray together and they gave a blessing to our family. They ARE a blessing to our family.

Here is the crazy part, we survived the entire evening with no TV and no Coke (we drank tea that Jenni had made from her garden....seriously.) and we lived to tell about it. We left their with such peace in our hearts. Next month they are going to come spend time with us and I think they will be ready to run out of the city!!!! It makes you wonder about the rat race we all live in sometimes.

So, onto other things. Tobey fell asleep at Church yesterday! With no medications or anything! I joked it was because we were partying with the Aaron and Jenni...to be honest the boy was plain wore out and the heat was not helping. He ended up missing his last baseball game because of the insane heat.

Olivia was in her parade for the Enshrinement Festival, she LOVED it! I of course missed it but the kids had a ton of fun.

So, sorry this is not longer but it is time to wake up the boys! Have a great one!

We are not that kind of family anymore.....

Back in 2008 we made some decisions to turn our lives over to God and change our whole family dynamic. It was not an easy decision but it was one that I am so glad that we did. I stopped being closed off and scared to try new things and decided that Autism was not going to stop us from being a "normal" family. This year alone we went to the ocean for the first time, went to Disney and have done several new things without any problems. Sure we would do a few things different, like using Tobey's harness or tote around meds. But for the most part we were able to enjoy being a "normal" family.

I am the first to admit thought that we do live somewhat sheltered. I think everyone does. We tend to mainly hang out with our Church family, and people that need no explanation of the why Tobey is acting like that. I also admit that I am spoiled when it comes to our Church family, and they treat us like that "normal" family that we crave to be.

But on July the 4th we ventured into new territory and I seen how cruel the world can be. We decided to take the kids to Silver Beach. I had all of them in their Old Navy shirts. Emily and Melody looked so cute matching...But within 2 minutes of leaving the safety of my car the pointing and staring started. I even seen someone laugh at my Tobey Jude because of when he tried to talk and then we he had a meltdown a crowd started gathering to watch. We even had someone comment that he was an animal. The kids only got to enjoy about 10 minutes of actual swimming and we left early and missed fireworks.

Eddie and I talked that night after the kids were in bed and he told me that it was one of those days for him of "Why Me?". All those people saw was a little boy that was different and that scared them into ignorance. I came away with how could they not see 2 parents who are tired and stressed, and needed a day off from being "that family".

I know how blessed I am everyday to have my kids. I have read those poems about how God choose me to take of such special children....but that day no poem in the world was going to make up for feeling like an outcast.

I have no desire to ever go to St Joe Michigan again....I wish we had a beach here. So, there you have it, we are just not that kind of family.

Sorry if this was a downer, it has been weighing on me. Obviously, it's the 10th now....I will move on. I think we are going to recluse it for a little while before we venture out again, leaving the comfort of our dear South Bend.

I am 35 now!!!!!

First off I have a on of people to thank for the best Birthday ever!!! Thank you Eddie for throwing me such an awesome party and for loving me enough to put yourself through that stress. Second I want to thank CJ, Sarah and Kris for all the work you put into it...I am humbled. And last to all the people that showed up! Holy Cow I had no idea I was so popular!!!!

My birthday started with Eddie waking me up and telling me happy birthday, first thing I said was I want to go to Cracker Barrel! I have been craving that place since Disney! So we got the kids all dressed in their Old Navy 4th of July shirts (they looked like an ad) and headed to Church. Eddie was the kids worship leader for 2 services and I was a ranger for 1. Eddie had the kids sing Happy Birthday to me and I could have killed him! So, going on after Church Eddie ran me all over town and then told me he lost his work keys at Church. I was a little miffed and wanting to go out to eat!!! Anyway we pulled up and there was several cars there, we all walked in to "find his keys" and I walked into the Rock Star room to about 70 of my favorite people!!! I was in shock literally! I mean all these people took time out of their holiday weekend to surprise me.

The theme was The Beatles (you are shocked I am sure) and I even got gifts! Best day EVER!!!! Three people got up and gave me a Eulogy while I sat in front of a coffin cutout holding lilies. I got the most props for being able to put up with Eddie, I believe the word saint was used. To sit there and have 3 people that you respect (CJ,Kris and Sarah) and tell you what an impact you have had on their lives is surreal. I laughed, I cried...it was great!

I told people that I may just go wild now that I made it to 35. I think I may have started already. This past year I got my first tattoo and then last Thursday I got a funky haircut and got carmel and burgundy highlights.... Next? Who knows, the list is endless!

I did make it to Cracker Barrel. I had Chicken and Dumplings....they were great! They sang Happy Birthday to me and gave me double chocolate fudge Coca Cola cake! By the way they go a great thing at that place, anyone of any age can order off the kids menu! How cool is that?

So, that was my Birthday. Thank you again so much everyone for being there and giving me such a perfect day with all the people I love. I will never forget it. I love all of you and so blessed to have all of you in my life!

THE WIFE

The husband here...Just a quick post to let you all know, Melissa is still alive....however, she is probably going to kill me.
First of all, our modem went out this weekend, so NO Internet...no facebook, no blogging, no research on the bat boy.
Secondly, my wife does not like to be embarrassed. This past Sunday, I threw her a surprise birthday, with a lot of help from her (our) friends Sarah, Kris, and especially CJ! There were other players as well, Jennae, Ann, Sam(not a lady). All of these women and man are amazing in their own rights, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart...Thank you, ladies and man! You are amazing.
So, the embarrassment. I lead worship at Kids Kanyon that Sunday, so I lead the kids in a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday to both Melissa and America. She could have killed me.
Fast forward to the party. She gets surprised by @ 70 friends and family and, of course, get s "Happy Birthday" sung to her...again.
The redness in her face is building.
After the wonderful party, we have plans to go to the Cracker Barrel, where, what does she do? "Excuse me,"she says to the waitress,"today is my birthday!"
The waitress smiles."Well, you get a free piece of cake!"
After the meal, THREE waitresses walk up to the table. At first, we thought, maybe the cake was just really heavy. Oh no...it was time for Happy Birthday.
My wife looks at the one waitress. "You don't have to do this!"
"Yes we do!"
In all seriousness, it was one of the best days of her life, and when our modem gets fixed, I am sure she will thank you all. I thank you all for helping to make the day amazing for an amazing woman.
And to Melissa....I love you. You are 35 years young, and as your husband, the honor and privilege is all mine. Happy Birthday...




O yeah!!! Today is July 6....MELODY SUMMER'S 4Th BIRTHDAY!!!!!! I love you, Mel!!!