Ten Things Tuesday, er...Wednesday

1. My kids were all three thrilled with their presents. It's hard to please a non-verbal 8 yr old, but I think we did pretty good this year. Except the fish we got died already...we won't speak of this anymore.

2. I was indulged for my birthday & it lasted over several days off and on. Maybe there are good points to having a birthday on Monday after all.

3. There was no stress for food prep during Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. I planned and stuck to the plan. Who knew that actually worked? And an extra shout out to Ore Ida frozen russet potatos. Those things are worth their weight in gold to not have to peel and boil them. Steam in the bag ten minutes, then mash. Easiest real mashed potatos ever!

4. Much pie was consumed. Birthday, pumpkin and chocolate. I love pie.

5. My gifts to my neices and nephews were a huge hit! From real tiara's to a remote controlled monster Jeep.

6. My ears don't ache which is grand! Now if they'll just pop I'd be on cloud nine. Hmm Cloud Nine pie still in the fridge....

7. Two days of Christmas break the kids were able to get outside for a whole afternoon. They jumped, swung (is that right?) and son#2 even found some mud to befriend all over his body.

8. I got a Christmas card from one of the only people I haven't found from high school. She and I were so close, I can't wait now to really reconnect!

9. I got out to the mall this past weekend (yes on purpose) with a friend for girl time. We banded together since we each go maybe once a year. Sadly we spent a good deal of time in Sears because we're both old. But we had a blast and I enjoyed the time away from my kids.

10. The baby still naps. It's my saving grace for 5 more days till school starts again.

From My Husband

For my birthday today, my husband hid presents around the house for me to liven up the day since I would be home with all the kids on a regular ol' Monday. This is the card he picked and I think it's my favorite present because it pretty sums us up.


For My Wife

You know the story.
Two people meet and fall in love,
they move all their belongings
into the same small place
and begin to make a life together.

They discover that they have three toasters,
two blenders, and not even one coffeemaker.
They don't fold their shirts the same way,
and they can't always agre on
whose turn it is to clean house.

But these are the little things,
and because these two people love each other
they find a way to work them out.
As time passes, there are other things--
money worries, illnesses, family crises.
These are the big things.
But because the two people love each other,
they find a way to work them out, too.

And on special days like birthdays,
they think about each other
and about all the fun stuff they share
and about how their love has
got them through the not-so-fun stuff.

And he says to her...
"Thanks for everything. I still love you very much."

Autism 101

When you have an Autistic person in your life it's a little hard for even the people closest to you, to understand fully what your life is like. And sometimes it's even more akward to ask how you manage certain things as a family. People feel shy about asking these things and it's understandable. Not many of us would say to someone that's lost their limb, "How did you loose your leg?" even though we may really be wanting to know so that we can better understand that person's life issues. Education, in my opinion, is power. Whether it's a friend or loved one, knowing the story behind an injury, loss or disease, gives you the compassion to understand that persons life struggles. Everyone has them, ours just may be a little different & new to you.

As a new idea for the blog, I thought I'd ask my friends random times throughout the months, to give me a few questions. Anything easy or difficult about our lives with the boys and how Autism affects us as a family. Then I will answer as honestly & plainly as possible. And if you don't know me, then I should tell you I'm pretty honest & don't do well at hiding things, so you WILL get an honest answer from me. I'm not a doctor, but I do have a degree in Child Development. But I consider myself to have my Masters in it now as well. After ten years parenting two Autistic children, I feel I deserve at least that right?;)

I also hope in months to come, that any of you that know us or even those that don't, will feel free to ask anything you would like to know. Don't worry if it's too personal, I'll let you know if it's something that I don't feel like sharing at this point in time. Now I will warn you, these questions are directed at ME, they will have answers about MY family. So please do not feel you need to compare my children & their progress to yours. If it's one thing we DO know about Autism, it's that all the children on the spectrum & their cases are very individual & different. And if you feel that what you're reading is "wrong" or I say something you don't agree with, stop reading & find yourself a new blog that you do agree with. It'll be a lot less bothersome to us both I promise.

This week my friend Lisa, who I've known since college, gave me some questions and I think they are great for starting this idea off right. Thank you Lisa for taking the time & having the interest to help me out.



1. When and how did you first find out your son's were autistic? Did anything "tip you off" as a parent?

This is a very common question actually. And I think it's the one people feel most comfortable asking. When son#1 was a baby there were things we noticed. Things that caught our attention but never alarmed us. We just waited until the next doctor appointment to ask about it. One was even by 6 months old, he never wanted to hold his own bottle. But you push that aside & say "What a lazy baby! Isn't that cute?" He also flapped his hands if excited and did walk on his tip toes. (those are sort of universal signs now) He hated anything new and would cry and place his hands over his ears if we went new places or loud places. Two examples of that are as follows.

Once when son#1 was about 9 months, we went to a high school football game outside. We made the mistake of sitting by the band. Bad idea. Son#1 flipped out crying & covering his ears and we had to leave.
Also, when he was older, about 4 yrs old, we moved to a new town & tried to attend a new church. He wasn't used to that building & cried, covered his ears and wailed. This to most people sounds like a temper tantrum, you spank them and make them do it. He put his hands on either side of the door & grabbed on and wouldn't let go. He never let go till we said we'd leave. He screamed at the top of his lungs, shaking all over and scared. You could see he wasn't just being a bratty kid. He was terrified of the new place. Too much stimulation, sensory overload. Too much for his brain to take in & process. Most of us use our brain, eyes, ears, nose etc to take in a new place & process it. Son#1 (and most Autistic kids) a visual learners, it was just too much. Like a circuit shorting out, he would have a meltdown.

Son#1 never babbled a lot or pointed at things. But I remember right before he was 18 months old, we went on a trip. He stayed with my parents and when we returned my mother mentioned he was saying baby. Son#1 had 5-6 words then. Soon after that trip, we did get the MMR shot. I just can look back & see he stopped using those few words & didn't speak again until he was 4 yrs old. The not talking, was a huge sign & that's when we sought out a doctor.
Talking to the doctor, she gave a diagnosis & we love her for being aware, it took us awhile to find her, and that she was informed about such things was a God-send. This was all so new in 1998-99. It wasn't the epidemic proportion it is now. It was just the beginning of all that.

Son#2 we were watching from day one. And the only different thing we noticed about him, was that he walked on his tip toes. (both walked early at 7-8 months) However, son#2 never spoke or babbled either. And now, he babbles, but still doesn't use words to communicate & he is 8 yrs old.


2. Sometimes friends don't know how to act or feel awkward when they discover a child is autistic. What do you recommend they do?

Umm, this is a bit more difficult to answer. Each person I encounter is so different in their personality. Some are blunt, some are so gentle & tactful, others are good at ignoring issues. I think everyone needs to do what they are comfortable with, but know that the person you're asking questions to, has their own personality also. Some only let you in so far, and other parents might be shy, upset, reserved or just relieved you cared enough to ask a question.

I'd go with how well you know the person. Get a feeling, a reading off the person. Are they relaxed? Then just be yourself. If they're uptight, look for ways to maybe help if you think that's what they need--maybe just pick up a toy that got dropped for the hundredth time. Or if they seem uptight and you see them focused & in their own world, sometimes it's better to just not add to any issues that may be going on at the time. But I think it's always good to reach out to parents whenever it looks to be a good, approachable situation. Let them know you're not scared off by their kids issues. And you can do that by just treating them like any other friend. Email them if you're worried about catching them at a bad time, or call & leave messages. Actions speak louder than words.

Maybe ask them when you see them, when a good time to call and catch up with them is. That way if there is a routine they adhere to (which I bet there is in most Autistic homes) you can avoid disrupting that therefore ensuring you get to really talk to your friend.

Around the children, I'd be yourself, don't touch or come into their space unless they approach you first. Remember all those rules about a stray dog? Sort of the same thing. You don't know this child or their issues they struggle with. Don't touch them, don't do anything to taunt them like offering food in front of them or offering candy (again, you don't know their diet or what they like/dislike--but you should ask the parent, they'd be happy for you to engage their child & will most likely tell you the way to do so). And don't get in their space unless they make the first move, you don't want to scare them. My sons are very affectionate but son#1 will tell perfect strangers he loves them when they meet him for the first time. However, son#2 does not want you in his personal space unless he comes around to "sniff" you out. Oh, and they can smell fear. Just kidding. Sort of. I think son#2 really can sense when someone isn't comfortable and it puts him at ill ease and then problems can start.

And perhaps it's good to remember there is a fine line between pity & compassion.

3. What are your thoughts about the whole Jenny McCarthy my-child-was-cured-of-autism story?

Well, here is where I might offend some people, but you asked my opinion and this is MY blog, so here goes. I read her first book on her son when it came out. It's always very interesting to me to hear about other stories of how Autism touched their life. I knew Jenny McCarthy was divorced, I wanted to know if that was a result of the diagnosis. The divorce rate among parents of Autistic parents is 80%. I wanted to know as someone with unlimited (so I thought) resources, if there was something I was missing out on to help my children. And I'm nosy. I love biographies anyway so this was a chance to peek into a celebrity's life and one who may have some of the same issues we have at our house.

First, she is a great story teller. I laughed, I cried and I learned some things about Autism I didn't know. Some things my sons never had to deal with. It was interesting. Hubbo read it. There were answers to questions we have for someone parenting Autistic children. Yes, those of us living with the disease in our home have questions for other parents too, it's probably just easier for us to ask them.

I did not read her second book. The one with "cure" in the title. I did watch her on Oprah, I did see many other interviews with Jenny McCarthy. I just got the impression (after watching her on the Oprah show) that she felt the need to cure her child of Autism. I'm not judging her motives, I think they are genuine. She is a loving mother. I just don't know that I believe any child with Autism is cured yet. Functioning on a MUCH higher level than before due to something that worked for them, YES. Now, I realize some eyebrows just went up. YES, of course I want my children cured too. I hope there is a cure, so my children can have babies without the worry of passing on this disease. But I live every day to the fullest, knowing my children will not die from Autism. There are so many other worse physical problems my children could have. We don't have it easy, but it's not the hardest road we could be walking down in life & we're fully aware of that.

I personally don't believe there is a cure yet. I think I've seen a few kids (that I know personally) do so much better in their strive for normalcy, from things like diet or therapies. That's wonderful! Thank God for that. I have seen son#1 go from not speaking and utter frustration to a verbal, high-functioning ten year old that is pretty darn smart. Even his social skills are improving daily. He's acting more like a pre-teen every day in fact. That pleases me & gives me less worry than when he was smaller. But I don't believe that even if son#2 talks tomorrow, he's cured. There are things they live with daily that will probably always be there--even if to the average person they act "normal". Each child on this spectrum is so very, very different, that I do not believe there is one cure for everyone to drink & be well. I pray there's a cure in my children's lifetime, and I hope that includes isolating the gene so it's not passed on.

Eleven Things Tuesday

1. Hubbo doesn't have pneumonia, he has bronchitis. Lesser of two evils.

2. A hot rice bag & Midol

3. We have central heat.

4. Son#2 stayed at school all day Monday.

5. Bunco & the many gifts it gives. Friends, fun, food & real gifts.

6. Hubbo brought me a doughnut & Frappuccino this morning.

7. My new toaster

8. Salvation Army who is coming Wednesday to pick up a ton of stuff.

9. My tree is up, even if it is listing to the side.

10. Cable television--so there was something on to watch when I was up at 2am.

11. That son#1 didn't really have a girl in his room at age 10, when the other morning first thing I hear is:
"Where's that woman that was in my bed last night? She's missing."

Turned out to be the little mom figure from a playset. Whew!

Ten Things Tuesday

1. Thanksgiving went as well as we could have hoped. It went by in a flash and then there was son#2 running down the road flashING. I guess sometimes we just have to embrace the warm weather in November & do apparently what comes naturally.

2. I got to see my cousins & their kids/husbands & baby on the way. One cousin home from the Air Force & others in from Virginia/Pentagon. All safe & healthy.

3. I was one of the people that was at Wal-Mart at 4am the day after Thanksgiving. Some call us crazy, I say crazy like fox. I got HUGE deals & am 99% done with Christmas. And I was home & back in bed by 7:30am. Now who's crazy??

4. Hubbo cut son#2's hair. I was not a party to this of which I was totally thankful. It can be stressful & to be honest, I was glad I wasn't home when this went down. However, Hubbo seems to have discovered that son#2 will allow him to use scissors & remain unangered now but will NOT tolerate the clippers anymore. So with son#1 going to a salon now (and son#3 has a salon appointment Saturday too), and son#2 allowing us to use scissors, we have survived another stage of growing up!! Although, when it dried, there was just a touch of Friar Tuck there...

5. Both big boys retakes for school pictures turned out FANTASTIC! (for them) Now if they'll just let me pose them & get a shot for a Christmas photo.

6. Eureka! I think I've figured out how to start & possibly win the war on clutter in my house. I have a game plan people. Now if I can just get the energy to actually put it all into motion....

7. We got to watch a lot of movies this holiday on Hubbo's new tv/Christmas present. We have an old tv in the living room he had before we married & that son#2 pulled off the entertainment center once years ago. The sound is starting to go in it & the buttons on the front stick & won't work. You can't see dark things on it so we've finally entered the world of flat screens & digital tv. Whoo hoo! I had no idea it was so CLEAR! Now I don't have to stand next to the tv when something exciting happens.

8. I'm highly thankful that although Hubbo's company Christmas party was cancelled, he still got a Christmas bonus.

9. And I'm so thankful to my book club girls. We had such fun last night discussing our Christmas books and being giddy & silly while stuffing our faces. Then our crafts were fun & sooo cute! I needed that good, relaxing time & I'm so lucky to have met them.

10. I'm very thankful that Marilyn baked & brought her Rum Cake last night to book club. I really, really, really enjoyed it. And ask anybody, I don't even LIKE cake.:)

Ten Things Tuesday

1. The holidays are here starting THIS week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Break out the Christmas tree, turkey & my grandmother's recipe for stuffing, full tummies & holiday music!

2. I got to go to a craft fair. A really, really big one. Two actually. And I haven't done that in a long time, but I had a blast with my friends. We ate, walked & talked and laughed a lot. I was very. very tired afterwards but boy was it worth it!

3. Sunday I spent the afternoon reminiscing with two high school friends. One I hadn't seen for 15 years. We had a blast discussing all the roads God has taken us down.

4. Everyone here is well! I never got the crud the kids & Hubbo had, but my head cold is finally shipping out and I'm feeling a lot better. Hooray!

5. I got most of my teacher gifts purchased & done! That decision to not make everything, may have cost me more money, but is SO much less stressful & this year, that's a luxury I'll gladly pay for.

6. My computer was on the fritz & is working much better & faster now. Special thanks goes to Hubbo & the IT brother-in-law. Amazing how once you get going fast, you can't stand slow connections. It seems like such an injustice.

7. I'm at that time of year again where I challenge myself & the kids to remember to put money in every red bell ringing pot we see between now & Christmas.

8. Every year my husband's company hands out to them a free turkey from Arkansas/Tyson foods because they are one of their customers. I'm very thankful we have a 15.3 pounder in the freezer.

9. I'm thankful I got some organizing done this past week. Small, baby steps-- but I'm gonna get back to the organizational nut I was before the third kid if it kills me!

10. I had lunch with my mom & a friend yesterday. We went for Chinese and we had a very good time. "Egg Drop Soup For the Soul".

Ten Things Thursday

The fam has been rather ill here lately so Tuesday I couldn't post. Son#2 started with barfing Friday night. The baby began his round Saturday night, and by Tuesday morning, Hubbo was praying to the porcelin god as well. Son#1 started Tuesday night about the time we were set to go get his haircut. And yesterday I felt like I had a headcold. But thanks to Zicam, I'm feeling MUCH better today! (It tastes terrible, but it's worth it.)

1. Everyone is feeling much better here! Sick kids with both parents well is one thing, everyone sick with one parent down, you're outnumbered & even Lysol can't help you. It's been a long, long week.

2. I got good new color & haircut last Thursday from my friend Beth. Hubbo noticed & liked it so it has to be somewhat different for him to notice. Not to mention the body it's given my hair. I wake every morning looking like I have the Cowardly lion's mane. The word boufont comes to mind.

3. The kids retake pictures turned out GREAT! Son#1 didn't squinch his eyes up, and smiled normally & son#2 had his front teeth fixed & was considerably happier.

4. I bought my first Christmas presents last night! LET THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT BEGIN!!!!!!

5. I had a very fun time Saturday at my friend Carrie's house for her At Home party. I got to play with her son Mason and just enjoy good food & fun people.

6. Bare Escentuals make up had a TSV--Today's Special Value on QVC a couple of weeks ago & I missed it. Luckily I found it half priced through a friend!

7. I have a busy weekend ahead of me but I am mostly excited to see an old friend I went to high school with. He and I sang in choir, chorus & show choirs together from about 6th grade till we graduated. We spent a lot of time together & now he's a preacher in Florida. I can't wait to catch up on his life and where God has lead him.

8. A sweet friend that called to check on the sickies & me offering to stop by the store for us. She just had gall bladder surgery yet she's checking on us!

9. Being sick recently we've got to enjoy a lot of movies. Tropic Thunder, Get Smart, Zohan, The Happening, Hulk and Hellboy 2. As we were watching Get Smart last night, I remembered that as a kid I watched shows like Get Smart with my dad as my mom cooked & got dinner ready in the evenings. My dad worked from about 3-4am-4pm. So you can imagine he was in bed at 7pm most nights. I never felt cheated on time with him, but last night I realized, he & I watched a lot of tv shows in that dinner prep time. Rawhide, The Rifleman, Andy Griffin show, Get Smart, and of course, The Muppet Show. I remember rushing to set the table, my part of dinner and hurrying to go sit back in my dad's recliner with him to watch tv. I'm sure my mom could have used more help in the kitchen, but looking back, I sure am glad she didn't say so.

10. The holidays are here--I can feel it! Or at least I hope it's the holidays & not that virus....

Hidden Object Game

When I couldn't find my brush for days and my scissors had been missing a week or more, and I'd search the entire house multiple times, it finally hit me. We'd been having great weather & my window had been open from morning to afternoon. I put that clue together with the fact that son#2 has been in a phase of throwing things lately--behind the couch, tv cabinet, under the stove & beds, etc. And guess who'd been enjoying the breeze in my room lately???
When I looked outside I could NOT believe what I saw. I had to have Hubbo take pictures. Coupled with the leaves that had been falling off the trees it was like a Hidden Object puzzle from the Highlights magazine!!!


Here are the things to look for: (remember you can click the picture to enlarge)

* a hairbrush

* a toy cell phone

* a toy that is yellow & purple

* an army green hat (that apparently is going to work well for my cousin in the Army should he need to hide)

* a sippy cup

* a gray sheep

* a red tag (toy)

* six socks (2 blue, 4 white--which would explain why every morning I kept having to get another pair out)

* a blue handled pair of scissors

* a small black mag flashlight/keychain

Whimsical Wednesday...Again

I got up in a hurry this morning. I turned on the light in the bedroom for son#1 & son#2. As I hurry into the living room to the kitchen, I hear this from the dark.


Son#1: "Hold it right there!
I knew it was you. I could smell ya getting off the elevator! You was here last night too, wasn't ya?"

me: "Jackson is that you?"

son#1: " You was here...and you was smoochin' with my brother."

me: "WHAT!? What are you talking about?" (I keep making lunches.)

son#1: " Don't give me that. You been smoochin' with everybody! Snuffy, Al, Leo, Little Moe with the gimpy leg, Cheeks, Bony Bob, Cliff..."

me: "Jackson Allen, I do not have time for this, we're in a hurry this morning."

son#1: "All right, I believe you, but my Tommy gun don't! Get down on your knees and tell me you love me."

me: "Whatever, just get dressed."

son#1: "You gotta do better than that!"

me: "Fine, I love you." (I start to leave kitchen, back through living room to go get son#2 dressed)

son#1: "Maybe I'm off my hinges, but I believe ya. That's why I'm gonna let ya go. I'm gonna give you 'til the count of three to get ya lousy, lyin', low-down, four-flushin' carcass out my door! One... two...
(He makes all kinds of shooting noises.)

son#1: Three. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal. (shoots) And a Happy New Year.

me from bedroom: "That's nice dear, now please get dressed."


***In case you don't remember that monologue is from the movie "Home Alone 2- Lost In New York" when Kevin (McCully Culkin) stays at the hotel & uses clips from the movie "Angels with Filthy Souls " to scare the hotel staff away. Obviously son#1 has been watching this a lot.***

Ten Things Tuesday

Things have been slow & quiet around here and that's the way we like it. The weather is slowly changing to real crisp Autumn temps. And it's hard to believe we're into the double digit days of November already. Hopefully we won't have any more a/c days.
This week I'm thankful for:

1. I'm thankful for my husband who stayed home with my yesterday. Even thought it was raining all day, blowing sideways and COLD, we managed a good bit of fun. We're not alone often & we know how to make the most of it, even if it's freezing!

2. I'm thrilled to hear a best friend I never see anymore is engaged & happily planning a wedding. She's been waiting for this for so long I hope & pray she is as happy as I am.;) YEA for you Wendall!

3. I have an appointment to get my hair cut & colored Thursday morning. I'm getting excited thinking up things to do with it. Suggestions welcome!:) I'm just in the mood for something different. Plus I love hair appointments, nice girly time with some gossip on the side.

4. I had a blast Friday night at our crop. We were all low-key, less of us around, but we talked, got a lot done and I felt very statisfied with what I accomplished. I don't get to feel like I mark a lot of stuff off my "To Do" list very often, so feeling accomplishment is a rewarding thing.

5. Saturday I spent the day with my mom & family in Pryor. Our lunch was great and we had a marvelous time catching up. The kids were a little spunky further along in the day so it felt good to get home too where they could run & be free.

6. Son#3 is saying new words every day. I feel he understands SO much & is making huge progress with his verbal development. We are working puzzles, he is memorizing so much & really is taking things in and retaining the knowledge. Good signs for us!

7. Son#2 is staying at school & doing much better with his meltdowns & doing his work. He's back to being himself now. Thank the Lord for that one!

8. I'm very thankful for being invited to a Veterans day sale shopping/luncheon today with girls coming up from Joplin, but sadly it didn't work out. Oh well, there's always next time right??:)

9. I'm thankful to be back in my reading groove. Books are now piling up cause I can't read them fast enough!! "Twilight" is next!!!

10. And last, but by no means least, a huge THANK YOU to all the veterans, in my family and yours, who have served & are serving our country. Fighting for our freedom so we don't have to. Thank you all.

Wednesday Whimsey

This was in my email today from son#1's teacher:


Fashion advice from a boy on the spectrum.


Last week I wore a striped blouse, and Jackson said, “Please don’t wear that shirt ever again.”

I said, "What do you mean?"

Jack told me,“It makes you look like a prisoner and that makes me sad.”

I almost popped a button I laughed so hard!

What a kid.
I guess it is his way of saying I like you.

Ten Things Tuesday

1. My right as a woman, to vote. 1920---that wasn't that long ago.

2. The historical significance of this election---either way.

3. Thank you to my book club gals for letting me not be the only one to NOT finish Little Women. I loved it as a child. I met some of best friends through that book & a discussion of which sister we were. But I think I must have had the abridged version. The minutiae was rich and the narrator (I was listening to an audio download) sounded as bored as I felt. I guess that can happen with the giant gap from the 1800's when it was written to todays 2008 media fed audience. How sad!

4. I used the treadmill yesterday! It made an awful racket though, and this morning I found a book one f the kids stuffed down inside the belt part. Sigh!

5. I'm thankful I get to meet with my girlfriends this Friday night & scrapbook. I love that time with them.

6. I also am thankful I get to have another family lunch this Saturday at a great hole-in-the-wall Mexican place. Can't wait for GOOD salsa!!

7. My arm is feeling good enough to knit again. I'm working on some hats for my cousin who graduated Julliard this year, and decided to go into the Army so he can play with the famous Army band. He plays trombone. He finished basic training last week & is now in VA so he needs something to keep that noggin warm.

8. I'm very pleased my son's pumpkin won first place in the 5th grade division of the decorating contest. I'm happy to report, our clone tropper pumpkin was a hit.

9. Halloween was a first for our family this year. We were ALL able to go out trick-or-treating together as a family. It was very fun, very warm & the only real drama was that son#1 lost his Indiana Jones whip. The nice couple who's house we were at offered to get a flashlight & help look. But I assured them, in the dead grass & leaves, we'd probably never find the brown piece of yarn.:)

10. And last, I am VERY thankful, to be a SAHM--stay-at-home-mom.

Five Things Wednesday

Since I was so busy yesterday, here are five random things happening here I am thankful for from the past week:

1. Son#2 cut his finger on a greenbean can in the trash last Wed night. It was bad. The house looked like a crime scene, wouldn't stop bleeding for an hour & an ambulance came. I'm thankful he is better & I'm almost done with stain treating the huge pile of crime scene laundry.

2. I convinced my friend to leave me her letter stamps when she visited & I can't wait to go hog wild with them. Scrapbook pages, cards, Christmas cards--maybe you'll even see my use them to sign my name on checks. Although this would be rather interesting since they are about 2 inches high.

3. My house is clean after about a week of not being up to my standards. Shout out to my main man Hubbo who stepped up to the plate on that.

4. I have a new cell phone. All I care about is that it can be charged with it's charger & the battery lasts for more than a few hours. Oh and I have a QWERTY keyboard to text now.

5. The Swaim boys ALL have costumes and are ALL going trick-or-treating Friday. Son#1 is Indiana Jones, son#2 is G.I.Joe and the baby is going as Elmo. Pictures to follow.

Ten Things Tuesday

1. I'm thankful for the older Christian gentleman that stopped & found my son in the road today when he was able to defeat the gate & get out of the yard. I'm so thankful God watched out for him & that it wasn't a bad person that found him. Lord am I thankful about that. I'm thankful I didn't have a complete meltdown after the police & neighbors saw me pre-shower & freaking out. I'm thankful that the police didn't just deem me a bad mommy right there & take me away.

2. I'm thankful son#2's field trip got cancelled for tomorrow. *I know I sound like the Grinch--but one that would be exhausting.*

3. I'm thankful for my friends with true listening, friendship ears & hearts.

4. I'm thankful I got to have a meal alone with my husband for our anniversary Saturday & that my kids were wonderful for my mother.

5. I'm thankful I FINALLY get to get a new cell phone because mine hasn't kept a charge in the battery since June.

6. I'm thankful that I got a shower today. Mother to mother: 'nuff said.

7. I'm thankful Curious George is visiting our house this week & we're doing a photo op tonight with him. *more on that later*

8. I'm thankful Pizza Hut cooked our dinner last night.

9. I'm thankful that I think we can repair the computer cabinet door son#2 (a.k.a. Bam-Bam) ripped off the hinge last night in his hissy fit meltdown.

10. And I'm thankful my bestest girlfriends are coming up from Texas this weekend so we can PAR-TAY non-mommy style!!!!!!!!

Countdown

TEN random things about me:

10. I can play piano, although not as well anymore.

9. When I feel nausous, I eat dill pickles.

8. I have a pretty good collection of baseball cards.

7. I love to ask questions & learn.

6. I drink unsweet tea just like my dad did.

5. I like having all boys & no girls. Honest. Sorry mom.

4. I have a scar on my face from falling on the fireplace when I was little.

3. I have been to several NFL games & two MLB games.

2. I like the smell of Coast soap. A lot.

1. I clean when I'm mad.

NINE ways to win my heart:

9. Look me in the eyes

8. Offer to get me something if I just sat down

7. Enjoy reading

6. Remember my birthday

5. Be willing to tell me when I need to be told something

4. Know how to have fun wherever you, whatever you're doing

3. Be willing to talk about ANYTHING

2. Make me laugh

1. Be a Godly man

EIGHT things I want to do before I die:

8. Have a weekly tennis game with my husband

7. Lead someone's life to Christ

6. Speak at a woman's conference on the role of faith & God in my life

5. Own my dream house equipped just the way we want it

4. Own my dream car--a yellow Jeep Cherokee Wagoneer

3. Swim in the ocean

2. Go to England & tour the countryside

1. Take a trip with my family

SEVEN ways to annoy me:

7. Roll your eyes

6. Be closed-minded

5. Have to talk about yourself a lot

4. Talk to me like I'm dumb

3. Hate dogs

2. Splash me or get me wet

1. LIE

SIX things I like:

6. dogs

5. home cookin

4. books

3. television (escape)

2. my friends

1. my kids learning

FIVE things I'm afraid of:

5. snakes

4. burglars/kidnappers

3. flying

2. cancer

1. Matt or the kids dying

FOUR favorite items in my room:

4. books

3. computer

2. yarn/knitting stuff

1. pillows

THREE things I do everyday:

3. have a Dr. Pepper

2. email my friends

1. kiss my family

TWO things I want to do right now:

2. knit

1. scrapbook

ONE person I really want to see right now:

1. my dad

Random Fun

So instead of telling you things I'm thankful for today, I'm going to give you random fun things the kids have done or said to make you smile, snort & possibly laugh out loud.

** It was bathtime & the baby was already naked. I told him to go get his toys & put them in the tub. When I came back, this is how I found son#3.

This does nothing for my argument that not everyone in Oklahoma wears a cowboy hat.

** Son#1 came home with student of the month, which is picked out of the whole school. We were very proud of him & excited at his accomplishments. I was already thinking up scrapbook layouts in my head when I found something else in his take-home folder.

In case you can't read it, it's a little booklet on not getting your way & inside the story says:

"Mr. Peterman is handing out lollipops. Heather says she wants a red one. Mr. Peterman says that Rochelle got the last red lollipop."

Then you are supposed to draw and/or write what happens next.

And MY student of the month, draws Darth Vader killing Mr. Peterman & Heather says, "Thank you Vader!" --"Vader says no, Vader kills Peterman, Heather says thanks"

Good thing he got the Student of the Month award BEFORE this drawing. I expect the counselor to call me soon. I wonder if this fits in with the Twinkie defense?

** And last butt not least....this is a picture of son#3 being creative in his climbing endeavors again. Hubbo & I walk in the room to find this. We just stand there. Son#1 looks up from the computer & says with a completely straight face, " How did the baby's butt get that big crack?"

Son #1 was a little unerved when I explained his looked like that too.

Ten Things Tuesday

Here we are again! I have to say since starting this happy Tuesday thing, my weeks are flying by. Okay, here we go... I am thankful for:

1. Son#2 is feeling pretty darn good now! And he went to school yesterday and had a good day. He's even eating better which makes me happy. Now we are supposed to go in for a check-up on Wednesday, but honestly, I'm thinking they may be smoking something to think he'll lay in a chair & let them check out his mouth.

2. Book club last night was so fun. We had a great time discussing a good read called "The Ladies of Covington Send Their Love" by Joan Medlicott. *I will add a disclaimer here: I don't often read things that take major brain cells as many of mine were all lost in childbirth years ago.* I loved how this book is about ladies in their 60's still learning life lessons that I can learn from. We had a new "groupie" join us last night. She is from Venezula and is using this as one way to English. I applaud that intention & appreciate it a lot. Of course, she probably thinks we're a bunch of nutters since one lady introduced herself as, "Hi, I'm Judy. I guess that's Hoodie to you." hahahahahaha! I loved that because of course then I'm Hoolie!

3. I have a scrapbooking crop coming up this Friday night with no kids allowed! After son#2 being home most of last week & being bored all through the weekend, I'm ready to escape the asylum. And when I learned that the kids are out for Fall Break next Wed/Thurs/Fri, I signed up to crop Saturday too. Mommy gets a weekend pass from the looney bin!

4. My windows are open today with a nice crisp cool breeze blowing steadily. This is quite a feat since they are the oldest windows & VERY hard to get up. I can count on one hand how many times they've been open in the almost 6 years we've lived here. (Thought I wasn't gonna do a weather one didn't ya!?)

5. I am thankful for my sons' doctor & nurse. I know people who can't get same day appointments, can't get them to return phone calls and we are just so blessed to have caring, genuine people that will call us personally to check on the kids & really listen to us about what is going on. They truly "get" my kids. Thank you Cyndi & Gina!!!!

6. I went to a garage sale Saturday held inside at a retirement community. Everything you could fit into a sack was a dollar. I got two bags & a suitcase. The suitcase reminded me of an old one we had when I was a kid. It was marked $1, this old guy comes by & says I can have it for $.25. I tell him, it's fine, I can pay the dollar. Nope, $.25 he says. I mean, this money is all going to this retirement center, I wanted to spend & help out. So when I went to pay my $2.25 total, I gave her a $5 and told her to keep the change. That'll teach him!;)

7. I found the perfect costume that son#1 actually wanted for Halloween! Can't wait till I take it back tonight & get the pants someone ripped off the one I took home. He's already wanting to wear it day & night.

8. The crockpot is making dinner tonight. Whoo hoo!

9. Gas went down to $2.98 around these parts.

10. And this little guy is saying a new word every day, which I will in no way take for granted.

The Education of A Literal Thinker

Son#1 is in 5th grade this year and came home with a stack of graded papers this weekend. As I weeded through them to find ones to keep, I came across a few that made me chuckle.

**On one paper he had to read a one paragraph story about a treehouse & answer questions afterwards. When asked, "What are two things you can pretend to be in a treehouse?"
son #1 answered: "Harrison Ford & a squirrel"
His teacher cross them out & put "pirate or explorer".

**Further down on the same page it asks, "What might you do with a friend in your treehouse?"
And son #1 answered: "Play video games"
His teacher put: "With a very long extension cord."

**On spelling homework the kids get to add in two words each week of their chosing. This particular week son#1 added in the words, father & son.On tests they have to pick one of the words & write out a sentence using the word. Son#1 had been practicing using BOTH words in a sentence. A Star Wars sentence. Something to do with Luke being Darth Vaders son and Vader being his father. When test time came, apparently he forgot which sentence he wanted to use. So he wrote: "Star Wars is next on t.v."
His teacher corrected it: "Luke you are my son!" I think we're rubbing off on her.

**There was a worksheet where you answered questions about your community. Whether or not you lived near an ocean, a big city or small town, etc.
Here are a couple of questions & answers from son#1:

"What fun things are there to do in your community?"
Son#1: "golfing" He's never golfed except on the Wii!

"How do you get to school each day?"
Son#1: "Bush (the name of his bus shuttle--they each have a Presidential name)

And my favorite:
"Name three things you think make a community a good place to live."
Son#1: "Arrowhead (his school), playground & Arby's "

**One spelling test he states his two extra words as "Mario & Luigi".

Sometimes even we forget how literal his mind is and how often he's consumed with his fun things in his mind. Like this exchange this morning:

me: "Just a second hon, I have to finish this first."

son#1: "Actually a second is a very short amount of time. I don't think you can finish that in a second."

me: "*sigh*"

Wednesday

Wednesday morning at 5am Hubbo & I got up, dressed & ready for taking son#2 to the surgery center to see the dentist. He did well & wasn't freaked out or anything. They didn't make him put the bracelet on, they decided they could do that after he was out. Along with the IV. They didn't even make him change into a gown. He went back in what he wore there. The nurses were flexible once again, and son#2 didn't even mind the pre-op room we were waiting in. We weighed him which took some doing. Hubbo holding him up, me hold his feet on the scale. Son#2 came in at a whopping 110lbs!!

The anesthesiologist worried me some. He was a small man. So small I think I could take him. All I could think was, "THIS is the man that's supposed to hold the gas mask to my son's face?!" I was pretty sure son#2 could snap this man in half if he wanted to.

One of the things about having Autistic children is, you can peg people pretty quickly.
I can sum up someone on the phone, in person or walking by, on how they are viewing my child & their Autism. This doctor wasn't hearing us. He wasn't listening *in that special way wives mean when referring to their husbands* when I told him about son#2 pulling a large television down onto his leg and breaking it at age 2. And how it took a double dose of morphine to knock him out to set the leg. And even then, when the intern picked up his leg to set it, son#2 sat up & looked him. Then laid back down. That intern was freaked out.

I could just tell this guy wasn't going to believe me about how strong son#2 is. Well, he did LATER. He could see son#2 acting pleasant and personable. So what if he couldn't talk? Remember those cute, tiny, little dinosaurs on Jurassic Park? All cute, cocking their head to the side, almost smiling at you and then BAM! They all jump all over you wanting to eat you like a t-bone steak! That's son#2 if you hold him down. And that's the path this thing was traveling down, so I just waited.

The anesthesiologist was really bent on trying to get the "happy juice" down son#2. We tried cherry first, in a syringe. He was curious, but wouldn't go for it. Apparently he wasn't that hungry. I accidentally had some on my finger and licked it. (cooking habit) Then the doctor insisted we try another * this is where the nurse & I look at each other & roll our eyes like wives do about husbands when they aren't looking* relaxing cocktail, and this one was grape. Hubbo tasted the grape to see if it was horrible. We both agreed, it had a definite medicinal taste & a metallic after taste like you'd been licking a penny for 20 minutes. No wonder kids hate that stuff. That takes the happy out of it for sure.

Finally we were ready to go back & this is where Hubbo donned his surgical cap (blackmail picture was taken) and walked son#2 back to the OR. I waited for screams but didn't hear any. In my head I played out the dinosaurs eating the anesthesiologist, smiled & made my way to the waiting room. Hubbo's account is that son#2 was fine with being back there, even got on the gurney. Then they all jumped on him like on the Crocodile Hunter takes down a croc. One nurse had an arm (she ended up getting pinched), the dentist had one leg, another nurse had another leg and then Hubbo had one arm & was trying to help hold son#2's head still for the anesthesiologist. It took one full minute *really think about how long that would seem* before son#2 was under. Even then as they all took a step back to breathe, the anesthesiologist asked that they not leave the room yet, son#2 still felt tense. Ahem.;)

It took almost three hours. After eight years of non-brushing and no dental visits, son#2 had a lot of work that needed to be done. He had 5 teeth pulled. Two were abscess & puss filled. (that should give you an idea of his pain tolerance, another topic people tend not to believe me on)The rest they pulled were decayed. Then he had 8 fillings and 4 crowns. The dentist also fixed son#2's two front teeth. He no longer looks like Bunnicula. They did some cleaning, but I think they were all tired and it had taken longer than they thought it would.

We did convince the two male nurses we had in recovery to take the IV out of his foot (another good thought planned out by our awesome team) & the bracelet off before he woke up & started ripping at them. When son#2 started coming around he started screeching. We hurried him (this really involved Hubbo carrying him) out to the car when he could sit up because we knew the other people there in recovery wouldn't want to be listening to that. He was very cranky when home. I got the impression he wanted us to be quiet. He wanted to sleep, yet wouldn't let himself. Followed Hubbo around & sat with him everywhere he went. And just growled at us every so often. Then he'd kiss us. He maybe napped 30-45 min. But he didn't sleep the rest of the day. He was very, very mellow. Dr. Evan called to check on the "little" guy and complimented Hubbo on his agility in the OR with keeping son#2's hand from attacking as well as being able to keep the head still for the gas mask. We love our Dr. Evan---what a good Christian, caring man. God has called him to great things and we've been blessed to have him in our boys lives with his patience, and understanding.

Thursday son#2 got up at 3am, 4am & then stayed up at 6am. Between that & the previous day's roll call at 5am, we were beat. Son#2 did not have a good Thursday. He melted down more of the day than not. I think he was very frustrated at not being able to eat at the Michael Phelps pace he's used to. But today was much, much better. He's healing & was able to eat much more reasonable things today. Which just like in animals, means my carnivore is on the way to recovery.

Ten Things Tuesday

Apparently I'm getting old, because once again, I'll start with the weather.

1. I am VERY thankful today is not 88 degrees like yesterday. Today is said to be TEN whole degrees cooler.

2. I just mailed off a whole bunch of paperwork that took me a week or so to get together, filled out & ready to mail off for/about the kiddos. I love having paperwork monkeys off my back!!!!

3. Son#3, my mom & I went for Chinese for lunch. I don't get to eat out with my mom often, or eat Chinese so it was nice. Not to mention an extra shout out for excellent behavior from son#3.
(Except when he double slapped my face in Ulta.)

4. Fundraising for sons#1 and #2--OVAH!!!! (read: over) Halleluah! They double teamed me this year & both schools sent them home at the same time.

5. I'm thankful for my neighbor Jennifer who brought over some extra Rib Crib take out they couldn't use. That's our dinner tonight folks & what makes it so fantastic is, I didn't have to cook it!!! Add chips...limeades....POOF--instant meal!

6. Our bus drivers & helpers. They are SO wonderful with our kids and sweet to them. The older vets that drive son#2's bus want updates this week after son#2 goes to dental surgery tomorrow morning. They love him so much. We're blessed to have such good people looking after our kiddos when they aren't with us.

7. One of my knitted hat pictures on Ravelry.com got chosen to be THE picture they show with that pattern as the example. It's not some big deal really, but in my mind, it was a lot flattering.

8. I'm thankful for meeting up with two friends last Friday night that I don't normally scrapbook with. One was there on my invitation, the other by chance. It was a fun suprise.

9. Okay, this ones a tad weird I know, but I'm very happy with a recent purchase of a cast iron dutch oven. I LOVE this thing. I'm using it for anything & everything lately. I can do meats in it & they don't splatter up on me like with a cast iron skillet. I have to love it since I'm washing it by hand & drying it as soon as I'm done with it. Thank you Paula Deen for this great investment idea for my kitchen.

10. Another strange thank you....Friday morning last week after the trashmen came (of course), I found someone had left a "present" on my sidewalk. A bag from potatos. With some rotten, juicy ones in the bottom. Have you ever seen that before? Ever smelled it?? Stinks to HIGH HEAVEN I kid you not! Like feet, throw-up & BO all in the same area. I was at a loss. What could I do with it? Not leave it on the sidewalk, and for sure not put it in the garbage can in the garage for the next 4 days. So I ended up leaving it outside next to the side of the house. I was rather embarrssed yesterday when the lawn guy saw it. Well, today was trash day. As soon as I got up this morning, my mission was to make sure hubbo did NOT forget to take that little prize to the curb. He didn't, and the potato poison potion is gone! Horray!!!

Ten Things Tuesday

Well, here we are again!



1. Just spent the weekend in Branson, had a blast with my brother & sister-in-law & kiddos. We did lots of shopping, eating, scrapbooking & mostly laughing.



2. Son#1 had school pictures today, son#2 has them tomorrow. Since they were little, they won't sit for portraits at professional places. So I really enjoy picture day at school, no matter how crazy it turns out.



3. Hubbo cleaned out some seriously messy places this weekend while I was gone. THAT was quite the turn-on to an old married lady.



4. My laundry is caught up--need I say more?



5. I get to scrapbook again this Friday with my peeps. I can't wait!! I even have a new bag!



6. I had messed up with my knitting before I left for my trip but I fixed it last night. That feels good. Like I can start back up again. I'm using Malabrigo Worsted in a butter yellow.



7. I'm thankful we're almost caught up on Smallville episodes. What a fun series that I didn't think I'd like but do! It's fun to escape into a TV show isn't it?



8. Son#2 seems to be behaving better & not screaming at us in huge fits of anger we can't understand. Hopefully he will feel better after being to the dentist Oct. 1st.



9. Son#3 is trying SO hard to use real words. He's babbled for awhile & you get a real word now and again. But now, he's really throwing out word syllables in context. We see the light ahead!



10. And I'm thankful for my blog being nominated to the "I Love Your Blog Award"!
Now I must post who threw me this nod--->Longhorn Diva
and now I must nominate at least four others.



My college friend Danna was the first to jump to mind...she is SO genuine you just hear the happiness in her life through her words. I find her stories of three girls VERY entertaining since I just know boy stories.



Shirley is always crazy busy with some project. I envy her energy & am always impressed with what she creates every time.



Sue, who not only knits, but sews, does jewelry designs and really just wows me with her craft accomplishments over in jolly old England.



Lynne who gets more garmet knitting done than anyone I know & shares the same decorating sense that I have.



And last but not least Abigail. I've never seen such a well rounded person who is so happily blessed and says so often. She has previously served in the Navy and now entertains us troops of knitters with her stories and wonderful finished projects.

Ten Things Tuesday

1. Such good weather, we're not having to use the air conditioning today. Can Fall be far away?! Shhh....let me dream.



2. #3 son and his exceptional sleeping abilities. I do not in any way take for granted he has from the begining been & still is, a fantastic sleeper for me. Just lay him down, POOF--he's out. For hours. This allows me to be selfishly sitting here doing what I want rather than emptying the dishwasher like I probably should be.



3. That Hubbo's t-shirt contest voting is OVER! Dennis Miller picked the winner last night and all will be revealed in the next couple of weeks where I assume the winning tee will be available for purchase.



4. My upcoming trip by myself to go see Hubbo's sister & her family in Branson this weekend. I think 4 hours in the car by myself with my ABBA cd & other 80's music is sounding mighty fun.



5. Because of Prilosec, I can enjoy a nice, fat PBJ for lunch again.



6. Online Hobby Lobby coupons for 40% off one item so I can get some scrapping stuff before my trip.



7. I'm thankful for knowing what I'm cooking for dinner tonight already. Chicken Fried Rice-->
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Fried-Rice-with-Chicken





8. My foot does not hurt & is healing the fastest it's ever healed.



9. Son#1 was "Student of the Day" yesterday and very pleased with himself that he remembered to used good manners all day.



10. A husband that truly "gets" me.

The Dentist & Beetlejuice

We had a first here at our house this past Wednesday. We took son#1 to the dentist. And because of his sensory issues he would not ever allow a dentist to just LOOK in his mouth. Much less clean his teeth, poke around etc. He doesn't even allow us to wiggle teeth. So because of this we were at a surgery outpatient center Wednesday morning at 6am. Wowee, that's early!

Son#1 did well and got up and insisted on Teddy accompaning us as well as his Little Critter book, "Just Going to the Dentist". He said he wanted the nurses & doctor to have it for instructions. I had my knitting bag, recent People magazine and some coffee to wake my body up. We got straight in & son#1 was so brave! He put on his gown, kept his Cars pajama pants on. Used a heated blanket as a cape while drinking part of the "happy juice" provided by one of the nicest nurses ever. He got half down before he started gagging. After fasting since 8:30pm the night before, his empty tummy doesn't like sweet things first. Just like his mama.

The dentist/doctor came out to meet us and go over what his plan was. He was wonderfully helpful and we appreciated he wasn't going in to take everything & anything. Dr. Evan was so awesome & kid friendly in his red scrub pants & X-Men scrub top. He put son#1 at ease quickly although he was a good six foot four or better. Son#1 pointed out his book he brought and how if the dentist wanted to, son#1 would let him borrow it for instructions of what was to be done while son#1 slept. Dr. Evan was very agreeable and even said he loved books and had been brushing up on his the night before.

After the anesthiesiologist came in and gave son#1 an idea of the Darth Vader mask, we waited while he walked back by himself to the OR. He was so brave & I could tell the staff was very impressed and was probably expecting more of a fuss. I went off to the waiting room and Hubbo took off to go get son#2 up, dressed, fed and ready for the school bus. My mom had come the night before to stay the night so when we left someone here for #2 & #3. As soon as Hubbo had #2 gone and #3 up and dressed, he came back. But son#1's procedure didn't take as long as we'd thought so he just missed talking to the doctor/dentist. While waiting out front in the waiting room I was knitting and watching the news an older gentleman sat down beside me. We discussed some politics and got around to my son and how's not your typical child. Ironically, this gentleman's wife teaches D1, a class before kindergarten for developmentally delayed kids. She works in a metro area town and he drives buses for special needs kids in that town also. He was asking me all kinds of questions, and then right before he left, he said thank you. "Thank you for sharing your story of your children. I hope I didn't get too personal, but my daugthers son is not progressing as well with things and my wife & I have questioned it for awhile & didn't know what to say to my daughter. Thank you." I think my lesson I learned here is, you just never know who God will place in your waiting room for chit chat so make it worthy. He does so well placing people who need each other together doesn't he?

Son#1 came out of everything just fine! We were so so very proud of him. The dentist only had to pull 6 teeth and all were wiggly or had one waiting to come in. As we thought, his gums were sore and a problem, but he gave us a prescription for mouthwash to help that. (and it's already so much better!) He told us his jaw may be sore a bit from keeping his mouth open. Or he might need chapstick for a week. And they cleaned his teeth too. First time in 10 years...imagine that. Soft foods for the first few days & oh yeah, he has foam gel in the holes where he pulled the teeth to prevent dry socket and things getting in there while it heals. The gel can dissolve or fall out, no harm or big deal. Scared me the first time I saw one of those puppies come out though. I thought son#1 had some huge sinus problem or swallowed a bug larve!

I called his regular doctor when we got home and got topical rub-on meds for pain and throwing up called in. And son#1 did throw up by the time we got home poor kid. Dr. Evan called that night from home to check on him. What a nice man! We were so blessed. Son#1 slept a lot and by the next day, he was MUCH better & asking to play video games. There was a little problem finding soft foods without corners he'd eat since he's not your typical mac & cheese or jello kid. But he's back at school today and doing so well. We are so thankful for everyone's prayers and well wishes.
Because we were home with son#1 by 9:30am, and Hubbo would be home the rest of the day, I decided to bump my doctor appointment up to that same day. So at 2pm, off to the foot doctor I went. To have him work on the bottom of my right foot AGAIN--for the third time. I have a plantar wart. Well, actually FIVE. Apparently if you don't get them taken care of, like I didn't 8 yrs ago, they spread. Lovely. He's already seen me two other times, and it was so painful, Hubbo had to stay home at times because I couldn't walk for the first day. So I went back again, ready to beg this doctor not to do anymore because I couldn't afford to be off my feet any longer with my kids needing me the way they do. No dice. He sharpened the wooded end of a medicinal Q-Tip and applied more acid from a yep, you guessed it by the title...a BEETLE. Here is how they do it, and apparently, my old man foot doctor is a rouge according to this information:

"Cantharidin acid. Doctors and healers have used cantharidin — a substance extracted from the blister beetle — to treat warts for centuries. Today, this therapy is sometimes paired with salicylic acid. Your doctor paints this beetle juice onto your wart and covers it with clear tape. The application is painless, but it causes the skin under the wart to blister, lifting the wart off the skin. Your doctor can then clip away the dead part of the wart in about a week. However, some doctors are hesitant to use cantharidin because it's not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of warts. "

So the foot doctor is seeing me every two weeks & widdling down the skin till the warts are gone. Guess I should have gotten it taken care of 8 years ago huh? The good news is that this time I convinced him to apply even less acid, so it really did hurt less & although it was pretty painful when I walked, I was at least able to walk this time. Hopefully, this is the last time.

And here is where I want to correct this in case any of you have to have this done. Yes, it is painless when he applies this beetlejuice. However, and this is a BIG, WHOMPING HOWEVER,

later that same day, expect it to hurt. First it burns. Then it starts itching. Then the blisterS start. For me, I get a blood blister the size of a pencil eraser & two other regular blisters slightly smaller than dimes. Try walking on THAT. No matter which side of your foot you try to walk on or the heel, you still pull or pinch those blisters. Fun, fun.

So now, the family is healed & back to life as we call normal, walking & eating. Until October 1st, when son#2 goes in to the same OR/dentist.....stay tuned for those details. I'm betting their whoppers compared to son#1.

Ten Things Tuesday

I'm stealing a wonderful idea from my good friend Danna--Ten Things Tuesdays! Here are ten things I'm thankful for today.

1. A cloudy, cool pre-fall day. That means less humidity too which is always nice.

2. For some time to myself this morning before the chaos of the next few days begins. (more to blog on that later)

3. Someone who can watch the baby for me tomorrow. (my mom)

4. My great book club that I saw last night. We had a few people drop out & say our books were "trite". Seems they obviously can't be intellectually stimulated by anything with a happy ending. That's fine, I like us just the way we are!

5. I'm thankful I get to scrapbook this Friday night. Horray for more girl time!

6. Wal-Greens pharmacy--Pharmacist Bob makes my life so much easier.

7. That I got to meet up with family this weekend I don't see often enough & we had a nice, happy, long lunch together.

8. My friend Teresa that is motivating me to get back in shape. She has quite a road ahead of her.

9. My neighbors that are sweet Christian people who look out for us.

10. That we can pay someone else to mow & edge the lawn. I do NOT miss yard work.

VOTE FOR HUBBO!!!!!

Hubbo, listens online to Dennis Miller's radio show. You might remember Dennis Miller from the funnier years of Saturday Night Live. Well, Dennis Miller had a t-shirt contest for listeners to submit ideas. Hubbo submitted three ideas, and they picked all three!!!

However, they decided to take the easy way out & post all the t-shirt ideas they liked online for people to vote on.

Hubbo's designs are, the wagon one, the Radio Rennesance/Michaelangelo of Dennis Miller (gold/yellow) and the Latin text one. You may not get the humor, Hubbo used things Dennis Miller says all the time as the base of the idea so don't worry if you don't get it or think it's funny. JUST VOTE!!!!! And he prefers you vote for the yellow one or wagon one, in that order.:) Page #3 if the link doesn't work.

http://www.dennismillerradio.com/tshirtcontest?action=listImages&ind=2

They say one vote per hour, however Hubbo just voted three times in one hour so go ROCK THE VOTE PLEASE!!!!!!!! Every day until the voting is closed. Please!

Don't Come, Don't Call, Don't Peek!

It's the first day of school! I've made it! And I guess more importantly, the kids survived as well.
I guess I should fill you in on some of the more exciting moments of the summer so you don't feel left out & can empathize with why today, I would like to be left completely alone.

Summer school went beautifully. #2 son did have a couple of hiccups & need to be picked up before the half day was out. But after MUCH, MUCH medicine adjustment, I think he is where he needs to be. It was at the begining of July when he developed a tic one morning. He started tipping his head to the side & swiping his cheek on his shirt. At first this seemed like nothing. Then he kept doing it, ALL day long. For some reason, this unerved me. I guess it was the proverbial straw breaking the camels back. Just one more thing this child does NOT need going on. Just one more thing for people to stare at. And just one more thing to go see a doctor about & try not to panic. We traveled all the way to Claremore & saw our favorite & best doctor. She was convinced this was not a tic but a nerve problem in the brain from prolonged use of his meds. It can become permanent so I guess Mommy had good reason to panic. We started immedietly weaning him off his meds he had been on for 2+ years. To say we were nervous was an understatement. But being that son #2 takes an anti-psychotic drug, you can't just stop. We've seen the Law & Order specials on what happens when you do that.

About the time we got down to one dose a day, he started acting out. Worse than earlier in the summer. It reminded us of when we first started him on the meds. So back up we went to two doses. The doctor did not think this was a level of dosing that should cause anymore of the side effects. Of course, this means messing with the dosing at the pharmacy and with the dreaded school nurse. We won't speak of her anymore now.

Son#1 had a good summer. He was happy with the three weeks between summer school & the regular school year starting. The computer & Wii saw lots of action. And he went to VBS at church as well. He made strides this year. Last July he wouldn't stay & watch dramatime with the kids dressed up acting out the Bible story. He was scared. This year, he stayed & even seems to have developed a crush on one of the teen girls in dramatime. Son#1 also found a girl favorite on the tv show, "I Survived a Japanese Game Show" too. Cathy. He would spell her name to me each week the show was about to come on. He practically cried when she was kicked off. I'm seeing a pattern here that he likes brunettes.

Son#2's summer consisted of meltdowns & taking his pull-up off & running around naked. My back aches from bending over to put his pull-up back on him for the millionth time a day! It is good news because this means he's figured out he doesn't want poo on him or to be wet. However, the idea of how on earth I'm gonna potty train this somewhat gentle giant, is a little daunting. It does NOT help, that son#3 has decided this summer to copy everything his peapod (son#2) does. They DO look hilarious running around the house naked looking like Jolly Green Giant & Sprout though.

Yesterday at meet the teacher I went to son#2's school and left him home. One of his friends, Mario was there with his mother. Lovely woman. She's fiesty, I like that. She mentioned one day she & her husband were sitting watching tv when pink stuff kept falling on them. And they heard scurring around up above. Thinking they had a rodent, they went to look in the attic. Mario was up there running across beams & hiding in the corner. Lucky he didn't fall through the part that wasn't floored. Her story reminded me of how we couldn't find son#2 one time. Searched everywhere & I was so worried and ready to go run around outside searching. We found him in the garage, sitting in the car.

Mario came right up to me & gave me kisses & hugs. His mother was worried, I told her I was used to it, son#2 does it as well. Stares into your eyes & kisses you. Of course, these boys ARE getting rather tall, and in 3rd grade now. But I didn't mind. Mario always smells SO yummy and like me, loves chapstick. He apparently doesn't like to be wet either because she said on a 7 hr trip to Austin, TX this summer, Mario did not pee his pull-up. Wow these kids are stubborn.

This summer son#2 has been making this noise we can't figure out. Remember that old beer commercial where the guys all called each other saying "Whazzzz uppp"?? Well, it's drawn out like that & sounds like "DUUUUUDE". At his school yesterday I figured out Mario was saying this too. And it turns out, son#2's girlfriend Emma, started this sound "BA-DOOOO" when she wanted to play ball. Lightbulb moment. I was so impressed that the kids were copying each other! This is a great sign!

Well, I apologize for not blogging this summer. I tried to save my energy to cook lunch & dinner. The heat got bad in the last part of July & August so I was conserving my strength. Plus a bored son#2, means the house is trashed each & every day. My blood pressure meds were making me VERY tired & out of it. And the best husband in all the kingdom did all our laundry & dishes. What a prince! But now, I'm on a new med, back to normal & we're still house hunting. Day by day. And today people, I'm in hiding. When the baby goes down to nap, I will actually be alone in my house for the first time since May. Tears may be shed.

There was a furniture store in the town I grew up in that would have a sale ever so often. And their commercial was, "Don't come, don't call, don't peek!" So I'm telling you, please, give me just this one day left to myself, and I'll be a new person tomorrow.

Best Friends

This past week I took my annual trip to spend some girl time away from my house. The Girl trip. I traveled with a friend from here where I live, and we met up with two of my friends from college who live in Dallas, Texas. There is a scrapbook convention in Arlington that we use as an excuse to get together & let our hair down. It really started as the main reason we went once a year. As time has gone on though, I notice we get less & less pages done.

We have a lot in common with each other that keeps us connected in many other ways besides our hobbies. Two of the four of us, have policemen for husbands. It's not an easy job being the worrier or the parent that's home during the regular hours of the day. Two of us have children that have some special needs. We get what it's like to have your kid not understood by people. Three of us went to college together and all four of us attend the same denomination of church. We have many connections and even though we have seperate lives and families, we always make the time for each other, this one time a year.

Our husbands and families take off work and time out of their own lives, to help us go have a good time. It's an important time for us all. Sometimes we think we can't make the time, the money (gas ain't cheap folks!) or get in the right frame of mind to relax & enjoy it. But we always do. It doesn't take long till we're smiling constantly, laughing till we ache and really hating how time moves so swiftly. Anyone begruding a mother a good time away from her family for an extended period, listen up. If that woman that folds your laundry, fixes you food and cleans up your children accidents doesn't get time away, she can't appreciate you all. She also can't stay sane. It's a proven fact. That woman will take cranky to a degree you didn't know it could see if you don't let her take some time that is purely for herself.

That means no picking up your dry cleaning on the way home, only call if you HAVE to ask her something and please do NOT ask her when she's coming back home. That will only drive her to stay away longer. There's being missed, and then there's breathing room. Let her have her space. Let her live again--like before she had children and responsibilities.
That's the whole point of our trip. We do NOT cut anyone's food up, we do NOT dress anyone but ourselves and we do NOT go to the bathroom with anyone else in the room either. I bet this is sounding very appealing to some of you out there.

My friends & I had a great time. We ate out at many places, shopped till our legs were so tired we had to sit down. Took many silly pictures, and we just had a really good time. We shared toothpaste, makeup, hairbrushes and even shoes. We stay up late talking about old times, old friends or just silly times we never told each other about before. Our topics rarely turn towards children or husbands. We try very hard to not talk about the responsibility "stuff" in our everyday lives. There's plenty of that during the year. It's all about us doing things we don't normally get to do for ourselves, saying things we don't normally get to say out loud, being around people our own age longer than normal and spending money on things that only matter to us. Together like this, we get silly, we say hilarious things to make the others laugh out loud, maybe even snort a drink out their nose and we are NEVER on our best behavior. In fact, the waiters usually think we've been drinking because we laugh so much & have so many crazy stories to explain our behavior.

What I treasured most this year was I didn't have to scarf down my food in a wolfish manner to try and keep up with when son#2 would be done eating. I didn't wipe anyone's butt other than my own and no one stuck their hand under the door while I was in the bathroom. Although, there was a camera that tried to worm it's way into my dressing room at the mall. When you're a mommy there are reigns on you like a horse. When you get time away, truly away from responsibility, you can relax in a totally different way that allows the inner Girl a way out. There are many times in every day life when you tell that Girl inside no. The Girl is the one that wants the pretty things, nice clothes, time away or to just do what SHE wants that day instead of what HAS to be done. And she wants to say whatever she's thinking without worring about little listening ears. But because your children or your family needs to do something else with that money or that time, she is rarely given a leash of true freedom to come out & play. There are deadlines for work, soccer games and meals to plan, buy for and fix. Laundry always calls to be folded and somehow there are more commitments than you remember commiting to. That inner Girl remembers what it was like when she was younger and has so many fewer responsibilities. She steps up and does what she needs to do. If I told you of how much my friends I have to deal with in every day life, you just might not believe me. That's why it's so important to come together. We know with each other, maybe not any other people, we can totally be ourselves. Let it all hang out I guess you could say. Total acceptance of all flaws, mistakes and ramblings.

In life you mostly have different friends for different areas of your life that you might need them. And that's why this group of friends I meet up with are THE best. The best means, they can cover me in ANY of those life situations that come up, even if we haven't spoken in 3 months, and STILL be the person I have the most fun with.

The good times of this year, might last us till next year, but I'm thinking we're getting greedy and may need a 6 month fun trip. See? That Girl, she's not always easy to squash back down when you've let her out all bra-less and free. She has a hard time readjusting back to real life.

The End of the School Year

It's here! Finally the end of the school year has come. My children attend ESY (extended school year) which allows them to stay in their routine & there's also less regression when school starts back up again. And I'll be honest, while other moms are looking forward to sleeping in during the summer, I don't mind getting up early to see them off to school. It may just be half a day, but that's half a day of freedom and less whinning. And let's face it, even Martha Stewart would agree, less whinning is a "good thing".

The end of school brought home a lot of extra papers the teachers were cleaning out & of course home-made Mother's day gifts. My favorite I don't mind saying is long stemmed lillies made with a cutout of son#2's hand & green pipe cleaners. PRICELESS! I have them in a marble vase. They are precious. Son #1 made me something of clay. I must say I don't know what I'll do with it yet, so for now it's sits on the treadmill. It's a nest with A LOT of little eggs in it. So picture hardened clay shallow bowl, and lots of tiny balls of hard clay. I can guess since with clay & playdough there are sensory issues with my son, that this was his way of making something he had to, in a hurry. What's faster than a bowl & some little balls of clay? So, I guess I'll put it next to the other TWO I have from previous years. Pretty soon, I'll have to get a family of birds to sit in them so people know what they are & don't mistake them for ashtrays.

And for the last little chuckle, I thought I'd share son#1's journal entries for April & May since you all seemed to like them before.

If I went the desert I would see..... "some birds. I would see a lot of sand."

When I loose a tooth..."at the dentist the tooth fairy gets me a new Lego Star Wars game." (can you tell who has a loose tooth at our house??)

I use a computer for..."brainpop jr."

My favorite PE activity is..."scooters. They go fast."

I stay strong by eating..."cheese ritz. I also eat Yoplait."

The biggest thing I've ever seen is..."Arrowhead (his school). It has so many rooms."

I'd like to become famous for..."Lord Vader , from Star Wars."

The last time I cried was..."when there wasn't Lego Star Wars for Windows."

My favorite assemble at school this year was..."about the earth."

The librarian at my school..."showed how to make strawberry ice cream."

If I ever got lost..."I call 911."

If I could build a robot..."he will be like Moby . (on Brainpop Jr.)

An animal I know a lot about is..."a panda. Pandas are cute."

Rollercoasters are..."cool." (my son has NEVER been on a rollercoaster)

When I go to the dentist..."she looks in my mouth."

A fun outdoor activity is..."Jedi Academy." (computer game)

If I were one inch tall..."I would be like an ant."

I want to take a field trip to..."my getto." (Apparently someone's been watching MTV)

At the library I..."can read."

I don't scream whenever I see...(he added DON'T) "ants."

Now I have to go & shower. My kids are gone to school for half a day and after a full day with all three of them yesterday, I'm a mess. Half days are good, but it's sort of like the start of the crab fishing season on the tv show "Deadliest Catch". I have to hurry to meet my quota of things to get done before time runs out and they come home.

Heaven & How You Get There

Son #1 came home from school yesterday in a rather brooding mood. I could tell something was up but with the pitch of his voice I decided to tread lightly. He had a wrapped "present". I asked who this was for, after much protest & whinning I won't subject you to, he allowed me to put it up on top of the tv cabinet so the brothers couldn't get it. Then I sat down to try & figure out what he was thinking about to make him so quiet & frustrated. He sat at the computer not playing it, but staring off at the tv. But I could tell by his fixed stare, he wasn't really paying it any attention. I sat down across from him.

me: "What are you thinking about babe?"

son#1: "Well, I don't want to grow up and be old."

me: "Okay"

son#1: "When you're 80 years old you die."

me: "Some people live to be 90 & 100 years old too."

son#1: "They do?"

me: "Yep."

son#1: "Well, I'm NOT going to heaven."

me: "Okay, but in heaven you don't have to sleep or eat, you just play & you're with God."

son#1: "Well, I'm not going because Papa never came back from there."

me-quietly: "That's right, you don't come back."

son#1: "Well, I'm not going then. I'm going to stay with the Swaims forever." (pause) What happens when you die?"

me: "You mean to your body? After you die, we have a funeral for your body. But you have a spirit inside you that tells you right & wrong, and when you die that spirit goes to heaven to live with God."

son#1: "Well, I'm NOT going. (pause) When is he going to ask me if I want to go so I can tell him no?"

me (chuckle): "Well, he doesn't ask you like that. He asks you to be baptized, which is where you hold your nose & go under the water & come right back up. And he asks you to believe that Jesus was God's son.
See, God had a son, like you're my son. And God's son's name was Jesus. And Jesus died like Papa died. After he died, God took Jesus to live with him in heaven. One day Jesus will come back, then all the dead people will live again and he'll take us all to go be in heaven with God. So you'll see Papa then."

son#1: (processing) "Well, I think Papa misses being here and playing his Hoyle games."(computer games)

me: "I bet he does too baby. I bet he misses you like you miss him. (pause) You know how Matt is your daddy and I'm your mommy? Well, Papa was MY daddy. And I miss him very much too. So it's okay for you to miss him and be sad about that because I get sad too."

son#1: "Yeah. (pause for processing & recognition starts to dawn on him) So Nana is your mommy?"

me: "Yep."

son#1: "She not dead."

me: "Nope, she's not."

son#1 smiles "Yeah. (pause) Well I still think heaven is evil."

me (sigh): "No honey, that's hell. We'll talk about that a different day."


**I had no idea how many times we say "well"--so I apologize, but it is how son#1 starts most sentences.

A Peek Into Our World-Sensory Issues 101

WARNING! Technical Mumbo Jumbo Ahead! But you might learn something too. Enter at your own risk.

Son #2 had a meltdown a few weeks back & "chinned" the teachers desk at school, breaking off parts of his two front teeth. He has a nice upside V for a hole there now. I call him Bunnicula now. But with this injury & discomfort has come many, many meltdowns with son#2 lately. He's unpredictable and it's not pretty. There have been many, many time outs in his room. So with meltdowns come people who stare. And many people who don't understand. The world is filled with plenty of people who don't want to understand. But for those of you that do, and are curious what a little part of Autism FEELS like--I wrote this.

I attended a Sensory Integration seminar at the therapy place my kids go to. Some of it was stuff I knew, other parts were eye opening. I figured if they were illuminating to me, some of you in contact with anyone like my children, might benefit from my interruption so why not share some of the internal processing that goes on with kids on the Autism spectrum.

You have your five basic senses that we all learn in school. Then there are three HIDDEN senses. Kind of like your Spidey senses. However kids on the AS (Autism spectrum), don't have an easy time FEELING these things that are second nature to us. This is where we need Sensory Integration for them. And SI (sensory integration) are different therapies that help them register the sense or feeling.

Tactile discrimination is the first & the most primitive sense. Your hair on your body is able to help discriminate some things with this sense. Like when you get that tingle on the back of your neck? Another example is your ability to determine what is in your hand without looking. If you're blindfolded & someone puts a feather in your hand and a rock in the other hand. You're able to differentiate between the two & tell what they are by tactile discrimination. And you don't really remember anyone teaching you how to do that do you? That's why theses senses are considered hidden or innate.

Then there's vestibular sense which has a lot to do with your posture and balance. It's like having a protective system within you. It tells you which way is up, how your body is oriented in relation to up, how your body is moving in space and when to throw up. When you start to fall you put your hands out in front of you. We say it's instinct but really it's called vestibular sense.

The last hidden sense is called proprioception and has a lot to do with muscles and joints & the nerve endings in them that send the messages to the brain. This sense lets you know how heavy something is, how far down it is when you take a step and it is stimulated by gravity. When you get up all groggy in the morning & go to the cupboard to reach in for your coffee cup, you know how much force to use for picking up the weight of that cup. If you close your eyes and extend an arm out to the side and then to the front, there is a sensing of where the hand is located in space in relation to the body itself. Especially when the muscles of the hand are flexed. Try it. You sense/feel the arm more (eyes closed!) when your hand is in a fist. That's because you're stimulating nerves by making that fist.

The reason these senses are important is because SI (sensory integration) is the foundation of emotional regulation & learning. You want to know about Autism? Non-Verbal Autism? It's hard to get in their heads & tell you what's going on or how they feel, but this might enlighten you. We knew what it was, but now we know WHAT causes these meltdowns to happen to son#2.
Autism is a neurological problem in the brain. It's essentially roadblocks that don't allow communication & other basic fundamentals, things we don't even remember learning, to happen in a normal way. Because of this neuro/nerve problem, things are wired a tad differently inside of them. Where it's easy for us to use our hidden senses, theirs are either too heightened or to dull for them to get the messages their nerves are sensing. Therefore we have to stimulate them to FEEL & SENSE these things. These basic skills help our "neuro makeup" & underlying learning process to progress and react in a developed way.

Here is the best example of this I can use. When son#2 can't figure out how to communicate what he's wanting to one of us, or can't figure out how to tell us how he feels, he melts down. A meltdown is just the new word for tantrum. But you can imagine at 96lbs and 7 years old, there's more heft behind the kicking & screaming. Remember my post about the terrible two's? Those are manageable tantrums...when it goes to the extreme, we call it a meltdown. Scratching, flailing around, wailing and much gnashing of teeth. The severity of this is determined by several things. How badly he wants or needs "it" whatever it is at that moment. How tired he is, how hungry he is, how many times he has to take us to the place or item to get his point across, if we've said no and if he is due for his meds.
The medicine allows son#2 to reel back in the emotions and fervor and get it back together enough to function again. Sometimes he's too far gone & it takes an hour or more to get himself back together. Part of this is maturity. All kids learn this when transitioning from baby to child. Other parts are where an Autistic brain is different than our own. (thought I'd forgotten my point didn't you?) Son #2's brain, isn't processing the same information as ours when we're doing the exact same task. Because of his deficits in that area, it will interfere with the creation of ideas or connecting them together, and analytical thinking. Hence the non-verbal part.

When people say the Autism spectrum is wide ranged, they aren't kidding. No kid is exactly like another in the world, and Autistic kids get even more unique and personalized in their way of learning, communicating and finding their way in the world.
The perfect example of this uniqueness is son#1 is getting over stimulation to his sensory system. Whereas son#2 is not getting enough. Now this isn't true with EVERYTHING, but with most things, this is how they are integrating. Over & under. Yet, both are Autistic.
So son#2 feels better when he swings. This goes back to the point of vestibular sensing. It calms him because he isn't processing what he's sensing correctly. He isn't sure of what he's feeling. He's not sure of his body in the world. Sort of like an astronaut in space? So swinging stimulates the inner ear where gravity & our body are centered & gives son#2 extra stimulation to FEEL himself there. Other ways are weighted vests and blankets sort of like the x-ray apron they give you at the doctor's office. It's weighted & feels good to them. Like yoga, they feel centered & that allows them to feel calm. We like calm. You can learn better when you're calm.
Jumping is the best thing though. All those endorphins released by jumping & bouncing up against things. You feel alive & very happy. Or that's what their faces say to me.

So maybe I've given you a little peek into what it's like to be Autistic. Maybe you see now where some of the frustration comes from in those kids you see melting down. Doesn't always make it easy to deal with, but that kid at the store, may need more than that spankin you're thinking of. Would you feel that way if he was blind? Without certain senses I think there's an adjustment period where your body & your brain have to come to terms with each others abilities. This takes time and patience. And more importantly, there's a learning curve. Whether this Autistic Spectrum child is in your classroom, your church or is in your family--you are his classmate. His learning curve will effect you. Why not help him out? It'll help YOU out in the long run.