Gonna Be a Long Weekend

Kevin and his friend have gone on a 4 day Bahama cruise. They left earlier today. While they will be having fun, I am stuck at home with 2 sick kids! Tyler has been sick since last Friday with some kind of bug. He has gone to school all week this week so far, but keeps having accidents in his pullups. I think the bug is still lingering. I hope it goes away soon because I CANNOT stand doing laundry every 2 seconds and running baths to clean him up!

Britney stayed home from school today. She said her stomach was hurting. Kevin took us out for breakfast before he left. We went to a buffet place down the street. Britney had a small plate of food but would not touch it until her chocolate milk came. The milk came and maybe 2 minutes later she threw up. So much for my breakfast! I scooped her up and as we are making our way through the restaurant, she throws up again on the floor. I needed to get her out of there and FAST! As soon as we hit the door, here comes round 3! By this time, she is covered and is in desperate need of a bath and some Pepto. Got her home, cleaned up, and she seems to be a little better now. Her teacher called and said that she is also sick at home with the same bug my kids have. Something is going around the schools, and I pray to God it goes away...FAST! Otherwise, its gonna be a long weekend for me!!! Calgon take me away...

Poor Baby

Tyler woke up at 4:30 this morning throwing up. After another round of throwing up, he did go back to sleep around 6:00. He hasn't eaten anything and we are pumping him full of gatorade to keep him hydrated. He had another episode around 10. So far so good since then. He is playing on his computer now. I hope this is just a quick 24 hr bug and it dosen't turn into something worse. Poor baby can't even tell us what is wrong and it stinks! We will just keep watch and hope this passes soon!!!

Catching my Breath

I FINALLY have a day off from work. I am exhausted and now my task for the next few days is to play catch up at home. The house is in total disarray and I have a million and one things to do. I have been working more than usual this week because of the February school vacations up North. The parks have been SUPER busy too. I actually had the opportunity to work at Hollywood Studios (formerly known as MGM) because they were short on help. It was kind of funny to see me in my Animal Kingdom uniform working at Hollywood Studios where their costumes are totally different. I didn't mind working at the studios, but I still prefer to work where I am in my comfort zone. I was so nervous all day yesterday being in a new environment, even if it was only for a 6 hour shift. I will do what I can to straighten up around here and whatever dosen't get done, I will just have to do when I have a chance. I will be back working on Sunday. At least I have a few days to relax...

Perfect Attendance Award

Yesterday when I was going through the kids backpacks to sign their agenda's I got a nice surprise. Tucked inside Tyler's agenda was a certificate made out to him for Perfect Attendance during the 2nd Quarter of school! I know its not a major award, but it is nice to know the kids get recognized for attendance and other things in school. One day, I hope Tyler will be as proud of his accomplishment as I am!!

Seeing Gains Every Day

I have been noticing huge gains in Tyler's skills every day. Just the other day the kids in his class took turns singing "Where is Thumper" but using their names instead. When it was Tyler's turn, the teacher said he did awesome! I made him sing it for me a few times while he was in the tub and it is really great to see how much he is enjoying learning, even though it can be a great struggle for him. He was on his favorite website on the computer, Starfall the other night and he was actually reading the words when they would come across the screen. I was totally shocked! I looked at Kevin and said "He is reading." As days go by, the words are coming out easier for him and I can't tell you how great it feels to know that he is able to communicate to us, simple words they may be, but they are coming!! Days like these make me grateful for all the help we have gotten and knowing my son's future is looking brighter every day!

Tyler's Report Card

Tyler got his report card the other day. He is doing AWESOME! He got all S's and 1 N, which was categorized as works independently. He is getting better every day with moderate to minimal help from the teacher. I know it will come one day. The teacher said that he is such a character. He is usually the first student in the class every morning. She says he will run to his cubby and put his things away and make a mad dash for the computer before the other kids arrive. She said he knows how to turn on the computer, type the password, and get the site he wants. He is just so darn smart! She also said he is MUCH more verbal now than he was when he first started with her. I have seen a HUGE improvement at home with him too. He is not as agitated. He is more mellow and won't throw fits as much anymore when I ask him to do something. He is even initiating with his potty training. Even though he still hasn't "gone" on the potty yet, he is getting it more every day. I am just so happy to see where Tyler is at this point in his little life now, as compared to where he was a year ago. My little man shows me something new every day. I have those days when I just wonder what will happen in the future for Tyler, but for now, I am just so grateful that he has had such great teachers/therapists working with him and getting him where he is today. I love my son so much!!!

Counting My Blessings

Monday at work I had guests come to my window. They were a family of 3. Mom, Dad, and Son. The mother starts talking to me about what kind of ticket they want and the son was hitting her. She was telling him to stop and the dad took the son to the side of the window so the mom could finish the transaction with me. She asked if we had special needs pricing. Unfortunately, Disney isn't that generous. I did inform her of the special needs pass. She told me her son was autistic. I told her about Tyler and his diagnosis. She told me her son was first diagnosed w/pdd nos and as years went by, he got worse. His diagnosis now is SEVERE autism. He is 17 years old. My heart really went out to this woman. I could see the exhaustion in her eyes and made me really evaluate where Tyler is right now, and to count my blessings because it could be alot worse. Since working for Disney, I have had a handful of guests at my window whose children are autistic, and every time it hits me hard. I always have to step away from the window when I am done with their transactions and take a deep breath.

The Big Game

As game time got closer, I felt like the Patriots were really gonna do it again this year. I came home from work and changed my clothes. I even put on my Tom Brady jersey. We had awesome food and some of Kevin's friends over to watch the game with us. Almost everyone was rooting for the Giants to win, but I was silently rooting for my New England team. I will admit I know absolutely nothing about football, and really don't care for it but, when your team that you have grown up watching all your life is in a huge game like this, you can't help but get excited.

Everything looked like it was going the Patriots way, until the last 2:45 to go in the 4th Quarter. That is when things took a fast nosedive. Everyone else in the room was going crazy because they knew at that point their Giants had won. I have to say I was in such shock and even this morning when I got to work, I was still kind of dazed about last night.

There is always next year, but to ruin a perfect season, which would have been a historic event for the Patriots, is such a bummer! I really feel bad for all the players. They put their blood, sweat, and tears into this season, only to be kicked in the face.

I guess you just never know what will happen until it happens...

The Family Bed

I took these pictures last night. Both kids decided they wanted to sleep with me while Kevin was out with some of his friends. Our bed has become the family bed lately....