So, it’s been a summer.

I very much unintentionally took an entire summer off from blogging.  That’s kind of a long fucking time.  But I suppose, in some way, it’s what I needed I guess.  Or it’s just the ultimate example of my crappy time management skills.  But I digress.

So we had a summer, a long short summer of learning. 

We learned PX's preferred learning style, which is no nonsense & involves lots of PECS.  We learned that both kids are basically living examples of "If you give a mouse a cookie..." in terms of learning and discipline.  "Alright, you can have your snack on the couch."  *two minutes later*  "ARE YOU TRYING TO PLAY HASEL AND GRETEL?!  This must be the start of the rebellion."
We learned Rizzle probably has a muppet & puppet fetish, BUT the amount of sign language and basic words she's picking up from all her furry favorites give it a plus side.  I kind of figured her love of Elmo and Jason Segel would eventually boil over.  Time to introduce Miss Piggy!

I learned I can never have too many calendars.  NEVER.  And Post-Its and white boards.  Notes, yo, they (kinda) work.
I learned that at some point PX will probably be paying me for the pleasure of doing the dishes.  This day honestly cannot come soon enough, as dishes are the bane of my existence.  That, and laundry.
We learned, to even the kids' surprise, they are duck whisperers.  Yes, duck.  I'm surprised we were able to leave the zoo without a few stashing themselves away in the stroller. 

I can't explain why that's invaluable, but it just friggen is.  I'll explain more at another time, because it's just too much for this.
But now summer is over.  We've moved into a new, bigger place and it's time to settle in to our routines and get back to normal.  Well, our normal.

I really haven’t posted since May? {Wait, hold the phone, it’s JUNE?!}

I need to blog more.  :/

I started to write a big long post about my last two (three?) weeks of HELL and got bummed out.  June has been tough, with everyone sick and shit (literally), and I was just starting to relive all the (literal) shit.  So, the way of DELETEALLTHETHINGS it went because now I’m not craving a margarita in a Prozac-rimmed glass.  It’s just more like one or the other.

I kinda keep procrastinating in actually posting a post, I believe, because I’m hoping things will really improve.  Because wrapped up with all the sickness followed by rain followed by the Satan’s balls heatwave we’re currently experiencing, Drax (the daddy trapped on the crazy train with moi) has been to the doctor’s/hospital roughly 6 times due to his back and has been diagnosed with complete degenerative spinal stenosis with some spinal spurs in his neck to just sweeten the deal.  At 24 years old, he has the spine of a senior+ citizen (has apparently lived with this his whole life?) and surgery’s not exactly being ruled out yet.  Next week he begins his “pain relief plan” or whatever our hospital’s fancy PC phrase is for shots and therapies. 

And on top of this, we’ve started to add services for PX, up to 3 a week, and next week is his official evaluation by a developmental pediatrician.  He likes his new providers/workers/therapists but this routine disruption has brought out some behaviors.  And night waking.  Lots of LONG night waking, and playing.  Even after days filled with trips to the park, sensory activities, and therapies.  I think my kids are going to be like me, and sleep like shit till puberty hits, at which point they decide they cannot get enough snoozes. 

But, thankfully, our good moments have been MARVELOUS moments and actually got captured in pixels.

Hey Girl, it’s Been a Whole Week…

It’s Friday…again?!  I knew it’d been a while since I blogged, but didn’t think it’d been THAT long.  I took a mini break to try to get myself to stop being so pessimistic about, well, everything.  To just stop, clear my head for summer, and remember to just enjoy the little things again.  Relish in the positives.
Like the fact it’s been a few weeks since any epic Code Brown incidents.  I feel like PX should be getting some sort of award- the Golden Throne?  Maybe I should go get a (clean!) Pull-Up bronzed.
And he’s clapping again, clapping when he’s happy or along with the audiences on Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy.  It’s been SO. LONG.  Like, a year?
And social relationships are, to an extent, starting to sink in; more exists in the world than mom, dad, television, and physical objects.  He may not be chasing down the other little boy at playgroup (unlike Rizzle), but he is using him as a model, to obtain some sort of structure to playtime.  Last week the boy didn’t attend, and PX was lost; he spent the majority of the time stimming on everything in the classroom, completely lacked focus. 
At home he’s rediscovered his sister.  I’m so glad she relishes in his goofy games.  Last night he spent almost 15 minutes taking Daddy’s hat on and off her head, giving her eye contact, making her clap because the rest of us were, including her.  And she just hooted and giggled and smiled through the whole interaction.  At bath time he’s helping to wash her hair and rinse out the suds and feed her bubble cakes.  He’s never been completely oblivious to Rizzle, and it’s always been obvious he loves her, but lengthy interactions like this haven’t existed since she was the curiously cross-eyed thing mom and dad brought home from…wherever.
And then there’s Rizzle, who is walking EVERYWHERE, who has taught herself how to use all the remotes in the house and how to change the disc in the blu-ray player.  Staying one step ahead of her?  Impossible.  (I love it.)
So, back to being positive around here!  I’m determined! 
And considering it’s Friday, it’s time for some Ryan Gosling!  I got all excited when I saw the picture for this week’s SNRG over at Adventures in Extreme Parenthood, because I’ve had that shot saved on my hard drive for a bit but, after my initial meme idea from way back, I was distracted at a loss.  Ryan noticed.

Aww lemme go get the weighted blankie.

Thanks Ryan.  Tight pants + the tiniest bit of abdominal flesh = umm, what were we talkin’bout again?  *fans self*

Oh yeah, over the past week I finally saw Crazy, Stupid, Love (that and Blue Valentine are the only RG movies I hadn’t/haven’t seen) and all I can say is OMG TIGHT PANTS.  F’rlzies Ryan?  It’s like you’re Photoshopped!

& with that, happy Friday!

Say What? Say Yay!

Good things all around the Heck house this week thusfar.
1) I got a nice surprise when I logged into Google Reader this morning and I saw I was featured over at Polish the Stars!  My toddler pillow!  I’ve never been featured anywhere.  I feel like I did the first (and only) time I’ve ever actually won anything.  Go me!  *toot toot* my little special horn!
2) PX has gained a new word- happy.  Or, in specialspeak, hauhpeeeeeeeeee.  I think my heart stopped the first time. 
3) Rizzle has decided to wave her white flag and hold her own damn bottle 90% of the time!  Success!  She’s only turning one tomorrow, yaknow. 

Yeah that’s right girl, you’re gonna be ONE!!!

4) Speaking of tomorrow, we FINALLY get our first OT visit tomorrow.  With most likely a full sensory profile on PX, so we can figure out his sensory diet and start drafting up his more structured, ABA-based home therapy visits.  If the trial run last week is any indication of how the first few sessions will go, I’m SOSing for wine.  Actually, fuck the wine and just send tequila.  Bottles.  Jugs.  A stubborn toddler with sensory hyposensitivity who’s most likely on the spectrum?  Yeah.  Send me a damn tugboat of tequila.  Captained by Ryan Gosling, of course. 
5) This fatass is 12lbs lighter!  Thanks body for finally recognizing I’m not pregnant any more!!  *toot toot* my special horn again!

I’ll Take an Allegra Martini, Shaken Not Stirred.

It’s gorgeous out.  The sun is shining, there’s a crisp breeze blowing, a crystal clear blue sky.  And we’re inside.  Because I cannot go more than two minutes without sneezing, blowing my nose, or drowsily exclaiming I need a new sinus system.  Not to mention PX’s nose might as well be a river and Rizzle is perfecting the surprise snot attack.  GAAAAAH.  But if my biggest whine of the day is how I’m missing a good weather day because of the Three Allergy Musketeers, I might as well STFU and be thankful my house isn’t being torn to shreds by a tornado.  Seriously, in comparison I’m just a whineass, amiright?
In reality, this ginormous allergy assault is actually a blessing in disguise; it’s forced me to slow the heck down and FINALLY finish PX’s picture communication cards just in time because *drum roll* we have a signer!  It’s been exactly a week since this guy decided to consistently tell us he wants a drink, and when he’s done (usually with us, stinker lol!), as well as trying like hell to express when he’s hungry! 
 

Victory is ours!

That may not seem like much to many (most) but it’s a blessing in disguise really; every day we get to experience one small victory, one of the “small things” that get taken for granted (even on the batshitcrazy days when that “little thing” just may be the poop stayed off the walls and in/on the diaper—you know, THOSE days).  Sure it won’t keep me from worrying about his progress in the big picture, but it guarantees at least one smile a day.  That ain’t bad, f’reals.

Developmental Playgroup will be the Death of Me!

Actually, that’s a big fat lie.  But the “oh crap, you mean we’re HOME now and I can’t swing from the therapy swing or jump into the ball pit?!” meltdowns are probably taking days weeks years time off my life.

For those who don’t know, which is just about everyone because I’ve never expressed this in a public form, my beautiful rambunctious bundles of uniqueness are developmentally different.   (I refuse to say “delayed” when there are a multitude of milestones each have hit earlier than average, like PX walking at 10.5 months and operating a DVD player by 20 months).  They are as special as they come, and early intervention is just the start of our journey.

PX, my constantly twirling two-year-old, was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder and is now awaiting further evals from an OT and developmental pediatrician to determine if he is on the autism spectrum.  If I were a betting woman (which I probably would be if I weren’t a broke-ass), I’d doubledown on PX having ASD.  Rizzle, the diva at not even a year old, has a set all her own of sensory difficulties and oral problems thanks to an attached upper lip frenulum.  Because inheriting my big ol’ overbite with beaver teeth wasn’t enough.

But the most amazing thing is, my children have no idea they have these differences and difficulties.  They are blissfully unaware, happily spinning in circles or hooting at Curious George or carefully studying the mechanics of illustrated vehicles.

And this makes me happy, and reassured that although they will undoubtedly throw me for loop after lemony loop, we’ll all be fine.  After all, we can just blissfully twirl in circles, clapping along to Maroon 5, when the going gets tough (and at least two of us will be stress-free).

April Showers Indeed

Don’t let the saying fool you:  it applies to more than just the weather!

 

I don’t believe I have had an uneventful April upon graduating from high school in 2004.  In college April was always the home stretch of winter term, the beginning of numerous all-nighters used to accomplish projects (academic and otherwise).  During my collegiate hiatus it signaled the end of winter hibernation and work becoming a mob scene.  And now in motherhood April has taken on a life all its own, morphing to create 30 days of attempting to recuperate from random long nights planning festivities while tackling the new year growth spurts.   So it’s only fitting I decide to start blogging again, and working on expanding my Etsy shop’s inventory.  Because it would only make sense to do this during a slow month, like January, and I never do anything that makes sense.   This April, though, I do have the advantage of not having a newborn or being pregnant!  That’s what I call hope.

 

Now my kids are both huge, and playing together, and make me want to do something special for every holiday or special occasion!  And luckily for me April has Easter, my anniversary, Rizzle’s first birthday, Earth Day, and it is also National Poetry Month AND Autism Awareness Month.  I’ve probably forgotten some other events I will subsequently remember, celebrate, and record here but for now, this is it.

And it all starts this week with a special salute to poetry.

The Almost Twins, at 3 Months

If my little boogie doesn’t shoot up quick, by next year people will think they’re twins.  Unless Rizzle slows her roll and comes down from the nearly 100th height percentile.

A Quarter Down

It’s my birthday!  Today I turn a quarter of a century old (25!) so I celebrated by…
chopping up my hair--
eating tons of bad-for-me food--
getting lots of love from my lil monsters--
making a dress {for my festivities tomorrow, pictures will come soon}.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

HOW TO: a parade with your wee ones

  

 

This past holiday weekend allowed me to be out a lot with PX and Rizzle, as well as accomplish my first parade with tots.  Here are some tips to hopefully save you some sanity.

RECOMMENDED SUPPLIES

2 young tots

stroller system and baby carrier (preferably one that can be worn on the hip)

camera with fully-charged battery

sunscreen in the summer, scarves & hats in the winter

drinks and snacks

toys, games, loveys (if you’re toddler is very active)

1 oz sanity (can substitute caffeine and herbal alternatives)

 

1. Scope the parade’s route a day or two before the event.  Take note of stores, parks, playgrounds, easy exit areas, shady (or sunny depending on the season) spots, areas with less traffic, etc.  You may find travelling to a different spot than you’ve frequented in the past, even if it’s a few minutes further from your starting point, will allow you an easier time.  I lucked out and remembered that instead of walking up to the town square, I could take an extra 2 minutes and head west, claiming a spot in an elementary school playground.  The fenced in area allowed PX a lot of freedom to run around, on top of playing in the sandbox, and me less stress when Rizzle needed to eat and PX wasn’t ready to sit still.
2. Pack extra drinks, snacks, weather-appropriate accessories, and a couple of boredom busters.  In the summer, a sun umbrella, sunscreen, breathable nursing covers, and a mini cooler are must haves.  Oh and squirt guns/spray bottles for keeping the little ones (and you!) cool.  It was only 10am and poor PX was sweating like a pig. 
3. IF YOU ARE GOING ABOUT THIS OUTTING SOLO, a hip carrier is highly recommended.  Your 15 month old isn’t going to be able to see all that well standing or sitting in a seat close to the ground.  Your shoulders are not going to want to hold up a toddler the whole time.  The hip carrier gives your eldest a great view and gives you two hands! 
4. IN THE EVENT THAT YOUR ONCE OVERLY EXCITED TODDLER SUDDENLY (and randomly!) FALLS ASLEEP…pray a big, annoying truck comes along and (doesn’t) wake up the tykes who obviously blame you and give you looks of death.

 

Back to the Same Old, Same Old

 

Coming off two straight days of having Daddy Drax around the clock, the kiddos are fairly miserable especially PX.  Daddy is back to work for the next five days, a good 14 (or more occasionally) hours a day, and I need to come up with some ways to distract my little ones.  PX has always taken it hard; last summer when  DD had the same schedule, I’d have to use one of Daddy’s smelly old shirts for PX’s blanket or as a slipcover for his chair to keep him from getting upset.  At least Raven is a little more go with the flow and really only gets bothered when her brother is out of eye sight. 

 

But we were able to have some post-holiday fun as a family.  Walks, shopping, visits with friends, a BBQ, and a dinner out.  PX was finally able to get his hands on something he just loves to stare at from afar: a bicycle.  He wasn’t even out of the stroller before his little paws were all over it.  Guess it’s time to paroose craigslist for a toddler bike.

 

“You guys got nothing to worry about, I saw this on Curious George.  That makes me a qualified bike inspector.”

 

“Everything seems to be in working order but you’ll need to hand it over to me.  Why you ask?  Because I’m the bike inspector!  Respect my authority!”

 

 

Anywho, I’ve begun Phoenix’s immersion in the arts.  He now has full access to my camera (as long as it’s not being used as a chew toy) and is being introduced to writing implements.  He seems to prefer pens and pencils to chalk.  Once I find my crayon stash, it’ll be artwork on the walls time.  I’m not kidding.

July 4th, 2011

The Impromptu Nature Walk

I originally set out today with the intention of going to a carnival held at one of the parks in my town, complete with live music.  Where I ended up was on a nature walk with the kiddos that ended in some fun at the playground for PX while Rizzle napped.

 

And the winner of the craziest PJs of the night is…

my little boogie monster, PX!

Happy 2 Months, Rizzle!

   

My baby girl is growing up, and doing so particularly fast!

 

Today was her two month checkup and all of her stats are on the larger end of the charts.  Her height is above the 95th percentile, weight is right on the 75th, and her head circumference is pushing the 90th.  My girl is a big bruiser.  She is Rosie the Riveter.  She is…the polar opposite of PX.

A Love(l)y Update

When is it that pregnancy brain actually goes away and memory returns to normal?  I would like to be less forgetful.

The bunny went in for surgery just a night before PX was due for his last round of under 2 immunizations.  Genius, Elle.  Needless to say lovey was released from the plushie hospital the morning after a very basic removal of nearly dangling eyes.  The fact that this little cuddly bunny has NO eyes seems to only bother PX; he was too busy filling in bunny on his latest antics when they were reunited to notice the difference.  But I, on the other hand, am bothered by there only being quick stitches in place of eyes.  Hopefully all the vax backlash and current molar teething episode will be over soon so bunny may get his cosmetic reconstruction finished.

The only upside to this pause on bunny's fix up is I have been able to work on my Father's Day present turned birthday gift for Daddy Drax:  a custom hybrid mei tai.  I've been fine-tuning the overall design for a few months and after finding some perfect core fabric, I'm simply going for it.  Go big or go home I always say so we're forgoing a typical pattern and I'm working with this.  Yes, that is taped to the wall.  No, I have no idea what this table is of which you speak.  Maybe, probably, most likely I have lost my mind (see above paragraph).