Technology at it's finest

Last week I went to The Arc state convention and was able to see demonstrated a new communication device called the Intelligaze. This is an amazing device that uses what is very similar to a computer and has voice output. What's even better is that it is operated by eye gaze. So basically, it can read where you are looking on the computer screen. So your eyes operate much the way a mouse would with select and click.

We tried a similar device on Andrew just over a year ago, but it was unable to read through his eye glasses due to the uv tinting. The Intelligaze does. I tried it myself and while not perfect, I definately had control with my eyes.

So with the vender there and Andrew's teacher's number in my cell, I immediately called and set up a time to try it out with Andrew. That happened at 10:00 this morning.

Andrew did very well. We had some issues with positioning. I wasn't able to watch his face directly so I couldn't tell if it was that he wasn't looking at the screen or if it was his eyes, because his right eye tends to wander a bit. He did much better with his glasses off.

I don't have a camcorder (it's on my wish list) but am able to take video with my camera. Unfortunately, I have yet to figure out how to edit the video. So I uploaded two that I took and they are posted below.

Andrew is actually using his eyes to make selections with the pictures (noise is other students in the background). When he is looking at a picture it turns red. There is a circle in the picture works much like hour glass by the curser. When it fills in that is the selection. We had difficulty with positioning which is why we are holding his head up. There is another circle which is difficult to see but when it is green there is a good connection, when it is red there isn't a good read and when there is an "x" it's not making contact at all.

The plan right now is to get it for a 30 day trial when school starts again in the fall. It's extremely expensive (insurance pays for it) so we want to make sure it works. And if it doesn't, technology continues to advance so something will come along.

You'll want to pause the music play list when you play the videos.


I stopped in the middle of Sponge Bob on this one. It lasts almost a minute and he like it so much he kept going back to listen to it.

God moments

Yesterday Aaron had a chess tournament. I wasn't planning on spending the whole day, I ended up being there the entire afternoon. It wasn't the most thrilling time, but I had a chance to visit with friends. So looking back at my day yesterday, I'm amazed at what God did during this boring afternoon.

It started when a man named Simanta approached me and started asking about Andrew. I'm guessing he is from India or Pakistan, but I didn't ask. He was asking about how Andrew communicates and what kind of things he does in school and on the computer. I explained about Andrew's PODD book and how he can use a switch on the computer accessing with his hand and his head. Simanta was totally familiar with PODD and it turns out that Simanta is Phd professor in the Department of Computer Science at Iowa State University. He is currently working with a 12 year old boy from central Iowa with similar issues to Andrew. He didn't know if what they had would work for Andrew but he wanted me to contact him sometime in the next few weeks. Here is the website he gave me Smart House. I'm sure I will run into Simanta again as we start going to chess tournys again in the fall.

Later in the afternoon I started having a conversation with a woman named Betty in the women's restroom. She asked me if I was Andrew's mom and told me how beautiful he was. And then she started talking about a woman she knew who had cerebral palsy and was completely healed. Immediately my defenses met up. Even as a believer I have trouble when approached by someone who starts talking about healing. She started going on and on about how if I have enough faith and pray hard enough Andrew WILL be healed because God wants everybody to be healed. It's only those who don't have the faith and pray that aren't healed.

Ok, I could majorly get on a soap box here, but I won't. I could have very easily just smiled nodded my head and ignored what she said, or could have just told her off, but I didn't. My response was so totally unlike me and I can only say that it came completely from God.

A few weeks ago I was reading an article about how Jesus had healed the the man by the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-18). This man was one person among many with disabilities lying at this pool and wanting to be healed. Yet Jesus healed only him- and it was not based upon his faith. Jesus chose to heal one person out of many. He could have healed every single one of them but he didn't.

Bottom line is that God has a purpose for everything and we don't know what that purpose is and we don't understand what that purpose is and maybe we never will. ("And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28) But I do know that each one of us is created in God's own image and that God makes no mistakes. It is only in our eyes that Andrew is imperfect, in our Lord's eyes he is absolutely perfect. So instead of dwelling on what God chooses to do or not to do, I choose to follow him wherever He may lead me.

And that is what I told Betty as her 14 year old daughter stood behind her with a huge grin on her face. Betty thanked me and told me I had given her something to think about. No, God gave her something to think about because those words did not come from me at all.

from Aaron

Aaron gave me a hand made Mother's Day card this morning. It was absolutely the best Mother's Day gift I've had to date.

Top 10 Reasons Why I Love My MOM

-by Aaron

10. I love my Mom because she cooks this for me: pizza
9. I love my Mom because she helps me with Scouts.
8. I love my Mom when she makes me laugh by telling me a joke.
7. I love my Mom because she taught me how to have responsibility.
6. I love to hear my Mom sing Christian songs.
5. I love my Mom because she finds time to spend time with me.
4. I know my Mom cares because she rubs my back.
3. I know my Mom is smart because she knows everything.
2. I love my Mom because she works so hard at making me happy.
1. I love my Mom because she's the BEST MOM EVER!

Thank you Aaron! I love you so so much.

giddyup dude

The language in my house right now revolves around an 11 year old, 5th grade boy. The words "dude" and "stinks" are quite prominent. That and nothing is ever "fair" and everything is quite "cool" as well. And I really haven't thought much about the boy stuff until Aaron hit 5th grade. Now bodily functions such as passing gas and burping have taken over my world. One day I will whip some manners into the kid.

On Saturday Aaron went with his Boy Scout troop to work on his Horsemanship merit badge. You can find the requirements here. We did this up in Waverly at Camp Ingawanis with the Wapsi Horse Club. Aaron has no experience with horses but had a very good time. He learned a lot in one day.

First they fed the horses, which I of course didn't get pictures of. I mean, they put hay and grain into the trough so I didn't really need a picture of that. Then the boys reviewed their books and worksheets learning about safety, types of horses, illnesses, etc.

After that came learning to tie the knot- and don't ask me the name of it, maybe I'll post it later.

Mastered it...

Then of course he had to bridle the horse and lead it out of the barn. Oh, and we musn't forget the helmet for safety. I was going to get some pictures of him saddling his horse (or attempting to since he's shorter than the horse) but my brother Scott happened to call right then. And I couldn't pass up on that call.

Ok time to get up....

getting there....

almost there.....

whew, made it!

Aaron was a little nervous at first but then relaxed and did very well. This was more than a trail ride because Aaron had to learn to turn, stop, back up, trot, etc. He mastered all which isn't bad for the first time around. We didn't get to trail ride but we're hoping to next time.

Now why is there a picture of a toilet here? Because I felt like taking it. I found it to be rather gross and it was the only one available all day. And it amused me.

Last weekend Loren and Aaron were supposed to go camping. They made it there and decided to come home because of the pouring rain. Before they had left to go camping I had gotten them a couple of cots because I was "informed" last time that they were the only ones without cots. Here is Loren testing it out to make sure it worked correctly- in the middle of my kitchen. Seems to be working just fine.

And I can't post without a snapshot of Andrew. He's started this new thing where he rests his head on his hand. I've been trying to get a picture but everytime he sees the camara he does this. Oh well, he's still cute.

I did make Loren and the boys come with me this afternoon to look at trees and shrubs because we so desperately need to do some landscaping. I was bummed because Andrew screamed the entire time. Guess he doesn't like looking at flowers.