Cheese moments

Im checking out the new blogger App on my phone and hoping it handles pictures better then it used to. I used to update a lot more frequently when I could type on the fly as I sat in lines, waited for appointments and all those other boring mommy things. ;) when the old App
randomly started deleting my posts halfway through typing them I gave up hope of using it. You don't want to see me angry after my post gets deleted. I tend to have a temper about those sorts of things.

Handmade Yule ornaments

The kids had fun stringing beads onto wire yesterday and bending them into shapes. PJ and Odin were phenomenal at it too! I was impressed. Ivy tried but kept getting frustrated and dumping the bead bowl, and Piper has a hard time making any craft that wasn't her idea in the first place. Eventually she asked me to finish hers for her. But Odin stood there holding his "circle" for two hours while we put the Yule tree up and fought with the lights that were clumped together and not all working. Every strand only half lit.

Anyway, I wanted to post our craft project and show how we decorated our tree this year. So far anyway, with a month left we have a lot of time to decorate still. :) I have decoupage ideas in my head to spruce up our old balls. (the Beavis and Butthead in me is laughing right now) it seems like such a waste to buy ornaments so this year we're going green and making or repurposing items to make ornaments.

Our Yule tree went up today

Quill Clan, Yule 2011

It's been awhile since I've written. I feel badly because I had a lot on my plate and a lot of people counting on me for things, but I've been ill the past month and am still battling some strange virus or infection, I'm not even sure which.

Even though I'm not feeling the spirit of the season, we put up the Yule tree today. To help me muster some happiness up, I picked up my camera and took a few pictures. It helped me a little. If nothing else, I can still document that my children are alive, well, and they even look happy!

Just like every other challenge I've faced, I will get through it. Hopefully it'll be soon because I'm really becoming depressed that I'm still feeling sick for so long. Even Thanksgiving wasn't normal. Chris made not only the turkey, but everything else as well. Literally. I didn't wash a potato, or bake a pie. Nothing. I've taken up crocheting, and drawing. Things that don't take a lot of abstract thinking because its just not there. The pressure in my head and the aching on a constant basis.. its overwhelming. I'd be lying if I didn't say at least once or twice a day I break down sobbing for no other reason then I just want to feel well again. 

So I just noticed that Blogger has changed quite a bit. I feel like I'm in a foreign country or something. Buttons in odd places... this is going to take some getting used to again!

Before my computer eats my post, I'll hit the publish button. If all goes well, I should have my own .com shortly. I don't really need one, but I have to get one for Spiralscouts anyway so I'll get one with enough space for my blog and hopefully my online store. Once my head feels connected to my body again, maybe I can actually follow through with the dreams I had before. They feel so far away sometimes.

Oh, Odin's appointment with the developmental pediatrician is on Tuesday, and then with a different neuro psychologist on Wednesday. We booked appointments and they happened to fall that way. We've been waiting several years for these appointments however, so I'm really nervous. This is the big diagnosis appointment so wish us luck.

Paying attention to the little things

Sometimes pictures are capable of manipulating the memory into what we wish the whole moment felt like.

In reality, this was only a mere 3 seconds in time. Before and after the picture they were screaming, struggling and beating each other up. It was close to a bloody mess on my couch. Suddenly they both stopped and relaxed. Odin spaced off and Persephone was listening to a commercial on tv that had music in it. (music always calms her)

For that brief moment, they looked so serene and loving. I'm glad I was able to capture it, even if it only lasted a minute.

After all, aren't some of life's greatest things limited in time? Rainbows, orgasms, that first bite of a delicious meal, the smell of a newborn baby, true new car smell, your first crush, and a spotless house with five kids..

Today I'm going to try very hard to notice the little things. Cute photo op's with the kids, when my husband makes that attempt to show me love, when Piper tries to tell me about her day at school and when Odin snuggles in my neck and whispers over and over,
"Mama?"
"What buddy?"
"I love you."
"I love you too buddy."
"I love you so much Mama."
"I love you so much too buddy."
"You're my best buddy"
"you're my best buddy too"
"Mama?"
"What buddy?"
"I love you Mama."
"I love you too buddy"
No matter how long it goes on, I will remember to cherish those words. Some parents might never hear their autistic child say them, and mine can. And does! So today I will try hard to remember that my children with autism are not trying to annoy me with their continuous statements and rigid sentences. The underlying thought is, I love my mom and i want her to know. How can I not be touched by that?

These pictures are more than cute moments. They are my motivation to be a better mother and a better person.

PJ's funny face

Piper's Gary the Snail

Piper's Spongebob and Gary

Odin and Mama in the morning

  

(pre make up. LOL)

Odin is 25 months old and needs a haircut. 

PJ in a tutu

Sitting pretty in her tutu

My love

What's in your cup?

Pretty girl

Yo

Say what?

Just one of the girls

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Persephones Smile

This is the best smile I've ever caught on camera. You can even see both her dimples! I think this picture was taken when she was around 2 1/2 months old. Such a happy little baby she is. :) I can hardly believe that she's almost 4 months old. Where has the time gone..

Almost 4 months old... Ms Persephone Jade

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