Stress and Legos. Yep.

The past few days I have felt so much stress it is almost unreal. Fever blister- I hate you. But, yesterday Ann came by for lunch (awesome!) and we got to talk for a while. It was great! Note to self: Make more time for friends (New Year's resolution idea?!)

D has been gone the past day or so to Nashville (boo, I missed him so much) for workshops and crap for his move over to maintenance. Y'all, it is becoming apparent that when it is likely to snow and/or ice...I will not be seeing my husband for large amounts of time. He is to be at work, if not already, 2 to 3 hours before it comes/happens, and cannot leave until it is DRYING. I repeat, DRYING. Hours, days...whatever. DRYING. My poor hubby. And it looks like he might be in for more travel to Nashville. He's not wanting to tell me that...kinda have to pry it out of him. I am really really starting to feel bad for him. Come on vacation! We need family time!!!

 Jessica has been staying after school for WEEKS. She and a few other kids are working on a Lego robot that has to do stuff. Specifically with the topic of Nature's Fury I believe. So, build a robot and program it to do stuff. I could not do that, ever. Pretty sure anyway. So my smart princess will be doing her First Lego League competition this Saturday at UofM in the university center. All day event! After juggling schedules and grandparents, we have it worked out that I can be there with her. I am so blessed. Sometimes I do not think that I get to spend as much time with her (or Landon) as I would like and being able to be there with her all day makes me a very happy mommy! I cannot wait to see what this thing can do!

In the meantime I am making up the sugar scrubs and scented bath salt mixes for gifts- making my kitchen smell wonderful! And with the boys going to school tomorrow, I will add the ribbons to them to finish the jars as well as decorate the house! With all the stress and things to do, buy, pack and plan, I certainly need some cheer. Up goes the tree and anything else I have time for!

29 days...29 days...

Under 30 day countdown. Time to start getting some stuff done. In between laundry and getting Brandon going on back up homework, last night and today I have been printing, ordering, and checking stuff for the trip. Ordered our Photopass +, and it was 20 cheaper than I thought. Thought it was 169, but if ordered 14 days before your trip it's only $149 and does include photos from some of the rides too! (Thanks Christy!!)
Got the shipping notice that packet is ready to ship out! Since we haven't driven, went on and started printing out maps/directions. Since we are staying at a non Disney hotel for 2 days, I had to print those, one from hotel to hotel, one from first hotel to MK for the VMCP, and one from first hotel to Downtown Disney. Also printed our fastpass+  times from both reservation pages. I'm seriously running out of ink. It also printed out all of our dining reservations. VMCP tickets have been printed off months ago. I am so ready to start packing some of the things I know we won't be needing until then, so I might get to that tonight. Luggage tags await! Funny, since Isaac is "Mickey's guest", or free, he didn't get a luggage tag. Boo. My Disney Experience said that our Magic Bands were customizable until tomorrow, so maybe those will ship out to us soon too. I'm a little worried that since our "package" doesn't start until 2 days after we're there, we might be cutting it close for getting them before we leave. O.o
I'm trying not to go into a panic, and I've already warned D that he might have to just go on and take off that Monday so I don't lose my mind. He just grinned and said we'll see. He tends to think it's funny when I'm in a frenzy, and he always jokes around with me more then which makes me laugh despite myself. Rock star hubby is he. Really.
Did the online check in for the hotel already, fast passes done, bands done, directions done, and starting to cross things off the shopping list. Scary, yet super exciting. I'm already getting that feeling that I'm forgetting something.....and we are no where near leaving. Guess it's just I'm ready to go! Like yesterday!!! Break time and Disney Dreaming over, back to B and his homework. Have a magical day!

 

Starbucks?

After much needed hair therapy, and a much needed meeting with counselors and teachers up at the school, I have fabulous hair and direction for Brandon. These teachers are being super awesome and caring when it comes to all things Brandon. The few I thought that were ignoring me, turns out that the school has not updated their email addresses. They weren't getting anything from me. That's what I get for assuming. They are just going to cut him off on the 9th, so his grade will be based on 12 out of 12 grades, not 24 out of 24. I think this is a fabulous idea. I also got basic schedules for him. I know he has certain things every week and I also got to clean out his locker. Good God. He has so much crap. And alot of it is homework/classwork he needed to turn in. Sad thing is, it's almost done. All of it. 75% done. Ah the joys of ADHD. So, while I need to organize him, his stuff, and all the back homework he will be working on this morning, my awesome hubby has run to Starbucks for me. Yep, husband of the century right there. Love that man. We have had Starbucks once. ONCE EVER. The other day we tried a Pumpkin Spiced Latte. I almost spit it all over Target's floor. EW. I love coffee, and love it even more super sweet. So, not sure if it's cause it was in Target or not, but that was gross. Really gross. He liked it. Double ew. So today, since I'm out of coffee creamer (boo) we checked the menu online, and I found something for me to try. White chocolate mocha.

 

While I try this, as soon as he gets back, I getting more and more excited. We normally can't afford anything like Starbucks, but I've always been super tempted to try it. Anyone who has seen me drink coffee knows I like it super dark and almost half coffee and half flavored coffee creamer. So I was almost at a loss on where to start. Didn't want it just going down the drain! OOOOOO he's back! Yay! So, to my Starbucks fans, what's your favorite?!?!? And how do you like the holiday ones? Gingerbread, etc?! Well, on to the homework sorting and Starbucks. Have a feeling I'll need alot of it today! 30 days. Down to 30 days!



Stay at home mom guilt? (April..it's your finished, and almost finished cakes.)

After losing my job a month or so back, I officially became the stay at home mom with no job. I sort of had a job, if you can call it that. Watched the most precious little girl all day and got to play with all the kids. After that ended, with the Disney trip coming up (33 days!) D and I decided we'll take this time to figure out what I'm going to do come Christmas, January and beyond as far as jobs go. Pretty much would have to be all weekend job, or all night job. Gotta be here to take care of the boys all day, since can't afford childcare for them. Yep, I'm not worth more than daycare expense for the boys in terms of employment. Meaning, we'd go in the hole if I were to do a Mon thru Fri. Yes, mom might be able to keep them a day or so, Carol a day or so, but it would wear them out pretty quick and well honestly Carol has so much stuff going on... that's not that reliable on a weekly basis. So, D and I have kicked ideas around...and after Saturday's new,  we talked again about what type of job for me to get and he said..."take Isaac to appointments". I just sighed and said "yeah". One one hand, count blessings and all, I don't have a job and can be there for them and him and all the appointments we can afford. On the other....the afford. How thin do I try to stretch myself to help D. He works his ass off. And I'm not helping (financially). Bad, bad guilt here. Side note: D has a new title at work, not an upgrade, not a downgrade, just linear. He is not going to be overseeing new construction, like the finish of 385 anymore. He is going to be "KING OF THE POT HOLES"! That's what I've been teasing him with. They are moving him from new construction to maintenance. Y'all he is not happy. They are doing it cause he rocks. His patience is all the time there and he never gets upset, yells, or anything. Overseeing maintenance (potholes, broken guardrails, signs, etc) and he is not happy. King of the Pot Holes, I love you!
I have some suggestions about cleaning houses, no one likes their houses cleaned at 8pm. Really. I am horrible at in-home parties. I can sell the stuff just fine, but it's the pushing someone who doesn't want to have a party to have one (getting out of your friends and family list). Mom has mentioned the diaper cakes...gonna give that a whirl I guess. There's not a huge market for it, and it's pretty large on etsy/ebay already so I'm not sure if I'm not a few years late on it. I've done them normally only for friends as gifts, never sold them. Something to think on though. I've done the full of stuff ones, 2 tiered, 3 tiered, and this time doing something different I made April's 4 tiered and simple. Minnie's not done. Gonna get a fabulous topper at Disney World, just for her! I'll post pics of them at the bottom. D wants to make more of these guitars and sell them. He's pushing me to go on and create an Etsy store so he can start selling them. He loves his and wants to keep making them. Got my hands on homemade sugar scrub and scented bath salt recipes...that's what's for Christmas. Started a batch today for presents and it needs some tweaking, but could sell that too I guess.
After reading April's fb post about her hair, made me really want to get my hair cut and colored. I went ahead and cancelled an at home lunch date with Ann, made plans with my Aunt Sallie at Juve, and justified the money to get it done to I deserve something for me too. So sometime tomorrow I'm going to go to see my aunt, and pay probably around 30- 40 dollars to have my hair done. Yep, cost. She's doing it for cost. I don't even want to imagine what she'd charge if I weren't her niece. Really scares me. So right after texting with her, I got horrible guilt over spending the money. HORRIBLE GUILT. Tried the justifying thing again. 1. Have only gotten my hair cut once (by any kind of trained professional, like super cuts) in over 3 years. 2. Have only gotten hair cut by real professional (my aunt, and only my aunt at cost) once in the past 5/6 years. For my brother's wedding. So that's twice I've had my haircut in 5/6 years, because I can't afford it, or other things were more important. Like gas. ;) So, not to be negative...but is it worth it? Should I even have guilt? As always, hair therapy can work miracles. And maybe that's just what I need right now to turn these past few days of blergh around. And hopefully Ann will forgive me! Never get to see that non facebooking chica anymore! Justified or no? Sell on Etsy or get a full nighttime/weekender and have no time with the hubby? Decisions, decisions. Guilt, and guilt. Sheesh. I love being at home with the kiddos. Love it. Love the little breaks too, but for the most part they are my entire life, along with laundry and I don't wish to change it. Just wish there was a good way to help D out, and not feel guilt over getting my hair done at the same time.

 

The first pic is April's cupcakes (some of them) They are onesies.

Second pic is  a 3 tiered cake, before final ribbon and decor.

Third pic is April's finished pink/yellow cake (her colors, and pacifiers in pink flowers)

     and her Minnie cake. Still looking for that perfect topper.

Fourth pic is a diaper cake I did a few years ago for Ms. Susan's soon to be arriving granddaughter. That's what I meant by all done up with stuff. Most of it is normal diaper bag necessities and things and lovey blankets/animals/teethers from specific Target baby wish lists. I love personalization!

What does everyone think of the cakes? Yes or no?
Here are the cakes I did for Eli.

Crazy Days...Caution Bad Language.

As the past hour or two sink in, the whole lecture from the school counselor and are ya trying to make me feel like a bad parent crap...I am thoroughly ready to cry. Yep. Guess I'm a bit stressed. It seems as though I can't find any "fidgets" or "tangle" toys in the immediate area, which are prevalent in autism toy websites. So, gotta pay shipping. Boo to you Toys R Us, Knowledge Tree and Target. Wasn't even checking Walmart.

They have the Melissa and Doug sound puzzles at Toys R Us, but at this time it is not quite in my budget. D still thinks I might be jumping guns on this, maternal instinct is saying nope. He wasn't there for his appt, I heard what she said. On it somewhere, not maybe on it. I'm not jumping shit. And his first speech therapy appt is Dec 2. Apparently Dr Levine is all booked up for Nov and possibly Dec on the autism spectrum evaluation.  But, reason for the blog: I have already done my "thanks" for this month, and just needed to spit out some positive before the negative overcame my brain.

Jessica's blog is hilarious. Knew it would be! I love reading it and wish I had some kind of app to ding my phone when she posts another. If you don't read it, START!

Planning: I feel so retarded, yet somewhat prepared, and always excited! I have planned out who is taking what bag on our trip, and what's going in it! Got a bag for snacks, bag for each kid, D too! Bag for diapers, toys, etc. I know which camera is going where and have realized...I don't have enough luggage tags! Why oh why does Disney only send one per person! Little people come with the most crap!! ;)

I actually got so mad today that I cleaned the kitchen floor. So, positive thoughts: MY KITCHEN FLOOR IS CLEAN!~  Yay!!

Bonus positive today: Carol out of town, so had to take the boys to school. But, my awesome Mom, SUPER NANA, said she could pick them up for me today! Super Nana to the rescue! AGAIN!

In three days, the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party will start! Whoo hoo! Our tickets are for Dec 10, but still it will be awesome to see all the new pics of it beforehand on the Disneyparksblog site. That site always makes me smile, and cakewrecks.com always makes me laugh. If you haven't been to it, go. It's hilarious.

I will leave a little happier than I came, thanks for stumbling along with this one! 34 days...34 days...34 days....

Isaac and Autism

Going into Isaac's 2 year old checkup this morning, I had my list (short ones) of things to ask his dr. Developmental ones. Most of those who are close to us know most of these things, such as my baby is 2 and doesn't talk. At all. Yes, he makes sounds. But no words. None. No momma, daddy, car, dog, cat, ball, go, sip, drink, bye. Not one word. He should be able to almost string two short words together and make a small sentence by this point. Nope. After voicing our concerns, I was asked to take a small survey on a piece of paper. No biggie. Took 3 minutes. 20 questions about my Isaac. So gave it back, dr came back and had over half circled. It was an autism question screening. Dr said that the circled answers didn't meet what should normally be the other answer. Ok. Next step is phone calls. I will be awaiting phone calls this week and maybe the next. First step up...speech therapy. This is a go. First call will be coming to set up speech therapy for Isaac. Next up, phone call to get appt with Dr Levine (sp?) who is an autism specialist for Memphis Children's Clinic. Dr. Levine will be the one to tell us WHERE Isaac is on the autism spectrum. That's what I was told by his regular dr. Not if he is on it, but where. After the assessment by Dr Levine, it was advised to me from his regular dr to get on the "extremely long" waiting list (dr's words not mine) for the Boling center downtown. Regular dr said this Dr. Levine might be able to pull a string or two to get him in line sooner rather than later, but who knows on that. I don't even know what it does.

As I try to process everything, all I can think of is...I see alot of appointments in our future. Neither thinking this in a good way or bad. Just more like..I need to be prepared for doctor/therapy appointment onslaught.

I told Dennis, sent a few texts out to family about it this morning after I got home, and am still just kind of overwhelmed with what I think I should be looking up. That prepared thing again. I have no clue what is in store for my baby with speech therapy. Or any other therapy he might get/have. I'm also dealing with D, and him not wanting to talk about it at all. Didn't even want to call his mom and tell her. So I sent her a text. He says he's not in denial, just processing it I guess but it doesn't help me that he's shut up completely. I'll leave him alone for now though. Everyone processes differently ;)

So, this afternoon we are going to go shopping (Halloween clearance and all!) and just hang out, not doing anything too special. Maybe after the little ones go to bed, I'll look some stuff up, just trying to get my head around it and what we may or may not be in store for. Not one to totally freak out, but I'm also not about to take his pacifier away like originally planned either. It's breaking, last one too, and we were about to throw it away and say no more....well...now....think we'll buy another set until I know more.

Hi ho, Hi ho, it's off to Target we go! (And Michael's...did I mention Halloween clearance?! I did, ok well...just saying!)

Successfull Halloween and Days of Thanks

Halloween was a huge success for us! I still haven't managed to get us all to go at the same time, but maybe I can figure something out by next year. Jess stayed home and gave out candy for 30 min while D, Carol (MuMu..that's right..pronounced Moo Moo), Big Jack and I took the boys around the short block trick or treating. Ooooo they loved it. Landon being the vocal child, did all the talking and the boys got lots of candy! Isaac was so good about holding his pumpkin and loved the walk! We just had to keep going...no stopping for that monster! When we got back, it was Jess and B's turn. I don't know where they went but hour later they came back super excited about all of their candy too! Yay! Happy kiddos!

As a few of my friends are doing on fb, posting something they are thankful for, one day at a time, I thought I might just flip out the list in one big chunk. I'm not all that great for remembering to do stuff like that, so here it goes! These are in no particular order, some serious, some might seem silly, but they are mine ;)

1. My hubby. Always.
2. My mom. Keeps me sane, mostly.
3. My daddy. Makes me laugh when he gets all mad.
4. My kiddos. All 4 of those beautiful, wild, silly babies.
5. My big family. Don't have as many members as D, but I wouldn't trade them.
6. My furbabies.
7. The air conditioning and the heat, lately both in the same day.
8. The in laws. Yep, I sure did luck out on that one.
9. My house. Love it. Needs some more lipstick, but love it.
10. The washer and dryer. Those get serious workouts every single day.
11. Indoor plumbing. No explanation necessary.
12. My cellphone. (Cracked screen and all)
13. Internet. Just makes life easier sometimes.
14. Disposable diapers and wipes.
15. My hair straightener...ok...Jessica's hair straightener.
16. Let's just group all personal hygiene products (soap, shampoo, toothpaste. etc.)  together, shall we!
17. Our cars. Paid for and momentarily working.
18. This wonderful Disney vacation. Disney or not, but YAY IT'S DISNEY, we needed a vacation all together for a long time coming.
19. Nap time. Mine or kids or both ;)
20. Friends. New, old, renewed, lifelong, since diapers, and even only on fb.
21. Yoga. Need to do more of it, and I'm working on it, but love it.
22. DVRs. Record, pause and fast forward. NO DON'T DELETE THAT!
23. Date nights. Few and far between for us, but we do get a few here and there.
24. Getting to hear the hubby play one of his guitars. Guilty pleasure here. He hardly ever does anymore :( but every once in a while I can catch it.
25. Chinese food. Mexican food. Chocolate. Italian food. American food. Fast food. :)
26. Lazy Sundays.
27. When I don't have to cook dinner or do dishes.
28. Chore time for the kids. Brandon + Swiffer sweeper = dog hair off of all hardwood floor in 20 seconds.
29. Drinks with caffeine. Coffee, Coke, Dr Pepper. Love.
30. Last but certainly not least, GOD.