Customer Service

.......is a dying profession.  I have not talked to one customer rep this week that didn't tick me off.

  I am so tired of making phone call after phone call and having to explain my situation to someone who knows diddly squat.  

They either don't know anything, or they have no power or desire to do their job.  Which happens to be CUSTOMER FRICKIN' SERVICE!!

Here are a few things that one who works in CS should know:

• ANSWER your phone
• Don't make promises you have no intention of keeping
• Admit to you mess up and DO NOT blame someone else
• Take that extra step - BE helpful

Here are a couple CS quotes, read them, memorize them, live by them!

 

Customers don’t expect you to be perfect.
They do expect you to fix things when they go wrong.

To my customer.
I may not have the answer, but I’ll find it.
I may not have the time, but I’ll make it

And the best #1 quote:

If you make customers unhappy in the physical world, they might each tell 6 friends.
If you make customers unhappy on the Internet, they can each tell 6,000 friends.

 

There you go.....guess what?  I'm on the Internet. ;-)

DO YOUR JOB

Thank you, and have a nice day!

Keepin' busy

Here is a hint that you frequent a store too much...

When you walk in and they say "Hi Daniel" or "What are you making today?"

That is what we get when I go to the fabric store.  The ladies at the cutting counter know my child by name.  Not because he's a problem, but because he loves to watch them cut the tons of felt that I get.  Also because he is extremely cute!

I'm happy to say that I am able to keep busy in the spare time making some of these things.  I'm even broadening my abilities.  Caitlin is a preschool teacher so she sometimes asks me to make things for her classroom.  Felt board things seem to be the hit lately. I started off making a black spider body (it was insect week) and they count the legs as the kids sing the songs, then it was a lady bug and the spots.  Now we've graduated to counting the spots on the puppy dog.  

Without spots and with the spots.  I even have a little pocket sewn onto the back to keep all the spots in there when not in use.  Turned out pretty good if I do say so myself! ;-)

Now we've also done the Five Little Hot dogs in the Frying Pan too!  I think I'm going to have to make some more of these things for Daniel too.  He is too funny, every time he sees me sewing he does his little sound and I look at him and he's got his eyebrows raised in the way he does when he wants to say "Hey what are you making now?"  he always gives me his approval of a smile!

Here are a few of the other crowns I've been doing too...just in case you wanted to see!

New Mode of Transportation

This past weekend we went to the toy store because Daniel lost his second tooth.

Our goal was to find a little toy with the money he got from his two teeth falling out.  After about 30 mins. of looking around to try to find something that he would be able to use himself.  We ended up at the wagons.  I've looked at wagons before but could never figure out how we'd be able to get Daniel to sit up by himself.  With the tone of his body when he gets excited he turns into an ironing board.  So I always look and then just pass them by.

Well this time I didn't.  I said we're buying this and we're going to TRY to use it.  If it doesn't work, well then I'll return it or give it to my grand kids.  I guess I did it because I wanted Daniel to have something that wasn't an adapted piece of equipment.  I just wanted it to be like any other child.  So Daniel ended up putting his tooth fairy money towards the wagon instead! 

We put it together and the more we put it together the more excited I got.  See that I was the one who was excited.  I knew it was going to work. I just wanted him to be able to get outside more and not have to be stuck in the house because of the lack of things to do or because of the heat like I mentioned here and here.

So, we let the store with a new little tikes deluxe wagon, a small blow up pool, and a little battery operated fan.

No sooner than it was put together, we went for our first walk ever in a wagon.  Yes, its a little adapted by having his childrite therapy chair seat in there (which fits perfectly) but you know what...I don't care.  All I care about is he LOVED it and I loved that he was able to enjoy himself and not sweat horribly.  We can hook the little fan on the umbrella bar and with a spray bottle he can get misted!

Here he is enjoying our walk with his big sister Caitlin!

The Internet Searches!

Can you imagine living without the Internet?

Sheesh, what did we do when I was a younger?  Heck, if you had a computer you were doing good!

Well I'm attempting to try to find some things and can you imagine how much time you'd spend running from store to store back in the day?  Heck now all you have to do is type something on the keyboard and voila....you know the prices and if they are in stock!  

This weekend I was looking for a vanity.  After looking for about 10 minutes, I got sidetracked. 

I ended up clicking among the list of stores that are associated with the vanities.  Next thing I know - Hubby is asking me if I found what I was looking for....(tee hee hee) "Ah yeah I did, I'll get right on that!"

So yesterday was the first day of summer.
My goal is to get Daniel outside as much as possible, so imagine how excited I was when I found this swing along with what I was originally looking for!  Bonus!

I can wait to tell you how this works for Daniel!  Pictures to come!!!

sheesh.....and hopefully Hubs won't realize the extra cost on the final bill! 

Life is good!

More Apps

In my constant search for things to help out Daniel communicate, I came across this blog.

I recommend you take a gander over there if you're thinking about getting the iPad/iTouch for your child.  They have some great suggestions for children of all ages.

Daniel is still "playing" a lot on his iPad.  I call it playing because he is still learning all the different apps.  I would have to say that is where I went wrong.  I gave him access to many many apps.  I would suggest for little ones like Daniel to only do a few to start off and see what type they like.  I also downloaded some videos, movies, cartoon type to keep him occupied when we are driving between home, therapy, doctors and such.   This again was not the smartest move on my part.  He now thinks of the iPad more of a toy then a device for communication or learning.  Although I have to say he is learning still because all the "games" we down load for him are school related.

There is one app that I like the most and its able to be customized to what you're teaching.  After so many correct answers you earn stickers.  Its called "Teach Me toddler".  I have it set up so that he is getting questions about colors, numbers, counting, and the letters of the alphabet - both upper and lower case.  It also asks what letter makes what sounds, which I like.   There is also the Teach Me Kindergarten.

I just got the app Alpha Baby which was suggested to me by another mom.  I am excited to try that one out too.  Of course I'm going to start to hide some of the apps and gradually introduce them to Daniel, get him use to the idea that this piece of "equipment" is for more than watching a video. :)  My bad, not his!  So I'll let you know what we think of Alpha Baby soon, that is after we get done with enjoying some sun!

Keeping Cool?

We have a bit of a dilemma.

Daniel loves to be outside, but because of the medication he is on he can't keep cool.  Generally 5-10 minutes at a time is the max.

Do any of your kids have the same issues?  What do you guys do?

Has anyone ever tried a cooling vest?

Neurology Update

On Monday we had our EEG.
I was able to get us out of the 24 hr. Video EEG stay. We just had a prolonged EEG
(4 hrs long).

The prelimiary results of the EEG was that there was an occasional spike but no seizure activity.  His background was between 5 and 7 which is slow for his age but is expected because of the brain malformation.

Yesterday we had our 6 month recheck with Dr. C., our neurologist.
And I'll tell you again, like I do every time I see him. I love this doctor. He ALWAYS has something good to say about Daniel. He takes his time with you and will answer whatever questions you have. This guy in my eyes...is the God of neurology (for the things Daniel goes to him for). I always leave with a good feeling. He believes in Daniel like we do. He KNOWS that there is something there.

I can tell him how Daniel scoring high on the receptive language and he'll say "Well I knew he'd do that", or how he is doing something in physical therapy and he'll say "Well sure he is, did you think he wouldn't?"

Unfortunately we weren't able to see our favorite nurse "Ms. Kathy" as we visited at an off site location. But we did see our favorite resident dr. along with Dr. C.


So as of right now, we are sticking with what we are doing.  500mg of Vigabatrin 2x a day with VEP/ERG testing every 6 months (which will fall in July) and in 6 months another EEG.
According to the doctor 500 mg for Daniel size is on the low side but because its doing what it needs right now we are not looking at changing it.  I get nervous because there is the chance of vision loss with the Vigabatrin, but it is controlling the seizures.  And who knows if we'll have such luck with another anti-seizure medicine...and what are the side effects of those?

He also planted the seed of surgery for Daniel's drooling.  Although it is control with Robinul currently, he said we'd be able to get rid of the medicine and the side effects that come with it.  Another thing to think about....but sheesh, I hate surgeries.

Block Party?

I think NOT.
We'll start off with the state of the street I live on.
For the next 5-7 weeks this is what we are dealing with.



This is what sits in front of my driveway. What a beautiful thing to see out the window eh?
But from a little boys perspective, it is so very exciting.



So exciting that you are able to talk your big sister into taking you up close to the trucks!
And even walk down the middle of the once cement covered street to the other big trucks
Now can you tell who is happy about the street being torn up? Yep....the little boy who likes to watch the trucks all day long!

We obviously don't have access to our driveway, which means we have parking on other side streets and have to haul all supplies plus Daniel in one trip to the car. Its a heavy load.

You think maybe one of the big trucks can give us a ride one day?

Beautiful Weather....for most

It was a beautiful weekend wasn't it? For the most part. There were a couple thunderstorms, but I also think those are beautiful. I love nothing more than a really good storm.

The one thing that stinks is when its warm Daniel can't be outside for more than a few minutes. With the medications he is on, he can't sweat. This is dangerous if not carefully monitored. So we try to get out before it gets too hot, or if it is hot, we keep it short and sweet.
We went for bike rides this weekend. The child LOVES being outside.

Notice the pointer finger coming out to ring his bell.

Here I'm asking him if he wants me to take off the rubber duck that squeaks. He is making his sign language face for "bird" which can mean ANY type of bird with a beak! I can list off animals and every bird that I name I get the same face....cracks me up.


This is in the car, I had to bribe him into going to the store to get off the bike. It doesn't show here but his face was beet red. Looked like heat stroke was gonna happen at any minute. Air conditioner was on Arctic blast