If anyone didn't get to ask their question in time please feel free to email me yours and I will continue to update this post!
Now...on with the questions!
From Stimey at Stimeyland and Things. And Stuff.
I wish someone had asked me if I would accept their offer for a book deal and a $15,000 advance! My answer most certainly would have been yes!
What is your favorite male name?
Do you have time to potty train my 2 1/2 year old?
I'm new to your page, so lease excuse me for not knowing this answer...Do you want any more kids?
From Oka at The One and Only Oka
Besides Samuel and Noah (my son's names) I have always loved the name James (Jamie for short). This probably has a LOT to do with my love of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series of novels about the Scottish highlands.
Unfortunately I do not have time to potty train your 2 1/2 year old because I am still trying to potty train my 7 year old. Sam has made a lot of progress in the last year by beginning to realize his bodily functions but we still have a very long way to go with him anticipating the need to go and then taking the necessary motor planning steps involved in actually using the potty independently. Right now Sam will use the potty only when lead to the bathroom and helped with his pant buttons and zippers. On the opposite side of the spectrum is our attempts to keep clothing on him in an attempt to prevent him from using the potty on the floor in his room. It seems we run a fine line between teaching him when its okay to take your clothes off (baths, showers, and pants only for using the restroom) and when we really need to keep them on (the rest of the time!).
As for the question about having more children. That has a different answer depending on what day you ask me. The quick answer is yes.
The long-drawn out answer to that question almost requires its own blog post.
When Noah was 2 1/2 and had been diagnosed with severe autism (in addition to his older brother) the boy's dad and I decided it was best if we not have more children. I made an appointment with my gynecologist and had my tubes tied. Six months later we separated and eventually divorced. At that time it occurred to me that I was 31 years old, newly single, and thinking if I was to remarry someday and decide together to have children together it would take a lot more than just deciding to get pregnant. It would require a reversal of my tubal or a medical procedure to bypass the tubes (such as IVF).
Once I am pregnant I am also guaranteed the many medical problems I have had with my other pregnancies: gestational diabetes, hyperemesis, and the progesterone supplements I have to take to maintain a pregnancy because of my body's habit of miscarrying without it.
The other thing to consider is that my hubby, Mike, is 46 years old. I'm 34. We each have 2 boys. We are newlyweds and while I love the idea of having a child with him. I love the way our life is now a whole lot more. I am blessed with the 2 children I have, 2 wonderful step-sons, a loving husband, and 1 overactive Labradoodle. For me, that seems just about right.
What is the craziest thing you did before having kids?
What do you think is the hardest thing about being a mom? And the easiest?
Do you have any tattoos? If so, what? If not,would you ever get one?
From Evonne at All You Need Is Love
I suppose the craziest thing I ever did before having kids was driving 2000 miles cross country from Colorado to Maryland to meet my boy's dad. It was 1997 and I didn't have anything to hold me down. No college, no debt, no real job and only the lure of the East coast and the man who lived here calling to me.
Most people thought I was crazy but I can tell you that it was the smartest thing I ever did.
For me the hardest part of being a mom is the juggling. Trying to juggle being a wife, a mother, a friend, a daughter, and now a blogger. Someday I hope to add writer to that list. I want to write articles or books and find a way to turn this path I have taken with my boys into an interstate. I want to help shape a future for them that leaves them with choices and opportunities...and hopefully a level of comfort for both them and those that care for them someday when I am not here to do it myself.
Right now I am juggling spending 1:1 quality time with them while writing and networking online the remaining hours of the day when I am awake. I spend at least 8 hours a day at my computer blogging, commenting, networking, and researching how to make this future a reality.
Thankfully the easiest part of being a mom is also the most fun. I love the playfulness of childhood.
I have always been a big kid. I love it when my kids want to hide under the blankets with me and play "cave", have tickle attacks, make funny noises with their puppets and nibble on their ears and necks, and how they can look at something I would normally never notice and be totally mesmerized by it. I love being able to join them in what they are looking at and then watch as they slowly look to the side and see me and their face erupts into a smile. In those moments I feel like they see me connecting with them, wanting to know them a little better. Those moments are fleeting...but so very sweet.
I do have a tattoo. A large sun encircling my left ankle. I even got my hubby to take a picture of it for you!
The face of the sun is a bit wonky because it was actually done twice. The first time the tattoo artist didn't really know what he was doing and so I had to have it redone and the second artist had to try to make do with what was there. All in all it turned out well. However, it hurt so bad I passed out so I can't imagine I will ever be doing that again.
How do you manage to take care of both your boys on a daily basis?
Do you ever wish that you could have a day off?
From Margaret at My Furry Blog & Margaret
Well Margaret...Somedays I don't manage so well.
The most difficult thing about being a mom to my 2 boys is the fact that their strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes are almost completely opposite from one another. Anticipating and meeting each of their needs feels like working 2 full time jobs simultaneously. For instance, Noah will be sitting at the table telling me what what color and what shape he wants me to draw on his paper while Sam is needing a diaper change and is attempting to scale the entertainment center to press the buttons on the DVD player. 10 minutes later Noah needs a diaper change and is throwing his toys in the air while Sam is asking for a drink.
Someday I will need to do a vlog so I can show just how nerve wracking it is trying to reason with 2 children who much of the time cannot process what I am saying.
Thankfully I do get a day off rather regularly. The boys dad takes them every other weekend and 1 night a week to his home. On those days I am able to do my weekly shopping, nap, catch a movie, or just sit in the silence of my living room and soak up the calm.
I would love to be able to take a vacation or even a long weekend away to visit my family or lay on a beach with my hubby somewhere warm and tropical. I haven't been away from the boys for longer than a weekend in 3 years. Mike and I have yet to have a honeymoon. Those kinds of breaks are not possible at this time.
Who, besides me, are you looking forward to meeting at Bloggy Boot Camp?
And will we be able to pry your chocolate chip cookie recipe out of you?
From Shell at Things I Can't Say
This is a hard one to answer because I truly am so excited to meet EVERYONE! I am such a people person and I love being around like-minded moms. I suppose if you twisted my arm I would say I am most looking forward to meeting you (big surprise!), Daune (TheGrasshoppa), and Mary (The Mommyologist). But, I am also really looking forward to meeting the other bloggers who are raising children with autism, such as Stimey and Corrie.
I will gladly share my chocolate chip cookie recipe but I will warn you that most people who try to make it are disappointed in the results. Its not an exact recipe. It has a bit of here and there, little bit of this and that to it. However I do promise to share it with you and anyone else who wants it.
Do you put refill you TP in the over or under position? Do you push the toothpaste from the middle or bottom?
From Corrie at Just Because My Pickle Talks Does Not Make Me An Idiot
I always put the toilet paper refill in the over position. Any other way is pure madness!
Sadly, I do push the toothpaste from the middle of the tube and it drives my dear hubby crazy.
What did you want to be when you grew up and what are you now?
Do you work outside of the home?
From Terry at Oh 4 Pete's Sake
When I was a girl I wanted to grow up and be an OB/GYN and deliver babies. Then I realized I would have to go to college for about 12 years and be able to pass math and so that made my decision for me. I am not good at math. Even simple math throws me for a loop.
Currently I do not work outside the home. I did for the year following my separation and divorce and it was one of the hardest and worst decisions I could have made. I had to put the boys into daycare which was not for the best for a dozen reasons and I spent more on daycare and transportation than I had coming in on a weekly basis. Thankfully after Mike and I married I was able to once again stay home with my boys.
If you were a Barbie which Barbie would you be?
From Stephanie at The Blue Zoo
I would be the barbie that spends her day poolside drinking mojitos and perfecting her tan. You know, pretty close to what I already do now. Ha!
Why did you start blogging?
From Anne-Marie at Anne-Marie With A Dash
I started blogging for a number of reasons. The main one was because I was really bored and needed something I could do to socialize even if I couldn't get out of the house to do it. I also started blogging because I had a MySpace and then a Facebook page where I would occasionally write about my life, the boys, autism, and motherhood in general and I had quite a few people tell me I should consider writing more often.
What would you do if you woke up one morning and your hair was blue, your teeth were green, and your eyes were purple?
What is the worst thing that has happened to you that you were able to turn into a positive?
From Tracie at From Tracie
If I woke up and my hair was blue, my teeth were green, and my eyes were purple I would probably shave my head, brush my teeth and make an appointment to get some contacts. That or I would contact the people at Yo Gabba Gabba and see about a part on their show.
The worst thing that has ever happened to me was watching my mom die in the summer of 2004. She suffered a stroke and two days later died after we removed her from life support. I cannot say there is any way to turn a situation like that into a positive but it did bring my older sister and I much closer together and my strengthened my reliance on God and faith in His will.
How did your parents decide to name you Sunday?
What is one of your favorite blogs?
What kinds of blogs do you LOATHE to read? (not necessarily the person or the blog name LOL)
From SingedWingAngel at Angel Believes
My parents named me Sunday after the 1960's hit 'Sunday and Me' performed by Jay and the Americans. The song was written by Neal Diamond and was his first hit written by him but not performed by him.
As for my favorite blogs...I have so many! I would say the first ones I check on my reader are the ones that are mostly photographs and some commentary. I love MckMama & The Nienie Dialogues, The Sprouffskes: Life on the Farm, and I get a really good laugh out of these humor blogs: Awkward Family Photos, Cake Wrecks, and Popped Culture.
The kind of blogs I am least likely to visit are any that center around politics. I really loathe politics. Just the thought of it puts me to sleep.
I was going to ask the same question as singedwingangel! I love your name!
From Lisa at Kssnnikkel
I think your name is AWESOME! Sunday, did you ever not like it?
From LMJ at I've Been Thinking
I always liked my name. It never bothered me that some kids would try to use it to make fun of me. I always told them that my name was so special it was on the front page of every newspaper around the world once a week!
