Susan's Blog

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Stim Cell Research

The debate roars on about stem cell research, and also the causes of autism. But what I am interested in is stim research. I want to know how it makes Nat feel to open and close his hand and make sounds like, “Whooo,” and “Heem,” and every now and then, a “real” word (i.e., one that I understand, NT-centric that I am). Today he suddenly said,”No ants.” I looked at him and said, “No ants” in a room full of people talking, very quietly. He looked right at me and repeated it, then he grimaced. He shut his eyes tight and looked like he was in pain — because of me? Because of what I said? I agree, though. NO ANTS! Why can’t we share that? What’s so bad about my joining in?

I just want to connect with him. Why does it always have to be HIS way?

Just kidding. But really. At least he went in the ocean with me today, holding hands. And smiling his head off as the wave broke against his bony chest.

posted at 5:05 pm 7 comments

7 comments

He didn’t mean Aunts instead of Ants did he? Just wondering. Charlie would not get the concept of extended family titles, but I was not sure if Nat would.

— added by Mom on Sunday, July 30, 2006 at 9:22 pm

Hi Jan,
I don’t think so. He doesn’t call his aunts “Aunt Laura” or “Aunt Sarai.” Just “Laura” and “Sarai.” I don’t know the degree of understanding he has there but I’m pretty sure he meant the bugs.

— added by Susan Senator on Sunday, July 30, 2006 at 9:51 pm

Sounds like it was Nat’s own way of commenting on your post about bug movies! šŸ™‚

— added by Anonymous on Sunday, July 30, 2006 at 11:24 pm

I am assuming that “thing” they do with the closing of their eyes tight and that facial thing that mimics a tick-is a nerological one…Sam does it alot….what do you think?

— added by Kristen on Monday, July 31, 2006 at 12:07 am

Umm, maybe he meant exactly what he said, that is, he’d been thinking about, or seeing, ants previously, and remarked that there were now no ants in his thinking-about-things, at that time?

— added by Justthisguy on Monday, July 31, 2006 at 4:45 am

Alena does the “screw up the face and look in pain” thing when things are too stimulating.
She doesn’t talk though so I have NO idea what’s making her upset.

— added by Jen on Monday, July 31, 2006 at 6:10 pm

Im not for sure, this is got me puzzled.But did he mean to say Aunts instead of ants? I dont know but somebody need to work harder on this.

— added by Anonymous on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 10:31 am