tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43544940103127144502024-03-14T01:54:03.030-07:00PITAUPPITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-58009633203878964402015-10-02T21:08:00.002-07:002015-10-03T19:32:52.090-07:00Reflections on SB277 Referendum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
To all the SB277 Referendum Warriors in the State of California,<br />
<br />
I thought we all might need a little pick me up while we all wait anxiously for answers.<br />
<br />
When there are big moments in my journey to awaken the world about vaccines risks I have found theme songs that represent my feelings at the time. I thought I would share my new theme song since the referendum started.<br />
<br />
"Like a small boat on the ocean<br />
Sending big waves into motion"<br />
<br />
We are that small boat and we are not going away.<br />
<br />
Before Autism and vaccine damaged I lived the perfect "soccer (but insert football) mom" life. After vaccine damage we pretty much have lost all our mainstream friends and have lived in the world of autism. This fight has renewed my faith in society. This fight has brought me back into the real world, where you talk about things other then autism. <br />
<br />
This song is dedicated to each of you who worked hard and are helping me because this is my<br />
<br />
"Take back my life song<br />
Prove I'm alright song"<br />
<br />
I think we can all relate to this portion of the song also.<br />
<br />
"And I don't really care if nobody else believes<br />
Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me<br />
Losing friends and I'm chasing sleep<br />
Everybody's worried about me<br />
In too deep<br />
Say I'm in too deep<br />
And it's been two years<br />
I miss my home<br />
But there's a fire burning in my bones"<br />
<br />
Thank each and everyone of you for helping me in this journey, not just back into society but in learning so much about myself!<br />
<br />
Thank you especially to the San Diego team who kicked ass!!!<br />
<br />
We will forever be bonded.<br />
<br />
#NotGoingAway<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc" target="_blank">This Is My Fight Song</a>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-8861041024198158582015-09-06T12:10:00.000-07:002015-09-06T12:10:03.073-07:00SB277 Referendum should you sign, should you not, should you give up your medical rights? Let's talk!<div class="MsoNormal">
I think it is important to remember this is an ALL or
nothing bill. If you are missing one
vaccine your child can not go to school.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Many children who will be denied an education that is
guaranteed under the California State Constitution are missing something as
simple as the Hep B vaccine at birth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just that missing 1 vaccine means no school.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This also labels families who do not "vaccinate"
under this law, "anti-vaxx" !<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most of the people working on the SB277 Referendum and have
been many times to Sacramento on this issue are not anti vaccines. We HATE BEING LABELED THAT! We are pro choice! We think medicine should be between a doctor
and a patient. NOT BETWEEN YOUR GOVERNMENT AND YOUR
DOCTOR!!! Your doctor should be able to
make your medical decisions on your family history and medical history, and include medical labs!! <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The California Medical Association (http://www.cmanet.org/)
has also recentlysent out a message to their members saying, “This is an attack
not only on Dr. Pan, but on the professional integrity of physicians across the
state.”<br />
<br />
I would argue as a patient that bills like SB277, SB792, Ab1117, and HR2232 do
the opposite. They TAKE AWAY THE “professional
integrity of physicians”! <br />
<br />
These bills take away your doctor’s ability to make decisions based on your
medical history! They make them forced
to explain THEIR MEDICAL DECISIONS IF IT CROSSES A STATE MEDICAL MANDATE!!<br />
<br />
I am not asking you to agree or disagree with SB277, I am asking you to please
give us another year for you and the rest of the public to research this bill
and all the others I have mentioned!!
Please consider signing the SB277 Referendum and donating to <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/SB277Referendum">http://www.gofundme.com/SB277Referendum</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are worried about these diseases, you might want to
also research vaccine shedding!!<br />
<br />
You might also want to stay away from recently vaccinated people. <br />
<br />
Or as we call them babies, kindergartners, 7th grade students, and soon all
daycare workers and volunteers.<br />
<br />
Senator Pan denied that vaccines shed in many hearings this last spring! <br />
<br />Here is ANOTHER mainstream article that say that vaccines SHED! (You can find many mainstream articles and even on the CDC.gov site that vacines shed)<br /><br />http://www.nbcnews.com/id/32418446/ns/health-infectious_diseases<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You have nothing to fear from healthy children that are
partially vaccinated or not vaccinated.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Most children with Personal Exemptions (about 2%) fall in the
"partially" vaccinated category and would be denied an education that
is guaranteed by our California State Constitution!!!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Please if you have any little nagging thoughts on SB277,
sign the referendum and give your self a year to educate yourself on this
subject!! This just puts the subject on the ballot! It does not mean the decisions is decided one way or the other! It just lets the PEOPLE VOTE ON IT!!
<br />
Need more information, please ask we have just a few weeks to get this on the
ballot and let the people vote!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-61177709446407184182015-07-29T09:13:00.000-07:002015-07-29T09:13:26.385-07:00Politics and SB277<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am glad I do not watch daytime tv on time. Caught the beginning of yesterday's <a href="http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/celebs/19592_president_bill_clinton_cooks_game_day_chili_with_rach/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3b5998;"><span style="cursor: pointer;">The Rachael Ray Show</span></span> and they had <span style="color: #3b5998;"><span style="cursor: pointer;">President Bill Clinton</span></span></a> on. It makes me happy and sad all at the same time. I miss my 20's where I trusted my government and I was out campaigning, making calls, and volunteering for his campaign even though I had two small children.</div>
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Today at 2 am in the morning, I sit here fighting my government for what I bottom line believe are my constitutional rights to chose medical care for my children. This is not a pro/anti vax stance, this is that big companies should not be able to tell my doctor or me how or what medical care I should do. My medical decisions for my family of complex medical issues: Heart Disease, Cancer, Autism, Mitochondrial, Auto-immune, MTHFR, Strep, and more then I care to think about should NOT BE DECIDED BY A DOCTOR IN SACRAMENTO WHO HAS NEVER MET ME OR MY FAMILY (despite my 6 trips to Sacramento).</div>
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Medical decisions should be made between a patient and a doctor, based on family history and medical tests. (End of subject))</div>
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I am sad that I will NOT VOTE FOR HILLARY. I am sad that the party I fought so hard for years no longer values that I can make medical decisions for my children. I am sad that they value a corporations donations and money more then the people that elect them.</div>
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No matter where you stand on the referendum, I hope you know that we stepped into this to protect your medical rights. We also hope that all our elected officials remember one important thing, you piss off enough people and you can lose your job.<br /><br />If you would like more information on the referendum you can read more about it here or sign up the cause at http://sb277referendum.com/</div>
PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-29595187080700948192015-06-08T09:22:00.000-07:002015-06-08T09:34:36.669-07:00What is the bigger threat to the Greater Good? Who is the Greater Good?<br />
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This last week while many of us started our 1st week of summer, or finished up finals, or went to a graduation party (including me)...</div>
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7 children with Autism DIED FROM WANDERING! The stats say 1 in 68 children have autism (the reality is that is of children 12 and older)!!!<br />
<br />
http://www.ageofautism.com/2015/06/autism-epidemic-is-killing-children-where-are-the-politicians-now.html<br />
<br />
Zero died from the measles or was reported to the news for any other disease we vaccinate for. Yet our government thinks we need to mandate everyone be vaccinate?<br />
<br /></div>
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Where are the mandates to find the cause of autism? Where are the mandates to keep my kid safe?</div>
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Yeah still waiting, hear the crickets chirping? Me too!!!<br />
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Well I don;t have time to wait for my elected officials to help with wandering, so I am here to tell you how you can help!!!</div>
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Like the <a class="profileLink" data-gt="{"entity_id":"195741860438502","entity_path":"\/profile_book.php"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=195741860438502" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Missing-Persons-with-Autism/195741860438502" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Missing Persons with Autism</a> page so we can make sure all missing children like mine are found ASAP!!!!</div>
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Help fund the <a class="profileLink" data-gt="{"entity_id":"299524134282","entity_path":"\/profile_book.php"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=299524134282" href="https://www.facebook.com/NationalAutism" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">National Autism Association</a>'s wandering program after you read about how they help.</div>
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<a href="http://www.autismsafety.org/wandering.php" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.autismsafety.org/wandering.php</a></div>
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Call your state and US elected officials and ask why protecting <a class="profileLink" data-gt="{"entity_id":"145865008809119","entity_path":"\/profile_book.php"}" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=145865008809119" href="https://www.facebook.com/greatergoodmovie" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">The Greater Good</a> only pertains to vaccines and not to a child with autism that wanders. The number of cases of autism diagnosed last year far out way the number of cases of measles.</div>
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The deaths for wandering and autism THIS WEEK far out ways the deaths from measles since 2005!!!!!!</div>
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Autism THIS WEEK 7 deaths, measles the last 10 YEARS??? ZERO, NONE, NADA, ZILCH, I am sure I missed some other word, but it still equals NONE!!!!</div>
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<a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/noonsb277?source=feed_text&story_id=10206872318666399" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">NoOnSB277</span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/mykidmatters?source=feed_text&story_id=10206872318666399" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">MyKidMatters</span></a><br />
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Now go PITAUP and change the world!!!</div>
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PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-91090511329712535152015-05-15T05:58:00.003-07:002015-05-15T05:58:41.623-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />I have no idea what the action plan is today for <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sb277?source=feed_text&story_id=10206668562732628" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">SB277</span></a>, but I can tell you one thing, moving is not it!!!! There was just a federal bill introduced that is very similar to SB277!!<br /></div>
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If your end plan is to move out of the country, then great, get packing.<br /></div>
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If your plan is to move out of state you are SOL (yes that does mean "shit out of luck") since there is now federal legislation being introduced!!! Now is not the time to pack your bags, now is the time to find your v<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">oice, speak up and fight.<br /></span></div>
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This is no longer "IF" it happens, it is "when" it happens, if you sit on the side line and do nothing.</div>
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Yes that is meant to SCARE THE HELL OUT OF YOU...<br /></div>
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IT IS MEANT TO GET YOU TO SPEAK UP AND STAND OUT!!!<br /></div>
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This fight is far from over!!!<br /></div>
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UNLESS WE ARE SILENT!!!<br /></div>
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This bill passed the CA Senate, it IS NOT LAW YET!!! We need to keep explaining what people can do right now in CA fight SB277! AGAIN this is not just coming to CA it is coming to every state in the union!!!!<br /></div>
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In California DO THE ACTION PLAN THAT IS PUT OUT DAILY!!!!<br /></div>
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Find your CA State Assembly Person and politely tell them your position on SB277, SB792 and any other mandatory vaccine bill that may be proposed.<br /><br /><a href="http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fassembly.ca.gov%2F&h=sAQGNatL8&enc=AZMF-dnagVdKmJe3W9n8trT5Kn33Mv46sNYyRqDKBs6BCzUZwiUZmQHe82buOcRKt_rdhbZVete5mhY_9hnjI65xQ-JzowUxDIYUYMQCt9G_e0pBnvpZqm-r40SgkiTWiW2dhTXRFbDxP7SqmNeI9R3R9haothYt3zvHRD-M5KjwiuX2-myrXcsXBapDlWX-dJ8&s=1" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://assembly.ca.gov/</a>|<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Not in California?<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Contact your US Senator and House of Representative and oppose the national bill.</div>
</div>
PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-18742803683392236092014-08-05T18:40:00.001-07:002014-08-05T19:37:12.660-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ34XobVaYAyNHNqCAdW1DF7NWF1h5eFtaQ8VWbbXrR5MTQAhB3HkYOdwiiz34MViEq2ryEiQTD4wz9FPbohfudwzfWx29UY_s86j6n14JaCPxAzplQ_iZFo7dx1um_1h_-W-AmjXpLM/s1600/970191_1444503359127161_8851474430404408210_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBQ34XobVaYAyNHNqCAdW1DF7NWF1h5eFtaQ8VWbbXrR5MTQAhB3HkYOdwiiz34MViEq2ryEiQTD4wz9FPbohfudwzfWx29UY_s86j6n14JaCPxAzplQ_iZFo7dx1um_1h_-W-AmjXpLM/s1600/970191_1444503359127161_8851474430404408210_n.jpg" /></a></div>
An Open Letter to Chili's Bar and Grill Corporate!!<br />
<br />
Hey <a href="http://www.chilis.com/EN/Pages/home.aspx" target="_blank">Chili's Grill & Bar</a> and <a href="http://www.chilis.com/EN/Pages/LocationLanding.aspx?RestaurantId=001.005.0784&Tab=0&OnlineEnabled=True&DeliveryEnabled=True&Country=US" target="_blank">Chili's Grill & Bar (Vista)</a> just wanted to let you know how much the competition <a href="https://www.tgifridays.com/" target="_blank">TGI Friday</a>s, the new<a href="http://www.buffalowildwings.com/?gclid=CjwKEAjwgYKfBRDvgJeylem9xDUSJACjeQ7AErSy0u1qa-ce8cGHmrizokuLHG2CaNkyejT8gOf2URoCCb7w_wcB" target="_blank"> Buffalo Wild Wings Oceanside</a>, and a bunch of local places appreciates you taking back the <a href="http://awaare.nationalautismassociation.org/" target="_blank">National Autism Association fundraiser to prevent wandering for children with autism</a>. Our Friday nights (party of 4 -10) visits and 20-30 people visits (family/company in from out of town/Family Birthday parties/fundraisers) are increasing their bottom lines.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red;"><b>Being a parent of child with autism who is almost 13 </b></span><b style="color: red;">(and wanders)</b><b><span style="color: red;">, in my 10.5 years of living this world, this life, I have seen and read almost every story I see about kids with autism who wander. I also help run a Facebook page dedicated to this subject and finding our kids safely. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: red;">According to the NAA's stats 50% OF KIDS WITH AUTISM WANDER! In my opinion 1 to 2 of those die a month from WANDERING. They die from drowning, they die from getting hit by a car, they die from the extreme tempatures of seasons. </span></b><br />
<b><br /><span style="color: red;">THEY DIE!! (And they say autism is not deadly, I am calling... on this)</span><br /><br />Also if you just think it is the kid, like mine who doesn't talk and can't ask for help that wanders, YOU'D be wrong. It is 50% of all of our kids.<!--50--></b><br />
<br />
Tomorrow it will be <b><span style="background-color: yellow; color: red;">4 months</span></b> since you did the unthinkable and changed your mind. I wonder how many children with autism have wandered and died? I wonder how many of them could have been saved if you had kept your word? <br />
<br />
<b>I will always wonder!!</b><br />
<br />
At least one local child in my circle of friends and my city wandered and was gone for 1.5 hours. Thanks to the NAA wandering program and our local <a href="http://www.sdsheriff.net/co_tmh.html" target="_blank">Take Me Home Program</a> there were 7 Oceanside Police Officers (heroes) at their house in minutes and they took the threat seriously. Thankfully he lived!!!<br />
<br />
No thanks to you! Thanks to families of kids with Autism and families like mine who take the time to educate our local law enforcement!!!<br />
<br />
You're upper management is the opposite of hero you are WEAK and caved when our community needed you.<br />
<br />
Happy 4 month anniversary (tomorrow August 6, 2014) of not having my money or that of most of my community. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">I pray that no one in that upper management team that made this decisions has a kid with autism or a grandkid with autism, because you all will CRACK under the pressure and our kids deserve better then YOU!!</span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></b>
Now all I am left with is bad memories of how much we have spent with your company over the years, <b>YES I AM BITTER!!!</b> Happy to give money to companies who stand by their promises.<br />
<br />
Honestly, in my mind, there is only one company that you out rank in diservices to families like mine and that is Autism Speaks (yeah I don't believe they are a charity, I have read their tax returns)!<br />
<br />
PEACE Out (OFF)! I'm still taking my business else where.<br />
<br />
NO LOVE HERE,<br />
<br />
Shannon Primer<br />
Mom to Austin Primer, age 13 on September 1st, 2014, who wanders!!!<br />
<br />
PS Autism parents are like elephants we never forget, figure out how to fix this problem with our community!!<br />
<br />
P.S.S. Since 4/6/14 when you canceled the funraiser that was supposed to happen the <b>NEXT DAY</b>, our family has had 17 Friday nights and at least 5 birthdays/family gatherings.<br />
<br />
Copyright Shannon Primer and PitaUp.comPITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-82732705726114266782014-07-27T11:51:00.001-07:002014-07-27T11:52:00.663-07:00Don't "Ass"ume!!<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">This<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/2014/07/26/73e3cb4c-1414-11e4-9285-4243a40ddc97_story.html" target="_blank"> Washington Post</a> story stirs up so many emotions in me.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">This is the reality of many families with non verbal, not potty trained children. I have no idea if this is abuse or just trying to maintain their safety. I tend to lean towards the later, because we live in a house with locks. Austin is</span></span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"> never locked in a room alone, but our house even on good days is locked when we go to bed. If we feel Austin is an extreme safety risk, one of us will instead of locking him in alone, sleep in his room with him. When he was at his extreme, we locked ourselves and him in his room.<br /><br />We have also over the last almost 13 years dealt with pee and poop accidents. Our carpet is never going to be as clean as I would like it to be. If we didn't rent, I would never ever have carpet for this reason.<br /><br />When you read this story, know that there are two sides of every story and do not assume. Most parents do not have the resources, the options, or the help that our family has had because of having older children and amazing siblings and parents to help us. We also live in SoCal which has given us many more resources then the rest of the country has!<br /><br />If I did not have <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1569531699" href="https://www.facebook.com/edprimer" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Ed</a> and the older children, <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=540188924" href="https://www.facebook.com/ashley.primer" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Ashley</a> and <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100000165476034" href="https://www.facebook.com/nick.primer.7" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Nick</a>, to help back at the beginning 10.5 years ago could we have been this family?<br /><br />YES!!<br /><br />As I sit in Austin's room right now, I still think how much cleaner it could be and how the fact that his mattress is on the floor and that could be misinterpreted.<br /><br />Honestly, as a renter, a mattress on a floor leaves less damage to the carpet below, and as a parent who owns her own carpet cleaner, once less area to clean. It also leaves one less chance for Austin to fall out a window. Yes parents like me think like that. We do not put anything near a window that can be pushed out.<br /><br />Autism is a very complicated thing and it is a very individual thing.<br /><br />When you meet one person with autism, YOU HAVE MET ONE PERSON WITH AUTISM!<br /><br />It is not one size fits all, it is not all parents are the same, its sometimes all for fighting for your kid, while trying to make sure we leave it better for the next kid/family!!</span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-35089038942533538952014-05-06T22:09:00.001-07:002014-05-06T22:20:53.012-07:00Change is Happening!<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">Did you know that you can change your password on your i(device) to be a word?</span><br style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;" /><br style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;" /><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">We did it in Austin's to make spelling his name meaningful to type. </span><br style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;" /><br style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;" /><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">The 1st week he has asked for help and we had to keep reminding him to look at the keyboard. I think he's lost </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">patience</span><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;"> and now wants to learn because he maintained contact the entire time we just did it. </span></span><br style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;" /><br style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;" /><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">Also wrote a goal for the new IEP for him to sign into Gen Ed (non verbal and in 5th grade and yes in Gen Ed to work on social skills), library, computer lab, etc to make wriitng his name meaningful!</span><br style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;" /><br style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;" /><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">He definitely does better when things are meaningful.</span><br /><br /><a aria-haspopup="true" aria-owns="js_6" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100002308800551" href="https://www.facebook.com/austin.primer" id="js_7" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">Austin</a><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">'s also learning not to set his iPad down because I turn it off, because then he has to ask on his talking device for help and practice typing his name/password. (One way to problem solve, some what amused on my part)!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">Sorry little buddy, your siblings, </span></span>Ashley<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">, </span></span>Nick<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;"> and </span></span>Emily<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">, should have given you the memo that you have the "mean mom". Yeah daddy and Em will be doing it the same way! Emily s</span></span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">hould have given you the memo that we make "mean siblings" also!!!! OOPS! When she was in kindergarten her siblings made her write complete sentences for the answers of word problems. Her teacher told us she was the only child she had ever had at that age to do that. This teacher was Nick and Kd's teacher for kinder also, she was not a new teacher.<br /><br />Thankful for my own "mean parents" wink wink PARENT, Sandy and Woody, for teaching me how to be one! Thankful for the Del Rosario family for a magical Christmas experience with Santa that made us come up with what we thought 2 years ago might be an impossible goal at the time of typing his name! Without being blessed with William's friendship and our special needs Santa, Woody (my dad), just asking a simple question! We'd never have gotten here. That simple question lead to 10 autism mom's crying when William answered something he was not prepped for on his <a href="http://www.assistiveware.com/product/proloquo2go" target="_blank">Proloquo2Go</a> and <a href="http://www.apple.com/" target="_blank">Apple</a> Device<br /><br />Still think changing diet and biomedical DON'T work? Think again. This would have been impossible 10 years ago. We could not at that point even get Austin to look at us. Let alone "reference us" which he is also doing also! Thinking about <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/rdi" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">#RDI</a> or diet or seeing a MAPS doctor or getting a Talk About Curing Autism Mentor! I'm going to have to agree with <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/nike" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">#Nike</a> and say<a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/justdoit" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">#JustDoIt</a>!!!!!<br /><br />Not sure where to start? Just ask!<br /><br />I feel like a nag, but if you are not a family like ours think about finding one of my <a href="http://give.tacanow.org/2014/OcMarathonPrimerFamily/" target="_blank">fundraising links and help us finish our goal</a>. Honestly we are $58 from our goal but I would love to out do our goal.<br /><br /><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/changeishappening" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">#ChangeisHappening</a> you can help be the change.<br /><br />This was a long <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/fua" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">#FUA</a> #Facebook post (or 2) that became a new blog!<br /><br />Honestly I also need to thank all our extended family who never under minded our efforts and have fully supported us in this up hill costly battle! (Yes there are familes that under mind people like us, don't get me started on them)!!!!<br /><br />Autism is not for the weak or materialistic! Still thankful to have given back our house back to the bank when I was laid off 6 years ago so we could continue every intervention we were doing and still some how cut back even more to do more. Thankful for amazing doctors' Dr. Radoff our MAPS doctor and Dr. Italiano our general practitioner, and Dr. Shores (that came before Italiano and believed I had a brain in my head and was not a crazy person, and see the change in Austin also. Thankful for our past teachers current teacher Sara Christian, and former teachers Linda Aubrey, Liz Olsen, and Michelle Malkind who see the difference in Austin also! VERY THANKFUL FOR OUR GEN ED COMMUNITY THAT ALWAYS LOOKS OUT FOR AUSTIN WHEN I CAN'T BE THERE. I have a whole other post on how amazing they are and especially Ranada (not sure I spelled that correctly). </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;">Thankful that we have given up so many luxuries most people take for granted but that for the majority of the time Austin is safe in his home. Yes, we do still lock everything, he still could <a href="http://awaare.org/" target="_blank">wander</a> like #Avonte or the other numerous kids who have died in the last 10 years since Austin got diagnosed. But I am thankful he actually sleeps most night. he eats fruits and veggies (unlike many of my friends kids), he may not be recovered BUT HE WANTS TO LEARN, HE WANTS MORE, and that <b>some parent like me came</b> before me gave their time and effort to sit down and think how they could help me. Me the person at that moment, they did not know, my family who meant nothing to them. All they knew is they NEVER, EVER WANTED SOMEONE TO BE LIKE THEM. </span></span><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" style="background-color: white;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.44444465637207px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><b>ALONE!!!!</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">When you see me post regularly on this subject I will repay the gift I have been given and until my dying day, #NoAutismParentLeftBehind!!!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">PITAup, Be the parent your kid needs and #ThinkOutSideTheBox!</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I promise you the journey might not just change your kid, it may change you! #TeamAustin </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">I HATE AUTISM, BUT I LOVE THIS KID, all my kids and the journey and lessons they have each taught me! Without them, I'd just be an empty shell. Who knew that the once young girl who never wanted kids, and wanted to be a nurse or cowgirl (yeah that was in our local paper when I was in kindergarten) could so fall in love with 4 amazing kids who are all doing their part to change the world.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">Oh crap just realized I forgot to get Austin's night supplements, I mean "godsends" together I better head to do that since it is after 10! Very thankful MOST OF ALL FOR THE DOCTORS WHO PUT THEIR ASSES ON THE LINE AND ARE WILL TO ADMIT THERE IS HELP AND HOPE FOR AUTISM! THIS IS NOT A LIFE SENTENCE!! </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">There are to many to name, but Andy Wakefield tops the list, he lost everything to help my kid!!! My beautiful boy Austin is better because everyone in this blog and so many more, I can't name every one!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #37404e; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;">If I missed you I apologize and know it was just because of time and tending to my kid!!</span></span></span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-21682138072752831862014-04-29T08:37:00.002-07:002014-04-29T08:42:57.666-07:00Negative Nellie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm in a negative Nellie kind of mood! (If you are not an autism family, please read to the end to see my I am "thankful" part).</div>
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I hate that every other childhood disease is covered by insurance, but none of them are at the numbers of autism and 1 in 68 children, age 12 and older.</div>
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I am tired that my life revolves around timers. I hate that every 8 hours I have to give Austin medicine and supplements to keep him maintaining. I hate that families like mine have to fight for everything we need to be covered by health insurance, Regional Center, and the school district. I hate that what is covered still costs me over $400 a month out of pocket for just compounded medicines (medicines made with out food allergens) and supplements, not including allergy friendly foods that cost double if not triple what the rest of you pay. (Example you buy pretzels and can buy on sale for $2.00 a pound, I pay $6 for 1/2 pound)</div>
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I HATE THAT 18 MONTHS AGO, OUR LOCAL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COULD NOT DEAL WITH MY KIDS HEALTH ISSUES FOR 6 WEEKS and that every time the word autism comes up, TRY TO SAY THAT IS JUST PART OF AUTISM. (I AM CALLING BULL SHIT ON THIS ONE)</div>
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I hate that the school personnel has to be in that close of contact with my non verbal child that they have to call me on every little thing. THAT NEVER HAPPENS WITH A GENERAL ED KID!!</div>
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I hate what autism has cost my older children and their quality of life. I hate 10 years of explaining that "no we can't afford that" because of autism.</div>
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I hate having to explaining to my older son, why he should ask if he qualifies for the family medical leave act because I will need help next week at a dentist appointment for Austin. I hope we can get the baby tooth pulled with our further stressing Austin's system with having to be put him under to pull a baby tooth that has not fallen out and is blocking an adult tooth. I hate that when Austin has a normal fever of 99.5, the health tech feels the need to call me.</div>
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I hate that I have a $193.44 lab bill for me that I will have to file an appeal for, because every moment I take away for my health means I am not learning or helping another family.</div>
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I LOVE that there were parents before me that came out and spoke up to help families like mine.(Please tag any that I miss).</div>
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I am happy we have a quality of life to "MAINTAIN: and are not back 10 years ago with no sleep, not potty trained and so many other things that would freak the general public out.</div>
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I have such an easier life because of parents who decided they would not keep quiet, who decided helping other families like mine was more important then the cost to their own families!</div>
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I am asking again if you do not live my life if you could consider giving at least $5 to help families like mine, change is happening, health is happening, but it does not happen with out you and your donation. We are $260 from competing our goal. <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/helpusbethechange?source=feed_text&story_id=10203773103867966" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">HelpUsBeTheChange</span></a>.</div>
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Can't help financially? Post our link and tell how our family has directly helped your family and ask your friends and family to help us meet our goal.</div>
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<a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/sharingiscaring?source=feed_text&story_id=10203773103867966" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">SharingIsCaring</span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/tellourstory?source=feed_text&story_id=10203773103867966" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">TellOurStory</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://give.tacanow.org/2014/OcMarathonPrimerFamily/" rel="nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://give.tacanow.org/2014/OcMarathonPrimerFamily/</a><br />
<a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/fua?source=feed_text&story_id=10203773103867966" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">FUA</span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/autismactionmonth?source=feed_text&story_id=10203773103867966" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">AutismActionMonth</span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/angerissues?source=feed_text&story_id=10203773103867966" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4;">#</span><span class="_58cm">AngerIssues</span></a> <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/payitforward?source=feed_text&story_id=10203773103867966" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span class="_58cl" style="color: #6d84b4; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">PayItForward</span></a></div>
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PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-69105017190624546382014-01-15T20:35:00.000-08:002014-01-15T20:35:29.263-08:00Alex, the reality of having a child with autism and the reality of having a child, with autism that has siblings.<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;">I am a lazy blogger, I do it when it fits my schedule or truthfully my mood, generally my bad mood. <br /><br />So tonight I see the following post...<br /><br />"</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">Mads: Mom. Why did Alex Spourdalakis die?</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;"> </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">(Cleaning kitchen, drop a bowl, stop in my tracks. Heart racing)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">Me: What? </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">Mads: Why did he die mom? When you had our class write letters to him in the hospital they wouldn't let us put our names on the cards. Why? </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">Me: Honey, what happened to Alex is so complex. I just need you to know what is being said now, is not about Alex. Ms. </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1057740940&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/jeanna.reed.9" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px; text-decoration: none;">Jeanna Reed</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;"> and I got involved because we wanted the doctors that were caring for him to treat him for what was really making him sick. They thought his brain was broke, but his tummy was broke. Just like when we took Noah to see Dr. K and he started talking and going to the bathroom on his own. If we didn't take him to Dr. K, that would not have happened.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">Mads: Why don't the doctors at the hospital Alex was at know? </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">Me: Because, no one told them. They aren't allowed to see the research mom gets to see. And, if I didn't work really hard to find out what was wrong with Noah I wouldn't know either. But, I love Noah, we have help, and we are surrounded by people who love and support us who are really really smart and brave. Alex didn't have that. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">Mads: I just think it is really wrong he had to die, mom. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">Me: Me too. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">I rarely post about this. I have had to work incredibly hard to close this chapter in my life, yet the book keeps opening. I am no longer a working part of the team that will bring justice to this story. Not because I was not invited, but rather, because Noah's care requires too much for me to participate. If you are new to following me, you need to know the medical negligence that Alex endured is HAPPENING TO CHILDREN WITH AUTISM AND NEUROTYPICAL CHILDREN ACROSS THE COUNTRY. You need to know that </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1460713475&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/jill.rubolino" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px; text-decoration: none;">Jill Rubolino</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;"> and a handful of others will FORCE the change we need to see. With science, truth, and THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN as the foundation for this profound shift in the way we view medicine. And, it will change not just medicine, but politics, parenting, and THE WORLD. If you leave this story with only the surface sentiment "I cannot believe she killed her child" then you REALLY REALLY missed the point. We all need to WAKE UP. We all need to see. What happened to Alex is a part of the systemic callousness that is pervasive in medicine right now. This child, whom I met, who pet my head...was treated like a caged animal. Like a beast. It was inhumane and unconscionable, the manner in which this boys pain was dismissed. He could not speak, so, he wasn't suffering. He was simply mental. Had they only read the science, the whole story could have ended differently. I will never ever forget, as we pleaded with his doctors, Jeanna, in her signature calm, poised and incredibly brilliant way saying, "Guys, it's all right here in front of you. This is your chance to be the heroes." There are no heroes in this story. Only Alex who made the ultimate sacrifice, for ALL OUR KIDS. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;">RIP Alex. You will NEVER be forgotten. </span><i class="_4-k1 img sp_5cu4uj sx_1ef7f4" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yN/r/ODFMGIzhQi5.png); background-position: -90px -804px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 314px 840px; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; height: 16px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;"> </span><i class="_4-k1 img sp_5cu4uj sx_1ef7f4" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yN/r/ODFMGIzhQi5.png); background-position: -90px -804px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 314px 840px; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; height: 16px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;"> </span><i class="_4-k1 img sp_5cu4uj sx_1ef7f4" style="background-color: white; background-image: url(https://fbstatic-a.akamaihd.net/rsrc.php/v2/yN/r/ODFMGIzhQi5.png); background-position: -90px -804px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; background-size: 314px 840px; color: #333333; display: inline-block; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; height: 16px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px; vertical-align: -3px; width: 16px;"></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px;"> </span><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/film-provides-glimpse-into-life-of-autistic-teen-killed-by-his-mother/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 16.309091567993164px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://www.cbsnews.com/news/film-provides-glimpse-into-life-of-autistic-teen-killed-by-his-mother/</a><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;">"</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;">Today reminds me why I should do it more often. (Hangs head in shame).</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;">Here is the reality of what children of siblings with autism deal with day in and day out. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: #37404e; font-family: lucida grande, tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;">I am thankful that I do not have younger children then Austin and that I never have to</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;">explain this kind of stuff. I hate that I have older children and we have to discuss this stuff. </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;">This is powerful and part of what families live with</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; line-height: 18px;"> day in and day out. It is not just about the kid with autism but about the kids who live with the reality of autism and them having to figure out their place in the world.<br /><br />It is also about the parents who are so overwhelmed and have no hope and what happens.<br /><br />The reality is autism kills, and about every 2 months parents hurt, maim or kill their older children with autism.<br /><br />It is not a pretty truth and it is not a right truth, it is a truth that AUTISM IS UNDER FUNDED, UNDER HELPED AND MISUNDERSTOOD.<br /><br />When I ask you to donate for my 5k for <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=112714484666&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/talkaboutcuringautism" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Talk About Curing Autism</a> I ask you to fund EDUCATION, I ask you to fund Hope and I ask you to fund <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/realhelpnow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">#RealHelpNow</a><br /><br /><a href="http://give.tacanow.org/2014/OcMarathonPrimerFamily/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://give.tacanow.org/2014/OcMarathonPrimerFamily/</a><br /><br />Please donate and make sure that no other family has to have the talk that <a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1012503953&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/ljgoes" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;">Lisa</a> had with her kid and that no parent, like Lisa or me has to be involved in a situation or case like this.</span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-24387409770244949072013-11-30T17:49:00.001-08:002013-11-30T18:24:02.902-08:00Thanksgiving Left Over Recipe: Turkey Farmers Potato Cake Pot Pie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thegraphicsfairy.com/free-thanksgiving-image-patriotic/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBgD7hVqZXQTuQ6bZ7FYutLNO9ulE9j5MzG9hh81jKL-d8B0Dv0jTPFmjYQK5oZ80_s3HXrN0O-_SHZM-oX4poWB-x11xyQ750L_jQ38XA6uTdrqTqMrw_jSn4D8a-CKubqKr7KH6WhQ/s320/Free-Thanksgiving-Image-GraphicsFairy-661x1024.jpg" width="206" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I started out the day trying to figure out how I was going to use the rest of that Thanksgiving turkey my husband said that "we" (meaning me) did not need to make for Thanksgiving. Yes, I know he is odd, no need for turkey on Thanksgiving? How unAmerican, lol. That being said, I had made a ham, Tuesday night, and was also cooking a Prime Rib Roast for Thanksgiving (but I refuse to say he was correct). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So today I decided I was going to FINALLY try <a href="http://www.tacanow.org/about-taca/board-members/" target="_blank">Lisa Ackerman</a> of <a href="http://www.tacanow.org/" target="_blank">TACA</a>'s Cream of Chicken Soup recipe, well in this case Cream of Turkey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My 13 year old, Em, when I finished the soup was less the impressed. I thought it turned out as close as you can get to Campbell's Cream of Chicken and still be Gluten, Casein, Soy and Egg Free. That being said, the 13 year old has never had Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup in her last 9.5 years of life, and probably not that she can EVER remember, so she had no concept of what I was trying to accomplish. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The 12 year old with autism tasted it with objecting, so I will take that as a win. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After Em's less the stellar reviews, I decided I would figure out how to use the rest of our left overs to make something she would like and eat. My first thought was I will make potato pancakes and we can use the soup as gravy, she'll eat that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then turkey pot pie popped into my head, yum, then I remember crusts are hard to make without eggs (And I suck at baking). Then I decided that maybe I would combine the idea of Sheppard's Pie with Turkey Pot Pie and instead of a crust I would use those potato pancakes into a topping or semi crust.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is what we ended up with, and Em did give it good reviews...</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xjB2GglnX-w8-i3lIDWFl0wxPIkjVLMTvltmGIL2lzMqRfbw2JnUKYNkaXBrM5a2j0RTegqcNXiqCy1ReKNoXXTx-PW9dTAqVUwoFVePVrW6vwEI3Ya5x2h63h5vdOSCHJlU6hWV7P0/s1600/Turkey+Farmers+Potato+Cake+Pot+Pie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xjB2GglnX-w8-i3lIDWFl0wxPIkjVLMTvltmGIL2lzMqRfbw2JnUKYNkaXBrM5a2j0RTegqcNXiqCy1ReKNoXXTx-PW9dTAqVUwoFVePVrW6vwEI3Ya5x2h63h5vdOSCHJlU6hWV7P0/s320/Turkey+Farmers+Potato+Cake+Pot+Pie.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Turkey Farmers
Potato Cake Pot Pie<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">8 to 16 ounces of mixed veggies
thawed if frozen (green beans, carrots
and corn) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Soup/Gravy: (</b>adapted
from<b> <a href="https://www.tacanow.org/recipes/lisas-cream-of-chicken-soup/" target="_blank">Talk About Curing Autism's Recipe</a></b>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup <a href="http://www.mimiccreme.com/" target="_blank">mimic crème</a> (unsweetened) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5 table spoons GF flour (I used <a href="http://www.julesglutenfree.com/Jules-Gluten-Free-All-Purpose-Flour-5-pound-bag-p/flour-1x5.htm)" target="_blank">Jules</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">5 tablespoons Corn starch<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1 cup Earth balance (soy & dairy free) margarine<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4 cups leftover Turkey split in half<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Salt to taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pepper to taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Garlic to Taste<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4 to 6 cups Chicken or Turkey Bone broth strained of
veggies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><i><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Preheat oven to 350<o:p></o:p></span></u></i></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Potato Cake topping:</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4 cups left over <a href="http://www.blogger.com/(https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10200295770096795&set=a.10200295769256774.2203923.1230054304&type=3&theater" target="_blank">mashed potatoes</a> (approximately) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">8 ounces pear sauce mixed with 2 tsp aluminum free backing
powder or 3 eggs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1/2 cup GF flour<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">salt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">garlic<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">onion (optional)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Directions:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Make the roux using a
separate pan:<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">1)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Sauté
the margarine until completely melted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 14.25pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">2)<span style="line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]-->Add
flour and mix thoroughly to a very thick paste / roux.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Put chicken/turkey
bone broth or stock in a large stock pan. Add in mimic crème, cooked roux and ½
of the cooked turkey. Wisk in corn starch.
Let cook until thick, stir frequently.
I put mine through my Ninja to make it really creamy, you could also do
it in a blender.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Make Potato Pancake Topping
in a separate bowl, I did it in my Kitchenaid.<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Mix mashed potatoes, pear
mixture or egg, GF flour, salt, pepper, garlic, and any optional ingredients,
into a separate bowl and mix, I did it in my <a href="http://www.kitchenaid.com/" target="_blank">Kitchenaid</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Put the Turkey Farmers Potato
Cake Pot Pie Together <o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0.75pt 0in 11.25pt;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 14.25pt;">Put approximately ½ to all of
the soup, mixed veggies (eye ball the soup and veggies for how big your pan is),
and 2</span><sup style="line-height: 14.25pt;">nd</sup><span style="line-height: 14.25pt;"> half of left over turkey in a casserole dish (</span><span style="line-height: 19px;">approximately</span><span style="line-height: 14.25pt;"> ½ to 2/3 of the pan high). Mix well. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Put Potato Cake mix on top.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; line-height: 14.25pt;">Bake for 45 minutes or until
bubbly and the potatoes are starting to brown.
If it is bubbly and the potatoes are starting to brown you can turn to
broil or 500 degrees and cook for 5 minutes longer.<br /><br />Copyright Shannon Primer 2013</span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-14088725236199623622013-07-08T19:49:00.002-07:002013-07-08T19:49:21.593-07:00Life as we know it!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">LJ Goes of the <a href="http://thinkingmomsrevolution.com/" target="_blank">Thinking Mom’s Revolution</a>
posted an amazing status today. <span style="font-size: small;">Some one
told her, </span><span style="background-color: white;">"You know, what's hard LJ, is,
it's just so hard for the mainstream to understand where you are coming from.
Don't get me wrong. I think you are a good writer, I really do, lots of
powerful stuff you put out there. Really. It's good. But, I mean, it's too much.
From the vaccine court, to the food contamination you talk about...it's a lot
to take in. People want to help you I think, they just.</span><span class="textexposedshow">..well they just feel overwhelmed by, well--guess the word is
"darkness" of it all, you know? People just do not live like this.
Not saying they don't, that's not what I meant, I mean...I believe you...it's
just most people do not have this sort of desperation about them. Maybe
brainstorm on how you could simplify it. Maybe...really drill down and then let
me know how I can help you with that one issue. You know?"<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;">As Ed and I sat eating lunch today, I was telling him about
this post and how I recently was told by another autism parent that I was “more
intense” then most. Ed commented on how
many realities I do not post, and how lucky all my Facebook friends are that
when we really went through “shit” literally and figuratively there was no
Facebook. There was no Facebook when our
lives were lived in shifts so that there was someone up with the boy who only
slept for 2 hours a night. That was the “intense” time when life was very “intense”;
unlike now when the intensity only shows up every other month. We then
continued on to how so many times when Austin was young we did not know we
might be some version of “normal”. Somehow via the internet, yahoo groups, and
then Facebook we were clued into the knowledge that we were NOT ALONE. We may not be normal but we are definitely not
ALONE. The difference is most people in
our position do not speak of it. I guess I could take away from hearing the
fact that I am more intense them most, that maybe I post too much about the bad
and not about the good. Let me just put
it this way: there is a song by Meatloaf that Ed listens to quite often that
states “it was long ago and it was far away and it was so much better than it
is today!”. Well that is not our life today. As intense as it may seem today, “it
is so much better than it was yesterday”!!!! </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="line"><span style="background: #E6EFF8; border: none windowtext 1.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">All</span></span><span class="line"><span style="background-color: #e6eff8; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;"> I know is
that when I write about autism, I do it from the perspective of a new mom or
dad who thinks that their kid is the only one like this and that their reality
is much like the land that Alice found herself in when she went through the
looking glass. I want there to be a voice that shouts: you’re not alone; you’re
not without hope and that things can and will get better!! I am also superstitious
and every time I post Austin sleeps he’s up in the middle of the night. Know if I do not mention him not sleeping, he
probably did. Today was a great example.
As soon as I said at 3 am he was asleep, and I was going to my bed, he
was awake at 5 am.</span></span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;"><br />
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; line-height: 115%; padding: 0in;"><br /></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;">This also leads us to the subject of missing kids and how
things go wrong quickly. Another Facebook friend posted how they did not
understand how kids with autism get out. I think most people know that our
family is hypersensitive about the chance that Austin will run off. But, like
most of our kids, Austin can be gone in the blink of an eye. Both Ed and I, and
the 3 older kids, have had our “track meets” running after a very cute, but
very swift little blonde boy. We have </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;">both had to become much faster than anyone might believe by
looking at us. No matter how much attention that we pay to this possibility,
just last Monday, some how the front door was not alarmed, and </span></span><span style="background-color: #fafbfb; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;">Austin went out the front door, he's new mo is to go to the
car so I headed their first, when I realized he was not there, I shouted to
Emily to secure the house and to tell her dad to run to Lake Blvd, A VERY BUSY
STREET, as I ran to the complex park. Fortunately he had ran to the park.
Literally all of this took place faster than you could hear the door shut.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;"> These moments are
becoming less and less, but every time Austin has an infraction, meaning he has
eaten something he can’t tolerate the chances go up, significantly that this
will happen.</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So let us all understand that the parents of children who
elope are not necessarily neglectful, our children are very attentive and will
take advantage of any opportunity. Let us just be grateful that it didn’t
happen to us today and say an earnest prayer for the parents of the children
who have left the safety of their home, especially Michael Kingbury’s family
who was found dead while we wrote this: May God keep our kids safe and may his
Spirit be able to comfort the parents of
Terry Smith, who are at this moment the terrified parents of a child with
autism who has gotten out!!!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This blog was a team effort of both Ed and Shannon Primer and
with a lot of tears shed because it hits way to close to home.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/" target="_blank">NAA</a> and <a href="http://www.tacanow.org/" target="_blank">TACA</a> have also teamed up to help with wandering
and given great advice on how to help your local first responders. Please read this as it gives a small amount
of the NAA’s information on the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://pitaup.blogspot.com/2013/06/autism-and-wandering.html"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://pitaup.blogspot.com/2013/06/autism-and-wandering.ht</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">ml</span></a></span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-15825908366100315712013-06-14T13:14:00.000-07:002013-06-14T13:31:08.063-07:00Autism and wandering<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnAIkhkacMjR3wUJpGTpE0yPK4hrE3EhUprFawrSziy0RQkMZ7oaM00bVhkYrs0iUzxuiLs0Yol3AVqyLngN_KIuHfMxShuheXqEudNJZNzVswN4h5DcozYfzSTlDzQfUBsEjJsrY6dc/s1600/BRSTLogo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBnAIkhkacMjR3wUJpGTpE0yPK4hrE3EhUprFawrSziy0RQkMZ7oaM00bVhkYrs0iUzxuiLs0Yol3AVqyLngN_KIuHfMxShuheXqEudNJZNzVswN4h5DcozYfzSTlDzQfUBsEjJsrY6dc/s320/BRSTLogo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I just finished up listening to Wendy of<span style="color: blue;"><b> <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">NAA</span></a></b> </span>on <a href="http://www.tacanow.org/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;">Talk About Curing Autism</span></b></a>’s </span><span style="background: white; color: #010101; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Autism-Related Wandering: Keeping Our Kids Safe</span>
Webinar.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #010101; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">I know that a few of our kids are huge wanders,
bolters and runners, mine being one of them.
I thought I would share a few of the things I learned.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.awaare.org/" target="_blank"><b>AWAARE</b></a> is a
GREAT resource.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">This <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/docs/BigRedSafetyToolkit-FR.pdf" target="_blank">book</a> is part of the <b><span style="color: blue;">NAA</span></b>'s <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/big-red-safety-box/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: red;">Big Red Safety Box</span></b></a> program should be printed and given to our local first
responders, including firefighters, police, local hospitals, etc. This <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/docs/BigRedSafetyToolkit.pdf" target="_blank">book</a> should be given to all caregivers of your child.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">If
your child wanders, bolts, runs, etc. fill this out in advance so you can
easily give it to<a href="http://www.awaare.org/docs/AUTISM%20ELOPEMENT%20ALERT%20FORM.pdf" target="_blank"> first responders</a>. Keep a current one in your car or in your purse for when you are away from
home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wendy
mentioned that many families delay in calling 911 due to worries about CPS and
of police thinking that they are neglectful.
She said calling 911 immediately is the most important thing you can do.
She also recommended keeping a notebook of all the preventative things you do,
along with all of the incidents of wandering and what you did to try to correct
the situation. I am a BIG fan of documentation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As
of 2011 we also have a <b>VERY IMPORTANT </b>new diagnoses code for wandering. Getting our children the<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/code.html" target="_blank"> <b>ICD-9 diagnosis </b></a>can show that we are doing all the
preventative measures we can to keep our children safe. Having this medical diagnosis also can help
with getting school districts to comply with keeping our children safe
including helping with 1:1 aid supports. If this is a concern of yours please
bring it up to your doctor at your next visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_33_1371224865014_55" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In San Diego we also have the <a href="http://www.sdsheriff.net/co_tmh.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">Take Me Home Program</span></b></a>. If you have not enrolled your child in it, I
highly encourage you to do so ASAP. If
you have enrolled your child, I encourage you once a year to look at that
information, picture, etc. and update it.
For me I use Austin’s birthday as a reminder.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">If you do not have a child like mine, please consider donating enough for a family like mine to get a free<span style="color: red;"> <a href="http://nationalautismassociation.org/store/#!/~/product/category=2416178&id=10422628" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><b>Big Red Safety Box</b></span></a><b>. </b></span>The alarms in the Big Red Safety Box have been a life saver at our house.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">PitaUp and let’s keep our families healthy, happy and especially safe!</span></div>
PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-68159659902671254222013-05-25T19:42:00.003-07:002013-05-25T19:43:40.766-07:00Mindless Chatter<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I'm not sure which takes more effort reading or listening to a book. Either way I have realized I have missed my fiction. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Since June 15, 2004 I have read one fiction book! I have read and read some more since then, just none of it has been mindless chatter. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">The last fiction book and ONLY fiction book I have read since meeting autism was Wicked! It was on my way to the GOV rally in June of 2008, when I had no one to worry about and only me to think about, well if you don't count all those autism parents who looked at me to tell them when we needed to leave Feinstein's breakfast to make it to the GOV rally on time. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">After listening to the TMR I decided to "try" to listen to a fiction book. I started listening to Son of a Witch. I realized listening that I needed to revisit Wicked before listening to Son of a Witch because I have forgotten so much of the history. Less then a week later, and much to the weird looks of Emily and Ed when they spoke to me and I did not respond because I had headphones in me ears, I finished wicked. I then turned Son Of A Witch on and I may never look or listen back again! I love mindless chatter, no disrespect intended, but that is what I think of mindless things that I do not have to think about but can enjoy while thinking about things non autism related. That beings said mindless chatter is also scary for me! I makes me worry that something important on the table in my brain might get pushed off to store mindless chatter. It is so weird for me to try to balance the two! I don't want to stop learning or unlearn something that might help some parent like me or some child like me, but I do sometimes miss those days of mindless chatter where all my worries were about reading some fiction that took me to a different place like Oz and where like wicked the lines of good guys and bad guys and seriously misunderstood guys might some how be normal. Oh wait scratch the last part. That is more of how I see life now and how I so now related to Wicked. Good and Evil are so easy to understand when you are little and things are black and white, but then you grow up and realize that there is perspective and that there might be a grey area! I see a lot of myself inthe "Wicked Witch of the West" from the Wicked point of view, but if you have only seen the Wizard of Oz you only see her has bad. Autism and Oz have a lot in common and the lines often blur. Some days it's hard to tell who is a good guy and who is bad, the politics, make it worse. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">And the end of the day, I am thankful that I read Wicked that June so long ago and that I have just reintroduced myself to fiction and listened to Wicked. It reminded me of grey and that things are not always black and white and that I should allow myself the little pleasures of fiction and that I just need to find a balance of between how much mindless chatter I let full my Brain, but that I am really really really allowed to have a bit of pleasure. I am an autism mom, not a saint. I need to keep learning but if I self centerly listen to fiction while I selflessly keep my self in good shape by exercising or clean the house while listening to fiction the world will not end, but I just might be a little better mom and wife. </span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Until next time PitaUp and go change the life of a kid with autism!</span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-55498492402037328652013-04-09T20:05:00.000-07:002013-04-09T21:01:35.141-07:00You are part of the community, until you meet Autism<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd like to say I am a little disappointed with <a href="http://www.carlsbadusd.k12.ca.us/" target="_blank">Carlsbad Unified School District</a>, and my two youngest children's schools, BUT I CAN NOT say that, because, I AM MORE THEN disappointed with<a href="http://calavera.schoolloop.com/" target="_blank"> Calaveras Hills Middle Schoo</a>l and Hope Elementary and CUSD that it is Autism Awareness month, and that I have not heard of one fund raiser for Autism or the month even mentioned. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Both <a href="http://hope.schoolloop.com/" target="_blank">Hope Elementary </a>and <a href="http://calavera.schoolloop.com/" target="_blank">CHMS </a>are our autism program schools, yet, I have noticed we, as a community, do not fund raise for Autism (but fund raise for many other conditions that are not affecting 1 in 50 school aged children). I sent in February a request that CHMS ASB fundraiser <a href="http://www.tacanow.org/ways-to-help/hearts-for-hope/" target="_blank">Hearts for Hope</a> or to fund raise for the <a href="https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1062386&supId=328467450" target="_blank">San Diego Autism Society</a> and no one contacted me or either charity. I also sent Hope Elementary one fundraiser that we as a family were doing and I have yet to see ANYTHING come through School Loop and it is the 9th of April.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Before Autism and during the process of Austin's diagnosis the Primer family were huge fundraisers for both the CHS Football team and the CHS wrestling team.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">I am a little more then sad, I AM A LOT sad to realize that once you meet autism, you are really, really, really alone and that your community leaves you there, ALONE. That no matter what you do, once you are no longer helping them, you are a then A <b>NOBODY</b>, you are <b>JUST </b>another family. It really is a <b>WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY </b>society.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">Do I regret all I did for CUSD? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">No, but I know that the organizations I support now will not leave me and my children, especially the siblings of the child with autism ALONE, unlike the community Ed and I grew up in, the community that we fought so hard to get back to, the community we wanted Ashley and Nick could grow up in</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, the community we still fight, to afford, so Emily and Austin will grow up in and be part of.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">The Primer Family has two fundraisers that they are doing that directly make a difference in Austin and Emily Primer's life. They are </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">http://give.tacanow.org/2012/ocmarathon/PrimerFamily/</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">or</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; margin: 0px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; margin: 0px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=1062386&supId=328467450</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
I hope that our Carlsbad community comes through and shows the Primer Children, the support that we have always shown the Carlsbad community. Until then, the Primer Family will fight this battle with the other Autism families in CUSD together as an autism family, but alone without our school district community.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Until next time PITAup and fight for a kid with autism!! Also all views in this blog belong solely to Shannon Primer and are not from Ed Primer.</span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-7850720106043738362012-12-18T19:11:00.000-08:002012-12-18T19:42:01.372-08:00The 12 Days of Christmas, AUTISM STYLE!!!<br />
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<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38167" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt;">On the first day of Christmas</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38166" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38165" style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38164" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38163" style="font-size: 10pt;">A poop smear on our <span class="yiv962250403yshortcuts yiv962250403cs4-visible" id="yiv962250403lw_1355111895_0" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; color: #366388; cursor: pointer;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1355885889_0">Christmas Tree</span></span></span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38159" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38162" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38161" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38162" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38160" style="font-size: 10pt;">On the second day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38162" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38079" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38078" style="text-align: left;">
Two parents coping, </div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38077" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38076" style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
</span><br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38075" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38074" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38073" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38074" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the third day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38074" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38072" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38071" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38070" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38069" style="text-align: left;">
Three specialists a helping, </div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38068" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38067" style="text-align: left;">
Two parents a coping, barely</div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38066" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38065" style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_37826" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_37825" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_37826" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the fourth day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_37826" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Four aides a training</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Three specialists a helping, not</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Two parents coping, barely</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the fifth day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Five </span>once a week meetings</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Four aides a crying</span></div>
</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Three specialists helping, not</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Two parents coping, barely</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the sixth day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Six IEPs, in one year,</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Five </span>once a week meetings</div>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Four aides a crying</span></div>
</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Three specialists helping, not</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Two parents coping, barely</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the seventh day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Seven nights of peace and quiet</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Six IEPs, in one year,</span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Five </span>once a week meetings</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Four aides a crying</div>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Three specialists helping, not</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Two parents coping, barely</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the eighth day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Eight </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">doctors a consulting,</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Seven nights without a wink of sleep</div>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Six IEPs, in one year,</span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Five </span>once a week meetings</div>
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Four aides a crying</span></div>
</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Three specialists helping, not</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Two parents coping, barely</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the ninth day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Nine brand new </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">iPads</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Eight </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">doctors fired,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Seven nights without a wink of sleep</div>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Six IEPs, in one year,</span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Five </span>once a week meetings</div>
</span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Four aides a crying</span></div>
</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Three specialists helping, not</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Two parents coping, barely</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">On the tenth day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ten </span>kids eloping</span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Nine </span>iPads a broken</div>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Eight </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">doctors fired,</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Seven nights without a wink of sleep</div>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Six IEPs, in one year,</span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Five </span>once a week meetings</div>
</span></div>
</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Four aides a crying</span></div>
</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Three specialists helping, not</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Two parents coping, barely</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38155" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38154" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38155" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38153" style="font-size: 10pt;">On the eleventh day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38155" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38152" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38151" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38150" style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38128" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38127" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38149" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38148" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38149" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38147" style="font-size: 10pt;">Eleven dads a drinking </span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38149" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38146" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38145" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38144" style="font-size: 10pt;">Ten </span>kids eloping</div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38143" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38142" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38141" style="font-size: 10pt;">Nine </span>iPads a broken</div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38133" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38132" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38138" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38140" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38138" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38139" style="font-size: 10pt;">Eight </span><span style="font-size: 10pt;">doctors fired,</span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38138" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38137" style="text-align: left;">
Seven nights without a wink of sleep</div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38136" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38135" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38134" style="font-size: 10pt;">Six IEPs, in one year,</span></div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38131" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38130" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38129" style="font-size: 10pt;">Five </span>once a week meetings</div>
</span></div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38126" style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38125" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38124" style="font-size: 10pt;">Four aides a crying</span></div>
</span></div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Three specialists helping, not</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Two parents coping, barely</div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38123" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38122" style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38121" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38120"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38119" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt;">On the </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial;">twelfth</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt;"> day of Christmas,</span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38118" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38117" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38118" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38116" style="font-size: 10pt;">My true love gave to me,</span></span></div>
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38118" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38115" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38114" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38113" style="font-size: 10pt;">Twelve </span>mom's a squawking, about Autism, OF COURSE</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Eleven dads a drinking </span></div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38112" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38111" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Ten </span>kids eloping</div>
</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Nine </span>iPads a broken</div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38110" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38109" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Eight </span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38108" style="font-size: 10pt;">doctors a fired,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Seven nights without a wink of sleep</div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38107" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38106" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38105" style="font-size: 10pt;">Six IEPs, in one year,</span></div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38104" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38103" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Five </span>once a week meetings</div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38102" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38101" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Four aides a crying</span></div>
</span><span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38093" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial; font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;"><div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38100" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38099" style="font-size: 10pt;">Three specialists helping, not</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38092" style="text-align: left;">
<span id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38098" style="font-size: 10pt;">Two parents coping, barely</span><span style="font-size: 10pt; text-align: center;">|</span></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38094" style="text-align: left;">
And a poop smear on our Christmas Tree</div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38094" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div id="yui_3_7_2_1_1355845624337_38094" style="text-align: left;">
To all our friends who live with Autism, the Primer's wish you all a very Merry Christmas!</div>
</span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-43234348423996901412012-11-09T15:27:00.000-08:002012-11-09T15:32:08.458-08:00A Pleasant Surprise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Today our visit to Chick-fil-a Quarry Creek did not go as planned. In the world of autism, or as my husband calls it, "Through the Looking Glass", that is not really unusual. What was unusual was how pleasant, in the midst of Austin, my 11 year old with autism, not wanting to leave Chick-fil-a, including a 15 minute lay on the floor in the middle of the walk way during the lunch hour!!!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The amazing staff at Chick-fil-a Quarry Creek and the General Manager, Giovanni, did not react. They pretty much moved around Austin and never acted like there was even remotely an issue. Only one patron commented or in this case laughed (thinking I was a bad mom and that Austin had me whipped). I calmly (for once) said loud enough for the patron to hear me that autism was not a laughing matter and that with 1 in 88 kids having autism he should get used to what he was seeing. He quickly moved away from me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Giovanni,on the other hand, came over to ask if I needed help MORE THAN ONCE in the hour and 20 minutes we were sitting in the booth. He generously offered to give Austin a balloon or ice cream if I thought it would help. I declined because I did not think it would encourage Austin one way or the other and because Austin has a milk allergy. Later Giovanni brought over a toy cow to help. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After about an hour I decided to text a friend who has a child with autism and see if she could come help me escort Austin out and give us a ride home. When I told Giovanni my friend was coming to help me get Austin out, and that it may be a fight, he did not bat an eye, he calmly said that it would be "no problem". I explained that he may have to explain to the other guests that Austin had autism and that we were not hurting him, just trying to get him to leave. I explained that sometime people not familiar with autism often misinterpret situations like this. Again Giovanni said he understood and that he would take care of it, if we needed it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Fortunately Austin left easier than expected once my friend and I got him up on his feet. In a world where the families of children with autism are used to being stared at, it was a pleasant surprise to be offered help and understanding instead. Thank you Chick-fil-a Quarry Creek and your wonderful patrons!! Outstanding work today, it was very much appreciated!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Until next time, thank you to all my friends with autism in their lives, because you remind me daily my family is</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> NOT</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> alone and a huge thank you to Rachel for saving me and Austin. Thanks Rachel for driving around with Austin while I got my shopping done and then driving us home. You are amazing!!!</span></span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-501739721398035212012-09-10T21:58:00.001-07:002012-09-10T22:00:01.243-07:00Busing, Transportation and the Child with a Disability, Especially the Non Verbal Child, What to do?<br />
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<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I struggle with</span><span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> stories of children left in busses (but read about them every school year) or lost from bus routes, because I know there are bad bus drivers and bad people in the world. I also know that there are honest people who drive buses and are bus aides in in the world. M</span><span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">y parents are both bus drivers and grandparents of a child with autism. I worked for the same school district as they did, as a bus aide before autism. </span><span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I have also had a contracted transportation company lose Austin for over an hour. With no explanation and no explanation on why he was 4 and the car seat they handed me was set up for a newborn.</span><span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX242676981" paraid="0" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">As a child of a bus driver, a former employee of a transportation company and as a parent of a child with a disabilities I can see all sides. Instead of waiting until after the fact and something happens lets look at how we can prevent issues.</span><span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX242676981" paraid="0" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<div class="Paragraph SCX242676981" paraid="0" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">L</span><span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ets look how we as parents can be proactive and protect our children from this kind of thing.</span><span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">1) Call both the teacher and the bussing department when your child is going to miss school. </span><span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">2) Make sure your teacher is in the habit of checking his or her messages every morning right before school starts. If you have to call last minute, talk to the secretary on campus and make sure they contact the teacher and let them know your child WILL NOT BE ON THE BUS!!! ) </span><span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">3) Ask your transportation company for their policy on how the bus/van driver checks out of their bus/van at the end of any shift including breaks and lunch. Most bus companies have policies on walking through the vehicle before you lock up. Ask how they check and enforce that drivers and the company are enforcing those policies! Ask if they have cameras on buses/vans.</span><span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4) If there is any issue, know your rights, know you can write bussing/transportation/car seats </span><span class="SpellingError SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">etc.</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> into your child's IEP. Districts will tell you no, but I can tell you according to the California Department of Education's H</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ead of Transportation and the CHP Officer</span><span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> who tests all school bus drivers in California, who both in the past wrote letters on Austin's behalf and put it into his </span><span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">past IEP's</span><span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, yes you can and yes you should!</span><span class="EOP SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Bottom line, we have a whole lot of non verbal kids out there and the only people out there protecting our kid are us! </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">That being said, "s</span><span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">tuff" happens and people make mistakes. </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX242676981" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Cover your child's ass and make sure you are doing everything you can to avoid "human error" and mistakes. Be smart, be a PITA!! Your kid expects it of you and so do I!! Now go change the world, at least the world your kid lives in!!</span></div>
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PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-35776007462539972042012-08-17T13:51:00.002-07:002012-08-19T21:32:35.154-07:00It takes a village to raise a child, but what happens to the child with autism when their village is not there?<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX5598463" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoLWyEhxehB1ggfwGHo5WL1xTsnnl0Q-pwOUuciFtIx2QkaI3Lz0e6y23GvcovQwfNAmR3tp4_qKMfn0MGzboF2OPWcf69NAYL2qTmqaJXNqvM2jyglp8pB1hyphenhyphenodd7cEbKi83SQjEVIw/s1600/9568111-little-village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRoLWyEhxehB1ggfwGHo5WL1xTsnnl0Q-pwOUuciFtIx2QkaI3Lz0e6y23GvcovQwfNAmR3tp4_qKMfn0MGzboF2OPWcf69NAYL2qTmqaJXNqvM2jyglp8pB1hyphenhyphenodd7cEbKi83SQjEVIw/s320/9568111-little-village.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">When they say it takes a village to raise a child, they are right. They also are even more so when it comes to raising a child with autism or their sibling. I know I felt the village with Ashley and Nick, especially when l</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">i</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ving in Cleveland with a very close net neighborhood, but some how autism divides you from that and you feel alone in parenting, pro</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">tecting</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, and trying to teach the world about your child with autism.</span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The parenting challenges of having a 12 year old, Emily,</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and a 11 year old, Austin, who has autism, </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">today are are</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> different than I had when Ashley, now 22, and Nick, now, 20, were 12 </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">and 10 </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">(and pre autism). </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">In the past,</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> my</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> big kids ran the neighborhood until the street lights came on, and had to obey all the parents in the neighborhood.</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Today my younger daughter plays close to home, her brother never leaves home with out a parent or adult close in tow, because of the safety concerns. </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The difference today is a way different t</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">y</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">pe of parenting. </span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Yesterday we went to a birthday party for another child with autism at a local waterpark. Austin decided about 2 hours in that he no longer wished to keep his bathing suit on (a new behavior, that just recently started). I decided to take Austin back up to the cabana and put him in his street clothes. Austin sat quietly for a while, eating lunch and listening to is </span><span class="SpellingError SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">iTouch</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">. Austin then indicated that he wished to go back in the water. He would not put his bathing suit back on and long story short, began to meltdown, screaming, pinching, hitting, etc.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I was told after the party, by the parent throwing the party, that she was </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">proud of</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> my </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; 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background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">because she is</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: white; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; 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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Honestly her,</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the parents/families</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> therapists we were with</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> did exactly what we needed, they</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> just ignored the situation.</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> They did not ignore the situation</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> because they did not want to help, but instead because I had the situation under control. They knew</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> that staring would not help the situation. Had Austin or I been in real physical danger</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> all of them would have stepped in. We were in a safe environment, even though we were out in public, because we were among our peers. </span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The difference</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> between what happened with</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> my peers (other autism parents, </span><span class="SpellingError SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">etc</span><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">) at this party and the rest of the parenting world or those peers</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> of my past parenting life and even the people in my local community today</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, is huge!!! Earlier in the day at a local supermarket</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> a similar</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> situation </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">lead to stares and questioning </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">looks </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">of my parenting, because who would "allow" their 11 year old to act this way and why was I not </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">"</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">disciplining</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> him </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">more". </span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">This is</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> generally why families like all of ours surround ourselves with families like ours. The same scenario at the grocery store DID NOT end with my having a</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> calm composure. I will say I did yell out something like, </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">1 in 88 kids have autism, get used this! (And anyone who knows me knows</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> it wasn't a quiet polite yell).</span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Another example of how the public and parents who don't understand or want to understand autism, is a </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">melt down</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Austin had last summer which was </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">way worse then yesterdays, and we were not amongst our peers. I definitely was in trouble and needed help, every person at the San Diego Zoo's Safari Park with in</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> hearing or visual distance of us, including employees, st</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">opped paying atten</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">tion to the Cheetah Run presentation and instead </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">st</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ared</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">NOT ONE PERSON, other than the non autism family we were with offered help. It finally came down to the point where they had to bring a golf cart down to get us because there was no way I was getting Austin out of there. If the non autism family had not been there with us to go and ask someone to bring a cart, we may have never gotten safely out.</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> By safely I mean Austin did not hurt him self, because he left marks on me. (See below pictures, of the bruises a few hours after it happened, I also had a nice set of teeth marks and a few bruises on my chest and chest bone that would be inappropriate to post pictures of</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">).</span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nzJQQW78FDTA-dnvI50-Zo4u2fa1-7bJDDFvIy7LfPr0dlsu_QNbzrt8M0OSgPgLZb8PksiXmu6_EReBNPmFoMCBEWH5JQkYX7PITBHbzipb1FfYcIoBWuSBvj6nUtA0YhQYt1Ck0oo/s1600/IMG_4672%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nzJQQW78FDTA-dnvI50-Zo4u2fa1-7bJDDFvIy7LfPr0dlsu_QNbzrt8M0OSgPgLZb8PksiXmu6_EReBNPmFoMCBEWH5JQkYX7PITBHbzipb1FfYcIoBWuSBvj6nUtA0YhQYt1Ck0oo/s200/IMG_4672%255B1%255D.JPG" width="149" /></span></a><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMVCTOtMgvYIt-eMIkrvl0_odj27HpIZF4TEx79hkY9c6JBsnwOvEj8AFk_Ka-Z-xBMK5BmjmdCoss4jYVvn6gRtlIuKPCn_Sf-iHdA-5HUOAWhzC6MV83mimIWALJaXsG4i2QuCxBmg/s1600/IMG_4673%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMVCTOtMgvYIt-eMIkrvl0_odj27HpIZF4TEx79hkY9c6JBsnwOvEj8AFk_Ka-Z-xBMK5BmjmdCoss4jYVvn6gRtlIuKPCn_Sf-iHdA-5HUOAWhzC6MV83mimIWALJaXsG4i2QuCxBmg/s200/IMG_4673%255B1%255D.JPG" width="149" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px;">The above stories sadden me, not because they happened to me. Instead they sadden of how little the world has changed since Austin </span><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">received</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px;"> the </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">diagnosis</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px;"> on June 15, 2004. </span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">The</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> conservative numbers then were that 1 in 150 children had autism. </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px;">T</span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">he conservative numbers today say</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> 1 in 88 child born in the year 2000 (age 12) have autism. Yet, in my opinion</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the mainstream community hasn't become any more aware, or willing to step in and help out</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">.</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> This </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">despite a massive Autism Speaks </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">autism awareness</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">campaign a few years back</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and no matter how many years people waste their time lighting it blue every April and donating to<a href="http://pitaup.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html" target="_blank"> <span style="color: blue;">Autism Speaks</span></a>.</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Some how the general public is</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">still</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ignorant to au</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">tism and/</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">or</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">some how think they are immune</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> to autism</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">, and</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">/or</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">they think</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">have </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">no responsibility regarding autism. The general population still </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">just sits on the side lines and stare, making the situation worse for everyone involved.</span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I write </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">this particular blog for many reasons, one is that I </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">hope</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> that someone who is not</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> my</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> peer</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">/</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">autism parent</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">reads this and learns something. Even if the lesson is as simple as turning away and ignoring the situation of a</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> child</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> with au</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">tism screeching at ear piercing sounds or when they are in the middle of meltdown. Or that it is OK to</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> step over and say, to</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px;"> parent of a child who is slapping/hitting/melting down, in a non-</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">judgmental</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px;"> voice ask, "I</span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">s there anything I can do to help </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">you?" </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px;"> I know sometimes it is hard to determined if it is appropriate to step in, but TRUST ME, your non </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">judgmental</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px;"> effort, goes A LONG WAY in our world and in the quality of life that my child lives </span></span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">and even further in the quality of life of his siblings live!</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">!! As parents, we signed up for what ever child we got, their siblings did not. </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Not having to deal with those "</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">judging</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="NormalTextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; background-color: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> another parent" moments goes a long way for all of us in the situation.</span></span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I also write this </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> because I </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">hope that it reminds my fellow autism parents </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">and siblings</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">of </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">th</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">at </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">at </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">the end of the</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> day we might be fighting this individual battle alone, but we are definitely not alone.</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> We</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> have kind</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">red</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> spirits standing with </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">us </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">at all time</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">s, even if they are only there in spirit. I know reading and hearing about other parents and their life </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">experiences with autism make me feel a little less alone!!!</span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">In conclusion, </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">I hope our communities </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">stop being not p</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">art of the autism</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">,</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">and realize </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">w</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">e are one </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">w</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">orld</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">. K</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">now that while autism</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> may</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> not </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">be </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">part of what you think is your "</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">world", it is part of your world. It is coming to a family near you or to your family sooner and faster than you think. Educate yourself before it does. Help the families already in it</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">!</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">M</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">ake a difference in the world around you</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">!</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> S</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">tep</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> outside your comfort </span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">zone.</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Change doesn't happen somewhere else, change happens with you!! It happens with your thoughts, with your actions,</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> with your attitude, and it happens when YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN!!</span><span class="EOP SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span></div>
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<span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US">Until next time, thank you to all my friends with autism in their lives, because you remind me daily my family is</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> NOT</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> alone and a huge thank you to all our friends and family that do not have a child with autism, yet</span><span class="TextRun SCX5598463" style="-webkit-nbsp-mode: normal !important; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" xml:lang="EN-US"> still brave the outside world with us, even though the looks and stares get overwhelming!!</span><br />
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PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-47756609490755548172012-07-28T08:16:00.001-07:002012-07-28T08:16:26.475-07:00Facebook, marriage and autism, NOT ALWAYS THE BEST MIX!<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Since my husband thinks I bitch and complain on Facebook and then erase it so he can't see it, I'm going to bitch and complain and hope he sees it on here and possibly on my blog, of course he would have to look at my blog, without me asking, and he only checks Facebook when he thinks he I'm bitching about him, but whatever, semantics!</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">So he posted today on Facebook for everyone to see, that eve</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">ryone should know that from "4 pm until 2 am every day he has Austin."<br /><br />Two people who have a close understanding of autism, but are male, 'liked" the post. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">So I thought I set the record straight. It is now past 3 am and I am still awake with Austin.<br /><br />Which leads me to address Ed's complaints about time frames and how many hours a day Ed is watching Austin.<br /><br />If you do not know Austin is an almost 11 year old with autism. When he was 2 he slept 2 hours a day. Since we met TACA and GFCfEF things have gotten better, but some how summer brings out the worst in Austin and Ed. Oh wait I see a common thread here, for both it is summer vacation. Ed is a high school teacher and Austin, well he is a student, one with autism. Both are not at school (Austin is at ESY but it is not the same) and out of their normal routine. For the mom/wife that still has to maintain a normal, stable life for both, it's never fun! It is summer and both are out of their routine and I must entertain them both and keep my sanity. Is it football yet? (Remind me of this subject mid October, when Ed is at football 24/7)<br /><br />During the school year this is a stretch, and now both of you want me to do it 24/7? With neither at school?<br /><br />Something has to give.<br /><br />I guess it did today, when Ed posted and I was asleep until 2 am ( I did not go to asleep at 4 pm, but I guess since I did not get home from the National Autism Society of America Conference of America until 8 pm, Ed took some liberties is writing his "story". )<br /><br />So lets start with Ed's issue, that not just yesterday, but most days when Austin is up until 2 am, Ed is watching him. I agree and give Ed huge props. When we dated we both stayed up late and partied hard. After having small children, under 3, that changed. Ed took the late shift and me the early one. Then the kids got big and we could both stay up late and the kids would play quietly until we got up.<br /><br />Unfortunately we made the mistake of having a second set of kids and things did not turn out so well. We went through the baby stage and not sleeping and then we hit the toddler stage of less sleep, which at that time we did not know meant autism.<br /><br />Things have gotten better, a lot better, since then, but with everything we go through it cycles and I'm pretty sure when Austin wakes up at 4 am, or like today still awake at this moment at 3:43 am that now I'm the one awake.<br /><br />While my husband decided to take to Facebook to bash me on Facebook I'm going to point out that parenting a child is not the same as parenting a child with autism. Most parents cycle their kids into sleep habits, most parents of children with autism don't get that luxury and become snarky with their spouses.<br /><br />When you see mine or Ed's snarky Facebook posts remember that we are not your average parent. We are parents living and dealing with life and autism.</span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-66539731274946840322012-07-27T23:05:00.000-07:002012-07-27T23:05:07.532-07:00I am thankful!!<br />
A great life lesson: It is always good to say "thank you", you never know what the impact will have.<br />
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I had a mom come up to me today at the national ASA conference today and thank me for my posts on the yahoo groups, which I have not done since November 2008, and Facebook. She wanted to let me know that my child, Austin, and his journey made a difference in her life and for her child.<br />
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I am very appreciative, because I it reminded me of 8 years ago, when I was alone and doing this on my own with a search engine, and I found Dana's View. I stalked that poor woman, via yahoo groups (8) including GFCF Kids, an enzyme group and many others, until she brought me HOME, to Talk About Curing Autism NOW where I found, where I belonged.<br />
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If I ever meet Dana's View, I will thank her from the bottom of my heart, not just for Austin, but for the person who thanked me. Dana's life changed my life, my kid's life and Andrea's family's life, we are all better people thanks to Dana putting herself out there. I hope I can repay the debt I owe her, a debt she would never even think I owe. <br />
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I have said it a 1000 times, I do not have a recovered kid, but I have a completely different kid thanks to TACA and the other TACA mom's and the Dana's of the world who were brave enough to bring their stories forward or tell parents about organizations like TACA. They were not held back by worry about their kids being PUNISHED or losing services, they were not be held back by fear, that if you told another parent about a service that a your school district gave you, they may take back that service or rescind it. (And yes, I had a parent tell me that) They stuck their necks' out and they said, (fu) I am going to get other kids services, it is not just about my kid! The world I live in today is much better place because of TACA and Dana's View, I know many parents who are like me and pay it forward.<br />
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Life lesson, if you put yourself out there, you do make a difference, even if no one tells you it. Someone is where you are today and needs to hear what you say. You can change the world, it starts with one person at a time!!!<br />PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-82723397645355523422012-05-23T12:54:00.000-07:002012-05-23T13:13:12.014-07:00Don't Be Fooled by the "Gluten-Free" Hype Email From Vitamin Research Products®<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Dear </span><a href="http://www.vrp.com/" target="_blank"><strong id="yui_3_2_0_7_1337801611597434" style="background-color: #e4ebf1; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: center;">Vitamin Research Products®</strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">,</span></a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #454545; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> wanted to let you know I found this mornings email and the<a href="http://www.vrp.com/page/ll/?promotionCode=VWL1000&utm_content=img_mainbanner&utm_source=so20120523&utm_campaign=so&utm_term=cid-671893&utm_medium=email&rmid=VRP_SO_20120523_VWL1000&rrid=387168663&cmpid=email-so-so20120523&rcustid=671893" target="_blank"> link</a> in it about the </span><span class="yshortcuts cs4-visible" id="lw_1337801613_0" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(54, 99, 136); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">gluten free diet</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> to be misleading and offensive. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">As a parent of a child who has severe GI issues and has been Gluten free, casein free, and egg free for 8 years, I can assure the diet does work and it is not a Hoax! I think sending out that email could be very misleading to someone considering doing the diet. While the gluten free diet, as with all diets, supplements, medical treatments, prescription drugs and alternative treatments, do not work for everyone, BUT they do work for some. Calling gluten free a hoax is NOT appropriate, not true and a disservice to all of your customers. In addition many people who try gluten free diets, may actually need a more restrictive diet than gluten free, for my child, he has to also be egg and apple free and needs digestive enzymes. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">I think this email could have been handled better by better phrasing such as, "Are you gluten free and still suffering from digestive problems?". Instead of insulting a huge core of your customer base and dismissing a very worthy and appropriate treatment for many GI issues and <a href="http://www.celiac.org/" target="_blank">celiac's disease</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Until you send out an apology to your customers who follow the diet and revamp your page, I will no longer be purchasing your products nor recommending them. I will also be suggesting that all autism friends, gluten free friends, and celiac friends do the same!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Bottom line consider your customer base before sending out misinformation on valued treatments!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Sincerely a former customer and Austin's mom who believes in gluten free!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">P.S. For my readers i</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">f this offends you also call, (800) 877-2447, and tell them it offends you too!!!</span>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-41994159088935385592012-04-04T23:34:00.006-07:002012-04-25T11:11:01.214-07:00Autism Awareness Month, I am over it!!Call it what you like, but Autism Awareness Month does not help me or most of the parents I know. It more reminds us how alone we are and how the <a href="http://www.autismspeaks.org/">big blue puzzle piece</a> uses this month to suck more money out of our community and away from <a href="http://www.tacanow.org/">charities that actually help families </a>like mine, but I regress.<br />
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This years "Autism Awareness Month" is especially painful. Every year I read about parents who kill their children with autism and sometimes themselves, but this year it hit me especially hard as it not only my community, it is not just my state, but it is my county, San Diego County. <a href="http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/apr/04/mother-pleads-not-guilty-killing-son/">A mom, killed her child and possibly tried to kill herself. I am consumed with guilt, even though I have never met this woman or her child. I just know I could have been this woman and Austin could have been this child.</a> The difference between me and her, I am not sure. I like to think it is my two older kids who were teens during the years of hell, the years of poop smears, not sleeping, trying to figure out diet, biomedical and services and an awesome brother-in-law, mother-in-law, sister and mom who were on my side and did not <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">under mind</span> me or Ed through the whole process of trying to figure diet and biomedical out. And yes I did list the in-laws first for a reason, most moms I know have some issues with their own families but they have more with their in-laws. For me I never had an issue for with any, they were all on team Austin and still are. I thank God daily for the fact that I have a team of family members who "get it", but I know my fellow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">PITAs</span></span> and Warrior parents are not all as lucky as me. I know most of my friends do not have the family support I have.<br />
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I worry about families who do not have the support I do, the families who have no family support, no community support and no one to listen to them and know that they are not alone. I can only imagine how Daniel's mom felt, how alone she was, how <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">desperate</span> she was and what could have overwhelmed her to the point that she would hurt her own child and try to hurt herself. I pray for Daniel's dad, I know he is feeling guilt, and wondering how he missed the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">signs</span>, I worry he will never get over it, I worry about him being alone. He is now in two worlds but does not belong to either, he had a kid with autism and he had a kid that was murdered, he is a lost soul, I am sure he is also confused about his feelings about his wife, the mother and murderer of his child. I look at my own husband and I project my own feelings onto him in two ways, 1 what if I was Daniel's mom and had done this and what if he was the one who had done this. I have no answers. I have more questions than answers. I am confused. I am overwhelmed. And again I am thankful, I am thankful that 6.5 years ago, I had more support than I knew and I am not Daniel's mom, I am Austin's mom. I am also Ashley's mom, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Nickalas's</span></span> Mom, and Emily's Mom, I am Tanya's sister, Clem's sister in law, and Sandy's daughter and Ed's wife, and Shelly's best friend, and even though my best friend would be the first to say she can't watch Austin she is there always to back me up and if I called her she would know who could and would get both me and Austin the help we needed immediately.<br />
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I am a lucky one, I had a team behind me. A very supportive team or as my sister calls them my "ASS", my AUTISM SUPPORT STAFF, they along with my fellow <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">PITAs</span></span> are my life line. They are what keep me moving forward and what makes me know tomorrow will be okay!! MY <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">PITAs</span> and my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ASSes</span> are also what keep me moving <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">everday</span>. I know I can ask for help.<br />
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I pray daily to make sure every parent like me has at least a PITA or an ASS. If your not a parent of a child with autism, I pray you will be an ASS, we need you, we <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">desparately</span> need you!!!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="260" scrolling="no" src="http://wizpert.com/wizapi/widget?beta_key=3ba42&view=207&ep=2356&size=standard" width="180"></iframe>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-46907436218139316902012-04-02T17:54:00.029-07:002012-04-03T13:28:08.713-07:00Seriously, I'm in love with Jillian Michaels. Don't HATE me!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47kZxeuyBzC0pD5pdpzx-sWf2qQ-hox6KxOCci7nE-tWxAV-dbqvFCMjEEwTWsAZCyFPsNEZRIg7TeEmTDfPxPjZ10YGCp4kt_RelqIWJuYt9BQQ13_fazceyOqRe-E4M0ldckZQqurU/s1600/51QlqI3yaOL__SL500_AA300_.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727272148356707042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47kZxeuyBzC0pD5pdpzx-sWf2qQ-hox6KxOCci7nE-tWxAV-dbqvFCMjEEwTWsAZCyFPsNEZRIg7TeEmTDfPxPjZ10YGCp4kt_RelqIWJuYt9BQQ13_fazceyOqRe-E4M0ldckZQqurU/s200/51QlqI3yaOL__SL500_AA300_.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>Seriously, I'm in love with Jillian <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Michaels</span></span>. </div><br /><br /><div>And before you send me hate mail and tell me she posted an anti Andy Wakefield link on her <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span></span> page, let me tell you unfortunately I know! And unfortunately I had already purchased the video and was over a week in to her "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jillian-Michaels-30-Day-Shred/dp/B00127RAJY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333414740&sr=8-1">30 Day Shred</a>" before I was told of her possibly being pro vaccine. </div><br /><br /><div>Being a poor autism mom, I had already spent the $ and was feeling the burn from the DVD. Considering the norm in my world is that there is no extra money and generally no physical burn from exercise out side of chasing the kid with autism, I decided I would continue with the 30 Days since I already had opened the DVD and could not return it. </div><br /><br /><div>For the any of you who do not want to give her any money I recommend seeing if you can rent it from the library or <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Netflix</span></span>. It is less than $10 on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">amazon.com</a> so she can't be making that much off it anyways!All that aside as a parent of a child with autism I know most of us are on limited time, especially if you are the parent of a child under the age of 5. You are also low on funds, because if you're on my friends with me your probably spending all your money on supplements, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">gfcf</span></span> everything free, organic, therapy and more things than I can name. So this video is made for you! For under $14 which just is the cost of the video and two 3 pound hand weights ($34 if you buy an exercise mat) and just 20 minutes of time in 30 Days you can also be in much better shape and much healthier! I know you are also like me and know we have to live forever for our child with autism so being in the best health you can be is the most selfless thing you can do! Beyond the physical health, exercise is also an amazing mental health remedy and when you are done with the 1st 30 days and you apply yourself, I can guarantee your self esteem will be higher also.</div><br /><br /><div>How can I guarantee that?</div><br /><br /><div>After just doing Level 1 of 3, I went from:</div><br /><br /><div>31.2% body fat to 27.2% body fat</div><br /><br /><div>I lost a total of 12.6 inches, 4 in the waist and 2.5 in the hips.</div><br /><br /><div>I gained one pound, which is all muscle!<br /><br />AND I still ate out, had ice cream and drank beer occasionally. I do eat lots of veggies, eat appropriate portion sizes and take half home when eating out, but I generally do not give up anything when I am working out, I just try to eat less!! I have found allowing my self to at least have some of my favorites leads me to never having to binge eat!<br /><br />I use the <a href="http://bodybugg.com/"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">bodybugg</span></span> system</a> which helps you track measurements, weight and will figure your body weight. If you are not willing or do not have the funds to invest in the system then I have a few recommendations to help you. The most important thing in any weight loss program is not knowing your weight, it is know you your measurements. When you stop losing weight and if you have not done your measurements you will get discouraged and give up. At that point in time you are gaining muscle and muscle weighs more than fat, so you will need to confirm you are losing inches to keep you on track. Start an excel file with your starting weight, and the following measurements: neck, upper arm, forearm, chest (I measure under the breasts, think bottom strap of your bra to make sure I have a consistent area to measure), waist (I measure at the belly button), hips, thigh and calf. <a href="http://www.myfitnesspal.com/">My Fitness Pal</a> is free website/app that can also be used to track your food consumption, weight, neck, waist and hips. I know that when I started losing weight the last thing on earth I wanted to know was my measurements, but when I hit that first <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">plateau</span> I was very happy to see even though I had stopped losing weight that I had lost inches.</div><br /><br /><div>The 20 minute video consists of 3 levels, each level consists of a warm up and cool down and 3 circuits of: 3 minutes weights/resistance training, 2 minutes <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">cardio</span></span>, and 1 minute abs.</div>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4354494010312714450.post-79928491791554767722012-04-02T13:08:00.009-07:002012-04-02T14:02:35.559-07:00Thanks Autism Speaks for again doing nothing for us on World Autism Day!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwT0CXi_VWPWmr356X3HFXexZxeJECbGsHIS2jkjBzd8quh0AbtHwxlOpHq5F4KTEcaTlL-nR4uJj476yxXJCvMXwU19b1WO799BUCdSuJnrghj1icGtVR3_pCpDnobM0g95fgu2U5ss/s1600/530559_10150744637076928_730416927_11643820_1874803932_n.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 335px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5726907403363273682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwT0CXi_VWPWmr356X3HFXexZxeJECbGsHIS2jkjBzd8quh0AbtHwxlOpHq5F4KTEcaTlL-nR4uJj476yxXJCvMXwU19b1WO799BUCdSuJnrghj1icGtVR3_pCpDnobM0g95fgu2U5ss/s400/530559_10150744637076928_730416927_11643820_1874803932_n.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">Dear Autism Speaks, </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;"><br />I had decided to not write about you this year for Autism Awareness Day, until I got the following e-mail from you.<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#3333ff;">Autism SpeaksiPad2 Application<br /></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">Dear Applicant,</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">Thank you for applying for the AutismCares iPad2 Grant.<br /><br />We received 13,000 applications from around the world, but could only consider families located in the United States. </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">Although your family was not awarded this time, your application will be kept on file in case we are able to donate more iPads in the future.<br /><br />For resources, toolkits, and much more information for you and your family, please visit </span><a style="COLOR: blue; TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Q8Bbi82swi4sMUlxRwtBBElOog_bTcxITM4oW-Av6mvj9yIGTTvRRBwdYE2lIza9IOlgC7DKlDnG-ehzx7RROlC2PtY9G6VaDgVouzRttcBiSfNI_YGdLvju694DqwDxNPUYZCH1Oy4=" shape="rect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color:#3333ff;">autismspeaks.org</span></a><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"><br />Sincerely,</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:0;"></span><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;">Autism Speaks</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">Since you decided on World Autism Day to blatantly slap me across the face and point out how little you do for my family, my non verbal child with Autism and our autism community, I've decided to go ahead and write a blog and open letter to your organization.<br /><br />I'm at a loss on how an organization that raised $50,238,297 dollars, almost $17 million spent in salaries, another $17 million on "other expenses" in 2010, couldn't possibly use some of that $17 million in "other expenses" for 2011 on 13,000 iPads. I was at Walmart this morning and the iPad 2 is only $399.00 and would only be $5,187,000 and would actually benefit the people you claim to be fundraising to help. As far as I can tell from your tax return is the only people you are really helping are those who are paid their salaries by you.<br /><br />As for our non verbal child Austin and him getting a much needed iPad, I guess we will keep plugging along on how to fundraise a bit of the money away from you and into </span><a href="http://austinprimer.chipin.com/austin-primer-to-get-an-ipad-warranty-and-case"><span style="color:#3366ff;">Austin's fundraiser.</span></a><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#3366ff;"><br /></span><br /><br />For Austin Primer and the rest of the 1 in 88 kids with autism and their families that your NOT SPEAKING FOR, let me say thanks again for NOTHING and I hope you suck that <span style="color:#3333ff;">blue</span> light bulb and choke on the little <span style="color:#3366ff;">blue</span> puzzle piece.<br /><br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br /><br />Shannon Primer whose proud to Speak for herself and proudly wearing black today!!!<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><object width="250" height="250"><param name="movie" value="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/45dac4ae1b4fb48c"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="color_scheme" value="red"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><embed src="http://widget.chipin.com/widget/id/45dac4ae1b4fb48c" flashvars="color_scheme=red" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" wmode="transparent" width="250" height="250"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>PITAUPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00763632513458275924noreply@blogger.com0