Manic Monday

Week from today we leave for Disney!!! 7 days!!!! I've already started packing the little ones stuff, and packing random stuff (cameras, phone chargers, tickets, bands etc.). I cannot freaking wait!!!
We had Isaac's first speech therapy appointment today, or evaluation. They are going to want him to come 2 times a week. She estimated (we'll get the full written report in the next week or two) that his receptive communication is at 12 months old. She estimated his expressive communication at 6 months old. Now, when your child is 25 months old...it sounds bad. So...whatever they recommend, we'll do.
I have been doing so much lately, I am so ready for vacation!!! 7 days!! We've got Carol and Jack's Christmas Happy Hour on Friday...which is also Eli's birthday. Thankfully, his party is Sunday and we will be here for that!
I am not looking forward to this possible ice. For anyone who read the earlier blog, when it does that...hubby has to go to work and pretty much not come home until it's melting. Well, I'm not too happy about not having him here that much this week, due to meetings anyway...but now I'll be missing him to work for ice. IT NEEDS TO  BE OUTTA HERE BEFORE MONDAY PLEASE...I HAVE TO LEAVE FOR DISNEY!!!!
So...since he's working late tonight, I'll be doing laundry and cleaning, and catching up on Long Island Medium and Hotel Impossible.
Then...I'll be digging through the big kids' closets and packing their clothes too! I am so ready...so ready to go.
I know, I know...I'm rambling, but that's how scattered my brain is lately trying to get everything together for this trip, and trying to set up Isaac's appointments. We have someone from TEIS (Tennessee Early Intervention Services) coming Wed afternoon to evaluate Isaac here. We'll see how that goes. It has been, mentally at least, a manic Monday for me. How was your Monday?!

Black Friday thoughts...

As Thanksgiving is tomorrow, and I will be warm and cozy at Momma's for dinner (I will only be able to hang out at Carol's for a while and won't be able to stay for lunch) and hanging out with my awesome family...I will be thinking about Black Friday. For many mixed feelings and reasons. Last year I was blessed enough to be able to finish dinner and hang out for a while before needing to head up to Walmart to catch their deal on Ipad for Jess. This year, since we have the giant money sucking trip coming up, I will not be participating in Black Friday. I am sad I won't be because again Walmart, and even Best Buy have some super awesome deals. For those with kids old enough to tell you what they want...and nothing else will do basically, the final price (either by discount or gift card bonus) of $199 for an Ipad mini is too good. Sale starts at 6pm? What in the hell were they thinking on that. Unfortunately, if it wasn't a trip year, I would find a way to be that shitty daughter who didn't come to Thanksgiving dinner and be in line for that.

Sad, yes. I think that it is horrible that companies would start sales that early. As a broke mom of 4, looking down the long tunnel of therapies and years of brokeness (heh...that sounds funny) I would sooooo be in that line to try to get my kids something they truly wanted and make them happy. As always, we have budgets for each kid, and if I can get it used...I do. I know Jess and B would be freaking ecstatic if I could pull that off. I am sad that I can't try to get in that deal for them ( I sooooo would take over her Ipad....) and get them the minis. Maybe looking towards next year, when I do get to participate in Black Friday, and can grab some deals there will be one as good...and not so dang early on Thursday. I'm also super upset with Old Navy this year...last year I was able to grab so many clothes for D and Jess on super sale...and this year cause of their million dollar give away...their deals suck. Totally suck. Since running across the Kroger parking lot and having my jeans fall completely down..I am in a position to need new jeans... and unlike last year, they're only going to be 50 percent off. Now...under everyday circumstances...that rocks..on Black Friday...not so much. No doorbusters (other than the million dollar thing) no staggering deals, nada. Just 50 percent across the board. Boooo I tell you. Give me a better reason to be at your store in the middle of the night freezing my rear off in jeans that are too big and may fall down any minute! Oh wait...that's right..y'all are starting at like 7 on Thursday too. Boo again. So..maybe they should all drop the term Black Friday in general...maybe call it...You really don't need time with your fam Thursday?! Like I titled this post, I am both sad I can't catch any deals this year (some needed, others just wished for) and relieved that I'll be at momma's trying not to scare the nephew. He is scared to death of me... but that's ok...D already made the pumpkin pies! OOOOOOoooooo I can almost taste it now...and might...if he doesn't move them in the fridge.....

Tis the season to be baking!

As my oven is now acting better (thank you internet for reset tips and tricks) D and I are in full baking/cooking mode! I love LOVE love it! I absolutely love watching him cook (or grill) and most of the time don't even mind cleaning up the disaster he creates in the kitchen when he does! This year, as always, he will be smoking the turkey for his parents house, and I get to roast (bake, whatever you want to call it) the turkey for mom's house. I did this for the first time last year, and it worked out pretty good so doing it again. Makes me so happy to actually be able to help mom with Thanksgiving dinner!
D and I really love to cook and bake stuff. Over the years I have realized some things that aren't my friend (crescent rolls, or trying to roll them and cut them cute)...as well as homemade cookies. Alot of people mention to D that he should have learned how to make homemade biscuits from his Dad, and I'm sure it has to hit a nerve. He probably thought he had more time to, and so I have been trying to get written down all of the things that my mom makes that I can't find recipes for, or she makes a different way...stuff like that. I have about 4 of 20 right now.
We love watching Food Network. Love it. We watch something, want to make it, and it normally falls between the 2 of us. Either we know that's for D or me, as we are better at different things. When it comes right down to it, we haven't tried alot of them just for money reasons...but still making a list is still fun!
Some of my favorites are Triple D (Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives) and any live shows. I am absolutely a fan of Restaurant Impossible, and Iron Chef when I can catch it. D and I both love Good Eats. Sometimes they show it on Food, but alot of the episodes we can record are on Cooking.
In my quest for recipes to try and file away for better money days, I was watching Triple D and they had the Memphis BBQ tour (focused more on where locals go) and I was super excited! Watched it, and in it was featured Cozy Corner... now I have not personally ever been there, and cannot say it is on my list anytime soon (being broke and all) BUT this little lady of fire was cooking and saying something about the chicken.. I had to rewind. She told Guy, you cook it til it's done. Now when I watch these shows they always tend to give a round about time. Not this feisty lady. And I mean that in the best terms possible. She sounded JUST LIKE MY MOM!!! If I'm trying to get a recipe, ANY RECIPE, from my mom it always ends with cook until it's done!!!!! This is too funny to me, because if I'm cooking it for the first time...I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT'S DONE!!!  I had to rewind that about 3 times, I was laughing so hard and to the point of tears!!!
I honestly thought before watching this...only my mom...then she said it...anybody else's mom do this?!?!
Well, time for me to get back to chores and baking. This year, the furbabies in my life are getting homemade doggie treats! Got about 12 recipes off the internet, tried 2, one came out fantastic! Owen and Cj are super happy about them, and the other...kinda flopped. Time to try out some others! Happy Monday everyone!

Isaac's neurologist visit....

Isaac had his visit today with the pediatric neurologist. Here's what we got:
Diagnosis 1: Sensory Integration Dysfunction
Diagnosis 2: Autism

If you google Sensory Integration Dysfunction..it corrects to Sensory Processing Disorder.
Apparently, Sensory Processing Disorder is NOT an Autism Spectrum Disorder. It's a disorder all on it's own.

What we have next:
~Speech Therapy: Starts Dec 2 at Germantown Language
~Appt with Psychologist
~Occupational Therapy, the in a hurry lady at Methodist Germantown told me to just fax that prescription over. Didn't want name,number or anything. This leads me to believe we'll be added to a wait list. This would be for Sensory Processing Disorder.
~ABA Therapy, or Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapy. Since this is covered by the mental part of the our insurance, not the standard like everything else, I have to call back in the morning and find out where he can go for this. And I do anticipate some kind of wait list for that too.

That's 3 different places for 3 different therapies. My wallet just cried, as I'm sure I will later.

I have read through some sites already, and am thoroughly overwhelmed at what I, in all honesty, need to know like right now. I'm extremely tired today and will just have to stop and try to do some more reading tomorrow, maybe. Sounds bad I know, but I have read a few things to try to prepare me some for how Isaac may react or do at Disney. Could be no big deal, or he could be so overwhelmed by all the people, sights, sounds and smells that he might not eat. I've also read a post or two tonight about how even with all of the senses on complete overload, children with autism have actual had miracles happen at Disney...like saying a first word. I would sob instantly if Isaac actually spoke a word. One word. It could even be "Daddy" ;) I don't plan on changing our schedule at Disney, even after today. I do however plan on taking extra things, like a big blanket that covers most of the stroller to block everything out if he gets overwhelmed, and tons of oatmeal creme pies. His favorite.

What I don't know:
~How often/frequency of any of the above mentioned therapies. Twice a week? Once a week? Every other week? Who knows. No one is giving clues.
~If he falls under high functioning, middle functioning, or low functioning. I'm hoping that the psychologist can help out with this one.
~How we're going to pay for all these appointments, one timers, or reoccurring.
~Potty training. It does not appear that Isaac will be potty training anytime soon. We were just advised by his pediatrician to not even think about it right now. Good thing I just found out that Pampers makes a size 7. It could happen in a few months...might be a year or two or ...
~How D is doing with all of this news? I don't know. He won't really talk to me about it. At all. Yeah, yeah, he doesn't talk most of the time anyway to most people, but with me it's different. When I start to talk about it, he changes the subject or doesn't say anything, or I don't know what. He's processing I guess ;)

At this point I am taking it one appt at a time, and will be doing more reading, or research if you want to call it that, as I get a few minutes. In the meantime, I will be preparing and packing to take my Autistic, fabulous, sensory issue, cute as all get out, chunky, curly haired, looks just like daddy, and full of life little man to Disney...to see his favorite...MICKEY MOUSE! 17 days. Yay!!

Christmas Cards!

The past few years, we haven't been able to send out Christmas cards. We've been focusing mostly on Santa presents and gifts we are giving. This year, even though it's tight, I'm finally able to get back into sending cards. I love sending cards. Must get that from my mom! We receive lots of cards, all types of cards, from friends and family. Most of the are the ones with the pics attached, but this year I'm going to have to separate them. While the pic ones are super convenient, I'll be filling out the cards, address and notes in the next few days and then stuffing with pics as soon as we get back. I realize that the cards..may make it by Christmas and may not, I'm just super excited to be able to send them out this year!!! I've already begged mom for her address book, and need to get my hands on Carol's too...whenever she's not doing something or out of town! It makes me smile when the princess comes in and says that we got a Christmas card and asks if she can open it. In the days of email, fb, imessage, facetime, etc...she still gets so excited about "snail mail" and loves cards too! Must be a family thing...one that I love to pieces. So please everyone, send me, text me email me whatever you want, your address! This is one of those super bright spots in the holiday "rush" or "stress" that I love to do! Sit down, and write to friends and family, pick out the (not lucky enough to be professional ;) pics and stuff the cards. Please please please send me address! I can't find any that I don't have stored in my brain! Thanks!

A letter to vent. No positives in this one.

I wish you were here, so I could yell all of this in your face. At the top of my lungs. But you're not. Why? You're in jail. Again. For who knows how long. There are so many things, but let me start with this: It's really NOT that hard to stay OUT OF JAIL. Really. It's not. Wasn't you this time? Was you this time? Don't care. No excuses. It's not hard to stay out of jail. It's really not. I had to go and tell the big kids tonight that they can't see you this Thanksgiving because....you're in jail. No one knows if you'll be out by Thanksgiving, and I would be no where in my right mind even if you did get out to let them come stay with you. Not that apparently they were coming anyway. If you honestly think that the total you have paid in child support, a WHOPPING $12 per WEEK THIS YEAR TO DATE, is enough....then wow. Even after I told you how much to come up with...and even that added up to $36 a WEEK this YEAR TO DATE, you still couldn't do it. I talked to your mom today (apparently since I know you are in jail). You put her through so much. She seemed so surprised at the small amount you had given me since I told you pay this much in this many weeks, which shouldn't have been too hard...since you've been "working" since the end of August. If your mom is surprised at this amount....then why haven't I been getting anything in weeks? Possession of a CDS. Yeah, this chick had to look that up. Controlled Dangerous Substance. Class 3 huh? Like I mentioned earlier, yours not yours. DO. NOT. CARE. You're in jail, he's in jail. Whoever or both did wrong, and the other is stupid for being around the wrong, or you're both idiots. IT'S REALLY NOT THAT HARD TO STAY OUT OF JAIL. As I want to say that your kids need you, at this point no they don't. They don't need to hear any excuses you may throw at them. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY AND ALL ACTIONS THAT LAND YOU IN JAIL. Yes, I told them. I'm not sugar coating anything, anymore. I'm not telling them Dad said he'd send money...when the odds are way stacked against that. I'm not giving them hope that they'll see you anytime soon (unless supervised by me and D both). NO EXCUSES. IT'S NOT THAT HARD TO STAY OUT OF JAIL. Maybe if I keep repeating that, like you are really ever going to get to read this, it might sink in. Wait, am I actually trying to still change you? Ha. Forgot myself for a moment. How dare you put me in this position to have to tell the kids?! How dare you make me get this information from your mom? Oh yea...YOU'RE IN JAIL...IN NEW JERSEY.. How dare you put this emotional crap on Jessica and Brandon?!?!?! You really think they are proud of their dad being put in jail?! Yeah...cause that's something they are going to go to school and brag about.... HOW DARE YOU?! You say you are a "grown ass man", well then act like it!!!!! Act like someone who knows what's right and what is wrong! Act like a decent dad, who helps his kids out!! And can manage to 1. not break any laws  and 2. stays out of jail! I will pray for you, cause at this point I've got nothing else. I am also going to pray that until you get your life together...I mean really really really really together....you find the words, WITHOUT EXCUSES, to apologize to Jessica and Brandon.
While this blog has helped calm me down, it has also made me realize how the kids may feel embarrased by their dad right now, and sad that he's done something to be in jail. I am not posting this link to fb, but am keeping the blog post up, until my anger has died down. May take a while, I don't know. I feel horrible for my big kids right now, and I don't know what to do for them except love them and give them some space to process it on their own. Always answering any question they had about what I know, and always trying to give them enough love to not feel that void of their dad. I try, knowing it's not the same, not being able to change that...but I'm too tired to keep up false hope and saying maybe.

I finished something!! Yay!!!

Lately everything has been seeming to be seriously rushed, and it seems as though I have so many things half done or almost done. And you would think something as simple as putting up the Christmas tree would be one of those things you can just "get done". Nope. Not this chick! I do believe that right now I have about 3 to 4 different projects going on that I am desperate to finish!!! Here's the list:
1. Bows. I have made a sh*tload of bows it seems lately, and I still have about 4 more rolls of ribbon to do as well as Christmas ones. Need to really get on that.
2. April's diaper cake. (Can't finish that til find that perfect topper at Disney!)
3. Packing for this trip. (Can't finish that either, obvious reasons!) But having all the luggage in my room cause there is already some stuff in them doesn't help much. I'm ready to go!!
4. Touch up paint in the kitchen. For some lovely reason, the table is sticking to the wall peeling off paint. As before, it's taking 5, 6 or maybe even 7 coats. I'm on coat 3.
5. Putting up the Christmas tree. I started this, in what I thought was plenty of time before the kids got home from MDO, and it turns out that even with 3 new sets of lights, I am short one. Y'all! My fake tree didn't GROW over the past year!! How did this happen!!! I replaced 3 bad sets, with 3 new sets...and am still short!!! So there the poor thing sits...no ornaments, just waiting, not lit all the way to the top. Lights were bought tonight, so after the Lego awesomeness tomorrow hopefully it'll come together!
6. Shopping for Mr. E's first birthday. I have been to several stores, and it seems that none other will do for my first nephew. Disney store look out. That's my big Sunday project. After being at the mall...I'll need the rest of the day off. Seriously. And I'm only going to the one store.

As the title of the blog says, I did finally FINALLY finish something! The teacher gifts for Christmas. Since we'll be leaving early I wanted to go ahead and get these done.
TaDa!

 

 

I am not quite sure what I'm more excited about with these!! The fact that I did something new to me, the fact that I finished something, that I did something "craftsy", or that I have a SET for all 12 teachers. That's right, 12 sets, 24 jars, and comes out to about $2 a piece to make! I did have some ribbon I was going to use instead of the yarn, but at the time all that yarn was just hanging out on my counter. Thanks Carol! So maybe for an idea to sell the stuff would be a pretty ribbon and maybe cover the lid. Could still probably do it for just under $3 a jar! And these smell sooooo goood too!

Coming up tomorrow: How my princess did with the robot!!