Madame Vice President

Welp, she won. She jumped in the truck tonight and said "I win". She's pretty excited. They sent some of the posters home and they made me tear up. It's just SO cool the way they accept her. God, if her life would only stay this way.

The brothers are up to their old tricks and so joins the tee-ballers too. Dang - just seems to be a cloudy day in Mr's life. What is it about older siblings??? What a pain in the butt they are to us younger ones. :-)

S, sometimes your brain is too small.

This is what J said this morning. He was trying to explain something technical (bickering) and S was letting him know that she wasn't going to hear it. It was funny. Also, during b-fast we had WLS on (as usual) and as we were finishing up S heard "S, from Plainfield, you're on WLS, good morning." S looks up and says "that not me". :-)

IEP yesterday. Looks VERY good. Going to have Ms Carla again and the same aides. I'm kind of excited. S is doing VERY well. I do wish all things could stay the same - I so love Mrs Susan. As long as the next teacher has a sense of humor. S wore her "I am the *I* in IEP" shirt. They all loved it.

J's b-day coming up. Think we're going to do the Chuck E Cheese thing again. It's just so easy. Or maybe we could do a park. I'm not sure now. Have to get a hold of Aunt J and see what her take on it is. Aunt L has put in her two cents. Ends up she knows Coach Chris and his wife. We hung out at tee-ball the other night. That's too funny because Chris had originally caught my eye because of how good he is with the kids. He's really a nice guy and his wife is SO cute and funny. I'm so glad L was there - I had almost written them off as part of the "cliche".

J asked this morning about the score of the game. He was very grown up about it. (they got beat - by a lot). His response was "it's all about having fun." :-)
Gotta love that kid.

Amazing

Several things tonight:
We recently traveled down to McClean IL (2 hour trip south) to meet Gma and Gpa and deliver S to them. She stayed with them for the week of Spring Break. As we were going from the bathroom into the McDonalds there we were approached by two girls who said "Hi, S". I was stunned - how many of us could travel 2 hours away from our home and have someone know us at age 9!!!! It was too funny.
Tee-ball parade this Sat. Had a GREAT time - over 700 kids. It kicked off at 8:30 am and at 10:30 we were walking to our car. I heard someone say they were done at 11 - this means that 700 kids plus parents and coaches walked about a mile in a parade - then every child got a single picture taken - posed with a bat - and then a team picture!!!! *I* think that's pretty darned cool!!! I personally have trouble getting two children to take a bath.
Autism awareness at church today - B and I got up and spoke. I think the first service was real good the second - I kind of lost my spark. SO many people came up to us afterwards (we were in charge of refreshments) and talked to us about Autistics that they knew. I can't get over how many spec ed teachers we have in church - but it makes sense. I'd like to see the stats about Spec Ed teachers and Christianity link. I don't think it possible to teach special needs and not believe in God. :-)
It's been a LONG but short weekend. SO much packed into it - I'm SO not ready for work tomorrow and poor S had to be talked into wearing "sweats" (elastic waist pants - leggins) because Mom didn't get laundry done this weekend. uggh. Plus she needs a hair cut - which I promised I'd do tomorrow before J's game. And they say it just gets worse from here. Lord, give me strength.

Someone named Mr. Alex posted this on the Yahoo Q&A site as an answer to
someone who asked what autism is. I can't confirm if this is indeed
someone who is on the autism spectrum or a knowledgeable person
describing characteristics "in character." However it is a good
introduction to families who are still trying to understand all the
sensory behaviors of their children.

From Mr. Alex -- I am a child with autism. I am not "autistic." My
autism is one aspect of my total character. It does not define me as a
person. Are you a person with thoughts, feelings and many talents, or
are you just fat (overweight), myopic (wear glasses) or klutzy
(uncoordinated, not good at sports)?

My sensory perceptions are disordered. This means the ordinary sights,
sounds, smells, tastes and touches of everyday life that you may not
even notice can be downright painful for me. The very environment in
which I have to live often seems hostile. I may appear withdrawn or
belligerent to you, but I am really just trying to defend myself. A
"simple" trip to the grocery store may be hell for me. My hearing may be
hyperacute. Dozens of people are talking at once. The loudspeaker booms
today's special. Muzak whines from the sound system. Cash registers beep
and cough. A coffee grinder is chugging. The meat cutter screeches,
babies wail, carts creak, the fluorescent lighting hums. My brain can't
filter all the input, and I'm in overload! My sense of smell may be
highly sensitive. The fish at the meat counter isn't quite fresh, the
guy standing next to us hasn't showered today, the deli is handing out
sausage samples, the baby in line ahead of us has a poopy diaper,
they're mopping up pickles on Aisle 3 with ammonia. ... I can't sort it
all out, I'm too nauseous.

Because I am visually oriented, this may be my first sense to become
overstimulated. The fluorescent light is too bright. It makes the room
pulsate and hurts my eyes. Sometimes the pulsating light bounces off
everything and distorts what I am seeing. The space seems to be
constantly changing. There's glare from windows, moving fans on the
ceiling, so many bodies in constant motion, too many items for me to be
able to focus - and I may compensate with tunnel vision. All this
affects my vestibular sense, and now I can't even tell where my body is
in space. I may stumble, bump into things, or simply lay down to try and
regroup.

Please remember to distinguish between won't (I choose not to) and can't
(I'm not able to). Receptive and expressive language are both difficult
for me. It isn't that I don't listen to instructions. It's that I can't
understand you. When you call to me from across the room, this is what I
hear: "*&^%$#@, Billy. #$%^*&^%$&*" Instead, come speak directly to me
in plain words: "Please put your book in your desk, Billy. It's time to
go to lunch." This tells me what you want me to do and what is going to
happen next. Now it's much easier for me to comply.

I am a concrete thinker. I interpret language literally. It's very
confusing for me when you say, "Hold your horses, cowboy!" when what you
really mean is "Please stop running." Don't tell me something is a
"piece of cake" when there is no dessert in sight and what you really
mean is, "This will be easy for you to do." When you say, "It's pouring
cats and dogs," I see pets coming out of a pitcher. Please just tell me,
"It's raining very hard." Idioms, puns, nuances, double entendres and
sarcasm are lost on me.

Be patient with my limited vocabulary. It's hard for me to tell you what
I need when I don't know the words to describe my feelings. I may be
hungry, frustrated, frightened or confused, but right now those words
are beyond my ability to express. Be alert for body language,
withdrawal, agitation, or other signs that something is wrong.

There's a flip side to this: I may sound like a little professor or a
movie star, rattling off words or whole scripts well beyond my
developmental age. These are messages I have memorized from the world
around me to compensate for my language deficits, because I know I am
expected to respond when spoken to. They may come from books, television
or the speech of other people. It's called echolalia. I don't
necessarily understand the context or the terminology I'm using, I just
know it gets me off the hook for coming up with a reply.

Because language is so difficult for me, I am very visually oriented.
Show me how to do something rather than just telling me. And please be
prepared to show me many times. Lots of patient repetition helps me
learn.

A visual schedule is extremely helpful as I move through my day. Like
your day planner, it relieves me of the stress of having to remember
what comes next, makes for smooth transitions between activities, and
helps me manage my time and meet your expectations.

Focus and build on what I can do rather than what I can't do. Like any
other human, I can't learn in an environment where I'm constantly made
to feel that I'm not good enough or that I need fixing. Trying anything
new when I am almost sure to be met with criticism, however
constructive, becomes something to be avoided. Look for my strengths and
you'll find them. There's more than one right way to do most things.

Help me with social interactions. It may look like I don't want to play
with the other kids on the playground, but sometimes it's just that I
simply don't know how to start a conversation or enter a play situation.
If you can encourage other children to invite me to join them at
kickball or shooting baskets, I may be delighted to be included.

Try to identify what triggers my meltdowns. This is termed "the
antecedent." Meltdowns, blowups, tantrums or whatever you want to call
them are even more horrid for me than they are for you. They occur
because one or more of my senses has gone into overload. If you can
figure out why my meltdowns occur, they can be prevented.

f you are a family member, please love me unconditionally. Banish
thoughts such as, "If he would just ..." and "Why can't she ... ?" You
didn't fulfill every last expectation your parents had for you, and you
wouldn't like being constantly reminded of it. I didn't choose to have
autism. Remember that it's happening to me, not you. Without your
support, my chances of successful, self-reliant adulthood are slim. With
your support and guidance, the possibilities are broader than you might
think. I promise you I'm worth it.

It all comes down to three words: Patience. Patience. Patience.

Work to view my autism as a different ability rather than a disability.
Look past what you may see as limitations and see the gifts autism has
given me. I may not be good at eye contact or conversation, but have you
noticed I don't lie, cheat at games, tattle on my classmates, or pass
judgment on other people?

You are my foundation. Think through some of those societal rules, and
if they don't make sense for me, let them go. Be my advocate, be my
friend, and we'll see just how far I can go.

I probably won't be the next Michael Jordan, but with my attention to
fine detail and capacity for extraordinary focus, I might be the next
Einstein. Or Mozart. Or Van Gogh.

They had autism too.

*********************************************************************************
I love this - SO very to the point. I may print this out and keep some copies of it for people. I think it explains pretty well how S should be handled and the definitions of autism.

Refrigerator Moms

Oh My Goodness!!!! They went through such HELL!!!! I can't believe how society totally bought into what Dr B said about Autism being the Mom's fault. Like life isn't hard enough!!! We owe these women a huge debt!!! And the treatment that the "professionals" prescribed!!!! Isolation??? It's amazing what society can deem "correct". It's as if there was no thought process at all. I admire all these refrigerator Mom's. They certainly had nerves of steel and a determination that I must aspire to. And even after we've come through it all - they have a sense of humor about it - a sense of forgiveness. I only hope I can be a "refrigerator Mom".

This Is the Best Day of My Life

Says J. That was the statement made after we got into the car after church. And the reason - "It's Easter and I got a balloon." Well, shouldn't we all have that outlook. :-)

We took S to Gma and Gpas yesterday. I love her so much - but dang - it's SO nice to have a break. Church without scene, breakfast at church without problems, no one demanding things. It was NICE.

We colored eggs today - yesterday was just total break. I slept almost all day. New week starts tomorrow complete with ball practice and all the other stuff - so we get the house together, get some laundry done and plan in advance as much as possible. But it's still nice to have a break.

WHEN will it be Spring?????

When you simply witness your feelings instead of reacting to them, you allow your life to unfold naturally, and you open a doorway to greater sympathy and understanding. Most important, you develop your capacity to *be free* in an often challenging and turbulent world.


Ain't THAT a mouth full. This is SO my goal. I always pray - Lord, put your hand on my shoulder and one over my mouth. How many times have I said "shut up, shut up why can't you just SHUT UP?' After having had a bad convo with someone. The person I look up to most on this subject - E - has SUCH a nice way of just being silent and actually THINKING before responding. I don't engage my brain - just my heart before I speak. I think I need to find a more balanced way of handling things.

Well, I'm off to write up an article about Autism. Wish me luck.

Since you asked...

A couple of people I've talked to recently hadn't heard of the "Welcome to Holland" story -- So here ya go.....

Welcome To Holland
by Emily Perl Kingsley
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this.....

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. the Coliseum, The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy!!! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around....and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandt's.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy....and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. and for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away....because the loss of that dream is a very significant loss.

But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things....about Holland.
***********************************************************************

There's a couple of things that I don't like about this - 1. why should she have to help others understand her life? 2. you will NEVER understand this life - until you have a special needs child. It's just not possible. AND one more thing - the guide books to Holland - are written in German. :-) NO ONE knows how to get around in this world of special needs - it's ALL trail and error - baptism by fire, baby.

Autism Awareness

April is here again. The month set aside to educate people on what I LIVE. Sometimes it gets a little old. No one gets it until they live it. But there I am being cynical. :-/

Get this - my little autistic informs me this morning that she has to wear her Bear's shirt tomorrow - because Mr. Mike said so - when I asked why she said because the bear is coming. What bear? Stanley. Stanley - you mean STALEY?? Yes. I look it up on the web and sure enough Staley is coming to JS tomorrow.

I had rec'd a paper from school about an assembly in the morning on Tues and if I wanted to bring J (he has afternoon school) but all I saw on it was that it was about physical fitness - blah, blah, blah - I swear it didn't say that STALEY was coming. So now, I need to beg off tomorrow. :-) I mean - Staley - this is serious stuff. :-)

On a different note - Friday they both go to Ms K's. J says this morning (after hearing this) I'll tell Ms K (and in a voice like - I'll let her know of the impending doom). It was funny.

So Bbk has proclaimed April to be Autism Awareness month. I got to meet Kimberly from ISA - she is so nice and extremely knowledgeable about all the government stuff going on. I don't know - it taxes my brain - plus I'm SO distrusting of EVERYONE in government. But it was really nice. Both her and B did a very nice job.

BMBD Disorder

Bad Mommy, Bad Daddy - I read this in "Touched by a Child." I is SO what Bill and I talk about with some people who feel their child is a candidate for Special Ed - but they really don't have a label - nor do they want to. They want services but they don't want the sigma that comes with those services. CRACKS me up. Pisses me off because these people are usually the ones that are NEVER happy with ANYTHING they're getting from the school. And they certainly don't work WITH the team. I have many people in circles I run with that do this. I just want to shake them. Not only do they make it hard for the rest of us - they really make it hard for their kids. Labels are part of it. No, they don't DEFINE your child - they DESCRIBE the type of treatment or services that your child will receive or is eligible for. Labels don't bother me in the least. *I* know who *I* am - I know who S is and I know to Whom we belong. Whatever *people* want to call us - doesn't mean anything.

"What I think the political correctness debate is about is the power to be able to define. The definers want the power to name. And the defined are now taking that power away from them." Ruthe Stover

Again, what does it really matter. I remember being very happy when we got S's "label". Because for once when I uttered the word autism people would understand. Do they "get" S from that word - do they see the total frustration we go through or the utter joy? No, but would they ever? No. But they DO get that she needs extra patience, she's not trying to do bad. So, the label works.

Some Interesting Info:

"My son sees the world differently than us. Thus he acts differently. Differences in people can be inspirational and joyful. Despite his challenges that cause him daily frustration, he smiles and teaches us something everyday. He figures out a way to live in our world and shows us to much love. I love that difference." -Donna Rosuck.

I've been doing a lot of research for our Walk Now letter and I'm finding that there is a whole sub-culture of autistic people who don't want to be cured. They see themselves as just people who are different. They consider themselves just one of the minorities in the world. Kind of like "leftys" I guess. I found some of their blogs very interesting and I can kind of see their point. S's autism is part of her. And she is the happiest kid I know. But I'd still like to be able to hear her thoughts. Maybe Walk Now is a selfish thing on our part. I don't know.

Can You Remember????

I was doing some research for quotes and definitions for Autism for a Walk Now brochure we're sending and it occurred to me that I can't remember a time when I didn't *know* autism. I was trying to remember any ideas or feelings I had about autism before I was so abruptly introduced to it. I can't think of a one. I know I had heard of it before - I just can't come up with anything.

It has just saturated my total exsistance.

Sing It!!!

I wonder if I'm the only one who can listen to a certain song and INSTANTLY be transported back to what ever was going on at that time. I can even break out crying if that's what I was doing. Memories come flooding back complete with smells. The rest of the world prob does too right? It's just so freaky. I wonder if they ever thought about using that with hypnosis when people can't remember stuff. I don't know.

Ok, really ROUGH day! I want to go back to Bloomington!!! Dang, why doesn't it work the way it made SO much sense when I was taking notes??!!!! Speaking of Bloomington - this was trip #3 and I still have to say I really think I would have done really well on a 4 year campus. I love walking around and finding your way to classes.

I did manage to get a handle on the laundry today and so tomorrow we start with actual cleaning. I want to go back!!!!!!

Mommy class - TOOOOO Short!

OMG - did we have a good time or what??!!! It's WAY tooooo short thought. We had to have laughed for a solid 3 hours! L,M,myself and a new girl - Carrie went on Thurs afternoon. We checked in - sat around and gabbed - went to see Daddy's Little Girls (GREAT flick) then to The Outback - flirted with Maurice and then to Panera's for hot choc - back up to the room - talk, talk, talk till 11 - up at 5:30 and to the conference. AWESOME conference. I just LOVE this meet up. It so fills me up and renews my "mommy spirit".

I did miss the chillen'. B did a GREAT job keeping it all together - and the best part - when I got home he told me he can't believe I do the stuff I do - that it's SUCH a pain and that he doesn't want to do it again. I think that might be the sweetest thing he's said to me in a LONG time.

S had her play on Friday - she did very well - played her drum and sat SO well through the whole thing. B taped the whole thing for me. It was really cute.

L was in full craziness over our get out. She is SO funny. I so love spending time with her and M.

I got presents for everyone - they were all pleased. The house is a wreck again - need to really clean OUT and throw stuff away.

Got a Sickie??

Himself was up all night with a fever. Not severe - about 101. But he was really having some WILD dreams. He slept with us for a while and then I went to his room with him. He was SO hot to the touch. At one point he woke up crying "I want to sit by someone". Poor guy. He said he felt better this morning. I sent him to K's only because I had morning appts and Daddy was to pick him up at 10:30 and then make the big decision whether he should go to school or not.

S kept saying "I not sick, I go to school, I don't get sick". There was no way SHE was staying home. Just so everyone knew. That girl......

J and I were accompianed by Rexy last night. He had to make sure he knew all that was going on. Got up on J's picnic table and slept there till I went back to bed and then followed me into my room. What is it with our animals - they're getting to be as weird as my sister's.

Debate

S is practicing her answer to why do you think you should be VP of the class? "Because I am super nice." :-) Is that not cute or what??!!!

Our bud Kyle isn't doing too well. We're praying he doesn't have to go into surgery again.

We did a devotion tonight about freinds and when I described my best friend J says "too easy - it's aunt L". His friend is Jonathon and Juan. S's is J. Isn't that sweet.?

You should see the boy swim. After the lessons he goes over to the other pool and swims - I watched him tonight and he can back float all by himself for almost the length of the pool. He won't do it in front of the teacher,though - and I'm not real sure why. I'm wondering if it's because he knows he'll "move up" and he doesn't want to do that. I don't know, you can never tell about that boy.

Es'panol?

We had J's 2 friends (J&J) from down the street over last night. Juan is the oldest at 10 - and we were talking to him about him learning English in school and suggested that he could teach J how to speak Spanish. "You mean he doesn't know how?" He was amazed. TOO cute! I guess everything IS relative! :-)

S suggested to us on Saturday night that when she called Daddy "Mommy" that she was only "teasing"!!!!! She's not supposed to get that concept!!!

J and I and L&J went to see Peter Pan, the ballet on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. But no, the boys are NOT going to be ballet dancers - so don't ask. That is pretty much the attitude we got when we asked. They really did enjoy it though. They were totally silent through it and sat with mouths hanging open.

Aunt J won the lip sync contest again this year. My father is now trash talking the competition. Telling them that "his daughter is going to kick their a..) Namely Odd Todd. ;-) I can just see that.

We went to the VVEEF fundraiser this weekend. What a good time!!! Margie and I had a really nice talk. Lots of "politicians" (I use that word loosely). I can't get over how people think they're "all that" because they are "running" for office - or because they hold office. I just shake my head. You know, how they say that the thing you fear the most will end up looking VERY good to your children? Well, my kids will be 1. Hollywood celebrities or 2. Politicians. Are they all not the scum of the earth? I know, that's very prejudice on my part - but I can't help myself. Those two categories of people just turn my stomach. You can't believe what either group says. They both have the same priorities (fame and money - for themselves) and they are the MOST out of touch people on the earth. I just so have to laugh.

I was informed by one of these people running for office that he has known MY nephew forever. Hmmm, I said - isn't that interesting - *I* have too!!! Ugghhh. Why is it that people get such a kick out of telling another person how much they know their family better than the person does. It's just funny. I've witnessed this happen in other people's families too.

It's CRAZY at work today. It's like everyone who got up on the wrong side of the bed have called and created a problem. And mostly silly problems where they are mistaken. Example: One lady said her tax return went from 95 to 160. When I actually looked it up it only went from 155 to 160!!! Convenient memory. :-) But she was sure nasty with me.

It certainly takes all kinds.

Saddle Up

Pardon me, while I put a saddle on my horse (my high horse).

Uggghhh - I just heard a radio ad about how Ditka has auctioned off his ring (or one of - not quite sure) for retired football players!!!! Seems there's some that aren't quite making it. Ok, not to sound like a heartless soul but PAAALEEEASEEEE! Give me a FREAKING break!!! There are SO many more people in REAL need. Solders, homeless, - I just don't recall seeing any old linebackers in the soup line at the shelter! Did the lil' pudems squander all his money on frivolous things and not use it wisely? I'm sorry - I LOVE football but I feel just NO sympathy for someone who didn't put money aside from all the money and glory that was GIVEN to you. God, gives you the ability to play football and if that is what you decide to do then you better damn well use it correctly. I know everything is relative - but I don't believe that their "need" is like other's. And if it is - too bad - they did it to themselves. With many gifts comes MUCH responsibility!!! Dang - that just ticks me off. And no, maybe they didn't get paid as much as players now a days but they did get paid and they "heard the song" - now it's time to pay the piper! After all the press about disabled vets and how they live - I'm just shocked to hear this. Not to mention Katrina victims, the tornadoes lately - there's so much need out there. I just shake my head.

Siblings

What Siblings Would Like Parents and Service Providers to Know:
If thy are provided with support and information, they can help their sibs live dignified lives from childhood to their senior years.
Sibs share many of the concerns that parents of children with spec. needs experience, including isolation, a need for information, guilt, concerns about the future, and care giving demands. They also face issues that are uniquely theirs - resentment, peer issues, embarrassment and pressure to achieve.
1. I have a right to my own life.
2. Acknowledge my concerns.
3. Don't set unrealistic high expectations for me and help me not to feel I have to compensate for my sib.
4. Expect typical behavior - teasing name-calling, arguing and other forms of conflict are common among brothers and sisters - even when one has spec. needs.
5. Expect my sib to live as independently as possible.
6. I have the right to a safe environment.
7. Give me opportunities to meet other kids who have sibs with spec needs.
8. Give me as much info about my sibling's spec need as I want.
9. Bring me into the "loop" about my sibling's future.
10. Communicate with me and let me communicate with you.
11. Give me one on one time with you.
12. Celebrate my achievements and milestones.
13. Your perspective is more important than the actual disability.
14. Actively reach out to me.
15. Learn more about my life as a sibling.
**********************************************************************

I've been reading alot about this lately. I've always said that J will NEVER be "typical" . I've heard so much advice from "family" about how to raise him and what to let him get away with and such. But truth is - he's as spec needs as she is. No one in our families have raised 1. a special needs child and 2. a special needs sibling. He IS special and "typical" discipline doesn't work on him anymore than it works on her. He's a mental battle and she's a physical one.
Right now I walk the tight rope of giving him info about her - letting him know that whatever his feelings are that they are OK - but also not creating a sib who treats her "different". Right now he just sees her as S - his sister. But the time is coming all too soon where he will realize she has some issues. I like the fact that he does push her to be like anyone else but I also want to give him a safe place to verbalize his feelings. Dang, this parenting stuff really blows sometimes.
Right now they both get about the same attention. But it will soon be more one sided. Even though I wonder just how J wouldn't rec. attention. He is just "on" all the time. :-)
He just cracks me up sometimes. I do hope I can maneuver this rope and end up with everyone being OK with 1. who they are 2. who each other is 3. who we (B& I) are.

The Housewives

Ok, did anyone see Desperate Housewives last night? The dialog between Lynette (the mom with the 3 boys and one girl) and her husband - he had hired a limo to pick her up as a surprise, drop her off somewhere kind of desolate and then he was going to pick her up in a horse and carriage. He thought he had cancelled the limo (she was exhausted and didn't want to go) but the limo came and dropped her off - he, of course, didn't pick her up because he thought it was all cancelled..... She waits and waits and waits out in the cold and all alone...... He gets word from the limo driver that no, it wasn't canceled and Lynnette was out there - he speeds to her - she, of course, is NOT happy - he says "but how excited the kids will be when they find out you saw a real, live coyote." I thought I would split a gut!!!! OMG - that's something B would SO say. God, that was funny.

We tried a weekend schedule this weekend. It went fairly well. Esp Saturday - we really kept on schedule and things were good with S. Sunday was a little fowled up - it's hard to schedule all the weekend. But she did very well. We're still working on the "nice talk". She's SO obnoxious.

I'm going to try and find some pictures so I can illustrate my social story I made for her about "nice words". I may just borrow the pictures from her other books.

J got a little prize out of the machine this weekend - it was a tiny little book. He called it a "diarrhea" (diary) :-) Oh, I lost it. It was SO funny. Then he says "maybe I'll sell it." "What? How will you sell it" "you know, on ebay." Oh, he is SO his father!