Turn Negatives into Positives

I'm generally a positive-outlook kind of person.  With three babies under three years old, it gets a bit difficult sometimes.  Usually Rick and I get up at 7, I make his lunch, his coffee and get his Plexus ready for him while he gets ready.  This helps him a great deal and shows him that I care about how he starts his day.  The babies usually get up at 8 so I have an hour to wake up and unwind.  Today we woke up late, Rick had missed his train and had 15 minutes before the next one, the babies were all up and crying to get out of their cribs.  Everyone is a bit whiny this morning, can't get their breakfasts fast enough, their babas, stealing toys, wanting "up".  But they look to me to make their day better.  They may have to take turns sitting in Mommy's lap, but a cuddle and a kiss makes everything better.  In the midst of this, Gavin said, "num, num, nummy" for the first time when he got his breakfast.  Aidan grabbed Gavin's hand and brought him to the rug to play for the first time.  Gavin did push him to the ground, but then he grabbed Aidan's hand and walked him around the room.  In the midst of baby chaos are these small moments of joy.  I may have three empty baby books, but I have a calendar full of scribbles of these moments, so someday, when I have an empty nest and I'm feeling down, I can look thru this calendar and remember this time.  What every day negatives can you see your joy peeking thru?

Dog Days of Summer

It's coming around that time to think of school again.  We will be starting our homeschooling this year with pre-school for Aidan and Gavin.  Both are developmentally delayed to about 18 months, so it will be challenging.  Aidan is aging out of the Early Intervention program when he turns three in September, Gavin will continue with Developmental and Speech therapies.  Because of their birthdays, they will be in the same grade, even though they are 10 months apart.

We have decided on the ABC Jesus Loves Me curriculum.  The entire curriculum is listed online for free, but I think it will be easier to have the guide and workbooks rather than print all of the worksheets.  These are available on their site for $30.  The curriculum is actually broken down into weekly lesson plans, listing all of the materials, books, music and nursery rhymes that you will need.  There is a book of the week listed, even linked to Amazon, where you can buy most of them for $4 including shipping.  I'm really excited about this program, I have a hard time being creative with the younger ones.  Homeschooling Gary for high school was much easier for me to come up with lesson plans on my own.

We don't really have many plans for the rest of the summer, just to enjoy the yard, the park and grilling while we can.  How are you getting ready for school?

Getting on the spectrum

I don't know what prompted me to start researching Autism yesterday, but I know it has been in the back of our minds for almost two years.  With as much as you hear about it on Facebook, I was really surprised at the lack of information that is really out there, almost as if it is a mystery.  Aidan is such a happy boy, and I guess that isn't what comes to mind when you think about Autism, at least, not to my mind.  Part of me feels that I should just be grateful for the advances he's made, and that it would be insulting to other parents if I say that it's not enough.  I am grateful, he went from not even sitting up by himself or speaking at 20 months to now running and kicking, saying and signing a handful of words at 34 months.  I love him, and I would love him the same if this handful of words were all he ever knew, but I need to think about his future.  We will be homeschooling, but what if he is still eligible for services thru the school district?  What if he's not able to potty train?  What if he never gives up his bottle?  How do I handle his meltdowns?  His occupational therapist believes that he wouldn't have been able to make the advancements that he has if he were autistic, but I read that the earlier a child receives intervention the better off they are.  Could we have just started at a crucial point in his development?  His developmental therapist said she has wondered about certain characteristics and has even tested him in certain things on her own, and admitted as a mother she would get him checked.  We meet with his speech therapist tomorrow, she is young and the least experienced, but by far the closest to him and has made the most advancements with him.  While I have been doing research (not on WebMD!), I am not sure how far to pursue this.  In a lot of experiences I've read about, parents had a hard time getting a diagnosis for their child.  If I am persistent and demand a diagnosis, what damage am I doing?  Could it be just a developmental delay?  How will I know this if I don't accept that as an answer?  Do I wait months or years like the therapists recommended, or follow the online advice that the earlier the intervention the better?  And if I wait, could it get worse?  Could he regress when therapy ends on his third birthday?  Just about the only thing I do know is that we're not giving up. 

Isaac turns one!

It's hard to say how I'm feeling with my last baby turning one.  Yes, yes, I know I said that the last three babies were going to be the last, that's besides the point.  This one is the last one!  He was the last one to wear the official "coming home" outfit, the last one to outgrow the bassinet, the last one to get his first tooth.  This will be the last first-birthday-party (maybe that is not so bad).  It just brings me to the rest of the "firsts" that I will someday cherish, the first slobbery kiss, first steps, first word.  He is such a happy baby!  Rick and I were just talking about how he looks into your eyes like he is trying to read your mind, I've never seen that before.  And I do have to say, he just adores his mommy, and who could get tired of that?!  They are all special in their own ways, but something about knowing this is the last, it makes you enjoy the smiles more, rocking him to sleep, holding him on your hip.  One thing Benny used to do as a baby was watch his big brother with amazement, like he couldn't wait to see what he does next, and now Isaac does that with his big brothers!  I can't wait to see what God has in store for these boys!

Happy birthday to my Honey!

Just want to wish a happy birthday to a great daddy, wonderful husband, and my best friend!  Today is his first day back at work after our staycation, so glad he is working from home today so that we could spend more time together, I love you!!

Time for an Update!

So after much complaining from my other half about how lacking my blog is, here I am.  Mind you, this comes from someone who has no blog of his own, who has been offered guest spots on MY blog to write HIS views on our family, but nooooo, so here I am.

Aidan is making so many awesome improvements lately, he is really showing that he is understanding the things we are saying to him, using some sign language and even using the words he knows in context (more, Daddy, Mom).  Here he is with my straw-cup, so proud of himself that he's able to get slurps of water, before completely refusing to use anything other than his "baba".

Gavin is his same, silly self.  While he is leading the way in development, he has quite the case of middle-child syndrome!  He is pretty much always happy, just like his brothers, loves to make you smile, loves to be held and cuddled!  He is catching on to some signs, as well!  Here he is in the swing set, totally loving it!

And then there's Isaac!  There is no doubt he will forever be the baby, especially being so dinky!  He just popped his two front bottom teeth, is loving baby food, and take a peek, he feels like such a big boy sitting up now!

He truly enjoys watching his brothers playing, I know he will have a ball with them soon!

Rick recently got promoted to Lead Automation Test Engineer, he couldn't be happier!  He has worked really hard, and I'm so glad he has a job he truly enjoys.  He has been with the company since the day before Aidan was born (and it was totally awkward calling and asking for time off because our baby was 6 weeks early but they were totally supportive, especially hearing that we got married from my hospital bed before he was born).  It has been a really positive experience for him, starting as a consultant and working his way up.  I'm so proud of him!  

Rick and I have finally decided that it's time to change our diets and get healthy.  We started 7 weeks ago, I'm down 15lbs and he is down 31lbs.  It has been awesome having someone to commiserate with, share our triumphs and our frustrations.  I love having someone who totally understands my plight and will cheer me on!  I honestly don't think I would have come this far without him by my side, but it has been so exciting checking the scale each day and marking our progress together (I know you're not supposed to check every day but, control-freaks?)  

What have I been up to?  It feels so strange writing about me.  I've been working my businesses, working with Aidan's therapists and trying to enjoy the babies as much as possible.  I have been working really hard on my chores (ok, sometimes I work semi-hard) but I'm improving.  For those of you who know me, you will never believe it, but I've been cooking!  I'm actually enjoying it, having dinner ready for Rick when he gets home, having something healthy for the babies to eat besides canned vegetables, I've even been experimenting with spices and seasonings.  I think I've been enjoying it because I don't cook the same things as Rick so I don't feel like I have to compare.  His food is scrumptious and fattening and mine is tasty and healthy.  I went to an estate sale today and actually bought cook books.  Ok, so that is not unlike me, but I actually opened them and looked for recipes this time!  I'm trying my hand at gardening, as well.  I have daffodils, pansies, tomatoes, sweet peppers, onions and potatoes.  I really wasn't anticipating being in so much pain after getting the beds ready!

What have you been up to?

I Just Want to Pee Alone Giveaway!

Funny Postpartum Lady is doing a giveaway for the book here, and  I WANT IT!!

Read the Amazon reviews here, it sounds hilarious!