After school yesterday, the boys and I met the behaviorist at McDonalds for lunch. She wanted to see how Ethan and Dylan do in public - we have had problems with elopement which is pretty scary. When Dylan was finished eating, Beth took him to the play area. Ethan was still eating and playing with his happy meal toys, so I stayed at the table with him. We weren't really close to the play area, but every now and then I could see Dylan in his bright red tank top and Beth right behind him. Some boys about Ethan and Dylan's age, were sitting between us and the play area going back and forth between playing and eating with their mothers. I overheard one of the boys say, "that boy in the red tank top is really mean" and pointed to Dylan! The mom quickly hushed him and I couldn't hear anything else he had to say. I was devastated! Dylan - mean??? You've got to be kidding! I know his social skills are poor and he is not good at playing with other kids - that's part of autism and we're working on it. I also know that children and adults alike often misinterpret this as being rude or "mean". But hearing the boy say that just broke my heart. How misunderstood kids (and adults for that matter) with ASD are. It gives you a better understanding of why parents in years past had kept kids with disabilities at home all the time. They weren't embarrassed or trying to punish their kids. They were trying to keep them safe from all the ridicule and persecution from people who don't understand or just don't care.
There is a saying that goes something like "to be a mother is to forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body"... so true
til later....
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
What Can Happen In An Hour And A Half
Is it Wednesday already??? The week is just flying by! The boys started back to school (ESY) on Monday, so I've had mornings to myself all week. The behaviorist has been coming every day after lunch and working with the boys. Ethan has only gotten up in the middle of the night once since she started and that was so he could get a drink(s)-he drank 3 glasses of milk and went back to bed. It's been great. Even though Ethan and Dylan were only off for two weeks, they are having a hard time getting back into the swing of things. Both of them are very tired in the afternoons. Dylan is not happy at all with going back to school and cries when he gets out of the van. He doesn't act up or have a meltdown, he is just really sad. I feel so bad for him. I hate to see my boys sad.
It's funny how things can be going really well and then start to fall apart in a matter of minutes. Take Monday afternoon for instance. A good day all day until about 5:30 when Tod IM's me to tell me he's in a conference call with Taiwan and will be late coming home. I always feel bad for Tod and the boys when Tod can't at least be there for bedtime. Anyway--I put on some water and started cooking macaroni for macaroni and cheese. While the macaroni was cooking, Tim called. We chatted for a while until Dylan had to go to the bathroom. I hung up and on our way to the bathroom I noticed the macaroni was boiling over. I turned it off, got to the bathroom too late for Dylan, cleaned that up and went back to cooking dinner. The macaroni was ruined. I opened another box, started the water boiling, put the macaroni in and noticed Ethan had been in the bathroom for a really long time. Went to check on him and he was sitting on the rug wiping something off his legs with his hands. Yes, you're right, IT was everywhere. So I threw Ethan in the shower, cleaned up the bathroom, put all the clothes, towels and rugs (Tod says when the rugs are missing in the bathroom, he knows we had potty training problems) in the washer to soak. I went back to cooking dinner and guess what?? the macaroni had boiled over and was ruined! So I opened a third box! Dinner was really late by this time and I hurried and finished it, put it on the table and.... No one would eat it!
(Sorry this is so long, but a lot can happen in an hour and a half). Now, dinner is done, I'm rinsing off dishes and getting snack ready for school the next day. I turn around from the sink and it looks like it snowed in our kitchen and dining area and entry way and hall and family room!! One of the boys' squishy pillows had sprung a leak (I found the dead carcass in the living room) and they were spreading the teeny tiny little styrofoam pebbles all over the house. Apparently, they were taking their stuffed animals sledding! I get the vacuum out and started cleaning the mess. Fortunately they clean up pretty easily. When I unplug the vacuum to move it to the next room I hear water running. Ethan decided to clean up his stuffed bear in the kitchen sink. I let him finish and then put the bear up to dry. This is when the screaming starts. Ethan is furious with me for putting the bear up. I brought it down, let him feel how wet it was, but it didn't matter, he was on his way! Screaming and crying and starting to really melt down. So the bear went into the garage where the washer and dryer are. Ethan starts slamming into the door to the garage with his other stuffed toys and then throwing himself to the ground. All the while Dylan has been watching and decides, "hey, that looks like fun!" and Dylan starts slamming toys into the door and throwing himself to the ground, giggling the whole time.
About this time I'm about to lose it, too, when "Dragon Tales" comes on the television. The screaming and crying stop, both boys start singing with the tv and when Tod gets home, everything is wonderful. With all that happened, bed time started late so Tod was able to put them to bed after all.
til later
It's funny how things can be going really well and then start to fall apart in a matter of minutes. Take Monday afternoon for instance. A good day all day until about 5:30 when Tod IM's me to tell me he's in a conference call with Taiwan and will be late coming home. I always feel bad for Tod and the boys when Tod can't at least be there for bedtime. Anyway--I put on some water and started cooking macaroni for macaroni and cheese. While the macaroni was cooking, Tim called. We chatted for a while until Dylan had to go to the bathroom. I hung up and on our way to the bathroom I noticed the macaroni was boiling over. I turned it off, got to the bathroom too late for Dylan, cleaned that up and went back to cooking dinner. The macaroni was ruined. I opened another box, started the water boiling, put the macaroni in and noticed Ethan had been in the bathroom for a really long time. Went to check on him and he was sitting on the rug wiping something off his legs with his hands. Yes, you're right, IT was everywhere. So I threw Ethan in the shower, cleaned up the bathroom, put all the clothes, towels and rugs (Tod says when the rugs are missing in the bathroom, he knows we had potty training problems) in the washer to soak. I went back to cooking dinner and guess what?? the macaroni had boiled over and was ruined! So I opened a third box! Dinner was really late by this time and I hurried and finished it, put it on the table and.... No one would eat it!
(Sorry this is so long, but a lot can happen in an hour and a half). Now, dinner is done, I'm rinsing off dishes and getting snack ready for school the next day. I turn around from the sink and it looks like it snowed in our kitchen and dining area and entry way and hall and family room!! One of the boys' squishy pillows had sprung a leak (I found the dead carcass in the living room) and they were spreading the teeny tiny little styrofoam pebbles all over the house. Apparently, they were taking their stuffed animals sledding! I get the vacuum out and started cleaning the mess. Fortunately they clean up pretty easily. When I unplug the vacuum to move it to the next room I hear water running. Ethan decided to clean up his stuffed bear in the kitchen sink. I let him finish and then put the bear up to dry. This is when the screaming starts. Ethan is furious with me for putting the bear up. I brought it down, let him feel how wet it was, but it didn't matter, he was on his way! Screaming and crying and starting to really melt down. So the bear went into the garage where the washer and dryer are. Ethan starts slamming into the door to the garage with his other stuffed toys and then throwing himself to the ground. All the while Dylan has been watching and decides, "hey, that looks like fun!" and Dylan starts slamming toys into the door and throwing himself to the ground, giggling the whole time.
About this time I'm about to lose it, too, when "Dragon Tales" comes on the television. The screaming and crying stop, both boys start singing with the tv and when Tod gets home, everything is wonderful. With all that happened, bed time started late so Tod was able to put them to bed after all.
til later
Monday, June 27, 2005
Sunday Morning at the County Fair
What a great Sunday we had!! In the morning we took the boys to the Alameda County Fair. The county fairgrounds are very close to where we live. We got there as soon as they opened, so it wasn't crowded at all. We wanted to do something fun as a family since Tod had to work all day Saturday and he and I were going out on a much needed "date" Sunday afternoon.
We weren't sure how the boys would like the fair so we only planned on staying a short time. And our sitter was coming at noon. We were disappointed to find out that the rides didn't open until 11 am! But we walked around, had some "Lemon Shake Ups" and did some of the activities in the science tent. The boys (and Tod) enjoyed all the puzzles and things and they got to pet an albino snake. I watched that part from far away! By then the rides had opened. We went with the boys on the little roller coaster. I was worried about Ethan, when we rode the Merry-Go-Round at Tilden park, he started shaking and Tod had to hold him. Ethan had already started shaking before he got on the roller coaster. We kept asking him if he want to go on the ride and he kept saying "yes!!". By the 3rd time around the track, he started smiling. He did great! They both did!
Next Ethan wanted to try and win a stuffed animal at one of the carnival games. The girl who ran it was soo nice, she let both boys cheat so they could win a little stuffed toy. By this time Ethan was dragging us around to all the places he wanted to see. He picked "Jumpin' Jumbo" for the next ride. (Elephants that go around and up and down). After much discussion between Tod and I, we decided to let them go by themselves. The carny let Tod put them in and buckle them securely. And then we watched from the ground as they flew in the air! Ethan waved a couple times, Dylan was making his stuffed toy fly like the elephants. Cute.
By now it was time to go. Ethan and Dylan didn't put up a fuss about leaving, but we really think they had a good time and we were so proud of how well behaved they were.
Later in the evening, after Tod and I took the boys for a wagon ride around the neighborhood, we were all out in the back yard. It was beautiful weather for sitting outside. Ethan and Dylan used their toys to make carnival rides for their stuffed animals. The "merry-go-round" and the "ferris-go-wheel". It was so much fun to watch, they are very imaginative (I know I've said this before, but it's true!) Tod got some of it on video tape. I think we may try and get back to the fair next weekend. It's here until the 10th.
til later
We weren't sure how the boys would like the fair so we only planned on staying a short time. And our sitter was coming at noon. We were disappointed to find out that the rides didn't open until 11 am! But we walked around, had some "Lemon Shake Ups" and did some of the activities in the science tent. The boys (and Tod) enjoyed all the puzzles and things and they got to pet an albino snake. I watched that part from far away! By then the rides had opened. We went with the boys on the little roller coaster. I was worried about Ethan, when we rode the Merry-Go-Round at Tilden park, he started shaking and Tod had to hold him. Ethan had already started shaking before he got on the roller coaster. We kept asking him if he want to go on the ride and he kept saying "yes!!". By the 3rd time around the track, he started smiling. He did great! They both did!
Next Ethan wanted to try and win a stuffed animal at one of the carnival games. The girl who ran it was soo nice, she let both boys cheat so they could win a little stuffed toy. By this time Ethan was dragging us around to all the places he wanted to see. He picked "Jumpin' Jumbo" for the next ride. (Elephants that go around and up and down). After much discussion between Tod and I, we decided to let them go by themselves. The carny let Tod put them in and buckle them securely. And then we watched from the ground as they flew in the air! Ethan waved a couple times, Dylan was making his stuffed toy fly like the elephants. Cute.
By now it was time to go. Ethan and Dylan didn't put up a fuss about leaving, but we really think they had a good time and we were so proud of how well behaved they were.
Later in the evening, after Tod and I took the boys for a wagon ride around the neighborhood, we were all out in the back yard. It was beautiful weather for sitting outside. Ethan and Dylan used their toys to make carnival rides for their stuffed animals. The "merry-go-round" and the "ferris-go-wheel". It was so much fun to watch, they are very imaginative (I know I've said this before, but it's true!) Tod got some of it on video tape. I think we may try and get back to the fair next weekend. It's here until the 10th.
til later
Friday, June 24, 2005
It's a Sunny Yummy Day
Good Friday afternoon! It's a beautiful, sunny day, about 75 degrees and there's a nice breeze blowing. Why am I so cheery? Both boys have slept through the night two nights in a row. Getting sleep can really change a person's disposition. I love the new behaviorist!!!! Today she worked with Dylan and he took a nap on the couch after she left. My boys never take naps! They are always go- go- go- morning until, well, morning. Dylan is watching "Crashbox" on TV and Ethan is re-enacting the 3 Little Pigs in the corner of the living room. I can actually work on the computer without interruptions. What a concept!
Tod and I have our big date this Sunday afternoon. We have a sitter from noon to 5 PM. We haven't decided what movie we are going to see. We would really like to see "Hitchhikers Guide" but the closest theater it's playing in is in Oakland (also known as the armpit of California). In the nearby theaters we've narrowed it down to 3: Star Wars 3, Batman Grows Up, and Spy vs. Spy. So if any of you have seen one two or all these movies and have an opinion, please, please let us know. This is only the 2nd time we've been able to go out to a movie since we've moved, so I don't want to waste it on a bad movie.
Tomorrow Tod has an all day training at work, which sucks big time. He gets home so late during the week, the only time we have as a family is on the weekends. Now this weekend he's working Saturday and he and I will be gone all Sunday afternoon. ESY starts Monday, so the boys will be in school from 8:30 to 12:30 for four weeks. I'm trying to think of something fun the four of us can do the short time we have together this weekend. They have a great buffet restaurant here called Sweet Tomatoes. It's salad bar, soups, bread, potatoes, deserts...all the good stuff from a buffet without the nasty, rainbow roast beef. They also have macaroni and cheese and make your own ice cream sundaes. That right there makes it a good place for Ethan and Dylan, although I might have to bring our own sprinkles.
Gotta run, the boys just went outside and I need to check on them.
Til later.....
Tod and I have our big date this Sunday afternoon. We have a sitter from noon to 5 PM. We haven't decided what movie we are going to see. We would really like to see "Hitchhikers Guide" but the closest theater it's playing in is in Oakland (also known as the armpit of California). In the nearby theaters we've narrowed it down to 3: Star Wars 3, Batman Grows Up, and Spy vs. Spy. So if any of you have seen one two or all these movies and have an opinion, please, please let us know. This is only the 2nd time we've been able to go out to a movie since we've moved, so I don't want to waste it on a bad movie.
Tomorrow Tod has an all day training at work, which sucks big time. He gets home so late during the week, the only time we have as a family is on the weekends. Now this weekend he's working Saturday and he and I will be gone all Sunday afternoon. ESY starts Monday, so the boys will be in school from 8:30 to 12:30 for four weeks. I'm trying to think of something fun the four of us can do the short time we have together this weekend. They have a great buffet restaurant here called Sweet Tomatoes. It's salad bar, soups, bread, potatoes, deserts...all the good stuff from a buffet without the nasty, rainbow roast beef. They also have macaroni and cheese and make your own ice cream sundaes. That right there makes it a good place for Ethan and Dylan, although I might have to bring our own sprinkles.
Gotta run, the boys just went outside and I need to check on them.
Til later.....
Thursday, June 23, 2005
Mr. Sandman Showed Up...Finally
Hurray!! Ethan slept all night... well, he got up once, but went right back to sleep and slept until almost 7! It's amazing how much better you feel when you have had a good night's sleep! The behaviorist really worked with Ethan yesterday afternoon for about 1-1/2. Lots of sensory stuff. I think that really helped. Starting next week, she will be coming over 1 hour every day to work with the boys. She did recommend more OT, which the school district is supposed supply, but we will end up either fighting the district over it or paying out of pocket for it or both. The ot they had last year said during our IEP that Dylan, especially, needs it in order to be able to focus and learn in the classroom, but then deferred to ADMINISTRATION ???!!! as to how much ot Dylan could have.... so frustrating
This morning we are going to speech therapy (that we are also paying for out of pocket). The boys really hated it last week when we went. It's not a very "child friendly" place. The waiting area is a few chairs in a circle at the edge of the physical therapy machines and tables. The therapy room is small and sterile with a table, 3 chairs and a metal cabinet. It's a brand new "lifestyles" building associated with one of the biggest hospitals in the area. It has several pools (with poolside lunch service available), workout rooms, a cafe, steam rooms and I can't remember what else. But they couldn't put a kid's table in the waiting area or some pictures on the wall where they have kid's speech therapy. Ethan and Dylan have never had a problem going to therapy before. We'll see how today goes.
This afternoon, I get another 3 hour break to run errands without the boys. That will be nice, especially today since Tod doesn't get home til 8pm on Thursdays.
till later
This morning we are going to speech therapy (that we are also paying for out of pocket). The boys really hated it last week when we went. It's not a very "child friendly" place. The waiting area is a few chairs in a circle at the edge of the physical therapy machines and tables. The therapy room is small and sterile with a table, 3 chairs and a metal cabinet. It's a brand new "lifestyles" building associated with one of the biggest hospitals in the area. It has several pools (with poolside lunch service available), workout rooms, a cafe, steam rooms and I can't remember what else. But they couldn't put a kid's table in the waiting area or some pictures on the wall where they have kid's speech therapy. Ethan and Dylan have never had a problem going to therapy before. We'll see how today goes.
This afternoon, I get another 3 hour break to run errands without the boys. That will be nice, especially today since Tod doesn't get home til 8pm on Thursdays.
till later
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Happy Solstice
Happy Solstice! The longest day of the year was pretty ok in my book. I had a sitter for three hours this afternoon. 1-1/2 hours of that time was to go to therapy, which is a good thing (Hi Sheila), and the rest of the time was spent at Walmart. It was nice to get out by myself. I'm still feeling mighty low these days. I haven't felt 100% since I had bronchitis a month ago. I was starting to feel pretty good last week and then this stomach thing hit over the weekend. I'm getting tired of being so tired. When you're bipolar, it's difficult to know sometimes if you're actually getting sick or the depressive part of the disorder is kicking in. And then there's all the guilt that comes along with not feeling up to doing everything you should be doing. Ah, too complicated to think about tonight, I'm just too tired!
Tomorrow the behaviorist is coming back to observe the boys more. I like her, she's had a lot of experience with autism and she picked up on a lot things that most "professionals" don't. She was doing joint compression and extensions on Dylan and she knew what she was doing! And she was also very understanding of all my concerns. She'll be working with us indefinately at home and she'll also be going on outings with us to help with some of the "elopement" problem.
Sorry, folks, but I'm all done tonight. Time to sit and stare for a while ;-)
til later
Tomorrow the behaviorist is coming back to observe the boys more. I like her, she's had a lot of experience with autism and she picked up on a lot things that most "professionals" don't. She was doing joint compression and extensions on Dylan and she knew what she was doing! And she was also very understanding of all my concerns. She'll be working with us indefinately at home and she'll also be going on outings with us to help with some of the "elopement" problem.
Sorry, folks, but I'm all done tonight. Time to sit and stare for a while ;-)
til later
Monday, June 20, 2005
It's Morning Already??
What a night! Ethan was up and down from midnight on. Of course, he's sleeping now! I'm tired, Tod's tired. Dylan's doing great! He's feeling better today, actually, and has been playing very nicely all morning. He even re-enacted an episode of Sesame St. for me with his stuffed animals... over and over and over. It was actually really cute. He's got a good imagination, too. He turned a drum upside down and put a toy fish in it for Elmo's pet fish Dorothy. And put a small bear in a little house for Telly's hamster. He still doesn't talk much, but he tries really hard. I've always had a notion that he has apraxia, some speech therapists have thought so, too. Apraxia, if I understand it correctly, is when he wants to say the words but just can't get the muscles in his mouth and lips to form the sounds. It's got to be very frustrating for him. I know it is for us, trying to figure out what he's saying sometimes. We started additional speech therapy last week for both boys. But the boys couldn't stand to be apart long enough to work with the therapist individually. Again, And I put them in seperate schools next year, what was I thinking!?
'til later.....
'til later.....
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Nice to Hear From You!
Thanks to everyone who has commented or sent emails! I've heard from people I haven't heard from in a while. In case you are wondering, you don't have to start your own blog to leave a comment. And you can always email me directly. Just check out "view my complete profile" for my email address.
The boys are in bed and I actually ate some food today without getting sick. So, the day is ending up ok. Tod is watching tv and I'm trying wrap things up for the day so I can get to bed at 10. My therapist (yes, I see a therapist) says that sporadic sleep patterns wreak havoc on people with bi-polar disorder (yes, I'm bi-polar). So bed time is 10, which is difficult when you don't even get to eat dinner until 8:30 most nights. But it does seem to help, so I try my best (yes, I try my best).
'Til next time.....
The boys are in bed and I actually ate some food today without getting sick. So, the day is ending up ok. Tod is watching tv and I'm trying wrap things up for the day so I can get to bed at 10. My therapist (yes, I see a therapist) says that sporadic sleep patterns wreak havoc on people with bi-polar disorder (yes, I'm bi-polar). So bed time is 10, which is difficult when you don't even get to eat dinner until 8:30 most nights. But it does seem to help, so I try my best (yes, I try my best).
'Til next time.....
Father's Day
Poor Tod had another crappy Father's Day. Not as bad as last year when an ambulance had to take me to the hospital. But none of us were feeling all that great all weekend. The boys have had colds and are kinda grumpy and I've not felt great since Saturday morning. I did manage to get up with Ethan both at 3 and at 6 am so Tod could sleep in. I made him breakfast and the boys brought their present to him and both said, "Happy Father's Day!". The boys made hand prints in clay kind of things at school for Father's Day. They were still not dry after 10 days. Tod loved them, though, and wants to figure out how to hang them at work. By 9:10 am we were all exhausted and wanted to go back to bed. Tod fell asleep on the couch for a while, then Ethan, then me. It's been a pretty uneventful day. I wanted us all to go to Half Moon Bay today, but everyone was too sick. I bought porterhouse steaks for Tod and I for dinner, but I don't think I could stomache a steak today. I can barely keep toast in my system. I did line up a sitter for next Sunday afternoon so Tod and I can go to lunch and a movie. We've only been to one movie since we moved here in Oct. Can you believe it?? Sitters are so hard to find and even harder to keep. Not that the boys are difficult, but everyone else has lives and families, too. Plus, we just don't know that many people, yet.
Well, enough complaining. Hope everyone had a great day!
Until next time.....
Well, enough complaining. Hope everyone had a great day!
Until next time.....
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Super Boys!
I hope you're enjoying the picture of my super boys!! Aren't they a hoot? They love dressing up, especially Ethan. The other day he dressed up as a firefighter and "saved" a stuffed cat from the top of the sofa! He had to climb up a laundry basket ladder in his dad's black boots to do it, too.
It's funny when you have kids with a disability. You are always looking for things they do that are "normal" or "typical" for their age. But when they do, you wonder, where did they learn that? A couple weeks ago they were playing in the back yard. Our house has a nice sized (for CA) fenced-in back yard. I still have to keep an eye on them, there is so much they can still get into. Anyway, I was in the house and the door bell rang. I answered it and there was no one there. Then I heard giggling and saw too little boys running back to the gate to our back yard!!! Now tell me, is there a "ring the doorbell and run" gene??? I can't imagine where they picked that up. And it was darn hard to keep from laughing when I met them on the other side of the gate and chastized them for leaving the yard.
Bye for now....
It's funny when you have kids with a disability. You are always looking for things they do that are "normal" or "typical" for their age. But when they do, you wonder, where did they learn that? A couple weeks ago they were playing in the back yard. Our house has a nice sized (for CA) fenced-in back yard. I still have to keep an eye on them, there is so much they can still get into. Anyway, I was in the house and the door bell rang. I answered it and there was no one there. Then I heard giggling and saw too little boys running back to the gate to our back yard!!! Now tell me, is there a "ring the doorbell and run" gene??? I can't imagine where they picked that up. And it was darn hard to keep from laughing when I met them on the other side of the gate and chastized them for leaving the yard.
Bye for now....
Friday, June 17, 2005
Well, I've averted disaster so far. Both boys are in underwear, we've had no accidents and it's almost noon here. Dylan opted for underwear over pullups. It's weird Ethan will pee in the potty but won't poop there and Dylan is just the opposite. I guess that's where the egg split.
Ok, enough about potty training. It's safe now, you can read on...
It's been a quiet day, actually. We've had no doctor or therapy appts., no one is coming to the house to observe us or tell us what to do. We're still in our pj's and the house is a mess. I love it!! That is until I'm racing to the bathroom with Dylan so he won't pee all over everything and I trip on a --oops, right, no more potty talk.
So, here's some other news. I'm working on a trip back to Rockford in August. Before I left, I promised my mom (Hi Mom!) that I would come back for her 80th birthday. I'm waiting for the air fares to go back down before I buy my ticket, but it will probably be the 5th - 10th of Aug. I'm going by myself because it's cheaper (obviously) and we're really afraid the boys would be confused by it. They've really had a hard time transitioning here - as have I. One nice thing that has come of this is that Ethan and Dylan are much closer. It used to be that they hardly noticed if the other one was in the room. Last week end we were watching a DVD of Dylan's K class. There were some pics of girls with their arms around Dylan. At the end of the DVD, Ethan started crying. He paced and cried and we couldn't figure out what was wrong. Finally he went over to his brother, held his hand and said, "Dylan MY best friend". Isn't that a tear jerker! And I'm putting them in separate schools next fall......what was I thinking??!!
Ok, enough about potty training. It's safe now, you can read on...
It's been a quiet day, actually. We've had no doctor or therapy appts., no one is coming to the house to observe us or tell us what to do. We're still in our pj's and the house is a mess. I love it!! That is until I'm racing to the bathroom with Dylan so he won't pee all over everything and I trip on a --oops, right, no more potty talk.
So, here's some other news. I'm working on a trip back to Rockford in August. Before I left, I promised my mom (Hi Mom!) that I would come back for her 80th birthday. I'm waiting for the air fares to go back down before I buy my ticket, but it will probably be the 5th - 10th of Aug. I'm going by myself because it's cheaper (obviously) and we're really afraid the boys would be confused by it. They've really had a hard time transitioning here - as have I. One nice thing that has come of this is that Ethan and Dylan are much closer. It used to be that they hardly noticed if the other one was in the room. Last week end we were watching a DVD of Dylan's K class. There were some pics of girls with their arms around Dylan. At the end of the DVD, Ethan started crying. He paced and cried and we couldn't figure out what was wrong. Finally he went over to his brother, held his hand and said, "Dylan MY best friend". Isn't that a tear jerker! And I'm putting them in separate schools next fall......what was I thinking??!!
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Almost bedtime... Ok, it is bedtime. Here's a quick post.
Ethan did so well today with potty training. He went to the bathroom by himself ALL DAY! Well, he had one accident running in from outside and another with a little diarrhea (which you really don't want to hear the details about). I'm so proud of him. Dylan went back to Pull Ups today. Yesterday he decided he wanted to wear underwear like Ethan. I was trying to just train one at a time. But with Dylan on board, yesterday was the day from potty training hell. I mopped floors, cleaned furniture and did laundry all day. The behaviorist from school was here and she was really hard on Dylan in the bathroom, making him sit until he got upset and started banging his head on the shower door. I was not happy and put a stop to it, but I think Dylan was a little traumatized and the word potty makes him cry now. He's back in Pull-Ups today, which is easier on me but I worry how it will affect Dylan in the long run.
On another note, Dylan lost his first tooth yesterday! He came up to me and said "ouchie". His mouth was bleeding and I looked and saw the wiggly tooth. 15 minutes later, the tooth was gone! I have no idea if he swallowed it or what. The Tooth Fairy put money in his piggy bank anyway.
And for those of you who were wondering, yes, I did feel the earthquake the other night. I thought the boys had gotten out of bed and were banging on the walls or something. I told Tod that it sounded like a giant stomping down the hallway. We saw later on the news that there had been an earthquake. I must be a real San Franciscan now!
Bye for now
Ethan did so well today with potty training. He went to the bathroom by himself ALL DAY! Well, he had one accident running in from outside and another with a little diarrhea (which you really don't want to hear the details about). I'm so proud of him. Dylan went back to Pull Ups today. Yesterday he decided he wanted to wear underwear like Ethan. I was trying to just train one at a time. But with Dylan on board, yesterday was the day from potty training hell. I mopped floors, cleaned furniture and did laundry all day. The behaviorist from school was here and she was really hard on Dylan in the bathroom, making him sit until he got upset and started banging his head on the shower door. I was not happy and put a stop to it, but I think Dylan was a little traumatized and the word potty makes him cry now. He's back in Pull-Ups today, which is easier on me but I worry how it will affect Dylan in the long run.
On another note, Dylan lost his first tooth yesterday! He came up to me and said "ouchie". His mouth was bleeding and I looked and saw the wiggly tooth. 15 minutes later, the tooth was gone! I have no idea if he swallowed it or what. The Tooth Fairy put money in his piggy bank anyway.
And for those of you who were wondering, yes, I did feel the earthquake the other night. I thought the boys had gotten out of bed and were banging on the walls or something. I told Tod that it sounded like a giant stomping down the hallway. We saw later on the news that there had been an earthquake. I must be a real San Franciscan now!
Bye for now
PoopyTown
POOPYTOWN From 6-3-05
Yes, I live in Poopytown. A small town with only two toilets which half the town's citizens refuse to use.. and the other half seem destined to clean up. The topic of poop consumes their entire lives. It's what they talk about. It's what they think about. It decides where they go and for how long.
The town is completely divided between the "Poops" and the "I Won't Poop There"s ( known as (IWPT). Today one of the residents, a Mr. Ethan Peter-Gourley, was asked where he pooped and he proudly replied, "UNDERWEAR!" This may be part of the problem. The "Poops" are much larger that the "I Won't Poop There"s but still try to keep from using their size to drag the IWPT's into the bathroom and hold them there for hours until they comply. The Poops soon give in as their feet fall asleep after sitting in that little room for so long. Some Poops have accused the IWPT's of conspiring to poop other places immediately after they have spent hours in the bathroom. The IWPT's just smile.
It's a Messy, messy business here in Poopytown. And who knows how this will all come out. But no matter how much it stinks, they still love each other.
Yes, I live in Poopytown. A small town with only two toilets which half the town's citizens refuse to use.. and the other half seem destined to clean up. The topic of poop consumes their entire lives. It's what they talk about. It's what they think about. It decides where they go and for how long.
The town is completely divided between the "Poops" and the "I Won't Poop There"s ( known as (IWPT). Today one of the residents, a Mr. Ethan Peter-Gourley, was asked where he pooped and he proudly replied, "UNDERWEAR!" This may be part of the problem. The "Poops" are much larger that the "I Won't Poop There"s but still try to keep from using their size to drag the IWPT's into the bathroom and hold them there for hours until they comply. The Poops soon give in as their feet fall asleep after sitting in that little room for so long. Some Poops have accused the IWPT's of conspiring to poop other places immediately after they have spent hours in the bathroom. The IWPT's just smile.
It's a Messy, messy business here in Poopytown. And who knows how this will all come out. But no matter how much it stinks, they still love each other.
AAAHHH! A blank screen! Why did I think this was a good idea??
The day has already started and there's news in the potty training dept. ( potty training is our life right now) I bought a timer last night to help us remember to take the boys to the bathroom since both of them are "in training". Do you think there will be a pavlov's dog affect and they will forever pee when they hear a bell ring? Anyway, Ethan went potty all by himself TWICE this morning already. I didn't have to ask him, he did not say anything, he just went in the bathroom and peed, flushed, washed up! A true miracle! He also helped fold and put away laundry! This would happen on the day when someone from the state is coming by because we asked for extra help with the boys. They will both be angels, I'm sure.
We're going to visit the school where summer school will be held for a lousy 4 weeks for only half a day....it's hardly worth it. Anyway, the boys will have a chance to become a littile familiar with the school and grounds.
So. I gotta run and get us all ready. I'll try to get some pictures up and maybe some other things like the Poopytown story which some of you enjoyed. Yes, it is a horror story! And it's all true!
The day has already started and there's news in the potty training dept. ( potty training is our life right now) I bought a timer last night to help us remember to take the boys to the bathroom since both of them are "in training". Do you think there will be a pavlov's dog affect and they will forever pee when they hear a bell ring? Anyway, Ethan went potty all by himself TWICE this morning already. I didn't have to ask him, he did not say anything, he just went in the bathroom and peed, flushed, washed up! A true miracle! He also helped fold and put away laundry! This would happen on the day when someone from the state is coming by because we asked for extra help with the boys. They will both be angels, I'm sure.
We're going to visit the school where summer school will be held for a lousy 4 weeks for only half a day....it's hardly worth it. Anyway, the boys will have a chance to become a littile familiar with the school and grounds.
So. I gotta run and get us all ready. I'll try to get some pictures up and maybe some other things like the Poopytown story which some of you enjoyed. Yes, it is a horror story! And it's all true!
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