Eye Spy ... Something Blooming

I am sorry for being so late this week - eek, I am still trying to figure out when it became September. There is so much that I am busting to share, but I am struggling to find the time at the moment.

Last week, amongst a whole heap of other not so good stuff, we dropped off Caleb's enrollment for Prep next year. He is blooming into a beautiful little boy that I am so proud of. I think that he is going to do super well, despite me. I am going to turn away with my tearful eyes and fill him with nothing but stories of how brilliant he is going to be. I was a little concerned about whether we should hold him back, but he is who he is. The Asperger's Autism that affects his everyday life will be with him every day regardless. I firmly believe that the more structure and the ability to expand his learning at school will do him nothing but good, even if I am as nervous as hell. Unfortunately his current kinder, the only one we could get in, doesn't have any other kids so he will have to start from scratch, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing either.

I was driving him to kinder that other day and he said "Mum I know lots about animals, I am super smart." I agreed like all good mothers should. then he went on "... but people, I don't really get people". I don't think any phrase ever described living with Asperger's better and knowing that he has some concept of it is an actual relief. I got to tell you, I don't get people all the time either. But he is blooming every day, opening himself up wider and brighter the more time he spends in the sun and he will not be the flower that is cut down and brought inside, he has too much to do.

Thanks so much to Holly for such a great theme, and I am hoping that the lovely Lisa (who is having a great giveaway too for her 400th post!) can help us out with next week's theme. You can join in anytime, just add your link after you have posted below so we can all find you and it doesn't matter what day of the week that you do it.

(The picture is me at pre-school, not overly relavent but satisfyingly humiliating all the same. I know you are all jealous of my way cool Holly Hobby dress)

The Sum of Parts

I am so proud that Caleb actually managed to enjoy the pool, regardless of the splashing and noise. If you think about it, it really is sensory overload.

Sit down and get comfy as I am getting ready for a rant. I always struggle as to whether I should talk about Caleb and his Asperger's Autism, not because of the way I feel, but because I don't want him to wear the label. He is the sum of his parts, and lots of those are fantastic. He suffers from Aspergers but he is not Aspergers. We work hard to give him as many tools to cope as we can so he interacts in a "normal" fashion. I was speaking to a new acquaintance today and in friendly banter she asked how the kinder was going. I am always open about Caleb and explaining how they had been open to supplying him with additional help, etc. Her reply, in whispered tone, was that her son had some developmental delays and while she FEARED he may have some autism spectrum traits she admitted she was living in denial as she didn't want to know. I am so proud of my boy and who he is in all his parts. That is why I discuss it here, I want people to know it is ok, I am sure there are so many worse things out there. Different is ok, we are all different in our own way, some are just better at hiding it than others.

The First Day and Sunday Stash

Caleb had his first morning at 4-year old kinder and he was pumped, couldn't wait to hang out - where he didn't have to be a big brother or not be too noisy or not run so fast. I worked from mild concern to kinda panicked, like every parent this week. By the time he came home he was exhausted and quietly watching TV trying to unwind. That is the thing with Asperger's Autism, Caleb looks like he copes like a champ, but inside he is constantly processing every piece of social interaction he can. We use lots of social stories so that he can understand what is coming and the rest is just hope, hope that people respond to him. So far so good.

This pile is all the sticker books that we did over the holidays.

I also have some great Sunday Stash to share, another great purchase from the ever fabulous Mayumi at Karaku. It is a little fabulous, is it not. See Tamara for more Fabricy goodness.

On My Desk

I am a day late again, but my poor bubba was super sick for the last few days. Well I guess he isn't really in bubba category any more, I can't believe he is going to be 4 in December. I am sure he got twice as sick as he needed to be on sheer defiance of not taking his medicine (another bonus of asperger's). At least he is finally eating and drinking today which is fantastic as I didn't want to take him to the hospital because nothing has passed his lips since Monday. He also hasn't stopped talking since he got up, so that is a sure sign he is feeling better.

Thank-you all again for your support with the opening of Bug and Pop! I have on my desk today, my orders that I am working through, including my first Etsy sale (Hooray for Hoppo Bumpo, a lovely lady with good taste of course) On my desk is my orders that I still working my way through (I can fake organisation in photos so well) and my beautiful new apron from Miss Curly Pops. I love the colours. More desk over at the fabulous Kootoyoo.

On a side issue, Poppy is nearly 15 months and bored with all her toys, but at that in between stage for toys. I would love to know if you have any suggestions for good things for that age to play with!

Is a rose by any other name?

What is in a name? I have been thinking since I read yet another great post by Handmaiden about branding your product - That everything you do should all be in line with who you want to be. It is a really great read. It made me think how often in life we label, people, situations, etc. I said to Caleb when he didn't want to say hello to someone, "Are you feeling shy?". Now he says all the time, "I am shy, I can't do it". Labelling with Asperger's autism is a really powerful thing, but I think it applies to everyone, one way or another. By the same token, he says to me when we are playing "Goog Job Mummy, Thank you." and I put my hair up with a "You look beautiful" reply. This meant that these positive ones were also leaving a mark on his slate. Now on I am aiming to choose my words carefully to make sure my labels are the ones I want people to hear.

Play DOH!!

I was inspired today by Hoppo Bumpo's crafting post with her boys, but I must reiterate again that I have NO artistic talent at all as evidenced above.

With Caleb's aspergers, craft is not really something that is on his radar, his fine motor skills aren't great and generally only likes doing what comes naturally. Having said that we try all the time to get him interested (more than happy for any suggestions). This is a picture of our PlayDoh creations, well mine really (please excuse the lining up) you maybe able to see a stegosaurus, bunny, kangaroo, kiwi and a seal to name a few and or you could just see blobs. The funniest part, no matter how bad my creations were Caleb guessed what every single one was. Oh I love him. Unfortunately Daddy did not have the same luck, his snail was labelled a log and it was all downhill for him.

This week has been an absolute mess, work is it's usual mad self, Caleb's had conjunctivitis so can't go to care, Brown owls, wedding anniversary, making my sewing space - I am hoping next week is back to it's normal chaotic self. I don't need extra chaos and my walking has suffered so that is first thing to rectify next week especially since I have been so inspired by these lovely ladies.

This is ... My Favourite Children's Book

Caleb and I have decided to share this post since he is an absolute book worm I had to let him have his say. I also missed out on my usual Thursday Caleb musing since we were in the midst of tooth-gate. He loves the repetitive, rhyming words of Hairy Maclary and knows all of them off by heart, that is 17 stories word for word in that vault of a brain that he has. It would of been read easily 100 times each, needless to say he finds repetitive comforting.

My favourites are Marmaduke the Possum and Pearl Pinkie and Sea Greenie. What self respecting child doesn't love a story about animals and fairies with the most gorgeous Pixie Harris illustrations. I am so blessed that my Mum kept them for me so I can share them with my kids as they are no longer in print.

It seems mum and son both love the author-illustrator. A hip hip to PottyMouthMama for this weeks this is.. theme and a hooray for our gracious host Three Buttons.

Also my latest boy pants, Chuga Chuga Choo Choo embroidered on the bottom and some great Japanese train material, a bit more reserved than yesterdays. Sorry for the picture quality, my model wasn't co-operating today and neither was the weather.

Pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow

It is Caleb Thursday again, and it's the thing that makes me so happy in my happy week-long theme. If you have textural and control issues, like lots of littlies with Asperger's Autism, it is really hard to let someone paint your face. This was a super proud day. Apparently lots of the boys at the child care all wanted to be batman, Caleb chose a rainbow and a butterfly the next day. I asked him about it and he said "All batman can do is fly, rainbows and butterflies are really cool." OOHhhhh there is another happy smile.

Where is a good Squirrel Monkey when you need one?

It is thursday already, time for another Asperger's Autism positive insight.

Caleb loves animals, he has carried around an encyclopedia of animals since he was about 2. We went to the zoo, he loves to take photos (the meerkats is one of his.)

At the moment the monkeys are the favourites, so the deal is that he decides where we go. "To the squirrel monkeys" he shouted. Off to see all the monkeys we went, gorillas, orangutans (they are super cute), mandrills (the ones with the funny red bums) and off to the monkey walk area where all the smaller ones are. As we walked there was the constant echo "Where are the squirrel monkeys Mum". I knew my chances of find one were growing slim as we walked. "Look" I said "there is one." He rolls his eyes, "mum that is a colubus monkey". "Oh" I said, trying to save some level of dignity. "That's one", I tried again. "Mum that is a spider monkey". "Isn't that close enough.", I inquired. More eye rolling but it was enough to keep him happy. Eight year olds were passing "look there is a monkey" while my 3 year old contemplated where those squirrel monkeys were hiding. He still asks to see them, so for those of you wondering, here are some above. Sorry I had to put them seperately since I can't figure out how to use flickr and my own photos at the same time.

What so you mean this isn't Sesame Street

Sesame street workshop
Originally uploaded by Philip DiResta

We were all in the car for an outing and I had to open our automatic gates - "Open Sesame" I said. Caleb's little voice came from the back seat, very serious. "Mum you are not Big Bird, Poppy (his little sister) is not Oscar and I am not Ernie. This is not Sesame Street." Well it was true, but sometimes I think it would be nice to visit for a while. As discussed in the previous post this is the giggles of the literal mind.

Perspective is Over-rated

This is my beautiful 3.5 year-old boy Caleb. He looks just like most other boys and runs around like most other boys, but he is challenged daily by Asperger's Autism. This doesn't mean he is weird like the Boston Legal guy or Monk but he does see the world in a unique way that I am learning is quite special. He is only mildly affected and I don't want to belittle anyone else that has been touched by this, but I intend to share only the positive and funny things that it brings to our lives - every Thursday seemed as good a day as any. He doesn't understand that people are mean or sarcastic and takes every conversation as literal, while this can be a curse, I think it can also be a great beacon to be in life. I am finding this hard to write so that is the best explanation I have.