My sister sent me this video and I thought you all might like to watch it. I remember when the original aired, and he received an ESPY award for most memorable moment. I tear up every time I watch it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fw1CcxCUgg
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Birthday Party
Colin and Morgan had their birthday party over this past weekend. I think they had a great time even though Colin was sick. Here are some pictures of the cake. Thanks to my brother who stayed up with me while I finished it up!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Colin and Morgan rocking it out!
Thought you might like this. Colin and Morgan playing rock band on our wii. There is no sound..and believe me you should thank me for that...but it is still really cute!
It has happened...again!
Well, I woke up this morning to a seranade of "Happy Birthday" from my husband and daughter. I can't believe that 28 is what my age is! I swear I just graduated high school. Geesh I am an old fart.
On a funnier side, my sister called me and was all excited that she is coming out tomorrow to see us and YES she did forget my birthday. Love ya Jess! Would much rather see ya and you forget my bday than you not come and remember!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Way to go Toys R Us!
Toys"R"Us, Inc. Expands its Support of Autism Speaks Babies"R"Us Stores Join Toys"R"Us in Sponsoring National Walk Program and In-Store Fundraising Campaign
WAYNE, NJ (February 5, 2009) - Toys"R"Us, Inc. and the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund today announced they have increased their support of Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to funding global biomedical research for autism and raising public awareness about the disorder and its effects on individuals, families and society. This year, the company's more than 260 Babies"R"Us locations nationwide will join Toys"R"Us stores in a nine-week in-store fundraising campaign to coincide with Autism Awareness Month in April. In 2008, Toys"R"Us stores raised $1.5 million to support crucial autism research and advocacy.For the third consecutive year, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employees nationwide will participate in the Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism program, a series of more than 75 fundraising walk events held in communities across the country. To kick off the 2009 partnership, including national sponsorship of the walk program, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund awarded Autism Speaks a $400,000 grant. Since the partnership began in 2007, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund, Toys"R"Us, Inc. and customer donations have combined to provide Autism Speaks with more than $3.7 million."As a company dedicated to children and families, we are proud to have both our Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores support Autism Speaks this year," said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys"R"Us, Inc. "With so many children affected by autism spectrum disorders and still very little known about any causes or cures, we are hopeful our fundraising and awareness campaign can contribute to solving the autism puzzle.""Our partnership with Toys"R"Us, Inc. continues to help raise both awareness for autism spectrum disorders and money for important research and advocacy, and we are thrilled to have Babies"R"Us stores participating in the campaign this year," said Mark Roithmayr, President of Autism Speaks. "Experts advocate screening for autism twice by the age of two, so we are grateful for the opportunity to reach parents of babies and toddlers and educate them on this new research. Early detection and intervention are key to a better quality of life for children with autism and their families."Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism Events Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us employees nationwide will participate in more than 75 fundraising walk events in cities coast-to-coast by forming walk teams in their local communities as part of the 2009 national sponsorship of this program. Beginning this month and continuing through November, this series of signature fundraising and awareness events is expected to attract thousands of participants and provide families, friends and professional caregivers an opportunity to contribute to, and show support for, the fight against autism. Last year, Autism Speaks raised more than $29.3 million through its Walk Now for Autism events. The complete schedule of Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism events can be found at www.walknowforautism.org.
WAYNE, NJ (February 5, 2009) - Toys"R"Us, Inc. and the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund today announced they have increased their support of Autism Speaks, an organization dedicated to funding global biomedical research for autism and raising public awareness about the disorder and its effects on individuals, families and society. This year, the company's more than 260 Babies"R"Us locations nationwide will join Toys"R"Us stores in a nine-week in-store fundraising campaign to coincide with Autism Awareness Month in April. In 2008, Toys"R"Us stores raised $1.5 million to support crucial autism research and advocacy.For the third consecutive year, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employees nationwide will participate in the Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism program, a series of more than 75 fundraising walk events held in communities across the country. To kick off the 2009 partnership, including national sponsorship of the walk program, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund awarded Autism Speaks a $400,000 grant. Since the partnership began in 2007, the Toys"R"Us Children's Fund, Toys"R"Us, Inc. and customer donations have combined to provide Autism Speaks with more than $3.7 million."As a company dedicated to children and families, we are proud to have both our Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores support Autism Speaks this year," said Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys"R"Us, Inc. "With so many children affected by autism spectrum disorders and still very little known about any causes or cures, we are hopeful our fundraising and awareness campaign can contribute to solving the autism puzzle.""Our partnership with Toys"R"Us, Inc. continues to help raise both awareness for autism spectrum disorders and money for important research and advocacy, and we are thrilled to have Babies"R"Us stores participating in the campaign this year," said Mark Roithmayr, President of Autism Speaks. "Experts advocate screening for autism twice by the age of two, so we are grateful for the opportunity to reach parents of babies and toddlers and educate them on this new research. Early detection and intervention are key to a better quality of life for children with autism and their families."Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism Events Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us employees nationwide will participate in more than 75 fundraising walk events in cities coast-to-coast by forming walk teams in their local communities as part of the 2009 national sponsorship of this program. Beginning this month and continuing through November, this series of signature fundraising and awareness events is expected to attract thousands of participants and provide families, friends and professional caregivers an opportunity to contribute to, and show support for, the fight against autism. Last year, Autism Speaks raised more than $29.3 million through its Walk Now for Autism events. The complete schedule of Autism Speaks Walk Now for Autism events can be found at www.walknowforautism.org.
Morgan turns 2!
Morgan turned the big 2 on Saturday! She was telling everyone "Happy Birthday"! It was so cute! She blew out her candle and played with her balloons. I think she realized that it was her special day when she got a present and Colin didn't. That made her whole day! Even though Colin played with the My little Pony's too! We are having their bday party when my whole family is out here on the 21st! We are so looking forward to that!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Strength and Striving
I know that I write about Autism a lot on here, but it is what we as a family live through everyday. I think that educating other people is a very important part of helping Colin get through this challenge. So bear with me as I vent and compare, just a little more.
My mom gave me the book "Louder than Words" by Jenny McCarthy when I was home for Christmas. She had read it and really wanted me to read it. I am just now getting the chance to read a few pages at a time and am really enjoying it.
Colin was diagnosed with severe autism in July, however I truly believe in my heart and my motherly instinct that it is closer to moderate. Evan suffers from the severe spectrum. The book starts out with her finding Evan seizing in his crib. The F word is used in about every other sentence, but being a parent that has found a child blue in their crib, I believe that she didn't use it enough! Anyways, Colin is so lucky that he doesn't suffer from the seizures that commonly come with autism, or the finger/arm flapping.
One thing that keeps me up at night is why I didn't see it sooner. She said she wondered the same thing. When I look back at when Colin was a baby, we thought it was cute that he stared at the ceiling fan for hours. I didn't realize that playing with the wheels on toys was inappropriate play. I didn't know that his aversion to certain clothing was because he literally hurt when it touched his skin. Makes you feel like a bad parent for not noticing, but I try to keep in mind that Colin was my first and autism even a few years ago wasn't hitting the news. Who knew?
As Colin got older his behavior took a major turn towards violent when Morgan was born. The worst being when he slapped me across the face in the middle of a restaurant. My sister and mom couldn't believe what they had just witnessed. I was shocked, hurt, and didn't understand why he was behaving this way. Little did I know, Colin was regressing majorly with his vocabulary and couldn't tell me that he wanted to sit down, or leave, or didn't want grilled cheese that day. It was his way of getting my attention. I had put it to the fact that I had brought another human being into his life and he wasn't going to get mommy and daddy 24 hours a day anymore.
I still have guilt, confusion, and wondering what I did when he was inutero. It doesn't really matter how many people tell you that it isn't your fault, as a mom, you feel it, you live it, and you watch as other people stare at your child and wonder what his problem is. That is hard. I think we are only at the beginning of this too. Colin doesn't realize yet that he is different. I still cry when I think about when he is older and the kids will make fun of him. Even if he wasn't autistic, kids are cruel and they will make fun of everyone.
But, Colin is resilent. He is a fighter. He is beyond smart. (He totally kicks butt in Rock Band by the way!) He knows his directions, how to spell his name, counting, letters, and is getting pretty good about sharing his toys when he is playing. I look at all the little things and cheer in my mind. Like when he looks at me, without prompting, and says "Mommy, I luv ou" That melts me. (Colin is in speech right now to help with obtaining a bigger vocabulary and properly pronunciation of words)
Colin has come so far and has major jumps and leaps to go, but we are right behind him all the way!
My mom gave me the book "Louder than Words" by Jenny McCarthy when I was home for Christmas. She had read it and really wanted me to read it. I am just now getting the chance to read a few pages at a time and am really enjoying it.
Colin was diagnosed with severe autism in July, however I truly believe in my heart and my motherly instinct that it is closer to moderate. Evan suffers from the severe spectrum. The book starts out with her finding Evan seizing in his crib. The F word is used in about every other sentence, but being a parent that has found a child blue in their crib, I believe that she didn't use it enough! Anyways, Colin is so lucky that he doesn't suffer from the seizures that commonly come with autism, or the finger/arm flapping.
One thing that keeps me up at night is why I didn't see it sooner. She said she wondered the same thing. When I look back at when Colin was a baby, we thought it was cute that he stared at the ceiling fan for hours. I didn't realize that playing with the wheels on toys was inappropriate play. I didn't know that his aversion to certain clothing was because he literally hurt when it touched his skin. Makes you feel like a bad parent for not noticing, but I try to keep in mind that Colin was my first and autism even a few years ago wasn't hitting the news. Who knew?
As Colin got older his behavior took a major turn towards violent when Morgan was born. The worst being when he slapped me across the face in the middle of a restaurant. My sister and mom couldn't believe what they had just witnessed. I was shocked, hurt, and didn't understand why he was behaving this way. Little did I know, Colin was regressing majorly with his vocabulary and couldn't tell me that he wanted to sit down, or leave, or didn't want grilled cheese that day. It was his way of getting my attention. I had put it to the fact that I had brought another human being into his life and he wasn't going to get mommy and daddy 24 hours a day anymore.
I still have guilt, confusion, and wondering what I did when he was inutero. It doesn't really matter how many people tell you that it isn't your fault, as a mom, you feel it, you live it, and you watch as other people stare at your child and wonder what his problem is. That is hard. I think we are only at the beginning of this too. Colin doesn't realize yet that he is different. I still cry when I think about when he is older and the kids will make fun of him. Even if he wasn't autistic, kids are cruel and they will make fun of everyone.
But, Colin is resilent. He is a fighter. He is beyond smart. (He totally kicks butt in Rock Band by the way!) He knows his directions, how to spell his name, counting, letters, and is getting pretty good about sharing his toys when he is playing. I look at all the little things and cheer in my mind. Like when he looks at me, without prompting, and says "Mommy, I luv ou" That melts me. (Colin is in speech right now to help with obtaining a bigger vocabulary and properly pronunciation of words)
Colin has come so far and has major jumps and leaps to go, but we are right behind him all the way!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
