My house drives me nuts. I have the thought that I would like to invite my friends over to my home and then it strikes me what my home looks like. Well, no more! After school each day we are going to tackle one room. And we are going to start in my darling son's room.

Now, I know that when you have two active boys in a small room and one has autism keeping this clean can be challenging. But, I have a plan. We have started a while back an disorganized exchange program. This week are going to focus on organizing the program and getting rid of the toys that we have grown out of. Also I am going to put in the boys room a visual schedule that will help my son with autism know where his shirts, pants, pajamas, etc are. And write a social story for him to keep his room clean.

I will post before and after pictures when we are done.

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I feel like for so long that I have been running around in circles and not really accomplishing anything. I am going to be stepping back from our non profit group for a year (at least) and I believe this will be a good thing for me and for our group.

I really need to spend this year and work on helping my son with autism move forward. I am thankful that I have been a part of something bigger than myself and I am greatful to have been used to help others. But I feel now it is "crunch time". My ds with autism is 8 and we are still scoring in the severe range on the ADOS.

I know that God has a plan for his life and I also know that since we homeschool we are under a stronger microscope than children in public school. I am now in the process of making a plan that is intense and flexible.

I am excited that there is a DAN doctor coming to our area. DAN means Defeat Autism Now. They look at healing the child naturally--not necessarily with SSRI's. I don't know SSRI's maybe a place that we have to go, to move him to the next level.

I know that whatever happens, I am glad that God has used me to touch lives of people in my situation and I am thankful for a rest from it. We have just got test result in from Vanderbilt. It did not show the growth that I had hoped for, so with the information that I have now I am renewing my focus on my family and specifically on my ds with autism. Hopefully through God's healing he will show us an improvement by May.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I got to go to a local special needs fair this last Saturday and it was nice. It looks like we are getting a DAN doctor close by. DAN means Defeat Autism Now. And I also met an educational specalist that will come to your house, a piano teacher that has autism. And it was nice to see old friends there.

Very soon I am going to get to go and listen to Carol Kranowitz who wrote the Out of Sync Child. We were very forunate to have this book recommended to us when my son was 2. I can say without doubt that we have used the information in the activity book 6 out of 7 days for 6 years.

Here is her site http://www.out-of-sync-child.com/ and I also will have hopefully 2 more good trainings this year.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Earlier this month we went to a big hospital about 4 hours away to do some testing on my ds with autism. While the testing was going on my dh took the other dc to the local zoo there. Well, they thought it was so cool that when all the testing was done we all we back to the zoo and closed it down.

Here was the fun part of the trip.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Here is a website for homeschooling children with autism. Check it out.

www.homeeducatingautism.com

It gives a curriculum review and how to modify regular curriculums. It also talks about different kinds of therapy and how to do an in home program.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Last year, our group went to a local bounce house and my ds with autsim hated it. And I don't mean just a little, he was the only kid there who cried and would not touch anything.

This year he was compeletly different. He only went on one inflatable thing, but he would not come out of it.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

For 4 years now every July the 4th we go to our Science Musuem and then stop and buy fireworks on the way home.

This all started when my ds with autsim turned 3 and was so very sick on this birthday, when he felt better we took him to this science museum to celebrate his 3rd birthday and after 3 hours we had to drag him out kicking & screaming. He did not want to leave.

We were so happy by him showing that he liked something this in now our family tradition.  Here are some pictures of our trip.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Oh my gosh, I did not expect June to turn out this way.

In June the first weekend we went to the autism symposium which was really good.

Then our non profit organization held a fundraiser and this was very hectic and hard on everyone involved. We were out daily asking for donations for our silent auction and donations. At this event we earned a little of 2100.00 and we are grateful.

My dd also had a ballet camp durning the middle of this and she had a lot of fun.

Then we had our organizations picnic and that was a lot of fun. June went by quick.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

We went to an autism symposium and this was the first one that we had ever attended. So we really did not know what to expect.

The way it is set up is that everyone meets in the autidorum for a general meeting. The first day it was Dr. Stephen Shore, he was worth the price of admission. He has autism and his parents were told to put him in an institution and today he is well adapted, married and has a sense of humor. He has written a couple of books, they are very good.

The second day of the general assembly we meet a leader with the TN Disability Coliation. She talked to us about the laws and how to build relationships with politians. Yes, I know that this is important, but this is one more thing that I have to make a prority. And I am just not sure I have the energy.

The rest of the symposium was set up so that you could take classes. Well, DH and I would seperate to cover more ground. The individual classes were okay, I wish the description of the classes were written better.

But, we learned a lot and made some changes when we got home. I will let you know what the changes were and if they made a difference in a few weeks.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Every morning my ds with autism has to say "Good Morning, Mom" before he can get out of bed. And this is a skill that he has pretty well. Well, this morning he say's "Good Morning, Grandma" then he proceeds to laugh. And so he says the same thing like four more times just laughing and he finally said "Good Morning, Mom".

He has a wonderful personality...I use to call him "my best kept secert". But, hopefully everyone will know how funny he is in the next year or two.

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

It's almost summer...that means for families of children with special needs they are planning upcoming trainings and seminars. WHEW! This summer I am excited because my dh is going with me to 2 trainings.... Did I say 2. I have 3 planned for the summer.

June we are going to an Austim Symposium for 2 days. This should be really good because we can split up and take more classes.

Then the next week I am going to Carol Kranowitz "The Out of Sync Child" I will have a full day on Sensory Intergration. This will be so cool.

In August, 3 local psychologist that specialize is Autism are hosting an all day training which should be a nice refresher and some new information here, too. And dh is going to this one, also.

Last year I got to go to the ABLL's seminar and learned a lot that help me develop a good IEP for my ds. So hopefully these trainings will help me do the same.

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I have been studing about how to teach right brain thinkers...and I believe that the information is really good. But it is a lot to process. We are on the right track with the full body learning, but I learned that with right brain thinkers they need flash cards with the answers the first few times... and some exercises that involve crossing the "midline". Which we also have incorporated doing the  full body learning. So, I am happy that I am on the right track and the only adjustment I really need to make is giving my ds with autism flash cards with answers.

I found this website http://www.diannecraft.com/ and I ordered some of her teaching...it is very good. She says that the first child is left brain and the second child is right brain... my question (what about the 3rd child). lol.

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Last night my dd had her 1st ballet recital. Everybody would turn to the left and my dd would turn to the right. They we so very cute everyone of them.

My ds with autism was okay for the first 2 hours and then the last 1/2 hour he was toast. I felt bad for everybody around me, I did not know how to calm him down. My dh wound up taking him out and he was better. I am going to be talking to the therapist because wow, it is heartbreaking when he melts down.

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Our support group tries to do set up informational booths every time we can. On Saturday Tennessee Voices for Children hosted and event call TVC's Annual Children's Mental Health Awareness. Well, it rained, not only did it rain, it poured. But we still had a good time.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

Tonight my df & I merged our classes together for peformance night. We presented the rainforest, her class was the tribe and my class was the animals. It was a lot of fun. I have to admit that I was a little worried because rehersal did not go so well. But the kids are K-2 so we figured it would at least be cute. And it was very cute.

I believe that all the kids enjoyed it, and a good time was had by all. My df is such a blessing to my life. I hope that she knows that when I see her beautiful face she make me smile.

One of the things that we do with our ds with autism is that we try to make him particiapate in things that normal children do. So my df's son stood behind him and read his part, for which I am very grateful.

• Comments (3) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

In 7 days we have had our daugther's kindergarten graduation which I served on the committee, then preformance night at coop, which I helped with a preformance of 19-22 children that are in K-2.

Throw in that we (our support group) has to organize our stuff because we have a display table to set up at the zoo Saturday, and a meeting coming up on Thursday to address situations that have come up with all the new members.

I am sad that on Saturday I have to go to the zoo, my dd was suppose to recieve her awards for Keepers at Home and now she is going to the zoo with me to work. We still have mother/daughter time it will be just a little different than expected.

I know that after our support group meeting that things will slow down I hope.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I won't tag anyone specific ... play along if you want. No pressure. I do think I'll have AJ fill this out as a get your brain working activity this morning though!

One word

YOU CAN ONLY TYPE ONE WORD!

Not as easy as you might think.

Now copy or forward, change the answers to suit you

and pass it on.

It's really hard to only use one word answers. Be

sure to send back to the person you received it

from!

1. Where is your cell phone                                counter

2. Your significant other?                                    work

3. Your hair?                                                          yuckie

4. Your mother?                                                    sweet

5. Your father?                                                      kind

6. Your favorite thing?                                         friend

7. Your dream last night?                                  nothing

8. Your favorite drink?                                        soda 

9. Your dream/goal?                                          Christlikenss

10. The room you're in?                                    homeschool

11. Your hobby?                                                 reading

12. Your fear?                                                     failure

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years?     praying 

14. Where were you last night?                     home

15. What you're not?                                        maid

16. Muffins?                                                       banana

17. One of your wish list items?                   healing

18. Where you grew up?                          Tennessee                 

19. The last thing you did?                           drink              

20. What are you wearing?                          sweats                

21. Your TV?                                                   off                

22. Your pets?                                               outside                

23. Your computer?                                      link               

24. Your life?                                                 God's               

25. Your mood?                                           calm

26. Missing someone?                              yes                

27. Your car?                                               blessing            

28. Something you're not wearing?        shoes       

29. Favorite store?                                     McKays        

30. Your summer?                                     busy     

31. Like someone?                                   yes      

32. Your favorite color?                             green    

33. When is the last time you laughed?      today

34. Last time you cried?                           yesterday

35. Who will resend this?                        unknown

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

If you always have a stocked pantry will you please share with me how you stock it. I have a meal plan every pay period, but it really seems that we run out of food 3 day's before my dh gets paid again. I always feel like a very bad planner when we are scrapping for change to by bread. Would you look over my meal plan and give me suggestions or a list of food that is always handy to keep around.

Here is the plan:

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

For the last 3 years I have had a kindergarter. And tonight my baby graduated. It was a strange feeling, I have worked on the committee for the last 3 years and have really enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

• Comments (0) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

I have been really struggling with some issues lately. My ds with autism has been "wigging out" and hard to bring back around to do things that I know that he can do. My ds with autism is gifted with perfect pitch. What you sing, or he hears he can sing at the same pitch and the same beat.

When he was 2 the only way I could keep his attention was to play classical music and do sign language. Then and only then I would get great eye contact. So as you can imagine we would do this about 20 times or more a day. I use to put only classical music in and that is all that we would listen to. His favorite hands down is Handel.

I was almost just really to give up....I had emailed an autism group to ask if he needed drugs.....(or if I needed them, lol)....Then I got a phone call from a dear friend who introduced me to a website that teaches through singing. YEAH! Here is the link if you want to check it out http://www.songsforteaching.com/

With this new tool, I was ready to face the challenge of teaching him again.

Here is how we have structured our learning.

We do right/left brain exercises -- 1 foot in front of the other.

Then our teaching songs...what ever we are focusing on that session for example:catergoies

Then to our "area" and work with flash cards, build words with blocks and finally write words on the board.

Sometimes, I really feel like I am not doing enough. But, then I remember that God is in control and He will give my son (his son) what he needs. I know that one day my ds with autism will stand before crowds and talk of God's amazing grace.

• Comments (1) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link