Calendars and #ItsWhatsNext

August:

DC has his favorite places to buy used books. He had been bugging Mrs. H to go to one specific store all summer. She told him (because on camp days there isn't a lot of time left over after she picks him up from camp and gets him home) that they would go 'one day' when camp ended for the summer. Well camp ended on Friday and this morning DC made it known to me that he had added it to the calendar for this afternoon - the very first Monday of no camp. If it's on the calendar it is engraved in stone.

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Today:

Valentine's Day is over (all I heard about since the calendar changed to February).

Dinner with BB and his family is over (all I heard about after Valentine's Day was over)...

Moving on to "DC's 'Twenty-Sixteenth' Birthday is coming soon" (it is weeks away)

Apparently, we are skipping right over mine..... #ItsWhatsNext

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Previously on Calendars and It's What's Next:

Earlier this month - February:

Clearly, DC was distracted this morning... He didn't even think about changing the calendars until 730am! Usually it's his first thought in the morning. Not to worry though, they all got changed over and the Happy 'Val-lum-times' Day greetings are well underway...#ItsWhatsNext

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"Mom! Happy 'Val-lum-times' Day coming soon two weeks!" 
(Repeat every 10 minutes) - in case any of you were not aware and need to update your calendar......
You are welcome! #ItsWhatsNext

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November:

He actually waited until this morning to change the calendar ..... we're moving on....

Calendar changed by 5:45 am

Thanksgiving Reminders began at 5:46 am #ItsWhatsNext

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Dc just walked in the door. He's no longer talking about 'Fanksgiving' - he has resorted to just pointing at the date on the calendar until I confirm... 
One......More......Night of this and it's over until he finishes eating tomorrow when he will move on to "Going home on Friday" and then on to "Christmas is coming soon" 24/7

#ItsWhatsNext

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As predicted... dinner over ....
"Mom, we are going back home on Friday" - repeat, every half hour. #ItsWhatsNext

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We arrived home less than a half hour ago...
"Mom! I am so exciting for Christmas is coming soon!"
#ItsWhatsNext

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December:

*All Calendars changed by 5:45 am.
*One lost thumbtack.
*One 'boy' who would not get in to the shower until said thumbtack was found and calendar re-hung.
*Found another thumbtack to hang the calendar to get him in the shower.
*One shower taken
*One lost thumbtack located (ouch!)
*First reminder of "Christmas is coming soon, later after that"
Happy December!

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This blog is used to copy my posts (as back-up) from my official site and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time

You're in my spot #YoureInMySpot

Today:

We all know that DC has his "spot" at the kitchen table. No one can sit in his chair, nor can one put anything down in his spot. Next to his spot is another chair that holds the books he must have beside him when he is in his "spot" (so technically he had two spots). 
This morning DC was putting on his shoes while sitting in "Spot Number One" while I was LEANING on the chair at "Spot Number Two" ....... Leaning. 
DC: Mom, something is bothering 'you'.
Me: What's bothering you (not expecting to get an answer other than "Nothing wrong") -
DC: My chair!
(He told me what was wrong!!!!!)
#NoSpotsLeftForMe #HeIsTakingOver

From Status Posts at Take Another Step

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Previously on "You're in my spot" 

Doug brought his laundry over. DC was sitting in the kitchen on his computer in "his spot". Doug put his unfolded laundry on the couch. DC, done with the computer, decided he would come and sit on the couch in the spot which is also his... He stood there and pointed until Doug moved his laundry to the kitchen, unfortunately to the chair that DC just vacated. DC could not relax in his spot in the living room while Doug's clothes were in his spot in the kitchen. This is a picture of DC waiting and watching while Doug folded his clothes. He did not leave the doorway until all of Doug's laundry was out of his spot.... #IGuessWeKnowWhoIsInChargeHere

From Status Posts at Take Another Step

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Because no is allowed to sit in his chair in the kitchen (even if he is not in it) or his "spot" on the couch, I thought we'd make it official. #bigbang

 From Status Posts at Take Another Step

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Doug, who can't seem to get over the fact that DC needs so many black sharpies (we've been over this) decided to #1. Sit in DC's chair and #2. Pull all of his black markers out to show me (as If I didn't know) just how many he has just in the cup on the table. 
DC was getting anxious so I told Doug to just put them back and get out of his spot. Well apparently, Doug not moving and not putting them back in the cup properly (forgetting to lay out a chosen few on the table) was too much for DC to bear so he climbed right over him as if he wasn't sitting there to "fix" it. AND #YoureInMySpot 

From Status Posts at Take Another Step

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This blog is used to copy my posts (as back-up) from my official site and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time

'Val-lum-times'

A few Facebook statuses from and about Valentine's Day.

"Mom! Happy 'Val-lum-times' Day coming soon two weeks!" 
(Repeat every 10 minutes) - in case any of you were not aware and need to update your calendar......
You're welcome!
#ItsWhatsNext 
#HappySaturday

From Take Another Step Facebook Page


From 3 years ago #Bacon

From Take Another Step Facebook Page

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This boy loves his Jelly Beans. 
These will last a bit longer than usual as he has to read each and every one to me before eating.
Happy Valentine's Day! #valentinejellybeans

From Take Another Step Facebook Page

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It's been a (insert expletive of your choice here) week, but these made my day! (Flowers from Best Buddies Flower arranging class on Wednesday and cards from Camp party) - #earlyvalentinesgifts 
Happy Valentine's Day

From Take Another Step Facebook Page

And this year:

DC just presented me with this beautiful fake flower that he pulled out of an old party favor arrangement that I had sitting on a shelf. 
Happy Valentine's Day! 
#ItsTheThoughtThatCounts

Oh, and a heart eraser that he got at his camp party last night.

 But wait, there's more.... a note on his grocery list 

I'm wondering now if the note to me on his shopping list was really not a note to me at all but an addition of an item on his shopping list. Hmmmm.

From Take Another Step Facebook Page

(FYI, I was correct, he did add it to his list because he wanted to buy me a heart. I thought originally that he just picked up the first piece of paper that he could find to draw me a heart)

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In case you are new here: “I tell stories, most of the time; single individual stories about this or that. Some may be written with humor and some may come across as “Oh, look at the cute thing DC did or said” (he does crack me up at times) but my object is always to make people understand how his mind works, never to "make fun of him"

It is difficult to explain “his” autism to anyone without resorting to 1000 examples and 1000 stories. So I tell 1000 stories to make clear that there are other sides to autism than the characters seen in TV or movies."\

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This blog is used to copy my posts (as back-up) from my official site and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time

:) ❤❤

The Struggle is Real - More about the 'Wea-ver"

Facebook Statuses Concerning the "Wea-ver"

Another morning of listening to "No 'Wev-Ver', No Wev-Ver'!!!" - while watching for delays and/or cancellations (freezing rain).
For those of you who are new here... I can not watch the weather without DC yelling about it because apparently not watching will keep any storm away.... The news? Nope.. the news is related to the 'Wev-ver'.... Not allowed.
#NoNewsIsGoodNews 

From FB Statuses at Take Another Step

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"No 'Wev-er'! Change the channel!" (I had to check for delays - I'm not allowed to watch the news because news means weather and weather means "storm") 
"I DON'T LIKE THE 'WEV-ER'!
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Then he found a hole in his sock ..... (sigh)
We've been up for all of 45 minutes - Friday has certainly started off with a bang!

From FB Statuses at Take Another Step

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And now for our weather update...

From FB Statuses at Take Another Step

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Thunder - he's "Ted-a-fied" but won't come away from the door. #storms

From FB Statuses at Take Another Step

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So it's bad enough that DC is flipping out (and praying in front of the door singing "storm go away - did ee did ee") but then I had to go and scare the life out of him by jumping 10ft and possibly screaming (possibly) at a majorly loud crack of a thunder/lightening combo that took me by surprise .#MomToTheRescue 
#NiceJobKeepingHimCalm

From FB Statuses at Take Another Step

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He can't seem to be able to hear anything I say to him when he is on the computer with earbuds on. But thunder... way off in the distance? No problem hearing at all.

From FB Statuses at Take Another Step

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And we have thunder..... Fortunately I had a spare box of band aids to keep him slightly occupied ------ slightly #LongNightAhead

From FB Statuses at Take Another Step

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For those of you who may be concerned that DC is asleep and missing the 50 mph winds, torrential downpours, flickering lights and the promise of thunder - do not worry - he wouldn't dream of missing it.

From FB Statuses at Take Another Step

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This blog is used to copy my posts (as back-up) from my official site and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time

It's all about the 'Wea-ver'

A collection of weather related page posts;

The day before the latest storm - Winter Storm Chris, I believe it was called...

The first thing that DC said to me tonight was "No work tomorrow" - I don't know who told him that because his work has not been cancelled yet (many schools are already). 

I had to explain that I did not know since we do not know how much it will snow. We'll have to wait until morning to find out.

Now he's standing in front of me staring at me because he says wants to go to work and I can't make him understand that I just don't know yet.

But... in DC-Land....

There are no grey areas.

"Maybe " is not a word.

"I don't know" is not an acceptable phrase.

This whole "work is cancelled" thing works much better for him if NO ONE TELLS HIM before it is official! It is  better if he doesn't know until the last minute.

Grrr!

(I suspect it's not that he really wants to go to work that badly - it's just that he knows that it being cancelled definitely means - "storm". )
#ItsNotNiceToStare

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Work was in fact cancelled, but then then the "fun" began...

Trying hard to watch the first round of plowing through snow covered windows... while yelling "Snow go away!"

Facebook Status at Take Another Step

Thundersnow?

It looks we have a new snow day ritual.

First let me say that I have lived in New England all of my life and have never heard of "Snow Thunder" or "Snow Lightning" until today. The flash was so bright I thought there had been an explosion of some sort.

Now when DC is upset by a storm, I can no longer calm him down a bit by telling him there is no thunder and lightning in the winter.... (sigh...)

After that big blast of thunder and lightning - every time he hears a noise (I live in a duplex and unfortunately my neighbors are home kicking walls as they do - not helping the situation) we have to go down to the garage and open the door so he can hear that the noise is not coming from outside.

There's a shovel there so shoveling a few shovels full of snow is actually making him feel better - just a few though :)  :)

This was our 4th or 5th trip to 'Gerr-aaj' so far.

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Coincidentally, it was four years ago that very day that we were trapped by Nemo

4 years ago today, we were into our 3rd day of being stranded in the snow.

I was beginning to lose it

On day 4 Doug and the neighbors actually started to try to shovel the street when the plow finally showed up. It turns out the town had us marked off as already done and had no idea we were all still trapped, being that their voicemail was full and no one was responding to emails. I finally had to call the police.

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I guess it's safe to say that we "don't do weather" here very well..

We'll talk about thunder, lightning and losing power at another time....

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This blog is used to copy my posts (as back-up) from my official site and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time

YES! It's too DARK!

DC and I went out to dinner last night with my brother and sister-in-law. DC was having a hard time when we first arrived. He was really looking forward to dinner all week so I know that part of it was his regular "arrival anxiety", as I like to call it. I can't be sure but I THINK the severity of it also had something to do with not being able to find a parking spot for a good long time - so much so, that I had to take him outside for a while until he could calm down.

We were finally able to go back to the table and he seemed all right. The service was SLOW and I was a bit on edge that something else would set him off. When the food finally arrived, I assumed that we were home-free, but then all of a sudden the lights went down - dimmed, but very quickly and very low.

I saw his face, he stopped eating and froze thinking the power was going out. Unfortunately I had a mouthful of food (because, what else is new) but my sister-in-law also saw him react and jumped in to calm him down and tell him that the restaurant just dimmed the lights. #NoStormToday - the power was not going out.

His anxiety must have been more apparent to people that I thought because I heard a voice from the table behind us asking "Oh, is that too dark?" and I realized that it was not the restaurant at all. It was a couple that was just seated and happened to be seated next to the switch. They just took it upon themselves, to come in and lower the lights throughout the entire restaurant!

I explained that he was afraid because he thought the power was going out. The man said "Well we don't want to upset him" (no sir, you certainly do not) and turned the lights back up and acted as if I should be grateful to THEM for doing that!

Even after the lights went up, we still had to talk him down a bit before he got over the fear of losing power. Fortunately, it wasn't as bad as I imagined it would be when I first saw the look on his face.

I don't know, and it's only me - but I would never walk into a restaurant and just decide for everyone there that the lights need to be turned down - way down. And I know that some restaurants do this at a certain hour but they usually do it gradually so as not to have people think they were having a brown-out. It's not as if the place was ridiculously bright to begin with.

From Facebook Page Statuses at Take Another Step

This blog is used to copy my posts (as back-up) from my official site and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time

When His Random Movie or Television Line Fits the Mood Perfectly

DC's plans went a little bit haywire yesterday due to the storm. 

The plan was to pick him up early because we were supposed to be getting snow and his program rarely closes early.

Doug offered to go and pick him up him at 1. 

As it turned out, the driving conditions were much worse than anticipated and Doug got trapped on the highway for 3 hours (no exaggeration). I left work when it really started to come down and started driving in the direction of either home or DC's program - whichever I needed to do. 

After a good 45 minute drive I arrived at the spot where I could go left, to get home or right, to get to his program, I called Doug to see where he was. He was still trapped in the same spot so - I went right.

I was able to make it there, slowly; very slowly. That took another 45 minutes,so I arrived much later than he expected. That, and his anxiety over possibly not going to the library had him in a tizzy - and then me showing up instead of Doug just added to his confusion.

It was a long ride home but fortunately I have the "DC Playlist" on my phone so we had a Buffy/Dr. Horrible sing-a-long on the ride home (yes, I confess to knowing all of the words) - 

At the end of this particular song (pictured) DC recited the line that comes right after the song. It is not not on the sound track, only in the episode. He recited it as clear as a bell...

''The hardest thing in this world is to live in it..''

#MyThoughtsExactly

Just another example of DC reciting a random movie/TV line that proves to be absolutely appropriate to the situation or mood. His day did not happen at all as planned. He was over it.

From Face Book Statuses at Take Another Step

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This blog is used to copy my posts (as back-up) from my official site and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time