To start this off, I have to say that I am supposed to be doing my final weekly assignment for class. I stumbled across a reading that relates to Zachary; perhaps stumbled is a poor word choice. It does seem that when given the choice of a topic to research, I have tended to favor all things autism. I want to understand, I want to feel, I want to grab hold of it and KNOW the ins and outs beyond a shadow of a doubt. I have no desire to change who Zachary is, I've expressed that many times. My desire is to clear a path for him to enable an easier result of happiness and joy. I do feel we are on that path, however it still has underbrush and overhangs needing to be cleared.
I had to choose a skill most people do not have but could benefit from mastering, and use persuasive writing to explain to my instructor the benefits of mastering this skill. I've been tossing ideas around and finally settled on one late last night: The Balance Beam.
Zachary was taking a homeschool gymnastics class locally and was doing amazingly well, thanks to Coach Keith's incredible insight into the "whole-body/mind" connection with gymnastics. Several months into gymnastics Zachary began vision therapy. Dr. Gallop explained in specific but understandable detail why it was so hard for Z to balance, and pointed out his balled up fists and toes. (this is a repeat for those that followed along the early vision therapy appointments) I felt, and still do feel, truly blessed to have people like this in our lives! People like these two men and others over the years (past and present) that have understood my passion to understand Z's perspective as well as help him find the previously mentioned rhetorical path.
Back to the Balance Beam. During a particular exercise in vision therapy on the low beam it is imperative to keep the body tall and look straight ahead into the full mirror, to remain on the beam. The patient wears progressively more distorted lenses; instinctively Zachary will try to watch his feet or hunch down, or both. Dr. Steve reminds him (at times over and over and over....) to look in the mirror. I've watched this, and it is amazing to see the balance he has when he looks up. It wasn't until very recently that I made my own 'real life' connection to this. Coach Keith was suggesting an eye exam for a friend's daughter, who had a fear of the beam. His words were very matter of fact--essentially, if a person's vision is distorted in some way, they lose sense of the space around them, and feel the need to stay low to maintain the only kind of balance they know. (read here LIGHTBULB MOMENT FOR ME!) Keith's and Dr. Gallop's words all came together at once in a rush. Zachary feels off balance in most things, that is why he begins to yawn and stretch and fidget when trying to read (especially if without his glasses), or bounces during a new activity, or even hums when feeling nervous. His world is off balance for him, so he does what he feels he needs to do to recenter himself, low and huddled back into himself. I was reading an article titled "Ambient Lenses for Autism and PDD" (Melvin Kaplan,Latitudes ; Apr97, Vol. 2 Issue 6, p9, 1p), and again I made connections that rushed through me, yet this time also left me in tears. It is a short articlethat discusses a young boy presenting with very similar symptoms that Z presents with; it goes on to describe the initial vision therapy appointment and the ball on the string exercise (see my post http://whyyesiamcrazyandlovinit.blogspot.com/2008/07/vision-therapy.html for that amazing moment) This short article explains what Ambient Vision is: it is the vision that is related to body posture, movement, and the "perception of self-motion". (Melvin Kaplan, Latitudes; Apr97, Vol. 2 Issue 6, p9, 1p) This perception of self-motion is Z's humming, bouncing, fidgeting, hand flapping, I believe. I'm at a loss for words at this moment, as I'm being flooded by emotion yet again. Things have been so clouded for him but those clouds are lifting, I see it, I physically feel it. I am poised to enter a new level of clarity with not only Z's issues, but life in general. My own ambient vision has been skewed, I am only at this moment grasping the concept and grabbing hold of it, for myself as well.
Now I need to get this inspired to write my paper..............
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Another lapbook finished, FINALLY
This is Mallory's much anticipated, long awaited, oh-my-LORD-Mommy's-getting-irritated Art Appreciation Lapbook. A full 4 months in the making. Without further ado:
This is the front cover...its one of her favorite paintings, by Renoir; we happen to have a copy of it made by a friend of my Aunt Martha's. For years I thought it was supposed to be Aunt Martha and a couple of her sisters. One day at our co-op in Maine, they were working with art cards, and one got flipped over and there it was-- The Daughters of Catulle Mendès. I was shaking, thinking OH MY GOSH WE HAVE A RENOIR IN OUR HOUSE!! Within an hour, I found out that no, we didn't, it was a copy done by her friend, and the original is at the Met in NY.
This is the front cover...its one of her favorite paintings, by Renoir; we happen to have a copy of it made by a friend of my Aunt Martha's. For years I thought it was supposed to be Aunt Martha and a couple of her sisters. One day at our co-op in Maine, they were working with art cards, and one got flipped over and there it was-- The Daughters of Catulle Mendès. I was shaking, thinking OH MY GOSH WE HAVE A RENOIR IN OUR HOUSE!! Within an hour, I found out that no, we didn't, it was a copy done by her friend, and the original is at the Met in NY.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Some dry mix recipes
I love these, and should use others more often! I haven't bought bisquick in a long time, this recipe for pancake mix is fantastic. If you let it sit about 10 minutes after you make the batter, you get extra fluffy, light pancakes! Make sure you use really fresh baking powder.
FOR THE MIX:
12 cups flour
4 cups dry instant powdered milk
3/4 cup baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. salt
I use a huge tupperware container, so that it seals really well, and there's room to shake it to mix. You can use ziploc bags, but you'd need a 2 gallon size to give it some good shaking.
FOR THE BATTER:
1 1/2 cups of the mix
1 cup water
1 egg
2 Tbsp oil
I do usually double the recipe, I guess the original recipe yields about 10 pancakes maybe--definitely not enough for our family, lol!
The other recipe for today is taco seasoning; I've tried several over the years, and most used corn starch and flour, so I was skeptical about this one, but it came out great, everyone loved it. I can't attest to the taste (the whole no meat thing) but it smelled delicious, and actually blended much much better than the packaged stuff.
Mix together:
6 tsp. chili powder
5 tsp. paprika
4 1/2 tsp cumin
2 1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
I used all of it for about 2 lbs of meat. Next time I'll probably at least double the recipe, and store it in a small glass jar. The original recipe said about 7 tsp. equals 1 package of taco seasoning. (don't forget the 3/4 cup water, bring to a boil, then let it simmer for about 8 minutes).
Now....anyone have a really great homemade milk bath recipe? Or a good recommendation for lavender oil? Actually, I do have a good milk bath recipe, I just need to find a good lavender scent to add to it, something that actually smells like lavender. Mmmmm, lavender; I can't wait to order plants for this year. I wonder how big my lavender plant is in Maine, I hated leaving it. And my rose bush in Georgia, and rose bushes in Florida. I'm babbling. I don't have a blog--its a babblog....
*********************
Update September 16, 2013
Didn't take me this long to find the lavender oil, but I forgot I had posted about looking for some. Auro Cacia, info HERE is wonderful!
FOR THE MIX:
12 cups flour
4 cups dry instant powdered milk
3/4 cup baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. salt
I use a huge tupperware container, so that it seals really well, and there's room to shake it to mix. You can use ziploc bags, but you'd need a 2 gallon size to give it some good shaking.
FOR THE BATTER:
1 1/2 cups of the mix
1 cup water
1 egg
2 Tbsp oil
I do usually double the recipe, I guess the original recipe yields about 10 pancakes maybe--definitely not enough for our family, lol!
The other recipe for today is taco seasoning; I've tried several over the years, and most used corn starch and flour, so I was skeptical about this one, but it came out great, everyone loved it. I can't attest to the taste (the whole no meat thing) but it smelled delicious, and actually blended much much better than the packaged stuff.
Mix together:
6 tsp. chili powder
5 tsp. paprika
4 1/2 tsp cumin
2 1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
I used all of it for about 2 lbs of meat. Next time I'll probably at least double the recipe, and store it in a small glass jar. The original recipe said about 7 tsp. equals 1 package of taco seasoning. (don't forget the 3/4 cup water, bring to a boil, then let it simmer for about 8 minutes).
Now....anyone have a really great homemade milk bath recipe? Or a good recommendation for lavender oil? Actually, I do have a good milk bath recipe, I just need to find a good lavender scent to add to it, something that actually smells like lavender. Mmmmm, lavender; I can't wait to order plants for this year. I wonder how big my lavender plant is in Maine, I hated leaving it. And my rose bush in Georgia, and rose bushes in Florida. I'm babbling. I don't have a blog--its a babblog....
*********************
Update September 16, 2013
Didn't take me this long to find the lavender oil, but I forgot I had posted about looking for some. Auro Cacia, info HERE is wonderful!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The new consumer "protection" (or is it...attack...) laws
I'm writing about this HUGE issue looming in the very near future, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). It was quietly passed into law this past summer, and will go into effect February 10, 2009, a date dubbed "National Bankruptcy Day". This law, as written, is as vague as can be, and has the potential to take down hundreds and thousands of small and home-based businesses all over the country. In a time of such fragile economic times, this is one of the worst things that could happen; I can practically hear the sound of families' hopes and dreams across America being virtually flushed down the toilet by this law.
A clarification was released on, I believe, January 8th, that claimed to exempt resellers (thrift shops, consignment, and again, all the homebased resellers--homeschoolers make up a HUGE market of book/school supplies/used clothing/etc buyers and sellers). As written:
CPSC Clarifies Requirements of New Children's Product Safety Laws
Taking Effect in February
Guidance Intended for Resellers of Children's Products, Thrift and
Consignment Stores
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In February 2009, new requirements of the Consumer
Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) take effect. Manufacturers, importers and retailers are expected to comply with the new Congressionally-mandated laws. Beginning February 10, 2009, children's products cannot be sold if they contain more than 600 parts per million (ppm) total lead. Certain children's products
manufactured on or after February 10, 2009 cannot be sold if they contain more that 0.1% of certain specific phthalates or if they fail to meet new mandatory standards for toys.
Under the new law, children's products with more than 600 ppm total lead cannot lawfully be sold in the United States on or after February 10, 2009, even if they were manufactured before that date. The total lead limit drops to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009.
The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children's products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children's products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not
required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.
The new safety law does not require resellers to test children's products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children's products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are
likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.
As I wrote in response to someone on an email loop I'm with:
Here's the problem with the update, I put stars before and after the section that is still much to vague:
The new safety law does not require resellers to test children's products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold.
*****However, resellers cannot sell children's products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits
could face civil and/or criminal penalties.***********
So, in one paragraph, they exempt resellers and then go ahead and say they can still be responsible. There are entirely too many producst covered by this law, plus the lowered lead levels which many many producst WILL NOT COMPLY with that are at resale stores, people's personal resales etc.
There have been many calls placed to all forms of government, tv, radio, newspaper, and internet agencies; yet we've yet to see this as a "big" story. There is the beginning of a class action lawsuit being started to attempt to stop the law from rolling into effect. Of course lead laws need to be changed regarding childrens' products--and allowing China to get away with all they have is insanity; this, however, is going after the heart and soul of the USA. This is so potentially devastating to our nation. Contact your news teams, newspapers, congressmen, senators...here's some contact information given by one of the owners of Hands of A Child (thanks Kimm)
Contact your congressperson here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Contact your senator here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Contact the media here:FOX email: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77538,00.htmlPhone: 1-888-369-4762
CNN email: http://edition.cnn.com/feedback/Phone: 404-827-1500
MSNBC email: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18616878/Phone: 212-664-4444
CNBC email: info@cnbc.comPhone: 201-735-2622
ABC email: netaudr@abc.comPhone: 212-456-7777
CBS email: http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.phpPhone: 212-975-4321
PBS - The News Hour with Jim Lehrer: newshour@pbs.orgPhone: 703-739-5000
A clarification was released on, I believe, January 8th, that claimed to exempt resellers (thrift shops, consignment, and again, all the homebased resellers--homeschoolers make up a HUGE market of book/school supplies/used clothing/etc buyers and sellers). As written:
CPSC Clarifies Requirements of New Children's Product Safety Laws
Taking Effect in February
Guidance Intended for Resellers of Children's Products, Thrift and
Consignment Stores
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In February 2009, new requirements of the Consumer
Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) take effect. Manufacturers, importers and retailers are expected to comply with the new Congressionally-mandated laws. Beginning February 10, 2009, children's products cannot be sold if they contain more than 600 parts per million (ppm) total lead. Certain children's products
manufactured on or after February 10, 2009 cannot be sold if they contain more that 0.1% of certain specific phthalates or if they fail to meet new mandatory standards for toys.
Under the new law, children's products with more than 600 ppm total lead cannot lawfully be sold in the United States on or after February 10, 2009, even if they were manufactured before that date. The total lead limit drops to 300 ppm on August 14, 2009.
The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children's products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children's products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not
required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.
The new safety law does not require resellers to test children's products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children's products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are
likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties.
As I wrote in response to someone on an email loop I'm with:
Here's the problem with the update, I put stars before and after the section that is still much to vague:
The new safety law does not require resellers to test children's products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold.
*****However, resellers cannot sell children's products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits
could face civil and/or criminal penalties.***********
So, in one paragraph, they exempt resellers and then go ahead and say they can still be responsible. There are entirely too many producst covered by this law, plus the lowered lead levels which many many producst WILL NOT COMPLY with that are at resale stores, people's personal resales etc.
There have been many calls placed to all forms of government, tv, radio, newspaper, and internet agencies; yet we've yet to see this as a "big" story. There is the beginning of a class action lawsuit being started to attempt to stop the law from rolling into effect. Of course lead laws need to be changed regarding childrens' products--and allowing China to get away with all they have is insanity; this, however, is going after the heart and soul of the USA. This is so potentially devastating to our nation. Contact your news teams, newspapers, congressmen, senators...here's some contact information given by one of the owners of Hands of A Child (thanks Kimm)
Contact your congressperson here: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Contact your senator here: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Contact the media here:FOX email: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77538,00.htmlPhone: 1-888-369-4762
CNN email: http://edition.cnn.com/feedback/Phone: 404-827-1500
MSNBC email: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18616878/Phone: 212-664-4444
CNBC email: info@cnbc.comPhone: 201-735-2622
ABC email: netaudr@abc.comPhone: 212-456-7777
CBS email: http://www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.phpPhone: 212-975-4321
PBS - The News Hour with Jim Lehrer: newshour@pbs.orgPhone: 703-739-5000
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Hands Of A Child Kit Pack Sale!
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM IN THE HANDS OF A CHILD
January 12, 2009
Dear Valued Customers,
Due to the new CPSIA law In the Hands of a Child, for the time being, is discounting our Kit Pack inventory in order to lessen our possible loss in the event that an exemption is not granted.
While we are still praying for this situation to work out for all small businesses we feel that it is in our best interest to lessen our possible loss. And what better way than to pass the savings on to you, our wonderful customers, who are praying with us through this difficult situation!!
Please help us clear our shelves and enjoy a 35% savings on all Kit Packs!! Savings will be automatic! Spread the word and help us empty the shelves!!
This sale will continue until our Kit Pack inventory has been exhausted, so purchases will be on a first-come-first-served basis.
Once they are gone, they are gone!
Click Here to Shop Now!
In the event the law is modified, In the Hands of a Child reserves the right to bring back Kit Packs in the future at full price without any discount, implied or expressed, during this sale.
Cannot be combined with any other offer, special, discount, coupon or sale.
Super Member discount DOES NOT apply to this sale.
Tax and Shipping not included in calculating discount price.
Not valid toward prior purchases.
No rainchecks.
January 12, 2009
Dear Valued Customers,
Due to the new CPSIA law In the Hands of a Child, for the time being, is discounting our Kit Pack inventory in order to lessen our possible loss in the event that an exemption is not granted.
While we are still praying for this situation to work out for all small businesses we feel that it is in our best interest to lessen our possible loss. And what better way than to pass the savings on to you, our wonderful customers, who are praying with us through this difficult situation!!
Please help us clear our shelves and enjoy a 35% savings on all Kit Packs!! Savings will be automatic! Spread the word and help us empty the shelves!!
This sale will continue until our Kit Pack inventory has been exhausted, so purchases will be on a first-come-first-served basis.
Once they are gone, they are gone!
Click Here to Shop Now!
In the event the law is modified, In the Hands of a Child reserves the right to bring back Kit Packs in the future at full price without any discount, implied or expressed, during this sale.
Cannot be combined with any other offer, special, discount, coupon or sale.
Super Member discount DOES NOT apply to this sale.
Tax and Shipping not included in calculating discount price.
Not valid toward prior purchases.
No rainchecks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)