Mac Mini Disaster

As I reported earlier, Jimmy has become much more proficient in his computer ability with all of his surfing and such.  The one thing Jimmy has not mastered is ejecting disks from the Mac.  We found out the hard way when the husband tried to use the computer to find it jammed.  Jimmy had stuck his new shark DVD on top of his Spiderman DVD.  I got a panicked phone call while I was at Tysons (location of the Apple Store) with Jacob for Jimmy's respite day at McLean.  We were just wandering the mall anyway, but I had to go to the store, schedule an appointment for later in the afternoon, drive back to Manassas to get the computer and drop Jacob off, then return for Jimmy, and then to kill an hour waiting for the appointment, then waiting 30 more minutes in the store as the Genius Bar was running late.  That's a long wait for Jimmy, but he did well - or at least was doing well until I got him back to a car and realized he had an accident during the wait...  He had started to cry while we were waiting, but I assumed it was just the wait.  I felt so awful.  

At any rate, Genius Bar guy couldn't help, so the guy took in the unit so one of their technicians could pop the top off (not as easily done with a Mac as a PC.)  He said it would be two or three days, but we got a phone call last night saying it was ready.  Another drive to Tysons and $85 later, we have our computer back.  I would love to still have that $85, but at least he didn't fry out the drive.

Pictures from the escapade...

Jacob at lunch... the one luxury I afforded myself.  He wasn't horrible, but I have had time better well behaved with me.

Jimmy playing the Star Wars Lego game in the Apple Store.  Yes, I still have to use a stroller from time to time.  A hour and a half wait in the mall.. yeah, I used it.  I need to clean that tray up - it still has stickers from the fall campaigns.

I need a weekend off to recover from my weekend!

The Indignities of Therapy

Okay, I have kind of kept quiet on one of my biggest life stressors - Jimmy's therapy schedule - for fear of appearing ungrateful.  I am pleased for the level of help my son is getting.  I have worked hard to secure it for him.  But let me tell you what having nine hours of therapy a week for your child is like.  It's nine hours out of a life that has 40 to 50 hours a week cut out of it for work already.  Juggling it wouldn't be so hard if the "professionals" (and I am using the term loosely) working with my child actually got me a schedule in a timely fashion.  Getting January's schedule on New Year's Night isn't helpful.  It does beat the heck out of the months I received no schedule at all.  I guess that schedule would have also been better received if it had been correct (they scheduled him for 11 hours when he only gets 9) and if they had asked about our weekend availability before they scheduled him every single weekend.  We got the schedule straightened out, at least I thought we did until I got a phone call saying that the therapist wasn't going to be there at 3:30, she would come at 4:15.  

When your child has autism, I guess the people working with you expect it to be your life.  Is that healthy?  I don't know, but it certainly isn't fair for Jacob, who I can't even sign up for soccer or swimming lessons this spring simply because I don't know from week to week what schedule the lead therapist is going to present or rescind.  Try to live your life at the whim of others.  It sucks.  

It's Friday

The husband had his third shot in his spine today - the herniated disks from the car accident.  We still are unsure about whether or not he will actually need back surgery.  There is a chance he won't - it's pretty wait and see.  He got a call for an interview on Wednesday with a company that he has submitted resumes to for a variety of positions - some contract, others full time.  That's the live one at the moment.  We are only a week into the "paid vacation" as my sister likes to call it, so I guess it isn't too bad.

Jimmy has a touch of a stomach bug.  I heard his stomach make a weird noise as he raced to the bathroom.  He made it, but it was messy - wound up in the tub.  I hope he is feeling well enough to go to respite tomorrow.  I am solo with Jacob for the afternoon at the mall again.  I am giving the husband a day off to recuperate.  Maybe I can get him to do Sunday so I can sleep.  I need sleep.  I am a little deprived this week.