hey everyone.
I'm not even sure where I left off or when I last updated. But I have a few minutes, with Liam sleeping and Joshua allowed to be on the ipad for a few minutes, so I may as well take advantage of it.
I feel SO busy and SO overwhelmed. Things are hard and it's so hard to focus and keep up with everything and not let myself get sucked into just moping around and being depressed. Josh worked another VERY LONG work week last week. Most days he left at 7:30am, and go back around 8pm. So I did the entire day alone -- housework, meals, play, baths, pj's, bedtimes. I'm trying to develop a new routine for us, working in a lot of Joshua's therapies, sensory "time," activities, etc. He literally takes up EVERY SINGLE second of my day.
We start "preschool evaluations" in the next few weeks. It's basically to see if he qualifies for the special education preschool and services, which I know he will now with the official ASD diagnosis. It hurts me to think of sending him off to school when I want SO BADLY to homeschool, but he can receive services for FREE there. Plus, I can choose HOW MANY hours he goes. I've talked about it with the therapists, and also a friend of mine, and ultimately, I most likely WILL send him. Even if only to get in some one on one time with Liam, some housework, and some time to do a little bit for myself -- cross stitching, maybe a shower once in a while... ;)
I'm also trying to come up with "activity" and "sensory" boxes that I can make so I can work them into our day. Joshua needs HARD direction and focus, because like many kids with ASD, his mind doesn't tell him what's next, or that there will be something NEXT, or how to transition to doing something else. So when I try to direct him to something new, he FLIPS OUT on me. So we're trying to work fun but sensory driven activities in for him. I just can't afford some plastic boxes and some materials, because I don't have much laying around the house to use.
Luckily, my mom is buying his weighted blanket for him for Christmas, so that's one thing I don't have to worry about. Especially since I'm trying to worry about how we're going to afford the doctor's appointment that I have for him.. If we don't come up with the money by then, I have to cancel :(
So, in my venture to make some money not only to support ALL that we are doing to help him, I'm also trying to bring in a few bucks of my own. I wrote about it last time, making my own salves and beauty products, etc. I love love LOVE the calendula healing salve and I'm SO glad I grew it all summer long, being able to say you made stuff out of stuff you grew is so satisfying. And I've sold a bunch already -- not a LOT, but a bunch. Once I sell a bit more I can order a big supply so I can put some ideas into action -- more salves, lip balms, etc. And my newest has been bath soaks and salts. I want ones that are pretty and smell nice, but are also homeopathic remedies, too. Especially stuff that can be for adults AND babies. My first is one for eczema, psoriasis, and other dry/irritated skin conditions, because Joshua has eczema spots, too. So I came up with my first bath soak -- it's a healing "Calendula Oat & Milk" soak. It has Epsom and Mediterranean sea salts, colloidal oatmeal, powdered milk, dried calendula, and lavender essential oils -- so it's great for healing AND calming/soothing, perfect for before bedtime (for mama AND baby!). I love this one so much I already have a jar of it in my bathroom. I only have 2 oz containers still, so I'm selling it for $4.50 for 2 oz (plus $3 shipping, shipping adjusted if you buy more than 1). I hope these sell a bunch because I want to order more salts, oils (jojoba, vitamin e, sweet almond), more EO's, and other stuff for a bunch of fun stuff. I DID open an etsy shop, I have one single listing in it. https://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetDaisySalves?ref=si_shop but I'm hoping to do more selling outside of etsy than on etsy.
I just set Joshua up in his bedroom with the door almost shut, a cup of milk, and some shows on the ipad. Now I will see if he'll sit for a bit by himself (he REFUSES to be without me most of the time) and have some "quiet time." After quiet time and when Liam wakes up, i'll look for an activity to occupy us this afternoon.
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