Frivolous Indecision

Current Mood: Cool

Well, here we go!

Jo will have: Dance on Mondays and Tuesdays. Act. Girls or (in Feb) YW on Wednesdays. Karate on Thursdays

This girl is packed. But she is stoked and she has the drive to do things. I told her she is going to have to stay organized. She is starting out good…we will see. LOL

Campbell will have: Karate on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays Scouts on Wednesdays

He really wants to get back into Karate full swing. I am so proud of him for being so dedicated and since golf and swim is over he says he needs something to keep him active. Yes, he actually said that. That kid cracks me up!

Mallea has piano, her aspie support group and her online courses. Along with that she wants to build a website. I’m proud of her to wanting to delve into different projects. She also has been really interested in film so she and I are going to come up with some projects that will challenge her.

Payne has his behavior modification implementor coming 3 times a week.

G and I decided that I need to leave every day at 1pm. We both felt it was important that I was home in enough time to get a few things done with Mallea and be around for Payne. As well as have a bit of time before the onslaught of the afternoon once the kids get home.

I hired someone to help nanny/care for Payne as well as help me with house work and organizing things around here. This last week has been AMAZING! To be able to depend on someone to do things for me that I don’t otherwise have the time to do has been truly a blessing! My house has stayed cleaner all week then it has all summer! I can come home and actually do other things rather then come home and clean. (Cleaning up after an autistic kid can really be time consuming.) G had been asking me all summer to get a house cleaner. Now I am wondering why I didn’t do this a long time ago. LOL

Now something for fun:

I am grateful for… 1. friends who are so helpful and kind. 2. a good hard workout (yes I said that…I LOVE how I feel after a hard exercise session) 3. my sisters 4. pretty toenail polish 5. cute purses. LOL

Current Mood: Cool

I think I need some more moods…I mean the ones here on my blog, that is. LOL I have plenty of the other kinds. Haha! Well, this summer has definitely been a lot more interesting then we anticipated. And most definitely busier. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, per se, however it sure does move schedules back. It was my goal to try and get much of some of our more hefty house renovations done this summer. I am not sure what I was thinking! Maybe that I would be here more? HAHA! RIIIIIGHT! So school starts next week and I am seeing that we are only 1/2 way through much of our renovations but I guess that is to be expected. And maybe that is a good thing? Who knows. LOL

I was gone a lot more this summer, more than usual. And more than I intended. In the end they were good trips and much happiness came from them, even if they didn’t start for good reasons. My intention is to get the rest of my pictures uploaded and create a little video of the summer fun we had…hopefully soon. LOL

JoJo starts middle school. She is excited/anxious. I have confidence in her and the fact that she tries to always create good experiences from new situations. She is definitely growing up. I’m still not sure if I like that…

CW starts 4th grade. He is back at his old elementary school and he is excited to see his old friends. It will be new for him not to be at school with Jo but it will give him the chance to really make himself known as an individual rather than Jo’s little brother. He has really grown so much this summer. I am so proud of the interests he has pursued and the kind of young man he is trying to be.

Mallea will be doing independent study. We have her enrolled in a program and this will be a great opportunity for her to pursue some interests that school limited for her. We have everything set and it will be a good change for her on many levels. She is very excited to delve into programs that she can now participate in. I’m excited for her!

Payne is home. He has a behavior modification implementer (that is the official title. lol) that comes into the home every day for a couple of hours. They work on a variety of things and this has been the best thing for him since we pulled him out of school last winter. He is so happy and his anxiety levels are so low that his behavior struggles have been virtually non-existent!

This summer has been full of swimming, golf, travel, family, relaxing, reading, and much more. Every summer I look back and see three months packed full of memories and some of the most enjoyable are those of just being at home with my children. I see tremendous growth in them every summer from beginning to end and I am in awe of their abilities and their maturity by the time the end of August comes around.

This year will be different on many levels but we are excited for the challenge and for the changes! As long as one is moving forward change is a good thing.

I just had to post this song. It just seems to fit this post and it is one of my favorites!

Gratitude is back! 1. my husband and his unending support. 2. my relationship with my Heavenly Father 3. my children and their hard work and diligence. 4. my family, sisters who love me and accept me. 5. reading – my love of reading and how it expands my horizons and helps me stay centered.

Current Mood: Cool

Just a conversation I had with Jo this evening left me laughing…

Me – “Jo, remember I told you that your phone is either ‘on your person’ or in your bag so you don’t loose it.”

Jo – ” I don’t know what you mean.”

Me – “yes you do. You either have it in your pocket or it is in your bag.”

Jo – “OH!!!!! I still don’t get what ‘on your person’ means though.”

My sister Kristy – “Well, sometimes if you get pulled over by a police officer they will ask if someone has a gun ‘on their person’ meaning – they are holding it somewhere or have it in a pocket, etc”

Jo – “OHHHHHH!!! Okay now I get it! I thought you meant that I had a little person with me and that it was on them….get it? On “my” person? I was trying to make sense of that.

Me – HA!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Seriously – that kid has some of the best thought processes. I love her.

In honor of my sweet Amore whom I miss SO MUCH since I have been in Utah…

Current Mood: Alarmed

Pooh had dental surgery yesterday….among a few other things. We finally got him into the the children’s hospital for dental work. Something to know about Payne and his disability. It severely impacts his dental health. We try to brush his teeth as much as possible but it really is just a crapshoot. You just never know if he is going to let you brush for 10 seconds or for 2 minutes. Sometimes, not at all. Between Graigg and I we do our best to make sure his teeth are clean but, we just know it just isn’t good..no matter what. ugh. So yesterday we took him in to have dental surgery. They also drew blood work for a full work up (something that is necessary with the kinds of medications he is on) as well as other tests to make sure his meds aren’t adversely effecting his organ functions. We also had a dermatologist come in and look at/remove some skin tags on his neck. Honestly, I wanted to cut his hair while he was under as well but for some reason we couldn’t medically justify that one. LOL (Hey, a mom can TRY right?)

He left for the hospital at 5 am. He got home at 1 pm. It took them at least 30 minutes just to get him under anesthesia. Nice, right? He had to get three HUGE shots just to get him on the operating table and for him to allow the gas mask. This kid is STRONG I tell you! Sweet Graigg waiting for him and helped him home. He slept most of the rest of the day. Woke up, could barely walk, (We think because of all the fluid in his body his feet are really swollen.)but managed to come into the kitchen for gogurt. (I really like those packets! Good for the kids!) It has only been just this afternoon where I really see the “old Payne” back. I have to admit I was a little worried there just because this really effected him. I HATE having to put him under for any kind of procedure. I think mostly because he really has no idea what is going on, where he is, or why he is there and what he is doing. He can put pressure on his left foot now but he is favoring it which I don’t like…at all.

So he had a couple of extractions, some caps, and a ton of cavities filled. Poor kid was in a lot of pain. I hate seeing him so vulnerable and not understanding why he is in the pain he is. Doesn’t matter how old he is or big he is or how important the reason, it just sucks to see your child hurting and not being able to just take it away, and even worse, not be able to help him understand it.

On a brighter note, I took Mallea shopping today. She is a funny kid. She reminds me of me. When I am done shopping, I am done. I don’t like to be gone long and after a while I just loose interest. Is that shopping ADD? I don’t know. Anyway, she was in desperate need for some new tops and a few more things. It was so fun to just hang out and enjoy her and talk and laugh, etc. etc.

Well, I’m tired and I need to hit the sack. I’ve had three very full days and two very sleepless nights (2 hours one night and 4 the next). I’m going to hit the sack! (over and over and over and over again!)

Some things that I have thought of my gratitude the last two days. 1. my family – immediate and extended…I am blessed. 2. my faith – the strength that I draw from it. 3. my husband – his abilities and his amazing dedication to our children. 4. Good doctors – especially those who work with individuals with disabilities and what they are willing to do for their benefit. 5. shoes, and cool nail polish colors. (seriously, frivolous is necessary sometimes.)

The kids started swim team last week. Or was it the week before. I can’t remember. LOL Anyway, it was funny because we had gone back and forth on joining the local country club. (We realize full well that we are really not “country club” people. It is just the whole type of scene we do not really “do”.) But CW has been relentless wanting to golf. We finally figured he could learn and play golf, Graigg could brush up on his game (he is being asked more and more to golf…haha), and JoJo finally thought it might be fun to swim. Well, apparently this was just what the doctor ordered this summer. The kids have been out there almost every day. They LOVE swim team and were each in 4 events on their first meet on Friday and loved every second of it! I thought they might be overwhelmed or tired or…something but, no. They jumped into swim team with both feet (no pun intended) and have taken to it and absolutely love it. I am so thrilled to see them really enjoying something so worth while. One of these days I’ll get a picture of them in their team suits. They are quite the pair. CW has really taken to golf. He truly enjoys it and I love how he took this interest on his own and has taken the initiative to know what to do and what to practice, etc. etc.

JoJo starts summer dance in two weeks. I wasn’t going to put her in but she really wanted to do it. Again, something she just has really latched on to and I love how she really takes hold of something she loves and just puts everything into it. Anyway, one of her teachers encouraged her and told her that they thought she should take summer ballet especially. She told Jo that she did such a good job at the recital she thought she really had a talent. Go figure – my kid has that ability? LOL (yes people, I trip over AIR so she must get this from her dad.) It is really fun to see her change and kind of grow into this stage in her life. I love how our relationship has changed and we can be silly together as well as have good serious discussions.

Mallea went to girls camp and was a YCL. She loved it! I was so proud to hear about her abilities and what she did and how her energy really helped the girls up there. There are times when I don’t even realize her capabilities and I know that is not a good thing. I need to just let go a little more than I do. I know that is something that is hard for me. I want to protect her so much that sometimes I don’t realize that her capabilities are very appropriate. Good thing we have amazing leaders that really help me to understand that.

Payne goes in for dental surgery next week. JOY! (okaynonotreally) I had to do preop work since Graigg was out of town on business on Friday. I did NOT enjoy it. Nope. Not gonna do it again. LOL It isn’t a big deal. I just hate any time we have to put him under for any procedure. I know it is necessary but I just wish we didn’t have to.

The dishwasher broke a couple of weeks ago. So, I have been washing my dishes by hand. I do have to say I was taught well and so it really hasn’t been a huge deal. LOL However, don’t think that I won’t use this as the perfect opportunity to get all black appliances in the kitchen like I want. HA! I’ll be glad when this refurb is over. We are still in the middle of it. Ugh!

Okay, that’s pretty much it.

A little music to bright your way….

A little love for my family:

1. I love how we all laugh together at silly things. 2. I love how I can ask and the kids are willing to help me! 3. I love how well the kids get along…they are good friends. 4. I love how everyone pitches in and just takes care of Payne…no issues…no second thoughts. 5. I love how we always end up on the same floor for the majority of the day when we are together.

Last week we had the court date to obtain guardianship and conservatorship of Payne. That was fun! LOL Actually we were very fortunate to have a wonderful attorney who is very experienced in special needs law. Payne’s (court appointed) attorney is also experienced with this procedure and has represented in both parents and respondents in these cases. She was especially sensitive to our circumstances which made the whole process much easier to deal with. I am also in the process of applying for SSI for him as well which was encouraged by both attorneys. However, I have to admit that this application is rather intimidating. bugger. We had a small birthday party for him and we had a blast!

Over the weekend CW learned how to ride a bike. He was so neurotic about getting hurt it was really keeping him from being serious about it. Well, after making up his mind that he can do it….he did it. Now he is in heaven. LOL

We are in the middle of some remodeling. It is a good thing I’m not OCD. LOL Floors two weeks ago. Countertops from Friday through next Tuesday…I think. And then we need to finish out the light fixtures and hardware in the kitchen. Keeps things busy!

Other than that we are enjoying the warmer weather, finally and getting ready to schedule our next disney vacay along with some other fun things!

We were walking to Pirates of the Caribbean yesterday when Pirate’s Tutorial was starting. The kids got in on a little action with CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow…

Current Mood: Happy

Okay I have 5 draft posts in my posts menu. I’m not really good at the finishing and posting thing, am I. Oopsie. Let’s see….I didn’t get a Christmas post in, I didn’t get my “end of year wrap up” post in, I didn’t get my “It’s a New Year and These are My Goals” post in, and finally I didn’t get my “here’s where I am” post in. So, Christmas was fun and the kids had a blast as did mom and dad. The end of the year recap helped me see all the wonderful things we accomplished and helped me look forward to our new goals both professionally and personally. The new year was rung in with a quiet evening playing games with the kids and hanging out with a good friend and her kids. We all had fun and went to bed promptly at 12:01 am. Happy New Year! That just leaves where I am….

I’m at work. Every. Day. I have to say for the most part I really really enjoy it! We have been able to get so much accomplished and things are really humming right along! Growth is always a good thing, even it is hard from time to time. It just seems like just when we think we can take a breath and regroup from growth, more growth just keeps coming instead. That’s good, right? ? ?

We are gearing up for our next WDW trip. Yes, we go a lot. Yes, we were just there. Yes, we are going again. With Payne’s recent issues and coordinating regression it just makes it all the more important for us to be able to spend time with him where we can effectively pull him out of his world and be more aware of our world.

I am still training and I am finally….FINALLY adding the food to my change here. It is helping….but slowly. I just need to stay focused which is not easy when your husband buys 10 boxes of thin mint girl scout cookies and 5 boxes of the samoas (yes I know that they don’t call them that anymore but I don’t care because that is how I know them and I’m not offending anyone…so there. LOL) But I am determined and I might just start logging my information here….maybe…at least my training sessions and possibly my food.

I am starting my gratitude journal back up….well, my online one anyway. LOL Oh which reminds me. I bought myself a small notebook that fits in my purse and I decided to write down little positive affirmations or things I am happy about or grateful for. I started doing this in December and I really love it. I love reading it, I love writing in it. I love how it makes me feel.

So…grateful am I…. 1..for my husband and his inspiration with our family, etc. 2..My scriptures and how I feel when I am reading them consistently. 3..my sweet boy who helps me out so much and has become SO responsible lately! 4..my health and strength. 5..my trainer and how he has helped me view myself and my food differently.

Gotta end with a video, right? LOL

I know I have been a major slacker with my entries. It is foundation time of year and that always makes things busier than normal. Also, we have made some major changes to the businesses. We merged one of them and we combined the others into an S-Corp. Mainly for tax purposes but also because we have gotten to a point to where we needed to streamline and update ourselves as a company. This also means we have had to upgrade things on the technology end. Growing pains are sometimes fun, sometimes hard, sometimes exciting…just everything at once.

Graigg went fishing last week in Mexico. I’m not sure if he really enjoyed it. He did except that I know he was hoping to get more of the big game. He did end up with some good sized rooster fish and he loved the fight with those. Oh, and he caught Crush… Well, not really the REAL Crush and not on purpose. The turtle got caught on his hook. He reeled him in and then carefully took the hook off and then let him go. Haha. DUUUUUUUUDE! Anyway, after the second day of fishing he wanted to come back. I think he liked the down time but only for a day or two. He said it was too long to be gone from me and the kids. How sweet! SO we were able to find a flight for $200 for Thursday! He came home a day early and we were ALL so excited to see him!!!

This week is Thanksgiving (yeah, doi) and I have to say since I have started doing my gratitude journal here I have really come to see just how much on a daily basis I have that I am so blessed for! By no means does it mean that my life is happy and go-lucky every day but being able to dwell on the good has really helped me handle the trials we have had lately. It has also helped me really appreciate so much the holiday itself. I think it was genius of Abraham Lincoln to have Thanksgiving so close to Christmas…those two holidays really do go hand in hand which is probably why I don’t care when Christmas overlaps.

Well, I just got back from the gym and my mind is totally mush. I have nothing to say anymore. LOL So I’ll end with my gratitude journal and a song.

I am grateful for…. 1. The Atonement – the fact that I am loved so much I am worth saving. 2. my son and the blessings that he brings into my life and the privileged it is mine to raise him. 3. my eternal companion and the common goals we share. 4. my mickey candy cane lights – yeah I had to go there. 5. the fact that my needs are met and that we are fortunate enough to help others. I truly feel that no matter how little you have when you give to others the blessings come back tenfold.

Not a song but I couldn’t resist..

Current Mood: Happy

Well, I have been going back and forth forever on what I want to do here. I still don’t know. This is part of why I haven’t posted a ton. Part of me wants to post more personal things elsewhere but then part of me doesn’t know how to divide the two. I’m all in a quandary and, well, that isn’t really news is it. Haha!

The kids have been sick. After My and Graigg’s battling with the stomach flu Frik and Frak decided to come down with bronchitis. I just love it when my kids share. However, I wish they would refrain from sharing illnesses. They have been on a round of antibiotics and I am really hoping that this will end soon because Jo is DRA-MA-TIC when it comes to her being sick. Last night poor Mallea came down with the stomach bug that has been plaguing our household. This is the most we have been sick in years! We are not normally sick. So, yeah, this isn’t fun. LOL

Graigg left to go fishing this week. Poor guy hasn’t been on a real vacation in probably 3 years. I told him to go and just relax and decompress. He went further south to go deep sea fishing in Mexico. I hope he has a wonderful time! I hope he is able to relax and enjoy himself. He was so sweet being nervous about being gone and worrying about me and the kids. I’m so lucky. This man is always there to help and hasn’t been away from me or the kids for over 3 years. He is going through withdrawals. LOL

We took Frik and Frak to see A Christmas Carol on Friday at the Imax. It was FUN! The movie was kind of intense but it was good. Campbell was okay after I explained to him that he needed to be scared because he was so bad. I think that helped. LOL It has inspired me to pick the book up and read it again. I think I will.

We got our tree up last night and decorated before Graigg left. The kids were in HEAVEN! I know some people are adamant about not doing anything Christmas until after Thanksgiving but I just can’t help but mesh the two. We love both holidays so they both get celebrated all the month of November. yay!

Well, I am going to have to leave this short and kind of lame since I am working for two today. Haha!

Gratitude never ends for me! 1. Answered Prayers 2. Technology such as cell phones so I can talk to my honey! 3. The steadiness of our work in this economy and how blessed we are. 4. Disney Music streaming from my computer all…day…long! 5. warm fuzzy socks.

And just because I want to….