WHEW!!!

Friday, 8-29-08:  Whew...I made it through the 1st wk. of school without much incident.  Yea!  Today we spent most of the day wandering the local mall for a field trip.  For our students that is a very important trip.  They have to learn appropriate social behavior, independence...as in choosing their meal at the Food Court & paying for it, and not wandering off.  We also ride the city bus.  It was fun, albeit exhausting.  I spent a lot of time counting heads! My son, Chris, gave us tickets to the last official Springfield Cardinals game.  I picked them up after school and we went tonight.  It was a good game.  They were tied with the Tulsa Drillers through the 12th inning!  Finally we scored and beat them 6 to 5 in the 13th inning.  Who says 13 is unlucky?!?!?  They may make it to the play-offs, now. Adam went to the lake to meet up with a friend for this Labor Day weekend.  He was very excited.  I am glad to see him have something fun to do.  He has been sooooo down since Melissa died. He is so sweet.  He called to let me know he made it to where he was going.  He wasn't sure how to get there.  I have always worried but now I am a hyper-worrier. My Mom's husband was transfered to a Veteran's rehab center in Nevada, MO.  My Mom, even after week 2 of radiation, felt she needed to go see him.  She also called to let me know all is well. Melissa's Mom called while I was at the ball game just to check on me.  I think she must really need me.  Sadly, I have not called her lately.  I should never be so busy.... I will call her tomorrow. I am sort of fighting the pull of darkeness.  Right now I am pulling back.  I am trying to stay busy and not think too much.  I still feel like I could have saved Scott if I had only gone in when I heard that "funny" breath.  I will never know.  But, it haunts me.   My picnic/flip-flop boy is doing great.  He actually sung the entire Itsy Bitsy Spider song to me.  On his own, without prompting!  It was awesome.  He also, as I blocked his way,(I "mess" with the kids a lot) pointed to the sky and said, "Look" and then scooted around me when I did.  Of course I knew what he was doing.  But social interaction from an autistic child is a HUGE step in their development.  I laughed really hard!  I just love seeing progress of any kind from my students. And, when it is entertaining, it is even better. Scotty memory:  One of my most awesome moments with Scott was about 18 months before he died. (Actually there are two for this story)  We had a HORRIBLE ice storm in 2006.  The power was out for 11 days.  We did pretty well because we mostly heat with wood and I have a gas cook stove so I could cook a lot of stuff on the stove top. (I don't care if I never eat another candlelight dinner!)  Many people had to go to shelters because they had no heat.  Anyway, the 1st night Scott and I stood out on our front porch about 1 A.M. and listened to the "pop" of the tree limbs breaking and the transformers blowing.  It was so quiet except for that.  It was a moment only he and I shared, in awe.  It was awesome!  Also, during the ice storm, I expected Scott to be a real pain.  He liked to be on the go and since he was an addict, I worried about the lack of "whatever".  However, it was one of his most peaceful times.  I got so tickled when he decided to roast a hot dog in the wood stove.  He just did it like it was the most normal of things.  It was such a joy to be with him during that time as he seemed like his old self and was so resourceful and helpful. That time gave me hope. Of course, now, hope is gone.