wow!---yayee me

Just finished registering for this fall semester and decided to actually look at my grades from last term. well guess what? I actually did not get 3 a's and a b. I got 4 A's!!!!

Yeehaw!

that is all.

*P.I.P*

Please go and read this comic strip! I swear, if I could get away with it, I would do it....

hahahhaha




http://toughpigs.com/playingwithdolls20.htm

Another challenge

Now, I'm not complaining, not a bit. It's not "hard"to keep track of all the different therapies I need to keep bub doing.....It's not hard to stay motivated to do all of them...every day...in some cases, every two hours.....(can you hear the sarcasm?)

No, really- most days are fine, but the last two weeks have been hard. As some of you know I have removed dairy (casin) from Bub's diet (VERY CHALLENGING...) and the jury's still out on whether I will go GF as well (gluten free[wheat mainly, but other grains too]...I keep forgetting I didn't know this stuff a month ago, and now it's something Joe & I discuss almost daily.....)
sorry- digressed already....well last weekend Joe gave Mr. Man some hot-dogs & I tell you there was SOMETHING in there that set him off. If I didn't believe diet can affect behavior before...I have NO DOUBT anymore. He had massive meltdowns Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (hotdogs were eaten on Friday and Saturday) and was still touchy on that Monday too (only mini-meltdowns). Now that is one thing I am very thankful for. Mr. Man does not have Massive meltdowns on any kind of regular basis, only when he is super-stressed out (like going to a Doctor or Dentist) and some reaction to the food he eats. It was so bad we had to leave church because he couldn't handle me leaving him at children's church by himself, and then began to meltdown as soon as I convinced him I would stay with him. I was a VERY stressed out Mom that morning.... to make things worse tho, the same time these meltdowns started, we had started a new OT for bub (Occupation Therapy) that I suspected might be causing the meltdowns b/c he doesn't really like part of it (skin brushing followed by joint-compressions b4 we put the ankle weights on), but thankfully I did a double elimination & then started the OT again & no meltdowns....yeayee- it was the hotdogs...wait, did I say yayee...that's one more food I have to avoid.....*sigh*

So as this behavioral trigger is now identified, it is July 3rd and time for our town's fireworks. We decide to take Bub because we can go near the fairgrounds, at Grandpa's work, but not be in the crowds (Large groups of people over-sensitizes bub). As you can see, he enjoyed the firework display and actually focused on it for nearly the whole 1/2 hour display (amazing....),
BUT(of course there is a "but") Joe & I think Mr. Man had some dreams about the fireworks, and couldn't put them in context of where he saw them....he definately had nightmares the next two nights, and since the 3rd, it has taken us 2.5-3.5 hours to get him to fall asleep. This is not happy, esp. since Joe just got a new job that starts at 7am in the morning, and I (by choice mind you) am the one staying with Bub until he is asleep so Joe can get the sleep -he- needs.

Fun, huh?

Sorry this picture is sideways...this is one of the pictures we use to help Bub communicate until he begins talking (speech therapy seems to be helping) He is mainly consistent with this picture & his soy-milk picture (as these are some of his favorite foods...I'm not surprised). Bub is seeming to like using the pictures more than signing, however, it seems he likes ME to sign (ASL) to him rather than make him use the pictures....
But I see this as a positive thing as I am starting to be fluent in ASL, and once I finish school and get into my profession, that could be a HUGE asset....so I tell myself so I don't get overwhelmed and depressed.....

Still reading as much as I can, So much to learn, and apply...it can be overwhelming. but I decided the changes I do make will be a little slower than they have been. with all the therapies starting since June, it's hard to know which ones made the most difference and how quickly, now that it seems that the major therapies are in place and the new stuff I get are really tweaks of what we are doing, I'm only going to introduce one new thing every week or two (maybe longer in some cases). I'm going to be starting Bub on some supplements, my Aunt recommended a pro-biotic that her son uses, and as I have read a lot about the connection with leaky-gut, and as we know my preoccupation with Mr. Man's end product (literally) I think this is a very good starting point.
Then after that, out Pediatric behavioralist pediatrician recommended Omega-3 to help with his concentration & told us it's the only thing proven to really help so far ( and again, my aunt confirmed this with her experience)
I'm still considering a high B6 w/ magnesium supplement for him, our Behav. pediatrician sz all it will do is give him REALLY yellow pee, but ARI and DAN! and so many other resources say it can really have a positive effect, so I think I will try that too...eventually before his 3rd birthday anyway.
I'm still hoping he will be able to blow out his own candles this year....I'm getting some pinwheels to see if that will help him get it, since blowing bubbles was a bust....he just wanted to pour the solution from one bottle to another.....then eat the bubbles I blow for him....sigh...it's cute tho... :)

Wow- I guess I did have a lot to say, didn't I?
Keep smiling, cuz I sure am.
Loves to all!

Is that Elton John????

Nope,
just my bub in cousin K's silly sunglasses!

Not much to say today. Just wanted to post.
Loves to all!
Nina

here comes the spiderman!

Don't think I have posted any pic's of bub in his spidey-pj's grandma got him last fall, but they are very cute!
Haven't updated much lately, sorry to anyone who likes to read these on a regular basis. I've been really struggling on the motivation for hobbies the last month or so. Finished my finals a few weeks ago, did well, mainly. Then just as my classes are coming to a close I FINALLY get a few different people to listen to me about concerns Joe & I have with Bub's development and don't dismiss me as a paranoid first-time mom.
So Mr. Man is starting to work with ECI (early childhood intervention) and when he turns three we will be receiving help from the local school district. One thing that is REALLY wonderful about ECI here in TX is that they come to our home, instead of me and the bub going to some office. So my little man gets excited when they come over. Right now to start, we are using some what I call weight therapy, Bub wears these ankle weights that are about 1 lbs each for 15 min. every 2 hours. He's only been wearing them since Friday and we are already seeing some really good results (IMHO). He's staying focused on shows and activities, and seems to be listening and comprehending a little better (I have to repeat myself less and don't have to point and show as much to make him understand). Also, all of us have heard him saying words we haven't heard him say before and in the right context (although it is still sporadic and random in timing)- like I was washing hands with him, and as always I was talking to him about the steps we take to wash hands and after we got the soap on I told him to rub-rub and he started rubbing his hands together and said "rub", I play with the weights with him when we take them off to help him feel positive about them for next time too. I usually put them up to my eyes and say "I see you!", NOT ONLY did he imitate me, he said "see you" back to me! (haven't gotten him to say it again tho). and today, Joe was playing with him on our bed and pointing out pillows to bub. Joe asked bub to get a pillow and Mr. Man grabbed our huge body-pillow and said "BIG" really clearly. So that is just HUGE to me.
In addition to the weights, we are also learning ASL as an alternative means of teaching Bub to communicate with us. It's a fabulous series called "Signing time" by little hands productions (go to www.signingtime.com to see more). Bub really likes watching it & runs to the room when ever he hears the DVD start. I caught him signing leaf, but he was in our room and there aren't any leaves in our room, so I don't know what he was trying to say or do. I have nearly learned all the signs on the DVD and I am trying to use as many signs as I can when I talk with bub. I'm planning on going to the library in the next day or two to get some books on signing.

Anyhow, this is currently my focus, and I have really been putting everything thing else off to the back-burner, so I apologize that I haven't called, written, etc.. like I usually do. I try to get better, but sometimes it's hard for me even to think about anything besides helping and working with my little man. Right now we are working on getting a referral to a developmental pediatrician in one of the nearby towns, but it takes time when it's medicaid, and I don't know if getting a "diagnosis" is going to make any of us feel better/different/etc.. I'm just really grateful the things I have been doing instinctually and the small things I've read about and tried have been helping before I got any additional outside help. Bub is doing much better with eye-contact, he is becoming much more responsive to hearing his name, and can follow simple 2-step requests (like "pick it up and put it in the trash"). He comes and finds me when he wants to show me something and does initiate hugs and sometime kisses with and without prompting.
He still spaces out sometimes, but he comes back much more quickly in the last month or so and he's showing interest in books and drawing! (he still won't let me read books to him for very long tho.)

anyhow, that's whats happening here. Hope you are having a good day where you are.
Love Nina

"WHAT!?!!?!?"-

This is what I heard on the radio today driving home from class... Go to this website to read it as I am afraid that since my opinion is DECIDEDLY negative, I could get slapped with copyright infringement issues if I post the "poem" (a-propaganda-choo) on my blog....
It's "we are virginia tech" by -- Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor of English, VPI&SU
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/4/17/164317/173

I promise you, I heard the this & was screaming "WHAT?!?!?" in my car at my radio. People driving near me (I was at a stop light) looked at me funny & kinda scooted down in their seats.

This is the MOST tasteless, horrible, insensitive "memorial" poem I have EVER heard in my entire life!
WHAT does this woman think, that ANYONE can compare the life of an elephant (baby elephant no less) to a HUMAN BEING?!?!
If I was there, if my child was one of the 33 people murdered, I would be screaming for this woman's resignation. Who does this woman think she is to preach her political agenda to people who are mourning, to people who are emotionally vulnerable to her propaganda.

And what's with this line...
"We are strong and brave and innocent and unafraid"
INNOCENT? (I think you all know my opinion on the "innocence of man," so I'm not going there.)

UNAFRAID? what cloud is her head stuck in? I don't know about her, but every interview I have watched of students & staff on campus during the shooting IS STILL SCARED 24+ hour later.

So she shoves her agenda down the throats of these poor shocked and grieving people & then hides her message by TRYING to evoke the feelings you get when listening to one of Martin Luther King Jr. speeches. ("we will prevail" much like "we will overcome")
This makes me sick.
I seriously want to vomit.

My heart goes out to all the parents and families and friends of the 33 victims. You are all in my prayers even if I don't know any of your names. I am outraged that this woman has degraded the memory of your precious children for the sake of her political views.
I pray that the LORD gives you comfort and hope.

rainy day!

The umbrella is Bub's new friend (after he broke a tine, of course...)
He will bring it over to me, and move my hand to the underpart to tell me he would like me to open it for him...(thankfully, that part still escapes him, for now anyways....)
It was all rainy yesterday morning, so I decided to slap those yellow boots on & grab the blue umbrella & my trusty digitial camera (have I ever said how much I love this thing?) & go to it.

Can you tell mr. Man is having a great time? little bugger only figured out that umbrellas only work to keep you dry if you hold it OVER your head once the downpour started...
naturally, Momma had NO umbrella, so guess who got soaked...much like my Dad getting "skunked" on the fishing trips we took as kids. (at least Bub didn't poke my eye out with the umbrella like I "hooked" Dad with my fishing poll....)

It was hard getting a good picture, he was on the go & with the lighting, my camera kept delaying the shot for the proper flash...how aggrivating, but still, some really cute ones came out -Fairly- well.

Well, happy Wednesday to all! :)

Big boy!

Just comparing the bub from last year to this year. About this time last year in the great snow state, we were digging out our car from a huge double whammy blizzard, and feeding Mr. Man some snow while we could. Now the little guy is out playing in the sunshine & moving little people from the bus to his new airplane.
I ask Bub, "Where does the panda go? In the luggage compartment?" he gives me a glazed donut look for a minute and then tries to get me to kiss whatever little people person he is currently holding.... can someone explain this to me?

Anyhow, We had a WONDERFUL day today. Momma woke up "early" (7am) with Bub and did the morning thing with him (brush-brush the teeth, open the blinds & curtain, make the bed, get dressed, kiss the fluffy....) and then got ready for Church. Mr. Man played with his little people while getting his morning choco (which was actually vanilla flavored milk, but it's still choco....)..did the shake-shake dance (instead of saying "shake your body/booty" we say "shake-shake-shake, shake-shake-shake, shake your sippy...etc..")

Then we went to church, but no one showed up to teach children's church. My friend Kim and I decided we should go ahead and do it. It was hilarious to me watching Bub zoom in and out of the group activities. He would be intently watching the other kids listening to our lesson, then all of a sudden he would dump out a bucket of blocks, & put it over his head and babble to himself. We talked about how Jesus wanted the disciples to be Fishers of Men, and made Puffy-fish out of paper, staples and tissue! Then we took the whole lot outside to play on the playground. Kim's son made up this alligator/crocodile game that all the kids (except bub) played with great enthusiasm...mostly, for a while anyhow. I had such fun watching all the kids play and had to laugh when they all looked at me funny for wanting to play "Duck, Duck, Grey Duck" (I'm sorry, "duck, duck, goose" is just SO wrong....) I guess it's just a northern-midwest kind of thing....
Then we went out to Lunch with Kim's family and had such a good time!!!!
So that was really a great morning & I enjoyed it, but....once we got home & I put Mr. Man down for his nap, I fell asleep too....so maybe I need more coffee....

Love to all!
Muppethead

Mowin' with Daddy

Here is the bub mowing the lawn with daddy.

He ABSOLUTELY loves mowing the lawn.
We go to home depot/Lowe's and he makes a break for the lawn mowers. He hops on one & make "brooovmmm"-y kinds of noises.
We go near the garage & he gets totally excited.

It is so cute to see Mr. Man & his daddy go vrooming down the lawn.

Just wanted to share.

Loves to all!

Another example of my nerdiness

So, as I posted last night I did my art project b4 I went to bed. I wasn't REALLY happy with it, and kept thinking about how I wasn't REALLY happy with it. I showed it to Dorlaine, and She's SO sweet, but I know it wasn't very good. See here.



The project is to Show 4 out of the 9 principles of the illusion of Depth.

So, Even I think this is not good, so while Mr. Bub is sleeping I try again, and come up with this one.


I like it better, but for some reason it makes me thin of those old Bombay Gin ads....
FYI the 9 principle of the illusion of depth are:
1:Relative size (scale)
2:Overlap
3:Position/veritical rise
4:Relative value
5:Atmospheric Perspective (fuzzy and dark in the distance)
6:Linear Perspective (parallel lines meet at horizon)
7:Foreshortening
8:Isometric Perspective (rectangles become paralellograms, and circles become ovals)
9:Warm colors advance and cool colors retreat

And knowing me, anything I do will have to have some kind of surreal-type influence.

So we'll see how this turns out.
Love to all!

Whew!

Finished all my tests and projects for this CrazY-WeeK-Of-INSAnity-That's-nOt-MidTerMs-but-SURE-FEELS-THAT-WAY

I have spring break off next week (wah? Shouldn't that be near Easter????!)
So, since we don't do Midterms, they give us tests and tell us they aren't mid-terms...
Get it? I'm still confused on that one....

Anyhow, I finished my Art-Appreciation project just a while back & am taking a few moments to play on my blogs before I hit the sack.
The HUGE Human Development test I was SOOO worried about? I got an A! Yayee!!!

This is how big a nerd I am during tests:
1- I answer all the questions.
2-I go thru my answers to make sure I still agree with them & mark the ones I question my first impression on.
3-I go thru the ones I marked to triple check, and change them depending on my confidence level.
4-I sit & stare at the scan-tron and count: a- how many questions I changed answers to, and b. how many I marked.
5- I then make sure I am comfortable with the idea that everyone of those questions I just counted could be wrong, and is that I grade I can live with?
6- If "yes", turn in
7-If "no", secretly bite my nails & turn it in anyhow.

What made this experience worse/better...was he was grading it for us right away, so no suspense. UNFORTUNATELY, I sit in the front (b/c I am a nerd...proud of it....) So I hear the comments he makes to my classmates as he shows them their score. Most of what I heard was "you can do better.", "I hope you do better next test", etc... *"shake in boots"mode*

So after completing steps 1-5, I realize I could have upto 15 out of 100 wrong. My Prof put the scale on the whiteboard, and 15 off would put me at a B, so I do the secret nail bite & go to the "DESK OF DOOM" (ba-ba-ba-boom) ONLY 10 of the 15 wrong! PLUS! I got 2 extra credit points for a in-class project I did a couple weeks ago! So I had a 92 & the cut off was 90.

THEN to compound the nerd-within, after I get a compliment from him for paying attention in class, I start walking to my car, realized I am SO jittery from the anticipation of this test & then the resulting calm (?) of passing well, I do not think I can drive safely. The closest approximation I have to this is MAYBE when I drove from MN to TX in July 98 (shane's wedding) by myself, and didn't stop for the night anywhere and was hopped up on NO-DOZ and coffee... THAT kind of shaky, where if you HAVE to drive you can, but it's better if you don't, you know? So I kill time & call Joe until my equilibrium has returned.

So long story short. I am the ultimate nerd. and I'm getting old, now that I know better than to push myself too hard. Oh, the joy of youthful stupidity vs the ability to laugh your pants off at yourself.

Love to all, please don't tease me too hard on this one.
;P

Ahhh, Childhood...thanks Shane...

My commentary will be in Pink....b/c this is WAAAY too close to reality...

IF YOU WERE A LITTLE GIRL IN THE 70'S......

You had that Fisher Price Doctor's Kit with a stethoscope that actually worked. Still have it!



You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a plastic basket with flowers on it. Inheritied my Sister's...



You learned to skate with actual skates (not roller blades) that had metal wheels. - with one skate on & the other off for EXTRA balance...


You thought Gopher from Love Boat was cute (admit it!) -Well, he's a definite sight better from Dr. Bricker! & didn't you just love it when Gopher & Juile were having a "thing"????


You had nightmares after watching Fantasy Island. -Tattoo still scares me, I found a fairy tale theater tape where he is Rumplestilskin, and it is CREEPY!


You had either a "bowl cut" or "pixie", not to mention the "Dorothy Hamill".

People sometimes thought you were a boy. - Had the Dorothy Hamill, NOT a good look for me....


You had rubber boots for rainy days and Moon boots for snowy days.

YEAH! You owned a "Slip-n-Slide", on which you injured yourself on a sprinkler head more than once. -MY MOON BOOTS CHANGED COLORS!!!! no slip-n-slide, we got the garden hose & the sprinkler only...


You owned "Klick-Klacks" and smacked yourself in the face more than once ! _ I was darn good at the klick-klacks! I can still do it, but they don't have them on string anymore...boo!


Your Holly Hobbie sleeping bag was your most prized possession. -No Holly hobbie sleeping bag, But My sister & I had the doll & her friend. We both liked the friend better & fought about who would play her, we considered Holly Hobbie a grime-stone primarily...


You wore a poncho, gauchos, and knickers. - I had an -awesome- crocheted pancho in a odd shade of blue...I think we found it in a garage sale....


You begged Santa for the electronic game, Simon.
Never got it, Dad thought it was a waste of Money I guess...


You had the Donnie and Marie Dolls with those pink and purple satiny shredded outfits, or the Sunshine Family. I didn't, but my friend Mia did. I was Jealous!


You spent hours in your backyard on your metal swing set with the trapeze. The swing set tipped over at least once. - nope, Dad poured concrete down so we wouldn't kill ourselves as children.

You had homemade ribbon barrettes in every imaginable color. (Oh yeah!) . - My sister had a pair with yellow feathers on the ends and she NEVER let me wear them...*sniff*

You had a pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals (the ones with hard sole & the buckle). You also had a pair of salt-water sandals. -Nope, Mom was SUPER weird about shoes. We got swayed Buster-browns in Day-glo colors...(maybe I exagerated the color part....)




You wanted to be Laura Ingalls Wilder really bad; you wore that Little House on the Prairie-inspired plaid, ruffle shirt with the high neck in at least one school picture; and you despised Nellie Oleson!



You wanted your first Kiss to be at a Roller Rink!

PONG! ("video tennis" ) was the most remarkable futuristic game you've ever heard of !



Your hairstyle was described as having "wings" or Feathers" and you kept it "pretty" with the comb you kept in your back pocket. When you walked, the "wings" flapped up and down, looked like you were gonna "take off"



You know who Strawberry Shortcake is, as well as her friends, Blueberry Muffin and Huckleberry Pie. I NEVER got any strawberry shortcake & I had to beg until I was blue in the face to get My Little Ponies in 5th grade. I was so deprived from the mainstream marketing....

You carried a Muppets lunch box to school and it was metal, not plastic.

With the thermos inside some were glass inside and broke the first time you dropped them. I think I had this set....


You and your girlfriends would fight over which of the Dukes of Hazzard was your boyfriend. -Actually, my friends and I fought over who could be daisy, or Princess Leia. By the time we got tired of that, we played Charle's Angels instead b/c there were enough girl-parts to go around...



YOU had Star Wars action figures, too! LOVED it!



It was a big event in your household each year when the "Wizard of Oz" would come on TV. Your mom would break out the popcorn and sleeping bags! You better believe it!



You often asked your Magic-8 ball the question: "Who will I marry.

Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett, or David Cassidy?" This was more my sister....I was fixated on Paul McCarthney..


You completely wore out your Grease, Saturday Night Fever, and Fame soundtrack record album. I learned how to do the Hustle before I was 5.... bah-bah-bup-ba-da-dah-daaaa



You tried to do lots of arts and crafts, like yarn and Popsicle-stick God's eyes, decoupage, or those weird potholders made on a plastic loom.



You made Shrinky-Dinks and put iron-on kittens on your t-shirts!


You used to tape record songs off the radio by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker. Yes, but more often I would hold the recorder up to tape my mom's beatles albums.


You had subscriptions to Dynamite and Tiger Beat. No


You learned everything you needed to know about girl issues from Judy Blume books. (Are you there God, It's me, Margaret.) I read them, but didn't like many of them...


You thought Olivia Newton John's song "Physical" was about aerobics. (?? its not??)


You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes, or shoelaces with heart or Rainbow designs. OH YEAH!



You wanted to be a Solid Gold Dancer.
Don't you ?

You drowned yourself in Love's Baby Soft - Which was the first "real" perfume you ever owned. eww!


You glopped your lips in Strawberry Roll-on lip-gloss till it almost dripped off. ack! that stuff was AWFUL!