Don't Know The Meaning of Quit

Don't Know The Meaning of Quit
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael is trying to get cousin Abby to smile, despite her protests. Eventually he decides to help her along by pulling the corners of her lips into a faux smile. He just does not know when to give up.

Last night, I met with Michael's teacher, Mrs. Coho, for his interim progress report. His academics are all stellar, and she showed me a 110 word midterm spelling test he took. Michael spelled 109 words correctly, and missed only a single word: "quit." I guess you could say that "quit" is not part of Michael's vocabulary.
~~RAP

Bears Rule!

Bears Rule!
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Alex may be the bear enthusiast, but Michael enjoys a good bear every now and then also. Of course there is always overlap; Michael may be the robot enthusiast, but Alex likes a robot every now and then too. Perhaps we need to build the ultimate shared present: the robobear.

Of all of the members of Alex's bear collection, 'Baby', the blanket, is still his favorite. He has to have baby each night. If someone is leaving Alex, with his sidekick Baby, must give them a hug. Alex may let Michael share his enthusiasm for bears, but he is not going to share his Baby.
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Fashion Statement

Fashion Statement
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Alex has always been one who marches to the beat of his own, unique drum; there are those who follow the leader and wear their pants with the zipper in front, and then there is Alex; he proudly wears his pants with his zipper in the back and pockets in the front.

Many claim that this is the wrong way to wear your pants, but there are also those that would praise his avant guard fashion sense. Of course, it does not matter what his fans and critics jeer and cheer; what matters is wether the pants serve the purpose that Alex intended. To ascertain if he met that goal, we need to know the purpose.

Was it comfort?
Was it protection from the weather?
Perhaps, it was to get us to talk about him.
In that case, it was a resounding success!

RAP

Marvel

Marvel
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael visited Dr. Pinkam at Riverside on Saturday once more and the results were good. It appears that he he has gained 5 pounds in the last 6 weeks and his blood looks fantastic. The serotonin levels in his blood are still very low which is typical with Aspergers. This should make him jumpy and edgy, but as you know, he almost never is. In fact, he is very calm. Maybe he switched his blood with his jumpy little brother, when we weren't looking!
RAP

The Master Of Games

The Master Of Games
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

One of the most interesting things about Alex is his ability to do things in moderation. This is most readily illustrated with sweets; if Alex asks for a candy bar, he will start to eat it and almost always stop while there is more remaining, because he is full. Michael, and most people, would finish that treat, but not Alex.

Where this behavior is breaking down is with interactive electronic entertainment. Unlike food, there does not appear to be a point where he has had enough. He can keep playing and playing and playing until you make him stop. This was a problem we thought we would have with Michael, but it never materialized. We are going to try to restrict his usage, but what we really need to do is teach him when has played enough to be full.

RAP

Trio

Trio
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

At first glance you may think this picture is indicative of a cold winter day, but I beg at you to look a bit closer. There jackets are unbuttoned and they are not wearing layer upon layer of warm clothes. In fact, it was 55 degrees outside when we took this photo and they are only wearing jackets to appease their mother.

Temperatures such as that are ideal for play in the snow, particularly for someone who does not enjoy the cold (Begins with an 'A', ends with an 'X' and in the middle is a french article).
~~~Robert

Catch Of The Week

Catch Of The Week
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

It was a goal he had worked towards for a long time, and on Friday he finally achieved it; Michael was Mrs. Coho's "The Catch of the Week." The award is achieved by good behavior in the past week, and is celebrated by being lavished with attention in the following week. Michael will need to take in several items that help illuminate what he thinks about himself to the class. It is a challenge that, like many things, he is meeting with greet enthusiasm.
RAP

Can't Wait to Tell You!

Can't Wait To Tell You
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

I had a suspicion that Michael would be "The Catch of the Week," so I had Jenny lying in wait with our camera. You might think that this full sprint is an expression of his enthusiasm for being "The Catch of the Week," and you would be partially correct. However, it is important to note, that Michael always sprints from the bus home! It is really quite funny, and I think of it as an expression of his enthusiasm for his family.
RAP