Please read. You can comment here. You can comment there. But, please leave your thoughts. I would love for you to share them.

Post from: Blisstree

My Thoughts from Yesterday

However, I began researching how to write online long before I ever went public with a blog or even knew how to design one because I wanted to make sure what I was doing was right…and that I was doing it the right and professional way. I logged into forums and met some fabulous people like Gayla McCord, Randa Clay, Wendy Piersall at the new Sparkplugging, Charlene Polansky, Angela Stevens, Kailani, and Laura Williams. Through these forums and well renowned bloggers I learned where to blog, how to blog, what to blog (and what not to blog), and how to get myself out there and get noticed.

So, within a year, I have gone from blogging on one personal blog about family to writing about Autism, adoption,, reviews, communities, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I love that I have been able to forge my own way into the world of adoption and special needs…and kind-of make a name for myself (I still have a long, long way to go but I feel like I have make a small mark in a year’s time).

I started blogging not only because I wanted to help my family supplement our income but also because I wanted to help other families understand what it is like to both adopt and to have a special needs child. Many families adopt and many families have a special needs child but having both can be unique…and very difficult, especially when one does not anticipate it upon adoption.

I want to help families find help, find resources, understand that there are other families out there like them experiencing the same things. When we were going through our roughest, hardest days I needed that and could not find it. I needed someone to talk to and could not find it. I want mother’s to know that I have been there and done that and I am here to talk to or to read.

Post from: Blisstree

Bloggin’ for a Livin’?

And    SNOW?

After yesterday?

Come ON SPRING!

Cross-Posted from My Two Boys

Post from: Blisstree

So Totally Not Fair…

Don’t forget to stop by My Two Boys and Discussing Autism to see who won there!

Post from: Blisstree

Winner!

I have THREE (yes, THREE) giveaways this time. One here, one here, and one here. Make sure to visit them all, leave your comment to enter, and make SURE to leave your email address so that I can contact you if you win.

Up for grabs here is a set of three 0-3 month Circo Sleepers in Blue. Like the giveaway at My Two Boys, I had purchased these to send down to The Bebe but the shipping was outrageous! (If anyone knows how to get a package there without spending $150 please let me know!)

The rules…obviously leave your name AND your email so that I can contact you if you win. If you have a Giveaway please also leave that so that I can visit your site!

I also have TWO other Bloggy Giveaways up at My Two Boys and Discussing Autism.

Post from: Blisstree

Bloggy Carnival Giveaway

While standing in line and writing a check (again, something last minute. Are you sensing a pattern here?) I glanced at my Drivers License and smiled at the great picture. Ah, ten pounds ago. Umm, okay, 15 pounds, but I’m working on it. But, what was horrifying was my address.

It was wrong.

And it took me a year to notice that? Granted, it was only off by one number, er, missing a number. But I never noticed?

So, I walked over to the license department where, miraculously, there was no line. Obviously everyone is out spooking today and is not going to have their picture taken in a devil’s costume. The man I talked to was sweet when I asked him if I had to have my picture taken again. I blushed so nervously that he laughed. You see, I had no make-up on and probably still had tooth polisher stuck in my gums. Thankfully, he took pity on me and told me that I don’t need a new picture because they keep them on file. Whew. No Bride of Frankenstein here.

What have I been doing in the last year that distracted me SO much that I didn’t notice my own address was wrong on my drivers license?

Hmmmm…..
Well, I’ve been trick or treating with ducks and pumpkins, Grounding Ducks, trying to rescue brand new glasses and crocs from the river, sending a dossier to Guatemala, starting an Autism Blog with a bang of a post, contributing to Chicago Moms Blog, starting a domestic adoption when Guatemala closed, chelating AJ, dealing with Pinocchio, and trying to get the lead out and have a HUGE giveaway. And that is just the tip of the pumpkin.

What have you all been doing?

Post from: Blisstree

It Took Me a Year?

In January 2007, just after we decided to adopt our second child I decided to journal the process. I told myself it wasn’t going to be an ordinary journal…it was going to be spectacular and everyone of our friends could read it. Some of our closest friends and relatives read my personal blog, My Two Boys, or my Discussing Autism site where I blog about AJ’s health issues, developmental progress, and about special needs and education. I also now write at One Book, Two Book for b5media. That certainly comes in handy because I have my master’s degree in Young Adult Literature…at least I can do something with it!

But sometimes, just often enough, they venture over to my sites and ask me why I write online…Perhaps they saw an interesting post on sensory integration and they want to know more about it or why AJ struggles with it so much and I answer the question about writing with this; its because I want to help other moms help their kids who have sensory integration or Autism. I want to help teachers be better teachers or adoptive parents adjust better to those first few weeks home when it is terribly hard. Or, I tell them that its because I want to help parents find resources that can assist them instead of being left out in the dark like I was when AJ first entered our lives.

And so I continue to add to my blogging and I diversify a little more each and every day because readers ask me to.

I also advertise stores and products that I like because I believe in them. Do I get compensated like other bloggers? Sure, but its not necessarily why I advertise. Companies like eBeanstalk, Oompa, or Therapy Shoppe are stores that I know offer educational, sensory, and developmental products that I purchase for my family.

So, don’t forget to check out Adoption Products or forget to get the feed to this blog so you can stay up to date.

And, while you are at it make sure to check out my favorite B5Media blogs:

• Autism Vox
• DeClutter it
• Babylune
• OffBeat Homes

Or, take a look at my favorite posts…

Post from: Blisstree

About A Child Chosen