In the Midst of Things

Today is a post I need for myself. It's a wonderful day. It's Lucy's 6th birthday and she is having a big time with her new toys and seeing her Grandpa Hiatt today. I'm so glad they are getting to make these  memories together.

I will have a different memory of this day I think.  I will remember this as a day where I felt like a failure. I don't say these things because I am looking for praise or adoration from anyone. I say it because right now in the midst of things I'm having a hard time. Part of me knows this will pass or maybe will even be funny in a few years but right now I'd like to go ahead and skip ahead to the nogstiaclic part.

There are a variety of reasons that life has been stressful. I could list them, but I won't. Some of them are things I can work on. (such as helping the kids be better organized) Others are things I can't. Today Rex was just having a day. It may have started because we didn't go straight home after school or because he has a runny nose or because I didn't have the train that he was hoping for with me, but he spent a good 10 min trying to smack me in the face while we were at a frozen yogurt shop.  It's a defeating feeling, later when he wet his pants while in the car and I had to listen to him scream that he was wet the whole way to drop Claire off at dance class. Moments like these are known as meltdowns. My child is not throwing a tantrum to get what he wants. Meltdowns usually build over a time and result from something in the environment becoming too difficult or stimulating or when expectations in situation are not met.

In this journey of our family I try to stay positive and upbeat and in few days I most likely will feel better. But I wanted to write today about how sometimes things suck, especially in the midst of things, and all parents feel like this. I think the hardest part is not knowing what to expect for my son next. Will he still do these things in Kindergarten? Will I ever be able to potty train him?

This leads to another aspect of my life that needs some TLC. Right now, I am thinking of going to grad school to become a behavior therapist. I'm praying to know what path I will take in my life as my teaching license comes up for renewal in the next 3 years. I am both excited and terrified of the idea. I know I want to be able to learn and help other parents, teachers, etc who are feel the way I do today because I know how alone and out of place they can feel. There are many factors to consider with this idea and I want to make the best choice.

For now, I'll be content with my feelings. I'll hope for a good night's rest and I'll pray for each of my children to be happy and successful.

This maybe the closest I'll ever get to a detailed travel log of our trip. It was memorable for sure. From the 15 passenger van, no hotel on our first night, and a long drive. There was plenty of trouble for trip up. We ended up loving the van and everything working out just fine.  Universal Studios was great for Claire to soak up every second of Harry Potter World. Rex was less impressed was much of that area, although he did get to go on a super fast ride called Flight of the Hipogrph. In Dr. Seuss land we found lots of fun rides he could enjoy, including Cat in the Hat , which he rode 6 times in a row.  The 2nd day we hit more Harry Potter areas and the Curious George area, we also took a ride of the Revenge of the Mummy and one last (somewhat unfournate) train ride on the Hogwarts Express.

Disney was magical in the sort of after its over your sad kind of way. Getting in and out of that place was a bit wild. We got to ride 2 rides just to get there. The Disability Pass, made it all worth it though. We rode an incredable amount of rides without waiting in line by using our pass and coming back when during our assigned times. Buzz Lightyear, Winnie The Pooh, Tales with Belle, Teacups, Peter Pan's Flight and Its small world, and Dumbo, plus Mickey's Philmaric. Not to mention the fireworks and parade.  Thursday we hit all the rides hard and did Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, the Show about the Presidents, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Meeting Anna and Elsa, Areils Journey, its Small World, Buzz Lightyear and the People mover, in one day. It was so incredible and we ended the night with some great bugers and shakes at Fudruckers.

Videos of Universal and Disney

IN some what off order here is a few Videos of from the trip

Hogwarts train pulling in

Enchanted Tales with Belle 

Its a small world (my favorite ride)

All about Rex

With Rex's 3rd birthday approaching, and more alone time for me on the horizon I decided to take a few minutes to talk about my sweet boy.

We are currently in the process of diagnosing him with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Often, people ask me how I knew something might be a little off and I thought I could shed some light on the topic.

It really started when Rex was about 14 months.  I knew he really seemed to enjoy the TV show Thomas the Train and it really held his attention even at a young age. Prior to this age, Rex was an amazing baby. He slept through the night. He never fussed about much and seemed generally happy about most things. I noticed he enjoyed movement and watching things go fast but it was not something I was concerned about.

Anyway, we went on a vacation with my inlaws and family and we took Rex out of his own environment for the 1st time and the trouble began so speak with his attention span in the car. He was fussy and insisted on watching the same show over and over and would scream if I wasn't showing him books or pictures related to Thomas the Train.  Then as the weekend progressed, he was just very agitated about everything and was not interested in doing much of anything except for train related activities.

Then, Rex began to exhibit other unusual behaviors with toys (trains, and cars mostly as that was the only thing he showed interest in)   He would line them up over and over again for what seemed like hours.  Not always hours but for a much longer time than would be fun for any other child. Also, he was very non verbal.  Some people thought maybe he was shy (he isn't) or maybe that we was just really big train fan but I began to think differently.  I began to notice that he showed little interest in interacting with other children socially (except when kids were say running at the playground).

Also, one other clue was he did an unusual hand movement/face movement when he got really excited. At first we thought he was just really excited, since then, it is known as a stem.  Stemming is a repetitive movement.  Some kids may do excited fingers (almost like spirit fingers) or sort of flap their hand back and forth near their face.  Rex's is not very noticeable but when he is very excited, he will do some unusual finger movements by his side.

Anyways, all the things led up to me giving Early Intervention in my state a call to evaluate his speech delay and my other concerns. They came over evaluated and then decided if Rex would qualify for free in home therapy from the state of TN. We mostly focused on his speech and some other changeling behaviors that included: hair pulling, head banging, and biting.

Through these wonderful therapists and through working with medical and neuropsychologists to help rule out any medical causes, we are closer than ever to helping our sweet boy navigate this world.  Will some things be harder for him in life?  Yes.  Will people not always "get" him? Yes.
Will that ever change how I feel about my son or his potential in life?  No.  

Heavenly Father sent him to me because I need him in my life to learn that I can be stronger than I ever thought.  I love all of my children but Rex has helped my find the validation as a mother that I have always wanted my whole life. There is nothing that I won't do to see him be the very best he can be.  Our family is beyond blessed to have him in our family.

So Happy Birthday to my sweet son on Saturday!!! Thank you for being the best little boy in the world!!!!!

Rebirth in 2015???

I've been locked out of this blog for awhile since I couldn't remember my password to get into to it. I thought I might give it another try but for now I'm just trying to see if I remember how to work this thing.

Ok I've figured out a few things. Thats a good start.

10 Years.... My Top Ten Highlights.....

Claire's Blessing 2005

 Where did these kids go!? 2007

 Disney Cruise 2009

 College Grads 2006

 A Family of 5-2010

 Best 4 kids ever

 Just the 4 of us. 2007

 Just Married!!!!!! 2003

1. Leaving the Memphis Temple together after our wedding heading to our wedding luncheon and thinking... Uh... I don't feel any different but we are MARRIED!!!

2.  First time I tried to make spaghetti (as our first meal) and realized we didn't own a can opener. So I had to call my grandparents who lived close by and borrow one.

3. Our First Condo with our sweet puppy Max.  How simple our life was then.!!

4. The first positive pregnancy test!!!

5. You losing your first job and how sacred we were! Amazing now how that one thing set us up for the great job we have now.

6. The second positive pregnancy test.  

7.  Leaving our Germantown condo behind for house with a yard.

8. Driving 14 hours to Orlando to take our 2 cuties on Disney Cruise

9. The third positive pregnancy test. < Insert Lucy here.>

10.  The 4th positive pregnancy test. < Insert Uh-oh here and then insert my sweet baby love Rex>

What had happened was.....

Well you see what had happened was i got pregnant and then I went on a trip to chattanooga and then it was Easter and then we celebrated our 9th anniversary and then we found out we were having a boy and then we went to ST louis and then we had swimming lessons and then school started again and then on 9/20 (2 weeks early) Rex Michael was born 7pds 10 oz. Here's to 2012 being even more fun!!!