Enjoy the Ride

Sometimes when the boys are all bouncy and out-of-sorts, we find it a good idea to break it up, so each little guy gets some 1:1 time with Mom or Dad. Such was today.

It was my turn to have the Joey-Boy all to myself. Joey has been too overwhelmed to be able to actually pick out a nice pumpkin or enjoy the pumpkin patch, one of his favorite activities. I was so glad when he said he wanted to go for his activity. Off to Snead's for a fun-filled afternoon of chickens, hay, and pumpkins!

I didn't take a camera. I just spent the afternoon enjoying being with my son.

As part of the treat, he got to sit in the front seat with Mom. We drove through the fields, looking at the growing Christmas trees, the overgrown asparagus fields, and of course the pumpkins. We drove through the ford to the back fields, a very exciting moment as we were in my little neon, not the jeep, and it rained yesterday. We took our time picking out pumpkins. He picked a green one, of course, and then we picked out a really big orange one together. We wandered back to park near the barns, so he could play in the hay. We patted goats. We hugged baby cows. We giggled at alpacas. We even touched a baby chicken!

Then we went for a hay ride. The lady who runs the tractor saw us and laughed about us being return customers. Something to the effect of "you should get bulk rates!" But she didn't give us bulk rates. Besides, it was just the two of us today. Our hay ride was a small group. Joey bounced around the cart- looking through the floor slats at the ground passing beneath and the wheels turning, checking out the different places to sit in search of the best view, trying out laying down, sitting up, laying on his back, laying on his tummy. He called out random words to the pumpkins and to the people we passed. He giggled. He leaned against me. He wrote in the air with a stick. He looked at me like I was crazy when I pointed out the pumpkins and the trees and the horses. He was busy.

We played in the corn teepee for a while. It really needs some restoration now; it was really lovely when it was first done, now it is about to fall over. We wandered past the alpacas again, and picked out some gourds. Then he found the golf cart. Folks from the farm use it to tool around and check on things. Apparently, they leave the keys in it. Joey loves golf carts. He wanted to get in it, but I managed to get him over to the gourds to pick some out. He liked ones with lots of colors and bumps. When I was young, the popular gourd was a little white one that looked like a shmoo. I like those, but you don't see them anymore. (If anybody remembers them and can tell me what they are called, I would be very happy. It is not a white cushaw, they are too bumpy; these were smooth).

As I was paying for them, I heard the golf cart start up. I looked up to call Joey so he could see one of the farm people riding in it, and wave... to find that it was Joey. One quick call and he stopped, thank all goodness! But it also was a good signal that it was time to go home. Joey started on his "I'm a stupid boy" routine because he was upset (and probably embarrassed) about his golf cart adventure, so I softened it a little by letting him look at the baby chicks one more time (they were right next to the car). Then we had a talk about safety and how you have to be 16 to drive a golf cart as we started for home.

He said he'd like one for Christmas, anyway.

A Day Off

Today is Friday. That means it is my "day off." This is the one day I don't work any of my jobs. The children are in school. The husband is at work. The purpose of this day is to nap. That never seems to actually happen.

What usually happens is it gets cancelled. And I end up running around getting nothing I intended to do done.

Today, I totally kicked butt and took names.

I got the guys on the buses with no pouting, screaming, or tears. Win.

I went home and moved the rest of the boxes I needed to move out of the guest room into the attic. Win.

I moved some furniture that also needed to be moved. Win.

I got dinner going in the crockpot (Autumn succotash stew!) Win.

I removed my entire fabric collection to the attic for the holiday season, so we can stop tripping over it in the livingroom or kicking it under the table in the kitchen. two large plastic storage bins, five bankers' boxes, and three assorted shipping boxes' worth. Not counting the collection already in the attic. I love fabric. Win.

I made my bed. Win.

I made Joey's bed. Win.

I cleared the mantel to prepare for Halloween decorations. Win.

I got the Halloween decorations out and the mantel decorated. Win.

I bought cat food and fish water. Win.

I dropped off some baby toys and books at school to be used or passed on to Ms. Macy's little darling. Win.

I got to talk to Ms. H and Ms. Macy. Bonus Win.

I got to have lunch with Mom. Superwin.

We tried to go to Joey's book fair, and discovered the school was in lockdown. Fail. And we never did find out why it was in lockdown.

So we went shopping at Tuesday Morning instead. I got a new roaster pan for Thanksgiving. Very win.

I got the fish tank cleaned and the water changed. Win.

We got the boys, then dropped Mom off at her truck, and spent the afternoon playing games and watching Halloween movies and squishing boys. WIN.

That's a rockin' day off!

How to Define "Dramatic Change"

So we went to the doctor, we made the decision, and we started the meds. I can tell you it was not an easy decision, and not one made lightly. The doctor said we'd probably see a change right away.

But holy freakin' COW.

I have notes from teachers about how Joey is asking permission to have breaks or leave the room. He is sitting and doing work. He read ten pages of a book for one of his teachers on Monday. He spent 25 minutes on a single activity on Tuesday. HE gives his teachers hugs, says please and thank you, and takes turns. He's being silly and smiley and... who is this child, and where has he been for the last five months?

If nothing else, Joey's teachers are getting a taste of what he can really do if he's given the correct supports. We just need to figure out what those are. Joey gets break from the overwhelming anxiety that was dragging him into the abyss. Maybe he can then help us by being able to better communicate what he needs, and have a chance to settle in to his routines and get used to his teachers.

I much prefer the giggly Joey, I can tell you. I bet he does, too.

Happy Digital Day!

Don't you just love the digital age? We do! So Happy Digital Day!

Why do I love the digital age?

I can scan all of Joey's paperwork into my computer. If I lose anything, I just print it again. In meetings with really savvy folks, I don't have to print it at all; I can just search the desktop for what I need. Oh, and can cross-reference with supporting studies and articles, which I can also keep on my laptop for quick access.

I can get research materials delivered right to my laptop. Most journal articles are available in digital formats through my library website, which makes them searchable and instantly retrievable. Many books are also available this way. No need to go plowing through card catalogues for hours trying to find something that might or might not be relevant to what I am researching.

I can talk to my friends and send them awesome cards instantly.

I can send a letter to a friend in India, and get a reply as soon as they log in- sometimes in 15 minutes.

I can carry my entire collection of music and books in my hand, all the time.

If somebody asks me to back up facts about anything with hard study, I don't have to come back in a couple days. Now I can just say, "OK. Give me five minutes... oh, wait, here you go."

I can shop for fabric online, not just be limited to whatever they happen to have at my local store.

With one tweet, everybody can know what's up.

I can have a lot of photos in one frame on my wall- it changes every 2 minutes.

My students have Instant Access to their professor, any time of day or night.

I can watch movies in my house.

I can work from my house- and have a job that is sufficiently challenging and well-paid.

I can reach my son's teachers with important information, day or night.

I can own a computer, and have it fit in my hand.

I know you. And that is totally awesome.