Webkinz not just for Kids

Ok - I'm just slightly addicted. DR and LJ gave the kids both a webkin and I set it up for them. Well, J's got sick and I've been in and out trying to get the thing to the Dr. It wouldn't load or something - so today at work I *finally* got it in there and got him all better! :-) I wish we would have had this kind of stuff when I was a kid. It's a lot of fun. J loves to buy stuff. S just likes to see what's going on. She likes Nick jr and stuff better.

Christmas Sucks

"She hated Christmas, the whole Christmas season. Now please don't ask why - no one quite knows the reason. It could be perhaps that her tree wasn't up, or that she was the only one to make the sup. Maybe because she miss her sister or was it because her heel had big blister. But whatever the reason the weather or mess she sat there on Christmas Eve hating the fest."

I have just really sucked the fun right out of Christmas this year! I was SO NOT prepared, I was SO NOT thinking ahead. I really DO forget how HARD it is to go places with S. J&L's was SO hard for her. We had many talks while we were there and she just doesn't get it. It makes things SO much harder. I think I almost "forget" that she is who she is. Ok - yeah we have the daily battles but for the most part - she's learned my routine - I've learned hers but when you go some place different it just comes CRASHING down on you - GLARING you in the face - I AM AUTISM and I have a HOLD on your little girl and sure, you've managed to cope with me almost beat me in YOUR setting - but I WILL be heard when on a different turf.

I have to get out more. I have to separate a little. I really think I'm burnt out and then there's MY whole thing about the holidays - my own little form of autism.

Aunt J's not coming up - S took it better than I thought she would. I did manage to get them in an additional day of camp and I've decided to take a whole day for me. Tax season starts soon and things will be WAY crazy so that may just be what the Dr ordered. Speaking of - we see Dr J on Friday and talk about some meds. I don't know what to wish for.

Then *I* need to find a Dr for me. Need an eye appt, and the annual mammogram. Bleck. SO much fun, fun, fun. :-)

MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS

The Choir Boy Sings

After GLUING hand made Cop outfit to his Jammies

Autistic Eyes

If I had a chance to see through her eyes
I wonder what I would see
A world in color mixed and mashed
Tie dyed and changed
An array of colors ever shade
Finer tuned and focused than the rest
Some find it alien
I find it beautiful
A world only she can see
Hidden behind her shaggy hair and blue moon eyes
That sparkles in the light like midnight stars
Shining far away in some place man hasn't
Discovered

Claire Smith

"What I Want You to Know About Me and My Autism

- I am inside.

- The words are there, the voice is not.

- Being autistic is a battle that stays.

- Your world hurts me.

- Sounds pay me visits after I leave them.

- I need autism to breathe.

- Autism is awful, but I am not awful.

- I act dumb but am smart. Please be my friend.

- We can't be friends when you hate autism.

- Be an explorer who finds treasure beyond the strangeness.
"Are Your Eyes Listening?" Sarah Stup

BOIL BLOOD BOIL

Reading my Autism "support" email today - O M G!!!!!! Complaints about yesterday's special needs party!!!! Their kids didn't get EXACTLY what they wanted AND they had to WAIT!!!! GASP!!! Poor little Precious had to WAIT! Are you kidding me????? Lord, give me the strength not to bash the heads in of parents who are more HANDICAPPED than their children ever will be!!!

I wonder just what it is that THEY volunteer for. I know for a fact they all live on the west side - so this means they HAVE money. It's not like this is the ONLY present little precious will receive!!! And as for waiting well - isn't your job to ENABLE your child to live in the REAL world - and GUESS WHAT???? That's right - special needs or not they're going to HAVE to wait sometimes!!!

Parents are SO ignorant sometimes!!!!!

Santa should send them some coal - if they put it up their butts --- well, they'd get diamonds! :-)

And my heart grew 3 sizes today!

JBSRA Christmas Party!!!!!! 'Nough said! Can I just say - those "pirates" know how to do it up right!!!!! Chicken soup = Goooooddd, Sandwich = Gooooodddd, cake and ice-cream = Gooooodddd! The company = out of this world!!!! Santa arrived by fire truck again. The kids are unbelievable! SO excited SO appreciative! They're all happy to be there. Really puts your life into perspective when that fire engine rolls around the parking lot and grown adults jump and shout! Always makes me bawl. Talked to Shanon today - she's looking forward to S being in Social Club. I'm really glad we put her in.

Ok, after this extravaganza we came home, put on the Christmas music and made candy! Can I just say serious baking has NOTHING on us!!!! We are GOOD candy makers - I mean it. J stayed and helped the whole time - over an hour. S did EVERYTHING except oven work. I was shocked!!!! And our trials only resulted in one failure - the mint trials = EXCELLENT!!!! We could work for Keebler, we're so good!

Then on to watch COPs and Goosebumps. Too funny! We've decided tomorrow we write Santa and send out Christmas cards. We have decided that it'd be best to clean up a little before that. ;-)

They've earned more than 40 chips this week so they get to pick from the prize bucket too. And who knows maybe we'll start the candy factory again. :-)

All Smiles at Meadowbrook

J's choir went to Meadowbrk Manner today and sang for the elders. They were SO good! They all smile and really get into it. Mr D is SO good with the kids. The old folks really got a kick out of them. I, of course, got all puddled up. I don't know why - but I can't watch them without bawling. :-)

We still don't have a tree up. I just now ordered some stuff for the kids online. We're talking about what to give who and B's idea for Aunt J was a 19 inch TV with a loooonnnnggggggg cable line. :-) I guess that way he won't see "Shadows". :o)

Christmas is SUCH a hard time for me. I just really dislike Christmas. I could SO easily go Pagan here.

Winterfest at school last night. That was a good time. We invested in the Book Fair again. :-) Can't say no when it comes to books. :-)

Work is getting crazy. Bossman is getting all tax season crazy on me. :-) I no longer need glasses. He invested in a new computer and the screen is about 27 inches! Seriously - I had to back up the other day when I went into IDOR. Crazy, man, crazy. :-)

I have THE coolest School!!!!

Went to my first JS Improvement/PBIS meeting. WOW!!! The ideas these people have are FANTASTIC!!! I was SO impressed. I mean - I always thought my school was the best but now I'm POSITIVE!!! All those a holes who criticize this district should sit in on a couple of these meetings!!! We have TWO sets of Mom/Daughter teachers. I didn't realize that. J's teacher is a daughter of a 2nd grade teacher we have and one of the Ana Room Teachers is a daughter to a 2nd grade teacher who has been at JS for 30 years!!!!!!! Not to mention there are over 4 teachers who have children in this school. I think that speaks VOLUMES.

We've only had 43 referrals since school began and since our population encompasses some of the apartment buildings - I think that's VERY good. I'm so very impressed with what they do with discipline and positive rewards. I can't WAIT till the next meeting. I just can't get over the wonderful ideas everyone came up with and all the work that they VOLUNTEER to do!!!! Reaffirms in me that I could NEVER be a teacher - they work WAY too hard!!!! :-)

On a different note. The boy was "sick" today. (see the link). This was him for about 20 minutes then all of a sudden he was all better. I told him he was VERY lucky that I had the day off already because if I would have called off work and then he was ok - I would HAVE to go nam on him. <- direct quote from Aunt L. :-)
Ugghhh - THAT one is a head case!!!!

S had a good day today. She's all about getting those Little People that she's been promised. She seemed really with it today and you should see her do the computer games downstairs!!! She can get herself on now too. I'm really impressed with her.

Don't call him Yellow

Unless of course, you're talking about his belt. J passed his yellow belt test in TKD. He really did well and the real kicker - he had to sit silently with other kids for over 2.5 hours!!! We are SO proud of him.

S stayed with Aunt L. I felt bad because I honestly didn't think it would be that long. And it was FREEZING!!! B and I decided next time to bring some wood and make a fire - also some weenies and marshmellows. :-)

I volunteered to be on the Improvement Com for JS. We have our first meeting tomorrow - I'm anxious to see what it's all about.

B put up some of the Christmas stuff outside today. J was outside most all day!!! S is coming down with a cold I think. Her whiney voice is starting to get hoarse.

Team meeting this Thurs. THAT ought to be interesting. I WANT MS G BACK!!!!

Christmas, Smishmas

Ugghhh - can I just say how much I dislike Christmas. There's just WAY too much to do normally let alone add on the whole decorations, cooking, card writing - it's just too overwhelming.

The kids are having a great time with the Advent calendar. Of course the excitement makes them wake at 6:30 - so say goodbye to any quiet alone time in the morning.

I've helped with Book Fair the last two days and I've loved it. I should be a librarian. Well, maybe just for kids' books. :-) The new thing seems to be the Wimpy Kid Diary or Diary of a Wimpy Kid - something like that and Coke or Pepsi. We sold out of both VERY quickly.

The kids are so cute "Aren't you J's Mom?" "Hi S's Mom". I have no identity anymore - just known by who my kids and husband are.

Also got a call to be on the School Improvement committee. I said I would. We meet Monday already!!! Ought to be interesting. Got to talk to S's favorite guys - Quinn and Nicky - they are TOO funny.

Got my paperwork done today - now I have to spend ALL day tomorrow and reclaim the house.

J's belt test is tomorrow also. THAT ought to be VERY interesting. So we'll sign him up again and I swear I'm going to get S into a swimming class if it kills me. It's just too good a therapy at too good a price to pass up. Who knows, it might improve her behavior too. ;-)

Calendar Nazi strikes again

7:00 am this morning ---- ALL of our calendars have been changed and December events written down. That's right she's up and she's on a mission: "It's not November anymore". Gotta love her.

She's been "sick". Really she's constipated. Our trip south screwed up our poop schedule and she held "things"- so now we're paying for it. She threw up yesterday and I kept her home from school. She was NOT happy!!!! But she got over it and we watched Dora and took a nap with Rexie. By the time Dad got home she was raring to go. I had to go in to work and finish stuff so her and dad hung out and then walked to school to get J. She was very pleased to be able to do that.

In the morning, after she had gotten sick - I cleaned her up and as I was changing her she had a strange look on her face and I asked her if she needed to throw up again. "No thank you" was her reply. Later on, while she was resting on the couch, Rexie came up and started meowing. S said "Rexie, be silent - I'm sick". She cracks me up.

J was unbelievable! He was SO concerned for S. He rubbed her back and told her it was going to be ok. B came home and took J to school. As J climbed into the truck he told his Dad: "S threw up and I had to leave the room because she made me want to throw up." He is DEF a man! :-)

Gpa called this morning to see how his gal was doing. We should all be so sick. We just need to get "things" "through" and we'll be fine. Lots of errands to do today and they're calling for some real nasty weather. Gpa says it's already very slick there. I just hope we can get to the "Pretty Lights" today and see Santa or we're going to have a very upset little girl.