Eureka!
I found our silverware!
Until that marvelous discovery, we'd being making do with one regular sandwich knife, four plastic spoons, and a packet of plastic forks donated by Signora Blog (who brought us a wonderfull chicken dinner, too).
Still can't find the plates, though. And our tupperware. And our griddle (no griddle means no pancakes means grumpy Leelo).
6.28.2007
6.27.2007
Newberry = Death
Newberry = Death
Iz's latest kick is plowing through the backlist of Newberry Award books. She's a bit displeased with their tone:
"Mommy, I don't understand why if Newberry Award is for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children that means that someone in the book has to die. This book [The Higher Power of Lucky] has someone dying before the book even begins!"
I told her that many adults think that "distinguished" means "demonstrates how awful life can be for some kids so as to make happy innocent children more grateful for their swell lives" and that I don't see why "distinguished" can't simply mean "beautifully written, imaginative, and entertaining." If you were a kid and your life resembled one of those tragic tales, wouldn't you be rooting for some quality escapism?
Iz and I just finished reading Walk Two Moons together last night (thank you for the gift, Godmother Stacy) and by the end we were laughing in horror at the carnage: four people met tragic ends, and another two were in horrible car/bus accidents. Seymour was playing with Mali nearby, and he couldn't help chuckling with us.
I can't think of how the well-written but unbelievably depressing "Out of the Dust" was chosen over the delightful "Ella Enchanted" without rolling my eyes.
----
In other Iz news, she is definitely peering over the fence from Little Kid Land into Big Girl Territory. She wants to know why Lindsay Lohan got arrested (she saw it on the cover of a magazine in the store), is desperate to watch as much Hannah Montana as possible (she got to watch it with her cousin and grandmother in Hawaii; thankfully our cable still isn't hooked up), and really wants to read People magazine. I remember hungrily plowing through my aunt's Enquirers at her age, and think that I need to find some way to feed the beast what it craves. Perhaps a subscription to Jane magazine. Which i will read and censor first. Hmmm.
Iz's latest kick is plowing through the backlist of Newberry Award books. She's a bit displeased with their tone:
"Mommy, I don't understand why if Newberry Award is for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children that means that someone in the book has to die. This book [The Higher Power of Lucky] has someone dying before the book even begins!"
I told her that many adults think that "distinguished" means "demonstrates how awful life can be for some kids so as to make happy innocent children more grateful for their swell lives" and that I don't see why "distinguished" can't simply mean "beautifully written, imaginative, and entertaining." If you were a kid and your life resembled one of those tragic tales, wouldn't you be rooting for some quality escapism?
Iz and I just finished reading Walk Two Moons together last night (thank you for the gift, Godmother Stacy) and by the end we were laughing in horror at the carnage: four people met tragic ends, and another two were in horrible car/bus accidents. Seymour was playing with Mali nearby, and he couldn't help chuckling with us.
I can't think of how the well-written but unbelievably depressing "Out of the Dust" was chosen over the delightful "Ella Enchanted" without rolling my eyes.
----
In other Iz news, she is definitely peering over the fence from Little Kid Land into Big Girl Territory. She wants to know why Lindsay Lohan got arrested (she saw it on the cover of a magazine in the store), is desperate to watch as much Hannah Montana as possible (she got to watch it with her cousin and grandmother in Hawaii; thankfully our cable still isn't hooked up), and really wants to read People magazine. I remember hungrily plowing through my aunt's Enquirers at her age, and think that I need to find some way to feed the beast what it craves. Perhaps a subscription to Jane magazine. Which i will read and censor first. Hmmm.
6.26.2007
Motormouth Mali
Motormouth Mali
Holy crapola, that kid can talk. Apparently running at the mouth is her substitute for sleep, as it is almost midnight and she is still going strong; if I was a betting person I'd wager that her needle is stuck at 500 rpm. I thought Iz was the hands-down queen of both the stream-of-consciousness commentary and the random stranger attack greetings, but I think her baby sister may dethrone her. And that is a frightening thought, if you know Iz.
Sample overheards:
Holy crapola, that kid can talk. Apparently running at the mouth is her substitute for sleep, as it is almost midnight and she is still going strong; if I was a betting person I'd wager that her needle is stuck at 500 rpm. I thought Iz was the hands-down queen of both the stream-of-consciousness commentary and the random stranger attack greetings, but I think her baby sister may dethrone her. And that is a frightening thought, if you know Iz.
Sample overheards:
"Mommy! Don't stick your head under the bed! Your head is too big! My head is too big! It gets stuck under the bed! M&M Bear's head is too big! But Medea's [new cat, short story*] head is not too big. She is waaaaay under the bed. Hi Medea! Do you want to come and play with me? Medea! Come here right now!" (Various wheedling meowing sounds commence.)Probably my favorite thing that she does right now is yell out her exact location when you call her name:
"Izzy! Get off of me! I want to go see Mommy!" (Iz was sitting on Mali's stomach, as per my request to "watch Mali for a minute while I take Leelo to the potty.")
"Mommy! This is my dolly. She is upset. No, she's happy. Because she has curly hair. And curly eyes. And a beaaautiful dress. Do you think she's happy?" Squid: "I'm not sure, do you think she's happy?" Mali: "I don't know! Can you make a happy face? Can you make a sad face? Can you make a surprised face? Can you make a concerned face? Don't worry, I'll give you a biiiig hug."
"I want to go on the trampoline! It's not Leelo's turn, it's my turn! Can I go on the trampoline with Izzy? Noooooooooooo! It's my turn! I don't want to get off the ladder! I don't want to go on the little trampoline! I want to go on the big trampoline!" [Commence air raid siren volume tantrum]
"I'm right here! I'm in the bathroom! I'm inside the cupboard! I'm under the sink!"*The previous owners of this house left their (formerly friendly, now somewhat traumatized) tuxedo cat behind when they moved. They only admitted to abandoning her after a query from our realtor, at which time they asked if we wanted her. We did.
6.25.2007
So Many Changes for Leelo
So Many Changes for Leelo
Leelo is at summer school right now. An entirely new school, with entirely new staff, and only one little boy whom he may remember from last year's ALSO summer program. It should be great for him; it is a behavioral class specifically for kids like Leelo, it tops out at four students, it's full, and it's overstaffed. The director, who spent over ten years at a local fully dedicated moderate-to-severe autism school, told me that "there is nothing Leelo can do that will surprise me." Still, I feel anxious about dropping him off, cold, into an entirely new situation with no familiar supports only two weeks after the end of school, less than two weeks after we moved into our new house, and two days after returning from vacation. I hope he is okay.
I am grateful that he got to spend the morning swimming with Babysitter A, and that Seymour fixed up the (big, very big) trampoline yesterday so that Leelo got to spend all the time he wanted on it before we left the house today. Also I took Leelo to Sewerage for his favorite "naan bread" lunch right before school started. He was in a very good mood when we walked into his classroom.
But, again, I am very anxious. Leelo is spending three hours in a totally novel environment, and will not see a single familiar face or item except the pair of chewed up straws he brought with him.
Leelo is at summer school right now. An entirely new school, with entirely new staff, and only one little boy whom he may remember from last year's ALSO summer program. It should be great for him; it is a behavioral class specifically for kids like Leelo, it tops out at four students, it's full, and it's overstaffed. The director, who spent over ten years at a local fully dedicated moderate-to-severe autism school, told me that "there is nothing Leelo can do that will surprise me." Still, I feel anxious about dropping him off, cold, into an entirely new situation with no familiar supports only two weeks after the end of school, less than two weeks after we moved into our new house, and two days after returning from vacation. I hope he is okay.
I am grateful that he got to spend the morning swimming with Babysitter A, and that Seymour fixed up the (big, very big) trampoline yesterday so that Leelo got to spend all the time he wanted on it before we left the house today. Also I took Leelo to Sewerage for his favorite "naan bread" lunch right before school started. He was in a very good mood when we walked into his classroom.
But, again, I am very anxious. Leelo is spending three hours in a totally novel environment, and will not see a single familiar face or item except the pair of chewed up straws he brought with him.
Technorati Tags: autism, autism blog, transitions
Not That He'd Use the Fly Anyhow
Not That He'd Use the Fly Anyhow
Finally cleaned out Leelo's school backpack this morning. (School may have ended two weeks ago, but summer school doesn't start until this afternoon.) I am extremely grateful that Leelo had no potty accidents during his last few weeks at school, seeing as what I thought were a pair of gray little boy briefs were actually tattered ladies' bikinis.
Finally cleaned out Leelo's school backpack this morning. (School may have ended two weeks ago, but summer school doesn't start until this afternoon.) I am extremely grateful that Leelo had no potty accidents during his last few weeks at school, seeing as what I thought were a pair of gray little boy briefs were actually tattered ladies' bikinis.
6.22.2007
Guess Who's Coming To Visit?
Guess Who's Coming To Visit?
A mom on the Deadwood moms' email group recently requested advice on how she should get ready for a visit from a relative and that relative's tweenish autistic son. Since I am not one to shut ye olde yap, here is my response:
A mom on the Deadwood moms' email group recently requested advice on how she should get ready for a visit from a relative and that relative's tweenish autistic son. Since I am not one to shut ye olde yap, here is my response:
You are very thoughtful to even send out this query. However kids with autism are all very different from each other, so what works for one kid will not necessarily work for another.
The best advice I can give you is to try to create a safe space for your relative's son to retreat to if he needs to. Even if it's just a chair, though a room (even if he is sharing it) would be ideal, so that his mom can retreat with him. Also try to help your kids understand that it is probably best to not surprise their cousin in any way if they can help it. Your littlest may need your help with this goal. (Though, again, it might not be an issue.)
But, truly, I would ask your relative directly for as much guidance as she can give you. If she is like most autism parents I know, she will be grateful that you asked. Be frank, and be open to her suggestions. Is he verbal? If so, what kinds of verbal interaction can he tolerate? Is he conversational? What kinds of social situations does he like/dislike? What kind of activities does he enjoy/detest? Does he have any "triggers" that set him off? Is he aggressive? Does he have any behaviors that you should tell your kids about, so that they'll know that those behaviors are totally normal for him? Are there any special foods he likes? Does she have a routine that he can implement, even partially, at your house?
I have some books for young kids about autism and hanging out with autistic kids, and would be happy to let you borrow them. I will be back from Kauai in two days (we have discovered that our son will tolerate travel if it is to a swimming destination), so if you like I can contact you then.
Good luck, and have fun. Most kids with autism have an immense capacity for pure joy.
-Squid
6.21.2007
Kauai, Sigh
Kauai, Sigh
Were it up to me, we would never leave.
This is where I will go when I die.
I will be one of these fish.
I will still be able to see this sunset.
And remember Iz surfing. (She got good enough to do a few tricks. Too bad you can't surf our home beaches without a wetsuit.)
And see the pool where Leelo went swimming every day.
And think how cute it was every time Mali squealed, "Wainbow!!*"
And of course eat spam, eggs, & rice for breakfast every day.
*No need to worry, Joshua. Her speech patterns are age-appropriate.
Were it up to me, we would never leave.
This is where I will go when I die.
I will be one of these fish.
I will still be able to see this sunset.
And remember Iz surfing. (She got good enough to do a few tricks. Too bad you can't surf our home beaches without a wetsuit.)
And see the pool where Leelo went swimming every day.
And think how cute it was every time Mali squealed, "Wainbow!!*"
And of course eat spam, eggs, & rice for breakfast every day.
*No need to worry, Joshua. Her speech patterns are age-appropriate.
6.19.2007
So Routine
So Routine
I had to laugh at today's "Routine" entry in Leelo's daily record spreadsheet:
Therapist L 9 - 12
Swimming 12:30 - 1:30
Therapist L 2 - 5
Luau 6 - 9
He was such an incredibly good, happy boy on the plane, and has been every since we've been here, ever since we moved into the new house. I give thanks to his naiad sisters for welcoming him back to their waterlogged bosoms; he is obviously very at home with them.
Also I would recommend the Princeville Luau to any autistic children who would like the freedom to run around and visit the beach mid-show or mid-dinner if need be, especially those who have seen Lilo & Stitch 500+ times. Leelo adored the fire dancers.
I had to laugh at today's "Routine" entry in Leelo's daily record spreadsheet:
Therapist L 9 - 12
Swimming 12:30 - 1:30
Therapist L 2 - 5
Luau 6 - 9
He was such an incredibly good, happy boy on the plane, and has been every since we've been here, ever since we moved into the new house. I give thanks to his naiad sisters for welcoming him back to their waterlogged bosoms; he is obviously very at home with them.
Also I would recommend the Princeville Luau to any autistic children who would like the freedom to run around and visit the beach mid-show or mid-dinner if need be, especially those who have seen Lilo & Stitch 500+ times. Leelo adored the fire dancers.
6.18.2007
6.14.2007
Leelo vs. GFCF
Leelo vs. GFCF
I am still wondering about him stopping rice bread/starting PB&J's on wheat bread at almost the exact same time he nosedived and wonder again if it wouldn't be worth having a second DAN! opinion as I always felt a little skeptical about our original Dr's understanding of Leo; I don't think our boy fit the profile of kids he is able to treat successfully. I have heard from more than a few people that DoubleTrouble's dr. operates more intuitively. However if I was to explore the rice bread hypothesis I would not take action until May when by all logical and past data taking and personal experience Leelo should be back to being himself. Seymour pointed out that Leelo takes nasty-ass cod liver oil by mouth and got used to that and we have in the past had successes (trials though they were) in getting him to change his diet from six everyday things to six GFCF things. Perhaps we should just press it. Do the dietary equivalent of Potty Training By Fire, and have one of us take him into a remote cabin where he is offered only one food that we would like him to start eating and nothing else until he starts eating it. I am kidding of course, but I do think if we can get him to successfully introduce a new item to his diet then it will just become rote. And, even though Therapist L has been doing a lovely job working with him to try different foods, I think the biggest push really does have to come from home in order to make a difference.
I am still wondering about him stopping rice bread/starting PB&J's on wheat bread at almost the exact same time he nosedived and wonder again if it wouldn't be worth having a second DAN! opinion as I always felt a little skeptical about our original Dr's understanding of Leo; I don't think our boy fit the profile of kids he is able to treat successfully. I have heard from more than a few people that DoubleTrouble's dr. operates more intuitively. However if I was to explore the rice bread hypothesis I would not take action until May when by all logical and past data taking and personal experience Leelo should be back to being himself. Seymour pointed out that Leelo takes nasty-ass cod liver oil by mouth and got used to that and we have in the past had successes (trials though they were) in getting him to change his diet from six everyday things to six GFCF things. Perhaps we should just press it. Do the dietary equivalent of Potty Training By Fire, and have one of us take him into a remote cabin where he is offered only one food that we would like him to start eating and nothing else until he starts eating it. I am kidding of course, but I do think if we can get him to successfully introduce a new item to his diet then it will just become rote. And, even though Therapist L has been doing a lovely job working with him to try different foods, I think the biggest push really does have to come from home in order to make a difference.
Technorati Tags: autism, autism blog, autistic, DAN!, GFCF
We Are In
We Are In
Iz has been going to camp all week looking like no one loves her as I can't find any hair brushes. At least she's got sunblock on. She had a bit of a hysterical homesickness fit on the final day in our old house, but otherwise is very pleased to be here.
We had no TV for the first three days but then Seymour got TiVo back up. It provides a decent, if static, backlog until the cable people find our house and we can start rotating her selection again. She wants to know if anyone else has ever noticed that all movie moons are either full moons or waxing gibbous.
Leelo thinks the new house is great because it has a pool. He spends much time with his nose up against the pool fence, and He also thinks hardwood floors are wonderful for scooting around on his back, pushing with his feet. However it took me a few days to find his Claritin so his sniffles have returned and that makes him grumpy. He has not yet been on the trampoline (or, thankfully, recognized it as such) and will not get to go until we return from Saturday's one week vacation and have time to shop for pipe insulation to put on the trampoline's safety net's concussion-enabling metal bars. I am grateful that his transition so far has been a mellow one.
I have been using the same fork and knife all week
I have been carrying my cell phone everywhere because I can't find any of our other clocks or alarm clocks.
Mali bits: Maybe it's poo-poo? I want to go to my new house. Falling on her belly: That was close!
Iz has been going to camp all week looking like no one loves her as I can't find any hair brushes. At least she's got sunblock on. She had a bit of a hysterical homesickness fit on the final day in our old house, but otherwise is very pleased to be here.
We had no TV for the first three days but then Seymour got TiVo back up. It provides a decent, if static, backlog until the cable people find our house and we can start rotating her selection again. She wants to know if anyone else has ever noticed that all movie moons are either full moons or waxing gibbous.
Leelo thinks the new house is great because it has a pool. He spends much time with his nose up against the pool fence, and He also thinks hardwood floors are wonderful for scooting around on his back, pushing with his feet. However it took me a few days to find his Claritin so his sniffles have returned and that makes him grumpy. He has not yet been on the trampoline (or, thankfully, recognized it as such) and will not get to go until we return from Saturday's one week vacation and have time to shop for pipe insulation to put on the trampoline's safety net's concussion-enabling metal bars. I am grateful that his transition so far has been a mellow one.
I have been using the same fork and knife all week
I have been carrying my cell phone everywhere because I can't find any of our other clocks or alarm clocks.
Mali bits: Maybe it's poo-poo? I want to go to my new house. Falling on her belly: That was close!
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