**THROWBACK POST**
August 12 2009:
Team TLC at the South Valleys Park
Category Archives: News and Events
Chad Basil the First – Two Month Update
February 12 2022
Chad Basil the First update. Basil has been with us for two months now.
He has nearly abandoned his safe space under Thomas’s bed, still returning there for his long afternoon nap. 😂
We’re learning his favorite things to play with, a small spiky rubber ball, little puff balls, and the assortment of foam balls Thomas and Lillian have collected over the years from birthday parties. I knew we were saving those for some reason. It’s pretty hilarious watching him toss the balls around, attacking them, with his back arched, and tail fluffed out. He loves playing with them on the stairs.
Basil enjoys jumping onto my bed, and the rocking chair to lounge in the sun. He’s finally discovering he can jump!
We finally got to hear him meow, as he’s been silent since we brought him home (except for the yowling the first 3 nights)! 😱 He meows to Thomas when he wants to be fed. It’s very quiet, and sometimes only a half meow.
Basil finally let’s us touch him. But, only when he’s half asleep, just waking up from a nap. 👏👏👏 He loves watching cat videos on our movie wall. Birds are his favorite so far.
Thomas is disappointed that Basil is spending less time in his room now. Hopefully, he’ll make his way back in there once he’s done exploring, and hanging out elsewhere. **Adding for those who don’t know – Basil is Thomas’s cat, adopted from the Humane Society.**
Lillian and Basil are steering clear of each other. He wants to explore her room so badly! 🤣 They are slowly warming up to each other.
We love him!! ❤️🥰❤️
Throwback Post: Brainstorming Adventures While Losing Our Minds
**THROWBACK POST**
August 12 2012:
The Romano Duo Adventure continues …. They made it to Denver yesterday and headed for Wichita this morning! Wahooooo!!!
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Team TLC is brainstorming business ideas to ensure we get all THREE of us to the C18 conference next year … can’t wait to see what we come up with!!
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August 12 2011:
End of VBS adventures!!!
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August 12 2010:
“We never lose our minds ~ they just take a vacation sometimes! Hey, everyone needs a vacation, don’t they y’all??” –Camilla Downs
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August 12 2009:
Has anyone else noticed that going to the eye doctor is kinda like taking your car to the mechanic?? We suggest you get this, too. You really should be getting this procedure done when getting your eyes checked. We also offer this test which insurance doesn’t cover. No thank you, I just want my prescription renewed so I can get some more contacts please! Just struck me as funny!!!
Throwback Post: The 2015 Chromosome 18 Conference
July 24 2015:
We’re off!! Team TLC’s first long distance road trip together. Wahoo!!!
We made it about an hour ago!!
Dinner with the lovely Marianna Kuortti, Shelby Stevenson and Lorie Stevenson. Thanks for the dinner company ladies!! xoxo
July 25 2015:
Happy, blessed, and grateful …. LOVE!! … And some improvising on my part since we have no plates! HA!
Handed out a few Thomas Love Cards yesterday!! YAY!! Thomas shared a hug and a kiss, I gave the lady at the hotel check in counter a hug, and a “You are Awesome!” to our server at the restaurant last night. xoxoxo
Swimming!!! xoxo
Went for a walk today … Just love exploring!!
More exploring and then dinner with the wonderful Natalie Banton, Noah Banton, and Jeff Banton. Thank you for the amazing and fun dinner company! Phone went dead before I got pictures of actual people! Thank you Jeff and Noah for having so much fun with Thomas! My meal looks like a big mess, but it was so yummy! Wild mushroom polenta. Oh my gosh! So good!!
July 27 2018:
So wonderful to meet you face to face!!! Thank you oceans for your kind words!!!
Breaking, Fabulous, Wonderful News!! While I was in a session today, Lillian Left the Room All By Herself, Got On the Elevator, Went to the Lobby, Sat in a Chair and Waited for her Friend to Come Meet Her!!! Holy Heck!!! If you are out and about tonight or having a night in, please share a toast, a hallelujah, and celebrate with me!! Wahoooooo!!!!!!!!!! I’m so excited!!! Now! For ladies night! Time to celebrate with some very amazing and wonderful women!
Look who I ran into in the lobby!!!!! Pure happiness! For those that don’t know, this is Rick Guidotti!! He comes to our conferences every year and takes wonderful pictures of our kids and us! You can learn more at Positive Exposure … xoxoxo
July 28 2015:
I am so much enjoying our chats together, Kristina Bjorklund!!! So very happy we got to meet face to face and share hugs!! xoxo
Lillian, Natalie and Madison.
July 30 2015:
We had a surprise visitor at the farewell dance last night. Made my eyes sweat just feeling the excitement and energy that her visit brought. xoxo
“The Litmus Test” …. Brought to us by the wonderful siblings of the Chromosome 18 Registry. The Sibling Panel is one of my favorite sessions at the conference. It’s the ONE session I do NOT miss.
Pretty much all siblings agree about “The Litmus Test” as something they unofficially use with new friendships and with potential significant others.
Two siblings had brought along their significant others and what they had to say made my eyes sweat! What they shared is so beautiful …. What they had learned being at the conference, the joy of being around all of us, and thanked us for having them.
I feel “The Litmus Test” applies all across the board … potential friends of the sibs, potential friends of the parents, potential significant others for sibs and potential significant others for parents. “The Litmus Test” … Sounds like a GREAT book title to me!!
And, Ronda, what your amazing daughter shared had my eyes sweating a river. I, too, feel that part of the purpose is to help us learn that change happens within our own minds and our beautiful children facilitate this for us.
Oceans of love and gratitude to the siblings and their significant others … (Thank you Andy for facilitating the panel!)
Farewell …. Til next year!!!
More farewell smiles … Thomas just loves his little buddy, Isaac!!
Finally made it to check out the library! Whole building is glass = A hugely freaked out Lillian. The kids section was down one level. Gave her a choice to sit at the main level while Thomas and I went down or choose the stairs or glass elevator and go with us. She chose the elevator. Go Lillian!! After I got them settled with books I went to the top! That and coming back down made by head and stomach spin. HA! I’m kinda freaked out by the all glass building too. Part 1
One more swim and one more meal at Red Rock.
August 5 2015:
Spent some time yesterday making thank you messages. So fun!!
August 9 2015:
All of the photos can be seen here:
Neuropsychological Evaluation With a Determined Cheetah
January 15 2022
Yesterday, Lillian had the first of three appointments for the neuropsychological evaluation, assessing for autism with anything else that presents. They are each about an hour and a half in length.
It was rough. Some of the assessment is timed. Lillian cannot process being out of time, when she’s not finished with a task. She had to come sit in the car with me for a 15 minute break.
Dr. Highsmith was lovely. It’s obvious she is skilled and has much experience. I’m relieved to have the 1st appointment finished. Two to go.
Lillian very much did not want to do this. But, can see the benefit. So we decided to incorporate something she DID want to do. Afterwards, we stopped at Audrey Harris park to take in the view, and take some photos.
January 18 2022
This afternoon Lillian had the second of three appointments for the neuropsychological evaluation, assessing for autism with anything else that presents. They are each about an hour and a half in length.
This time wasn’t as rough as last Friday. However, Lillian really didn’t want to go, so we were 15 minutes late. And good news! They were able to finish it with this visit. So Lillian does not have to return on Friday. 🎉🎉🎉 Go Lillian! We can do hard things!!
One last appointment next Wednesday. But, that is just for me to go over the results of the assessment (and Lillian if she wants to attend, but it’s at 9:00am and Lillian isn’t interested in an appointment at that time).
We decided to incorporate something fun again. Afterwards, we took Rosey to the car wash.
When they were very young, I didn’t have the money to put towards entertainment. I barely had enough for food. So I would make going to the car wash an adventure. Still is.
January 26 2022
I received the results of Lillian’s neuropsychological evaluation this morning. It was as expected (plus some), however, overwhelming with much parent guilt over not having done this earlier in her life. Hot tears have been flowing on and off most of the day. This also brought relief in knowing the “why” of some issues.**
I feel like I’m the middle of the rope in tug of war between helping Thomas get enrolled for dual credits for his last two years of high school, along with figuring out college, and thinking about all that needs to be addressed with Lillian. Plus addressing some of my own medical issues. We’ve got the route(s) figured out for dual credits. It’s just taking all the steps, filling out the forms, and looking into colleges to be sure the credits transfer to the 4 year degree.
I have been letting myself feel sad and sorry for myself today, as I do this all alone. Some days I’m just so damn tired. I will walk into the overwhelm, the tiredness, and let myself feel it all. I don’t believe in smooshing these kinds of feelings down, piling positivity on top of it. That does no one any good. I believe in physically feeling the shit of life.
This evaluation assessed more than autism. I’ve not shared the results as that is up to Lillian as to whether or not we share. She does have some hard core disregulation happening. These diagnoses have opened up therapies that insurance would not pay for without the diagnosis, and informed me of specific therapies and tests I did not know about. Therapies that would have been incredibly helpful earlier in life. Yet, we will start where we are.
Then, tomorrow, or the next, or the next, I’ll move back to knowing that I’m a damn cheetah, because I can do hard things. (So glad I read Glennon Doyle’s book and learned that phrase! Highly recommend her book, Untamed.)
I’m not posting for sympathy. I’m sharing because that’s part of my processing. Getting it out of my head. And I know if I’m feeling this way, someone I know has, or is, feeling this way. 🌹🌹🌹 (Photo of a damn cheetah!)
Throwback Post: Why Not Adventures
**THROWBACK POST**
August 13 2012:
Here’s to the last week of summer break for Team TLC …. Celebrating with just about the only fast food we eat!! Here’s to the upcoming new adventures …
Why-Not Adventures … Needed some exercise and exploring after the celebration lunch …
Throwback Post: A Fancy Room
**THROWBACK POST**
August 13 2013:
Lillian made my and her bedroom “fancy” yesterday. She rearranged the pillows on the beds and added special rocks to the dressers and nightstands. She loves what I’ve done to the spare bedroom in converting it to a Reiki Oasis … cleared out some things, added a bamboo plant, candles, rocks and stones. She says it’s open and fancy now! HA! Love that she feels rocks add to the fanciness of a room!
(Lillian – 2013)
Throwback Post: Great Selection of Books
**THROWBACK POST**
August 13 2013:
Hanging out at the library while Lillian is in therapies …. Love this library …. such a GREAT selection of books!
Throwback Post: Wonderful Surprise
**THROWBACK POST**
August 13 2014:
Lillian and I got a wonderful surprise at the eye doctor this morning. Ran into Jessica Adams Bischopink and handsome David!! YAY! I was kinda worn out after a not so lovely flip out meltdown from the beautiful Lillian as she really didn’t want to go! Eyes are the same. Nearsighted. She should be wearing glasses but …. I suppose if it gets worse she will change her mind!
Throwback Post: Ask for Help – A Pebble for Your Pocket
**THROWBACK POST**
August 13 2015:
Ask for help and you shall receive …
Thomas got angry the other night and it was spilling out of him in unkind ways. He asked me for help in getting past the moment and was not liking anything I suggested. It was time for our nightly reading and “A Pebble for Your Pocket” is what we are currently reading.
I opened to where we had stopped the night before and this is where we were to begin again, “When We Are Angry”. Thomas stopped me after reading the title and halfway through the first sentence and said that I had chosen that on purpose. “No, Thomas, I did not. This is where we stopped last night. You asked for help and here it is.”
I felt his energy shift just from hearing this. He was glued to the entire section. May you be open to receive the answers you ask for too! LOVE!! xoxo
