Winter weather

The news folks here keep stressing that people should stay off the roads and stay home unless absolutely necessary. Then they go to a live shot and other reporters talk about how it took them three hours to get to that location.

I am stuck at home with two boys who are ready to either explode or implode, one of which is sick. I think me leaving home is more urgent than their road trips to film snow and mushy streets.

A friend of mine called to see if I needed anything while she was out. As we ended the call, I told her to stay safe and she told me to stay sane. She knows what I'm dealing with here...two snow days backing right into the weekend, right after a four-day holiday weekend...not the pleasant makings of fun and relaxing times.

Moosie's New Diagnoses

My kids are into collecting hotwheels, trains, and labels. A few weeks ago Moosie underwent a 3 hour evaluation, and Hubby and I went to the 'conference' today.

Moosie's newest diagnoses are Oral Apraxia and Verbal Apraxia. This isn't shocking since I have been suspecting apraxia for over a year, and I think it'll help us move in the right direction more efficiently for Moosie Moose.

Prognosis for Moosie is good; he has many strengths: persistence, attention to task, and compliance. Although therapy will be "long term," we have no reason to believe that Moosie won't be intelligibly speaking some day. For now, we just keep on encouraging those vocalizations and signs!

Learn with us and read about verbal and oral apraxia.

Patience

Bubba's school is big on teaching "character." I just love explaining to a child who can barely understand the concept of "bedtime" such abstract words as "perseverance." This month's topic of choice is "patience." Since I have a lot of opportunities with Bubba to illustrate the concept of "patience," he has heard the word quite a bit. I didn't realize how much until after I had told Bubba several times that it was time to clean up the Play-Doh, my smarty-pants boy sneered "Mom, use your patience!"

Moosie

Figured I better be fair. This is of Moosie so long ago it seems...

Ring of Fire

I decided to dabble in "youtube.com" with one of my favorite Bubba videos of all time. Not the best quality, but whatever. We'll see if this works...



Oh, and Bubba is still quite the music connoisseur...if we could afford an Ipod and would actually give one to Bubba, his playlist would currently consist of Metallica, Johnny Cash, Toby Keith, Enya, James Blunt, Polynesia Spa, the Pink Panther, and various Kids Bopp crud.

Grandpa

My kids are genuine. That means they don't kindly say thank you when they don't like a gift, but it also means when they say or do something really loving, it's straight from their little hearts.

We haven't seen my dad much over the past few weeks because either he's working [too much] or we've got something going on [if we have to go to one more wedding, shower, or birthday party I am going to scream! I seriously do not enjoy 'functions' when they are every single weekend.]. Grandma and Mema were over on Halloween, but Grandpa had to work late.

Anyhow, my parents came over for dinner last night and when my dad walked in, Bubba hugged him tight and said "I missed you Grandpa." Just like that, in a soft, honest voice. He lingered only for a second before going back to terrorizing his toy cars with his dinosaur puppet. "ROOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRR. CRASH. I eat my food!!!"

My dad looked a little shocked, and I think hubby teared up. I don't think it was because of the flying Hotwheels and fresh gashes in the wall, but I could be wrong.

Those moments don't happen all of the time [well, the flying cars do, but not the sweet moments], but when they do, I take the time to notice.

That time of year

So I was making a chocolate pie, and Bubba walks in the kitchen.

Bubba: "What'chu doing mom?"
Me: "Making chocolate pie."
Bubba: "I like chocolate pie mom! I LOOOOOVE November."

Well at least if anything, I have brainwashed my children into loving autumn. I bake and cook uncontrollably during this time of year, and my soon-to-be seven year old has caught on to this. The leaves come down and good food takes over the house!

Oh, Sister, if you're reading this, I made lasagna this morning (for dinner tonight if it lasts until then!)... I thought of you the entire time...

The sickies

Moosie woke up with the sniffles, which I mentioned to Bubba at some point.

Bubba to me: "Mom, you need to make [Moosie] some sooopah [soup]!!"

Bubba to Moosie as Bubba munches on some candy corn he discovered who knows where: "No [Moosie], you can't eat this....it doesn't have Vitamin C!"

It must be PMS

I am trying to finish up some work, and am not having much luck. I thought my somber mood was leftover from Moosie's school district evaluations this morning. But now that I think about it, I downed a big hunk of chocolate cake yesterday, and have been raiding the boys' Halloween candy all week.

Bubba's school nurse called to say he hit his head. When I talked to him on the phone, he just didn't sound like himself. I have spent the better part of an hour debating if I should just go pick him up and hold him. Apparently he's fine, but some days, I just want to love on my kids. I'm sure when he gets home, he'll be his usually independent, noncuddly self and want nothing to do with me. Sigh. I guess I better go cuddle with Moosie to get my fix.

I hate hormones.