PLAY written on the chalkboard

Griffin's handwriting is improving greatly as you can see here. He even added dimension to it by outlining the word. I am so very proud of him. He also wrote after "PLAY", "Elmo in grouchland" all in very defined and ledgible letters. He is also holding the chalk properly in the tripod grasp. Griffin is quite proud of his accomplishments as he comes to get me to show me his work and I give him tons of praise of course. As you can see he is posing proudly by his work and being a ham at the same time. Hope that you all have a fantastic day!

2+2=4 , Happy Birthday to Me & Dad

Just a bit of news about Griffin and the computer, somewhere he has learned to type out 2+2=4. I have no idea where he learned this from because he didn't learn it at school (I checked with Kathleen) and I certainly didn't teach him because we haven't attempted that kind of math yet but it looks like he is ready for it 'eh? My little guy just never ceases to amaze me.

In other news, today is my 42nd birthday and what makes it extra special is that it is also my dad's birthday. So, happy birthday dad I sure wish that we lived closer so that we could celebrate our birthday together. Thanks for sharing your birthday with me, I love you dad.

Using the Toilet!!!!!

GREAT NEWS! Griffin used the toilet again all by himself! He was in the bathtub and I had walked out of the bathroom just for a moment and heard the toilet seat clank open so I ran back into the bathroom and much to my surprise Griffin was standing there peeing in the toilet. I gave him all kinds of praise and he stood there when he was done just gleaming with pride. About half an hour later he had gone in the bathroom again and tore off his diaper and was attempting to go again but nothing would come out but I gave him tons of praise anyhow. I am so very proud of my little guy, he is really growing up. Yesterday morning Griffin had an eye doctor's appointment and it did not go well. He ended up having a meltdown because they made us wait so dang long plus they dialated his eyes which I think may have given him a headache. I asked if we could avoid doing the dialation but the woman told me how important it was for the doctor to see behind his eyes and check them out. I was worried about his sensory issues and the light hurting his eyes but I caved in and let her put the drops in. Griffin's meltdown lasted about 2 hours even after we finally got home he was still quite upset. Do any of you know if it was absolutely necessary for them to dialate his eyes or not?????? What do you think I should have done? What would you have done? He is a happy camper today and just got on the school bus really well, happy as can be!!!! Hope that you're having a great day!

Speech, O.T., and You My Friends

Here is a cool pic of a griffin and one of these days I am going to sculpt one just like it. That is when I get motivated to do so. The weather is still on the chilly side, it is only 64 degrees here today and overcast skies. Not much of a summer that we are having this year but, I am not complaining because it still beats the heck out of sub-zero temps and lots and lots of darkness. At least we do have plenty of daylight even if it is overcast.

Griffin had speech yesterday with Lisa and he got a bit antsy and couldn't focus on the task at hand so Lisa would give him breaks which seemed to help. He did pretty good on the matching game (much like the game of "go fish") and seemed to be quite happy when he would make a match after asking me or Lisa if we had the card that he needed. Lisa thought that perhaps he was acting the way he was (restless and uninterested) because the task that she was asking him to do may have been a bit too difficult because he would stand there holding his ears in protest.
Griffin also had O.T. with Gayle yesterday afternoon. He was totally unfocused during his session but Gayle handled it very well (way to go Gayle!!!!!!!!) just like a pro. Both Lisa and Gayle are excellent in what they do and I know that I don't say it near enough but I do appreciate your hard work and dedication.

I hope that all of you visited Tina's (K.C.'s mommy) and shared with her some words of inspiration and encouragement, she can definitely use the support. I remember last December when I was having a crisis and all of you came to the resue and helped me out tremendously.
All of you may live far far away from me but, it doesn't mean that I care any less about you all and your families. You are my friends and I cherish you as such and I look forward to knowing you all much better as I read from your blogs each day/week.

Love to all of you and big hugs from Alaska

My Friend Needs Your Support

Please visit my friends blog Autism and KC, Tina could use your support right now she is going through a tough time. Her family has just lost a very dear friend in Israel and her parents are over there right now. As you know things are quite dangerous and violent in Israel and Tina and her family could use your support through prayers or just through a few kind words left as a comment. Thank you all and enjoy your day and I am borrowing the kind words of Melissa H. when I say "May the rain pour on your house but the sun shine in your heart" Is that kind of close Melissa? I got the gist of it didn't I? Melissa said that to Tina in her blog when Tina was wishing for rain since she lives in the desert.

We are doing great and everything is going really well. I don't have much time to write because Griffin wants to use the computer. He has been using the computer a whole lot lately and that is part of the reason I haven't been keeping things up-to-date and I haven't been visiting your blogs as much as I would like. I just wanted to let you all know that we are fine and that Griffin has been keeping me quite busy this summer. In the evening I will try to catch up on reading blogs and writing. Hope that all of you are doing very well and that you are having a great summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Swimming, Matching Game, and Puzzles

Griffin is doing so well in everything that he is doing lately. At the pool on Wednesday he actually swam for the first time to keep his head above water. Okay, so it was more like treading water but nevertheless he was swimming because he was paddling his legs and arms. Griffin had speech on Friday morning and he played a matching game much like the game of "concentration" where the cards are face down and you only pick up one at a time and turn it over until you have a match. Lisa, the SLP, said that Griffin has a photographic memory because he could remember the cards so well and where they were located. In the afternoon on Friday Griffin had OT with Gayle at the clinic and they played on an obstacle course that Gayle had put together. Lately, he has shown a lot of interest in doing puzzles and in particular a Sesame Street puzzle. So, what Gayle did was put the puzzle pieces all along the obstacle course so that Griffin would have to keep using his gross motor skills through the course in order to get the puzzle pieces. He had to work for each piece but he didn't seem to mind at all because he was so determined to complete the puzzle.

The weather has been a bit on the nippy side , it's only been in the high 50's and lower to mid 60's and cloudy most of the time. Today it is sunny and at 2:30 in the afternoon it is only 62 degrees so far with a breeze blowing. I can't recall in the 15 yrs. I've been living here that it has been so cool during the summer so it is quite unusual. I don't mind it so much since I am allergic to the sunlight it sure makes life easier for me that I don't have to hide from the sun all day long. That's all folks, hope you're having a great weekend.

Normal People Scare Me

This is a film that you don't want to miss and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Normal People Scare Me, is a poignant film about what it is like to be autistic straight from the mouths of the children (and some adults). It is particularly moving because there's nothing left to the imagination, it is raw and real, it is honest and candid but most of all it will make you shed a few tears. Just the theme song alone (performed by Taylor Dayne) had me bawling. This is a documentary film that is like no other that I have seen because it was put together by a 17 year old autistic young man and what a brilliant young man he is indeed! I urge you to buy this DVD and to peer into the minds and hearts of these beautiful young souls who share their everyday experiences with us. This film will leave you with a new understanding of what autism is all about and with a feeling that will not leave you. Maybe I am just a softy and a bit mushy but I really do think that even if you don't find yourself crying a little bit you will still be left with an impression of how these individuals (and your own child) struggle every day, not that you are not already aware of it. I just wanted to share this information with you and let you know that I highly recommend this film for everyone who even is remotely associated with autism, you will not regret it. If you would like to order a copy just go to the link above and there's all the information that you need to order online. If you want to order it by mail then let me know and I will post the address. Hope that you are enjoying your day and have a safe 4th of July holiday.