A Very Slow Slow Cooker

So, I thought I would get a jump start on things today and throw a rump roast, peppers and onions in the slow cooker so we could have fajitas for dinner tonight. Great plan, except S1 got out of school early since it was the last day. By early I mean they had him home by 10:30 am! Yet I still managed to stick to my game plan.

I also managed to get the rest of the corn, tomatoes and cucumbers planted in my garden. Then it was time to go to the gym. Well, when we got back I took a look inside my slow cooker. To my utter horror I saw that the contents did not appear to be very cooked. That's when I looked at the knob and found that some little hand had switched it from Hi to Lo. Ahhhhh!!!! So my plans for dinner tonight have become my plans for dinner tomorrow night. Now I just have to figure out what to feed them now. Corn dogs anyone?

Run, Don't Walk

So, I just found the deal of a lifetime at Wal-Mart. Okay, maybe not the deal of the century but still a great bargain. S1 and S3 both wear the same size diaper even though there are 5 1/2 years between the two of them. This afternoon I discovered that I was down to my last four diapers. I normally buy a box of size 6 diapers every 2 weeks or so. Since Dave has a gig tonight I knew I had to make the diaper run before S1 got home. Down to the Wal-Mart I ran with S2 and S3 and made a bee line for the diapers. Of course they were all out of the boxes! And all out of size 6, in the brand that I usually buy, on the shelf. Luckily I checked the center aisle. There they had, on clearance no less, mega packs of size 6 diapers --- for only $7!!!!! So, I bought every last package they had out! All ten of them. I figure that should hold me for a while. And should S1 happen to potty train before then, I shall simply be grateful. For those of you who want to know just how good my deal was, here's the break down.

Usual box of diapers: 64 for $15.46
Clearance Mega Pack: 52 for $7 (usual price $12.74)

So, for 520 diapers I paid $70. Normally this would have cost me $126 so I saved $56 on diapers. Hooray. There's not even a coupon out there that could hold a candle to this deal. If you've got kids in diapers, maybe you want to run, not walk, down to your Wal-Mart and see if they've got this killer deal for you too!

The only downside to this tale is this: if the diapers are on clearance, does that mean they are getting rid of my favorite brand? Sniff, Sniff. I guess I'll have to wait and see, hopefully they are only changing the packaging.

P.S. It's the White Cloud brand.

I can't wait

Okay, this post has absolutely nothing to do with my kids. It's all about me. I am so excited for two things this summer. First, the new Harry Potter movie. The Order of the Phoenix has been my favorite book in the entire series so far so I am totally pumped to see it. Second, the new Harry Potter book. I know that when it comes out I will be at the evil empire, Wal-Mart, at midnight to buy the book at that lovely roll back price. Then I will stay up as long as my eyes will remain open, devouring it's pages. Dave will have to stay home all the next day while I eat, sleep and breathe Harry Potter. Until I finish the book all diapers can wait! Dave will also have to teach Sunbeams on Sunday because, although I will not skip church to read Harry Potter (it will take all my willpower to do so) I will be so tired from staying up all night reading that I will not be coherent enough to teach, just awake enough to tell the kids to sit back down and be reverent! Or if I'm really lucky one of my kids will be sick so I can stay home and read while they sleep. No, I'm not really wishing that, okay, maybe just a little bit. I should be done reading it by Sunday night. Then Dave can start the book. But, whenever he's not, I'll probably grab it and read through it again! That's what he gets for marrying a speed reader. Or maybe we'll just buy two copies and when were finished donate the extra one to the library. I'm sure they've got a waiting list!

Climbing like a monkey

So, we were at the zoo about a month or so ago and we were in the kid's discovery land, or in other words, playground. S1 amazed me by climbing up a rope ladder, getting on the platform and then zipping down the slide. This really should have prepared me for where I found him the other day. His motor development has come a long way.

S3 was down for a nap. I could hear the bunk bed squeaking because someone was shaking it (it's a huge metal beast). I assumed that S2 was up there goofing around and my ire was instantly up since I did not want him to wake up S3. So I go storming down the hall, totally unprepared for what I saw when I opened the door. There was S1 on the top bunk, having the time of his life! It's amazing how easily entertained he can be at times. Anyway, I was stunned, the ire quickly disappeared and was replaced with wonder. We've had that bunk bed up for at least six months now and I do not recall, even once seeing S1 interested in climbing up to the top! But there he was. Luckily I was able to easily convince him to come to me and I lifted him down. However, when the babysitter was here that night she found him up there twice more!

As David said, "That'll teach you to leave the ladder leaning against the house!" Yeah, just what we need, S1 on the roof. FYI, I only do that in the front yard where the kids can't get to it. Even if they couldn't climb it, they could still knock it over and get hurt.

But back to the climber. My main concern now that he can climb up is how he will get down. I can just picture S1 just bailing over the side to get down. Maybe today we'll work with him to try and teach him how to properly dismount. Now that I think about it, S1 may have been inspired by his brothers antics. The other day Dave put S3 up on the top bunk with S2 and they had a riot together up there for a while, attended by a parent of course. Now S3 goes to the bed and begs to be put back up on top, although I refuse because I don't have all day to sit in their room and watch him play on the top bunk. Maybe S1 saw all this, even though you don't think he is paying attention or cares, and began to think, "Hey, maybe there is a reason to get up there, it looks like fun! I should give it a try."

SO unfair

Okay, I realize that life is in no way fair. But sometimes it just kills me how unfair it can be. I just read this article, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18660812/ , on msnbc about how they are starting to figure out ways to diagnose autism in infants. Great. What killed me and made me cry was reading that the state of California PAYS the $70,000 a year needed for intense therapy that so often helps kids with autism to function much closer to "normal". Why does a child born in one state reap such benefits when those in another get almost none? Aren't we all supposed to be part of the same great nation? Dave and I were both born and raised in California, our parents still live there. We got transplanted due to school and job availability in California (slim pickin's for music teachers as most programs had been cut). During the time that S1 would have received this intervention, it wasn't even possible for us to live in California due to Dave's schooling.

It's so frustrating to know that because we didn't have $50,000 to $70,000 for therapy every year for three years that S1's development may have been hampered for the rest of his earthly life. I know that we did all we could for him at the time and that the Lord will bless S1 and us to deal with whatever comes our way, but sometimes the injustice of it all is overwhelming. Thanks for letting me vent. If we ever have another child and they are autistic, guess where we are moving back to?

Medic Alert

S1 now has a medic alert bracelet. His grandpa has one and since he had a discount for a family member, generously purchased a bracelet and one year membership for S1. So, the next time he "escapes", people will be able to identify him. He got a cool sports band with music notes on it, not that he has noticed mind you. S1 has definitely noticed the bracelet, he has tried to rip it off a few times, but I don't think he has paid any attention to the notes yet. He hates wearing things like bracelets.

It gives me more peace of mind. But people constantly amaze me. Like a couple of weeks ago at church. I sat him down, right next to his teacher, she knew he was there. I then went to prep my Sunbeam class room and lesson, Dave was playing with the orchestra. When I went back into the primary room, I looked at S1's class and he was not there. I asked his teacher, "Where's S1?" She said, "Huh?"

He was no where in the primary room! Right outside the primary room there is a set of double doors going outside. Apparently his teacher had thought someone was missing but couldn't think who wasn't with the class. S1 just slipped out when she wasn't looking I guess, it's happened to me. Anyway, so I immediately am worried he's gone outside but I couldn't see anyone when I opened the doors. So I headed back down to the chapel where he likes to sneak off and play the piano. No luck. As I was headed back outside, someone called that they found him.

He had gone across the hall into the Sunday School room. He was sitting next to a sister looking at her baby's book. No one in there bothered to wonder what a primary kid was doing in Sunday School, without a parent, just hanging out. Or to come and tell anyone in the primary, or find his parent! We've been in the ward for over 2 1/2 years people! The ward isn't that big, we are rather small. So anyway, it just amazes me how apathetic people can be. It just makes me realize how much danger S1 will be in if he does get out in the world alone because if the people who know him and know his disabilities are so apathetic, what can you expect of those who don't?

Budding Artist

What is worse than having a two year old who has discovered that your walls are his canvas? Having a seven year old autistic kid who discovered the same thing! Now my walls, especially the kitchen ones, are covered in all sorts of lovely designs. Luckily the markers are washable, so that damage is minimal. It's when they've grabbed the crayons or a ball point pen that we have the main problem. Sure, magic eraser gets off the crayon, but the ball point pen can be more difficult. Maybe I'll try rubbing alcohol tomorrow. But what's the point because as soon as I am putting my cleaning supplies away the little artist will be at it again!

Life in the Fast Lane

We're only in the fast lane, or maybe it would be better said the slow lane because everything is just speeding by! I can't believe that we are already in May. Wow. Lately I've been stressed with my calling because all three boys are home while I try to run Activity Days. Managing six girls ages 8 and 9 and trying to help them learn something worthwhile while having fun is a challenge in and of itself. But when you throw one boy in who is constantly interrupting and two more who think they are activity day girls and want to participate, it can almost drive you insane! By the end of July I will have eleven girls due to new move ins and birthdays. It shall be an adventure.

My calling as a Sunbeam teacher has been a stretch too. Dave has been playing with the orchestra a lot for the broadcast so he's missed quite a few Sundays. By the time I get the boys ready for church and wrangle them all through Sacrament meeting, my patience is pretty thin when I get to my seven wriggly sunbeams. Having to police them while teaching wears thin. Don't worry, I don't swear at the sunbeams, but I definitely am drained by the time we get home on our day of "rest".

S1 has been gaining weight now that we have dropped the Zonegran. It's only a couple of pounds but he sure looks healthier. He loves school. He really enjoyed having his aunt Katie around last week because she kept playing the flute. It was a bit shrill for his tastes (he prefers the tuba) but he still liked it none the less. One of his math goals is to match like objects. He has been matching silverware at school so now his chore at home is to put away the silverware. I of course have to stand behind him so he doesn't run away, but when I hand him a spoon, fork or butter knife, he puts it in the right slot in the drawer. Well, he pretty much chucks it at the right slot so it makes it half way in and then I straighten it. We'll work on accuracy later. He just needs to have a chore to do.

S2 is quick as a whip. He's enjoyed visiting with his cousin Lorna this last month. Since she left he talks about going with her to the reptile museum, the animal farm and the zoo. She is a year older and very bright too. The only down side to the visit is that he heard how well she reads. Afterwards he didn't want to read because he couldn't do it as well as Lorna. It took a few days before we could convince him to read again, assuring him that he read very well for his age (4) and that when he was a year older like his cousin, if he kept practicing, he'd be reading just as well as her.

S3 is no longer my baby. He turned two last week and is one rough and tumble kid. S2 and S3 love to wrestle and rough house. I am forever telling them to calm down. This also meant that I finally took his bottle away. He only got two a day, one at nap time and one at bedtime. Oh how it broke my heart when he cried for his ba ba so I caved a little and let him have one filled with water. He yelled NO! and wanted nothing to do with it. So I just left it next to him and let him know that if he changed his mine it was there. He's such a sweet kid, always giving hugs and saying "tank two".

Dave is doing well at school, having a blast teaching. He also loves playing with the orchestra. Dave is also part of a couple of groups so he plays weddings and other gigs a couple times a month. Currently he has the opportunity to be the Assistant Marching Band Director at BYU but we aren't sure it would work out well for our family. It is full time for six months only (July 1 to December 31) and then nothing. Then to be repeated year after year as long as they/we wanted. Of course Dave would give his right arm (and possibly his wife's also) for this opportunity but we'd have to figure out what he could do to support us from January to June! As Dave has said, he loves to do everything and it's hard not to be able to do it all. Well, isn't life hard? ;)

There's the short version of what we are up to. I'll write about my "vacation" later.

New Photos

I have posted new photos from S1's birthday and from Christmas. More updates will follow, how soon you never know!

Learning New Words

I read this article on Yahoo earlier today and thought I would post the link for all to read. It talks about how autistic kids have trouble learning new words compared to other kids. Yet they can still distinguish between real words and fake words. Enjoy.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20070504/hl_hsn/autistickidshavedifficultieslearningwords