Saturday January 30, 2016

 

I just finished my brother's and his husband's taxes.

It was almost too painful, but we made it through.

They have rental property and that is never fun trying to sift through.

I was also worried about the fees. They will owe me for preparing

them and they also owe the program I use for their forms.

In fact theirs cost less than ours did.

Crazy how each form is a different fee!

 

All of the kids have fevers again. Carson's was 100.9 the last time I took his. The girls was 99. something.

 

Its a winter wonder land out there.

We have between 8-10 inches of snow just today. That is not counting all of the snow that was still here from prior snow storms.

We have had a ton of snow this year. It has also been really cold. The kids have had more inside days at school than not this winter.

I am pretty sure we have gotten a couple of feet of snow in the valley this year. We don't live on the benches, but we are pretty close.

Because of kids all being sick, we stayed home all day and watched movies, well except the part where Joe went to karate this morning, but the rest of us stayed home.

 

This was a conversation between Carson and Quynsie this morning:

 

Haha sitting here listening to Carson and Quynsie have a heated discussion. Carson says well mom doesn't tell me what to do every day. Quynsie says mom shouldn't have to tell you what to do every day. She doesn't tell you to eat breakfast or to go potty, she doesn't need to tell you what to do on every single thing. Your a big boy.

Back story Carson is mad about doing chores again this morning. Apparently I'm not dictating Carson you need to pick up that car Carson you need to fold that shirt Carson you need hang those pants. Just fold the laundry for crying out loud. I don't need to dictate everything that is in your basket dude.

 

Friday January 29, 2016

 

My dream of being able to work today Uninterrupted (doing taxes for my brother and ours) just went out the window. Carson's fever is 99.9. Tylenol and breathing treatments every 4 hours and the constant sound affects puts a damper in my work day.

 

Joe had to work in Price, Helper, Fairview and couple of other places along the way.

He was supposed to be home by 6, but he called me from Fairview at 5:00 saying that he was stuck in a snowbank/ditch and was waiting for a tow truck.

The tow truck did not show up until about 7:30 and he did not get home until 10:00 last night. I hate when I have to worry about him for that long. Thankfully, he had cell service where he was so he could call and check in with me every once in awhile.

 

I took the kids to see this group of elk down in the river bottom area on our way home from school. Carson stayed home from school again today because of a fever. But the kids loved this little adventure.

 

3 hours ago I gave Carson Tylenol because it said 99.9. Now it says 99.0. I guess the Tylenol is wearing off. I got this new thermometer at the beginning of the week when Nadia got sick. I love it because when your stuffed up and can't close your lips to use the other thermometer I can just stick this on the forehead or even in the ear. I wish I world have invested in one if these things 4 years ago when we first got our kids.

Best $20 I have ever spent.

 

 



Thursday January 28, 2016

 

All of the kids were home sick today! After laundry, we just relaxed and watched movies. There was some tablet time and coloring. This is my gem.


Yep! I am still in denial! She cannot be old enough to be able to go to youth conference. Last night at young women's they worked on their bonnets for the trek!

Wednesday January 27, 2016

Why didn't I think to add the little people to making a meal each week while I redone their chore chart this past Sunday? They could each take a piece of the meal and be in charge of that once a week. Damn now I might have to go and re do it again because that's a brilliant idea.

Raven called home today saying she didn't feel well so I went to see what was up. When I got there, I felt her head and it felt warm. She did have a low grade fever so home we went.




I have been working on this all day. Laundry is my enemy. I guess it helps being able to look out at my nice big back yard. Ok it's big to us compared to our old back yard.

At dinner Carson says "James Madison is dead the money guy Yeah he is dead".
And on a side note we have another sick kid in the house. Joe just took Raven's temp and she now had a fever. She didn't have one when I picked her up from school early but she did say she didn't feel well.

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Carson said something today that caught me off guard. On our way to therapy he told me that he just wanted to sit in a corner by myself because all those people annoy me. I have noticed that he tends to walk away from people every once in awhile but today he voiced it and true to his words he has been sitting by me away from everyone elseand if anyone comes near him he gets upset.

I have never really heard him voice things like that, but today he did. He normally loves playing with others. We don't talk about him having autism in front of him because we don't want to cause more harm by giving him another excuse to act the way he does. Yes, he has heard the word mentioned, but he does not know what the characteristics are of autism so there is no way that he would know that some autistic people don't like being in big groups of people.
Like I said, this is not necessarily a new thing for him to walk away from big groups, but this is a new thing for him to admit that he hates groups of people because they are annoy him.


 

Saturday January 23, 2016

 

Joe doesn't normally pick up the kids prescriptions, but today Joe did. I was with him, but stayed in the car.

It through the pharmacy off as well. They were not sure if they should give him Carson's meds or not. Anyway, I sent him a text telling him that he needed to make sure they mixed it. Apparently, he didn't get the text because when he came back out to the car, I looked and it was not mixed. He had to take it back in and ask them to mix it.

Long story short, it was entertaining seeing him be dad and pick up prescriptions.

 

 

Carson is throwing a tantrum because mom is done treating him like a baby and is making him fold and hang his own laundry.

He has also had to help with dishes recently and boy oh boy, the tantrums just keep coming.

Carson's teacher told me that he has been extra emotional this past week, but now that I think about it, I think I understand why. He is used to everyone doing everything for him, and now that we are trying not to do everything for him, he has been over emotional.

I'll have to remember to send a note to his teacher explaining it on Monday so that she is prepared.

 

This was one of the best shows we have seen as a family. Carson was even interested in the show. He loved it!

Normally, when we go places, he isn't too interested in whatever it is that we are seeing/doing.

 

 

Sunday January 24, 2016

 

Getting ready to leave to go to dinner and this part came on TV (we were watching a movie)that this girl snuck out of the house so Carson says we better hurry up and leave before Quynsie decides to sneak out of her bedroom.

 

Oh heaven help me! I am sitting here blogging and I hear Joe ask Carson to take his poopy pull up outside to the garbage can and Carson told him..."That is not a kids job!".

Joe then says, it is when you are 7 and still messing your pants. Your not 2 and therefore you can take it out to the trash.

See, I told you that he has been treated like a baby for way to long. (For clarification, we have never taken care of his poopy pull up since he started pooping his pants a year ago, we always make him take care of it).

This Sensory, ODD, ADHD and Autism stuff is hard to understand and it is even harder to explain to others like our extended family. They think that we should have put a stop to the messing of the pants a long time ago, but the truth is, we have tried everything. We have tried taking video games, toys and other privileges away, we have yelled, we have talked calmly, you name it, we have tried it. The fact of the matter is, he isn't going to change the behavior unless he wants to. He is now getting teased at school for wearing a pull up, but that doesn't even seem to stop him. It makes him mad and he is embarrassed, but he still won't stop. The only person that can change the behavior is Carson himself.

 

I am working on a new chore chart/plan for this family because what we are doing now isn't working anymore and we need to add Carson to the mix.



Friday January 22, 2016

 

This morning was rough!

With a kid with sensory and autism, life is unpredictable. You never know what their mood will be like.

This morning all he did was yell at people and cry.

I went in at the end of the school day to check on him and his teacher said that he was the exact same way all day. She said it was a roller coaster of a day.

She told me about what happened on Wednesday during a math test:

one of the questions asked how many tens are in this column and how many ones are in this column?

Carson answered 87

So his teacher then asked him again how many stacks were in the tens column? (answer was 8 tens), but no matter how his teacher asked him, he kept saying 87 because that was the final answer. 80+7=87

 

There was another question:

Give me a different way we can write 40+ 7= 47

Carson's answer:

It doesn't matter because the answer is always going to be 47.

She was trying to get him to say: 4 stacks of 10 and 7 ones

 

I am not sure what we are going to do with this boy! He sure does have a mouth on him.

Where he gets these things I will never know.

 

What we do on a Friday night when mom is sick.

These sinus infections I keep getting are starting to piss me off!

 

Thursday January 21, 2016

 

Ugh I woke up this morning feeling worse than I did yesterday when I went to the doctor. I took my first antibiotic yesterday as soon as I got it. My ears and head are hurting. Every time Joe tried talking to me last night my right ear would vibrate inside. He thought I was kidding until I slapped my ear and told him to be quiet. It is the weirdest feeling ever.

 

Good Job Quynsie

 

Yep! This is our Sensory seeking child. He loves being upside down. He does handstands and even watches tv upside down.

Crazy boy!

 

I was looking at Ravens math last night and I couldn't believe what they are teaching our 5th graders now days. She was doing regular algebra but this had decimals and square roots. I was going crazy just looking at it.

 

Boy is this so true!

I am thankful that we finally have answers so that we can address them the correct way. I cannot handle some of these behaviors.

He does not make eye contact

Is emotionally unstable

Pre-occupied

Can't focus when in groups of people

Eating habits are horrible

Needing one step directions

And so on.....

 

My...I mean Raven's science project. A cotton wood tree.

While she was writing her report, I was working with the hot glue gun gluing the branches in place and the cotton.

One of the easier science projects that I have had to help with.

I hope there is an "A" involved in this because I have not been feeling well, but still took time to help her.

 

When Joe got home from work, I was

Being funny. .. I asked Joe "my homework is finished can I go to bed now? " then he said yeah but what do you want for dinner?

Yep that's right he got home early enough to cook dinner tonight. I love a man that can cook so I don't have to all of the time.

 

Happy 9th birthday to our nephew Kaden!

I can't believe that you are 9 already.

We love you so much buddy!

 

 



ROUGH DAY ALL THE WAY AROUND

 

This morning as I sat in the school parking lot I sat there crying. Quynsie decided that today she was going to break school dress code and wear leggings. I didn't notice till we were half way there. I decided that tough love was the way to go. I walked her in straight to the office and asked them to write her up and that I would bring her pants when I come pick Carson up for a doctors appointment.

I hate being that mean mom that teaches her kids what tough love is, but dang it this isn't the first time she has broke school dress code.

 

At the doctors office waiting to hear the results of Carson's Autism test.

Although I already knew what the results were, it is still hard hearing the doctor tell you that there is another thing wrong with your child, because if severe Tactile Sensory Processing Disorder, severe ODD,  and severe ADHD aren't enough, lets add on MILD AUTISM.

It is all so overwhelming. All I want for this boy and the rest of the kids, is to have a great chance at life and be successful.

 

 

I seriously do not know how some of you do it when your husbands are gone for long periods of time. Our house falls completely apart if Joe doesn't get home until after bedtime.
My kids do not do well with change especially Carson and Nadia and when their dad gets home at a different time every day, it is hard on them especially when he works late like he has done lately.
I am going to go out on a limb and guess that they are afraid of being abandond and him not coming home.

 

Yesterday on Day 1

Day 2! I can see a difference already.

This poor kid is in so much pain and there is nothing I can do about it.

She hates me right now for doing this for/to her, but I know that she will thank me later when it is all said and done.

Watching her eat tonight was painful. It took me back to when I had braces.

Her poor cheeks are swollen and it makes me sad.

But look at those pretty green eyes.

Quynsie is at Young Women's tonight.



TUESDAY January 19, 2016

This is the last picture of Raven without braces for awhile.

Yep, that's right, we have started the braces saga.

 

 (Just the beginning and at the very least 24+ months to go)

Pink and Rad are the colors for this month.

She only has the top ones for now. They have got to make room for one of her canines and then once that is done, they will have to go in surgically and attach a spring to it and slowly move it down over a few months. Once that tooth is in, then they will put the bottom braces on and they will then work on her bite.

I was looking at her teeth tonight and the wire has bent even more around the one side of her mouth. I think it is doing its job.

The poor thing is in so much pain tonight. I have tried to stay on top of it and alternate Tylenol and advil every six hours. I will be sending her to school in the morning with some just in case her teacher feels that it is necessary for her to have some, otherwise it is early out and she can get some when she gets home from school.

I am so excited to see the transformation. I think I am going to take a picture every month after each appointment and document the progress.

Three years ago today, these three were sealed to us for eternity.

Look how little they were.

Like promised, Travis, here is an email that I got from Raven's teacher today.

I was so proud of her.

She is doing better in school, but tonight I went through her folder for the first time since last week and there were 5 math assignments that she has not turned in.

UGGGHHHH!!!

MONDAY January 18, 2016

Kids didn't have school today so we just relaxed at home all day.

I have been battling a huge migraine all weekend and today so relaxing was good.

Kids got up early, but I didn't even know a couple of them were even up because they were all so quiet.

I was blocking things on Quynsie's phone and tablet and Nadia said thanks for making the rules around here Quynsie. Then Nadia asked what does MSP stand for? Quynsie: mom's sick plan to ruin her kids lives.

Makes sense doesn't it?

Joe got home just before bedtime and when he walked in the door Carson said:

 "hi Mister"



 

SUNDAY January 17, 2016

 

Today I have pretty much spent the entire day in bed except when I went grocery shopping with Joe and then to Sacrament Meeting. Quynsie was speaking in Sacrament today or else I would have probably stayed home. I woke up with a major migraine and when I get one, it knocks my butt out. If I don't sleep when I have one, I would be puking, that's how bad they get.

Quynsie done an amazing job on her talk today. It was about the Atonement.

 

This is so true with all three of them.

 

 

 

 

This was to and from the grocery store. We woke up to about 6 inches of snow and a ton of fog.

 

SATURDAY January 16, 2016

 

Today was Nadia's one on one time with mom and dad. Our first stop was grammy and papas because they had some things they wanted us to come look at. One the way there, Nadia tore her pants and it was from her knee to her crotch so papa gave her a pair of his socks so that she was at least some what warm. Her shirt was long enough that it covered the tops of the socks. It was really cute actually.

 

Then we went to lunch at Pizza Pie Café.

 

 

Then we ended our day going and picking up a real keyboard/piano for her. We found it on KSL and she is one excited little girl.

I hope this helps with her wanting to play the piano. She is really good at it and I would really love for her to keep playing.

I can't wait until she can play some church music. I would welcome that every Sunday, that is for sure.

Nadia, Raven and Quynsie even played "Hot Cross Buns" together. Raven plays the violin and Quynsie plays the flute. I love hearing them all play together.

I am wanting to get Carson started on the piano, but I am so worried that he won't focus long enough.

Now we just need to get her a taller chair/stool or something.

 

 

 

Carson lost privilege of having a bed frame awhile back because he kept shoving his dirty pull ups under it and refused to clean them up. Anyway, we just put his bed back up today and got him some new bedding. He is one excited little boy.

Just don't fall off buddy, that is one tall bed.

 

 

We also put up shelving so he had some place to put his "pets" (stuffed animals) and then we labeled some boxes so that he has some organization in his room. This boy has to have labels to show him where things go, or else he won't keep his room clean. I am going to be working on labeling his dresser as well because if anyone puts his laundry away other than him, it gets put in the wrong drawer and he won't just fix that drawer, he will pull everything out of his dresser and throw it on the floor and won't put it back.

 

At dinner tonight Joe asked Carson to grab a butter knife out of the drawer. Carson responded by saying why don't you get it? Your a big boy!

I laughed so hard

 

FRIDAY January 15, 2016

 

Back story:
Quynsie got in trouble for using hangouts and lying about it.

Conversation:

 Raven: Quynsie why are you acting weird? ...
Dad: because she just got in trouble
Mom: let's put it this way, she is the reason the rest of you are going to have your phones and computers and tablets locked up like a jail cell.
Girls: Quynsie that's not fair. Why do you have to ruin everything for us?
Dad: because that's her job as the oldest. She is the reason there are rules.



Thursday January 14, 2016

This morning I had a minor heart attack. I got a pop up on my phone saying Nadia was marked absent at school today. Ummm excuse me I dropped her off. I called the school and made sure she was really there. Yep she was. Geeze people when you are in a situation like ours (Yes we have been very careful not posting where our kids go to school, but you just never know) a simple mistake like that sends us into orbit. Protective mama bear came out.



Look at Mr smarty pants Carson!!!! We did have him screened for autism at school. The score for my part came out as very likely and the teachers came up as possibly likely that he is autistic.
I have a doctors appointment scheduled and if they can't confirm it, then I will try going through the school district. Our kids don't go to a public school, but our insurance will not cover the very expensive test at a private mental health place. Either way, we have a good start in the right direction.

Quynsie gave me one of her worst glares ever today...it was over underware. I bought Raven and Nadia new underware because I have not bought them any for awhile and I was doing laundry and looked at their underware and thought dang these things are way small. I just bought Quynsie new ones about a month ago. She was so jealous that her sisters got something new and she did not.
SERIOUSLY kid!!!! It is JUST underware! What is so exciting about underware that you have to be jealous?

Naida had a huge melt down about piano lessons today. I think she feels overwhelmed with school, homework, chores, dinner, piano and then karate.
We came up with a compromise that will hopefully help. I have asked her teacher to switch things up a bit to make it more fun and then we changed the day and made it pretty much right after school, so that she hopefully doesn't feel so overwhelmed.
Our kids do not do well with over stimulation nor do they do well with change.

Now that we have some what of an answer about Carson, it helps us better understand why he is acting the way he is and now we can try different things to help him. We are going to be going through his room, organizing it and labeling each bin and dresser drawer so he and everyone else knows that is where things go.
We have noticed that if Joe puts Carson's pjs in the wrong drawer, Carson can't just pull them out and put them in the right drawer, he has to pull everything out of every drawer, and then he gets overwhelmed and won't pick them up because they are now all mixed up and he is confused.
He has one big toy box that he can put all of his toys in, but he won't because then he can't find things and he can't stand it all being in one big pile.
Cars have to have a home, action figures have to have a home and so on.

Wednesday January 13, 2016

Joe had to go to Saint George for work today and that means that he is not going to be home before the kids go to bed. This also means that they won't see their dad until Thursday night after he gets home from work.

I had all of the kids in bed by 7:30 reading or doing something quiet in their rooms. By the time Joe got home at 9:30, they were all asleep. I got a total of 2 hours to myself. It was quite peaceful.


Carson is OCD about his socks and he would prefer a pull up more than underware.

I feel this way about my kids math homework sometimes as well.


#5 is a good example...
There are 30 pages minus 9 that are single digests so that leaves 21 pages left that are double numbers...
21x2=42+9=51  

Tuesday January 12, 2016

Raven struggled at school today. She was messing with her watch during instruction time, her teacher asked her to stop, but she wouldn't so the teacher took it away and told her she could have it back at the end of the day.
I ended up emailing the teacher for her side of the story and was told that Raven got up in the teachers face about it and was disrespectful.
I do not put up with my kids being disrespectful to any adult.
We have asked Raven to write her teacher an apology letter.
We are all about holding our kids responsible for their actions. They are not allowed to blame others (which they try to do).
 

Monday January 11, 2016
 

I wasn't completely listening to Joe and Carson's conversation but I tuned in to hear "no dad, you silly dad".



SUNDAY January 10, 2016

 

Nadia's comic that she drew at Church today. This pretty much sums up how every Sunday goes at our house.

 

While telling kids that Grammy is talking them to school Wednesday because I have a meeting with the school for Carson at 8 and I don't want to take then because they would be stinkers; Carson then says well Grammy let's us be brats sometimes.

 

A little bit of the white peaks of the mountains between the clouds and the nasty inversion.

 

 

 

SATURDAY January 09, 2016

Grandma and Grandpa Davis got the kids this game table for Christmas and now that we have the game/tv room finished we were able to set it up for them. They played it all day long with friends.

 

Parker: who's talking to us and from where?
Quynsie: We have a camera so my parents know what we are doing down here.
Parker: creepy

I just have to say I love this. I can watch from my phone upstairs and take all the pictures I want.

 

 

Quynsie was actually babysitting for our family friend (kid's friends and my sister's best friend). Anyway, she babysat at our house so all of the kids could play. This little sleeping beauty has a new name. Her name is really McKinnley, but she was so cranky that I nicknamed her little miss McKranky. She is so dang cute though and so are her brothers.