Awareness Month

April is the National Autism Awareness Month. I want to do my part to raise awareness (to the two people who read this -- ha!) Autism affects one in every 110 children and one in every 70 boys. There are quite a few red flags that indicate a child has autism so I'll just share what we noticed with Ryan. He didn't have words by 16 months, didn't have two-word phrases by 24 months, and has had a loss of language skills after his third birthday.

Just like breast cancer awareness has a pink ribbon, autism awareness is a ribbon comprised of puzzle pieces. It makes perfect sense -- the way their minds work is a puzzle really. We talk to Ryan all the time and he doesn't respond, but every once in a while he'll say something so clearly and perfectly that it shocks me. The times we hear him babble to himself it sounds so garbled that I tend to think that he isn't capable of pronouncing the sounds. (Like another one of my kiddos, who substitutes a 'w' sound for the 'r'.) So it seems to me like the right words are in there somewhere. With time I hope and pray we can get them out.

A friend asked today about adults with autism, because you don't hear about that much. I agree, and think that the main reason is because even though autism doesn't go away early intervention can help greatly. When a child is worked with consistently he can learn the right behaviours and even appear to be a typical child. Seeing older kids who have overcome so many obstacles in their development gives me so much hope! Someday . . .

Optimistic

It has been one of those days. Or maybe it has been one of those weeks. As I'm sitting here nursing my sweet little one, I'm struggling to remind myself of where my joy and hope lie. If it was in circumstances I think I'd give up. As I posted on my facebook page I heard yesterday that a body pulled from a pond on Monday was a friend of mine from high school. She has four children and I feel so much pain for them and for the rest of her family. Rest in peace, Heather.

Last week we had our sixth month follow-up visit with the developmental specialist. I was hoping to hear more of a detailed report on where Ryan falls on the autism spectrum, but he is still too young to tell. Each day I am reminded that having a child with special needs means I have to adjust my expectations. He is improving in many areas -- less self-abuse and screaming for one. He still delights in sensory "experiences", meaning making messes. He found my spices today and dumped them all over the pantry. He also took the "kid" laundry basket and unloaded clothes all over the staircase, dumped a pile of tiny rocks in the entry, and emptied a bag of Easter eggs waiting to go back to the church all over the play room. Aaaaahhh. Mommy needs a vacation! A cute (11 year old) friend of the family asked me yesterday if he is "optimistic". It took me a second before I realized what she meant. :)

Seriously though, all of us have days and weeks and sometimes months of difficulties. Where do you find your strength?

The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.
-- Exodus 15:2

Updates

Sami is two months old today! She has been sleeping super well -- most nights I feed her around 10:00 or so and she sleeps until 7:00 when I wake her up. I am really enjoying time spent with her before the other kids are awake. She is having a lot of trouble with bowel movements so I am really cutting down on the amount of milk I drink and trying to eat more foods that are high in fiber. Poor baby.

Emily just said "I love Mommy with one whole side of my heart and Daddy with the other whole side of my heart". So precious!

I am seriously considering putting the majority of my kids' toys in the yard sale. All the little toys at least. Any other moms feel this way? The girls aren't even supposed to have toys in their room but we found a small truckload while cleaning it out today. That and little scraps of paper, hair clips, water bottles, etc. We have been working for the last couple of years to train the kids on cleaning around the house, but our major struggle has been their bedroom. I guess we just need to keep on training. :)

Ryan got to play with another little boy with autism today. His developmental tech took him to the park with another tech and this little boy named Wyatt, who is five. I guess they played really well together. It just warmed my heart to hear about it.

The Christmas Pet

A long time back I promised to reveal the identity of the pet we got for the kids this Christmas. Well, here he (or she, we don't really know) is! Meet Fred.

Here Emily and a buddy watch Fred take a bath in his water dish. Turtles are weird.

And I am so proud to show off the wonderful job Ethan did building the stand for the cage. He is really getting into woodworking lately and I love everything he makes! (I just realized this picture isn't so great because it doesn't even show off the bottom shelf part. Just use your imagination.)

The people we got the turtle from gave four of them away. They had originally gotten the turtles on their grandparents farm in Arkansas. So our little Fred has had an interesting journey. They said we can take him out in the backyard to play in the summer, but to watch him because "they move really fast". Haha! I'm pretty sure we won't lose him. :)

Field Trip to the Capitol

Today our homeschool group went for a tour of the capitol building. The girls were looking forward to it because Daddy told them it was like a castle inside. :)

We just got back and I had them write a report about what they learned and draw a picture to go with their report. Allison drew an accurate (for a 7 year old) picture of the front of the building. She is still working on her report but I took a peek. It reads . . .

"I no that the capitol has a eagle and it is as tall as mommy."

She's right -- the tour guide told us that the eagle at the very top is 5'7" tall.

Emmie, true to her nature, doodled a fanciful drawing of the inside complete with flowers (which she added because she thought there should be flowers inside). Her only summary of the capitol is . . .

"It has a crack in it."

Also true! While walking through a hallway with a skylight in it we noticed a big crack. The guide told us it came from a few teenagers who threw a rock at it. :(

I love how my girls pick up completely different things from the same field trip. Good times. :)

Emily's Birthday Cake

I realize it is now March and I am just now posting pictures from Em's party in November, but whatever. :)

Here was the cake my little girl wanted. A snowy white castle. My favorite part was making the blue snowflakes. Emmie's favorite part was eating a turret.

Go Cassy!

I have to take a moment to brag on my cousin Cassy. She just sold her first screenplay! Very exciting. A subsidiary of Sony bought it. I don't know what it's about or anything, but I'm so proud of her!