Friday, April 29, 2011

Thoughts In My Head

So many thoughts in my head... And the bad part is I can't seem to do much with any of them. I'm not sleeping well and Hulk isn't sleeping well. The lack of sleep and the stress means I'm not functioning all that great. So I've resorted to living by way of post it notes. Yes indeed my house and office is now a post it note museum. It's the only way I remember anything! I feel like I did when Hulk was about 6 weeks old and I wasn't sleeping then. Post it notes got me thru that stage, hopefully they can carry me through this one.

I was trying to try all these new techniques and interventions and behavior modifications that I'm learning. But honestly we just need to stabilize. Hulk and I both are overloaded and worn out I think. So the goal now is to just get us back to status quo. We need to get back to a routine that works for us and then add in the new stuff after the meds stabilize and we rest. So my post it notes remind me to cook us something healthy, return library books, order diapers, deliver pictures, and exercise. I figure if we can just get through the daily stuff for awhile we can work on the other stuff later.

And since it's 1 in the morning I better listen to the post it note that tells me to go to bed....

Jess

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Garage Sale Finds


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I've never been a huge fan of garage sales. Well until recently. I've now become a bit garage sale obsessed. I've found some really awesome things lately and saved myself lots of money! So I thought I'd start sharing my finds with you. This weekend I hit the mother load of garage sales! I'm usually on the hunt for photo props or stuff for Hulk. I hit the jackpot this weekend.


At one garage sale I found the apple basket, vintage radio flyer trike, and the 10 gallon milk jug for $40! The trike and the milk jug are individually worth at least $40. They will make such great photo props! And then I found Hulk a kid lawn mower for $1. That is the best $1 I've spent in awhile. He loves that thing!


So for $41.00 I made out like a bandit!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!!!




We had a wonderful Easter! We were planning on going to Tulsa to visit family. And then my Dad's aunt died so he and Cricket came to town for her funeral. While that was sad it was a great suprise to get to see them and visit!


Hulk spent time coloring easter eggs with Aunt Phyllis and I. He thought that was pretty neat. Though he did want to eat them all! He also got lots of Easter goodies from Heather and I. And he got to have two easter egg hunts. One at our house that the neighbor kids set up for him. And another with my nieces. This is the first year he has really understood how to dye eggs or hunt eggs so it was a blast.



We also made our annual Easter visit out to mom's place. I love visiting her on Easter. It's always nice to take her new spring decorations. But Easter reminds me that I will see her again fills me with hope and excitement for that day!


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I hope you all had a wonderful Easter too!!!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Thanks!

Thanks to all of you for your kind words, emails, suggestions of blogs and websites to check out and just your support! I appreciate it more than you know. There is so much information out there and I'm wading through it all slowly. What I can tell you for sure is that today was the best day we have had in MONTHS!!!

For the first time in weeks Hulk was able to go with me to Wal-Mart. While this isn't a big deal to lots of people it was huge for him. We went to get flowers and he did amazing. He didn't get overwhelmed and freak out. When I had to tell him no there were no huge fits. He was SUPER! We didn't get a lot of flowers, just a few for the front yard. I'm hoping to get the back yard done in a couple weeks.

Since he did so great I told him he could pick out any type of flower he wanted. He told me he wanted the happy flowers. He pointed them out and it was marigolds. He was so "besided" to get home and get them planted. We put them in the window box that he picked and he was just so happy.

Tonight I asked him how he felt and he told me "so better". I can't imagine what it must be like for him to feel more in control of himself. It's amazing for me to watch so I bet it does feel so much better to him!

I'm so excited to see how school goes for him tomorrow! I hope he has another fabulous day.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

A Confession

So I have a confession to make. I was really busy and that is a big part of why I didn't post for so long. But the main reason was because when I blog it forces me to be honest and real about the things going on in my life. And like most people when things aren't going great I would much rather pull the wool over my eyes and hide from it rather than admit there is a problem. But there was/is a big problem. You see I have an adorable amazing 3 year old boy that is in crisis.

Hulk has been struggling with lots of different things for quite some time. But for about the last 6 months things have been very rough. And for the last 6 weeks things have been downright difficult. I've tried doctors and behavior plans, therapists and prayers, and yet nothing was working. Wednesday night I found myself laying on my couch sobbing and seriously wondering if we could continue on like this. So I finally admitted it. To my sister, to my best friend, to myself. Something had to change immediately!

So Thursday and Friday was spent in much discussion with Hulk's therapist and doctor. And I finally allowed myself to really hear what they were saying and I'm allowing myself to accept the truth. My precious boy has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. I stood in the doctors office with him and my Darbis and bawled as it sunk in. FAS isn't fixable and it is something I never wanted him to have! But he does and he will and luckily we are getting help. Admitting the problem is half the battle right????

So I let myself feel sorry for him and I yesterday. And this morning we started on a new positive plan. He began medication today to help with his impulsivity and constant movement. I'm still a little nervous about that but we actually ate dinner tonight and when we got done he said "wow mama no wiggles". I cried happy tears and he declared himself awesome. He is awesome! And we are going to to be awesome together.

That's the truth of it.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Paint Sample Mosaic

I really needed a piece of art for Hulks bedroom and for my living room. And I really needed to not spend much money! I'm a girl on a major decorating budget. So I decided to try a little project I saw in one of my crafty magazines awhile back. Paint sample mosaics.

First I hit my local lumber store and had a piece of 1/2 inch plywood cut into 20x20 sections. Then I hit the paint store and grabbed some fun paint samples. I've found that Dutch Boy paint samples are the best because they are already cut to the perfect size! Score!!! You will need a lot of samples!

Then I used brown paint that I already had on hand to paint the sides of the boards. Since Hulk must "help" with all projects he painted some too. You don't have to paint the whole board or let your 3 year old paint randomly but it does make the project more fun.

 


Once that dried I arranged the squares of paint samples in the pattern I wanted on the board. Then I stacked them all up in order and took the board back outside. I use 3M adhesive spray and attached the samples with it. I would spray a line, stick the samples on and then spray another line, etc. I let it dry overnight and made sure all the pieces were really stuck to the board.

 


Next I used my Mod Podge and applied three coats on top of the samples. I used a Satin Mod Podge because I wanted a little shine but you could use Matte. Let each coat dry before applying the next. I then let that dry over night.

The next day I applied several coats of dark cherry stain. I would brush the stain on with a paint brush let it sit about 10 minutes and then wipe most of it off with a rag. Let it dry, and repeat. There are three coats of stain total. Again let it dry overnight.

 


Once it was completely dry I called my step dad over and he hung it for me in the living room. I love it! I actually didn't end up liking the one I made for Hulk at all. So I'm in the process of redoing his now. I've also made a couple for some other folks now too. They are fun to make and very simple. It's just a time consuming process. Lots of waiting around for things to dry.





If you end up trying it let me know. I'd love to see how it turns out!

Monday, April 11, 2011

I Laugh...

I laugh...

When Hulk tells stories...

When I talk to my best friend Darbis...

When my sister and I do things with Hulk that we did as kids...

When I see people fall down...

Everytime I watch an episode of Friends...

At myself...

At stupid jokes...

Often...

Not enough...

At least everyday...

What makes you laugh?

Sunday, April 10, 2011

He Turned Three!

While I was on my 50 day leave from blogging the Hulk man turned 3! I can't believe I'm now the mother of a three year old. 3 seems old to me somehow. It's an odd age really. He isn't a baby but he isn't a big boy either. Though he does love to say "I'm a big man". But 3 is where we are now and it's an all right place to be.



He of course got some wonderful gifts and had a great time with our friends/family for his birthday. On his actually birthday our neighbors decorated the house with balloons and signs for his special day. They are so good to us!



While it was a wonderful celebration I still can't help but wonder where in the world my baby went????

Thursday, April 7, 2011

50 Days

For goodness sake it has been 50 days since I've posted! That's crazy. I have so much to tell you. Well I have 50 things to tell you actually. 50 things that I should have probably posted about but well I haven't.

  1. Hulk turned 3!

  2. Hulk had a very awesome birthday!

  3. He got some fun toys and clothes and a very cool bike from Papa and Granny.

  4. Hulk still can't peddle his bike but thinks it is very fun to have me and the neighbor kids push him around on his cool bike.

  5. I went to a conference in Huntsville Alabama for 5 days and left the man with my good friend Beth and her family.

  6. I learned a lot but got very homesick.

  7. 5 days is a long time to be away from your sidekick kidlet.

  8. He had a fabulous time though.

  9. While in Huntsville I went to the space and rocket museum.

  10. It was pretty cool and I took some pictures of it.

  11. I also took pictures of Hulk's b-day party.

  12. I still haven't even downloaded the pictures.

  13. I'm overwhelmed with things to do and not enough time.

  14. The weather got nice and we spend all of the evening outside now.

  15. This is great for burning off all the energy Hulk has.

  16. This does not allow me to get things done inside.

  17. The house looks a bit like a pit.

  18. I'm praying for rain this weekend so I can actually stay indoors and get the house cleaned up.

  19. I still haven't completely unpacked from going to Huntsville.

  20. I have been home from Huntsville for a week!

  21. I've been busy taking pictures for other people.

  22. I've edited those pics just not my own.

  23. I have Easter mini sessions this weekend.

  24. Hulk wants a bunny desperately or a dog.

  25. He reminds me often that we need a dog.

  26. His teachers and therapist recommend a dog.

  27. I'm not sure that I have the energy to keep up with a dog.

  28. But I wouldn't mind having a dog either...

  29. I made a really cool paint sample mosaic for my wall.

  30. I took step by step pictures to share on the blog.

  31. Yeah I haven't gotten those edited yet either.

  32. I planted grass seed tonight in what used to be a flower bed.

  33. I'm trying to simplify and turning a couple flower beds into grassy areas seemed like a good plan.

  34. The dang grass better grow.

  35. My house flooded again. It's the great flood of 2011!

  36. My hot water heater broke and dumped gallons of hot water into the house while I was at work.

  37. The same flood restoration crew that worked my flood of 2010 showed up to save the day this year.

  38. I'm gonna get new carpet this time around.

  39. I am also requesting a new medication for anxiety. :-)

  40. You may think I'm joking but I'm not. I seriously want some happy pill that would remove all the anxiety provoking events from my life.

  41. Hulk dumped an entire bottle of bath fizz tablets into the toilet. You are only supposed to put 2 in a bath tub. He put 98 in the toilet. That was a freaky fizzing colorful volcanic explosion.

  42. Hulk can no longer have bath fizz tablets.

  43. Hulk hates his bedroom.

  44. I finally got it all decorated and adorable and he hates it.

  45. He will sleep anywhere but in his room.

  46. He slept in a diapers.com box in the living room one night.

  47. The next he slept in the hallway.

  48. Tonight he is sleeping on my bedroom floor. I don't understand it!

  49. I am promising myself again that I won't go this long without blogging.

  50. Don't hold your breath though. I seem to not be a very good blogger anymore....