Welcome Home......NOT!

After spending all week, in Columbia learning about how to better protect vulnerable adults (ie: bored out my...), staying in an old renovated hotel that used to have pay phones in the bathroom??, and looking forward to coming home to hugs and kisses from our monkey and Gator....all I got was rejection from Kyle (okay Gator did greet me with welcome arms...and an unclean bathroom, but at least he didn't pitch a fit like someone else did).

When I got to mama's to pick him up, Kyle had not had a nap and was ill as a hornet! Make that a whole hornet's nest. I sat in the middle of mama's kitchen floor, waiting and hoping for just a little sign that he was glad to see me..........but nothing except for screams and stomping of the feet.

Now with FXS and autism you have to be very patient.......something I have never been....and allow them to come to you. You can not force them to do anything, because it will most definitely backfire on you. So, while my heart was breaking and mama was trying to reassure me that it was because he had not had a nap and probably this was his way of expressing his being upset with me for not being there all week, I just sat there telling him I loved and missed him and let him continue his tantrum.


Today, Gator suggested that we go to Spartanburg for dinner and a movie because he had to go by the office and Verizon anyway. We decided on Red Lobster, where Kyle ate every shrimp on his plate and part of his applesauce (rare moment for him to eat a good meal), and Disney's new movie Ratatouille.

When we got to the theater, we had to hurry Kyle past the concession stands and into the restrooms before he could pitch a fit for popcorn...which is one of his most favorite foods! Of course, Gator later went back and rewarded his good behavior with a bag of the buttery goodness, which he hoarded and ate almost every kernel.


Anyway, the movie is about rat that can cook. Now this sounds very unappetizing, but of course its Disney and they always have a way of seeing the "humorous" side of the story. Kyle loves to cook and tries every chance he gets to "help" us in the kitchen. He loves to watch Paula Deen, too.....so maybe we have another "Emeril" on our hands. He may not be verbal, but he will try anything and learns very fast..........including the bad habits!


P.S. Later on last night, Kyle climbed up in my lap on the couch and hugged my tight and kissed me. Gator said that when he put his head on my shoulder he was grinning from ear to ear....so thanks for a great welcoming home........better late than never.

Missing You!

As I sit here in Columbia (at my week-long training session), I am deeply missing our monkey. Since he's not verbal, our phone conversations usually end up with some garbled words, kissing sounds, and "bye" followed by the inevitable hang up that is soon to follow.....and the whole call lasts approximately 45 seconds!





Although, I am thoroughly enjoying "a break" from the everyday routine of chasing our monkey, cleaning up the house, cooking, reminding Gator about something, and of course work, I still miss it.


All it takes is one hug or laugh from Kyle to forget my troubles....even if it is only for a second!



Good night, sweet dreams, and mommy will see you soon! I love you!





P.S. I miss you too, Gator!

Forget Toys, I've found better things to PLAY with!

Ever wonder why we bother buying our children, even special needs children, any and everything to assist with their growth, development, and overall play skills?



Oh my gosh, I'm hearing my dad in my head again saying "I told you so" and "you shouldn't be wasting your money on that"!

Somehow you just don't want them to miss any opportunity to learn something new...or have the hippest toy.






All the while hoping that you know more than your parents do because this is YOUR child and YOU know them better than THEY do...right?




How is that with all the new technology and innovation in today's modern world........



from one generation to the next..........






a cardboard box or laundry basket is the best imaginative toy to date that has the power to capture a child's creative side more than a Leap Frog toy ever could?




(with the exception of our child who must also have a side of Disney or a DVD to watch at all times!)

Happy Father's Day!

As I look back on the last 4 1/2 years, I am still in awe of the wonderful husband and father to Kyle I found in this big, crazy world.

He constantly amazes me at the attention and love he provides for Kyle amongst all the everyday chaos....sorry I don't tell you enough!!!!

He didn't even mind that I couldn't find his Father's Day card today and just said he would get it whenever I found it...which I did this evening and he'll get when he returns tomorrow from his run to Kitty Hawk, NC with another load of telephone polls.

Gator is versatile, yet nerve wrenching at the same time....if he would only finish the projects he starts!

And all the while, he always has his heart in the right place even though I tend to always disagree with the route he takes.

I know all too well how much he misses his own father, Junebug, today, who died two weeks prior to Kyle's birth, of Leukemia.

I know Junebug is proud of how good a father Gator has turned out to be and watches down with love, as do Gator's grandfathers and mine.

So on this Father's Day, we send love to those who are with us and to those who are not.

All the same, you are with us in spirit and surround us with love, and we thank you for all the things you helped us through.

Lesson Learned....for ONE of Them

Remember the fishing lesson off the front porch? Well it did pay off at the annual Jake's Fishing event where Kyle caught his first fish!

However....Gator has yet to learn his lesson and I still am not sure if either of them is or will be an adult! You see Gator bought Kyle his first tackle box, Lightening McQueen of course, and proceeded to put our digital camera in it during the fishing expedition. Now, for those who have been around Kyle know that we have our little "fits" when we don't get our way......wait that's normal, right?

Anyway, guess who decided to throw his tackle box - with the digital camera - into Foster Park Lake (really a pond, but welcome to Union)!?!?!? Yep, our Chunky Monkey! Gator did think to take the memory card out, but alas the camera is no more. Now, wouldn't the logical thing have been to keep the camera in Gator's pocket in order to keep it safe? I try, but just can't think for both of us all the time, everyday, everywhere, together or separate.

I am glad Kyle learned how to fish, and we will be having his first one mounted...........but still don't think Gator learned how to think ahead!

See the Monkey in the Tree

My mother, JoJo to Kyle (MeMa to Jay, my nephew because although I researched names for grandmothers, none suited my mother and by the time Kyle started talking I gave in to JoJo of which my brother has not forgiven me)....anyway, keeps Kyle everyday....YES GOD BLESS HER!

Before Easter, all she wanted was a picture of Kyle among her azaleas in the front yard...aren't they gorgeous?!? But instead, in return for all of the diaper changes, Disney Playhouse programs, runny noses, peas & viennas, potty training, chasing him down off of her bed (you know...10 little monkeys jumping on the bed).........he decided he would rather climb the sweet gum trees than to provide her with just a little satisfaction as having a memento of her beloved grandson among her very large, beautiful azaleas.

Didn't think it was too much to ask? BUT she didn't ask Kyle that! And this is all she got!

Oh, well...maybe next year JoJo.