In case you needed a good laugh II

That.Was.Awesome!

And my birthday is November 6th which gives you all ample time to recreate this cake!

In which I attempt to impale myself with a dresser

I wish I was kidding.

I was walking around the side of my bed this morning and caught the edge of the blanket hanging down on the floor and fell full force into the corner of my dresser which hit me squarely in the center of my chest.

Needless to say I fell to the floor like a sack of potatoes and waited what felt like an eternity to see if I could still breathe.  In that span of time I realized just how young 35 is given the speed at which I watched it flash before my eyes. I also remember thinking, "So this is what it feels like to die."

I took my first breath and then thought better of doing that again and proceeded to take a series of short lamaze-like breaths.  I remember very clearly demanding myself to not go into shock which would have left me passed out on my bedroom floor covered in cherry coke zero.

What a waste of my last can of soda.

After about ten minutes I was fairly sure I wasn't going to die after all so I picked myself up and made it to the kitchen where I considered calling an ambulance but then thought better of it.

Instead I sat down on my couch and thanked my lucky stars that the boys hadn't been here and at the same time I panicked thinking what would have happened if I had hit my head on that dresser.  That could have been an entirely different blog post....and one that most likely would not have been written by me.

Today I am going to take it easy, put some ice on my swollen bruised chest and try not to take any deep breaths, or cough, or laugh.

And I'll thank God for all those glasses of milk my parents made me drink as a kid.

Cause Strong bones just saved my life.

PECS makes me cry

Sam came home from school today and as I do everyday I looked in his backpack to see what he had worked on, how his behavior was (zero meltdowns...YEA!), and if he had any handouts that needed to be completed and returned.

I was not prepared for what I would find.  I was especially not prepared for my reaction to what I would find.

It was a pretty little poem written in PECS about the valentines presents Sam and his class had made for the hungry little birds who live in the trees around his school.

I cried. A lot.

I cried as I envisioned five children with their sensory issues handling the bread & working on their gross and fine motor skills to make the little hearts using large cookie cutters.

My heart swelled imagining them going on their afternoon walk and hanging their bread hearts on the branches of the bare trees waiting for their feathered friends to begin their feast.

I wished I had a picture of them all in the openness of the field with the cold wind whipping at their cheeks, holding the hands of their teacher or a 1:1 aide.

Most of all, I was thankful that their teacher is not only teaching them to read, and write (or in Sam's case, to type) but that she is teaching them to love and to care for those around them.

Even the wee birds.

Today is Autism Sunday

Today is an international day of prayer for individuals with autism and for those who are teachers, parents and/or caregivers to individuals with autism.

I will be sending updates via Facebook and Twitter all day today in support. Your comments, prayers, re-tweets, and cross postings would be most welcome today.

For more information about Autism Sunday you can visit the official website and join their Facebook page.

Today I thank God for the two amazing, complex, and beautiful souls He blessed me with.....Autism and all!

That's how I feel

We're in the midst of another winter storm here in the great state of Maryland.

The kids were out of school for four days last week. This week is not stacking up to be much better.

So, today when Noah was coloring at the table and I leaned over his shoulder to ask him what he was drawing he promptly answered, "Sun".

The irony of the fact that he drew a black sun is not lost on me.  It seems like its been weeks since we last saw the sun.  You know, the one that is bright and yellow and WARM!?

This time of year is always difficult for me.  Its a combination of the cold weather, cabin fever, the loss of sunlight and an overabundance of school delays and closings that leave me feeling a bit like Noah's drawing.

I know that spring is coming and in March my hubby and I will be leaving on a jet plane for the shores of Cancun where we will lounge on the beach and soak up the rays of sun like sponges.  I'll be well lathered in SPF 70 and wearing a hat and sunglasses but still, it will be glorious.

So, on days like today when I feel like a black sun being trailed by a snow cloud I will close my eyes and be thankful that respite is coming. 

And with it the sun.