Our weekend was pretty much the same as usual. We ran some errands, went to the pool, folded laundry and just hung around the house. The only difference was in Bubba's nose. He awoke Friday with a funky nose. If you have children, you know what I mean! I knew what was ahead but I tried to blow it off. After all, I had just been to the pediatrician 5 days earlier and the pediatric ENT the day before.
On Saturday, the whole family ventured out to Target for a few forgotten items. While in the store, Bubba began hitting Baby in the cart. Baby sweetly said "Be nice, Bubba. Don't hit me!" But that didn't stop him. When Evander and I spoke to him, it didn't stop. So...I decided to remove him from the buggy and make him walk and hold my hand. Seconds after grabbing onto his tiny brown hand, he went limp and began screaming "DADDY!! DADDY!!" Evander was literally right beside us, but Bubba didn't care. He was screaming so loudly, I knew we had to leave the store.
So... 7 months pregnant me (if you haven't seen me lately, I'm much bigger than I was with Baby) proceeds to drag screaming-limp Bubba through the isles of Target and out the glass doors. All the while Bubba is screaming "Daddy! HELP! DADDY!! NNNOOO!!" Strangers are glancing in my direction, probably wondering if he is being abducted or just terrible! I rush him to the car, where he refuses to get in. Still screaming, I lift him into the car and hold him down with my elbow, so I can buckle the seat. I quickly slam and lock the door and hop into the passenger seat.
After throwing my head back into the seat rest, taking a gulp of water, and sighing deeply, I began to talk to him (more of a scream since he was still screaming). Soon I saw Evander and Baby bopping out of the store and silently thanked God. "What is HIS deal? One of these days someone is going to stop us or call the police!" Evander said as he slid into the car. I knew exactly what the problem was. Gauging from the recent outburst, I immediately diagnosed his funky nose as ear and sinus infection. These days, the only time Bubba acts like that anymore is when he is sick, and when he is sick, he usually has an ear and/or sinus infection.
As the pediatrician entered the room this morning, she said "What's going on with Bubba today?" and I said "He has a sinus infection and maybe an ear infection." After confirming our diagnosis, we left the doctor's office with an antibiotic prescription, 2 suckers, and countless germs that haven't popped up yet! Now we are trying to get Bubba feeling well before we fly on Wednesday morning. Keep your fingers crossed!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Little Swimmer
In the past, Bubba has had many issues with the beginning of "pool season". He doesn't like to get his hair or face wet. He doesn't like water to get in his ears. The water is usually too cold or too hot. With this in mind, I decided to sign him up for swimming lessons at Emler Swim School (http://www.iswimemler.com/).
So...for two weeks (every single day) at the first of June Bubba had a 30 minute swimming lesson. I know it sounds intense, but he does better when you totally immerse (no pun intended) in it. Now, this same little hesitant boy is running and jumping in the pool with no one to catch him. He often looks like a duck bobbing in the water and suddenly throwing his face under the water. Thanks to swimming lessons, he has 8 second breath control (meaning he can hold his breath under water for 8 seconds) and is beginning to swim like a fish. He is so comfortable in the pool, he has begun to ask for his swimmies to be removed.
Since we had such success, we have signed Bubba up for advanced swimming lessons (at his level...nothing crazy), which will be once a week for the rest of the summer. We don't want him to lose his enthusiasm and comfortability (is that even a word?) with the water. YEAH BUBBA!!
Lilly is also taking swimming lessons once a week, but she has never been uncomfortable with the water. If anything, she is now OVER confident, which is scary!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Rain, Rain, Go Away
We awoke this morning to cloudy skies, and the questioning immediately began. "Is it still dark?" "Is it cloudy?" "Is it going to rain?" Bubba has a terrible fear of the rain, and I don't mean severe weather. I mean rain... tiny water droplets that fall from the sky. He doesn't have to hear the low rumblings of thunder or see lightning streak across the sky. He is afraid of rain! Now... the anxiety worsens with thunder and lightning, but it begins with the water falling.
Our day was a little rocky, but it wasn't so bad. And, other than the constant questioning about the cloudy skies, I had put the possibility of rain out of my mind. It wasn't until we were eating dinner with Mama Bird and Mela-mela that I began to notice a change in the skies. Bubba, on the other hand, had been watching the skies from the windows and immediately sensed the change. "It's going to rain!" he said.
"Oh, it's fine! Now turn around and eat." I said.
"It's going to rain!" he insisted.
"It might rain but we will be ok!" I reassured. I tried to entice Bubba to eat his dinner, but I knew it was useless. Once he saw that rain was on the horizon, all else was out the window. On the way out to the car, I noticed how dark it had gotten and how gloomy the clouds looked but I was still reassuring Bubba that we would be fine. We hopped into the car and headed home. I was just hoping we would make it home in time for me to take the dogs out before it started raining. Bubba, on the other hand, was hoping for no rain ever!
That is when I heard it, and he did too. The tornado sirens began going off as we headed for home. Oh crap!! "What IS that, Mommy?" he asked.
"Just a siren baby!" I said.
"What IS that siren for, Mommy?" he continued.
"It's just a bad weather siren... no big deal." I insisted.
"NO, Mommy...it's a tornado siren. A tornado is here!!" he urged.
"First of all... how do you know that is a tornado siren? Second... how do you know the word tornado?"
"A tornado is bad, bad weather, Mommy" he said.
"It's ok, Bubba! We will be ok. Mommy will keep you safe. That's what I'm here for" I reassured.
When we entered the garage, I explained that we were having bad weather, so the dogs needed to stay in their crates, and we needed to sit in the bathroom for a little while. I rushed them out of the car and into the hall bathroom. Then I ran out of the bathroom for pillows and the portable DVD player. When I returned, only seconds later, Bubba had used the potty all over himself.
"What happened baby? You are standing right next to the potty!" I asked.
"You left" he whispered.
"Ok... no big deal. Let's get you cleaned up!"
After cleaning him up, I quickly threw the pee clothes into the laundry room and checked the news for a weather update. It was headed right over us, so I ran back to the bathroom and pulled up the radar on my iPhone (thank heaven and Evander for this phone). We managed to ride out the severe weather with my children camped out in the bathtub watching a movie, dogs in their crates (amazingly quiet) and me sitting on the tile floor watching a 2 inch version of radar.
During all of this my mother and Evander called to check on us (thank you for calling). I also called Mama Bird to make sure she made it home ok. I knew Mela-mela would have made it because she lives very close and I followed her almost all the way (until turning into our neighborhood). Bubba's fears continue to amaze me. In so many instances, he is fearless. He hasn't a care in the world and throws caution into the wind. However, when it comes to rain and social situations, he becomes a different child and experiences anxiety and fear so intense it alarms me. I suppose it is just like everything else with him. It is all or nothing! There is no middle ground, no moderate response.
*It just hit me, too, where he learned about the tornado siren and a tornado... ppcd. I'm sure they had a severe weather drill at some point when he was at school.*
Our day was a little rocky, but it wasn't so bad. And, other than the constant questioning about the cloudy skies, I had put the possibility of rain out of my mind. It wasn't until we were eating dinner with Mama Bird and Mela-mela that I began to notice a change in the skies. Bubba, on the other hand, had been watching the skies from the windows and immediately sensed the change. "It's going to rain!" he said.
"Oh, it's fine! Now turn around and eat." I said.
"It's going to rain!" he insisted.
"It might rain but we will be ok!" I reassured. I tried to entice Bubba to eat his dinner, but I knew it was useless. Once he saw that rain was on the horizon, all else was out the window. On the way out to the car, I noticed how dark it had gotten and how gloomy the clouds looked but I was still reassuring Bubba that we would be fine. We hopped into the car and headed home. I was just hoping we would make it home in time for me to take the dogs out before it started raining. Bubba, on the other hand, was hoping for no rain ever!
That is when I heard it, and he did too. The tornado sirens began going off as we headed for home. Oh crap!! "What IS that, Mommy?" he asked.
"Just a siren baby!" I said.
"What IS that siren for, Mommy?" he continued.
"It's just a bad weather siren... no big deal." I insisted.
"NO, Mommy...it's a tornado siren. A tornado is here!!" he urged.
"First of all... how do you know that is a tornado siren? Second... how do you know the word tornado?"
"A tornado is bad, bad weather, Mommy" he said.
"It's ok, Bubba! We will be ok. Mommy will keep you safe. That's what I'm here for" I reassured.
When we entered the garage, I explained that we were having bad weather, so the dogs needed to stay in their crates, and we needed to sit in the bathroom for a little while. I rushed them out of the car and into the hall bathroom. Then I ran out of the bathroom for pillows and the portable DVD player. When I returned, only seconds later, Bubba had used the potty all over himself.
"What happened baby? You are standing right next to the potty!" I asked.
"You left" he whispered.
"Ok... no big deal. Let's get you cleaned up!"
After cleaning him up, I quickly threw the pee clothes into the laundry room and checked the news for a weather update. It was headed right over us, so I ran back to the bathroom and pulled up the radar on my iPhone (thank heaven and Evander for this phone). We managed to ride out the severe weather with my children camped out in the bathtub watching a movie, dogs in their crates (amazingly quiet) and me sitting on the tile floor watching a 2 inch version of radar.
During all of this my mother and Evander called to check on us (thank you for calling). I also called Mama Bird to make sure she made it home ok. I knew Mela-mela would have made it because she lives very close and I followed her almost all the way (until turning into our neighborhood). Bubba's fears continue to amaze me. In so many instances, he is fearless. He hasn't a care in the world and throws caution into the wind. However, when it comes to rain and social situations, he becomes a different child and experiences anxiety and fear so intense it alarms me. I suppose it is just like everything else with him. It is all or nothing! There is no middle ground, no moderate response.
*It just hit me, too, where he learned about the tornado siren and a tornado... ppcd. I'm sure they had a severe weather drill at some point when he was at school.*
Thursday, June 4, 2009
School's Out for Summer
"Am I going to kindergarten now?" was one of the first questions I heard this morning. "Did you say kindergarten?" I asked. "Yeah," Bubba replied. "Well...not right now. You have to be five to go," I answered. "And I'm three now?" he wondered. "Yes" And that was it. We started this year not wanting to go to school at all, and, now that he is done for the year, he is ready to continue on (and skip a few years).
Wednesday was Bubba's last day of PPCD, and I am relieved. We finally have that and those teachers behind us. I was told that he would be spending the day outside and having a Popsicle for snack, but when I asked Bubba what they did he said that he didn't know. When I asked if he had a Popsicle he said "No! I want a Popsicle!" UUGGHH!! Why would his teachers have told me Popsicles if there were no Popsicles?
Next year, Bubba will be going to PPCD at the new Early Childhood Center very close to our house. It is a very nice building with lots of tiny playgrounds, just perfect for their ages. I have asked his teachers to provide some specifics for the new year and new school, but they can't seem to come up with any, so I suppose we will wait and see what happens. Bubba will, I believe, be riding the bus one way (either home from school if he is in the morning session or to school if he is in the afternoon session). I thought this would provide him a little independence, and it would help me out with the new baby. We will have to wait and see, though, how it actually works out.
With summer ahead, Bubba is off on new adventures. He will begin swimming lessons next week and has a trip to Flagstaff, Arizona in the near future. He is currently doing very well, sleeping through the night and talking more. I just hope we keep it up!
Wednesday was Bubba's last day of PPCD, and I am relieved. We finally have that and those teachers behind us. I was told that he would be spending the day outside and having a Popsicle for snack, but when I asked Bubba what they did he said that he didn't know. When I asked if he had a Popsicle he said "No! I want a Popsicle!" UUGGHH!! Why would his teachers have told me Popsicles if there were no Popsicles?
Next year, Bubba will be going to PPCD at the new Early Childhood Center very close to our house. It is a very nice building with lots of tiny playgrounds, just perfect for their ages. I have asked his teachers to provide some specifics for the new year and new school, but they can't seem to come up with any, so I suppose we will wait and see what happens. Bubba will, I believe, be riding the bus one way (either home from school if he is in the morning session or to school if he is in the afternoon session). I thought this would provide him a little independence, and it would help me out with the new baby. We will have to wait and see, though, how it actually works out.
With summer ahead, Bubba is off on new adventures. He will begin swimming lessons next week and has a trip to Flagstaff, Arizona in the near future. He is currently doing very well, sleeping through the night and talking more. I just hope we keep it up!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Alabama bound
I awoke Friday morning at 5:00 on the dot. I tried to roll over and go back to sleep, but my bladder would have nothing of it. We had to be up and ready soon anyway, so I figured I might as well start getting ready for the day. As I began to put lotion on my leg, I noticed it. About three inches directly below my knee was what appeared to be a small slug that had crawled underneath my skin and set up shop. It was surrounded by at least a dozen tiny purple worms. In reality, it was part of a vein bulging out from under my skin, and there were purple squiggly lines all around it. Great! Just great! We are leaving for the airport in an hour and I now have a worm in my leg.
This is how our trip to Alabama began, so I knew it was going to be an interesting one. Boy, was it interesting! The kids were wonderful on the plane and in the airport. They were so excited to see Mimi that they couldn't stand it. We all made it safely home (after losing my dad in the airport), and the kids dug out every toy they could find. My mom had bought each of them a new swim suit, towel, and flip flops, so they had to model.
Saturday started out with a bang. While playing in the drive way, a policeman and family friend pulled in.
He stuck out his head and said, "Everything ok?"
"Oh yes!" my mom said.
"Somebody dial 911?" he continued.
"Oh...did that go out?" my mom asked.
"Yes, it went out! Was it Obie?" the policeman asked.
"No...it was the kids this time!"
What my mom didn't know was that the last time we were at her house (when my dad was in the hospital in January) Bubba called 911, and they had called back to check on us.
What I didn't know was that my dad had dialed 911 only a week earlier and someone came to check on them. So... this was the third 911 call from my parents house!
Saturday evening Bubba, Baby, my mom, my sister, and I went to my 2nd cousin's wedding. It had rained for days, so the outside event wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Located in someone's backyard, we crossed the swamplands on our tiptoes, trying not to get mud on our toes or in our sandals. The kids were doing great (all things considered)! Just as everyone stood in silence for the bride to walk down the aisle Bubba screams, "POTTY!! POTTY!" I immediately motion for my mom to take him because I knew Baby would start screaming if I left her, but it didn't work. Baby instead started screaming for my mother, so I ushered her out directly behind my mom and my squirming little boy. We looked as if we just realized (after seeing the bride) we were at the wrong tent wedding held in the pouring rain and were trying to make a quick exit. Immediately I begin scanning for a restroom and see a porta-potty. I try to discreetly tell my mom that he won't use a porta-potty because it is too nasty and smelly. Because of his sensitivity to smell, he would vomit before using the restroom. So... my son pees behind a pick-up truck at my cousin's wedding. Can you tell I'm from Alabama yet?
Saturday evening Bubba, Baby, my mom, my sister, and I went to my 2nd cousin's wedding. It had rained for days, so the outside event wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Located in someone's backyard, we crossed the swamplands on our tiptoes, trying not to get mud on our toes or in our sandals. The kids were doing great (all things considered)! Just as everyone stood in silence for the bride to walk down the aisle Bubba screams, "POTTY!! POTTY!" I immediately motion for my mom to take him because I knew Baby would start screaming if I left her, but it didn't work. Baby instead started screaming for my mother, so I ushered her out directly behind my mom and my squirming little boy. We looked as if we just realized (after seeing the bride) we were at the wrong tent wedding held in the pouring rain and were trying to make a quick exit. Immediately I begin scanning for a restroom and see a porta-potty. I try to discreetly tell my mom that he won't use a porta-potty because it is too nasty and smelly. Because of his sensitivity to smell, he would vomit before using the restroom. So... my son pees behind a pick-up truck at my cousin's wedding. Can you tell I'm from Alabama yet?
Sunday was no less eventful. We jumped up Sunday morning in time to make it to river church, again in the pouring rain. (If you don't know what river church is, I will need to explain in person). We start out on the boat, but the rain starts to blow so we ran under the pavilion just before it began. After church we met the rest of my family at the marina for breakfast.
After naps, the weather had started to clear, so we took the kids outside to play. Bubba was riding his tricycle up and down the long drive as Baby pushed a tractor. Just as she got to the end of the drive, she hesitated, then continued into the road. I began to quickly walk down the drive and yelled at her to get out of the road. Once safely in, I talked to her about going in the road and Evander drew a line in the drive that they shouldn't cross. I didn't think of it again, because this has never been a problem for Baby before. Not long after sitting back down, I see Baby cross the forbidden pink line and immediately jump up.
When I realize that she isn't stopping I began to jog down the drive yelling her name. My mom and Evander are also yelling for her to stop and come back. Then I see it... a gray SUV topped the hill and was heading straight for Baby. I, then, begin screaming frantically and took off down the drive. My mom said she never saw the car because she was focused on Baby, but I saw it coming right for her and she wasn't moving. They didn't see her because they were talking to one another and now she and the big yellow tractor were in the middle of the road, but I was still too far to reach her. Immediately thoughts flash through my mind. Are they going to hit my baby?
Finally they notice me, a pregnant woman hauling ass down the drive way, and begin to slow, but they still didn't see Baby. She was bent over, and I really don't think they could see her over their hood. I determined that the car and I would reach her at the same time, so it was anyone's game. Just at that moment, Baby stood up, saw the car, and took two steps into the driveway. I was right... the car and I did reach her at the same time. They slammed on their brakes, and I scooped her up. All I could do was cry. I held her in my arms and sobbed. Two seconds later and she would have been killed, or we both would have been injured. I really wasn't thinking of it at the time, but I would have jumped into that road for her.
We all made it safely home, and I watched as my little slug became a giant earthworm with purple knots. After getting everyone settled, I called the doctor yesterday and they told me to come in immediately. Once the doctor examined me, she determined that I needed to have a Doppler done of my leg to determine if I had blood clots. Thankfully, I am OK! We are all back at home, snug in our beds, waiting for what will happen next.
Monday, May 18, 2009
My Babies
I took these photos the other day, not realizing what I was capturing with the push of a button. My babies have been transformed into children. There are no more chubby cheeks or baby faces. Their little bellies have flattened out and their expressions are so "grown-up". As I downloaded these photos, I sat and stared in disbelief. Where did my babies go and when did they become little kids?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
One of Those Days
Bubba is having one of those days, the kind of day where it seems as if he just woke up from a long sleep. I love these days! On these days I get to know the real Bubba and see his real personality. On these days I am reminded just how smart he is and how sweet he can be. On these days anything can happen.
Each day after school, I wait for Bubba to come out the front doors. His head and shoulders are usually slumped, and I have to get his attention for him to even know I'm around. Today, though, he ran up to me, arms open wide and a big smile on his face. That is when I knew it was a good day. Our usual walk to the car is filled with my questions and his non-answers but not today. Today HE asked me the questions.
"So...," he began, "What did you and Baby do today while I was at school?". Totally stunned by his very verbal question, I was the one left stumbling over my words and barely answering (we went to the store). " You mean the grocery store? What did you get at the grocery store?". I was hardly able to answer before he continued, "Did you bring my lunch with you today?" Yes! "What did you put in my lunch today?" This went on as he and Baby held their own conversation in the backseat all the way home.
Once home I said "Bubba I really like the way you are using your words today". He replied with "Yes and I used my words at school today too!" Still in complete shock, I turned on the oven to heat up some lunch and was met with another question. "What are you having for lunch Mommy?"
"Pizza"
"What kind of pizza?"
"Oh, just frozen pizza" (the child has hardly EVER noticed that I eat something different from them every single day)
"Oh.. when I was a baby I used to eat frozen pizza but then I had Pizza Hut pizza for lunch one day and it made me sick. So I don't eat frozen pizza anymore."
"Well, thank you for letting me know!" I uttered as I picked my jaw up off the floor.
That's the thing with Aspergers...you never know what you are going to get. One day could be the worst day of your life and the next could be a gift from God. And to think, I thought yesterday was good because he finally ate a pb and j without complaint!
Each day after school, I wait for Bubba to come out the front doors. His head and shoulders are usually slumped, and I have to get his attention for him to even know I'm around. Today, though, he ran up to me, arms open wide and a big smile on his face. That is when I knew it was a good day. Our usual walk to the car is filled with my questions and his non-answers but not today. Today HE asked me the questions.
"So...," he began, "What did you and Baby do today while I was at school?". Totally stunned by his very verbal question, I was the one left stumbling over my words and barely answering (we went to the store). " You mean the grocery store? What did you get at the grocery store?". I was hardly able to answer before he continued, "Did you bring my lunch with you today?" Yes! "What did you put in my lunch today?" This went on as he and Baby held their own conversation in the backseat all the way home.
Once home I said "Bubba I really like the way you are using your words today". He replied with "Yes and I used my words at school today too!" Still in complete shock, I turned on the oven to heat up some lunch and was met with another question. "What are you having for lunch Mommy?"
"Pizza"
"What kind of pizza?"
"Oh, just frozen pizza" (the child has hardly EVER noticed that I eat something different from them every single day)
"Oh.. when I was a baby I used to eat frozen pizza but then I had Pizza Hut pizza for lunch one day and it made me sick. So I don't eat frozen pizza anymore."
"Well, thank you for letting me know!" I uttered as I picked my jaw up off the floor.
That's the thing with Aspergers...you never know what you are going to get. One day could be the worst day of your life and the next could be a gift from God. And to think, I thought yesterday was good because he finally ate a pb and j without complaint!
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