These past few weeks have been more involved with Autism than I ever thought possible. All of which is in a very positive and wonderful way.
I attended my first Autism Society meeting February first and it was much more than what I was expecting. Everyone accepted me with open arms and was extremely gracious. I had lots of questions answered and even better more help/support was offered for my girls.It was very nice to mean other parents who have children with Autism better yet it was more wonderful to meet there children. One thing that was extremely positive for me was seeing seven year old twins boys with Autism and they seemed so "normal". I was not expecting that, it gave me a sense of peace knowing my girls would be "normal" as well. I know that sounds sill but you really have no idea what its like to see "normal" children unless you do not have them. In no way whats so ever do I think that I don not have the most wonderful normal girls, I mean normal comparatively. A lot of people were surprised that I had twin girls with Autism. This mainly because it is more affected with males than girls. I think its a blessing that I have my girls and that's the way God wanted it and that is the way it shall be and I mean that in the most positive and wonderful way possible!!
My girls are doing extremely well. They are continuing their therapy twice a week, speech and occupational. We also talked to the county schools this past week about the girls starting preschool this coming up May. I am a little leary about how many days to do but I am guessing I will figure that all out when the times comes. I know five days a week will be what is best for them, especially structurally, but we might start off with three to be safe. Last thing I want to do is overwhelm my girls but must keep structure in mind. Most children with Autism need structure. Plus this past week we where contacted by TEACCH. TEACCH is a program out of Chapel Hill, NC pertaining to children with Autism and will work with children and their families. The girls have there initial intake appointment this March, which we are very excited about. So thus far you can say everything is progressing very well.
I continued to read more and more books and that eventually drove me crazy. There are a lot of books on Autism, which is so wonderful but also very overwhelming. So I decided to take a break from Autism books for a while and get into books that will take my mind off of everything. My time to escape is very important not only to me but my family. Autism is a part of out lives but it does not need to be in my face constantly.
I am still so new to this so I am learning more and more each day. My goal is to keep all of out friends and family as updated as possible. Also please if you have any questions or concerns feel free to ask or tell me. I want everyone who want to know to please ask and I will be as honest with you as possible. I would not be putting this out there for the world if I was not going to be honest with myself and others.
I would like to say thank you you to all of my friends and family that have been so very supportive for me and my beautiful family. I am so very lucky to have you all and you have no idea how wonderful, beautiful and special you are to us all.
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
~George Bernard Shaw
Friday, February 25, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Fear in Words
The past two weeks have been the hardest time of my adult life as a parent. Learning your child has Autism is a very hard thing to hear but when you have two and they are both diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder your world crashes.
I think "what have I done, why do I deserve this, is God punishing me." If I pray hard enough will this all go away and be back to normal. But what is normal? This is normal. This had been been my normal, I just did not know. Plus would I want to change my two precious daughters for someone they are not. In no way possible. I love them for exactly who they are and would not change them in any way.
I know this is not the end of the world and could be so much worse but when you hear the word Autism it is like hearing the word Cancer. This is an incurable disease and will or can my child recover. Now I know this is not anything like Cancer it is just a heart wrenching word you can hear when your child is diagnosed with Autism.
Please bare with me if you can as i am bit all out of sorts. This is new and different and i do not like change or not being in control for than matter.For some reason I guess God felt that I needed to get over this and accept that I can not always have my way. He is right; he would not give me anything that I can not handle. This is what I am supposed to do. Still be a loving, caring mother of my most precious beautiful twin daughters who just happen to have Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Since this is all new to me and I do not know a lot about this I am going to try to find out everything I can about ASD. I am going to get as involved as I can, meet other parents, go to meeting and read as many books as i can possible.
So far I have read two books and am on my third. I highly recommend reading "Louder than Words" by Jenny McCarthy, "Facing Autism: Giving parents reasons for hope and guidance for help" by Lynn M. Hamilton. Now I am reading "The Horse Boy: A Father's Quest to heal his son" By Rupert Isaacson. To me this is how I cope. Sticking my head in books and being as aggressive as possible to learn as much as I can. To some this might seem odd because I am not grieving right now but I have to keep my head above water and that is how i am doing this; with books.
Please keep us in your prayers as i know there is no cure but there is always hope for getting better. This is a new journey for my perfect family of four and each day will be difficult, new and exciting. I leave you with this quote...
"To love is to risk not being loves in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing."
I think "what have I done, why do I deserve this, is God punishing me." If I pray hard enough will this all go away and be back to normal. But what is normal? This is normal. This had been been my normal, I just did not know. Plus would I want to change my two precious daughters for someone they are not. In no way possible. I love them for exactly who they are and would not change them in any way.
I know this is not the end of the world and could be so much worse but when you hear the word Autism it is like hearing the word Cancer. This is an incurable disease and will or can my child recover. Now I know this is not anything like Cancer it is just a heart wrenching word you can hear when your child is diagnosed with Autism.
Please bare with me if you can as i am bit all out of sorts. This is new and different and i do not like change or not being in control for than matter.For some reason I guess God felt that I needed to get over this and accept that I can not always have my way. He is right; he would not give me anything that I can not handle. This is what I am supposed to do. Still be a loving, caring mother of my most precious beautiful twin daughters who just happen to have Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Since this is all new to me and I do not know a lot about this I am going to try to find out everything I can about ASD. I am going to get as involved as I can, meet other parents, go to meeting and read as many books as i can possible.
So far I have read two books and am on my third. I highly recommend reading "Louder than Words" by Jenny McCarthy, "Facing Autism: Giving parents reasons for hope and guidance for help" by Lynn M. Hamilton. Now I am reading "The Horse Boy: A Father's Quest to heal his son" By Rupert Isaacson. To me this is how I cope. Sticking my head in books and being as aggressive as possible to learn as much as I can. To some this might seem odd because I am not grieving right now but I have to keep my head above water and that is how i am doing this; with books.
Please keep us in your prayers as i know there is no cure but there is always hope for getting better. This is a new journey for my perfect family of four and each day will be difficult, new and exciting. I leave you with this quote...
"To love is to risk not being loves in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing."
Monday, January 3, 2011
Christmas with two years olds
This year Christmas was much more different than last years. Children at two are much more different than at one, especially when it comes to opening presents. It was very interesting watching my girls try to open presents. It was actually very adorable seeing how excited they got and looked forward to each present. Granted they still needed help opening their gifts but they got the concept down really quickly. What woman does when it comes to opening gifts ;)
One thing that was very adorable was how each gift was so exciting and new but that the paper and boxes where still more interesting. Don't get me wrong my girls still played with all of there toys and tried on all their new outfits but in the end the boxes and paper still one. It is still so funny to me how boxes still win, even if they are diaper boxes.
Another thing I was really proud of was when they ate Christmas dinner with the family. They sat at the table, no booster seats just like an adult and ate there dinner with pride. Eating like big girls with there forks and spoons with there own plates and eating all the same foods as adults. For me this was so very exciting and I know how much my girls loved it too. You could see they stood a little bit taller for the rest of the day, this of course made mommy and daddy's day :)
It altogether was a very wonderful Christmas and much more exciting than the year before. I know next year will be just as or more than exciting and I look forward to many more wonderful Christmas's with two beautiful twin daughters.
One thing that was very adorable was how each gift was so exciting and new but that the paper and boxes where still more interesting. Don't get me wrong my girls still played with all of there toys and tried on all their new outfits but in the end the boxes and paper still one. It is still so funny to me how boxes still win, even if they are diaper boxes.
Another thing I was really proud of was when they ate Christmas dinner with the family. They sat at the table, no booster seats just like an adult and ate there dinner with pride. Eating like big girls with there forks and spoons with there own plates and eating all the same foods as adults. For me this was so very exciting and I know how much my girls loved it too. You could see they stood a little bit taller for the rest of the day, this of course made mommy and daddy's day :)
It altogether was a very wonderful Christmas and much more exciting than the year before. I know next year will be just as or more than exciting and I look forward to many more wonderful Christmas's with two beautiful twin daughters.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Vacationing with Twins
Vacationing with twins has its ups and downs, especially when it comes to packing. Automatically you have to pack two of everything but a lot of the time two turns into three and then four. Every parent knows that with kids and traveling you can not have enough food, clothes, diapers, toys and can not forget the kitchen sink ;) With twins of course its oh so much more, thank goodness my husband bought us an suv last year. I never knew how handy they where until our first trip with one, it was heaven!!!! The room was and is soooo wonderful. I am very thankful he bought the family the suv!!!
One thing I have learned is that you have to have a bit of humor when it comes to traveling with kids. One thing that is never fun is the pit stops to change diapers. I do not know about other parents but for this one it is like pulling teeth!!! My girls still think if they get their diaper changed somewhere else other than there room or a bed then it time for shots. I feel awful for this but not much I can do. I attempt and usually it ends up in a huge mess but at least they are fresh and I can relax, no diaper rashes Please and Thank You :)
Eating is a whole other world in itself. Of course they do not want to eat anything you want them to eat, so french fries usually wins. I am lucky that one of my girls will at least eat fruit, thank goodness!!! I like french fries just like the next person but we all know how that can throw a two year old's energy and moods out the window,especially if soda is involved as well. I do not mean sprite or ginger ale to me these are okay and reasonable, I mean the dark colored sodas like coke and pepsi. So this is a no fly zone for these unless of emergencies only :)
I know I could talk for days about this but this is just a couple things I needed to get off my chest. Thanks for reading and back to twinland I go.
One thing I have learned is that you have to have a bit of humor when it comes to traveling with kids. One thing that is never fun is the pit stops to change diapers. I do not know about other parents but for this one it is like pulling teeth!!! My girls still think if they get their diaper changed somewhere else other than there room or a bed then it time for shots. I feel awful for this but not much I can do. I attempt and usually it ends up in a huge mess but at least they are fresh and I can relax, no diaper rashes Please and Thank You :)
Eating is a whole other world in itself. Of course they do not want to eat anything you want them to eat, so french fries usually wins. I am lucky that one of my girls will at least eat fruit, thank goodness!!! I like french fries just like the next person but we all know how that can throw a two year old's energy and moods out the window,especially if soda is involved as well. I do not mean sprite or ginger ale to me these are okay and reasonable, I mean the dark colored sodas like coke and pepsi. So this is a no fly zone for these unless of emergencies only :)
I know I could talk for days about this but this is just a couple things I needed to get off my chest. Thanks for reading and back to twinland I go.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Age is among us....
I am turning this April coming up and it has been driving me crazy. I am doing everything i can think of to feel younger and really its not working. In reality its making me feel worse. I mean do i really want to be twenty one again, no thank you!!! It seams like all fun and games but I also remembering all the struggles, so thirty is starting to be welcomed in my house. Key word is "started." I did not think I would have a hard time but obviously I am. It seems like the end of the world but in reality I think its going to be a great beginning. I can close the chapter of my twenties with great fun filled memories and start my thirties looking forward to the new ones I will be making, that is what I am aiming for :)
Simple but short......
Simple but short......
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Funday Sunday
I love Sundays!! Sundays in this house are the best day of the week. The parents are able to sleep in, because for some reason the girls do too :) I make cinnamon rolls almost every Sunday but most definatly a great breakfast will be supplied. We lounge around watching tv and/or movies, play outside with the girls, visit with family and sometimes lucky enough to just do nothing ;). It's the one day I really let the girls do whatever they want, well for two two year olds. For anyone who has children understands how big a deal this is, especially for them. Through it all though it's all together a fantastic wonderful day.
For me that is fun and all but most importantly it's the fact that we do this all as a family. My family is the upmost importance to me and I feel I will do whatever it takes to keep us as a whole. I know at times this is very difficult but if I keep my eye on the prize it will always be worth it. I am sure and I know I am not the only mother and/or parent who feels as I do.
I was very fortunate growing up to have a very loving, caring, close knit family. I hope and I will try to give this to my girls.I have so many wonderful memories of my family every Sunday and all the fun activities we did. That is why for me Sundays are so important, at least in this family. To most it's just another day in the week but me and my family it's always a Funday Sunday.
For me that is fun and all but most importantly it's the fact that we do this all as a family. My family is the upmost importance to me and I feel I will do whatever it takes to keep us as a whole. I know at times this is very difficult but if I keep my eye on the prize it will always be worth it. I am sure and I know I am not the only mother and/or parent who feels as I do.
I was very fortunate growing up to have a very loving, caring, close knit family. I hope and I will try to give this to my girls.I have so many wonderful memories of my family every Sunday and all the fun activities we did. That is why for me Sundays are so important, at least in this family. To most it's just another day in the week but me and my family it's always a Funday Sunday.
Friday, October 22, 2010
1st Blogg
This is my first blog ever. It was my brothers idea so that i can get some thoughts on "pen & paper."
I am a stay at home mom of identical twin girls. I know I am very lucky to be able to stay home with my kids but sometimes i think i am going crazy!!!! I have been home for over two years now and it has been a great two years. There has been times I want to pull my hair out but what parent does not feel that way at times.
I have the perfect husband and i know you are all thinking "yeah right" but I do!!!! He is the best man in the world!!! He is my knight my savor and i know how fortunate I am to have him. He is the best!!!
Only thing is that i still feel like something is missing..... and then one day I woke up and realized i knew what it was I am lonely. I talk to two two year olds all day, my husband threw out the day when I can and I will talk to anyone that will listen. I am becoming that lady in Wal-Mart who talks to everyone!!!!
I am hoping this blog will save what little brain activity as an adult i have left. This is my place to talk even if no one is listening. This is my Twintastic Madness :)
I am a stay at home mom of identical twin girls. I know I am very lucky to be able to stay home with my kids but sometimes i think i am going crazy!!!! I have been home for over two years now and it has been a great two years. There has been times I want to pull my hair out but what parent does not feel that way at times.
I have the perfect husband and i know you are all thinking "yeah right" but I do!!!! He is the best man in the world!!! He is my knight my savor and i know how fortunate I am to have him. He is the best!!!
Only thing is that i still feel like something is missing..... and then one day I woke up and realized i knew what it was I am lonely. I talk to two two year olds all day, my husband threw out the day when I can and I will talk to anyone that will listen. I am becoming that lady in Wal-Mart who talks to everyone!!!!
I am hoping this blog will save what little brain activity as an adult i have left. This is my place to talk even if no one is listening. This is my Twintastic Madness :)
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