Be A Good Mom

I did not want to jinx it, so I waited to write about the final chapter in Pookie’s bus drama.  But here is what has happened lately.

About 10 days ago- he was reading his “No Standing on the Bus” sign every day and seeming to get it.  But then one day took off his seatbelt, stood on the bus seat and jumped up and down.  BAD.

About 9 days ago- School district says he has to wear some device to keep him in the seat.  We agreed.  We were not against using the integrated carseat or harness, only against having it be the first thing and not giving him the chance to learn how to behave and see the consequences of his behavior.  We agreed to the integrated carseat, which has a chest and crotch buckle. 

About 8 days ago- off to school in the integrated carseat.  5 minutes into the trip, he lets himself out of the carseat by undoing the chest and crotch buckles.  If you have kids in carseats, you know that this was quite a feat, but he did it.  By the time the bus driver stops the bus, he is back in his seat FULLY BUCKLED.  This clearly shows that he knows the difference between right and wrong in this scenario.  BAGD and I are now fully ready to harness him.  He is just being naughty.  Autism is not a free ride, you still have to follow the rules….especially those that you understand!

About 7 days ago- The Bus Driver says, ” I think he is bored.  Can he read a book on the bus?”  I thought they had rules against that.  She says they do, but they will make an exception for him.

About 6 days ago- Pookie is off to school with an extra large copy of “The Adventures of Curious George.”  He behaves on the bus.

About 5 days ago- his book is “Tibor Gergely’s Big Red Story Book.”  No problems on the bus.

About 4 days ago- Usborne’s Book of First Experiences.  The Executive Director of the district preschool program calls me to discuss our situation.  Oh boy.  Our district is the second largest in the state.  That is like you getting a speeding ticket and the governor calling to see what happened.    I told her where we were and that it had worked for a few days.  She is a very nice woman and said she hoped things continued, but if not…….

About 3 days ago- The Complete Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. 

About 2 Days ago- The Complete Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Yesterday- Big Bird the Babysitter.

Today- ?

I hope we have reached a milestone here.  He has not misbehaved since he started taking a book on the bus.  Coincidence?  Temporary Solution?  Really, there is no way to know for sure, but I *feel* this is it.  Yesterday, he and I went out on the porch to wait for the bus.  he had Big Bird the Babysitter under his arm.  I offered to read it.  He said “No, read book on the bus.”  I said, come on, I will read it while we wait.  I grabbed the book and opened it.  He snatched it back, closed the cover and said “NO.  Read book on the bus.”

So, there you go.  Read book on the bus.

BAGD got linked to on Graco’s blog.  Yes, THE Graco, the carseat/stroller people.

I hope he did not tell them that I bought a Kolcraft Stroller this time.  But I did still use the Graco carseat with it!

So, click on over, if you want to read about how BAGD told his family we were having twins.  We told my family in sort of the same way as his sister, fooling them into looking at the ultrasound, pretending it was homework for his Anatomy class.

I do.

You can clean with it.

You can do laundry with it.

You can do anything with it!

Succumb to the power of vinegar.  It is powerful and you cannot hide forever.

We are trying to make Pookie more aware of his echolalia.  From what we have read, many people just learn when to control it and when to let it fly.  It never really goes away, for some people.  Plus, if he is going to survive in regular kindergarten next year (meaning, not get kicked out by the teacher) he needs to sit quietly at times.

But sometimes he is in full blown echo mode and nothing will stop him.  He has a script he needs to get through before he can stop.  Or get through a dozen times, or a hundred times.  Other times we can convince him that it is time for quiet.  At those times, its usually because he understands the consequences.  For example, we will not read stories while he echoes another story, hums or sings.  We will not watch TV while he does it, if he needs to hum/sing/echo he has to leave the room.  TV or echo.  That’s the choice.

Tonite at bedtime, he sat quietly through “Welcome to Blues Clues- a lift the flap book” and “Guess How Much I Love You.”  When they were done, I if he wanted to show Daddy how much he loves him (from the book).  He said “No, I need some humming.”

We could not argue with that.  Sometimes he does need humming.  Its part of who he is.  He is learning to handle it, to manage it.  But that means finding time to do it too, not just time not to do it.  Everyday he teaches us a little bit more about how his mind works.

I have been keeping a mental list of things I need to look up on the internet.   I finally got time to do it.  Here is my list and what I found out:

1.  Pizza Hut Book It Beginners Program- Geetle saw a poster at Pizza Hut mentioning this.  She could not read all of it, but recognized “pizza,” “book,” and the picture of the Berenstein Bears.   I looked it up tonite and it is something teachers have to enroll in.  But its just like the Book It program we all did as kids, except for preschoolers and the “read to me” crowd.  Its too late to enroll this year, but I am printing it out to send to her school.  Maybe they will want to do it next year.

2.  Natural Choice Environmentally Sensitive Diapers -I saw these at Meijer and was intrigued.  They were just a dollar or so more expensive than the Meijer brand (I don’t do expensive name brands in something designed to be pooped on and thrown away).

Approximately two-thirds of the materials used in the leading diaper brands are synthetic and are derived from non-renewable resources. The production of these materials consumes valuable petrochemical resources and in some cases creates adverse environmental impacts. Natural Choice Diapers are designed to reduce the environmental footprint created the the production and consumption of disposable diapers. Unlike most diapers, the absorbent padding material in Natural Choice diapers is totally Chlorine-Free. Dioxins and organochlorides are not released into the air or water. Natural Choice diapers also use less synthetic gel material in the absorbent core by blending an innovative bio-based absorbent matieral with traditional absorbent gel material. Finally, the backsheet and topsheet of Natural Choice diapers contain 50% plant-starch based Ingeo (TM) fiber, an annually renewable resource.

OK.  But is it really that big of a deal?  Are they really something I should do?  I think its a step.  But if I could afford it, I think I would go all the way to the g diapers.   They have a flushable liner.  Although it must be a bit hard to flush, since they come with a poking stick you are supposedto use to break them up and push them down.  But the pee-soaked ones can be composted.  We don’t compost, but heck, if I moved to these diapers, starting a compost pile would be an easy second step.   I don’t know.  By the time I figure it out, she’ll be potty trained anyway.

3.  The wind mill farm near Paw Paw IL.  We drove by this on our way to/from Peoria last weekend.   Each year, the farms make enough electricity to power 13,000 homes.   They are crazy big.   The blades are each 40 feet long.  We had heard that they were operational, but no one bought the electricity.  Not true, these wind farmers are under contract with ComEd.   I did not need to know anything specific about the windmills.  I just thought they were cool and wanted to know more.

4.  Pancakes for a Penny?  Could it be true?  Yes, it is.  Apparently we can get pancakes for a penny (limit 25 per person) at Colonial Cafe on May 8th.  It doesn’t sound like there is a catch…although I am sure there will be a line.

5.   There is a raccoon living under our deck.  Good?  Bad? Indifferent?  I am worried about it gnawing on my children, so I do think we need to get rid of him.  But I don’t know if I have the attention span to set a live trap, lure it out, and then dispose of it.  I am also too cheap to hire someone.  What to do?  Apparently throwing some mothballs under the deck will work.  Sounds cheap and easy, just like me.  I mean, just the way I like it.  I mean…oh shut up.

6.   What is the purpose of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium?  Are they safe for kids?  - I will go into this more at a later date.  My research continues.

7.  How to get rid of the baby belly - breathing?   Call me old fashioned, but I assumed it would take more than breathing.  My research continues.  In the mean time, I go to the gym 3 times a week.  30 minutes of cardio, 8 weight exercises (arms and legs, 3 sets of 10 each) and as many crunches as I can do.

8.  I am considering getting a clothes line.   You may look at this post and think I am overly eco-concerned.  Well, I am eco-concerned, but I am also cheap.  This is a cheap thing, not an eco thing.   I am not sure if I should get a retractable one, or just a regular set of poles.  I see the purpose of a retractable one, but are they as sturdy?   I will consult with BAGD.  I am not allowed to use cement without his approval.  He is so overbearing.

I took Giggles to the doctor yesterday for her 6 month check up and shots.  She is 18 pounds and 26 inches long.  Just like Pookie and Geetle, she is on the top of the chart.  Other than that, she is right on track.  Sitting up, grabbing things, gurgling. 

As you remember from my older post, I lie to doctors.  So, it should be no surprise to you that I also ignore doctors’ advice.  First, let me go on record saying that I do appreciate the skill and expertise of our pediatrician.  She is a very smart and very nice woman.  But sometimes, she is crazy if she thinks I am going to do the stuff she tells me to do. 

Case in point.  She asked me how Giggles does with solid foods, something she just started 3 weeks ago.  I said fine.  She eats a half a jar twice a day, plus cereal for breakfast.  She likes it.  The doctor asked me to describe how the day goes, meaning when does she wake up, when does she eat the solids, when does she drink the formula.

Dr. C:  What does she do first thing in the morning?

BAGM:  Well, in the morning she is very happy, so we can get the cereal in her first.  So, she wakes up, has the cereal first, then the formula, then she plays and naps, then when she wakes up from her nap she has a snack bottle.  By the time lunch comes, she is more frantic, so she usually has the formula first at lunch, then the baby food.  Then another nap, then a snack bottle, then dinner, which is vegetables and milk and then to bed.

Dr. C:  Ok.  Here’s what I would do.  When she wakes up, offer the cereal, then she can play and take a nap, then after the nap, offer the formula.  Food, play, nap, milk. 

BAGM:  (nodding)  Ok, Ok, I see.

Yeah.  That aint happening.  Breakfast is at 6:30.  You are offered cereal and formula.  Eat what you want.  Snack is not until 9:30.  Lunch is at 11:15 so your brother and sister can be on the bus at 12:15.  Plan ahead. 

If I did what she recommended, I would not be giving her a bottle until 9:30 in the morning.  Not to mention the fact that I have to feed Pookie and Geetle 5 times a day as well.  If the meal/snack times do not line up,  I might as well hang up a sign that says “Old Country Buffet- the food aint good, but its always here waiting for you.”

Come on.  I know she has to give advice.  But I am on my third kid, after sucessfully raising twins.   And her advice is wrong.  Giggles is perfectly capable of eating food and milk in one sitting.  BAGD and I have always tried to raise our kids as if they were little adults, meaning that we try to get them to develop habits that will serve them into adulthood.  So, that means you eat at mealtime.  You sit at the table, you use a real cup, you put the Tilapia on your plate even if you don’t plan on eating it, etc. 

So, I am not following her advice, but honestly, I don’t think she expects me to.  I am a very bad actor and I think she saw right through my contemplative “Ok, Ok, I see.”

Just thought I would show what Giggle’s schedule is right now.  She is turning 6 months old this week.  She eats solids (stage 2 baby food) baby cereal and formula.  She naps twice a day and sleeps all night, except for when we have to go in and re-swaddle her.  Our next goal is kicking the swaddle habit.

She actually has baby food for lunch, not cereal.  She is been allergy testing new foods and now that she has about 10 that she is cleared on (apples, banana, beans, peas, squash, carrots, pears, sweet potatoes, peaches) she has enough things to choose from for lunch and dinner.

On Saturday we went to watch Uncle Ben in Chicago’s Strongest Man contest.  I would link to their site, but I can’t find one.  (Could they be the only person left in the world without a website?  I have one….I mean, come on.)

Anyway, it was interesting.  We only got to see one event, the 22,000 lb truck pull.  There were so many competitors that it took a while for every weight class to get thru that event.  We wanted to stay longer but the equation breaks down like this:

 A= amount of time the beagoodkids can sit still in a church parking lot, regardless of how many nachos I buy them.

B= number of competitors per event

C= number of events we can stay

A/B=C

So, we only made it thru one event, but it was probably the most unique.  Pookie and Geetle go with us to the gym all the time, on the way to the kids room, they pass by all sorts of “Gym dudes” (as we call them, as compared to Daddy, who is athletic and toned, but does not look like a pro-football player).  They see the gym dudes lift heavy weights and grunt all the time.  As a 5 year old, you don’t  really have an appreciation for how much extra effort it takes to lift 25 pounds vs 250.   But when someone pulls a semi  truck across a church parking lot…you notice.

 After we left the contest, Uncle Ben compteted in 4- 5 more events, including deadlift, farmers hold and dragging a sled.   By that time, we were having lunch at the Weber Grill downtown Chicago.  At some point in the meal, Geetle asked us “is the Man Contest over yet?” Hence the name of my post.  I heard the contest went all day, so by the end I am sure Ben was pooped.  Believe it or not, he is the ONLY person I know who has ever competed for Chicago’s Strongest Man, so I am pleased to say that he personally invited me to the event and that I had a front row seat.  He did a great job and the next time I hear one of those gym dudes grunt like a woman in labor as they heave a barbell over their sweaty bald heads, I will think to myself “Harumph.   Toughen up Sally, its not like its a Mack Truck or anything.  Sheesh!”

After our lunch, we walked around downtown a bit, heading over to the NBC Towers, where BAGD is working this week. We looked at the river and such.

Pookie’s favorite part of the day was this:

Those insanely rhythmic bucket drummers that play all over Michigan Avenue.  He loved it.  The first group we saw was strange and a unnerved him a bit, but the second one he loved (much like most things in his life….he does not like it until the second time he tries it).  We started to walk past, but he lingered and I asked him if he wanted to stay and listen, he said “yes” in a breathless whisper.  He swayed and bebopped right along with the beat.

Then we had ice cream at Ghiradelli’s by the watertower.  Very crowded, and surprisingly, the hot fudge was not as good as last time.  Pookie could barely finish his.

Then, because we hate to go home, we stopped at a giant sporting goods store that has a taxidermy display and a giant aquarium.  We also tried out a paddle boat (drydocked) and a porch swing there too.

That’s it.

Just a few pics to get you caught up on things around here:

We started eating in the new dining room….one day before we convinced BAGD to carry the table in from the kitchen.

Geetle got 2 bad splinters in her hand at the park. Not fun, but she loves the bandaid.

Giggles can sit up by herself now. She still falls over if she does not concentrate, but her balance and ab control are great.

I pimped out my sewing area.

I would have added a picture of Pookie, but I could not get him to come in from the sandbox. He loves the new stairs off the patio. He has full-run of the yard now. This is sort of how he sleeps after playing in the yard all afternoon:

I would add a picture of BAGD, but I have not seen him recently. But based on the whiskers in the sink, I think he might have shaved his head again. Which would mean he looks something like this again:

Interesting article on the affects of Autism on family finances.   Scary.  Especially considering that having children in the first place affects your finances so drastically.  Then to have a special needs child adds more on top.