Google Readed is gone as of July 1

Pease bare with me as Im not the most tech savy person, but apparently as of tomorrow July 1,2013 google reader will deleted.


I have been adviced to get people to follow me on Bloglovin


Now im not 100% sure how it works, but I do know I transferred all the blogs I follow over and it was very simple....if I can do it anyone can (and I was on my phone!)

To get a direct link to my blog, click Momma2threeboyz

Lets hope no one losses any of their favorites and we all gain more viewers!!!!

Breaded Mushrooms! 😋

So tonight in flying solo, and seeing as I could have anything I wanted I thought I would try some homemade breaded mushrooms....yummmmmy!

Simple, quick and super easy!

Pre heat oven to 475

Take 1 package of mushrooms, pull the steams out. 

In a bowl combined 3 tbs of bread crumb and 3 tbs of Parmesan cheese, and a little bit of garlic powder (you can also add salt n pepper but I'm not a big fan)

Rinse mushroom and shake off excess water, add to bread/cheese mix

Once covered place on a little greased cookie sheet (I used spay), arrange mushroom hole side up and cook for 8 mins, then turn hole side down and cook for an additional 3-5mins (my oven temps off a little so mine was closer to a full 15 minutes)

Once done, place one plate/bowl, serve with some ranch dressing and your done!

Enjoy them while there hot!!! 

And summer holidays begin....

I'm kind if feeling like a lousy mom today, I see all these other parents posting first and last days pictures and I didn't take any 😫

I'm sure I had a first day of school photo...somewhere but between a new phone and new camera since that happens I can't find it. 

So what are our plans for the summer???

Nothing really...or so I though!

My BFF asked me today when we planned on going to their trailer and when I looked at my calendar my response was...September???

I have 1 weekend available this summer and it would only be a full weekend if I book a day off work....how did that happen?

Oh that right, I have to "share" my kids!

And seeing as someone has some weekend to make up for he has them 5 out of 8 weekends 

So even though I think we have nothing planned, between my work schedule and the kids being with their dad, I don't have any free time either

The older boys will be spending 2 wks each at a local day camp (thanks to some great sponsors) and they are spend 10 straight days with they dad (ekkkk 😁)

We have a Blue Jays game planned in August and a day trip with my parent. 

We were lucky to get a membership to the Toronto Zoo, so we will be doing some day trips there as well. 

I feel like summer is gone already?!?!

Wordless Wednsday! Alex Art

4 more sleeps!!!

I thought I was dreading summer holidays, but I'm getting excited! We only have 4 more days of school, which means only 4 more mornings of waking up to an alarm daily, making lunches (that never get ate) and rushing to catch a bus!

Instead we will be trading them in for picnics in park, days at the beach, and nights at the pool!  

How could I not be excited?!?!

We you see, lack of a routine day throws my children into a wild downwards spiral...we then I have meltdowns, fighting, yelling, kicking, screaming and lots of tears!

So as much as I will look forward to not having to wake up to an alarm, I still have to keep some kind of "normal" schedule. Not easy on lazy summer days!

Tonight in point, it's hot and humid so I though it would nice to go to my parents for a swim when they came home from Dads house! Great idea, our house is sitting at about 33 degrees (I'm to cheap to run an a/c) well this was a last minute idea...not a good idea for future reference. They didn't have the best visit and Alex just wanted to go home and play on his computer (which is his way to unwind after visits or any stressful day)

But he went, he even went in the pool...for about 20 minutes!!!

Dalton and Nathan where in there for a good hour before dinner and for another 45 minutes afterwards!!!

I have decided they are part amphibian!

Blue lips, wrinkled toes & fingers but still had tears when I said it was time to pack up and head home!

So we are back home know, hot and sweaty again but tomorrow is another day...hopefully a cooler one!!!

Next time I promise to remember my phone so I can take pictures!

Menu Monday???

Was thinking about doing a post once a week about our dinners???

Good idea? Bad idea?and interest???

As a single mom of 3, I often struggle with creative dinner ideas that everyone will eat...between picky eater (Alex) and food Allergies (Nathan) I often feel more like a short order cook then a mom!

I'm sure I'm not the only who struggles with this, especially as the season change.

So let start with what we had last week!

This was a throw together meal, plain was spaghetti, didn't have any so we had  rigatoni noodles with meat sauce (I added mushrooms and onions as well but don't tell Alex!!!) pair it withsome garlic toast with cheese and that was dinner!

One of the boys favorite meals is BBQ chicken drumsticks! Pair them with some mashed potatoes and veggies! Asparagus for Nate and I and carrots for the other 2

Then on Friday night we had home made pizza! I tried the Pillsbury pizza crust (never seen it up here before)...talk about yummy!

The boys had bacon and cheese, I had mushroom, onion and bacon! Paired with a ceased salad...perfect!

So if there is interest I will continue with Menu Monday! Let me know what you think!

Date night with the older boys!

Tonight my parents were nice enough to take Nathan for a sleepover! So I decided to take the kids to see Monster University

 

We got there WAY to early and for anyone who has a child with Aspergers knows, that's recipe for disaster 😁

Thankfully Dalton remembered his game boy (note to self, we need a second one!)

So they took turns playing...yes that right!  They took turns, no arguing or fighting and they were actually helping each other 

😘Proud mommy moment 

I will admit, the movies was OK?!?! Not the best or the worse we have seen, but not nearly as funny as the promo let on either

Tomorrow we are up bright and early to head about 30 mins north of our town to play mini golf with our local chapter of Autism Ontario! What a great organization!!!

Let hope tomorrow goes as smoothly as tonight!

  

Let me introduce....

So I have been thinking, when I first started my blog, I wasn't sure what I wanted it to be? It was honestly just a way for me to get my feelings out without actually having to talk!

I wasn't sure if I wanted to be found out, if I want certain people in my life to ever find it and read it, now 18months later, after a lot of growing, lot of tears, lot of pain and anger I'm at a point I don't care!

I also started with keeping my kids identity a secret, however as I continue to blog, I enjoy sharing pictures of them and story of them, I have caught myself a couple times proof reading post and changing their names to big/middle/little man instead of their given names. The other day I thought...why???

I'm proud of my family, I'm proud of our accomplishments, our ups and downs, our journey hasn't been easy but it's ours!

So let me reintroduce my children to you!

Alex (aka big man) is my 11 yr old!

He has been diagnosed with Aspergers (with SPD, OCD, ADHD and anxiety) he is finishing up grade 5 (eeeek). He is obsessed with wrestling! 

Dalton (aka middle man) is my 8 yr old. He is a very emotional child who wears his heart in his sleeve! He also has anxiety issues (big time! He has been know to physically harm himself when he is angry) he is currently finishing up Grade 2 (double eeeek)

He is a Lego fanatic! Loves anything that he can take apart and put back together!

Nathan (aka little man) is almost 3 (holy moly)...he is a tornado, or at least it seems like it most days! He is a ball of energy, he never stops talking!  Nathan was born with some medical issues (as you may have already read about). He also has some major food allergies (my biggest issues and cause if my anxiety). He will be starting pre school in September and Jk the following year!

His current obsession is Spider-Man, buzz light year and Team UmiZoomi!

Wordless Wednesday?!?!

Well not really cause that wouldn't be me...lol

I keep see this wordless thing floating around and thought...why not give it a try!

1-Big man and middle man...at big mans party! 

2- little man

3- what's for dinner tonight!

It was a HIT!!!

Big Mans party was yesterday!

I have never been so proud of big man!

There were 12 kids total (his first "friend" party since we tried in Jk) 6 were from school, my 3 boys and my best friends 3 kiddo's

The pool wasn't quite ready so instead we had a water gun fight. What a hit!!!!

All the kids loved it, young and old ...best 4 dollars I have ever spent!

Big man never had a single melt down, normally I would have gotten the whole

"He got me wet"

"I'm cold"

"My clothes are sticking to me"

"The waters to cold"

Ect,ect,ect

I was nerves, I will admit, my goal was to entertain the 6 school friends, him I could handle

And to top it off, I've been smoke free for 11yrs now too!!!

So mad i could spit, yet I should be celebrating?

So once again it's Thursday night and in my house that soccer night! Which for middle man is a great thing, for the other 2 it's like 90 minutes of torture. 

Little man is getting better, he can last about 3/4 of the game before he's had enough and is ready to go, big man....well he starts the minute we arrive. 

It's hot/cold, the bugs are bothering me, the grass is to long, I'm thirsty, I'm bored, that kids looking at me, they are cheering to loud, the sun's to bright...you get the point!

Yes by 6:30pm his medication has worn off, yes I know this is going to be a battle of the wills, and I will WIN!

So after spend 90mins dealing with them 2 while watching middle man, my nerves were shot! 

Again nothing I can't handle, but here's the catch, here what I don't get? 

WHY?

 Why do they save all this behavior for me? Why do they seem to behave all day for everyone else, then come home and take 7hrs of frustration out in my 4 walls?

Both older boys are doing great in school , and I'm grateful for that BUT why do I get the brunt of everyone's aggravation/frustrations??? 

This is not what I pictured when I decide to become a parent? 

I know , I'm about 11 yrs to late to change my mind...and please don't get me wrong, I LOVE my kids and would do anything and everything for them, but I guess it boils down to .... I'm jealous!

I'm jealous of those parents who don't have to over think, over analyze, second guess everything they do....because their child has aspergers and is going to have a meltdown like a 2 year old. That they can do things spear of the moment and not fear how they will react, who can just up and decide to stop and grab dinner/ice cream/treats because it is a child's birthday with out first making sure its SAFE, that all three kids can/will eat it. 

I guess I'm just wondering how I got to be this mom?

2 kids on the spectrum and the one who isn't, has food allergies that hinder him from being the child the wants to be! 

So as I celebrate not smoking for 11 yrs, for being a parent for 11 yrs and the birth of my first son...I still shack my head and wonder ...WHY???

Fathers Day gift....

So I have been struggling with what to get or make my ex for Father's Day...everything out there implies the message that "my dads" the best...that's not realistic in our case. 

I search Pinterest hoping to find some sort of inspiration and after 3 days I found it!!!

On there, was this picture

Simple, easy and I LOVED the message it  gives!!!!

Now for someone more organized or who didn't procrastinate, I could have made that.

However it is 5 days before and this is what we pulled off!

Close....right!

The boys had fun doing it and they really like it so that's all that matters in my eyes

...the message in its self is my gift to him....bahahaha...and maybe an eye opener 😉

Here's how it went,

1st was little mans hand (I let them each pick their own colour)

Then middle man, who wanted a picture with his hand painted too

And lastly big man (tomorrow's his bday!!!)

Add in my hidden message and the year and tada

3 happy boys, an inexpensive Father's Day gift ($1.50 for Matte, regular craft/acrylic paint and a sharpie = maybe $5)and a happy momma who got her point across!

To all the wonderful dads out there....Happy Fathers Day! 

   

Dan the Music Man

Today little man, myself and a group of friends went to out local theater and watched Dan perform!

After a 15 min delay we got under way!

The kids had fun (us parents did too) singing, dancing and laughing!

This was one of the many local actives we will be participating in this summer!

National Best Friend Day!

I just found out it today!!!

And I wanted to share just how much I love my best friend! 

She is an amazing beautiful wife, mother, daughter, niece and human 😘

She deserves all the happiness that is meant to come her way and I can't believe that I was blessed enough to have her in my life....ALWAYS

Maybe marriage can change him???

So today was the first time I've seen my ex since he got married last week, really it was the first time I've had any interaction at all with him in almost a month. 

As you may have read the weeks leading up to his wedding where rough, on me personally and apparently on him as well. It seem all we did last month was fight over stupid stuff. The more I tried to avoid him the harder he pushed, it was if he wanted me to tell him not to get married, not to screw up his life more then he already has...NOT going to happen and I said that to him!

He confessed he wasn't sure he wanted to get married but couldn't call it off cause everything was planned and paid for, he didn't understand why no one in his family was going attend (for year he blamed his family issues on me...surprise!)

Anyways back to today, I will admit I was nerves on how I would feel seeing him, I had some meeting with lawyers since we had last seen or talked and there was some things in our "communication" book that we need to hatch out. 

So I wrote out what I though we could change to make both of our lives easier. 

To my shock, he texted me an hour after pick up and agreed to everything BUT spousal support 😳😮

He was completely calm and collective, we talked it all out and came up with things we both could live with!!!!

Ya, I knew spousal support was never going to happen with out us seeing a judge, but the fact he actually thought and communicated with me about the others is a huge step. 

I'm sure something will change all this, I'm sure his really self will show back up quickly but as long as I can hold that off till we get this in writing and witnesses I may just have to do some ass kissing 👄

But hey, momma has to do what momma has to do to protect her kids!

Mom to a preteen???

Big man turns 11 on June 13th, I'm not sure when or how this happened? I'm sure he is still just my innocent little baby boy, the one that loved to cuddle, play, and make the sweetest little smiles. 

He's the little boy who would always avoid getting dirty, avoid strangers and avoid danger. He never started talking till he was 3 1/2, wasn't potty trained til just before he started school at the age of 4, yet was almost 6 before he was night trained (at that point he was still in pull ups but this then 3yr old brother wasn't) 

School has always been a challenge for him, even if he didn't realize it. He's a very passionate child, he loves what he loves and if he doesn't, don't try and push it!

The last couple years have been hard on him, he has come to realize he isn't like the others in his class, but doesn't understand the difference. He love to learn and excels in math (which is a hit or miss at his age). He is obsessed with anything and everything to do with the WWE (wrestling). He can tell you who won which match, who they wrestled against and where it took place for almost all matching from 1982-current. He spends hours and hours writing down statics (winner in black, loser in red and match type in blue). 

Big man is also a worrier, he worries about the smallest things, things that he not anyone else can control. Something simple like someone dropped a penny to as extreme as those who didn't survive natural disasters. 

He is the child who would pack up all his clothes and toys to send them to someone in need (minus his wrestling stuff), he will give a friend his lunch and go with out if they were still hungry. He is also the same child who will go off the handle when something doesn't go the way he "planned" (as an almost 11 yr old that happens often) 

Big man can go from one extreme to the next with out even realizing. Which can be a challenge for him and me. 

As some as you may know he is my child who is diagnosed with ASD (Aspergers Spectrum Disorder), he also has SPD, OCD, ADHD (or so they say), and high anxiety. 

Everyday can be a struggle in his life, but over all I think he is coping well with how his body and mind work...and I pray it continues as we enter the teen years!!!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!!

(From his 9th bday...I apparently need to do some catching up on phone uploading 😁)

Tooth fairy has filed for bankruptcy 😮

As you know Big man had 2 baby teeth pulled on Tueday, which he recovered from pretty quickly!

When I got home from work yesterday, my mom say "big man, tell mom what happened at school" and yes, I gave him that look....now what? What could you have done that I need a report (I shouldn't but as anyone who has a child on the spectrum knows...you never know what's going to happen or when it's going to happen)

Needless to say, he lost ANOTHER tooth???

That 3 teeth in 3 days!

I'm not sure what the going rate is for the tooth fairy but here she leaves a loonie ($1 for those who are farmiular with Canadian currency). 

Pat on the back goes to ME!!!

After 2 long stressful days, I'm completely exhausted. Mentally, emotionally and physically. And I'm headed to bed....or at least I thought I was 😕

Just as I put my phone down, I hear the dreaded ringtone (you know the one that sound like a warning horn...the most annoying one I have), meaning that my ex has decided that he was ready to ask how his sons appointment went yesterday???

I answered with "good, it was yesterday by the way not today"

"I know but I figured you would be busy and didn't want to bother you!"

Ya what????

It never fails there is always an excuse with him, always a reason he can't be a real dad. But I have the upper hand this time, I took the higher road and left it alone...to some that doesn't seem like a big deal, but anyone who has been reading my blog KNOWS...this is huge for me. This is the shit my ex pulls to get me mad to the point I lose my cool. 

What he doesn't know is, that after he didn't contact me yesterday, I have decided its now turned in to a need to know basis. If he doesn't care enough to ask, I won't bother to tell

I don't want to be like this but he has proven yet again, it's all about him!

Now don't get me wrong, if something BAD happens I will contact him, but otherwise it's not worth my time and energy too. Even with big man having teeth pulled today, the mom in me wanted to let him know, but I knew what would happen, but the human in me said "screw him" he's only going to start something I don't have the energy to deal with...so again, I give myself a pat on the back!!!! 

P.S. seen the doctor today and got the ball rolling on my surgery...if I do choose to have it!?!? 😁

Appointment, appointments and more appointments

Seems to be the theme of my life this last couple weeks (with no end in sight) 😳

Today we started with an 8:40am dentist appointment for big man, he's been having some teeth issues. Painful to eat and bleeds when he chews on his back teeth. They took X-rays, his adult teeth (sad to say those words) have come threw, but his baby teeth and still holding on strong. So they are rubbing together every time he chews causing the gums to inflame. He goes back today at 3:40 to have them pulled 😁

I've warned her that he's highly afraid of needles to the point he may pass out. They are hoping to be able to just numb the gum and pull them ...fingers crossed

Then we (middle man and I) had a 9:30 appointment with his counsellor. She started by telling middle man that she talked to his dad yesterday (???) and how he said he was so proud of how fire safe he has become, fireman Sam said the same!!!  Which is great and made him smile. 

For me, I wondered why he could tell her that but not tell his own kid??? She later told me that she noticed when he was trying to find the right answer, he stumbled on his words...I kind if laughed and said that how you know he's lying! She agreed

Now little man and I are finishing lunch before we start out on our afternoon of appointments!

We go see our GP this afternoon at 2:30, big man need to have his throat checked (he seems to have developed a "cough" which get worse when he I anxious but he seems to disagree), he has a couple other small things as well. Little man goes for his check up for his allergy meds (which are working but not good enough) and I get to have my BP checked and try and ask some questions about the gastric bypass?!?!

Then we have about 30 mins (may go for a walk about the block) before big man gets his teeth out! 

Fingers crossed this all goes well 🙏

Finally GOOD new for my house!!!!

Little man had his 6 month check up at Sick Kids in Toronto today, so after getting him all excited to go on the train for the last 2 days we got up early and headed out the door!

He was sooo cute, was pacing the living room waiting for grandpa to get here to watch his brothers (his back pack full of snacks, book and toys). 

This was on the Go train, oh I forgot to mention this is the first time I have let him out if stroller to ride the train (yes I have come along way in 2 yrs!!!)  he was super duper good, didnt fight to get in the stroller when we got to union station or anything. We were running close to his appointment so we took the subway up (no he stayed in the stroller, I'm not that crazy!)

He walked the 3 blocks down to the hospital, we checked in and went for his ultrasound. 

Now my memory isn't the greatest but from what I do remember of the last one it didn't look good. She kept measuring and remeasuring what almost looked like a stone??? She also did something new, you know when your pregnant and they turn the coloured waves on to show the blood flow, well it looked like that except it was red and blue??? Of course I asked what it was and she said the doctor would explain (this girl has no personality and never tells me anything)

We take our form back to the desk and I ask if they are running on time (hahahha funny I know) she says let me check. Our doctor appointment was for 11:40. She comes back and says "you should go have some lunch and be back around 2"

Yepper, this is why I asked!

So we go for lunch.... outside! 

Then I though, why not go for a little walk! So little man and I ventured down a block and circled back. Let just say, he thought he was the king of the world walking the streets of Toronto, he tried to say HI to anyone who would listen...most didnt and just rushed past! 

Then we came up to what I can only assume was a homeless person, enjoying some much need warmth in the sun. 

Little man has to be the most honest child I know, to a fault, thankfully the guy had a wonder sense of humour and chuckled when little man ask 

"Why you so dirty and smelly"

Other guy "see little buddy, I don't have a home with a bathtub so I dont get to play in the tub and have fun like you do"

Little man " oh ok, would you like one of my cookies???" He's also very generous, which I love!

The man looked at me, and I nodded, then we carried on

We go back around 12:45 just to check in again...good thing she called us right in!!!

Student doctor comes in (oh how I love them!) about 30 minutes later, said his ultrasound looks really good, he has a huge bladder (wonder where that comes from?!?!) 

He still has the blockages in both kidneys  and the right is still very enlarged. But because his bladder was empty this time around, they were able to get some good pictures. He is very impressed with the progress. 

He asked if he was trained, I again gave him the same story as I did 6 months ago (no! He know exactly what to do but can sit there for 45 minutes and not pee, he drinks as if he is dying of thirst and still nothing). He said that I need to retrain his brain and bladder???

Ok...how?

So for the hours he is awake I'm to put him on the potty for 15 minutes every 3 hours, and give him a cup of water 20 minutes before hand. Yep, cause I don't have enough to do in a day I'm now on bladder control...perfect!

He said it will take sometime as they tend to tense up every time they have to pee so I need to train him to relax and let it goooo 😜

So the good news part.....drum roll please!!!!

After 35 months of being on antibiotics little man gets to come off of them!!!! 

We don't go back for another check up for a year!!!!

HOWEVER:

If he stars getting UTI's then we need to treat ASAP (obviously), and call for an appointment sooner. They will redo the LASIK renal exam and also do the balloon catheter test (not the technical name but that's what it is)

So after all that we decide we will walk the 2 km back down to union station! Little man made it all the way!

And was rewarded with an ice cream while we waited for the Go train back home!!!

She always knows 😘

I wasn't in her house 5 minutes and she knew! She knew I just needed a hug. On of those giant ones that she apologizes before she even starts cause she knows I'm gonna cry...this is just one if the many many reasons I love her!!!

Our relationship has been one of those that we always just hit it off. Yes I meet her because I was with her uncle, but she how now gone from my niece, to MY niece/best friend and now she is more then just a best friend...she is almost like a sister...and I could never imagine life with out her. 

In the last 6 years, the 2 if us have been threw way more then any 2 people need (but yet life COULD be so much worse)

We always joke about packing up our lives and getting a compound to live as sister wives (minus the sharing if the husband part 😝) and as life continues I wish some way some how that could really happen. 

Either way she has a way of making feel like everything is going to be ok, I can handle everything that keeps getting thrown at me and in the end I will love again...I sure hope she right