Don't mock the headphones

Headphones - it's how we roll!

Princess triplet, like many kids with autism, find the 4th of July challenging because of sensory issues. Today's parade was enjoyable because her headphones provided a barrier at the beginning until she could get used to all the stimulation.

If you see a kiddo today with headphones on, don't mock it. This may be the only way that family can enjoy a "typical" American holiday.

And fireworks? We'll try them tonight and hopefully they'll go better than last year for Princess. Since we only have one set of headphones right now, Princess, who is far more sensory defensive than Angel triplet, will get them tonight. Hopefully Angel will find the visual interest so intriguing that she may be able to block out the auditory onslaught.

Happy 4th of July!

And it's not even breakfast time for Mommy yet

The best I can say about today so far is at least it's happening after coffee... even if it is before I get breakfast.

Today's most often used phrases so far today (and it's not even noon):

1.  "No, stop eating the book." 
2. "You may read the book, hold the book, look at the book. Do not rip the book. Do not eat the book."
3. "You may not break the book binding. We read books this way."
4. "Breaking light bulbs is dangerous!"
5. "Stop! Give me the broken light bulb. No, not in your mouth."
6. "No we may not unscrew lightbulbs."
7. "Come back downstairs. You may not be upstairs without Mommy."
8. "You may have water, not juice."
9. "No juice. Water, would you like water? Have some water."
10. "You may not hit your sister."
11. "Where is your barrette? Take your barrette out of your mouth."
12. "Stop licking the puzzle pieces."

It feels like a Pica heavy day today. Is this transitional behavior? Who knows? It sure could be. We're transitioning in our ABA therapy, school, speech, and OT therapy. Plus, we just sent 1/6 of our family to Europe yesterday. I think you can safely say our life is tumultuous today.

Next stop Europe...

Well, for Lotte anyway. One-sixth of the Tripped Up Family is heading to Chicago now and then boards a plane to Warsaw, Poland to begin a 15-day European Choral Tour. She's competing in the World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia as part of her high school's European Tour Choirs. They will visit Prague, Vienna, and Budapest along the way. If you're interested, you can follow along with the Rockford Choirs via Twitter, their Facebook page, Instagram, and of course their blog.

Today's office

No pictures of Lotte leaving for Europe today because when you're holding onto two 5-year-olds' hands while keeping track of where the other 5-year-old wanders with periodic glances, not only do you not have hands to take a picture, but you also don't have the eye focus. That's okay, I would have gotten water (tears) all over my phone anyway. How can I end up not crying during graduation but end up balling when I drop her off for her Europe trip?

Closely averting two meltdowns while 57+ people gathered with all of their luggage and send-off people (on a windy day that even Pooh would find slightly mentionable) and still managing to get Lotte there early and well prepared, I'd say that was an afternoon of work. Here's hoping today's office environment will calm down all the rest of the emotions, for Tripped Up Mama and all three triplets, one of whom cried the whole way home because she didn't want to leave her sister. Mabybe later I'll just take another look at those photos of Prague & dream of seeing it all myself.