Have Typewriter, Can Go Anywhere!

Sam's typewriter has been tucked away for a few months, but surfaced as I cleaned his room last week to make way for a new desk, perfect for typewriting I might add. When he asked to take the typewriter to the ball field for Dan's game my first thought was NO WAY. But I had just asked him what he wanted to take to entertain himself. It was just a bit larger than I had in mind. It was also the hottest day yet of the year, in the mid 90s, and sitting in a hot car so he had a place to type didn't sound fun. These pictures show the typewriter on Dan's seat while Sam sat on his seat, his favorite setup. Of course the doors were open to give a breeze but he had to be careful not to let the important papers blow away!

Some of his typing gems:

"your awsome m.r.s. lunsted" (his 2nd grade teacher that he misses)

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"I love the earth my name is Sam just to let you know lets recycle."

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"THE UNIVERSE"

"Chapter 1 THE SUN"

"THE SUN is a giant burning gasses and dust. Juipidir is so big. Not even earth can escape its pull and we would get crusht."

Who got the better deal?

The schedule for the rainy overcast day (my favorite) included the last day of swimming lessons, Dan's baseball scrimmage (which ended up being cancelled), Nick going back to work to catch up on grading and I my long list of things I knew would not all get done. At swimming I made a deal to swap kids. After lunch I took Sam to his friend Liam's and I took Liam's two cute little sisters Kailey and Maddie home with me. As we left their dad said "I'm not sure who is getting the better deal here". I believe he was thinking he was getting the better deal. I don't get a lot of "girl time" at my house so I needed to make the most of this. Kailey was more interested in Wii Sports Resort, the dog and what Dan was doing. But Maddie was my little buddy. She was so excited to make little Easter treats. I had all the equipment and stuff to make more chocolate covered marshmallows. So we did pink and green with Easter sprinkles. Nothing real original but we had fun and the time went by quickly. I think I got a pretty good deal. Now to attack the list. Actually I didn't accomplish more than 2 things off my list but that's OK...life goes on whether the list is done or not. I at least have a fun memory from the day!

Autism Awareness Month

So I have so many things I want to blog about but I guess this one will trump the others for the time being. Hopefully a blog of some spring break activities will come...if I can make the time.

So I posted several things on Facebook today which makes some of this duplication. A year ago we knew relatively little about Autism. We knew some and weren't totally unaware. However it really wasn't where we expected Sam to fit in. Honestly we had observed some odd behavior for a long time. He had even been observed at the daycare to try and figure out why he had biting issues. The only thing that came of it was that he loved using his entire body for play, would lay his body over a table for things, etc. If I knew then what I knew now about sensory issues! I remember pulling out the play dough one day, having to leave the kitchen for a minute and coming back to find he had another full-body experience with it. Play dough was everywhere, in the clothes hair, floor and anywhere it could stick. WOW I wasn't going to try that again!

Finally in Kindergarten his teacher knew he would benefit from Occupational Therapy. Yeah, someone who wanted to pursue what she observed rather than brushing it off. Now a year later we still have plenty to learn but feel like we have such a better picture of autism. We understand Sam better and even after 19 years of marriage, I'm beginning to find validity in many things that explain behavior I have long ago accepted in Nick. I'm convinced that if he were put through the battery of evaluations that he would be on the spectrum.

April is Autism Awareness Month. I feel motivated to share in part what we have learned. Autism Speaks hosts Autism Awareness day on April 2nd. There are many groups who bring awareness to autism. Its hard for me to comprehend the estimated statistic that one in 110 children are on the autism spectrum. The question in my mind is, have we simply gotten better at recognizing it or is there really an increase in rate of occurrence?

I decided that I don't have enough filling my time (that is a joke) and that it would be fun to post a tidbit about autism daily on Facebook. Not sure I will go so far as to post daily on the blog. However I will post the notes I'm including on Facebook with resources we have found to be helpful. That will come in a later blog. Below I have included just a few of the many symbols people have chosen to represent autism or efforts to increase awareness or promote research. I hope you will learn something about autism this month that you didn't know before. I learn things all the time that are fascinating.

Peacemaking: an outward expression of Choosing The Right

When the mail comes it is always exciting to get something different than junk mail, solicitations and bills! Last week when a surprise envelope arrived from the school superintendents office addressed to Dan and his parents, I wondered what was up. We were pleased to learn that Dan had been nominated by his teacher to receive a Peacemaking Award. The letter indicated there were approximately 200 awards being given and we were invited to attend an event where the awards would be presented at the High School. Tonight we were in good company with many people we know. As we began to look over the program we found 9 children from church. There were also many other great kids we know from simply being a part of this community. One of the 4th graders assigned to help Sam at the beginning and end of each school day was also nominated. What a significant moment for each of these students. I think it is a fantastic way to reward noteworthy behavior.

At our church when the children are young they learn the acronym CTR for Choose The Right. I couldn’t help but think of that tonight. It makes me happy to see so many students who are making great efforts to live that concept at school when there are pressures to do otherwise.

Museum open for business

Some people have asked what the bright yellow sign on our front door is all about. (yes I know its crooked)

Last week on Wednesday it was a snow day. Before moving onto a new activity I wanted Sam to pick up some of his toys off my bed and his bedroom floor. At the time I was in the middle of working on something for the Mt Pleasant Discovery Museum. I knew just saying Sam clean up your toys would result in a meltdown because that task is not specific enough. Creativity can be important at this point. The first thought that came to my mind was “Sam I have this great idea, why don’t you take all of these creations you made with the kid connects and turn your bedroom into a museum!” Then I suggested that all of the pieces on his floor could be piled into like piles so that customers (probably a poor choice of words in hindsight) can easily locate the pieces they want to use to build new creations. He totally bought into it – IMMEDIATELY! I have never seen someone clean up so quickly. But he played for real. “Mom now we need signs – 2 of them, one for the front door (he placed this one and I don't want to ruin his careful placement) and one for my bedroom door”. Our front door now has a sign that reads “Sam’s Awesome Building Place of Fun”. I was the first “test” customer and later that night Dan’s friend became the first real customer. Sam decided though if Dan's friend had fun, his first visit was free (instead of 5 pennies). The next morning the first thing he said when he woke up was “did we have any customers?” I have also been told I need to work on coupons good for 4, 3, 2 or 1 penny off getting in.

I was in a seminar with his teacher the next day and I told her about Sam’s new venture. Two days later Sam had two more museum customers, his teacher Mrs Auker and her daughter. He was so excited to see them come to the house and I had fun observing. He is now considering a second exhibit with space in the basement…Hmmm what a creative kid.

I never thought I'd be working on two children's museums at the same time.

All in a day

Today’s task list:

Paint hall bathroom

Cook dinner for missionaries

Cut boys hair and a bunch of misc. things.

Today’s events:

Raw egg flying around the kitchen while bowl flips out of hand making a huge mess. Didn’t know one raw egg could cover so much space and in so many places.

I Realized I didn’t have all ingredients to make dinner so great husband offers to go to the store for me (I HATE shopping on Saturdays). However, the 48oz glass bottle of salsa that I left in the back of the car, along with other things I picked up at Sam’s Club yesterday, rolled forward during a turn and smashed into the metal of the middle seat and spilled its guts all over the car and into the little well of the seat connector.

Sam was also swinging in his hammock and managed to do what we knew he would eventually and put a hole in the wall. We have been trying to come up with a solution for this but now we really have to before the hole gets bigger. Anyone know of a good place to get a padded mat with hefty solid backing?

In the middle of this we were taping and prepping the hall bathroom for paint, did the primer and then made some progress on the paint. I was also preparing some pulled BBQ pork, cole slaw, fresh pineapple and grapes and baked beans. The crowning piece was a lemon cheesecake, my first ever attempt to make real cheesecake! It turned out great (ignore the grand canyon in the middle) and is so smooth. The recipe will be posted on Facebook or can be requested.

Overall it was a good day, just frustrating in parts. OH and I did get the boys hair all cut as well (all 3 boys). Yeah!