Piece #11 - Christen and Sarah

I still remember a television news interview that my wife did about our youngest girls where she told them that we (Jaimee and I) don't call Christen and Sarah 'the twins', but only refer to them by name. I have to laugh at that because not only do I call them 'the twins' (on many occasions), but so does my wife as well! (So Piece #11 is titled Christen and Sarah - and not "The Twins"). Like I mentioned back in the very first Piece, those beautiful girls had finally answered all the lingering questions I have ever had about myself. In another light, they were also a miracle because before they were ever born; my wife had lost three other babies before them. Please don't get me wrong, I really love all my girls, but the older two don’t have Asperger’s. They were born on July 6th, 1995 through a C-section because Sarah was in the breach position. When Jaimee had told me they were twins, I had really hoped they would be identical and...they are! I would have to say that it was rather miraculous to see the two girls talking to each other in their own tongue. They call it 'twin talk’; I have to admit it was really fascinating since they were too little to communicate with Jaimee or myself.

Jaimee was the first to notice that there was something different about the girls, but especially Sarah when she was 2 years old. When we had the doctor examine her when she was 4, he noticed something as well signs of autism. I remember my wife telling me that Sarah might be living with us for the rest of her life because they didn't believe she live on her own without assistance. Jaimee and I personally believe Sarah could live on her own. Christen seemed to act like any normal baby. It was difficult to tell whether if there was anything different about her or not. As I've mentioned before, doctors didn't diagnose Christen until I was identified with the autism first.

It's funny in some ways because they've taught me a little about living with Asperger's and on several occasions, I was able to tell them how to handle certain things too. I will have to say that they have a benefit in working each other versus me all by myself. Another observation I've noticed about the girls is that both girls seem to have roughly the same interests. (Honestly, they tend to mirror mine as well! Sorry honey.) They both love reading manga (Japanese Comics) and watch anime (Japanese Cartoons). [If it was for Sarah's love of reading these things, I believe her reading level would be really low.] They both enjoy being on the computer and watching movies. The big thing would have to be the reading though, they live and die by the library. They don't own the e-readers and I think they’re curious about them, but I don’t think they’re really excited to have one. (I wouldn’t mind having one personally.) Needless to say, I do love them very much.

Songs of Inspiration [Check it out on iTunes!]:

Songs: “Walls” & “Alice”

Artists: Manic Drive & Avril Lavigne

Albums: Blue & Almost Alice (Soundtrack)

(Actually these are Christen and Sarah’s favorite songs. Yes, they do like the same kind of music. I thought I'd add their videos. No copyright infringement indented, the twins just love your work!)

[CHRISTEN in front of the white rabbit's house, Disneyland]

[SARAH next to the white rabbit in Disneyland.]

Piece #75 - My Directing Method

Being a director like I have for several years, there are things that I've had to deal with in this business. This isn't the professional method of directing, but this is my perspective on how to be a director in any medium. I will probably address the proper method of how to treat actors, but that is not the sole focus on what I'm going to share. As a director you will have to deal with people who think they know it all and you can't say anything that will benefit me. The problem that most amateur actors forget is that acting is an art form, but it's also an occupation. I think people tend to forget that acting is work...hard work. One of the things that I try to let the kids know is that it's a very difficult business to get into. I feel like they need to hear the truth about the world of entertainment. I tell them that they have to 'want' it very badly and do almost anything to get in. An internship is a great way to get your foot in the door, bu

Piece #103 - I.Q.

I have, in some form or fashion, addressed this topic on intelligence, but I thought I'd hit this head on. One of the big things that people with Asperger's gets tied with is having a high intelligence. I have to admit that I've had a hard time finding solid evidence on all people with Asperger's having a high intelligence. I guess this a bit of a piggy back to my earlier posting #78 No Talent Required. The difference between these two is I'm going to address the intelligence in general versus the talents from Asperger's (or Savants). When it comes to the topic of intelligence, I get a similar feeling like in high school when the class decides on 'the most successful' label. I say this because I've always questioned what is successful? In turn I would also ask in the same breath what is intelligent? Testing the intelligence of someone used to seem like either a brainiac, just an average person or an idiot...depending on the score which is reall

Piece #28 - Puzzles

I realize autism is symbolized by a puzzles piece and I've noticed that some people have taken some offense to that, but this doesn't deal directly with that topic. This is a straight observation on puzzles and how they affect me and the twins. With the new age of electronic devices, it has changed to way we do pretty much everything! In this case I want to focus on puzzles because there are lots of computer game companies that are betting on us to buy their own special puzzle game, whether it is on the iPad, iTouch or smart phone. I will say that I do own an iTouch and yes, I do love it! Unfortunately, I can get sucked into several good puzzle games. So far the top ones I love to play are Chuzzle, Bejeweled, Tiki Totems and of course...Angry Birds. To be honest, I also will go 'old school' and play Solitaire, Mahjong, Sudoku and even Tetris because they still have a place in my heart. Sometimes the simpler games I would rather play because they are quick and easier

Pressing Puzzles

Search This Blog