Good day

Shea and I had the nicest day together on our big city Friday-go-to-see Bubble. We weren't tempted to pummel each other once! And, lately that is a big improvement.

He was sweet tempered all day. Saying please and thank you and being particularly compliant and easy to be around. And, I dragged him all over heck to boot. Well, the paint store and Costco. But believe me that is enough with all the road work happening in SODO. Sheesh.

Got to Madrona in plenty of time to walk in the trail park; a little neighborhood pocket park with some sweet trails planted with NW natives and sporting breathtaking views of Lake Washington.

Bubble is blown away at Shea's reading. Aren't we all.

It was hot but all the ferries behaved. Beautiful, blue skied summer day in the NW.

Lucky, lucky life.

Little guy-1, United-0

Sure fire summer salad: black eyed pea, corn & roasted red pepper

I have to share this recipe for a cool summer salad that is healthy and delicious. And, it's easy. Don't get intimidated by roasting the red pepper. If I can do it, you can do it.

4 cans Black eyed peas
several stalks celery
bunch green onions
2 red peppers
1 small bag of frozen corn
Italian dressing
Handful of parsley

Roast red peppers over open flame on gas cook top or bbq. I just lay them right onto the burner and rotate them often so that the entire surface gets black. When fully blackened pop them both into a brown paper bag and roll up the top. Let sit for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile:

Finely chop celery, green onions and parsley, put into large bowl. Open and drain the 4 cans of black eyed peas reserving a little of the liquid and add peas to the bowl. Add small bag of frozen corn.

After peppers have sat for 10 minutes in brown paper bag, remove them. They should be floppy from steaming inside the bag. Core them, get rid of seeds and any tough ribs, cut into thin strips and dice. Add to bowl.

Splash Italian dressing over all ingredients, stir well. Add a little black eyed pea liquid if desired. Salt and pepper to taste. Stir well and chill.

This recipe makes a big whopping bowl, enough for a party or plenty to share.

Crowd pleaser!

Chance; my little wizzer

I would like to welcome old pal, Mitch, as a guest blogger! It appears obvious that all my potty training talk inspired him to share this story.

Thanks Mitch!

XOX

As you have all heard “time” has a way of easing what at one time may have been an embarrassing moment and changing it to something we can actually laugh at and share with others who may be going through rough times.

Years ago… before the really cool pull-ups….The time of the Underoo’s, you know, “Underroos are fun to wear…Something super new in underwear”…Okay maybe not that long ago but sounded good didn’t it!

My wife and I were in the midst of potty training our son Chance and were in the mode of continually asking, “hey bud do you need to go potty” and his response was usually “Nope”, (and we would wonder to ourselves how can a kid so long with out going to the bathroom?) and he would continue on doing what ever he was doing, but we kept him in ear shot or line of sight….At least most of the time.

Well on one of those days that kind of fell into the “we kept him in ear shot or line of sight” and “At least most of the time”, I was working in my garage, head under hood of my continually broken (as my wife would say “You had to have it”) Italian sports car. I get a phone call from my next door neighbor, “Hey Mitch do you have any idea where Chance is?” my response of course, “Ya he is right hereeeee” (Head looking around and to my head under the hood amazement he was not), His response, “Nice try, you might want to look in the front yard but be quiet about it so you do not scare him”. I came around the corner and Chance was standing on the huge boulder in our garden pants to ankles (Booty free to the wind ) and was peeing on the Alaska weeping cedar (And thinking to my self now I know he does not really go along time with out going pee he gives it to Nature) .

I waited for him to finish and crawl down off the rock and asked him "What's up with peeing on the tree", he said "I learned it from Papa" (Outta the mouth of babes) later I called my dad and asked what was up with that? He said that my Mother yells at him (my dad) for tracking grass into the house when he mows so he uses the back yard trees (Way to much information I know but part of the story!) So I explained to Chance in my best Dadonese voice, "I really appreciate the peeing outside buddy and I think for a boy it is actually pretty cool, but in the front yard where the entire cul-de-sac could see may not be the best place"

(While in the corner of my eye I see my neighbor who called laughing in his front window). Well I thought that would emphasize the use of the inside bathroom and no more worries…. (One week later) I hear my wife calling for me from inside the house, (Of course my head under the hood and working on the car she has grown to loath), “Mitchell Allen do you have any idea where your son is”…..Standard response “Ya he is right hereeeee”, (Knowing in my “I am in so much trouble” mind, because I really had no idea and by the tone she does). I walk into the house, travel to the kitchen, head hung low waiting for the “Hell” I knew was awaiting me. To my surprise there stood my very pregnant wife with a grin from ear to ear, “Oh my GOD isn’t he just the cutest” as I follow her eyes from our kitchen through the window, there again in his glory, stands Chance my little whizzer peeing on the little cedar in the back yard, smiling at us, so proud of himself…. I thought when I spoke with him just a week earlier that I had implied to him to use the inside bathroom (Oops there was my mistake assumed a 2 and ½ year old spoke and fully understood Dadonese {which as all Dads need to understand when assume is broken down the word assume puts the ass into the u and the me}) He was the smarter one he did exactly what I asked, he just moved to the cedar in the backyard and out of the cul-de-sac!… My wife was right he is the cutest!........ And lucky for me that day Chances charm and cuteness kept me outta the dog house and made me realize it was time to close the cars hood and go play with my son!

I Love that kid!!!!


On a final note:
For the guy readers who only saw “Italian Sports Car”, if you ever…ever… think about buying the (You had to have it!) one of the fastest cars you have ever driven, massive horse power, quickest turning, Stop on a dime, gas guzzlers built in Maranello, Italy, think again….(Buy German!!!!)… Just kidding. Never let your hobbies or work keep you from the most important things in the world…Your Family. (I will save that explanation for another Blog)

United Airlines breaks guitars

From the Huffingtonpost:

Hell hath no fury like a customer scorned. The LA Times reports that one United Airlines passenger was so dismayed over a guitar broken by United staffers that he's writ his anger across the web.

Dave Carroll was flying from Nova Scotia to Nebraska and had his Taylor guitar ruined. After a protracted attempt to get United to pay for the damage, Carroll struck back.

Breaking News! Glacier told to stop work on dock

Wow, some damn good news finally!

Glacier; like a cockroach on a wedding cake!

From the Beachie:

Public Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark said he has “grave concerns” about the environmental impact of Glacier Northwest’s barge-loading facility off of Maury Island and asked the corporation on Tuesday to “cease operations” until several questions can be answered.

The corporation’s 305-foot pier would extend over a state-owned aquatic reserve, governed by a management plan crafted by the state Department of Natural Resources in 2004. Late last year, Goldmark’s predecessor Doug Sutherland issued Glacier a 30-year lease to the aquatic reserve, giving the corporation one of the last green lights it needed to begin building the controversial pier.

But Goldmark, in a two-page letter to Glacier issued late Tuesday, said his staff has carefully reviewed the lease and determined the company “has not submitted sufficient information to demonstrate lease compliance.”

One of DNR’s highest priorities is protection of Puget Sound, Goldmark told Glacier in his letter, adding, “I have grave concerns about how your dock and gravel-loading operation may affect the health of Puget Sound and (the Maury Island Environmental Aquatic) Reserve.”

In a statement issued to the press, the newly elected commissioner said it’s not clear “how or if (Glacier) will implement and monitor actions to ensure compliance within the existing lease. I have asked the company to cease operations on the site until these questions are answered.”

Finally!

Congratulations Senator Al Franken.

I heard he is using the late great Senator Paul Wellstone's desk in his new office.

Go get 'em Al!

Hard work

When Shea was younger than 3 or so he had no words. He grunted, pointed, squeaked and was mono-syllabic. He made a sound that I always visualized as "ACK" or sometimes "OCK". Remember Bill the cat? Didn't he say "ACK!"?

I remember Shea would make these 'hard work' sounds; like grunting from exertion.

Even when something wasn't really heavy or hard to do, he would make the sound for added emphasis? Or maybe because it was just a comfortable, easy sound for him to make.

Later, at 3 1/2 he would say his first word "up" while lying on his back and pushing Bubbles hands up with his feet. "UP!" Hard work, guttural, deep from inside his torso.

From that day on, little by little, it has come. Sounds, words and phrases; they are there, accumulate quickly and are still coming. Even though, at times they sure are hard to pin down.

The other day Bubble said she only imagines he will need Speech for another 2 years or so. I had been thinking 5 more years. She said that he will probably need help with some school work or extra tutoring down the road but, honestly, who doesn't? That we can sure do.

Now, he still makes the hard work noise not just for emphasis, but to ham it up or to make a joke or to act like a super hero.

Which he is.

Potty training: but don't jinx it!

I am reluctant to even mention how good the potty training is going.

Just when I start bragging, Shea will have a relapse.

But the direction is good. Improvements are being made. The last 2 weeks have been pivotal.

Underwear aren't totally disturbing and automatically ignored. He is flirting with the concept of keeping underwear on, around his ankles during a potty trip. Although, he is still taking them completely off before, he is having fewer and fewer accidents.

We even took the potty chair with us for a little dinner gathering at a friends house the other night.

I feel like I am tip toeing through eggshells, quietly nurturing this new attitude and aptitude.

But inside I am yodeling from the tallest peak!

"He's potty training! He's potty training!" Hurrah!

Have I bought my last Costco size box of Pull ups? Well, maybe not.

But Hurrah anyway!

Side ways compliments

This week is tennis camp for Molly. This will be her third year and despite her lack of athletic interest, she is hanging in there with tennis so far.

She over heard one of the other kids at the camp today say, "Molly isn't half bad."

Molly thought it was rude, was kind of embarrassed and was getting ready to be annoyed but I called it a sideways compliment and that seemed to defuse it for the time being.

Sometimes in life there is a lot of those. You know, sideways compliments? You sort of sit back and say, "hmmm...".

It's good to let some of that stuff just roll right off.

Good bye, Sarah.

Don't let the door knob hit ya...

I just had to pull this out for nostalgic sake. This video is the best Sarah Palin related commentary I have seen.

ESY - Extended School Year

They changed the name.

It is really "Summer school" but that had too many connotations or someone decided to call it something else. But, ESY is Summer School.

I don't have a lot of experience with ESY except to know to officially ask for it at your IEP meeting. Especially when they are little. Insist.

I don't know how much they HAVE to legally offer. In fact, if there are any legal types out there be sure to let me know. Of course,what they do end up offering isn't much.

But Shea starts his next week.

For 2 weeks in July & August, they meet 9:00 - 10:30 Tues & Thurs. 12 hours total. Not much time but appreciated anyway.

We are really missing out beloved "Laurie's Playground" or Shea OT once a week. Maybe that is one of the problems with the hitting and acting out.

We've have a great Summer School teacher who likes to focus on social skills only all summer. It helped a lot last year and we are fortunate to have her again. She is also the gal who happens to live down the street from me with horses and a barn and does therapeutic riding with special kids. Shea might like it now

Summer is a scrum. Lots to do in a very long day. But it is warm, hot even (sorry Holli) and we are having fun.

A nod to "Food, inc."

I would really like to see this movie, Food, Inc. I have heard wonderful things about it.

Depressing and disgusting issue but we need to think about it as a people.

"In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults."

Study confirms increase in wheat gluten disorder

When we discovered that Shea was allergic to wheat/gluten and a whole host of other things, I was quite literally floored.

But, as this study confirms, it is pretty common these days. Although Shea is not a celiac, we can certainly benefit from all the amazing products out there these days due to just how common it is.

And, by the way, Shea - off wheat - is like a different kid; cognitively, behaviorally and, of course, verbally.

From the Startribune.com:

A Minnesota study using frozen blood samples taken from Air Force recruits 50 years ago has found that intolerance of wheat gluten, a debilitating digestive condition, is four times more common today than it was in the 1950s.

The findings contradict the prevailing belief that a sharp increase in diagnoses of wheat gluten intolerance has come about because of greater awareness and detection, and raises questions about whether dramatic changes in the American diet have played a role.

"It's become much more common," said Dr. Joseph Murray, the Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist who led the study. No one knows why, he said, but one reason might be rapid changes in eating habits and food processing over the last half century.

"Fifty years is way too fast for human genetics to have changed," Murray said. "Which tells us it has to be a pervasive environmental influence."

Toxic chemicals: a serious suspect in the autism outbreak

Great article. Depressing as heck though.

I just excerpted a tiny bit for you in my post. Please read the whole thing. In fact, read all of Harvey Karp's articles on Autism here.

From the Huffingtonpost.com:

Are Children with Autism..."Male-adjusted"?

Our increasing exposure to EDCs lends support to a new hypothesis about the cause of autism, called the "extreme male theory." This theory, proposed by Dr. Simon Baron-Cohen and colleagues, speculates that autism is caused by something changing a fetus' hormonal balance that then leads to over-masculinization of the developing brain.

Could that "something" be the slurry of hormone-altering chemicals we're exposed to every day? Are EDCs the reason autism-type disorders are 4-9 times more common in boys? (Vaccine side effects never show such lopsided impact on boys versus girls...a glaring fact that is totally ignored by those promoting the vaccine theory of autism.)

The "extreme male theory" has been supported by two interesting bits of evidence: 1) fetuses with slightly elevated levels of testosterone grow up acting extra-male (more interested in things than people, slow language development, etc.); 2) children with autism -- boys and girls -- show extra-male characteristics (e.g. poor social ability, language delay).

Here is where the very interesting link to EDCs comes into play: EDCs often act as weak estrogens and estrogen feminizines the body, but in a fetus' developing brain estrogen actually has the opposite effect...it causes masculinization.

For now, these ideas are just interesting theories, but the evidence is concerning. We urgently need more research to discover whether EDCs, or other chemicals, are linked to the worldwide rise in autism. Fortunately, on that front, there is very good news to report. Thanks to a dedicated group of pediatricians -- members of groups like the AAP and CDC -- the National Children's Study (NCS) was launched in January 2009.

Train wreck: the good, bad and the ugly

The good? Actually the good is real good.

Our new Speech and behavior therapist gal came on Monday. She came to my house. Shea needed about 47 seconds to be shy then invited her to play magnets.

They had a wonderful time. She pushes a little harder then some, insisting he says a word not just once, but 3 or 4 times. It went really well and I look forward to having her input all summer.

The bad? Shea is doing Mini-hawks sports summer camp. All week, from 8:30 to 11:30, they (39 little kids 4 - 6) play and learn about baseball, soccer and basketball. After 3 solid hours of play, I know they are tired but they get out right next to the big playground at the elementary school. It is nearly impossible to not let him play a while after wards.

Shea wants to be the fastest, climbing the highest, running, jumping, doing circus tricks. On the playground he is a leader but just doesn't have the language and socials skills to deal with that role. Basically he is getting more and more cranked up. And, not in a good way.

One little boy points at Shea and said, "That boy made Logan cry today." I tried to find out what happened, tracked the boy down, heard what happened. I guess Shea took his hat and wouldn't give it back and then started hitting.

I apologized to him and tried to explain that Shea doesn't have many words and talking is hard for him. That he didn't do it to be mean.

Well. It was going down hill fast. I feel I need to jump right on it if Shea hits. I am not going to just hang back and let my kid hit some other kid and not deal with it. I corrected him once and hoped he could keep it together if he just calmed down. I probably should have just taken him home then. Implement a 1 strike you are out rule.

I am sure this is part of his Sensory Integration issues. He gets so cranked up when he is playing with lots of other kids that he is literally whirling top speed, no time to STOP and communicate, no time to listen to his mom, no time to focus on his behavior. He starts hitting. You know, train wreck we are on our way.

The ugly?

Shea went to play on a big dome climber and, of course, all the other little boys followed him over. The behavior continues and he hits the same kid again. I jump right on it again but he is inside the dome. And, get this...he is running away from me, eluding and ignoring me. Will not come to me. Laughingly he continues to elude me while my blood is beginning to boil, I am saying the old, "you come here right now! I am going to count to 3. Shea! I mean it. I want to talk to you."

Pointless. He thinks it just hilarious that he doesn't have to listen to me and that I can't get him.

Until, I moved my fat butt right on down and climb inside that stupid dome and grabbed him, peeled his fingers off the bars and jettisoned him out from under that dome. I literally had to physically remove him from the area with dozens of mothers, fathers and other kids watching. He was still trying to run from me and refusing to walk. We had a long, excruciating, not very gentle walk all the way across the playground with Shea in full melt down rotten kid mode and me barely able to keep from completely exploding.

Absolute horror show.

Tomorrow? I don't think so. Time to shake up the dynamic. We are going to the pool.

Loosing it all

I got a phone call in reference to a rental house I listed on Craigslist; a lady whose house just burned down the day or two before, family of 4, kids 5 & 11. Electrical fire, they lost everything.

"Kids 5 & 11? Do I know your kid?" Sure enough, in Molly's class last year, a very nice boy.

Well, about now my heart is breaking. Everyone was physically ok but they were in shock, depressed, dazed. I thought of my own kids going through this. How sad and vulnerable they must feel.

I just felt like I had to do something.

I had heard about how Vashon swings into action when there is a tragedy like this. I started making phone calls and talking to some island folk and was led to a gracious older woman who was a depository of information; food vouchers, furniture, Granny's chits, rental assistance.

Between the Redcross, local churches through their "Interfaith Council on Homelessness" Vashon Youth and Family Services, The Food bank and other groups. they are able to create a web of assistance, something to cushion the initial blow but almost more importantly longer support to pull your life together again.

It was pretty amazing to see and help start that ball rolling.

I have been thinking about home fires lately. A really fun blog I visit all the time is The Quirk Factor: Resistance is futile.

Her house burned down too. I felt the same heartbreak when I read her post. Everybody was ok physically but they lost it all too.

In my mind, I visualize a person like me who started calling so that her family could get connected to this web of assistance that is out there in all our communities.

We should all support it when we don't need it because it is there for us if we do.

Why do I have to be differnt?

Public school hiring teachers from out of country!?

I have a simmering cauldron of mixed feelings on this one.

Isn't this our tax dollars recruiting and paying scabs to get around the teachers union?

and/or

An excellent way to interject international diversity into public schools?

Math and Special Ed teachers!?

From the Seattle Times:

Francisco Size came to Washington from the Dominican Republic last year on a type of work visa that each year draws thousands of other foreign professionals into the state.

But the 42-year-old is not a computer programmer or software engineer for the typical high-tech companies using these visas.

Rather, Size works as a math teacher in the Highline School District — one of scores of teachers across the state hired on the H-1B visa.

While use of the visa in the private sector at companies like Microsoft is well-known and hotly debated, less is known about school districts' use of the program. In fact, at least 40 Washington school districts have applied for H-1B visas to employ teachers and staff over the past five years.

For example, Puyallup hired a high-school English teacher from Jamaica, Seattle hired a special-education teacher from India, and Bellevue hired a parent-outreach coordinator from Chile.

Districts say they use H-1B workers to fill teaching positions with long-reported shortages in such areas as special education and math. Districts also have hired foreign nationals as English, elementary-school and substitute teachers. Like any employer using the H-1B program, schools do not have to show a lack of qualified U.S. teachers before they hire foreign workers.

Your voice does matter

You all know my political leanings. I haven't been shy about expressing myself.

So, my personal views on Health Care Reform won't surprise anyone. I believe Single Payer or Universal Health Care is what we need, but if that is all "over the top" (and believe me that is what they want you to think) we should at least get a Public Option.

I am watching my representatives and Senators very closely on this one. And, it's easy to do.

Congress.org is a great site where you can put in your zip code and give you easy contact information.

And, believe it or not, contacting them does matter.

Thom Hartman was saying that a fax sent to your rep or senator equals 1000 voices. A phone call equals 500. Go down to their local home office and you equal something like 5,000 people. And, BTW an e-mail doesn't count for much anymore. It is just too easy to do it.

The point is clear. Most people don't make contact. Of course, there are some barriers. It takes time. You have to have access to a fax machine or a stamp. You have to care enough about something to have an opinion and want to share it.

Well, Health Care Reform is something I care enough about to have an opinion about. I am sick and tired watching American families getting pummeled by these huge companies that are literally rolling in wealth. CEOs that make a BILLION $ a year? Come on!

My premiums go up 20% each year. I don't get anything more. In fact, I am getting less and less but paying more and more. That my friends, is called a "hosing".

I would encourage you to keep your ears peeled during this debate. You will hear all sorts of scary things about "socialized medicine" and why we should trust the Insurance Companies to "regulate" themselves.

But, in actuality our Fire Department is socialized. Are our houses worth more than our health? Hell NO!

They will talk about "triggers" and work to water down the bill so that it won't change anything and resembles the nightmare we have now! Even good Democrats are trying to do this!

Well, I am speaking up this time. I am sending faxes!

Raise your voice!