Party Time

Today we celebrated Sarah's birthday at Color Me Mine, a kid-friendly ceramics studio. Sarah's interest in painting lasted about 5 minutes, with the remaining time spent asking "can we open presents yet?" She invited her entire Sunday School class, so we filled the party room with 9 girls aged 6 to 12. Everyone had a great time, especially Mom, who really enjoyed the fact that someone ELSE had to clean up the mess at the end!

A few extra words

It's amazing how much difference a few extra words can make. Sarah recently had an orthodontic expander installed. As with all orthodontics, food choices become more limited. The assistant, showing me a list, said "here are the foods that she's not allowed to eat." Unfortunately, all Sarah's autistic brain heard was "... she's not allowed to eat". We've been struggling since Monday to convince her that she can't wait until June (when the expander is removed) to eat. This would all be comically funny if it weren't life threatening. Some day, looking at her beautiful smile, I'll laugh about this...

Gray in my life

Gray - and the lack of it - has such a presence in my life. Depression causes entire days to be just gray and dismal. Those days, it's a challenge just to focus. Life seems drab and just blah. Those are the gray times that I hate. Those are the times that I wish for a life without gray.

There are times, however, when I am cursed to have a life without gray... a different kind of gray. Living with someone with autism completely changes your perspective on the world. Just today I realized that the gray zone - the distinction between black and white - has been fading from my world view. Having to explain everything to my daughter, who only comprehends black and white, has led me to simplify my own world view.

I want to use this blog to remind myself of the consequences of doing so, and to record some of the funny moments that arise when you view life without the gray.

Gray, defined

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)

gray /greɪ/

1. (adj.) of a color between white and black; having a neutral hue.
2. (adj.) dark, dismal, or gloomy: gray skies.
3. (adj.) dull, dreary, or monotonous.
4. (adj.) having gray hair; gray-headed.
5. (adj.) pertaining to old age; mature.
6. (adj.) Informal. pertaining to, involving, or composed of older persons: gray households.
7. (adj.) old or ancient.
8. (adj.) indeterminate and intermediate in character: The tax audit concentrated on deductions in the gray area between purely personal and purely business expenses.
9. (n.) any achromatic color; any color with zero chroma, intermediate between white and black.
10. (n.) something of this color.
11. (n.) gray material or clothing: to dress in gray.
12. (n.) an unbleached and undyed condition.
13. (n.) (often initial capital letter) a member of the Confederate army in the American Civil War or the army itself.
14. (n.) a horse of a gray color.
15. (n.) a horse that appears white but is not an albino.
16. (v.) to make or become gray.

Old Time Rail Ride

I love the following quote by Gordon B. Hinckley:

"Anyone who imagines that bliss is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he's been robbed. The fact is that most putts don't drop, most beef is tough, most children grow up to be just people, most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration, most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. Life is like an old time rail journey... delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas, and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." (Address to Religious Educators, Temple Square Assembly Hall, Sept. 1980).

I think that it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the lives of others are so much more than our own. After all, who likes to publicize their failings? No one.

I am grateful for the ride.

Christmas Letter 2007

P--- POP Quiz 2007

1. Sarah is in ____ and Madilyn is in _____

a) 3rd grade, high school
b) 4th grade, Kindergarten
c) 5th grade, 4th grade

2. Sarah (10.5) is taller than Madilyn (6)

a) True
b) False

3. Gary just celebrated ___ years with 3M

a) 10
b) 15
c) 25

4. Gary’s current 3M project is building a facility in _______ with a budget of ______

a) Alexandria, MN; 48 million
b) Fargo, ND; 5.7 million
c) Guizhou province, China; 130 million

5. Our summer vacation was

a) A South Pacific cruise with ports of call in Tahiti and the French Polynesian Islands
b) Salmon fishing on an Alaskan cruise
c) Trout fishing in the mountains of Utah
d) What vacation?

6. Madilyn’s favorite sport is

a) Soccer
b) T-ball
c) Basketball
d) Anything with a ball

7. Sarah’s summer program was named

a) Boot Camp
b) Lazy Daze
c) Outdoor Adventures

8. This summer, Gary finally _______

a) played major league baseball
b) got his motorcycle license
c) bought a new car

9. During 2007 we have been ______

a) happy
b) healthy
c) a bit frazzled
d) all of the above

10. Mom has been busy ______

a) Reading and relaxing
b) Eating bonbons
c) Trying to remember what she was supposed to be doing…

Answers:

1) b Both girls are now at the same school, a fact which delights Madilyn. Sarah’s staying quiet with her opinion.

2) b Madilyn is taking after her father and remains the tallest in her class. Dad is researching basketball scholarships.

3) b and 4) a Gary continues with 3M, and spends a lot of time overseeing construction of a new facility here in Minnesota. The project is slated to run into 2009, so we’re here for a while.

5) c This summer we joined the extended P--- family at the cabin in Scofield over the 4th of July. Madilyn was in heaven, having lots of cousins for company, and discovering a knack for fishing – she caught 4 rainbow trout, while her Dad only netted two!

6) d Madilyn played both soccer and t-ball this summer, took swimming lessons, and recently got an outdoor basketball hoop that she loves! She wants me to tell you that she also loves art.

7) a This past summer, Sarah was in a recreational program with an aide who helped her have a fun, active summer. True to the name, every day included some type of physical workout, such as laps in the pool, bike riding, dog walking (the aide’s dogs), or playground time. It really pushed Sarah, who responded wonderfully. Sarah continues to make steady progress with the help of her “people” – teachers, therapists, and aides who are a great blessing to her and to us.

8) b Rising gasoline prices encouraged Gary to get his motorcycle license. If the weather was nice, he’d ride his 1981 Honda motorcycle to work. Choice “c” – the new car, is actually Mom’s dream – emphasis on “dream”…

9) d and 10) c That’s just life with kids!

Merry Christmas to all! We love you and miss you.

How Curious!

Went to the Children's Museum with the kids today. They really enjoyed the Curious George exhibit. At the rocket, there was a kiosk where you could type in your email and they would send you a shot of your child in the rocket. Here they are!