Is this Heaven? No, it's Iowa.

Miguel and I went on a trip to Chicago Friday morning. We took the 0635 flight and I was quickly reminded what a good traveler Miguel is, especially early in the morning. As the day goes on, his good behavior dwindles.

This blog will mostly be pictures because I get tired of thinking. =) YEAH PICTURES!!!

If Miguel could just travel the world, his Autism wouldn't be so difficult to manage.

The key is to stop frequently for potty breaks, provide many snacks and juices and be able to stretch the legs from time to time....but without stopping the movement. Take him by train, bus, car, boat, plane but don't STOP. Stopping isn't good. =) Oh, and it would be good if the bathrooms on the airplane were LARGER. It's like a clown car with Migs and me in it!!!

Here is a good stim picture. He's blowing on his hands. I prefer him blowing on them than licking them. It gets rather unsightly, the licking. However, he makes the funniest and most intense faces when he licks.

Blowing and flapping.

Raspberries and flapping.

.......more blowing and flapping. He makes loud, happy noises when he does this, I am sure the other patrons on the flight LOVED this at 0635!!! Hey, it beats a screaming baby or the obnoxious, unattended child that kicks the back of your seat and throws magazines over the chair at you.....I can't stand those kids.....or their parents. = )

Handsome guy.

I like this pic. I took it with my cell and I think it looks cool, all white-washed.

This one is my FAVORITE!! Despite the fact his ear looks ENORMOUS, the profile and lighting is great. Me likey.

So, we get to Chicago and Miguel spent the day with his father, the Mexican peasant worker, and I spent the day shopping, eating and drinking with my mom. She can hold her liquor....and that, my friends, is where I get it from! Thanks mom! ;)

Then I went to visit my BFF Dana and her baby, Kenny. Dana and I have been friends since 6th grade and we are still socialized like 6th graders... it's bizarre and probably unnerving to anyone who has to witness us.

Here's Dana and Kenny. We cuddled on the sofa and watched Food Network after dinner.

Here's Kenny, happy to see her Aunt Kelly.

Here's Dana, happy to see me after 7 months.

The next morning, the Mexican peasant worker (aka, chauffeur or Jose), Migs and I drove out to Iowa to attend a birthday party for our old friend, Beau Zaruba. I met Beau in January 1997 in Quantico, VA. I later met his wife, Jaime, in May 1997. They introduced us to the enjoyment of board games and golfing. Beau, Jose and I all worked together in the same shop and after work we golf, have dinner together, play games, go to movies, go shopping, whatever....we did it. We had great times working and hanging out together.

They were known as "Bo n J" to Miguel. Jaime's laugh is HILARIOUS and when Miguel was a baby, he'd laugh every time he'd hear Jaime laugh. They were the first Aunt and Uncle Miguel knew, aside from Uncle Jason, of course.

Me. Trying to look pleasant for a 4 1/2 hour car trip at 0745.

By the way, did I mention....IT IS COOOOOLD in Illinois?!?!?!? Well, IT IS! When I landed, it was a temperate 0 degrees! :(

More IL scenery on the way to Springville, Iowa.

Miguel, not liking the cold, either. =) Sweet baby.

On our way to the party in my WARMEST Houston, TX attire..... so sad. Thank God for body fat. =)

The hottest picture I've seen of Beau... LOL!!! The cake was AWESOME!! Oh, and it was super yummy, too!

Heeeeeere's Beau!!! He's thirty...he is sooooo old. ;)

Migs and Jaime.

Miguel lovin Beau.

Miguel going for the jugular. =)

L to R: Chris and Sherry Coleman, me, Jaime, Beau and Jose.

We voted ourselves the "awesomest friends table", since Chris and Sherry drove up from St. Louis and Jose and I drove out from Chicago. Chris and Sherry were Beau and Jaime's neighbors in Quantico, VA. It just amazes me every time we all get together, how it feels like we've never been apart. There is such strength in the comradary in the Marine Corps and the bond that it builds, as all of my oldest and closest friends are Marines, with the exception of Dana.

Leaving Iowa.

Can't wait to get back to the Houston weather.

This may be my last drive out there for a long time, so I took a lot of pictures. I use to go visit them 2-4 times a year when I lived in IL. I went back to school for a Master's Aug 2006, so this is my first time seeing them since May 2006. It doesn't seem like it's been that long but the size of our kids reminds us that is has been too long.

Miguel staying warm and just being handsome.

Me staying warm and not being handsome. =)

Thinking about getting on the plane in a little bit.

Almost there.

Stimming at the airport.

Miguel slept well through the nights while we were home, probably due to the 13 hours of travel in the past 3 days. He only had one meltdown and it was at O'Hare on the way back to Houston. It was a middle of the day flight at 1525, so his behavior was on a decline, and he didn't want to take his shoes and coat off going through security.... I didn't want to, either, but he had a real good meltdown, crying...boogers EVERYWHERE...trying to eat the boogers...poor baby.

That's another thing, too, he's been picking his boogers and making a B line for his mouth. We are going to have to work on that one because, well, that is just sick. =)

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Blogging for the Love of Christmas!!!

This morning blew. It blew BIG TIME! Miguel woke up at 0330 and was in a piss mood by the time I got him to daycare. He head butted me twice, once on the cheek bone and once on the chest. Thank God for "padding" but the cheek bone left a mark.

I am not sure I can adequately express my feelings about being victimized by my own child. All I do know is that it requires all my patience and inner strength to not knock him through a wall. I mean, if a person is attacked, the first response is to defend yourself by any means necessary. All that crap went out the window with Miguel when he was about 4 years old, when he started to become aggressive at the bus stop. In the past 6 years, I've been humiliated in public and privately by my child attacking me and I have a variety of scars on the back of my hands and arms. Unfortunately, he has the strength of a million men, he is only getting bigger and with every aggressive meltdown, he is headed in a direction that he wouldn't want to go.... if he knew any better.


Over the weekend he woke up early most days (between 0330 and 0700), was more forceful and spastic than usual (verbally and physically, head banging mostly) and this morning may have been the pinnacle of aggression...let's hope. I think it may come from being out of school since Thursday, losing his routine and structure over a 4 day weekend and then going to daycare this morning.


Enough about mood and aggression. Let's talk about Christmas Eve and Christmas!!!!! Christmas Eve MIGUEL LOST A TOOTH and it was a gift exchange day with my family, due to my brother's work schedule. My brother's girlfriend, Angela, was kind enough to host us and we all received GREAT GIFTS!!!


Good people.............

Brett ("Breast") LOL!!! & Me







My mom "Meema", Andy & Miguel





Miguel (the contortionist)




Miguel & Andy

Andy, Un Jay, Abbey & Angela

The fam

So Miguel received many gifts (sensory toys, clothes, Spiderman 3 bedding) and this little rinky dink toy would have to be his favorite gift!!! Isn't that just like a kid? You buy them the world and they want to play in the dirt.... :) Kids rock!

He shakes it. It squeaks. Endless fun.

Contemplating the shaking method. Considering banging his hand with it....just exploring before he starts spinning like a top.

Ooooohhhhh yeeeeeaaaaaahhhhh!!!! That is some GOOD TOY ACTION!!!

(I think I may have paid $5 for it. Time to stock up!)

Here are some other sensory toys he received to go in his sensory box. He also likes the Zube Tube (on the left). He spins and uses it like a music conductor and it makes a great noise.

Un Jay gave Miguel Spiderman 3 bedding. It's actually reversible, with the "good Spiderman" on the opposite side. In keeping with the mood, I decided to make the bed with the black Spiderman. Besides, the black one is bad ass.

Christmas Eve came to a close and we were pooped. Note my handsome pug, Sullivan, at the bend of my knee. I love that dog!

CHRISTMAS DAY!!!!

We had A LOT to eat.....

I mean, eat.....

To include corn pudding, Crawfish Chowder, stuffed potatoes, salad, pork roast, barbeque pork roast, brown sugar glazed ham, biscuits, dressing with chicken and I'm sure I missed something... I think this Christmas may have been void of vegetables... Oh well. It was all YUMMAY!!!

There may have been some wine consumed but there was definitely pumpkin cheesecake and homemade cherry pie consumed!!! :)

Again, there were good people....

Lou and Dwight

Aunt Kathy, Kristin and Uncle Steve

Hilda

Great decor....

....and, of course, great food!!

It was a fantastic day that my friend, Kristin, hosted for Meema, Miguel and myself. Unfortunately, I don't have pictures from later that day when we went to HFD Rescue 10 to have dinner with the fine firemen of Houston but that meal included brisket, corn on the cob, MANY DESSERTS!!!, ham, biscuits, chips/pico de gallo (a staple there), beans, green bean casserole and probably other foods I am missing. It was ALL GOOD!!!

Now I have to go dig through my storage to find my maternity pants! ;)

"Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." -- Mother Teresa