Teaching Cianna

I have decided to keep a log on teaching Cianna. There are so many things that she does that touch my heart and surprise me! I never thought that my life would be so content in my job. At this time in my life I find it hard to even call it a "Job". Cianna is part of my life and I am so thankful that Andrew and Blaithin trust me to teach and care for Cianna.

I will add a short story on how I met Cianna. I answered an ad to be a part time Nanny in Mercer Island. I did not know that Cianna had special needs. I knew that they were looking for someone that would be consistent and patient so I called and met with them. I can not believe how easy it was to meet Cianna. I felt at peace when I met their family and it has been a wonderful adventure ever since. Cianna is like the little sister I never had but always wanted.

I will be keeping a teaching log but also using this to remember the little things that she does that touch my heart and teach me everyday to remember all the things that we take for granted. I am so grateful that I was lead to the Solan home and believe that this was no mistake in my destiny. I trust in my instincts and believe that this was intuition at work.

Cianna is going to NBA now. She works with Eileen who is very patient and a great teacher. She has been going for about 10 weeks and is doing very well. I will also add all the appointments that she has and add details for my teaching in this log.

Thursday July 21 -
Marianne 8-9 am Seattle. Breakfast . Teaching ABA Home therapy 10-12. Lunch. NBA Bellevue 1230-215pm. We also ate Mexican food today in Mercer Island. Cianna was very grown up at Lunch. She ate everything on her plate and "shared" her chips with me. I guess I must have been eating too many because she moved the chips to her side and let me know that they were hers. She gave me a specific amount of chips on my napkin that I was allowed to eat. We talked about how proud I was that she was sharing. At the very end of our meal Cianna was drinking from a glass with a straw. I told her to be careful because she was going to spill her water. She lowered the glass and dropped it under the table. I think she was very surprised that it broke. She got upset until I moved over to her side and hugged her and told her that we could get more water. I was surprised that she recovered so quickly. Usually she will go on and on about what happened and continued to be very upset. We promptly left so they could clean up the glass. Over all it was a wonderful experience to sit with her and have lunch at the restaurant. We went home and she wanted to swing in the back yard. The wind started to blow so I was talking to her about the wind. We talked about how you can not see the wind but you can hear it.... feel it......and see the trees moving. She than said "it needs to stop winding!" She awakens my soul when she says the most innocent things like this.

Here is another thing that she did one day when we were on the freeway. We were driving and she got very upset and kept saying "GET DOWN" "GET DOWN"! I could not figure out what she was talking about until I saw a tow truck that had a car on it. She was very upset and said "Cars DO NOT go on Cars!" How interesting that we just take things for granted and she is right.... Cars don't go on other cars! She is like a mystery to me that I try to understand and solve. I love her just the way she is!

Friday July 22 -
Bath - new toy Sponge Bob watering can. We will only use for bathtime. She used it to rinse her body. We also talked about how plants grow when you water them. She responded very well to rinsing her body with the watering can.

Cleo 750-850. She rode her bike and did Yoga and other PT things.

Breakfast 9-10 / NBA Home Therapy 10-12 / Lunch 12-1 /

He listens....

About a week ago I put up my Hummingbird feeder. Hummingbirds are a passion of mine and these small miracles bring so much joy to my life. I see so many of them in Seabeck Washington at my mom and dad's house. I have not seen any in my back yard in Bellevue Washington. I decided to buy two fushia plants and put them beside the feeder in hopes of attracting them. I have been waiting since Sunday. For those of you that know me.... I was not blessed with patience. I have found in life if you don't embrase this quality life will teach you to accept it!
Today as I sat on my porch staring at the feeder I prayed that God would help me with my career and direct me towards my path. I have been frustrated and need direction. After sitting in the sun for a bit I needed to get up and do some chores and start my day. As I sat at the table emailing clients I keep hearing a chirp and when I looked up SHE WAS THERE! My first hummingbird. This was a sign to me that God heard me and the joy I got from seeing that little bird filled my day with hope and joy. If the smallest of birds can give me this much happiness - imagine what life will bring if I welcome each day and do my best. I know God listens to me and will help me through tough time.

They say the Hummingbird is a symbol for accomplishing that which seems impossible and will teach you to find the miracle of joyful living from your own life circumstances. She is a symbol of peace, love and happiness.

Hugs to you all I love my life and all who are a part of it. Enjoy the SUN!!

~Nancy Ulrich

I just can't say Goodbye to you......

May 30, 2010

There is never an easy time to say goodbye to someone that you love. Most don't know the day they will leave this earth. We know that this is his last weekend on earth at least in a physical body. I do believe those we love really never leave us they are always near us even if we don't know it. Those feelings you get that "someone" is near but no one is there... when you turn around and think you are not alone... and when you get prompted to do something out of the blue... I believe this is them.

I have known him for 5 years and have never heard him say anything bad about ANYONE. He lights up the room when he comes in no matter what the situation. He is the most loyal guy and loves unconditionally. You could never pay for this kind of friendship and dedication.

He is not perfect and has problems like stealing your socks on occasion. He ate my dinner once when I went into the other room to get something (man I was mad that day it was a steak!). The first time I ever met him I was bent over the bar talking to Mike when he decided to "take a ride".... I have never seen him do that again to anyone!

By this time I am sure you have guessed that he is a dog. Bart is the most perfect roommate you could ever have. Only wants to be loved and cared for... and even that is very minimal. He is the most gentle dog I have ever met and the biggest Golden Retriever I have ever seen. He will leave us before he turns 7 as he will not make it till July.

What is so ironic about his life is that Mike was looking for a Golden with a big head and big body. He found a puppy with a HUGE head. A lovable strong and huge Golden. Now his head is what will take his life. He has Cancer in his entire sinus system. My heart breaks as I watch him in his last days....his body is failing but his spirit lives on. He is still "the kid" inside.

I have often wondered in my life why the best and sweetest have to suffer so much. Why very kind and wonderful people have to die and others that make us question humanity live on. This is not for me to understand in this lifetime I guess. I also know that we all have a mission in life and when it is fulfilled me move on. I have tried in my lifetime to "bargain" with God - Take me and please let them stay. I guess God does not work like that because I am still here and those people I wanted to trade places with are gone.

I will always love you Bart and remember you forever. Your memories will live on and no Golden will every take your place. No other Dog could. From my heart to yours..... I can't say Goodbye... so I will say see you on the other side Bartholomew.


Nancy Ulrich

The Pink tree of life....

May 27th , 2010

It is going to be hard to say this in the amount of words allowed on facebook so I decided to start my own blog and write about things that mean so much to me. Yesterday was a very inspirational day for me... started out with the cemetery (no worries it is not what you are thinking). I was on my way to a real estate shindig in Bellingham when I pulled off the freeway to get a coffee from Starbucks and OF COURSE I missed the entrance and had to go further down the road which did not have a turn off for a bit. Now you know when a gal from Bellevue needs a coffee… she needs it NOW and being Aries, Spanish and ADHD I might be a little impatient and was not in the mood for waiting. Now I have learned in my life that when you are in a hurry things happen and sometimes they are not good. I had to wait for a long light, a school bus that had to stop for the train tracks, and finally made the light. It did not end there… I had to turn around on that road so I did an illegal move ( u-turn ) hoping that the cops were still at Starbucks getting coffee. No offense… I love you guys! ALL OF THE SUDDEN my A.D.D eyes spotted a pink object to the left in the cemetery. I had to investigate! Of course I missed the cemetery entrance so I did another illegal u-turn. I entered the cemetery on a road that looked like a sidewalk. This resting place is in Marysville Washington. As I got closer to the PINK object I realized it was a BEAUTIFUL tree with tons of flowers on it It was the most beautiful tree I have ever seen… and VERY MUCH ALIVE. The tree beckoned me to stop and visit. Even though my passenger was in a hurry... I stopped to "smell the roses" which happened to be a flowering tree in the middle of the cemetery. There is joy in the most simple things just remember that the simple things are lasting and real.


Now many people would think that I am a nut and that is ok I do what my intuition tells me to do even if it makes me look odd because I may never travel down that same road again. I walk to the beat of a different drummer and am proud (derived from the writings of the American philosopher Henry David Thoreau, who wrote:"If a man loses pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or far away. " http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_David_Thoreau )

I am happy with who I am.
I will never forget the happiness the pink tree brought me. It started my day with such a great feeling of freedom to do what I want and a great amount of inspiration. Remember to pull over and notice the special things that others might just drive on by. There is so much life and love in the cemetery. Go to Marysville and visit the Pink tree of Life.

I want to thank the Alvestad Family for planting that tree for Emil K.Alvestad and Otelia A. Koehler. I don't know any of you but your love filled my heart on that day with life and love. Thank you from my heart to yours....... Nancy T. Ulrich