BBQ

Shock and horror i remembered to take a camera to the bbq so will have pics soon...I took some of the boys but i also took pics of some of the special play equipment they have in the school grounds...Also took pics of G snowboarding last night...He missed skiing this morning as his legs were too sore...He did bang the snowboard mega hard against his left knee last night...He also woke up at around 4am with really bad cramps in his right leg...He does like the snowboarding but he is less than impressed that he can get hurt more easily doing it LOL

Today it was dull but the bbq went ahead regardless and thankfully it didn't rain...They had a magician doing entertainment in the school hall...M was up helping him one of the tricks and i got pics of that :o) ...Won some wine from the bottle stall so K is getting that for taking to uni...I don't do wine often, never really found one i actually like...They were advised to bring something like that with them to break the ice with their new found friends <ggg> ...Won a teddy with wings from soft toy stall so she is getting that too...We won 2 raffle prizes but M got really upset...He didn't win the prize he wanted which was some daft trophy thing that was mens toiletries...Think it had bubble bath in it...I spoke to the teacher who is organising the trip to the lake district next june...M will be getting a place as what she did was send out 4 letters to the 4 eldest pupils in his class...That way then no-one would be upset at not getting to go LOL...Very wise woman she is :o) ...We wil be allowed to pay up the £215 cost <phew> ...With K going away to uni i couldn't afford to pay it all in one go just now...It was a good afternoon apart from M getting upset over the raffle...His best friend from school has been picked to play augustus gloop in his drama groups production of Charlie & the Chocolate Factory so we will be going to see it...Tomorrow we are all going to visit my best mate in her new house...Will use up rest of the camera there and get pics of K with friends 2 wee ones for her to take with her...She's said she wants lots of pics to take away to put on her wall <bless> ...We better start packing her stuff next week so we know we haven't missed anything...Everyone keeps telling me to just go to Ikea once we are down there and buy crockery etc from there...Problem is i doubt M or G will want to wander round there full stop...Shopping is a nightmare at best of times for me let alone taking 2 ASD teenagers in tow...They hate crowds and noise and certain kinds of lighting make them go off the wall...Toodle pip for now xx

Special Delivery

I took this from a message board i read and wanted to put it in here :o)

Once upon a time, three angels were busily working in the miracle factory.
They were responsible for wrapping up all the little miracles and sending them
on their way. Normally they wrapped each one in bright, sturdy paper with big,
shiny ribbons. They stamped it with a delivery date and away it would go to
the parents who eagerly awaited its arrival. Things usually ran pretty smoothly.
One day, however, down the conveyer belt came a little miracle that made the
angels pause. "Oh my," said the first angel "this one's
uhm...well...different." "Yes, he is unique" said the second angel. "Well I think he is quite
special," said the first angel "but I don't think he will quite fit our standard
wrapping procedures." And the second angel added, "And we know he's special, but
will everyone else?" "Not a problem," said the third angel "obliviously a
special miracle deserves extra special wrapping; and of course we'll send him off
with our most heartfelt blessings. Then everyone will see how special he is."
"What a wonderful idea!" replied the others. So they searched the shelves high
and low for their finest paper, and their most delicate ribbons.
When they were done, they stood back and admired their work. "Beautiful!" th
ay all agreed. "Now for our blessings," said the third angel "for it is time
for him to go." "I will bless him with innocence and happiness," said the first
angel. "And I will bless him with strength to face the many challenges that
lie ahead" said the second angel. "And I will bless him with an inner beauty
that will shine on all who look upon him" said the third angel. Before sending
him off the third angel, who was very wise, gently tucked a note inside.

And it said:

Dear Parents,
Today you have received a very special gift.
It may not be what you were expecting,
And you may be disappointed, angry and hurt.
But please know that he comes with many blessings,
And, while there may be pain, he will bring you much joy
He will take you in a very difficult journey,
But you will meet many wonderful people.
He will teach you patience and understanding
And make you reach deep inside yourselves
to find a source of strength and faith you never knew you had.
He will enrich your lives,
And will touch the hearts of all who meet him.
He may be fragile,
But he has great inner strength.
So please handle him with care,
Give him lots of attention,
Shower him with hugs and kisses,
Love him with all your heart,
And he will blossom before your eyes.
His spirit will shine like the brightest star for all to see,
And you will know that you are truly blessed.

So true in every word and no matter what happens i love both my sons unconditionally even though their autism/aspergers can get to me big time occasionally...They are who they are as is everyone and disability whouldn't be a barrier or block or a blindspot for people...Sadly it is and it is only extremely slowly that stuff is being broken down but i have lots of hope for the future :o) I am NOT any kind of special parent it is my children who are special and i include my daughter in that statement...I feel blessed to have been given them all :o)

This and that

In the words of Victor Meldrew 'I don't believe it' LOL...Yesterday in the post i got a letter from local health board...Nothing uncommon there as i often get ones for the boys from speech therapy etc...So i opened it up thinking yet another speech therapist had left...How wrong was i LOL the letter was a DATE for the ultrasound scan i had been refered for way back 2nd week of july...There was a number to phone to arrange a time in NOVEMBER...So i phoned them up AGAIN...I had phoned about 3 hours before i was rushed into hospital to chase it up and again when i came home from hospital to cancel the scan...The 2nd time i left a message saying i no longer required the appointment and why...Well the bloke that answered the phone was not the brightest spark in the box...He asked my name and why i wished to cancel it...I told him because i had the operation 3 weeks ago...He said really and where did you have it done then...So i politely informed him i had done here at the local hospital...So then he hummed and said 'ARE YOU SURE THEY TOOK IT OUT' ...Well words failed me at that point and i just muttered yes so he said thank you i will cancel it and hung up...I so felt like saying to him 'no am not sure i only have 4 scars on my belly for fun'...Makes you wonder where they get these people at times.

M came home from school yesterday with a letter about going away on a trip...Usually it is room 8 that go every 2nd year but they have 4 extra places for next june so they were being offered to older kids in his class...Fingers crossed he gets a place as i think more than 4 will want to go...The place they are going to is run by the Bendrigg Trust and is in the Lake District...It is specifically for physical disabilities and learning difficulties...They have a website www.bendrigg.org.uk  I haven't looked at it myself yet as we got a leaflet about the place home to read.

G went back to school yesterday :o) He handed in the form from work experience and the head of the base was really pleased with it...G also overheard her telling the other staff that it was an EXCELLENT report :o) We must be doing something wrong this year as so far she has been complimentary about him all the time <ggg> He has snowboarding tonight so i will see his guidance teacher there as he teaches skiing on a fri evening...Will ask him what he thinks of it then :o)

K had a great time at her party down in edinburgh and now i am getting nervous about her moving to uni...Can't believe my baby is all grown up now and leaving home...Ok she will be home in holidays and hopefully for the odd weekend...Just wonder if my mum and dad felt like this about me leaving home to go to art school.

Went into town today to be outside the registrars when my friend was going in to get married this morning...She looked gorgeous and was very nervous...When they came out she said he had pulled a face as she went to say her vows and all she could do was giggle from there on <ggg> Her sons care worker is going to stay with him overnight today so her and her now hubby can go away to a posh hotel for the night :o) I made her a card in her favourite pink colour and took some pics...Have loads to write about my best friends new house that i saw for first time eysterday but will do that laters...Got a new siggy so trying it out :o) ...Toodle pip for now and tc xx

wednesday

Decided from now on daughter is being refered to as K, eldest lad as G and youngest as M...Will make me less confused if that is possible <ggg> ...G is going back to school tomorrow as he feels well enuff and he is being annoying...Definitely a sign they are on the mend when they get annoying again LOL...K went off to edinburgh at lunchtime for a party and will be back home tomorrow...I asked her to do the hoovering before she left but she hasn't and i forgot to remind her <sigh>...I can do some housework again i just find it hard to lift and push the hoover, lift the kettle when water in it or anything heavy...Would ask one of the boys but they are rubbish at it...I still haven't managed along to the gym yet...Never thought i would get addicted to the place but i did and i miss it big time...Later i need to go look out something to send with M to his school for a raffle price for sat...Sat is the schools annual BBQ/open day...Praying the weather stays good...If i remember i will get a camera and take some pics...I have a friend who is getting married on fri and will be taking pics of her then <ggg>...Small wedding just her, her fella, her son and his 2 kids at the registrars...Told her i am going to stand outside the building and watch them going in then come out and take pics cos am nice like that :o) If i remember to take pics on sat then i will post some here but don't hold your breath as i am very forgetfull in my old age <ggg>  Toodle pip for now xx

Eldest lad

Yups another entry so soon LOL...When i was saying night to the boys i noticed a big brown envelope sat on top of telly in their room...It was addressed to the person who was in charge of the place eldest did work experience in...It had the report on eldest inside so i demanded to see it <ggg> ...He's such a daftie as it wasn't bad in fact quite the opposite...Everything listed he did properly :o) ...Under any other comments you wish to make the person from the company wrote bit below

G is a very pleasant young man who has fitted in to our team well and worked hard.  He has completed various tasks succesfully including building computer systems. All in all a very likeable lad who deserves to do well in the future

Am really really chuffed to bits about it and very proud of how well he coped...It is so hard to believe he is the same kid as he was when younger...Am not saying that everyone with an ASD can come on as much as he has but it does show they don't deserve to be written off and can do well...Gone all teary now so toodle pip again xx

chilled out and relaxed

Went to weightwatchers tonight for first time since week before my op and am pleased i only put on 1 n half lbs...Not bad considering i have been in hossy and not eaten that much since i got out...Am still experimenting with what i can and cannot eat now...So far i seem to be living on fresh fruit and steak LOLOL...I found one of the asda's here sells organic meat and cheaper than the non organic...I kid you not the fillet steak was almost £2 cheaper and tasted lot nicer too :o) ...I have a date in for my checkup at the consultant's clinic and i will prove him wrong with saying i would put on weight as i will be back on track from now on...I didn't go to the gym today as my scar in belly button is slightly inflammed <sigh> I was going to go for just a swim but i am worried about picking up an infection...I may just go down and walk on the treadmill for a bit...I won't be tempted into running on it as i don't do running full stop unless it's for a bus ROFL

Eldest lad was sent home ill from school this morning but he insisted on going to footie training with his brother tonight...Good news from there is they are putting a team down to the scottish disability sports U-16 tournament...Youngest has changed his mind now and wants to go too which means i can go and cheer them on :o) ...They are also going to Blair Drummond safari park as a one off special trip with their saturday fun club in oct...Youngest is terrified of animals but likes the look of it!!!!...I haven't been there since i was about 9 or 10 LOL...It will have changed loads over the last 30 years <ggg> Eldest lad told me his work experience company wanted him to stay which was brill news...Not that he was going to get to stay but still good news in that he coped so well :o) ...His snowboarding and skiing lessons went well at the weekend with no tumbles this week HURRAH!!!...Daughter has now started the obligatory countdown to going to uni...I am getting very nervy and sad now about her leaving home to go there...I know she will cope fine and make plenty friends...Nothing can be as bad as the bullying she got at school...At least you'd hope by the age they are at uni they won't bully someone because they have disabled brothers (fingers crossed)...She is off to a party in edinburgh on wed as she already has friends who live there...The penalties i have to pay for a weekend away LOL

My weekend away was brilliant fun and it was good to see a lot of friends again...Sadly i couldn't do the full eat, drink and be merry lark...Well i did the drink on friday and my body took great offence...So no alcohol for a few more weeks yet LOL...The eat i was careful about but i did do the merry to the best i could...Am sure they think am mad as a hatter <gggg> It was great to recharge the batteries especially after my op and to relax and not worry over anything for a couple of days...A little time out does everyone the world of good in my book :o) Toodle pip for now tc xx

Friday bits

I was sad to see that the actor Michael Sheard has died of cancer :o(  For those of a certain age he will be best remembered for playing Mr Bronsan in the tv series Grange Hill...He also played hitler on several occassions and Admiral Ozzel in The Empire Strikes Back...I met him one at a star trek convention where we had several star wars actors along too...He was an extremely witty man who took great joy in mixing with the people along at the convention...One memory that still remains with me is at some silly time in the morning we wanted to get him upstairs to a party...One of the other actors turned to me and asked me to go down and fetch him...Reason being was i had on a low cut top and apparently that was guaranteed to get him out of the bar LOL...So RIP Mr Sheard there will be a lot of people who will miss you.

Am away for the weekend and in a rush to get ready as per usual...Made my infamous turkish delight last night and have just finished cutting it up and rolling it in the icing sugar/cornflour mix...It's mega messy but kinda fun to pull this jelly gloop covered in oil out of the tin <ggg> ...Still have to go out and change a top, pay money into the bank to cover a bill, get my pointy toed stilettoe boots heeled and oh yeah i still need to pack...To everyone out there have a brill weekend and will see you next week :o)  Toodle pip and take care xx