Friday, January 28, 2011
Great Article
I found this great article. If you are someone who has a family member or friend who is the parent of a child with autism, this is a great article about how you can help. Check it out!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Lucy's Hidden Talents, One Year Anniversary, & Dave's New Job
Lucy's Hidden Talents
Whew! So much to report on. First, let's check out the Lucy Dog:
Lucy has some hidden talents we have recently discovered. The first is being a Sled Dog. Dave made a harness for the old girl and hooked Cruise's sled up. Actually, the pictures and video you will see were the day we hooked up 2 sleds so both the boys could take a ride on the Lucy Express. The second talent we have discovered is Lucy's singing abilities. Sure she doesn't hit the right notes, but she tries. Here are the videos and pictures:
Dave's New Job
Awesome news: Dave got a new job!!! He quit his old job at Backyards, Inc. and got a job with C&D Marketing out of Lehi. Pretty much he is a lead finder and has been doing AMAZINGLY WELL. It's all commission, but because he knows how to talk to people door to door, he has been kicking booty! In fact, he's come in second (after his trainer) for leads Leader since he started. We are so proud of him and I am especially happy since I can quit my job now and not only be home when the kids wake up but also get some sleep! Woohoo! Thank you Dave!!!
Whew! So much to report on. First, let's check out the Lucy Dog:
Lucy has some hidden talents we have recently discovered. The first is being a Sled Dog. Dave made a harness for the old girl and hooked Cruise's sled up. Actually, the pictures and video you will see were the day we hooked up 2 sleds so both the boys could take a ride on the Lucy Express. The second talent we have discovered is Lucy's singing abilities. Sure she doesn't hit the right notes, but she tries. Here are the videos and pictures:
One Year Anniversary
Cruise celebrated his one year anniversary since his intervention. To celebrate, we had my parents, his Preschool teachers from Bridges over and his Occupational Therapist over for a nice dinner. I had put together a little show for them from the past year and showed it at the dinner. So, here it is:
Awesome news: Dave got a new job!!! He quit his old job at Backyards, Inc. and got a job with C&D Marketing out of Lehi. Pretty much he is a lead finder and has been doing AMAZINGLY WELL. It's all commission, but because he knows how to talk to people door to door, he has been kicking booty! In fact, he's come in second (after his trainer) for leads Leader since he started. We are so proud of him and I am especially happy since I can quit my job now and not only be home when the kids wake up but also get some sleep! Woohoo! Thank you Dave!!!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Cruise & Jett
I feel so bad I didn't do an update on the boys last month. December is always so hectic. So, without further adieu...
CRUISE:
Cruise has made leaps and bounds in the vocabulary department. He's putting two words together which is DYNAMITE! He is using slang ("oh man!" "gosh!" and "dude") and picking up on sayings. He likes to call for Lucy: "Woosee! Come here!!!" And he likes to boss Jett around, "No, Jett, no! Get down!" And when he wakes up and I'm still not home from work yet, he goes up to Dave and asks, "Gone? Mom?" He still won't say his name when you ask him what it is or have an actual conversation, but he is doing so great a labeling and using commands.
Lately he's been obsessed with Spiderman band-aids. If he even bonks his head on something, he comes running to me rubbing it and saying, "Spyman, spyman? Ban-ay?" So if you see us often and notice he's got a band-aid on a new location every day, it's because he desperately needed Spiderman to fix his ouch.
Something he and Dave have ritualistically been doing is taking Lucy on a night time walk. Right before bed, Dave suits Cruise up in his snow gear, takes him outside, and hooks a sled up to Lucy (Dave made her a special harness). Then Lucy pulls Cruise around the neighborhood. They actually go pretty fast since there is ice everywhere, and Cruise has a blast. It's just a fun little routine they do together that they both enjoy. Dave is just such a good Daddy.
Cruise starts his second semester at Bridges Autism Preschool this week. He just LOVES school and it amazes me how much an impact it has had on him in every aspect. For example:
September 2010:
-wasn't aware when people/peers entered a room
-did not know how to play with peers
-did not like to touch peers
-couldn't endure people singing songs
-couldn't sit in a group for an extended period of time
-couldn't count
-couldn't spell his name
-screamed when someone cried
-wouldn't eat cereal with milk
-couldn't ask for more, say "all done", say "thank you"
-wouldn't give kisses
-couldn't take turns
-couldn't share
-wouldn't imitate verbally and physically
-wanted to play alone not because he wanted to, but because he didn't know how to socialize
-couldn't say A LOT of words and phrases
January 2011
Cruise just keeps growing, as children usually do. He is now in a size 9W in Toddler sizes, is growing out of his 5T clothes, and keeps getting taller!
Cruise started Primary this month at church. He is now a Sunbeam but it is extremely difficult for him. Not only is it hard because it is a completely different schedule, but there are more children and they expect you to sit for 2 hours. So with the Primary President's permission, Cruise can continue attending nursery. So I start him out in Sunbeams until he can't handle it anymore and then take him to the nursery room. Maybe one day he'll be able to do the whole 2 hours. Today he lasted 30 minutes which, actually, was pleasantly surprising.
For Christmas, we got the boys a little check out stand and some fake food. I taught Cruise how to play store and since then, asks to play "door" all the time. We have a little shopping cart that I had bought about a year ago to help Cruise in the grocery store. So we takes turns shopping and being the cashier. I'll say, "Hi!" and he says, "Hi!" Then he'll use the scanner to scan all my items, put them in a shopping bag, and then says, "Goodbye! Thank you!" It's the cutest thing.
Cruise's sense of humor is so unique and hilarious. He is always being funny. The other day I was holding out his sock so he could put his foot in it. He was about to lift his foot when a smile crept to his mouth. He got down on all fours and stuck his nose in the sock and died laughing. His humor comes from doing things the obviously wrong way and laughing at it. I just love it. He is always cracking me up!
Cruise, with the autism and sensory issues aside, is the most well-behaved, creative little 3 year old I know. Sometimes I'll just sit and think about all the possibilities of this special little guy. Whatever he does in life, as long as he is happy, I will always be so proud of him. He truly is a miracle and I love him more than words could describe.
JETT:
To be quite honest, I feel like I have twins sometimes. Jett is catching up to Cruise so quickly! Jett turns 14 months next week. He is using words, using the PECS board, and does an amazing job at communicating with us. When he wants his shoes off, he points to his shows and whines. When he's all done eating, he says, "Done!" When he wants more, he says "more" and does the sign. When he wants something, he points to it. Here are the words he knows:
-more
-done
-dog
-bear
-dad
-mom
-baba (bottle)
-down
-no ("nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh")
-ball
-book
-Pooh (poof)
Jett still loves books. He asks to be read all day long. His favorite book is, "Who Likes Honey?" And his favorite animal in the book is a bear. He really likes bears.
Jett is definitely a little brother. He follows Cruise around all day and has to do what Cruise does. Even though Jett will sit and eat dinner, Cruise won't and so when Jett sees Cruise running around at dinner time, Jett wants to get down and run around too. But it can be a positive when Cruise is playing in the playroom and Jett follows. They may only parallel play, but that is to be expected with Jett's age and Cruise's impatience with his little brother sometimes.
Jett is my little Dennis the Menace, he is quite the mischievous little boy. He likes to climb and get into everything. He likes to push Mommy's buttons and push the limit, but eventually does what Mommy says, so in that sense, he is quite obedient...eventually. He is a big tease and thinks everything he does is funny.
He, of course, is always smiling and flirting. I am beginning to think he knows how adorable he is so he can use it to his advantage. Unfortunately this will probably last an incredibly long time...like, forever. But even still, I can't blame him...he really is adorable.
Jett has a low pain tolerance, which is quite the adjustment for us as parents since Cruise has a high pain tolerance. So every time Jett falls down, he cries. But he's learning that it is okay to fall down, though, because you can always get yourself back up again.
Jett is truly the sweetest little boy and he is such a joy to have around. Just his smile changes the mood of our home and makes everything so much better. He is just such a happy and optimistic little monkey and we love him!
CRUISE:
Lately he's been obsessed with Spiderman band-aids. If he even bonks his head on something, he comes running to me rubbing it and saying, "Spyman, spyman? Ban-ay?" So if you see us often and notice he's got a band-aid on a new location every day, it's because he desperately needed Spiderman to fix his ouch.
Something he and Dave have ritualistically been doing is taking Lucy on a night time walk. Right before bed, Dave suits Cruise up in his snow gear, takes him outside, and hooks a sled up to Lucy (Dave made her a special harness). Then Lucy pulls Cruise around the neighborhood. They actually go pretty fast since there is ice everywhere, and Cruise has a blast. It's just a fun little routine they do together that they both enjoy. Dave is just such a good Daddy.
Cruise starts his second semester at Bridges Autism Preschool this week. He just LOVES school and it amazes me how much an impact it has had on him in every aspect. For example:
September 2010:
-wasn't aware when people/peers entered a room
-did not know how to play with peers
-did not like to touch peers
-couldn't endure people singing songs
-couldn't sit in a group for an extended period of time
-couldn't count
-couldn't spell his name
-screamed when someone cried
-wouldn't eat cereal with milk
-couldn't ask for more, say "all done", say "thank you"
-wouldn't give kisses
-couldn't take turns
-couldn't share
-wouldn't imitate verbally and physically
-wanted to play alone not because he wanted to, but because he didn't know how to socialize
-couldn't say A LOT of words and phrases
January 2011
-acknowledges when people enter a room
-plays with peers and initiates play
-will hug or shake hands with peers to greet them
-loves singing time
-will sit in a seat for 15 minutes
-can count
-can spell his name
-doesn't scream when someone cries
-asks to eat cereal with milk
-says, "more", "all done", "please", and "thank you"
-will give you a kiss if you ask for one
-can take turns
-can share even his most favorite toys
-imitates verbally and physically
-prefers to play with peers
-loves to talk!
Cruise just keeps growing, as children usually do. He is now in a size 9W in Toddler sizes, is growing out of his 5T clothes, and keeps getting taller!
Cruise started Primary this month at church. He is now a Sunbeam but it is extremely difficult for him. Not only is it hard because it is a completely different schedule, but there are more children and they expect you to sit for 2 hours. So with the Primary President's permission, Cruise can continue attending nursery. So I start him out in Sunbeams until he can't handle it anymore and then take him to the nursery room. Maybe one day he'll be able to do the whole 2 hours. Today he lasted 30 minutes which, actually, was pleasantly surprising.
For Christmas, we got the boys a little check out stand and some fake food. I taught Cruise how to play store and since then, asks to play "door" all the time. We have a little shopping cart that I had bought about a year ago to help Cruise in the grocery store. So we takes turns shopping and being the cashier. I'll say, "Hi!" and he says, "Hi!" Then he'll use the scanner to scan all my items, put them in a shopping bag, and then says, "Goodbye! Thank you!" It's the cutest thing.
Cruise's sense of humor is so unique and hilarious. He is always being funny. The other day I was holding out his sock so he could put his foot in it. He was about to lift his foot when a smile crept to his mouth. He got down on all fours and stuck his nose in the sock and died laughing. His humor comes from doing things the obviously wrong way and laughing at it. I just love it. He is always cracking me up!
Cruise, with the autism and sensory issues aside, is the most well-behaved, creative little 3 year old I know. Sometimes I'll just sit and think about all the possibilities of this special little guy. Whatever he does in life, as long as he is happy, I will always be so proud of him. He truly is a miracle and I love him more than words could describe.
JETT:
-more
-done
-dog
-bear
-dad
-mom
-baba (bottle)
-down
-no ("nuh, nuh, nuh, nuh")
-ball
-book
-Pooh (poof)
Jett still loves books. He asks to be read all day long. His favorite book is, "Who Likes Honey?" And his favorite animal in the book is a bear. He really likes bears.
Jett is definitely a little brother. He follows Cruise around all day and has to do what Cruise does. Even though Jett will sit and eat dinner, Cruise won't and so when Jett sees Cruise running around at dinner time, Jett wants to get down and run around too. But it can be a positive when Cruise is playing in the playroom and Jett follows. They may only parallel play, but that is to be expected with Jett's age and Cruise's impatience with his little brother sometimes.
Jett is my little Dennis the Menace, he is quite the mischievous little boy. He likes to climb and get into everything. He likes to push Mommy's buttons and push the limit, but eventually does what Mommy says, so in that sense, he is quite obedient...eventually. He is a big tease and thinks everything he does is funny.
He, of course, is always smiling and flirting. I am beginning to think he knows how adorable he is so he can use it to his advantage. Unfortunately this will probably last an incredibly long time...like, forever. But even still, I can't blame him...he really is adorable.
Jett has a low pain tolerance, which is quite the adjustment for us as parents since Cruise has a high pain tolerance. So every time Jett falls down, he cries. But he's learning that it is okay to fall down, though, because you can always get yourself back up again.
Jett is truly the sweetest little boy and he is such a joy to have around. Just his smile changes the mood of our home and makes everything so much better. He is just such a happy and optimistic little monkey and we love him!
I Don't Make New Years Resolutions
I just don't. I used to, but the way my life goes these days, I make daily resolutions:
-Wake up on time to make it to work at 5:30am
-Feed the kids: Cruise-Gluten free, Jett-Milk free
-Clean something while the kids aren't looking
-Play with the boys
-Do Floortime with Cruise
-Do ABA with Cruise
-Play one-on-one with Jett
-Feed the boys...again
-Shower? Big maybe
-Make dinner
-Keep the children away from the stove (bigger task than you think)
-Feed the children
-Correct papers
-Make it to that one meeting
-Work out? Only in my dreams
-Clean the living room
-Put Jett to bed
-Do Cruise's hour long bedtime routine
-Shower? Depends on if I can even lift my arms
-Go to sleep and pretend it's before midnight.
Those are what I call daily resolutions. I have no space for a new YEAR resolution. Nuh uh. Not gonna happen. And I'm okay with that. Because they are the days that make the year. If I can make it through today without going completely crazy, then I have met my day's goals.
Oh, I failed to mention...I have a job. Yes, it's a job. It's not the ideal situation, but it puts Gluten-free bread on the table. :) But the good thing is 1-It's before the boys wake up and 2-I don't have to interact much with anyone (which is good because I am not a morning person).
I am working for Kellogg's (which I've learned right now is not a very organized company. I don't understand how a billion dollar company can rely on such disorganized people. I have yet to receive my employee number and time cards). I show up, meet the shipment, and move it to the grocery aisles. I spend most of my time at the Orem Wal-Mart on aisles 7 and 9. So if you are ever up before 9am and have a hankering for high fructose corn syrup, come on over and say hi.
This month marks the 1 year anniversary of Cruise's intervention. I can't believe it has been a whole year! No, it didn't really go fast, but a lot was accomplished and I just have to say I am just so proud of the Cruiser-Man. He really has come a long way.
So, this year I am optimistic. Even though it has started out very busy and incredibly stressful, I see the potential of the year and am trying my best to look up and see all the possibilities.
-Wake up on time to make it to work at 5:30am
-Feed the kids: Cruise-Gluten free, Jett-Milk free
-Clean something while the kids aren't looking
-Play with the boys
-Do Floortime with Cruise
-Do ABA with Cruise
-Play one-on-one with Jett
-Feed the boys...again
-Shower? Big maybe
-Make dinner
-Keep the children away from the stove (bigger task than you think)
-Feed the children
-Correct papers
-Make it to that one meeting
-Work out? Only in my dreams
-Clean the living room
-Put Jett to bed
-Do Cruise's hour long bedtime routine
-Shower? Depends on if I can even lift my arms
-Go to sleep and pretend it's before midnight.
Those are what I call daily resolutions. I have no space for a new YEAR resolution. Nuh uh. Not gonna happen. And I'm okay with that. Because they are the days that make the year. If I can make it through today without going completely crazy, then I have met my day's goals.
Oh, I failed to mention...I have a job. Yes, it's a job. It's not the ideal situation, but it puts Gluten-free bread on the table. :) But the good thing is 1-It's before the boys wake up and 2-I don't have to interact much with anyone (which is good because I am not a morning person).
I am working for Kellogg's (which I've learned right now is not a very organized company. I don't understand how a billion dollar company can rely on such disorganized people. I have yet to receive my employee number and time cards). I show up, meet the shipment, and move it to the grocery aisles. I spend most of my time at the Orem Wal-Mart on aisles 7 and 9. So if you are ever up before 9am and have a hankering for high fructose corn syrup, come on over and say hi.
This month marks the 1 year anniversary of Cruise's intervention. I can't believe it has been a whole year! No, it didn't really go fast, but a lot was accomplished and I just have to say I am just so proud of the Cruiser-Man. He really has come a long way.
So, this year I am optimistic. Even though it has started out very busy and incredibly stressful, I see the potential of the year and am trying my best to look up and see all the possibilities.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Christmas 2010
 |
| 4th Row: Fernando & Ruth, Eric & Charlotte, Me & Dave, Abigail & Casey 3rd Row: Mom Greer, Dad Greer 2nd Row: Lia (Charlotte), Jett, Samuel (Ruth) and Maleise (Charlotte) Front row: Cruise, Duke (Charlotte), and Gabriel (Ruth) |
 |
| We had a wonderful Christmas this year! This was the first year Cruise understood what to do with a wrapped present, so it was really fun to watch him shred through wrapping paper to find..."A BOX!" He was really excited to get boxes, but even more excited to find that there was a toy in each box as well. |
My sisters were all able to come up for Christmas this year, along with their families of course, and it was such a blast to see them and hang out! Christmas Eve was pretty low key. We got together and had the traditional spaghetti and meatball dinner. Mom and Dad provided the spaghetti and sauce, and I brought the gluten-free noodles and gluten-free meatballs (my sister Charlotte is gluten-free as well).
 |
| Lia |
 |
| Eric, Maleise, and Charlotte |
 |
| Duke, Cruise is his biggest fan. |
 |
| Maleise and Dave doing a puzzle. After dinner we went home and gave the boys each their present from us. Cruise got a stuffed Pooh Bear and Piglet, and Jett got an Eeyore and Piglet puppet. Jett was happy until he saw that Cruise got Pooh and he didn't. So we had to dig up another Pooh Bear for him. I'm gonna say that about 75% of all the Christmas presents we got them were from Savers, 23% were Dave's and my old toys, and 2% were brand spankin' new. So the Winnie the Pooh stuffed animals were all mine at one point. I had kept such good care of them, that they still had their tags on them. |
 |
| Really? Piglet? You couldn't give me Pooh, huh? |
 |
| If you look carefully, in the background, Jett is staring with a hurt look on his face. |
 |
| Now I'm happy. |
 |
| Following Santa's footprints. |
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| Rhino the Hamster. Pure joy. |
 |
| Yes, that is a $50 Batmobile. And yes, I spent $10 for it at Savers. I rule. |
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| Watching their Little People movie that came with the Wheelies toy. |
After opening Santa presents. The craziness continued at the Greer's house:
 |
| Jett is obsessed with this bear. It reads the entire story of "T'was the Night Before Christmas". It moves its mouth and head. At first he was deathly afraid of it, but now he looks for it whenever we come over. |
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| Gabe (Ruth), Maleise (Charlotte) and Sammie (Ruth) having a tea party. |
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| Cruise playing with Duke's toy. |
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| Cruise and his best friend Duke. |
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