What a hard day. We tried to get an EEG for Lib but there was just a horrible snafu at the neurologist's office. I've never liked that office, but if you recall, there is a new neurologist who is really cool and I like him very much, mainly because he is not at all like "the others."
My husband went back in the EEG room with Lib this time. A woman poked her head out of the doorway and asked if Lib was allergic to anything. I said no. However, about a week ago when I was on the phone with a nurse, she mentioned that the EEG therapist will give Lib Benadryl. I said, "Whoaa... Benadryl has a paradoxical effect in Liberty. That won't make him sleepy." The nurse failed to write it down on the chart, and I forgot to say anything to the EEG therapist. You think she would have said something to me. So, according to my husband, she gave Lib a dose of chloral hydrate and then a great big dose of Benadryl. He began screaming and...well, you can imagine the scene from there. They kept waiting for him to go down. One hour of waiting...no one came out to get me and tell me that my son was screaming and would not go to sleep. My husband was irate, trying to get someone to come into the room because they had put a CD on in the room and it was skipping. He said no one was there to assist him.
What if Lib was having a bad reaction like an irregular heartbeat, or rapid heartbeat? Where is the doctor with the stethoscope helping us, making sure he's okay? Where the hell was everyone? I hate that my son had to suffer like that. It's the most helpless feeling in the world.
Why does this office assume that Benadryl is okay for everyone? I guess they thought they had it covered by asking me if he is allergic to anything. He was never actually allergic, but he always got hyper when he went on it and no doctor ever said, he's allergic to it. I guess, once again, it's my fault, but hey, it doesn't really seem like it's my fault!
Okay, so my husband was FURIOUS. I demanded to see the doctor right then.
Long story short, mad husband and screaming child go out to the parking lot so I can talk to the doctor. This doctor, though now part of the practice, has nothing to do with the method of the EEG. I'm sure he didn't know how they do it, only that they just do it and bring him the printout. He did apologize to me profusely, but it really wasn't his fault. Everyone was running around saying that they had noted it in the chart and I felt like saying that there won't be a next time because I'm not putting him through this again. It's so eternally frustrating.
On a lighter note, I still really like the neurologist. He asked me to describe what I was seeing in Lib and we think it is complex partial seizures. He gave me a prescription for a small dose of medication to see if it helps at all. He said for us to talk by phone more again about Lib. Clearly, everyone in that office was upset by what happened. They should be! I am waiting to talk to Dr. Bock on Friday before I do anything.
Poor little Lib. He was so miserable. I think he may have been hallucinating. He went in at 9:30 AM for his appointment. He finally went to sleep at home, utterly exhausted, at 4:00 PM. And, after all that, we still don't have an EEG. I'll be damned if we do this again any time soon. And, not one person has ever suggested an MRI.
Poor parents - we had to sleep deprive Lib by putting him to bed two hours earlier than normal and waking him up two hours earlier than normal (so he'd go down easy for the EEG) so we were pretty beat to begin with. And, Lib could have no water or food before the procedure. So, we were not exactly a pleasant group to begin with this morning.
Oh---and of course, that constipation I told you about? Well...let's just say I was scraping the walls down around 3:00 after hosing Lib down in the tub. But, I wasn't upset. I was celebrating the moving of the bowels.
It's funny how much I really appreciate just the basic things.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Helping Healing Hands
I learned how to do this over the weekend. A neophyte, but I saw it work and am already incorporating it into my life. A fascinating little video that explains it in a nutshell.
Dads and Drums
Summer camp is almost over. Yesterday, my husband took his band to the school for the second time to play a few songs for the children, and then let the kids line up and get a shot at playing his drums and the other band member's bass guitar and electric guitar. These kids eat this up. They also love the microphone and many stood and sang into it. These are children with autism, mind you. They THRIVE around music and instruments. My husband just intuitively knew that bringing his band and especially letting the kids play the big professional drum set would be good for them. He is great with the kids.
Then we found this site that is called Drums and Disabilities. Here are the links if you are interested in checking out how drumming can be part of a therapeutic program. We are just learning about it ourselves.
D.A.D. Drums and Disabilities and more about it also here .
Then we found this site that is called Drums and Disabilities. Here are the links if you are interested in checking out how drumming can be part of a therapeutic program. We are just learning about it ourselves.
D.A.D. Drums and Disabilities and more about it also here .
Thursday, July 24, 2008
New Skills
Lib is riding a bicycle on his own, steering, pedaling, etc. It's like he grew up overnight. He would not do this last year even when we bought him a bike with training wheels. He would sit on it and try to pedal a little but could not steer, lose interest, and hop off.
He has picked up more signs and since we don't have a sign for a DVD he likes, he found a picture of it and brought it to me while I was in the kitchen today. That is something I tried forever to get him to do last year when we were frustrated, trying to get him to communicate with pictures.
My boy is taking off with flying colors. This concentrated six weeks of camp with intense applied verbal behavior in increments of 15 minutes with one-on-one teaching has made the difference. I know that their method is working with my son when the things that he learns at school can transfer to home and other places. He signs to everyone now. He doesn't have a lot of signs, but what he does have he uses and he is communicating, that is the bottom line. Boy, I really see now what kind of accomplishments can be gained in such a short time. Wow.
Compared to where he was last year, he is now light years ahead. He understands faces and body parts and his focus is increasing and there is a feeling more of his being present with us. I hear about some parents talking about their children "re-joining" the family. This is how it feels. Last year, he was not connecting with us like he is now.
I describe in detail about Lib since just because our children might have the same label as autism, they are all different. Some children talk and communicate fine but have deficits in other areas. Some children know where they are in space, don't have the many sensory issues that we have had to deal with. Someone at the camp who is around Liberty made the comment that he has really "come out of his shell." Always so loving and affectionate, my little one just could not communicate with words or signs, only gesture, and lots of frustration.
So, to see him riding a bike down the hallway of school, and waving bye-bye and putting Mr. Potato Head together, and touching his nose when you ask him where it is, and saying what do you want, and watching him sign "pretzel," well, it's amazing and actually a relief.
We are understanding each other!
Now, the trick is going to be keeping up with the Carbonne method in our home routinely. I'd hate for him to lose any of these skills as so commonly happens when kids are off for the summer. That's where some help getting a home program will come in handy. Liberty's former speech therapist told me that the children who have a program at home, (and by that I mean parents reinforcing what is learned in school and therapy), are the ones who do better.
I'm so proud of Liberty and how hard he works and how little he fusses. He truly is my trooper. And, he's happy. The teacher told me that she sees his confidence increasing. I have never had anyone say that to me about Lib.
On another note, my husband is doing another music workshop for the kids next week. He takes his band out there and they play songs and then he lets the kids get in line to play on his drums, and the other members, one guitarist and one bassist, they also let the kids play on their instruments. The kids loved it last time and, in fact, there were apparently some breakthroughs with children in terms of communication and getting truly excited about something. That's the magic of music, I suppose.
Yep, it's been a great summer so far.
He has picked up more signs and since we don't have a sign for a DVD he likes, he found a picture of it and brought it to me while I was in the kitchen today. That is something I tried forever to get him to do last year when we were frustrated, trying to get him to communicate with pictures.
My boy is taking off with flying colors. This concentrated six weeks of camp with intense applied verbal behavior in increments of 15 minutes with one-on-one teaching has made the difference. I know that their method is working with my son when the things that he learns at school can transfer to home and other places. He signs to everyone now. He doesn't have a lot of signs, but what he does have he uses and he is communicating, that is the bottom line. Boy, I really see now what kind of accomplishments can be gained in such a short time. Wow.
Compared to where he was last year, he is now light years ahead. He understands faces and body parts and his focus is increasing and there is a feeling more of his being present with us. I hear about some parents talking about their children "re-joining" the family. This is how it feels. Last year, he was not connecting with us like he is now.
I describe in detail about Lib since just because our children might have the same label as autism, they are all different. Some children talk and communicate fine but have deficits in other areas. Some children know where they are in space, don't have the many sensory issues that we have had to deal with. Someone at the camp who is around Liberty made the comment that he has really "come out of his shell." Always so loving and affectionate, my little one just could not communicate with words or signs, only gesture, and lots of frustration.
So, to see him riding a bike down the hallway of school, and waving bye-bye and putting Mr. Potato Head together, and touching his nose when you ask him where it is, and saying what do you want, and watching him sign "pretzel," well, it's amazing and actually a relief.
We are understanding each other!
Now, the trick is going to be keeping up with the Carbonne method in our home routinely. I'd hate for him to lose any of these skills as so commonly happens when kids are off for the summer. That's where some help getting a home program will come in handy. Liberty's former speech therapist told me that the children who have a program at home, (and by that I mean parents reinforcing what is learned in school and therapy), are the ones who do better.
I'm so proud of Liberty and how hard he works and how little he fusses. He truly is my trooper. And, he's happy. The teacher told me that she sees his confidence increasing. I have never had anyone say that to me about Lib.
On another note, my husband is doing another music workshop for the kids next week. He takes his band out there and they play songs and then he lets the kids get in line to play on his drums, and the other members, one guitarist and one bassist, they also let the kids play on their instruments. The kids loved it last time and, in fact, there were apparently some breakthroughs with children in terms of communication and getting truly excited about something. That's the magic of music, I suppose.
Yep, it's been a great summer so far.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Be Aware of Deadly Drains in Pools
If you didn't catch Good Morning America, please watch this video. Children have died terrible deaths by getting caught in the drains of pools and hot tubs. Why did it take five years to get curved drain covers which don't have the powerful suction that regular drain covers have installed in public pools? Many businesses have not complied. It's frightening. The drain covers are only $40. Pass it on to others with pools.
In the 'Hood
Liberty is doing great in camp. His teacher is ecstatic about his progress. I don't understand everything they do, but they are following instructions and methods from the Carbonne Clinic. They take a lot of data each day which I am hoping I can take to Liberty's school this year.
Yesterday, I was told that Liberty retained everything he had learned the previous week which was about 15 things that include matching skills and imitation. Also, when I went to pick him up from camp, there he was riding the big trike down the hall to me, steering. He's been on his bike before and pedaled a little, but would never steer. This teacher said he circled the halls yesterday three times by himself with no help.
I noticed that when we are in the pool his coordination is getting better, too. He has more of a sense of where he is in space and I think he will actually be able to swim one day. I found a swim instructor for children with special needs so I am hoping to line some lessons up when camp is out. They seem very cool and have a swim team for special needs kids called Sea Stars.
What I have found this summer is that Liberty is capable of much more than I ever dreamed possible. Sometimes it makes me feel inadequate at home, but let's face it, I cannot give one-on-one at home for eight hours straight unless I dropped the rest of the responsibilities from my life. It has crossed our minds before, trust me, that perhaps I would be the best teacher for Liberty. But, I think I might have found someone who actually lives in my little town who can help me create a good home program for Liberty. Finally. Ironically, it took a blogger friend who lives in NY to hook me up with a woman in this teeny town in FL where we live! Turns out she was in my son's class the first week of camp but had to drop out because of some pregnancy complications. How small is this world, I ask you?
I have been too critical now, I feel, of our school system. I see Liberty's particular school in a new light, realizing that most children don't get the one-on-one instruction that he received last year, that verbal behavior really is probably the best route for him right now and not just using PECS. Camp has made me appreciate the school I was getting disgusted with, imagine that! I have learned not to judge so quickly or harshly just because I am frustrated. It takes time for the teachers to get to know the kids, too.
So, I have surrendered to the Universe and am allowing the right people, places, and situations to que up for us now. Truly, anxiety blocks these things and colors my perception. I've just been so darn scared that somehow I've done all of the wrong things, or it's too late, or a million other fears that rise up from the Pandora's Box otherwise known as "What's Going on with Liberty?"
This morning I awoke thinking that I want a whole new day. I want a whole new way of thinking. What if I were to drop the anxiety and the painful story just for today? What if I just focus on all of the things going right for today? There are so many.
I just recently found out that a doctor in my neighborhood who is a developmental pediatrician just got DAN certified. Okay, I'm whispering so there won't be a mob at her door. She happens to partner with another doctor I would want to be MY doctor who runs a really cool alternative health clinic and day spa. In this little town, in my own backyard.
Next week, we are going to take Liberty in for a repeat EEG because we are seeing more and more episodes that look like absence seizures. I hate putting him and us through this, but it is necessary and we will get to see the new neurologist who is so cool. I read his book, by the way. He worked with Mother Theresa and traveled through the Amazon rain forest by himself. What a story. He's in my neighborhood.
And, I've still got the big guy, Dr. Bock, in NY who is not taking any more patients for a long time in our support group.
Perhaps I really am drawing all of this to me, as my sister says I am, through my Love for Liberty and the unwavering search for the best help. Now, if I can just do it gracefully, sans anxiety.
Don't they call that Trust?
Yesterday, I was told that Liberty retained everything he had learned the previous week which was about 15 things that include matching skills and imitation. Also, when I went to pick him up from camp, there he was riding the big trike down the hall to me, steering. He's been on his bike before and pedaled a little, but would never steer. This teacher said he circled the halls yesterday three times by himself with no help.
I noticed that when we are in the pool his coordination is getting better, too. He has more of a sense of where he is in space and I think he will actually be able to swim one day. I found a swim instructor for children with special needs so I am hoping to line some lessons up when camp is out. They seem very cool and have a swim team for special needs kids called Sea Stars.
What I have found this summer is that Liberty is capable of much more than I ever dreamed possible. Sometimes it makes me feel inadequate at home, but let's face it, I cannot give one-on-one at home for eight hours straight unless I dropped the rest of the responsibilities from my life. It has crossed our minds before, trust me, that perhaps I would be the best teacher for Liberty. But, I think I might have found someone who actually lives in my little town who can help me create a good home program for Liberty. Finally. Ironically, it took a blogger friend who lives in NY to hook me up with a woman in this teeny town in FL where we live! Turns out she was in my son's class the first week of camp but had to drop out because of some pregnancy complications. How small is this world, I ask you?
I have been too critical now, I feel, of our school system. I see Liberty's particular school in a new light, realizing that most children don't get the one-on-one instruction that he received last year, that verbal behavior really is probably the best route for him right now and not just using PECS. Camp has made me appreciate the school I was getting disgusted with, imagine that! I have learned not to judge so quickly or harshly just because I am frustrated. It takes time for the teachers to get to know the kids, too.
So, I have surrendered to the Universe and am allowing the right people, places, and situations to que up for us now. Truly, anxiety blocks these things and colors my perception. I've just been so darn scared that somehow I've done all of the wrong things, or it's too late, or a million other fears that rise up from the Pandora's Box otherwise known as "What's Going on with Liberty?"
This morning I awoke thinking that I want a whole new day. I want a whole new way of thinking. What if I were to drop the anxiety and the painful story just for today? What if I just focus on all of the things going right for today? There are so many.
I just recently found out that a doctor in my neighborhood who is a developmental pediatrician just got DAN certified. Okay, I'm whispering so there won't be a mob at her door. She happens to partner with another doctor I would want to be MY doctor who runs a really cool alternative health clinic and day spa. In this little town, in my own backyard.
Next week, we are going to take Liberty in for a repeat EEG because we are seeing more and more episodes that look like absence seizures. I hate putting him and us through this, but it is necessary and we will get to see the new neurologist who is so cool. I read his book, by the way. He worked with Mother Theresa and traveled through the Amazon rain forest by himself. What a story. He's in my neighborhood.
And, I've still got the big guy, Dr. Bock, in NY who is not taking any more patients for a long time in our support group.
Perhaps I really am drawing all of this to me, as my sister says I am, through my Love for Liberty and the unwavering search for the best help. Now, if I can just do it gracefully, sans anxiety.
Don't they call that Trust?
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Hell On Earth
I can barely open my email anymore, or visit a blog, without bursting into tears these days.How many? How many more children will be lost to autism? How many will actually die from vaccines? When in hell is anything going to be done? Then there are the ignorant idiots who happen to have their own (3rd popular in the US) radio show who feel free to say things like autism does not exist and that these kids are just brats whose parents don't discipline them.
THAT gets in the news.
I weep often. I weep for my own child into whom I pour all of my precious energy to recover. I want to DO something about it all, but I can't. All I can do is talk to people who cross my path, write to representatives, pray, read blogs, pray some more. I could not afford to attend the march on Washington with Jenny and Jim. Lots of conferences I'd like to go to, financially, we just cannot afford to do it.
To be honest, to read about all of the parents experiencing HELL on earth right now because their children have disappeared before their eyes, who cannot work anymore because they have become their children's caretakers instead of parents, who are crying and angry and want someone to pay for taking their beautiful, healthy children away...well, I can't take it anymore. I cannot read about it. I lose my footing, I break down into a sobbing mess and I cannot function the way my family needs me to. It rips my heart out. I could fall into a big hole of blackness if I really did not watch out - if I was not vigilant every day to look for something good. I just could not get out of bed in the morning.
I fall into despair each time I read more of the horrors that are being done to our CHILDREN and the fact that our government IS LETTING THIS HAPPEN. The fact that TOMATOES are in the news and NOT OUR SICK CHILDREN. The fact that the DRUG MANUFACTURERS have such power. They are killing our children.
How many people know about the beautiful 17 year old girl who just died from the Gardasil vaccine? In fact, many children have died from that vaccine or been paralyzed.
Or the kids in South America who are FORCED to be vaccinated though many are dying from the vaccines (a test vaccine)?
We are being lied to every day. We outlawed the cigarette commercials, we need to get the damned drug company commercials off the television, as well. But, they are TOO POWERFUL.
I don't know about you, but it's getting harder and harder for me to feel safe.
I just got an email from an autism society in Tennessee talking about the link between MSG and obesity, and all of the crap in our food that is allowed to go by a different name but is still the excitotoxin MSG...or how about the fact that many known toxic additives don't have to be listed at all?
I tell you, I don't know what to do. Someone referred to this age as the holocaust for our children.
How many? How many have to be hurt before someone hears us?
I THANK GOD each and every day that I at least have a supportive family, that I at least have a DAN doctor I have the privilege of complaining about when I think he is not doing the right thing for my son, or I am confused because the literature and what he is saying do not match up, or that my husband can work his butt off just so we can afford to even talk to a DAN doctor.
How fortunate am I that I am at least walking on what I believe to be a path toward recovery?
It's still the parents who are helping each other. But, as I have heard said so many times before, we don't want any more families in our club.
Still, I will cry a river for all of our children and the parents who are left to try to clean up the mess.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Simmering
Camp will be over in another week and a half! I cannot believe it has flown by. Unfortunately, Liberty has just started responding to their methods. But, I am grateful to have had a place for him to go with the intense one-on-one instruction. He will be off for two weeks in August and school will start up once again August 18.I observed in his room today, first for a 15-minute circle time, and then at a table with intense one-on-one instruction from his teacher. We have been blessed to have such a wonderful woman involved in Liberty's life. While the camp has been greatly disorganized, and communication seems to be off (for instance parents receive memos that the camp coaches and teachers do not - makes for some very confusing situations), we have met this woman who is Lib's camp teacher and I just love her. She is so dedicated to bringing out the best in Liberty and seeing what he can do. And, of course, the teacher makes the difference. I just personally like her a lot, as well, so it's all to the good. She is a person with whom I will want to keep in touch, and so you can't ask for anything better than that.
But, it's funny to see Liberty now so focused sitting quietly at the table matching and doing things he is asked to do, high fiving the teacher and then watching him come home and just flop. Well, home is supposed to be a soft place to land, so perhaps by just playing with us at home he is still learning. You can't structure every thing in their life.
My sister and I were just talking about this the other day. She said, remember doing nothing as a kid? I remember lying around in the grass making clover and daisy chains with my little friends, and cloud watching. We had timeout and it was so necessary. Just time to be, and to assimilate all of the things we were learning in our structured days of school. Just time to simmer awhile.
After camp, I think we will just hang out, watch videos, go to the movies, the beach and pool and get it all out of our system before we have to buy our new school clothes so soon.
Reminds me of this poem from long ago:
"LEISURE"
What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
By Wm. Henry Davies.(Wm. Henry Davies (1871-1940)
Monday, July 14, 2008
Heavy Metals Revisited
Liberty's repeat urine metals challenge came back very high for lead. About three and a half times the norm. I am waiting to hear from the doctor's office today about how to proceed. My appointment was cancelled when Lib's doctor got sick himself and they could only reschedule it for another month out. In the meantime, I had been calling and leaving messages to find out about all of our labs we had done, including the urine metals challenge. I wanted a repeat because Lib was not anywhere near potty trained when I tried to collect the first one and I knew it was not much of a sample that I managed to get, and probably rather dilute. This time, he was able to sit on the potty for all of the times I collected the urine.
And, I've always known he was full of metals. I've just been waiting, doing all of these other things like dealing with yeast and Vitamin A levels, jumpstarting methylation cycles and sulfization cycles, getting the bowels moving, upping the nutrition from supplements. And, in the meantime, dealing with school placement, all of the IEP's, therapy and theories.
But, always, I've been thinking, pleez already, get the metals out of my boy. I know that Mercury is the main culprit and always has been. I know that the double round of antibiotics right after the MMR pushed my son's little body right over the top. I know it all takes time to restore balance.
(And what of our environment here in Florida - the air quality the worst in the nation, the polluted water, the polluted fish, the Super Fund sites - did that play a role in the whole toxic set up?) Sigh. More theories. More speculation.
It's been exactly one year since we trekked to New York to see the doctor. Two years since I saw a doctor in Arizona who was not a DAN but got my son started on supplementation. One year of methyl-B12 shots. Five months of clearing yeast.
If anybody's ready, it's me. Let's roll.
And, I've always known he was full of metals. I've just been waiting, doing all of these other things like dealing with yeast and Vitamin A levels, jumpstarting methylation cycles and sulfization cycles, getting the bowels moving, upping the nutrition from supplements. And, in the meantime, dealing with school placement, all of the IEP's, therapy and theories.
But, always, I've been thinking, pleez already, get the metals out of my boy. I know that Mercury is the main culprit and always has been. I know that the double round of antibiotics right after the MMR pushed my son's little body right over the top. I know it all takes time to restore balance.
(And what of our environment here in Florida - the air quality the worst in the nation, the polluted water, the polluted fish, the Super Fund sites - did that play a role in the whole toxic set up?) Sigh. More theories. More speculation.
It's been exactly one year since we trekked to New York to see the doctor. Two years since I saw a doctor in Arizona who was not a DAN but got my son started on supplementation. One year of methyl-B12 shots. Five months of clearing yeast.
If anybody's ready, it's me. Let's roll.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Plastics - Safe or Not?
My sister forwarded an email to me saying not to drink water from bottles that have been sitting in a hot car. The e-mail makes reference to Sheryl Crow getting cancer this way, and that the hot water bottles are apparently more toxic for women. I don't know about that, but I do know many plastics, especially water bottles, are harmful to drink from.
Snopes calls this an urban legend, but I have been hearing for a long time now about how plastics are unsafe. Who do we believe? Are we all wrong? Where do we get the best information ? We are all so good at using Google, but how do we know the information we gather is correct?! This is what is frustrating about the Internet.
The hot plastic supposedly leaches cancer causing chemicals into the water. Hot or not, I thought that most plastic water bottles leach chemicals and that many other plastics do, too. I have just found out that the Gladware I was using to freeze Liberty's food also leaches (according to an article I read). I did not know that. I always heat up the food in a porcelain ramekin that I send to school.
I think I posted at one time about levels of a chemical called BPA that is unsafe for all of us and is found in common plastics. You definitely should not microwave in plastic. We have been hearing this for a long time now on television shows and newscasts.
Here is a website that helps explain the harmful BPA's and what kind of materials to use, what plastics are safe, etc. I think we can trust the website...but who knows for sure?! Someone email me!
Here are the bottles I use for Liberty that we love so much: http://www.kleankanteen.com/ I know I can trust stainless steel...I think.
Snopes calls this an urban legend, but I have been hearing for a long time now about how plastics are unsafe. Who do we believe? Are we all wrong? Where do we get the best information ? We are all so good at using Google, but how do we know the information we gather is correct?! This is what is frustrating about the Internet.
The hot plastic supposedly leaches cancer causing chemicals into the water. Hot or not, I thought that most plastic water bottles leach chemicals and that many other plastics do, too. I have just found out that the Gladware I was using to freeze Liberty's food also leaches (according to an article I read). I did not know that. I always heat up the food in a porcelain ramekin that I send to school.
I think I posted at one time about levels of a chemical called BPA that is unsafe for all of us and is found in common plastics. You definitely should not microwave in plastic. We have been hearing this for a long time now on television shows and newscasts.
Here is a website that helps explain the harmful BPA's and what kind of materials to use, what plastics are safe, etc. I think we can trust the website...but who knows for sure?! Someone email me!
Here are the bottles I use for Liberty that we love so much: http://www.kleankanteen.com/ I know I can trust stainless steel...I think.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
After over a month of craving Finding Nemo, Liberty has now moved on to Thomas the Tank Engine.
He watches with the sound mostly off, since he covers his ears. (Don't know why). But, he laughs out loud...again, like he gets it for the first time.
* Sigh.* If only someone would explain it all to me.
But, that's not possible, so in the meantime, I bury myself in books, hoping and praying that the next 4 weeks of camp will be good. It's been a slow start but at least he is getting one-on-one right now. More on camp as it develops.
I'm almost finished with the new book, "The Art of Racing in the Rain." This story is told from a dog's perspective. I've never read anything like it! I'm 3/4 of the way through and loving it. Turns out, it's really a very spiritual book. It is both funny and sad, and it's great writing.
On another note, I was supposed to have a follow-up phone appointment with Lib's doctor but the good doctor got sick. (They called me after I waited patiently for an hour and a half). It was to be re-scheduled but now I can't get an appointment for a month! I am not too happy about that. I'm really quite anxious to know what the heavy metals test results are and to get on with chelating. Just get on. with. it. I've read so much about chelation that I am really confused. Everyone has their opinion about the correct way to chelate. I feel lost in biomed at the moment.
Ah well, in the meantime, the summer wags on. Hope you're having a good summer.
He watches with the sound mostly off, since he covers his ears. (Don't know why). But, he laughs out loud...again, like he gets it for the first time.* Sigh.* If only someone would explain it all to me.
But, that's not possible, so in the meantime, I bury myself in books, hoping and praying that the next 4 weeks of camp will be good. It's been a slow start but at least he is getting one-on-one right now. More on camp as it develops.
I'm almost finished with the new book, "The Art of Racing in the Rain." This story is told from a dog's perspective. I've never read anything like it! I'm 3/4 of the way through and loving it. Turns out, it's really a very spiritual book. It is both funny and sad, and it's great writing.
On another note, I was supposed to have a follow-up phone appointment with Lib's doctor but the good doctor got sick. (They called me after I waited patiently for an hour and a half). It was to be re-scheduled but now I can't get an appointment for a month! I am not too happy about that. I'm really quite anxious to know what the heavy metals test results are and to get on with chelating. Just get on. with. it. I've read so much about chelation that I am really confused. Everyone has their opinion about the correct way to chelate. I feel lost in biomed at the moment.
Ah well, in the meantime, the summer wags on. Hope you're having a good summer.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Skippyjon Jones
Is This Cute As Hell or What??
From School Library Journal:
From School Library Journal: Kindergarten-Grade 3-This is a wildly wonderful book about a hyperactive kitten, Skippyjon Jones, whose head and ears are too big for his body, and whose imagination is too intense for his mama. According to her, he needs to do some serious thinking about what it means to be a Siamese cat instead of a bird (Skippyjon always wakes up and eats worms with his feathered friends). She sends him to his room, where he imagines he is a Chihuahua ("My name is Skippito Friskito./I fear not a single bandito"). Chock-full of rhyming chants and Spanish expressions, the feline's adventure as a doggy Zorro ends in chaos. His frazzled mother gives him a hug anyway and says, "Say good night, Skippyjon Jones." "Buenas noches, mis amigos," says the kitten, as he bounces on his bed all ready for another adventure. The buoyant and colorful cartoon illustrations match the exuberant text perfectly. Spanish-speaking children will be especially delighted by the words and humor; others may be a little bewildered by all of the foreign phrases and will need some explanation, but the story definitely has the potential of a fun read-aloud. A good multicultural offering.
This is our nickname for Liberty - it really has stuck. Sometimes it is transformed into SmileyJon Jones, or HungryJon Jones, or SillyJon Jones.
This is our nickname for Liberty - it really has stuck. Sometimes it is transformed into SmileyJon Jones, or HungryJon Jones, or SillyJon Jones.
Silly parents.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Another Good Read
I just finished reading this book, "Unaccustomed Earth," and I really could not put it down. It is a collection of short stories but they each have a common thread and all involve characters from India. It's one of those books where you stop occasionally and ponder what one of the characters said and you relate so well..."oh, God, I get what she means..." You know that type of book. I handed it to my sister the other day and she called me thanking me profusely, saying she could not stop reading it either and had not read such beautiful writing in a long time.So, I must have her other books.
Her first book, "Interpreter of Maladies" won a Pulitzer Prize. You can read about her and that book here.
Her second book, "The Namesake," was made into a movie in 2007. I never saw it.
She also happens to be absolutely gorgeous.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
So Much Remains to Be Seen
I got a lift this morning from a fellow blogger friend after reading her post about some advice she got. I told her I was going to write down what she said because it really increased my hope.
An update on my camper. He was out sick, unfortunately, last Thursday and Friday with some kind of a stomach bug that was going around the camp. He recovered pretty quickly and this weekend we started a new preparation of his methyl B-12 shot. As a matter of fact, it is a preparation called methylhydroxy B-12. Now, it's hard sometimes to distinguish what behavior is linked to a new biomed strategy or rather a result of something else, but he seems much calmer and we are getting some very nice communication from him.
For example, at school last Wednesday, they were thrilled because he said three words. At home the other day, he brought me a bag of chips and said, "Cheeup." This morning he went to the refrigerator to find his water bottle and he said, "Whah, whah, whah." I have taught him to tap his chest twice for "I want," and then point to what he wants and he will do this with very little cues. Pointing is a new big deal. He does not drag you so much from place to place. And the eye contact and engaging factor has increased.
So, though I got down like I always do this past weekend (I constantly respond to thought 'my son is going to be six years old this month and still he is not speaking to me'), I do believe he is coming along.
And, of course, I can't talk about him without the subject turning to potty habits, but today, he sat on the potty and moved his bowels. Oh My God. That is really a big deal!
Note to people in a similar situation as ours, then: It's so darn easy to get down and respond to what we are observing or what we THINK we are observing in the moment, but we forget that our children have their own potential, their own timetable, and we really cannot predict the future. We could save ourselves so much trouble by stopping imaging the worst case scenario all of the time, and try to at least put a little space around our children and our expectations for that X-factor...the sudden growth spurt, the good things that can happen we can't even begin to imagine.
I think that that space I am talking about is LOVE.
So, yes, so much does remain to be seen. Thanks, my friend.
An update on my camper. He was out sick, unfortunately, last Thursday and Friday with some kind of a stomach bug that was going around the camp. He recovered pretty quickly and this weekend we started a new preparation of his methyl B-12 shot. As a matter of fact, it is a preparation called methylhydroxy B-12. Now, it's hard sometimes to distinguish what behavior is linked to a new biomed strategy or rather a result of something else, but he seems much calmer and we are getting some very nice communication from him.
For example, at school last Wednesday, they were thrilled because he said three words. At home the other day, he brought me a bag of chips and said, "Cheeup." This morning he went to the refrigerator to find his water bottle and he said, "Whah, whah, whah." I have taught him to tap his chest twice for "I want," and then point to what he wants and he will do this with very little cues. Pointing is a new big deal. He does not drag you so much from place to place. And the eye contact and engaging factor has increased.
So, though I got down like I always do this past weekend (I constantly respond to thought 'my son is going to be six years old this month and still he is not speaking to me'), I do believe he is coming along.
And, of course, I can't talk about him without the subject turning to potty habits, but today, he sat on the potty and moved his bowels. Oh My God. That is really a big deal!
Note to people in a similar situation as ours, then: It's so darn easy to get down and respond to what we are observing or what we THINK we are observing in the moment, but we forget that our children have their own potential, their own timetable, and we really cannot predict the future. We could save ourselves so much trouble by stopping imaging the worst case scenario all of the time, and try to at least put a little space around our children and our expectations for that X-factor...the sudden growth spurt, the good things that can happen we can't even begin to imagine.
I think that that space I am talking about is LOVE.
So, yes, so much does remain to be seen. Thanks, my friend.
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