Sunday, August 26, 2012

An Outing to the Zoo

Yesterday, we decided to take the kids to the zoo. I do not know where my brains were as I should have known that Saturday may be packed.
It took us awhile to get there as we had a couple stops to make and Braxton was getting a bit upset.  He hates 'waiting' and traffic. As we neared the zoo, the traffic was awful and finding a place to park was difficult. Braxton was screaming in the front seat. Paul let us out to find a parking place and he finally got with us 1/2 hour later. We encountered many stares while Braxton continued his screams. You know, it is hard to understand a person throwing fits like this when they are almost 5'7 and 135 pounds. At nasty stares I smiled sweetly and said "This is what autism looks like."  I should have packed my autism business cards to educate.

We let the kids ride the merry go round 3 times, which calmed Braxton and Sarita really enjoyed it also.  Both kids have sensory issues on certain loud noises and both would cover their ears when the whistle sounded to start the ride .  After this ride, Paul took braxton to restroom to put his shorts on him frontwards:) We then headed to the play area where Braxton enjoyed numerous rides down the slide and Sarita mainly climbed on things.  Braxton did not want to go see animals, etc. Since paul had been at the zoo not long ago, he stayed with Braxton while I saw a few things. We went to the aquarium and views aquatic animals and the red foxes. We spent about 1 1/2 hours before returning to Paul. We then left the zoo and on the way home stopped and got ice cream cones.  Even though the day was stressful at the start, it turned out to be fun.  The kids were surely tired. We had one more incident before bed time. We heard Sarita crying and Braxton came into our room with a big grin. He said "Sister", and then it turned out that Braxton had peed on her. She was already on the toilet when he had to go potty. He has a problem waiting. That is the toilet he uses in the house. I then told him "Pee goes in the toilet. If sissy is here, use momma's toilet."  Hopefully, he will make the connection. My children went to sleep early and I was one grateful mom:)



Thursday, August 23, 2012

I really think my kids are bored

Well..Have a great morning all..I am off to bed for a bit. At 2AM, I felt this body wedging its way on my bed between Paul & I..when a shoulder pushed me onto the floor..I decided I may as well get up for awhile....ugh the cinnamon mess is still waiting for me:)
well..so much for my sleep. my daughter could not find her sub sandwich and went after her brother with a knife..then she was mad at the dog and was trying to squish her...she has not been sleeping much for about the last week and reminds me of the energizer bunny which is constantly moving. ..last night I was watching America's Got Talent" and I made the mistake of saying I liked someone's singing and for 1/2 hour, I put up with crying and sulking with words like "You mean you like them more than me?, I just can't do anything good, You don't love me, why don't you like me singing? and on and on and on and on..Of course, no matter what I answered, it was not right. Then she was on our bed and I had my arm up and she hit her eye on my elbow and of course it was "Why did you hit me?"
This too shall pass. Later on today, we are going to the park for a picnic and some fun..Talk to you later..

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

OHHHHHH THE SMELL!

Excuse me while I sit here in the corner flapping my hands and zone out..my children decided a water fight would be fun in Braxton's room. Then after the floors were wet, they decided that my huge jug of cinnamon would be a cool touch.....Now, I do know it is the girl's fault for sure as she gets things started. Braxton is in there now trying to mop up the goo with the mop and is wetting it in the toilet..When this fine mess finally dries up, Paul will bring the shop vac into the house to clean it. At this moment, I have a few things in which I am grateful: things to be grateful for : I am too tired to care right now, my kids have some unusual ways to entertain themselves, school will be starting soon and I am so glad I bought that easy to care for rubber flooring. Now, I will say goodnight and hopefully, I can find a tranquilizer for when it really hits me..oh I forgot: I need to also take an allergy pill..the cinnamon smell is horrid..

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

School, please start early

Well, things have been busy in our house. The kids seem to spend a lot of time fighting each other.  Hubby spends time at the doctors and I have been adding some hours for work.

Hemotologist says if hubby's white blood count and platelets don't get better, he wants to do a bone marrow test. When hubby tells me, I reply "With what I have heard, you will not look forward to it."  I am very worried about him because since his liver transplant, he is still very tired and just not up to par. He is now on B12 injections again. Renal doctor had him see the nutritionist . He is on prescription potassium and eats tons of bananas and still his levels are low.  In my mind, I think the Crohn's has a lot to do with it as he just poops everything out within 20 minutes after eating.  His attitude is still the same, which is good. He is still a smart aleck and still makes his usual very dry remarks, that can leave you scratching your head :)

My daughter has been experiencing her usual mood swings and beats up her brother. Man, for a 7 yr old, she packs a punch! He is bigger then me and is constantly screams 'Help mommy!" She still ignores us when we ask her to pick up her things and constantly wants to go back to acting like a baby.  When her brother gets into her things and she gets mad and screams at him, then tattles to me, my reply is "Well honey, you do not like it, do you." Tearfully, she replies "No."  I end it with a sympathetic hug and say "That is the way mommy and daddy feel when you get into our things and take them."
Last night, I heard her up and not sure what time she crawled into bed.    
I was awake around 1:00AM this morning as my son was up and getting into everything. He usually sleeps peacefully when he takes his Melatonin and so I wonder if his staying awake had something to do with the Vitamin D3 I started him on. I know it gives me energy.  I read an article on D3 and Autism and how studies indicate it is good for cognition and a host of other ailments.  Here is the link about it:


 http://blog.vitamindcouncil.org/2012/08/17/study-high-antibodies-low-vitamin-d-levels-in-autistic-children/

Now, when I got up finally at 2:30AM this morning, because I could no longer sleep, I went into the kitchen and noticed poop on the floor leading to our room. Well, I gotta tell you, just by looking at it, I knew it belonged to my sweet daughter.  She has done this before when upset with her brother and then blames him. There is something though about us moms, they don't realize : We usually know our kid's poop!    Sure enough this morning, she blamed him..

So far, aside for me being a bit tired, my morning is ok. At least the kids are not fighting. Hubby is at the renal doctor. My daughter wanted to make a cake and got out the cake mix and did it all by herself. After pouring the batter into the cake pan, she asked em to put it in oven for her. I noticed a small bit of batter still in the bowl and she informed me it was 'the frosting'.  I asked if she remembered to grease the pan and when she told me no, I told her it was ok, we can deal with that.:)  Cake gets done and she dishes some up for her and brother. I told her I had to have at least 1 taste of it, She looked so proud as I tasted it. I told her what a great cook she was and how proud I am of her learning these things. It was really good:)  Anyway, it was much better than her first concoction this morning of milk, p nut butter, a load of cinnamon, a ton of sugar and sliced apples all nuked in a bowl.  Of course, the mess she made and promised to clean up, is still waiting for me.

Right now, she is doing some art work in an area I have told her not to use and is happy as a clam. I bet she does not clean it up, so it will end up in a bag and going bye bye for awhile.

I need to get back to my work of scrubbing my son's room and trying to wade through her room.  We are moving things around in our home. She is moving into a bigger bedroom that hubby has been using for an office. I am having my own bedroom in her room and hubby is moving his office to our master suite, where he will have plenty of room.  After all this is done, the kids will no longer be able to go into our now bedroom and get into things and they won't be able to go through my things and get on my computer.  Lots of things that have no use and extra clutter things are leaving our home.  My daughter was upset about some of her things having to leave. I finally told her that I know it is hard for her to pick up so many things so, we are going to make it more manageable for her. She seemed OK with that.......until next time, have a great day.



Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Mom Has Meltdown

Autism Mom Has Meltdown! Please excuse me while I rant. I have posted a few times of the never ending battle of my son's room. I clean and by the end of the day, it looks like tornado alley.  I just got in there again. Lately, his thing is to bring garbage bags into his room. That are full of course. I was not ok about it until today though.  he brought a bag that he had hidden in his room into the kitchen and when I saw my floor crawling with maggots..it was last straw. I worked most of today cleaning my kitchen. Tonight I went into his room and got laundry. The more stuff I found, the madder I got. I was tired of shuffling through trying to save books, dishes and DVD's. I swept everything into a pile and it is now in a trash bag which will be hidden so hubby can dispose of it.  I know it is going to be a battle, but he is going to have to earn his tv, etc. I should have done it long ago, but did not know where to start.  If anyone has any ideas, please chime in. If you are going to place shame, etc. on me, do not answer this post as I am not in the mood.  I wish ABA was more available so I can see how iot is done...Thanks for now

Monday, August 6, 2012

Where Is That Yellow Bus?

Oh mercy. I can hardly wait to see that little yellow bus stopping at my house. Actually two of them. I believe the children are bored and need to go back to school.
The past couple of days have had the stormy weather here at our house. Of course to add to it, the heat has been so hot and muggy..even makes parents grumpy.
My autistic son continues to trash his room daily. In anticipation of going to recycle with daddy, the new trash bags disappear very fast and then I find them in his room. Thank goodness he does not empty them in there, which would add to the massive mounds of trash already on his floor.  Yesterday, it was 97 and he was dressed in fuzzy sweats and a sweatshirt!   And this morning at 5AM, I found him in the bathroom, with the sink overflowing because he had taken 8 bottles of craft paint and dumped them down the drain. I, in turn , was a bit ticked at my dear daughter, who once again failed to put them away.
My daughter has been fairly good lately, outside her usual refusal to listen to instruction, mouthing off and defiance.  When she is upbeat, she plans things and of course orchestrates all activities in the house.
My hope and prayer is to find ways to channel the wonderful talents she has to give her confidence and have positive experiences.  I have an appointment with mental health to talk about the evaluation.
Today, finds my husband out of bed a bit more and he seems to be feeling a bit better:)


Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Nice Ending to The Storms


I wish I could have recorded the scene tonight with Braxton. He had thrown a cup of mine and broke it, so I took his remote away. After a bit I asked him if he wanted it back and sweetly he said "Yes." Then I told him he needed to say he was sorry. He looked a moment and then started to say it. "I" came out pretty calm, but at 'sorry'..he raised his neck and contorted his face and screamed "Sorry", so loud that I thought he would surely have throat strain.  I told him "Braxton, you need to say it nicely."  So, for the next few minutes he cried and carried on searching for the remote. After several minutes I asked "Are you sorry?"    "Yes", he answered softly and sweetly.  "Are you going to say you are sorry?"    Again he thought about it taking it all in and then stuck his head up and shortly and curtly said "Nope."  I thought to myself "Darn, he is like his mom."    I still waited and then finally I heard a nice "Sorry mommy."  and that got him his remote back. Then he took it outside and threw it :0   He found it and has remained calm.
It is interesting to watch him develop a personality..
On a side note about my daughter. She profusely apologized made her own decision about her consequence, not without begging me to do a consequence later. We watched a movie together and it was pleasant.

Emotional Winds & Autism Winds Collide

Since yesterday, our home has been in one chaotic mess. I am inclined to say that the two children are bored and school needs to start..yesterday:)
Yesterday, my daughter insisted on my continuing undivided attention she seeks. I had some work for work to finish and told her I would be with her in a few moments.     Hubby had just got back from getting Braxton's bike fixed and Braxton was riding around.
Sarita came in saying "Mom, Braxton was riding too close to your car and scratched it."  "Oh no', as I went to see. I took one look at 4 scratches and asked her why she did this and of course got the usual denials. Scratches on top of the trunk going up and down were not made from a bike. Miraculously, she found the 'assault' weapon..a small piece of wire.  Per the usual final confession, she started out with "If you would have....the car would not get scratched."
Beings I am the mom, I told her she needed to take the responsibility for what she does.  I was not going to punish her at that moment because I needed to think and be able to be rational  with her and for several months, I have been trying to only say what I mean.
For several minutes, I remained curt to her and spoke very little. I went to face book and posted "I am so pissed and not at hubby."
Finally, I said to her "There are consequences for what you did and you are going to pick which one out of these two...."      There are 2 events coming up in which Sarita has been looking forward to attending..so, she has her choice out of the 2 of them.    She chose the latter event, no doubt thinking I will forget about it..but I will not forget.
I told her we needed to bring up the car incident to her therapist, in which she asked me not to as it will embarrass her...I sat down with her and put her on my lap and said "Honey, I understand how you feel. When we act out without thinking and do dumb things, then we run the risk of being embarrassed by others finding out...I hope you learn a lesson from this."
I reminded her of how very much I love her, but was hurt by her actions.

Today, some drama continued in the house as both kids were fighting and screaming. my aching head..Sarita screaming and crying..Braxton crying and mad at Sarita..both kids tugging on me and so I am sitting here zoning out while Sarita is pulling on me to tell me where she got hit and Braxton is picking up all his dvd's that she has thrown on the floor..yes, this too shall pass!..
I finally got the storms calmed by inviting the kids to help me make some cookies....Hopefully, the rest of the day will be calmer


The black berries on the surface of the bushes seem very small and not very good to me (on the left) , but I then started looking down deep under the bushes and came up with the gems on the right. This reminds me of people and the fact that some do not seem very good on the surface, if we peel away the layers and look deeper, we will usually find something good and positive.