Hair cuts and happiness

All week I have been preparing Colin for another hair cut. Todd and I totally dread these days, but unfortuantely, Colin takes after his Daddy and his hair grows incredibly fast. Today was the day to take him in. I didn't say anything to him this morning and got both the kids ready to go. Once we were in the car, I let him know what we were doing and promised him chicken nuggets, fries, and pop if he did a good job. Todd and I talked about how much we hated this time and wished it was all ready over. I volunteered to hold him down and fight with him every time the clippers or scisscors came near him. I checked us in, sat down and Todd and I joked over which hair stylist was about to have a really bad day. Colin's name was called and sure enough, the tears and whining started. I did my usual reassuring and telling him what a good boy he was. I let the stylist know he was autistic and that hair cuts are his worst nightmare. She smiled and said, "No Problem, we will do what we can." That was all I could ask for. Then for the first time ever, Colin stopped crying and just sat there. I was literally speechless. He was watching Curious George on T.V. and occasionally dodging his head when she came too close to his ears. After 5 minutes he began getting a little anxious and wanted to be all done. I held his hand and the stylist finished up. He did great!!!!! I couldn't believe it. I remember looking over at Todd at one point and his jaw was about to hit the floor because he couldn't believe Colin wasn't screaming. Now, there were a few tears and the occasional head movement, but man have we come so far!!!!

When we started Colin in his 40 hours a week of ABA therapy, I had two main goals in mind. Potty training and being able to sit through a hair cut! Well, they have met and exceeded all of my expectations! Colin continues to amaze me every day with the amount of knowledge he has, and today was no exception!

It has FINALLY happened!

Well Folks, it has finally happened! As every parent of a little girl wants to do from the moment they even find out they have a little girl is put their hair in pig tails! I am proud to say that when Morgan was born, she was bald as a cue ball! My hopes and dreams were immediately dashed! Corn syrup and bows were what we did, just so people would know she was a girl. Today, I told her I was doing her hair. The look of confusion, curiousness, and utter horror crossed her face in an instant. I went and got the brush, hair ties, and a mirror so she could watch and went to work. In less than 2 minutes, I had accomplished what I have been waiting for for over 2 years now..the little girl has pig tails! She said they are "pretty". I can move on now to making sure she doesn't date until she is 30!

Annual Apartment Easter Egg Hunt

Well, the Easter Bunny has managed to hide the eggs all over our apartment today. I do believe the kids had a wonderful time looking for eggs. When I told Colin yesterday that the Easter Bunny was coming to leave presents and eggs he looked at me, slightly confused, and said "umm....Santa?" How cute is that? Morgan had a blast running after the eggs before Colin could get to them.Here are some pictures and video of them this morning.

Bragging...just a little

As a mom you have the right to brag about your children. There is some unwritten rule that makes people that are around have to endure all of the information that you say about your kids..so here it is, I am going to brag...just a little.

Colin

Can now zip up his jacket with no help - super cool by the way!
Write his name - made me cry
Tell you what emotions you are acting out
Makes his own mac and cheese in the microwave - of course with adult supervison



Morgan

Says the whole alphabet
Can count to 15 - how cool is that!?
Can say Colin



Mommy
Can still get dressed by herself
Manages to still go to school and work everyday
Hasn't had a nervous breakdown..quite yet!

Daddy

Still has a job -thank God!
Still has the car working - how I don't know!
Is ready for a vacation!


What can I say? I am a proud Mom!

Welcome to Holland

April is Autism Awarness Month. I thought this would be a fitting article to have on my blog. This is a beautiful poem that was read in our parent orientation meeting for Autism. I sat and cried through the whole thing. No parent wants to hear the words "There is something wrong with your child", but this puts a new perspective on things. It really holds true!

Enjoy and grab a kleenex!

"Welcome to Holland"
By Emily Perl Kingsley, 1987. All rights reserved.

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Good News on the Home Front!

I have finally gotten around to doing some major research into where we are going to put Colin when we return to Ohio. Unfortunatley, Ohio is behind the times compared to Minnesota when it comes to Autism. They do have a bill in the House right now making health insurance companies pay for autistic services and therapies. I just hope to God it passes!

I did find a school for him and have set up an appointment to go and tour the facility. To put him full time M-F 8-3pm it is $40,000 a year. Now, Ohio does offer an Autism Scholarship that will cover $20,000. But that leaves Todd and I to come up with the other $20,000. Since that is practically what I make in a year, I am going to have to work two jobs just to pay for it. It breaks down to $2000 a month. INSANE! I told myself that is only for a year before he goes to preschool. We can do this!

Now I just have to find a daycare for Morgan that won't break the bank too much!

What we do for our kids! :-)