Owen’s first time frosting cupcakes…wasn’t terribly messy. 🙂
Frosting–and eating–the cupcakes!
Daddy’s glasses
Owen has taken possession of Tom’s safety glasses. He LOVES them.
Chilling in daddy’s car.
He LOVES sitting and playing in Tom’s car…
Helping daddy!
Owen loves playing with Tom’s tools and REALLY wanted to help build the base for the shed.
Marching!
Dandelion Fluff
He still needs to work on blowing. 🙂
Making cupcakes!
Owen had found our formula mixer (which is out since Tom uses it to mix his coffee) and then grabbed one of Tom’s coffee pods from the drawer and was putting the two together saying “Making cupcakes!” I’m not exactly sure where he got the idea of cupcakes, though somewhat recently I know he was watching something on Food Network with Tom about snacks… So I got the idea to actually make cupcakes.
I got it all set up and the hardest part was getting Owen to kneel on the chair at the counter—he wanted to sit (too low) or stand (too high and wobbly on our bar-height chairs) but we eventually got it worked out. First he helped me dump the measuring cup of water, oil, and eggs into the bowl (though I had to keep a hand on it so it didn’t all end up on the floor). The whole time (from now until the end) he just kept saying “Making cupcakes. Making cupcakes! Making cupcakes!”
Then he used the mixer, which he actually did pretty well with:
Then it was off to fill the cups. He helped me put all the liners in the pan, and then after I did the first tray of 12, he got to do this tray:
Still working on it:
The mess wasn’t too bad (none got on him, the chair, or the floor) so that was a bonus! And he had a blast!
Virginia’s tent
We went over to our friend’s house for dinner, and Owen just loves their daughter and playing in her room. She got a new “tent” for her bed and he LOVED it! Crawled right in and got under the covers!
Hanging with dad.
Racing game!
We went out to dinner at Red Robin and Owen REALLY wanted to play this game…and he LOVED it!
Noooo, fake crying, and bath request
Here’s a sample of Owen having a fake tantrum. He honestly didn’t want the camera out, but once he saw it, then the dramatics started… I love it.
Scheduling Evaluations
Getting Owen seen/evaluated at the schools is not as quick a process as I’d hoped…though part of the issue is that Spring Break is next week.
- The first appointment for a brief hearing and vision test is on 4/17. They said the paperwork I have to fill out will take longer than the tests. |-|
- The clinic appointment for in-depth testing is on 4/20. I’m guessing this will be similar to the tests Owen took with the first doctor and will take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours.
- The Referral meeting to go over the test results is 4/30 and should take about an hour. We will find out what they recommend as far as any special education type classes.
I guess in the grand scheme of things, it’s not THAT long, but I was hoping it would be a one-day thing I could schedule next week.
EDITED TO ADD: I also scheduled the appointment for the second opinion…unfortunately, however, it’s not until May 30 (the first opening they had)! So that’s a bit of a bummer…but the only thing I can do is call now and again to see if they have any cancellations.
Owen takes pics!
He always wants to play with my camera so sometimes I let him. Here are a few of his results—it’s pretty heavy for him to lift and shoot at the same time…
Stupid @#$% Secretary of State
Stupid >:XX Secretary of State.
I wanted to change my registration from North Carolina to Michigan so I could use my old personalized plates. The first phone call—five weeks ago—went perfect.
I mailed in the $8 check and the necessary form (which the lady walked me through completely) and waited. And waited. And waited. And forgot about it for a bit. And waited. Then noticed that the check had been cashed—yet I was still waiting and waiting and waiting for the new registration to appear in the mailbox.
Three weeks—THREE!—after the check was cashed, and two weeks after I sent the check in, I finally called. I was ready to pitch a fit because I was POSITIVE they had mailed it to the wrong address (either address on my license), even though I know I put our current address on there.
“Oh, your husband needs to sign the form since the North Carolina registration is in his name.”
SERIOUSLY?
And it took five weeks to tell me this? Oh wait, they didn’t tell me anything, I had to call and get the information myself after waiting for FIVE WEEKS. And it obviously didn’t hamper them CASHING THE CHECK.
And why yes, of course it makes sense since the current registration was in his name…but the nice lady who originally walked me through every single box on the stupid form never once specified that he had to sign it (and stupid me, obviously, didn’t even think about it since I’d never done this before).
GRRRRRR.
Tonight’s outside fun.
Me and my boy!
Fresh batteries and the right solution (the expensive Gazillion brand) work wonders with the bubble machine!
Owen is 3 years 2 months today!
First blood draw!
Wow. I’m amazed.
Owen was a total ROCK STAR getting his blood drawn for the very first time this morning. :up: I expected the absolute worst…and though it didn’t start on a positive note (he didn’t want to get on the exam table for ANYTHING), it went well!
There were three techs in there (since I had told them it was his first time) and they asked me to hold him down in case he freaked out so I basically just leaned over the table and held his legs and chest…but I distracted him by telling him about the ice cream treat he would get and they distracted him by talking to him about the fish on the walls and he didn’t even feel the needle.
He didn’t flinch.
He didn’t squirm.
He didn’t cry.
In fact, he even pretended to sleep (snoring) when I suggested it. And afterwards, he picked green tape and loved it! He had to hold his arm out for just about everyone to see!
The treat I promised him for being good at the doctor! Not too many ice cream places are open at 9am, so we went to the commissary!
March photos are online!
Owen wanted to take his cars for a walk…
I :heart: this kid!
This was cute… He had been right in the middle of the bush, tickling himself with all the little buds…and he says “Look at all the tickles!”
Washing his car!
Owen helped daddy wash his car this weekend…so today he wanted to wash his own car!
Showers!
Owen now likes to take showers with mom and dad. 😐
It started a few weeks ago when he became intrigued by me taking a shower—I usually grab my five-minute shower while he’s watching TV and playing in the morning, and at first he asked what I was doing and then it turned into him telling me “Taking a shower!” Cute, right? I thought he might want to get in, but I was saved by the fact that he didn’t really want anything to do with getting in while it was running (though he’d gladly go in afterwards).
So this weekend when Tom was home, Owen desperately wanted to get in the shower with Tom. He actually let us get him undressed and walked into the shower…but wasn’t crazy about the water coming from above—and kept opening the door trying to get out. But he did like spraying the handheld part at Tom and the doors…just not on himself. That was Saturday morning.
Fast forward to this morning, when Owen desperately wanted to take a shower when I did. I told him if he could get undressed all by himself, he could take a shower with me—guessing that it wouldn’t happen because he really doesn’t know how to get undressed by himself yet.
Ha.
I was obviously completely wrong. He had his pants off in about 10 seconds (though that’s one thing we have been working on so that wasn’t a big stretch)…but then he was seriously taking his T-shirt off, which he always has given up on before! I did have to give him a small clue about bending his arm to pull it out of the short sleeve, but otherwise he got it all by himself! Okay then, I guess he earned a shower!
By this time, Tom had wandered back into the bathroom and saw what was going on and took Owen’s diaper off. And this time he LOVED getting his head wet with the handheld shower, let me wash his hair, and soaped himself! He didn’t want to get out! And loves saying he took a shower!
So now if I want to shower alone, I have to do it before he wakes up or during his nap!
Unexpected double bath!
It was thundering while Owen was getting a bath…and look who jumped in with him? So both kids got a bath! Owen loved pouring water on her, saying “Close your eyes, Maggie!”
Welcome to autism.
So we finally had Owen’s appointment with the developmental pediatrician to check into his speech delays. We’ve actually been a little concerned since about 18-24 months, but figured he was steadily progressing, so we weren’t THAT worried—and our pediatrician wasn’t super worried, either. But at his 36 month appointment, I finally just bit the bullet and asked the pediatrician for a referral to get Owen checked out—if for nothing else to just ease our minds (if nothing was wrong) or worst case, get started on an action plan (if something was wrong).
Well, we have good news and bad news. I always like the bad new first, so here goes:
The bad news? Owen was diagnosed with autism.
The good news? It’s a very mild form.
Even though I had a tiny inkling in the back of my head going into the appointment…it was still a shock to hear and my head was just spinning from everything the doctor was throwing at me (websites, studies, possible tests, results, terminology, insurance issues, second opinions, yada yada yada). So, really, even now a day later I don’t have a lot of details…
Some points, however (which I’ll probably still muddle, but you’ll get the gist):
The doc said Owen is very intelligent (the tests he took scored him in the normal/average to slightly above average on knowledge), he just has some language issues (things like pointing at what he wants vs. asking for what he wants in a sentence) and possibly even ADHD (how busy he is all the time and his ability to play/play without other interaction).
The doc wants to run a chromosome test (basically just for us to have the knowledge) but he doesn’t anticipate anything horrible since right now, Owen doesn’t fit the profile for any of the severe instances (where he would require more tests).
The official diagnosis is High Functioning Autism. I can (and will) schedule an appointment for a second opinion with a civilian doctor in town, even though I trust and have faith in the doctor we saw. I’ve already started the process to get him enrolled in the EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program) on base, which qualifies us for additional assistance programs (such as in-home therapy, parenting programs, etc).
The Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) is a mandatory enrollment program for all active duty personnel with family members with special needs. The goal of EFMP is to assist military families in managing the dual demands of a Marine Corps career and the special needs of a family member. An exceptional family member includes a family member enrolled in DEERS and MCTFS who possesses a diagnosed physical, intellectual or emotional need that requires specialized medical or educational services. Enrollment in the EFMP program is designed to assist the sponsor with assignment to a duty station where appropriate services necessary to support the family member(s) are available. Installation EFMP Specialists are available to assist sponsors and their family members with the enrollment process, resource, referral, and support before, during and after Permanent Change of Station transitions. Specialists also serve as advocates for EFMP families to ensure access to vital medical, educational and community services. For more information about the EFMP program please contact your installation office.
I’ll have to visit the local elementary school to get him evaluated for an IEP…which, fingers crossed, will allow him to attend preschool there (five minutes from our house). I need to start researching therapists because there’s a waiting list. And I’m sure about a thousand other things I’m forgetting or haven’t thought of/learned yet.
The good thing, however, is that the pediatrician said I’m doing everything right with him (just from watching us interact during the appointment)—so that’s positive at least—and I can just keep keeping on at home.
I have shared the diagnosis with my family and friends and they have all been amazingly supportive. In fact, the comments two friends made really stand out and I want to share them here, so I will remember them forever (and maybe someday I can read them without crying like an emotional pregnant woman):
- Aaron: Here’s the thing to remember—a diagnosis doesn’t change who Owen is. All it does is attach a label to a collection of his behaviors so that you can get the appropriate assistance to help him continue to develop. He’s still the same child that you’ve been playing with and taking pictures of and sharing stories about that he’s always been.
- David: That just means he’s even more special!
So, this is sure to be an interesting, frustrating, and eventually rewarding journey… Stay tuned!
Our morning stroll…
Covering his eyes while he counts—he wants me to go hide (even though we’re in the middle of a field)!
Chasing ducks!
Owen just made his first sandwich!
Owen just made his first PB&J sandwich—with a little help—but he did pretty good for a three year old!
Chasing bubbles!
This was a bit challenging for me since I really need two hands to blow bubbles and one hand to hold the camera. 🙂
I didn’t think preschool would be this hard.
I really didn’t think getting Owen in a part-time preschool would be THIS hard.
- Our first choice (1 mile away) only offers full time child care (well, M-F mornings is their lowest option).
- Our second choice requires potty training at age 3 plus they don’t have summer hours (it’s a church).
- Our third choice only has summer openings (otherwise it’s a waiting list) and they strongly recommend all-day care, and it’s the same price whether you use an hour or eight.
- Our fourth choice (another church) has an EIGHT MONTH WAITING LIST.
- Our fifth choice doesn’t do part time preschool.
- Our sixth choice (another branch of #5) is a 20-25 minute drive away PLUS all pre-school kids have to be potty trained.
- Our seventh choice is the most expensive AND it’s the same price whether you leave the kid there for one or eight hours…but they handle potty training for you.
At this point, I’m out of choices… Well, there are more according to Google, but they are places I’ve heard NOTHING about or appear to be home-based (from the Google map listings).
Bestest haircut experience yet!
Owen did absolutely phenomenal during his first buzz cut—even sitting alone, on a booster seat, and wearing the cape! ALL FIRSTS! I guess Raoul (see Cars 2 car in last photo) was a good motivator!?
Watching Raoul very closely.
Sitting oh-so still WHILE she used the clippers. He HATES clippers and has freaked out every other time we’ve tried to use them. Tom and I were stunned.
He even smiled on command!
Look at all that hair!!
I think he really looks like Alex here…
VICTORY! Raoul is his!
The most annoying time of the year…
Ah, the most annoying time of year…cool overnights/mornings so windows are open, then warm/hot afternoons that require A/C.
Yes, I realize that sounds wrong—that it actually is the perfect time of year… Except that the second floor gets about 10 degrees warmer than the first floor, so I have to run around closing windows when I turn the air on—but we don’t need air on downstairs. And I usually forget to close some windows and I always forget the close the shades early enough to keep out more of the heat…
I guess I just like the days where you can keep the windows open all day or the A/C on all day…and right now, the A/C might even win out because it would keep out all the yellow pollen (which is currently covering just about every surface in the house).