Stronger than I thought

I posted on my Living in Tx blog today about old school songs.
Remeber the Judds? I just listened to "Give a Little Love" and now I am listening to Anne Murray's "You Needed Me." We sang that song during my kindergarten graduation. My Mom said she cried and cried when we sang that and how precious it was.

My childhood was good up until about the age of 12.
My stepdad was addicted to heroin and things really got horrible as I got older.
We moved a lot.
He lost his job.
He became abusive.
At that time, I really needed someone to lean on. I had siblings, but I really needed an adult who could help me understand that none of the terrible things that were happening were my fault.

I think at times music saved me.
It helped me to focus on happiness when things were so far from happy in my household.

My Mom eventually remarried and that man was an alcoholic. We ended up homeless at one time. It was the hardest time of my life, other than when I found out TC was autistic.

I try to let my kids know that no matter what I am going through, their world will be intact and nothing I am going through is their fault. I try to make it a point to laugh with them and hug and kiss them several times a day, not matter how busy I am, no matter how exhausted I am. I try not to let my problems and worries affect how they feel. I am not always successful at this, but I do try!

For a long time, I did not have a good self-esteem, I was very shy and wanted to people please. I was angry at my Mom for not being stronger. I swore to never be like her!

But now I have forgiven the people who caused me pain, those who I felt were weak. I learned to be stronger over the difficult circumstances I endured.

Whitney says it best when she sings the song, "I didn't know my own strength."

Other blog

It is private again so my family member does not read it. Check out my living in tx blog, it is on the right.

First blog

For all of my new followers, here is a link to my first blog. It talks about our journey through this thing called autism. www.autismblessingschallenges.blogspot.com

What excites me

O M to the G.

Is it Friday yet?
Since they announced we are closing, all I can think about is being at home. Not here at this job.
UGH.

I am excited to be home and get some painting done, get my homework done during the day and not all night/ weekends. Not saying I won't have some on the weekends but I can get a head start on it.

I have plans on walking every day. Losing a few pounds.
Cooking healthy/delicious meals.

Organizing my house.
Cleaning things.

It gets me excited!
Am I crazy or what??

More on the sickness

Thanks for the comments on the haircut/toenail cutting. TC says when I cut his hair it "hurts" and it "hurts" when I cut his toenails. No doubt, he has some sensory issues.

A lot of his being ill comes from our crazy weather here in Tx. Cold one day, then 80 degrees the next. I have stopped packing away summer clothes, because we can wear them year round! For instance when my Mom was here, TC wore long shorts because it was in the 70s.

Melissa, I will try to do his toes in the tub..great idea!!

Last night, I put his steroid cream on him to keep him from scratching his eczema. And gave him 1/2 a Melatonin for sleep. Unfortunately he was up at 3 am playing with his Wolverine Claws and woke me up several times. I finally had him lay beside me so I could go back to sleep. I am TIRED today!!

He woke up gagging on mucus this morning so I hope I don't get a call from the school today to pick him up for vomiting. His tummy gets sick from that junk.

Here's hoping he gets to feeling better soon.

Hair, toenails and no sleep

TC's hair was a shaggy mess and I had to cut it. He hates getting a haircut. But it turned out cute. (I'll post photos soon).

I got brave and decided to cut his toenails later on in the evening. He LOATHES getting his toenails cut.

He was sick the past 2 nights and didn't go to school today. I have given him Mucinex and got his cream for his eczema refilled.
Is it bedtime yet??

Long day

Oh gosh. TC makes me so sad when he gets upset because he makes a noise and scares us and he gets this look on his face............it is so cute! He was just now looking for a toy and when I asked could I help, he said, "It's a sive."
WTH is a sive??

He is still looking and frankly I don't have a clue what he is looking for.


Is it bedtime yet??

Moving to S. Carolina?

Ugh. TC has been a pill this week. My teen is freaking that we are moving due to my job..LOL. Nope, we are not transferring to the new lab in South Carolina. Not happening. A lot of the older people at my job are considering it though.

They don't have kids and they don't have a kid with Autism either. There are days I wish I could move far away though...don't get me wrong.

TC has been so on edge this week and I think maybe it's the weather, or maybe he is like women who have PMS because he does this like once a month for several days straight.

My husband has already made me mad this morning so I am not really in a good mood....and he told my mother in law we would come over.
Oh joy.

So proud

The kids were out of school yesterday for MLK day.
I had to take TC to the dermatologist. He did really good.

I see TC maturing a lot just in the last few months. He is way more verbal.
He is wanting to learn things. He asks questions about conversations that usually he would not even pay attention to.

I just want to cry typing this because whew! it has been a long road so far. And I know it will continue to be but it is nice to see progress.

My Mom even mentioned how he has changed since she was down in November. I will post more about our visit on my Tx. blog but I just have a huge smile on my face because of how well TC is doing.

Kyle and Mom's visit

Visit from mom and Kyle

Kyle has not seen TC since he was a baby, but they got along so well.





A rare photo of me and Hubs

Don't judge, it has been a rough evening around here

It has been a rough evening. Really rough with TC.
He has been saying bad words everytime he drops his toy, or can't find the one he is looking for. Or just because he wants to say them.

Finally after getting onto him NUMEROUS times and sending him to his room NUMEROUS times, I spanked him.
He is so mad at me right now.

I really don't spank either of my kids often. But I'll admit I lost my cool and I don't like it when that happens.
But my kid is NOT going to be allowed to say the word he said over and over and over either, he is aware of bad words and he does not say them at school..only home.

I am listening to my MP3 and the song "Breathe" is on.

How appropriate.

Sara informed me that she is not going to lose her cool with her kid(s) and she is going to parent different from me.
I told her I hope she does, I am far from a perfect parent. But I am doing my best.

Nasty nurse

Remember this post? From my old autism blog??
I had to see the nurse yesterday when I picked TC up from school because he was sick.

So, the school NURSE BUSYBODY has struck again!

TC bumped into another student and his loose tooth became even looser. No biggie, right? Well, she sends me a note saying "Baby tooth needs to come out-it will help the adult tooth come in more straight and it's already coming in."

DUH.

We have had 2 instances with her that already pissed me off. So I was sure to address this one too! Here is my note to her.

NURSE B:
I received your note about Tony's tooth. I am aware of his loose tooth as well as the tooth growing in behind it. Tony is very well taken care of and it is not necessary for you to give me parenting advice. This is the third time that you have done this so I want to address it yet again.

I will be taking Tony to the dentist but he is special needs and there is a waiting list to take him to a specialist.

We have to work together because Tony does have health problems but I do not want this to continue to be an ongoing issue.

Kristi Crazy


And I clued the principal in with an e-mail.

MS. S,

I have had several unnecessary comments, calls and notes from the school nurse. I addressed the first two without mentioning anything to you because I felt like maybe she would stop. However, yesterday there was an incident where Tony bumped into another student and his loose tooth became even looser. The nurse sent a note home on a nurse referral saying that his loose tooth needs to come out because the other tooth is growing in behind it. I am aware he has a loose tooth. I am aware another tooth is growing in behind it. I do not need her to tell me how to take care of Tony. I have already talked to a pediatric dentist and will get him in as soon as they have an opening.

The first incident with her was earlier in the year when she called me and asked me had I seen Tony that morning? (Of course I had, he can't drive himself to school!) Because his eczema was bad at the time and she was calling to tell me that he needed to go to the doctor. I had already set him up with the dermatologist who I was taking him to later on in the week. The phone call was not done in a nice way, almost like she was questioning my parenting abilities.

The second incident was about his weight. I realize Tony is overweight. I take him for well child checkups every year. What bothered me was that she sent home a list of things I needed to go buy at the store for him to eat because "that is what worked with her kids." She also said he needed to eat better and increase his activity in order to lose his excess weight. I responded to her letting her know maybe she needs to brush up on autism, and that most autistic kids have food issues, and that he is VERY active. Every evening he jumps on the trampoline or goes for a walk for atleast an hour straight OR MORE.

I sent the nurse yet ANOTHER note today and let her know that Tony is very well taken care of, and it is not necessary for her to continue to give me parental advice. Maybe it feels like I am being unnecessarily harsh but I dealt with this LAST year from his school nurse in the other school and I don't want it to be an ongoing problem here at this school.

I just wanted to let you know about this.

Thanks!

The follow up was the nurse called me and got very nasty and I went off on her..this was last year. I mean I was PISSED!!!!!


When I went to get TC from school yesterday, the nurse had him in her office.She was actually very nice and cordial and so was I when she brought him to the office.

Go, me!!

Sick but silly

TC got some sort of virus at school. I have had to pick him up early 2 days in a row. Here's hoping Wednesday I can make it at work all day. And that he can stay at school all day as well!

He is as annoying as ever. Aggravating and rubbing his butt on me as we speak! He just told Sara to "Put a bra on!"

He is a TRIP!

Hide it

TC is finally starting to get shy and doesn't want anyone to see his schmeckel. He always hides it from me.

He is 8, I guess it is about time!!

Me, on the other hand, am not shy but I have started trying to not be naked anymore in front of him. My Mom got me a robe for Christmas, so I have been wearing that a lot. I don't like to be dressed much!!

Back to school

TC had a good day yesterday so did Sara. TC is very into his hair and this morning when he woke up, he was mad because his hair was out of place.
At 5:30 in the morning, and he was ticked off!
I had to laugh and I sprayed it down with water so he could fix it.
He then went and laid by Sara until 6:00 am
He has a new favorite cartoon "Fanboy and Chum Chum".
He watches it every morning before school.

So I have decided not to stress over the job situation and pray that when we do close, I get something even better.

Time off and enjoyed

I have so enjoyed having some time off work. Thursday Hubby and I went to Red Lobster. Then we went to see Sherlock Holmes, which I fell asleep in. I had taken meds for a headache and I am bad about watching a movie and falling asleep, especially when I am full.

Anyways, hubby enjoyed the movie!!

We took the kids to Avatar 3-D yesterday. It was so fantastic!!

Today I got the kids up and took Sara for a haircut. Then we went to Wal Mart and then to eat Chinese for lunch. TC got a new lightsaber and Sara got a tote bag, a shirt, 2 necklaces and some blush.

TC has been very well-behaved. He had a little meltdown last night over a Transformer. He wanted to throw it away and I told him to do it!! It is not worth the aggravation because it kept falling apart!

Tomorrow I need to hem some pants for TC and get started on my homework for the upcoming week, also do more laundry.

They are out Monday and go back to school on Tuesday. It will probably be a tough morning for TC because of the 2 week break. Pray for us!!