World Autism Awareness Day is TODAY!

Autism, where to start.

No two children with Autism look the same, but they are all struggling with the same issues.

We are all struggling with the facts, the way society treats people and the fact there is no cure.

Our Family has been forever changed by Mason, we are better people because of Mason.

We have grown more than most in a lifetime.

Autism or no Autism, Mason is just my son.

We all have our quirks, Mason’s are pretty typical if you look at the latest statistics. One child in eighty eight children will be diagnosed this year with Autism.

You think it can’t happen to you, it can’t happen to your family and then it does.

Make yourself aware of our struggles…

Stop judging that Mom in the grocery store…

Open your eyes, and except that everyone is different.

We all have our struggles, we all reach our limits, and then have our limits pushed. We all succeed and we all grow.

No struggle is more than another…

It’s just a different struggle.

Autism effects my family.

Autism will not DEFINE my family.

Autism does not define Mason.

We will continue to fight for Mason and for every other person who is different in some way or another.

 

I think this video sums up everything that needs to be shared.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2B1FeS5VX4

 

It was a Yucky Morning.

My Morning has gone like this:
*Nick left without feeding kids breaky and he left EARLY.
*The kids did NOT watch the 20 min show he put on for them they were hungry.
*I got up and puked, Morning Sickness is BAAACKK & has been for a week or so.
*I made them food while heaving and puking some more.
*Call Nick to complain and ask if he fed them anything, “a marshmellow”. Insert ::Nick laughing:: and ::Me puking:: and Nick ::laughing harder:: and then ::apologizing::
*Oh and then Carter dropped a deuce on my carpet, go to clean that up and there is Mason’s deuce in the toilet. Go downstairs to puke in the bathroom and Josh has also dropped a deuce and NO ONE FLUSHED. Why God? Why all boys?
*I then barfed in the shower, which then needed to be cleaned.
*Boys demanded more breakfast
*Josh got pissed off at me for making him get ready for school and the DS he had just picked up got chucked. -Not allowed to play in mornings anyway.

It’s been one long pukey morning.

Ugh.

It’s not always all fun and games with three boys and another on the way.

FINALLY WE KNOW!! IT’s a ….

We are happy to announce…

Yes, we are expecting our forth Boy! After our Ultrasound today, everything seems good with this little Man.

I will have another Ultrasound next month to check on things, as I seem to be a complicated & have fun pregnancies!

My Midwives dropped my care today after finding out I am now Insulin Dependant, I am upset and feel let down by these women. This was discussed at the very first appointment when we were thinking about using them. I would like to ask for prayer as we look for care once again. I am looking for another Midwife willing to take on a complicated case or looking for an OBGYN. Struggling with been dropped like this, but also Celebrating this little Man who is going to join our crazy family.

Best quote of the day whilst telling people about our little Man, “It’s way better to have the fifth as a girl”.


It’s Monday

Today I am 17 weeks pregnant and today has been a hard day.

I know that it’s very normal to be sad about the little one who has gone to heaven.

On January 24th I will go to the Dr. at the very end of the day for another ultrasound. This time we know there is only one baby and we will find out what the sex is. I am sitting here wondering and dreaming what the little baby in my tummy is, I want to feel more connected. I am also scared to go and find out what the sex of this little one is, to connect. I know that no matter what we will also know what we lost.

I am not sure how I am going to feel, I am anxious to find out how our family dynamic may change, I am anxious to know if the baby is still healthy. I am anxious and I am not sure if I am ready to know what we lost.

Many of you know this is not our first loss, and the little girl that should be here with me is sitting in Heaven too. I am not sure why the recent loss feels so much different.

I will not see this baby in a “baby” form.

I will not hold this baby and I will not say goodbye to this baby.

And yet I will.

Everytime I look at this new baby that is going to be delivered, I will know the mirror is missing. I am sure it will get easier, I am sure that there will still be difficult days.

I am sure that this is another season that will pass and just be a memory, but for now I am feeling this season.

And I am not going to just get over it.

I am not and have not forgot.

And I appreciate the Dr. who actually cares about the loss of this Baby, and realizes it’s not just some Fetus. I don’t think any Baby is.

I have Gestational Diabetes again, and I am struggling.

This week has been a hard week, but I am so grateful that I have not lost both babies.

I am so grateful to feel the little flitter and flutters in my belly.

I am just a little lost, but I know through him I will find myself again.

I just hope I don’t lose to much in the meantime.

 

One of the babies has met Nick’s Dad.

Yesterday was a hard day, and today has been hard too.

Yesterday we went for an Ultrasound to see the Twins, check on how they were doing and to confirm that they were indeed Mono Amniotic Twins.

As I sat and looked at the flat screen in front of me I knew, we have lost one of the Babies. The Dr. confirmed almost right away that we had lost one of the Babies and they had been Mo Mo Twins. We did get to see one very healthy little Baby, hands, feet flapping around and all.

Our Dr. was great and told me where every bit of this baby was, even though I already knew.

He gave us two pictures and told us this is now a much less complicated pregnancy. I am still considered High Risk, but nothing compared to before with the two babies.

We are sad, very sad.

We are also ok, we understand that this is part of God’s plan and that the little one we lost is now in Heaven with our Heavenly Father and Nick’s Dad. The last few weeks have been hard on the family with Nick’s Dad being gone, missing all this “life”. Missing being a great Grandfather…

We are sad and we will be sad, but ok. It will be hard when we find out what the Sex of the babies is/was. And when this little one is born, missing his or her mirror. But I know that we will be ok, we will get through it. We are just glad that if any had to leave us that it wasn’t both of them.

What it means to be carrying only one Baby now:

- I don’t automatically have to be on bedrest at a certain time.

- I don’t have to deliver the babies at 32 weeks and have Preemies who I leave at the hospital.

- I can be here for my Family and I can be HERE.

- There is no longer a 50% chance of losing this baby.

- There is a 75% chance this baby is a girl, at this point I just want a healthy Baby.

- I don’t automatically have to have a C-Section, the odds are great I will get to deliver the baby naturally. Just like I want to.

-The Positives could not get anymore Positive, even if one of our Babies is in Heaven.

The cute pic of the very healthy little Baby and the new date is June 16th, 2012!


And the beautiful Orchid waiting for me for when I got home, from my Sister.

We would like to thank everyone for your Support and continued Support and Prayers.

This Baby will be missed.

 

 

Sunday Confession: OVbunbunEN

Do you get it yet?

Shocking I know, you are not the only who has been shocked right out of your pants.

I kid you not this is real.

Twins.

We are having twins.

WE ARE HAVING IDENTICAL TWINS AT THAT!

This is our news, if you see me you can stare I am getting HUGE already.

I am going to be a BIG FAT HOUSE.

We are only a couple months in, but with this being my forth and fifth and at the same time there is NO denying I am clearly pregnant.

Wow I just just said forth and fifth.

Anyways, we are having twins. I am sure God is sitting up in heaven in all his glory with a huge grin…

We were DONE. We were DONE. WE WERE DONE.

Apparently God had other plans and ideas.

With our family and with Mason we live knowing that God always provides and that we will be okay.

This is not going to be easy.

I am pregnant with twins.

For those of you that have noticed they seem to be in one sac, we will know more after Dec 12th our next ultrasound.

 

It Sunday.

It’s Sunday and for us that means Church, can I tell you how much I have grown to really love church!

I have struggled my whole life with understanding, always questioning God about everything that happens. I have always loved God, but a constant in the past many years has been “why?”. Since having Mason there have been many times when I have asked “why God” and never really got an answer or so I thought. I think that I really just wasn’t wanting to hear him, I wasn’t reading the bible, I didn’t want to know “why”, when I didn’t know “what”.

I used to sing at church, I used to be pretty good for a church singer anyways. I gave it up, and I don’t really know why?

I was in a very dark place for a good portion of this year and I finally feel like I have come back into the light, ok I am slowly getting to the light. When we started going back to our church, the where we belong I have felt a huge movement in my life.

Can I tell you that God provides? When I look at the past fews years, there has been many times that we have had nothing left in the bank and no food in the cupboards so to speak. When these times happened and they were in the many God always provided. He provided through others, and I can’t even begin to thank you enough. I know in my heart that your families will be truly blessed, just as my family has.

Our life is still really hard most of the time and not a lot of fun, sometimes I find my self jealous of the “typical” family. This is something I am working on, is there things you are working on?

I want to do more with my life, I want to feel achievements and I want to help people. Selfish I know. I never claimed to be someone who doesn’t struggle with sin. Help people, sometimes I feel that I don’t know enough people to really help. Sometimes I feel like we need help and so do many other families, why should we get help?

God often answers my questions at church, seriously I end up sitting in service feeling that the sermons are directed right at me. That my friends is when you know God is moving in you.

I have no idea why  I chose to write about this today. It’s really my rambling head going a million miles a minute.

I feel I need to ask for help, I need you to help. This little boy Carter Bo, who has Autism has just been put on my heart. Have you read the last post  if not go read, please?

There was a little event that happened, including me thinking that Mason’s ipad and my purse had been stolen. And all you lovelies wanted to help us, and know that it has been “returned” I need your help to bless Carter Bo!

 

We are looking to help Carter’s family purchase a ipad for Carter to use for part of his Autism therapy. So far we have raised just over $100 in the last two days. I am hoping that with your help we can raise $600 which will cover the costs of the 16gb ipad.

I am going to ask, because its where my heart is taking me. If you go to church and you tithe, could you match your tithe this week and give this little boy and his family some help? If you don’t go to church, can you look at what you can give?

I know that many of you live on tight budgets, and so do we. But with all that we have been through with Mason, I know that God provides what we need and just when we need. Even though we have needed and often, we try to give when a family is really in need. What we give is always given back in one form or another and it is almost always more than we gave.

I could put a whole bunch of bible verses in this post to back up what I am saying, I don’t feel I need to.

From one Parent to another, help me bless this little boy.

Thank you for your consideration and help!

To know more about the purse incident, Carter or to donate go here

Or if feel you feel you can bless this family now here is the link.

Please feel free to spread the word on twitter, facebook and your blogs!

Helpl Carter Bo

*Donations are going to straight to this family thru their own Paypal account.
The Sears Fam

A purse & Mason’s Ipad returned.

*As of Monday, August 22nd we have raised $328 with your help, half way to the goal! 

As I sat at the Driver’s Services this morning I had a nagging feeling. My bag couldn’t have been stolen, the time frame was just too small and on our block? Everyone is in everyones business, it just felt so wrong. So the only place I hadn’t checked in the house was this room.

We happen to be living at my parents right now until a house we would like to rent is done being renovated. This room behind the play kitchen happens to be my Dad’s home office, no children are allowed in this room and it is generally kept locked when my Dad isn’t in there. All this being said, my Dad is on a business trip and the door was apparently left unlocked. As I had the nagging feeling and it being the only room in the house that had not been checked I called Nick and asked him to check.

So he went in and there it was laying on a chair.

My purse with Mason’s ipad sitting on a chair.

We have no idea how it got there, since I certainly didn’t go in there with it. It must have been one of our children, and I must have brought it in the house. I just don’t know when. This is what happens when for three years you get very little sleep, you remember nothing and you think you are going absolutely crazy. Which apparently I have gone.

So I am so sorry to have worried and angered you all. All things happen for a reason and I have found the reason, his name is Carter.

A six year old little boy who also has Autism. Some of you may know his Mom, Elizabeth from Sew Chatty. Elizabeth owns an Etsy Shop that is filled with things for everyone. She owns this little shop so she can stay home with Carter, as most of you know from our story it’s hard to work when you have a child with Special Powers.

As most parents of Children with Autism know, going out is a really hard thing to do. Our children do not do well in social settings, the have quirks and they have meltdowns. Period end of story. The same goes for Carter, his parents really struggle with his day to day quirkiness and the ipad is a new answer that many parents are turning to.
There are many apps for Autism therapy, and therapists working with children are starting to recommend it. For some who have no words or ways of communication the ipad has given these children a voice. I can’t stress to you how important ipads can be and what a difference they are making for these children and their families.
So Please forgive me for rushing to a conclusion that my purse and Mason’s ipad were stolen, but I feel God had a plan in all of this.
Carter was his plan, please help me in blessing this little boy and his family the way we have been blessed by so many.
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”
~1 Peter 4:10~
Please don’t feel bad if you have no money to give, prayers and support in the form of spreading the word is helping.
Thank you all so much for your support in the last two days, I feel foolish and yet I know that God had a greater plan.
Please feel free to spread the word on twitter, facebook and your blogs!

Helpl Carter Bo

*Donations are going to straight to this family thru their own Paypal account.
Cheers,
The Sears Fam

When a child with Autism get his Ipad stolen.

This post has been crossed off click here to see why!

It has happened folks and I am sick to my stomach. Yesterday we took Mason to Children’s Hospital for his GI appointment, which didn’t go great by the way. Mason was given more meds and we have come to a point with his Reflux they can’t do much more without getting really invasive, possibility of a Major surgery or two. So Mason now has to go back to see ENT, to see just how swollen his voice box & throat are. But all of this was made so much worse.

Most of you know or have seen Mason with his ipad, the ipad I worked really hard to pay for and just this past January I finally bought. We bring the ipad everywhere with us, it helps keep Mason calm and busy when we go out. His therapists have been busy building his new Autism program around having the ipad. Children with Autism use ipads to communicate, for social stories to help with the anxiety of going places and they are great when you are out and there is a change of plans. Meltdowns have decreased significantly when out with the ipad. Mason’s therapists were going to being using the ipad for his daily routines and all visuals needed. Mason really likes to watch videos of people doing normal daily things, so we have also been slowly compiling videos so we can teach him with videos. We love Mason’s ipad and so does Mason, and not in a “typical” kid way.

Back to yesterday.

 

We got home from the hospital, the boys were half asleep and we just wanted to get them inside. So we got out of the van and I grabbed Mason’s backpack with his very expensive pump off the top of my bag. We went inside. My purse with my wallet, make up and Mason’s ipad were left in my van in front of our house. Within one and a half hours it was all gone.

Stollen. Some awful person stole from a child with Special Needs and a family, they stole more than just possessions. Right outside of our house, in an area that you think is safe. After talking to a bunch of the neighbours who leave their purses in their vehicles and even their houses unlocked i don’t feel so guilty. Kinda. I just feel sick to my stomach.

I feel like an idiot, how could I leave something of so much worth, just sitting there for the taking. Worst still I have no idea how to tell Mason. Do I wait until he asks for it? I am just so upset. Not only did they get the ipad, they got my wallet with all my ID, bank cards, the kids CareCards and gift cards. I had a $100 Spa Utopia gift card that my mother in law gave me for my birthday. I hadn’t spent it yet, felt guilty spending that kind of money on something like that, something for only me. And now someone who doesn’t deserve it is going spend it. Nick and I also had a date night out gift card in my wallet. Sick to my stomach.

 

I know that you have all helped out our family in anyway you could in the past, including buying all our kids their christmas presents last year. As much as I don’t want to ask I am going to.

 

We are going to be fundraising to be able to purchase Mason’s ipad again. I have not worked out any details of what we are going to be doing yet, but if you are interested in helping out let me know.

 

We are also entering every contest giving away an ipad, so if you know of any could you please let us know!

 

Thank you for all your support in whatever way you can support us.

 

I am just so sick about having to explain to Mason someone stole his ipad. I am not ready for the meltdowns that are about to happen.

 

 

 

Helping Mason
 

The Special Needs Mini-Conference Blogher style.

I walked in room number 4, the Special Needs Mini- Conference. Was I really here? Looking around I became overwhelmed. I sat in the first chair I came too, next to a Mother & a Father that I had been talking to online for two years. Now I was starring at their faces. As I looked around the room, there was hot food in one corner, and a room full of these people. I sat there overwhelmed with a mixture of confusing feelings.

A beautiful HOT lunch was there just waiting for the taking. Do you know how long it has been since I had a hot meal? Three years, five months thats how long. For some odd reason guilt struck me, my husband should be here too. I went and got amazing chicken, roast beef and strawberry cheesecake. It felt good to sit there eat my food while it was hot and not have any guilt eating in front of my Son who doesn’t get eat comfortably expect from a tube.

As I finished I continued to look around the room once again I became overcome with tears. These Mothers and Fathers they knew, some more and some less. It didn’t matter, I really wasn’t alone. I had sat on my computer, sharing, venting and crying with many of these women. And now I was sitting there staring at their faces. I felt a “just wow” moment, and I couldn’t stop the tears from flowing.

A voice started, in a rich beautiful accent, I shifted to see Julia Roberts speaking. I had heard her voice in my head many times, it was good to actually hear and see her. Another Mother, another person who knew. Another Mother who had been there and still is. Another Mother who has shown and paved away for all of us to be ok. Away to feel not so isolated, and now she was standing right in front of me. I had an urge to run and hug her as tight as I could. One by one amazing Mothers and a Father shared their story, their insight. A mother who had ADD herself and three children with Special Powers. A Father whose daughter had no hearable voice, had given his daughter a voice. The tears continued to flow.

We talked in groups, I met more women I had never met and I hadn’t known their story. Now I  do and I know their pain. I continued to silently weep.

The time was moving quickly, far too quickly. I didn’t want it all to end. As I sat there I longed to hear every story in the room. I wanted to stand up and scream through my tears, “it’s ok, but it’s also not ok”. Does that make sense? To most of you no.

And then it just ended, just as fast as it had started. I couldn’t leave, I just couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to lose this moment, this moment where I was not in a room feeling like I was the only one. The overwhelming feelings were  beyond my control. I left after I hugged some of the most brilliant women I have ever met.

As I walked away, I had this feeling as though it wasn’t enough. I wanted more. I wanted to meet and hug everyone of those women and men. I couldn’t go on with the rest of the afternoon, I headed back to my hotel room unable to stop feeling, stop knowing and stop praising God for this special time he had gave me.

Blogher, The Special Needs Mini Conference, was the first time in years I had not felt isolated, people understood. They may not understand Mason, or Smith-Magenis Syndrome, but they understood. At the moment I felt changed, different, and alive.

As Blogher workshops continued nothing compared to the Special Needs conference for me. How could it?

A moment I bring back with me is meeting a Mother whose Daughter may never, walk, talk or eat orally. Some people say that is not life, that is just existing. Well I know they are wrong, because they were living, doing. That Mother was beautiful through her pain and yes I saw her pain. But the pain was so little compared to the love and happiness that shot thru her.

I have always said that I am not a “Hero” and that it bothers me when people call me that. I had a Mother call me a hero, I told her I was no “Hero”. I was just another Mother loving & raising my child, just like any other parent. This wonderful Woman came back at me, “You are your Son’s Hero”. And I guess she was right, and I am ok with that. I am just not your Hero.

I left Blogher broken, tired, emotional, and knowing, seeing, feeling a sense of being alive again. I leave with a very different perspective than most, I guess. I don’t care about the parties, the swag and all the extra bullcrap, it just doesn’t matter all that much. I am not alone.

Today I sit on the beach watching the four men in my life play in the sand and water. I am no longer wondering if other Mothers or Fathers feel the same anxiety I feel. Blogher showed me and spat in my face that I am not alone. There are other parents, they know and I am not alone.

This is what blogher meant to me. Can you say it meant the same for you?

Thank you to all who took the time to organize and put the Special Needs Conference together. I feel alive again, coming thru the ugly darkness. I feel good.

As for next year, Blogher is in New York and I am not sure I can put that kind of funds together again. I am leaving it in God’s hands. I would love to be in the presence of these amazing Men and Women again.

Here is the transcription of the Special Needs Conference.

Look for tomorrow’s post about the wonderful people I met and other crazy ramblings about Blogher 2011.