School Field Trip

The first school field trip came and went.  The week before the twins were SO excited.  Everyday they came home with the rules and regulations for both kids and parents including costs. 

This was the first field trip of all my kids  I have not attended and you can imagine how guilty I felt and still feel.  However, they tried to console me by saying "we don't want you to go anyway because we would have to hang out with you and not our groups."  Leave it to the yungun's to tell it like it is.  So, I did stay to take the pictures getting on the bus and all the havoc that ensues when a bunch of kindergartner's go anywhere. 


Did I tell you they were going to the zoo?  Not the big major zoo but a smaller zoo in a not so close by city.  For kids who have been to the big major zoo that is their measure of a zoo. 

I'm there to pick them up now after a glorious day of freedom and peace and quite.  So much so that I almost didn't know what to do with my time because in the back of my head I could hear this little voice saying you only have 5 hours, you only have 4 hours, you only have 2 hours left!!  It stifled me at times.  They were gone longer than they normally went to school so I had a taste of how first grade will be.  I still feel guilty though...wink.   As I see them approaching I can see they are a little tired and ready to go home.  The excitement they had before they went had definitely diminished.  As they are walking up to me they are revealing all of the issues like it was a lot of walking, there were not a lot animals, the bus took too long, and why didn't you go!

I just think it is too bad that schools now a days take very limited field trips anymore mainly because they don't have money to pay for the buses.  Field trips can be so enriching and support the lessons they are learning in their classes.

When they got home my house turned into a zoo once more.

Sports

They turned five this year.  The twins that is.  Now they are old enough to play organized sports.  We thought GREAT!!!  we will sign them up for everything and they will be so exhausted and all that energy they have been taking out on us will now have a focus.  Kind of wrong.  They LOVE LOVE LOVE the sports but I think the only ones who are exhausted are us the over 40's.  They seem to get more and more energized as the days goes on and we seem to get more and more deflated as the day goes on.  What were we thinking.

Not to mention it is so expensive for kids now a days to play sports and get all the equipment to play even if it is just the basics.  

We been down this road twice already with the older two kids.  One of which, my girl, played a sport that took her around the country.  We got to travel to exotic cities next to big cities to watch her play ball and go places and see the country in ways we never would have if she hadn't played.

Now we are starting all over again but this time I have to say we are pros.  We know the pitfalls, the drama, and the good things.  So we won't be so naive as before. We will avoid the mess and stick with the good.  AND avoid the snack bars which we have had our share and everyone else's share of chili cheese nachos.  So we are able to sit back a bit and enjoy it more than we did with the first kids.

They started out with soccer.  Great sport for them we just need to play more of it.

We then went to basketball which ended up being really fun.  I had no idea what to expect for this one because my other kids never really played basketball.  I envisioned a bunch of five year old's looking cute learning how to dribble and cute stuff.  Well I was wrong they were killers on the court and played like little men.  I couldn't believe how good they all were.  They were skilled beyond my wildest imagination, physical, and driven.  It was amazing!  The refs didn't call traveling too much or too fast unless the kid just picked up the ball and ran down the court they did give us a break on that. I guess they will get that skill in time.  The boys fell in love with basketball and could play it all day.  It was great for both and the one who takes a little longer to get it GOT IT and was making 3's by mid season.  It was a win for him.

Now we are in baseball and they went strait to Shetlands. I guess we missed T-ball but I am kind of glad because that would have been way to slow paced for them.  After coming off soccer and basketball where they were constantly moving to baseball where you sit and wait it has been a learning curve in patience.  As the season progresses they are liking it more and getting much better each time.

Soon, they will play a summer PAL league basketball and swim lessons which they have been able to do for the last couple years, then soccer starts at the end of the summer.  It never stops.

We have had a dilemma about football.  Should we or shouldn't we?  The problem we have is one is over 100 pounds a bit.  Of course he is a D-line kinda guy but there are weight limits and only two league about 20 minute away have flag football division without a weight limit and the park right behind my house has a weight limit.  The reason I really wanted to them to do football is for the conditioning and exercise especially for my big guy but the logistics and costs are not pluses for this sport.  I know they would love it but I don't want to put one and not the other.  So no football this year.

I must say though that husky kids need options too and I think there are plenty of husky kids that would benefit from the conditioning and exercise football allows playing flag not tackle and these leagues should have a division for these kids too.  They would make a ton of money.

I don't know how long we can keep up multiple sports but as long as they are having fun and happy and exercising and eventually falling asleep we are good.

Tried

Well my first A-Z challenge came and went and I made it to R.  I think R.  I don't exactly know what happened but I just fell off the cliff one night and I just climbed back up. 

I think it was because mid terms were up and booming in my house and time just did not give me any space to blog...tears.....

Instead of being bummed I will be grateful that I made it a far as I did and look forward to the challenge next year and to finish it!!  and to be more prepared. 

My bigger regret is that I didn't get to visit as many blogs as I wanted too but I will now try to at least visit 2 a day.  The problem with me is that I get into each one so like hours later I am still at ground zero.  I need to spend time but move through them as well.

I love the blogging format and will continue to keep posting about the antics of my twins.  Everyday there is something and I hope that at some point some other parent of any amount of kids will be able to say "Thank god someone else is going through it and I am not the only one!" good bad or ugly.

Thanks to everyone who came by and commented and followed!!!  That is so cool that someone is interested in what I have to say!!!  

Lov U bloggy friends!!! Hugs n kisses.

Stay tuned.

Restaruants + Twins (my twins) = Commontion

Daddy is kind of a restaurant buff.  He likes to try out new restaurants from time to time but what he really likes to do is eat.  So the dutiful wife that I am support him at whatever he feels is right so I pull my self along to help him find out if these restaurants are any good.  It's a hard job.

THEN TWINS...hit the scene. For the first year they were so cute to take out and show off because they couldn't climb out of their high chairs or walk yet or should I say run.  Then from one to two years they were a little more work to keep in the high chair but they were still manageable.  Then at two we knew after this one trip to a Sizzler and a spoon of something hit dad in the side of the head (I think mashed potatoes). They thought it was the funniest thing since tickling that restaurants were no longer going to be an outing for them until they got through the terrible twos which has now been in effect for the last three years.  Well, I must say if the restaurant has a play structure then we are OK.  If it doesn't not going to happen.

Lately, we have been trying to take them out from time to time to see if they have civilized themselves yet because it is like once they are in the restaurant something comes over them.  It is freakish.

So, yesterday we tried out a local commercial chain restaurant to watch some of the basketball games and have a little family time.  All our our five kids were with us, The Entourage, as we call it.  We get in there and instantly their volume goes up probably because it was already a little loud and they feel they have to hear themselves over the crowd.  Yet, so can everyone else.  Then our competitive one who follow sports and keeps track of every one's scores and stats kept going into the bar area as if he was one of the guys to keep track of the scores.  After a while you may see him sitting at a table with a Shirley Temple. He can literally hold a grown up conversation about sports, teams, and players and the guys dig on him because he almost knows too much.

The other one was too busy trying to get someone to battle him with Pokemon cards.  When they were both at the table at the same time they were kept switching seats, had all the utensils all over the table, massacred the appetizer, and kept asking when is the food coming?

I am exhausted by the time the food comes. 

The food comes and for those few moments they are quiet, mouths full, sitting in one place, and I am trying to eat fast so I can be ready for them when they are done.

As soon as they are done then it is time to go.  By now I am ready too.  No relaxing or letting the food go down here.  I grabbed what I need and start to move them to the car.  As we are walking the one in front drops his drink in the door way, which I have to say we avoided at the table for once, which busts the cup on the bottom he picks it up and lemonade is spewing every where and he seems to be the only one not noticing this.  I finally grab it from him and throw it in the garbage can but not after the whole door way is wet.  So, I have to go back in trying to keep them in some order to tell the girls that his drink spilled and I don't want anyone to slip or fall so after a thousand apologies can they please clean it up. 

WHOOOOOOOO....I think we still need a little more work on restaurant etiquette.  \

But I have to say they are fun and there is never a dull moment with them.  We love them very much and if all we have to endure is a few crazy restaurant trips that's nothing compared to what some people are facing.  We are lucky and blessed just not totally ready for too many restaurants yet.

BOSTON STRONG!!!  In support of all of Boston and Bostonians!  We are with you!!!

Quentessential / Antonym = Wrong

An antonym for Quintessential is Wrong.

The two tragedies in this last week in Boston and Texas are just horrible.

Both very different in nature but catastrophic none the less.

Blessings and love out to both Boston, MA and West, TX and all of the families and people who have been affected.

One thing I think is that the media is like an "ant at someones picnic."  They just don't stop.

It is one thing to report the news and another to show every 10 minutes what type of bomb and how it was made so that the world of kookoo's on the edge watching can copy cat.

I think those things should be kept at a minimum.

It is a scary world out there and we all have to be vigilant.  I don't know what the answers are except we all need to slow our rolls.

PDD - What is it?

 

What is PDD-NOS?

PDD-NOS stands for Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified. Psychologists and psychiatrists sometimes use the term “pervasive developmental disorders” and “autism spectrum disorders” (ASD) interchangeably. As such, PDD-NOS became the diagnosis applied to children or adults who are on the autism spectrum but do not fully meet the criteria for another ASD such as autistic disorder (sometimes called “classic” autism) or Asperger Syndrome.

For example, this category includes “atypical autism” – presentations that do not meet the criteria for Autistic Disorder because of late age at onset, atypical symptomatology, or subthreshold symptomatology, or all of these."

More helpful, perhaps, are studies suggesting that persons with PDD-NOS can be placed in one of three very different subgroups:

• A high-functioning group (around 25 percent) whose symptoms largely overlap with that of Asperger syndrome, but who differ in terms of having a lag in language development and mild cognitive impairment. (Asperger syndrome does not generally involve speech delay or cognitive impairment).
• A second group (around 25 percent) whose symptoms more closely resemble those of autistic disorder, but do not fully meet all its diagnostic signs and symptoms.
• A third group (around 50 percent) who meet all the diagnostic criteria for autistic disorder, but whose stereotypical and repetitive behaviors are noticeably mild.
As these findings suggest, individuals with PDD-NOS vary widely in their strengths and challenges.

Every person with PDD is unique.

Taken from autismspeaks.org

National Autism Awareness Month

In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the Autism Society has been celebrating National Autism Awareness Month since the 1970s. The United States recognizes April as a special opportunity for everyone to educate the public about autism and issues within the autism community.
Join the Autism Society in getting involved with the autism community this April.
Put on the Puzzle! The Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon is the most recognized symbol of the autism community in the world. Autism prevalence is now one in every 88 children in America. Show your support for people with autism by wearing the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon – as a pin on your shirt, a magnet on your car, a badge on your blog, or even your Facebook profile picture - and educate folks on the potential of people with autism! To learn more about the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon visit http://www.autism-society.org/about-us/puzzle-ribbon.html. To purchase the Autism Awareness Puzzle Ribbon for your shirt, car, locker or refrigerator, click here.
Make a difference. Contact your representatives on the state and federal level and ask them to "Vote 4 Autism." For more information about this legislation and to take action to support it, visit www.autism-society.org/vote4autism.

Marley the taller twin was diagnosed with PDD when he was three.  In many ways you would never be able to tell by looking at him or by looking at his academic abilities.  In many ways he is very normal but their are some areas that you can't see unless you spent everyday with him.  He has Sensory or to be fancy Neurosensory deficits.  What is that?  It's hard is what it is.  It is one of the hardest things to explain to people who have no idea or the capacity to really understand what I am saying.   Some of what he may do looks behavioral so one would think the answer would be to punish but its not and that is the totally wrong response.  It is frustrating, I do agree with that but there are so many kids who fit in this area and instead of being understood are being misunderstood.

Will they grow out of it?  Who knows, its too new. 

Is there a medication for it? No. 

Is there a therapy for it? There are some but they can be needed for very long periods of time and can be very costly if your insurance doesn't cover. 

What can be done then?  You can help your child learn how to manage their challenges which you do with normies anyway.  It may take a little longer but if you keep working at it you will see success.   You can be their ADVOCATE.  Always be on their side no matter how much the professional educator or anyone else who thinks they know so much.  No one understands them like you.  Always be one step ahead.  I always have a meeting the week before or the week of school starting with everyone who will have contact with them to explain ahead of time what they may see or deal with and how they can respond.  This helps so much because now they are ready for whatever and they are looking out for him more and helping him through situations instead of being caught of guard and being mad at him.

I mean we meet with playground monitors, cafeteria clerks, office staff, library staff, of course teachers and principal.  It doesn't cure it but it has helped a lot because now his experience won't be overshadowed by non-stop punishment. 

It also helps the staff facilitate his relationships with the kids.  He has a twin who is his link a lot of times but kids can be mean sometimes and staff can help massage the situation while allowing them all to grow.

He has a lot of strengths and talents and remembers every last thing and every instruction given and every story read.  He writes well and draws well.  He is loving and funny and loves people.  Its not all that bad but it is a blip on his radar that we will conquer one day.

O My G

Oh my God...Bless the people in Boston.