Autism Awareness Month is HERE!

April is Autism Awareness Month and I don't know about you but this is one of my favorite months of the year.  Why? Because everyone in the Autism community pulls together and unites as one with one goal in mind, to help raise awareness for a disorder that is becoming more and more common.  1 in every 88 children are now diagnosed with Autism which means you probably either have an autistic child, are related someway to an autistic child or at least know an autistic child.  The numbers are growing and as the numbers grow the urgency for awareness becomes more and more great.  We need to find answers, we need to possibly find a cure, we need to find ways of helping our autism brothers and sisters to adapt and grow in this crazy world we live in.  I've said it before and I will say it again knowing the signs of autism will greatly help every new mother and father to notice earlier if their child may or may not have autism.  Early Intervention is KEY!  My daughter Abrial was diagnosed when she was 2 1/2.  She was talking when she was 1 but then suddenly just stopped talking and was getting very upset because we couldn't figure out what she wanted or needed.  She had many melt downs and I was so lost because I didn't understand.  I decided to take her to many many doctors who finally told me she had Autism.  My first reaction was, "What is that?!"  I had no clue what Autism was back then.  This was 8 years ago and it wasn't talked about and everywhere like it is now.  I went home and started researching online.  I'll admit, I had a few melt downs on my own like, "What am I going to do now?"  "How do I help her?"  "I have no clue what I'm doing."  But the more I learned the better I felt.  Finally an ENT doctor told me about how local elementary schools usually have an Early Intervention Program so the second I got home I called the school she would be going to for elementary school and turned out they had that program!  We set an appt and they tested her and before I know it she was accepted!  However this meant that now my little 3 year old baby would be going to school 3 times a week for a whole day.  That made me cry my eyes out because I thought I had another 2 years with her before she would be going to school.  I was worried and scared for her but knew it was the right thing to do.  To this day I am so grateful for everything the schools have done for her.  She changed so much during that first year my head spun.  First they showed her how to tell me what she wanted by pointing at pictures, then a few months later they would have her say the picture and then say please, soon the pictures were gone completely.  She was saying sentences then telling me full paragraphs.  She couldn't write her name and then she was writing pages of things.  She wasn't very social and now she has friends.  My baby girl has come such a long way and it's all thanks to her schools and the Early Intervention Program.  She is now 10 years old and blossoming every day.  She will even look you in the eye when she's talking to you!  The very first picture I got of her actually looking at the camera brought  me into tears.  She will tell me she loves me which I never thought I'd hear.  You never realize just how much those words mean until you think you'll never hear your child say them and then they tell you all the time.  Those words are precious especially from our children, autism or not.  I could go on and on about my little girl but I won't take up all of your time.  I just want to show how important knowing the signs of autism are and how important Early Intervention is.

I'm looking forward to seeing how everyone Lights It Up Blue tomorrow since April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day.  I will be wearing blue tomorrow along with my autism awareness bracelets and I've also got it on my fb page.  Seeing all these businesses Light It Up Blue blows my mind and the pictures are amazing so I can't wait!

So welcome to Autism Awareness Month and lets all spread awareness together!!

Well Poo

No Chuck E Cheese for us today.  Abrial is sick, (although she says she's not) but she is coughing and stuffy and I know personally as a mom I would be pretty ticked off if another mother brought her child to Chuck E Cheese sick and coughing.  I don't want my children sick just as I'm sure other mothers don't either.  So after talking it over we decided to wait until the next weekend when everyone is feeling back to normal.  I really hate telling them we'll go in the middle of the week and then we can't.  I feel like I'm letting them down.  I did talk to them and they are ok with waiting.  I'm sure they will play on their computers and kindles and their Barbies and have a fine day at home.

It is kind of funny when I go in there and ask Abrial how she is feeling and she goes, "Why? I'm fine." *cough cough*.  I can't help but laugh.  She is definitely a little trooper which makes me believe she probably does feel fine but I would still feel awful taking her to Chuck E Cheese and she's coughing all over everything.  When she doesn't feel fine and she just lays in bed then I worry because it's very unlike her to just lay in bed.  So I'm sure she does feel fine but she doesn't seem like it.

I just know there have been plenty of times when I've taken my children somewhere and there is a kid there coughing and with a snotty nose and I just think to myself, "Great.  Thanks a lot now my kids are going to get sick."  And I know it's not really all that different from sending them to school but what are we to do then?  They have to go to school, that is unless they are running a fever so I just feel like I should do my part to not spread anymore germs as much as I can.  Sanitizer will be our best friend for a few days. lol.

So no Chuck E Cheese for us today. :-(  I'm sure we'll make due though.

The Night Light

Does anyone else's children rely so much on their night light?  My Abrial will not go to bed without her night light on.  Even if her tv is on and the light in the bathroom is on, it has to be her night light.  Last night we all hit the bed pretty early and I always leave their tv on and just hit the sleep button so it goes off an hour or so later which I figure they will both be asleep by then well that was not the case last night.  Madyssen came in our bedroom around 10:30 saying Abrial was crying so I jump up and run down the hall to her room and asked her what was wrong and she said she couldn't see the wall.  I asked again and she said "the night light is off" so then it clicked that I had completely forgotten to turn the switch on the night light.  Usually if I forget she will remember but we both forgot last night and the poor thing had a melt down.  I turned her night light back on and even turned her tv back on so hopefully she could calm down and go to sleep.  She went calm as soon as she saw that night light come on and laid down and within 30 minutes was sleeping like a baby.  I felt awful.  I am usually so good about remembering all her little things that I can't believe I forgot.  It happens to us all I'm sure but I still feel terrible.

I don't know how I could forget after the April tornados last year.  Those tornados came through Alabama and I was lucky enough to call into work and stay home with my girls, well the tornado went right over the house, luckily no harm to the house just our backyard but the power was out and it was out for days.  Well, we packed up the kids and went to Chattanooga, turned out to be one of our best vacations and our first as a family and she did great up there.  I just turned on the bathroom light and she was fine but then again I was sleeping in the bed right next to her.  We came back home after 3 days and still no power.  So we did what we could and just hoped we would only be without power for one night.  Well, I had forgotten about the whole night light thing and she was in panic mode when it was bedtime.  "What about my night light?!"  I tried to explain to her that the power was off and that was why she couldn't use her computer or tv and that is why her night light wouldn't work either.  Of course she was bawling and didn't understand and just in a panic and scared to death to go to bed.  Luckily my wonderful husband thought of something and gave her a little flash light and she kept the flash light on all night.  After that night we went out and bought those night lights that come on when the power goes off and have one in their room and one in the hall.

So I can't believe I forgot last night especially after going through all of that, but it happens I suppose.  We have those things set to come on if the power goes off but there's a switch so you can use it as a night light or have it come if the power goes off so we just switch it on and off and last night we just forgot to flip it on.  I feel so bad.  This morning she says she's fine and is playing as usual on her computer.  I guess she'll be playing on that a lot today since it will be raining most of the day.  But we are taking them to Chuck E Cheese tomorrow so they'll have lots of fun then.

Hopefully I will not forget that night light again.

Great News!

I emailed Abrials teacher today because I've been a little concerned.  Madyssen has had 2 or 3 IEP meetings but I have yet to have one for Abrial so I emailed her teacher.  I didn't even know if she was still in speech and occupational therapy at school so her teacher wrote me back and said that she was still in speech and occupational therapy two days a week and she is doing really well at school.  She hasn't had an IEP meeting in awhile because there have been no concerns or changes for her.  Her teacher said she was doing extremely well and listened and did every bit of work her teacher asked her to do.  And while she may not be on a third grade/forth grade level like her fellow general education peers she is doing well and is on a second grade level but will still be going to 4th grade next year at the new school next door.  She is being very social and very talkative which is another great thing for her.  Her teacher also gave me her schedule so I can know what her days consist of and said how much she loves having her in her classroom.  I'm so very happy for both my girls.  They are both doing great and both will be going to the 4th grade next year.  They both are making amazing progress!  I am one proud mama!! 

Girls Birthday...SUCCESS!

Since both my girls have birthdays so close together I decided to throw them a joint birthday party, although Abrial isn't a big fan of birthday parties it was more for Madyssen but Abrial did have a good time as well.  Mommy and stepdad Richard booked Chuck E Cheese for a big blow out party and they could not have been happier.  We invited their friends and cousins and we were definitely surrounded by kids.  Our guide at Chuck E Cheese was absolutely awesome.  We explained to her that Abrial has autism and she was very understanding and supportive.  She checked with us before we did anything.  All the kids had a screaming contest with all the other kids birthday parties and I sat with Abrial and made sure she was ok.  She just put her hands over her ears and was a real trooper.  And by the way we won that screaming contest. LOL.  Because we won the contest all the kids got extra 20 tokens to play games on top of the 20 they already got.  I was proud of our little group of screamers.  We only had one upset moment from Abrial and it was because she was scared we were going to use candles on the cake.  Luckily once she realized no candles she was good again.  They got the cake they wanted and Chuck E Cheese came over to meet them and even fed cake to Madyssen and got it on her nose.  She thought that was hilarious.  They got a ton of gifts including two lalaloopsy dolls from mommy and stepdad Richard that they have been wanting. :-)  The kids ran off then and played their hearts out.  I started walking off with Abrial because I was a little worried about her going off on her own but she just started putting in tokens and doing everything herself.  She was my little independent girl, I was so proud.  I went back to put up the toys but our guide put everything together for us.  She was definitely awesome.  By the time I went back to get the girls I found Madyssen playing basketball and Abrial was actually playing ski ball with another little kid!  It was awesome!! I am definitely one happy mama!  Now we need to come up with a way to top this one next year. lol.  And next year they will both be two digits!  This year Abrial turned 10 and Madyssen turned 9, I can't imagine them next year!  Time sure does fly!

Birthday Girls

Well, my little angel turned 10 on December 27th and my little princess or the new name I have been calling her, my little preteen will be 9 on January 27th.  Wow, time has flown it seems like.  It just seems like yesterday that they both were little toddlers running around the house and all they cared about was Elmo's World and those Fisher Price Little People and now they have laptops, game systems, and watch Spongebob and iCarly. It's nuts! lol.  My babies are growing up so fast.  So the end of this month we are throwing them a joint birthday party at Chuck E Cheese.  We rarely have done birthday parties because Abrial doesn't like them.  She doesn't like the singing, the clapping, or the candles but she seems to be doing better with these things so I figured a joint birthday party would work out just nicely, plus not all the attention will just be on her.  Madyssen of course is beyond excited because her last birthday party was when she turned 3. lol.  So we are all looking forward to it. 

This way both the girls have a party and also each have their own day as well.  Abrial's birthday was very relaxed given it was right after Christmas.  We went to Toys R Us and got her cupcakes and had a good time.  I'm sure we will do the same for Madyssen's birthday as well.  But I will be going to see her at school at lunch and bring cupcakes and then take her to Toys R Us. 

Hopefully the girls will love each of their birthdays along with this big birthday bash we're throwing for them.  Bring on the screaming kids! lol