United we stand, divided OUR CHILDREN FALL

I left high school a long time ago, and all the pettiness that comes with being in High School, and then I met SoapNet boards which had the board wars of all board wars. I fought on those, I have at least 3 Facebook Friends who can attest to this, I had many screen names, I was good at it, I could win arguments and argue story lines, and I could fight the best of them.

Then I met Autism, and the adorable blonde boy in the picture, who was nothing like that 6.5 years ago and I realized there was actually something worthy of fighting for, something worthy of my time and my efforts and my passion.

For all of you who are invested in this Facebook war of Diet vs. non diet parents, Nuero-Diverse vs. Anti-vaccine war, I am here to tell you, the war is not worth it.

Honestly I only expect to appeal to the parents like me who are parents of kids with Autism, we may be a parent who never tried diet, we maybe a parent who is unsure about vaccines but thinks the government is trying to protect us. We also may be Pro Safe Vaccines, Pro Diet, and Pro helping their kid with Autism, because honestly most parents I am friends with are somewhere in the middle. Also most of the adults with Autism or Asperger’s I am friends with feel the same. They are not anti me helping my kid; they are anti-anyone changing them. I am not pro changing my kid; I am pro making my kid a healthy happy part of society who is not dependent on society.

Honestly, I think the ND’s are out to just divide us, which is why I am pleading to you all who are like me to think about what you are doing, what you are giving the media and what it really costs our kids. Let’s stop fighting those ND, big pharm people who are paid to annoy and distract us, and let’s concentrate on who we need to educate. 1) Our elected officials 2) the media 3) other parents of children with Autism and most important pregnant and new parents.

LET'S STOP BEING DIVIDED!!!!

I am too old, at 39.5, and to invested in my kid with Autism, and helping new parents like me, to be at war with anyone on Facebook. At the DAN in October a bunch of PITAs tried to tease me into fighting with the Autism Speaks volunteer and I said it then and I will say it now; I don't fight volunteers or the rank and file employees. If someone wants to buy me a ticket to argue with Autism Speaks at their fancy Park Ave office or this Zoey person face to face, I will do it, but until then, I have a real life, real families to help and children and a husband to attend to.

To show I walk this line day to day I have a friend from high School on my friends list on Facebook whose husband is an infectious disease doctor and even she has not unfriended me, but I am sure she has hid my posts.

So let’s all go back to what we do best…

1) Educate others
2) Educate our elected officials
3) Educate our news organizations
4) And ignore the ND and people who make us fight between ourselves when there is a real battle to fight.

We have 2 choices stand united together, or stand divided and let OUR CHILDREN FALL.

After 6.5 years in the world of Autism, I just recently started watching Soap Opera's again, I have no desire to go back to the Soap Boards, I have no interest in a board war, there or here in real life.

I'm asking you my counter part in the WAR AGAINST AUTISM to do the same, lets stand together, lets stop let this be a battle of our community, lets stand together because divided OUR CHILDREN FALL!!!

Protect our children, protect my child! Stand together and PITAup! The life you change may not be your own it may be the life of a child or adult with Autism.

Posted on a friends Facebook wall…

Posted on a friends Facebook wall…

• “Kids with special needs aren't sick or gross. They only want what everyone else wants, to be accepted. Can I make a request? Is anyone willing to post this and leave it on your status for at least 1 hour? It is special education week, and in honor of all children made in a unique way. You never understand a situation until you are faced with it.”

I struggle with these when they come up. I honestly do feel my child with Autism is physically sick which causes his autism, and I understand the underlying message is to get our kids accepted. Unfortunately I think sometimes these messages send a silent message that those of us trying to make our kids healthier or look for recovery or a taboo "cure" are not “accepting” of our kids being themselves and being accepted in the real life community. I think that is a huge misconception. I don’t think that is true for Austin Primer.

I am looking for recovery and I am looking for acceptance in Austin’s social community, which today is his elementary school. I think our teacher Liz O. and her wonderful support staff would agree, Austin has at least 60 peers who know him and understand that he has Autism after almost 3 years of partial mainstreaming. As he continues through Elementary school there should be at least 120 students who have come in direct contact with Austin and will know how to deal with Austin in social situations outside of school, such as football. A great example of this is a girl named Dallas. Dallas attends lot of high school football games (my husband is a HS teacher and football coach) in our town and is also in Austin’s 2nd grade mainstream class. Austin has attended HS football games since his 9-1-2001 birth.

Unfortunately this is a good thing and a bad thing for Austin and may be a different blog, but back to this blog and ACCEPTANCE…

This year everything changed at football. All the games that Dallas is at she runs up and talks to Austin. The absolute joy on his face, the fact that he waves (says hi) without prompting to Dallas shows he gets it, she gets it, and bottom line he ACCEPTED. I can tell other stories of these types of things in public due to being with these two awesome teachers, the Special Ed teacher, Liz O. and the awesome mainstream teacher, Caitlyn C.

My child is not the child he was 6.5 years ago, he is far from the recovered child!!!

He is still the “pre” verbal (yes otherwise known as NON VERBAL, but I have decided to take, author Kim Stagliano’s way of thinking, that we are homo sapians and we have the ability to speak, so I have a child with Autism who is “preverbal. Even though he is “preverbal, Austin is now part of MY/YOUR world and no longer only in the “world of Autism”.

The short story of change for my child is that before TACAnow.org and all they have taught me to help his health, is that he used to think of people as the same furniture, we meant nothing to him. He spinned, ran into walls, colored and ignored us the 22 hours of the day he was awake. His one and only Neurologist told us to “go home and learn to live with it, this was the rest of our lives”, oh did I say we had poop smears on the wall at this point in his life?

I’ll say it once, I will say it a million times, that is NOT my life! I refused to accept it then and I refuse to accept it now. Again, I DO NOT HAVE A RECOVERED, CURED, NORMAL, WHAT EVER WORD SOMEONE IN THE PRESS OR THE AUTISM COMMUNITY AGREES WITH.

What I have…

Is a different child and I am ok with having a different child.

Within a year of starting the GFCF diet and enzymes all of those things STOPPED! He slept through the night, he began to realize we were people, he stopped coloring, etc. Today 6.5 years ago he recognizes people; it is the most awesome feeling to get eye contact and a huge smile when I pick up from school.

WHAT I AM NOT OK with is sitting back and accepting “this” life for me, for Austin or for his siblings. I loathe parents who think that this is the lot they are given and they accept what is. Even if diet does not work or you’re not willing to try it, you better be willing to step out of your comfort zone and get your child the services they need. With 1:110 children with Autism you should not assume gets your child acceptance and you should not assume the Facebook wish is either. The way you get your child acceptance is working on all the things I and other parents work on. You work on making your child health, you work on their social community and you work on you and supporting you with a community like you.

More of my favorite things...

The last few years’ plastics have been in the news and there is a lot of worry about using such plastics. The two most commonly talked about plastics are PET and BPA. According Wikipedia the plastic commonly abbreviated as PET or PETE bottles are “Polyethylene terephthalate (sometimes written poly(ethylene terephthalate)), or the obsolete PETP or PET-P), is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers; beverage, food and other liquid containers; thermoforming applications; and engineering resins often in combination with glass fiber.” Wikipedia says BPA is “Bisphenol A an organic compound with two phenol functional groups used to make polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, along with other applications.”

With all the other toxins Autism parents have to worry about, I have myself decided to take the easy approach and to just try to avoid both. Since I am a bit of a PITA about the way my water tastes I was a little concerned about going without bottled water. I personally drink at least a half-gallon of water a day and my children drink only water when at home. We rarely have soda in the house and if we do we only have Hansen’s Natural Soda. Being the poor girl that I am an expensive water filtration systems are out of our family budget and the water snob in me says no way to tap water . So how does one actually give up bottle water without buying one of those expensive water filtration systems and without drinking tap water?

For me the compromise has been Stainless Steel Water Bottles and an inexpensive water system you can buy at a store near you.

The issues I have found after trying a few different Stainless Water Bottles is that they are not all Autism friendly. Our kids spill, chew, stim, throw, lose, have sensory issues and goodness only knows what else. I also have the other three children who worry about looks and what other kids will think if they are lugging around a bottle of water not in the latest trending bottle like Fiji, Aqua Fina, Dasani, etc. My first try out was the Costco brand water bottle, they are inexpensive and easy to purchase. They are nice because they keep the lid with the bottle by a small plastic strap. The down side is the plastic strap is a much preferred chew toy to my 9 year old with Autism. The down side for me was the obnoxious sound they made every time you tried to suck water out of them. That led me to take off the top and drink out of a hole bigger than a quarter and smaller than a half dollar. It also led to me spilling on myself, especially while on the treadmill. No matter how inexpensive something is it does still have to be practical. For me practical includes autism and gym friendly.

I was very fortunate when a friend sent me her version of the Stainless Steel Water bottle to try. The Tazzini water bottle is all that their website claims. It is “convenient and healthy, designed with busy families in mind, we created the healthiest, most-convenient leak-proof stainless steel bottle you can invest in. “

The number one thing I love is the cap!!! When closed is about 2 inches tall and 2 inches wide and 1 inch think. Number one thing, it is so far been indestructible by Austin, which is no small task. I also think it’s size makes it less likely to be lost if your house is somewhat clean. Unless it gets thrown into your toy chest, teen boy’s smelly room your refuse to enter or teen daughter’s closet, you should be ok, because it is big enough to spot under the coach and on your floor. Surprisingly despite the size it is still easy to drink out of. You just flip open the lid twists the spill proof drink port and drink. I also very much like the way the area you drink out of is shaped, so far Austin has yet to figure out how to chew on it. On most kid water bottles the top is one that you pull out and is just the right size to chew until destroyed.

I personally for me also like the size of the bottle. I generally drink almost two 16 ounce water bottles in an hour trip to the gym. The Tazzini water bottle is 24.7 ounces and will stay cold until the end. The bottle is also well designed. It is a little smaller in the middle which means it is easy to grab and grip while walking 4 miles per hour on the tread mill or running 6 miles per hour on the treadmill.

Emily the 10 year old also loves the bottle. As soon as she saw it tried to steal it for hers since it has a cool peace sign design.

The Primer Family agrees with the Tazzini website, “There are so many reasons to love a Tazzini!”

Tazzinni also won best product of the year in the Inventor’s Showcase at the Moms in Business Unite conference!

This blog went a little longer than I expected so a future blog will be on the inexpensive water filtration system that you can buy at a store near you.

Until next time PITAup and do something to change the life of a child with Autism, the life you change maybe your own!!!

Independence Day

What is Independence Day? The birthday of America? Yes, but to most it’s an extra day off.

For many families of children with Autism it’s actually the opposite it can be the day of dependence. It is one of those days where you realize your family is different and you can’t just go to any ole BBQ and 4th of July Party. Whither it is behaviors you are worried about or special diets, in our world’s it is always something, especially when invited to a mainstream party.

Until 3 years ago this was especially hard for our family. We never really went to any BBQ or 4th of July celebrations due to Austin’s Autism. Then 3 years ago the Watson family invited us over. They did not have a child with Autism they just liked us and wanted us to join them. It was probably one of the biggest Independence Day’s for our family. And I don’t mean 4th of July celebrations, it actually made us feel independent to be able to take our kids and part of a normal celebration. It truly was one of the best gifts we have been given. It made us a little more daring and a little more willing to try out new parties and places.

The other awesome thing we got out it from year to year was to see how far Austin had come. The first year we were forever telling him to not touch other peoples food and drinks we had to keep both eyes on him at all times. As the last couple years have shown, Austin has gotten better at only touching his own food and drinks. Now it’s more of a crime of opportunity if thinks we are not watching him. This year the Watson’s will not be having their annual 4th of July party, but the Primer family will still be thinking of them and thankful for the gift they have given us. We know that for many families with Autism the day of Independence has not yet come. Especially to you new parents, who are still in the weeds (new to diagnoses up to about 3 years into Autism), keep moving forward, you too will get here someday soon. I know it is hard to see it now, but please know it gets better!!! Or maybe you get better at it. Either way it feels better!!!

As we are also thankful for this “extra day off” we also give thanks for the bigger picture of Independence. While we are all at BBQ and 4th of July parties here on American soil, there are men and women in uniform all over the world protecting that freedom. I don’t care if you agree with the war or not, I just care that our Armed Service people out there fighting know we love and appreciate their daily sacrifices. They are missing the fun of 4th of July, the BBQ, the visiting with friends and family, the beer, the soda, the potato salad, the Jell-O shots and the fireworks tonight that we all be enjoying. They are also missing their families. I also thank the family of every armed service person, because I know how much they miss them also and how much they appreciate the sacrifice, because they also sacrifice for our freedom. I especially am proud of my sister and her family on this day as my brother-in-law is one of those men and women fighting to protect us! Thank you Brian for fighting for us, thank you Tanya, Kirby and Addie for being strong and allowing the rest of us the privilege of Brian protecting us!!! We love you all and are so proud of you all!!!

Until next time PITAup and if you see someone in the Marine Corp, Army or Navy today or know a family of a military person, thank them for all they do for us!!!

*Please note any links that are in green and underlined twice are being linked by the blog, and are not being linked by me and do not represent anything I am promoting*

Diagnosis day

What do you do on the day of your child’s diagnosis? Is it a day of reflection, a day of tears (happy or sad) or is it just another day.

When Austin was diagnosed 6 years ago today, June 15, 2004, I never cried. Not once. I cried when a co worker of Ed’s child was diagnosed a year later, because I worried what she was walking into with our district.

I have cried over success and failure of friends children, but until this year I don’t think I have actually cried for me, for the Primer’s and for our losses and gains from Autism.

Some how I think this year is different. I have been weepy for the last few weeks. Not all the tears were sad and not all were happy. I have just been a mix of emotions lately. I do fear I have gone soft. SHHHH don’t tell anyone, it’s our little secret!!!!

I have cried every time I think about our Special Ed Director, Bruce Kramer, leaving Carlsbad Unified, I cry because I know what a difference he has made for Austin, and I cry because I worry about who is coming to replace him. Will it be like it was at the beginning where I had to fight for everything or will our district bring another Autism knowledgeable person in to continue Bruce’s work?

I have cried because an awesome warrior mom, Christina Martynec, who I met at the Green Our Vaccine Rally in June of 2008 and now know personally had her child undiagnosed a few weeks ago.

I have cried over Austin leaving parrell play and actually seeking kids out to play with. He may not always succeed, but he is trying. So thankful he has kids who want to help him be successful. Not just the kids at school, but kids like Paige and Julie. Tag seems to be a universal game every child can play even the non verbal ones!!!

Some how all these tears seem different then when I cried for Ed’s co worker all those years ago. Those tears were angry tears. These tears are tears for all the emotions I have felt over the last 6 years. They represent the ups and downs I have gone through. They represent my fears of the future and how I am unsure my kid will ever be recovered. They represent my thankfulness of how far we have come. They represent the things I know that I have changed and made better for the person who walks into Autism after me. They represent the things I know I still have to fight in the future.

Today not only do I reflect on my own child’s diagnosis, I reflect on those who came before me and paved the way for me and others like me. Thank you Lisa Ackerman, thank you Becky Estepp, thank you Katie Wright, thank you Dana’s view, thank you Karen L. DeFelice, thank you Dr. Wakefield, Dr. McCandless, thank you all DAN doctors who have stepped up and thank you all who I can’t mention who made a difference the for me and many others who follow us. I hope even if I change the world I live in, that I some day have the right to stand next you all, because you all changed the world for me, Austin and the entire Primer Family. We don’t have the recovered kid, but we have a completely different kid then we had 6 years ago today.

PITAup, you may not be able to change the world, but you have the ability to change the world you live in!! If it was not for someone like you, I would have had to gone home and done what our Kaiser, go home and don’t “thrive”, neurologist said and learned to live with Autism. Instead, I am today on our 6th anniversary of our Autism diagnosis, I get to reflect on the ups and down, but I know my life is better because of parents like me.

Thank you also to all that I call PITA, without you I could not get up every day and do what I do. You give me strength and courage to continue to fight. Love you all!!!

Talk About Curing Autism Now Family Picnic

Yesterday we attended the TACA family picnic. As usual it is one of our MOST favorite days of the years. The kids had fun, the parents had fun, and over all it gets 2 thumbs up from everyone who attended with us.

I want to take a moment to thank all the volunteers and TACA office staff. You once again out did yourselves. It’s nice to be able to go to a picnic where everything is safe for Austin to eat and also delish!!!

If you were not able to attend you missed some really really really good food. I want to take a moment to also thank all the food venders and give their companies a plug. I think my most favorite food was a new item that thankfully Susan Kristie came and found me and told me I had to try. Thanks Susan!!!

That item was the NuLife foods (which all their foods are Gluten Free, Casein Free and Soy Free) Chicken Burger Patties, these are also egg free. It got two thumbs up from everyone in our party. It was so good that Austin and another child in our group chose to eat the chicken burger instead of the much preferred Fritos. That in of itself is just about amazing, but to top that my anti-chicken husband also loved it. When they had extra boxes of uncooked patties, they offered them to Picnic Guests to take home. Eddie Garcia said that he turned to look and Carissa and I were a puff of smoke!!! (Guess what hubby asked to have for dinner tonight?) I went and checked out their website and they have a lot of other great items like Chicken Pancakes that I want to now try. They also have some exciting new products coming out like Breakfast Empanada, Apple Pie Empanada, and Mashed Sweet Potatoes. Their website also offers you the ability to search by Allergen beyond GFCFSF. (Oh and the company rep I met yesterday, swears this is not even their most popular product, I guess they better send me some so I can taste test their other products, lol)

Update *7/3/10* you can get a NuLife trial pack for on $10, with special discount code Enter TRYME01 in the Promotion Code box in your cart (good for only 1 use per customer)!!! (Basically its like getting shipping for free. And for the price of shipping you can add one more item to try)

Includes:

8 chicken nuggets
2 chicken burgers
8 beefy veggy meatballs
2 slices of ultimate cheese pizza
2 pieces of French toast
4 chocolate chip cookies

Newport Rib Company was also their with splendid pulled pork and beef sandwiches. As always these were a favorite amongst the entire group. It’s hard to believe that the BBQ sauce is GFCF. The have an excellent GFCF menu offered at their local Orange County, California restaurants.

In-N-Out burger was also in the house. For those of you who do not know you can safely eat GFCF at In-N-Out if you just let the cashier know. They have a separate grill where they grill GF hamburgers and will wrap them up protein style and the fries are always safe since only fries are friend in their fryers.

La Rancherita was also at the picnic serving up the cutest little tacos. I did not personally try these after being stuffed with a chicken burger and pull pork sandwich, but many PITA families ate them and enjoyed them.

For snacks there were also plenty to choose from. An old favorite was back, Green Cupcakes. The first year they attended the picnic, about the 8th mini cupcake Austin ate, Ed turned to me and said, “Are you going to let him eat another one?” I looked at him as was like “hell yes”. We had just become egg free and here was a soft, delicious cupcake that GFCFEF. They did not fail to please again this year. I am sure Austin and our friend Julie ate at least 8 each.

Other great snacks included Lucy’s Gluten Free Cookies (made without milk, eggs, peanuts or tree nuts), Pamela's Cookies (produced to be wheat-free and gluten-free, products are produced in a facility which also makes products containing: peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs and soy), EnerG Pretzels (free of gluten, wheat, dairy, casein, soy, egg, nut, low protein. May contain Sesame and Poppy seed.)& Cinnamon Crackers (free of gluten, wheat, casein, dairy, yeast, egg, soy, nut, rice, low protein). If I missed any of the other vendor please let me know because I am more then happy to give them a shout out also!!!

As always please PITAup and check out the awesome sponsors of TACA. Gluten Free Casein free has come a long way since we started June 16, 2004 and the Primer family is most appreciative of the opportunity to have a fun family day with good food, great friends and an awesome Autism Charity!!! Thanks to everyone who helped make it a perfect day!!!

Is it wrong to some days just hate your friends who do not have a child with Autism?

Is it wrong to some days just hate your friends who do not have a child with Autism? Because right now I hate you all equally, as my mom used to say about me and my siblings.

Ok not because I hate you, I hate the fact that you can worry about such trivial things like wither or not your kid is getting into the right school, or camp, summer camp, or can even go to camp or if its your vacation to some exotic place I can only dream of going!!!

Honestly, my older kids dream about not working through college, they dream of a life without $50k in student loans they dream about a day that they may not be responsible for their sibling with Autism and they wish their parents could afford to pay their college tuition or take them on a cruise or to Europe, Emily dreams about an over night camp. My husband dreams of vacations far from Carlsbad. I dream of a weekly massage and unlimited shopping trips, but hey I am easy, lol.

Unfortunately that is not our life!!

Ok maybe it’s been a bad day, a really bad day!

Just because my special ed director decided to leave our district right as I hit my period and just one week before the 6 anniversary of Austin’s diagnoses, and I have to worry about the fact that a day camp for Austin can cost $1000 to $2000 a week, and that this is really the rest of my life.

I guess I am not sure why I am surprised by my negative reaction to everything (yes that is sarcasm).

I guess today is the day that I am not little miss sunshine, lollipops and life is good.

I really try. I know how far Austin and our family has come but some days you just have to say it!!

Today sucks. Autism sucks!!!

The one person in Carlsbad Unified School District that actually had the power to make a difference has left. His supervisor ended his message to the teachers about his departure with this ominous message, “We began talking this afternoon in executive cabinet about how best to fill this incredibly important position in these tight financial times.”

I honestly wish Bruce well, but I am so sad by him leaving. It breaks my heart and makes me want to go back to the crazy parent I was 5 years ago when Bruce met me. Chances are I will, but there is a small part of me that hopes that Dr. Roach is right when he said, “He has helped us “right the ship” in services to Special Education students. We have made tremendous progress in the five years Bruce has led that division.”

I guess if nothing else Bruce gave me hope. Well here to me PITAing up and keeping the hope.

"The parents are not going away."

"The parents are not going away. The children are not going away. And I am certainly not going away." ~ Dr. Andrew Wakefield on The Today Show May 24, 2010.

I once read “adversity doesn't build character, it just brings it out.” Thank you Dr. Wakefield once again for showing us character. I wish there were more people like you in the world.

The easy route is always the one of silence. It’s much harder to stand up and question what the norm thinks. Dr. Wakefield is one brave man for doing it.

For those of you not familiar with The Today Show or Nancy Snyderman (who used to work for Johnson & Johnson a major maker of vaccines, can you say conflict of interest?) neither is very fond of those of us worry about the Vaccine/Autism connection people. So Matt Lauer’s response to this story is really not that surprising either.

I guess what surprises me is how few true people of character exist in the media now days. Where are the reporters that helped these famous whistleblowers? From http://www.spiritus-temporis.com/whistleblower/famous-whistleblowers.html ...

Daniel Ellsberg - a former State Department analyst who leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971, a secret account of the Vietnam War and its pretexts to The New York Times, which revealed indemic practices of deception by previous administrations, and contributed to the erosion of public support for the war.
W. Mark Felt, (aka Deep Throat) - Until very recently, a secret informant who in 1972 leaked information about United States President Richard Nixon's involvement in Watergate. The scandal would eventually lead to the resignation of the president, and prison terms for White House Chief of Staff H. R. Haldeman and presidential adviser John Ehrlichman.
Cynthia Cooper of Worldcom and Sherron Watkins of Enron, who exposed corporate financial scandals, and Coleen Rowley of the FBI, who later outlined the agency's slow action prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The three were selected as Time's People of the Year in 2002.
Katharine Gun - a former employee of Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), a British intelligence agency who in 2003 leaked top-secret information to the press concerning illegal activities by the United States and the United Kingdom in their push for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Joseph Darby - a member of the United States military police who in 2004 first alerted the U.S. military command of prisoner abuse in the Abu Ghraib prison, in Abu Ghraib, Iraq.
Christoph Meili - a night guard at a Swiss bank. He discovered that his employer was destroying records of savings by Holocaust victims, which the bank was required to return to heirs of the victims. After the Swiss authorities sought to arrest Meili, he was given political asylum in the United States.
Walter DeNino - a student who questioned Eric Poehlman's integrity
Paul van Buitenen - who accused European Commission members of corruption.
Jeffrey Wigand - former executive of Brown & Williamson who exposed his company's practice of intentionally manipulating the effect of nicotine in cigarettes on the CBS news program 60 Minutes.

Come on one of you all has to still be out there reporting and investigating? Why can’t you work for the Today Show? Isn’t there some new reporter who wants to be on that kind of list?

Maybe I am asking the wrong question, why isn’t there a news show that supports that kind of thinking outside the box reporting? Well I know the correct answer, its money!!! Big pharm companies bring big $ to news networks. Shame on you all for picking the money over your supposed love for journalism.

Don’t worry you pharma whore news shows, Dr. Wakefield is right, "The parents are not going away. The children are not going away”. The more in denial you are about this, the more money you take for them, it does not matter. The numbers of Autism is huge and growing day by day. You can deny us but we are here and we are not going any where. Just like 50 years ago when it was proven that smoking causes cancer, this too shall be proven!!! It may take years, but we will have our victory. I just hope you are alive to see it and that you all apologize for the damage you are doing to us now!!!

Until next time. PITAup! Its better then being a big fat coward like Matt Lauer and the Today Show!!!

Autism Speaks and Sprouts: Are they meant for each other?

To me, the simple answer is no. Sprouts supports things like healthy living, alternative medicine, vitamins, minerals, gluten free diets and many other things. Yet for some reason they are fund raising for an organization that has some big corporate pharmaceutical, vaccine, prescription pushing companies as sponsors.

Why is this?

Well rumor has it (from the Sprouts employees who are willing to talk when PITA parents have inquired about why it is corporate fund raising for Autism Speaks) is that some one at corporate has a child with Autism.

I am hoping that this means that this high up person in Sprouts is a parent that is new to the diagnoses. Since Autism Speaks is known nation wide, they are trying to give back and do not understand what they are doing. I also hope and pray that they are in a corporation that stands for very different values than those of Autism Speaks. Autism Speaks does not speak for the Sprouts consumer and they definitely do not speak for 90% of the people I know who have children with Autism.

In my humble opinion Autism Speaks is anti anything and everything Sprouts stands for and maybe Sprouts just needs to be educated that one of their core consumer bases is not happy with their choice of charities. Since I know most of my friends who are PITA’s are doing this locally, I think maybe we need to do this nationally; politely at the corporate level. I think it is time to mount a campaign for them to stop sponsoring Autism Speaks. So please ask everyone you know who does not think “Autism Speaks” speaks for them to tell Sprouts which Autism organizations actually speak for them. It is also good to include why Autism Speaks and Sprouts policies are completely diametrically opposed. Sprouts, in my opinion, as a corporation should not support a charity like Autism Speaks that is anti homeopathic remedies, local grown produce, natural cures, alternative diets, biomedical, and supplements,

If you agree can you please contact Sprouts via there “Contact us Form” or by phone at 888-5SPROUT and tell them you read my blog at pitaup.com, as always be polite.

BUT tell Sprouts why they should speak in support for Autism Charities that support parents of children with Autism and natural, biomedical choices and not for a group like Autism Speaks.

Until next time PITAup!!!

To Dine Out or Not With Autism?

As the parent of 4 children I am often thankful that it is my youngest child who has Autism. Since the two older children are 10 and 12 years older then Austin, I think we put sometimes unfair expectations on Austin even with the autism. And by unfair I do not mean we ever pushed him to the breaking point, but we pushed him to very close. We pushed him to learn how to behave in public, including sit at football games, to behave at eating out and how to behave at amusement parks. It really helped that the two older children had really busy social calendars and even with Autism we kept doing those things on a regular basis.

While I do not think my child is anywhere close to the typical child with Autism, I do sometimes think that parents of small children with Autism think their child could never do “something”. My example of something for this purpose is sit at a restaurant for dinner. I often hear from my mentees that their 3 year old could never ever make it through dinner at a casual restaurant like Chili’s, Applebee’s, Bob Evans, Coco’s, etc. I also hear that because of diet they could never eat out at any of the above places.

I want to put both of those myths to bed. First and foremost just saying the words “the American’s with Disabilities act” generally makes anyone objecting to me bringing in food for Austin to stop objecting. If that does not work I will use the phrase “anaphylaxis” allergy and liable if injured or death occurs from food eaten at the restaurant, most managers then back slowly away and tell the server it is ok.

Yet this is not why I am writing this blog, it is more for the parents who tell me, my child would never sit through dinner. If you think that way your child will never sit through dinner. You will end up with an adult with Autism who can’t sit through dinner.

Now I am not suggesting you show up to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse at 6 pm on a Friday night with your 3 year old with Autism. That would be stupid and a waste of money. What I am suggesting is showing up at somewhere for dinner at 3 pm, when the crowds are small and the servers have very few tables. Then if your child with Autism acts up you can redirect and work on the bad behaviors with less of an audience. You also can leave and take your food to go if necessary. Once you have done this successfully a few times you move the time slot to 4 pm. Now the 4 pm time slot along with the 5 pm time slot will be a tougher crowd. You may have the older people crowd who do not always understand autism and who may think you are not spanking your child enough. The plus will be that the restaurant will still be less busy, but a little busy and more stimulus going on so your child can work on learning the skills he or she will need to make it successfully at a restaurant at dinner.

Always be prepared when going out- place a bag full of items in your trunk. One's that your child doesn't play with at home or only see's when going out. Not only will they keep them occupied, the new toys/books will keep it fresh and fun! We used to always travel with a portable DVD player and lots of stuff to do. Now days we travel light with an iPod Touch and some fun inexpensive apps. Another great trick to helping children behave in restaurants is to pick a loud restaurant, one that plays music or has TVs are always good choices. Then the noise of a small child is less noticeable

After successfully getting through dinner, you can work on so many things when out in public places- sitting quietly, waiting, behaviors, manners, etc. Don't be afraid to go places with your child with autism - get them out into the world, the sooner you do the sooner you both will realized that it can be an enjoyable experience. You can have family time and eve a family meal in public. Don’t worry if it doesn’t go well the first time. Don’t give up on your child. They will thank you for it later :)

Until next time PITAup and make the world a little more Autism friendly.

Blog ideas

I am looking for blog ideas. As a parent or a parent of a child with Autism or a parent of a gluten free child, or as a parent of a child with food allergies, I want to know what questions do you have for other parents? What other random thoughts pop in your head that you wish some one would give you insight to?
Honestly I love helping other people find solutions to their problems. Unfortunately everyone’s problems are not always apparent to me. So I am giving everyone on my blog, Facebook, & twitter page the opportunity to tell me what they need help with. I know I do not know it all, even though I do often act like a “know it all”, but I know I have friends who might be able to help you.

I am a problem solver, I like to find solutions to peoples problems and maybe I can do that for you. I will never claim to know the right answer for you, but I am willing to help you try to find some solutions for your issues, you just have to ask.

Questions, comments, and thoughts can be sent to pita_up@yahoo.com

As always PITAup and change the world, because only you can change the world you live in!!!

Autism Lives Here

When you become a parent you know there is going to be times when you worry. You know you will worry about how children will change your marriage or relationship, you worry if you be a good parent, you worry if you can provide everything a child will need and you worry for your child’s future.

As a parent of a child with Autism, these worries are compounded to the "n"th degree, instead of just the above worries you also worry about your entire family’s future, and how a child with Autism will impact your other children’s present and future. You worry about your sanity due the constant having to fight for everything my child needs to be as independent as possible in the future, you worry that your child may never be independent in even the simplest ways like potty training, crossing the street alone, preparing their own meals, cleaning up after themselves, living independently, surviving once you are deceased and I am sure a million more I have missed or have yet to think of.

Then you read a story, like the one published Tuesday, April 27, 2010 in The Independent, about a father, age 44, and son, with Autism, age 22 being found in what appears to be another murder/suicide of a child with Autism. It makes parents like me think again that we are not worried enough, we don’t fight enough and there is no way for us to plan enough.

It is also makes parents like me wonder and worry about when the United States Government and our elected officials are going to even worry about our children with Autism. If the numbers are already 1 in 110 children have Autism, when will the number be high enough for them to worry? How many more precious lives have to be lost due to a parent not having enough support, enough help or a child not getting enough services to help them survive and live as independently as possible?

I can tell you it is not anytime soon. The government, especially our state governments, is cutting services on a daily basis from families, like ours and the one in the news story. These types of things are going to be happening more in the future, this was the 2nd such story I have read in the last 3 months. The 1st was from The NY Daily News on February 5th 2010. The child in this story was only 8 years old, the same age as my child, Austin.

I don’t want this for my future or any ones future, won’t you PITAup and ask our government to make a difference in the life of their constituents’?

You can contact your federal and state representatives and let them know you concerned about families like the ones in these stories and families you actually know. You can contact your U.S. Senators here and you can contact your House of Representatives here. In California, you can find the contact information for your State Senators here, other states will need to Google the information.

Don’t let Autism Die this way, show our families some compassion and let us and our children live to our fullest potential.

Risking “life or lung” for autism.

Risking “life or lung” for autism. I know the correct statement is “risking life or limb”, but not in my world. In my world its life or lung!!!

When we started enzymes 5.5 years ago with Austin, I quickly realized that I was allergic to them. It started with small panic attacks, which were really asthma attacks and continued to get worse when I was exposed to the powder. 3 years ago I ended up walking to the fire department which was 4 houses from mine and then at the ER after Austin dumped a ¼ of a bottle of Houston's AFP-Peptizyde HN004-P 200 dose bulk powder, with cellulose. I knew even before I turned around what had happened. I could feel my lungs closing, I could breathe in but not out. I really and truly thought I might die at any moment. Luckily for me my older children were home, I got one of them and without explanation handed Austin to them and walked out of the house. As I tried to calm myself down I realized I had no choice but to go to the fire department. I had my cell phone but was afraid if I called 911 they would not be able to find me. I was also fearful that if I did not hurry and get to the fire department that I might pass out right there on the side of the road and not be found until it was to late. Fortunately when I got to the fire department they were home and they quickly gave me an albuterol inhalation treatment.

That night at the fire department and again in the ER I was told I should just stop giving the enzymes to Austin. I looked at them like they were crazy while they looked at me like I was crazy.

What’s the point of this story is the simple one; I would do anything for any of my children to make them feel better even risk my own life. I know this concept is hard for some but it is not for a mother. The thing I don’t understand is why this surprises people. When your children are born something happens that you can’t explain. A feeling comes over you; a feeling of protection. You just want to protect that little being from everything. You would risk your life or even die for your children, because life would not be worth living without them.

Anaphylactic reaction or not, I would do anything to help recover my son, Austin. I do now have an EpiPen and inhaler with me at all times though. Bottom line I am in this for the long haul…I am a Wife, a Mother, a PITA!

If you want to learn more about enzymes you can here.

Warning: I will photograph you in the handicapped spots at the Elementary School and post them on FB and my blog!

There is nothing more annoying then someone who does not have a handicap placard and parks in a handicap parking space, in the stripped loading zone between the handicap parking spaces or in the handicapped loading zones in front of buildings.

In the Hope Elementary parking lot we have 2 handicap spots and one loading area in front of the school. The buses and handicap transportation vans all park in front of or near the later area about 15-20 minutes before school get out and leave by at least 5 minutes before school lets out. On non rainy days this works out wonderfully because that is when the parents of disabled children who do not ride the bus pull in as the others leave and we can easily get pick up their child up in a safe manner of the 2 spots are filled.

Many of you who have long followed me on Facebook know how many times I have posted on this subject before. It annoyed me so much that I even occasionally posted pictures of the offending car that has illegally parked at least once a week since the beginning of school. The week of the time change, the worst offender parked there every day that week and I finally said something to her. I was nice and polite, but I did explain how it was against the law and rude. So far, at least in my presence, she has not repeated it.

So yesterday it rained and on rainy days, here in “sunny” California parents think little “Johnny” and “Suzy” will surely melt like the “Wicked Witch” if they are touch by one tiny drop of rain. This makes the parents crazed and they all fight for the area the busses were in. The majority of that area is all red curbed just like the rest of where the regular education kids load and unload, but there is an approximately 12 foot spot that is clearly painted blue, has a wheel chair ramp and a legal blue sign stating it is for handicap loading. Just because its not an actual handicap spot I think the parents miss it is still legally only for people with handicap placards or handicapped transportation vehicles. The pathetic person who did it today got yelled at by some old guy with a placard, I was secretly cheering him on.

I know many people look at my family when we step out of the car in a handicap spot and think why do they have one. People need to be reminded that some handicaps are hidden. My friend Kelli’s heart only works at 40% and you would never know it, she looks as healthy as can be, but even a small cold can make walking and doing things difficult for her. My friend Cindy is only 30 and has an extreme back problem that makes walking difficult. Then you have families like mine who are kids look “normal” and at times even act normal, but at any moment might take off into traffic. Our kids with Autism are huge safety risks.

If after hearing me rant on this subject you are still considering parking on a handicap spot, the stripped area, handicap loading zone, you might also be surprised to learn it is also illegal to be just stopped within 3 feet of pavement, ramps, etc., per CA vehicle code 22507.8(a) and (c) 3. In California you are also subject to hefty fines, between $250 and $1,000, for violating disabled parking laws and according to the newest legislation in 2010 the following acts will net you the enhanced fine:
1) A disabled person who knowingly permits his or her disabled placard or plate to be used by a person not entitled to it
2) A person displaying a disabled placard that was not issued to him or her (except when transporting a disabled person), or a disabled placard that has been canceled or revoked
3) A person using a vehicle displaying a special identification license plate issued to another who parks in a parking stall or space designated for disabled persons
4) A person who, with fraudulent intent, displays or causes or permits to be displayed a forged, counterfeit, or false disabled person placard.

So PITA up and if you don’t have a placard DON”T park in the blue, if you don’t have a placard and qualify go get one!!! And remember what my friend Megan said about me,” Warning: I will photograph you in the handicapped spots at the Elementary School and post them on FB and my blog!”

Have a great day and PITA UP!!

Peer Pressure

When my brother-in-law Clem got married we went to Las Vegas for the ceremony. The night before the wedding my sister-in-law to be wanted all of us to go out to The Ghost Bar at the Palms Casino. For those of you who know me well, I am afraid of heights. Hate them, don’t do them, nope not me, but here I was frantically searching for a drink while waiting an hour in line to get into this club which happens to be on the 55th floor. 2 tiny drinks later, I found myself in the Ghost Bar. Unfortunately to get the next drink I had to walk onto that beautiful patio you see in the photo or wait an hour in the massive line at the inside bar. I thought about peer pressuring my friend Kimmy into going out there until she walked out and her Marilyn Monroe style skirt went flying up from the winds. So through out the night, being the good friend I am, I went and got Kimmy and I numerous drinks on that patio. It did get easier with a few more drinks. Thank goodness for peer pressure or I would never have had that awesome experience of the amazing view from the top of the Palm's and it was actually a fun club. I like to think I would go back, if the fear of heights still did not paralyze me.

So after the wedding, my then 14 year old, Nick, begged me to go take him to the Stratosphere Hotel & Casino and to go to the top with him for their X-Scream roller coaster. I of course had to explain to my child that I was afraid of heights. He tried to reason with me that just the night before I was on the 55th floor of the Palm’s. I then had to explain to him how peer pressure works and how he was not my peer. .

I want the world to know I believe in peer pressure. Yes I do!!! Some of the best things come out of peer pressure. Poor “peer pressure” gets a bad rap for all the bad things people do but really some good things come out of it too.

A great example of this is the term PITA as used in my original blog and as it refers to our San Diego and Orange County Mom’s Night Out groups. If it was not for a joke between my friend Janine and me, the PITA’s would not now be quite what we are today. We had the Mom’s night out group going before the name PITA was added to it. The MNO group while the people are the same as then, it was not quite what it is today. It all started when some of the other PITA’s heard I started a PITA Facebook group, as a joke, to amuse Janine. I got 10 why didn’t you invite me, with those looks that you know they mean business. That was the beginning of what you see the PITA’s as the group it is today. I was peer pressured into making us an “official” group. It then is when we all went out as groups we started referring to ourselves as the PITA’s, (if you read the book “Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” think Ya-Ya’s). That little Facebook group is now 2 yahoo PITA groups (one for the SD activities and one for OC activities), a photo shoot, a Facebook fan page, a PITA bodybugg group (which trust me is a whole bunch of more peer pressuring and a different blog, lol) and a whole bunch of requests to become PITA’s and give help on how to get a group like us started in another part of the country.

So today’s message is to go peer pressure someone into doing something good. It might be to make a donation to your favorite Autism Charity, it might be to help you with your child with Autism, but go out and do it.

So go use your PITA powers and peer pressure someone to help for our cause or to follow me;-)!!!

Emotional Vampires

Do you have some one in your life that is just so negative that they are pretty much an emotional vampire? I have a couple in real life and few who are Facebook friends most who have children with Autism. Some days, most days, I think about defacing them, I mean unfriending them. Honestly, I get tired of the whole life sucks, autism sucks, they have nothing positive to say about their child/children, Jenny McCarthy sucks, DAN doctors are snake oil salesmen, vaccines suck, etc.

YES WE KNOW AUTISM SUCKS!!!

HEY!!! It could always be worse. Many of my friends with kids with Autism that are dealing with that and a whole bunch more, they would be thankful to only have Autism to complain about.. Here are a few examples off the top of my head.
1) CPS.
2) Fighting cancer
3) husband’s has passed away in the past year
4) many with chronic immune issues
5) chronic pain
6) heart issues
7) domestic violence
8) drug abuse
Most of the friends I have with the above issues complain but not 24/7, and they do post some positive things when they have a good day.

I seriously worry about people who can’t find something good to post about once in awhile. I’m not looking for huge things; the something good could be that your child with Autism smiled at you, the sun came out, or you caught all the green lights on your way home. Any happy thing here would make me feel better.

This may sound like I am dissing one of my fellow autism parents’ but I am not trying too. If I was I would have already defaced them and moved on. I just want to feed them some food for thought. I think most of us on Facebook and have a child with autism are Autism Awareness 24/7 but I fear the always negative message may scare off the people in your lives who do not live and breath Autism 24/7. I also fear it will scare the new parents to autism from trying some of the interventions that have helped other kids. 6 years ago I was a lot like my emotional vampires friends, well except I am pro Jenny and DAN. Then I realized that I was sounding like a crazy person and alienating those I wanted to help. I then took a step back and changed the way I worded things. I gained a lot more supporters and people who do not have a child with Autism, but know someone who does and may need the information I have learned.

A great example of this is my Cousin Renee’s aunt friended me the other day. I’ve know this aunt all my life, she is like an aunt to me. She friended me a year and half after she heard me talking to Renee’s cousin April about why she should not use Dreft on her baby’s clothes. Renee’s aunt is becoming a grandma and she heard me talking to April at Renee’s daughter in law’s baby shower, trust me I wanted to yell full force to April to not vaccinate, but I didn’t. I did not because I knew I would send April the other way. Instead I talked to her about something small, because I DO NOT scare pregnant women. I want pregnant women to feel free to have an open dialogue with me at anytime. My calm attitude when speaking to April, left the door open for someone who was listening to talk to me about their concerns 1 ½ years after the initial conversation.

This same dialogue with April also lead me to friending and talking to another one of Renee’s cousin’s wives. Her child has been extremely sick and was recently diagnosed with multiple food allergies, and needed help with finding foods her child could eat and my thoughts on eating GF at home for the entire family. Had I stayed the crazy person both these people may not have learned the knowledge I had to share.

I guess the point of this blog is to:
a) Think before you speak, don’t scare off the people who want to listen to you
b) Remember you may not be able to change the entire world at once, but you can try to change the world one person at a time
c) Most important don’t be an emotional vampire, let your friends know something positive every once in a while other wise we will worry about you!!!

PITA up, you know you want too!!

Gluten Free

Every where I turn lately there are articles lately on how women should be gluten free. Gluten is a protein found in many grains, such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt, kamut, and triticale. Gluten is often associated with oats due to wheat and oats being grown on the same fields. According to a 2008, USA Today article, “In 2003, just 40,000 Americans had been diagnosed with celiac disease; today, it's 110,000 — and, if everyone with the disease were diagnosed, it would be 3 million, says Alessio Fasano, medical director of the University of Maryland Center for Celiac Research in Baltimore”.

I am thinking about going Gluten Free myself and have a friend that is trying it right now.

Which leads me back to my new favorite things…

Imagine Natural Creations Creamy Portobello Mushroom Soup is absolutely amazing.
At Christmas & Easter I used it to recreate French’s Green Bean Casserole minus the French Fried Onions. If anyone has found Gluten free Casein Free fried onions please send it my way.
I am going to using the soup to try and recreate the Coke Pot Roast Recipe, well I will if I can find a high corn fructose syrup free cola (oh and do not suggest Pepsi Natural because it has Apple Juice in it).

My most favorite item I have found recently is something my child can’t have, because he can not have eggs, but it is by far my most favorite thing I have ever tasted that was Gluten free Honestly if I can find a good tasting Gluten free beer I will be Gluten free immediately, because I think I could do it with this product and beer and that says a lot!!!

Udi’s Gluten free Foods White Sandwich bread tastes wonderful, it is also casein free, soy free, and nut free. It is soft and flavorful; to me it tastes like Italian bread. I am eating it right now will oil and vinegar like you would at an Italian restaurant. It is simply divine and only 140 calories for 2 slices!!! I can’t wait to try their whole grain bread, muffins, pizza crusts, and granola.

If you the readers have any new gluten free products to suggest please send them my way.

Until next time PITA up and have a great Monday evening.

Hope

When you have a child with autism the littlest things can become the most amazing things. Yesterdays amazing event was Austin made himself a sandwich. May not sound like much to most, but as a parent of a child with Autism it means hope! Hope that some day Austin will be able to live on his own and make his own dinner.

Hope is a wonderful thing. I sometimes think sometimes people forget how important it to keep the hope and faith alive. When you get the diagnose there are a lot of people out there, especially the medical community who will tell you to go home and learn to deal with it, because this is the rest of your life. For me that statement was given to us by a neurologist. My first thought was a curse word and “no this is not my life”. I am so glad I had that thought because my life is so much better today because of my attitude.

Ok, I am not going to lie to you Autism is far from fun. It has some really bad days. Like one day last summer where I woke up and Austin had dropped all of the food out of the pantry and the fridge and pretty much ruined about $500 worth of food. Or the days where he cries for no reason and I can’t figure out where he hurts or what is wrong. All those poop smears we have cleaned over the years. I could go on and on about those not so fun days!!!

Then there are those exceptional days like yesterday he made the sandwich, the day continued to get better. We went to a friend’s house for dinner and there he actually played with a toy appropriately. Ok it might have helped that it was a little claw game that had nerds in it and he really wanted the candy, but I’ll take it. He also played with his iTouch and watched TV with the other kids and we got to enjoy the other adults company. It’s nice to be able to enjoy a normal family day.

Austin amazes me everyday, not just because he can make a sandwich, but because we didn’t listen to that neurologist. If we had, my beautiful, amazing young son would not be where he is today. Each day he amazes me with the “little” things he does. Most would not even notice these small accomplishments, but I certainly do! The hope for the future is so bright for him it’s nearly blinding for me and all who support our family.

I hope through this blog that I can spread some hope to parents who are new to the diagnoses and to let them know things do get better you just have to keep and open mind look for the opportunities this journey will bring you.

Here’s to hoping today and tomorrow are as amazing as yesterday.

PITA up and do something to show someone around you a little hope.

Ever wonder what is a life changing event?

Ever wonder what is a life changing event? Ever wondering how many life changing events one person can have? I have…

For me they stand out pretty clearly. The first was having cancer, the second was having children, the third was having diagnoses of Autism and the fourth was having diagnoses of heart disease.

Ok that might be a bit deceiving because I have never had cancer, Autism or heart disease but I have lived through them all, and I am only 38!!! I have lived through my boyfriend, soon to be husband having cancer when I was 17, having kids at 18, my youngest child’s diagnoses of Autism and my husband having a heart attack when he was 39.

I always thought Autism would be the MOST life changing event, but I was wrong. The heart attack was. Surprise surprise.

The heart attack made me really think of how short life is. It made everything go into perspective; it made me realize I wanted to live. I guess that is what is different before kids and after kids, because cancer should have done that, right?

Nope.

As mom’s we are notorious for taking care of everyone but ourselves, and that becomes ten-fold after the diagnoses of Autism. I remember those first 9 months reading 40 hours a week on Autism. While most of you may think I live Autism now, trust me, this is the calm me. I know hard to believe, but free to ask Ed, Ashley & Nick. Before I get a 100 Facebook posts (since I know no one comments here, lol) yelling at me for not including Emily, I will point out it is different because she has only known a life with Autism, because Austin was like this since she was 3 and he was about 18 months.)

Ok back to the subject at hand, taking care of ourselves. You have to do it. You are not getting any younger, and the kids they are getting bigger and stronger every day. Eventually they will be able to out run us and you darn well better starve off that day as long as you can!!!

First let’s get rid of the excuse you are now yelling at the computer.

Excuse #1 taking time for me is SELFISH. I am pulling out the BS card on this one and telling no its not, it SELFLESS!! The better your health the easier it is on hubby and the kidlets!! The better you feel the better the household feels and runs.

Excuse #2 I don’t have the time, I work fulltime. Again I am pulling out the BS card you have the time. Every parent I know watches at least one 30 minute TV show a day, either give that up or exercise while you watch. If you work and you say you are too tired at the end of the day, again I say BS. You are entitled to two fifteen minute a day breaks and at least a 30 minute break for an 8 hour shift. Walk quickly for 10 of those 15 minutes and go to the bathroom in the other 5, and to make it more difficult take the walk up the stairs if you can. At lunch walk the other 10 minutes. Heck I just put “10 minutes of exercise 3 times a day” into Google and came up with 9 million hits.

Excuse # 3 I don’t have time I am a stay at home mom. When you pick your child up, pick up under the shoulders and lift once or twice and use the body resistance as a weight. Potty training? Use the door jam to do push ups off, run in place, etc.

Excuse # 4 I have some type of disability, war injury, stubbed my toe, etc. There are chair exercises and ways to adapt most exercise, be creative. Can’t think of any adaptations send me an e-mail or Facebook me and I will find one or ask around and find one.

Last and final BS excuse I won’t exercise. Fine then set down that Starbuck’s White Chocolate Frappuccino® Blended Crème at 760 calories and do some serious calorie counting. And don’t do it alone, invest in the bodybugg my best friend from high school does not exercise and has lost 45 pounds just by counting calories with the bodybugg telling her how many calories she burns everyday. You don’t have to give anything up, you just eat in moderation. Is it as good as eating wisely and exercising? No, but losing the weight and being in a healthy size will extend your life and make you more likely to exercise. I love mine. I lost 45 pounds and went from a size 16 to a size 6 in 9 months. I have also used the system to maintain that weight loss for over 7 months, and in those 7 months I have survived Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s and Easter, are there holidays that you eat more then those?

Ok now when you see the price of the bodybugg, don’t come running to me to tell me it’s to expensive or I will write you a list of why you can afford it and how too;-) If you have a flex spending account let me know, I got Ed’s covered under ours.

Now go PITA up and get healthy!!!

(Updated March 24, 2013 because Bodybugg has changed their software and the new info is at http://bodymedia.extole.com/m/1270648960)

Why does the little blue puzzle piece and its organization not speak for me?

Why does the little blue puzzle piece and its organization not speak for me?

I get asked this question A LOT!!! Well today they do not Speak for me, because they take the money out of the pockets of great charities that actually help parents. My wonderful friend, Cindy Killeen Waeltermann, today is worried about her awesome little charity not making it because of “No money. Tired of making ends meet. Autism Speaks wins”.

An example of how Cindy’s charity helped me personally is that a few months ago when a fellow San Diego PITA asked for help for a friend that went to college with her, Cindy and her charity were the first to help out. Cindy personally sent me a message on how to get the child an evaluation ASAP. This is a mom, who started a charity because she wants to get kids services and her charity reflects that. When she posts on Facebook about “events” they are doing, many of those are events are kid related, not just about raising money. When was the last time the little blue puzzle piece threw a party for the kids with Autism? When did they do a conference to educate new parents with Autism? When did they sponsor a parent of a child with Autism to go to a conference? Honestly what have they done for me lately, oh wait they have not done a damn thing for me ever!!!!

Today, my older son Nick, who turns 18 in a few days and is realizing that he will have to go to a junior college because of lack of funds asked me what Autism Charity gave scholarships to siblings of children with Autism? I laughed and challenged him to get the little blue puzzle piece to do it, so I could stop bitching about them. Well hopefully his hopes are not high because I am sure that they will fail him just like they have failed his brother and his parents for the past 6 years. Instead of helping me or anyone I know they have instead used their money for a very fancy Park Avenue office and bad mouthed the daughter of the founder for believing in biomedical help for Autism.

So if you are still wondering why you should not donate to the little blue puzzle piece and their big fat NY offices, remember that of the $60 MILLION donated last year only $837,000 were donated to expand Autism services, so do the math less then 1/60 of their revenue, $341,000 went to expanding recreational services, but that does not mean any child actually saw a recreation service it means they were expanding them.

Yet they paid $1.3 Million on advertising, their chief science officer got $669.000, yes you read that correctly they got almost as much was used to “expand Autism Services” and twice as much as was used to “expand recreational services”
There are so many more stats that I could fill up the library of congress, ok maybe that is a bit far fetched, but I could at least fill up at least the Carlsbad Library with their wasted funds.

Here is a couple of awesome youtube videos on this subject if you want more info:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fc_qtWxMes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6S-9yQrsras

So PITA up and help the little charities that help real families right now.

Here are a few of our favorite ones

www.firstgiving.com/austinprimer (Talk about curing autism now)
http://www.sd-autism.org/givingPrograms.html
www.surfershealing.com
https://ssl.charityweb.net/genrescue/ (Generation rescue)
www.autismlink.com
www.nationalautismassociation.org/