Sums it up

Since I'm having trouble with blogger generally and specifically with uploading pictures I said to myself, "Ok Leanne, then just pick one picture that might show what your holiday was all

about." Did I choose windmills, lighthouses or lobsters? Nope. Here is my hubby, who would make a find shepherd, older brother who had an easy, breezy holiday. And Patrick. My little Patrick. I believe belovedly mischievous is the word I'm looking for. Oh, and that's me behind the camera. *grin*

PEI in all its glory...

...except the pics won't load. Ugh. First I can't get into blogger. Now I can get in but I can't post my vacation pics.

Hi everyone, we're baaaaaaaaack. We had a fabulous vacation. The boys were well behaved and we really got a chance to just sit back and relax. The ocean was loved by all. We even met a lovely young man who spoke to himself a lot whose diagnosis we didn't get (obviously, we only met him for a half an hour up in a lighthouse) but whose company was really enjoyable and his parents love for him was palpable. I hope to have that kind of happiness with my children as they grow older. I felt a connection as they didn't appologize for who their son was, and I didn't appologize for mine. Perhaps it was imagined on my part, but I'll enjoy it as a highlight of our trip anyway.

So school starts next week. After I get my vacation pics to load I'm planning on getting serious about back to school issues and I'll share it all here.

Hiatus

Not sure if that's spelled right. Oh well.

It's vacation time. Hubby will be home for one of his longest stretches yet and I imagine we'll be basking in the wonderfulness of each other's company. To translate I imagine we'll be running around after our ruffians grinning helplessly at each other. Such is our lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's a life. In the midst of this fun we'll be heading to PEI for a bit of a trip. None of us can wait so the air is full of anticipation.

So, I doubt I'll blog at all. I'll try and read others when I can as I enjoy it very much. Enjoy your summers everyone...and your children. I woke up today realizing how fast the last few years have gone and how soon my children will be leaving me.

Catch you on the flip side.

Speechless

This doesn't happen to me often. *chuckle*

I've started this post several times. First it was about transitions, all throughout life but specifically child to adult transitions.

Then it was about physical exercise, then it was about our neurologist who cancelled an appointment I didn't think we needed anyway. *eyeroll*

But none of these topics seem to sustain me today. I think I'm going to go out and run.

Following the crowd-My 10 things

Ok, so maddy over at http://whittereronautism.com challenged everyone http://whittereronautism.com/2008/08/15-years-in-a-nutshell-ish/
so here's my 10 things over 15 years post.

1. I graduated high school.
2. Went to college and graduated in Business Finance.
3. Between years 2 and 3 of college I married hubby who I was dating when I graduated high school.
4. Had a miscarriage right after college graduation, at about 12 weeks, and it really changed me personally and changed our relationship.
5. We have two boys, one is autistic, and they're both doing very well.
6. For a while I was very much into midwifery, especially consumer groups and supporting midwives. I once thought I might like to be one.
7. I havn't worked since I've had my boys, so I'm probably unemployable, but I do volonteer work when I can.
8. We moved out into a very rual area and, surprisingly, I love it. So do the kids (and hubby too since it was his idea).
9. I've recently learned I like to travel and see a lot of that in my future.
10. Last week I signed up to do the CIBC run for the cure (for breast cancer) and I think I might be insane. This week I took up running. *snort*

So, that's me in a nutshell. Wow, that sure doesn't seem very exciting, and 15 years has gone by really fast. Like Maddy I won't point out anyone in particular (all 3-4 of my regular readers *grin*) but if you want to do it, go for it!

Housework, cleaning, and chores, oh my!

When I ask Patrick to clean up his room, he says "I don't know how". When I specify and point to things and tell him where they go he says "I can't do it".

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I'm convinced I've dropped the ball here. There was a time, yes, when autism prevented us from being able to negotiate something like cleaning. But I believe we've past that point.

It isn't that he doesn't want to work. He takes his dishes from the table and his laundry to the appropiate spot. But there's something about cleaning up the books and tiny little toys strewn all accross his floor that turns him into 'the child who won't do anything'

Tomorrow we're taking the drastic (and a slightly opposite) approach. I'm sweeping everything out into the hallway. If he wants an item he'll have to take it into his room and find a place (and I'm more than willing to stand there with him going through each and every item). Anything not chosen for the room will be given to goodwill unless it's something that obviously should go in the basement playroom.

Older brother will go through the same process but independantly(he does manage to keep a clean room most of the time, but has let it slide lately). Should be a fun day. Wish us luck!