I am potty training one 2 year old- J. I was trying to potty train a 4 year old too, but I am NOT cut out for dual potty training and L is not quite ready. Yesterday was rough. SEVERAL accidents, some for attention. Annoying to say the least, but all part of the process. We are well past the halfway point so there is no turning back. J is staying dry through the night 5 out of 7 nights and having 1-2 accidents a day, typically, unless she's mad at me (she's like a dog that chews shoes when you leave, except she just ruins my carpet). Anyway, there was a point to all of this rambling. J is into the mommy daddy baby versions of things. For example, if there is a big rock and a little rock side by side one is the mommy and one is the baby. Imaginative I think since she can find a mommy and a baby for everything and often asks where the daddy is. And until today I thought "this is normal." But we really don't do normal so somewhere the weird had to come. Here it is. J has to potty. # 2. She goes and out comes something not small, then I say "are you all done?" She responds "No, that was the mommy, next is the baby." Me "Do you have a baby in there?" J- "Yes, it is in my booty." A few minutes goes by- she is grunting and working so I say "Maybe you don't have a baby one in there." J's response: "Yes I do! I have a baby one in my booty and I not getting up til it gets out of there! Gosh Dangit!"
Okay- weirdo.
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Getting a lot of action!
Well the blog is, anyway. It's 12:20 am on a Wednesday. I didn't stay up this late to usher in the hump day, I assure you, but nevertheless it was greeted with a smile. Today was a hard day for me. I had a FAB U LOUS weekend with friends and came home so ready to enjoy my family. FAIL. My children stayed up far to late (my plane was delayed so everything was delayed) and were so very grouchy, crabby, mischievous, and all the other words that fit here and mean PUNKS. We are potty training J, and having some mild success and even greater amounts of laundry. We had hopes of dropping C's pacifier this week, but my nerves cannot handle that. I am trying to paint our house, get M's homeschool curriculum sorted, learn more ways to help L transition throughout his day, train for CASA volunteering, plan a baby shower, be a wife to my husband, a friend to my friends and a contributing family member to my family (extended and otherwise) and today it just got the best of me. Some days do that. Some days I look around and wonder just how I'm going to manage this chaos and still give my kids a good memory about that day. Some days I just cry a little extra.
The good thing about these days is that my husband will talk with me about it. He'll listen, try to help if he can and let me cry if I need to. He'll apply logic to my emotions and remind me that today isn't forever. He's pretty amazing that way.
So, even though my week already flipped upside down, even though I, at times today, wished I hadn't gotten off that plane, even though I wonder if I've ever done even one single moment of motherhood correctly, today was good because I do know, above everything else, that my husband believes I am the best wife for him, the best mother for his children and the best looking hottie on the block!
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
The good thing about these days is that my husband will talk with me about it. He'll listen, try to help if he can and let me cry if I need to. He'll apply logic to my emotions and remind me that today isn't forever. He's pretty amazing that way.
So, even though my week already flipped upside down, even though I, at times today, wished I hadn't gotten off that plane, even though I wonder if I've ever done even one single moment of motherhood correctly, today was good because I do know, above everything else, that my husband believes I am the best wife for him, the best mother for his children and the best looking hottie on the block!
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
Monday, June 27, 2011
All superheroes hide their true identity
A friend of mine got a psuedo-diagnosis today for her little boy. They are calling it provisional ADHD ad ODD. ADHD- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. ODD- Oppositional Defiance Disorder. I have heard these labels tossed about for a long time. My own son has been called one or the other of these by strangers and family members alike. At one time it would have been really painful to hear. At one time, knowing that people who had hardly spent a full day with my son could so acutely identify everything that was "wrong" with him angered me.
At first, when I read that my good friend was now standing in a pair of those very same shoes I was sad for her. She knows what I know. That though my son may not fit into the norms of society, he can be extremely loving and affectionate. No one but me and his daddy ever see that side of him. And today I'm happy to not have to share that with anyone else. It takes a long time to get to that place though.
M does not have a formal diagnosis. Part of me scolds myself for taking so long with this, but the other part of me is happy and proud that we let him grow into himself before attempting to push him one way or the other. Today, though, I have realized the truth. I was writing a reply to my friend about her precious boy and it hit me. My son is a future superhero. Not in the laser eyes kind of way, but more in the pave the way for the rest of us to follow kind of way. He doesn't take no for an answer, he finds a work around for everything, he is a future leader. But, much like superman, he will have to hide is true identity from the world and only ever use his powers for good. It is my job and his dad's job to teach him what that means.
To my precious friend and her beautiful boy, I know that the path from where you are to where you want to be will be long and difficult but I also know that only a few in this world are perfectly equipped to make the journey.
Loving my superhero!!!
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
At first, when I read that my good friend was now standing in a pair of those very same shoes I was sad for her. She knows what I know. That though my son may not fit into the norms of society, he can be extremely loving and affectionate. No one but me and his daddy ever see that side of him. And today I'm happy to not have to share that with anyone else. It takes a long time to get to that place though.
M does not have a formal diagnosis. Part of me scolds myself for taking so long with this, but the other part of me is happy and proud that we let him grow into himself before attempting to push him one way or the other. Today, though, I have realized the truth. I was writing a reply to my friend about her precious boy and it hit me. My son is a future superhero. Not in the laser eyes kind of way, but more in the pave the way for the rest of us to follow kind of way. He doesn't take no for an answer, he finds a work around for everything, he is a future leader. But, much like superman, he will have to hide is true identity from the world and only ever use his powers for good. It is my job and his dad's job to teach him what that means.
To my precious friend and her beautiful boy, I know that the path from where you are to where you want to be will be long and difficult but I also know that only a few in this world are perfectly equipped to make the journey.
Loving my superhero!!!
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
Thursday, June 9, 2011
I smell something....
You do not want to sit up suddenly in your bed with this thought in your head. I was taking a well deserved nap today while my children all slumbered soundly in their own beds, or so I thought. I drifted off to sleep and then remember sitting up so suddenly that I choked on the insane amount of saliva that had accumulated during some very heavy open mouthed napping. What was that smell? I got up and could hear the sounds of play from behind the closed door of the playroom. J and L. Oh. No. Anytime these two get together trouble is sure to follow. I dreaded opening that door. I knew it wouldn't be good news. The smell was so strong from where I was. And so familiar. I really was hoping for a poop incident or something within the realm of "normal" around here. Well, I guess almost anything is normal for us, so scratch that, I really meant normal for someone else.
I slowly turned the knob... I peeked my head around the door and L and J immediately drop what is in their hands and put their hands behind their backs. On the floor is laundry detergent- liquid laundry detergent. On the little blue table is floor shampoo, also a liquid. I take a deep breath and then instantly regret it. Coughing I usher them out of the room and into the bathroom. They are already crying and I haven't even been able to speak (Thank you God for a coughing fit... the words that were filling my head...). They know they are in trouble. They knew it wasn't okay to climb on top of my washer and grab all the soaps and things they could find. They knew that pouring them out would eventually result in my wrath, but they did not care. I strip them down and sit them in the tub, still coughing, and rinse them until their skin is no longer slick with soap. I wash their hair and make sure to rinse their eyes well. I put clean diapers on them and put them to bed. They are still asleep.
My own nap, interrupted by their shenanigans, is now completely over. A mere 15 minutes. Sigh. I go into the playroom and begin the ever difficult task of cleaning the soap out of the floor. I open the windows upstairs and the doors downstairs to air out the smell. I can hardly breathe and wonder to myself 'just how many brains cells did they kill while breathing this stuff in?'. I am crying while using the carpet shampooer to vacuum up the soap and water. When will I get a break? At what point will someone look around and say "she's done her time, cut her loose." I just wanted a nap for crying out loud. Really, even that is too much to ask?
I finally get the majority of soap out of the floor and decide to revisit the issue tomorrow. I get the baby out of her bed and head downstairs. Now I sit on the front porch, enjoying a cool breeze and a glass of ice water, breathing fresh air and watching C jump for joy in her bouncer.
I can't say it's been a stellar day for me, but I am thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and have semi-clean carpet in the playroom. And eventually, it will smell "just after a rain fresh" once the room airs out a bit. :)
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
I slowly turned the knob... I peeked my head around the door and L and J immediately drop what is in their hands and put their hands behind their backs. On the floor is laundry detergent- liquid laundry detergent. On the little blue table is floor shampoo, also a liquid. I take a deep breath and then instantly regret it. Coughing I usher them out of the room and into the bathroom. They are already crying and I haven't even been able to speak (Thank you God for a coughing fit... the words that were filling my head...). They know they are in trouble. They knew it wasn't okay to climb on top of my washer and grab all the soaps and things they could find. They knew that pouring them out would eventually result in my wrath, but they did not care. I strip them down and sit them in the tub, still coughing, and rinse them until their skin is no longer slick with soap. I wash their hair and make sure to rinse their eyes well. I put clean diapers on them and put them to bed. They are still asleep.
My own nap, interrupted by their shenanigans, is now completely over. A mere 15 minutes. Sigh. I go into the playroom and begin the ever difficult task of cleaning the soap out of the floor. I open the windows upstairs and the doors downstairs to air out the smell. I can hardly breathe and wonder to myself 'just how many brains cells did they kill while breathing this stuff in?'. I am crying while using the carpet shampooer to vacuum up the soap and water. When will I get a break? At what point will someone look around and say "she's done her time, cut her loose." I just wanted a nap for crying out loud. Really, even that is too much to ask?
I finally get the majority of soap out of the floor and decide to revisit the issue tomorrow. I get the baby out of her bed and head downstairs. Now I sit on the front porch, enjoying a cool breeze and a glass of ice water, breathing fresh air and watching C jump for joy in her bouncer.
I can't say it's been a stellar day for me, but I am thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and have semi-clean carpet in the playroom. And eventually, it will smell "just after a rain fresh" once the room airs out a bit. :)
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
Thursday, April 21, 2011
It's raining....
You know the old saying. "When it rains, it pours." Around here if we feel a drop of rain we prepare for a monsoon. This time it took me by surprise though and I did not have my rain gear on, or my boat inflated, or a life vest and I was swept away in the flood. There are lots of times in my life where I have felt knocked off of my feet and disoriented when I finally stand up again. I really wish for one of those times because at least I got right back up. These last two weeks I have been knocked down and I am struggling to find purchase to drag myself back to standing. I am determined, though. I will find a way to get back up and on solid ground.
You know what's really great about being knocked down? Where else can you look but up? So I can definitely see the upside to everything. Or is it the underside of everything? Either way, it's much easier to set a goal from this view point. The goal of the day? To enjoy a dr. pepper while my kids play with their cousins and I work a bit more on next year's homeschool curriculum. Not a bad plan. It's not the zoo we originally planned, but it IS raining, after all.
So where is the satire? Where is the comment that makes all of this worthwhile? Why did you read this post? I have no idea. I'm only human. Good grief.
Okay, okay. I'm reminded that I committed to using this blog to count my blessings, so here is something good. Everything that has happened this week has renewed my resolve to do the best I can for my kids, despite the obstacles I face. Just try and stop me.
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
You know what's really great about being knocked down? Where else can you look but up? So I can definitely see the upside to everything. Or is it the underside of everything? Either way, it's much easier to set a goal from this view point. The goal of the day? To enjoy a dr. pepper while my kids play with their cousins and I work a bit more on next year's homeschool curriculum. Not a bad plan. It's not the zoo we originally planned, but it IS raining, after all.
So where is the satire? Where is the comment that makes all of this worthwhile? Why did you read this post? I have no idea. I'm only human. Good grief.
Okay, okay. I'm reminded that I committed to using this blog to count my blessings, so here is something good. Everything that has happened this week has renewed my resolve to do the best I can for my kids, despite the obstacles I face. Just try and stop me.
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
A Queen Sized Bed
60" X 80" of what I consider most days pure bliss. And surprisingly you can fit ALOT of people in that amount of space. Last night my children were determined to test the theory and 3 of the 4 of them ended up in our bed by 2 am. If you do the math that's 5 people which leaves roughly 12" X 80" per person. I guess this might have worked out considering the relatively small widths of the 3 extra individuals IF and only IF all 5 people were lying straight and still. However, knowing that 3 of the individuals were small children completely rules out the possibility of anyone being straight or still in the bed. As a result, at least one person from the group of 5 did not get much sleep. I'll raise my hand now if you were having trouble arriving at the logical conclusion. I'm sure my husband didn't sleep well either, but I honestly can never tell because he sleeps through EVERYTHING! So, here I am sleepy and tired on a Tuesday. I have coffee and believe me, I'm trying to wake up but it will take herculean effort to drag my eyelids fully open before 10 am. Quite honestly, sleep is my most treasured activity. I could sleep for days on end and wake up happy and refreshed. I love to sleep. So it is more than just a cruel joke that it is the most allusive creature to a mother of four. I know all moms lose sleep and remain in a state of overtired oblivion until their kids move out (or so I've been told) but honestly, I loved sleep even before it was so savagely ripped from me. Finding a silver lining to this one is tough because a) I'm still not quite awake, b) C is in my lap slapping at the keyboard and c) sometimes I just don't feel like looking. But I committed to only putting the upside in this blog so that I can better count my blessings, so here are the upsides:
1. My husband sent me to the guest room for 30 min of extra sleep while he wrestled with the baby to get her back to sleep.
2. Mornings like this have justified the purchase of my very expensive coffee maker already.
3. Nap time will get here soon b/c the kids are as tired as I am.
Look at me! I can make the best of ANYTHING!
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
1. My husband sent me to the guest room for 30 min of extra sleep while he wrestled with the baby to get her back to sleep.
2. Mornings like this have justified the purchase of my very expensive coffee maker already.
3. Nap time will get here soon b/c the kids are as tired as I am.
Look at me! I can make the best of ANYTHING!
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
Monday, March 28, 2011
L and the Hat
Full weekend to say the least. L is now signed up and ready to play Tball with the Miracle League. It will be awesome. I hope. We attended orientation on Saturday morning and L met his hat. Not his coach, I'm sure he/she was there somewhere, not his uniform shirt, they weren't ready yet, and not his teammates, they were engrossed in hat love too. L met his hat. The current LOVE of his life. I'm not sure if it's autism that makes his love for inanimate objects so all encompassing or if it's just his personality (it could be argued that the two are not exclusive, seeing as how autism affects his personality and his personality greatly affects the manifestation of autistic tendencies, but I digress...) L LOVES this hat. I mean adores it! He is for all intents and purposes a little guy of few words, but he said "hat" every 20 minutes on Saturday and again on Sunday. On the one hand I am FILLED with joy. My little guy has a friend! Something that he has a true connection with and is willing to share parts of himself with! On the other hand, it's a hat. Not a person, or even an animal. A hat.
It occurred to me this morning as I put his hat on his pillow for after school that it didn't matter so much. He loved his hat the way he loves cars and all things hot. He can say the word, which, hopefully will instill a sense of the power of words and be the catalyst for more attempts at speech. He is freaking ADORABLE in his hat and it makes him happy. There wasn't necessarily a downside here, except maybe the existence of autism as a whole, but there is ALWAYS an upside.
-LL
"profiter de la doublure d'argent"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)