Blog Gems - A Year Ago

Jen at The King and Eye runs the best blog hop every two weeks.  We get to share our Archives, the old posts sitting in your archives screaming for attention. 

This week: A holiday post.

I am linking to a post from just over a year ago.  It amazes me how different my boys are from a year ago.  We were celebrating my birthday and my baby was just starting to walk.  Jaylen looks so young, still such a baby.  Here is the original post, or just read the cut and paste job below!(Funny note:  I actually mention Jen in the original post!)

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IEP meeting, my birthday, a potty chart filled, and bloodwork ordered...

That's what I've been up to!  I haven't written a new post in a few days, (I know Jen, I probably made you nervous) because we have been busy. And I am not totally up for writing too much tonight so here are some pictures that show the past few days.


Jaylen's IEP went great!  In fact, he will only get about an hour of Speech a week from now on!  This is the same boy that didn't talk till 2!!!  Now he is in the average range for vocabulary and linguistic ability.  Answering questions is still a little challenge, but coming along too.  However, in the areas of social and pragmatic language we still have a long way to go. Basically, he doesn't know how to interact with others. And he doesn't need any pull out OT anymore either.  His class is structured a lot like a regular PreK, with half special needs kids and half regular ed kids.  And they spend a lot of time on play and social interaction, just what he needs according to his teachers.

My birthday was nice, nothing too amazing, as most moms can understand.  Life and the craziness does not stop around here for my birthday.  We went to dinner, Jaylen insisted we blow up balloons, which he decorated with tons of 31s, 

and my husband bought me a Keurig machine.

An indulgence I have been really wanting!

 Jaylen filled his potty chart so we headed to Toys R Us, where he noticed the O in the electric sign out front was broken.  No one else would have noticed, but it drove him mad, and he just kept saying they needed to fix it with orange.  Once again, who else knows that the O in Toys R Us is orange? Jaylen does.

 He picked, with my help, a cool marble race track.  We have built several different ones and he just loves putting the marbles in and watching them go down.

 

The bloodwork will explain more when we get the results.  But we basically want to check on some things associated with Autism; metabolic panels, Fragile X Chromosome Analysis, and amino acid and protein levels.

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Now click the picture at the top and join in to Air Your Archives!

The 32 Demands

A list of 32 things I wanted for my 32nd birthday (OK, it's only 12, who really has time to write or read 32 things):

1. A hot, 7 minute shower with the bathroom door closed and only me in there.  Got 5 minutes, but then THEY found me.

 2. A laptop. No chance.

3. A lifetime supply of K-cups, in Hazelnut, Decaf Hazelnut, Gingerbread, Chai Latte, and Green Tea.  Nope

4. Two boys that fought and screamed all day. Check!

5. A half hour to do yoga.  Kind of, hard to get into it when the above is happening.

6. Another 14 inches of snow, a snow day on my birthday and the day after, please! Yep, perfect, add it to the other 50 inches we have.

7. A ginourmous head cold the likes of which I have never felt.  Yep, got this one too!

8. An ice cream cake. Sweet!

 

9. Turning 32 yet feeling like I am 42. Done. 

10.  Facebook love and Happy Birthdays from about 90 peeps.  You know it!

11. To do 3 loads of laundry. Best part of the day.

12. Enjoying a great day with my family.  Of Course!!!

The glare in this picture makes it look like I have a glowing booger.

 

Had to hold his arms in a death grip to keep him from flapping. 

Birthdays + Sensory Overload = Stimming

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Explosive Pee, Coupons, Bumper Stickers, and More!

^Click picture to join^

•  My son looks like Butters from South Park when he goes to the bathroom.  Cracks me up everytime.  Pants all the way at the ankles and shirt up to his neck.  As if he is going to somehow have a wild pee explosion and is afraid his clothes will get wet?

• It's snowing again.  We have gotten over 50 inches since December 26th and are slated to get 6 more Thursday. Really?  

• When my 2 year old hears the printer start he yells, "Yay!  Coupons!" 

• Someone stole the Autism Awareness bumper sticker off the back of my car.  Why?

• I spent some quality time with my husband last night and he said it was nice to talk face to face rather than just talking to the back of my head while I was on the computer.  Ouch!  Guess I should go... 

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(So I can try and keep up with Jillsmo)

Memetasticness

WAIT!  Don't leave yet.  This isn't just an award post, I need you to vote on the bit at the bottom.

Thank you Heather for passing this honor my way.

The rules to this award are as follows...

1. You must proudly display the absolutely disgusting graphic that Jillsmo has created for these purposes (put it in your post, you don't have to put it in your sidebar, I think that would seriously be asking too much). It's so bad that not only did I use COMIC SANS, but there's even a little jumping, celebrating kitten down there at the bottom. It's horrifying! But its presence in your award celebration is crucial to the memetastic process we're creating here. If you need a higher resolution version... I totally have one!!

2. You must list 5 things about yourself, and 4 of them must be bold-faced lies. Just make some stuff up, we'll never know; one of them has to be true, though. Of course, nobody will ever know the difference, so we're just on the honor system here.

3. You must pass this award on to 5 bloggers that you either like or don't like or don't really have much of an opinion about. I don't care who you pick, and nobody needs to know why.  

So here they are, my lies and ONE truth.


1. I am Amish.


2. I did NOT take the swears out of Jill's requirements.  (Sorry, my MIL reads my blog).


3. I am a righty.


4.  I thought that the kitten in the award picture was a bear since seeing this picture yesterday.  I have seen it about 15 times throughout the day today on other blogs and assumed it was a bear until reading the instructions.


5. I spend my weekends taking part in Civil War reenactments.  I'm an avid, avid history buff.



Now to pass this on!

Allie at Little Baby Fields

Brandy at You Don't Know

Chris at A Crazy Kind of Faith

Ashley at Stinker Babies

Trish at Another Piece of the Puzzle

Danette at Everyday Adventures

Oops, that's 6 isn't it?  Don't hate Jill, I did it because I thought one of these people might not do it so I included a backup.

ADDENDUM: I would also like to bestow this awesomeness on Looking for Blue Sky!  We can't have anyone feeling left out like a short person on a basketball team.

A Mushroom Family

The National Autism Association has this to say about Autism:

• "Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities."

Wikipedia has this sentence in the Autism section:

• "People with autism have social impairments and often lack the intuition about others that many people take for granted."

 

This picture is how I would define Autism to someone who didn't understand my son:

 Our Family

Jaylen drew this group of mushrooms to represent our family.  Jaylen has learned how to communicate, not always the right way, and has just begun to show some empathy.  He does not think, see, act, or react like we do.  This is the closest we come to those happy family drawings kids do.  He has to go around the touchy, feely, lovey route and end up at...well...mushrooms. 

**Side note: Wikipedia has a lot to say on Autism.  And if you are a parent, don't go there.  I was bawling my eyes out reading some of the number and statistics that are on there, some of which I know are not true.  But they are still upsetting.  I don't need to hear yet again that my son will probably never have friends or live alone.**

And this picture is next to the definition.  Who the hell has this many canned goods???

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Be sure to also check out: Mommy To Two Boys Works From Home!

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Blog Gems - Shrinkage

Tis been a fortnight so we are all airing our Archives at Jen's!  Come on over and share some of your old Blog Gems.

This week: link up a post that tells us about an event (any event) in your life.

I don't post too often about events, especially not ones about me in particular.  But this older post, from September 2010 made me think hard about the fact that I have two boys: it's about male body part shrinkage.  

http://mommytotwoboys.blogspot.com/2010/09/mom-why-are-my-privates-shrinking.html 

Poop in my Purse 2 - The ANSWER!

If you didn't read part one, quickly click here. 

Well now, wasn't that fun?  I loved your guesses and comments.  I laughed hysterically when Allie asked why it looked fuzzy with three question marks because you could tell she was just confused and understood how upsetting it must have been for me to find this hard,  and yes fuzzy object in my purse.

I loved Big Daddy's guess of severed ear, and Lynn's pancreas.  Good thing you were wrong Lynn because I couldn't do 10s and 20s per your request, all I got are Benjamins.  My husband said it looked like a fetus. 

No one was exactly right, which was almost impossible anyway.  When we go to Stop & Shop, my boys get Dunkin Donuts with frosting and sprinkles.  They eat the frosting and sprinkles and do what else with the rest?  Hand it to me while I am trying to check out of course.  Normally I shove those bad boys, the donuts not my kids, into my mouth while the checker gives me a look like I need to get a grip on my diet.  For some incredibly odd reason, there must have been a day I didn't eat the donuts!  I must have been sick, or trying to pretend I was dieting or something.  Obviously, I completely forgot all about it and found these probably a month later.

Anyone who said Donut was close. 

The official answer: two bottom halves of strawberry frosted donuts with sprinkles smooshed together.

Now I will just have to hang on to that million. 

It breaks my heart

When my 4 year old gets home from school my 2 year old runs over happily calling his name, "Jaylen's home, Jaylen's home!  Hi Jaylen." 

Jaylen, who has Autism, is not as excited to see his brother Xavi.  He is instead focused on juice.  He can not tell me about his day, say hi to his brother or do anything else until he has told me exactly what kind of juice he wants and sees I am on my way to get it. 

When we drop Jaylen at school Xavi says, "Goodbye Jaylen.  Have fun at school.  See you later!"  Jaylen does not reply unless I force him, often with a fight because he is focused on getting out of the car and getting to the school door.

I am not saying they are not friends.  They love each other and have started playing well.  At least five times a day Jaylen asks his brother to do an activity with him and wants him to play. 

But it makes me wonder: 

• Does Xavi understand? 

• Does it make him sad?  

•  Will he eventually give up getting excited if that feeling is not reciprocated?  

• When he heads out into the world, okay, preschool, will he not know how to treat others?  

• Should I have had another kid so he gets more "normal" social interaction? 

• How could I possibly explain it to a 2 year old; I haven't even mentioned the words Autism or special needs to Jaylen yet?

If you are a parent of one kid on the spectrum and one neuro-typical kid, do you see these things?  How do you deal with it?

(In case you were wondering, Jaylen got his boating license this summer)

Poop in my Purse?

I am giving away 1 million dollars  to whoever can guess what this is!  

I felt something hard as a rock in my purse earlier and pulled this out. Hint: it ain't poop!

This contest will be open until January 15, 2011 at 9PM, at which time I will pick a winner.  Open to US and the UK, since that's where my followers reside.  There is absolutely no cash value or prize for winning and the first line of this post is complete BS.  If I had a million dollars to give would I really be writing this blog or have this in my purse?

It's Over

Christmas is officially over.  Except for our neighbors who are STILL rockin' the Christmas lights.  I hung on for a while there, excited we were still doing lights each night when I peeked to see if I should flip that switch, but it is now January 12th, time to pack it in.

It's by far my favorite time of year and I love decorating and all the to do.  But after about 4 weeks I look around and feel stress and anger.  There is stuff everywhere, pine needles in my socks, tinsel explosions, new toys with no "places," and a basic feeling that Christmas threw up all over our house.

 Yesterday I couldn't take it and rid our house of the holiday.  I was sad at first, I've always gotten sad when Christmas ends.  As a kid I would cry and cry Christmas night because it was all over.  Sometimes I'd sleep on the living room floor under the tree.

I tried to think of what it is that really makes me love the holiday.  Is it our family doing fun traditions together?  Is it 80% of people's happier mood?  Is it the Christmas songs?  The movies? The lights? I think it's everything, so there is no way to duplicate it throughout the year.

 But about halfway through the process I got angry and frustrated, since I didn't wait for my husband to get home to help, because when I get a project in my head I have to do it all right then. And in the end I didn't have to worry about being sad, or missing Christmas. 


And I have one of my favorite corners of the house back!

I know, this post is lame and boring.  Don't feel the need to comment.  Just look at my pictures and move on.

Random Tuesday Insights

^ Click the picture to join in! ^

• Ever feel like you look like a man?  Unless you are a man of course.  Sometimes I look in the mirror and I think I look like a man.  This is NOT a good thing.

• I know things are headed downhill quickly because it was really quiet upstairs and when I yelled, "What are you doing?"  and my 4 year old and 2 year old yelled, "Nothing!" in unison I could only think, here we go. 

• Jaylen came up to me yesterday and said in a relieved tone, "Mom, I found my chest."  And he had his hand under his shirt.   Then he walked away before I could figure out what the correct response was.

• We are supposed to get another 15 inches of snow tonight and tomorrow.  That added to the 22 inches that are still on the ground from the last two storms will make it 37 inches. 

Comparing Kids, or Just Noticing the Differences?

I think back to one of the saddest times in my life, when Jaylen was in ABA, right at the age Xavi is now; 2.  I would drop him for 3 hours, pick him up, and my only glimpse into what he did the whole morning was what the teachers wrote on his check sheet.  It was very detailed and I cherished those papers.  I often cried in the parking lot while reading what my baby was doing. 

Because Jaylen couldn't tell me. 

He couldn't answer when I asked, "How was your day?"  Just looked at me blankly. 

He couldn't answer when I asked, "What did you have for snack?"  He just stared at me.  

I had no idea if he was happy, if he was full, if he had juice, if he got hugged, if he noticed the other kids, if he felt sad. 

Having one child on the Autism spectrum and one who is developing neuro-typically really puts their differences in my face.  I know as parents we are not supposed to compare, but everyday I am reminded of just how different they truly are.

Xavi, 2, neuro-typical, has a verbal ability close to that of his 4 year old brother already.  He can communicate with us so well.  Whereas Jaylen only really began communicating in this past year.  I think Xavi can understand and say 85% of what he wants to, and Jaylen can understand 100% and say about 85%.

I was talking with Xavi the other day to try and keep him awake in the car until could dump him in his crib, he doesn't transfer from one spot sleeping to the other well.   I told him that when we got home we would gather up, "his paci, his puppy, and what else?"  To which he quickly replied, "My lovey!"  I was shocked that he got the question and could answer. 

Yesterday I wondered what Xavi was doing in the other room so I called out, "Xavi, what are you doing?"  He said, "Just playing mom."  Once again, I was shocked.

I can't help but think back to those ABA days and still cry over how tough that time was for us.  When I ask Jaylen now about his old school he remembers one of the teachers and, in true Jaylen fashion, that the ceiling paint was chipped and needed to be repainted.

BUT, in Jaylen's defense, I can compare the other way too! Jaylen could do a basic shape sorter puzzle by 9 months and Xavi...well...let's just say we're still working on that one.

Being a Realist: Part 2

 

This week's blog hop topic: 5 goals for the new year.  I already posted my resolutions two weeks ago so this one is easy! Go here to read the original post, or just be lazy and read this list, which I had to add 2 more things to since my realistic self only put 3 resolutions.

And if you already commented on the original, then be creative and comment again!

That cartoon cracks me up AND my husband's name is Gerald!


1). I want to be a better wife.  Wow, kinda personal huh? We have two very active, rough, boys, one with Autism, and it has taken a toll on our relationship. I need to work on giving our relationship much more attention because a kid with special needs isn't a good enough excuse to not put in the time and effort.

 Our Wedding, 7/18/03, and yes, it's a photo of a photo.  No digital cameras back then and I don't have a scanner, so there.

2). I need to be more patient with my boys. As I said, they are very tough, especially since our little guy with Autism has many behavior issues and our younger one imitates and follows suit. But I want to work on not losing my temper as much.

Yep. I did that.

3).  Lose weight, but not for looks. I am happy with how I look. But don't feel good physically and health wise. I lost 30 pounds last year starting on New Year's and felt so good. So many less aches and pains. Better sleep. more energy. And I knew I was adding years onto my life. My boys are so important to me and I want all the time I can with them.  I have put some of that weight back on and it sucks!

4.) Write twice as many posts as last year.  That would mean 208; very doable.

5.) Make twice as much money as I did last year with my business.  I have been slacking in that department since my husband is doing really well, but I'd love to be able to be completely debt free and start putting more away for the boys' education/retirement. 

Search Engine Optimization? I don't get it...

Nope, not a lesson in SEO.  Trust me, that is way over my head.  So if that's why you're here, keep searching.

My bloggy friends Lynn and Jen have tipped me off to a great source of laughs and confusion.  What words and phrases used in search engines brought up my blog.  
 
I didn't realize how many pervs are into the whole "mommy" porn thing.   Countless phrases including the words, mommy, boys, wet, watch, and other words I vowed to never write on my blog came up.  Imagine their disappointment when my Mommy Autism blog came up?

Now to the lighter side of things. Here is what people were searching for and found me...of course:

• can an autism learn sign language?  - not an autistic person, or person with autism, just "an autism"

• curved moms, soccer mom curves - no questions there, they found the right place

• bous momoy - latin maybe? If you search this you will find boobs...big ones

• i have two boys but leap frog scout has only one  - if you are the person that searched this phrase please contact me, I have many questions

• let's drink tea and get - get what? 

• ily noys get to the layla - line from a Snoop song maybe?

• please do not enter my heart, i am upset  - Be honest, how many of us have done this Google search

•  two boys and a mom tube - possibly another porn thing? I don't know. Maybe I'm getting old.

• butter dislike autism - I got nothing.  Lynn, you're the caption expert, what you got?

And these last four I am really considering adding as my blog description or possibly even my title.  Your thoughts?

• poopy briefs
  

• nursing teacher blogspot - except I haven't nursed in a year

• last minute christmas for husband mom blog

• wife will you poo my jeans - this would increase traffic to my site...hmmm....

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Blog Gems - Air Your Archives

One of my first and best bloggy buddies, Jen, at The King And Eye gives us a chance to share our older posts.  This week, share one of those posts with the 7 things you don't know about me. 

I am cheating and putting 2!

****Here is one dated back to just under a YEAR ago, January 14, 2010: http://mommytotwoboys.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-seven.html But just in case you don't want to click, here are the 7:

1. When I was pregnant with Xavier I was diagnosed with the small c antivirus, don't bother looking it up, it is so rare that even 99% of people in the medical community have not heard of it.  I was monitored very closely throughout my pregnancy, and they induced early.  Xavier did not come out OK and was rushed to the NICU.  He stayed there for 2 weeks with life threatening jaundice and anemia.  We almost lost him several times and only after a blood transfusion did he turn around.  Hands down, the hardest 2 weeks of my life.  I am crying now just remembering.

2. On a much, much lighter note...My husband and I are high school sweethearts. We've been together, on and off, for 16 years, married for 6.  This is us at his Senior Prom in 1995. I haven't changed a bit (heehee)!!!

3. We met in the high school drumline, I played bass drum and he played snare.  Yes, I was a drummer chick. And in concert season I played the bassoon.  Anyone even know what that is? I don't play anymore, but my husband is a professional musician.  This is him at a show.

4. I am 3 courses away from getting my Masters in Educational Leadership and Administration.  I planned to be a principal.  But after having kids, plans changed.  My goals and desires are completely opposite of what they were then.  Unfortunately, I will probably never go back and finish that degree...

5. One day in the near future, I plan to volunteer in a NICU.  Because of our experience and the awesome nurses and doctors who were so good to us, I want to pay it forward.  I could never do needles and blood, so nursing is not for me, but I can definitely volunteer.

6. My Spanish is pretty good.  I taught in FL for 4 years and needed to learn Spanish to communicate better with my students and their parents.  I have my ESL certification and tutor 3 ESL students a week.

7. If I ever do go back to teaching, I will be a completely different teacher.  I was good, but my perspective has totally changed since having kids, especially one with special needs.  Every student is some one's baby.  Every students is their own special person, with needs, wants, strengths and weaknesses.  It is not possible to do it all, one year I had 32 second graders which was more like babysitting, but more can be done to foster our kids.  My son is going to need a lot of love, special accommodation, and understanding when he goes to school.  I wonder if he had been a student of mine would I have done a good enough job?

****And the 2nd is from August 24, 2010: http://mommytotwoboys.blogspot.com/2010/08/lets-drink-tea.html

1. The movie The Sixth Sense totally messed me up.  For life.  I still have to jump into my bed from about 4 feet away.  Ridiculous.  A 31 year old woman jumping into her bed every night.

2. I used to play the bassoon.  What is that you ask?  Here is me playing it.  Right before I sold it.

3. I am scared to swim in the ocean.  The reason:

 

'Nuff Said.

4. I hate chic flicks. No love stories here.  I love Jaws (that could explain number 3 huh?), Jurassic Park, Twister, Signs, and many other action packed movies.

5. I love pink.  Unfortunately, with 2 boys, there is not much pink in this house.

6. Having kids changed my life alright.  And not just in the Johnson & Johnson commercial way.  Since having kids I am always hot, have acne, hemorrhoids, stretch marks, and I sag in areas that used to be firm.

7. I love having a fireplace. It makes winter here in CT perfect.

Now head on over to Jen's and Air YOUR Archives!