tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35955817173653615622024-02-07T20:55:18.092-08:00Exceptionally ChallengingSpeeding through life with an Asperger's ChildUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-11033091361495091182015-12-21T13:16:00.002-08:002015-12-22T06:13:16.838-08:00Clouds of Sadness...As per usual, I haven't blogged in forever. Truth is the last 4-5 months have been crazy. My father was diagnosed with lung cancer in the summer and we decided on the best possible treatment - surgery, which he had mid September. <br />
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He survived the surgery and the next evening went in to respiratory distress. He spent the next 3 months in hospital, suffering a stroke, undergoing many tests, a myriad of one step forward, two steps back. He stopped breathing on Dec. 3 and we were immediately called to the hospital. He was gone when we got there.<br />
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It has been a very difficult time, one I knew I'd have to face someday just not quite now and not like this. In the midst of the sadness though, I am thankful to have had the final months with him, spending time, trying not to take it for granted, saying the things I wanted to say. <br />
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But did I say everything? Even then did I think I still had more time? Every time he'd fall, he'd always fight his way back. I am broken. I was a daddy's girl and now my daddy is gone. He was the best man I have ever known - no offence to my husband, not that he'd take any. <br />
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So that's me. Losing my job in February ended up being a blessing in disguise. We were able to accidentally stumble upon his illness, I was able to spend time at home and then in the hospital with him. For the first two months I was there everyday. In November I got my dream job - working for an organization I had wanted to work for the last 8 years and as an events person. It's also a 10-minute drive from my home. So even when I was working I was close by.<br />
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As the holidays creep ever closely, I feel his absence even stronger. BUT, I also feel the tremendous closeness of the family that's left behind and for that daddy, I am thankful.<br />
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Miss you always,<br />
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your PuppidaUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-68578591024438954692015-04-12T12:57:00.003-07:002015-04-12T12:58:27.992-07:00Hiatus...So, it's been a while since I've posted. I used to post almost daily for a while. I was in a groove. I would post on my lunch hours. And then I lost my job. And suddenly this wasn't part of the daily routine and became less and less of a priority.<br />
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I considered logging back in many times and when things would happen I would think briefly, "oh, here's an excellent update/topic for the blog!" But the time ticked by and ultimately it was time for me to get my house in order.<br />
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Of course, I don't mean literally my home, although we have purged and reorganized and planned some things for that too! It was time to take control again, get back into a healthy mindset. I started running again, went back to the gym, changed the way I ate and more importantly, the way I looked at food. Now it was for nourishment and fuel - NOT to pass the time, ease the pain, fill the void.<br />
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I've lost about 10 pounds and am healthier and soooo much happier! The journey continues to be the best me ever. For those interested you can follow that journey here <a href="https://instagram.com/lo_fi_13/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.<br />
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As for the little guy - so much has happened in a short time I could have gone on about. He grows taller every day, school is going well and we've been accepted into the Grandview Children's Sensory Integration program. We had our first session last week which I can into in my next installment.<br />
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But for now, to make these entries part of the new routine. ; )<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-50443081287018697172015-01-29T07:11:00.001-08:002015-01-29T07:11:11.470-08:00Throwback to the beginning...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the spirit of Throwback Thursday I thought I'd simply post some pictures of the beginning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I grew up with music playing in my home, usually some Italian Tarantella's, a little Adriano Celentano, but my mom also had records and 8-tracks of Paul Anka and Elvis Presley (Google all that kids!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My dad whistles...a lot. He also played the clarinet as a youngster. My brother also loved music - usually the hard, rock variety. And me, well I used to hold up a tape recorder (look that one up to) to the radio to record my favourite songs. I also played several instruments and just love the way music makes me feel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As an infant we would play music for the little guy. Those nights when nothing would soothe him, daddy would take him in his arms and sway back and forth in the dimly lit computer room with James Brown grunting in the background.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not surprise that our son is a music fanatic. He's grown up listening to some very odd fare in his dad's car and some more modern hits in mine. We recently put my old stereo in his room and it's not rare to hear the tunes blaring from his room or even catching him in the act:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2g49cT44FEUSO3j3_5xmvo6Zyr3f2lHKd1Rx3lmW5i8RhmbDPlFVhauY7BOBSjX_A-bAKjFzRErPle95ixNmShOG3jxCXI3SjAYJAmhks3FvaO3B6aGUzJd9KiIbfqslUP80FIulv7o/s1600/music-thinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2g49cT44FEUSO3j3_5xmvo6Zyr3f2lHKd1Rx3lmW5i8RhmbDPlFVhauY7BOBSjX_A-bAKjFzRErPle95ixNmShOG3jxCXI3SjAYJAmhks3FvaO3B6aGUzJd9KiIbfqslUP80FIulv7o/s1600/music-thinking.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An interesting article came across my desk yesterday about how music therapy can alter the brain and how that affects people on the spectrum or with ADHD (as well as brain injuries). There's so little we know about the infinite powers of the human brain, it's incredible to see its adaptability, or neuroplasticity.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/learning-to-tame-a-noisy-brain-or-how-you-can-us%20e-the-power-of-neuroplasticity/article22608412/" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s; color: #00b2b4; display: inline; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; outline: none; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s;" target="_blank">Can music heal the brain?</a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-91634679345521495872015-01-23T07:54:00.002-08:002015-01-23T07:55:05.911-08:00"He's exactly the way he's supposed to be..."<div class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend posted a link to this blog post on Facebook yesterday. Again I was blown away by this woman, who I don't know, I've never met, has a different family than I do (she has 5 kids - yikes!) could somehow echo what I was thinking and feeling. She was saying the words I say, going through the situations I go through. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've always said that no one really knows what it's like and for the most part it's true. I mean, although we have autistic children, even Carrie Cariello and I <span id="goog_1808855797"></span><span id="goog_1808855798"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a>live completely different lives. And yet, there are people out there who do know, who have snippets of moments, emotions that I do. And although I wouldn't wish a disorder on anyone, it is comforting to know I'm not the only one, to share the same tears, and even the child's name -I know I haven't listed my son's name (that was for particular anonymity from a person in our past) but it seems every story I read, old friends I meet back up with who have a similar diagnosis, the children are all named Jack. But I digress.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a read if you're so inclined, I'll bet you can't make it through without a little twitch in your eyes!</span><br />
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<a href="http://carriecariello.com/2015/01/19/i-know-what-causes-autism" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I Know What Causes Autism</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I was in a coffee shop last week and a woman came up and introduced herself to me. She said her daughter, Lily, is in Jack’s fifth grade class. I nodded and smiled, took my cup of coffee—ok, ok, and my cupcake—from the counter and turned to leave.</b></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>“Wait,” she touched my arm. “I just wanted to tell you something. Lily told me that a boy called Jack weird the other day in class.</b></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>I cringed. “Oh, well, yes. That happens.”</b></i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>“Lily said she told the boy that Jack isn’t weird. She told him he’s exactly the way he’s supposed to be.”</b></i></span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydmyoRfP-v3z1ZcRgHzZnHBnKk1yR-W8SataGZLmKXLaGhFv0_8hl7fx52RSrN85z08Kdbut84lfQm9B81DiaCys4umWD3C_6NUyWsbb-yH1NyHzIdTdlxhP-RDcuUkBwRa3M5DVcm6A/s1600/1909702_33876215576_9740_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydmyoRfP-v3z1ZcRgHzZnHBnKk1yR-W8SataGZLmKXLaGhFv0_8hl7fx52RSrN85z08Kdbut84lfQm9B81DiaCys4umWD3C_6NUyWsbb-yH1NyHzIdTdlxhP-RDcuUkBwRa3M5DVcm6A/s1600/1909702_33876215576_9740_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Our Baby Jack</b></span></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-31049612083534641392015-01-22T07:57:00.000-08:002015-01-22T07:57:19.525-08:00I forgot Wordless Wednesday...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a bad day at work yesterday and completely forgot to post for Wordless Wednesday. When I came home feeling completely drained, this filled the love bank back up!</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-3693302255807963702015-01-20T10:52:00.001-08:002015-01-20T10:52:41.521-08:00An artist emerges...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've shared various artwork my little guy has created over time. I think he's an incredible artist and mainly because I have no artistic talent when it comes to drawing. It was never taught but he comes to it quite naturally. My husband had a natural talent as well that he regrets not training , and hubby's grandmother was an artist as well. So I think it's definitely inherited!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some recent creations that he doodled in his agenda...I'm sure if I asked him to recreate them for me he couldn't - too much pressure! lol He's going to be starting art lessons with a friend shortly and I can't wait to see how he progresses!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtJVSCGBOFr-GVfW0-XbcBGttXOJJ93iAIsIU8hs7dp0uHv9Bao34TEsIolnx7vdbzcWIWiojL9AJrKfxGbmRLK_kiSNWdMBs7uc04fy9WQqeq_9t3c3DYJGFV9qyluGm3CfYaEWw7fM/s1600/20150115_182319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtJVSCGBOFr-GVfW0-XbcBGttXOJJ93iAIsIU8hs7dp0uHv9Bao34TEsIolnx7vdbzcWIWiojL9AJrKfxGbmRLK_kiSNWdMBs7uc04fy9WQqeq_9t3c3DYJGFV9qyluGm3CfYaEWw7fM/s1600/20150115_182319.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUDQyHZ643zOjlr6fooC-td94375vJdibTSKhahCMq9dQ4M6VcPvEM6OJYLJhqVva97qUXn53r1vNSxTHY4UT5v4CXSXZx4YroCLxZOx7WRbUAvIV9a_vEScQ1lyYZueReuO5dx9TCww/s1600/20150115_182323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUDQyHZ643zOjlr6fooC-td94375vJdibTSKhahCMq9dQ4M6VcPvEM6OJYLJhqVva97qUXn53r1vNSxTHY4UT5v4CXSXZx4YroCLxZOx7WRbUAvIV9a_vEScQ1lyYZueReuO5dx9TCww/s1600/20150115_182323.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>I just LOVE the </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: red;">And look at the detail of the leg bones</span>.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now if you ask him to write a story, he isn't as strong. His teacher shared one of his first 'creative writing' assignments in his journal:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXX4v0xVpNWQyvxUCzYhsoTwIcH4yQLhPDrFOATSZB6R3HApNt4n6HIdklfJQ0I1315EzuNc9gZHHYvUwGOBdYtvfRDIEaR8Z01Oc366QpItfjU2DMgmQoh3sclXOdyE99kbSLcXkXcg/s1600/20150119_194323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXX4v0xVpNWQyvxUCzYhsoTwIcH4yQLhPDrFOATSZB6R3HApNt4n6HIdklfJQ0I1315EzuNc9gZHHYvUwGOBdYtvfRDIEaR8Z01Oc366QpItfjU2DMgmQoh3sclXOdyE99kbSLcXkXcg/s1600/20150119_194323.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"<b><u>How my dog died.</u></b></span></blockquote>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had a puppy. He was small and cute and he gru up and</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on and on and on and on until he was so big he died." </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll admit it made me laugh. Points for spelling here - he was 6 at the time and first days of Grade 1. But if you go through the book you'll see pages of illustrations, most with just one sentence like "<b>I like dinosaurs</b>" or "<b>I wish Minecraft was real.</b>" His teacher told us she can't grade his writing in these instances so we talked about it with him and he writes more often now with a beginning, middle and end. His trouble though? He spends so much time on the illustrations he has NO time to write the story! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here they are last year:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FNBAKaWhPOxPUopgoAwfhyzMcgRTjxwoaCxASzva1Z9bZn07sHCR2lw8SfnyrH_jDNhCA38kmOkUByWt4kVsAYceifxbkzwp5cmSjDYHewSoklXbQdGmUvupSvNcWbIHPOxqd6rTR8I/s1600/1546155_10153661216170577_354669694_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FNBAKaWhPOxPUopgoAwfhyzMcgRTjxwoaCxASzva1Z9bZn07sHCR2lw8SfnyrH_jDNhCA38kmOkUByWt4kVsAYceifxbkzwp5cmSjDYHewSoklXbQdGmUvupSvNcWbIHPOxqd6rTR8I/s1600/1546155_10153661216170577_354669694_n.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Strolling through the school yard</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's what he brought home yesterday from her:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPYIuu2sgcjVLFx6RVgMReVIbHPQihS6sqcPRUrixqywnwLeGGRLwffGvG7TpuA8UcE1hlfdXikpF8vbgI2f5Vbapv5qEtQiuIfQf72x6R4Jy1l95ofNITvF7P25_5S-5w3e6v2ht2qI/s1600/20150115_184252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPYIuu2sgcjVLFx6RVgMReVIbHPQihS6sqcPRUrixqywnwLeGGRLwffGvG7TpuA8UcE1hlfdXikpF8vbgI2f5Vbapv5qEtQiuIfQf72x6R4Jy1l95ofNITvF7P25_5S-5w3e6v2ht2qI/s1600/20150115_184252.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To: Jack From: Ro</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq9H0sFlzh-Ft9AJIU5T6xpcu34lzsZv6R9ne0tG0LtQC53CO_0xibx_d0xz3vF5ljNLEIeSNpGR4E6CgZcCsYNOM8XAMndlaZago3imdFV-Dw7gt_Z7jx1ljM1PHmuAcmb8CR2exLmo/s1600/20150115_184237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaq9H0sFlzh-Ft9AJIU5T6xpcu34lzsZv6R9ne0tG0LtQC53CO_0xibx_d0xz3vF5ljNLEIeSNpGR4E6CgZcCsYNOM8XAMndlaZago3imdFV-Dw7gt_Z7jx1ljM1PHmuAcmb8CR2exLmo/s1600/20150115_184237.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You Jack are my Valintime</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It's smaller than a credit card and made of small pieces of white paper glued together. Isn't it just the sweetest?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Who says ASD kids can't make personal connections or romantic ones? I have a 7 year old in Grade 1 who proves different.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-55708699183733673392015-01-14T09:52:00.000-08:002015-01-14T09:52:03.647-08:00Another Wordless Wednesday...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlsMWtR2Q6bkCX53EoQ9vO8xobSDWKNDdzToRSOyWwu4UfRIvbFrJznDTGh7iXO_z6DEnibQuy0kJidjFnO5PUVd_FORxUYU17AW18ASizFf8iz_qrF1nrZsntdL0mBN87i6_24dT760/s1600/wordlesswednesday.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDlsMWtR2Q6bkCX53EoQ9vO8xobSDWKNDdzToRSOyWwu4UfRIvbFrJznDTGh7iXO_z6DEnibQuy0kJidjFnO5PUVd_FORxUYU17AW18ASizFf8iz_qrF1nrZsntdL0mBN87i6_24dT760/s1600/wordlesswednesday.png" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQRylJMJtZd3pQiDFIRtFbz1Ih20wWNFZxm1Ap4S7BhNDeqm4wO6GbGUPkZXvn4T60l5zUrny96NYuMRHUc6HrsFIRZcShiGImcNQeHxjE7pp1BsrfJPYyOQPQntGPsxzC5awz0bxapw/s1600/20141231_153929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQRylJMJtZd3pQiDFIRtFbz1Ih20wWNFZxm1Ap4S7BhNDeqm4wO6GbGUPkZXvn4T60l5zUrny96NYuMRHUc6HrsFIRZcShiGImcNQeHxjE7pp1BsrfJPYyOQPQntGPsxzC5awz0bxapw/s1600/20141231_153929.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-81977232685313354572015-01-12T09:00:00.003-08:002015-01-12T09:01:18.908-08:00Meldowns = parenting fail?...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP2vyp6zg_SuRX5YHHWqytQAZEX-gLDTjLLesGx10Yl4Q-owMeFuoEIDZsfOaBNhgCAzUk7qJtyt2jt_BDXKeOmvWm_KjeOF8Ta_dTiAlvNzPLy3iEkSyEoA-q93fwUez9_KxaWV4chk/s1600/Birthday-Cake-Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVP2vyp6zg_SuRX5YHHWqytQAZEX-gLDTjLLesGx10Yl4Q-owMeFuoEIDZsfOaBNhgCAzUk7qJtyt2jt_BDXKeOmvWm_KjeOF8Ta_dTiAlvNzPLy3iEkSyEoA-q93fwUez9_KxaWV4chk/s1600/Birthday-Cake-Picture.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Birthday weekend was pretty great other than more of the non-ending uber hyper and high stimulation season! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">I will post some pics tomorrow when I remember my phone cable. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Yesterday it was just me and the boy as daddy had to work so we went out to exchange some gifts and decided to have lunch out. I don't know if it was hunger, or excitement of having just bought an $80 Lego set he really liked but he was pretty tightly wound.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">We sat at a wobbly table, which became unbearably wobbly every time my hyper kid inevitably hit it with his constant movement and adjustments. This meant my coffee cup was splashing all over the table. I obviously told him to stop moving which irritated him even more, lots of 'it's not my fault's and then it quickly escalated to raised voice, stiffening of the body, anger and frustration. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">A senior woman at the table next to us looked over at him, I looked over at her and proceeded to tell the boy that we now had an audience. She quickly looked away when she realized what I'd said. And so it continues, the stares, the judgement. Admittedly I have no idea what was said at her table as she turned to her company and kept looking back at him but I don't think it was anywhere in the realm of 'oh what a lovely little boy, how well behaved', etc.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvDfo11RGkdXURGiX6DM_SKEh3FQw_mx5XOHs6UFXK_7qUep6a7MMGGWsdm5woxJKhe4SISTf1pd4-UJ1M1MHjSPiSYfIJzoNdcIPFJw9Si9o5rWh1zq_Q-1qEeGUs_LFbbGVcRtlJbw/s1600/b2b439f1a714aad512d3543e01fe65c0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvDfo11RGkdXURGiX6DM_SKEh3FQw_mx5XOHs6UFXK_7qUep6a7MMGGWsdm5woxJKhe4SISTf1pd4-UJ1M1MHjSPiSYfIJzoNdcIPFJw9Si9o5rWh1zq_Q-1qEeGUs_LFbbGVcRtlJbw/s1600/b2b439f1a714aad512d3543e01fe65c0.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">I will admit I go on the defensive most times and had I heard what she actually said, and had it been about how spoiled or rotten my kid was, I can guarantee I would have said something. Probably not as clever or witty as it should be but I would have made it audible.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Why is it that people equate a child's behaviour with parenting? Do people really think the majority of parents are out to create little heathens? I'll admit pre-kids and especially pre-special needs kid, I might have thought the same thing. The problem is most of the stares come from older parents.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">I came across this blog post I saw on <a href="http://autismblogsdirectory.blogspot.ca/2014/12/who-died-and-made-you-dr-spock-guest.html" target="_blank">Autism Blog Directory</a> that really resonated and was well written.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: large;">Who Died and Made You Dr. Spock? </span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif;">A guest post from Dawn Marcotte</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: x-small;"> <a href="http://www.awenestyofautism.com/" target="_blank">http://www.awenestyofautism.com/</a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">I think that most parents love their children and we want to do the right things for them. </span><span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">We want to teach them to be patient, kind, generous, strong, self- reliant, smart, honest etc. </span><span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">If we assume that all parents want their kids to grow up to be good people, why do we assume that when a child is misbehaving it is the parents fault. That somehow the parent has missed a vital step in raising that child and they need to learn to 'parent' better. Like they forgot to feed them or tell them that screaming in the middle of a store is not acceptable behavior.</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVes6fANemX_m9JbaLGg8TZwXVhFd1_PSoXXO0aB9s1E1wGQByQQ6sAdo9NWrGR6qEk7YHerq-OWgDi3MgJdoSqerOh0T64zNdrADPLgblTy2YtDbEh0cvwS5uX7K2l5hJMwl2-Zte3o/s1600/297d20a8cca9c6036b440765110232eb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiVes6fANemX_m9JbaLGg8TZwXVhFd1_PSoXXO0aB9s1E1wGQByQQ6sAdo9NWrGR6qEk7YHerq-OWgDi3MgJdoSqerOh0T64zNdrADPLgblTy2YtDbEh0cvwS5uX7K2l5hJMwl2-Zte3o/s1600/297d20a8cca9c6036b440765110232eb.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Part of me wants to set the record straight, tell them it's an anxiety/ASD/ADHD related issue and not just a spoiled rotten, do as he pleases child. But then part of me wonders why I should even have to explain myself. Like do they think I enjoy the spectacle? Do they not see the irritation, frustration and fatigue on my face, the subtle guttural voice that ensues trying to get the child to comply and not completely embarrass us or get us kicked out? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fafdfe; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">Thanks to the lovely waitress who saw the signs early and heard the boy say he was really hungry and promptly rushed out his order before mine. At least someone seems to understand - that or she wanted us out of there before we bothered other patrons. Part of me believes it was the former.</span><br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-28802458849478078262015-01-05T07:12:00.000-08:002015-01-16T08:50:52.644-08:00Back to Life, Back to Reality...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...back to the same old routine. Ahhhh, how I've missed you routine! Not for me, but for my child.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The holidays were a whole lotta this...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI-XMK5Ch0JlqKOgi7lidR044wN_rNjTgeX8o-xwShGEQ73fQS8jZayXQQpqMa7wu-7NAemsduVzMdtKcyDHLKZYGMullIdPE6qKw_zS4RFXxyuEJnjpn-ipMY9O6v70PwYCls5cTGxY/s1600/temper-tantrum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRI-XMK5Ch0JlqKOgi7lidR044wN_rNjTgeX8o-xwShGEQ73fQS8jZayXQQpqMa7wu-7NAemsduVzMdtKcyDHLKZYGMullIdPE6qKw_zS4RFXxyuEJnjpn-ipMY9O6v70PwYCls5cTGxY/s1600/temper-tantrum.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No school, no routine, crazy holidays, anxiety, anticipation, gatherings, presents, late bedtimes, special meals, early wake ups, boredom (read: wanting to play video games non-stop)...today it all goes back to this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC5wVM5wetwmKZ-zvZRFpaXBXwNqMCyA2pDGzd_jFG_YGkdOUpqVNGkGqOR8ubPTzCqkYi9F0SnKfTYE0Pr5jlLJa7v4ryckoSLHCrO4LbGfv5nDhTPn5OJSL3H2bQug08265ZOxhGfg/s1600/backtoschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoC5wVM5wetwmKZ-zvZRFpaXBXwNqMCyA2pDGzd_jFG_YGkdOUpqVNGkGqOR8ubPTzCqkYi9F0SnKfTYE0Pr5jlLJa7v4ryckoSLHCrO4LbGfv5nDhTPn5OJSL3H2bQug08265ZOxhGfg/s1600/backtoschool.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never have I been so happy to welcome back a regular Monday. This holiday totally amped up my Aspie and he had a tough time navigating it. Routines are key for him as they are for most of us. He got completely overwhelmed by the craziness of it all and for him that means a big hot mess. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now to navigate Great Wolf Lodge on Thursday...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8k93VfAifa6EfSqFBjpc8kOZpxfPh9zltOphwtg47M7psYJJWjO4bYfrIhKSg5gCFPrikKXxECLbZxZLPW8mmRZf5uxciqyzkkXaSdBwtJ7Gt2xMA3ZV2cfZ7UPCpgGlWxTkH_BdbQM/s1600/tangerine_shhh_surprise_birthday_party_invitation-r5b0559247c6946d5a9f7122a8380bbc5_zk9nn_512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH8k93VfAifa6EfSqFBjpc8kOZpxfPh9zltOphwtg47M7psYJJWjO4bYfrIhKSg5gCFPrikKXxECLbZxZLPW8mmRZf5uxciqyzkkXaSdBwtJ7Gt2xMA3ZV2cfZ7UPCpgGlWxTkH_BdbQM/s1600/tangerine_shhh_surprise_birthday_party_invitation-r5b0559247c6946d5a9f7122a8380bbc5_zk9nn_512.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and his birthday party on Saturday. Ugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How were your holidays?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-38621696374086056852014-12-30T06:41:00.001-08:002015-01-16T08:51:04.522-08:00ASD on television...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I first tried to explain what Autism was to my son and that he had it, I had little in the way of resources. Without being an expert myself I didn't want to explain it incorrectly or give him the wrong idea about what it was all about. In fact it got me into a little trouble when he was using it as an excuse for a meltdown in class "I'm very smart, I have Autism, I should know the answer!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I first broached the subject, this was the book I used that I had gotten from our psychologist -</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkAsyE41OGHwucd8g0TeN12-Nj9zuYjPaPQybrPuABrpf32WBzDe5AHltwnWOBnjDcQ0X5N6f2TAqN28DqVR1PAz-Fppu2epsIrHP_6P9G7a0D_aHS-sorpeqaIi_PnxRgX1F0UVfZdw/s1600/51vpGpSralL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkAsyE41OGHwucd8g0TeN12-Nj9zuYjPaPQybrPuABrpf32WBzDe5AHltwnWOBnjDcQ0X5N6f2TAqN28DqVR1PAz-Fppu2epsIrHP_6P9G7a0D_aHS-sorpeqaIi_PnxRgX1F0UVfZdw/s1600/51vpGpSralL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was good for a very basic understanding, but for an older child who is more advanced, it was a little too basic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Autism depicted in movies and/or TV can be exaggerated or misunderstood/misrepresented -</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD10mjMpgxy_PCHSNSi-CKSKDr5fUddYXI-amYvzLhs_MiZKEU88pvssC3Sgbgt96BKU8iu-v03aDPDZIcJcwqH5k3zOCTlRNfxh9YREgyH2LLuybEQ3qto6OfFJsdWwSnlXsq9R4-Jg/s1600/78631a4bb5303be54fa1cfdcb958c00a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD10mjMpgxy_PCHSNSi-CKSKDr5fUddYXI-amYvzLhs_MiZKEU88pvssC3Sgbgt96BKU8iu-v03aDPDZIcJcwqH5k3zOCTlRNfxh9YREgyH2LLuybEQ3qto6OfFJsdWwSnlXsq9R4-Jg/s1600/78631a4bb5303be54fa1cfdcb958c00a.jpg" height="320" width="219" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirENJk2t0xbyi5-u-DHJBtfuQ_9fQcL82Y0SoZyY37_EQWNqabrE1iO2u_0wssLsyovPGhz2UqOvkDgzcUYbevM_0H2QcNQolxd1TytMl1leUHQATPqZ8jwwDiM0WD_AU1rKVMl5Fks5A/s1600/Sheldon-the-big-bang-theory-34238748-400-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirENJk2t0xbyi5-u-DHJBtfuQ_9fQcL82Y0SoZyY37_EQWNqabrE1iO2u_0wssLsyovPGhz2UqOvkDgzcUYbevM_0H2QcNQolxd1TytMl1leUHQATPqZ8jwwDiM0WD_AU1rKVMl5Fks5A/s1600/Sheldon-the-big-bang-theory-34238748-400-600.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These wouldn't be a good example for children to follow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning on my Facebook feed I came across this - an Arthur episode that deals with Asperger's. I watched a clip and it's actually pretty good at showing both sides. It's good at explaining to others what those with Asperger's feel/experience, and good at showing those with Asperger's how others see them. Here's the whole 12min. episode.</span><br />
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<a href="http://blog.theautismsite.com/animated-autism-arthur/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Theautismsite.com</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think we're going to watch this later tonight!</span></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-39335118955216654512014-12-29T07:39:00.003-08:002015-01-16T08:51:14.764-08:00Autism and the visual thinker...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So my little guy is excellent with words, has an incredible vocabulary, knew all upper and lower case letters before the age of two, and so on and so on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And yet we're encountering something I think will be an issue. The little dude loves to read, so much that he gets lost on the page because he's busy looking at the accompanying pictures. What's the problem you ask? At his age and advanced reading level he could be reading chapter books. He <b>should</b> be reading chapter books. Picture books just aren't going to help his reading progress - at some point he'll have to move on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BUT...he doesn't want to. I purchased some short Big Hero 6 novellas and although he knows and loves the story, he doesn't want me reading them because he wants to be able to 'visualize' what's happening. Whenever I try to read a book (ie. Judy Bloom's Fudge series), there's a myriad of constant questions - who said that? who did that? He isn't questioning what is occurring - but rather who it is occurring to, whom is speaking, etc. And he even knows the story and yet is perplexed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He's always been like this so it should be of no surprise but I'm at a loss at to what to do?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqERQT1wYIHjCExcAz0DmoGNrqnXues9XSslbcwAMMAgqkmfgmm3FkJeKTKRmZ2Ktm0NZsxjflOHqWMBMPKMAjd-Ed6JYBL3R-51IpqvF3CeGy9adBxAeRsz9-AnFHZFTGYL2VICZCQNI/s1600/BahOP0_CIAEsBPu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqERQT1wYIHjCExcAz0DmoGNrqnXues9XSslbcwAMMAgqkmfgmm3FkJeKTKRmZ2Ktm0NZsxjflOHqWMBMPKMAjd-Ed6JYBL3R-51IpqvF3CeGy9adBxAeRsz9-AnFHZFTGYL2VICZCQNI/s1600/BahOP0_CIAEsBPu.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This describes my little guy to a T. So, are there options for us?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-89093776587455621142014-12-22T06:13:00.001-08:002015-01-16T08:51:24.873-08:00Tantrums vs. Meltdowns...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">People always talk about the terrible twos and the beginning of tantrums. In this family this started shortly after age one and has yet to stop. But I will admit that we rarely called it a tantrum. For some reason it just didn't seem to illustrate what was happening so we called them meltdowns.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Merriam-Webster:</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 22px;">melt·down</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial;"><input class="au" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: url(http://www.merriam-webster.com/styles/default/images/reference/audio-pron-hw.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-size: 13px; height: 17px; margin: 0px 10px 4px 4px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 18px;" title="Listen to the pronunciation of meltdown" type="button" /></span><span style="background-color: #e8ecf5; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="main-fl" style="font-size: 13px;"><em style="font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold;">noun</em></span><span style="background-color: #e8ecf5; font-size: 13px;"> </span><span class="pr" style="display: inline; font-size: 12px; margin-left: 10px;">\<span class="unicode" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'lucida sans unicode'; font-size: 0.9em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ˈ</span>melt-<span class="unicode" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'lucida sans unicode'; font-size: 0.9em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">ˌ</span>da<span class="unicode" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: 'lucida sans unicode'; font-size: 0.9em; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">u̇</span>n\</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">: </span><span style="font-size: x-small;">an accident in which the core of a nuclear reactor melts and releases radiation<br />: a very fast collapse or failure<br />: a very fast loss of emotional self-control</span></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ClvnCyP3DLU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<a href="http://blog.theautismsite.com/meltdowns-tantrums-difference/?utm_source=faceaff&utm_medium=ag&utm_term=20141212&utm_campaign=meldownstantrumsdifference#7AAezc57v8G0UJzG.01" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Autism Site</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can honestly say I don't think the majority of my kid's reactions are tantrums. He may start off having a fit because of something he wants, something he doesn't like, etc. but it quickly transforms into an anxiety induced, tension filled, emotional meltdown. The kid just can't handle the anger and upset that rages through his body. It becomes overwhelming and quickly tips him over into the red zone.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyone else?</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-9809058004268078092014-12-18T06:16:00.001-08:002015-01-16T08:51:41.495-08:00Thoughts on Empathy...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've touched on this subject several times now but even I have been shocked into wondering why I never made this correlation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This blog post <a href="https://seventhvoice.wordpress.com/2013/11/16/new-study-finds-that-individuals-with-aspergers-syndrome-dont-lack-empathy-in-fact-if-anything-they-empathize-too-much/" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Lack of Empathy - Seventhvoice Blog</a> from 2013 showed up on my Facebook newsfeed and to say it opened my eyes on an ASD perspective is an understatement.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWfjhSGZ_m8DCSHm8aAOP_2076oBagJdKNwEXo-NIfobjrCJPJSyAwx_F6XRL-32MHPrPn7p8pwygmiz46fkQGWOGQdVEp8ZMw47fOwBTQvAAmYp-cNv4HNRqaHwNOcYBpnsn1ViBmT8/s1600/935993_608980619148219_148305698_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHWfjhSGZ_m8DCSHm8aAOP_2076oBagJdKNwEXo-NIfobjrCJPJSyAwx_F6XRL-32MHPrPn7p8pwygmiz46fkQGWOGQdVEp8ZMw47fOwBTQvAAmYp-cNv4HNRqaHwNOcYBpnsn1ViBmT8/s1600/935993_608980619148219_148305698_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: 16px;">"...the fundamental problem in autism-spectrum disorders is not a social deficiency but, rather, a hypersensitivity to experience, which includes an overwhelming fear response...</span><span style="font-size: 16px;">social difficulties of those with autism spectrum disorders stem from trying to cope with a world where someone has turned the volume on all the senses and feelings up past 10."</span></i></span></b></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've said the very words that my son either lacks empathy or has trouble with it. And I've also said that he's an emotional barometer and can sense what others are feeling and is affected by it. Hello? Aren't those opposites? Why yes, yes they are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why didn't I think of the fact that he is taking in feelings of others, but like everything else, it's too intense for him to process properly, too much for him to experience and deal with. It explains perfectly his reaction to the movies E.T. and Big Hero 6, his desire to stop watching E.T. when he thought E.T. was going to die and why he had such an overwhelming sobfest when Baymax did die (sorry for the spoiler!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel so dumb to have followed textbook ASD characteristics so blindly when I know my own child. There's still so much we don't know about this disorder, about the spectrum and though I have a child of my own who experiences it, I am also learning something new everyday.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-68179482066615546552014-12-17T06:01:00.002-08:002014-12-17T06:02:10.060-08:00Wordless Wednesday...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6b6R516xvJTmcVFJnX0-EYsVFHRWKY3jpJC2UmnFNfF1lDWHK4XJXORkkKREQXcqcYFSsTr-4od0r2ozRQhESnXZctFgwCN90qJqRgLwX_jb-QS4aAtO5CHocXqg_UwOhnlgIrGLc3z4/s1600/20141214_102149(0).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6b6R516xvJTmcVFJnX0-EYsVFHRWKY3jpJC2UmnFNfF1lDWHK4XJXORkkKREQXcqcYFSsTr-4od0r2ozRQhESnXZctFgwCN90qJqRgLwX_jb-QS4aAtO5CHocXqg_UwOhnlgIrGLc3z4/s1600/20141214_102149(0).jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-33755002001532737082014-12-16T06:11:00.000-08:002015-01-16T08:52:08.882-08:00It's becoming a habit...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYuv2lnU-zipHCfONHASnnUAO6LeDlRz_LkLHB6T8YL5hiUXXHJD-9Ng7ERnw3aEwQvOPY-qnlsDmbtv71C-VPt-r6Z7cAyHslvJLZiPhFrJZCNy2YY02P6Xhd1uoXKHVMjyrhuwqRds/s1600/principals_office.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYuv2lnU-zipHCfONHASnnUAO6LeDlRz_LkLHB6T8YL5hiUXXHJD-9Ng7ERnw3aEwQvOPY-qnlsDmbtv71C-VPt-r6Z7cAyHslvJLZiPhFrJZCNy2YY02P6Xhd1uoXKHVMjyrhuwqRds/s1600/principals_office.png" height="282" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep, he was sent to the principal's office...again. Oy. What was the crime this time? Kicking around a ball of snow at recess. Was he kicking it at someone? Nope. Was he hurting anybody? Nope. But he didn't listen to the teacher on yard duty despite being asked several times so that equals a trip to the principal's office.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing is, at this rate, going there is going to become a joke. He hasn't even spoken to the principal in these instances. He's already become indifferent to the process, instead finding it a success that he doesn't get emotional and cry about it. Sigh.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ41WpFViyTPfpe2iP-ryNMtmsLvVyYxPHRqT59QJ89pOGPTx6VUAKajwS7SjX0X6kOdjKdcp1qP_bOMTmPL_5WYiDSCgCepFroijKk-R0X2OJX-hMalkKklHhT7qo0sG4fkgeo_wc2A0/s1600/i_know_go_to_the_principals_office.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ41WpFViyTPfpe2iP-ryNMtmsLvVyYxPHRqT59QJ89pOGPTx6VUAKajwS7SjX0X6kOdjKdcp1qP_bOMTmPL_5WYiDSCgCepFroijKk-R0X2OJX-hMalkKklHhT7qo0sG4fkgeo_wc2A0/s1600/i_know_go_to_the_principals_office.jpg" height="311" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, an email has been sent to the teacher and program support to see if they can clarify what necessitates this type of punishment as I don't believe these benign acts are it. We need to hash out some consequences/learnings to avoid the behaviour. And then save the principal's office for really big stuff that will actually frighten him into being sent there.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVB8FZCA1GEZD6kxgr4ecgJQfd8j3Up2yKc0gzSRSxNoRBSeX2psmJMZnfaVg23TYCuNIfljywC5T2wcGOlTSTg_tN9PZZpJhmVWokoZGAwlmsg1x7x6nUQBVwJMKKvlBbhXBFeiu3F4/s1600/children-principal-principal_s_office-headteachers-headmasters-headmistresses-cwln4847_low.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVB8FZCA1GEZD6kxgr4ecgJQfd8j3Up2yKc0gzSRSxNoRBSeX2psmJMZnfaVg23TYCuNIfljywC5T2wcGOlTSTg_tN9PZZpJhmVWokoZGAwlmsg1x7x6nUQBVwJMKKvlBbhXBFeiu3F4/s1600/children-principal-principal_s_office-headteachers-headmasters-headmistresses-cwln4847_low.jpg" height="320" width="314" /></span></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-72557972665633984752014-12-10T06:36:00.000-08:002015-01-16T08:52:19.560-08:00Honesty...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few of the characteristics of ASD are honesty, bluntness, and being literal. So I love that the little guy's Santa Letter is just that.</span><br />
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<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/evilmena/11a0ed7b-b3fa-48e7-b2cc-e9c554731fe7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v473/evilmena/11a0ed7b-b3fa-48e7-b2cc-e9c554731fe7.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrj3z0HKGqQ1f89cAt5NkXJXvNRWFiViKS9Gz3Yr3R-SYnY4uxodmvW9DKtxhU_mG2-N_JnYsOKmRk1rJcYxW30_IJ9JDlYS3Vhi-EWMVZiy4As7Xa04GD1mlQ4i0jM0gjrrPUwA2Noc/s1600/20141209_083302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtrj3z0HKGqQ1f89cAt5NkXJXvNRWFiViKS9Gz3Yr3R-SYnY4uxodmvW9DKtxhU_mG2-N_JnYsOKmRk1rJcYxW30_IJ9JDlYS3Vhi-EWMVZiy4As7Xa04GD1mlQ4i0jM0gjrrPUwA2Noc/s1600/20141209_083302.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His wants are a little lofty but I will admit ipad has been on the list for a couple of years at least. When I told him it might be too expensive for Santa to make he lessened the ask as he wanted to be sure he would still get something (letter not pictured here).</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-32469802999751266462014-12-08T06:29:00.000-08:002015-01-16T08:52:30.763-08:00It's beginning to look a lot like...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's that time of year again - an autism spectrum nightmare of loud parties, unexpected guests, broken routines, late bedtimes and over stimulation. But I love, and so does my little guy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our first hurdle is the Santa photo. He's come a long way from the teary eyed look of his first photo at 11 months of age, having to be backed in to Santa. lol But the whole process is still anxiety laden.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last year we waited first in line, had a personal chat with Santa while waiting in that in line, only to discover people had jumped the queue at the front of the area while we waited in the proper place for entry. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll admit, I raised my own personal stink and it influenced the kid but he was also perturbed when he had been told the entire wait time that we were going to be first. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lady, I didn't arrive at the mall THAT early and wait in the line THAT long just so we could be first. You see, my son's anxiety was already heightened and making these types of arrangements helps to reduce the fallout. We're lucky we still ended up with a fairly good photo despite his quiet meltdown and the anger he had directed at me because we weren't first. Remember that whole "some people don't get it?" Yeah. At least the elves were kind enough to push those line jumpers back a few spots to let us go first after all. Well, after some fast passers went before us...oy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Santa pics through the years with our fave Santa Jack!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30EWTE0CPv_8VaHPgfhFrVHbdqsPvBaamSTM_0RLx4fby4-7x5P9xtuUgBNZugkkZtSuTEDLhXb45T5Ab4XM5yipMdC2auf5o4KzsV9UAu9JUGZFxsRv9oaQBIUdoAcYz40d5pJxtRqA/s1600/735513_10152355383275577_240899990_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30EWTE0CPv_8VaHPgfhFrVHbdqsPvBaamSTM_0RLx4fby4-7x5P9xtuUgBNZugkkZtSuTEDLhXb45T5Ab4XM5yipMdC2auf5o4KzsV9UAu9JUGZFxsRv9oaQBIUdoAcYz40d5pJxtRqA/s1600/735513_10152355383275577_240899990_o.jpg" height="177" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyw41R3lpECi1-0XBNxSl-JJ1UGfabhRH7qLeuJkdV5ngv3GeV8GQ7_DTnfThIuXVoO4EkvPn5nK2XLD3O5KJUPHpGVUVM9kAe2k1b-wulUdUr3TRkacDOe9W-RCmb-04k_VAaY4Y3Ho/s1600/1490840_10153526882515577_592173868_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyw41R3lpECi1-0XBNxSl-JJ1UGfabhRH7qLeuJkdV5ngv3GeV8GQ7_DTnfThIuXVoO4EkvPn5nK2XLD3O5KJUPHpGVUVM9kAe2k1b-wulUdUr3TRkacDOe9W-RCmb-04k_VAaY4Y3Ho/s1600/1490840_10153526882515577_592173868_o.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-91739006861128743432014-12-05T07:23:00.000-08:002015-01-16T08:52:40.615-08:0010 things you don't know about me...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I thought I'd change it up a bit and pull back the curtain with 10 little known facts about me!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpTV8Zzcz8McPQOyLzBbgwa6F88aT_FEVttXxbDkgqRes6RNmARQWMTBroRghICFGKYRhD1Rdsnj8oxw3tID3y2zynFfjy0W0KOkuw1CmA_LWkmSYycegVlzHNJyLxwuQjGC7kQ4Chb8/s1600/top10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpTV8Zzcz8McPQOyLzBbgwa6F88aT_FEVttXxbDkgqRes6RNmARQWMTBroRghICFGKYRhD1Rdsnj8oxw3tID3y2zynFfjy0W0KOkuw1CmA_LWkmSYycegVlzHNJyLxwuQjGC7kQ4Chb8/s1600/top10.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. I've become a coffee snob </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjZWaa7ERKmDpw1WmZhM4Bz-2thgWeff_my0Yhq6KWmOMCwRbCF9kqAbv3P2YGAGxKvMvZaxfHEyTjK-cY04UbJqQ1kxkQpfUgPlDvx5W1xn7800NjxGFRkGTZme0tD7MfN9z2NNq48Q/s1600/coffee-snob-you-say.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNjZWaa7ERKmDpw1WmZhM4Bz-2thgWeff_my0Yhq6KWmOMCwRbCF9kqAbv3P2YGAGxKvMvZaxfHEyTjK-cY04UbJqQ1kxkQpfUgPlDvx5W1xn7800NjxGFRkGTZme0tD7MfN9z2NNq48Q/s1600/coffee-snob-you-say.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Regardless of telling Starbucks staff how to write my name, they always get it wrong</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlpyCdsv5C11XLHv7TlJBslqDxHFzSVQJgK65ho-V0biX5aX4BqV3nzv8mtBNmqv-RPY_PpUKwOSFFV_yLBRA5Rfc9rgxj1sTvBHfNbTTz4TbneAyY49V66LaEPJC3KZCkvcxYDstDuQ/s1600/23-more-hilariously-misspelled-names-on-starbucks-coffee-cups.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlpyCdsv5C11XLHv7TlJBslqDxHFzSVQJgK65ho-V0biX5aX4BqV3nzv8mtBNmqv-RPY_PpUKwOSFFV_yLBRA5Rfc9rgxj1sTvBHfNbTTz4TbneAyY49V66LaEPJC3KZCkvcxYDstDuQ/s1600/23-more-hilariously-misspelled-names-on-starbucks-coffee-cups.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. I used to be a hockey groupie at the tender age of 14</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ICWbM_K59qDywYLlk91XIqkKCXH_BYm6wiONwLkEiN8ZD2FJC7SZAt_GquT0kkI14QMfeNDtrstdm9xdpHEP2nkfpT0b3F8F8jn_1F8djZEDtHTS0MzTk2vMYM6TGILg1gCMf0PoLbM/s1600/puck_bunny_by_qwerty3png-289x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ICWbM_K59qDywYLlk91XIqkKCXH_BYm6wiONwLkEiN8ZD2FJC7SZAt_GquT0kkI14QMfeNDtrstdm9xdpHEP2nkfpT0b3F8F8jn_1F8djZEDtHTS0MzTk2vMYM6TGILg1gCMf0PoLbM/s1600/puck_bunny_by_qwerty3png-289x300.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. I was a huge fan of New Kids on the Block at the same time - Jordan Knight 4-ever!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotRpKKJ4fwY_5fjTImAbNW5oPaXV-qo4SeBqN614JPc6PzhKQ7ry2Wkh70AlsQ9IaPQFfZa-2N-2IKrceb40jm0z4zGD51vVbZRq_dAFv-Rn7Al48_JDXMyAVFYmTjGGxqmJloI-TFNI/s1600/new_kids320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotRpKKJ4fwY_5fjTImAbNW5oPaXV-qo4SeBqN614JPc6PzhKQ7ry2Wkh70AlsQ9IaPQFfZa-2N-2IKrceb40jm0z4zGD51vVbZRq_dAFv-Rn7Al48_JDXMyAVFYmTjGGxqmJloI-TFNI/s1600/new_kids320.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. My favourite author is Stephen King</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVvBZzKbhyphenhyphenWCozEeejk8JVLG55YuH_-ForG5BenCL46lAyFe9cW-MwXaBYJH_8CXdeawTkrbrRGXeKyNlojy_P0BLSF4T_XFcOZVEAxUE4CGZb51PxQjSBGG7Ritg1WbJG0kDAHH-EpE/s1600/M.J._Hearle_Stephen_King_Books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVvBZzKbhyphenhyphenWCozEeejk8JVLG55YuH_-ForG5BenCL46lAyFe9cW-MwXaBYJH_8CXdeawTkrbrRGXeKyNlojy_P0BLSF4T_XFcOZVEAxUE4CGZb51PxQjSBGG7Ritg1WbJG0kDAHH-EpE/s1600/M.J._Hearle_Stephen_King_Books.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. I'm from Canada</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92TmTgBpPOxpUhnMlMuHzEI9l2u3wDHY364ilyIeVPSpH09M5OkJYvr6Qm6G3EcQfZPNaX1pv6-jFeY3xASSdfEKlyxW-brQVgDc7LsPwf4aFV5B5EeutIouwzlwAAcsaMkVFymPrGMs/s1600/keep-calm-i-am-canadian-5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92TmTgBpPOxpUhnMlMuHzEI9l2u3wDHY364ilyIeVPSpH09M5OkJYvr6Qm6G3EcQfZPNaX1pv6-jFeY3xASSdfEKlyxW-brQVgDc7LsPwf4aFV5B5EeutIouwzlwAAcsaMkVFymPrGMs/s1600/keep-calm-i-am-canadian-5.png" height="320" width="274" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. 'Nuff said</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJJpNw9OHBJLtLDBkVla6L2gZl-zQheV0C0GHIXFI72i7Fy__Uq1thB_ou9PBtWMWQ0WsyKlZdC2cyi9tOSxfUmmKK9I7kqGRSpprLXwcXbDGOrr6Ypit7PXqLQdrLH-UBvN9J2_FE4o/s1600/So-youre-a-dog-person-Good.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMJJpNw9OHBJLtLDBkVla6L2gZl-zQheV0C0GHIXFI72i7Fy__Uq1thB_ou9PBtWMWQ0WsyKlZdC2cyi9tOSxfUmmKK9I7kqGRSpprLXwcXbDGOrr6Ypit7PXqLQdrLH-UBvN9J2_FE4o/s1600/So-youre-a-dog-person-Good.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. I used to produce live television - NHL hockey to be precise</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPP5HhWOJbTopQjvQrKOb6BmBzliM64X1aNIPxj6d4Iuy9A4EtdQg0WdWUNv3an2jPFbP8r-obvv6VgAHOOYx2J7E4gppxpz6N_WbRO7Qt6PWZ_4cSZMuQZ2TSlleIr1ZlXWbDZ-F8QQ/s1600/obvan2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuPP5HhWOJbTopQjvQrKOb6BmBzliM64X1aNIPxj6d4Iuy9A4EtdQg0WdWUNv3an2jPFbP8r-obvv6VgAHOOYx2J7E4gppxpz6N_WbRO7Qt6PWZ_4cSZMuQZ2TSlleIr1ZlXWbDZ-F8QQ/s1600/obvan2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. I produced a feature called Wade a Minute with the late Wade Belak</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. I've had the same BFF for over 30 years</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNej5-OMaRMpkiHL9UFhMcBFuIyacyN_moyewA-twXkB9mh9b7hfvxoDMbGRLKFiiWyaoPD6_ia42I-lsWbdklGXPqa6m_lLzX4OvIP7W9b07dyLjnccB-UxZCuTG079xzNU6jogLORw/s1600/216545_22162450576_3111_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNej5-OMaRMpkiHL9UFhMcBFuIyacyN_moyewA-twXkB9mh9b7hfvxoDMbGRLKFiiWyaoPD6_ia42I-lsWbdklGXPqa6m_lLzX4OvIP7W9b07dyLjnccB-UxZCuTG079xzNU6jogLORw/s1600/216545_22162450576_3111_n.jpg" height="310" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-8622608385926035942014-12-04T06:57:00.000-08:002015-01-16T08:52:48.791-08:00What is a special needs mom...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think I've stated, reiterated, repeated many times over in my journey that most people just.don't.get.it. It's not meant to offend, not meant to drive away, or insult. It just is. People can be helpful with their suggestions, mean well but you don't live in my shoes, or in my head where a million and one things travel everyday in excess of what a typical head will peruse. If I come across as scattered - it's because I AM.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't think it makes me special, or better than anyone else. Just different. It's also not meant to be used as an excuse just something for you to consider.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been going through some things lately in this crazy month of December in this already crazy life and when I came across the following it just spelled it out - a little.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I thought I'd share it here to give a little perspective to those who don't get it and may be a little too quick to judge and punish.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztv6CWOdiZcNUJ7KJtpuhJ4WCj_6gexqJzkwjlM7kLF2t_cwbBi4rclEDAH4TA2EfF3WmT7ZdCTfVAtMmCiDnqs3_9BDz4bOG-rn_fsWVyuOEvzgDKygX_R7TS5O_yKjl0_nuNY1xgflI/s1600/wall+hanging+for+Tammi-p007.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Special Needs Moms - a look inside</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9-EDgNQGXLvsDHXdg2iJBaKtaiQR3skwyYBCqEZ-_KUjsIk5cP6CqwqLzaH-17tbLA468KkvEfS28bd_dzqA-85DVPLAZXjIZIXHrcRYBcUntmIwKy80QyapSu6HZr3tC4VtxaZ46bw/s1600/wall+hanging+for+Tammi-p007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9-EDgNQGXLvsDHXdg2iJBaKtaiQR3skwyYBCqEZ-_KUjsIk5cP6CqwqLzaH-17tbLA468KkvEfS28bd_dzqA-85DVPLAZXjIZIXHrcRYBcUntmIwKy80QyapSu6HZr3tC4VtxaZ46bw/s1600/wall+hanging+for+Tammi-p007.jpg" height="640" width="492" /></span></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-60309085727632120182014-11-28T06:34:00.001-08:002015-01-16T08:53:10.946-08:00My permanent ode to my little guy...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This has been a long time in the making but I finally did it. I got my second tattoo. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And my third. <---- That was not always the plan. Those who know me know I'm a planner. I'm totally Type A, organizer, think things through, analyze, over analyze, ad nauseam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My first tattoo was in 2001 and was of meaning to me. It's a sun with a crescent moon inside and the Kanji symbol for Dream, with two little stars at the bottom. I've always been an optimist and a bit of a dreamer - a little contradictory to my Type A maybe? I've also always had a thing for the moon and stars. That tattoo was researched, drawn, contemplated for well over a year. Finally got it and that was that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fast forward to the last few years of wanting to somehow commemorate my son. I'd pored over the internet, considering initials, symbols, dates, zodiac signs, other languages...nothing felt right - until I saw this:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Among its many meanings and significance, the lotus is a symbol of "spontaneous" generation, and so it also represents divine birth, spiritual development and creation itself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The bud of the lotus</b> symbolizes potential, specifically of a spiritual nature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Because the lotus rises from unclean water to blossom as a pure, uncontaminated flower, it is a symbol of purity and resurrection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the same way the lotus flower goes through much in its growth before emerging from dirty water to become a beautiful flower, <b>the individual consciousness does the same on its path to enlightenment</b> as the so-called impurities of unenlightened thinking gradually fade.</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.harekrsna.de/fotos/lotus111.jpg" style="background-color: transparent; color: blue;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="Lotus Flower" border="0" src="http://www.harekrsna.de/fotos/lotus109m.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is also a symbol of rebirth due to it's closing at night and reopening out of the muddy waters each day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing that struck me is that this tattoo became more about me and my journey than about my son. I was reborn of sorts when I became a mother - into someone new, someone I hadn't been before. As mentioned in this blog, I went through depression and have been undergoing treatment for the last 3 years. I believe I had been depressed for quite some time prior to my even being pregnant. So this treatment signified a rebirth of my own, finding myself again, but becoming a new me with the motherhood aspect added. So a lotus flower the tattoo would be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then came thoughts about incorporating the ASD symbol of the puzzle piece. But how? Off to the side, coming off the flower, on another body part entirely? Then my uber talented tattoo artist came up with the most uniquely beautiful design that incorporated the two. The result was this:</span><br />
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<a href="http://bambootattoostudio.ca/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bamboo Tattoo Studio</span></a><br />
<a href="http://instagram.com/madtatt" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maddalena Ruggiero</span></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3q6WPK6AJjPr6YG-uOtfu3fj-Esa07kT1774dADqeXfsfo2-kdeB3Er0aQbPF6N-FSzzAoJImUevsGLuoBZyLh918dlz6_phFy4M-pTcUAtsBM4DEvI_k0gOVdUeIMbtvxyNBdo0j7Zk/s1600/20141127_163259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3q6WPK6AJjPr6YG-uOtfu3fj-Esa07kT1774dADqeXfsfo2-kdeB3Er0aQbPF6N-FSzzAoJImUevsGLuoBZyLh918dlz6_phFy4M-pTcUAtsBM4DEvI_k0gOVdUeIMbtvxyNBdo0j7Zk/s1600/20141127_163259.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">That's 23 colours!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This little guy was more 'spontaneous'!</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-46006928432990748622014-11-27T05:22:00.000-08:002015-01-16T08:53:24.562-08:00Someone's in love...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yeah, I'm a sucker. I couldn't help myself. After the little dude had that reaction to Big Hero 6 and announced his love for Baymax I had to find one. And find one I did. And my hunches about his reaction to it were spot on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to the family Baymax!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuhpHLTtV49dP4O4BlImLHaSmemgsL46X0s_zzXDIaRmZp2wu8gCsWJT3RfCd5Pu0b4vNq53FhhTQSc-mnfwhpU6jmsxrSNRsmuNOnrZtpdBVuPm5nL6vxd9hcaa84sNw4QekIYlkkUw/s1600/20141126_171132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuhpHLTtV49dP4O4BlImLHaSmemgsL46X0s_zzXDIaRmZp2wu8gCsWJT3RfCd5Pu0b4vNq53FhhTQSc-mnfwhpU6jmsxrSNRsmuNOnrZtpdBVuPm5nL6vxd9hcaa84sNw4QekIYlkkUw/s1600/20141126_171132.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-j__lCIB3soS7Q1bFn762CEMPe2TWBNZbMm3-qxNGUYuQrxGFNO75ZCq23esE8DclUxtG-Ku5kRunKMN2s5OybP_Q4UnokwaOmpIY4O-sjguu2HmUY-JJfibyzuMg7suu2ShzShtI3M/s1600/20141126_192525.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-j__lCIB3soS7Q1bFn762CEMPe2TWBNZbMm3-qxNGUYuQrxGFNO75ZCq23esE8DclUxtG-Ku5kRunKMN2s5OybP_Q4UnokwaOmpIY4O-sjguu2HmUY-JJfibyzuMg7suu2ShzShtI3M/s1600/20141126_192525.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-3314027084234426102014-11-24T06:52:00.000-08:002015-01-16T08:53:33.661-08:00We've had another breakthrough...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is Baymax...and he's the reason my boy cried yesterday. Actually cry is an understatement. He sobbed, almost uncontrollably for quite a long time. You see, without giving too much away, something sad happens in this movie at the end that moved by usually non-empathetic boy to tears and sadness. So much so that he didn't even realize that things turned for the better shortly thereafter.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNK0svcMlne002FrX-qz27vo4FgVQfx2TZFCZXaeALj67Yeh4Hy0Y0j2pE_IY6Hh0_I3gA1qN00exWSn_Sw9zs0_-o-1VRORbmnQ4gvUMMECsJ5VeiUAMef115DvUJFqkLufcYqcDxvc/s1600/baymax.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNK0svcMlne002FrX-qz27vo4FgVQfx2TZFCZXaeALj67Yeh4Hy0Y0j2pE_IY6Hh0_I3gA1qN00exWSn_Sw9zs0_-o-1VRORbmnQ4gvUMMECsJ5VeiUAMef115DvUJFqkLufcYqcDxvc/s1600/baymax.png" height="299" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll admit I had tears streaming down my face when I turned to see him so upset even while his dad tried to comfort him. But at the same time, this is a victory for us so I couldn't help but cheer the fact that he'd been moved emotionally by something that didn't directly involve/affect him. E.T. did it, Frozen did it, and now <a href="http://movies.disney.com/big-hero-6/" target="_blank">Big Hero 6</a> did it.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595581717365361562.post-29227121383593509582014-11-17T10:51:00.000-08:002015-01-16T08:53:43.991-08:00Triggers...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The ongoing theme of all of our various meetings lately appears to be the dreaded T word - <i><span style="color: red;"><b>TRIGGERS.</b></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've been asked to try to keep a journal so one can try to determine what the triggers of his meltdowns are. <b>TRY </b>is the key word here. The thing is we've never really created an actual chart or digest before so I guess we're a little skeptical. But we're going to give it a shot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing about our journal though is it will involve everything - meltdown occurrence, length, what occurs right before, what happens after, did it continue after a resolution, were there more than 1 a day, how often a week, what did he eat that day, how was his sleep, did he have his vitamins, etc., etc., etc.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ugh. At this point, going just on what happened this weekend, a trigger appears to be going out. Anywhere. On a weekend. lol In all seriousness, as we document the occurrences it should become apparent what it could be that either causes the meltdown, or facilitates it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday we allowed him to play video games. Weekends are video game time as we banned them during the weekend. Well he's become tunnel visioned on weekends now because of it and doesn't want to go anywhere/do anything unless it involves video games. We made an agreement that after he played we would go out and not have any tantrums like we've had in the past. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, a short time into the mall we went to the questions started. How long are we going to be here? We don't know, not long. You're lying to me, how long? I told you we don't know, not long. I'm getting so mad, you're frustrating me...this continued until we had a full on meltdown in the car - and that was only because as usual, we decided things were escalating and to cut our trip short.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He hadn't yet had lunch, that was planned for right after our store visit. Could he have been hungry? Could he have fought the meltdown better if his tummy wasn't empty? Did that affect his anxiety at all? So many questions and at this point in time, very little answers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So triggers...should be an interesting journey.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0