Fall Fun

This weekend was a nice break from the reality of life. We all played like kids and forgot about the outside world. Saturday we went to the Durham fair. I wish I wasn't getting so lazy about carrying my camera around; we really need to get a pocket camera. Anyway, boy did the kids have fun. We spent a small fortune on rides,admission and food (probably $60) but those smiles were priceless. Maria is getting more brave about going on rides alone yippee! And Matthew doesn't seem to be bothered so much of loud noises and that crowd sound. He went on teh train track ride, the firetrucks and the huge banana slide with Todd. He went in a bouncy house that had a climbing wall and a huge slide down which he loved too. That was the first thing we went on and he kept wanting to go back, all protests with tears. But we fed him and he seemed much more balanced and we went on the rides after that. there was also lots of animals to pet and see which they enjoyed. There was this big sheep that was sticking out its tongue and then baa-ing really loudly, full belly laughs from the kids. We ended the night with listening to a band, 38 Special, and pony rides. Todd as usual was a huge help!! Sunday we went apple picking. A small hay ride out to the trees. We pciked Cortlands for Todd and Macouhns for me :D. Matthew started just picking up all the apples off the ground and throwing them in our bucket, so Todd decided that the best place for himmwas his shoulders. The look of Todd's face everytime Matthew grabbed a cluster of apples off the tree right above Todd was priceless. Maria took the job very seriously and taste tested many apples along the way LOL. After picking we went to the little store and bought cider donuts-YUM! I hope these are things the kids remember for a long time to come.
SChool for all three of us is going ok. Maria's teacher called me yesterday to tell me that she was caught stealing again from the classroom. I just don't know what to do!! I made her write a letter to Mrs Tanner and told her if she was caught again that she would have to start losing priveledges in school like recess. Matthew loves all his teachers, knows all their names which tells me they are all pretty involved with him, what a great feeling. In Bristol he only knew Mrs Mancini's name, and he's been attending Colchester a shorter amount of time than he was in BRistol. He sings lots of songs from school and the basic concept they're teaching right now is same and different. My school is jugging along. Boy do I hate math! The other class is lots of reading and stress related to my paper I have to write and the presentation. The midterm will be assigned next week.

the baby is doing well as far as we know. It feels odd to not have seen it aside from the last time as a blob at 8 weeks. I could not afford to do the triple screen test, $361. as I had to take the prenatal panel blood test at $369. This baby has cost me $4000. so far, the cost of a healthy baby is afterall, not priceless, but a prayer we pray every night that is answered. teh ehart rate looms around 140, could be boy or girl. I am still trying to figure out exactly what gencer I want, doesn't every one want one or the other, but I just can't decide, healthy is my biggest worry and weighs heavy on my mind. We find out onthe 16th who is really in there.

Moving along....

Can you believe I am procrastinating against homework??? Good thing the internet wasn't around when I was in high school or I probably would have failed :) My two grad courses are going ok. One is interesting but lots of work, reading, papers, presentation due 10/29 and midterm paper and also a lesson plan. The other class started rough with a substitute teacher, his wife, who speaks italian orignally and anyone who knows me knows I have hearing troubles and I have a hard time understanding accents. But he showed up this past week and he seems very methodical which I need in a statistics class. A nice girl sits next to me in class too, so that helps :) I don't know her name or what she teaches or anything but we share a hate for Math which maybe is enough to start a friendship. She is newly engaged I know, and I am sure she looks at me wondering with my belly where my ring is and what's the scoop. I think I'll let her wonder a bit longer. I have math homework for that class and since we're going to Maine this weekend I need to get it done by tomorrow. Hopefully the fact that Todd rocks in Math will save me. That guy is amazing I tell you!
The kids are adjusting to school. Matthew has a clod and just passed it to Maria and myself. Of course with disgust she told me this morning that she doesn't want Matthew standing next to her, she doesn't want more cold. Funny. I told her she can't get more you have one or you don't. Matthew's teacher I can tell just adores him! I was so filled with pride when she was telling me about his abilities. And when I ask about his challenges she tells me, we'll teach him, we can help! No comments from the teacher about Maria yet. Which actually is a good thing, considering Maria "stole" some little figurines from her class that I had to make her return. Maria, my sweet girl, rationalizes everything she does just alittle too well.
AS far as the Baby Simonds front, well, I am finally starting to feel better. Once in a while I can feel the flutters in my tummy. I still can't believe that I am pregnant again, this wasn't suppose to happen. Am I good enough to be a mom of three? Will they be healthy? Is autism lurking in there? Will Todd like being a Dad? WIll he see the joys that I do and will the joys be enough to overcome the overwhelmingness I am sure we'll experience? is it a boy or a girl?
The house has had no bites, only one showing the first day it was onthe market. Our first open house is Sunday. The house HAS to sell by December. Very scary. I need as much money from that house, especially with Richard taking all of my alimony, well, trying. The deal that is being offered is $10,500. for college and then $8000. to live off of for two years. How will that work? I can't put Matthew in daycare to work. Todd pays alimony already and has a very high mortgage because of his divorce. I know I live with Todd and it's not Richard's job to support me completely, but $4000. dollars a year is not going to go anywhere. That amount means $76. a week, which wouldn't even be groceries. So the girl who had no moral choice to get divorced in the first place, after supporting him throguh medical school and making the numerous "sacrifice a Dr's wife makes" gets nothing in the end but debt. The house is my only saving grace. I will see a lawyer to see if I could get anywhere in court, the compensentory route. The kicker, Richard coould pay me what I need to just pay expenses, with just his organ playing money, not even delving into his salary. ANd let's not forget the $$ that I owe him from the house sale (which is where the $ right now will come from, I will still owe him $36,000. after I sell the house) The guy has money, he's been living for free basically the past 1.5 yrs at his parent's house. Just seems unfair for me to pay the price for his extra activities for four years.
Summer is over. We did one last trip to the beach on Friday. It wasn't too cold, the kids had a blast. Matthew was far too brave this time, next year for certain we will need a life vest. Autistic kids just have no sense of fear or consequences. Here are the pics :)
Please pray for my buddy Ethan who is having a very important test today, http://www.ethanpowell.com, click on updates at the top. Think good thoughts about my house please too :)

Orientation and First Day!

Orientation went great, Matthew's teachers are super nice and she kept reassuring me that he was in good hands, I must have looked nervous :) He gave me alittle grief at home about not wanting to go but once we got there he was fine. I think there's one more autistic kid in the class, from what I can tell, time will tell. I am so shy but if I wasn't I would have asked them if their child was. Maria went with Todd and had a good time meeting her teacher. The teacher was reading about raccoons and Maria told her that she knew about raccoons and that were nocturnal! The class made a reaction to the word nocturnal and Maria took it as they laughed at her, poor thing is so sensitive. I tried to tell her that they weren't laughing at HER, not sure if I was successful. The first day went without a hitch. They both looked cute in their first day clothes. Maria's bus comes at about 7:50 and Matthew's at 8. I have to keep Matthew inside or else he has a fit that he missed his bus, meaning Maria's but he doesn't get that :( Matthew rides a van, the same driver these two days so that's a plus :) He wasn't sure about the seat since it was different, but no tears about it. Matthew came home first since his day is shorter by 20 minutes. He was happy to see me of course :) Maria's bus didn't come home until 12:40 but I imagine that's a beginning of school thing. She said she had fun but she was worried that Mrs Tanner has lots of rules. And she also said she has a boyfriend and a best friend already! Of course I aksed her for names and she said they never told her. I started asking her questions to see if I could ring a bell in the name (I remember some from the open house) Come to find out they are kids on the bus not her class, but she was all bothered by my questions and she says, you never listen to me do you, I told you, they never told me their names! Funny girl!! Here's there pics! Success all around. The year is going to be great, aside from some pushes of the limit from Maria :)

Moving along....

Went to NY for the weekend to see my sister Janet and the kids had a great time. Me, my tummy was not cooperating but I was able to still have fun. Todd was a great help. The house is now on active status and I had a looker already today. It's not really ready to be seen but I thought strike while the iron is hot, if there are buyers maybe one of them can see past the mess. All rooms are done except Maria's and the basemnet and the garage. I am feeling pretty good today :) I did take all my meds becuse you never know when it can sneak up on you. Tomorrow is kindergarten and pre k orientation. I just got a call today from Matthew's teacher and she sounded young but nice. There are four adults in the room and Matthew will be number 12. I'm so nervous about being hte school mom of a special needs kid. God give me the strength to do things right by him. Maria is pretty excited about her new school. Todd will be going with her and I will be doing Matthew's, Todd is an awesome man for helping and taking a half day just for me :) I love him so much, I can't wait to have his baby :) I plan on posting pics tomorrow so stay tuned!!

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