Snarf Snarf
Iz's latest joke:
Q: Why did the skeleton say "Bon jour"?
A: Because it was French!
Yeah! Everything's funnier after a day with absolutely no breaks from one's children.
11.12.2004
11.11.2004
Score: -1
Pediatrician candidate canceling appointment due to illness: -1
Leelo figuring out how to unbuckle himself from his car seat: -1
Oversized footie fleecy jammies put on backwards with feet twisted forward effectively ending Leelo's shitstorms: +1
While our overall score might be negative, I am feeling rather buoyant. Rescheduling and rebuckling I can deal with, fecal frenzies I'd rather avoid.
Leelo figuring out how to unbuckle himself from his car seat: -1
Oversized footie fleecy jammies put on backwards with feet twisted forward effectively ending Leelo's shitstorms: +1
While our overall score might be negative, I am feeling rather buoyant. Rescheduling and rebuckling I can deal with, fecal frenzies I'd rather avoid.
Excellent Gifts
Still slowly working our way through Leelo's birthday gifts, opening one or two a day so as not to overwhelm the boy. People have been fantastic about considering Leelo's actual interests and needs rather than getting hung up on the useless-even-with-typical-kids age labeling system. I am so grateful.
We have come across a slight hitch, however (more of a hitch than Iz coveting every single item and trying to hide it where Leelo can't get to it). Two of the gifts--a six pack of squeaky puzzle eggs and a growling lion flashlight that makes Leelo giggle like a madman--arrived without identification. Are they from you? I'd like to know who to thank.
Ep and Jo have traded off on opening their homes to Iz today. My gratitude is as boundless as I am bovine and breathless.
Still slowly working our way through Leelo's birthday gifts, opening one or two a day so as not to overwhelm the boy. People have been fantastic about considering Leelo's actual interests and needs rather than getting hung up on the useless-even-with-typical-kids age labeling system. I am so grateful.
We have come across a slight hitch, however (more of a hitch than Iz coveting every single item and trying to hide it where Leelo can't get to it). Two of the gifts--a six pack of squeaky puzzle eggs and a growling lion flashlight that makes Leelo giggle like a madman--arrived without identification. Are they from you? I'd like to know who to thank.
Ep and Jo have traded off on opening their homes to Iz today. My gratitude is as boundless as I am bovine and breathless.
11.10.2004
Autism Interlude
Leelo celebrated his birthday by taking a sharp turn into loopy-land. He's still there. Chattering away, difficult to get his attention. His three-week-old cold has suddenly become more pronounced as well. Coincidence? I think not.
We have finally taken away his high chair (which I loved for its containment factor) and are having him sit on a stool at the counter like everyone else except the serving wench (me). He can do it, but on days like today his compliance is not great.
I am not so well able to deal with him as I am wrecked. Not ill like Badger, poor dear, but still almost gone. Tuesdays are our hyper-busy sucky schedule days, I was on the snack committee for last night's Iron Gate meeting (6:30 - 10:00 P.M.), Iz was up most of the night with tummy trouble, Seymour has very cool but time-consuming work responsibilities and couldn't help prep the monsters for school, and then I worked in the Iron Gate nursery this morning. I am pooped. Time for a short nap. But first, a mixed bag of autism items that've been piling up:
Tomorrow I'll be interviewing a new pediatrician candidate. She seems too good to be true: She is a board-certified pediatrician as well as a certified homeopath, and is treating several DAN protocol patients. She says she is completely comfortable with our desire to reduce or eliminate vaccinations for our kids. She is happy to correspond via email, and so far has been very prompt about doing so. She is here in Deadwood, near Iz's school. Did I take some sort of hallucinogenic? Can she be real?
The only potential snag is the insurance side of things--I am used to the smooth processed world of our HMO (yes, they did swallow that MRI bill), whereas she only works the PPO angle, meaning I'd need to be the one to process and stay on top of all the paperwork. Barf. Worth it, though.
Here are Supervisor Andil's thoughts on Leelo's neurology evaluation and its EEG spikes. (FYI, the "Super" in supervisor comes from her being able to do things like write this less than one week after giving birth.) Anyhow:
Reassuring.
From MB, recently back from the El Lay DAN! conference:
Happy notes about Leelo's progress. He was doing magnificently last week, and through Monday. Maybe turning four flipped some cuckoo switch.
Encouraging notes from Therapist F about his progress at Iron Gate Nursery School.
Finally, a very cool autism article, courtesy of Seymour. The research is coming along, breaking through...and hopefully will come to fruition soon enough to help our kids. Fingers crossed.
And now, to bed.
Leelo celebrated his birthday by taking a sharp turn into loopy-land. He's still there. Chattering away, difficult to get his attention. His three-week-old cold has suddenly become more pronounced as well. Coincidence? I think not.
We have finally taken away his high chair (which I loved for its containment factor) and are having him sit on a stool at the counter like everyone else except the serving wench (me). He can do it, but on days like today his compliance is not great.
I am not so well able to deal with him as I am wrecked. Not ill like Badger, poor dear, but still almost gone. Tuesdays are our hyper-busy sucky schedule days, I was on the snack committee for last night's Iron Gate meeting (6:30 - 10:00 P.M.), Iz was up most of the night with tummy trouble, Seymour has very cool but time-consuming work responsibilities and couldn't help prep the monsters for school, and then I worked in the Iron Gate nursery this morning. I am pooped. Time for a short nap. But first, a mixed bag of autism items that've been piling up:
Tomorrow I'll be interviewing a new pediatrician candidate. She seems too good to be true: She is a board-certified pediatrician as well as a certified homeopath, and is treating several DAN protocol patients. She says she is completely comfortable with our desire to reduce or eliminate vaccinations for our kids. She is happy to correspond via email, and so far has been very prompt about doing so. She is here in Deadwood, near Iz's school. Did I take some sort of hallucinogenic? Can she be real?
The only potential snag is the insurance side of things--I am used to the smooth processed world of our HMO (yes, they did swallow that MRI bill), whereas she only works the PPO angle, meaning I'd need to be the one to process and stay on top of all the paperwork. Barf. Worth it, though.
Here are Supervisor Andil's thoughts on Leelo's neurology evaluation and its EEG spikes. (FYI, the "Super" in supervisor comes from her being able to do things like write this less than one week after giving birth.) Anyhow:
Squid and all...As far as the EEG in my opinion it is not so bad. Blanking out is common with people with autism and may be seizure activity or other just lack of attention. If you see an increase in blanking, a decrease in progress, or most important when kids are having seizure type activity they lose skills they just mastered. It mostly affects short term memory. So, we would see this show up in the data. Typically, if seizures do develop of a more severe nature these do not usually emerge until adolescence (hormone related) and are most likely seen in more severely autistic people. I agree with the doctor that there is no reason now to start medication. As far as the ADHD meds--if he can make progress and is able to attend in his ABA program and preschool I would wait until school age where being seated for lengths of time is required.
Reassuring.
From MB, recently back from the El Lay DAN! conference:
There is substantial backing for the DAN! theories. Many, many studies by credentialed people from prestigious institutions, in peer-evaluated studies published in respected journals. They are thinking a particular polymorphism within a certain gene interferes with that individual's methylation pathways - which screws up everything. That polymorphism must have been around a long time; it's the last ten years of heavy metal exposures in both vaccines and other places that are showing up now in these kids, who are exposed to much more than, say, we were as kids.
Happy notes about Leelo's progress. He was doing magnificently last week, and through Monday. Maybe turning four flipped some cuckoo switch.
Encouraging notes from Therapist F about his progress at Iron Gate Nursery School.
Finally, a very cool autism article, courtesy of Seymour. The research is coming along, breaking through...and hopefully will come to fruition soon enough to help our kids. Fingers crossed.
And now, to bed.
11.09.2004
Quoi?
Okay, French speakers...what is my Malian buddy asking about this time? French is impenetrable enough for me, but Malian French...aaaaigh! Aidez-moi, s'il vous plait!
"hi squid je te telephonne deux fois mais sa marcher
pas donc je fini mes etude de tourisme et je mon
lisence donc j'aimerai si possible envoyer des photot
de mali avec des circuit sur les mali si vous et ton
marie me faire un site web sur le mali ces important
pour moi .
je salut iz et leelo sans leur pere tout va bien ici
j'espert la meme."
Okay, French speakers...what is my Malian buddy asking about this time? French is impenetrable enough for me, but Malian French...aaaaigh! Aidez-moi, s'il vous plait!
"hi squid je te telephonne deux fois mais sa marcher
pas donc je fini mes etude de tourisme et je mon
lisence donc j'aimerai si possible envoyer des photot
de mali avec des circuit sur les mali si vous et ton
marie me faire un site web sur le mali ces important
pour moi .
je salut iz et leelo sans leur pere tout va bien ici
j'espert la meme."
And Then There's Iz
Really having a good time with her, when I'm not forcefully reminding myself that We Are Not a Corporal Punishment Family. Love her, but sometimes also want to tie her to the roof and leave her there for a while.
Right now we are reading The Silver Chair as her bed time story. She was overcome with joy when the friends discovered that the Dark Knight was really Prince Rilian! And then they got to slay the "vicious worm" that killed Rilian's mother! She finds the closure and vengeance most satisfying. Although she keeps bugging me about the "live jewels" part of the story, which I've been using as bait since we started the story.
I get the feeling that school is really overwhelming for her, and is the basis for her frequent bad moods and bouts of intransigence, of late. All that fucking homework all the time, all those unmoderated social interactions. Plus we've all been sick for two weeks, and I am short-tempered and hormonal. Thankfully November is a mellow month for her, with Veteran's day holidays, Thanksgiving holidays, and a week of early release days due to parent/teacher conferences.
Oh, and that parent/teacher conference should be interesting. Yesterday Iz's maestra (teacher) told me that Iz's Spanish reading comprehension is lagging behind her actual "reading," which she does at light speed. I agreed, and said that I thought she was doing pretty well for only having started in August. She raised her eyebrows and nodded and agreed that our girl was doing very well indeed.
Tomorrow is supposed to be my night to myself, but as I would probably only use it to nest, I am instead going to have dinner with our girl and then take her to see Les Incroyables.
----
Seymour and me a few days ago, "So, what is bronze made out of again? Copper and iron?" Iz, piping up from the back seat: "It's copper and tin."
Really having a good time with her, when I'm not forcefully reminding myself that We Are Not a Corporal Punishment Family. Love her, but sometimes also want to tie her to the roof and leave her there for a while.
Right now we are reading The Silver Chair as her bed time story. She was overcome with joy when the friends discovered that the Dark Knight was really Prince Rilian! And then they got to slay the "vicious worm" that killed Rilian's mother! She finds the closure and vengeance most satisfying. Although she keeps bugging me about the "live jewels" part of the story, which I've been using as bait since we started the story.
I get the feeling that school is really overwhelming for her, and is the basis for her frequent bad moods and bouts of intransigence, of late. All that fucking homework all the time, all those unmoderated social interactions. Plus we've all been sick for two weeks, and I am short-tempered and hormonal. Thankfully November is a mellow month for her, with Veteran's day holidays, Thanksgiving holidays, and a week of early release days due to parent/teacher conferences.
Oh, and that parent/teacher conference should be interesting. Yesterday Iz's maestra (teacher) told me that Iz's Spanish reading comprehension is lagging behind her actual "reading," which she does at light speed. I agreed, and said that I thought she was doing pretty well for only having started in August. She raised her eyebrows and nodded and agreed that our girl was doing very well indeed.
Tomorrow is supposed to be my night to myself, but as I would probably only use it to nest, I am instead going to have dinner with our girl and then take her to see Les Incroyables.
----
Seymour and me a few days ago, "So, what is bronze made out of again? Copper and iron?" Iz, piping up from the back seat: "It's copper and tin."
High and Tight
Since I have been too crazy to blog much lately, I have decided to slow down and make this a day of posts. Tons and tons and tons! Your eyes will glaze over. Even Jo will get fed up.
Tuesday is now official OB visit day. My doctor determined that the baby's head is still not lowered or engaged (I would have said "yes, I know!" but I was too out of breath as the baby is still occupying most of my usual lung-space). Nothing going on in terms of dilation or effacement. Whew.
There was a really fun moment when the doctor couldn't find the heartbeat, before she realized that her machine wasn't hooked up properly.
We are 37 weeks as of today. If I drop this puppy tomorrow, it will be considered full-term. Although it will be born into a completely unprepared house. I need another week or two, minimum.
Note to all pregnant nesting ladies out there: Do Not Go To Targgget in this state. I am still hauling bags out of the back of the car, and it's been over 24 hours since the actual pillaging took place. Although now I have nursing pads, and really, what else does one need?
Since I have been too crazy to blog much lately, I have decided to slow down and make this a day of posts. Tons and tons and tons! Your eyes will glaze over. Even Jo will get fed up.
Tuesday is now official OB visit day. My doctor determined that the baby's head is still not lowered or engaged (I would have said "yes, I know!" but I was too out of breath as the baby is still occupying most of my usual lung-space). Nothing going on in terms of dilation or effacement. Whew.
There was a really fun moment when the doctor couldn't find the heartbeat, before she realized that her machine wasn't hooked up properly.
We are 37 weeks as of today. If I drop this puppy tomorrow, it will be considered full-term. Although it will be born into a completely unprepared house. I need another week or two, minimum.
Note to all pregnant nesting ladies out there: Do Not Go To Targgget in this state. I am still hauling bags out of the back of the car, and it's been over 24 hours since the actual pillaging took place. Although now I have nursing pads, and really, what else does one need?
Happy Birthday Leelo!
Can't believe our little bugger is four.
Also can't believe what a different boy he is this year. He smiles when people sing happy birthday instead of sobbing, and seems to have an inkling that the singing might be about him.
He is interested in opening presents this year, too, which he never has been before. He's still not going at it like a typical present-crazed four-year-old, but he definitely loves tearing the paper or ransacking the gift bag to see what's inside. Our friends have been extra-careful and wonderful in their gift selections, and Leelo has been interested in every one so far, often demanding "Open open open!!!" when he sees what the present is.
He still doesn't really get the idea of or reason for his birthday, but he's happy and enjoying the experience and that is enough for this year.
Can't believe our little bugger is four.
Also can't believe what a different boy he is this year. He smiles when people sing happy birthday instead of sobbing, and seems to have an inkling that the singing might be about him.
He is interested in opening presents this year, too, which he never has been before. He's still not going at it like a typical present-crazed four-year-old, but he definitely loves tearing the paper or ransacking the gift bag to see what's inside. Our friends have been extra-careful and wonderful in their gift selections, and Leelo has been interested in every one so far, often demanding "Open open open!!!" when he sees what the present is.
He still doesn't really get the idea of or reason for his birthday, but he's happy and enjoying the experience and that is enough for this year.
11.07.2004
Happy Birthday Party Leelo!
Yesterday was Leelo's birthday party. Normally birthday party days are all-out freakouts for me, in terms of house prepping and coordinating. However, yesterday I was sick, I decided to eschew the usual customized gifties, we didn't invite all that many people, and Leelo doesn't ask for much in terms of special entertainment. So I ordered a jumpy house and some Indian food, decided to buy a cake, and we went on with our usual Saturday morning routine instead.
It turned out to be a fantastic day. Beautiful weather.
We toodled over to the cafe, where Iz's head almost exploded--Ira Russskin was there! She was beyond excited. She got to meet him and talk to him and tell him that "we voted for you" and that she was so glad he won. Ira: "My, what a precocious little voter!" I got to shake his hand and give him our congratulations as well, and told him his victory was the one bright spot in the election results.
All sorts of friends showed up to the cafe, in a perfectly synchronized way so that we got to share our table with four different families, without anyone having to find seating elsewhere or wait a turn. Almost all the menfolk are bike buddies with Seymour, so he got to arrange a ride for later this weekend. My favorite omelet was on the menu. Lots of kiddies for our kiddies to play with.
Then we went to the store to get all the food I decided to buy instead of prepare. There I had either a pre-migraine aura or a symptom of incipient pre-eclampsia--flashing colored lights took over my entire field of vision and made it most distracting to try to select the proper crackers for our cheese (so much so that I ended up with sesame crackers instead of plain water crackers--oh well). The lights went away after about ten minutes but left me feeling kind of woozy. (And yes, I did contact my doctor's office, but the doctor on call has yet to call back.)
To home, where we had 90 minutes for both Seymour and me to shower and prep the house. Thankfully Badger, Rook, and Moomin thought the party was an hour earlier than we did, and arrived just in time to be put in charge of all the decorations. Whew! Heroes!
Then Ep agreed to pick up all the Indian food I'd forgotten about retrieving from the restaurant. She also brought a scrumptious chocolate cake, the twin of the one she'd made for Clyde's birthday on Friday. She did all this schlepping even though the rest of her family was sick, and she was the only one who could attend the party. Bless her.
And the party itself was melllllow good fun. The kids mostly stayed in the bouncy slide house. Seymour took pity on my being lumbering and ill, and watched Leelo pretty much the entire time. Iz is now self-contained. We eventually sang Happy Birthday to Leelo, who at the time didn't really seem to care much, but later kept singing the song to himself. MB showed up even though she's deeply entrenched in the aftermath of moving, and her Sophie2 demonstrated the same delight as Leelo with the bouncy house--I don't think she came out of it for more than a minute the entire time--plus she took turns with Leelo in coming up to Seymour to get tickles through the bouncy house net, and said "Hi, Squid!" when prompted. Seeing how much she and Leelo are improving makes my heart go pit-a-pat.
When the party was over (after only three hours, strangely), I spent an hour and the last of my energy reserves in a cleaning blast, then had a bath and went to sleep around 7:30. I woke to a completely clean house and kitchen, courtesy of my partner. A truly wonderful day. Rah!
Yesterday was Leelo's birthday party. Normally birthday party days are all-out freakouts for me, in terms of house prepping and coordinating. However, yesterday I was sick, I decided to eschew the usual customized gifties, we didn't invite all that many people, and Leelo doesn't ask for much in terms of special entertainment. So I ordered a jumpy house and some Indian food, decided to buy a cake, and we went on with our usual Saturday morning routine instead.
It turned out to be a fantastic day. Beautiful weather.
We toodled over to the cafe, where Iz's head almost exploded--Ira Russskin was there! She was beyond excited. She got to meet him and talk to him and tell him that "we voted for you" and that she was so glad he won. Ira: "My, what a precocious little voter!" I got to shake his hand and give him our congratulations as well, and told him his victory was the one bright spot in the election results.
All sorts of friends showed up to the cafe, in a perfectly synchronized way so that we got to share our table with four different families, without anyone having to find seating elsewhere or wait a turn. Almost all the menfolk are bike buddies with Seymour, so he got to arrange a ride for later this weekend. My favorite omelet was on the menu. Lots of kiddies for our kiddies to play with.
Then we went to the store to get all the food I decided to buy instead of prepare. There I had either a pre-migraine aura or a symptom of incipient pre-eclampsia--flashing colored lights took over my entire field of vision and made it most distracting to try to select the proper crackers for our cheese (so much so that I ended up with sesame crackers instead of plain water crackers--oh well). The lights went away after about ten minutes but left me feeling kind of woozy. (And yes, I did contact my doctor's office, but the doctor on call has yet to call back.)
To home, where we had 90 minutes for both Seymour and me to shower and prep the house. Thankfully Badger, Rook, and Moomin thought the party was an hour earlier than we did, and arrived just in time to be put in charge of all the decorations. Whew! Heroes!
Then Ep agreed to pick up all the Indian food I'd forgotten about retrieving from the restaurant. She also brought a scrumptious chocolate cake, the twin of the one she'd made for Clyde's birthday on Friday. She did all this schlepping even though the rest of her family was sick, and she was the only one who could attend the party. Bless her.
And the party itself was melllllow good fun. The kids mostly stayed in the bouncy slide house. Seymour took pity on my being lumbering and ill, and watched Leelo pretty much the entire time. Iz is now self-contained. We eventually sang Happy Birthday to Leelo, who at the time didn't really seem to care much, but later kept singing the song to himself. MB showed up even though she's deeply entrenched in the aftermath of moving, and her Sophie2 demonstrated the same delight as Leelo with the bouncy house--I don't think she came out of it for more than a minute the entire time--plus she took turns with Leelo in coming up to Seymour to get tickles through the bouncy house net, and said "Hi, Squid!" when prompted. Seeing how much she and Leelo are improving makes my heart go pit-a-pat.
When the party was over (after only three hours, strangely), I spent an hour and the last of my energy reserves in a cleaning blast, then had a bath and went to sleep around 7:30. I woke to a completely clean house and kitchen, courtesy of my partner. A truly wonderful day. Rah!
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