It is pneumonia. And something else. Still not sure. Anyway, Ian was doing peachy until the afternoon when he tanked. Oxygen levels in the sixties. Lots of doctors scurrying. Couple shots of adrenaline and hours on the nebulizer. Ian turned into the Incredible Hulk, requiring four nurses to hold him down in order to poke him a few times to find his itsy bitsy teeny weenie veins for an IV.
He's in intensive care tonight so they can monitor him full-time. He was doing groovy when I left and Annie just called to let me know he's off the nebulizer. How he hates that contraption. Like Bush hates a two-part question.
Annie ran into a friend from our Down syndrome group; turns out her daughter has been there for nine days! Please, God, let that be the exception.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Hospital stay
Annie took Ian to the doctor yesterday to see how the antibiotics are helping his pneumonia. His oxygen levels were down around seventy percent so they sent him to Children's Hospital in an ambulance.They've done a lot of tests on him and determined that it's not RSV and may indeed not even be pneumonia, but may be a virus and/or bacterial infection. He still needs constant oxygen to breath and they changed his antibiotic prescription last night. Annie stayed the night with him and Ian seems to be doing better today. He downed a bottle and a half of milk and is once again doling out his award-winning smiles.
Silvi and I will go visit in a bit; hope it's the last night he has to spend there. After all, I wouldn't want our cat thinking it's safe to sleep on the living room floor once again.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Merry hack, cough Christmas
We're all sick. Both kids have pneumonia; Annie and I have colds and fevers.
Christmas Eve Day and all four of us had fevers. Ian is doing the nebulizer every four hours. Two trips to Urgent Care. One trip for Silvi. Lots of lying on the couch and watching movies. Poor Ian is miserable.
That was also the day I shot a music video on three hours of sleep after Silvi had a reaction to cold medicine and spent the night tossing in our bed. I shot all day with 102 fever, then crawled into bed, aching. Had to skip the Christmas Eve party with my parents.
Christmas Day we made it to Annie's parents house - barely - and probably should have stayed home. Fevers and, well, you get the jest of it. Send Kleenex.
Yesterday I worked for five hours shooting for my new company, again with a fever. Salsa dancing and performance art.
Right now I'm down at my office, editing the music video, and yes, another fever. Wonder how it will affect the finished video? Did Lewis Carroll have a fever when he wrote Alice in Wonderland?
Christmas Eve Day and all four of us had fevers. Ian is doing the nebulizer every four hours. Two trips to Urgent Care. One trip for Silvi. Lots of lying on the couch and watching movies. Poor Ian is miserable.
That was also the day I shot a music video on three hours of sleep after Silvi had a reaction to cold medicine and spent the night tossing in our bed. I shot all day with 102 fever, then crawled into bed, aching. Had to skip the Christmas Eve party with my parents.
Christmas Day we made it to Annie's parents house - barely - and probably should have stayed home. Fevers and, well, you get the jest of it. Send Kleenex.
Yesterday I worked for five hours shooting for my new company, again with a fever. Salsa dancing and performance art.
Right now I'm down at my office, editing the music video, and yes, another fever. Wonder how it will affect the finished video? Did Lewis Carroll have a fever when he wrote Alice in Wonderland?
Friday, December 19, 2008
Beauty
I can't think of a better way to return to blogging than to begin with an image of my gorgeous daughter, Silvi.
She and I had a daddy-daughter date last night, going to our favorite place, The Global Market. Thursday nights are especially fun because they usually have live music, as they did last night. We always visit the fresh fish counter, look at the lobsters, eat Mexican tamales and rice and beans and spend time picking just the right sweets in the candy store. There's a mostly deserted hallway where we end up playing tag or stand on the walkway to watch the bicyclists pass below.
The last month and a half has been a walk through the refining fire. I'm not going to share here just yet - perhaps never - the details of my struggle. Suffice it to say that I am starting down a new path, one that I am ultra excited to be on.
I'm closing down my Narrow Ridge side business that focused on philosophy and training videos. In it's place I have created a new company called Latitude 81 (now Wanderview Films) that will work within the fashion and creative arts industry. I had my first shoot this past Tuesday night with a model that I hired to fashion various outfits. I haven't had a chance to edit the video yet, but you can find a sample of it here.
To switch from philosophy to fashion may seem to be a complete about face to many people. I don't see it that way. Part of why I loved philosophy - and still do - is because of the orderliness and beauty of the thought and language. Much like mathematicians find beauty in a proof or a poet in the rhythm of words.
Ian and Silvi have impacted my view of philosophy deeply. They have drawn me out of abstraction into the concrete world, though I still struggle with favoring fantasy over reality. The nature of the arts, I suppose.
This brings me to the title of this post - beauty. The fashion world is consumed with beauty and mostly with surface beauty. Surface beauty is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. The symmetry and orderliness of a beautiful face or body, as our culture defines such things, point us toward what we all aspire for - perfection. And the line between false beauty and true beauty is fine; the fashion industry is rampant with false beauty, fantasy and illusion.
But...
There is something in our hearts that longs for the beautiful. Just because many, if not most, fashion has as its focus the sensual (this is often sexual, but not always - I draw a distinction) does not mean we must abandon it. I love the union of style and clothes with the grace and elegance of a model's body. It calls to something within me. Reminds me of something lost. Makes me feel alive. Sparks my creativity, my passion, and yes, even draws me into the presence of God.
Yes, it is surface beauty. And Ian's smile and laughter strikes deeper into my soul than any walk down the fashion runway. I don't know how to merge these two world's yet. I am just beginning to walk, to learn, to make mistakes, to fumble my way through a fashion world wrought with pitfalls, yet where I desire to go.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so the saying goes... the tagline for my company is "Beauty beyond the boundaries." The short clip I posted for you to see on my site is just a glimpse of a segment I'm calling simply - "Dance." I hope you do.
She and I had a daddy-daughter date last night, going to our favorite place, The Global Market. Thursday nights are especially fun because they usually have live music, as they did last night. We always visit the fresh fish counter, look at the lobsters, eat Mexican tamales and rice and beans and spend time picking just the right sweets in the candy store. There's a mostly deserted hallway where we end up playing tag or stand on the walkway to watch the bicyclists pass below.The last month and a half has been a walk through the refining fire. I'm not going to share here just yet - perhaps never - the details of my struggle. Suffice it to say that I am starting down a new path, one that I am ultra excited to be on.
I'm closing down my Narrow Ridge side business that focused on philosophy and training videos. In it's place I have created a new company called Latitude 81 (now Wanderview Films) that will work within the fashion and creative arts industry. I had my first shoot this past Tuesday night with a model that I hired to fashion various outfits. I haven't had a chance to edit the video yet, but you can find a sample of it here.
To switch from philosophy to fashion may seem to be a complete about face to many people. I don't see it that way. Part of why I loved philosophy - and still do - is because of the orderliness and beauty of the thought and language. Much like mathematicians find beauty in a proof or a poet in the rhythm of words.
Ian and Silvi have impacted my view of philosophy deeply. They have drawn me out of abstraction into the concrete world, though I still struggle with favoring fantasy over reality. The nature of the arts, I suppose.
This brings me to the title of this post - beauty. The fashion world is consumed with beauty and mostly with surface beauty. Surface beauty is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. The symmetry and orderliness of a beautiful face or body, as our culture defines such things, point us toward what we all aspire for - perfection. And the line between false beauty and true beauty is fine; the fashion industry is rampant with false beauty, fantasy and illusion.
But...
There is something in our hearts that longs for the beautiful. Just because many, if not most, fashion has as its focus the sensual (this is often sexual, but not always - I draw a distinction) does not mean we must abandon it. I love the union of style and clothes with the grace and elegance of a model's body. It calls to something within me. Reminds me of something lost. Makes me feel alive. Sparks my creativity, my passion, and yes, even draws me into the presence of God.
Yes, it is surface beauty. And Ian's smile and laughter strikes deeper into my soul than any walk down the fashion runway. I don't know how to merge these two world's yet. I am just beginning to walk, to learn, to make mistakes, to fumble my way through a fashion world wrought with pitfalls, yet where I desire to go.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so the saying goes... the tagline for my company is "Beauty beyond the boundaries." The short clip I posted for you to see on my site is just a glimpse of a segment I'm calling simply - "Dance." I hope you do.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Monday, December 08, 2008
A little something
I met with a blogging friend last night who said I should at least blog a little something.
A little something.
Ha, ha. I crack myself up.
A little something.
Ha, ha. I crack myself up.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Passages
It would be an understatement to say that it's been a completely transformational - and thoroughly challenging - experience since Ian joined us. It's exposed the hidden, revealed the true and shaken many of my foundations. I've got so many emotions swirling around in my head that I think I'll take a break from blogging for awhile and just journal. It may be just a week or a month, or longer. Not sure. Hope to see you on the other side.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Me Hulk, you run
Silvi has started making Ian cry. She thinks its funny to watch his bottom lip drop lower and lower until it gives way to a full-blown frown. Her smile disappears quickly, however, when her chilled daddy undergoes a dramatic metamorphosis from mild-mannered Bruce Banner into the raging Hulk.
You think you've dealt with all your childhood anger issues until you watch your daughter push your son into the side of a chair for the fun of it. It's then that you realize that deep down, the anger lurks, waiting, hiding.
Since the law frowns on covering toddlers with Velcro and sticking them to the wall until they outgrow such behavior, guess it's time to give the old therapist another call. Or up those antidepressants.
"You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
You think you've dealt with all your childhood anger issues until you watch your daughter push your son into the side of a chair for the fun of it. It's then that you realize that deep down, the anger lurks, waiting, hiding.
Since the law frowns on covering toddlers with Velcro and sticking them to the wall until they outgrow such behavior, guess it's time to give the old therapist another call. Or up those antidepressants.
"You wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Living heroes
(Updated: I suppose I should give a quick reason why these folks made my hero list. )
I have quite a few heroes who have passed on, but thought I'd jot down a few who are still living (other than my family, of course).
In no particular order:
I have quite a few heroes who have passed on, but thought I'd jot down a few who are still living (other than my family, of course).
In no particular order:
- Jimmy Carter - He practices what he preaches, is a peacemaker, diplomat and cares for the least of the least.
- Kofi Annan - Certainly a flawed man, but he worked tirelessly for human rights and justice and carried himself with a quiet strength. He's also from Ghana, where Annie grew up.
- Asne Seierstad - She's a journalist and an author from Norway who travels tirelessly to tell small stories about people from Kabul to Chechnya. I envy her life.
- Nanni Moretti - My favorite filmmaker. From Italy; I own most of his films and watch them over and over. Quirky, sad, lonely, funny, irritating.
- Eugene Peterson - A true pastor's heart, author of books that always challenge me and translator of one of my favorite versions of the Bible. A gentle man who loves stories.
- Gurinder Chadha - It takes real talent to tackle a subject like the role of Indian women in British society and make it so fun. And Gurinder seems to have a great personality to boot.
- N.T. Wright - Renowned British theologian, his book Jesus and the Victory of God made what was once common new.
- Peter Kreeft - The surfing philosophy professor. Always writing with a twinkle in his eye, his books give definition to some rather murky subjects.
- Richard Dahlstrom - A pastor in Seattle that continues to mentor me through his blog and sermons.
- Christiane Amanpour - Working on assignment with CNN, she always covers the hot spots with a level head and years of experience.
- Colin Powell - Always trying to form international coalitions, trying to moderate between extremes, used by many leaders for their own gain, Colin Powell continues to remain dignified and a diplomat.
- Sofia Coppola - Director of Lost in Translation, she knows how to capture nuance and subtlety. And if the behind the scenes documentary is true, she is one of the most laid back directors in Hollywood... a rarity.
- Stanley Hauerwas - Has championed the cause of those with intellectual disabilities since the 1970's.
- John Irving - A Prayer for Owen Meany. Period.
- Paul David Hewson - OK, so I put Bono on the list. I truely do admire his determination for helping Africa. And I could listen to Vertigo anytime.
- Mira Nair - Another excellent director who deals with cross-cultural issues. Start with Monsoon Wedding.
- Julian Schnabel - Filmmaker and bold artist. Reminds me a lot of a friend of mine.
Puppy dog eyes
Yesterday's post read sadder than I intended it to. And I know sad.
We live on the garden level and lately Silvi has been rushing to the window to watch me leave for work. She climbs up onto the arm of the couch and presses her nose against the glass, flashing her big puppy dog eyes, often with tears streaming from them. I try to make her laugh by doing something silly, but usually the last thing I see as I drive away is her sad face and her delicate little hand raised, trying to keep me home for just a moment longer.
That, my online friends, is sad. Helluva way to start each day.
We live on the garden level and lately Silvi has been rushing to the window to watch me leave for work. She climbs up onto the arm of the couch and presses her nose against the glass, flashing her big puppy dog eyes, often with tears streaming from them. I try to make her laugh by doing something silly, but usually the last thing I see as I drive away is her sad face and her delicate little hand raised, trying to keep me home for just a moment longer.
That, my online friends, is sad. Helluva way to start each day.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Teriyaki friends
There's a lot I miss about living in Seattle, like the teriyaki chicken restaurants that seemed to be everywhere. I went to the Mall of America for lunch today because I was craving teriyaki chicken and knew of a place that served it there. What a disappointment. Chewy, fatty chicken, bland sauce. It seems impossible to find good teriyaki chicken in Minneapolis.
I also miss the friends I had in Seattle. It's hard to maintain friendships when you move around as much as I do. Did. You probably notice the absence of many other people in the pictures I post. (There wouldn't be room for them anyway, seeing how my shoe is in every other shot.) I know a few people here in the twin cities, but not well enough to call up or do the pop in with. I've got a large extended family nearby, and that is super-fantastic-wonderful. But not the same as having good friends.
How does a forty-year-old man go about making friends? Join a softball team? Writers group? Church functions? Take up electric guitar lessons and join a Motley Crue tribute band?
Maybe I'll make a lot of money and then buy some friends.
And then I'll also have fresh teriyaki chicken flown directly from Seattle at least once a week.
Or maybe I'll just keep taking pictures of my shoe.
I also miss the friends I had in Seattle. It's hard to maintain friendships when you move around as much as I do. Did. You probably notice the absence of many other people in the pictures I post. (There wouldn't be room for them anyway, seeing how my shoe is in every other shot.) I know a few people here in the twin cities, but not well enough to call up or do the pop in with. I've got a large extended family nearby, and that is super-fantastic-wonderful. But not the same as having good friends.
How does a forty-year-old man go about making friends? Join a softball team? Writers group? Church functions? Take up electric guitar lessons and join a Motley Crue tribute band?
Maybe I'll make a lot of money and then buy some friends.
And then I'll also have fresh teriyaki chicken flown directly from Seattle at least once a week.
Or maybe I'll just keep taking pictures of my shoe.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Thought during nap time
Existentialism would never have surfaced if Kierkegaard, Nietzsche and Sartre had kids.
I'm pooped
Just for the record, Annie's job of staying home with the kids is ten times harder than my little video production job. Annie, you deserve more than a four-day weekend in Chicago.
But please don't stay any longer than tomorrow.
But please don't stay any longer than tomorrow.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The boy's night out
Annie's in Chicago for the weekend with her sisters and Silvi is staying the night with Grandpa and Grandma. Let's see what kind of trouble the two guys can get into tonight.
We started off at the lake. Ian really likes my shoes. Don't you?
Then we got some Chinese food. Chopsticks only, of course.
Stopped off at the college bookstore for some light reading before...
grabbing a Spanish latte and a discussion on angst in Sartre's writings at the university coffee shop.
Then we got matching dragon tattoos. (Kidding, babe, kidding.)
Stopped back by the lake where I looked for one of Ian's hearing aids in the dark (found it at home!).
Called it a night. Most excellent boys night out, Ian. You make great company.
We started off at the lake. Ian really likes my shoes. Don't you?
Then we got some Chinese food. Chopsticks only, of course.
Stopped off at the college bookstore for some light reading before...
grabbing a Spanish latte and a discussion on angst in Sartre's writings at the university coffee shop.
Then we got matching dragon tattoos. (Kidding, babe, kidding.)
Stopped back by the lake where I looked for one of Ian's hearing aids in the dark (found it at home!).
Called it a night. Most excellent boys night out, Ian. You make great company.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Serious filmmaking
The Coen brothers are shooting their latest film, A Serious Man, a few blocks from where I work. I've been down there the last two days, watching them dress a couple of the neighborhood blocks to look like the late 60's. Just drove by again over lunch and about three blocks are locked down tight with police cars on all sides. Lots of crew wandering around. I'll take my camera with me tomorrow and see if I can get a shot of the brothers, or kicked off the "lot."
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Twelve things
Twelve things about our vacation:
- Our kids are champion travellers. Silvi and Ian laughed, slept and ate their way across the Midwest without any major meltdowns.
- The four-hour ferry ride across Lake Michigan was sticky and hot. Ian slept, Silvi raced around the deck and Annie watched Iron Man in the movie theater. We would do it all over again.
- My sister, Tracy, threw Ian a great party for his birthday. She picked out the cake with extra frosting, which Ian promptly redecorated. She always throws fun parties.
- I watched two full seasons of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on my brother-in-law's Mac while I tried to fall asleep on the couch cushions on the family room floor.
- Silvi and her cousin, Emily, were cloned by clandestine scientists while in the womb.
- We had a water balloon fight in the back yard. My brother-in-law throws like a washed up quarterback.
- We stayed with Annie's aunt Nancy - who loved all over Ian and Silvi - and where Silvi and I hunted Cicada bugs in the back yard.
- We took the loooong way into downtown Chicago, and drove with our doors locked.
- Silvi was more interested in swinging on the handrails in the lobby of the Hancock Building than looking out of the 94th floor. The sky was blue and the views were spectacular.
- Ahh, the beach, the beach. Perfect sunny day, nice sized waves, people-watching heaven and pristine sand as soft as powdered sugar.
- We visited the town where Annie lived as a child and were able to find her old house, school and swimming pool.
- Silvi and I pushed our way to the front of a BoDean's concert one gorgeous evening surrounded by hundreds of Harley Davidson riders celebrating the 105th anniversary of the motorcycle.
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Documentary group
I'm talking about the film, The Beauty Academy of Kabul, one of my favorite documentaries we've shown at the group so far.
Jet ski
I took Silvi out for her first jet ski ride last week. She loved it until we hit some pretty big wakes. As we hit the waves, I asked her if she liked it. "Noooo!"
Cameraman
I've been following the coup in Fiji over the last few weeks and months, mainly because I was a cameraman on a video shoot to the capital city of Suva where I got to interview Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase (in the news today) and President Ratu Josefa Iloilo.That's me and one of the Secret Service agents in the Presidential Palace. (You can see how hot it was by the sweat on my shirt!)
Brit's
It's been a dickens of a week.I called up the guys and asked them to meet me at Brit's Pub for a pint and to watch Aston Villa get spanked by Manchester United. I don't care how impetuous Rooney is, he's worth the grief.
One of our favorite places in town to catch a good soccer match, I left there feeling renewed and ready for whatever the weeks ahead may bring.
Date
Our first date since Ian's birth, and I think the smiles say it all. Twenty thousand fans, watching Beckham bend it, Alexi Lalas and Cobi Jones in the crowd, five dollar hot dogs, an unseasonably warm night and an hour-and-a-half alone with my wife.Perfection.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Vacation pics
Silvi and her cousin, Emily.
Ian likes rolling under couches and step ladders.
Ian and his cousin, Sammy, pose for the camera.
Silvi and Emily cooking up an awesome dessert.Friday, August 22, 2008
Vacation
Our family vacation begins in one hour! We're driving to Detroit to visit my sister then to Chicago to visit Annie's relatives.This afternoon we're doing a short stint over to Wausau, Wisconsin and staying in a hotel with a pool for the kids to play in. Then we catch the four hour ferry ride across Lake Michigan at noon tomorrow and drive down to the Detroit area to be with my sister until Friday. From there we drive to Chicago for the three day weekend with Annie's aunt, then a final night in Waukesha, WI to visit some of the places where Annie lived as a child. My posts will be a bit sporadic, but I'll try to throw up some pictures when I get the chance. (And keep an eye on my Twitter feed over on the right; I may text in some updates from my phone. If you care, that is. I know you do.)
Offense Taken
George, who has a daughter with Down syndrome, lives here in Minnesota and just found my blog. He let me know about a documentary that's recently come out that addresses the "R" word. (You can see an interview with George in the beginning of the clip.) In the interest of keeping an important dialogue going, here's the trailer:
For more information, check out their website at www.selfadvocacy.com/offensetaken.
For more information, check out their website at www.selfadvocacy.com/offensetaken.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Benchmark - 5 years
I've finally worked somewhere for a substantial amount of time - five years! To complement my post on all the moving I've done in my life, I thought I'd jot down some of the jobs I've held:
- Sold Grit Magazine door-to-door
- Delivered newspapers on my bike
- Hardware store clerk
- Drug store clerk
- McDonalds (for a few days - too greasy)
- Maintenance department (try looking cool in front of your classmates while picking up garbage on the college campus)
- Gardener for a wealthy artist in Chicago
- US Army Infantry
- Dunkin Donuts delivery driver - midnight shift
- Surf and Skate shop sales and skateboard assembly in Florida
- National Guard
- Tree trimming in North Carolina
- Pizza maker at Chuck E. Cheese, as well as Chuck E Cheese mouse
- Dishwasher at hotel restaurant
- Ballroom dance instructor (for one day)
- Busboy in Colorado
- Short order cook at small breakfast dive
- Landscaping crew member in Boulder, Colorado
- Wait staff at nice restaurant in Minneapolis
- Assistant manager at another pizza joint
- Worked on an assembly line
- Office assistant
- Scuba diving shop sales
- Freelance writer for "starving children profiles"
- Science video script writer
- Educational video cameraman and editor
- Director of video department for Christian organization
- Documentary video freelancer in Europe, Seattle and Fiji
- Short-term missionary
- Bookstore clerk
- Corporate video producer
- Owner of video production company
- Husband and Father
A little France in MN
Last night Annie surprised me by arranging for her sister to babysit the kids. She took me on a date to a trendy little French bar/restaurant called Salut then to a French film - Ne le dis à Personne - playing right around the corner in one of my favorite theaters.Annie's feeling her freedom now that Ian has moved on to solid foods and formula; she went all out and got a steak chased by a Cosmopolitan, which she said made her tipsy but I think she was hamming it up a bit. The film was a tad heavy and left me feeling like I had sand in my bathing suit, but it was excellent being able to stay out late on a warm summer night with my best friend. And you just gotta love that quote in the picture. (You have to click on it so you can see who said it.)
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Wandering
Kind of tying into yesterday's post, when I get antsy, I wander. Like over lunch today. Started off going for Chinese by the bookstore, changed my mind as I drove, decided to go to a different bookstore, got on the freeway, only to decide to go to a used bookstore and eat a hot dog. Listening to MPR and an interview with Barack Obama, I missed the exit, so decided I didn't want a hot dog but was going to eat healthy today.
Healthy, healthy, health. What's healthy? Forget healthy, maybe I'll go revisit my old neighborhood. Pizza. Too much traffic. Why's this lady riding my tail!? Burrito at the convenience store? Yuck. Didn't there used to be a Chinese restaurant over there? Noodles are healthy.
Grocery store. A sandwich, pasta from the deli and a diet root beer. Semi-healthy. And it only took me 12.7 miles to decide what to have for lunch.
Healthy, healthy, health. What's healthy? Forget healthy, maybe I'll go revisit my old neighborhood. Pizza. Too much traffic. Why's this lady riding my tail!? Burrito at the convenience store? Yuck. Didn't there used to be a Chinese restaurant over there? Noodles are healthy.
Grocery store. A sandwich, pasta from the deli and a diet root beer. Semi-healthy. And it only took me 12.7 miles to decide what to have for lunch.
My actual route - using Gmaps Pedometer.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Benchmark - 3 years
I have finally lived in the same house/ apartment/ farm/ dorm/ barracks/ cabin for longer than 3 years!
Maybe I really will settle down - eventually. My moves: (I consider it a move if I move somewhere and stay there for longer than a month without really knowing where I'm moving to next. I'm sure I'm missing one or two. My mom keeps track for me.)
Maybe I really will settle down - eventually. My moves: (I consider it a move if I move somewhere and stay there for longer than a month without really knowing where I'm moving to next. I'm sure I'm missing one or two. My mom keeps track for me.)
- "The Treehouse Apartment" - Columbia, South Carolina
- Parsonage - Columbia, South Carolina
- Mission Guest house - Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- Spanish School Apartment - Cochabamba, Bolivia
- (Cow Dung) House - San Javier, Bolivia
- Guest house with Ayore Indians - Poza Verde, Bolivia
- Temporary House waiting to go to US - Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- "The Little White" House - Columbia, South Carolina
- House with a pool - Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- House by the botanical gardens - Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- Grandparents house - St. Albans, West Virginia
- Farmhouse - Racine, Wisconsin
- Trailer Park - Warsaw, Indiana
- House by the plaza - Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- House with the garage - Lexington, KY
- Aqua Motel for a few weeks - West Palm Beach, FL
- "The Pines" townhouse - West Palm Beach, FL
- The Hot House - Lake Worth, FL
- College dorm room - Chicago, IL
- House with the pool - West Palm Beach, FL
- Army Barracks for Boot Camp - Ft. Benning, GA
- Army Barracks - Ft. Riley, KS
- Two months in the desert - Ft. Irwin, CA
- REFORGER (Return of Forces to Germany) - All over Germany
- Jungle Training - Panama
- House with the pool - West Palm Beach, FL
- College dorm room - Chicago, IL
- Shack by the beach - Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
- Parent's apartment - Denver, CO
- Apartment while going to another college - Denver, CO
- Apartment with Mr. K and the syrup - Minneapolis, MN
- First apartment with Annie - Richfield, MN
- Apartment on Sunny st. - Colorado Springs, CO
- Tiny, tiny, tiny cabin on the hill - Manitou Springs, CO
- Friends house - London, England
- Spooky Chateau - Outside of Paris, France
- Friends Apartment - Paris, France
- Friends Apartment - Barcelona, Spain
- School Dorm - Lisbon, Portugal
- School Dorm - Athens, Greece
- Guest house - Pristina, Kosovo
- Farmhouse - St. Louis, France
- Friends house - Weir, Germany
- Apartment, Colorado Springs, CO
- Living with my inlaws - Plymouth, MN
- "Retirement Home" Apartment - St. Louis Park, MN
- Across from the Locks Apartment - Seattle, WA
- Living - again - with my inlaws - Plymouth, MN
- "Wife beater" (not me) apartment - Minneapolis, MN
- Current awesome apartment - Linden Hills, MN
Props all around
Sometimes you can go for weeks without much good news, then it seems to hit all at once. The Starkey Hearing Foundation is going to give Ian his two hearing aids for free. And I have to thank my mom for this. When she found out that the hearing aids, which aren't covered by insurance, would cost us between $7000 - $9000, she sent out a plethora of emails to many of her friends at church, including some who have children with disabilities. A friend of a friend of a friend knows the son of the owner of Starkey and they immediately agreed to help Ian out. So thanks, mom, for jumping on this.
Second bit of good news; some family friends who know how hard it is for Annie to juggle all the doctor visits and getting me to work are giving us their second car, a 1993 Camry. We are definitely stoked about that.
You know, most of my prayers of late would fall in the "bitchin' and moanin'" category; I definitely have to give props to God for continuing to care for Ian in spite of having such a whiner of a dad.
Second bit of good news; some family friends who know how hard it is for Annie to juggle all the doctor visits and getting me to work are giving us their second car, a 1993 Camry. We are definitely stoked about that.
You know, most of my prayers of late would fall in the "bitchin' and moanin'" category; I definitely have to give props to God for continuing to care for Ian in spite of having such a whiner of a dad.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Final thoughts on Tropic Thunder
I started off addressing each of the comments on my previous posts concerning Tropic Thunder. It started to feel a little tit for tat, so I chucked the idea.
Tropic Thunder was number one at the box office this weekend, and that's a shame. Not because of the controversy, but because it just wasn't that good of a movie. I also went to see Woody Allen's latest film, Vicky Christina Barcelona, a much better - if flawed - film. I left the theater thinking about how much work it takes to keep a marriage vibrant and full of life, about art, about travel, about the difference between love and being in love, about how easy it is to make a mess of our lives. It also inspired me to take Silvi swimming in the evening, then out for fish tacos and ice cream as the sun set. If a film can move me emotionally and also cause me to take a step - do something - once the lights come up, then I count that movie worth the price of admission.
Tropic Thunder has had that effect on a lot of people. Moving many to action. It caused me to work hard to frame my thoughts, read differing opinions, research philosophical articles that might give words to my emotions and then write about it. My view is definitely in the minority. And I'll be the first to admit that I might be wrong. Despite all the anger and differing opinions surrounding this film, I'm still glad the film was made. It was a discussion that needed to happen in the public arena.
Will this debate help make life better for people like my son? I don't know. Maybe. But I think there will be - have been - a lot of "casualties" along the way. Friendships have been strained, battle lines drawn and people have chosen one "camp" over another. "You're either with us or against us," seems to capture much of the prevailing thought.
But I have hope that good will come out of all of this. A friend emailed me and asked, "Why does our society give disabled people so much support, yet actively aborts 90% of our children (with Down syndrome)?" The world is much kinder to children like my son than at any other time in history. If they are allowed to be born. So how do I actively make it known to the world that my son has every right to exist, that without him there would be a loud silence more deafening than any protest?
I named my blog "Narrow Ridge" after a quote by one of my favorite philosophers, Martin Buber, who talks about walking the narrow ridge between certainty and uncertainty, between knowing and not knowing, between you and between me. At the heart of his philosophy is the desire for dialogue.
How do we stand up for what is right without completely tearing down others in the process? (And satire walks this fine line.) How do we "win" the argument without losing the person? How do we advocate for our kids without letting anger rule the day?
I'm just starting out on this journey with Ian. I hope you'll keep following this adventure as he and I stumble along that narrow ridge.
Tropic Thunder was number one at the box office this weekend, and that's a shame. Not because of the controversy, but because it just wasn't that good of a movie. I also went to see Woody Allen's latest film, Vicky Christina Barcelona, a much better - if flawed - film. I left the theater thinking about how much work it takes to keep a marriage vibrant and full of life, about art, about travel, about the difference between love and being in love, about how easy it is to make a mess of our lives. It also inspired me to take Silvi swimming in the evening, then out for fish tacos and ice cream as the sun set. If a film can move me emotionally and also cause me to take a step - do something - once the lights come up, then I count that movie worth the price of admission.
Tropic Thunder has had that effect on a lot of people. Moving many to action. It caused me to work hard to frame my thoughts, read differing opinions, research philosophical articles that might give words to my emotions and then write about it. My view is definitely in the minority. And I'll be the first to admit that I might be wrong. Despite all the anger and differing opinions surrounding this film, I'm still glad the film was made. It was a discussion that needed to happen in the public arena.
Will this debate help make life better for people like my son? I don't know. Maybe. But I think there will be - have been - a lot of "casualties" along the way. Friendships have been strained, battle lines drawn and people have chosen one "camp" over another. "You're either with us or against us," seems to capture much of the prevailing thought.
But I have hope that good will come out of all of this. A friend emailed me and asked, "Why does our society give disabled people so much support, yet actively aborts 90% of our children (with Down syndrome)?" The world is much kinder to children like my son than at any other time in history. If they are allowed to be born. So how do I actively make it known to the world that my son has every right to exist, that without him there would be a loud silence more deafening than any protest?
I named my blog "Narrow Ridge" after a quote by one of my favorite philosophers, Martin Buber, who talks about walking the narrow ridge between certainty and uncertainty, between knowing and not knowing, between you and between me. At the heart of his philosophy is the desire for dialogue.
How do we stand up for what is right without completely tearing down others in the process? (And satire walks this fine line.) How do we "win" the argument without losing the person? How do we advocate for our kids without letting anger rule the day?
I'm just starting out on this journey with Ian. I hope you'll keep following this adventure as he and I stumble along that narrow ridge.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Why I went to see Tropic Thunder - Part III
First, a word about the Perry brothers. Their in-your-face style of humor isn't for everyone. I like much of it, but they can definitely be offensive, sometimes downright jerks (if you keep reading, you'll see why I think it is justifiable for me to call them "jerks"). Which brings me to my final point: "Is it OK to laugh?"
Andrew Terjesen, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Rhodes College, tackles the subject of offensive humor by asking, "Why is it not OK to laugh at mean-spirited humor (like racist jokes), but it is OK to laugh at parodies of it?" He says that it's because "parodies of mean-spirited humor are at the expense of mean-spirited people."
So is it OK to make fun of mean-spirited people? I think so. If it's for their own good and the good of those around them. Making fun of people is only acceptable if the people at the butt of joke have the potential to change. That's why it isn't ethical to make fun of people with intellectual disabilities or because of the color of a person's skin. They have no way of changing who they are. But a person who makes fun of a disabled person can change, and humor is a powerful tool in helping bring about that change.
Terjesen also says, "Since parodies of mean-spirited humor target mean-spirited people we ought to laugh at the parodies. By laughing at them we are reinforcing the idea that no one should be like them."
Ben Stiller has repeated over and over that Tropic Thunder is not mean-spirited. How can we differentiate between parodies of mean-spirited behavior and those that pretend to be? To do this, we have to look at Stiller's intent as well as his past treatment of humor.
Stiller says that the Hollywood system and narcissistic actors are the butt of the joke. And if we accept that it is OK to make fun of those who can change their behaviors, and we also agree that it is good for them to change their behavior, then we should be able to agree that Stiller is justified in making prima donna actors the butt of the joke. For their own good, and the good of society.
What about Simple Jack? Is Stiller making fun of people with intellectual disabilities, or is he making fun of actors who go too far in their portrayal of those with disabilities? If he is indeed making fun of the disabled, then he is wrong. I assert that he is doing what he says he is doing and to back this up, we have to look at his past.
Stiller has been making parodies since the 1980's when he did The Ben Stiller Show. His parody of 90210 is a classic and rightly mocks those who are self-absorbed. There's Something about Mary, Meet the Parents, Reality Bites, The Heartbreak Kid, Zoolander, Night at the Museum. While much of the humor in his films is crass, I think you would be hard pressed to make the argument that they are mean-spirited. So after nearly 20 years of parody, is it fair to make the claim that Stiller has crossed the line? I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt.
I've read many posts that say, "So what if it's a parody? Lots of people won't get it and will think it's OK to make fun of people with Down syndrome or intellectual disabilities." But Terjesen asks, "Does it mean that because some people will laugh at something for the wrong reasons that you shouldn't do it?" In other words, if something could possibly be misunderstood, does that mean it shouldn't be done? There is always going to be potential for abuse. There are going to be a lot of people reading this post who will misunderstand me. Does that mean I shouldn't write it? Of course not.
A last thought from Terjesen, "Without parody, we lose an effective way of not only making fun of the mean-spirited (and therefore of publicly disapproving of them) but also of getting them to realize their own folly (as they begin to realize what they are really laughing at)."
What about the word "retard?"
Now that we understand (if you agree with what I've said thus far) the world that Stiller has created on the screen, we have the proper context with which to correctly interpret how the word "retard" is used. "Never go full retard" is uttered by a delusional actor (Downey's character) who is referencing other "serious" actors (like Tom Hanks and Sean Penn). Who is the butt of the joke? The "retarded?" Or the actors (Hanks and Penn)? I assert that it is the latter, thus the term, in this context, is justified.
That said, I do take the film to task for one damning scene that is mean-spirited and crosses the line (based on the butt of the joke being someone who cannot change who they are.) The scene(s) both involve Matthew McConaughey. I'm sure you've read about them. McConaughey, who plays Stiller's agent, shows disappointment with having a child with apparent Down syndrome. I especially take Stiller to task for the final scene in the film, which received a huge laugh by the audience when I saw it. McConaughey is sitting on his private jet and gives an obvious look of disappointment in the direction of his son, who is sitting looking out the window quietly.
Why is this mean-spirited? Who's the butt of the joke? True, McConaughey is portrayed as a shallow, money hungry, insecure agent so the argument could be made that we are laughing at his lack of character. But it doesn't play that way and needs to be challenged.
Why have I devoted so much time and thought to this movie? I felt I had to since I am in the minority. I understand the motivations behind the boycott; please believe me that I do. How many times have I seen that frozen smile creep onto a stranger's face when they suddenly sense something is "different" about Ian. I want the world to see what a neat little guy he is, want them to know how he's changed my life for the better. I don't want him to be called "retard," but I also don't want him to be called "jerk" or any other disparaging word (unless he's being a jerk). And I can't help but feel that this boycott will alienate Ian even more. Now people may fidget even more around him or avoid him altogether for fear of offending him. People on the other side of the protests may avoid me even more because they aren't sure how not to offend me.
We need laughter. We need satire. And we need Ben Stiller.
Andrew Terjesen, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Rhodes College, tackles the subject of offensive humor by asking, "Why is it not OK to laugh at mean-spirited humor (like racist jokes), but it is OK to laugh at parodies of it?" He says that it's because "parodies of mean-spirited humor are at the expense of mean-spirited people."
So is it OK to make fun of mean-spirited people? I think so. If it's for their own good and the good of those around them. Making fun of people is only acceptable if the people at the butt of joke have the potential to change. That's why it isn't ethical to make fun of people with intellectual disabilities or because of the color of a person's skin. They have no way of changing who they are. But a person who makes fun of a disabled person can change, and humor is a powerful tool in helping bring about that change.
Terjesen also says, "Since parodies of mean-spirited humor target mean-spirited people we ought to laugh at the parodies. By laughing at them we are reinforcing the idea that no one should be like them."
Ben Stiller has repeated over and over that Tropic Thunder is not mean-spirited. How can we differentiate between parodies of mean-spirited behavior and those that pretend to be? To do this, we have to look at Stiller's intent as well as his past treatment of humor.
Stiller says that the Hollywood system and narcissistic actors are the butt of the joke. And if we accept that it is OK to make fun of those who can change their behaviors, and we also agree that it is good for them to change their behavior, then we should be able to agree that Stiller is justified in making prima donna actors the butt of the joke. For their own good, and the good of society.
What about Simple Jack? Is Stiller making fun of people with intellectual disabilities, or is he making fun of actors who go too far in their portrayal of those with disabilities? If he is indeed making fun of the disabled, then he is wrong. I assert that he is doing what he says he is doing and to back this up, we have to look at his past.
Stiller has been making parodies since the 1980's when he did The Ben Stiller Show. His parody of 90210 is a classic and rightly mocks those who are self-absorbed. There's Something about Mary, Meet the Parents, Reality Bites, The Heartbreak Kid, Zoolander, Night at the Museum. While much of the humor in his films is crass, I think you would be hard pressed to make the argument that they are mean-spirited. So after nearly 20 years of parody, is it fair to make the claim that Stiller has crossed the line? I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt.
I've read many posts that say, "So what if it's a parody? Lots of people won't get it and will think it's OK to make fun of people with Down syndrome or intellectual disabilities." But Terjesen asks, "Does it mean that because some people will laugh at something for the wrong reasons that you shouldn't do it?" In other words, if something could possibly be misunderstood, does that mean it shouldn't be done? There is always going to be potential for abuse. There are going to be a lot of people reading this post who will misunderstand me. Does that mean I shouldn't write it? Of course not.
A last thought from Terjesen, "Without parody, we lose an effective way of not only making fun of the mean-spirited (and therefore of publicly disapproving of them) but also of getting them to realize their own folly (as they begin to realize what they are really laughing at)."
What about the word "retard?"
Now that we understand (if you agree with what I've said thus far) the world that Stiller has created on the screen, we have the proper context with which to correctly interpret how the word "retard" is used. "Never go full retard" is uttered by a delusional actor (Downey's character) who is referencing other "serious" actors (like Tom Hanks and Sean Penn). Who is the butt of the joke? The "retarded?" Or the actors (Hanks and Penn)? I assert that it is the latter, thus the term, in this context, is justified.
That said, I do take the film to task for one damning scene that is mean-spirited and crosses the line (based on the butt of the joke being someone who cannot change who they are.) The scene(s) both involve Matthew McConaughey. I'm sure you've read about them. McConaughey, who plays Stiller's agent, shows disappointment with having a child with apparent Down syndrome. I especially take Stiller to task for the final scene in the film, which received a huge laugh by the audience when I saw it. McConaughey is sitting on his private jet and gives an obvious look of disappointment in the direction of his son, who is sitting looking out the window quietly.
Why is this mean-spirited? Who's the butt of the joke? True, McConaughey is portrayed as a shallow, money hungry, insecure agent so the argument could be made that we are laughing at his lack of character. But it doesn't play that way and needs to be challenged.
Why have I devoted so much time and thought to this movie? I felt I had to since I am in the minority. I understand the motivations behind the boycott; please believe me that I do. How many times have I seen that frozen smile creep onto a stranger's face when they suddenly sense something is "different" about Ian. I want the world to see what a neat little guy he is, want them to know how he's changed my life for the better. I don't want him to be called "retard," but I also don't want him to be called "jerk" or any other disparaging word (unless he's being a jerk). And I can't help but feel that this boycott will alienate Ian even more. Now people may fidget even more around him or avoid him altogether for fear of offending him. People on the other side of the protests may avoid me even more because they aren't sure how not to offend me.
We need laughter. We need satire. And we need Ben Stiller.
Tropic Thunder thoughts
Why I went to see Tropic Thunder - Part II
I was all set to write a long post about not giving power to certain words, about letting people with Down syndrome speak for themselves, about how I believe the boycott is further alienating people with intellectual disabilities from others, about how the use of over-the-top parodies can reveal hidden truths. But then the Perry brothers stole my, err, thunder.
While I don't agree with their mostly playful call to "boycott the boycotters," I do agree with their assertions thatwords only have the power we give them what Ben Stiller intended has been misrepresented. (I edited this because I think that words possess a power beyond what we give them, which I hope to expand on another day.)
I wanted to make up a shirt for Ian to wear on the Buddy Walk that said, "Does this shirt make me look retarded?" but Annie threatened to boycott me. Besides, I'll wait until Ian is old enough to make his own statements.
Next, "Is it OK to laugh at that?"
While I don't agree with their mostly playful call to "boycott the boycotters," I do agree with their assertions that
I wanted to make up a shirt for Ian to wear on the Buddy Walk that said, "Does this shirt make me look retarded?" but Annie threatened to boycott me. Besides, I'll wait until Ian is old enough to make his own statements.
Next, "Is it OK to laugh at that?"
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Why I went to see Tropic Thunder - Part I
(It didn't start out this way, but this is turning into a three-part post. So if you find yourself getting upset with something I've said, I hope you will indulge me until the end. If you're still upset, well, we'll take it from there I suppose.)
I went to see Tropic Thunder last night. The theater was packed, the majority of the audience young guys, probably in their twenties, many with dates. There were also groups of girls sprinkled here and there. I saw a few "older" people, like, in their forties (we're so old), but not many. It was approaching 9pm, after all.
I've been following the call for a national boycott on most of the blogs that I frequent, as well as many of the excellent links provided by Patricia Bauer's website. I watched the interviews with Ben Stiller on Good Morning America and on Nightline, as well as watched the various reports on CNN concerning the protests. The editor of the online magazine that I just started contributing to also called for a boycott, as did all the other contributors. I read how the Special Olympics, ARC and many Down syndrome organizations support the boycott, and have even launched a new campaign to help bring an end to the use of the "R" word, as it's often called.
I've also read literally dozens of well-written, thoughtful, provocative and heartfelt posts on blogs that I subscribe to via Google Reader, many of them angry, others hurt, most just wanting to support their children, as I do.
But after seeing Tropic Thunder, I still cannot support the boycott. Nor can I sign a petition calling for a ban of the "R" word.
First, my thoughts on the film. I did laugh. It is funny. Robert Downey Jr. is amazing to watch, Ben Stiller's "straight man" comedic timing is spot on and Tom Cruise, well, his performance will haunt me for quite some time as he conjures up one of the funniest characters I've seen on the screen in a long time. Aside from his performance on Oprah, of course. But the film wasn't that funny. Not side-splitting funny like I've read in some reviews. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind, or was wondering how I was going to pay for Ian's hearing aids or maybe it was just after 9pm and past my bedtime.
And the satire? I'm sorta-kinda in the biz; I've worked with many local prima donna actors and producers. Shot some behind the scene footage on some low budget films. So I got all the film industry references, and they were mostly funny, but more "Yeah, I know someone like that" kind of funny. I got the references to big budget films, to sequels, to high-maintenance actors, etc. But the use of irony and parody were, well, a bit weak. The Family Guy is much better satire; it's tighter, smarter, more self-aware and sheds more light on hidden truths, which is what comedy and satire aspires to do. At least good comedy. The film's saving grace were the performances, the high budget feel and just enough laughs to keep you wanting more.
I give the film three out of five Rambo knives.
(Next: Simple Jack and "retards")
I went to see Tropic Thunder last night. The theater was packed, the majority of the audience young guys, probably in their twenties, many with dates. There were also groups of girls sprinkled here and there. I saw a few "older" people, like, in their forties (we're so old), but not many. It was approaching 9pm, after all.
I've been following the call for a national boycott on most of the blogs that I frequent, as well as many of the excellent links provided by Patricia Bauer's website. I watched the interviews with Ben Stiller on Good Morning America and on Nightline, as well as watched the various reports on CNN concerning the protests. The editor of the online magazine that I just started contributing to also called for a boycott, as did all the other contributors. I read how the Special Olympics, ARC and many Down syndrome organizations support the boycott, and have even launched a new campaign to help bring an end to the use of the "R" word, as it's often called.
I've also read literally dozens of well-written, thoughtful, provocative and heartfelt posts on blogs that I subscribe to via Google Reader, many of them angry, others hurt, most just wanting to support their children, as I do.
But after seeing Tropic Thunder, I still cannot support the boycott. Nor can I sign a petition calling for a ban of the "R" word.
First, my thoughts on the film. I did laugh. It is funny. Robert Downey Jr. is amazing to watch, Ben Stiller's "straight man" comedic timing is spot on and Tom Cruise, well, his performance will haunt me for quite some time as he conjures up one of the funniest characters I've seen on the screen in a long time. Aside from his performance on Oprah, of course. But the film wasn't that funny. Not side-splitting funny like I've read in some reviews. Maybe I wasn't in the right frame of mind, or was wondering how I was going to pay for Ian's hearing aids or maybe it was just after 9pm and past my bedtime.
And the satire? I'm sorta-kinda in the biz; I've worked with many local prima donna actors and producers. Shot some behind the scene footage on some low budget films. So I got all the film industry references, and they were mostly funny, but more "Yeah, I know someone like that" kind of funny. I got the references to big budget films, to sequels, to high-maintenance actors, etc. But the use of irony and parody were, well, a bit weak. The Family Guy is much better satire; it's tighter, smarter, more self-aware and sheds more light on hidden truths, which is what comedy and satire aspires to do. At least good comedy. The film's saving grace were the performances, the high budget feel and just enough laughs to keep you wanting more.
I give the film three out of five Rambo knives.
(Next: Simple Jack and "retards")
More challenges
I did go to a nearly sold out screening of Tropic Thunder last night, feeling very much like a scab crossing the picket line. Since the issues surrounding the film are so important - and wrapped in emotion - I want to think over what I really thought about it a little more. I'll probably get to posting about it tomorrow.
The sleep test conclusions show that Ian does in fact have hearing loss in the 25 - 50 decibel range, which unfortunately is where most conversation lies. (The doctors classify this as "mild to moderate" hearing loss, but I don't think those terms are very helpful.) In other words, 50 to 100% of average spoken conversation will be missed without hearing aids. (On this chart, if you look at the left-hand column you'll see the dB ranges and what Ian will misses in that range.)
Next steps? Get molds made of Ian's ears, have hearing aids fitted, run tests to make sure the amplification is only amplifying the sounds he is missing and not other decibel ranges, starting speech therapy and then trying to help Ian keep the little $5000 buggers in.
I'm so glad we caught this sooner than later. I know it's going to be a major hassle for Ian - and for Annie - who spends enough time in waiting rooms as it is, but I can't wait for the day when I get to hear Ian compose his first sentence.
Even if it is, "Dad, I flushed my hearing aids down the potty."
The sleep test conclusions show that Ian does in fact have hearing loss in the 25 - 50 decibel range, which unfortunately is where most conversation lies. (The doctors classify this as "mild to moderate" hearing loss, but I don't think those terms are very helpful.) In other words, 50 to 100% of average spoken conversation will be missed without hearing aids. (On this chart, if you look at the left-hand column you'll see the dB ranges and what Ian will misses in that range.)
Next steps? Get molds made of Ian's ears, have hearing aids fitted, run tests to make sure the amplification is only amplifying the sounds he is missing and not other decibel ranges, starting speech therapy and then trying to help Ian keep the little $5000 buggers in.
I'm so glad we caught this sooner than later. I know it's going to be a major hassle for Ian - and for Annie - who spends enough time in waiting rooms as it is, but I can't wait for the day when I get to hear Ian compose his first sentence.
Even if it is, "Dad, I flushed my hearing aids down the potty."
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
ENT, ABR and NUTS
Updated
Ian meets with the ENT at 11:00 then has his ABR test an hour after that. Because the test requires the use of anesthesia, he hasn't been able to eat all morning. And because it's a sleep test, he hasn't been able to take his morning nap either.
Silvi stayed the night with my parents and Annie's trying to keep Ian's mind off food and sleep with a walk in the park. I'm at work and haven't heard from her so I'm hoping he's not too uncomfortable.
An ABR at noon? Nuts.
Update 3pm: Ian is still in an anesthesia-induced sleep and everything is going well. One little boy is going to be famished when he wakes up, which should be in an hour or so.
Ian meets with the ENT at 11:00 then has his ABR test an hour after that. Because the test requires the use of anesthesia, he hasn't been able to eat all morning. And because it's a sleep test, he hasn't been able to take his morning nap either.
Silvi stayed the night with my parents and Annie's trying to keep Ian's mind off food and sleep with a walk in the park. I'm at work and haven't heard from her so I'm hoping he's not too uncomfortable.
An ABR at noon? Nuts.
Update 3pm: Ian is still in an anesthesia-induced sleep and everything is going well. One little boy is going to be famished when he wakes up, which should be in an hour or so.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Thursday, August 07, 2008
A year with Ian
You can read my monthly post over at 5minutesforspecialneeds today:
Ian will be a year old in a couple of weeks.
I’ve been asked to write once a month about raising a son with Down syndrome. To be perfectly honest, this is going to be difficult for me. If I had been asked to write about my thoughts and experiences just a few months ago, I would have had a lot of things to say. If you visit my blog and scroll back through the first few months of Ian’s life, you can read about many of my struggles and feelings.
Ian’s Down syndrome was a surprise, completely unanticipated. More shocking than jumping into a cold river in springtime. I wrote and blogged and talked about Down syndrome, so much so that I just ran out of things to say on the subject.
But I can tell you lots about Ian. He’s started giggling every day when I get home. He laughs easily and heartily. He won’t stop squealing with delight when we go for walks in the evening, so loudly and continuously that it’s kind of embarrassing. He loves the pool and goes into a trance as he floats in his little blue tube, when he’s not splashing and laughing. He can’t crawl yet, but is somehow able to quickly roll across the living room floor in order to pull our cat’s tail. And he loves his big sister, even though she swipes his pacifier.
I could talk about how this past year has been a huge adjustment for our family, but if you’re visiting this website, you already know that. I could tell you about Ian’s health, his heart surgery, his hearing challenges, numerous visits to the countless doctors, but again, you know all that too.
So what can I say about raising a son with Down syndrome?
Ian, I’m glad you’re here. I count it my greatest privilege to be your dad.
Ian will be a year old in a couple of weeks.
I’ve been asked to write once a month about raising a son with Down syndrome. To be perfectly honest, this is going to be difficult for me. If I had been asked to write about my thoughts and experiences just a few months ago, I would have had a lot of things to say. If you visit my blog and scroll back through the first few months of Ian’s life, you can read about many of my struggles and feelings.
Ian’s Down syndrome was a surprise, completely unanticipated. More shocking than jumping into a cold river in springtime. I wrote and blogged and talked about Down syndrome, so much so that I just ran out of things to say on the subject.
But I can tell you lots about Ian. He’s started giggling every day when I get home. He laughs easily and heartily. He won’t stop squealing with delight when we go for walks in the evening, so loudly and continuously that it’s kind of embarrassing. He loves the pool and goes into a trance as he floats in his little blue tube, when he’s not splashing and laughing. He can’t crawl yet, but is somehow able to quickly roll across the living room floor in order to pull our cat’s tail. And he loves his big sister, even though she swipes his pacifier.
I could talk about how this past year has been a huge adjustment for our family, but if you’re visiting this website, you already know that. I could tell you about Ian’s health, his heart surgery, his hearing challenges, numerous visits to the countless doctors, but again, you know all that too.
So what can I say about raising a son with Down syndrome?
Ian, I’m glad you’re here. I count it my greatest privilege to be your dad.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Long Way Down
Went to see a special screening of Long Way Down in the theater last night before it's released on DVD. Follows Ewan McGregor and his friend Charley Boorman as they ride motorcycles from Scotland to South Africa. Favorite part was when Ewan visited the site of the original Star Wars film in Tunisia and stood next to his poster without being recognized by any of the many passing tourists.Six degrees of separation: My documentary filmmaker friend John who I sometimes blog about was shooting for another program in Africa. He is a fan of the first film Long Way Round which followed the two as they circumnavigated the globe. Anyway, John was in an airport in Africa and saw Ewan and Charley at the end of the terminal, dressed for the ride. He shouted their names but couldn't get their attention.
Don't know if that really qualify as "six degrees..." but it's a fun story nonetheless. I recommend both series of films for some good vicarious travel.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Good Search
I recently found a very cool, and easy, way to raise money for your favorite charity. Instead of using Google (which I use religiously) or Yahoo as your primary search engine, use goodsearch.com and they will donate to the charity of your choice (I'm supporting our local DS organization) based on the number of searches you do. I'll bet I can raise at least 5 - 7 cents a day based on how much work I do online. (That's over $200 a year). You can raise even more if you shop through their goodshop.com, which has links to most online stores like Amazon and Target.Check it out.
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