They get too big too fast

Henry has gotten into this habit of actually waking at about 5 AM.  He drags all his knit and crocheted blankets and piles them onto my bed before attempting to climb in himself.  At this point I groggily say, “You can’t come in my bed until you go potty.”  That is, after all, what woke him.  He just won’t acknowledge that on his own.  Last night he said, “Follow me.”  I was obviously still quite asleep, because I remember saying, “Where are we going?”  He walked to my side of the bed, held out his hand, and answered, “To the baff-room.”  In my head I was thinking, “Right.  Right.  Of course.  The bathroom…” So we stumbled down the hall together.  He stood for a moment by the unopened toilet.  I asked, “Are you going to go potty?  Or should I go first?”  He said, “We’ll go together.”  (I think he’s still under the impression that everyone has a penis.)  He said he wanted to stand to pee.  He looked so cute on his tippy-toes, using both hands to aim–even though he really doesn’t need to.  When we were all finished in the bathroom, we stumbled back to bed.  Just as I got in, he asked, “Where’s my blue blankie?”  I probably mumbled, “I don’t know.”  And Henry said, “It has to be dum-where.”  After a few more “It has to be dum-where’s” I found it on the floor on his side of my bed.  He snatched it from my hand and said, “Dare it is!”  And he snuggled down to sleep a few more hours.

What a day for a headache…

This morning David is a little out of sorts.  He was playing Batman on VSmile, Daniel was on the couch behind him.  And David was upset because Daniel was holding a toy.  Daniel wasn’t touching David.  His toy wasn’t making noise.  But David was flipping out.  When David walked away from VSmile, all 3 boys ended up sitting on my lap and I played a game.  David was upset because he wanted me all to himself.  I suggested he could play Batman again.  He said that no, he didn’t want to.  About 5 minutes later, without anyone suggesting it, Daniel hopped off my lap and said that HE wanted to play Batman VSmile.  You’ll never guess what happened next: David got upset.  Five minutes later, David was sitting on the bedroom floor surrounded by toys.  I asked if he wanted to play a game on my computer.  He said “Not right now, I’m trying to destroy Daniel’s life so I can have mine back.”

Kindergarten

My Daniel. My little, precious Daniel will be starting Kindergarten on September 8. I’ve had some difficulties enrolling him. My own mental difficulties. But I finally broke down and did it. His 5th birthday was August 10th. He received a Hulk backpack to take to school, but I didn’t finally enroll him until last Thursday. August 21st. So while David and Celia have received their bus assignments and teacher assignments, Daniel will be waiting to receive his. And today he had his school physical. The pediatrician we have been seeing was my doctor when I was born. She’s old. In fact she retired when I was a teenager and for some reason came out of retirement and is practicing again. She wasn’t pleased with Daniel. She asked if he could recite his phone number and address. I said no. That is something they learn in Kinder. I didn’t feel like he needed it memorized now. So big deal. Then she hands him a pen and tells him to write his name. (Here’s where it comes in handy to have a child named Bob.) He drew an oval and declared it a cucumber man. She told him to draw a circle. He did. She said to draw a square. He drew an odd shape and called it some super hero. She drew a square with him hand over hand while counting the sides. Then told him to do it. He did. She said, “He’s going to be behind.” I told her that he’s only begun willingly coloring and drawing within the last two weeks. And it’s summer. How am I going to teach him to write his name in two weeks during the summer when I have 4 kids?!? She asked why I didn’t put him into preschool. I’m a stay at home mom. He could’ve gone to Headstart, but why? I’m a stay at home mom! During the school year we worked on stuff more than we did this summer, but he wasn’t ready to write until now. I’m not about to push my child just so I feel like he’s ahead. She began asking him to identify colors of things that were visible and not visible (a toy, grass, the sky, etc.) and he was always correct. He knew all his shapes. I then told her he also knows all his letters and most of the phonics sounds. She reacted with surprise. Then she said, “He watches Sesame Street?” I didn’t quite get what she was saying. I answered with a confused, “Well, kinda, no not really…” Yes, I am an articulate mother. After the fact I realized that she was insinuating that all his letters and sounds knowledge came from TV. I AM A STAY AT HOME MOM!!! What on earth do people think I do all day?!? Sure my house is a mess. It’s a mess because I spend more time on puzzles and reading and coloring (IF they’re willing) and playing and doing laundry and cooking than I do picking up 8,000 action figures or filing 2,000 papers sent home from school. I also informed the wonderful doctor that Daniel excels at puzzles and spends time almost every day putting puzzles together. She said that she always had a hard time with puzzles. Can we not acknowledge here that MY son’s strengths are different than other kids? He can also cut paper rather well. I talked to a mom today whose daughter could write her name when she began Kindergarten, but could barely cut even half-way through. And I know that I should shake it off. And I will. I really will. But for right now, she definitely ruffled my feathers and I’m reacting defensively. But after all I’ve gone through with David, I think that is going to be a hard habit to break.

Oh, and while writing this post and the few breaks I’ve had to take to help Henry and David with their current project, Daniel has put together a 50 piece puzzle and it’s the first time he’s done this one.

Summer School

Well, David (being Autistic) qualified for Extended School Year (ESY).  It began this past Tuesday.  It will run Mondays through Thursdays for the month of July.  And he’s home by lunch.  This week went rather well.  I thought.  David had to ride the short bus with all the other ESY kiddos, which meant his best friend is on his bus.  And in his classroom.  And they’ll be in the same classroom together next year for first grade.  Last night as we were reading our nighttime story, David looked at me and solemnly said, “Mommy, I have a headache…tomorrow.”

Playtime with Daniel and Henry

Henry picked up a Superman tee-shirt from the floor. He showed it to Daniel, “Wook. Ba-man!”

Daniel asked, “You wanna be Supaman? Okay!” He took the shirt from Henry. “Wook here.” He slipped it over Henry’s head. “Wee-as Henwee?” He pulled it down. “Dare he is!” Henry giggled. “Okay,” Daniel said, “put your ahm up.” He held the shirt as Henry’s arm popped out. “Udder side. Ahm up.” But the shirt was folded under so Henry couldn’t get his arm in.

I said, “You’re going to have to help him with that one.”

“Okay.” Daniel reached in and grabbed Henry’s arm. Steering him like you do a newborn. Still the folded shirt blocked him.

I reached over. “Here.”

Daniel steered Henry’s arm up and out the hole.

Then Henry picked up a blanket and brought it to Daniel, “Cayfe.”

Daniel just said, “Go to mom.”

So Henry came to me. “Cayfe.” I smiled as I tied it around his neck. Then Daniel bounded off. He found another Superman shirt and a bandana for his cape. I tied it on and they flew away.

A few minutes later, Henry’s cape came undone. He brought it back to me. I asked, “Can you find a better cape? A bandana like Daniel?” He wanted his favorite blankie, but I don’t like tying them and wearing out the yarn. He came back with an already worn out blanket. “Perfect,” I said.

Suddenly Henry got in a snit. He threw down the green blanket. “No.” Then he took off his Superman shirt.

Daniel, being supportive, chimed in, “Good job, Henwee!” Daniel picked up the discarded shirt. “I can pud id away!”

He began walking to the closet, but Henry objected. Daniel turned and handed it to him. Henry furrowed his brow, took the shirt, and threw it on my bed.

Daniel shrugged and walked away. He continued to be Superman. With or without Henry.

Welcome Summer Vacation

Today was the first day of summer vacation. A joyous day. Right? Last night I was so exhausted I collapsed into bed when I put the bigguns to bed at 10. Yes, that is an hour later than normal, but it was the last day of school. We were out riding bikes until after 8. Celia was really progressing on her new 20″ bike. No training wheels. Today we hoped to work on that some more.

At 8 the phone rang. It jarred me awake. I saw that it was my sister. I answered but no one was there. I dozed off only to wake 20 minutes later because Daniel was up. I called Jaime back. She hadn’t realized that I wasn’t up at 7 to put the kids on the bus. We talked for a little bit about Father’s Day and our lack of plans. Then I heard my Dad’s dog going nuts outside. I jumped up to let her in, to find her terrorizing a Box Turtle. I corral the dogs and rescue the turtle. I moved him into a tub with a little water, a low flat rock, and a scoop of wet cat food. The three boys and I spent a bit of time outside, then I herded them in so I could shower.

Just before I was finished my wonderfully cold shower (seriously, wonderful), I heard pounding on the door. Celia asked if she could answer it. I said she could look out the window. All the dead bolts were locked anyway. I don’t think she could have answered it. It was my neighbor. My cousin’s wife. Celia came running in announcing that Kristie was at the door, holding my cat. Then the cat bit her and ran away. I called their house, but no one answered. So, I went next door. No one answered the door. I saw my cousin back near their garage, so I walked back and asked how Kristie was. My cat had broken skin. I apologized to them. Mostly to Kristie. My cat is on the nasty side because he never had a cat Mommy. Only me. Brad said he would have kicked it if he’d been the one who was bitten. I ignored him. Kristie said it really hurt. I offered her pain killing Neosporin. She accepted. She thanked me for it and then laughed, “Thanks for the cat bite and the ointment.” Yeah, Neosporin was the least I could do.

Later in the afternoon, I went into the backyard with the dogs. I heard a screeching and Bailey (my dad’s retreiver) was sniffing around going nuts. I rushed over to see what she’d found. I struggled with her for a few moments, only to realize that the screaming was coming from where my Bassett hound was. She’d found a bunny nest. And she killed a poor hairless bunny.

The kids had been rammy all day. A woman at Wal-Mart this morning assured me that it lasts the first two weeks after school lets out and then it will even out. I certainly hope so. I was so flustered today. Far too stressed out.

I decided that a drive would help us all. So, we hopped in the car, spent a fortune filling it with gas, and then drove. About 10 minutes into the drive, a bird flew up and hit my windshield. I have no idea if it survived. I was just glad that it didn’t break my window.

I was having a bad animal day. Shortly thereafter Scott called me. I told him that with my luck within a few hours I would be calling him to announce that a deer hit me. And too ironically for me, on the way back home, there were three doe standing in the middle of the road. I did NOT hit them. I saw them early enough that I came to a complete stop and waited for them to cross. But it was closer than I liked.

I just can’t believe how the animal kingdom rose up, united, and attacked me today.

Happy Mother’s Day

Here it is, Mother’s Day.  The one day that is meant to honor moms for all they do.  Growing up, Mother’s Day was a major holiday.  We had brunch.  We gave flower’s to my Grandmothers.  We made things at church and school.  We proudly  presented my mom with as many things as we could.  One year we had 35 family members in our home for brunch.  Other years we went out to brunch.  This year there is no honor.  No glory.  And most importantly, no brunch.  Scott was unable to have the kids Friday or Saturday.  So, he has the kids today.  My grandparents have a meeting to go to.  My mom is 12 hours away.  I prepared to be home alone.  Yesterday I had hoped to have fun with the kids.  We kinda did.  I mean, if it weren’t for my migraine, it probably could have been enjoyable.  But there was no way I could leave the house.  In fact, the first Imitrex I took did not help the pain at all.  It only served to make me nauseas.  The second Imitrex did help, and it added to the nausea.  I told Scott that assuming my migraine was going to continue, he should plan to pick the kids up this morning before church.  This morning I woke and didn’t feel as badly as I had expected.  I only had a short time to wake the kids, toss clothes at them, and push them out the door to Scott.  It was somewhere around the throwing clothes at them that I realized the headache was not my only ailment today.  I also have a very sour stomach and…well, let’s just say a stomach virus.  So, here I am on mother’s day, not celebrating, not enjoying other’s company.  And not even resting peacefully.  My dad graciously went out for Pepto Bismol.  It has helped a bit.  I’m hungry.  I want a good cup of coffee.  But something tells me that coffee won’t help with my stomach situation.  To put it mildly, this day sucks.

Something remarkable

This sounds amazing, but I never actually saw this video, though I’d heard the story. As I sat, crying, all I could think is, “This is what I want for David.” Something remarkable. Something that makes him feel as wonderful as he is.

Yes, I still exist…

Well, here it is January of 2008.  Wherever does the time go?  I decided to just post a quick update.  The kids are doing well in school.  I had to call Celia’s teacher and tell him that she wants more work.  He said he’d be happy to oblige, and that her only issue in school is her wandering mind.  I empathized.  At home I can tell her to put her shoes in the basket.  She’ll walk to the bathroom, come back, and say, “What did you want me to do?”  And the shoe basket is just inside our door!!!  David is doing well.  He is beginning to read.  He can read books containing sight words and words in the -an and -at families.  His autistic brain predisposes him to excel at sight words.  Daniel doesn’t show what he knows, and I was beginning to worry that he wouldn’t know anything when he began Kindergarten next fall.  Then the other day he sat down, flipped through a book and named all 26 letters.  He has also shown that he knows quite a few of the letter sounds.  He hides his knowledge so well, I wasn’t sure he knew his ABC’s!  What a relief to find out that all this time he has been absorbing what I’ve been teaching.  And Henry, though 2, also has begun recognizing a lot of letters and some sounds.  His speech is a bit delayed, but I have begun more concentrated “therapy” into our day.  He has shown some improvements just in the last few weeks.  As for me, I’ve finished a few knitting projects.  I hope to post some photos soon.  I’ve also begun a college application to a 2-year program.  With 3 of my 4 kiddos in school in Fall of 2008, I think it would be a good time for me to get a degree.  Well, that’s about all for now.  Perhaps I’ll get to write again soon…

I’ve survived!

Well, I put my kiddos on the bus this morning. Amazingly I didn’t even cry. I was proud at David as he breezed past the first seat. The one he was supposed to sit in. And sat with a little boy from our neighborhood whom we don’t know. Celia pouted. She wanted to follow the plan. Sit together in the first seat. It was an issue again in the afternoon. But they survived. David’s book says that he did well. That was from his Learning Support teacher. Nothing from his Kindergarten teacher. Celia was thrilled to announce that there were no tests and her teacher had no reason to yell at her. There was one boy, however, who kept talking. Oh, and at 12:30, I indulged the hyper-vigilant side of me and called the school nurse. David was supposed to get his Risperdal at 12:10, after recess. I got hold of the nurse. She put me on hold for about 5 minutes. When she came back, she apologized and said that it had been a busy day. She also added that David was now on his way to her office. She said that everyone forgot. Once again, being hyper-vigilant has paid off. So in your face, Dr. Collins!