Kiss The Fiddler

Ramblings, moments of humor, random thoughts, experiences, insights, simple wisdom, and whatever else I feel like sharing.

Friday, May 31, 2013

Raise Awareness and Earn an iPad for Luken

By now, you (my readers) know that my sweet little boy has Autism.  He is making great strides in learning and communication.  Luken never ceases to amaze me.  He's scary smart and growing fast.  He will start Kindergarten in the fall!  Can you believe it?  

Anyway, I've seen many cases where children with Autism flourish when they have use of an iPad.  It helps them learn to communicate in ways that they couldn't before.  It opens more doors of opportunity for these amazing kids.  There is something about the iPad/user interface that does things that other tablets cannot.  I want that for Luken. 

I found a program at The Puzzling Piece that lets me earn an iPad for Luken.  You can help.  Please visit www.thepuzzlingplace.com and click on the "products" tab at the top of the page.  Then click on the "iPad Challenge Pieces" tab.  From there, you can shop several different pieces of unique jewelry.  If you order one, there will be a space under the picture of the piece for the challenger's name.  That's where you type my name (Heidi Kestrel) so that I get credit for that sale and Luken gets one step closer to an iPad.  When  I get 60 sales from the "iPad Challenge Pieces", Luken will receive his iPad.  

As of this morning, I had 4 sales to my credit.  I have 56 more to go.  So, please, if you'd like to sport a piece of Autism Awareness jewelry, consider buying it here.  Not only will you be raising awareness, but you'll also be helping a little boy to have an iPad.  And, if jewelry just isn't your thing, then please share this blog posting with your friends and co-workers.  It really does take a village to raise a child today.  You're part of my village.  Part of Luken's village.  This is something easy to do that will help a lot. 

Thank you!

hbk

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Boundaries

The boundaries I set aren't meant to define how you behave.  They are meant to guide me in choosing how I respond.

hbk

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Correction

It's planting season.  We've planted squash.  Lots of squash.

My wife has said, "We're gonna have squash coming out of our ears!"

Luken quickly corrected her.  "No, Mom.  Squash won't come out of our ears.  It will only come out of our butts.  And only if we eat it first."

Future scientist?

hbk

Calm

It started raining last night.  It rained much of the night.  It's raining off and on this morning.  And I love it.  It brings calm to my heart.  It reminds me to stop whatever it is I'm rushing to do and take some deep breaths.

Today I will do my best to remain calm and peaceful.  I will strive to gently guide my child through his day, reaching always toward positives and success for him.  I will wrap myself around his small body and lead him toward the quiet places I know he must have within him.  It's hard to remember that sometimes.

Right now, at this moment, I'm sitting on my bed writing this and Luken is in the bathtub.  I hear a constant stream of his verbal froth in the high squeaky voice he uses when he's stimming.  He's playing with monster trucks in the bath.  "Ac-tek, ac-tek, ac-tek, wooo, woo, wooo, wooo."  Over and over again.  He's found a groove that works for him.

I am coming to learn that grooves that work for Luken look strange to many folks.  I used to be more concerned about it than I am now.  When he finds a comfortable space for his body and brain, I try to be grateful for it, not to change it into something that might seem more socially acceptable.  It's a learning process.

I love my son.  We're going to have a great day together.  I just know we are.

hbk

Monday, May 27, 2013

hangin'

I haven't posted much lately.  It's not that I don't have anything to say.  I have lots to say.  I sort of don't know how to say it.  When I don't post much, it usually means that my inside world is too busy for me to write.  Please hang in there with me.

hbk

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Early Morning Streaker

What must our neighbours think?  Oy . . .

This morning, as I was in my room getting dressed, I noticed that the school bus was coming down our street to pick up the little neighbour boy.  I ducked out of site of the window in order to keep things appropriate.

Just then, I hear the front door open and Luken yells, "Hey!"  And then, slam.  I peek out the window to see him racing naked across our front lawn.

The bus stops in front of the neighbour's house.  The little boy loads up.  Luken persists, "Hey!  Hey!  Hi!  I'm saying hi to you!".

From the window, I holler, "Luken, come inside right now!  Luken, remember your privacy!  Luken, stop!"  At the same time, I'm furiously trying to get dressed so I can chase him.

He's not having it.  He runs all the way to the street.  Close enough that the bus has to stop to ensure his safety.  All the occupants wave at him.

Satisfied, he turns around and ambles back into the house.

Oy . . .  my kid.

hbk

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Wet

Spring is supposed to be wet, right?  Yes. 

But not in the basement!  

The pressure thank that supplies our faucets with water has worn out.  And the constant flux in pressure has caused a leak in the flexi-pipe connecting the pressure tank to the main pipe that feeds the faucets.  I knew there was a tiny leak.  I went to check it today and found water all over the floor about 3 feet into the room from the corner closet that houses the pressure tank.  Not good.  It's in our library.  

We shut everything off and our neighbor helped us figure out how to drain the tank so it stopped dumping water onto the floor (which is carpet).  Thanks, Kevin!  

Now we wait for the plumber.  He said he'd be here tomorrow.  

Damn, this is NOT what we needed to be spending money on right now.  I'm frustrated.  

But I'll get over it. 

hbk

Headache relief fund  

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Sweetest Gift


Today I was feeling kinda
down in the dumps.

I was sitting on the couch 
feeling sorry for
myself. 

I looked up
and there was my kid.
With his grimy little fist
full of flowers. 

Just for me. 

I have the best kid.

hbk



Friday, May 3, 2013

Spring rain

Today was cooler.  And breezy.  With sweet little intermittent rain showers.  The buds are getting big on our lilacs and the cherry bush next to our front steps is covered with pale pink blossoms.  It's pretty.  And covered with fat slow bumble bees.  And mean fast yellow jackets that will sting you just because they can.

It's Friday and I like that.  It's a relief to have made it through a hard week to Friday.  And then the weekend.  Whew!

Took Luken in to get updated on his imz today.  Somehow we got a little bit behind.  He got one shot today and he did very well!  He was brave.  The longer we had to wait for the nurse, the more nervous he got.  By the time they came in, he was kinda freaked out.  I think that the worse part for him was when they cleaned off his let with a cotton swab.  He was disappointed that there wasn't any blood.  He got a bling bandade.  My kid rocks!

Now, this afternoon, we're going to town for errands.  All of us.  Wish us luck.  I have a headache (duh) and kiddo gets overwhelmed by stores.  I like to think of it as an adventure.  Right?  Sure!  We're going on a family adventure.  To buy staples like cat sand, chicken, veggies. . .

Y'all have a good weekend.

hbk

Migraine Relief Fund

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Beautiful Day

Today was one of the first beautiful spring days we've had this spring.  The temperature was warm.  The sun bright, the sky clear and blue.  Perfect day for working in the garden or hiking in the woods.

I, however, spent the day in my darkened bedroom, again (or still) with a migraine.  This needs to end.  I keep saying that I'm at the end of my rope.  And then it keep going on.  And on.  And on . . .  The constant pain is exhausting.  The level of pain is scary.  There is no comfortable position.  All the time I feel like I'm about to vomit.  I swear, I want nothing more than to be able to life my life.  I want to be the mom my son needs.  I want to be the wife my spouse deserves.  I want to dig in the dirt, hike in the hills, take pictures of the sky.  I want to talk about something other than headaches and being afraid.  This is not what I signed up for.  And I do not know how to change it.

hbk

medical bill fund