Two years ago, I reported with joy that we figured out a way for Pamela to memorize poetry: a combination of copywork and studied dictation. She took baby steps in understanding figurative language. She recited Daffodowndilly as a present to her dad and The End as a video gift for her grandfather. Last year, Pamela began to enjoy poetry: she held her very own "Poem Marathon" and wrote a Christmas poem all by herself. Over the summer, I noticed Pamela had memorized some poems recited by a toy teddy bear my parents had given her for her birthday. So, this year, I tried doing straight memorization of poetry by auditory practice only.
Today, Pamela memorized the third poem of the school year. She is so proud of her accomplishment and her face beams with joy. If you are having a bad day, I guarantee this clip will bring a smile to your face. If not, you are a grinch!
AUT-2B-HOME IN CAROLINA ~ Teaching our twenty-five-year-old daughter with autism and aphasia, who is still learning about God, the world, and its people with a little help from Charlotte Mason
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Meals on Wheels
I don't like to assign my kids busywork, but I noticed Pamela showed a sudden interest in crossword puzzles. She got this booklet with a kids meal from a fast-food restaurant and filled out the crossword puzzle about the planets, all by herself. Since we are in are last week studying chipmunks, I thought it would be fun to make a crossword puzzle (thank you, Online Crossword Puzzle Maker) with all of the vocabulary words in the back of the book. And, it's a good thing I did!
I was just finishing up typing Pamela's association method sheets when my dad (who lives across the street) showed up and reminded me that I was going to help him with meals on wheels at ten! It was 9:14--and I was still in my pajamas and had not eaten any breakfast. I quickly got dressed and ate (in a flash, thanks to my training at the boat school). I threw together some independent work for Pamela to do: copywork, the crossword puzzle, and her association method sheets! Dad and I spent an hour and a half on the route and, when I arrived home, Pamela had finished them all!
Speaking of meals on wheels, we signed up to fill in from time to time and the kids and I will be delivering meals one day near the end of the month. When I got home, I made up a map so that David can help me navigate (Pamela is so good with directions, she will assume that role down the road). Pamela's role will be to hand David milk and salad, and David will be take the hot tray, milk, and salad to the door. I will be the supervisor and driving. I am thinking that, down the road, Pamela could reach the point where she and I could take the food to the door. In two years, David will be in college, so we have plenty of time for her to learn the more challenging role.
I got my wheels turning on another short term project for Pamela: no-sew, tied, fleece, reversible blankets. I think it would be neat for her to make blankets for her babies, now that winter is almost here. Then, she could also make a larger blanket for one cousin who is due in November and another cousin due in May. I am already crocheting a blanket for each--one is pictured left--but I think Pamela could master this. If you do an image search online, you can find some neat pictures and instructions on the basic blanket and variations. I have a friend who does monograms, and I think it would be awesome to have a monogram of the baby's name sewed in first!
Oh, I wanted to share the cheap books I scored at last week's used library book sale: fifteen books, many of which are classics, for only $13. YES! That is a better deal than Paperbackswap! And, if that is not random enough for you, here are some pictures of Steve (our resident drummer), our two dogs, Lovely Loa and the Arwenator, and David, who's assist tonight helped his team score!
Monday, October 06, 2008
Reflections about the Princess
Click here for the previous installment of the Princess Dress Diaries.
Pamela blew the socks off everyone, and I want to take time to process everything that I observed and insights that others shared with me. There will be a part two because Pamela's tias plan to write down their thoughts, too!
Aware and Responsive
Pamela has been aware of her environment for a long time. Now, she is also aware of people: what they say and what their body language says. She is very interested in expressing herself and adding her part to a conversation. A classic example of this was our trip home to Carolina. Steve, who travels overseas quite often due to his job, is platinum in the eyes of Continental. During a long layover in Houston, we checked into their Presidents Club. The agent at the desk asked how many were in our party, and Steve replied, "Four." Not only was Pamela listening to their conversation, she corrected him: she held up her babies and said, "No! Six people!"
This greater attention to people means that Pamela is better able to understand what is happening. She listens to what people say and applies it to the situation at hand. That means she is more able to figure out what we are planning down the road. She is more able to adapt in dynamic situations because she is no longer taken by surprise. When something unexpected happens, she is able to read people's body language and figure out an appropriate response. For example, when she opened the gift for the wedding party, Pamela was a bit puzzled by the jewelry tree. She looked at Alyson and then me, so I smiled broadly and said, "You can hang things on it in your room. It will look beautiful." Pamela still wasn't too sure but relaxed and did not toss it over her shoulder like she used to do with other unwanted gifts.
Calm and Poised
Because Pamela is more aware of people and what their actions may mean, she was much calmer in uncertain situations. One of my nephews has not seen Pamela in eons. He was stunned that she could stay with us at the rehearsal dinner and sit at the table before her food arrived and after she finished her food. All he remembered of her during family holiday gatherings was her disappearing act after she finished eating--usually to watch videos in a bedroom.
Because we found a role in which Pamela could feel competent--passing out programs-- and used an interaction pattern she could fall into--assembly line (me-Pamela-guest), she looked poised. Because passing out programs does not require verbal interactions (especially since 100 people arrived during her half hour on duty), we played to her strength: nonverbal communication. If you watch the video carefully, you will see that she was very comfortable and confident in her role. She was not completely mechanical because she occasionally adjusted to close the distance between her and the guest or to avoid the roving ring bearer, adapted her pace to the rate of guests arriving, and altered her eye gaze. She treated strangers with distance and leaned into the hugs and kisses of family. She did not become flustered when I changed my actions or there was an interruption of flow. She even smiled gently about the guy who did not take a program. When the pace slowed down, she reacted naturally: a slight sigh or playing with her pearls. Her facial expression looked very calm and pleased, and she did not grimace once. The oddest thing was that Pamela was so poised I seriously doubt many people recognized her autism!
Humor and Babies
Pamela has progressed in two areas of development that we are not specifically addressing, and I suspect filling in certain developmental gaps enabled her to advance in humor and the appreciation of dolls. Until recently, Pamela only found verbal stimming and repetitive silly videos funny. Lately, she has started laughing at saying the wrong word or doing the wrong thing, people falling down, accidents, and mistakes. According to Dr. Lawrence Kutner in an article on humor, two-year-olds find things out of place funny. This lines up perfectly with our assumption that Pamela functions like a two-year-old in dynamic intelligence.
Pamela started to pretend play when we put her on a gluten-free/casein-free diet at age six. She began playing with Barbie and baby dolls when she was eight. What is new about her doll play is treating her baby dolls like members of the family and including them in family plans like holidays and vacations. For the first time ever, she is treating baby dolls like people. Her play is not sophisticated in that she does not feed them and spend hours in scenarios with them. However, she travels with them and gets offended if we imply that they are dolls. Again, an interest in dolls can begin as young as two-years old.
This video shows Pamela's ability to cope in a very noisy restaurant. You can also see a little bit of her humor (when her cousin Andrea hits her finger) and how she reacts to how her babies are handled.
Click for the beginning of the story of the Princess Dress Diaries.
Pamela blew the socks off everyone, and I want to take time to process everything that I observed and insights that others shared with me. There will be a part two because Pamela's tias plan to write down their thoughts, too!
Aware and Responsive
Pamela has been aware of her environment for a long time. Now, she is also aware of people: what they say and what their body language says. She is very interested in expressing herself and adding her part to a conversation. A classic example of this was our trip home to Carolina. Steve, who travels overseas quite often due to his job, is platinum in the eyes of Continental. During a long layover in Houston, we checked into their Presidents Club. The agent at the desk asked how many were in our party, and Steve replied, "Four." Not only was Pamela listening to their conversation, she corrected him: she held up her babies and said, "No! Six people!"
This greater attention to people means that Pamela is better able to understand what is happening. She listens to what people say and applies it to the situation at hand. That means she is more able to figure out what we are planning down the road. She is more able to adapt in dynamic situations because she is no longer taken by surprise. When something unexpected happens, she is able to read people's body language and figure out an appropriate response. For example, when she opened the gift for the wedding party, Pamela was a bit puzzled by the jewelry tree. She looked at Alyson and then me, so I smiled broadly and said, "You can hang things on it in your room. It will look beautiful." Pamela still wasn't too sure but relaxed and did not toss it over her shoulder like she used to do with other unwanted gifts.
Calm and Poised
Because Pamela is more aware of people and what their actions may mean, she was much calmer in uncertain situations. One of my nephews has not seen Pamela in eons. He was stunned that she could stay with us at the rehearsal dinner and sit at the table before her food arrived and after she finished her food. All he remembered of her during family holiday gatherings was her disappearing act after she finished eating--usually to watch videos in a bedroom.
Because we found a role in which Pamela could feel competent--passing out programs-- and used an interaction pattern she could fall into--assembly line (me-Pamela-guest), she looked poised. Because passing out programs does not require verbal interactions (especially since 100 people arrived during her half hour on duty), we played to her strength: nonverbal communication. If you watch the video carefully, you will see that she was very comfortable and confident in her role. She was not completely mechanical because she occasionally adjusted to close the distance between her and the guest or to avoid the roving ring bearer, adapted her pace to the rate of guests arriving, and altered her eye gaze. She treated strangers with distance and leaned into the hugs and kisses of family. She did not become flustered when I changed my actions or there was an interruption of flow. She even smiled gently about the guy who did not take a program. When the pace slowed down, she reacted naturally: a slight sigh or playing with her pearls. Her facial expression looked very calm and pleased, and she did not grimace once. The oddest thing was that Pamela was so poised I seriously doubt many people recognized her autism!
Humor and Babies
Pamela has progressed in two areas of development that we are not specifically addressing, and I suspect filling in certain developmental gaps enabled her to advance in humor and the appreciation of dolls. Until recently, Pamela only found verbal stimming and repetitive silly videos funny. Lately, she has started laughing at saying the wrong word or doing the wrong thing, people falling down, accidents, and mistakes. According to Dr. Lawrence Kutner in an article on humor, two-year-olds find things out of place funny. This lines up perfectly with our assumption that Pamela functions like a two-year-old in dynamic intelligence.
Pamela started to pretend play when we put her on a gluten-free/casein-free diet at age six. She began playing with Barbie and baby dolls when she was eight. What is new about her doll play is treating her baby dolls like members of the family and including them in family plans like holidays and vacations. For the first time ever, she is treating baby dolls like people. Her play is not sophisticated in that she does not feed them and spend hours in scenarios with them. However, she travels with them and gets offended if we imply that they are dolls. Again, an interest in dolls can begin as young as two-years old.
This video shows Pamela's ability to cope in a very noisy restaurant. You can also see a little bit of her humor (when her cousin Andrea hits her finger) and how she reacts to how her babies are handled.
Click for the beginning of the story of the Princess Dress Diaries.
Friday, October 03, 2008
80th Pre-Birthday Bash!
Steve's mother will turn eighty next February. Since all of her children, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren attended the wedding, we held a pre-birthday bash at the Sun Ray Grill in the Warehouse District of New Orleans. Steve's mother and father are incredible because they still have enough get up and go to dance on stage at the wedding reception the night before this celebration. We look forward to sharing many more birthdays with them in the years to come. Below is a photobucket and video of the celebration, followed by a very prestigious award won by the official dance king of the wedding reception.
It goes without saying that everyone loves Pamela, and she is a favorite with the Glasers. David astonished them with his height and asked if we sprinkled Miracle-Gro on his head. He towers over all but one of his cousins! They must think we can transfer our ability to grow a giant kid to the garden because someone gave us this book about growing super vegetables. As I have a black thumb in both the kitchen and garden and Steve's porch ferns look luscious, he will be the one to grow super veggies.
And, now, our very important announcement of the winner of the Dance King contest. But first, you need a little background. The Glasers have many talents, and, while singing is not one of them, they are excellent dancers. They lived in Central America for many years (and some of the Glasers still do) and know how to keep time with a Latin beat. David has never joined in on dancing because he was a tender (and short) lad of twelve at the last bash we attended. After Pamela and I had retired to the safety of our hotel room and collapsed in a head-cold haze, David decided to hang out at the reception. Steve felt pity on Pamela and I and hung out with us. Suddenly, we receive an urgent call from his sisters. "Stevie, you have to see David! You didn't tell us he could dance! He's got moves we've never seen!"
David never told us he could dance either. . . So, while Pamela was the Princess of the Programs, David was King of the Dance! The next day someone tossed one of the Glasers these beads. In New Orleans, you don't need a reason for beads--any excuse will do. They thought it would make the perfect impromptu spontaneous award for the dance king.
David gave an encore performance with Tia Julia before and after receiving this award. Tia Janet pronounced him the winner. Enjoy!
It goes without saying that everyone loves Pamela, and she is a favorite with the Glasers. David astonished them with his height and asked if we sprinkled Miracle-Gro on his head. He towers over all but one of his cousins! They must think we can transfer our ability to grow a giant kid to the garden because someone gave us this book about growing super vegetables. As I have a black thumb in both the kitchen and garden and Steve's porch ferns look luscious, he will be the one to grow super veggies. And, now, our very important announcement of the winner of the Dance King contest. But first, you need a little background. The Glasers have many talents, and, while singing is not one of them, they are excellent dancers. They lived in Central America for many years (and some of the Glasers still do) and know how to keep time with a Latin beat. David has never joined in on dancing because he was a tender (and short) lad of twelve at the last bash we attended. After Pamela and I had retired to the safety of our hotel room and collapsed in a head-cold haze, David decided to hang out at the reception. Steve felt pity on Pamela and I and hung out with us. Suddenly, we receive an urgent call from his sisters. "Stevie, you have to see David! You didn't tell us he could dance! He's got moves we've never seen!"
David never told us he could dance either. . . So, while Pamela was the Princess of the Programs, David was King of the Dance! The next day someone tossed one of the Glasers these beads. In New Orleans, you don't need a reason for beads--any excuse will do. They thought it would make the perfect impromptu spontaneous award for the dance king.
David gave an encore performance with Tia Julia before and after receiving this award. Tia Janet pronounced him the winner. Enjoy!Monday, September 29, 2008
Footage of the Princess in Action
Click here for previous installment of the Princess Dress Diaries.
The Queen Mum fretted over many needless worries. Since the Princess nervously pulls up her nightgown from time to time and has never worn hose nor fancy attire nor pearls, the Queen Mum feared the worst. The Princess has not worn a dress in years, much less a formal dress with the potential for so many wardrobe malfunctions. Due to the Queen Mum's sudden, unexpected illness, the Princess, who tends to sit in all manner of unladylike postures, did not practice how to sit like a lady. The Queen Mum worried the Princess might tire of her duties as the Passer-Out-of-Programs and have to replace said Princess.
None of that happened. The Princess felt the power of the dress and acted the part with beauty and elegance. She required only one lesson of how to sit (keep your feet flat on the ground). During her half-hour reign, she did not stim nor make funny noises nor ask when she could sit nor leave a trail of pearls in her wake. Her hand went nowhere near her nose. She coolly handed a program to every party that wanted one (and a few that did not). She permitted herself to be hugged and kissed by her loving tias, cousins, and grandmama. In short, the Princess knew she was every inch a princess and did her duty like royalty ought to do.
Click here for the next installment of the Princess Dress Diaries.
The Queen Mum fretted over many needless worries. Since the Princess nervously pulls up her nightgown from time to time and has never worn hose nor fancy attire nor pearls, the Queen Mum feared the worst. The Princess has not worn a dress in years, much less a formal dress with the potential for so many wardrobe malfunctions. Due to the Queen Mum's sudden, unexpected illness, the Princess, who tends to sit in all manner of unladylike postures, did not practice how to sit like a lady. The Queen Mum worried the Princess might tire of her duties as the Passer-Out-of-Programs and have to replace said Princess.
None of that happened. The Princess felt the power of the dress and acted the part with beauty and elegance. She required only one lesson of how to sit (keep your feet flat on the ground). During her half-hour reign, she did not stim nor make funny noises nor ask when she could sit nor leave a trail of pearls in her wake. Her hand went nowhere near her nose. She coolly handed a program to every party that wanted one (and a few that did not). She permitted herself to be hugged and kissed by her loving tias, cousins, and grandmama. In short, the Princess knew she was every inch a princess and did her duty like royalty ought to do.
Click here for the next installment of the Princess Dress Diaries.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Debut of the Princess Dress
Click here for previous installment of the Princess Dress Diaries.
Smashing success! Gave programs to ALL guests. Stood on duty for thirty minutes. No meltdowns. No wardrobe malfunctions. Too tired for words. Film to be processed and posted.
Congratulations, James and Alyson! Thanks for letting Pamela be a princess!
Click here for next installment of the Princess Dress Diaries.
Smashing success! Gave programs to ALL guests. Stood on duty for thirty minutes. No meltdowns. No wardrobe malfunctions. Too tired for words. Film to be processed and posted.
Congratulations, James and Alyson! Thanks for letting Pamela be a princess!
Click here for next installment of the Princess Dress Diaries.
Lunch at Mother's
No, not Steve's mother! Mother's Restaurant is a popular place to get typical New Orleans style, home-cooked food. People wait in line for food here, and we did as you can see in the photo of Pamela and her grandfather! David and I were not hungry, so he had a bag of Zapp's potato chips (I have forgotten how addictive they are) and I ate Pamela's bread and a leftover biscuit. Pamela ate red beans and rice, recalling what we ate every New Year's Day when we lived in Louisiana.Pamela and Tia Patty
A Big Group Shot
Steve's Cousins and Bernard
Backdating Her Journal
Pamela Walking with Tia Julie
The Glaser Cousins
Menfolk
The Rehearsal and Rehearsal Dinner
Pamela came downstairs dressed in her rehearsal dinner attire and wowed her aunties and grandparents. They thought she looked smashing! She and her babies hung out with her Tia Susie in the courtyard until we were ready to go. Tia Susie showed her all of the baby clothes she purchased for her first grandchild due in two months. Pamela and her tia compared many of the items to her babies, but all of the hats, booties, onesies, etc. were too big for Pamela’s babies.
The rehearsal was at 6:30 and was mercifully fast. The chapel is absolutely beautiful, and I am looking forward to seeing it in full wedding splendor tomorrow. Pamela and I (or Steve) will stand behind the back pew, facing the front door, next to a table that will hold a basket for the folded programs. I will hand one to Pamela, and, if all goes well, she will hand one to the guests, which may reach a hundred. If Pamela bails, Steve and I will be her back-ups! We practiced our little assembly line pattern a couple of times and that was it for us. One thing I love about the bride and groom is that they are laid back, relaxed, and putting everyone at ease. I hate stuffy, toxic affairs, and the wedding promises to be the exact opposite!
We stayed in the garden district for dinner. We slowly filled a banquet room, and Pamela patiently waited while they served wine and the appetizer (stuffed crab). Alyson started handing out gifts to those assisting with the wedding, including this tree stand for Pamela's room. Pamela peeked in the bag with this perplexed look. She looked at Alyson and then me, so I smiled broadly and said, "You can hang things on it in your room. It will look beautiful." Pamela still wasn't too sure but relaxed and did not toss it over her shoulder like she used to do with other unwanted gifts.Pamela could not eat anything from the dinner, so we ordered her a burger and fries, which made Alyson's brother James (not to be confused with the groom James or her grandfather James) mouth water. He asked if he could have a bite, and she chomped on her burger and said, "No!"
Steve had wondered off to chat with his sisters, so Pamela placed her babies next to her in his chair. I was completely delighted, surprised, and, in tears, when Nancy Kashman and her husband Steve (not to be confused with my Steve or the Steve two seats to my right) arrived all the way from Phoenix. Nancy, an OT certified in Sensory Integration, helped me figure out Pamela's sensory needs early on, and she has followed Pamela's progress since she was about four years old. The last time Pamela and Nancy met was in 2000 when we visited them the weekend they opened their deli and put their waiters through the gluten-free, casein-free wringer.
After we hugged, Nancy knelt next to half-starved Pamela, who was just digging into her long-awaited meal. Nancy says, "I remember working with you when you were this high. So, how old are you now?" Pamela eats a fry, and says, "I'm nineteen years old and I have two babies!"
Nancy and I nearly collapsed on the floor, laughing! When she recovered, Nancy said, "That was beautiful! She answered my question and elaborated on it."
Pamela stayed with us in the very loud, crowded room and sat next to her grandmother while I chatted with Nancy. Nancy was astonished at how calmly Pamela sat there. She noticed how much more Pamela uses her eyes to track what was happening and how much more facial expression she has. She was very impressed, especially when you consider that we woke up at four EST to fly to New Orleans and Pamela was hanging on at nine CST at night in a very noisy setting. When she had reached her limit, she asked if she could sit on the floor, so Pamela sat in the corner with her babies and rocked a little. About a half hour later, Steve and her went back to the room. We never even had a hint of a meltdown the entire night! Not one hint!
Pamela's cousin James put it all into perspective, "I am amazed. I remember every Christmas we never saw Pamela because she couldn't handle the noise. She'd hide in the bedroom of our house in LaPlace and watch videos. Look at her. She's sitting at the table, handling it all!"
The Trip to New Orleans
Why am I up at 5:30 blogging? All these words are rolling around in my head. If I don't get it out of my system, I will not be able to fall back asleep! So, there!
We woke up at four in the morning yesterday. Pamela dressed, played on the computer, and watched television while we got ready to go. At about 5:15, we were gearing up to leave the house and I noticed Pamela was holding a little bag that she used for storing her tape cassettes for stimming. Rather than tell her imperatively to put it away, I looked at it with curiosity and said, “I wonder what’s in the bag.” I held out my hand and Pamela brought it to me. When I opened the bag, I was in awe! Pamela had backed all of her baby essentials in the baby’s own luggage! That right there almost made the trip worth it because it seemed like she was trading her stimming for people!
We drove an hour and a half to Charleston and checked our luggage in the dark, hoping to avoid the Nor'easter that had already plunged temperatures into the sixties. Pamela traveled light. She wore her purple backpack with its solitary spiral notebook and pencil. She carried her babies, Baby Alive and David, and their luggage. A couple of times, Steve asked her if she wanted to put them in her backpack for our convenience while going through security checkpoints. NO! Those were her babies and she was treating them like real people. She hung onto them for the entire trip. The man at the curb of the airport said, "Now, don't drop your baby!" She gave him a double-take and replied, "You're joking! Comedy!"
Pamela loves flying and riding buses, escalators, elevators, trains, and subways, so she finds navigating in and out of airports easy. We took an early flight to Houston and had about a ninety-minute layover before catching one to New Orleans. David and I giggled our way through the cheesy shopping catalog in the seat pocket. I could spend an entire post about the burp gun, marshmallow gun, and myriad of useless gadgets that would make Billy Mays weep. On one page is a sappy pillow with the words “Kiss me before you fall asleep” and on the other is a dog tag that says, “I like to kiss my dog.” EW!
David lucked out on the last leg of the trip. Since Steve has a platinum card with that airline, the computer upgraded him to first class. He wanted to sit next to Pamela, so he switched with David. Imagine being sixteen and flying first class! The second flight was the worst for me. The pressure on my eardrums was fearsome, but they withstood the landing. I felt like I had vertigo for the rest of the day and my left ear did not clear up until the next day!
We arrived in New Orleans hassle-free, rented our car, and headed to the French Quarter where our hotel is. Driving from the airport downtown was a shock. The landscape has completely changed right down to the sound barriers along I-10 and the massive pumping station adjacent to it. The old, rotating cow along I-10 that amused on my way home was gone. Familiar buildings are damaged, restored, or gone: so many complexes in sad condition or newly restored. Katrina happened three years ago and completely changed the face of New Orleans.
When we arrived at the hotel, we bumped into Pamela’s aunt and mother of the bride, Janet, and the bride, Alyson. Pamela had not seen Alyson in about five years because the few times we have visited family in Louisiana she was either attending college or working in Mississippi. At first, Pamela had no idea who this strange woman was and her face was completely blank. I said to her, “Pamela, Alyson is a grown up and ready to be married.” Suddenly, her eyes lit up and an enormous grin bloomed on her face when Pamela finally recognized her cousin.
After we checked-in, we collapsed in our room for two hours before getting ready for the next item on the agenda, the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
We woke up at four in the morning yesterday. Pamela dressed, played on the computer, and watched television while we got ready to go. At about 5:15, we were gearing up to leave the house and I noticed Pamela was holding a little bag that she used for storing her tape cassettes for stimming. Rather than tell her imperatively to put it away, I looked at it with curiosity and said, “I wonder what’s in the bag.” I held out my hand and Pamela brought it to me. When I opened the bag, I was in awe! Pamela had backed all of her baby essentials in the baby’s own luggage! That right there almost made the trip worth it because it seemed like she was trading her stimming for people!
We drove an hour and a half to Charleston and checked our luggage in the dark, hoping to avoid the Nor'easter that had already plunged temperatures into the sixties. Pamela traveled light. She wore her purple backpack with its solitary spiral notebook and pencil. She carried her babies, Baby Alive and David, and their luggage. A couple of times, Steve asked her if she wanted to put them in her backpack for our convenience while going through security checkpoints. NO! Those were her babies and she was treating them like real people. She hung onto them for the entire trip. The man at the curb of the airport said, "Now, don't drop your baby!" She gave him a double-take and replied, "You're joking! Comedy!"
Pamela loves flying and riding buses, escalators, elevators, trains, and subways, so she finds navigating in and out of airports easy. We took an early flight to Houston and had about a ninety-minute layover before catching one to New Orleans. David and I giggled our way through the cheesy shopping catalog in the seat pocket. I could spend an entire post about the burp gun, marshmallow gun, and myriad of useless gadgets that would make Billy Mays weep. On one page is a sappy pillow with the words “Kiss me before you fall asleep” and on the other is a dog tag that says, “I like to kiss my dog.” EW! 
David lucked out on the last leg of the trip. Since Steve has a platinum card with that airline, the computer upgraded him to first class. He wanted to sit next to Pamela, so he switched with David. Imagine being sixteen and flying first class! The second flight was the worst for me. The pressure on my eardrums was fearsome, but they withstood the landing. I felt like I had vertigo for the rest of the day and my left ear did not clear up until the next day!We arrived in New Orleans hassle-free, rented our car, and headed to the French Quarter where our hotel is. Driving from the airport downtown was a shock. The landscape has completely changed right down to the sound barriers along I-10 and the massive pumping station adjacent to it. The old, rotating cow along I-10 that amused on my way home was gone. Familiar buildings are damaged, restored, or gone: so many complexes in sad condition or newly restored. Katrina happened three years ago and completely changed the face of New Orleans.
When we arrived at the hotel, we bumped into Pamela’s aunt and mother of the bride, Janet, and the bride, Alyson. Pamela had not seen Alyson in about five years because the few times we have visited family in Louisiana she was either attending college or working in Mississippi. At first, Pamela had no idea who this strange woman was and her face was completely blank. I said to her, “Pamela, Alyson is a grown up and ready to be married.” Suddenly, her eyes lit up and an enormous grin bloomed on her face when Pamela finally recognized her cousin.
After we checked-in, we collapsed in our room for two hours before getting ready for the next item on the agenda, the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Head Cold Hiatus
Click here for previous installment of the Princess Dress Diaries.
I am sorry but I have to postpone the rest of the Association Method overview until next week thanks to one nasty head cold. David came down with it two weeks ago, and Pamela did the same last week. Is it already Thursday? I have lost track of time! I had a slight sore throat that did not worsen until I woke up on Sunday morning. From that day on, I have been one drippy, congested mess. Since the health food store is a half-hour drive, I had to make due with what I had on hand to slay this cold.
I felt so bad Tuesday night I was beginning to doubt I could fly to New Orleans on Friday for the debut of the Princess Dress. I sent out prayer requests to my email list friends and started steaming out my sinuses with hot water following up with saline nasal spray. After periodic steamings, I finally settled down at three in the morning and spent the rest of Wednesday sleeping off and on between steamings, except for a two-hour window in which I found out said princess dress was NOT ready (GRRRR), the kids got hair cuts, and we shopped for shoes and a rehearsal dinner outfit for Pamela. I went back on the steam cycle and lots of prayers and finally slept the entire night, starting at about ten. I woke up once or twice to sip on some juice and did not get up until six in the morning.
Today is Thursday (ALREADY?). I slept soundly all night and woke up with a fairly clear head (mild congestion), but I have air flowing through each nostril!!!! While it does not compare to the parting of the Red Sea, it qualifies as a miracle from God to me! Air flow! Semi-clear head! No headache! No fever! No muscle aches! Thank you, God!
I got up at my usual time (six in the morning) and Pamela came up to me while I was sitting at the computer. She said, "Tammy!" I turned to her and she said, "I'm so sorry." I asked, "About what?" She held my hands and said, "About your cold." Later today, at the mall, I grumbled about feeling bad, and she squeezed my arm and kissed it! She was very attentive to me in the car: when I needed my purse, she handed it to me. At one point, the strap got wrapped around the handle I grab to adjust the seat. I got so frustrated and leaned back to take a breather, so she leaned over and patiently undid it for me. WOW! That is what RDI is doing for our family in a nutshell!
The good news is that I think I can fly tomorrow! The bad news I faced a lengthy to-do list. I managed to do the items in red in less than five hours (including a one-hour round trip in the car):
David has been a great sport and asset to me. He narrated several books and typed others to get some homeschooling done. He took care of the dogs, did the dishes, wiped counters, made beds, and cooked for Pamela and himself. He carried around laundry baskets when I was too achy to do it myself. He even did disgusting things like put away people's clean underwear in their drawers (apparently this requires major handwashing--LOL). Poor David faced the worst injustice today. He sat in the back of our tiny Kia with our two dogs, Loa ("Driving Miss Daisy") and Arwen ("Driving Miss Daisy Crazy"). As a reward, I let him cut loose in the mall. When I was ready to shop for me, I asked him to sit with Pamela (who was sick of shopping at that point), who was holding her two babies (not dolls, babies). Any teenaged brother who will do that for his older autistic sister is a superhero in my book!
Here's our haul, in case you want to see it (except for the ladies unmentionables because this blog is rated-G):
Princess Dress and Bolero Jacket
Dress and Rehearsal Dinner Duds
Digs to Go with the Duds
Queen Mum Attire
What Keeps Queen Mum's Nose from Running
Click here for next installment of the Princess Dress Diaries.
I am sorry but I have to postpone the rest of the Association Method overview until next week thanks to one nasty head cold. David came down with it two weeks ago, and Pamela did the same last week. Is it already Thursday? I have lost track of time! I had a slight sore throat that did not worsen until I woke up on Sunday morning. From that day on, I have been one drippy, congested mess. Since the health food store is a half-hour drive, I had to make due with what I had on hand to slay this cold.
I felt so bad Tuesday night I was beginning to doubt I could fly to New Orleans on Friday for the debut of the Princess Dress. I sent out prayer requests to my email list friends and started steaming out my sinuses with hot water following up with saline nasal spray. After periodic steamings, I finally settled down at three in the morning and spent the rest of Wednesday sleeping off and on between steamings, except for a two-hour window in which I found out said princess dress was NOT ready (GRRRR), the kids got hair cuts, and we shopped for shoes and a rehearsal dinner outfit for Pamela. I went back on the steam cycle and lots of prayers and finally slept the entire night, starting at about ten. I woke up once or twice to sip on some juice and did not get up until six in the morning.
Today is Thursday (ALREADY?). I slept soundly all night and woke up with a fairly clear head (mild congestion), but I have air flowing through each nostril!!!! While it does not compare to the parting of the Red Sea, it qualifies as a miracle from God to me! Air flow! Semi-clear head! No headache! No fever! No muscle aches! Thank you, God!
I got up at my usual time (six in the morning) and Pamela came up to me while I was sitting at the computer. She said, "Tammy!" I turned to her and she said, "I'm so sorry." I asked, "About what?" She held my hands and said, "About your cold." Later today, at the mall, I grumbled about feeling bad, and she squeezed my arm and kissed it! She was very attentive to me in the car: when I needed my purse, she handed it to me. At one point, the strap got wrapped around the handle I grab to adjust the seat. I got so frustrated and leaned back to take a breather, so she leaned over and patiently undid it for me. WOW! That is what RDI is doing for our family in a nutshell!
The good news is that I think I can fly tomorrow! The bad news I faced a lengthy to-do list. I managed to do the items in red in less than five hours (including a one-hour round trip in the car):
- Take the dogs to the kennel.
- Beg Mom to hem Pamela's pants (she's a great quilter so it is easy for her).
- Pick up dry cleaning.
- Pick up the Princess Dress and bolero jacket.
- Buy shoes, hose, and bras for Pamela (I couldn't find any yesterday).
- Buy three outfits, hose, and bras for me!
- Pick up Nature's Way HAS which cured my last sinus infection.
- Pack our bags smartly.
- Finish the laundry.
David has been a great sport and asset to me. He narrated several books and typed others to get some homeschooling done. He took care of the dogs, did the dishes, wiped counters, made beds, and cooked for Pamela and himself. He carried around laundry baskets when I was too achy to do it myself. He even did disgusting things like put away people's clean underwear in their drawers (apparently this requires major handwashing--LOL). Poor David faced the worst injustice today. He sat in the back of our tiny Kia with our two dogs, Loa ("Driving Miss Daisy") and Arwen ("Driving Miss Daisy Crazy"). As a reward, I let him cut loose in the mall. When I was ready to shop for me, I asked him to sit with Pamela (who was sick of shopping at that point), who was holding her two babies (not dolls, babies). Any teenaged brother who will do that for his older autistic sister is a superhero in my book!
Here's our haul, in case you want to see it (except for the ladies unmentionables because this blog is rated-G):
Princess Dress and Bolero Jacket
Dress and Rehearsal Dinner Duds
Digs to Go with the Duds
Queen Mum Attire
What Keeps Queen Mum's Nose from Running
Click here for next installment of the Princess Dress Diaries.
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