Overdue post

Wow I haven't posted in a while and to the perhaps one person who reads this or to myself who may want to ponder it at a later time sorry for the lack of updates; things have been crazy here.
Since my last post quite a bit has happened.

Ethan has had his diagnosis changed from pddnos to autism. I have discontinued services for the intensive ABA program and plan to keep it that way. I will probably look into a less restrive program that will also agree that especially for higher functioning kids they can learn from their environment they just need a little help. A room with very few people isn't always the best answer for these kids. At the same time I realize that some kids do benefit from this program just not my own.

We have decided to move. On one hand it has been too much amidst all the chaos, however, our hope is that end the end the move will be just what we need. We will have more room, more storage, and a backyard. These are the things that we as a family has been missing. This Saturday, the 7th, is our move day. The kids will be with my Mom while we quickly try and make the move go smoothly and have a warm welcome for the kids. They are not immune to the stress that we have endured.

Adam will be receiving his first round of medication today from the MIND institute. This is for a risperdal study that we are involved in. It is a double blind study so not sure whether he is getting the placebo or not until 6 weeks from now. This has been stressful due to the constant appts we have had to go to in order to prepare for the accuracy of the study and to make sure he is healthy enough to take the medication. On another note Ethan is in the APP study which has also had a lot of appointments and more to come.

Ethan tuirned 3! We went to Chuck E Cheese and had Rob's family and one of our friends over to celebrate. It was small but fun. He deserved especially considering he didn't get one for his 2nd birthday due to a hospitalization. He participated more thanI thought he would that day as well. He didn't blow out the candles and didn't want to see us singing but he still sat there which is a huge improvement!

The next day he started his first day of preschool. I stayed the whole day. The next day I left him to experience it for himself. ;) He has done amazingly well. He is happy everytime I go there. In fact most times he tells me to go away and that he doesn't want to go home!

To top all these stressful changes my car was broken into and purse was stolen on Friday the 28th. I was taking Adam to school, left my van at 11:51 and returned to it at about 11:58 only to find the window smashed in and my purse gone. It happened too fast and I find it hard to believe that nobody saw anything considering many parents were taking their kindergarteners to school and I left the van with no parents behind me and returned with at least 4 cars behind me. Those who I have spoken to claim they saw nothing. The purse had my ID, ccs, bank card, shot records, cell phone, etc. The phone was expensive and I'm so mad about that. Everything else was taken care of. They tried to charge more than a grand at Walmart about 15 minutes after they took my purse. Then close to 2thousand 20 minutes later at Sams Club. I'm mad to say the least. Sad as well. It was my fave purse!

Anyway this is too long and hope to update more often after the move so that I don't have to have such a long post.

Happy Birthday Adam

Today is Adam's 6th Birthday! Nothing special has happened so far. We had a long day at the MIND for a medication study that they are doing for treatment of autism symptoms. Onto that a different time. He opened a few presents from Grandma and Nana & Granddad. Rob is on Cabo on business (ya horrible huh? :)) so we are waiting until he gets back on Sunday to do cake and ice cream. We got him a Leapster 2 for Christmas and a couple games. I think he'll be happy about that. Well, I need to see about putting Ethan to sleep and setting up the other kids with a movie. Eragon will be watched tonight. :)

Evolution in process

I'm seeing the evolution of puberty/teenager taking place in my home. Rebekah has taken up shaving her legs. She also started listening to the radio at great lengths. She likes to hang in her room now playig her DS and blasting the radio. Right now she is taking a shower with the radio in the bathroom...its LOUD!! OMG this is only the beginning. At least I only have little bits I know it gets worse......

Boys at this moment

Thought I'd quickly post why on a weekend at 8am I'm able to post anything.
Well, Adam is in the bath right now with his crocodile that he received for Christmas which he explicitly asked for ("I want a plastic or rubber crocodile that I can take in the bath with me thats this big and can float"). He also has goggles on and is pretending to be Steve Irwin diving in the water viewing the "crocs". I hear jumping splashing and some Australian accent at the moment. :)

Ethan is holding his BuzzLightyear and Woody while watching Toy Story. He knows a lot of the words and just stares at it while talking through the scene. It is almost over and will try and sneak in some play time.

The Joys of school projects

So Rebekah, age 10, has several school projects coming up. I have to admit that I've postponed many to the last minute due to the stress level these projects can cause in my home. By February she has a 3D model of a national park to complete, a Wax Museum Project, and a biography. I have this all in my datebook including when we SHOULD start but it never does. Whose fault is it? I hold the supplies and pocketbook for ones we don't have. Wonder if the kids who don't complete these time consuming projects just don't have a home that has the time or gives the effort in their childs education.

Today we will be working on her 3D model. We have a kit which helps tremendously. But it was $20 and I know not everyone can afford that. We started it late it is due next week. Oh well I figure if it gets done by then and passes with an A or B we are doing alright. If it goes wrong I'll be posting that. LOL We have to work around her 2 brothers which includes one who is absolutely obsessed with her doing this project and has whined that he wants the same kit.
Wish her luck....