THE ART OF USING A FORK

Ryder has really been working hard at learning how to eat independently using utensils.  Above is a clip of his triumphant stabbing of a helpless mandarin orange.  He loves to pose for cameras too!

Thanksgiving Jokes

What did the mother turkey say to her disobedient children?

If your father could see you now, he'd turn over in his gravy!!

ALL I CAN HANDLE: I'M NO MOTHER TERESA by Kim Stagliano

I just love this girl. Let me introduce to you, Kim Stagliano, mother of three beautiful daughters, who are on the Autism Spectrum. I met Kim years ago when I was in my research mode online--trying to find answers to my questions concerning our boys--who are also on the Autism Spectrum. I quickly found that Kim had a great sense of humor and she totally "got" it. She understood what we Autism moms go through every day. I love reading her advice, her views, and I know I will enjoy reading her just released book, All I Can Handle. I'm so excited for it to come! It can be purchased here.

In her own words--"You won't need a Prozac to read it!"
Here is a link to an excerpt from the book.

LITTLE BOY LOST: SCARY

Last week, dear hubby and I attended Pocatello's Haunted History Tour. We also attended last year and learned some things that made an experience that happened to us make complete sense. And without further ado, I will tell you our "ghost" story that we shared with Southeastern Idaho's Paranormal Organization (SEIPO), in which they shared with the community during this year's Haunted History Tour. My name was not mentioned during the tour, but for you lucky readers, it is from yours truly.

Seven years ago, Mason was almost four years old. As a family we went to Ross Park in Pocatello, Idaho to a cousin's birthday party. All of the cousins were playing around in the lava rocks. Soon it was time for cake and ice cream. We called the kids, but could not find Mason. We searched, hollered, called, yelled, screamed, and looked high and low for him. All of us split up. No answer.

45 minutes had passed and I was in a panic. I felt like we had done everything we could. I started thinking the worst and decided it was time to call the police. But before I did, as a family, we offered a prayer and asked the Lord to help us find Mason.

Immediately after closing the prayer, someone turned around and spotted Mason sitting on a large rock only 20-30 feet away from us.

Our prayer was answered. I was so very grateful.

I was emotionally exhausted and decided to leave early. I gathered all four little kids into the car. (Our youngest was not quite one yet, and was not diagnosed with Autism yet; but we knew he had it). On the way home, I released some frustration toward Mason and blurted out lots of questions. "Where were you?" "Why didn't you come when we called?" "What happened?"

Mason, at the time, struggled with his speech. He only knew 3-4 word sentences and those were garbled words. He took Speech Therapy twice a week. This was before we knew he also had Autism.

Mason responded to my insistent questions in a quiet voice and used a word I had never heard him utter before. He said, "Indian helped".

I thought that was strange, so I tried to prompt him to tell me more, but of course, he didn't.

Later that evening I wrote about it in my journal.

Fast forward seven years and I learned that Ross Park was a semi-permanent camp for Native Americans a long time ago. There are even petroglyphs still in existence there today.

I thought about the story and the history of the place and about Mason and how I didn't even know he knew what an "Indian" was. Everything fell into place. Why not? I thought. Why wouldn't the Lord send a spirit who may already be around in the area to help a lost Autistic boy?

And that is our story. SEIPO interviewed me and it was a lot of fun especially around this time of year.

Stay tuned...I have another story about the local cemetery. :) I haven't been back since.

GRANDMA'S SECRET RECIPE

We just got over a five day hospital stay for our 3rd kid who has severe encopresis. It took FIVE whole days to clean that guy out! He broke the record. Finally, the dr ordered a milk & molasses enema which did the trick in a matter of seconds. Who knew that in the end we would turn to our father's of old. :) Or grandma's of old, if you will.

I am going to mix my own potion and deliver it via the Anal Canal if needs be next time--to fore go the next hospital stay. :)

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Bill and I were asked to be on a panel entitled, "Living and Learning with Autism" at Idaho State University last night. It was an educational experience and kind of fun, if I am to be honest. There were over 95 people there including those from the satellite feeds. I was nervous, but it helps to be partially covered by a table. :) I had my answers all ready and typed and the image of the audience in their underwear really helped relieve my anxiety.

I am excited because Dr Temple Grandin will be speaking at ISU March 9th 2011. And it costs NOTHING. Mark your calendars now!
Wish I had pics to post, but nothing for now.

SUPPORT AUTISTIC ARTISTS

Looking for cute notecards for Christmas or any occasion? Well look no further.
Check out Hunter's art here. He receives 50% of the proceeds and you are supporting
other autistic artists as well.

POOP MAGNET

Everyday turns up another poop story.

We're getting good at cleaning up bathtub poop. There is a small window of time where we can leave Ryder in the bathtub to play before he decides to drop friends off in the pool. No more than 10 minutes, I'd say.

It gets harder when you have to give your ten year old an enema without gloves. I couldn't find any gloves yesterday. The last I remembered, he had a cute bum. Of course that was nine years ago.

He may have to be cleaned out up at the hospital again. We are trying to avoid that though. He was x-rayed yesterday and his gut is full of poop. He has a rock hard mass about the size of a softball blocking everything from coming out. Then the liquid stuff seeps around the hard mass, causing stooling accidents, unbenownst to the sufferer. The colon is so stretched that the nerve endings cannot "tell" when it is time to go. This is called Encopresis and is common among kids on the spectrum.

This guy is very self conscious and this is a great embarrassment to him. The eleven year old too, but his tactics are different. Eleven year old doesn't mind sitting in it all day at school because he's too embarrassed to tell the teacher.

Consider yourselves lucky if you escaped the poop years unscathed. We're still going through it. I wonder if it will ever end. No pun intended.

RYDER EATING SOUP: A BRAND NEW FEAT

I am so excited for this little guy! He is learning faster with his new therapist, Kelsey. She has been amazing--so patient and consistent--and he really does well with her. YEAH!!

A LITTLE DROP OF WATER

A poem I wrote for Hunter's Speech Festival last year:

What kind of world would it be
if water didn't exist naturally?
We would have cracked lips and hands
and Summers without any lemonade stands.
Our hair would be caked with grease and grime
and our toilets would be---oh never mind.
We wouldn't have oceans with all of those fish
Or water fountains to make that one special wish.
There wouldn't be lakes to ever go swimming
We would just lie in a dirt hole-
and that's just the beginning!
There wouldn't be sleet or hail or rain
Not even the Snowman would be the same.
Imagine what mysteries we could uncover-
the mermaid, the Loch Ness, maybe another.
But what about the penguins and the Eskimos?
What could they do if their toes weren't froze?
No snow globes, no Icee's, no white water rapids,
no movies like Jaws or Christopher Columbus.
I've come to the conclusion that's better than none
Water is more than just plain, old fun.
A little drop of water falling from the sky
becomes a part of something greater
than just you or I.
A little drop of water
small as can be
can save a life eventually.

I AM SPENT

We have switched DD agencies and all of the kids are doing some testing now.

We have found that Mercedes has executive dysfunction or brain damage to her right parietal lobe. This came as quite a shock. She had extensive testing done, and they ruled out some of her past diagnoses such as ADHD and CAPD. She is a smart girl, but her left side of her brain is over compensating for her right side. This explains why she is so good at English and Vocabulary, but not so good at math. A possible EEG is on the horizon.

Ryder's challenges mimic Angelman's Syndrome or Prader Willi Syndrome. He will need another genetic chromosome test to determine.

Mason's anxiety continues to climb. He gets ready for school 1 hour ahead of departure time and paces the floor until then.

Hunter's endless questions bombard the family at all times. He craves food constantly and does not like therapy.

William silently struggles with activities of daily living. Only if you lived with us, would you be able to tell. Or smell, let's put it that way.

I am spent. ...Trying to figure out what the future holds...and trying to keep it all together.