Merry Knishmas!

This has been an eventful and painful year. So much has happened. Tommy, Uncle Mike, and Dorothy died. Mrs. Knab died. Mrs. Givens died. Pop had his appendix out. Very little work for Mikey because of rain. Jarrett lost his glasses at camp. God bless his counselor because she checked every child left to see if they had his glasses. Matt's car has given him hell this year. Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Frank McCourt,Brittany Murphy and Kim Peek (he was the inspiration for Rainman) also died this year. Michelle has had a tough time this year, losing Tommy and having to raise the boys alone and dealing with everything that goes with is just hard. The truly hardest part of this year didn't really hit until Mom saw a pulmonologist and had her follow-up visit for her test results. Mom has emphesyma and he wants her on the lung transplant list. We went thru this with Dad, knowing there is limited time left and yet not knowing how much. Don't get me wrong good things happened this year too: middle school is going great for Jarrett, Max started pre-k, Alyssa was born. I have my family and for the most part we will be together for Christmas and that's all we need.

Little Pitchers Need Earplugs

For awhile now, Max has been visiting us in our room during the wee hours annoucing "I heard a sound in my room!" The other night he tried this right after I put him to bed. Not even 2 minutes later, our door opens and there's Max. Back to bed we go. Sometimes in the night, he just climbs in the bed, lays down and starts snoring. A couple nights ago, Mikey woke up at about 2 am to discover small, loudly snoring boy on my side of the bed. (I have been told by several doctors that he has rather large tonsils). My personal favorite was when I came in from putting Jarrett on the bus and Max's door opened and he announced "I heard a sound!" to which I responded "It was Jarrett's bus!". Sometimes he has moment of honesty and says "I waked up!" but not too often.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We shared our first Thanksgiving with Alyssa today. Everyone ate a lot and we watched Home Alone together and passed the baby around. Max and Aunt Shell went into Jarrett's room to find his holiday decorations and the computer was on. Shell said Happy Thanksgiving, Dad when she shut it down. Mikey made sausage and cranberry stuffing and it was a bigger hit than his oyster stuffing from last year. The oyster stuffing was ok but it made 5 tons of the stuff! He also made an apple pie. We taught Max to play Uno, a great family tradition. He also ran around singing Aunt Shell's least favorite song. My Dad used to sing Lynrd Skynrd's That Smell to her...with a twist. Here is Dad's version..OOh that smell, Smells like Michelle! OOh that smell, can't you smell Michelle! When Max was a little younger and had a dirty diaper, we would sing smells like Maxwell. Well, he sings smells like Aunt Shell, which she is so thrilled about. Off to bed, Mikey wants to go shopping in the morning 'cause he's crazy.

Alyssa

Baby Girl

Dear Dad,

I've been thinking about you alot as Kimmy's due date approached, mostly because you'll never see this baby, just like you didn't get to see Max. Your first granddaughter was born yesterday. Mom says she looks just like Matt. In the midst of my errand running yesterday (no school for the boys, so I had to run home from work ASAP when Mom called) I stopped to visit you. I showed you the picture they texted me. I told you how much we miss you, especially now. We love Mark, but it hurts to know that you won't see Alyssa. I told you to keep an eye on Thrower, we know he's there with you. Mostly, I just cried about it all. Happy about the baby. Sad about Thrower. Missing you being Pop-Pop for the grandkids. This morning, Jarrett's computer was on. I just smiled and said Hi Dad as I shut it down. Mom says maybe we'll give to Alyssa so you can say Hi to her, too. Love you. Miss you.

Are We Done Yet? No More Death This Year!!

I am so ready for this year to be over!! So much death and bad news this year. In our family alone 2 cousins and 1 uncle died this year. 2 good friends each lost their mother. Friday, a good friend of my brother Matt, Matt Thrower (we just called him Thrower to avoid confusion) died. No one is sure what happened. Autopsy being performed to determine what happened. I've heard so many stories, it's clear that no one is sure. It's so sad. He was so young (20) and he has a 2 year old daughter (Abbi). I just don't have the words. It's too much. We'll miss you, Thrower.

Trick or Treat

Those who have known me for a while will love this!! How interesting is it that my younger son managed to unknowingly frighten other small children on Halloween with his costume? There was a little girl dressed as Dorothy walking aroung with her mom, she was probably about 3, that was completely afraid of my mini Gene Simmons. They were right behind us trick or treating and if she saw us leaving a house she was approaching, she would hide behind her mom until we passed. All the adults we saw loved his costume and a couple people asked if they could take his picture. They had fun, that's the most important part.

The Weekend From Hell!!

This is the topper to one hell of a weekend. I call it 4 year old put through the wringer. Friday night/Saturday morning we spent at Nighttime pediatrics. I felt bad all day Friday and thought I was catching a cold from Max. Jarrett's grandma picked him up from school, so no worries there. Max came home and you could tell he didn't feel well. We rested in my room, watching tv for a while. I was freezing!! Max was burning up! I took his temperature and it was 102.8! So when Daddy got home, I told him to eat and don't get too comfy, we're going on a journey. I'm glad we had an appointment because everyone in Annapolis had to be there. And if we weren't already sick, we would be after waiting for hours in that crowd. They took us both together and did a flu test on both of us. Max had the flu but surprise I have bronchitis! And they gave me a nebulizer. We picked up all the meds at CVS and finally went home. Mikey was a trooper, he had been awake almost 24 hours by that point. Max had a dose of Tamiflu and went to bed. A second dose later and he starts breaking out in little red spots. By Sunday covered in red welts like we beat him or something. But no trouble breathing and no itching so the after hours nurse said stop the Tamiflu and see the doctor in the morning. Meanwhile, my mother is getting sick and sounding worse and worse. Kenny calls Sunday to say Jarrett has a high fever and is vomiting and they are headed to the E R. He is getting over the flu and has bronchitis. He never had any flu symptoms! The really annoying part is that he said he was giving him ibuprofen every 3 hours and obsessively taking his temperature. He called me yesterday and asked how Jarrett was doing. He was fine, no fever. He asked me to take his temperature and call him back. He did that twice. He also reminded me about 5 times that he takes his medicine 2 times a day for ten days. This is the same man that can't buy Zyrtec or Excedrin or Eucerin body wash (things Jarrett actually needs) but he acts like I have never taken care of a sick child before. Never mind the fact that he was overdosing him on Motrin. I feel better but i have sick people to take care of. Max is on Benadryl for his "allergic reaction beyond hives" as the doctor put it. Mom has bronchitis and has been to the doctor 2 days in a row and has to go back tommorrow. Jarrett feels ok and went to school today. Hopefully, Kimmy won't have the baby until we're all well enough to see her!

Baby shower Pics

Matt's gifts for Kimmy.

Sanchez and Neveah

Lila helped!

Matt's elephant

Alyssa Marie O'Callaghan expected to arrive any day now!

Growing Babies

Last week was super busy. Max had his growth check up and has grown over an inch and gained 2 pounds since June. He is 3ft 6 and 3/4 inches and 35 lbs. 3 am the next morning, he's in my room saying his ear hurts. A little bit of Motrin and he went back to sleep. Since it was raining and Daddy wasn't working (I was) I said that if Max woke up with ear pain later, to take him to the doctor. Mr. Lazybones gave him more Motrin and sent him to pre k. I was not happy. Even though it was raining the following day, Daddy worked a little because they had to have the trucks inspected for snow plowing. I made Max an appointment from work and was not pleased to see Mikey home early and wanting to go to Walmart with Mom and I (did I mention that the next day, Saturday, we were hosting a baby shower for my brother and his girlfriend?). I took Max to the doctor and surprise, it was an ear infection. While waiting at the pharmacy, Mikey keeps calling & asking me questions (what's wrong with him? where are you? are you still at the pharmacy?). Finally home and off to Walmart and he can't understand my less-than pleased attitude. I wasted 2 1/2 hours doing something that I asked you to do the day before. When he wants me to do something and it's n ot done when he wants it done, I am a terrible person, it's such a travesty, but he doesn't feel like doing it, it's supposed to be okay. Couple that with the fact that I really didn't want to go shopping with him anyway, it's easier , takes less time and there isn't all the questions about why you're buying this or that.

The baby shower was a great success. Mom decided that Matt was old enough to have his childhood toy elephant that walks and trumpets. Tons of pink clothes (The sonograms better be right!). Lila helped her mommy by wrapping the baby's gift, but couldn't find tape so she used band aids. Neveah is one of the cutest, chubbiest babies I have ever seen! Jarrett and Thomas (kimmy's brother) had a great time together. Jarrett has Autism and Thomas has Asperger's and they have alot of the same interests. Leslie had a few too many jello shots and needed a designated driver. Matt managed to pack everything in the backseat of his car.

Lila had her birthday party yesterday at Chuck E Cheese and we had a ball! The kids loved it!! Max wants to have his birthday there, too. He was worn out and napped when we got home, which he rarely does. He also had a cough all day and all I can think is here we go again! He's had so many colds since pre k started, I don't know if I should have signed him up to get the swine flu shot at school. I'm questioning that decision: I don't want him to get sick so I signed him up to get the shot but what if he gets sick from getting the shot? They're supposed to give the elementary kids the nose spray, which contains the live virus.

And, to top it all off, I have a slight cough and don't feel fabulous myself!

Birthday KISS!

This past weekend was very busy! Rich came on Friday to rid us of the rest of the trees in danger of falling over, which I was very glad that he came on Friday instead of Saturday as originally planned because we had Jarrett's birthday party scheduled for Saturday and I didn't know if some of the kids (Jarrett & Lauren) could handle the noise. He did call Mikey and tell him a tree fell through our room and broke the sliding glass door and the tv and was currently lying on our bed (just kidding!).
Saturday we had to grocery shop before the party. We decided to get Halloween costumes while we were at it. Max wanted to be Buzz Lightyear but they didn't have one to fit him so we headed to bigger kids costumes and he got so excited when we rounded the corner and he saw...Gene Simmons masks and wigs!! So Gene Simmons it is! Jarrett will be Fred Flintstone. We get home and Mom says her friends are coming to cut firewood and bringing thier grandson .. in a couple hours which suddenly became right now as they showed up immediately after she said that! I normally don't mind unexpected guests or kids even at birthday parties but 3 hours before we're ready for company? I know we offered to let them cut up trees for firewood but even with offering some to other people, Rich did cut down 8 trees, there is enough for everyone. Max had to clean his room and we had some other cleaning to do but we got it done and I let him go play. All I can say is the grandson has ...um..issues shall we say? Max runs in and out of the house and flits from activity to activity all day long. The boys played outside for a while, then came inside and played in Max's room. After a while, Max decided to go ride his bike outside. This boy starts screaming and freaking out because Max went outside and didn't want to stay inside with him. Then there was the incident outside which we weren't sure what exactly happened but Max ended up with a cut on his forehead. Later Max told me that he had grabbed Max behind his neck and pushed his head into the ground. We won't be inviting him over to play any more. He's also in Max's pre k class and has already been kicked off the bus. Jarrett said it was the best birthday ever. Everyone had a great time. Not everyone came but that is to be expected. Jarrett wanted a pirate monkey theme, so we found some great party stuff at the store down the street. My brother and sister chased each other around the yard, shooting dart guns and hitting each other with the paddles from the paddle balls. I just wish my batteries hadn't died so I could have filmed it !! Lila was surprisingly bloodthirsty, having a great tim shooting everyone with the dart guns too. She didn't like it if you shot her, but she loved shooting the darts. Tristan had fun wearing a pirate eye patch and playing with the guns.

Sunday I had to work. After I got home, I decided that my truck desperately needed a bath, so I got Mikey to unlock the shed to get the supplies. Since I didn't wash his truck too, major attitude. Nevermind that he slept all morning and didn't do anything for the kids, I don't love him because I didn't wash his truck too. I also barely had enough soap for mine, let alone another truck.

Monday, Jarrett goes with Dad overnight and I made tator tot casserole for dinner. Max does not like tater tots. He climbs up in his chair, looks at the food and says " I am not eating that nasty stuff!" The expression on his face and the way he said it was priceless. Mom and I laughed so hard.You just never know what's going to happen at our house!

Tuesday, the woman who now lives in the house we grew up in, came in to the store with one of her daughters. She knows I used to live there and always talks to me. Weirdly enough, my best friend Sara's daughter, Brianna, plays with one of her kids at my old house! She said they think they have a ghost. Apparently, they hear footsteps walking around upstairs when no one is up there! I said maybe it's my dad, so she asked what his name is so she can say hi next time she hears him walking around! (I didn't tell her he died in the house, I don't know if she knows that or not and I didn't want to be the one to tell her!).
Last night I had to work again. My cousins son, Jimmy, came in to tell me that his mom got her learner's permit yesterday (I knew that, but he was excited to tell, so I kept it to myself). Michelle, he said they are so proud of you. We all are.

Bathtub Flu

Poor Max insisted on going to school Monday even though he didn't feel great he said he had to go to school. He made it until they were lining up to get on the bus to go home and then he started throwing up. So I had to run up there and pick him up. The whole time he is swearing that he's not sick. He had a bug that Pop calls the bathtub flu because he says you might as well sleep in the tub because you're leaking from both ends. We had to tell Max that there was no school yesterday so Mom-Mom wouldn't have to argue with him about staying home. Mom called me at work to bring her some supplies home because Max had ever so kindly shared his germs with her and now she had it. Mikey's been fighting a cold or something for about a week now. He took Nyquil the other night and was talking in his sleep. His blood sugar is completely out of whack (he'll never admit it though), he came home the other day talking about almost falling asleep 3 times while he was driving. I'm scared to death that I'll get a phone call one of these days that he's been in an accident because he passed out behind the wheel. He's stubborn and hard headed and just won't listen to anything but what he wants to hear. So annoying!!

bike week

Hanging out with friends at the Timeless Tavern.

There were 29 Bikes in our group.

Action shot! Most of my photos are shot while moving!

Jessie

Rich

Rich

Happy Anniversary!

Today, we've been married for 5 years.

In November, it will be 7 years that we've been together. He can be a major pain, but I'm rather attached to him and since the good points outweigh the bad I decided not to kill him after all. Instead, my mom kept the boys and we went to OC Bike week Saturday. We hooked up with some friends and some of their friends and basically rode all day. We had to call it a day much too early because I had to work Sunday. We so rarely get to do our own thing it was nice to get out and see some friends.

Til Death Do Us Part?

Our anniversary is Tuesday September 22. We will have been married 5 years if I don't bludgeon him to death first. Sunday there was major attitude. He finally was putting up the light in the hallway and evidently home improvement makes him cranky. He couldn't get to an outlet because of my ebay things being stacked on top of a cabinet and was very rude about it,threatening to knock everything in the floor. I told him that if he asked me to I could plug in the drill for him but I did not put those things there to personally inconvience him. What a pity I had to go to work and couldn't stay for more fun and games.

Today we came home from work with attitude. First we were crabby because he wasn't informed that there was no school today and he doesn't feel good. Dinner was without incident, but his after dinner nap was interrupted by a coughing fit. Since 5 other people live here besides him, I could not hear him coughing all the way down the hall. He swears the kids could hear him and were making fun of him but that's not possible since each boy was in his own room allegedly cleaning it up ( as I type this Max is shouting I'll clean up because he's been sent to bed for not cleaning up!). So, of course, I don't love him enough because I didn't hear him and rush to his aid when he was choking to death all alone.

Remember the GN'R song I Used To Love Her, But I Had To Kill Her? That's about how I feel right now!!

Labor Of Love

It was Labor Day weekend....and I got to work all weekend. Yes, once again I got to sell beer and ice to the masses and give directions to the beach Saturday and Sunday morning and Monday Night I got to direct people to 301 because 404 was (gasp!) backed-up with traffic. Daddy took Max for a bike ride Sunday over to Nikki and Larry's where he got to play with Ryan for a while. (I'm not terribly thrilled about this, but he did have a helmet on and he's going to do it anyway really whether I like it or not.) We went over again later to hang out which we haven't been able to do for a while (work, sickness, just plain busy) and had a great time. Matt & Kimmy were over on Saturday and the car needs to go back to the shop again. All the transmission fluid leaked out and was causing the car to smoke while they were headed to see a friend's band play so they had to stay over here.

Max was full of chatter about school. He likes it and couldn't wait to go back today. Kimmy went for a 4d sonogram today to make sure the baby is a girl before we send out baby shower invites and yes, definitely a girl. Hopefully my sound card converter comes soon. You can plug it in to a stereo and play tapes and then plug it in to your computer and make cds. I have a great gift idea for my brother and I can't wait to see his face!

My baby went to school!!

Today was the first day of pre k. Max is so excited to finally be going to school! We went to open house yesterday and dropped off his supplies. He had a good time checking out his classroom and some of his classmates. We had lunch and he got his shot and he got dressed for school in his new clothes Grandma (Mikey's Mom) bought him for school. He packed his snack and a juice box and put on his nametag. He put on his Maxie-sized Elmo backpack and went outside where he ran around like a crazy boy waiting for the bus. He got on the bus and didn't even look back!

Jarrett has really adjusted well to middle school! I thought all the changes would completely throw him for a loop but he is so grown up and just taking it all in stride. He's using his locker all by himself, turning in notes to the attendance office so he can be picked up from school and homework is a breeze! I'm thinking that both boys will deserve a treat (positive reinforcement is the name of our game!) and I'm thinking the Toy Story 3D double feature in October will be a good family day out.

Kids Meal Toys

It's time to update my list of who's got what toys in their kids meals.





McDonald's: Currently Lego Racers/ American Girls



BK: Currently: Daring Book for Girls/Dangerous Book For Boys

Coming Up: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs



Wendys: Currently: Funkeys clips

Coming up: Scooby Doo The Mystery Begins



Hardees: Currently: Dinosaur King

Coming up: Monsters vs. Aliens



Arbys: Currently: See Thru Spinners

Coming up: Justice League



KFC: Wild Safari

Chic Fil A: Great American Road trip /Paddington Bear Board Books for under 3

Middle School

While he looks enthusiastic here, Jarrett was very nervous about starting middle school on Monday.

I do think going to 6th grade orientation helped. He got to see that everyone else is nervous too and nobody knows their way around the school yet. Hell, I went to that school and it's completely different now. I'm thankful he didn't get a certain teacher that I had for 5th and 6th grades and my sister had in 7th who is still teaching. She was a total bitch on wheels when I had her 22 years ago. We heard at the orientation meeting that age has not mellowed her one bit.

The only snag was that somehow Jarrett wound up on the wrong bus and went to the elementary school. His cousin is supposed to ride the bus to the elementary school so it is possible that it was mistakenly assusmed that Jarrett was supposed to go there too. But, he didn't panic or freak and his autism tag with our cell phone numbers came in handy since that's how GES got in touch with me. He is doing so amazingly well so far, we're so proud of him. Suddenly, he's so grown up!!

Mikey has worked every day so far this week and managed to annoy the crap out of me at the same time. The other night he asked if Jarrett had any homework yet and I said he had math homework that night. Then we had a discussion about whether or not it qualified as math homework since he wasn't solving math problems, he was writing numbers in order from least to greatest. Mikey is of the opinion that this is not math homework. I believe homework involving numbers, assigned by the math teacher and to be turned in to her is ,in fact, math homework.

Max starts pre k next week and tommorrow we meet his teacher. God, time flies!!

My Head Is Spinning!!

It started simply enough. I innocently asked Mikey how many hours he worked last week so I could file his unemployment report today. He says my week isn't over yet. I say not the pay week, the calendar week of 08/16-08/22 is what I need to file today before I go to work. He then launches into an elaborate explanation of how his pay week works ( which I already knew!). I, very patiently, explain that he worked 3 days last week, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday. How many hours did he work in that 3 day period? But my week isn't over yet! OMG!!!! Tell me how many hours you worked in the three days that you did work!! And, finally, he got the message before I had to choke him.

Workin' It Out!!

Hooray!! After more than a week home, Mikey went to work today which means there was work today!!! We have applied for unemployment for temporary lay off and I have restarted the process of applying for Jarrett's SSI & maybe some for Max (I don't know if pituitary dwarfism is considered a disability or not) since Mikey's lack of a paycheck means we probably fall in the income limits again. I did fill out the bulk of the application online and called yesterday to set up an appointment for the rest of the bureaucratic BS and I got the most clueless person I have ever spoken with. I couldn't seem to get her to understand that I have gotten benefits before, but then Mikey made too much money so we didn't qualify anymore but now that he has so little work( which means he doesn't make as much money) we probably qualify again so send me the forms I have to sign and let's get on with it. She seemed to think that I thought being poor was a disability and suggested applying for food stamps. Finally she got the message and I got a phone appointment which means I don't have to drive to Cambridge for the interview.

Jarrett came back Monday morning (5:30 am. Why ,when he can't go in until 8 ,bring Jarrett back so early? It doesn't take 2 1/2 hours to get to Kent Island from my house. Now after Monday, it's a different story, his bus comes at 6:30.) and his dad had MAJOR Attitude! I get that glasses are not cheap, that's why neither Mikey nor I have had our eyes done in the last 3 years. But he is also the one that said he would get Jarrett's glasses. Jarrett lost his glasses, it can't be helped. All the counselors helped us look for them for over an hour and we couldn't find them . I can't help what they cost, nor can I help pay for them since right now we don't have the money to pay bills. He was also very annoyed that I don't know my way around Easton all that well, we go to Delaware for everything. Everytime he asked if I knew where something was and I said no he said Jesus Christ!! like it's a crime not to drive 35 miles to get something I can get in DE which is actually closer to my house (and no sales tax!). Of course, this is the same person who can't remember to purchase or give Jarrett his Zyrtec. He once asked me for a list of what to get after I got on his case several times and then didn't get any of it. He also refuses to listen to the doctor's advice about what causes Jarrett to have migraines or about watching what Jarrett eats because his weight is starting to become a problem that we need to concern ourselves with ( especially since all the men on his dad's side are overweight and diabetic).

Mikey's mom called yesterday to see if he was working and if he was to get him to come by her house and pick up the school clothes and stuff she got for the boys. She has always done things like this since we've been together, even before we had Max, she bought things for Jarrett. Max is thrilled with the shirts she gave him last time he was over, since they are very much like the stripey ones Jarrett favors. Max is so ready to go to Pre-K!! Jarrett is not so very excited about middle school, but maybe after orientation when he can check out the school, his teachers and his schedule he'll feel better.

We are starting to plan a baby shower for my baby brother, Matt and his girlfriend Kimmy. They are having a baby girl, Alyssa Marie O'Callaghan, due in November. We're planning the shower for mid-October.

I also have to start working on Jarrett's birthday party. First he wanted a Willy Wonka theme, then he changed to Wall-E, and finally we have decided on Joey the Pirate Monkey, so I need to get my butt in gear and crank out some DVDs and Tshirts!! My baby will be 11 in October! I also need to put some finishing touches on both boys rooms ( blinds curtains and for Jarrett's room I want to use a flat sheet as a curtain for the closet opening). Last weekend I got a computer desk for Jarrett's desktop that my Dad got him for Christmas at the age of 2 and set that up, plus rearranged some other furniture, the bookcase that the movies live on has moved from behind the door to net to the computer desk and a small bookcase from my room is now behind the door for books.

Happy Campers!

Today we picked Jarrett up from camp only to discover he lost his glasses! He's been wearing glasses for almost 8 years now and this is the first time he's ever lost them. His counselor was beside herself trying to find them, checking out every child in hopes of locating Jarrett's glasses. Tommorrow Grandma is taking him for new ones, which he needed anyway.

On the way back home, we stopped and dropped off a toy box to Kimmy and Matt for the baby. I got a computer desk for Jarrett's desktop that my dad insisted he needed ( he got it for Christmas at the age of 2,it's practically an antique now!),and there really isn't room for the toy box anymore. It was Matt's when he was younger anyway.

After that, we stopped at a gas station that has a tow truck painted like Mater from the Cars movie. So, of course, we had to take pictures!

School starts soon! Jarrett is not thrilled about middle school, but Max is so excited about pre-k!!

Kids Meal Toys

After discovering that Wendy's had Charlotte's Web Toys for the movie (which I found on ebay) I have decided to do research and frequently post my findings. All the autistic children I know love movies and movie themed toys . But only BK and McDonalds advertise what toys they will have. After purchasing Charlotte for Lauren who LOVES Charlotte's Web in all its forms (I once made a black sheep for her because she so wanted Cardigan the sheep from CW2 and no one could find one. I located a sheep at a store and dyed it black for her. Bodie the dog was excited because he thought it was a new moochie for him but then thought I was crazy because I was cooking it on the stove.). So here it goes.....

Wendy's Currently: Funkeys Clips Coming Up: Scooby Doo The Mystery Begins

BK: GI Joe

McDonalds: Currently: Beanie Babies Coming Up:American Girl/Lego Racers

Arby's Currently: See Thru Spinners ComingUp: Justice League Unlimited

Hardees: Currently:Dinosaur King Coming Up: Monsters vs. Aliens

I couldn't find out anything from Subway or Pizza Hut. If any one else has anything to contribute, please let me know.

Sugar Momma

Wow has it ever been a busy week!! Due to one of our girls quitting and another going on vacation, I have worked every single day since last Tuesday and I have to work tommorrow too. Mikey worked 2 out of 5 days last week and this week is not looking so hot thus far. No work today and just found out, not tommorrow either. Between my check, child support and my ebay money we are managing along with him making up missed hours using vacation/sick time. Max was waiting up for me last night when I got home. He had discovered some of Jarrett's old pjs in a bag and he wanted them bad. One pair had motorcycles on it and he was in love!! Only problem: these are a size 12. The pants are taller than he is!! We compromised and he wore the shirt to bed. He seemed pleased with that.

Friday was a fun day at work! Around 4 the manager leaves for the day. A thunderstorm hit and the power flickered several times before staying off. I had my flashlight, my cell phone and a register on battery back up. I called and left a message on the boss's phone since I knew she had an appointment after work. While waiting for her to come back to work, the battery died on the register. So, armed with a calculater, keys to open the register and our trusty flashlight, we worked until 7 without power before calling it a night and going home. The funny part about the whole thing? The large number of people that had to be told we couldn't sell gas because the pumps are electric and we had no electricity!

My cousin came over Sunday as part of her new job:demonstrating vaccuum cleaners. She's an awesome saleswoman because we bought one! Anyone interested in a demonstration, let me know and I'll have Karisa get in touch with you. You'll be amazed at the dirt in your carpet. Gotta help a girl earn some bucks!

This week, besides working, it's time to get Jarrett packed for camp. We take him on Sunday and I get to pick him up on Friday. Lauren will be there too. Even though he doesn't want to be her boyfriend(yet!) she LOVES him. Lauren is my special girl.

Dad brought Jarrett back from his weekend this morning and informs me that Jarrett doesn't want to go to camp, so maybe next year he could do something else. Kenny had heard about an acting camp (of course after it was too late to get him in this summer) in Cambridge that he's getting information about for next summer. While I do encourage his interests, I can't be shuttling him back and forth to Cambridge every day. It only took like 2 seconds to figure out that Kenny had said that he'd miss Jarrett while he's at camp and that's why Jarrett said he doesn't want to go.

Hopefully, this week we'll have time to go play and visit some friends. If not, we'll see them at drop off for camp and keep each other company during the wait to check in.

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

My husband actually managed to plan and pull off a surprise birthday party for me on Saturday! My sister, my cousins and I had just been saying that we should have family reunions like normal people instead of only seeing everyone at Christmas or a funeral. Our good friend (and my best drinking pal) Larry helped him cook the crabs (Thanks for your help Jimmy!). My sister baked the cake and even drew a very good Smurfette on it. Matt, my brother made jello shots and My Aunts Sharon and Mary loved them!! It was great!! I very much enjoyed it.

Yesterday was my actual birthday. We hit Walmart for groceries and I got the rest of Jarrett's school supplies that we need. Here's what I don't get. Last year they asked for all these dividers, index cards, notebooks and binders. At the end of the year, most of these things came home unopened. While his dad bought school supplies last year, it still irks me that we wasted money on all this stuff and he didn't even use it. It is possible that Mrs. Mac decided that it would be easier if Jarrett did things a different way. Hopefully this year he actually uses all this junk. I also used money that I got for my birthday to buy a video camera!!

Tyler brought Lila over to play since they missed the party Saturday and she was wild to play with Max. Jarrett also returned from vacation and Max was in heaven having his brother home and his favorite cousin to play with. The kids played all afternoon. The adults drank leftover beer from the party and Tyler and I finished off the crabs. It was a good birthday (even if my brother wanted to call the fire department to report a controlled burn when we lit the candles on the cake!)

autism

Mom, Max Stole My Imaginary Friend!!

The last week has been a very full one. My cousin died of cancer on Saturday. She had been fighting it for 4 years and couldn't hang on any longer. We'll miss you Dorothy.
Jarrett left to go on vacation with his dad. But before he left he invented an imaginary friend, Sam the Sandwich. Last Thursday he was giving Sam piggy back rides up and down the hallway. That night, all the grown ups were in the living room/kitchen and this is what we here from down the hall"Mom, Max stole my imaginary friend!!". Our solution was to have Jarrett either snatch Sam back and say you don't have him or tell Max no you don't have him, he's over here. It's never dull around here. Max has discovered you can unlock doors in the house with popsicle sticks. He knew you could stick things in the locks and lock the doors. Jarrett had locked himself in the bathroom to keep Max out so Max got the idea to stick a popsicle stick in the lock and unlock it. Now nothing is safe.
Max misses Jarrett and can't wait for him to get back. Tuesday at the library he was going to check out movies Jarrett likes so he would have them to watch. He keeps asking if Jarrett will be home on this day (which is Max speak for today). He did get to spend a day at Grandma's and went swimming and out on the boat and just had a great time.

Amusing Ourselves

Yesterday while Jarrett drew pictures Max and I decorated the kitchen window with Bendaroos. We had a good time trying to stick them to the window. He also helped Mom-Mom harvest "momo" beans from the garden. We bought some green beans once that had Elmo on the can so they have become momo beans. Max is so excited that Mom-Mom can grow these at home!

I had to work last night. The manager is back from vacation so that means the store will stop falling apart now. While she was gone the gas pumps went crazy. You could come in and pay but that didn't always mean you could pump your gas when you got back outside. The keypads wouldn't work so no debit cards outside. The Diet Pepsi in the fountain soda dispenser quit working. Everyone in Caroline County needed a boat ramp permit which only the manager can sell (unless one of the owners happened to be around at that exact moment!). So we were glad to see her back. Last night a group of vans parked and several people came in looking for antifreeze which we usually have. The shelf was empty and of course, the auto parts store behind us had just closed. Then, a boy came in and said he had run out of gas just up the road and he needed a gas can. We didn't have any of those either. Apparently we sold all the antifreeze, all our gas cans along with the usual staggering amounts of ice and beer this weekend!

Today is library day, then work again for me. Someone was whining this morning about cooking dinner for the boys again tonight. It's not like he cooks gourmet meals for them so I ignore all protests. This same person was also whining because he "has no clean shirts." He has clean shirts just not his favorite shirts to wear.

Smores and Fires and (Grumpy)Bears...Oh My!!

The boys were very wound up yesterday as we had promised to do a campfire and roast marshmallows and make smores. Max quickly lost interest in the marshmallows but had fun throwing sticks on the fire. Jarrett loved roasting marshmallows and making smores as he has done it before at my aunt's Christmas party and well, the boy loves chocolate.
No pictures or video since my camera refused to cooperate, which also caused a tiff. My darling husband woke up on the wrong side of the cave in the morning and didn't really improve his mood until later. He had somehow gotten the idea that I had gotten up earlier than I actually did and he wanted to know what I had been doing all that time (mostly since breakfast wasn't ready yet and as everyone knows, he likes to eat.) In reality we had let the boys stay up late and I got to sleep in for a change.
As for the camera, I've probably worn the thing out with all the picture taking and filming I do, so batteries don't last as long as I would like. The camera kept shutting itself off, which I found annoying and he evidently found my annoyance annoying. But it is frustrating when you want to get a picture or film the kids having so much fun and the camera just won't work. What I really need is a video camera.
Today was a very lazy day. We had breakfast, watched cartoons and the boys built a fort out of couch cushions and blankies. Mom and Pop took a nap, neither of them feels good. Of course, I've been fielding calls from those that know Pop is off work today , when people know he's home, suddenly their cars need to be worked on. We also filmed a Joey the Pirate Monkey episode called The Great Brain Freeze. Jarrett is impatiently waiting for the DVD to burn, he loves to watch his shows and when he goes on vacation with his dad, he can watch them all on the way there.

The Talented Mr. Maxwell

Max's medicine arrived yesterday so no more fighting with the insurance company or getting growth hormone from the drug company for the next year!! He really wanted to play with the cooler that it's packed in but I compromised and gave him the cardboard box instead. Otherwise we would have Christmas in July for sure, with styrofoam snow everywhere. He decided that the best use for his box was to ride his Mater truck down the hall with the box on his head like a helmet, smashing into the walls because he couldn 't see. Mikey had gotten home early and took a nap before dinner. After dinner, he asked me what all the noise was about and I explained what was going on. He just shook his head. Max is also the same child that has figured out that he can use a popsicle stick to unlock doors in the house. He's a boy of rare talent. I have a feeling when he goes to school next year, they may be calling me alot.

Bikes, Bugs and Max's Drugs

I had the grand privilege of working yesterday. Yes, I got to sell everyone ice, beer and gas as they made their way to wherever they were headed. I also got to explain to people that they were not lost (people get to Greensboro and automatically think they are horribly lost). The fun part was when we had closed one of the owners whose turn it is to open and close this weekend looked outside and noticed my ride home. We renewed Mikey's bike tags online the other day and he had brought me to work. Alan asked me if that was my way home and when I said yes he asked if I wanted him to drive me home. Evidently, he does not like motorcycles. I assured him that I would be fine, I've been doing this for years. I'm guessing motorcycles scare him. My dad had one (not a Harley) and in our family it's no big deal. Pop has a motorcycle license and rode it to work yesterday. Max loves to get rides ( around the yard, slowly, they don't make helmets small enough and I don't know if he could hold on tight enough to ride with Daddy on the road). I didn't tell Alan that my first ride was in Myrtle Beach at Bike Week, no helmets (no helmet law in SC), the poor man might have had a stroke.

Max was eagerly awaiting my arrival so we could set off the fireworks we got. He was so excited!! If anyone wants to know, those new Off clip on things really do work. Jarrett doesn't like bug spray so I try whatever alternatives I can. He has wristbands that also work very well. We clipped the Off thing on the back of Max's chair and in minutes he had stopped complaining about the mosquitos.

This morning, Max woke up with his tummy hurting him. He asked for a grilled cheese sandwich and he had just sat down to eat it while the rest of us were eating breakfast when he started getting sick. Apparently that was what he needed because he feels just fine now.

And, of course I get to work tonight. Tommorrow is phone call day!! We've been waiting for Max's medicine appeal to go through, I tried to get his refill and the claim was denied and with the help of his representative from the drug company that makes his growth hormones we appealed and have been waiting to find out what would happen. I got a letter Friday that he has been approved and authorized which is good for a year to get his medicine. So I get to call the specialty pharmacy and get everything in order. I also need to schedule Jarrett's physical and get his forms for camp and school done and make my own appointment to get 2 moles checked out . Always busy!!

Kiss Scootertrash & Paula Deen

I worked Wednesday night. My mother called me at 8:30 to say Max's Kiss Blankie (it's a cloth poster that we got at Walmart) was MIA. The poor boy was almost in tears because he couldn't find it and refused to go to bed without it. It was finally located in Jarrett's disaster area, much to everyone's relief. I was fully prepared to drive him to walmart and get another one if his couldn't be found by the time I got home. We did buy a spare at Walmart last night, just in case. When he fell in love with his blue blankie we got a similar one to have for a spare.

Today Max and Daddy are washing the bike since we got the tags renewed. Pop plans to ride it to work on the weekends. Max is also getting a bike ride from Daddy which he really loves to do. It's also a relax day since I have the grand privilege of working Saturday night and Sunday night.

This morning I was channeling my inner Paula Deen, trying a recipe she used on her show yesterday for a hashbrown casserole for breakfast. It turned out very good.

Happy 4th!! Drink a beer for me!!

Must Read..Can't Live Without It

Tuesday has become library day since it's the day the videos are due back. So, we made our weekly trip to the tiny Greensboro branch of the library ( when it first opened my dad said I had more books than they did). The boys tend to get more movies and maybe a couple of books, but everyone who knows me should know I get BOOKS!!!!! I am like an addict, I can't go very long without reading. When it's really slow at the store, I read all the newspapers, the guide, the express, the Caroline Review and whatever else is handy.

Jarrett woke up this morning full of ideas for a new movie so we'll be working on that soon. It's going to be a mystery/whodunnit kind of thing. We also got his Teacher's Pet DVD the other day and he was so happy to have his own copy. Right now the boys are watching Looney Tunes and Max is singing at the top of his lungs.

Mom is at the dentist since she broke part of her tooth Saturday night eating steak. Not on the ice cream cake, she broke it eating steak and potatoes. Our family is talented I tell you.

We are now allowing Max to venture out to play on his own, now that he's older and understands the boundaries of where he is allowed to be. He is mistrustful of this new arrangement and keeps coming back in to check if he's really allowed to ride his bike in the yard alone. Honestly, when it's hot the only person who wants to go out is Max to ride his bike. Jarrett only wants to go out every now and then, he's definitely an indoor kind of guy.

I have been trying my hand at selling Max's clothes on e-bay and am getting ready to send out my first sales!! I also have some outgrown clothes of Jarrett's that I may try to sell next and who knows what else.

It's already time to be thinking about what Jarrett needs for vacation with Dad (which doesn't involve much on my end) and camp. The hard part about camp is making sure he has enough of everything for a week away from home. He's been going to Camp Fairlee for 4 or 5 years now and he loves it, especially when he and Lauren go the same week. I think it helps to know someone there. I think art class is a no go this year since for half of it he'll be away with Dad. But we have plenty to keep us busy.

Birthday Observations

Yesterday was Mikey's birthday. Max came in to our room when he woke up just like always and presented his daddy with birthdays cards. "Here Daddy, I got you a spongebob card! Happy Birthday!" Max is not the child you tell secrets to. Mikey's card from his mom has a motorcycle on the front and inside she wrote something like happy birthday and hope you have many more, which probably means Max has ratted on Daddy and told Grandma about Daddy's motorcycle. We cooked on the grill last night for his birthday and had some peanut butter cup ice cream cake from DQ as he had requested.

And from the will we never learn category....The boys and I went to my work Friday to get my check and run errands. As we are leaving Jarrett notices a man with one leg and shouts "Hey, look at that guys leg!" When I told him that wasn't a nice thing to do "I wasn't going to tease him about it." He has mild autism but we are trying to teach him that you can't just blurt out whatever pops into your head. He did say sorry to the man and "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." and the guy was very nice about it. As we walk to the truck, Jarrett was full of questions like how did he lose his leg and where do you get a robot leg like that anyway. my life is never dull, I swear.
It does bring to mind the time Tyler was building the garage and two of his amish helpers were with him and they came in to the house to put some walls up for the boy's room. Jarrett looks at one of them and says"Hey dude, what's with the beard?" That time we did learn that it means he's a married man.

Babies

Well, it's official. I will have a niece in November. My brother Matt and his girlfriend Kimmy are having a girl. We are all excitedly looking at little girly clothes and such since right now all we have are my boys.
In other news, my sister had a miscarriage the day after her first doctors appointment and while it does simplify things for her ( she didn't know if she could finish school for her teaching degree which she is almost done with, work and fit a baby in too, her dogs are enough to handle with what little free time she has) it still is a very sad thing for her and us too. I think she pictured her baby and Matt's growing up and playing together like we did with our cousins.

We are currently spending our summer going to the library once a week. Hopefully, Jarrett's dvd of Teacher's Pet will arrive soon so we can stop checking it out of the library every week. Max rides his bike every chance he gets since it rains so much right now. He needs something to use up the boundless energy he has or he drives everyone crazy!! When it rains and his daddy can't work, Max uses that time to wrestle and fight with daddy.

Father's day Max was happy to give Daddy the monster truck he made at Aunt Shell's house when they had a sleepover Thursday. He was so excited about the presents that they made. Jarrett made his dad a red car and they both made Grandpa Mark a bank. I had to work that afternoon. Max and Mikey went to his mom's to see Grandpa Kawaguchi for father's day. I spent the afternoon at work listening to cds and thinking about Dad. He died 7 years ago this year.

School Bound!!

We got a letter yesterday informing us that Max got in to Pre-k for next school year. While I find it silly that you have to register and then wait to see if you get in to a public school program, I am very happy that Max gets to go. He has been dying to go to school ever since he turned 4. I am also glad it's a half-day thing, getting him to sit and listen for that long will be a challenge. Such a good year!! Jarrett goes to middle school next year, crossing my fingers for a good year!!

Presidential Plante

Last night was fifth grade awards night. It was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but due to severe storms it was rescheduled for last night. Jarrett received a Presidential Award For Academic Excellence, a letter from the President and a pin.
We are all so proud of him for all his hard work. He has greatly improved through the years, since kindergarten and since we moved to my hometown. He attends the same elementary school that I did and even has some of the same teachers I did!! The first picture is Jarrett getting his award from Mrs. Macfarland, one of his teachers. Mrs. Macfarland's kids went to school with my brother and sister and she is really good with Jarrett.

Today is the last day of school. He went off to school armed with his yearbook, his class shirt he got yesterday (Class of 2016 Oh My God!!), a marker so his friends can sign everything and gifts for teachers and his bus driver. I always get everyone something because everyone works so hard with him and we so appreciate it. All this success would not be possible without understanding teachers ( Thanks Mrs. Mac!!) special education teachers( We love you Mrs. Springer!!) and assistants ( You're a jewel Mrs. Talley!!). His bus driver was our neighbor when I was growing up and Mrs. Barb is very good and has been very helpful to Jarrett over the last 3 years. Let's hope Max doesn't try her patience too much next year, if he gets in to Pre-K.

SUMMER TIME IS HERE!!

Band Concert

Last night was Jarrett's final performance as a trumpet player. At the beginning of school this year he wanted to play the trumpet so we bargained: If he got a trumpet he must finish the year out with band. No quitting. And we kept that bargain even though it was hard. Practicing, driving to school early for band rehearsals and general misery ensued. But he stuck it out and I am proud of him. It was a very spiffy affair and required dress clothes since it was held at the high school auditorium. I filmed it with the camera and cringe to think of how many times I had to tell Max to sit down or be quiet and so on.



Last week we went to school to the drama club play(I didn't know the elementary school had a drama club!!) and had a blast. With Jarrett's love of performing I had to ask why join the band and not drama? Next year's plan is join the drama club and ditch band since he doesn't like it. I think he would have done very well. The play was the Wizard of Oz and since they stuck to the movie script I know he would have aced it. I guess with doing his movies at home it never ocurred to him that he could do both.



A mildly interesting development is that Max evidently has an imaginary friend named KISS which probably looks like Gene Simmons. Ever since he saw Wishology and KISS sang Rock and Roll All Nite, he's been obsessed. He loves that song and demands to hear it whenever we go somewhere in the truck. Now I guess he's going to want a Gene Simmons doll.



My children are exceptionally special( Mikey says thats code for weird but I say it's his fault they're weird!!)

Max the Rock Star and Jarrett the Awesome

The boys recently watched Fairly Oddparents Wishology which featured Kiss singing Rock and Roll All Nite. Max is in love with this song. He's in the yard using sticks as microphones and guitars and my personal favorite, unplugging his air guitar from the air amp to take it to the grocery store with us.

Jarrett is having such a good year!! He made honor roll last term and had perfect attendance. He's getting a President's Award For Academic Excellence. Fifth grade has been so great!!! Tonight is a dress rehearsal for the spring concert for band. Jarrett plays trumpet and while he's not good at it and quite frankly despises playing the trumpet, we did tell him if we got him a trumpet he would finish out the school year with band and he has.

I finally finished painting both boys rooms and they are seperated at last!! Max has his own brand new room which he is excited about. We decorated with Kachow (Lightening McQueen) decals and his Mater poster. We also went yardsaling and found an armoire with shelves and drawers to use as a entertainment center/dresser. I used magnetic primer on some of Jarrett's walls and now he can hang his drawings up with magnets. He still needs frames for his posters and a computer desk to complete it but he's very happy to have his own room. We got him a new, bigger dresser for his clothes and a bigger TV at the same yard sale. The old dresser the boys used to share had drawers that are just too small for Jarrett's clothes. He'll be 11 in October and is just growing like crazy!!! The old dresser has been turned into the dress-up clothes dresser which frees up a huge tote for other storage.

We have also created a Myspace page for Joey the Pirate Monkey that features videos that Jarrett has made. He was so excited to finally be able to post them online(some of them are lengthy and could not be posted to you tube or other video sites, so we were happy that myspace increased the mb that a video could be!)

I am just so proud of Jarrett!! I hope next year is as good as this one!!

Mom the Builder

I have been busy transforming unfinished space into Max's new bedroom and am finally finished!! He is so excited by his brand new room complete with Cars stickers on the walls!! Jarrett's room was next as he also had unfinished walls and in need of repainting . So this past weekend was a flurry of painting and reorganizing while he was at his Dad's. It is now finished, complete with magnetic walls to hang his drawings on. Max is feeling like a big boy these days since Pre K registration the other day. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he gets in, he's so excited and eager to go to school like Jarrett!!!

Spring Renewal

So these past few weeks have been crazy!!! Max turned 4 on March 12 and we had a birthday party for him on the following Sunday. Everyone with kids was sick, so our guests were cousin Lila, Mr. Rich's daughter Jessie and Jarrett. Thursday the 19th my cousins and I had tickets to see New Kids On The Block at 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore, but we didn't go. My cousin Jenny called the house at 6:30 am, which is never a good sign, to say her brother Tommy had died in his sleep. He was 35. So a concert was no one's priority at that time. Everyone was , well,stunned. He had MRSA severals months before and had developed a heart condition, but this was a sudden blow that came out of nowhere. His wife and sons are having a rough time and the whole family is trying to help them through it. Last weekend, Pop had stomach pains and when we finally convinced him to go to the hospital, he had to have his appendix removed. Hopefully, the excitement around here dies down soon, I don't know if we can stand anymore!!!

On the plus side, we did film Henry the Bulldozer the other day and Jarrett is pleased with how it turned out!! It's too long to post on here, but we're happy with it!!

Max and his Uncle Matt were rocking out waiting for the birthday guests to arrive and had a grand time.

henry the bulldozer

Jarrett's latest creation is called Henry the Bulldozer. He wants to make a movie length film about him. He has based it on Howard the Duck. We'll be getting to work on it soon, we've been busy building a castle for a school project.

Max turned 4 recently and is wound up about being old enough for school next year. Also we are working on a new bedroom for Max so the boys will each have their own room and hopefully will stop fighting to the death over any and everything.

autistic love

There is an article in this month's Glamour about an autistic couple in love that is a must read!!!

Snow Part 2

More fun in the snow with the best Kimmy ever!!