Spring Break with a side of Autism (Days 1-3)

So, we took this show on the road…and where do you think we went?
Why, to California of course!
Where else?
We were terrified and yet hopeful.  Could we be 'normal'?  Could we possibly take such an epic trip….would we be able to trick our friend Autism into passiveness? Or would it take over and ruin things for everyone?

We were determined to make this vacation everything for everybody!
I needed everything to be as SAME as possible for my little man….and yet, have an awesome, magical adventure for our sweet princess!
A tall order!

We borrowed the family motorhome, packed up enough food and belongings for a month of winters and took off for the promise land.
(Or at least as far as Klamath Falls, Oregon as we couldn't get there all in one day…California is really far away!)

We didn't tell our sweet boy, of course, as the stress and anxiety we knew it would cause would have killed us all!
In fact, the way we got him into the mo-ho was by telling him we were just going to buy gas!
After we gassed up and Dad hit the highway…little man started getting nervous!
He started suggesting destinations at every exit on the way out of town!
"Winco?"
"Home Depot?"
"Costco?"
Even to the point of asking…"Going to Mom's race?"
No buddy…but nice try!
I finally broke it down for him as he was just not going to let it go.  He stressed out about it for 10 minutes or so….but let us comfort him out of it.  Plus…we were just driving…and he Loves driving!
That night we got into Klamath Falls around 8PM or so….we were all pretty worn out so we set up and went to bed.

The next day was smooth sailing until we got to Sacramento where the traffic picked up and the crazy drivers made us fear for our very lives!  Apparently they don't issue turning indicators on cars in Cali?
We descended upon L.A. in the flat dark around 9 PM or so.
Traffic in L.A. is dicey at best…but in the dark in an unfamiliar rig?
To say the least, we were all on edge by the time we pulled into our R.V. Park…or re-creational park as Missy called it….
Again, we set up and went to bed!

The next day was Easter!  Somehow, the bunny found us!

The kids were pretty impressed that he did all the way in California…and in a mo-ho to boot!
We needed to purchase our tickets to Disneyland, so we banged out breakfast….

…..yes, fresh baked scones…..I take making my boy feel at home seriously!
Then we set off into Anaheim to get some tickets….

As soon as we got our tickets we set off for Hollywood and Universal Studios!

Turns out anxiety was going to be the name of the game this vacation….lots of people - even on Easter!- lots of noise and stimulation overload.
My wonderful, patient, husband - whom I now call "The Autism Whisperer" talked our little man through it in such a way that he was able to exceed most everyone's expectations!

We started off mellow with the classic Studio Tour.  They claimed it was hosted by Jimmy Falon, so I was on high alert!  Turns out…he hosted the VIDEO on the tour….probably best as bail money might have been involved otherwise!  Love me some Jimmy!
Little man did great…even when King Kong and the T-Rex battled it out around and on top of our car! (We got dino slobbered multiple times!)
He wasn't terribly impressed by our Snoop Dog sighting….but Missy sure was! (Once I explained his connection to Katy Perry!)

He's the one in the middle with the hat!

After the tour we went on the Jurassic Park Ride.  Little Man was okay all the way up to the point of getting into the boat….then he dug his heals in and refused to move!  Autie Dad to the rescue!  He convinced our sweet boy that he would be safe and that nothing was going to happen to him….
and then ……this happened…..

We were right in front….and got REALLY wet!
After shopping for some commercial joy….little man played a carnival type game where you whack a box and try to ring the bell?  He didn't ring the bell…but won a Bart stuffy anyway!

Oh yeah….Kevin Bacon wasn't actually there either….but his picture was!

All in all…a very successful day!
Our little man held it together and didn't wander away once!

We developed some strategies for dealing with his anxiety which we would employ countless times in the days to come….and discovered one of the very few perks of Autism…."Front of the Line!"

I guess that's the BIG question in all of this…what with all of the controversy at Disneyland with their changing the Disability Pass …..

I was very impressed with Universal Studios Staff and how they handled our situation.
We didn't even think to ask for a Disability Fast Pass….although we found out later that they most defiantly have one.
We took the giant escalators to the very bottom of the hill…discovered the long lines and went to the information booth in quest of strategies for our sweet boy.
The gal immediately informed me that we were supposed to request a Disability Fast Pass at the front gate….at the TOP of the hill…just inside the main entrance.
Ugh!
By the look on my face…she recognized that making our way back up the hill was not a great option….so she smiled and said…."Here!  How about a 'Front of the Line Pass?!'"
I was so relieved!  We marched on over to the Jurassic Park ride and only had to wait 5 minutes tops!

Missy, ready for anything with her 3D glasses on the tour!

We actually had a similar experience with the Studio Tour….we asked the staff at the tour starting point…they didn't seem familiar at all with what we were asking….so they just let us on right then!
No waiting at all!

What a great view!

GIANT escalators were the preferred mode of transpo up and down the hill!

We were pleased with how things went….and looking forward to trying our hand at Disneyland the next day!

Adventures in a public restroom...

Meanwhile….at the Local Market……

I'm rushing like a fiend….of course, what else is new? Trying to make a couple kid-free stops before picking up my big middle schooler….and I decide I gotta get rid of the super size ice tea I downed at lunch with my sweet Baboo….

Of course, I'm toting a fresh Chai Tea Late from the Bucks cuz I'm exhausted for some inexplicable reason….

Anywho…..I dash into the ladies, set my tea down and manage to disrobe enough to rid myself of aforementioned tea…..when, ….

…...you know what happened….you might as well quit reading right now! 

There's some sort of disturbance in the Force causing a slight shift in the earth's gravity sending my Grande, Soy, Chai Tea Late careening towards the ground!
(Or, maybe the TP deal was slanted on top….it could go either way!)

So…what do I do? Like any good person I start making juggling motions in a vain attempt to stop the inevitable from happening and in so doing…manage to not only NOT stop said event but intensify the repercussions…..

I not only missed the cup all together …but somehow managed to get Late all the way up the stall wall….all down my front…up both arms…and distributed fairly evenly across my coat and scarf.

Next….I did what any girl in this position would do….I started to cry as I watched that sweet river of tea slowly, and yet not-so-slowly, flow towards the drain just outside the stall door….mulling over in my mind-and quickly rejecting!- saving some tea by attempting to scoop some back into the cup….

And that's when….. another gal came in. She was in a hurry too….but stopped short when she came upon a river of tannish material flowing out of my stall accompanied by the sound of my tears…..

But, as I said, she was in a hurry so she tip toed past it and took up residence in the stall adjacent to mine where she embarked upon her own little journey….as quietly as possible…..

I had gotten my wits pulled back together and was attempting to take a quick bath in the sink…giving her lots of water and paper towel cover….

However, I don't think she was counting on me also returning to the scene, paper towels in hand, in an attempt to clean up the mess!
(I AM a mom for Pete's sake! Can't just leave it!)

So….Here she is….clearly regretting whatever she had for lunch….trying to be quiet about it….just hoping for a bit of privacy….
And I'm on my hands and knees, basically at her feet, working on wiping up what has apparently turned into a 32 OZ size tea mess with nothing to recommend me but some cheap recycled paper towels!

Sorry friend!

I did my best and got out of there before we had to look each other in the eyes….

I then immediately reported my mess to the good people at the market…who promptly sent in a teen aged boy with a mop….to further witness her horror…..

So…..if you need to use the ladies' loo at the market…..just steer clear of the center stall ….there's no way that kid found all that tea!

And if you see me tonight…as I have a meeting…..no mention of the latent Chai smell….. okay? 

Halloween

A friend of mine asked me today about Halloween…as I'm a big fan….and I began to share how this year's was a bit of a disappointment….how it started with a knock down drag out with my boy to put his stinking Where's Waldo shirt on….

(You may remember previous posts regarding our troubles with season changes and thus wardrobe adjustments…with how mild this Fall has been…he hasn't fully committed to long sleeves - except on weekends? - so…needless to say…Rube sat on him whilst I crammed on the shirt!)

Next, his aide didn't show up for school on time…so getting to school was a big fiasco….and nobody in the office noticed as they were busy taking selfless in their group costume - The Flinstones!
(Apparently he didn't hear the alarm?  Okay…crap happens…but today of all days? Ugh!)

Then…the same aide forgot to take pictures….withheld his lunch and coked him up on almost an entire pint of Almond Ice Cream I brought so that he could participate in the class party….

So ..most of my day was then spent alone…running errands..until time to pick kids up…run to therapy…race over and get sis…back to therapy for pick up ….you get the drift….

So I was explaining all this and I realized…..wait a minute….it wasn't all that bad….because then we went trick or treating!

Yes it was raining….and hardly anyone was home in our neighborhood….but my sweet boy kept up with our group of neighbor kids….in fact..he was out in front most of the time!

Most houses we hit - he was first to the door….knocking or ringing the bell…he always said "Trick or Treat!' and "Thank you - Happy Halloween!"

I realized I was calling after him, "Slow down!  Wait for the littles!" - just like the other moms in our group were calling after their kids…

I was so proud.  It was just so….so….TYPICAL!

So, even tho we had a very bumpy start….and my day wasn't what I had hoped for…it was all worth it to see my sweet boy running with the pack.

These moments are few and far between…so I'm going to try and soak it in….and rememberer what's important.….Halloween only comes once a year….and my sweet boy nailed it!

A three hour tour!

August 2014

Went to the lake to take a boat out for a test drive yesterday….despite my dream that the seller was a serial killer participating in the mass societal plot to deprive my children of their parents and perpetuating their need for continuous therapy….I don't know, it was a dream people!

Any-who….we thought, "We're meeting at 9:30…we'll take it for a quick spin around the bay…maybe put the sails up for a bit and get a feel for how she sails…..be back by maybe 11….home to feed the kids lunch."

Yeahhhh….totally forgetting this guy is an avid sailer ...selling both of his freshwater boats and moving to the West side…..any day with a bit of wind, in his opinion,  is a good day for a sail!

We put out around 9:45 and don't see that dock again until 2:00!

No water….no food…..thank goodness I'm a sun screen freak as it was pushing 100 degrees! (However,….I forgot the parts I ALWAYS forget in the boat….tops of the knees/thighs! So we did get a funny sunburn….you might say we're the 'bees knees!')

 The seller was awesome….loads of fun to sail with…."What do you call two sailboats on the water?……A race!" Very fun morning/afternoon….however,….not my best plan!

We had been up late drinking wine with the babysitters the night before….Thanks Grandma and Papa for offering to sit and saving our day!….and had barely managed a cup of coffee and piece of toast before we left!

Needless to say, we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening trying to hydrate and recover……..now the fun part's over….let the games begin!

My $100 tank top

A couple years ago my awesome neighbor got me in to Triathlons.

Keep your pants on! Not the big long Ironman deal….Sprints!

 She had been participating in a local Sprint Tri for a couple years as a way to keep motivated for working out/keeping in shape.  I had recently joined her and another neighbor working out at the absolute crack of butt in the morning….and she felt, correctly, that I would be interested.

I only had five weeks to train, so I agreed that finishing would be a good thing!

Incidentally, when I told Rube I wanted to sign up, he freaked out! Claiming I would die…have the big one right in the middle of the race! Thanks for the support goof ball! (He turned out to be my biggest fan/supporter…his initial reaction was so funny though!) 

We show up for my first race…nervous as all get out…a bit shy…and awed by all of the powerful women there strutting around in all their glory. I'm not kidding! These gals got it goin' on! They've got matching gear and fancy race bikes…tricks they're willing to share with newbies…!

I make it down to the beach and find myself alone amongst them as my neighbor is younger than I and gets to start earlier…. I find myself getting more and more excited to get started…when just 3 minutes before I was having trouble keeping my food down and my lower half was in full blast alert/eject the core mode!

When I got to the water…I can't explain it….but I turned into instant beast mode! I forgot how competitive I am!
We need to remember, I'm the youngest of three…and the older two? Boys!

I tore that race up and had so much fun doing it too!
I've participated in two other races since…have added a tri suit, number belt, a racing bike and "race" shoes with special "race laces" to my repertoire. 

This fairly lengthy explanation brings me to present…and my $100 tank top.

These races can be tricky to get in to…you have to sign up a year in advance, lay down the big bucks and hope no vacations or illness prevent you from showing up!

I signed up for a local race that I did for the first time last year….called The Valley Girl. Sadly, I've been fighting a neck/shoulder injury for this entire year plus, so not only haven't been 'training'…but working out in general has been hit and miss!

Rube and my snarky 9 year old had convinced me to just go and see how I do…so I was all set….

Then, the 4th of July weekend…we spent it on our boat, as we like to do when we have it in the water, and all was well until…. Sunday pack up.

I attempted to pull the heavily laden cooler out of the back berth in a pull/twist motion and jacked up my back like no one's business.

I would be lying if I didn't admit to a sense of relief…I couldn't possibly race now! I had been struggling with guilt all week, alternating with frustration as the competitive crazy in me kept welling up…..

Instead of racing, Rube and I made plans to go out on a sailboat we are considering buying….in order to do this, we needed a sitter for the kids as we don't generally introduce complete strangers to the crazy that is our family right off the bat…or at least not in such close quarters!

Insert the in-laws, bless their hearts! They came down the day before to stay the night as we were needing to leave for the lake pretty early.

My Mom-in-law came with me for packet pick up as I figured I would at least get the shirt and water bottle…right?  I mean….I paid for it!

The race staff were all very kind and encouraging…claiming safety over everything…and cheerfully chiming, "We'll see you back next year!"

Which just made me feel worse for my sense of relief….ah well.. After packet pick up, we went grocery shopping…and made a Costco run.... When we got home and were unloading groceries…my husband comes out to help and finds me standing in the garage snickering as I gaze into the back of my mini van….
Thinking I've finally snapped….he comes over to see what I'm looking at…bracing for something bad…or worse, nothing at all!

I'm looking at a scene that I feel is fairly indicative of the year I've had….

There, on one of the back seats, was my new $100 race shirt and packet….and sitting squarely upon it?

A giant Apple Pie that I had just purchased at Costco!

Early risers….?

Ah yes…..Tuesday. 

Also known as the day we have to force not one but both of our tweens to get ready before the early hour of 8AM in order to make it to their various places on time.

After 20 minutes of cajoling they both finally show up in the kitchen wiping the sleep outa their eyes requesting breakfast….

"Oh sure! What'll be? We've got 10 minutes…. Fresh squeezed orange juice? Silver dollar pancakes with hash browns and bacon?!"

Pour yourself some Lucky Charms and make it snappy friends!

Once we finally get them herded out the door and towards the car - think cats here! - my sweet husband turns to me and says, "I envy you this next hour!"
(I don't have to be at work until 9:00)

I smile sweetly and say…."I was up an hour before you making lunches and you didn't envy me then!"

I believe that's wife for the win!

Dilated eyes blow!

Okay…..so I had to go to the eye doctor today for my annual soaking-or-we-won't-let-you-have-more-contacts appointment…..cuz I like my contacts…they help me move amongst the seeing almost undetected!
Any-who….dork girl forgot they would insist on dilating my eyes…and left the house sans shower (again) laboring under the delusion that I was going to sneak a workout in today….
…...find myself sitting in a waiting room, unwashed, blind, numb eyelids leaking yellow goo…vacillating between serial trying on of glasses and hovering over my phone in a vain attempt to see to text…..
……..my husband keeps shooting mocking texts at me cracking me up..literally out loud….
…...for a while I stand up every time someone with a red or pink shirt comes near me and start to follow thinking it's my doc and this fresh hell is over…..

I followed two old ladies and one guy into the bathroom before I got wise and quit going with shirt color!

When my doc finally did come to get me…..I had to ask her a couple security questions before I would get up.

Thinking by the looks I got that I should look into seeing her at the other office….then again…that might of just been the guy I followed into the bathroom