My Birthday

This is the first birthday that Tyson has really enjoyed making me feel special.  Joel and Tyson went shopping for me on Saturday.  Tyson walked in the door with some yellow flowers he picked out yelling, "Mommy, I have a surprise for you!"  Next I was ordered to my room so he and Joel could make me yet another surprise.  Due to the fact that our bedroom is right off the kitchen I got to enjoy the sounds of him and Joel making me a cake.  He stuck through the whole cake making process and wanted to sit by the oven door until it was done cooking.  When I knew that it was clear to come out he yelled, "Mommy, we made a cake for you!"  Joel quietly reminded him that it was a surprise and that he can't show me until my actual birthday.  Later he comes running out of his room with two boxes of Hot Tamales (my fav).  He runs right over to me, gives me the two biggest kisses and a hug, hands me the candy, and yells, "Surprise, Happy Birthday!"  (so you can tell he is not the greatest at keeping a secret)  Finally the day had come.  He helped Joel frost the cake and put the sprinkles on.  He was so excited.  When they were all done he carried the cake to the living room to show me.  He was soooo proud.  "Happy Birthday, Mom!"  It was the best birthday ever.  Oh, and I got to take a really long nap with Charlie while Joel to Tyson to a birthday party.  What a great day!

Charlie

So yesterday was Charlie's last day at his Children's Day Out.  He has been going there since he was 18 months old.  It was harder for me then I thought it would be.  This makes us just one step closer to him going off to preschool.  As you can see he was totally stressed out about it too!

How old does he look???

It's A New Day

OK, so after my pity party yesterday I have some good news.  My computer did crash and had to be completely restored to the factory settings, BUT I had randomly done a back up of my pictures on November 8th.  I had  not imported any pictures since then.  They were all still on my camera.  So...I did not lose one picture!  I can't believe it.  Things like that never happen to me.  I am so happy about that.  So here are some pictures of my cuties that make me smile everyday, good or bad!

December 1st

So November has come and gone.  I did ONE post in November.  So sad.  I don't think I have all that many faithful readers, but to you, I apologize.  Where did November go?  It's kind of bittersweet to me because November wasn't all that great of a month.  Lots of not so great things have been going on around here.  WARNING:  I am going to bore you with some "feel sorry for me" stuff, so you can quit reading now if you don't want to hear it.  :)

Charlie has been fighting a cold since I can't remember when.  We went back to the doctor AGAIN and are now on a major antibiotic.  Hopefully this one will work.  He also came down with a small flu bug over Thanksgiving.  Fun times!  I have another meeting on Friday to finalize some school stuff for him.  I am not ready for him to go to school.  February is just around the corner.  He will be 3 and a preschooler, oh my!  What am I going to do?  Maybe get a dog.

We have had nothing but struggles with Tyson in school lately.  Why does it all have to be so hard?  Why can't, just once, the school doing something we ask?  His regular teacher has been gone since October, the class is a nightmare, Tyson has started crying and throwing fits to get out of math, and now bullying.  Really? In first grade?  It is so sad.  Such a hard thing to go through as a mom and dad.  I am feeling defeated and am counting the days for his regular teacher to come back and hopefully whip them all into shape.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Other then school, Tyson is blossoming like crazy.  It is so encouraging to see people we haven't seen in awhile and they tell me how much he has changed.  I needed that.

Joel is still crazy busy at work.  He is hardly home and when he is he has to do more work.  I am not sure this "promotion" is really a good thing.  He is holding on and we are hoping for some relief soon.  And to top all this craziness off, my computer crashed, so I have no cute pictures to post!

Now to end on a happy note because I really am a pretty happy person.  I decorated for Christmas this week and now Tyson tells me at least three times a day, "Merry Christmas Mommy!"  So cute.  Charlie now opens the pantry door, looks inside, and says "Hmm, let's see" just like Tyson.  It's all worth it!       

Halloween Weekend

Halloween this year was the best ever!  Last year we were all dying of H1N1 so it really couldn't get worse.  But this year really tops them all.  Since this year it was on a Sunday we had lots of options.  Tyson was out of school Thursday and Friday that week so I loaded up the boys and headed to Iowa.  I have always wanted the boys to be able to go with their cousins.  It was a first for both of them!  In Iowa it was all happening on Friday and in Manhattan it was on Sunday.  So the boys got to go 3 different times.  First up, Perry!  We met up with the Murphy's and Grandma and Grandpa.  Tyson got to help Grandma hand out the candy and he loved it.  He would yell at them to open their bags from halfway down the street, tell them to say "trick or treat", tell them to say "thank you", and then he would say bye to whatever they were dressed up as.  "Bye Batman, Bye Princess", and so on.  It was absolutely adorable.  Charlie had fun but was just as happy eating all the fruit snacks Tyson was handing out.  Braydon was Charlie Brown.  It was very cute!

Next up, Gilbert!  We met up with Grandma, the Hogge's (some of them anyway), the Buerckley's, and the DeBont's (most of them) and went out again.  Tyson ran from house to house with his cousins.  It was so much fun to watch.  Charlie hung out in the wagon most of the time so he could play with his cars.  They were more fun I guess.  For some reason I did not get a picture of Bella.  She was dressed as a super cute Elf. This was tons of fun too!

To top off our trip we got to watch Paige run State Cross Country!  I was so excited to get to go, I hate missing things as most of you know.  We woke up bright and early, decorated the cars, and caravaned to Fort Dodge.  The boys thought this was the best sporting event ever.  Tyson was screaming "Run, Paige, Run!" over and over.  He ran with us to try to catch her another time during the race and everything.  We are so proud of her!  His pride just shines through in this picture, doesn't it?

I did not take one picture of trick or treating in Manhattan.  Bummer!  But I did get a picture of the pumpkins my hubby decorated.  Pretty cool, huh?  The bleeding one had a large knife in his head, but we took it out for the pictures.  And the last picture is of the craziest flowers my husband has ever brought home to me.

Fun times!  Sorry it was so long, had lots to share!

Flag Football Story

Sorry I have no pictures to post with this, just a funny story.  So far in flag football Tyson's job has been to block.  Block on offense, block on defense, block on kick offs, block on punts, and block at practice.  He has carried the ball once the entire year!  Last night was our second to last game.  They lined up for kick off.  Tyson was in the middle.  Joel and I were sitting there wondering, "is he going to kick?"  I tried to turn on the video camera as fast as I could.  I thought I had it on, but in the end it wasn't.  Boo.  He ran up to the ball, kicked it, then ran after it.  We were so proud!  So was he!  Actually he was so proud he ran over to us and gave us a high five.  The play was still going. When a high five wasn't enough he hugged Joel!  It was one of the cutest things I have ever seen.  It must have been cute enough to Coach Chuck too because he let him do it a second time too!  He had so much fun!

Here We Go!

I have again been a bad blogger.  I have so many cute pictures to show all of you.  We have been quite busy around here trying to get in all we can before the weather changes.  I hate winter.  Just thought I would let all of you know that.  But I do love fall! (except for the part that winter follows it) OK, I'm gonna move on.  Here is a brief synopsis of the last few weeks.
Charlie got to go to a KSU football game!  He usually stays with a sitter because he is really a naughty kid.  (I am pretty sure I have typed those words in just about every post!) But much to our surprise he really did awesome.  Of course we picked the one football game I have ever been to that had a 2 hour rain/lightning delay, but he did very well.  And of course he sure looked cute doing it!

Tyson went too, and he also looks pretty darn cute if I do say so myself!

Charlie with his BFF Trevor, our neighbor!

Grandpa, Aunt Lisa, and Cousin Braydon ventured down here a couple weeks ago so they could watch Tyson play football, but we kept them busy the entire time.  First off, the Kids Get Fit run.  Tyson ran a quarter mile and had a blast.  Lisa ran behind him cheering him on.  He had a blast.

Do you see him?

Aunt Lisa and Tyson after the race!

Tyson, Cadence, and Raina (neighbors and BFFs) showing off their medals!

Next on the agenda was the pumpkin patch.  I have way too many cute pictures from our trip but here are a few.  The boys loved it.



Taken by Joel!

Lisa was going for Mom of the Year and put Braydon in the turkey sound asleep! :)

We also went to The Wizard Of Oz play in Wamego.  I didn't take any pictures but the boys were really good and loved it.  One funny story and I will be done.  The last scene of the play Dorothy is passed out next to a hay bail and everyone is hollaring for her.  Tyson stands up, points, and yells, "There she is!" Love that kid!

Sorry such a long post. :)

Preschool Already?

This little man is going to be going to preschool in just 4 and a half short months.  We started the paperwork yesterday to start his transition into the school district.  They day he turns three he will be a preschooler!  (In case you're wondering, since he has a diagnosis he will start receiving services the day he turns three.)  As I was signing the paperwork yesterday giving my permission to share his information I think I had a little heart attack.  I just kept saying over and over, "Oh my, my baby, a preschooler, what the heck am I going to do?"  Seriously, I can't even think about it.  How is he old enough to be in school?  My baby?  I am having a little heart attack as I am typing this.  I know deep down this is the best for him, but I might die...

The Boys

Spelling tests, math homework, flag football, speech therapy, and K-State football are keeping us on the move these days.  I am very proud to announce that Tyson has gotten 10 out of 10 on both of his spelling tests so far.  So all our hard work has paid off.  Math is a different story, not his strong suit!  I am amazed every day with Tyson.  He is doing so well and working so hard.  Somedays I wonder if we push him too hard because he is only 6, but he seems to be doing ok with all of it. 

Charlie's speech is getting better and better everyday.  He loves going to speech therapy, which makes it so much easier for all of us.  He sits in that little high chair for 30 minutes answering question after question.  It is truely amazing to watch.  I can't get him to do anything for 5 minutes let alone 30!  He gets so excited when he can say something and people understand.  And just so you know he skipped size 3T clothes.  He is already wearing size 4 and they are  not even close to being too big.  He is not a baby anymore. :(

Here are some pictures of my cute little Wildcat fans!

First Flag Football Game

Tyson's first football game was tonight.  He was very excited to go so that he could take Alvin along in his pants (read previous entries if you don't know what I am talking about).  Whatever works, right?  His coach is quite intense and requires them to be there 45 minutes before the game starts so they can practice.  Tyson was tired during practice so we were very unsure of how he would do.  (I later found out Dad promised him a trip to Target if he played so that may have helped a little)  I also think, to our advantage, the game was called early due to lightning, but during the 30 minutes they got in he did awesome.  It was so fun to watch.  He does a lot of running around but enjoys it the only way Tyson knows how, with all his heart!  Videos to come...

If You're Interested...

Autism is a very confusing thing that is such a big part of our lives.  I am constantly reading and researching to be able to come up with some understanding of it.  Some of it is good and some of it is not so good.  I came across a couple articles that were very interesting so I thought I would put them on here for anyone who is bored someday and would like to know more about it.

Autism Genome Project

Fragile X

100 Day Kit (this one is really long but full of a lot of good info)   

The Life of a 1st Grader

This week has been a really hard week around our house.  Joel got a promotion at work which is a good thing, but along with that comes more work so basically I have been running solo around here.  Usually the boys take turns running me into the ground but they have both been "on their game"this week.  They are exhausting!  Don't get me wrong I love them to death, but man they have been testing my every nerve this week.  I was recently told by someone that I am the "most patient and laid back person they have ever met".  I still am not sure if that was a compliment or if they were politely telling me that I need to work on my parenting skills.  Either way, this week they would have had a different opinion. 

Charlie is the busiest little guy I have ever been around.  I can't leave him alone for 2 minutes.  It absolutely amazes me how fast he can find things that he should not be getting into.  For instance, as I am typing this he found the butt cream and is eating it.  Yes, eating it!  Seriously.  Enough said.

Tyson has been so different this week.  I am pretty sure he is just exhausted, but I don't even know what to do with him.  We tried flag football this week and he literally quit and cried the entire practice.  I had no idea what to do; he had never done that before.  The next night he cried almost the whole night about everything.  The neighbor girl was over and she said, "I have never seen Tyson have a tantrum before."  That is how bad it was.  I again had no idea what to do about that.

But last night it all turned around!  It was an amazing night.  We had football practice again, and he actually played.  He first sat in the car crying saying "I don't want to!"  But then we came up with the best idea we have ever had.  Alvin (as you know he has a major obsession with the chipmunks) could go play with him.  We literally tied Alvin to his shorts and off he went!  I sat in the car almost in tears watching him have a blast out there.  He did so awesome!  Then we came home and he mastered his spelling words!  It was a great night that I needed more than anything.

Lesson Learned: When you have a child with autism you have to be a very creative parent! :)

Tyson and Charlie

I am always trying to get pictures of the boys together.  It is really impossible to get a picture of both of them looking at the camera and smiling at the same time.  Impossible.  Well, yesterday I had success.  Look at those dimples!

1st Grade

Today is the first day of school for us.  Tyson was so excited he could not even fall asleep last night.  He was so ready to go back to school.  Just like last year I thought it was going to be nothing.  As I laid awake last night at 3am I could not stop worrying.  I worry so much about that kid.  He has a new teacher, a new class, a new classroom, so many changes.  I worry about how he will adjust.  But if I learned anything from last year, he is going to be fine, right.  So why do I keep worrying?  Truthfully my biggest fear is that he is not going to have any friends.  I can't move past it and I am not sure why.  So my hope for this year, again, is that everyone will love Tyson for who he is.  Appreciate all of his "little things".  Treat him as an equal.  Be his friend.

His chipmunks are waiting by the door for him to get home from school!

     

Charlie

OK I lied, one more...

The Lundstrom Summer

I was so excited for summer to get here.  At one point this winter I swore it was never going to warm up enough to wear flip flops again.  I am not a fan of the cold weather!  Well, summer flew by regardless of how hard I tried to make it slow down.  Here is a quick update of how our summer went.

Tyson went to a camp this summer that was Monday thru Friday from 8:30 to 3:30, so basically he had no summer.  I had a hard time with the decision to make him go to camp all day all summer, but I now know it was the best decision for him.  Camp ended and for the last two weeks he has enjoyed a "real" summer break.  Suprisingly he really is not a fan of the summer break.  He is bored to tears and talks about school 24 hours a day.  Where did this kid come from?  I LOVED summer breaks, watching TV all day was all I needed to keep me entertained.  The camp was amazing and much more than we ever expected.  I am not sure how to describe it but he grew up so much.  It is so awesome to see the changes in him.  Makes this mommy proud!

We went on the boat a whopping 3 times this summer.  It rained all of July so everything flooded and we couldn't get our boat on the lake.  Once we did get out we realized that Charlie is a boat kind of kid.  He is normally very naughty, but once he gets on the boat he is actually really good.  Crazy, but very encouraging.

Typical  brotherly love!

So Sweet!

So realizing that our summer is coming to a quick end we decided to try and do some things we have talked about doing all summer.  Like going to ride the "real" train in Abeliene, KS.  The boys really liked it last year so we wanted to do it again.  We started our day by riding the really awesome, really old, wooden carousel.  Both boys HATED it!  Tyson wouldn't even ride it and Charlie rode it crying the whole time.  Luckily the train ride was a bigger success.  The only bad thing was my camera died after the ride so we didn't get any happy pictures!

Maybe . . .

NOPE!

OK I think I have bored you enough for today.  More summer fun to come ...

Walk Update

I just wanted to update that we actually raised $4295 for the walk!  Thank you all so much for your generosity.  It was an amazing day!  I also wanted to share what our Team Tyson & Charlie shirts said so here are some close up pictures of them.  Joel designed them and I think they turned out pretty good.  We will definitely be doing the walk next year for anyone who wants to join us or donate to us, so mark your calendar!

Sorry for the boring post but I had to do it!