Tea Party Thursday
2007-07-20 11:35:00
With the arrival of Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Francine came new toys, and better yet, new playmates. Maya talked Aunt Francine into having the world's greatest tea party:
First Maya, Mommy and Aunt Francine made chocolate covered pretzels...
Demetrius didn't really want to make chocolate covered pretzel sticks...he'd rather watch a Batman video with Uncle Jimmy
Maya even made a goody bag for Buddy (Buddy was confused about why the dog food was covered by plastic). He licked it, and then ignored it, even though Maya wanted him to eat at the same time we had the tea party
Once we got going, we had to put on princess tiaras for the party (Buddy decided to just lick himself in the background)
So handsome with my tiara....
I always said Kim was a princess...
But no princess comes close to being as cute as this one....
Demetrius didn't attend the tea party....Batman movie rates higher than tiaras. However, he didn't mind eating the treats...
Read more: Party
, Thursday
, Tea Party
A Few Days Off
2007-07-20 06:45:00
Hi Guys: Just letting everyone know I'm taking a few days off of vacation. When I get back, some pictures and postings.
Sometimes You Forget
2007-07-18 08:52:00
I was cleaning out my mobile device and found this great picture of Demetrius and Buddy. I think its a Sunday morning and they are snuggling on the couch watching cartoons. Demetrius doesn't really snuggle in with the dog like Maya does....he's a bit unsure of Buddy's actions - and when Buddy gets needy and wants more petting than Demetrius is willing to give...he gets a bit skittish...not unlike Will Ferrell in his parody of President Bush a couple of years ago.
Anyway, cute picture. Anyone (particularly a parent) could use a surprise like this in his/her day....
Read more: Sometimes
Eagle Scout
2007-07-18 08:37:00
Nice little piece about a Missouri boy that became an Eagle
scout. Something that some of our kids could also do, I would think...
Read more: Scout
Slushee Tuesday
2007-07-25 03:27:00
Last night Mommy had a neighborhood ladies spa night - so it was me and the little injuns all on our own. Monday I suggested we do something 'different' - for dessert we'd go out and get a slurpee! I got fist pounding approval from the two of them (I'm pretty sure they had no idea what a slurpee was, but it sounded delicious!). So last night when I got home, they were showering from going to the pool - so I quickly threw together some dinner for the two of them so we could get to the slurpee ASAP. Demetrius was first down...of course, negotiating with me what movie he would watch after we went and got 'syrup-ees'.
I just had to laugh at his outfit. He was dressed like a cross between a northeastern grandpa down in Florida for the winter and a Skandinavian exchange student. Dark blue dress socks, plaid shorts...a baby blue autism tee shirt. Wow. Certainly a sight unseen ever before:
Who's ready for the Abba concert? As long as it is over early enough for the early bird special a
Read more: Tuesday
'Demetrius Things'
2007-07-24 08:01:00
Eeyore? I've been accused to resembling this Winne-the-Pooh Character....
There are those people in the world that are optimists, and those in the world that are pessimists. Typically, we tend to group people into one or two different categories in this comparison…it tends to be akin of religious debates: you either ‘are’ or you ‘aren’t’, no gray area.
I vehemently protest because I don’t like being stereotyped this way. I prefer to see myself as a realist. I’m not overly optimistic and, due to my nature and my profession, more than somewhat skeptical. I can only base this point-of-view off of my own experiences, but being realistic doesn’t set you up for failure, nor does it inhibit you from success…it just keeps you balanced from being surprised, for the most part.
So where am I going with this? Well, I apply it to my views on Demetrius and his abilities and progress. Its quite hard with your child, I don’t care if he/she is special needs or a member of MENS
The Good, The Bad And The Birthday
2007-07-23 04:24:00
We had a good time with Uncle Jimmy and Aunt Francine this past weekend. Along with the tea party, we had a scavenger hunt for pyramids in the neighborhood (you know, like those in Egypt) and mummies. We watched alot of super hero movies, and the grown ups even got out for a dinner and a movie.
On Saturday, we had more festivities, as it was a celebration of Uncle Jimmy's upcoming birthday:
Great shot of the kids with Aunt Francine and Uncle Jimmy. Note that as soon as we were done with this photo Demetrius went to time out. He carved a nice wedge in the icing as he walked away from Uncle Jimmy (oh well, he had a finger to lick while in time out...)
Demetrius and Uncle Jimmy played alot of Avatar, the Last Airbender on the computer, and last night I was told I was not as much fun as Uncle Jimmy. Maya also mentioned that Aunt Francine was very good with tea parties, maybe she should do that to make some money. Is there money in the tea party business?
The trip got a l
Read more: Birthday
Gnomedex And Grandma De
2007-07-27 05:34:00
Next month, I'll attend a conference called gnomedex, where I hope to learn alot more about blogging and social media -- that will maybe translate to some sort of added value for you as a visitor to and reader of this blog. I've always looked at this blog being primarily about autistic/family content to a very niche audience. I haven't spent alot of time trying to market it or expand it beyond its core objective - to give one guy's view of the ups-and-downs and sometimes humorous insights and commentary on his life with his autistic child. I have always hoped that if the right person finds the blog, that they end up bookmarking it coming back to it regularly, or when needed. Maybe I should aim higher with 'Autistic Dad', but with career and family obligations, I have to be realistic into what I can throw at this Web site. That being said, I hope to learn how to do more, or think differently, or possibly become more sophisticated and/or savvy in running and writing this Web blog.
Read more: Grandma
Germ-Line Mutations and Older Parents?
2007-07-26 06:51:00
I read this story today about germ-line mutations and autism....of course, we were 29-years-old when Kim got preggers with Demetrius, so we don't fit this part of the model discussed in this short story.
According to medterms.com, germ-line mutations:
A heritable change in the DNA that occurred in a germ cell (a cell destined to become an egg or in the sperm) or the zygote (the conceptus) at the single-cell stage. When transmitted to a child, a germline mutation is incorporated in every cell of their body.
Germline mutations play a key role in genetic diseases. They play a role, too, in certain types of cancer as, for example, the eye tumor retinoblastoma and Wilms tumor, a childhood malignancy of the kidney.
A germline mutation is in contrast to a somatic mutation which is acquired in a single body cell.
I'm no doctor, but if I read this right...basically, the moment you concieve, your kid is destined to be autistic....thus, its genetic.
Anyone have a better understanding than thi
Read more: Parents
Any Help Out There For A Kid In A Cast?
2007-07-30 05:05:00
One of our readers, Christopher’s Daddy, shared a story about a spill that young Christopher took late last week that ended up in the wee-one’s leg being set in a cast (of course he wanted the color to be pink…Dad was able to talk him into a compromise of purple). Here's a photo. Poor Kid:
Always a great time to be in a cast, when it is a nice and balmy 90 degrees with 100% humidity! When I was a teenager I worked at a baby store’s stockroom putting together cribs, changing tables and the like – I remember how miserable it was for the late preggers ladies in July and August…I can only imagine its that much fun with a full cast on your leg. Have fun Christopher’s parents!
However, there are couple of questions to pose: Christopher’s Daddy would like to know of the educated readers out there:
In terms of taking medicine… if he won’t take pain killers (he seems over the weekend to have ‘accepted’ bubblegum flavored Motrin, but beyond that option) the parents
Diva? Maybe....Apple of My Eye? Absolutely!
2007-07-28 07:48:00
Read more: Maybe
, Apple
, Absolutely
You Have A TV In Your Office!
2007-08-01 10:42:00
This is the famed TV, the reason kids like to stop by my office....
Kim and the kids went to the Botanical Gardens today, they brought our good friend Joseph Carragher (jr version) also. Since the gardens are just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from my offices, they stopped by. After zipping their lips, we got into my office, where I splurged and gave the little ones some gum.
Joseph: WOW!
Jerry: You like my office (I knew what the wow was for....wait for it, wait for it.....)
Joseph: You have a TV in your office!
Jerry: Indeed (I hit the remote, faces light up, voices go down)
Joseph: Demetrius, I bet your dad watches Nickelodeon all day long!
Demetrius looks at me, like I'm cheating on him or something...Is Daddy watching Nickelodeon in the office all day long? Would he do that and not include me?
Too funny....
Children's Book: Autistic Planet
2007-08-01 04:30:00
The front cover of the book Autistic
Planet by Jennifer Elder (published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers)
Last night we read the book Autistic Planet to Maya for the first time. She enjoyed it, the book was simple and to the point. She got it that some kids are 'different'...though she still seems to be missing the point that her brother is autistic. Demetrius wanted a book about Clifford and a new comic book he got in the mail read to him earlier in the day.
That being said, after talking with Kim, here are our thoughts on the book:
This is a simple, easy-to-read book that could be read to a class of children. However, we think it would need to be read by an adult that can answer the 'why' type of questions that this story will prompt and he/she (adult) will also need to be able to interpret the examples within and apply them to the wee-ones in the reading circle. This begs the question - what real-world example would the adult use to explain? There is a page toward the end of th
Read more: Children
Pesticides and Autism?
2007-07-31 08:34:00
CNN piece on pesticides and autism in California....
Read more: Autism
An Interview With An Advocate
2007-07-31 03:13:00
So, I've blathered on and on about consideration of using an advocate in regards to your IEPs, etc....well, I figured with school just around the corner, there has never been a better time to bring the subject up again. Many of us (you all, you are going to read an interview with the Grassos advocate) will find that our IEPs aren't right, or the teachers aren't implementing them, or the school is getting X,Y or Z wrong....and you'll go into a meeting possibly angry, disgusted, or ready to hurt and maim. They (the other side) may seem stoic or unsympathetic. It doesn't necessarily have to be that way (sometimes, it seems, this is inevitable though) and an advocate can help.
Aimee Rodriguez-Dinehart was recommended to us through our SN peditrician, Amy Pakula, and we have used her extensively. She is an excellent resource for the Grassos when it comes to navigating the maze of public education on behalf of Super D. I thought having her chime in on some areas of advocacy would be wor
Read more: Advocate
C'Mon Guys.....
2007-07-30 16:10:00
No one, not one of you.... has any insight, info, advice to give to Christopher's Daddy? Folks, help a dad out here who's got a boy in a leg cast.....
It's TV Talk, Honey
2007-08-03 09:25:00
Demetrius had a really big few days - alot on the go, play time, staying up late with a sleepover, and therapy session. Long and short of it, he was tired last night. However, the three of us had some quality time (Mommy was at a spa party) and we went to Whole Foods for dinner. The kids love it, Mac & Cheese there gets them really excited. Plus all the free treats as you walk around!
On the way Demetrius went in between being really quiet and intense 'you can't break in and ask me a question' TV talk. This is how it is when he's tired. We got our dinner and sat down to eat, and he was giving an intense scene replay from a Jimmy Neutron and a safety DVD called 'Safe Side Super Chick'. A little girl and her Mommy were at the next table, the Mommy on her cell phone and the little girl was intently watching Super D...
Little Girl: Who are you talking to? (No way Demetrius was going to answer her, he was living in his head AND he was in a bit of a shy mood. I think he knew she was ta
Mamma Mia - More YouTube!
2007-08-02 07:03:00
Yes We Will Demetrius....
And no we won't!
As all of you know, Demetrius believes the television doesn't belong to anyone but him. On 'bad' days, if we don't watch what he wants - complete screaming meltdown...on good days, constant badgering to change to 'SpongeBob, please' from whatever the other family members are watching.
One of the 'discoveries' we've made is, while Maya watches something important - like Angelina Ballerina - Daddy and Demetrius can go to YouTube
and watch all kinds of good stuff - Superman cartoons from the 60s, Incredible Hulk trailers, the whole kit and kaboodle. Needless to say, we watch a ton of stuff, most which brings Daddy back to his childhood too (He is no fan of the Wonder Twins, He Man, Captain Planet....Ninja Turtles did make the cut though).
The other day we went through this scenario, and he asked to watch something in particular, and I should have never fulfilled this request.
Demetrius: Daddy, can we watch Abba?
Now, I've written be
Read more: Mamma
The Golden Ticket and The Green Blanket
2007-08-07 05:17:00
This morning I got out of the shower, and Demetrius scared the crap out of me. He was standing outside the tempered glass shower door…and he came into the bathroom, obviously, quite stealth-el-ly, waiting for me to finish my shower. I cannot believe I didn’t hear him or his TV talk… that’s just not like him.
After my intial weird bejesus scared out of you noise….I grab the towel, and in concern that something is wrong… (this obviously, also woke up Kim)
Daddy: Demetrius, is something wrong?
Demetrius (furrows his brow): Daddy, look, it is a golden ticket, hurry up and get ready, we need to go to Mr. Wonka’s factory. I can only bring ‘wun udder perfson’, and I want it to be you. So get ready!
Demetrius hands me a monopoly-esque one-dollar bill he is pretending to be the golden ticket.
Good imagination! Or as close to it as we come. I tell him I’ll get ready and head right down (play for a couple of minutes before I sit in traffic coming into the office).
I ge
Read more: Golden
, Ticket
, Green
, Blanket
If You Read This, AND You Live In Wisconsin
2007-08-07 05:05:00
Then you need to know about this.
Read more: Wisconsin
Sometimes It's Music
2007-08-06 16:09:00
The house is quiet. Both kids are in bed. The TV is off, some nights, you just don't want to watch... and you have to catch up on email!
You hear the air conditioner running, the washer machine doing towels, sloshing around...and if you listen closely enough, a floor down, underneath his room, at the kitchen table...you can hear him doing TV talk to himself in his room, as he begins to unwind to go to sleep.
You tip-toe up the stairs, try to be quiet enough not to be heard. But you sit and listen.
He's your seven year old autistic son, running through movies, filling up the quiet....he has to fill the space, even when he's starting to nod off...TV talk until the thumb goes in, then quiet, then steady breathing....does he dream weird non-sensical dreams like you and me? They say these kids don't have much, if any, imagination. Does he dream what he sees - is he dreaming TV talk?
I ask myself these questions as I listen to him fall asleep on a Monday night. It is the music of our liv
Read more: Sometimes
, Music
School Supplies And A Slow Weekend
2007-08-06 04:13:00
Grassos are very social animals. We enjoy friends and family, and we have always enjoyed hosting low-key weekend get togethers (we didn’t know it when we were DINKs, but doing so was ideal when the wee-ones came along). However, this weekend we had a reprieve – just us, and no plans. A couple of things fell through, which worked out nicely.
Friday night we went out to a new Chinese restaurant that opened up down the street, much to the angst of Demetrius (it had the same name as one of his favorites, so with an autistic kid, this can be confusing and create some transitional issues). I do take perverse humor when he says things like, “I do not like this Chinese restaurant, they don’t have crunchies!” while being seated in the booth…at the same time, you do feel for the kid seating you having to hear that….we came home, watched a movie, and all crashed. I went to bed with a distinct shaking feeling…which means MSG for me, I don’t react well to it. Never have. Great
Read more: School
, Weekend
Sneak Peek At Abbotts Hill
2007-08-09 08:54:00
Abbotts Hill Elementary: We Can't Wait To Ride The Bus There On Monday....
You all know I'm a sucker for my kids.
I know I'm a sucker for my kids.
So today, I'm doing work stuff and all I'm thinking about is what is Maya doing as she goes through her classroom and meets her kindergarten teacher. She gets to go sit on the bus that will pick her up on Monday morning. Jerry Grasso = sucker.
Sure, I'm doing some highly important work things today....but nothing I'm working on right now is as big a deal to me, as this is to her.
You know, Kim might not be the only one welling up on Monday morning when Maya gets on the bus to go off to Kindergarten....
He's Full Of It
2007-08-08 07:08:00
Don't buy this photo as fact for a moment - this doesn't happen much after 6am any given morning...
This morning I was stretching after my run, and Demetrius came down into the kitchen, thinking he caught me without my faculties...
Demetrius: Daddy, I'm up.
Daddy: Awesome, how did you sleep?
Demetrius: I want to watch TV or a movie.
Daddy: Demetrius, no TV. Go upstairs and play in your room with your toys or go cuddle Mommy.
He furrows his brow, stands there, staring at me stretching (of course, kids don't really grasp why we stretch, they are still bendable in all possible places).
Daddy: You know, this time next week, you'll be up and getting dressed, getting ready for school!
Demetrius: I don't want to go to school!Â
Daddy: Why? (I know this response is because we are mad about not getting to watch TV)
Demetrius: Because I'm tired, and I like to sleep in.
Right. Since 2003, Demetrius - unless he's sick - has never slept passed 6:15am on any morning. AND he expects
Yea, A Worst Nightmare Scenario
2007-08-07 10:40:00
All our kids are gonna grow up...and be grown ups with autism. This Southwest Airlines Flight experience is a worst-case scenario...
Read more: Nightmare
My Elbow Hurts
2007-08-11 09:38:00
So last night had some dinner with friends, and they have a Nintendo Wii. Now, Kim and I are very late adopters of games and technology and such like this. I'm a gardner, I like to read alot...this gaming thing isn't in my DNA...but I do enjoy a new one/experience periodically. This was fun. I even thought my Mii, looked, well, like me.
Anyway, we all bowled, but our friends four-year-old wanted to play me in baseball. I figured it out - but I couldn't get the ball out of the infield. Jannine said: "It's all in the wrist." Right. I had to jump around, flail as I pitched and attempted to hit. So did the little boy I was playing and he was having fun flailing....I was flailing because I was failing. Man, he was good. He took me yard, he punch-and-judyed the ball all over the place. He only beat me 1 to nothing. Once he stops being just 4 and gets the taste for blood... he'll kill me.
We then played tennis. He was friggin Federer. I was, well, a fat guy from the suburbs playing Roger
Read more: Elbow
What's Kindergarten Really About
2007-08-10 08:20:00
Yesterday afternoon I finally got Maya on the phone about her sneak peek at Abbotts Hill.
Daddy: Maya, how did it go, did you meet your teacher?
Maya: Daddy, they had candy in the room!
Daddy: What's your teacher's name?
Maya: I don't know. I also signed up for Girl Scouts! They eat brownies! (that's just too damn cute! She has a picture in her head of being a brownie, and eating alot of chocolate-y goodness....)
Daddy: Maya, do you even remember your teacher's name?
Maya: No, but she was at the school with the candy.
Maybe it is just me, but I think she's going to find that it is a bit different, both school & Girl Scouts, when things get started on Monday.
But I like the enthusiasm.
Demetrius - he told me they went to McDonalds after school. He got a new Superhero toy. Clearly, his priorities are aligned with his sister's.....
Read more: Kindergarten
School Recap/First Couple of Days
2007-08-16 04:26:00
The first couple of days are just overwhelming in terms of talking from Maya. I forget how much all of this is new for her....everything is a new, exciting experience....with new, exciting friends to make...and chocolate milk. At school, you can pick out what you want for lunch, and pick out your drink, which includes a chocolate milk option.
Holy crap! Whey didn't anyone tell her about how great school is! She would have started Kindergarten earlier than this year if she had known about this chocolate milk option! It seems the first week is just settling in and meeting teachers and getting used to your surroundings. And coming home and singing songs to Mommy and Daddy.
Oh, and someone has made a big impression on her. She's becoming much more animated in her speaking and hand movements. Alot of emphasis on things..."Mommy, that's the truth!" Dunno where she has picked this up from...Said like a court scene in a bad mid-day soap opera. Its cute!
A little tougher for Super D. He want
Read more: School
, Recap
, First
NPR Story on Education and Autism
2007-08-15 08:47:00
Do you have a child in public schools with autism like the Grassos? If so, you should read/listen to the piece here, that ran on NPR this morning.
Read more: Education
, Autism
First Day of School Recap
2007-08-14 08:55:00
Yesterday they got off the bus (pictures below), Demetrius went flying by me at the bus stop towards the house.
Demetrius: Hi Dad! Today was good. I'm going in, bye!
A big day for the boy, he needed to decompress. He went up to his room, and a new manifistation for him is to lay underneath his bed when he is overstimulated. A good thing, I think. Certainly, this is a safe spot from him AND we heard from one of his teachers that he did really well, and was really engaged yesterday. Home Run! All in all, a good first day.
Maya got off the bus, and proceeded to talk about her first day until her eyes closed at 8:15pm.
She had mashed potatoes and pizza at lunch. She ate it all. But she didn't eat her cookie, even though she wanted to, because she knew we were going out for a banana split after school.
She made two friends. But they don't ride her bus, and she forgot their names.
She did crafts, including a craft from the book the Kissing Hand.
There are other kids from the
Read more: School
, Recap
, First
, First Day
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