The April Fool...

 All day yesterday I was dealing with a Fibromyalgia attack.  I put the boys to bed at their 7pm bedtime, and crawled into bed myself for the night.  Even after an almost 12 hour sleep - the alarm rang too early this morning.  I dragged myself out of bed at 6:45, trading a shower for a baseball cap and extra sleep.  I was looking forward to some alone time this morning with the boys back in school.

Miss Sara arrived at 7:15 and we started to get the boys up and ready for school.  By 8:30 we were outside and as each minute ticked by I got more and more anxious.  Where was the bus?  I had to get Brian to school on time...and back home to greet contractors that would be working all day here at the house.  By 8:35 I sent a message to the bus company... and by 8:40 I was putting Brian in the car and was going to drive both boys to school.

Suddenly Ed appeared in the garage and I heard, "Uh...Kate?  Don't the boys have off today?"  I rushed inside to look at the calendar.

*Blush*

Turns out, the April Fool is me this year.

I feel very fortunate that since my October diagnosis of Fibromyalgia that I've only really had a handful of attacks.  But boy, when I do - it sucks.  For me it feels like someone is squeezing every appendage - my arms and legs and fingers and toes - hard.  And my skin feels like I have a horrible sunburn.  Then the exhaustion - intense, bone crushing exhaustion.  Did you ever have a big, long cry - the kind that wipes you out and makes your eyes heavy?  That's how I feel, minus the crying.  But then all of the above makes you FEEL like crying...you kind of can't win!  But lucky for me - I have a sense of humor.  And cute kids that refuse to stop making me smile.  And Miss Sara who took the boys outside on the swingset for a while so I could stare at the wall and contemplate nothing.  That was nice.  Sometimes nothing is everything.

We did accomplish two important things today!  Gavin's speech therapist, Miss Whitney, asked me to videotape Gavin requesting a toy with his picture cards.  All last week - during Spring break when we had all the time in the world - he wouldn't do it.  Just wouldn't do it.  But today - success!  Here's the promised video:

And - in an amazing feat - we were able to get a urine sample from Gavin!  Actually, it wasn't that dramatic.  As it turned out, he was more than thrilled - giddy, actually! - to sit on our travel potty seat.  Don't tell anyone, but I sat the potty seat on a kitchen chair and put his video player and a toy on the table in front of him.  With his legs dangling in mid-air, there was less chance of him trying to stand up and walk away.  And it worked!  I'll be delivering the urine sometime tomorrow to the woman who did the Thermography testing on him.  Testing his urine will tell us if Gavin is overloaded with mercury in his system.  The results should be rather quick, so I can't wait to report them to you!  

If it turns out that the results come back "positive" - the only treatment is a family trip to Disney World by way of private jet.  Of course, Miss Sara would be required to come along as part of the treatment protocol.  And we'd all be required to stay (in separate rooms, of course) in the Disney Castle suite.

Now THAT is the kind of April Fools joke I can handle!!

Giving In...

I had big plans for this week.  With both boys off from school for Spring Break and Miss Sara back from her trip to Jamaica, I had all these great ideas for how to spend our time.  There was going to be crafts and a trip to the Aquarium and a visit to the Easter Bunny and more.  Tomorrow is Thursday and we've not done anything on my list yet.  Why?  Because of me.

I've been sick since early last week.  What I thought was just a cold coming on lasted all through the wedding weekend (making it not very fun to fly!) and continued to get worse.  Last night, as I sat in bed wincing in pain, I knew it was time to give in.  This morning I headed to the doctor and was told I have a double ear AND sinus infections.  At least that explains why I'm miserable.  I do hate going on an antibiotic, but I'm desperate for relief at this point.  What can you do...

Hopefully tomorrow I'll wake up feeling a little bit better!  We have eggs to decorate, a bunny to visit (although last year Brian wanted NOTHING to do with the guy!) and wild horses couldn't keep me from our Friday plans!  Friday is Gavin's 1/2 birthday!!  Can you believe he'll be halfway to SIX?  We'll be taking him to Arnold's Family Fun Center where he loves to go on rides.

This week I have an assignment to videotape Gavin using the communication cards I made for him.  Last week, when it was just me and the boys, Gavin did a great job touching the picture to request his books - and also his milk.  Now, with the pressure of getting it on video for his speech therapist - he won't cooperate.  Figures.

Brian loves to do this communication activity with Gavin and he jumped right in.

He even tried to help take pictures for me.

Although Brian could stand to work on his patience, he sure is a persistent teacher.  

If you need a good laugh or two tonight, check out these videos in order and you'll see Brian's patience wearing thin as he asks Gavin to "touch the picture"...

Take one

Take two

Take three 

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Mommy Boot Camp...

Last night I went to bed early with one thing on my mind - my plans for Gavin this week.  With Miss Sara away all week, I made the decision to keep Gavin home with me.  I am so grateful that I've been able to have a helper since Gavin was a baby, but I also relish the time alone when it's just the three of us.  And I am really looking forward to mornings alone with Gavin while Brian is at school.  I made up a schedule for each day and declared the week "Mommy Boot Camp!" 

My first order of business was to make some new communication cards.  I bought this Laminating machine a couple years ago - and it has more than paid for itself.  It's so easy to make picture cards for Gavin!

I placed the two books (his favorites!) in the clear bin with the card taped to the top.  He looked at it for about ten seconds...

Looked up as if to say, "Let me get this straight..."

...and then proceeded to touch the picture...

...pull off the lid himself...

...and pull out his book!  He was quite pleased with himself.  We did this several times throughout the morning.  He did a great job!  I also did it with other toys - had him touch the picture card to "request" it.

The two of us had a great time.  Well, except when we got to the physical therapy part of my schedule. Walking for therapy doesn't even seem necessary anymore - at least not at home!  He walks all over the house with increasing confidence.  I decided to push Gavin to crawl down the stairs.  It's something he always resists.  He can crawl up...he can walk up...he can get himself out of his bed by going backwards...but he just won't crawl down the stairs.  You put him on the stairs to go down...and he just wants to go up.  So that wasn't Gavin's favorite part of the morning.  But a Mom's gotta do what a Mom's gotta do.

I think his favorite part of the whole day was picking Brian up from school.  He love his little brother so much!!  On the way home, I told Brian about our morning and briefly shared the communication card experiment.  As soon as he got his coat and shoes off, he wanted to "do therapy" with Gavin.  Without me having to show him what I did, he instinctively (and sweetly) put the box in front of his brother and said, "Okay, Gavin, touch this picture to tell me you want your books!  Go ahead, Gavin.  You can do it!"

And then he waited.  And waited.  Reminding Gavin every ten seconds that he was still waiting for him to touch the picture.  I went back and forth between wanting to cry and wanting to laugh!  At one point, Brian even took Gavin's hand and tried to force him to touch the darn picture...

And just when he had all about given up hope - Gavin touched the picture.  And no one was happier and more encouraging than Brian.

Brian took a nap this afternoon while Gavin and I spent time reading in our "book nook" - or "book fort" I should say!  It's a pretty awesome hangout!

But, once again, I was chopped liver once Brian came down from his rest.  These two boys love to hang out together lately...and nothing makes me happier.  I couldn't capture it on video, but Brian was reading and singing to Gavin while they were in there together.  Gavin was so happy!

 Unfortunately, I woke up feeling sick this morning and I'm hoping it doesn't lead to anything too bad.  This weekend is my nephew's wedding out of state - I can NOT be sick for that!!  And, of course, I don't want the boys to catch whatever I have.  I hope it doesn't get in the way of my "Mommy Boot Camp!"  I have big plans this week for my little superhero and "ain't nobody got time" for being sick!!

p.s.... Don't forget to enter my Mattel giveaways!  There's an entry to win a deluxe basket filled with toys in the "Save The Bunny Giveaway" post - and an extra giveaway form on the Chasing Rainbows Facebook Page!  You can't win - for your child, your niece or nephew, your grandchild, your godchild - whoever - if you don't enter!!