Lindt Gold Bunny

For every Lindt Gold Bunny purchased this Easter, Lindt will give 10 cents to Autism Speaks. With Joshua still not talking, we have looked into a lot of therapy that is geared towards kids with autism (but works for kids with various developmental delays). So, we have had a lot of exposure to autism....what it is, what the signs are, how it is treated, etc, and we have met a couple of families touched by autism. You can learn more about Autism Speaks at www.autismspeaks.org. The cost of therapy/treatment for families with autism is probably far more than you would think. I just wanted to pass along this information, in case you wanted to help make a difference this Easter while filling someone's Easter basket...or getting yourself a little treat!

How Will I Be Celebrating my 30th??

Taking Joshua for outpatient surgery to have a cyst removed from his ankle. I know - its not exactly what I had in mind either, but the last year or so of life hasn't been what I had in mind, so I guess this just fits! We will have to be at the hospital a couple of hours before Joshua & I are usually up & about, so hopefully we will be home by early afternoon. Now, I am praying that this cyst either gets much smaller or disappears completely in a couple of weeks so that we can avoid the surgery (scheduled for April 24th). However, it is "minor" surgery (parents all know that no surgery on your baby is minor), and shouldn't really slow him down. We are a little concerned about anesthesia causing a slightly higher risk for seizures, so please keep Joshua in your thoughts as surgery approaches.

Forgetful

That seems to be a theme in my life these days. I have had it affect my cooking twice recently. The first time was a couple of weeks ago when we had some friends that we hadn't seen in a while over for dinner. They brought gumbo & I was making corn muffins to go with it. I had just taken some sweet potato fries out of the oven for Joshua & put the muffins in. When the timer went off, John checked them & said they weren't done. A few minutes later, I checked them & they weren't even close to being done. That is when I realized the oven wasn't on. Apparently, I had turned it off when I took Joshua's sweet potato fries out; strange, since I was putting the muffins in as I took the sweet potatoes out. Anyway, the muffins turned out fine once I turned the oven back on to let them cook a few minutes.

The second time was tonight. I was frazzled by dinner time. This morning, I had to take Joshua to an orthopedist to look at a lump on his ankle, that we are pretty sure is just a cyst. We were at the outpatient center for 40 minutes before they even called our name for registration. Joshua was running wild & kept wanting to go across the hall to another clinic, which happens to be where his neurologist works. Anyway, after we were finally registered, we were called back for xrays, which Joshua cried through. He hates to sit still. Then more waiting to get to a room, followed by more waiting for the doctor. The doctor then sent us for an ultrasound to determine if this was just a fluid-filled cyst. More waiting. Joshua was so tired, he just laid down on his tummy on the table in the ultrasound room, so they were able to see the cyst on the ultrasound. Then more waiting for the doctor to look at the ultrasound & consult with a radiologist. All of this to find out that they can't be 100% sure this is just a fluid-filled cyst, so they are recommending surgery to go ahead & remove it...just in case. Joshua & I were exhausted & hungry by this time. We ate lunch & then had to go out to run some errands. Soon after we got home, I realized I needed to start cooking dinner. I preheated the oven while I mixed up the meatloaf (one of John's favorites...not so much one of mine though). I put it in the oven & Joshua & I went upstairs to play. We came down about 45 minutes later to get Joshua's dinner ready. I fixed him a grilled cheese sandwich & some fruit and sat him down at the table. I got the laptop & checked my email. When Joshua was almost finished eating, I walked by the oven & realized it wasn't on!! I have no idea when I turned it off!! I looked at the meatloaf, which had been in for just over an hour, and it was brown around the edges & red everywhere else. I was horrified! I was hoping that maybe I had just turned the oven off when I was cooking Joshua's sandwich. Apparently, that was not the case because I turned it back on & it took the normal time to preheat. I guess I put the meatloaf in & then turned the oven off...what was I thinking?? Anyway, I called John to discuss whether or not it would be safe to eat the meatloaf after it cooked, but we decided it was best to throw it out & grill some hamburgers instead. John has made fun of me all evening for this. I am going to have to put a poster or something over the stove to remind me to make sure the oven is on when it is supposed to be.

Slide

Joshua has been using the sign for slide for weeks now. They have slides at school, but we didn't have one at home. Last week, we ended up getting him an indoor/outdoor slide. For the first 24 hours, he only wanted to climb up the front & got angry if you showed him the ladder. Then he decided it worked better to climb up the ladder. I was trying to get a picture of him sitting on top of it once he started going up the ladder. Now, the slide is really slick, so I usually hold on to him as he goes down to keep him from hitting the ground really hard at the end. While I was taking this picture, he decided to go down without me. This is the craziest face I have ever caught on camera! He was laughing when he hit the ground, but I think he was a little scared on the way down!



In other news, I did see a specialist on Monday, and had a test done yesterday. I don't have any ulcers and only very mild reflux. So, I get to see the specialist again next week....I think he will move on to testing my gallbladder. What fun!

Product Testing

We have often joked that Joshua should have been a test child for all children's toys, safety products, furniture, etc. If it can stand up to him, it will survive any other child. He is incredibly rough on almost everything. A few minutes ago, he was in the kitchen jerking on one of the drawers that was locked. The problem with this drawer is that I used to not have a lock on it because it just had oven mitts, hot pads, etc in it, so it wasn't a problem if he opened it. However, he would often leave it open & go running off to play & the drawer is right beside the doorway from the kitchen to the dining room. One day, he left it open & was running through the house kicking a ball, looking down at his feet & the ball the whole time. He ran full speed into the open drawer! So, we put a lock on it, and he jerks on it all the time now. Today, he jerked it so hard that the lock broke!

Rescued

With my 30th birthday approaching, I think I am really starting to fall apart, physically & mentally! I mean, I am still dealing with the mysterious chest pain (waiting to be called back for an appointment with a specialist to determine if there is some digestive issue like an ulcer or reflux). I have been really forgetful since I was pregnant, but it seems to be getting worse. I like to think it is just because life is so hectic, and I have so many important things to remember, that I can't seem to remember the smaller things....like the speed limit in surrounding neighborhoods!

Yesterday, I went to the early service at church while John stayed home with Joshua. After I came home so that John could get ready to go to the late service, I decided to take Joshua & go to the grocery store. I got the diaper bag & we headed out. When I was down to the last 2 items on my list, I suddenly realized that I didn't grab my wallet out of my purse before we had left the house. Normally, all of my stuff is in the diaper bag, but since I had just been to church alone, I had everything in my purse. So here I was, with a cart full of groceries (including meat that had been sliced at the deli), a tired toddler who had just finished eating the snack I had brought for him, and no cash, check, credit/debit cards with me. I frantically sent a text message to John (which took me like 5 minutes to do because I don't text, and my phone is not one that is set up for easy texting), and prayed that he had taken his phone in to the service with him. Luckily, he did have his phone & came to rescue me. Joshua & I wandered through the store for 20 minutes waiting for John, who delivered my wallet & took Joshua back home while I checked out.

John has also taught me recently that I don't pay attention to things very well any more. He didn't shave for like 4 days before I realized it! Then, he shaved & I didn't notice until he mentioned it that evening. He didn't take it personally. I think he has learned that I have a million questions swirling through my head at any given moment.

In a Hurry

With the time change & addition of black-out curtains to his room, Joshua has been sleeping until around 8:00 the last few mornings. Now, before you start thinking I have it easy...he doesn't take a nap (except for falling asleep in the car for a few minutes on occasion) & he goes to sleep after 8:00 at night. Anyway, I had to wake him up this morning a little before 8:00 because he had an appointment at 9:00. I had only been up about 15 minutes before I got him up, so I wasn't ready to go at that point either. Between giving him his medicine, getting his breakfast on the table, letting the dog in & out, and getting John's lunch ready, I barely had time to get myself ready & ended up having to eat pop-tarts in the car for breakfast. I was driving through a neighborhood about 1 mile from our appointment, when a police officer stepped out of a bunch of bushes & waved me over. He asked for my license & proof of insurance, so I was hoping this was just a random check point. He then told me I was speeding...the speed limit on that street was 20....was anyone not speeding?? He wrote me up for 34 in a 20....coming downhill. I didn't look at my speedometer, so I have no idea how fast I was going. I didn't argue with him...I just took my ticket...my very first ticket. Obviously I deserved a ticket but I was hoping for a little grace! Not today. So, we were late for the appointment & now I have to pay a ridiculous amount of money to that city....or go to traffic court. I almost made it to the age of 30 without a speeding ticket.

Normal

That is not a word that I would use to describe our life over the past 14 months or so. I mean, we have a two year old who has more appointments than most adults...therapy 5 days a week, plus regular appointments with a specialist for behavior problems, a neurologist, and pediatrician. We get crazy looks when we are out, because Joshua looks like he is 4 but doesn't talk and still has some balance issues. He tries to sign to other people, but they don't know what he is doing. We have gotten used to all of this & the severe tantrums that come with all of the challenges that Joshua has. However...there have been several times in the last couple of weeks that felt very normal. Outings to parks or the zoo have been a struggle for a while because if Joshua wasn't in his stroller, he would run away, crawl around, pick things up & put them in his mouth, and have major tantrums if you tried to stop any of it. Often I avoided those places rather than deal with the "scenes" that would occur if we tried. But, last week I took Joshua to the park after school because it was nice out. He was perfect! He held my hand & walked down the sidewalks. He stopped to look at the water. He went in to the playground & played on the slide & swing. When it was time to go home, he got out of the swing without fussing & held my hand to walk back to the car. He never ran, cried, crawled, fussed, & didn't put anything in his mouth! I was amazed! Today we went to the zoo, and I expected disaster. But, he was perfect again. I had his monkey harness/leash on in case he tried to run, but he didn't. He held my hand most of the time while we were walking. Now, I have learned not to judge parents & kids when you are out, because you just don't know the circumstances. I have been the parent with "that child" too many times, and it isn't his fault or my fault....its just the way it is sometimes in our situation. However, in both of the previous outings, I was so excited to NOT be the parent with the misbehaving child. While we were at the park, there was a little girl holding on to the swing, kicking & screaming when she was told it was time to go home. And today at the zoo, we saw a little boy peeing into the parrot exhibit! His mom was horrified when she looked up & saw him doing it! I didn't laugh until I was around the corner....partly because it was funny & partly because I am well aware that my day is coming for that sort of thing. I was just so impressed with Joshua the past two weeks that I had to share. A couple of months ago, we couldn't even imagine being able to take him to the park or zoo without chaos. He really has come a long way!

On a side note, there was a great article in the current issue of Birmingham Parent magazine written by the father of a special needs child. You can read it on the website: http://www.birminghamparent.com/. Click on the little magazine at the top to download the magazine online & the article is on pages 30-31. This issue has a special section for families with special needs, which has some great articles. Check it out if you have time.

Our Weather Watcher

Joshua has spent much of the day signing 'snow' and pointing outside. He enjoyed some time this evening looking for more of those elusive snowflakes.

Snow Day

We enjoyed watching it snow for several hours this morning. We didn't take Joshua out in it for long because he is starting to get a cold, but he did get to enjoy playing in our 2-3 inches of snow for a few minutes. He seemed to like watching it from the window just as much.

Our Newest Toy

I wish the picture captured the sheer joy that this trampoline brings to Joshua. Unfortunately, as soon as he sees a camera he gets very serious because he thinks he should get to take the camera away from you. Anyway, he LOVES this trampoline, and jumps on it all day long. He gets really high, too. I will have to get some video of it....but who knows when I will have the time to learn how to get videos on here. We definitely recommend these trampolines...it has been well worth the money to see the huge smiles it brings to his face!

Stress Test

I finally got my stress tests results on Friday, and it appears my heart is fine & is not the cause of the chest pain. I was feeling better for a couple of days & then had a few rough days again. However, I seem to be feeling much better this weekend. Maybe the two medications they have me on for stomach/upper GI inflammation are starting to work. Thanks for all of the prayers!!