http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/213154
And if you want to see one more face of a child on the autism spectrum, scroll down . . . he's my very precious little boy.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Take a Minute
This video made me cry. At least I hear an approximation of "I love you," but those charming kisses you see in the video are a rarity at my house. Someone posted that Five for Fighting is donating 49¢ to Autism Speaks every time the video is viewed. Pass it along!
http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/213154
And if you want to see one more face of a child on the autism spectrum, scroll down . . . he's my very precious little boy.
http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/213154
And if you want to see one more face of a child on the autism spectrum, scroll down . . . he's my very precious little boy.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Our Yard
All in all, things were pretty mild here -- not like the houses that fell into the sea!
Some tree limbs came down -- some had already been removed from the road by the time I took this picture.
The lower part of our lawn always becomes a bit of a pond for some part of spring.
Braeden took the time to make sure all skateboards, scooters, bikes, etc., were put into this plastic shed before the storm so that they would stay dry, but the wind sheared the top right off of it. It didn't just come apart, it isn't fixable so we have to figure something else out.
Thane was bothered by this. His playhouse flipped over, exposing a bunch of his trucks. All of his trucks that were on the porch were blown onto the ground. He handled it pretty well, but was definitely offended.
I have more pictures -- we have some broken fence, other of these plastic climbers that blew over, and some stuff like that. All things considered, we were very lucky!
Some tree limbs came down -- some had already been removed from the road by the time I took this picture.
The lower part of our lawn always becomes a bit of a pond for some part of spring.
Braeden took the time to make sure all skateboards, scooters, bikes, etc., were put into this plastic shed before the storm so that they would stay dry, but the wind sheared the top right off of it. It didn't just come apart, it isn't fixable so we have to figure something else out.
Thane was bothered by this. His playhouse flipped over, exposing a bunch of his trucks. All of his trucks that were on the porch were blown onto the ground. He handled it pretty well, but was definitely offended.
I have more pictures -- we have some broken fence, other of these plastic climbers that blew over, and some stuff like that. All things considered, we were very lucky!
Spring in Maine
Ahhh, it’s spring in Maine. We’re having lovely weather – rain and wind, and more rain, and more wind . . .
I got up yesterday and had scheduled some blood work for Patriot’s Day because Dave would be home from work and I wouldn’t have to take Thane in – the doctor’s office terrifies him! I did take Braeden and we headed into town, very slowly because we had to drive around downed limbs and such. There was no flooding on our road yet, but later in the day we were somewhat closed off at both ends.
There was flooding in all sorts of weird spots – places I haven’t seen flood in the 20 years I have lived here. I headed across Route One to go into town, only to have to turn around as the major route through town was closed off because of downed trees. I went to the next major road and turned, only to find that the Medomak River was at high tide and most of the road was submerged. I waited my turn and drove on the wrong side of the road where I could still see pavement.
After I finally was able to get to West Main Street, I got my labs drawn and headed to Newcastle – after confirming that the orthodontist’s office still had power. Downtown Damariscotta was blocked to traffic as bricks were flying off the chimney of one of the older buildings, so we avoided downtown completely.
It was Braeden’s first visit to the orthodontist. He is going to need braces, but it sounds like it won’t be as bad as we thought. They sometimes start young, but he got his teeth late and the orthodontist wants to watch his teeth and put in come spacers after some molars come out. It sounds like we’ll be going in every 6-9 months until he gets braces. He’s happy not to have them now!
We then called a friend of Braeden’s to see if we could grab him from Newcastle and take him home with us. We drove down toward Boothbay on the River Road and had to go around flooding, downed trees, and someone’s stockade fencing that collapsed into the road. We got there and a tree had fall across their driveway. We picked up the boy and left, getting home just fine. The only damage here is a roof sheared off our bike storage shed and our basketball hoop is face down in the driveway turnaround.
Our guest called home at about 5 to learn there was no power and the road to his house might be closed. Along with his parents, we decided it was probably safer and easier for him to stay here for the night. This morning we learned that his road is closed and his mother had to walk a mile and half out to get to work. I read last night that a lot of people down there way may be out of power for as many as four days. Not fun!
Meanwhile, Braeden continues to be in high demand. I was never so popular! It’s a scheduling nightmare! I agreed to have a child come here on Thursday since the mom needs to work, but now I have had two other requests for Thursday and some for Friday. It is supposed to stay wet all week, but the water is receding as far as the flooding goes.
The local newspaper says it is the worst storm since the 1998 ice storm. I found a couple of slideshows showing the storm and aftermath. More directly local is the harbor where we keep the Moon Rise.
I got up yesterday and had scheduled some blood work for Patriot’s Day because Dave would be home from work and I wouldn’t have to take Thane in – the doctor’s office terrifies him! I did take Braeden and we headed into town, very slowly because we had to drive around downed limbs and such. There was no flooding on our road yet, but later in the day we were somewhat closed off at both ends.
There was flooding in all sorts of weird spots – places I haven’t seen flood in the 20 years I have lived here. I headed across Route One to go into town, only to have to turn around as the major route through town was closed off because of downed trees. I went to the next major road and turned, only to find that the Medomak River was at high tide and most of the road was submerged. I waited my turn and drove on the wrong side of the road where I could still see pavement.
After I finally was able to get to West Main Street, I got my labs drawn and headed to Newcastle – after confirming that the orthodontist’s office still had power. Downtown Damariscotta was blocked to traffic as bricks were flying off the chimney of one of the older buildings, so we avoided downtown completely.
It was Braeden’s first visit to the orthodontist. He is going to need braces, but it sounds like it won’t be as bad as we thought. They sometimes start young, but he got his teeth late and the orthodontist wants to watch his teeth and put in come spacers after some molars come out. It sounds like we’ll be going in every 6-9 months until he gets braces. He’s happy not to have them now!
We then called a friend of Braeden’s to see if we could grab him from Newcastle and take him home with us. We drove down toward Boothbay on the River Road and had to go around flooding, downed trees, and someone’s stockade fencing that collapsed into the road. We got there and a tree had fall across their driveway. We picked up the boy and left, getting home just fine. The only damage here is a roof sheared off our bike storage shed and our basketball hoop is face down in the driveway turnaround.
Our guest called home at about 5 to learn there was no power and the road to his house might be closed. Along with his parents, we decided it was probably safer and easier for him to stay here for the night. This morning we learned that his road is closed and his mother had to walk a mile and half out to get to work. I read last night that a lot of people down there way may be out of power for as many as four days. Not fun!
Meanwhile, Braeden continues to be in high demand. I was never so popular! It’s a scheduling nightmare! I agreed to have a child come here on Thursday since the mom needs to work, but now I have had two other requests for Thursday and some for Friday. It is supposed to stay wet all week, but the water is receding as far as the flooding goes.
The local newspaper says it is the worst storm since the 1998 ice storm. I found a couple of slideshows showing the storm and aftermath. More directly local is the harbor where we keep the Moon Rise.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Swinging Honey
The last home visit we had from one of Thane’s teacher included discussion of problems soothing him lately. It seems like we may have just been in a particularly bad cycle for some reason . . . anyway, we discussed how Thane really likes to be outside, and some of his meltdowns have been about having to go to school rather than playing in the yard. We already have a slide in our living room, but he has decided that swinging is great fun.
The teacher suggested that since we have exposed ceiling beams in our 1824 farmhouse here, that maybe a chair hammock would be good, so we got him one. My house must be an occupational therapist's heaven – trampoline in the library, slide in the living room, swing in the office . . . But Thane loves his new hammock!
After I took his picture a few times (hard to catch a swinging kid with a digital camera), he wanted to see me in the camera. He took it from me and was moving it around. When he couldn't see my face, he would ask "Where's my honey?" – too cute!
The teacher suggested that since we have exposed ceiling beams in our 1824 farmhouse here, that maybe a chair hammock would be good, so we got him one. My house must be an occupational therapist's heaven – trampoline in the library, slide in the living room, swing in the office . . . But Thane loves his new hammock!
After I took his picture a few times (hard to catch a swinging kid with a digital camera), he wanted to see me in the camera. He took it from me and was moving it around. When he couldn't see my face, he would ask "Where's my honey?" – too cute!
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Easter
The boys have been cute today. Braeden was very patient with his little brother – he even handed over his entire bag of collected eggs because Thane really liked the bright eggs.
It reminded me that when Thane was only a year old he was so taken with the plastic eggs that he played with them for months after Easter. It’s kind of like the joke about toddlers preferring the box the toy came in to the toy itself. I remember thinking it was unusual, but looking back it is so much easier to see when some of the patterns emerged.
I watched Oprah’s show on autism – it’s autism awareness month – and found myself irritated that while it mentioned that it is a spectrum, there was no child whose disability is nearly invisible. It would have been nice to show that end of the spectrum. I recorded the MTV special, but haven’t watched it yet. I’m told that one shows more variety among the individual stories told.
We had fun doing our egg hunt at home. Braeden and Dave saw a movie together while Thane and I stayed home. Then we all had dinner together – sort of. Thane didn’t stay at the table, but he did join us for awhile. I not on my regular computer, but I hope to upload some pictures this week sometime.
It reminded me that when Thane was only a year old he was so taken with the plastic eggs that he played with them for months after Easter. It’s kind of like the joke about toddlers preferring the box the toy came in to the toy itself. I remember thinking it was unusual, but looking back it is so much easier to see when some of the patterns emerged.
I watched Oprah’s show on autism – it’s autism awareness month – and found myself irritated that while it mentioned that it is a spectrum, there was no child whose disability is nearly invisible. It would have been nice to show that end of the spectrum. I recorded the MTV special, but haven’t watched it yet. I’m told that one shows more variety among the individual stories told.
We had fun doing our egg hunt at home. Braeden and Dave saw a movie together while Thane and I stayed home. Then we all had dinner together – sort of. Thane didn’t stay at the table, but he did join us for awhile. I not on my regular computer, but I hope to upload some pictures this week sometime.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
The Trophy
I got a picture of the awards today -- Braeden is on the left, holding his first place trophy. The other picture is of him in one of his races. He's on the right in that one.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
April Fools
Thane has decided that the big kid's playground is just right for him -- he completely ignores the area for little ones. He decided at the end that he prefers the tallest slide of them all, and circular slide. I thought his hair was pretty funny!
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Pinewood Derby
The boys competed in the Cub Scouts' Pinewood Derby today. Braeden won overall for his pack, Dave won among the adult friends and family, and Thane was third among the children. Dave and Braeden also got "best shape" while Thane got "most aerodynamic."
One thing that is really cool this year is that Braeden, almost 9, really did most of the work on his car for the first time. He did all the sanding, painting, and even used a grinder on the axles. He was surprised to win, which also makes it nice.
I don't have any pictures of him and his trophy yet, but below is one of him racing. Braeden's in the gray shirt.
One thing that is really cool this year is that Braeden, almost 9, really did most of the work on his car for the first time. He did all the sanding, painting, and even used a grinder on the axles. He was surprised to win, which also makes it nice.
I don't have any pictures of him and his trophy yet, but below is one of him racing. Braeden's in the gray shirt.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Rainbow Thaney
I was outside watching Thane, Braeden and two of his friends in the afternoon. I pulled a camera out of my tote and Thane asked me to "cheese Mist" -- the dog was outside with us. I took her picture, and then snuck a couple of the boys as well. None of them are really good pictures, but Thane was thrilled with the "cheese" below because it shows "Rainbow Thaney."
I learned about 10 days ago that he likes to line up his markers in the order of the rainbow spectrum and then color in order. Wednesday I learned that even if he doesn't line them up at school, he always chooses them in order. I guess it is a good photo in that it fits him . . . and that he loves it!
I learned about 10 days ago that he likes to line up his markers in the order of the rainbow spectrum and then color in order. Wednesday I learned that even if he doesn't line them up at school, he always chooses them in order. I guess it is a good photo in that it fits him . . . and that he loves it!
Friday, March 23, 2007
Spectrum or 3?
As much progress as Thane has made over the past several months, he still fits the diagnosis of pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. Thane has shown a ton of progress with diet modifications for celiac disease (gluten intolerance), and IgE allergies to wheat, milk and eggs. While I see all this progress, I don’t see it as the cure some people tout. It’s more like a tool that really helps open the doors to learning and developing, but it doesn’t eliminate all the behaviors. He still needs therapy to help him deal with his world more effectively. And can you be cured if eating the wrong foods sets you back for a week?
But since we all have sensitivities and quirks, the flip side is “what’s so different about him anyway?” Lots of us get side-lined by allergies and intolerances too.
I have had several conversations with other moms about how can you tell what is normal and what is a problem? Right now I feel like we’ve been having kind of an “autistic week” – well, make that two weeks. So I thought I would write about some of these behaviors.
Thane has been doing a lot of coloring. He gets out the markers, and lines them up on the table in the order of the colors of the rainbow. If he doesn’t find all the right markers, he’ll put a crayon out to hold that color’s space. Then he will draw with each color, carefully placing it back in line when he is done.
He does a lot of scripting – repeating stock phrases. He was rather wound up and was running in circles around a chair in the living room (stimming). He fell, and I said “Are you okay?” He replied “Yes.” Then he went back to running. The next time he fell, he stood up, said “Are you okay?” pause “Yes.” He ran some more and each time he fell he asked and answered the question. That routine has continued for days now, including the script.
At school, I have to pull to a side door where no other cars park. Thane wants to run around the minivan once before going to the door. Then he needs to try the door, say “Help! I stuck!” and have me open it. When I opened the door before this – I forgot the routine – he melted and threw himself on the ground screaming “No open door. No open.” We went back out, did the routine, and then he ran down the hall into class saying “Goodbye Mama! I’ll see you later!”
When I pick up Thane, I have to wait at the end of the hallway so he can run to me. He comes running to give me a hug with the biggest smile on his face. Then he asks “Where’s backpack? Where did it go?” We pretend to look under the bench, behind the bench, and then he says “Oh there it is! Look! Over there!” and then he runs to his hook and gets it down. There’s a routine there too. Then he wants to run around the minivan three times before climbing in.
Yesterday he didn’t wake up well from a nap and he cried awhile. He climbed into my arms and we sat together in silence for an hour. I had to hold him a certain way – he would rearrange my hand if I moved it. I understand that with his sensory issues, other places may hurt or tickle, but my wrist is pretty sore now. At the same time, it was nice just cuddling with him!
We’ve had much more trouble than usual this week with the order of things. Like my hand having to be in a specific place, I’ve been told what colors to draw with, where to draw what, and mixing it up at all has met with resistance. The good thing is that he usually recovers pretty quickly, but there is something that irks me about having to erase a circle on the upper lefthand corner only to replace it when he deems appropriate!
That whole “choose your battles” doesn’t work well here anymore. I’m suppose to try to interrupt his routines some according to the therapists, so I feel like we’re having little battles over things that really make very little sense to me. Last night it was juice. I got down a clear cup and poured some juice in it. Thane was angry about the color of the cup, so he was going to pour the juice out into the sink. I grabbed it from him because, to me, that is like pouring money down the drain. I just can’t do that. So I opted for the fit and keeping the juice. I put it back in the bottle and put it away. Thane didn’t get a drink until he calmed down, but he did get it in a red cup. In the end, I really only saved myself a few ounces of apple juice and had to put up with a tantrum because I had the audacity not to let him chuck it into the sink. It’s amazing how these things become so mentally exhausting!
We’re also at a stage where he wants to take several baths in a day. If he has a bowel movement, he almost always wants a bath afterward. On the one hand, he has such an amazing ability to get dirty, all these baths aren’t such a bad thing. On the other hand, baths require constant supervision in a small room where there is much of anything interesting for me to do. I have a couple of friends who don’t mind the interrupted conversation, and sometimes there is some laundry to fold, but overall it gets a bit tedious. I would rate it right up there with doing the dishes.
I’m positive lots of parents of normally developing children can see some of these behaviors in their own children . . . but many disorders are taking normal behaviors to an extreme. And Thane is only minimally on the spectrum.
Three seems to be a very difficult age for boys. I remember that with Braeden too, and I know a number of parents who say similar things. Those terrible twos were nothing compared to boys at age three. They have such a combination of energy, lack of fear, and desire to test anything and everything in their world – to mom’s total exhaustion! While there have been bumps in the road with Braeden in the years since that age, it hasn’t been the ongoing mental exhaustion. He can be rather intense, but overall he is a really wonderful, helpful, and well-behaved kid. I think maybe part of my problem is I am just feeling too old to go through having a 3-year-old boy again.
But since we all have sensitivities and quirks, the flip side is “what’s so different about him anyway?” Lots of us get side-lined by allergies and intolerances too.
I have had several conversations with other moms about how can you tell what is normal and what is a problem? Right now I feel like we’ve been having kind of an “autistic week” – well, make that two weeks. So I thought I would write about some of these behaviors.
Thane has been doing a lot of coloring. He gets out the markers, and lines them up on the table in the order of the colors of the rainbow. If he doesn’t find all the right markers, he’ll put a crayon out to hold that color’s space. Then he will draw with each color, carefully placing it back in line when he is done.
He does a lot of scripting – repeating stock phrases. He was rather wound up and was running in circles around a chair in the living room (stimming). He fell, and I said “Are you okay?” He replied “Yes.” Then he went back to running. The next time he fell, he stood up, said “Are you okay?” pause “Yes.” He ran some more and each time he fell he asked and answered the question. That routine has continued for days now, including the script.
At school, I have to pull to a side door where no other cars park. Thane wants to run around the minivan once before going to the door. Then he needs to try the door, say “Help! I stuck!” and have me open it. When I opened the door before this – I forgot the routine – he melted and threw himself on the ground screaming “No open door. No open.” We went back out, did the routine, and then he ran down the hall into class saying “Goodbye Mama! I’ll see you later!”
When I pick up Thane, I have to wait at the end of the hallway so he can run to me. He comes running to give me a hug with the biggest smile on his face. Then he asks “Where’s backpack? Where did it go?” We pretend to look under the bench, behind the bench, and then he says “Oh there it is! Look! Over there!” and then he runs to his hook and gets it down. There’s a routine there too. Then he wants to run around the minivan three times before climbing in.
Yesterday he didn’t wake up well from a nap and he cried awhile. He climbed into my arms and we sat together in silence for an hour. I had to hold him a certain way – he would rearrange my hand if I moved it. I understand that with his sensory issues, other places may hurt or tickle, but my wrist is pretty sore now. At the same time, it was nice just cuddling with him!
We’ve had much more trouble than usual this week with the order of things. Like my hand having to be in a specific place, I’ve been told what colors to draw with, where to draw what, and mixing it up at all has met with resistance. The good thing is that he usually recovers pretty quickly, but there is something that irks me about having to erase a circle on the upper lefthand corner only to replace it when he deems appropriate!
That whole “choose your battles” doesn’t work well here anymore. I’m suppose to try to interrupt his routines some according to the therapists, so I feel like we’re having little battles over things that really make very little sense to me. Last night it was juice. I got down a clear cup and poured some juice in it. Thane was angry about the color of the cup, so he was going to pour the juice out into the sink. I grabbed it from him because, to me, that is like pouring money down the drain. I just can’t do that. So I opted for the fit and keeping the juice. I put it back in the bottle and put it away. Thane didn’t get a drink until he calmed down, but he did get it in a red cup. In the end, I really only saved myself a few ounces of apple juice and had to put up with a tantrum because I had the audacity not to let him chuck it into the sink. It’s amazing how these things become so mentally exhausting!
We’re also at a stage where he wants to take several baths in a day. If he has a bowel movement, he almost always wants a bath afterward. On the one hand, he has such an amazing ability to get dirty, all these baths aren’t such a bad thing. On the other hand, baths require constant supervision in a small room where there is much of anything interesting for me to do. I have a couple of friends who don’t mind the interrupted conversation, and sometimes there is some laundry to fold, but overall it gets a bit tedious. I would rate it right up there with doing the dishes.
I’m positive lots of parents of normally developing children can see some of these behaviors in their own children . . . but many disorders are taking normal behaviors to an extreme. And Thane is only minimally on the spectrum.
Three seems to be a very difficult age for boys. I remember that with Braeden too, and I know a number of parents who say similar things. Those terrible twos were nothing compared to boys at age three. They have such a combination of energy, lack of fear, and desire to test anything and everything in their world – to mom’s total exhaustion! While there have been bumps in the road with Braeden in the years since that age, it hasn’t been the ongoing mental exhaustion. He can be rather intense, but overall he is a really wonderful, helpful, and well-behaved kid. I think maybe part of my problem is I am just feeling too old to go through having a 3-year-old boy again.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Mud Season
The temperature has really come up in Maine and all the snow is melting. Dave decided he better ready our Willy's plow truck to handle the forthcoming mud!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Merle the Squirrel
I just wanted to share the first piece of the Squirrelly award with anyone who might actually read this blog. I thought it was kind of funny . . . and Merle actually likes peanuts, so I had to buy a copy for both list friends who guessed that we would catch 10 flying squirrels by Valentine's Day.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Fear!
This is one of those things that I want to say, but have no idea who my audience should be . . .
Thane showed fear today! That may not seem like a big deal, but for a child who would just walk into the ocean or to the edge of a cliff, it was actually calming for my husband and I to see this today.
Dave and Thane were playing, and Thane ended up upside down with Dave holding his ankles. Thane look terrified and immediately wanted to right himself. This from a kid who likes to be tipped partially over to help him calm down. Maybe he will start to show some caution and we won't have to worry as much.
Thane also showed some anger today, which is something else I am not used to seeing in this form. He tantrums and throws himself at things, but this was different. I got a look that was like he was throwing daggers at me accompanied by those words any mother dreads hearing "Don't love you!" He was mad because I said he could not have any more candy. I said he had enough, I love him, but no more. So his reponse was that he didn't love me. Ouch! Combined with the look, I really did feel upset . . . though I guess I shouldn't have shown that.
Thane showed fear today! That may not seem like a big deal, but for a child who would just walk into the ocean or to the edge of a cliff, it was actually calming for my husband and I to see this today.
Dave and Thane were playing, and Thane ended up upside down with Dave holding his ankles. Thane look terrified and immediately wanted to right himself. This from a kid who likes to be tipped partially over to help him calm down. Maybe he will start to show some caution and we won't have to worry as much.
Thane also showed some anger today, which is something else I am not used to seeing in this form. He tantrums and throws himself at things, but this was different. I got a look that was like he was throwing daggers at me accompanied by those words any mother dreads hearing "Don't love you!" He was mad because I said he could not have any more candy. I said he had enough, I love him, but no more. So his reponse was that he didn't love me. Ouch! Combined with the look, I really did feel upset . . . though I guess I shouldn't have shown that.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Napping
I can't resist posting this picture of Thane at his most charming. He's getting good use of his trampoline in the living room!
Monday, February 05, 2007
2 for 1
"Hey dude, look! There´s a big glob of peanut butter inside that shiny box."
"Uh, I dunno dude . . . I´ve seen some friends get in there and not got out. Then . . . uh . . . then . . . then they d-dis-DISAPPEAR!"
"Yeah dude, I know what you´re saying. Maybe if we go in together - as a team - we´ll be okay . . ."
"For the love of peanut butter, dude, let´s do it!"
Flying squirrels number 7 and 8 now reside across the Kennebec in Augusta somewhere 30 or so miles from my kitchen.
"Uh, I dunno dude . . . I´ve seen some friends get in there and not got out. Then . . . uh . . . then . . . then they d-dis-DISAPPEAR!"
"Yeah dude, I know what you´re saying. Maybe if we go in together - as a team - we´ll be okay . . ."
"For the love of peanut butter, dude, let´s do it!"
Flying squirrels number 7 and 8 now reside across the Kennebec in Augusta somewhere 30 or so miles from my kitchen.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Taking Prisoners
The night before last, I thought I saw something run through the kitchen. Dave wanted to know if I was sure, and I said no . . . it could have been my hair in my eyes as it was getting too long. Sure enough, a quiet little flying squirrel fell pray to one of our traps. It was transported roughly seven miles away. Not as much humor involved in this one.
Last night Dave heard another one in the kitchen and he was pretty annoyed. It is getting ridiculous – how many squirrels can we have here?
This morning, four and five were imprisoned after being enticed by the smell of peanut butter. For the longest time, we didn’t have peanut butter in the house. Should I blame Shaw’s for having a 3 for $5 sale to draw these critters in to my home?
After photographing the cute but pesky squirrels, we transported them about 40 miles away, over at least three good-sized rivers, maybe four. Maybe we should start painting toe nails or something to see if they are actually making back from their humane drop off spots. Is this what we get for having a heart?!?
"What happened to a fair trial?"
"I just wanted peanut butter!"
"Did you fail to notice? I'm cute!!!"
Last night Dave heard another one in the kitchen and he was pretty annoyed. It is getting ridiculous – how many squirrels can we have here?
This morning, four and five were imprisoned after being enticed by the smell of peanut butter. For the longest time, we didn’t have peanut butter in the house. Should I blame Shaw’s for having a 3 for $5 sale to draw these critters in to my home?
After photographing the cute but pesky squirrels, we transported them about 40 miles away, over at least three good-sized rivers, maybe four. Maybe we should start painting toe nails or something to see if they are actually making back from their humane drop off spots. Is this what we get for having a heart?!?
Thursday, February 01, 2007
The Mocking Squirrel
The squirrel saga continues . . .
Dave returned home from transporting the squirrel across the river, through the woods, and into another town . . . He came into my office to tell his story, standing in front of a floor lamp that seemed to make him glow. Me, being me, could just envision how the man would look were he able to spread a glorious plume of feathers in the manner of a male peacock.
I told him of my post - he said it really wasn't funny . . . The traps were $104 with tax!
He sat on his laurels for a moment before heading into the kitchen. There on his favorite appliance - the television - sat the Mocking Squirrel! It looked at him as if trying to explain both that he, the human, caught the wrong squirrel . . . And he, the mocking squirrel, knew that I had purchased 6 jars of peanut butter
at the sale price of 3 for $5!
After the water pipe fiasco, annoyed human isn't sure what to do. He was so sure - being a logical engineer and all - that there could only be one . . . Untilthere were two . . . But WAAAAAH!!!!!!!!! Three!?!
Enter mocking almost-nine-year-old. "BOO!" Shouts Braeden as he jumps and throws his hand out toward mocking squirrel - who dashes into the living room and up the chimney. "See Dad? It's cool - they scare really easy!"
Me, being me, looks at the face of the adult male who is obviously trying harder than usual not to blow a fuse. I can envision the steam escaping from his ears so he won't explode, then forming a cartoon thought bubble over his head filled with symbolic censorship "@+!@#@@!!!"
With a big sigh, and peacock plumage totally retracted, adult male heads out into the cold to retrieve the "lucky" trap that caught flying squirrel #2.
A third peanut butter loving flying squirrel was caught and transported to the state capital where Dave works - released into the arboretum. Again, the practical engineer feels he has removed the last one, but I won't be surprised if the mocking squirrel is really still in the house.
Who will win? Man or rodent? You know, those little critters can be kind of squirrelly, LOL!
Dave returned home from transporting the squirrel across the river, through the woods, and into another town . . . He came into my office to tell his story, standing in front of a floor lamp that seemed to make him glow. Me, being me, could just envision how the man would look were he able to spread a glorious plume of feathers in the manner of a male peacock.
I told him of my post - he said it really wasn't funny . . . The traps were $104 with tax!
He sat on his laurels for a moment before heading into the kitchen. There on his favorite appliance - the television - sat the Mocking Squirrel! It looked at him as if trying to explain both that he, the human, caught the wrong squirrel . . . And he, the mocking squirrel, knew that I had purchased 6 jars of peanut butter
at the sale price of 3 for $5!
After the water pipe fiasco, annoyed human isn't sure what to do. He was so sure - being a logical engineer and all - that there could only be one . . . Untilthere were two . . . But WAAAAAH!!!!!!!!! Three!?!
Enter mocking almost-nine-year-old. "BOO!" Shouts Braeden as he jumps and throws his hand out toward mocking squirrel - who dashes into the living room and up the chimney. "See Dad? It's cool - they scare really easy!"
Me, being me, looks at the face of the adult male who is obviously trying harder than usual not to blow a fuse. I can envision the steam escaping from his ears so he won't explode, then forming a cartoon thought bubble over his head filled with symbolic censorship "@+!@#@@!!!"
With a big sigh, and peacock plumage totally retracted, adult male heads out into the cold to retrieve the "lucky" trap that caught flying squirrel #2.
A third peanut butter loving flying squirrel was caught and transported to the state capital where Dave works - released into the arboretum. Again, the practical engineer feels he has removed the last one, but I won't be surprised if the mocking squirrel is really still in the house.
Who will win? Man or rodent? You know, those little critters can be kind of squirrelly, LOL!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Squirrel Havoc
In an effort to elude the adult male human, the flying squirrel shoved himself into a space behind a half-depth drawer, knocking a water pipe loose. Water starts pouring out onto the kitchen floor and flooding the basement at the same time.
Panicked male human starts screaming about hating the house -- he was furious!. He ran downstairs to turn off every switch imaginable on the water and heat to that end of the house.
He called the plumber, at 7:30 p.m, wondering if he may have a clue where it was coming from. He didn't, so he was here in about 10 minutes. Turns out the squirrel bashed into a pipe that really went to nothing, but the water from upstairs drained to that location. Said plumber removed the pipe since it didn't go to anything and obviously was causing problems.
Earlier in the day, Dave purchased four Have-a-Heart traps to try to catch the critter. Flying squirrel likes peanut butter, so he used it to bait the traps. Squirrel was caught and has been transported across the river into another town.
Plummer visit: $72
Chewed jar of peanut butter: 3 for $5
Traps: $104
Gas to transport squirrel across the town line: $2.30
Picture of squirrel on box of Snickerdoodles: Priceless!
Panicked male human starts screaming about hating the house -- he was furious!. He ran downstairs to turn off every switch imaginable on the water and heat to that end of the house.
He called the plumber, at 7:30 p.m, wondering if he may have a clue where it was coming from. He didn't, so he was here in about 10 minutes. Turns out the squirrel bashed into a pipe that really went to nothing, but the water from upstairs drained to that location. Said plumber removed the pipe since it didn't go to anything and obviously was causing problems.
Earlier in the day, Dave purchased four Have-a-Heart traps to try to catch the critter. Flying squirrel likes peanut butter, so he used it to bait the traps. Squirrel was caught and has been transported across the river into another town.
Plummer visit: $72
Chewed jar of peanut butter: 3 for $5
Traps: $104
Gas to transport squirrel across the town line: $2.30
Picture of squirrel on box of Snickerdoodles: Priceless!
There Are FLYING Squirrels Among Us!
Dave removed a squirrel from our home today . . . for some reason I was just happy we didn't have a rat, but is there really a difference? We hoped that would be the end of it, but this evening another little gray squirrel decided to sit out on the open atop a box of Snickerdoodles in our kitchen.
The dog and the kids were pretty amused. Thane just looked at it and said, "A squirrel. Over there!" Then he went back to watching The Wiggles.
Not just a squirrel, though, this little one is a flying squirrel!
The dog and the kids were pretty amused. Thane just looked at it and said, "A squirrel. Over there!" Then he went back to watching The Wiggles.
Not just a squirrel, though, this little one is a flying squirrel!
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Not a dwarf
We took Thane down to Portland to see a geneticist today. She said pretty early on that “there is no way he is dwarf, I don’t even know where they came up with that!” – but then she said there are different kinds of dwarves, including some normally-proportioned, but really the only piece there that remotely fits is that he has tiny facial features . . . but so do I. He has a tall forehead, but so does Dave.
Basically she didn’t see any physical characteristics that make her think we’re going to find a cause for his autism. She said they always check for fragile-x as it is associated with mental retardation and autism, but usually more profound autism than Thane’s. She didn’t want to set up another appointment unless they find something in the blood work, which should come back in a month. If there is anything there, she will suggest we return and also bring Braeden.
She actually plans to write to our family doctor about me . . . the karyotype I had done almost 11 years ago showed a Turner's mosaicism. I guess I get to have some screening done because of that.
On to the next challenge . . . questioning CDS about appropriate goals for Thane.
Basically she didn’t see any physical characteristics that make her think we’re going to find a cause for his autism. She said they always check for fragile-x as it is associated with mental retardation and autism, but usually more profound autism than Thane’s. She didn’t want to set up another appointment unless they find something in the blood work, which should come back in a month. If there is anything there, she will suggest we return and also bring Braeden.
She actually plans to write to our family doctor about me . . . the karyotype I had done almost 11 years ago showed a Turner's mosaicism. I guess I get to have some screening done because of that.
On to the next challenge . . . questioning CDS about appropriate goals for Thane.
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