"long run" & T1's first 'real' cricket match

I'm still getting back in the habit of blogging and didn't get to logging my one hour run yesterday.  I found my beloved Garmin, which I'm really happy about and ate a mammoth pancake brekky with amazing yoghurt, fruit and choc- chips.  And pure maple syrup of course!

Saturday T1 made his cricket debut.  He played really well and was much calmer than he was at training.  He did make a strange comment to his cricket teammates, who he doesn't know too well yet.  He went up to a group of them when he got to the game and in a loud voice asked "do you know what a million plus a million is?"  I cringed.  We need to work on initiating conversation!!  His batting was good and his bowling was excellent.  I've forgotten how bad the bowling is at under 8 levels.  Or should we just call it chucking :-)!

A perfect cricket day - T1's debut!

Sport Sport Sport!

Running
I've been outside all day.  And its been really exhausting and great at the same time.  First up I had a speed session as part of my half-marathon training plan.   It was short but painful.  6 minutes hard running, 2 minutes recovery, 4 minutes hard, 2 minutes recovery, 2 minutes hard, 2 minutes recovery.  Today I managed to get a shot of the moon which wasn't quite as stunning as yesterday but still beautiful.

Life
Then I was on 'transport duty' for my eldest son's cricket match.  It was a perfect day for watching (and playing!) cricket.  And I was so proud of my son - he opened the batting order and did quite well - a total of 10 runs including a 4 before he was run out.  The highlight was during his 1 over of bowling - he bowled 2 people out in 1 over!  Seeing (and hearing) those bails go flying while watching your treasured one bowl is an awesome feeling.  Cricket means alot to my son and I just felt so happy for him.  All his hard work is paying off.  They won the game and are through to the next round of the knock-out competition.

Autism
Then it was the twins' first ever club soccer training.  It was nerve-wracking and I couldn't have done it without my husband.  T1 was perfect and he loves playing soccer.  T2 was up and down.  There were a few tears here and there but he managed to participate in a full hour of soccer training in the hot sun.  We are going to get him to do a little practise between trainings and hopefully by game time he will be fine.

2 years ago I never thought that the twins would be able to participate in club soccer.  Correction - 12 months ago I didn't think they would ever play club soccer.  Never underestimate kids on the Spectrum.

Life
Now I'm collapsed on the lounge but I'm committed to going out to our local Thai, Star of Thailand,  for dinner.  We've been talking about it for a few days now.  It time for a date night.  Besides, I think we've earned some curry puffs and a stir-fry after today!

Curry puffs - yum.  Photo a little dark as we were out on the balcony

Sizzling Seafood - minus muscles

satay chicken and veges

 We ended up getting all the foods our kids are allergic to - prawns, peanuts...ahhh...the good old days.  Must remember not to kiss the kids tonight!

T1's Ashes Test debut at the SCG & DON'T trust roll-on sunscreen!

I didn't post last night because I was exhausted and sunburnt and...exhausted.  Yesterday was the big day.  T1 would be playing with the other Milo Kids during Lunch on the first day of the 5th Ashes test at the hallowed Sydney Cricket Ground.

The alarm (otherwise known as T2) woke us up and we got ready to leave the house at 8am to get a park.  We took two cars because T1 wasn't going to last the whole day whereas my eldest and husband would.   We got there in quick time and found a park on the street and walked to the ground.  We had to be at the ground early and luckily they had a great area for kids set up outside the ground.  There was a bowling area, throwing, face painting, free Milo and you could get your photo taken with the world cup.

T1 bowling to eldest - love it !

Little yellow blobs!

This is the team closest to me, not T1's team

Walking off after session

Then all the Milo kids were gathered together and we were given our tickets and entered the ground.  Our seats were really good.  It was a sold out day so getting complimentary tickets in such a great place was terrific.  We were also seated in a no alcohol area which was awesome because I didn't want to be near any yobbo drunks.  My eldest got beer spilled on him where he was seated. Yuck!  NONE of the kids actually watched the game - haha!  We spent the two hours feeding our kids sandwiches and snacks and I gave T1 my phone to play with and the kids all huddled in.  I took T1 to the bathroom and reminded him that he needed to listen to people in charge and then afterwards if he did the right thing we would go to McDonald's.  Finally the kids were called and went off without us.  I wonder how T1 behaved during that time?  Hopefully well!  Then they came on the field and his group was on the opposite side of the field.  My husband could see him from his seats and rang me to give a running commentary.  All I could see were little yellow blobs running around.  T1 did really well.  He really loves cricket.  Two kids got hurt and carried off crying and I thought to myself - wow its not T1! After that it was a long walk back to the car and we cooled off in the car and headed for McDonald's.  The cricket is on TV now and we are absolutely hammering the English.  It looks it will be a 5-0 series!

Eldest and I have matching patches of sunburn.  We used roll-on sunscreen.  I don't trust its coverage now.  Consider yourself warned:-)

Overall an awesome day - except for the sunburn :-(

Santa at In2cricket; Christmas visits; dogs

Well it was an early Saturday morning.  At 5.15am T2 hopped (yes hopped!) down the stairs.  Somehow he injured his ankle late yesterday.  Today he did not weight bear on his ankle at all.  It didn't look bruised or swollen and my GP isn't available today.  Some would think why not run him up to the local medical centre or hospital?  Well, the last time I took T2 to the local hospital with croup he was physically restrained for a significant period of time in order to get him to wear an oxygen mask (even though his actual oxygen levels were ok).  He had bruises from where he was restrained.  That day I vowed I would avoid hospitals at all costs and refuse any medical staff permission to restrain my son.  Obviously in emergencies I would do what is necessary.  So I cancelled all therapy sessions for T2 and am hoping tomorrow he will improve.  I'm not looking forward to x-rays etc this close to Christmas with a child on the spectrum.  Fingers crossed!


Another busy day in the lead-up to Christmas.  First up was Milo cricket.  After today's session we had a very special visitor - Santa!  He handed out presents to the kids and cracked many jokes (a very cheeky Santa!).  There is now over a month off of cricket and I must admit I'll enjoy the break.  I stupidly forgot my phone (T2 was at home playing with it).  Hopefully my fellow coach will email me photos of T1 and Santa.  T1 was very happy with his Ninja Turtle :-)

Next up our BCBA (behaviour analyst) dropped in for a visit.  My BCBA is one of the most important people in my life-I'm not exaggerating!  She is my go-to person for all behavioural troubles, learning difficulties, programming and school preparation.  Not to mention listening to my panicky Friday afternoon phone calls with eternal patience and calmness.

Then one of T1's former junior therapists visited and brought her most gorgeous dog!  Its a cross schitzu and poodle.  He is really gorgeous and the kids (and us adults) were VERY taken with this dog. We've all agreed that we should dogsit this dog whenever possible.  One day I really want to get a dog for the boys.  I know some families get specially-trained dogs for people with autism.  I'd like to look into the benefits of having a dog for individuals with autism.  The cutest moment was when T1 started talking to the dog (Lenny) and showed him his drawings 'these are my drawings'.  It was soooo cute :-).  This junior (who is now a practising psychologist) gave the boys some plaster craft sets.  T1 and my eldest had fun making the plaster and painting them.  Unfortunately the magnets didn't hold though.

gorgeous Lenin - love those teeth!

plaster craft set

Teamwork with big bro

unfortunately the magnets didn't hold-but it was still a fun activity

T1 painting the pirate

eldest son was keen to participate!

T1's pirate

Party preparations; Playdate and T1 to play on the SCG!

What a day!  Exhausting but so rewarding.  I woke up hoping it would rain so that I didn't have to get up and coach cricket.  Don't get me wrong, once I'm there I love it.  But the last two weeks T1 has been a little...well....difficult.  Today he was wonderful AND the coordinator asked if I wanted my son to play cricket during the lunch break at the 5th Ashes test at the Sydney Cricket Ground....uuummm...YES PLEASE!!!  I told T1 before cricket that I really needed him to be a good helper today and that if he was I would buy him some McDondalds cookies (you know those ones in the little boxes?).  I also lavished on the praise all throughout the hour.  He was great.  He played the shot of the day during continuous cricket. The ball sailed over the kids' heads.  It was an amazing shot for a six year old.

Later on my mother-in-law and I cooked sausage rolls, mini pizzas and made my eldest son's birthday cake for his party tomorrow.  Then when the twins went to sleep we made lolly bags (well boxes, actually).

keeping the twins from eating them was a challenge :-)

Yummy chocolate cake

With turf and pitch laid.  We ran out of choccie sticks so its back to the shops in the morning

Making lolly bags was so fun - these babies are bursting at the seams!

Then, because I like to double...actually triple book things...my eldest had a mate over to play (or 'hang out' at this age).  My husband took them to the cricket nets, they swam, played table tennis and FIFA and were not an ounce of trouble.  The friend had a younger sibling about the twins age.  At pickup he and T1 played really nicely for about 45 minutes.  I was really impressed at how T1 took turns, shared and how they made up games.  I'm thinking that T1 is ready for regular playmates himself.

Finally,  my husband and eldest are now having a good old time at the Bon Jovi concert.  I hope they love it.  It should be an amazing concert.

Oh my aching feet.  Oh, and no, I didn't run today!