LaLaGirl – Twinfinite Chaos! Parenting Multiples and Dealing with Autism

Wow. I can’t believe it’s been over a week already. You’d expect that I’ve been super busy, doing soooo much fun stuff that I haven’t had time to blog, but no. Just hanging out with the kiddos. Kayley’s off at camp, doing her thing. I miss her so much, but I know she’s having a good time. The kids are out of school until the end of July, so we’ve spent lots of time at the pool. In fact, we’ve spent SO much time in the water, I think we’re almost over it. Or at least, I am! We’ve been swimming in our own neighborhood pool, visiting a friend and swimming in their pool, and we’ve been to play in the fountains at Southland, too. And today, I’ve promised those monkeys that we’ll go check out a new park with a “spray ground.” Oooooh, sounds fun, doesn’t it? Maybe I’m not over the water yet!

I’ve actually done a few fun things since I last posted. On Friday, my sister came over and we took all the kids to the pool. After we splashed around for an hour or so, the clouds rolled in and the thunder and lightning chased us home. After the rain passed, Kim and I sat in the driveway drinking beer and watching the kids ride their bikes and scooters. And my sister had just enough beer that she thought it would be a great idea to ride Mallory’s bike. I know it’s unfair of me to mention all of this without including a picture, but I haven’t retrieved the picture from my phone yet. It’s coming, don’t you worry. And later that night, one of my dearest friends, John, stopped by for a few hours and we bullshitted with him. He’s known Kim and me forever, although he hadn’t seen Kim in probably fifteen years, so that was lots of fun, catching up.

On Saturday, Paul decided we needed a Family Fun Day, so we headed down to Larkspur for the Colorado Renaissance Festival. That was pretty fun. I have to say, though – it’s set up lame. Especially if you have kids. The bathrooms are few and far between, and they’re RUSTIC to say the least. The food vendors are set up in such a way that you need to plan to stand in half a dozen different lines – Paul stood in line once to buy us all sodas, then stood in another line to get fries, and then in a third line to get us some bratwursts. And the picnic tables are just thrown around, willy nilly, all over the hillside – so you can expect to be sitting at a table that’s literally on a slope, so much that you can’t even set down your (non-lidded, of course) cup of Pepsi. I was annoyed by all of it. I think the kids are a bit young, yet, to appreciate it – although they did enjoy riding an elephant! I know they want to keep it “authentic” and rustic, but for those admission prices, I would appreciate at least a few modern day conveniences. Would it kill them to level ONE area, put some rustic-looking shade canopies over it, and throw some picnic tables under it? Seriously? I’ll be sitting over there with my kids, while everyone else trips on tree roots and gets tangled up in their long skirts and cups of mead. Also? Hundreds and hundreds of cars parked in rows in a field. No waymarkers whatsoever. Wouldst though kindly directeth me to thy Chevy Tahoe? Huzzah!

So, here were are. Tuesday. The kids are doing a fine job of picking up the study so we can head over to the park. And they’re starting to complain about wanting food, so I guess I should go make lunch. Off we go!

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I’m feeling splendid, even though the rain is BEATING DOWN on my house right now, preventing me from venturing out to Costco. (Maybe I should be thanking the rain! Costco is not that much fun. But neither is being out of lunchbox snacks and salad greens.) I’m feeling pretty marvelous because it seems like a lot of things in my little world are coming together. I think this calls for a bulleted list!

• I may have found a church home for us where they’ll welcome Pablo with open arms. We tried a place on Sunday and the kids loved it. Pablo had one tiny issue, but the teacher there seemed positive that he could succeed and really enjoy being there with some precautions put into place. I’m optimistic that things may actually work out where this is concerned. I always crave more order and structure for my children, particularly for Pablo, and I think Sunday school would benefit all of them tremendously. Also, I think the whole, “We are all God’s children, and everyone is special and wonderful” atmosphere of, y’know, CHURCH, will be a good thing. Pablo’s had to deal with so much unkindness from people due to his disability, which SUCKS ASS. I’ve got my fingers crossed that this might be a really good thing.
• I’ve gotten back in touch with a friend of mine on Facebook who was a huge, major part of my life for many years. We “survived” small town life together, moved up to Denver together, and leaned on each other for years before going off and living our lives. I hadn’t seen or spoken to him for TEN YEARS until last week, and now we’ve been spending lots of time catching up. It makes me sad that we were absent from each other’s lives for so long, but I’m thrilled to be catching up now, and each time we have a little chat on Facebook, it brightens my whole day. There’s absolutely nothing like old friends, who have seen you at your best and worst, and who  knew you when you were going through puberty! Love. It.
• My husband and I are moving forward with major improvements to our house! It’s gorgeous as it is, but we’re really trying to make it our own. On the horizon: building a custom bed for the kids, additional built-in storage in the basement for our plethora of toys and games, and…::drumroll:: extending our DECK and putting a roof on it so we can spend more time enjoying our amazing backyard! I’m so grateful to have married that crazy enginerd, who meticulously designs things, agonizing over every minute detail that no one else would even notice. It’s going to be cool.
• Pablo is doing fantastic! We started a fish oil regimen a few weeks ago, and I really think it’s benefiting him. He’s all but stopped hitting himself, and the vocal tics have dropped off completely. We’ve had a few minor issues, but we’re starting to realize (duh) that Pablo is growing and maturing, and wants more than anything to just be a regular kid. It seems like whenever we have a huge blowup or tantrum, it’s because the kids around him are doing something he wants to do. Like line up and walk into school without having his aide grab him by the hand. Little things. He’s really blossoming, and we’re really enjoying him. Those weeks of hell always seem to result in big breakthroughs for him!
• Although I haven’t addressed it here or anywhere online, Kayley has been dealing with a huge healthl issue which has really affected her. I’ve been worried to death about her. A few days ago, we finally figured out the problem, and we’re on our way to a solution. She is positive and happy and optimistic that it’s all going to work out fine. She has been such a big, brave girl and I am just SO proud of her right now. Things aren’t 100% rosy, but where this area is concerned, it’s all good. 

And, it’s JUNE! How can it be June? It’s 55 degrees outside. I packed up all the winter clothes last week! We’re ready for summer weather, pretty please. The kids are graduating from kindergarten on the 18th and we’d like to eventually visit the beautiful pool in our neighborhood. So, get your act together, Mother Nature!

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