The Loudon of the Day

See! Look at him getting ready to tear into that shrimp platter!

Woof!

Poopin’ Pears

Okay, so for any of you who are having GI issues, I have to share with you what REALLY works in our house for regularity.   

Ronan used to have a very hard time with going poo.  He strained, he held it for days, he cried and I cried – it was awful. 

I tried magnesium, suppositories, Benefiber, etc.  – nothing worked. 

He loved fruit, but he wouldn’t eat anthing with the skin on it.  Too funny of a feeling on his teeth to bite into it, I suspected, so I peeled and cut his apples and pears for 4 years.

Along came The Loudon, who will eat a live chicken – why bother with all the cooking?  Ronan saw his little brother happily biting into apples, pears, and anything else he could get his hands on – the child is like a dog, and he will eat until he gets sick if nobody stops him first!

Anyway, Ronan saw and decided he had to get himself a piece of that!

He bit into a pear, he bit into another pear, and then he promptly POOPED without complaint! 

For the past two years, this has been our poopin’ secret.

So, for those of you still straining, so to speak, try the poopin’ pears method! 

Added bonus, if you are watching sugar for yeast control, pears are one of the only fruits (berries too) that are very low yeast feeders.

Happy Pooping!

Also, please watch this video.  It’s the only thing that has gotten The Loudon to sit on the potty, and it’s one of the funniest things I have ever seen.  Watch it all the way ’til the end for the full effect.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=QFVoLz88hiU

Do it now!

http://www.petitiononline.com/txbrk456/petition.html

 

Cry Me a River

My eyes are swollen, and I can’t see anything.

Thank you Autism Speaks. 

I am overwhelmingly verklempt, once again.

Man, I need a life raft.

If you want to cry, click and watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDMMwG7RrFQ

Oscar The Grouch is Goddamn Funny

At least, we think so.

 

This picture fills me with melancholy for the days when I, the anti-social big sister, used to bully my little brother into staying inside on hot summer days to play Castlevania or Burger Time on Nintendo for HOURS on end! 

Must get to end of game!  Keep playing!  Must get to end!

JAY!  Call us, JAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We miss you!

Let’s play the Wii !!!!  I’ll lash you until you become the Guitar Hero Master of all time!!

And a ONE, and a TWO, and a THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVOOOOOOONNNNNNNN!!

The Puzzle Piece Debate

We have a great deal of people in our family that fall on the autism spectrum (including myself – he hee …I don’t know why that’s funny to me, it just is!).  Anyway, the puzzle piece debate has been thrown around, dissected and inspected so many times!

Some feel offended by the depiction of people with autism as “puzzling, or incomplete”.

Others take it to mean that the support or the understanding of neuro-typical folk toward others with autism is the puzzling aspect.

However you see it, the puzzle piece has become the most recognized symbol of autism support.
For us, we see it positively now, regardless of its original intent, because it brings awareness and support – things we like : )

Enough of that!

How cute is this baby art, right?!!

I took a print of Ronan’s Purple Storm painting, added a puzzle piece to him and affixed him to a baby canvas! He’s sealed with a non-toxic glossy coating.

He stands at 2 3/4″ by 3″ tall and comes with his own tiny easel!

Put him on your desk, computer table or anywhere to show your support!

20% of this sale donated to autism education.

Find it and buy it at:

www.ronanjames.etsy.com

 

Thanks for looking!

Perfectly Powdered

Organized sports are not for everyone.  This became evident in Ronan’s case, when during his first Kindergarten soccer game, he stood still in the field looking down at the ground, drawing in the air with his fingers. 

I mean still.  Perfectly still.  Oblivious to everything around him.  There was way too much sensory information to sort out, auditory instructions were too confusing, and he just wasn’t having it. 

When the coach prodded Ro to run and kick the ball, there went Ronan “Forest Gump Style” across the entire field kicking and running his heart out.  And there went Mom, chasing after him through all the other games going on (much to the amusement or pity of onlooking parents – like I care anymore).

When I finally caught up to him, explaining and illustrating that he needed to stay in his team’s coned area, meltdown began.

“I want to go to the playground!  I don’t like this soccer!  I want to go!  Can we go!!?”

My baby wasn’t happy “playing” this game.

My baby.

Get my baby off this field.

For a moment, my heart cracked and bled with the realization of just how much of a challenge life is sometimes for this little guy with the “big brain that speaks a unique language” in this cookie cutter social-heavy world. 

Remember the movie “Powder” ?  I think Ro can relate – I know I can.

Powder felt more of everything.  More sadness, more joy, more enlightenment, more empathy – he was just so MUCH – so trying to fit into this world didn’t work out for him.  

Actually, he blew-up out of here like a comet on acid.

Ronan doesn’t have that option.  For one, I’m pretty sure he can’t explode into lightning bolts, casting his uncontainable energy into unknown places.  But also, I am going to do my damn best to instill pride and self-confidence into this child, regardless of how he’s “labeled” by anyone. 

EVERYONE has their challenges and strengths, and I won’t stop exposing Ronan to different experiences that this life holds.  I think I just need to listen to the Powder in him more, and hone in on what he loves, instead of what’s happening with other kids his age. 

Respect for everyone’s likes/dislikes, differences and similarities is important, but it doesn’t matter what they’re doing, because he is beautiful and unique, and what matters is his happiness.

I wouldn’t have any other Ronan.  This one, healthy and happy, is perfectly Powdered – and hopefully, we can make sure that he knows this about himself.

Even if he does feel like an albino genius empath sometimes.

                                                  

I think we’ll try swimming next.  Maybe he’ll Forrest Gump laps across the pool like a bitch!

(No, seriously, I just want him to experience, be happy and have fun, in whatever way he chooses to ; )

 

Plus, Powder’s kinda hot.  I’m a sucker for a bald head.

The Loudon of the Day

You come near my eggs, and like I’ve said before, I will CUT YOU!

Okay, I’ve made up for the verklempt post now.  Thanks Lowie.  Ahhh.

The Joyful Side

It’s taken about 6 years of HARD work, mostly on his part, but also his therapists’, and our parts, too.  Today, Ronan asked me 3 “w” questions. “Where”, “when” and “what”! 

Do parents with neuro-typical kids stop and cry with joy when their almost 6 year-old does this? 

There are so many ways that Autism has changed me as a parent and as a human being.  It’s like a new part of me was born when I gave birth to Ronan, a much nicer part too!

Sorry, I’m getting all verklempt and sappy lately.  I’m getting my period.  I’ll post something later with a lot of cuss words in it and stuff.  That will balance it out.

What a Yum Bum!

This is the summary from the first page of his IEP.  We had his meeting today.  Seriously, how yummy is this bummy?!!!

I love this school, and I am so happy that we made the decision to have him repeat Kindergarten.  We couldn’t be happier with the team of ladies that support and encourage Ronan’s growth – very genuine and inspiring educators. 

My baby is growing up!  Sniff, sniff.