And this is supposed to be our swimming day. Not good at all. Especially since Ryan has not gone swimming since last Monday because things go wrong and he melts down.
How to break the news to him? Or maybe I wait and see what will happen in about 2 1/2 hours.
It's the darn sippy and straw cups that I can't seem to get rid of.
Andy had a bottle until he was 2. I should have weaned him earlier but I am a wimp that way. He made the switch at 2 pretty easily. It was done in a few days. I was determined never to have Ryan use a bottle. That worked OK especially since he nursed until he was 20 months.
The sippy cup has been an evil curse. I thought it was great since the boys could drink without spilling. Little did I know. Those cup do spills, drops. But drops that still stain builder's beige carpeting. And those cups get lost and moldy. I don't even want to think how many of those I have purchased over the years. And then when I found blue ones and red ones I was overjoyed so I could assign a color to each boy and they would drink each other's drinks and I would know whose cup was missing. But then, those colors were around for only a limited time. And the school wanted us to get the boys off the sippy cup and using straws and juice boxes. (But wasn't I doing better for our ecology but not using juice boxes?)
So we switched to the straw cups. Cool. Now my kids looked more grown up. But those straws are so fun to chew. And soon I was buying cups to replace the damn straws! Dad found a site where I could get just the straws. But the boys continued to chew. I stopped replacing the straws. And I've stopped buying new cups. Each boy now has 3 cups and when they are gone, they are gone. When Andy misplaces his, he will use a regular cup and a straw. He even thinks it's fun. Ryan will go without and whine. (And Ryan is more high functioning.)
Summer time is difficult when we go out. We can't let the cups sit in the car with the heat, especially with Ryan's milk. So we take a cooler. But that's a pain. So I looked into getting thermos type cups. Ryan was hesitant but he allowed me to order a Scooby Do one for him. But then it got here and he didn't want to use it until he misplaced one if his cups. He didn't want to use another cup so he used the thermos. And now he prefers it to his cups. They really keep it colder.
I got one for Andy too. He didn't use his until yesterday. And he bit the straw off right away. They did come with replacement straws but I will not replace it, yet. He still prefers his straw cup from Playtex.
Andy takes after his father seeming to need less than average sleep. He is usually awake when I got to bed at 10:30 pm but stays in his room. Even going to bed that late, he gets up rather easily at 6:00 am. Oh to be young again!
We had plans to go to the mall today so Andy could ride the elevators. But first we went swimming. One thing I gave up with kids is wearing a watch. I got CPS pretty bad when I was pregnant with them and couldn't stand the watch on my wrist. The CPS got better but never went away after the boys were born and I still can't stand a watch on my wrist. There are plenty of clocks around the house so I don't miss my watch. I also tend not to pay too much attention to the time anymore like I used to. Ryan is my clock these days. Andy too those he doesn't wear a watch and doesn't see to look at the clock much. Anyway, between the 2 of them, they let me know when it is time to do something. Like this morning and going to the pool. I didn't even look at the clock when we left and we were there 5 minutes too early. They rarely open the pool on time and don't even think about early. They were 10 minutes late this morning so the 15 minutes ruined Ryan's day. He wouldn't swim again. I let him go to the car to get his book so he stopped pouting and whining right away. The pool was relatively empty, only 2 people. Andy was done swimming in less than an hour.
We had plenty of errands to run. Ryan got mad that I didn't go to the bank he expected me to go to. But it would have been out of my way. He didn't care. Again, he was upset and didn't want to eat lunch. I told him he had to. He said the fries were too hot but I saw him eating them within about 5 minutes.
Ryan had said days before that he didn't want to go to the mall to ride in the elevators. I said he didn't have to ride in the elevators but he had to go. He had a good time, especially when I let them go up and down the escalators in the main court. I let Andy go on all the escalators and elevators in the mall. He was happy and very excited when I showed him that the escalators were made by Kone. He decided that the elevators were Kone as well though there was nothing to say that they were.
We went into B Dalton Books. Ryan wanted a Thomas movie screen book but I said no when I saw it was $25! He would only look at it once and then lose the pieces. It was just for the novelty of it. The boys wandered into Build-a-Bear. It was busy and I didn't say they could get a bear. They don't ask. I am not happy with the poor quality of the bears. They are falling apart and we have fluff all over the house. We went to the Apple Store and I got to see an iPhone for the very first time. Very nice. Ryan was liking the iPod touch. Andy was happy to play the kids games on the computers. We left pretty empty handed. I got some hand lotions and votive candles and the boys got nothing. They didn't care.
We had time to kill so we went to Barnes & Noble. I think we spent too much time there, Andy was starting to get into trouble for trying to sit on someone's lap. Ryan got a Mario Kart Wii guide. We don't even own the game. He loves to read those guides. Now if only he would poop on the potty so we can set up the Wii.
sigh.
I should have seen it coming.
Today is Thursday. Thursday is swim day. The pool opens at 10:00. Sometimes, they are late opening the pool. Ryan didn't like that so last year, we went to the pool at 10:30. I assumed they would want the same time. I didn't pay attention to how early Ryan was getting ready. I was doing something on my computer and he was ready to walk out of the door. It wasn't quite 10. I told him I wasn't ready and he got a bit upset but seemed to let it go quickly.
We were in the car at 10:10 and driving down the street when I realized I had forgotten to take my claritin. I have a cold and it helps. So I drove around the block to home. Ryan was upset, "I quit." He wanted to go home and stay home. I grumbled or maybe yelled and he was quiet.
As we got close to the clubhouse I said, "Oh, it's Thursday. I bet the parking lot is full." They have a water aerobics class meet on Thursday mornings. Last week we got there only to have to turn around and go in the other entrance. Again, grumbles from the way back. "Ryan, if you can't deal with small problems, your life is going to be miserable. This is a small problem, not worth getting upset about." As it turns out, there were parking spots.
We got out and were walking to the clubhouse when Ryan stopped and said he had the wrong shoes on. He wanted the yellow ones instead of the orange ones. Now I know this sounds silly and trite but it's how he felt. He wanted to go home and stay home. But that wasn't fair to Andy who loves to swim. I gave him two choices, we could go home and change his shoes before swimming or after swimming but we were going to let Andy swim. He decided to go swimming now. Only he decided he wasn't going to swim.
Ryan pouted and sobbed and whined for a while then seemed better. Andy enjoyed his swim without his brother hanging on him or jumping on him.
We left to go home but Ryan decided he didn't want to change his shoes anymore. But he also didn't want lunch. So we skipped Wendy's and went to Chick-Fil-A then to the grocery store. Ryan didn't eat anything even when we got home. He also didn't change his shoes to the yellow ones.
Swimming went fine. Ryan stayed in the water longer today. Andy got out soon after him. In the past, Andy would swim as long as I let him.
Next we stopped at the bank. Still OK. Then going to Publix, Andy starts mumbling something in a whiney tone. He wants to eat lunch in the car which means going to Chic-Fil-A. I said OK because I hadn't asked him before we left and he wasn't ready for the change. So he seemed fine inside Publix. Until we got close to checking out. We went by the magazines so Ryan could get a NASCAR guide. I asked Andy what he wanted and he started talking about the Schindler Elevator. Huh? Oh right, this Publix is 2 story in the administrative offices and there is an elevator tucked away in the corner. I know Andy wants to go but it's for employees only. I tell him and he breaks down. I think about asking for a manager who would probably let Andy ride it once. But I don't want him to think he can always get his way. He is crying and getting more upset which makes Ryan get upset too. I am trying to stay calm, I know I can't drag him out of there, he is just too big. And I want to know that he can calm down when he needs to. This is cognitive dissonance, I just learned the term recently.
So I suggested that we go to International Plaza. It's the only mall around that has plenty of elevators and escalators. Unfortunately, it's not so close. Andy wants to go now, today. But Ryan doesn't want to go at all. We settle with going next week. Andy is still sad and crying.
I jump around from hobby to hobby; from interest to interest. When we were going through with diagnosing and getting treatment for the boys, I read a lot about autism and related disorders. I am not sure if my interest waned or that I just burned out on reading nothing but autism. Anyway, I am trying to get back into what is going on with current thoughts about autism. I read some blogs on regular basis. Some are by parents with children who have autism, some are from people who autism.
Today, I read a post from a woman who has autism. She has difficulty with speech but is very good with the written word. She reminds us "normal" people to be patient when asking questions of autistics as they need extra time to process the information. Repeating the question, asking more questions before you get an answer only adds to the problem. First of all, make sure you have the person's attention before you ask a question.
In other things that matter. I have been very bad about getting birthday cards out. Today is Charlie's 53rd birthday Happy Birthday Charlie!
I really need to make some cards.
On a good note, the boys got haircuts yesterday. Ryan continues to do well and I don't even need to be in the room. Andy sat pretty still this time and I only had to hold his head when Dana was doing around his ears. Andy's hair grows so fast. I had to make another appointment for 4 weeks from now.
First day of summer break, I have a headache. Ryan is really testing my patience which is already thin due to all the crap happening right now. I yell, he cries, Andy cowers, I feel guilty.
We went swimming. I forgot about the aerobic exercisers on Thursdays. They had the parking lot filled. Well, the one part. There are poles separately the parking lot into 2 areas. Probably to keep teens from cutting through. Silly, it's right at the intersection. Or maybe those who cannot wait for a green light. Anyway, I get to leave the lot, turn right since I cannot turn left, go a block, make a u-turn, go to the light, turn left, then left again to get into the other section of the lot. Pain in my ass!
The pool was crowded even without the exercisers. We went to the other end, the boys are big enough to swim over there. I took my camera and got some shots. I didn't try to hard and realized when I got home that it is better to be on the other side of the pool because of the sun. Oh well.
Then lunch then Toys R Us. Ryan wanted a monopoly game. He was playing with Grosse Pointe-opoly but wasn't excited about it. I don't blame him. He ended up with a Disney Pixar version.
Still getting used to the oven. No need to press start but you have to shut off the timer or it will beep 3 times every 90 seconds. I had asked the installer about the new smell, if there was one. I remember our old stove smelled really bad the first time and I think the smoke detector went off. He said there wouldn't be one. He was wrong. It wasn't as strong but definitely a chemical smell. I think that made the boys not want the chicken. Even tonight, the smell is still apparent, Andy coughed a bit when he came into the kitchen. He had to be convinced the chicken was OK.
We didn't go out to play after dinner. Even at 8 pm, it was still 90. Come on rain!
Today was wacky tie day. Ryan did not want one. Andy was happy to wear one of Gail's. I picked out the Cat in the Hat then struggled to tie it. I haven't worn a tie since the early 80s and they were much thinner then.
The boys' IEP meetings were scheduled for today. It's always depressing to listen to how Andy is smart but lazy. He would just rather play. I don't blame him but what they hell am I supposed to do with him? I hate to "write him off" when I know he can do better. It also doesn't help that his teacher is a flake. She is leaving next year which is good but who knows who the replacement will be.
Then I get to listen to how wonderful Ryan is and how his teachers think he is a joy. And his is so smart! Great. But can you teach him to poop on the potty? (A skill that Andy has pretty much mastered. Between the two of them, I have one amazing kid!)
I didn't even get a chance to digest all the information but had to rush to Sears and buy a range. Oy the delivery and installation is expensive! But I can't hook it up myself so I pay.
On a good note, I got my reusable bags today and used them at the grocery store. Wow! Twice as much stuff fits in one bag and they are so much easier to carry. I got no rebates for using them but the store was happy to fill them for me.
Had drinks with neighbors. J thought I paid too much for installation. What choice did I have? No time to shop around or try to bluff. It took 40 minutes for the oven to light tonight. It's ridiculous and I had no options.
I had plans to shop for a range today after my chiropractor appointment. I was ready and in the car and the car when click click click click click click click click.
Crap!
I called AAA then cancelled my appointment. The stewed about the whole thing. I thought it might be the starter since there was still juice but it wasn't getting enough. I called Bonnie to ask about a used starter from the yard. Then she called E and he said he could send it. E also said that it might not be the starter that the clicks could mean the battery, the starter or the alternator and how we should check for them. Bonnie was planning on sending the starter but then I asked how I was going to install it. (I know how to put gas in the tank, pump up the tires and refill the washer fluid. I could probably check the oil and add to it if necessary.) I remembered my neighbor is good with cars. I checked to see if M was home and ask if he could install a starter. Then M came to check the car.
M got his power pack and tried to start the car. It sounded better but was still not starting. At this point, AAA called and said they would be 30-45 minutes. (Funny, that what AAA said when I called them 55 minutes ago.) M still wasn't sure about changing the starter since he couldn't see enough under the car. He went and got his hydraulic jack (see, I told you he was into cars) and lifted up the car a bit. He found the starter and thought he could but then wasn't sure because of some blind screws. So he called his mechanic which was good to find out since I haven't really needed one and I just go to the dealer. (Yes, I know they are more expensive but for the most part, can be trusted. You just never know with these places that look like they might tip over in the next hurricane.) Then M called to see if the dealer had the part and how much: yes and just under $375. Damn! Bonnie's plan of sending the starter sounded better even though I would have to wait a couple of extra days. And M confirmed that the mechanic would installed a used part.
At this point, AAA finally showed up. He tried with his power pack (much more power than M's) and it started right up. Yay! So it is the battery. OK where is the best place to get one? AAA can sell you one. Uh yeah, for a premium. M suggested Walmart or Advance Auto Parts. I asked if he could install it. (See, mini vans have limited space under the hood so the battery is actually under the fuse box.) M looked and looked and decided he couldn't, or that he really didn't want to. That was fine. I would rather pay the cost than have him get upset trying to do this. I called Pasco Motors and they said it would be quick, less than 30 minutes.
Well, it wasn't quite that quick but it's done. And it was only $135. And then I had no time for groceries nor looking at ranges. Hopefully the range will start again tonight and I can eat some tuna for lunch tomorrow.
Now I wonder where all this extra cash is supposed to come from?
