Gathering at my Home

I love Book Group. We had it at my house last night. I made a dessert from our Davis cookbook blog. It was a cobbler of sorts with blueberry filling and pecans. Joseph saw me preparing and kept saying, what's the big deal about Book Group. After last night, I know. These ladies inspire me. I love to talk about various ideas, we don't always agree and we do not just talk about the book!  We do have a rule, what we say in book club, stays in book club.~

These book group ladies have experience and profound ideas, and great views on life.  Some are older than me and I love their examples. I was particularly impressed how we could talk about the hard times in life with such positivity and gratefulness.  I look forward each month to discussing life and art in literature. I've been in the book group over 2 years and this was my first time hosting. We never heard a beep from Spencer( he went to sleep early). I knew having a little more space would make it easy to host at my home. Joseph came out after we were finished(past ten thirty pm) and ate some dessert with me. He said we were loud and I reminisced on the fun we had. I'm pleased to have read The Great Gatsby and many other good books this year. I'm glad I make time for this because it enhances my perspective and life!:)

Roller Coaster Ride

Roller Coaster Ride. That's how I would consider the last few days. One fantastic good thing seemed to be paired with some upset, mess, or disappointment. I had the choice to be positive and hopeful. Spencer's school and bus are having a hard time dealing with him again. I mean a really hard time!

At home we do the best we can trying to make sure he has stability, a voice, all his needs met, and medication that can help him be the most successful. Lack of structure, reaction over his behaviors cause an uprising in my Sweet Spence. Yes, he cannot communicate with words effectively, but he wants and needs to be heard. At home we use thought bubbles, narrating what he would say by looking at his non verbal body language. He smiles and giggles and nods his head as if to say"Yes!, That is what I meant!" It can be a spiritual experience trying to be one with him enough to sense his wants and needs. It also takes quite a bit of spiritual, emotional, and physical strength to deal with his aggressive bouts towards myself, his siblings, and others. What can I do other than say sorry to them and help Spencer to find other outlets, to find his voice, to train him to cope and cooperate positively.

I am still on a mission to capture my life positively. I got a new camera! A Nikon digital SLR with a couple lenses. I love trying it out. I also have the opportunity to go on a road trip to Southern California today. It will be great to see family, relax, and take a lot of pictures! Bri and I went on our date night last night. I was feeling like Italian food so we went to IL Forno Classico. The bread is baked with herbs, so yummy! The balsamic vinaigrette and oil dip has a hint of artichoke in it. That paired with the artichoke spinach ravioli in lemon creme sauce made for quite the comfort food. Now, today I get to leave my worries behind and hit the road in a 2010 Prius and focus on well.. anything I want.:) Its going to be great.. I'll take this ride over any other even with its downs and ups

Showing Progress~

Spencer had school this week while my other kiddos are on spring break. I wanted to come visit him today at school and was happy to find out they were having a party. I brought Emmy and Celia with me and we all had a great time. Spencer loves his teacher Barb. She does great things for those kiddos. My kids loved the cupcakes, chips and pretzels. I loved seeing Spencer use his PECS book to ask for things he wanted. He asked for pretzels and tickles and had been asking for me with my picture earlier that day! After the party Spencer had leisure and circuit time. I figured we would leave then and he could travel home on the bus. He heard my plan and looked at me very surprised and concerned. He went to his book and made the sentence I want car ride that has a picture of our minivan on it. It was so exciting and he was very happy to see that I was going to wait for him and take him home with us. There is so much he wants to communicate and I am so happy that PECS is the beginning of that journey for him. He is less frustrated and more understood when we know what he is thinking or wants. Even if the answer is no, we just say its not available and put it on the red page. It helps a lot. Eventually we'd like to transfer that to an I pad with apps and have him bring it with him everywhere, but this little binder if a great start!