In the next 24 hours I have to:
- Study for a quiz for Biology
- Prepare for job interview/test for job with Stats Can
Two big priorities. By myself with a toddler.
This morning I had to have a SLP (speech and language pathologist) meet us at the house.
My plan was nap myself and Aaron, take him back to daycare and study at the library as neither is going on with him at home.
He hasn't napped. Neither have I. Now it's time to take him back to daycare.
On top of studying what has been loaded on me.
-Finding a form to fax for Aaron's Austism Funding Eric was suppose to deal with, which never got done.
-Fax an asset qualification to someone for a government job I've been put in a qualified pool for as I am not sure an email attachment is sufficient. (Due tonight at midnight! Less than 24 hours notice)
I also have to ensure my toddler is happy, attended to, fed nutritious meals and bathed.
And I have to make myself look good for my interview which means more than a jeans, shirt and ponytail.
All on my own.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Burst My Bubble
It’s no secret that I like my country music. And every now and then I like to get myself a country music fix by heading to a country bar. Sadly, Victoria lacks anything close to resembling a country bar so I get my fill when I visit Vancouver.
I had every intention of doing so this past weekend. I had always wanted to go to Boone County Cabaret, but have never managed to go in the 10 years that I’ve been legal.
This past weekend, I was going to do it. I was still on my country high from my birthday. A friend and I randomly ended up at Gabby’s a few weeks back on my birthday and had a pretty good time not to mention and awesome band!
(Side note: The Steel Toe Boots were awesome. You can really tell in their playing that they love what they do. My friend and I noted that they played Gary Allan’s - Right Where I Need To Be exceptionally well. From reading their Bio on their website, it’s the first song they ever learned.)
So this past Saturday, I headed out to Boone County Cabaret. When Tara and I got there Karen Lee Batten was playing. She is a local BC country singer and I have heard on the radio. I didn’t hear any country songs coming out of her, but it isn’t uncommon for country bands to do a rock song or two. (She was also pleasure to listen too)
Regardless, Tara and I began to dance. We had seen people two stepping so I still thought I was in a country bar.
The band packed up and the DJ started playing some rock music and then club music came on. I still wasn’t put off because even Rooster’s plays a few Top 40 songs.
But it was apparent in my tipsy state that something just wasn’t right. I went and requested a song I could line dance to and the DJ said he couldn’t play it. I was think WTF? And he said they weren’t a country bar any more.
My bubble had been burst! Initially, I was let down, but undeterred. I should’ve clued in that TNB being splattered on an overhead screen. (The New Boone.) I talked to the bouncer and he told me that it was either go bankrupt or change their platform. So they changed their platform. But they didn’t change their signage or décor inside.
Despite all this, I continued to have a good time with Tara and danced the night away. I wasn’t dressed for a club per se; skinny jeans, grey leather boots and a fitted v-neck tee more suited for a country bar as that what I was going for.
I learned a good lesson on my birthday. Don’t wear flip flops to a country bar. In my defense on my birthday we were graced with some spring like weather and I HAD no clue I’d end up at Gabby’s. It’s near impossible to line dance in flip flops but I did manage to do it!
But it wasn’t an experience I cared to repeat.
And I didn’t because I didn’t go to a country bar.
I had every intention of doing so this past weekend. I had always wanted to go to Boone County Cabaret, but have never managed to go in the 10 years that I’ve been legal.
This past weekend, I was going to do it. I was still on my country high from my birthday. A friend and I randomly ended up at Gabby’s a few weeks back on my birthday and had a pretty good time not to mention and awesome band!
(Side note: The Steel Toe Boots were awesome. You can really tell in their playing that they love what they do. My friend and I noted that they played Gary Allan’s - Right Where I Need To Be exceptionally well. From reading their Bio on their website, it’s the first song they ever learned.)
So this past Saturday, I headed out to Boone County Cabaret. When Tara and I got there Karen Lee Batten was playing. She is a local BC country singer and I have heard on the radio. I didn’t hear any country songs coming out of her, but it isn’t uncommon for country bands to do a rock song or two. (She was also pleasure to listen too)
Regardless, Tara and I began to dance. We had seen people two stepping so I still thought I was in a country bar.
The band packed up and the DJ started playing some rock music and then club music came on. I still wasn’t put off because even Rooster’s plays a few Top 40 songs.
But it was apparent in my tipsy state that something just wasn’t right. I went and requested a song I could line dance to and the DJ said he couldn’t play it. I was think WTF? And he said they weren’t a country bar any more.
My bubble had been burst! Initially, I was let down, but undeterred. I should’ve clued in that TNB being splattered on an overhead screen. (The New Boone.) I talked to the bouncer and he told me that it was either go bankrupt or change their platform. So they changed their platform. But they didn’t change their signage or décor inside.
Despite all this, I continued to have a good time with Tara and danced the night away. I wasn’t dressed for a club per se; skinny jeans, grey leather boots and a fitted v-neck tee more suited for a country bar as that what I was going for.
I learned a good lesson on my birthday. Don’t wear flip flops to a country bar. In my defense on my birthday we were graced with some spring like weather and I HAD no clue I’d end up at Gabby’s. It’s near impossible to line dance in flip flops but I did manage to do it!
But it wasn’t an experience I cared to repeat.
And I didn’t because I didn’t go to a country bar.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Party Success
Aaron's party was success! And I am bagged. I probably waited until the last minute to do things like clean the house and cut up fruit and veggies for the party trays. It's is apparent that my house is too small to host a party and 5 kids including Aaron and a smattering of parents reinforced this.
The weather has been crap otherwise I would've had it outside.
I am tired, and zonked and should be studying for test I have on Wednesday. I have back to back cake decorating courses this Monday and Tuesday which leaves little room to study. I'll be posting more pics of my creations as they happen.
-------
I was reading over my archives and actually found a post I wrote when Aaron stopped waiving when he learned it which lead to my calling the public health nurse which lead to speech therapy which lead to a referral for an autism assessment. To think if I hadn't called the public health nurse we may have gone unaware of Aaron's autism until he was school age. I was reading another one I wrote a few days after and I wrote that he didn't point to things, which is another flag. I can't believe how much I blogged two years ago. I am so glad we got a diagnosis when we did. I am off to study.
 |
| Cake, completed with train and candle. |
The weather has been crap otherwise I would've had it outside.
I am tired, and zonked and should be studying for test I have on Wednesday. I have back to back cake decorating courses this Monday and Tuesday which leaves little room to study. I'll be posting more pics of my creations as they happen.
-------
I was reading over my archives and actually found a post I wrote when Aaron stopped waiving when he learned it which lead to my calling the public health nurse which lead to speech therapy which lead to a referral for an autism assessment. To think if I hadn't called the public health nurse we may have gone unaware of Aaron's autism until he was school age. I was reading another one I wrote a few days after and I wrote that he didn't point to things, which is another flag. I can't believe how much I blogged two years ago. I am so glad we got a diagnosis when we did. I am off to study.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Birthday Cake
It's Aaron's 3rd Birthday today. I don't know where the time has gone. Three years ago tonight we were in the hospital in the middle of a near sleepless night. Tonight, I will sleep. I am up later than usual, but needed to share pictures of his birthday cake I just made for his party tomorrow.
I used whipping cream to ice it instead of butter cream frosting and OMG what a mistake. Butter cream is SO much easier to work with. I made him a train cake and tomorrow I will mount one of his Thomas Train's on it because actually decorating Thomas would take 3 hours. And I am not so keen on it as I was with his dinosaur cake.
 |
| The detail is butter cream. The side and top are whipping cream. |
Monday, March 21, 2011
Road Trip Spring Break 2011 Part 1
I am nearly home from my road trip adventure. I'd love to say that I had the best trip ever and the epic times were had and that this will go down in the history as of the best trips I have ever had, but I can't.
What I can tell you that travelling when your sick with more than the sniffles, is ill advised. Or maybe ill advised if your me. The point of this trip was some much needed R&R. 4 days after putting Eric and Aaron in a plane, and I no more rested than I was when they left.
If you can't speak, then it's probably not a good idea to embark on a road trip or not with someone who wants to do a lot of sight seeing. Originally, Tara and I were suppose to do Seattle but that somehow turned into Portland and Oregon.
She said she wanted to go somewhere she normally wouldn't get to see and that somehow turned as she “could see Seattle any day.”
The point of this post isn't too complain about my friend's lack of understanding of what parenting is and once your a parent your needs will come second to your children's 95% of the time but highlight some of the places we saw and people we encountered.
We left my dad's place shortly after 11am and we made it across the border at 1pm. We headed straight down the I-5 until we reached Marysville and stopped into Taco Bell lunch and headed on down the I-5.
We made pretty good timing and were very close to Portland and we noticed that bridge was up so stopped off in Vancouver, WA for some dinner. We drove around a bit and ended up at the Brickhouse downtown I assume.
There was a full St. Patrick's Day celebration in full swing and I felt out of place not being in green... we we're ID's by a kid who couldn't have been more than 14. We headed to the lounge and ordered our dinner. My mushroom and Swiss burger and Caesar salad were standard pub fare. Our server was attentive and our well drinks were generous. (One thing to be said about America from most bars I've frequented, is that they pour generous drinks! Unlike here in Canada where every drop of alcohol is measured cause heaven forbid someone not pay for that tiny last drop or alcohol!)
I was more keen on observing our surroundings. From what I observed, a girl wasn't going to denied a waitressing job if she wasn't a perfect size 2, and the more tattoos and piercings one had the better. Every waitress in there had tattoos on her arms and/or chest. If I were to apply there I fear I wouldnt' be hired for my lack of visible tattoos.
After dinner, we headed over the bridge into Portland and to our accommodations at the Downtown Value Inn. True to it's name it was value. I read some bad reviews about it, but when your paying $67 per night to stay downtown right near a street car and university campus you can't complain. It was clean and quiet and the staff/owners were pleasant and let us park our car for free the next day after check out to explore Portland. So I wasn't surprised when there were cigarette burns on some of the furniture. We were there to sleep not stay in a hotel.
We checked in, got changed and headed out to check out the Portland nightlife on St. Patricks' Day. We wanted to hit up Portland's Celtic Festival but I'll be damned if I was paying $25 cover to enter a tent playing music and an Irish Bar.
We wanted to go to another pub across the street but there was a line up too long to to even consider staying in. We ended up at the Ash. St. Saloon and took in punk show by some random band. It was clear, that we were over dressed in our clean green shirts, jeans and shoes. In order to fit in here, I would need to be sporting a full on sleeve of tattoos, tattoos on my chest/back of neck, have more piercings than I currently have or not have showered for a week, or wore last weeks clothes from the bottom of my hamper or worn every ripped/torn piece of clothing I owned.
But then again I am not a punk or listen to punk music but the people were nice and the drinks were cheap and plentiful. After 45 minutes or so here we moved next door to some random pub with a juke box which seemed to cater to an all over crowd but more so blue collared/college students. We fit right in. Our night did not end here, but that will have to wait as I need to get my boys from the air port soon.
I can't wait to see Aaron and I know he is dying to see me. He started to cal me "Mommy" a week ago when wants me instead of whining from his crib in the morning I hear "Mommy!" It's music to my ears.
I was more keen on observing our surroundings. From what I observed, a girl wasn't going to denied a waitressing job if she wasn't a perfect size 2, and the more tattoos and piercings one had the better. Every waitress in there had tattoos on her arms and/or chest. If I were to apply there I fear I wouldnt' be hired for my lack of visible tattoos.
After dinner, we headed over the bridge into Portland and to our accommodations at the Downtown Value Inn. True to it's name it was value. I read some bad reviews about it, but when your paying $67 per night to stay downtown right near a street car and university campus you can't complain. It was clean and quiet and the staff/owners were pleasant and let us park our car for free the next day after check out to explore Portland. So I wasn't surprised when there were cigarette burns on some of the furniture. We were there to sleep not stay in a hotel.
We checked in, got changed and headed out to check out the Portland nightlife on St. Patricks' Day. We wanted to hit up Portland's Celtic Festival but I'll be damned if I was paying $25 cover to enter a tent playing music and an Irish Bar.
We wanted to go to another pub across the street but there was a line up too long to to even consider staying in. We ended up at the Ash. St. Saloon and took in punk show by some random band. It was clear, that we were over dressed in our clean green shirts, jeans and shoes. In order to fit in here, I would need to be sporting a full on sleeve of tattoos, tattoos on my chest/back of neck, have more piercings than I currently have or not have showered for a week, or wore last weeks clothes from the bottom of my hamper or worn every ripped/torn piece of clothing I owned.
But then again I am not a punk or listen to punk music but the people were nice and the drinks were cheap and plentiful. After 45 minutes or so here we moved next door to some random pub with a juke box which seemed to cater to an all over crowd but more so blue collared/college students. We fit right in. Our night did not end here, but that will have to wait as I need to get my boys from the air port soon.
I can't wait to see Aaron and I know he is dying to see me. He started to cal me "Mommy" a week ago when wants me instead of whining from his crib in the morning I hear "Mommy!" It's music to my ears.
Monday, March 14, 2011
B is for Basement!
The title of this post has no relevance to this post. Usually when Aaron sees the letter 'B' he will say "B, basement!" He learned this from riding elevators.
It's been too long since I wrote a post. We're sick. Well Aaron and I are. I have a cold and he has an ear infection. He is getting on plane in 2 days time. The timing couldn't be worse. The doctor at the walk-in clinic suggested that Aaron go on antibiotics as he will be flying and that we administer Advil or Tylenol for the pain. This is all fine and dandy but it's is Eric who will be taking him not me. When he is sick it's me he wants or my dad. I am not accompanying them as all is still not well with the MIL.
What I am doing is attempting a road trip with Tara. As soon as I drop Eric and Aaron off at the airport, I am heading to Vancouver. We heading to Oregon. We had thought of trying to make it to San Francisco, but that is just too crazy. We don't know where we are going for sure, but we will most likely be spending St. Patrick's Day in Portland. If we do make it there I plan on going to an Irish Pub downtown that serves great Irish Nachos.
So I am childless, job less and on Spring Break. I will letting the Good Times Roll. And Tara and TM are no longer an item, so all should be well!
It's been too long since I wrote a post. We're sick. Well Aaron and I are. I have a cold and he has an ear infection. He is getting on plane in 2 days time. The timing couldn't be worse. The doctor at the walk-in clinic suggested that Aaron go on antibiotics as he will be flying and that we administer Advil or Tylenol for the pain. This is all fine and dandy but it's is Eric who will be taking him not me. When he is sick it's me he wants or my dad. I am not accompanying them as all is still not well with the MIL.
What I am doing is attempting a road trip with Tara. As soon as I drop Eric and Aaron off at the airport, I am heading to Vancouver. We heading to Oregon. We had thought of trying to make it to San Francisco, but that is just too crazy. We don't know where we are going for sure, but we will most likely be spending St. Patrick's Day in Portland. If we do make it there I plan on going to an Irish Pub downtown that serves great Irish Nachos.
So I am childless, job less and on Spring Break. I will letting the Good Times Roll. And Tara and TM are no longer an item, so all should be well!
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Denial
I have been going through a lot of denial these past few days and weeks. Aaron's ASD diagnosis is just part of who he is and I've maintained that I won't let it change him or define us as a family. It's just another fact of our lives. This came crashing down around me after meeting with a local chapter here I wonder what life will hold for Aaron.
It was my hope that by the time he is school age an entering kindergarten that he will not need in class support and only need supplemental support outside of school. I am beginning to wonder if that will ever be the case. My biggest fear for him is that he will be teased mercilessly by his peers and bullied and come home to me in tears. I was teased as child and bullied. So was my dad. We're pretty sure my dad is on the spectrum. He's being referred to someone who can diagnos him. If he does have ASD, it would explain why my dad is so socially awkward. I think I was bullied due to the fact that my mom never took the time to socialize me and sat on her ass and watched TV or read her books in my early years.
That's one thing that Aaron doesn't lack,. I've always taken him to playgroups and had play dates and he has 2 friends that we see often and he asks for. But I wonder if it is enough?
One thing I got from the other parent was that families with children with ASD seem to gravitate towards each other and spend a lot of time together. I am all for being around people like us BUT don't want to let Aaron's Autism shape and change every dynamic of our life. I hope he can still integrate with his peers and that he can be a normal child.
I am also a little disappointed with how slowly our service provider is at doling out intervention. I'd like to see some things starting soon so that he can benefit from it. So far we've had a 2 hour assessment and that's it.
Denial is really a big part of me. Aaron will be 3 in less than a month! How the hell did that happen? All I can think about right now is that last little bit of my pregnancy. It was a happy time for the most part. Tim Horton's has Rrrrrrolll up the Rim going on right now which always reminds me of my last month of pregnancy as I got a Tim Horton's coffee dang near every day. It was my vice, and I had 2 right around the corner from me. It's those little things I miss.
I don't think I will ever have a second child. I do not know this, but am pretty sure that will be the case. It's something I've wavered back and forth with and with Aaron having ASD, it's not a chance that I think I am willing to take. I believe there is as 1 in 4 chance any future children I have would have it but don't quote me on that. And with ASD, who knows where on the spectrum that child might fall and what quality of life said child may have. There's no doubt in my mind that Aaron inherited Autism from my side of the family, something I don't want to impart on any future children.
It was my hope that by the time he is school age an entering kindergarten that he will not need in class support and only need supplemental support outside of school. I am beginning to wonder if that will ever be the case. My biggest fear for him is that he will be teased mercilessly by his peers and bullied and come home to me in tears. I was teased as child and bullied. So was my dad. We're pretty sure my dad is on the spectrum. He's being referred to someone who can diagnos him. If he does have ASD, it would explain why my dad is so socially awkward. I think I was bullied due to the fact that my mom never took the time to socialize me and sat on her ass and watched TV or read her books in my early years.
That's one thing that Aaron doesn't lack,. I've always taken him to playgroups and had play dates and he has 2 friends that we see often and he asks for. But I wonder if it is enough?
One thing I got from the other parent was that families with children with ASD seem to gravitate towards each other and spend a lot of time together. I am all for being around people like us BUT don't want to let Aaron's Autism shape and change every dynamic of our life. I hope he can still integrate with his peers and that he can be a normal child.
I am also a little disappointed with how slowly our service provider is at doling out intervention. I'd like to see some things starting soon so that he can benefit from it. So far we've had a 2 hour assessment and that's it.
Denial is really a big part of me. Aaron will be 3 in less than a month! How the hell did that happen? All I can think about right now is that last little bit of my pregnancy. It was a happy time for the most part. Tim Horton's has Rrrrrrolll up the Rim going on right now which always reminds me of my last month of pregnancy as I got a Tim Horton's coffee dang near every day. It was my vice, and I had 2 right around the corner from me. It's those little things I miss.
I don't think I will ever have a second child. I do not know this, but am pretty sure that will be the case. It's something I've wavered back and forth with and with Aaron having ASD, it's not a chance that I think I am willing to take. I believe there is as 1 in 4 chance any future children I have would have it but don't quote me on that. And with ASD, who knows where on the spectrum that child might fall and what quality of life said child may have. There's no doubt in my mind that Aaron inherited Autism from my side of the family, something I don't want to impart on any future children.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)