In the swim of things...

I've been busy in the dungeon! Lots of custom orders and beefing up C's stash in addition to stocking the store..
some Star Wars Fitteds for the store - already sold out, but more SW fabrics are on their way!!

one customer pocket (L) and one for Colin. I love the lime/orange combo. I also love how hte orange pops with the Dalmation.

this is for Colin.. It'll have fringe added - I forgot when I was assembling it D'oh! It is to go with his cowboy shirt!

I got more mesh and made a new batch of My Little Swimmers. I also solved the clashing diaper problem! I sold the red one and made him more blue! I put orange snaps on to match hsi shirt! (that came from Target!)


I also partcipated in a diaper exchange. I got to buy a cute little girly diaper and Colin got cool new fluffy mail! I read a post by my recipient (well... her mom!) that said that she wanted to try wool... so I whipped this skirty up! LOVE IT. the skirt is knit in purewool and the soaker and trim are crocheted in a wool that my MIL picked up on one of her trips to Scotland (where she is right now actually!)

Colin recived this ADORABLE diaper- I had to make this pic big so you can see the racecars on it! the T-shirt AND insert also came with it!!!

there was more diaper sewing... but the camera battery died... next up is Colin's epipen holder. then the next fabric order should be in and I can make some more fitteds and inserts.

In other news.. our wonderful stroller of over 6 years met with an unfortunate end last week... BUT we have new stylin' wheels! it is huge and heavy when folded, but we really got it for around town.. and we have an SUV...

Vegetarians

Ryan: Mom, I want to be a vegetarian when I grow up.
Mom: That's wonderful dear.
Ryan: Yeah, I like animals. I want to take care of cats and dogs and frogs.
Mom: You want to be an animal doctor?
Ryan: Yes, I am going to take care of pets!
Mom: that is a veternarian. a vegetarian is a plant eater.

Andy and Ryan playing dinosaurs..

Andyasaurus: ROAR I am I T-rex and I am a meat eater!!! are you a plant eater?
Ryanasaurus: ROAR I am a veternarian!
Andyasaurus: ROAR I am going to eat you!
Ryan: MOM! Andy is trying ot eat me!

The Pancake Incident

I decided to make pancakes for breakfast yesterday. no easy task in our house. I keep trying different kinds of "safe" pancake mix for Colin and I. Todd and Ryan have deemed them all "nasty" thus far. Andy- mr. pickypants - has eaten them ALL w/o argument. while I wouldn't say any are nasty - most are best described as odd.. so I've just given up on the rest of them and make dairy-free pancakes for Todd, Andy, and Ryan and I am still experimenting with brands for Colin and I.

I made ours first yesterday so that Colin could feed himself while I made the rest (I've given up on a hot meal LONG ago!). I let it cool a bit broke it up into 1" squares and put them on his tray. he eagerly scooped them up and shoved them in! I gave Ryan another to give him while I was still cooking. By this point, I notice him rubbing his eyes and thought "must be nap time" and continued to cook.

I finished cooking around the time he finished his second pancake. I went to go wipe him down, and get him ready for his nap. then I notice it. the eye he is rubbign is red and puffy! red bumps all over his face! I washed him up and changed his diaper & clothes.. sure enough - head to toe rash!

Called the pedi on call. after he verrified that he was breathing OK and not having an anaphylactic reaction, he instructed us on what to do if/when he has one. then he said to give Benadryl for the rash and not to give it if he does have anaphylactic reaction - call 911. ok- got that! he also suggested we get an epi pen jr (his Dr called it in this morning!). the Benedryl worked. rash/itch gone. he is fine now.

I later looked at the package. the mix had almond meal and buttermilk in it. grr.. culd have been either or both, but my vote is milk b/c of his reaction to Nutramagen... the worst part? those were the best pancakes yet!

so - now we are in EpiPen territory... YIKES! this is new and scary for me. we have to keep both (it is a 2 pack) together and with him. sometimes the reaction will reoccur 15 -30 min later. so where do I keep them? how do I use them? I hope I never have to!

the nose knows..

Todd took Colin back to the ENT for his follow up. it is his adenoids that are enlarged. his congestion did clear up, but appears to be comming back and they are getting enlarged again.. SO we can use the drops again if/when he has trouble eating, sleeping or breathing. We have to call her and let he know when we do. she doesn't want to remove them at this point. the risk of operating on a 9mo outweighs the benifits of surgury at this point. we will follow up in september and go from there. Hoping he will outgrow it, but accepting he may need them removed at some point. I really like this practice. they don't want to cut the kids open unless the have to. they listen and trust parents - they don't patronize. In turn, it is easier for us to trust and be open and honest with them. (also why I LOVE our pedi and my MW & the OBs she works with).

oh- and the picture.. I finished a new pair of shorties for Colin! they need elastic though.

Get the Muck out of my Garden!

First of all.. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US! 8 years today!

The boys and I built a little flower bed around the mailbox & lamppost on Saturday. The Clematis ressurected itself from being weed wacked last summer and the impatients were from mothers day. eventually that whole triangle of lawn will be garden. I am just going to slowly make the garden bigger and add more perrenials as I get them (ie when mom divides them!)

I'm also working on a top secret knit/crochet item.. all will be revealed in due time

Sunday, after soccer, we were ROASTING so I set up the kiddie pool... the water must have been cold b/c they were pretending to be penguins.. I have a feeling that it isn't going to be exciting enough for the big guys this year.. we may look for something wiht a slide or sprinkler attached I also put C in his swim dipe and SPF shirt and let him splash.. WAY to cold to let him go in the "big" pool! I think I may sell this dipe. I made it before I bought the shirt and they clash SOOO bad! I have since made some blue ones...

and now for my regualrly scheduled rant:

We had Andy's PPT last week. I am not going to go into details here, BUT he did test out of ST! no suprise there - he's been asking if he can stop, which tells me he isn't getting anything out of it anymore... BUT he still went 2 days later! ??? he is being exited from SE. fine. what about the rest of the goals he had on his IEP? and what about his test results? it did show behavioral issues (I can't be specific b/c WE STILL DO NOT HAVE A COPY 1 WEEK LATER!) shouldn't he have an IEP to deal with the behavioral issues? their reasoning is "we'll deal with it in class" umm ok I asked HOW not WHERE! we are now trying to pry a copy of the test results away from teh school to go over them and make some suggestions. he needs consistancy between home and school. SO aggrevating! we are trying to get him into a "multiage" class which is 1st and 2nd graders combined. great place for a kid with great academics and not so great social skills. they are explicitly taught in the MA class! as well as having older peers in the room! we visited the class after the PPT. the teacher was SO excited to be teaching these kids (with only 1 moth left f the year!) and the kids were VERY excited to show off what they could do! the kids are taught at their own level and encouraged to work together! they like to put siblings togeher too, so there is a possibility that A&R can be in the same class in a couple years!

Colin goes back to the ENT for a follow up tomorrow. he has been eating and sleeping great! I am anxious to hear what she has to say!

I crocheted him a pair of shorties and neglected to photo them yet, so it'll have to wait. but I also knit a version of them in the same colorway for a client. it'll be neat to see them together! next time.

just for fun!

You Are 84% A Child of the 80s

There's hardly a moment of the 80s that you missed out on. Was there ever a better decade? As if!

Are You a Child of an 80s?

and here is a BIG I wish! I'd be at my goal weight!

You Should Weigh 135

If you weigh less than this, you either have a fast metabolism or are about to gain weight. If you weigh more than this, you may be losing a few pounds soon!

How Much Do You Weigh?

HAPPY RED BIRTHDAY ANDY!

Andy is 6. his favorite color is no longer orange - it is red. he changes his favorite color on his birhthday. he has done this since his 4th birthday. we have NO idea why! he knows it isn't normal and he know he doesn't have to - but he wants to. He had his party at the MA school on Saturday! He got to bow e/o in and out AND e/o (incl daddy!) had to bow to him! how cool is that? we also got him a punching bag to practice his moves on. He is also getting a copy of his book (see the sidebar!) tonight - as well as his very first chapter book!

Party Pics- click to enlarge! my camera battery died, but my FIL took plenty of pics. I'll have to scan them when I get copies though.

Disturbing

I just read a post on the Vegan Doc's blog that made my stomach turn.
http://veganheartdoc.blogspot.com/2007/05/vegan-parents-starve-child.html

appearantly a uneducated and seriously misguided couple killed their infant by feeding him their take on a vegan diet. those of you who read this regularly know the ordeal I went through with Colin and getting his weight back on track. it was really hard, but we actually took him to the pedi.. and 2 specalists and did EVERYTHING in our power to help him get better. I could NOT imagine sitting back and watching him waste away and do NOTHING to help him. wasn it obvious that what they were doing wasnt' working??? the grandmother commented that he didnt cry more than any other baby... well do you think it could be b/c he was to friggin weak to cry??????

FWIW- although Todd and I are omnivores, Colin is still vegan. in fact all of my kids were vegan until 9-12mo...

Speaking of Colins health, he had to go to the pedi yesterday. his nose was running like a faucet (first time ever - now that his nasal passages are open...) and he was coughing and feverish. he had 2 breathing treatments and prednisone before he was OK to go home. he is now on prednisone, albuterol, and amoxil. Not sure WHY he is on antibiotics if ti is allergies and he is BF'd. not to mention that I am HIGHLY allergic to it and they were supposed to note the chart that although none of the kids have reacted to it, I have a severe contact reaction and it is NOT supposed to be in our house! yes, I did put a call into the dr. they are swamped right now and she is supposed to call me back.

Ryan is on Allegrea b/c he is having a tough time with spring, and Andy is still on his Singulair, but still coughing a bit. he coughed until he vomited 2x over the w/e :( Is the pollen done yet??? I think it is tree pollen getting all of us.

IT!

I got tagged by Shannon..

7 random facts about me,

1. My favorite tea is Yorkshire in the Orange box.
2. the smell of coffee makes me sick to my stomach.
3. I LOVE dark chocolate!
4. I pre-oredered Harry Potter!
5. my fave authors are Stephen King and Morgan Llewelyn
6. I need a "new" car that I can fit all of my kids in.
7. I really enjoy going for walks in my neighborhood.

7 blogs I read

1. yarn harlot
2. crazy aunt purl
3. post secret
4. indigirl
5. I'm knitting as fast as I can
6. wendy knits (don't you just LOVE Lucy???)
7. Marnie Talks

and tag 7 other bloggers...

1. VeganHeartDoc
2. Diane
3. Cynthia
4. Deb (Ha Ha Ha!)
5. Christine
6. You
7. You too!

post #200!

Here is a picture of Colin and his new buddy Duncan.. yep.. time to drag out the trains that I just put away... sigh...

We got a notice last night from Andy's teacher with his current reading level.. they want it to be a 4 by the end of the year... it is 6 now!

...but then he is a published author now... http://www.lulu.com/content/822642

If you want to pick up a copy of this adorable book... I am donating 100% of my cut to The Autism Society of CT.

Blingity Bling

Some Crochet Bling for me! I made this using Amy Swenson's pattern in "Not Your Mama's Crochet". link on the sidebar! It was SO much fun! In all the years I've been crocheting, I have never worked with wire or made jewlery. I am still waiting for the clasps to come from the e-bay seller. I need to get earring wires too. The earrings were an after-thought.. but I LOVE it! I think my next one will be something of the purple variety and I am going to use seed beads or some other kind or spacer on the alternate stitches. I may try some on hemp for another look... I cranked these all out this w/e while running all over creation with the kids! very simple, very pretty! and I think it is the sort of thing my "wardrobe" is lacking.. aside from clothes that fit... but that is another post!

Andy got some Karate Bling... Gold belt w/ black stripe! I am so proud of him! Martial Arts is really helping him more than I can clearly express in a blog! I am eternally indebeted to his instructors for their patience, consistancy, and values! they have the same expectations of him as they do the rest of the class and they know he is a SN student. he tried extra hard on Friday b/c he knew he was testing!

Ryan also earned his first stripe on his white belt on Friday! he will probably be a gold belt before he starts kindergarten!

Andy wasnt' the only one who tested Friday night! Todd tested for his Gold belt at his class Friday Night. It was too late for the boys to go, so no pics... but trust me! he has a gold belt! I'll have to get a picture of all 3 of them in their new belts this week! Andy isn't the only one benifiting from the classes. Todd is really getting in shape, eatign better and maybe he'll quit smoking again soon.. maybe! he wants to be around for his kids for a long time! and he doesn't want to be crippled for it either! I think he realized what ignoring his health was doing to him long term. he is also gettign the connection between a good diet and exercise and his BPD. it is a healthy release for him too.









How about some Karate BLAM BLAM? They let the kids beat each other with giant Q-tips!





Ryan seemed to be confused by being told to hit somebody... he needed a little help to get going....

Andy was really agressive! I was impressed - very un-Andy-like.. BUT he said he was doing his best b/c he was testing!

How could I forget!!!

I got this in the mail last week! SO cool to actually have it in my hands finally!!! It really is a fantastic book! lots of great patterns that I can't wait to try! soem great recycled projects too! in addition to my design using recycyled silk threads from sari making, there is a pattern for a throw rug made out of old jeans and a tote made from plastic shopping bags! My next project is the "Crochet Bling" as soon as my silver beading wire gets here!!! GREAT job Amy!!!

contemplation

I am trying to decide how much info about Andy, his testing, therapies and possible diagnosis to share on the internet...

on the one hand.. he is HF and may not be dx with anything and if he is, it is likely he'll be able to blend right in with the rest of us "normal" folks in short order. I dont' want his disabilities to define him or limit him. he is brilliant and loving and fun... jut not terrible coordinated or flexible (in any sense!)

on the other hand.. I don't want him to feel ashamed of who he is or that we are in any way asamed of him. I don't want him to have to carry a big secret around with him (weather he knows it or not) . the only way we can change poeple' s perceptions of ASD is by showing them ALL the faces of Autism...

so, I just don't know how much I want to get into.. but I will say this.. the school is evaluating him and trying to come up with a plan to deal with his behaviors. not a DX by any means, but if it helps him in school..GOOD! I am working with him at home to learn to make eye contact while talking. and Karate continues to strengthen him physically and mentally. (testing for his next belt tonight!!!!) that is all I have to say about that.. for now anyway...

Colin is doing great! he went to the ENT last week. she put a camera up his nose and found out that part of the nasal passage is enlarged and causing the "congestion". today is his last day of the sterroid drops. Todd will give her a call today and then she'll see him again in 3 weeks. we've noticed a big difference in hsi sleep! he has jumped from 4-5 hour streached to 8-9 hours! I woke up in a puddle of milk this morning! BUT I was able to pump an extra bottle form him before I left... good news there!

Ryan will be getting his very first stripe on his white belt tonight and Todd tests for his Gold belt tonight too! expect pics monday!

as for me .. I've been knitting and sewing away for my clients! BUT I am reserving my Thursday nights for quilting with Mom! I have been workign on a quilt now for.... crap I dont' know how long! 4y? anyway, I now have a goal! Mom is goign to sign me up for her guild this fall so that I can enter the quilt in the show next April....which gives me roughly 11 months to finish! AAAHHHH! a deadline!!! it is only a small wall quilt.. I've made bigger.. but this is FAR mroe complex! I paper pieced the fish. I used random blocks for the sea floor and now I am on th string piecing for the bottom, the water above the fish and then the fishing pole. then there are the appliques for the reel, more paper piecing for the lures then some embroidery and embelishments in addition to the quilting, binding, sleeve and label...

Hmmmm... maybe if I posted a little more often, I wouldnt' have a novel.. SORRY!

OH.. I may have a BIG announcement comming up!!! (and NO I am NOT pregnant!)

why Karate is better than Kindergarten...

So, Andy - who we suspect is mildly Autisitc, but cant get anyone to test him any time soon, has been taking a martial arts class since the fall. he's NOT the athleate in the family, but he enjoys it and he gets some exercise... Todd started takign the Adult class (he needs the exercise too!) and the 2 have been practicing together. we have found that when we tell him to stand at "attention" (they have another word for it - but I can't remember) he will pay attention to us and listen... really! he even stands still and makes eye contact! so, Friday we were telling this to his instructor. we were also saying that we are trying to get him eval'd for autism. she said "Oh, I thought he was" really.. the KARATE teacher (who is a beautician by day!) can see the that the behaviors are autistic!!! she told us that when they were walking into teh gym one day (it is an after school program), the walked by the office which has "mailboxes" for the different rooms labeled with the numbers. well, there is no room 4 or room 9 - they were converted to computer labs. he noticed that w/o really looking at them and he finds it EXTREMELY upsetting. to this day! that was when she figured he had ASD and then when he had a hard time paying attention and focusing in class.. which is why they moved him to the smaller class...
and his SE teacher actually listed his disruptive behavior then told me they wouldn't test him b/c they didn't think he was autistic b/c he has friends! (one of which has AS btw...)

Ryan did jump in to the class on Friday as well. the boy is GOOD! a natural athleate! he needs to work on listening adn following directions.. not to mention showing me a LOT more respect. Not the same issues as Andy - he is just being a spoiled little brat! he is pushing me to see if my rules are the same as Daddy's. I also think he is still bent about me going back to work... I think the MA class will really help. I also think more school will do him a world of good! he'll have to spend more time taking turns and waiting in line next year.

Frogwebs, Fish, and appointments

First - cute fluff pics.. cause it is my blog and I can!
Spiderfrog - made by me! Cotton print outer, lime seuadecloth inner, red snaps


I also got my custom KND from www.clothdiaperoutlet.com Beatiful craftsmanship. crazy fast shipping - she MUST know someone! nice trim fit! it is higher in the rise than I am used to, but that may be a good thing! the monkey has worn it once, so cant give a full review on fit, but A+ on quality and shipping


Thing #1: PPT was tuesday. Good: He is doing GREAT academically, he has a nice little group of friends and he has made tremendous improvements. the SLP said his vocab and comprehension were above grade level. the teachers were also impressed that he was so proud of his faith and that he was donating a part of his allowance to charity...(a Grandmother in need of children to Granny gave A&R each $1 for being SO good in church on Good Friday! she told them to buy themselves something. what did THEY decide to do? they put it in the collection basket on Easter! THEIR idea! I'm a VERY proud Mama!) oh - he is also grasping hte concept of "personal space"!
Bad: he still doesnt get that talking is a 2-way form of commumincation that involves speaking and listening! his voice is almost always too loud. he has a lot of ritualistic behavoirs - and has a FIT if life deviates from the ritual. he is stubborn and usually insists on having things his way - or he melts down. they finally noticed his stimming, humming and retreating into "Andyland".
Ugly: It took reminding adn pressuring to get them to retest him for speech w/pragmatics before his 6th bday or he will lose eligibility. I also asked that he be screened b/c ALL of those negative behaviors the teachers noted above are Autistic behaviors. they are disruptive to the class and make learnign difficult for him. BUT when I asked them to test, they tried to tell me they didn't think he was Autstic. I do not wnat him to be... but the reality is that he may be. he may need more services and I will fight for him to get them! I have begun with what I think was a nice f/u letter to the principal reiterating what was said in the meeting, confirming the Speech testing and requesting the ASD screening. we are also takign him to a psychologist and looking into a developmental pedi. fun never ends!

Thing #2: had his MMR and medical forms complete for kindergarten! he is starting Karate tonight (attempt #2). he is cute, smart, and a PITA.. but I love him!

Thing#3: is trying to crawl when not being smothered by two overly loving big brothers! he had his check up on Tuesday as well. he is up to 15.9# which is good, but still the 5%ile. we wen tover the allergy test results and she gave teh go-ahead for more solids... YAY.. he is sucking down food like he has never been fed.. but still isnt' catching up. since he is STILL congested 24/7 we are takign him to the ENT. the same one the sleep center referred us to for Ryan. we really liked him. I hope we'll get some answers there. if he could breathe better, I KNOW he could eat better! speaking of food.. as much as it kills me to have to supplement, we ahve been able to get teh insurnace to cover the formula... further reinforcing my view of it being medicine.

And a belated Happy Easter & Passover

Settled....

almost 3 years after the fire, we've settled with the insurnace company. Still not nearly what we should have gotten, but it would have cost more in legal fees than the difference is worth. suckd when the systems screws you. suck when the insurance company hires a contractor that does more damage than they fix. You pay your premium and you expect your insurance company to be there when you need them. well, we found out the hard way that just in't true! IMO, Vermont mutual is out for the $ and could care less about the people and the homes they insure! at least that is the message they sent us! the FD did an EXCELLENT job! they responded in just a couple minutes and they kept the damage to a bare minimum. so WHY did it take 18m before our house was livable? and 30m after the fire it still is not completely finished b/c we've been fighting over several tousand dollars! If your house ever catches on fire, get teh family out and let it burn!