Winter Skies

It is COLD, really cold! There is snow on the ground, but the winds don't make it pleasant to be outside. One of the good things about winter here in Alaska are the beautiful skies and we were blessed with a pretty view tonight. Sun is setting and it is only 5 PM.

Parenting a special needs child

Having twin special needs toddlers can be exhausting some days and others you simply shake your head and smile. I know some of you have dealt first hand with the boys and know what I'm talking about and I've seen some of your faces when they've done something that is just insane and our reactions are grounded. But, we've learned that reacting extremely to the things they do isn't good for our health. LOL!

One story I've found myself telling a few times lately is about Matt. He's profoundly deaf, but has a cochlear implant that allows him to "hear" when it is on and attached to his head. He frequently takes it off so he can't hear you telling him not to do something and he'll avoid eye contact and not look at the signing you're using to communicate, the little stinker.

He loves to jump, on anything (trampoline, bed, couch, etc) and was outside jumping on the trampoline one afternoon. He came inside without his "ear". I asked him where it was and he ran to the trampoline, but then ran back inside clearly telling me he didn't intend to put it back on. I searched the grass and found the grey BTE (part that goes behind the ear), but couldn't find the BROWN coil (part that attaches the BTE to his head and contains a magnet). Magnet!! Brown!!!

I got a metal shovel and started passing it over the ground hoping the coil magnet would attach to it. No luck. Michael joined in the search. 15 minutes pass and still no BROWN coil. Then I start thinking about all of the metal on the trampoline and look at the posts. There is the coil about 1/3 of the way up a METAL post on the trampoline! He must have gotten too close to the sides and the magnetized coil pulled off his head and stuck to a post!!

We laughed at ourselves. "So what did you do with the kids this afternoon?" "Oh, just searched for a coil and found it on the post. Put the CI back together so the kid could hear again."

The Hat Box

As part of the initiation process, the prospective chiefs were charged with making a hat box. Michael decided that because he is a true sailor, he needed a sea chest. He used design plans from an original chest used on the Coast Guard Light Ship Nantucket.

Michael's Chief's Initiation Ceremony

November 2, 2007

Michael's USGC Chief Initiation Ceremony at the Golden Anchor on Base Kodiak, Alaska.

I had to "pin" him with his chief anchors and managed to only stick myself, thank goodness.

Martha & John Helms, US Navy and Sam & Burt Ford (Michael's sponser) with us.

Halloween

Michael and I attended the Elk's Club Halloween party last weekend with some Navy friends. We had a good time and had forgotten how much fun it is to dress up as an adult. It was total last minute with Michael grabbing a wrench and a rag for his back pocket out of the garage before leaving and me safety pinning the pink poodle - that you can't see - on my skirt.

The night of Halloween, the Helms boys came over to trick-or-treat with Tribe Vorholt. The weather was miserable with cold rain, but that didn't stop the older kids from spending 2 hours collecting candy. Matt and Nick enjoyed handing out candy and seeing the costumes that came to the door.

Frozen, wet, whiny children in need of blankets and hot chocolate soon filled our home. They had a great time, though, and so did we. We are looking forward to a warm Halloween next year - costumes without snow suits and jackets????