Dash's First Season With Challenger Little League

                                                  Dash & Coach Mark

Dash's first season with Challenger Little League (a unique division of little league for kids with special needs) was a big success!  He started out apprehensive at first, and would only hit the ball ... nothing else.  By the end of the season, he ran all the bases (with Mommy or Daddy by his side) and would play the outfield!!  It was a great experience for Dash, his daddy, and me.  We got to meet new parents and kids with different needs than Dash.  The two coaches were so wonderful.  They were patient and encouraging to both kids and parents. 

It was even a learning experience for Grandma!

 Oh so happy!!

See, he really did have fun!!

Below are some shots of his last game and awards ceremony ... of course, Dash cried when he got his trophy and wanted to give it back.  By the end, he decided to keep his hard earned trophy after all!

Dash's friend A

 Running the bases with Daddy

 Check out that swing!!!!

 Getting his trophy from Coach Wayne

Dash still not too happy about that darn trophy

Dash and A proudly hold their trophies high!

It's Time for Summer Time Fun!!

Well, I've been gone from the blogging world for a while, but the end of the school year is just insanely busy.  Add to that therapeutic horseback riding every Tuesday night for Dash, Challenger baseball on Wednesday night for Dash, and gymnastics on Thursday night for Crash.  So, I finally have time to get caught up!

My first plan of action is to plan some fun activities for the boys and me.  Gavin just saw this on Nick Jr. and really wants to make them. They look easy enough and lots of fun.  They are "Fresh Beat Band Maracas", which are constructed out of a small water bottle, a dowel, some acrylic paint, felt, and rice.  See the link below for complete directions!

Nick Jr. Directions for Maracas

I think we'll make these on Friday, so I will be sure to post pictures of our process.  This will be fun for both boys, and provide some much needed small motor skills practice for Tanner.

I just love summer time!!!

Step 1.  The Supplies ~ we got everything at Michael's

Step 2.  Paint 1 - 2 coats of acrylic paint on to each plastic water bottle.

Step 3.  Allow paint to dry thoroughly

Step 4.  Paint the dowels and allow to dry

We got one long dowel and Daddy cut it down to size (10")

Step 5.  Carefully add rice to each painted bottle

Step 6.  Insert 10" dowel into bottle opening

(I also added a bit of cotton around the lip to seal completely)

Step 7.  Tape dowel into place

Step 8.  Glue felt around tape and tie colorful string around the top.

Step 9.  Enjoy your maracas!!!!

*We are also going to cut out and glue the Fresh Beat Band "labels" onto

the maracas, but I'm going to cover with a coat of Modge Podge, so we are doing

that step right before bedtime, so they can dry overnight.

Gluten Free IS the way to Be!

We have had a lot of success with Tanner's gluten free diet.  So, this weekend we thought we'd let him have a bit of a treat and have PIZZA on Friday night!!  Then yesterday at his fishing day they served pizza.  Guess there was a bit too much gluten ingested because he was WIDE awake at 3:00 am wanting to watch TV or do computer.  After a bit of a battle he finally went back to bed.  We also notice that today he is not nearly as cooperative as he has been and he is a bit more explosive.  We learned by doing that very small amounts may not be detrimental, but too much is just bad news!!  Back to gluten free today that's for sure!

Moving Mountains ... One Mole Hill at a Time

I have learned that with everything in life, you make your biggest accomplishments one tiny little baby step at a time.  And I have learned that with AUTISM this is true ... times 10!!  All that we have accomplished over the past three years has taken S - L - O - W and steady progress.  Never quitting, never giving up, never saying "I can't."  With that said, I have an update on our Gluten Free World.

We have been transitioning to a gluten free diet for Tanner over the past 2 weeks and Tanner has embraced his new diet with a smile on his face.  We were honest and explained what we were doing and why we were doing it.  He is now willing to try new gluten free foods in place of his old foods.  He will eat gluten free waffles, rice flour tortillas, and gluten free bread.  He is even staying away from gluten foods at school!  He asked to eat something "gluteny" earlier tonight and I said, "No, that has gluten in it."  He responded with a stuck out tongue and a "Yuck!  Gluten makes me feel icky!"

The positive effects we have seen are that he has not thrown up in over two weeks, seems to feel better, and in turn is much, much happier!  When you are happy, do you have meltdowns?  NO!  And neither does Tanner nearly as much as he used to!!  He accepts being told no much better, he accepts new options easier, and just seems to be more accepting of everything in his world now. 

If you have been apprehensive about trying a gluten free diet for your autistic child, or any child for that matter, I strongly encourage that you give it a try.  It's not as difficult as you may think, and the results might surprise you.  I have had the support of some very knowledgeable people (Brigette and Kelly) and that makes it even easier.  To be able to go to someone who is experiencing the same thing or has information that is useful to you is wonderful!

We will continue moving mountains ... one mole hill at a time!!

Counting the days

I almost hate to look forward to things because then you seem to be wishing your life away, but I am, however, counting down the days till my summer vacation.  After spending the past week at home with my boys for spring break, I am eager to spend more time with them.  They are both growing so fast!  Crash just turned four and Dash will turn seven in two weeks.  Today we went shoe shopping since my dear little boys like to use the tip of their shoes as brakes on their bikes.  They've both worn the toes away on their shoes.  Dash is the proud owner of new size THREE Sketchers, while Crash has grown into size ELEVENS (toddler).  In the blink of an eye, it all happens so fast.  I just want to be home to spend more time with my babies.  Tonight, it was so darn cute, Crash got out of the bathtub in the middle of his bath, walked into my bedroom, and said, "Mom, I love you." It these moments that I live and breathe for.  Those precious little moments that make even the worst of times worthwhile.  Good news, only 38 more days left in the school year .... but who's counting?? 

Sometimes I Expect Too Much from Crash

Well, Dash has played soccer the past two years in our local parks and rec league.  It's very low key, just the right place to start someone new to the sport.  Of course, not surprisingly, Dash was apprehensive most of the time.  He did triumph over the fear and anxiety and actually got out on the field and played quite a bit over the two years.  Well, Crash was finally old enough to play this year.  He has been dying to get out on the field every year ... so here is his chance!  Needless to say, he did not live up to my expectations.  I guess because he's the "normal" one that I assume things will always be easier with him.  Not true.  He is, after all, still an unpredictable four year old child.  I have realized that I expect him to fill in the holes of disappointment.  I expect him to do all the regular things that Dash can't or won't do.  And I have realized that is a lot for a little four year old boy to live up to.

I found that I was getting really frustrated with Crash when he refused to go on the soccer field with the excuse of , "I'm too shy."  I was literally disappointed and somewhat crushed that he was not the soccer star I had secretly dreamed of.  As the title of the blog says...Our Learn By Doing Life ... once again I have learned a valuable lesson about myself and the expectations I place on both my boys.

I have to say that even though he rarely set foot on the soccer field, he sure was proud to get his trophy today!  He couldn't wait to come home and show Grandma and couldn't wait for Daddy to get home and show him! 

I just have SO MUCH to say!!

So, here I am ~ AGAIN ~ blogging my little heart out!  I guess this blog has been a long time coming ... I just finally got the inspiration to do it.  My "Learn By Doing Life" began about 9 year ago when Tommy and I decided to start a family.  Boy, we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into, that's for sure!!  We got pregnant fairly easily, and that is where the "easy" ends.  At 12 weeks I had an ultrasound only to be told there was no heartbeat, the fetus made it to about 10 weeks, and I would have to have a D and C (didn't even know what that was).  Devastation quickly set in.  We tried and tried again, only to have another miscarriage about 6 months later.  It then took another 9 months to have a successful pregnancy.  Successful yes ~ easy NO!  I was on pins and needles throughout the entire pregnancy.  At 28 weeks I was put on bedrest for premature contractions ... "Here we go again!" I thought!  But the bedrest was successful and our first baby boy was born at 5:12 pm on Sunday, April 27th, weighing a healthy 8 lbs. 9 oz.  At first all went well, and then he became fussy!  And I'm not talking a little fussy, but "drive you insane, what on earth is wrong with this baby" fussy!!  From that point on it was a challenge.  He wouldn't sleep in his own bed and he just was more challenging than other babies his age.  In my heart, I knew there was more to it all.  When Dash was 3 we pursued the possibility of ADHD.  That opened a can of worms that we never expected!!  On our first visit to the neurologist we were told that Dash was Autistic, had oppositional defiance disorder, and severe ADHD.  Next we moved on to a pediatric psychiatrist who prescribed medication for ADHD.  The medication did nothing.  In the meantime, I pursued assessment through our county's Preschool Intervention Program.  He barely qualified and began receiving minimal services.  Once they began working with Dash, they too knew there was something more.  A visit to another neurologist proved more fruitful.  Dash was put on Abilify and we began to finally see some improvement and progress!  There was still more help needed and we had been refused services through our local regional center, TWICE.  I tried yet another avenue and got Dash in to see a pediatric psychiatrist at UC Davis Medical Center.  WE STRUCK GOLD!  Dash's new doctor was not only informative but helpful!  We are now awaiting assessment through the UC Davis MIND Institute which is HUGE!!!  Hoping that Dash can return to general ed next year in second grade with a one on one aide.  He's been in Special Day Class for the past year and a half.

I'm slowly discovering my purpose to all this craziness.  I am another voice of autism.  I am another advocate for the autistic, misunderstood child.  I am the educator of the uneducated.  I have become a better person because of Dash.  I'm a better mom, a better friend, and a better teacher.  Dash was brought into my life for innumerable reasons.  I love him more and more with every passing day.  He is my sunshine on a rainy day, my light in the darkness, the warmth in my heart.

Our Twist on the Easter Egg

Crash and Dash always appear excited when I bring up dying Easter Eggs.  However, each year I gather all the necessary materials and get everything laid out and we all get excited, they dye their first egg .... and then they're DONE!  Grr!  So I saw this on T.V. and thought we'd give it a try!  I also found out that Rice Krispies is a gluten free cereal ~ an added bonus!
Step One:  Make Rice Krispie treats as directed on the box.

Crash and Dash lend a hand....

 Step Two:  Allow Krispies to cool a bit, then with buttered hands, form egg shapes...

Step Three:  Melt chocolate chips according to directions on package (we use peanut butter chocolate chips), and lay out your sprinkles....

Step Four:  Dip the bottom portion of the "egg" into the melted chocolate, then dip into the sprinkle of choice ...

Step Five (optional):  Be sure to dip your fingers into the melted chocolate often to taste...

Step Six:  Once all eggs have been decorated, allow them to harden ... Then enjoy!!

We had a lot of fun doing this project, and the boys were engaged throughout the entire process ... much more fun for me than being left with one dyed egg and a dozen more to dye by myself!!

Exactly what does that RIBBON mean??

If you have ever wondered what the meaning is behind the "Autism Ribbon" ... well, here ya go!  It sums up life with an autistic child pretty well!

Diving into a Gluten Free World

Dash has always had a 'sensitive' stomach like his mommy.  However, recently, I have been trying to make note of what he eats before he gets sick.  It appears to me that foods high in gluten (pasta for example) tend to be a trigger.  I know that many families with autistic children turn to a gluten free diet in hopes of modifying behavior.  Behavior modification is not my main goal, but it would be a nice side affect.  We are introducing gluten free alternatives to his favorite foods, such as gluten free tortillas instead of flour tortillas.  The overall reception has been good.  Dash is also a bit on the chubby side, so I'm hoping that a gluten free diet will be better on his digestive system and he might lose some weight.  As always, our life is learn by doing, so we just jump in with two feet and hope for the best.  I would love any kid friendly gluten free recipes if you'd be interested in sharing!  I'll keep you posted in the days ahead ....