Noah got his report card on Friday and I am one proud mamma. He did fabulous. He is consistently exceeding all expectations-only on one occasion did he simply meet the goal (not exceed it) and that was because he got a 2 out of a possible 2. Behavior and Social Growth went from many "some of the time(s)" to ALL "most of the time(s)". Notes read, "Noah is doing wonderfully! He is meeting or exceeding expectations in reading, math and writing. He does a great job on all his work. He listens and participates in class. He is a pleasure to have in class!"
Joe and I continue to always believe in our Noah and see the sky is the limit. He is a smarty pants and I couldn't be prouder.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
i heart orca whales.
Another trainer dead. Not too surprising.
Anyone that knows me well knows how I feel about Seaworld. I haven't been there in about 10 years and it was 10 years ago that I realized why I could never go again. It is easy to see the animals are used in a circus-like manner with little to no regard for their well being. Although there are some rehab programs for some injured sealife, it is primarily a place that captures beautiful sea creatures and keeps them in captivity for entertainment and profit.
Some say "the animals love it-- they get to play all day and don't have to look for food." Any educated person knows better. This could not be further from the truth especially when talking about dolphins and orca (killer) whales. Whales are complex and very intelligent creatures. They swim 50-100 miles per day in the ocean. They spend their entire lives with their family and they enjoy looking for food. In a tank they do not use any of their senses and they become what many to believe is depressed and stressed.
Did you know?
Anyone that knows me well knows how I feel about Seaworld. I haven't been there in about 10 years and it was 10 years ago that I realized why I could never go again. It is easy to see the animals are used in a circus-like manner with little to no regard for their well being. Although there are some rehab programs for some injured sealife, it is primarily a place that captures beautiful sea creatures and keeps them in captivity for entertainment and profit.
Some say "the animals love it-- they get to play all day and don't have to look for food." Any educated person knows better. This could not be further from the truth especially when talking about dolphins and orca (killer) whales. Whales are complex and very intelligent creatures. They swim 50-100 miles per day in the ocean. They spend their entire lives with their family and they enjoy looking for food. In a tank they do not use any of their senses and they become what many to believe is depressed and stressed.
Did you know?
- Orca whales in captivity often develop pathologies, such as the dorsal fin collapse seen in 60–90% of captive males. This is their beautiful, high fin all flopped over when in captivity. You rarely see this in the wild.
- Captive orca whales have vastly reduced life expectancies, on average only living 10-20 years. In the wild, females can live 70-80 years and males can live 50-60 years.
- Captive life is stressful due to small tanks, false social groupings and chemically altered water. Captive killer whales occasionally act aggressively towards themselves, their tankmates, or humans, which critics say is a result of stress.
- Orcas live in small pods of 5-30 whales; they are very social animals. The bonds between the close-knit members of orca pods are strong and last for life. This is why many believe the whales become so "depressed" in captivity. They are unable to swim the hundreds of miles they normally would swim in one day and they miss their family that they swim with for life.
The Humane Society of the United States and the World Society for the Protection of Animals say in their report "The Case Against Marine Animals in Captivity," captivity causes marine mammals to lose their natural feeding and foraging behaviors. Captivity also changes their social behaviors. The report explains, "Stress-related conditions such as ulcers, stereotypical behaviors including pacing and self-mutilation, and abnormal aggression in groups frequently develop in predators denied the opportunity to forage. Other natural behaviors, such as those associated with dominance, mating, and maternal care, are altered in captivity, which can have a substantially negative impact on the animals." Animals that are normally peaceful in their natural environment can become violent when confined.
"In some ways, the lives of marine mammals in captivity are less stressful than in the wild. Having little or no stress, however, can actually be stressful---just as with humans. Imagine what it would be like if you lived in a small, dark room with nothing to do. You might be physically comfortable, but you wouldn't get to smell all the smells of the outdoors, of different foods cooking or of different environments. You couldn't go for a hike and wonder what was just around the next bend. You wouldn't be able to surf the Web and learn interesting things about other species. You would surely become extremely stressed out. Our minds like to have some problems to solve, and new information to process. Orcas (or "killer whales") are the same. We have much more in common with other species than we often realize, and as Rose says, relating to orcas is pretty commonsensical. Because they rely on their echo-location, she says, they are used to processing a great deal of sound. When they are kept in an aquarium, they have no variety and no reason to use their echo-location. For them, it is like being kept in a small, dark box. Orcas in captivity are bored, and it has an effect on their health, just as it would for a human."
It is baffling to me how anyone can support these places and encourage the captivity of these beautiful creatures. My children will never see Seaworld. Because if it's my job to teach them compassion for others, taking them would simply make me a hypocrite. They do not need to see a whale doing a circus act (don't get me started on the circus) to learn about it.
Another trainer has died and Seaworld is again saying "we can't believe this happened." Of course this happened! They are KILLER whales that are stressed and frustrated by their man-made environment!! Seaworld will not stop on their own-- this poor whale is back to his "show" starting today. The only thing that will make this circus show stop is the public refusing to buy tickets. By buying tickets you are supporting the abuse of these whales. It's as simple as that.
References: ehow, wikipedia, humane society, orca network, national geographic
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
happy birthday to my beautiful boy.
My baby is seven today. My littlest miracle.
I still cannot talk about this day seven years ago without a lump in my throat. I cannot imagine my life without him. And I cannot imagine what he would have been like had he been full-term. Joe and I talk about it sometimes. And we both agree that maybe if he was full term he would be a different kid. He is so funny and so literal. And his memory is unimaginable. His excitement and shyness when he grabs his glasses. His gallop. His laugh (even the fake one) is my most favorite sound. I just can't begin to understand how he would be if he acted and talked like everyone else. He's just so perfect the way he is.
February 17, 2003-- during the biggest snow storm I had seen in Ohio, my tiny baby Noah was born. And behind that big, dark NICU cloud is still the same joy every parent feels... the eternal gratitude that this unique, lovely being was brought to me.
Happy birthday sweet Noah. Momma loves you.
I still cannot talk about this day seven years ago without a lump in my throat. I cannot imagine my life without him. And I cannot imagine what he would have been like had he been full-term. Joe and I talk about it sometimes. And we both agree that maybe if he was full term he would be a different kid. He is so funny and so literal. And his memory is unimaginable. His excitement and shyness when he grabs his glasses. His gallop. His laugh (even the fake one) is my most favorite sound. I just can't begin to understand how he would be if he acted and talked like everyone else. He's just so perfect the way he is.
February 17, 2003-- during the biggest snow storm I had seen in Ohio, my tiny baby Noah was born. And behind that big, dark NICU cloud is still the same joy every parent feels... the eternal gratitude that this unique, lovely being was brought to me.
Happy birthday sweet Noah. Momma loves you.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Shameful.
I feel so blessed that this did not happen to us and I welled up as I read it. Some are uneducated, some are insensitive. And unfortunately it's a frustrating, but common, experience as a parent of a boy with disabilities. Bravo to this dad!
From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Just when I thought I was out of the Transportation Security Administration business for a few columns, they pull me back in.
Did you hear about the Camden cop whose disabled son wasn't allowed to pass through airport security unless he took off his leg braces?
Unfortunately, it's no joke. This happened to Bob Thomas, a 53-year-old officer in Camden's emergency crime suppression team, who was flying to Orlando in March with his wife, Leona, and their son, Ryan.
Ryan was taking his first flight, to Walt Disney World, for his fourth birthday.
The boy is developmentally delayed, one of the effects of being born 16 weeks prematurely. His ankles are malformed and his legs have low muscle tone. In March he was just starting to walk.
Mid-morning on March 19, his parents wheeled his stroller to the TSA security point, a couple of hours before their Southwest Airlines flight was to depart.
The boy's father broke down the stroller and put it on the conveyor belt as Leona Thomas walked Ryan through the metal detector.
The alarm went off.
The screener told them to take off the boy's braces.
The Thomases were dumbfounded. "I told them he can't walk without them on his own," Bob Thomas said.
"He said, 'He'll need to take them off.' "
Ryan's mother offered to walk him through the detector after they removed the braces, which are custom-made of metal and hardened plastic.
No, the screener replied. The boy had to walk on his own.
Leona Thomas said she was calm. Bob Thomas said he was starting to burn.
They complied, and Leona went first, followed by Ryan, followed by Bob, so the boy wouldn't be hurt if he fell. Ryan made it through.
By then, Bob Thomas was furious. He demanded to see a supervisor. The supervisor asked what was wrong.
"I told him, 'This is overkill. He's 4 years old. I don't think he's a terrorist.' "
The supervisor replied, "You know why we're doing this," Thomas said.
Thomas said he told the supervisor he was going to file a report, and at that point the man turned and walked away.
A Philadelphia police officer approached and asked what the problem was. Thomas said he identified himself and said he was a Camden officer. The Philadelphia officer suggested he calm down and enjoy his vacation.
Back home in Glassboro a week later, Bob Thomas called the airport manager and left her what he calls a terse message.
He was still angry enough last week to call me after I'd written a couple of columns about travelers' complaints of mistreatment by screeners at the airport.
"This was just stupid," he told me.
At the very least, it was not standard procedure.
On Friday, TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said the boy never should have been told to remove his braces.
TSA policy should have allowed the parents to help the boy to a private screening area where he could have been swabbed for traces of explosive materials.
She said she wished Thomas had reported the matter to TSA immediately. "If screening is not properly done, we need to go back to that officer and offer retraining so it's corrected."
Davis also said TSA's security director at the airport, Bob Ellis, called Thomas last week to apologize. He gave Thomas the name of the agency's customer service representative, in case he has a problem at the airport in the future.
Afterward, Thomas said he appreciated Ellis' call. He said he had no interest in pursuing the matter further or in filing a lawsuit.
"I'm just looking for things to be done right," he said. "And I just want to make sure this isn't done to anyone else. Just abide by your standard operating procedures."
-Written by Daniel Rubin
From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Just when I thought I was out of the Transportation Security Administration business for a few columns, they pull me back in.
Did you hear about the Camden cop whose disabled son wasn't allowed to pass through airport security unless he took off his leg braces?
Unfortunately, it's no joke. This happened to Bob Thomas, a 53-year-old officer in Camden's emergency crime suppression team, who was flying to Orlando in March with his wife, Leona, and their son, Ryan.
Ryan was taking his first flight, to Walt Disney World, for his fourth birthday.
The boy is developmentally delayed, one of the effects of being born 16 weeks prematurely. His ankles are malformed and his legs have low muscle tone. In March he was just starting to walk.
Mid-morning on March 19, his parents wheeled his stroller to the TSA security point, a couple of hours before their Southwest Airlines flight was to depart.
The boy's father broke down the stroller and put it on the conveyor belt as Leona Thomas walked Ryan through the metal detector.
The alarm went off.
The screener told them to take off the boy's braces.
The Thomases were dumbfounded. "I told them he can't walk without them on his own," Bob Thomas said.
"He said, 'He'll need to take them off.' "
Ryan's mother offered to walk him through the detector after they removed the braces, which are custom-made of metal and hardened plastic.
No, the screener replied. The boy had to walk on his own.
Leona Thomas said she was calm. Bob Thomas said he was starting to burn.
They complied, and Leona went first, followed by Ryan, followed by Bob, so the boy wouldn't be hurt if he fell. Ryan made it through.
By then, Bob Thomas was furious. He demanded to see a supervisor. The supervisor asked what was wrong.
"I told him, 'This is overkill. He's 4 years old. I don't think he's a terrorist.' "
The supervisor replied, "You know why we're doing this," Thomas said.
Thomas said he told the supervisor he was going to file a report, and at that point the man turned and walked away.
A Philadelphia police officer approached and asked what the problem was. Thomas said he identified himself and said he was a Camden officer. The Philadelphia officer suggested he calm down and enjoy his vacation.
Back home in Glassboro a week later, Bob Thomas called the airport manager and left her what he calls a terse message.
He was still angry enough last week to call me after I'd written a couple of columns about travelers' complaints of mistreatment by screeners at the airport.
"This was just stupid," he told me.
At the very least, it was not standard procedure.
On Friday, TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said the boy never should have been told to remove his braces.
TSA policy should have allowed the parents to help the boy to a private screening area where he could have been swabbed for traces of explosive materials.
She said she wished Thomas had reported the matter to TSA immediately. "If screening is not properly done, we need to go back to that officer and offer retraining so it's corrected."
Davis also said TSA's security director at the airport, Bob Ellis, called Thomas last week to apologize. He gave Thomas the name of the agency's customer service representative, in case he has a problem at the airport in the future.
Afterward, Thomas said he appreciated Ellis' call. He said he had no interest in pursuing the matter further or in filing a lawsuit.
"I'm just looking for things to be done right," he said. "And I just want to make sure this isn't done to anyone else. Just abide by your standard operating procedures."
-Written by Daniel Rubin
Friday, February 12, 2010
15 days.
I remember last spring, right before school got out, I got into an altercation with Noah's school PT. It was outside the school. She had escorted him out, because she couldn't handle him. It made no sense to me at first. Then she explained how she hadn't given him choices, how when he broke down she threatened him and then he still didn't listen. It was clear that it wasn't him, but her not knowing how to work with him and knowing when to make accommodations. But it wasn't until I disagreed with her that the p*ssing match that started with my son finished with me. She said that Noah would not fit in a typical classroom (which was where he was headed the following year) and that it would take "them" about 15 days to figure it out and pull him. Some may remember me blogging about this person who still lives vividly in my mind.
Today was the 105th day of school. Noah is still in his typical classroom. He is thriving. He took assessments a couple weeks ago and tested second highest in the class. He is in the highest reading group. His biggest weakness is writing (due to fine motor troubles) and even that is now on par with his peers. He is becoming more social making progress in every area. I know this is partially because he is in a classroom that challenges him each day with peers that he can model after.
I wish I could contact her (ok, I probably could, but Joe stops me) and tell her she's monumentally wrong. Not just for Noah. But for the many other parents that probably would have trusted her and listened to her advice; the many parents that probably do. How dare she try to lower his sky and take away his future! Thank goodness God gave me a sense of conviction, a loud voice and a ferocious inner mamma bear.
Thank God I didn't listen.
So F you Ms Droste...and your 15 days.
Today was the 105th day of school. Noah is still in his typical classroom. He is thriving. He took assessments a couple weeks ago and tested second highest in the class. He is in the highest reading group. His biggest weakness is writing (due to fine motor troubles) and even that is now on par with his peers. He is becoming more social making progress in every area. I know this is partially because he is in a classroom that challenges him each day with peers that he can model after.
I wish I could contact her (ok, I probably could, but Joe stops me) and tell her she's monumentally wrong. Not just for Noah. But for the many other parents that probably would have trusted her and listened to her advice; the many parents that probably do. How dare she try to lower his sky and take away his future! Thank goodness God gave me a sense of conviction, a loud voice and a ferocious inner mamma bear.
Thank God I didn't listen.
So F you Ms Droste...and your 15 days.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
for once.
I actually agree with the unlikeable Sarah Palin. She's right and this administration has me sick.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/02/palin-attacks-rahm-emanuel-for-using-the-word-retarded/1
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2010/02/palin-attacks-rahm-emanuel-for-using-the-word-retarded/1
Monday, February 1, 2010
out.
Been absent. blogged out I guess. Facebooked out. Stressed out. Just needed a bit of a break. As life overwhelms I either type myself to death or just walk away. This time I guess I walked. Photos are coming-- so many to upload!! In the meantime, here's an update.
I was told my 14 year old cat has cancer. After becoming hysterical and sobbing beyond recognition, I was told it was an error. She has a "fluid filled cyst." This may seem silly to some, but I was reminded how precious her life is and how I don't cherish my Daisy in the way that I should. My busy life needs to make more time for brushing and cat nip. For this, I am thankful.
It's been cooler than usual here in Florida (not that I'm complaining). But what I never anticipated with this lovely weather was how it would affect Noah's asthma. It has been so tough for him to breath. I wonder what it would be like if we lived up north. He has needed his nebulizer and puffer frequently. Typically he would only need these things if he was sick or really running around (exercise induced asthma). It has been heartbreaking-- especially because it took me over a week to figure out why he was coughing so much. :( I thought he was getting a cold-- but it was his asthma. Thankfully, we have it under control now (I think).
Reese has been on a roller coaster ride with school. Something happened in December that startled her-- a boy on the playground (go figure, right?). So she decided she never wanted to go back. I mean this literally. She would wake up crying not wanting to go. When she went, she would cry all day long. We were about to pull her out all together until we came up with a plan. We turned to the Time-Timer (timetimer.com) and it saved our lives...as it has many times. She went 30 minutes the first time, 45 the next and so on. Now, she's fine. This process took over six weeks. Exhausting.
Noah has been doing exceptional in school. He is proving each day what a bright boy he is. It is already time to meet with the principal about next year. He and I have different views about what "inclusion" is. I am fighting to keep Noah's aid. All of this is decided within the next two months.
Joe and I went to Vegas in early January. I think I'm still recovering. I'm serious.
As many know, we go to Disney a lot in the winter months. We went again last week. It was fabulous. EMPTY! It gets easier each year to take the kids. They have the park memorized...they know where they want to go and what they want to do. Reese met Princess Tiana this go round-- she LOVED it! Speaking of Tiana-- Reese went to her first movie a couple weeks ago, The Princess and the Frog. Good movie...maybe a little too much dark shadows and voo-doo for the three year old.
I have been dying over the bachelor, as always. But am coming to the sad conclusion that our bachelor, Jake, really isn't the stand-up guy we thought. So disappointing. Tonight he kicked out the virgin and kept the tramp. tisk, tisk.
The tip-toe saga continues. I say this with sadness. Reese walks on her toes. It makes me crazy. She had serial casting done in December. It was awful. The casting helped stretch her tendons in the back of her feet. It did help, but her braces didn't come in for a month (they should have been ready when the casts came off). It has been a mess getting her to wear the braces too. We met with the neurologist (Noah's doc-- he's fabulous) and he said she appeared to look fine, but wanted to run some tests. He ordered bloodwork and said if it comes back normal that he would not want to see her again. We got the call today that he want's to see her. We are not sure what this means and I am trying to remain calm.
Joe got me tickets to U2 in Miami this summer. Can't wait. Bon Jovi coming up. Can't wait. And we got tickets to Wicked this month. Can't wait. :)
My baby turns 7 on the 17th of this month. We are doing the bowling party. I can't wait-- he is so excited to bowl. I just can't believe my little toothless man is going to be seven. I can't believe it's been seven years since I camped out in that NICU. Time flies. it really, really does.
A goodbye and a hello in our family. RIP Honda Accord. Hello Acura TL with crazy horse power :)
More to come...with photos. :)
I was told my 14 year old cat has cancer. After becoming hysterical and sobbing beyond recognition, I was told it was an error. She has a "fluid filled cyst." This may seem silly to some, but I was reminded how precious her life is and how I don't cherish my Daisy in the way that I should. My busy life needs to make more time for brushing and cat nip. For this, I am thankful.
It's been cooler than usual here in Florida (not that I'm complaining). But what I never anticipated with this lovely weather was how it would affect Noah's asthma. It has been so tough for him to breath. I wonder what it would be like if we lived up north. He has needed his nebulizer and puffer frequently. Typically he would only need these things if he was sick or really running around (exercise induced asthma). It has been heartbreaking-- especially because it took me over a week to figure out why he was coughing so much. :( I thought he was getting a cold-- but it was his asthma. Thankfully, we have it under control now (I think).
Reese has been on a roller coaster ride with school. Something happened in December that startled her-- a boy on the playground (go figure, right?). So she decided she never wanted to go back. I mean this literally. She would wake up crying not wanting to go. When she went, she would cry all day long. We were about to pull her out all together until we came up with a plan. We turned to the Time-Timer (timetimer.com) and it saved our lives...as it has many times. She went 30 minutes the first time, 45 the next and so on. Now, she's fine. This process took over six weeks. Exhausting.
Noah has been doing exceptional in school. He is proving each day what a bright boy he is. It is already time to meet with the principal about next year. He and I have different views about what "inclusion" is. I am fighting to keep Noah's aid. All of this is decided within the next two months.
Joe and I went to Vegas in early January. I think I'm still recovering. I'm serious.
As many know, we go to Disney a lot in the winter months. We went again last week. It was fabulous. EMPTY! It gets easier each year to take the kids. They have the park memorized...they know where they want to go and what they want to do. Reese met Princess Tiana this go round-- she LOVED it! Speaking of Tiana-- Reese went to her first movie a couple weeks ago, The Princess and the Frog. Good movie...maybe a little too much dark shadows and voo-doo for the three year old.
I have been dying over the bachelor, as always. But am coming to the sad conclusion that our bachelor, Jake, really isn't the stand-up guy we thought. So disappointing. Tonight he kicked out the virgin and kept the tramp. tisk, tisk.
The tip-toe saga continues. I say this with sadness. Reese walks on her toes. It makes me crazy. She had serial casting done in December. It was awful. The casting helped stretch her tendons in the back of her feet. It did help, but her braces didn't come in for a month (they should have been ready when the casts came off). It has been a mess getting her to wear the braces too. We met with the neurologist (Noah's doc-- he's fabulous) and he said she appeared to look fine, but wanted to run some tests. He ordered bloodwork and said if it comes back normal that he would not want to see her again. We got the call today that he want's to see her. We are not sure what this means and I am trying to remain calm.
Joe got me tickets to U2 in Miami this summer. Can't wait. Bon Jovi coming up. Can't wait. And we got tickets to Wicked this month. Can't wait. :)
My baby turns 7 on the 17th of this month. We are doing the bowling party. I can't wait-- he is so excited to bowl. I just can't believe my little toothless man is going to be seven. I can't believe it's been seven years since I camped out in that NICU. Time flies. it really, really does.
A goodbye and a hello in our family. RIP Honda Accord. Hello Acura TL with crazy horse power :)
More to come...with photos. :)
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