Hello Everyone!

It's been a couple of weeks since I've been here and man I"m tired.  Tired and blessed really.

We took our first family vacation, in cash, for four days.  Rode the river, saw friends, and relaxed.  It was a good time.  Just always a little stressful when I can't give C free reign.  I know any parent can identify, especially ones with ASD's and managing their obsessions/stims. 

It has been a challenging summer.  C is really coming along in so many areas, but dang; he's just not listening.  It's like the terrible two's, except we never went through them.  He was pretty compliant and easy going.  (when you are stuck in your own little world and small, mecanichal things amuse you, it's easy).  Now, he's coming into his own.  Realizing he has options, choices and going through many of the same emotions and changes that a two-year old would.  He's almost 6.  I"m grateful, but man.....it's a challenge.  Then add his obession with elevators, computers, microwaves, buttons, machines (vending or otherwise), numbers......and you get the picture.  I try and make it a teaching time, but it can drive me nuts!  :)

Ahh, c'est la vie!

School starts in a couple of weeks.  That's exciting.  He is going to be mainstreamed with support for about 3-3 1/2 hours a day.  He will continue with speech and will get an hour of OT a couple of times a month.  It's going to be a good thing.  I"m just nervous.  He's never been in a classroom with more than 10 kids before (during his inclusion time he was, but their was an aide for him and one other boy).  It's looking like his classroom will be upwards to 18-20.  No one else is worried but me.  :) 

This weekend my parent advisory group will be getting together for our first social.  I am so blessed to be with these people.  They are wonderful, caring and a lot of fun to be around.  We have all have much in common because of our kids and I'm excited to meet the spouses.  Yeah! 

I'm off.  I need to get to bed.  I will be posting an update on the GFCF pancakes.  Need to work on the texture. 

Toodles for now!  Love and His Grace, Krista

Today!

Today was a little different.  C had his last therapy session with Elizabeth.  He is no longer in need of one-on-one ABA.  This is awesome that he has gotten to this point in a year.  It's a little hard because I needed the time with her just as much as he did.  We will still see her, just not in the same capacity.  Bummers, as she would say.  She's our favorite.

C will continue in the social interaction group.  He definitely needs that.  We have him signed-up for after-school tutoring.  We will see how that goes. 

I have another wonderful dilema.  Where do I go from here?  I know that I"m meant to do something with Autism, but what?  Should I form my own resource group, become an ARD advocate, what?  I have an overwhelming need to help.  To give to others. 

I remember what it felt like when we were handed the diagnosis.  I was okay, then about 2-3 months later I thought "Holy s..."  I was totally freaked.  I thought I was going to have to hover over him constantly (not that I don't do some of that now), watch his EVERY move and have my heart in my throat at every turn. 

Some of that has died down, but I still want to give; need to give to others.  So, any thoughts, words of wisdom and prayer would be appreciated.  More later!

Great Autism Quotes

" Consider the following four dead-end kids. One was spanked by his teachers for bad grades and a poor attitude. He dropped out of school at 16. Another failed remedial English and came perilously close to flunking out of college. The third feared he'd never make it through school--and might not have without a tutor. The last finally learned to read in third grade, devouring Marvel comics, whose pictures provided clues to help him untangle the words. These four losers are, respectively, Richard Branson, Charles Schwab, John Chambers, and David Boies. "

" Autism itself is not the enemy... the barriers to development that are included with autism are the enemy. The retardation that springs from a lack of development is the enemy. The sensory problems that are often themselves the barriers are the enemy. These things are not part of who the child is... they are barriers to who the child is meant to be, according to the developmental blueprint. Work with the child's strengths to overcome the weaknesses, and work within the autism, not against it, to overcome the developmental barriers. "




-- Frank Klein, autistic
 
A genius explains - [excerpt]



"Daniel Tammet is an autistic savant. He can perform mind-boggling mathematical calculations at breakneck speeds. But unlike other savants, who can perform similar feats, Tammet can describe how he does it. He speaks seven languages and is even devising his own language. Now scientists are asking whether his exceptional abilities are the key to unlock the secrets of autism. " Interview by Richard Johnson Saturday February 12, 2005


The Guardian
 
 
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover...." Mark Twain
 
 
"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can...." John Wesley
 

Trial Run of GFCF Pancake Recipe

This is the GF pancake recipe as I printed from the internet.

1 cup rice flour
3 tbsps tapioca flour
1/3 cup of potato starch
4 tbsps of dry buttermilk powder ( I don't use it to make it Casein Free)
1 packet of sugar substitue (Stevia)
1 1/2 tsps baking powder
1/2 tsps bking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp xanthan gum
2 eggs
3 tbsp canola oil
2 cups water

In a bowl, mix or sift together the rice flour, tapioca flour, potato startch, dry buttermilk powder, sugar substitue, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and xanthan gum.  Stir in eggs, water, and oil until well blended and few lumps remain.

This is where I start changing things.  I use almond milk instead of water.  It gives it a better and richer flavor.  Also, I add about 2 tbsp of ground flax seeds.  It makes them rise more like a traditional pancake.  Also, I will add a mashed banana.  It is the one thing that makes any sweet, baked good in GFCF cooking.  I will also add blueberries, slivered almonds, etc. 

I try and make it as nutrient rich and great tasting as I possibly can.

I will add more later.  I"m off to pick C up from Social Skills Group. 

Love, peace and grace unto you.

So much to say, so little time

Well, I had a pretty good day.  Really great in fact.  I have two interviews on Wednesday.  I set them up, but received a giant "leg-up" from a friend a mine who works at both companies. 

He gave glowing recommendations and they are considering for other positions other than what I intially was going to apply for.  Thanks T. B. (Mr. Wild Coyote).

The next thing I"m working on (among MANY others) is perfecting my GFCF pancake recipe.  Once I do that, I"ll post it.  Then I'll work on GFCFEF.  I"ve done it and it works.  I just have to remember to write down what I did and how it turned out.

It's a short post because I"ve got to go to bed and get up early with C.  School beckons. 

Stay Tuned!

Next couple of posts:  Let me know what you want to hear.  I know some of the challenges I've had. 

i.e.  Navigating the waters of Autism, what do I do next, An IEP - What's that?  A disagreement ARD?  You can do that?  I don't have to sign that day?  Oh, so you fight with your husband too over therapy and views on severity?  I went overboard with the kiddo and left the husband in the dust....

Yeah, I've gotten a few tshirts.  BUT, it's all worth it in the end.  It's all worth it.  It's a blessing and I"m blessed.  Let me know what you think.  Stay tuned! 

Love and blessings of HIS Love to all!   Psalm 4:8

Wow! I'm so excited!

Good evening everyone!  This is day one of the 1600 calorie a day diet.  No fads, no craziness; just balanced nutrition, cutting what we eat and exercising.  We eat well, just way too much!  :)  Chris and I were suprisingly satisfied. 

If you know me and know me well; food is almost as important to me as Autism and Advocacy.  Give me a bourdeaux, stilton or maytag blue, a baquette.....  Oh, yeah.  I digress

As far as the last post, it should be a lesson when to post and when not to post.  When you are super tired and can't make sense; grammatically or otherwise; don't write.  I decided to leave the post as is.  Everyone makes mistakes and needs to laugh at their foibles.  His Grace is sufficient.

NOW, to the real reason I'm writing tonight.  I wanted all of you to know that I will be part of the Houston Focus Group for the Texas Autism Research and Resource Center Website.
It will design a new website with the best information available about autism and similar disabilities. In 2009, the 81st Texas Legislature directed that a statewide resource center for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) be created to assist Texans. Once fully operational, Texas’ center will help individuals with ASD, families, and professionals by coordinating resources, offering training, and providing information on ASD, available services, research, and other topics of interest.
 
This has long been an intrest of mine.  I've had a burning desire within my heart to do something with Autism, Advocacy, Natural Health/Supplements, GFCF diet and baking, ARD/IEP process and assisting other parents when they recieve the diagnosis.  This is a step in the right direction.  I"m not sure where it's leading, but I know it's a step, a gift that GOD has made clear to me I'm to be going.  
 
There are only 11 people in the Houston Group (there will be about 6 or 7 across the state).  I know one of the people going through my network of people I know.  She is the head of FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment).  If she is there and I am; I"m honored and a little daunted.
 
Please stay in prayer with me for thankfulness, his grace and patience and above all that I keep HIM in the place HE should be.  Not making this my "next thing" to usurp HIS place.  Been there, done that and have WAY too many tshirts.
 
But, I"m excited.  I really am.  I believe this is the start of something really great and very important for me.  Let me go with God's grace.
 
By love and blessing to all of you.  Have a great night.