Catching up and stuff...lol.

Well This fall has been so extremely busy. As you know AJ has a new brother. AJ's reaction to Justin has had it's ups and downs. It is a struggle to get AJ to understand that the baby's stuff is for the baby, not AJ. The baby has just started teething and AJ is so fascinated with his teething rings.

When we first brought the baby home AJ stayed a few nights at my parent's house. He was here during the day but slept there. I was convinced that he hated his brother. When Justin was about 2 or 3wks old AJ picked him up and dropped him. The baby was ok, but I was a wreck. From that moment on I enforced the "Take you with me" rule. That basically means that AJ or Justin will need to be in whatever room I or my husband is in. So far it's worked out great and nothing else has happened.

It bothers AJ when Justin cries (as we expected). He covers his ears and gets upset. We don't jump everytime the baby cries because it's just something AJ will need to deal with. AJ is having a hard time understanding that babies and smaller children are people with feelings and he has to be gentle with them.

AJ got a new teacher and classroom this September. Incedentally AJ has also been injured in that class more than he has been in the past 4yrs. Everyone is saying "boys will be boys", but I'm still not happy with that accident increase.

AJ hasn't been very focused this school year. He's had more than a few bad days. I had to start sending his favorite blanket to school with him to keep him "in line" while on the bus. Aparently he was wiggling out of his booster seat and belts to run around the bus. Where the hell was the aide when he was doing this? Seriously, there are only two kids on the friggin bus! OK I digress...

Here are a few pictures of AJ.

Coming Soon

Things have been very hectic lately. Justin (AJ's little brother) was born on August 20th. AJ is back in school so I should have some time once we fall back into our routine. Thanks for being patient but check back on October 1st to be caught up on all the happenings.

Thanks!!

Back to Business as Usual

Well AJ's last day of the regular school year was June 16th and as you can imagine I was NOT looking forward to that. He was home with me until the summer session started on June 25th. That had to have been the longest week EVER!! I've realized that being pregnant AND chasing after an extremely active 6yr old (soon to be 7 sniff sniff) is extremely exhausting. Add into the mix that the kid didn't sleep past 7:00am any day that week and we have the ingredients for a cranky mama...lol. But as with everything, we endured it and survived.

AJ is back in school now and back to a good schedule and he is a much better kid for that....lol. This summer we are going to try to get him on a good schedule at home using a picture board. His teachers say that it will help him and his behavior will get better. Yeah, he's still pushing my buttons and acting out with me.

I did feel bad for my little guy the other day though. When he gets tired or upset he'll have a sippy cup of milk and sit in my lap and cuddle for a few minutes. Well, the other day he was sleepy and tried to sit in my lap. I was sitting at my desk, so the computer chair didn't have ample room to begin with. Between my chair, and my belly, my poor baby couldn't fit in my lap...lol. He got so frustrated because he couldn't get comfortable that he stalked off and sat on the sofa and curled up under his blanket...lol. I really think it's going to be a small shock to him in August when he realizes that the belly will go away, but his little brother is here to stay...lol.

Spring Sing

This afternoon I went to AJ's school for the 2009 Spring Sing. It was really cute and AJ was excited to be there. He was even really excited to see me there (as you can see....lol). He really does like music, but he enjoys playing with instruments more than singing. After the show I went back to his classroom with him and he sang 'The Wheels on the Bus' for me. It was very cute and I'll try to get him to do it on camera one day for you.

Bad experience today at the pool.

First let me say that AJ is fine, it's nothing like that. I'll give you the short short version because I don't have the energy to get into it. Basically the assistant aquatic director at the pool was rude to us last week and extremely rude to us this week. I had to drag AJ out of the pool kicking and screaming. Luckily hubby was in the area and came to help with AJ, but he ended up losing his patience and his temper in the process. I ended up writing a very stern letter (with hubby's help) to the aquatic director and if I don't get a resolution I will go to the aquatic director's boss.

Hubby has asked me not to go back to the pool again because of this and another incident, but I had to explain that if the pool were for me then I would have no problem agreeing to that. The trips to the pool are for AJ and he looks forward to it EVERY Saturday, so I won't stop going because they pissed me off.

I understand that not everyone fully comprehends how autism affects the children and their families, but that is no excuse to be rude and down right mean. Why can't people remember the golden rule? Treat others as you would want to be treated.

Swimming

AJ has really been enjoying the Saturday swim sessions we go to. We decided to nix the t-ball because it just isn't organized enough to keep AJ focused. Here are a few clips of AJ in the pool with Bryanna.

spring is FINALLY here

Today I am exactly 24wks along. The weather is starting to get really nice and I'm so happy about that. I am able to do outside activities with AJ, but hubby has asked me not to take him to the park alone anymore. I'll agree it is hard for me to keep up with him so I didn't argue with that request. I've been keeping AJ busy with bubbles, weekend swim classes and lots of attention. He has been playing in the baby's room for a few weeks now, but we will stop that when we start to stock the room with clothes, diapers, lotions, etc...

Yesterday was the first really nice day so far this spring. AJ got to wear shorts and watch videos before our afternoon swim classes. When it was time to go I asked him to go get his sneakers, and this is how my angel came back to me....lol.

I gotta love his fashion sense.

Taria

SPRING ACTIVITIES!!!!

This morning I signed AJ up for buddy-ball and swimming for the spring session. Hubby and I felt that I would have a hard time keeping AJ busy and active this spring with my ever expanding belly. After we signed him up, we were invited to attend the groups last bowling session of the winter season. AJ really does enjoy bowling. Next time we have to remember to bring the hearing headphones to cut out all the noise. Overall he did extremely well and had fun, and that's what it's all about.

Here is a video of AJ bowling with Daddy...

Q & A

"how you are prepping AJ for the birth?"

I am totally clueless about how to properly prepare AJ for his new little brother, but we are trying to do the best we can. Our first step was to ask his teachers to allow him to play with a baby doll under their supervision. They say he holds, feeds, cuddles, and kisses the doll at school. We also brought in the baby's furniture and set up the nursery to try and "desensitize" him to the crib (which isn't going so well...lol). Some days he totally ignores the crib, other days he is all about being in and around the crib. We continue to allow him to play in the baby's room before we stock it with supplies and clothes. I'm pretty sure we will start to block him off from the room the closer it gets to my due date.

AJ has also been acting out, but only with me. His school therapist says that he senses that a change is coming and that's why he's acting out with me. I've been depending on hubby to handle most of the discipline lately because I don't have the energy to butt heads with AJ now. After the baby is born it'll be back to business as usual....lol.

He actually was around a new baby a few weeks ago and he was incredibly gentle so I'm hoping that is a good sign. We will probably be very cautious with interactions between the boys for a while until we are sure AJ understands he has to be gentle. AJ has a history of being very rough with children smaller than himself so we just have to be on top of things. But let me clarify, he isn't rough with smaller children to be mean, he just doesn't understand that they aren't as durable as he is yet and they are people, not toys.

I have faith that AJ will be a fantastic big brother and that he will love and accept the baby without incident.

AJ is getting....

a little brother!!

I'm thrilled beyond words at having another little boy. I know that the autism rate is higher among boys, but we have to trust that we've done everything we could to give our new little boy the best possible chances to avoid autism.

AJ is starting to understand a little that there is a baby in mommy's belly. He surprised me the other day by randomly coming up to me and giving me a kiss on the cheek and then planting a kiss on my belly before running away.

Making room for baby

We are trying to do everything we can to make AJ's transition from only child to big brother as easy as possible. At school his teachers have introduced a babydoll into his day to try and desensitize him from the baby. Hubby and I have already put all the furniture into the baby's room so AJ can get used to it.

At first he was very curious about the crib, then he became obsessed with the rocking chair, and we can't forget how he loved to jump off of the dresser when we got that...lol. After a few weeks he's calmed down a bit, but he does like to spend time in the room.

The other night I was very sore so I decided to take a warm bath. Hubby comes in the bathroom shaking his head and walks out again. He comes back in and shows me his phone. Below is what he showed me.

AJ playing the piano

At my parent's house they have my grandparent's old organ. AJ loves playing on it when he goes there to visit. My parents swear AJ has a musical ear and is the next classical composer. I really don't doubt them anymore...lol.

In this video he is pretending to be the Count (from sesame street) looking for the number of the day. This is the cutest thing I've ever seen...lol.

SIck Boy

Today AJ stayed home from school. When I woke him up this morning he had a temp of 103.7. After alternating tylenol and motrin we got the fever down to 101.3. The poor baby has been sleeping all day. When he wakes up we are going to take a cool bath and get some fresh sheets and lay back down. I hope he feels better soon.

Parent Teacher Night

Tonight we went to AJ's parent teacher conference. Although the meeting was suppose to only take about 30mins we ended up staying there for 1.5hrs. It was a really productive meeting. I addressed my concerns with AJ adjusting to the new baby, as well as his liking for fire, and his behavioral issues.

For the past few months he's been acting out with me. He still obey's hubby without missing a beat, but he insists on fighting with me every chance he gets. Being that I'm pregnant and lacking energy his behavioral specialist thought it best that I leave the discipline to daddy until after the baby gets here then I can resume my pre-pregnancy mommy roll. I left the meeting pretty pleased and informed. Hubby also felt it went well which his a SHOCK since he hates these meetings. We also decided that AJ needs a bit more structure at home so I'll have to sit down and come up with activities that we can do that won't totally exhaust me even further.

While we were at the meeting AJ stayed with my sister and Bryanna. I'm sure he drove Bryanna nuts, but they said he was good. We leave for Canada on Saturday morning to attend my grandma's 90th birthday party. We are coming back on Sunday so 16hrs in two days, I hope he (and me) can take the ride and still be able to keep it together.

Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share when I get back. I've been really slacking in that department lately. Have a great weekend.

Big Brother Syndrome

One thing that worries me about having a new baby welcomed into our family is this...

I don't want everyone to forget about AJ. God willing my newest angel will be autism free and what does that mean for AJ? My sister said something to me the other day, and I know she was joking but it rubbed me the wrong way. She said that when the new baby comes she is claiming him/her. Now I'm not going to call her a bad aunt because I know she loves AJ very much. My issue is that she has never called me and said "Hey sis, can I have AJ for (insert timeline here) because I want to spend some time with him." or "Hey sis, I'm going to go to (insert place here) and I think AJ would like it, can he come with me?"

I'm scared that if baby #2 is perfectly fine our family will swarm around him/her because they are the typical child they wish AJ would have been. I'm also afraid they will kinda push him aside so they can dote over this perfect child. They all thought I was joking when I told them that if they take #2 they have to take baby #1 as well. But little did they know I was and am very serious about that. I will not allow my children to be treated differently because one has autism and one does not. I will love my children equally and I expect everyone else to love them equally as well.

Are my fears just me being hormonal and overreacting or am I justified?

Cherish your Loved ones

On 1/24/09 my cousin Tausha passed away. She was a wonderful friend with a generous soul. She was an amazing person. She left behind her 16yr old daughter. Her husband passed 10yrs earlier and she had been very sick for the past 3yrs. My mother, my niece, my sister, and I drove 20hrs to pay our respects and support her mom, 6 brothers, and 1 sister. Cherish your loved ones and tell them what they mean to you, because there will come a day when they will no longer be there to listen and respond.

AJ didn't make this trip with me because there was way too much going on and way too many people buzzing about. The typical children had a hard time focusing so I'm glad I didn't make him suffer through that. We are going to try to visit my family during the summer so they can see AJ and it won't be so busy. We may try and do a Disney trip or something, we'll see.

Hubby stayed home with AJ and was sweet enough to send me tons of text messages with pictures of my baby. I really did miss him so much. I realized when I was on my way home that this is the first time I left my baby (not including overnight visits with the grandparents). When I got home I crawled in bed with him and cuddled until he fell asleep.

Back in School

I think the only person happier than I am that the holiday break is over is AJ...lol. During the last week he woke up every morning and asked me "Bus?" and when I told him no he said "Car?" and when I said, "AJ there is no school today" he would get upset and then go play...lol. So on Monday morning when I woke him up he asked "Bus?" and when I said yes he got so excited. He stood by the window to watch and wait for the bus to pull in front of the house. It was so cute to see his excitement.

Now maybe I can actually get some cleaning done if baby M will let up on making me sick for a few hours.