We had Isabella’s IEP (Individual Education Plan) meeting recently and were thrilled to learn that Bells’ teacher and the child study team feel Isabella is ready to enter kindergarten. In the morning, she will enter the school with an NT (neurotypical) class and then go to her contained classroom with only three other students! All her specials (art, music, phys. ed., etc.) and recess will also be with the NT class! This is a wonderful improvement and we are thrilled with her progress.
The Girl is concerned, though, that Bells is noticing when NT kids her age and older say hurtful things like, “Why does she act like a baby?” She isn’t where they are socially yet and they don’t get it. Breaks a mom’s (and a Booboo’s) heart.
We are in the dog days of summer and autumn can’t get here soon enough for this cool weather girl. Ragweed must be blooming because my whole household is hurting. So thankful for air conditioning.
We’ve been invited to go down the shore for a few days with our dear friends. Himself is so excited. More than two nights away from my bed is difficult for me but I will do it for him. Ugh.
I’m down 30 pounds now! Twenty more to go. Feels goooood!
Last week, I spent five and a half hours with a 91 year old learning all about her life. It was so interesting! I love seniors, do you?
What’s going on in your world? I really want know!
blessings, gail
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Another This and That
It has been way too long so I am going to just jump right in.
It looks like blogger is behaving so let's keep our finders crossed.
Last month, Himself and I walked a 5k with friends for The Sharing Network which organizes organ and tissue donations. I have been a registered organ donor since I was in college. We can't take it with us, right?
Within a week or two of the walk, the person who organized our team donated her kidney to a dying stranger so that another stranger would donate one of their kidneys to one of my friend's friends. Got that? If you don't match the person you know, you can donate to someone else and your person will get a kidney from someone else who did the same thing! The person she donated to is healing, no longer dying, and her friend is coming along. Is this beautiful or what?
Got a phone call today from a friend whose son, also on the spectrum, is a friend of Isabella's. For the last two days, since our play date, he has been obsessing over his "best friend ever," Bella, and how he misses her. He wrote her a love letter in chalk on the sidewalk and has been making cards for her. His mom finally had to call so he could talk with her and ask Bells why she didn't sit with him on the school bus with him! Bells told me she hurt his feelings. (In her defense, she is one of the first kids picked up and he is one of the last.) Both of them were able to express themselves so well! Two children who started out non-verbal! Hopefully, this will be worked out but I am impressed at how far they have both come this past year.
Speaking of Bells, I went with her and The Girl to a neurology appointment the school wanted her to have. Along with the autism diagnosis, she is now officially diagnosed with ADHD. Duh. We could have told you that two or three years ago. Bother her parents and her uncle have the condition. Shiney things are very distracting...
Heat. We are experiencing heat in the great Atlantic northeast - as is much of the country. We do not like heat (yes, that is a royal "we") We don't dig it, enjoy it, tolerate it well or long for it in the cold of winter. Himself dreams of retiring to Florida - ha! See ya.
I don't remember whether or not I mentioned that The Boy passed his exam and is now a certified personal trainer. He is so much happier doing this than working in a liquor store moving boxes of product around all day. We are so proud of him.
Well, that's all I've got in me for now. There's so much more but it has been a long, long day. Blessings to all, g
It looks like blogger is behaving so let's keep our finders crossed.
Last month, Himself and I walked a 5k with friends for The Sharing Network which organizes organ and tissue donations. I have been a registered organ donor since I was in college. We can't take it with us, right?
Within a week or two of the walk, the person who organized our team donated her kidney to a dying stranger so that another stranger would donate one of their kidneys to one of my friend's friends. Got that? If you don't match the person you know, you can donate to someone else and your person will get a kidney from someone else who did the same thing! The person she donated to is healing, no longer dying, and her friend is coming along. Is this beautiful or what?
Got a phone call today from a friend whose son, also on the spectrum, is a friend of Isabella's. For the last two days, since our play date, he has been obsessing over his "best friend ever," Bella, and how he misses her. He wrote her a love letter in chalk on the sidewalk and has been making cards for her. His mom finally had to call so he could talk with her and ask Bells why she didn't sit with him on the school bus with him! Bells told me she hurt his feelings. (In her defense, she is one of the first kids picked up and he is one of the last.) Both of them were able to express themselves so well! Two children who started out non-verbal! Hopefully, this will be worked out but I am impressed at how far they have both come this past year.
Speaking of Bells, I went with her and The Girl to a neurology appointment the school wanted her to have. Along with the autism diagnosis, she is now officially diagnosed with ADHD. Duh. We could have told you that two or three years ago. Bother her parents and her uncle have the condition. Shiney things are very distracting...
Heat. We are experiencing heat in the great Atlantic northeast - as is much of the country. We do not like heat (yes, that is a royal "we") We don't dig it, enjoy it, tolerate it well or long for it in the cold of winter. Himself dreams of retiring to Florida - ha! See ya.
I don't remember whether or not I mentioned that The Boy passed his exam and is now a certified personal trainer. He is so much happier doing this than working in a liquor store moving boxes of product around all day. We are so proud of him.
Well, that's all I've got in me for now. There's so much more but it has been a long, long day. Blessings to all, g
Thursday, June 16, 2011
I Give Up
Blogspot/blogger is giving me agida. Please join me at wordpress: http://bonhomie7.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Blogger Issues
I have been faithfully visiting your sites but have been having a problem leaving comments. It seems that blogger isn't recognizing my account! Hopefully, this will straighten itself out. I also have a wordpress account and, when I post there copy it to this account.
Hope all is well, gail
Hope all is well, gail
Friday, May 27, 2011
Oy, How did that Happen?
My day was planned out perfectly: bring Isabella to school, stop at the library, weight watchers meeting, trip to an outlet area for new "unmentionables" and maybe a new dress for our niece's wedding, maybe a trip to Trader Joe's and then, blessedly, a nap!
But nooooooo! As I pulled into the drop off area at school, I noticed I was the only one there. The district didn't use all its snow days so we have a four day Memorial Day weekend. No one told me! Isabella was confused but dealt with it. "Is school finished?" "For this week it is, honey."
After a week of congestion and coughing (allergies?), Bells could have slept in this morning and this upset me. I hate to wake her up when she is in a deep sleep. That might have bothered me more than having my plans upset.
We went to the library, one of Bells favorite places, and then to weigh in but not stay for the meeting (another pound and a bit - just over 21 pounds!) and then we went to see great grandma. This was a good thing as she adores her little pigeon (pah-jink-ah in Slavish) and she is pretty fond of me, too. We all packed into my car and went to the outlets together. Isabella made out the best with sandals, a swim suit and a dress. I got two tops and a skirt - only $10 each! -and I got a lovely top for my daughter, too. Nothing for the wedding and no undergarments.
We had a bite to eat in the food court and went back to great grandma's where we waited for himself. He ate the gyro we brought back for him and then we drove up to where The Girl works so Bells could go swimming.
Are you tired yet? I am! Himself went home and I went to get some stuffed cupcakes and then home to cook. Ugh.
Since dinner, I have, basically, been sitting in my recliner fooling around on the netbook and "watching" mostly mindless tv.
Now, my perfectly planned day is another example of God's sense of humor. "Man plans and God laughs?" Had everything gone according to plan I still would have taken Isabella by her mom but then great grandma wouldn't have had her usual Friday visit. My mother-in-law adores Isabella. My girl brings great joy to her and this was a hard week because it would have been my father-in-law's birthday. I am so happy we were able to bring joy to Mom
As for tomorrow, I am afraid to make plans! Truthfully, all I want is to sleep as long as possible and stay in bed until I am good and ready to get up! If someone gets in the way of that they had better look out. If Mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy!
To my American friends, let's not forget the reason for Memorial Day even whilst we enjoy our bbq's and whatnot.
blessings, g
But nooooooo! As I pulled into the drop off area at school, I noticed I was the only one there. The district didn't use all its snow days so we have a four day Memorial Day weekend. No one told me! Isabella was confused but dealt with it. "Is school finished?" "For this week it is, honey."
After a week of congestion and coughing (allergies?), Bells could have slept in this morning and this upset me. I hate to wake her up when she is in a deep sleep. That might have bothered me more than having my plans upset.
We went to the library, one of Bells favorite places, and then to weigh in but not stay for the meeting (another pound and a bit - just over 21 pounds!) and then we went to see great grandma. This was a good thing as she adores her little pigeon (pah-jink-ah in Slavish) and she is pretty fond of me, too. We all packed into my car and went to the outlets together. Isabella made out the best with sandals, a swim suit and a dress. I got two tops and a skirt - only $10 each! -and I got a lovely top for my daughter, too. Nothing for the wedding and no undergarments.
We had a bite to eat in the food court and went back to great grandma's where we waited for himself. He ate the gyro we brought back for him and then we drove up to where The Girl works so Bells could go swimming.
Are you tired yet? I am! Himself went home and I went to get some stuffed cupcakes and then home to cook. Ugh.
Since dinner, I have, basically, been sitting in my recliner fooling around on the netbook and "watching" mostly mindless tv.
Now, my perfectly planned day is another example of God's sense of humor. "Man plans and God laughs?" Had everything gone according to plan I still would have taken Isabella by her mom but then great grandma wouldn't have had her usual Friday visit. My mother-in-law adores Isabella. My girl brings great joy to her and this was a hard week because it would have been my father-in-law's birthday. I am so happy we were able to bring joy to Mom
As for tomorrow, I am afraid to make plans! Truthfully, all I want is to sleep as long as possible and stay in bed until I am good and ready to get up! If someone gets in the way of that they had better look out. If Mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy!
To my American friends, let's not forget the reason for Memorial Day even whilst we enjoy our bbq's and whatnot.
blessings, g
Monday, May 23, 2011
A Walk in the, uh, College Campus
Yesterday, we walked for Autism Speaks. The organization is not perfect but it a big help for families dealing with the autism spectrum.
As the team captain, the weeks leading up to the walk are stressful to me. I did nowhere near as much fundraising through sponsors as I did last year as I was paralyzed by what I saw as the immensity of it. It really isn't a big deal but, in my mind, it was of gargantuan proportions.
Last week, not only did my fms flare but my ibs decided to come along for the ride. Ugh. I am so thankful that I was able to nap and function well enough to do what I had to do.
Our team Isabella came out beautifully! The girl wanted pink but I put my foot down and we settled on orchid (pale purple). A couple of the guys were not thrilled but real men do wear purple!
How wonderful it was to have both our side of the family, Isabella's dad's side of the family and dear friends join us in support of our girl! Even my mother-in-love, who has issues with her legs, joined us in a wheelchair for the second year in a row! It was wonderful to push her along the 1.6 mile route.
After the walk, most of us broke bread at a local eatery and continued our fellowship and good time. Our girl, Bells, did so very well. We couldn't be prouder.
Will we walk again next year? As long as children are newly diagnosed, we have the strength and we are able, yes. Will I get all worked up? Probably. Let's just hope I start earlier and get more productive with corporate sponsorship!
blessings to all, g
As the team captain, the weeks leading up to the walk are stressful to me. I did nowhere near as much fundraising through sponsors as I did last year as I was paralyzed by what I saw as the immensity of it. It really isn't a big deal but, in my mind, it was of gargantuan proportions.
Last week, not only did my fms flare but my ibs decided to come along for the ride. Ugh. I am so thankful that I was able to nap and function well enough to do what I had to do.
Our team Isabella came out beautifully! The girl wanted pink but I put my foot down and we settled on orchid (pale purple). A couple of the guys were not thrilled but real men do wear purple!
How wonderful it was to have both our side of the family, Isabella's dad's side of the family and dear friends join us in support of our girl! Even my mother-in-love, who has issues with her legs, joined us in a wheelchair for the second year in a row! It was wonderful to push her along the 1.6 mile route.
After the walk, most of us broke bread at a local eatery and continued our fellowship and good time. Our girl, Bells, did so very well. We couldn't be prouder.
Will we walk again next year? As long as children are newly diagnosed, we have the strength and we are able, yes. Will I get all worked up? Probably. Let's just hope I start earlier and get more productive with corporate sponsorship!
blessings to all, g
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Mother's Day and Such
It is just after 10:30 PM this Mother's Day of 2011. It was a good day.
Himself and I grabbed a bite last night - although we had to leave because the place we chose was so crowded I got overwhelmed and we had to take the meal to go. It was better at home anyway!
After church, I started to prepare the meal I am going to serve my parents when they visit tomorrow. We so rarely get to see each other and I want to have something special for them. Sunday afternoons are usually for napping but we had to go to Himself's mom's house. It was so good to see everyone there.
Isabella, at age five, is the oldest of the great-grandchildren. Her cousin Giuliana is just thirteen months old and cousin Tyler is just four weeks old. My poor Bells was so upset at not being the center of attention. When I picked up Tyler, the look on my girl's face was like I had put a knife through her heart.
We sometimes expect to be able to reason with our girl as we would an NT (neuro-typical) child but often we can't. What is going on in her mind; her intelligent, wonderful, complex mind? How does she process what she sees and hears? Is she acting like a brat or like a hurt child unable to understand that our love for other children will never take away from our love for her?
There is a very loaded question in the autism community: if you could take away your child's autism, would you? Some say a resounding, "No!" as if you are insulting their child. Those who are on the spectrum and can answer for themselves often say no.
For the parents and families of people with autism who can not communicate or are afflicted with anxiety and frustration, there is often a resounding, "Yes!"
Would I take away Isabella's autism if I could? Get back to me in a few years when she is no longer an adorable five year old; when other kids can hurt her more than they can now; when she realizes she is "different." I'll let you know then.
For now, I will love her and hug her and joyfully swim in the wonder of her hugs and kisses and her requests to sit with me, sitting so closely I can't tell where she begins and I end. I will hope that she never stops calling me Booboo replacing this special name with the generic names grandmothers go by because Booboo makes me feel special. I will walk to raise money to help others on the spectrum. I will advocate and go to meetings at school and support my daughter as best I can on this journey.
I am not a saint. I am a tired, worn out mom and grandmother not always trying my best but doing what I can when I can. There are times when I just sit and play on my netbook or watch tv and knit. I give myself permission to be lazy whenever possible. Thankfully, my best is good enough for Bells. And that is what matters.
Himself and I grabbed a bite last night - although we had to leave because the place we chose was so crowded I got overwhelmed and we had to take the meal to go. It was better at home anyway!
After church, I started to prepare the meal I am going to serve my parents when they visit tomorrow. We so rarely get to see each other and I want to have something special for them. Sunday afternoons are usually for napping but we had to go to Himself's mom's house. It was so good to see everyone there.
Isabella, at age five, is the oldest of the great-grandchildren. Her cousin Giuliana is just thirteen months old and cousin Tyler is just four weeks old. My poor Bells was so upset at not being the center of attention. When I picked up Tyler, the look on my girl's face was like I had put a knife through her heart.
We sometimes expect to be able to reason with our girl as we would an NT (neuro-typical) child but often we can't. What is going on in her mind; her intelligent, wonderful, complex mind? How does she process what she sees and hears? Is she acting like a brat or like a hurt child unable to understand that our love for other children will never take away from our love for her?
There is a very loaded question in the autism community: if you could take away your child's autism, would you? Some say a resounding, "No!" as if you are insulting their child. Those who are on the spectrum and can answer for themselves often say no.
For the parents and families of people with autism who can not communicate or are afflicted with anxiety and frustration, there is often a resounding, "Yes!"
Would I take away Isabella's autism if I could? Get back to me in a few years when she is no longer an adorable five year old; when other kids can hurt her more than they can now; when she realizes she is "different." I'll let you know then.
For now, I will love her and hug her and joyfully swim in the wonder of her hugs and kisses and her requests to sit with me, sitting so closely I can't tell where she begins and I end. I will hope that she never stops calling me Booboo replacing this special name with the generic names grandmothers go by because Booboo makes me feel special. I will walk to raise money to help others on the spectrum. I will advocate and go to meetings at school and support my daughter as best I can on this journey.
I am not a saint. I am a tired, worn out mom and grandmother not always trying my best but doing what I can when I can. There are times when I just sit and play on my netbook or watch tv and knit. I give myself permission to be lazy whenever possible. Thankfully, my best is good enough for Bells. And that is what matters.
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