Today Naomi slept in very late. She got up around 10:00am, and at that time all the other kids were in Elli and Tobiah's bedroom playing. She got up and asked me if she could play with the dinosaurs. A couple minutes later, Ruth came back in our room. The following conversation ensued:
Ruth: You playing with my Daddy? (She has mom, daddy, and Sarah triceratops she's attached to)
Naomi: No. It's your turn to play with your Daddy. I'm so sorry I took it.
She can really blow me away. The typical fighting and freak outs when the other kids have what she wants make her seem like such a spoiled brat (to an outsider), but when you get this glimpse into the person she really is, past the autism, she is an amazing child.
Other little things:
That's just Zoey, Mom. (After Zoey making some noise in the hallway, and Naomi noticing me glance out there)
This is a Sharp Tooth. He lives in the Mysterious Beyond (yes, my kids LOVE Land Before Time). This is his baby.
Mommy, I get on my bed and get my other dinosaurs? (She always knows exactly where her toys are, wish the same was so for her shoes!)
Followed quickly by Mommy, may I toss these down?
A little later, Ruth kept saying she was three.
Naomi: I'm not two. I am three.
Ruth: I three.
Naomi: I'm not two. I am three.
This is usually where the serious upset will start and Naomi will start her freak out.
Naomi: We not fight Ruth. We just fight right now, we not fight.
Such an amazing child. I love days when we are able to break through and see this side of her.
More little things:
That is not Mater. That is Lightning McQueen.
This is Sharp Tooth. His teeth very sharp. Followed by attempting to count, and actually getting a good amount of numbers between 1-20 in order, although still a far cry from counting to 20.
That is Daddy's coap. I mean coat.
(Very calmly, while Ruth is being a total brat) No throwing toys, no throwing toys, no throwing toys, no throwing underwear, no throwing toys.
We even managed to get through an autistic melt down! Naomi has a triceratops sitting in a certain place as part of her game, and Ruth grabbed it. Naomi immediately freaked out and got upset, and it turned into them both screaming and playing tug of war, a sight I see way too often. At this point, my heart dropped a bit, and I thought this special time was over. I kept trying to get Ruth to come and talk to me, since me saying (rather loudly over their screaming) for her to find a different dino was not working. I finally got Naomi's attention and asked her to take a deep breath, and she cried a little thinking I was going to make her give her toy to Ruth. I told her I knew Ruth was upsetting her, and she was upsetting Mommy, too. Naomi calmed down, Ruth was shamed and finally came, and I asked Ruth to go and ask Naomi if there was a different dinosaur she could play with. By the time Ruth turned back around Naomi was already holding one out. The contented, sweet, getting along playing continued.
Watching their game, I can definitely still see the autism. Naomi is very bossy and telling Ruth exactly how to play. I think part of the difference today is that Ruth is (somewhat) listening. I still rejoice in this play, because Naomi is acting out many things she has seen in Land Before Time, and adding a little of her own creative play, which is hard for her.
Days like today are a blessing, and they make me want to prevent any interruption that might end it. Unfortunately today we have her second assessment for the preschool, and I will have to cut it short. Right now, though, my heart is full.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Life with kids Entry #3
Kids bleed at the worst possible moments. They also pick their nose no matter how many times you tell them not to.
Example, today I was trying to install Facebook Chat while leaning over Tobiah who was sitting in the desk chair. Next thing I know, he screams "MOMMY, I'M BLEEDING!" at which point I look down and there is a puddle of blood on the chair next to him. I scooped him up, got a rag for his nose, then gave the same lecture I have given about a dozen times over the last month-fingers do not go in our nose. They give our nose owies.
Best part? He did not get a drop on his clothes, but covered both my hand and arm...
Example, today I was trying to install Facebook Chat while leaning over Tobiah who was sitting in the desk chair. Next thing I know, he screams "MOMMY, I'M BLEEDING!" at which point I look down and there is a puddle of blood on the chair next to him. I scooped him up, got a rag for his nose, then gave the same lecture I have given about a dozen times over the last month-fingers do not go in our nose. They give our nose owies.
Best part? He did not get a drop on his clothes, but covered both my hand and arm...
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Life with kids Entry #2
Sometimes kids don't quite make it to the toilet. Then sometimes you step in it.
Thank you very much for that rather squishy surprise sweetie.
Thank you very much for that rather squishy surprise sweetie.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
20 reasons
For my other half,
You complete me. I love you, and here are 20 reasons why:
1. Your desire to lead our family in a Christ-like manor.
2. Scales Family Skillet.
3. How you allow the two year old to be your shadow.
4. Countless games of Uno, despite my tendency to kick your tush.
5. Your instant joy every time I told you I was pregnant.
6. The fact I have four blankets, and you have one.
7. Beautiful purple tulips, even when you thought I needed orange.
8. How hard you looked for Charlie when he ran away.
9. My garden.
10. Forcing positive change for our family, even against my protest.
11. How about now? How about now? How about now?
12. Nachos at midnight.
13. Humoring my recent hair cut.
14. How I find a show to watch by myself, and you become obsessed so I have to wait to watch it with you.
15."That".
16. Late trips to the store to appease my picky appetite.
17. The way you always start talking to me online the same time I talk to you.
18. The lengths you go to make me happy.
19. Your sacrifice to make sure I sleep.
20. That two week period after our youngest was born that I did not change a single diaper.
You complete me. I love you, and here are 20 reasons why:
1. Your desire to lead our family in a Christ-like manor.
2. Scales Family Skillet.
3. How you allow the two year old to be your shadow.
4. Countless games of Uno, despite my tendency to kick your tush.
5. Your instant joy every time I told you I was pregnant.
6. The fact I have four blankets, and you have one.
7. Beautiful purple tulips, even when you thought I needed orange.
8. How hard you looked for Charlie when he ran away.
9. My garden.
10. Forcing positive change for our family, even against my protest.
11. How about now? How about now? How about now?
12. Nachos at midnight.
13. Humoring my recent hair cut.
14. How I find a show to watch by myself, and you become obsessed so I have to wait to watch it with you.
15."That".
16. Late trips to the store to appease my picky appetite.
17. The way you always start talking to me online the same time I talk to you.
18. The lengths you go to make me happy.
19. Your sacrifice to make sure I sleep.
20. That two week period after our youngest was born that I did not change a single diaper.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Life with kids Entry #1
I
need to take a five minute shower. Diego is on in the playroom, where
three kids are watching, while one is reading books and the last is
sleeping. A five minute shower shouldn't be too much to ask with all
these distractions, right?
Wrong.
30 seconds into my shower, Tobiah comes in.
Tobiah: Mommy, can I go play outside?
Me: No.
45 seconds later, he comes in again.
Tobiah: Mommy, I need to go potty.
Me: Tobiah, there are two other bathrooms in this house. Out.
15 seconds later, Naomi comes in.
Naomi: I need go potty, Mommy.
Me: Naomi, there are two other bathrooms in this house. Out, and close the door.
She doesn't close it, so I have to lean out of the shower and do it myself.
Two minutes later, I'm getting out and drying off, and I think the interruptions have ended. Wrong. This time it is Ruth.
Ruth: More Diego, Mommy?
Me: Ruth, Diego is not over yet.
Yes. That is a life with kids.
Wrong.
30 seconds into my shower, Tobiah comes in.
Tobiah: Mommy, can I go play outside?
Me: No.
45 seconds later, he comes in again.
Tobiah: Mommy, I need to go potty.
Me: Tobiah, there are two other bathrooms in this house. Out.
15 seconds later, Naomi comes in.
Naomi: I need go potty, Mommy.
Me: Naomi, there are two other bathrooms in this house. Out, and close the door.
She doesn't close it, so I have to lean out of the shower and do it myself.
Two minutes later, I'm getting out and drying off, and I think the interruptions have ended. Wrong. This time it is Ruth.
Ruth: More Diego, Mommy?
Me: Ruth, Diego is not over yet.
Yes. That is a life with kids.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
For Ruth
My sweet Lue-Lue Bean,
Tomorrow you will be two. It is so hard to believe your second birthday is already here! Especially in the last couple of months since we have had your baby sister, I have thought a lot about all of the snuggles we used to have, and what a sweet natured baby you were. I certainly miss those quiet times together, since it is not very often these days that you want to cuddle with Mommy. Daddy seems to get all of your sweetness, while I get the stinker side of you. That is ok though, you make me laugh every day with your silliness, and I cherish that just as much as I once cherished our snuggles.
I love how talkative you are. You are still very reserved when others are around, and I think a lot of people don't believe me when I tell them what a huge vocabulary you have. Lately you have started talking to Grandma a little, though. She came over a few days ago, and you said "hi grandma" in an excited little voice, although you then quickly started crying for Mommy. I think you are scared I'm going to leave you with her, and right now you don't like being away from me. That's ok, too, because I don't like being away from you, either.
About a week and a half ago, you said your first four work sentence. We were in the car, and you were trying to sing "Row Row Your Boat", and you would sing a couple words, and then say "I did it, Mommy!". Daddy and I were so proud of you for not only starting to sing, but also that you were saying a four word sentence.
Lately you have also started hoping. I think you forgot how to walk, and instead you hop everywhere. You also love to pretend to be a frog, and I adore how you say "ribbit". You stop every time I try to record you, though. You also enjoy running in circles, and playing chase with Naomi. I think you live to be a pest to her, but it brings me so much joy to see the love between the two of you. God has certainly used you to bring Naomi out of her antisocial shell, and it makes my heart happy. You are already such a huge blessing to our family sweetie, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for your life.
It also makes me happy to see how much you love "Land Before Time", which you call "Time". Those movies were my favorite as a child, too, and I enjoy seeing how much like me you are. You also display our similarities in how much you love kitties.
Ruth, I love you. You are a sweet, wonderful child, and I am blessed beyond words to be your Mommy. I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with you (and I cannot wait until you are old enough to enjoy having birthdays back to back, we really will be able to celebrate birthdays together!), as well as look forward to many more memories and love to share.
Love,
Mommy
Tomorrow you will be two. It is so hard to believe your second birthday is already here! Especially in the last couple of months since we have had your baby sister, I have thought a lot about all of the snuggles we used to have, and what a sweet natured baby you were. I certainly miss those quiet times together, since it is not very often these days that you want to cuddle with Mommy. Daddy seems to get all of your sweetness, while I get the stinker side of you. That is ok though, you make me laugh every day with your silliness, and I cherish that just as much as I once cherished our snuggles.
I love how talkative you are. You are still very reserved when others are around, and I think a lot of people don't believe me when I tell them what a huge vocabulary you have. Lately you have started talking to Grandma a little, though. She came over a few days ago, and you said "hi grandma" in an excited little voice, although you then quickly started crying for Mommy. I think you are scared I'm going to leave you with her, and right now you don't like being away from me. That's ok, too, because I don't like being away from you, either.
About a week and a half ago, you said your first four work sentence. We were in the car, and you were trying to sing "Row Row Your Boat", and you would sing a couple words, and then say "I did it, Mommy!". Daddy and I were so proud of you for not only starting to sing, but also that you were saying a four word sentence.
Lately you have also started hoping. I think you forgot how to walk, and instead you hop everywhere. You also love to pretend to be a frog, and I adore how you say "ribbit". You stop every time I try to record you, though. You also enjoy running in circles, and playing chase with Naomi. I think you live to be a pest to her, but it brings me so much joy to see the love between the two of you. God has certainly used you to bring Naomi out of her antisocial shell, and it makes my heart happy. You are already such a huge blessing to our family sweetie, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for your life.
It also makes me happy to see how much you love "Land Before Time", which you call "Time". Those movies were my favorite as a child, too, and I enjoy seeing how much like me you are. You also display our similarities in how much you love kitties.
Ruth, I love you. You are a sweet, wonderful child, and I am blessed beyond words to be your Mommy. I look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with you (and I cannot wait until you are old enough to enjoy having birthdays back to back, we really will be able to celebrate birthdays together!), as well as look forward to many more memories and love to share.
Love,
Mommy
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Kidisms
Kids say the silliest things.
"If we were sugar, we would be out in oatmeal and be eaten."-T 3/13
"When Elli is a mom, I am going to call her baby Thomas."-T 3/13
"You're Nae-Nae!" "Goodnight Nae-Nae!"-Nae 3/13 (part of our nightly game, I call her Mommy)
Ruth: "Uh-uh!"
Naomi: "Don't say uh-uh me, Rue-Rue!"
Ruth: "Uh-uh!"
Naomi: "Don't be mean to me, Rue-Rue!"
Ruth: "Uh-uh!"
Naomi: (Cries for a minute) "Rue-Rue mean me, Mommy! She say uh-uh!" 4/25/13
Naomi: "Ahhh! Cookie Monster!"
Ruth: "Ahhh! Run!" 4/25/13
"If we were sugar, we would be out in oatmeal and be eaten."-T 3/13
"When Elli is a mom, I am going to call her baby Thomas."-T 3/13
"You're Nae-Nae!" "Goodnight Nae-Nae!"-Nae 3/13 (part of our nightly game, I call her Mommy)
Ruth: "Uh-uh!"
Naomi: "Don't say uh-uh me, Rue-Rue!"
Ruth: "Uh-uh!"
Naomi: "Don't be mean to me, Rue-Rue!"
Ruth: "Uh-uh!"
Naomi: (Cries for a minute) "Rue-Rue mean me, Mommy! She say uh-uh!" 4/25/13
Naomi: "Ahhh! Cookie Monster!"
Ruth: "Ahhh! Run!" 4/25/13
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Free
Yesterday Naomi had what I think was the most freeing and amazing experience of her life. Since she learned to walk, she's been a runner, so I have never let her out of my sight when at parks or really anywhere. She is either on a leash (which I'm sure some people disagree with, but I don't care, it's a safety issue with her, and I'm actually currently saving up for one that is specifically designed for autstic children and will fit her for the next six years or so), in a stroller, or tightly holding my hand.
Yesterday we went to a friend's house, and she lives in the country. I was super hesitent at first, and actually freaked once when she squeezed past my friend when she opened the door and darted (yeah, I ran out on the frozen ground barefoot), but once we went out to play and I got to walk around and really look at the yard, I was able to relax and let her run free. All I had to do was stand close to the driveway chatting with my friend (or breaking up fights, there were a total of seven kids there, haha), and I knew she was safe. I watched her run in the big field behind their house, flapping her arms and yelling "fly, fly, fly!" (she is obsessed with Land Before Time), and I had to really choke back the tears. It was amazing to me to see my baby be able to do that, and I know she got so much out of it.
With all the struggles we've had, and all the limits I have to put on her to keep her safe, I think that was one of the best things I've ever been able to watch. I've experienced some truly amazing things as a mom, but I think that was the best.
Yesterday we went to a friend's house, and she lives in the country. I was super hesitent at first, and actually freaked once when she squeezed past my friend when she opened the door and darted (yeah, I ran out on the frozen ground barefoot), but once we went out to play and I got to walk around and really look at the yard, I was able to relax and let her run free. All I had to do was stand close to the driveway chatting with my friend (or breaking up fights, there were a total of seven kids there, haha), and I knew she was safe. I watched her run in the big field behind their house, flapping her arms and yelling "fly, fly, fly!" (she is obsessed with Land Before Time), and I had to really choke back the tears. It was amazing to me to see my baby be able to do that, and I know she got so much out of it.
With all the struggles we've had, and all the limits I have to put on her to keep her safe, I think that was one of the best things I've ever been able to watch. I've experienced some truly amazing things as a mom, but I think that was the best.
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