Liam

is sick again...tonsillitis for the 5th time in 8 weeks...but as a bonus because the doctor wrote it down as a follow up visit because we have been so often for the same thing its now only $21 per visit instead of $25. We have had letter from the super clinic stating 'You have been referred to the CMDHB) Department of ENT for an outpatient assessment. In order to treat patients in a timely manner CMDHB(Counties-Manukau District Health Board) has engaged a number of specially trained general practitioners who have been approved by the ENT(Ear Nose and Throat) Department to provide this service in their own practices. Your referral has been allocated to a doctor in your local area. The GP will contact you with an appointment. There will be no charge for this service. Following treatment you will be returned to the care of your General Practitioner(family Doctor). We look forward to assisting you.' So now we just wait for that call for our appointment, hears hoping it wont be too far away. Other wise we are all doing well, Liam got a certificate at assembly for writing a detailed recount of his holiday. We are starting to walk up to school more often now that the weather is getting nicer. Steven has decided he doesn't want to continue to go to after school kids care, which I'm fine with as it was something different for him to do but to do for only as long as he enjoyed it. There have been a few things that have happened there and I think this is why he has decided not to go. I'm going to take the boys to athletics every Wednesday evening, it goes for an hour which is nice for them to get out and have some after school fun. I think(hope) they will enjoy it. Term 1 I want to get them doing swimming lessons to give them more confidence in the water. I don't expect them to be great swimmers but would like them to be able to enjoy the water. I have been working on a few Kaisercraft advent calendars for the boys, just waiting on paper to arrive so I can get the draws covered and decorated, have a few other Xmas gift ideas I need to get started on and sorted. Being the last term of the year there are teacher gifts to sort out also and I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to do this year. Then there is sorting out teachers for next year and going in to let them know my thoughts for Steven mainly, I think Liam will cope with any teacher, I would like him to have the teacher Stevne had last year and for Steven to have his teacher he has this year again next year but you know how it goes we don't always get what we want. Right off to sort some dinner out.

Challenge from Mandys blog

So I thought I would be brave and do this challenge from Mandys blog, so here is most not so good photo of me which i took when I had swine flu and was up for a little while to eat before falling back into bed again.

And one I'm happy with....new hair cut which I was really happy with the end result and love having shorter hair.

So there you go Mandy the good and the bad, lol

Steven turns 9

wow where did that time go.....I cant believe he is 9 years old already. He is growing up so fast and growing in so many ways, not just physically but every day his speech and knowledge of language and how to use this grows. A smile that brightens the room and a boy who gives me so much joy day after day. Here are a few photos from his birthday last Monday(notice that where Steven goes piggy(yellow hippo) goes too).

Sick

Last Friday Steven was home after going to the doctors on Thursday to find he has school sores, so hes was on meds and has cream to put on them. Because they were on his face they couldn't be covered. The boys were at their dads for the weekend and come Sunday afternoon when I picked them up Stevens sores had pretty much gone...nothing like some antibiotics to clear them up. Today I have Liam home from school sick. He woke up this morning with a temp of 38.4, sore throat and not looking all that great. Doctors at 11am for him, and I'm sure its tonsillitis again, 3rd time since the 26th August. On Saturday its the schools pet day, so Liam will miss out on finishing of his things for that tomorrow. So we shall see what the doctors say. Otherwise not alot new has been happening. I'm slowly getting back into scrapbooking again and did this 12x12 of Stevens cross country run. it has been ages since I last finished a 12x12, I have got lots that I have started but not any recent ones that I have finished. Steven said the layout is ugly and he didn't like it, but when did he become a scrapbook expert, right.

Both the boys are on count down for Stevens birthday on Monday. While at their dads Steven found some unwrapped presents under the bed and now knows hes getting a new monopoly that he wanted and wants it NOW. He also asked if he could have a little look at the presents I have got him, lol. He is taking a bag of lolly pops to school tomorrow to share with his class in the afternoon. Monday we will just get some DVDs out and have a small afternoon tea with cake. Then we will go to McDonald's for dinner. I have been working on getting Xmas shopping sorted and out of the way. I have been making as many presents as I can.

look who visited us today

I was out hanging washing and then saw these guys walking across the front lawn....sooooo cute, by the time i had told Liam and got my camera(for today's photos in my 365 album) they were at the back of the house trying to find away under the fence. Liam thought it was very cool to see a mother duck and her babies up close.


Liam is on the mend again and feeling much better although come late afternoon he tends to loss most of his energy but much better so that's great. Tonight the boys as normal went of to bed and read for 30 minutes, when I went in to tuck Liam in and say good night this is what I found.....so cute and still very very tired at night.

Sick

Liam is sick and home from school again this week, he has tonsillitis again. Went to the doctors yesterday morning as the night before he had high temp and was complaining of sore throat again. Doctors checked him over and said its not bad enough to give him any antibiotics, just give him pamol and honey in hot water to drink. By 4.20 he was very hot and had no energy and not himself, took his temp and it was 38.4 so rang the doctors and they said to bring him down. We saw the same doctor as this morning, again he took his temp and looked at his throat this time he said yes his temp is high and his throat is worse and has pus spots on it now so we will give him some antibiotics now. GRRRRRRR....poor Liam to have to get worse before given any meds. Sometimes I think doctors need to listen to mums because we do know our kids best don't we, and I knew Liam wasn't himself because when he is unwell he gets upset over the littlest things and just burst into tears which he was doing. Then they tried to charge me the second time I went and I said no way I was in here this morning for the same problem why should i have to pay again, so out of the 3 receptionist 1 said don't pay and the other 2 say pay...so i went with the one who said don't pay. But Liam has meds now and is on the mend but home from school for this week...here's hoping this will be the last of the sickness in this house hold for awhile, it gets so expensive and all this time off school isn't good.
And just so this post isn't a vent about the doctors here are a couple of photos, the first one is Liam this morning when I got up and he was wrapped up in his favourite blanket reading one of the books we got form the library yesterday.


Yesterday Liam and I had lunch on the deck and he wanted it to be a picnic so got the picnic blanket out of the car for lunch. After eating we got pillows, had a rest enjoying the sun.....lol notice the socks, slippers and jacket I have taken off cause it got so hot.

What a week......

....it has been. While it has been a nice break from the boys this week even though most of it i have felt like crap it is really nice to have the boys home with me again this afternoon. I have also learnt this week what the hardest thing about being a parent is for me. When your pregnant people always say oh the hardest thing is the birth or the night feeds, cleaning diapers etc.... they tell you all the bad stuff but I think the hardest thing is letting go. This week I have had to learn to let go of being the boys full time parent. And in all honesty i have found it hard not know what they were doing at school, walking to school with them and seeing any new work in their books or/and around the classroom. I guess this is what single dads feel like when they only have their kids in the weekend? I missed not having cuddles and kisses from Liam who is such a cuddly boy, Steven not so much. i can give Steven a good night kiss and tell him I love him at bed time but that's all, he growls me and gets angry with me if i do it any other time. I have missed Steven placing his piggy(soft hippo toy) around the house during the week to keep me company during the day while he is at school. But there have been a couple of good things come from me being so sick, I have totally gone off coke and have not had any coke for nearly 2 weeks now, I use to drink way to much of the stuff and I have craved it a bit and when i did the food shopping yesterday they had it on special, but I was very good and didn't get any. Right up till about Thursday I was sleeping a good 18-20 hours per day.....now that I'm feeling better I have still being going to bed around 10.30pm and feeling much better for it. All in all its good to have things back to normal......whatever that may be.

Being sick is no fun

Last week I had Liam home most of the week sick with tonsillitis, took him to the doctors on Wednesday which is $25 for him now that he is over the age of 6yrs(personally I think its a rip off) got his meds went home. Went to school and while waiting for Steven realised the was a rash all over Liam's feet and legs(not the best photo below but this rash went right up to his knees), went back to doctors and sure enough he had reacted to his meds, got new meds for him and hes all good to go.

Come Thursday afternoon I had a bit of a sore throat and was a bit tired and thought I was getting tonsillitis too, didn't think much of it again and had early night. Woke up about midnight or just after with a very sore achy body and thought poor Liam if this is what hes been feeling like. A friend took the boys to school for me on Friday morning I made an appointment for doctors(I don't usually go unless I'm really, really sick). The thought of having the flu or anything like that didn't even cross my mind I just needed to get some meds so I could feel better as it was my weekend to have the boys and knew I would be no good to them feeling like this. Waiting at the doctors and you know how you never get in on the time that you appointment is, after bout 10 minutes of waiting i went up to the front desk to ask if there was somewhere I could lie down as i feel like I'm going to faint............oops too late fainted already. Nurse helped me to bed and took my temp and asked how i was feeling. Doctor came in and checked me over and said you have swine flu. To be completely honest I didn't think anything of it I just wanted something to stop the pain, every part of me ached and my skin was sore to touch. So after that visit with the doctors costing $35, pain killers $6 and tamiflu $75....I was feeling some what broke after two visits to the doctors for Liam and myself in one week. So a friend came and picked me up and then had the boys after school for the night till Saturday afternoon. Mum came in on Saturday and stayed the night, the boys have been at their dads since Saturday afternoon and will be there for the rest of the week. He has the week of work so he can look after the boys for me, Steven now has sore throat and may be getting tonsillitis, Liam is back at school today. The school have said it is okay for the boys to be at school as long as they have no symptoms. Yesterday was my first day without painkillers and today is the last day of the tamiflu tablets. All in all I'm feeling human again and I'm alot better but I think it will take the rest of the week for me to get my energy back and I'm just taking things easy. Yesterday I thought I could do little bits on some scrapbooking projects I have lying around, in between my naps.

Today i just have sore legs and am tired. I would love to clean my house as the floors are screaming to be vacuumed/moped, bathroom needs to be cleaned, beds need the sheets changed and washing to be done....but it will all be there tomorrow right. I'm to stay away from crowds for 7 days from first symptoms or 24hrs after having no symptoms, so I should be good to get out of this place come Thursday. I'm a home person and love to be at home but I have seen enough of home at the moment and I miss the routines of going up to school and taking with the boys teachers to see who they are doing, seeing friends and just getting out of the house. I am very grateful for the great family and friends I have who have been around to help out and look after the boys for me....right of to do a bit more scrapbooking and then sleep I think, i will be back again soon.

Look.....

....at what I treated myself to...I love the paper at the price i paid worked out to be 20cents per sheet, not thats better than the normal $1.80 per sheet....gotta love the warehouse.

Be back soon once we are all feeling better with longer post

Ive been busy.....

since I last posted. I thought I would share some of the things I have been creating and a few random photos. First is a kaisercraft tic tac toe that I did for the boys. They really love it and I enjoyed creating something that is for them to use daily and to get use out of it.



I did this cupcake album for a friends little girls 1st birthday. This one I really enjoyed doing with all the pink and ribbon and glitter....so much fun.

And just a random photo of a tshirt I got Steven for his birthday

Okay short and sweet tonight, I will be back again soon.

Too late to watch but go and check out her website.

Another post.....

...before the month is over. A week ago I was asked if I was willing to have our story of autism published again, I said yes as the more word of autism out there the better and hopefully the more understood it will become. So here is the article that with the huge help from Alison Brown has been published in the Valley Voice Rural-August 09 along with this photo of the boys.

Autism: so common, yet so misunderstood

Alison Exelby’s elder son Steven was diagnosed with ‘moderate’ autism when he was three and a half.

Now, at almost nine, he’s mainstreamed and doing ‘okay’ at school, because his teachers, both last year and this, understand the condition, recognise Steven’s behavioural indicators, and value ‘visuals’ in accommodating his special learning needs.

Like many people with autism, Steven is intelligent, inquisitive and focuses intensely on what he’s doing. Unlike many, whose frustrations are reflected in their antisocial behaviour, Steven usually withdraws into himself when he’s confused or frustrated.

Alison and Steven’s teacher have learned that sometimes when given pen and paper he will draw a picture to explain what has upset him. “We use this to find out what’s troubling him when he’s unwilling to talk. Once he has drawn the picture he seems able to tell me more. It’s great that we have found another way for him to communicate so we can understand him better.”

Alison recalls her son’s first 18 months, before she knew there was anything ‘wrong’. “He was screaming a lot and seemed frustrated as though he knew what he wanted but couldn’t make himself understood.”

Her grandmother suggested autism might be the cause and Steven’s progress started when his pre-school also recognised his condition and referred him to an early education psychology service – with a long waiting list.

When eventually Steven’s turn came, a light went on for the family as they were introduced to concepts and ideas that changed their way of thinking.

“We learned that he was a visual learner. And early intervention ideas like visuals workshops were a breath of fresh air,” reckons Alison. “They showed Steven a picture of food – say a banana – and then took his hand to touch a real banana. Then they taught him that if he wanted a banana to eat he needed to take the picture to me.” Alison recalls pictures blue-tacked all round the kitchen. “And it worked: Steven could communicate! Eventually he learned to say the words and we stop needing to use the visuals.”

Steven loves pictures and especially photographs of people and events he’s part of.
“He needs to see pictures that look like the real thing,” Alison says. “I had to explain to the pre-school teachers that there was no point drawing stick people as they meant nothing to Steven. That’s when they got the visuals that Steven could understand.”

While he had one-on-one support at pre-school Steven and his family still had to cope with the real world, which seemed filled with judgmental people.

“Because children with autism are not ‘visually impaired’ there will always be people who assume their behaviour is naughtiness, or simply the result of poor parenting,” comments Alison, adding, “But some are willing to ask you if you need help.”

Nowadays Steven is considered too ‘normal’ to qualify for Ongoing and Reviewable Resourcing Schemes (ORRS) funding. At first Alison was delighted to hear the description – until she realised Steven now gets little extra help just because his assessment level is too high.

“He can say the alphabet forwards and back, and count up to and down from 100 – but that doesn’t alter the fact it can be hard for his teacher to keep him on task,” she says. “Steven concentrates on what he likes doing to the point of blocking out everything else.”

Currently Steven gets a couple of hours of teacher aide time at school which is mainly used for story writing time as he finds that hard to do. Alison feels if there was more teacher aide time for him he would be able to cope better. “How can you expect a classroom teacher to coax the best out of children with special needs like Steven’s when he has 25 other children to teach too?” she asks with feeling.

Alison has to juggle Steven’s needs with those of her younger son. Last term Steven started ‘after school kids club’ so that she could share one-on-one 'normal' time with Liam. “Liam has had to grow up fast and cope with a lot. Most of the time he adjusts to playing games the way Steven wants to play them.”

That’s because, besides learning difficulties, Steven has limited social skills – and his own addictions.

“Anything tidily in its place seems to delight him,” Alison explains. She has many photos of Steven with items lined up, re-arranged in diverse shapes and blended colours – all evidence of Steven’s passion for orderliness and his love of numbers and letters. “He’s meticulous about re-arranging things, he makes repetitive noises which his teacher and classmates have learned to ignore, and he has a phobic hand action, a kind of lateral wave, which indicates he’s stressed.”

Anything that breaks into Steven’s routine can cause a change in his behaviour.

“We recently moved, which Steven found to be stressful, but in the week before I was able to take him over to the new house daily to help him see where we were going to live. We took paper over and drew his room and then he drew where he wanted his furniture to go. Knowing what was going to happen and when was very reassuring for him.”

Just as Alison’s learning new ways of assisting Steven, she suggests there’s much the general public could learn about autism too.

She applauds Steven’s school: “They ran a mufti day to raise money for autism awareness,” she says. “And the school office has a DVD that families can borrow to learn more about autism.”

But generally, she believes, people are scared of the situation and don’t know how to cope.

Her advice: “If you know of a child who has been diagnosed with autism, get books out of the library and search the internet for information, and spend time with the parent and child so you can watch and see. Don’t just label the child. And don’t condemn the parents. They need more help, not criticism.”

Change

I'm not a great fan of change, I like to know what is happening and when its happening.....but i also think we need change to help us grow and adjust to things. At the moment we have lots of things changing here. This weekend we are moving(not far) for the last couple of weeks I have been busy sorting, packing and cleaning. I can tell you now I'm over it all and will be glad to be moved into the new house. The new house doesn't have a sleep out like this one does which was very handy to store stuff/junk, but has a garage which this place doesn't have. There are positive and negative for both the houses but at the end of the day I decide the move would be worth it and we will be better in the new house. Both the boys have been very excited about the move and Liam still is very excited, Steven not so much and because everything is pretty much packed now he is getting a bit stressed. And then i question if all this stress is worth this change for us all. But i know he will be fine once we are in the house and the boys are at their dad all this weekend so I will make sure i have their rooms sorted first. I took Steven over with some paper and pens so we could draw a plan of his room and where he wants everything to which has worked nicely( will add photo of it later on)I thought I will also use it as part of a layout too add to his album for him. Steven has lots of questions about when we are moving where everything is going and who will be moving into our old house. On the bright side its good that the move is over the holidays to give him time to settle in before going back to school. On top of packing and cleaning the boys have been sick, nothing to major just enough that they don't feel well and seem to be annoying easily by one another. I will be back again once we have moved and I have most things unpacked(hopefully not another 2mnthstime like it has been since my last posted before this one). Fingers crossed Saturday will be fine for the big move, have a nice weekend and make the most of this lovely sun.

Another layout

A couple of close up since I enjoy these photos at the moment and the finished layout which I'm totally loving. A very different layout from what I normally do and for me its busy I know there are many of you who have layers and layers of papers and flowers and lots of embellishment, but I'm very simple and keep to the basic and while I know this is still very simple for me its also busy and I love it...lol....but a great layout starts with a great photo right and this photo if Liam is my favourite at the moment. I wish Steven was as willing for me to photograph him so I could get some great shots like this of him too.

Giving up doesn't always mean you are weak. Sometimes it means that you are strong enough to let go.

Just a few layouts.....

The Blue Ribbon Belle is my favourite layout...after reading Ali Edwards blog about organising all the stuff kids bring home from school this is what i created. I had the photo of Liam form the school production and he still had his mask which was on his bookcase collecting dust but he didn't want to throw it away. So I have lots of ideas for other layouts to use up those pictures and keepsakes that the boys bring home.

Very simple layout but all group photos in the boys preschool/school albums are very simple. Still love doing hand stitching and this circle took nearly an hour to do...I didn't think it would take long but it takes a while to do. When doing hand stitching i wait till I'm sitting down and watch TV and do it then.

I cant remember when Liam started collection the mail, I know there is a post about it on here somewhere and it was many months ago now and he still collects the mail every day.

bit and pieces

I have been asked where I scrapbook now so thought I would show a couple of photos of my new scrapbooking area which is now in the lounge/dining area. I got the bookcase from the second hand shop. The plastic draws I have had for awhile which I got from the warehouse, I find them very handy as you can see with having so many of them. When having such a small area to work with I don't have that much stuff really and I think it looks quite tidy. I'm amazed when you at American scrapbooker's area/rooms and they have soooooo much stuff, like a mini shop really. I stand up when I scrapbook and this cupboard is the perfect height for me. When I need to sit down which I do every now and then I sit at the dining room table.


Because it is too late to get a nice photo of my layout I was working on today here is a small part of the layout....I love how these close up photos look so interesting showing the detail and texture of a layout....tomorrow I will share the whole layout.

A couple of photos that were taken when Steven was at kindy many years ago now. When I was changing rooms I found this frame so did this up for them. I LOVE black and white photos...look how little my guys were, Liam and his chubby little cheeks.

Liam's new room...look at all that space, I still have some sorting with the stuff on the shelves but he is happy to be in the biggest room of the house.

This is Stevens old room, not much room for a 8year old to play.

And his new room, he even keeps it pretty clean and is over the moon with the space.

And my new room,LOL I think I got ripped off. But at the end of the day I only sleep in my room so I don't need any space, the boys need space in their rooms. Its a shame the walls are so YELLOW and don't match my duvet cover at all, not to worry the landlord is back at the end of this year and I'm told he wants to paint so maybe I will have white walls.

Time for an update.......

dont know where to start its been so long since I have up dated my blog. I have been busy rearranging the hosue and have moved everyones bedrooms around to a different room. Steven is at the age where I thought he really needed more space and room to play, his old room(which is now my room) could fit his bed and set of draws and that was pretty much it...now it fits a queen size bed and tv at the foot of the bed and nothing else,LOL.....also Steven never had toys in his room and hasnt done since he was about 4years old. Since he has moved rooms and is now on the other side of the house(which is sunny in the afternoon so his room is alot warmer inthe evenings) which is Liams old room and I tell you I wish i moved him into this room years ago because he is now sleeping through the night(most nights anyway and its longer than his old usual 11pm-3am). So YAY for a good nights sleep. This photo is Steven and Piggy who goes everywhere with him, I have banned him from the toliet and bath, but other than that if you see steven piggy wont be far away.

Love this photo of Liam, the boys love to have a nice deep bubble bath and we had run out of bubbles and i always forgot to get them when i did the shopping. When I didnt remember Liam had soooooo much fun with them but was a bit surprised when i came into bathroom to get photo of his silly antics,LOL. A 21st photo for sure.

Look what I treated myself too, a friend does Stampin' Up and when I saw this i had to have it(as you do). the next punch i want to get is called Spiral which is one that i ahve been after for awhile that give you a note book spiral edge look, but for now im happy playing aorund wiht this one.

The last week of school was camp week. This year the years 1-4 went to Hamilton Zoo for their day trip. I was hoping to go but didnt in the end(but thats a whole other post) the boys enjoyed themself although a bit let down i wasnt going. The girl I look after in the mornings, her mum went and kept me up to date with txts about the boys for me(I know im mad worry wart mother) she txt when they were leaving Hamilton and told me that Liam had fallen over and grazed his knees but he was fine....poor wee man when i saw him he looked so sad and sore with plasters on his knees and his shorts rolled up so they didnt rub on the plasters and he was walking like an old grandad anyone would have thought he twisted his ankle or something. Once home I managed to convince him to take the palsters of so the air could get onto the sore and they can start to heal...i have been nice and not shown the photo of the raw knees.


ONe of Stevens favourite books....Steven doesnt like photos at the moment and runs and hids so this is the best I can get of him at the moment and while you cant see his face I think its nice photo showing what he enjoys doing, and best of all hes not a running away blurr,LOL.

I havent been very creative lately but here is one layout i did the other night which i quite like. i showed it to liam to see what he thinks and he told me it doesnt look finished but couldnt give any ideas of how to finish it...what sort of scrapbooker is he,LOL. Have a few more layouts but its too late to get photos of them tonight.

A random but favourite photo at the moment.

Lots more has been happening but nothing that I really want to blog about. Totally enjoying the holidays and the boys being at home and most mornings they climb into my bed and have lie in and watch Ben 10 on my bedroom tv and then we get up and start our day....we will all go into shock when school starts again. But also looking forward to school for Steven to get back into routine...he says he misses school because he likes to work and hates the holidays and yet when he is at school he pretty much refuses to do work. And then Liam says he loves the holidays and doesnt want to go back to school because he hates to work and yet he does very well at school,LOL....me i just want a bit of normal in my life(whatever normal is) but we are getting there, baby steps im told but then how long can we take baby steps for? Somewhere along the journey the steps have to get bigger and more effort and achievement have to be done? Right im not going to go into this Im going to finish of here with happy note that I have two nights without the kids this weekend so im off to get some sleep and then a day of creating tomorrow I think. Have a great weekend.

PS...its midnight and blogger spell check isnt working and Im lazy and cant be bothered going throught to spell check so sorry for all the mistakes that im sure there will be.

SALE! SALE! SALE!

Scrappin' Patch are having a sale, go and check out there website and grab yourself a bargin with 30% of from Thursday 9th April until Tuesday 14th April. Offer applies to instock items only (not preorder products), excluding diecut machines.

Im going to head over there now and grab myself a bargin before everyone else gets there,LOL...I will try to make it back here again over the long weekend with some 365 project photos and catch up.

Autism Awareness Day

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