1.29.2007
1.28.2007
Kasey is alive
My father in law LOVES to get things for the kids that aren't age appropriate, especially if they are robots or something noisy. When Alex was 2 he got him a "Kasey the Kinderbot Toy". It was recommended for kids 3 and up, and we all thought he was nuts giving it to him. Kurt and I used to joke about Kasey coming to life and taking us all out one night while we slept. But, Alex loved Kasey more than anything. During the move from upstate NY to NJ he traveled with Kasey and Kasey was his friend. When my mother babysat him, he'd bring Kasey with him and she said it was like having 2 kids to take care of. But, she was right. Kasey was his little friend when he didn't have people friends. Because of his autism he has a hard time making friends.
Kasey even came to his 4th birthday party, shortly after we moved here.
Over time Kasey slipped quietly to the back as Alex has come out of his shell more and more. And maybe that was a good thing because he seemed to be malfunctioning. And then one day Alex found him but his batteries were dead so he couldn't play him and moved onto something else. A month or so I found Kasey and was cleaning out Alex's room and was going to throw him out (sadly) because I thought he was broken. My husband got really mad at me and wouldn't let me throw him away.
Yesterday Alex found Kasey and was really upset that he didn't work. First off his batteries were dead and had leaked acid :( Second, I really thought he was broken. He begged Kurt to take him to the store for D Batteries and I was really certain we were going to have an issue when they got home. Right away he wanted the batteries in Kasey and Kasey didn't turn on. He looked like he was going to cry. I felt like I was going to cry. Kurt was on a mission to get him working - a little bit of mussing around and cleaning off the battery terminals and Kasey is up and working. Turns out one of the cartridges we had for him was broken which was why he didn't turn on (plus the dead/leaky battery) but he seems to be alive and well. Alex is playing with him right now and is really happy about it.
Leave it to Daddy to raise the dead!
Lazy or not so lazy sunday
On the not too lazy front I went to the gym this morning and did a beginner step class. Kicked my butt a little bit.
But now I'm home and sitting on it LOL!
Kurt's at the dentist so its just me and the kids here. I'm making some homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner.
Belle is FINALLY better and back to her very cute self. The kids are pigging out on those yogurt tubes. I swear they eat enough of it I might find they've turned into one!!!
Tomorrow is some sort of professional day and Alex has NO SCHOOL!
But now I'm home and sitting on it LOL!
Kurt's at the dentist so its just me and the kids here. I'm making some homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner.
Belle is FINALLY better and back to her very cute self. The kids are pigging out on those yogurt tubes. I swear they eat enough of it I might find they've turned into one!!!
Tomorrow is some sort of professional day and Alex has NO SCHOOL!
1.24.2007
Macaroni & Cheese with Ketchup.
The princess babydoll has been sick :(
Last Tuesday I took both kids to the doctor and was told that Alex had just a cold but that Belle had bronchitis and an ear infection. They put her on a round of amoxicillin but she didn't seem to be getting any better. Coughing tons, fussy as all get out. On sunday she started throwing up. At first my husband and I both thought it was because she and Alex had raided the fridge and eaten like 1/2 a box of clementines between the two of them. She was basically pooping out orange, I know - lovely.. right? But then the throwing up continued - every time she ate anything. She could drink ok but was basically not eating :( One bite of her dinner and then she'd throw up. 2 nites in a row that coincided with the second that I was going to sit down to eat - lucky me.
The good news is that she seems to be on the up and up and actually ate some dinner. Alex had Easy Mac with ketchup, one of his favorite dinners. YUCK. Whoever thought of processing mac & cheese to the point where you just need to add water..... then he goes and adds a huge blob of ketchup on top of it and very precisely using a spoon he scoops up some macaroni and then dips the bottom of the spoon into the ketchup before putting it into his mouth. Its a bizarre ritual but its the only way he eats it!
Belle won't eat EZ-Mac and doesn't eat ketchup either. But because Alex puts it on his plate she needs to have some on her plate too. All in fairness! She tried some of the Pork Chops Italiano that I cooked up from Simply Dish and thankfully, kept it all down.
Since she was feeling a little better I got out of my house for about an hour and went over to the opening for the brand new Autism Center for Educational Services that just opened up, very closeby me in Brick NJ. I'm really pleased that something like this has opened up in the area and so close by to us. The center will be providing workshops, training, consulting, etc. I need to sit down and write down my thoughts and bullet point them so that I can meet with them about where we need help. We definitely need help for figuring out appropriate placement for next year, so getting the IEP hammered out is the big one.
Going to do a little laundry and cleaning now since the babydoll is still sleeping.
Last Tuesday I took both kids to the doctor and was told that Alex had just a cold but that Belle had bronchitis and an ear infection. They put her on a round of amoxicillin but she didn't seem to be getting any better. Coughing tons, fussy as all get out. On sunday she started throwing up. At first my husband and I both thought it was because she and Alex had raided the fridge and eaten like 1/2 a box of clementines between the two of them. She was basically pooping out orange, I know - lovely.. right? But then the throwing up continued - every time she ate anything. She could drink ok but was basically not eating :( One bite of her dinner and then she'd throw up. 2 nites in a row that coincided with the second that I was going to sit down to eat - lucky me.
The good news is that she seems to be on the up and up and actually ate some dinner. Alex had Easy Mac with ketchup, one of his favorite dinners. YUCK. Whoever thought of processing mac & cheese to the point where you just need to add water..... then he goes and adds a huge blob of ketchup on top of it and very precisely using a spoon he scoops up some macaroni and then dips the bottom of the spoon into the ketchup before putting it into his mouth. Its a bizarre ritual but its the only way he eats it!
Belle won't eat EZ-Mac and doesn't eat ketchup either. But because Alex puts it on his plate she needs to have some on her plate too. All in fairness! She tried some of the Pork Chops Italiano that I cooked up from Simply Dish and thankfully, kept it all down.
Since she was feeling a little better I got out of my house for about an hour and went over to the opening for the brand new Autism Center for Educational Services that just opened up, very closeby me in Brick NJ. I'm really pleased that something like this has opened up in the area and so close by to us. The center will be providing workshops, training, consulting, etc. I need to sit down and write down my thoughts and bullet point them so that I can meet with them about where we need help. We definitely need help for figuring out appropriate placement for next year, so getting the IEP hammered out is the big one.
Going to do a little laundry and cleaning now since the babydoll is still sleeping.
1.22.2007
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Snow today
Finally Snow!!
I can't believe that it took until January 22nd for there to be snow on the ground here. 
1.21.2007
Is there such as thing as a NO-DRAMA Mama Group?
Years ago, when my now six year old was just about a year old I joined a local Moms Club. It was a local chapter of the international organization called MOMS Club (Moms Offering Moms Support). I'd been a Stay home mom since my son was born and after a year of it I needed to meet other moms and kids. All of my friends were single, child-less, gay, or had kids that were all grown up so I desperately was seeking a peer group. At the same time I also joined a "mothers" group called Mothers & More. An internet friend had told me that perhaps M&M would be more up my alley because it was for mothers who were "transitioning" from the workplace. In other words, she felt that because I'd worked in the corporate world for about 7 years I'd relate better to some of these moms who had actually had a career path. The M&M group met in the evenings at the local hospital and I was one of the youngest mothers there. The mothers were from all over the county as opposed to right in my suburb so it was for me to find my niche/connection in the group. I decided to focus on the MOMS chapter and made what turned out to be some pretty good friends. I was active in playgroups, field-trips and was ultimately roped into being on the local Board of Directors for the group. I'm a do-er, not a sayer so this tends to happen to me.
After 2 years with the MOMS group my son received a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum. All of a sudden I felt the cold chill as my son and I entered the room or attended functions. There seemed to be a misconception that Autism was contagious or that maybe I wasn't a good mother, after all - since my son was different. At the time I was really going thru a shock of sorts and still learning about Autism and all it entails. The last thing I needed was to be surrounded by negative people so I pulled away slowly from the group. I was finally able to make a clean break when in the fall of '04 we moved from upstate NY to central NJ because of my husbands employment.
I was pregnant at the time and also had to transition my son into a new Pre-K program, which meant a lot of time sorting out the IEP as well as unpacking, doctors appointments, and learning where the grocery stores were. I met up with a few mothers of children at my son's school but didn't feel the urge to jump into the moms group arena. I searched a local chapter of MOMS and filled out the paperwork but it was probably a good 6 months or so after my daughter was born that I finally took the plunge to join. I'm still a member of this group but the few events I've attended I've not connected to more than 1 or 2 mothers. I don't know if its the 4 year gap between my two children or the fact that I have one child who is special ed and the other who is not (knock on wood), or if its my own "something" that is holding me back.
While online at a yahoogroup for Autism I decided to search for local moms groups and see what I could find. Literally like more than 50 come up for my county and surrounding area. I joined a couple and participated as I could. Some I connected with, some I didn't. The whole Moms group thing is really fascinating if you look at it from the outside. Some of the groups had over 100 members, lots of chat, not a lot of real getting together. Others were small and had lots of getting together but were not real friendly with someone coming in from the outside. One of the groups welcomed me and I was beginning to make friends but once I shared that I had a special needs child I was given a cold shoulder. Ultimately I started my own group for moms around my area in hopes of creating a warm, accepting community.
If you create it they will come. But, so will the drama. And unfortunately I let that drama get the best of my little world which was shut down in Sep '06. Out of the closure of my group, not 1 but something like 4 or 5 groups started up from different members who split off. This was really sad to me, but a new group (Jersey Shore Moms & Tots) was created and is thriving, for the most part.
After a recent dramatic episode one of my friends sent me this link entitled "Positive Energy
How to Build Vitality and Stop the Energy Vampires" . Its a good read if you have the time to click thru and read the entire thing. What I learned from this article most of all is the following:
After 2 years with the MOMS group my son received a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum. All of a sudden I felt the cold chill as my son and I entered the room or attended functions. There seemed to be a misconception that Autism was contagious or that maybe I wasn't a good mother, after all - since my son was different. At the time I was really going thru a shock of sorts and still learning about Autism and all it entails. The last thing I needed was to be surrounded by negative people so I pulled away slowly from the group. I was finally able to make a clean break when in the fall of '04 we moved from upstate NY to central NJ because of my husbands employment.
I was pregnant at the time and also had to transition my son into a new Pre-K program, which meant a lot of time sorting out the IEP as well as unpacking, doctors appointments, and learning where the grocery stores were. I met up with a few mothers of children at my son's school but didn't feel the urge to jump into the moms group arena. I searched a local chapter of MOMS and filled out the paperwork but it was probably a good 6 months or so after my daughter was born that I finally took the plunge to join. I'm still a member of this group but the few events I've attended I've not connected to more than 1 or 2 mothers. I don't know if its the 4 year gap between my two children or the fact that I have one child who is special ed and the other who is not (knock on wood), or if its my own "something" that is holding me back.
While online at a yahoogroup for Autism I decided to search for local moms groups and see what I could find. Literally like more than 50 come up for my county and surrounding area. I joined a couple and participated as I could. Some I connected with, some I didn't. The whole Moms group thing is really fascinating if you look at it from the outside. Some of the groups had over 100 members, lots of chat, not a lot of real getting together. Others were small and had lots of getting together but were not real friendly with someone coming in from the outside. One of the groups welcomed me and I was beginning to make friends but once I shared that I had a special needs child I was given a cold shoulder. Ultimately I started my own group for moms around my area in hopes of creating a warm, accepting community.
If you create it they will come. But, so will the drama. And unfortunately I let that drama get the best of my little world which was shut down in Sep '06. Out of the closure of my group, not 1 but something like 4 or 5 groups started up from different members who split off. This was really sad to me, but a new group (Jersey Shore Moms & Tots) was created and is thriving, for the most part.
After a recent dramatic episode one of my friends sent me this link entitled "Positive Energy
How to Build Vitality and Stop the Energy Vampires" . Its a good read if you have the time to click thru and read the entire thing. What I learned from this article most of all is the following:
- Take Inventory. Think about people in your life who give energy and people who drain. Specifically identify the energy vampires and begin to evaluate ones you'd like to limit contact with or eliminate. Plan at least one complete afternoon with people who give off positive energy and avoid drainers. Notice how this beneficially affects your physical and emotional well-being.
I had an amazing weekend with my kids and my husband, even though my daughter has bronchitis, an ear infection and has thrown up 4 times over the last 24 hours.
I've taken my inventory!
1.20.2007
GFCF Index
So is it really Gluten Free? Hidden Offenders (Rice Dream and Wellshire Chicken)
GFCF Gluten & Casein Free Thanksgiving
On Thanksgiving, and my now GFCF child
GFCF & Gluten Free Thanksgiving Tips, Menus, and Recipes
GFCF Goes to a Birthday Party:
http://www.bonbongazette.com/2008/11/gfcf-goes-to-birthday-party.html
GFCF Fast Food: Are French Fries Safe?
http://www.bonbongazette.com/2008/11/gfcf-fast-food-are-french-fries-safe.html
The Search for the perfect GF/CF Chicken Nugget
How to Have a Gluten & Casein Free Halloween
Go read the whole series but if you just pick one:
The Search for the perfect GF/CF Chicken Nugget
GFCF Food Reviews
GFCF Gluten & Casein Free Thanksgiving
On Thanksgiving, and my now GFCF child
GFCF & Gluten Free Thanksgiving Tips, Menus, and Recipes
GFCF Goes to a Birthday Party:
http://www.bonbongazette.com/2008/11/gfcf-goes-to-birthday-party.html
GFCF Fast Food: Are French Fries Safe?
http://www.bonbongazette.com/2008/11/gfcf-fast-food-are-french-fries-safe.html
The Search for the perfect GF/CF Chicken Nugget
How to Have a Gluten & Casein Free Halloween
- GF/CF Kids Can Enjoy Halloween Too!
- Halloween doesn’t have to be a frightening: Autism, Gluten & Casein Free treats, Sensory Issues & other demons in the dark
Cooking with Kids! Gluten & Casein Free
GFCF Easy Blueberry & Pineapple Cake (Dumpcake)
GFCF Peach Crisp
Go read the whole series but if you just pick one:
GFCF Food Reviews
- GFCF Food Review Index
- The Good:
- So Delicious Dairy Free Coconut Milk Yogurt from Turtle Mountain
- Pamela's Luscious Chocolate Cake Mix
Pamela's Incredible Chocolate Chunk Cookie Mix
Pamela's Irresistable Chocolate Brownie Mix
Glutino Pizza Crusts
EnviroKidz Organic Gluten Free Peanut Butter Panda Puffs Cereal
EnviroKidz Organic Gorilla Munch Gluten Free Cereal
Glutino Pretzel Twists
Glutino Pretzel Sticks
Ancient Harvest Quinoa Elbow Macaroni
Tinkyada Brown Rice Spaghetti
Real Foods Organic Corn Thins Flax & Soy - Gluten Free
Orgran Outback Chocolate Animal Cookies
Glutino Brown Rice Macaroni
Vance's DariFree Chocolate
Enjoy Life Foods - "No Oats" Oatmeal Cookies
Glutino Cinnamon & Raisin Bread
Nana's Lemon Dreams Cookie Bites - Ian's Alphatots
- The bad:
Ener-G Foods Brown Rice Yeast Free, Wheat Free, Gluten Free Bread
Glutino Chocolate Breakfast Bars
Glutano Pasta Animal Shapes - The Just OK:
CherryBrook Kitchen Wheat Free/Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Mix
Glutino Apple Breakfast Bars
Enjoy Life Snack Bar Caramel Apple - gluten free & nut free
Envirokidz Gluten Free Vanilla Animal Cookies
Search Engine.. to support Autism charity
There is a search engine out now that when you use it, a donation is made to charity. My six year old son has mild autism and a charity that I recommend is Autism Speaks.
GoodSearch is a Yahoo! powered search engine that donates 50% of its
revenue to the charities its users designate. Each time you search using
GoodSearch.com, the site donates a penny to a nonprofit, charity or school of
your choice.
Vaccination Choice
Vaccination Choice - My Story, Alex's Story, Our Story
Article about us in the Paper: (GMNews)
Parents fight for vaccination choice Citizens seek conscientious objection option in New Jersey BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer
http://ems.gmnews.com/news/2008/1022/front_page/020.html
http://www.noonehastodietomorrow.com/eugenics/vaccines/552-552
http://www.noonehastodietomorrow.com/eugenics/vaccines/552-552
Welcome to New Jersey... Got Shots? An article I wrote for the New Jersey Moms Blog. See the Shirts here: Got Shots?
Vaccines - Know the Hidden Dangers - Guest Blog Post
Our Story: A sticky subject: Vaccines
Middletown NJ Rally - Louise Habakus Quo
You Tubed Vax Choice Video (no sound)
Our Story - Vaccination Choice Video (Photobucket Remix)
Vaccines - Know the Hidden Dangers - Guest Blog Post
Our Story: A sticky subject: Vaccines
Middletown NJ Rally - Louise Habakus Quo
You Tubed Vax Choice Video (no sound)
Our Story - Vaccination Choice Video (Photobucket Remix)
Speaking to Gov. Corzine about Vaccine Mandates
Newsworthy Friday - Obama, Bon Jovi, Vaccination, Tropical Storm Hanna and a plane on the GSP
More of my thoughts about Vaccines
McCain vs Obama on Vaccinations
USA = United States of Autism?
Tell Me Where You Stand on Vaccination Choice - My stance on Flu Shot
Amanda Peet vs Jenny McCarthy & The Faces of Vaccine Injury
Faces of Vaccine Injury Video
Vaccination Choice on Fox and Friends & NJ the Vaccine State
Trenton Vaccination Rally 10/16/08
The Children of Vaccination Choice - Montage
Trenton Vaccination Choice Rally Video - My video
Vaccination Choice Rally - Our Poster
Trenton Vaccination Rally - Pictures of Signs
Trenton Vaccination Rally in Pictures
Video Montage of Rally Signs
Vaccine Nation DVD Giveaway
Gary Null has words for Corzine at Vaccine Rally
More of my thoughts about Vaccines
McCain vs Obama on Vaccinations
USA = United States of Autism?
Tell Me Where You Stand on Vaccination Choice - My stance on Flu Shot
Amanda Peet vs Jenny McCarthy & The Faces of Vaccine Injury
Faces of Vaccine Injury Video
Vaccination Choice on Fox and Friends & NJ the Vaccine State
Why the Chicken Pox Vaccine Should NOT Be Mandated
Why I'm against the H1N1 (Swine Flu) Vaccine
Trenton Vaccination Rally 10/16/08
The Children of Vaccination Choice - Montage
Trenton Vaccination Choice Rally Video - My video
Vaccination Choice Rally - Our Poster
Trenton Vaccination Rally - Pictures of Signs
Trenton Vaccination Rally in Pictures
Video Montage of Rally Signs
Vaccine Nation DVD Giveaway
Gary Null has words for Corzine at Vaccine Rally
1.19.2007
Help for NJ transplants
Ok.. so finally after almost 3 years of living in the state of New Jersey I got my M
agellan.
I asked for one when I first moved here but at the time they were somewhere over $700 dollars or more. So, for Christmas I finally got one. Its the entry level one but its great. The funny this is that my kids seem to be enjoying it just as much as I do.
http://www.epinions.com/content_307368791684
agellan.I asked for one when I first moved here but at the time they were somewhere over $700 dollars or more. So, for Christmas I finally got one. Its the entry level one but its great. The funny this is that my kids seem to be enjoying it just as much as I do.
- My 6 year old son (who has PDD-NOS) is now announcing to me. "Lets go in the car, its time for Mommy's GPS".
- He seems to think that the data entry system for my Roadmate is no different than his Leapster game . I've heard him say something along the lines of: "Its time to sign in. Enter in your name in to the GPS".
- I wish I could say that I'm the one who successfully taught him the difference between going LEFT or going RIGHT. I have to credit the Magellan with this. He's also quite versed in KEEPING TO THE LEFT or making a SLIGHT RIGHT.
- Even my almost 2 year old daughter is learning from the magellan. She told me earlier that I needed to make a "LEFT TURD". Yes, the little princess said "Turd".
http://www.epinions.com/content_307368791684
Finally doing it!!!
Ok!!! Everyone told me that I should just bite the bullet and do it. So here I am! I've started a blog. Its not the first time, but hopefully this one will be here to stay.
I've chosen the name for my blog to be the BON BON GAZETTE. This is because ever since I became a "stay at home mom" or SAHM - now more than 6 years ago, its been my mission to debunk the SAHM myth that we just sit around all day watching soap operas and eating bon bons. Of course, maybe some SAHMs DO this. For those that do.. wow, it must get boring.
Me, on the other hand. I spend my days chasing my almost 2 year old daughter - who happens to be a tiny princess and a drama queen (she gets both from me, I freely admit) and enjoying my 6 year old son who is currently a kindergartner and 5 million times smarter than I am.
In my down time I do have a few hobbies as well as my own business, so unfortunately I have no time to sit and watch soap operas. And since I joined the gym, I'll have to let someone else eat the bon bons for now.
I've chosen the name for my blog to be the BON BON GAZETTE. This is because ever since I became a "stay at home mom" or SAHM - now more than 6 years ago, its been my mission to debunk the SAHM myth that we just sit around all day watching soap operas and eating bon bons. Of course, maybe some SAHMs DO this. For those that do.. wow, it must get boring.
Me, on the other hand. I spend my days chasing my almost 2 year old daughter - who happens to be a tiny princess and a drama queen (she gets both from me, I freely admit) and enjoying my 6 year old son who is currently a kindergartner and 5 million times smarter than I am.
In my down time I do have a few hobbies as well as my own business, so unfortunately I have no time to sit and watch soap operas. And since I joined the gym, I'll have to let someone else eat the bon bons for now.
Contact Me
Contact Me
Feel free to leave a comment on my blog.
Email:
My email is hellokittiemama at gmail dot com.
Product Reviews & Disclosure Policy:
I am available and interested in writing and reviewing products related to autism, the gluten & casein free diet, or other relevant products. To see samples of my reviews please visit my Epinions.com profile or peruse The Bon Bon Gazette archives. I am committed to providing an honest review that is not swayed by any compensation or the monetary value of the product provided to me for reviewing. Please contact me via email to arrange for a review.
Press page for the Bon Bon Gazette located here:
http://bonbongazette.tumblr.com/
Feel free to leave a comment on my blog.
Email:
My email is hellokittiemama at gmail dot com.
Product Reviews & Disclosure Policy:
I am available and interested in writing and reviewing products related to autism, the gluten & casein free diet, or other relevant products. To see samples of my reviews please visit my Epinions.com profile or peruse The Bon Bon Gazette archives. I am committed to providing an honest review that is not swayed by any compensation or the monetary value of the product provided to me for reviewing. Please contact me via email to arrange for a review.
Press page for the Bon Bon Gazette located here:
http://bonbongazette.tumblr.com/
1.18.2007
Autism Sponsors
Support the Bon Bon Gazette by visiting our Autism Sponsors
ABA Materials: Excellent selection of ABA materials for children on the autism spectrum
Autism Asperger Publishing Company
Autism Today
Amazon.com
Materials for Autism: Popular materials for teaching children with autism and speech & language disorders
Model Me Kids: Videos For Modeling Social Skills
Natural Learning Concepts
ABA Materials: Excellent selection of ABA materials for children on the autism spectrum
Autism Asperger Publishing Company
Autism Today
Amazon.com
Materials for Autism: Popular materials for teaching children with autism and speech & language disorders
Model Me Kids: Videos For Modeling Social Skills
Model Me Kids - Social Skills Videos
Natural Learning Concepts
1.17.2007
Gluten Free Sponsors
Support the Bon Bon Gazette Gluten Free Sponsors
Amazon.com
gfMeals.com
Glutenfree.com - your #1 source for everything gluten-free. Over 650 products available!
Gluten-Free Mall
Gluten-Free-Online
Amazon.com
gfMeals.com
Glutenfree.com - your #1 source for everything gluten-free. Over 650 products available!
Gluten-Free Mall
Gluten-Free-Online
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