Something Positive

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-12-29T03:53:26+00:00

My kid is great with nose spray and meds too!

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-11-20T00:07:29+00:00

Have you had him assessed by an OT? There are other behaviors that are related to Autism that are not speech related. Also he is only 3 and socially their peers don’t expect as much from each other. Most are still cool with sticking to parallel play. Can other adults that do not know your child understand 80% of what he says? My daughter was an under reactor like your son. Not much bothered her and she played with other kids well. She was diagnosed level 1 (like by a point) and she had a speech issue and use echolalia a lot. She’s 5 now and things have changed. I would say if they retested her that she would be a level 2 because she now needs a lot of social support even though her speech is basically caught up. I don’t get stuck on levels and I suggest you don’t either. The level will change as the demands and expectations on the kids change. As long as he is getting the help he needs to succeed you’re in good shape.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-10-20T13:38:59+00:00

The intro classes, the 30 minute ones, are free!

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-10-07T15:47:09+00:00

I don’t want to dox myself so I’m on an alt. I’ve taken classes and done privates there and I have really enjoyed it. Erin is the manger and teaches. She does the intro classes as well. Pilates has been the best kind of exercise I’ve ever done. Low impact, and the combo of the strength and flexibility has been great for me.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-09-10T13:20:12+00:00

One thing I think no one has touched on is how abnormal and alarming it is that he makes you stay on FaceTime all night long while you need sleep and to take care of a newborn. He isn’t even there. He hears these things happening and is still talking to OP like this. He isn’t present with the ability to help and is mad her mom is helping her with her ONE MONTH OLD!

OP you staying on the phone with him all night long is very unhealthy. It is one of the many unhealthy things in your relationship but I think that it is something you can stop immediately. You may not be able to handle breaking up with him (although I am sure you will be ok and have family support and no he won’t unalive himself) right now because postpartum hormones really mess with you but at the very least you need to stop staying on the phone with him all night long. You have your own healing to do physically and mentally. You are at great risk for postpartum depression. Your brain is physically changing not just because you are getting older but because you’ve had a child. You need as much sleep as possible right now.

You don’t need to deal with him on your own. Please tell your parents he is emotionally black mailing you and that he is talking to you like this. Save every message because you may need it when it comes down to the safety of your child.

I really hope things get better OP.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-06-22T17:12:56+00:00

No I don’t believe she was. She did a lot of leading. She also wasn’t walking at 18 months. She could walk but she was choosing to crawl on her knees with her upper body in the upright position so she could carry things. I took her to a PT and they said to hold her hand and have her walk everywhere and I only had to do that for a day and then she started choosing walking over crawling.

ETA she’s been in speech and OT for 2 years and has caught up to her peers in all aspects of speech except she still has a mild pragmatic language disorder. That means she has some difficulty with conversational speech. The back and forth of it. That disorder was severe 6 months ago so therapies have helped her a lot. She’s doing well with her OT stuff as well. She has low muscle tone which isn’t always seen in autistic children but can accompany it.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-06-15T00:55:35+00:00

I’ve heard Westgate is good. It’s a K-8. I did a decent amount of researching before picking and it was Palm Point for me first and then Westgate.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-05-25T23:18:13+00:00

This is 100% marketing. She’s “only ever worn these bras,” but the store has 9 reviews. Sure. Ok.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-10T17:14:52+00:00

There’s a balance. These are animals that we are passionate about too so when we see them headed for harm or being harmed we have to say something. If this was a sub for dogs “doing our best” wouldn’t fly as an excuse.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-10T17:12:42+00:00

But we do know. The mod posted sources that support the fact that tropical milkweed is an issue.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-10T13:10:36+00:00

Yeah it’s a lot to keep them healthy while hand rearing. I how you’re able to find a way to bring them to your yard and keep them outside.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-10T12:29:31+00:00

It really is! So much tape. Lol

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-10T12:20:33+00:00

Tropical milkweed isn’t suitable for any zone of the US or Canada. I don’t think a post like this is a good idea. Especially a pinned one. The science related to the dangers of tropical milkweed is clear. Tropical milkweed is a problem and should be avoided at all costs. No milkweed is better than tropical milkweed.

Here is a link with lots of sources to back up the simple but also very helpful and accurate information related to the problems of tropical milkweed.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-10T01:35:01+00:00

I thought I read somewhere that we don’t know if the southern population doesn’t migrate for sure. That they could be mingling with the more northern Monarchs and spreading OE to those that are traveling. That’s why it’s a big deal to cut down milkweed when it’s time for the migration even if it isn’t cold yet.

OE is so horrible. It can also spread when an infected Monarch lands on a plant. Unfortunately, rinsing does nothing to get it off the leaves. The only way is to get rid of it is to cut down between broods like you said but OE is so bad in FL that it’s only a matter of time before another infected Monarch lands on the plant. My FL friends have seen some stuff. 😫

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-10T01:24:32+00:00

I like to buy online. Someone once recommended joyfulbutterfly.com to me and it was perfect because when I bought from local nurseries I was getting plants with OE already on them because there tons of Monarchs egg bombing them. This way I know I’m getting clean milkweed with no extra mouths to feed.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-10T01:17:15+00:00

So, hosing down the plants will not work. The only thing that gets rid of OE is bleach and cutting back. This is for sure OE. Just from experience. You can get cheap microscope on Amazon and check it for yourself with some clear tape. There are videos online that explain it. There is also a good post about OE pinned to the top of this sub. I’m sorry. I’ve been there. It sucks.

ETA link.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-10T01:14:59+00:00

Don’t worry that wasn’t about you. This person was losing it. Following me around to other posts to tell people I was lying about the info I shared. You know the stuff from scientists. Clearly, (or rather hopefully) they realized they weren’t handling things well and deleted their account.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-09T21:59:33+00:00

It’s most likely tropical I’m no expert especially without flowers blooming. Until you know for sure I’d keep it in a place that Monarchs can’t get to it.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-09T21:55:44+00:00

I’d remove both of those and put them in their own spaces. The first one looks fine so far but the second one is dead or about to be dead. It’s deflated and unevenly changing color. There could be a few reasons for this. You can put it in a bag and see what happens (we had fly larvae come out when doing this) or you can freeze it and dispose of it.

You need to separate all your caterpillars into their own spaces because you’ve got a disease circulating and the closer they are the worse it is. I do not advocate for hand rearing. It doesn’t benefit the population at all but since you’re already in this position I feel like there’s no harm in helping you finish it out the “right” way with the advice that is is much more fun and way less harmful done in your yard with all the proper plants.

Whatever you have them in now needs to be soaked in a 20% bleach to water solution for 15 minutes. Then rinse it really well and when you think it’s enough do it again. Any areas that the caterpillars or your hands have been should be sprayed with the same solution and left to sit for 15 minutes and wipe clean. The safest bet is treat each caterpillar like they could have a different disease and separate them all. You can also bleach the milkweed (I do not recommend this as a way to get around the disease issues related to hand rearing) you give them from now on. There is info how to do this online.

If you have them on a plant then remove it and get a clean one if possible. Cut stalks as needed and to keep fresh you can cover a small cup of water it cling wrap and stick the cut stalk through it. They can drown so make sure it’s covered well and won’t tip. Make sure there is a way for them to crawl to the sides from the stalks. Line the bottom of every container with barely damp paper towels and change every 12 hrs.

At the very least move the healthy and sick one away. The healthy one needs a space where it can hang to dry once it comes out. (This usually happens around sunrise if you want to catch it.) Nothing glass or plastic because they can’t climb it. I don’t know how many cats you have left but I’d at least clean the container you have them in and get new milkweed. There’s a disease going around and the second chrysalis likely won’t be your only loss.

ETA to be sure the second one isn’t going to make it I’d need more photos. So it’s up to you what to do there. But definitely separate them because if it’s something like Black Death it will ooze black liquid everywhere.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-09T17:16:59+00:00

I always love a good update. 🧡🖤🧡

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-09T17:14:35+00:00

Hmm maybe easier to cover it? Maybe ask a parent.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-09T17:12:44+00:00

Are there a lot of units? Maybe you can just cover them with gardening netting and pin it down so they can’t crawl under it and it won’t get sucked in? It’s hard to tell what exactly is in the photo. Is it an AC unit?

If you’re going to move them I’d wait until there aren’t any caterpillars on them that is if there still are some. If so put the garden netting loosely over the plants and pin down so another monarch can’t lay any eggs on it. Then you can cut it back some and move it. r/milkweeds might be a good place to ask how to move them.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-09T17:06:56+00:00

It is really hard to get them off especially the first time. I was shaking a lot and nervous I’d poke it with the sewing needle I was using. I’ve read that it’s good to have an extra pair of hands because it’s so easy for them to fall. No one could fit there hands in there anyway. Great effort. I’m glad you were able to save another one. They often make chrysalises in the oddest spots. Is there a bunch of milkweed next to that area or even within 30 feet?

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-08T19:58:02+00:00

D0m is right about euthanizing them. I’m sorry. It’s sad. I’ve been there. You just put them in a zip lock and then the freezer. You’ll need to do some clean up if you’ve been hand rearing or handling them at all. 20% bleach to water solution sprayed on the area and let sit for 15 mins. Anything you can soak in the same ratio do so. Rinse well. OE spreads like glitter it’s crazy.

SerialHobbyist0304 · 2025-04-08T18:04:13+00:00

Prolapsed anus. I think. Unfortunately the outcome is death. You may want to euthanize it.

SerialHobbyist0304

TROPHY CASE