Autism

This is a completely random blog post, just stemmed from some recent articles that have been published and on the radio, all over CNN lately. I just felt like I needed to put my 2 cents worth in as well. If you agree or don't agree, I personally dont' care either way. These are my thoughts and opinions and the reason why I blog.

Obviously, we've know the number of children being diagnosed with an Autism disorder has increased TONS over the years. These radio/news reports state they are trying to figure out WHY they've risen so much. Here's my take on the situation. I feel that however many years ago they "started" tracking cases, the umbrella of Autism wasn't as prevalent as it is now. (or Dr's didn't care to make it as prevalent, might be a better way of saying that) I think only "classic" Autism was what was tracked. It's those children that were "labeled" with the specials needs innuendo. It wasn't the children that had sensory issues, or social issues, or anything like that, it was the more severe signs so to speak.  Autism as we know is a HUGE umbrella of numerous types different developmental {Brain} delays. You have PDD-NOS, you have Kanner "classic" autism, You have Aspergers, and Rett Syndrome just to name a few. Now a days, so many children are able to get help at such a YOUNG age that things are looked at so differently. Early Intervention, which has always been around, has become more of a tool for parents like us. We are better directed to search for help, and get answers to our questions, and diagnosis' for our children. Our doctor's have a better understanding of these disorders as well.  Here's why I really think that number has risen so much over the past decade or so.

Courtney was born in 1997 - no developmental "autism" testing was done on her AT all, outside of a typical physical examination and the doctor normal developmental questions. There was no checklist to go off in regards to any one disabilities.

Caden was born in 2005 - Again, there was still no physical "autism" testing done on him either. HOWEVER ~ We had an amazing doctor, who noticed, that between his 9 month check up and his 12 month check up, that he regressed in numerous area, instead of progression in others. If he would learn a new skill, the other skills that he had already learned, were all lost. He no longer had words, or could roll a ball. Thankfully our awesome doctor, noted that this was not "typical" suspected something was right, and got us in touch with early intervention. Caden began therapy by the age of 14/15 months old. It was his team of therapists that noticed even more severe delays and recommended that we take it a step further and see a developmental ped and find out what was going on. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with Aspergers, ADHD, anxiety and Oral Motor Apraxia by the age of 3. He was fluent in sign language and never began speaking verbally until 4/5 years old.

****Those articles all state that when caught early enough, a child diagnosed can and will grow up to become a typical child. I firmly believe this. Look at how early Caden's delays were caught. How soon we started therapy for him. Not just speech, but OT, Counseling, and special education. Long before he was even 1.5 years old. Full time therapy and classes at a school at the age of 3 in a 6:1:1 class. That's huge!  Do I think Caden is a "typical" child right know? No, not at all. Caden has his quirks. He still {to us} shows lots of Aspergers symptoms. He still struggles with speech/apraxia problems. He still shows a ALOT of ADHD and most importantly, he has a LOT of learning disabilities to overcome. BUT he has come FAR in 6 years. Farther then he ever would have come, had we not traveled the route we would have. We go back to Rochester for more testing next week. DO I think they will keep his diagnosis the same? Nope, not at all. He probably doesn't show enough "autism" signs to be classified as such any longer, but he still nonetheless, has some pretty severe developmental/emotional delays. And I am interested to see what we walk away with next week.

Colin was born in 2007 - exactly 10 years after Courtney was born. Only 2 years after Caden. The things that changed in those years were drastic! I couldn't believe the amount of testing they did and questions and paperwork that you have to fill out. Your actually asked "do you think your children may be autistic"? Or maybe we were only asked that because we had one child diagnosed already? Regardless, Colin at his 12 month/18 month and 24 month appt WAS given autism testing. he passed 12/18 months. By 24 months, he was already showing delays and not long after 24 months, he was diagnosed with severe anxiety. He began therapy before the age of 2 as well. He still does. Speech, OT, PT, counseling, and special Ed. he's been in a therapy based school program class room since he was 3 as well. Because of Col's Anxiety, getting diagnosis for him was much much more difficult. You have to work through all that anxiety to figure out the underlying causes etc. He acted as if he has ADHD (which is does now) But was the ADHD playing out as anxiety, or the anxiety playing out as ADHD?? We had to work HARD for over a year to get Colin the proper treatment, let alone a diagnosis. (which in the end, was Aspergers/ADHD) explaining where his anxiety's came from. Thankfully, with meds, Colin is much easier to live with. However, therapy is STILL very prominent in our lives and he has a LONG way to come.

So you see, after my novel, I feel like the number have risen so much more, is because it's tested more often. AND the different aspects of it are diagnosed  more often, not just "classic" autism. Mine were diagnosed with Aspergers. They have a family member diagnosed with PDD-NOS. 10/20 years ago, where those "other" parts of the umbrella counted? I personally dont' think they were.

And let's not get started on what causes Autism. If you ask me, It's the way my children were born. They came out of utero with these delays and disabilities. They didn't wake up one day and were "autistic" maybe one day they had a diagnosis yes, but they weren't fine one second and not the next day. Looking back at infancy - EACH of the boys had alot going on. And this all makes so much more sense to us now. I believe it's genetic. I believe it's who they were obviously meant to be. It bothers me that people try to "blame" things on making their children the way they are. They don't "have" or didn't "get"  Autism, they ARE autism. Love it and embrace it for what it is.

And if you'd like to read the article from CNN Click HERE Mike and I, had conversation over this at dinner last night!

Happy Birthday Courtney!

Happy

15th

Birthday

Courtney!!

I can't believe I have a 15 year old!! In one year she'll be old enough to get her learner's permit and learn to drive OUR cars!! Scary Crazy. The boys are going to spend the weekend at GG's house in Olean, So Courtney can have her birthday party, with 9, yes 9 teenager girls spending the night at our house. We thought it would be MUCH better if they weren't around for the festivities :-) Thankfully we have a large family room, and won't have to be surrounded by the girls all night long!

Here's a few quick Courtney Stats:

*She is 5'8 & 1/2 inches tall!

*She weighs only 131 lbs! (And thinks she is too skinny)

*She loves running (indoor and outdoor track)

*She is on the outdoor track team currently, and they had their first meet yesterday

*She has a crush (!!) on a cutie with the initials of A.K. I don't want to post the name for her sake:-)

*She is a Freshman in High School. As of right now, her goal is to go to Culinary school after High school.

*Her favorite Color is Teal Blue and she loves Zebra Prints

*She isn't too fond of her brothers at this moment in life.

*She occasionally babysits Haley, our friends daughter and gets asked to watch other often, but she has quite the busy schedule and isn't always available.

*Her Best Friends are Amanda & Jordan

*Jordan comes over every Monday night to watch Pretty Little Liars with her.

*She is a picky eater, but did just try her first (doubtful, I KNOW I fed her them as a toddler)Strawberry yesterday and loved it.

*Tried cream cheese on a bagel for the first time last week and loved IT!

*Has Asthma again (had it before as an infant/toddler) and has an inhaler for use as needed, AND takes an inhaled steroid every morning as well.

*Her shoe sizes varies from an 8 to a 9 depending on the shoe.

*She'd rather text then talk on the phone, in fact she never uses the phone (?)

*She straightens her hair every morning before school

*If you take away her ipod, she is forced to spend time with family ;-) (wink, wink)

*This will be her last year cheering for the Lancaster Jr Redskins Varsity Cheer team (she ages out)

*She NEVER eats breakfast.

*Her favorite thing to make to eat is a Cheese Quesadilla in the microwave

*She loves Iced Capp's from Tim Hortons

*She doesn't get home from school most days until after 5:30 due to sports practices

*She is in the level I confirmation program at church.

*10:30am Sunday Mass is her Favorite time to go.

*She dislikes us (mom & dad) probably more then she likes us, but that's Ok ;-)

*She gets a ride to school almost every day from mom, since we pass it on the way to daycare for the boys.

*Her favorite place to eat out is Either Subway (Chicken Bacon Ranch on Flatbread) OR Panera Bread (PLAIN Country Turkey sandwich & Chicken Noodle Soup, with a chocolate pastry or the French Pub (Chicken Finger Panini)

*Her favorite store to shop at is probably Forever 21, Kohls and Target

*Her favorite Gift cards are itunes and Nook (borders)

Happy Birthday Courtney! Hope you have a great Birthday Weekend!

Kindergarden Screenings/Registration

It seems like Just yesterday, we were closing on our house (10 years this Sunday!!!), registering Courtney for Kindergarten and having her screening done. I'll never forget when I was there for her screening, there was another couple there with their kids, a set of triplets, 2 boys and 1 girl. It never occurred to me back then, that all these families on that day, would be families that I'd see at every concert, play, field trip, award assembly, travel out of town with for Class trips, go to PTO meeting with and most of all, would be the families, we'd share Graduation with. Not once, back then, did I think in those terms. It's funny now though, that the same family with those triplets, is the family that I talked to the most while we were on the class trip in Washington DC last May, with our children as 8th graders, getting ready to graduate, and move on to High School together. Now those toddlers, are freshman in high school are getting ready to graduate as adults in just 3.5 years. They go to classes together, Go to church together, go to religion together and will make their confirmations together next year around this time. Its so amazing to watch ALL of these kids, grow up into such great teenagers and adults. To see how they've changed, yet you can still remember them in first and second grade with toothless smiles :)

I never thought that way either when I went through this with Caden. Probably because with him, we didn't know where he would end up in school. He's been in different district schools, BOCES classes, but ultimately, was lucky enough to end up back in our district this year. NOW, I can look at these kids, and know they will be a part of him, for the next 11 years! Thus too, those parents will be the ones, we'll nod and say Hello too at all the events,meetings and trips as well.

Yesterday, Colin had his kindergarten screening. Exactly 10 years after we first experienced it with Courtney. (WOW!!) I look at it so differently then any of the others. Maybe because I KNEW this time. Colin will be the LAST child we will ever register at Cayuga Heights. Once he walks out of these elementary doors in 6 years, we really won't be back there for any academic purposes. It's so odd to think in those terms! This time though I looked at the way it's "meant" to be. All these little 4 year old toddlers, I'll get to watch grow up into young men & women. I'll get to watch them graduate from 8th grade, and take the huge leap into High School. We'll get to go on Field trips with them, go to their concerts, and maybe even take out of town class trips with them too! I looked at each of those children, and KNEW they would be the ones that Colin would someday graduate with, as adults! The ones that he'll get to experience some of the best times of his life with. KNOWING that I've experienced this awesome adventure with Courtney, and got to know so many of these families and children So Very well, I am so excited to have 13 more years to do the same with Caden & Colin.

Have I ever told you how much I LOVE our school district?? I LOVE how small it is. I love that it's only 3 schools. Elementary, Middle and High. So all of those kids, unless they move really are the ones you'll see all the time for the next 13 years! I love that because the schools are so small, you can walk into the elementary school and Courtney's 2nd grade teacher KNOWS who I am, and remembers me pregnant with Caden. Takes the time to invite me to her classroom, and fill me in on her life and children since she had Courtney all those years ago. Obviously god directed us to our home for a reason, I have no doubts it was because of the amazing support with have within our school district.

Happy 1st Day of Spring!!

What an amazing first day/week of spring we're having. On Saturday it was 78 degrees outside!! Yesterday was 71, today is around 74, and tomorrow?? Close, if not AT 80!! It's so sur-real to see/feel. I feel like I am on vacation in Florida, but working. It was 78 outside in WINTER, in MARCH! :-) it won't last, I know, but that's ok, I'll take what i can get anyway. This coming weekend, will be back in the 40's, but I am ok with that too. We've got our garage set up for summer already, which means that we'll have Less to do when the real warm weather that will stay rolls around in a month or so. I'll take it!!

In other news - We had a med check appt for Colin this morning. We were able to keep him at his same dosages, which is what we wanted, for the next 3 months. We go back on June 12th. We also discussed the major changes we've seen in Colin, AND I was asked the question to compare what life was like before and after meds. Obviously no parent wants to medicate their child at 4 years old. We knew years ago though, that this would be the path we'd follow with Colin, and had come to accept that by this time. The differences are not something that can even be written, or explained so outsiders can understand. I get goosebumps thinking about what life was like before & now. I told him that our home was "ran" by the mood Colin woke up in. And that wasn't usually a good one. Rules were made by Colin. If they weren't we would not have gotten through a day. When I said that, he told me it reminded him of a book, that was recommended to him, that opened his eyes . House Rules by Jodi Picoult. A story about a teenage boy with Aspergers. He said everything I had just said about Colin, reminded him of this story. I feel like this gives me a sense of relief so to speak. When both Caden and Colin were diagnosed with Aspergers, you deal with alot of opinions from outside sources/people. Some family, some friends, some you don't know. do you believe what that doctor said? Why don't you get  a 2nd opinion? are you SURE something is wrong, I think they are fine. So I guess I feel like a DOCTOR telling me that my story reminds him a story he read on a child with aspergers, that he is just verifying what we have already come to accept. He also that everything he knows obviously about children on the specturm, is clinical, (beyond the children he's worked with obviously) and what's he's learned through the years. Sometimes it takes reading a book to understand any part of the autism specturm, and to see how it affects these kiddos. He said it opened his eyes to really understand more. Lots of people have no idea even what ASD is.

Maybe others are in denial, or just don't or won't accept what is.  So anyway - I WILL be downloading this book to my kindle tonight, and I hope everyone else reads it as well!!

Feeling Good

We all know how good it feels to be nice. This morning on way to work, it really paid off. I went to Tim Hortons for my usual morning coffee stop and of course, there is always a line of people waiting and then another line waiting to get IN the drive thru lane. I flagged a car to go in front of me, after noticing that about 4 cars just kept driving by. So we proceed on, order our coffee's, pull up to the window, to pay, and was told that they lady in front of me paid for my order, since I let her in when no one else would. Seriously?? How thoughtful. Now I've paid for people behind me a couple of time. Once I knew the person, and another time, it was a challenge to do a good deed for another person.  This is only the 2nd time it happened to me. What a great feeling it was {each time}!!

Guess I should post about the first time too huh? It was a good few months ago, maybe last summer? I went to Chipotle restaurant for lunch. A man in a wheel chair was ahead of me walking (well, wheeling actually) into the restaurant. I held the door open for him. He thanked me. He then let me go in front of him in line. He had never been there before, and obviously being in a wheel chair, he was a bit too low to see the items to choose from, and it was hard to hear the workers behind the counter asking him questions. I ended up repeating the choices for him, and of course gave a bit of my input too. The working girl behind the counter gave me a little smile and nod. I hate when others treat people with ANY type of disability different, so I always try my best to NOT be one of those people.  I sure try my darnedest to instill this in my kids too. Caden especially, since he's in a class with a mixture of disabilities from a wheel chair to down syndrome to Autism etc.  I've posted about it before too (HERE Is that post). ANYWAY - back on track. When I got up to the register to pay, I was told that my lunch was free today, on the restaurant, for being so thoughtful :-) It really does make you feel good, when your just being YOU and it's noticed by others.

So.. since I was able to experience such a great feeling this morning, I challenge each of you, to do a good deed for some else today as well. It's doesn't have to include money, or buying something for someone, just being friendly to a stranger. Offering to help someone with groceries. Anything. Let's see how many we can get.

Come back and post and let me know what you did! Can't wait to hear all about it!!

Anyone interested in Pampered Chef???

If so, I am having a party!

Intersted in Coming???

Well come on and join us then!

Here are the Details:

Pamperef Chef Party!!
When? Saturday March 24th 2012

Time?  6:00pm

Where? Kyms House - 67 Bory Drive, Depew, 14043


RSVP - PLEASE!! Let me know if your coming. Kymmc3@yahoo.com or 668-0024 or leave me a comment on this post!


Come hungry, we are making Grilled Chicken wraps & microwave potato chips!! YUM!!
Bring a friend or two, a family member, or anyone who wants to come, the more the merrier!


Can't make it but still want to order something?? Click HERE and it will take your directly to my show page. You can browse the website and place an order online here and the credit will still go towards my party as well!

I personally Love the products and cook with different ones each day. WELL worth the money honeslty. Even Mike likes using them too!!

Today I got a Kiss

I know most of this means nothing to lots of people, but to me, it means the world. Each time I think of him walking up to me and kissing me with those tiny little lips of his, I feel like I want to cry. All by himself. I didn't say "Colin, come give me a hug and Kiss". I was just sitting there, waiting for his bus, and he walked up to me, and kissed me on the lips, I then gave him a hug and said Thank you Colin, that was so nice. he stood there then in my arms, for about 3 mintues while he watched TV. I rested my head on his ear and felt his rough curls on my cheek. His ear was cold. It was the best thing ever. I am loving each and every second of this journey so very much, and each time he opens up just a tiny bit more, makes this long hard journey worth every single second.

Caden in a basket

This is how I found Caden a couple of weeks ago watching TV. He was supposed to be bringing the laundry basket BACK downstairs. He apparently got side tracked by the TV, so thought he'd sit in it. He then must have got Cold, so he covered up :-) Silly boy!

Colin got a train!!

Colin LOVES trains. We all know this. Well... Daddy of course had electric trains when he was little and HAD to show them to Colin..... Yes, we all know what happens next right????

Yep, Colin needs an Electric train! I held out for a LONG time. Like close to a year. The OCD got so bad that he was watching YouTube videos of electric trains ALL day long *sigh* so we finally found a {cheaper} one at Hobby lobby and had a 40% off coupon, so Meema was gracious enough to get it for Colin. Here is the day she brought it to him. He was as happy as could be!! You should have heard the excitement in his voice as he saw her car pull up outside!

He couldn't open it fast enough!

We had it opened and put together as fast as we possibly could!!

Caden, of course could care less about the train, he only cared about how it operated! SO .... Colin watched the trains and Caden was in charge of the remote, and taking care of the nitty gritty. That's my boy!

Happy Colin!!!

I got a hug!

For those who don't know Colin the way we know Colin, or before Meds, the best way to explain him is....being kept to himself I guess. He's never been one to be lovable or cuddly. If he gets hurt, he doesn't want you to comfort him or kiss the pain away, in fact he'll get extremely angry if you do. If he is sad, he won't come to you for some loving to help him feel better. It's just all part of who he is, and always has been. Even as a baby, the only time he wanted to be cuddled was when he was nursing, when he was done, he would be just that - done. Get me off your lap and let me go now. We actually Looked forward to the times that he was sick, since he would sit on our lap and not move. It was the only time that would happen.   I know I've posted alot about Colin lately, but I can't help but to share all the changes that I am seeing in him since he's began his meds. The double dose of them to be specific.

The best way to explain it and this is what I keep saying, Is that I am finally being let in, and learning to know who Colin "is" after 4 years of NOT really knowing him all. I feel like this little person in front of me now, is exactly what he's meant to be all these years, but couldn't and didn't know how to do so. Thankfully with intervention, he is able to be. It's kind of like adopting a child in toddler-hood, and trying to figure them out. It's wonderful, amazing, scary (since your still treading lightly) and exhilarating all at the same time. He is so willing to love. So open to hugs. So excited to tell you things, and learning and loving how to show his feelings. He tells us when he is sad or upset. If he gets a boo, boo, he'll show it to you (you still can't touch it) He thrives when we give him all the positive feedback that we possibly can (before, he would yell back at you and say NO, and put down positive feedback) We even took him to church on Sunday for mass and he was wonderful!! (as wonderful as a 4 year old, who is developmentally younger is expected to be) I was so proud of him, I just kept telling him all day long! Caden too was good, it was so awesome to sit in church as a family, in one pew the ENTIRE mass. We've N.E.V.E.R done that before.

Yesterday - I came home from work, took of my coat, hung up my purse, and Colin came up to me and gave me a hug. I looked at Mike, and I know he knew what I was thinking. There is NO better feeling in the world. This is the first time, Colin has ever came up, willingly and hugged me, without any prompts, or reasons behind it. What a feeling. I love that he tells me numerous times while I am laying with him before bedtime that he loves me. I know he means it too, he's not just saying that because it's what he "should" say.

A friend of mine (Scott Buchanan) said it best on facebook last night. he said congrats,that window is opening. And it is! Colin is finally after 4.5 years of being behind it, finally opening the window and letting us into this world. Teaching us, who he really is. I am loving learning all about him.

Family Time

It's amazing what happens when you take electronics away from kids. I HATE that life is so driven by technology now a days. Last week we took Courtney's ipod from her for a few days. And the computer. And evening TV for one night. What came of it?

She was upstairs spending time with the family!! We never see Courtney.

And, because of the age difference, our kids very rarely ever play togehter either. This was a rare scene. Colin is typically scared to death of going anywhere near Courtney. He was just so excited that she was willing to play with them this evening, he took advantage of it with Caden!

I think... I might have to start having an electronic free night once every week or two weeks.

Meet Samson ~ Our Pet Fish

Mike has ALWAYS wanted to have a fish tank. I however, do NOT want a fish tank. I don't like the noise of it, the lights that go with it, nor the cleaning that has to come with. We have enough to do with 6 animals, 3 kids and the house, why add to it. HOWEVER, I have no problem getting a cute little beta guy.

Colin had a fish in his classroom and a few months ago, he died :( Colin still talks about that fish alot. over the weekend, Mike and I were out doing some things, and the kids were home with Courtney, when we came across a pet smart with a shelter there with dogs. So of course, Mike had to go in and see the dogs. As we were walking around, I found the beta fish... with some cheap little tanks. And the fish were pretty cheap too! So we thought we'd get the kids a fish and surprise them.

Boy were they surprised! They LOVE him. His little tank sat perched on the kitchen counter, so we could always have our eyes of him :-) We were interested too, to see how long it would be before the cats found our new friend (who we named Samson) Momma was the first to find him, and just sat and stared at him. Next was Mason, then blackberry. They never bothered him, would just sit and watch him swim around.

All weekend long, Samson swam around. We watched him many times (did you know watching a fish for 15 minutes at a time lowers your blood pressure??) and enjoyed his company. He was SO pretty. And his pebbles matched our kitchen counter! It was a perfect match.

As far as we knew, the only 2 cats who hadn't met Samson were Bob and Oreo.

Well.... Apparently Bob found him last night. During the night.

I keep saying, It had nothing to do with Samson. I folded up a paper towel last night and put it under Samson's home, so if water ever leaked, it wouldn't ruin the paint on the counter tops. Well, I forgot that Bob scratches at any paper towel that is under things (like our cups etc). Around 5:30 this morning, I heard a sound, like the cats dropped something into the sink and it broke. I didn't think anything of it.

6:15 rolls around, and Caden wakes up. 6:30 and Colin wakes up. I finally get up to get ready for work at 6:35 and pester Mike to get up and help with the kids. He of course, rolls back over :-)

I go out to the kitchen with Colin to get his medicine ready and turn on the light... to find the tank, ALL over the dining room floor. Pebbles all over the place, water all over the place, and Samson, just laying there, on his side :-( Poor fishie. I look up on the counter.. and what do I see.... Shredded paper towel all over the place. Bob must have been trying to shred the towel and pushed Samson off the counter.

I yelled for Mike to get out here, the fish is on the floor! He picked up the tank, picked up the fish and put him in. Then put some tap water (COLD, it was only 23 outside) in the tank.... Samson started to swim (he was ALIVE!) for about 45 seconds. I think that water shocked his poor little system. Your supposed to use room temp water) So we explained to the boys that Samson was in heaven now, and we'd get a new fish. We had to flush him down the toilet now.

They boys wanted to watch..... so into the bathroom everyone went. Mike dumped him in the toilet (that had room temp water of course) And he started to swim!!! We were shocked...Mike said what should we do? I said well let's see... and before we knew it, Samson swan down the hole in the toilet! I guess he wasn't meant to be with us after all. Colin was sad he swam away, Caden wanted to know where he was going, and Mike and I were wondering if he'd swim back out to us. LOL

We explained to the kids that he was going to swim to the ocean to meet the rest of his friends. Caden was worried the water would be cold for him. We reassured him that ocean water was warm, and he'd be fine.

That's the story of what was our fish Samson.

Today... Mike went and got us a new fish. We'll see what comes of his fate!

The Chair

After Caden was born we bought this nice Glider and ottoman (that was also a nursing stool) since the one we had bought prior was a real piece of cheap crap. This, however was not. It was expensive. Very expensive. But it had a nursing stool with it, which I loved (nursing Colin for 19 months, it got a ton of use!) and it reclined totally flat too, which was nice when the boys were babies and we feel asleep together.

Well, since the boys obviously aren't babies anymore (sad) and do not need to rocked to sleep, the only person who sits in this rocker is Mike. BUT he never sits up straight. Just like he never stands up straight (did you ever notice, he is always leaning on something?? Pay attention next time you see him, it drives me crazy) so he sits in it, reclined, but without reclining the seat, which in turn has broke the back of the chair. It no longer goes into the upright position, and is just always laying at an akward angle. VERY uncomfortable. But Mike likes it for some reason.

Since your always at an ackward bend, you need to keep your feet either on the floor, OR put one on the floor and the other on the stool, or else you'll lose your balance. OR if a cat gets on the back while your sitting in it, it'll almost tip over and you'll lose it too. (this happens alot to us, being that 2 of the 5 cats love that spot) 2 night ago, it was close to 11 pm, we were watching TV and occasionally Mike would lose his balance, and start going back. He'd fly his arms and legs around and stop himself and go back to rocking. Finally, that didn't work anymore........

See how it's got the bend in it??!! Ugh!! It's like this ALL the time. He didn't put it that way, it's JUST that way!

Well.... that causes THIS to happen.........

(this picture is out of order, it should be the last one, not the 2nd one)

I JUMPED up off the couch and went to him, laughing my ass off!

He said, please, help me up!

I said okay... WAIT!!! I have to get the camera first. He was cracking up almost as much as I was.

So Here, I am, taking pictures of my poor defenseless husband, who couldn't move. hahahahha.

It was difficult to get him up. I couldn't push the chair back down, because each time I did, I would hear wood starting to crack. I was laughing too hard to grab his hands and pull him up. Eventually he got himself turned sideways (the 2nd picture) and crawled his way out of there.

:-)

Remember, it was 11pm. Courtney even came running upstairs to see what was going on. She was downstairs in her room, which is in the BACK of the house and very very well insulated.

Ah... the life we lead!

Side Note ~ No, he did not get hurt. He hit his head on the wall, so I thought he might be hurt in the morning, and encouraged him to take some motrin before we went to bed. But he didn't, and he woke up in the morning fine with no bruising :-)