This picture of Braeden makes me see how those teenage years are coming!
Thane's on top of the world! (OK, it is a short mountain, but he is pretty happy!)
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Back to Battie
This picture of Braeden makes me see how those teenage years are coming!
Thane's on top of the world! (OK, it is a short mountain, but he is pretty happy!)
Portrait of Mommy
It's not often that I post a pictures of myself, but this one is rather charming to me. My little artist was working with his occupational therapist to create this picture of Mommy. The sweetest part of it was when he was trying to draw to the mouth. He didn't care what the hair looked like, and he only drew dots for eyes, but the mouth had to be smiling. He tried to draw it and was frustrated, so he asked for hand-over-hand support to make a big smile . . . it had to be a big smile. I guess I just think it is sweet that if he is drawing my picture he thinks it should have an ear-to-ear grin on my face.
Not to mention that I do rather look like a big round ball with arms and legs sticking out . . .
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Me & My Shadow
Thane went on a walk at Beech Hill yesterday. He loves shadows, as you can tell from all the photos he took (I left all of them in, unedited in any way).
Happy Thaney
We got Thane a twist trike that can be used as a regular tricycle or a Big Wheel-type vehicle. He was thrilled and had a blast. You can also see some of how he has been playing with his mouth lately. He's pretty excited to be gaining more muscle control!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Mount Battie
Tuesday was a gorgeous day here (unlike today!) and we decided to go to the top of Mount Battie in Camden before picking Braeden up after sailing. I figure this also gives me a good opportunity to show Thane's new haircut and his overalls, complete with bats on the back.
I know this isn't a wonderful picture of Thane and Dave, but I rather like other aspects of the picture (the sky, the light and shadows) . . . and we have a very similar picture of Braeden at about the same age.
Thane has so much hair we decided it was time to layer it so it didn't wedge so much in the back. We've gotten a lot of comments that it makes him look older. If you ask me, he does look like he is going to be turning four in a couple of months . . . ACK!
I hate when I get this little hexagon invades my images, but in this case the placement is sort of amusing and makes Thane look like he is casting a spell in front of a castle.
If I hadn't already done my Halloween cards, I might have used this photo. Of course, when I had him in costume and tried to get him to pose, he kept running away. He was actually moving when I took this too, but he's looking up at least!
Here's Thane flying over Camden Harbor. I was expecting the fall color to look more impressive from above than it did on Tuesday. My drive home was beautiful, but it is a little more inland and a lot of red maples. If the bad weather today doesn't knock all the leaves off the trees, perhaps we'll go back next week.
I have to include the back of the overalls because there are bats on his back on top of Mount Battie.
I know this isn't a wonderful picture of Thane and Dave, but I rather like other aspects of the picture (the sky, the light and shadows) . . . and we have a very similar picture of Braeden at about the same age.
Thane has so much hair we decided it was time to layer it so it didn't wedge so much in the back. We've gotten a lot of comments that it makes him look older. If you ask me, he does look like he is going to be turning four in a couple of months . . . ACK!
I hate when I get this little hexagon invades my images, but in this case the placement is sort of amusing and makes Thane look like he is casting a spell in front of a castle.
If I hadn't already done my Halloween cards, I might have used this photo. Of course, when I had him in costume and tried to get him to pose, he kept running away. He was actually moving when I took this too, but he's looking up at least!
Here's Thane flying over Camden Harbor. I was expecting the fall color to look more impressive from above than it did on Tuesday. My drive home was beautiful, but it is a little more inland and a lot of red maples. If the bad weather today doesn't knock all the leaves off the trees, perhaps we'll go back next week.
I have to include the back of the overalls because there are bats on his back on top of Mount Battie.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Fabulous Day
I’m so excited! Braeden had plans to visit a new friend at school today, which always seems like a good thing. Then last night we got a call from one of the families we are carpooling with. The mom had to go somewhere today and her babysitter needed to leave early. She asked if we could cover the time in between. Her boys are both six months older than my two.. I said yes because she has been helping me out by making sure Braeden’s ride gets him in the afternoon, she’s been taking him to sailing, and because she also agreed to have her four-year-old come over and do developmental therapy at home with Thane as his peer role model.
The big problem that we were seeing is that the boys hadn’t connected yet. After a month of a riding next to each other in the car, they still weren’t talking to each other. The last time I watched the boys, the four-year-old asked as they left why Thane wouldn’t play with him.
It only took about 15 minutes to break the ice today. The older boy sat down in our swing chair in the living room. His brother climbed in on top of him, then invited Thane. Thane accepted and got in too. Then they sat together in a chair chatting while the older boy played computer games.
We got into a discussion of Halloween and we pulled out some of Braeden’s old dress up clothes. Braeden loved to be “Hero Boy” and stuff like that. The four-year-old settled on Superman and asked Thane to put on a Spiderman outfit . . . and he did! Who would have thought Thane would agree to that! The two super heroes bounded on the trampoline outside, ran around on the old play sets, raced around the yard, etc.
“Thane, would you like to do something else now?” the new friend asked.
“Yes!” Thane answered, and off they went on another adventure. The fact that Thaney is answering questions is rather recent and it is so nice to see. This whole thing was amazing and so worthwhile. I am so happy with how it worked. The boys’ mom came after only about an hour, but then stayed another hour or more because the little ones were just so cute together.
Another big thing is the size difference – Thane has caught up so much. He was such a teeny little thing and looked so small in comparison to this boy who is almost exactly 6 months older. But Thane has grown so much in the past year that there is much more typical two inches or so in height. It makes the catch up seem all the more dramatic.
Braeden had a blast with his friend too, so all around a good day.
The big problem that we were seeing is that the boys hadn’t connected yet. After a month of a riding next to each other in the car, they still weren’t talking to each other. The last time I watched the boys, the four-year-old asked as they left why Thane wouldn’t play with him.
It only took about 15 minutes to break the ice today. The older boy sat down in our swing chair in the living room. His brother climbed in on top of him, then invited Thane. Thane accepted and got in too. Then they sat together in a chair chatting while the older boy played computer games.
We got into a discussion of Halloween and we pulled out some of Braeden’s old dress up clothes. Braeden loved to be “Hero Boy” and stuff like that. The four-year-old settled on Superman and asked Thane to put on a Spiderman outfit . . . and he did! Who would have thought Thane would agree to that! The two super heroes bounded on the trampoline outside, ran around on the old play sets, raced around the yard, etc.
“Thane, would you like to do something else now?” the new friend asked.
“Yes!” Thane answered, and off they went on another adventure. The fact that Thaney is answering questions is rather recent and it is so nice to see. This whole thing was amazing and so worthwhile. I am so happy with how it worked. The boys’ mom came after only about an hour, but then stayed another hour or more because the little ones were just so cute together.
Another big thing is the size difference – Thane has caught up so much. He was such a teeny little thing and looked so small in comparison to this boy who is almost exactly 6 months older. But Thane has grown so much in the past year that there is much more typical two inches or so in height. It makes the catch up seem all the more dramatic.
Braeden had a blast with his friend too, so all around a good day.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Rockland Waterfront
I went with Dave to pick up Braeden at sailing this afternoon. I took a picture of Braeden on the Atlantic Challenge dock with my cell phone. I guess he has one more week to go before it is done. Then he might start ice skating.
I have lots of things I could type about Thane's IEP and first dentist appointment, but I am going to bed instead.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Friday, September 28, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Harrington
I tried posting this last night, but Blogger seems to quit whenever I upload a video. I keep ending up going through YouTube instead. This is from our first trip this year to the oceanfront property we purchased last winter. We had originally planned to build this summer, but we haven't decided yet what to put down there . . . though we have our first outdoor furniture as we left a picnic table in the woods near where the house lot is. The weather was supposed to clear up, but it didn't, so this is typical Maine on a foggy day!
P.S. I am posting this mostly for Scott, since he asked if I would blog photos.
P.S. I am posting this mostly for Scott, since he asked if I would blog photos.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Water
One of Thane’s goals as school has been to drink water – he usually refuses and insists on something with flavor, including soda (it’s diet soda, so I am not sure if that makes it worse or better than Britney Spears and all the talk about her children and their rotting teeth). Anyway, he drank water with his teachers watching and tears welling in their eyes. He asked how to drink it and was told just like you drink juice or anything else, “then you say `Mmmmm!” Well, he did Madison Avenue proud . . .
“So cold!”
“So delicious!”
“So water!”
It would be the perfect advertisement for bottled water!
“So cold!”
“So delicious!”
“So water!”
It would be the perfect advertisement for bottled water!
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Sleepy Lovey
You can't tell me that a child who falls asleep in his swing chair, with a cookie in his hand no less, isn't totally adorable. Isn't this the sweetest picture?
I wish I had brought in Thane's notebook from school. There was a really cool comment from his teacher. I got an email from Thane's case manager today which kind of irritated me, though it probably wasn't meant to. I think she and I are like oil and water. Thane's home developmental therapist was calling around about prices to go swimming and such with him and the case manager was saying it should be the job of a Sweetser case manager, not the DT. We don't have a Sweetser case manager because we don't have MaineCare, and I can't even apply for MaineCare under Katie Beckett until my 2006 taxes are complete. I personally think the DT and CDS need to gather more information about what is available out there for peer interaction if they are going say it is something that he needs!
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Jenny McCarthy
OK, I have to admit I was very impressed with Jenny McCarthy on Oprah today. I didn’t expect to be.
When I first heard about her book Louder Than Words, I read some articles online about her thoughts on indigo moms and crystal children. My concern was that she would take something that has so clearly benefitted my child and make it seem like the lunatic fringe that I sometimes feel doctors and researchers consider parents who go down the gluten-free, casein-free road.
McCarthy drew in my total attention when she said a week after starting the diet, her son’s language doubled. That sounds just like Thane! We came at things a bit differently because we removed wheat and gluten based on a standard IgE allergy to wheat and concerns about celiac disease because of Thane’s bowel issues, malabsorption and “failure to thrive.” He’s also mildly allergic to milk and eggs, though his allergy to milk seems less significant than his issues with wheat/gluten and eggs.
She also said something along the lines of “my science is my son” because he is her proof that you can do things to help children recover from autism. She also was honest about it not working for all children with autism, and that she considers it an ongoing process. I’ve had some on the fence moments myself about the idea of fully recovering from autism. I’ve wondered what happens when Thane is older if he chooses not to respect the fact that his body doesn’t like gluten in particular. I’d like to think that the stomach upset it causes would be enough to stop him, but I am diabetic and it doesn’t always stop me from eating things I shouldn’t have. I’ve always felt that the key to his health and mental well-being will be life-long issues. So she won me over again.
I think she also helped give people some insight into different behaviors. I honestly never noticed Thane’s hand-flapping as anything negative. He does it most when he is really excited about a new place, such as going to the bowling alley for the first time. It’s actually rather cute because his excitement is so visible . . . until I realize that he is doing it to center himself – to help organize himself – and then I just wish it was easier for him to process information.
Holly Robinson-Peete mentioned that children with autism are often considered mentally retarded when in fact that may be quite bright. I am so thankful that our therapists see that in Thane because I think he could be easy to dismiss in certain situations. I do wish I had more information on how to teach him, though. His occupational therapist and I were talking about hyperlexia today and how to work with him on his reading skills. McCarthy said doctors need to listen to what the moms are saying . . . I’m glad that ours mostly seem to, as do our therapists. Using Thane’s fascination for letters and numbers really opened the door to getting him to even try to draw anything – you just need the write things to interest him the door swings open. When he’s accessible and interested, he learns incredibly well and very quickly.
Thane actually wanted to help me bake cookies today. I was fascinated that he wanted to help and was stirring up the batter for me. But here is where I need to change and learn to go with the flow. He wanted to smear the batter on the cookie sheet. I wanted to roll it in little balls and bake the cookies and get out of the kitchen. Obviously we had conflicting goals. Not only that, but my balls of dough really annoyed Thane – probably as much as his smears were bugging me. I should have switched to a pan cookie or let him smear and then thank him for his help and scrape it all up and make balls of dough after he went into another room. As it is, I forgot the vanilla so my cookies don’t exactly taste the way they should . . . but it is a big step. He wanted to cook. He wanted to help. He chose to come out and be with me in the kitchen instead of playing by himself.
There are lots of small victories are this road, and each one is a celebration!
There looks to be some discussion about Jenny McCarthy on Discussing Autism. The site is also having another Therapy Shoppe giveaway that looks pretty cool, it's for a spinning board.
When I first heard about her book Louder Than Words, I read some articles online about her thoughts on indigo moms and crystal children. My concern was that she would take something that has so clearly benefitted my child and make it seem like the lunatic fringe that I sometimes feel doctors and researchers consider parents who go down the gluten-free, casein-free road.
McCarthy drew in my total attention when she said a week after starting the diet, her son’s language doubled. That sounds just like Thane! We came at things a bit differently because we removed wheat and gluten based on a standard IgE allergy to wheat and concerns about celiac disease because of Thane’s bowel issues, malabsorption and “failure to thrive.” He’s also mildly allergic to milk and eggs, though his allergy to milk seems less significant than his issues with wheat/gluten and eggs.
She also said something along the lines of “my science is my son” because he is her proof that you can do things to help children recover from autism. She also was honest about it not working for all children with autism, and that she considers it an ongoing process. I’ve had some on the fence moments myself about the idea of fully recovering from autism. I’ve wondered what happens when Thane is older if he chooses not to respect the fact that his body doesn’t like gluten in particular. I’d like to think that the stomach upset it causes would be enough to stop him, but I am diabetic and it doesn’t always stop me from eating things I shouldn’t have. I’ve always felt that the key to his health and mental well-being will be life-long issues. So she won me over again.
I think she also helped give people some insight into different behaviors. I honestly never noticed Thane’s hand-flapping as anything negative. He does it most when he is really excited about a new place, such as going to the bowling alley for the first time. It’s actually rather cute because his excitement is so visible . . . until I realize that he is doing it to center himself – to help organize himself – and then I just wish it was easier for him to process information.
Holly Robinson-Peete mentioned that children with autism are often considered mentally retarded when in fact that may be quite bright. I am so thankful that our therapists see that in Thane because I think he could be easy to dismiss in certain situations. I do wish I had more information on how to teach him, though. His occupational therapist and I were talking about hyperlexia today and how to work with him on his reading skills. McCarthy said doctors need to listen to what the moms are saying . . . I’m glad that ours mostly seem to, as do our therapists. Using Thane’s fascination for letters and numbers really opened the door to getting him to even try to draw anything – you just need the write things to interest him the door swings open. When he’s accessible and interested, he learns incredibly well and very quickly.
Thane actually wanted to help me bake cookies today. I was fascinated that he wanted to help and was stirring up the batter for me. But here is where I need to change and learn to go with the flow. He wanted to smear the batter on the cookie sheet. I wanted to roll it in little balls and bake the cookies and get out of the kitchen. Obviously we had conflicting goals. Not only that, but my balls of dough really annoyed Thane – probably as much as his smears were bugging me. I should have switched to a pan cookie or let him smear and then thank him for his help and scrape it all up and make balls of dough after he went into another room. As it is, I forgot the vanilla so my cookies don’t exactly taste the way they should . . . but it is a big step. He wanted to cook. He wanted to help. He chose to come out and be with me in the kitchen instead of playing by himself.
There are lots of small victories are this road, and each one is a celebration!
There looks to be some discussion about Jenny McCarthy on Discussing Autism. The site is also having another Therapy Shoppe giveaway that looks pretty cool, it's for a spinning board.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Thane's Art
Thane has been doing a lot of art at school this week. I rather like the print and think I should put him to work making wrapping paper. I remember doing that with Braeden when he was little. I also can see the whale in the whale drawing. I have to say it is kind of fun getting back all this artwork. Most of what I got back from Montessori with Braeden was tracings from the metal insets.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Overalls Model
I was just playing with some pictures of Thane in his funky overalls. It is so hard to get a good picture of a moving child who actually doesn't really like having his picture taken, but I think he looks cute modeling his Wild Things, dragon, and Kipper overalls.
Tagged Again
Michelle tagged me and I am supposed to tell eight interesting things about myself. Ack!
1) I like to buy new digital cameras and never get rid of the old ones. I leave them in various rooms around the house because a bad picture is usually better than nothing.
2) Related to number one, I have taken several thousand pictures in the last month. Most of them are what I call memory pictures because they aren't too artistic or brilliant in any way.
3) I listen to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, which seems totally out of character, but they amuse me greatly.
4) I've actually gotten pretty decent at typing with my thumbs on my Blackberry, and wonder how I might do with an iPhone (and I would have been upset if I bought one before the $200 price cut!).
5) I'm too old to have children.
6) I have already begun crafting stuff for Christmas. I would love to have my shopping done, but with two kids that won't happen until my birthday, December 24th.
7) I have a ton of ribbons from agricultural fairs for canning -- including a best in show. They are all really dusty now!
8) Ugh, the last one is always the hardest . . . this will have to be really stupid I guess. I have started wearing Crocs, much to my friend Kim's dismay. Even worse, I have little tree frogs stuck in them. Thane likes my froggies.
I'm not really sure who I should tag since it hasn't been that long since I was tagged. Anyone who wants to self-tag can post a comment and a link here!
1) I like to buy new digital cameras and never get rid of the old ones. I leave them in various rooms around the house because a bad picture is usually better than nothing.
2) Related to number one, I have taken several thousand pictures in the last month. Most of them are what I call memory pictures because they aren't too artistic or brilliant in any way.
3) I listen to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, which seems totally out of character, but they amuse me greatly.
4) I've actually gotten pretty decent at typing with my thumbs on my Blackberry, and wonder how I might do with an iPhone (and I would have been upset if I bought one before the $200 price cut!).
5) I'm too old to have children.
6) I have already begun crafting stuff for Christmas. I would love to have my shopping done, but with two kids that won't happen until my birthday, December 24th.
7) I have a ton of ribbons from agricultural fairs for canning -- including a best in show. They are all really dusty now!
8) Ugh, the last one is always the hardest . . . this will have to be really stupid I guess. I have started wearing Crocs, much to my friend Kim's dismay. Even worse, I have little tree frogs stuck in them. Thane likes my froggies.
I'm not really sure who I should tag since it hasn't been that long since I was tagged. Anyone who wants to self-tag can post a comment and a link here!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Therapy Shoppe
Discussing Autism is having a giveaway from the Therapy Shoppe. I've thought about getting a weighted lap pad for Thane as he uses one at circle at school. He uses a weighted blanket at night and loves it.
The boys both started school this week – Thane on Wednesday and Braeden is camping out at Tanglewood tonight with his classmates. I am hoping he brings home some photos for me. Next week begins the dreaded car pool. I actually drive the same kids every morning, so hopefully it will be easier than last year.
I'm underwhelmed by the newest teacher at Thane's school and need to get the nerve up to complain about what happened yesterday. She kept repeating that “the doors are only for teachers to open.” It seemed grating to me, as well as, well, er, stupid. Either Braeden or I were going to open the door to leave, and Thane doesn't label us as teachers (though obviously we all learn from each other). I didn't want to open the door because there was an adorable little girl standing beside the back door with us and she isn't mine. Instead of taking the child so we could leave, new teacher walked off and would have let us take her. This is not good! I asked Braeden to take her up to the front door with the head teacher. He is suck a cutie. He took her hand and chatted with her as he walked her to the door. I know the first day is always a challenge, but this bothered me. I am glad I am always there before they get out of the classroom.
The boys both started school this week – Thane on Wednesday and Braeden is camping out at Tanglewood tonight with his classmates. I am hoping he brings home some photos for me. Next week begins the dreaded car pool. I actually drive the same kids every morning, so hopefully it will be easier than last year.
I'm underwhelmed by the newest teacher at Thane's school and need to get the nerve up to complain about what happened yesterday. She kept repeating that “the doors are only for teachers to open.” It seemed grating to me, as well as, well, er, stupid. Either Braeden or I were going to open the door to leave, and Thane doesn't label us as teachers (though obviously we all learn from each other). I didn't want to open the door because there was an adorable little girl standing beside the back door with us and she isn't mine. Instead of taking the child so we could leave, new teacher walked off and would have let us take her. This is not good! I asked Braeden to take her up to the front door with the head teacher. He is suck a cutie. He took her hand and chatted with her as he walked her to the door. I know the first day is always a challenge, but this bothered me. I am glad I am always there before they get out of the classroom.
Monday, September 03, 2007
Lines
Thane likes to line things up on the porch rail, mostly vehicles, but sometimes people and horses as well. I'm not sure anyone else will see the humor in this picture, but I like the way that Dave on his tractor blends into the line. We're getting closer to actually putting up the new swing set!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Rockin' Girl Blogger
I was awarded the Rockin' Girl Blogger Award by Kimberly. I have been trying to decide for a week or so now how to be humble yet announce that I got this shiny pink award! And even harder than that, is deciding who to pass it along to . . . I think I have decided to go with Dori and her photogenic daughter, Aviva. Dori has a cool blog, lots of fun photos, and right now there are even balloons flying around counting down to their next Disney trip for Aviva's upcoming birthday. Somehow this pretty pink award makes me think of Aviva, so I am hoping she will think it is really cool that her mom won a Rockin' Blogger Award.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Union Fair
Dave took the boys to the Union Fair today. Dave was clenching his teeth when he got home, but the only way to know how Thane can handle it this year is to go . . .
I only got seven pictures back from Dave, but I think this one Thane tickling Braeden on one of the rides is pretty cute.
I only got seven pictures back from Dave, but I think this one Thane tickling Braeden on one of the rides is pretty cute.
Orange Spots?
At 2:30 this morning, Thane and I were having a conversation.
“Thane, are you okay?”
“Oh yes, Mama. I foine.”
“Can you go to sleep?”
“Oh, no, Mama . . . I don’t see . . . I don’t see . . . I don’t see . . .”
“What are you looking for?”
“I don’t see it. I don’t see. Orange spots.”
“You don’t see orange spots?”
“No, I don’t see. I don’t see orange spots on tummy.”
“Thaney, does your tummy hurt?” (Not uncommon with his allergies and intolerances)
“Yes, tummy hurt. I don’t see orange spots. Jammies.”
“Are your pajamas bothering you?” We have had to switch to L.L. Bean cotton footed pajamas as I can’t seem to find any other brand in a 4T, but they are very loose and he doesn’t like the change.
“No. I move. I move. Slide down. Slide down.”
“Lovey, it’s time for bed, will you please go to sleep.”
“Okay.”
He pulled his weighted blanket over his head and drifted off to sleep within a couple of minutes.
I, on the other hand, lay awake for about a half hour trying to figure out what on earth the orange spots were . . . and marveling at the fact that we’re having such conversations, even if I don’t fully get it!
“Thane, are you okay?”
“Oh yes, Mama. I foine.”
“Can you go to sleep?”
“Oh, no, Mama . . . I don’t see . . . I don’t see . . . I don’t see . . .”
“What are you looking for?”
“I don’t see it. I don’t see. Orange spots.”
“You don’t see orange spots?”
“No, I don’t see. I don’t see orange spots on tummy.”
“Thaney, does your tummy hurt?” (Not uncommon with his allergies and intolerances)
“Yes, tummy hurt. I don’t see orange spots. Jammies.”
“Are your pajamas bothering you?” We have had to switch to L.L. Bean cotton footed pajamas as I can’t seem to find any other brand in a 4T, but they are very loose and he doesn’t like the change.
“No. I move. I move. Slide down. Slide down.”
“Lovey, it’s time for bed, will you please go to sleep.”
“Okay.”
He pulled his weighted blanket over his head and drifted off to sleep within a couple of minutes.
I, on the other hand, lay awake for about a half hour trying to figure out what on earth the orange spots were . . . and marveling at the fact that we’re having such conversations, even if I don’t fully get it!
9 + 3 =
We've been switching Thane over to Playmobil toys for his animals . . . made in Germany, no lead paint. I wanted to get some specific animals for Thane, and I also saw new Roman Gladiators, so I bought both boys some new stuff to play with during our two weeks of no camps and such.
Braeden took his soldiers out to the kitchen to set them up on the newly cleared counter and kitchen table (note to self, no wonder we never seem to have any clear flat surfaces, ever) while Thane and I turned the box over and played in the living room.
Braeden never puts anything away without nagging so he left a battle in progress on the breakfast bar . . . I wandered out to my office to fight with the nightmare that overcame my web site this week, and Dave was in the kitchen. Thane migrated out to the kitchen and added a bit of character to the layout.
Dave took this picture for me. Luckily both “pingaroos” have relocated their joeys, but the “cwocadawaddles” remained out in the living room. I love the addition of the duck from the Lucky Ducks game. Thane isn’t restricted by scale issues! Then on top of the siege tower – the photo didn’t come out – there are the soldiers Braeden placed, and then some little chicks, a bunny and a cat.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
1, 2, “Elb”
I caught this goofy picture of Thane after he was signing and counting. It was kind of funny because the way numbers are signed ended up confusing him. Signing 1-2-3 should like this, a little different from how most of us count with our fingers:
But he made the finger switch too soon and tried to sign 2 as:
But that is the sign for the letter L. He was looking at his hand as he counted, so he ended up saying, “One, two, elb? One, two . . .”
Another Chuckle
Thane was sitting in his x-chair swing in the living room when I moved to the couch to get a good view out the window (waiting for Braeden to be dropped off -- someone actually gave me half a break today). Thane stood up and farted.
“What was zat? Di ya hear dat? Did you hear dat?” (He likes to correct himself these days.)
I said, “Yes, you farted. Now you're supposed to say `excuse me’.”
“No! Did you hear that? It was the sound of a poopy in trouble!”
Then he started grunting and pushing.
Anyone who watches “Go, Diego, Go!” may recognize the script adaptation . . . it just was a poopy in trouble instead of an “aminal.”
An OMOM friend asked what Diego might have in the Rescue Pack to help a poopy in trouble – maybe a laxative? Dave’s suggestion was that since Rescue Pack can convert into whatever is needed it could turn into a potty.
I’ve been meaning to mention the x-chair that took over the living room. We have learned that if others sit in it, they must expect to be sat upon because Thaney has taken total ownership.
“What was zat? Di ya hear dat? Did you hear dat?” (He likes to correct himself these days.)
I said, “Yes, you farted. Now you're supposed to say `excuse me’.”
“No! Did you hear that? It was the sound of a poopy in trouble!”
Then he started grunting and pushing.
Anyone who watches “Go, Diego, Go!” may recognize the script adaptation . . . it just was a poopy in trouble instead of an “aminal.”
An OMOM friend asked what Diego might have in the Rescue Pack to help a poopy in trouble – maybe a laxative? Dave’s suggestion was that since Rescue Pack can convert into whatever is needed it could turn into a potty.
I’ve been meaning to mention the x-chair that took over the living room. We have learned that if others sit in it, they must expect to be sat upon because Thaney has taken total ownership.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Thank You, Thane
Braeden and I got a bit of a chuckle today. Thane was in rare form early this afternoon. Braeden had to physically save him from smacking his head on the corner of the kitchen cabinets. Why did he have a fit? We told him he could not have a “wemilly [lemon] ice” before he finished his waffle that he was having for lunch (Braeden was enjoying a gluten-free waffle too – score!).
Within 5 minutes, Thane finished his waffle and I said he could have the lemon ice. Braeden got one of the freezer, opened it, and gave it to Thane. Thane is usually very polite, but he didn’t say anything. I said, “Say `thank you,’ Thane.”
He walked off and said, “Thank you, Thane.”
He paused and shook his head. He seemed slightly irritated and confused. Clearly he echoed what I said, but then realized it didn’t really fit the situation.
“No! No thank you, Thane! No!”
“Oh man!” in his best Swiper the Fox voice (scripted from “Dora the Explorer.”)
Speaking of his backward flop, I have to say that something about the behavior resurfacing figures. I think this boy is much cleverer than the therapists and case manager give him credit for being. After we discussed this type of worrisome tantrum with the behavioral analyst for suggestions on how to cope, he said we should chart the seat drops and full backward falls as well as whatever seems to lead up to them, Thane stopped doing them and there was nothing to document. Then after I told the case manager there was nothing to document so we need to put off more consults until we normalize into a fall schedule, Thane’s started doing again. It’s hard not to feel like he manipulates the world to conform to his liking.
Within 5 minutes, Thane finished his waffle and I said he could have the lemon ice. Braeden got one of the freezer, opened it, and gave it to Thane. Thane is usually very polite, but he didn’t say anything. I said, “Say `thank you,’ Thane.”
He walked off and said, “Thank you, Thane.”
He paused and shook his head. He seemed slightly irritated and confused. Clearly he echoed what I said, but then realized it didn’t really fit the situation.
“No! No thank you, Thane! No!”
“Oh man!” in his best Swiper the Fox voice (scripted from “Dora the Explorer.”)
Speaking of his backward flop, I have to say that something about the behavior resurfacing figures. I think this boy is much cleverer than the therapists and case manager give him credit for being. After we discussed this type of worrisome tantrum with the behavioral analyst for suggestions on how to cope, he said we should chart the seat drops and full backward falls as well as whatever seems to lead up to them, Thane stopped doing them and there was nothing to document. Then after I told the case manager there was nothing to document so we need to put off more consults until we normalize into a fall schedule, Thane’s started doing again. It’s hard not to feel like he manipulates the world to conform to his liking.
Voices
It is very intriguing how Thane can manipulate his voice. Here we have a child whose original speech can be quite difficult to understand, yet when he copies something it can be with amazing precision.
Thane likes to ask something as soon as I take a drink.
“Mama? Mama?” he asks with no pause in between to let me swallow.
I replied, “Thane?”
“What?” comes spewing out of his mouth in a way that really sounds like some kind of old hag on bad day.
We had the same conversation many times today.
I think anyone who could manage to spend a day at our house would leave feeling as if we’re all crazy. I decided today that I definitely am losing it – and the worst part of that is that I am totally aware of the fact that I am sinking into insanity. Why am I saying this? Well, we break out in song at weird times around here. For example, Braeden and a friend were getting into a conflict in the pool. I said in a sing-song voice, “let it go, let it go” . . . to which he replied “This is smaller than you know. No bigger than a pebble lying on a gravel road” from Great Big Sea. We both burst out laughing and it totally diffused the situation.
Thane likes to ask something as soon as I take a drink.
“Mama? Mama?” he asks with no pause in between to let me swallow.
I replied, “Thane?”
“What?” comes spewing out of his mouth in a way that really sounds like some kind of old hag on bad day.
We had the same conversation many times today.
I think anyone who could manage to spend a day at our house would leave feeling as if we’re all crazy. I decided today that I definitely am losing it – and the worst part of that is that I am totally aware of the fact that I am sinking into insanity. Why am I saying this? Well, we break out in song at weird times around here. For example, Braeden and a friend were getting into a conflict in the pool. I said in a sing-song voice, “let it go, let it go” . . . to which he replied “This is smaller than you know. No bigger than a pebble lying on a gravel road” from Great Big Sea. We both burst out laughing and it totally diffused the situation.
Not Supposed to Laugh
There are these things that happen that one really shouldn't laugh at, but I seem to have lousy self-control.
One of the things that I have laughed at a few times, is that Thane likes to say, “Wait a ja fa minute.” We all interpret in a way that maybe it isn’t meant, but it seems so close to, “Wait just a f---ing minute.”
Along with this perhaps inappropriate language was something I definitely took to be swearing, though without understanding. We use an orange cap and a pink cap that each hold about a half cup of Epsom salts to give to Thane in the bathtub. He loves his “snow!” Anyway, the cups were chatting with each other, back and forth, saying:
"Fa you.”
“No, fa you.”
“No, fa you.”
He probably heard it from his parents, which makes it doubly bad doesn’t it? Dave uses those words with inanimate objects all the time. I am more prone to saying, “oh fffffff-uck” when I drop something. I grew up in a house where swearing was common, but it didn’t tend to leave home. I appear to be too old to retrain.
It reminded me so much of an incident with a friend’s child at daycare. The father arrived to pick up his daughter and she was talking to a little boy. They were going back and forth saying
"You’re an asshole.”
“No, you’re an asshole!”
“No you!”
I wonder if Thane’s preschool teachers take the “Wait a ja fa minute” the same way we do? It appears to be part of one of his more common scripts.
One of the things that I have laughed at a few times, is that Thane likes to say, “Wait a ja fa minute.” We all interpret in a way that maybe it isn’t meant, but it seems so close to, “Wait just a f---ing minute.”
Along with this perhaps inappropriate language was something I definitely took to be swearing, though without understanding. We use an orange cap and a pink cap that each hold about a half cup of Epsom salts to give to Thane in the bathtub. He loves his “snow!” Anyway, the cups were chatting with each other, back and forth, saying:
"Fa you.”
“No, fa you.”
“No, fa you.”
He probably heard it from his parents, which makes it doubly bad doesn’t it? Dave uses those words with inanimate objects all the time. I am more prone to saying, “oh fffffff-uck” when I drop something. I grew up in a house where swearing was common, but it didn’t tend to leave home. I appear to be too old to retrain.
It reminded me so much of an incident with a friend’s child at daycare. The father arrived to pick up his daughter and she was talking to a little boy. They were going back and forth saying
"You’re an asshole.”
“No, you’re an asshole!”
“No you!”
I wonder if Thane’s preschool teachers take the “Wait a ja fa minute” the same way we do? It appears to be part of one of his more common scripts.
Friday, August 17, 2007
The Long & Winding Road
This was not a banner week . . . I wish I was enjoying having both children home, but I simply cannot say that I am. I think it is because I don’t get any time off – even bathroom visits are rarely un-interrupted.
Monday was the worst. I’m still not feeling very chatty about it, but Thane decided to remind me in the worst possible way that he can’t be trusted. I think what is bothering me more than the fact that he could have died is that I tried to stop him and he gave me that look from when he was first walking – the absolutely beautiful smile over the shoulder followed by total reckless defiance. I am still very sore from trying to rescue him. And I think it hit home in a way that is hard to explain. This is where autism sucks – I know I shouldn’t say things like that, but the truth is that it does. How am I ever going to trust this unpredictable child, and if I make the mistake again, will it work itself out the way this event did?
Afterward I really just felt like I wanted a break. I have wanted one all week. But the reality is that I don’t trust a lot of people with my children, especially Thane. I trust his teachers, but the one day I took him to school this week, I ended up talking to his case manager and then having my car battery die in a parking lot because Braeden had the DVD player on when the car wasn’t running. I was supposed to go to the doctor, but apparently the case manager forgot that I said no . . . and I don’t do well and dismissing the person in front of me.
Of all the people we deal with, the case manager is probably the one I like the least. I think she sees the glass half empty with Thane, maybe totally empty. She always talks about “children with his diagnosis” as opposed to him . . . drives me batty! The therapists and such all seem to have different ideas. It appears that we have our choice of a preschool that is completely children with disabilities – most with speech problems – or possible a couple of places that seem rather like we’d be slumming. I know that sounds awful, but Head Start looks better than these facilities, yet we can’t get into Head Start because we’re over income. The private places either won’t take a child with his diagnosis, or want him to have a one-on-one. I guess I can see him needing a one-on-one, but a good one of those can be hard to find too.
He’s technically two years away from Kindergarten. We are also highly unlikely to even consider public school for him. I don’t tend to “believe in them” for boys to begin with, but add special needs and I really dislike the idea.
It looks like we’ll do five mornings a week at the developmental preschool. He will have occupational and speech therapies there as well, sometimes one-on-one before starting the school day.
Then there is the problem with getting him access to typically developing children. It’s been exactly a year since his diagnosis and the team of evaluators was clear that there should be access to typical peers. I have been asking, trying, etc., with no luck. Activities like the park and story hour just don’t cut it. Many parents also don’t want to “subject their child” to someone like Thane. After all, he might hurt their feelings by refusing to play. I understand on some level, but it does make it hard to find that interaction!
We’ve tried gymnastics and the class gets cancelled. Swimming was suggested. I may consider that – there is a coach-therapist at a country club near Braeden’s school. It needs to be private lessons, though, for his safety and because his immune issues might make him miss more lessons than he can attend (we were out of school on Wednesday with spots and green poop, and out today because of a bloody nose). A creative movement class with his home developmental therapist was suggested by the school DT, but I just don’t think he can abstract and make himself a tree. In fact, I was just noting that the more things change, the more they stay the same on some level. Now that he knows his name is Thane, for example, we can’t call him anything else. I call him peanut, like in that little YouTube video posted earlier this month, and he corrects me. The dog is no longer a dog (with a Brooklyn accent), she’s a Misty. I know all small children are rather concrete, but he seems more rigidly so than most.
I guess we’re looking at trying a low-rent preschool for one or two afternoons a week. I will have to further investigate the worth in doing something like this. I’m shocked that these places seem to be located near cement plants, concrete batch mixers, pavement companies, town wastewater plants, and places that just seem way too toxic for a child who doesn’t detox things well! Maybe the next one I find will be in the same building as a bakery so he could be glutened daily too.
Oh, I can’t forget this in my long ramble here that one of the schools the case manager suggested actually straps children into chairs until they finish a task. The DT told me that they strap the kids around the middle and strap their legs, and then have them sit in that chair until they have made five worms out of Play Doh. She thought it would totally break his spirit and was inappropriate for him. I wish sometimes that the therapists and case manager would discuss these things before bringing them to me as anyone who knows us even slightly would realize we’d never strap our child into a chair, much less force him to touch Play Doh. It has taken over a year for him to bring himself to do anything with gluten-free dough. Early on the sight of it made him vomit. Even though he can do it now, I would never force something that is so unimportant in my mind.
I found out yesterday that the speech therapist isn’t going to be giving therapy at the preschool anymore – it is going to be an education technician who will work under the SLP. I can’t decide if this is good or bad. Thane gets more of his speech success from home. His SLP doesn’t work on the motor-planning issues. Maybe the ed tech would concentrate more on that?
Monday was the worst. I’m still not feeling very chatty about it, but Thane decided to remind me in the worst possible way that he can’t be trusted. I think what is bothering me more than the fact that he could have died is that I tried to stop him and he gave me that look from when he was first walking – the absolutely beautiful smile over the shoulder followed by total reckless defiance. I am still very sore from trying to rescue him. And I think it hit home in a way that is hard to explain. This is where autism sucks – I know I shouldn’t say things like that, but the truth is that it does. How am I ever going to trust this unpredictable child, and if I make the mistake again, will it work itself out the way this event did?
Afterward I really just felt like I wanted a break. I have wanted one all week. But the reality is that I don’t trust a lot of people with my children, especially Thane. I trust his teachers, but the one day I took him to school this week, I ended up talking to his case manager and then having my car battery die in a parking lot because Braeden had the DVD player on when the car wasn’t running. I was supposed to go to the doctor, but apparently the case manager forgot that I said no . . . and I don’t do well and dismissing the person in front of me.
Of all the people we deal with, the case manager is probably the one I like the least. I think she sees the glass half empty with Thane, maybe totally empty. She always talks about “children with his diagnosis” as opposed to him . . . drives me batty! The therapists and such all seem to have different ideas. It appears that we have our choice of a preschool that is completely children with disabilities – most with speech problems – or possible a couple of places that seem rather like we’d be slumming. I know that sounds awful, but Head Start looks better than these facilities, yet we can’t get into Head Start because we’re over income. The private places either won’t take a child with his diagnosis, or want him to have a one-on-one. I guess I can see him needing a one-on-one, but a good one of those can be hard to find too.
He’s technically two years away from Kindergarten. We are also highly unlikely to even consider public school for him. I don’t tend to “believe in them” for boys to begin with, but add special needs and I really dislike the idea.
It looks like we’ll do five mornings a week at the developmental preschool. He will have occupational and speech therapies there as well, sometimes one-on-one before starting the school day.
Then there is the problem with getting him access to typically developing children. It’s been exactly a year since his diagnosis and the team of evaluators was clear that there should be access to typical peers. I have been asking, trying, etc., with no luck. Activities like the park and story hour just don’t cut it. Many parents also don’t want to “subject their child” to someone like Thane. After all, he might hurt their feelings by refusing to play. I understand on some level, but it does make it hard to find that interaction!
We’ve tried gymnastics and the class gets cancelled. Swimming was suggested. I may consider that – there is a coach-therapist at a country club near Braeden’s school. It needs to be private lessons, though, for his safety and because his immune issues might make him miss more lessons than he can attend (we were out of school on Wednesday with spots and green poop, and out today because of a bloody nose). A creative movement class with his home developmental therapist was suggested by the school DT, but I just don’t think he can abstract and make himself a tree. In fact, I was just noting that the more things change, the more they stay the same on some level. Now that he knows his name is Thane, for example, we can’t call him anything else. I call him peanut, like in that little YouTube video posted earlier this month, and he corrects me. The dog is no longer a dog (with a Brooklyn accent), she’s a Misty. I know all small children are rather concrete, but he seems more rigidly so than most.
I guess we’re looking at trying a low-rent preschool for one or two afternoons a week. I will have to further investigate the worth in doing something like this. I’m shocked that these places seem to be located near cement plants, concrete batch mixers, pavement companies, town wastewater plants, and places that just seem way too toxic for a child who doesn’t detox things well! Maybe the next one I find will be in the same building as a bakery so he could be glutened daily too.
Oh, I can’t forget this in my long ramble here that one of the schools the case manager suggested actually straps children into chairs until they finish a task. The DT told me that they strap the kids around the middle and strap their legs, and then have them sit in that chair until they have made five worms out of Play Doh. She thought it would totally break his spirit and was inappropriate for him. I wish sometimes that the therapists and case manager would discuss these things before bringing them to me as anyone who knows us even slightly would realize we’d never strap our child into a chair, much less force him to touch Play Doh. It has taken over a year for him to bring himself to do anything with gluten-free dough. Early on the sight of it made him vomit. Even though he can do it now, I would never force something that is so unimportant in my mind.
I found out yesterday that the speech therapist isn’t going to be giving therapy at the preschool anymore – it is going to be an education technician who will work under the SLP. I can’t decide if this is good or bad. Thane gets more of his speech success from home. His SLP doesn’t work on the motor-planning issues. Maybe the ed tech would concentrate more on that?
Birch Point
We actually went to the beach for the first time this summer – considering that it is past the middle of August, that isn't too impressive! I got mostly what I consider memory pictures – not great quality, but fun to look at. I chose this one because there is just something very sweet about having two 9-year-old boys holding hands with the 3½-year-old. They were swinging him and including him in a lot.
Thane is one of the more popular younger siblings among Braeden’s friends. I think it is because he doesn’t generally follow the kids around all the time, but he will occasionally engage in play. I think sometimes they find him kind of humorous too.
“Ouch!
Are you okay, Faney?
Yes, I foine.
Thank you.
Thank you much!”
It is rather cute that he has the whole conversation himself. Dave and I also think it is funny that he seems to have a Brooklyn accent when he speaks certain words. I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, but I don’t have the accent (well, unless I am stringing together choice swear words).
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Signing Time!
I've been waiting for this . . . Thane has been watching Signing Time! videos for awhile now. They have really helped his communication in a bunch of ways and I can't speak more highly of any other videos. My friend Michelle on OMOM suggested them to me and following her advice was so worth it! Thane has motor planning problems with his speech, as well as being developmentally delayed. I would say he actually learned most of his early language, and we all learned our signs, from this series. Thane still loves to watch them, even if he knows most of the words and signs in all 15 of the DVDs we have (the whole first series, plus the practice time ones).
A new series is coming out next month, so I just pre-ordered. This is the third time I have pre-ordered from the company as I like to get them as soon as I can. I read about it on My Two Boys, where there is a Signing Time! giveaway.
Added note: If you order through My Two Boys, it doesn't cost you extra and you can help fund an adoption.
A new series is coming out next month, so I just pre-ordered. This is the third time I have pre-ordered from the company as I like to get them as soon as I can. I read about it on My Two Boys, where there is a Signing Time! giveaway.
Added note: If you order through My Two Boys, it doesn't cost you extra and you can help fund an adoption.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Party
The party on Saturday went pretty well. It seems all the children enjoyed themselves, and none of the adults stayed around. I made one of them laugh when he asked how we chose this particular historian/re-enactor, so I told him that “I won him at an auction!” Well, I did!
Below are two stills and a slideshow for those who want to see what happens when you combine cooking out with living history with a water slide and then a swimming pool
Below are two stills and a slideshow for those who want to see what happens when you combine cooking out with living history with a water slide and then a swimming pool
Weekend Dialog
My favorite dialog for the weekend was brought about by my minivan being parked off the driveway to allow more space for guests . . .
Oh no! What happen?
Blue car. Blue car in grass.
Don’t worry. Don’t worry.
Don’t worry car, we love you! [Stroking the side of the car.]
We’ll help you blue car!
We’ll help!”
Then came the grunt as Thane started pushing on the front of the car to see if he could get it back up on the pavement. He was equally concerned on Sunday when my minivan was once again off the pavement and parked in the grass.
Oh no! What happen?
Blue car. Blue car in grass.
Don’t worry. Don’t worry.
Don’t worry car, we love you! [Stroking the side of the car.]
We’ll help you blue car!
We’ll help!”
Then came the grunt as Thane started pushing on the front of the car to see if he could get it back up on the pavement. He was equally concerned on Sunday when my minivan was once again off the pavement and parked in the grass.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Still Swimming with the Frogs
Spent too much time in the pool to finish sorting the 946 pictures I took of the party yesterday. No human friends today, but there was a frog who joined us for a short while.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Gone Swimmin'
Crazy week in a million ways . . . throwing a party tomorrow, so just thought I would toss up two pictures of the boys swimming today.
Sunday, August 05, 2007
9 years in 8 minutes
This was harder than I expected to get done. I started back when I made Thane's World, but with computer problems I never finished. It is at 23 minutes or something, though, so I figured I better make a condensed version. So here we have Braeden: 9 years in 8 minutes.
Conversation, Reading
Thane is getting much better at having a conversation . . .
"Faney's? [hand on chest] Faney have some?”
“No, I'm sorry, these are mine,” Braeden replied
“Not for Faney. Bwaeden's. Tings? I love Tings!”
Braeden washed his hands and went and got a bag of Tings for Thane.
On the reading, we bought some Band-Aids last night as we no longer had bandages in the house. I threw out a lot of them when I couldn't confirm whether or not that had gluten. Anyway, he came to me with a newly purchased box that I got specifically for Braeden (so not really worrying about the gluten issue) and Thane asked, “Band-Aid?” as if he wanted to know what it was. I find this kind of thing fascinating.
"Faney's? [hand on chest] Faney have some?”
“No, I'm sorry, these are mine,” Braeden replied
“Not for Faney. Bwaeden's. Tings? I love Tings!”
Braeden washed his hands and went and got a bag of Tings for Thane.
On the reading, we bought some Band-Aids last night as we no longer had bandages in the house. I threw out a lot of them when I couldn't confirm whether or not that had gluten. Anyway, he came to me with a newly purchased box that I got specifically for Braeden (so not really worrying about the gluten issue) and Thane asked, “Band-Aid?” as if he wanted to know what it was. I find this kind of thing fascinating.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
A Card
Today's cute dialog, after finding a cloth tag from a stuffed toy:
Look, Mama, it’s a card.
A card!
A card!
Look!
A card!
A card!
A card!
A credit card!
It's August
A couple of things . . . today I find myself very angry about the whole Fisher-Price recall. Thane love's Diego. I am having trouble deciding if it is such a concern when I have only once seen him mouth one of the toys, but that was last week so it is fresh. I am impressed with Amazon.com for emailing so quickly to let me know I had one of the recalled items.
I uploaded this clip I did a few months ago. It is funny because I still cry when I look at it and think how far Thane has come in so many ways – and how far he has come just since I compiled this for What Kind of World do You Want?
I uploaded this clip I did a few months ago. It is funny because I still cry when I look at it and think how far Thane has come in so many ways – and how far he has come just since I compiled this for What Kind of World do You Want?
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
My Kind of Shop
Those who know me well know that I love to shop, but hate to pay full price. I like to make a bit of a sport out of seeing how much I can buy for as little as possible (no wonder my house is so cluttered, eh?).
Anyway, today's shop was the kind of thing that I love. Braeden doesn’t need new jeans for school because we stocked up in spring for $7 a pair in his current size and the next size up. He does, however, need new shirts, mostly long-sleeve and then turtlenecks when those become available.
For today’s shop, I got:
You have to like being able to spend only about $1.23 a shirt!
Anyway, today's shop was the kind of thing that I love. Braeden doesn’t need new jeans for school because we stocked up in spring for $7 a pair in his current size and the next size up. He does, however, need new shirts, mostly long-sleeve and then turtlenecks when those become available.
For today’s shop, I got:
3 new short-sleeve shirts, $5 off
7 new long-sleeve t-shirts, $14 off
2 other long-sleeve shirts, no mark down
1 hoodie, $2 off
I found a promo for $10 off
Had two $50 gift cards from credit card points
That got my total down to $5.50
$5.47 in tax
$5 shipping (gas would cost more right now)
You have to like being able to spend only about $1.23 a shirt!
C'mon Mom!
“C’mon, Mom. Let’s go find penis!”
This was today’s unique way of requesting a diaper change. I know I am not supposed to laugh, but it was funny to me and I did snicker.
This was today’s unique way of requesting a diaper change. I know I am not supposed to laugh, but it was funny to me and I did snicker.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Possession
Me trying to engage in some pretend play: "I'm Ollie"
Thane: "No silly! You're Mama!" placing his hand on his chest "Faney's Mama!"
It's cute as now it seems like I belong to him.
This weeks rots. I mostly have my more pleasant Braeden back, but this being in two places at once is way to much for me.
We have a partial family date for tomorrow night. Dave and I are going to dinner with Braeden while Thane plays with Kim. There is definitely something going on with Braeden so it seems like this is a good idea. Thane wouldn't do well in a restaurant because it is conventional to actually sit and eat your dinner, and trying to find things that he can and will eat in a restaurant still feels daunting. I really don't want him being glutened because he is just getting over a sinus infection and his speech clarity is not back to normal yet.
Which brings me to his speech evaluation. It was pretty depressing in its own right as he still is over a year behind in some areas. He did score as high as 3 years 3 months, which is only 3-4 months behind, in comprehension, and at age level for articulation, so those are huge leaps forward. I guess it is all coming, but . . .
You also have to love new goals such as "In a classroom setting, Thane will demonstrate ability to follow a two-part command such as "Thane, please put your Kleenex in the trash, go get your coat and line up by the wall." First, that is more than two parts. Second, he has no clue what a Kleenex is.
Oh, and my email has been out for 5 days now. I have to keep calling the satellite company, and talking to tech support in India. "Thank you very much, how may I be of your most valuable service?" I have to say that the 3-4 hours I have been on the phone with tech support, only to learn is all their problem and nothing I can do, I have to grumpily say that all the politeness doubled the chat time, maybe tripled it. There is something funny about it . . . though I realize I am being totally un-PC here:
"Hello, my name is Sean, thank you very much for calling HughesNet. How may I be of your most valuable service?"
"My email is reporting an "error, in-use, mailbox locked . . . "
"Thank you very much. I am so sorry for your inconvenience. I will help you. Thank you for being patient with me. Can you open your mail program."
"Yes, opened."
"Oh yes, thank you very much. I will help you. Do you see tools?"
"Yes."
"Thank you very much. Please click tools."
Duh! "OK"
"Thank you very much. Please click on mail.hughes.net."
"OK."
"Yes. Thank you for your patience. I will help you. Now click delete."
"OK."
"Thank you very much, did you delete it?"
"Yes."
"Thank you! What do you see now? There should be no mail servers. I will help you. We will set up your mail again. Thank you very much for your wonderful patience with me today."
When politeness becomes so time-consuming, I confess that I find it rather annoying.
Thank you very much for your patience!
Thane: "No silly! You're Mama!" placing his hand on his chest "Faney's Mama!"
It's cute as now it seems like I belong to him.
This weeks rots. I mostly have my more pleasant Braeden back, but this being in two places at once is way to much for me.
We have a partial family date for tomorrow night. Dave and I are going to dinner with Braeden while Thane plays with Kim. There is definitely something going on with Braeden so it seems like this is a good idea. Thane wouldn't do well in a restaurant because it is conventional to actually sit and eat your dinner, and trying to find things that he can and will eat in a restaurant still feels daunting. I really don't want him being glutened because he is just getting over a sinus infection and his speech clarity is not back to normal yet.
Which brings me to his speech evaluation. It was pretty depressing in its own right as he still is over a year behind in some areas. He did score as high as 3 years 3 months, which is only 3-4 months behind, in comprehension, and at age level for articulation, so those are huge leaps forward. I guess it is all coming, but . . .
You also have to love new goals such as "In a classroom setting, Thane will demonstrate ability to follow a two-part command such as "Thane, please put your Kleenex in the trash, go get your coat and line up by the wall." First, that is more than two parts. Second, he has no clue what a Kleenex is.
Oh, and my email has been out for 5 days now. I have to keep calling the satellite company, and talking to tech support in India. "Thank you very much, how may I be of your most valuable service?" I have to say that the 3-4 hours I have been on the phone with tech support, only to learn is all their problem and nothing I can do, I have to grumpily say that all the politeness doubled the chat time, maybe tripled it. There is something funny about it . . . though I realize I am being totally un-PC here:
"Hello, my name is Sean, thank you very much for calling HughesNet. How may I be of your most valuable service?"
"My email is reporting an "error, in-use, mailbox locked . . . "
"Thank you very much. I am so sorry for your inconvenience. I will help you. Thank you for being patient with me. Can you open your mail program."
"Yes, opened."
"Oh yes, thank you very much. I will help you. Do you see tools?"
"Yes."
"Thank you very much. Please click tools."
Duh! "OK"
"Thank you very much. Please click on mail.hughes.net."
"OK."
"Yes. Thank you for your patience. I will help you. Now click delete."
"OK."
"Thank you very much, did you delete it?"
"Yes."
"Thank you! What do you see now? There should be no mail servers. I will help you. We will set up your mail again. Thank you very much for your wonderful patience with me today."
When politeness becomes so time-consuming, I confess that I find it rather annoying.
Thank you very much for your patience!
Sunday, July 22, 2007
What Fresh Hell is This?
To say I am out of sorts is putting it mildly . . . my home has been invaded once again by a friend of Braeden’s, so there is no peace to be found anywhere. It is finally a beautiful day outside and they have quite successfully ruined any chance of my enjoying it.
It started with Dave being particularly stupid. I was actually asleep. Peacefully asleep. This is pretty rare and I really needed it. I’m tired, coughing until I puke on daily basis, and constantly sick to my stomach. Why men’s brains fly out the window, I still have not figured out. He woke me up and while I was incoherent asked if Braeden could have a friend over. Never mind that Braeden’s behavior has been wretched all week and none of his friends should be subjected to any more of his ill behavior . . . nor should any of us have to be tormented into having to correct him every two seconds as he appears to have lost all ability to understand words like “stop” (I tried unsuccessfully last night to get him to define it without using the word in the definition) . . . but we had already discussed not having a play date on Sunday.
We simply can’t have two successive weekend days where we’re unable to catch up on chores or go run errands – it sets us up for too little sleep all week as we try to have the house somewhat ready for the invasion of the therapists.
The deeper issue is that Braeden seems to have this brat-intensifier that hones in us when he has a friend over. So not only do we have trip over extra people, constantly feed them and find wasted drinks and food all over the house, we get rewarded by having to put up with Super Snarky Boy.
I ended up totally furious with Super Snarky Boy on Thursday. There are two pieces to it. The first is that he annoyed a friend so much that he decided he didn’t want Braeden over, which led to the boy’s mom driving 25 miles to get rid of him. How embarrassing. I would have gotten him, but I think she was trying to do me a favor since things have been so awful lately. Then Super Snarky went far enough that she said something totally offensive to him, so now I feel very angry with her as well. I put up with a rotation of children through play dates and carpools, so I know how annoying these children can be. I’m an adult, though, so I tend to vent elsewhere and keep my cool with the kids.
I commented to the mom of the friend who was over last night that he had been rather mellow and well-mannered, but Braeden was driving us crazy. We had a few instances in the pool where I had to intervene and get Braeden to stop. She very gently explained that something went on when Braeden was over at her house the other day too – that her son asked if they could call me to have me talk to him because he was being more aggressive and not listening to his requests to stop something, but then they seemed to work it out and they never called. We pretty much have consensus among all adults who have spent time with Braeden this past week that he has been unusually obnoxious.
Now that Staples commercial where the parents are dancing in the aisles while they buy school supplies is going through my head, but the reality is that I think my life is going to be equally miserable after the school year begins. The children will still be on different schedules and we’ll still have absolutely no reliable support other than a single mom who works seven days a week. When I do accept help from someone else it, it seems to bite me in the backside (Thursday) . . . not that we get many offers.
It started with Dave being particularly stupid. I was actually asleep. Peacefully asleep. This is pretty rare and I really needed it. I’m tired, coughing until I puke on daily basis, and constantly sick to my stomach. Why men’s brains fly out the window, I still have not figured out. He woke me up and while I was incoherent asked if Braeden could have a friend over. Never mind that Braeden’s behavior has been wretched all week and none of his friends should be subjected to any more of his ill behavior . . . nor should any of us have to be tormented into having to correct him every two seconds as he appears to have lost all ability to understand words like “stop” (I tried unsuccessfully last night to get him to define it without using the word in the definition) . . . but we had already discussed not having a play date on Sunday.
We simply can’t have two successive weekend days where we’re unable to catch up on chores or go run errands – it sets us up for too little sleep all week as we try to have the house somewhat ready for the invasion of the therapists.
The deeper issue is that Braeden seems to have this brat-intensifier that hones in us when he has a friend over. So not only do we have trip over extra people, constantly feed them and find wasted drinks and food all over the house, we get rewarded by having to put up with Super Snarky Boy.
I ended up totally furious with Super Snarky Boy on Thursday. There are two pieces to it. The first is that he annoyed a friend so much that he decided he didn’t want Braeden over, which led to the boy’s mom driving 25 miles to get rid of him. How embarrassing. I would have gotten him, but I think she was trying to do me a favor since things have been so awful lately. Then Super Snarky went far enough that she said something totally offensive to him, so now I feel very angry with her as well. I put up with a rotation of children through play dates and carpools, so I know how annoying these children can be. I’m an adult, though, so I tend to vent elsewhere and keep my cool with the kids.
I commented to the mom of the friend who was over last night that he had been rather mellow and well-mannered, but Braeden was driving us crazy. We had a few instances in the pool where I had to intervene and get Braeden to stop. She very gently explained that something went on when Braeden was over at her house the other day too – that her son asked if they could call me to have me talk to him because he was being more aggressive and not listening to his requests to stop something, but then they seemed to work it out and they never called. We pretty much have consensus among all adults who have spent time with Braeden this past week that he has been unusually obnoxious.
Now that Staples commercial where the parents are dancing in the aisles while they buy school supplies is going through my head, but the reality is that I think my life is going to be equally miserable after the school year begins. The children will still be on different schedules and we’ll still have absolutely no reliable support other than a single mom who works seven days a week. When I do accept help from someone else it, it seems to bite me in the backside (Thursday) . . . not that we get many offers.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Stinky Chicken
Some chickens visited preschool yesterday. I guess one of them decided to poop and Thane called it a "stinky chicken" repeatedly. I think it is funny, but at the same time it draws my attention to the fact that he repeats himself a lot and I am not sure it is fully acknowledged by his therapists. During DT on Monday he kept repeating "I don't swim." He wanted to swim, but it has been a cold July and our pool has been giving us fits.
He did get to swim today, and I took 594 photos of the guys in the pool. Unfortunately, I missed the best picture . . . I blew up an inflatable duck ring for young children after having chosen a duck since Thane adores them. Thane whipped off his diaper, wrapped the duck around his middle, and started running around the living room saying "I don't swim. I don't swim." I blew up a yellow swim boat and then he was running around naked with a duck around his waist and a boat in his hand repeating "I don't swim." He was so excited to go swimming. It's hard not to be charmed by his enthusiasm.
I also found it cute that he decided to hoard pool toys. Check out this face . . .
We also got a taste of what the teenage years with Braeden might be like.
These pictures were taken at near 8 p.m., hence the iffy lighting.
He did get to swim today, and I took 594 photos of the guys in the pool. Unfortunately, I missed the best picture . . . I blew up an inflatable duck ring for young children after having chosen a duck since Thane adores them. Thane whipped off his diaper, wrapped the duck around his middle, and started running around the living room saying "I don't swim. I don't swim." I blew up a yellow swim boat and then he was running around naked with a duck around his waist and a boat in his hand repeating "I don't swim." He was so excited to go swimming. It's hard not to be charmed by his enthusiasm.
I also found it cute that he decided to hoard pool toys. Check out this face . . .
We also got a taste of what the teenage years with Braeden might be like.
These pictures were taken at near 8 p.m., hence the iffy lighting.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
686
That's the number of photographs I took yesterday after getting a new camera. I finally settled on getting a Canon Digital Rebel Xti. I got a professional CompactFlash card and found that I could actually take 43 pictures rapid fire at 10.1 megapixels, so I was playing with that as the boys made faces, and as Dave had a battle of "Diego vs. Diego vs. Diego" where one Diego figure took down two others.
The disconcerting part is that I put a picture of Thane as my screen wallpaper, but that makes him larger than life. It feels like he is staring me down. I would post the picture here, but I also transitioning to a new computer, so I don't have things remotely set up yet (and I have to say I am not convinced that my $30 investment in an easy transfer cable was totally worth it as it seems to get bogged down and just stop, but for some reason my old computer doesn't feel like it should fully function on our home network). Add to that that my Blackberry and Vista don't like each other the way I want them to, and I have lost a lot of time trying to simplify my life.
But I still managed to take 686 pictures.
Braeden quote: "All prosecuters will be shot." He was trying to say, "All violators will be prosecuted," but it came out wrong!
The disconcerting part is that I put a picture of Thane as my screen wallpaper, but that makes him larger than life. It feels like he is staring me down. I would post the picture here, but I also transitioning to a new computer, so I don't have things remotely set up yet (and I have to say I am not convinced that my $30 investment in an easy transfer cable was totally worth it as it seems to get bogged down and just stop, but for some reason my old computer doesn't feel like it should fully function on our home network). Add to that that my Blackberry and Vista don't like each other the way I want them to, and I have lost a lot of time trying to simplify my life.
But I still managed to take 686 pictures.
Braeden quote: "All prosecuters will be shot." He was trying to say, "All violators will be prosecuted," but it came out wrong!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Kisses!!!
We're on a roll as far as kisses from Thane go. I actually got 12 of them in the month of June and I was really celebrating. Now we're up to that already in July, including goodnight kisses each night. He still doesn't quite have the pucker down, but I actually saw him do it once when I was making an /o/ sound.
This became a game -- we walked to end of the bench, then back to give a kiss to one of us.
Of course I needed a picture of Mist getting in the act too. She's always trying to upstage people!
This became a game -- we walked to end of the bench, then back to give a kiss to one of us.
Of course I needed a picture of Mist getting in the act too. She's always trying to upstage people!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Playhouse
Nothing like coaxing your father into a small plastic playhouse.
Then inviting the 80-pound dog in through the window.
Three's company!
Then inviting the 80-pound dog in through the window.
Three's company!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Dandelion
It is always fun to try to get a picture of a child who keeps getting closer, and closer, and closer . . . but I had to post this cross-eyed image because Thane was successfully blowing the dandelion seeds. This from a child who didn't go through the usual baby ritual of blowing raspberries.
Thane has also given me six kisses so far this month! He can't really pucker yet, but the fact that he is trying to kiss is wonderful!
He is now an eBay model. It's kind of cute seeing him there in an auction for overalls (what else?).
I may have posted a little too soon on the name thing . . . the last few days his answer to the question “What is your name?” has been “Kipper.” I think some of it is him teasing us – he has decided he is pretty funny (must get that from his father!).
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Marvelous Mug
Thane's picture is currently in a contest on Discussing Autism he's picture #3 if you want to cast your vote.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Frank!
I wanted to post this yesterday, but according to Hughes.net I taken up more than my “fair use” of bandwidth over the weekend downloading game patches for Braeden’s computer. Pffffffffffffffft to them! It seems like a recipe for making new computer installations drag on for ages.
We had a few big leaps this weekend – not just one! I always find it a bit odd that these things tend to happen on weeks when Thane has no school and minimal therapy (he had one hour of developmental therapy this week, that’s all). It also seems that many big leaps happen when big brother Braeden is home too as Thane totally adores him.
I give total credit for the first big jump to Braeden . . . Thane went into a dirt pile without having clothes on. We have a big mound of dirt in the yard waiting to be smoothed out for a new swing set. Braeden has always loved
a big pile of dirt, so he has been climbing in it since it arrived. Thane has taken steps toward it. First he approached it and backed away. Next time he was fully clothed, with shoes, touching only with a long-handled shovel and not climbing on it. Then he climbed a bit while fully clothed. Yesterday we moved up to undressed, bare feet and actually picking up some handfuls.
It may sound like a strange thing to celebrate, but when a chil
d has sensory issues, it is really huge to have him accept the feel of dirt lightly touching him. Another cute thing is he realized completely that he was doing something different and special so he kept saying “Look at me, Mommy!”
Thane was also playing in a small pool in the yard, so at some point he took off the diaper he was wearing when the sand photo was taken. Dave, my ever-joking husband, looked at a naked Thane walking back from the dirt pile and said:
“Hi Frank! What’s up Frank?”
Thane shook his head and said, “No. No Frank.” He put his palm on his chest and continued, “This is Thaney!”
This isn’t just huge, it’s monumental! We have been working with him for months on trying to answer the question “What is your name?” – I’ve posted it about here in discussions, including my social story adventures. I wanted him to be able to answer the question because he is always asked when we go shopping and people seem confused when he doesn’t answer.
It wasn’t just a one-time deal, either. We got him to repeat similar scenarios. I asked him what a toy’s name was, and he replied, “This is Elmo.” Then I pointed to him, asked his name and heard, “This is Thaney.” I also find it wonderful that he is no longer “a Thaney” but just “Thaney.”
I even got a direct answer to the question, “What is your name?”
“This is Thaney!” again putting his hand to his heart.
What wonderful, beautiful payoff! Can you tell that I am totally thrilled? I know in the vast scheme of life, this may sound small to some, but around here it is the kind of thing that makes tears well up in everyone’s eyes.
To accompany his fascination with letters and words, we’re seeing an increased interest in numbers. Thane definitely counts with purpose and quantifies things nicely. Yesterday he counted backwards from 17, which is a new skill. I’m not really sure what to make of what he was doing on the deck, but it seemed rather cool . . . he was pacing behind me on a slatted bench counting, “2, 12, 3, 13, 4, 14, 5, 15, 6, 16 . . .”
We had a few big leaps this weekend – not just one! I always find it a bit odd that these things tend to happen on weeks when Thane has no school and minimal therapy (he had one hour of developmental therapy this week, that’s all). It also seems that many big leaps happen when big brother Braeden is home too as Thane totally adores him.
I give total credit for the first big jump to Braeden . . . Thane went into a dirt pile without having clothes on. We have a big mound of dirt in the yard waiting to be smoothed out for a new swing set. Braeden has always loved
a big pile of dirt, so he has been climbing in it since it arrived. Thane has taken steps toward it. First he approached it and backed away. Next time he was fully clothed, with shoes, touching only with a long-handled shovel and not climbing on it. Then he climbed a bit while fully clothed. Yesterday we moved up to undressed, bare feet and actually picking up some handfuls.It may sound like a strange thing to celebrate, but when a chil
d has sensory issues, it is really huge to have him accept the feel of dirt lightly touching him. Another cute thing is he realized completely that he was doing something different and special so he kept saying “Look at me, Mommy!”Thane was also playing in a small pool in the yard, so at some point he took off the diaper he was wearing when the sand photo was taken. Dave, my ever-joking husband, looked at a naked Thane walking back from the dirt pile and said:
“Hi Frank! What’s up Frank?”
Thane shook his head and said, “No. No Frank.” He put his palm on his chest and continued, “This is Thaney!”
This isn’t just huge, it’s monumental! We have been working with him for months on trying to answer the question “What is your name?” – I’ve posted it about here in discussions, including my social story adventures. I wanted him to be able to answer the question because he is always asked when we go shopping and people seem confused when he doesn’t answer.
It wasn’t just a one-time deal, either. We got him to repeat similar scenarios. I asked him what a toy’s name was, and he replied, “This is Elmo.” Then I pointed to him, asked his name and heard, “This is Thaney.” I also find it wonderful that he is no longer “a Thaney” but just “Thaney.”
I even got a direct answer to the question, “What is your name?”
“This is Thaney!” again putting his hand to his heart.
What wonderful, beautiful payoff! Can you tell that I am totally thrilled? I know in the vast scheme of life, this may sound small to some, but around here it is the kind of thing that makes tears well up in everyone’s eyes.
To accompany his fascination with letters and words, we’re seeing an increased interest in numbers. Thane definitely counts with purpose and quantifies things nicely. Yesterday he counted backwards from 17, which is a new skill. I’m not really sure what to make of what he was doing on the deck, but it seemed rather cool . . . he was pacing behind me on a slatted bench counting, “2, 12, 3, 13, 4, 14, 5, 15, 6, 16 . . .”
Friday, June 22, 2007
Wired
Because Thane loves Diego, I decided to purchase a Diego computer game. I loaded it up this evening and he was so excited he really couldn't contain himself whatsoever. It is so hard to know what to do in a situation where you know he is extremely happy, but he gets totally wacky. He was screaming and throwing himself on the ground, jumping up, running back to the laptop to watch, flapping his hands and bouncing, answering the questions, throwing himself down again. It was just, well, extreme . . . even for him.
In retrospect, I wonder if his weighted vest might have helped. He was chewing on his fingers so hard I was sure that he would cry out in pain. He didn't, but then he started chewing on his shirt and flapping it around.
Then we had one of those life as we have known it will have to be altered moments -- he grabbed the cord plugging the laptop into the wall and was about to chomp down on it when I stopped him. His face with his teeth in full chomp mode and the cord stretched between his hands is now etched in my mind. It totally freaked me out. The laptop cannot possibly be left in the living room with Thane in there, and obviously it is no time to get casual about electrical cords or safety covers for outlets.
I know I can be a bit over the top, but either Dave or I have been in the room with him all evening.
The other day I was happy that he seemed to be understanding that he needed his "red pool coat" to go in the big pool, but he isn't yet getting that he can't go in it alone. Braeden left one of the backyard gates unlocked and Thane set me to panic mode by heading over there. Luckily I saw the gate was unlocked and Braeden raced over to fix that. The stairs aren't in the pool yet, so it isn't usable for me.
In retrospect, I wonder if his weighted vest might have helped. He was chewing on his fingers so hard I was sure that he would cry out in pain. He didn't, but then he started chewing on his shirt and flapping it around.
Then we had one of those life as we have known it will have to be altered moments -- he grabbed the cord plugging the laptop into the wall and was about to chomp down on it when I stopped him. His face with his teeth in full chomp mode and the cord stretched between his hands is now etched in my mind. It totally freaked me out. The laptop cannot possibly be left in the living room with Thane in there, and obviously it is no time to get casual about electrical cords or safety covers for outlets.
I know I can be a bit over the top, but either Dave or I have been in the room with him all evening.
The other day I was happy that he seemed to be understanding that he needed his "red pool coat" to go in the big pool, but he isn't yet getting that he can't go in it alone. Braeden left one of the backyard gates unlocked and Thane set me to panic mode by heading over there. Luckily I saw the gate was unlocked and Braeden raced over to fix that. The stairs aren't in the pool yet, so it isn't usable for me.
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