Autism and Alzheimer's meet

So I did something crazy yesterday.  Scott had all day plans so as I faced the day, I decided I wanted to spend the whole day with Adelle.  I thought about all the things we could do like go to the pool or plant new plants in the pots, and it just all seemed frivolous.  I miss my Dad and felt like this is one of the last days I'd have a whole day with nothing to do.  I had tons of energy and it was a beautiful day.  I also had some dishes I wanted to give to my niece, Hannah, in Lawrence.  So crazy me, I thought, why not do it all?  So I did!  

On the way down, Adelle started getting antsy about Lawrence.  I couldn't find Hannah's address or current phone numbers, so we stopped at a quick stop to use the restroom, get gas, and a snack.  It had thrown Adelle a bit to be past where her radio stations came in but we found one she liked.

When we got to Aberdeen, the rents greeted Adelle with a hug that she accepted, whew!  Adelle isn't a real huffy person.  Jean made the comment, "This is where you end up at the end of your life" which Adelle brought up again later.  I can tell she wasn't sure what to think about that.  Interestingly, she addressed Dad as "Mr. Griffith" and I don't recall having told her his last name.  Smart girl, that one. She made conversation for awhile (of course askd if they watch "Around the Horn" then I let her get on her Facebook on their computer.  I sat with Dad and we watched Animal Planet about puppies which brought back the never ending hope of his getting a puppy.  

We took Adelle's hat off and fluff fed her hair then went to the dining room for dinner.  The dining room is probably the nicest place Adelle has ever eaten.  She did very well, used her manners with only a few reminders from me.  She ordered her two cheeseburgers with mustard by herself and for dessert ordered vanilla ice cream for here and brownies to go.  Cracked me up.  The meal took an hour to come to us and she ate toast while waiting and waited patiently.  She smiled and participated some in the conversation fairly appropriately.  They asked her several times about college which was complicated because in the car, Adelle had informed me that I am "dictating her future" when I reminded her that the plan is for her to spend an additional year in high school before looking into college.  She wants to go to k state when her friends do.  Yikes.  Dad. And Jean did a great job with Adelle.  They seemed to understand that she is special but they didn't talk down to her.  

After dinner at the apartment, Adelle asked if she could spend the night there.  The ride home was uneventful, she sang most of the way and was happy when we got back in range of her stations.  

Orientation

We orient the new students, mostly 7th graders on two days before school starts, this year yesterday and tomorrow.  We call it Camp Dewy since our school is Eisenhower.

We welcome the kids and parents, play an autograph get to know you game, then split them up for sessions about crime stoppers, sexual harassment, behavior expectations, and all the unwritten rules.  They go on a scavenger hunt, get their schedules and locker combos and practice getting their lockers open.  We feed them lunch and two snacks.  The kids always come in nervous and leave excited.

This year we have a new Principal, Tracy Newell.  Pictured above is one of my my favorite people, Marvin Rupe who is assistant Principal, our counselor who took Nancy's place last year, Angela Bunger, Tracy, and me!  I didn't realize I was that short!  

Camp Dewy always gets me more excited and ready for the school year.  I was so exhausted yesterday I couldn't even think straight!  

Also starting yesterday was my intern for this year, Alexis Hernandez.

 I got to choose my undergrad intern last year and she was a big help.  I only take grad students now if I know that will be good since they are there all year, three days per week.  Alexis came highly recommended and has experience in the schools with an elementary TLC program.  Alexis was a big help yesterday and I think it will go well having her with us.  This will be the first time Angela has also had an intern so we shall see how that goes!  

Ready or not this school year is off and running!  

Last Days of Summer

Well, as of tomorrow, summer is officially over for me.  Camp Dewy, the new student orientation is tomorrow and Thursday.  I've gone into work to plan, to prepare, to get ready and now it begins.  These last few days have been busy.  Joel went home last Saturday.  Monday I picked up Adelle to take her to the fair but it rained out so we went to the movie Thursday night with my friend Tanya and her daughter Mikaila.  Mikaila has Aspergers.  She and Adelle made friends.  Which means they sat by each other and offered each other snacks.  

Last Tuesday we had the new Principal, Tracy, and his wife, Angela and Chad, and Marvin and Jolene over for dinner.  Then Saturday Marvin had the whole staff over for a potluck bbq.  

This week we have our nephew, Sam, here.  He has been keeping Scott company as my busyness is picking up.  

I am wrapping up water run and Wednesday is the last day.  It's been fun.

Yesterday I drove to Newton for a quick visit with Leah and to pick up our new dishes, fiesta ware knock offs.  I love them!  

It's been a busy summer but a good one.  

Goals met?

Summer is wrapping up very quickly.  Tonight we had the new Principal, Tracy, and his wife, Marvin and Jolene, and Angela and Chad over for dinner.  We meet Friday to plan Camp Dewy, have a staff party on Saturday, and then Camp Dewy is Tuesday!  Only four more water run classes, five if I sneak out the 9th.  

So how have I done on my summer goals?

1.  I didn't talk to a family member every single day but I did a couple times a week.

2.  I met this goal!  

3.  I met this goal!  I lost the same three pounds about 5 times this summer, total 15 pounds lost.  but gained. Tee hee.  

4.  Met.  This house is clean.

5.  I had Jesi over once and Tanya but didn't do as well at this goal as I would have liked to.

6.  Improved at this, still want to improve this.  Lets call this an ongoing goal.

7.  Done.  A lot more, crises, but other extras.

8.  No idea what is going on with TRU or what our role is.

9.  Hum.  Did go see Eric and Vicky in Topeka.  Once!  Did invite Ryan and Sarah over but couldn't get a date locked in.  Had George and Sheree over!  

10.  Done!  Much better than we had hoped!

11.  Met this!  

12. Yep.

13. Didn't do this.

14. Didn't get this one done but shooting for September.

Additional stuff not planned on:  dad being in the hospital, driving to LA, Scott's stroke, going to Moore twice.

Summary?  A successful summer.  Always good to let God make and change my plans.

Family Time

It was so great to have Joel home for ten whole days!  And we got an extra added bonus with Leah home for 3 days and Mom came too!  

Last week we sat around quite a bit and Joel disappeared frequently to get his friend time in and then we went to the Lake on Friday.   On Saturday, Julie drove up and spent the day with us. Julie and I hit a few thrift stores and we all ate at aJ's pizza.  Sunday Scott had the health issue and Joel stuck pretty close Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.  On Wednesday, Leah came!  Wednesday night we had our friends Goerge and Sheree over with their three boys.  It was fun to see them.  Joel ended up entertaining the boys, ages five and seven, by playing on the iPad, kicking around the soccer ball, and catching fire flies.  We sat out on the deck and chatted.

On Thursday I drove up to pick up my Mom.  We all mostly sat around together but that was fun.  Thursday night we went to Chipotle for dinner and then later made a blizzard run.  

On Friday the girls made our Target run and got some new duds.  Then Friday night we went to Olive Garden for dinner.  We drank wine and giggled and now have some pretty good family jokes to hang onto.  

Today we sat on the deck all morning in the rain and then II drove Mom home and Leah took Joel to Newton and then will take him to the airport.  Before she left, Leah gave Professor an entire haircut on the kitchen island.  

We are always sad to say goodbye to the kids.  We go from a full house to a quiet house again where we bumble around in here.  

Cva

Last Sunday afternoon, Joel, Scott and I were sitting around.  Scott was looking at a small piece of furniture to potentially purchase on the computer and he said suddenly, "I can't see."  I blew him off pretty much.  He left the room to go adjust his contacts and said, "I'm not kidding, I have double vision in my right eye."  I looked it up on medmd and said it said he needed to go to the ER.  I told him it looked like a TIA  or mini stroke.  He said no.  Joel looked at up also.  I did see on there to give him some aspirin.  I take 81 mg aspirin so I gave him three and he accepted them.  As the evening wore on, his vision was worse and he was stumbling around.  He blamed the stumbling on the vision problem and still thinks that is the case. I had him track my finger and noticed his right eye didn't track.  That really freaked me out.   He could cover one eye and see ok and he refused to go to the ER so we went on with the night.  I was glad he got up a couple of times in the night because I would have checked on him.  

On Monday, I called the doctor and made an appointment for 11.  Scott had canceled his soccer practice and Joel drove him to the doctor.  I kept my phone close during water jog then called him right after.  Scott said Dr, Mike called an ophthalmologist who said to go to the neurologist and made an appointment for 2:00 the same day.  I went with Scott to the appointment.  Dr. kumar went over his history then checked his eyes and said, "you've had a small stroke, you have a lesion on the mid part of your brain which may or may not show up on an MRI."  He ordered the MRI and made a follow up appointment.  He also said "Don't worry, the symptoms will go away in a few days, you will be alright." We were pretty freaked out.  He said to go get an eye patch and for Scott to start taking a 325 mg aspirin every day.  

The rest of the day Monday, and Tuesday, Scott showed little improvement.  I was concerned.  I put a post on Facebook but scott wouldn't let me put anything about the stroke specifically.  By Tuesday evening, Scott said he could see much better and he could walk straight.  The plan was for Joel to drive Scott to his Wednesday morning soccer practice but scott drove by himself.  He stopped wearing the eye patch and said his vision seemed almost normal.  He still felt a little nauseous in the car.  

Thursday Scott had the MRI and on Friday, we went back to see Dr.  Kumar.  The mri was apparently normal. The doctor told the nurse to put "cva" and not TIA on the chart. I looked  it up, a stroke.  The Dr. Said there isn't always a cause and it doesn't put Scott at risk for another one.  He said his blood pressure is a little high so he wants him to get his cholesterol checked and he also ordered a coradid artery check ( the arteries in your neck).  We don't expect any problems with those.   

I tell ya what, God is good.  I didn't really know how worried to be but I was pretty scared at a few points. It makes me appreciate our health a lot more.  I am so glad that he's ok, that he can drive and do all the things he likes to do.  He said he was more tense in the Dr. Office for me than for himself.  It helped to have Joel here, too.  At one point, Joel was  being silly and petted Scott's arm.  He said, "I'm stroking you so you don't have to have any more."  It was sweet and uncharacteristic for Joel.  It was also good to have Leah and Mom here on Friday when we went to the doctor.  Hannah apparently didn't like being on the hitch and just getting an email about it.  She knows he's ok now.

Glad that whole thing is behind us!  

My Baby Rex

Rex is the best dog ever.  He sleeps by my feet or along my leg patiently waiting for me to wake up.

Then as soon as I stir, he jumps up onto my chest waiting for me to scratch his ears and tummy.

I let him out and give him a treat and put food and fresh water in his bowls then he sits next to me while I do my quiet time on the deck.

He gives himself a bath while I bathe.

He follows me around and sits within several feet of me wherever I sit.

He waits for me by the door whenever I go anywhere.

He does a happy dance when I get home, even if I'm only gone a few minutes.

(I'm still trying to figure out how to post the happy dance video here).

If Scott and I have a heated discussion, Rex gets up in my face.  If it is storming out, he gets on my head.  If I'm sick, he rests near me.  If we walk in the park, he goes after any dogs that get near me.  I actually don't enjoy that but I realize he's trying to protect me.  I've been told he doesn't do that on walks if I'm not along.

Rex is a runner which I also don't enjoy but he is starting to learn to just go out and explore the fenced backyard without trying to escape. 

Rex doesn't come when he is called so I wouldn't say he's smart or obedient but he does understand English.  Scott likes to play "go get your baby" with him and harasses him by hiding it, tying the baby up high or tying it around Rex's neck.

Rex likes other family members but the only one he will pay much attention to when I'm home is Joel.

Or anyone with food.