Flowers, Friends, and Fur

*steps on soap box*

I know I fought like a wildcat for TinkerBean's Asperger diagnosis.  I did it to get her the services she needs.  It was an extremely hard, up hill battle that I wouldn't wish on anyone.  However, my dear friends with school age children that are having difficulties in school, please stop fighting the help the schools are trying to get your kids.  Don't have a fit and force your child into a grade that they aren't ready for.  There IS a reason they are falling behind.  It's not just the teachers.  A label isn't a bad thing, it's just a word.  A word that has gotten my daughter so much help that will hopefully enable her to be a better individual and 'mainstream'.  A word that may or may not follow her throughout her life.  Here's a tidbit for you.  You have a word too.  Yes, therapy is expensive.  Yes, you may have to give up eating out every weekend and buying a $200 purse every month.  Yes, your child is worth it.  Yes, it will help.

*steps off soap box*

What does this equal?  Asperger's + generalized anxiety disorder + selective mutism + sensory perception disorder + anhydrous = TinkerBean  And I love every bit of her equation.  Good think I'm not scared of math :)

Yeah, I know I've been MIA, but it's not for lack of trying.  There's end of year school parties, IEP meetings, and my job has not given me a break.  Not that I mind, but this blog and my sewing are sadly being neglected (along with my housework)!!

Little Man's last day of school was yesterday.  He was very excited that morning but very unsure by the end of the party.  Little Man's best friend, who is the exact same age and born at the same hospital, felt the same way.  They spent a lot of time playing with each other and ignoring the other kids.  They are the smallest class in the school, both kid and class size, so the bigger kids can be overwhelming.  He's very excited about summer but hasn't quite grasped the idea that TinkerBean doesn't get out of school until June 14th!  Thank you snow days (most that were not needed).  Here are a few pics of Little Man and his last day!

Today I lost a friend.  I guess she wasn't much of a friend based on what she said and attempted to justify.  Words can be as beautiful as the first flower after the harshest winter and they can be as sharp as a scalpel blade.  Public forums are sounding boards for our thoughts, hopes, daily struggles, and funny moments.  As an adult with morals that I hope to instill in my children I would never post certain words or phrases that are taken derogatory towards a certain group of people based on their religion, gender, sex, mental status, sexual preference or race.  I would hope that the people I picked as my friends would agree and have similar thoughts about what they would say on public forum for all to read, including their own child.  Then to continue on a tirade about how they can say anything they want and use the same phrase and conitations over and over again.  Honestly, it made her look uneducated and like the phrase she was using.  Just because words exist doesn't make it right to use them.  We make impressions about what type of person we are based on our words.  Kindness and compassion will carry a person further in relationships than spewing hate.  In the end the hate she spewed made her look worse and worse.  Yelling isn't effective communication.  I removed her from my phone, networking accounts, and life.  I reflected on our 'friendship' and realize I did much more for her than she ever did for me.  I made the right decison and have logged this away in my memory for when TinkerBean and Little Man are older and have a similar situation. 

Tolerance.  It's defined as: 

I'm afraid this blog is going to turn into my own personal sounding board for Asperger's and TinkerBean.  I'll try to stop it soon, but for now, it is what it is.
There's tons of information out there on AS and how it affects kids/adults.  Here's the tricky thing...it's different for everybody.  That's why it's called a spectrum. 

Motorcycle Man and I have had a few conversations when we've been kid free and we are getting our plan ready.  The problem I'm running into is he's so overprotective he is having issues with her doing anything outside of school and home.  I think it's just his own way of dealing with AS.  We're making progress, slowly but progress none the less.

Sassy!  In her Easter Shirt I made!

AS kiddos tend to obsess over items or topics.  NBC's Parenthood shows a glimpse into the life of a tight knit family with an AS child, Max.  Last night, Max had a meltdown while waiting for his cousin to get out of emergency surgery.  While it showed a tantrum, it was mild and down played.  At least they showed the huge mistake of the grandfather yelling and making it worse.  Max is obsessed with bugs.  Currently, TinkerBean's obsession is "row row row your boat gently down the stream, merrily merrily...." you get it.  She sings it non stop.  In the car, at school, at the Easter Egg Hunt, before bed, and I swear I heard her sing it in her sleep about 4 am this morning.  That's right judge me if you want, my kiddos sleep with me every night.  On the weekends, they sleep in their room and I sneak out to my bed with Motorcycle Man (but he snores and I usually end up on the couch-still love you honey).  Also, if you noticed I was up at 4 am, I've developed insomnia since Tink's diagnosis.  If I get 3 hours of sleep I'm happy.  Sadly, I'm living with lots and lots of coffee.  Oh well.

Sunday morning we were headed to a date with the Easter Bunny.  We were all ready to go hunt some eggs and play some games.  Well, LittleMan had a collision with a chair and we had to take a deter to Brenner's Children's ER.  It's been 3 months since our last visit.  The Dr recognized him.  *face palm*.  The triage nurse told me she has 4 boys and ends up in the ER once a month.  Thank God I only have 1 boy!!  They were able to glue his head back together!  Of course we missed the Easter Bunny and had to follow him to the mall since there's only 1 Easter Bunny.

Little Man in the ER crib after getting glued back together.

I'm starting today with a song
After the Storm

Here are the lyrics:


And now why this song is so meaningful to me.  Yesterday, I got a punch in the gut.  Not literally, but figureatively.  TinkerBean officially has Asperger's Syndrome.  I sat on the too comfy cough in the Doctor's office and let him bitch slap me.  I took it stoically and without emotion, however, internally I will never be able to tell anyone how I felt.  I have told a few members of family, a few close friends, and her teachers.  Now you know.  Now go listen again.  This is our hill.  There is no blame, no answers why and I will not ask or answer those questions.  God, Thank You for blessing me with this child and may You have mercy on anyone who stands in our way this journey to "get over your hill and see what you find there, with grace in your heart and flowers in your hair"
People at Barnes and Nobles think I'm crazy.  I probably am.  See no one has seen me cry about it.  I've not lost it or let it show.  I've been brave, TinkerBean doesn't know and won't for a while.  How do you explain to your child her brain is different?  How do you accept it?  I want to scream "Fuck you Asperger's why my kid?  Doesn't she have enough to deal with?"  It's one thing to suspect something, but a complete other to have a world renowned Specialist in Austim Spectrum Disorders tell you your child has Asperger's.  It becomes real, palpable, undeniable.  I was not caught unaware, but it was still a shock.  Back to B&N.  I went to B&N while waiting for Best Buy to open and put out a fire (a whole other story for another day).  I perused the parenting special needs kids and went to craft books.  There was a gentleman in the home repair section.  I feel so bad for him.  I spent 15 mins 'losing my noodle'.  He wanted to say something and run away from the crazy lady crying in front of knitting books.  Finally, his flight instinct won and I was alone.  Stupid knitting books, I don't even like to knit.
Emotions are high but I can give you a piece of advice.  If someone tells you their child has Austism, Asperger's, PPD-NOS, Sensory Perception Disorder, or any other non life threatening special need don't say I'm sorry, because we're not.  God gives us these kids because we can deal with this, we may cry and yell and vent, but we will prevail.  It's not always a bad thing.  For those of you who said I'm sorry, don't worry, yesterday I needed that, but today, today is new

And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.

Got the new fridge yesterday morning at 7:45 am!!  TinkerBean was only 30 mins late for school, so the delivery worked out great.  The fridge was cold by noon.  Now if I only had some food to put in it.  Today will include a trip to at least 3 stores.  See that's the problem when you have to use certain foods and try to do organic cheaply, which in itself is a conundrum.  It has an alarm if the door is open for more than 60 secs, I hope it helps teach the kiddos to actually close the door.

I want you to meet my new best friend, the only thing that has gotten me through the last 5 days.  I am addicted to his warm yummyness and don't care who knows it.  There is probably a support group I'll be attending in a few years for addiction, but I'm ok with that.  Yep, Keurig Mini and don't forget this:  YUM YUM YUM!


Well worth the money and I don't know how I lived without it.

Sad news on the dog front.  All but one of the puppies from the older mom, Bridget (the Celtic God of fertility) have died.  I swear not only was her prenatal care non-existent, but the puppies just seemed so small and not full term.  The one living puppy will have to be bottle fed and honestly, I will be surprised if it survives at all.

Pet your pups, cats, and frogs (or other furry, scaly, wet pets) and hug your kiddos.  Have a wonderful Saturday!

This has been the worst week of the entire year.  NOTHING has gone the way it should.  It is Wednesday.  I've been without a refrigerator since Monday.  The new one won't be here until Friday.  I can say I am a little excited about getting a new fridge, but not about paying for one.    We bought an LG since the warranty is 7 years.  The old fridge is a GE and I will NEVER purchase another GE appliance again.  The salesman swore it was the best and would last us 15 years without it needing anything.  We dumped almost $400 into the thing last year and it didn't last another year.  It didn't even make it 5 years without needing service.  So learn from my mistake, don't lose over $500 in food-don't buy GE!

The little people have driven me crazy.  Yes, I know last week was Spring Break and they were stuck inside most of the time.  Yes, I know TinkerBean was sick for all but 2 days of last week.  Yes, I know all this, but can they just cut me a little slack and either play solo for 30 mins or at least just stop beating each other.  Okay, let me rephrase that.  Can Little Man PLEASE stop being so mean to his sister.  If I have to put him in time out one more time this week he will have officially spent more time there than anywhere else including sleep.  It's only Wednesday-where is the weekend?!?

TinkerBean is having a hard time getting back in the school grove.  She's not sleeping enough at home or school and she's not listening.  I kind of hate Spring Break because it confuses her so.  I will be glad for next Monday to get the results of her testing she had a month ago.  We may get an actual final answer to the is it Austism, Aspergers, PPD-NOS, or just really severe SPD and anxiety.  At this point I can honestly say I have zero care if she's diagnosed with one or more things.  I just want to get her the help she needs so she can function normally as an older child, teen, and adult.  She tries to 'mainstream' and she's so sweet.  She knows I've had a BAD few days and she's spending her 30 mins of down time playing with my hair (she knows it relaxes me and I think it does her too).    What a sweet kiddo. 

Little Man turned 3 a few days ago.  Within hours of his actual time of birth he flipped the brat switch to overdrive and it has been stuck there ever since.  He constantly whines.  God give me strength!  I can say I love him more than humanly possible, I can also say Thank God he was second or he's be an only child, and I truly understand why gerbils eat their babies.  Also, I hate potty training and really need a day or 2 away.

Girl puppy is doing really well.  I'm hoping to wear Motorcycle Man down and keep her.  I know he's not ready for another dog (he really misses Hammy) but Nubz is TinkerBean and his dog and I need some canine companionship!

Girl Puppy

We pulled another dog (among many) today.  We committed to taking her last week, but couldn't get transport until this Friday.  She's a sweet 8-9 year old yellow girl that was surrendered to a high kill shelter by a woman who bred her twice a year for the last 8 years.  What a horrid life, I honestly think there is a special place for her when she dies.  Back to the point.  I got a phone call yesterday on the way to Home Depot and they tell me she had puppies the night of the nasty storm.  10 puppies!  There are now 9, but hopefully all will be well and she will be able to feed them.  She's a cutie, but way too old to be having pups.

New Momma + 9

I am (kind of) guessing they are pure, since she was from a breeder and they are all yellow, chocolate, and 1 black.













Sewing this week has been a major flop.  I think it has to do with my frustration and increasingly thinning patience.  I can't seem to figure out pattern instructions.  I hate bias tape.  Let me repeat that louder.  I HATE BIAS TAPE.  I also think patterns are over complicated.  I'm making a few things for the kids and either I am the dumbest human on earth or there is no reason for these things to be this hard.  I am hoping for sanity and clarity and a few uninterrupted hours to sew this weekend. 

I will have a fridge soon and I will finish a sewing project too!!

So you all know that our rescue group saved a mom and 6 pups from a high kill shelter a few weeks ago and mom (aka Ava) was very sick and had to have the puppies taken away to survive. 
I ended up bottle feeding a total of 4 puppies when they started keeping their foster parents up all night long.  Not really an issue, I never sleep anyway.
Last week my president called me and told me her girl puppy was not doing well.  I meet her at the emergency clinic.  They know us by name now, sadly we've been there way too much the past 2 weeks.  The large chunk of money we've spent has been well worth it.  Sadly her girl puppy had pneumonia.  This is what happens when pups are born in a shelter.  We had committed to getting her 5 days prior to them being born and they wouldn't let us get her until her gassing date.  It's disgusting.
We left girl puppy to get iv fluids, antibiotics, and oxygen.  She died a little before 1 am.  Poor baby.  My poor friend, I know she is so sad.  She was planning on keeping both of her puppies.  So her boy wouldn't be alone I gave her my original boy puppy since he was the best eater.  All of the puppies have upper respiratory infections and started antibiotics.  We thought we were in the clear.  My puppies went to a foster home for last weekend since Little Man's birthday party was happening and I didn't want to not give him or puppies the attention they deserved. 
I picked my pups of Monday evening and my boy was not well.  He wouldn't eat and was very sleepy.  His breathing was shallow.  I got him home and tried to get him to eat.  He died a little before 2 am.   The larger of my girl puppies started coughing and having a hard time the next morning.  She also wouldn't eat.  I took her to Dr. F and had her euthanized.  At least all the puppies didn't die in a nasty shelter all alone.  I feel horrid, but I can lay my head down at night knowing we did everything we could for them.  So now I have the tiny little runt, that I thought would be first to go.  Nature never fails to amaze me.  She's a fighter, a tiny fighter.  The other 2 boys are 4 times larger than her and eat like pigs.  I just hope and pray we are able to keep the rest alive.  I have hated lying to TinkerBean and Little Man about the puppies dieing, but after losing Hampton last year and Hope the year before I'm not having that conversation again until I HAVE TO.
On a bright note, Ava is doing wonderful and will be going to a foster home this weekend.

And that's a good thing.  Not much to report today.  I found a nursing mom that was ready to wean her pups, but they all got Parvo before I could get them out of the shelter.  It looks like we are in the bottle feeding puppy business for at least 5 more weeks.  I hope and pray that they all make it!


I did finish Part 1 of Hampton's story.  I promise I'll have Part 2 done soon.  Sadly, there's only 3 parts. 

Yay!  Tomorrow is Friday!

I'll be the first to admit that I tend to take on too much.  I *thought* we were on the road to recovery in the virus department here.  Nope, Motorcycle Man decided to add a big bad nasty one to the mix.  I think God my immune system is on overdrive, because so far so good.  Evidently, Motorcycle Man shared with Little Man who shared with TinkerBean who shared with her PreK class!  I got a phone call from school today at 11am that TinkerBean was revisting her breakfast.  I got to school to pick her up 20 minutes later and 2 other kids were joining in the vomiting fun.  Good times!  The funny thing is, TinkerBean has felt great, not sick and eating fine.  Of course, she can't go back to school until friday, that whole 24 hour rule and all.  This by itself, not that big of a deal.

So let's add in the fact I really planned on getting some major sewing done this week-not happening-very disappointed.

Let's add in Lucy is going to accept her check for $500 tomorrow at middle school and thank all the kids for raising the money.  Ok, it's really only 3 hours out of my day with driving and completely worth it.

Can't forget the 4 drs appointments for TinkerBean:  OT, Psychiatrist, Play Therapy, Austism/Asperger's Test results (before anyone gets excited, we don't expect any answers-just another step in her journey).  Ok, so not that big of difference from any other week.

You all know I do dog rescue work.  We take in dogs from shelters and they are usually sick, not at issue.  Oh wait here's my monkey wrench.  We took a sweet little black lab, currently named Momma, from a gassing shelter on friday.  They told us she's pregnant.  Ok, so we've heard that before and haven't seen any puppies.  Her puppy taxi arrives Tuesday and so it's Momma plus 6 puppies.  Meh, we were expecting puppies, but I hate they were born in a shelter.  So Momma gets to our vet late last night.  We're worried, but she's feeding them, looks good.  I get to the vet around 9am and she's ok, but looking kind of bad.  I won't bore you with the medical jargon and long list of how things went bad very fast, but Momma is setting her pretty self at the Emergency Hospital  with a diagnosis of pneumonia and a uterine infection both very N.A.S.T.Y. and I have puppies in my bathroom.  They are less than 72 hours and in all fairness I only have 2.  My lovely and wonderful President has 2 and a very maternal receptionist has 2.  Three day old puppies eat every 2 hours.  I thought I was over the middle of the night feedings but nope.  Wait, the story gets better.

Momma cannot nurse her puppies, the vet said if we let them and don't give her the medicine she needs that she would die.  So ok we bottle feed puppies-easier said than done.  So I search out another nursing mom in a shelter.  WooHoo, she's a yellow lab.  Oh hell, she has 9, let me say that again, NINE puppies.  So we pull her from the shelter and plan to get her to nurse our 6 puppies.  Fingers Crossed!!  However, that brings our grand total of dogs to over 30.  I pray to God, yellow momma will nurse our newborns!

So that's the kink in the plans.  To be honest the only reason I've written today is to help keep myself awake so I can go feed the puppies.  Kiddos LOVE the puppies and are so gentle, but add a good 20 mins to feeding time. 

15 puppies, I blame the time change.

I really want some quiet time to sew some things.  Between TinkerBean and Little Man both being sick and now sharing it with me I have really let my housework and craft time go.  Thank God, Little Man didn't have any more fever from Saturday to Monday.  He returned to school on Tuesday!  I found out that there was another little boy who was hospitalized for 5 days for the same thing Little Man had.  I am so relieved he didn't have to be.  We started giving him inhaler medication on Saturday and honestly, I think that's the only reason he wasn't.  Of course in great sibling fashion TinkerBean shared her stomach bug with him, but he hasn't vomited since 10 am so he is off to school tomorrow.

TinkerBean has had a rough week being off her meds (vomited them) and I am looking forward to her appointment tomorrow with her psychologist and psychiatrist.  They are a hubby/wife team and have helped us like no other doctor.  They've kept me out of the padded room!

I am in serious need of either a day to myself or a date with my hubby.  Sick kids for nearly 2 weeks and now I've got Little Man's funk.  I am one tired/stressed/need a break momma!  Is it sad that I am excited to go to Joann's Fabric tomorrow because I have over 15 40% off coupons?  If it is, I'm okay with it. 

I did get my sewing organized today, so I can get to my stuff and finish TinkerBean's pirate shirt.  I hope to finish it tomorrow so if I do, I'll add a pic here.

Little Man's 3rd birthday is so close.  I can't believe how fast he is growing!  It's at the end of Spring Break so I think we will just have a family party.  I'm sure almost all his school friends will be out of town.  I might invite his best friend, but since they share the same birthday we might just have to have a playdate. 

Speaking of playdates, TinkerBean had a playdate on Tuesday with a friend she meet a few years ago at Preschool.  Her friend is an Aspie and she amazed me at how well she's doing.  Her mom is the mom that helped me get TinkerBean started in the right direction.  They played together for nearly 20 mins which is a huge deal for a kid with severe SPD (and maybe autism) and an Aspie.  I'm very proud of TinkerBean, esp since she was off her meds.  We have another playdate scheduled in a couple weeks! 

Happy Hump Day!!

Sorry, but that’s only way I know how to title this post.  Minutes after posting yesterday TinkerBean proceeded to start vomiting.  If you know TinkerBean personally, she doesn’t do anything a little bit.  We’re talking, projectile, massive puke.  Thankfully, after the first round I was able to get her a bucket (aka baby wipe container).  Sadly, her lovey “Bucky” was not saved and ended up ruined since only the cover is washable.  Since the vomit continued until well past 3 am TinkerBean missed her first day of PreK.  I thought we were out of the woods until a few minutes ago when the puking commenced again.  Once again I am in for a joyous night, full of no sleep and fun fun fun!  For those of you that know me know I am a sympathetic vomiter.  Well this is one way to diet.

Little Man has continued getting sicker so we headed back to the Pedi this morning.  He has until Monday to get better or we head to Brenner’s Children’s Hospital for chest x-rays and possible hospitalization for pneumonia.  Pray for Little Man please. 

This has been a weird, strange, odd day.  TinkerBean got a credit card application in the mail today to “help build her business”.   I rarely say this, but WTF?  She’s 5!  So after a few calls to Chase we are hopeful they got her name from a magazine subscription, but I still will be going to our bank Monday to have her credit checked.  I know I could do it online, but that just seems to scream-hey steal my SS number!!


I promise to get a story on here soon, Hampton’s Story.  It’s a story of one’s dog’s life that was
longer than any of us could even guess.   Let me know what you think I am thinking of trying to contact a publisher for it.

Every since I started this blog I have been torn on what names to use for my kiddos.  I want a sense of anonymity but not lose their identity.  If you know me personally, you know that the title has meaning.  So I tried out Sissy and Big Sister and I honestly don’t like it.  Little Man is working out and he really is Little Man.  So from here on out my daughter will be TinkerBean.  She has a great love for the Fairy and she’s always been my little bean.
    

May tomorrow be I Love Lucy Day for you too!

So Little Man is sick and very unhappy.  When Little Man isn't happy no one is happy.  The pediatrician says it's just a nasty virus with an extra side of nasty.  He was grumpy last Friday and started with a fever Sunday morning.  Today his fever is 103.7 and he's starting to make the sound of riping Velcro when I set him down.  Needless to say he's not sleeping well so neither am I.  I'm sad he won't be able to go to school tomorrow since he'll miss his school pictures.  I just hope he's well enough for Church Sunday since it's Children's Church this week.

Big Sister has a boyfriend.  Is a 5 year old supposed to have boyfriends?  Young love is such a fickle thing, yesterday she had to make sure and give him a hug and kiss before leaving school and today she didn't tell him bye.  I sense tomorrow will be a turning point in their relationship!

Big Sister had her first homework assignment today!  I have to say I am relieved she had homework and I didn't.  The first week of February was my homework assignment; I had to write a story, letter, poem, etc. on why I love Big Sister.  She may only be 5 but it was really hard to condense all I wanted to say to one 8x11 sheet of paper. 

Boxer dog finally has sweet breath and clean teeth!  It's really a nicer thing to wake up to.  I am hoping to talk hubby into fostering a dog this weekend!  Fingers Crossed!!

The movie for tonight is "A Bug's Life".  This is because once again Little Man had an ant incident earlier today.  We spent quite a few minutes trying to 'pet' the ants and tell him how good they are and that they were just trying to find food.  That was a no go, so I've decided to go the cute and cuddly Disney route.  Only time will tell if the ant fear goes away.  As entertaining as it is to watch him dance around screaming "Ant, someone take care of it" I fear it will be a long summer if we don't get rid of this fear.

I find myself without patience tonight.  Part of it has to be lack of sleep and the fact no one has been outside to play in this weirdo wet weather.  I did spend 2 hours with a behaviorist talking about Sissy and filling out GARS and GARD to try and decide if she's on the Autism Spectrum.  It's such a wide spectrum and adding in her SPD and anxiety no one can decide if she's on the spectrum or has Asperger's.  I could care less about labels as long as we get her the therapy and plans she needs so she can catch up.  One thing the behaviorist told me today was he felt sure by the time she is 20 she'll be 'normal' and that's my main desire.  I want her to be happy and have the life she wants. 

Little Man is helping by jumping on absolutely everything in the house:  beds, couch, chair, kitchen table, dog crate.  You name it he's jumped on it tonight.  He is sweet and stops to give kisses every few minutes.  I am hoping for nice weather this weekend (and maybe the trampoline fairy to drop off this trampoline in my backyard).  I think the Easter Bunny needs to get this for the kiddos.  So Easter Bunny if you happen to be reading my blog....

The canine family member is recovering slowly from her much needed dental yesterday.  She might only be 2 years old, but she could have competed with a 10 yr old on the tarter-YUCK!  I think boxer's must take longer to recover or she's sensitive because she's been very unsteady still today.  At least her teeth are white and her breath is fresh!

 The hubby is going to a motorcycle show on Sunday so we'll be home alone.  I think we'll do some art projects and maybe make a fruit cobbler-YUM!

Have a Happy Weekend

My daughter is currently 5 years old. She was diagnosed with Sensory Perception Disorder around a year ago. The last 12 months have honestly been the most trying and difficult of my life. As I look back at them I wonder how I didn’t run screaming into a padded room. I am very thankful to the wonderful Occupational Therapist, Psychologist, Physical Therapist, and Psychiatrist that we've seen over the past year. Without them that padded room might have been my reality.

Two years ago I had never heard of SPD. Sissy started having trouble (delays and behavior) in her 2nd year of preschool. Her teachers wanted me to talk to another mom with an older child who had some of the same issues as her. That mom was a life saver for me. She gave me so much knowledge and information, without her I wouldn't have known what path to take and what questions to ask my pediatrician. Sadly, there is a child in Little Man's class that has the same issues. I hope I have been able to help her mom at least a fraction of the help I received.

I have to say I love my pediatrician. Sissy had lots of severe food allergies and she was wonderful helping manage her diet and getting an allergist to see an infant. However, like so many people when I told her of Sissy's issue she immediately jumped to Autism. There is so much we don't understand about Autism and Sissy may be on the Spectrum, but none of her doctors can say for sure. I asked for a referral to a Psychiatrist and found a wonderful practice whose first instinct was to treat Sissy and not what disorder they thought she had. For over 7 months we treated her holistically. She did improve greatly, but reached a plateau last July. We changed things and still Sissy's dad and I noticed her behavior getting worse and her motor skills revert. Last October we cautiously decided to try a drug that is used to help people with SPD. Sissy is on 1/2 the dose recommended for her size and is doing much better!

Prior to see her Psychologist and Psychiatrist she would not wear shoes. Sissy only wore satin type clothes and spent most of her time at home in underpants only. She would only eat 3 things: pasta, bread, and chips. She lost weight, was listless, had no energy, and was a horrid sleeper. Since October she has started eating almost everything we offer her, the textures are different and color doesn't matter. She still prefers salty foods over sweet, but has developed a taste for birthday cake! Sissy has gone from sleeping 5-6 hours a day to 11 hours plus a nap at school! I love to hear her laugh because it was a rare sound for a long while.

Raising a special needs child will never be an easy thing. I’ve determined God (whatever God you believe in) hand picks us as parents for these children that need more care, patience, and love. Not a day goes by that I don’t Thank God for blessing me with Sissy.

Yes, I know I 'started' this blog year or more ago and this is my first post.  What do you do?

Little Man's birthday is coming up!  I can't believe he's almost 3.  I feel like he's almost 5, his current favorite phrase is "Stupid head" and he uses way too much.  Time out isn't helping with this one :/

"Fixing" his bike with my kitchen utensils!

I never would have thought the extreme differences in boys and girls would start at such a young age.  I know he's growing up and acts much more mature than his age, but I can't stop myself from laughing at him sometimes.  My big, brave guy who karate chops the bad guys is scared to pieces of....wait for it....are you ready....ants.  Yep, tiny, little, regular ants.  There was an ant at the front door when I left to go get his big sister from school.  Daddy 'took care of the ant' (I swear I'm in a weird alternative reality mob) "Sopranos" style.  Four hours later Little Man is still talking about the ant and refusing to go near the front door!  Well, at least (I hope) I don't have to worry about him eating bugs.  Dirt yes, bugs no.  Till next time!

We are on week 3 of five day a week school for Big Sister and she is improving daily.  It's amazing how much better she's doing.