Job Interviews, Grandma's House, Time at the Park, NEW JOB!!

I have been super busy this week (10/8-10/14). I've only taken 1 photo of Anastasia (at least it turned out cute). This week I've have nearly an interview a day. Furthermore, the time I would dedicate to blogging and photo taking have been replaced by filling out hours worth of applications online. 

I actually got a job at a call center and start training the end of the month, however, I'd really like a more long term position. So I continue to apply to places and having interviews. I know if nothing pans out I at least have a job in the wings. 

On Sunday, the 15th, we went to Grandma's house to celebrate her birthday with the rest of the family. We got her a set of construction trucks because Grandma's been saying she needs more toys for the little boys. These aren't just any plastic toys, they are recycled from milk jugs, durable, and BPA free, (safe if babies chew on them).

Rowan couldn't wait for her to open her gift. He started playing with them right away. I think they were a hit with the cousins. 

Anastasia was busy toddling and exploring everywhere. She likes to say "Up". I feel like one of her Aunts summed it pretty well when she stated, "Anastasia I think you want that word to mean more then it really does." It's true, she uses that word for nearly everything. What to be held? Up. What to see what's on a screen? Up. Want food? Yep, Up. 

We took the kids outside to play while it was nice outside. Rowan was excited to get to the top of the swing set and go down the slide by himself. It was still on the steep side for him, so he went down 1 time.

His favorite thing was the swing! He would have stayed their all afternoon and into the night if we'd let him. Rowan was just giggling and having fun. Later we played on the tramp, which he really enjoyed. 

While dinner was cooking he went out to see the doggies, Huck (Aunt E's lab mix) and Maverick (Aunt M's lab mix of a different sort). He loved tossing the ball and watching the dogs fetch. He ran around laughing and saying "Doggie!" 

I've been job hunting for awhile now. Numerous applications have been filled out, I've had several job interviews, nothing was panning out (besides the call center position). I did an interview for a billing position on Monday morning, which is a job I enjoy doing, seriously. I loved my time at ConService and this position was very similar in many ways. 

Monday afternoon I got a call offering me the job. I started the very next day!! I do the billing for an appliance repair company and so far I'm really enjoying it. Right now it's a bit of a commute but they should be moving locations around January. The hard part has been juggling everything with 1 car. We thought we could manage with just 1 car, however, it's our first week and we're already realizing it's not balancing out well at all. (I foresee a second car in the near future.)

Thursday I had to take a day off work for a doctor's appointment. While I was at the doctors Char took all the kids to a nearby park to play (It's Fall Break right now). 

Rowan climbed up the stairs by himself, which really impressed us. Anastasia needed some help, especially when walking on the uneven bark. She'd walk, stubble, fall down, get back up and repeat the whole process over again. Heidi Anne was a great big sister and took the Littles' down the slides. 

The weather was lovely, a perfect morning for a visit to the park. Oh, there was a bouncy horse that really entertained Rowan for quite some time. Which was good because my doctor appointment took much longer than planned. 

Funny story about Rowan, he loves to watch musical truck videos on Children's YouTube. He'll come up and ask "Car Tunes?" It took a few failed attempts before I realize he meant "Car Tunes" instead of "Cartoons."

Wedding Pictures and Lots of Little Stories

Here are a few more pictures from the wedding.

Anastasia on Daddy's shoulders.

There was an ice cream bar at the wedding reception, complete with a soft serve ice cream machine. Here's Heidi Anne topping off her delicious treat. 

Heidi Anne had fun playing on the swing set with other wedding quests. She's pushing a sweet little girl on the swing.

Rowan enjoyed his time on the swing as well. I think this was the happiest he was during the whole day. 

Here's a picture of our not-so-little-anymore family. If you told me 5 years ago we'd have a family of 5, with the 2 youngest being only 11 months apart, I would have laughed at the idea. Yes, our life is a bit busy with 2 toddlers and a 9 year old, even chaotic at points. I just can't imagine it any other way. 

Last Sunday Rowan and Heidi Anne are playing with helicopters, flying them to different destinations in the living room. For example; flying to the sofa, then to Anastasia, next the dog, and on and on. 

When they were done playing Anastasia took both helicopters and would spin the rotors on the tops and tail. Rowan had his "turtle" (Kindle) and could care less, however, Anastasia looks like the cat that ate the canary.

Rowan was content with his Turtle, which was good because Char and I were still recovering from our illnesses. Char's almost better from this never ending fever, I'm still a little on the weak / recovering stages.
  

On Monday Rowan just couldn't stop spinning in circles and asking to go "UP-side-Down". I got a few videos of his spinning, which is stimming. Sometimes he'd stop, come over to watch the video I just made then spin again. Hit replay and that was my morning. 

Rowan had a good day at at ABA. I get little notes about his day. But I don't get the time to chat with his therapist, thus making some of the stories lack that flourish or background information. For example, the note today read "Rowan had a good day today. He laughed really hard when one of the other therapist sang "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" really goofy." That's all she wrote.

On Tuesday Heidi Anne had guitar lessons. But Char had work at the time Heidi Anne would need to be picked up from her class. He dropped her off to for her lessons. About 30 minutes after they left, I loaded the Littles into the double stroller and we walked a long 2 mile round trip. (We're very dedicated to Heidi Anne's new hobby). The babies were content as long as the stroller was moving. But if we were at a cross walk waiting for cars to pass, they tried to wiggle out of their straps.    

Occasionally, when things happen, I cover my hands over my mouth and say "Oh No!" in an overly dramatic fashion. I typically do this with the Littles' when; they spill, knock down objects or throw toys. Mostly to get the idea across that they did something naughty or mischievous.

Well, Anastasia has started to copy me half the time. She covers her mouth and dramatically says "Oh NO!" I finally got a picture of her doing it. Unfortunately, no video recording, despite how hard I try she can't do it on command (as of yet). 

Rowan loves to look out the window. There's cars, bikes, trucks, airplanes, etc. out there to see. Anastasia doesn't want to be left out of the fun. She'll toddle over as Rowan runs to look outside. There's just 1 tiny problem. Anastasia is way too short to see anything. She's just shy of being as tall as the bottom window sill. Therefore, she ends up just looking at the wall. 

She has at least another 4-6 inches to grow before she can even tip toe to glance out the window. Based on the faces she gives me, I think she knows this fun fact, too.

Rowan was so funny the other morning as I put him in the car. The birds were singing outside. He perked up and said "Tweet, Tweet!" He was so excited when he heard them call back. He yelled out "Again! Again!" Alas, they did not respond to his cries of an encore. 

Life has settled into a new "normal", Rowan has preschool / ABA 3 days a week. Heidi Anne is back in school. Anastasia is...well...Anastasia. Time to shake that up. We've decided it's time for me to get back into the workforce. It's a couple years sooner than I planned (after-all, ABA doesn't pay for itself). Now, I'm job hunting and we're trying to figure out how to juggle everything. Wish me luck! Any tips would be great!!

Fevers All Around, Appointments and Playing Pretend!!

On Fever Day 4, also known as Sunday, the babies' fever continue. The doctors won't check on the Littles until they've had a fever over 100.4 for 5 constitutive days.  

Heidi Anne was reading silently on the sofa when Rowan came up and cuddled her. He asked her "Read?". Heidi Anne played along and read a passage of "Hatchet" . She stopped and returned to reading silently. He then demanded "READ, READ, READ!" She read aloud to him for a good 45 minutes. All the while if she so much as paused to catch a breath, Rowan would request "Again! Read!". 

A little later in the day Anastasia copied me in playing with her baby dolls. I'd rock one back and forth and she would "rock" the doll. She even said "Baby" once. 

Hooray!! The Littles' fevers have broken. Which is great because my fever continued. Currently, I'm the only one still suffering from a fever. 

Since Rowan was feeling better we sent him off to ABA. Rowan had an exceptional day compared to Friday. He was listening, paying attention. They've changed his programs and goals a tad since he's completed so many of his tasks. Granted, he's been doing the same goals for nearly 4 months now. 

They've been working on yoga with the kids at pre-school as a coping skill and good exercise. Currently, Rowan is having nothing to do with it. The teachers are trying to get the kids to do poses and Rowan is either sitting in the corner not playing or sprawled flat out on the floor, still not participating. 

Today at ABA they were playing a game where the balloon couldn't touch the floor. Rowan kept missing when he'd try to bop it with his hands. Then he started kicking it instead and he'd keep it in the air.     

Later in the day I had a doctor's appointment. I didn't feel up to driving the distance on my own so I had Char drive and we brought Rowan and Anastasia with us. Yeah, it was a disaster. Both needed snacks and naps and could have done without the 90 minute car ride. Rowan did settle down after the MA showed him that he could color on the touch screen in the exam room. 

On Tuesday, just as my fever was going away Char has begun to suffer from one. It's like playing hot potato here in the house. 

Rowan has begun saying "Monk-EY" when jumping on the sofa. I think he's referring to the "5 Little Monkeys" song. When he says "Monk-EY" while jumping I'll sing the "5 Little Monkeys" song to him. 

Rowan's speech therapist, Jill, brought a doll and accessories for his session. He actually played with the doll! He held it, pretended to give it food and feed it a bottle. Anastasia even said "Baby" and had a turn holding and feeding the baby doll. 

Heidi Anne had guitar lessons for the first time in 2 weeks. The teacher was impressed with how good she did that he gave her 2 songs to learn this week. Mary Had a Little Lamb and Jingle Bells. It was student appreciation day, which meant Heidi Anne got a cupcake, a sucker, and a little prize. 

As we left I noticed a little cat by the door. I picked it up so I could call the owner to let them know where their cat was at. However, when I looked on the collar it read "I live by the school, Please leave alone, Don't take me away." So I pet the cat a little and put it down, leaving it there like the collar requested. 

Wednesday was a little slow. It's been fevers, doctor and therapy appointments nearly every day. I guess some days you can use a break. 

Rowan went to ABA and had a good time. Char's fever got a little worse but was able to go to work. 

Thursday all the kids got flu shots. The nurse asked me "So oldest to youngest?"  I had put a lot of thought into the order of who would gets shots when. I decided Rowan first because he wouldn't have heard anyone else cry out and would be as relaxed as he could be. He looked at me with betrayal as he was injected. He whimpered for quite some time. 

Next was Anastasia because Rowan's cries wouldn't really warn her of impending doom and she forgives easily, (sometimes). I helped the nurse hold Anastasia down. She screamed at the initial poke but quickly stopped crying before it was even Heidi Anne's turn.

Ah, Heidi Anne. I wanted her last because she's horrible with vaccines. She screams and cries so loud with shots that I knew if she freaked out the Littles would too, beyond any doubt. She started to cry when the nurse was applying the alcohol swab yelling "It BURNS!!" The nurse and I were like, "It's just the first part where she's cleaning your skin of any germs. Calm down." Heidi Anne continued to cry from then on. Making the babies (who had settled down at this point) start to freak out with her. I told the nurse dryly "This is why I wanted her last." Finally she was injected, she SCREAMED at first and then as the shot went on, Heidi Anne began laughing. According to her "This time the flu shot wasn't as bad as I remembered!" I had told her in the beginning it wouldn't be bad. Que eye roll from me.   

The next morning Rowan had a reaction to the flu shot, he was sick to his stomach and had a fever (again) of 100.4 F. This boy can't catch a break these last 2 weeks. We kept him home from ABA and I skipped a play date I was going to take Anastasia to. I'm trying to make friends in the area we've moved to and all these moms have at least 1 child with autism around the same age as Rowan and astonishingly enough an NT around Anastasia's age. We'll just go to the next meet up. 

Char was still suffering horribly from a fever now mixed with nasty congestion. I decided to run to the store and take Anastasia with me. This was a big deal because I hate crowds of any sort, I loath shopping and I normally leave the Littles at home to get done quicker. I thought 2 babies would be to much for Char so I took the healthy 1 with me. (I could just see Rowan getting sick at the store-Clean up on aisle 4).  We had a good shopping trip and even brought some lunch home for everyone. 

Char was super sick and went to the doctor's where they determined he had a virus of some sort or another. He called into work because he's still got a high fever and just feels crappy all around. 

Well, Char is still sick and now I've got a fever and feel crummy. It's been a sick filled weekend. Fortunately, all the kids are fit as a fiddle now. If only I had the energy to match theirs. 

Anastasia is just climbing all over the place. Rowan and Heidi Anne are playing with helicopters, flying them to different destinations in the living room. For example; flying to the sofa, then to Anastasia, next the dog, and on and on. 

Anastasia just sneezed and Rowan responded "Bless you" all on his own. We tried to pretend sneeze ourselves but we didn't get a reply from him. He just adores his baby sister.