Hole-y Shirts

I was cleaning out my closet the other day and found my kids old "spaghetti shirts" (basically old shirts they wore when they were little when we ate spaghetti or other messy things). I giggled when I found them and started going through these little shirts that were stained and had holes in them. That made me laugh again...the holes...I had almost forgotten that Jacob used to chew holes in EVERYTHING. I think it was a sensory thing, and I am so GLAD he has now outgrown it.

Check out the holes in these babies! They would always start little and end up huge! Looking back, I'm thankful I survived buying shirt after shirt for this boy (and it is also a good thing he had two older brothers handing down shirts to him as well).

#ChewingShirtsAutism #AutismSensorySeeking

Kissing Again?

A funny story: Jacob saw Justin and I kissing in the kitchen and he loudly commented, "Where is VidAngel when you need it?" (VidAngel is a company that edits movies for swearing, kissing, etc). That is what a 13-year-old thinks of his parents public display of affection. HA!

#TeenagersOnTheSpectrum #Kissing #VidAngelJoke

Balloon Joy!

Pure joy! What else can you say? I gave Nathan a balloon for his "early birthday" party last night and this was the result. He got the exact same kind of balloon last year from his siblings and loved that balloon to death! So, I thought I'd get him another one. He was so excited! Never mind the presents--he wanted to run and play with his balloon. It is a reminder to me to enjoy the simple joys of life.
#balloonfun #simplejoys

Eliminating Disabled People?

I read an article the other day that said that 90% of mothers in Britain that found out their babies would have Down syndrome chose to abort the baby. Denmark has also seen a strong decline in Down syndrome for similar reasons. The author then posed the question, "Would this [eliminating people with disabilities] make society better?" I would have to argue that no, it would not. Being the mother of two children with disabilities has changed me as a person. It has made me more loving and more sensitive. I have become more patient and understanding of people in general. It has made me a better person. I have also seen how my children have touched and changed those around them--for good. These souls with disabilities are angelic.

It bothers me to think that there are people out there that choose to "abort" a child with disabilities. What about that child? Who knows what amazing things they could do and accomplish even though they might have a disability? The author cited the stories of Stephen Hawking and a young man in Texas with Down syndrome that at age 19 has become the youngest business owner in his town. I believe that people with disabilities can do amazing things, and that they bring out the good in the people who are blessed to rub shoulders with them.

Not one of us on earth is perfect, so we are not trying to eliminate people with imperfections. I believe our goal should be to acknowledge our imperfections and press forward doing our best. Some of the greatest stories of heroes are of people who overcame great obstacles or hardships or even disabilities. God bless us to love and learn from the imperfect people around us!

#ImperfectlyPerfectPeople

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865645834/If-you-knew-your-unborn-baby-had-defects-what-would-you-do.html

Mother Daughter Date

I took Noelle for her first Mani-Pedi on a mother-daughter date this week. The boys were doing fun things and she was bummed and wanted to do something as well. We moms often have to pull fun activities out of thin air. Thank goodness this one turned out well! Noelle really enjoyed it--it was fun and unique. Plus she has enjoyed looking at her cute fingernails and toes since (with turquoise fingernail polish).

#MotherDaughterDate #ManiPedi

Bobsledding Fun

Nathan has loved watching Bobsledding on YouTube for kids for a while now. I don't know why it caught his fancy because I still don't understand the autistic mind completely. Imagine my glee when I found out that they were hosting the World Cup for Bobsledding an hour from our home. So, we loaded up the kids, donned our cold weather gear and braved the wind and snow to watch Bobsledding in person. Worth it? You bet! It was probably one of my top 3 things we have done in Utah since we moved here. And, Nathan LOVED IT!!!!! In fact I chased him and Jacob all over that mountain as they watched the bobsledding in person--man those sleds go FAST! I had fun and got my exercise;).
‪#‎BobsleddingFun‬ ‪#‎Autism‬

Bobsledding Video

Working Out--Sort Of

So, I started a new exercise routine with the new year. I am doing a series of 10 minutes workouts to help tone my core. How long has it been since I really focused on toning my belly??? Well, lets just say it was between baby #1 and baby #2. (Yes, my oldest is 18.) That is how pathetic my poor coor muscles are. I have done yoga and walking and biking since then, but no core. Sigh!

All I can say is that it is good I am doing this in the safety of my own home. First, I must mention that I am not very coordinated, so my following (or messing up) of all the dancing hip-hop and kick boxing moves would be quite a comedy routine to witness. No, I am no dancer--but I try to keep moving. There are times I am laughing at myself because you would think that after two weeks I would get some of these "routines." Alas, I am afraid I would be a disappointment to any dance instructor.

I am sure some of you are wondering how I ever managed to teach choreography to the elementary school choir for 3 years....lets just say I had to practice A LOT and I wrote every move down on my music. Some kids totally had the moves down better than I did. At least I can sing:). That is what you get when you have a volunteer teaching music and choreography:). You do your best.

And so, that is what I will continue to do in the safety of my own home workout--do my best. Hopefully I will get better and better and eventually stop tripping over my feet. 'Til then--wish me luck and good work-outs. Maybe I'll get it--eventually.

#NewWorkOutRoutine #NotCoordinated #DoingMyBest

Telestrations, Anyone?

If you're looking for a fun group game, may I suggest "Telestrations?" It is like the old telephone game where you whisper a word in someone's ear beside you, but you are drawing a picture and guessing off of someones word. They have a 6 player, 8 player and a 12 player. (You don't have to have that many people to play--our family has played with just us).

It is hilarious to see how some of the words evolve--seriously, you will laugh! Jacob (who has high-functioning autism) LOVES this game--quite simple and direct--you draw a word and you guess a picture. If you are looking for some fun that bridges the generation gap, try Telestrations!

#PlayingBoardGames #Telestrations #Autism

Snuggle Those Babies

Any time we are with the nieces and nephews (cousins) these two are drawn to the babies. Yes, I could have had a house-full and had at least these helping hands...but dealing with two kiddos on the autism spectrum shrunk our family because I could barely handle the four kids God gave me. Get your snuggle in while you can boys!

#SnugglyBabies

Dominoes

One of the gifts Nathan got for Christmas was another set of "dominoes." He loves to set them up and knock them down. Here he is knocking down one of his domino sets. (Yes we are in our pajamas--we stayed in them all day on Christmas).

Thankful for the Toilet

Sweet Jacob in his prayer tonight went on and on listing things he was thankful for including the "toilet and toilet paper." I smiled as he said it and realized how grateful I too was for those things, but I don't know that I had ever thanked God for them. So, tonight in my prayer I thanked God for a toilet and toilet paper too. It is amazing the things our children can teach us!

#ThankfulForManyThings #ThankfulForToilet

Making Memories

As we approached the Christmas holiday this year, my kids were sad that none of our extended family would be joining us for Christmas Eve meal. It is funny how at holiday times we desire to be closer to family. I didn't want them to be sad, so I enlisted Noelle to help me decorate the dining room table for Christmas and we set about to make our Christmas Eve "special" even though it was just our family. We had a wonderful dinner and acted out the nativity--just us. It was fun and memorable. I am thankful for my sweet, unique family!

#MakingMemories

Grateful to Live Now

I just finished reading a book that was set in the 1800s in England. In this particular novel, the eldest son was a "simpleton" (or developmentally disabled). The father pretended this son was dead and the mother lovingly arranged for him to be raised by a servant that she loved and trusted. Think how hard that would be!

As I read this, I felt so grateful to live in a time and in a place where having children with developmental disabilities, such as autism, is not as socially frowned upon as earlier times. I feel so thankful that I have been able to raise my boys in my own home and love them and help them grow. I also felt tremendous gratitude towards my husband and his open and loving attitude towards all of our children.

I know of some families where having children with disabilities becomes a hardship that can't be overcome. I feel blessed with the perspective we have gained by having faith in God. We have come to know and trust that God loves all of our children, and that He sent them to us for a reason. Each child brings a unique set of challenges. I feel so blessed to have the four kiddos that I have, and thankful to God for the perspective I have gained as the parent of children with special needs! These kids are so special to work with!

#BlessedByAutism

A Little Christmas Music

I feel like I blinked my eyes and we rushed through from November to January in about one week--that is how fast December flew by. Among all those busy days leading up to Christmas we attended so many Christmas Concerts that I actually lost count. Our favorite by far was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert--it was fantastic! I LOVED hearing them perform "Hallelujah" chorus...it reminded me of all of my friends in Arkansas singing in the Ozark Mormon Chorale. Lots of great memories conducting that song with them.

Jordan performed with his choir and bell choir probably over 20 times in December, and then we had to throw Jacob and Noelle's concerts in there as well. Whew! I am thankful for Christmas music. It is magnificent and wonderful, and I am thankful that it reminds us of the birth of Christ, but dragging Nathan to several concerts isn't always fun. He was quite unhappy about having to attend several of them (especially with the crowds, noise and change of his schedule). Thank goodness for his apple device. I don't let my other kids have electronics during concerts...but if anyone around us is going to enjoy the concert, it is better to let Nathan happily stay on his device:).

#ChristmasConcertsAutism #autism

Traveling

Traveling with kids is always hard, but when you travel with children with autism, you never know what will happen. I always seem to pack "too much" because I never know what toy or distraction I will need to keep him happy on the 12-hour drive to visit family.

Nathan's pillow and blanket always travel with us (because if he doesn't sleep well, all of us don't sleep well). We also bring Melatonin to aid in this sleeping endeavor. I also packed lots of puzzles, his handheld DVD player, Ipad, books on tape (yes we still have cassette tapes), word search books, sticker puzzles, letter cubes that he loves, squish balls, spinning tops, etc. Whew!

That doesn't include stuff for my other kids:). Sigh! Thank goodness we travel by car...I don't think I could fit it all flying--plus I don't think they'd let me bring the kitchen sink if we flew;).

#travelingautism