Band-Aids: We love our Band-Aids

It occurs to me that people new to my Facebook Page, may not be aware of DC's obsession with band-aids. He loves them and being someone who really never gets hurt, he never has the opportunity to legitimately wear a band-aide, so he began making up reasons.

I wrote about it a few years ago on my "official" blog, but the obsession has grown more since then. Now it is not asking for a band-aide for some phantom injury - now it is asking for one, two, three BOXES of band-aids to cover his arms with - while still using a phantom "itch" as an excuse...

Facebook Statuses:

I cut my finger and thankfully "The Keeper of the Band-aids" had one he could spare. Only one and HE had to put it on. #bandaids  - FB Status

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Apparently Easter was two years ago today - sporting his Easter bandaids, which are not to be confused with his birthday, Christmas or every day bandaids - FB Status

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4 years ago today. We participated in a cycling challenge that helped to support DC's Summer Camp. His camp's designated hour had a Michael Jackson theme. DC (complete with Birthday Band-aids that he received at his party the night before) sported his Michael Jackson hat and TWO glitter gloves - because wearing only one was simply out of the question..   #Bandaids - FB Status

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When he runs out of Characters, he is willing to go old school - basic. #bandaids - FB Status

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Books and band-aids make a successful day trip - FB Status

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Just a boy relaxing with his pile of band-aids after a busy day... - FB Status

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The first wave of "birthday band aids" have been applied.. Not to worry, I have inside information that there may be more on the way.... #autism #bandaids - FB Status

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This is beginning to get almost as expensive as his bookstore obsession. I'm going to have to limit him to one box per week. He is getting pretty creative with them though... #bandaids - FB Status

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And the band-aids from his shopping list - he used every last one - FB Status 

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#TravelingWithDC  jelly beans and a large array of band aids all in one place — at Freak Lunchbox Saint John. - FB Status 

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Second wave of birthday band aids arrived today (two boxes missing - he's already wearing them) - FB Status

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And a Third wave of Birthday Band-aids (People just know what he likes) 

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Two new boxes of Band-aids arrived today with a belated birthday gift. I think he used all of them already. - FB Status

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But then, of course there are the "regular" uses #bandaids #autism #NoInjury #JustLikesBandaids
- FB Status

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#fbmemories 2 years ago today - DC came up with yet another use for his precious band aides - FB Status

Not that I would ever advocate putting a band-aide over anyone's mouth... but the thought process and just the mere fact that he came up with that in his head was pretty funny...

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From his "movie-themed" summer band aide fashion accessory collection - FB Status

I think you've got the point....

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This blog is used for shorter posts and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time

"Maybe It's Allergies?"

It is allergy season and as much as I have been suffering, DC does not seem to be (so far, knock wood) all that much. He had a few days (so far, knock wood) of coughing and sneezing but compared to last year at this time - it's been cake ....

Did somebody say "Cake"?

From last year: The boy who will never admit that he is sick, was doing a lot of complaining.

DC was not the only one having a hard time, though. Some were having just as hard of a time understanding it....

Facebook Status from This Time Last year....

DC has really been suffering with allergies for more than a week. 

I have written notes and called to let his program know that the coughing and sneezing is due to ... 

his allergies. 

He was even absent one day last week because he didn't get any sleep and I explained that it was due to.....

his allergies. 

The following day after he was out due to...... 

his allergies, 

I received this note from his program:

"Dc has been coughing" 

I replied to the note:

Yes, as I said before, he is having a very hard time with.... 

his allergies

The allergy med is helping his nose but hasn't done much for the cough yet"

Yesterday (it had rained) I received this note from his program:

"DC was much better today. Hopefully the rain washed the pollen off the trees" 

(Me (thinking) Pollen=Allergies - I think they've got it!!!!)

I spoke (thought) too soon...

Note from Program Today

"DC has been coughing and sneezing very hard during lunch today"

and wait for it....

"He might have allergies."

sigh.......

#TheseAreThePeopleInChargeOfMyKid

Be sure to read the next chapter in #TheseAreThePeopleInChargeOfMyKid about  sunscreen and bug spray "There is extra Sunscreen in His Back Pack"

Tales from the Day Program – ALL

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This blog is used for shorter posts and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time

His Dream Job

If DC could choose his dream job, it would be one (or all) of three things; Working in a Bookstore, Working at Disney (or anything having to do with Disney), Working at a Theater (plays and musicals) - 4 Years ago today, DC and his Job Coach headed off to his first day of volunteer work at the theater. My Broadway Baby got his wish....

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4 years ago today - FB Memories 
DC and Mrs H on their way to his first night at the Theater. He's a little anxious . If we can get through tonight he'll be fine for the rest. (He's very excited too!)

3 years ago - Facebook Memories 

I shared a photo from 4 years ago of DC's first day at his volunteer job at the theater. (Poor Mrs. H keeps getting her face blurred because I never get to ask her permission ahead of time :) ) 
Three years ago, Doug, my Mother (Grandma) and I went to see a production of Hair while DC was working the show (with his job coach) and got to see him in action.

Full disclosure; I screwed up when I bought the tickets thinking DC would work the afternoon performance and we would all go see it at night. BUT, I bought tickets for the afternoon show by accident while he was working and really didn't realize it until the day before (after I had been annoyingly belting out "Gimme a Head With Hair" at him all week) - No worries, he did get to see it once the crowd was seated and his "greeter" duties were done until intermission.

DC was very excited to see us at his job, but as excited as he was - first things first and in the correct order - no hugs were given out (even for Grandma) until each of us received our programs and each, an "Enjoy the Show". #autism #AllThingsInOrder #DontMessWithTheSystem

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Although he loves his volunteer job, he does not get to work it very often. It is difficult scheduling around Mrs. H's, mine and DC's schedule. He only had two shows booked this season (Feb-July). Mrs. H called to say she was ill and could not make it for his second and last show of the season. Mrs. H has been with him at the Palace from the beginning and attended all of the training sessions. Being that this was his last show (and only the second) of the season, I did not want him to miss it.

I emailed the coordinator and asked if it would be all right if  Doug accompanied him even though he's not been through the training. She replied that it would be fine and that DC would probably be able to tell him exactly what to do. I was sure he would - exactly and in the proper order.

Doug, the man who dresses better to play golf than to go to work, was pouting about the white dress shirt and the black pants (they were blue - he thought he'd get that by me) and - horrors - dress shoes!

DC was anxious and acting out because Mrs. H was not there and he has been obsessed with Mrs. H being sick since Monday - I've heard about it, I don't know how many times a day.

At one point he crossed his arms and said

 "I" not going!

"Follow me around" (He did not want Doug to follow him around??? This statement was never made clear)

I told him that he would have to teach Doug what to do and that seemed to make him a little bit happier, but not much..


On his way out the door - in a final act of defiance, he grabbed his "Into the Woods" CD, which had been banned from Doug's car quite a while ago because he just could not take listening to it anymore...
And off they went, Doug walking, shoulders slumped, down the sidewalk to the car, with his dress shirt, black blue pants, dress shoes and "Into the Woods" to work at the theater....

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This blog is used for shorter posts and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time

#TravelingWithDC: The Way Home, Easter, Mystic and a Severed Arm

Our annual trip to the Cape fell on Easter weekend this year. My friend's, mother's birthday bash was on Saturday night so we were still at the hotel on Easter morning.

Fortunately, the Easter Bunny knew that we were away and delivered to the hotel instead of at home.

Other than any gift he might receive, a holiday in DC's mind means "out to eat" so this would be the mission for the ride home.

The plan was to stop off in Mystic, one of DC's favorite places on the way home. We've spend a few Easters in Mystic, so we knew that there would be some restaurants open even on the holiday.

I have a favorite place for dinner (S&P Oyster) but DC has an entirely different favorite restaurant (Steak Loft). DC, as always won won the battle for Easter dinner.

As I said in my previous post, this weekend was not an official "Looking Around Trip" but Doug, when he knows we will be driving through a particular area, researches Road Side America for odd stuff to stop and see. We've seen some pretty odd and some unique things during our "Looking Around Trips".

Listed in Mystic was the severed arm of some Saint. My question of why did someone keep the severed arm of this Saint, never really got answered, but okay, we're here. Why not?

The listing said that the arm was located on one of the islands off Mystic at or near a Yacht Club. In my mind, like the island we had to drive through to get to the second island, this would be a residential area with houses and the Chapel. It wasn't. We did not read far enough into the description:

"On Ender's Island, off the coast of Mystic (accessible by car), there's a religious retreat run by a Catholic order known as the Brothers of St. Edmund, founded in France in the 19th century The order takes responsibility for the relics of St. Edmund Rich, a 13th century archbishop of Canterbury whose body has been a pilgrimage site in France for centuries."

I, even though I am not religious at all, felt really weird walking around this island looking for a severed arm, but it was listed on Road Side America, so everyone must do it, right?

It really is a pretty place and I assume that later in the spring and summer when every thing is in bloom, will be even more beautiful.

We looked all over the island and could not find it. Doug, who really does NOT have a fascination with the morbid, was intent on finding this thing, just because it was listed and if it was listed, it should be there.

We were not the only people looking around at everything on the island, so Doug went over a woman who looked like she may have been a Grandmother showing her family around the island.

At this point, I stepped away and pretended I did not even know him because there is really no tactful way to ask where a severed arm might be found. In my head I was imaging him saying "Excuse me, we are only here to see the severed arm. Do you know where it is?" (of course, he didn't ask that way, but I could not imagine any other way of asking that could make that question sound good).

She was very nice and did not seem put off by his question at all. She said that she hadn't been to see it herself recently but told him where it had always been (in the chapel that we had already been inside twice, but did not realize that there was a separate alcove in the back).

We found it. DC was busy looking around and was not really paying attention to the arm, which at first, second and third glance was not really recognizable as an arm at all.

Yes, I did feel weird taking a photo of it, but apparently that is what one does when one happens upon a severed arm.

So anyway, severed arm or not.... the island itself is worth a visit. It's really pretty and different. It's not a very big island, so it does not take long to look around the entire place.

Worth the stop.

And, no... there was no "sleeping picture" taken.

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This blog is used for shorter posts and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time

Notes. Flowers, Hearts and Apologies #MothersDay

As I wrote in Saturday's Mother's Day post, DC loves to write me notes and draw pictures for me. Much of the time, he does it when he thinks (or knows) he is in trouble for something. Sometimes though, they are just because he wants to.

Unfortunately on Mother's Day, DC had his computer taken away from him as "punishment" for something he did. ("punishment", the word he uses that he learned from Full House").

Did I want to do that on Mother's Day? No. But sometimes he has to know that what he has done is not acceptable. Some things I cannot just let go, knowing full well that I will suffer far more than he will during said punishment. I always have to decide if it is worth it. (if you are new here, you can read all about THAT here).

So instead of a post about what a wonderful day we spent together, here are some random Facebook post about his notes, flowers, hearts and apologies,

Hope you all had a Happy Mother's Day.

We are looking forward to a do-over...

His "note writing" has just been taken to a whole new level (ARC Activity)

I got a call today from DC's work/day program that he had ripped his pants. I assumed it was just a small tear but that it was driving him off the deep end so I left work to go and pick him up. When I got there, the rip was all the way from his waist to mid-thigh. He couldn't say how it happened but he did hand me this note: "I am sorry I rid (ripped) the pants on purpose" - so I have to imagine this started as a small hole and he spent the morning shredding it because holes in anything...... Not, not, not tolerable - ever.

An item added to his shopping list...

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 

Mother's Day Breakfast with DC

Happy Mother's Day!

An apology

TWO hearts!!!

DC is obsessed with Ella's letter to Char. He recites it often. This is the first time he's written it out. (Ella Enchanted)

Do ya think he knows he's in trouble?

DC has been on a roll today. I got hearts, a birthday cake (it's not my birthday) and roses. The funniest and most confusing one is a "Wedding Cake for Mom" . I don't know where that comes from but I just may have to burn it.

And even though he had his computer taken away .....

I still got a note.....

This blog is used for short posts and also for longer Facebook statuses. Please visit my official blog site at: Taking it a Step at a Time