It is people like this that give freedom of speech a BAD name

http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170005?f=h_latest



This man makes me ill. Seriously, physically Ill. I cannot stand that fact that people are SO moronic in this world. Never again will I listen to WKRC 55 radio. EVER...unless this man is taken off the air.



What a crock...

EDIT: and he continues to make a fool of himself:


http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/07/21/lkl.mike.savage.cnn?iref=videosea

It is people like this that give freedom of speech a BAD name

http://mediamatters.org/items/200807170005?f=h_latest

This man makes me ill. Seriously, physically Ill. I cannot stand that fact that people are SO moronic in this world. Never again will I listen to WKRC 55 radio. EVER...unless this man is taken off the air.

What a crock...

Autism: 1 Impossible Family: 0

Yeah, that is the score. We have officially given up on the pottie thing. Trouble doesn't realize when he is peeing. CITE said we can go ahead and BM train him, but yeah...I'm NOT going through all that work to have him still in diapers. It;s just not worth the frustration to all of us. Now, it'll be a different story if he is asking to go pottie. Now? Not so much.

I did, however, have someone send me a pretty cool article on Autism, so i will share it with you. http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Autism/Story?id=5349700&page=1
My Father-in-laws response was "Alright! Lets flip those switches!". If only it was so easy, eh?

In good news, they are both doing very well this summer. Trouble is living up to his nickname AND his brothers. He is climbing all over everything in the house and throwing little tantrums (the doctors say this is a good sign....mmmhmmm) and swimming up a storm. yes, I said swimming. The boys is fantastic at it. Put something on him that helps keep his skinny head above water and let him LOOSE! its great for all that extra energy he has. Volume (who I feel bad calling that now) is doing great with eye contact. He is a pretty good swimmer himself as well. I got asked at swim lessons if we had taken them off or put them on medication because they were doing so well.

In other news...there is no real other news. The inlaws are coming for a visit this week. They haven't sen them since January. Trouble will hopefully show off his extended vocab (which now includes things like water "otter" and puzzle). and they can be impressed with his fantastic lung capacity and great climbing skills.....heh

Oh, I guess there is other news. I have a cool new phone! mp3s and pics and unlimited text and web! thats good, right? Looks just like the masters, so we took different background pictures. Mine is of volume, but I think I may try and get trouble causing trouble too. Volume just always looks cute ;) You can see the halo!

Poop goes in the Pottie!

Ok, can I just say that I am IMMENSELY glad that I'm not potty training in one of these things? I mean, can you imagine taking your sears catalog (yes, they really did use that as toilet paper) and spending 8 hours with your kid in one of these? I don't even want to THINK about it!

So yeah, this is how I look on the bright side. So I have to spend 2 days of 8 hours in the bathroom with trouble and 3 other ladies. So after these 2 days he goes straight into daytime underware and pullups and out of diapers. So I'll be spending a good bit of my days chasing him about and making sure he hits the potty when he needs to...

SO???

Ok, so it's not a perfect world. At least I'm not doing it in one of THOSE....right? Sing it with me folks... "poop in the pottie, poop goes in the pottie!"

Next tuesday and wednesday...hell comes to Impossible Town.

Full Swing

So summer is now in FULL SWING (get it? hehe) and were busy busy busy. The pottie intensive fell through and got rescheduled for July 1st and 2nd, so wish me luck on that. My dentist is also rescheduled for next week. I think I am a glutton for pain!

So Volume has been an ANGEL. Infact, his name even no longer fits the poor boy. We should call him angel, or mini-geekster or something other than volume, which he lacks. Trouble, is more than making up by living up to his name AND his brothers. I need to place an add in Craigs list to see who would want him, it would look a bit like this:

"Young white male seeks companionship. Must be able to be a like a slave and fetch me everything I desire on a whim. My hobbies include dancing on the counter, diningroom table and windowsills. I also adore to throw anything off of those. I frequently use the kitchen table to throw down pots and pans. I also enjoy a bit of throwing things down the stairs and adore to destroy anything I can get my hands on. If you should like to join me in my mahem, call...."

Yeah...he is easily bored. Yes, I know he is five. Yes, I know he is a BOY. and YES I know he has Autism, but he is driving me INSANE! He can't keep with any activity and anything we want to do with him is just so...not fun. Swinging is one of the things that keeps his attention, so we've been spending a lot of time doing that.

Little volume is a geek and spends a ton of time on his computer. hes just adoreable. On the good note, trouble is doing fantastic with Swimming. He is just awesome. Even his teachers are impressed. So that is good.

Also, our friend....hmm what shall we name him. Crazy Man, for now. he and his loving wife finally had thier baby. Now, I'm going to post that childs first name, just because I was a bit shocked...but it fits the couple, so I'll find a suitable nickname and hope the kid fights as well as the rest of his family. Leonidas is his name..lets hope he lives up to it ;)

thats mainly it for now! Oh, if your bored head to my links and hi Nyhm's Mad Cow and watch his videos...boy has some style!

School, Summer and POTTIES!!!!

So only 2 more days left. Monday and Tuesday and then thats it. I get fillings on Tuesday (oh joy) and then Wednesday starts the pottie intensive (can't you just HEAR the ominous music?). One boy named trouble, 4 grown women, 8 hours the first day and 6-8 hours the next spent in...you guessed it, a POTTIE! No, this will not be fun, Yes we are hoping it will be rewarding and after that...my blessed reward? I get to stick to a ridged sitting schedule for him! Lets hope the reward in all of this means that maybe...just maybe, by the end of the summer we'll be buying half as many diapers. THAT will make it all worth it. Then lets hope that Volume comes around and wants to learn this new found skill as well ;)

We also move to a new school next year. I am kind of sad that they are going to end up in the special education class. Kinda breaks my heart, but I also know that its not because they aren't smart. Man, they are SO smart! Its more they are socially not quite right. So learning some things...not so easy. Volume can read. Really! They give him a word and theres a pile of pictures on the table and he pics out the picture to match the word. Trouble. Want to talk about a problem solver. Boy gets himself around any obstacle (and were not talking jungle gyms here, folks) and patterns...hes fantastic at memorizing those. So i'm sure (or I will make sure) they are getting the challenges they need there. They get included in normal kindergarten class at least once a week, which is good. They learn so much better from Peers. all in all, while sad, I think its a healthy move. And Troubles gonna LOVE the new play ground! Volume will go nuts with 2 computers in his room and the computer lab just down the hall ;)

So I just have to survive the intensive...then 2 weeks of solo flying for the summer, then its Camp Sunshine. We love camp sunshine! 1.5 hours of toys and songs and snack, 1.5 hours of swimming in the baby pool! What else can you ask for? (its at the YMCA folks and its only 25 bucks a week per kid and runs 2 weeks) So the last 2 weeks of june I get 2.5 hours a day (considering travel) to myself! Then its time to have a nanny 2 days a week to save my sanity. :)

Went to the ASD Fairfield support group. Met with some ladies who filled me in on a few things that I didn't know. So I will be taking some time this summer to research the fact that they may be eligible for "summer school". The school only tells you that they can do that IF they are losing skills. As it turns out, there are like 10 reasons to have your kid get continuing school. One being emerging skills...which is what is likely to get my boys their beloved school in the summer. I think it will thrill them to no end. but I figure we are set for this summer, so I'll do my homework and find out what I can for next summer. Lets hope it works. Would make Trouble SO happy.

so if you don't hear from me until after June, dear reader, (*grin*) you will now know why. Lets hope I don't get pushed over the edge of sanity...or if I do, that in my nice padded room they let me have my laptop! Maybe we'll change the name to "rantings of a once Impossible Mom"

4 Days of School Left

And not right in a row! We have Tuesday and Wednesday this week with a "graduation" picnic on Thursday. Then they go back Monday and Tuesday (on which I get dental work) and then we are done for the summer. Wednesday and Thursday will be spent with Trouble in the potty...jump starting his potty training. Then its on to a strict seating schedule for a few weeks before Camp. Then I get some mornings of freedom before slammin into summer.

So busy busy busy is the theme of the next few weeks. I have me mentor project with my senior in High school. He wants to learn massage so were spending some time on that. I also have a house to clean soon. Its pretty filthy. Get some laundry done. In between it all Kill gruul and mags and clear Kara a few times ;)

I am glad its getting up on swimming season. Time to get that new laptop and spend some afternoons with the baby pool outside. Also hitting friends pools and what not with the cousins. Should be fun since they adore swimming so much. I'm really hoping they have a better summer...that we all have a better summer than the last one. Huggy Face should be coming to nanny for a while. Then, maybe, Money Man will have shapped up enough to take over some. Hes been into way too much trouble of late. Not showing he is responsible enough to watch the Boys. Lets hope he wakes up soon.

Thats about all...not that it isn't enough. Saber is back around, which is nice. He's come to play on our server. Tanking Prince was easy as pie last night...that was very cool. It's nice to finally feel close to the top of my game! Just in time to start over with Wrath of the Litch King!!! We'll all dive into that with the Nyhm music blaring. Mallaysia will have to respec! Oh No! Lets hope we can get Maven to 70 before then....We just gotta get her online!

Pet Peeve

One of my pet peeves is parents who really don't parent. I don't mean the every day things or even the little things. I mean...well, it'll be easier to cite my latest example.

We went on a preschool field trip yesterday to a working farm where the kids get to help do chores and play with little animals and what not. Milk a goat, you know, that kind of thing. We stuck with Volume's class because I like his teacher better and both boys have been in her class before. We'll call her Boot Camp (not because she's strict but because she gets the job done). So there is a little boy in Boot Camp's class who has his mother along on the trip as well (most parents of special needs kids had to come along). Now I have 2 special needs kids myself and this little boy was very high maintenance. But what his mother would do reminded me of the British police "Stop, or I'll say stop again" technique. It was SO bad that at one point, Boot Camp took over disciplining him...in his moms lap. She would not chase after him, he broke a chicken egg, she would just look on as he got into trouble with that "What am I supposed to do" type look. Now I understand out of control kids. I understand it takes a lot of energy to chase said kids. I also understand that it is a parent's responsibility to handle it. It just made me mad that with all the other kids that Boot Camp had to deal with, this mother who was there FOR HER KID was expecting her to take care of him as well.

On another note, another child in Volume's class who I believe is on the spectrum was acting a lot like Volume did our first trip there and her mother was handling it quite well I thought. Even when she FREAKED at the rabbit, the girl did not get away or cause even that much of a disturbance. She screamed and cried, but from the safety of her mothers arms where she should be.

Maybe its just me, but if I'm out with my children, knowing they are special needs puts me on edge more to watch them and be within arms reach should they do something inappropriate (like breaking an egg at a farm) to try and stop that. I believe Maven would agree with me, having had intrepid as a child and all that went with that. If the kid at the farm had run off once or twice and she just didn't catch him in time, it would be one thing....but the kid kept running off and she would just SIT THERE. I'm not one to like to judge but it did make me angry.

So thats my vent for today. I do, however, smile at the thought that mine are not teenagers...yet. (after spending time talking to Faerie last night on the issues at her house and offering her a haven to get away tonight should said issues still be going on) I also thank God that I have a supportive husband and that we both agree on parenting. And we thank Captain Huggy-face, my middle nephew, for his wondrous help at the farm yesterday too. Without him, I think we might of been in a bit of trouble. Then maybe someone else would be blogging about my kids ;)

Pack Your Bags

We're goin' on a guilt trip!

Every ones family or circle of friends has at least one. My family, its usually Drama Queen, the mom. You do something and for weeks..nay MONTHS they just keep bringing it up. Over and over and over until you just want to lie down in front of a train and beg God for it to run you over just so you don't have to apologize one more time for spilling kool-aid on aunt suzie's couch!

Yes, that is how you feel, not what you do. What you do is nod and smile and say "I know, and I'm so sorry" thinking "please....please...kick me in the spleen again. I didn't feel it that time!" It makes life difficult when people just don't let things drop. When, at the time, you may have felt right but by the time all is said and done you feel you should of never said one word or done one thing because it would have been easier for you.

That IS what life is about. Oh, people say they are selfless and self sacrificing...but in the end, who do you have to live with on a 24/7 basis BUT yourself. So while I can put my wants and needs aside for others, We only do so when it is rewarding or truly needed. In the end, we look at what we can get out of it or how we feel. So I freely admit to being selfish! How liberating! I admitted it freely to the 4 people who read this blog and I feel so much better now!

Christopher Robin be damned!

Revoked License to Walk

So, the Master has decided to revoke my license to walk. Yesterday, after taking a shower, I went into the basement to switch the laundry. I discovered there was water all over the floor and was trying to trace the source when I steped on one of those puzzle like mats and whoosh...down I went. My left ankle bent AND I landed on it.

My first thought was "Crap, I don't have my cell phone in my pocket." Because The Master was not home. My second thought was "I wonder if I can make it up the stairs." So, I sat there for a moment, waiting for my toes not to look like some strange cadaver study gone wrong and the sharp pain to calm down. I went up the basement stairs on my butt and got to a phone.

Spent the evening in the ER so they could tell me it wasn't broke. They stuck a air splint on and gave me drugs and sent me home. Farie and Money are over helping today. We are trying to keep Drama Queen from coming to drive me insane.

so thats my life at the moment. Crutches and drugs....so can this be considered a break? *laughs*

Maintenance Day

For those of you that don't play WoW, you have no idea what this means. For those of you that do, it either means an agonizing day of not getting to play...or its time to get the errands done. For me, it almost always means Grocery Shopping day.

"But...You have 5 year old Autistic twins...YOU don't get to play WoW" I smile and say "Preschool...folks!" Too bad that the server is on California time and so it doesn't come back up until 2pm. SO...off I head to the grocery store once munchkin one and two are at school.

TODAY, infact, I get to leave earlier. Drama Queen is supposidly coming over to watch them and then get them on the bus. So I'm off to get a latte in my hand, a new haircut and then find some PJ's with zippers that I can butcher for the summer. "Why?" you ask....again, I smile and say "You really DON'T want to know"

So todays Maintenance Day will hopefully be a blissfull one, even though it began before 5 with trouble waking up (and its normally been volume doing that lately) and The Master and I turning off the monitor and opening our door...then hearing the "bam bam bam" of thier door a little before 6. Not even that can stop me from being happy today. It also helps that after The Master gets home, I get to turn around and walk back out the door and head to Chancy's (yes we need a better name) house and give her her long awaited massage. Lets hope it helps!

So today....is my day, for the most part. The afternoon, I'm sure, belongs to the kids and thier swingset. It HAS been cold and rainy, you know. Time to get back out in the backyard!

Intensives are intense

Over the Rhine - The Poopsmith Song

So that song sums up my week this week. Mainly, thats all I wanted to say. 2 potty intensives at 3 hours a piece and my brain is fried...

Poop in the potty...poop goes in the potty

They are Five....can you believe it?

So they had a birthday. We didn't do much at home, but school made a big deal, so that's good. The first picture is trouble (sporting his new haircut) and his assistant teacher who says she is stealing him at the end of the year. Quite an appropriate shirt for him (this is what trouble looks like). He was not pressed about his cookie. I think he would of rather of been home on the swing set.

This is Volume with and without his birthday crown. You may notice something that you may never see again.... He is eating a grilled cheese sandwich! This has never been seen before..or since, I'm sad to say. I keep trying though!


All in all, I think they have as good a birthday as little 5 year old autistic (sorry, children with autism) boys can have. :)

Just A Swangin'

Yes we finally have a swingset. Yes, it is a hand-me-down and NO no one really cares. So thanks to The master's old work buddy and his wife and children for passing us our newest addition to the back yard right before the munchkin's turn 5.

We took them out to see it this morning and here were some of the reactions:

(Touble is in red and Volume in the tan)









All in all, a fantastic gift with an even better price tag. Thanks all!

STEEL the show...

So I actually got from The Master's lips tonight "Wow, you really are the man in our relationship!". Would we like to know why? Someone (yes me) actually FORGOT that it is our 11 year anniversary today. A forgivable offense to some, not to most...luckily to him. EVEN THOUGH its not just our 11th wedding anniversary but 14 years since we started dating.



We go by the traditional gifts and this year it was steel. He came home and I came upstairs in a tiff and was almost demanding a break from the hellions since they didn't get to school today. Today, the day I planned on taking my break this week and their school is flooded. They may not get school tomorrow either and then be off for a week for spring break. but, I digress. I go into the bedroom to find a card and a steel teapot on the bed. You would think THIS would clue me in, but NO. I open the card, wondering what in the heck this was for...see the anniversary card and wow...I felt like a total schmuck.

At this point, I head downstairs to apologize and see if he wants me to run out and make some elaborate dinner. Realizing now why he asked if I wanted him to pick something up. Feeling like a total idiot and I burst into tears and an apology and get the "you really ARE the guy!" as he laughs. 11/14 years and I finally proved it beyond a shadow of a doubt.

So yeah...I come up to take the break anyway, at his insistence. No, I don't rush to the store, but i do hop online and search for a gift I can grab tomorrow after the dentist. Yes, I found one and yes I still feel guilty. At least my mom, AKA Drama Queen, is taking them Saturday night so I can make it up to him. (OK, shes taking them for Easter, but I can use it to make it up to him) If anyone has any grand ideas, be sure to shoot me an email! (yes, he reads my blog...I'M THE GUY, remember?!?)

Oh Mischief.....

How we love you. Can you believe he actually had the NERVE to question his nickname today? To actually tell me he was a saint. I about died laughing...and of course, sensed the sarcasm. The boy really is entertaining. My life would be less without him. Less what, we are not sure ;).

IEP day was today. Looking pretty positive on that front. I brought it home to fine took comb it and make sure its all set, but I like the new teacher. I mentioned the whole nut allergy we have going on and that some schools have and allergy lunch table. all the nut allergy kids eat there. She mentioned that no one had suggested that and that she had a big mouth and would do so. I liked her instantly, for those that know me know that my mouth is no where near small. Big mouthed teacher is a good thing :)

Oh, I also had another old friend found. One from high school that we had an on and off again friendship. I have been trying all day to think of a good nickname for her, even going so far as to think I should call her "She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" but thats so done ;). I think, since she works in a lab now, I shall just call her Labfox. Mainly because labrat sounded too mean.

So welcome back into my life Labfox. May your stay be long and pleasant ;)

Move over Godzilla....

Here comes Trouble!

Destruction should be his middle name. Puzzles hit the floor with lightning speed and crashing sound. Books...not enough to throw those off the couch, the stairs are best for those. book and electronics make the best noise going down the stairs. Who cares that its the only working Vtech in the house?!? Its trash now! MY TRASH! Books have a tear, then its time to make about 40 more of those. Cards, I'm done with them, lets play 26 pickup! I think I can hit the windowsill with them from this couch. Its kinda fun when mom makes me pick up those six puzzles, so lets do it again and AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!!!!!!

So yeah...between that and Charlie resisting the whole "make a sentence" phase of pecs that we have been on for a month now (at least) I'm losing every ounce of patience I think I ever had. I yell, I scream, We have timeouts in my lap where nothing is fun, I run away, I cry...nothing seems to help. I want an emotion chip like Data so i can take it out about now. I ask Cite for help and they give some good advice but everything (and I mean everything) always leads to more work for me. So pardon me if I need that white jacket and those nice padded walls for a while. I didn't think I had enough to do...I need a nice rest. Scribbling with crayons and drooling sounds like FUN! *sings* They are coming to take me away hehe hoho haha!

Don't I wish ;). Its that old "I wish I'd break my leg so I could get some rest"...but no, I don't wish that. I'd be taking care of twins on crutches. Sad but true. And the phase they are going through...not a good one. Welcome to 5 years old. The odd years, folks, how we love em so.

At least I still have my sense of humor.....even if my sanity is NOT intact ;)

So I am TOTALLY back!

I found this great application that allows me to link my blog to my facebook, so this will make life SO much easier. People on facebook can read my blog should they want too and people outside of facebook can find out about my "oh-so-interesting" life. (yes that was MAJOR sarcasm there) My major accomplishment of this week was getting my second character in World of warcraft to level 70. yes, I'm that much of a geek.

The kids...trouble is SO living up to his nickname. Volume, not so much. I'm thinking I need a new one for him. Bear seems to work, since hes so darn cuddly. Or something to do with computers since he is so savvy on them. He is spelling now, that volume bear. 3-4 letter words, his first and last name. He also figured out the mouse and is now all over web sites like playhouse Disney and sesame street. Trouble has learned what loud noises are fun when you throw things down the stairs. I love them both, but he can be SO trying sometimes.

We are going to start the potty training journey, so help me God. I have a feeling this is something we will be working on for a very long time and that will require me to dig deep for the patience I seem to really lack lately. On an up note, they are going to kindergarten next year. It will be in a special class, but they get to go into the normal class with an aide sometimes (is what I'm lead to believe). I need to schedule a tour of the class and make sure they will get challenged and its not just "put them in a corner and let them stim for four hours." My boys are smart. Trouble can match all his colors and shapes (and not just triangle to triangle, its like blue triangle to pizza slice) and he can pick out which is the right animal when his teacher holds up 2 beanie babies at a time. they both know all their letters and numbers and Bear can spell and I think read some. He might even know some Spanish. (living books and sesame street) So I want them challenged. I want them taught (because they learn better from people OTHER than me). so a tour is in order before their IEP in April. If I don't like what I see...its time to push or try alternative schools. I really hope I like what I see.

Me? I'm trying to keep my sanity. I distract myself when I feel it slipping. I love my kids, but I think my job is even a bit harder some days than the parents of "normal" kids. Thank God again for my memory and organizational skills.

Thats all for now. Gonna go see if my sister, Faerie, is able to go out for her birthday lunch today. If not, I have plenty of errands and an only 1/2 clean house ;)

Peace out!

Why I'm not blogging

Well, for one, Trouble is living up to his full potential of his name. Not only has he found new and interesting ways to do so, he also keeps me hoppin all the time to make sure he's not going to hurt himself or anyone else.

The other reason I don't blog is that all of my really close friends (other than Chancy) are on Facebook. Its much shorter and easier way of keeping people up to date than a blog. A blog feels more like a journal you want people to read. Eh...not that exciting to me. I like wall messages and eggs that hatch into snakes instead.

Lastly is time. Free time is at a near summer time low of late. (I use summer because there is no school). We've gotten rid of naps and theres so much to do when they are at school....I have games to plan, house to clean, errands to run, Books to read, levels to get in WoW ;) and it really seems as though everyone who wants to know whats going on with me either calls me or joined facebook...so, no real need for a blog. Only one out there probably still reading it is Bear. And I can call him whenever I like. (almost whenever...though he won't answer when in hibernation anyway)

So...just an FYI for anyone who cares to find me..I'm on facebook. Post a comment with an email if you want a link...otherwise, pick up the phone or even *gasp* send an email or IM. I'm not hard to find ;)

Four computers and one vacation later....

So yeah, I had a bit of a computer issue in my house. 3 of the computers we use went belly up. 2 are possibly fixable, but not with a lot of TLC and we fixed the last one and gave it to Trouble and Volume. So, for a while, I was out of a computer downstairs (which is where I USED to blog). Then...Teddy Bear gave me his wife's old computer and its a laptop...so I'm back. I'm sure I've lost all 4 of my faithful readers, but I can deal. I am going to post some pics from Vacation to Gaitlinburg, but I figured I would give an update first.

Actually, come to think of it, not much going on here. Maybe its a good thing I haven't blogged in a while *laughs*. We had a visit from the man I like to call Lazarus. not just because its one of his characters, but also because every time life knocks him down, he gets back up. It was nice to see him and spend some time with him. Hes one of my bestest friends. (I can say that without him going psycho because hes a guy!) Thats really all there is to note. The kids are doing great in school.

So without further ado...here is Vacation Pics:
The whole family at the creek


Trouble loved the balcony


So did Volume


I WISH they were actually dancing. more deciding who was going in and who was going out.


Trouble and his uncles!

Just the Uncles

The creek...the park was beautiful

Can you blame the kids for loving the balcony when this is the view?


And because, yes, we are geeks


So that was our vacation in a nutshell. Well, thats a big nut, but you know.