August - Ahhh Routine

Let the routine begin!  School started this month and I think it's exactly what we all needed.  Yes the lazy days of summer are nice but routine is what gets my motor revving and you know the saying, "If Momma ain't happy, nobody's happy."  The reality of the situation is Kaz is happy and looks forward to school.  In fact he asks to go on his days off!  This is MUSIC to my ears.

Kaz

Yes the hustle and bustle of school is in full swing and amazingly 3 hours, 15 minutes a day, 3 days a week, really does make a difference.  It all started with Parent Orientation.  I had the opportunity to chat with Kaz's new teacher Miss Kim, and discuss his hypotonia and emerging SPD traits/quirks and she said, "What a blessing."  Say what?  I can't imagine the look on my face but she was quick to explain that she was in the midst of perusing her OT credentials.  Ain't it funny how the universe works!  

Home from the 1st
day of school.

So far, so good.  He looks forward to going and he's happy he went...although that's all I can get out of him.  I ask him questions like, "What did you do today?  What was your favorite part of the day?  What kind of art project did you do today?  What did you work on in the computer lab?"  All questions are answered with.  "I don't want to talk now."  Good Lord what am I going to do when he's a teenager and he's ignoring me because he's a teenager?!  The only question he will answer without hesitation and with much excitement is, "What was your job today?"  Kaz's favorite part of the day is when he get's to choose a job.  His favorite job is "Door helper" and "Weather Watcher."  Sigh, I'll take it! 

Oh and BTW, we discovered Manpole is spelled Manpul.  That's right, the whole class has met Manpul.  Sometimes he signs him in on the sign in sheet.  And one day when the class was discussing first and last names Kaz told everyone his full name was Kaz Marianne Manpul.  Yup, we've got that kid...and I love it!

Before school started Kaz and his Daddy went on their annual boys camping trip.  Ahhh yes, sleeping under the stars with the sounds of nature and wild animals all around them..."STOP, there is no running in the yard!"  Click the picture and you'll understand.  Most relaxing 2 days of my life - NOT!

Latest Obsessions

Puzzle mania continues except now we are doing our puzzles upside down to challenge ourselves (pretty soon he will be turning them over like his great-grandpa Ozzie did.)  Oh and we've started dabbling in helping Daddy with his 500 piece puzzles.  He sits there and examines the finished product; takes small sections of it apart; and puts it back together again; I think it's safe to say he's a little obsessed considering it's the first thing he runs to in the morning and it's the last thing he talks about before getting ready for bed.

I realize this is an introverted/independent activity which is typical for Kaz but something amazing has happened; Kaz plays with other kids!  I know, you are rolling your eyes and you are wondering what the big deal is.  It's not like I haven't seen Kaz play with other kids, it's just that typically it's kids he's been friends with his whole life.  As of late he plays WITH kids instead of retreating to a corner to read.  This is one of those things only someone's mother would relish in and take a picture of (yes I did).  Why?  Because it makes MY heart happy.  It's sometimes the smallest of things.

LOL!

Kaz: "Can I see your vagina?"

Yes, you read that right.  Okay.  I don't remember how this came up or maybe the sheer magnitude of the question has blocked it out, but this is something that an owners manual could really help with.  I put this in the LOL category because one day Kaz will laugh about this.  Not anytime soon.  Probably not till he has kids and can appreciate how a highly inappropriate question is so innocent out of the mouth of a cute inquisitive 4 year old.  Well?  How did you answer?  I didn't want to embarrass him or shame him about the human body so I simply said (after my head stopped racing) "Uh, not right now."  It's all I could come up with...and he hasn't asked since, whew. 

Zane

I am a self professed queen of redirection.  I adopted the practice of saying "no" without saying "no" 4 years ago.  "NO" was reserved for danger! 

FB: "When you're dealing with an octonado pinball machine redirection is sometimes futile!"

 

This practice worked WONDERS on Kaz, a #2.  Zane is a complete #3 so I had to find a new way to say "No" without saying "NO".  It's amazing how 4 bucks can bring you such inner-peace. 

Firsts

Sentence: "Sit down me!" (Sit down with me.) and "Ice in it please." (Put ice in it please.)  It's ironic, I lack the words to express...such a different experience.  I melt.

Latest Obsessions

"Puss!": Is it any wonder that Zane, who is also enamored of TV, his favorite movie is Puss and Boots?  Of course it is.  It stars a CAT.

Hummus:  Something both him and his brother shared, a love for hummus - unfortunately Kaz has dropped his hummus habit and wouldn't eat it if I offered him room full of chocolate to chase it down.  I think Zane has taken it to a whole new level considering I can feed him spoonful's of the stuff and he cries for more.

"I've never seen a kid take care of a snack table like Zane did. That was extraordinary!"

Shoes:  A 1000 words in this picture. 
 
We knew this day was coming.  We could see his determination rising.  And then, it happened.  He hoisted himself up the little concrete wall when no one was looking and scurried up the steps on our hill like he's been doing it his whole life.  He was so proud of himself. Funny, pride is not what I was feeling.  Complete and utter panic is more like it. 

I know, relax - let him be a little boy - let him explore - let him grow!  Yeah, I'm not dealing with a typical boy.  He's the Punkmeister Octonado Pinball Machine (he's punky, he's got eight hands and whips around looking to reek havoc from one room to the next.)  I was given some excellent advice by a veteran parent.  Just go limp in the storm.  While this IS excellent advice AND it has helped; maybe I need to clarify with a visual. 

This is the MOST perfect visual of what life is like with Zane the Octonado.  Even his father, the original Punky, is in awe of his power and paralyzed by his sheer drive.  Here I was hoping he could give me some insight seeing how he's the original.  His suggestion, ignore it.  Mmm HMM.  So the other day when Zane ran from him laughing, tearing the puzzles off the table in his path, Aaron exhausted and at his wits end, I said with a smirk, "Just ignore it."
 
This video right here is an example of what really helps me weather the storm.  I seriously can't watch it without a chuckle and a snort. Even Zane cracked himself up when he watched it.  Forty-nine seconds in you will too.

 

Harley

After 9 incredible months Harley had a seizure.  The LONGEST he has ever gone!  I don't want to tempt fate, but gone are the days of predictability when he used to have a seizure within a day or two of every 8 weeks.  It was a pretty good sized one but there was just one.  I'm not sure what I like more.  The predictability or the surprise.  We're always on watch, holding our breath, but less is way better all around.

Someone celebrated a birthday this month.  Our 1st baby boy is now 7.  A big 78 lb. 7 year old puppy.  Happy Birthday Harley Bratwurst!  XO

Just for Fun

Our garden is a thing of beauty and wonderment.  Correction.  Our compost is a thing of beauty and wonderment.  Old McP11 has done a great job workin our land - LOL JK it's a small garden - planting tomatoes, green beans, peppers, chilies, snow peas, onions, lettuce, arugula, spinach, herbs;  but the compost produced (no planting by us) butternut squash, tomatillos, roma tomatoes, grape tomatoes and pumpkins.  We are rich with natural gifts - the best kind!  Thank you honey you work hard and I appreciate it.  Oh you too P11.

The "spinning" torch
has been passed.



Really?  We eat so many
maybe they're comin out
their ears.  Black beans.