Disneyland

If I were to write about all the memories we made at Disneyland...  I would be writing for years...  So I will just give a couple of highlights.

*One of the wonderful things about AUTISM.......   A special ticket to avoid super long lines...  I'm not bragging or rubbing in the faces of all of those poor people who stood in lines for hours upon hours,  although it kind of made me feel like a super important person as we got to walk to the front of most lines (people look at you with such jealousy..  "who is that?  they must be famous!  that mother is soooo beautiful!!  they must have a lot of money " :) hahahaha...   I have spent the last 7 years trying to AVOID any kind of line with Mason.  He just can't stand or sit still for any amount of time which has led to me performing magical acts in line. I have held him until my arms hurt..  put him on my back..  bought him ridiculously expensive toys and treats...  just so I could get through the line!!!  So, THANK YOU DISNEYLAND... for understanding the impossibility of standing in crazy long lines. THANK YOU for making our visit a wonderful experience.  THANK YOU for being so kind.... except for you mean space mountain lady!!!    Mason just doesn't comprehend the idea of WAITING :)  He just doesn't have the patience like his sweet mommy..hahah...just kidding!

* We took 5 wonderful children who rarely complained and had the time of their lives, but on the flip side... They truly are amateurs and aren't able to keep up with the old folks..  Seriously kids...   You got tired after like 10 hours... What's up with that?
*I had both of my children in the same place at the same time..   It truly was the Happiest Place On Earth!!
* I only gained like 10 lbs from the 50 churros I ate...  and let me see... that should only take about 6 years to get off... but totally worth it!!!

and to wrap this up...  The first night we were leaving Disneyland and there was a lady who worked for Disneyland standing at the outside gates.  She was directing walking traffic.. and telling people to have a good night.  Mason stopped right in front of her...looked up at her...  told her she was doing a great job...  and then proceeded to throw his arms around her and kiss her belly!!!!  I guess he just loves the magic of Disneyland :)

OH..sidenote...  The worker didn't think it was as cute as we did...  She was a little freaked out!! Oh Well... some day she will have a Mason in her life.. and she will realize how adorable it actually is :)

Sometimes you just need a bath!!!

Sometimes I forget that I still need to watch Mason so closely.  A couple of years ago, I wouldn't leave the room where he was without checking on him every couple of minutes.   One time when Mason was only about 3 1/2 or 4, I was doing laundry (in the house) and when I went to the living room, where Mason was supposed to be, he was gone!  I frantically searched every room and the backyard, which was surrounded by an 8 foot brick fence.  The doors and windows were still all locked.... where could he have gone?  After running around in a pure crazy woman manner for approximately 5 minutes...  I noticed in the backyard a ladder that had been moved to the brick wall.   Yep, Mason had moved the ladder to the wall, climbed up and jumped off the ladder (8 feet down) into the vacant neighbors yard.  I knew at that time, that I would live a life full of worry!  However, after we moved to back to a small town with less worries, I began to trust him a little more and stopped watching him as much, as to give him freedom.  Well, a week or so ago, I was outside placing tarps over the new swingset for the winter months.  It was very cold that day, so I left Mason alone in the house while I did this.  Mason was perfectly fine with this, because he could have the tv to himself.  I checked on him a couple of times and he was still watching tv, so I didn't worry!  But, the last time I went in, the house was silent.  I went to the living room and NO MASON!!  I checked the bedrooms and kitchen...NO MASON!!!  Only one place left to check.... The bathroom!  as I opened the door, I was surprised to find a bath full of water and a little 7 year old playing his Nintendo DS while he relaxed in the hot water!!!..  The DS was dripping with WET!!! 

 J:   Mason why are you in the tub?
M: Cuz I was cold!

J: Mason...why is the DS in the tub?
M:  Cuz it was dirty....I had to wash it for Disneyland!

M:  Are you mad mom?
J:  Nope I'm not mad!  (of course I was though)

But, as much as I was mad...  I was also glad that I had saved the bag of rice from the last bathtub incident.

BRIBES!!!

I realize that bribing children is totally the wrong way to raise a child, but it wouldn't be normal for me if I wasn't doing it the  "WRONG" way :)  Recently we have planned a trip to Disneyland.   We (meaning me, katlin, and Mason) are planning on going during Thanksgiving break, since we all have time off of school.  I'm sooooo excited to take BOTH of my children on vacation and Disneyland is one of our most favorite places to go.  Ok, so I decided not to tell Mason about the trip for ONE reason.  It's not because It would be a magical moment to save it and surprise him...   Or that I want to wait so that I have time to create some sort of AWESOME treasure hunt for him to find out...  It's because I DON'T want to answer the thousands of questions that I would be surrounded with! Where's Mason going? Mason is going to Disneyland? Mason is going by myself? We go to Disneyland tonight? Where's California?  Is California over that mountain?  and the list could go on and on and on!!!  SOOOOOOOO.........  I decided not to tell him...  That is UNTIL...dum dum dum....... I saw him lick his nose!  That's right folks.  Mason licks his snot!  Now don't tell me that your child has never had a runny nose and as it drips on their lips, they have just licked it away...  I know....  sound gross!!  Well, it is and I hate the fact that Mason's tongue is long enough to reach his forehead.  Mason doesn't pick his nose with his fingers, because he's such a well mannered child.....   He picks his nose with his tongue!!  And those of you that know him, are laughing right now, because you have witnessed this magical talent!  And its not only magical.... it's adorable :)  NOT!!   I think its the most disgusting thing a child could be besides wiping their poop on the walls (yes we've been through that phase too). If your wondering why I haven't done something about it, its simply because there have been tooooooo many other things to conquer..  and licking his nose was the least of my worries.  We had to master toilet training, putting on his own clothes, getting rid of a binky, washing his hands, not picking food up off the floor and eating it, not playing with the water in urinals...  and once again....the list goes on!   Soooooooo, as I saw my precious baby wrap his tongue around the end of his cute pink nose and the vomit raised to my mouth...  I realized this is it!!!  The time is now!!!  I have to stop this!!! and the only thing that came to my mind was Disneyland!   "Hey Mason....   If you stop licking your nose, Mommy will take you to Disneyland!!"  His eyes widened and said....  Mason goes to Disneyland?  I said "but only if you quit licking your nose"!   and for some reason it has stuck!!!  He has ceased from licking his nose...at least in front of me :)  One day when I got home from school, Mason said "look mom... I fixed it"!  and he was pointing to his nose...  When I said what did you fix...  He said "no lick my nose... Mason go to Disneyland tonight?" Well, not tonight...but we are going and hopefully we are going without a tongue up our nose!

Senses

I haven't blogged for quite some time...  So, we will see how this goes :)  Mason is constantly doing and saying things that make me laugh and amaze me at the same time.  About 6 months ago, Mason discovered the sense of smell.  So the last 6 months has been spent explaining smell, and that some smells stink and others are pretty!!  During a parade this summer...  Mason raised the question... as he always does ...  "What's that smell like?"  and I respond as always  "I don't know Mason, what does that smell like?"  Mason then said "It smells like horse and poop!"  He was right, it did smell like wet manure.  Then a couple of weeks ago, as we are walking out of our usual food joint (McDonalds)  Mason asks "What's that smell like?"..  and I, having heard this question a gazillion times... was annoyed but managed to must muster out "I don't know Mason, what does that smell like?"  and he responded with Poop and Feet...  Once again, RIGHT it did smell like that...  Why is it that every McDonalds must have a sewer opening right outside their front door.  Do they want to deter people from eating at their facility?  Or, do they think that after having a delicious Big Mac meal, that you will walk outside, barf up the recently ate food, and then re-enter to divulge in more of their low fat recipes?..   Just a thought!!  Anyways...   Last weekend we were on our way to Salt Lake.  When we arrived at our destination..  I proceeded to put some perfume on.....   Bet you can't guess what Mason asked?....   ding ding ding... You're right!!  he asked "What's that smell like?"....  uggggggghhhhh...  I've answered too many questions today, and he is now going to tell me that I smell like poop...  so I didn't answer...   Silly me, like that will stop him from asking again...  "Hey mom, What's that smell like?"  In my super annoyed and frustrated voice I say "I don't know Mason... You tell me!"  and in the most angelic voice, he responded with...  "It smells like Pretty Mom" 

March for Mason... May 2, 2010

March for Mason was another huge success!!  We are sooooo grateful to our wonderful family and friends who supported us, whether through a donation or showing up to walk in the SNOW!!!

Marchers

 Mason Sipple

Jodi Sipple

Sheila Howard

Nanette Barrett

Leora Ivie

Cindy Turner

Tenneil Turner

Chris Atkins

Cameron Atkins

Chance Atkins

Cariann Atkins

Barbara Nelson

Roger Nelson

Wendy Allred

Amanda Allred

Joe Comstock (Amanda's friend)

Marcia Eyre

AnnieMcEwan

Emilee Eyre

Joseph Eyre

(Joseph and Emily's children)

And a thanks for those who donated....  Leora Ivie, Sheila Howard, Chris Atkins, Lisa Blackett, Wade Sipple, Michelle Young, Cindy Turner, Todd and Danyel Erick, Emilee and Joseph Eyre, Julee Eyre, Carmen Lizarraga, Wanda Lubag, Steve Montgomery, Chris and Tanya Morene, Cindy Morton, Steve Pappas,  Erik Swanson....  Total Raised: $560.00  WooHoo

VIP

Ms. Aagard (Mason's Kindergarten Teacher) made one very big mistake this year!!!  She left Mason's VIP week until the end of the school year.  So don't think that Mason just forgot about his VIP week.  He has been reminding the entire class all year, that his VIP week was May 10th.  Well, his teachers were very relieved when May 10th finally came around, so they didn't have to hear about it anymore.  As part of his VIP week, Mason brought home a questionaire to fill out...  I will not post all of the questions, but one question/answer was too cute not to share......

Mom:  Mason, what do you want to be when you grow up?

Mason:  I want to be really tall :)

Playoffs Baby!!!

On April 23, 2010, Mason and I had the opportunity to go to one of the playoff games for the Utah Jazz.  It was game two of the playoffs against the Denver Nuggets!  Mason had never been to a Jazz game and was super excited to go.  I was a little nervous to tell you the truth!  What if he wasn't able to handle the game, because of the noise and we had to leave after spending all that money!!!   But as always... I say.... There has to be a first!!  We won't know until we try it.  Mason had to wear both of his Jazz shirts and if he had had a Jazz flag, that would have gone along too. He was so excited to be inside the Arena!  The only time that mason had a difficult time, was when they announced the players and set the fireworks off inside the arena.  For some reason, he just can't handle fireworks.  Even with his earmuffs on!!  But we made it through the fireworks and Mason cheered loud for his Jazz.  After half time, Mason and I went for a walk.  While we were out, we had the opportunity to have our picture taken with Thurl Bailey.  Mason even got Thurl's autograph on the back of his Jazz Jersey...   The night was fantastic... We made it through the entire game and   the Jazz won!!!!

Silly Spongebob!!!!

I haven't had a ton of time to post lately, but I certainly don't want this story to be lost...   So, here it goes.   A couple of weeks ago, I had just gotten home from work and was sitting in the bathtub, something I do everyday, while Mason watches T.V.  It's a ritual of sorts...  A SANCTUARY!!!!  Mason has grown to learn that this is Mom's time and to "Please leave her alone" :)  This one particular day, as I sat in my "sanctuary"...  I heard Mason yelling in his room.  At first I couldn't understand what he was saying, but I knew that he was as mad as could be.  He was yelling at imaginary Spongebob!  Apparently, imaginary Spongebob had messed up Mason's room and Mason was letting him have it. He was saying...."I told you no spongebob..you no mess up Mason's room...  You stupid Spongebob...  get back here Spongebob.... I siad NO.....   You clean up this mess NOW!!!!  I was secretly giggling in my "sanctuary".... and for the next 10 minutes, he continued to bawl Spongebob out!..........  then came the hysterical part........   Mason came down the hallway towards the bathroom...  still yelling of course....  opened the bathroom door...   and tossed Spongebob into the toilet and yelled....  "it's back to the chum bucket for you Spongebob!!!"  and then....... he flushed him down the drain!  I guess that will teach Spongebob to not mess Mason's room up again :)  I still don't quite understand what he was getting at, because Mason's room was actually spotless that day.... and I don't know where he got that conversation from, because I've never asked Mason to help clean anything in the house, I've never yelled at him for a messy room or scolded him for anything about his room.  :)  The good part of this is.... At one point when a pediatrician told us some details of Autism....  He said that Mason may never have an imagination or be able to Role Play....  Guess Mason proved that doctor wrong!!!!!!

Mason is ONE TERRIFFIC KID!

Last Tuesday I was going through Mason's backpack when I came across the most amazing thing I've ever seen!  An award had been given to Mason for Terrific Kid of the month.  Each month each class chooses one student as student of the month.  And this month Mason got the award!  I was sooooo proud of him for such an achievement, that I cried!!  Two years ago, I would receive a daily report from Mason's teachers and most of the time it wasn't a pleasant report.  Although they were wonderful and working hard to help Mason, he was uncooperative with them and most of the time "naughty".  He would run from the teachers, wouldn't sit still for any length of time, and was mean to his teachers and the other children.  Everytime I would get a "bad" report, I would cry for my son and wish there was something I could do for him!  Now, I sit in front of a "terrific award" and cry again, although this time I cry out of happiness, not out of sadness!!  Let me say, that I've always known that Mason had it in him, I wasn't selling him short,  but I also wasn't sure that others would see his potential like I did.  Mason has had some amazing teachers and therapists over the years.  Each one of them brought something to the table that helped him get where he is today.  His special education teacher this year has gone above and beyond to make Mason's kindergarten year a success!!  Thank you Mrs. Eyre for your patience, your determination and above all, your Love!!!  We appreciate you more than you will ever know.

Miracles DO Happen :)

Last Friday, a miracle happened.....  Maybe nothing that you would consider a miracle, but it my books, it was nothing short of amazing!  A typical Friday night around our house...  Mason was playing the wii...  I was doing laundry and dishes.  I told him that he would need to do a page of homework and he immediately started  whining and telling me "NO"!!  So that's when mom pulled out the bribery...  btw I'm the QUEEN of Bribery!!  "Mason, if you do one page of homework, then we can go to the store and buy Valentine's for your friends at school".  It worked like a charm.  He jumped up to the counter and started to pick which page he would do.  He picked a page that was double duty, 2 sides of work.....  I thought to myself...  "This will take forever!"  Which means that the idea backfired, because I will have to sit with him for the next half hour and constantly redirect him back to the page and encourage him to do his "BEST" work.  Homework is like pulling teeth for me...  It would be a lot easier with some vallium present :)  Sooooooo I told him to get started while I finished the last couple dishes.  He immediately wrote his name at the top of the sheet and began tracing the number 11 on the first part of the page...  Hmmmm this is going well.  When he finished (without my help btw), he said "mom, what does dat say"?  I went over to the counter and read the directions to him!  DRAW AND COLOR 11 APPLES The phone rang at that point so I handed him the crayons and ran for the phone.  When I came back he had drawn and colored the most beautiful apple I had ever seen!  I was amazed and he was proud.  So I thought...  you're on a roll, don't stop now.  I told him to finish all 11 apples...  Mason worked very hard while I stayed a short distance away pretending to do dishes.  I had never seen him sit in one spot this long, or stay focused on one activity this long and I hadn't once redirected him!   Mason drew 11 apples.... colored all 11 apples...  stopped after he drew the 11th apple....  didn't run from the table once.... didn't spit on me or hit me....  did both sides of the sheet and was actually happy about doing it!  The ending result......   25 MINUTES...  yes you heard me right... 25 MINUTES ...That is how long he sat there doing his homework, by HIMSELF!!!  Truly a miracle.....


On a side note... When Mason was about 3 1/2, he was working with his OT.  Her name was Trisha!  She told me one time that Mason had a very short attention span and they would work on staying focused.  Her GOAL the first week was 1 minute!  I think after many months, they eventually made it up to 3 minutes, but that was after a lot of hard work and someone sitting with him the entire time.  WOW what a long ways he has come.

Just a Taste!!!!!

It's 6:30 in the morning, I'm rushing through the house trying to find all of the last minute necessities before I throw Mason in the car, kick him out at daycare (that's a joke btw), stop for my Diet Coke , then drive for 45 minutes to work.  Mason is standing in the middle of the kitchen, motionless, waiting for the minute when I yell "come on Mason let's go to the car, mommy is late".  He is holding his instant breakfast, made with SOY milk when suddenly he somewhat falls asleep and the cup drops from his hands.  The container hits the ground, the cup shatters, chocolate soy milk covers the kitchen cupboards...... and I now have a mess that needs to be cleaned up before I can leave.  Mason tells me "I sorry.... I sorry", and although I want to yell, I look at him with is big green sad eyes and say "it's ok Mason".  So I get the mess cleaned up and have now located another container for another batch of chocolate milk....  as I am shaking the container to mix it up, a quiet voice says "Mom....."   and there is a long pause, and then he says  "There's smart......... and there's KMART smart".  I just started to laugh.....  actually almost cry, because this wonderful little boy, just put a smile on my face when I was thinking the world had just ended :)   and yes.......He may watch too much TV.....  but I can only control so much :)

The Beginning

Mason was born on June 4, 2003.  He weighed in at a whopping 9lbs. 5 oz and was 23 inches long!  He entered this world looking somewhat like a 6 month old, never did look like a new born baby!  It apparently was fairly odd to see a baby that was 23 inches long, because nurses flocked around our room just to get a view of such a large creature!  This is the day that my TRUE happiness began.  Raising Mason has been the biggest honor of my life. 

I look back to the day when we sat in the pediatricians office and they announced to us that Mason had 4 of the 5 red flags for AUTISM.  I wanted to scream.... What does that mean?  How could this happen to my beautiful boy?  Who are you to tell me that there is something wrong with him?

Since that day, our lives have not been "NORMAL".  Of course, What is NORMAL anyways?  I decided several years ago that I needed to keep some sort of record about Raising Mason!  But several years ago, there was not time, nor patience, nor energy to sit down and do it :)  I have those things now and want to share my experiences with friends, family and especially Mason.  I hope I can remember all of the good the bad and the ugly. 

Many friends and family members have been on this journey with us.  I'm sure that many will  remember things a lot differently than I do.... so......  I am asking for your stories about Mason.  Happy or sad, I want them all!  I want to be able to look back and see how far we've come.

HERE'S TO THE BEGINNING!!!!!