WARNING

OK  I AM NOTORIOUS FOR USING THINGS THAT MAY HAVE HAD AN EXPIRATION DATE THAT HAS PASSED  BUT NO MORE

OUR KIDS HAVE ENUF TO DEAL WITH --WITHOUT THIS KIND OF TROUBLE   HOPE YOU ALL LEARN SOMETHING FROM  THIS:

Got this from a friend and thought this was worth passing on. I had never heard of this till now.

I recently made a batch of pancakes for my healthy 14-year-old son, using a mix that was in our pantry. He said that they tasted "funny," but ate them anyway. About 10 minutes later, he began having difficulty breathing and his lips began turning purple. I gave him his allergy pill, had him sit on the sofa and told him to relax. He was wheezing while inhaling and exhaling. My husband, a volunteer firefighter and EMT, heated up some water, and we had my son lean over the water so the steam could clear his chest and sinuses. Soon, his breathing became more regular and his lips returned to a more normal color. We checked the date on the box of pancake mix and, to my dismay, found 20it was very outdated. As a reference librarian at an academic institution, I have the ability to search through many research databases. I did just that, and found an article the next day that mentioned a 19-year-old male DYING after eating pancakes made with outdated mix. Apparently, the mold that forms in old pancake mix can be toxic! When we told our friends about my son's close call, we were surprised at the number of people who mentioned that they should check their own pancake mix since they don't use it often, or they had purchased it some time ago. With so many people shopping at warehouse-type stores and buying large sizes of pancake mix, I hope your readers will take the time to check
  the expiration date on their boxes. Also, beware of outdated cake, brownie and cookie mixes.

There's more info at snopes.com.  Here's the link:

www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/pancake.asp

Lesson learned; be sure to check dates on everything and basically, just don't eat anything old!

PASS IT ON!!!!

Thoughts About the "Brick"

Just a quick thought or 2 about this story "The Brick" below

I know there are many other people going thru different trials and tribulations of different magnitude and i dont pretend to be the only person who is trying to make sense of it all

However Itruly believe that those of us who are faced with special challenges have just a smiddgeon more understanding about how to be thankful for the little things in life--- to simpliy get up in the morning turn off the alarm get yourself up, get on with your day and come home to a quiet home in the evening is a blessing beyond compare.  If you dont take time to smell the roses and appreciate it  You will find yourself speeding down a road in your fancy car and it will take a BRICK                    TO REMIND YOU   HOW DELICATE  LIFE CAN BE!!!

So please stop and take a minute look around and embrace your blessings

In the flash of a moment it can change!

The Brick

THE BRICK A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down When he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver Then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against A parked car shouting, "What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?" The young boy was apologetic. "Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do," He pleaded. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..." With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. "It's my brother, "he said "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up." Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me." Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and may God bless you," the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! Push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: "Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!" God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not. Thought for the Day: If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring. He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you! God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow,sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. Read this line very slowly and let it sink in... If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

STRUGGLING WITH ANXIETY

I HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO TAKE DAKOTA OFF THE RESPIRIDOL-- HIS AGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AND OTHER FACTORS SEEM TO HAVE DIMINISHED DRAMATICALLY IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO I HAVENT REALLY TOLD ANYONE CUZ IN THE PAST WHEN I TOLD SOMEONE ITS SEEMED AS IF SOMEONE WOULD COME UP WITH "INCIDENTS" THAT INDICATED THAT HE "NEEDED " THE MEDICINE-- SO THIS TIME I HAVENT TOLD ANYONE  AND  ALL SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN GOING WELL --------------------- HOWEVER IN JUST THE PAST FEW WEEKS I HAVE NOTICED THAT HS HAS HAD AN INCREASE IN REPETITOUS BEHAVIOR AND A HUGE AMOUT OF ANXIETY PARTICULARLY ABOUT WHATS NEXT-- FIRST ITS THIS BIRTHDAY OR THAT BIRTHDAY THEN WE HAVE SCHOOL STARTING AGAIN THEN ITS HALLOWEEN ;THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS AND SO ON AND SO ON IT KEEPS GOING AROUND IN HIS HEAD FINALLY IT HAS DAWNED ON ME THAT ALTHOUGH HE IS DOING QUITE WELL BEHAVIOR WISE WITHOUT THE MEDS HIS HEAD IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE AND HE JUST CANT TELL ME --I HAVE TO OBSERVE IT.  JUST THE PAST 2 DAYS OR SO IT HAS BECOME VERY APPARENT TO ME THAT THE RESPIRIDOL IS DOING MUCH MORE THAN REMOVEING BEHAVIORS IT IS HELPING DAKOTA LIVE EACH DAY WITHOUT THE ANTICIPATION "WHATS NEXT" I DO REALIZE THAT HALF OF WHAT GOES ON WITH HIM IS HOW HIS BRAIN WORKS ;WHAT I FAILED TO SEE IS THAT THE MEDS DO MORE THAN HELP HIM PHYSICALLY WE HAVE TO KEEP HIS BRAIN FROM THAT SHITTY ""STATIC"" OR WHAT I CALL ANT RACES LIKE THE SCRIBBLY STUFF ON THE TV WHEN A CHANNEL GOES OUT CAN YOU IMAGINE HAVING TO FUNCTION IN THIS WORLD WITH ALL THAT STUFF GOING ON IN YOUR HEAD? I CANT!

ITS NOW SUMMER

WELL  IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT -- ON June 21ST WE HAD OUR SUMMER SOLSTICE  THE LONGEST DAY OF THE YEAR BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY DAKOTA CAN NOW SWIM!!!!

DONT ASK ME WHERE THIS TRAIN OF THOUGHT CAME FROM  BUT SOMEWHERE IN THE PAST MONTHS DAKOTAS HAS MADE IT ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT  YOU SWIM WHEN ITS SUMMER!

THATS RIGHT; NOT IN APRIL IF ITS 100 DEGREES OR OCTOBER  IF ITS  INDOORS BUT YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR JUNE 21 ST

EVEN HAD THE DOCTOR SIT DOWN WITH HIM AND "ALTER " THE RULES BUT DAKOTA IS HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH IT    IF IT ISNT SUMMER YOU CANT SWIM

SO I JUST ANTED EVERYONE TO KNOW THAT THEY CAN SWIM NOW THAT IT IS OFFICIALLY SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

The Week from Hell

Boy  did i have the week from hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 3 different meetings about Daks education plan and placement as well as docotr and dentist appointments couple with a few crisis at home and VIOLA' what a week!

Have been trying to "broker" a deal with the department head for a new placement in school for my son. He has become too comfortable in the classhe is in and there are changes coming so Now Is The Time.

Short of pissing and moaning about whats happening in the class and whining about how hes not getting what I think he should I have chosen to move forward with another plan. I believe that he is a lost cause in this enviroment and instead of trying to re-invent the classroom I will move him to a new classroom.

I have been suffering from some pretty strong depression about my failure to get all the things he needs in school but at this point That is not  productive,   I believe that Dak was definitely ahead of the curve when it came to securing services for Autism. My only hope is that we pioneered the way for other parents and kids that came after us to get things we werent sucessful  in securing. I still beleive that my son has untapped talent in academics as well as occupational skills and short of me spending every day all day in his class room policing his IEP  I have no way to know exactly what goes on in class--and for those of you who dont realize it when you have an autistic child he doesnt come home and tell you ANYTHING!!!!! Was the teacher there, did you get your speech therapy, did the adaptive PE teacher show up did you go to the library today , what did you have for lunch, are you hungery???                                                        Have you ever had to ask these questions and not got some kind of answer?????  With an autistic child many have the ability to answer or the verbal skills and just wont or cant others dont speak at all --- Can you imagine as  a parent how frustrating this is???not knowing if some one has treated your child well , or if theres an activity your child could participate but he doesnt tell you about it--

Ok I am getting on my soap box    But really many dont think about all these things.  They justdont rewalize how much they take for granted  how fortunate they are to have to deal with everyday drama--                                                                        But I have to tell you along with the frustrating things comes the appreciation that I have a child who still wants to be around his parents{most of the time} and doesnt walk around with his pants hanging down to his kness who has every other word coming out of his mouth as a cuss wordis in to drugs and hasnt gotten some girl pregnant Sooooooooo there much to be Thankful for

Missing In Action

Well all I can say  Is I am definitely behind ---

I would like to say that its mostly because I have been outrageously busy but part of it has been a slump I seem to be Suffering.This Too Shall Pass

Living with Autism every day affects every facet of youre life and life within the family-- consessions and alterations to all activities and plans--Dont get me wrong some of it is very positive and character building but by the same token it can be exhausting.Sometimes you have to over think strategies before embarking on what used to be an impetuous action-- for instance --a trip to the store or an appointnet for the doctor or dentist.

 It has taught me a lot about my son but also life in general and how we do so many things in everyday life that we dont even think about and how our actions affect others. A simple  example is when my son was very small i used to talk to him about the outing we were embarking on BEFORE we got in the car --I would say we are going to go the the store ,the bank and the drug store-- then i go to the bank first --he starts to scream  It took me a while but I finally figured out that the order I told him was different than the order we went   Its amazing to think that we as typical people can adjust to these  subtle nuances of change but autistic people cannot-- they have to know       "whats next" Classic Anxiety.  I guess what i am trying to say is the past couple of weeks have been ""coping weeks""  a little of taking time away from the journal mixed with several obligations and personal issues-So for anyone who wondered where I was-- well now you know