Hopefully, you'll stick around!
Monday, May 31, 2010
The Finish Line
Hopefully, you'll stick around!
Sunday, May 30, 2010
What Would You Prefer?
I'm not saying that I'll do what the poll says - I'm not a politician after all! However, I'm curious to know how this daily posting thing has gone over. Even if you're a lurker - and I'm sure there are a few of you - please feel free to vote.
So, take a moment and check out the poll on the upper right hand corner of the blog. Please exercise your right to vote! :D
Saturday, May 29, 2010
House Update
Friday, May 28, 2010
Junior Kindergarten
Legally he doesn't have to go to school until he's six, so obviously I have some options. Bennett did get into the JK program at our local Children's Treatment Centre. This is a regular classroom but it only has six kids and each child is pulled out for therapies. All of their treatment goals are also worked into the classroom routine. This program is five mornings a week. However, next year schools in Ontario are offering full day/everyday JK. This means that we also have the option of sending Bennett to our community school for the afternoon.
We are definitely committed to the morning JK program. The afternoon class at our local school is still optional. At this point we've agreed to try it out and see how it goes. My reasoning for sending him there is to keep him around other kids that are verbal as well as providing an opportunity to get to know other children in the neighbourhood. If it doesn't work out we'll deal with it by either withdrawing him completely or maybe sending him for just a couple afternoons. Fortunately there's flexibility at this stage.
I'm just really having a difficult time with Bennett starting school in three months! I guess that's pretty typical though for most parents.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Quote of the Week
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Hair Cut
Yesterday we could handle the wild hair no longer and decided to try it ourselves with clippers. First of all I cut Jim's hair - that was fairly easy - he only squirmed a bit and didn't cry at all. Bennett was convinced to try the clippers but I was only able to make a couple of passes before he stormed off in a huff shouting "NOPE" at the top of his lungs. You can image what his hair looked like at that point but if you can't here's a picture:
We were left with no choice but to force the issue which meant Jim holding Bennett in a bear hug, me clipping as fast as I could and Grandma practicing her routine for her upcoming audition for "You Think You Can Dance". The entire process involved a lot of screaming (Bennett) and cheering. In fact we caused such a ruckus that our neighbour Nancy felt obligated to investigate as she was worried that I had dragged the entire neighbourhood into my Feeding obsession.
The end result turned out ok though and hopefully it won't be such a big job next time.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Hot Weekend Wrap-up
We're at the end of our May long weekend and it has been a hot one. Temperatures have been about 30 celsius (85-88) for the last few days - definitely a bit warmer than average. I'm enjoying it but admit that it's been a bit difficult adjusting to the heat. We didn't do much this weekend other than go on a little roadtrip - those are the first two pictures. In the video you can see Murphy enjoying a drink right from the hose.
Other than that, my brain is too muddled by the heat and the trauma of just cutting Bennett's hair to compose a meaningful, coherent post of any kind. I'll do better tomorrow.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Thankful
10. Iced Tea. I can't say enough about this delightful beverage that I seem to be addicted to lately. It needs to be in a big glass with a straw and lots of ice.
9. My 800 thread count sheets. They were a bit expensive but are so nice and soft that I'm tempted to stay in bed all day (yeah - like that would ever happen and besides I've been there, done that).
8. Big Murphy hugs. A wonderful thing about big dogs is that they give and receive big hugs. I would never hug a person as hard as I hug Murphy and he just soaks it up - and so do I.
7. Rice Krispie Squares. I don't think that this particular square gets the recognition it deserves. I really think it's one of my favourite things (other than spaghetti). I've made 2 pans of it this week and I think I'll make another tonight.
6. Jim getting my garden ready for planting. Although he has always helped, since the car accident the bulk of the work falls on his shoulders. This year we won't be planting as much as we won't be around to harvest. We'll be sticking with vegetables that ripen earlier in the season and planting whatever else we can in deck boxes so it can join us when we move.
5. Corn on the cob. A favourite of mine and Bennett's - it's also a great two handed activity!
4. Bennett's chubby, little boy hands. I could look at those little fingers with dirt under the nails every day. And to this day when he slips his grubby, sticky hand in mine, my heart skips a beat.
3. Bathroom applause (TMI warning). It is pretty much impossible for me to go alone for two reasons. First of all, there are times when Bennett just can't seem to have me out of his sight. The second reason is because our bathroom door doesn't close properly. One of the first things I'm going to do when we move is make sure that every door in the house works! Anyway, despite the fact that I'm rarely alone, Bennett always applauds whenever I sit on the toilet. It's much appreciated as I don't get nearly enough standing ovations anymore.
2. Freshly made pogos! We've discovered a chip stand that is about an hour's drive away that makes the best pogos (corn dogs). They are well worth the drive. Bennett loves them too - slathered in mustard....mmmm.........
1. Friends like Kara. I'm not grateful for cerebral palsy and I never will be, but if Bennett didn't have it, I would never have met Kara.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
House Update
Friday, May 21, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Feeding Anxiety
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Happy Birthday Jim!! Are You Ready To Fly?
I don't dedicate blog posts to birthdays anymore but today is special because it's Jim's birthday. I'm happy to announce that I am no longer the older woman - Jim has caught up with me - at least for another six months - I love this time of year!
I hope you're having a great day. And thanks for changing that dirty diaper a little while ago - even though it's your birthday.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Doctor, Doctor
The next morning we woke up in the hotel room. Usually Bennett's first words are "Mama", "Dada", "House" (for the Treehouse channel) or "the Mouse" (for Mickey Mouse Playhouse) or "Morn 'n". However, on this morning Bennett woke up with his other eye glued shut. Frantically he began calling out, "ogta, ogta, ogta" pointing to his eye! For those not familiar with Bennett speak, he was saying "doctor". Jim explained that we didn't need to go back to the doctor and that we would just put medicine in that eye too. At first he remained unconvinced and questioned us a few times, "ogta?", "ogta?".
My sweet little boy is not only a bit of a chicken it seems but perhaps a bit of a hypochondriac....
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Heart Of Pure Chicken
Eventually he agreed to ride in the mini old cars which he enjoyed. That was the last ride though.
The rides weren't a big hit but we had a good time anyway. Bennett loves people watching and sampling all the food. In the background of the picture below you can see my ride (scooter). I am grateful that so many places have these available to rent. It's the only thing that allows me to go places with Bennett and Jim that I couldn't go otherwise.Saturday, May 15, 2010
Q & A
Friday, May 14, 2010
House Progress!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Super Diaper Dad
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Bennett's In Love
In the video Bennett had decided to change his pronounciation of Marissa from the usual "Marsa" to what you hear. Experimenting with sounds I think to get closer - a great thing around here!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Time For A Change
Bennett had another assessment done today by the Assistive Communication Clinic team. His current device is a Minimo and has become a bit limiting. The new device will have hundreds of symbols pre-programmed as well as a voice synthesizer. It will enable him to spell, change tenses and form sentences. Some of the words sound kind of funny and apparently it can't say certain words. Even so, I think it will be helpful in that it will provide Bennett with a better opportunity to express himself as well as to continue to develop his language skills.
Ultimately I'm still hoping for real words using Bennett's voice. We have made some progress in this area but realistically we have years of speech therapy ahead of us. I'll try to get some video of Bennett saying something other than "mama" or "dada" for a future post but he's not always that cooperative - especially when a camera is involved!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Getting To Know Me
1. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?
Socks
2. WHAT COLOUR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING?
Pants??
3. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The Wiggles
4. CAN YOU JUGGLE?
Yeah - oh wait, I thought that said "jiggle"
5. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
Nacho flavoured Doritos
6. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE?
Pink Flamingo
7. HOW IS THE WEATHER RIGHT NOW?
Cloudy but at least the snow is melting
8. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Jim
9. WHAT THING DO YOU NOTICE FIRST ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Hands and whether they're wearing pants
10. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
I couldn't live with me but I think I could be friends with me
11. HOW ARE YOU TODAY?
OK - a bit tired
12. FAVOURITE DRINK?
A cold glass of milk
13. FAVOURITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK?
Please don't make me choose...
14. FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT?
Prosciutto
15. HAIR COLOUR?
I forget, but probably a shade of gray or grey
16. EYE COLOUR?
Brown
17. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
Sometimes
18. PIERCINGS?
Both ears but they close up all the time because I wear earrings about once every two years
19. FAVOURITE MONTH?
It used to be September but let's make it August now
20. FAVOURITE FOOD?
Spaghetti - In fact I have an ongoing list titled "Places Where Barbara Has Eaten Spaghetti". Here it is for your reading enjoyment:
Cairo, Egypt
Athens, Greece
Paris, France
London, England
Rome, Italy
Florence, Italy
Toronto, Canada
Orlando, USA
Somewhere that I can't remember in Spain
Tonight here at home
I've learned that you can find spaghetti almost anywhere in the world. The best spaghetti I had was in Paris and the most memorable was in Egypt.
21. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
Alvin and the Chipmunks The Squeakquel
22. WINTER OR SUMMER?
Fall
23. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA?
It depends - chocolate ice cream but vanilla milk shake
24. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING NOW?
The Diary of Anne Frank and some mystery/thriller paperback that I can't even remember the name of right now and I love You Stinky Face
25. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
The mouse and Doritos crumbs
26. FAVOURITE BOARD GAME?
I prefer to call them BORED games
27. WHAT DID YOU DO LAST NIGHT?
Discussed Jeeps with Jim, watched Dinner Impossible and then tossed and turned for way too long
28. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING?
Where are my pants?
Sunday, May 9, 2010
The Other Side of Mother's Day
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Splish Splash I Was Takin' A Bath
For safety reasons, Jim is always at home when this happens. However, on Thursday night I thought Bennett and I would be ok while Jim took Murphy for a quick walk. So, there we were splishin' and a splashin' and having a great time. And then Bennett suddenly stood up, bent over and clutched the side of the tub. Within seconds his eyes became focused and his face flushed. I would never claim to be be the sharpest knife in the drawer but I'm not the dullest either and I quickly figured out what was about to happen. Panic set in as I asked him if he could sit on the potty and he furiously shook his head "no". I knew I was running out of time and options and I was frantically looking for something to catch what I knew was coming. And then - it was too late - there it was - just like a torpedo - and then it was bobbing in the tub! With lightening fast reflexes that I didn't even know I had, I scooped it up and flipped it into the garbage can which was a couple feet from the tub. And then the laughter started - Bennett thought it was hysterical. He was laughing so hard he could barely stand - he would only stop long enough to point at the garbage can and say "poop" and then he would descend into uncontrollable giggles again. Once my horror subsided I started to laugh too. It was pretty funny.
I don't need to drag this story out anymore but rest assured that we both got cleaned up as did the tub. Jim and Murphy came back and said, "I guess you two had a good time, I could hear Bennett laughing all the way up the street!".
Friday, May 7, 2010
House Update
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Back To Cute
The other day, our neighbour Nancy and her grand daughter Abby came over for a visit. Bennett and Abby were having a great time exchanging smooches and taking turns on the slide. Eventually, Bennett noticed that Abby's babies were a bit neglected, so being the perfect gentleman that he is, he decided to take them for a walk up and down the street. And Jim, being the great dad that he is, followed along.
Below is video of the action - two tough guys happily pushing a pretty pink stroller up and down our street!