Category Archives: The A-Word

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 30, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 30, 2012

Outside my window… dusk. It was in the 50’s or 60’s today, I think. It was shirt-sleeve weather at least.

I am thinking… about ABA stuff for this Friday.

I am thankful… for the weekend with my mom in San Jose and that Daniel responded so well to her working with him.

In the kitchen… Crystal Light Peach Tea. (Haven’t figured out dinner yet.)

I am wearing… charcoal grey shirt from Lady Foot Locker and navy sweats.

I am creating… this entry.

I am going… nowhere until Wednesday if I have any say in the matter.

I am wondering… if the stuff my doctor gave me this morning will stop the lingering cough from the Mutant Death Cold that I had at Thanksgiving (and that landed Daniel in the hospital). His theory is that my blood pressure medication (Lisinopril) is likely causing it but put me on an antibiotic (Doxycycline) because I’m asthmatic and he’s afraid of bronchitis sprouting in me.

I am reading… Inheritance by Christopher Paolini. I’m probably within 30 pages of the end but I don’t get much quiet reading time and didn’t finish it at lunch today.

I am hoping… I sleep tonight. I haven’t really gotten any sleep for a week and it made the power outage this morning throw me for a loop. (A transformer blew a few blocks away and 1300 people lost power. The weird thing is that those across the street didn’t and I don’t think my next door neighbors did.)

I am looking forward to… Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday as well as “Hart of Dixie” on TV tonight.

Around the house… Jon cleaned while I was gone this weekend. I’m thankful for this.

I am pondering… waaaaay too many things right now.

One of my favorite things… pesto bagels with garlic shmear from the bagel shop near my parents’ house. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it over there on Sunday before they closed. Rats!

A few plans for the rest of the week: PT tomorrow, speech and Ladies’ Night Out on Wednesday, OT on Thursday, and the ABA home visit along with my massage on Friday. Jon also has a couple funerals this week.

A peek into my day… This is Trail Kitty, my parents’ sissy Maine Coon cat. He’s a handsome boy but is afraid of his own (raccoon) tail. I got some petting time with him this weekend before he took off for his loft in the garage.

Trail Kitty, my parents' sissy Maine Coon Cat.

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7 Quick Takes — TV, Minivans, and ABA Training

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7 Quick Takes

It’s been a week of interesting TV, discovering my inner soccer mom (she doesn’t exist), and trying to figure out how to fit ABA techniques into my day with Daniel.

— 1 —

Being part of Quick Takes has been a blessing to me. I’ve learned a lot about myself, about interacting with others who may believe differently than I do, and I’ve found a community of people with whom I can discuss life. There are people who have helped me through Daniel’s autism diagnosis and others who I’ve been able to help through some things in their lives. Thank you to everyone who has emailed me and commented. You’ve helped me out a lot.

— 2 —

OMG CSI!!!! The episodes the last two weeks have been insane and I’m glad I got to see them though I had to watch the last part of this week’s episode online because I was dealing with Daniel puke during the last 20 minutes of it when it was on TV. Obviously, I’m sad Catherine is leaving the show but I’m excited to see what they do after her departure. I’m especially excited to see what they have in store for Brody.

— 3 —

The interaction at the end of Hart of Dixie this week between Zoe and Brick was touching. I’m sure that we’ll see that he still wants her to leave Bluebell but he was actually really warm and tender with her as he told her about Harley’s family. He had watched her put herself out there for ridicule in order to prove herself worthy of being part of “The Belles” and that included watching Lemon treat her like dirt. The best exchange of the episode was probably Lemon telling her to go out and milk the cow and not come back unless she had two gallons. Brick walks in and comments, “We have a cow?” Lemon’s response: “Today we do.”

— 4 —

I’m within the last 150 pages of Inheritance by Christopher Paolini. Honestly, it’s like pulling teeth right now that they’re in with Galbatorix. I think we’re going to get the two views of the battle: Eragon’s and Roran’s for awhile. We know that either Eragon is going down or Galbatorix is going down — the two can’t be alive together. Part of me is dying to know what happens and another part of me is having problems reading about things not going well.

— 5 —

I did not watch the State of the Union address or the GOP response. Considering the number of my friends who live-tweeted it, I don’t really think I needed to. Instead, I had to deal with a sub-par episode of NCIS and a crappy episode of The Big Bang Theory afterwards. I decided to see what was on other channels rather than watch and I got to see ABC’s “Last Man Standing”. It’s OK — sort of on-par with “Home Improvement” but not quite.

— 6 —

ABA training went well. I understand the theories behind this method and I can see its benefits. The problem for me is that Daniel isn’t completely at the point yet where it is really effective. He isn’t exhibiting a lot of the behaviors that need to be extinguished so I’m having to find something/anything where I need to fix his behavior. Our home visit is on the 3rd and I’m afraid that all my efforts won’t be good enough. The idea is that we teach a skill and the skill I’m working on with Daniel is one of the base skills that have to be in place to teach the kind of skills they want us to teach. OK… enough being neurotic.

— 7 —

My car was in the body shop this week so I had a rental. They didn’t have any cars like mine at Enterprise so… they asked if a minivan would be OK. Having a cranky toddler with me, I said “sure”. The result: I have a Chrysler Town and Country to drive this week. It’s a soccer mom car and it’s a lot more car than I need even though it’s nice to have Sirius radio and the ability to sync my iPod with the car’s computer. Truthfully, I miss my Dodge Stratus.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 23, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 23, 2012

Outside my window… gray and cold. We had a really rainy Friday and rain yesterday. It was actually a pretty fair day on Saturday.

I am thinking… that it’s a good thing we have a largely unscheduled day tomorrow — I need the rest.

I am thankful… for parishioners who watched Daniel yesterday during church so Jon could do his pastor thing and I could be away at ABA (applied behavior analysis) training.

In the kitchen… defrosting stuff that I’ve frozen.

I am wearing… blue Jameson fleece, white t-shirt, and my penguin pajama bottoms.

I am going… to the post office hopefully tomorrow.

I am wondering… where the regular cars were at Enterprise and why I ended up with a minivan.

I am reading… Inheritance by Christopher Paolini though I did a quick read of “Murder of a Creped Suzette” by Denise Swanson this weekend.

I am hoping… Daniel wakes up happy from his nap.

I am looking forward to… women’s Bible study.

I am learning a lot about ABA.

Around the house… got some papers cleared away this morning.

A favorite quote for today… “Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith but they are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the passion of Christ.” — C. S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… Rain on the windows when I’m falling asleep.

A few plans for the rest of the week: post office tomorrow, speech on Wednesday, OT on Thursday, and heading to San Jose on Friday. Also hoping the car is ready before I leave for San Jose.

A peek into my day… Daniel in a swing at Miwok Park.

A shot of Daniel in the swing at Miwok Park.

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7 Quick Takes — Raindances

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7 Quick Takes

After having one of the driest Decembers on record, we’re receiving a few weather systems that should make a dent in our needed rainfall and hopefully add some snow to the Sierras. (Yes, I’m fully aware that “Sierras” is like writing “mountainses”. However, everyone around here pluralizes it.)

— 1 —

If you view my blog as a whole, there’s a sticky post at the top which explains the button on the sidebar. Restating it briefly, I can’t throw my weight behind any of the GOP candidates, so I’m supporting Obama. The political discussion on this blog regarding the 2012 election stops at that point (Twitter is another story) and I’m perfectly OK with anyone who wants to pass over my blog until November 7th. I’m not going to gripe about any of the GOP debates or any candidate — the only complaining I may do is about the number of political ads on TV come autumn.

— 2 —

I think everybody in the pro-life movement needs to read this. Kate is another Quick Takes blogger and she is so perfectly on-the-money with what she has to say. I have friends on both sides of the issue and she brings a lot of grace to the pro-life side of it. (Thank you to Katie @ NFP and Me for re-tweeting it.)

— 3 —

I have parent training this weekend for the autism program that will be working with Daniel. I’d prefer doing it over two Saturdays instead of Saturday/Sunday but the only way we can have this in place before Daniel turns three is for me to do it this weekend. I’ve almost got the care schedule for Sunday morning in place and I’m thankful that the people of Metanoia are so awesome to offer to take care of him while Jon is conducting worship and teaching Sunday school. (For those not in the know, I’m married to a Lutheran pastor.) We get an hour-long break for lunch so I’ll definitely be charging my NOOK so I can curl up with it during lunch. (It also has a pad of paper in the cover so I can take copious notes.)

— 4 —

I just found out that a seminary friend of mine is pregnant again… with triplets. I managed not to remark that she was going to have her hands full — I imagine that there will be plenty of people telling her that in her congregation. I’m hoping for a healthy pregnancy for her — pregnancies of multiples can be tricky by nature. (The hospital where I used to live in Montana refused to deliver twins or higher because there was so much that could go wrong.)

— 5 —

I had lobster for the first time last weekend at the lobster feed put on by the Chamber of Commerce. Honestly, it’s not my first choice for shellfish — it was a little bit too rich. The shrimp from the Low Country Boil on the other hand… I wish I’d taken some of it home with me although at the time, the thought of more food was more than I could handle. It was a fun evening and I’m thankful to one of my parishioners for inviting me to go with her.

— 6 —

I have to admit that I’m somewhat amused at the revelation that Paula Deen has Type II diabetes. There are a number of people crying “HYPOCRITE!!!” at her because she pushed her high-fat comfort food while living with the condition and I don’t doubt she is a bit guilty of hypocrisy; but people also had a choice to follow her recipes and eat that food. She claims to have always preached moderation and that’s something that we Americans have problems in practicing. The normal dinner plate size has increased insanely in the last 30-40 years and having appetizers, an entrée, and dessert at most major restaurant chains will use up your daily allowance of calories in just that meal in addition to all the excess fat and sodium.

— 7 —

I’m getting kind of addicted to the Friday lunch special at the local sushi place. Soup, salad, teryaki chicken or beef, rice, and a roll of choice for under $15. It works. They’re also more than happy to let me just sit and read after I eat.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 16, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 16, 2012

Outside my window… dark now but it was in the low 50’s today.

I am thinking… about the autism training I have this weekend.

I am thankful… for getting to sleep in today.

In the kitchen… next question!

I am wearing… my preeclampsia “survivor” shirt and my penguin pajama bottoms.

I am creating… this entry.

I am going… to hope that I don’t have a sinus infection right now.

I am wondering… what the best deal on a laptop is.

I am reading… Inheritance by Christopher Paolini.

I am hoping… my laptop holds on until i can get another one.

I am looking forward to… my park date with Daniel and his physical therapist.

I am learning more than I wanted to know about autism.

Around the house… next question!

I am pondering… things internally.

A favorite quote for today… “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.” — C.S. Lewis

One of my favorite things… Crystal Light Peach Tea.

A few plans for the rest of the week: PT tomorrow, speech on Wednesday, OT and possibly child development on Thursday, massage on Friday, and training on Saturday.

A peek into my day…

Daniel and his leaves

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7 Quick Takes — Laptop Shopping, The A-Word, and Other Parts of My Week

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7 Quick Takes

Daniel broke the W key off my laptop last night and I can’t get it back on — the key itself has plastic parts broken off. I can type well enough — it just feels weird to hit the little rubber knob for that key. So…

— 1 —

There is probably laptop shopping in my future. I’m looking at Lenovo and HP/Compaq. Jon has a Dell and I feel like my laptop (which truthfully is starting to have problems after three years) has fared better than his. Mine has also been transported a whole lot of places so I think all that transport has added to the normal abuse I put it through. I’ll let y’all know what I end up getting if/when I purchase something.

— 2 —

Daniel’s autism diagnosis was confirmed on Monday. A clinical psychologist administered the ADOS and she concurred with the previous suspicions of the MIND Institute and our Regional Center case worker. It was 4 hours from start to finish and I liked the psychologist doing the testing. She was really kind and you could tell that she cared and that she really viewed her job as a way of helping others. It was, however, mentally intense even though I was able to get into my NOOK during some of the testing. (I’m in the middle of Inheritance by Christopher Paolini and I think I’m going to download the entire series onto my NOOK, mostly to save bookshelf space.) My Regional Center case worker was with me through it which was good — I did need someone else there.

— 3 —

On Wednesday, I met with my local school district to start the transition from the Regional Center to the school district. Per the Lanterman Act, Daniel becomes the responsibility of the local school district at age 3 and will remain that way up to the age of 21 if necessary. (The reason is that at age 3, they transfer the focus from a medical one to an educational one.) As he turns 3 in a matter of months, we needed to get the ball rolling on what has to happen to get him transitioned. They told me about the various options, had me sign something authorizing testing, and set up the date/time for the IEP meeting. I also have specialized ABA (applied behavior analysis) training to go through for an in-home component of Daniel’s autism program next weekend. As I have to do it over Sunday, I’m in the process of putting together a team of people to take care of Daniel during church.

— 4 —

I finally found a copy of “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” on iTunes. You can find a Youtube video of it here. (I’d embed the video but WordPress is being cranky.) I love the hymn and we never sing it which saddens me. I’m sure it’s not as theologically brilliant as others but its simplicity is what makes it so appealing to me.

— 5 —

I’m so glad that Pauley Perette got to be one of the presenters for the People’s Choice Awards. I love her character on NCIS and she’s a prolific Twitter user. She’s also socially responsible and a Christian to boot. I also loved Kaley Cuoco hosting the show though I think either she or Tina Fey deserved to win more than the girl from “Glee”. (I’m not a “Gleek”.) Oh yes… the part of the opening with Neil Patrick Harris was awesome. The “Gleehab” pun was perfect.

— 6 —

Amy Wellborn has an interesting rant on “small groups”. It is indeed curious that the search terms leading to her blog recently have involved small groups because they’re kind of a Protestant thing, especially prevalent in megachurches or in chapters of national Christian organizations like Intervarsity. (Intervarsity, by the way, is not exclusively Protestant. My chapter had a sizeable Catholic minority in it, especially during my last year of college.) In those situations, corporate worship services are so incredibly large (both in terms of people and in number of services) that one can get lost in them, purposely or otherwise. The purpose of “small groups” are to have a more intimate gathering for informal worship and Scripture study. Amy has a point — daily Mass is an excellent example of a small group, though I wouldn’t say it’s the original one. It’s a small group of people gathered for worship, the Word, and the Eucharist. I recommend reading her thoughts — they’re excellent and as one who has participated in them, I totally see her point.

— 7 —

You know… I’d totally be OK with some rain about now. It’s a La Nina year so things are going to be dry but it also means that the jet stream has been shifted waaaaaay north and towns like Cordova, Alaska are getting snowed in. I checked Weather.Com and I’m going to have to wait 5 days for rain. So NOT amused by this.

For more Quick Takes, visit Jen at ConversionDiary.Com.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook: January 9, 2012

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Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY January 9, 2012

Outside my window… dark. It’s 10:40 p.m. It started out cold this morning and ended up fairly warm — the 60’s maybe.

I am thinking… about the ADOS testing today and Daniel’s diagnosis of autism.

I am thankful… for getting through today even if I was completely drained of energy when I got home. I’m also thankful for the guy on the motorcycle who waited until Daniel was in the car and the door was closed so that him starting the motorcycle wouldn’t scare Daniel.

In the kitchen… next question.

I am wearing… black Arabic shirt and black capri sweats.

I am creating… this entry.

I am going… to enjoy having tomorrow as a quiet day.

I am wondering… what the future holds with Daniel’s diagnosis.

I am reading… Inheritance by Christopher Paolini. I think I’m going to download the other three books onto my NOOK so I can read them in order when I’m done with this one.

I am hoping… I sleep well tonight.

I am looking forward to… lobster feed this weekend with one of my amazing church ladies.

I am learning a lot about autism.

Around the house… curtain rods being replaced.

I am pondering… many things that I can’t vocalize.

A favorite quote for today… “A person’s a person no matter how small.” — Dr. Suess

One of my favorite things… Crystal Light Peach Tea

A few plans for the rest of the week: therapies, meeting with the school district regarding Daniel, lobster feed on Saturday night.

A peek into my day… My boy and I at Miwok Park in Elk Grove.

Daniel and I

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