Today we are switching from dish satellite to charter cable as our TV provider. Basically the only reason we are doing this is that it is cheaper. I am sure some of you are saying "So what, big deal". I would probably say the same thing too except for these two reasons:
#1 = Kassidy and change is like oil and water - they don't mix. She knows the dish network inside and out, probably better then most of the dish network employees. She knows the channels and exact times that "her shows" are on. (Now if she could just keep track of the remote but that is a WHOLE other story!) Now it will be a new schedule of channels and times.....
#2 = One of Kassidy's things is repetition, like watching the EXACT same show over and over and over......what's the problem? Well, our DVR is pretty full of Kassidy shows, some of them have been watched so many times that the DVR actually sticks like a DVD that is scratched would. And my typical child Shane also has a few of his favorite shows on the DVR like 19 episodes of Dinosaur Train and 16 episodes of Chugginton that he likes to watch before bedtime. Getting all these shows saved again is going to take time....and a lot of patience.
This is going to go one of two ways.....either they really wont care and will be excited about recording new stuff OR they are gonna throw a MAJOR fit when I get home and I am going to hear about it ALL NIGHT LONG. Any guesses?
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Things They Remember
Last night I was lying in bed with my monsters and out of the blue Kassidy asked me:
Kassidy: Do you remember that time we went to the pond and I almost drowned?
(To say "drowned" is a little overdramatic - more like went under twice. And yes my dear, mommy clearly remembers it and the stop at the gas station after when mommy was so upset she left the gas cap sitting on top of the car as we drove away and mommy was crying all the way home because my little angel had felt like she was going to drown and was hysterical in the back seat all the way home and then you had night terrors about it for well over 6 months - it sorta rings a bell somewhere in my memory banks. My question is: you are 7 3/4 now and you were 3 1/2, maybe 4 at the time of the incident - how do you remember it in such great detail as if it just happend yesterday?)
Me: Well, you didn't almost drown but yes I remember it.
Kassidy: Tell me the story.
Me: Well, I was holding your brother who was a baby at the time and you went a little too far out where you couldn't touch the ground anymore. Your head went under the water, you came up, you went under again and the nice lady standing next to you grabbed you for me and we got out of the water.
Kassidy: That was really nice of her to save my life. She was a nice lady. I was really scared. (Yea, the look of horror on your face is embedded into my memory forever!)
Me: I am really sorry that happened. It was my fault.
Kassidy: It is ok. I just wanted to talk about it (4 years later?).
After which I got a kiss on the cheek and was told it was given to me so that I could sleep better that night. Fat chance of that happening now that the pond trauma is FRESH in my brain again.
And with that Shane asked us to stop talking about it so he could sleep and off to lala land they went. Mommy on the other hand struggled with the mean monster Mr. Guilt for the rest of the night!
They say that elephants never forget - I wonder if they are autistic too?
Kassidy: Do you remember that time we went to the pond and I almost drowned?
(To say "drowned" is a little overdramatic - more like went under twice. And yes my dear, mommy clearly remembers it and the stop at the gas station after when mommy was so upset she left the gas cap sitting on top of the car as we drove away and mommy was crying all the way home because my little angel had felt like she was going to drown and was hysterical in the back seat all the way home and then you had night terrors about it for well over 6 months - it sorta rings a bell somewhere in my memory banks. My question is: you are 7 3/4 now and you were 3 1/2, maybe 4 at the time of the incident - how do you remember it in such great detail as if it just happend yesterday?)
Me: Well, you didn't almost drown but yes I remember it.
Kassidy: Tell me the story.
Me: Well, I was holding your brother who was a baby at the time and you went a little too far out where you couldn't touch the ground anymore. Your head went under the water, you came up, you went under again and the nice lady standing next to you grabbed you for me and we got out of the water.
Kassidy: That was really nice of her to save my life. She was a nice lady. I was really scared. (Yea, the look of horror on your face is embedded into my memory forever!)
Me: I am really sorry that happened. It was my fault.
Kassidy: It is ok. I just wanted to talk about it (4 years later?).
After which I got a kiss on the cheek and was told it was given to me so that I could sleep better that night. Fat chance of that happening now that the pond trauma is FRESH in my brain again.
And with that Shane asked us to stop talking about it so he could sleep and off to lala land they went. Mommy on the other hand struggled with the mean monster Mr. Guilt for the rest of the night!
They say that elephants never forget - I wonder if they are autistic too?
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
What to tell others of how it might feel like to be autistic
We tell them what we live.
We tell them what it’s like to see the world in too bright Technicolor. We tell them to think back to a time when they just got out of the ocean and their eyes were full of salt and they looked directly into the sun. We tell them that’s what it can be like to walk into a classroom.
We tell them what it’s like to hear the world in too loud, too chaotic Dolby digital sound with no volume control. We ask if they’ve ever had a migraine. When they did, did they ever turn on their stereo and their television, both on full blast and then have three people shout at them from different directions? We tell them that’s what it can be like to walk into a restaurant.
We tell them what it’s like to sit in the middle of a roomful of people talking and to not be able to understand a single word they are saying. We tell them to imagine what it would feel like to be a native English speaker who has a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish trying to follow an argument in heavily accented Castilian. We tell them that’s what it can feel like to be at a birthday party.
We tell them what it’s like to be completely overwhelmed by everything around them – to feel like they’re standing in the middle of the track at the Indy 500 and the cars are coming at them at full speed. We tell them they too might lose their facility to calmly ask for help when they have no idea what’s happening next. We tell them they’d likely panic and scream and curl into a ball. We tell them that’s what it can feel like on a soccer field.
We tell them what it’s like to taste and smell the world so vividly that they can’t tolerate it. We remind them what it feels like when they have the flu and every smell sets off their salivary glands and their gag reflex. We ask them, what if, when they feel like that, someone hands them a pot of curried meat? We tell them that’s what it can be like to sit down for a meal.
We tell them what it’s like to lack the language to express your most basic needs.
We tell them what it’s like to be so sensitive to certain sounds that you live in fear of car alarms, sirens, coffee grinders, garbage disposals, horns and any of the places that you may have heard any of those sounds before.
We tell them what it’s like to try desperately to interact with your peers, only to be rebuffed time and again because you can’t manage the most rudimentary conversation.
We tell them what it’s like to be so oversensitive to touch that a hug can be torture.
We tell them what it’s like to yearn for a friend. Just one.
We tell them what it is like to live with autism.
I can’t speak for you. Your experience is different than mine.
So you need to tell them.
Tell them what it’s like to tear yourself apart every day as the parent (or aunt or uncle or grandparent or cousin or colleague or friend or friend of a friend) of a child who lives with these challenges because you don’t have the tools to make it better.
Our children need awareness. They need acceptance and encouragement and understanding. They need patience and compassion and love.
taken from the blog www.adiaryofamom.wordpress.com
We tell them what it’s like to see the world in too bright Technicolor. We tell them to think back to a time when they just got out of the ocean and their eyes were full of salt and they looked directly into the sun. We tell them that’s what it can be like to walk into a classroom.
We tell them what it’s like to hear the world in too loud, too chaotic Dolby digital sound with no volume control. We ask if they’ve ever had a migraine. When they did, did they ever turn on their stereo and their television, both on full blast and then have three people shout at them from different directions? We tell them that’s what it can be like to walk into a restaurant.
We tell them what it’s like to sit in the middle of a roomful of people talking and to not be able to understand a single word they are saying. We tell them to imagine what it would feel like to be a native English speaker who has a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish trying to follow an argument in heavily accented Castilian. We tell them that’s what it can feel like to be at a birthday party.
We tell them what it’s like to be completely overwhelmed by everything around them – to feel like they’re standing in the middle of the track at the Indy 500 and the cars are coming at them at full speed. We tell them they too might lose their facility to calmly ask for help when they have no idea what’s happening next. We tell them they’d likely panic and scream and curl into a ball. We tell them that’s what it can feel like on a soccer field.
We tell them what it’s like to taste and smell the world so vividly that they can’t tolerate it. We remind them what it feels like when they have the flu and every smell sets off their salivary glands and their gag reflex. We ask them, what if, when they feel like that, someone hands them a pot of curried meat? We tell them that’s what it can be like to sit down for a meal.
We tell them what it’s like to lack the language to express your most basic needs.
We tell them what it’s like to be so sensitive to certain sounds that you live in fear of car alarms, sirens, coffee grinders, garbage disposals, horns and any of the places that you may have heard any of those sounds before.
We tell them what it’s like to try desperately to interact with your peers, only to be rebuffed time and again because you can’t manage the most rudimentary conversation.
We tell them what it’s like to be so oversensitive to touch that a hug can be torture.
We tell them what it’s like to yearn for a friend. Just one.
We tell them what it is like to live with autism.
I can’t speak for you. Your experience is different than mine.
So you need to tell them.
Tell them what it’s like to tear yourself apart every day as the parent (or aunt or uncle or grandparent or cousin or colleague or friend or friend of a friend) of a child who lives with these challenges because you don’t have the tools to make it better.
Our children need awareness. They need acceptance and encouragement and understanding. They need patience and compassion and love.
taken from the blog www.adiaryofamom.wordpress.com
Friday, December 24, 2010
Christmas Eve Eve
Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas....blah, blah, blah.
OK so last night my husband and I got our Christmas present early. We decided to let the kids open one present each. OK, it was more for me then them but I know it is easier for Kassidy if she doesn't get too many all at once. And boy did we get to experience, FOR THE FIRST TIME, that decision.
We sat on the floor in the dining area (or what is supposed to be the dining area) and I explained over and over that they would get only one gift now and the rest on Christmas Eve. They ripped into their presents like it was food and they were starving. I was watching Kassidys face to see if we would get any reaction other then the usual, "cool, thanks" and our wish came true. She had the over-the-top-what-you-see-on-videos-from-other-families-kids huge smile and almost screamed that she loved it. Of course our son is always over-the-top so he had the same reaction. But the biggest miracle of all was that she kept thanking us all night, without prompting, on her own and even told me at bedtime that it was very thoughtful for us to get her that gift. Somewhere in heaven, an angel got its wings! Merry Christmas to all!
OK so last night my husband and I got our Christmas present early. We decided to let the kids open one present each. OK, it was more for me then them but I know it is easier for Kassidy if she doesn't get too many all at once. And boy did we get to experience, FOR THE FIRST TIME, that decision.
We sat on the floor in the dining area (or what is supposed to be the dining area) and I explained over and over that they would get only one gift now and the rest on Christmas Eve. They ripped into their presents like it was food and they were starving. I was watching Kassidys face to see if we would get any reaction other then the usual, "cool, thanks" and our wish came true. She had the over-the-top-what-you-see-on-videos-from-other-families-kids huge smile and almost screamed that she loved it. Of course our son is always over-the-top so he had the same reaction. But the biggest miracle of all was that she kept thanking us all night, without prompting, on her own and even told me at bedtime that it was very thoughtful for us to get her that gift. Somewhere in heaven, an angel got its wings! Merry Christmas to all!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Perception
I borrowed this from "A Diary of a Mom". You can find the entire article at http://adiaryofamom.wordpress.com/2009/08/
I’d like to ask you to think for a moment about perception. I’ll use myself as an example and ask you to take a minute to think about how it is that you perceive me, standing here in front of you. Please be nice – tall and thin might be words you could consider. (ed note ~ This was the one time that I got a laugh from the crowd and truth be told, it was far heartier than I would have liked.)
You probably don’t have too much of an opinion yet. Perhaps you like my blouse (and if you don’t, don’t tell me) or well, perhaps you think that I look like I might have something worthwhile to say.
Well, what if I presented myself differently? What if I couldn’t help but flap my fingers in front of my eyes because I couldn’t handle the sensory input in the room? What if I yelped sharply any time someone coughed or cleared their throat because I perceived it as an attack on my already overly taxed system. What if I bit my arms or hit myself in the face because my body couldn’t make sense of the messages that the environment was sending to my brain? What if I were spinning in circles here in front of you?
What if I had limited words? What if I repeated the same phrase over and over and over again? What if I had no words at all?
How would you perceive me?
And what if we were all third graders? What if I were a fellow student in your classroom? What if I sometimes lashed out or bolted from the room? What if I cried and got frustrated and didn’t have the words to tell you why?
What if I were YOUR child?
How would you perceive me?
I am incredibly blessed that my little girl has been as lightly touched by autism as she has. I often say that we swim at the shallow end of the autism pool. In the shallow end of this pool, perception is vital. At the deep end, it can be everything.
I’d like to ask you to think for a moment about perception. I’ll use myself as an example and ask you to take a minute to think about how it is that you perceive me, standing here in front of you. Please be nice – tall and thin might be words you could consider. (ed note ~ This was the one time that I got a laugh from the crowd and truth be told, it was far heartier than I would have liked.)
You probably don’t have too much of an opinion yet. Perhaps you like my blouse (and if you don’t, don’t tell me) or well, perhaps you think that I look like I might have something worthwhile to say.
Well, what if I presented myself differently? What if I couldn’t help but flap my fingers in front of my eyes because I couldn’t handle the sensory input in the room? What if I yelped sharply any time someone coughed or cleared their throat because I perceived it as an attack on my already overly taxed system. What if I bit my arms or hit myself in the face because my body couldn’t make sense of the messages that the environment was sending to my brain? What if I were spinning in circles here in front of you?
What if I had limited words? What if I repeated the same phrase over and over and over again? What if I had no words at all?
How would you perceive me?
And what if we were all third graders? What if I were a fellow student in your classroom? What if I sometimes lashed out or bolted from the room? What if I cried and got frustrated and didn’t have the words to tell you why?
What if I were YOUR child?
How would you perceive me?
I am incredibly blessed that my little girl has been as lightly touched by autism as she has. I often say that we swim at the shallow end of the autism pool. In the shallow end of this pool, perception is vital. At the deep end, it can be everything.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Stolen Words.
Sometimes only someone else can actually say exactly how you feel:
“I’m tired, OK? I’m tired of being UP and ON all day and then running home to feel like I have to be UP and ON all night. I’m tired of being pulled in a million directions and feeling like I’m doing nothing well. I’m tired of feeling overwhelmed and underprepared. I’m tired of being tired.”
“I’m tired of feeling like spending time with one of my children means giving up time with the other. I’m tired of feeling like I’m missing so much at home. I’m tired of keeping so many balls in the air all the time. I’m tired of watching money flow through my hands like water. I’m tired of making big decisions. I’m tired of feeling like I have nothing left for my husband. I’m tired of autism. I’m tired of politics. I’m tired of wanting. I’m tired of trying to keep the demons at bay.”
Stolen from "A diary of a mom" - Thanks Jess for writing it for me
“I’m tired, OK? I’m tired of being UP and ON all day and then running home to feel like I have to be UP and ON all night. I’m tired of being pulled in a million directions and feeling like I’m doing nothing well. I’m tired of feeling overwhelmed and underprepared. I’m tired of being tired.”
“I’m tired of feeling like spending time with one of my children means giving up time with the other. I’m tired of feeling like I’m missing so much at home. I’m tired of keeping so many balls in the air all the time. I’m tired of watching money flow through my hands like water. I’m tired of making big decisions. I’m tired of feeling like I have nothing left for my husband. I’m tired of autism. I’m tired of politics. I’m tired of wanting. I’m tired of trying to keep the demons at bay.”
Stolen from "A diary of a mom" - Thanks Jess for writing it for me
It's a Christmas Miracle!
Last night I had my Christmas miracle...both of my kids, (thats right both the 7 and 5 year old) slept through the night, you heard me right - THEY SLEPT THE ENTIRE NIGHT and (yes there is more) when I left for work this morning at 8:05am they were both still sleeping. For those of you wondering, yes - I did make sure they were both breathing!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Gotta Read
I was looking back at some of my previous posts and found this one - I felt it was worth posting again:
The circle of life
Your Heart is your Love
Your love is your Family
Your family is your Future
Your future is your Destiny
Your destiny is your Ambition
Your ambition is your Aspiration
Your aspiration is your Motivation
Your motivation is your Belief
Your belief is your Peace
Your peace is your Target
Your target is Heaven
The circle of life
Your Heart is your Love
Your love is your Family
Your family is your Future
Your future is your Destiny
Your destiny is your Ambition
Your ambition is your Aspiration
Your aspiration is your Motivation
Your motivation is your Belief
Your belief is your Peace
Your peace is your Target
Your target is Heaven
The first sign of Autism.
I was just reading an article written by a mom with a child with PDD (Pervasive Developmental disorder - type of autism), sensory and anxiety issues (her daughter is Kassidys autism twin I swear) and it hit me what our first sign was that Kassidy had autism. From the day she was born she did not want ANYTHING touching her hands. No matter how she was swaddled, she would find a way to get her hands free or cry until we freed them for her. As she got to the toddler age she would always sleep with her arms outside of the blanket and if you covered her up after she was asleep she would immediately bring them out again. Trimming her nails was a NIGHTMARE (and still is at age 7) and would take 2 of us to do it, one to trim and one to hold her down. I remember making little comments over the years about how she didn't like her hands covered but it wasn't until today, when I was reading the other article that the lightbulb over my head came on and I said, "That was our first sign."
What It's Like to Have Autism
The link below is the best article I have seen so far on explaining what autism is and giving the point of view of the autistic person. EVERYONE should read it!
http://www.webmd.com/brain/features/understanding-autism-symptoms
http://www.webmd.com/brain/features/understanding-autism-symptoms
Let there be light!
This past Sunday we had a moderate snow storm. No big deal really, I have seen worst. But then at about 3:50pm the lights flickered off and then came back on. Whew, that was close. I'm sure any parent dreads the loss of electricity as almost everything our children do now requires it. But for my child with autism, no electricity isn't just a minor issue, it is the end of her world. You see right now, Kassidy finds her calmness, her relief, her relaxation in using the internet. She puts on her headphones and spends hours there watch other peoples "puppet shows" of her favorite characters or funny clips and cartoons. So when the lights flickered and then went out for good around 4pm, I thought for sure the world of Kassidy would be spinning out of control. Luckily, daddy was smart enough to hook the TV and satellite up to a backup car battery so at least we still had TV - for a while. Oh, sure there was a lot of complaining about no computers and that is was the worst winter ever and how could this happen to her and what was she gonna do and then with frustration she said, "That's it - I'm going to bed!" Then the TV battery died and now things were gonna get really bad because now Shane had nothing to keep him entertained. Until mommy came up with the idea of playing with their leap frog game consoles. There actually was some excitement in the air until Kassidy went to turn hers on and it just flickered and turned off .... dead batteries! (Curse you batteries!) The fit was about to hit the shan when wouldn't you know it, the lights came back on. Kassidy was so busy being upset that she didn't even notice we were not in the dark anymore. I had to get her attention and tell her to look around. As she surveyed the room, a smile started to creep up on her face and the next thing I saw was a blur of what I supposed was my daughter finding her calmness, her relief, her relaxation in using the internet. Whew, the electricity gods were on our side that night!
Visit to Santa.
Most 5 and 7 year old kids can't wait to see Santa so they can tell him what toy they just HAVE to get for Christmas. My 5 year old had no problem with that....he was all about telling Santa that he wants a Creepy Crawlers Baking Studio for Christmas (great, more things for the puppy to tear up and eat). My 7 year old was not so thrilled. See, she has never really been a fan of Santa in person. She doesn't mind pictures or dolls or seeing him on the TV but to have to see him in person well, it's like we just asked her to eat a bowl of spinach. Two years ago when daddy took them to see Santa at a local store she totally freaked out in the car on the way. She demanded that she was staying in the car while her brother and daddy went to see Santa. Then she only wanted to stand way in the back of the store away from the noise and lines and kids and everything. Eventually she made it to Santa and supposedly a picture was even taken but the store couldn't find it so I have no actual proof. After that experience she said she never wanted to see Santa again.
This year we (well the kids and daddy and grandma since mommy had to work) went to the local volunteer fire dept in our neighborhood to see Santa. Kassidy was not thrilled to have to see the old man again but it was the only way to tell him that she just has to have a Barbie Dream Townhouse.
So there is Kassidy in the blue jacket and pink barbie boots looking like she is about to enter the dungeon of doom. But...... 
after some carefully planned seating arrangement we finally made it, even if it ment Kassidy was the farthest away on the floor. I asked her if she told Santa what she wanted and she said she yelled it from where she was sitting and she hoped he heard her.......oh believe me baby girl, he heard you loud and clear!
This year we (well the kids and daddy and grandma since mommy had to work) went to the local volunteer fire dept in our neighborhood to see Santa. Kassidy was not thrilled to have to see the old man again but it was the only way to tell him that she just has to have a Barbie Dream Townhouse.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
And the answer is?
Before I start let me apologize for any spelling or gramatical issues (did I just make up a word?) because Shane (my 5 year old) was up at 2am with a fever of 103. After a dose of kiddy Motrin and 60 minutes it was down to 101 but he was up and talking as if he felt like a million bucks. So not much sleep was going on last night for me, AGAIN.
Yesterday was the kids last day of school before Christmas break. Kassidy still feels that she should not have to go to school because (in her words) "my brain is already full of enough knowledge!" but they both made it through the day. When I got home from work I asked Shane first how school was today. He said it was great. I asked him what did they do and then I sat back for the LONG explaination of how they read the book The Polar Express and then watched the movie and they had a sub teacher because their regular teacher had to go to California for a wedding and they ate popcorn out of cups and anyone who got a M&M in theirs was lucky and then they got to bring home the stockings they made.....
Then I asked Kassidy how was school today:
Me: How was school today?
Kassidy: Fine (the usual answer)
Me: Did you guys doing anything special for Christmas in class?
Kassidy: No.
Me: You didn't even have a little party or get cookies or cupcakes?
Kassidy: I don't remember (which is her way of saying I am done - subject closed).
Sometimes talking to autism is like talking to a guy - very little details unless it is a subject they want to talk about. Oh well, I guess things went well because she wasn't freakin out about school!
Yesterday was the kids last day of school before Christmas break. Kassidy still feels that she should not have to go to school because (in her words) "my brain is already full of enough knowledge!" but they both made it through the day. When I got home from work I asked Shane first how school was today. He said it was great. I asked him what did they do and then I sat back for the LONG explaination of how they read the book The Polar Express and then watched the movie and they had a sub teacher because their regular teacher had to go to California for a wedding and they ate popcorn out of cups and anyone who got a M&M in theirs was lucky and then they got to bring home the stockings they made.....
Then I asked Kassidy how was school today:
Me: How was school today?
Kassidy: Fine (the usual answer)
Me: Did you guys doing anything special for Christmas in class?
Kassidy: No.
Me: You didn't even have a little party or get cookies or cupcakes?
Kassidy: I don't remember (which is her way of saying I am done - subject closed).
Sometimes talking to autism is like talking to a guy - very little details unless it is a subject they want to talk about. Oh well, I guess things went well because she wasn't freakin out about school!
Friday, December 17, 2010
Normal Thinking vs Autistic Thinking:
I asked my 5 year old son last night what he wanted to be when he grows up and he said, "A soldier". Over my dead body but the thinking of a "normal" boy.
My 7 year old daughter was asked the same question recently by a SSI evaluator and her answer to the questions was "A grownup." You can't get any more logical, black-or-white thinking then that!
My 7 year old daughter was asked the same question recently by a SSI evaluator and her answer to the questions was "A grownup." You can't get any more logical, black-or-white thinking then that!
Words I thought I would never speak.
Autism - Aspergers Syndrome - Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Autism Spectrum Disorder. Wow!
But these words have officially been a part of our life since Dec 2008. When I was in my 20's I thought I did not want to have kids because if one of them got sick (not just the flu sick but SICK) I would not be able to handle it. A person never really knows how strong they are until the situation happens to them.
Our baby girl was always just a little off, a little different - she gave me that feeling that makes you go "hmmm" quite often. She never really slept through the night, well, ever (and she is 7 today). It is amazing how much a person can function with so little sleep. And of course any mention to the pediatrician of anything slightly irregular got the response of "You are just an over-reacting first time mom". But mom's know when something is not right with their babies!
Over time, you will get to hear all the back stories that made me go "hmmm" and there may be some already in previous blogs. But it wasn't until recently that I actually really started to study this thing called Autism. Some info I have found fills my heart with joy while other info crushes me. But such is life I guess. Being a mom who has two different degrees of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and one "normal" child in the house is like being a juggler. Sometimes the balls all stay in the air and sometimes they CRASH into each other while in the air and quickly huttle down to the ground waiting to be picked up. But somehow, they get picked up and return to there rightful place in the air.
Hope you all are ready for this because I am not holding back anything.....BEWARE!
But these words have officially been a part of our life since Dec 2008. When I was in my 20's I thought I did not want to have kids because if one of them got sick (not just the flu sick but SICK) I would not be able to handle it. A person never really knows how strong they are until the situation happens to them.
Our baby girl was always just a little off, a little different - she gave me that feeling that makes you go "hmmm" quite often. She never really slept through the night, well, ever (and she is 7 today). It is amazing how much a person can function with so little sleep. And of course any mention to the pediatrician of anything slightly irregular got the response of "You are just an over-reacting first time mom". But mom's know when something is not right with their babies!
Over time, you will get to hear all the back stories that made me go "hmmm" and there may be some already in previous blogs. But it wasn't until recently that I actually really started to study this thing called Autism. Some info I have found fills my heart with joy while other info crushes me. But such is life I guess. Being a mom who has two different degrees of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and one "normal" child in the house is like being a juggler. Sometimes the balls all stay in the air and sometimes they CRASH into each other while in the air and quickly huttle down to the ground waiting to be picked up. But somehow, they get picked up and return to there rightful place in the air.
Hope you all are ready for this because I am not holding back anything.....BEWARE!
Wow - time flies!
It has been over a year since I have been here - what happened?
WARNING!
This blog is now going to be more like a personal diary of our life as a family with autism. May be selfish on my part but hey, it is my blog right?!? And anything I can teach someone about life with autism or understanding it will make it all worth while.
I'm BACK!!!!
WARNING!
This blog is now going to be more like a personal diary of our life as a family with autism. May be selfish on my part but hey, it is my blog right?!? And anything I can teach someone about life with autism or understanding it will make it all worth while.
I'm BACK!!!!
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