Flying With Leelo

Flying With Leelo

We're going to Kauai in two days. All five of us. It is a swimming destination, which is pretty much the only kind of destination that Leelo is willing to put up with these days. However, in order to get there we have about six hours of flying and three hours of layover. Not my choice, but the difference between a direct flight and one with a connection cost more than our week's lodgings. So, a connecting flight.

Leelo hasn't flown much this past year, and certainly hasn't taken a five hour flight in at least two years. I am very nervous, but thanks to my friend DoubleTrouble I know that even if Leelo is loud and annoying and kicking the chair in front of him, we can't be kicked off the plane. Here is the PDF she sent me about disability rights and airplane travel, plus her favorite excerpt:

U.S. Department of Transportation: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability in Air Travel

SUBPART C -- REQUIREMENTS CONCERNING SERVICES
§ 382.31 Refusal of transportation.

(a) Unless specifically permitted by a provision of this part, a carrier shall not refuse to provide transportation to a qualified individual with a disability on the basis of his or her disability.

(b) A carrier shall not refuse to provide transportation to a qualified individual with a disability solely because the person’s disability results in appearance or involuntary behavior that may offend, annoy, or inconvenience crewmembers or other passengers.

Perhaps an iron-on version for Leelo's travel day t-shirt is in order.

(And, yes we are in the new house and it is both wonderful and so completely insanely overwhelming that I am only remembering to take every other breath.)

Technorati Tags: autism, autism blog, autistic, disability rights, travel

Hiccup

Hiccup

Tomorrow our phone and DSL get shut off, and transferred to the new place. This means that for a time frame depending upon whether or not the DSL really gets hooked up, and whether or not Seymour has time to set up our wireless network, I will be offline.

Does anyone want to come over to our house and make a wreath or smaller keepsake item out of trimmings from the lavender bush we acquired the weekend we got knocked up with Iz and transplanted to this yard, but which is now far too established to risk another uprooting? Call me if so. Needs to be done by Sunday. I would so very much be in your debt.

Momentary Break From the Relocation Frenzy Tonight's Break From the Relocation Frenzy

Momentary Break From the Relocation Frenzy

Dee, this list is for you. What would have taken us* close to a year to laboriously compile on one beloved video tape can now be found in moments via the glory of YouTube:

Style Council: You're the Best Thing

Style Council: My Ever Changing Moods (Bike Version)

The Beat: Mirror in the Bathroom

The Beat: I Confess

The Specials: A Message to You, Rudy

Special AKA: Girlfriend

Bangles: Going Down to Liverpool

Bangles: I'm in Line

The Three O'Clock: With a Cantaloupe Girlfriend

Scritti Politti: Wood Beez

Madness: It Must Be Love

Boingo: Private Life

INXS: Original Sin

OMD: If You Leave

Simple Minds: Don't You Forget About Me

Grandmaster Flash: White Lines

And, of course...

*I should have written "What would have taken you close to a year..." as my parents refused to get cable until I was already in college.

Key

Key

I have the keys to the new house in my pocket!

Preemptive Nostalgia

Preemptive Nostalgia

Dude, I am going to miss this place. I know that we'll get to come visit, and that we're making tradeoffs that will overall bring our family greater happiness, but I woke up every morning and came home every day grateful to be in such a beautiful environment:



I also recently realized that all three of my kids are currently in the youngest class/grade at their schools, and that in Mali's and Iz's cases, they are actually the school's youngest students. Won't be the case after this week; new babies will be arriving in the Fall. Which means my kids are getting older and less baby-like. And I am sad about that.

Also glad, though, in Leelo's case at least. Even though I've been up since 4:30 due to his waking up at that point, coming into our room, and turning on the overhead lights. I am okay with the sleep disruption because he did so out of the need for us to change his poop pullup. In the past, the middle-of-the-night poop would have been a disaster. He was wearing pajama separates (he refuses to wear the turned-around footie jammies anymore) and usually would have woken us up not deliberately but via the overwhelming stench of his excavations as he decorated the wall and everything else in his room. I am happy to be living with an incrementally more mature Leelo.

Technorati Tags: autism, autism blog, autistic

More Good Leeloisms

More Good Leeloisms

From Daily Record Spreadsheet:

When bored between school and afternoon session, started pushing around the bar stools [something we have him do as a sensory/weighted activity], and then tried to get into the (locked*) game/puzzle cabinet for a puzzle. [He was trying to find something to do as opposed to wandering aimlessly--v. wonderful.]

Allowed me to read him three Dr. Seuss Beginner Books in a row.

Spent a lot of time reciting colors: "Red Yellow Green Blue!"

When we were reading books this evening, he turned the books over so only their mostly solid-colored backs were showing, and exclaimed (correctly, and with pointing), "It is yellow! It is green!"

Has been saying a lot of "There it is" and "There we are" with pointing while we're riding in the car.

*Because of Mali, not Leelo. There is no way in hell I'm going to clean up Mali's Puzzle Confetti -- Now Featuring Twelve Different Motifs.

Technorati Tags: autism, autism blog, autistic

Leelo! My Schedule! Talent Show!

Leelo! My Schedule! Talent Show!

It's almost 2:00 and Leelo hasn't hit me once. He did push me over on my keester as I was crouching down to help him with his shoes, but I'll overlook that on account of his:

1) Selecting all his own clothes and dressing himself completely and independently for school, and

2) Running in the house when we returned from his Sage speech therapy session, and spontaneously using the potty.

I am hoping this week's move doesn't throw him for a complete loop. He is doing so well right now.

And, speaking of people who will start moving in a little more than 48 hours, I am loopy myself. I've gotten a lot of work done, but there is much preparing even if professionals are doing the bulk of the packing and moving (much like having someone else clean your house; you have to--or at least I have to--spend a good while tidying up and organizing beforehand). And it is difficult to find time to do so when one's days look like this:

8:00 Leelo to school
8:30 Sigh escrow documents four towns over
10:00 Talk to various agencies about changing address
11:25 Pick up Leelo from school
12:00 Leelo to Occupational Therapy
1:00 Leelo back home for Therapist L
1:15 More phone calling, cleaning kitchen, laundry
2:30 Parent orientation for Iz's summer camp next week
3:30 Return home, thank Jo for picking up Iz and bringing her home, collect Leelo from Therapist L, realize that all three kids are at home simultaneously and that nothing will get done.
4:30 Grocery run for dinner
5:00 Realtor comes for document collection and last few items chat
5:30 Make kids dinner
6:00 Send Iz to neighbors to get ride to talent show
6:15 Thank Babysitter K for coming to watch Leelo and Mali, greet Seymour, drive to Iz's talent show
6:30 - 9:00 Talent show
9:30 Iz to bed, lie on couch in stupor

That was yesterday. Today is somewhat similar. At least my stomach is back into tolerating caffeine.

I must say that I enjoyed the Big Noggin talent show unreservedly. Well, almost. I do wish that some of the girls would embrace the fact that their range is more suitable to the soundtrack of Annie and stop trying to sing Disney or Celine Dion ballads. Though one girl took on Christina Aguilera and succeeded beautifully, which is impressive. There were a few other kids with almost professional talent, but for the most part it was pure goofy fun. I especially liked the pogo stick duo, and of course watching Iz warble her way through a short solo from High School Musical. She hit many of her marks, sidestepped a few others, and her group got huge cheers and applause just like every other act. Let me know if you'd like a link to the video.

Off to panic/pack. Break over.

Technorati Tags: autism, autism blog, autistic

Leelo Yesterday and Today

Leelo Yesterday and Today

V. busy packing so here's some data straight from Leelo's daily home record/spreadsheet.

Yesterday:

Got a real kick out of having people repeat his phrases: "Is that a line?" Also spent a long time doing reciprocal vocalizations, e.g., he would sing increasingly complex acapella scats, I would repeat them, and he would laugh like hell.

Slapped/hit me a lot when I didn't do what he asked, for instance not letting him ride on my back if he wouldn't sit in a safe position, when I wouldn't let him have a second croissant and instead tried to redirect him. Very sweet and snuggly otherwise, though.

Today:

Lots of good language "Oh, there it is!" "Get out of you chair, Mommy" "I want to go outside, Clyde" "I want to ride on your back, Dad" "Play the horn, Dad" "Play the whistle, Dad" "I want to go spin the globe."

Less hitting; a lot of interacting with visitors to our house; seems to be realizing that people will pretty much do whatever he wants if he asks them. [Cool!]

Technorati Tags: autism, autism blog, autistic

A Link for Your Twittering Irritating Pregnant Friend

A Link for Your Twittering Irritating Pregnant Friend

I do have to thank Screamything for being so clear-headed about the bloody, overwhelming, painful chaos of new motherhood. Yet we still get funny hats on the baby, doses of love/shock, and beholding The Cuteness.

Pretty Much Sums Our Mood Up

Pretty Much Sums Our Mood Up

Gross Taste in Mouth

Gross Taste in Mouth

And barfing! Though I haven't barfed in 24 hours, so that's nice. I can't get this weird perfumey taste out of the back of my mouth, though.

I hope it is stress rather than a virus as I was cooking for friends and Iz's classmates all week long. Now that I think about it I've been feeling sick to my stomach since Tuesday; it was only on Thursday (which was the week's cake-topping stress-popper) that I actually had a four-stage stomach-emptying involuntary vomiting session. Though the next morning I couldn't get out of bed without feeling like I had to hurl anew.

Whatever. You probably have enough barf in your own life.

This is our big packing weekend, as we move next weekend. I have farmed Iz out to the very kind Armada and family for two days. We have a decent amount of babysitting for Leelo and Mali. I will not allow myself to get bogged down and wade tearfully through my kids' art from the last seven years; no, it will go into boxes just the way it is. I am efficient; I am a machine!

Though, speaking of tearful, Mali asked me, "Can you pick me up?" this morning, which made me very sniffly. In general her conversational pronouns have been absolutely perfect in every way, far better than anyone else's 2.5 year old (need you ask)--with the exception of two phrases: "Can I pick you up?" (meaning Mommy please pick me up) and "I hungwy!" She better not lose that second one any time soon; it is too cute and I must get it on digital video first.

Happy weekend to you. Hope you at least are getting to enjoy what in this area is one of the most gorgeous late Spring days imaginable.