Life in the Crazy George Family

Our New Trampoline

2011-07-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

I have been looking on craigslist to buy a trampoline for our backyard. I have been looking for the right price and the right pick up location. Yesterday morning I SCORED! I found a 14 foot trampoline in the Kent area (come to find out, it was less than 1 mile away!)! I found the craigslist posting at 7:15am and she put a phone number on the post, so I quickly e-mailed her and then I called her. I had to leave a message and promptly profusely apologized for calling so early, but I wanted to be the first responder to the ad (ad was left the night before at 10:30pm). She called me back and yes, I was the first caller and by 10am, we owned our own trampoline! YES!! So excited!

I had the boys help me try to put it together (without instructions) while daddy was at work. I really wanted to have it all together before he got home so I could take a picture of it and send it to him saying that we now owned a new backyard toy! Well, it didn't quite work that way. I did the best I could in a couple of hours and got frustrated with a couple of things, so decided to wait for daddy to come home. He took one look at it, changed some things around and within 90 minutes, the boys were bouncing on it! Go figure!

So, here are some pictures of our first evening playing on the trampoline!

Kelly giving the trampoline some finishing touches

Carson and Logan being silly

It was our pajama day yesterday, which means that they don't have to get dressed! Apparently Logan takes that literally and doesn't even bother putting on pajamas! LOL! He's my naked boy...just loves being naked!

Not only did we score with our purchase of the trampoline, I also scored with finding some canning jars for CHEAP! YAH for me! Trying to get enough jars to be able to can up a storm late summer/early fall! YEEHAW!

So...who wants to come bounce with us??

Stay tuned for some fun Fourth of July photos, which will be coming soon!

Camping Trip

2011-06-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

The boys and I went camping with some friends at Lake Chelan State Park. We left on Friday and came back on Sunday. We arrived at Lake Chelan at around 11am, just in time to start our camping trip with a day at Slidewaters (a water park). The boys LOVED it! The boys and I stuck together about half the time, then we had lunch! (And boy could my boys eat! I packed 5 PB&J sandwiches among other foods and by the time we left, they were all gone!) And the best part was that the park was small enough and our group pretty much occupied about half the park, that the boys could navigate the park on their own (with a friend, of course!). The lifeguards were awesome (were actually watching the kids), which always helps you feel better about their safety. They would come check in with me and then go hit another slide! I could not have been more proud of them.

And, because they were so well behaved, we ended our water slide experience with a yummy ice cream cone!!

We then got to the campground and set up our camp. We went with my friend Angela (and here family) and her friend Karissa (and her family). But, we were also part of a much larger group (the church that Angela attends) of about 204 people. Angela promised me that it was going to be the easiest camping trip ever (which was especially important to me given that Kelly had a last minute business trip come up and wasn't able to attend with us) and so I went with the two boys and my brave soul!!

Logan was quite concerned because he saw that I wasn't packing too much food (just snacks) and kept saying "I hope someone is bringing the food, mom!" "I hope someone is bringing the stove to cook the food, mom!" Very cute! Our group planned all the meals and each family brought a small portion of what was needed for the 204 people and when put together we had meals...and really good meals, at that!

I grew up doing tent and trailer camping. My parents have taken us camping (in their fifth wheel), but we have never done tent camping with the boys. Probably because I haven't been brave to figure out all the details involved!! So, here we are on our first tent camping trip and we are WITHOUT Kelly! YIKES!! Angela had best be right...this had best be the easiest camping trip ever!

And it was! We had some wonderful camping neighbors right next to us (part of our larger group) and they were very gracious to help me set up the tent. As a matter of fact, they would appear out of nowhere in my hour of need and would help whenever I needed it! Thank you Forest!

Our first night we had s'mores for dessert and the boys were lovin' that!

Carson was all about the whole experience. Fire, roasting marshmallows and a S'more! Yummy!

Logan was just about sticking his marshmallow in the fire, setting it on fire, blowing it out and EATING it! In far too big of a hurry to bother with putting a S'more together when he could eat more burnt marshmallows! LOL!

Saturday we went to the beach, which was a short walk from our camp site! Logan and Nolan (Angela's youngest son) played together incessantly! They have known each other since they were born and are months apart from each other!

Logan called this his "Damage"...instead of a "Dam". Very cute!

Very serious business building a dam!

The boys LOVED playing at the lake! They even played together for a short period of time!

We had our meals on a large grassy area. The boys got very comfortable where to find the food, fix themselves a plate, get something to drink....and of course, go back for more! They played super hard, so they ate a TON!

Me and my silly boys!

We had a quiet time that afternoon (since we weren't taking naps), so all the kids in our small group got into one tent and watched "Tangled" while the parents relaxed a bit and hung out with each other!

Logan playing his banjo!! And singing too!

Carson and Mason were buddies on this trip! They are also the same age and have known each other since they were babies!

Sunday was our final day there. We ate breakfast and then had to tear down camp. I bribed the boys to help me do this horrific task. I told them that if they were good helpers, we would stop and buy some ice cream before we left the campground. Man, that worked like a charm. I even bribed the other kids in our group. They would bring over some of our stuff that was left in their campsite (like chairs, jackets, bubbles, etc.,) I gave them a handful or pocketful of popcorn every time they came over with more of our stuff! They were happy to oblige, and I was forever grateful for the help!

We got camp all torn down and I got into the van to look for my sunglasses. Darn it! I left them in the tent (which was already packed into the van)! So, Carson and I pulled it out and unfolded it and sure enough, the glasses were inside in one of those hanging pockets (obviously forgot to check them)! Won't do that again!

The boys were such great helpers, that we went for a walk along the river and the lake, then went to get ice cream!

Carson and Logan acting civil toward each other (YEAH!) while on a walk along the river! Gorgeous, huh?

Pausing for a family photo with Lake Chelan in the background!

All in all, we had an AWESOME weekend! I did it!!! But it certainly wasn't by myself! Angela and Karissa and their families were a HUGE help to me. They were always watching the boys while I went over to our campsite to do whatever. Our sites were across from each other, but all the activity went on at their campsite. It was wonderful that the boys had other kids to play with, that the food was pretty much provided for us and that we could spend the weekend with wonderful friends! We're definitely planning on doing it again!! (if they'll have us back...LOL!!).

It was also nice to come home to a rotisserie chicken on the grill, see Kelly and have his help unloading the van! You know, it's the little things that make your day!

Oh, and one more thing! The number one thing that I was worried about was having the boys pee their beds. The closest laundry facility was 30 minutes away! So, I packed every blanket in the house, thinking that if they peed on them, we could just stick them in a huge garbage bag, put them in the van and deal with washing them later. You know what?? Neither boy peed their bed the first night! Logan had a small accident the second night, but Carson was dry! YIPEE! This momma was very excited about that success!

Carson

2011-06-22T17:30:00.000-07:00

Here are the teacher/helper/bus driver gifts that Carson gave this year. They were a big hit with everyone and we had a lot of fun getting them ready! I've even heard that a couple teachers even took pictures of the gift so they could use it in the future for their students to make for Mother's Day or the like.

Love, love the "Dear Teacher" font that I used to make these cards! Doesn't it look just like a Kindergartener wrote them?

Carson lost his front two teeth on the same day! They had been bugging me because they were all wiggly and the dental floss would go straight to the root everytime I brushed his teeth. I offered to pay Carson to allow me to pull them! (that's how bad they were bugging me!). He wouldn't take me up on it! So, later that morning they fell out all by themselves! (except Carson didn't get the extra cash for his piggy bank)! LOL! He has officially lost 6 teeth total! He's having some difficulty eating and speaking! I have to ask many times, "what are you saying!" Too funny...

The toothless Carson

Carson's last day of Kindergarten was on Monday, June 20th and his class had a little graduation ceremony. They got to make their own smores (and Logan even got to join in and eat as well)!

The very excited Carson prepares his S'more!

The class sang about 8 songs to us and they were all very cute! Then they prepared themselves to receive their Kindergarten graduation certificates!

Here's a video of Carson receiving his certificate (just push play)! Carson, we are so proud of what a great job you have done in Kindergarten! You are officially a FIRST grader! WOW!

The graduated Kindergartener

Caron had to pose with his teacher, Mrs. Geist. What a great teacher she was! We will really miss having her (although will hopefully have her again for Logan in 2 years). Thanks for all you do to help Carson and other students!

Carson and Mrs. Geist

Carson wanted to keep in touch with some of his classmates this summer, so we made these cute little business cards for Carson to hand out! Hope someone calls...

Happy Summer to All!!

Logan's Last Day of Preschool!

2011-06-19T11:05:00.000-07:00

I'm such a terrible blogger! One minute I am going strong with documenting life and another minute I want nothing to do with it. Hmmm...guess that's life, huh? One of my big reasons for blogging is to share stories, pictures and videos with friends and family...especially those that do not live close to us. So, here I go...let's try this blogging thing again!

Logan's last day of preschool was on Thursday. I always try to have a small gift for not only teachers, but everyone that impacts my child's life at school (including bus drivers, speech therapists, para educators, etc.,). So, this is the gift that I came up with for this year. We bought terra cotta pots and the boys painted them, added soil and chose their flower. We then stuck a fork in the soil and added a photo with a little note to each person. Between the two boys, we had 14 of these to make! When we went to deliver them, everyone was very excited about them and the boys enjoyed giving them.

School Gifts

Note attached to gift (I just love this 'Dear Teacher' font!)

Logan with Miss Jodie, his teacher

His preschool did a cute little presentation, including music, receiving of certificates and a cap ceremony for the kidos who were moving onto Kindergarten (not Logan). This is Logan and his classroom singing a song titled, "Love Grows"! Logan is constantly singing this at home (complete with hand motions as well!

Logan receiving his Certificate

They even had a special snack for the kids and Logan was waiting sooo patiently for this part (which of course was his FAVORITE!). I was chatting with Logan about the upcoming party before he went to school. I explained that I wasn't able to stay for the whole thing because I needed to be home for when Carson gets off the school bus. I asked Logan if he wanted to come with me when I left or take the bus home. He says, "Mom, I'm staying at the PARTY!" Well, of course you are! Very funny and cute!

Logan just LOVES preschool and will greatly miss his teachers and friends. Before school was even out, he was already asking "Mom, can I play with _____ this summer?" So, I whipped up some little cards to give his friends so they could call us for a play date or something.

Carson's last day of Kindergarten is tomorrow, so I will blog about his fun day as well! He can't wait!

Christmas Traditions

2010-12-06T21:50:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, we have done some very fun things! As usual, I am always trying to instill some family tradition into our holiday season!

This year, we added a new tradition....The elf on a shelf! This is a great little package including a book (that explains the tradition of the elf) and an stuffed little elf. You name the elf (the boys named ours Zap) and the elf's job is to be Santa's eyes. At night, Zap flies back to the North Pole to let Santa in on the day of Carson and Logan. When he flies back (in time to be back when the boys wake up), he finds a new spot in the house in which to watch the boys. We added our own personal dimension to this...we have Santa write notes to the boys ("good job with making good choices yesterday", "work harder or I'm flying right past your house on Christmas eve", etc., ). It's been fun, but it's been difficult to remember to move Zap every night! My friend Angela assured me that this would be your key to good behavior during the holidays. Well...I don't know about that, but it has helped a little, so I'll take it!

We've had a tough time with the boys' behavior lately. The thing that has helped the most with their behavior is The Portable North Pole! You enter information specific to your child like their name, hair and eye color, what behavior your child has been working on this year (and how well they have done with it), what they want for Christmas (and can even download a picture of it) and the program even makes a book with downloaded pictures that you add! It uses this information to customize a video from Santa. Once the video is made, you receive it via e-mail and the best part, you ask?? It's totally FREE!!

Carson was quite naughty on Saturday, so I made him a video telling Santa that he had been naughty. Here is the video that was sent to Carson! After watching the video, Carson looks at me and says "Mom, I'll try harder!" (finally, maybe something has gotten through to him!!) And here is the video sent to Logan!

After several weeks of bad behavior, the boys FINALLY earned a trip to McDonald's and they were very excited! After McDonald's, we went to the Morford Family Carousel and the boys had a BLAST! There was a spinning cup (like the tea cups at Disneyland) and Carson loved that! The boys rode the carousel 3 times and Carson rode the spinning cup all 3 times!

The boys worked on their letters to Santa this weekend. Logan dictated his and Carson wrote his letter all by himself (dictated it and then copied what I wrote).

Logan's Letter to Santa

Carson's Letter to Santa
Dear Santa,
Snow is here! I'm sorry for being mean to my mommy. I will try harder.
Please bring me Loopz for Christmas.
We will be in Roseburg, OR for Christmas with my cousins.
Carson George
(picture of Santa on sleigh and reindeers flying in the clouds)

After working on the letters, the boys took them to the post office to mail them! I found this cool website. If you include a return stamped envelope with Santa's letter inside, they will return the letter to you with the North Pole stamp on it! We'll see if we receive our return letter! The boys would get a huge kick out of it!

Tomorrow, we are off to the Garden d'Lights in Bellevue! I hope the boys enjoy it! It's FREE! Check out the website for other free nights!

Well...I think that is about it! We hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!

First Snow this winter!

2010-11-24T21:13:00.000-08:00

It snowed for the first time this winter season (YIKES...you know, it's not even officially winter yet??) on Sunday night 11/21. By mid morning on Monday 11/22, the were closing the schools early. Both bus drivers called me to find an alternate drop off location since they didn't think they could navigate our streets! Carson's bus was about 45 minutes late in arriving! And, it took Kelly 2 1/2 hours to get home from work in Seattle!

By Tuesday morning, we had a good 6 inches on the ground! And, school was CANCELLED! It allowed us all an opportunity to go play in the snow, and that we did do! We had lots of hills around our house (our gravelly road, our driveway, our hill onto our sports court and our neighbor's yard as well)...all these possibilities without driving ANYWHERE!! Here are a few photos of our fun time together!

Taking the toboggan down the driveway!

I love these pics! They are treating their toboggans like they are some cool snowboard! Very cute!

This morning, Carson ran out into the snow and jumped in....FACE FIRST! Silly Carson!

Playing in the backyard!

This hill is PERFECT! The hill has a very nice slope and then there are stairs right next to the run! How cool is that?

Getting ready for the last run of the day! Look at those rosy cheeks!

The snow was sure fun! We'll see how long it sticks around!

I'm very thankful for our warm home, fireplace and hot cocoa! Those are the fixings after a cold day of play in the snow!
Enjoy the snow and stay warm! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Weekend to California!!

2010-11-24T20:05:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, I ventured to California with Carson and Logan! My goodness, how did baggage get so expensive?? We had 4 bags to check (2 of which were car seats) and it cost me $80. Little did I know that you didn't have to pay to check car seats (so I had to call Alaska Customer Care and will get refunded $40 within the next week). YIKES...still, it's expensive! Kelly had gotten some free tickets for giving up his seat a while back, so for the 3 of us to fly, the tickets only cost us about $150 or so (which wasn't too bad!). We flew out of Seattle and were flying to Burbank.

We brought a little 'map' for the boys so that they could see all the steps that had to occur along the way in order for us to arrive in Bakersfield! (Thanks to my friend Hartley who let me alter her document she already made!) We would stop along the way and the boys would cross off the steps we had already completed! It was very cute and it worked like a gem! There were no constant questions like "when are we going to get there?"...the boys could just consult their maps to answer that question!

My parents were anxiously waiting for us in Burbank, excited to see their grand kids!

No trip to California wouldn't be complete without a trip to 'In n' Out' Burgers...and it was as yummy as ever! We even got Kelly a new t-shirt (they are black now, instead of white, which was surprising). Carson even consummated our Burbank arrival with throwing one big hissy fit in the parking lot (over what, I don't even remember). Poor guy...once he gets himself past the point of no return, he's a goner! All I could do was protect myself by holding him in an arm lock (so he couldn't hit me) and just be patient for him to get himself together! It felt like 30 minutes, but probably was only 10 or 15 minutes long...but too long to be in a parking lot judged by all who see! At least it was in the parking lot and NOT in the airplane! I think this was Carson's way of saying that he was DONE with the travel stuff for a while (although we still had to drive another 90 minutes in the truck to Bakersfield).

Once we got to Bakersfield, the boys were very excited to play with Pepper, my parent's new puppy, which is a miniature schnauzer!

The boys LOVED Pepper! But, Pepper, didn't always love Carson and Logan! Isn't that how it usually goes? They all got each other wound up and we had to separate them from each other, just to get them all to calm down! It was very cute to see them having fun with the little guy! Wait until Christmas, when we'll have 6 little kids (under 6 years old) and two miniature schnauzers all under the same roof! YIKES...

The weather was very interesting in California! We had two days of beautiful weather (in the 70's) and two days of rain! The boys even got to wear shorts and sandals and were very excited about that! Thank goodness I remembered to bring everyone's sun glasses, because you quickly realize how sensitive your eyes are when you are in the sun! And...and quickly realize that we really have very limited sun here in the Pacific NW!!

We got to play at the park and the boys LOVED playing in the sand! Grandma gave them some old Tonka trucks and some plastic bowls to help them dig and they were golden!

Carson, of course, loved building his own sand castles!!

And, Logan loved climbing the play structures!

Everybody at the park that day was in sweatshirts and pants! Hey, come on...it's warm enough for shorts and sandals!!!

Friday night Carson started complaining about his tummy not feeling good. By dinner, he was throwing up and pale as a ghost! Poor guy!! I slept with him that night and he only threw up once. The next day came diarrhea and poor Carson's bum was quite chaffed. I even made some special baby wipes to pat his bottom with so it didn't hurt so bad! He had a hard time sitting and didn't eat too much. But as the day wore on, his appetite grew and he was feeling spunkier by the evening.

Saturday night, the boys went to McDonald's while I went to my 20 year high school reunion! Here's my picture from my senior year of high school (we went to Disneyland after our graduation)!

I was very excited to go to my reunion. I didn't go to my 10 year reunion and there were a number of folks that I wanted to see. I went through a nostalgic period where I perused my yearbook looking for familiar faces and then tried to find them in Facebook. Some I found and some I did not. But, I was hopeful that many of them I would see at the reunion.

Kelly wasn't able to go with us to California because of some work issues going on at the time. So, I contacted Tina, a childhood friend of mine, to see if she was going. I was in luck! Her husband wasn't able to go as well, so we planned to go together! I teased her as we walked into the reunion, saying that folks were gonna think that we were an item! Ha...my, how the times have changed, huh?

They did a really nice job getting set up for the reunion. It was held at a country club in Bakersfield. They had current BHS cheerleaders checking us in, BHS paraphernalia all over (class photos, newspapers, etc.,). Our mascot was the Drillers (yes, the drillers!!). Bakersfield is a hot spot for drilling oil, so that was an appropriate mascot for where we lived! They also had a memorial table...6 classmates had passed away! (from cancer, car accidents, etc.,). This is where I discovered that one of my friends had died in a car accident....very sad!

They gave awards to our classmates that were present...who had the most kids (6), who had the most grand kids (3...YIKES, 3 grand kids and you are not even 40 yet?? WOW!!), who travelled the furthest (Singapore), etc.,

I saw 3 friends that I was glad I saw...Tina Hunsaker Nickel, Melanie Evans and Joy Nybo Donald!

Tina Hunsaker Nickel...my childhood friend!

Melanie Evans...we lived across the street from each other! Our parents still live there!

Joy Nybo Donald

They put our high school picture on our name tags, which was a nice way to sneak a peak at folks to see if you recognized them. Unfortunately, once you got past 'where do you live?', 'what do you do for a living?', and 'how many kids do you have?', I kind of ran out of things to talk about....I was glad that I went, but I was disappointed that more of my friends weren't there! Our graduating class was 700-800 (which is HUGE!) and there were probably 80-100 there...just a mere fraction of the class.

Many folks looked the same, many were very different! It was weird to see everyone 'all grown up!' Many of the guys were very grey and balding and many of the girls were just as pretty, or prettier than they were in high school! It's hard to believe that we are all almost 40 years old! WOW!

After a fun night on the town, it was back to reality for me! We had to leave for Burbank bright and early in the morning and I think Logan crawled into bed with me before 5 am that early Sunday morning! YIKES!! We were out the door by 7am and stopped at McDonald's for breakfast on the way to the airport. We took an opportunity to take a photo of grandma and grandpa with their grand kids.

We ventured to the airport and began our journey home to Seattle!

The guy who checked in our bags was super sweet! He let the boys weigh themselves on the huge baggage scale!

A moment in time when the boys were actually getting along! Gotta photograph those moments, right??

We had to trade seats with a lady in order for us to all sit together. She seemed nice at the time and even commented to me in the bathroom that she had grand kids of her own. I was thinking that we had it made. About 3/4 the way through the journey, Logan really ticked her off. He had accidentally kicked her seat and she just about bit his head off! But, rather than chatting with me about it, she began attacking HIM! YIKES...not good! In my opinion, this had been a good plane journey and she should be thankful...she has NO IDEA of the potential of a disastrous plane trip! Oh boy...don't even go there! So, we kept to ourselves and just did the best we could with what we had!

We were thankful to see dad at baggage claim! Thankful to find our van, make a quick trip to the grocery store (since the snow was coming that night and we needed food!) and mostly thankful just to be HOME!

Being Thankful!

2010-11-16T07:39:00.000-08:00

WOW...it's that time of year again...time for Thanksgiving and time for being Thankful!

I am trying to instill in our boys some family traditions and hopefully teach them some things along the way. After chatting with a mommy friend of mine last week I got the crafty bug in me and picked up a few good ideas from her (Thanks Liliana!). I also feel like I have been running around with my head chopped off, so I thought slowing down for some crafts would be an excellent idea! We also needed a few more Thanksgiving decorations in our house, so I enlisted the boys' help and we got busy! The first thing we made was a "Be Thankful" banner that hangs above the kitchen counter (a place that we are always eating at...so a good place to remind us to be thankful...). They had a blast putting stickers all over the different letters...and it was even a good lesson in reviewing the alphabet with the boys! Gotta learn as you go, right??

While the boys were sleeping, I started cutting out a bunch of different colored leaves that I printed out on the computer. I didn't think I would finish cutting them all out so I could save some for them to cut out, but before I knew it, the boys had slept 3 1/2 hours and I was done cutting (don't worry...I didn't spend all that time cutting)! It was also dark by that point and pouring down rain...but I was determined to finish my project and I really wanted it up and ready for the boys to see...so outside I went with a flashlight and my hood on my head, hunting for some small branches! I was very delighted that I found 3 perfect branches in the dark! WOOHOO for me!! So, this is our THANKFUL TREE! On the leaves, we write things that we are thankful for. Logan and I both wrote 'Water' since we are having well issues currently with our neighbors and often forget how something as simple as water goes unrecognized! Carson wrote 'Learning' and Dad wrote 'My family'. The boys LOVED the activity!

After dinner last night, we had pumpkin cake for dessert and after Carson ate his dessert, he got down, grabbed a leaf, went to dad and whispered something in his ear. Before long, Carson came to me with a leaf that said 'Cake'...he was thankful for cake! How cute is that?? And, a nice way for him to say thank you to me for making him some yummy dessert! LOVE IT!

Despite those two fun activities yesterday, Carson looked at me later in the evening and said "So, what's next mom!" He wanted more Thanksgiving activities. So, off to the internet we went and found these cute little turkeys! I love it when I have all the items on hand for the activity...that I am thankful for!! We started our paperplate Turkeys last night and finished them this morning...and boy are the boys proud of them!

Logan's Turkey

Carson's Turkey

On Thursday, I venture on a big trip to California with the boys...all by myself!! We are going to Bakersfield to visit my parents and also going so I can attend my 20 year high school reunion! I'm excited to see some friends that I haven't seen in 20 years...not sure I will even recognize them, but I'll try. I'm not as skinny as I was hoping I would be, but this is me...in all it's glory! I bought a cute little outfit (thanks to my George Girls Shopping Trip) and that makes half the fun, right?? Wish me luck as we go on this adventure together! I'll update everyone when we return!

Before I go....what do you have to be thankful for?? And how are you teaching your children to be thankful? I'd love to hear your answers to these questions....

Halloween Fun

2010-11-01T22:51:00.000-07:00

YIKES! It's almost 11pm and what am I doing?? Scrapbooking and blogging! I've made it this far (scrapbooked the pages), I may as well share them with you before I go to bed, right?? (Yeah, tell me that in the morning when I'm the cranky, tired one!).

So, here is our Halloween adventures this year! The pages may look redundant (the design is, the pictures are not!), but the first two pages go in Carson's scrapbook and the second two pages go in Logan's scrapbook! If you'd like to get a better look at the page, just double click on the image and it will blow up the page for you (that way you can read the journaling). Anyways, I'm going to let the pages speak for themselves and go tuck myself into bed (guess I'll be taking a nap tomorrow, huh?)

Again, as usual, I'd LOVE to hear your comments!

Carson's Album

Logan's Album

Celebrating Carson's Birthday

2010-11-01T17:18:00.000-07:00

WOW...this weekend was a super busy weekend! Not only was it Halloween, it was also Grandma Marla's 60th birthday and Carson's 6th birthday! Since we had such a busy Saturday (Carson's actual birthday), he chose to have a family celebration on Halloween!

After we went trick-or-treating (of which I will blog more about later), Carson got to open a present from Grandma/pa Mitchell...his very own Woody doll! (which he was quite excited about!...THANK YOU grandma/pa!) Logan got a Jessie doll for his birthday and they both got a bunch of Toy Story 3 toys at their birthday party, so now they are ready for a real PARTY!!

Proud Carson with his Woody doll

He also got to pick a special treat to have for his birthday celebration...and Carson wanted me to bake him a "Cars" cake. After explaining that fancy cakes are for birthday parties (isn't that sad...I wouldn't figure out how to make him a Cars cake), I convinced him that I could bake him a checkerboard cake, which he thought was pretty cool! Of note, when I turned 18 years old, I made this very cake for my birthday! Pretty nostalgic, huh (there was even a note in the cake tin box in my own writing how to convert semisweet chocolate to cocoa powder)??

Happy 6th Birthday sweetie!

Checkerboard Cake...pretty cool, huh??

It tastes pretty yummy too!

This morning, Carson told me that he wanted to have a tea party with Woody and Jessie. I asked him if he could use mommy's coffee cups (the ones that wouldn't bother me if they got broke) and he says "NO, I want the fancy cups!!" (and he knew right where they were, too!). So, out came my deceased grandmother's (both grandmothers, as a matter of fact) tea cups and tea serving sets (as I explained that I would cry if these got broke...heaven forbid you make your own mother cry!!). And then he decided that a lit candle was necessary to set the 'mood'! How cute is that?? We've NEVER had a tea party and Carson had a lot of fun having one with his new buddies!

Carson drinking the yummy pretend tea!

Woody and Jessie having some tea with Carson!

Year after year, I always forget that October starts the busy holiday season in our home. We have lots of family birthdays in October and the hustle and bustle of gift giving and receiving begins. Then comes Halloween, Thanksgiving and then Christmas! There is only 55 days left until CHRISTMAS!! How much shopping have YOU done?? I'm about 3/4 DONE!! WOOHOO!!

Logan's School Picture

2010-10-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

We got Logan's school picture today! Isn't it just adorable?? He was soooo excited to go to school all dressed up in a tie! I just can't get over how big the boys are getting...they are just growing up so fast .

Logan, 4 years old

Have a fantastic day today! Have you hugged your kid today??

Birthday Party

2010-10-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos from Carson and Logan's Birthday Party at The Bouncy Place this past weekend! These pages are for Logan's scrapbook (I haven't finished Carson's pages since his birthday is this coming weekend)! We had a wonderful time at the party...a lot of our friends came to bounce with us, we ate yummy food and the kids had a lot of fun! What more could you ask for??

I'm so ready for October to be over! We've had five family birthdays this month...two of which were Carson and Logan, one big birthday party, family visiting and Halloween! YIKES...I'm ready for a break in November because here comes December...Christmas is just around the corner!

Oh, by the way, did you notice my cool new look on the blog?? Just in time for Halloween! Many thanks to my friend Carrie who helped me change my look...Thanks Carrie! Happy Halloween to everyone!

Birthday Video and Logan's Birthday

2010-10-20T15:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Logan's 4th Birthday and boy was he excited! He got to bring homemade chocolate chip cookies to his preschool to share with his friends. He was tickled pink when they gave him a birthday crown all of his own. We usually have a combined birthday party for both boys since their birthdays are so close to each other, but on their own birthdays, we try to do a little something special for them. On Logan's special day, he requested cookies and ice cream with chocolate, whipped cream and sprinkles...and 4 candles of course! So, that's what the little boy got! He also got to open one of his birthday presents and this year he got to open a present from Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell...it was his very own talking Jessie doll (from Toy Story 3) and he just loved it!!!

In honor of Carson's 6th Birthday and Logan's 4th Birthday this month, I have made a Birthday video for them! It is a compilation of inspirational music (thanks Ang for some music suggestions), photos and video clips from the last year! I've had a lot of fun reminiscing about the fun times we've had together in the last year! It's exciting to see what fine boys they are growing up to be!

If you'd like to blow up the video to fill your computer screen, just press the button in the lower right hand corner of the video screen that looks like 4 arrows pointing outward.

I'd LOVE to hear your comments!

This week's weight loss!

2010-10-18T06:06:00.000-07:00

WOOHOO! I lost 2 pounds this week! (19.5 pounds total....another 17 pounds to go!) I worked my butt off at the gym this week. I think I went 6 times! WOW...yah for me! (gotta be my own cheering squad, you know!) I had one day that I didn't make the healthiest food choices and then sat on my rear-end scrapbooking for 12 hours...and I still lost!

This week is going to be a tough one. I'm volunteering at the school two of the days that I would normally go to the gym. It is also the boy's birthday party on Saturday and we have some family coming to town (yay...auntie Kendra and the girls are coming to stay with us for a couple of days). I'll make the best of it and do my best to make it to the gym as much as possible.

Here's to another good week!

IEP Meeting Update

2010-10-14T16:56:00.000-07:00

Today's IEP meeting was a HUGE success! I'm so excited it went so well!

We started off our day by dropping Logan off at my neighbor's house (Mary...many thank you's to you for watching Logan...I so very much appreciate your help) so that I would only have Carson to contend with during our meeting. We got to the school about 15 minutes early because I wanted to make sure the coffee was made prior to folks showing up. However, when we arrived at the classroom, the door was locked!! ARGH...what are we going to do?? Carson was the one that came up with the solution! He says, "Mom, next door is the computer lab. Let's go see if the door is unlocked." The door WAS unlocked, so we went inside. Carson then says "Mom, see that door there? If we go through it, it leads to Mrs. K's classroom." Sure enough...he was right! and BINGO, instant access to the classroom! I was a bit apprehensive about being there with the door having been locked, but hey, I'm living on the edge, right? And besides, I brought coffee, banana muffins and fruit...any trouble we would be in would quickly be fixed by feeding them!

So folks quickly started arriving and saw the food spread and made comments like, "WOW, we've never had ANY parent do this before" (OK...nice complement, but now I've just set a pattern for expectations of future meetings). "Maybe we should review Carson's IEP monthly" (LOL...not necessary...they just want the nice treatment and yummy food! I said, "Well, I figured I'm either someones best friend or their worst enemy" (best friend for bringing food...worst enemy for breaking into someones classroom). "Oh, you're our best friend, for sure!" OK...starting on the RIGHT foot! LOVE that!

Carson quickly entertained himself on Mrs. K's computer and was even humming the tune to some songs that were playing on the computer. Very nice that Carson wasn't trying to constantly get my attention during the meeting. Then at one point, he was escorted out to play on the playground prior to school starting.

Present at our meeting were: Principal, Psychologist, teacher, special education teacher, occupational therapist, speech therapist and myself.

So, here's what they said:

Carson is able to stay in his seat, pay attention to the teacher and is able to complete assignments.

His biggest strength is fine motor skills such as writing and drawing. He enjoys this so much that the teacher often has a hard time transitioning him AWAY from that activity, but nothing unworkable. His writing is very good compared with his peers.

He is very smart and is understanding some very difficult concepts (some concepts that many other peers are unable to grasp). For example, the teacher was teaching a lesson on 'labeling'. Draw a picture and label the things in the picture (Carson, tree, cloud, etc.,) When Carson started the project, he took the concept to the next level and drew a picture not of himself, but of his brother...and even labeled the person as Logan. His teacher was so impressed that he was able to take the assignment beyond "ME" and draw/label his world...a concept that many other children aren't able to do.

His biggest area of concern is that of socialization. He has difficulties during non-structured activities (free play, transitions, recess). He has difficulty problem solving and working through an uncomfortable situation with a peer (so he just yells, screams, hits or cries instead). Many peers have this same issue.

He continues to need help with speech articulation (pronouncing words appropriately, enunciating each syllable, etc.,).

I asked a ton of questions...how do you handle discipline (and was able to express my concerns of potentially having recess taken away from my sensory seeking kiddo who needs to get activity to help him focus in the classroom) and how loud are fire drills (have you had one and how did he do?...OK they said). Most of my wants for his IEP were proactive (like what to do if he get fidgety in the classroom, what to do if Carson gets overstimulated and needs a quiet space to go to, is his seating appropriate for his needs, what to do if he is unable to complete assignments asked of him in the classroom, etc., But, rightfully so, the school cannot add an IEP goal/objective for something that's not an issue at this time (a little frustrating, but we can meet again to fine tune the IEP if this becomes an issue).

We talked about him still needing a TON of sleep (10 hours at night and 3-4 hour nap during the day)...thank God we are in 1/2 day Kindergarten (Oh...I don't even want to start thinking about what we'll be doing next year when he HAS to do full day school!!). Part of Carson's need for so much sleep is because this is what he needs in order to keep himself together in the classroom (that's how much work it takes to hold himself together and for him to be successful!)

I was happy to find out that there is a special education teacher that spends about 30-45 minutes/day in Carson's classroom (not just for him), helping the students and working closely with the teacher to problem solve issues. They've found that this is a more favorable model than pulling specific students OUT of the classroom. It keeps them 'integrated' with a general education enviroment...which is what the school district considers 'least restrictive'.

I did ask to be notified when his teacher will not be present in the classroom (and they agreed to do that). From my experiences with previous daycare environments, Carson's behavior becomes out of control when he doesn't know about this change in his routine. By being notified ahead of time, I can coach him and read him a social story about this change in his routine...and hopefully be better prepared to handle that. These little guys get awfully attached to their teacher!

We decided that we no longer needed formal occupational therapy intervention, but she would be available on an 'as needed' basis.

We continued with some speech articulation, socialization and transition goals.

They kept saying that they were more than willing to reconvene the team should things change with Carson in the classroom (behavior, academics, etc.,).

I was ecstatic that they wanted to continue him with an IEP and there was NO way I was going to let Carson lose that asset in his education!!

I was highly impressed with the team members and excited to see that we were all on the same page and had the same objective...to help Carson be successful in the school setting!

Thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers! This is a very nerve wracking process and I always go into it being a bit apprehensive!

WOW...that was a long post! Thanks for sticking with me to the end! :)

Carson's School Photo and IEP Meeting

2010-10-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

Carson- Almost 6 years old

School pictures came home today for Carson! These are his FIRST school pictures...EVER! Don't I have a handsome boy? Well, I think so!

Tomorrow morning is our IEP (Individualized Education Plan) re-evaluation meeting for Carson! Boy, am I nervous about this. I do have good news (after having spoken to the school psychologist)...they still want to continue Carson on an IEP. My angst is what's going to be IN the IEP...what goals and objectives we all agree on. I have my list all written out with my wishes for the IEP, we'll see what everyone has to say about them. I'm having a hard time trusting the system...probably because I have had to FIGHT the system and I get tired of always having to fight! I want what's BEST for Carson and I will do everything in my power to get that for him!

And, I figure I may as well sweeten up the IEP team by bringing them coffee and banana muffins...it NEVER hurts to bribe anyone, right?? Plus, the meeting is at 8:30am, so we'll all need some java and carbs to get us going! I will blog again tomorrow the results of the meeting, so stay tuned...and say a little prayer for us tonight!

Taking Care of Myself!

2010-10-11T16:57:00.000-07:00

Back in September of 2009, I started Jenny Craig and lost about 20 pounds, hit a plateu and wasn't losing and then I quit being able to afford the food (YIKES...that stuff is expensive). I dropped out of Jenny Craig in April or May 2010 and just focused on trying to maintain and gained about 10 pounds back. I then tried to lose weight on my own or with using Weight Watchers online (I've been a member of Weight Watchers since high school) and still couldn't seem to shed any pounds. I was frustrated, stressed, depressed and wasn't exercising (nor did I have much time for exercising).

When I got the opportunity to quit my job and stay home with our two boys, I made ME the focus (I need to take care of myself in order to optimally take care of those around me!) by getting rid of the stress of trying to juggle too many things at once, made exercise a priority (I go to the gym 5 days a week and work off 600-800 calories each time) and really started keeping track of my Weight Watcher points. Since September 1st, I have lost 9.5 pounds (18 pounds total since Sept '09). I feel so much better and I can honestly say that I crave exercising! I didn't think there would EVER come a day when I say that, but it's true! I can go one day with no exercise, but two days in a row with no exercise is just too much for me to handle. I get cranky, a bit anxious and just feel that urge to get out there and work hard!

I'm so proud of myself! I have my 20 year high school reunion coming up on November 20th and my goal is to lose another 10 pounds. I figure if I put it out there and let my friends and family know what my goal is, you can help keep me accountable! Please help encourage me!

Have you seen the show called The Biggest Loser? Did you know they workout 5 hours a day? Totally an unrealistic goal for myself, but it helps to motivate me that someone in much less shape than I is being pushed beyond their limits every day! Can't I take an hour of my day to push myself to my limits? I think so....and I'm doing it! Are YOU taking care of YOURSELF??

If you don't mind, I think I will post my progress WEEKLY! That will help keep me accountable!

My pre-Jenny Craig photo in Dec 2009

My September 2010 photo with about 15 pounds (total) GONE! Sorry Dawn, hope you don't mind me posting your photo! She's lost I think 65 pounds with Weight Watchers...Go DAWN!!

What does Logan + a baseball glove + a floor lamp have in common??

2010-10-10T17:20:00.000-07:00

What does Logan + a baseball glove + a floor lamp have in common??

A fire potential!!

This morning, the boys and I went to the gym (they went to the Kid's Club and I went to workout). We left in a bit of a hurry to get there on time and left a few lights on in the house (dad was asleep in the back bedroom, so I wasn't too worried about it). When we came back from the gym, we walked in the back door and immediately noticed that the family room, kitchen, dining room and playroom were filled with smoke! YIKES! What's up with that? I immediately went to the oven and checked to see if it was on...nope, not on! I then walked into the playroom and noticed that one of our tall floorlamps was on. I had a sneaky suspicion that that lamp was the culprit. I walked over to the lamp and pulled it down so I could look at the bulb. On top of the lamp was a baseball glove! Yep, it was sitting right on top of the light bulb itself and parts of the glove were charred like burned bacon! YIKES...that could have easily caused our house to burn down! I had seen Logan playing with the glove the day before and instantly knew that he was the culprit! The little stinker threw the glove on top of the light...what was he thinking? Well, obviously he WASN'T thinking...he's 3 for goodness sake!

We did however learn a very valuable lesson during this fiasco! We discovered that our smoke detectors did not work! YIKES! How did that happen? They will be replaced this week.

Logan learned a valuable lesson about fire hazards and what could happen when you throw things on top of lamps!

I'm very thankful that this was just a learning lesson in life. It could have been disastrous...our house could have caught on fire and I could have lost my husband (who was asleep at the time). Thank God everyone and everything is OK.

Have YOU checked your smoke detectors lately??

Soccer Trading Cards

2010-10-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

I made these last night using my digital scrapbooking program (Storybook Creator Plus by Creative Memories). I got cheap and didn't want to pay for the professional trading cards, so just made do with what I had and made them myself! I think they turned out pretty cute, if I don't say so myself! If you'd like one, let me know and I'll print one off and send it to you!

Tonight's Dinner: Curried Butternut Squash Soup

2010-10-03T20:15:00.000-07:00

Fall is definitely here! The leaves are falling to the ground and there is a crispness in the air that only comes with Fall! What comes to your mind when you think of the Fall? For me, I think of this super yummy soup...Curried Butternut Squash Soup (click the highlighted words to get the recipe) by Robin Miller on the Food Network!

Logan decided to be my helper in the kitchen tonight, so he was in charge of adding the measured ingredients to the pot and then got to use a cool kitchen tool, an immersion blender, the kitchen and mom only suffered minor squash splatterings, which is quite impressive for a 3 year old! Way to go Logan!

Logan using the immersion blender and being momma's super big helper!

A recipe can't be any simpler than this! And, the lime crema that goes on top just makes the soup that much yummier! It's super healthy, filling and has a wonderful mix of flavors! You need to try this recipe!

The immersion blender does a nice job of mixing the ingredients and making it super smooth!

The finished product! Yum! Dinner's Ready!

Apple Picking Time!

2010-09-29T23:18:00.000-07:00

After the boys got home from school, we went in our backyard to pick some apples! The boys always love this activity because they get to climb on ladders or even climb the tree branches! This year there was an added bonus....our neighbor's horse was nearby so we fed him apples as well! Love it! Here are some photos of Logan...Carson's photos will be posted soon! Enjoy!

Wonderful evening with the boys!

2010-09-29T21:18:00.000-07:00

Silly Mom & Logan (Carson is photographer)

So, for those of you who missed it, I recently quit my job as a pharmacist and became a stay-at-home mom to our two crazy boys! To be honest with you all, I was scared to death to have quit my job...I was in tears! I knew it was the right thing to do, but I was very scared...scared that I would just be a crazy, screaming and hollering kind of stay-at-home mom. Our boys have had their own set of behavioral challenges and I was afraid that I wasn't up for the challenge.

Silly mom & Carson (Logan is photographer)

It has been 5 weeks since my last day of work and I am happy to report that I am LOVING my new job!! I am getting tons of stuff done (I've redecorated and painted Logan's room, re-stained the outside play structure, helped to add additional wood chips to the play area outside, yard work, touch-up painted the entire interior of the house, cleaned out the garage and computer room, donated to Goodwill and have gone to the gym about 5 times a week (and have lost 7 pounds....YAY for me!)), am here for the boys before and after their 1/2 days school programs and became a soccer mom (with 4 days of either practices or games a week between the two boys)!! WOW....that's a lot of stuff for 5 weeks!

This past summer we started working with a behavioral therapist through The Institute for Family Development (recommended by our developmental pediatrician) to tackle some of the boys' behavior challenges. When we started, I was depressed and very down on my parenting abilities and was completely overwhelmed on how to even begin to tackle these issues. After some hard and persistent work with the therapist, I have become more confident in my parenting abilities and now have a better plan for how to handle the boys. This is HUGE and it has made a significant difference in my ability to happily be home with the boys. I am very thankful for Hannah's help!

Our home life has become more organized and relaxed and you can really see a HUGE difference in the boys and in our home!

So, one thing that I started doing (idea from our therapist) was giving the boys poker chips for doing certain things that I WANT to see (not peeing their bed, brushing their teeth WITHOUT complaining, staying in their room at bedtime and for any little things that I see throughout the day that deserve recognition). The boys collect their poker chips in a small jar and when the jar has been filled, they get to go to the dollar store and buy ONE item. Pretty simple, huh? Well, let me tell you, the boys are bending over backwards for poker chips! They are picking up each other's clothes off the ground, being nice and helpful to each other (most of the time) and helping mom when asked to help! And....it "costs" me ONE DOLLAR! YIKES...I should have started this eons ago! Amazing...

So, tonight I made dinner and dessert (I rarely make dessert). The boys gobbled up their dinner and were anxious to have some of that yummy chocolate dessert that mom made. But, I got clever....there were dishes all over the kitchen and dishes in the dishwasher that needed to be put away. I told the boys that if they help me with the dishes then they could have some dessert. They BOTH say, "OK mom!" Hmmm....really? You're going to help me? You guys ROCK! So, we all started tackling the dishwasher and before I knew it, Carson was hand washing some pots and pans and Logan was spraying down the counters with 409! OMG!! I was in heaven! All over dessert? Really? I ought to make dessert more often!

After the boys helped clean the kitchen and ate their dessert (and Carson even hand-delivered a bowl of dessert to dad BEFORE he served himself...are these really my children??), we had to pick out Logan's clothes for school pictures tomorrow (he really wanted to wear his tie...he's going to be so cute!) and then we hung out in Logan's room and read books. The boys went and got the big cushy pillows from the playroom and we put them on Logan's big bed and we all contentedly read books and talked about tractors and dinosaurs! It was so much fun! In one of the books I was reading them, it said something about the "United States" and Logan pipes in and says, "of America, mom!" Is was so cute! Then before I knew it, Carson puts his hand over his heart and starts reciting the Pledge of Allegiance! It was all very priceless and it was by far one of the best evenings I have had with the boys in a long time! Loved it!

So, if you need to change some of your child's behaviors, I recommend poker chips and chocolate...it works for me!

Time for Carson's IEP Re-evaluation

2010-09-27T17:27:00.000-07:00

It's time for Carson to be re-evaluated for his IEP (individualized education plan), which by law has to be done every 3 years. I have been extremely anxious about this whole thing for a number of reasons.

1) As much as I would love for Carson to not have an IEP, my gut tells me he still needs one. He is coming from a special ed preschool classroom with about 20 students, 2 teachers and 4 para educators to a Kindergarten classroom with 20 students, 1 teacher and 1 special education teacher available (not in the classroom all the time). This makes me very nervous...nervous for how my little boy is going to do in this environment. Is it too much for him? Can he hold himself together AND still learn?? Of course his requalification time is by his 6th birthday (in October) and he's been in the classroom for all of about 1 month...and this is all of the observation time they have had to make decisions on whether he qualifies or not? I'm sure he's just getting warmed up with the teacher, the routine and the expectations....and hasn't begun to show his true colors yet! How is he going to handle himself when the work gets tougher?? or when the classroom becomes too overstimulating for him?? or when he can't sit still in his chair??

2) I just went through a big battle with the school district last year to get Logan qualified for preschool and to be honest with you, it took a lot out of me! I was ready to take them to court over the issue and to be honest, I don't want to have to fight that hard every time there is a battle (or re-qualification).

3) School is only going to get harder, don't boot him out of having help now! And, he is only in 1/2 day Kindergarten and requiring 2 1/2 to 3 hours of nap every afternoon. What's life in his world going to be like when he's in 1st grade and isn't able to take a nap?? YIKES!! Wanna see some behavior, wait til then!

So, having had all of these worries going into my day today, Carson had an appointment today at the Autism Center at Children's Hospital today (and many, many thank you's to my friend Mary who watched Logan so I wouldn't have to take both boys with me!) and I was asking the doctor about the IEP requalification process. Carson was given a diagnosis of PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder...on the autism spectrum) and ADHD about 1 1/2 years ago. Did we have to reprove our diagnosis again when it is IEP requalification time? She said that when you are given such a diagnosis, it goes with you for life (it might impact you differently throughout life, but it's still their diagnosis)...you don't have to prove it again! Ahhh, sigh of relief from me! See, with a PDD diagnosis, you automatically qualify for an IEP...Ahhh, another sigh of relief!

As luck would have it I also got a phonecall from the school psychologist. After asking a lot of questions about what's involved in this "re-qualification", it sounds like they are preliminarily (nothing's for sure til I see it in writing) wanting to continue to serve Carson with an IEP...Ahhh, yes another sigh of relief! They just need to figure out how best to serve him, which would be the purpose of the testing and observations that will take place in the coming weeks.

I sure don't need an BS'ing on this stuff. I just want them to be straight shooters and give my son the help he needs and deserves!

So, having started my day with a lot of anxieties about this process, I have some relief that it will all work out! Will update more as it occurs...

Logan's New Room

2010-09-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

I finally got the energy to redecorate Logan's room! His room has been the nursery theme (mint green with pastel Winnie the Pooh) ever since he was a baby. And, Logan isn't a baby anymore (will turn 4 years old next month)!! Several months ago, I was checking out stuff at Value Village and I came across all 6 of these pictures and I grabbed them! As a matter of fact, I just went into the store to look for an old microwave to replace a play microwave at daycare that Carson broke (another story) so I didn't even grab a cart! When I saw these prints, I grabbed them as quickly as I could (yes, 6 of them) and I could barely carry them to go grab a cart! But, you know how it is at thrift stores, if you don't grab it when you see it, it might not be there when you get back! It was a pretty funny sight watching me waddle my way to a cart, but darn it, I wasn't putting them down! LOL!! So, then I started looking around the store for other things that might match the prints. Before I knew it, I had a dust ruffle (King size which I altered to be a Queen size), a bedspread (a duvet cover which we'll just use as a bedspread for now), a curtain (another duvet cover, which I altered to become curtains and a cute little pillow sham)! And, the best part??? I spent UNDER $50 for all these items! I was so excited! Unfortunately, his mint green paint in his room just wasn't going to cut it, so his room had to be repainted to this light blue (which I did all by myself!! YAY Mom!).

These pictures are super sturdy...Super sturdy is what we need in our house!

After I painted, I went around the room and stamped these transportation themed vehicles onto the wall (I already had the stamps, so no money spent there!) Aren't they cute??

Here are the altered curtains! I had to use a spring loaded curtain rod because Logan has a track history of pulling the curtains down (yep, nails in the wall and all!...holes in the wall don't make momma too happy)

We still have Logan's crib in his room (converted to a daybed) which he still sleeps in until he quits wetting the bed (much easier to wash crib sheets, etc., than a queen size bed full of sheets, mattress cover, etc). It's in his room in case we have any guests who are brave enough to sleep in Logan's room with him!

I was super excited with how the room turned out! Logan was excited too! Now let's hope that Logan can take care of it! (a mommy can hope, right??)

I've got my creativity back....

2010-04-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

I helped my sister in law with a digital scrapbooking project and found myself highly inspired to do more pages of my own! I use a digital scrapbooking program called Storybook Creator Plus by Creative Memories and I just love it! It's great when I can still scrapbook but I don't have to get all my stuff out all over the dining room table...and none of my stuff gets used up (cause it's reuseable and alter-able...gotta love that!).

This first page is a page that I made for a Spring Page Challenge thru Facebook! I thought it turned out very 'springy'!

The 2nd and 3rd pages are from our Easter weekend! We had some friends over on Saturday night for a Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt! It was so much fun and the boys loved using their flashlights to find their eggs...a sure hit! I'm sure this tradition will continue years to come!

Our lazy Easter Day in the George Family!

And the decision is......

2010-03-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

Today we received the phone call back from Cedar River Montessori School regarding the results of our admissions interview that we had on Monday!

And their decision was....."NO"!!!

They just said that based on the children already present in the classroom at this time, that our boys would not be a good fit into their classroom. Hmmm...what does that mean??

Big bummer, but I had something deep down telling me that we were not going to get in! I wasn't hugely surprised and I wasn't hugely upset by their decision either! Guess it's time to move onto Plan B....

So, Kelly and I spent some additional time this evening trying to figure out which Montessori School we check into next...and hope that it's not too late for fall admission!

Another One Bites the Dust!!!

2010-03-24T06:57:00.000-07:00

Another one bites the dust! Yep....Carson has lost tooth number two!!

He also wanted to make sure that I e-mail the tooth fairy and let him (yes, he said 'him') know that he needs 'green stuff' AND a treat!

A treat??? Where did that come from? Tooth fairies don't give candy...that I am aware of.

So, Carson puts his tooth in his room....and anxiously awaits the morning.

Good thing mom is prepared and has stuff that the tooth fairy can use as treats! Sounds like a book fits this bill!

Except that the tooth fairy forgot.....

Hmmm....

Dad saves the day once again! He woke up this morning and said, "Honey, isn't this supposed to be in Carson's room?"

Whew...thanks dad for being on top of things this morning...you're the BEST!

Carson awoke with a HUGE smile on his face as he sees his 'treat' and the 'green stuff'!

Hmmm...I wonder what he's going to ask for when he loses tooth number 3!

Logan's First Day of Preschool and Montessori School Interview Update

2010-03-22T19:24:00.000-07:00

So...today was a big day for us! First, Logan started his first day of special education preschool (the one that I almost took the school district to court over)! Needless to say, this was a big day for the little guy (not so little anymore) as he's seen brother go to preschool now for a long time...it was finally HIS turn!

I had to take both boys to preschool this morning since we had to do Logan's IEP (individualized education plan) meeting prior to the start of preschool. As I am giving both boys love and saying goodbye to them, I say "Carson, show your brother the ropes today, OK?" Carson excitedly looks at me and says "OK mom!" In less than a minute, Carson comes up to me and says "Mom, where ARE the ropes?" I just had to chuckle to myself...there's something to be said for childhood innocence, huh? The teacher heard his comment and also chuckled to herself...it was priceless!

This is when I picked up Logan at the bus stop after his first day at preschool! WOOHOO Logan! Momma is so proud of you!

This is our favorite bus driver, Ms. Wendy...she is always so very sweet to the kids...we just love her!

Momma...look at me! I'm went to preschool!!!

Later this afternoon, we had our Cedar River Montessori School interview!!! We got the boys dressed nice (dad even wore khakis to work instead of jeans) and ventured to the interview! Of course the kids were outside playing in the gorgeous sunny weather we were having...good thing we arrived early enough for the boys to join them on the playground for a bit. We then went inside to start the interview.

During the interview process the boys each met with one of the teachers to observe how they worked with some Montessori materials. They are trying to determine readiness for the classroom and are looking for abilities and behaviors such as making eye contact, following multi-part instructions, and connecting with the teacher. The boys didn't seem to mind doing this and seemed pretty willing to check out some of the materials they haven't used before.

While the teachers met with the boys, we met with the head of school. She asked some basic questions about the boys, discussed our interest in Montessori, asked what we hoped to gain for our children, and discussed how long planned to be with the school. We were also given the opportunity to ask questions.

They ended the meeting by saying that we would hear from them on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week! YIKES!!! That was fast! I was kind of expecting it would be another couple of weeks to hear from them, but hey, I'll take a couple of days!!

It will be nice to get on with this issue and figure out if this option is going to work for us....and if not, move onto plan B!

So, keep us in your thoughts and prayers a couple more days until we hear from them! We have our fingers (and toes) crossed that this will work out!

Updates

2010-03-16T22:15:00.000-07:00

I have a couple of quick updates on our family....

We got some good news this afternoon! We've been asked to come for an interview at Cedar River Montessori School! YIPEE for us! This is the school we checked out the end of January that was recommended by our neuropsychologist as a good choice for Carson to attend for Kindergarten! We put in our application at their open house and have been anxiously waiting to find out what the next step will be. Isn't this amazing that we are already working on our kindergarten plan...and it won't even start until September??? WOW!!

Anyhow...for logistical purposes, we also decided to put in an application at the same school for Logan...and it may be Logan that gets us into the school since they want kids as young as possible to start their program!

Our family has an interview on Monday 3/22. The boys will be individually assessed by Montessori teachers while Kelly and I chat with the director! Kind of feels intimidating...you know, this IS only preschool and kindergarten, right??? I totally get the intent behind the interview process...just want to jump forward to the decision stage and move on with our lives! YIKES!!! Please keep us in your thoughts as we go into this interview on Monday. If it's meant to be, then it will work out...if it's not meant to be, then I sure hope we know what plan B will bring us!!!

Did you know "L" is for Logan??? Logan is so very cute pointing out every "L" in his world...including in his pancakes!

Logan has decided to potty train!!! I really started to push potty training when we went to California for a week. Ever since then, he wears his cool little undies all the time! He got the potty thing really quickly, but the poo poo thing lagged behind! Very frustrating to have to change poo in the undies...not moms favorite clean up duty!! We always told him that we would take him to McDonald's when he went poo in the toilet. When that didn't work, I finally uped the ante and put a new toy on the kitchen counter that Logan could have once he went poo in the toilet.

Finally, one Saturday morning, he came into the kitchen and told me he went poo in the toilet. I so did not believe him (aren't I a bad momma??)! I went into the bathroom and sure enough...it was his poo...in the toilet!! We did the potty dance for that one! (and went to McD's for lunch as well!).

Then one day I get a phonecall from daycare while I am at work! It's Logan on the phone telling me he went poo in the toilet at daycare!!! WOW...mama was so proud! You should have seen his HUGE smile on his face when he was doing what the big boys were doing! Way to go Logan!

So, Carson has lost his first tooth! He was so excited to have this very loose tooth in his mouth and was ready for mom to yank it out! He even knew about the tooth fairy! And, did you know that you can e-mail the tooth fairy to let them know when to come and deliver the funds? You can even request green stuff or coins for reimbursement? Carson requested the green stuff, of course and was very excited to find that the tooth fairy pays $1 per tooth! Way to go you brave Carson!!

OK...these I made these photo collages quite a while ago, but am just now getting around to blogging about them! Aren't they cute??? I wanted something that would showcase some of their latest and greatest professional photos with an art project and them writing their name! I think they turned out really cute! Now when we get new photos taken, I just have to change out the stuff and voila...you've got a new addition to the family room!

Carson and his preschool fall craft! Also, at the bottom of the collage is a drawing he did of his school bus! He even put in himself (in the back window) and the busdriver..along with windows, wipers and the door! Very impressive! And...look at him write his name! Carson, how did you grow up so quickly???

Logan with his airplane craft project!

They truly are amazing....

2010-03-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

See for yourself how truly amazing my boys are! I thought this video captured a lot of the beauty that I see in my boys!

Educate yourself about what Autism is all about. A close friend, a distant relative, a unnamed mom in the grocery store with a screaming child may be fighting the same battles that I fight on a daily basis. Slow down to educate yourself on what Autism means...enjoy! (I know I did!)

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Thoughtful Inclusion

2010-02-25T14:47:00.000-08:00

This was taken from the Social Thinking Blog by Michelle Garcia Winner. If you haven't checked out the concept of social thinking, you'll want to check it out...there is really some great information available on this website.

As I am trying to figure out the best Kindergarten option for Carson, I felt this article was very timely for me...hope you can use it as well! I'd love to hear ideas that this stirs within you...leave me a comment (Kendra...that means YOU) !

Thoughtful Inclusion
Monday, 22 February 2010 17:00

I was recently asked to write about the social skills kids need to have acquired to benefit more fully from an integrated setting. While this is a huge question I will write some basic thoughts on this concept.

Many of you who are familiar with my work know that I talk about the social complexities of the classroom learning environment. While we often only teach social skills for the context of playing or conversing the reality is that students use social thinking and related social skills every moment they are around people including more structured environments like classrooms. While I know our political education plan is quick to advocate the inclusion of all kids into “integrated” settings as much as possible, I encourage “thoughtful inclusion” rather than making blanket statements that “all kids should be included”. I think kids with social learning challenges have extraordinary problems with processing social information “in mass”. These challenges are far beyond the challenges of students with more typical learning disabilities. I think that much of the research on inclusion of special needs kids fails to really look specifically at the inclusion of kids with social learning challenges and how much they are learning of a functional nature of how to participate with others given the amount of cueing and support (Paraprofessionals helping to complete their work for them, etc.) in this environment. Now take what I am saying here with the understanding that I have gone to great lengths to explore different levels of the social mind in other articles on my website, so I am not making blanket statement here. It is all about really thinking about the student and what we are REALLY teaching them so they can learn to function as more independent, self-regulated students and then adults who can also have command of academic information (as much as their brains allow them to learn).

I do think “inclusion” is much more realistic for many in elementary school and becomes increasingly unrealistic for many of our more socially challenged learners in middle school and high school not only due to the social complexities of this age group but also because of the social abstractions taught through the curriculum.

As we discuss “inclusion” or “integrated” settings it is important to make sure we define these terms as part of an IEP team to make sure we are all on the same page. I have seen many kids “integrated” or “included” who do their own curriculum and don’t spend much time with the larger group as they are mostly off by themselves with paraprofessionals having individual instruction in the back of the class. While I actually have no problem with this, it is not what I think a parent thinks “inclusion” means for his or her child. Let’s be honest about what we can really do to help children learn. We can’t make all kids good group learners just because public law says we should unless they have some magical potion or cure for deep neurological learning problems that they have not shared with us? Even “highly qualified teachers” cannot teach some of our more challenged high-functioning kids with autism or Asperger Syndrome to learn effectively in a group of 30. Some of our kids cannot attend to people talking even in a group of 3 (and these can be some “high functioning” kids!).

On the other hand, there is real value in having students in a school become “mentors” to our students with social learning challenges to help guide them through social interactions and learning the “hidden rules”. I am careful to distinguish between a “mentor” and a “peer model” -- as Pamela Wolfberg would describe these kids as being “expert players” or having been given explicit instruction on how to help guide our more socially challenged peers. This is a lovely combination and through this relationship many of the “mentors” also learn the remarkable skills of many of our socially challenged learners.

I do not agree that for the most part our students benefit from the simplicity of being around “neurotypical peer models”. If they were to benefit from peer modeling we would not need all this specialized teaching. But our students social learning challenges are deeper than just modeling appropriate social skills; they are also about learning (when possible) the related Social Thinking concepts to help them figure out more intuitively how to use their social skills.

The below list details a few of the many aspects that need to be considered when integrating a child into the “mainstream environment”.

1.Basic joint attention: the ability to understand that you have to follow what someone is looking at to follow what they are thinking about. Group education is about understanding that even in kindergarten 20 kids can follow the intentions and thoughts of one teacher. While I realize paraprofessionals are assigned when a child cannot do this, the question is how much is that child learning as part of a group.
2.At the very least, a basic functional communication system for expression of basic wants and needs. Putting non-verbal or minimally verbal students who lack the ability to effectively process and respond to language in a classroom is not to their benefit. While it may look good on the data a school reports about integrating students, kids in groups need to have a way to communicate with each other.
3.Recognition that when you communicate in a class you need to track if someone is listening to you. Those who talk without tracking how people are responding to them (reading some basic non-verbal cues are actually not communicating, they are just simply talking.) Group education is dependent on having students track not only the teacher but others students in the class.
4.It is helpful to try and teach all our students that everyone in a classroom is to “share the same thought”. Some of our students (even some of our high IQ students) do not realize the teacher is teaching everyone the same lesson.
5.Learn how to ask for help; your paraprofessional or teacher should not anticipate a child’s every more. If adults do this with students they actually enable them to become more disabled, rather than teach them strategies to learn to cope on their own.
6.Assess the students basic functional attention span for learning tasks he is motivated by and tasks that he or she finds unmotivating. Make decisions about including a child based on how long they can attend to a topic being addressed in our classes. Some of our kids can attend to basic math for 30 minutes but can’t attend in language arts at all. Realize that there are differences in the amount of social thinking required in these different subjects. One subject may be much harder, so move away from assuming you should include a child for every aspect of learning especially if they are showing signs of stress or lack of ability to attend!
7.If a child is having consistent negative reactions in a classroom and a good attempt has been made to help the student acquire a classroom routine and strategies are used to help the child learn the lessons in a more abstract way, the team may have to realize that the function of the behavior is to try and escape a complex environment (that seems intuitively simple to his peers) that he simply can’t learn in. Some of our “brighter” kids are very fragile as they don’t have coping strategies for moving at the pace of a larger group..and a paraprofessional makes them feel really “stupid”.
8.For more advanced kids we also want to assess and then possibly teach skills related to:

◦What is blurting and how to you avoid it by tracking and thinking about who the teacher is directing their attention to.
◦What does it mean to raise your hand in class? Should you expect the teacher to call on your every time you raise your hand? Why not? Does a teacher notice that you are participating when you raise your hand even if she doesn’t call on you (yes!)?
◦How do you work with peers in a group (center based activities or peer work groups). Can you take over the group; should you tell people their ideas are “stupid”; should you allow everyone else to do the talking and you just sit there quietly?
This is a difficult topic that could go on and on. There are NO EASY answers. Every kid is not easily summarized by his eligibility category, they also have phases of development, levels of cognition that allow some learning to be very easy or incredibly difficult, they may have mental health problems, such as extreme anxiety, that add to the complexity.

Please understand I am not making a blanket statement about inclusion being “good” or “bad”; I am just saying that it is not as easy as it sounds and many (not all) of our kids are not benefiting as much as we might think they are from learning in an environment that their brains cannot easily process: working as part of a larger group of students when they struggle to understand perspective taking, while having to demonstrate they are learning a curriculum that may not be user friendly to their brains, in a set period of time because the academic curriculum is a curriculum on a clock. Teachers know all the lessons they have to teach to prepare for the state’s spring high-stakes testing; they cannot slow down the learning clock because students have IEP goals (welcome to No Child Left Behind!).

The bottom line is, does the inclusion of this child in the curriculum help him to learn social information about how to work well with others (e.g. problem solving, group participation, etc.) while also learning the academic information of the classroom to help the student develop functional skills for transitioning into the adult world? Because at the end of the day or the end of a child’s life as a student in public education what really counts is whether he has developed skills to help him be more successful as an adult.

If we coached a child through his school years with such intensity that he never figured anything out for himself it can be argued that he did not really “learn” but instead was just “managed”.

I have some ideas on how to assess some of these skills under my “informal assessment” section of my book, Thinking About You Thinking About Me, 2nd edition. I also raise many more questions and have a deeper discussion around the exploration of the topic “what are social skills?” and “how do we teach them?” in my book, A Politically Incorrect Look at Evidence Based Practices and Teaching Social Skills.

Battling the School District

2010-02-22T21:52:00.000-08:00

I guess I am easily deceived! When our neuropsychologist said she would call the school district and speak with the director of special education regarding Logan's special education preschool eligibility....I believed her! I trusted that she would follow through with her word and do just that...make the phone call! Well, to my dismay, after bugging her office at least once a week for a month, I finally came to the realization that she wasn't going to make the phone call. Maybe she made the call and the administrator wasn't available, but she wasn't handling this situation like I would...so I took over the reins!

That next week, I sat down at my computer and proceeded to write an e-mail to the assistant director of special education. In this e-mail, I proceeded to outline my frustrations with the district's ability to appropriately evaluate my son for their developmental preschool program. Believe me, I was very politically correct in my e-mail....I stated the facts and I tried my best to not put too much 'feelings' into the e-mail. I then attached all the supporting documents outlining why Logan should be admitted to the developmental preschool program. I then outlined my intended goals of sending such an e-mail.

By the end of that day, I had a reply back stating that she would investigate the situation and I could expect to hear back from her by the end of that week. Well, the end of that week came and went with no further word from her. So, as expected, I was on the phone the following day. By the next day, I had a phone call asking me to meet with her and the director. "Sure!" I said. Well, that meeting was today...

I had my nerves all in a tizzy for fear that the meeting wasn't gonna go well, but I was well prepared for the meeting. You would have been so proud of me...no tears were seen in that meeting! I was direct and very passionate about my concerns. They listened. We didn't get to the bottom of it today, but we are almost there! Most of all, I wanted them to know what a botched mess their staff has made of Logan's qualification process into the developmental preschool program...THAT they heard loud and clear from me!! The paperwork now will have to go through the evaluating team and the administrators will see that that process takes place. Once that happens, then they have to either amend their previous decision or uphold it. Then they meet with me to discuss their decision...I requested that one of the administrators be present at this meeting (so they don't botch things AGAIN!) and plan on hearing more by the end of this week....with a meeting to discuss final decisions within the next 7-10 days.

If things do not go as planned, then I am prepared to take legal action! YIKES!!! They are messing with the wrong person!!!

Please keep us in your thoughts....

Hope for Autism

2010-02-13T21:32:00.000-08:00

I ran across this video while checking out Gretchen's blog (thanks Gretchen for posting this). This is a video about Taylor, a 17 year old girl who at age 2 was diagnosed as being on the Autism spectrum and given little hope of recovery. Now she is a top student, an athlete, and a creative artist. Check it out...

Also, before you start listening to this video, go down to the bottom of the page and pause the music (or you will have lovely music on top of the video sound).

Some Mothers Get Babies With Something More

2010-02-10T13:27:00.000-08:00

I thought many of you would enjoy reading this. My friend posted this on her blog and I ran into again on Facebook...guess that means that I need to share it with my readers as well. I think it is self-explanatory....see for yourself.

Some Mothers Get Babies With Something More

By Lori Borgman
May 12, 2002

My friend is expecting her first child. People keep asking what she wants. She smiles demurely, shakes her head and gives the answer mothers have given throughout the ages of time. She says it doesn't matter whether it's a boy or a girl. She just wants it to have ten fingers and ten toes. Of course, that's what she says. That's what mothers have always said. Mothers lie.

Truth be told, every mother wants a whole lot more. Every mother wants a perfectly healthy baby with a round head, rosebud lips, button nose, beautiful eyes and satin skin.

Every mother wants a baby so gorgeous that people will pity the Gerber baby for being flat-out ugly.

Every mother wants a baby that will roll over, sit up and take those first steps right on schedule (according to the baby development chart on page 57, column two).

Every mother wants a baby that can see, hear, run, jump and fire neurons by the billions. She wants a kid that can smack the ball out of the park and do toe points that are the envy of the entire ballet class.

Call it greed if you want, but we mothers want what we want. Some mothers get babies with something more.

Some mothers get babies with conditions they can't pronounce, a spine that didn't fuse, a missing chromosome or a palette that didn't close.

Most of those mothers can remember the time, the place, the shoes they were wearing and the color of the walls in the small, suffocating room where the doctor uttered the words that took their breath away. It felt like recess in the fourth grade when you didn't see the kick ball coming and it knocked the wind clean out of you.

Some mothers leave the hospital with a healthy bundle, then, months, even years later, take him in for a routine visit, or schedule her for a well check, and crash head first into a brick wall as they bear the brunt of devastating news. It can't be possible! That doesn't run in our family. Can this really be happening in our lifetime? I am a woman who watches the Olympics for the sheer thrill of seeing finely sculpted bodies. It's not a lust thing; it's a wondrous thing. The athletes appear as specimens without flaw - rippling muscles with nary an ounce of flab or fat, virtual powerhouses of strength with lungs and limbs working in perfect harmony. Then the athlete walks over to a tote bag, rustles through the contents and pulls out an inhaler.

As I've told my own kids, be it on the way to physical therapy after a third knee surgery, or on a trip home from an echo cardiogram, there's no such thing as a perfect body.

Everybody will bear something at some time or another. Maybe the affliction will be apparent to curious eyes, or maybe it will be unseen, quietly treated with trips to the doctor, medication or surgery. The health problems our children have experienced have been minimal and manageable, so I watch with keen interest and great admiration the mothers of children with serious disabilities, and wonder how they do it. Frankly, sometimes you mothers scare me. How you lift that child in and out of a wheelchair 20 times a day.

How you monitor tests, track medications, regulate diet and serve as the gatekeeper to a hundred specialists hammering in your ear.

I wonder how you endure the clichés and the platitudes, well-intentioned souls explaining how God is at work when you've occasionally questioned if God is on strike.

I even wonder how you endure schmaltzy pieces like this one -- saluting you, painting you as hero and saint, when you know you're ordinary. You snap, you bark, you bite. You didn't volunteer for this. You didn't jump up and down in the motherhood line yelling, "Choose me, God! Choose me! I've got what it takes." You're a woman who doesn't have time to step back and put things in perspective, so, please, let me do it for you.

From where I sit, you're way ahead of the pack. You've developed the strength of a draft horse while holding onto the delicacy of a daffodil. You have a heart that melts like chocolate in a glove box in July, carefully counter-balanced against the stubbornness of an Ozark mule.

You can be warm and tender one minute, and when circumstances require intense and aggressive the next. You are the mother, advocate and protector of a child with a disability.
You're a neighbor, a friend, a stranger I pass at the mall. You're the woman I sit next to at church, my cousin and my sister-in-law.

You're a woman who wanted ten fingers and ten toes, and got something more. You're a wonder.

More Neuropsych Results

2010-01-13T04:00:00.000-08:00

In October (right before Logan turned 3 years old), he was evaluated by the school district to see if he would qualify for the developmental preschool program (like Carson is in). At that time, he should have definitely qualified for speech therapy at the very least. He was also tested in other areas that I felt necessary. I was stunned (with my mouth dropped open, I am sure) when they told me he did not qualify for ANY services at that time. So began my battle to get Logan the services that he needed. We had him tested by our neuropsychologist in November and just last weekend I got his testing results. He had deficits in language, motor and social/emotional/behavior areas. The neuropsychologist was so adamant about the fact that he should be placed in a developmental preschool program that she was going to personally call the director of special education at the school district on Monday. She even expected that I would hear from the district by the end of the week. WOW!!! So, after the dust settles at the district office, I would anticipate Logan being placed in the next couple of weeks. He will even be in the same classroom as Carson! Hmmmm....that could be good or that could be bad! I'm counting on the premise that this will be a good setup for the two of them...what a good place to learn how to appropriately interact with each other and to have two teachers pull them apart when all hell breaks loose!

Now, onto Carson! Back in the summertime, the neuropsychologist recommended that Carson be placed in a full day treatment program because she did not feel that he was appropriately placed in the school district. I had no success with getting the district to believe that, so I had the neuropsych's office do an observation of Carson in his developmental preschool classroom. They had a lot of great things to say about his classroom and his teachers! Carson did very well during 'work time' and appropriately transitioned between tasks, snack, circle time, etc., He did have some difficulties with social interactions during free play time and unstructured times. As you can imagine, this is not a surprise for us...this is one of the biggest areas that Carson struggles with and hence the reason why he is in a social skills class once a week! Anyway, based on the observation, they felt that he was appropriately placed at this time. YIPEE was my response!...and with a big sigh of relief that another battle was not in my foreseeable future!

Carson is doing extremely well even at daycare! He has transitioned into another classroom and it is much smaller (10-12 peers) than his previous classroom (22 peers) and it has made all the difference in the world! He has very little difficulties as long as he gets enough sleep at home! No kidding...he can completely fall apart in a lot of ways if he doesn't have the coping skills to deal with life! Hmmm...just like adults in many respects, huh?

So, while speaking with the neuropsychologist, I told her that I was highly concerned about Carson starting kindergarten. He is academically ready for it, but I am concerned about the potential class sizes. Given Carson's history of not doing well in large classrooms, what does kindergarten hold for him. Yes, our school district did go on strike this last year battling over class sizes (among other things), but there is no guarantee that they will remain that low throughout the entire school year. She said that she has seen a lot of kids like Carson lose a lot of academic and social ground by going the public school route. As a result, she recommended that we find a private school that had the small classroom sizes and nurturing atmosphere that would do him a lot of good. She felt that if we did this for kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade that he would be better suited to then join the public school arena for the 3rd grade. I was completely stunned!! I had always heard that if you have a child with special needs that you would be best suited using the public schools due to them having more resources for our kiddos than private schools. I guess I need to change my views, huh? She recommended that we check out one of the local Montessori or christian schools.

After leaving our meeting, I was just on cloud nine! I felt like my boys were being taken care of and that we did the right thing by using the neuropsychologist! And, now's the time to check out private schools for admission in the Fall! WOW...what great timing! Now we have some open houses to attend!

On another note, back in the summer months we were also recommended to get hooked up with the Children's Autism Clinic to optimize our resources for Carson. When I called them, we were placed on a waiting list and were told that we would receive a call when it was time to schedule an appointment. I kind of pushed it out of my mind, thinking that we would never be seen...and to be quite honest, I think I even had hesitations about my son being evaluated at an autism clinic. We had been told of his diagnosis of PDD-NOS (pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified) and knew this was on the autism spectrum, but still...that is something that you have to come to terms with and being seen at an autism clinic only validates that, right? Well, we received that phone call last week...yep, they are ready to see Carson! So, I had a long chat with my hubby about this and whether this was something that we wanted to pursue or not. I didn't even know if the clinic would be covered by our insurance or not, so we were potentially even dealing with a large expense if we went this route. I at least wanted my hubby to support this idea if we did go. So, after our little chat, I called the clinic back and made an appointment with one of their developmental pediatricians for Feb 11th. We'll just keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep getting our boys the help that we feel they need and deserve!

So, I am sitting in the lobby of the Children's Therapy Center last week while Carson is in his social skills class and I start chatting with a mom sitting next to me. I had my computer with me and was trying to work on some stuff and she was doing the same. We were obviously both kind of techies and we started chatting about our phones, computers, etc., (I know, isn't that nerdy!) and she mentioned that she worked at Children's Hospital. So, I asked her if she knew much about the autism clinic there and she said, "Oh, I'm the director of the autism clinic!" Wow...what are the chances of that? So we chatted a bit about the clinic and she told me that if I ever needed anything that she was totally open to helping. We exchanged names and now I have a resourceful contact! It was a bit comforting knowing that this unknown clinic now has a kind face associated with it! Don't know where this will lead us, but we will keep putting one foot in front of another!

I'm BACK!!!

2009-12-16T19:44:00.001-08:00

Yep, that's right...I'm BACK! I feel like I have been in a fog (or a little funk) the last several months! Since August, I had a hard time getting enough work to meet our monthly budget. As a result, we ended up using a lot of our savings to make ends meet (thank god for savings). I thought I was doing OK, but now that that time has passed, I'm realizing that I didn't handle it too well. You would think that I would have gotten a lot of stuff done at home, but the amazing thing is that I didn't! I was too busy being in my own little funk! I guess I kind of shut down and quit doing some of the things that I enjoy doing...blogging being one of them. Hindsight is always 20/20, you know. I should have figured it out when all I wanted to do was sleep. If the boys were sleeping, then I was sleeping (hence part of the reason for my unproductivity)!

OK...so some things changed! I found some pharmacy work 1-3 days/week, am meeting our family budget, have lost 12 pounds (YAHOO!!), have finished my Christmas shopping, have sold the rental house (another YAHOO!!...we close in January) and have moved back into the world of coupon shopping...which brings me to a couple of things that I wanted to share with you (since I'm so darned proud of myself)!

My biggest coupon bargain this week is buying a $80 SonicAire toothbrush (which I have needed since mine went south this summer) for $19.99! Yup, you have read that correctly...20 buckaroos!

I also just got home from doing my Albertson's ad shopping and spent $120. You should have seen my cart...it was completely overflowing and I only spent $120. The best part was that I SAVED $145!!! Isn't that cool???

My new favorite website is The Krazy Coupon Lady! This website takes all the guesswork out of coupon shopping. They tell you where the deals are AND tell you where to find the coupons (even giving you the links to most of them so you can print them at home)! And the best part of the website is that it is FREE! Check it out!

I've also discovered the world of Blog Giveaways! This is just one of the many sites out there that you can earn FREE products from! So far, I have received a FREE kid's t-shirt from SOFT (a company that makes clothing for children who have sensitivities to clothing seams) and my own copy of "Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey" (to help me learn more about coupon shopping)!

OK...so back to reality here at the George home! Good thing I'm out of my funk 'cause it's a whirlwind here...

This evening we sent the boys to bed an hour early for arguing with each other! I swear, I'm tired of it...they are constantly bickering and are fiercely competetive with each other!...Kelly and I are (as I type) enjoying the peace and quiet that comes with two boys in their rooms AWAY from each other!

All three of my boys (including hubby) have had the flu for the past 5 days! ARGH!!! There's nothing like cleaning up puke, diarrhea and catering to the wows of whining boys! Like my mom always says, "I want the kids either sick or well 'cause it's the in-between stages that's no fun!" And how is it that everyone around you is sick...but MOM! I guess we were put on this earth for something, right?

Everyone is off to either daycare or work tomorrow...I want out of the house!!!

Daddy's Car Attacks Carson

2009-10-14T18:15:00.001-07:00

What will this kid do next? Who knows...

First it was a bat into a bee's nest. Now, he smashes into daddy's car with his teeth...while riding his bike! Yep, we're still trying to figure out how that one happened! What's going to be next? Maybe ride his bike into a bee's nest? Hmmm...not completely out of the league of possibilities.

He just about knocked one of his front teeth clear out of his mouth! It is pushed back (and down) pretty significantly. But the dentist assures us that as long as he can chew (gotta get that food down somehow), that it will be OK. Thank goodness for baby teeth, huh? We'll have to get an xray in 4-6 weeks to make sure this hasn't caused a dental abscess (infection) and worse case scenario is that they will have to pull his tooth! Hmmm...I guess you'll have to stay tuned on that one, huh?

Have a safe night! We will try to do the same!

Logan's New Bike

2009-10-10T07:43:00.000-07:00

We bought Logan a new bike last weekend for an early birthday present. We also bought Carson a few accessories for his bike (cup holder, horn and kick stand) that he had been requesting for a while. We tried to explain the concept of an early birthday present, but neither Carson nor Logan understood. All they wanted was their stuff 'right now' and they knew their birthday wasn't for a few weeks. Oh, the woes of a child, huh?

A 12 inch bike was too small and a 16 inch bike was too big...but a 14 inch bike was just right! Have you ever tried tracking down a 14 inch bike? They are not very common and when you do find them, there isn't much selection. We made a few phone calls in the Toys R' Us parking lot to the usual places (Target, Walmart, etc.,). We finally found one at the Toys R' Us in Bellevue! So off we went to Bellevue 'cause you see, once you tell your child they are getting a new bike, you aren't going home until you have that bike...and Logan made that very clear to us!!! Even in the line to purchase it, he couldn't take his eyes off of it...he had to ensure that it was going in the back of daddy's truck...that was HIS JOB!

We got it home and the boys were in heaven together! Carson was ecstatic to have a bike riding partner!!!

George Family Update

2009-09-30T16:29:00.000-07:00

WOW...it has been an entire month since I have posted. Where have I been these days? I've thought about posting, but the couch keeps calling (loudly, I might add) to me in the evenings. Oh well...I am here now and that's what really matters, right?

So, I have added a cool feature to my blog...MUSIC! Yep, if you stay on my blog for a little bit, you will be enamored with wonderful music...while reading about our crazy lives! Sounds like fun, doesn't it! I hope you enjoy the tunes.

I have recently taken up scrapbooking...digitally! A couple of weekends ago, I was able to scrap ALL WEEKEND! It was nice to be able to do what I wanted to do...when I wanted to do it! I thought some of you would enjoy seeing a couple of my favorite pages. So, here they are!

I like this page because I was trying to learn how to use the 'wand' tool. This tool is used to cut out objects from a photo, so I used it to cut around the front portion of the bike to get rid of the rest of the photo...pretty cool, huh? It took me a while, but I like how it turned out.

I like this page because of the layering effects of the paper and the colors...doesn't it just scream SUMMER? Oh, how I miss those days!

So, on a completely different note...I have been pretty discouraged about my weight and have finally decided to do something about it! I have been a Weight Watchers fan for 20 years (YIKES!), but this time I just can't seem to be making any head way with the program! So, I decided to mix it up a bit and join Jenny Craig! So, I joined and have been on the program now for 1 week. I lost 4 pounds my first week! YEAH! I'm pretty excited about that! It's nice because I just eat what they tell me and that's about it! It's a great way to jump start my weight loss and hasn't taken too many brain cells to figure it out! So, I'm hoping for some good success this time around! Wish me luck!

I haven't been working much since August. I keep waiting to get that call to help fill in somewhere at the last minute...and it never comes! I wish I could say that I've completed some amazing projects around the house, but that hasn't happened. As one of my friends puts it, I'm "in a funk!" I guess that sums it up...I'm waiting to get out of my funk and get my good 'ole self back, but that doesn't seem to be happening as quickly as I would like. I think losing some weight and getting some energy back with help (or at least I am hoping)!

Carson went back to preschool on 9/28 after the teachers decided to stop striking and to start working! Here are a few photos of him getting on the bus!

Carson has been doing well. His fits are still there, but they have significantly decreased! It's fun to see the twinkle in his eyes when he sits and laughs with me. This morning, I was sitting by him at the kitchen counter while Logan was in timeout in his room, and Carson just loved that undivided attention! I went to get up to do some laundry and Carson says, "Mom, don't go yet!" "OK Carson, did you want me to sit with you a while longer?" Very cute!

Carson has been doing Occupational Therapy (OT) since the spring (in hopes of helping him learn some self regulation skills) and he will be transitioning to a Social Skills group this next week. He tends to not know how to interact with other kids, especially when conflict is involved. He gets too close to others, not respecting personal space and is still biting, hiting and scratching when he is upset with. To say that he could use some knowledge in the social skills arena is an understatement! The purpose of this group is for him to actually gain some really close friends out of the group. We'll update how the group is going...

Just as Carson is getting more manageable, then comes Logan! YIKES...that kid gives you NO breaks! He is always on his toes and keeps you running! If he slows down, then you know he must be sick. He has lately been working as a blossoming artist in our home...decorating the walls in his room with chalk and last night he decided to color on the carpet and couch with a black permanent marker! He certainly got sent to his room to go to bed early over that one! Daddy was FURIOUS! And then this morning, I found him coloring on the computer screen with a pen as well! YIKES...will he ever learn? He also has taken to throwing things...over the fence, in the house, wherever he chooses. Very frustrating as well! And, does he have any other words in his vocabulary besides "NO!"?? ARGH!!!

He turns 3 years old on the 19th of this month. Since we have been doing speech therapy and occupational therapy thru SKIP since he was 18 months old, he is supposed to transition his services to the school district by age 3. That's if he qualifies. Well, you have to be at least 1.5 standard deviations (SD) away from normal in 2 areas in order to qualify. Logan was -1.4 SD in speech articulation. Hmmm...that's not going to go over so well. Our speech therapist wrote a very convincing report to the school district, but so far they are not buying it. You see, all the testing accounts for articulation of single words. Does he talk to single words? Nope...in sentences! And, when he talks in sentences, he is about 25% intelligible! But, the testing doesn't account for that! Also, we asked for the school district to do a full assessment (social, emotional, behavior, fine motor, gross motor, etc.,) and apparently they don't have that request. How do things get so messed up along the way? So, the battle with the school district begins. I have already made lots of phone calls and will continue to do so until I hear what I want. Also, when Carson was evaluated by the neuropsychologist, she told me that if Logan doesn't qualify for the developmental preschool program, to let her know and she will ensure he DOES qualify. So, I am meeting with her next week to discuss what needs to happen. We'll see where that goes!

Then there is daddy...who was involved in a hit and run accident on I-5 last Friday morning. He was driving in the far right lane when a car was weaving in and out of traffic and clipped him in the bumper...spinning him across all lanes of traffic. It tore up his back and he was taken to the hospital. The driver didn't stop! Can you believe that? Anyhow, some other driver followed the guy and called 911 with the license plate. We were notified a few days later that the reported license plate was invalid. Not sure if we will be able to catch the guy. What kind of moron doesn't stop after they hit someone? Poor Kelly! He has back problems anyway and this just adds to them. So, he was down for a good couple of days. Since they took Kelly to the hospital, they had to impound his vehicle. Kelly had to pay $250 just to get his car back and towed to the shop. And, we get to pay our deductible if they can't track the moron down! Such is life driving to Seattle, I suppose. ARGH!!!

Daddy (and Frankie) has recently finished building the boys a tree fort. There was already one started in our backyard (was there when we moved in), so they reinforced it, added guard rails and changed the staircase and voila!...a tree fort! The boys are very excited about it!

Whirlwind Update

2009-09-01T14:51:00.000-07:00

I have been getting quite a few e-mails from friends asking me how our camping trip went. I have been meaning to blog about them, but just couldn't seem to get myself in gear. As a matter of fact, I guess I have taken a "blogging vacation" for a while. My hubby is very proud of me since he thinks I am addicted to the computer (well...what would I do without my computer?). To be perfectly honest with you, I have been doing a lot of sleeping...yep, that's right...a lot of sleeping! I guess I have been tired the last couple of weeks, so I have been taking advantage of my vacation time with (and sometimes without...YIPEE!) the boys.

So, to get you all back up to speed, I will attempt to recap the last couple of weeks for you!

We went camping in Easton, WA (on the summit of Snoqualamie) with my parents the week of 8/17 for the whole week in their 5th wheel. Kelly and I have never taken the boys camping, so this was a perfect way to introduce them to it...and it was my way of having a comfy camping trip (minus the dirty tents). God Bless my parents for putting up with my crazy boys (and all the grandkids for that matter...they took each family camping seperately!)!

I wanted to bring our bikes since they are a life saver when Carson needs an outlet for himself. So, when the boys discovered I would be bringing the bikes, they asked if I was bringing daddy's new truck! (new to us, not new to the world...). After explaining that we wouldn't have our cool DVD player OR air conditioning in the truck, I gave into their demands (hmmm...I think they just wanted to see me drive the truck!). So, we had no problems fitting all our stuff into the truck...and I was able to bring my bike as well as theirs!

Camping puts a new spin on the word 'dirty!' The boys were clean when I put them in the truck and we hadn't even arrived at the campground and they were filthy (hmmm...must have been that chocolate popcicle they were eating on the way!). Nana was all prepared with a pan that I could wash the boys in each night before bed. At least that way they were clean when they started their day. Lord knows they needed a bath at the end of it!

Nana and Papa were very generous and fixed all of our yummy meals (the boys loved papa's homemade oatmeal with oranges each morning) and even allowed me to catch up on my sleep at naptimes! We were truly spoiled!

Our campground had a nice little kid's playground and we went there frequently! One morning, we ventured out for what we thought would be a short walk on a trail that said "15 minutes to the lake" and after about an hour of walking, decided we should turn back since we were worried how much longer the boys were going to make it (and we weren't in any condition to be carrying them). Bummer! We really wanted to see that lake!

So, the next morning, the boys and I took a bike ride to see if we could find the lake. Come to find out, we had come very close to it the day before! When we arrived at the lake, we found a great kids play area and a nice grassy picnic area complete with a beach and flush toilets! So, we played for a bit and then had to go back to camp to tell nana and papa about our find! We had to go back later to play in the water, for sure!

The next day, we packed our lunches, bathing suits and lawn chairs...we planned on spending the bulk of the day at the beach! The boys were very excited!

It didn't take long for the boys to get into the water. For about an hour, we were the only ones at the park and on the beach. Slowly, folks joined us and the boys found some friends to play with. Two girls from the Seattle area showed up and they instantly bonded with Carson and Logan. There was this really big round blow up mattress thing that someone had brought and left in the water. They were all over it and had a blast! The girls were wonderful with the boys! They were helping them get up on the mattress and all sorts of things. It was fun to watch them play together!

Carson, Logan and the girls all having fun together!

Logan loved playing with his front loader in the sand and water!

I helped the boys try to build a sand castle. It didn't work out too well because the sand wasn't wet enough, so Carson thought he would help out with that!

Thanks to nana and papa for taking us all camping! We had a great time and look forward to our trip next year!

(I swear this post toook me days to complete! I'm just going to scream...why does it have to be so difficult sometimes???? ARGH!!)

Neuropsych Results Are In...

2009-08-13T20:08:00.000-07:00

Dr. Fay started out our parent meeting together by stating that Carson was one of the most hyperaroused kids she has ever seen in her office before. Tristyn was the gal who did the testing and she has an expertise of working with kids like Carson...and she even had a hard time working with him. Carson required a very highly structured environment and needed tasks to be broken down into small segments for him.

Here is what she said are areas of concern for Carson:

Severely hyperaroused
Unable to self soothe or self regulate
Aggressive, destructive and out of control
Lacks boundaries
Unable to tolerate frustration
Attention Deficit Disorder
Overall seen as having PDD-NOS (for more info on this, check out previous blog entry)

Hmmm...OK, no real big news here other than she thinks he has ADD...OK, maybe that's not such a big surprise either!

She feels that Carson needs a comprehensive day treatment program (not really sure what that means) to help him with his self regulation/self soothing skills. She also feels that because of the severity of his hyperarousal, we can expect it to be very difficult for Carson to be able to function in a mainstream elementary environment.

However, despite his hyperaroused state, his IQ tested as 'average'. It would be very interesting to see what happens to his IQ when we are able to get his other issues resolved.

I immediately got overwhelmed by this information because I could forsee a lot of work that lie ahead of me...I'm sure the least of which will involve a fight with the school district. Dr. Fay did recommend that we contact PAVE and have a PAVE advocate help us meet with the school district. PAVE is a parent advocacy group that knows a lot about the rules and regulations surrounding having a child with special needs.

Kelly took this meeting really well. He was easily able to relate to this information since this is how he saw himself as a child. In that respect, I feel that Kelly could totally relate to Carson and what he is experiencing.

So, that's it for now! I'll update as more stuff progresses...

Encouragement, Please?

2009-08-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

Boy, I really feel like I have a lot of things on my mind lately.

The most frustrating thing for me right now is my weight. I have put on about 25 pounds In the last 18 months or so and it is really frustrating me! It seems that no matter what I do, my weight just keeps climbing. I bought a bunch of new clothes in the spring to fit the larger me...and now, some of those clothes are too small! What is wrong with me? ARGH!!!

I have been doing Weight Watchers (WW), of which I have been doing off and on for the last 20 years (yep, my weight has been a life long battle for me) and no matter what I do, I am always hungry and constantly eating! I easily surpass my daily points by evening-time. I know part of my issue is stress! I am very much a stress eater and can't quite get this under control.

I try to attend WW meetings, which always help me in my weight loss journey, but my favorite WW leader only teaches Saturday classes. Saturdays are days that Kelly sleeps in in the morning and then I always feel guilty leaving him with the kids when I could have gone to another meeting during the week when I didn't have the kids. ARGH...more excuses, huh? YIKES...what's up with me?

I have also tried to fit exercise into my daily routine, but it is very hard. When I am working, exercise just isn't an option. I need to commit to fitting it in on my non-working days, but other things seem to take priority. I would love some encouragement around this issue!

This afternoon we also have our appointment with the neuropsychologist and that has been weighing heavily on my mind. I guess my biggest fear is how Kelly will 'take' this information. And, what exactly will she tell us? I can't help but reverting back to the thought that Carson's behavior is because of my parenting...even though I know there is 'something' bigger going on with him. I'm sure these are all normal mommy fears...what does Carson's future hold for him...and us as a family? Only time will tell....

Also, we will be doing some testing of Logan to see if he will qualify for the developmental preschool program when he turns 3 years old (YIKES...October will be here before we know it!)

Our rental house has not had much activity since it went on the market in July, so my hopes to be able to pull the kids out of daycare in the Fall just isn't going to happen. So, I have moved onto 'plan B'. I will continue to work 2 days a week and will cut the boys' daycare days to 3 days a week to help conserve our savings as much as possible. This will give me a day to do errands and appointments by myself so I can focus my attention on the boys the rest of the week. That's my plan at least, we'll see how it works out.

Both boys will be transitioning to different classrooms in the Fall...and that just stresses me out as well. That means I have to educate another set of teachers on what makes my boys tick. It means another set of conference meetings to trouble shoot Carson's behavior in this new environment. And the one teacher who I thought would be teaching in Carson's room will not be there. She was someone who I felt understood Carson. Hmmmmm.....so much to think about! I know we will get there...it just feels so painful when there are so many changes...and I am the one who orchestrates it all! On a positive note, in Carson's classroom there will only be 9-10 kids at the most for a while. This is a very good thing...a smaller classroom will immensely help Carson from being overwhelmed by all the classroom commotion that a larger class size brings.

The boys have been constantly bickering and it makes our time together very frustrating, to say the least! Mealtimes are the worst! We have tried separating them, yelling, etc., but nothing seems to make it better! Logan has taken to constantly getting up at dinner time, so we are always yelling "sit down and eat your dinner" and finally last night, resorted to strapping him in his baby seat again! He's not a baby, why are we having to do this? Despite that, he still didn't eat his dinner! ARGH!! Maybe we should try some positive reinforcement this evening. Maybe a sticker chart for achieving our mealtime expectations? Ideas anyone?

On Sunday, I tried tackling Logan's potty training again! He wore his undies and every 20-30 minutes I put him on the potty and in return he got 2 chocolate chips (gotta love good 'ole bribery, huh?). He really did well! He peed every time I asked him to (and a few times in his undies as well). I didn't want to push the issue too much, so at nap time, I put him in a pull up...he woke up from his 2.5 hour nap completely DRY! WOW...that's impressive Logan! I think we will continue to tackle this issue next week while we are camping with nana and papa!

Yep, you heard that right, the boys and I are going camping with my parents, who have come up from California to take all the grand kids camping (my sister and her girls went last week and my brother and family went a couple months ago). Our turn is next week and we are very very excited about this! They have a fifth wheel, which is my kinda camping...out in the woods, but not too dirty 'cause you can clean up with the wonderful fifth wheel amenities! The boys are going to have so much fun, I'm sure! I think we will re-define the word "dirty", that's for sure! They are such great adventurers, so I'm sure they will be in heaven! Perfect time to learn about peeing in the bushes, don't you think?

We decided to rename grandma and grandpa Mitchell, because the boys were constantly getting confused when we talked about grandma and grandpa...they would say, "You know mom, the ones with the trailer" (Mitchell's) or "the ones who go golfing" (George's). So, they decided to name grandma and grandpa Mitchell "nana and papa" instead. We will have lots of time to practice their new names next week!

So, I better get off this computer and get to work...I have carpets to clean! Have a good one!

A Weekend With 5 Kids!

2009-08-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

I invited my sister and her 3 kids up from Portland for the weekend of 7/24-26. I am just now getting to post pictures of their visit...I guess that means that I am just now recovering from their visit??

With my sister and her girls here, this means that there would be 5 kids total in my house! YIKES! It had been a while since Kendra and I had been able to get together and since I just had the whole week off from work, I wanted to take advantage of it!

I also knew that this many kids would just drive my hubby nuts...so I politely suggested that he call his friend Frank to see if they could spend the weekend together. No sense pushes his buttons if it was unnecessary, huh?

So, Kendra and the 3 girls arrived Friday evening (after 7 hours on the road!! YIKES...the traffic was horrific that night!)...and the RACE began!

My plan was that Kendra and I would sleep in our bed with the twins sleeping in seperate pack n'plays on either side of the bed. And, as we did the last time they came to visit, Carson and Rachel would share Carson's bunk bed. Yeah...that didn't go so well this time! The kids didn't settle down for bed until close to 9pm...and then Rachel kept pestering Carson (and I'm sure Carson was giving it back to Rachel as well)! By 9:45pm, Kendra and I decided that the sleep arrangements needed to be altered...so now Rachel is now in our bed...and since I needed to get my sleep as well...I go sleep on the couch!

Without hesitation, Logan woke up and started pounding on his door at 5:45am! The morning started very early (as usual) and it seemed like the fighting never stopped! Carson, Logan and Rachel were all over each other!
Kendra and I would periodically have to corral the kids with a TV show or two to get them to calm down!

Rebecca and Joanna are the cutest things ever and pretty much minded their own business...investigating all the toys in the playroom they could find! It wasn't long before all the toys were all over the place!

Carson was pretty cute trying to get Rebecca and Joanna's attention, so he offered to cuddle with them on Saturday morning. Joanna quickly decided that she was up for this, but Rebecca reluctently gave Carson "that look" meaning "No Way Jose!" However, once she saw how much fun Joanna was having, she quickly hopped up onto the couch with the other two. Very cute!

Logan had been pretty whiny the previous last couple of days (he had an ear infection earlier that week), so I opted to have the pediatrician check his ears one last time...just to make sure they were getting better. I asked Carson if he wanted to stay and play with his cousins or come with us...and he said that he wanted to come with us! Hmmm...I think he just needed a break from all the kids! Fortunately, Logan's ears were OK...I guess that means that I was dealing with 'cranky two year old whining' instead of 'hurting ear whining'! Hmmm...it's almost easier to deal with 'hurting ear whining'...at least Tylenol can help with that!

When we got back to the house, we got the kids ready to go to the water park! We packed out picnic lunch and got our bathing suits on! These kids need to get out of the house! Off we went!

The kids had so much fun playing in the water! After about an hour of playing, the kids were completely wiped! We got the kids changed into their dry clothes and rushed to get back home for naps! All the kids were soooo tired! They were all crying...and just needed to go to sleep!

OMG...the amount of food that we went through that weekend was impressive! I told Kendra that when the number of kids outnumbers the number of adults...we ALL get kid food! I tried to keep it easy....and keep it coming! I usually let my boys come into the kitchen and get their own snacks as they need them...but while we had 5 kids in the house, I couldn't let them do that! When one kid would come to get a snack...ALL of them wanted a snack! I was in the kitchen a lot as it was...I didn't want to be in there ALL DAY!

On Sunday, we played in the back yard. Is this the cutest picture ever? Joanna and Logan are checking out the worms in the dirt! We also pulled out the bouncer and played in the sprinklers.

The kids also found their favorite rock in the yard and we painted pet rocks! Very cute!

But, by 10:30am...all the kids were in tears and they were all very whiny! Kendra and the girls were going to take off for home after lunch...hoping that the girls would sleep most of the way home! These poor kids were very tired! It takes a lot of energy 'keeping up' with each other...and fighting your territory of the toys, you know! So, we decided on an early lunch so that everyone could take an early nap! I felt bad that our time was quickly coming to an end...but, let me tell you...my boys were asleep before you knew it (and the girls were as well!)

Kendra and I had a bit of time to chat with each other...but most of our time together was just trying to stay on top of the kids...and to keep them from killing each other! It's amazing how much energy that takes!

While we all took our naps, daddy came back home! He had fun playing computer games, golfing and doing some 'fix it stuff' with Frank! The boys were excited to see him when they woke up! They were also excited to have their home back!

Anyone up for hosting our next get together?

Sleep Study Success!!!

2009-08-03T16:15:00.001-07:00

We had done all the prep ahead of time to prepare Carson for this big event! We told him that all the medical play we did on Friday was now his turn for. He seemed to be pretty acceptant on that fact. As a matter of fact, he would periodically ask on Sunday, "What minute do we go to sleep center, mom?"

We thought that we'd make this a special event and go pick out a new movie for him to watch while we were at the sleep center. We gathered up Carson's favorite pajamas, blanket and pillow...as well as his music and 'Moon & Sun' night light! We also picked out a soda, a candy treat and popped a bag of popcorn (sounds like we were going to the movies, huh?). With that combination, we thought that he would easily be content while his tech did the "hookin' up"! Daddy even let Carson take daddy's favorite teddy bear with him to cuddle with! So, off we went to the sleep center (check-in was at 7:30pm)!

We knew that Victor was going to be our tech and were quickly introduced to him when we arrived! Let's take a shot before the procedure gets started! We were already in our jammies (we came prepared!), so we got our stuff all out, went potty, put the movie in and waited for Victor! Victor had Carson be his "helper", so Carson helped Victor put the sensors down his jammies (to be attached to his legs and chest). He also helped put the breathing belts on (those purple belts) and was very proud when he clicked them into place!

They had one of those cool barber chairs for him to sit in while the probes were being attached to his head and face. It didn't faze Carson in the slightest when Victor started this part of the process! Carson was just chomping away on his popcorn and watching his new video (Over the Hedge)! It was very cute!

After Victor was finished applying the probes, he put a mesh ski mask on Carson (to help keep all the probes attached for the night). It was a bit itchy, but once Carson got used to it, it was OK. He never tried to pull ANYTHING off! WOW!!!

By now, it's 9pm and it's time for bed! So, Victor and I got Carson into bed (this is a feat with all those darned wires, let me tell you!) and then Victor left the room. It was at this point that Carson got a bit scared. He started complaining about the mesh mask itching and that he was a bit scared (completely understandable!!). I gave him lots of reassurance, hugs and kisses and explained that I was going to be sleeping in the bed next to him! I also gave him daddy's teddy bear and his blanket again...and he was very thankful! It probably took him 30-45 minutes to finally go to sleep (yikes...that's a late bedtime for a little boy who usually goes to bed at 8pm!). Once he was asleep, Victor quietly walked in and put on a nasal prong to Carson's nose (I think this is the worst part of the sleep study, from my memory of my sleep study...OK the whole thing is NO fun!). He managed to keep the prong on for a while and then OFF it went...until Victor finally taped it in place! (Hmm...guess it's not coming off now, huh?)

Carson woke up many times in the night (many more than usual) crying when he woke up. I think he realized how confined he was with all the cords and stuff. But, he was easily consolable with me talking to him from the other bed. Then, came the "Mom? I wet the bed, mom!" Kinda weird, really because he wears a night time pullup to bed and it wasn't even soaked! Oh well...I wasn't in charge of changing the sheets, so it wasn't a big deal to me! (he he he he) I changed his pullup and cuddled with him while Victor changed the sheets. Then back to bed we went...waking up at 6:30am!

YIPEE!!! It's over! Off comes the probes and into the shower we go! Now we have to get all the goop out of his hair! I washed his hair twice and there is still some in there...oh well!

He was very excited when it was finally over! We came back from the shower and found 6 stickers waiting for Carson on the bed! Carson said, "Who in this world gave these to me?" Very cute!

So, as promised...we were off to eat breakfast out at a restaurant! Carson wanted lots of pancakes, sausage and orange juice! Okey dokey, dude!

I am soooo proud of Carson! He did a magnificent job! Carson even got to pick out a special toy at the toy store today! What a big boy you are Carson, mommy and daddy are so proud of you!!

Special thanks to Robyn and Terry for 'playing with us' on Friday! And, special thanks to Victor for being very kind and patient with us...and for changing the wet sheets in the middle of the night!

I'll update everyone when we hear the results!

Cute Stories, My Birthday and Sleep Study Preparation

2009-08-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in the family room right now...drinking my iced latte, enjoying the fact that both my boys are outside playing nicely with each other! (I'm not too happy about the fact that Logan was pounding on his door to get up this morning at 5am, despite the fact that the sun on his night light hadn't appeared yet...but that's another story!) They have really enjoyed this 'cooler weather' since our 103 degree record breaking weather here in the Seattle area this week! But, believe me, even that hot weather did not stop the boys from playing outside!

We had another good week! (I'm hesitant to say that statement for fear that I'm going to jinx what we have going on here) I honestly believe that these good weeks are a compilation of Carson's medication being titrated to an optimal dose for him, the good weather (since the boys love being outside) and no preschool this summer. Now the boys are still going to daycare, Carson is just not attending his developmental preschool, since they are closed for the summer. He loves preschool, but it does introduce two big transitions into his daily routine and transitions are very tough for Carson!

Dad even mentioned that Carson's behavior was getting better and I commented back to him with what I thought were the reasons. His response was "or he's growing out of this" and I just chuckled to myself. I just thought to myself, "No honey, I don't think you grow out of this in a couple of weeks, but you can believe what you want. Don't think for a minute that we are going to stop his medication!" It's interesting how we all have our own perspectives to life. It's really not about who is right or wrong...it's all in how it is perceived and handled! I'm OK with that!

Monday was my birthday! I had kind of forgotten about it until my hubby said "Happy Birthday" to me while I was in the shower! I had to work on my birthday, so as I was getting the boys ready for daycare, I told the boys that today was my birthday. Carson promptly began calling me "The Birthday Girl!" It was very cute! Even when I dropped the boys off at daycare, Carson gave me a hug and kiss and said "Have a good day Birthday Girl!"

I arrived at work and it was same 'ole, same 'ole work! Then a guy arrives to the pharmacy window with a vase of flowers and a balloon! I took a look at him and said, "Oh, those are for me!"

"How do you know that?"

"Well, today is my birthday and I bet those are from my hubby!"

"Well, I guess you guessed correctly!" They were beautiful! Thanks hubby!

Later that evening, I fixed a birthday cake. Have you ever added a can of diet soda to a cake mix? Well...it's a good Weight Watchers technique I have learned. Just add a can of any diet soda to any cake mix, mix it all up and bake per box directions. Voila! It's very moist and delicious and much less calories than adding the oil and eggs! So, after dinner we had birthday cake topped with cool whip and raspberries/blueberries! Yum! We all had birthday candles on our cake (per Carson's request) and we all took turns singing happy birthday to each other! It was very cute! The boys both gave me a birthday card and daddy gave me a present! (speakers to enjoy my computer music outside!). All in all...a good birthday day for me!

Both boys went to daycare again on Tuesday and I was home on Wednesday. After I picked up the boys from daycare on Tuesday, I was telling them that they get to stay home with me on Wednesday and Carson started to cry.

"But mom, they are having pajama day at daycare tomorrow! I don't want to miss out!"

"Oh really? OK Carson, I guess you are going to daycare tomorrow! And Logan, you get to have mommy all to yourself tomorrow!"

So on Wednesday, I took Carson to daycare and which pajamas do you think Carson chose to wear? He chose he two piece FLANNEL LONG SLEEVED pajamas! Yep, he did! It took me all morning to convince him that he was going to be hot with those jammies on and he was dead set on wearing them...until we got to daycare and he got out of the car!

"Mom, can I put that T-shirt on that you brought?"

"Yep, you can!" WHEW, I thought, as Wednesday was predicted to be the hottest day EVER in Seattle!

Logan and I had a nice day together! He ran a bunch of errands with me and then we had our speech therapy appointment later that morning! Our speech therapist walked into our house and you could just see the look of relief and smile on her face as she says, "Oh Kari, you guys have air conditioning?" Poor thing...she goes from home to home providing speech therapy services to folks and I can only imagine how hot some homes truly were!

On Friday, Carson got to stay at home with mommy all by himself! It is very nice to be able to give them some one on one attention! It just isn't the same when you have to share mommy's attention with your brother! And, believe me...they are highly competitive for mommy's attention! We had Carson's occupational therapy appointment early and then we were off for our tour of the Mary Bridge Sleep Center. Carson has his sleep study on Sunday evening and I was on a mission to prepare him for this event! Thursday evening, I made a story for Carson about all the steps of the sleep study process, so he would know what to expect when we actually went for the study. I gave it to him that morning and he was very excited to have 'his own book'. He spent a lot of time just looking at the pictures! I just let him look at it on his own and didn't read it to him until we were at the Sleep Center.

If you are interested in viewing the 'book', you can download it at one of the following links:
Word document Format
Power Point format

We grabbed our Sleep Study Book and were off for our personal tour. We met our Child Life Specialist (CLS) and one of the sleep center technologists there. I had previously spoken with Robyn, the CLS and we planned on what we were going to do with Carson. She brought Carson his personal 'sleep buddy' which was a white fabric stuffed doll. She also brought markers for him to color his 'sleep buddy!' He was all over that...coloring it from head to toe, front and back! We let him get comfy in the room (the actual room that we would be sleeping in) and then we slowly introduced the 'stuff' and read him the story. He got to touch the electrodes that would be placed on his head, face and body. He thought it was pretty cool to put them on us, but wasn't too interested in putting them on himself! We did a lot of 'medical play' and just let him get comfy with everything that was going to happen to him. I was really proud of how well he did with this process. We continue to read the book and talk about this test and I'm hoping that he will be able to make the leap from 'having it done to others' to 'having it done to himself!' We talk about it all the time, so I'm hoping that he will be comfortable with what will happen on Sunday evening. Keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for us on Sunday evening!

Well...that was our week in a nutshell! Let's hope for a cool and pleasant weekend! Hope you have a nice one as well!

Update on our Week

2009-07-26T16:14:00.001-07:00

It's been a while since I have posted on the blog and I am getting a lot of anxious friends wanting updates on Carson's neuropsych testing. Our original plan was for Carson to have 4 two hour testing sessions. Well, after the first session, it was clearly obvious that two hours was going to be a bit much for Carson! Surprise, surprise!!! So, instead we opted for 7 one hour sessions...we planned to drive to Bellevue every day this week to complete these sessions. Well...the good news is is that Carson completed his testing in 5 sessions!!! The bad news is...mom got a speeding ticket on the way home from a session! Nothing like Logan telling me that "mommy drive too fast!"

I attended the first session with Carson and dad attended the second session. By the third session, I had to bring Logan with us ('cause he was sick with another ear infection....poor guy!), so we opted to try having Carson test by himself. No big deal! As a matter of fact, he did a really good job all by himself! So, by the 4th session, I thought that we would just continue with Carson attending these sessions by himself...and he did! Way to go Carson! We did a lot of rewarding Carson...before and after these testing sessions, we would walk around the business park! Carson (and Logan) were in heaven! The business park, in their eyes was like a camping area, complete with trees, paths and 'rock walls'! Carson would climb up and down the rock wall and when Logan came, Carson had to 'teach' Logan how to climb the rock wall as well! This particular office was the only pediatric practice in the business park...and it quickly became clear that the business park was not used to having kids in 'their area'. By the end of our testing sessions, we had a big dude come up to us saying that they had a complaint of kids playing on the rock wall! Yep, those are my kids! He says, "Please do not allow them to climb on this rock wall." "Why?," I ask. "Well, if they get hurt on the rock wall, then you can sue us." I thought...my boys WILL hurt themselves because they are boys...and believe me, you are the last person I would think of suing. Can you tell there were lawyers in this business park? ARGH!!! Now I have a devastated little boy because he cannot decompress on the rock wall! Hmmm...maybe that gentleman should have neuropsych testing done and see what sort of stress he needs to work off? I bet he would want to climb the rock wall too! Oh well...luckily that night we were notified that Carson had completed his testing, so we wouldn't be 'bothering' them anymore! Believe me, I was ready to allow Carson to continue climbing the rock wall and have them call the cops...and then kindly explain why my child needed to climb the rock wall! Bummer that I wasn't able to enjoy that...I would have enjoyed the look of guilt on his face! We won't have the results until August 12th!!!

Oh...I've been meaning to post these photos! These are drawings that Carson has made. Carson LOVES to do art! So, especially when he has gone to daycare...we bring home A LOT of art! So, I asked him about these particular pictures and this is what he said!

This is a 'golf course!' Impressive, I thought! He has been obsessed with golfing ever since he found out that Grandpa George golfs! He even laid out some clothes for going golfing with grandpa...he says that you have to wear polo shirts...and he picked out his own polo shirt! Very cute!

This second picture is a map...a TREASURE MAP! He says that the treasure is where the 'X' is!

I have been off from work this past week and have spent most of it with the boys. On Monday, I was able to help chaperon Carson's daycare classroom to the Ballard Locks (to see the cool boats going from Puget Sound to Lake Union and the salmon ladders). I was in charge of only one child (my own) while other chaperons were in charge of three! Hmmm...does that mean that Carson is equivalent to three kids? Some days I would definitely agree! Anyhow...we had a blast! Carson thinks he is the most special boy in the world when he gets to pack his lunch for a field trip...and Logan CANNOT come! Here are a few photos from our day!

We visited the botanical gardens and Carson had to 'smell' ALL the flowers! So cute!

After lunch, we had some time to run around in the fields and Carson wanted to play with the 'bigger kids' from daycare! It was so cute to see him bend down to race just like the big kids do!

Then later in the week, we got to go to a concert in the park! The boys thought they were super duper special when we got to pick up McDonald's for lunch and take our 'backpack chairs' (lawn chairs with a backpack attached) to the concert! You should have seen those boys smile!! When we got to the concert, Carson spotted Miss Rachael, his most favorite daycare teacher, and he was in heaven FOR SURE!

Like those sun glasses?

Logan forgot his cool sunglasses in the car, so he had to beg to use mommy's sunglasses!

Then after the concert, we played at our favorite water park...right next door! (water fountains coming up from the ground) They were very ready for naps and so was mom!

Our yard was in dire need of major weeding, etc., Since I had some spare time on my hands (yeah right...spare time??) I tackled the yard and got it in darn good shape by the end of the week! (Dad...don't ever say that I don't help in the yard!) It was a bit therapeutic for me...weeding is right up my 'picking everything' alley and power tools (like hedge trimmers and blowers) are great at taking out some aggression! The boys even helped me pick up after all the cutting!

In the backyard, there is a section that Carson has been watering, saying that he is watering his flowers! Poor guy didn't realize that the reason why those flowers were bloomin' was because the weeds had gone to the bloomin' stage! Not a good thing! So, when he saw me pulling is flowers, Carson was not a happy camper! I had to think real fast and came up with "Oh Carson, it's OK...we should go to Home Depot and get some really pretty flowers to plant tomorrow!" "OK mom...it's a deal!" So, off to Home Depot we went the following day to fulfill my promise! Carson picked out some really pretty flowers and was a super big helper planting them as well!

Carson waters the flowers everyday and he makes sure to water around the flowers (instead of on top of them) so the flowers don't bend (so Carson says)!

Carson even found a yummy worm along the way as well! Hmmm....Yummy!

Stay tuned for another post on our weekend! Our cousins came to visit us from Portland and boy, did we have fun!

Back to work and daycare tomorrow!

You mean this behavior monster thing might actually have a name???

2009-07-13T19:28:00.000-07:00

It seems that in the past 6 months, this behavior monster thing keeps rearing it's head in our daily lives...and believe me, it is no pretty thing!

This brings me to the 'Daily Groove' topic of the day (thank you Scott Noelle at www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove):

:: Love the Behavior, Too ::

When a child's behavior is deemed inappropriate, the
conventional wisdom is to "Love the child, hate the
behavior."

Hmmm... It'd be nice if children could make the subtle
distinction between self and behavior, but even adults
have a hard time with that! If your partner tells you
s/he hates your behavior, is it any less discouraging
to hear, "but I love YOU"?

Our behavior is a reflection of who we are at the
moment. Hating your child's behavior is like saying
you don't love the part of your child that wants to
behave that way. To love unconditionally, you must
find a way to love the behavior, too.

Fortunately, *loving* unwanted behavior doesn't mean
*wanting* it or even tolerating it. You can love
unwanted behavior even as you take steps to change it!

But be open to the possibility that Love will
transform you, your child, and your relationship, such
that you no longer feel a need to change anything.

Now...snap out of it!! Back to reality here at blog central! Hmmm...not so sure that I will ever really LOVE THAT BEHAVIOR!

Because the last several months have gotten tougher and tougher for Carson...with no improvement in sight, I had another 'mommy hunch' that there had to be more to Carson than just SPD. Despite all the sensory regulation in the world, there had to be another reason for Carson's ability to scream at me (and others) directly in our face, for his over-reactivity to seemingly little things, for his instantaneous flip from a good mood to a bad mood, for his amazing ability to throw an incredible fit, etc., etc., etc., So, I have jumped back on the advocacy path for my child.

Last week I called Gayle Faye, a pediatric neuropsychologist in Bellevue. I was told that they could do some neuropsychological testing of Carson (and what can neuropsychological testing provide?) and that we could meet with her today!!

OK...so luckily, our first meeting with Gayle was just with me (Carson didn't have to come)! WHEW!!! It's a whole lot easier to talk uninterrupted when you don't have the little one with you! And...she totally got it! She understood that we had our hands full! And then when she found out that Logan was also affected with SPD and dyspraxia (motor planning difficulties)....she really knew that we had our hands full! By the end of our hour together, she promised me that she and her staff would be able to help us! Her staff would need to meet with Carson during the upcoming weeks for 4 two hour blocks of time...this is when they would do the neuropsych testing. She also told me that she would try to find me some additional resources (maybe some help with some respite childcare) and that Carson would most likely need an all day developmental preschool program to help him get a better handle on self-regulation (not just the 9 hours a week we were getting during the school year) and that he would more than likely be diagnosed with PDD-NOS (more to come on this in a moment). She said that I have been doing a phenomenal job getting my boys help...with very little provided resources (I'll take a pat on the back any 'ole time).

So...off I went to the front desk to set up our 4 two hour blocks of time...they will be completed in the next two weeks!

Neuropsychological testing is a procedure that measures and identifies cognitive impairment and functioning in individuals. It provides quantifiable data about the following aspects of cognition:

- Short-term and long-term memory
- Ability to learn new skills and solve problems
- Attention, concentration and distractibility
- Logical and abstract reasoning functions
- Ability to understand and express language
- Visual-spatial organization
- Visual-motor coordination
- Planning, synthesizing and organizing abilities

Now, more on PDD-NOS...As per Autism Speaks, "Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified, or PDD-NOS, for short, is a condition on the spectrum that has those with it exhibiting some, but not all, of the symptoms associated with classic autism. That can include difficulty socializing with others, repetitive behaviors, and heightened sensitivities to certain stimuli"

You can see Pervasive Developmental Disorder as what is referred to as "the spectrum" or "the autism spectrum" with kids having the least amount of symptoms being diagnosed with Asperger's and kids having the most symptoms being diagnosed with Autism. So, those kids who do not fit either profile are diagnosed with "PDD-NOS" because there is no other name to give these kidos. No guarantee that this will be the diagnosis we end up with! We'll let the testing decide for sure.

So...off we go to do our neuropsych testing! Our first one is this Friday!

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we embark on this unfamiliar adventure to hopefully 'greener pastures'!

Our Week So Far and Funny Video

2009-07-09T18:02:00.000-07:00

I was scheduled to work 3 days this week and I had a bunch of appointments today, meaning that the kids were going to be in daycare 4 days this week. And at least 3 of those days were going to be long days at daycare. Looking at our schedules this week, I decided to keep the boys home with me on Wednesday. I thought we could do something fun together! The boys were very excited to have a 'stay at home' day in the middle of the week! And then when they found out that I had fun plans for the day...they were higher than a kite!

There was a free kid's concert (Tickle Toon Typhoon) in the park that I thought we could give a try. The boys helped me pack our lunch for the concert and were so very excited! Logan kept asking "where is concert, mom?" I kept telling him that I would show him when we got there. We had never been to this particular location before, so it didn't do any good explaining to Logan...he just didn't have 'history' to draw from.

We showed up at the concert and quickly ran into a bunch of friends we all knew...including the 'Rainbow Room' from daycare! Carson was the one who pointed them out..."look mom...friends I know!" So, off we go to say hi to our friends. We ate our lunch and then the concert started. It didn't take long for Carson to get a bit restless. "Mom, can I go run around on the grass?" "Sure Carson, go run around!" Of course, Logan had to run around with his big brother...so mommy followed close behind.

Before I knew it, we had totally left the concert and were over at the water park area. This is one of those water parks that water squirts up from the ground and the kids can run around a get wet (kind of like outside sprinklers). The grounds keepers were trying to get the water park up and running for our summer and the boys saw a tiny bit of water coming out of two of the sprinklers. Off they run to check out the water. It didn't take long for me to call the boys over, remove their shoes and roll up their pants. It was quite evident to me that despite the 60 degree weather we had that day...that I was going to be taking MY boys home WET! Boy was I right!

There was also this big, huge ball in the middle of the water park area and it didn't take long for Carson to want to climb up the ball! He saw some other boys run and then jump up onto the top of the ball. Carson patiently watched as they did their thing. Then Carson tried to do it also...he quietly walked to the sidelines, then took off running toward the ball, but when he got to the ball, he was confused why he couldn't just jump up onto the ball...it was soooo cute! You should have seen his face of confusion! I offered to help Carson climb up and there he sat (I'm sure thinking he ruled the world) and sat and sat. I then showed him how he could slide down the side of the ball as if it were a slide. Before I knew it, Logan was wanting up to do the same exact thing!

After the concert was over, it was time to head back home for nap! Once we got home, I let the boys watch about 10 minutes of TV and before I knew it, Carson was letting me know that his 'eyes weren't able to stay open!'...and then he quickly conked out on the couch! I put Logan to bed, then came back to put my already sleeping Carson to bed as well. Carson woke up around 4:30pm and was excited to see that Logan was still sleeping...hmmm, he said, "mom, I need cuddles!" We sat on the couch watching 'The Incredibles' and I swear he was the most content kid ever...'cause he had mom's undivided attention (and it wasn't being shared with his brother). Miraculously, Logan slept until 6pm, when I actually had to go wake him up! Can you believe that? Logan slept from 1:45pm until 6pm...and from the looks of it, Logan could have slept longer than 6pm. But, mom had selfish intentions...I DID want him to go back to bed at our usual 8pm bedtime! All in all...I guess they had a good day! Good sleep too!

CONSEQUENCES
Carson and Logan are slowly learning about consequences! They don't like consequences too well...well, actually...who does?? Anyhow, I'm determined that if my boys cannot treat their things nicely, then they don't get the privilege of playing with them (or having them in their rooms). Logan lost ALL of his furniture in his room this past weekend (except of course, his bed...and his too heavy dresser (which I just turned around toward the wall instead). I got tired of him getting up before 5am and also destroying his room when that did happen. So, as was suggested by our neurologist, Dr. Glass, all things should then be removed from his room. His room is for sleeping. If he is waking up too early, then his room should be as unappealing as possible...in hopes that his only other alternative would be to 'go back asleep'. Logan is slowly earning his furniture (and CD player) privileges back.

Well...Carson finally joined the 'losing bedroom furniture privileges' this evening. He is totally mistreating his furniture...throwing his desk onto the ground, moving his small dresser over to the door to try to unlock his door (there's a door latch on top of his door...and if he can make himself tall enough, he can easily move the lock over...that took him all of about 3 minutes to figure out!) and messing with his new nite lite (who put's programmable buttons on the back of a nite lite anyhow...along with an on/off switch that makes the nite lite COMPLETELY lose all programming??? ARGH!!!) Maybe it's us 'parents' who are a little slow at this stuff...'cause my boys figure things out QUICKLY!

Well...I would say that both boys are learning about consequences this week! Bless their little hearts...I hope they are sleeping well right now!

OK...now onto the super funny video! One of my friends sent me this video and I just had to share it with all of you! I hope you laugh hysterically like Carson, Logan AND myself did! Enjoy!

After watching this video a half dozen times, Carson turns to me and says, "Mom, can I do that some day?" How cute is that?

Grandma and Grandpa George are coming to relieve my parenting post on Saturday for a couple of hours so I can go to an SPD Support Group...'cause I really am in need of some support!

Have a great rest of your week! I plan to...

Much Better Day!

2009-07-07T06:59:00.000-07:00

Monday was a much better day! Thank God! I'm not sure I could sustain that kind of child destruction, defiance and non-compliance for much longer! I hate to say it, but deep down I can somewhat understand why some parents kill their child(ren)! Now, don't take this the wrong way...I would NEVER do that because I have functional coping mechanisms in my life AND I have kid's bedrooms that LOCK!!! I'm just saying that...I can understand it!

Kelly is off to Italy until July 15th! Yep...that's 10 days of me being a single parent! Sometimes I actually enjoy Kelly being gone (honey, please don't take this the wrong way). I enjoy the simplicity of doing things a little different when daddy is gone...it's OK to have scrambled eggs or pancakes for dinner (not Kelly's favorite meal), I get control of the TV REMOTE (which includes NOT having the TV on at all...oh the solitude of silence!) and we get into 'OUR ROUTINE'! However, having said that, we all MISS daddy! Especially when he is in another country and we don't have easy access to him! (And yes MOM, I have Kelly's flight itinerary AND emergency contact numbers!) We especially miss daddy when we have emergencies that take a lot out of mommy (like evening ER visits, bad days, mice in the house, etc.,). Oh please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we won't have any emergencies in the next 10 days!

On another note...We are very close to having our rental house on the market! It should be on the market by the end of this week! Keep your fingers crossed that it will sell easily and quickly (yep...I even have 'power of attorney' in case we get an offer while Kelly is in Italy)!

I dropped the boys off at daycare on Monday anxious to get to work (or maybe it was 'just wanting to be away from the boys') and I felt like I needed to prepare daycare for their potential day ahead. I told them we had a horrific weekend and to just be prepared that the weekend may continue into their day as well. They appreciated the 'heads up' and I went on my way. They said that they would call me if they had 'issues.' I went to work and I surely WASN'T going to call and check on Carson...'cause, to be honest with you, I DIND'T WANT TO HEAR IT! I was honestly expecting that they would call me to say that "Carson was putting other kids at risk of danger" and that I needed to pick him up. If I had to leave work to pick him up, I honestly thought that I might have to quit my job right then and there. Remember, I am an agency pharmacist and I am relieving companies who are ALREADY having staffing issues...I don't need to introduce my own staffing issues into their already messed up schedules! I never heard from daycare AT ALL! Hmm...this could be a good sign...and it could also not be a good sign...maybe they were feeling sorry for me and were actually trying to spare me the pain? Hmmm...I reluctantly went to pick them up after work...I walked into Carson's classroom...and there stood a very happy boy! Hmmm...what happened to my crazy child? Don't get me wrong...I love my happy child way more than my crazy child! I reluctantly asked how Carson's day went. His teacher said that he had one altercation with another child on the playground. But, on 'the Carson scale of days'...this was a GOOD ONE! WOW...you can imagine my surprise! Off we went to home to have dinner! (Maybe their drastic behavior change had to do with the big weather change??? It was sunny in the 70's over the weekend and then changed to hazy/clouds in the 50-60's on Monday. Hmmm...anyone ever experience child behavior changes due to weather changes???)

I often feel that I only blog about the bad things going on in our family. I guess this is mostly because I really need to get it off my chest...and get support from my fellow blog readers! I would like to share some funny stories that have happened in the last 24 hours...'cause this is what I truly want to remember about MY BOYS!

So, shortly after we got home, Carson tripped over one of daddy's drills (yes, the kids play with one of daddy's drills) and Carson went into this big major fit...full of tears and screaming! I quickly went over to the drill and started reprimanding the drill, "Drill, don't you do that again! Drill, quit tripping Carson or you are going to have to go to time out!" Hmm...I waited...and before I knew it, Carson was now hysterically laughing! Whew...got out of that fit!

I went on to finish getting the kid's dinner ready and before I knew it, Carson came up to me saying that the drill just tripped him again! So, into action I went! "Drill, you are going to have to go to timeout!" Carson says, "Mom, put drill in your room...and lock the door!" So off I trotted to put drill in our room and I locked the door! The evening continued like this...eventually Carson was doing the disciplining of drill! It was very very cute to see what things Carson did to drill! By the end of the night, drill had gotten out of timeout all by himself (can't imagine how that happened!) and ended up in timeout for the entire night...couldn't come out until the next morning! Soon...Logan was participating as well! Hilarious...really! And very insightful as to how the boys perceived the same discipline inflicted on them!

Another story: Carson has these imaginary friends...Charly, Tommy and Frankie! He talks about them all the time...mostly they are work friends who he does all sorts of things with! Well, last on Monday night, Logan suddenly started 'working' at the same place as Carson...with his same friends...Charly, Tommy and Frankie! Logan would walk around the house stating that he does 'this' at work and 'that' at work...with his friends...Charly, Tommy and Frankie! It's so cute to see how they pick up things from their siblings! That's just how things are done...in their eyes!

Another story: I was getting ready for work this morning and opened my drawer to get out my jewelry for the day. Hmmm...my bracelet is missing! ARGH!!! The boys got is my drawer AGAIN!!! So, I nicely went up to Carson and asked him if he might know where they are. His usual response is usually, "I don't know mom!" But this morning, he said "Yep...I know where they are. Follow me mom (and his voice gets really quiet)...their in my secret hiding spot!" I follow him to his room and he opens the lid of his desk and voila...there they are! We promptly had a conversation about leaving mommy's things alone and that he is not to touch other people's things unless he asks their permission! "OK mommy!" But how cute was that conversation? And, YEH for me...I found my bracelet!

One more quick story: Logan keeps saying "Me like this, mommy!" "Dat my fabrite!" (translation...I like this mommy...that's my favorite!) and he is copying little things I say like when the kids say "Thank You" I always say "No...Thank YOU!" Logan is now repeating the same thing back to me...in an appropriate context!

I really do love my boys...they can be a big challenge sometimes! But, I cherish the moments like these!

Well...I guess I oughta start working now! Have a fabulous day!

4th of July starts off with a BANG!!!

2009-07-04T11:46:00.000-07:00

Why are weekends just pure HELL? I thought weekends were supposed to be about spending time together as a family, sleeping in, cuddling with my husband lying next to me in bed, slowly waking up with a newspaper and my favorite vanilla latte, having the kids wake up while I am sipping my latte...of course, very excited to see me and ask " Is today a stay at home day mom? What fun activity do we get to do today?". OK, maybe I live in a dream world of my "non reality" but hey, you can at least dream, right?

Well...this is SO NOT my reality TODAY! Hubby sleeps on the couch, both boys woke up at 5:30am and I had to remind them that the sun (on their nite lite) was not up yet...it comes up at 5:45am (I am desperately trying to get them to sleep in a bit later)!

The morning starts off with a bang (and how appropriate is that given that it is the 4th of July?)! Logan ends up in his room after I reminded him to use his words instead of whining! It wasn't long before Carson was also in his room after having a fit over mommy not getting him the "right" sippy lid!

Can I please have my cup of coffee...PLEASE?

I eventually get them to start our morning routine of getting dressed (and OMG...you are so wearing your SPIO suits today), brushing teeth and taking vitamins and medicine while daddy was trying to catch a few more zzzz's! FINALLY they can go outside to play while I fix them so pancakes...and it isn't even 6:45am yet! (I sure hope our new neighbors are gone for the holiday weekend...a bitter awakening to say the least!). As you can imagine, it didn't take long for Logan to come in crying cause brother hit him! Oh but the silence in the house when they are outside...is AMAZING!

The boys eventually eat breakfast and go right back outside! Now they are loading up anything and everything into the back of daddy's very old pickup truck (Carson and Logan think this is THEIR play toy)! Carson screams into the house about something traumatic and promptly throws the hammer in his hand onto the floor (for which he loses tool privileges)...back in his room! After cool off in his room, we convinced him to sit down and watch some Curious George. I turn on the TV and find out that our Curious George episodes are no longer there (Comcast was just out the day before giving us a new box...looks like we continue to have problems)! Are you kidding me? It's only 8am and I am already to have the day end!

I then moved onto plan B (or is it plan F by now?) and suggest that we all go to the gym. (Thank you to 24 hour fitness for not only having the gym open but the Kids Club open...ON A HOLIDAY!). I send the boys to their rooms to get their socks...before I know it they are both messing around in Carsons' room! Doesn't anyone have their listening ears on? More fits ensue and now they are both in their rooms with the doors shut! Carson gets his socks on and then comes out of his room and goes outside (fine by me!). I now work on getting Loans socks on and before I know it, Carson is outside banging on Loans bedroom window with a CROWBAR! Can I cry yet? I finally get the boys in the car and tell hubby will wait foe him in the car. He can't find amy shorts...off I go to help him. He finally gets in the van and we promptly start arguing! Door opens and hubby gets out! Off we go to the gym without daddy! I'm telling you...we ARE going to the gym..this may be my only solitude today! So here I am...sitting on the exercise bike blogging and listening to Pandora.com music....boy, how did I survive "PRE Blackberry"? I can ride forever doing this!

My friend Carrie Fannin always says that SPD isn't for sissies! But sometimes I want to throw my hands up with my white flag...and SURRENDER!

Here's to hoping your 4th is a BANG for different reasons than mine! And here's also to hoping we have a better rest of the day!

And don't worry...I will NEVER stop dreaming!

P.S....We arrived home from the gym and I gave hubby a super big hug and said, "We've gotta stick together honey!" He said, "You mean 'US' against 'THEM'?" "ABSOLUTELY!" Love you honey! Thank goodness for dates...we have one set up for tomorrow! WHEW...do you think we can make it until then?

P.S.S...I later learned that there was a full moon this weekend. Has anyone ever experienced wild kids in their homes with a full moon? Hmmm...kinda makes you think!

SPD and Couch- how are they related?

2009-06-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

Well...first things first, right?

I have wanted a new couch for a long time...I mean A LONG TIME! Something about having had our couch for 12 years now! Yep...12 years! I bought this couch with my hiring bonus money when I got my first job after I graduated from WSU and UW pharmacy school. It has truly been through the ringer! But, after the main couch support broke into two...yep, I've wanted a new couch!

On Saturday, we had our semi-annual "George Girls Shopping Trip"...and boy was I ready for that! We all met at about 10:30am and shopped for a bit before we had lunch at PF Changs (yum!). We then went to Bellevue square to shop at a couple more key spots (gotta go to The Container Store!) before our hour foot massages scheduled at 5pm. I was having such a wonderful time chit chatting that I actually had a hard time just sitting there while someone was rubbing my feet! (I know...pretty sad, huh?) So, I decided to take out my Blackberry and do some shopping. You see, Laurie (my sister-in-law) has recently bought and sold a boat load of stuff on craigslist. I thought I'd check out what was available in the 'couch' arena. So, get this...Marla and Missy are sitting in their chairs with their eyes closed...really enjoying the serene moments of someone rubbing their feet...and here I am with my Blackberry...letting my fingers do the walking...looking for a couch! I swear, the asian gal rubbing my feet must have thought I was nuts! Oh well! I found several couches that would work for us and I sent them all e-mails (yep, from my blackberry) to see if they were still available. I have no idea when I would have time to check them out...or if Kelly would even "go" for me purchasing a new couch! But, hey...gotta at least enjoy the shopping for it, right? So, the couch that really caught my eye was this 3 piece sectional (complete with a chaise) for $700. I figured, hey maybe I could dicker a bit here! So, I asked if she would take $500 and she said that she had to have $575 minimum. So, cool...we've already decided on a price...now I just have to get Kelly to give me the a-OK!

After our wonderful shopping day, I come back home and casually mention it to Kelly. He quickly poo-poos my idea (by the way he responded to me) and I decide to just leave it alone. He just spent the whole day with the boys (by himself, I might add) and I'm sure he's exhausted. Plus...when is it ever a good time to spend an extra $575??? Plus...aren't I in the process of trying to QUIT my job? OK...let it rest, Kari. I was so proud of myself! I politely e-mailed the gal selling the couch and said it wasn't a good time for us to buy.

So, Sunday at dinner time Kelly said, "Are you going to buy that couch?" I was completely caught off guard. Hmmm...so we talked a bit more about it, showed him pictures etc., and by the end of the conversation, we were buying the couch...if she hadn't already sold it! So, I called the gal and sure enough it was still available! I had NO IDEA how we were going to get it home and as I was explaining this to her, she said, "Oh, we can bring it to you!"

"Really?"

"Can we bring it tonight?"

"Sure!" So by 9pm Sunday night, we had a new couch in our family room!

Isn't it beautiful!! This is the advertisement photo in Craigslist! It is microfiber material, so it cleans nicely with soap and water. The color is a bit lighter than I would have chosen myself, but hey...you can't be too picky for $575! We all just love it! You'll have to stop by to check it out! It's even comfy to sleep on! (gotta try it, huh?)

So, later that evening I get another e-mail from the gal who sold us the couch. She just noticed my information at the bottom of my e-mail. It says,

"Kari George
http://karigeorge.blogspot.com/
Check out my favorite website: www.sensoryplanet.com...become part of the SPD community to put this puzzle together!

One in 20 children has Sensory Processing Disorder (“SPD”) according to the latest research at The SPD Foundation. In real terms, that means 3.5 million children in the United States alone are affected; that's about one child in every classroom. Support research for Sensory Processing Disorder today at www.spdevent.com."

Come to find out, her 2 year old boy also has SPD! What a small world we live in, huh? It's so nice to know another mom in the same boat as you! SPD is not for the faint at heart...so us SPD affected moms have got to stick together!

I have this whole week off from work...not my idea but because of scheduling errors on the part of my boss!...another story, another time! I was notified on Friday that Carson's daycare classroom would not have an extra person in there on Monday. So, I contemplated whether I should keep him home (didn't really have any plans for Monday), so I opted to instead be the extra person in Carson's classroom. Plus, I really wanted to see with my own eyes what they have been describing to me for sometime. So, I called daycare on Monday morning to see if that would be OK. Of course, they said that would be great!

Boy, let me tell you...it was rough. They were so right...Carson spent more time out of the classroom than he actually did inside the classroom! Even I had a tough time getting him to do things. On one occasion, he ran out of the classroom and in through the side door of the same classroom! ARGH! I tried my hardest to do things that I thought would help him, but he just has a tough time. For one...everything just takes SOOOO LONG! Circle time seemed like a very long time...even to me! Then when you transition from circle to snack, you first have to wash your hands. Everyone has to line up and take turns washing your hands....then you eat snack. Same thing with going outside...first they had to apply sunscreen (which took 30 minutes!!!) before they could even line up to go outside. There is just so much opportunity and time for him to get himself into trouble...it's amazing! That's just how it is in a classroom with 20 kids.

I asked his teacher if this was typical behavior or if he was making things worse 'cause I was there. And she said this was actually a 'good day' for Carson! WOW...it really was eye opening! It was all I could do just to keep him there...I just wanted to take him home with me! We planned on just staying through lunch (which is another rough transition) and then go home to take a nap and that's what we did. OMG...I was so glad to get out of there! Those poor teachers!!! They really are putting up with a lot with Carson!

I knew this was an issue and we have been striving toward making it better...but it's always good to see it with your own eyes!

We are going to get a big refrigerator box and decorate it with 'relaxing looking' pictures inside...then put comfy pillows inside, etc. We'll put this somewhere at daycare so Carson can have a quiet and safe place to go when his body is feeling 'out of control'!

One more story! After we returned home from daycare, Carson was having a very difficult time listening. At one point in particular, right before nap, he completely LOST IT! I nicely took him to his room and shut his door. I came out to the family room to do some stuff until he got himself together, when all of a sudden, I heard the outside water faucet turn on! ARGH!! That meant that he climbed out his window...and what is he doing with the hose? I walked in the room and indeed he was outside of the window! I also noticed that he had pulled the hose all the way over to the window. Hmmm...did I just catch him from putting the hose inside his window??? Double ARGH!!! Carson obviously lost 'window privileges' with that stunt! We'll see how long the window stays secure!

Carson is going to be my helper today! Since we are trying to sell our rental house, I need to go down there today and paint the front porch and railings. Since it is not an exact art, I figured Carson would get a kick out of helping me with this project! So, I'll let you know how it goes when it gets all done! I am meeting our agent down at the house on Thursday to stage the house and it should be going on the market shortly thereafter! Yipee! One step at a time, right!!

Hope you have a good one! We will....

Conversation with Babysitter's Mom

2009-06-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

So, I decided that I had to talk to our baby sitter's mom. Since I wasn't able to say a kind word to the girls face and I was still fuming about yesterday...I called her mom instead! I almost let it go, but then I realized that it was my job to keep this girl from caring for other kids. If something were to happen to another family and I didn't do my part to stop it...what kind of a mom am I?

So, after explaining my observations, thoughts, feelings and many frustrations about the crappy babysitting that occurred yesterday, she spoke to her daughter. Later in the evening I got a call back from her mom.

"My daughter states a completely different story from yours. She said that she was constantly with the boys."

"Really? And did she change Logan's diaper prior to nap time?"

"Yes, she said she changed it at least 3 times. I have to believe a 15 year old over a 4 year old! So, looks like this is not a good fit for my daughter!"

"Yep...that would be correct! I understand that you need to take your daughter's side in this issue. Maybe we have different views on what appropriate childcare is? This is not what I call quality childcare. I will be using different childcare in the future. Take care!"

Well...that wasn't how I thought the conversation was going to go! I honestly thought her mom was going to make her come pick up my house AND give me my money back! Oh well...I did my part! I hope she isn't taking care of other young children! ARGH!!! What can you do? Hubby wants to call the police!...Hmmmm. Does this worrying about your kids ever end?

I'm off to bed! Is this week almost over?

I have one last day of work and then it's the "George Girls Shopping Day" on Saturday! I'm looking forward to some adult conversation, lunch and dinner OUT and a nice relaxing foot massage (maybe...not sure how that's going to feel on my leg!). Wish me luck!

Sleep well...I know I will!

Why????

2009-06-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

OK...before I start this next post, I wanted to clarify a few things from my "rug burn" post last week. I first want to say that I love our daycare!!! They have bent over backwards (and done somersaults as well) to accommodate our family and our many, many needs! That is what individualized care is all about at our daycare...and they truly stand behind that! Oh yeah, I still need to blog about our meeting last week. I will do it...I promise! The rug burn incident was an unfortunate event in my very long and hellish week with my husband gone! I have spoken to daycare and we have both shared our thoughts and feelings about the incident...and I am OK with things! Just don't want folks to think we have a terrible daycare! I don't know what I would do without them right now!

OK...so thoughts for today aren't very inspirational. As a matter of fact, I really really need some encouragement and lots of hugs at the moment!

Why is it that life serves you up a bowl of mush when what you really really wanted was a bowl of cherries (or ice cream for that matter!)??? I am feeling like a "cup half empty" kinda gal this morning. I feel bad because I really think of myself as an optimistic person, but when life keeps throwing mush at me...my attitude changes and I just can't do it!

So, Monday of this week Carson had a super rough day at daycare. He was apparently running around the classroom and climbing on top of the tables! The teachers were honestly fearful of what he was going to do to the other kids. I was told that he spent more time out of the classroom than in the classroom! And...to top it off, our plan of having an extra staff person in his classroom (to help with Carson) fell through because of a teacher having a family emergency. I got a call from daycare telling me what he was doing and I just felt my heart sinking further into my abdomen. I don't know what to tell them to do to help Carson anymore! I'm flat out of ideas and am running low on optimism as well!

When you take a deep breath and step back to look at the BIG picture...I saw a couple of things.
1) One of his regular teachers was missing that day.
2) There was not an extra person to assist Carson with his needs.
3) He was up late the night before (cause he was crying about his foot hurting and needed a band-aid)
4) His last day of his developmental preschool was last week so staying at daycare all day is a change for him.
5) There were new kids being transitioned into his classroom (many he knows, but one particular kido really ramps Carson up very easily)
6) Daddy just got back home from being out of town for two weeks.
7) It was MONDAY! Doesn't everyone have bad days on Monday???
8) He started with the sniffles that morning. Hmm...maybe getting sick?

Hmmm....lots of stuff going on in Carson's world, huh? For a kido who doesn't deal with changes or transitions too well, it's amazing that he handled the day like he did...things COULD get a lot worse, I suppose!

It's days like this that make me wonder if we are doing the 'right thing'. Should I quit my job now (as opposed to waiting for our rental house to sell first)? Should I pull him out of daycare and get a nanny at home for the days that I have to work? I feel so sorry for the teachers in Carson's classroom. I know that they have tough days that they go home in tears...I am sure! Carson is a very challenging kido and he drains all the being out of you to try to work with him. I know this...cause I live this!

In the back of my mind I have this little voice telling me to just keep going. Keep putting one foot in front of the other...and keep doing 'the plan' that I had already decided on. I keep telling myself that we need this 'documentation period' (of Carson requiring a one-on-one teacher in daycare)...'cause who knows when I will have to pull that card out of hat in the future? Who knows what public schools are going to throw our way...school is going to be challenging for Carson and I want to have our ducks in a row...able to pull those cards out when and if I need them! So, for right now...we are just doing our plan!

Tuesday and Wednesday I kept both boys home from daycare. By Tuesday evening, I knew the boys were not feeling well. They both had the sniffles and were getting grouchier by the minute. So instead of taking the boys to daycare on Wednesday, I arranged to have a babysitter come to the house so I could go to work. It's difficult juggling this life we live. I don't want to burn my bridges at daycare by bringing them a child who I know doesn't feel well. How do you think Carson will act in that situation? BINGO!...yep, he's staying home! I just love double paying for childcare!

So, babysitter comes on Wednesday and I am off to work. Cool...this will work out great! Hmmm...maybe it's too good to be true? Well, after I dropped off the babysitter last night, I discovered that it was way too good to be true! Logan could hardly walk or sit down 'cause his bottom was in bad shape! I pulled his diaper off and discovered that he had a bad red rash all over his little bottom...and there was some dried poo still on his bottom. Hmmm...that's kinda weird! We had already been dealing with a bit of diaper rash already, but how did it get this bad in just 10 hours? Hmmm...I take him to the bath tub to soak his poor little bum...in hopes of getting the poo off without hurting him more than he already hurt. He had to lay on his belly in the bathtub 'cause it hurt too bad to sit on his bottom. I slowly let the warm water just soak it off. I took him to the bedroom and discovered a pair of very wet jeans on the floor (the jeans I had put him in that morning). Oh my, I thought! My heart starts racing and I am about ready to scream with anger!

She said that the boys took a 4 hour nap (thank god...they both really needed that), but what I am thinking now is that Logan most likely had poo in his diaper when he went to bed?? He obviously hadn't been changed prior to nap time or he would not have peed out of diaper that easily. ARGH!!! You mean to tell me that my son's but is scalded from his own poo...'cause my babysitter didn't change his diaper??? I'm fuming...can you tell?

Then I started finding other signs of "babysitter laziness (or neglect?)"
1) The sheets that I asked her to change in Logan's room are still on the kitchen counter where I left them that morning.
2) There is a dining room chair in Logan's room...with Logan's couch turned over.
3) Some of the things that were previously in Logan's room...on the top high shelf in Logan's closet...are now on the floor in Logan's room! Hmm...sounds like Carson figured out how to get them with the dining room chair?
4) My house is a total train wreck...toys all over the place!
5) The back porch is a disaster! Picnic bench turned upside down. Picnic benches also out of place.
6) Blankets, etc., strewn out on the back lawn!
7) A box of fruit Popsicles is GONE! And most of a 1/2 gallon ice cream container is GONE! LOVELY...my kids ate ice cream all day???

I am so angry...I'm not exactly sure what to do! I specifically asked her to pick up the house PRIOR to me coming home! Hmmm...apparently she doesn't listen...just like my kids???

I asked Carson if she played with them and he laughed.

He said "no mommy!"

"What did she do while you guys were playing?"

"She laid on the couch mommy!"

"Did she come check on you when you were playing in Logan's room?"

"Sometimes..."

ARGH!!! I'm going to blow a gasket here! I am so angry, I can't even talk to her right now. Obviously she will no longer be welcome in our home...or be babysitting for us in the future! But, what should I do? Part of me says to walk away. But another part of me says that I should call and talk to her mom to explain my disappointment in her. I am fearful of what could happen with other kids in the future and I would be beside myself if I discovered a child was hurt on her 'watchful duty' and I didn't do anything about it. Should I ask for my money back? Any suggestions would be appreciated. For now, I am just trying to calm down so I can think rationally.

Thankfully, Logan's bottom looked a ton better this morning, but it still is pretty bad! I am so disappointed!

So, then to top off my wonderful day yesterday, I went to take the trash out. We have a large trash can in the garage and every week I take the big bag out of the trash can, put it in the car and truck it down to the end of the street to be picked up by the garbage truck. So, as I pull this bag out, the bag scraps against my leg and I quickly remember that there is broken glass in this bag...as it cuts a HUGE gash in my leg (right above my ankle). OH MY...that hurt! I scream in pain and look down...blood is gushing from my wound! LOVELY!!! Another ER trip? And...Kelly wasn't home...AGAIN! He was at a work dinner thing he had to do last night. I quickly take off my shoe (so it doesn't fill up with blood) and hop into the house to get a towel. It is a pretty deep wound...ARGH!!! I could just kick myself! I knew there was glass in there! Now, why did we put the glass in there?? Note to self...not a good idea in the future!

So, I decide to call Kelly anyway (in hopes that he is close to coming home). SCORE! Is is just blocks from home! At least he can look at it to help me decide if I need to go to the ER. Or better yet...maybe he could stitch it up for me (he was previously a paramedic)??? I really don't want to sit in another ER for the night? I am already feeling a sore throat and nasal stuffiness coming on...I just want to go to bed in hopes of having a better day tomorrow! So, he tells me that I could go to the ER, but they would probably only put 1-2 stitches in. He says, if you don't mind a scar, we could just clean it, wrap it up and wait for a nice scab to form? I could honestly care less about a scar on my leg! I have bigger issues in life than a scar! So, I opted for the bandage! I was very very thankful that he was able to help me with my owie and with the boys!

I go to sit down in the rocker while he gathers up all the stuff needed for my wound. He proceeds to clean it and I am in tears! It hurts!!! ARGH! I have Carson on one side and Logan on the other...and they are watching their mommy cry! Carson immediately grabs my hand and holds it tightly. He gets a little closer to me and tries giving me a hug! What a sweetheart! I ask Logan to grab me a Kleenex for my tears and he cheerfully does as I ask! He also offers me hugs as well. Daddy applies antibiotic ointment and wraps it up nicely! ARGH!!! It still hurts...bad!

We finally get the kids off to bed! I put Logan to bed and have to lay him on his side ('cause his bum hurts too bad to lay on his back!)! Poor guy! Poor mom! Once the boys are settled, I grab some ibuprofen and some Vicodin (thank God for previously prescribed narcotics)!

On another note...I recently discovered that one of my very great college friends has a child on the autistic spectrum! My goodness...this special needs world is getting smaller and smaller! I felt bad that I didn't know about her needs and she felt the same for me. Although Carson and Logan are not on the autistic spectrum, they all share similar sensory needs. In the end, we were so glad that we knew each other and could now help to support each other...through this very rocky road called LIFE!

Oh...one more thing! The house right next door to ours has been vacant for years. There has been intermittent owners, but they sell (or go into bankruptcy) and move out. The house is in horrific shape and really needs someone to buy it, level it to the ground and start over. Well, this past week we have noticed a lot of activity over there. Someone has bought the house and has been working on it. They have also been mowing the huge field beside it (which has grass up to my waist...a huge fire hazard)! Cool...maybe someone is going to do good things with this house? WRONG! Some guy bought it and has promptly rented it out....get this, as "section 8 housing" (low income housing)! Another ARGH!!! This past weekend, they were all there with their music blaring and all their friends over...half blocking the road to our home! It has gotten a few of our neighbors up in arms about the possible problems with having section 8 housing. Luckily, our neighbor on the other side of us is a police officer! Maybe we all have the wrong attitude? Are these guys felons, sexual offenders? Our neighbor is running plates to find out WHO these folks are! Maybe we all have the wrong attitude? I guess I should take the 'cup half full' approach and bake them some cookies and nicely walk over to greet our new neighbors? Well...stay tuned on that one! I'm sure I'll have more to post later!

Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers! Off I go to bed to try to help myself through this nasty cold I now have!

Rug Burn

2009-06-18T20:59:00.000-07:00

Could this day get any worse? Today was NOT a good day for anyone...Carson, Logan and myself. I stayed up way too late last night posting to my blog and doing other things. I have been enjoying the quiet house so much after I put the boys to bed, I get a bit carried away with productivity. So, needless to say, I was a bit grumpy myself today since I didn't get enough sleep last night.

We had Logan's speech therapy appointment and Carson's occupational therapy appointment this morning. No matter what we did, all I had was a couple of whining and bickering/fighting little boys. They were driving me nuts! Needless to say, I couldn't get them out the door fast enough to get them to daycare. Logan fell asleep on the way to daycare, which worked perfect since his classroom was already napping when we arrived. I just laid him down on his mat and out he was.

Carson was a different story. We walked into his classroom and one of his classmates walks up to say hi to Carson and Carson immediately punches him in the belly. LOVELY! Sorry, Ms. Helen and Ms. Julie, but I gotta go to my 1 pm appointment. We had a tough morning and I suspected they had a tough afternoon. What do you do? I can't just keep him home...I had to make it to my appointment...and honestly, I needed a break (and a nap!) before I tackled the evening shift with both boys (without my hubby home)!

So, I get my break and nap and have a nice phone conversation with my friend Angela and I am ready to pick up the boys at daycare. I go to Logan's classroom and get him, sign him out, etc., I turn around and there is Carson in the hallway...not really sure what is happening. Did he run out of his classroom? Is he with a teacher? He quickly runs up to me and 'informs' me that he is going to the front desk to get crackers. I explain that we still need to go to his classroom, sign him out and gather his stuff...then we go to the front desk to get crackers. Well, apparently Carson decided that I was wrong...and he takes off running to the front desk. I realize that he has bolted and take off quickly running after him (trying to catch him or his shirt..doesn't matter to me!). I'm not sure what happened next! I either tripped over Carson or myself??? But next I know I am flying through the air and land with my right hand sprawled out in front of me...and my hand runs along the nice bur bur carpeting...and gives me a lovely rug burn on my hand! OMG...that hurt...BAD! I stand up and I am almost in tears because my hand hurts so bad! Did I catch him? Oh no, he has now bolted back down the hallway into the rainbow room, then the green room. There were multiple teachers in his path and he was never stopped! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I took one look at one of the teachers and said, "If Carson runs through here, you are to STOP him!" I go the opposite way...still trying to catch him! SERIOUSLY??? I am chasing my 4 year old through daycare and no one is helping me? I finally capture him, grab him by the arm and tell him that under no uncertain terms, he is to go sit on the circle mat and he is NOT TO MOVE UNTIL I SAY MOVE! My hand is killing me. I take a quick look at my hand and it has now blistered! Yep, I may as well have spilt burning bacon grease on my hand because that's what it felt like! Needless to say, I was PISSED and everyone around me knew it! We eventually walked to the front desk and someone asks me if I am OK. "Nope," I said and walked out! So much for getting myself calm before I came to pick up the boys...that calmness was quickly GONE in a matter of seconds!

I put the boys in the car and told them very point blank "if you decide to not have your listening ears working tonight that I'm not going to mess around. They were going to receive NO WARNINGS! If they do no listen, they will immediately go to bed!" I think they heard me very loud and clear.

I proceeded to put the keys in the car and drive off...now I am in tears! Sometimes life feels a bit too out of control! And...OMG...my hand hurts!

Daddy...come home soon!

It's been a busy week for us!

2009-06-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

Well, as many of you know, my hubby is out of town...AGAIN! Argh!! Despite the hardship of playing the single parent role, I am getting pretty good at doing it on my own! Good thing...don't have much choice!

When I really miss daddy not being here is nights like Monday night when I had to take Carson to the ER. Carson was in his room having a 'cooling off' period when he decided to take the floor heating vent cover off, among other things. He then promptly managed to 'fall' into the duct hole and sliced his foot open on the metal ducting inside! Sounds like fun, huh? Well...you should have heard his screaming (of agony, of course)! Looking back at the incident, I DO see some amusement in it NOW!

You see, Carson had recently figured out how to 'get out of his room' when he was supposed to be cooling off. What Carson didn't realize was that that very day, I decided I had enough of it...and I found a new way to contain him. As I have previously written, Carson has become an escape artist!...out through his bedroom window AND through his bedroom door. Let's just say that those options were no longer an option for him...and he was PISSED at mom! At one point, I went down the hall to listen if Carson had cooled his jets and discovered that that little rascal BEAT ME! He figured out how to open his NEW door lock! (Oh well Hartley...despite my best intentions, it was busted within 10 minutes...impressive, really!) He is one smart cookie, I will hand him that! So, I opened his door and poked my head in and said, "I came to see if you have decided to listen to mommy!" He gave me this growly look in response along with "I'm angry, mom! Very, very angry! I figured out that doorlock, mom and why did you put a lock on the window? I'm angry! I need you to leave me ALONE!" I immediately turned around, exited the room and shut his door behind me! I had to do it quickly actually...cause I was going to laugh my head off! You should have seen him! Poor guy, he really was mad at me, but he's got to be able to get himself together in a safe manner! Unfortunately, this has been the only option that we have found works for him.

I digress...so, eventually I made it back into his room (with his approval) to talk to him about why I did what I did. I noticed that the heating vent cover had been removed (which both of my boys have commonly done in the past). I didn't think much about it. The vent is directly underneath his window. I went over to the window to show Carson that he could open the window a little bit (to get some air), but not enough to be able to allow my escape artist out! He walked over to the window and THUMP...there he went...down the hole! Darn it...I guess it's all my fault!

So, why do these things always happen when daddy is out of town??? Have you ever had to take a wounded 4 year old (that needs to be carried 'cause he's got a gaping foot wound) AND a non-wounded 2 year old (who will want you to hold him 'cause brother's getting all of mom's attention) to an ER??? Not something that I wanted to do! So, bless my beloved friend Dawn...once I finally got a hold of her, I pretty much invited Logan over to sleep at her house...announcing that we'd be there in a few moments! Thank goodness she loves me, 'cause I didn't give her an opportunity to say "NO!" So, off we go to the ER (around 7:30pm)! Do you have any guesses as to when we finally returned home? 1 AM! LOVELY! Like poor Carson doesn't already have enough behavior issues to begin with...now I add to it all by keeping him up half the night!

Thank God for Mary Bridge Children's Hospital...they made my job EASY! Yes, we did have to wait (for forever, it seemed), but they had video games in the waiting room (which Carson just ate up!) and DVD players in the patient rooms (can we say "LION KING?") Hip hip HOORAY! Carson is perfectly content, eating snacks, staying up way past his bedtime, etc.,....UNTIL the ER physician walks in! I told you, Carson's a smart, smart boy! But, I have to hand it to the ER doc...even I was laughing hysterically! He made light of the situation by having his entourage following behind him (yep...two others to help hold Carson down! Hmmmm...I wonder where they got the idea that Carson was going to be a difficult patient???? Why do you think I brought him there? Do you think that Carson was going to let ME clean his wound? I think you are beginning to see the picture here!)

Believe it or not, Carson required NO stitches, wound adhesive or anything! He just needed a good cleaning. Despite everything...I'm still glad I took him to the ER. I can't imagine what it would be like if he got his foot infected! ARGH!!!

So, needless to say, I kept Carson at home the next day. He was in a foul mood and no one needed to deal with it but good 'ole mom! Daycare was highly appreciative of that! Bless them...they don't need additional stressors...my well rested Carson already provides enough of that for them! LOL :)

Sorry this is such a long posting. I just have so much to share! I just have a couple more things to share and then I'll sign off for the night! (it's WAY past my bedtime...that's for sure!)

On Saturday, I took the boys to their FIRST movie at a movie theater. I went with my good 'ole friend Dawn (and her two boys Ben and Owen...ages same as Carson and Logan). While we were there, I ran into several people I knew which always makes an adventure even more adventuresome!

I also met a new friend (Flo) there...someone that I met on The Sensory Planet (see the advertisement on the right hand side of this blog). Come to find out, Carson and Bobby (her son) already knew each other! How cute is that? My 4 year old already knew Flo's son! They go to the same developmental preschool together! It was very cute to see them so excited to see each other!

I also saw a pharmacist colleague of mine there! We went to pharmacy together at WSU and I had no idea he lived in Kent. WOW...it's a small world, huh?

The boys did so amazingly well at the theater! They loved watching the movie...and of course eating their popcorn (Carson pretty much polished off a huge bag all by himself). BTW...that was a $13 bag of popcorn, since I have recently discovered that the theater had charged me DOUBLE for popcorn! LOVELY! Oh well...it's just money, right?

The movie event was specifically designed to be 'Sensory Friendly', meaning that the lights did not go completely out, the 'silence is golden rule' is OUT and kids can feel free to run around the theater if they needed to (which they did do!). I had an AHA moment when I was there and became thankful for the fact that 'other families' have more difficult children than mine. Don't get me wrong...we have our issues...it just put things in better perspective for me!

Here are some photos I took of the boys while at the movie theater.

Mommy and Logan

My friend Dawn with Ben (4 years old) and Owen (2 years old)

Carson with his friend, Bobby!

Look at that focus! Man, is there anything that a big bag of popcorn won't help with?

Post movie photo opportunity! We are getting ready to head to the park to work off some pent up energy!

Daddy...please come home! We miss you!!

Keep yourself posted! In upcoming blog editions will be:
1) My highlights of our daycare meeting to discuss our summer plans for helping Carson be successful at daycare!
2) The ending of a very rooten day of work...my boys put a smile on my face with a puppet show! (complete with VIDEO footage!)

Take care...I know I will!

The Power of an Open Heart

2009-06-17T05:45:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from a website that I receive frequent inspirational e-mails from:

THE DAILY GROOVE ~ by Scott Noelle
www.enjoyparenting.com/dailygroove

:: The Power of an Open Heart ::

Think of something that always opens your heart.
It can be anything: an uplifting story or movie, an
inspiring song or poem, a glorious sunset, a majestic
forest, a beloved friend's embrace, a purring
kitten... You get the idea.

Now contemplate it vividly until you actually *feel*
your heart opening. Pay close attention to that
expansive feeling in your chest, and try to "memorize"
it. (For some, the feeling may be quite subtle at
first.)

Repeat this process until you can easily recall the
feeling of your heart being wide open.

Next, set the intention that -- for one full day --
you'll deliberately reach for that open-heart feeling
*before* you do or say anything to your child...
every time.

This is not about being "nice." You can say "no" with
your heart wide open -- and it'll feel like a yes!

Let go of all pre-conceived ideas of what an open
heart is. Remember it's the *feeling* you're reaching
for.

We always need little "pick me ups" when we are dealing with our children on a daily basis. I hope you find inspiration like I did. Have a super day!

Mission Accomplished!

2009-06-16T19:33:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to get both boys a weighted blanket for some time now. I have looked at websites that sell them and they can be pretty spendy. I have difficulty spending so much money on a product that I know I could make myself...if I just set aside some time in my busy week to get it done. About a month ago, I had purchased all the materials necessary to make the blankets. Finally, this past Sunday, I decided I would be brave (or stupid as some might see it) and get out my sewing machine and sew the blankets...while also taking care of the boys (since daddy was out of town this week)!

Normally, I keep my sewing machine in the sewing/craft/computer room. However, with two small boys on my tail, I find it difficult to actually be by myself to complete a project in solitude. I also get tired of only doing projects like this when the boys are not around. At some point, they will need to learn that mommy needs to do "other things" besides "things that they want to do!" Can that truly be possible? Well, I finally set my mind to the fact that I wanted to spend my free time (time without the boys on my tail) doing stuff for me and that if I was going to finish this project, I just needed to get 'er done!

I started with Logan's blanket (primary colored dinosaur flannel and bright red flannel on the other side) and had it done by lunch. While the boys were napping, I started Carson's blanket (zoo animal flannel with bright blue flannel on the other side) and had his completed by dinner! Not bad for a hard day's work! My house was trashed and my kids watched a lot of movies...but the blankets are DONE!

For those of you who might be interested in how I constructed the blanket, they both went together quite nicely. I started by making a pillow case construction (with muslim fabric sandwiched in between the flannel), then sewed a 3 inch border around 3of the edges. Then I sewed vertical lines down the entire blanket. I planned on splitting 9 pounds of 'poly pellets' between the two blankets. (The poly pellets are what provided the weight for the blanket...better than beans, cause I am now able to wash this blanket when it needs it.) So, I had to do a bit of math to calculate how much pellets needed to go into each pocket. I poured "x ounces" into each vertical column, then sewed horizontal rows to seal in the pellets. I then proceeded with another row and onwards until the last row was done. Each quilt weighs about 6 1/2 pounds a piece! (Normal weight is calculated as 10% of child's body weight + 1 pound. That would be about 5 pounds for my boys, but I wasn't going to make another one in a year when they outgrew it!) WOW...that's pretty heavy! So, here's what they look like!

Carson and Logan both instantly fell in love with them. They both love the heavy weight on top of their bodies and it helps them to feel "more in sync!"

When I put Carson's blanket on top of him, he said "Mom, that's a very heavy blanket!" "Yep," I said, "does it make your body feel good?" "Yay mom!" "Cool!"

You might be wondering why I would make a weighted blanket. So, I thought I'd share an explanation with you from "www.thehugshack.com":

The Calming Power Of The Magic Blanket (a weighted blanket)

Recent studies have shown that deep pressure touch, the type of
proprioceptive input generated from a weighted blanket, releases
serotonin in the brain. This is a neurotransmitter that creates a feeling of
calm within our nervous system.

Depression, Anxiety, Aggression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD),
and Bipolar Disorder all have a common link: low serotonin levels.

The deep pressure -- proprioceptive input -- generated from the Magic
Blanket signals the brain to release serotonin, which in turn naturally
calms and relaxes the body, promoting sleep and stress relief. This effect
has already had tremendous success helping to calm children and adults
with sensory integration disorder, autism, Rett Syndrome, Asperger's
Syndrome, ADHD, and Restless Leg Syndrome.

To find out more about how proprioceptive input and a weighted blanket
can calm and comfort, please talk to an occupational therapist.

Thank You Card

2009-06-11T20:17:00.001-07:00

So, I just had to share this! I have been playing around with a program called StoryBook Creator Plus (a digital scrapbooking software made by Creative Memories). Since Carson's last day at his developmental preschool is next Wednesday, I spent a little time today making Thank You cards for the many many staff members at school who have been part of Carson's life this past year. It really is amazing how many folks have touched our lives...just at preschool. It takes a flock to make a program like that be successful!

If you are not able to read it, it says, "Thank You! Thanks for making my school year so special! You are the greatest! Love, Carson George" It is written in a cool kindergarten type font called "Dear Teacher."

For those of you who have helped Carson be successful this year, "Thank You!" Sorry, Miss Billie if you see this before you get one...it will be arriving soon! I just had to share it...I think it turned out super cool!

Enjoy!

Logan's Special Day at Daycare

2009-06-11T17:59:00.000-07:00

In Logan's classroom at daycare this month, they are celebrating "all about me" so they have assigned each child in the classroom a "special day." On your child's special day, you need to bring in things that will teach the class about your child. So, Logan's Special Day was last Friday and boy was he excited. We solicited his help in determining what he would like to bring to show the classroom. The following items were gathered so Logan could share them with his friends:
1. daddy's electric drill
2. shaving cream
3. two of his favorite cars
4. his life of photos put together in a scrapbook
5. toy lawn mower (complete with a bubble blower inside it)

Logan showing his cool cars to his friends!

Oh my goodness...you are just a babe magnet with those sunglasses! Already attracting the little girls! He is just beaming from ear to ear!

Logan just LOVES his bubble blowing lawn mower! (Thank you Uncle Stan and Aunt Sheila!) Don't you just love his confident step?

And look at him point to all his cool pictures in his scrapbook! Aren't the other kidos just adorable watching so intently?

This is just one of my favorites! Logan absolutely loves playing with shaving cream! It's a great thing to play with for sensory awareness/alertness! He paints his whole body when he is in the shower or bath! It's also fun to run your play cars through. Lots of sensory possibilities here, for sure!

Ms. Felicia and Ms. Jamie are so great! They let the other kids play in the shaving cream too! How cool is that? Everyone is dressed down to their diapers and they are ready to just hose them off if necessary!

Hope you enjoyed being part of Logan's Special Day...he sure did!

Wishes do come true!

2009-06-09T06:23:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it's the small things in life that really "make your day!" This morning, my wish came true! I am sitting here enjoying my 'second' cup of coffee while the boys are quietly (and creatively) playing together in Logan's room! OMG...that never happens! Carson has pushed over the small couch in Logan's room, has taken the mattress off of the bed and is in the process of "building a tent!" You know, the furniture/mattress moving doesn't bother me...at least they are creatively and quietly using their time effectively!

Oh, and one more thing! We tried something new last night at dinner! I really want to start eating dinner at the dining room table instead of eating at the kitchen counter. You know, my kids have gotta learn table manners somehow! I would eventually like to take them to a non-kid restaurant and have them sit an enjoy dinner with us! OK...go ahead and laugh! This will take a while!

Anyway...we sat at the dining room table for dinner last night and Carson gathered all the candles in the house! He wanted to pretend that the power was out. So, we all sat there with the candles glowing and the lights off...and we ate our dinner! It was nice to see them enjoy it! Carson said "Mom, can we do that again?" "You bet, Carson!"

OK...one more thing! I just ordered personal business cards for myself (250 free cards from vistaprint.com...you just pay shipping! Thanks Hartley for that info!) so I had an easy and fast way of giving others my personal contact information. It's amazing how many people I run into that want to know about our SPIO suits, etc., So, I figured I deserve a nice title to my official job as mom. Guess what I put? "Home CEO and Special Needs Coordinator!" Doesn't that just say it all?

Oh...gotta go, Logan's running down the hallway crying! Good things only last soooo long!

Have a good one!

My dear Logan!

2009-06-08T21:15:00.000-07:00

I always feel bad when I spend very little time talking about Logan on my blog. Well...there are reasons for that! Carson is my huge behavior child and so I spend a lot of time trying to problem solve what to do with Carson. Please do not take this the wrong way, but Carson is the child who makes me cry (a lot) and Logan is the child who makes me laugh! Now, that is a HUGE generalization and sure, there are times when that scenarios flip itself.

Logan is a lot like myself! He is always checking on mom ("You happy mommy?") and asks if he can help me ("Need help mommy?"). He even helps me do the dishes and the laundry. For the most part, Logan truly just wants to be with you. He is also my snuggler...Lord knows I like good snuggles (when I can slow down long enough to enjoy them)! I totally get Logan!

Carson is a lot like his father! And...to this day I am still trying to figure out his father! Needless to say, there are many many times that 'I don't get' Carson! I struggle with his behavior and how to handle it. Many nights have gone by with me lying in bed awake trying to figure Carson out.

Despite these differences...I love both boys just the same! I love them both in different ways...but I love them both!

Then there was this morning...

When Logan is put to bed, his door is shut. This is partly done because he gets up so doggone early in the morning. Most mornings he is up by 5am and he quietly (for the most part) plays in his room. However, the last couple of mornings have been different. On Saturday morning, he awoke at 3am and this morning, he awoke at 4:45am! Not only did he wake up, but he figured out how to open his door! And then proceeded to go wake up Carson! LOVELY!

So, this morning I awoke to Carson and Logan playing together in Carson's room! They really were behaving themselves nicely. They were not being loud, they were just enjoying each other. It is 4:45am...you've got to be kidding me! I am lying in bed trying to wake myself up! I need to get up and take a shower...but don't really feel like it! However, since the boys were playing so nicely together, I really should hurry...things can change very quickly!

My typical morning rituals include getting up, showering, getting dressed and hopefully making it out to the kitchen for a cup of coffee...in solitude! If I am able to do that prior to the boys waking up...I have achieved success! Funny how our definition of 'success' changes through the years, huh? I enjoy my ritual for a couple of reasons:

1) I really enjoy the peace and quiet.

2) If I have myself together and have drank a cup of coffee, I am better able to take the day (and the boys) head on!

So, back we go to this morning...the boys are already up...and are expending a lot of energy already! I am still in bed trying to sleep! The last thing I want to do is to wake up! But I MUST! If I'm not awake, then my boys can walk all over me! You think I'm joking? Really, they can walk all over me!

Mondays are always a bit brutal in the morning as well. We just had a nice weekend together as a family (these are 'stay at home days' per the boys). As much as we try to continue the same types of routines as we normally do during the week, things are just different! When Monday morning rolls around, the boys are in shell-shock! They don't want to be going back to daycare/preschool...and they certainly don't want to be rushing out the door! So yeh, Mondays are hard for us! Then you add getting up at 4:45am on top of it being a Monday...and mom not getting her cup of coffee prior to dealing with the boys? You can pretty much count on it...it's not going to be a great morning!

So, we all ventured out to the family room. I gave the boys a 10 minute warning before we began our 'morning routine.' What could possibly go wrong in those 10 minutes? Well...a lot! Both boys are whining for milk. Carson is also whining for Curious George. Then Logan decides to pour himself some cereal for breakfast...Carson runs over to Logan screaming because "those are my lucky charms!" Logan then proceeds to spill the entire contents of the bowl on the floor...including the milk! And let me remind you...I still haven't had my cup of coffee yet.

I eventually tell them that I need to have 10 minutes to myself. The boys couldn't leave me alone...it was 'mommy' this and 'mommy' that! Finally...I had had enough...and it was only 5:30am! I finally decided to put them both back in their rooms so I could at least drink my cup of coffee! Remember? Haven't had my cup of coffee yet! I walked back down the hall listening to their screams...then shut the hallway door behind me.

Ah...silence is truly golden! I sat down to my computer and my nice cup of hot coffee! Ah...I'm enjoying this! 10-15 minutes go by and I decide to go get the boys out of there room!

I'm walking down the hall when I discover that Logan's not in his room! He's in Carson's room! WHAT??? Logan opened his door...AGAIN! And, he's opened Carson's door as well! Nothing like inviting yourself over, huh? I open Carson's door and proceed to get him dressed. I then go into Logan's room to get his clothes. Low and behold...what do I find? But Logan's dresser completely pulled over onto the floor! OMG! Are you kidding me??? Really? ARGH!!! LOGAN, you are killing me, here!

Believe it or not, we finally do make it out of the house and to daycare!

Tonight I had a long chat with the boys about staying in their rooms in the morning. I ended up bribing Logan before he went to bed! "If you stay in your room tomorrow morning until mommy comes to get you...mommy's gonna get a surprise for you!" Hmmm...you can see his brain at work. I told him "that mommy will give him 5 Marshmallows if he can stay in his room in the morning!" I see a sparkle in Logan's eyes! Hmmm...hope this bribery thing works! Wish me luck!

This is what happens when you wake up at 4:45am...you get tired! Gotta love him, huh?

Sleep well...I know I will!

WOW...what a day!

2009-06-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

As many of our Thursdays go, we had a lot planned and only a day to do it in! We started off our morning with Logan wandering out to the family room this morning at 3:50am...YEP, you read that right, 3:50am! Mommy made the mistake of giving into Logan's request to shut his door "a wittle bit", which basically means "don't shut my door all the way, mom!" Being tired and wanting to go to bed myself last night, I did as requested! BIG MISTAKE was my response to myself as I heard Logan screaming and running down the hallway to his room. You see, daddy fell asleep on the couch last night and Logan was so happy to greet daddy this bright and early morning. Daddy wasn't so happy about that one! Logan went back to bed for another hour or so, then gets up and decides to go into Carson's room and greet him! Now it is 5am and I decide that "this is it...it's time to get up!" I call Carson and Logan into bed with me and we lay in bed and cuddle a bit longer before we get up to officially start our day!

Both boys have therapy appointments on Thursdays. Our first therapy appointment starts at 8am! Our wonderful speech therapist (ST), Christina, meets us at home to work with Logan on some of his needs. Mom decides that we should be creative this week...since it's such a beautiful day and already very sunny, we decide to take our therapy out to the back porch. Mom has got the paint and shaving cream all ready for a crafty kind of therapy appointment. Both boys are very content and happy with mom's choice. Christina however, isn't so sure of my choice since she is now wearing both paint AND shaving cream...and we are her first appointment of the day! Sorry Christina, guess I should have offered you a paint shirt as well!

Our next appointment is for Carson and it's at 9:30am. We are so very happy to see our favorite occupational therapist (OT), M'liss, since she's been out for a couple of weeks! We were privileged enough to have her come do a home visit to check out what life it like in the George Family! Carson and Logan were very excited to show her their new swings in the playroom! Such fun we have here at our house! We really have a nice morning with the boys, but they do their fair share of meltdowns and show their shining colors by being more than inflexible with sharing, etc., I was on top of it though! Had our clock out and showed Carson what our game plan was for the hour...complete with cleanup and saying our goodbyes. M'liss gave me big pats on the back for doing so many good things for the boys and said that my handling of the boys was "straight out of Nanny 911!" WOW...that felt good! I sure an trying my best to get things in order for the boys, but it's always nice to get compliments that really make me feel good! I am a good mom and I am doing a good job!

After our very busy morning, we go back inside to have a quick snack (Popsicles...yummy) and go potty and it's off to daycare for the boys! We get in the car and 5 minutes doesn't go by before Logan is out cold! Guess that's what happens when you wake up at 3:50am, huh? Both boys are off to their classrooms...Carson gets to play outside AGAIN! and Logan gets lunch and a nap! (what more could a little guy ask for?)

Now I get to meet with Carson's daycare teacher. We've been meeting monthly for the last 3-4 months trying to work through some stuff with Carson. I'm really anticipating a good report from Ms. Helen, since I've really seen some positive changes at home. I'm surprised to hear that "things are status quo." Not what I wanted to hear! Status quo? are you kidding me? So, I sit and listen, and listen, and listen. OK...I can handle this, I'm mom, right?

Last month I offered to have some pictures made for the classroom. We use pictures all the time at home and they have worked wonders for us. They would be placed on the wall to help Carson anticipate what sorts of transitions were coming. The theory behind this is if Caron is prepared ahead of time for what is to come ahead, then he can better handle these transitions when they do come. Unfortunately the pictures aren't working so well for them right now.

"OK" I say, "what about putting the pictures on the clock?" I explain to her how we handle it at home and explain how this has worked wonders for us.

Ms. Helen listens intently to my explanations, runs her hand through her hair, takes a deep breath and then says "I'm not sure I am able to do that here."

You see, there are 20 children in Carson's daycare classroom...and only two teachers. Not great ratios here!

"OK" I say and I listen some more.

"I think I know why the clock pictures work well at your home!"

"Why?"

"Well, at your home, there is only one other child. Here in our classroom, there are 19 other children. Carson is being bombarded by a ton of sensory input and he's not able to filter out 'what he needs to know' versus 'all the distractions!' There is a lot of noise and motion in our classroom and if I look at what it would take to have Carson go from point A to point B to 'look at the clock' and for me to remind Carson about the clock...I'm just adding to the commotion. He can't get from point A to point B without being pulled into something. He's either picking at other kids, other kids are picking at him...he's being bombarded and he can't find his way through the maze!"

WOW...I feel like I am being slapped across the face! "I hear you," I said. "OK...now I'm at a loss for words 'cause I now know that I cannot help you! I have no idea how I can help you with that!" BIG SIGH from me... "I will get you some help though! I have a couple of options and I think I'll have Carson's OT get involved!"

Ms. Helen sits back in her chair and starts to pour her poor little heart out to me. She says that she knows Carson cannot "help what he is doing...he's just trying to navigate his world. This just all feels wrong to me," she says. "I have my hands full with 19 other children and I can't focus JUST on Carson. I try to redirect Carson and have him sit and color (what I suggested to help Carson 'get himself together'), but it just feels wrong. I worry about Carson's experience here at daycare. I worry about whether Carson is learning here. I worry about what he thinks of me as his teacher. I worry...(as she starts to cry)...because I care for Carson and I want to help him succeed! I don't feel like I am doing that..." She says, "there are times that I try to help Carson and his body is...rigid! He's honestly stiff and I can see the distress in his eyes. This can't feel good to Carson..."

BIG SIGH again from me...I start to cry as well...does anyone ever WANT to hear this stuff about their child(ren)? "I'm sorry you have had to go through this," I said. I explained to her our family's future plans of trying to sell our rental home to allow me to quit my job and stay home with the boys. But, despite my best efforts, this doesn't help us right here and now.

It pains me to hear that my little boy is having a hard time! It pains me to not know what to do to help him at school. I can't even imagine what his body must feel like when he gets rigid and can't concentrate. That's got to drive anyone batty!

I told Ms. Helen that "there's never a day that Carson doesn't WANT to be here! Carson LOVES it here. He never says anything bad about his teachers. Oh my goodness, you guys have gone out of your way to accommodate Carson and his needs. I have no idea how to help you right this minute, but I will get you some help! I promise."

She explains that she has talked a lot to her boss and says that they are working on some potential plans to give Carson a one on one teacher in the classroom. I sit there completely stunned at what she is saying. How can they possibly do that? This has HUGE budget implications to provide my son a one on one at daycare. Is that going to be passed onto us? Are we going to be responsible to pay for that? My mind starts going a bit nuts just thinking about the potential ramifications of that comment. "We are committed to Carson," she says. "We want to see him succeed!" Again...mouth drops open...are we still on planet earth here? OMG, we are all trying to do the same thing...WOW! That just says volumes, huh?

I am still trying to process this all. She asked me if I would be OK doing some teaching with any potential teachers that would be Carson's one on one. "Of course", I said, "I'm all over that one!" She said that the intent on having a one on one wasn't to be right next to Carson, but to have Carson be their primary responsibility. When they see Carson 'having a hard time navigating his way through the classroom stimuli', then it would be their responsibility to help Carson.

I'm just completely stunned! I don't even know what to say. As I am typing this post, I am just trying to make sense of this all.

In the back on my mind, I always thought that Carson would be out of special education by the time he was in kindergarten. He does sooo well in his developmental preschool (where they have much less stimuli and a lot more one on one instruction and help). I know we can work through all this, I think I am just being hit with knowing that Carson may be in special education a lot longer than I foresaw. In the end, it really doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if Carson needs special education. I just want him to get what he needs to be a successful young man! But, really...what kind of learning is he doing at daycare? I can't imagine he is learning in that environment. It is taking all (and more) of Carson's reserves to just cope with being at daycare...he can't possibly be learning, is he?

Oh, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we navigate our way through getting Carson what he needs to be successful in the school environment! I don't even have the energy to go back through and read this post for edits...off to bed I go! Sleep well...I know I will!

Sensory Processing Disorder Advocate

2009-06-03T20:38:00.000-07:00

One of my new-found SPD friends wrote this. When I read it, I just had to share it on my blog as well. All the credit goes to Hartley, that's for sure! Thanks for letting me share!

We all are SPD Advocates for our children and all kids with SPD. Spread the word.

S - Sensory Seeking
E - Early Intervention
N - Noise Canceling Earphones
S - Shaving Cream Play
O - Occupational Therapy
R - Rocking
Y - Yelling

P - Proprioception
R - Rough Housing
O - Over-Stimulated
C - Crashing
E - Egg Chairs
S - Seven Senses
S - Support Group
I - IEP Meetings
N - Non-Verbal Learning
G - Gum Chewing

D - DSM 2010!
I - Input
S - Spio Suits
O - Olfactory
R - Reading Every New Book
D -Diet Changes
E - Ear Covering
R - Removing Tags From Clothing

A - Anxiety Issues
D - Desensitization
V -Vigilance
O - Obsessive Compulsive
C - Chew Toys
A - Auditory Processing Problems
T - Touch
E - Exhausted

Copyrighted © 2009 by Hartley Steiner, all rights reserved.

Day at the Zoo!

2009-06-02T22:30:00.001-07:00

So, yesterday was one of the first days that I was able to join in with Carson and a preschool activity...we went to the zoo! It was a planned event through Carson's developmental preschool...we were treated to a bus ride, zoo admission and lunch! I made a really big deal out of it with Carson...it was his special day with mommy! Logan went to daycare and daddy had to work...so it was just me and Carson! You should have seen the smile on that boy's face when he was gloating over his privilege with his brother...explaining that Logan had to go to daycare and he and mommy were going to the zoo! He says "another day, mommy and you will get to do something fun together...today is MY day!" How cute is that?

We started the day off by cutting off the arms and legs of Carson's SPIO suit! It was supposed to be 90 degrees today and that poor boy was going to roast! He needed the SPIO suit, so I wasn't willing to give it all up! We compromised and cut the arms and legs off...I figured, "why not, I can sew them back on in the fall!"

When Carson learned that mommy was going to be able to go to the zoo with him, he was just tickled pink! And even more excited when I told him that we were going to ride the school bus together! The day would not have been quite the same if we hadn't participated in ALL the fun!

By the time we got to the zoo, we only had about 2 hours to do everything (including lunch) before it was time to get back on the bus, so Carson was on a mission! We popped out our map and he lead the way! "Mom, I want to see the monkeys!"...so off we went. On the way to the monkeys, we stopped by the shark area...cool, there is a shark feeding that was supposed to start at 11am. Carson sounded like he would like to detour here, so off we went. What we found was a bit overwhelming! We were in a room FULL of other kids and adults...all of whom were very excited about the sharks on the other side of the glass! Carson showed some apprehension and said "Mom, I don't like this." I tried to feel him out...does he not like the sharks, or is the overstuffed crowded room bothering him? We stuck around a bit longer and I could just tell that Carson wasn't happy. I told Carson to put his hands on his ears if the loud noises were bothering him and I would get him out of there ASAP! I picked him up and we worked our way through the crowded room, up the stairs...all headed in the opposite direction of pedestrian traffic...finally outside! WHEW...that was a bit stressful! So much for enjoying the sharks! Mom got a cool picture of one of the sharks though!

We eventually made it to see the monkeys, the porcupines and the elephants! They were all very very cool! We made our way around another part of the zoo and then it was time for lunch! We had yummy PB&J sandwiches, chips, juice/water and cookies! Carson was so hungry he actually ate TWO sandwiches! My goodness child, doesn't your mommy feed you?

After lunch, we were off to the carousel and then for ice cream cones...then back to the carousel! Our time flew by and before we knew it, it was time to get back on the bus! Before long, Carson was asleep on my lap...drooling, of course! We finally arrived back at the school and then went home...watched an episode of Curious George and then off for naps...both mommy AND Carson! I can't think of a better way to spend my day!

Stay tuned for an episode of "In Logan's World!" I don't want Logan feeling like he's been left out of the George Family Blog!

Amazing stories!

2009-05-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

Lately I have really been concentrating on "slowing down!" This has really been an invigorating process for me and I am LOVING it! So, with slowing down also comes "listening" more! Yep, it's almost analagous to stopping to smell the roses...I have been stopping to listen to my boys and try to figure out truly what they are saying!

I had a meeting yesterday morning with my "SPD mom's support group" (that's another fascinating story in and of itself!) and when I returned home I noticed that there were a bunch of open jelly jars in the front yard. Trying to keep myself from immediately getting angry with the boys, I "slowed down" and started investigating and asking questions. What I discovered is that I have a very smart and intelligent Carson!

"Where did you get the jars of jelly?"

"In the pantry?"

"Oh, can you show me where?"

"Sure...let's go mom!" (as we are walking to the pantry)

"OH NO, did you open all of mommy's jars of jelly?" (these had been all handmade by either my mom or other friends and family...not something mommy likes to see wasted...ARGH!)

"YEP!"

"Why?"

"'cause the bees like them!"

...hmmm, thinking to myself, he's onto something..."You are right Carson! Why do the bees like them?"

"'cause they like jelly!"

"You are one smart cookie, Carson!"

...smile on Carson's face that also includes the sparkle in his eyes! (which I just love, BTW!)

"You know Carson, when you come into mommy's pantry, I don't mind if you want something, but mommy expects for you to ask before you take something?"

"OK mom!"

SCORE...mommy didn't get angry and I think Carson actually learned something (as well as mommy! Gotta love those moments!

ANOTHER STORY:
Carson starts talking about some sort of flagpole. I have no idea what he is referring to. Well, come to find out, daddy gave the boys a super long piece of wood that they could use to to put in the ground in the front yard..."a flagpole!"

"Carson, what are you looking for?"

"A shovel?"

"What for?"

"To put my flagpole in the ground"

"Cool! What is a flagpole for?"

"Well, mom...when you put the flagpole in the ground, it tells you which way the wind is blowing!"

"Oh Really?" (with my mouth dropped to the floor! I had no idea he even knew that!) "You are one smart boy Carson!"

...again, big huge smile on Carson's face, a sparkle in his eyes and a proud stance (standing tall and shoulders/head held high!)

Just amazing...really amazing!

ANOTHER STORY
So, we have really been working on teaching Carson how to regulate his own body! This comes more easily to typically developing kidos, but for Carson, an SPD kido, this is very very very difficult. He can be easily pushed over the edge and COMPLETELY lose it! When he does this, his body and mind is in no frame of mind to be learning! All he needs to do at this time is to get his body under control. For Carson, this involves being in his room...ALL BY HIMSELF! Once he gets himself together (which can easily take 15-20 minutes, sometimes longer), then he is in a state of mind for the learning to begin.

So, yesterday he had an episode when "he lost it"...off we go to Carson's room! After he settled down, I went into his room and was surprised as to what I found! He had used his time very constructively...I mean this literally! He had taken his mattress from his bed and moved it, bent it, put blankets all over it and down the side...and made himself a tent! WOW, Carson! What Carson was doing was "regulating his body!" He was doing "heavy work" by lifting and moving his mattress...and he was finding a safe space that made his body feel better! This is very common for Carson! He has been known to sleep in boxes and in many other "tight quarters!" This is sensory integration at it's highest form! Tight spaces and heavy proprioceptive work is what makes Carson's body "feel" better! Good for you, Carson!

While I was also in Carson's room, I noticed that he also had calming music playing in him music player. He has a couple of CDs that he knows how to interchange. He had chosen the CD that was calming to him! Yet again, another sensory integration strategy for Carson! Calming music does wonders! Have you ever tried it when you are all worked up? I have, and I love it also! I keep a couple of calming music CDs in the car for those "I've lost it" situations. Carson has been in the middle of a complete meltdown in his carseat (throwing things, yelling, screaming, hands/arms flailing, etc.,) and I have quickly turned on calming music (without saying anything to him). His response is immediate! He stops his fit and starts listening! It is playing very softly and he wants MORE! "More calming music," he says! EXCELLENT! He is again learning to regulate his body...AGAIN!

I digress...so easily! So, back to Carson's room...I am now able to talk with him about the situation that made him "lose it!" (can't even remember what it was!) In the past when I want to talk to Carson, he is wiggling all over, does the "limp noodle" body routine, won't look me in the eyes, etc., Is he really listening? I don't think so...his body isn't completely regulated. So, this time...I added some body regulation to our conversation! Carson really likes the "head down position!" He can literally put himself into a headstand! Again...body regulation! He "needs" this vestibular input in order to help him regulate his body! So, I had one of those "AHA moments" and thought "hmmm...I need to talk to Carson right now. I wonder what would happen if I put a pillow up against the wall and have Carson go into a headstand while I talk to him?" Guess what? IT WORKED! We were actually able to have an intelligent conversation about the situation. Carson even gave me alternatives that he could use the next time when that situation comes about again! Isn't that just fascinating? Again...sensory integration at it's best!

ANOTHER STORY

I have also been working on making our home routines easier. I have discovered over time that Carson responds best by using the clock to set our routines. We put velcro pictures in different spots around the clock and this tells Carson when he is supposed to do something (he watches the big hand of the clock). It is AMAZING to see how this works so well for him. We set the routine for that hour together. When the big hand gets to the picture, it's time to do that activity. I have been religiously using this process...and the results are AMAZING! Without the clock, Carson completely melts down with EVERY transition between activities. With the clock, Carson knows what is expected and he EASILY transitions between activities! He has even had to stop watching a Curious George episode right in the middle 'cause that's what the clock says and he DOES NOT MELT DOWN! Amazing, huh? You see, SPD kidos NEED routine! As a matter of fact, not only do they NEED routine...they THRIVE with routine! This routine provides Carson with the necessary structure to THRIVE! Gotta love that!

ONE LAST STORY
This one happened just as I was trying to type this blog entry! I had to put Carson in his room...yet again! When I went back to his room, he had opened his window (which has NO screen on it...who knows what Carson has done with it!) He apparently got out the window and "gathered a few supplies" for his time in his room! He found a couple pvc pipes and connectors from one of daddy's "uncleaned up" projects and was making......get this.....a telescope! Yep, a telescope! He told me that you use this part to look out of and this part is what you see out of...straight from the little boy's mouth! Check out the picture! I have one amazing boy, huh?

I feel that I already have my hands full (too full, actually) right now! I can only imagine what life is going to be like during Carson's teenage years! I can just see it now...the fire department and 911 will become very familiar with the George Family! We will surely be on their frequent flier list! Can anyone say, "This is totally Kelly's little boy?...he's got Kelly written ALL OVER HIM!" I love you Carson...and daddy too!

What have YOU done today to learn more about your child? I hope these stories help to inspire you to take your relationship with your child to the next level! They can honestly be our BEST teachers!

Have a fabulous weekend! I plan on it...off to finish our flagpole!

Random Thoughts

2009-05-29T05:29:00.000-07:00

My 10 minute brain dump. Here it goes:

- I have racing thoughts in my head....all the time.

- It is hard for me to sit still because I always feel that "I have something to do"

- I have to make lists...all the time. As a matter of fact, I have to have my list with me everywhere I go or I start to panic that I'm not going to remember that that thought in my head...needs to go on my list. My list allows me to get it out of my head and it helps me remember and organize, on paper, what my head cannot do on it's own.

- I have anxiety. I never knew that what I was feeling was anxiety until I was told by a medical professional. How come I didn't know that? I'm a smart cookie and I didn't even pick that up about myself.

- My mind can be my best ally and my worst enemy.

- I have to limit my coffee intake because too much caffeine makes me shake...internally and externally. Why don't you give it up then, some might say? 'Cause I love it...I love to drink my coffee and hold the warm cup in my hands and sip the warm yummy foam on top. I love the smell of coffee in the morning as it waits for me. It is my treat to enjoy...when the world is still asleep...and I am awake.

- Sometimes I have a hard time sleeping because my mind is racing 100 miles an hour. I have a very hard time "shutting my mind off." Journaling and blogging does help me do what I call a "mind dump" 'cause if I can get it out of my head, then it can stay out of my head.

- I am a type A personality...anal to the end! The best kind of person to by a pharmacist, really...and at one point in my life, I was a pediatric pharmacist...the epitome of all anality!

- I love my family. I really do! I love to see my boys laugh and smile. I love when they look at me and say "mommy, I love you!" I love when they want snuggles and "just want to be with me!" I get that! I love that...and I crave that! As long as I can slow myself down enough to enjoy that.

- I have to teach myself and my boys coping techniques to deal with anxiety.
* Take a deep breath
* Listen to quiet, soft music
* Slow down
* Hold an ice cube in your hands...really tight! Try it! It hurts, but it does really work!

Wow...I did it in 10 minutes! Now on with my day! Hope you have a good one 'cause I plan on having an excellent one!

If I coulda, woulda, shoulda...

2009-05-28T21:04:00.000-07:00

I've given myself 20 minutes right now to try to completely DUMP my thoughts, so here goes:

As many of you can tell by reading my blog, I have been going thru a lot of self evaluation in the past month. What makes me happy, what makes me sad, what makes me anxious? If I was given the opportunity to change my life right here and now, what kind of changes would I make?

1) I would QUIT my job! Not out of unhappiness in my job, but because I would rather be spending my day with my boys and doing my other full time job, of which my primary responsibilities include "Home Management and Case Management for two boys with special needs!" I can just see it now...business cards will be arriving soon!

I've already proven to myself that I CANNOT do that job AND work 30 hours a week...just can't do it! Physically, my body CAN do it, but emotionally and mentally I CANNOT do it! It has completely wore me down to breaking point...(yes, I do break!...consider yourself lucky if you didn't realize that fact!) And in the last year alone, I have broke at least 3-4 times! That tells me something! It tells me that our current plan (the rat race life we are currently living) is not working...so I need to abandon ship and move onto plan B! Kelly tells me to "do whatever I want to do...WHATEVER makes me happy...he wants me to be happy!" WOW...that is really a powerful statement and I honestly believe that he means it! I think I am getting closer and closer everyday to figuring out that plan B! I am so energized and relieved that I am figuring things out! I have a renewed spirit and know that things are going to work out! This is really an exhilarating and freeing process!

2) I would completely organize my life! For me personally, organization gives me a lot of personal satisfaction! I love it when everything is in it's place and everyone knows where that place is! I would organize our day so my boys would know EXACTLY what we are doing. Some of you may be laughing as you are reading this, but those that truly know me know that THIS IS ME!...and it WILL happen!

3) I would be happy and as a result, my kids and my husband would be happy! Don't we all know that "when momma's happy, everyone's happy" and likewise, "when momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" Even Logan (my 2 year old) has that figured out! He is constantly asking, "Mommy, happy?"

4) I would have dinner at our dining room table (rather than at our kitchen counter like we currently do)! And we would sit around the dining room table and talk about our day...and we would all ENJOY talking about our day with each other!

5) I would read the boys "chapter books" just because I want to spend time with them and be next to them...and they would enjoy and listen to my reading!

6) I would put together picture schedules for EVERYTHING...and I mean EVERYTHING! (and I would share them with my sister, 'cause I know she could use them too!) These picture schedules would help the boys know how to do certain processes that we do every day including:
- Morning Routine (already done)
- Daytime Routine
- Evening Routine
- Meal/snack time- wash hands, eat food, put dishes in dishwasher, wash hands & face
- Mealtime rules
- Brush teeth- pick toothpaste, put toothpaste on toothbrush, brush teeth, spit, rinse toothbrush, drink water, wipe mouth
- Going Potty- Pull pants down, sit on toilet, go potty, wipe bottom, pull up pants, flush toilet, wash hands
- Going out into public rules- Make good choices, which are using walking feet, gentle touches, quiet voices and listening ears.
- House Rules (havent' formalized them yet)
- believe me, there WILL be more!

7) I would wake up BEFORE the boys, get myself dressed and ready for the day....then sneak down the hall to the kitchen and make myself a yummy latte, basque in the beauty of the quiet and peaceful morning... and do what "I want to do for 45 minutes!

8) I would enjoy reading for pleasure...and my mind would NOT wander!

9) I would enjoy "being there" for my boys...sick, well, happy or sad!

10) I would slow down enough to "teach" my boys the process of how to do things rather than rushing to do them all myself. As a dear friend of mine always says, "You know, we are not raising boys here...we are raising future MEN! We need to be raising the kind of man that would make us happy to have in our lives. I want their wives to be able to come to me later and say "Thank you for giving me such a wonderful husband!"

Well...I think that's about it for now! Oh darn it...20 minutes was up quite a long time ago! Oh well...this was nice to get out of my head and onto paper (OK...well, onto the internet). Since I have recently started blogging and journaling, I am really, truly enjoying this! I so need to get it all out...and I may as well share it with you! Maybe someone out there can benefit from my thoughts and I can save them from going through what I went through...before I surrendered! Thank you Kelly for supporting me through this process...I love you dearly!

Take care all!

Conversations with a 4 year old

2009-05-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

A conversation with Carson this evening goes like this:

"Carson, I'd like you to take a bath or a shower tonight."

"OK, mom!" "I have a bath at my work. It has a shower bath."

"Oh really? Who works at your work?"

"Charly, Tommy, Frankie and Carson!" (his imaginary friends)

"What do you do at work?"

"I play games and I build stuff...I build bird houses! I WANNA build bird houses!"

"So, tell me more about work."

"I take a shower at work...and play...and play with toys at work."

"Do you get paid to work?"

"Uh., uhh, uhh, no. I go to the store sometime. I buy bananas, 'cause I love bananas. I go there after I go night night...to buy my bananas."

"Why do you do that?"

"'Cause I want to. We do that cause we want to."

"When we run out of bananas, we run out of bananas, then we go to the store. We buy ones with no dots and yes dots on them. Yep, I buy those ones."

"Which ones are your favorite?"

"Ones with dots. Charly, Tommy and Frankie like no dots on their bananas. I like the dots."

"Hey, carson...thanks for telling me about work."

"You're welcome"

Another conversation (just mere moments from previous one):

scene: Carson runs to the bathroom and he's sitting on the toilet as I am cleaning up the dinner dishes.

"Mom, come look at my poopoo."

"No carson, i don't want to look at your poop!"

"Come on mom, you gotta see it."

"Why do I have to see it?"

"'Cause it's black and white"

"Oh really? OK....I'm on my way."

"Mom, hurry..."

"Yep, you are right Carson...it's black and white."

"Why?"

"Sometimes our poopoo doesn't always look the same. It's ok."

"OK mom."

I walk away...

"Hugs and kisses, mom!"

"OK"...walk back. "Hugs and kisses"

"I love you, mommy!" (big hug and kiss)

How's that for an evening full of conversation? Sometimes you have to take it how you get it.