5 Question Friday

It’s Friday!!  Woo hoo!!  It’s been a long week and this momma is tired.  Who knew scheduling therapies, mom/daughter time, mom/son time, mommy time, meals for the next week etc. could be so very exhausting.  I came home yesterday and slept for 30 minutes on the couch after getting the kids from school.  So much for this momma going for a run.  And tonight is Thing 1’s family/friends birthday party as it got rained out earlier this week.  Can I skip it?  I just want to hibernate or go for a run uninterrupted. 

Anyway its time for #5QF with Mama M over at My Little Life.  Below are are rules for 5QF.  Come on and join us….you know you want to.  I can’t wait to read your replies!!

Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them, then watch for the linky post to appear Friday morning on Mama M’s page and LINK UP!

1. Flu mist? Flu shot? Or take your chances?

Thing 1 got the flu shot this year and Thing 2 got flu mist this year.  It was the first time they both they got either.  As for myself I am just taking my chances this year…horrible I know but if one of the kids comes down with it despite the shot/mist it doesn’t matter I will still get it.  Besides it maybe the only time I get some rest…lol 

Hey don’t laugh I am one sleep deprived momma and I am not joking about the rest part….lol

2. Do your kids have iPads? What are some good educational apps? Price?

Okay so this was my question for @MamaM yesterday on twitter. Why? Well the school district that my kids go to gave all the kids 1st-12th grade iPads and all the pre-k to Kinder iTouch.  And they get to keep them year round too.  You can read about all about it here, or here, or even here. 

Some of the good educational apps that I have found for the kids are Math Blaster (its more for 3 grade and up) (free) I used to have this on our PC when it first came out.  For boys who love video games this is a great app to help them with their math skills.  EpicWin (which you can read about more here) is an AWESOME app for any kid to help them with organization.  It is the ONLY app that I have actually spent money on for either of the kids and we actually have this app written into Thing 1’s IEP as a tool he can use.  As for my last app I have to say Magic Piano by sumule. I really love the Magic Piano app (free) because it introduces all sorts of music to the kids and they hear classical pieces while they are playing them.  It’s a game and for my ADHD/Autistic child it makes him slow down and concentrate.  Plus he’s finding out how much he likes Mussorgsky, Beethoven, and Chopin.  He is his momma’s child.  Plus its super cute to see both kids trying to play the same song at the same time without messing up.  And they get new songs everyday. 

3. What are your favorite boy/girl baby names?

Well if I was to ever have another child (and I honestly don’t see that happening anytime soon for a variety of reasons), my top 2 for each would be:

Boy-  Thomas Nathaniel or Russell Ellis (both of my Grandfather’s middle names)

Girl- Rebecca Allyson (its my mom’s name switched) or Evelyn Ella-Rebecca (my maternal Grandmother’s first name, my paternal grandmother’s first name and my mom’s middle name)

I like classic names and I love to use family names.  Both of the kids are named after people in my family.  Thing 1 has both his Grandfather’s names and Thing 2 has my Aunt’s first name and my middle name.

4. If an apple a day keeps the doctor away, which apple do you choose to eat? (red/green, gala, red delicious...)

I’m lucky if I get to eat an apple!  Thing 1 eats them before everyone else.  The boy can go through a 5lb bag in 2-3 days!!  And no I am not kidding about this…lol  If I do get to eat one I like Granny Smith or Red Delicious. But if I am using them to cook with I use Gala. 

5. What is your favorite place to escape to for peace & quiet, to think? Why?

Peace and quiet?  I think the back porch or I will try to go on a run. Or there is the ever present retreat to the shower move…lol

The back porch is mainly me “ah the kids are asleep for now and I have a glass of wine” relax after a crazy day retreat.  The run or the shower is for those “If I don’t get away I will have a meltdown along with my child” rough ADHD/Autistic meltdown, nothing can go right days.  Those are the the times that I get to cry and ask God to remind me why I am having to go through this alone and I don’t think I can go on anymore.  Of course I always feel better afterwards. 

 

The Single Mom

Miss Montana....

I am not the type of person to watch the Miss America Pageant on TV at all.  However that being said I will be watching this year.  Why?  Because of one girl, Miss Montana.

Have you heard of her?  I hadn't until this morning.  Why her?  Because she has Autism! PDD-NOS just like my monkey to be exact!  Not only that but she wasn't diagnosed until she was 11.  My monkey was finally diagnosed at 10.  What a relief it is to know he isn't the only child to get such a late diagnosis!  You can read Alexis Wineman, Miss Montana post on Autism Speaks here or the article in the Billings Gazette here.

Anyway here is her interview with Gretchen Carlson (winner of the 1989 Miss America Pageant while representing her native Minnesota) on Fox and Friends this morning.

I may be a Texas girl but on Saturday I will be a Montana girl.  Go Miss Montana!!


The Single Mom

Reasons Why You Should Think Twice Before Messing With An Autism Mom Or Dad...

This list was posted on the Facebook page Single Mothers who have Children with Autism and because this list is so true I thought it needed to be shared.  So enjoy!!

 

REASONS YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE MESSING WITH AN AUTISM MOM OR DAD...

1. Some of us have given up on social skills and don’t care what we say or do.

2. We’re not afraid to have a serious “meltdown” of our own.

3.We are tired and all the patience we have is for our kids.

4. We have a far shorter fuse for nonsense as a result of our responsibilities but a FAR thicker skin….

5. We can get you in a hold/lockdown position in less than 3.5 seconds.

6. We can shoot you a look that would make a linebacker tremble in his boots!

7. Chances are it’s been a while since we’ve had a full night of sleep and that will give us a reason to plead insanity! (This one is so very true!!)

8. Our tolerance and patience is for our children who didn’t choose to have special needs, not for someone who CHOOSES to behave inappropriately and is ABLE to control their actions.

9. We’re probably already on the edge and it would be stupid to push us over.

10. We are already defensive, and we spend all of our patience on our children, doctors, therapists, social workers and teachers, why would we waste an ounce of it on a total stranger?

11. We’ve had to fight from the moment of our child’s birth so by the time you piss us off we’re seasoned battlers who could win a war.

12. We devote our lives to our children and don’t need more stress and people who don’t understand our life.

13. Wherever there is a cub, there is a mama bear or papa bear….We’re always watching!

 

The Single Mom

5 Question Friday

Mama M I’m back!!  Yeah it’s been awhile since I did a 5QF but to be honest until lately I really haven’t been in a blogging mood.  I have been so overwhelmed with parenting as a single mom, juggling all of Thing 1’s need’s that had not been formally diagnosed until last month, making sure everyone gets some sort of sleep  at night, giving Thing 2 the Mom time she needs….you know parenting and life in general.

Well I am back now and ready to kick off the 2013 with a 5QF!  Oh did I mention its my 31’st birthday today too?  Happy Birthday to me!!  I ordered an iPhone 4s for myself yesterday   It was seriously time for this mommy to upgrade!  Plus the kids got iPad 2’s from their school district in October & November.  Now Mommy and her monkey’s can keep in touch so much better.

Oh and if anyone has an app’s that are good for kids with PDD-NOS and ADHD PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE let me know.  I am always looking for great app’s for Thing 1!

Now on to the 5QF!  Don’t forget to link up with Mama M!

Rules for 5QF: Copy and paste the following questions to your blog post, answer them,

1. Have you set any goals/resolutions for 2013?

You know I actually don’t do New Year’s Resolutions.  I do however do a “Things I want to accomplish before my next birthday” list.  Things on the list for this year are:

1. Run the South Padre Island Sand Crab 5K & 10K Nighttime Beach Run
2. Run the Color Dash with Thing 2 and our friends again this year
3. Loose 15 more pounds
4. Go through Experiencing God with my friends
5. Read one book a month

Of course this is just a short part of my long list.

2. Have you made any travel/vacation plans for 2013?

Travel plans?  Not really.  The only places I do want to go this year are to Fiesta Texas (we were given season passes as Christmas present from my cousin), Schlitterbahn New Braunfuls, Texas State Aquarium, and of course as many trips to South Padre Island and the beach as we can.  My friends and I are debating about a kid-free trip to Fredericksburg this summer.  And I would love to take a road-trip with my siblings to CO or TN and go camping.

3. What room is never cleaned in your house?

Ugh..my bedroom.  It’s like Mama M said “Cluttered, messy catchall that it is.”  We live with my parents so my room is the place where I do a number of things for 3 people.  Hopefully it won’t stay that way for soon.  Moving plans are in the works!

4. What food must be in your house at all times?

Fruit!!  Banana’s, grapes, apples, oranges.  Anything for Thing 1 to munch on.   Along with ketchup and Miracle Whip, Twinning’s English Breakfast Tea and Coffee!!

5. Are you a hugger or more of a hands off person?

I am totally a hugger after I get to know you.  My sister is not a hugger at all.  She tolerates hugs.  The only people she will allow to hug her before she has a) woken up and b) before she has had her coffee are my kids.

 

The Single Mom