Save Isla's Eyes

Save Isla's Eyes is a local fundraising effort to help a local 3 year old girl. Isla was born with Congenital Cataracts and developed Aphakic Glaucoma as a result cataract Surgeries. At her tender age, Isla has already endured years of medications, multiple surgeries, procedures and countless tests. In efforts to save her eyesight, Isla and her family travel on a regular basis to specialists located in Syracuse and Philadelphia. Last April, Isla underwent yet another surgery to treat her condition. Sadly, a rare and extremely severe infection traveled rapidly through the shunt that was placed from her surgery. Isla underwent two emergency surgeries in 48 hours to help stop the spread of the infection throughout her body. She has now lost all vision in this eye. Isla is being monitored closely by her Doctors, whose next concern is to keep Isla’s other eye healthy, especially as she has Glaucoma in this eye as well. She is already on the maximum dosage of medication; it is know the only eye that allows her to see.

As Isla's family encounters numerous medical and day to day expenses, their primary concern is the welfare of Isla and their family as a whole. That being said a little help can go a long way to a family in need. Please consider supporting this family through a donation to their fund. You can find donation info below or attend their fundraiser on Saturday, March 30 at the LakeWatch Inn on Eastshore Drive. The Fundraiser goes from 2-7:30 and will have face painting for the children, an Easter Egg Hunt, Local Bands, Chinese raffles, door prizes, and silent auctions and lots of food, beverages and desserts.


Save Isla’s Eyes
c/o Deputy Langlois, TC Deputy Sheriff’s Assoc
PO Box 3820
Ithaca, NY 14850

Please make checks payable to Adam Langlois and note “Save Isla’s Eyes” in the memo field


You can join their Facebook page here:


http://www.facebook.com/SaveIslasEyes?fref=ts

Kindergarten Registration 2013

Here's information for the Ithaca City School district Kindergarten Registration 2013. Sorry for the poor copy. I'll update it with easier to read info soon. I'll add info on other area districts as soon as I have it. If you know of info for neighboring districts, please leave it in the comments or send me an email at ithacasahm@gmail.com.

Monster Truck Valentines

Nora has been working on her homemade Valentines for about 3 months now. She really loves create, so I’m letting her go to town. Finn, on the other hand, has no attention span for arts and crafts. All he wants to do is play monster trucks. And read about monster trucks. And watch monster truck movies. And talk about monster trucks. So, of course, when I asked him what he would like to do for Valentines Day for his preschool classmates, he told me he wanted Monster Truck Valentines.

I discovered that premade monster truck valentines do not seem to exist, and even if they did, they wouldn't be the cutesy ones my boy tends to like pictures of anyway. So, after a little online digging,

I found these adorable Monster Trucks on Etsy. I figured that $5 was a small price to pay to support original artwork. I bought them, downloaded them, and I added the wording and a little heart in Picasa. *BAM* we have Monster Truck Valentines.

Seriously, how cute are these?  I’ve re-added watermarking here. If you want them, buy them! So worth it!

The Reality at Caroline Elementary

My daughter (whom I call Nora on this blog) loves kindergarten. She loves her main teacher, she loves her classroom aides, she loves her "specials" teachers (music, P.E. art), she loves riding the bus. She loves her school and feels special and at home there. She feels safe and happy. And my husband and I lover her school as much as she does. Her little brother can't wait to go there. Oh, did I mention that she goes to Caroline Elementary school?

Caroline Elementary school was recently given a designation of a "persistently dangerous school" by the state due to the high number of "violent" incidents reported in 2010-2012. However, this designation of a "persistently dangerous school" does not reflect the reality of Caroline Elementary. Caroline is a great school with wonderful caring teachers and a bright and beautiful student body. Yes, there have been some real and concerning incidents, but this is the case at any school. The reality is that a complicated and flawed formula at the State level in combination with reporting issues at the school and district level that has lead up to this designation. Last night's meeting overviewing these reported incidents was very informative. The Ithaca Journal has posted a thorough article covering the meeting. Please read the first article below (and if you have time, the second 2 as well!) before rushing to judgement. Tim McDonald, the principal is happy to answer questions, give tours and allow potential parents to sit in on classes.


~Janelle

http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20130117/NEWS01/301170105/Errors-may-led-Caroline-school-s-dangerous-label

 

http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20130111/NEWS01/301110077/Cornell-professor-Caroline-parent-outlines-findings-report?odyssey=obinsite

 

http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20130111/NEWS02/301110078/-Persistently-dangerous-Caroline-Elementary-raises-tough-questions-parents-officials?odyssey=mod|dnmiss|umbrella|1

Lights, lights, lights!

I have a theory that the more warm weekends there are between Thanksgiving and Christmas, the more houses you'll see with Christmas lights that year. This year has been a warm one, and driving home last night it was obvious that many more people had decided to put up a display.

I've always loved Christmas lights, and while I'm not a fan of random "throw every ornatment in the world on your lawn" displays, I do enjoy seeing the kids' faces light up when they see an inflatable Santa or snowman.

I've compliled a list of some good places to see lights in Ithaca at the Holiday Lights page. If you know of any houses with nice displays or areas with a more than usual amount of lights in Tompkins County, please let me know! I'm lucky enough to live in Eastern Heights, where most houses have lights, and several have LOTS. If you take the trip up the hill, maybe you'll see my yard twinkling in the dark!

Up Ornament...?

When I saw this fabulous idea from Little Gray Fox...

My first thought was "OH SO CUTE" and my second thought was, "That looks like the balloon cluster from UP!"

Forgive my terrible photoshopping, but Am I Right?  I'm thinking someday, I'll have to create this ornament for Finn, my little balloon enthusiast.

Cancer Sucks

Hug your kiddlettes close and be thankful for their health. My friend's cousin just lost her 4 year-old to cancer. If you or a family you know is facing a childhood cancer diagnosis, please direct them to Mira's Movement, a local organization whose mission is to provide informational and emotional support to families of a child diagnosed with cancer; dvocate for increased public and private funding for childhood cancer research and family support; and raise awareness of the prevalence and the impact of the disease.