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Thursday, January 31, 2008

Theme Thursday - Focus



Welcome to the world of OCD where FOCUS is taken to the extreme.

Jackson finds flaws in his sports jerseys that no one else can see. I have become the master of "fixing" holes and lose threads - or simply reassuring him that the flaw is a design element within the shirt.

If only he would focus this much during math class! :))

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Blogging Life...The Good, Bad and Confusing!

I've had time lately to browse around and see what other people are doing with their blogs. What I see frustrates the you-know-what out of me.

While I completely enjoy writing and sharing pictures of my boys - and in essence, documenting their lives with my blog - I wish I could generate readers the way other blogs do.

Occasionally, I am actually able to share insights that could be of value to others - especially the anecdotes about Jackson and his challenges with Aspergers. If nothing else but to give others hope in living with an ASD child!

I've looked at so many SAHM blogs that have nothing more to say than - "I stayed home and baked cookies with my kids" - and they have thousands of views a day!

It's the technical side that boggles my mind - track-backs and links; Wordless Wednesday's, Tackle It Tuesday's; join a group...enter a contest...take our survey -- frankly - I can't even find a way to get my Google Ads to appear! How does one figure it all out?!

Someone could make a lot of money by offering a hands-on blog tutorial. And I mean, hands-on -- here in my office -- walking me through the maze.

Any takers?!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Wordless Wednesday

Beautiful Four Eyes -- new glasses -- still my beautiful baby boy!

Monday, January 28, 2008

The Winning Weekend

It began Saturday morning...

Caeden had his second basketball game of the season against a team from another elementary school in our district. The previous week Caeden's team had been soundly trounced by the other team from our own school - we won't say it's loaded but...how is it the same kids always end up on the same team?!


This time it was evenly matched - back and forth across the floor. A few elbows - a couple of crashes later...his team won 28-20.

Onto the next event...

Cameron had a wrestling tournament at his school. Five teams - he wrestled four times. He pinned every opponent and his team won the tournament.



Finally - Sunday...

The last day of wrestling for Jackson - the medal tournament. Basically a wrestle-off between four kids in the same weight class. Medals were awarded for each placing.

I think he's found his sport...

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Better Than Disneyland

For a sports family, what could be better than going to Disneyland?

How about personally meeting THREE major league baseball players!!!

Tonight we were invited to the exclusive dinner that was part of the Cleveland Indians Media Tour. Actually - I was invited - I'm working with Matt from the Indians sales office on behalf of the Board of Directors for our baseball association.

You will notice I'm not in the picture, on purpose - this night was not about me. It was about giving my boys something they will always remember.

After they had personally met, and had autographs with Ryan Garko, Jamey Carroll and Kelly Shoppach; Cameron threw me a look in the car. It said - "Mom I'm so glad you're MY Mom and that you can do these things for us"!

That's so much better than going to Disneyland...

Monday, January 21, 2008

Report Cards and Sports

Cameron has a "C" in Social Studies. This would not be much of an issue for most families but it brought Cameron to tears when he had to tell me.

John and I have set a policy with our sons that they have to have "A's and B's" in school or THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY SPORTS!

Sound harsh? I suppose on the surface, but by way of explanation you have to understand what we're dealing with.

Cameron has been identified as gifted in every area except Math (the irony is that math is his favorite subject!) - his IQ is 143! Now I expect that is an exaggerated number but I do know he read the Dune series of books in 5th grade, so that must make him pretty smart.

When the school called me a few years ago to share Cameron's gifted designation, I said - "I think you have the wrong son"! Jackson has ALWAYS been an exceptional learner. He could take a blank map of the U.S. and tell you all the States and their captitals - in 1st GRADE! Then, of course, his spelling ability. His memory retention is astounding - I thank Aspergers for this - who would think we would ever be thankful for Aspergers?!? Of course, none of this classifies him as gifted but he's pretty damn brilliant in my eyes!

So - because of these traits, Cameron and Jackson are expected to do well in school. If they aren't, it is simply a matter of effort. Caeden, my dear sweet baby, puts in more effort in school than both of his brothers - combined - but he usually gets B's and C's. So we placed a caveat on our 'C' rule - if you've shown your best effort, we can negotiate.

Cameron did not show his best effort in Social Studies - missing assignments and not studying for tests. But here's the rub - he knew he screwed up big time. He took full responsibility. He promised he would get high honors in ALL subjects the next nine weeks (straight A's). He was in tears...

As this was the first time we had to enforce our rule, we had to step back and re-evaluate. If we told him he couldn't wrestle now - with two weeks left in the season - it would hurt his team tremendously. If we told him he couldn't play baseball, it could jeopardize his whole season on this select team. There was one sport left...Track and Field.

So here's the plan - he needs to get at least 90% in Social Studies (a high B) and all other subjects this next period, or he cannot go out for Track. He still says he's going for High Honors to prove to himself what he can do! (I'm smiling inside at this one...)

By the way - Jackson has High Honors...and Caeden? His first report card without a C! You go baby...

Friday, January 18, 2008

There's A Boy Under There!

A life-altering event happened yesterday. Cameron got his hair cut. Not just cut - CUT!

He has had long hair - LOOONG hair - for over four years!

I had forgotten that he has beautiful long lashes and perfectly formed ears. I had forgotten that this child of mine was the first person I ever met in my life that looked like me (I am adopted, but that is the subject a self-analysis blog!)

And I had forgotten that this teenager is still just my little boy...

Thursday, January 17, 2008

30 Seconds In Pictures

Cameron at yesterday's wrestling match...Total Elapsed Time: 30 seconds...


2. The Handshake


3. The Take-Down


4. The Pin

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Love and the 5th Grade Boy

As Jackson was getting ready for bed last night I went to his bedroom door to ask him a question. I obviously surprised him as he jumped and quickly stuck something in his pajama bottoms. In his hand he was holding a pair of scissors...

My mind immediately went to the worse cased scenario, especially in this age of easy access to all things immoral.

It didn't help my suspicions that he was completely mortified that I had caught him with whatever he'd been doing. No matter how I prompted, kindly and thoughtfully I might add, he wouldn't give up his secret.

So I went downstairs. A few minutes later, he came down and went to the trash can to stuff in whatever he'd been hiding. His Dad walked in behind him, completely oblivious to what had happened upstairs. So, of course, he wants to know what he's hiding!

By this point Jackson is completely devastated that both his parents have caught him hiding his stuff. He begs us to stop "interrogating" him and goes to bed.

I, being the good mother that I am, go into the trash can to fish out the contraband.
What I discovered broke my heart...

It was a note from his beloved 5th grade crush, Betsy -- to another boy. He had somehow got his hands on this at school and confiscated it so the other boy wouldn't see. Before he destroyed the evidence he needed to cut one thing out for himself...Betsy's phone number.

Innocence lost? Not for my 11 year old son -- he's just lost in love!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Fifty and One-Tenth



John turned 50 and 1/10 today. It's evident on the cake...the candle on the right...the short one...with the finger pointing at it. Cameron decided the cake needed five candles and one-tenth of a sixth. Fifty-one...

Ice Cream cake, milk mustaches, and his three sons! A very happy birthday...

Monday, January 14, 2008

Go Packers!

We've decided, as a family, to support the Green Bay Packers next weekend. Brett Favre? Gotta go with the old guy...simply to help us feel young! (especially my 51 year old -- Happy Birthday tomorrow honey -- hockey playing husband!)

Anyone else care to comment on YOUR team favorites? Here's the match-ups again...

NFC Divisional Title
Green Bay Packers vs New York Giants (Just not the right Manning in the game...)

AFC Divisional Title
New England Patriots vs San Diego Chargers (QB Rivers and Tomlinson are both injured...)

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Maybe It's Just Not His Sport - Rebuttable!

Cameron had a major five school wrestling tournament today. I decided not to go as it was over an hour away and an all day event - John was the lone cheering section for our family.

It's providence that the day I don't go...and three days after I say wrestling is not his sport...HE WINS THE ENTIRE TOURNAMENT FOR HIS WEIGHT CLASS!!!

But wait there's more...HE IS CHOSEN THE MVP FOR HIS SCHOOL!!!

But wait there's even more...HE RECEIVED HIS FIRST WRESTLING MEDAL!!!

I will NEVER not go to one of my son's games, tournaments or playoff games again! Practices? They're on their own...

Friday Night Lights...

We are not a basketball family. It's just not our sport. We don't play it or watch it - even though we have the required suburban hoop in our driveway.

Yes - we have put Caeden into a basketball league for the winter, but that's just to keep him active. He's in it to goof around with his friends.

Last night was elementary school night for our high school basketball team. The mania of football Friday's gives way to the winter version - only warmer and dryer.

There are four elementary school's in our town. When we arrived we were told to sit with our school in the lower half of one section. The other three schools took up three more section halfs. Four schools took up one eighth of the seating for the gym.

As we squeezed into the only seats left for our section, we looked across at the completely empty stands across the gym. No - we couldn't go there because we had to be with our school for school spirit night!

Thank God high school games don't have time-outs like NBA games...you know - 5 minutes on the clock takes half an hour?! By the end I was standing at the rail - desperate to stretch my back, and even more desperate to have the little girl behind me stop hitting me in the head with her spirit towel!

John didn't even bother trying to come back to our seats after his restroom break. He stood at the door of the gym and smiled knowingly as I remained trapped in my seat.

The game? We lost by two points. The spirit? Our school won - course, you can't help but be loud when you pack 200 people into seats that hold 50...

Friday, January 11, 2008

The Spelling Bee...

What is it about kids on the autism spectrum that makes them such good spellers?! Three years ago I told everyone that Jackson would be in the middle school spelling bee in 5th grade. Today was the day...

In order to become one of the 57 finalists, EVERY child in the school (5th thru 8th grades) had to complete the same written test. Then there was a verbal, in-class elimination. Jackson was one of only eight fifth grade finalists.

I was really excited for him, not only because he was a finalist, but because he was very nervous. He responded like a typical kid in being nervous, not a child on the spectrum! For this, I was excited!

Just before it began, he ran down to me for one final pep talk. Frankly, from years of experience with his sensory issues, the one thing I could really do for him was gently stroke his arm. As I did, he looked hard into my eyes for reassurance. I truly felt this was the only place I wanted to be, with him, at that moment!

He was in the third row. I soon realized the significance of the third row. The words got progressively harder as they went, meaning his placement in the third row was determined by how well he did in the written test. Additionally significant, he was sitting between two eighth grade boys - his older brother's cool friends.
I didn't take any pics of the actual competition - that may have thrown off his concentration...

His word - CAMPAIGN. He was supposed to start by repeating the word, spelling the word and repeating again. He spelled it just fine and walked away. He had to be called back to repeat the word to signify he was finished. First round done...

Second round - SINCERELY. He took his time...S-I-N-C-E-R-L-Y. He missed the second "e". Good God - I would miss the second "e"!

When he was eliminated there were only two fifth graders left in the competition!

As a side note - there were very obviously two other boys, more significantly on the spectrum than Jackson, that were still in the running when he left. My heart was with both of them.

I cannot...CANNOT EVER relay how immensely honored I was to be Jackson's mother this morning. Jackson reminded me I'm more than SportsMum - I'm also his very proud SpellingBeeMum!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

And So It Begins...Again!

Our brief reprieve from sports is over...Here is the schedule for this Saturday...

6:30 a.m. - Cameron catches the bus for an ALL DAY wrestling tournament about an hour and a half from here

8:00 a.m. - John leaves to go to Cameron's tournament

8:30 - 10:00 a.m - Jackson has wrestling practice

9:00 a.m. - Caeden has basketball practice

10:00 a.m. - Jackson has baseball conditioning

11:00 a.m. - Jackson, Caeden and I leave for Cameron's tournament

Sometime Saturday Night - We crawl in the door and crash!

And Sunday? It begins again with Jackson's regular Sunday wrestling matches.
So much for a day of rest...This IS the sporting life...

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Maybe It's Just Not His Sport...

Cameron had his first wrestling match of the year on Thursday. He was full of confidence -- twenty pounds heavier than last season, more experience. He even proclaimed that he was probably the third best on his team.

He got killed in both his matches.


An observance from the bleachers -- 20 pounds heavier means less agility. Last year he could turn himself into a pretzel to get out of holds. He was only pinned once all year. And even though they are matched by weight, he stood taller than both of his opponents which also meant he's all arms and legs while they were more compact and muscular.

Cameron is an athlete and as such he expects to excel in all sports. In baseball, football, and even track; you would have to argue that he really is one of the best in his age group. But this wrestling thing...

Needless to say, he didn't handle it very well coming off the mat. I watched helplessly as my thirteen year old boy/man struggled to contain his tears; attempting instead to look frustrated and angry. But I saw his eyes - even from a distance.

After an eternity of watching him on the bench, never lifting his head, I asked if he wanted to leave with us or wait and take the bus home. He quickly turned to me, tears pouring down his face, and just as quickly turned away, "No I'll stay and take the bus". The time he would need to stop the tears and be the man again...

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Those Crazy Californians!

Last week we had the immense pleasure of visiting friends from California - here to celebrate the holidays with their mid-west family.

The kids hadn't seen each other in a year and a half! It didn't matter that Dylan stands 6 ft. tall and now has his driver's license, or that Amanda is almost 14 and stunningly beautiful, or that Parker hasn't changed a bit -- all the kids immediately picked up where they'd left off with each other.

We had been dumped with snow the night before and the three Californians couldn't wait to get out and play. Of course, my boys were up for anything that involves outside and being physical. Besides - we had forgotten how much fun it was the first time we had snow four years ago.

But those crazy Californians...

I guess Amanda is a big fan of the movie "A Christmas Story" and had always wanted to act out a particular scene. Her Grandma's house had the right prop - a metal pole right in the middle of the backyard. The picture tells the rest of the story...

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Demolition

We have a holiday tradition that the boys look forward to all year. It fits naturally into a boy's innate desire for chaos and destruction...

The perfect mother in me takes the time to buy just the right gingerbread house kit. I construct the walls and roof, squeeze icing over the entire structure with just perfect icicles dangling from the sides, and select colorful candy pieces with just the right Christmasy feel.

All of us used to participate in the construction of this seasonal treat; but only Caeden and I took the time this year to lovingly create our family masterpiece.

All the boys eagerly anticipate as New Years Day approaches. In keeping with family tradition, our beautiful gingerbread house was slated for DEMOLITION...

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

New Years Eve In Pictures

The Games Begin!
Who Needs A Shirt?...the threads just come lose anyway!

TARTUGA! (His imitation of the Pirates of the Caribbean movie...)

You can't make me look..I'm a teenager and I have to pretend I don't like my picture taken!

Friends Join The Countdown...

It's Here!


We Are SO Illegal!


Who Cares - Happy New Year!