We picked up the kids from school a little early yesterday for our visit to Grandma & Grandpa’s.  We got to town about 4:oo, stopped for medicine before we got to the house as I realized Kyle had a bad cough and then  stopped to visit a bit before we went to a restaurant for supper.  Erika ate well but Kyle didn’t.  He just didn’t seem like he felt well.  We went back to the house and Grandpa let the kids play with his Lionel train.  The kids talk about Grandpa’s train all the time.  He has built a city around it - built all the buildings and a mountain, a farm, a river, bought little people, etc.  He put it all on a big 6′x8′ sheet of plywood with trees, etc.  Apparently there is some fascination with trains among many people with autism, but even for people without autism, this set up is just plain cool.  Erika loves it as well.  Mom and Dad think it is pretty awesome, too.  And it has given Grandpa something to do - working on his city.

After awhile Erika came up and started playing with her Barbies and Kyle played with the train alone.  A little after 7:00 p.m. he came up and wanted to get ready for bed.  He changed into pajamas and brushed his teeth and I gave him Tylenol and cough medicine. 

I put him to bed in the spare bedroom with his teddy bear and tried to close the door part way.  Nope, not going to stay in there.  Would I stay with him?  I crawled in by him and we talked awhile.  Then we heard the train coming.  Grandpa has tracks that go right behind his house so we got up and ran to the patio doors to look out.  Only 4 cars, but Kyle was happy he got to see it anyway.  This time Grandpa went in and lay down by him.  After 15 minutes or so Grandpa came back out.  Kyle was coughing pretty hard - but asleep.  In the meantime, Grandma, DH and I were in the living room visiting and Erika was supposed to sleep on a cot in the living room.  You can imagine how well that was going.  How is she supposed to go to sleep with all of us talking?  Finally Grandma and Grandpa went to bed about 10.  DH and I talked a few minutes more and she was asleep.  I went in to bed by Kyle and DH was going to sleep on the couch next to her cot.  That was what the kids picked out ahead of time.  I crawled in by Kyle and he was so warm.  The Tylenol was wearing off and he had a fever.  He was sleeping but coughing so hard.  I am a light sleeper to I didn’t sleep at all.  He kept waking up every little while and asking when we were going home, if I was going to leave him, where Daddy was, etc.  I kept reminding him we were only going to stay one night and then we were going to go home tomorrow.  About 4:30 a.m. he asked for more medicine because he didn’t feel well.  We went potty and then got more medicine and went back to bed.  I don’t think he ever did fall back to sleep.  About 5:30 he went out and asked DH to put on a cartoon for him.  That woke up Erika so she came and crawled in by me.  Finally I slept for a few hours.  DH woke me about 8:30. The first thing Kyle asked when I got up was if we could go home now.  I got up and left Erika sleeping.  She slept another 1/2 hour.   

Grandma and I had planned to do a little shopping.  We hit a few places but didn’t find much and the rest of the guys went to an RV place.  The kids want us to buy a camper - which of course we can’t afford - but they had fun looking at them.  They want to go camping so badly.  Mom doesn’t really want to do the tent camping thing with 2 little kids and no potty, so if we go, it’ll have to be in some kind of camper.  We met back at the house in the afternoon and were teasing me because I didn’t get to go look at the campers.  

The train went by again this afternoon - a long one this time - maybe 30 cars.  Kyle was so excited.  We had an early supper and left about 5:30.

I did not do well on my weight loss plan these last few days.  It’s so hard when you are away from home.  I will get back on track tomorrow. 

This morning The kids got up and ready for school without any hassle.  I took them in and came home and tried to lay down.  I’m was still tired from work last night.  No such luck.  The phone rang a few times. 

One of the callers was my Mother.  One of her sisters is battling cancer and the prognosis is not good.  Anyway, this particular sister and her husband drove part way and met my Mother and some other relatives to visit for the day.  They had such a nice visit and my Mother had called to tell me about it. 

At 10:00 I had the alarm set as I wanted to try to get tickets to a concert coming to our area this Fall.  My step-daughter (Stephanie - my first husband’s daughter) was on her computer also trying to get tickets at the same time.  She got through first.  Floor tickets came up first and I told her to let those go.  Then seats right next to the stage came up so she got those for me.  All the while my computer was still froze.  Good thing I had asked her to try, too.  Anyway, so I’m super happy I’ve got these tickets - even though the concert isn’t until August.  It will give me something to look forward to all summer.  I told Steph I would give her great kudos in my blog - she laughed. 

I did manage to get an hour nap after that.  Then I did housework for awhile until I had to get Kyle from school. 

When we got home Amanda was here and Kyle had therapy.  It was such a nice day they did most of it outside at the picnic table.  I got Erika off the bus and she was able to join them during free time.  Therapy time really flew by today.  Kyle didn’t seem to balk too much.  I told Amanda about Jackie quitting and that we are looking for another therapist.  She might have a friend looking for a job.

I did notice that Kyle took Jackie’s picture off of his visual schedule, crumpled it up and threw it away.  He might miss her more than I thought.

Oh, today is my 3 week weigh-in and I have lost another 1/2 pound.  At the 3 week mark I am 11 pounds down.  I won’t even tell you how far I have to go because I am too embarrassed…maybe after I lose more.

My name is Kim and I’m a stay at home (pretty much) Mom of 2 kids. Erika will be 7 in June and is a first grader. She fights like cats and dogs with but is very protective of her little brother, Kyle, who will turn 6 in June. Kyle is in all day Kindergarten and has autism. He is very smart…almost to the point of being a bit geeky. He is also very verbal. We’ve been told by some that he has Asperger’s Syndrome - (pronounced as though the first “s” were a “z” sound) - as he shows many characteristics of it; And then some say he is too young to give him that label yet. He is in the State of Wisconsin In-Home Intensive Therapy Program - we are just completing our first year. (It’s a 3 year program) Erika has a lot of jealousy over all the attention he gets.

Our family is going through a lot of stress. We are in the midst of putting our house up for sale because of what autism costs and the fact that insurance doesn’t cover it.

I, personally, am on a weight loss quest and hope you folks will help make me accountable. I started 2 weeks ago and as of this morning have lost 10 1/2 pounds. Yay! That’s great, right? Yeah, but this is where I usually pat myself on the back and then fall off the wagon. I need help to stick with it. I know it’ll come off much slower now.

I just realized I forgot to mention my dear husband. DH is a great guy. Works hard. Good family man. I can’t complain about him too much. Had 2 daughters with his 1st wife so you’ll hear me mention them. Then finally had a son with me and his only son has autism. DH really struggles with that.

Good time to mention I was married before, too. Big mistake. Only smart thing I did was I never had kids with that man. Helped raise the kids he had, though. Still keep in touch with them. I love them. Divorced him, not them. Ironically enough, we ended up fairly close to each other. Every so often (too often) I run into him. Reminds me how good I have it now.

Anyway, that’s more than you wanted to know about me and my crazy life. Your life will seem much more normal and calm when you read about mine, I promise! Good day!