It's good to be back

I don't think I mentioned it, it's good to be back.   I know I need to write and that God has a bigger plan for me; I just haven't made the time for it.  I am know  It's such an extension of who I am.  I "get it" more than I ever have before.  :)  Cheers!  More tomorrow.  Happy Monday and blessings to you are yours. 

The Day!!!

What a week it has been!!!!  We are still so blessed but boy howdy........ Damn!

I went to a leadership and advocacy conferencece and 20 minutes before I had an appointment with my state representative, Chris calls me and tells me his position (because of budget cuts) has been eliminated.  Joy!!!

All went well.  My state rep. (Dan Huberty - R) was awesome!  He is a freshman and fresh from being on the school board (that helps) and his son has IEP's as well.  For what, I don't know.

Point being, it was a wonderful and productive day!  Still, God's grace is so evident.

I had a great time at TALAC (Texas Advanced Leadership and Disability Conference).  I met some amazing people, true trailblazers.  I also had a chance to tape most of the workshops and key note addresses. 

The biggest thing I came away with (and knew academically) was how "normal" they were/are.  They arem't any different that you and I; they just get to the same place going a different way.  That's all.  Once of the coolest guys I met had CP,   He looks on what he does (public speaking, advocacy and such) as story telling.

Isn't that what we are all here to do; tell a story?  :)   Anyways.....

As the story ensues.....I'm looking for another job, Chris is as well and I'm wondering, worrying (shouldn't be) and praying about how all of this will make sense for Cary.  But, it will.  My prayer and want is that I can find something that will give the time I need (I'm working on my own "thing" at the moment) and the money we want to get where we need to go.  Is that any different than any other mother or father?   Hmmm......

I think I finally get it!

Whew!  The first two days of school are over and have been successful.  Cary is off to a great start.  He has a wonderful support staff in his teacher, his aide, school interventionist, psychologist and the assistant principal.  We have been truly blessed.

These past few weeks have seen me floundering a bit.  (ADD doesn't help matters....)  I knew I wanted to do something with the blog but wasn't sure exactly how to go about it.  How to write it, as in adding to certain posts and not creating new ones. 

I know the topics that I would want to hear about, but would like to hear from my followers.  My topics would be; biomedical intervention (DAN protocol), nutrition, enzymes, different therapy modalities, advocacy, networking opportunities for parents, structured play groups, cooking and baking for the GFCF diet (and other specialized diets) AND, what is developementally appropriate compared to our kids?

So, whoever is out there, give me your feed back and let me know what you think.

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.