Our Newest Home Decor Addition

Although we have lived in our home a couple of years or so, we are still adding home decor items and changing out paint colors. Things take time (and money) and I don't always know right away what I want. Our lastest "addition" came after much talking about it for the past several months. Are you ready for this? Here it is!

It's a combination lock attached to our pantry door.

So, what do you think? Is that a lovely addition to the kitchen or what!! By now you may be wondering, Why on Earth would anyone put a combination lock or a lock of any kind for that matter on their pantyr door?

Well, it has something to do with our youngest son, Keaton. Although still adorable, he has gained too much weight lately. He not only takes a medication that can cause weight gain, he also has a true love affair with food. When we come in from the store with groceries, he starts going through the bags to see what might interest him. He eats or has the urge to eat from the time his feet hit the ground until he falls asleep at night. We were hoping that with his swimteam practices and the weather warming up that he might be more active and drop a pound or two. No such luck. One night last week, probably after trying on several pairs of pants that would NOT fit him, I decided enough was enough. 

I headed out and came back with an answer, the above pictured hardware and combination lock. I installed it as soon as I returned and expected to be met with an unhappy child. He has made a few comments about the "kitchen being closed" but thankfully we haven't experienced any real dramatic meltdowns over the lock. (I think that's just because he can still get to the food in the refrigerator and the freezer. The plan is to not restock for awhile after he empties it. We'll have to live off of whatever can go in the cabinet.)

When I weighed Keaton last, he had dropped 1.5 pounds. Not sure the lock contributed to the decrease or not but it sure can't hurt. Wonder how I could enstall one on the refrigerator.......

Until next time,
Amy

Keaton's 8th Birthday

Eight years ago yesterday, our youngest son was born. When he was born we had all the hopes and dreams for him that all parents have. When we learned he had autism, we grieved for the son we thought we were going to see grow and develop and for all the things we dreamed he might one day do. Instead of that son, we have been blessed with a remarkable son who in fact does have autism. Although there are times that are a bit more difficult than others, we wouldn't trade him for anything or any other child in the world. He is AWESOME!! and he turned EIGHT years old yesterday.

This was the first year that Keaton knew or at least that he would answer when his birthday was. He would say, "March 26th." He was even able to tell us that he was 7 or that he would be 8 on his birthday. (Occasionally he said he would be 17.) He also requested white cake with pink icing at his party at Chuck E. Cheese.

Ok...I know the cake isn't pink. We sent cupcakes that were pink and blue to school on Friday to share with his class and I orded the same for our party. (My friend Jennifer and her boys met us at Chuck E. Cheese for a small celebration.)  We just made sure he got a pink one. I had a hard time ordering all pink for my son. I know it shouldn't matter, but I couldn't do it.

Today I went out and picked up Keaton's birthday present. I wanted to get him a bicycle. He acted like he wanted to ride Connor's awhile back but was very unsure of the balance thing even with me trying to help him. Here you see his Dad trying to help him figure it out. We both helped him for a little while. He is still very much unsure about the whole bike riding thing, even with the training wheels we installed. Baby steps. He has to get used to the idea first. I'll try to keep you posted on his bike riding progress.

We had another birthday celebration tonight at one of our favorite places, El Maz. Keaton loved being sung to and enjoyed the sombrero. He did not enjoy the dabbing of whipped cream on the face that comes along with the festive celebration.

Tomorrow we head to Keaton's first swim meet in Louisville. We are going to meet up with my sister and neice. I'm sure Keaton will have one more birthday experience. (They are bringing him the gift that he wanted most~ Princess and Frog. It's all he has asked about for weeks. We had to go ahead and tell him they were bringing it to prevent much disappointment.)

Until next time, 

What a Week!

As I begin this post, I am so thankful to finally be lounging at home for the evening. Tonight was a very busy end to a very busy week....

We started off the week with baseball practice beginning. I headed to the gym for spinning while Rob and Connor hit the batting cage with the rest of the team. It was a tough workout--it was the first after a sickly weekend. Tuesday night included another trip to the gym and a visit to the ball park for more baseball practice. After spinning on Wednesday night, Connor and I ran a few errands. Ball practice again Thrusday night. This afternoon began with the annual Dodgeball Tournament between Connor's afterschool program and one of the other elementary school's afterschool programs. We left there around 5:15 and made it to a birthday party for one of Connor's friends. After the party we stopped at Barnes and Noble for our next installment of Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Before coming home we had to head over to the gym for Connor's baseball lesson. 

I'm so tired from all the running we have done this week. I love my kids and love doing things for them but this week I feel as though I might have short changed one of them. Keaton had his usual speech and KAP sessions. He just stayed at home for all the running and practice sessions this week.

Although I would like to say that hopefully the next few weeks will slow down a bit, I have been in this season before. Spring is a time for new growth and new beginnings. It is also the time for state accountablitily testing amoung other things. (Now that I've mentioned accountability testing, I'm experiencing a little bit of "writer's block". It stresses all educators and students alike. I'm hoping that the wonderful spring weather will help us all relax.

Seperation Anxiety

Having a 9 and a very soon to be 8 year old, I pretty much thought "seperation anxiety" was a thing of the past. I WAS WRONG!!! It happens to the best of us. Connor and I have always been pretty tight, but here lately he doesn't want to go or do anything without me. We're hoping it's just a phase. He worries that I'll get hurt if I'm not with him. I'm not sure what to do about it. Any suggestions?