Webcam Fun

AJ playing with my webcam while Justin laughs at him.

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.