Laurie

December 21, 2002

In a message dated 12/21/2002 3:04:22 AM Central Standard Time,

writes:

<< ead of small ones and set us up for failure, I am learning to slow down a

bit.Mics Dad thinks he just wanted to get out of the cart,well I tried that

it made him worse.Mics dad has never experienced this behavior in public

alone,theres always one of us to remove him or distract him.Mic did not calm

down until we drove about 10 miles and was fine once he got in his house. >>

This isn't unusual for a two year old. I got to Big Lots with (my

typical 2 year old) and he took one look at the cart and started screaming

and throwing himself on the ground. It didn't matter what I did he wasn't

stopping. He had just had a nap and some food so I have no clue what

triggered it. He never does this with Dad or other people. Just lucky mom.

Gotta go,

Karyn

August 21, 2003

In a message dated 8/21/2003 9:17:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

hevnbound1@... writes:

> But it's amazing what confidence the doctor gave me and

> how the prayers of the faithful have changed my outlook not to

> mention what spending some time in the sun does for a person. I feel

> pretty darn good tonight. Oh sure, there's the ever-present

> discomfort...but I choose to live now and for a long, long time!

Hi Laurie,

I, too, am praying for you and I know well the benefits of sun and fresh air.

I'm so glad you were out and trimming today! My prayers will continue, as

well as the positive thoughts.

Hugs and blessings, Ann

August 21, 2003

> See, I know those prayers are already taking effect!

>

> Marta

Marta,

<big grin> Today has been a much better day than the past week! I

even went outside and trimmed my bushes...all 14 of them...for the

first time! (Just bought a house.) I even tried my hand at making a

topiary! lol Well, all I can say, is I probably won't do THAT

again. haha But it's amazing what confidence the doctor gave me and

how the prayers of the faithful have changed my outlook not to

mention what spending some time in the sun does for a person. I feel

pretty darn good tonight. Oh sure, there's the ever-present

discomfort...but I choose to live now and for a long, long time!!!

Hugs,

Laurie

September 2, 2003

Hi Laurie,

Good luck when Mic returns to school Thurs. Glad to hear the rubber

bands were given by the OT. Whatever it takes and comforts Mic is

great. Boy, what a challenger.

You hang on to that valuable video. That is just great that you were

able to have this done. How was Mic during recording?

If Mic is going to be one of the last to be picked up do you think

if possible and if the swings are nearby they could have him swing

while waiting for the bus. During my sons elementary days this is

how we were able to keep him calm. Plus the teacher had a walkie

talkie as the other special need students needed their supervision

too helped contact whoever was assisting my son when the bus would

arrive. He learn to adjust.

How cute brushing his teeth. This is still good. Ok, maybe not for a

dentist but in Mics case his way is good. Glad you're considering

returning back to school, you might want to start out slow. One

hurdle at a time and by the looks of things that is great that you

have cooperation by the school staff.

I hear you on the emotional side, this is hard for us to watch. You

know our kids actually sometimes does better without us parents

around and we do not get that hurt feeling watching someone working

with our kids when they are having their tantrums, unless we notice

that he regressing or not properly done correctly is another story.

Glad to hear you'll be helping out at the school.

Many hugs & prayers. Take care.

Irma,15,DS/ASD

September 21, 2003

In a message dated 9/21/03 3:44:38 AM Central Daylight Time,

writes:

> Well I posted a question and nobody responded its the one about Mic coming

> out with " I love you " and never saying it again. Mic has no words says mama

> and dada without purpose.He now says diddlely diddley to a song.How can I love

> you just pop but not seem to be in his brain did the words finally find the

> right connection to the mouth?He does this sometimes with other words

> too.Never seems to keep it.He has never come out with 3 words or even 2 word

in a

> row unless its once like I love you.Bothering me for some reason.Or tell me we

> dont know do any of your kids do this?Mic is acting very independent around

> the house very cute.Hes playing with a leapfrog toy.Hes usually dangling

> something very nice to see. thanx Laurie

>

Sorry you didn't get a response. I don't think it is unusual for a child with

emerging language to pop out a phrase now and then to have them not repeat it

for a long time.

I have worked with at least two older kids with autism who had severe verbal

apraxia. One also had some apraxia of movement. Anyway, they would come up and

look at you looking like they had the most important thing to tell you and

nothing would come out. I knew they had things to say. They just couldn't get

their brain to connect the message to the mouth. One of the guys who had no

speech walked up behind me when he was 16 and asked " watcha doin? " . I answered

him

before I looked up and noticed it was him. He was so excited at my mouth

hanging open that he ran out of the room laughing.

BTW, learns speech in phrases. He is just learning to put words

together into unique phrases and generally only does it for silly things like

" cheesepuff mom " . It is interesting that as he is learning to read adjectives

and

adverbs he is sometimes adding them to his speech.

The unique ways our kids learn.

Karyn

December 18, 2003

In a message dated 12/18/2003 3:27:10 PM Pacific Standard Time,

hevnbound1@... writes:

> It's soooo frustrating! I love my PCP, don't get me wrong. She's

> very pro-wls. But in an uneducated way.

Big sigh. Alas, this is the way it is...A weight problem, as you know, is

every bit as serious, long-term, as cancer and heart disease. I am glad your

PCP will do your preops and you RNY surgeon will do your after care, but I wish

they would all educate themselves -- of course there are not enough hours in

the day to be expert on everything, especially these days.

Patients, too, are to blame in many cases. An acquaintance here told me she

is going to " have the surgery I had. " When I asked who her surgeon is, I knew

that he is a RNY surgeon, so I told her she wasn't having the same surgery.

I have given her all the information, copies of the comparison chart, and she

still isn't taking responsibility for understanding the difference. We can

disseminate the information but we can't make them understand, if they just want

someone else to take care of it for them.

I understand your frustration, so well, Laurie! (And the memory thing gets

worse as you get older...hitting the big 5-0 this month has made me realize

that I need to WORK to keep my brain thinking -- it no longer comes naturally!

LOL

Hugs and blessings, Ann

January 24, 2004

> Did you eat this way while you were losing too? I am worried I may

be eating too much since I've only lost 32 pounds at six weeks and

some people have lost twice that much by now... what do you think?

>

> Kim (TX)

Hi Kim

No, I am not Cindee, but I had to jump in here, hope you dont mind.

You are six weeks out. I am not a fortune teller, but I can tell you

for sure that you will drive yourself crazy comparing yourself to

others. I know, I have been there and done that.

We are all so different, our bodies are different, we have all been

obese for different lengths of time and we will all lose differently.

Your body may lose slower, but it is losing faster than I did. Your

body may lose longer than others do. You just cant compare yourself

to others. There are some who have lost more than me and arent out a

year yet, and I am out 2 years. It happens.

What you can do is get the " biggest bang for your buck " . Eat mostly

protien, do not eat a lot of carbs, stay away from sugars, drink lots

and lots of water, and get in your exercise and most importantly your

supplements. It may seen strange, but the more protien you eat, the

more you will lose. Eat protien first, then add vegies etc.

Please relax, do what you can to get the most out of your window of

time. And let your body do the rest. There may even be a time in

your future where you will worry about losing to much....now dont

laugh, it happens....

Dr K likes us to lose 10 lbs a month, so you are way ahead of the

game.

Try not to worry and keep doing what you are doing. You are doing

great.

Sharon in Onyx

who has been there and done that....

thats why I am crazy today!

January 24, 2004

> O.K. Sharon, I hear you, I'm letting it go... relaxing, trying very

hard not to compare (but its so hard, whining voice) sigh..... o.k.

I think I have some unrealisitic goals... you just can't believe how

impatient I've become to get this weight off, It's like I finally

have some hope that not only will it come off but it will stay off,

I'm determined to be a success story. I look at everyone's pictures

almost everytime I get on the computer, and wish it were my pictures

showing huge weight loss amounts... I guess because I have so much to

lose, that I'm worried I won't make it to my goal... I'm obessing

(sorry) blah blah blah - I'll shutup about myself now )

>

> Thanks for the advice - I hear you!

>

> Kim (TX)

Oh, yes I do, I understand how impatient you are...(huh Amy?)...I

couldnt wait to get it off either. It is like you finally, finally,

finally, have a chance to be a normal size person....and just cant

wait.

Its okay, Kim, we have all been there. It is normal to feel this

way.

But you will feel very surprised when your 2 year appt comes and you

realize that that part of the journey is over and feel a little

melancholy....well I did....

It will happen for you Kim. Just hang on and enjoy the ride, it is

an E-ticket one that will take you to places you have never been

before...yep, one heck of a ride.

Sharon in Onyx

January 24, 2004