by Sarah | Nov 8, 2008 | All About Molly, Autism, Crap
“Well what does she have?”
“Autism.”
“Oh, she does NOT! I’ve SEEN autism, and that isn’t it.”
This conversation happened on my trip home. It was my grandmother, whom I adore dearly and I hold no ill will toward her for it…but it reminded me of the times the conversation has happened in other situations.
When being told of her diagnosis after 2 years of searching and waiting her (special needs) teacher said, “Really? Well, I’m surprised by that.” Other people look at her and then at me with the huge look of doubt and you can practically hear their thoughts – She looks fine to me.
It takes all of my effort to smile and nod and move on into different conversations. I have to remind myself that these people don’t see her day in and day out. They don’t see her meltdowns (she saves those for us), they don’t see the way disruption in her routine makes things wonky, they don’t see her when she gets off the bus after school so exhausted from working at her therapies in class that she crashes on the couch for two hours.
They see a girl without the typical red flags, that makes eye contact, that smiles (at us) and hides from strangers, that talks and laughs once she’s familiar with the situation.
They expect what the propoganda shows, children ‘locked within themselves’. They expect behaviors and habits they see on news reports and fundraising sites. They expect an autistic version of ‘normal’.
They don’t know the years of therapy she’s been to help her become verbal. They haven’t watched her for 4 years like us, like her doctors. They don’t know that just 6 months ago she COULDN’T express her needs and wants. That six months ago the only calming activity when she got overstimulated was DPPT. That she does have moments where she fits into what they expect to see.
And I am grateful that they can see the child they do now. Thankful for Early Intervention, thankful for Developmental Preschool – that those two services have helped her become what she is today…and I am frustrated that people can’t see beyond the stereotype, that they don’t see that the spectrum is wide, and we happen to be on the higher-functioning end.
Look beyond the label, look beyond the stereotype…see the child and accept her for what she is. And if you’re going to take the time to ask the question, take the time to see the years it may have taken to reach that diagnosis…to see the months of therapy and what they’ve done to help the child…not look and judge because it’s not ‘typical’.
by Sarah | Nov 7, 2008 | Random
I apologize for not being up yesterday. I’m having issues with my webhost which I hope to resolve soon…if not I’ll be shopping for a new webhost.
I love where I live. It’s a small(er) suburb, the county seat, my neighborhood itself is an enclosed street hidden away so there’s not through traffic – no traffic at all practically – but connected to a main road. The town is small enough that the school district has one school for each level (K-3, 4-6, middle, high), so my son will know all the kids all the way through to graduation…and I know the schools.
But I’ve always joked about it being ‘hickville’ (and adjacent to Hicksburg, Hickfield, and Hicksboro). We ARE 2 minutes from rural lands in every direction but one. We do have a fair amount of rednecks that live close, and all of us around here are “simple” folk that live quietly, simply – definitely don’t live ‘large’. Modest homes and families, good friendships and a sense of community.
Yesterday I got the proof that sealed the deal that despite all of this…it is still HICKville.Â
Where else but Hickville can you walk out on your back deck and get the view of your neighbor having just returned from hunting…cleaning the deer in his driveway? Antlers lying in the yard…deer lying on a platform designed for the task attached to the back of an SUV.Â
I just laughed and stepped back inside…thinking to myself that I needed no further proof…Hickville it is.
by Sarah | Oct 22, 2008 | Random
To BUFFALO!
Today at approximate 9AM all my kids and I will be packed into the Explorer and heading out East.Â
Yes. That’s me. Three kids. No husband.
Insane? Possibly. Excited? A little bit (okay, a LOT).Â
The drive will be tough, but I’m taking my time – and my camera. I’m going to let the kids get out and run. I’m not putting a time limit on this drive…”We made it in EIGHT hours!” will not ring through my grandmother’s house. I’m hoping this will help their, and my, sanity.
We will have competing sounds as the girls watch hour upon hour of Dora on our (new – the old one broke right before the trip, of course *pout*) portable DVD player…while I listen to show tunes and Brandon plays DS…ALL.DAY.LONG.Â
We will stop for puke-donald’s. We will stop for potty breaks.Â
And we will get to my Grandmother’s.
I haven’t been HOME in two+ years. The last time we went, Angel was 2 months old, and Molly took her first steps at the park across the street from my grandmother’s. My niece is turning 5 while we’re there, and we get to go to her party.Â
I will go shopping for real food (Sahlen’s hot dogs, Webers mustard, REAL salt&vinegar chips, Loganberry,  placek and sponge candy). I will have Anderson’s custard & Beef on ‘Wick. I will eat my grandmother’s goulash (should i say yum? not feeling that one), and listen to her rant on every topic imaginable.
Archie isn’t coming…the one sad note about the trip. I wish he could come and see my family again. Celebrate my niece’s birthday with us. I’m sure I will talk to him often, but only as often as work and life allow.
I will probably start experiencing computer withdrawals tomorrow. Today I’m driving, and distracted by kids. Tomorrow will be fun and exciting for a few hours, but as a work day for most of my family it will be quiet for us. By 11AM I’m likely to be texting Jess left and right…but I will survive without a computer somehow.
I’ve preset posts for the weekend, because I won’t be home until Monday night. I’ll take time to edit pictures, but I’ll post an update at the very least on Tuesday.Â
Keep me in your thoughts today, though…as I drive 526 miles with 3 kids and just one little scrap of sanity to begin with.
by Sarah | Sep 25, 2008 | All About Denver, All About Erik, All About Kennedy, All About Marriage, All About Me, All About Molly, Crap
Did you know…
~ That having truncal hypotonia and a daredevil are a VERY bad combination?
~ The the above mentioned combination can lead to a face plant from the height of the back of a couch resulting in an unexpected $60 trip to the dentist for X-rays?
~ That a fasting glucose level of 160 is BAD?
~ That such a fasting glucose level can cause grown men to be diagnosed with diabetes?
~ That being diagnosed with high cholesterol AND diabetes in the same week can lead to an ultra-restrictive and ultra SUCKY diet?
~ That mastering such a diet is TOUGH?Â
~ And have I mentioned that it SUCKS?
~ That I have soooo many things that occurred during blog closing/deletion that I can’t seem to compose one REAL post out of the mess?
~ That this is a thinly disguised bullet list?
~ That Riley has become an abusive big sister that likes to hit her sister on regular occassions?
~ That Brandon has started going to Wednesday night bible school…with the neighbors…NOT us…and that I (as a non-christian) am not sure how to feel about that?
~ That I feel hypocritical for saying that because I believe that my children should be able to make their own choices in life and religion?
~ That sometimes not even the internet can help you locate an old friend?
~ That I am TOTALLY obsessed with True Blood (and the Sookie Stackhouse book series)?!
~ That I was SO obsessed with it, that I switched to DirecTV because it was the cheapest way to get HBO?
~ That I was SOOO obsessed with the books that I got Archie reading them?
~ That having a book discussion with a spouse of the opposite sex (which mine happens to be) brings about points (and viewpoints)Â that you seriously never considered, and might not understand?
~ That I could go on for another fifty points, but I don’t want to annoy you so soon back into re-posting?
by Sarah | Dec 17, 2007 | Random
Well, when you’ve been kicked, it’s hard some days to find the joy. After learning our car is terminal over the weekend I’ve been struggling with my usual cheery disposition (really, I am the optimist in this house, believe it or not!).
Over the weekend we went to the movies – $40 gone. I remembered I still have to buy a present for my nephew when I thought I was done with Christmas presents (looking at another $10 there at least). I have the expense of Christmast dinner (ham is EXPENSIVE!! Sheesh! And I thought our turkey breasts at T-day were bad)…and other random things. I’m looking at our currently stable savings (small though it is) and trying to figure out how long it has left to live. At this point I’m figuring 1 – maybe 2 – weeks before it’s DOA.
Erik calls from work says he’s going to pay on his account at work (he works for a water purification/water softener company – from which we regularly buy salt for our softener, and filters for our R/O)…and then take out $20 for his carpool buddy to help cover gas costs (he and I agreed $20/2wks)…and the $30 for my remaining Christmas presents.
In a panic, thinking of our cash levels, I pull up the account. I expect to see a certain moderate amount in our account (on hold until mortgage is paid on Friday)…instead I see $200 MORE than I expected.
Apparently Erik got a bonus at work. No one told him *lol*
So our random joy for today is a bonus!! It’s not a huge one (not like the one he got two years ago, unfortunately), but it’s bigger than last years crap…and enough to cover our date night this weekend, AND Christmas dinner!!
Now if UPS would show up with his present…and the other one would make it before Christmas I’ll be totally joyous! (One gift was mailed standard USPS on Saturday…God willing it will get here before Christmas day!!)
by Sarah | Dec 12, 2007 | CF, Crap
You know ladies and gents…I’ve thought about it…but I just cannot be silent for a full day most of the time. If I HAD to be silent on a day I know it jsut wouldn’t happen *giggle* So I doubt I will ever be participating in Wordless Wednesday.
But I DID get a fun picture for this weeks upcoming Picture Hunt. So I may start doing that in time for the new year. I keep meaning to better my picture taking (I’m hoping for a fancy schmancy digital next year, our current one sucks monkey butt)…so that gives me an excuse and a challenge 😀
CF Clinic was today. K was a total witch again. Throwing herself down on the floor (which, by the way, is 3 feet of concrete with a pretty layer of tile on it…how can that NOT hurt??)…throwing a huge fit pretty much 98% of the time we were there. Dr. was a doll…I just adore her…she called me insane for backing 5 different types of cookies (I didn’t tell her I was planning on making a second round of 4 of those types).
Umm…oh yes. Car worked like a dream. Like there was absolutely nothing wrong with it ever. We’re thinking the fuel got frozen in the line or something…I hadn’t run it in about 36 hours….and it gets COLD at night here!!
