Where a husband and wife blog to: continue the story told in a book called Dancing in Cornmeal: Life with Autism; enhance the conversation about autism; relieve a writer's need to write; inspire (when the stuff here is really good); network; and share - especially recipes that follow the SCD and Paleo diets. See "Welcome" under TOPICS for a better description, then just keep reading along...

Friday, August 2, 2013

How a Non-Talking Paleo Girl Speaks Clearly

Craig called me to the kitchen, saying, “Lauren just told me something as clear as day.  Come here.”

I thought, ‘What?  Did she set her shoes by the door to the garage, start the Keurig, hand you your keys and pop into the bathroom?’  That’s how she clearly states she would like a car ride.  (Keurig on because Dad always brews himself a quick cup for the drive to keep himself awake.)

When I entered the kitchen, Craig waved his hand like Vanna, drawing my attention to…

8-1-2013 5 Empty shelf where pans are kept:

 

8-1-2013 2 

 

 

 

:3 pans on stovetop.

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2 packages of bacon (that were in the freezer last we knew) & a pair of scissors from the drawer:

 

 

 

“Could she say it any clearer?”

“LOTS OF BACON…”  (he says pointing to bacon packages)…

8-1-2013 3

COOK IT QUICKLY” he says pointing to the 3 pans.

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And that, my friends, is how a non-verbal girl gets her paleo on.  (Yes, we ate bacon for dinner that night.)

The next bacon purchase is going into the big freezer that’s behind a locked door.

(Lauren’s communication device is broken, and we’re working on getting it fixed.  It has a “talking” picture of bacon that she typically would press if she desired to have a conversation about bacon.  Yes, “a conversation about” bacon.  It’s not a “press to request” system, or the girl would press that button 3 times a day.) 

Friday, July 26, 2013

Love, Vision, Patience and a Whole Lot of Work: DIY Home Renovation and Autism

The purpose of my last blog post was to convey the positive changes in Lauren and in our house as a result of our renovation.  It didn’t occur to me that it gave a skewed perspective of the last year of our lives.  I thought the adjective “DIY” was enough for any reader to understand that this was not a simple undertaking, and that we’re not working with an abundance of wealth here.  (If we were, we would have hired a contractor for just about everything, as Lauren can keep us busy 24/7 without anything extra on the agenda.)

Sunday, June 30, 2013

We’re Back! Post-renovation Update

Nine months have passed since my last blog post.  I intended no more than six months, but…that’s life with autism.  Our DIY (with the help of friends) home renovation began (as a kitchen renovation) with the removal of an upper kitchen cabinet on Memorial Day weekend 2012.  We officially declared the renovation “complete” on Memorial Day weekend 2013. The label “complete” was for the purpose of sanity.  There is quarter-round molding to be installed, a few paint touch-ups to be made, placement of electrical switches to be perfected.  (Craig’s ability to do this himself, and Lauren’s '”interest in” light switches, results in more migrating of switches in our home than in the average home.)  Our house is exactly 40 years old this year, so there are always problems to be addressed.  So like it was before the renovation, and ever shall be, there will never be a lack of home improvement projects to choose from each weekend.

The facts that deem the renovation “complete” are:
Our home is 100% livable.  We can cook any meal without lack of any appliance.  We can have guests over (even overnight) and there is space for everyone to be comfortable.  And I am happy with the home I have to present to the world.  I no longer think, “We can have so-and-so over after such-and-such is done.”
  
So now that you know “complete” is relative, onto the important question.

Did the renovation accomplish all that we hoped it would for Lauren’s world and our relationship with her?