Thrilled! And Stuff

Mason had school today. Both of his teachers made a point of searching me out and telling me what a wonderful day Mason had!! They even had a fire drill (Which, Hi! Coulda warned me!) and they both said he handled it really well!! Phew!! I am so happy that we were able to put him into pre-school. I just can't imagine him having to figure out this process with 20 other kids next year. Especially if the school is as disorganized next year as it was this year!

Speaking of that. I'm so grateful that Jenna and Aidan are so adaptable. Jenna was switched into a different class, a 1-2 split class (which she thinks is great, since she gets to be bossy to the grade ones :)), and I love because she has the same teacher as last year, and she's a brilliant teacher!! Aidan has had two different teachers, been switched from A days to B days, endured having 3 classes crammed together into 2 classrooms while they wait for the kindergarten portable to be brought in, and is so popular, that his best friend's Mom switched her son from a different day, and then to a different class so that he would be with Aidan! :) I can't imagine what a hell of a time the teachers are having right now, trying to keep up with everything, learning the names and then the new names, and having to deal with the shuffling of classrooms!

Our school is the over-flow school for Barrie. So we get kids from all over the city in order to make room for everyone. The big hassle this year is that the city decided to close one of the public schools, because it was going to cost too much to repair it, and bring it up to date. So we have all those kids at our school this year, until another school is built and ready for next year. crazy.

Also crazy is my week. Mason has school Monday and Wednesday, I have TWO cakes orders (one pretty big), and to top it all off, I took on a 1 year old in my daycare this week!! Now, he's a great baby, and totally cute, but his schedule is waaaaay different than ours, so it's gonna be a little difficult wither adapting to him, or having him adapt to us. I'm really hoping for the latter, since he'll be here 4 or 5 days a week! It's fun having a baby around again :) He fell asleep in my arms this afternoon. I miss that. I don't have the ache in my arms that I used to get when I wanted to have another baby of my own, but it definitely felt nice having him there :) Actually, it's his cake that I am making :) No pressure huh?! Talk about a test...here, care for my child, who is on a whacked schedule, pick up and drop off a gazillion other kids throughout the day, oh, and while you're at it, can you whip together one of these???


No pressure huh??

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I have a fairy Godmother ;)

And because of her, every Monday and Wednesday morning I get to take Mason to the most wonderful place in the world..Pre-School. He's been 4 days now and just Loves it there :)

We were advised by the speech therapist at the hospital (the evil one) that Pre-School might be a very good idea for Mason. I happen to have a friend that is a pre-school teacher, so I tackled her in the school yard one day, and begged her to Please let Mason go to her school. Please! She laughed at me, called me crazy (the nerve huh?) and said they had Lots of spaces available, and that the info night was the next night! Whew, cut it close there. So, I went, got the info, got depressed over the initial price, and then down swooped my Fairy Godmother, and granted a wish so important to me that I'll never be able to thank her enough. Ever.

So, Mason's first day there was okay. He ran in without looking back, and seemed thrilled to be there. When I went to pick him up, it was a different story :( His teachers said he'd had a really hard time sitting in circle, and preferred to do his own thing. (Eek) So, they said they would brainstorm, and try to come up with ideas on ways to keep him in circle. Apparently they are brilliant brainstormers there :)

What they did for Mason was give him a little squishy ball. And when he's sitting in circle, he gets to hold it. But when he leaves, he loses the ball. It's worked Great for him! So great in fact that he didn't even need it for the second circle time today!!!!

And in even better news, S told me that she can't believe the change in him! She said from that first day to now, he seems like a completely different kid! I've noticed big changes too :) His speech has Exploded!! To the point where, when we were at my Mom's for her annual corn roast this past weekend, I didn't interpret ANYTHING he said for anyone! Not a single thing!! I didn't have to endure the looks of "Man, there's is something Wrong with this kid!" or the puzzled "What the hell is he saying to me!?" look either! It was sooo nice. He was friendly, and pleasant, he played with everyone, and answered questions from the adults. In times past, with a huge group like that it would have been SO hard for him to function. I am SO proud of my little boy :)

When I was talking to my Dad last night, even he was understanding Mason over the phone! He thought it was Aidan talking! We have our dreaded home visit from Carmen on the 30th, and I am kinda looking forward to it :) I can't wait to show her how he's changed in a month!

In other news, Jenna is doing terrific in school. Aidan is so popular that another Mom switched her son's school days so he would be going on the same day as Aidan! Al is having a hard time at work, and that worries me. He and a few other of the drivers got together and asked for a union to come in. So not it seems as though there's a hit out on his head :( As much as I want their working conditions to improve, and the pay to be higher, if it means that Al loses his job, or isn't being respected at work, it's SO not worth it. Maybe you could keep positive thoughts going his way. He could certainly use them right now :)

And that's us! Oh wait! Me! ummm...I'm just Happy that Mason is doing so well right now. And I am adding a 1 year old to my daycare next week. (Yikes!) AND!! I have TWO paid cake orders for next weekend!! Woot Woot!

That's all :)

Dear Aidan,

Being the middle child, I sometimes get the feeling that you're getting ripped off. That you don't get all the credit or attention you deserve. So this my son, is for you.

I was just downstairs doing laundry. Taking your clothes from the washer to the dryer. And I was not surprised to find a collection of small stones in the bottom of the washing machine. They brought a smile to my face. And today, instead of handing them back to you, or throwing them back outside, I looked at them. And I saw those stones in a different light. In the way that you must have seen them when you chose to add them to your collection. I saw the one that is solid, and brown, with darker brown spots on it. Much like the skin of the frogs you love so much. I saw the smooth flat black one, that had a solid deep dark black line running through it. It looked beautiful, and unique, like you. I saw the one that seemed ordinary, and gray...until I held it, and saw the way it glittered in the light. I saw the pink one, and I know in my heart that you chose it for your sister. I love that about you buddy.

I get more positive comments on you than I do your siblings (Shhh, don't tell them :)) I hear so often that people want to take you home with them, or want to see the world from your eyes, because you are so imaginative, and dramatic, and passionate about everything you do. I see the smiles on people's faces when you're acting silly in effort to impress someone, or get their attention. I know the way you work your way into their hearts, with your simple "Hi, my name's Aidan. And this is my sister Jenna, and my little brother Mason". It gets them every time. The way you would so willingly put your hand into the mother's of Jenna's friends when we would walk to school when you were little. People just seem to Get you, and accept you, and love you, no matter what you're or where we're going.

I hope that you always keep your passion...but I hope that you find a way to control your tears, because buddy...it's not going to work for you much longer :) I hope your spirit stays strong, and that you do great things in your life, because baby, if anyone can, it's going to be you. Keep practicing those hand stands, and try not to get too tired when you colour okay?? Because someday, I'd really love to see the kind of art you may create if you would just put your mind to it :) I'd love to hear a story that you write, because like your father, I think you'll be a brilliant author if you try :) Or maybe it's acting you'll excel at. You've always been the most expressive of the bunch :)

I may not save all the stones you bring home. But I will carry the memory of them. Thank you Aidan. You make the sun shine everywhere you go. And I am so blessed to be your Mommy.

It's not that I didn't have something to blog about....

It's that I was being a completely lazy blogger :)

I could have written about this...



But I was too busy packing lunches, and brushing hair, and organizing backpacks, and laying out clothes, and signing agendas, and writing on labels :) I realized this week why I wasn't excited about back to school like All the other Mom's I know. It's because it's HARD dude!! I have to get up earlier, and be SO much more organized. If there's one thing I've learned about the school year, it's to make the lunches the night before!!! Now, ask me how many times I have already implemented that little gem this year?? HA! One :( Well, at least I still have another 10 months minus one week to get back on track with that right? :)

I could have written about going to see a pre-school for Mason. And about being way down in the dumps, because we just can't swing the tuition right away. (We'd have to pay the first 2 months, plus a meeting fee, plus an administration fee...ouch :( ) If we had thought of sending him sooner, it wouldn't be a problem, but to pay out that much right now, after coming off a summer where I didn't make half the money I had originally thought I would, it's just not an option. Still have some avenues to go down in regards to that though, so we're not giving up on it entirely.

I could have written about the fact that my Mom said she would babysit for an entire weekend while Al and I went on a couples therapy retreat. but when I mentioned that I wasn't sure if we were still going because I have a 1 year old starting that week, and there's no way his mother will be able to get here in time for us to make it to the retreat in time for the start, but that maybe my Mom could still take the kids...she laughed.(Sorry 'bout the run on sentence there) I am so unbelievably hurt. My brother's son lives there. They have a built in babysitter anytime they want. I asked for Nothing this summer from my Mom, in anticipation of this one weekend. And she won't do it if we aren't going to the retreat. I'm really getting the feeling that she's afraid of Mason. Which makes me hesitant to share with her about any of his trials or triumphs. and that hurts. it hurts too much to write about.

But I will share with you that Mason had an incredible week for his speech!!! He said to me a couple nights ago, after I told him to go pee, "No, first I brush a teeth" (He often replaces the word Me with A). :) I was SO happy to hear such a strong sentence. He's getting better at his "I want" requests too, which is really helping both of us...except when it's the 5th time that day that he's said "I want a free-gee" (freezie) :) Because he's not so good at accepting the fact that Mommy has limits :) God bless the makers of sugar free lollypops though!!!

And I will definitely share with you the beautiful friend I have in Julie Bo Bolie :) She so graciously offered up the DVD copying skills of her husband (shhhhh!!!!!) and he copied a slew of the Signing Time DVD's for us. All 5 of us are picking up the sign language faster than I ever dreamed possible. Although, I find I am getting frustrated with myself, for not becoming more fluent, faster :) I suppose it would be different if we were a family dealing with a deaf child. We have the good fortune of being able to speak, and be heard and understood by our child. I think that has made me lazier :P But it's coming. Even my finger-spelling is improving I noticed today. (Though I certainly won't be showing off anytime soon...I still have atrocious skillz LOL) Not that Mason gets that yet, since he's only just 3, and while he knows his letters fairly well, his spelling, well, duh, he's three, he can't spell :) Also against us is the fact that the only people we have to sign to and with is each other, so it's a bit harder to 'practice' like that. But we are having fun with it, and I am SO proud of my children for taking hold of such a wonderfully useful skill :) SO proud :)

Also, Mason saw his regular speech therapist today. I love Lindsey :) She reassured me that she has never seen a reason to refer Mason to a pediatrician. Which is the ONLY way a Speech Path could EVER suggest that they think your child has Autism. I'm not sure how I want to deal with the information that the speech path at the hospital crossed that line. Lindsey told me that if she had done that, she would have lost her job. Ouch. She is in no way impressed with the hospital assessments lately. And said that neither are the other 15 families that have been through the assessments recently. That's gotta say something about the process, no? Lindsey did suggest that we keep an eye on Mason's attention span. I agree with her on that. But that's a whole other blog :) Bottom line is that because we Have to go through the hospital process to get him the help he'll need in school, then that's what we're going to do. But I won't do it quietly if it means he's treated like someone he is not. (unless they can prove otherwise of course)

So, that's all I have to say about any other that :)

I needed time to process that...

Mason's speech assessment didn't really go very well. Not that I am at all surprised that the assessor thinks he has a speech delay, because hey, that's why I took him right? But the way he reacted, and the way the assessment was done, and the way the assessor acted just threw me for such a loop that I needed time to step out of the situation and readdress my feelings on it.

So, here's how it went. We were, unfortunately, a few minutes late for his appointment, which always gives me anxiety, which Mason is Very good at picking up on. So already, both he and I were nervous. We get there, and the receptionist was on the phone (not her fault, I know) but we had to wait for about 10 minutes for her to finish, and by that time, Mason was ready to go explore, or leave, or do anything else. And once we were registered, we had to go out and wait in the hall. At the hospital. Which is rather big, and exciting for a 3 year old who loves to explore. And full of people, most of whom were nice enough to acknowledge his rather exuberant "HI! iiii'm Mason!! ("Matin"). And then of course he wanted to follow the people who responded to him, because he was bored out of his mind waiting.

So, we finally get called in by Carmen, and he was deep in conversation with a seriously sweet woman who was halfway up the hall :) He didn't want to leave :) Drag him into the most boring room Ever. Small table, 4 chairs, a couple pictures of cartoon kids on the bulletin board, and 2 cupboards. So now my very spirited boy is over stimulated by the small room, with nothing in it for him. (In his opinion)

The first thing she wanted to do was talk to me. While Mason had Nothing to do. Uh uh lady. good luck. So I gave him a pen and a piece of paper from my purse. Once he was bored with that, he moved on to explore the room. Climb on a chair, pull on the blind string, flick the lights on and off. (Note, she wrote down that he's obsessed with light switches..after I said he loves turning the lights on and off at home too. **He does it appropriately at home, on in the dark, off at bedtime etc**) Typical for Mason, perhaps my fault, because I believe children deserve the opportunity to explore. Thus creating a child who won't sit and wait for much of anything. I should have brought a snack :( Hindsight.

So, once Carmen was fully annoyed with his behaviour. She decided to start assessing him. She pulls out her book. sets it up, and starts talking with me again. UGH! now he's back at the table, with the pen. Trying to draw in her book (Crap!!). She says "Well, usually we would do a formal assessment for a child over three, but since he's only just three, we'll stick with the informal testing." ya think!? You've totally lost his interest lady!! Ugh!!! Fine, so she Finally pulls around the cupboard with the toys in it. He was SO happy!! And he played perfectly!! Fed the baby, shared with Carmen, put the play food on plates, knew what the milk was, put the animals in the barn, changed his voice for each animal. It was beautiful watching him!! But once he got playing, Carmen went back to talking to me. Every couple minutes she would try to ask Mason a question, and sometimes he would answer, and sometimes he wouldn't. In his defense, she never left her chair. Never got down to his level. IMO, as someone who worked with Autistic children for years, and someone who works with children now, you HAVE to get in a 3 year old's face sometimes!!! He was playing with toys that are new to him, of course those are going to be more interesting to him than an adult he's never met, and who was bossy (In his opinion) about the lights and the chair and the pen!

So, we got through our hour. And she says to me, "I didn't get a very good assessment, I don't think his receptive language is very good (She's on crack, his receptive language is awesome!), I want to do a second assessment of him at home." Which is perfectly fine with me. I know he'll give her a better grasp on his abilities, and disabilities when he's on his home turf.

In my opinion, being able to look back and reflect on how the process was handled, I don't think we got a fair assessment. I think Carmen got an opinion of Mason when he was running around flicking the lights on and off, and she wasn't willing to waiver from that opinion. And that opinion is that my Son has Autism. I disagree. I fully admit that he is a quirky kid. I fully admit that he is a handful, and a ball of electric energy, and that he is very spirited. But I don't believe that he has Autism (Though I also admit to wondering in the past, and if you had been in that room with him, you maybe would have questioned it too.) But he's not. He's social, and he's receptive, and he doesn't flap his hands (unless he's pretending to be a bird, which he did during the assessment UGH!!), he makes eye contact, he doesn't line up his toys, and he plays appropriately. He's smart, but he's not a Savant. So there. :) His hearing is hampered by fluid in his ears, and we are trying different, less intrusive, although slower, methods to stimulate the drainage, and that impairment hinders him in a lot of ways. His speech delay or disorder, whatever it turns out to be, hampers him in a HUGE way, because instead of saying leave me alone, he screams...because he can't get the words out to tell you you're pissing him off. And there you have it. Mama Bear is out, and the claws are going to follow if I don't get a fair assessment!

In a side note, from talking with another Mother who has had both of her children assessed at the same place, the assessment of Mason was done very differently. Carmen was supposed to go behind the 2 way glass and observe him playing. Had she done that, she would have been able to get a much better picture of Mason. Would have seen that he understands everything said to him, can follow instruction, can make eye contact.

So. That's that. I'm still waiting for the phone call to set up the home visit. I'm still waiting on an answer as to what is wrong with my son. And I am still waiting to figure out what the next step is. I hate waiting.

I take it back

I am SO ready for these kids to go back to school!!!! These past two days have been nothing but whining, and arguing, and fighting, and getting on my every damn last nerve!!!!

As much as I am not looking forward to making lunches, or the pickup in the rain and snow, and I sooo ready for them to be challenged, and busy, and anywhere but under my feet for a few hours a day!!!!

Al and I both have the next 4 days off, and I am SOOO relieved!!! Here's to hoping the 5 of us make it through without throttling one or another :)

On a totally different note, Mason has a speech assessment tomorrow morning at the hospital. He's been having a really good week speech-wise, so I don't know how he'll score, or rate or whatever it is. I was bad, and I didn't do any of his speech therapy homework this week. (Hello, guilt) But I figured it might give them a better idea of where he is when left to his own devices. I don't know. I'm also on the fence about mentioning Apraxia, or not mentioning Apraxia to see what they say. I probably won't, because that too could skew his results. And of course I don't want to force a label on my son. I'll update when I get back :)

1 week

As much as I love BNL, this post isn't about them :)

1 more week until school starts. I'm not really sure how I feel about that! Since my kids have been in school, I haven't had the opportunity to be with them full time in the summer. I've always worked part time. So we would have our afternoons and evenings. But never all day every day. I will admit that at the beginning of the summer, I was kinda dreading it. I was terrified that they would be bored by the second week of July, and I would be counting down the days until they went back to school. But until I realized we only had a couple weeks left together, it never really crossed my mind. I'm probably weird that way...because I read a few other blogs and the Mom's are definitely on a serious countdown.

I think maybe I have an advantage by doing home daycare. Almost every day the kids had a friend over to play with. And on the days they didn't, those were the days we headed out to visit friends, or went to the library, or the beach. So we didn't get to any amusement parks, or the zoo (maybe Saturday!), or grand adventures this summer. What we did do was relaxing, and fun, and together. We searched out some new parks in town, we walked the neighbourhood, and had picnics in the yard. We had water fights, and I put bubbles in the pool. We painted with water, discovered slime, and made butterflies with our feet. We watch the metamorphosis of caterpillars. We napped :)

Next week it's going to be so weird here. The Pace will have to speed up, lunches to make, kids to walk to and from school. Jenna will be gone all day, Aidan every other day. C is going into JK, so I'll only have him a couple days a week. I am getting a 1 year old at the end of September, so that will certainly stir things up! But other than that, it'll just be me, Mason, and M, another 3 year old. All summer it's been my 3 kids, and 1-3 other kids every day.

The time goes too fast once kids get into school. Mason is going to JK next year, and I am going to be absolutely lost without him :( Especially since new legislation is coming in to make Kindergarten all day every day starting next September. I don't have much time left with my baby.

Back to school kinda sucks I think.

A no good, very bad, terrifying, morning.

This post is awful. If you're having a sad day, probably don't ready it.

My kids went missing this morning. Jenna and Aidan. I went next door to give my neighbour something. I took Mason with me. I came home 2 minutes later. My house was empty. I called. And called, and called. I went outside and called. I went in the back yard and called. Nothing. Silence has never sounded so excruciatingly painful.

I ran back to K's house, and she called 911 for me, and watched Mason while I drove around the block. Nothing. Not a single person out on the street. Since when do we live in such a deserted neighbourhood??

I came back home. Still no kids. A little boy that lives across the street came over and was so awesome, he offered to look for them, asked what they were wearing (Pajamas :( ) and off he went. He thought he saw something a couple blocks away, so I took off in my van again, but there was nothing there. Again.

I came back and talked to the dispatcher for 911. She took a better description of the kids, and asked if I could think of where they might be on our street. Jenna's friend wasn't home, so I knew she wasn't there. Our old babysitter isn't home this week either, so I knew that wasn't it. There aren't any other places on our street that they would have gone. The dispatcher suggested maybe they had gone to the park. I immediately said no, that's not a possibility, they aren't the kind of kids that just decide to go for a walk to the park without me. I said that I could see Jenna taking Aidan to the neighbours to see if I was there, but not as far as the park. The dispatcher then reminded me that they had been gone for more than 20 minutes now, and they would have had time to walk there. And I promptly lost it again. From the time I realized they were gone, it didn't seem like more than 20 minutes had passed...and yet at the same time, 20 minutes was a long time. Especially when you're 4 and 7.

About 20 seconds later, I saw the mother of one of Jenna's friends driving up the street. I thought it was strange...since she lives like 3 blocks away, and we don't live on a main street. And then I saw Aidan's face in the back window of the truck. I almost peed my pants with relief. I couldn't get the door to the truck open fast enough. And I couldn't hug my children tight enough.

I still can't believe it happened. I still can't accept the fact that they really are okay.

I also have a few thank you cards to write. My neighbour across the road, who I've hardly ever spoken to, sent her daughter to the park to look for them, and it was the boy that lives there (not her son) that went looking initially. Also, my kids had knocked on Jenna's best friends door, but they were sleeping. And when D looked out her front window, she didn't recognize the kids walking away, she thought the girl was a neighbour kid that has been giving them a hard time. But when she went outside and my neighbours daughter told her who it was. She called, and left a message, and at the end of the message she said, "oh to hell with it, I'm coming over there." And she did. In her jammies. :) Thankfully my kids were back by then, but still. What a wonderful friend. And then there's K. Who is sick as a dog. But called 911, and stayed with Mason, and then drove and drove and drove looking for my children. Who scolded them as I would have, who hugged them as tight as I did.

My head hurts. I guess from the stress of it, and from trying to figure out what the hell would make them go that far!! Jenna said she thought I had taken Mason for a little walk. Aidan said Jenna told him to go :) You better believe though that it will NOT happen again.

2 minutes. that's all it took to nearly lose my children.

It was extra scary for me, because when I was pregnant with Jenna, I could picture her at every age until 7. And then I couldn't picture her anymore. Jenna's 7 now. I've been holding my breath in a way since her birthday. And when this happened this morning, it was like all the air was sucked out of me.

But they are back. And they are safe. And I am going out to buy kid leashes for them I think. :)

wondering..

So, I was really trying not to turn this blog into a "Oh no, there's something wrong with my baby, and now that's all I can think about" kinda of blog...but really, nothing else blog-worthy is really happening.

But after reading Julie Bo bolie's comment about the video's of Mason, I'm wondering something. I'm wondering if Mason's speech is worse that I am admitting. I seem to forget to take into account that I'm his Mommy, and I'm with him 24/7...so I of course would be able to better understand what he's saying.

I had started to think that on the Apraxia front, he maybe wasn't so bad, and that with some more intensive therapy, that he wouldn't take long to become more understandable. But then...I watch that video and try to take myself out of it, and listen to the sounds Mason is making, and think, hmm.. Julie's right. I haven't a Clue as to what he would be saying.. if it wasn't for the fact that he was pointing to the pictures in a book, I probably wouldn't understand him.

So, I'm back to doom and gloom. In a small way this time though :) As I buckled him into his car seat after the beach today, he looked at me and said, "There, that's perfect!" :) ("Dare, dax perpet") and it made me smile. Which he does so often, despite his mischief making ways :)

Beyond Mason though...my friend's daughter has Cerebral Palsy. And Epilepsy, and and and... These past few days have been just awful for Laney, as she has been seizuring constantly, day and night. Judy took Laney to the ER today, and Laney has gone into Epileptic shock. Not cool. So, if you could just keep Laney in your thoughts, I'm sure we would all appreciate it.

Video of Mason

Does anyone know where I could do my own kind of closed captioning feature on a video?? Not that I have searched yet, just wondering :)



I'm actually pretty impressed with his speech in this video...but these are all thinks that he's pretty familiar with. If you watch really closely, you can see that his jaw and tongue are sometimes working extra hard for simple words. Also, he says Butt for Bus :) His ST and I always have a wee chuckle over that :) We're mature like that :)
***ETA: I get it now!!! When he's talking about the Balloon (A hot air balloon) He's saying that it's going to the gooey Geyser. Thanks Dora :)***




See what i mean about goofy?? He was not at all in the mood to sing for me :) Cute nonetheless though :)

Feeling a little better

I think I'm starting to relax a bit regarding Mason's potential Diagnosis. Every now and then when I am doing research on Apraxia of Speech, I get a little scared for him, because of the labels, and the work it's going to take, and so on. But then I see that there are charity walks for Apraxia, seminars, and support groups, and so much love for these children out there, that it gives me a lot of hope.

I keep trying to figure out why. Why this happened to Mason, what trauma he's had to his brain that caused this to take over my son. His birth was a planned c-section. The only difference for him was that he was breech, and they used a spinal instead of an epidural. I was soooo sick from that spinal, that I didn't hold him for hours after he was born (Hi, Guilt, c'mon in!) other than that...I just don't know...and really, it's not going to matter even if I could figure it out.

He's been special (in that kind of way that means Different from the other two!) since birth. Always wanting to be held. Stubborn with the nursing (HE decided when to quit!) a picky eater, a lousy sleeper...and now this :) It makes me smile in a weird kind of way. In a way that says, of course Mason would give us this challenge. It's just who he is. And then the lightbulb comes on that says "yeah...this IS just who he is" Not what he is, not what he will be defined as (in most cases) Just Who Mason Is. My Boy. My baby. My going concern. My special one.

I keep trying to get a video of him singing and talking, but he's such a ham, that he just wants to be silly in front of the camera :) I'll keep trying though. I never ever give up trying..

A funny

I was laying on the couch with Aidan yesterday, watching a movie. Here's how the conversation went..

Aidan: Hey! Those kids are playing Ball Hockey right?

Me: Yep.

Aidan: Because when you wear rollerblades it's called Ball Hockey. Right?

Me: That's right!! You're so smart!

Aidan: I have a lot of brains right Mommy? Do you know how big my brain is?

Me: How big?

Aidan: As big as my tummy.

Me: Wow, that's pretty impressive.

Aidan: Yep, and I keep learning new stuff, and my brain will grow and grow and grow, until it explodes!!

Me: Well, I kinda hope not. I think you'll grow so your brain can grow too.

Aidan: Oh, yeah. And then think of all the stuff I can learn when my brain is even Bigger than my tummy!! That's a lot you know?

Me: **Laughing** I love you.

Aidan: I love you too. Can I have an apple?

I learned a new word today..

I took Mason to speech therapy today. I was kinda excited because I had noticed over the past week or so that his B words were improving greatly, and that his sentences were slightly clearer, and maybe even longer.

It wasn't a good session. He was really uncooperative, and didn't want to work. He did eventually, and did fairly well, but wasted a lot of time. I was told to start encouraging him to use the words he knows well in short sentences, so that's cool.

But then, in about the middle of our session. Lindsay, our speech path, said the word Apraxia. I had heard this before, but thought it was associated with movement of the limbs, and learning. So I just kinda nodded and figured I would come home and check it out. Lindsay can't diagnose Apraxia, and said she isn't convinced yet, and will need to monitor him further to make a decision about it, but she says he certainly has signs. She's going to monitor him for it, and then we'll have to go to a specialist to get a diagnosis.

So, I came home and looked it up. At first I thought no way, until I searched out some different terms I kept seeing. Looks very much to me as though Mason has Developmental Apraxia of Speech. While it's a little comforting to know that I have an answer as to why he speaks the way he does, the fact that the cause is unknown (other than to say it's neurological), and the cure is unknown are not so comforting.

I'm going to try to get a video of him Singing Row Row Row Your Boat. It really shows how he tries, but fails, to get his mouth to work properly. It's actually kinda cute :)

Anyway, I'm probably over-reacting, we don't even have a diagnosis yet. But it's out there, and it feels kinda right, and I'm kinda scared..

Jennifer!!

I saw your post on BZ about your blog, and wanting a pretty background for it. Since I can't reply today (or hardly ever!!) I'm hoping you'll see this :) I got mine at pyzam. There are almost too many to choose from there!! :)

I can't wait to start reading yours!!

A-Camping we did Go!!

A cousin of my George's and her family came over to Canada from Scotland for a vacation. We all decided it would be loads of fun to meet up at my Mom's to camp for the long weekend, and hang out with Janet, Stephen, Thomas and Stephanie. We had such a great time. They're a great family, and were really good sports about all the craziness that comes along with spending a weekend with all of us :)

Unfortunately I forgot my camera, but lucky for me, my Mom let me borrow hers. :) It's better than mine, so I didn't mind much. I just wish I had thought to ask her about using it the first night we were there. I would have gotten some really great shots from the campfire :) Oh well..

We played some hilarious games with the kids, AND the adults :) Firefighter, where the kids had to use water guns to extinguish birthday candles. This lasted longer than I thought it would. It's no easy task extinguishing a birthday candle with a water gun!! Then we did blindfolded balloon popping. the kids wrapped up the adults in toilet paper, like mummies, and we all had a very hilarious water balloon fight :) My Mom got me good :) I got her back though. HAHA We bent ourselves into pretzels, trying to step over a broomstick, and got cramps in our hands trying to hold too many clothespins :) The kids raced with clothespins between their knees, and tried to drop them into an old milk bottle.. and put on little skits that made us laugh until we almost peed :) We hammered nails into a log (I suck at that!)

We went fishing, but didn't catch anything. Aidan lost his hat, and Philicia dropped Damion's fishing pole off the bridge and had to go in to get it :) Jenna and I both got stung by something, but it wasn't too bad. I got great pictures from the trip to the river :)









The wine flowed and flowed and flowed :) That seems to be the trend with our camping weekends at my Mom's. I discovered a new wine while I was there..it's a semi-sweet red wine, and SO delicious!! It was a little bubbly, and light, and went down SO smooth. It was fabulous :) The stuff in the big tall bottle.



So, that was about it for camping. We went with my parents and brother to Every Kids Park in Orangeville Monday afternoon, but I haven't gotten those pictures from my Mom yet. After that we went over to visit with my Dad and Sister. And discovered that Aidan is a natural for Lacrosse :) So, I'll be looking into that next spring to sign him up :) He really loved it. I worry about him because he's so clumsy, but maybe this will help with that? :)

Friends..

So, I have a new friend. (in my head I can hear you all clapping and cheering and whistling, and I'm waiting for that to die down a bit........okay, thanks :)) This is kind of a big thing for me. I've never been one to just make friends everywhere I go. Not one who would be able to go anywhere and talk freely to anyone around me. Not that I'm not friendly, because I certainly try to be. Just that I always wait for someone else to make the first move..and they don't always :)

Anyway!! I met her in a setting where I never would have thought I'd make a friend. But it happened, almost instantly. I feel like I've known her for Years!! And I am very convinced that her and I were brought together for a reason. Like we are soul mates.. in a friend kind of way. She just seems to Get me. It's so lovely. She's the kind of person that will listen to me yammer on, and then tell me she thinks that's all bullshit, and did I ever think to look at it this way?? She makes me think, and reflect, and laugh, and want to learn and be a better person. She's so smart, and wise, and FUNNY, and a total junk food enabler because she left the sour patch kids in my van, and dammit now I want to sneak out there and gobble them up!! She's great with my kids, and was nice to my husband. I just can't imagine my life without her in it, ya know?

We went to the Drive-in together on Tuesday, to see Mamma Mia. And we talked all the way through it. And then Hellboy 2 came on, and we talked all the way through that too!! And then when everyone else had left the drive in after Hellboy ended, we drove to the carpool lot where she'd left her car, and we talked even more there!! Without any of those silences that come even when you've known someone for years.

She's the person that I'll go to Vegas with when we hit our mid-life crisis's. She's the person I can turn to no matter what the situation. She's the person I'm going to change the world with. I just know it.. And I can't wait :)

(Hey L.. hope I haven't completely embarrased you here.. but every word is true :) Especially the part about the sour patch kids...... now.. where are my keys??)

Bucket List.. A work in progress..

Al and I watched The Bucket List a few days ago. Great movie. So funny, so heartwarming, so sad. It accomplished it's goal for me and got me to thinking about what I want to do, and accomplish before I die. I don't have a long list, but at least I've started giving it some thought :) SO, here it is, I won't number them. Because that would be giving it order, and I don't think a bucket list needs order.

* Create something using a pottery wheel.
* Take my Mom to the Movies.
* Visit a Rain Forest. Preferably in the Amazon.
* Learn the play the violin.
* Go on a trip/vacation alone with each one of my children.
* Get my makeup done professionally.
* Show my husband England. Introduce him to my family there.
* Write a children's book.
* Spend New Year's Eve in Times Square.
* Rent a cottage for a few days, and bring along my Mom.
* Find out the truth about my parents divorce.
* Go up in a Hot Air Balloon.
* Plant a bold and beautiful garden.
* Observe Giraffe's in their natural Environment.
* Ride a Mechanical Bull.
* Buy a whole new wardrobe.. and pay full price for everything.
* Become fluent in Sign Language.
* Send a secret to www.postsecret.com.
* Leave an inspiring inscription in a book, and leave the book for someone to find.
* Rescue an animal.
* Wear a bikini..and flaunt it!!
* Win a contest.
* Create a successful invention.
* Spend a weekend in Vegas.
* Take photography lessons.
* Give a kid a Christmas.
* Learn Archery.
* Build a Habitat for Humanity home.
* Hear Mason speak in a clear and confident voice.
* Spend a day in bed with a loved one.
* Attend an event that requires me to wear a ballgown.
* Own a clawfoot soaker tub.
* Buy a grand piano, and learn at least one classic song to play on it.
* Attend a concert.
* Learn to play Chess.
* Save a life.
* Write a letter to each of my children telling them what I want them to know about me.


So, I think that's all I've got so far. I can't wait to get started on it. Anyone else??

So Excited!!

I am going to visit an old friend today!! We were Best friends in High School. Then she moved away, and we lost touch. All I can say, is God Bless Facebook! :) It's been 11 years since we've seen each other!!

I really need this day. I finally have a day off, which I need for my sanity :) So I am taking Jenna to the doctor to have a wart on her foot either looked at or removed, I don't really know how that works :) And then we are off to see Judy, and her three kids :) Her kids are beautiful :) Her son is 8, her daughters 7 and 4..so my kids will hopefully fit in nicely with hers :) (Finger's crossed on that one!!)

I think I'm mostly looking forward to today because it's such a change. I'm in some kind of funk I think. Same things every day, even the weekends have been pretty blah and generic lately..and I need something more than that. I think I just need to talk to more grownups :) I LOVE kids..kinda have to do do what I'm doing..but they just don't hold a conversation like an adult does :) Feel free to call okay?? :) :)

I guess it doesn't help me that Al is in some kind of funk too. He's been trying to figure out some things for his future, and I don't imagine that he's having an easy time of that. So of course we're bickering more, and ignoring each other more, and I'm not such a fan of all that. We are really trying. It's nice to see the effort there, but it seems our lows are getting lower :( I don't know. Maybe it's just me..

So..I guess that's it for now. OH! Except the coolest thing happened to me the other day!! I was taking the kids to the park the other day, and a GIANT dragonfly landed on me!! It was amazing. Until I noticed that while he rested on my shoulder, he was busy eating a bug :P So gross. And yet still really cool :) My George keeps laughing at me.. you see, i grew up mostly in the country, we lived in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by farmer's fields. And yet, I was such a city girl. I hated bugs, and creepy crawlies, and couldn't touch a worm, let alone bait my own hook for fishing!! :) And now!! My favourite time of year is summer, because that's when I get to play with my Monarch caterpillars/butterflies, and see dragonflies, and check out weird looking spiders with the kids (Only outside for the spiders. Inside they still freak me right out!!). My George thinks it's funny that I had to move into the city to become more country :)

Okay, that's it for real this time. Off to get ready for a great day!!

Not how I planned

After the visit to the ENT for Mason, it was decided that he would have surgery to have his adenoids out, and tubes put into his ears. I'm not crazy about the idea now that I've had time to think about it a bit farther. I've also talked at length with my sister who has been through this process with her son as well. She suggested ear candling him. Said it's the best thing they ever did for Ryan, and that his speech improved in leaps and bounds once he had his ears done. So it was decided, we would get Mason's ears candled. It's natural, non invasive, and NOT surgery on my son :)

And then I hit some roadblocks. We have coverage through our benefits for a naturalpath. So I called around, and no one would do it. They either didn't offer that service, or they wouldn't do it because he's not three yet. So I googled it, and found a few more places that offered it. But it meant paying out of pocket (not a big deal, I was quoted mostly around $60), but not what I was hoping for. A couple places said no, because of his age. One place took my name, and another woman said she would do it!

The woman that agreed to give it a shot was so nice. She even lowered her price a bit, because he's younger (Dude, she didn't know what she was getting into). AND she had a free spot that evening!! We decided it might be good to do it later in the evening, because hopefully he'd be sleepier, and more willing to lay still while it was being done. HA.

He was opposed to it from the start. He didn't want to go into her house. He didn't want to go into her treatment room, he wouldn't let her look in his ears. He wouldn't look at Her! He clung to me, shaking, almost the whole time we were there. When he wasn't trying to get out the front door, or 'playing' her piano. She was really sweet about it, tried to coax him in a few times, and then turned to me and said she wouldn't do it. My heart sank the moment we walked in the door. When she said that it dropped :( I knew though, that we were wasting everyone's time, and that there was no way I was going to put my son through something that so obviously terrified him. So, I gathered him up, and we left. I've never seen Mason more happy to get buckled into the van. And can you believe she wouldn't let me pay her?? Not even for her time. I should send a card.

I cried a little on the way home.. Silly.. I just want to help him! I want him to be able to hear!! I want him to be able to speak, and ask for things, and tell me when he's sick, or excited, or frustrated. I want miracles dammit. I guess I put too many high hopes on this.

Another woman called me yesterday, and said she was More than willing to do this for us. That she has lots of experience doing this on children. But I told her about our experience at the other place, and she and I talked about it for a little while. She suggested that maybe because the other place was in the woman's home, that perhaps it wasn't clear to him that we wanted to do something like at a doctor's office. That makes a lot of sense. So, this other place is at a wellness clinic. I have more hope for that, but decided not to make an appointment for now.

I emailed my sister yesterday, and she suggested (again) that I just do it myself. If I do it when he's sleeping, we won't have to worry about him moving, being scared of the flame or what's going on. Although from everything I've heard and read, it's very soothing, and just sounds the same as when you hold a conch shell to your ear. So, I think that's what we'll do. After I email my sister to see when she's available to come home a lighted candle over my son's head. :)

If it doesn't work, then I'll have the surgery done. It's not really a big deal. The procedure takes about 45 minutes, and we're in and out the same day. It's booked for a Friday, so he'll have the weekend to recover. I might send Jenna and Aidan to my Mom's for the weekend too, so he can recover in peace.

I just want this to work.. please?

And now, by popular request....

Well, only 1 request..but it was from Julie, and she's pretty damn popular, so it works. shut up.

Crafts we've done recently!!

1. The kids all loved this one! A butterfly made from a toilet paper roll. Actually, I had to cut down the rolls, so a paper towel roll cut into three might be a better size.

2. We've also recently made butterfly footprints. SO CUTE!! you paint the kids' feet, and then set them on the paper, but opposite, crossed...umm...how to explain...so, the outsides of the feet, are actually on the insides. Paint or colour a body.

3. Get fish stickers, colour a paper entirely blue (or use blue paper), use old pieces of construction paper to create coral, seaweed, underwater caves etc, stick on stickers.

4. We'll be making sock puppets tomorrow I think..gotta find some more socks :)

5. Pasta art! The kids LOVED this!! I set out bowls with different shaped pasta, and gave them each a bottle of glue (glue sticks don't work), and let them create!

6. Great for a rainy day...pop some plain popcorn. take a cupcake liner, fold in half, and decorate like an umbrella...use half a pipe cleaner for the handle if you have one, if not just draw an umbrella handle. glue the 'umbrella' on a piece of paper. Use the popcorn to create the 'rain clouds'. colour on rain drops.

7. Make your own puzzle. Have the kids draw a picture or design on a blank piece of paper, make sure the whole piece of paper is covered. Glue onto a piece of cardboard. Have kids draw puzzle pieces on the cardboard, cut out using x-acto knife.

8. Coffee filter flowers. Paint a drip coffee filter with water colour paint. once dry, pinch in the centre, and fasten a pipecleaner for a stem.

9. Muffin cup flowers. These work well if you have a couple different sizes of muffin liners. Colour the entire muffin liner (Inside and out), glue the smaller liner into the middle of the bigger one. Voila, a double impatiens :)

I haven't tried this yet, but it sounds cool!!

Sidewalk Chalk - This recipe is for sidewalks only. Do not use this chalk on any other surface. You will need 4-5 eggshells, 1 teaspoon flour, 1 teaspoon very hot tap water, and food coloring (optional). Wash & dry eggshells. Put into bowl and grind into a powder. A mortar and pestle works fine for this. Discard any large pieces. Place flour and hot water in another bowl and add 1 tablespoon eggshell powder & mix until a paste forms. Add food coloring if desired. Shape & press mixture firmly into the shape of a chalk stick, and roll up tightly in a strip of paper towel. Allow to dry approximately 3 days until hard. Remove paper towel and you've got chalk. Eggshell chalk is for sidewalks only.

I like www.dltk-kids.com and www.familycorner.com for craft ideas. And when all else fails, look up their favourite printables, and let them colour :)

Hope this helps!!

Let's go fly a Kite!

I took the kids to the park today, and I filled the wagon with fun park-stuff like usual. Except this time, I added in a couple kites. I tell ya, there is nothing like flying a kite!! I had forgotten how much I used to love it as a kid.

My brother and I used to attempt to make our own kites. A piece of paper, a couple sticks, tape and a length of string or yarn, and we were set for hours!! Until we went whining to my Mom that the kites wouldn't fly, and she would comfort us by saying that it probably just wasn't windy enough :)

It took a lot of willpower to convince myself to pass over the string and let the kids fly the kites :)

I highly recommend it. Who doesn't love a kite :)

Tattoo Me

I've wanted a tattoo for a really long time..I think. :) I keep coming back to the idea, and then I decide I'm not really there yet. For years I've wanted a Butterfly. But I kinda shy away from that idea, since it seems like Every girl on the planet has a butterfly tattoo. But because of what a butterfly represents to me. The struggles they go through, the changes and sacrifices they make, and how smart and gifted they are. It all just amazes me. For a little while I thought about getting half a butterfly. With the plan to get the other half when my life felt complete, whole, settled. But who knows when that will be right? I've looked at Hundreds and thousands of butterfly tattoos, and I love them all.

Lately, I've been thinking about getting a tattoo that incorporates my family. I really love water too. How powerful it is, how it adapts, and surrounds when something is put into it. So now I'm kinda thinking of some kind of puddle, with three little drops dripping into it (to represent the kids.) Or maybe 4 drops, to include my husband as well. I can't find any pictures though. Which, maybe is actually a good thing, since that would indicate that it's more original than a butterfly.

Then there's the question of where!? I used to want Tinkerbell sprinkling pixie dust over my tailbone..just because...okay?? But I've decided against that, since I've now broken my tailbone twice, and it's so painful still!! But maybe higher up my back? OH! It might be cool on the side of my foot!! Like I stepped in a puddle, and it's splashing up the 3 or 4 droplets?? Hmmm.... might have to think on that one :) Yeah...I think I like that!

Thanks for your help :)

Camping!!

Every year we get together with my Step-Mom's family and spend a weekend camping together. It's so much fun!! We decided to do it about 7 or 8 years ago, since we can't seem to manage getting together at Christmas, and this is more fun that a turkey dinner anyway :) Every year we go to a different provincial park, we've only repeated a couple places, so it's been a great adventure :) Some places have been awful, and some breath taking :) This year we went to MacGregor Point Provincial Park. I LOVE it there :) I've camped there almost every summer since I was 4. I was a bit disappointed to see that the town had changed so much since I was last there. It's not looking as touristy any more..and I really thought that was a big part of it's charm. It was touristy, without being overwhelming or gaudy. Now it seems to have a lot of drug stores :) But it was the same town, and holds the same fond memories from my childhood.

For the most part, camping was fun. It rained so hard, and for so long the first night, that our tent flooded :) I can laugh at it now, but when you're reaching into your bag, and pulling out dripping wet underwear..not so funny in that moment. I don't know that I have ever been camping during a thunderstorm like that. It seemed like it was right over top of us. I was starting to think we should probably get the kids in the van when it finally started to let off. So, we spent Saturday morning drying out the tent. and attempting to dry out our stuff. Unfortunately, every time we hung things up to dry, it would start to rain again! I finally gave up, threw it all in the van, and headed to the beach :)

Great camp beach there. You can go out for like 2KMs, and still not hit water higher than your bum :) Great for the kids. Of course, the entire time we were at the beach it was hot and sunny. Enough that the kids and I got a burn :( We took our stuff and threw it in a dryer for awhile, and everything came out warm and dry :) It was great knowing I'd have dry clothes in the morning!!

Sunday we went on a hike with everyone. We saw a couple frogs and turtles. Ryan dropped his water bottle of the pier, and my uncle Mark held him by his feet while he reached under to grab it :) That was hilarious to watch. Then we checked out the visitor's centre, where they have lots of reptiles on display :) Mason LOVED that!! When we got back for lunch it started to rain again. But it thankfully didn't last too long, and Al and I managed to fit in a game of gin while the kids coloured and played in the rain. We headed back to the visitor's centre after dinner to see a movie. It was cute for the kids, all about baby animals, and how every species is so different.

Monday wasn't as great. We were sad to be packing up and leaving. And my Grandpa (who hadn't come camping with us in Years) wasn't feeling well. My Dad needed to go into town to get something for my grandpa, and his car wouldn't start!! Ugh!! It turned out to just be a battery, but it still sucked pretty bad at the time. But, it got fixed, and we all made it home safe and sound.

It was a pretty low key weekend, but it's what I needed I think :) Been a very long time since I've had a day off. I miss having days off :)

Party Party Party!

We made it!! Jenna's birthday party was on Saturday...and as the person who planned the majority of it, and organized, and corralled, and bribed 8 girls and 2 boys...I am not so humbly going to proclaim that it was a huge hit!!

So, I went with the picnic theme that Jenna requested. At first I was leary, because I hadn't ever thought about that kind of party. But once I got going, I LOVED it!! I swear it planned itself :) (HA! No, it did not!! I did that :) hmm..nope, not humble)

In advance of the party, I bought a different coloured sand pail for each guest, and stuck on their names with foam stickers. Also, when each Mom RSVP'd, I made sure to ask what their child's favourite sandwich was. So, come lunch time, I gathered each guest's bucket, and inside I added their personal favourite sandwich, a Kool-Aid Jammer, and an Oreo Cakester. Two of the girls were convinced that I'm psychic because I knew what kind of sandwich they ate :) hehehe

After lunch I let them run wild for a bit while the gorwnups cleaned up, and then called them all back to decorate their buckets. I found the Coolest foam sticker at Micheals (Wal-mart has them too, but I had a coupon for Micheals)...They were bugs and grass, and fish shapes, in pale, girly colours, and Gingham!! What says picnic more than Gingham!? I thought so too :)

Once the buckets were decorated, I used each one as the loot 'bags' for each guest :) I know the foam stickers won't hold up in the sand...but it was a good idea at the time :)

I found some different games to play rather than the regular musical chairs etc..since we were at a park without electricity :) We played shoe scramble, where there are two piles of shoes, and you have to race to each pile, but on your own shoes, and then race back. SO funny!! Especially the shoes on the wrong feet!!

Then there was Balloon scramble. Hilarity. Each guest was blindfolded, and then we set out balloons (with marbles inside so they wouldn't blow away. The girls had to crawl across the grass, find a balloon, and the first one to pop it was the winner. It was so funny watching the girls go off in the wrong directions!

We did the classic Egg and spoon race too...but honestly, I thought it was a bit boring. I'll have to think up a variation before I use that game again :)

Then there was Going on a Picnic. Not a game really, just something fun to calm them down, and to pass the time. We brought Apples, Banana's, Cake, Doritos, Eggs, Fries, Grapes, Hot Dogs, Ice cream, Jello, Kites, and Melissa's Mom to our picnic. After that I lost their interest. But it was cute watching them help each other out with remembering what comes next, and what starts with the next letter :)

Then came the Bite Test. I suggest spreading out A LOT with this. Sarah got knocked over :( So, what happens is, each kid gets a napkin, that gets weighed down (we used rocks from the beach). The kids race to the napkins and then have to pick them up with only their Teeth!! No hands or they're disqualified :) Funny to watch them try to pick up the napkins with their teeth :)

After that it was cake and presents, so of the girls went in the lake, until it started to thunder, so we got them out quick.

All in all it was a BLAST!! I loved it. It's right up there with the Tea Party we had when Jenna turned 5. How I hope these parties are leaving lasting memories for my kids :)

Update on Mason

So, since Mason was about a year old, I have wondered about his speech. I let it slide a few more months, listening to what people say about boys being slower. He got a few more sounds, and I let it go a bit longer. Then at about 18-20 months he was calling us Mommy and Daddy. None of this mama and dada stuff for him! I thought perhaps he needs to wait to say the word when he knows he's got it perfect?? Then I noticed other people were having a harder and harder time understanding him, and I was interpreting for him SO much more than I should be for a 2 year old.

I did some research, and he didn't seem to hit any of the markers for concerns about speech. He could put two words together, was Very receptive (he was shaking his head yes and no appropriately at 8 months old!!), seemed to understand what we were saying to him and so on.

And then the crying. wouldn't. stop. I thought for a rather long time that he had some form of Autism. He wasn't speaking, the constant crying, I thought he was stimming when he was trying to calm himself, he was SO attached to me, didn't play well...and sooo much more. I talked to my doctor about my concerns about his speech and behaviour, and he gave me the number for the Preschool Speech and Language program. It's run for free (through OHIP) at our local hospital. So, I called them, and they sent out a 12 page assessment form to fill out. Daunting to say the least. They also require a hearing test.

So, we did the hearing test. And he failed it. I knew, sitting in the little room with him that he had failed. He wasn't hearing some things at all. it was so sad. But at least it gave me a reason for his speech issues!! Something to cling to for a little while. He didn't follow my instructions because he couldn't hear me! Of course! He didn't come back when I called him because he couldn't hear me! look at that. It was silly of me to hang onto that. I feel bad about that. So, back to my doctor with the results of the Audiologist. My doctor wouldn't do anything about a possible wax buildup in his ears because Mason was too young, and he didn't want to cause damage. So, we got a referral to an ENT. for 2 1/2 months later.

All this time, a lot of people were still telling me he was just a bit slow, and to give him time, blah blah blah :) A mother knows though, usually :) I knew my little boy was having trouble, and if he could just Tell me what he wanted, the crying would stop!!! That was the hardest time in my life I think. Waking up every morning to the crying, and hearing it all day until he fell asleep at night.

So, I filled out the speech assessment, and then kinda sat on it for awhile. I think I went into a bit of the denial everyone else was pushing at me. Finally, I mailed it in. And finally, Al got on board with me.

The ball started rolling. Not just lightly along, but at full speed down the hill!! He was accepted into the Preschool speech program. But there's a waiting list of 10-14 months!! What bullshit that is let me tell you!

So, Al was at our doctor's for something unrelated, and got talking to him about Mason. Our Dr wrote out a prescription for speech therapy, and gave Al a referral to a Speech Clinic!! And the BEST part is that the Therapy is covered by Al's work benefits!! And because it's a prescribed treatment, we don't even have to pay the 20% like most other things!!

So, last Wednesday I called The Speech Clinic to see what kind of openings I could get for him in the summer. The woman told me that she had TWO openings the next DAY!! Crazy! I couldn't do that, but she also had a spot on Saturday, so I snapped that up!

I took him in for the assessment, and he definitely has speech delays. Fairly significant delays, but not devastating ones. Everything is correctable with time. I am soooo relieved.

His issues are that he drops consonants. So for example, when he says Daddy, it comes out like Daa-ee. Aidan sounds like Ian. Chocolate is Wok-wit. He's not using the letters S, L and R. and B's and P's are being used inconsistently. He's substituting vowels all over the place, and he's trying to get his words out so fast, that we're only catching the last word in the sentence. So, lots to work on, but at least now we know!!! He'll go to speech therapy every other week. I am so relieved.

So, back to his hearing problems!! He had his appointment with the ENT today. And although the news wasn't great, it certainly could have been worse. Mason has enlarged adenoids. And they will need to be removed. They are blocking the fluid from draining, making everything he hears sound as though he's hearing it underwater. Makes perfect sense!! He'll also get tubes in his ears to help clear the way for the drainage. He gave Mason another hearing test, and it DOES NOT look like he has hearing loss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm soooo relieved about that!!!!

So, to sum up this novel!! He needs Speech therapy. And he needs surgery for his adenoids and tubes in his ears. I can't imagine what kind of kid he will be when we're all done with this!! I can't wait to find out :)

Not Typical.

I have a cold. A wicked, raging head cold. I woke up at 2 this morning, feeling like my throat was attacked by an army of razor blades, and couldn't get back to sleep for the coughing and wheezing. So came downstairs, had a freezie, had another freezie, had a bowl of ice cream (which finally gave me some relief, and read for over an hour before I was finally able to fall asleep again. and now...duuuuuuude. I feel like I'm dying. Which isn't much of an option when you have 3 kids AND do daycare. **Note to self, find another mom to unload kids on for days like this LOL**

So, the point of this all is to admit that I am not at all a typical woman when I get sick. I would love to join the mothers that complain that their husband's world stands still when they get sick, but when Mom gets sick?? oh no, the world keeps spinning, and they drag their swollen throbbing sinuses around the house keeping peace and order no matter the expense to their health and well being. That they risked tearing incisions after major surgeries to make sure lunches were lovingly packed and tied with pretty ribbons. That they just threw a wee band aid on and took the garbage out one piece at a time to make sure it got to the curb in time, no matter that they lost sleep over the fact. nope. That is SO not me.

I turn into a big whiny priss. I don't want to do a damn thing. The dishes pile up. The laundry piles up. The children's faces are only washed half heartedly, if at all. I wear old clothes, and my hair is a disaster. And I don't give a hoot. I just want to curl up with a good, cheesy book, a giant feather duvet, and a box of Kleenex (or actually Puffs with lotion...could you go get me some from the store, k thanks.). And so help me God, do NOT ask me to move until I am well again. But feel free to bring me soup, and tea, and chocolate, and anything else you think I might want :)

I am such a man when I am sick. And I like it.

Going back to my blanket, and children's stories for the kids now.

Read Alvin's Blog!!

Because I said so. And it's great. And I said so.

http://phoenixbodystyling.blogspot.com/

Oh Noz!

Now I find this...


see more dog pictures

Srsly!!

I can not stay away from http://icanhascheezburger.com/


more cat pictures


more cat pictures


more cat pictures





more cat pictures


more cat pictures

Sad but proud moment

My best friend's dog died today. We're all so sad about this. We aren't really dog people, but all seemed to have a soft spot for Nitro.

When my kids got home from school I told them about Nitro passing. They took it okay. My soft hearted Aidan made me so proud though. He got all teary-eyed, looked up at me and said "But now Logan won't have a pet" I said no, he won't. So Aidan said, "We should go to the pet store and buy him a frog." (Logan has wanted a pet frog forever!!)

So, I okayed it with my friend, and that's what we're going to do. We're going to get him an African Drawf Frog. http://http://allaboutfrogs.org/info/mypets/dwarfs.html I've had a few over the years, and just love them!! I hope Logan does too.

Help!!

I was having trouble thinking of a fun invitation for Jenna's party, and my Mom suggested the ants go marching song. I changed it up to include the party information, but can't think of how to end it?! She's turning 7, but is it weird to rhyme 7 with 7?? Help!! :)

The ants are coming one by one
Join us June 21st for Jenna's birthday fun
The ants are coming two by two
They want to have a Picnic with you!
The ants are coming three by three
Come to Greenfiend Park to see!
The Ants are coming four by four
Games and Lunch and so much more!
The ants are coming five by five
11:30 is when to arrive
The ants are coming six by six
by 2:30 we'll have had our fix
The ants are coming Seven by seven

I NEED A WAY TO END THIS??? Help!!

**how about:
The ants are coming Seven by Seven
Please reply by June 11

***-**** Lisa or Al

Getting a Wii!!!!

Okay, it's probably going to seem kinda ridiculous, especially since I have to wait until July...But!! We are getting a Nintendo Wii!! AND the Wii Fit!!!

I've Never been a gamer. I remember when I was about 10 or 11, my best friend Pam got an NES. As in the original, basic, mario brothers save the princess NES. I thought it was pretty cool. But I wasnt very good at it :) I flung the cable when I wanted my Luigi to Jump. I rocked to the side in racing games. It was probably hilarious to watch :) But I don't really remember ever feeling an over powering desire to have one of my own.

And in High school, when friends were getting PlayStations, and Gameboys, I wasn't interested. I've never in my life played a Playstation game. Only held a Gameboy once or twice when my nephew let go of his deathgrip on his. Never played Xbox or seen an Xbox360. Though I hear they are fabulous.

However...when I heard about the Nintendo Wii..I was instantly intrigued for some reason. I mean, it gets you Up! You can box, and play tennis, and baseball. Hell, I can learn how to Golf with the Wii!! Something I've recently considered. And now, with the Wii Fit available!?! I can do Yoga, improve my bamance, and do strength training!! I can even Jog! All with a little character that looks just like me!! (Actually, it's a Mii :))

I'm not at all trying to will away June, since it's a big month around here, but dammit, I wish July would hurry the heck up!! I wanna Wii!!

Frustrated

My best friend is taking advantage of me..I think..

2 months ago, K asked to borrow my pads until she could get her own the next day. When I got my period, I went to get them back, and there was one left. She never offered to replace them. On the Webkinz Extravaganza day, she asked me to get a Webkinz for her son while we were getting some for Jenna and Aidan. She still hasn't paid me for it. 2 weeks ago, she asked to borrow my pads again! Yesterday when I needed them back, there was only 2 left. (I was smart and said, "Well, that's one more than you left me last month!") Last week, we were going to go 'together' to get pizza for lunch. I was the only one that paid. Last week she borrowed my pancake syrup. This morning when I went to get it back there was Hardly enough for us to use on our pancakes.

Granted, when I went to get the syrup this morning, she saw that I was annoyed that there wasn't enough left, and she said "If there's not enough, I'll go to the store now and get you some" I said nevermind, and left. About 15 minutes into breakfast, she rang the doorbell, handed Mason a bag and left (SO not normal behaviour for her, we have had an open door policy with each other for about 4 years now!!). In the bag was a package of pads and pancake syrup.

So, I don't know if I'm over-reacting. Obviously, I'm menstral, and probably a bit sensitive this week (Sorry!!) but still!! It seems to be that she's taking advantage of me!! I don't know what to say to her though. I mean, obviously, I'm not going to be lending her things for awhile. But we're best friends. With the lovely benefit of living right next door to each other. Makes it convienient to be borrowing and lending and such. Seems like it's only going one way though. And it's getting tiring. Especially when it's stuff that we obviously need!!

I just don't know what to say to her. I'm awful at confrontation. She wrote on her facebook status that she "thinks people should just say what's on their minds" I am VERY positive it was intended for me.

Ugh..I just don't know where to go with this..any ideas??

So Lucky!!

There's a woman that lives a few houses away from me, who, until last year, ran a daycare from her home for Years. She's very sweet, and we chat on the sidewalk now and then. Well..last week, she said she was going to be cleaning out her basement, and was wondering if I wanted some of her leftover toys and stuff. Not one to miss an opportunity, I said sure, if she was looking for someone to take it, I'd be happy to!

My doorbell rang yesterday evening. It was my nieghbour, with an armload of wooden puzzles. I bet she gave me 15!! Al thanked her for me (Jenna was reading to me :)), and that was that. Until a few minutes later. The doorbell rang again. this time she came with a doll sized walker, and a big bucket full of dress-up clothes! We chatted for a bit, and then she asked if I was against copied DVD's. I said no, we're always looking for something new to watch during quiet time :) AND THEN she asked if we have a VCR. We did, but it worked like crap, and I hadn't used it in months, because it wasn't worth the trouble. So that was fine, off she went again, back with the DVD's and a bag with some more puzzles, and craft stuff :) While I thanked her for the gazzilionth time, she offered me her VCR and their VHS movies! She said they never use it, and since she knew it would be well loved here, she would be glad to give it to us!! I could barely believe my ears! LOL

So a few minutes later, Louise, her husband, and her son came back.. With 2 boxes of mostly Disney/kids movies, and a VCR that doesn't look like it's any more than 2 years old!! There are some duplicates of what we have collected ourselves, so I'm going to take them back to her and suggest she take them to the pawn shop up the road and trade them in to get some DVD's for her collection.

I wish you all could have seen the looks on the kids faces this morning when they came in and saw the new goodies all around :) Priceless :)

I'm going to do up a gift basket with banana bread (JJBB, you deserve royalties from that recipe!!) and tea and stuff :) I can't think of any other way to thank her.

How lucky am I??

It's the little things

Some things that gave me genuine smiles today..

- Mason drove his car all over me. Something I have seen SO many boys do, but never from my son. And he did it today with such a smile on his face, and so much laughter in his eyes..I almost cried.

- The walk home from the school this morning was not full of me chasing Mason :)

- I took three little boys to the park for most of the morning, and we had a great time. Especially when Cory and Mason were on the teeter-totter. They were laughing like I've never heard before.

- Ian, who is 8 /2, came up to me out of the blue this afternoon and gave me a hug.

- Micheal caught my eye when he was playing in the playhouse this afternoon, and smiled at me. He's been soooooooooooo grouchy lately, it's been diffucult to dig deep for smiles for him..but this time, I didn't have to try :)

- I made 2 little girls' days :) Jenna has a new friend over from school. She seems like a good kid. I really like her :) And her Mom and I talked on the phone for like 40 minutes last night!!

- Al and I made a date to veg around the computer and laugh our asses off looking at http://icanhascheezburger.com/. Seriously funny stuff :) We're so cool aren't we? LOL

that's all. Good night.

Need motivation.

So, as I mentioned before, I've gained weight again :( I am not at all happy with the way I look right now. Not that the change is huge, or overly noticeable (So I've been told) but I feel it, and my scale shows it, and my pants are tighter. blech!

I just can't seem to find the energy..or motivation, to get back on track with my weightloss, and exercise. I'm not eating well.. Which is probably the biggest issue. Because I know for sure that I am getting a whole lot more exercise now that I am chasing pre-schoolers, and pushing swings and walking to the school 2 times a day, 5 days a week.

I admit, I'm not getting the best sleep. (why do husbands need to solve the worlds problems just as your head hits the pillow??) so that certainly doesn't help..but it shouldn't be an excuse. But it does throw me off.

Last summer I was competing with Jenny to see who could lose 10% of their weight first. I kicked ASS doing that!! I loved how it felt. I was happier. But I can't seem to get back to that place. I'm sitting here wishing for looser t-shirts, instead of doing something about it.

Any ideas on how to get back in the groove??

It's Go Time

So, you all know the saying, "The Lazy Days Of Summer" right?? I am realllllly looking forward to trying to apply that!! Spring for us is just noon-stop. It's birthday season around here. Ready??

May 5 - My Dad
May 6 - My Uncle Roy
May 11 - Friend Christine (Also Mother's day!!)(Alsoi my Mom is coming to visit!!)
May 18 - Nephew Dustin, Mikayla (from my daycare)
May 19 - Aunt Kathy
May 20 - My Step Mother

June 7 - My BIL Dale
June 12 - My Grandma in England
June 14 - My brother Kenny
June 15 - Father's Day
June 16 - Was Al's Grandmas, I usually try to plan something though
June 18 - My brother Brian
June 21 - My friend Dave
June 23 - Chloe (JJBB's cute pie punkin face :))
June 25 - Jenna

July 6 - My Mom!!
July 7 - my nephew Ryan

DUDE!! Could we cram any more in there?! Now, to be honest we don't celebrate all of this with big brew-haha's, but they all deserve to be acknowledged!! I'm doing the cake for Mikayla's party which is today. Cinderella. I'm not thrilled with it :( Should have practiced the eyes before I went all gung-ho and did them on the cake...but I
m trying to tell myself that she's 6, and I gave her Mom and discount since we're friends...and who's a worse critic of myself than me right?? But it still bugs me :( So, a not to all my future cake orderers...I can do animal eyes just fine...wouldn't you love a bunny instead of Ariel?? :)

My step-mom is turning 60 this year. So my sister and I are planning a surprise party for her. I wanted to make the cake...my Sister kyboshed that :( She wants to get a cake from Sobey's so they can put the picture on it. Great idea...but cakes are my thing, and I totally had this great White Forest cake idea...with a french vanilla cake, white chocolate frosting, sliced strawberry filling, white chocolate curls on the top, and whole strawberries. It was going to be sooo pretty :) Oh well...maybe I'll make it for my Mom :) I mean, my Sister knows her Mom better than I do. Maybe Marilyn has said she doesn't like my cakes. Whatever. I guess it gives me more time to browse around party packagers :) Heart that store.

Jenna's party plan is coming along :) A picnic party this year. I was humming and hawing (Or is it hemming and hawing??) over what to do for her cake. I was going to do a picnic basket, but it seemed too grown up for a 7 year old. After looking online for different ideas, I think she and I have decided on a watermelon cake :) There are so many ways to do them, so now the hard part is deciding which angle for the cake :) We're going to hold it at a park this year.. My back yard just isn't big enough to contain 10 screaming 6-7 year olds :) I'm sure I'll be recieving thank you notes and gift baskets from my nieghbours too :) But don't get me started on the party planning..that deserves a post all on it's own :) More to come..I promise :)

Okay, off to give Cinderella some hair :) Love to you all!!

Lisa

An accident waiting to happen!!

If I had a dollar for every time I had heard that about myself, well..I would probably have enough for that pilates class. But really, it's so true.

This past winter was no exception. I fell down the stairs, while holding Mason. I fell in the driveway no less than half a dozen times. I tripped UP the stairs. It was awful. I also re-broke my tailbone doing pilates, and tobogganning.

2 weeks ago I was heading into the bathroom, I opened the door, which banged off of the front door, which was stuck on the carpet runner, I, oblivious to all this apparently, kept walking, right into the edge of the bathroom door!! Which left a lovely bruise on my forehead.

Last week I whacked my thumb, and have NO idea how I did it!! But I must have hit it awfully hard, because it swelled up and turned purple right away, and I still have a lovely bruise! I also stood up in the bathroom after helping one of the boys get his pants pulled up...and whacked my shoulder off the towel bar. That too left a lovely sore bruise on my shoulder!

And then Yesterday!! Cory and Aidan were fighting by the front door, just after we got back from the school. I was in the kitchen and took off running, since they were pummeling each other. Lucky me, went around the corner..in my shoes..and my feet came out from under me. Boom!! down I went. I thought for awhile that I had broken my little toe, but I think now that it's just sprained. Lovely shade of purple though!! In the fall I also hit the same bruised shoulder, my head, and my wrist!! I never do things in a small way apparently :)

Seriously though..what the heck is wrong with me?? Why can I not keep myself from bouncing off the walls, and keeping my feet firmly planted on the floor?? Man, I need some double sided tape or something..and I should probably look into padding the walls around here :)

See?? I'm so boring!!

I'm all gung ho about blogging again, and then, boom.. Writer's block!! LOL I think really though, that I just don't have much exciting to write about. It was really nice to see comments already though..nice to know there are some readers out there still :) :)

Work is going well. I adore these kids. I'm getting to know them much better, and we all seem to be fitting into a much better groove. Not that it was ever a bad groove, but when you figure that these kids and I got about 2 days notice that we were going to be spending hours upon hours a day with each other..well..we've worked out the kinks pretty well.

I really need to get my ass back into gear. I've gained back 12 pounds since last summer. Something I swore I wouldn't let myself do. But here I am, teetering on 150 again, and feeling absolute despair when I see that scale. But then I head to the cupboard, and reach for crap. I have a drawer in my fridge filled with peppers, and carrots, cucumber, zuchini. All of which I Love! But I just can't seem to make myself eat them :( I mean really...home baked cookies? Or carrot sticks?? yeah..me too. unfortunately.

I was talking to one of my Mom's on the weekend, she attends pilates classes regularily. I'm really seriously thinking of joining the next class with her.. I have the pilates video that I was doing. And I really like it..but I didn't keep up with it. I know that if I spend over $100 on a class like that, I will drag my butt there no matter how sick/tired/PMS-y I am :) I'm frugal like that :)

Oh hey!! Speaking of frugal!! I got a pair of red sneakers at Le Chateau last week (kinda have a converse shoe like look..does that make sense?) Regular price $39.99 (What? Are they on crack!?) I got them for $9.99!! Woohoo!! And I have this totally comfy, totally cute, will wear it and feel special till I die red dress that I'm totally going to wear them with :) And I got a shirt for $4.99..now, I have NO idea when or where I'll wear it..it's WAY sexier than I EVER wear. But it's a brilliant shade of blue (my fav), and a halter top with an empire waist that ties as well (read: I can tie the girls up tight, and they won't do that thing that a mother of 3's girls tend to do LOL) with a flowy front (read: to cover the tummy that only a mother of 3 can hope to hide) But seriously!! for less than $5!! bring it on!!

Okay, so, look at me, rambling on after saying I have nothing to ramble about! Think I'll go hit the post button and vege for awhile.

I hope you're doing okay..wherever you are..whatever you're up to..thanks for stopping by!!

Lisa

Ch Ch Ch Changes!!

So...Hi. It's me. Remember me?? Been awhile. Loooots of changes happened while I was out. I was diagnosed with depression, Al and I have had our ups, and Way downs, but the biggest being that Henry moved, I started working with a new family, they turned out to be a bunch of crazies, and so I quit my job!! Now, it's not really as cut and dried as that. But that's the short version. You can skip ahead if that's all you're interested. if not...

So, I worked with L from January to mid-March. His Mom was Crazy!! I couldn't work if I was sick, my kids were sick, anyone in my neighbourhood was sick, or hadn't washed my hands in the past 5 seconds. OKay...so maybe that's kinda pushing it...but not far, trust me! I wasn't getting enough hours to survive. Seriously, I made $950 in January, and my bills equalled $960 with gas and daycare!! I was stressed to the max, and as much as I was falling in love with L...I needed to get out of there.

I had shared my frustrations with my daycare provider. She told me I should try daycare!! I had thought about it, but didn't really know where to start, or if I would like it. Well!! 2 weeks later she called me and said she needed to take a stress-related leave of absence, and would I take over her daycare kids for awhile!? OMG!! I jumped on it. I quit with L on Thursday, and started Daycare in my home on Friday!! Insane!!

So, that's what I've been doing for the past month and a half. I'm really liking it. I see sooo many positive changes in Mason!! I'm not getting more housework done like I thought I would, but I'm playing more, and laughing more, and relaxing more :)

I'm not sure what';s going on with my daycare provider. No one does., Even the Mom's who have asked her don't get a straight answer on if she's coming back to daycare or not. And as far as I know...at least 2 of the Mom's are leaning towards keeping me. (Yay!) I have a 1 year old starting in September, who lives 2 doors down the street! And one of my Mom's has given my number to a friend of hers! So, even if I lose kids back to Laura...I'm gonna be okay. :)

Al and I are working through our troubles. And I think we're making ground. We still have a long way to go. I start counselling in a couple weeks, and I think Al will as well shortly after. I'm happy with that.

Jenna is doing great in school. She's not doing great with Going to school though!! Since I'm home now, she really wants to stay home with me too. So, we've had a few mornings where she's faked sick, and then I sent her to school at the last minute with a neighbour. We promised to get her ears peirced at the end of the year if this nonsense stops...so hopefully we're onto something there.

Aidan is tettering between angel and devil. There are times I want to pull out my hair because he's just being so awful...and times when I couldn't be any more proud of how awesome he is! He's soo smart! Reading already, and he's only 4!! Way ahead of Jenna in that respect. I talked to his teacher the other day about his behaviour at school, and asked if she thought it could be because he's bored, she said no, so hopefully I can take her word for it, and it's just a stage he's going through there.

Mason is still my quirky one. Still doesn't eat much variety, still has many speech delays (And his awful mother still hasn't sent in the forms to have his assessment done! UGH!!) We found out a little while ago that he has some hearing loss. So that was kinda shocking. We have an appointment with an ENT in June to see about fluid in his ears, and possibly getting tubes for him. But that's still such a long way off. Good news is that he's finally sleeping through the night!!! He's still an early riser, but at least it's not 1AM kinda early anymore :)

Al is training to enter a body building competition in October!! I am so insanely proud of him for that!! He's lost sooo much weight!! I see the muscle coming through more every week. He's wanted to do this since high school...so I'm glad he's really taking all the right steps towards this goal :) He really needs a sponsor though...so if you know of any rich uncles out there :)

So yeah, I guess that's about it. I've missed blogging lately. And all my lovely friends in the blogging world. I've been reading though!! And I'm sure the comments will be flowing soon :)

Lisa

Just not into it right now.

There's so much going on right now. But I just can't blog about it all. I'm fine, the family is fine...but I just thought I'd drop a line on my blog to let you all know that I'm probably not going to blog anymore. Cripes...it's been nearly a month since my last entry anyway!!

Love and Hugs to all. I'll see you around :)

Lisa