cha-cha changes

changes on the horizon

in just one short week and a couple of days 

two of my three children will be in school full-time

Arlo starting - Myla switching

I feel a great sense of comfort knowing that

my kiddos will be only 3 minutes away

I can be a presence in this school

Exhale

the hubs

has taken on a "second" job

doing amazing things with his god given talent

"No - it's not exotic dancing - wink wink"

Tattooing

He had tattooed for a moment back in our "carefree" days

it was a different scene 

 not nearly as mainstream as it is today

now - you can make a living

hopefully we could get to that place within the year

Other changes 

nothing too exciting with Leo and I

maybe I will finally wean the small football player

take a mommy and me library class

enjoy some "baby days" before I blink and he too is off to school

Still feeling very overwhelmed with decisions for the Fall

extracurriculars - therapy - schedules

I feel like I've come to a conclusion - make a firm stance

only to have someone tell me

it's really "not recommended" and that "studies have shown"

Yada Yada Yada

I am very pulled -- to do what I think is right for my son ... 

Mother knows best ... Right!?

fast forward summer

fast forward summer

a lot to catch up on

Al is doing really great with therapy

speech and OT

swimming amazing

However ... a slight

 hiccup with ABA therapy 

more like a couple of grand worth of co payments

not at all expected

actually assured that we did NOT

 have a co payment

BAM 

5x a week x 3 months = an awful surprise

once school begins

a little worried about over doing it

thinking speech and OT with everyday all day Kindergarten

Oh, my ...

chest is actually tightening

  a small spark of panic feels my heart

ALL DAY
EVERYDAY

My Al

I have so much more to write about

just not enough time

to accomplish this

to be cont...

insert foot here ...

 I've made a mistake

wording and vent

on a previous post

I shouldn't have mentioned

spectrum/function

always hearing from professionals

"high or low"

comparing children

The spectrum doesn't matter

it was not meant

as a judgment

I was upset

that I have put so much

effort into my

playgroup

only to have no one show up

 for the first two weeks

then ... to watch Al just

play all alone

while the older crowd went to play

I had really high hopes for the playgroup

to find a kiddo 

just like my Al

a match

a friend 

I am learning

that there will be

similarities and differences

on and off spectrum

just as no two kids will be alike

neither is autism

there are strengths and weakness in everyone

everywhere on the spectrum

my post was not intended to

measure your child or compared them to mine

it was truly me

just trying to find where we

 "fit-in"

please know how truly

sorry i am if had offended you

Gulp-Sigh-Tear-Breathe

I've been struggling with where WE belong

We started our playgroup

 Al sat all alone in the sandbox

the group was much older than I had expected
also with different needs on the "spectrum"

Same Day

Now on to ... gymnastics

Al has moved up from tiny tumblers to boy's level one

all neuro-typical boys

Al is all over the place

can't wait in line - jumping into pits - not following directions

"semi-typical" boy behavior

tough as a Mom to sit on the bleachers and know ...

I can feel what the other parents are thinking

"Wow, that kids is really out of control"

--never mind-- 

They weren't thinking

I actually heard that or something very close to it
being said right behind me
as Al took cuts once again

I want to scream

thanks for talking shit about my kid

sorry your kid had to wait one extra second

because my kid couldn't

I feel stuck

on one hand it's nice hearing that Al doesn't seem autistic

he MUST be very HIGH functioning 

on the other hand --- it sucks hearing that he

"Seems so NORMAL or doesn't

 look Autistic"

He is normal - He is my son

Gulp- Tear -Gulp -Sigh

Breathe -- over it

  

more therapy!?

we now have ... drum roll ...

eight different therapy appointments per week

and two social skills group

for the remainder of the summer

i know - you are silently judging me

it's too much and why am i putting my child through this

why and am i putting myself through this

this is the kindergarten crunch

we have a limited amount of time before school

to give him the very best start

this is what was recommended by each of our physicians

the most important fact

Al is enjoying himself 

 looks forward to seeing his teachers and therapist

each therapy is "play based"

he is gaining confident and feeling successful

acquirng new skills and learning so much

Happy Al = Happy Momma

(the rest of the details will work themselves out)



Busy .. Busy .. Busy ..

I've been a busy busy busy
little beaver

 Moving forward

Pass the diagnosis

Over the this total sucks phase
 now - let's kick ass at Autism

My hard work has been paying off

We are one of the first families to be approved and receive insurance covered ABA therapy - due to new Autism legislation past last March

Speech and OT therapy - twice a week
Making a lot progress -18month gain on fine motor development

Kindergarten IEP, here we come - all our supports are in place for next Fall

 Received a 400$ scholarship for summer programs

Taking an active role in a support group
http://workforautism.com/

Oh and I started a playgroup - Social skills
AutismPlays

busy busy busy busy
That's how I work best

kinda broke my heart ...

It was Al's birthday and "helper Mom" day at school

School is where I see our biggest challenges

 Al

Didn't want to sit for circle time

Wouldn't sing "take me out to the ballgame"
Sat in his "spot" apart from his class and looked at books

Didn't want to participate in table work or craft

Al sat in the corner for all of this and played alone
with a Mister Potato Head

It broke my heart when he didn't want his school friends
to sing him happy birthday

It sucked - but only for me 
Al was fine