Halloween,2011. My favorite costumes to date and first Halloween picture that I have ever taken with snow in the background. The year is coming to an end but we still have many first that seem to be coming one after another.
Oh these two.. are the reason I wanted more kids.
A tiny portion of the hood.
Last June I was sitting on the couch waiting for A.J. to come home with dinner when the phone rang. It was the principal and she called to tell me Amelia could not return back to school without a note from her Psychiatrist. Amelia had another incident in school that day and the blame was placed solely on her,a child with Autism. I ran upstairs,locked myself in my bedroom and cried harder than I ever have in my life. I was sad and angry. Later that night with puffy eyes and blurred vision I walked my kids down to my neighbors house for..
some fun. I talked and laughed and almost no one there knew anything was wrong. And if they did,no one asked. As I sat there I started to really pay attention to kids running around. The laughing I was hearing prompted me to stand up and really take a look at what they were doing. That's when it hit me. No matter how sad I was or how hard the day was,it's always okay at the end of the day. Amelia had a blast that night. My neighborhood is accepting and it's a place where Amelia is welcome to be herself. It's a place where she can ride her bike,explore her surroundings and tell a joke that doesn't make sense and laugh hysterically afterwards and nobody expects any more or less from her.
(oh how i love jake in this picture. he is filled to the brim with curiosity)
Yes,Amelia is a handful. She makes easy situations very hard and hard situations are sometimes a breeze. Like crossing an adorable little bridge. No she said,I'm gonna fall in!
So as parents we held her hand and walked her over this small hurdle. Or in A.J.'s case,he picked her up and ran her across.
Amelia will be starting at a new school very soon. As in,maybe this week but most likely next week. A smaller classroom with teachers that can kick her behaviors in the ass and teach the girl to read. I have no hopes for the fear of being let down.
I try so hard to separate the Autism from our everyday lives. I have been blessed with three other very amazing children that are just as deserving of my attention and praises. It's an everyday battle to say the least.
Every week I give an update to Amelia's TSS about what we did that past weekend and what her strengths and weaknesses were. She was shocked that we rode a train with all the kids and went to New York. Why I asked? I have been doing this for 10+ years and most parents are unable to do that with their child on the spectrum.
My mom works in an OBGYN and talks to many mothers in a day. Her favorites these days are the one's who have a child with Autism. Most of those mom's cannot go far because their child cannot handle the change and the surroundings.
Right now Amelia goes along for the ride. I am unsure what she will be like as an adult. What I do know is that I will keep pushing and making her see and try new things. I cannot watch my other children sit on the sidelines because Amelia says no.
Lately I have been a crying mess. I have myself overbooked. My sister told me a loonnnggg time ago that being a mom is hard. That Kim can be a real smarty pants at times. Being a mom of four kids is hard. Trying to keep my house clean and tidy is hard. Wash has become impossible. Homework is a pain to say the least. And someday I will get back at the person who invented after school activities.
Then I look at this picture.. Amelia keeping up with A.J. and I feel lucky. My mom says I would be bored without her..
I think I will end with a brag because it's my blog and all. Savannah has worked very hard in gymnastics and finally after almost a year made it into level 2. Very proud!
Kiera started gymnastics this past March and was placed in the standard Pre Gym 5 class. Two weeks ago they bumped her up to level 1. In two weeks Kiera will be starting an invitation only class on Friday nights. I was told I have a natural on my hands. Again,so proud of my girls accomplishments.
