We had a busy day today.
Pumpkin picking and a Halloween party.
Cam made sure that we go a pumpkin for himself, for Cuyler and for the baby. He then picked out a huge one for Sean and I to share. My mom came with us and made sure I didn't lift any!




This evening Cuyler's school had a Halloween Party. They had all the rooms set up with different activities and crafts. Cuyler refused to go into any room other than his. But he had a blast. He loved wearing his costume and wore it until we left. Cam had fun and he had some of his own friends there from his hockey team, which was nice.
I think Cuy makes a pretty darn cute Thomas The Tank Engine (and a ghost) (and spider)!!
Cam is a Power Ranger. The deal with his costume that we made was that "He can look like a Power Ranger, but he cannot act like a Power Ranger."

Back to normal?
God I hope so...

Sean was away in Winnipeg for work at the beginning of last week and returned Wednesday night. With the flu. Fever. Aches. Chills. Sweats. And he slept for about 4 days straight.
Today was the first time he's been close to himself. So I feel like I've been on my own since last Monday.
It sucked not only because he was sick and I felt awful for him, but also because we had big plans to get started on the babe's room. I was so excited. We'll just postpone it until this weekend.
Oh - and I cannot forget to mention that it was his birthday on Friday. He spent it sleeping. And breaking his fever, then spiking another one.

Cam's back on puffers. He had croup 2 weeks ago. I took him for a follow up last week and his lungs were clear. He has an awful cough and I didn't think he sounded clear at all. Sean took him back today and his lungs are not clear. So he's on his puffers 4x a day for 2 weeks.

Cuyler is doing great, although I can tell by how he's acting that he's not pooping regularly. He's gone about 3 times in the past 2 weeks. I can't say specifically what it is about him - but he's just "off".
I have an appointment on Monday to see a new Naturopath. I've heard some great things about this guy, so I'm excited to see what he has to say or suggest.

I can feel that I am in my third trimester now. I still feel really good, but I can feel the tired-ness creeping in. Like I could have a nap every afternoon - as if that will ever happen. It makes me nervous for when the baby's here. When Cam was born, I slept whenever he did. When Cuyler was born - Cam was still pretty much a baby and I was able to sleep in the afternoons when they both slept.
This time I'll have a 4 and 5 yr old who do NOT nap.
And I'm screwed if this baby is anything like Cuyler as far as sleeping habits. He was the worst sleeper. Sean and I would have to sleep in shifts because the longest stretch he would go at night was about 45 minutes.
As excited I am about this new arrival - it also scares the hell out of me. I am not good post-partum. But at least we know.


There's a quick update for anyone looking for one!

Heard today:

"Look Mommy - car fell in the water!"
(Watching Curious George)

"Mommy? Where's the green?"
(Looking for the green Pop Up Pirate sword)

"Cam isss spiderman! Cam spiderman Mommy!"
(When Cam put his spiderman mask on)

"Let's build a tower Mommy!"
(After pulling all the cushions off the couch)

"That baby's having bath."
(Looking at an old photo of Cam wrapped in a towel)


I gotta say - I think this RDI stuff is really working...
The only way I can describe the change in him, is that he's got more substance to him. Sounds bad - but really, he is offering alot more. He's asking questions. He's sharing his thoughts. He's describing and sharing things he see's.
I remember back to the days when he was 2 and a half and would look at me and say "Doos" (for juice) and how thrilled I was that he was "communicating".
I have always been well aware that communication is much more than just spoken words. I've always tried to focus on gestures and extending his language.
RDI is teaching us how to slow down, use less words - more expressions and gestures, wait and/or him and give him time to process.
We are seeing the results.
My biggest hope is that this becomes as mainstream as ABA/IBI and that other families get to meet and know thier child with ASD as we are now meeting and getting to know Cuyler.


Oh - soother update:
Out of nowhere he asked for his soo. "Soo? I want my soo Mommy."
I was worried for a sec that it would end in a tantrum, because after over a week wihtout one, he was not getting one.
I just said "No. Soothers are all gone. No more soo."
And that was it. He didn't ask again and went about what he was doing.
PHEW!
Right about now is when he would get one. He watched Curious George with Cam and when it was over I turned it off. He is currently downstairs rolling all over the floor, bawling his eyes out, shouting "George! Where are you? George back on! Curious Geooooorge!"
If I took a soother down and popped it into his mouth, he'd stop. On the spot - immediately. But I want him to be able to cope and manage these things without a soother. And he's getting better. In the time I've typed this post - he's stopped.

I was wary of writing about this for fear that I would jinx it, but Cuyler hasn't used his soother since Sunday.
He hasn't slept with it.
He hasn't even asked for it.
I feel comfortable enough to post about it because he's had a few tantrums and meltdowns. And has been able to get out of it without his "Soo"
Trust me - I was tempted. It took willpower to not plug it in his mouth...because it works. 100%, all the time calms him. But he didn't ask for it, so I didn't give it.
It generally takes him about 2-3 days to get used to something new. A new routine. A new person. Hopefully this really is it and he's soother-free!
We had been thinking about it for a bit, but with the baby coming and most likely using a soother, we were worried about taking his away, while the baby has one. Plus our occupational therapist said that she wouldn't worry too much about it. It is meeting his needs from an oral/sensory standpoint. When he had it in, he would really suck on it, not just have it hang out of his mouth.
Let's hope it's forgotten about. Or that there isn't one hidden somewhere amongst the toys.

Now if only he could toilet train himself...

Here's the latest belly shot. 26 weeks pregnant. 14 more to go! Holy sh!t!!!



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Things are still as they should be. Good. Happy. Healthy.
Cam had his very first ever hockey game on Friday night. He elected (begged) to play net. He loves being goalie and he's always asking Sean to take shots on him. He's pretty good actually.
It was very exciting and a bit nerve wracking for me. As the goalies mom, I would tense up everytime the puck crossed over to his side of the ice. He did great (I was amazed that he was able to maneuver and skate in all the equipment). He's got a good attitude about it. It doesn't phase him in the least to get scored on. He just waits for the next save.
PreGame:


In Action:


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Friday afternoon Sean came home from work around 2pm. We took Cuyler to Cam's school for the Terry Fox Run. (I've done this run/walk each year since I was about 6).
When we got to the school there was a mini assembly prior to the start of the walk/run. It was priceless. Cuyler sat beside Cam and the rest of his class. Sean and I looked at each other and just giggled. He sat there with a huge smile on his face and clapped when all the kids did and he really seemed to love being there.
After the walk, all of the grades met on the bleachers and of course, Cuyler had to sit up there with his big brother (and the rest of the school).
When it was time to go home, he had a mini meltdown - he wanted to stay so badly! "S.K! S.K! Stay in S.K!!!!" (S.K = senior kindergarten)
Man did it feel good to be a normal family!

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We went to a family get together on Saturday for Sean's Oma's 80th birthday. The kids had a blast and it was so much fun to see them playing with all of their second cousins. Everybody was totally impressed with Cuyler. They hadn't seen him in a long time. It's very reinforcing to hear from other people. It makes all of the work worth it. He's worth it.
Again - it was so much more "normal" than the last time we were in that party room. He just blends in now. He understands more. Relates more.
Lately he's been wanting to fall alseep in our bed. It's so cute. We have to lie with him and if there's one thing I love - it's watching my kids drift off into sleep. Watching each long, slow blink and seeing them fight to keep their eyelids open. Listening to their breathing change - the telltale sign that their lights are out.

What a nice way to end a day.