tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39520424165759829952024-02-19T01:54:04.535-08:00A DOG FOR AARONDiary of an Autistic Escape ArtistDanicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-87370103477081268862009-06-22T15:49:00.000-07:002009-06-22T16:00:50.434-07:00Here we gooooooooooooooo...........Denise came down to our house for a visit today. Mom thought she was going to take Bond back to Brigadoon today, but that wasn't the case. Instead, Denise worked with Mom on training Bond and Pippin. She gave Mom pointers, told her what she needed to work on, and showed her how to do it. Mom has a LONG way to go, and hopefully she'll figure it out. :) Bond is here as a permanent fixture in our lives. Bond will go back to Brigadoon a couple of times this summer while I'm in school or at camp. Mom's friend Jennifer was here as well, and that was a big help. Now there are a total of 3 people who know how to handle Bond. This has given Mom a little bit of relief knowing that there is someone else who can help and give encouragement.<br /><br />It's hard to believe that we are here. That this is actually happening. Thank you to all of you who made this happen! It's hard to believe that we're really here. We have a long way to go, so there will be a lot more blog posting as we go through the training process. But as for now, here we go!Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-47540415880580276292009-06-21T15:25:00.000-07:002009-06-21T15:39:43.045-07:00Bond Day 3<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkpcNRjIsGKyAf7Bvw8fCE-NlwL2Zh0SMoLvslBbeG8wOpEVf5DEwzWQfuos9jt7g5UODYA89i_2etcyq6f06VHWIq9yq4NECd6Y3H0P2XpSb3xgdpCqxjBKXFqZFyjJlfXHaL1oXYug/s1600-h/P1060224.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkpcNRjIsGKyAf7Bvw8fCE-NlwL2Zh0SMoLvslBbeG8wOpEVf5DEwzWQfuos9jt7g5UODYA89i_2etcyq6f06VHWIq9yq4NECd6Y3H0P2XpSb3xgdpCqxjBKXFqZFyjJlfXHaL1oXYug/s320/P1060224.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914200802850450" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-WjRXQLvrG4nfg8B7s2scsVmugbNgaou_vLU5L1BvA3N18sq60F54Ke-qMubFNXnh3JsAQ5_q1NPIxcoCZ7iBJSMY2MLpHG66Fj9paM_eBX9hr9IIVYrOl_aMqivg3PDKvw_ucbp_WI/s1600-h/P1060231.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-WjRXQLvrG4nfg8B7s2scsVmugbNgaou_vLU5L1BvA3N18sq60F54Ke-qMubFNXnh3JsAQ5_q1NPIxcoCZ7iBJSMY2MLpHG66Fj9paM_eBX9hr9IIVYrOl_aMqivg3PDKvw_ucbp_WI/s320/P1060231.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914192150757122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVp_xNMYp5SHwWXU_kuBQXAB_pSAVrV7KhiAp0EojTbkkp91K1ImMPeq85skC-mJnwRZmrCqM5fhxUpPnrPjONRoZsM3Tfs7z921ltNm_ssocyIM1_9Xu2-inadxQCsJrBKeekob4CJA/s1600-h/P1060237.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVp_xNMYp5SHwWXU_kuBQXAB_pSAVrV7KhiAp0EojTbkkp91K1ImMPeq85skC-mJnwRZmrCqM5fhxUpPnrPjONRoZsM3Tfs7z921ltNm_ssocyIM1_9Xu2-inadxQCsJrBKeekob4CJA/s320/P1060237.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914188845237458" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd-A7lZFBH8lejnvUCZY4ypaz4AJhPpDqJpd0XfAbHsbEkJ_kGzy9ltjhxogWHykdMoXqM5J5CDY06yTkmajq1tD2hCauZ60fiQIkyCVbuqEGdJvbbkxhz83BKZ9KK1xcNsW3PiYzIQo/s1600-h/P1060242.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMd-A7lZFBH8lejnvUCZY4ypaz4AJhPpDqJpd0XfAbHsbEkJ_kGzy9ltjhxogWHykdMoXqM5J5CDY06yTkmajq1tD2hCauZ60fiQIkyCVbuqEGdJvbbkxhz83BKZ9KK1xcNsW3PiYzIQo/s320/P1060242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349914186737075954" border="0" /></a><br />Sorry I didn't post yesterday. It was a long and tiring day! By 9:00 Mom was DONE!!! Yesterday was more of the same. We took a trip out to Costco to get out in public. This time Mom tethered me to Bond. I didn't mind it, and she liked the added security of knowing I wasn't going anywhere. Mom also spent some time yesterday working with our other dog Pippin. Working on getting his energy level down, and making sure he stays down when she tells him to. They are also working on a "place" command. Denise says that if she can put both dogs into a down position then the energy level will come down and that will hopefully get rid of the dogs trying to play together. This is a bigger undertaking than Mom originally thought!<br /><br />Day 4 is half over. We went to church this morning and that was a pretty good experience. I don't think he was used to the loud music. :) He went up to junior church with me, and Mom explained to the kids that they couldn't touch him, and the reasons why, and all that good stuff! It's hard to tell a bunch of people you know that they can't touch your dog. About half of them understood without an explanation, and the other half really didn't "get it". So for all of you out there who think service dogs are really cute (and they are)--please resist the urge to touch them. Pretend like they aren't there--please--it will make the handler's job much easier! The rest of the afternoon will hopefully be spent relaxing. Pippin is taking a nap with Dad, and Bond, Madison and I are about to go outside to play.<br /><br />Denise is coming tomorrow morning to work with Bond and Mom on some more training stuff. I'll let you know how that goes.<br /><br />I hope you are all having a nice Father's Day. If your dad is still around make sure you thank him and love him. I've got an awesome dad, and I'm so thankful for him!<br /><br />Happy Father's Day,<br />AaronDanicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-6500600919711190212009-06-19T20:05:00.001-07:002009-06-19T20:28:57.355-07:00Bond Day 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfks8bKIbjX__YT_Tfg097ipMApoKrzbJWFpESXILYnZvOvuaS2I4vVCfcpVgWc1EuIi0dCEH1p0TNDemBXvJUiToNR6pptlIELZ9Sa1ukrDpfPzrEe4GMPQh0hnO7IU30wmujFzSwT9k/s1600-h/P1060212.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfks8bKIbjX__YT_Tfg097ipMApoKrzbJWFpESXILYnZvOvuaS2I4vVCfcpVgWc1EuIi0dCEH1p0TNDemBXvJUiToNR6pptlIELZ9Sa1ukrDpfPzrEe4GMPQh0hnO7IU30wmujFzSwT9k/s320/P1060212.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349240764889210690" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnq3ak0dTSqGPQrHwwfFB1n4zGV3_XXPQR79JKVc6KWhcJm71lCC2_cSe47LEiOznupeEn10NVWfWE6bw3ADZvro9Eesw12bKPSXzdz15fnGg0yhSxRAbg2S8pWLZjdc0fPcBJLmfIf0/s1600-h/P1060202.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifnq3ak0dTSqGPQrHwwfFB1n4zGV3_XXPQR79JKVc6KWhcJm71lCC2_cSe47LEiOznupeEn10NVWfWE6bw3ADZvro9Eesw12bKPSXzdz15fnGg0yhSxRAbg2S8pWLZjdc0fPcBJLmfIf0/s320/P1060202.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349240763191472146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9W7_18F-hzw-QOgKw4ve14sGeTm-4G_6Yd0SWVio3gy_OJDU4AZM9oeRxZyqleDAOxgknJD8p5QUtIc4KHnvnmzV9bQAVU8Q6YfhomPL1ZtT59I7hLNqZmcVV8vo8CIp0cj4Kg8SbIv8/s1600-h/P1060216.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9W7_18F-hzw-QOgKw4ve14sGeTm-4G_6Yd0SWVio3gy_OJDU4AZM9oeRxZyqleDAOxgknJD8p5QUtIc4KHnvnmzV9bQAVU8Q6YfhomPL1ZtT59I7hLNqZmcVV8vo8CIp0cj4Kg8SbIv8/s320/P1060216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349240755833875602" border="0" /></a><br />Well we survived day 2! This has been a lot more work than any of us expected. Don't get me wrong, we didn't think this was going to be a piece of cake; however, any of you out there who are thinking about getting a service dog I have a message for you: THIS TAKES A LOT OF WORK!!!!<br /><br />I thought I'd give day 2 a grand entrance at 4:00 this morning! Yup, I woke up and went to Mom & Dad's room to play on the computer--well there was a problem with that (well there were lots of problems with that, but the one I'm going to tell you is this). Bond came with me (which is what he is supposed to do by the way). With Bond coming with me, that meant Pippin (our golden retriever who is 1 year-old--for those of you who haven't been following the blog) woke up, and was quite excited that there was someone to play with. Mom woke up to the dogs romping around--which is a BIG no no. She put me and Bond back to bed and locked the door. I stayed up and they finally had to get me out of my room at 6:30 because of my persistent knocking. Dad got up and took me and Bond on an errand and then out to breakfast at a local cafe. Bond was really good--sitting under the table, and I got to enjoy a big old cinnamon roll.<br /><br />When we got back Bond and Pippin started playing again so Mom kept having to separate them. She didn't realize how hard it was going to be to keep them apart. She ended up calling her mom to see if she would take Cameron and Madison (she figured if she got rid of 2 it would be a little easier)--Grum (my grandma) took them and Pippin so that Bond would have a chance to hang around with me and not be distracted by everyone else.<br /><br />So we spent part of the day at the house--Bond following me around, and then we went to Target, the grocery store, and off to horse riding. Bond has never been around horses so it was a new experience for him. He did pretty well (picture 3), and he watched me most of the time. After Pippin and the brother and sister came home, it turned out to be a fairly mellow evening. Mom didn't have to separate the dogs from playing too many times--I think Pippin was exhausted from running around with the dogs at Grum's house.<br /><br />So that's where we're at. There isn't anything planned for tomorrow, but Mom is thinking about some sort of outing--we'll see tomorrow what she has in store for us. Right now though I need to go to bed--I was up early this morning--and Mom REALLY needs to go to bed! I'll try to blog tomorrow too!<br />Night!<br />AaronDanicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-10171429363998602572009-06-18T22:07:00.000-07:002009-06-18T22:39:14.463-07:00Bond's first day<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Well, it's one of the days we've been waiting for--Bond's first overnight visit. We met Denise at Costco this morning, and we walked Bond around and did a little shopping (specifically to replace the toilet paper I destroyed a couple of days ago--if you don't know the story just scroll down). After that Denise came to our house and gave Mom and Dad a crash course on dog training/what to do/and a whole bunch of other information. Mom's head was spinning about this point, and she was jotting down a bunch of notes...poor thing. We needed to get Bond some treats and a little more food so Mom convinced Denise to take us down to our local Country Store (she really just wanted an excuse to have one more lesson of going out in public--little did she know that would be the easy part). Once done with The Country Store Mom dropped Denise off at her car and decided to take me on a couple more errands. We went to the grocery store to get me some chicken strips because I was starving. Then we went on to Costco to get Bond a doggie bed, and then to Pet Smart to get the remaining supplies. Bond and I did pretty good. We went home and took a rest, and then left again for swimming lessons. Again, Bond did well--he watched me swim the entire time. So that was the outing section.<br /><br />Now for the home section--HOLY COW! Mom knew it was going to be work, but didn't realize the weight of the work. First of all, she's a perfectionist and doesn't want to mess anything up--so that doesn't really help her all that much. Then there's Pippin--our sweet, HYPER golden retriever. He was so excited at the prospect of a new playmate only to find out that the playmate isn't there to play. So now that we're at home Mom has to make sure that Pippin and Bond don't play, that Bond pretty much ignores Pippin, that Cameron and Madison ignore Bond, and that Bond hangs out with Aaron (and makes sure that Pippin gets some attention--but Bond can't see that). She's pretty much decided that she needs to be cloned, so if any of you out there know how to get your hands on a magical cloning machine let me know.<br /><br />What about me and my reaction (because that's really what this is all about right)? Well, so far pretty good. My biggest complaint is that he's in my space a lot--but apparently that's what is supposed to happen...I only escorted him out of my room twice today--the rest of the time I tolerated him :) In public I hold onto his vest and just hang out. It's going to take a while to get this whole thing flowing. This is only day 1, so we'll see how tomorrow goes! I think Mom is going to find a place for Pippin to hang out tomorrow though! I'll keep you posted!<br />Love,<br />Aaron<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span></div><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgPi9pN280YQ518X3AWo29VAEN194XiE-LvxpyimVYRuOwtHNwyyLLImab7XMAJN6XYV2KlpD5RmDlZkDMrpOs_xpVEEBvHDI21IkwrXSnhym_GNL05DcDumrGPGuqGyF_cFwy7TDVk8/s1600-h/P1060175.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpgPi9pN280YQ518X3AWo29VAEN194XiE-LvxpyimVYRuOwtHNwyyLLImab7XMAJN6XYV2KlpD5RmDlZkDMrpOs_xpVEEBvHDI21IkwrXSnhym_GNL05DcDumrGPGuqGyF_cFwy7TDVk8/s320/P1060175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348908011464951634" border="0" /></a>Me and Bond hangin' at Costco<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkD6rKUItieqBiLg9y9UYF9ubsKy3oBzmRgKr5APwuTiT7akzyLjFjdBpW1FnIp-CAW7d8_ZsTVjd8BK0x2PdvGRTnHq31tQZUmQe6-ZdDEA6LhzwlqrBeeC6aWMVIMwjTT8oFHiMbWF0/s1600-h/P1060182.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkD6rKUItieqBiLg9y9UYF9ubsKy3oBzmRgKr5APwuTiT7akzyLjFjdBpW1FnIp-CAW7d8_ZsTVjd8BK0x2PdvGRTnHq31tQZUmQe6-ZdDEA6LhzwlqrBeeC6aWMVIMwjTT8oFHiMbWF0/s320/P1060182.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348908008091971330" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV2WVDH9lefHgV_mizAwxm-uH78ukwQVdXQG1kgjHGHgfFD73TrGP1BRu-FrUkek9bB0YY4y8W_myKXsfNt1RIc_cTImLwSRv-iuCpzhnjbcUbR6QIXZrIzBGsknOfN_0GmfdNtvJs7M/s1600-h/P1060190.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV2WVDH9lefHgV_mizAwxm-uH78ukwQVdXQG1kgjHGHgfFD73TrGP1BRu-FrUkek9bB0YY4y8W_myKXsfNt1RIc_cTImLwSRv-iuCpzhnjbcUbR6QIXZrIzBGsknOfN_0GmfdNtvJs7M/s320/P1060190.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348908009540162754" border="0" /></a>Me and Bond hangin' out in my bedroom<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFg1fOfxzdvqSF4-_JnU6KAzcsHRfquZD1TjNLZGiKwBPdmZSliBsTgVoYUnExtiPz7T1JXrhQ3X_nKbUrERXbEz2CPhEL3AqlYJQbHfsg2gma9MqqhZvO-h9_tY6ow_qv_7ct2LFkImk/s1600-h/P1060192.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFg1fOfxzdvqSF4-_JnU6KAzcsHRfquZD1TjNLZGiKwBPdmZSliBsTgVoYUnExtiPz7T1JXrhQ3X_nKbUrERXbEz2CPhEL3AqlYJQbHfsg2gma9MqqhZvO-h9_tY6ow_qv_7ct2LFkImk/s320/P1060192.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348908004445554866" border="0" /></a><br />I'm peeking at the camera from around Bond's behind...<br /></div>Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-73847749008505703302009-06-14T17:32:00.001-07:002009-06-14T17:48:08.903-07:00Visit with Bond in 4 days!Bond is coming for a weekend visit in 4 days! Denise is bringing him down on Thursday and giving Mom a crash course on what to do over the weekend! I have swimming lessons, horse riding and church, so Bond will go all of those places with me (and who knows where else we'll go). <br /><br />Mom is VERY excited Bond is coming especially after the trouble I got into today. She had just told my dad that it was too quiet when she came upon my masterpiece of destruction--THE BATHROOM. It's been a while since I've had a "good" disaster (the minor ones aren't always worth noting--if it's just dumping shampoo out, but not smearing it everywhere, it's not a disaster--just an inconvenience). Mom hasn't figured out how I did it yet, but I flooded the bathroom and then "toilet-papered" it. Little clumps of toilet paper were everywhere (and I mean EVERYWHERE). Lets start from the top: the sink (and the toilet as well) was full of water with toilet paper in it, followed by the counter covered in water (with water pouring over the sides). The drawers and cabinet were full of water (ruining the contents of the drawers and 23 rolls of toilet paper that were under the sink--but who's counting?) There was standing water in the cabinet as well as all of the water that was absorbed into the towels. Moving to the outside of the cabinet--toilet paper wads all over it. Finally, the floor--1/4" of standing water that was running out onto the carpet in the hallway. She's got most of the mess cleaned up, and I just saw her stealing a few bites of my sister's chocolate muffin drizzled with chocolate syrup--doesn't she know that is going to ruin the workout she did earlier? Oh well--it probably made her feel better :). So there you have it! I'll be sure to keep you posted on how it goes with Bond. I may even try to blog daily--that's only if I have enough time in between making messes!<br />Love,<br />AaronDanicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-92165763124777137642009-06-10T22:10:00.000-07:002009-06-10T22:16:05.747-07:00Bond coming for a visitBond is coming for a weekend visit on the 18th (NEXT WEEK!!!)--this will be our first overnight(s) visit, so we are all excited and not sure what to expect. Denise will come on Thursday morning and walk us through what we need to know! It is surreal that after a year and a half of waiting, this moment is here! Keep your fingers crossed that Bond and Pippin will get along, and that Bond will be able to focus on me and not be distracted by a playful golden retriever!!! I'll keep you posted!!<br />Hugs,<br />AaronDanicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-5212259293501547462009-05-19T06:00:00.000-07:002009-05-19T06:02:29.239-07:00No new newsWe are still waiting, waiting, waiting. Mom send Denise an email, and here is the reply:<br /><br /><p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);">Bond is doing well. He is following Madi’s (puppy raiser who has him) little brother around everywhere. He worries about new things, but then settles. He still won’t jump up into her jeep. Silly boy. When school is out, we can start visitation with Aaron.<br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p>So there you have it. It's not much, but what I've got! Thank you all for checking in and I'll let you know more when I do!</p><p>Love,<br /></p><p>Aaron<br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Wingdings; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"> </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 11pt; color: rgb(31, 73, 125);"><span class="il"><br /></span></span></p>Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-81560607052625630502009-04-06T09:29:00.000-07:002009-04-06T09:35:37.252-07:00Bond updateIt's been a while since my last post about Bond. Mom has been waiting to hear from Denise about the next step, and she got an email from Denise yesterday giving an update. Denise has had Bond staying with a teenager in her area to get him used to living in a home and to teach him how to go to school. She plans on having him stay there another three weeks or so, and then we will set up our next visit. It's pretty exciting! I will keep you posted as I know more!Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-13284651752695089252009-04-02T09:28:00.000-07:002009-04-02T12:24:13.519-07:00It's World Autism Awareness Day!I was diagnosed with autism on February 25th, 2003. At that time 1 in 250 children were affected by autism. In the past six years, the number of children with autism has skyrocketed to 1 in 150. Every <span style="font-weight: bold;">20 minutes</span> a family will be told that their loved one has autism.<br /><br />Know the facts and the warning signs--BE INFORMED! If you know a child who is displaying some of the symptoms of autism--tell their parents. The earlier the intervention, the greater the chance of "recovery". I'm posting a little about autism, some funding facts and what the signs are. This information comes from Autism Speaks. Check out their website: <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/">http://www.autismspeaks.org/</a>.<br /><br />Also, PLEASE check out this video <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/sponsoredevents/autism_every_day.php">http://www.autismspeaks.org/sponsoredevents/autism_every_day.php</a>. It's 13 minutes but worth the time (get your kleenex before you sit down).<br /><br />Here we go (this is kind of a long post--sorry):<br /><br />Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe.<br /><br /><strong>Did you know…<br /></strong>*1 in 150 children is diagnosed with autism<br />*1 in 94 boys is on the autism spectrum<br />*67 children are diagnosed per day<br />*A new case is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes<br />*More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer <strong><em>combined<br /></em></strong>*Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.<br />*Autism costs the nation over $90 billion per year, a figure expected to double in the next decade<br />*Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases<br />*Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism<br />*There is no medical detection or cure for autism<br /><br /><strong>Incidence vs. Private Funding </strong><strong><br /></strong>*Leukemia: Affects 1 in 25,000 / Funding: $310 million<br />*Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 20,000 / Funding: $175 million<br />*Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 8,000 / Funding: $394 million<br />*Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500 / Funding: $130 million<br />*Autism: Affects 1 in 150 / Funding: $42 million<br /><br /><strong><em>National Institutes of Health Funds Allocation</em></strong><br />*Total 2007 NIH budget: $29 billion<br />*Of this, $80 million goes directly to autism research. This represents 0.28% of total NIH funding.<br /><br /><strong>Know the signs</strong><br />*Does not babble or coo by 12 months<br />*Does not gesture (point, wave, grasp) by 12 months<br />*Does not say single words by 16 months<br />*Does not say two-word phrases on his or her own by 24 months<br />*Has any <strong><em>loss</em></strong> of any language or social skill at any age<br /><br />Having any of these five "red flags" does not mean your child has autism. But because the characteristics of the disorder vary so much, a child showing these behaviors should have further evaluations by a multidisciplinary team. This team may include a neurologist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician, speech/language therapist, learning consultant, or other professionals knowledgeable about autism.<br /><br />Now you know! If you have any questions my mom would love to talk to you. Send her an e-mail at the e-mail address on the right.Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-41039589452318035182009-03-04T11:37:00.001-08:002009-03-04T12:20:32.774-08:00Bond came to school!Yesterday Bond came down to Stanwood to do a home and school visit. Denise came to the house (I was at school) to check out Bond’s new home. Bond checked out my bedroom, the backyard, around the house, and Pippin (our family dog). Bond took a tour of the backyard and my bedroom before he was able to say hi to Pippin. Once he did say hi to Pippin, it was brief, and then he walked around the living room checking things out (this is exactly what Denise wanted to see!!!)<br /><br />After the home visit Bond, Mom, and Denise came to school to show my class my new helper. Bond was quite the celebrity from the moment he walked into the building. He visited at the front office for a bit, took a walk down to the ASSIST (special ed.) classroom to meet one of my teachers, and then went down to my general ed. 2nd grade classroom. Bond sat next to me while Denise answered the other kids’ questions. At one point I got up and ran to a different part of the classroom, and Bond got up and followed me. The other students had some great questions, and it turned out to be a successful visit.<br /><br />So what is our status at this point? Well, Mom is going to schedule a time for me to go up to Brigadoon for another visit, and then Denise is going to start scheduling trainings and more home visits. Probably by May, Bond will come and stay with us for a few nights at a time and work his way into our family life. We are all very excited to start this phase! Here are some pictures of yesterday’s school visit:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw5MFvuJURGEZRd2zvF4yN0QlqbAPlqMsLy8d218wNomu665aIlvcHLXLq8JATE6Okt3xTUnrTFK_fGJkPIZjifpkkPECN2Hkd_UmZcai66gq-FnYaOp66EbsTKtdT_S1AmFMPyK1WVM/s1600-h/DSC_0679.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuw5MFvuJURGEZRd2zvF4yN0QlqbAPlqMsLy8d218wNomu665aIlvcHLXLq8JATE6Okt3xTUnrTFK_fGJkPIZjifpkkPECN2Hkd_UmZcai66gq-FnYaOp66EbsTKtdT_S1AmFMPyK1WVM/s320/DSC_0679.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309423403207781314" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nB0WHxGio9_8GZOVu45Ioypc9oqi1REQNLtXih963sIN2aCsm4bHIZoLooOieUsNZycXjV7iOlH_-j2Z5ROaVHJu9PGiiYy1PJSPWkCTrmsPqpESSZVogXUJbO9num9VHxVfOu7RtY0/s1600-h/DSC_0004.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nB0WHxGio9_8GZOVu45Ioypc9oqi1REQNLtXih963sIN2aCsm4bHIZoLooOieUsNZycXjV7iOlH_-j2Z5ROaVHJu9PGiiYy1PJSPWkCTrmsPqpESSZVogXUJbO9num9VHxVfOu7RtY0/s320/DSC_0004.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309423403805787986" border="0" /></a>Bond was a hit in the hallway!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffApW0u1XzLKUQahCnqQOs8B94OHCsIRF3UBTEHZN324PirpSOq5pq2XTM_edNpVuT1SWd2IIrA1-VETjS7KxP38byRWZBuNehNpoQVExOwjJRUMX391R_4Mi3HzFYrhrhWeQDznPaII/s1600-h/DSC_0019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiffApW0u1XzLKUQahCnqQOs8B94OHCsIRF3UBTEHZN324PirpSOq5pq2XTM_edNpVuT1SWd2IIrA1-VETjS7KxP38byRWZBuNehNpoQVExOwjJRUMX391R_4Mi3HzFYrhrhWeQDznPaII/s320/DSC_0019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309422437870993650" border="0" /></a>Me, Bond, and Mrs. Kay<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6AUyuSHNoh-BaKKLPK-VL8e15yvrxO6UagsSrPBpQqK0zmWS_Z-YoUgry0VC7LZRse7mz7pFYeuIFvegWnDcYejhs0_j06d44CB39PK20MxpjZG_8XCujPq8J2PGFEBwEJ-ozBpu16Q/s1600-h/DSC_0031.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6AUyuSHNoh-BaKKLPK-VL8e15yvrxO6UagsSrPBpQqK0zmWS_Z-YoUgry0VC7LZRse7mz7pFYeuIFvegWnDcYejhs0_j06d44CB39PK20MxpjZG_8XCujPq8J2PGFEBwEJ-ozBpu16Q/s320/DSC_0031.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309422433817722898" border="0" /></a>Waiting for the other students to arrive.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ssi7Lx49dLpZ72Zjm8aSFRxD2MlE6W_HmTbN07CJgzN95xlFYsyXmyBHL9GzX7yi8K21Xw0_6PxvMuEK0mjnXre9WFcNaf5wpoN26V77fF9Mpnga2jQPt51i4qvPvCW0WWPWbJB9JVE/s1600-h/DSC_0063.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ssi7Lx49dLpZ72Zjm8aSFRxD2MlE6W_HmTbN07CJgzN95xlFYsyXmyBHL9GzX7yi8K21Xw0_6PxvMuEK0mjnXre9WFcNaf5wpoN26V77fF9Mpnga2jQPt51i4qvPvCW0WWPWbJB9JVE/s320/DSC_0063.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309422430080623282" border="0" /></a>Just hanging out<br />(that is a picture of me and Bond on one of our visits to Brigadoon that I'm looking at)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSbHlZyKFGcKw4DDGidpJPrthdEHRu4wNta3BCE-53-gpBGe8nZ2UtCS6Qmw3L-n1TBwkwi3ySkN0cHB5cBwzAZfMdExXm0BGQG99BKjB7v-g-iMNmRYpUwCfpgLAe3O7-7TeBS92tVA/s1600-h/DSC_0126.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSbHlZyKFGcKw4DDGidpJPrthdEHRu4wNta3BCE-53-gpBGe8nZ2UtCS6Qmw3L-n1TBwkwi3ySkN0cHB5cBwzAZfMdExXm0BGQG99BKjB7v-g-iMNmRYpUwCfpgLAe3O7-7TeBS92tVA/s320/DSC_0126.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309422419378544898" border="0" /></a>I'm as happy as can be<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrvLDP7dGHcF7Rj_HqSmfjqZ6_KoHiKXEkuQQ-VaFITwY6RbL8VPlGhNzaMRN6NSgu-mTwlFqVBhX1SdtQibxWgmmBzaLBKk5HP88mNA40Cm-KwqAwYNFRHOrn6Y10wXr7tltfWLod8A/s1600-h/DSC_0131.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrvLDP7dGHcF7Rj_HqSmfjqZ6_KoHiKXEkuQQ-VaFITwY6RbL8VPlGhNzaMRN6NSgu-mTwlFqVBhX1SdtQibxWgmmBzaLBKk5HP88mNA40Cm-KwqAwYNFRHOrn6Y10wXr7tltfWLod8A/s320/DSC_0131.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309422414494077618" border="0" /></a>Doggie kisses<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKt9nJdJ_qCviK5P1JEu9XffCGV2x20N5XBZimVa4L4Zc9No7jiA9vGKVKzdTyf9AAHIJlCV8BtXdltqWggPwZoccKBlx3hlgT1n_LzDJDB1icSZqcbc9fgOIiwwPBJMtXWkgqtclPKY/s1600-h/DSC_0133.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNKt9nJdJ_qCviK5P1JEu9XffCGV2x20N5XBZimVa4L4Zc9No7jiA9vGKVKzdTyf9AAHIJlCV8BtXdltqWggPwZoccKBlx3hlgT1n_LzDJDB1icSZqcbc9fgOIiwwPBJMtXWkgqtclPKY/s320/DSC_0133.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309421831621091986" border="0" /></a>YUCK!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-E29hAcO5hNipFqG-wLbqgYy0xRtLaibmAyt6ZETSkk80Zvy2aZGZfwbcZq69swqya0Rsxz7ivkjzI_6tTTJxjvOjL4zu4WcUezg_y6g80Thrv0i9FDmoZLW2Ieo0OBY_MQCF6eJ4Z8/s1600-h/DSC_0179.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC-E29hAcO5hNipFqG-wLbqgYy0xRtLaibmAyt6ZETSkk80Zvy2aZGZfwbcZq69swqya0Rsxz7ivkjzI_6tTTJxjvOjL4zu4WcUezg_y6g80Thrv0i9FDmoZLW2Ieo0OBY_MQCF6eJ4Z8/s320/DSC_0179.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309421828754061058" border="0" /></a>The other students are arriving<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKEGW8hxvKJ5I6k8sxEi15pBX5Of_v0OrrPX7JFZKUj1JKv0Lq23gPIfeMYqjp3o3Rp5XX7VxNeUWN0vHp_lEbSckQlT10pdR6MEZZ_oH-9454t8_PD0NnOHUHUuDwc445jnUdpW0t2I/s1600-h/DSC_0320.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKEGW8hxvKJ5I6k8sxEi15pBX5Of_v0OrrPX7JFZKUj1JKv0Lq23gPIfeMYqjp3o3Rp5XX7VxNeUWN0vHp_lEbSckQlT10pdR6MEZZ_oH-9454t8_PD0NnOHUHUuDwc445jnUdpW0t2I/s320/DSC_0320.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309421825241385074" border="0" /></a>Denise is talking about what Bond will do for me...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFEqhd_y_DOhePpO3qBsXnCv73FdYol1sH-4mmlhgNKFreXIxMzFoK3D6HU5Cj_3lI_HNEm9ekmwdbBZ3G4tVsSgENGlTx1UqRAsMFW5_OMugufxpNWEsT35mxdgyAddzdvjdt9PaRkM/s1600-h/DSC_0334.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFEqhd_y_DOhePpO3qBsXnCv73FdYol1sH-4mmlhgNKFreXIxMzFoK3D6HU5Cj_3lI_HNEm9ekmwdbBZ3G4tVsSgENGlTx1UqRAsMFW5_OMugufxpNWEsT35mxdgyAddzdvjdt9PaRkM/s320/DSC_0334.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309421822574537394" border="0" /></a>and answering lots of questions from curious 2nd graders!<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-PkW2McrtKNcdncO_R_b_Mr5WUkYSaqVvHAyzwQYgsO31oSGI09_UQ3X3bcqFzwKhGa6jeBxiE36aNF-VLsXfC9ikDIqnxlTc5u65TFl5FqQnQmpVMrSYWowL0PQJeU5Jq_cP4PZyec/s1600-h/DSC_0391.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-PkW2McrtKNcdncO_R_b_Mr5WUkYSaqVvHAyzwQYgsO31oSGI09_UQ3X3bcqFzwKhGa6jeBxiE36aNF-VLsXfC9ikDIqnxlTc5u65TFl5FqQnQmpVMrSYWowL0PQJeU5Jq_cP4PZyec/s320/DSC_0391.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309420547583616194" border="0" /></a>Talking about different types of service dogs<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBGhigLc8ODUUBXB28i7JD_x_b58E8XMDpeftB-HMr2R4nDpBaQdx-AMgDUMFc6Q5-IKh_eZf3b6MNZD3v1QjzlOdmpjUflQwaHW1zaCUBnWvU97RyjIF-lwTUCD-glRiD5bqiYSObuM/s1600-h/DSC_0519.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBGhigLc8ODUUBXB28i7JD_x_b58E8XMDpeftB-HMr2R4nDpBaQdx-AMgDUMFc6Q5-IKh_eZf3b6MNZD3v1QjzlOdmpjUflQwaHW1zaCUBnWvU97RyjIF-lwTUCD-glRiD5bqiYSObuM/s320/DSC_0519.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309420543686891026" border="0" /></a>Mrs. Kay hanging out with me<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFgTB5IK2WMYKBE2uFjb8ER-rhFETqiWYc_1mgjZx9vd0QCkSKFhtsq2RBwBouOcUWJBY9Kwj76oSbdw_FYTJeivPfdhFnAxdIT1epO0JEk_2erQQECO531nYoRkMzQ_Kgkb0v5yuuK4/s1600-h/DSC_0621_2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 260px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbFgTB5IK2WMYKBE2uFjb8ER-rhFETqiWYc_1mgjZx9vd0QCkSKFhtsq2RBwBouOcUWJBY9Kwj76oSbdw_FYTJeivPfdhFnAxdIT1epO0JEk_2erQQECO531nYoRkMzQ_Kgkb0v5yuuK4/s320/DSC_0621_2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309420529617593810" border="0" /></a>My peer mentors<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7vIToz78imonPUMvd5n38josnCugRH1R2LzButFRsd1_NI6Y8YabSa4WsedMgijp4xM5qxTk-Ep3_tlX4PpbOxmB7J7D3B9gg1zQKNL5AGp9_EVlRoeM0GWMN5G5vGqIyACmYvI_1yA/s1600-h/DSC_0669.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7vIToz78imonPUMvd5n38josnCugRH1R2LzButFRsd1_NI6Y8YabSa4WsedMgijp4xM5qxTk-Ep3_tlX4PpbOxmB7J7D3B9gg1zQKNL5AGp9_EVlRoeM0GWMN5G5vGqIyACmYvI_1yA/s320/DSC_0669.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309420527697667250" border="0" /></a>One of my friends<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisEn3BJz9N6A26_aQpMFlQNatMyXzUGgjWy2UBVjqUUI9UKxmoCLP85L2wDgRFGdorjFCye9sx_7SeR14uYzQ6QvbTreKUIw2IE6Lu9z_veqtjIvHpEMgcQbzxX-hmMKbvi4XESxO7bo/s1600-h/DSC_0594.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisEn3BJz9N6A26_aQpMFlQNatMyXzUGgjWy2UBVjqUUI9UKxmoCLP85L2wDgRFGdorjFCye9sx_7SeR14uYzQ6QvbTreKUIw2IE6Lu9z_veqtjIvHpEMgcQbzxX-hmMKbvi4XESxO7bo/s320/DSC_0594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309420532569115858" border="0" /></a>My class!<br /></div>Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-66377629684600703562009-02-17T21:13:00.000-08:002009-02-18T01:05:45.919-08:00Locksmith or criminal?In order to minimize bathroom toiletry damage, Mom and Dad lock their bathroom door when I'm in their room (when they remember to--if they forget I have some fun with shaving cream--which was the case last week). One day they needed to open the door quickly so they took a wire hanger and popped out the lock with it. So yesterday I got into their closet and grabbed a wire hanger. Mom and Dad gave me a strange look but let me walk away with the hanger. Mom heard a strange noise coming from my bedroom (she had an idea of what I was doing but couldn't believe it) so she went and checked on me. I had locked my bedroom door, went inside my room and started to pick the lock on my door!<br /><br />**This makes more sense if you know that Mom and Dad had to put a lock on my door on the outside so that if I get up in the middle of the night they can put me back in my room and lock the door so I can't get out.**<br /><br />So now they're wondering if I'm going to be a locksmith or a criminal!<br /><br />The other day they didn't lock my door and I woke up at 3:00am, went into my sister's room, turned her light on, jumped on her, found a bottle of blue tempera paint, took it to the bathroom, and painted the sink :) nice.<br /><br />In other news:<br />Yesterday we went up to Brigadoon to visit Bond. Mom, Dad, Bond and I went on a little walk while we were there. For the first part of the walk I was tethered to him, and the other part I held his leash. I hung out with him, and Mom and Denise talked about the next steps. Denise is coming to the house in a couple of weeks to do a "home visit". She'll be checking out what our house is like and start scheduling days for Bond to come and stay with us. He'll stay with me for a few days/week at a time to ease into our routine here while he's still in his training. Graduation date is set for October 25th, so on that date Bond should be "officially" mine.<br /><br />Here are some pictures of my visit:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglKd82wwBZRmGFosN9HnWrX8bSy0mx4js0FfVPB4O9OrxNXyOr_rtAPmQNG62_zTcwiD-F2epcOjSQhpkKEVfu-5TUyT1rJqPhdHpJEhQNubU9DSx7h0xt5UsLRCZ18upSShmWUp0w8c/s1600-h/P1050557_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 206px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglKd82wwBZRmGFosN9HnWrX8bSy0mx4js0FfVPB4O9OrxNXyOr_rtAPmQNG62_zTcwiD-F2epcOjSQhpkKEVfu-5TUyT1rJqPhdHpJEhQNubU9DSx7h0xt5UsLRCZ18upSShmWUp0w8c/s320/P1050557_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304022124370799426" border="0" /></a>Here we are on our walk with me tethered to Bond.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiei6ufgKvg_ioFx7s-cR2mvvSr_-emcscz-DKwEIVkAJW0RmWI_K0RxU4VPtfBorsXfHs-HgTpZFSbPDTNnZ55Hnd0BOcA7xdOFW7XkkTf8zrKcwpZmFjueHhUXNJHxPzjLVymSNqoN4/s1600-h/P1050559.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiei6ufgKvg_ioFx7s-cR2mvvSr_-emcscz-DKwEIVkAJW0RmWI_K0RxU4VPtfBorsXfHs-HgTpZFSbPDTNnZ55Hnd0BOcA7xdOFW7XkkTf8zrKcwpZmFjueHhUXNJHxPzjLVymSNqoN4/s320/P1050559.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304021067969224930" border="0" /></a>Walking along...<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_UMjj43Qdg9gkik1zLZMct10fJktdUdq8l3qA_rm4XCxwxRkLqag3tnTOBdBTdpBx2wo7hSIpe4PP2ehVmvjv-gE3K9IReJ8q3DVIIMVzy7Bt6jvHDHx-7s1Pei-Dvm_cJleDzzZQ1Q/s1600-h/P1050563.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_UMjj43Qdg9gkik1zLZMct10fJktdUdq8l3qA_rm4XCxwxRkLqag3tnTOBdBTdpBx2wo7hSIpe4PP2ehVmvjv-gE3K9IReJ8q3DVIIMVzy7Bt6jvHDHx-7s1Pei-Dvm_cJleDzzZQ1Q/s320/P1050563.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304021067332237650" border="0" /></a>Mom unclipping the leash so I could walk him.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJD47A8u3bm3EvhRO0wL-MgwhzdjwVTywrQQO1i3BJVmzDd4iS6fZBj0O8kIHyLT6JinlkWQkBm7ZhzF3IW2j8okMA8yuhHg3BF6LWf04JGxCJgXSt1q_MB2SLRxcadPVZDhwf7Zb7Wk/s1600-h/P1050570.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJD47A8u3bm3EvhRO0wL-MgwhzdjwVTywrQQO1i3BJVmzDd4iS6fZBj0O8kIHyLT6JinlkWQkBm7ZhzF3IW2j8okMA8yuhHg3BF6LWf04JGxCJgXSt1q_MB2SLRxcadPVZDhwf7Zb7Wk/s320/P1050570.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304021063666877170" border="0" /></a>Walking Bond back to Brigadoon.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk5F_e_bSmJ9caLMi7SjKgdcyHBjK3h1W3bX_YUM1KfKClR9dLcbkptuZ6cILJGEKcoznPtb_d65XQgvPJBjPgRfkk23AsbpD4NzJo0eLsKYXbhVr0Rux9Nm5rzF8svrxg6rb94g1oMc/s1600-h/P1050594.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwk5F_e_bSmJ9caLMi7SjKgdcyHBjK3h1W3bX_YUM1KfKClR9dLcbkptuZ6cILJGEKcoznPtb_d65XQgvPJBjPgRfkk23AsbpD4NzJo0eLsKYXbhVr0Rux9Nm5rzF8svrxg6rb94g1oMc/s320/P1050594.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304021063066789314" border="0" /></a>Hangin' out in the office after a hard day's work!<br /></div>Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-44682601563034334252009-02-02T18:30:00.000-08:002009-02-02T21:52:14.942-08:00Happy birthday to me (and I outdid myself today)Today I celebrated my 8th birthday by waking up NICE and EARLY. Mom isn't even sure how early I woke up, but I took a nice little snooze at school today! Mom made cookies for me to take to school, and Dad, Cameron and Madison came by in the afternoon to share them with my 2 classes. We had one of my favorite foods (pizza) for dinner tonight, and seeing as how I'd already had a ton of cookies at school, Mom put candles on the pizza and they sung Happy Birthday to me that way!!!! After dinner I opened some presents, got to play in shaving cream (on purpose), took a bath, and got to go play at McDonald's!!<br /><br />Now here is where it gets good.<br /><br />Just when Mom and Dad are beginning to think I've grown out of my escaping "issues", I decide to give them a story for the blog.<br /><br />So like I told you earlier, Dad, Cameron, Madison and I went to McDonald's to go play on the playground there. Another dad with two kids was there as well. While they were gearing up to go, our two families were talking in front of the exit between the play area and restaurant. Somehow in the middle of all of those people (6 to be exact), I sneaked through. The family left and Dad realized that he hadn't heard me making any noises, so he sent Cameron and Madison out to find me. About that time a lady behind the counter asked Dad if "that was his son that went outside" (it was). So Dad ran outside where he found me....sitting in a red pickup truck with a gray dog and his sixty-something year-old owner. Imagine you're this guy. You're minding your own business, ordering some food for the road, you drive up to get your order, and while you're paying for your order, your passenger door opens and an 8 year-old boy (who doesn't talk) crawls up into your truck, closes the door behind him, and hangs out. That is where Dad found me. Now imagine you're my dad, running outside because you can't find your son, only to see him sitting in some strange man's (running) pickup truck....Mom is trying to think more about that poor guy's perspective and not what it was like to be in Dad's shoes. It's easier that way.<br /><br />So, on that note, if there was still a question as to whether or not I still "need" Bond, the answer is a definite YES! It's a good thing I get to go see Bond in 2 weeks!!! I'll keep you all posted!<br />Love,<br />Aaron<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVDRXr7ggbgGnCcEsRTiIbfCS8LQz28Xd7yAjbjgRuOHg6lBj6NwZx633E_KNf3_iLyccHadUqUQynwSlilkvjv0o16VKkIEtCwnhZNDUOxSE6b74RVtLEQ0b5V7pC4aAzVomtKf-omU/s1600-h/P1050363.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVDRXr7ggbgGnCcEsRTiIbfCS8LQz28Xd7yAjbjgRuOHg6lBj6NwZx633E_KNf3_iLyccHadUqUQynwSlilkvjv0o16VKkIEtCwnhZNDUOxSE6b74RVtLEQ0b5V7pC4aAzVomtKf-omU/s320/P1050363.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298423414763056146" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjXuxg-gxFytBlAK335Wy5NRbBfJFt0dOIicDokz40i3r-qtpBGyJWdfyToRdcMDvRtMIq0taBKNyWSPkVtdKMSb_y0A1DSD0HLRj0Qy8arEYDp-Flw4aTiVMSV-88_ksz34XoYa-fGQ/s1600-h/P1050370.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjXuxg-gxFytBlAK335Wy5NRbBfJFt0dOIicDokz40i3r-qtpBGyJWdfyToRdcMDvRtMIq0taBKNyWSPkVtdKMSb_y0A1DSD0HLRj0Qy8arEYDp-Flw4aTiVMSV-88_ksz34XoYa-fGQ/s320/P1050370.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298423414851386898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY3jD6V2RPjx2Ib90-ARjK9dhM8A3GBmbDw6V9Wi8-Qkr4iqgmx4sUG_kz3G-hM1qmBaqzoAUN7an-uyMkETSR-sD8Hlr-uIVPXMPy0f2mDzh55Koni8sEbs_0GqDJ-8PgcbziW-ia0g/s1600-h/P1050408.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRY3jD6V2RPjx2Ib90-ARjK9dhM8A3GBmbDw6V9Wi8-Qkr4iqgmx4sUG_kz3G-hM1qmBaqzoAUN7an-uyMkETSR-sD8Hlr-uIVPXMPy0f2mDzh55Koni8sEbs_0GqDJ-8PgcbziW-ia0g/s320/P1050408.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298425107279031570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmn4opIXGMhIlxhC8CcRV8fDe0AFwMIwrZPs1iAnFkxHvodcxOs_0W-SVDuLysIgTCejKFy_QQCrQqK3OmuSe7CKan4SrmmzX0WoOeU_ZsbtODVnzZLAdB5bghqZgNdT_FXvdFHWQWbU/s1600-h/P1050411.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzmn4opIXGMhIlxhC8CcRV8fDe0AFwMIwrZPs1iAnFkxHvodcxOs_0W-SVDuLysIgTCejKFy_QQCrQqK3OmuSe7CKan4SrmmzX0WoOeU_ZsbtODVnzZLAdB5bghqZgNdT_FXvdFHWQWbU/s320/P1050411.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298423410784411058" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_J30UL8ToTWt58hJNliaNjOLbw6dYIbc4k5oxQy7VCo68SSJasR0fT2G8DnZfQCUGl-eVf-D_iB5JvEEVKuPwNK88ChK2t9rR3on4J1R9PoY5FhUonZvKefZXWfubnzZ7uMxwd0lPwE0/s1600-h/P1050434.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_J30UL8ToTWt58hJNliaNjOLbw6dYIbc4k5oxQy7VCo68SSJasR0fT2G8DnZfQCUGl-eVf-D_iB5JvEEVKuPwNK88ChK2t9rR3on4J1R9PoY5FhUonZvKefZXWfubnzZ7uMxwd0lPwE0/s320/P1050434.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298423414649231090" border="0" /></a>Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-20989803180701635632009-01-20T22:17:00.000-08:002009-01-22T22:04:33.994-08:00It Matters to This OneMy dad wrote a song for the Autism Sings fundraiser last Friday night, and I want to share it with you all. He dedicated the song to the 17 year-old girl who put the concert together, as well as to everyone who has helped me and my family with my special needs. For all of you who have made a difference by contributing toward my dog, prayed for me and my family, and follow this blog, we dedicate this song to you. <br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tgmY61Eej_8&hl=en&fs=1&fmt=18"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tgmY61Eej_8&hl=en&fs=1&fmt=18" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><p><strong>It matters to this one</strong></p> <p>A father and son were taking a walk on the beach<br />Enjoying the sun and the warmth of the sand on their feet<br />When suddenly they came upon – as far as the eye could see<br />A thousand starfish drying out – the ocean just out of reach</p> <p>So the boy knelt down and picked one up<br />And threw it back in the sea<br />Then another and another were saved</p> <p>Till the father had had enough<br />And he said, “Son, you can’t save them all.<br />It doesn’t really matter anyway”<br />But the son said</p> <p>It matters to this one, I can change a life<br />Even one tiny act of kindness Can make the world more bright<br />I may not save every one, But I can do my part<br />You can call me crazy, But someone’s got to start</p> <p>It’s a great big world out there with lots of problems to be solved<br />At times it seems an overwhelming task<br />But we can’t afford to give up<br />We can’t be cynical and hopeless<br />We dare not lose sight of what’s important<br />Or forget the power of love<br />We need our children to remind us to think small</p> <p>It matters to this one, We can change a life<br />Even one tiny act of kindness Can make the world more right<br />We might not save everyone But we can do our part<br />Let the world call us crazy, But someone’s got to start</p> <p>It matters to this one, you can change a life<br />Even one tiny act of kindness Can make the world more right<br />You might not save everyone But you can do your part<br />Let the world call you crazy, But someone’s got to start</p> <p>Let the world call us crazy, We can each touch one heart</p> <p>Words & Music by Jason Chollar (c) January 2009</p>Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-90517496547801905642009-01-17T13:32:00.000-08:002009-01-17T13:38:35.473-08:00Autism Sings concert update & next Brigadoon visitThe concert last night was amazing. I was even able to sit through it (although Mom bribed me with sour gummy worms). My dad (of course) was awesome! I did manage to escape Mom's grip at the end of the concert and run through the emergency exit. LUCKILY the alarm didn't go off, so Mom was relieved about that one. I also ran up to the stage then into the back during intermission, but Dad was right behind me so I didn't get too far away--just enough to get him a little exercise!!! Last night Mom was really wishing Bond were there to help keep me corralled! But the event was a success--there were 330 people there and over $4,000 was raised for Autism Speaks. Yay!<br /><br />Mom emailed Denise, and we will be going to visit Bond on Feb. 16th. I'll make sure to have Mom take lots of pictures and see what the current status of my new friend is. :)Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-32960820496718633492009-01-13T23:32:00.000-08:002009-01-13T23:35:27.377-08:00UPDATE ON AUTISM SINGS CONCERTBecause of the flooding, the autism concert has been rescheduled to this Friday--here is the new info--I'll be there, and I hope to see some of you there too!<br /><br />Autism Sings<br />Friday, Jan 16th<br />Stanwood High School Performing Arts Center<br />7:00 pm<br />$5.00Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-34327774630691049712009-01-06T17:18:00.000-08:002009-01-06T17:31:42.524-08:00A good cause for those of you in WashingtonOn Friday night a Stanwood High School senior, Tara Smith, is going to be putting on a benefit concert to raise autism awareness, and money for Autism Speaks. Her brother, Noah, is 12 years old and is also affected by autism. Tickets are $5 a person, and there will be a silent auction as well. She has some great acts lined up, and my dad may even be getting up there. :) If you can make it to this performance it will be worth your time, and it's a great cause! There is an <a href="http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090106/NEWS01/701069858">article</a> in today's Everett Herald about the performance, and why Tara is doing this. Mom and Dad are going to take me, so I hope that I will see some of you there!<br />Aaron<br /><br />Friday night (Jan 9th)<br />Stanwood High School Performing Arts Center<br />7:00 pm<br />$5.00<br /><br />BE THERE!!!Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-74976459500977251682008-12-26T22:56:00.000-08:002008-12-26T23:11:36.939-08:00I don't stay out of trouble for longI could only be "good" for so long (other than the fact that I've cut off my tracking bracelet three times this week). Someone (Dad) left the bathroom door open, so I sneaked in there and emptied/smeared everywhere: the hair gel, shaving cream, shampoo, soap. Madison was put in charge of me while Mom cleaned up so that I couldn't make another mess while she was cleaning that one. Christmas break is over in 9 days--so Mom and Dad have to hang on just a little bit longer! Maybe going back to my routine will help them out a bit! Have a Happy New Year!!!<br />Love,<br />AaronDanicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-13956525356289932492008-12-25T18:19:00.000-08:002008-12-25T18:22:32.096-08:00Merry ChristmasI just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas and happy holiday! I am so blessed to have a wonderful family, friends, and all of you who care about me. I hope you enjoy your day. Eat lots of cookies (I keep getting into the rice crispy treats!!!). Mom will be glad now that the scissors can be really hidden again (I've cut my bracelet off three times over the past couple of days). Have a wonderful day and a Happy New Year.<br />Love,<br />AaronDanicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-22347695560100817042008-12-01T18:44:00.000-08:002008-12-01T18:56:12.669-08:00Good DaysI usually post all of the naughty things that I'm up to, but I have had a really good couple of weeks, so I thought I'd post the good things too! It's these times that Mom holds on to! I have been very verbal the last two weeks, and am making some great eye contact. I love it when my dad tickles me, so I've been going up to him and SPONTANEOUSLY (big word for you autism know-it-alls) asking him "more tickle" in this irresistible voice! Huge step. I've had a lot of fun interacting with my brother and sister, and school has been very pleased with my behavior lately. I've been using these "yes" and "no" cards at school, so my teacher sent a copy home so Mom and Dad can use them with me here. I'm not totally successful but it's a work in progress. My teachers say I'm doing well in school, and they are really challenging and pushing me. I have also started speech therapy again with my very first speech therapist (hi Irna), and Mom is very happy about that! Even though Thanksgiving is behind us, my family and I have a lot to be thankful for. Including all of you who have supported me through the process of finding my dog, to those of you who check up just to see what mischief I'm in! :)<br />Have a great evening!<br />Love,<br />AaronDanicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-62126820728849449872008-11-20T19:59:00.000-08:002008-11-20T20:34:49.029-08:00Today's Brigadoon Visit<div style="text-align: left;">Today Mom, Madison and I went up to Brigadoon to hang out with Bond for about an hour. While we were there, I spent a lot of time petting Bond, sitting with him in his crate, and just hangin' out. I was much more engaged with Bond than I have been, and was initiating contact with him. It was fun for Mom and Denise to watch me interact with him. While we were there, Mom asked Denise about what is going to happen from here. So here is what is in store for us: There are two other dogs in front of me that need to be trained. They will start their formal training as soon as the holidays are over. Once they go to their new homes, Bond will start his formal training. That will include learning to track my scent, going different places, and practice being tethered to me. We're not sure yet how long that is going to take, so there is no set date that Bond will come home with me permanently. As it stands now, after the holidays Bond is going to come over to my house to do a home visit, and hang out on my "turf". We'll just kind of plan sporatic visits up to Brigadoon until his formal training starts, and then the "fun" (work) will begin! Here are some pictures of my visit today, and have a Happy Thanksgiving next week. My family has a lot to be thankful for this year, and one of the things we are thankful for is the support we have from all of you.<br /><br />With Love,<br />Aaron<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLH0nOK8w4k3sM0VcwVEnXAKNu5-2ZgSOM0bFVmEiMi7fWfwx8G7nrHG5GeK-YB0sdJKMuNtLg6P_CZseX7eqmNYGgvhD4fh9ZiKjwNbkbzIh-lXqmWgS-G-cTxDPizJuqCioFEzD0ME/s1600-h/P1040236.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLH0nOK8w4k3sM0VcwVEnXAKNu5-2ZgSOM0bFVmEiMi7fWfwx8G7nrHG5GeK-YB0sdJKMuNtLg6P_CZseX7eqmNYGgvhD4fh9ZiKjwNbkbzIh-lXqmWgS-G-cTxDPizJuqCioFEzD0ME/s320/P1040236.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270956600077622818" border="0" /></a>Saying hi to Bond<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMX5hgmSYQuxK3pbETuHOl0U-wfqbp66mVtEAKObPR0Gxnb24pa0IGZsTkUZOuI51gloNafjmFQLVX3UNJyi1YMcbCebfsDl7XRVNUpOwfTX0LAL6QXzCfqUP4q_X6q_Jtb3PXkx_b8Y/s1600-h/P1040258.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCMX5hgmSYQuxK3pbETuHOl0U-wfqbp66mVtEAKObPR0Gxnb24pa0IGZsTkUZOuI51gloNafjmFQLVX3UNJyi1YMcbCebfsDl7XRVNUpOwfTX0LAL6QXzCfqUP4q_X6q_Jtb3PXkx_b8Y/s320/P1040258.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270956252794289874" border="0" /></a>Playing on the kitty perch<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTqQjUcf7TdHZNmDqmg-lxOuTVil3xBb7o0hrVo4cUx1dGEG_W-OM53InPFcFQzvGF2MKJGVub1WIhfVkorunL4LT-nPOLJhRbFksOdcRrdkTwh831iNtHLeWllzWD9JI0nxCqb0DOIQ/s1600-h/P1040259.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTqQjUcf7TdHZNmDqmg-lxOuTVil3xBb7o0hrVo4cUx1dGEG_W-OM53InPFcFQzvGF2MKJGVub1WIhfVkorunL4LT-nPOLJhRbFksOdcRrdkTwh831iNtHLeWllzWD9JI0nxCqb0DOIQ/s320/P1040259.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270956256938763714" border="0" /></a>Playing in the dog crate<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpwIkWvKEqJewQ0VX5g1XYWDRt0hVaPtsLjBbHdR50aWXo8JazqK1K0tM9vlwo-kAEJT60rFZ3hLsbe1Mxd4MHhTytaokQWYPocOFyfkpQr4rSVznAlm0XJcpMy8Ppm_mZPOr9Fy_E-U/s1600-h/P1040264.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTpwIkWvKEqJewQ0VX5g1XYWDRt0hVaPtsLjBbHdR50aWXo8JazqK1K0tM9vlwo-kAEJT60rFZ3hLsbe1Mxd4MHhTytaokQWYPocOFyfkpQr4rSVznAlm0XJcpMy8Ppm_mZPOr9Fy_E-U/s320/P1040264.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270956249098299842" border="0" /></a>Bond hanging out in the crate with me<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk6JmYKnqWtwlSlmGaDTcR_bQznSUBIWQVBN0AfuQvJslMFfzWKvRbAbYjSflY-ItHiWzzw9jU6dmNWS_yrXug0CXEAjRSe7tTTZMJVFCp5vZMcS1PJrPjv6nQXes2_hFP3wjuMxUQe4/s1600-h/P1040270.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk6JmYKnqWtwlSlmGaDTcR_bQznSUBIWQVBN0AfuQvJslMFfzWKvRbAbYjSflY-ItHiWzzw9jU6dmNWS_yrXug0CXEAjRSe7tTTZMJVFCp5vZMcS1PJrPjv6nQXes2_hFP3wjuMxUQe4/s320/P1040270.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270956251635952050" border="0" /></a>Mom just thought this was an interesting picture...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHQ4zbm0WszcWJcOKfZYy0ObXXSGrY5qzayxVZQEnkz5LLSBQCm5uv_FaT6cbbmeYqmVrarKWy2trgyPzgHYJVaR3nNTLDOycJ76RNKQeoxIt_kCtL-zMmCkLFdHSHOsLTQFoltSft3c/s1600-h/P1040285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHQ4zbm0WszcWJcOKfZYy0ObXXSGrY5qzayxVZQEnkz5LLSBQCm5uv_FaT6cbbmeYqmVrarKWy2trgyPzgHYJVaR3nNTLDOycJ76RNKQeoxIt_kCtL-zMmCkLFdHSHOsLTQFoltSft3c/s320/P1040285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270955880359390594" border="0" /></a>Bond was getting ready to drag me around--for a second!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvH9SOIAWE0bttYrXEg_sX0NV5kWkXCJ_WTvr5MNXcSB7sKkYVA3VOZcQPeLG5S_nl9EeTZt_ueaaWMZR-CnrLM11A6nGRsAPZKncSMC0y4UHuKDH9TEs8HjGiAV8qXwH2tL08JR8dZzM/s1600-h/P1040287.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvH9SOIAWE0bttYrXEg_sX0NV5kWkXCJ_WTvr5MNXcSB7sKkYVA3VOZcQPeLG5S_nl9EeTZt_ueaaWMZR-CnrLM11A6nGRsAPZKncSMC0y4UHuKDH9TEs8HjGiAV8qXwH2tL08JR8dZzM/s320/P1040287.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270955871348444738" border="0" /></a>Giving Bond some lovin'<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3A0-j96JJlf7SzKnWPSfyqJEzSj-f3pYB_z-Ucs3bX-EsFIAPyy4eOttP2h2K37gNEs11WcCM619BVuYY8_T2RtlxWo3LUqAEfYpb6QifzXrlVDfC8dUTxQaCfDs8H_tJrAT3dnABQw/s1600-h/P1040299.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ3A0-j96JJlf7SzKnWPSfyqJEzSj-f3pYB_z-Ucs3bX-EsFIAPyy4eOttP2h2K37gNEs11WcCM619BVuYY8_T2RtlxWo3LUqAEfYpb6QifzXrlVDfC8dUTxQaCfDs8H_tJrAT3dnABQw/s320/P1040299.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270955867614538578" border="0" /></a>Taking a rest<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAeWuh45RH2C-vwlmij3viEdJK_jluIXnEy12fn9J1Rr-m3OfuxFTxCvBmv4QHW02i7vSYgpXrsnu7REyO8E96vTXfpUTvs8VOFdS3LEw1DY5ULi-ulnWnsdwUSU36tnkLWhiG-VIZg8/s1600-h/P1040301.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAeWuh45RH2C-vwlmij3viEdJK_jluIXnEy12fn9J1Rr-m3OfuxFTxCvBmv4QHW02i7vSYgpXrsnu7REyO8E96vTXfpUTvs8VOFdS3LEw1DY5ULi-ulnWnsdwUSU36tnkLWhiG-VIZg8/s320/P1040301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270955864283433954" border="0" /></a>Bond watching over me<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo-mK1IbyhPuYOsUkCel263MkdeiiheAJcyVyQMzUXsXnX3zHeiHrbaCq9R67asePq3JSzyKFI6T_OzNCUBusgGE0Z3HXVVLEfa9X30ywQM7ZsNrWI6BNcJhJu-grIv2hbGkwlq_w5b8/s1600-h/P1040308.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGo-mK1IbyhPuYOsUkCel263MkdeiiheAJcyVyQMzUXsXnX3zHeiHrbaCq9R67asePq3JSzyKFI6T_OzNCUBusgGE0Z3HXVVLEfa9X30ywQM7ZsNrWI6BNcJhJu-grIv2hbGkwlq_w5b8/s320/P1040308.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270955862056629970" border="0" /></a>Sleeping in the car after a long (1 hour) visit--or because I was up at 5:30....<br /></div>Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-60231010836031965062008-11-12T12:13:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:37:13.662-08:00Why try?Yesterday was NOT a good day. It seems like we are having a lot of those lately. It was Veteran's Day yesterday so I was out of school. Sometimes I do okay when I'm outside of my routine, and other times I don't. Yesterday was one of those days. Mom went from mess to mess, cleaning up after me. As soon as she started cleaning up the mess I had just made, I went on to a new one. She tried to be proactive and play with me, but there are two other kids, and Dad is sick right now too. Mom's breaking point was a shampoo incident. She recently bought shampoo in the form of a bar because I was dumping liquid shampoo left and right. She figured that a solid bar would put an end to cleaning up shampoo and supporting Suave. :) She was wrong. While she was checking up on Dad to see if he needed anything, I got into the shower, grabbed the bar of shampoo and scraped/smeared it all over the bathroom. When she found me (she had been in there less than 5 minutes) I was standing IN the toilet, the bar of shampoo was in there with me (she is SO glad I didn't flush it), and bar shampoo was everywhere. She was not happy. She had a long way to go before bedtime, so she just hung on until then, and I managed to live through the day. :) Today I went to school, so it should be a better day--maybe.Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-2515636438254808572008-11-06T21:33:00.000-08:002008-11-06T21:33:47.681-08:00Mom can't wait for my friendI'm going to put a disclaimer on this post so there is no confusion. Mom is not expecting Bond to "fix" me or prevent me from all of the destruction I have planned; however, Mom IS looking forward to the possibility of less mess! So here is how the last few days have played out: I have been sick with a cold, so last week was a rough week for all of us. I have been known to throw little temper tantrums every once in a while, but this past week I have thrown some of the worst tantrums my parents, therapist and school has ever seen. It has been really hard on Mom and Dad this week, and they are kind of at a loss of what to do. So in addition to that going on, I have been enjoying getting into a little more trouble. Other than my usual shampoo dumping (which I have moved to the toilet) here is a story. Sunday turned into a particularly not-so-good-day with my mom. The day started out fairly nice. Mom and I went to Target and Costco to do a little shopping. She bought me a piece of pizza and we had lunch together before we did our shopping. Once we were done with Costco, Mom put me in the car and started unloading the groceries from the cart into the trunk. At this point I found a cup of water, went to the back seat, and dumped it all over the seat. I looked her right in the eye as I did it too! (She said "no" before I dumped it, but I didn't listen). She gently and nicely told me to sit down in my seat, so I did--I knew I was in trouble! She finished unloading the groceries, closed the door and took the cart back. She got in the car and started driving off when she smelled something....and decided to look back at me. Well, while she was gone putting the cart away (literally 10 seconds away), I decided to get into the two cans of shaving cream that were in a bag. I thought the inside of the car would look so much nicer with shaving cream all over it--oh and myself. It was a big mess, and at that point I'm pretty lucky I'm alive. She cleaned me up the best she could and drove on home. (Ironically Mom had to buy new shaving cream because I had emptied the last one). So by this time Mom had had it, but the day was young (only 1:30)....fast forward to the evening... Mom looked at the computer I use because it was turned off only to find it sitting in a pool of water. Yes, my computer is now fried. No more computer for me. :( I am very sad, and Mom is trying to have sympathy, but at the same time she is mourning the loss of a computer at my hands. So, I'm not sure what I'm going to do now. She won't let me near her computer (I'm not sure why), so I'm kind of on self-inflicted computer restriction. So if you have a magic trick to resurrect a computer, please please please let her know. :)<br /><br />Well I'm tired thinking about all the trouble I got into this weekend!!! Mom thought I was having a fairly good evening until I got into the shampoo.....oh well. It's bedtime now, so it should be trouble-free around here for a few hours anyway. Nighty night!Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-65086130011810098792008-11-06T21:18:00.000-08:002008-11-06T21:32:03.037-08:00Pictures of trouble and fun<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCveiwcNP9Zr0nxGF3MwQWiMrkCRxkh0SaUzJrbQiJJQj2RXtzljJgHhzhjnhVt_I5JNpXBErLzi3Yq_Pvm3rBc5AtBtTo-4n23YaFqT4MD7RJ-G41ksVnXLOJy5VKdtzK7TgJrkNZvU/s1600-h/P1040083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCveiwcNP9Zr0nxGF3MwQWiMrkCRxkh0SaUzJrbQiJJQj2RXtzljJgHhzhjnhVt_I5JNpXBErLzi3Yq_Pvm3rBc5AtBtTo-4n23YaFqT4MD7RJ-G41ksVnXLOJy5VKdtzK7TgJrkNZvU/s320/P1040083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265782835743411906" border="0" /></a>No one knows how I fit in here, but I do...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIs_t3govnmRDoKAKLuTXR4Fx8ajFtKOJC2yPdGD9FLZ89TSBGjizu49cm8uad5VboSotqLlJE6ufS9wZ_IxrmO2wIXgmtJOcYHap5SxVNUrSc44ObN-6zbRzeBBPIr9LWwMa-xsnN7U/s1600-h/P1040085.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimIs_t3govnmRDoKAKLuTXR4Fx8ajFtKOJC2yPdGD9FLZ89TSBGjizu49cm8uad5VboSotqLlJE6ufS9wZ_IxrmO2wIXgmtJOcYHap5SxVNUrSc44ObN-6zbRzeBBPIr9LWwMa-xsnN7U/s320/P1040085.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265782830270798594" border="0" /></a>At least this time I didn't have any shampoo<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITCUOmw3Lz2NlFEKuiK_jZWPoKqVzeM4wgnF_AWqR5cD6YRM4pBsobN1a7qleo2bNa78iNBbzE9CXbho6VUw9p4wJ2A8s5DjJwKQ1A9jkHcEruItFYcyZsy9PXpS0eJc-TzN4u_OiUHA/s1600-h/P1040075.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITCUOmw3Lz2NlFEKuiK_jZWPoKqVzeM4wgnF_AWqR5cD6YRM4pBsobN1a7qleo2bNa78iNBbzE9CXbho6VUw9p4wJ2A8s5DjJwKQ1A9jkHcEruItFYcyZsy9PXpS0eJc-TzN4u_OiUHA/s320/P1040075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265782092094986242" border="0" /></a>Me playing on the computer that WAS<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUtCvZ2EVlV9gIWNJ-7U0gfTtXVwU9gqgowiFn_Fe9ozpGUtcyynM-_QobZ7hA12E4H8FZIS5dtAHqbG3_nmLVFPH_v1WjDqDM8IgZHtYb9x5l86fLWO91lS6jtZTW50Cbeuq0MM5nU0/s1600-h/2008_1026+217a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUtCvZ2EVlV9gIWNJ-7U0gfTtXVwU9gqgowiFn_Fe9ozpGUtcyynM-_QobZ7hA12E4H8FZIS5dtAHqbG3_nmLVFPH_v1WjDqDM8IgZHtYb9x5l86fLWO91lS6jtZTW50Cbeuq0MM5nU0/s320/2008_1026+217a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265782091512638178" border="0" /></a>This picture was taken by my Auntie Noel. We were supposed to be doing family pictures, and I was done for at this point. So I just kept walking away and then walking back again. This picture has come to symbolize what it's like to live in a family with autism. There's my family, waiting for me to come and join them. <br /><br /></div>Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-15075215631570343632008-10-22T16:36:00.000-07:002008-10-27T21:22:09.026-07:00Especially Naughty & Brigadoon Graduation CeremonyI haven't posted for a while, but I have been keeping mom on her toes (and the soap companies in business) so I thought I'd give you a few quick stories. Over the past week, I have dumped an entire bottle of shampoo (in the toilet), a bottle of liquid hand soap (in the sink), and my mom's NICE bathwash (in the bathtub--it has a cool pump)--oh and have emptied 3 (yes THREE) cans of shaving cream. (Mom wants to add that they really do watch me--I just sneak away too quick and am sooooo quiet). I didn't think it was fair that my mom was the only person subject to my tornado of destruction, so when we went over to a friend's house last night, I snuck away (from the babysitter who was supposed to be watching me) to the bathtub and emptied HER entire bottle of shampoo. Boy was that a mess to clean up (sorry Mandy). Mom is a little tired of liquid being poured everywhere, so she is wondering if anyone knows of shampoo in the form of a bar? She'll have to buy one for all of her friends though! I have also been sneaking scissors and hiding them so I can cut off my tracking device when no one is looking. I think they are going to start charging mom for all of the bands I've cut through! They now have to keep extra ones at school too because I'm cutting them off there too!<br /><br />On another note, Mom, Grum and Madison attended Brigadoon's Graduation Ceremony on Sunday. Denise held graduation for four service dogs who have gone to live with their person. It was very imspirational to hear their stories, and see how their dog is making a difference in their life. There was one boy there about my age with autism whose dog was graduating. He was harnessed, and kept looking around trying to get away. The dog was tethered to him and just sat there so he couldn't go anywhere. It was a moving time, and at the end Denise told my mom that next year that would be me up there on that stage. This ceremony was also a fundraiser, and I'm hoping that Denise raised a bunch of money for her organization. They have a ton of needs--so if you know anyone who wants to donate to a worthy cause, her organization could definitely use the help.<br /><br />Mom is working with Denise to set up a time for me to go up there and visit with Bond again, so we'll keep you posted as soon as that visit happens. Have a great day!Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3952042416575982995.post-89935984974798456402008-10-01T12:20:00.000-07:002008-10-01T13:27:31.084-07:00"I think you've got a dog"Those were the words from Denise on Saturday when my mom took me up to Brigadoon. Here's what happened: Mom took me, Cameron and Madison up to Brigadoon on Saturday. Up until this point she hasn't taken Cameron and Madison because she's wanted the focus to be on me (and besides they ask a TON of questions). But this time they had to come. When we got up there Denise had Bond out and Madison went up to him and started to give him treats. This made Mom a little nervous because she didn't want Bond to pay more attention to Cameron and Madison than me. So we went outside, and there the magic happened. Bond ignored Cameron and Madison and followed me around. Mom says you have to see it to believe it--she was amazed at the instinct that Bond had. To top it off, I was responsive to Bond and didn't mind having him with me the entire time. I would pet him, I threw a ball to him a couple of times, and tried to ride him like a horse!! The "ah ha" moment they have been waiting for finally happened. At the end Denise said she was "grinning from ear to ear inside". So, Bond is going to be MINE! So where do we go from here? Starting soon (probably end of October, beginning of November)--Denise will start training Bond for what I need. I'm not sure how long that process is going to take, but in the mean time I'll be heading up there for visits to continue "bonding" with Bond! :) I'll continue to keep you all posted, so keep checking back! If you have any other burning questions, post them and I'll write up a response! Here are some pictures from our very successful visit!!!Danicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01803237176911671053noreply@blogger.com0