"Mr. T.V." Himself

PDD?

Back to our regularly scheduled program: So far, I have been explained to by my son's Psychologist, that he has PDD. As I understand, this is in between Aspergers syndrome and high functioning Autism. Why are there so many different names for Autism? I am so confused right now, as I feel my son has been acknowledged as having a developmental delay, but he's still a mystery. I don't even know where to go to for support, there are Aspie web groups, Autism web groups and in huge numbers. Where are the PDD web groups?

Ok, I'm just bitter. I'm venting again on my blog. SMH Al-humdulillah, (All praises to God) He is healthy and intelligent, so I am going to have faith that we are going to beat this thing, Insha Allah (God willing). Please feed the blog pets!

P.S. Holly the Hamster is Allergic to peanuts. Please don't feed the Hamster peanuts, Thanks!

Trying To Start A Business?

In my search for free things, (because I'm just that cheap) I came across a pretty cool website. If you are trying to get your business off of the ground, a good website to get your name out there is: www.vistaprint.com Above is a picture of my new awesome, "feel important", super sophisticated, FREE, personal stamp. Yes, free, this website offers so many free things, it's ridiculous! There are of course things on the website to buy, but I guess once the business of your choice is started, you can purchase more things. That's my tip of the day!

By the way, we should be back to our originally schedule program soon, insha Allah (God willing). Just as soon as I am over my "deal high".

Utter Disappointment!

I have been robbed! "Of what?", you ask, my coupons. I received my sunday newspaper, and to my dismay, there were no coupons. (Cue psycho shower scene music) I am so hurt, I don't like to jump to conclusions but my new found passion has been interrupted. I want to call the newspaper and complain, but it's a holiday, so I'll just have to sit around and wait. I'll just make Du'ah, (pray) about it, and insha Allah (God willing), everything will turn out alright. If not, I'll just have to become very close friends with the people down at the recycling plant. Because let's face it not everyone coupon's.

My only hope is that, because of extreme couponing episodes, everyone else hasn't been getting the same idea. But come on, it's a hot new show, everyone is probably clipping away. Even the thief/thieves who stole mines. *sniff sniff*

HGTV Sweepstakes!!!!

Alright, I know I've been bit by the deal bug, but here's a sweepstake: http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv-green-home-2011-giveaway/package/index.html

Just Checking In

Ok, I'll admit it, I have been a busy bee, but it's all for a good cause. I a have been having ball deal hunting. I'm not sure if there should be some sort of rehab for deal hunting, but if there is one, I may get turned in by the kids. I should probably compile a list and then post them, but my attention span is the size of an atom, so I should just post em' as I find em'. Here's is a survey site that I've been apart of and didn't remember:https://www.acop.com/Members/Members_Login.aspx?L=1&PID= Really fun, no cost, pay, checked it out and it checked out. I search around for any bad reviews and didn't find any; in fact there were all good reviews.

The Coupon Hunter (Crikey!)

Hello world I am on the hunt for coupons, and deals. Just so you know, I have won a cruise, a $100 gift certificate, a mail in $1,000 grocery gift certificate, (Al-Humdulillah) and of course I have entered some sweep stakes. So yes, I have been busy, but it's for a good cause. Now I know a lot of professional bloggers will consider everything I'm finding out as old news, but hey I'm new.

Hunting for bargains are great for the kids also, by participating in a lot of these surveys and offers, there have been some really sweet deals on toys and clothes. Of course, I am not sure about some,as I am still waiting on a response from them; and others, I am waiting for my reward. So when it all comes together, insha Allah, I may have a lot of adventures to write about.

So here are some: http://www.valueplusonline.com/ (for about $25.00 a month, the savings are well worth it); https://www.globalopinionpanels.com/home (Yes, it's another survey site, but they don't want any money, just a lot of patience); http://www.grocerycouponnetwork.com/ (Who doesn't want a few coupons?); http://www.couponmountain.com/ (I find using different coupon sites in the end really pay off); http://www.freecycle.org/ (It's like putting a magnifying glass to the free section of craigslist.); http://www.freenapkin.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.pl (Second verse, same as first); Well, that's what I've got for now!

Free Things Make Mommies Happy!

I am in a sharing mood tonight, so I thought I'd post a link to free things.

He Wanted A Beard, I Gave Him A Bubble Bath!

Going Through Adult Puberty

I am woman enough to admit that I am going through adult puberty. I have no shame in this, the fact that I can acknowledge that I am not developed as a full grown adult, is a start. Now to explain myself a little better, I will just start by saying that in no way am I under the influence. This is not an alcohol induced confession session. This is my official start to therapy. Blog therapy;so I'll be counseling myself for very cheap. And I mean cheap, my payment to myself will be late night butter pecan ice cream on a waffle cone. (Note to self, start diet after therapy trial.)
So,basically I am preparing anyone who reads this blog, (if that's possible) that it's going to be a bumpy ride! I'm not kidding folks, the main reason I don't get to write all of the time is because of the insanity of motherhood. But I am going to change all of this insha Allah. I am going to pour all of whats going on into here. So please don't be alarmed, this is going to help.

Our School House Rock!

Don't worry folks, he's not eating the crayon, he's exploring. By the way I took it from him, so he's fine. My kids have to smell, taste, listen, touch, and see everything. They're like your senior citizen next door neighbor who can always tell ya who came past while you were out.

"Terrible,Horrible,No Good, Very Bad Day"

That's right, you read correctly. The day started off bad; I log on to my sons homeschooling website and check the mail to discover horror. The E-mail was from our family support coordinator informing me of my "neglect". There were two days that I forgot to log-on to the site, but we had school anyway. My other two sons had appointments and my homeschooling son had an appointment with his psychologist. All-in-all, she has the mentality of, "It's your problem, not mines so I don't truly care". I realized in the same conversation that I had forgotten to call the dentist office to let them know that they sent the bill to the school, instead of the school form. It is the end Of the school year and I feel that I have failed miserably.
On a good note, his virtual teacher explained to me, that first year parents usually have a hard time. This was reassuring and uplifting. It made me feel like supermom again. I got my terry cloth towel and tied it around my neck; turned the fan on, and let it flap in the wind. (Yeah, I've got a pretty strong fan) Don't forget to feed the fish!

Itching For Summer

If there is anyone out there, and by out there I mean anyone who cares to keep up with my blog, you will notice my blog theme is summer already. Yes I know, the insanity of this blog just keeps piling up. In my defense, I would like to say that time has been moving faster, so before you know it, my blog theme will be appropriate. Plus, the colors are really cool. I don't know what it is about primary colors that makes me want to be a kid again. The thought of arts and crafts run through my brain, along with a little shabby chic.
Summer also has a tendency to make bad news easier to bare, and hard times easier to cope with. There is a goldmine of entertainment for the kids, and you can bet your bottom dollar they sleep better in the summer time. When you have a mixture of exhaustion, dirt, sweat, and a hot bath; you're looking at the recipe for a coma at the end of the day. During colder months, I still try to get the boys outside, I also believe fresh air is a good sleep aid.
The only thing I have to remind myself during all of this summer fun, is to refrain from running right along with the kids. My energy level and ability to be a big kid is a curse and a blessing at the same time. I see a huge slide and I just have to go down it a few times. Not to mention, sometimes I have the urge to "save" my kids. My family and friends call it babying, but I call it saving my sanity. (what I have left anyway)
The only downside for me with going to the parks and outings, is watching my boys with other kids. The other kids kind of feel awkward about them after a while, and with that awkwardness, comes my sons nervous ticks. My eldest kid says phrases he hears on television, even if it has nothing to do with the situation. He also may began to talk to himself, out of nervousness, and make little hand gestures I can't explain. My second son's speech is not always comprehensible, so kids don't always understand him. He may began to pace and hum, do inappropriate interaction (poking other kids) and like to do things repetitively.
My youngest son is by far the worse for me to watch. The only thing he is interested in, when visiting the park, are the wood chips on the ground. He stands completely oblivious of anyone else's existence, and just watch the wood chips fall between his fingers. When I see him doing this, I take his hand and kind of guide him around the park for him to have fun. Where ever he is locked away in that brain of his, I just pray that someday he'll be let out. Because I have seen his charming personality. If he would just stay in our world long enough to understand vocabulary, and communicate, the more secure I would feel.
Every mother has a worse nightmare, my worse nightmare is not being able to care for my children. I am their interpreter and advocate, who's going to understand them when they do not comprehend things well? At this point, I can only leave it to my faith. There are sometimes when a person has to understand that they are not meant to fix everything, and in knowing that, need to accept things they can not fix. Sadly I am not there yet. That is advice I will gladly give, but can not take.
Insha Allah, (God willing) I will get that peace someday. But until then.... please feed the blogpets on the lower left hand side. ;-)

Tragedy or Psycosis?

Of course as a mother my heart aches upon hearing about the death of a child, but there is the case of little 6 year old Camden Pierce Hughs. The internet has been lit a fire about this beautiful little boy, and his murder. I have found confusing information, that it was an accident of too much cough syrup, but if so, then why wasn't he taken to a hospital? I personally feel, that even if this terrible occurrence was in fact an accident, a mother would never desecrate her child's body in the likes. This scenario does not sit well with me; it's cold and has so much of the mother distancing herself emotionally from the child. It's like late postpartum depression at it's sickest.
There are mothers who have done the unthinkable, but this is usually the work of a madman. Mothers don't wrap their children in blankets, on an open road, to be devoured by beasts and exposed to the elements. Dead or alive, we would rather see our babies gently placed in the earth, and covered. My point is, this is so "unmotherly like", it's even inhuman. What have we become? Why is it, that I practically have a heart attack if my kid gets a splinter and they could kill theirs? What chemicals are these women missing? There are those of us walking around with low serotonin levels, and still we have a fight in us that is specifically for our children.
Oh Camden, my heart aches for you honey. Not because I have a son your age, but because the one person who was suppose to protect you from the boogey man, was the boogey man. Your natural trust,left you naturally vulnerable, and a true innocent you were. I only pray that I will meet you in paradise, insha Allah. (If God wills it) Ameen