Showing posts with label Blessings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blessings. Show all posts

Saturday, October 30, 2010

What's Been Going On? So Much!

I know it has been a long time since I have posted on this blog, I have wanted to, I have thought about it almost everyday, but the thought of writing was totally overwhelming to me. My reason for not blogging is not that I have nothing to say, on the contrary, I have so much to say I don't know where to begin or how to organize the information!

My perfectionism doesn't help either. I should say that it has frozen my creativity solid. I also struggled with "who cares what I have to say" thoughts and also feeling like posting about my life felt kind of narcissistic in a way.

But I have decided to write again despite of all that has kept me from it, imperfect as it may be.
This may take a few blog posts to say what has been going on the last few months so bear with me, if anyone reads this thing anymore, that is. If not, that's okay too! I need to get it out.

First thing, how is Kaylee? Kaylee is doing so well, I feel embarrassed to brag about it. Kaylee no longer qualifies as a child who has autism. I am tempted to take her to a specialist to get officially un-diagnosed. Every single day I marvel at how well she is doing and the gift I have been given. All of the autistic behaviors she displayed are gone. No more toe-walking, tantrumming, nightwaking, scripting, spinning, stimming, ignoring people, and anything else that she used to do that was "autistic". No more diarrhea, no more hyperactivity, no more dark eye circles, no more stomach aches. No more looking past me when I look at her. I can't even remember everything she used to do because it has been so long since she acted like a person with autism.

However, Kaylee is still a bit immature, she acts more like a 4 year old instead of a 5 year old. She plays with her friends but doesn't communicate as well as a child her age could. She recently started asking questions and answering "why" questions after a medication change back in the summertime. Kaylee is moving right along developmentally, but since she spent a few years in her autism-fog, she is behind her peers a little bit. She is a sweet and happy child most of the time, she plays with her brother and sister, and she is in a regular kindergarten class and reads so very well. I hope to post a video on here soon!

As for Kaylee's current treatment, here is what we are doing:
  • GF/CF Nut free diet, lower in sugar and low in fruits
  • Famvir (an antiviral medication)
  • P/N (low dose immunotherapy/allergy treatment)

If Kaylee does happen to eat some dairy or wheat she will become hyperactive, have tantrums, and nightwaking return within 30 minutes. However, when we first started the GF/CF diet, I didn't really notice when she had a dietary infraction because there was just too much inflammation going on. The better Kaylee gets, the more I can tell what triggers her behaviors.

I hate to sound proud about Kaylee's progress, I hate how torn I am about sharing it. I certainly don't want to brag about it, but I feel so blessed, I tell everyone about it. Our lives have changed and we are so happy about this.

I wish for everyone to have what we have. But it is not so, yet. There is a battle raging and it needs to be won. There has been some been some great discoveries made recently and I haven't been free to discuss it until recently, which I will be doing in the posts to come. It involves our entire family and most likely many families affected by autism.

Until then, be blessed, anyone who reads this!

Thursday, April 29, 2010

I'm Ba-ack!



I am still alive and I have a lot to say, many good and exciting things at the horizon! I will be posting again soon.

Until then blessings be upon you...

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Kaylee Surprised Me...

Kaylee surprised me yesterday morning when she told me, "Look Ma! I made a person!"



Ain't it cute? See the arms are coming out of the sides of the head? You can't see it but this person has some stick feet and legs, too. I couldn't believe she made it herself until I called my husband at work and asked if he did it! Sure enough Kaylee did it all by herself!

Why is this so cool? It's because it represents another developmental milestone for her. Not only does that take fine motor control, but much more maturity cognitively speaking.

A year ago, this kid was eatin' crayons and the paper labels on them.

This year, drawing pictures!!!!!!!

I just remembered that her IEP for school was to draw a face with eyes and they were going to work her through one body part at a time and here she does the whole shebang!

Monday, June 8, 2009

Kaylee is 4 now! And a whole lot different...

This week, Kaylee turned 4.

To many other parents, birthdays are nice and a joyful time...
but this birthday, to this parent, this year, was so special.

This year, Kaylee was here. She was with us in a way I wondered if she ever could be.

Today, I am thinking about Kaylee's birthday last year. She was sad. She was unhappy. She didn't understand what was going on. She ignored everyone who came to see her. She just didn't get it.

This year she asked me all day when we were going to have her birthday party. She excitedly hugged everyone as they came in, running out side to greet them. She drank in, with joy, as everyone sang Happy Birthday. She knew she was the special girl of the day. She was so happy.

This year we asked her what she wanted for her birthday. She replied, "ummmm...a birthday cake...and sprinkles...and candles....and Auntie Cher and Grandpa to come over!" I got right to it and made her special cupcakes that she could tolerate, and thankfully, she loved them, and her Auntie and Grandpa are so tickled to finally get some much anticipated attention from her!

The changes in Kaylee are unbelievable, when I think about where she was a year ago, we are so blessed to have come this far.

Now, the new problem is...this girl asks me if we are going to have a party everyday!

Monday, March 23, 2009

Happy Birthday to Joey!


Mr. Joey is 2 years old today!

For his birthday, he wanted his daddy to lay in his teeny tiny bed with him...


Happy Birthday, Joey...March 23, 2007 was one of the best days of my life!


Thursday, March 12, 2009

Wow! Lots of blessings!

Today, I received a phone call and it was the allergist's office telling me they wanted to move Kaylee's appointment up to April instead of June! At first I was so troubled about how long we had to wait for her to see the allergist, but then I gave it up to the Lord and He took care of it. Thank you Lord! Blessing #1!

Then, oddly, I ran out of Kaylee's antifungal and she started acting better! The past 2 days she has told me over and over she loves me and she hugs and kisses me. Her behavior has been splendid! Because she isn't so upset all of the time, she is more social and telling me everything she observes. Today she said "It's sunny outside, it's a beautiful day!". She even said today, "I'm happy! I'm not crying today. I'm all done crying!" Blessing #2! It looks to me like I need to talk to the doctor about that...

And something new happened today that I don't know if I have ever seen before in Kaylee. She laughed at a joke! This is HUGE. Kids with autism (and usually Kaylee) have trouble processing abstract concepts, especially jokes. Blessing #3!

She is answering questions in a cute and creative way. I asked her today:

"Kaylee, what does a frog eat?"

She exclaimed, "A frog eats...um...chicken!"

Hmmm...I would like to see that one!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

A Blessed Day

Today was one of those days I will always cherish...

I just enjoyed my kids so much. It was warm outside, the sun was shining and the snow was melting. So I decided to take the kids outside to play in the mud.

Then we came in and ate dinner together, and finished it off with some popsicles!



And did I mention it was a tantrum-free day? It was.

Ahh. So this is what "normal" feels like?

I would like some more days like this, please!


And on days like these, I don't mind if I have an extra load of laundry...



Children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. Psalm 127:3


Wednesday, February 4, 2009

His Grace is Sufficient


I am back now, and I feel better.

No, this isn't because my circumstances are better. My daughter is still very anxious and I am still waiting for the doctor to get back to me about it.

But I have peace that passes all understanding, thanks to my Heavenly Father. I think I understand now that this is God's will for all of us in our family. But I think of what Paul said when he asked God to remove the thorn from his flesh, but God replied to him (I am paraphrasing) "No, but my Grace is sufficient for you"

The problem with me was, I didn't want to accept God's Will for me at this moment. I fought the reality that was. Yes Kaylee is improving, but we are still working on things and they could be better right now. Like I heard a pastor say on Sunday: "When you are flying on a plane, you can fret and fear all you want... but that plane is still going to land in that destination, whether you like it or not." (Well most times anyway...but thats not the point here)

I used to pray without ceasing "Lord please help Kaylee get better." Now, I still hope and pray for that, but I ask for strength and grace for me, Kaylee, and the rest of the family to be joyful and strong in living with the everyday struggles.

And I know He will supply those things, because He always has in the past. And it is so nice to be joyful again!


*Kaylee loves sleeping with her "baby" every night. As you can see, they have matching blankies :)


Thank you to those who prayed for me.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:2,3

Sunday, January 11, 2009

Awwwww!


Yesterday, a dream came true for me...


Kaylee came up to me and said "I want a kiss" and puckered right up to me!

It gets better...



Then she said "I wuv you."

And there's more!!!!

She sat in my lap and put her head on my chest and let me hold her! I tried not to distract her with the tears in my eyes, I was afraid she would leave and the moment would pass.

The last time Kaylee reached out to me like that, was on a warm summer night and Dan and I went for a walk, and Kaylee was on my shoulders. Then she turned my head toward her and kissed me... That was over 2 and a half years ago. Yesterday, I saw my baby again and my heart is so happy.