Summer Staycation

We did staycations before they were cool. Because we're trendsetters.

Or, because our economy crashed with therapy costs long before the rest of the nation caught up. Either way, we have stayed close to home for the last several summers. This year I reminded myself of our good fortune -- home is close to DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis, so staycations don't need to be dull. We have also been trying to improve Leah's community skills, including stamina and behavior. So with the help of Katie, an invaluable home program therapist (and Mike, when work schedule allowed), we took a series of field trips. Katie braved all three girls on her own a couple of times, taking them mini-golfing while I was recovering from my scary anemia episode, and taking them to the Chesapeake Children's Museum while I got a root canal. The museum was only so-so, but looking at Mom's creepy Novocaine smile afterward was highly entertaining.

Leah sometimes likes to dress like Katie for these trips. The doorbell rings and Leah grabs a bandanna.

In Baltimore, my mother-in-law joined us on a trip to the aquarium, where the moving ramps competed with the fish for the kids' attention. A couple of weeks later, we headed back to Baltimore to visit Port Discovery. Maddie loved the karaoke area and channeled her inner American Idol a few times.

Lauren liked being a cowgirl ...


... and blew enormous bubbles.


Port Discovery was a huge hit, but will probably be remembered most for the walk back to the car, at least by the adults. Halfway across Pratt street, Leah's skorts fell down. She was behind Mike and slightly ahead of me when I saw them go. Luckily Katie is fast -- in the second it took me to wonder whether to fix them right there, or get her to the sidewalk first (I'm pretty sure I didn't utter any four-letter words, but no guarantees ...), Katie had scooped Leah up and taken her across the street. Leah looked at me over Katie's shoulder, smiled, and said, "Oopsie daisy!" By the time I got to the curb, I was laughing so hard that I could barely stand up. The child has no butt (she definitely didn't get that from me), which means I spend a lot of time on Crack Watch. Usually we're able to keep the pants on, though.

We did two trips to DC, both to the Smithsonian -- once to American History, and once to Air and Space. The kids were pretty excited by the Metro, which also provided a lot of skill-building opportunities -- navigating turnstiles, escalators, managing tickets, following directions (always Madam's forte).


Maddie is a TurboTourist -- a quick look, and she's ready to move on. Probably appropriate that she's standing next to a very fast aircraft.


Leah decided her Katie-style bandanna needed further accessorizing:

(Please pause to admire the red streak on her arm. While Lauren and Maddie printed cards on an early printing press, Leah apparently decided to save a tree and dipped her hand and arm straight into the ink.)

And in a stunning development, Maddie liked the view from the Presidential podium and was quite perturbed when told she needed to give someone else a turn. Apparently she had more to say. That's politics for you.

Historically, movies have not been particularly successful ventures for Leah (I still haven't seen the end of Cars -- we made it through about 15 minutes), but she did quite well through Ice Age 3. The kids also painted pottery, and Katie assisted Leah on our back to school shopping trip.

We did manage one out-of-town jaunt last weekend, to Hershey Park. The weather was dicey, but it held on for us.

Lauren and Maddie happily posed with the kiss character.


Leah had more fun offering a flower a few times, then snatching it back at the last minute.


Overall, the summer passed quickly. Hard to believe I'm writing this on the first day of school.

Maybe she's still not sure about the haircut

Thursday was theme day at Leah's Extended School Year program this summer, and the kids were encouraged to dress accordingly in things like team jerseys and beach-themed clothing.

Apparently, the theme for this day was Come as the Unabomber:

What can I say? The kid means business when she says 'cheese.'

DNA is a powerful thing

It's a shame Maddie and my grandfather never met, because they have a lot in common. When she's not instructing me on fairness or wearing out the word 'why,' she has an ebullience and a capacity for enthusiasm that remind me of him. Witnessing the two of them on one of his driving tours of Naples would have been priceless.

She also shares his fashion sensibilities:


He never let a little thing like stripes get in the way of pairing a preferred shirt with his plaid pants.

Our 15 minutes

Just realized I never posted the text of the TACA article from the Annapolis Capital:

Parents with autistic children reach out to help each other

By THERESA WINSLOW, Staff Writer

Published 07/09/09

Six years ago, Alison Hamilton's life was in turmoil.

Her oldest daughter, Leah, was just diagnosed with autism, and she'd just given birth to twin girls.

"It was devastating," she said earlier this week. "And I couldn't help thinking, I had these two gorgeous new babies … what if it happens to them, too?"

Luckily, her twins are OK, and Leah's made a lot of progress with the help of providers and advice from other parents with autistic children.

And now Hamilton's trying to return the favor by helping to start a local chapter of the support group Talk About Curing Autism (TACA). The chapter, which is one of 24 throughout the country, serves both Anne Arundel and Montgomery counties, and has meetings in both regions.

Since March, there have been two meetings in this area, and another is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at 130 Lubrano Drive in Annapolis. The group also holds more informal "coffee talk" sessions, one of which is set for 7 p.m. July 30 in the cafe at the new Whole Foods in the Annapolis Towne Centre.

"I want to pay it forward," said Hamilton, 38, of Crofton. "There is no single road map, and that's where it can help to network with people. The networking has made a huge difference (for me)."

The initial TACA meeting served as an introduction to the group, but some discussion of treatments also arose, she said. The second local meeting featured a physician who sees a lot of autistic children. About 30 people from throughout the region attended each gathering, Hamilton said.

The interest didn't come as a total surprise, but she was pleased by the turnout. Hamilton said she was fairly certain there was a need in this area for TACA or something like it. "We've had some people say, 'I feel like I'm home. I found my group,' " she said. "We're thrilled. We're very pleased."

Denice Rulo, of Severna Park, who has one son with autism and another with Asperger syndrome and also helped form the TACA chapter, said the group can help people navigate through what can be a daunting amount of information.

"It's all about figuring out what's available out there," she said. "(Doctors) say that 'A' word. That's a huge bomb in front of you and early intervention is the key, but they don't tell you what that early intervention is."

Like Hamilton, Rulo said she was helped by other parents and wants to repay their kindness.

"He's come a long way," she said of her son, Jacob, 7, "and I owe it to the moms I've met along the way. We have each other."

TACA members have other resources as well.

Everyone who comes to a meeting gets a free copy of the organization's "Autism Journey Guide," said Rebecca Estepp, TACA's national manager. The 351-page guide is packed with all kinds of information about the disorder, as well as different therapies and diets.

"TACA helps parents 'hands-on' through a variety of ways: support meetings, new parent seminars, parent mentors and a Web site with a live chat option," Estepp wrote in an e-mail.

She added that parents also can call the main office in California for assistance. "TACA aims to give parents real, tangible help as quickly as possible," Estepp added.

Helping hand

It's hard to miss Hamilton's home, thanks to the large puzzle piece hanging from the front door.

The puzzle piece is a symbol for autism, and serves as a kind of calling card for her involvement in the cause. She also has a couple autism stickers on the back of her minivan and an autism-related license plate holder as well.

"It's part of our lives, you know," she said. "I believe in autism awareness, especially with the rising number of children with these diagnoses. It truly is a tidal wave."

Jill Zaukus, of Pasadena, another parent who helped organize the chapter, said one of the most important things the group can provide to families is hope. She said hope is what keeps her going, too, as she faces the challenges of rasing her two autistic sons, Andy and Bradley, 8 and 7.

Like Hamilton, Zaukus said life is a series of constant adjustments, with schedules built around therapy appointments. But both women are resolute in their determination to help their children and other families grappling with autism.

"We keep trying," Zaukus said. "It's not that we don't accept our kids, but we're always striving for more - and that's our hope. There could always be some new therapy, some new treatment."

For more information about the local TACA chapter, visit the Web site at talkingaboutcuringautism.org. There's also a Yahoo group, which has 65 members and is available to parents and caregivers: health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TACAMarylandDC.

For general information about TACA, visit the Web site at www.tacanow.org.