Autism Blooms

What are you waiting for??

2010-09-18T05:22:00.000-07:00

Welcome back to my other blog!!

Let's recap..

since February..

The boys have been doing some blooming!

Lots!!

This was a great summer!Many of you have been staying caught up with our little world through the Joy-full-ness blog...

but there is something BIG I have been keeping..

look how much fun this picture is...

we've seen this scene before...

the line up..

everything from only cars..to only animals...only elephants...and here Little people..

but there is a difference..

These people are going somewhere..(to Pug-lix, ofcourse!)
they are busy..
they have a purpose!!

They are still waiting...but they are going places!!

This summer an anthem has rung in my head often..
"What are you waiting for??"
Mostly from the song by Britt Nicole ...
here are some of the words...
What are you waiting for..
What do you have to lose??
Your INSECURITIES
try to hold to you..
You know you're made for more..
so don't be afraid to move..
Your faith is all it takes and you can walk on the water too!!

(I read the book So Long Insecurity also, you know...)
It's been a Summer of GROWTH!!
and much CHANGE!!

Our family received Mauldin!
He is our DOG FOR AUTISM.
our extra set of eyes and ears.
He will give us opportunities for more independence.
sigh.
He is marvelous.
We needed him.
He needed us too!
We are still in training.
We are learning.

The circumstances are truly breathtaking.
I apologize for not being able to reveal everything
about how this came to be..
I know it was from the LORD!

This was within the first couple days..
we gave our couch away,
we needed more room for our new family member.
The boys are loving him.
I've been surprised at how well they have welcomed him into their lives.

Lee has been trying to get Sam to play with
some of his toys more appropriately.
Here he is playing with his favorite gator toy..

making a path for him to travel on..

we are thrilled for this new engagement!!

Just hanging out together on a Saturday..

Mauldin
Loves him a nice handmade quilt!
Clearly we were meant to be!

he has even gotten used to all the picture taking!!
I think he is smiling here!!

(just some exploring)

This was such a sweet sign for me.

Mauldin came in from exploring his new back yard and i discovered this little heart shaped leaf..

on his bum!

you know me and heart shaped leaves..

This is just the beginning of so many adventures.

We feel so loved upon.

I want to encourage you to help someone else in their journey too.

Dogs for Autism is in the running for the Pepsi Refresh Challenge..

They are asking for $50,000 to cover the cost of raising, training and placing 2 dogs with other

families.

This organization is really struggling and they do not have the needed support funds.

Thankyou for taking the time to VOTE!

It does not take much time at all.

But every vote counts...everyday!!

I hope to be back in the next week..

for now..

What are YOU waiting for??

Dear Diary,

2010-02-18T05:06:00.000-08:00

Another entry...

Gluten free...(Glutino)
and rice cheese...which does have casein in it, but we have this every other week...so the impact is so minimal..

I brought the pizza over to Myles after he had done the red circle and was adding cheese with yellow marker... then he says, "I need green and black please"

for the spices!!!
teehee!

mmmm...spicy pizza!

great job..my little journalist..

evidence he dressed himself...

Love the Comp Book.

Have a Love-fully!

No More Monkeys

2010-02-17T07:15:00.000-08:00

Okay..i love this picture...

look at the silliness..they are both looking at their crazy selves in the mirror...

I heart blurry action shots!!

Who's the man?

This is my jump space....

This was such a surprise to see..it is much later on in the afternoon on a Saturday...

yes...we are still wearing pajamas...

Sammy loves to hug Myles...and Myles Loves it too...
but the piggy back had not been attempted yet...

Good Form!

They did great!!

ahhh...brothers!

Have a love-fully!

What do you do??

2010-02-16T04:57:00.000-08:00

When Everything Hurts?

The boys have had some kind of funk for the past couple of weeks now.

Early on in this journey of motherhood, when the boys would get sick, we would go to the doctor...and he would say.."it's a cold..give the medi...wait it out...7-10 days..."

Which really means anytime up to just about...42 days....after all is said and done...:)

First, Sammy had one pink eye...then a few days later it was Myles with both pink eyes...

antibiotics for both....a swing in our behavior...

and then the coughing started..

which means congestion..

and the only natural solution to ease the pain..

a bandaid ...

(that's dry erase marker on his chin)

everywhere it hurts..

He asked to put the bandaids on...

"BooBoo" he said.."I want bandaid please"

so... what's a mommy to do?

be accomodating ofcourse!!

and drink up...only..17 days left!!!

Here's the BEST medi!!

Have a Love-fully!!

Dear Diary...

2010-02-15T06:49:00.000-08:00

Here is another "bouncing off the walls" technique...

a 50 cent composition book and some crayons and a pencil....

so the words aren't random and said like role call...we are practicing writing them out in different sentences...

with tons of options...

Everyone is happy!!
more entries to come!
Have a Love-fully!

To our friends and family..

2010-02-14T10:53:00.000-08:00

I picniked these for the class Valentine's!!

They were a big hit!

I mounted Myles' pictures on a simple heart...using scrapbook paper i happened to already have!...

THEN....on the night before the Valentine's were due...

I asked Myles to come to the table to write his Valentine's for his friends at school and his teachers...

He did!!

He worked for about 30 minutes...

40 cards!!

No stopping..

no crazy..

just amazing..LOVE!

Happy Valentine's Day Friends!

Have a Love-fully!

I Love You!!

2010-02-14T05:01:00.000-08:00

LOVE

YOU!!!

So MUCH !!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Have a Love-Fully!!

Sammy's new Face-ination with the camera

2010-02-13T06:38:00.000-08:00

This sounds like" YOUUUUU"
I think he's giving Lee some "daps" here

What

the

Holy Cuteness!!

It takes alot out of a guy, huh?

Have a Love-fully!

Get your lighters out

2010-02-12T06:20:00.000-08:00

Our rising star..
jammin out

for his audience

front row seat holder...aka his groupie

a great concert!!

he would have his lighter out...but i think those who are 4 years old are advised not to!!

Have a Love-fully!

Sweet Sam

2010-02-11T06:13:00.000-08:00

That should do it!

Have a Happy day!!

Lucky Spaghetti

2010-02-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

I am not sure that there is much need for explanation here!!

The boys have been entirely on a gluten free and casein free diet since November..

It is pretty easy to follow, actually, and we have seen lots of improvements in each boy..

You'll see in the video..Sam is saying alot more!! oh My!

Our whole little household is actually going green..more healthful (chocolate IS healthful people)

No more processed junk...blech! Myles is..forgive me...a lunatic...when he has processed stuff.

No amount of sewing would conteract his wild side after a high fructose corn syrup granola bar!

Anyway...here is Sam... my Love...Quinoa pasta Rocks!!!

Enjoy...(turn off the music down below)

**This video is taking FOR-E-V-E-R..so far 1 1/2 hours...now 2 1/2...another 1 1/2...we are at 6 hours now...will this thing ever load???okay..i lost the video...we were up to 7 hours...hubs will help me when he gets home...grrrr!

***This took a second day of uploading..but it is finally here...Enjoy!!

My Little Apprentice

2010-02-09T04:56:00.000-08:00

We've had a bit of cabin fever over these past few weeks.

Myles HAS to be loud sometimes...really, who doesn't??

His ecolalia kicks in and he's bouncing off the walls...jumping...running...and his voice is pretty loud at times...so when i find myself saying, "Shhhh! Quiet as a mouse! That's a little too loud!

MYLES!! No More!!!!"... i try to find something to channel that energy into quiet!!

(cue the Pachebel Canon in D)

So... he has started sewing!! Be still my heart!!

He started with an all time favorite...i want him to be able to draw something and then do the stitching...but we aren't there YET!!

I helped him here draw the elephant with a disappearing ink pen..and then he started stitching..

At first, he was stitching all over the fabric, so i put dots at every stitching point..

and he followed right along..

the concentration..

those perfect hands

excellent hand eye coordination..

more of the same

you're doing it buddy!

This makes me giddy!

We have started making one sewing project every Sunday at church.

He is a big kid now, so he sits in Big Church..and we really need to keep him occupied!!

This is THE PERFECT ACTIVITY for him...

he has done the elephant, a bull dozer, a race car, and Saturn so far..

hmm...what should we make out of all of these little masterpieces??

Have a Love-fully!

My Little Genius

2010-02-08T04:48:00.000-08:00

Oh Sweet Sammy!!

You are so funny!

You are potty trained now.. you have been for quite some time... you go all by yourself...sometimes you need help..i mean, really, some tasks are more difficult!

But truly, you can do it!!

And you do a GREAT job getting yourself dressed again, cuz, everything comes off when you go..

who cares about the order..or the direction...your clothes are on..

and YOU DID IT!!!

i Love YOU so!!!

Too cold to be outside sensory bin!!

2010-02-07T04:26:00.000-08:00

Myles has really been interested in all things transportation lately!!

Back hoe...Frontend loader...Dozers..Dumpers...Trains

He could play for OW-WERS outside making roads and towns...a caravan of all his vehicles..

But this weather here has been over the top cold...

he is just as content with this bin of rice...

Who says they don't like change???

Wearing one of his favorite shirts!!

The bin and cookie tray can only contain so much rice... This by NO means keeps it from falling to the floor...repeatedly...sometimes, even...being tossed...ahem...thrown.. all over the room...

who am i kidding??
I needed to sweep anyway!!

This is one of our favorite go-to's!!

Have a Love-fully!

Brothers

2010-02-06T04:15:00.000-08:00

Here they are!!

These boys are so funny!

This is just before school one day and the others below are on a lazy Saturday!!

They love cheese-burger-ing for the camera!!

Sam actually is fascinated by the camera..and has a pretty silly new face that he gives me nearly every time...except in these...

ofcourse!!

Off i go...gotta pre-post for ya!!

Have a Love-fully!

It was all yellow!!

2009-10-04T06:50:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to scroll all the way down to the bottom of the blog and TURN OFF THE MUSIC BEFORE you listen to this...Yellow...hmm...Sammy and yellow..they pretty much go together.. Myles favorite color is Red...he says that now...Sammy hasn't officially declared yellow as his fave..but if i pick something out for him and have my choice of colors..yellow is for him...happy..sunny..sweet...AND he has yellow shirts, "yellow" hair...and he likes bananas...i mean..if that isn't enough......

I am going to try to start posting more of Sammy talking...he is having a surge of development..and it is so exciting to see...i want to be able to go back and see the difference too..

okay..go watch it...or watch it again...i am...

from my heart.

Sweet Sammy

2009-10-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

(he started to blink here...sorry he looks slightly cranky..he wasn't i promise!)

I was at Sammy's school on Monday..for "Make it Monday"

my first for this year.

I pick out a book, and ofcourse, a craft..and have it prepared for our friends on Mondays..

They are talking about apples right now, so we read a book called ONE RED APPLE..

a beautiful book i found at Barnes and Noble...and then we did apple prints on some fabric (cut from a clearance sheet from Target)...i took them home and sewed them together with a little trim...and it became a flag for the classroom...(sorry, no pictures of that)

Oh, our sweet teacher just loved it!

We will do one every month, depending on the subject...pumpkins are next!!

I think the kids really like seeing a finished project that they all helped put together.

It is hanging in the reading area.

Bliss.

speaking of bliss.

i took a peek at him on the playground before i left....

this guy was having a blast!

mad climbling skills!

static-y hair sliding abilities...

awesome..just hanging there talent!!

and there he goes...climbing up something i would consider..NOT on the safer end of the safety spectrum....but alas..he did it...over and over again..

he did it...

Smiling ..i am.

from my heart.

Bike Riding!

2009-10-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

This is my Son!
This is Him on His Bike!

This was my first bike when i was a little girl...i learned how to ride on this bike..

new freedoms were found on this bike...

and now he is finding new freedoms too!

I marked out a road for him to follow, fitted with arrows and a bridge...

he rode for 2 hours yesterday!

i wonder about the places he goes in his mind...
with the wind blowing in his face ...and his cheerleaders, curve turners, and snack committe at the ready...these are the days!!

I am thrilled that he is riding..

i am tickled beyond measure that he is learning on the same piece of magical equipment i learned on...

I am a proud mommy.

Just the proudest!

From My Heart!

You Are The Apple of My Eye

2009-10-01T07:39:00.000-07:00

Our first fieldtrip in Kindergarten!!

Did i go?

ppppfffftht!

ofcourse i went!

but i did not ride on the bus.

no mommies and daddies on the buses.

just sweet.sweet.sweetness filled two buses to the apple orchard!

here is mine....i am so glad i have this picture.

this was right as they got on the bus.

a caravan of mommies and daddies followed so closely behind..

it made me have a lump in my throat..

2 buses filled with all of our babies..

we made it!!!
this was right when we arrived..

looking happy!

very happy!

get ready for the picture tour of all time...

here we are towards the end of the field trip..in the market..

Myles kept wanting to go in here to see the train going around and around...and around......

and...

if you know my Myles, you can see he is really liking this moment...notice his one eye shut..

oh yeah..this is the good stuff here..

get out of my way woman!

exhibit A

this is soooo not a good picture...but there goes the train again!

mmmmmm.

ewwwww!

That's better!
Mmmmmmmmmmmm!

a scarecrow...not just plain scarey like the man a couple pictures up..

(he wasn't a real man...but he didn't seem to bother Myles at all...me?..yeah..he bothered me!)

taking a break from the train...

he wants to look...over.....

there.....

sitting on a bench with some elephants ...
silly smiley!

I just love him so!

gettin' some apples.

putting them in our bags..

and that's it...

our first fieldtrip!

I just loved going and seeing Myles and all of the friends out in the big world...

we went on a hayride...picked apples..ate lunch...played...and watched the train...

and then it was time to head back to school.

He keeps saying "Apple Orchard...Bus...Train"

I'd say..it was a hit!

From My Heart!

Patience..Transmission

2009-09-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

We've started doing a little therapy in the park...

this is so great, since they have swings as a reinforcer...

i just brought our picnic blanket..a couple books...and we read, asked questions..swung/swang/swinged :)

this kid loves it outside.. there was a time when switching from the swing to ANY other activity would not have been a smooth option... he was literally addicted..and we were his dealer..

Sometimes, i think, as parents, we don't want our kids to be unhappy..well, actually, when do we ever want them to be sad...??? I have learned so much about waiting it out a little longer...

wait....wait...wait...(doing the sign for "wait" as i say it...(this sign is two hands, palms up, in front of you, gently wiggling your fingers at the same time..as if to say, "Come on"...but your NOT..you're saying WAIT!!!!)

Anyway..waiting...
hmmmmmm.

patience?

(which really means LONG SUFFERING):)

yes, patience, always seems like such a pleasant word to be asking for...either for ourselves, or for our loved ones...however...i cringe everytime i hear someone say the word...

because, quite frankly...i'm sometimes DONE with the waiting..

DONE with progressing slower than i thought we might...

DONE with being a good example of the whole waiting process...

yet still...

we wait!

and swing.

and slowly...we are getting better..

we are growing.

we are blooming.

All of a sudden i had a memory of driving a stick shift for the first (several) time(s)

I was AWEFUL at it... and then one day, it worked...well, i did it right..

and i felt like i could drive for hours...

ofcourse, once you get going you are okay...it's the stopping and starting that throws all sense of practicality completely out the window...

just when you think the road ahead is free from all sorts of crazy jerking...and stalling...and pretty much engine failure all together...you have to use that gear shift..and the clutch..and..

come to a complete stop...and then start the madness all over again!!

WHAT!!(sound of breaks screeching...or was that the engine falling out??)

(okay, this whole last part about the car, was not what i had planned on saying...but clearly, or maybe not so much, it had to be said...)

Are you having trouble with your transmissions/ transitions too...

i would LOVE to hear...

From My Heart!

2 cute-2 be-4 gotten

2009-09-10T19:01:00.000-07:00

Guess who turned 4 today??

What in the world?

My baby..

had a little breakfast party at his school...
complete with gluten free pan"cakes"
(he doesn't eat cake..or cupcakes...just doesn't want to...but the boy can put away some pancakes)
a little yogurt and orange slices...and juice boxes...for all of our friends...
and Sammy blew out the #4 candle all by himself!!
Really!

He is all about his shapes now...will say them...even octagon...but OVAL is his favorite...
so i made him this little birthday shirt...with a big 4...and 4 ovals...
he is just so yummy..
I am in awe of his little life...
so much already...packed into just a few short years..
sigh.
(heavily)
WE Love you so Sammy...
You are 2 "everything wonderful"
2 EVER be
4 gotten.
I Love You , my, more than 3 1/2 year old baby...
YOU are 4!!
You are PERFECT!!

Welcome.....to Holland

2009-09-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

WELCOME TO HOLLAND
byEmily Perl Kingsley.
c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Welcome, from the bottom of my heart, to this very dear piece of my heart..Autism Blooms!
The Lord has placed it on my heart to move forward with this vision of mine...or perhaps, HIS. I hope, truely, that you are encouraged as i have been...that Autism is not the end..it is the very beginning of hope, and a deep understanding of somebody that seems so far away...an adventure of sorts...an amazing journey...a blessing...a gift...a LIFE less ordinary...Thankyou for sharing any of your journey as i share ours... i will be back often with updates and fun ideas...

From my heart..