Sunday, September 27, 2009

School and Some Small Miracles

Sorry it's been so long since my last post. I really need to just schedule time to do this. Abby started school a week and a half ago. She is going in the afternoons this year and that has been a bit of an adjustment for us. She gets antsy waiting for the bus and I feel like it's near impossible to make plans for the rest of our day, because smack dab in the middle of it all, I have to be home to get her on the bus and then 3 hours later, be home to meet her off of the bus. I've already had to make 2 emergency calls. One to my father-in-law, "Can you hurry to our house (20 min away) to get Ab off the bus?" and one to the bus depot, "Can you switch up your route today and drop Abby off ten minutes later?" I was stuck in road construction which is EVERYWHERE right now. Ugh! I'm sure they just LOVE me. The frazzled mom, still in her pjs at 1 pm, helping her kid onto the bus. Or I'm running behind (as usual) and making everyone else work around it. Will I ever get it together?! I keep trying.


Well enough about me. Abby is doing great in school. She comes home happy each day. I really like her teachers and thankfully, so does Abby. She talks about them at home quite often. She likes to say that she is going to go on a picnic with them and then list what foods she'll take. I mentioned in my last quick post that she's been babbling talking a lot lately. Most of the time it's AMAZING, but often it's the same story over and over and over again. Like the picnic. There are only so many times in a 2 hour span that I'd like to have that conversation, but if Ab's stuck in that storyline, we talk about it for two hours. At least.


We did have a communication exchange the other night that blew my mind! We were in their bedroom and I was about to change Bean's poopy diaper, when Abby said, "NO! It stinks! Better change it in the kitchen." Now for someone with typical kids, this isn't a big deal. It's a logical request (except that we don't change diapers in the kitchen normally). But for those of us who have been dying for some sort of communication from our children for a long time now, this is AMAZING!!!

She 1) expressed her opposition to the situation with words and without screaming, then she 2) expressed why she was opposed and then she 3) suggested a solution to the problem. I was thrilled! Now that is communication, Baby! And of course, Bean and I went into another room to change his diaper. YES! There appears to be a light at the end of this tunnel.

This last picture is of Abby's little brother, Bean, on Ab's first day of school. He was so upset. There was nothing I could do to make him happy that day. This photo was taken after I'd tried EVERYTHING and finally resorted to giving him his pacifier, blankie and put on a movie for him. He was so mad at me, I'm guessing he missed his sister, that he refused to come out of the doorway. He could see a sliver of the tv and this was as close as he would come to the living room... and me.

11 comments:

Alyssa said...

How nice it is to know that I'm not the only parent chasing down the afternoon bus in my pj's to throw my child on :)! I am LOVING your blog, your pictures and your children. You have incredible strength! *Alyssa

RitaSV said...

Poor Keenan!!! His diapers stink and he's left behind by Abs! He really looks like Jeremy in this picture, I think.

So good to hear about the 'conversational' break through! Cool!

Emily's Garden said...

I really enjoy reading your blog, Erin, and am so appreciative that you are sharing your experiences in raising two beautiful children. A child with autism is a special blessing and, of course, you are a blessing to this world too.

jrslily said...

Hi Erin, I love the things you write about Abby. Thanks for sharing. Try Flylady.com for help on the getting organized. She really helped me.
Blessings, Karen

Sarah said...

Fantastic news!
So pleased Abs is enjoying school.
Hopefully Keenan will get better, or at least used to it. Fletcher now loves his time together with Mum - but it did take a little while.
Thanks for sharing <3

My name is Erin. said...

Karen- I have been a floundering "Fly-baby" for a while now. You're right. They are pretty much geniuses and I really should re-commit myself to the process. It's not hard once you get rolling.

My name is Erin. said...

Thank you so much, Everyone, for all your kind and encouraging comments. I really appreciate them.

Ron said...

Hi Erin,

First of all, thanks for visiting and taking your time to comment at my food recipe blog.

You have a really cute daughter. Hope her the best!

cinnamon girl said...

Hi Erin, just popped over here from swpd. I'm really enjoying your blog and finding that I can relate to what you're saying - I've got no kids but I had a very close attachment to someone with Downs for a decade and know a few autistic people too, so I've dealt in an ongoing way with stuff like the bus dramas and the repetitive conversations. It sounds like you're doing a really great job as a mum.

Congratulations on the communication too, I know what a big deal that is.

cinnamon girl said...

Oooh and totally off topic, I noticed you like heaps of the same books as me! I wanted to as if you have read 'the curious incident of the dog in the night time'? I'd be surprised if you haven't come across it, but if you haven't I bet you'd love it.

My name is Erin. said...

Thanks for all the lovely comments! They make my day and encourage me to carry on!