The King and Eye

Humf DVD giveaway

2011-08-29T14:43:00.002+01:00

This is my pair watching a Humf DVD. We are new to Humf and I have to say I love it, as do they!!

Everything about Humf is gentle: the music, the voices, even the artwork. I can highly recommend it as interesting for the children and soothing for parents!! There are lots of short stories, nothing to long or complicated for little minds to process. Her Cuteness loves to watch it in the evening time when she is winding down.

I have a Humf DVD to give away. Just leave a comment and I will do a random draw on Friday. I will post the winner in the comments so come back to check as I will need to you to get details of where to send the DVD.

Peppa Pig enters the house

2011-08-15T12:15:00.001+01:00

Peppa Pig is a recent discovery in our house. I have to say I quite enjoy the programmes myself if only they didn't have to snort mid-sentence. My children happen to love the snorting so I had better learn to love it too!

We got the chance to review Peppa Pigs' Party Time iPad app. It is a series of mini games that work from the planning stages of a party through to some of the games played at childrens parties. The graphics are recognizable as those from the tv programme as are the voices and music.

My 2 year old loved this app. She has spent quite a bit of time on it. She was well able to navigate and learn how to play the game on her own and it is the first app she opens when she picks up the iPad.

We had something unexpected happen though, which is just as important. HRH, my 3 year old with autism, also loves it. I didn't expect that. They fight over it, once one child hears the music from the open app the pushing and shoving begins. He snorts along with the characters and verbalises about it, saying '****** is a pig' when his sister snorts. This is a big deal for a child with autism (and very funny!).

Not only that, but now that I can see he is interested in the app I will be able to use it as a social story later on. HRH is unable to cope with parties in any shape or form. We just go with the flow rather than pressure him so we have never had a birthday party for him. As he gets older though he will come across parties more and I will use this app to explain the process to him and show him some of the party games children play. The same can be said for Her Cuteness, at 2 she doesn't have much experience of birthday parties but she won't find it overwhelming the same way HRH does.

The app costs €3.99 and now that I have seen how good it is I will be purchasing some of the others available.

I will leave you with one final snort as I need to seperate the pair of them.They are arguing over the app as I type!!

Tips for buying an iPad for your special needs child (or yourself!)

2011-08-03T18:01:00.001+01:00

These tips are purely from my own experience of having an iPad for my 3 yo special needs son, which is also used by my NT children. I don't get a chance to use it much *sigh*

1. 16gb, 32gb or 64gb?

Each step up adds €100 to the cost of the device so this aspect needs to be considered carefully.

Our iPad is 16 gb. It has 167 apps on it, plus some music and photos and there is still 40% of the storage left. If your child is the only person who will use the iPad then the 16gb should be enough. If you think you will load up a lot of video onto the device then go with a 32gb to be on the safe side. If multiple family members will use it and have varied interests then go with 32gb or 64gb, depending on how much video will be loaded onto the iPad. But for one child with little or no video 16gb should be enough.

If you do run out of space then don't worry, there is a new product on the market that can help: Kingston Wi Drive There isn't a release date mentioned yet, so I have no idea when this will make it to Europe but it is a good way to extend the storage on your device if you need to.........cheaper than buying a new iPad! There are 2 or 3 others available, Seagate do one also.

2. 3g & Wi-fi or Wi-fi only?

Getting a device with 3g will add another €120 to the cost of the device. Wifi will connect you to your home wifi network. If you envisage your child needing internet access outside of home then you have to consider your 3g options.

In my opinion 3g is not worth that extra cost because you can buy a wi-fi hotspot (such as a Hotshot - available from most mobile broadband suppliers) starting at €50 for bill pay up to €80 for prepay. (Prices vary according to company so shop around). The prepay data bundles cost the same as if you put a micro sim into your iPad and with the hotspot you can use up to 5 devices. Also, if you have a weak signal you cannot hold the iPad up high to try increase signal strength while your child is using it. You can with the hotspot. You may laugh now, but trust me, if your child is in the middle of their favourite elevator or film credits Youtube clip you WILL do this!

In short, the mobile hotspot is cheaper than buying inbuilt 3g and more useful as you can use it with other mobile devices.

3. Which case?

Get a GOOD strong case, the younger your child is the more imporant this bit is. Devices fall, or maybe even get thrown across the room in frustration! iPads are stronger than you might expect, but do you really want to take the chance?

We use an Otterbox Defender. It looks like something a rescue team would use to bring an iPad up the side of a mountain, if they needed an iPad up the side of a mountain! Having said that, our iPad is now 10 months old and still in one piece. Search Amazon for current prices. The price of the Defender for the iPad1 has dropped. The price for an iPad2 case may seem quite steep, but it is considerably cheaper than replacing/repairing your iPad as damage from drops and bangs is not covered under your Apple one year warranty.

A sturdy case like this will add a fair bit of weight to the iPad but this is not necessarily a bad thing. If you have a young child with poor motor skills then the extra weight will give them a better 'feel' of/for the device.

4. iPad1 or iPad2?

Ours is an iPad1. It is thicker and heavier than the iPad2. After that the main difference is that the iPad2 has a camera front and back to facilitate video calls. There are differences in processors and memory, but these won't really matter to your child.

You can buy refurbished iPad1 in the Apple store and save yourself between €50 to €70 depending on the spec you are buying. There is nothing at all wrong with a refurb, often they will be returns of unwanted items and not necessarily a 'faulty' item that got repaired. The refurbs also come with the standard one year warranty. Stock in the shop changes daily so if you have a particular spec in mind check every day until the one you want becomes available. The iPad2 is out a few months now so iPad1's will become more scarce as time goes by.

5. Apps.

If you are planning to buy a device in the not too distant future download iTunes NOW. Then when I, or others, post about apps going free for a few days you can download and have them for when you get your device. (I link apps on the Irish Autism Action Facebook page)

The price of an app can change depending on sales, promotions and events or just the age of the app. Often there will be a 'free' or 'lite' version to allow you try out a small section of the app before you commit to buying the full app. Where this option is available use it.

There are about 100k apps available in the app store, some are rubbish and some are excellent. There are a lot of apps available now for special needs children. Sometimes the only way to tell if your child will like an app is for them to try it out. Expect that you will have disappointments and that some of them will have cost you money.

If you see a 'paid' app that you like the look of you can add it to your wishlist in iTunes so that you don't forget the name of it. Then you can go back and investigate futher before you buy it.

It appears that iTunes will not let you buy an app (even 'buy' a free app) without adding your credit card details. There is a workaround for this:

FIRST: After you download iTunes find ANY free app and click to download it. It will ask for your apple id to continue with the purchase. Only THEN do you set up your apple id and you will be able to do so without adding a credit card. You can then download free apps to your hearts content. If you try to set up the apple id first, before trying to download a free app, it will not let you proceed without adding credit card details. Just cancel the setup and start again, clicking to download a free app first.

If you have anything to add that others might find helpful please feel free to leave a comment and I will add it in.

Ducks and Blog Gems

2011-07-22T14:38:00.002+01:00

Ok, they don't have a lot in common.....except maybe an indication of where my head is at the moment.

My blogging mojo has just disappeared since our time in hospital with HRH. I have decided not to struggle with it, for a bit, and will be handing over Blog Gems to Varda aka The Squashed Bologna while I take a much needed break........for the month of August definitely............while I get my ducks in a row.

Not being one who finds it easy to languish around, I have undertaken a new, and very exciting venture. HRH attends a preschool for autistic children. His school are taking part in an iniative from Irish Autism Action whereby if they recycle old mobile phones they can get technology for the school. They are aiming to get 165 old phones to get an iPad to use as a teaching tool with the children. As there are only 12 students in the school they are finding it a bit daunting. Therefore I have made it my mission to ensure they get 165 phones.

It is fabulous to focus on something so uncomplicated and positive and I am really enjoying how invested I am in this project (so is the school!!)

So, if you happen to have any old phones around the house and fancy helping me 'sort my ducks' feel free to email me (pretty please?). If it resembles a phone it is fit for the purpose intended!!

Meanwhile I will be doing a guest post, also over at Vardas', for Special Needs Siblings Saturday - tomorrow. She had to drag it out of me (see previous mojo reference) but I got there in the end. Go pay a visit for Vardas' sake, she worked hard!

Minus 3

2011-07-16T20:14:00.000+01:00

I am minus 3 family members this evening. My husband, Firstborn and Her Cuteness have gone on their holidays while HRH and I remain at home. Special Needs children have a longer school year in Ireland and this year HRH will only get 3 weeks holidays, beginning on 5th August.

We have been taking the children to a mobile home for their summer holidays for years now. We move lock, stock and barrell into 35x12 for two months every year (don't ask how it feels, please) All the children love it. Last year and this year are different now that HRH has a longer school year, but we still try to do what we can for Firstborn and Her Cuteness. To this end, Mr LS has taken his summer holidays and brought them away while I stay here with HRH. Then, when HRH finishes school, I will bring him and join the other children for the last 3 weeks of the school holidays. At that time Mr LS will return to work.

I have to admit to looking forward to this time. I have so much I want to do around the house that is impossible to do with 3 children underfoot. I love painting - wall painting, not the artistic on canvas type of painting - and I am so looking forward to getting started on........well, a lot of painting. Also, when you have 3 children being left with only 1 to look after is a holiday in itself!

They left at 3pm and I tidied the house, and it is still tidy 5 hours later *satisfied grin* But, well, I was so efficient now I am twiddling my thumbs..........no, no, of course I don't miss them!! It's just that I don't really know what to do with myself (until I buy paint)............

My name is Jen and I am a technology anorak.

2011-07-03T20:07:00.002+01:00

Yes, that is what my husband calls me, 'the anorak'. But, you know, I am proud of it. I was feeling the need for a new gadget recently. There wasn't anything taking my fancy but the compulsion remained. After a few days thought I bought Firstborn a netbook because I was fed up having to share my lovely laptop (No Sticky Fingers). To be fair to the child he had saved up some money and paid for half the cost. He got a netbook and I got my technology fix so everyone is happy.

Enter Bags of Love. I have never, ever, reviewed anything on this blog. Really the only thing that would interest me is something technology related and that opportunity has never come up. But Bags of Love came oh so close, with a technology accessory that I couldn't resist. The offered me a personalised laptop bag to review, with my own choice of design on it. All I had to do was send them the picture/photo and they did the rest. Look at this happy face:

I'll be honest here and say I didn't know what to expect. The emails swapped back and forth were very friendly and helpful. Through a lack of knowledge on my part I hadn't sent a picture with enough dpi/resolution and the team explained it to me, suggested ways to fix it and also what to watch for when choosing another photo. The quality of the bag itself is great, really sturdy. The decorated sides of the bag are neoprene and there is a strong canvas bottom and sides. There isn't even a thread hanging out it is finished so well. Overall I was, genuinely, very impressed and I now must add a new compulsion to my anorak status, technology accessories.

They do a photo canvas that I am very interested in. We have just built a new room onto the back of the house and we have a lot of wall space. I would love to get a nice canvas of the three children up on the wall. It is something I will definitely bear in mind once I manage to get a good photo of the three of them (autistic children tend not to like their photograps being taken and HRH is no exception, but I can try!!) They also do anniversary gifts and have a photo montage service available too.

I did not recieve any payment for this review but I did get to keep the item sent to us.

Hide and Seek, autie style!

2011-06-30T19:51:00.001+01:00

Sit back, close your eyes and bring to mind a mental image of my two younger children. Her Cuteness is age 2 and neurotypical (NT). HRH is age 3 and autistic. Her Cuteness decided that the pair of them should play a game of 'hide and seek'.

It went something like this:

Miss NT - "play, play, hide and seek. My turn, my turn, HRH hide, run away HRH"

HRH can now put one foot in front of the other is something resembling a very stiff and painful shuffle. He takes a step......

Miss NT - "3, 5, 17......I'm coming now!!"

She catches HRH after he has managed two steps. There are many screams of delight and happiness. Miss NT takes HRH by the hand and leads him the whole two steps back down the hall. She deposits him at the end of the stairs.

Miss NT - "count HRH, count...........I hide"

Miss NT turns to run up the hall.

HRH - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

But as he counts he shuffles after her, catching her about two steps up the hall. HRH squeals in delight at having caught her and Miss NT screams with frustration because she didn't get to run away and hide.

Repeat the above 4 times.

Miss NT gets the concept of the game, but cannot count. HRH can count, but has no idea what 'hide and seek' is. To be fair they gave it their best shot, but I am still laughing, two days later. I know the next time they play I should take the opportunity to teach HRH the general idea of the game............. I will, if I can keep a straight face!

Intense, Unswerving 'Resistance to Change'

2011-06-20T15:18:00.000+01:00

Excuse my absence for the last 3 weeks or so. I don't think I mentioned that we started building work on the house the week before HRH went into hospital. Given that he then spent 8 weeks in hospital I had to make 3 months worth of decisions in 3 weeks. As you can imagine, it has been hectic around our house! We now have a new kitchen and more living space at the back of the house and we love it. HRH, well............children with autism are known for 'resistance to change'.

But fear not, I had a cunning plan up my sleeve. Rather than move his toys etc into the new room I decided to buy him a new toy. I could then introduce the 'new' item and quickly move it to the 'new' room, without upsetting him by moving his 'old' toys into the new space, until he got used to it. So how did that go??

Well, he loved the 'new' play tent, absolutely loved it. But, uummm.............see for yourself:

Yep, that is HRH pushing his 'new' tent back to the older part of the house, where it should be!! I have to admire his determination, he still can't walk but he didn't let that stop him. The problem has been resolved now. My 2 year old daugher nagged him, without mercy, for two days, until we finally reached this happy stage:

The Great Escape!

2011-05-30T21:05:00.000+01:00

We.

Are.

Home!!

Oncology are finished with us, HRH has no life threatening illness and he has begun to recover under his own steam. We still don't know what is/was wrong or what is causing the abnormal tissue in his bones, but the urgency of finding out is gone. He is in great form and has great movement in his legs. Yes, it will be a while before he walks again, but he has very little pain and for now that is the most important thing. We will continue to attend the hospital on an outpatient basis and get to the bottom of the mystery.......eventually!!

So, life returns to normal (ish), it is taking a while to adjust to being back home. It feels good though!!

'Poxy' luck!

2011-05-24T23:06:00.000+01:00

from www.funnybone.com

Yep, HRH has the chicken pox! I wouldn't believe it only I can see the spots with my own eyes. We are in isolation at the hospital. Luckily he seems to have a mild dose and is in good form, just a little more sensitive and weepy than usual. The same could be said for me as I am finding isolation hard going, not being able to get HRH out for a walk or any kind of a break is wearing me down.

No news on a diagnosis for him. The last set of tests were for metabolic disorders and they came back clear. I have no idea what is next as we must have been through all the departments in the hospital at this stage. Nothing will happen this week as he is sick and, anyway, everyone is avoiding us.

I really want to say a big THANK YOU to Jean and everyone else who signed the 'E-card in blog form', it is fabulous, I love it and I love that you were all thinking of us. Still have something in my eye *coughs*

Blog Gems - Air your Archives #16

2011-05-22T17:31:00.000+01:00

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Blog Gems has travelled overseas and is in the USA this week, hosted by the lovely Jillsmo at Yeah, Good Times.

You may never hear from me again now that I have called Jillsmo 'lovely', probably not her word of choice, but I forgot to ask her what I should say!

Thanks to everyone who continues to take part while I indulge in a grudging hiatus!

A whole lot of nothing!

2011-05-16T21:33:00.000+01:00

That is how much new information we have since I last posted. Aside from a large number of blood tests that are supposed to screen for rare metabolic disorders (but I believe there is really a bunch of vampires living under the hospital) not a lot happened.

Fortunately HRH continues to go from strength to strength. He is in great form, I have heard him laugh more in the last ten days that I have in the entire 3.5 months he has been 'sick'. He now weights 15.3 kg, still low but that is a kilo gained this week.

He is now quite enjoying being at hospital and has really settled into the routine. When our nurse walks in he sticks out his arm, points to it and says 'arm' and then says 'blue' for the blue blood pressure cuff to go on. The nurses are thrilled to be getting some chat and smiles out of him.

Me? Well, after a few days break from the hospital I went back in and caught myself walking on 'light tiles'. I only realised I was doing this when I hit a bank of dark tiles and was going to do a graceful ballet type jump over them............OCD anyone??!!

Yep, thats me, stress/exhaustion related compulsion..........with style!

Meet 'The Conundrum'

2011-05-07T21:14:00.000+01:00

Yes, that is what the medical types are now calling HRH. From that you can gather, correctly, that we still have no idea what is wrong with him. He had two skin biopsies this week and they were fine. We have had a Geneticist assess him, Infectious Diseases are due any day and he will be assessed for rare metabolic diseases by Endocrinology. I don't know if this means that cancer/cancer like diseases are off the cards now, I was too stupidly tired to ask at the time, but I will ask next week.

Meantime HRH is now in serious pain. He had a Cardiac Echo done on Tuesday and the technician pulled him down the bed by his legs. His mouth opened to scream in pain, but no sound came out. Yep, the silent screams are the worst! His blood pressure is now very high without pain medication and the poor little fella can't move his legs at all now.

On the plus side, he had a feeding tube inserted (on my request as he has lost so much weight) and in just two days it has done him the world of good. Look:

(warning, proud Mommy moment follows, but do look, it is lovely)

Blog Gems is being hosted by Blue Sky and will go live tomorrow, Sunday. Go over and join in!!

The awkward moment..........

2011-04-29T21:18:00.003+01:00

..........when HRHs' consultant says 'he doesn't have Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, the test came back negative' after a whole week believing that he had, when they told us this is what he had! I can't be cross though, they did say it was preliminary and we took it with a sigh of relief because knowing was so much better then not knowing. Still, they were confident.

A week of researching, planning for chemotherapy and just getting our heads around the enormity of what he would be going through. The thing is that I can't let this knowledge and information go yet because they do think he has something along those lines but..........

They don't know what he has, not a clue! His medical case went up before the Tumour Board (comforting name, eh??!!) yesterday and they had no further suggestions. It has also been forwarded to a team of experts in the USA and put up on a global medical website to get opinions and still no suggestions..........yet. All they know at the moment is that he has abnormal cells in his bones and they will keep going until they find out exactly what is happening to my little sweetheart. There have even discussed sending us to another hospital abroad, but not yet.

Thanks to everyone for the lovely comments, emails and support over the last few weeks. It is lovely and I look forward to opening my emails each day knowing that lovely, kind emails will be waiting.

Back to not knowing but onwards and upwards, right?

PS, I am horribly embarrassed that I shared an incorrect diagnosis with you. I will be more careful in the future. They were so sure this is what he had, but then again, they were 95% sure he had Leukaemia two weeks prior to that and he didn't. I think I will just have to wait until I see an actual piece of paper in front of me before I say anything again! Sorry............

Blog Gems & HRH update.

2011-04-24T20:45:00.001+01:00

My blogging BFF Jean at Mommy to Two Boys is hosting Blog Gems this week. Rather than let the linky love die out I am going to farm it out for a while and share the love. If you are interesting in hosting please leave a note in the comments and I will contact you with a date. The linky runs every fortnight (used especially for Lynn) and I have Blue Sky lined up for the next one.

We finally have a diagnosis for HRH. This is preliminary, but will be confirmed next week with further tests. Everything grinds to a halt in Ireland for the 4 day Easter weekend you see. Anyway he has Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis, a very very rare disease. Our Dr. said there are 50 cases in the UK but my husband has done some research and says there are 73 cases between Ireland and the UK. Regardless, this still fits with the statistics of 1 case per million people. Seriously..........it had to be my child! HRH already has it in his skin and his bones so will have chemotherapy and steroids. I assume he will be having further tests to see if it has travelled to any of his internal organs *sticks fingers in ears and sings lalalalalalalala* After I have flattened the Drs with every question I can think of, on Tuesday morning, I will know more, until then I am just guessing. The long Easter weekend is veeeery loooooong this year.

Meantime, in an effort not to get too carried away with stress, Firstborn and I had a lovely day out yesterday. It got a write up on Nintendo Scene and he got mentioned quite a bit, mostly because of his villianous 9 year old tendencies and Pokemon obsession! It was a great day out though and a lovely break from the madness.

Taking a new direction

2011-04-14T20:20:00.000+01:00

HRH had a bone marrow biopsy last Monday. The test came back negative for leukemia.

However there is a BUT........last Friday our Doctors were 95% sure that he does have leukemia so they are going to repeat the procedure on Monday. we have been told that the negative is good new and we can relax a bit, but not to be surprised if they confirm leukemia next week.

I never saw this coming, not even a hint of it. I look back now at being cross that he might have arthritis, and how unfair that would be on top of his autism. If the doctors mentioned arthritis now I would probably hug them, but that isn't going to happen. The best we can hope for at this stage is that he has some kind of systemic infection that has entered his bones and can be treated with a blast of high octane anti-biotics.

I am considering taking a break from blogging for a bit. My concentration is very poor, I find myself reading my friends posts and not knowing what it was about when I get to the end. I am very conscious that blogging is give and take, I have not been doing much giving recently. That doesn't sit well with me. I promise, I will post up what his final diagnosis is, I won't leave you wondering.

Thank you all so much for your kind words and support over the last 2 months, they have made such a difference.

any spelling mistakes are due to my iPad and it's silly spellcheck, please excuse them. It tried to change anti-biotics to antibooties!

My twitter handle is @irishautism, maybe I will run into you there, that would be great!

Blog gems - Air your Archives #13

2011-04-10T15:15:00.002+01:00

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How many posts do you have languishing in your archives? Great posts that will never be dusted off and brought out to breathe again! Maybe you created fabulous content before you had lots of followers, or maybe you have been blogging for years and your current followers haven't seen your older material.

I have a plan.

Blog Gems - Air Your Archives is a forthnighly linky list where I will give a prompt and you select a post from your archives that fits the prompt. You do not have to create content for the prompt, unless you want to. All you have to do is copy and paste the url of the post into the linky list. Voila, an old post gets a second shot!

To take part:

1. Follow my blog to get future Blog Gem posting information and linkys.

2. Grab the Blog Gem button and place it on your sidebar (html code here or above)

Putting the button on your blog is not a dealbreaker, some people just don't like doing it and I have no problem with that at all. What I will say is that something like this can't be successful without 'word of mouth' so I would appreciate if you could find another way to let people know that this is available and they are welcome to join in.

3. Enter your link.

4. Read and comment on the submissions of the two blogs posted before you on the linky list. (Please!)

5. Help me spread the word by telling your blogging friends, either by tweeting this or blogging about your entry.

It was Mothers Day on this side of the world last Sunday. Link up a post about parenting, being a mother or a father. If you are not a parent just pick a post about your own parents, if you have written one.

Broad interpretations of the prompt are encouraged so this could be a good chance to be creative!

For any newer bloggers don't worry if you have to link up posts that you have linked up before, it is very unlikely that you will end up with the same readers as last time so continue to join in and have fun. Many, many thanks to those of you that blog about Blog Gems, I really appreciate the links and help getting the meme 'out there'.

Allison at Life in a Pink Fibro and I have gotten together to generate some cross-hemisphere linky love. Allison runs Weekend Rewind every weekend and is also based on posting up your favourite oldies. It is one of the friendliest bloghops I have ever taken part in! Her linky is closed now, but will be open again next weekend. Remember to go have a look!

Michelle at Mummy from the Heart has started a lovely new meme called Reasons to be Cheerful, have a look.

Quick update on HRH. Something showed up in his MRI on Friday and he will have a bone marrow biopsy tomorrow morning. Wish us luck!

Ramblings of the marginally demented (thats me!)

2011-04-07T12:54:00.000+01:00

Day 8 in hospital and HRH is getting used to it now. He will have an MRI on his hip tomorrow and I really hope this gives us answers. I was shocked yesterday to see the muscle atrophy in his legs, in particular his left leg (his left hip seems to be the problem). Both his legs are considerably thinner, but his left leg looks like a match stick, with his knee being the head of the match! Even if we get some idea of the problem tomorrow we still have a long road ahead of us as he will need intensive physio and assistance to build up his muscles and walk again.

HRH has been given cream for his skin as his excema started to flare up a little with the heat of the hospital. It is very good cream apparently and has urea in it. So my burning question is..........where do they get the urea from? Is it synthesised, animal or human. Do staff in the factory have to donate their pee and is it in their contract to so so? (being on site and all)

A very tired and marginally demented

Medium sized rant warning!

2011-04-02T11:46:00.000+01:00

HRH was admitted to hospital on Thursday after our clinic appointment with the 'gentleman'. To be fair the 'gentleman' was, in fact, a true gentleman. I didn't have any fight to get him to believe me, he could see just how much HRH has deteriorated in the last month. He was also very respectful of HRH and didn't push the examination too far but tried to judge it on HRH's reactions every time he put his hand near HRH's left leg. (imagine the screaming yourself).

The Rheumatologist never came on Friday but should do so on Monday. It looks like he has a bigger problem than was initially thought (really??!! should have listened to his mother) and Arthritis has been bandied about a bit. I have to say, I resent that he could have something like this, I think autism is enough for him to deal with.

But, really, I think my problem here is that I miss my happy little boy sooooo much. He is in a lot of pain, all the time. He is unable to sit for more than a few mins, and even then he can't do that until about 40 mins after he gets his pain meds. His social interaction with his siblings is non-existent, he rarely speaks anymore, or laughs for that matter. He has several big sores on his face where he keeps digging his nails into himself and cutting himself and keeps going back to dig out more skin. He ate two biscuits and a packet of chocolate buttons yesterday, about average for him now. Some days he won't eat at all, nothing! He has lost a lot of weight.

I am stunned at the effect this issue is having on his quality of life. I expect we will be in hospital for most of next week while they do more tests. Poor fella is distraught being back there. He screams when I put him on the bed because bad things happen on the bed, examinations, blood being drawn, that kind of thing.

It is two months since he started limping, 6 weeks since he last walked. I am going to camp out at the hospital and refuse to leave until we have answers. They will have to arrest me to get me to leave! This has gone too far and it shouldn't have taken this long for them to listen to me and recognize his pain.

Fed up.......much?

Blog Gems - Air your Archives #12

2011-03-27T19:00:00.002+01:00

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How many posts do you have languishing in your archives? Great posts that will never be dusted off and brought out to breathe again! Maybe you created fabulous content before you had lots of followers, or maybe you have been blogging for years and your current followers haven't seen your older material.

I have a plan.

Blog Gems - Air Your Archives is a forthnighly linky list where I will give a prompt and you select a post from your archives that fits the prompt. You do not have to create content for the prompt, unless you want to. All you have to do is copy and paste the url of the post into the linky list. Voila, an old post gets a second shot!

To take part:

1. Follow my blog to get future Blog Gem posting information and linkys.

2. Grab the Blog Gem button and place it on your sidebar (html code here or above)

Putting the button on your blog is not a dealbreaker, some people just don't like doing it and I have no problem with that at all. What I will say is that something like this can't be successful without 'word of mouth' so I would appreciate if you could find another way to let people know that this is available and they are welcome to join in.

3. Enter your link.

4. Read and comment on the submissions of the two blogs posted before you on the linky list. (Please!)

5. Help me spread the word by telling your blogging friends, either by tweeting this or blogging about your entry.

This week is about favourite posts. Link up a post that you love or that got more attention than you expected, or continues to get hits loooong after it has been posted!

Broad interpretations of the prompt are encouraged so this could be a good chance to be creative!

For any newer bloggers don't worry if you have to link up posts that you have linked up before, it is very unlikely that you will end up with the same readers as last time so continue to join in and have fun. Many, many thanks to those of you that blog about Blog Gems, I really appreciate the links and help getting the meme 'out there'.

Allison at Life in a Pink Fibro and I have gotten together to generate some cross-hemisphere linky love. Allison runs Weekend Rewind every weekend and is also based on posting up your favourite oldies. It is one of the friendliest bloghops I have ever taken part in! Her linky is closed now, but will be open again next weekend. Remember to go have a look!

Michelle at Mummy from the Heart has started a lovely new meme called Reasons to be Cheerful, have a look.

Yet another walking update!

2011-03-25T19:00:00.001Z

I should really start calling these 'not walking' updates because HRH still can't walk. He is getting worse actually. He came off his anti-inflammatories last week and went downhill very quickly. I had to support his legs, keeping his knees over his hips, so that he could sleep. The physio was very concerned and he went back on the meds. He still can't straighten his leg, he is even having difficulty sitting upright at this stage and favours lying down. He also needs assistance to get from lying into a sitting position. He can sleep now without me supporting his legs (because of meds) but he has to sleep with his left leg bent so he leans it against my body.

We cancelled physio this week, there was just no point. Our hospital appointment is next week, to see the 'gentleman' who said HRH was choosing not to walk because he is autistic. My family Doctor is very unhappy about the situation so if the 'gentleman' won't help us out then our Dr. will move us to someone else. By next week it will be going on two months and I am fit to be tied by now, mind you, so is HRH! If the 'gentleman' mentions the word 'autism' you will hear me screeching from wherever you live!

On a brighter note, Firstborn turned 9 this week and we are currently investigating his 3DS which he got today. First time he has ever gotten something on the day of release, I am just as excited as he is because it is an amazing piece of technology. Also, during the week, Firstborn informed us that Barack Obama was selfish. When we asked him why he responded "because he took 'yes we can' from Bob the Builder". That told us!

I hope everyone is keeping well and sending out lots of love to my friends, thank you for dropping by, I hope to resume normal operations soon. For now I just need to focus on my lovely HRH and see him right.

My radio interview

2011-03-19T15:23:00.002Z

Interview with Jen (me) from Irish Autism Action with Emma Ziff from Jnetradio, March 16th.

Emma and I are talking about parenting a child with autism and how it affects family life.

Part 1

Part 2

*photo credit google images

Walking update and a radio interview

2011-03-16T14:32:00.001Z

HRH is having a rough time of it at the moment. He is still unable to walk, it has been a month now since he last walked. He came off his painkillers last week and has gone downhill considerably. Not only is he in pain but not being able to walk is affecting him in other ways. His frustration levels have increased, he is using his speech less (and using that terrible squealing more!!). He is also having to find other ways to satisfy his sensory feedback needs and is stimming much more. We are being brought back to the hospital for a review. Up until now the hospital have felt that his problems are 'pain memory' but with this disimprovement they are now considering that there is still something going on with his hip..............finally!!

As you can see my blog is somewhat neglected, as are my blogging friends. For this I apologise, but even while writing this I have had to stop 3 times and intervene in frustration driven self injuring episodes. I am almost as frustrated because I just want my, usually happy, little boy to be comfortable.

In other news I am doing a radio interview tonight at 9.20 pm GMT. So if you fancy hearing my lovely Irish accent then come along and listen in, I will be talking about autism and special needs parenting. The webiste is www.jnetradio.com, there is a link 'Listen Live' which will open a new window with a 'Play' option.

Did I mention that I am terrified? I have never done anything like this before, wish me luck!

Blog Gems - Air your Arhcives #11

2011-03-13T14:54:00.006Z

Button HTML

How many posts do you have languishing in your archives? Great posts that will never be dusted off and brought out to breathe again! Maybe you created fabulous content before you had lots of followers, or maybe you have been blogging for years and your current followers haven't seen your older material.

I have a plan.

Blog Gems - Air Your Archives is a forthnighly linky list where I will give a prompt and you select a post from your archives that fits the prompt. You do not have to create content for the prompt, unless you want to. All you have to do is copy and paste the url of the post into the linky list. Voila, an old post gets a second shot!

To take part:

1. Follow my blog to get future Blog Gem posting information and linkys.

2. Grab the Blog Gem button and place it on your sidebar (html code here or above)

Putting the button on your blog is not a dealbreaker, some people just don't like doing it and I have no problem with that at all. What I will say is that something like this can't be successful without 'word of mouth' so I would appreciate if you could find another way to let people know that this is available and they are welcome to join in.

3. Enter your link.

4. Read and comment on the submissions of the two blogs posted before you on the linky list. (Please!)

5. Help me spread the word by telling your blogging friends, either by tweeting this or blogging about your entry.

This week is all about creativity. We have a builder starting on an extension to our house tomorrow and this is the inspiration for this weeks prompt (I have spent the last week preparing and being very strict with my junk collecting husband). Creative can be a story you wrote, the best lie you ever told (!) or making something. If you can fit it into 'creative' then link it.

Broad interpretations of the prompt are encouraged so this could be a good chance to be creative!

For any newer bloggers don't worry if you have to link up posts that you have linked up before, it is very unlikely that you will end up with the same readers as last time so continue to join in and have fun. Many, many thanks to those of you that blog about Blog Gems, I really appreciate the links and help getting the meme 'out there'.

Allison at Life in a Pink Fibro and I have gotten together to generate some cross-hemisphere linky love. Allison runs Weekend Rewind every weekend and is also based on posting up your favourite oldies. It is one of the friendliest bloghops I have ever taken part in! Her linky is closed now, but will be open again next weekend. Remember to go have a look!

Michelle at Mummy from the Heart has started a lovely new meme called Reasons to be Cheerful, have a look.

Back Home, with a bad experience under my belt.

2011-03-04T14:30:00.000Z

HRH was released from hospital on Tuesday. He has a temporary type of arthritis in his hip. There is a 95% recovery rate, without reoccurance. He continues not to walk but he will do in his own time. We can't push him to walk, if we do he may get scared and confused and take much longer to get back on his feet. We have a check up with our consultant in a month, to track his progress.

There was an incident last week with this consultant and I am furious about it. On Thursday evening the consultant swooped into the room and hauled HRH off the bed. He started tickling him and bouncing him around. He then put HRH on the floor and waited for him to run away in fear. HRH's little legs were shaking with the effort of standing up and probably a healthy dose of sheer terror. He managed to slide one foot along the floor a few inches, then the other. I intervened and supported him and he managed something that didn't resemble walking, but he did manage to move forward.

The consultant turned to me and said "He can walk. There is nothing wrong with that child, he is choosing not to walk because he is autistic". I am still enraged at his attitude and treatment of HRH and finding it very hard to move on. Unfortunately this is the 'gentleman' we have to see when we return for our checkup. However, if HRH requires further treatment or tests we will be transferred to another consultant as his diagnosis is not an Ortho case, it is a Rheumatology case.

I am shocked that any adult in such a position would treat any child this way, never mind an autistic child. But to then use his autism as an excuse and use it against us..........well that takes a very 'special' person. I really want to swear so please note the massive sarcasm I have used in referring to this person.

Has anything like this ever happened to you and your child?

Blog Gems - Air your Archives #10

2011-02-27T15:04:00.000Z

Button HTML

How many posts do you have languishing in your archives? Great posts that will never be dusted off and brought out to breathe again! Maybe you created fabulous content before you had lots of followers, or maybe you have been blogging for years and your current followers haven't seen your older material.

I have a plan.

Blog Gems - Air Your Archives is a forthnighly linky list where I will give a prompt and you select a post from your archives that fits the prompt. You do not have to create content for the prompt, unless you want to. All you have to do is copy and paste the url of the post into the linky list. Voila, an old post gets a second shot!

To take part:

1. Follow my blog to get future Blog Gem posting information and linkys.

2. Grab the Blog Gem button and place it on your sidebar (html code here or above)

Putting the button on your blog is not a dealbreaker, some people just don't like doing it and I have no problem with that at all. What I will say is that something like this can't be successful without 'word of mouth' so I would appreciate if you could find another way to let people know that this is available and they are welcome to join in.

3. Enter your link.

4. Read and comment on the submissions of the two blogs posted before you on the linky list. (Please!)

5. Help me spread the word by telling your blogging friends, either by tweeting this or blogging about your entry.

This week is all about happy thoughts, because I need 'happy' at the moment. Anything happy, funny or heart warming will do, your choice!

Broad interpretations of the prompt are encouraged!

For any newer bloggers don't worry if you have to link up posts that you have linked up before, it is very unlikely that you will end up with the same readers as last time so continue to join in and have fun. Many, many thanks to those of you that blog about Blog Gems, I really appreciate the links and help getting the meme 'out there'.

A quick update on HRH, we are still in hospital but hope to be out midweek, it has been 10 days now. We only have the physiotherapist and rheumatologist to see and a return visit from the neurologist. So far all tests have been clear but many more results due in over the next two days. Unless these tests show up something they are going with 'irritable hip'. He is can stand up now, but his little legs shake with the effort and walking is just too much of a struggle for him. But still, being able to stand at all is an improvement!

Allison at Life in a Pink Fibro and I have gotten together to generate some cross-hemisphere linky love. Allison runs Weekend Rewind every weekend and is also based on posting up your favourite oldies. It is one of the friendliest bloghops I have ever taken part in! Her linky is closed now, but will be open again next weekend. Remember to go have a look!

Michelle at Mummy from the Heart has started a lovely new meme called Reasons to be Cheerful, have a look.

Bouncing from team to team

2011-02-24T12:46:00.001Z

With HRHs radiation scan all clear on Tuesday (or was that Monday?)we were referred for a neurology consult. The Neurologist finally made it to us today. HRH became very distressed during the examination. Twice we stood him up to try get him to walk. His poor little legs were shaking with the effort of standing and the best he could manage was to slide one foot along the floor a couple of inches.

The neurologist did a lot of explaining as to why he felt HRH was not a neurology case but I was finding it hard to follow and this on top of the screams.....well, I became a little impatient. The neurologist said 'Ok, I will be back tomorrow to see how he is' and my impatient reply was 'Why? do you think he will be able to walk by tomorrow?' Just insert the little shocked silence there yourself!

Anyway, this prompted him to plain speaking (YES!) and he said that HRH is not presenting like a child with a brain tumour and is therefore recommending that a rheumatologist comes to assess him. In the event that this assessment doesn't show up anything the neurologist will then arrange brain imaging tests to rule out a brain tumour.

Now we are waiting on the new consult, probably tomorrow, and there will be more X-rays done in the meantime. The Dr is starting to use words like 'complex case' and I mentally have my fingers in my ears, singing 'lalalalala' but I can still hear him *sigh

I am beginning to enjoy the hospital food, probably a good thing!

Isolation has benefits!

2011-02-22T11:01:00.000Z

We love the iPad!

We are currently in isolation as HRH had a dose of radiation for his bone scan yesterday. Nothing showed up so we still don't know what is going on. I don't even know what the next step is as the Senior Registrar or Consultant have not been to see me yet.

I have to tell you this next story. I fear I may live to regret it, it could follow me around the blogosphere for many moons, but I have to say it nonetheless.

Our first 3 nights in hospital we were in a 2 bedroom ward, the first two nights we were on our own. On the third night another child was admitted. Her Dad was with her. Her very tall Dad. Parents get a mat to sleep on the floor beside their childs' bed and our room was small so the mats ended up making one long mat. Like I said, he was very tall. I spent the night curled up in a foetal position trying to get away from his feet, but they just seemed to follow me around.

I can't quite put my finger on what is so wrong with that, but it feels very wrong. But, wait.........let me tell you a little known intimate detail about this complete stranger..............he doesn't wear socks in bed!!

Being in isolation has it's perks you know!

Quick update on HRH

2011-02-20T22:01:00.000Z

Just a quick update on HRH. He was admitted to hospital on Friday and we are there since. All tests so far are clear but he will have an isotope dye test on his bones tomorrow, fingers crossed it shows up the problem area and then he can have an MRI scan. Up to this he has been baffling them [that's my boy!]

He is coping well under the circumstances. I am very thankful for the iPad as it is keeping him well amused. Look, I am blogging on it too! I am not going to even attempt to prettify this post with pictures, he is looking for the iPad back!

Goodnight:)

Update on walking problems

2011-02-17T14:32:00.001Z

As I type, my poor little sweetheart, HRH, is sleeping on the couch. His gentle snores alternate with little mewling whimpers of misery because he has a tummy bug and we have been up, mostly, since 2 am. This is on top of his walking difficulty.

Last week I explained the problems he was having walking. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to comment on that post, I really appreciate the information.

We were sent to the childrens hospital to have his hips x-rayed. His hips were fine, as were his blood tests (pause for a moment to imagine the screaming and four adults holding him down to take a blood sample *shudders*). The Dr.s felt that his hip joints were inflamed and a mild anti-inflammatory for a week should do the trick. That was last Thursday.

It hasn't. By Monday he was unable to walk, at all! For Monday and Tuesday I had to carry him, he couldn't take any weight on his legs. He improved a little yesterday and this video clip is from late yesterday afternoon.

I am not happy with his progress and was going to bring him back to see our Dr. this morning but now he has this tummy bug so I will wait until tomorrow.The one advantage of him having this bug is that he will get a lot of rest today. I might be stretching the sliver lining there, forgive me, that is called sleep deprivation!

Must dash, I have an overflowing basket of vom-scented laundry to do *sigh*

Brothers, together.

2011-02-16T03:09:00.003Z

This was HRH's first time bowling, last weekend. Firstborn took his duties as big brother very seriously and helped his autistic little brother every step of the way, even with the cheering.............

The Gallery prompt this week is 'Togetherness'. It is not a movie clip, it is a 2 second moving picture not often seen by Muggles *whistles*

Blog Gems - Air your Archives #9

2011-02-13T17:23:00.001Z

Button HTML

How many posts do you have languishing in your archives? Great posts that will never be dusted off and brought out to breathe again! Maybe you created fabulous content before you had lots of followers, or maybe you have been blogging for years and your current followers haven't seen your older material.

I have a plan.

Blog Gems - Air Your Archives is a forthnighly linky list where I will give a prompt and you select a post from your archives that fits the prompt. You do not have to create content for the prompt, unless you want to. All you have to do is copy and paste the url of the post into the linky list. Voila, an old post gets a second shot!

To take part:

1. Follow my blog to get future Blog Gem posting information and linkys.

2. Grab the Blog Gem button and place it on your sidebar (html code here or above)

Putting the button on your blog is not a dealbreaker, some people just don't like doing it and I have no problem with that at all. What I will say is that something like this can't be successful without 'word of mouth' so I would appreciate if you could find another way to let people know that this is available and they are welcome to join in.

3. Enter your link.

4. Read and comment on the submissions of the two blogs posted before you on the linky list. (Please!)

5. Help me spread the word by telling your blogging friends, either by tweeting this or blogging about your entry.

This week is all about love, it has to be as Valentines Day is tomorrow. So, what do you love? any person/place/object/chocolate is fair game.

Broad interpretations of the prompt are encouraged!

I never made it around to the posts in the last blog gems as I was on holidays and it really messed up my routine. Apologies for that, I will make amends somehow.......

For any newer bloggers don't worry if you have to link up posts that you have linked up before, it is very unlikely that you will end up with the same readers as last time so continue to join in and have fun. Many, many thanks to those of you that blog about Blog Gems, I really appreciate the links and help getting the meme 'out there'.

Allison at Life in a Pink Fibro and I have gotten together to generate some cross-hemisphere linky love. Allison runs Weekend Rewind every weekend and is also based on posting up your favourite oldies. It is one of the friendliest bloghops I have ever taken part in! Her linky is closed now, but will be open again next weekend. Remember to go have a look!

Michelle at Mummy from the Heart has started a lovely new meme called Reasons to be Cheerful, have a look.

Niggling doubts...........oh alright, total panic!

2011-02-09T15:07:00.000Z

When I got back from my fabulous week away in NYC (on Sunday) HRH was having trouble walking, Mr LS said it began on Saturday. The best way to describe it is that he is limping on both legs, like he has stones in his shoes. Of course we stripped him off and checked his feet, knees and legs but no visible bruises and no stones in his shoes either. He is walking this way with or without his shoes, leaning onto walls for support and also walking this way while he is focused on something else, like the iPad (Youtube and film credits are very engrossing!)

As it happens we had an Occupational Therapy assessment yesterday, the final part to getting his service statement. What knocked me for six was the OT saying HRH's gross motor skills were extremely bad. Yeah, extremely. He was right though. HRH really struggled with the stairs and wasn't able to jump. He could do both of these before I went on holidays, maybe not gracefully, but he could do them. He has been referred to physiotherapy.

Now, logically I know there could be many reasons for this turn of events:

1. He may have an ear infection causing balance problems. He is not showing signs of it but I will have it checked out.
2. He might have had or be in a growth spurt and taking a while to adjust to his new height.
3. It may be a stim, even though he appears to be doing it unconsciously.
4. He is coming on so much with his social skills and social interaction he may not be able to process everything at the same time.

OR the one that is really worrying me, so you have to promise not to laugh!

*whispers* it may be regression.

Yes, ok, ok, I know I might be panicking just a bit with that one, but that is genuinely my fear. Having seen the initial, and frightening, regression between 14-18 months old it is something that I do not want to experience again. I felt so helpless and confused and I just didn't know what to do to help him. Since then we have seen him 'forget' skills, but we also know he just needs reminding that he knows them and some practice will sort it out.

This is different, this is BIG and very, very obvious. His teachers have noticed it and said he no longer requests to go on the trampoline, his favourite. They are very concerned too. Has anyone experienced this? or have any ideas of what else I could check?

Home, in one piece!

2011-02-07T14:17:00.002Z

I have had the best holiday ever (vacation for Americans!). I feel so rested and relaxed, while at the same time jetlagged with a very fuzzy brain. 24 hours later and I am still being showered with kisses and hugs by my children and I am just as happy to see them. Some highlights of the trip:

Meeting Jean from Mommy to two Boys.
Jean cracked up laughing when my Mum used 'fortnight' in real conversation.

Meeting Varda from The Squashed Bologna

Notice my sweatshirt? That is so I won't forget where I am!

A portion of my shopping spree

(I dare not look at my visa bill just yet)

Meeting Jean and Varda was fantastic. We have been readings each others blogs for so long and know each other so well. We just sat down and chatted, like it was normal for us to meet and chat in real life! The fact that they live in New York and I live in Ireland and it was our first time meeting didn't cause any awkwardness at all. Definitely the highlights of my holidays.

I also made it to Target and loved it, Jillsmo, DaniG and Lynn talk about often. I couldn't find a Chuck E Cheese though, BigDaddy had warned me off but I needed to find out for myself. Oh well, maybe next time! Kathleen, I waved at you as I flew over Maine, I know you live somewhere beginning with 'M' and I think it is Maine.........

I have just marked 1000 blog posts in my reader as 'all read' because there is no way I can catch up on that many. So tell me, what did I miss? How are you all keeping?

Blog Gems - Air your Archives #8

2011-01-30T17:20:00.001Z

Button HTML

How many posts do you have languishing in your archives? Great posts that will never be dusted off and brought out to breathe again! Maybe you created fabulous content before you had lots of followers, or maybe you have been blogging for years and your current followers haven't seen your older material.

I have a plan.

Blog Gems - Air Your Archives is a forthnighly linky list where I will give a prompt and you select a post from your archives that fits the prompt. You do not have to create content for the prompt, unless you want to. All you have to do is copy and paste the url of the post into the linky list. Voila, an old post gets a second shot!

To take part:

1. Follow my blog to get future Blog Gem posting information and linkys.

2. Grab the Blog Gem button and place it on your sidebar (html code here or above)

Putting the button on your blog is not a dealbreaker, some people just don't like doing it and I have no problem with that at all. What I will say is that something like this can't be successful without 'word of mouth' so I would appreciate if you could find another way to let people know that this is available and they are welcome to join in.

3. Enter your link.

4. Read and comment on the submissions of the two blogs posted before you on the linky list. (Please!)

5. Help me spread the word by telling your blogging friends, either by tweeting this or blogging about your entry.

Following on from the last Blog gems where we linked up an event in our lives, I would like to continue the theme of getting to know each other a little better. This week link up a post that tells us about a holiday, any kind of holiday even just a weekend away, vacation or any few hours to yourself that are not your normal routine (bit of confusion with different transatlantic use for 'holiday' there!). This idea has been inspired by me because I am going on holidays this week *squeeee*

Broad interpretations of the prompt are encouraged!

For any newer bloggers don't worry if you have to link up posts that you have linked up before, it is very unlikely that you will end up with the same readers as last time so continue to join in and have fun. Many, many thanks to those of you that blog about Blog Gems, I really appreciate the links and help getting the meme 'out there'.

Everyone that joins in this bloghop knows about the teasing/joking around I put up with over my use of the word 'fortnight'? No? well, yeah, I do. So JoyMama at Elvis Sightings sent this along to me during the week. It is an excellent comic strip about the word 'fortnight' for your viewing pleasure! Thanks JoyMama.

Allison at Life in a Pink Fibro and I have gotten together to generate some cross-hemisphere linky love. Allison runs Weekend Rewind every weekend and is also based on posting up your favourite oldies. It is one of the friendliest bloghops I have ever taken part in! Her linky is closed now, but will be open again next weekend. Remember to go have a look!

Michelle at Mummy from the Heart has started a lovely new meme called Reasons to be Cheerful, have a look.

Getting some answers about Firstborn

2011-01-27T15:48:00.005Z

We have had concerns about Firstborn for a while now, particularly in the last year or so. He seems so far ahead in some ways and yet so 'not at the level of an 8 year old' in others, i.e. epic tantrums. I took him as he was, thinking all children were like that. His issues did not seem to be resolving themselves as he grew older and I began to question it more when HRH was diagnosed with autism.

Our biggest concern for the last 2.5 years has been school. He finds school very frustrating. He does ok until around about this time of the year. He holds it together because he is learning enough new information to keep him motivated, just about. But the revision of the years work will begin shortly and it is the worst time of year for us. By May it will be an enormous battle every single day to get him to go to school. He will sit in class and do his 'attitude' thing and then bring it home to share with us *sigh* and the epic tantrums will increase significantly.

Don't get me wrong. He is a great child. He is funny, bright, thoughtful and great company. He can be daft sometimes and forgets things like needing shoes to go outside or leaves for school without his schoolbag. A bit of a feather head then, but not too much. He is only 8! His biggest negative attribute is impatience, I have high hopes that he will learn over the years, but as he is very much a mini-me I think I am wishing on a star there.

It was the parent of a gifted child we know who suggested that this could be our issue as her son and my son seemed so alike, sharing many uncanny similarities with school, tantrums and more. However, it took me a year (with many, many requests) to get the results of Firstborns standardized tests from the school. Without those results we couldn't pursue the EA (Exceptionally Able) route.We couldn't arrange proper assessments until we knew his scores in comparison to other children his age.

Now, finally, we have have the results of further private assessments. He has assessed as gifted which is defined here: "the general understanding appears to be that a gifted child is one whose potential in one or more areas would place him or her in the top 2 to 5% of children of the same age." I prefer the term 'Exceptionally Able' (EA) myself, I like that, it doesn't have the same baggage attached as 'Gifted' (you know those mothers who say their children are geniuses, that's not me).

I have been doing some reading on this excellent website www.giftedkids.ie. We have enrolled him in some Saturday courses (Japanese and Photography) for children his age with exceptional ability. He is hugely excited about attending and the subjects were his choice. This will give us some breathing space to get our heads around the fact that he has special education requirements and that we will be on our own with this. HRH gets educational support because he has autism, Firstborn will get no help whatsoever, there are no accelerated learning programmes in schools here. That feels a bit daunting at the moment.

One of the myths surrounding EA children is that they are set for life and will coast through school, need no help or support. This is not true, it is more likely they will underperform in school due to boredom and frustration (luckily it hasn't reached that stage for us). These children are also more prone to low self-esteem as they find it difficult to relate to their peers and become isolated.

The Saturday courses will also gives us time to get over the 'how did I not know' phase and learn more about him from this new perspective. I mean look, this was written for him:

Characteristics of the Gifted and Talented Child

Keen powers of observation.
Learned or read very early, often before school age.
Reads widely and rapidly.
Well developed vocabulary - takes delight in using unusual and new words.
Has great intellectual curiosity.
Absorbs information rapidly - often called sponges.
Very good memory - can recall information in different circumstances.
Have ability to concentrate deeply for prolonged periods.
Very good powers of reasoning and problem solving.
Have intense interests.
Possess unusual imagination.
Have a great interest in "big" questions, e.g. the nature of the universe, the problem of suffering in the world, environmental issues.
Very sensitive - perhaps getting upset easily.
Very concerned about rights and wrongs, concerned about injustices.

*facepalm*

Slurpy Siblings

2011-01-26T03:09:00.001Z

Isn't it lovely to see HRH kiss his little sister?

Look again, he is licking her hair. He ignored her, didn't even notice her, for the first month of her life. When he did 'discover' her he took a fancy to her soft, downy baby hair. Everytime I turned around he was slurping her head like a lollipop, must have been a sensory thing.

Great ammo for his 18th/21st/wedding!!

The theme for The Gallery this week: Children.

Three Little Words

2011-01-23T16:07:00.000Z

I haven't heard them yet, but it is getting close to a time when I will hear them. I know HRH loves me, very very much, he doesn't need to say it. It is in all his actions and facial expressions. It is visible because I am the one he runs to for comfort, I am the only one who can 'fix' so many things for him, same as any Mum does for their child. He shares his excitment and frustration with me. I am a huge anchor in his life. I know this, hearing it would be a bonus, but is not a necessity.

There was a time when he didn't even notice if I was in the room and he certainly didn't understand the concept of 'Mother'. Those days are long gone and I am enjoying every minute of my role, despite the fact that he is unwell at the moment and has spent the last couple of nights two inches from my face, following me around the bed *yawns*

These days when I say 'Love you' to him he says 'uv meeeeee'. This is very cool and he is quite proud of himself. Last night during our 'how much I love you' conversation he cut me off and ran over to Firstborn. He squatted down, went nose to nose with his big brother and said 'uv meeeee'. Firstborn hasn't reached the age of being embarrassed about things like this yet and said 'love you' to HRH and gave him a huge hug.

HRH ran back to me, pointing to Firstborn, saying 'uv meeee' then pointed to his Daddy saying 'uv meeee', sharing the information with me with a huge smile on his face. Yes son, we all love you very much. So he now understands that everyone loves him and that this is important. It really won't be long until he realises that he can say it back to us.

The most naff award ever, so I must be cool!

2011-01-22T13:31:00.005Z

Finally I am one of the cool kids and got the totally rubbish 'Memetastic Award'. Varda from The Squashed Bologna and Dani from I'm just that way and that's just me sent the award my way. Good call ladies! This award was created by Jillsmo and she has made the following rules:

1. You must proudly display the absolutely disgusting graphic that I have created for these purposes (put it in your post, you don't have to put it in your sidebar, I think that would seriously be asking too much). It's so bad that not only did I use COMIC SANS, but there's even a little fucking jumping, celebrating kitten down there at the bottom. It's horrifying! But its presence in your award celebration is crucial to the memetastic process we're creating here. If you need a higher resolution version... I totally have one!!

2. You must list 5 things about yourself, and 4 of them must be bold-faced lies. Just make some shit up, we'll never know; one of them has to be true, though. Of course, nobody will ever know the difference, so we're just on the honor system here.

3. You must pass this award on to 5 bloggers that you either like or don't like or don't really have much of an opinion about. I don't care who you pick, and nobody needs to know why.

Can you spot the one that is true?

1. Pre children I did some catalogue modelling, petite size because I am short.

2. When I was a child I wished I was called Ann and had straight black hair.

3. At the tender age of 32 I had all my teeth pulled and now wear porcelain dentures.

4. I have met Patrick Stewart *swoon*

5. My current husband is actually my second husband.

Now, I am going to pass this on to other bloggers, so here it goes:

Mummy from the Heart

Four plus an Angel

The term 'beautiful people inside and out' was created for the above bloggers. Because I know I will never be like them when I grow up, I am very childish and want to see swear words on their blogs! Mich and Jessica, go introduce yourselves to each other, I know you will hit it off.

Doing it all for Aleyna
Pure Unadulterated Softthistle
Mom on a Wire
Living, Learning, Laughing & Loving with Autism
Fired4U

They gave me the Stylish Blogger Award and I want to share the bloggy love, thank you ladies.

PS The 'totally rubbish' and 'naff' are, of course, tongue in cheek, I am delighted the girls sent this award my way.

The Blogs go to the Orchard!

2011-01-20T13:36:00.002Z

I am joining in this linky from Jessica at Four Plus an Angel. The idea is to write a story using the titles of blogs we read as part of the story. She did a fabulous post so I am nervous about meeting the extremely high standard she set, but it looked like so much fun I just had to try. Jessicas' post is 'Two Blogs walked onto a Playground'.

HRH, The King and Eye, walked down the path holding his Mamas hand. They were Looking for Blue Sky while carefully watching out not to tread on the Pure Unadulterated Softthistle underfoot. It was a dull day but as they came Out of the Fog they saw the orchard ahead, an Apples and Autobots orchard, Thinly Spread. They continued Battling On using the rough pathway until they were in the centre of The Joyful Jungle.

'This is Life as we know it' said HRH to his Mama. She nodded sagely, understanding his Witterings of the Overtired. 'Mama, Do Snails need Doulas?' The Mommy to Two Boys and a girl pondered the question and employed some quick diversion tactics 'Oh look, Pancakes gone Awry'. It looked like this might fail so Mama turned to the big trees, looking for a handy male type to help shake down some apples. Conveniently, Big Daddy Autism just happened to be nearby, muttering under his breath ' Welcome to my life as an Ungrateful, Unhinged and Unwilling Draftee into the Autism Army'. He stopped to take a deep breath because that is one looooong mutter! 'Anybody want a Peanut?' he asked.

'No thanks, Big Daddy, could you just get all manly and shake the tree for us, please? asked Mama. Being A Little Bit Quirky, he rolled his eyes and said 'What will Julia do next?'. 'But, but......' Mama spluttered, 'My name is JEN, remember that or I will be a Mum in the Madhouse'. He might be 300lbs with tats, but he knows when to behave! He shook the biggest tree with surprising energy until a perfect apple fell out. It was so perfect it was like A Moon worn as if it had been a Shell. He handed it to HRH saying 'The Squashed Bologna it ain't, but enjoy it anyway kiddo'.

Happily munching on his dry crunchy apple, HRH turned to Mama 'Forget the Mummy Mishaps, lets just jump on the Paris-Ankara Express and go live Life in a Pink Fibro, it will be All about us and such like!'

These are just some of the fantastic blogs I read, I would be here all day if I was to try fit them all in. Still, it was fun! Anyone going to give it a shot?

Mother Nature

2011-01-19T03:01:00.000Z

This photo was taken in our local park. These parents have seven children to look after!! How do they manage to look so serene?

The prompt for The Gallery this week: Mother Nature.

Blog Gems - Air your Archives #7

2011-01-16T16:00:00.006Z

How many posts do you have languishing in your archives? Great posts that will never be dusted off and brought out to breathe again! Maybe you created fabulous content before you had lots of followers, or maybe you have been blogging for years and your current followers haven't seen your older material.

I have a plan.

Blog Gems - Air Your Archives is a forthnighly linky list where I will give a prompt and you select a post from your archives that fits the prompt. You do not have to create content for the prompt, unless you want to. All you have to do is copy and paste the url of the post into the linky list. Voila, an old post gets a second shot!

To take part:

1. Follow my blog to get future Blog Gem posting information and linkys.

2. Grab the Blog Gem button and place it on your sidebar (html code here)

Putting the button on your blog is not a dealbreaker, some people just don't like doing it and I have no problem with that at all. What I will say is that something like this can't be successful without 'word of mouth' so I would appreciate if you could find another way to let people know that this is available and they are welcome to join in.

3. Enter your link.

4. Read and comment on the submissions of the two blogs posted before you on the linky list. (Please!)

5. Help me spread the word by telling your blogging friends, either by tweeting this or blogging about your entry.

Following on from the last Blog gems where we linked up information about ourselves, I would like to continue the theme of getting to know each other a little better. This week link up a post that tells us about an event (any event) in your life. This idea has been inspired by BigDaddys Birth Story which he posted this week.

Broad interpretations of the prompt are encouraged!

For any newer bloggers don't worry if you have to link up posts that you have linked up before, it is very unlikely that you will end up with the same readers as last time so continue to join in and have fun. Many, many thanks to those of you that blog about Blog Gems, I really appreciate the links and help getting the meme 'out there'.

Allison at Life in a Pink Fibro and I have gotten together to generate some cross-hemisphere linky love. Allison runs Weekend Rewind every weekend and is also based on posting up your favourite oldies. It is one of the friendliest bloghops I have ever taken part in! Her linky is closed now, but will be open again next weekend. Remember to go have a look!

Michelle at Mummy from the Heart has started a lovely new meme called Reasons to be Cheerful, have a look.

Special Needs Preschool

2011-01-13T16:02:00.002Z

HRH started in his ASD specific preschool on Monday. I was nervous about it, very nervous. I loved the feel of the preschool when I was there but transitioning is difficult for HRH and I knew there would be tears. The first day I made the mistake of looking back only to see him lying on the floor, trying to crawl out after me, sobbing 'Mama Mama' with his teacher holding onto his feet! (it's ok, you can laugh).

He has been very happy when I have collected him a few hours later so I knew the transition period would be short and indeed it was. This morning, 3 days in, he went in without tears (and I didn't look back). Despite the nerves, part of me was really looking forward to him going there, partly for his sake, partly so that I could have a bit of a rest and also that I could spend some quality time with Her Cuteness. She is 23 months old now. She was 7 months old when HRH was diagnosed and has spent the better part of her life being trucked around to appointments and working around HRHs' schedule.

I thought she would love having me to herself, really, I did! It never once dawned on me that she would be lonely for HRH #parentfail. She is so sad without him. She keeps asking for him and won't settle to any activity with me. At 12pm on the dot her uncanny body clock kicks in and she goes to stand by the window and whinges. We leave to collect HRH at 12.30pm and she whinges until we walk out the door. The pair of them as so happy to see each other at 1pm.

I know she will get used to it and after a while will be very happy to have me all to herself. But until then, well, there isn't really much I can do, is there?

Body Parts!

2011-01-12T03:12:00.001Z

If you are squeamish look away, now!

Did you ever see a tooth so close to falling out, but still hanging in there?

The prompt for The Gallery this week: Body Parts!

Biting my tongue, again!

2011-01-09T16:35:00.002Z

Is crying a form of communication? I believe it is. The reason I am asking the question is that an interesting situation arose over the holidays. Let me explain.

HRH was cross about something and having a good old cry/complain about it. As I walked over to him someone said 'ignore him, don't give in to him'. I was surprised and a bit cross. To my mind crying is a form of communication in itself and interacting with a crying child is not 'giving in'.(or intervening during self-injurious behaviours etc)

I felt very much the same as I did in the 'my child is not a leg of ham' incident, fighting to hold back a smart reply:

Just because you have a third cousin, twice removed, living in Copenhagen who's child is friendly with a neighbours kid who has autism does NOT make you an oracle on autism *pffffffft*

My actual words to this person, in quite a firm tone, were 'I spend hours every day teaching my child how to communicate, I am not going to ignore him crying because this is a form of communication too. Responding to his upset is not the same as giving him the item he wants and can't have.' There may have been a withering look thrown in for good measure.

I have become so wrapped up in the world of autism and communication that I forget that others don't always see things the way I do. I spend every moment that I have with HRH encouraging his language comprehension, his verbal approximations and his eye contact. I forget that others don't have to put this effort in with their children and I also forget to make allowances for it. But you know what? They forget to make allowances for our way of doing things too!

I wonder how often it looks like I am spoiling or pandering to my child when the reality is so much different!

My life begins tomorrow.......apparently!

2011-01-07T14:56:00.001Z

Yes, tomorrow I will be the big four-oh. I have spent the last two months practicing 'I am 40' so I am not traumatized by it now, not in the slightest. Quite the opposite in fact, I am really looking forward to my 40's.

My 30's were eventful, producing three children and whatnot. Her Cuteness turns 2 next month and things have gotten a lot easier in our house over the last 6 months or so. There is 16 months between herself and HRH. They are both newly verbal and can make themselves understood, in a basic way, but I understand them so that is enough. This really makes everything so. much. easier. Firstborn will be 9 soon and the fact that he can talk, feed himself and is toilet trained is a big deal in our house!

I have the perfect part time job that I love. How many people get to turn their hobby into a job? I work from home and my colleagues in the office are lovely *waves at C, S and A* and my boss is one cool dude. I am 6 months in the position now and it it lovely to have something for me that also fits with my family responsibilities.

So I think my 40's will be very different and certainly the early years should be quite relaxed, until Firstborn hits puberty *sticks fingers in ears* lalalalalalala. If you think I have years of tension and stress ahead of me this is not the time to disillusion me, I am in a positive frame of mind, ok?!

Happy Birthday ME.

*photo credit google images

Create a custom signature for your Blogger blog

2011-01-05T15:06:00.005Z

There are three ways to insert a custom signature into your blogger blog.

1. You can create a .png image and insert it at the end of every blog post.

2. You can host the .png file and add the html to your settings section so that it is automatically created when you write a blog post.

3. Lastly, you can edit the html on your template so that the signature becomes part of your blog.

I will show you how to do the first two and if anyone wants the third option I will do another post on it later on .The initial steps are the same, regardless of which option you choose. I have tested this on a custom template in blogger and a standard template in blogger. Both work.

Method 1 - creating your signature and inserting it manually on each post.

double click to enlarge image

Create your signature here. You do not need to register so select the proceed option and make your selections. Select the first option 'signature creation wizard'. Work your way through the script and sizing options until you get to this page:

double click to enlarge image

Make sure to select 'transparent' as indicated above. If you want to change the colour of the font you do it here, also circled, and you can preview your image until you are happy with it.

Once you have worked your way through the steps save your siganture image to your desktop as a .png file. You can then use the 'insert image' option to inset the file as you would a normal photograph in your blog post. Like this:

Please note that this method will not add your signature to previous posts, you will have to go back and edit each post manually to upload the .png image of your signature.

Method 2 - amending your settings to automatically include your signature with each post.

Once you have created your signature you need to host it. Go to google sites to host your image. If you need instructions on how to create a page on google sites see the first part of 'how to add a favicon to your blogger blog' which runs through the setup of a google site and uploading an image. When you have done this your google site will look like this:

double click to enlarge image

Save the url of your signature to a wordpad document. This is the item I have circled in the address bar of the above image with the JenSiggy.png added afterwards, the name of the attachment file. Therefore the url of my signature image looks like this:

https://sites.google.com/site/tutorialsitejen/home/siggy /JenSiggy.png

Copy and paste the following code to your wordpad document:

<img style="border:0;" align="left" src="SIGGY URL" />

Where is says "SIGGY URL" add in the url of your own signature image and save it. This is how mine looks:

<img style="border:0;" align="left" src="https://sites.google.com/site/tutorialsitejen/home/siggy /JenSiggy.png" />

Save it. I have highlighted the word 'left' because I choose to have my signature on the left of the page. If you want it center or right then key in your choice in that spot.

Next, go to your blogger dashboard and select settings then formatting, shown below.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page to Post Template. Copy and paste the code we created into the box just aboce the orange button and click save settings.

That's it. Done. Go click on 'new post' and watch your signature pop up when you create a new post. This method will not insert your signature on previous posts.

It is worth mentioning that you must type above the image. Also, if you delete the image while you are creating your post you will have to add it manually by copying and pasting the code from the above into post.

Inserting your signature into the html template of your blog means that you can't delete it while creating content, but unless you absolutely have to tweak your template then don't and these options are faster and easier.

If you have any problems or need clarifications leave a comment. If it works for you and you like the tutorial please also leave a comment so that others can see the positive feedback.

Just a note, I have left my signature below like this on purpose. I have the sharing buttons added within my template so there needs to be an extra bit of html put into the signature. I have done this on my normal posts, you won't see the problem, but this is the best way of showing you what might happen if your template has these sharing buttons added. If something like this happens with your signature put

 in front of the code and add the following to the end of the code

 
 
 
 


I created this tutorial at the request of Blue Sky and Jazzygal. My next project will be creating a clickable button for Lynn. If you have any tech/html tweaks you want explained in a tutorial please leave a comment, I really enjoy doing this kind of thing so would be delighted to take requests.

Enjoy!

Blog Gems - Air Your Archives #6

2011-01-02T13:09:00.003Z

How many posts do you have languishing in your archives? Great posts that will never be dusted off and brought out to breathe again! Maybe you created fabulous content before you had lots of followers, or maybe you have been blogging for years and your current followers haven't seen your older material.

I have a plan.

Blog Gems - Air Your Archives is a forthnighly linky list where I will give a prompt and you select a post from your archives that fits the prompt. You do not have to create content for the prompt, unless you want to. All you have to do is copy and paste the url of the post into the linky list. Voila, an old post gets a second shot!

To take part:

1. Follow my blog to get future Blog Gem posting information and linkys.

2. Grab the Blog Gem button and place it on your sidebar (html code here)

Putting the button on your blog is not a dealbreaker, some people just don't like doing it and I have no problem with that at all. What I will say is that something like this can't be successful without 'word of mouth' so I would appreciate if you could find another way to let people know that this is available and they are welcome to join in.

3. Enter your link.

4. Read and comment on the submissions of the two blogs posted before you on the linky list. (Please!)

5. Help me spread the word by telling your blogging friends, either by tweeting this or blogging about your entry.

Following on from the last Blog Gems where we linked our first ever posts I would like to continue the theme of getting to know each other a little better. This week link up a post that tells us something about you. Many of us have done memes where you tell people 5 or 7 things about yourself, if you haven't then link any post that tells a bit more about you, the blogger and the person.

Broad interpretations of the prompt are encouraged!

For any newer bloggers don't worry if you have to link up posts that you have linked up before, it is very unlikely that you will end up with the same readers as last time so continue to join in and have fun.

Allison at Life in a Pink Fibro and I have gotten together to generate some cross-hemisphere linky love. Allison runs Weekend Rewind every weekend and is also based on posting up your favourite oldies. It is one of the friendliest bloghops I have ever taken part in! Her linky is closed now, but will be open again next weekend. Remember to go have a look!

Maxabella also does a lovely linky each week called 'I'm grateful for.....', I recommend that one too.

Different, but not less.

2010-12-31T13:40:00.001Z

Sunday over at Adventures in Xtreme Parenthood is hosting the 'Different but not less' bloghop today, to share tips on how we all managed over the Christmas period.

Christmas went very well for us, much better than I had expected. This is our second Christmas with HRH diagnosed with autism and last year was very unsettled for all of us. As always, we were in our own home on the big day, we do not travel on Christmas day, ever! The present opening went well with HRH showing some interest in the 'new' things although he didn't stray very far from my side.

The big difficulty for us comes on St. Stephens day when all of my husbands family meet at his parents house. There are 11 grandchildren who are all brilliant, lovely children and get very excited to meet each other. As you can imagine it gets loud, very loud. This is the perfect 'meltdown' setup for HRH, he can't cope. Therefore I can't cope and, because I like to share, my husband also gets stressed. This year we were snowed in and couldn't go, the roads were just too unsafe to risk it. I missed seeing the other children and I missed the fun, but a big part of me is very relieved at the same time.

I feel very guilty about being relieved. My husbands parents are the best, they love HRH very much, as they do all of my children. They are genuinely interested in HRH and his autism and they listen when we explain things to them. I mean really listen, not just pretend to listen.

At times I find it hard to balance everyones needs and expectations. My husbands family love the gettogether and it is great fun. But HRH has autism and SPD and finds this kind of situation hard. For the most part I have reached the stage whereby HRH comes first because ultimately this is what benefits my family unit. I don't know if other people understand this though and it is something that I need to work on during the coming year.

Search Engine Optimization - am I good or what??

2010-12-29T19:53:00.002Z

A while back Lynn from My Life as an Ungraceful, Unhinged and Unwilling Draftee into the Autism Army posted about some of the more unusual search terms that had led people to her blog. She kindly agreed that I could ~~shamelessly copy~~ take part in the fun. So, in the spirit of being frivolous and silly that is our post Christmas entitlement, I present to you some of the strange (possibly worrying) search terms that have led Googlers to my blog:

Can you give goldfish disprin? I have linked to that post in case any of you actually want to know the answer, but, in short, NO! On a vaguely educational note the reference to someone giving disprin to a goldfish was in the comments, so the google spiders crawl the comments too. Who knew!! And if you have a goldfish and want tips on how to give the kiss of life and pulmonary massage then the comments on that post go into that too!

Free animated cat furball: I have no idea, and why would someone want an animated cat furball anyway?? Eeewwwwww.

Shorts of small 18 year olds xxx iphone: I have posted about shorts (and keeping them on) and I have also blogged about iPhones (quite a bit) but never in the same post and this search term leaves me with a lot of questions.

Case histories midlife crisis Ireland: Quite possibly the post where I put up the photos of my drastic haircut where I hid upstairs with my husbands hair clippers and did a great imitation of a sheep shearer.....on myself! I am sure I was able to help this person, really, I am!

I am twitter snow: Can anyone help me out on this?? Anyone?

I have Google Analytics but I am far too lazy to use it. If you are on blogger then use the 'blogger in draft' dashboard and you can access some basic stats there, including the search terms used to find your blog.

Anyone else going to take part?

Oh no, HELP!

2010-12-27T14:59:00.003Z

On Christmas Eve, after HRH had his bath I sat him on my lap. I wrapped my arms around his body, pinning his arms to his chest. Mr LS straddled his legs, securing one of his ankles between his knees and proceeded to clip HRH's toe nails. HRH screamed, he always does. But this time he also screamed

"Oh no HELP! Oh no HELP!"

Upside: He used the word 'help' for the first time and used it appropriately. Also, the fact that he verbalised while extremely distressed is a big deal.

Downside: Everything else!!

I am now pretty desperate to find ways to ease the trauma of the event, for everyone's sake. My 'Mummy Guilt' has reached unprecedented levels. In the words of a fabulous 3 year old boy with autism and SPD:

Oh no, HELP!

*photo credit google images

When nice things happen to bloggers

2010-12-26T12:54:00.000Z

Way back in November I commented on a post written by Nickie at Typecast. She had been sent a fabulous box of retro sweets by Applicances Online, who had picked her comment out from another blog, seen Nickies Christmas wishlist and sent her one of the items. Being an avid reader of Nickies blog I commented to congratulate her.

Guess what??? Appliances Online emailed me on Christmas Eve. They had seen my comment and came over to check out my blog. They saw my post about treats for me-time, noticed my ~~addiction~~ affection for good coffee and are sending me some coffee *squeeeeee*. I will admit to being deliriously happy about this because they took the time to read my blog and pick out something that means a lot to me. How cool is that!!

So here is your chance, leave a comment because you just never know what might happen!

The Crocodile in the Dark.

2010-12-23T13:53:00.000Z

HRH is at that wonderful, funny stage of speech where there is a stream of babble. Sometimes I can understand what he is saying, but mostly I can't, no matter how hard I try. I tend to chatter back to him anyway, as if I understand and I really enjoy the interaction with him. As an example of his speech, his word for crocodile is 'sock-a-dee', close enough and easy to figure out as he is usually pointing to a picture of a crocodile when he says it.

During the week he woke up three times during the night, crying 'sock-a-dee' and calling for his big brother. Firstborn and HRH share a room but because HRH had been waking I had brought him in to sleep with me. It was difficult enough to soothe him when he woke, but eventually we managed to get a few hours of sleep.

The next day he was in great form and I could see no effects from his nightmares the night before. Later on in the day we were playing and went under the blanket. He said 'i-sawk-ih- hee' and I realised he was saying 'it's dark in here'. Then I realised that is what he had been saying the night before when he woke crying. He was afraid of the dark and he was calling his big brother for comfort.

Woohoo and woohoo again. This is such a big deal. He was expressing the problem and calling someone to help him. But, it gets better, I never taught him that phrase. Ok, so he must have heard it, but we never sat down and 'worked' on it. I do remember that around about age 3 Firstborn became very afraid of the dark too, so there is also the bonus of HRH reaching this 'milestone' on time as he turned 3 recently.

We are all absolutely delighted. None more so than Firstborn because HRH was calling for him. Firstborn takes being a big brother very seriously and something like this really reinforces his confidence in being a fabulous big brother.

So a bad nights sleep turns into a happy event and the best Christmas present we could possibly have in this house, more communication! It just leaves me with one question; what is it about three year olds, who only measure 3 feet, being able to take up an entire 5 foot bed??

I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas and my family wishes your family the very best in 2011.

*photo credits google images

Treats that I love.

2010-12-22T07:02:00.000Z

I decided to share some of my ~~shallow side~~ favourite items with you, the ones that I love most. What is a bit of materialism and frivolity between friends! When I get a chance for 'me time' I use the above, well loved, items.

I present to you chocolate, my coffee grinder, my iPad and a bag of freshly roasted coffee beans.These are the items I do not travel without. If I go away for a weekend they come too, along with the children, husband etc.

The prompt this week is 'Love'.

Blog Gems - Air your Archives #5

2010-12-19T14:55:00.005Z

How many posts do you have languishing in your archives? Great posts that will never be dusted off and brought out to breathe again! Maybe you created fabulous content before you had lots of followers, or maybe you have been blogging for years and your current followers haven't seen your older material.

I have a plan.

Blog Gems - Air Your Archives is a forthnighly linky list where I will give a prompt and you select a post from your archives that fits the prompt. You do not have to create content for the prompt, unless you want to. All you have to do is copy and paste the url of the post into the linky list. Voila, an old post gets a second shot!

To take part:

1. Follow my blog to get future Blog Gem posting information and linkys.

2. Grab the Blog Gem button and place it on your sidebar (html code here)

Putting the button on your blog is not a dealbreaker, some people just don't like doing it and I have no problem with that at all. What I will say is that something like this can't be successful without 'word of mouth' so I would appreciate if you could find another way to let people know that this is available and they are welcome to join in.

3. Enter your link.

4. Read and comment on the submissions of the two blogs posted before you on the linky list. (Please!)

5. Help me spread the word by telling your blogging friends, sharing buttons at end of post.

Everyone has to start blogging somewhere. We have been hopping to each others blogs for a while now so I thought it might be nice to see where and how we all started out blogging.

Now, point us all in the direction of a your first public post:

Please read and comment on the two blogs that post before you on the linky list.

Happy Christmas!

Allison at Life in a Pink Fibro and I have gotten together to generate some cross-hemisphere linky love. Allison runs Weekend Rewind every weekend and is also based on posting up your favourite oldies. I have taken part this week and it is one of the friendliest bloghops I have ever taken part in! Her linky is closed now, but will be open again next weekend. Remember to go have a look!

Maxabella also does a lovely linky each week called 'I'm grateful for.....', I recommend that one too.

How to add a Favicon to Blogger blogs, tutorial

2010-12-16T13:14:00.004Z

What is a favicon? Look up at the address bar, do you see the little eye beside the url? Now look at the tab, do you see a little eye there? That is my favicon. It is a way of promoting the blog 'brand'. It also shows up on bookmarks lists!

If you want to know how to get your own favicon on your blogger blog read on. I have tested this on this blog which has a custom domain and a custom template. I have also tested in on a blog which has a blogspot domain with custom template and another blogspot domain with standard blogger template. It worked on all of them. Favicons will show in IE and Firefox on both the address bars and the tabs, but will only show on the tabs in Google Chrome. If you are on a Wordpress blog you do not need this tutorial, just search 'plugins' for a plugin that will do the work for you!

1. Select the image you wish to use and save it to your desktop. Go to this site to generate your .ico file, the file format required to use a favicon. Upload your photo and hit the 'generate favicon.ico' button. You can then preview your favicon in the tab and address bars. Whe you are happy with your image download the zip file to your desktop and extract it. You will get two images, a static one and a moving one. I have only used the static one.