Family

Today my brother-in-law and sister-in-law are visiting from Ohio. We are so excited to have family around. We will of course visit the famous Mall of America and show them the other fine sites that Minnesota has to offer.

Colin and Morgan will be trick or treating tonight with Todd. I will sadly miss this for I am working. This will be both of their first real trick or treating experiences. They both missed last year because they were sick and before that Colin was too little to understand. I hope they have a great time and Todd is going to take pictures for me. It is still hard though. I wish I could be there, but next year I promise I will.

The kids take everything in stride and don't realize how much they are sacrificing for me to be out here going to school. They miss out on a lot of Mommy time and it is tough for me to leave sometimes because they are both crying and begging for me to stay. I have a wonderful babysitter though and Morgan really loves her. It does make it easier being away and knowing that she is taken care of. Now that Colin goes to school, he is busy all day learning new ways to cope with his autism. They are both growing up so fast..too fast.

Anyways, Happy Halloween everyone! Hope you get lots of candy!

A Toddler Poem

After a long night of crying and tiredness, I was still laying awake in my bed and this poem came to my head If you have ever been around kids or have kids, you will truly understand! Enjoy!

Daddy and Mommy are home from work and the night is so young
Two screaming children are on the run
One is crying and hitting away
The other is laughing and wanting to play

Mommy looks at Daddy and smiles just then
Daddy looks at Mommy and asks "What time is it again?"
The kids stop screaming and want to eat
Mommy grabs some cereal and they think it is a treat

Macaroni and Cheese is on their plate
Daddy wishes it was a big fat steak
"Time for a bath!" Mommy yells
She fills the tub up and helps it makes them not smell,
Like mac and cheese, dirt and sweat
The kids jump in and Daddy gets all wet!

They dry them off and put their pj's on
The kids start singing their favorite song
They usher them off to bed and they both sit upright
Now turn off the light and say good night

The little girl smiles and falls fast asleep
The little boy just sits and weeps
He doesn't want to go to sleep now
He wants to play
Mommy and Daddy can only pray

As their patience runs thin
The little boy just grins
He is sleeping in the middle of Mommy and Daddy once again

Mommy is so tired and Daddy starts to snore
The little boy tosses and turns and kicks mommy more and more
Mommy rubs his back as he drifts off to never never land
Good night my little man

As Mommy almost finds sleep
The little girl starts to weep
A really long sigh comes from far away
And Daddy goes in to save the day

All is quiet for the moment right now
But Mommy and Daddy are still awake some how!

Really cool store

While reading some more material on Autism, I ran across a link to an autism store. It has everything from stimulating toys to clothing. I was very intrigued by everything in the store, but teared up at some of the shirts. It is a constant battle to control emotions when looking at Colin. One minute he seems completely "normal", and the next minute I wonder if he will be able to take a girl on a date. It is so hard. Early intervention is key and he is really coming along with his therapies. I just hope that he feels like he fits in and not a stranger around other people. He is a great kid! I can't imagine life without him. This past weekend we were in the car and he kept yelling "Mommy! Mommy!" I looked back him and said "What Colin?" "I love you Mommy!" My heart melted.

The link is http://www.autismlinkstore.com

All is quiet

I am sitting here browsing my email and fellow blogger sites when I realize how quiet it is. I am usually the one that is praying for patience with my children and begging them from just 5 minutes of peace. I have Colin off to school and Morgan is taking a nap. I still have Sesame Street on the T.V. because I need some noise. Elmo is currently dancing on T.V. and God help me...I know the song and am singing with him! Oh Lord I need a vacation! I think I prefer to live my life in chaos versus the quiet. Though, I wish my chaos didn't involve my children constantly getting sick. That would be a nice change!

Small Miracles

As I have stated before, my son Colin has autisim. With this comes good days and bad days. Today, was a good day! Colin suddenly has been refusing to wear his coat. It came out of no where and it was not a good thing since it is supposed to snow all week. This morning it was 32 degrees outside. There was no way I was letting him out of the house without his jacket! So I did what any good parent would do...I used reverse psychology! Colin was running around the house with only shorts on. I told him to come outside on our balcony with me. We stood out there for approximately 5 seconds before he said "Brrr..it's cold outside, I need jacket on!" Mission Accomplished! I got him dressed and without any refusal the jacket slipped right on! WHHHHEEEWW!

On a side note, he is now learning what right and left are. He told me to turn left this morning and was super excited when I said "That's right Colin!" He quickly responded.."No, Mommy, that's left!" Smart kid huh?

It is finally happening...

I live in Minnesota. When you think Minnesota, you think what? Flowers? Trees? Lovely huge shopping mall? No...no....no...you think SNOW! Yes, my friends...it is finally snowing outside. On this lovely day in October, the weather has turned from beautiful fall days, to cold, artic tundra! AHHHHH!!!! It isn't sticking to the ground yet, but it is coming. Soon, I will be amongst thousands of fellow Minnesotians bundled in their parkas, showing off their new boots, and peaking out between layers upon layers of warm clothing. I am scared! Did somebody say Barbados?

Happy Halloween!

Todd, Colin, Morgan, and I went Pumpkin shopping. Colin touched every pumpkin the place had to offer until he found the perfect one. They painted them and had such a great time!

Morgan will be going as Tinkerbell and Colin will be going as a tool man. Fun times!

Voluntary Insomnia

My son, Colin, and I are experiencing the 3rd shift life at the moment. Most parents understand the late night rituals with the newborn. Unfortunatley, Colin is 3 1/2 and really wanted to "lay back down NOW!"

You should probably know why we are up this early/late. Colin is autistic. With autisim about 30% of kids have seizures. That is a pretty significant amount. To rule out any possibility of him having these they of course have to run a test. A sleep deprived seizure test to be precise. This required the poor kid to go to bed at 11 p.m. and get up at 2:30 a.m. His test is scheduled for 7 a.m.

Here are some play by play moments...CAUTION! A very angry 3 1/2 year old ahead!

2:15 a.m. "BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!" The alarm clock has gone off. Todd reaches over and slaps snooze. I role over and mumble "I can't believe this..."

2:24 a.m. "BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!" Todd slaps the snooze again. I role over on my back and stare at the ceiling. I wonder if Colin will take care of me in my old age?

2:33 a.m. "BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!" I finally get out of bed. I go out to our living room and proceed to to pick a few things up. I turn on the computer and get pbskids.org up. T.V is on and armed with Bob the Builder DVD. The Fridge is now holding a 8 oz sippy cup of chocolate soy milk. And my worst nightmare is just laying there in bed..lurking...snoring....and drooling. I can't do it. How the heck am I going to keep this kid awake? (on a side note..no caffeine for him either..haha!)

2:37 a.m. "Colin! Colin! COOOOLLLLIIINNNN!" "Mommy, no no no...lay back down!" I pick Colin up and stand him in our kitchen. "Colin, let's go get a pop and take the trash down" "I LAY BACK DOWN NOW MOMMY!" Oh, Lord, what the heck have I gotten myself into?????

2:46 a.m. I have convinced the "grump" to go to Wal-mart.

3:00 a.m. We have entered Wal-mart and all ready the stares have started coming. What parent in there right mind would have there child in Wal-Mart at 3 a.m. Well...I am not in my right mind am I? I haven't slept! DUH!

3:23 a.m. Colin has grabbed a toy from the toy department and we are making our way to the ice cream aisle.

4:00 a.m. We are at the check out. The cashier so boldly and rudely ask me "Why do you have him out this late?" I should have really come up with a great answer, but it didn't come to me. I told the truth and then she decided to fill me in on her 4 kids medical history *NOTE Who cares?

4:15 a.m. Colin is in our living room playing with is new toy, I am eating cookie dough and have decided to start this blog. Todd is snoring in the bedroom. Morgan is sound asleep in her room.

4:41 a.m. I am now being kicked off the computer so my "grump" can play...

4:42 a.m. Morgan is awake.....oh geesh!

4:43 a.m. Can I go to bed yet?

4:44 a.m. I need coffee.....NOW!

4:45 a.m. I give up and play with Colin's new ball launching toy.

5:00 a.m. I finally can watch the news over infomercials. I was seconds away from buying a new set of culinary tools.

5:30 a.m. My friend calls me to let me know she is on the way to go to the hospital with me. I am glad that someone is going to keep us awake!

5:35 a.m. "Wakey, Wakey Todd!" Colin is in the bath and I am in desperate need of a shower.

6:20 a.m. We are on our way to the hospital

7:00 a.m. Colin is fighting with every last bit of energy he can muster against the EEG tech. My friend and I are holding him down with all our might...strong kid!

9:30 a.m. We are almost home and Colin is still awake!!

11:30 a.m. I am on my way to school..no sleep and all and Colin is still awake..Good Luck to my babysitter!

And that my folks is my voluntary insomnia story!