Strep Throat

Well, I went to the doctor today and got the news: I have strep throat. I'm not sure I've ever had it before but it sucks. Big time. Worst sore throat I've ever had. Swallowing is excruciating. I'm on antibiotics now so hopefully I'll be better soon. But enough complaining about me and my problems. I've been feeling guilty about not having done any ABA with Ben lately, on account of his being sick and now my being sick and I'm trying very hard not to infect any of the kids. Ben was acting so funny last week when he was sick, I can't help wondering if he had strep as well. He's still not eating a whole lot. Rob bought him McDonald's french fries today and he didn't really have any interest in them. Very unusual behavior as french fries are just about his favorite thing. Next to cookies. He's been very affectionate and loving as usual and cheerful enough for the most part. I thought he said "ball" a few times last week. Could of been a fluke but I'll keep trying to pull it out of him. Also, he's developed a strange habit of whistling. He won't whistle on command, but he'll do it randomly on his own. It's so cute. Katherine and Caroline can't whistle but Ben can. Go figure.

Surgery Cancelled, Ben is Recovering

Ben was supposed to finally have all his crowns put in down at Fort Bragg yesterday, but sure enough, he got sick on Wednesday so we had to cancel his surgery once again. Rescheduled for May 4th. He was okay this morning so I sent him back to school and he seemed perfectly glad to go. I think he really likes school. On Wednesday afternoon he spent most of the time just laying around on the couch, something he only does when he's running a fever and doesn't feel well. He even snuggled with me while I watched Oprah! I kind of like the cuddly, calm, needy Ben, but I'm glad he's feeling better, for his sake. His appetite seems to be back too, after eating very little for the past couple of days. Right now I've got a big batch of Gluten Free Banana muffins in the oven, hopefully he'll be tempted enough to have one when he gets home. The girls and I like them too, even though they're GF. Most GF stuff just isn't all that tasty but sometimes I find an exception.
In other family news, Katherine finally lost one of her top front teeth today. I gave it a little yank when I brushed her teeth this morning and out it came. No pain at all because it was REALLY loose. She's a snaggle tooth now, very cute. Guess we have to expect the tooth fairy to make a stop by tonight!

Life as it Is Right Now

I just couldn't bear to leave my last post alone for too long, so I feel I need to supplement in order to clear the air. I don't like to complain about Ben but I'm afraid I do it too often. He's a great little boy, so fantastically loving and cuddly and smiley. I think God made Ben exactly as he is for a reason. His behaviors are trying, truly, but I think he far exceeds what damage he causes by what he gives back to us, unconditional love. I was having a bad day. Potty training Ben has not been easy, and so far, he has had only one success. I know it needs to be done, but I'm not sure how to do it, other than make him sit on the potty periodically and hope for the best. He has a couple of big events coming up, one is next week he goes back to Fort Bragg for his dental surgery. Providing he doesn't get sick between now and then. Poor Ben. He is great about most things but doctor's offices are one place he absolutely will not tolerate. It'll be a trying day for all of us. The other event is of course Spring Break, first week in April when I will once again, in earnest be trying to potty train him. I don't know if it will work or not, but I hope hope hope we can get this knocked out of the way. The process is very draining. I found it so when I potty trained Katherine and Caroline and I disliked every minute of it. And they were quick learners. So there it is. That's what's going on.

Spitting and Self Involvement

He's spitting again. It's driving us crazy. Spitting on the couch. Spitting on the floor. Spitting on the carpet. Some days it seems like Ben is bent on destroying every single thing in our house. If it's intact, he wants to mar it in some way, to make his mark. He bite things, pulls loose threads, stains things on purpose. I don't want to be negative, but I guess I am today. Forgive me. Some days it's hard to live with Ben. As for the self involvement, I guess that's mine. I'll admit it. I'm far from the perfect mom. I'm self involved. I like doing my own thing. I work with Ben on most days, but often the demands of all the kids combined just saps my energy. This is why my blog notes are so few and far between. Ben's ABA is going well, but on a daily basis, I cannot seem to keep one step ahead of him. He outthinks me consistently. It is difficult to anticipate his next move. He gets things I never would have thought about. The spitting is just the most recent development. I'm sure my next post will be more upbeat. Sorry.