Random

For lack of having anything to say this is just a list of random stuff about me.


1) I am that girl. Thats all I got to say on that take it as you like

2) I have lost count of how many schools I have gone to. No I did not get expelled I'm a military brat we moved ALOT!

3) Speaking of school it took me 10 yeas to get a BS degree. I'm not kidding

4) I have been asked to leave a Carl's Jr. (hmm how many of you know what that is) for being silly in high school.

5) I still talk to my best friend from 5th grade. Both of us being military brats this is a amazing feat to still be in contact 20 something years later.

6) I met my husband when I was 18.

7) I didn't marry him until I was in my 30's. Long story we will skip that

8) I have multiple fractures in my spine.

9) I was in NJROTC in HS. See I told you I was that girl.

10) I would rather clean toilets than do the dishes.

11) I do not own a dishwasher, well unless kids count.

12) I am the procrastinator. However, I do my best work at the 11th hour when my back is against the wall. I am the queen of last min. BS papers. Yes I have written masters level papers in less than an hour and gotten an A. Sorry any professors that may have just read this.

15) In my life I have fractured just about every bone in my body except my skull knock on wood. if there is a dumb way to get hurt I've done it.

Can You Read People?

Really look at this chart. Would you be able to read emotions just off this?

Reading people is one of the things that Roger will openly tell people that he can not do.  He can't tell you if someone is mad, happy, sad, scared just by looking at them.  He has to be told. Well that is usually the case. If he is around people a lot he can sometimes figure out what is going on but not always.
His brothers and sisters start to get annoyed with him he doesn't realize they are getting annoyed until they start screaming. Then he backs off. This weekend my husband had a bad week so he wasn't in the best of moods. The other kids picked up on it right away not Roger. Not until someone told him did he get it.
A case where he has noticed would be with me. I have a back injury that causes pain and sometimes it can get pretty bad. Roger has figured out that if I am quiet and moving slow I hurt.Now he still has to ask but hey at least he is picking some of it up. He has even told his stepbrother if shes moving that slow it hurts stay away.
I think this may be where some of the misconceptions about feelings and Autism come from.  Just because someone cannot tell by looking at someone how they are feeling that does not mean that they themselves do not feel. Or that they do not have empathy. Look at the charts they give kids to teach feelings they are always over exaggerated faces that no one has in real life. Once Roger is told how someone is feeling he usually understands. He does have some trouble figuring out his own feelings but just because he can't always put a name to them doesn't mean he feels nothing. I leave you with a clip from Parenthood where Amber is trying to teach Max how to apologize.

Kate Middleton???

Neurotypical Mom has come up with an idea. Remember back in Princess Diana's day and how she had her causes well Kate Middelton is looking for one to.
Now I'm not suggesting she jump on board to the cause and cure train but why not the acceptance one. If you want to know how to send Kate a letter yourself visit Neurotypical Mom and find out how. She even has a template for you to use.

From: Neurotypical Mom's  Facebook

Dear all - great news! The National Autistic Society in the UK sent me a note and said that they were 'interested to see the letter to Kate Middleton and hope we get a positive result'! The email went on to say that 'they were sending a message to their press team so that they are aware of this effort'!! Congrats to all, let's keep it up!

I am

This has been going around on facebook. This is not my work, I don't know who's it is. I copied it from  We Care About Someone With Autism

picture from Google images

I am the child that looks healthy and fine. I was born with ten fingers and toes. But something is different, somewhere in my mind, and what it is, nobody knows. I am the child that struggles in school, though they say that I'm perfectly smart. They tell me I'm lazy, can learn if I try, but I don't seem to know where to start.

I am the child that won't wear the clothes which hurt me or bother my feet. I dread sudden noises, can't handle most smells and tastes, there are only a few foods I'll eat. I am the child that can't catch the ball and runs with an awkward gait. I am the one chosen last on the team and I cringe as I stand there and wait.

I am the child with whom no one will play with, the one that gets bullied and teased I try to fit in and I want to be liked, but nothing I do seems to please. I am the child that tantrums and freaks over things that seem petty and trite. You'll never know how I panic inside, when I'm lost in my anger and fright.

I am the child that fidgets and squirms though I'm told to sit still and be good. Do you think that I choose to be out of control? Don't you know that I would if I could?

I am the child with the broken heart though I act like I don't really care. Perhaps there's a reason I'm made this way -- Some message I'm sent to share. For I am the child that needs to be loved and accepted and valued too. I am the child that is misunderstood. I am different - but look just like you.

(via Autism Support and discussions).

Thank you Angelic Inspiration for sharing ~ ♥

(I copied this from Connor's Gift~ Embracing Autism in this New Age without "Sharing" -- this is not my work, but it's so beautiful that I wish I could say that it was!)

The Humanist Approach to Happiness: Book Review

I received this book from the author to read and review.  One of it's aims is teens so Roger (age 12) read parts of it as well.

Rogers Review:
          It was a pretty good book, but needed something to make it a little more interesting.  Something along the lines of more short stories to explain the stuff.

My Review:
        This was well written and used more basic terms that people could understand.  I jumped on this one because as we all know when dealing with autism we are always trying to find ways to explain ethics, morals, and what to do in situations.  This book was very clear cut and to the point. Exatly what Roger needs. True stories and examples are helpful but when you get into a lot of what if's and hypothetical you lose him.
        I liked the portion on credit cards and how they should be used in emergencies only and how the author did not have one and got stuck in China. Luckily her mom was able to help her out.  Being able to use that as an example as why you do not want to have a card maxed out all the time was helpful.  Roger was able to see it as OK if she had a credit card and didn't use it when she got stuck she would have emergency money to use.
  Another good point in the book was ignore it.  Now the author is not saying if you ignore everything it will go away, but she is saying there are things that happen that you can ignore. Why overwhelm yourself with things that really are not important. If the issue is not important then when you ignore it it will go away. If it is important it will not go away.
     You name it it was covered, love, money, health, addition, sex.  While not every section was right for Roger those that were he read, those that he is not ready for will come later.  He did have a hard time understanding being skeptical and scams but we are getting there. When you have a very literal mind these concepts can be hard to grasp but it did start him thinking about them.
   This book is a easy read, practical and easily comprehensible.I could really see this not only being used in youth groups but for talking points for parents. Sometimes you just don't know where to start the discussion and this can help you jump start them.

check out her website
 This book is available at any online retailer you use.

Discount Codes:
Ebook - http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/22621  : Coupon code: UT36F - Price will be $4.80 instead of $6.00 - that coupon expires Oct 1st 2012.

Paperback go to: https://www.createspace.com/3463716and use the discount code: 2SV7A43M  That will give you 20% off the list of $12.98 - so the price will be $10.38

The Winner Is:

The winner of Seeing Ezra as chosen by random.org is:

   "lucy_halloran@yahoo.com"

 
Lucy email me your address at noguile04@yahoo.com in the next 72 hours.

 

 

If you didn't win you can still buy a copy at Amazon

Progress

Everyone knows Roger has always had issues with writing. It is unorganized and hard to understand. We recently started using a visual map (the annoying story maps with all the bubbles and lines we all hated in school). They work. This is just one example of the difference:
Being asked to write a short summary of a book:

without using the visual map:

Artemis Fowl                                           By: Eoin Colfer
Artemis: 12 year old genius
Butler: Artemis’ bodyguard
Juliet: butler’s little sister
He discovers fairies. Gets attacked.  Catches a fairy. Almost gets blown up

Same book but with the map:

Characters:
Artemis Fowl is a 12 year old genius billionaire boy. He lives in a mansion on an island with Butler (his bodyguard), his mom, and Juliet (Butler’s little sister). His goal is to capture a fairy so he can get more money for his family. His full name is Artemis Fowl the 2nd. His family’s motto is Aurum potestas est (gold is power).

Setting:
Fowl manor is where pretty much everything happens in this story. It is a 200 acre estate near the city of Dublin, Ireland.  It was built by Lord Hugh Fowl in the 15th century. Fowl manor has several floors including one with prison cells, one with a karate dojo and one with a tech room. The tech room is where Artemis translates fairy language.

Plot:
Artemis Fowl starts out the story looking for a fairy. He finds one and shoots it with a tranquilizer. He then puts the fairy in one of his prison cells. He sends the other fairies a ransom note for 2000 pounds of gold (1 ton). The fairies then attack Fowl manor with an ogre and a nuke. The fairies end up getting back half of the gold they give him but Artemis survives the fairy nuke.

I did not help him with this other than helping his set up the map.

 you can see the book here