GREAT WEATHER!

Hello! What a great weekend! The weather has been HOT and the kids and I have been spending lots of time outside. The boys love being outside and the heat does not seem to bother them at all. Maddie had a friend stay overnight last night so the kids all played outside in the water. Carter discovered that it is more fun to squirt others with water guns than to be the one getting squirted. Same thing with water balloons. Nothing seems to phase Kinnick, he loves the water and it is hard to drag him away from it.

Tomorrow is Father's Day and we don't have any plans that I know of. Just hang out together. We hope that everyone has a great weekend! Love, Steph

Cut me some slack...still recooping from the weekend

Hi and I want to say that I am sorry it has been so long since I posted. Now that the Walk for Autism is complete and I have all of the paperwork and stuff completed I will have more time to post and get pics on here of the kids. We had a great time in Des Moines last weekend and got to spend some time with some family and friends while we were there. The weather was fantastic! Our team raised over $4000.00 for autism research! We are already looking forward to going back next year. The summer is just flying by! Maddie is staying busy with softball. The boys enjoy spending time outside. We spent over 3 hours outside today and they loved every minute of it! They playing in the pool, blew bubbles, drew with sidewalk chalk, ate popsicles, played on the swingset and all kinds of fun things! I got a little bit of sun and so that was great. I need to get a tan! Please check my BLOG because I plan to post a few times a week now that things have "slowed down". Love, Steph

I missed yesterday

Hi! Thought I would post about what happened yesterday at our house. It was just the boys and I yesterday because I do not babysit for Brennan on Wednesdays and Maddie was at daycamp at the YMCA. Adam went to physical therapy first thing in the morning. It was cruddy outside and really windy. We had some heavy rain, thunder, lightening and hail. Yes, HAIL! It was enough to cover the road and our grass. The pieces were bigger than pea size. It lasted just a short time and then the sun came out. The rest of the day was nice, but quite windy.

The boys both napped most of the afternoon and I began getting all of the paperwork together for the Autism Walk on Saturday. We will leave tomorrow evening for Des Moines.

At 5:30 the boys and I went to Algona to get Maddie at the YMCA. The kids were hungry so I took them to Subway. Carter wanted to go inside Subway with me so I let him and as I was ordering he blurted out reall loud, "Mom, I just peed in my diaper". (Great, thanks for sharing that with everone Carter). As we were leaving Algona we had to stop and wait for an ambulance to go through a busy intersection. Do you ever get that feeling in your stomach that something just isn't right? Well, I did when I saw that ambulance. When we got to Whittemore we stopped at Pitchers and wished my Aunt and Uncle happy birthday. A bunch of our family was there to help them celebrate. It was then that I heard who was in the ambulance that we saw, my godfather, Ralph Koppen. This morning my mom called to tell us that he had passed away.

I am posting a video that I took last night of Kinnick playing with his trains. If you listen you can hear him say choo choo and chug chug.
Choo Choo

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Well, I need to get back to my Autsim Walk paperwork now. Love, Steph

I am getting really bad at this!

I am so mad! I just typed a post and then lost it. Suck! I am watching a baby einstein DVD with Kinnick, Brennan is napping and Carter is talking to my mom on the phone. I need to go make lunch now. Carter decided he wants me to make bowtie pasta. We get it from the Schwans man and he really likes it alot! I have been awful at posting and so I thought I better get one done so that you could all know what is happening with us.

We go to Des Moines this weekend for the Autism Speaks event. We have raised just over $3600.00. There are 90 plus teams participating and we are in 2nd place right now. Our local newpaper came to the house yesterday and interviewed us about the walk. I was really happy that they wanted to do an article about Autism because it really helps shed a light on what Autism is and how it can impact a family.

Please visit Kinnick’s web page at: http://www.autismwalk.org/site/TR?pg=personal&fr_id=1520&px=1981649

Please visit our team web page at: http://www.autismwalk.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=1520&team_id=116640

Maddie has been busy with coach pitch softball. She plays for Whittemore. Adam is one of her coaches. She plays twice a week and then there is a tournament on July 1st. She is also attending day camp at the YMCA every other week all summer long. That way she is able to spend time with kids her own age and go do fun things like swim, hike, etc....

I became an aunt again last week. My sister Nicole had a baby girl. Her name is Kayla. I have put some pictures of her on my myspace page. You can see the pictures by visiting www.myspace.com/bighawkeyefans

Well, I need to get lunch on the table so bye for now!

We have been busy

Hello everyone! We have been busy and I am sorry for not getting a post done for so long. Adam finished planting beans on Friday afternoon. On Friday night Adam and I went out for supper with our friends Kim and Kevin. We went back to their house and hung out for a while. It was great to go out with them! We had graduation parties to go to Saturday after church. Today we worked around the yard. Carter and Adam got sunburned. I got the little splash pool out for the kids and as you can see from the picture Carter thought he needed to be naked and Kinnick thought he should just get in with all of his clothes on. FUNNY! They enjoyed themselves alot! Well, I am going to watch SoundOff with Keith Murphy and Andy Fales before I go to bed. Have a great week! Love, Steph

Picnic

Hello everyone! Just wanted to share some pictures with you from the picnic that I had outside with the kids last night. We put a blanket on the grass and had our sandwich, chips, fruit snacks and juice outside. It was alot of fun. I think that the kids really enjoyed it! We also jumped on the trampoline and played with the bubble maker. The weather was just perfect to be outdoors. Tonight the boys and I went outside again and this time they played in the dirt in the garden. They were filthy when they were done but they sure had fun. I washed their hands and brought them inside for supper. I made pancakes and put blueberry sauce on top of them. Another mess. My plan was to take them from the table to the bathtub. However, the phone rang just as we were finishing supper and it was Maddie. She was at a friend's house and was going to spend the night but ended up with a stomach ache so I had to go and get her. By the time we got to Algona she said she was starting to feel better but decided that she would still come home. I think they ate too much junk food after school. She went to bed when she got home so we will see what tomorrow brings. Have a super weekend everyone!

Kinnick watching bubbles

HOLY COW!

I feel terrible that I have not posted since APRIL 29TH!!!! I guess it has been a busy week!!! Last week we played outside one night for quite awhile. It was one of the nights that was warm. Maddie and Carter took their kites outside and we decided that we would TRY to fly them. Adam was busy in the fields so it was going to be interesting for sure. We actually got them both in the air and Carter had a blast with his. Maddie got hers stuck in a tree. Lucky for us Adam and my mom were in the yard getting some corn seed loaded in the truck so they stopped to help get it unstuck for her. Shortly after that the wind went down and then it was time to find something else to do. Kinnick and Carter decided that playing in the garden would be lots of fun. Kinnick only tried to eat dirt once. But then he found a walnut and did not want to put it down! He really liked picking up dirt and throwing it over and over and over again. Carter played with his diggers and dozers and shovels and tractors. Maddie decided to run around the yard with Wrigley chasing her. I think they both got a workout!

Maddie's school had grandparents day last Thursday and my went to that with her. They start the morning with mass and then they get to go to the classrooms and see them and do a craft and then they go to have juice and rolls before they go home.

The weekend was okay, it went by too fast! We did not do too much. Some shopping in Mason City and cleaning up the house. The rain was non-stop. It is Wednesday and Adam is hoping to get back into the fields tomorrow. He ended up getting a really bad sinus infection but it worked out that it was during the time that he could not be in the fields anyway. Kinnick and I have to go to Algona this afternoon for appointments at the clinic. Carter is going to my mom's and he is really excited.

INCREDIBLE SONG - WOW!

Weekend almost over

Well, this weekend is almost over and the weather was wonderful. Yesterday the kids played outside. They took tractors and dump trucks and gardening tools to the garden and played in dirt and water (yes, that makes mud). They were a mess when they came inside. I got them cleaned up so that we could go into Whittemore for my cousin's confirmation reception. We stayed at that about an hour and then we came home. The kids were wound up and all stayed up way too late. I think it was almost 11:30 before Carter went to bed.

This morning when we got up I got showered and ready to go to Algona. When I walked into the living room Carter looked at me and asked me why I was wearing makeup. Guess I impressed him! He is not used to seeing me do my hair and makeup since I stay at home now. It was funny. I am so glad he noticed! I took all 3 of the kids grocery shopping. I had Maddie push Kinnick in his stroller and I pushed the cart with Carter riding in it. It worked out really well. I bought more junk and snacks than I normally would, I guess that is why I do not like taking them along. Oh well, they all behaved very well so I took them to McDonald's for lunch. When we got home Maddie and Carter played outside until it was time for Carter to go ride with Adam in the tractor. Maddie ended up going to the Whittemore Pitts with a friend from school. He is a boy. He is her friend. But he is NOT her boyfriend. We like to tease her about it though! They talked to each other almost every night this past week on the phone. She leaves the room when she talks to him so we can't hear what she is saying.

I will have to go and pick her up shortly. Carter just woke up from a nap and Kinnick is watching a baby einstein movie. I should try and get a few more things done before it's time for me to leave. Hope you all had a great weekend!

What a beautiful day

The weather was awesome today. Maddie had a field trip for school to Smith Lake and the weather was perfect she said. She brought home a lilac bush to plant. She wants to plant it next to the lilac bush that her Aunt Nicole planted in our yard several years ago. The kids and I went outside from 6 until about 7 when we came inside for supper. They had fun playing outside with Wrigley, jumping on the trampoline, playing on the swingset and blowing bubbles. By the time we came in they were filthy and so they went straight to the bathtub after they were done with supper. They also went to bed early because they were worn out from being outside. Adam worked on machinery today and then went out to work ground after we were done with supper. We are invited to two confirmation parties this weekend. One tomorrow night and the other Sunday afternoon. I am sure the weekend will just fly by! Sounds like the weather should be good so that will allow the kids to play outside. There is not much else new here. Have a super weekend!

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We've been busy!

Another week almost over. It does not seem like tomorrow can be Friday already. Our appointment with Kinnick's newest teacher was on Tuesday morning and he did pretty good. He was tired so I suppose that might have added to some of his frustration. He made some great sounds for us. We have a lot of games to play with him and he really likes those. He gets frustrated when we make him "work".

Yesterday was crazy too. Adam had a meeting to go to over lunch time so that left me here with both boys and as I was getting ready for Kinnick's teacher to come at 12:30 all heck broke loose. Of course things always happen when Adam is not here (ha ha ha). Carter was in the kitchen with me and he was getting a butter knife out of the silverware drawer and the next thing I know he is screaming for Adam and there is blood in the drawer because he had cut his finger. Somehow a steak knife got put into the wrong drawer and on top of that it was upsidedown in the drawer so Carter got stabbed by it right on the tip of his finger. Carter hates the sight of blood. I got a washcloth wet and applied it to his finger to try and stop the bleeding. I needed to know if he would need stitches or not. So I am trying to clean Kinnick up from lunch, hold onto Carter and calm him down, and call my mom all at the same time! CRAZY! Luckily my mom was home and could come out to the house and help with Carter while Kinnick had his meeting with his teacher. The bleeding stopped and Carter was fine. My mom took him into the toyroom and they played toys. He really liked that special time with Grandma all to himself! His band aid fell off on the bathtub after supper last night and he has not really mentioned his cut since then. Speaking of the bath, Carter decided that it would be fun to stand up in the tub and "toot" well, he got more than he bargained for. Yep, you guessed it, pooped in the tub. And once again Adam was gone so I got to be the lucky one to clean it up.

Today was calmer. Kinnick and Brennan played with legos for a long time today. Here are some pictures of them.

Sitting here watching the Bachelor

Wow, the Bachelor, Andy, is hot! He is probably the best looking guy they have had on the show. Anyway, enough about that, I have not posted in a few days. I seem to be really busy these days! On Saturday Adam started planting corn. Too bad it was raining when we came out of Church Sunday morning. We got enough rain that it kept him out of the fields again today. He somehow messed up his back and spent most of yesterday uncomfortable on the couch. Today he was able to see the chiropractor, his massage therapist, and also his physical therapist. He seems to be in less pain. The chiropractor could not believe how loud it was when he cracked Adam's back.

Tomorrow Kinnick will be meeting another person who will be coming to our house to work with him. She is a communication paraeducator through Prairie Lakes AEA. She will come a few times a week and work with Kinnick. We need as much help as we are able to get. There is no such thing as too much when it comes to working with Kinnick.

Not much else to report here. Just waiting for the weather to stay warm so that we can spend more time outside playing.

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Results from Iowa City

Well, today is Tuesday and Kinnick had his appointment in Iowa City yesterday. It was an all day appointment and Kinnick did really well. He adjusted to everyone who examined him and they were able to take him and work with him without Adam and I being in the room. He spent time with an educational consultant, a psychologist, a speech clinician, and 2 child psychiatrists. Everyone was really nice and he found that each doctor had fun toys to play with in their office. When we met with the team of doctors after lunch they discussed with us their findings and their diagnosis. He meets the criteria for autism spectrum disorder as described by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV). Specifically his diagnosis is Pervasive Developmental Disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified). Adam and I were overloaded with information and I think we left the appointment rather confused. Once I got home last night I looked up several things they talked with us about and am more comfortable with trying to explain it now. Also, when we actually receive a copy of the reports they write about about Kinnick we will have it on paper to refer to. There are 3 categories or areas that they look at to diagnose autism spectrum disorder and Kinnick "qualifies" for all 3. They are:

1. qualitative impairment in social interaction, qualitative impairments in communication, restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities

2. delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas: social interaction, language as used in social communication, and symbolic or imaginative play

3. the disturbance is not better accounted for by Rett's Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

CLEAR AS MUD??? This is basically everything that we already knew about Kinnick before his appointment, we just needed a medical diagnosis so that we can now ask for more resources that we can utilize to help Kinnick in everyway we can!

Of course, before we left Iowa City we walked over to Kinnick Stadium and took pictures of the statue of Niles Kinnick.

We are in Iowa City

Hello! We made it to Iowa City about 4 this afternoon. Kinnick and I slept off and on the whole trip. We went to the mall when we got here and walked around for a while and then we had to go to Target and get some diapers and wipes. Kinnick was happy to check in at the hotel so he could run circles around our room. He is wound up! I am hoping that after we eat our pizza from Dominoes he will relax and be ready to lay down. He really seems to like being the only child with us. Well, Deal or No Deal is getting ready to come on here at 8 pm. Love, Steph

April 11th and school is cancelled due to snow?

Wrigley with his new toys from the Easter Bunny
Kinnick eating a yellow peep!

Maddie and her Easter Basket

Let's see what we got!

This crazy Iowa weather is just about to drive me nuts. Maddie is home today because school was cancelled due to the snow and wind and slush and ice, need I say more???? This makes me want to go back to Florida. The kids want to go outside and play in it but it is just too windy in the country to let them go out in it. I think that Maddie and Carter are going to argue all day long. Carter has only been awake for 20 minutes and the 2 of them are already fighting over the tractors. Fun! Fun! I have not posted in a few days and that is because I have just been so busy and my allergies have been bothering me something terrible. We had a nice Easter. We went to my mom and dad's house for lunch with the Simonson's and that was fun. We came home and the kids napped and then we just relaxed the rest of the day. It was nice. On Monday I started babysitting for Brennan again. He will be here Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The kids sure do enjoy having him here to play with. He walks and babbles now so he is more fun for them to interact with. He will turn 1 this month. I enjoy having him here as well. Other than that there is not much happening here.

Love, Steph

Boring post

It is Saturday night at 10:30 and I am tired. I have a headache and feel like I am getting a cold. Maybe it is my allergies. Either way I feel like crud and want to go to bed. Carter and Maddie are in bed with me and they seem more awake than they should for this time of night. I plan to take lots of pictures tomorrow and will post them tomorrow night if all goes well. Love Steph

Pictures of Carter

Sticking my tongue out at mom after she ripped the band aid off my head!

The dotor gave me a sucker and a sticker after I got my stitches in!

The scratch on my nose is not related to my incident yesterday!

Here is the gash I got on my forehead yesterday afternoon!

Just got done with my bath!

In the bathtub today. We had to run soapy water over my stitches!