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| Behold, the French Toast Miracle! |
For families like mine, this is close to getting him to eat scrambled eggs.
After a week of us both being sick and eating pizza because I had a stash of them in the freezer, this is a welcome change.
Showing posts with label new. Show all posts
Showing posts with label new. Show all posts
Sunday, December 17, 2017
Breakfast Breakthrough
James ate french toast again!
For families like mine, this is close to getting him to eat scrambled eggs.
After a week of us both being sick and eating pizza because I had a stash of them in the freezer, this is a welcome change.
For families like mine, this is close to getting him to eat scrambled eggs.
After a week of us both being sick and eating pizza because I had a stash of them in the freezer, this is a welcome change.
Wednesday, August 07, 2013
Special Exposure / Wordless Weds: Rides
James did something new at the County Fair this year - rides!
In previous years, he'd frantically tell me "No, I don't wanna!" The noise from both the rides, their soundtracks, and their passengers, combined with the excessive motion, were a big sensory overload for him. He'd watch from the Midway for a while, once he was assured he didn't have to get too close to an attraction.
The biggest thing was he volunteered "I want to ride on the caterpillar." Wow. I took James on Big Thunder once (at his request - he loves trains and everyone else was going on it) and had to physically restrain him from jumping off the whole way.
It set a new tone for enjoying the rides this year, and I took a few pictures to celebrate:
Even better? Because we got in free by doing contest entries, I had that money to buy lots of ride tickets!
For more images from the heart and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.
and ... Wordless Wednesday
In previous years, he'd frantically tell me "No, I don't wanna!" The noise from both the rides, their soundtracks, and their passengers, combined with the excessive motion, were a big sensory overload for him. He'd watch from the Midway for a while, once he was assured he didn't have to get too close to an attraction.
The biggest thing was he volunteered "I want to ride on the caterpillar." Wow. I took James on Big Thunder once (at his request - he loves trains and everyone else was going on it) and had to physically restrain him from jumping off the whole way.
It set a new tone for enjoying the rides this year, and I took a few pictures to celebrate:
Even better? Because we got in free by doing contest entries, I had that money to buy lots of ride tickets!
For more images from the heart and to share some of yours,
visit Special Exposure Wednesday at 5 Minutes for Special Needs.
and ... Wordless Wednesday
Friday, March 08, 2013
New Apps To Try
We tried 2 new apps for the iPad this week: Scene and Heard (lite/free version) and Thinkin' Things, Collection 1.
Scene and Heard is an interesting program that lets you take pictures and record sentences about them. So far, James likes tapping the images already loaded into the program. I am hoping that by summer, he and his sister can build on this. It would be a great way for James to build his expressive language.
Bonus, it blends in with the picture schedulers he's used to seeing at school.
Thinkin' Things is a collection of games he met in his first grade classroom. He finally was able to ask specifically for this application last week, after an attempted visit to his old classroom didn't work out .... and he had a huge, Hulky, howling, meltdown. I figured that if he could pull himself back together after that extreme disappointment and form a calm and articulate request, by golly that deserved an attempt to get this thing!
It's older software, by a company that's been acquired, so it took a little sleuthing to track it down online. There are 3 collections, and James was Very Firm that what he wanted was collection 1. How lucky for us that this seems to be the one collection that's downloadable to the iPad. You can find CD ROMS on Amazon or elsewhere, but as my DVD drive died last month, they are not options for us at this time.
I had best results by conducting a Google Search using the following terms: "Thinkin Things, Edmark, Mackiev" -- and in the iPad App Store I had to search under "Mackiev" to find the app. Was it worth it? Definitely! His favourite game is the BOX- Flying Shapes. Well worth the $8.99 we paid for the download.
During my original search for this software, I was surprised to see a warm review of all 3 collections on a site for autism resources.
I even have my eye on our next free app to try: Squiggles. It was my code name for James before he was born, because that's what he did for 9+ months!
We're open to more iPad app suggestions too, if you have some.
For the record - no one is paying me to do write this post. This is just us, living our lives.
Scene and Heard is an interesting program that lets you take pictures and record sentences about them. So far, James likes tapping the images already loaded into the program. I am hoping that by summer, he and his sister can build on this. It would be a great way for James to build his expressive language.
Bonus, it blends in with the picture schedulers he's used to seeing at school.
Thinkin' Things is a collection of games he met in his first grade classroom. He finally was able to ask specifically for this application last week, after an attempted visit to his old classroom didn't work out .... and he had a huge, Hulky, howling, meltdown. I figured that if he could pull himself back together after that extreme disappointment and form a calm and articulate request, by golly that deserved an attempt to get this thing!
It's older software, by a company that's been acquired, so it took a little sleuthing to track it down online. There are 3 collections, and James was Very Firm that what he wanted was collection 1. How lucky for us that this seems to be the one collection that's downloadable to the iPad. You can find CD ROMS on Amazon or elsewhere, but as my DVD drive died last month, they are not options for us at this time.
I had best results by conducting a Google Search using the following terms: "Thinkin Things, Edmark, Mackiev" -- and in the iPad App Store I had to search under "Mackiev" to find the app. Was it worth it? Definitely! His favourite game is the BOX- Flying Shapes. Well worth the $8.99 we paid for the download.
During my original search for this software, I was surprised to see a warm review of all 3 collections on a site for autism resources.
I even have my eye on our next free app to try: Squiggles. It was my code name for James before he was born, because that's what he did for 9+ months!
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| Yes, because I make informed decisions like that. |
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| Angry Birds in space -- goes without sayin'! |
For the record - no one is paying me to do write this post. This is just us, living our lives.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Snoopy Time
James' big sister was invited to a birthday party that involved ice skating at our local arena, Snoopy's Home Ice. It's a gorgeous facility, and quite a gift from Charles M. Schultz and family.
I blew out my knee this week, so James and I remained on the sidelines. We didn't mind too much, as this is a great place to even visit:
It was really nice for us all to be out past our usual time. The kids couldn't get over how light it still was after 8pm and were thrilled to be treated to sharing an order of hot fries on the way home. Everyone slept well that night!
I blew out my knee this week, so James and I remained on the sidelines. We didn't mind too much, as this is a great place to even visit:
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| "Look, Mommy! Snoopy's nose!" |
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| Yup, that beagle's nose is neigh irresistible! |
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| Oh man, the music took me back to the late 70s-80s, and ice/roller skating parties of my youth ... |
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Sensory Update
I've given another bath and shampoo session to James, and again, no yelling, screaming, crying, thrashing, or tears. He even sat still and let me do a big trim number on his hair.
After, I brushed his hair several times (which is usually hard to get him to sit still and allow). I even got to swipe the extra ear wax out of his outer ear.
Yes! Yes! Yes!!!!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Day Two of ...
Dry pants in the morning! Blueberry waffle breakfast on the sofa with his sister! Dressing himself! Walking to school together!
James paused more on the way to school, asking where people were. His sister, Nana, and Daddy were the constant ones. He also asked about his Apu and SHAPE asst. Finally I realized he kept seeing Toyota vans -- the kind his Nana drives. How to explain that this type of van is one of the 2 top popular mini vans right now? Change of subject, says I.
We talked about leaves changing colour, trucks, and familiar faces. Because we saw a few. Former classmates from various schools and programs. James got to run about a little on the playground before the line-up chime sounded. We found his Room's line-up animal:
His aide said he was excited to discover a good friend from the second (mainstream) preschool in the kinder class across the hall. We only had a minute to chat, though. James could not wave me "Good-bye, Mommy!" fast enough. Again. Well, at least some of the other Moms will talk to me ...
And on the way back home I got to:
James paused more on the way to school, asking where people were. His sister, Nana, and Daddy were the constant ones. He also asked about his Apu and SHAPE asst. Finally I realized he kept seeing Toyota vans -- the kind his Nana drives. How to explain that this type of van is one of the 2 top popular mini vans right now? Change of subject, says I.
We talked about leaves changing colour, trucks, and familiar faces. Because we saw a few. Former classmates from various schools and programs. James got to run about a little on the playground before the line-up chime sounded. We found his Room's line-up animal:
His aide said he was excited to discover a good friend from the second (mainstream) preschool in the kinder class across the hall. We only had a minute to chat, though. James could not wave me "Good-bye, Mommy!" fast enough. Again. Well, at least some of the other Moms will talk to me ...
And on the way back home I got to:
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Night Swimming
It was so hot today that I took the kids swimming tonight at 8 after dinner. It was a fantastic experience!
The sun was down and the blue sky was swooshed over with dramatic clouds that threw back orange-pink light on us. The air was warm and still. The water was delicious on our skin. The quarter moon was soft and misty behind some gauzy clouds. I felt like we were in a big Maxfield Parrish snowglobe.
It was one of those nights I hope I'll always remember. Especially the looks on the kids' faces -- total amazement and delight.
This is James' first time in the pools since last year. I think he will like spending more time there and in the River.
First we stood on the steps of the middle pool, and then headed to the wading pool. His sister was very good and gave him a kick board to play with. He immediately called it a boat and put both hands on it, getting more into the water. James' words for this outing: wa'er (water), 'im/s'im (swim), boe (boat), moon, boo (blue), ah-pen (airplane). He put the words water and boat together! He leaned over and got his arms wet up to his elbows, and he brought his face so close to the surface that he got water on his cheek. He learned to get out of the wading pool by himself. He would walk carefully to me and then launch himself into space so I could catch and lower him back into the water. We will work on his re-entry!
The sun was down and the blue sky was swooshed over with dramatic clouds that threw back orange-pink light on us. The air was warm and still. The water was delicious on our skin. The quarter moon was soft and misty behind some gauzy clouds. I felt like we were in a big Maxfield Parrish snowglobe.
It was one of those nights I hope I'll always remember. Especially the looks on the kids' faces -- total amazement and delight.
This is James' first time in the pools since last year. I think he will like spending more time there and in the River.
First we stood on the steps of the middle pool, and then headed to the wading pool. His sister was very good and gave him a kick board to play with. He immediately called it a boat and put both hands on it, getting more into the water. James' words for this outing: wa'er (water), 'im/s'im (swim), boe (boat), moon, boo (blue), ah-pen (airplane). He put the words water and boat together! He leaned over and got his arms wet up to his elbows, and he brought his face so close to the surface that he got water on his cheek. He learned to get out of the wading pool by himself. He would walk carefully to me and then launch himself into space so I could catch and lower him back into the water. We will work on his re-entry!
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