Braille Challenge 2012

I almost forgot to brag a bit. On Saturday Rocco placed third at the Northern California Regional Braille Challenge! We were actually surprised even thought he placed first last year. Why surprised? Because he was competing in a new age group this year which makes him the younger of his group. We had been preparing him for the past month to not be disappointed if he didn't place. He gets a little bummed when he misses out on a trophy. We have been fortunate he has placed all three years he has competed.

Smile!

Yesterday I was reminded about our first trick-or-treating when Luca was just 9 months old and Rocco was 26 months old (ironically the exact same age Vinny is right now).

This is the only photo I can find of that night. Luca is a little pumpkin and Rocco is Batman. Interesting that I am reminded of this night while I struggle to make bat costumes for both Luca and Vinny. Vinny wore his robot costume last year with no problem. This year is different. Well, it's a whole new year and in toddlerhood that's a long time. I'm ok if he decides to just wear his regular clothes.

You see, just a few short months before this photo was taken our world was rocked. The entire story deserves a lengthy post or two, but the short of it is, we went 19 months NOT KNOWING OUR FIRSTBORN WAS BLIND!!! Are you fucking kidding me?

As we excitedly got the kids dressed and ready to join the crowds of children roaming the streets in search of candy we pretended everything was fine. About ten minutes into the evening it hit us both at the same time. I'm not even sure what did it. I remember seeing a few other toddlers racing up to people's front doors. I remember a little girl dressed as a fairy. I clearly remember the smiling faces of adults. We weren't smiling. I'm pretty sure soon after I took this photo Chef was crying. I was crying. We didn't need words... we just went home.

 I will one day write it all down. I guess right now I just want to say that we are far from that black hole now. Actually our universe doesn't have a black hole anymore. Rocco loves dressing up as much as other kids and he adores trick-or-treating. Although he does need help finding the doorbell! Our total acceptance of what he is has made our life complete.

Smile! life is pretty amazing.

Summer School

Sorry for the radio silence. I have been sewing. A few duds which is annoying and wastes fabric. Some keepers which I'll get around to showing you soon. 

Rocco has Summer school and it's pretty exciting this year because the county school program was able to get four visually impaired kids to go to the same class. There are a variety of other children with special needs also. Two children with cerebral palsy, and autistic boy, and another girl that has a feeding tube. The class is being held at the middle school in my neighborhood which is awesome for me. Close to home. 

{Rocco using his Braillenote}

 This past school year Rocco started working with a braillenote. What an amazing piece of technology. His is an older version right now but the newer technology is pretty amazing. They have GPS, WiFi so you can email, four USB slots... it's kind of an everything-you-can-imagine-item. He loves it.

{Janie using her fancy-schmancy Braillenote}

 We are so very lucky to have a blind 16 year old high school student that is volunteering in class this Summer as a part of her school credits. Here she is in the photo above. I visited class this past week to see what to expect for my future with Rocco. Well, she is a superstar. When she types there is almost smoke coming from her fingers they are moving so fast.

I had met Janie and her dad at the regional Braille Challenge back in February and I spoke with her dad a bit during the breaks. I had no idea that last year at the age of 15 she placed second for her age group in North America! That's totally big time. To say I am impressed puts it lightly.  She made it to the top 12 this year and yesterday she went to L.A. to compete for the title.

An Artist

Did you know there are coloring pages for blind children? They have raised edges and other raised textures to show dimensions of drawings. It's really quite simple and brilliant. 

The above image comes from a coloring book Rocco had when he was younger. It's called "The Farm Bumpacolor by Kelly". Do you know the most amazing part about this book? It was created by Kelly Rickard for an entry into the Western New York Regional "Invention Convention" competition, when she was in just 5th grade! Of course this won her first place. Since then, Tactile Vision Inc. has made her idea a reality for blind children all over the world.

I must have spent the last hour trying to find any information on Kelly and her story. Nada. I don't even know what year she entered this competition. Is she all grown up now? Does she realize her simple invention changed the world of art to blind children? 

Rocco loves art. I mean absolutely loves it. He draws almost daily. He gets absolutely absorbed into a world of fantasy when he is drawing. He leaves out no detail. It's all scribble to our eyes, but to Rocco it's his work of art.

My Big Boy

Our school has a fundraiser every year that comes up with some pretty unique ways to get you to part with your cash. One is to buy a parking space right up front with a placard saying "blank" family parking only (insert winning name), so when you pick your kid up everyone gets to see who forked over $1,000+ to park up front.

Another item is principal for a day which let's the winning child walk around school all day pretending to give orders, or something like that. Besides getting to read the announcments on the loud speaker and other principal duties, the child gets to invite 4 friends to eat pizza in the faculty lounge. 

One of Rocco's close friends is principal for the day today. Her parents bought it for her and bought the principal for a day for her older sister at the other school in our district. Some people have money to burn. Who am I to complain though? One, the money goes to a good cause... and two...

Rocco was one of the kids that she invited!  Last night he said he wanted to dress fancy for the special lunch. I was baffled because he has nothing in said category. Before I could utter a word he stated he wanted a bow tie. That boy listens. He remembered all the attention little brother got from his bow tie. So late last night I was making a bow tie that hopefully would not garner snickers from the other kids at school today.

This is where the story may just melt your heart a teeny-tiny bit. The girl that invited him is genuinely a friend to him. She isn't told to hang out with the blind kid that is socially awkward. She also is one of the pretty girls in school. Well, that sounds creepy. She's in second grade. Maybe I should keep it at "she's so stinkin' cute". He's in love with her and has no idea what she looks like. I love that about him. The judgements he makes in life will never be based on people's appearances. 

p.s. On a funny note, last night when I put the measuring tape around his neck to measure the right length for the bow tie, he got all excited and said "it fits!". In his defense I was using a fabric measuring tape, but I still laughed.

A weekend of firsts

First of all we paid a shit ton of money for gas over the weekend.

Over the weekend we went skiing with the kids. Lot's of fun for the family except the baby is one season away from learning to ski. So I became the nanny while everyone else enjoyed the slopes.

There is a great organization called Discovery Blind Sports that trains guides to accompany blind skiers of all ages and abilities. I can't say enough about what a great program this is. What stands out the most is that the guides are all volunteer and do this on their time off. 

We have had a few different guides (all fantastic) but we love Jeff and always request him if he is available. He's super patient and easy going. 

I wish I had a semi decent photo of another first. Rocco was able to graduate into Horse and Buggy style skiing with his guide. In the photo (top left) he is skiing side by side which is the way he's been doing it since day he first started skiing. On his second day skiing this weekend he was able to switch so that the guide is up front (horse) and Rocco is in back (buggy), using the black and orange striped poles. This technique prepares Rocco for independent skiing in the future.

Did you just say INDEPENDENT? But he's blind! I know, I know... that sounds mighty dangerous. It's really pretty cool and it just so happened there was a 10 year old blind independent skier there this weekend and we were able to witness it with our own eyes  (Har har. Had to throw in the sight joke). Her guide skis behind her and calls out directions. She was amazing to watch.

Chef and I are snowboarders but that has all come to a halt. You see, blind snowboarding, not so cool. But blind skiing is totally where it's at. We started Rocco on skis when he was 6 and now it was high time Chef dumped the board and got on some planks. So Chef decided that this year he would commit to crossing to the dark side.

Luca is a natural and it was great fun for her to "teach" daddy to ski. They maintained the bunny slopes for most of the weekend. 

{My sister is also a die hard snowboarder and I had to text her a demeaning picture of Chef wearing skis. She texted back that he's a traitor}

 

Cenzo's first snow! Believe me when I say I was more excited than he was. He was more irritated that he wasn't allowed to go skiing. And more irritated about snow in general. Snow required the use of a hat at times. And dreadful mittens. This did not go over well. Especially on Sunday when it snowed the entire day. 

I saved the best first for last. My baby fell asleep in my arms. A total first (excluding boring infancy). I was able to get a hat on him (a first of sorts), and walk around the bottom of the ski runs cheering on my two little skiers.

Oh, and because I can't leave you all serious and weepy over my mommy and me photo, I've got to tell you there is nothing more entertaining than watching sighted people watch blind people. They totally stare. Duh. they can get away with it. And it just so happened a girl accidentally ran into Rocco near the bottom of a run and knocked him over (no harm done). You should have seen her expression when she read his orange bib. Priceless.

Understatement of the Year!

 To say I am the most proud momma right now is truly the understatement of the year.

Rocco placed first in his age group at the Braille Challenge in San Francisco this weekend. I am so freakin' proud of him right now.

I know I don't write much about being the mom of a blind child and I really keep meaning to sit down and write some meaningful blog post so you all have a better understanding. I mean, I'm sure if you are anything like me, you are just itching to know some of the details but are too scared to ask me about it. Especially since this blog has somehow become more of a sewing blog than a lifestyle blog. 

How awkward is that? "Um, I really like how you finished the seam of those pants. And by the way... how the heck do you parent a blind kid?"

I will sit down soon and write some stuff. I promise. It's actually quite a story. Until then I leave you with a photo of this little homeless child I picked up in downtown San Francisco. Although quite filthy, he is totally adorable.

I really recommend a visit to "The City" (as it is called to people who live within 100 miles of SF). It's cultural, beautiful, exciting and there are cute things like the above pictured hanging around the streets.

Working into the wee hours of the night

Argh. I am very tired this morning. I thought I would quickly sew up a drawstring bag to hold the softie memory game, but I didn't like the way it turned out so I found this box that fits the game perfectly. I cut out some fabric and printed up a title tag on the computer and Mod Podged the whole thing together. Since today is the last day of school I was really cutting it too close for my taste. Once a procrastinator, always a procrastinator. 

As I look at this photo I realize I forgot to pink the edges of the fabric like I had intended and the paper got a little wrinkled. Oh well. It does have a cute vintage feel to it. 

p.s. In case you're wondering why there is Braille on the cover it's because Rocco is blind (this is a gift for his regular ed teacher).

It Can Be Hard...

It is really a tough job to be a parent when life throws a you curve ball

He is amazing. He is smart. He is funny. He is blind. I am in awe of what he has to face. Homework was tough tonight. He struggled, but shit, this ain't easy stuff.

The Great Braille Challenge

Homework can be quite a challenge around here. Between Luca, Rocco and the baby all needing me at once it can be difficult to get things done in a timely manner. For Rocco it takes him twice as long to complete the same work as his peers. Here's why...

All of Rocco's schoolwork is done in Braille. I am so proud of Rocco. Rocco recently participated in his first regional Braille Challenge competition. It's like a Spelling Bee for the blind folk. I really didn't expect much from him being his first time and the fact that he's a little behind in Braille for his age. I shouldn't have underestimated my little boy wonder... he placed third in his age group!