For The Record - Friday

A and B had their 2 month well checks today... They are 2 months old today exactly... A is 8 lbs 6 oz and 21" long... B is 10 lbs 1 oz and 22" long... They are both doing really well... They had their 2 month shots as well... It made them quite fussy in the late afternoon... I went to the first Autism Support Group meeting of the year... We are meeting in a new location... It is the office of the SLP... Our old SLP has a son with Autism... They had a fitness instructor there from a local gym... He is open to working with our children on the spectrum... He gave a really nice talk and was looking for help in setting up individual and group sessions... He is also interested in the public schools transporting our spectrum children to the gym for a session a couple times a year... Everyone enjoyed snuggling and oh/ah at A and B... It was a good night... I enjoyed relaxing and talking with other parents with children on the spectrum... One mom realized that I was Engineer's mom... Her son is in his class... She just never put the two and two together that he was my son or that I was his mom... I don't know her son too well since he is quite a bit younger then Engineer... However we both think it would be very good for her son, Engineer and all the other children in their class to have the opportunity to take classes with this guy... Engineer couldn't attend regular Phy-Ed... So, they put him in an 'adaptive gym'... He couldn't handle that sensory wise either... He doesn't have any 'Phy-Ed' except for some made up nonsense about him pushing carts/pulling wagons around the school... It will be good to see what a TRUE 'Phy-Ed' program would do for him...

Shakin' Saturday

The day started off pretty normal... I was up early... I picked up school supplies for Engineer and Monkey... I saw and chatted with a few friends... I attended Daily Mass at the Cathedral... As not to provide TMI for the reader an event happened prior to Mass that left me shakin'... I was weak, slightly nauseated, and dizzy during Mass and was unsure if I would be able to walk up for communion or if I should just steady myself with the back of pew and hope I made it to the end of Mass without being sick or passing out... I was able to make it up to communion... I saw a friend after Mass and that helped steady me a bit... I was thinking should I go to the doctor now or later... I decided I would wait... I stopped at the bank to deposit a small check and came out to a van that refused to start... I walked home (4-5 blocks)... Around the noon hour Monkey and I walked back to where the van sit... It started right up and we drove home... I discussed the events that shook me up this morning with my husband... He said lay down while he took the middle ones on errands... Linebacker was napping and Engineer went to play with a friend... I watched a little bit of Dukes of Hazzard and fell asleep myself... When I woke up it was POURING! Everyone was home but Engineer... I decided I would go to the doctor then come home for a bite to eat afterwards... I would have waited for the storm to pass but the doctor office closed at 6... The ER is 3 times as much... I went and explained what I thought was wrong... They ran some tests and said nope that's not it... They also ran a pregnancy test... ::smirk:: It was negative... He said I was just probably irregular... I just said I'm never irregular... Maybe since I'm 'getting' old... LOL!! I'll be 30 in less then a month my body is doing funky things... It's just left me more confused then before I went to the doctor... My chart this month has been erratic for lack of a better word... I will have to see what my teaching couple says when I finally have a complete chart... I think it's not really age but severe lack of self care on my part... ::sigh:: There you have my Saturday...

Too Much For One Person To Take - Thursday

I'm not sure how much more stress I could possibly take... There is all that is going on with my oldest and now Linebacker... I had my 6 week check up today... I'm doing well... I have about 20 lbs to lose before I reach 'my' perfect weight... I've already lost about 20 lbs of pregnancy weight... I have 10 to lose to make it to pre-Linebacker... Back to the stressful part... I mentioned (joyfully) Linebacker was already 8.9 lbs at 5 weeks old (stopped in for a weight check to ease my mind)... The doctor is concerned... ::sigh:: Many of you know about what I went through with Peanut and her weight gaining... She said to try to nurse more often and would like to see him weight 10 lbs by his 2 month well check (mid July)... If he still isn't gaining enough (in her opinion) we will have to talk about giving him some extra calories by supplementing formula... I'm sitting there why me! I really need a break... I really do! Monkey had ST today and is doing well... Otherwise nothing too exciting going on... Is it nap time yet?

Stitches Saturday

Yes, as the title suggests not a pleasant afternoon... I took my oldest out with me and we picked up his RX (we use the pharmacy down the hall from the ER) refill for the month... We then stopped at the store for milk, juice, eggs, and cheese... All the while the weather is horrific... There was a chilly wind with a rain and sleet/snow mix falling... Very miserable to be out in... I come home to my husband in an unpleasant mood... So, I'm running around trying to fix things and the two little ones come around the corner dripping blood... My husband completely loses it... I'm like it's bad enough they are crying and dripping blood... We need to at least try to stay calm... So, over to the sink to figure out where the blood is coming from... All my husband can say is how far behind he is and he can't miss work... I managed to clean up Monkey quickly and band aid him up... Peanut wasn't so easy... I'm trying to stay calm myself, calm Peanut, clean her up so I can fix what ever is wrong and my husband's only 'help' was complaining how could this have happen and if it doesn't stop you are going to have to take her to the doctor... Of course during the whole fiasco I'm catering to the boys lunch needs, helping my husband finish making 'our' lunch, and doing what needs to be done before he heads off to work... Which I didn't even have a chance to eat till almost 4 hours later... She has too small cuts on her fingers... Managed to have one under control but the 2nd just wouldn't quit no matter what I did... I started calling for help from people I knew around town... No one is answering... My husband finally goes out the door saying well call me if there is an 'emergency' and I can't miss work... My reply was don't worry I won't call unless I'm in labor... At that point was just ready to scream... I finally reach one who is quite frazzled herself and informs me it's Confirmation at the Cathedral... I'm like no wonder no one is answering... Finally someone calls back and can take my oldest while I make a trip to the ER... So, everyone bundles up to go out in the 'lovely' weather... I'm fighting off Braxton-Hicks saying you know giving birth is the last thing I need right now! I drop off my oldest and off we go... 2.5 hours later Peanut has two stitches... I receive care instructions and have to go back next Saturday to have them removed... I put a surgical glove over her hand for the ride home... Once home I put a winter mitten on her hand to protect it and remind her not use that hand... I'm saving the glove for bath time... She can wash it but not submerge it in water for any length of time... I ate a huge homemade cheese steak sandwich (lunch) and we all were out for a much needed nap... The braxton-hicks finally disappeared... The house is a disaster (toys every where) but it is going to stay that way... I've had enough excitement for the day and don't plan on going to the hospital for a 3rd time! So, I'm going to eat a huge dinner and take a nice soak in the tub... I'm then headed to bed to call it a day...

Welcome Back Wednesday

I'm back!!!! Not 100% but well enough I can let you all know what is going on... My oldest was home all day on Friday... My illness continued to worsen so I canceled my oldest psychiatrist appointment... I didn't do but two things... I picked up Blessings car seat... I ran in quick to Walmart to pick out cough syrup for the two little ones who had very mild coughs but needed a little something... I road around and sat in the vehicle with the children while my husband ran in and out of places... My husband's friend (he's the wife of my friend expecting twins #7 & #8) came over they worked on remodeling in the living room... They made quite a bit of progress in the little time they were here... We will pick it back on next weekend... I wrote a little bit about Saturday... I was pretty much just miserable all day and night... I debated going to the doctor decided to wait because of the snow storm...
Sunday I decided enough was enough! I went to the doctor... They sent me up to L&D floor for observation for an hour because I had a headache and was dizzy (who wouldn't be with all that sinus pressure)... Baby and I both checked out fine... So, they released me... I went back downstairs to the ground floor to finish my doctors visit... He diagnosed me with Bronchitis... He gave me some medicine... I stopped at the pharmacy (located in same building) and headed home... My husband took the boys out for errands... Peanut and I took a nap or at least I tried to nap after I was medicated... My husband help me prepare and put homemade sloppy joes in the crock pot... I spent most of the day on the couch recovering... We missed the Potluck and Annual Business meeting for FMCHE... We had all been looking forward to attending...
Monday I took my oldest in to see the eye doctor... That was quite fun... ::sarcasm:: His appointment was almost 2 hours... The end result is he sees perfectly and doesn't need glasses at all... They dilated his eyes (took 20 minutes) and everything... I was impressed with the nurse working with the doctor... She either has worked with children like my oldest or she picked up instantly on our 'language'... She started talking how I talk with I work with my oldest and he is acting out behaviorally... So, I was glad to have someone who seemed to understand... That is the "hardest" part about parenting a child with Autism... Is finding people who REALLY understand what it means... Even other parents of children with Autism don't understand what it is like for another parent because each child can be so different... I know many people when they find out my oldest diagnoses they say things like 'oh that must be hard'... All that is involved is not hard per se... He has been like this for the whole time we known so many things we do we do because it's just the way he is and we don't know any different... It's the lack of having others who you can relate to and truly know what your life is like... Sometimes you feel very alone... It's hard to reach out and tell others about what is really going on because you feel that they would never understand (even though they 'say' they do) until they have experienced it first hand themselves... Peanut had her session while we were gone... I arrived just as she was leaving... My oldest had his last in home ST session... Due to his behavior she can no longer see him until he calms down... He is too much of a liability risk... She will still be available to consult... Tuesday:
I signed paper work for our 'overnight' service... I then stopped at the hardware store... I picked up new handles for the tub... Only to discover there were no screws to attach the new handles and we lost one of the old screws down the drain... So, I will have return that tomorrow... I headed downtown to refill one of my oldest RX... One of them was added at a different time so now I have to go to the pharmacy twice a month until I can move them closer together so they all together being refilled at the same time of the month... I stopped a picked up milk, eggs, cheese and juice because heading home... Monkey had more testing today... He still has another day before he finishes up... We then will meet to discuss the results... Tonight was K orientation night... I had our 'overnight' worker come to observe our family to give her a sense of how our evenings go... While I was at orientation with Monkey and Peanut... She took my oldest recycling... Which is located on the same block at the building I was in... So, she was with him but I near by in case she needed me... Everything went very well... We walked there and back... We made dinner and she had another family to work with so she left...
Today:
I had a meeting this morning with our new respite company... We should have staff up and running real soon... Right now I'm trying to figure out our schedule so they can fill it with staff... They like a concrete schedule vs me calling in a couple week ahead of time and saying oh can I have someone on this day and time... So, that will be a change... Nothing I can't work out though... The 'overnight' worker came today to observe how the after school routine works and observe talk with the OT... It was a really productive 2 hours... She learned a lot about our oldest... She is looking forward to watching him a few hours at her home and overnights will follow as everyone because more comfortable... Peanut had ST and did well... I was busy pick up the house to have it ready for the afternoon since I was out during the morning... So, I didn't really talk with the ST to much today about Peanut and what they are working on... I went back to the hardware store to find out the handles no longer come with handles... So, I bought 12 cents worth of screws... I installed one handle... The other is a bit more difficult... It has some old hardware that is not compatible with the new handles I have to remove... Before I can install the new handle... So, that is something I will need to work on... Tomorrow will be a regular message day... Sorry for the long publishing today... I'm glad to be back...

Full Friday

At least the day felt full... Didn't really have much time to sit down and relax on the couch... Took my oldest to the psychiatrist this morning... Things seem to be going well so we just sat and talked and didn't make any changes... I updated on all that is happening here in regards to possible services... We go back in a week... If things are still 'stable' we will space out the visits a bit more... We stopped at Hardee's so I could grab a bit to eat... The children had a bite before we left but I was busy dressing 4 people so I didn't even have a sip of water before I left... Children snacked on the potatoes while I had a sandwich and some OJ... They changed their containers... They are like 'milk' cartons now instead of plastic cups with foil tops... Their OJ always tastes better then anything I've ever bought in the store... Even when I buy the exact brand they sell... I haven't figured that one out yet... I dropped my oldest off... I took the little ones to return some books... Every time they go they have to pick up a new book so we had a stack... We grabbed some lunch and went to the park... We had a picnic lunch and looked at the river... We stopped at the potty then played on the playground for about an hour... We then took a nice slow drive through the park and the road follows the river... It was warm and peaceful... Peanut had ST... We spent some time outside at home and then picked up my oldest... We headed over to the Pre-K building so Monkey could have some more screening done... We were there about 90 minutes... While he was 'working' we played on the playground and wondered around the building... When my oldest went to school there it was the K building... So, it was fun to walk around and look at the places he had been... A large part of the staff are ones who worked with my oldest during his Pre-K years (Mar 03 till Aug 05)... They remember me expecting Peanut and bringing her in for a visit before Summer School ended the last year he was there before he went to K... So, it was fun for them to see everyone and how much they have all grown... They will be working with Peanut in the fall... Monkey had screenings in ST and PT today... They both said he did well but didn't finish all they need to do for a full assessment and make recommendations... So we are going back again next week to do some more... He also has OT which he hasn't done and may even meet with a Pre-K teacher for some 'questions'... The preliminary reports have positive results... Which I was very pleased about... We played on the playground a bit more and headed home for a much needed nap... The evening was quiet... It was sooo warm today I had to turn the air on in the house because the house was roasting...

Not Fun Friday!

Well, to make this as accurate as possible I have to start in the wee hours of Friday before I made it to bed but it was still 'technically' Friday... I was about to head off to bed and Monkey woke up coughing... He coughed some the night before and during the day yesterday but I didn't think much of it since we all had some kind of 'cold' symptom... Only this time it seemed like he couldn't breathe or that he was breathing but no air was going in... My husband and I finally had him able to breathe almost normally... Monkey and I dressed and headed to the ER fearing the next time it happened we wouldn't be able to help him... He also had a slight fever... I hunted around for his insurance card in case he needed a RX... They can do the rest based on what's on file and couldn't seem to find it any where... I last remembered having it when filling out papers for the dentist (18th)... So, it had been 'missing' for about a week... My oldest son's card was also 'missing'... I was sure they were in the same place it is just a matter of where... I hunted all over the house in all the places I could think they could have possibly been... I even checked in the van in the middle of the night while it was warming up before our trip to the ER... I gave up and planned on calling the insurance company in the afternoon for replacements to be sent... Fast Fwd... Back home at quarter to 4 AM... What a lovely way to spend the middle of the night... NOT! He has croup... They gave him a breathing treatment that had two medicines in it and two other medicines orally... I can't remember what they were with this lack of sleep... His temp was 100.8... He is to follow up with his primary at the beginning of next week... I give him some Tylenol and off to bed for the 2nd time... Fast Fwd... My oldest was up so at quarter to 8 AM... I dressed again and I drop him off... It's now a quarter to 9 AM (hunted for insurance cards some more)... Fast Fwd... I go to bed for a 3rd time having troubles sleeping worrying that Monkey may have stopped breathing... I lay down next to him to try to calm my nerves and eventually I fall asleep... Fast Fwd... Peanut wakes at quarter to 10 AM... She actually over slept because she was awaken several times last night and this morning... So, I was able to relax a bit... I let Monkey sleep until 11:30 AM because he hadn't slept well and was up most of the night at the ER... I called the dental office to see if I had left the cards there... I also called the insurance people and left a message for our agent to order more cards... I dress and feed the 3 of us before leaving to pick up my oldest... While cleaning out my wallet of reciepts to balance my ledger later I found the insurance cards... They were there the ENTIRE time... Amazing how hard it is to think when you are upset... So, I called back the dental office to let them know I found them and they didn't need to look any more... I also left a 2nd message for our insurance agent to cancel the need to order cards because they had been found... I kissed my husband good bye because he probably wouldn't be here when we returned... I head to pick up oldest at quarter to 1 PM for psychiatry appointment... That went well... He did a couple of written letter referrals to see if we can resolve the issues at my oldest while he is at his program... We hurried home for Peanut to have ST at 2 PM... I had forgotten my watch and had no clue what time it was... The part of town I drove through didn't have any of those handy 'light up' displays to let you know the time/temp... We arrived home at 1:30 PM... I helped my husband off to work and relaxed a bit before Peanut had ST... I wrapped some packages for the PO... Checked a ton of email and worked on my new eBay listings that will list next week... I also paid a bill and balance my ledger... It took a while to settle everyone down for nap but eventually we did all fall asleep... The evening was quiet... We watched Balto and had hot air popcorn... So, despite the heck start to the day it seemed to calm down quite quickly once the noon hour had passed...