It's coming back to me, now...

Aw geez, how could I forget!  This past weekend, Spencer just started breaking into the alphabet. Spontaneously! I thought it was something he was doing at school, but I found out yesterday that it wasn't. Granted you can't fully understand him, but once you figure it out, he is not that far off.  Also, he went through Sunday's Toys R Us circular and found a prefilled Cars easter basket and made a point to show me.  I figured that he wanted it.  Of course, his grandparents were at Toys R Us last night looking for a basket of cars.  Oy. Then I had to explain it was a basket of Cars themed items.  Gotta love 'em!  On the same page is an Elmo easter basket, which Spence has at home.  I asked him if he knew who that was and he replied, "Em-O".  Close enough for me!
I love the school pictures from his Georgia school!  Spence is smiling (on cue!) and looks present.  His previous school picture, taken a mere 6 months ago, shows a child who looks like he is not even there or aware of anything.  Anytime I get selfish about missing my life and my friends, I just look at those pictures.  That is why we are here, and the fact that he is progressing so well is just icing on the cake.  (neither of which we can eat :(  LOL)

Spring Breaking the Habit

So much to report.  I will try to present the facts in an organized fashion, but let's face it: my poor tired mind does not function like that anymore. (I'm blaming it on the children.) Anyway, the biggest news is that I took Spencer's week off for Spring Break as an opportunity to take him off of his ADHD medication.  While I know we should not have gone cold turkey, I wanted him to have any necessary side effects while he was in our care.  Besides sleeping (a lot 10-12 hours), we really saw no change.  Occasionally he would have hissy fits, but not temper tantrums.  I know it was hard for his little body to adjust; but with his therapy, I really didn't feel that he needed the medication at all.  The main side effect has been an increased appetite.  REALLY increased.  The child has eaten stuff that he has never eaten before (and not on his list of approved foodstuffs, either!)  His lunch actually resembles that of a neurotypical child, now.  Of course, he is not liking mommy's homemade versions of his approved menu.  I keep getting flash backs of Chris Rock, "I don't want no home burger, I want a McDonald's burger." My mind works like that.
We had to come back on Thursday so we could move on Friday.  I have never felt my age like I did last weekend.  Up and down those stairs like to kill me.  It didn't help that the weather was muggy and the air clung to you like a wet blanket.  It was exhausting, and my muscles were screaming in protest. But we are all moved.  The only real difference is that we are closer to the pool (which opens May 1) and our apartment is the mirror image of the other one.
Good news.  Spencer has actually spent two nights, out of six, sleeping in his own bed.  I don't know why he loves my bed, but he sleeps horizontally and uses my body like an 'under the knee' pillow.  Comfortable for him, very uncomfortable for me. Guess I need to get ready for my day.  I'm sure there is more to report and when I remember it, I will post more.

Cruising right along

Let's see, I got the two month progress report on my little guy on Wednesday.  I'm so pleased with the little guy's progress.  He went up in some areas where he had stagnated last month and continued to improve in the other areas.  Our hard work is paying off.  It is times like these that make the sacrifices worth it and the distance from loved ones seem like an inconvenience rather than an insurmountable hurdle.
And, we are going to have a fantastic weekend with my parents in town!  Spencer is going to be so happy to see them.  (I just hope my father doesn't decide to serenade us again!)
Hopefully, I will feel like driving home next Friday evening, so Spencer and I can enjoy a good 5 days with friends and family before we have to come back for moving day on the 8th.  I can't find anyone to take him for the day, so he will be underfoot during the move.  Hoping it doesn't take too long to move from one apartment to another in the same complex!!
Gotta go clean the apartment and wash some clothes.  Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and I'll be checking in next week.

Know your audience

Spencer participated in the Special Olympics yesterday.  I don't think he has ever been to an event that was that big.  All special ed students in Fayette county from elementary, middle and high school seemed to be participating.  There are no real events for the children under 8.  They play in the 'Olympic Village', which is just a bunch of games where they earn trinkets. (Bowling, hitting a beach ball with a bat, etc.) Sounds like fun. Not for Spencer.  They had music being piped in to large speakers on the football field.  The high school that sponsored it had their band in the stands playing music.  All of the high schools represented had their mascot there.  In addition, the Atlanta Braves mascot was there.  Can you say sensory overload for a child like Spencer.  The first thing they did as part of the opening ceremonies was to walk around the track, each school carrying a banner.  I wasn't sure I would see my little dude in the crowd.  Not to worry.  When his school came around, I saw a child falling to the ground every few steps and crying.  Yep, that was my guy.  It was made worse when he saw me.  He wanted to leave.  So, I was asked to come join them on the field.  That ticked the little guy off.  He wanted the hell out of dodge.  As difficult as it was, I couldn't leave.  It was new and he needed to work through it.  Unfortunately in life, I am not always able to escape that things that set him off, so he really needs to learn how to cope.  Thankfully, I had the help of his girlfriend, Kelly (a paraprofessional at his school), she was such a morale booster.  If I would've had to go through that by myself, I probably would have broken down crying and left when he started yanking me toward the exit.  He does have some stamina!  he was able to sustain a full blown meltdown tantrum for a full 70 minutes (which totally had momma missing the drive-through daiquiri shops of home!!)  We got him calmed down finally.  Once we did, he seemed to enjoy himself.  He really liked it when the drums from the high school band did a song by themselves.  (Drum music stimulates the right hemisphere, by the way.)  He even sat up in the stands and watched several school mates run in races.  So we did end up on a good note. Whew!

This is the poor little guy during the parade.  Not a happy camper.

 This was after he was calmed down, obviously.

Mommy ran to Kroger while Spence was at therapy and picked up a couple of bottles of wine.  Humor and alcohol- my coping mechanisms!!!

When it rains, it pours!

It just keeps getting better.  Monday, as my husband is awaiting the delivery of the refrigerator I had to buy for the new rental, the water gets turned on.  It begins to rain in the kitchen.  Seems there was a busted pipe between the first and second floors. When Sears arrived, the delivery men were kind enough to point out to my husband the 10 foot long stain on the ceiling (we didn't see it b/c we viewed the property on overcast days & it had no power).  Les calls me and tells me to cancel my move and get out of the lease.  I'll just snap my fingers and do that.  As I call the movers, the electric company, the cable company, etc., I let him handle the lease issue.  He gets me out of the lease, including fully refunding my rental payment and security deposit.  Then, he goes down to the leasing office at the apartment.  Somehow (miraculously) they will have a two bedroom first floor unit come available on April 8.  It is a more expensive unit, as it is closer to the pool, but they will let me move into it at the same rental I am paying now with no transfer fee.  Gee, why wasn't that offered to me when I went to talk to them just a week ago?

Peyton said that Monday was the weirdest day of his life, and I would have to agree.  Then we had to unpack all of the boxes around the apartment and let the school know that we would not be moving.  Crazy, but nothing out of the ordinary for our life!

We had some of the worst weather for the boys' visit.  It was rainy and overcast and cold.  We did partake in some Atlanta tourist attractions, sans Spencer.  And this morning as the boys were leaving, Spencer got extremely confused.  He wanted to get dressed b/c Daddy and Pey were getting dressed.  Then he saw their suitcases and wanted to bring all of his blankets in the car (like we do for vacations)  When the two of them left without him, he just broke down crying.  I could not console him.  In fact, I had to take him for a car ride to calm him down.  He went crazy every time he saw a large white SUV, almost like he thought it was his Daddy's.  I was actually happy for this reaction.  Spencer has NEVER cared if the two of them left, as long as I stayed with him.  To see him making that connection with his Daddy and brother was a good thing.  (And I keep repeating that to myself..)  It was a hard thing for me to witness, though.  He looked like his little heart was breaking, it was so upsetting. But, he is better now.

Wonder Woman! (and I've got the bracelets to prove it!!)

Signed the lease for the new place yesterday.  So happy.  We will be moving on Monday.  I know it is quick, but momma don't play around.  I cannot wait until we leave.  Until then, there is no shhhing going on in my apartment.  Run free, little man.  Had to bring Spencer to the doctor to fill out the Georgia paperwork for ear, eye and dental.  That's a laugh.  They looked at his teeth while he was screaming his lungs out.  Couldn't do a thorough eye or ear exam because he just wouldn't allow it.  There is a box for 'special exception'.  Well, we tried.  Got the movers lined up today, utilities transferred, water turned on and mail forwarded.  Tomorrow, I work on cable transfer, and moving my Sunday paper.

My reward?  My boys are coming in town Saturday and staying for a whole week!!  I miss my hubby and Peyton a lot. I haven't spent any time with them for over a month :(  Needless to say, I will probably not be blogging too much next week!

Busy day

Little Mr. man decided that he was going to get up at 3 this morning.  I was not in the least bit happy.  Of course, it was made worse by me tip toeing behind him whispering, "shhh". Like he was going to be quiet. Then, he makes me hold him while waiting for the bus.  Why? Because last week we saw a stray cat out there and now he is terrified to be put down.  I had to carry him to the bus.  So, it was not a pleasant morning.

Soon after, I toured one of the rental homes.  To say it was a dump was being kind.  The second place was better and I filled out the application.  That was approved and I will be signing my new lease tomorrow. I had to turn in my 30 day notice TODAY or be stuck here an additional month.  You should have seen me running uphill to the rental office before they closed.  I am in such bad shape, I was trying not to breathe too heavy as I was hand-delivering the notice.

Now I just need to make arrangements to get my rented furniture and w/d moved.  SO HAPPY!!!!