Ten Things Tuesday

Things I'm thankful for today...

1. Son#3 started school today. He'll go M-Thurs 8:30am-noon. It's exciting but a new experience for us both.

2.Time to myself, to do what I want, watch what I want, when I want, without a running commentary. I might actually eat real food today too!

3. Cooler temps--so cool that my kids wore jackets this morning to school. YAY FALL! Bring it on!!!

4. Football season again. It's taken almost 4 years for me to be able to watch a game and enjoy it again or even care too much. My dad and I used to watch the Dallas Cowboys together since I was little. And after he died, it just wasn't the same. It was too painful to watch thinking of all the conversations I would have been having with him. It's a little easier this year.

5. I got a lot accomplished yesterday, meetings, errands, forms filled out...good feeling marking things off the eternal TO DO list in your head.

6. I'm ahead of the game by already having my nephews birthday present ready to send out.

7. TV shows are back! I'm looking forward to or have already enjoyed Bones, Castle & NCIS Los Angleles!

8. Son#1 still thinks I'm cool after I ATTEMPTED to fixed some computer game cheat code for him. Daddy ended up really getting it to work, but I think son#1 telling Daddy, "Julie actually got it to work." was a compliment.

9.Son#1 has a new saying: "Etc., etc., etc. " When his dad asked him if he knew what that meant, he said "Blah, blah, blah." I think that's pretty accurate. It's now our new favorite saying.

10. Did I mention time completely alone in my own house???

Ten Things Tuesday

Things I'm thankful for...

1. School--'nuff said!

2. Uplifting friends & the fun I've had with them eating, scrapbooking & going to the movies this week.

3. Getting closets organized. They can really slow you down in the mornings if they aren't.

4. Books & the escape they provide.

5. Netflix & the "Watch It Now" feature.

6. Answered prayers.

7. Getting caught up in my scrapbooks.

8. Paychecks

9. Food I don't cook or clean up.

10. My new haircut--even though I'm just now warming to it & don't think of it as different, everyone else seems to like it. That's a good feeling.

Great News!

We received some terrific news today and although we felt we knew this all along in our hearts, it's wonderful to have confirmation to tamp down any doubts. Or doubters--and there are those that look at your with doubt in their eyes.

Son#3 was tested recently and shows NO signs of cognitive delays! This means there is no sign of Autism. The word they used was "average". I can live with average.

How the Summer Was Won

For most people summer is something they look forward to & dream about the time spent away from home with their family in the warm sunshine. We're not most people.
I would venture to guess just about anyone reading this post has figured that out by now. Not only do I hate the heat, the sun gives me monstrous headaches and the kids never seem to have enough to keep them occupied. They really do miss school & the routine. Did I mention I hate the heat? Summer is my LEAST favorite time of year. So for all the times you're hearing friends and family lamenting about, "Where did the summer go?" I'm going to let you in on how we survived the summer around here & how happy we are it's over.

You'll notice I haven't blogged since the first week in June. Well, let's just say summer takes three of me and there's only just the one. I can't remember sitting down much of the summer actually. As my mother says it's a wonder I'm not super skinny. Summer school was wonderful & I enjoyed the break every morning with the two bigger boys gone from 8-noon. I actually got some things accomplished, cleaning the garage out and such. Don't be too impressed, it's really taken me 2 years. We even had almost 2 solid weeks of rain--I was in heaven! We played outside a lot of the first part of the month and the kids really enjoyed the beach ball, sprinkler, trampoline, swingset, sidewalk chalk and little baby pool to play cars/trains in. Around here with 100+% humidity, we don't get out much of July/August. It never seems to be worth the effort you put out for 10 minutes of feeling wiped out the rest of the day. Even the kids don't seem interested at all after 30 minutes. But we found plenty at the library and such to keep us busy inside the rest of the rainy month of June.

The kids had the first week of July off of school and Hubbo's father came to visit. We got to meet his new wife Ms. Yvonne. The kids loved the time with them & we got to get out and about as a family quite a bit. We went to the aquarium, which son #2 really seemed to enjoy. I think he would have stayed all day peering at the fish. Although the kids weren't as impressed with the shark feedings as we adults were, but then, we're taller. We also went to an animal sanctuary with tigers & lions. Hubbo and his dad did some of the feedings with frozen chicken legs. That was impressive and I took many pictures. The baby loved the petting zoo type part and was fearless around the llamas, geese, and goats especially. Son#1 said he could have done without the sanctuary for the following reasons: it smelled, flies, too hot...oh and the other flies. For July the heat really held itself at bay while our company was here and we did our fun things. The kids all enjoyed it and I am thrilled to report they were all very well behaved. We were impressed!

Son#1 loved VBS and found an older girl in Drama Time that he has a crush on. Boy it starts young! I finally got their picture & I think it'll make a nice scrapbook page to show him when he's 18. Son#1 also has started middle school and doesn't seem to impressed by it all. But that's Autism--resistance to change at it's best! We go this week to his open house where hopefully we will sort it all out with the teacher. He's having huge adjustments and many of them with getting up at 6:15am, bus leaving at 7am. Not to mention, new school, new teachers & new bus driver who is nowhere near the perfection of patience we reached in previous years. That's a lot to deal with for him. He'll probably start back wearing his medicine patches or a half of one, soon to help him cope with his anxiety about it all.

Son#2 is back on the old meds with no tics. The tic seemed to be from caffeine intake. Now that we monitor that, we've had no problems. Well except the eating/weight issue it causes, but we're working on that one. He had a good 9th birthday because we were able to find a replacement for a 2 year old singing pig he had that he wore out. It's very hard to find a non-speaking/non-traditional toy loving child, a birthday present. Much less more than one. The pig was a life saver and boy has he driven us crazy with it--a sure sign he loved it.

That leaves son#3 and boy has summer given him a big boost! First he had his 3 year check-up where the doctor informed us he was off the percentile chart for height and 98th% for weight. His hip/foot have straightened out a lot, although he'll have to start some PT soon to help keep him from walking on his tip toes. He's always done it for balance to counter the foot he drags. Sure doesn't slow him down though. And son#3 is talking in complete sentences now too! A sound close to Hubbo & I's heart although on a crazy day can drive me bonkers. But he's a huge help around here and is quite the happy boy 99% of the time. Who could ask for anything more? He keeps us all happy & laughing even when we're in the trenches.
We took him for evaluation to get placed in a pre-school program in the public school system here for this fall. With the brothers history, and him taking awhile to talk, we want to be sure we are proactive with his speech and give him some kids his own age to learn from. Ours not being the most typical household to learn in. Son#3 loved VBS with son#1. They both really enjoyed the stories of David and the other kids. And son#2 got plenty of time with daddy, his favorite playmate.

Well, that about does it. You're caught up on our goings-ons. I promise now that I have more time to myself with the kids in school, to blog more often. If you don't hear from me though, I'd start checking local bus stations & airports, I haven't had a vacation yet this year.

For Tala

According to my Aunt Tala, I'm overdue for a blog post, so I'll just update a few things for you all.
Since school has been out, son#2 has been back to the old meds, and therefore has been able to return to summer school. His behavior is better & he is the old Carson we all know & love. However, he is back to being consumed with food 24/7. Such is life on this med. As long as he is distracted, he is less bothersome about it. But you're never quite prepared for a 112 lb. boy to be playing crouching tiger, hidden food on your kitchen counter top.

They are all enjoying the outdoors in the mornings when it's in the 90's and not hitting 100 degrees yet.
Son #1 is having fun only doing summer school two mornings a week and having a break from his brother's newest set of verbal annoyances. Yes we want him to talk, but it's sure coming at a high pierced price lately. heh
Son#2 is saying things that sound an awful lot like "I LOVELOVE YOU" over & over & over & over again. The entire ding dong day. It's sort of like when you pray for patience and the Lord answers by giving you things to practice being patient about.

Son#3 is thinking of potty training. He understands & embraces it all. Loves to yell through the house, "Pee-pee potty!" and then runs to the bathroom going through the whole routine including telling me to sit in the "chair"--the side of the tub, to observe. After leaving the bathroom he then proceeds to pee-pee in his pull-up. Soon we need to work on the pee-pee finding it's way into the potty.

We have enjoyed playdough, Legos, watercolor paints, growing a snake you put in water and playing baseball.
And in the afternoons while the baby sleeps, son#1 is at the computer working on his computer skills & BrainPopJr. Son#2 prefers to follow me around practicing the newest verbal sound at the loudest frequency possible. I think without my annual girl trip and time away from my family, I'm working on that above mentioned patience thingie.

I think it's safe to say the majority of parents love summer & enjoy the time with the kids home. I DO enjoy the less rigorous routine around here, but I have to say I work more than ever. Cooking three different meals a day for at least 4 different people, all the while being surrounded by my paparazzi. With the heat & energy that all takes, I find I have less energy to remove myself somewhere pleasant at the end of the evening to recharge my batteries. Summer's heat has never been my favorite & the boredom kids seem to suffer from doesn't place it close to my heart either. But we're hanging in there. If you don't hear from me in the next couple of weeks, you may find I've run off to escape somewhere MUCH, MUCH cooler. For now, I leave you with pictures of the boys enjoying themselves.

More Journal Thoughts From Jack

Things here have been crazy the past month with son #2, and I don't want to get into it all just yet. I need some distance, plus it's not all over with. So in the meantime, in honor of the last day of school,and all the stuff son#1 is bringing home from his desk, let's all smile & give a chuckle to his journal entries. The literal mind of an 11 year old, sort of simplifies things for me & makes me feel better.

If I went to the jungle: I would see a snake. You can look but don't touch. The jungle is cool.

If I went to the beach: I would build a sand castle. I also would barry doritos in the sand. Then we play in the sand. Then when it is time to go I pick up the doritos.

My dentist trip: They gave me medicine. My tongue did not go numb (like Jar Jar did) then we went home.

My weekend: For dinner this Saturday was Munchies. For dinner this Sunday is Lays. (orange)
note: I eat those a little bit so I don't jump around. *Son#1 knows if he eats junk & jumps around a lot, he'll probably throw up.*

My weekend: Julie went to a hole tell. Matt stayed. She came home this Sunday. *I really hope the teacher doesn't think we were fighting.*

My Christmas Break: It is 2009. I played with Grayson. He was cool.

My Imperial Day: I played the Wii. Julie got a new van. It was cool. *don't ask what an Imperial day is, because I do not know, although I always lean towards Star Wars.*

My Martin Luther King Jr. Day: I visited Brain Pop for the movie. They won't let them eat the same Lays. So he had a dream. *this clarifies the fight of civil rights huh?*

My Presidents Day: I played on my Nintendo ds. Matt got the van. It felt better. * we tell them at the cars go to vehicle hospitals*

My weekend: Julie went back to scrapbooking to finish. She was back before dinner. I love her.

My Spring Break: We cleaned up for visitors. I showed them the Wii. I love them. *I think this was his uncle/aunt & cousins.*

My weekend: Julie hurt her leg after scrapbooking. It will feel better soon. Matt got me Munchies. caution: she hops on one leg as a bunny

My Easter day: We hunted for eggs inside. They have gummies. We ate them. *this one feels like it needs a Biblical, "And it was good." at the end doesn't it?*

My weekend: On Saturday we went to Big Lots. I got a Sprite bottle. We got more stuff at Big Lots.

My Mother's Day weekend: We went to the Autism run. I played on the trampoline. Then at Best Buy we got presents for Julie.

Memorial day weekend: Grayson and Carson went with Matt. I stayed with Julie. They got home.


And last night we had to pick up Hubbo from work, so we all piled in the tiny, red clown car since the van is still in the car hospital. These are the laugh out loud observations son#1 made on this trip. Amazing how they listen to every little thing even when you think they aren't.

First we passed the armory in town that is where the weekend reserve military people meet up. He yells out, "There's a civil war tank!" Hubbo & I both felt quite old & discussed how to our kids, WWII will seem like the Civil War did to us.

Then we come to a huge Bible college here in town called Rhema. Their auditorium is quite large & has a well lit digital moving sign out front. While waiting at a light in front of it, Jack asked if this was where American Idol was.

Then we discussing someone marrying someone else, and he pipes up and asks, "Marian? She's on Indiana Jones!"
me: "Not that Marian honey."

As we pull up to Charlie's Chicken, son#1 bursts out, "There's the red barn house with the chicken memorial!" * the rooster weather vane on the roof*
And finally as we're in line at the drive-thru, he asks me, "Maybe Harrison Ford is in that car in front of us."
me: "Why do you think that?"
son#1: "I noticed his hair.."

A BIG Ten Things Tuesday

Being the last month of school, we've been more heavily involved in school things. Son #1 goes to middle school next year (6-7-8 grades) and son#2 is having issues staying at school
so I thought I'd just show you with some pictures what we've been up to.

1. Rainbow day at son#2's school. Each grade wears a certain color & the clear a parking lot while someone stands on the roof and takes a school picture.
2. Son #1's latest funny journal entries:

If I went to the desert, I would see : snakes. It is hot in the desert. I would see cacti.
The last time I cried was: Grayson ate my Lays. I got another one. That made me happy.
If I could build a robot: like Moby. I can install his speech function. He would say give me fifty dollars.
I smile (it said scream & he crossed it out & put smile) whenever I see: ants. They look for crumbs. They are cute.
A place that seems interesting is: New York. It has cities in it.
Right now something I really need is: a few bags of Lays. I need them because I'm keeping them. I eat them.
The telephone is an important invention because: you call someone far away. You can call your family. I call the police.
I'd like to invent a machine that: makes lightsabers. It has a red blade. I make it out of glass.
My favorite thing to talk about is: nothing. I don't have to talk. I have nothing to say.

3. Tuscany Brand Brushetta from Sam's. And Multi-Grain crackers from Sam's. Yummo!

4. My new gadget that has me eating A LOT of fresh pineapple!

5. Son#2 went to back to school today & hopefully when the baby naps, I'll get some time alone!

6. The month of May has tons of good movies coming out so Hubbo and I are on the path to see several this month starting with Star Trek. He went last night, and hopefully tonight I'll go.

7. Son#3 has enough hair that after he got an electric train stuck in his hair & we had to cut it out close the scalp, there's not even a hole in his mop of a head.

8. I plugged in a nightlight last week about the time that lightning struck closeby. It sparked, barely zapped my thumb but there was not ONE piece of glass found or metal from that bulb. Nothing but stink & black soot.




9. The local Autism walk was this past Saturday & we had a load of fun. For the first time all the Swaims got to participate. I was thrilled we could all be there! Even though dark weather was looming, we had a great turn out of a lot more people than usual. Possibly because they pushed it back a couple of weeks later this year. We had it at a new place too that I think was much more suited to the walk. Special thanks from the bottom of my heart to Carrie & her family, Tracey, Tamara and all of son#1's teachers/principal and administrators for showing up to support us all.
10. And last, yesterday was our field trip to son#1's school he'll attend next year--Middle school.
I had no idea I'd be so emotional over it. But seeing these boys I recognized from earlier years was just so overwhelming! They were so tall, most taller than me. And one greeted us at the door, showing his previous teacher that was with us, he had a moustache now. HA! We had a tour, lunch & got to meet a lot of the their teachers and kids he'll be with next year. It was a blast & I'm so happy I went. It's interesting to be an outsider watching the way a young person with Autism can communicate with another person on the spectrum. Or what they choose to communicate about. These kids were such a joy that I'm loosing my trepidation about son#1 moving on & growing up.