1. I am not lying when I say Avery has turned me into a huge Star Wars fan. We bought him several character encyclopedias that have way more information than even I want to know or car about knowing. However know more than I did has helped me understand the story.
1a. Now that I have finally watched episode II and III and understand all of it I can't stop thinking about it. I almost hate to admit this but episodes III and VI now make me emotional. Episode III is where Anikin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader. He is naive in thinking that by doing so he can save his love Padme from death. However his turning into Vader is what kills her.... and the scene where he kills innocent children.... my heart stopped. It made me feel weird because I knew he becomes Vader and yet it was like I did not know the story. Then in episode VI Vader sacrifices himself to save his son, that he never even knew.... ok sorry I'm officially a nerd...
1b. Ok so these encyclopedias we got Avery... they don't tell you how to pronounce the strange names of people or planets. I am in the dark! Then I end up going to bed with some of the names in my head!
2. ROAD CONSTRUCTION!!!!!! *&%#! EVERY way I can go (that makes sense) to take Miles to therapy there is road construction! I mean it will be nice, but ALL AT ONCE? COME ON!
3. In 11 days I will have a Kindergartener and a 1st grader! I want to cry already. I can't believe my baby will be in 'big boy school'. He's probably ready but I'm not. It's different than last year when Avery went. Since April 2012 Miles has been in the preschool program. I have become comfortable with him there and now it is all different. He is now in elementary school. This is the first time we will be dealing with IEPs and other things at this level. I do like the people at the school so far.
4. I am a little mad that the school district decided not to have early release Wednesday this year. I was relying on that time for therapy for Miles. Also they don't have the whole week off for Thanksgiving break this year. :(
5. Negative attitudes, negativity, and too much complaining eats my soul.
6. I wish when I am somewhere by myself and I hear a child screaming I didn't think it was mine. Especially because I know what he sounds like and he does not sound like that child.
7. I think my brain is dumped for now. I can't remember all I've been thinking. Maybe I'll have more later.
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
Autism Awareness Month - What is autism?
What Is Autism
My son has ASD. It is important to spread awareness. Many people think they know what autism is, but many don't really know.
(Info from Autism Speaks): Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. (To be diagnosed a person would have to have difficulties in ALL 3 areas listed.) With the May 2013 publication of the DSM-5 diagnostic manual, all autism disorders were merged into one umbrella diagnosis of ASD. Previously, they were recognized as distinct subtypes, including autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome.
ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. Some persons with ASD excel in visual skills, music, math and art.
Autism appears to have its roots in very early brain development. However, the most obvious signs of autism and symptoms of autism tend to emerge between 2 and 3 years of age.
What Causes Autism?
Not long ago, the answer to this question would have been “we have no idea.” Research is now delivering the answers. First and foremost, we now know that there is no one cause of autism just as there is no one type of autism. Over the last five years, scientists have identified a number of rare gene changes, or mutations, associated with autism. A small number of these are sufficient to cause autism by themselves. Most cases of autism, however, appear to be caused by a combination of autism risk genes and environmental factors influencing early brain development.
In the presence of a genetic predisposition to autism, a number of nongenetic, or “environmental,” stresses appear to further increase a child’s risk. The clearest evidence of these autism risk factors involves events before and during birth. They include advanced parental age at time of conception (both mom and dad), maternal illness during pregnancy and certain difficulties during birth, particularly those involving periods of oxygen deprivation to the baby’s brain. It is important to keep in mind that these factors, by themselves, do not cause autism. Rather, in combination with genetic risk factors, they appear to modestly increase risk.
A growing body of research suggests that a woman can reduce her risk of having a child with autism by taking prenatal vitamins containing folic acid and/or eating a diet rich in folic acid (at least 600 mcg a day) during the months before and after conception.
Increasingly, researchers are looking at the role of the immune system in autism. Autism Speaks is working to increase awareness and investigation of these and other issues, where further research has the potential to improve the lives of those who struggle with autism
Saturday, January 4, 2014
YOU are trying to one-up ME?
So last night I knew I should have kept my mouth shut... ok not my mouth I was typing on Facebook.
A friend of mine posted an article titled "Jenny McCarthy: My bad, turns out my kid didn't have Autsim." Now before I decided to get mad at Jenny McCarthy I read the article. It is not as bad as it sounds because it is not like she was faking that he had it to get attention. The child was misdiagnosed, but still has a rare neurological disease. It was probably ok that he was misdiagnosed because I'm sure whatever therapy he had was helpful anyway.
The 'problem' with her child being misdiagnosed is that she had many believing in her advice on autism and it turns out her child did not have it.... still not her fault.
I've never listened to Jenny McCarthy as a advocate for autism. I mean I'm sure having a celebrity for awareness is great, and I'm sure she raised a lot of money for the research. What I never bought from her campaign is that vaccinations are the cause and changing your child's diet is the cure. I don't want to go much farther into that. I may not be all knowing about autism but I do know a lot from my Speech Communication degree and from my teacher education. I also know how to read credible sources and what article are important. I know what I have been told be doctors that gave my son his autism diagnosis. There is more research proving that vaccines are not the cause and some of the people who said they are the cause came out saying they made it up. And to end on a note... if they changed their minds and told me tomorrow that vaccinating my child caused his autism, I would rather him have autism than be dead because he got an illness he could have been vaccinated for.
So as I was saying I should have just took my fingers off the keyboard. All I typed was that I never believed her campaign about vaccines and diets. To which a friend of my friend comes back at it saying "Vaccinations causing autism is on the rise and there is plenty of research to prove this. Although her son does not have it many children have suffered this fate already." I could not let that sit. So I told her I did not agree and my son HAS autism and it has nothing to do with vaccinations.
She tells me she disagrees with me, but I already knew that. That is fine, I understand people won't agree with me. Many mothers of children with autism would agree with her. The thing that drove me crazy though is I felt then she was trying to one-up me. She proceeds to tell me that she has close friends/family would have children with autism and she knows other people and they all got autism by vaccines. Well that's nice.... Nevermind that I live with my son, who has autism, everyday.
So then I just write. Well my son never had problems with vaccines. Then I get some lame response:
"With the vaccinations it truly is a tough call. ...... But for those they have affected it is truly sad and something everyone should be aware of." Well that's nice....
I let her have that last word on that post. But what I wanted to write back was "Autism is not sad, it's just different. I would not take my sons autism away. I'm sorry that those who need to find someone or something blame, blame vaccines... that is what is truly sad."
A friend of mine posted an article titled "Jenny McCarthy: My bad, turns out my kid didn't have Autsim." Now before I decided to get mad at Jenny McCarthy I read the article. It is not as bad as it sounds because it is not like she was faking that he had it to get attention. The child was misdiagnosed, but still has a rare neurological disease. It was probably ok that he was misdiagnosed because I'm sure whatever therapy he had was helpful anyway.
The 'problem' with her child being misdiagnosed is that she had many believing in her advice on autism and it turns out her child did not have it.... still not her fault.
I've never listened to Jenny McCarthy as a advocate for autism. I mean I'm sure having a celebrity for awareness is great, and I'm sure she raised a lot of money for the research. What I never bought from her campaign is that vaccinations are the cause and changing your child's diet is the cure. I don't want to go much farther into that. I may not be all knowing about autism but I do know a lot from my Speech Communication degree and from my teacher education. I also know how to read credible sources and what article are important. I know what I have been told be doctors that gave my son his autism diagnosis. There is more research proving that vaccines are not the cause and some of the people who said they are the cause came out saying they made it up. And to end on a note... if they changed their minds and told me tomorrow that vaccinating my child caused his autism, I would rather him have autism than be dead because he got an illness he could have been vaccinated for.
So as I was saying I should have just took my fingers off the keyboard. All I typed was that I never believed her campaign about vaccines and diets. To which a friend of my friend comes back at it saying "Vaccinations causing autism is on the rise and there is plenty of research to prove this. Although her son does not have it many children have suffered this fate already." I could not let that sit. So I told her I did not agree and my son HAS autism and it has nothing to do with vaccinations.
She tells me she disagrees with me, but I already knew that. That is fine, I understand people won't agree with me. Many mothers of children with autism would agree with her. The thing that drove me crazy though is I felt then she was trying to one-up me. She proceeds to tell me that she has close friends/family would have children with autism and she knows other people and they all got autism by vaccines. Well that's nice.... Nevermind that I live with my son, who has autism, everyday.
So then I just write. Well my son never had problems with vaccines. Then I get some lame response:
"With the vaccinations it truly is a tough call. ...... But for those they have affected it is truly sad and something everyone should be aware of." Well that's nice....
I let her have that last word on that post. But what I wanted to write back was "Autism is not sad, it's just different. I would not take my sons autism away. I'm sorry that those who need to find someone or something blame, blame vaccines... that is what is truly sad."
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Hello 2014
New year resolution..... I don't really have one.
For the last ~6 months I have been changing things for myself to become a better me. I have adopted the motto that if you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of others. So far in some areas I have improved but I have a long way to go.
One goal is to be healthier and the other is to be happier (I'm already happy with most aspects of my life, but being happy should be every ones goal). Both of these goals just happens to include losing weight... not just weight loss but it is included.
I heard somewhere that if you share your weight loss goals and be open to sharing the numbers it helps... or maybe I am just thinking about The Biggest Loser!
Any way I am starting the new year weighing in at 176.8lb. Now before you start comparing your weight to mine and ect., also note I am 5'2.5". I am excited to start out the year at 176.8lbs because for the last two years I could not drop my weight below 180lbs and often times I was 186lb. This had me depressed too because at 9 months pregnant with Avery I was 188lbs.
For the last few months I have been around 177lb (+/- normal fluctuation) and I have been thrilled. My ultimate goal (knowing it might take a few years) is to weigh between 130 and 140lbs. But most of all the goal is to continue to exercise and eat more healthy choices.... ugh and drink more water... that part is hard for me.
Happy New Year
2014!
For the last ~6 months I have been changing things for myself to become a better me. I have adopted the motto that if you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of others. So far in some areas I have improved but I have a long way to go.
One goal is to be healthier and the other is to be happier (I'm already happy with most aspects of my life, but being happy should be every ones goal). Both of these goals just happens to include losing weight... not just weight loss but it is included.
I heard somewhere that if you share your weight loss goals and be open to sharing the numbers it helps... or maybe I am just thinking about The Biggest Loser!
Any way I am starting the new year weighing in at 176.8lb. Now before you start comparing your weight to mine and ect., also note I am 5'2.5". I am excited to start out the year at 176.8lbs because for the last two years I could not drop my weight below 180lbs and often times I was 186lb. This had me depressed too because at 9 months pregnant with Avery I was 188lbs.
For the last few months I have been around 177lb (+/- normal fluctuation) and I have been thrilled. My ultimate goal (knowing it might take a few years) is to weigh between 130 and 140lbs. But most of all the goal is to continue to exercise and eat more healthy choices.... ugh and drink more water... that part is hard for me.
Happy New Year
2014!
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