Do you wanna hear something horrible-ish???

Today while we were waiting for Shannon to come out from work, I look at myself in the mirror, trying to tidy up for him...and I see it, there in front of me plain as day, a grey hair. Then, I see more....and more....and more. I about died...well, not really, but you know what I mean. All this time I thought they were blonde highlights...grey hairs!!!!

Not that I care

But, is it just me, or is anyone else annoyed by Amy Winehouse? She is disgraceful. I just don't understand why people have to trash their lives. Waste I tell you....waste.

Percentages, Statistics and all that other stuff

In classic Jenn fashion, I find myself searching the web...nay, scouring the web for information regarding autism....I swear, I totally understand what Jenny McCarthy was talking about when she mentioned her Degree from Google University. I was reading about autism...again...and this time I came across some pretty disturbing statistics that I would like to share with you.

The Centers for Disease Control now estimates that 1 in 150 children are on the spectrum, which means every 20 minutes a child is diagnosed with autism!! It appears that since the 80's the number of people afflicted with this condition has increased by 600%...now, for the medical community to not deem autism and disorders on the spectrum as an epidemic is beyond me.

The divorce rate amongst couples that parent a child with autism is a stiffeling 86%!!! I am very pleased to say that we are among the small majority that DO NOT fall into that category, and will not...we have a strong family foundation, and we know that God would not give us more than we can handle, though times we are definitely tested, that is for sure.

According to the Department of Education annual reports to the US Congress, autism cases in children aged 6-21 in US schools increase yearly by approximately 25%

Total chance of recovery from autism is less than 40%. Specialist and Doctors do say that children that are diagnosed early do have a stronger chance for "recovery" and repairing damage and delay that is already taking place. The most unfortunate thing is that less than 10 percent of the diagnosed children are recommended for therapy, and only 3%-4% actually do receive treatment...isn't that sickening?? Drug therapy, Physical therapy for atheletes that get hurt in their "field" of expertise are an everyday occurance...millions of dollars in healthcare are going freely to these people to get better...and yet parents with children that have autism are left clawing their way through the health care system to get put on a sometimes YEAR LONG waiting list JUST to be evaluated for the possibility of recieving therapies. Being on this end, I can tell you, it is maddening.

I am still baffled that the medical community and our government is not more motivated to get to the route of this disorder. I find the quiet demeanor of our health system to be deafening and it puts me at a loss. I don't trust my doctors. I find it even harder to trust the government...I sound like a freaking conspiracy theorist. Judge for yourself..if you want to read some interesting statistics and papers from government officials, CDC, healthcare profs. look here. Thanks for listening..I will step down from my soapbox now.

http://www.geocities.com/arnfl/stats.html

Mama, why does brother have to be different?

Ug. Last night when Shannon was taking little t for a walk before bedtime, I was reading T some books...we turned out the lights and we were turning in for the night. T says some pretty deep stuff. The convo went something like this:
T - "Mama, why does brother have to be different?"
Me - "What do you mean baby?"
T - "You know, his autism."
Me - "That's just the way that God made him sweety."
T - "Well I don't like it. I don't like autism."
Me - "Do you want to talk about it?"
T - "I don't think he should have to have so much therapy...other kids don't have therapy."
Me - "Well, honey, if he doesn't have therapy, then he will not have the chance to get better..."
T - "I just wish that he could talk. I get lonely."
Me - *just about to tears here, holding her and stroking her hair* "I don't want you to be lonely honey....just try to have faith knowing that he will one day talk."
T - "I feel like he will never talk mama. I don't think he is ever going to talk. Sometimes I worry that he won't talk and then he won't make friends. You can't make friends if you don't talk."
Me - "I know baby, mama worries about that too....but, we just have to know that he will. Keep showing him how ok?? Can you do that for me? He learns by watching you."
T - *sounding a little deflated by now* "I will mama."
Autism affects everyone in the household. I remember when I was a therapist in college, I worked for a family that had a 3 year old with autism. I saw how it affected the family dynamic, how at times it seemed to rip them apart at their seams, it rearranged the daily happenings, it caused the mom major worry. I remember saying to myself "I hope that I never have to deal with that...I don't think I could do it." Someone was listening. Is that some crazy twist of fate or what? I am not going to dwell, I am going to be thankful. I am thankful that I have a son. I am thankful that he is healthy. I am thankful that my family is strong and together. I am thankful that I have an amazing therapist team to help him and that we have a strong extended family support system. I am thankful for my friends and their acceptance of little t. It is all the way that it should be and I thank God for my family everyday....the good, the bad, the different and everything in between. So, for now, I will continue to help T through this rough spot and continue to help t all the best that I know how.

Things about me....my new discoveries

As people we change often, adapting to situations outside of our control, change our points of view, change clothes...ok, that's a given. But, what I want to share with you all is how I have discovered new things about me as I have become a mom...things that I wouldn't normally share but for some reason feel compelled to do so...so, here it is.
-I secretly love watching Hannah Montana
-I really love the smell of crayons and playdoh
-If there was a choice between reading the newspaper or a Highlights, I would pic the latter of the two.
-I love childbirth...all of it, from the yucky contractions to the pushing and all the other stuff in between....I especially love the payoff. I don't use drugs in labor, and I think it is all the more exhilerating.
-I sing the theme song to the Wonderpets at least once during any given day...okay, maybe twice.
-I love the way my kids smell when they haven't bathed...is that gross? Sometimes we don't get home intime for their bath, so we put them to bed "dirty"....Their sweaty heads in the middle of the night, all mushed up against mine, it smells like...them.
-I would much rather watch a children's program than a daytime soap or the news...I don't even watch the news anymore.
-Shopping for my kids is more enjoyable than shopping for me....seriously, I go out with the intention of buying something for me and gravitate to the clearance section of the kids dept...come out with a bagful of tnt stuff and nothin' for mama...but I am satisfied!
-I have a better sex life since having kids...we are forced to get creative and outside of our bedroom, since they sleep in there! It's great...
-I don't brush my hair nearly enough....hence this dreadlockish bun on the back of my head...oy!
-Blue is a girl...so is Linny (if you are a mama of little ones, you know who I am refering to.)
I know, I know...not compelling at all, but, it's stuff that I realized about me and it makes up a large portion of the person I am now. A mom. First and foremost. I still enjoy all the other things that I used to do, but, this is just far more satisfying and rewarding to me...so, pass me the Highlights magazine and lets find some hidden pictures.
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Not too much..

I don't really have anything fascinating or mindblowing to talk about today. T is absolutely disgusted with SauerKraut, she has decided that it is like eating poop and that it smells so bad that she actually starts to gag....GAAAGGG! I adore the stinky stuff, and will continue to eat it, especially since I know that it will get this reaction...
T - *mid sentence on another topic entirely...* "I am cleaning my dishes and * I open the jar of Kraut...she gets a whif* "phew, what is THAT????? PHEEEEWWW, something smells like PPOOOPP??!!! Mama, you are not going to eat THAT are you???"
ME - *kraut coming out of my nose by now...* LAUGHING MY BUTT OFF...
Yes, I still ate it. Can I help it if I love stinky food??

My new blog

My FIRST post on MY OWN blog!!! I have a family blog that I am absolutely devoted to, and hate that I am cheating on it...but, a girl needs her space! This one is JUST for me...not something I do very often, me stuff..I hope you decide to stay a while, I will ramble about all the things that make me happy, aggrevated, sad and everything in between. Welcome to crazyville, population Jenn.