Chuck E Cheese

Today we went to Chuck E Cheese. I'm not sure where he heard about it, but he really wanted to go. We weren't up for something too physical, so this was a cheap way to get out of the house.

At one point, a girl came out with a guy in a Chuck E costume. She was saying, "Follow Chuck E if you want tickets!" She led all the kids around the room and then had everyone do a dance and sit down. Then she led all the little ones in a chant of "Chuck E! Chuck E!" and threw a bunch of tickets into the air.

Back at home, B grabbed a stack of books and said, "Follow me if you want books!" He then marched us around the room, told us to sit, and had us chant "Ian! Ian!" before throwing the books in the air. It was really very funny.

Cast Removal

Me: How do you feel?
B: Bad.
Me: Well, the worst is over, I think.
B: What's the worst part?
Me: I think having a broken arm and the doctor has to squeeze it onto place.
B: What else is the worst part?
Me: Having to wear a cast?
B: What else?
Me: I don't know, what do you think is the worst part?
B: The saw. But cutting it off (using scissors on the cotton) was good. And this (x-rays) is good. So, we had two bad and two good.

Sweet papa

Dave is the best papa in the whole world. So B breaks his arm. Completely deformed. Dave takes charge of the situation in the most kind and calming way possible. Explaining that broken arms are just a part of life and guiding B through breathing exercises to calm down. While listening to Indiana Jones of course. Apparently Dave broke his right arm 4 times when he was a kid. So sweet. So B was in a lot of pain waiting for the doctor. Dave says, "Wanna hear about the first time I broke my arm?". They must have had a 20 min conversation about all of Dave's broken arm stories. B was so delighted to have a "comrade in arms" so to speak, that he almost forgot about his mangled little arm. I think it was reassuring that his arm really would soon heal (just like papas) and that Papa really did know what he was experiencing. Sweetest thing Ever!

Today

So April. What'd you do today?
Well, I taught a guy who can't talk or write to email. Taught a guy who can't interpret visual information to read and write. Helped a guy who can't move to access his lights, tv, radio, etc. And helped a language impaired woman to write professionally again. Seriously, no wonder I have a big ole headache. Time to go to Young Womens.

Heavenly Father

We were talking about eternal progression in Sunday School last week. It got me to thinking.... I wonder if Heavenly Father gets frustrated with us. Seriously, he's got a BIG job to do.... Far more difficult than any of us can possibly imagine. But many of us have experienced, in life, the further you progress, the more criticism you will recieve. You can choose the absolute best choice possible and will still recieve criticism. Think about how much criticism our Presidents recieve. It comes with the job.

I think about how much criticism Heavenly Father recieves from his children. I wonder if he ever gets frustrated. "I'm working my hiney off here, can't anybody just say Thanks! Seriously, Come on. That place is amazing. I worked for a long time on that place. By the way guys... Treat each other well and keep a Few simple commandments, that's all it takes. You're little world down there would be a lot happier place. But look, if you want to learn everything the hard way (shakes his head). And, hello, it's a huge world down there. Find a place where you will be happy and stop whining. Now, somethings will be tough, I'll help you figure it out, you'll need my help. Remember, I'm here. And I love you. But it's certainly easier to meet your needs and give you guidance when you talk to me. "

Just chillin

We are back at our facility in Galveston. It's nice to be back. I'm not loving the drive, but definetly appreciating the relative peace that comes from having my own office with room to spread out and think.

It's lunchtime now and the sun in the sky couldn't possibly be more perfect outside here. Nice warm breeze and not a lot going on that I care to manage at the moment. What could be better? A few min of calm in this crazy, crazy world.

School Pictures 2009

Clickie for biggie!

Girls

B: C3P0 has a girl inside and that makes it talk a lot!

Disneyland

Last week we went to Disneyland to celebrate Ian's fourth birthday. There we were joined by (in chronological order) the Denisons (Deborah & the jakes), the Gallups (Mark & Mary), the Marinis (Tim, Rachel, & Wyatt), & the Thompsons (Kyle, Adria, Sam, Sarah, Griffin, & Kaleb). We all had a great time. Ian's favorites were Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin & The Haunted Mansion.

Dream

B: Tonight I will dream about Indiana Jones eating an Air Head!

Indiana Jones

B playing Indiana Jones. This was all him. Clickie for biggie.

Swimming

B: I'm going to take off all my clothes and put on my swimming suit!
Me: Why would you do that?
B: So I can go swimming!
Me: Where are you going to go swimming?
B: In the back yard!

After he got his suit on I followed him out there. He had the hose in the lid of his sandbox and asked me to turn it on for him. He filled it up and hopped in.

First Day of Preschool

Monday was Ian's first day of preschool. He was super excited. When I dropped him off and told him I was leaving he said, "OK, go now, please".

Scratch

B. is going through a scratching phase. We have a behavior plan in place which is helping, but sometimes he's still testing the waters. So yesterday, B. scratched Dave on his face. Today, Dave made a comment about the scratch. B. says, "Copper scratched you." (copper= his stuffed animal puppy). I said, "Ian, you need to take responsibility for your own actions. ". B: "ok. Papa, I'm sorry I scratched you.". I was so proud of him. I was really surprised that he understood and knew the appropriate way to respond. Nice job kid!

Fondue Etiquette

We're eating fondue and B's bread just fell off his fork into the pot. Per tradition, I told him he had to kiss the person on his right (April) because he dropped his bread. After kissing her, he said, "I'll drop some more!" and dropped pieces of bread into the pot one at a time collecting a kiss with each.

Galveston

So I went back to our old facility today. It was like watching a death and a rebirth in the same glance. Traces of TLC---our old name tags still lying around. Our clients, offices, and the professionals we were before.

Traces of the mold that destroyed everything--- EVERYTHING from the waist (tops of our desks)down. Sometimes from the shoulder down. Recalling the mold standing off of objects- as much as a foot of outgrowth. The memory of the mold saturated air. Mold saturated EVERYTHING. Our face masks couldn't possibly hold it back and still allow breath. Mold saturated lungs. Courage, love, hope, and flat denial- keeping it out of our hearts. We must have changed gloves 10 times a day, but still felt soaked. Hauling out load after load, day after day of absolute destruction. (and we were the lucky ones- our friends/ co-workers went home to more of the same)

And now, in this same place is opportunity- a new beginning. Or at least concrete floors and partially sheetrocked walls which represent it. Something new will form in it's place. Something we are responsible for creating. Upstairs in the rubbage, I found a sign left behind from some folks who we lost in the process, "Seize the Day!" I'm not sure why it is so poignant to me. But in some small way, it feels like a beacon call. A call to do just what we are doing... Move forward... Build something new and something great. But as for now, it almost seems mundane.

Creative Bug

So this little boy cracks me up. Almost every day he wakes up with some new thing in his mind that he wants to create. It's always something new: becoming a robot, a hat with a square on it that opens up and pours raisins into his hands, a dog tickling machine, a big truck to transport apples,a cheerios transportation system, a new machine every day. Cute kid. I spend half of my life assisting him in creation development. It does make it difficult to keep the house in order--- going from one invention/ mess to the next. But it's a mess that I wouldn't stifle for anything in the world. This world needs these creative problem solving folks. But my Curious George certainly is one sloppy little monkey.

Problem-solving

On our way back from Dallas, April went to the back seat to get some rest. B had his blanket, and April was sleeping on his pillow (we didn't bring ours). When B saw she had his pillow, he naturally wanted it.

B: Can I have my pillow, please
April: Can I please keep it. I want to lay down and this seat is too hard under my head.
B: How 'bout you give me my pillow and I'll give you my blanket to lay on.

He's always coming up with a solution.

feeding

We have a couple of new SLPs at work. Fresh out of grad school. For the first year out of school, a therapist has to be observed for 20% of therapy time. I've been doing a lot of these observations. So I was watching one of our young therapists feed a client the other day. The client is at a point where we don't have to train him so much any more to make sure he uses his strategies so he doesn't aspirate. Instead, it's more relaxed therapy. Just watching him use the strategies he has already learned with a little cuing. Because my mind was relaxed from it's normal vigilant state, I was at leisure to just observe from this more distant vantage point.... I found myself quietly astounded at the inherent kindness in her actions- diligently feeding, observing carefully, feeling for and timing each swallow, reminding of strategies. Things we all do every day, yet our minds are usually so busy to even notice the kindness of the acts---of the profession.

Santa

Me: Who says Ho, Ho, Ho?
B: The Christmas guy.