Trial and Error...

So, I have now had this camera for a year. I am still shooting in auto 99.9% of the time. I admit, I ‘m a complete chicken when it comes to learning new things and I am terrified to have the camera around the kids and I just can’t seem to take the time to learn it. So one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to learn how to really utilize what this camera is capable of.


Tonight, I decided to try something beside auto and used both the manual and aperture priority settings. I didn’t do much. Just a few pictures of the girls using the 50MM lens. Now, if I can just learn Photoshop and not be intimidated by it, I could probably have some decent looking pictures.

Here are a few from tonight:

We had edible playdoh (which I highly recommend trying out long before dinner). I let them do this playdoh activity about 3pm, and at 6pm they would not touch their chicken nuggets or french fries. What kid doesn’t love both those? Anyhow, I guess they’d had enough sugar from the peanut butter playdoh and toppings, they decided dinner was not necessary. Betcha they are all 3 starving come breakfast time in the morning.

Bathtime tonight:

 

Audrie gets my HIGH FIVE for the day: She is finally riding a tricycle. Yay... Go Audrie.

Halle gets a SHOUT OUT for cleaning and vacuuming the downstairs without a fuss. Of course I did bribe her with watching her favorite show called I-carly… but hey, whatever works-right!!!

Katlynn gets my BRAGGING RIGHTS.  She is saying so many new words lately and it is so cute.  Even if she is imitating or being prompted, I don't care... as long as they are coming out.  It makes me giddy to know she is progressing. 

On another Autism research kick

Well, I am sure many if not all of you know Katlynn has Autism. She was diagnosed in late July 2009. If, it had been up to me, it would have been months sooner, but I finally became the squeaky wheel and demanded her be evaluated and when she was old enough Dr.s finally agreed to assess her. Her diagnosis came back just as I suspected- classic autism. Long story short, I was an autism book reading, internet searching zombie for the first 2 months. The only thing on my mind was to find out about this “diagnosis” my daughter had. I began talking to other people and gaining more and more information. So now I know the definition of autism, spectrum disorders and treatments. I am still baffled at research studies with fraternal twin girls. There is virtually no information out there. My case seems less common in the autism world. The percentage for fraternal twin girl(s) having Autism is pretty low from what I can find. I am sure there are still hundreds of cases undiagnosed out there, but I would love to be part of a research study and get more information on the possible link between genetics and fraternal twin girls and autism. I would also like Halle to be studied. Somewhere, somehow, I think there is a genetic link between my two girls, but I can’t get people to see that. I honestly think, sometimes, both girls should be on the spectrum. Halle only shows sensory issues and no other red flags for anything under the spectrum umbrella, but she and Katlynn have so many similarities and I am just very curious. I contacted a couple medical universities with Autism research programs to see if they are conducting any research studies so we will see if they get back to me and maybe I can gain more insight on all this.

My attempt to Pay-it-forward in the new year

Was a complete failure.

I was at WINCO last night grabbing some quick items and as I was leaving there was a woman sitting outside the store and she asked me for spare change and looked a little worn down or even homeless. I told her that I would like to buy her some dinner at the little pizza joint inside the store if she was hungry. She said all she needed was a few dollars. I apologized to her and started to walk away. She wanted to know why she could not have the money if I had cash to buy her dinner... WTH? She seemed disgusted at the fact I was not just going to give her cash (which I am sure was going to go support some nasty, stupid habit) Where and how did my generosity get all twisted?

Moms Group

I created a local moms group on cafemom about 2 years ago.  I have since made some wonderful friends from it.  Currently, it seems to have died down some, but I think it is due to many people converting to twitter and facebook.  Well, I am anti-twitter.  You won't catch me getting started on that business, so I am gradually moving the group to facebook.  If you are a local mom in the Rancho Cucamonga or Fontana area, search for the group RANCHO/FONTANA MOMMIES on facebook.  Request to join the group and meet some really great, supportive people, who are moms going through the same thing other moms are. 

2010 Starting off pretty good!!

Well, I got word My sweet Lil' Red was approved for 80 hours of ABA a month.  This should help her make leaps and bounds of progress.  I will be homebound a lot more now though. That is the stinky part of it.  Our schedules are gonna have to be on a tight rope for the next 5 months.  Katlynn only gets this service until she is 3, which happens to be in May, so I want to take advantage of it for the next 5 months.   We can handle it.  All I want is for my baby girl to live as normal of a life as possible. 

We also went to a new pediatrician last week and she requested several labs to see if Red has any allergies and gastro or other issues we didn't know about it.  She had to give 14 vials of blood... poor girl, but she barely even cried.  She was such a trooper.  Now, I am still trying to figure out how to get urine samples out of an autistic non-potty trained 2 year old girl.  Any ideas?

I was also very happy to see Audrie taking up for Halle tonight when she got into trouble with dad.  It was very sweet.  Audrie came to me and said, "mom, dad not being nice to my sis-er!"  I couldn't help but smile and even laugh a little.  I makes me so happy that all 3 of them have eachother to lean on for support and friendship.

I attempted to learn to snowboard yesterday with my friend, Cortney.  I was not so great.  Bruised arce and wrists, but I survived.  Gonna give it another attempt next week... wish me luck I will stay upright a little more then I did yesterday.