Emily's 18th Birthday!

Emily turned 18 a few weeks ago.  It was an amazing birthday!  It's truly mind-boggling how fast that went, her childhood flew by.  I know I say that every year but this year it's especially true.  As officially her "childhood" chapter is ending.   She is now a young woman. She has promised me though, that I can still call her my baby.... lol.  Honestly, though,  I could not be more proud of her! She has accomplished so much this year.  Just a few days ago she was accepted into her High school's chapter of the  National Honor Society.  She was invited to apply last year but just missed the cutoff.  So she really buckled down since then to make it in this time around.  She has a volunteer job at the largest branch library in our county.  She again is a member of the  Academic Challenge Club.  She got straight A's this marking period, although technically she got all A's and one B+ (one of her teachers did not put in a grade & has said she would) We'll see, in my mind she got straight A's, so I don't care what her report card says...lol.  She is in her HS Choir for the first time and will again be a member of the ensemble cast for her senior year's musical.   This year they are putting on a musical called, "The Drowsy Chaperone".  Emily is in the early stages of planning for college.  She will be applying to two colleges before the 15th.  She would like to go to Fairleigh Dickinson.  It has the best creative writing program in NJ.  We visited the campus in October and Emily LOVED it!  If there was a "perfect" school for Emily, it certainly felt like FDU was it.   BUT..... we all are still unsure she is ready to be on her own on campus.  She has made so many strides in the last year but she does have some very minor special needs probably related to her premature birth, as well as being on the Autism Spectrum. Which generally just mean it takes Emily a little longer to be ready for some things than other kids her age.   No biggie.  At least in Emily's case, it seems to me anyway, that other things come easier for her too.   As the theme song goes, "You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and there you have .... The facts of Life"    That's how I think of it anyway. Like all kids, she has her strengths and weaknesses.   The thing about being on the Autism Spectrum is that it doesn't mean one thing, every person on the spectrum has their own journey with it.   It wasn't even something we discussed much with anyone.   We, along w/ Emily's pediatrician, had discussed it over the years, but it wasn't something we really thought much about.  Emily was doing well in school & most important was happy in life.  So aside from some "social" interaction issues.  She had done PT & OT.  She had always TESTED out of, and we tried our best to encourage her to be active in school to help with her social skills. She still struggles a little w/ communicating effectively but I can see lots of improvement there as well.  She also lacks direction.  We kind of lovingly tease her about the fact she can never remember which way to turn after coming out of places like she can't remember where we parked.  We describe it as a lack of spatial awareness.  She's a bit oblivious like that.   Those are some of the ways her ASD presents itself.   BUT.... I would not change a thing about Emily.  She is kind, caring and the most joyful person.  She is a wonderful just the way she is! She still has work to do, but who of us doesn't.  I know I do!  If a four-year college isn't in the works yet, Emily will probably attend a community college next year.  Especially if she manages to get into the NJ Stars program, which is a program in NJ that allows students in the top 15% to attend a community college for free.  Emily's around 16-17th% in her class.  So we will see, the count senior year.  We are hoping that Emily's college doesn't cost her a fortune.  We can't afford to pay, and so we are hoping scholarships will really help! fingers crossed.  Ok.  I felt like I had to catch you up with Emily,  since it's been forever since I posted...... BUT now for the exciting birthday news.  We are officially golden parents right now in Emily's eyes at least...BECAUSE we got her tickets to a Geddy Lee book signing!!!! In case you are young or live under a rock, I will tell you... Geddy Lee is the lead singer of the band, RUSH!  Emily has been a fan of Rush's for a long time now.  It started w/ her playing "ROCKBAND" on Playstation when she was just a wee little one, and she loved singing their song," Limelight".  But it has become an out and out obsession the last several years.  She, unfortunately, was never able to see them perform live so this will be the next best thing!! Geddy Lee is absolutely her IDOL! She was soooo happy! We have a video of her opening the present! It rivals some of the "viral" videos of kids who open presents of trips to Disney.  She is beyond EXCITED!!!

Tonight I watched the "president" in hopes he would surprise me with his words of hope for our country. He had a chance to change the narrative. He didn't. He was at a rally in Wisconsin & instead of using this platform to provide the nation with a little bit of hope on a day when such close calls happened & potential violence by these bombs being mailed. He doesn't do that, hell... he didn't even mention CNN? Or the fact that the building is open to the public, it's got shops and restaurants & innocent citizens could have been hurt. In moments like this, as president, he needed to put aside personal "vendetta's" and provide comfort to our citizens. all of them. the ones he agrees with and the ones he doesn't. But Trump can't do that. This "president" should have minimally said, "I need to rethink some of my own words & try to do more to unite our country, as a start, I personally reached out to the Obamas and Clintons and the others and offered my support" BUT NO....that would require a heart. it would require him to think of someone else besides himself. It would require empathy. Instead, he talks about how others are to blame. SO, wow.... If you can't see this man for who he is, and what he's doing to this country. You need to look long and hard at yourself in the mirror. I don't want to hear, well he's not alone. people are doing it to him too. THEY ARE NOT THE PRESIDENT!!!!!!! They don't need to be held to the same standard he should be held. If you can't see he's part of the problem... I honestly am ok w/ you not being ok w/ me. I could see it on day 1. I cried my eyes out when he was elected because I could see his ugliness & awfulness. The fact some of you can't after two years of all his lies, and the fact that he blames everyone but himself. I'm sorry but there are so many more important things than if I get a little extra in my pay, but hey if the tax cut you "might" get, is more important than things like decency. I'm okay if you and I aren't friends. If this man makes you as angry as he makes me, please vote, bring a neighbor. vote blue and let's change the narrative.

Undercurrent

Feel like I owe apologies
To Bush and McCain
Didn't agree with their policies
But didn't feel this pain

This current one is unbearable
Can barely say his name
Takes accountability for nothing
His skills, to lie and blame

Voters heads in the sand
Ignoring all that was known
Shocking election day results
Even after the ugly he'd shown

Disappointed with fellow citizens
Speechless and emotionally defeating
He came like a wrecking ball
Hurting many, after cheating

Was lost for a while
Hiding out in a personal cave
Finally feeling empowered
By a democratic Blue Wave

By Melissa Williams
8/4/2018

March for Babies.... 4/29/2018

Hi We are once again walking in the March for Babies to help raise money for the March of Dimes.  17 years ago our daughter Emily was born very very premature and without years of research and breakthroughs much funded by the March of Dimes, she may not have made it.  So we've walked in every March for Babies since to show our gratitude. 

Please help us with a small donation.

Go to my fundraising page...


 www.marchforbabies.org/meliwil

Responsible gun laws NOW

My two cents for what it is worth... I don't care if you are a hunter, I don't care if you want to "protect" your house. I care that guns are killing our children. So if that means taking guns from you to protect my kid... you better damn sure know I would. BUT... I don't believe "responsible gun owners" are the problem... I believe that UN-Responsible gun owners are.... like the ones who don't keep them from their kids, the ones full of such zest for guns they let their unstable kids have access to them, the ones that are gun collectors who become negligent with how they get or sell them. Or worse. We need gun laws, that protect our citizens. SO please stop making videos telling us how the AR15 is the same or less dangerous than other guns, you are just giving the future school shooters ideas. Also perhaps "kids" are using the AR15 because it "looks" cool... high school kids, after all, are often times shallow. It is a fact that this gun is often the gun school shooters use. Point blank.

Florida Vacation-Part 1

So in November, we went on a trip to Florida.  I've been meaning to blog about it since, wow... I'd make an awful "This just in" type of reporter...lol.  But anyway,  Our family along w/ extended family went to Orlando for a week.  What was best about this vacation is that we managed to relax & have fun as well.  Our sister in law Debbie planned the trip.  She loves Disney & their family has taken many many Disney vacations so we felt ecstatic that she was taking the reins of the trip.  We knew we'd be in good hands.  Debbie was great & included us in the planning, we were grateful for her expertise.  She knew what websites to use, when & how early to make reservations, etc.  She was wonderful & we felt lucky.  She really was such a blessing to us & allowed us to not stress over all the planning.  I could not be more thankful.  Our trip started on Friday November 3rd,  we were driving down from NJ but we got on the road a little later than we had hoped but managed to get on the road by about 3:30 pm (Emily needed to go to school that day... she'd be missing 3 days as was) BUT that became a little bit of an issue only because we had reservations at Hoop Dee Doo Revue dinner show for either 5 PM on Saturday.  Brian did a great job driving & we didn't stop to rest that first night until sometime around 2 in the morning.  One of the more humorous moments came that first night when we pulled up to our "crappy" just for sleeping, roadside hotel.  Right in front of our room in a trash can was the bottom half of a BIG stuffed bear, all that could be seen was his butt and feet.  I just about died from laughing so much! After many "Ted" drinking jokes and pictures we finally went to bed. 

 The next morning we got up around 7:30am and continued the rest of the way.  We got to Orlando about 1:30/2 pm or so, we thought we'd be ok but since check in wasn't until 4 pm at the condo's we were staying at, we ran into a little bit of a delay when it came to check in.  They were willing to let us check in early but none of the condos were ready and so by the time we got in the room I believe it was a little after 3, & we all had to still  get showers.... we ended up being late to dinner but i guess Disney accounts for that & although we were a little late, we really didn't' miss much.  It was yummy & fun!  They served fried chicken,  cole slaw, corn bread, beans.. etc.  It was really good.  Emily was even able to order mac & cheese!  Everyone had a great time... Emily seemed to have a great time X's 10.  It was wonderful seeing her enjoying herself so much!!!! She loves musical theatre so this was right up her alley. We had a great time and even a bit of a "Disney magical" moment at the end of the dinner.  The table next to ours was a table full of young ladies in maybe their early twenties celebrating one of the girls birthdays.  When we were about to leave, one of them asked Emily what her name was and how old she was.   Then she asked her if she wanted this cute pair of Minnie mouse ears she had gotten which were too small for her to wear.  They were super cute!!!  Emily said yes, and I was like, why? Are you sure?  & this sweet young lady was like, "absolutely,  I hope she enjoys them!"  When we went to the park.. we saw they were like $29.99!  I was like WOW! Super nice of that girl and a great way to start the vacation w/ kindness like that! I was feeling the feels! The next morning we slept in and didn't do a damn thing except maybe go to the grocery store. We also each took hour-long baths in the ginormous tub that was in the master bedroom.  LOL! That's what I call relaxing.  Brian & I even got some Epson salts to throw in there to ease our aches & pains! It was wonderful! We knew the next three days would be the busiest of the vacation and we wanted to be as ready as we could be.  This is what happens when you get old...lol  We stayed at this resort called Liki Tiki village or something like that.  Jim & Deb were staying at the wilderness lodge at Disney so we were able to stay at their timeshare.  It was a really nice place, with a washer & dryer in the suite and a full kitchen with a separate dining room & a private bedroom for Emily too.