Back in My Nest

I intended to post yesterday, on my blog-iversary. (That's right. I have kept this up for an entire year.) Instead, I spent the day travelling home from an appointment with Cody's neurologist. After NOT sleeping at the hotel because our room was next to the ice machine and the a/c was not working, I started thinking about the children's book 'The Best Nest' by P.D. Eastman. Do you remember that book? Let me refresh your memory...

Mr. Bird thinks his nest is the best in the world until Mrs. Bird tells him he's wrong. The couple go on a quest for "the best nest" and try building nests in a mailbox, a church-bell, and a shoe (among other places). Throughout the book they sing, "I love my house. I love my nest. In all the world, this nest is best." but in the end, a storm blows them back to "the best nest of all", their original nest.

That's kinda how I felt yesterday. I love going out of town, even if it is for a doctor appointment. A change of scenery is a good thing, but I am always happy to be home, where nobody gets ice out of my freezer in the middle of the night, I can sleep in a California King Size bed, and pee in my own clean toilet. You know...back in my nest.



FYI- You can find this book at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. WalMart has a newer edition (2005) available online.

Words Worth Repeating/ "Who's Weird- Besides Me?"

This is what my son with Autism says every time you give him his iPod. It was this same type of repetitive behavior that helped my husband and I figure out that he needed to be tested for Autism. We learned about Autism on the 'Sally Jesse Rafael Show'. Our son was around 10 years old by then. Doctors, teachers, as well as school district "specialist" had never even suggested that Autism might be one of his disabilities. Had we known sooner, we may have been able to teach him differently. You see, although he functions fairly well, he has certain behaviors that we just can't break. For instance, he won't get out of bed in the morning and go to the bathroom until someone tells him to. My husband or I have to be sure to get him up so he doesn't have any accidents in bed. Do we ever get to sleep in? Rarely.

Here's my advice to young parents who have been blessed with a disabled child...learn to be aggressive. You have that "instinct" that other people in your child's life won't. Also, educate yourself about your child's disability. Although the road ahead may not come easy, it can be smoother with extra effort on your part. I have found that the rewards from having my son as part of our family definitely outweigh all the trials that come with him.

Originally posted June 19, 2010 http://www.snippetsnstuff.com/2010/06/whos-weird-besides-me.html

Claustrophobia

The first time I learned of my husband's claustrophobia was about 20 years ago. We had been camping in a small trailer that had foil across the back window where the bed was located. Don was sleeping on the inside of the bed, near the back wall, and I was sleeping on the outside so I could get up and down easily with the kids, or to pee, but that's irrelevant. The point is, Don woke up during the night and couldn't see a thing. It was pitch black and he darn near killed me as he climbed on and over my sleeping body to get out.

A few years ago, we learned that Don has Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis. His neurologist wanted to see if the MS has progressed or stayed the same, so she ordered an MRI last week. I am quite amazed that he was even able to get in that machine!

The good news is, Don's MRI showed absolutely no change. Yay!