Exciting research into Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is underway at the University of Missouri, where they are studying 3-D imaging to reveal correlations in the facial features and brain structures of children with ASD. They are hoping this will enable them to develop a formula for earlier detection of the disorder.

"When you compare the faces and head shapes of children with specific types of autism to other children, it is obvious there are variations," says Ye Duan, assistant computer science professor in the MU College of Engineering.

“Once we have created a formula, we can pre-screen children by performing a quick, non-invasive scan of each child’s face and brain to check for abnormalities. Early detection is crucial in treating children and preparing families.”

Certainly, early screening would be a huge advantage, but then exposing young children to scans also brings up other issues. One thing is for certain. The more research we can do into this disorder, the better. Parents all over the world want answers, especially in regards to immunisation.

Source

Mental note (and I'm blogging to make sure I remember).....

I'LL NEVER EVER TAKE A 2 1/2 YEAR OLD TO A CONCERT, SHOW, PERFORMANCE EVER EVER EVER AGAIN!!

Yep, never never ever ever.

Tonight was my first born's school concert to celebrate the school's centenary.

All the children in the school (which is only just over 200) performed and to enable all the parents etc to watch there were two shows - one at 5pm and the other at 7.30.

I attended the 5pm show with my son and the 2 1/2 year old bambina.

It was a great show - it was only an hour, but it was an hour of HELL because I had to deal with the feral feral 2 1/2 year old.

Ok, for starters she wouldn't stay still, then kept leaning on the people in front of us, and screaming, and screaching, and trying to climb under the chairs in front, and then loosing her shoes, and crying because she had lost her shoes, then she wanted to tickets, then didn't want the tickets.....

AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

My husband met us at th theatre after the show ready to watch the second performance and bring my first born home.  So when he arrived, I was 'outta there' (to everyone's delight I think).

Got home, put kids to bed, and after my second glass of wine, I'm starting to feel better.

My husband said last week he wanted to take the bambina to my show in November (now that's 3 hours).

NO WAY, NO WAY, NO WAY!!!!

Sus

As I have mentioned lately I am planning on potty training Eric. He is only 13 months old but want to get started early as i know he is stubborn when he gets set in his ways and think if i left it until he was 2 he would not want to go in a potty. He is very facinated whenever i take his nappy off, he gets so excited having it off and feeling free so thought he would love sitting on the potty.

But i have not gotten around to starting yet. I want a clear plan in my head of how i am going to tackle the issue before starting and changing every 5 min.

Should i start by putting him on just once a day? or before every nappy change? Should i give rewards or just praise?

All your tips and experiences would be greatly appreciated. I really dont have much of an idea of what im doing lol, just guessing as i go along.

Aren't they gorgeous! The accent just makes it even more adorable.

My first born turns 7 in two weeks time and we're having a Disco / Dance party.

All the little girls from her class, plus some other friends and cousins are coming.

I'm not having an entertainer, but have asked my mum and her friend to look after the music and I have sent her a draft schedule of events (i.e. activities) - copy below.

And today I popped into a chinese $2 shop and was able to pick up a flashing disco ball which I'm quite chuffed about.

So here is the draft party schedule - what do you think?  What else can we do:

11.00: Children Arrive / Face Painting / Treasure Box Decorating

• Face painting (one at a time – I’ll pick up some special face paint) and they can pick a treasure box (noodle box) and decorate while waiting to get face painted (just stars or lines etc on cheek).

11.30: Treasure Hunt

• In back garden.  While face painting / decorating, get husband to hide freddos etc in back garden.

11.45: Pass the Parcel

12.00: Serve Lunch

• Pizzas, party pies, little boys, fairy bread, chips
• Platter of sandwiches for adults (hoping most parents will drop off)

12.20: Dancing

12.40: Dancing Games

• Musical Statues / Freeze Dance - Have everyone dance and when the music stops they have to freeze or hold their position. Whoever is the first to move is out.

• Spot Light Dance - One child put on a blindfold, then have the girls dance. Whoever the flashlight is on – has a go with the spot light next go.
• Limbo - Just get two volunteers (or get two parents) to hold a stick while the girls take turns limbo-ing under it. After each round lower the stick another inch.
• Conga Line Musical Chairs - Have the girls create a conga line to dance around a group of chairs. A conga line is where the girls must put their hands on the hips of the person in front of them. Stop the music and whoever doesn’t get on a chair is out.
• Hot Fire Ball - Throw a soft fashing ball and who has the ball when the music is out, is out.

1.00: Cake / Dessert

• · Sing happy birthday
•  Eat Cakes / Desserts

1.15: More Dancing

1.50 Collect their own Treasure box (which is also a lollie bag)

2.00 End.

• Kids go home.
• We all have wine. :-)

I went for my 30 week check up yesterday and whilst everything is good so far, the bub is lying in breech position.  My obstetrician said that most babies have turned by this stage but it's not unusual for them to turn a bit later into the pregnancy.  If it hasn't turned within the next month, I'll most likely have to have a caesarean.  I had a natural birth with my son but, whilst I'm not looking forward to the recovery pain if I need a caesar, I'm not worried about having one either as I'd rather that than have to try and push the bub out bum first naturally!  Fortunately my ob said he wouldn't put me through a natural delivery if the baby is breech as it would be too risky for me.  I actually felt relieved when he said that because giving birth naturally hurts bad enough when everything goes as it should!

As crazy and selfish as this sounds, I'm starting to feel so exhausted that if I need a caesar, at least it'll force me to rest a bit more after the birth which I would look forward to.  My parents will also be back from their 4 month winter walkabout by then and will be able to help me out because at the moment, I have no one around me to help as my hubby works long hours, most of my friends have their own kids to run around after and my sisters all live on the other side of town.  (My goodness, that sounds pitiful!)

Oh well, if the bub happens to flip in time and I end up having a natural delivery afterall, I'll still be elated as at least I'll then get to spend a couple of nights at the Park Hyatt after the birth (courtesy of my private health insurance - yes, FINALLY it's worth having)!

Anyway, I know a couple of wormen who have had both natural & caesar births and they all say go natural if possible purely as they are easier to recover from.  Has anyone here had a caesar or both?  If so, would love to hear of your experiences!

Play Dough is the best.  I've been trying to get through the washing this morning (washing washing EVERYWHERE) and for the past hour, the bambina has been at the kitchen table happily playing with the play dough.

So if you're ever wondering what to buy a toddler for a present - I would recommend PLAYDOUGH.  It's a great activity (but just keep it away from carpet - ugh).

Sus :-)

 I always knew Matthew McConaughey would provide us with some interesting stories about bringing up his baby Levi. Well, the tales have begun!


 

In an interview with CNN's "House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta", Matthew revealed they kept the placenta from his son's birth, and they want to plant it in an orchard. Apparently it is a ritual in many cultures, and it is fantastic at fertilising the land.

"It's going to be in the orchards and it's going to bear some wonderful fruit. When I was in Australia, they had a placenta tree that was on the river … and all the placentas of all that tribe, all that clan, whatever aboriginal tribe that was, all the placentas went under that one tree and it was this huge behemoth of just health and strength. This tree was just growing taller and stronger above the rest of Mother Nature around it. It was gorgeous."

I love the idea of following traditions like that, it is so grounding and spiritual.

The other thing Matthew revealed was also interesting. He said "You're never told in our house, 'Shh, Levi is sleeping.' No. Get used to the ambiance. Come with us. That's how I was raised." So very Matthew McConaughy, isn't it!

Last night I was a nasty mother

Annabel started sleeping through the night at about 4 months, however she then stopped doing it at about 9 months. Ever since I have been getting up every single night to give her a bottle, it is startingto really take it's toll on me being back at shift work and just general other things going on- as she is getting bigger I am wanting to 'get back to the old days' a bit more and stay up after 830 at night- I normally only stay up till 930, but it is still exhausting.

Anyway, last night as Adam was out watching the footy I thought I would crawl into bed at 915- there was nothing on TV at all and I was tired. SO I read my magazine for about 10 minutes then decided that was enough (I'm not a big in bed reader), turned out my light, rolled over, got comfy, messaged Adam and said good night. put my phone back on the bedside table and it started- Annabel started yelling. Let her go for a bit, then decided to get up, tried to settle her back to sleep, but at about 10, decided cant be bothered and went and heated up the bottle- I had given in even though she had onlmy had a full one at 715- she was running a little late last night. All was good she re settled and went back to sleep straight away like she normally does. Then Adam got home and had a go at me for something, I got really cranky cause I was tired. Anyhow, didnt end up getting to sleep until about 11 or so,

Then at 354 this morning Bel started again, and for some reason something just clicked inside me and I got stubbon and decided she was not going to have a bottle- she could go back to sleep without one- she used to be able to do it- she did it the night before (she had had her 12month jabs- which always make her sleep, and once or twice she has 'fogotten to wake up') and she had had two full bottles really not that long ago. So I went back to the old settling technique- went in, patted her butt for  awhile and she settled, I then left the room and it started again. Anyhow, thought well if she is thirsty she will drink some water- she loves her water and drinks heaps of it- doesnt like juice or anything only her milk and water which is great. Refused the water, so I perservered. Adam came out and got cranky at me, I yelled at him, he yelled at me. He went back to bed. So it took a while, I stood and I sat and I stood and patted her bum and eventully at 514 I crawelled back into bed- impressed that I had lasted that long, feeling guilty that maybe I had done the wrong thing, annoyed ( a nice word) at Adam for never getting up to help me out, not one night in 381 nights has he gotten up and fed her, and totally exhausted and praying for a miracle that she would stay asleep until 8 or 9 this morning (no such luck- awake at 707!).

So I still dont know if I did the right thing, but not once did she want any water- she does during the day if she wants milk she will bring the water over to me, she was not really crying half the time, just 'making noise', she always used to sleep through the night no problem, she gets heaps of milk and food during the day, and she is the perfect day time sleeper- I put her in her cot and she sleep- no mucking about, it's just at night she has refused to unless she has had a bottle, thus why I have been thinking she is not really thirsty just was used to things happening that way. Another website that I have found really good for baby stuff says it can take a 12 month old an hour to settle.

Anyhow, we shall see how we go tonight. I dont know what I will do yet, but I just know that I am so sick of getting up during the night when she doesnt really need me to.

Any thoughts??

Today I had to bring the bambina into work with me.

Normally I don't work on a Wednesday, but as my remote access wasn't working (thus I wasn't able to log into work last night to finish a report), I had to come in and finish that report.

So today, my first born was at school, and my son was having a play date at a friend's house - which meant, I had to bring the bambina in with me into the office.

OK, my colleagues thought how gorgeous my 2 1/2 year old was.  And she was - she's a charmer.  But the three hours I was in the office, I managed to get probably half an hour of solid work done. 

Even though I brought lots of snacks and activities, the bambina just wanted to "help me work". LOL.  Which meant that she wanted to sit on my lap and she tried to answer my phone and press the buttons on my pc.

YES a challenge - but I managed to get that report done.

And in regards to getting my remote access fixed - I've booked my computer in on Friday to get a full rebuild and get my software re-deployed to my machine - hoping it will fix the problem.

Sus