Month: March 2005

  • Good Morning....It is Friday!!  YEAH!!   I haven't been online yet since I got busy right away once I got up.  I thought I would sleep in since I didn't have to work today so I turned off my alarm.  But I was up by 6:00 so only slept in about 1/2 hour.    Oh well.


    I got up and exercised.  Then since Tommy was asleep I decided it was a good time to reconcile my checkbook, pay bills and do the weekly budget.  I was all done with that by the time Tommy got up at 7:30.  It was nice to have him wake up on his own vs waking him to go to daycare.  He was in a much better mood.   I started some laundry and then got Josh up to drop the van off to get the brakes checked.   So for being only 9:30, I have alot done already.   Josh went to cash his check and pick up his work schedule for next week.   The other two boys are playing guys and watching Dora The Explorer - Pirate Adventures.


    Our plans for the rest of the day are pretty easy going.  Tommy has a Dr appointment to get his warts treated again.  Then we will be going swimming at the community center this afternoon.  Other than that I just need to get my menu/shopping list done for tomorrow and get caught up on laundry.   I have last weeks coupons to clip too.   I guess I should get some laundry in before again before I read blogs.  Later!


    TO DO FRIDAY


    Tommy to Dr at 11:30
    Menu/Shopping List
    Laundy
    Take Boys Swimming at Shoreview 
    Pick up Easter Gift Certs for Older Boys  

  • 7:30 and I just got home from work.  I am so tired.   In between my meeting I stopped at the library to read and I actually fell asleep.  LOL!!   I will be going to bed early tonight!  My work week in done...I have 42 hours in and will be off tomorrow.    Tomorrow is a busy day with Dr. Appoint for Tommy, Dropping the van off for a brake job and going to Shoreview swimming.   WHew....always busy!     


    Tonight I hope to watch the new show, Office at 8:30 if I can stay awake that long.  Have a great night! 

  • Morning.....it is the last day of the work week for me.  YEAH!   I am really liking so far working two 12's and two 8's for the week.   I only have to work late two nights a week an I always work at least one anyways.   I will try this schedule for a while and we will see how it goes.  I am still trying to figure out what will be the best summer schedule for our family.   Momma has to work, but I have to make it work for my family too.  


    Last night I went to the chiropractor after work and came home to a lovely meal all ready.  Since I had eveything ready hubby had put supper in the oven for me, which was nice.   After supper we went over to my in-laws.  Yesterday was my MIL's 80th birthday.   We took her over some flowers and ice cream.   We stayed and visited a while until Tommy pooped his pants and we had to leave.  My emergency pull-up was not in the truck.  OOPS.   Oh well....it was getting late anyways.


    Once home I made Light Guacamole (2 pts) from the Light and Tasty website.  It was so very good.  I LOVE guacamole!   I am using it as a vegetable dip.   Hubby really likes it too.   Maybe I will be able to start making more light meals in the evening and he won't die.   I subscribed to the Light and Tasty magazine.  I am looking forward to receiving it.  Then I had dishes to clean up and exercise.   Finally it was time to go to sleep.  I didn't read a single page, I just went right to sleep.  I was so tired!  


    Today.....work of course.   My last homevisit tonight is at 5:00 and then I am suppose to be in St Paul for book group at 6:30.  I know I will be a bit late, but I am still going.  I jsut LOVE my book group.   So I am sure I won't be home tonight until around 10:00.   Erik is coming over tonight for the weekend as well.  He is coming a day early since he doesn't have school tomorrow and I am home from work.  


    Time to leave for work soon.  I better scoot and fold a load of laundry and dry my hair.   have a great day!!   There is a new show on TV that I actually want to watch tonight...the Office.  It looked really funny, maybe I will see it next week.  


     

  • Maybe this is a DUH moment, but I figured out something with my weight watchers points that has been really helpful.   Since I make a menu and I know what is for supper every night, I figure out those points then what is left is what I have for lunch and snacks, etc.   Supper is usually my big point meal since I don't cook light or anything for the family.    So today I know I will be eating at least 9 points for supper so I already counted those off for the day.   Hopefully this will keep me from not having enough points left for my planned supper. 


    The other thing I found out...my favorite treat at Turtle Sundae from Culvers is 29.5 points!!!   YIKES!!  That is over 1 days of points.   I guess those will become a very rare treat now. 

  • MORNING EVERYONE!  Hope everyone is having a great morning.   I am actually getting a few things done here before heading to work.  Seem like I have to put each minute of my day to good use when I am so busy.   So far this morning I have exercise, showered, dressed,  did one load of laundry and am getting supper ready.   I am boiling some ravioli and then putting in a pan with spaghetti sauce and cheese for hubby to cook later.   I have a chiropractor appointment tonight after work but should actually be home by 6:00.   


    I have a few chores to do this evening, then I hope to watch a netflix as they should be coming in the mail today.    My SIL called last night and we are planning on taking the kids to the community center to go swimming on Friday since I am off work.    Everyone should enjoy that!  


    Gotta Scoot....Later!!

  • The end of my 12 hour work day is here...YEAH!!  Time for me to head home and see the family.   I will only have to work 16 more hours this week and I am done!  I love having the flexibility to work my hours around my schedule and what works best for me and my family.   I will be off on Friday since Erik will be with us and Tommy's daycare is closed.   I wish I could have swung to have next week off as Erik really wanted to spend Spring Break with us, but it was just not going to work.  Plus I think it is more important for him to have some social time with his friends, if that will actually happen.   He has been counting down the days until he moves into our home for the summer.  We do try to honor his requests and let him make choices.   He should have some control of his life. 

  • Thought I would share these resources as I know others that read this blog are touched by autism in their lives.  This is from the MSSA conference I went to.


    I went to a training that was more specifically geared to autism and to higher functioning autism, but as I looked at the resources, there are books that would apply for any child who has special needs and requires extra training on subtle social cues and teaching them how to be more independent in general.


    Following is the list of books I thought looked really good;;;


    The Hidden Curriculum - Practical Solutions for Understanding Rules in Social Situations by Brenda Smith Myles, Millissa L Trautman and Rhonda L Schelvan


    Autism Asperger's Publishing Co 2004


    (If there were one book I would purchase for any of your children, this would be the one. It has lots of chapters on how to handle the subtle rules of society and peers and they learn how to manage in numerous social situations. This would be a great tool to teach the basics your child needs to navigate socially in our world, good for autism and for all kids in general!!) e.g. rules for birthday parties: only the birthday child blows out candles, you may not like the cake or design, but don't say it is ugly, wait until the birthday person blows out the candles before you eat the cake, sometimes you may not like the food, so just say "Maybe I'll eat later or not right now, thank you."


    ...or if you are a teen: most teens wear different outfits each day, don't point out pimples on other people's faces, if you like a boy or girl at school as a crush, you act like you don't like them at all, etc. It teaches how to be appropriate in social settings.


    Pick Up your Socks... and other skills growing children need. A practical guide to raising responsible children by Elizabeth Cray Parenting Press 1990


    (how to teach your children to carry their own weight around the home and get them to be more responsible in their duties.) - not necesarily gear to children with autism.


    Perfect Targets. Asperger's and Bullying Practical Solutions for surviving the Social World by Rebekah Heinrichs Autism Asperger Publishing Company 2003


    (I think this book is good for all kids to learn how to manage self protection and not to be so vulnerable with others.)


    Growing Up - Taking care of myself A hygiene, puberty, and personal curriculum for young people with autism by Mary Wrobel Future Horizons 2003


    (This is useful for any child who needs fine tuning on self care needs and tasks)


    When My Autism Gets Too Big - A relaxation book for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders by Kari Dunn Buron Autism Asperger Publishing Co 2003


    (this could help all kids who have issues keeping their emotions and behaviors in order and how to learn to self control before they melt down.)


    The Incredible 5 point Scale by Kari Dunn Buron and Mitzi Curtis - Assisting students with ASD in understanding social interactions and controlling their emotional responses - Autism Asperger Publishing Co 2003


    (This gives the students a way of rating how they are feeling at the moment and learning to tone down when they are getting too hyped up)


    Brenda Legge also has a book on autism for kids who won't eat a variety of foods, "Can't Eat, Won't eat" .


    If you get any of these books, I would love to hear if they have been useful to you.

  • Argh...back from my homevisits and I have a terrible sinus headache.  ARGH!   I just took my meds os hopefully this will get better otherwise I will head home and take a nap.

  • Morning....didn't have an opportunity to do much last night.   But I will be off all day on Friday and can get caught up then.   I will be working late 3 of 4 days this week with Friday off.  My daycare is closed on Friday for Good Friday.  


    I was able to do a few things before heading to work this morning.  I exercised, did a load of laundry and worked on the budget a bit.   I had to dress Tommy while he was sleeping this morning...he didn't like that too much. 


    I have a couple of homevisits this morning.   One at 10:00 and one at 12:00 so that will be most of my day.   I probably will work until at least 7:00 again tonight. 


    I just realized that I will be leaving town in about two weeks!!  I am looking forward to it.  I will be in Duluth for the Children's Mental Health Conference, which is on a Monday and Tuesday.   I will be going up on Saturday afternoon and veggie for a few days before the conference.   My co-workers will be coming up on Sunday night so I will be with them too.   I hope to get alot of reading, sewing, walking and working on my web page done during my free time there.   Luckily the hotel I stay at has internet access so I take my laptop and I am always available to my hubby and kids.  They will instant message me all the time.  Where is this....where is that...LOL!!   I have my SIL's kind of help out hubby.  He gets a bit overwhelmed with Tommy on his own at times.  Plus Tommy is very much a Momma's boy so it is hard when I go away for a few days.   Luckily I only do this once a year.  I will have all the foood made for when I am gone and lay out Tom's clothes for the week, etc...so I do alot of prep work for hubby too. 


    Well gotta run....have a great day!

  • Tonight I sure am aware that I am an emotional eater.  Many times through out the day today I found myself searching for food to relieve my stress.  I would stop myself knowing I am not hungry.   It was definitely one of those days at work.   One crisis after another for me to pick up the pieces of.   I need to find better ways to relieve that stress during the day.  


    I worked until about 7:30 than I came home.  I am working a few extra hours as I don't want to have to work at all on Friday.   We will see how that works out.   I need to make an appointment to take Tommy to the Dr on Friday.  He has more of those contagious warts that I need to have burned off.   Joy of joys....


    I purchased tickets to the circus today.  Hubby and I will be taking Tommy in two weeks.  I hope he will like it.   This coming Saturday we will be taking Tommy to the Easter Egg hunt at church and going out to eat with family on Sunday.


    On my way home from work I finished listening to Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg.  I finished it, but wouldn't reccomend it.  Wasn't anything great.   I just finished washing dishes and Tommy is having trouble getting to bed tonight.  He has a hard time when I work late.  He doesn't get enough time with me in the evening.  So I know he will be sleeping in my bed with me tonight...oh well....


    I am off to bed to read....Good Night!