I have been wanting fajtas for some time now… But corn tortillas stink. I feel guilty eating flour tortillas in front of the kids. Sooo I decided to try a new recipe for some tortillas and they are GREAT!!! I used more water than it said, and no sugar. They rolled GREAT. I used the ridge on a smaller pyrex bowl lid to cut them into nearly perfect circles. The recipe made 10 or 11. I don’t know for sure as the boys kept eating them… I am pretty picky with texture and these were GREAT. You could hardly tell any difference. I would easily eat these instead. Very similar to the restraunt. Aiden and Alex were THRILLED. Aiden kept saying how good they were.

Here’s the RECIPE

Chase came home from school Wednesday and says to me “Mom how do you spell your name?” Anytime he asks a question  he usually wants to to ask him the question. So instead of saying “Mom I can spell my name…” he would say “Mom how do you spell your name?” so I would say back “Chase how do you spell your name” and he can tell me. LOL Are you following me? So Chase says “Mom, how you do spell your name?” I say “A-M-Y, How do you spell your name” Chase beams and says “C-H-A-S-E” I made a big deal and told him how proud of him I was and told him he is so smart and he says “YES, I AM!!!” A little while later I got a video of him spelling his name!! So cute!!

VID 00001

Well today is the day! Aiden and Alex had their first day back to school. Aiden was excited despite saying he wasn’t. We got there and he took off for his friends and class. Breaking only momentarily for a photo, when asked. Haha!

Alex I thought would have no issues leaving me. He’s such a social little man. He didn’t want me to go. When we got there and we was to line up his thumb went into the mouth. He rarely sucks his thumb unless he’s really axious or sleeping. So I knew we might have issues… He did fine in class until I went to leave and he started crying. I felt bad but knew he would have fun.

When I went to pick him up he was in a good mood and excited to see me and tell me how awesome his day was. He was super excited to have gotten to play with playdough. We don’t let it in the house because of Chase eating it and getting sick and the whole wheat factor. So him playing with it was HUGE. He likes his teacher and the TA in the room. He can’t wait to go back tomorrow.

Tomorrow Chase will have his first day back. We opted to send him a day later so all the hullabulloo would be over and he could transition on a calmer day. So lets cross our fingers. He was excited but now he says he’s not going…. EEK!!!!

Friday was information day at the boys school. If you have known me long enough you know that information day and I have a horrible track record. I used to take the boys by myself. I have had kids throw up, my flip flop break and have to be tied into my foot, I got a parking ticket one year, the list goes on.

Neil took off this year to attend with me as we had 3 children who needed informtation. Chase has been having a rough time lately. I needed the help. Graysen was with Emily. We woke up to Chase having had a horrible bm explosion all over his room. When I say all over I mean all over. Neil just put him in the tub and hosed him down. It was so horrible. Do you get how HORRIBLE it was? He proceeded to have 2 or 3 more diapers before we were to leave. We assume he ate something he was allergic to. Before we leave Aiden’s stomach hurts. Alex isn’t sick, I wasn’t sick (I almost always get sick at the same time or before Chase with stomach stuff). We are still trying to locate what foods they ate previously. We now thing they had too much soy, or the yeast in the pizza I have been making upset their tummies or they got some cross contamination. So we finally get them all clean again, I gave them immodium. We pack up the car with many clothing changes and head to school.

IT WAS PURE AND SIMPLE CHAOS!!! Chase was NOT thrilled about the crowd. Alex was not listening. Aiden was fine. We met all the kids teachers.

Alex will be in Pre-K this year. He has Mrs. Lawrence. Aiden had Mrs. Lawrenc for Kindergarten. We loved her. Alex is very very excited. I really feel like she will be a good fit for his BIG personality. So we are excited!!

Chase will be in Kindergarten. His will be in Mrs. Carter’s class. She seems very nice. She teaches a typical K classroom. Chase will have an aide that will attend class with him. He will work with a special ed teacher some, and a speech therapist as well. We are finally feeling okay about sending him. I think they are going to be on top of things as much as they can. I pray they will be. I just hope Chase can handle the stresses of the class. PLEASE PRAY!!! I think if he can make it, it could make a huge difference for him!!!

Aiden will be in 2nd grade. His teacher is Mrs. Cable. I know nothing about her, but she seems very nice and is what I think of when I think of a second grade teacher. In fact she reminds me of my 2nd grade teacher Mrs. Keys. Maybe that is why she makes me think 2nd grade!! She seems put together but nice.

All the classes seem to be okay with the boys food allergies and I signed up for cookies as at many parties as I could pull off so I can control the gluten factor. The kids will never know they aren’t eating gluten!! I am going to plan some really awesome fall, winter, and valentines cookies!! Woohoo!! I also signed up to be on the homeroom team for Chase’s class. I am hoping I will have many opportunities to volunteer and stay active at the school.

Later in the day I went back up to the school and met with the team up people that will be working with Chase. Everyone but his aide. I thought I was just meeting with the special ed, and his k teacher. I was a bit SHOCKED to see the whole team but they were all very nice and accomodating and seemed like they really want to see Chase suceed as much as I do. They also had good ideas as well. I am feeling alot better about the process now. So we will see how it goes.

Aiden and Alex will start school Tuesday. Chase will start a day late to avoid the chaos of the first day in Kindergarten. He will start on everyone else second day. The people at the school suggested it and it was a GREAT option. I would have never thought of it!! So glad they did!! YAY!!

So here’s to a new school year…. FUN FUN!!!

Thursday I learned that when your child has autism and is passionate about something even something that seems well within your control… Make sure you take backup.

So I wanted to take the boys to do something FUN before school started back. Neil had to work, so it was just me and the boys. G was with her mommy for the day.  So I took the boys putt putting Thursday.

I got the idea to take them to Putt-A-Round. It’s a cool mini golf place by Target. Chase has been interested in “Hutt Hutt” lately. I tell him it’s PUTT PUTT that he needs to use his P maker “PUH PUH PUH PUTT PUTT” and he tells me its too hard to say Putt Putt, saying it correctly. LOL!!!

So I take the boys, they are thrilled. Aiden putts, all is well. Alex putts backwards, all is well. Chase looks at how far he is from the hole and tells me “NO” he puts his ball about 4 inches from the hole and knocks it in. He yells “I DID IT! HOLE IN ONE” and waits for his brothers to hit the ball 23 more times before making it in.

So hole 2… we are next to a little pond area. Chase’s favorite thing in Wii Golf is to knock it into the water to hear the people say “OOOOOOH”. He will line up with the water, pull out his wood or iron and knock it right in and cheer. LOVES IT. So of course he puts his ball down and putts it into the water. FUN!! I fish it out. It’s funky blue dyed water. Looks pretty, but doesn’t smell so great on your hands. ANYWAY, everyone gets their ball in.

Hole 5ish… Alex is getting bored having to hit his ball 23 times to get it in the hole. His brothers are done. He decides to just pick his ball up and move on to the next hole where his brothers are waiting. CHASE FLIPS OUT!!! Alex did not make it in the hole, Alex cannot proceed. His club is dropped he grabs Alex by the shirt and drags him back to the hole screaming and makes him putt the ball in before we can proceed. I WAS SHOCKED SPEECHLESS.

Few holes later… Alex tries to skip a hole again. Screaming again ensues from Chase.  All is not well in the world of Hutt Hutt. Before I know what’s happening Chase has smacked his brother with the golf club. At this point I praise Jesus for low muscle tone because what could have been bad wasn’t. I confiscate his club, he FLIPS OUT. I am holding the club away, trying to fight off Chase’s advances and get him calmed down. Right about now I am feeling like Hutt Hutt was a crappy idea.

We get calmed down and putt the other 25 holes (yes we went around twice). We get to the end. It’s now 90 some odd degrees outside and everyone is dripping sweat. We decide to call it a day. Chase is NOT okay with this. He flys off the handle runs away drops his ball in hole one. Picks it back up, runs to hole two. At this point I am going after him to retrieve him. He drops his ball and club and takes off running.  I chase Chase down (HEY MOM I REMEMBER YOU CAME UP WITH HIS NAME — ITS VERY ACCURATE). The owner is outside. I am sure he thinks I have a brat for a child. I feel at times like these I need to carry a autism card with me. One that says “”FREE PASS” My parenting doesn’t completely suck my kid just has autism. TRY IT BEFORE YOU JUDGE ME”. Or something to that effect. I catch Chase I haul him up and he is hitting me. Aiden gathers the equiptment. Alex is talking talking talking. I get the boys in the car. Chase is FLIPPING OUT.

I don’t remember Chase having such a passionate fit in the last year at least. I wrestled him into his seat trying not to hurt him or get hurt. I get him in. I get into my seat and off flys the seatbelt. He is clawing at the door. A group of Menonite looking women pull up. I get out of my seat release the door to my child dealing with disappointment in his own way. I try to calm him. It wont work. I just think we need space. I get him back into the seat. I get in my seat. OFF FLYS THE SEATBELT…. We go through this 3 times. Finally I get in his face and get him to breath deep with me. The menonite women are passing the car as I do lamaze breathing with my 5 year old. I dont remember ever using it in labor but it sure does calm Chase. He counts to 10. The 3rd round of counting he says “10!!! I FEEL HAPPY NOW” I congratulate him on being happy and try not to melt into a sweaty puddle on the ground.

IT WAS INSANE. SOOOO I AM THINKING HUTT HUTT IS GOOD AND ALL BUT I DEFINITELY WILL NEVER EVER EVER GO ALONE AGAIN!!! He has asked many many times to go back since Thursday.

Welcome to the Weekend Update with Amy Archibald…

We didn’t do too much this weekend. Friday night we went to the library. The boys played on the computers there while Neil and I tag teamed going to the adult side and looking at books. I got a couple of books that look interesting.

Saturday we hung around the house, got all the laundry done, cleaned up some. Made the boys sausage and cinnamon toast for breakfast. The loved it. It had been a while. We went to Target and got a few things as well as a birthday present for Dustin. Aiden went to Dustin’s party in the afternoon.

We tried to go to church but it didn’t work out. Chase is having a hard time lately. It’s been rough on him and us. We are kind of in a low at the moment, not kind of we are. Life is stressfull. Autism SUCKS!!! I just want my little boy to recover!!! I want it more than air!!! I want life to be easier for him, I want him to not have to fight for everything that comes so easily to typical children. I want him to KNOW he is loved, and to know he knows it. I have been fighting bitterness over this. I have two typical kids, so I know how easily it is to take things for granted, but it’s hard when people don’t understand. Really you never can understand how life is for a child with autism is, how it affects a family, but I really have to try not to covet a life where we don’t have such huge hurdles. Where we can sit down and eat dinner without screaming and having to remind or help our 5 year old eat. Where he doesn’t have to get frustrated with having EVERYTHING even something as simple as eating have to be a “learning experience”. It’s just rough, and it sucks. I find myself fighting being bitter because we have fought so hard since we have knowns what we needed to do. We have made hard choices and really stuck to them even when it was hard to or when people didn’t understand. We’ve endured the criticism because we felt convicted that THIS is what needed to be done to help our child and those things work… but not enough to reverse our sons autism, nothing has been enough yet. I want to know WHEN it will be enough, when our son won’t be trapped anymore… I am rambling and whining, it’s just been very very hard lately. Please pray for our son and our family if you think of it. Back to lighter topics.

I baked a bunch yesterday, I think it was to alleviate stress. Really it made me tired. LOL!! I made the boys gluten/casein free mock cheezits. Aiden and Alex looooved them. Chase thinks they are poison. I made some gluten/casein free Pepperoni Pizza. The boys all are on cloud 9. I have tried a TON of different recipes for pizza crusts and couldn’t find anything that was good, all of them had some issue. This crust is PERFECT. It tastes totally normal and LOOKS totally normal. Double bonus — its the easiest of the recipes I have made. I also made 2 banana blueberry muffin cakes that are gluten, casein, soy, and egg free. I like it, but not as much as Neil and the boys. They ate a full cake in a day. Hence the reason I made 2 at once. LOL! Then lastly I made gluten, casien, and soy free poptarts. I got a really cool star shaped personal pie maker at Williams Sonoma and used it to make the poptarts. I tried out a new recipe for the crust and it was AWESOME. I had yet to find one that would stay together and this one did the trick. It was super easy to roll too. And double bonus it uses coconut flour which is MEGA YUMMY!!! The boys were loving all the baking I did. I love making them stuff they can eat that is like stuff they were able to eat before. It’s very rewarding.

Today we just hung out around here. The guys let me sleep in. We sorted all the clothes in boys closets got rid of all their worn or stained stuff to make room for all their new school clothes. That was a task in and of itsself. Neil and I got it all sorted and ready to be put away. Aiden put it all away as a punishment. He has been leaving his stuff out lately and running off to play at his friends houses. I then end up having to pick it up so Graysen wont eat it. He would get grounded from the stuff, but since that wasn’t doing the trick. Neil grounded him from his legos and told him since I picked up his stuff that he was going to have to do some of my chores… SO HE PUT ALL THE LAUNDRY AWAY!!! Seriously I hate carting it all back and putting it away so it was perfect!! He did a great job!!

Well the kids are all in bed I should probably get to work on some paperwork I need to do… enjoy the pics below…

Monday the little boys were still out at the lake. I had an appointment in the morning. After I took Graysen and Aiden to Taco Bell for a taco and we went and finished up all the school supply shopping, and got the boys some new shoes at Payless. Graysen’s sleep schedule was totally off kilter so she took 2 naps which totaled over 5 hours of our day… Makes for a very easy day. Graysen is talking talking talking. Oh and she’s very much a girl — SHE LOVES HER SOME SHOES!!!

Monday night Aiden had another baseball game and did well at it too! Only one more game left. Neil took him to the game and I went to a Biomed meeting at the Olive Garden. After the game Neil met his parents to get our two little kids back. The came back wiped out and sunburned. They had a blast.

Tuesday — TODAY– We pretty much just hung out at home and rested. Chase had an AWESOME morning. He woke up and had a full conversation with me, and was saying/describing in new ways. He was blowing me away with his talking. It’s always a GREAT way to start a day.

Graysen is back on schedule and was very very happy to see Alex today.

AMY CALLED US FROM AFRICA TODAY!!! The boys and I were thrilled to get to talk to her!! She sounds great!! We miss her so much!! Coincedentally we picked up some stuff from a friend that she had sent back from Africa for us. So it was fun to get to tell her thank you. She sent me a pretty necklace. Each of the boys a awesome bracelet, and Neil and Aiden a carved chess set for their birthdays!! It’s awesome!! She also sent back a necklace for Emily and a dress for Graysen. Anyway we were thrilled to have a good conversation with Amy and the ability to talk to her more easily.

I guess that’s it for updates…  I can’t believe it’s already almost Wednesday this week is going FAST!! The boys start school 2 weeks from today!! INSANE!!

We had a busy busy weekend as seems to be the pattern lately.

Friday night Aiden had a double header. He did really really good, probably the best he has done all season. He really hit the ball a few times, and his team did really well overall. We stayed for the first game then left him there for the second. Dan and Mindy took him and Dustin from the game out to Arcadia to camp for 2 nights.  Neil had some guys over to play poker until about midnight and I went over to my friend Amy N’s house and chatted and watched the movie “Clue”.

Saturday morning we thought we might go to some garage sales. I need to get some toddler toys for Graysen. She isn’t digging the baby toys so much anymore. We didn’t find one decent garage sale. Alex and Chase were disappointed. Afterwards we went to a few stores trying to find a good deal on shorts for the little boys for school. We went home and had lunch (the boys had left over homemade pizza). Afterwards we went out and did our grocery shopping at Sam’s and hung out at home the rest of the evening.

Sunday midday we went and picked up Aiden & Dustin from the lake. We swapped them out rather. We left Chase and Alex to camp overnight. We took Dustin home, then drove down to Penn Square. A little over a week ago we went and helped build a 8 foot tall R2D2 at the Lego store. Sunday we went back and helped to break him apart. Dallas broke theirs apart in 1.5 hours. We beat their time by 15-20 minutes. It was rather impressive. I have to say breaking him apart was MUCH MUCH more fun than putting him together. You would get a big chunk and then just go breaking bricks off and putting them in the color/size bin they belonged in. After we took Aiden out to dinner. So it was a very busy but very fun weekend.