My house has been plague-ridden this winter. We had the stomach flu in November, followed by multiple different colds, followed by pink-eye, followed by more colds, followed by the stomach flu last week, followed by yet another round of colds.
I’m done. I quit. Find someone else to harrass. My family [...]
I like woodstoves. I grew up in a family that used one as the primary heat source during the winter and it seems normal to me to have one. There is something comforting about a cozy fire – and the Disaster Preparedness part of me enjoys knowing that even if we’re [...]
Meet Pablo
I wonder how much trouble they will get up to together?
Copyright © 2008One common issue that children with autism frequently struggle with is that of change. Things need to be the same day in and day out, and many autistic kids still need warning before they will shift from one activity to another even if they have the schedule memorized.
So this morning? [...]
Okay - it’s not so much of a mystery as I’m letting on. I’ve been busy. I didn’t realize that it had been close to a month since I last blogged until I logged in for a quick glance tonight on my way to bed.
So, in case you’re curious here’s [...]
The other day I was playing with the boys and the topic of (what else?) Christmas came up. I teased them, saying that I knew they didn’t want presents this year.
Roegen: I DO want presents
Me: Why?
Roegen: Because I like presents
Me: What do you want for presents?
Roegen: [...]
Or maybe a better title would be “I’m here because of you.” One year ago tonight I wrote my first blog post. I wasn’t sure where I was going with it or whether my blog would last for more than a month or two. I just knew that I frequently [...]
“What you doing?”
“Homework, Breydon.”
“Oh, like math.”
“Well, not exactly.” You see there’s the 10-12 page research paper on disaster preparation. . .
“Like reading?” The five page research proposal complete with lit review. . .
“More like writing.” The group case study critique. . .
“Writing? That’s silly. You don’t do [...]
My middle son can be a total space cadet. Well, to be totally truthful he not just can be, but IS a total space cadet. He misses seeing things that his brothers comment on when we’re driving down the road, jokes go over his head much of the time, and [...]
Since 2000 I have moved from Alaska, to Oregon, to Ohio, to Texas, to Oregon, and to Wyoming. That’s not counting moves within Oregon and Texas. I have perfected the cross-country moving experience, am an expert at packing so that belongings generally arrive intact, and I hate it.
When Scott and [...]
For my family. . .
For my friends. . .
For our new community. . .
For our pets. . .
For the many blessings in my life. . .
For being one semester away from graduating college. . .
For having a roof over our heads. . .
For having enough money to pay our bills. [...]
Christmas is coming soon. Breydon and Jude can hardly stand the wait and already have lists of things they want and cookies they want to bake a mile long.
Roegen? He doesn’t care about Christmas. He wants to see Santa and get a Pablo for Christmas. Instead, he’s counting down the [...]
Wyoming is susceptible to strong winds, with gusts in the 30-50 mph range. It can be a bit disconcerting if you’re not used to it, but adapting doesn’t take much effort. The big problem is making sure you know what you’re dealing with.
Yesterday morning we were in the throes [...]
In 2005 while we were still living in Texas we noticed one day that there was a cat and two kittens living under the abandoned house next door. One kitten was a solid black like its mother and the other was the spitting image of a tomcat named Chewbacca who [...]
When I woke up Thursday morning I was in a great mood. The next day I was planning to deliver the boys to my parents and Scott and I would escape for a romantic getaway for the first time since having kids. Our 8th anniversary was on Election Day and [...]
I voted. Did you?
Regardless of which candidates you support I believe passionately that all Americans should use their right to vote, not just on the national level but on state and local levels as well. In fact, I believe that it is MORE important to vote for state and local [...]
Roegen: I have penis
Scott: Yes, you have a penis.
Roegen: Jude have penis.
Scott: Yes, Jude has a penis.
Roegen: Breydon have penis.
Scott: Yes, Breydon has a penis.
Roegen: You have penis.
Scott: Yes, I have a penis.
Roegen: Mommy have penis.
Scott: No, Mommy does not have a penis.
Roegen: Mommy no have penis?
Scott: No
Roegen: Bummer
Copyright © [...]Saturday I awoke to the sound of a crash from the kitchen. Scott was out of town for a debate trip so I knew it had to be either a child or a cat. As I started to move I realize that my left arm is pinned by Jude and [...]
When we woke up yesterday morning everything was blanketed in about four inches of white. Having never lived in a cold climate the boys were ecstatic, dancing around the house and chafing to get outside. Jude even ran outside in his footie pajamas because he couldn’t stand the anticipation any [...]
Breydon’s class has been studying slugs and their lifecycles at school. They have a station in the room where the students the kids can watch what the slugs do, which as far as I can tell isn’t much. The playground is a slug magnet, so it’s a good use of [...]
When Scott went to let the dogs outside this morning, my cat Independence greeted him at the back door. She’s been notorious for letting herself go on walkabout regardless of our opinions in the matter, so he sighed and let her in. A little while later we discovered that the [...]
Have one mommy who is working in the kitchen.
Add two little boys (Jude and Roegen) who are supposedly riding their big wheel and scooter in the garage (properly helmeted, of course).
Add in ominous silence and the realization that neither boy has asked for anything for at least twenty minutes.
Find garage [...]
“Mommy, come look!”
“What Jude?”
“I just had a really huge poop.”
“Good for you. That means you’re not full of poo.”
“It isn’t good.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s so stinky. That’s why!”
If it smells so bad, why did he call me? But then, this is the child who was overjoyed when I got plug-in [...]
Today I’m going to talk about me. Okay, that is a bit misleading because this blog is all about me because sure, I talk about the boys, cats, dogs, and Scott, but everything is seen through my eyes and my perspective. But today I’m going to focus on my wants [...]
Scott and I like to joke that Roegen will be a sports commentator when he grows up. No matter what is going on, he has something to say about it. No one can get away with sneaking anything in this house, because if Roegen’s awake he’s got something to say [...]
Knock Knock
Who’s there?
Interrupting cow.
Interrupting co-
Moo!
Yes, I know it’s lame, but I’m sooooo busy. I have tons to share and yet the time escapes me. I’ll try to get something more substantial written very soon.
Copyright © 2008I had about 8 cloves that I drizzled with olive oil, set on a paper towel, and put in my microwave for 90 seconds. And then I stepped away to check a recipe that I have on my computer.
Before the microwave beeped Breydon came rushing into the room hollering “emergency, [...]
Jude is adjusting to being home with Mommy and Roegen. I still field the occasional question about why he isn’t in school, but the thrill of playing with Captain in the garage, riding his scooter, visiting Grandma, coloring, digging for worms as weather permits, and all of the ways to [...]
Jude started kindergarten August 25. He was so proud before he headed out the door to the bus for the first time. He loves it.
He’s not ready.
Since school started Jude has been having numerous outbursts, crying fits, and has been experiencing challenges dealing with just about everything. Wrong color drinking [...]
Roegen has been enjoying all of the one-on-one attention he is getting from me now that his older brothers are both in school. He loves being able to run into whichever room I’m in and give me the play-by-play on whatever he is up to now. Or thinking about getting [...]
As is often the case in families with young children Scott and I aren’t able to connect physically as often as we’d like. Unlike the days before we had children we can’t do the horizontal tango without planning for it. Unfortunately, our youngest child has other plans.
I don’t know why [...]
Last night Scott stepped outside for a moment. As he walked to the car he was treated to a chorus of “Hi, Mr. Scott!” as the football team ran by.
Do you think there’s a student in the high school who doesn’t know where we live yet?
Copyright © 2008
  School is no longer out for the summer and Breydon was awake before six and rousting everyone else out of bed. The boys had picked out their clothes the night before so before I knew it they were all dressed and waiting for the bus. And [...]
While changing Roegen’s diaper yesterday he told me “that my penis.”
I was in a silly mood so I asked, “Do you like your penis?”
The reply? “No. I LOVE my penis.”
Copyright © 2008So now that we’re moved and trying to be settled, life is becoming more normal. And by normal, I mean that we have the usual amount of chaos without adding in the challenges of job hunting or moving cross-country. Instead, like families all over the US, our attention is turning [...]
When we have spaghetti I usually strip Roegen down to his diaper. I find it much easier to wash him than to get red sauce out of his clothes. The other night he dropped some noodles onto his lap. Once the food was rescued he looked at me and said [...]
I had planned that I would write a little bit about the move each day, but time has not allowed. We’ve had a birthday party to throw (happy 5th birthday, Jude), unpacking to do, and my mother-in-law and brother-in-law are visiting. Time is at a premium.
Monday, August 4th, I buckled [...]
Partially blocking the exit, hazards flashing, staring at the “Exit 123″ sign while my sons argued over which city is the largest in Montana from the backseat, I waited. The rear driver’s side tire was shredded.
I could have been angry. The move had already been hectic and chaotic and [...]
I’m still in Oregon.
We received word shortly after my post yesterday that one of Scott’s former students was killed in a car accident. Driver fatigue may have been a factor.
So we’re going to caravan together rather than pushing ourselves separately. While it’s frustrating to put things off yet another day, [...]
We’re about as done as we’re gonna be. The boys and I leave at 7 a.m. Scott will stay for the truck to load and follow about 2 days behind WITH the cats and dogs.
Hopefully things will go smoothly. The last big move we had Breydon’s cat died so [...]
We’ve had several cross-country moves and it never serves to amaze me how many errands are involved in leaving a general location. Some things can be done over the phone, but returning cable boxes, shutting off certain utilities, and picking up school records must be done in person. I find [...]
I’ve always wondered how there could be people who have money that they know nothing about. You’ve probably heard about them - people who had bank accounts that they “forgot” about or who were owed money that they never collected. I think I have a little better understanding about the [...]
Toby the panther is missing. He vanished a few weeks ago and we kept thinking that he’d turn up in some unexpected corner while we packed for the move.
So far that hasn’t happened and Jude is starting to really stress about whether or not Toby [...]
We had a refill kit for our color printer cartridge sitting in a box I hadn’t sealed yet. Yesterday while I was at the bank Jude [...]
Tonight, when the boys were in bed after kisses, hugs, high fives, low fives, drinks of water and visits to the potty had all taken place I sat down to sort socks. You see, we have more socks than I know what to do with. Seriously. Every missing sock from [...]
I know I haven’t had a lot of scintillating things to say recently, with the exception of the news about Scott being offered a job and FINALLY knowing where we’re moving. Â And did I mention that we’ve already found a house, too? Â That has TWO bathrooms? Â So that potty training [...]
It’s amazing how perspectives can change on a dime.
A couple months ago Scott had an interview scheduled that didn’t happen thanks to Comcast. The position was offered to someone else and we were left wondering what might have been. At the time we knew that there were stronger forces [...]
<I initially posted this blog last night. Unfortunately, there were some server issues and it got “eaten” by the internet. So, if you were one of the few and the brave who saw this post the first time, I apologize. If not, welcome to my life!>
What am I going to [...]
Roegen has reached the point where he knows when he has gone potty and doesn’t like the feeling of a dirty diaper. Because of this, I entered my bedroom to see Roegen out of bed holding sizeable turds in each hand.Â
I rushed him to the bathroom, where we flushed his treasure [...]
As I’m sure you’ve noticed I have been playing with the themes recently.
I loved my butterfly theme but unfortunately it wasn’t working with some of the widgets I want. Â The autism awareness button and blognet news box were landing all over the place rather than neatly in the column they [...]
