Playing with Fire

So I just spent the last 15 minutes in the bathroom with my youngest, literally playing with fire.  More accurately, I was teaching her the safe way to light a match.  Included were topics like proper lit match angle (anyone who's held a lit match point down for a few seconds knows what I'm talking about...), relative flammability (counter versus tissue - that was a fun demo), and how to properly dispose of hot matches.  She has additional safety concerns with that long hair, so we covered all of that.

Turns out she had experimented a bit on her own, but realized she was in over her head, and asked for help learning how to light a candle.  We talked about how dangerous it can be to try it without an adult, and how she can always come to us if she wants to try.  We would really rather that she not burn the house down.

She's gotten to the point where she doesn't freak out when the match is lit (the first time she successfully lit a match she was so shocked she threw it in the air, at me) and can actually hold the flaming match for a while before blowing it out.

So many parenting things that I just. never. thought. I. would. teach!  But, better me than a fellow 9 year old.

It seems to be working...

So, after initial concerns that the Antivert wasn't having any effect, it actually does seem to work, with a large enough dose.  The prescription is written for 1-2 pills every 4 hours as needed, but the doctor told me that I can go up to 4 pills every 4 hours.

On Friday, I gave her two to start, and after an hour there was no effect, so I gave her a third.  That seemed to do the trick!  Saturday, she took 3 pills in the morning, but didn't need any additional doses throughout the day.  Today, Sunday, she said that there wasn't any dizziness and she didn't need them.  It's the first day she hasn't been lightheaded since early February.

I've definitely noticed an improvement in her cognition; she's able to remember things and function much better.  That's a huge relief!

Princesses from the Past

A friend posted these pics on Facebook last month, and I just downloaded them.  Can't believe how young and adorable they look... where have my babies gone?  I'm guessing these are from 2006...

Looking out for me...

The fraud department at Bank of America just called me to verify that my card number hadn't been stolen.  Seems that in the past week, someone's made big purchases at TempurPedic, Pottery Barn, the Apple Store, and Amazon.

Guilty!

Poor Gary, he's not handling this well.  He says he understands our arrangement - he makes the money, I spend it - but I think he forgets how powerfully good I can be on my end of the deal.  :)

iOrdered it!

March 11, 2011 - before my feet even hit the ground after waking up, I had my iPhone in hand, ordering the new iPad 2.  Ended up switching to the macbook, since I needed Sarah to choose the cover color, but had the thing ordered ASAP.  Still, they are quoting a 5-7 business day delivery - not quick enough for someone with autism (or their overly eager mother).  I should have set my alarm for 2am and ordered it as soon as they went on sale - those people got a 2 day delivery.  You snooze, you lose (3-5 days!)

Medical Update

So, unfortunately, the lightheadedness continues, and every day, my daughter asks to stay home because her head feels so bad. Unfortunately, we have no idea what brought this on, or how to fix it.  It's been going on since the beginning of February.  The only event that might have triggered it was a cold, and not even a bad one!

I spoke with the doctor yesterday, and he recommended (1) continuing to super-hydrate (which has helped to eliminate the black spots blocking her vision), (2) vestibular rehab, and (3) starting her on Antivert, an antihistamine that combats dizziness and nausea.

Today we started the Antivert, and I will start calling around about advanced vestibular rehab.  Madi's OT has minimal experience with it, and is doing the best she can, but did mention some other clinics that might be able to better assist her.  Just what our family needs - another therapist!  But, of course I will do what is necessary to help my daughter get her head on straight...  :)

Thank you for all the concern, prayers, and well wishes.

Monster Blood

Madilyn has recently taken a liking to the R.L. Stein "Goosebumps" series.  Her latest read was "Monster Blood".

Something scary is happening in GOOSEBUMPS HORRORLAND, the all-new, all-terrifying series by R. L. Stine. Just how scary? You'll never know unless you crack open this classic prequel!
Evan visits an eerie old toy store and buys a dusty can of Monster Blood. But then he notices something weird about the slimy green ooze. It keeps growing. And growing. And growing.

And all that growing has given the Monster Blood a monstrous appetite. . . .

Can I just say that this is the girl who still gets scared during tense scenes in PG movies?  But, she really seems to love these books, and I know that they're a grade-school staple.  So, I just smile indulgently when she shows me her latest read...

Back to our story.  The book shown above comes with a recipe for Monster Blood in the back, and Madi had her heart set on trying it out.  She's been pestering me to buy Jell-O (ugh) so that she could make some.  I finally did, and here's the story of our laboratory experiment:

Here's Madi adding the green food coloring after smashing up the blue Jell-O.

The finished product.

Monster Blood - in a glass.  Aren't the blue chunks appealing?

Ready to sample some Monster Blood.

The face of horror afterwards, because the stuff tasted horrific!

We ended up sending the Monster Blood down the drain, because neither one of us could take more than a sip without wanting to gag.  I guess I shouldn't have expected smashed Berry Blue Jell-O floating in apple juice to taste good...

But now the Monster Blood is snaking its way through the sewers, free to terrorize another hapless family... will you be safe?   BWAHH HAA HAA!