Weekly Winners- Sledding

My handsome husband...
Olivia...

Aiden...
Owen...
Daddy & Olivia...
Aunt Erica & Olivia...
Uncle Phil & Aunt Erica...
Everyone but me...
Owen...
Aunt Erica & Uncle Phil wiped right out from playing?
You can find more Weekly Winners at SarcasticMom.com.

so sleepy

oh. my. word.

My house is sparkly clean people.

I oughta jump up and take a ton of pictures but since I spent the entire day cleaning I am instead going to collapse into my bed.

The tragedy is that it won't last.

I know that as soon as my sweet monsters wake up tomorrow morning it will be destroyed once again.

But it is nice right now.

night night

Indoor Picnic

The boys did not have school today (a PD day of some sort) and at lunch time Owen wanted to do something special... he asked if we could have a picnic in the living room. It was very cute. He went and got his Lightning McQueen blanket from his room and he and Aiden spent several minutes smoothing it all out flat. Olivia thought we should have more blankets and dragged a couple comforters out too.

Then Owen took me into the kitchen and informed me what to make for the picnic.

We had carrots, apples, cheese, hot dogs without buns, peanut butter sandwiches cut into triangles (this was a key step because apparently you have triangle sandwiches on picnics) and then we had ice cream floats for dessert.

I failed to get a decent picture... the boys just looked at me and rolled their eyes when I told them I wanted to take a picture. Olivia ignored me completely.

It would seem I take too many pictures of them... according to Aiden anyway. He said "Moooommm, we are just eating lunch you know!!". I told him I knew that and wanted a picture anyway. He said "fine" with a sort of disgusted sigh. And that lovely photo is the result. They really were having fun even though they refused to smile nicely for the picture :)

Unfortunately for them I have no intention of putting the camera away anytime soon :)

Wordless Wednesday- Bird Watching

Pure Joy people: Assessment Date Moved Up!

Oh I am so very excited I simply MUST share my joy with you all!!!

I have mentioned before that we have been trying for YEARS to get my son Aiden "officially" diagnosed with Aspergers or anything else for that matter. We have had dozens of assessments done but each one only assessed PART of Aiden's issues and they all say things like "Aiden most likely has Aspergers and Sensory Integration issues" or "we believe that Aiden fits the profile of Aspergers" etc. Nothing definite.

We have been on a waiting list for the only centre to officially diagnosis Autism spectrum disorders (amongst other things) in our province- it is a year or more long waiting list and we have been waiting for about 5 months already. We are actually very lucky to be on the list at all since they usually only work with children age 5 and under. They basically let us on the list because I have documented proof that I have been trying to get Aiden help since he was 3.

When we decided to move I figured I would have to start over again with Aiden's assessment. I had called medical professionals in our new location and they basically told me nothing but an "official diagnosis" would count.

I was very discouraged!

But God is good and He reminded me that He cares for Aiden and can take care of things like assessment appointments! Even when it seems impossible.

I got a phone call today from the centre and they are moving Aiden's appointment up SEVEN whole months to February 24 so that we can have it done before we move!!

I am so thakful! God really is so good because honestly people? That is a miracle. They are actually making an extra space for him just because they didn't want us to have to start over again! Aiden turns 7 the end of April and they want his diagnosis in place before then.

I am so happy.

Lesson for today? God really does care for us. We just have to trust Him!

Weekly Winners

Here is our cat Shadow basking in the sunlight...
Bathtime fun...










You can find more Weekly Winners at SarcasticMom.com.

Say It Forward

5 Minutes for Mom has started a cool new feature called Say it Forward. I think it is a great idea so I have decided to join in!

What is Say it Forward? Here is what 5 Minutes for Mom says:

Say it Forward is a new weekly carnival where bloggers feature their loyal commenters!

Each blogger will write a post featuring one, two or three of their loyal commenters and then add that link to the carnival Mr. Linky at 5 Minutes for Mom.

In the posts, bloggers can include photos, bios, interview questions or even quotes from their comments – whatever works best to turn the spotlight on commenters and show them how much we appreciate them taking the time to read and comment on our blogs.

What if the commenter we want to thank isn’t a blogger? No worries! Shine that spotlight anyway! Share their comment(s), their name – anything you can to say THANKS!

So here are the lovely commenters I would like to say thank-you to today...

1. Amanda DaybyDay from One Day at a Time.

Amanda is a wonderful woman whom I have known for 12 years now! We went to bible school together ages ago. We lost touch for several years while we were both having babies but have reconnected through the wonderful world of blogging!

Amanda has an incredibly inspiring story of her recent 100 pound weight loss. She is a stay at home mom to three beautiful kiddos- her oldest son is in grade one and has been deemed "gifted" by the powers that be. Her second son is absolutely adorable and her little girl has developmental delays which mean long road trips to see various medical professionals on a really regular basis.

I love you Manders!

2. I'm Being Held Hostage from In the Gutter

I discovered a kindred spirit in this amazing woman! Her sense of humour absolutely cracks me up. She is an American Air Force wife whose husband is presently deployed. They live in the UK and she is a stay at home mom to four kids, her fifth child is all grown up now. She takes beautiful pictures too!

Thanks for making me laugh and being a wonderful support to me dear friend!

3. Nessa from Ramblings of a Texas Housewife.



Nessa is a wonderful blogger whom I met through her lovely comments! She is a stay at home mom to two adorable kiddos. She has a second blog where she shares her excellent homemaking skills too!

Thanks for making my day with your comments Nessa!

YAY for comments!

what forum?

I'm confused.

Seriously. What is the deal with the kazillion forums? Honestly how many can you possibly keep up with and still feed your children once in awhile???

It seems to me that every second site I visit has a forum they want us to join. Why?

Is Twitter, Facebook, blogging, and email not enough?

I have been actively involved in a couple forums for ages now. A COUPLE. Like TWO.

And really? Half the time I can't keep up with everything happening on those two! And if I spend all my time on the forums how on EARTH can I get around to reading all of your lovely blogs?

I got an email this morning from some random forum I apparently joined ages ago telling me I had to post something or my membership would be cut off.

Since I have absolutely no recollection of ever even joining that forum, nor of ever posting ANYTHING on it... I have decided to let it go.

But what is with the irrational fear that I'll miss something if I DON'T join the hundreds of forums? Do you all really manage to post on ALL of them?

And why? What is the purpose?

I'm so confused.

Plus I am surrounded by boxes. Lots of boxes.

And I get to start washing crayon off the walls now.

I am so lucky.

ramblings

I've decided that moving is really hard.

Even if you are excited about where you are going it is still incredibly hard to leave where you have become so attached to.

Each time I think of certain people that I will be leaving behind I practically burst into tears.

And OH.MY.WORD getting our house ready to sell is an absolute freakin' nightmare. Seriously. I have been packing boxes and throwing stuff out and organizing and trying to ineffectively hide boxes for the past couple days and wow... this is not easy.

I've been trying to prepare the boys for moving and that is ALSO not going easily. When I was a kid we moved so much that I think I pretty much expected it. We moved about once per year so it was just part of life.

My boys have NO CLUE what is happening to them.

I got in touch with the new school today and have been trying to think of how to prepare Aiden- who doesn't deal well with transitions at the best of times- for this massive change of starting a new school. Scary.

I am off to go listen to kid's read at school now. I'm a parent volunteer and I really like it. It also reassures me a little bit to listen to other kids and know that Aiden isn't the only one struggling with reading and learning to sound stuff out. I'm thinking we'll have to invest in some sort of phonics material because I honestly have NO idea how to help Aiden.

My mind is pretty scattered these days too.

So I'm sorry to all the lovely blogs I normally read regularly... I'm still reading... I'm just not very good company right now and definitely not so great at commenting these days. My mind seems to freeze up and nothing useful comes out. Hopefully soon my mind will contain more enjoyable thoughts. But that is the beauty of my on-line world... no matter where I move to you all are still right there! Lovely!

But for now I think I am just grieving the real-life friends I am going to be saying good bye to all too soon and it is taking up most of my emotional energy. sigh.

Wordless Wednesday

Encouraging words

This is FAR better than anything I have to say today....

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once
talked about a contest he was asked to judge.
The purpose of the
contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was:

A four-year-old child, whose next door
neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his
wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old
gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.
When his mother asked him what he had
said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, 'Nothing, I just
helped him cry.'

*********************************************

Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were
discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture
had a different hair color than the other members. One of her
students suggested that he was adopted.
A little girl said, 'I know all about
adoption, I was adopted..'

'What does it mean to be adopted?', asked
another child.

'It means', said the girl, 'that you grew
in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!'

*********************************************

On my way home one day, I stopped to
watch a Little League base ball game that was being played in a
park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-
base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was
'We're behind 14 to nothing,' he answered
with a smile.

'Really,' I said. 'I have to say you
don't look very discouraged.'

'Discouraged?', the boy asked with a
puzzled look on his face...

'Why should we be discouraged? We haven't
been up to bat yet.'

*********************************************

Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot
in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.

Jamie was trying out for a part in the
school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being
in it, though she feared he would not be chosen.

On the day the parts were awarded, I went
with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her,
eyes shining with pride and excitement. 'Guess what, Mom,' he
shouted, and then said those words that will remain a lesson to
me....'I've been chosen to clap and cheer.'

*********************************************

An eye witness account from New York
City , on a cold day in December,
some years ago: A little boy,
about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the
roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering
with cold.

A lady approached the young boy and said,
'My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!'

'I was asking God to give me a pair of
shoes,'was the boy's reply.

The lady took him by the hand, went into
the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks
for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water
and a towel. He quickly brought them to her.

She took the little fellow to the back
part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed
his little feet, and dried them with the towel.

By this time, the clerk had returned with
the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him
a pair of shoes.

She tied up the remaining pairs of socks
and gave them to him.. She patted him on the head and said, 'No
doubt, you will be more comfortable now.'

As she turned to go, the astonished kid
caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears
in his eyes, asked her.

'Are you God's wife?'

My present life...

I have begun the process of packing up our house. Not the most fun I have ever had.

On the up side I AM feeling a lot better. Not 100% but I no longer feel like I am dying so that is a good thing.

The boys are freaked right out by the boxes and the talk of moving. Aiden keeps negotiating with me about who we can bring with us. I keep telling him we will be taking ourselves and Grandma our cat Shadow and Grandma's cat Cleo but everyone else has to stay here. He thinks that is a pretty bad idea. He is also VERY concerned about me packing his stuff. I haven't packed a single thing of his yet (I'm not that dumb) but he still needs to check every single box just to make sure it doesn't contain ANYTHING that is his.

I haven't quite figured out how we'll get his stuff packed but I am thinking I will leave it until the end... just to save my sanity.

Owen has agreed to move because there is an indoor pool there. He brought me his swimsuit and googles today and told me we could leave now. I told him we weren't leaving for days and days and I had to pack up ALL of our stuff first. He then questioned me about how LONG we would be there. I explained we would be LIVING there for a LONG time in a different house. He suggested we go there for part of the time to go swimming but come back and sleep here. I reminded him about the zillion hour van ride it took to get there so he then suggested we move the pool here instead.

Olivia would like to sit in the boxes instead of letting me pack them. She also finds taking things OUT of unattended boxes to be very enjoyable. Not so helpful to me.

And my head is still pounding. No throwing up though. YAY!!!

There have been several bouts of tears and tantrums already since we told the boys we are moving... and I am guessing there will be a lot more. Sigh.

I just keep reminding myself that EVERYTHING WILL BE OK.

Right?

listen up people...

I have a couple of very important bits of information to pass on to you all...

first of all I am SO SICK!! I feel like I have been run over by a truck. Twice.

Second my husband resigned from his job this morning. We are moving in a month. I'll write a LOT more about this another time when I don't feel like I might puke all over the keyboard.

You can read my husband's take on things for now HERE.

So there you have it.

I'm going back to bed.

Weekly Winners

Here are my Weekly Winners for this week...

The stomach flu ravaged our home for the past few days and my poor kids were SO sick. Everyone seems to be getting better now thankfully.

Here is Owen when his fever kept him sacked out on the couch for 6 hours straight...

Here is Aiden when his fever was so bad that he felt shaky and dizzy. He asked to sleep in our bed and requested that Daddy keep him company (it was the middle of the day)...
My cute husband...
My daughter decided to crawl into this huge pot after her bath...
She is so darn cute...
Everything is a game...

Here is my husband suggesting to my daughter that it MIGHT be bed time...
Here my daughter is suggesting to my husband that she would rather NOT go to sleep but would instead like to play some more...

Olivia asleep in the van...
Pretties...You can find more Weekly Winners over at SarcasticMom.com.

my husband

My wonderful husband Doug made this very cool video the other day...




I love my husband :)

Round three

Well... I spent the day caring for a very sick Aiden (who apparently puked down his teacher's leg at school... poor poor teacher) and once Owen got home from school it only took a few hours until he started turning ashen green colour.

My sweet friends Becky and Cecile came over to watch Mama Mia with me for fun... that didn't really happen like we had hoped though.

Owen has spent the past several hours puking. First he puked all over his bed, his shelf, his chair, the carpet, his toys, himself... so I cleaned all that up, cleaned him up and put him in another bed while I cleaned his room.

Then he puked all over THAT room. All over the bed, the pillows, himself, the wall, his sister's toys, the carpet.

So then I took him to the bathroom to clean him up and he puked all over the bathtub and his sister.

During all of this I also moved Aiden from the room he shares with his brother into our room so that he didn't get sick again from the horrendous smell. He has a terrible fever... but has apparently stopped puking for now.

I get Owen all cleaned up. I clean Olivia up. My sweet friends Becky and Cecile took all the disgusting bedding to the laundry room and tried not to throw up while they put a load in the wash for me.

I put Owen back to bed. I clean up Olivia's room and put her to bed. I check on a feverish dizzy Aiden.

I collapse onto the couch with my friends who are now seriously regretting stepping into my house tonight!

Actually I am immensely grateful that they were here. It is just so overwhelming to deal with sick kids all by yourself. It was nice to have company since Doug and Grandma were both at work.

So thank-you Becky and Cecile. I love you and I sincerely hope you don't spend tomorrow puking.

Sorry.

And sorry to Aiden's teacher.

I really didn't know he would puke all over you when I sent him to school today!

I really really hate puke.

really.

I sure hope Doug and I don't get it.

yuck.

Round two

Poor Aiden. I just had to go pick him up from school- he had puked in his classroom. Stomach flu strikes again. Aiden had a rough go the first day of our trip and puked all over the van a few times. Then Olivia was sick a few days ago and puked all over ME a few times. Now Aiden has it again! So unfair!

Sheesh.

I'm holding out (delusional) hope that Owen escapes unscathed. And Doug. And me.

Icky.

How to entertain yourself when it is -40 degrees outside