I Quit!

I Quit! I Quit! I Quit cleaning anything and everything! I Quit trying to keep the kids clean and respectable; the house clean; my husband happy; my self bathed; my family fed; my yard weeded; my hair perfect; my laundry washed, dried, folded and put away. I Quit! Now that I have gotten that off my chest, I have to get back to work. Thanks for listening. Or at least glancing at this message and hitting delete.

Never Leaving

I am sitting here thinking about how much our family has grown. Gary said when we got married, "we'll only be here in Tucson for the next 5-7 years". Those 7 years were up 3 years ago. Of course when we bought our home it was to be a "starter home". Now it is 10 years, 5 kids and the same "starter house" later. I have realized we may never leave. This is the longest I have ever lived in one home. I should be grateful! But I'm getting antsy. So, I have started a project for our house: I will be pulling up the living room carpet from entry way to kitchen. I am hoping to lay laminent wood flooring there soon. This should really help the cleaning process! Don't know when we'll be starting this project but I am already pricing and measuring the floor. Next will be a coat of paint for these white walls in the living room. I'm thinking brown. We'll see because Gary always has an opinion about my decorating. Why couldn't I have gotten a husband that didn't care?

Been Awhile...lol

Flying kites with daddy

Emily & Olivia

Domino & Zoey

Saying goodbye to the Holladay's :(

Mikey standing for the first time.

Emily's birthday cake that Jake destroyed.

My Aunt Maggie and Mikey @the pool.

So let's start with the summer. We spent alot of time at the pool this summer. Preston learned to put his head underwater and hold his breath. Eventually he tried to swim too. He took lessons at the YMCA but had a hard time waiting his turn to do everything. He was so excited to be in the pool, so we gave up after 2 lessons. I taught him myself at our community pool. Jake of course had to do the same as PReston. He has never been afraid of the water. He decided to try to swim without his floaties a few times without telling me. So needless to say I had to rescue him a few times. I bet he'll be a great swimmer next year. Of course Zoey and Emily are like fish. They had great times there pretending to be mermaids. Takes me back to my childhood in Florida. My sister Sandy and I would do the same thing. Mikey is also a little fish. He loved his lessons and knows how to blow rassberries in the pool. He couldn't quite get the bubbles. He laughed alot!

June was a fun month because I did a craft class twice a week with the kids. We had two of their friends Savanah and Mackenzie craft with us. They made masks, wood people, visors, birdhouses, t-shirts, and much more. The girls really liked it and Preston got his Ocupational theropy with the crafting. (He struggles with his writing.)

July was a different month. I missed my friend Julie though cuz she went to Cali for the month. Took all her girls so that meant I had to entertain my girls. We did get to hang out with Maricella and her kids Alyssa and Nick. So we kept really busy. We swam and went to the YMCA but for the most part we didn't do much. Hung out at Mcdonal's alot cuz the weather was so HOT. Went to the mall too. Anywhere there was AC we were there. Watched a lot of movies too.

August came and went with many ups and downs. Gary's brother was married in the Denver Temple on August 13th @1pm. Gary and I missed it because I was in the ER there in Loveland because of health issuses. (I am slowly recovering from an intestinal blockage.) The girls were beautiful as flower girls. So I hear. I don't have pictures but the relatives are sending them to us. We also came back home to say goodbye to our best friends the Holladay's. They moved to Las Vegas on the 1st. We cried alot and I tried to stop them but I guess a job is more important than me. :( We all really miss them. The girls are struggling with not having their friends here. We have known this family since Zoey was 18mths old. Time really flys. Kids also started school. Yeah for mom! We also celbrated Gary's 36th b-day by giving him a new 6mth old cat named Domino. We adore him.

September is going well. Kids are having fun and learning in school. I am always busy with Preston's needs and keeping girls up with homework. We are trying to get into soccer for the girls too. We are also planning piano lessons for the girls starting next year. Mikey is 10mths and took his first steps a couple weeks ago. All day today he has been standing and taking steps. The most he's accomplished is 4 in a row. My freedom is all gone now! He is so cute and loveable. He is really laid back and hardly cries at all. Eats really well too!

So that is our life here in the Affleck house. Of course Gary and I are just happy to be so blessed. We are very boring people ourselves. Gary started a garden last year and is experimenting with it. Okra seems to be what's growing now and 1 sole watermelon. He also stays really busy at work. We are very thankful for that. Me, I just try to stay awake during the day and asleep during the night. That hasn't happened since I was 21!

Summer Time is Here Again

It's already hot and over a hundred degrees here in Arizona. That must mean school is out and summer break is here again. The girls have graduated to first and second grade. Preston is going into the 4 year old class in preschool this August. So everyone is taking a much needed "brain break". So does this mean I get one too? NOOOOOO!

All mom's have to find things for their children to do during this break so that they don't lose their minds. I count down the days until school starts and the house is quiet again. But I do love going to the pool most days. The kids love it too. I drag the "bucket" of pool things. In this bucket is our sun screen, swim shampoo, comb, pool toys (balls, darts, squirt guns, rings, spider man sticks, diving rods), also the water wings, cups, plates, forks, wipes, diapers, swim diapers, water bottles, and occasionally some soda for mom. I love this big bucket because it can hold everything and then some. Plus it's water proof. I haul it in with the double stroller. Of course Mikey is riding shotgun. I bring a cooler with lunch or dinner (depends on the time) and a shade pavilion that I know how to assemble and take down myself. Can you tell I'm proud of that fact.

The girls know how to swim and Preston is learning really fast with his lessons. I think he'll be out of his water wings later this summer. Jake is also fearless but never without his water wings. I keep a good eye on everyone where I sit near the spa under my pavilion. I have learned to run and jump in when the water is too cold so that I won't get out of the pool fast. The water is still a little chilly. Of course I do hate one part of summer: finding a new bathing suit. Because of course I never fit into the one from the year before. I'm either fatter or pregnant. Oh well! This reminds me that Bella Holladay asked me today, st the pool, if I was pregnant. I said no; just fat. She looked at me then her mom. She signed that I eat alot! Amen sister!!!!! On a positive note, I have lost 5lbs watching what I eat lately. Maybe I won't fear next summer as much?

Of course Gary is missing all the fun! He's working very long hours and when he can get to the pool with us, he's usually cold within 5 minutes. Must suck being so skinny. (I'm not bitter!) He loves being there with us though. We like to play "toss the kids". Jake used to like it until he swallowed a bunch of water and now he'll say "nope" when we ask if he wants to play. HEHEHE!

Life is sweet. It can get hairy here with little space and my Aunt Maggie living with us for now. But all in all, we love the summer time. We're looking forward to camping and going to James' wedding in August. Hopefully we'll get to go visit the Holladay's in Las Vegas too. I don't want them to move in July, but you go where the work is!

Have a BLAST this summer everyone!

Marti

I'll fight ya for it!

I have a great camera and a pretty good camera phone but I haven't downloaded any new pictures cuz I have to fight for my time on the computer. Preston is really developing his cognitive abilities on the pbs website. He's starting to connect the sounds to 2 letters in the alphabet. I am so happy. I have other sites that help me with his home theropy. (Since getting theropy is so expennsive!) Also, Emily is my little artist and she makes drawings on the computer. Gary is working on a program just for her talent on his PDA. Zoey has "web reports" and research she has to do for homework. (Wow, how school has changed since I was a kid.) Then Jake has to be right in my lap to see what all the fuss is about with the "T.V." on the desk. Gladdly he's watching the real T.V. now so that I can get on this one. I'm sure Mikey will be in the mix soon enough. So that's my excuse for not posting more often. And because Julie needs to give me back my camera cord for the computer that she borrowed 2 weeks ago!

Preston's Diagnosis

So, for those who have been kept out of the loop; Preston was diagnosed with Asperger's Autism last week. (Along with Pervasive Developmental Disorder and Auditory Processing Disorder!) In other words: Preston is Special!

Gary and I noticed that Preston wasn't speaking to us after we took his pacifier away when he was 2 1/2yrs old. That was December 2007. We also noticed that he couldn't hear us most of the time. After months of tests we were told he needed tubes because of continued fluid in his ears and that he would be delayed in speech because of this loss of hearing since his birth. Well, Preston was enrolled in a special program through our school district to get him the help he needed. We thought he might be socially behind because of the hearing loss. Last August the Pediatric Neurologist informed us of the possibility of Asperger's Autism. So we scheduled a follow up appointment for this April to track his progress. Preston would have opportunities to help him through his preschool and then we would evaluate the situation again.

This is where we have ended up: Preston will now go see the Autistic Pediatrician in Tucson for a defined Autistic therapy plan. This means he will get the therapy needed to help him progress in his life socially and academically. We are not necessarily surprised with the diagnosis. Preston has always been different from our other children. But we still love and accept him. He is so sweet and so lovable. He gives the best hugs and we're just happy to know that he has a mild case of Autism. I don't know what I would do if I couldn't have a hug or smile from my little boy. He lights up my life in many, many ways.

And that is what's happening this week in the Affleck household. It has made us stronger as a family. We are more tolerant for each others feelings. More kind in our thoughts and prayers for each other. And we give our love more freely. I think it's a win - win situation if you ask me! We are blessed with an eternal family and we're happy too. Trials are to be expected, but the blessings that come from them make us a better family. God Bless your families too! (Not that I think any of you should have or get Asperger's...hehehe.)

Brothers

As much as they can't stand being together one minute and are the best of friends the next minute; they will always be brothers! I was wondering if they would become real close friends as the years go by or will they be glad to leave home without a backward glance?

Today started like any other: wake up, eat cereal, referee a fight, shower, referee a fight in the shower, try to run errands, referee a fight in the van, threaten to beat them in public, come home, referee another fight, pray for bedtime to come quickly, referee a fight during prayers, etc., etc., etc. until one of them gives into unconsciousness. (That's to say go to sleep, not beat them into it.) Of course I added Mikey into this because it will only be a matter of time before he's in the middle of it too. Am I crazy? Or is there a pattern here? I've been trying to see the positive about raising three boys under the age of four and work hard on my patience but a mom can only take so much before she wants to be adopted by Brad Pitt herself. But when all is said and done, at the end of the day I love to wipe away the tears and kiss those beautiful cherub cheeks. So hopefully they will learn to get along and play nice...while I'm still on this earth, preferably. Hell might freeze over but who's watching hell when you have three pieces of Heaven here now.