Appreciate the Small Stuff!: HE MADE IT!!!!!

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: HE MADE IT!!!!!: Today was AWESOME!!!!!! But I'm going to tell some back story first. At 18 months, Daniel went from a vocabulary of 75 words to not talkin...

HE MADE IT!!!!!

Today was AWESOME!!!!!! But I'm going to tell some back story first.

At 18 months, Daniel went from a vocabulary of 75 words to not talking at all.  (Give me a break, I was a first time mom.  I wrote down every word he said.)  At three, he still wasn't speaking much, uncomfortable/unconcerned with people, had night terrors, anxiety, but could read.  He was the weirdest but most beautiful boy ever.  He started language therapy with the school district with the ruling of "language delay".  At 5, we were told by a psychologist that he was mentally handicapped while Daniel sat in the room reading "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling (and not the Disney version). We wrote that guy off as a kook, and had him retested.  He was given the diagnoses of "Asperger's Syndrome/High Functioning Autism" at 6.  Since then, we have homeschooled, had language therapy, gone to conferences, and read books trying to find ways to helping him.

And then today, we went to our private therapist to have testing done so we could restart private therapy.  AND HE TESTED NORMAL!!!! He has never been in a normal range in the pragmatic, listening, and social language.  But now at 10, he made it!!! He has had a lot of set backs this year.  Anxiety has gotten awful, so we started on medication.  Meds have help tremendously.  This was after we tried everything else first; gluten free, sugar free, carbohydrate specific diet, exercise, and counseling.  I was torn apart by the decision to medicate, but we tried everything else. 

Anyway, he has made such improvements.  We are ecstatic with how well he is doing.  He is in a 7th grade science book, 6th grade math, vocabulary, and social studies book.  Not bad for a "mentally handicapped" kid.  (That Psychologist puts the "o" in "psycho") 

We are encouraged that since we made it to this point with Daniel; we will make it with Gabriel, who was diagnosed last month with Asperger's.  Thanks for the prayers and please continue.

    

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: A Great Friend

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: A Great Friend: This lizard captured Daniel's attention more than any animal in the zoo.
Sometimes it just hits me, Daniel is SO different! But he ...

A Great Friend

This lizard captured Daniel's attention more than any animal in the zoo.

Sometimes it just hits me, Daniel is SO different!  But he tries so hard to fit in.  The problem is that other people and various types of work just not interesting. And when he isn't interested he "self-stimulates", or my preferred word "Soothes."

Stress or Boredom causes some really unusual behaviors. It started with spinning, then flapping.  He flapped for a long time.  Then he started clearing his throat.  We got more negative attention for that, as parents.  Everyone always thought he was sick.  Nope, it made him feel better.  Now, the new thing is a facial twitch. Kind of like he is winking.  It is less obvious than flapping and spinning, but still....I fear that he will be slapped for winking while some pretty girl is near.  He wouldn't be winking at her, just as she happens to walk by.

So we are working on a list. He and I are working on a list of the qualities that other people want in a friend so that interacting with people is less stressful.  The less stress, the less "soothing".  I am putting the list here.  Feel free to contribute ideas.  Some of this may sound ridiculous, but we have to be very upfront, honest, and thorough.

Qualities a Friend Wants
1. Smart, but not a show off
2. Well and appropriately dressed for specific occasions (don't wear a suit to play outside)
3. Smell and look clean
4. Care for others thoughts and feelings
5. Kind
6.  Lets other people talk
7. Listens
8. Stays on subject
9. Doesn't interrupt (even if what I have to say is more interesting)
10. Good manners

Any more advice????  Remember if it doesn't make it on the list, then it isn't a "friend quality".  We don't assume that it will just come with practice.  A mental (some times actual) note has to be made.

Isn't he WONDERFUL!  He wants to be a good friend.  And he has the kind and good manners down.  He is very proud of his manners.  Sometimes when he is holding a door, I have to make him stop.  He will stand there forever, because "people keep coming and I need to be polite."

I LOVE MY ASPY!

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Homemade taco shell

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Homemade taco shell: Yesterday was rough! I went to the store with the kids, and they were wilder than normal. Mac tripped over a woman and apologized for her ...

Homemade taco shell

Yesterday was rough!  I went to the store with the kids, and they were wilder than normal.  Mac tripped over a woman and apologized for her "big feet".  Gabriel was clingy and wanted to be held. Then I pulled a muscle (or stressed it or something) carrying him around.  Thankfully, Wayne came home early and let me lay down after taking some meds.  All that to say, I didn't get around to making my tortillas yesterday, but I did this morning!!!!

2 1/2 cups of flour (you can use whole wheat)

1/2 cup of oil

1 tsp of salt

1 cup of water (warmed in the microwave for 1 minute)

Mix in a mixer with the dough hook for about 3 minutes

Turn out on a floured surface and roll into a log.

Slice with a pizza cutter

Roll with a rolling pin

Cook for about one minute on both sides in a
pan sprayed with nonstick.

Viola!! Pretty good.

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Canning Tomato sauce

Appreciate the Small Stuff!: Canning Tomato sauce: So some little people around here think that tomatoes are "yuck", "eww", "that's just nasty", and so forth. And that was just today. But ...