A part of Asperger's Syndrome is taking things literally.
Yesterday, I took Lucas & Noah to the orthodontist. Why they insist on seeing kids at ages 7 & 8 nowadays is a post for another day. But, that's where we were.
Before our appt each boy had to fill out a questionnaire about themselves: their likes & dislikes, etc.
Lucas had his turn and had a great conversation with the ortho about playing baseball, swimming, & eating pizza.
When it was Noah's turn, the conversation went like this:
Ortho: So, do you play baseball? I see you have a baseball on your shirt.
Noah: No.
Ortho: What sport do you like to play? Oh, I see here that you like to play soccer. Are you playing soccer now?
Noah: No.
Ortho: What are you doing right now?
Noah: Sitting in this chair.
I wish I could type the look on his face because it was so incredibly funny. He looked at the ortho. like "What a stupid question! Can you not see what I'm doing right now?"
I'm still laughing about it.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Fish & Friends
This past week we took the week off of school for Spring Break. I had big plans to get the house super clean & organized. Yeah. It was a good plan.
On Friday we took the kids to the aquarium. A couple of years ago we had season passes and went many many times, but haven't been back since those passes expired. But a few months ago a friend emailed and said they'd be in Atlanta during the week and asked if we could meet them there. So we made plans (which really means we scrounged & saved & ate beans & rice) to be there.
The friends that came down we first met in Guatemala back in 2005. During the adoption process we had the opportunity to travel down and spend a week with Ellie. This was an amazing time & a post for another day. While we were down there, though, we met another couple staying next door to us and adopting through the same agency. Their daughter was only a few weeks older than Ellie. We spent the week hanging out with them and had a great time.
We haven't seen each other since July of 2005 since they live several states away. So, when we found out they would be in Atlanta, we packed up and headed on into the ATL. I had images of Ellie & Makenzie hitting it off and years from now still be great friends. Ellie's first response to Makenzie, however, was to start saying "NO, I don't want to see her!!!!!" and running away. Ellie stayed like that most of the day while Makenzie was a sweetheart. However, we did manage to get one cute picture & hopefully years from now they will still be in contact despite Ellie's rude behavior!
Here they are in July 2005 & April 2009! (Thanks for sending the photo Stacy!)
On Friday we took the kids to the aquarium. A couple of years ago we had season passes and went many many times, but haven't been back since those passes expired. But a few months ago a friend emailed and said they'd be in Atlanta during the week and asked if we could meet them there. So we made plans (which really means we scrounged & saved & ate beans & rice) to be there.
The friends that came down we first met in Guatemala back in 2005. During the adoption process we had the opportunity to travel down and spend a week with Ellie. This was an amazing time & a post for another day. While we were down there, though, we met another couple staying next door to us and adopting through the same agency. Their daughter was only a few weeks older than Ellie. We spent the week hanging out with them and had a great time.
We haven't seen each other since July of 2005 since they live several states away. So, when we found out they would be in Atlanta, we packed up and headed on into the ATL. I had images of Ellie & Makenzie hitting it off and years from now still be great friends. Ellie's first response to Makenzie, however, was to start saying "NO, I don't want to see her!!!!!" and running away. Ellie stayed like that most of the day while Makenzie was a sweetheart. However, we did manage to get one cute picture & hopefully years from now they will still be in contact despite Ellie's rude behavior!
Here they are in July 2005 & April 2009! (Thanks for sending the photo Stacy!)
Autographs for sale
You know those videos & pictures they show on American Idol of the contestants as kids?
You're looking at a future star, my friends. :)
Video by Lucas. Dancing by Ellie.
You're looking at a future star, my friends. :)
Video by Lucas. Dancing by Ellie.
Friday, March 27, 2009
I saw this on another blog that I read. This had to have been written about me.
I present to you My Life.
I present to you My Life.
If You Give A Mom A Muffin
Original Author Unknown
If you give a mom a muffin,
She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She'll pour herself some.
Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.
She'll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks.
She'll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer,
She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She'll look for her cookbook ("101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger").
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The check book is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.
She'll smell something funny.
She'll change the two year old's diaper.
While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.
Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.
She'll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
And chances are...
If she has a cup of coffee,
Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.
Monday, March 16, 2009
One of those days
Years ago when I thought about being a wife and mother I had visions of sugary sweet children who lavished their love, affection, and eternal gratitude on me. Kids who were always neat, clean, and obedient. Our home would always smell of freshly baked goods and dirt would not be found inside. Our pets would be non-shedding, non-barking, perfect angels to accompany my delusions. I would have gourmet meals prepared for dinner every night and my kids would never eat junk food.
HUH??
Here's reality. I present to you my day.
I woke up an hour late this morning due to the exhaustion of a child coughing all night. Kyle found a gash on the dog's leg as he brought him in from going potty this morning in the flood outside (it's been raining continuously for 3 days now). I called the vet as I was fixing Ellie's lunch for preschool. Of course I had to bring him in as they couldn't tell me anything on the phone.
I grabbed some clothes for the kids and myself, loaded up 4 kids and a dog and took Ellie to school. Then we headed for the vet.
I asked if I could leave the dog and pick him up later. I was told I had to wait. So I waited. Feeling guilty for not being home "doing school" we had a spelling bee in the waiting room. Then we figured out 19 + 19 mentally. We talked about vets and what they do. An hour and $$$ later we left with Max and his stapled, bandaged leg and one of those cone shaped collars so he wouldn't bother it. I was told he had to wear this for at least 3 days. Yeah. Ok.
We got back home and discovered that Max was not going along with the cone collar fashion. He took it off no less than 10 times and I put it back on him each time. He ran into the walls so many times he started just standing in one place and not moving with his tail tucked between his legs. He wouldn't eat, drink, or pee. So I took the collar off. Someone had to sit by his crate every second to make sure he didn't chew his bandage. Not going to work. Put the collar back on this time accompanied by lots and lots of masking tape. I threw a frozen pizza into the oven and called it lunch.
Went to pick up Ellie. We stopped by the library to get some books and make me feel as if I was doing something to educate my kids. Of course, Noah had forgotten his shoes (see previous post). So here I head across the parking lot carrying my 7 year old and corralling everyone else in the rain. The kids were horrid in the library. The check out machine wasn't working well. As we were waiting on the librarian to bring us our DVDs Ellie dumped out the basket of 43 books onto the floor. I put her in time out in the chair and she started screaming and kicking and crying. I can't put into words how loud this is - you just have to experience it. I pack up the books and start to leave, she refuses to come, and as I walk through the doors, the book alarm goes off. We turn around and head to the desk so they can go through all 43 books one by one to see which one set off the alarm. All the while ellie is still in the chair screaming and the boys are playing chase around the stand of newspapers.
We get home and I take off the dog's collar so he will go potty and drink some water. I'm putting the collar back on which involves lots of tape and a 46 pound dog trying to sprint away, the kids are helping themselves to yogurt, Ellie runs in and shows me her painted yogurt face and the phone rings. Somehow I answer it and a staff member from church says "Hey Rebecca - is this a good time?"
I had to laugh so I wouldn't cry. Still trying to manage the dog I hold a conversation about finding nursery workers for the extra Easter services we're having.
As I hang up the phone I realized it's almost 4:00, I've failed at homeschooling today, my kids will be stupid and never get into college, I haven't had a shower today and am gross, dinner needs to be cooked and kids bathed because we have home group tonight.
Piece of cake.
HUH??
Here's reality. I present to you my day.
I woke up an hour late this morning due to the exhaustion of a child coughing all night. Kyle found a gash on the dog's leg as he brought him in from going potty this morning in the flood outside (it's been raining continuously for 3 days now). I called the vet as I was fixing Ellie's lunch for preschool. Of course I had to bring him in as they couldn't tell me anything on the phone.
I grabbed some clothes for the kids and myself, loaded up 4 kids and a dog and took Ellie to school. Then we headed for the vet.
I asked if I could leave the dog and pick him up later. I was told I had to wait. So I waited. Feeling guilty for not being home "doing school" we had a spelling bee in the waiting room. Then we figured out 19 + 19 mentally. We talked about vets and what they do. An hour and $$$ later we left with Max and his stapled, bandaged leg and one of those cone shaped collars so he wouldn't bother it. I was told he had to wear this for at least 3 days. Yeah. Ok.
We got back home and discovered that Max was not going along with the cone collar fashion. He took it off no less than 10 times and I put it back on him each time. He ran into the walls so many times he started just standing in one place and not moving with his tail tucked between his legs. He wouldn't eat, drink, or pee. So I took the collar off. Someone had to sit by his crate every second to make sure he didn't chew his bandage. Not going to work. Put the collar back on this time accompanied by lots and lots of masking tape. I threw a frozen pizza into the oven and called it lunch.
Went to pick up Ellie. We stopped by the library to get some books and make me feel as if I was doing something to educate my kids. Of course, Noah had forgotten his shoes (see previous post). So here I head across the parking lot carrying my 7 year old and corralling everyone else in the rain. The kids were horrid in the library. The check out machine wasn't working well. As we were waiting on the librarian to bring us our DVDs Ellie dumped out the basket of 43 books onto the floor. I put her in time out in the chair and she started screaming and kicking and crying. I can't put into words how loud this is - you just have to experience it. I pack up the books and start to leave, she refuses to come, and as I walk through the doors, the book alarm goes off. We turn around and head to the desk so they can go through all 43 books one by one to see which one set off the alarm. All the while ellie is still in the chair screaming and the boys are playing chase around the stand of newspapers.
We get home and I take off the dog's collar so he will go potty and drink some water. I'm putting the collar back on which involves lots of tape and a 46 pound dog trying to sprint away, the kids are helping themselves to yogurt, Ellie runs in and shows me her painted yogurt face and the phone rings. Somehow I answer it and a staff member from church says "Hey Rebecca - is this a good time?"
I had to laugh so I wouldn't cry. Still trying to manage the dog I hold a conversation about finding nursery workers for the extra Easter services we're having.
As I hang up the phone I realized it's almost 4:00, I've failed at homeschooling today, my kids will be stupid and never get into college, I haven't had a shower today and am gross, dinner needs to be cooked and kids bathed because we have home group tonight.
Piece of cake.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
No Shoe Noah
After 10 months of waiting, we finally took Noah in for an evaluation today.
We dropped the other kids off at a friend's house (thanks guys!) and headed out. As we were getting Noah out of the van I looked down and noticed that he was shoeless. Here's where I'd love to say that this was the first time we had gone somewhere and Noah did not remember his shoes, but it's not. We've been shoeless at the pumpkin patch, apple orchard, many restaurants, Walmart .....
So, Kyle scooped him up and off we went.
I was a bit nervous about the appointment. After fighting for so many years to find someone to see him AND accept our insurance, I just wanted to be heard. I didn't want to be dismissed as a paranoid mommy.
Dr. Schub could not have been nicer. He listened. He asked questions. He talked to Noah and related to him very well.
He told us that - by his definition - Noah has Aspergers.
We knew that. But I can't explain how great it is that someone with a degree has confirmed that we are not crazy, paranoid parents.
He gave a recommendation for a type of therapy as well as a psychologist and Occupational Therapist who do that type of therapy. We are quite certain we will not be able to afford it, but I have already started researching and I think with a little self teaching it is very doable at home.
Once again God has proven faithful and I am praising him for the blessing of being Noah's Mommy. What an awesome job.
We dropped the other kids off at a friend's house (thanks guys!) and headed out. As we were getting Noah out of the van I looked down and noticed that he was shoeless. Here's where I'd love to say that this was the first time we had gone somewhere and Noah did not remember his shoes, but it's not. We've been shoeless at the pumpkin patch, apple orchard, many restaurants, Walmart .....
So, Kyle scooped him up and off we went.
I was a bit nervous about the appointment. After fighting for so many years to find someone to see him AND accept our insurance, I just wanted to be heard. I didn't want to be dismissed as a paranoid mommy.
Dr. Schub could not have been nicer. He listened. He asked questions. He talked to Noah and related to him very well.
He told us that - by his definition - Noah has Aspergers.
We knew that. But I can't explain how great it is that someone with a degree has confirmed that we are not crazy, paranoid parents.
He gave a recommendation for a type of therapy as well as a psychologist and Occupational Therapist who do that type of therapy. We are quite certain we will not be able to afford it, but I have already started researching and I think with a little self teaching it is very doable at home.
Once again God has proven faithful and I am praising him for the blessing of being Noah's Mommy. What an awesome job.
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