No....he's not spoiled...and mind your own biz.....

So as a special needs mom, it's progress in the little things that most parents take for granted that is so awesome for me.

I have to brag on my boys for a minute.  YESSIREE!

Yesterday morning I sprinted into our bedroom to change the channel from cartoons because this mama had reached her limit of Dora and I'd rather watch something a little more entertaining while folding laundry.  So...as I take off, SE follows.  I get into the room and manually change the channel on the receiver.  The screen goes black and the only thing that is visible are the show titles on the top.  I'm scanning channels and I pass the Disney channels.  Right after that (screen is still black) SE says, "I want watch Mickey". 

SAY WHAT?!?!  Did he just READ that?!?!  Yes he did.  Second time he's read something out of the blue.  I was amazed.  So I decided to start him on some sight words.  So far he's got about 10 random words, plus his name down!  Did I mention he *just* turned 4 last month?!?!

And C, aka master of disaster.  Well, we got a really good report from KU.  We're (me and C) are rocking the socks off this study!  C's joint attention was rapidly getting better before the study started, but now that we're really focusing on it....watch out!  Still have to work on some things, but he's definitely attending to us more.

Now, let's talk about a delicate subject.

I got a comment yesterday that SE was "spoiled" because he has his own iPad now.  Big shout out to GiGi (my mom) for getting this for our boys.  Thank you!!!!! Thank you!!!!! Thank you!!!!!!!  Now...we don't have the problem of them fighting over the one we previously had because we have 2.  But I digress, and to address the first comment....no, SE is NOT spoiled.  He did not get the iPad because he asked for it.  He got it because it's a valuable tool in his learning arsenal.  It helps him learn things, focus, helps facilitate turn taking easier and it keeps him calm.

 

 

He uses the iPad at school and in other therapies he has throughout the week.  Why wouldn't we want to give him accessibility to that at home??

 

iPads are great learning tools for kids on the  Autism spectrum.  Some individuals even use an app called Proloquo to functionally communicate!!!!  Unfortunately some families cannot afford to get even one, let alone two for the child/children on the Autism spectrum.  Grants are available, but insurance doesn't cover them for reasons I can understand, like some parents would just look at it as a free iPad!  Sad, because that is at their children's expense.

 

 

 

Here's another good one I got on Wednesday. "Wow, your boys don't look Autistic".

 

Um, last time I checked Autism didn't have a "look".  And even if it did, WHO SAYS SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!?!?!

 

Seriously, some people need to just stop and evaluate what crap is about to come out of their mouths before they release it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So....onto fitness quest 2013.  I've started a new workout program, the Jamie Eason Live Fit Trainer.  It's a step up from what I've been doing.  I'm desperately trying to add some muscle in an attempt to get those awesome Jillian Michaels tank top arms...

 

 

And the flat abs would be nice too, but hey.....she has n't birthed any kids (especially the 9lb 1oz toddler I pushed out the last time) and her body is her business so she's really good at keeping it lookin' good. 

 

More muscle will also help my craptastically slow metabolism.  BUT...when you add muscle you have to take in enough calories to build it.  Now, we all know there are good calories and bad calories and doing it the right way is tough.  I like food.  No, I really LOVE food.  So I'm trying to make healthier choices while eating a bit more than I'm used to.  3 more weeks of that and I'll be ready to cut the calories back down and add some serious cardio back in!  One more week of no cardio (except the classes I teach).

 

 

Slowly but surely I'll get there.  I can't wait to get back to doing some cardio though.  I miss it.  I will admit lifting heavy is super fun though.  I love that feeling of not being able to raise my arms in the shower because I worked them so hard!  LOVE IT!  My goal was to have great arms in my tank tops this summer and I'm on my way there.  I'm planning to bring up my abs and legs too.  Not too concerned with the scale anymore because like I'm always telling people.....muscle is heavier than fat.  I'll also add that fat is bigger than muscle.  That's why you can weigh more and be a smaller size! 

 

 

 

 

SEE?!?!?!?!?!?

 

This is precisely why I'm not a big fan of the scale or BMI measurements.  Body fat % is (in my opinion) a better way to gauge fitness.  That, and the way your clothes fit.....which needs to change in my case.  My jeans are getting tight and that is NOT cool.  I need to change the way I eat.  And not doing any cardio ain't helping.  1 more week, I can do it!  Then back to lifting and cardio!  WOOT!  I'm thinking some tabata will work really well for cardio after lifting.  Like 20 min of it should do the trick.

 

So...in an effort to get into a 3rd career in the last 7 years.....I'm taking my personal training exam in late June...or maybe early...depending on how much studying I can get done.  The tentative plan is to take the exam, and possibly get a client at the Y I work at and maybe a couple at a different facility if all the insurance stuff can get worked out and the boys can go to the new Autism center I toured a couple weeks ago.  I love our home therapists, but the boys, especially SE, will just do better in a more structured school like environment.  And Lord knows I can't just drive back home after dropping them off....it's 17 miles (one way) away.  So it would benefit all of us for me to find a job around there.  

 

And here's a funny I thought was just SO appropriate for me and my household.  My boys have NO concept of putting something away when they are done with it.  Although, I've been assured this is common in the 2-4 year world.  LOL. 

 

 

That's it for now!!  Tomorrow holds a lot for this mama.  Warrior Dash in the morning and Wonderscope children's museum sensory friendly night in the evening. I'm just hoping this doesn't end up being one of those Autism events where people don't supervise their older kids and expect other parents to just deal with it and accept it because they have Autism and the parents want a break.  UGH.  Don't even get me started about the waterpark.....at any rate we're going!   Should be a fun day!!!

 

 

love,

Supermama rosie

 

 



 









The hits keep coming....but here we stand.

Well, the week started off great....then 'dun, dun, daaaaaaa'....the stomach flu got us.  I find it funny they call it the stomach flu, when it really has nothing to do with influenza at all.  Let's think for a moment how we actually get a stomach bug.

Ugh.  The dreaded NOROVIRUS...a family of nasty little viral gastroenteritis buggies.  Spread by....fecal/oral route.  Nastiness.  Also spread by touching contaminated surfaces, then that little germie germ makes it into your system.  The nasty little buggers spread like wildfire.  Washing hands is the best defense, but when your 2 1/2 year old is barfing all over, you might just not catch every germ.  Especially when he pukes ON you.  C went down with it Wednesday...

And then he felt fine on Friday!  I thought we were in the clear.  I took C with me to pick up my race packet in Overland Park for the Rock the Parkway half marathon.  While down in that area...hmmmm, Leawood, and more importantly Lululemon and Trader Joe's is just around the corner!!! 

Shall we go???  LET'S!!

Nothing good in Lulu, since they've taken all the black wunder unders and wunder under crops out of stock because apparently booties were visible while bending over.  Not cool.

So onto Trader Joe's.  I believe I called it Snooty McSnootville.  No lie, some of the people that shop there are totally rude and snooty.  The people that work there on the other hand are so nice!  And I don't think I'm wrong in this...a friend of mine had the exact same sentiments. ;-)

I got my pizza sauce, various canned goods and some beautiful flowers that were on sale.  Hello?  $5.99 for 14 roses?!?!  Sold.

 

So there I was, driving home on 435 minding my own business when my stomach started talkin' to me.  Pain....like I'd never felt before.  And nausea, oh my word...the nausea.  I had to turn the A/C down to 62 degrees and blast it on me so I could continue driving.  I looked to my right to see if I had a bag to puke into...viola..my Lululemon reusable bag that usually holds diapers for the car.  Yep.....65 mph and I'm barfing into a bag.  I finally pulled over and finished. 

That night it got SO much worse.  I've never experienced a stomach bug on a level like this.  GROSS!  It was to the point where I looked at Shaun J and told him..."We have to go to the hospital".  We went, I got an IV in, with an open flow of saline and some Zofran (thank the Lord) and then something for the stomach cramps, then Dilaudid for the pain. 

Sidenote---How are people addicted to Dilaudid?!?!?!?  I felt so horrible.  Yeah, it took the pain away, but I felt so weird.  Like I just wanted to sleep. 

Oh and while I was going through all this, I told Shaun J to go home and what happens on the way home?  SE pukes in the car.  It's got him too!

 

 

Needless to say...the Suburban now smells like puke even with multiple cleanings of SE's seat or maybe it's just burned into my olfactory senses?!?! Shaun J came down with it Saturday morning.  Yep, ran through the whole family.  And with all the people that come into our house on a daily basis....I've been disinfecting like a mother!

 

So obviously I was unable to run my half marathon.  BOO. But I'll run one....someday. LOL.

 

 

So thanks to Autism Speaks KC, we went to the Kansas City Zoo for FREE!!  I took the boys by myself since Shaun J was 1. still recovering and 2. had school work to finish.  Here are some of my thoughts on the zoo and yes, I was/am a little judgey mcjudge face....but I have a point right??

 



 

 

 



Yes, I talk fast.  Not auctioneer fast, just fast.  Not fast like that girl that was Vanessa's friend on The Cosby Show, just faster than some people.  LOL.

Here are some other shots from the zoo.  We had fun, really.

 

SE watching the Polar Bears

 

Yes, Orangey was in attendance

 

 

I don't even remember what animal this is, but it was cute.

 

Winding down

 

Another sidenote: How in the world could someone have a chimp as a pet and not expect it to at some time maul their face or a face of someone else...completely off?!?!?!  Those things are big!  And strong looking!!  Just a thought from the chimp exhibit today.

Okay that's it for now.  I really need to hit the hay.  I promised myself that I would start
Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer after my half marathon.  And even though I didn't complete the run due to unforseen circumstances.....I will start and finish this program.  Even though it will consist of my waking up at 4:45am to make it to the gym by 5am to get done by 6am.  UGH!  Oh well, I will have those Jillian Michael's tank top arms by June baby!!

Also today, after mowing the front and back yard (I already told Shaun J that when his PhD program is over I'm never touching another yard appliance again....mower, weed whacker...none of it!) I decided to yank out 3 ugly as sin perennials that were by our stairs, and to not make it look horrid, I had to rake all the old mulch out and replace it with nice pretty new mulch.  Not bad for a day's work right?!?!?!

Purdy, huh?!?!?!?!

I also was the bestest mom in the whole wide world and took out SE's truck.  It's the small black F-150. LOL.

 

This was before he 4 wheeled it into the yard and ran over a bush. LOL.

Ah well, I must get to bed now.  Adios amigos!!

love,

Supermama rosie

How appropriate..Autism Awareness month, the real deal.....

So let's make some people AWARE.  Really what needs to happen is two things in my opinion.  1.  People in general just need to be more compassionate and empathetic to special needs people/families and 2.  We need ANSWERS.  The statistics are alarming.....to those of us who care and actually know about it.  Hello....1 in 50 now!

Unfortunately for most people, Autism is a far off disorder for them.  They may know a family with a kid that has Autism, or they might have seen Rain Man or something like that.  That not only gives people a false impression about what it's really like to live with an individual with Autism, but creates those stupid stereotypes that all people on the Autism spectrum have these "super brain powers" that can help others win money or something.  Let me tell you, if SE and C were giving up the lotto numbers, we'd have won that 550 million Mega Millions jackpot a couple months back. :)


So let me tell you what it's really like and why (before people jump to judgement that my children are misbehaved and spoiled) my kiddos act the way they do.

Every kid on the spectrum is different, even my two are complete opposites almost.  SE is a people pleaser and looks for approval upon completion of a task and C couldn't care less if you thought he did well or not.  C is much more advanced verbally than SE.  SE follows directions quite well.  C....doesn't.  Both have, in essence, hit their terrible twos a little late and everything that has been coming out of their mouths is....NO! 

SE also is very opinionated and likes things to go his way (like most 4 year olds), the only problem is his coping mechanisms for not getting his way are: shrieking at the top of his lungs, laying down on the ground, crying and requesting hugs, and not completing the task.  The screaming is the WORST.  It is blood curdling.  I think he could wake the dead with those screams.  In addition, every time he pulls out one of these banshee like yells, C screams and covers his ears because it's too much for him to handle.  Lovely.

Friday was just a crap day ALL DAY LONG. 

It started out with SE screaming his way through therapy.  I know he doesn't want to work at home, I feel like I'm torturing him everyday.  I've come to the conclusion he's just not a home based therapy kid.  While it's convenient for me, it's not working for him.  So, I have an appointment next week to check out a new center that's about 20 min away from our house.  Only caveat....they don't accept our insurance.  The good news is that they are going to start the process to be able to bill our insurance.  Bad news is that we have Tricare, which involves the government, which means it will take 2x as long as it should.  BLAH!

After the whole therapy ordeal, SE went to school and I took C with me to the bank and Lowe's.  He helped me pick out a bird feeder and I got the necessary parts to fix our leaky kitchen faucet (since I can't seem to be able to remove the existing one to replace it...a whole other story).  Then we went to Sam's where I needed to buy diapers for the boys....and they didn't have the size I needed. Sidenote:  yes, SE still wears diapers.  He's actually afraid to even go into public restrooms and forcing him to do so will cause a meltdown of epic proportions.  So the potty training process will go slowly for him, but I'm convinced he won't walk across the stage of his high school graduation wearing one. :)

Decided to get a haircut for C...nightmare.  We went into one salon here in town (the one by the grocery store, for those that live where I live) and SE screamed.  Even when I tried to bribe him with candy.  Everyone stared at us, but no one said ANYTHING.  A girl walked in a couple minutes after us and they immediately helped her.  Needless to say...I was pissed.  So I took both boys out, buckled them back into their carseats and went 1000ft over to Cost Cutters.  So much for supporting the small local businesses in my town.  And yes, I did write a horrible review on Yelp for the first place. 
 
SE screamed again as we went in, but the candy did help.  C, on the other hand was like...."uh, what's up with this?!?!"  I gave him a sucker, but that wasn't helping.  I sat him on my lap and he screamed, squirmed, cried and wiggled though the whole thing.  The stylist was very understanding though, which was good, but didn't make me feel any better.  SE kept asking me for hugs because he was hearing C cry so much.  Couldn't help him out there, which made him upset.  Finally finished the haircut and the total was $11.50 with tax.  I tipped her $10 because I felt so bad.

Then we went to the grocery store because I needed some last minute stuff for dinner.  Told SE about 5 times before we parked, but as soon as we did, he started kicking the seat.  UGH.  So while holding C, I dragged SE to the door, because you can't leave your kids in the car anymore like our parents used to do to us.  I promised SE a donut as a bribe to keep him moving and happy.  What does he do right after we walk in??  Lays down and screams.  Awesome.  So after 5 min or so of working with him to get up we make it to the bakery.  He's all hunky dory because he got half a donut.  C is also a happy camper, eating his half and riding in the cart.  So...I'm searching for natural cheetos, SE's fav.  No, he will not eat regular cheetos, crunchy or puffy, he will also not eat baked cheetos.  As I'm looking, SE is getting anxious.  I tell him we will be done soon and that sets him into a meltdown, right in the middle of the aisle.  Sigh.  People stare.  Usually I can brush off the dirty looks, but today....I'd just had enough.  I try to hold back the tears.  We get to the checkout and SE is still acting cranky and there is an aisle open.  But the girl working there won't meet my gaze.  So I go into the next lane.  After I finish loading my groceries onto the belt of the next lane, the girl who wouldn't look at me asks the person that came up behind me if he was ready to check out.  WHAT?!?!?!?!  Hello....... last straw.  The guy that ignoring checker (that's her new name) called over decides he's forgotten something, so he turns back into the store.  I look at the girl and say, "Oh, you're open now"?  She says, "Oh yeah, I'm open, I can help you right here".  So what do you think I say?

"Oh, you can help me now?  Funny how you were unavailable when I was loading all these freaking groceries onto the belt over here.  But NOW you can help.......whatever".

Now I know that was wrong.  But in my defense, I was frazzled.  I had reached my breaking point.  I checked out, took the boys to the car and here's what happened:

 

Yeah, I know my hair looks crazy and everything but.....that was me in the moment.  A honest moment.  Something most people never see from me or other special needs parents because we're so good at hiding it.

 

 

Now, these days don't happen all the time.  Maybe once every 4 months or so.  But they DO happen. 

 

And here's what I want.  I don't want sympathy.  I'm not throwing a pity party.  I want people to have EMPATHY.

 

 --the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner

 

                                                                                                            --courtesy of merriam-webster

 

I want people to NOT JUDGE parents when their kids are having some issues in public.  And that goes for special needs AND typical kids.  Yes, we have to discipline our children, but they're still just children.

 

And most of all......I want the medical world to accept that Autism is an EPIDEMIC and we need to find out why now 1 out of 50 children in America are diagnosed with it.  I want the government, big Ag and big Pharma to put our health first and money second.  Crazy, I know.  Like that will ever happen, but it's a hope! 

 

So that's all I have for right now.  Saturday and today were AWESOME days for both boys.  We got some park time in and had a lot of fun! 

 

 

 

 

 

I absolutely adore my children.  They have strengthened my faith, increased my patience and most of all expanded my heart.  They are my world.  I thank God everyday for my family.

 

 

 

 

love,

 

Supermama rosie

 



Spring Break Adventures!

Ah....Spring Break.  The sun, the sand....wait, what am I talking about??  The SNOW, the road closures, the driving through blinding snow with zero visiblity, the tours through the small towns of Lamar, Las Animas, La Junta and Rocky Ford and the 18 hour trip total (twice the amount of time it should have taken).  Did I mention SNOW and ZERO VISIBILITY?!?!?!

 

 

 

 

Okay, so it was pretty craptastic driving through that mess.  I'm talking stuff like, "Am I still on the road"?  I actually asked the hubs that a couple times.  Thank goodness the boys were sleeping, I don't think I would have stayed sane with a trip through western Colorado paired with hearing Thomas the Train saying...'Fenders and Fireboxes'!

 

 

The smiles on the boys' faces and Gamaa and Papa's were totally awesome when we finally arrived!

 

 

The week was a whirlwind!  And I didn't even really get to see most of my friends!  But....we, all 4 of us, had a lot of fun. 

 

Monday: Went to see SE's old speech therapist.  What we thought would be a fun reunion was marred by SE's relentless resistance to actually go in the building.  The source of the contention you ask?  A playground outside.  Playgrounds or Papa Golfs and we call them now....are his most favorite thing in the world.  And being a kid on the Autism spectrum, he doesn't get over stuff like this easily.  Luckily, Pam was awesome (since she works with kids like SE and C all the time) and he came around and showed off some speech skills.  Last time Pam saw SE she was working on vowel sounds...not even words with him.  Now he has a large somewhat functional vocabulary.  C was just happy to play with all the toys and as we told Pam of C's diagnosis I could almost see the heartbreak in her eyes.  Yep, it's tough..but with the help of early interventions I'm sure both my boys with go far.

 

After the speech reunion we went to see another friend who works at a newly built Autism center.  Now, when we lived in CO, SE was diagnosed 1 1/2 months before we PCS'd.  So I didn't even have a chance to look for a center.  But I tell you what, if we ever got stationed there again, both boys would go there.  And the best part??  They only take Tricare (military health insurance) AND they work in conjunction with the Wounded Warriors and other military services to offer some awesome other programs.  One they provide...support groups for parents!  Um.....THAT'S AMAZEBALLS!!!!!  While I have friends here with kiddos in my situation, I have yet to meet any other military spouses with younger kids with Autism.  And while I know many fantastic moms here in KC, dealing with having a special needs kid with the military is a special situation and there are many intricacies that are unique to Tricare/military life.  It would be nice to have someone to talk to on that level.

 

 

This is me and and the boys at Colorado Autism Center with Lee Anne, a family friend of many years (the hubs has known her they were in 6th grade!), one of the great people that love our kids for the unique individuals they are and helps them to develop into the great people they can be!  C and SE were totally loving the center's gross motor room.

 

 

 

Tuesday: My mom and I went up to Denver.  I absolutely had to go to IKEA and my mom wanted to check out the Charming Charlie up there. (Sidenote: Colorado Springs really needs a Charming Charlie).  We had lunch at IKEA...no, not the meatballs...they looked a little dry.  I got some more of my dinnerware (light blue and lovely), some chairs for the boys' therapy room and some misc stuff.  Then we headed to Charming Charlie and then to Park Meadows.

 

 

Let's talk about trying on ridiculously priced hats in Nordstrom's.  Yes.We.Did.  And we looked fabulous doing it.

 

Wednesday: Build a Bear day.  Autism Speaks teamed up with Build a Bear for an Autism Awareness Bear.  All was well until we walked into the mall on the wrong side......the indoor Papa Golf was RIGHT THERE!  UGH!!!!  We should have checked the location before we went.  Poor planning on our part.  Needless to say....that set the tone and the hubs had to wait outside the store with SE while C, Gamaa and I made 5 bears.

 

 

How cute are these little guys?!?!?!  A portion of the proceeds go to Autism Speaks!  WOOT!

 

 

Thursday: Went to lunch with my mom at Uwe's German restaurant for some wiener schnitzel, fried potatoes and veggies.  YUM!  And that evening we went to dinner with our good friends Vince and Amber. (Why is everything revolving around food??? LOL) Vince is in law enforcement and Amber, well....she's one of the most courageous, loving, inspirational women I know.  Without divulging her whole health history to the public, I'll just say that she's a cancer survivor who has also battled some pretty serious other health issues, yet every single time we are together you'd never even be able to tell all the trials she's been through.  I'm a better woman for knowing her. :) 

And I would have taken a photo, but I forgot....if you can believe it.  We were too busy talking, eating and laughing!

 

Friday: 2nd Amendment Day for the Os!  We headed to Sportsman's Warehouse to pick up some ear protection for myself, mother in law and the boys.  I also got a new Mossy Oak hat.

As we went further back in the store I saw some freaky stuff. 1.  The sign that said 'Gun line starts here' at the end of the counter with a fence like rope separating the merchandise floor from the gun cases...never seen that before! 2. The absolute lack of selection in handguns or really any gun for that matter.  Wow.  And 3. The ammunition shortage.  I thought it was bad at Specialty Sports the previous day, but holy cow it was bad at Sportsman's too!  And the sad thing is, it's like that everywhere!

 

Empty ammo shelves.

Then it was up to my in laws' cabin for a short time, then off to the "range".  We went to a place in the National forest that had obviously been used as a range before, as people had left plenty of casings around.  UGH!!!  Nothing drives me crazier than people that don't leave things as they found them.  BTW-we cleaned up all of our casings.  C was still napping when we started shooting (kid can sleep through a F-22 Raptor at an airshow, what's a couple rounds fired?) and my mother in law and I took turns watching SE who loved sitting in the driver's seat of Papa's truck pretending to drive.

When C woke up, we put his ear pro on and sat him in the stroller.  How redneck is that?!?!   "Here, watch my baby while I shoot this .45"!  LOL.  But he was safe and we had fun.



 

 

Saturday: Goodbyes to Gamaa and Papa and the long drive across Kansas back home.  At least I-70 was open on the way home. :)  After a long drive we stopped in Cabela's and I got to pick out the newest addition to our family.

 

 

It's a Ruger SR40C.  Now, I know that not everyone who reads this is a gun fan.  But we are.

We both grew up with guns in the house and have developed a healthy respect for them and will teach that along with proper safety to our boys.  We have a safe and it is WAY out of reach for them.  My feeling about guns, etc will be discussed in a later blog. 

 

I will eventually get my CCW and this will be my companion. :)

 

Sunday: Easter and lack of unpacking.  Missing family already.

 

So that's our Spring Break summed up.  It was SO fun.  Next time we go out to CO we're gonna have to stay for 2 weeks.  I didn't get to see so many people that are important to me!!!  Summer isn't too far away right?!?!?

 

Love you all!!!



 

love,

Supermama rosie