New York Trip day 5

Today I could NOT wake up!!  Kelda AND Zander tried apparently for 1 1/2 hours to wake me and I wasn't budging.  Chip was growling at them lol.  I was up late with Benjamin.  We gave him a heads up that today we would hit Chicago again and typically letting him know helps him prepare for a stressful situation, but this time stressed him so that he was pacing most of the night:0(  I got little sleep due to this so that led to my overtired body having issues getting up.

Zander I am learning does NOT like cameras and it is a chore to get a shot of him.  He saw the camera this time and rather than running stuck his tongue out!  Got my work cut out for me looks like!

 

 

 This is a half smile.  I missed the full on BIG smile that would scare you if you didn't know him and laugh if  you do!

We left Ohio with is raining and snowing and pretty much set the stage of the whole trip today.  After about 400 miles I said enough and we stopped in WI around 2p.m.  I found out this evening that about the same time the next exit up there was a semi that jack knifed.  So I am very glad I became too exhausted to continue.  I crashed for 3 hours hard and woke up....now just trying to fall back to sleep so figured until then I would at least get the blog done.  I am still tired but can function!

Ohio Hotel and the weather as we were leaving

Going thru Chicago wasn't as bad as the first round.  Thinking back it was a Saturday afternoon rather than a weekday afternoon maybe that was the difference.

Zander is doing awesome and definitely has some work cut out for us in the manners dept.  Such as when a car door is open or hotel room door is open it is not an invitation to bolt out!  I haven't had a dog do that in years so that will be a correction in need of being done for sure.  He is sitting and laying down well on command as long as there isn't a ton of distractions.  Kelda is keeping treats on hand at all times to help reinforce things and so far all is well:0)

Tonight we watched A movie of Temple Grandin, an autistic woman who has become one of top scientists in human livestock handling! In spots where she is panicking Benjamin said that is how he felt when we were in Chicago!  HE sat and was really into the movie and said he understood her.  I learned a lot more watching him tonight and the movie.  I feel like I am always learning more about his being autistic.

Not really much else to report that I can think of....right now.  We are changing the route a bit on the way home and going to add ND to our list of states visited:0)  Cannot wait to see my tinkerbell Weds!  Furthermore can't wait to see how Paige and Zander get along.

Zander and Chip getting along very very well!

Benjamins Meltdown

We had a bit of a meltdown issue tonight pretty bad with Benjamin. The neighboring RV that we are on friend terms with have a dog they rescued and has an issue still with sticking around and listening. Well she jumped out of the truck and took off just prior to Inger and Benjamin going out to walk Paige. The guy owner set off to look for her.

After the kids got going Benjamin saw Cheyenne up on the highway and called her not realizing there was a vehicle coming. She came running when he called her and was hit by the UPS guy. UPS btw even though not their fault the dog was in the highway is paying the vet bill. The driver felt absolutely awful. Anyhow bug witnessed it and is blaming himself because he called her. She will be fine but the vet said had Benjamin not helped her back home she never would have survived her pelvis was broken. She is being casted and will be home on Monday.

The owners came to tell Benjamin he was their hero and Cheyennes' because she would have died w/o him. But he just keeps saying yeah I may be a hero but it is my fault she got hit. It is nearly 11 p.m. and he is still up and can't sleep. While in his meltdown I found out he blames himself for Sage jumping the fence and getting hit by the car 3 yrs ago. I was at work and never knew until tonight he was outside and saw the whole thing. Tonight brought all that up for him. I am getting tired but I can't sleep yet knowing how he is feeling.

This on top of I think he has been sleep walking again. He sleeps fine with me but when Carl comes home and he is sleeping in his normal place we noticed this past week he was up 7 times in one night.

Alright nigh hope everyone had a great week.

Special Needs Learning

Home-educating Autism
http://www.homeeducatingautism.com
This is another site that might be helpful.

Aspergers Syndrome

As some know my son has Aspergers. A form of autism. I try to leave well in advance and anymore I find days I am late due to a last minute tantrum for something not going his way or as he is use to it operating. Changes in his daily routine will set off a tantrum especially if it was last minute and I had no time to give warning. If he has ahead of time knowledge that ok tomorrow we are doing this instead of this he can start to shift his mind for it. Here is an article from a blog I get updates via email daily to maybe help those that don't know much about Aspergers or maybe don't quiet understand:

Asperger’s Syndrome was first noticed in 1944, and it was first seen in children that had been diagnosed with autistic personality disorder. A researcher by the name of Asperger worked with children and saw that they exhibited delays in social maturity, social reasoning, and social abilities. He found verbal- and non-verbal impairments in communication, especially when the children attempted to converse. Asperger also observed that the children had difficulties controlling emotions, but they could intellectualize their feelings.

Further research by Asperger found that the children became preoccupied with various interests and these would dominate their thought processes. Asperger also found that some of the children were having learning problems, difficulty with coordination, and that they exhibited a marked sensitivity to certain smells, sounds, and textures.

You can start sharing information by giving friends and relatives an introduction to Asperger’s Syndrome using the above paragraphs. This will provide them with some history and context. Sharing information on any illness or diagnosis requires tact and discretion. You might want to tell the people in your life on a “need-to-know” basis.

It is very important to stress that a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome does not make your child “weird” or inferior. Make sure you stress the positive elements that can be found in people with Asperger’s Syndrome. There are actors, authors, researchers, and scientists who have been diagnosed with Asperger’s, and they have achieved seemingly insurmountable life goals. When your friends and relatives are aware of these facts, it will help dispel the mystery and confusion that surrounds Asperger’s.

When you discuss Asperger’s Syndrome with children, you can use classroom materials that have been developed to assist children in understanding this diagnosis. Go on the internet to a company called AAPC and you will find several books about Asperger’s. Also, look for a local group that helps people and their relatives cope with Asperger’s Syndrome.

One highly recommended book is Asperger’s Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals by Tony Attwood. Mr. Attwood is a leading expert on Asperger’s Syndrome, and his book provides a wealth of information that you can use as discussion topics.

After you have shared some of the above information, ask the person/people you are talking with if they have any questions or concerns about anything that you have discussed. Let them know that any question or concern they may have is valid, and you are not going to be offended by their inquiries. Not only will this ease communications, it will prove you to be a mature, open-minded individual who loves your child and cares about friends and family.

Thanks and have a great day

Dave Angel