Thankful Post 7

I am grateful for Ian's martial arts training and how much he enjoys it. Last night, he received the next rank of Orange Belt, by the skin of his teeth, I should add. (Ian has refused to eat dinner most nights, so he almost ended up going to bed instead of going to the graduation)

Ian, while probably the youngest of the martial arts students, has become one of the favorites. The older kids tend to act like mother hens with him-helping him stay in line or reminding him what to do. One of the moms last night said that her son reports back on whatever Ian had done in class that day with admiration. Ian enjoys the structure, the rules and looks forward to the day when he can be a black belt instructor and of course, tell everyone what to do.

For his orange belt, Ian had to pick a sponsor. To read more about his sponsor: click here.

Mr. Meza is a terrific teacher and we respect that he sets the tone for the classes and creates high expectations for all of them with positive encouragement. He gives safety lectures at various schools in the area and talks about stranger danger with them as well. He has the best interest of the kids at heart and they all flourish with his guidance. Ian at home, responds with "Yes, sirs" and "Yes, ma'ams" and we usually have a once or twice a week Ian-guided karate/yoga session at home with us as his minions. I have always known Ian to be respectful and well-behaved because we expect it from him, but martial arts seems to be such a good place for him to grow and gain self-confidence.

We are very, very proud of Ian and his progress and we will do whatever we can to keep him in karate for as long as he wants to attend. I am also thankful to Mr. Meza, the Petersons (co-owners) and all of the good parents and students at the studio for always being so gracious themselves and for being such great role models for Ian.



p/s I have videos, but having trouble getting them uploaded.....stay tuned!

Thankful Post 6

First of all, I know that we picked to live in Arizona.

With that preface, I am sincerely thankful that the weather is changing (it must have been listening on election day!) and those breezy, sunny 75 degree days are back. After hovering in the 90's for much of the last month, this is a welcome change.

We are stopping at the park after school-three times already (me twice with the boys and Tom with Ian tonight). The bikes are going to be fired up this weekend and I am scouting about for some long-sleeved shirts and sweaters. Ian needs a new in-between jacket and Connor has a new Lightning McQueen one. (Connor hates the jackets and Ian wears his all day-go figure!)

Delightful fall weather-this is the best time to be in Arizona. Yes, I am grateful to not live in the land of snow and ice (at least for now) only because I have a deep aversion to being cold. The only sad part is that I think I am going to have to retire my flip-flops and open toe shoes for the dreaded closed toe footwear. Nooo!

Oh, I am also going to be very grateful when my power bill goes way down as the A/C is finally turned off. Very, very grateful!

Obamanos 2008 and Thankful Post 5

Congratulations to Barack Obama, his lovely family and to all of his hard-working staff and volunteers who organized and reenergized the voting process and made history.

And congratulations to John McCain on a valiant effort.

Now the hard work begins.

I am thankful the campaign is over. Let's roll up our sleeves and get going.

Thankful Post 4

Well, continuing with my election obsession, I was able to vote in this election this afternoon and very proud to be a part of this-no matter the outcome.

My favorite moments were this morning......talking to Ian about election day and how Mommy and Daddy were going to vote for a new President. Then getting to explain what an election is and what the President does (I phrased it that the President helps makes rules-which resonates with Ian).

Mommy: "Who are you voting for, Ian?"

Ian: "JOHN MCCAIN"

Mommy: (serious bout of laughter)

Ian: "I'm voting for John McCain."

Mommy: "Hey, Connor, who are you voting for?"

Connor: "Lightning McQueen!"

Ian and Mommy: (more laughter)

Ian: "I am not voting for Rock Babama."

Mommy: "Really? Why not?"

Ian: "Because I am voting for John McCain!"

Connor: "Gabama!"

Later this afternoon.....

Ian: "Where'd you get that sticker, Mommy?"

Mommy: " I voted today and I got one for you."

Ian: "Yeeesss." (affixing sticker to his karate pant leg, later moved to the center of his shirt)

Mommy: "Today is election day and Mommy and Daddy both voted."

Ian: "Who did Daddy vote for?"

Mommy: "You'll have to ask him."

Ian: "When I am President, I am going to make so many rules. And everyone will have to listen!"

Mommy: (laughter) "You can be whatever you want."

Ian: "Actually, I just want to be a black belt leader."

Anyway, happy voting to all and regardless of your choice or the outcome, it is truly outstanding to see the turnout and how many Americans want to have a say in our future.

Off to get some pizza (yes, I ordered pizza!) and sending Tom out to get it (hee, hee!). And off to watch that guy using that crazy digital map. Arizona was PINK the last time I looked, so I am excited that we could go either way!

And I am thankful to all who exercised their chance to vote. You rock!

Thankful Post 3

I am thankful for the right to vote and the opportunity to exercise this privilege tomorrow, especially in such an historic election. My husband is looking forward to the end of the election, simply because I will not keep him up watching and discussing the election stories. I even have my little cheat sheet with all of the props for Arizona, the school, county and city races too.

Now, I just need to get some good snacks and maybe a bottle of wine to sit and watch some serious election coverage tomorrow. So, don't call me tomorrow-not answering the phone. And honestly, after all of the election calls tonight, I stopped answering tonight too!

By the way, Ian is voting for John McCain. Connor is voting for "Gabama."

Vote, vote, vote!

Murphy Walk for Autism

I am learning that our biggest challenges can turn into our strongest assets. You love your children and families despite all of the quirks and sometimes because of those very quirks. I think we are all looking for the cause of autism and we hope that the mystery can be unlocked. And many of us don't find autism to be an affliction or a type of suffering-it's just another facet that sometimes needs extra polishing. I am grateful that while autism is not an easy path, there is a lot of company along the way.

Welcome to November!

Hard to believe that we are in November but it is a lovely time to be thankful. Last year, I posted my special thanks through the month of November and am considering it again. Of course, I'd need to get going! Posting every day can be fun or impossible-just ask blogger friends. Some days are short on time, others are just devoid of coherent words and yet other days are fountains of stories. Feel free to provide comments if you support a daily post of thanks from me and if you would read....encouragement is always a good thing.

And speaking of encouragement, I have been a beginner yoga student for eons-first doing some yoga with my good friend, Hilary and a few actual classes here and there. Hilary has since moved to greener pastures over in Austin, TX, but I still look to her for yoga guidance and encouragement.

After some time off from yoga, I decided to try the class at my son's karate studio. Billie has challenged the class with some really tricky poses and it is keeping my interest renewed each week.

A few weeks ago, I asked her about doing headstands and shoulder stands, which I haven't done since I was a child. Even then, I wasn't really great at them! She was enthusiastic to teach it to me (actually, she taught it during a class that I missed) and I did my first yoga headstand in probably thirty years.

Did I worry about my old juga body getting into the pose? Sure. But I was determined to try. I had a spotter for the first round and when I saw myself in the mirror doing the pose that I only read about in magazines-it was empowering. On the second try, she wanted me to kick up into the pose. That proved to be more challenging than the actual holding of the pose. Apparently, I needed to work up those core muscles hiding under the baby juga.

So, this morning, after a busy couple of weeks, I decided to unroll the mat and salute the sun. The boys were up and about, occasionally crawling under my down dog or requesting juice or snacks mid-pose. No big deal. Towards the end of my practice, I decided to do some poses against the wall. This is when Tom appeared. I was feeling pretty strong, so I decided I would try the headstand on my own, completely unsure if I could kick up on my own. After really working to get my head, neck and arms right, I found kicking up to be EASY!




For a moment, I felt pure exhilaration. Tom got his camera and by then, I was ready to hop down (my feet are all cockeyed!) but it was soooooo great. I feel energized and happy as a result. Of course, during meditation, I was totally consumed with an "I did it!" feeling, so it was harder to settle down.

Anyway, I am by no means in great shape and looking back at some old photos of me ten years ago-I see the changes. And I know that time isn't always on my side as far as exercise goes. But I am making time for yoga, both in class and at home. Probably need to sandwich the cardio in there somewhere, but this is about all I have enough time for right now.

The boys enjoy creating their own yoga poses too, which is another post for another day!

I am thankful that this old mommy has still got a few moves left!

Halloween 2008

Visit my husband's blog, Ramble On, for all the details and photos!

Sister

Sister

Forest green

How long have you been dancing in the rain?

Like a wide-eyed harlequin with a pirate smile

Playing up the passion, playing down the miles

Sister

Royal red

Can a lifetime ever fill your hungry head?

Decorate your parlor like a book you read

I’ll never forgot a word you ever said

Sister

Marigold

Where do you come from, what powers do you hold?

Did your mother give you your soaring soul?

Or did heaven hand you all the things you know?

Sister

Blue twilight

Night will never dim the light inside your eyes

Contrast into color in the shades of light

You’re writing with your blood

You paint it with your light

lyrics by Nancy Wilson

For my lovely, beautiful inside and out sister-in-law, who is courageous, inspirational and oh, so human. She is defined in so many ways, but today she is honored for being a breast cancer survivor, for her compassion for other women who are battling this disease and for being a vision of all that is possible, miraculous and wonderful.

She is greatly loved.

A Language All His Own

Ian has begun work on his new language....."Anglish" -not Spanish, not English. One day, he stood next to me, spouting out unintelligible words (at least to me) and waiting for the appropriate response.

Tonight at the dinner table, he had a lengthy discussion on and in "Anglish." (Hey, Terri-we had more of Aunt Terri's pasta!)

Ian: "Mommy, samicamacho."

Mommy: "What?"

Ian: "Samicamacho."

Mommy: "Samicamacho?"

Ian: "Yes."

Mommy: "What language are we speaking?"

Ian: "Mommy, this is not English or Spanish. It's Anglish. It's a language I totally make up!"

Mommy: "Fabulous. Can you tell me what samicamacho means?"

Ian: "You have to guess." (Guessing games with Ian last longer than the longest human attention span, so I nip this one in the bud by saying only two guesses)

Mommy: "I don't know." (after two incorrect guesses)

Ian: "Samicamacho."

Connor: "CHO!" He is obviously fluent in Anglish.

Mommy: "Is it a food?"

Ian: "Samicamacho means 'I want water' or 'I want butter.'

Mommy: Ah, it means I want. How do I know if you want water or butter?

Ian: You have to guess.

Mommy: Sigh.

Ian: And "samicamog" means "No, thanks."

Mommy: So, do you want water?

Ian: Samicamog.

Mommy: Butter?

Ian: Samicamog.

Mommy: Okay.

Ian: Samicamacho, Mommy.

Mommy: Samicamacho water or samicamacho butter?

Ian: Samicamog. No, Mommy (throughly annoyed with my inability to figure out what he wants). I want an ICE POP.

Mommy: Audible sigh.

Connor: ICE POP?


It's cute, really. And maybe a little frustrating, considering that the word meaning changes instantly.

We also made some witches hats for tomorrow's pre-Halloween festivities. Witches Hats are cookies from the Betty Crocker Bonus cookbook (what would I do without Betty C.?!) and probably the easiest cookies on the planet. We bought some fudge stripe cookies (nope, did not make them from scratch) and some orange squeezy icing and a bag of chocolate kisses. We put some orange icing on the bottom side of the cookie in the middle, put a little kiss on it and voila-a hat! They are really cute. So, we'll bring them to the karate costume party tomorrow night.

And also some great news for Ian-he had his stripe and belt testing yesterday and passed. He earned another stripe on his yellow belt and he can graduate to the orange belt next week. I didn't bring my camera to show his stripe testing since I had Connor to watch, but we will have belt graduation photos next week. GO IAN!

I am off to rest and relax for a bit as I am working to NOT get sick this week! Tons of kids are out from school this week-so I am off to rest, rest, rest!

Walking for Autism: One Week To Go

The Walk for Autism will be next Sunday, November 2 here in Tempe, AZ. Our family is participating in the walk-probably bringing our handy-dandy wagon. (thanks to Grandma Sheila!) We set a goal of $1000.00 and have met and surpassed that to reach $1175.00! Again, thank you so much to all our family and friends who have given to this cause at a time where we are all holding on to our wallets for dear life!

For those who want to contribute in the final week-click on this picture for a link to our Team Murphy page. Or contribute a supportive comment-money isn't the only way to give support.

Connor had his special education preschool evaluation today. The evaluators seemed impressed with his progress and he scored very high on most of the tests. Personal/social showed a delay, especially since he found his Lightning McQueen car to play with-which takes precedence over all other activities. The evaluators will schedule a meeting after they determine which school he would probably attend and we all will have a meeting with that teacher to further determine his eligibility. One of the evaluators did say that it would be good for him to have more peer interaction.

As great as preschool would be, it will create a very difficult decision for us in terms of daycare, transportation and all. The program is a half-day program and he can be bused within the district. However, the bus would pick him up after we have to leave to get to work on time and then it would bring him home during lunch. We both work too far away to get him, drop him off for daycare and get back to work. There is no kids care before/after school for preschool kids. Another option would be to find a new daycare-which we have tried unsuccessfully and we are reluctant to make too many changes for them both-but it might come to that. The evaluator suggested taking FMLA leave, but we cannot afford to lose more income. She also said that we could just refuse to put him in preschool until Kindergarten, which I think would also be a mistake.

So, I feel stressed about the possibility of upheaval on our schedules, upheaval in finding a place that both boys will feel loved and accepted like they do now and maintaining Connor's progress going forward. Tom feels that too, but we aren't alone in this type of situation. So, right now, I'm just letting it go until we reach the next meeting. Or at least, I think I will let it go!

What the Fruit Fly?

Fruit fly research has been so important in finding the reason for autism. There is work being done on nerve pathways and genetic components that could unlock some of the questions about autism.

Ms. Palin made light of fruit fly research in her policy speech as frivolous earmark spending, in the very same speech where she is claiming to be an advocate for special needs children. Ms. Palin's comments:

Where does a lot of that earmark money end up anyway? […] You’ve heard about some of these pet projects they really don’t make a whole lot of sense and sometimes these dollars go to projects that have little or nothing to do with the public good. Things like fruit fly research in Paris, France. I kid you not.

It is scary when I think I could go out there and make a better and more informed speech than she. I don't care whether you vote McCain or Obama-or whoever. It's not my business-but this kind of ill-informed comment is just infuriating and so careless. I am paying very close attention when it comes to their policies on special needs.

Read more about fruit fly research and autism below. This research has been intriguing to me because I truly believe there is a genetic component to autism. I hope they find it.

Research on fruit flies and autism spectrum disorders

Studies on restless sleep, autism and fruit flies

Two 'Fer

Got this from my friend Michelle's blog-feel free to play if you want!


Two 'Fer(remember, only two):

1. Name two things you did yesterday/last night.
2. What are two of your current favorite foods
3. List two things you are looking forward to
4. Name two things you fear
5. What are your weekend plans


My answers:

1. Watched a LOT of Backyardigans and Cars videos with sick children! I also went to sleep early!

2. My new favorite is jalapeno pizza-yum, yum, yum and this week I am eating a lot (too much) of the waffle cone ice cream (Americone dream and really all chocolate related ice cream-not great for me, but yummy)

3. Looking forward to Halloween on Thursday (karate party) and Friday (actual Halloween) and then also looking forward to the autism walk next Sunday.

4. Well, of course, I am always afraid that something will happen to my children or to us and they will be alone. That is scary. I am also afraid that the economy is going to be very hard on all of us.

5. Taking care of sick children and working on Halloween costumes!

Food 4 Thought Friday

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions


Breakfast
What is your favorite place in your house and why? Describe it or add a photo.

I don't have a photo, but I like sitting on our bed watching tv or sitting at my desk on the computer.

Lunch
If your spouse or significant other were a light bulb, what wattage would they be? 25 -60 -75 -100 or a dim black light?

He is probably a 60, although I think he has mellowed out from maybe 75 or 100. I think given the right circumstances, he could be 75. This is kind of an odd question.


Dinner
Name something that would disqualify you if you were a contestant on Fear Factor.

Number one, I would not be on Fear Factor. There would be no disqualification, because I would never enter or pretend to want to try that. I have to change the channel because watching spiders or other creepy things crawl on you is more than I can stomach.


Midnight Snack
What is something you do that helps you to escape for a while?

Whether this is good or bad, I watch election coverage or listen to it in the car. I am also enjoying the first season of 30 Rock from Netflix. Beyond that, my yoga class and sitting quietly are helpful-but not really to escape but to be more in the moment. And why is this font so much larger??

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)

Sometimes it's hard to believe that we are loved more than we can imagine. But it's true.

Update on Our Croup Club

Today I took the boys to the kids care at the hospital nurse unit. Ian began to cry when we got there (even though he has been there before) and didn't want me to leave. As I completed the paperwork, the nurse checked the boys for temperature. Ian had brought both Froggy and Ted along for comfort. The nurse, so clever in approach, asked about Froggy and Ted and that she should also check their temperatures too. Ian agreed this was a very good idea and that he would hold them because they were scared. The boys got ID bracelets, as did Froggy and Ted. This made Ian feel comfortable. The nurse then took Connor's "Cars" movie and popped into the DVD player, so he was happy too.

Checking in at lunch, the nurses said that the boys were feeling okay and eating some. Froggy and Ted were also having a good day. Upon picking them up, the nurse talked to me about Connor's upper lip. On Tuesday night, he had smashed his Lightning McQueen car into his lip, which is very swollen. She said that he was refusing to eat because it hurt, so she was actually feeding him in the side of his mouth so that he could eat something. So, I have to get some medicine for it.


Ian was running a fever at pick up and Connor is still drippy and coughing. We canceled speech today and I think Tom is canceling music therapy for tomorrow morning.

Apparently several kids at daycare are home with similar respiratory ailments, so Jeni is right that they are definitely sharing. Not the kind we want, but maybe next week will be better so we can have a great Halloween!

House of Sick Boys

It looks like the boys in this house are on a downward trajectory. Connor is still croupy and feverish with a nice swollen lip. Tom stayed home with him and they took a good, long and restful nap together. Of course, when I called Tom to check in, he said that he was not feeling so great either. Oh, boy.

I picked up Ian at daycare and she let me know that while Ian was happy all day, he was very quiet and didn't play very much. He also took a long nap, which is becoming a rare happening these days.

Tonight, Connor refused to eat much for dinner (always a big clue) and Ian actually DID eat. (which makes me think something is wrong because he never eats much!) We curled up on the couch and watched a few episodes of Diego. Connor was glowing by then, so I gave him what was left of the tylenol (maybe half a dose) and Ian was beginning to look pale. As it turns out, he is currently running a temp as well.

Tom had to work tonight for the youth orchestra, so we'll see how he feels when he gets home. Neither of us can really afford to take sick days, but tomorrow might end up that way. One option is the hospital sick children care for my district where I can bring the boys if they are too sick for daycare, (with parameters) and we can still go to work. That is looking like a possibility for tomorrow, since we are already saving for a day off next week for Connor's preschool evaluation.

Off to get some more work done. Probably sub plans! (which take more work than actually being absent, right, teachers?)

Croupy Little C

This normally raspy-toned boy was sounding a bit more scratchy yesterday morning with a nice cough in the morning. No fever and happy, playful spirit-we didn't think much on it. When I picked him up yesterday, he was feverish and asleep. We canceled development therapy and he perked up to play Cars cars with Ian.

When I returned from my board meeting, Tom had administered some Tylenol and we settled in to relax. At 11:30pm, Connor was coughing and wheezing so much, that we did the steamy shower treatment, took him out in the cold air and finally tried the nebulizer. He was running a 102 temp and we put in bed with us but he sounded horrendous. Finally at 1:30am, I bundled him up and took him the ER.

He was seen right away, along with the other five children with croup. The nurse sat with him for awhile to see if he needed another breathing treatment, but they didn't give him one. Instead, they gave him some Motrin followed by a steroid to help him stop coughing. He asked for "Mommy's car" the whole time, but didn't fuss or cry. At home, we put him back in our bed and got about three hours of sleep.

Today, he is pale (which for an Irish boy is rather ghostly!) and a bit emotional. He also smacked his lip with one of his cars, so anytime he eats, he cries.

Ian got through about 2/3 of his karate class before he said he had a headache and wanted to sit down for a bit. Which is unusual, because he was excited for class and he was having a good time. So, wondering if we are in for round 2.

Some happy news so you don't think I am a total bummer on every post lately.....the district invited me to be recognized at the district teacher recognition night for my Working Parent award-very exciting, except that Tom has to work, so I don't have any cheerleaders in the audience, but that's okay. I also got my teaching observation back and my principal is rating me as distinguished (over proficient, basic and find another job). So, that is pretty nice!

Ian was featured in a promo for the martial arts studio and it is awesome. I'll post more when I figure out how to get that onto the blog.

The chorale had a great weekend of performances and I have been singing their gospel song for the last several days-I need to get it uploaded soon, seeing as how I don't really know the words and continue to sing the same phrase over and over.

So, this week will be about designing Ian's Halloween costume and getting Connor's costume taken up to the right length. It should be fun and Julie scored us a huge cardboard box for Ian's costume, so I am excited to get going.

Off to fix the "owies" as they seem to be multiplying.......

Happy Birthday.....

to one of my very best friends. She deserves all the best!

Food 4 Thought Friday on Sunday

It's been a hectic week-maybe I'll get to the Wordzzle on Monday or Tuesday!

Food 4 Thought Friday ~ This week's questions


Breakfast
If you could jump into any book … what would it be and why? Literally? I love to be one of those yoga posers in the books and magazines. I cannot even think of a novel right now, but I am sure there is one.


Lunch
Tell how you are feeling today in the form of a weather report. (For example, partly cloudy, sunny with a chance for showers etc.) I think sunny with a chance for showers. We have chorale this afternoon in a new venue, so I feel a little more apprehensive than usual.


Dinner
What activities make you lose track of time? This is it: surfing, writing and working on the computer.


Midnight Snack
What were you doing one hour ago? Sending my zombie husband back to bed and washing the floor.

Recipe for this Week (instead of your recipe for life - what is it for just this week?)

It's hard to get inside the mind of a four-year-old.

Let It Be Known

I very rarely post any political views. In watching the debate last night and also paying attention to the special needs arena and how the candidates are speaking to these parents, I have to say this.

Autism is not the only disability out there.

Neither is Down Syndrome.

Children are not the only ones who have disabilities.

I imagine there are parents who are frustrated with autism being the catch-all for disabilities. Yes, the numbers are astronomical and it is a confounding disability. It is getting a lot of media-which is tremendous-but let's not forget those who are struggling in other areas-not just autism.

I certainly hope that ALL children and adults will be represented fairly. Is it great to hear concern and hope to fund autism research?-absolutely.

But speak to all of the parents who need support. And speak about how you are going to help these children when they become adults-long term care, whether they will get support to be productive, have a good job or to channel their talents (and I believe we ALL have talents, every last one of us) positively. What about those who are adults right now? We probably won't hear about that.

I'll be honest that neither candidate has really made a strong case for me as far as special needs go. And because Mrs. Palin has a son with Down Syndrome and a nephew with autism-doesn't qualify her as an advocate in my book. If she was in the trenches, like many special needs parents-having to quit work to give full time care or having to work more jobs to afford therapies or working yourself ragged to get the best for your kids-that would turn my head.

Thanks to Raven for getting me started here! LOL!