Pictures of...us!

Because I've been awful at keeping up, here's what's been going on the last few weeks with us:

Celebrated at Jungle Jim's.

Munchkin started soccer.

Buddy Boy started baseball.

We toured a local news station and enjoyed free food afterwards.

Other stuff:

• We're all anxious for summer to start, and wish that Dad worked at a school so he could get a summer break like the rest of us!  
• Buddy Boy lost his 2nd tooth, thank goodness, because he's got four other loose ones!
• We did 2 news interviews with another local station (those kids were stars and did great!)
• We did a lot of autism awareness spreading (does that even make sense?).
• 2 trips to Home Depot to do kids' workshops
• Prepped a lot of the garden...the peas are looking great and the tomatoes are currently being hardened to get ready for transplant.  Yeah, we've got spring fever!

United States of Autism Premiere

The documentary, The United States of Autism, has been premiering all over the nation, and has received great reviews all over as well.  How awesome that we've had a chance to be a part of it!!

The first night it premiered was at the beginning of April in NYC.  The theater sold out!

It came to our area last Thursday, April 18, and it was so fun to get to see it.

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Our family's sweet friend Margie took the above pictures for us.  She also bought tickets to support us.  She promoted the event like crazy to help as well.  Oh yeah, and she's the ENTIRE reason we were even given the opportunity to be in the film.  She was the one who told me about the applications being accepted for families.  So you know, we pretty much owe all of this to her.  Thank you Margie!!! :-)

Here she is posing with us.  

I feel like I owe thanks to so many, and I'm not sure the best way to do it.  I am planning to send personal thank-you notes, but there were so many who were supportive who I don't personally know and cannot properly thank.  So...I'll say THANK YOU here.  Thank you for supporting our family on this special night; THANK YOU for supporting The Tommy Foundation and those who were involved in making the film.  THANK YOU for caring about autism and about the amazing, wonderful individuals all around us who deal with autism on a daily basis.

I've had a lot of people ask...YES, the film will be out on DVD/Blu Ray in the fall.  Can't wait!! 

Smith's Easter Egg Hunt

So, it's officially a tradition.  Every year the day before Easter for the last 3 years, we've headed over to our local Smiths Food and Drug store.  They put on an Easter egg hunt, and every year they've impressed me.  

You know the city-sponsored Easter egg hunts at local parks?  We tried those once.  When the whistle was blown to start the hunt, so many kids took off running that every SINGLE egg was gone within the first 30 seconds of the hunt!  Our two kids came home crying and empty handed.  
Once, a local park was "prepared" and had extra bags of candy for kids who didn't get anything.  We got in line to get a piece of candy since there were no eggs to be had, and they ran out of the extra stuff too!
Another time it was raining/snowing and freezing cold.  That wasn't fun.

Never again, my friends.

Smith's does it indoors, so I don't have to worry about weather.  They divide the hunt into different age groups so that I don't have to fear my young kiddos getting run over by teenagers.  They have kept it fairly small so the place isn't overly crowded.  They offer free breakfast (well, free donut holes and orange juice/chocolate milk, anyway).  They have PLENTY of stuff for EVERYONE to find, and even when the hunt is done and the kids are leaving with full baskets of goodies, the employees come around and give kids coupons for free products at the store!  They are so nice, so sweet, and I LOVE them for it. :-)

My kids, as usual, have highly enjoyed their haul!  Thank you, Smith's, for providing a stress-free hunt that even my anxiety-ridden boy can enjoy!

U-FIT again

It's spring time again, which means the kids are enrolled at U-FIT again.  Just like last time, they are lovin' it! Munchkin has completely transformed from this time last year in her swimming abilities.  She's a total fish, and I'm so proud of her.  One year ago she was willing to put her head under water, but wouldn't jump into a pool (even the shallow end) and needed a life jacket.  She's all over the pool now, and it's awesome!

Buddy Boy has really loved it, too.  Last year he would get sensitive at the beginning of the night and took some time warming up.  He also wouldn't ever let go of his friend in the pool.  Now he can't wait to see his "girlfriend" and leave me to go play.  He'll play in the pool without hanging on to anyone, and although he still despises his face getting wet (I don't blame him), he is SO much more comfortable in the water.  The one thing that HASN'T changed since last year is that his swimming shorts still come loose too easily and he regularly almost loses his shorts! :-)

Our Last Few Days

Wednesday - Munchkin diagnosed with Strep Throat.

Wednesday - Car brake squealing gets REALLY bad all the sudden.

Thursday - Buddy Boy diagnosed with Strep Throat.

Thursday - Car's rear brakes are worn all the way through, need replacing along with the rubber and encasing around them...also needs a complete transmission flush and servicing.  $$$

Friday - I get a nice gluten cross contamination while eating ice cream from a restaurant.  Migraines, bloating, and pain for me.

Friday - Buddy Boy wakes up from a nap in a complete panic because he can't breathe.  It's the worst I've seen it in him, so we rush him to the after hours clinic.  After two breathing treatments, one shot and 4 X-rays, we're sent to the hospital ER because the muscles around his lungs are retracting (concave), indicating that they are working way too hard.

Saturday - Still feels like Friday, but technically it's Saturday...we return home from the hospital.  No answers, just more steroids and meds to help Buddy to breathe.  


So....we're broke for the rest of the month...ha ha!

They say that when it rains it pours.  I believe that.  I think, however, that after the rain comes the rainbows and blue skies...right?  


RIGHT?  :-)

Autism Insurance will NOT happen this year...again

I am EXTREMELY hurt and disappointed that SB55 did not even come close to passing.  This bill was meant to mandate health insurance coverage for kids with autism in the state of Utah.  You know, autism, the health condition that has been PROVEN to have a high success rate of being treated with certain therapies?  You know, the condition that Utah has the HIGHEST RATE OF  IN THE NATION?

Insurance lobbyists say that it'll hike up everyone's insurance rates to unbelievable heights.  INSURANCE LOBBYISTS, people!!!  

I'm pretty sure I don't need to go into the details of why I, and millions of other Americans, are 100% convinced of the evils of insurance lobbyists.  (and if I do, please let me know, and I'll gladly do it!)  Of course, all the lobbyists are doing is using scare tactics.  

Did you know that we (the supporters of health insurance coverage for our kids, since they are people too) have data from MANY of the other 32 states that have insurance coverage showing that insurance rates will NOT skyrocket?  The average cost?  Oh, you might look at a 32 cents per member per month raise.  

OH NO...32 WHOLE CENTS A MONTH???  Just so some measly 18,500+ kids can have insurance?  NO WAY!!  I'm not paying that!  Especially when autism isn't a real condition!!  (Didn't you know?  Kids with autism are simply brats who aren't disciplined.  Their cold-hearted mothers gave them the "condition).  Why, that's highway robbery!  Who do these autism parents think they are?  Just more liberals looking for a handout, right?  (And yes, I've been called just that by some)

I mean, after all, I MUST be looking for a handout... I only work a part time job while the kids are at school and also take on as many odd jobs a month as I can to make a little extra money.  I only drive my son over 1,300 miles each month just to get him to and from his special needs school.  I don't even GET my son treatment...obviously I don't need it!  (Or is it that I feel I can't make the choice to send him to therapy if the cost will cause me to lose my home?)  

I am, by that description, nothing but a lazy liberal...looking for a handout. Unwilling to work to provide for my family, but more than happy to sit on my behind doing nothing and expecting assistance from the government.  Right?  

To see video of our family's reaction to the bill not passing, go here: 

You know what?  As ticked off as I am now, it's really truly going to be okay.  You know why?  Because this lazy liberal mother is going to continue to educate herself on any/all treatments that can be done at home.  Because this asking-for-a-handout family is going to continue to make any/all sacrifices we can to provide each other with opportunities for growth and improvement.  Because I will continue looking for a 2nd and 3rd job that I can work around our family schedule (because I ain't sending my kids to daycare) so that we can afford to care for our son and our daughter.  It will be okay because I will NEVER stop being an advocate for my son...and not just a political advocate.  I will never stop being his mother.  

Believe me.  I will NEVER sit on my behind waiting for a "handout".  I will spend every waking hour working, striving, and providing.