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December 11, 2002
12/11/02 The perfect weekend
TIME IS ON MY SIDE, YES IT IS
Just like every other weekend since forever, I had huge plans for this one. Originally, I wanted to take Jaida and Jarod to the mall and run an errand or two. You have to know me to know how significant this is. I rarely go to the mall, and to take both kids with me? Insanity, I tell you. Steve was planning on working at his parent’s house and the thought of spending an entire day cooped up with two high-energy children made a trip to the cradle of consumerism sound like Club Med. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans.
After breakfast, the kids were all dressed and ready and I was still in my nightgown like always. My Mom came to the kitchen to make her decaf and read the paper. Jarod was being extremely cantankerous; hitting Jaida and tearing up Mom’s paper. Mom asked him if he was sleepy and to our surprise he nodded his head, got his woobie (our name for his beloved cloth diapers) and climbed up onto the sofa next to her. I warmed him a bottle and he settled in beside his Na-Na to drink it. I hustled Jaida to my room and I quickly got ready. It looked as if it would be just us girls, so I decided to have fun and let Jaida decide what we would do.
Once we got to the mall, I asked Jaida if she wanted to see Santa. With wide-eyed wonder, she answered yes very enthusiastically. We stopped off at Baby Gap where I picked up skid-proof socks for Jarod (I just love those) and a last minute gift for my niece. Then it was on to Candle Cabin for some Clean Cotton scented votives for my Mom. We passed Santa on the way to CC and I pointed him out to Jaida. I also noticed the long line. I decided to detour to Priester’s Pecans special holiday store and get Mom some sugar free chocolate pecan clusters to see if the line would be any shorter at Santa’s chair when we came out. After I made my purchases, we got into the line that seemed longer than the first time we saw it. After a few minutes, I asked Jaida if she was going to sit on Santa’s lap. She looked at me with shock, “No,” she said. I was puzzled, “You don’t want to sit on his lap?” Again, her answer was no. So we went to ride the carousel instead.
After I paid the obscene $2.00, we climbed on and Jaida chose a pig. At first, she wanted what she calls the n-giraffe, but when I pointed out that it didn’t go up and down she chose Mr. Pig. At the end, she got a balloon with the mall logo and she smiled from ear to ear. We continued on to Dollar Tree for wrapping paper and bows. Jaida decided she wanted to go back and sit on Santa’s lap after all and we took our bags to the car first. Jaida didn’t mind a bit. On the way back to Santa she kept asking if I was going to sit on his lap too. I said no, mommies don’t get to do that. I was thinking of getting a picture until I saw the outrageous package prices. Even two measly key chains would have cost me $16.95! When the “elf” asked if we were “getting a picture or just visiting” I politely said just visiting with a smile. I think I heard him ask Jaida if she wanted a dollhouse and then Santa told her to be good as he gave her a snowman shaped kaleidoscope. She was happy as could be.
I was feeling adventurous when we left the mall so I asked Jaida if she wanted to go home or shop some more. She said, “Shop some more!” So we went to Stein Mart. Years ago, I worked there and I still love this store. Talk about GREAT deals. I got something for almost all the people left on my list plus a treat for myself as well as Jaida. For my MIL, I got wrought iron candle holders that have the exact same swirl pattern as her new doorknobs, cabinet handles and stair railing. She is going to freak when I give them to her. For my FIL, I got a car visor organizer with a notepad and other handy storage. For my good friend and assistant Michelle, I got a beautiful hurricane glass candle holder with a fleur-de-lis metal stand. She loves knick knacks. I got my Dad a Greg Norman golf shirt, his favorite. I also got a gorgeous hurricane glass candle holder with a metal stand and Jaida got a fake fish tank with plastic fish. I kept killing the real ones and our aquarium has been empty for months now. The best part is that my Dad’s gift was the most expensive. I paid $20 for my MIL’s and $15 or less for all the others. I was one happy camper even though I left my TWO 20% off coupons at home. Boohoo…
By the time we got back, Jarod was just waking up and it was time for Jaida’s nap. I think I shopped the poor girl until she dropped. She even told me her feet hurt. We still had a glorious time. I put her to bed and then I showed my Mom all my loot. Jarod and I played and had fun while we waited on Jaida to wake up. After she was up and I made dinner, we all wrapped the presents together. Jarod destroyed the paper scraps and Jaida was in charge of bows. I have to add that Jarod even ate a few noodles with spaghetti sauce. I had cooked Jaida some animal shaped pasta made from corn and when he saw her plate he threw a fit. I rushed to the pantry to find some plain elbow macaroni since Jarod can’t tolerate corn. Keeping him happy while the pasta boiled was a job. He wanted a plate and he wanted it now! When it was done he ate it steadily until he got bored and the rest of it decorated the table and plastic garbage bags I put under his chair. I was about to take it away when Steve came home, he urged me to let him be so we could see how much he would eat. I’m guessing he ate about ¼ of a cup!
Steve announced that my MIL wanted to take Jarod to church with her tomorrow too and then keep him and Jaida for the afternoon. PERFECT! I could go visit a few new stores I’d been dying to see like Burlington Coat Factory and Hobby Lobby. Yippee! I was even getting to go alone! Oh joy, oh bliss! Now you all know I love my children, but I haven’t had time alone to window shop at my leisure since before Jarod was born. Steve was going back to finish up at his Mom’s so he wouldn’t be home until late afternoon at the earliest. I’m so pathetic; I even made a list of places I wanted to go. That way, if I run out of time I can do it again next time they go. Didn’t I just mention entry before last that I needed some “me” time? Isn’t’ God good? Ahhhh…
I HAD A PLAN AND REALITY TOOK OVER
When Sunday actually came, it was nothing like I planned. I had gotten everybody’s clothes and bags together the night before but somehow, I was just as busy and flustered as if I hadn’t done a thing. I got Jarod dressed and then Jaida. I made sure I gave Jaida her medicine and then sent her to brush her teeth. I brushed Jarod’s hair and ushered them into the living room to take a picture next to the tree. My MIL came just as we were finishing the photo op. I ran around making sure the bags got into the car and all they would need was going with them. I waved goodbye and went inside the house. Mom laughed because she said I looked confused, I didn’t know where to start.
I finally decided to eat breakfast and peruse the sales papers. I enjoy sales circulars more than reading the news. Once a shopaholic, always a shopaholic. Normally, I never get to eat a meal without somebody pulling on me or fights breaking out. I hurried to find the remote and get rid of PB&J Otter and find something on HGTV or House Beautiful on A&E. But something was wrong, what was it? Oh, SILENCE. That was going to take some getting used to. NOT! When I finished breakfast, I went to my room for a little uninterrupted web surfing. Then I started on this entry. When it appeared the day was getting away from me, I got dressed and began my adventure.
I decided to start at Wal-mart for a little leisurely browsing and some light grocery shopping. I dropped off a roll of film at the one hour photo and fumbled around long enough to get it before I left. Then I went to Hobby Lobby, only to discover they are closed on Sunday. Oh well, on to Burlington Coat Factory and maybe Sam’s Club. Like always, I dilly dallied too long in BCF and ended up heading home at 3:30. I called Steve to see if I needed to pick up the kids and he said no. When my MIL brought the kids back she said how much she had wished I had come to get them, I told her to fuss at her son. I had called Steve to ask if I needed to pick them up and he said no. Another plus was Jarod was so wiped out from playing at Grandma’s he slept all night. Woohoo!
This relaxing free day for me couldn’t have come at a better time. This week was another marathon and I was feeling burnout before it began. We had OT on Monday like always. I saw my doctor on Tuesday. I have an appointment to see an attorney about our problems with the school system today, (more on that later). Jarod is scheduled to get his second part of the flu shot on Thursday. We are seeing Jaida’s ENT on Friday for an ear check on the tubes. Finally, we had speech therapy last night and we go again this evening. Talk about being booked solid, I may need another free day this weekend to recover.
LEGAL REPRESENTATION MAY BE OUR NEXT STEP
When the school system granted my request for a new evaluation, I was sure it was only a matter of time until we would be getting services again. The eval was completed on October 21 and they had the report (thanks to me faxing it) by the following Monday. The law says after eligibility is determined, they have 30 days to write an IEP and basically get everything done. Even if I give them a few days, that time expired on November 28 at the latest. Donna at SEAC has referred me to an attorney that they work closely with and I’ve heard her name before from some other parents. I can’t wait to hear what she thinks I should do. We’re going into the Christmas vacation and we still have no IEP, not even a date to do one.
I thought we could keep this civil and work this out like adults. It always gets more complicated when an attorney is involved. At this point, I feel I have no other choice. The director of the clinic that did Jaida’s ASD diagnosis warned me about the county school system, but I thought she was exaggerating. Sigh… I hope I’m doing the right thing for Jaida’s sake. This is long enough and I have to run. Duty calls and I’m already late.
Happy Holidays to you and yours,
Kim, Jaida & Jarod
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