The Special Needs Mommy

This was sent to me by my fellow July '05 mommy, Tara. Her daughter has been diagnosed with autism as well. Although, the theology of this story does not necessarily mirror what I believe, the story makes my heart warm and my eyes fill with tears. The idea that God chose me to be the mommy of Parker, and that he finds me up for the task, gives me hope.
If you are a crier, grab the tissues.;)

The Special Mother
by Erma Bombeck

Most women become mothers by accident, some by choice, a few by
social pressures and a couple by habit. This year nearly 100,000
women will become mothers of special needs children. Did you ever
wonder how mothers of special needs children are chosen?

Somehow I visualize God hovering over earth selecting his
instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As He
observes, He instructs His angels to make notes in a giant ledger.
"Armstrong, Beth; son. Patron saint...give her Gerard. He's used to
profanity." "Forrest, Marjorie; daughter. Patron saint, Cecelia."
"Rutledge, Carrie; twins. Patron saint, Matthew." Finally He
passes a name to an angel and smiles, "Give her a special needs child."

The angel is curious. "Why this one God? She's so happy."
"Exactly," smiles God, "Could I give a special needs child to a
mother who does not know laughter? That would be cruel." "But has
she patience?" asks the angel. "I don't want her to have too much
patience or she will drown in a sea of self-pity and despair. Once
the shock and resentment wears off, she'll handle it." "I
watched her today. She has that feeling of self and independence
that is so rare and so necessary in a mother. You see, the child
I'm going to give her has his own world. She has to make him live
in her world and that's not going to be easy." "But, Lord, I don't
think she even believes in you." God smiles, "No matter, I can fix
that. This one is perfect - she has just enough selfishness." The
angel gasps - "selfishness? is that a virtue?" God nods. "If she
can't separate herself from the child occasionally, she'll never
survive. Yes, here is a woman whom I will bless with a child that
the world sees as less than perfect.

She doesn't realize it yet, but she is to be envied. She will never
take for granted a 'spoken word'". She will never consider a "step"
ordinary. When her child says 'Momma' for the first time, she will
be present at a miracle, and will know it!" "I will permit her to
see clearly the things I see...ignorance, cruelty, prejudice....and
allow her to rise above them. She will never be alone. I will be at
her side every minute of every day of her life, because she is
doing My work as surely as if she is here by My side".
"And what about her Patron saint?" asks the angel, his pen poised
in mid-air. God smiles, "A mirror will suffice."

Autism

So, last week Parker was diagnosed with autism. As much as we were preparing ourselves for this information, it still came as a real blow to actually hear the words. His therapy will be increasing, but the EI (early intervention) that we work with has to do some additional evaluations themselves before they can add to the # of hours of therapy that Parker recieves. Hopefully that process will move quickly, so that we can get movin'. I am always anxious to learn some new techniques to try with him.

Cold feet

Nothing is worse than cold feet.
I am a warm weather girl, and to be perfectly honest...
I HATE the cold.
I love summer time
Wearing flip flops
Swimming
Fraps from Starbucks and smoothies from my kitchen
Eating dinner on the deck

And now...fall is upon us.
It is cold, and wet, and cold, and rainy, and COLD!!
I know, I know. There is something about being in a warm house, eating homemade soup, watching the rain pound on the windows. And don't get me wrong. That is fun and cozy...for a day or two.
Then the boys get bored,
and runny noses start,
and layers of clothing just to go out and get the mail,
and bundling three cranky boys up to just run to the grocery store.
And NOTHING is worse than COLD feet.
Time to break out some wool socks!!

A well placed taser ™ will take out even the most deadly of ninjas.

This is a post from Dwight Schrute's blog. Yes, there is a DWIGHT SCHRUTE BLOG!!!!
Very little makes my day brighter than a little Dwight K. Schrute....well, that or an iced mocha!
Here is the link for my fellow Office fans:
http://blog.nbc.com/DwightsBlog/

An excerpt for you!!
When Ninjas Attack!
Every year, when spring comes, my mind goes to one place and one place only, Ninjas.


Every time you read about Ninja’s attacking somebody or assassinating some public figure, it seems to happen in the spring. I’m not sure why, it’s just the way it is.


Maybe it’s the fact that the spring is traditionally the new year in most pagan religions. It is also the Persian festival, “Naw Ruz” or “New Year”.


Whether it is a throwing star to the neck at a bowling alley, a poison spike that sails through an open window and lodges itself in the fleshy part of the leg, or a mysterious black-clad figure with a bo staff, perched up on the ceiling of your garage as you pull in your car from your awesome job, ninja attacks can and will happen anywhere and anytime.


And they happen to the best people too. Just ask my cousin Heindl. She has lost 12% hearing in her left ear from one.


Things to remember:

Be alert. Everybody loves a lert. (Ziggy joke)


Check ceilings first, when doing your safety inspections, that’s where they like to ‘hang’.


The best defense against a ‘shuriken’ or throwing star is a good offense. Also, armor.


You will never beat a ninja at a sword fight, one on one. When the Ninja draws his sword, fire your taser ™. A well placed taser ™ will take out even the most deadly of ninjas.


Show them that you know they’re there. Shout out, when entering a new locale or a suspicious locale, “I know you’re there, Mr. Ninja. Your element of surprise has now been taken away” [I’ve gotten many ‘funny’ looks for this kind of preparedness, but so be it. That is a risk I’m willing to take. Are YOU!?]


But most importantly, remember that a Ninja is only trying to kill you if someone has hired that ninja to do so. So for every ass-kicking Ninja trying to take someone out there is some alienated girlfriend, some enemy rival at the workplace or some Japanese feudal lord who has paid that Ninja to kill. Or worse.


I hope this web log has made your spring a more beautiful and restful time. That was the author’s intent. Also, fear.


Dwight Kurt Schrute, Assistant Regional manager, Dunder-Mifflin Paper
Chairman and Founder, Lackawanna County Ninja Preparedness Council

Halloween costume issue!

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My boys all LOVE Halloween. Who doesn't love costumes and candy, right?! (we don't do the scary stuff). Brennan is going to be a vet, or as he puts it, "a pup doctor". Andrew is not sure what to be yet, but is excited about all of the possiblities out there. Parker is another story. He will HATE to be dressed up. If he was my first child, I probably wouldn't bother this year, but the older two are SO excited at the prospect of dressing up Parker, that I am not sure what to do. Nothing big or bulky. Nothing with a mask or a hood. Nothing requiring any face paint or make up. I don't want to spend a lot of money on a costume that he won't be happy in, ya know?
I have this dragon costume that my mom made my little brother David when he was small (so the costume is over 20 years old). I thought that it would work for Parker. I tried it yesterday, he screamed. I tried it again today, he hated it, but there was less screaming. I think that if I don't make him wear the hood, and if I keep "practicing" with him every day, maybe he will toerate it when Halloween arrives.

Here are some pictures of my grumpy dragon:

Eating green onions

Parker's sensory issues are worse. When he can't handle a situation he tends to pull *strong* tastes off his PECS choice board, like pickles. Last night after the costume fiasco, I was making stir fry for dinner and cutting up green onions. He was whining my feet, so I gave him one. Not the hollow end, but a long piece of the solid end by the bulb. He crunched it all down. He then ate a few more before I cut him off. I didn't want him to get a stomache ache. His breath was kickin!!
Here is a short video of my onion-eater!

I wasn't even THINKING!!

So, I was making brownies (gluten filled) last night for our weekly date with D&E. I started to clean up after I put then in the oven, went to rinse out the bowl, and shoved the gluten covered brownie spatula into my mouth.
Instant panic.
I spit it out into the sink and then rinsed my mouth out with water about 10x.
Really stupid. It just shows that on the GF diet you can never stop thinking. 28 years of not thinking about what I put into my mouth is a hard habit to break.
I took a multi-enzyme, and hoped for the best.
I didn't get sick.
Yea!