Basement Modeling...Need Opinions!!

So, we're modeling up our basement, right? After the second coat of paint gets on the wall downstairs I'll take another picture for y'all. Mr. Bill came this morning to view our plans and lead us in the next direction. He will be caring for the plumbing and heat duct needs in the basement, so we don't freeze our tushes like we are now.

For the bathroom area we need Opinions...would it be a good idea to use the upstairs countertop and sink from our master bath downstairs and put in a double sink in the master bath?

Or leave our bath the way it is and get a single sink vanity for downstairs?

Hmmmm....decisions, decisions!

Leave a comment and let us know what you think.

Adalynn's Turn 2 - What I Wuf

Hey, my peeps. I wanna tell you what I wuf today.

(you know, wuf? sowwy, i can't say my Lllllls yet.)

I wuf my stroller.

I wuf my baby.

She's funny.

(except when she is a bad baby and won't sit up straight in the stroller. then i get upset. or when her shoe falls off. weawwy!)

I wuf my music box.

All I have to do is knock it over and out pours a really cool song. Or I just hit it. Both work.

I especially like singing "E I E I O" at the top of my lungs. Over and over and over again.


Oh, and I wuf my mommy. I wuf her awot.

Adalynn's Turn - LTFD

I'm talking today, Mom's been talking Waaaaay too much. Yup. So, Come Along y'all.

"Oh, Hey! Boys! Over Here!"

"Yup, You, Homeboys. I want a ball. NoW."

"All right Chica, don't get your Huggies in a bunch."

At Daddy's Fire Dept Christmas Party I played ball and with my friend, Lacey. She's learning to walk.

But then Santa came.

I no like Santa.

I really no like Santa.

But he gave me a book. And that was cool.

My Ethical Dilemna

Since returning to Grand Rapids, I have been faced many times with a problem...issue...HUGE FRUSTRATION about the lack of pediatric based therapy available. I cringe when I speak with parents who share frustrations and guilt about their children who either don't qualify for school-based therapy or who aren't getting enough from just school based therapy. And after working with the schools and at on an outpatient basis with pediatrics, I can vouch that the schools are too overloaded to provide one-on-one therapy to kids who are performing at an academically average level, even though they may demonstrate severe behavior or inattention or lack of coordination or social awkwardness. I think that the school system does a great job, but when it comes to Sensory Integration issues, the therapist's don't have the time to sit down with the parents and provide education, tailor a sensory diet that will carryover at home and at school, and conduct sensory integration treatment with the child in a setting where the child is normally pulled out into a small closet...or treated in the school room. (There may be exceptions, and I'm sure that there are, but the role of a School-based therapist is just that...that they work with the child at school to support their academic achievement. Just like it is my belief that teachers shouldn't have to teach children manners and social skills that their parents should be teaching at home. Reinforcing, yes. Teaching, no.).
I really get fired up about this, can you tell? *wink* Most of my frustration stems from knowing that I am skilled in outpatient occupational therapy, and I really want to help these families. Because I can. Because I know that it makes a difference. Because these kids are so awesome and are so at risk to fall through the cracks. And that's not ok.
I just don't know what to do about it. I get this urgency, nervousness and butterflies in my stomach when I think about it. Excited. But then, today, when we got home from church I had a little talk with God. It went like this: "God, I'm so concerned about these children and families." and God said, "Cara, I have a plan. Just rest. It will be revealed in My time."
And so I'm going to listen. and wait. and pray for these children and their families. and i will act if, when, and in whatever order that God leads me to.

So...How are WE doing?

All right, I suppose. It's been another busy week. And I might just be posting Random Archived pictures throughout this, because I'm imagining right now that I'm in the tropics. Or at least MI in the summer. Or somewhere warm, like in my oven.

So, this week, Travis put a fabulous coat of paint downstairs. It's currently waiting for one more, but that'll get done soon.

Oh, if anyone knows of anyone who has a couple of extra cupboards they want to get rid of? We want 2-4 of them for bottoms of built-in cabinet/shelves downstairs. We'll pick up. And we'll paint if needed (we want them to eventually be white).

k, classifieds time over.

On top of the paint job, Travis attended school Monday, basketball Tuesday, and then he got sick. And now he's sniffling and sneezing and snotty. Poor guy.

And Adalynn got it, so she's sniffly too. Ugh. When she's sick, she doesn't sleep well. I'm SO tired! I must have been hallucinating last night, because I was SURE I heard her plod into our room at 4am. But then heard some plods out the door and this morning she was in her bed. But, so far she hasn't been able to climb into bed on her own, it's too high. So, our super talented child must be able to do some awesomely talented sleep climbing. I'm so proud.

Or I'm delirious.

I worked, actually, this week. And met Alison to give her the 3 choices of necklaces and earrings that Aunt Jo made for her to wear with her wedding dress. I think they're divine. Just wait till you see them.

On Wednesday, Adalynn and I drove to the Big town to Amy's church, Monroe Community Church for their MOPS group. It was great to see Julie and Myrna again (they were faithful attendees at my Infant Massage group last October. it's crazy to see how big their kids are!), as well as Kristin and her new babe Connor. He is so adorable! Makes me hope this one is a boy.

And then Thursday I worked. We did go shopping yesterday and found a more-organic-than-normal crib mattress at Target on clearance. Rock On!

So that's been our Highly Exciting week, how's yours?