I am sitting here typing while it is absolutely pouring with rain outside. It has been such a rainy summer. At least the last few days have been cooler. Our backyard is flooded, and all activities were cancelled today (and will be cancelled tomorrow) due to the weather. Even Arley's psychology appointment was cancelled (which I was really looking forward to, because it was just going to be me with the psych and I was hoping to get some answers!) I thought this was going to be a really busy week, but the last few days we've been at home.
On Friday of last week, after we kicked butt at our family tennis lesson (we really did kick butt!), we met our friends Heidi, Will and Charlie and their sister Amelie at the dog beach in Sawtell. Another family came too, and I think we are going to make it a regular Friday thing as long as the weather holds up. Arley didn't really want to go at first, and he was quite unsettled for a bit. I made sure I played with him, but there is only so long that can last. After about an hour he started asking to leave, but I told him I'd give Carmie a little longer. Then finally when Carmie was ready to wrap up, we started to leave, and Arley started playing with his friends and refused to leave! So, I'm very thankful that he started having fun, but then Carmie got really cross! At least now Arley is looking forward to Fridays, which is pretty huge.
Carmie has continued to make her dad eggs for breakfast, as he is still recovering. Yesterday she made him an omelet, and she was so proud of herself. She also made Kentucky biscuits (basically scones) another day, and now wants to start making cookies. If only she could learn to clean the kitchen too, that would be a real bonus!
Another afternoon she asked me to put makeup on her. She just wanted to play around and see what she would look like. She chose the colours. It's funny, because as soon as she was done and had a look at herself for a minute, she wanted to take the make up off again. I had to coerce her to show Jeff, and then beg her to let me take a photo. She was so shy, but she was too cute. I had to photograph her.
On Sunday it was a nice day so I took the kids to the river pool in Mylestom. Arley wanted to go snorkelling, and Carmie wanted to go to a pool, so I thought it was a good compromise. But...Arley thought it was too cold for snorkelling, or really swimming of any sort. He is really feeling the cold lately, he never used to. Carmie wanted to swim, so we stayed, but then I had Arley pestering me every two minutes about leaving. We started a competition where Carmie was able to earn them jellybeans and Smarties by jumping over a pool noodle off the dock and into the water. The kept his complaints at bay because he new he was earning candy with every jump she cleared. He fully needs to be entertained at all times.
He had therapy on Tuesday. The key worker comes to the house and has a therapy session with him while I have a session with a behaviour specialist. It actually went quite well, which was good because last time it did not go well at all!
We've been playing lots of games and doing lots of crafts and VR and reading. And Arley has spent a lot of time on his computer, which is definitely his happy place. It's hard, because that is where he is calm and in control and therefor happy, but if he's on too long, he gets off and he is so grumpy and mean. It means a couple of hours of peace for us (and him being happy), for a couple of hours of him being really mean, particularly to Carmie. I'm thinking it's not a good trade off.
Anyway, I'm off to bed now. I've got to get ready for another rainy home day tomorrow!
At the dog beach in Sawtell
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