Alison’s class went on their first field trip last week.
I chaperoned, of course, because I’m an excellent parent. And also because a certain number of volunteer hours are required, and field trips knock out a whole lot of them in one shot.
Right after we got there, I overheard a parent asking the teacher to point out which kid was “Alison”.
Being the even-tempered, non-confrontational person I am, I whipped my head around so fast I got a little dizzy, and then eavesdropped.
What, wouldn’t you?
Turns out, Alison has a little bit of a fan club. Made up entirely of boys in her class. All of whom clamor to sit next to her, vote for her as best reader, and hope for some of her attention.
Yes, a fan club at the age of five.
After I confirmed with the teacher that this was, in fact, an innocent thing she had under control, I looked at my girl and cheered for her silently.
My shy, socially awkward child has a fan club. My different child. Has a fan club.
And while she probably won’t always have one – good Lord, I hope she doesn’t always have one, – I want to put this moment down in words for Alison.
Because, one day, probably deep in the throes of teen angst, she’s going to tell me no one likes her, and that she doesn’t have any friends.
When that day comes, I want her to know that without even trying, she was adored. By someone other than her mom and dad, of course, since we don’t count when it comes to that sort of thing.
Let’s just hope this whole fan club thing doesn’t go to her head.
Author: Dre
Living on a ranch, my family has a fairly unique perspective on climate change.
We are able to see the effects global warming has on our crops and animals, and we try to accommodate those changes on a day to day basis. In turn, we are also able to combat climate change in ways that go beyond that of the average American.
Here are some steps my family has taken, or continues to take, to reduce our carbon footprint.
In and on our home:
* A large solar paneling system
* Energy Star appliances, electronics, windows, doors, heating and air units
* Sky lights
* Aluminum-lined roof sheeting
* Insulated walls built with 2×6’s rather than 2×4’s
* Environmentally friendly cleaning supplies
* Ceiling fans
* CFL light bulbs
On our ranch:
* A garden full of our favorite fruits and veggies
* Feeding scrap food to our chickens
* Composting our chicken’s waste to create natural fertilizer for our garden
* Discing our fields to reduce fire hazard and improve soil quality
* A gray-water irrigation system for our pasture
* Pasture and hay feeding our cattle
* Feeding our lawn and tree trimmings to our livestock
* Keeping a worm farm, and feeding it with coffee grounds
* Using a drip irrigation system for our garden, lawn and trees
* Trading goods with neighbors and friends
In our general lives:
* Always purchasing a living Christmas tree, and planting it after the holidays
* Reusable cloth tote bags for shopping
* Recycling
* Fuel-efficient vehicles
* Carpooling whenever possible
* Sharing magazine subscriptions with friends and family
* Donating and purchasing used clothing, furniture, toys, etc.
* Shopping locally whenever possible, including farmer’s markets
Our ranch isn’t fully sustainable year-round, but for most months of the year, we could easily live without stepping foot off of our own property. We hope, eventually, to be completely sustainable and eliminate our family’s carbon footprint altogether.
I’d love to hear how you’re fighting climate change!
Go here for some amazing suggestions. And go here to find out more about Blog Action Day 09!
Categories
Findings and Failures
I’ve been immersed in information.
Sensory Processing Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, recommended therapies, parenting styles for special needs children, how to handle highly sensitive kids, the best route to social integration.
I’m trying so hard to remain positive. The truth of the matter is, Blythe is already improving, thanks to her wonderful, amazing, -insert a million positive adjectives here- therapist. Last week she touched a feather boa! Touched it! Willingly! I can’t tell you what a huge step that is for her.
I have so much hope for the future.
And yet, I’m also angry. Resentful, even.
Blythe has a lump on her head. A lump I noticed when she was about 3 months of age and pointed out to her pediatrician – the same doctor who blatantly ignored Blythe’s food allergies – the one assigned to us by the (expletive) HMO we had. She told me it wasn’t a lump, it just felt like one because she had a flat spot in front of it. She suggested we get a sleep positioner and encourage tummy time.
Ok. Done.
She was wrong. It’s a lump of Cerebrospinal Fluid, located between her skull and her scalp. It’s the reason she won’t let us touch her head, why she cries when I attempt to brush her hair, why she screams when I reach for the shampoo bottle. It’s the reason for a lot of things.
I’m angry because that (expletive) HMO, and that pediatrician failed my daughter. Repeatedly FAILED.
And she has SUFFERED because of those failures. Her food allergies, her gastro-intestinal problems, the LUMP ON HER HEAD.
FAIL, FAIL, FAIL.
Until two weeks ago, Blythe had only slept through the night a handful of times. Most nights, she’d wake up crying at least twice, but sometimes four or five times. That’s over 2 years of horrible sleep, for both of us.
Since we’ve started the physical therapy for her lump and her upper GI tract (daily massage) she has only woken up crying once. Two weeks worth of amazing, wonderful, sleep. Oh, the joy. But that’s sleep we could have been getting a long time ago if only the people we trusted to treat our daughter hadn’t failed her. FAILED!
My child has suffered through what I can only assume are terrible headaches and belly pain, almost every night of her life.
My baby. Suffered. Almost every night of her life.
I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I feel as though I’ve failed her, too. But I am not a medical professional, I am a mother just trying to help her daughter to be well. Is that so much to ask?
With all this talk of health care reform, I don’t know what the future holds. What I do know is, people deserve decent care from their doctors. That (expletive) HMO we belonged to was great for routine care. But for someone with special needs?
Failure, ignorance, and a horrible attitude.
I begged them to help me find out what was wrong with my baby. We saw every available doctor in the facility, trying to find someone who could tell us something. They would look at her chart and confirm the previous doctor’s diagnosis, sometimes without even looking at Blythe.
They wouldn’t even look at her.
I don’t care how cheap it is, I will never entrust my family’s care to that kind of organization, ever again. I will pay the $1000 per month health insurance, even if I have to sell everything I own, because my daughter deserves real help.
No one should be made to suffer because of lack of decent health care.
Especially not my sweet little girl. 
Categories
Older
It’s my birthday! I’m officially another year older.
Thirty-two, in case anyone was going to congratulate me on looking so young for forty. I’m saving you from having to put your foot in your mouth. My gift to you, on my birthday.
To celebrate my big day, I got a yeast infection. Yay, me!
I’m not all that surprised, since I’ve been on antibiotics for 12 days now. It was only a matter of time before something started to fester.
The good news is, after almost 6 weeks of coughing up gunk, my lungs are finally starting to feel clear.
*hack* *cough* *inhaler puff* *ahem*
There’s nothing like a hacking cough and an itchy crotch to make you feel younger on your birthday!
You should try it sometime.
No, really.
Last night my family and best-good friends came over for some home cookin’ and peanut butter brownies. Maura, I’m sorry. I didn’t save you any.
Today, my wonderful husband is taking me to a wine and beer festival and then to dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant.
The weather is 85 degrees with a cool breeze. Perfect.
When asked what I wanted for my birthday this year, I was at a complete loss. I couldn’t think of a single thing. I have all I need, and everything I want.
Who could ask for more than that?
* For those of you who have emailed, commented and/or DM’d me recently, I am not intentionally ignoring you! I promise I will respond soon. I’m just lame and hacking up green stuff. *
Categories
Special
I have a child with Special Needs.
There. I said it.
I hate the images that term conjures up in my head.
Visions of her sitting in a classroom, separate from her peers, an aide by her side.
Although, with the amazing therapist she’s working with, I truly hope she’ll be able to integrate seamlessly with her schoolmates when the time comes.
Last week, Blythe had her first therapy appointment for her OCD. While we were there, the psych also tested Blythe’s ability to tolerate sensory changes.
The results were not so good, although not entirely unexpected.
Sensory Processing Disorder.
Another disorder. Another ailment to add to her list. Another hurdle for her to overcome. It’s not as if she didn’t have it before, it just didn’t have a name.
Now, we have an action plan. The therapies for SPD and OCD are similar enough that they can be combined.
There are also things we can do at home. We’re supposed to push her limits just until she starts to get uncomfortable, and then back off.
– We’re to have her ride on her daddy’s shoulders every evening, and then reward her with a popsicle.
– We’re to rub her tummy.
– We’re to play “shampoo” on her head with a puppet.
– We’re to explore touching new textures and fabrics.
– We’re to talk about how they feel to us, and encourage her to tell us how they feel to her.
I’m excited that we have so many treatment options. But saddened. I can’t help it.
She has Special Needs, but she is just my beautiful, sweet, charming baby girl.