I'll march my band out, I'll beat my drum...

{a whole bunch of} Things On Thursday

Oh, friends. It was been quite a crazy week around here, filled with fairs and walks and showers and series finales and Small Boys With Illness. After PJ has gone to bed, I have had too much energy to follow suit and not enough to do much more then pour a cup of coffee and watch TV.

Ahhh...nigh time coffee. Favorite.

At any rate, we'll rewind to last Friday, when PJ's school hosted a Spring Fair. When PJ started school back in November, I felt so sad and cheated- I wanted more time with my newly-minted three-year-old and for Autism to go F itself for stealing my baby. I still think Autism can go F itself, but I had no idea how much fun it would be to have a school age child. School projects to hang on the fridge, good behavior awards to collect, and school events to attend. Pete was even able to come for a bit before he left for work, and my dear friend Carmen joined us, along with her handsome nephew Noah. The boys bounced, hooped, played, danced, carnival gamed, and ate until we had to drag them out of the school yard!



The next day was the Autism Walk (and there will be a bit more on that later). PJ and I started off by oversleeping (!), but we rebounded nicely and met up with the walkers from his school team right on time! Resplendent in our green team shirts and laced sneakers, we posed for a team picture before setting off on the walk. The day was cloudy and PJ, to be honest, was a giant (but very cute) pain in the ass! But, PJ and I raised over $300 in just a few days, and it felt good to drink in the feeling of we can beat this, and until that happens, let's hang out and have fun! There were amazing sponsors feeding hungry walkers, tons of information on treatments, research, and support, and a bounce house for PJ, who also had a blast checking out an ambulance!

Also? I will never be able to properly thank the friends, family, and people I haven't met in person who donated to our Walk and this Cause. These are the people who may just give an encouraging word on Facebook, or leave a sweet note here on my blog, or you are in the trenches with me every day as Pete and I experience all of the joys and amazement and struggle and heartache of raising a child with Autism. Y'all put your money where your mouth is, and I in turn put my heart in your hands with gratitude.


Sorry for all of the Story Books, by the way, but I got a new phone and can't figure out how to get pictures off of it yet. Meh.

Sunday brought a baby shower, and I got to enjoy the company of friends and family, eat good food, and fete the impending arrival of a sweet baby-to-be-born. I don't think that watching people open baby crap ever gets old- I am one of those nerds who coos and awws over every onesie, bottle, and rattle! It was a lovely afternoon and clearly showed (to borrow a phrase from Momastery) that Love Wins. And oh, the excitement and joy and anticipation of a new life to love!

And after that, it was all PJ and his GI virus. He never had a fever and his appetite and spirits were high, so just imagine a normal kid who poops and pukes a lot. It was a very, very long three days- we didn't want to send PJ to school until his GI upset (or as my Mom-Mom would have called it, The Shits) resolved, so we had a very bored Dude on our hands. I was not bored, as keeping PJ entertained while contending with many piles of barfy, pooped-on laundry kept me hopping. Either way, he's on the mend and went back to school today. PJ was so excited when the bus pulled up that he jumped up and down and cheered!

I love that kid.

Lastly, I have a debt to pay. When I was hustling my Facebook friends asking folks to reach into their hearts and make a donation to the Walk for Autism Speaks, I got close to $300 in donations. I wanted to up the ante, so I promised that if I reached that goal, I would share an absolutely hideous video of me that Pete took without my knowledge a few months ago. Almost immediately, my amazing, supportive, dear friend David from high school ponied up. I inwardly cursed myself for making such a promise, but it was for a good cause and a deal is a deal.

A few months ago, for whatever reason, Pete and I started bickering about "The Humpty Dance" by the esteemed Digital Underground. Pete didn't know any of the lyrics, a fact that I found astounding. Such a classic song surely is known by all! So, I started singing it, mainly to annoy him but also to show off my lyrical prowess in remembering the song. Except I didn't know it as well as I thought I did, and had to keep interrupting my slick dance moves to consult my phone. Pete was kind enough to record it without my knowledge, and here it is, in all of my annoying, chubby, messy-living-room, nerdy glory:




So, there's that. {shudder}

After all of that, we're at tonight. PJ is sleeping peacefully after his first day back to school and life is how it should be. I hope that your time has been filled with as many blessings (and fewer barfy kids) as my time has. I can hardly believe how close summer is!

Godnight, friends...

3 comments

SMD @ lifeaccordingtosteph said...

Hilarious video! I love it. That is so me in my living room.

I'm glad PJ is on the mend!

MarlaJan said...

That's my sister!

DeeMarie said...

Oh my gosh! I read your blog often but don't know that I've ever left a comment - That was just too fun! I'm glad you kept up your end of the bargain & shared.