MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hoping Y'all had a Merry Christmas!

We started Christmas Eve Eve  by watching our oldest son direct a soccer game.  He directed the cameras-can you see him on by the monitor?)

Christmas Eve at church that morning as a family

Christmas morning aftermath!

Shad got a basketball hoop and a bike, Steve got luggage (he said he thought we were trying to tell him something) and I got an instant pot woohoo!  Can't wait to use it

Sam had such a good time opening presents this year.  

It's challenging to buy things for my little kids.  Selah is the hardest but this year was great!  I found things that were different and that she would actually use!  

Sarah did not like to be bothered with unwrapping anything but she loved her toys.  This is an elephant that is so soft and it vibrates.  This picture was taken after lunch-the turkey got her LOL

New Year's Eve!

This is how we do cold weather in Florida!  We get to wear leggings and boots LOL  but by the time church was over ai was way too hot!  We may have snow on Wednesday!  No Lie! 

Steve and his friends after service at our favorite restaurant 

A friend gave us this for the kids, Sam loves it!

I love this picture of Sarah standing in her cute dress.  She actually wore a little choker:)  

So we've had a couple of good weeks.  I love having my college SENIOR home!  Yes he is now a senior after finishing this last semester.  He will graduate a semester early!  So proud of him!  He works part time plus and keeps up his GPA!


Tonight we have some friends coming over for a bonfire. We probably won't make it to midnight though LOL  We are wimps.


Last year I was more than glad to say goodbye to 2016-a year filled with medical challenges for me and for my husband.  2017 has been kinder to us.  We are hopeful 2018 will be a good year!

The future is very scary to me and the start of a new year is symbolic of the future.  I remember the first year I stayed up to welcome the New Year in, it was 1979-80.  I was a freshmen in high school.  That night I realized while sitting on an old ottoman watching the ball drop that the decade of the 80's would be a huge decade for me.  It certainly was!  I graduated high school and college, got my first job and first "real" job" traveled, bought my first car, and got married!  I don't know what 2018 holds but I know Who holds it!


Have a happy safe New Year!

Happy 11th Birthday Sarah!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!

Our precious daughter turned 11 years old today.  We are so blessed by her.,  She is a true Joy in so many ways.  

Sometimes in our day to day life it's easy to forget the MIRACLE that brought us our girl.  I'm so thankful she is a part of our family.  She is precious.  

Recently I found this picture of Jon and Sarah at the airport the night we got home with them from Ukraine.  She was 5.5 years old and in a size 12 months outfit.  We adored her then and we still do!

Sarah is a girly tomboy.  Even though she doesn't walk, she is a tough girl.  She's built her upper arms up with all the swinging she does.  She loves being outside, loves her little pool or the beach.  She has learned to play with toys but she'd rather have me or her caregiver Ashley play with her during the day.  At night she wants to be on mine or Jon's lap as we watch tv.  She's all about the people she loves!  But if you're not part of her little group she tends to be very suspicious LOL


This morning before Jon went to work we opened most of her birthday presents  She wore a new outfit today.  Tomorrow we'll take her out to eat :)  Olive Garden her favorite place.

We love our girl and are honored to have her as our daughter.  We are grateful to her birth parents for the gift of her life!

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So last night Sam got violently ill.  Jon and Steve rushed him to the hospital.  He probably had food poisoning.  We picked up some sandwiches and we assume that is what it was.  We were very concerned about his sugar going too low as he has had this issue before.  Thankfully he managed it and they gave him meds that has helped.  Today I've cleaned my house like crazy just in case it was a virus!  I hit 10,000 steps just inside the house LOL.  Steve Shad and Steve's college roommate did our yard.  We had a busy day!  But I had to write a birthday blog for my girl!  Now I'm headed to scrub the shower! 

Colonoscopy fun!

Well I've been having "fun". 

Since I've been in my 30's I've had to have colonoscopies.  Since I was a kid I had "stomach problems"  those problems began to dominate my life.    Back then I was a probation officer and there were times in court I'd have to run over to the bailiff and ask him to hold my case if possible as i ran to the bathroom!  There were some disastrous situations sometimes out on the road too!  After learning of a relative's death from colon cancer I decided to "get my butt to the doctor"!  So at about 34 I was found to have a polyp!   The Doctor told me that had I waited till my 40's it would have developed into colon cancer!  What a scare!  I was also diagnosed  with Irritable Bowel Syndrome & told to return in three years.   

Then on the very night we did our homestudy for Shad, I woke up to tremendous pain and bleeding.  Jon rushed me to the hospital.  The diagnosis was acute colitis.  It kept me in the hospital for several days on IVs.  Actually I was quite relieved that it was only colitis based on all the blood!  I had thought I was dying. 

Since then during colonoscopies I've been told I had diverticulitis as well.  This is despite my improving diet!  Eating more plant based meals did help but a couple of years ago I added Benefiber!  Listen I could do a commercial for Benefiber-it has changed my life!  No more violent stomach upsets from constipation to diarrhea!  Just perfect poo!  LOL I know this is way too much TMI but so many folks espicially women have this problem, so if I can help someone out with my testimony I'm happy to do so! 

The past few months I'd been having some odd pain/pressure when I laying in bed.  It would come and go.  Eventually I had an ultrasound and CAT scan.  Everything was ok but the report mentioned that I had inflammation in my bowels and possibly Crohn's disease!   I did not think this could be correct so I went to the Gastro and of course he scheduled me for another colonoscopy (my normally scheduled one was only 2 years ago) 

So I did an ULTRA cleanse this time!  Lord I stopped eating solids at midnight on Saturday.  Sunday was our church's Christmas party after lunch.  I was sick to miss eating!  I went and fed the kids lol  

Then I had to start the meds on Monday and this was the worst it's ever been to me.  My doctor used a new prescription and boy it was rough on me.  I made it through but was sooooo sick and cold last night.  I'll spare you the details but let's just say I'm a pro at this and I was almost crying.  Between being hungry and all the other fun things I felt like I was pregnant.  I was quite HANGRY! (hungry/angry it's real)  

Anyhow I had the procedure today and was so dehydrated it took FIVE tries to get an IV going!  That has never happened to me before.  I got so upset but I held it in.  I was THRILLED to be put out to be honest!  LOL  Usually that part scares me but I felt awful and I knew after it was over I could drink and eat so I kept asking them when they were going to put me out LOL

Anyhow everything was fine!  I have the pictures to prove it and NO I'm not putting that on my blog LOL  The pockets of diverticulitis that have always been there are not even noticeable. No polyps!   The doctor is not sure what was seen on the CAT scan but did say I could have had a flare up (of course that's been two months ago by the time I could get an appointment to see him and then an appointment for the procedure!)  He actually told me that I can wait FIVE years to come back!!!!!!!!   WOW!  He told me that he recommends Benefiber and he thinks it's helped me.  He did do some standard biopsies but only because it's best practice.  He saw nothing that concerned him.  

So for 2 1/2 days all I did was dream about eating food!  Even on my way to the hospital I was dreaming about eating....however for the first time ever I was still feeling "sickly" after the procedure.  We did stop at my favorite BBQ place Sonny's and I got a child's plate of pulled chicken to go with a side of fried Okra ( I deserved it!)  and a sweet tea!  I could only eat a little of it.  The boys (we have an extra college boy with us this week) got pizza and I also had a small piece of it and that was it.  The only thing I want tonight is just water water and a Pepsi!  I'm still so thirsty.  I'm hoping and praying that in 5 years they will have a different prescription!  I have never felt so awful!  

BUT this is at least my 8th colonoscopy and although it was rougher than usual it's not any where near having to have surgery, chemo or radiation!!!  Or not surviving  Colon Cancer! So again let me encourage you if something is going on with you, please get it checked out!  If I had not gone to the doctor back almost 20 years ago I might not be here today!  If you are over 50 you should get screened for sure!  Doctors and staff are very professional, there is no embarrassment to the procedure and you are lightly asleep the whole time..  

Basically the day or days before (in my case) you can't eat solids and you have to drink some ungodly crap that will keep you in the bathroom.  The day of the procedure you show up, change into a gown, have an IV put in.  You're taken back to a small room.  they add a blood pressure cuff, a clip on your finger to check your oxygen level and three little stickers to check your heart rate.  A nice anesthesiologist will tell you to turn on your left side, bring up your knees and push something in your IV...  then you are out until you'rein recovery.    You'll have some gas and they will tell you to "let it go" which may go against your beliefs LOL then you'll talk to your doctor and go home!  That's it!  No big mystery - nothing much to dread.  My husband had no issue drinking the mixture down, I'm more picky so it was much worse for me but even still it's better than letting a problem turn into something awful!   I've never before had any issue afterwards but this time I was a little sick on my stomach still.  

So that's my PSA!  GET YOUR BUTT TO THE DOCTOR!

Lettuce Lake Park

On my way to meet my friend for breakfast!

Y'all know we love to walk in the woods.  Jon wa off today so we had decided to go to a park that is very primitive.  It's called Dead River Park off 301.  We've been there before and like how few people are there and how far back it is in the woods.  We've seen lots of deer there.  Well it was still closed due to the last hurricane. 

So we went into Tampa to Lettuce Lake Park.  We've driven by there many times but never stopped.  It's only $2 to get in and the roads are paved.  There are bathrooms.  there is a boardwalk over the swampy area.  It's pretty but it's not our kind of walking!  Too many people there and we could hear the traffic & sirens which oddly stressed me out!  I like to be so far out that you can't hear traffic.  In fact at my house I don't hear traffic from the main road!  Silence is what I crave.  It refreshes me. 

But this might be a great place to visit if you'd like to see a bit of real Florida in the middle of a large city!  It's very kid friendly and all the paths are paved or wooden boardwalks, easy to push strollers on.  I prefer to walk on dirt.  Now I have issues with my heels and I've had to wrap both of my feet this afternoon! So paved paths are not a positive thing for me!  There is also a playground there.  When we first got there, there was a busload of 5th graders...loud 5th graders.  They left shortly after LOL  So yes I like a long walk deep in the woods!!! 


We coerced Shad into going with us.  He was not thrilled. 

On top of the tower

 Baby gator

Came back by and saw another turtle getting up on the log

So if you are in Tampa visit Lettuce Lake Park on Flecter Ave. just minutes from Busch Gardens.  For $2 a car load, it's worth it.  

Family Diet!

Sarah has had a huge growth spurt!  Just last year her winter PJ's were size 7/8.  Now they are 14/16!  LOL  She could have probably wore a size 10/12 but only for this winter ( all 2 weeks of it )

My Little Elf :)

I t just amazes me how much she has grown.  When we adopted her she weighed 19 pounds at 5.5 years old.  Now she weighs 68 pounds at almost 11 years.  She is still small for her age but she is quickly catching up.  In fact Sarah, Selah and Sam are all around the same weight and height!  

Sarah still eats basically only puree' foods.  I'm on my third Ninja /Magic Bullet.   She usually eats whatever we eat, just put through the blender with a little added liquid.  Tonight we had BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, baked beans and green beans.  Then she had ice cream for dessert!   She does move her food around in her mouth and chew a little.  If we are out, I can get her soups or softish foods and mash them up for her.  She basically eats food the consistency of oatmeal.   When we first got her, everything had to be liquid or she would choke.  

For breakfast she eats Grits and applesauce. 

Sarah also likes pureed eggs with bacon and sausage.  It smells good but looks absolutely awful!   She will ONLY drink Caprisun juice.  She likes the pouches and the tiny straw but I can't trick her to try anything else unless i want to spoon it into her mouth!  I buy the organic ones when they are BOGO at Publix.  

For lunch she usually has left overs from the night before or one of her frozen meals.Then she gets a banana and a can of fruit pureed together for lunch.  I puree containers of food for her.  When I make something like spaghetti, I make more and then puree it into single serve containers and freeze it for her.  That way she has meals  for when we have something that is not a food we want to puree like pizza!    

For supper she eats whatever we are having unless it's sandwiches or pizza. She has 2 Activa yogurts for supper.   I cook alot in the crock pot, those type of meals are easy to puree.  

My "go to meals" are 

Crock Pot

Mexican chicken

Taco chili

regular  chili

BBQ chicken 

beef stew ( every great once and awhile)

Spaghetti/Pasta

spinach lasagna 

Taco

chicken & dumplings (haven't tried this since going gluten free) 

Meatloaf (just bought GF breading) 

chicken and rice

chicken noodle soup

All the above are very easy for Sarah.  She eats gluten free along with the rest of us.  Frankly I can't tell a difference in any of us except Jon and I don't feel as sleepy/stuffed after eating.  I'm trying to redo some recipes to make them GF.  Walmart has wonderful over ready GF lasagna!  OH MY!  It's so good-can't tell the difference.  

I cook with chicken....so much chicken.  Even with chicken I have to make sure that it's low fat.  I usually only use breast meat, every now and then I do cook some chicken legs with a special spice on them but they are so much higher in fat.  I also use ground LEAN chicken in place of hamburger meat.  It has to be the "fit & lean" 100% from the breast or it'll have as much fat as hamburger has!  

People always say it's so expensive to eat healthy.  It absolutely is not!  I figured up how much last night's Taco  meal cost.  2 pounds of ground chicken $5.49 each pound.  Can of fat free refried beans $1  can of organic black beans $1.19    Yellow rice packet $2   Taco shells $2   Salsa $3   Fat free cheese $2.49 (bought at BOGO sale so actually $1.24) = $21.41 divided by 6 =  $3.55   Plus we have more than one meal out of it, plenty of left overs and a couple of containers for Sarah in the freezer!  Sometimes I add a salad, last night I did not.  

Jon and I ate lunch at a Mexican restaurant this past week and the cost was about $21 for just the two of us!  

I love to eat out but I also love to eat at home.  When we eat at home I can control what goes into the meal.  And I know I save money, plus it's so much easier for Sarah.  There are a few restaurants that we can't go to because there is nothing I can mush up for her.  Traveling is challenging.  

I always keep on hand applesauce, grits, oatmeal, cans of fruit, cans of soup, fruit pouches,& Caprisun,  for Sarah.  All of that is easy to take with us so I keep it in her bag in case we end up somewhere and have nothing she can eat.  I shop at Publix and I love their BOGO sales.  They will only allow 4 deals at a time but I can always come back the next day for more!   

Sam eats everything we do basically.  He hates sweets other than a few fruits.  You couldn't make him eat ice cream!   Every now and then he is interested in something like that until we get him a taste-then he acts like he was given poison!!  He'll gag!  One of his doctors was very interested years ago about his aversion to sweets.  He will drink sweet tea and soft drinks.  But he mostly drinks juice or water.  

Selah takes all her food through gtube.  She has a good formula that has REAL food in it.  I had to fight for it but it's been great for her.  She also has some baby food daily-usually prunes.  She gets cranberry juice and Aloe Vera juice during the day along with water.   I'm very happy with her nutrition.  I feel she is satisfied and getting very healthy food.  for a year she was on pedisure and she looked swollen and gained too much weight.  

It has been challenging to meet the girls' needs but I feel we have it worked out for the best for them.  With them both being on a liquid diet, we have to ensure they get the right kind of nutrition, not empty calories!  

Being a Preacher's Wife

When I was a little girl I looked up to my pastor's wife.  My church was a bit crazy so over 17 years, I had plenty of pastor's Wives (PW) to look up to.  We averaged about a new pastor every year or so.  One of my absolute favorites was Sister Lola.  She had beautiful red hair that she wore in a bun to church  and always stood so straight. ( I spent the night over at their house- I was friends with their daughter- and saw her bun on a head mannequin!!!!  I was shocked!)   She played the piano and sang.  Her husband really tried to help our church change but the folks wouldn't have no part of it.  So she had to deal with a lot of adversity-I even recognized it as a 12 year old and admired her all the more for it.

Being 12 years old I remember telling her one time that I wanted to be a pastor's wife.  I was standing in her kitchen and she was frying chicken. She looked at me and said "Oh no you don't!" And she was right!

As a young girl, I do believe that God was leading me into full time ministry despite my many shortcomings.  There was always a desire in my heart to be in ministry.  Growing up I was in church every time the door was opened-I had no choice but it wasn't a real big problem to me.  Oh I did hate missing out on Sunday night's "the Wonderful World of Disney" but other than that our church was extremely entertaining.

 Church was such a big part of my life.  There was Sunday School and Sunday morning worship, then Sunday night worship.  Sometimes there was a ladies meeting before Sunday night service.  Then we had Wednesday night Family Hour (basically another Sunday school class)  During the summers I had to go with my aunts every Thursday mornings to Ladies Prayer Meeting.  I have to admit I absolutely dreaded the Prayer meeting.  It was very Pentecostal and I was usually the only kid there, actually I was usually the only one under 50 years old there. There was our church's attempt at Girl's Scouts called Joybells ( I kid you not!)  As I got older there were various youth meetings and outings.  There was always at least two revivals a year and sometimes they'd go on for weeks every single night but Saturday night.  And believe me, we went every single night!  Then there were Camp Meetings and youth camps, and Vacation Bible School  in the summer.  Do you get the picture?  I certainly was always in the right place to feel a nudge!

So as a high school grad, I feel called to go to Bible School even though by that time the bible school was more a Christian Liberal Arts school.  We had chapel daily and were required to go to church on Sundays.  We had various spiritual emphasis weeks AKA revivals.  It was pretty strict back then and that was ok with me for the most part although I did do some rule breaking.

Through it all I knew I was called to ministry, it wasn't just that I was always involved in church.  I can remember lying awake at night and praying-while I was praying I'd see people of every nationality in my mind's eye.  Over the years I had a few "God dreams" in which I knew God was speaking to me.  There were some confirmations too.

Then after dating a lot of guys I met Jon.  We  totally clicked.  We got married one month after we met (28 plus years ago)  I knew he was THE ONE!  Or at least I thought he was.....
Then a few weeks after we were married we went to my hometown so he could meet my family.  While there I found an old journal that another favorite PW (Frances)  had me start writing in.  In the journal I had a list of goals for my life (one included adopting!)  But the most amazing thing in the world is on December 7, 1982 I'd written a prayer for my husband to be.  That was one Sunday I missed church.  It was extremely cold and our water pipes had frozen.  Honestly I can count on ONE hand the times I missed church and it mainly had to do with deaths in the family!   Anyhow I prayed that God would save my husband to be if he wasn't a Christian yet and call him into ministry.  Well...

On that morning Jon went to a full gospel church for the very first time in his life and responded to the altar call!   I kid you not!  We both freaked out a bit while reading the journal!  Wow!  What are the chances????   I'd forgotten all about that journal it was now 1989 -7 years later....  We kept that journal for years.  We boxed it away when we moved to NY and it may still be in my brother in law's shed LOL   I wish we had taken better care of it.  What a confirmation to us.  BTW that was the only prayer I have ever written down.

Anyhow now I was married to a minister.  We envisioned a grand far reaching ministry.  Maybe we would be a new Billy Graham or David Wilkerson....  Our heart was always in out reach, we met working in a homeless shelter (actually we'd met in a class but didn't really talk till years later)   So we wanted to reach those outside the church doors......

The reality of ministry is a lot less glamorous.  Oh we've traveled a lot of the years sharing the ministry we were working for.  Lots of hotels and long rides, sometimes even forgetting what town we were in....believe me that is not glamorous!  Jon's been a pastor of a small rural church now for almost 12 years ( in just about 3 weeks it will be our anniversary there)  He's been a prison chaplain for over 20 years ( he pastors and he is a full time chaplain)  Since he is at the prison all week long (40 hours a week)  much of the administration stuff falls to me at the church.  I've dealt with remodeling & contractors, new roof, septic tank issues, well issues, toliet and plumbing issues, tree cutters, snakes, snakes and more snakes (real one)....you name it and I've dealt with it or got someone else to deal with it!

There have been times when I've actually screamed "they didn't teach me this at Bible school"   The last time I screamed that i was trying to get a water moccasin out of the church without him getting away (wouldn't that make for a fun Sunday morning service?) or having to kill him on the foyer tile! Yep true story!

Well today I got up early and had our wonderful sitter coming in early just so I could meet a funeral director at our church's graveyard....yep we have one!  Some graves are unmarked and he was supposed to help me find them so relatives could buy markers for them.  We'd also been falsely told that no one else could be buried there anymore and just recently found out that was not true.  Anyhow it was a very cold morning (in the 30's) and it was early....on my way there I thought about dear Sis Lola and smiled :)  My funeral director stood me up, called and told me there was an emergency but hopefully I'll soon get the chance to add this to my repertoire!


There have been times I loved being a PW and times I absolutely hated it.  There has certainly been times I've not lived up to the title too!  And if you haven't figured it out, I'm not a typical Pastor's/Minister's wife.  I don't sing or play the piano.  I'm not sweet at all.  My counseling is pretty much "suck it up buttercup-life is hard"  I love missions and orphan care and our church folks love my heart and make allowances for the rest of me!  Thank God!

So Sis Lola you were right but you were a good example to follow....  You'll never know how much this little girl looked up to you.

(dedicated to Lola Brewer who was an inspiration  She recently passed away....on a Sunday..

Bulllying

Bullying is all in the news right now although it is nothing new.  I grew up being bullied.  Living in a non nuclear family (great aunts rather than parents) having freckles and glasses, spending alot of my childhood having to wear dresses....yep I was ripe for bullies.  I remember when I was young thinking at least once I became an adult I would haven't to deal with bullies anymore....LOL   We all know that's not true!

But I have to say my family gave me skills for dealing with bullies WITHOUT giving me skills.  Back in the day, kids had to deal with kids on their own.  Parents didn't step in, schools didn't step in.... you were on your own.  Well that's the absolute best thing a kid can learn.  That kid will always have to deal with bullies and no one can save him.

This recent video that has been all over the internet is awful.  I'm sorry for the child if this story is true.  Regardless I'm sorry for the child.  I'd absolutely never ever record nor upload such a video of my child.  There are now questions being asked about the situation- I'm not going to point fingers but I do wish folks would learn a little discernment and not jump on every FB bandwagon that comes along!

We parent our older boys and our little ones totally different.  Obviously we are the advocates for our little ones.  Believe me I've been bullied in their place especially dealing with the local school board.  They do not understand things and are non verbal.  But even in their limited understanding we try to make them as independent as possible.

But for our older boys, we've taught them to deal with issues with other kids on their own.  I don't think I've ever talked to another parent about how their child treated my child.  I did talk to a teacher once and found that MY son was the instigator in a situation.  From that point on that kid was on his own!

There are times when a parent has to get involved.  One time we were in a restaurant and three grown men began making fun of Shad, his Chinese background and his eye.I heard them over the partion of our booth and I tore around that booth so quick and was in their faces shaming them  before they knew what hit them.  That was a bit different, Shad was six years old and these were grown nasty men.  Believe me the whole restaurant was watching that show.  I handed them their butts on a platter so to speak LOL   But we have talked about it many times there will be a time when Shad is made fun of that he has to stand up for himself.  I hope I gave him some confidence by being bold that he will use if he ever needs it.

We have a funny story about our oldest son.  When he was in 9th grade he was dealing with an awful bully.  I listened to him complain about the situation.  One day I picked them up from school and he told me that he had knocked the boy down.  I parked the car just knowing that he was suspended for this.,   I hurried into the school and met with the principal.  The principal told me that if Steve hadn't knocked the boy on his butt he would have suspended Steve!  LOL   I'm sure that is an unique way of handling things but it totally worked!  In fact, Steve never had to deal with another bully and the story has grown over the years.  Now it is a legend with his friends!

But as much as I felt  bad for my son as he was dealing with the situation, I did not intervene.  Why is that?  Because he is now a grown man, in college, working several jobs, I can not fight his battles for him today and he needed those experiences as a child to give him the confidence to deal with things today.

Just because a person becomes an adult, bullying does not stop.  I was bullied in jobs, in ministry and in church situations, those things I learned as a kid has done me well in the adult situations.  My adult son has had some hard things happen in jobs and at college, he deals with them.  He might share with me the situation, sometimes after it's over, but he has to deal with it.  His dad and I can not do it for him.

I'm sorry for children being brought up today by helicopter parents.  How will the children cope when they are grown?  The only time we've ever intervened with our kids are in cases where we did not want our kids to be around other kids because of issues such as drug use, bad behavior etc.    There were times we did not give our kids the choice but not too often.

I want my kids to deal with life and not be little snowflakes that can take any heat.  Life can be hard.  My hope is that they will be able to stand when someone is mean to them or disagrees with them.

My advice to you if you have children who have no special needs, let your children work things out on their own.  Listen to them, talk to them but don't make them a victim.  And don't make it be the end of the world either.

We've all met adult victims, everyone is out to get them, everything is against them....do you really want to enable your child to become a person like that?  I sure do NOT!   I want my kids to be able to let most things run off their backs but I also want them to have the backbone to stand up for themselves and others if needs be too.

Honestly my generation and the generations of parents after me have turned kids into wimps.  It's sad.  The kids can not handle any adversity, whether it's a bully, a hard class, a mean employer...how will these kids make it in the real world???   One summer my oldest son had the employer from hell.  the guy hated Steve (which was odd because most people love him) but we did not let him quit.  He really didn't ask to quit but we didn't give him any encouragement that way.   We just laughed and encouraged him to make it through the summer.  He did make it through and he was so happy when it was his last day there.  That job has made him appreciate the jobs he has now!  It was good for him, even at the time I thought it was good for him.

So I encourage you to teach your kid backbone and courage.  Don't coddle them.  Don't fight their battles for them.  Let them learn how to deal with hard things.  It's actually good for them.

And I don't want to get messages saying "BUT you don't understand...."   No unfortunately it is you who do not understand.  Even if you child has some impairments, they can still learn through things.
Sam and Sarah have a bit of a sibling rivalry going on.  Sam is loud and Sarah does not like that.  Often if he's loud in the living room which is HER area she will just cry and cry.  I do comfort her but I try to talk her down and calm her.  It's not the same as bullying but to her I think she thinks he is being a bully.  I'm teaching her to ignore and deal with things.  She needs that skill also. Every child needs to develop skills as best as they can to cope with life.