Mutterings Of A Mindless Mommy

Last week, Angela from Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy nominated my blog for the Brillante Weblog Award.  Thank you Angela!  I have to nominate seven other blogs but that is going to have to wait a few days as I have added several new blogs to my Google Reader. 

Now on to some unusual olfactory news from the Mindless Mommy household.  My youngest daughter is part canine.  She is always smelling or sniffing something or someone.  Once she started stringing words together spontaneously we were elated - but with that new skill came comments like “he smells like smoke” or “she’s stinky.”  Don’t hold back Ava, tell us what you really think.

So the other day we were in the grocery store and her olfactory senses were on high alert.  Several times throughout our trip we’d turn down new aisle and she’d stop and ask “What’s that smell?”  She’d then walk down the aisle slowly, walk up to a food item and smell it, say “nope” and then go to the next item.  Once she’d get to the item she smelled she’d exclaim “That’s it!”  My son was with us and asked me to make her stop but I explained that she wasn’t hurting anyone and she could continue but inside I shared his sentiments.  Later that day we did some good heavy work activities and she’s since gone back to a more reduced level of sensory seeking.

Today, August 22, 2008, my favorite guy turned 7!  Here is a look at how much he’s changed over the years.

I’ve been a bit behind in my blogging as the entire family adjusts to our new schedule but last week, Kia of Good Enough Mama tagged me for a meme.  Here goes!

The Rules (and these were NOT made to be broken, got it?)

1. Link the person who tagged you.
2. Mention the rules on your blog.
3. Tell about 6 unspectacular quirks you possess.
4. Tag 6 following bloggers by linking them.
5. Leave a comment on each of the tagged blogger’s blogs letting them know they’ve been tagged.

MindlessMommy’s Quirks

1. I am not a morning person but both of my kids are.
2. I am actually quite shy even though I talk too much. I just get nervous and don’t shutup.
3. I am a big time video game geek.
4. I play poker regularly.
5. Everything in our house is worthy of an on-the-spot MindlessMommy song.
6. I have a thing for purses and shoes…much to my husband’s chagrin.

Now to tag six fellow bloggers for a meme.

Angela at Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy
Steph at EvilPigs
Naomi at My Internet Business Blog
Michelle at A Year in the Life
Jenn at Good Job, Mama!
Fee at feebeeglee

Although the majority of my blog tends to focus on autism spectrum issues, ADHD is a very real part of the Mindless Mommy household.  My son was diagnosed with ’severe’ ADHD.  Now I understand that severe isn’t a diagnostic category but his case is the most severe that his doctor has seen.  I also understand that ADHD can often co-exist with spectrum conditions and it can be hard to discern what is what.  However, for my son, ADHD impacts him on a daily basis to a very severe degree. 

I recently looked over my son’s neuropsych report and many times throughout the report, mention of problems with executive function comes up.  Even though my son does take prescription medication for his symtpoms (oh knoes, da medicines!) he still exhibits many problems with executive function noticed by his teacher, the neuropsych (as evidenced in executive function tests) and of course with family.  Every few weeks I see a post on a message board or a blog that claims that ADHD is fabricated by big pharma and every time I see that I look at my sweet son who truly cannot control his impulses and think to myself - ADHD is real. 

Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) along with ADDitude Magazine and the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) are working together to sponsor the 2008 National ADHD Awareness Week which will be from September 14-20.  The theme for the 2008 awareness week is “From First Years to Golden Years: AD/HD and Life’s Relationships.”

This morning I was on my way to indulge in a Starbuck’s Chai Creme Frappucino.  I was listening to a local radio station, 101.5 Jamz, and one of the morning hosts was at the Tropic Thunder premiere last night.  She discussed that those that were offended by Robert Downey Jr playing a “black man” would understand after watching the movie.

Then the conversation turned to the controversy around the use of the “R Word” and the host, Corina, said that those who were offended by the use of the word in the movie were “stupid.”  I have been listening to this show for quite some time and while I don’t always agree with everything I’ve heard, I don’t think I’ve ever been so offended.

Corina seems like a pretty cool gal but to say those of us who were offended by the use of the word are “stupid” because we haven’t seen the movie and the movie explains the use of the word was rather upsetting to me.  I instantly changed the station as I couldn’t take it anymore. 

I just received this email and wanted to share it with the readers of Mutterings of a Mindless Mommy:

The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)is pleased to announce the release of a new Public Service Announcement regarding the R-word and why it is such hateful speech. This commercial was produced by Christschool, a talented video maker who is both an autistic self-advocate and a father of an autistic son, and features a professional voice actor.

We are working on getting this video out to as many people as possible, and would love it if other members of the coalition would do the same by posting it on their websites, encouraging members to e-mail it to others, etc. The video can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzgQ3LVNhps

We are hoping for the video to get so many views that when people enter in “Tropic Thunder” as a search, this video comes up as one of the top results. Thank you.

Sarah Pripas
The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network

I have previously blogged about Christschool - Autism Everday Backlash. In the first video that I saw of his, it really spoke to me and so I watched many of his other videos posted on YouTube. He took a small hiatus (IIRC) and it is good to see that he’s back posting his videos.

For those that don’t know, in the movie “Tropic Thunder” - the word “retarded” is used in a derogatory way. After the whole Big Brother 9/Adam Jasinski ordeal, one would think that the entertainment industry would be a little more sensitive to the use of this word. On the other side, there are those that claim that this whole politically-correct concept has just gone too far.

Regardless of what you think Christschool’s video - “R Word” is more than worth the 1 minute 23 seconds it will take you to watch it. Oh, and if you haven’t already read this post, now is a good time: Soeren Palumbo’s Eye Opening Speech on the Word “Retard”

I’m a weather fanatic…my son is a weather fanatic…my daughter’s favorite channel is The Weather Channel.  So last night when the monsoon thunderstorm started to roll in, I knew the kids would miss their bedtime.  We recently thoroughly redecorated the playroom (paint, carpet, curtains, furniture, etc) and the storm was on the playroom side of the house so we decided to hang out and watch the storm.  I sprawled out on the new Ikea love seat and the kids plunked down on the floor with blankets, a pillow and a large stuffed dog.

Alexander was very tired and had actually fallen asleep for a few minutes before the storm started.  I didn’t bother asking him to put his glasses on.  Ava was still wide awake.  We all hung out in the playroom for nearly 45 minutes as we watched the sky light up with lightning, felt the house shake from the thunder and watched the rain begin to fall from the sky.  The kids were finally sleepy enough to go to bed and for the next two hours the rain continued to come and the thunder kept on rolling.  It was a great summer monsoon storm.

In other Mindless Mommy news, yesterday was Alexander’s second day of second grade.  On Wordless Wednesday I posted a picture of him dressed in his cool new clothes, bright white shoes and sweet smile as we were heading out the door to go to school for his first day of second grade.  Yesterday he was equally enthusiastic.  When I picked him up he asked “can you clean my glasses, they have sand on them?”  I said sure but asked how they managed to get sand on them (in first grade he decided he didn’t want to wear his glasses so hid them in the sand on the playground).  He said that a child pushed him from behind and it knocked his glasses off and knocked him forward into the sand and then quickly followed up “but I caught myself before my face hit the sand!”  I asked him if the child was playing and he said “no, bully” in a very matter of fact tone.  I asked if he knew the child and he did not.  I asked him if he mentioned it to anyone and he didn’t.

Alexander is prone to these types of incidents.  In kindergarten one of his classmates swatted Alexander’s glasses off of his face and started punching him - Alexander said he was “trying to block the punches.”  In first grade another child repeatedly threw sand in Alexander’s face during recess until I mentioned it to the teacher.  Alexander isn’t really phased by these events, or doesn’t seem to be.  He is at a new school this year - we didn’t move him because of the sand-throwing but because of his seizures as we wanted him at the school close to us as opposed to 20 minutes away.

I spoke with my mom last night to find out how I should handle it with the school.  Since she’s an educator (currently a teacher but also worked as a vice principal) she’s my go-to-girl on all things school-related.  She asked if I was concerned and I told her that I wasn’t overly concerned as this was only the second day of school and everyone is getting used to.  Of course I’d prefer that Alexander not have to deal with it but I don’t want to over-react and take his queues. She suggested I send an email to the teacher just as an FYI in case this happens again.  Perfect, I sent off a quick email last night just briefly explaining what happened.

This morning on the way in to school the Principal was out front giving students high-fives.  In classic Alexander function, once he realized that possible interaction might happen, he quickly hunched his shoulders and fixated on the ground.  The Principal gave him a quick rub on the back and asked him to be sure to tell one of the playground helpers if something were to happen again.  I knew then that his teacher had forwarded the email on the Principal (understandably so).  This made me feel better.  In kindergarten, Alexander attended this school for three weeks before I pulled him out.  I was mortified that he was given detention for certain behavioral outbursts - in kindergarten!  Granted I didn’t understand why Alexander was the way he is (hindsight is 20/20) but I felt that the detention was far too punitive and not effective.  Alexander was oblivious to the concept by the way.  I was so nervous about having Alexander attend the school again this year but now I know a lot more plus have the protection of the federal government with regards to IDEA legislation.

So I walked Alexander on to the playground and briefly poked my head in to the teacher’s classroom to let her know that Alexander had another seizure last night.  I just wanted to give her a heads-up in case he acted a bit off this morning.  His post-ictal stage seemed to be relatively short and he woke up at his normal time.  In the past, after seizures he’d sleep forever and miss school.  Since he felt up to it, I let him go.  She commented on the incident and asked me to encourage Alexander to speak up when it happens so that it can be addressed.  She thanked me for mentioning it and reminded me that the school has a zero tolerance policy on bullying - whether it is the first day of school or last.  This was comforting.

One last “muttering” - Alexander’s seizure last night led to injury on my part. He has these seizures where he kicks.  Well somehow he was turned upside down in my bed (he has been nightmare free for over a week so it was unusual to have him in my bed) and then the seizure happened which led to a very swift kick to my left shoulder blade.  I was crashed when it happened so startled awake by pain.  I guess that was his way of saying “hey mom, seizure, pay attention!”  It hurts like hell now though hehe.

Some of the Mindless Mommy readers may be interested in the newest debate online at Opposing Views - Should Boys Be Circumcised?

The debate has two experts that think boys should be circumcised - Edgar Schoen, MD; Schoen was a member of the AAP Task Force on Circumcision from 1987-1989.  Dr. Brian Morris, a professor of molecular medical science is joining Schoen on the YES side of the debate.

The National Organization of Circumcision Information (NOCIRC) is arguing the NO side of the debate.  NOCIRC is an international organization that was founded in the 1980s.

On Saturday, Kia from the Good Enough Mama blog posted a comment on my A Doctor’s Appointment Through the Eyes of a Child post.  Understanding the basic rules of blog etiquette, I visited Kia’s blog.  I saw that Kia had made a post called “Sigh” in which Carol Stock Kranowitz, the author of The Out-of-Sync Child posted a comment.  Wowza, that’s so cool.

Kia had mentioned that she found the S.I. Focus magazine and subscribed.  As part of her subscription she received a free guest subscription.  Kia was nice enough to give away the subscription to one of the people who commented on her “I Have Something to Give You” post.  All of the replies were too fabulous to choose a favorite so she put everyone’s name and number into a bucket and her son pulled out a winner.  Guess who won - me!  Yay, I won something.

Thank you Kia.