Happy? New Year!

Happy New Year!

OK.  Now that that is out of the way.  Am I the only one wondering why this New Year's seems so "positive?"  My Facebook feed is full of "looking forward to a great year" and "best year yet!"  I admit that I am a tad on the negative side today, but it just seems like the messages of "Thank God this year is over" just aren't there this year.  I dunno.  Maybe it's just me. I am also wondering about that whole Mayan Calendar thing, but I have bigger fish to fry.

Camp Asperger's or, as I like to think of it, my life has become more, well, animated as of late.  First, winter break is exactly the opposite.  Out of routine, no regular bedtime, along with lots and lots of sweets equals screaming, crying, fighting, and apologizing.  Unfortunately, that sums up my behavior as much as the kids'.  My hubby is still away at work.  He was supposed to be home for Thanksgiving, but then he was sent to another job in Alabama.  Now that job is almost a month over the finish date and I will be thankful if he is able to fly home sometime before the 5th of January.  So, no Dad at Christmas threw another monkey wrench into the mix.  That was sooooo not fun.  I really was never cut out to be a single mom.

Oh wait.  This is supposed to be a blog about living with Asperger's in the boonies, not my personal whining.  Sorry 'bout that. 

One of the behaviors that I mentioned above, the sticking fingers in the ears, is one of the most annoying we've ever seen.  He uses it to block out anyone and everyone speaking to him.  While he has his fingers in his ears he is usually saying, "Stop."  Sometimes, especially with me and his developmental therapist, he will add a "Shut up!" or two.

I'm sure that if you are a parent, you are thinking "WHAAAAAT!"  Trust me, the first few times he did that to me, I freaked.  Unfortunately, with this kid, freaking never works.  It might get me some short term victories, but it never works when it's an important life lesson.  As I type this, he just plugged his ears because his sister was trying to talk to him about Pringles.  Oi Vey.  I think we are going to have to learn to ignore this behavior to make it go away.  That isn't going to happen at school, so I foresee many phone calls and emails.

There are other behaviors, but almost too many to write about today.  I have a whole year for that, now don't I?  meh.

Life on Elk Meadows is {putting my fingers in my ears} Stop.  Shut up.

Some helpful links

Just thought I would share some helpful links.  :)

Holiday Tips for Helping Individuals with Autism

ChosenFamilies.org

Panhandle Autism Society

Northwest Autism Center



Someday I will post about poop.  Trust me, it will be RIVETING!

No. Seriously.  Poop is something that I never thought I would have to really worry about after my kids were out of pull-ups.  Instead it has become a total learning experience. 

I don't know all that I know about poop.

Life on Elk Meadows is never dull.

An unlikely obsession

Sorry I haven't been around for, oh, a year or so.  I've been in training, sort of. 

I have been learning about Asperger's Syndrome.  I've welcomed therapists into our home.  I've done my stint as the parent in the courtroom. (That is the parental curse coming to fruition.)  I've regained weight I have lost.  I've lost the self that I thought I had regained. 

Rather than sinking into a depression, I have had something of a rebirth.  Oh, I dipped my toe into the deep of depression.  Thankfully, I didn't dive in.  Instead, I seem to have found a new purpose.  I am seriously considering going back to college to become a psychologist.  I want to help other parents.  I want to reassure other parents with autistic kids that it's okay.  I want to be able to talk to other parents and share methodologies.  I want to be a shoulder to cry on or another parent to laugh with when your child does or says something totally off the wall.  I want to make a difference without burning bridges.  I want to help someone else not to always feel like it's us against the world.

One thing that has recently come up in our home is a pseudo-regression.  Items and activities that never were a huge issue have now become a huge issue.  For example, I've never had a real problem with my son getting dressed.  I have set out clothes in the past and he would put them on.  Last year, at the urging of a therapist, I stopped setting the clothes out and I made him pick his own.  My son did not put up too much of a fight.  He struggles with the comfort of his clothes, so some days were better than others, but he would still get dressed without incident.  Today, he refused to take off his pajama pants.  He wasn't in a particularly obstinate mood.  When he finally did get dressed, he didn't finish the job.  When that happens, I have to start reminding him that we are running out of time and that he needs to do as he is told NOW!  Subsequently, it is the younger kids that miss their bus, because it comes earlier than the older kids' bus.  I've had a lot of conversations about "natural consequences" with a close friend.  We both have children on the spectrum, but our children are very different.  Additionally, I get very defensive when she starts to discuss parenting practices because those conversations usually end an opinion that I have failed as a parent. 

I think there is a comfort level from our years of friendship that gives us both the freedom to speak frankly, but sometimes it just hurts.  I don't think she wants to hurt me, but I absolutely think she gauges her own parenting against mine and uses that as an ego boost.  Although we both have a child on the spectrum, our lives are very different.  I believe that it is comparing apples to skyscrapers.

It is for that reason that I want to help other parents.  So, I am going to run a parent-to-parent support group for parents with kids on the spectrum.  My counselor has offered me the use of her office and she will spread the news for me.  I am so very nervous and excited all at the same time. 

Today, Life on Elk Meadows is moving forward...

Podcasting

I have entered the world of podcasting. :)

You can listen to me here.

It's mostly me yammerin' on and on about the autism stuff. Hope you like it!

This is Halloween

This is my oldest. His name is Rodney. He has Asperger's Syndrome. He likes steampunk.

I were inspired to create this costume for him because of Jen's love of steampunk. Jen is the author of Cake Wrecks and Epbot; two of our very favorite blogs. There aren't enough words to express just how much her blogs have brightened my days. As evidenced by my last post, life around here has been rough. If you've never checked out her blogs, DO SO NOW! Anyway, I am posting this to show her. :) Dunno if she will see it. If not, that's okay. My son is happy and I am thankful.

For the record, he was asked multiple times what he was and if he was Willie Wonka. LOL! We kinda thought that the Willie Wonka explanation worked pretty well. ;)

Today, Life on Elk Meadows is thinking...hmmmm, Gene Wilder or Johnny Depp?

The hole in my bathroom wall

I kicked a hole in my bathroom wall this morning.

I didn't really mean to, but I did. Got mad and reacted. Plain and simple, huh?

Not really. Our oldest son is autistic. I have been in denial for a long time and I would be lying if I said I like to admit it. I am trying to help him, but I fail miserably. Every day.

So, this morning, after lunches were half-finished, the oldest is soaking his extremely infected toe, same child gagging while he tried to take his meds, same child having to completely change his clothes, same child not having a clue or a care where his homework is or if it is done, same child spending almost the entire morning telling me about The Legend of Zelda, AND the youngest not getting out of bed 30 minutes after I turned her light on, AND then the middle child asking me to come to school so he can read the poem he was supposed to bring home last night. If I say no, how can he not feel slighted when I am at school constantly for his big brother.

So, when the hairbrush flew out of my hand while I was trying to brush the youngest's hair, I kicked the bathroom wall.

Life on Elk Meadows has drywall repair in the near future...

Where've You Been?

I'm baaaack!

Sorry for the absence. Life is, well, life. I haven't had any life changing experiences or major issues. That's good, right?

Yeah. It is good, but it is also boooooorrrrring! Unfortunately, for all of us, I am not a creative writer and cannot regale you with witty repartee on any kind of basis, regular or otherwise. Sorry.

So, today I will leave you with one thought....

My kids' last day of school is Wednesday. I AM SO NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO SUMMER. Sad? Mean? Truthful. They constantly bicker and they drive me nuts.

There. I said it and I feel better. Thanks for that.

Life on Elk Meadows is enjoying these last few hours of peace and quiet.