Amen

In the battle of good versus evil in an autistic mind, is there truly a winner? If behaviors are modified with medicines and behavior modification plans, does that change a child that would not be privy to those changes or demands were they not neurologically impaired? If writing is a trigger for upset, distress and bad behavior, what is a middle of the road modification that is truly a win win situation-one that will benefit that child as well as teachers...as well as the parents that struggle in the darkest night to make sense of a battle that would be a mere blip on the road of another's life?

Today a (nother) new beginning. Today a behavior modification support plan was studied for both strength & weakness, short-term goals & longevity, reminding us all gently to look for even a mere act of GOODness & comment on it, send home a note of joy-your child did this!, in effect, catching him being good instead of the negavtivity that reigns down from all angles.

I make no excuses as I struggle alongside my child to understand my child, to remain his faith, his belief, his anchor. His heart breaks, my heart breaks. His laughter shines, my laughter shines. We are in this growth opportunity together, our God, he, I, his step-father, his school staff, his dr.s and the people that love us, pray with us & struggle through it with us.

For all of this, I give thanks to God. I give thanks for the bad that I can appreciate the good. I give thanks for the frustration that I can appreciate the humor. The heartache so I can appreciate the full blown love of my child, a child that has & will continue to teach me more about parenting than any book or training ever will.

Forever

I could hold you in my arms
I could hold you forever...

Sometimes a note can take a person back to a time that is no longer, yet remains dancing in past memories...a place where September calls, leaves change softly as Tuesday whispers in the stillness.
Eyes closed, reliving, remembering, realizing that glow of a fall day would slowly bring clarity, focus and self awareness.

Trampolining sunbeams

I'll do two problems & go jump, Mom, okay? (the compromising has begun-eights sheets of writing classwork or homework has that effect on him.) I'll take eight problems or two rows & then you can jump. Ummm, no, that's not what I said, Mom. I'm willing to compromise with you & meet you in the middle, Elijah. That is NOT the middle & I'm not doing any working with you. Not. Gonna. Happen.

Tomorrow is another day to seam together the dream team we've assembled, teachers, special ed teachers, the principal & his mom & stepdad.

Until then, we'll snuggle, hug, give (s) mooches & say his prayers as this day ends & another begins.

(James 1:3) 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

(Hebrews 11:1) 1 Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen.

"Grandin"

Sunday night, the movie, "Temple Grandin", was nominated for seven awards & brought home five. As I read the article I'll link to,I cried  for her, her mother, Emily Gerson Saines, Claire Danes & everyone affected by Autism on any scale of the spectrum. I celebrated, I reveled, I cheered her on from my kitchen in West Heaven.

Well done, Temple.


://awards.tv.yahoo.com/blog/50-who-is-temple-grandin?nc

Alpha

The first week of the third grade is officially behind us.  It's taken crying, screaming, attituding on teachers & the principal & a couple direct line paddlings from the principle to get him to this point.  One week down, many tears & rages, more hugs & sweet kisses as he calms himself, pulls himself back around to present, home & being with the parents that love him unconditionally, that he knows will never change or be something they aren't.

I pray for him, his teachers, his principal, his behavior therapist & everyone that doesn't & possibly never will understand the person he is.  I pray for strength, love & tenderness given me through the grace of God for the times I'm not sure how to take another step on his behalf to show him love, truth, tenderness & compassion no matter how bad previous days went, no matter what happened.

All these things I ask in God's name.

Amen

Peace in the sky

Looking up to thank God for a beautiful day, I see peace.

But by the Grace of God go I

There are challenges in going back & forth to Arkansas Children's Hospital in the best of any situation, stretching family & friends to the end of the line as I got Trevor situated last night, this afternoon & tonight @ his football game with the help of my dear friends for example.

.I am thankful for the many blessings from our move two hours south, (family, friends, school support...).

 We stayed last night in North Little Rock (as I silently thanked God again for another dear friend that has become family) to ensure we'd be @ the neurology appointment at 8am & kept a hard pace for the remainder of the day, I know to thank God from the time we roll out of bed to the time we trudge our tired selves home.

I pray the entire time we are at ACH for the children that aren't as healthy as Elijah, for the parents that are torn apart on a daily basis, for the doctors  & therapists that give thier all all the time & for the wonderful nurses that bless each and every one of us that have ever stepped inside the front doors of the hospital, any clinic or wing-no matter if's a routine appointment or months on end, they give thier all.

I give thanks for the blessings as in today we I felt for a split second that we'd conquered the world in one fell swoop, MRI & EEG clear & Elijah ready for take-off.

As the dust settled & the sun began to set @ Trevor's football game tonight, I looked around to see myself surrounded by family & friends & felt myself tearing up, so fortunate to have & recognize the gifts my family is given.

Thank you for the blessings & the beauty of the day, God.