Who is my Little Boy Blue?

He is a special boy with bright blue eyes, just like my paternal grandmother (who he never had the honor of meeting since she passed 10 years before he was born).  He loves the color green, but has an affinity for blue hair gel when he can get his hands on it.  He loves all things boy. Sports, bugs, rocks, Cub Scouts (he recently completed his Wolf), dogs, fish, animals, and the list goes on.  He thinks he gets special education because he is special...and he is right.  He's a funny guy and I really need to start writing down some of what he says.

Here's a picture of my Little Boy Blue.  He's rather literal and has to work on his pragmatic language skills.  When he saw this picture he asked if this is what Little Boy Blue looks like?  I told him why yes, yes it does.

We are scheduled for his first camping trip next weekend.  He wants to know if it's okay if he really doesn't want to sleep outside for two nights.  I said sure, but why don't we wait until we get there to make up our minds.


My little boy blue needs a haircut.  I told him we are shaving it off. :) Well not off, but a pretty short cut. He has thick wavy hair like me, and my father had the same too.  So it grows fast. 

Little Boy Blue's Reaction to seeing my blog..and random thoughts..

Last evening I showed my son this blog.  He thought it was really cool.  He really liked his likes & dislikes and wanted to know if he could change them, but for now the list is accurate.  He thinks it is cool that I am writing about him. ("Hey Mom, can you make this into a book for me?")


He was watching me peruse twitter.  LBB was very excited to see that I was following MLB (he's a baseball fan) and Tony Hawk (another fan figure of my son)  I entered a Tweet Chat as he read over my shoulder.  "Are you really writing about me?"  "What are the home keys?:" (He's trying to learn how to type). "Wow, Mom you type fast. It's like you're playing music!" (I can type about 120 WPM--good thing since some of the TweetChats have been fast moving of late).  Such a funny boy.  He likes to surf the internet with me and find interesting things on You Tube.

 So after, we needed to run the dogs outside for their bathroom break.  He ran out with Oscar (the one eyed chihuahua) as I wrestled with out crazy Puggle Roxie.  Then screeched to a halt at the top of the stares, gazing into the sky.  There is a full moon. "Mom I think that is the brightest most perfect full moon I have ever seen in my life.  Isn't it beautiful?"  Yes, buddy it is.

So what is a chronic compulsive reader anyway?

I am a chronic compulsive reader.  I will read ANYTHING.  Furniture assembly directions, check.  Back of shampoo bottles, check. Medication package inserts, check.  Often when I am stressed and/or bored I find the irresistible urge to read.  When I worked nights in the emergency department, I could often be found when all other work was done and the dept was slow reading the PDR (Physician's Desk Reference).  I read protocols when I worked in research, even though I didn't have to.  I would read the content labels of various kits & sterile processing tray.  I knew the contents of the pacemaker & code carts by heart.  Now THIS came in handy on overnights when a cranky surgeon would come in for an emergent procedure. He'd start shouting orders for a "tray with the special instrument", the charge nurse would send me off to get what he was talking about, and 99.9% I pulled the right tray the first time.  He'd ask how I knew, I told him because I was a chronic reader & would read the tray contents as I restocked.

You know when you go to the doctor or hospital all those papers they give you to sign, I make them NUTS because I HAVE to read every word, and quite often ask questions too.  They get a little peeved if I find an error or a reference is missing, but tough cookies.  Why should I sign that I read something that I did not.

I did start reading at a very early age (my mom says I started reading at age 3).  My dad took advantage, he'd buy new computers or products or equipment and hand me the manual and say "here read this and tell me how to work this".  I did read the MS DOS 5.0 manual once.  Came in handy when I took computer programming courses.

I loved reading text books. It's part a search for additional knowledge (though I do fear one day my brain may implode from overload).  I have a habit of remembering what I read and where it was located.

Came in handy when I worked in research.  I'd have a tendency to remember SOP's, procedure guides & protocols.  My cubicle was next to training.  When the QA auditor would come by for a query, I usually knew the answer. I'd write out the section of the SOP she was asking about and hold it up for my buddy, the training supervisor, to answer the query.  It took a while for the QA manager to figure out how he knew all the answers. :)  She called him on it. He replied that he was just utilizing the resources available (me).  He often referred to me as the "All knowing Oz".  He'd send his more tenacious trainees to me.  I didn't only know how something needed to be done, but why and I had the reference sources to back up the reasons.  Made it easier to understand my job.

My son thinks its funny.  He loves to ask me odd questions.  (I was very prepared for the why questions.  However he wasn't a why? toddler)  He is very proud when I tell him the answer.  More proud if I show him how to find out the answer on his own.  This chronic reading does wonders for my research skills.  My son can now tell you everything you didn't want to know about the rocks of NJ.  And so can I. (This was his science fair poster this year)

Since I have opinions on everything, and I love to read. (I often can't put down whatever I am reading until I am done.  Thus often the cause of many sleepless nights) if you are reading this and want me to read your relevant book.  Send it my way!  I'd be happy to read your book and post about it on my blog.  I don't have many (well any) followers yet, but I hope that will change quickly.

 Edited to add:
I forgot to mention that I have about 2000 books in my house (plus text books & references).  My son knows that while I may not buy the newest Tech Deck, silly band, Backugon, or Matchbox Car, he has about a 98% chance of mom saying yes to a book. This doesn't include our magazine collection.

Maybe I'll start reviewing some of my favorite books..

And so I begin..

So many thoughts, where should I start. I do have an opinion on everything. I had a few ideas last night during my regular insomniac session, but alas by now I have forgotten them.

Life is grand. Though I've lived in my place for 11 years now my balcony has only been furnished with a resin table, a resin kids chair, a wooden folding chair and my planters. So we finally got around to making up our mind (well I did, Little Boy Blue & my mom don't get much of a say) about what I wanted and bought it Tuesday night. Of course, assembly required. I had to use the stupid wrench that wasn't exactly the right size because I didn't feel like going out to the car to get my ratchet set for the bolts. It was awkward, but I got one chair assembled yesterday.

Little Boy Blue was thrilled (he loves hanging out on the balcony, now that I unblocked the door). He was most excited to drag my mom out to the balcony to show her my accomplishment. We had breakfast on the balcony this morning.

So today's project is to finish assembling the rest of the furniture. The Puggle was roaming about and started whining to go out on the balcony. Apparently the purple chair in the living room no longer meets her standards. She decided that she prefers the new chair on the balcony (since now she can see over the railing). Must take note to NOT put chair next to the railing or I can pretty much guarantee she'll go AWOL over the balcony wall (mind you we're on the second floor) and strut her stuff in search of adventure around town.

My other project is to get ready for my son's upcoming IEP meeting. This of course, is assuming that the CST case manager will actually let me know WHEN the meeting is scheduled BEFORE the meeting is supposed to happen. I need to get all my ducks in a row. I need to request an assistive technology evaluation. The school & the OT agree. The CST case manager leaves a lot to be desired. She wanted to leave him struggle for a second month this year when I, his regular teacher, and the school guidance counselor & super all thought he might do better in pull-out support resource room. The school overrode the CST, and he thrived. There is something to be said for developing allies in the classroom. His second grade teacher is AWESOME. She may not understand his quirks but she is willing to learn. Nervous about third grade though, that's a "newer" teacher (but not as new as the first grade teacher).