On A Life Less Perfect: Don't Let the Name Fool Ya

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Don't Let the Name Fool Ya

Winter storm Nemo proved he has a few teeth. He packed a powerful punch to the Boston area. There is a travel ban still in effect for today, as the state does its best to clear the slippery roads.

The storm proved to be one of the top five snow makers in Boston history, but still fell short of the Blizzard of '78 benchmark.

It is 1 pm and still snowing fairly heavily in our area. We have about 2 feet of snow.

We did not need to bring Nicholas to Children's at the height of the storm this time. Phew.

Here are some photos of the surrounding area.

Winthrop, one of Boston's coastal communities
Cool photo huh?

(photo from CBS Boston)

Back Bay Boston (photo WCVB)

Fellsway Split (photo WCVB)

And from the Peter's household

Back porch deck - and still snowing

Pete's van

Nicholas on the driveway

Our neighbor's cars buried in snow

View of the street

Mechanical difficulties -

Thankfully fixed with help from Weston

A handy guy to have around

This is my lilac bush

Yes, even in winter, hubby is still Plant Killer Pete !

Anyone feel like grabbing a shovel?

Stay warm, dear readers and have a nice weekend.

Prader Willi Syndrome

On January 18, 2002, our son, Nicholas was diagnosed with Prader Willi Syndrome.

PWS is a complex genetic disorder affecting the 15th chromosome. Symptoms include: low muscle tone, scoliosis, high pain tolerance, lack of fever, difficulty regulating body temperature, hypothyroidism, incomplete development, lack of vomiting reflex, behavioral and cognitive challenges, seizures and a bizarre and life threatening uncontrollable appetite.

There is currently no treatment available to assist individuals diagnosed with PWS in controlling their hunger. In most cases, cabinets and refrigerators must be locked to secure food access.

For more information about PWS, please visit http://www.pwsausa.org/.

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.

-A. A. Milne

ADHD

As Russell A. Barkley, PhD describes: ADHD or Attention Defficit and Hyperactivity disorder is a developmental disorder of self control. It conists of problems with attention span, impulse control, and activity level.

It is not as some books will tell you, just a matter of being inattentive and overactive. It is not just a temporary state that will be outgrown, a trying but normal phase of childhood. It is not caused by parental failure to discipline or control the child, it is not a sign of some sort of inherent "badness" in the child.

ADHD is real-a real disorder, a real problem, and often a real obstacle. It can be heartbreaking and nerve-wracking living with this disorder.

For more information about ADHD, please visit: http://www.chadd.org/

The wonderful thing about Tiggers
Are Tiggers are wonderful things
Their tops are made out of rubber
Their bottoms are made out of springs
They're bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy
Fun, fun, fun, fun, Fun!
But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers
Is I'm the only one. Yes, I'm the only one.

-A. A. Milne

Dementia

Dementia is a loss of brain funtion that occurs with certain diseases. It affects memory, thinking, judgement, language and behavior.

Early symptoms:
* Forgeting familiar objects
* Getting lost on familiar routes
* Personality changes
* Losing interest in things
* Difficulty performing complex tasks

As Dementia Worsens:
* Forgeting details of current events
* Forgeting events from your own life
* Change in sleep patterns
* Difficulty reading or writing
* Withdrawing from social contact
* Striking out, violent behavior
* Depression, agitation, anxiety

Severe Dementia- Can No Longer:
* Understand language
* Recognize family members
* Perform daily living activities
* Incontinence
* Swallowing problems

For more information, go to: http://www.dasninternational.org/

Memory is the treasury and guardian of all things.
-Cicero

Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.
Dalai Lama

One of the advantages of being disorganized is that one is always having surprising discoveries.
A. A. Milne

A day wasted on others is not wasted on one's self.
Charles Dickens

Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle.
Lewis Carroll

Remember not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
Dalai Lama

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein

The only way we can be there for our children is to be there for ourselves.

They can conquer who believe they can.

The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.
Winston Churchill

Eating words has never given me indigestion.
Winston Churchill

There is nothing in this world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.
Charles Dickens

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.
Albert Einstein

You cannot slay the dragon every day, some days the dragon wins.
Colin Powell

Our Journey Raising Two Children with Special Needs

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Don't Let the Name Fool Ya