Out of the mouths of babes

Spencer: "Work, go to school, AND take care of us? That's a lot!"

I Love FREEdom

We took Alex and Spencer to their first movie at the theater today. We saw "Ponyo." It was cute. Alex made it about halfway through, and probably ate his weight in popcorn. I wish we had one of those theaters that does the sensory friendly film showings around here. Then Alex could have stayed for the whole thing and we wouldn't have had to worry about him disturbing anyone.

On the way home we found free wooden bunk beds for the boys. Score! Spencer is so excited!

Best Indoor Therapeutic Device Ever!

Vestibular input really helps Alex get focused when he's scattered. We hung a chin-up bar from their bedroom door and added an ordinary swing. Voila! Vestibular input whenever he needs it. He's very happy!

New Developments

We took Alex to see a new developmental pediatrician on Friday. She is local and comes highly recommended by many parents and professionals. She said she sees so many wonderful things in Alex that she just wants to pull out of him. She feels strongly that Alex would benefit more from being in a dedicated classroom at the Annex. Apparently they are better equipped to draw out children like him and get them to interact socially. I believe that if he were more aware of other people and more interested in interacting his language would blossom. It's all in there, but he needs motivation to use it. I was considering checking out the Annex for kindergarten, and now I definitely will be looking into it.

I received a message on Facebook from a woman who has developed a discrete video modeling system for teaching children on the spectrum things such as social skills, spatial relationships, and reading. Her own children have benefited from it, as well as others. I had never heard of DVM before, but now I'm doing some research on video modeling for children with autism and it looks promising. At any rate, it can't hurt. I'd be happy to share the link to her video with anyone who wants it, she just asked me not to post it on a public site.

Spring

I realized with delight this morning that I'm going to enjoy spring so much more this year because I'm practicing being more mindful and in the moment. All of the trees are budding. The orchards I drive past on my way to work are going to be gorgeous soon. I love this rainy day we're having, it's peacefulness, it's cleansing, and it's promise of green to come.

One Singular Sensation

Several weeks ago I started singing "One" (from "A Chorus Line") to Alex. It wasn't long before he was requesting it by name and singing along (this is the kid who gets stars in his eyes when Julie Andrews starts singing in the opening number of "The Sound of Music"). Last week I checked out the DVD of the 1985 movie version of "A Chorus Line" from the library so Alex could see the number "One" in action. He gets positively giddy watching it! We watched another number from it today and he was actually imitating the dance moves, my little budding Broadway star.

Sickness, School, and Spelling

Alex has his first case of bronchitis in about a year. This is great, considering that, for a while, he got it about once a month. Not so great in the fact that he's sick. A sick Alex isn't much different from a well Alex. Just a little less energetic and with a smaller appetite. He actually didn't finish his popcorn this afternoon, and this kid LOVES popcorn (like his mama).

I'm home today with Alex today. A day off from work? Not what I wanted. I've already missed 12 hours this week, between the stomach virus Alex had earlier this week and my bad back. I've been at home more than in the office this week. I feel awful about it. I hate missing work. I can't handle the guilt!

Spencer decided last weekend that he want to pee on the potty. This was his decision, not prompted at all by Mommy and Mike. He's been wearing pull-ups all week and using the potty pretty consistently at home. It's much harder at the sitter's because he doesn't want to miss anything his friends, Lucas and Abigail, are doing (they are the Three Musketeers). Maybe I'll actually have only one kid in diapers by the time they turn four. Oh, how wonderful that would be!

Every Tuesday and Thursday morning Spencer's fellow Musketeers go to preschool at a local nursery school. Spencer stays at the sitter's house while they're gone and misses them so much. I was able to get him into their class and he starts there next week. He is so excited, as are Lucas and Abigail. I'm thrilled. It will be really good for Spencer; he'll love the socializing and organized activities.

Alex is learning the "at" group of words. He knew how to spell cat. Today in the car and told him that s-a-t spells sat and b-a-t spells bat. Then I asked him what h-a-t spells and he said "Hat!". Figured it out all on his own! I can't wait to get him that Tag for his birthday. He'll be reading in no time.

Counting and the Human Body

Alex learned how to count backwards from 10 from a toy about a year and a half ago. He knows how to count to 40 or 50, by rote. Lately he's been counting backwards from 20. He just figured out how to do it on his own. My little smarty. (I especially love when he says "five-teen.")

Spencer is very interested in the human body. We've had many conversations recently about bones, skin, and various organs (he finds the word bladder particularly hilarious). He told me today that he has a "drain" and that's where his "poopy" comes out. Future doctor? Or plumber?

Growing Boys

I bought jeans for Alex and Spencer in September and they were so long I had to roll them up. Now they fit perfectly. Spencer's new shirt for the start of the school year that was big on him is now getting tight. He grew four inches over the summer. I thought the growing was supposed to slow down during the winter. I still can't grasp the fact that they are caught up with their peers in size. I still think they're so little, but they're not.

Mike and I were buying groceries yesterday and I realized that when Alex and Spencer were born they were smaller and lighter than the loaf of bread we were getting. Amazing!

Computer Problems

Oh how I hate computer problems. I'm trying to back up my files and I keep getting errors (cyclic redundancy check). I am so frustrated and pissed off. I'm trying to run some recovery software but it's taking forever and I want it fixed now, now, NOW!

Waiting...

...for the doctor's office to open. My back went out yesterday while I was putting Spencer's boots on. One big spasm across my whole lower back and suddenly I'm unable to stand up straight, bend over, sit for long, or move in general. This happens about once a year and it makes me feel totally useless. I can't do anything around the house. And now I'm missing work on top of it. And you know what the doctor will tell me: losing weight will help. I've been going to the gym, but it's going to take a lot of workouts to get me in shape after four years of not doing it. You would think that since I'm working on it I would get a free pass in the bad back department so that I can keep going to the gym rather than laying around the house with a bad back!

So now I'm off to take an extremely hot shower in the hope that my back will somehow miraculously recover and instead of going to the doctor I can go to the office where I belong.

Frigorific

Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for January 1st. Can you believe it's a real word? Frigorific!

Meaning
: causing cold : chilling

Example Sentence
Jamie shivered as she faced the frigorific blast of wind blowing off the lake.

Did you know?
The chill in "frigorific" comes from "frigus," the Latin word for "frost" or "cold." ("Frigorific" is derived from Latin "frigorificus," the adjective form of "frigus.") "Frigus" has provided us with other icy words as well. It is the source of "refrigerate" ("to keep cold"), and also of the combining form "frigo-" ("cold") and the noun "frigorimeter" ("a thermometer designed for low temperatures"), both of which are primarily scientific and somewhat rare. "Frigus" is also related to the ancestors of "frigid" ("intensely cold"). "Frigorific" is a relatively unusual word and is used considerably less often than its relatives "refrigerate" and "frigid."

My New Year's Resolution

To blog more. I realized that a big part of the reason I don't blog like I used to is because of Mike. I didn't used to have someone to share everything with, my thoughts, the things that the boys are doing, etc., but now I have Mike. I don't need this outlet as much, but I do want to record thoughts and occasions so Alex and Spencer have them later. I'd also like to blog more about what's going on in my life, what I'm doing, thinking, little tidbits...

So here's a tidbit for you. Try this recipe: Roquamole (that's rock-a -mole, like guacamole). Heard about it on NPR weeks ago and made it for my sister last night. It's delish. My sister - she babysat Alex and Spencer last night so Mike and I could go out for the New Year's Eve bash at New World Home Cooking. Yum and fun! Awesome sister I have. The boys had a great time; didn't even miss us.

So, happy New Year to all and may 2009 be the best year yet for everyone!