Architecture

Knowing that we are moving back to Oklahoma in a short while (did I mention that? well, we are) I wanted to get a few things scratched off of the Wisconsin list.  The most important being to visit and tour a Frank Lloyd Wright house.  I'm a big fan. Jeff scheduled a day for us to head to Chicago and we got to go to the house that he lived in early in his career.  He had six kids there and added onto the home to make more space and then added on again to include his studio so that he could be closer to his family. I knew that I would enjoy it, but I was more than impressed with this place and all of the things that I learned about him.

We have been talking a bit about building our own home when we move and my mind was racing with ideas before this trip... now I have a headache with all of the ideas flowing!  We also visited a HUGE mall type place where the whole lower level was full of fancy shops selling home design.  I found my dream kitchen - it looks a little something like this:

Jeff did a little investigating for me.  To have the kind of fridge that makes this work costs about $8000... for just the fridge.  So, maybe my dream kitchen will remain a dream.

Also on this trip we have been able to discuss and read about some new things we are learning about Lincoln.  I had a parent/teacher conference on Thursday and she talked about him with words that concerned me.  She used words like obsessive and compulsive.  He is doing great academically, but she seemed very concerned about his transition into a new school.  I have known for a long time that he has some real issues, but had sort of categorized them into quirky, funny even.... but now I think we might be beginning to learn that it is something more, perhaps (and we are fairly certain, but haven't tested yet) Asperger's.   As we've been reading about it and reading stories from other families I feel like I'm reading my own story.  I'm grateful to know that there might be some help for a lot of the struggles that we have with him. His brain just isn't wired the same way mine is and I so often just don't understand where he is coming from.  I am eager to learn more.  He has an apointment in about a week.

A Series of Crappy Events

It has been too long since I've posted a day like this.  I think when Lincoln and Jackson were little these were much more common.

I woke up with the runs.  I know you don't want to know that.  I don't want to tell you that either, but the story wouldn't be complete without it.

Jackson came downstairs around 7am.  He was upset because he remembered that he hadn't done his homework. He was still really sleepy looking, so I volunteered to get it for him and bring it to him on the couch.  He told me that it was on the table and I found it there.  He worked diligently on it, finishing the whole packet.  When he finished he turned to the front page and realized that it was an old one.  One that was supposed to be turned in while we were in Oklahoma.  He was very mad at me for giving him the wrong one and refused to do any more homework in the right packet.  He threw a huge fit.

In all of this mess, I forgot to give Lincoln his medicine until about 45 minutes late (not good for making it out the door on time!)  Harrison woke up about this time.  He asked me if he could be a monkey.  Eventually I figured out that meant that he wanted a banana.  He stuffed the banana into his mouth too quickly, choked on it and promptly threw up.

Jeff was trying to patiently take care of Jackson's tantrum when he realized that the couch was wet.  Jackson's pull up had leaked all over.  He sent him up for a shower.

Lincoln did a great job of getting dressed on his own and I had seen him with socks in his hands.  I was impressed that he was on track for a good morning and worried about getting everyone else ready.

Jackson still refused to do his homework and refused to go to school if it wasn't done.  He was sure that it was my responsibility to complete his handwriting practice as I had mistakenly given him the wrong packet.  The bus was long gone and we were getting close to late for parent drop off.

I decided to just take Lincoln.  I got Harrison dressed and put him in the car while Lincoln got his shoes on.  He could only find one.  We got a different pair.  His backpack and coat were missing.  Harrison is still strapped in the car and is now crying and demanding that he stay home from school today too.

In my search for the coat and backpack I used the S word.  It is a strong word that I NEVER use, but this morning did in fact SUCK.  I found the items in the basement and we were on our way.  Late, but there.

Next I dropped off Harrison. He had taken off his shoes and socks and I could only find one shoe again. I asked him where the other one was and he said, "home."  He had thrown it out of the car while waiting for Lincoln.  I sent him to school in snow boots.  He thought that was awesome.

I got back home to find Jackson relaxed and finishing up his homework.  He had finally calmed down, but the thought of being late to school seemed worse to him than missing completely.  Jeff had told him that if he stayed home he would have to stay in his room and do worksheets all day - no recess, pj&j for lunch and more worksheets until everyone else got home.  It wasn't that hard to convince him to go late.  After a little bit more shoe drama (I had sent Lincoln to school in the ones he has been wearing lately), we made it out the door.  My morning that usually exhausts me by 8 had taken until 10 and I had plenty of bodily fluid stories to prove it... and they weren't the hardest part.