#autism #autistic #autismmom #autismparent #autismparents #autismparents #autismawareness #bronx #boogiedownbronx #cause #causes #charity #children #donations #fundraiser #goodtimes #happy #awareness #iphone5 #kid #kids #karaoke #love #lounge #mommy #motivation #party #pompeiilounge #repostplease #repost #son #support #specialneeds #warriordad #warriormom #warriormoms #warrior

Totally deserved!!!! My reward for a small victory won! I got the RSA letter for my Donomites OT!!!! #asd #autism #autismmom #warriormom #son #iep #school #speakup #advocate #speacialneeds #children #school #sensory #issues

My macho!!! #son #baby #babyboy #youngest #prideandjoy #preciousmoments #love #cheese #children (Taken with Instagram)

My car is at the shop getting a make over because she is heading back to her original home at Nissan, so I am riding public transportation.  Yesterday morning was pretty easy except for the slow stop and go that drove a bit insane.  This morning’s bus ride made me cry. 

Those that follow me know that I am a proud Autism mom who adores my Donomite.  I also have two “typical” children.  All three are the air that I breathe, the blood that flows through my veins, and without them I could not live!  As a parent you hope and wish that you do a good job at planting the right seeds in order for your children to blossom and become awesome adults. Youhope that they then will do the same for their children.  But you also worry about what will happen to them once you are gone.  Especially when you have a child with special needs that will most likely need care throughout their lives.  (my eyes are swelling as I type)

Back to my point, LOL sorry! I take the BX 21 to get to work, and I usually bring my ear buds to listening to music and entertain myself.  This morning I had a bit of a shaky start, and got distracted and left my ear buds home.  This made me more aware of my surroundings.  At one of the stops a man got on the bus.  He was shaking a bit as if he were nervous.  There were plenty of empty seats, but he sat next to me.  I noticed a slight odor and braced myself for the ride.  The man began to rock and wiggle his fingers.  And this made me think of my Awesome Donomite.  It made me think about my little boy as a man, and how people would perceive him.  You see and hear so many people talking about people smelling foul and being weird on buses and trains.  So many thoughts ran through my head, and it broke my heart to think of my little boy being alone, and being ridiculed because of mean, ignorant people.  This then cause a snowball effect.  It made me think of Devynn when she has her anxiety attacks, and begins to worry about me dying.  “Mom, when you die, and I have to take care of the boys, will I have a husband?” (truth that is what she asked me!) It makes me feel both hopeful and sad.  I pray that I raise my children, to love and respect one another and those around them.  I want them to want to be there for each other, and appreciate each other! 

God is an awesome being and I know that he will give them the strength he has given me to make it. 

Today is my Donomites kindergarten graduation. A moving up ceremony. I am filled with so much emotion. As I sit here in this very very hot auditorium, I look back to the very beginning of this journey. From birth, to diagnosis, Early Intervention, Pre-School, and now kindergarten! He went from being completely nonverbal to speaking in full sentences. He is reading and slowly engaging in social activities. In fact my Donomite is singing the kindergarten song all by himself!!! His classmates will be backing him up! “I got a feeling” my Donomite is Awesome!!!!!!

We have been so lucky along the way so far. The therapist, the teachers, his amazing TAs, especially his #no.1 karlene!!! And we cannot forget his Rad TA at Harry Gordon Jonathon!!! I truly believe that they have all played a major role in his progress and his accomplishments. The friends, other “warrior moms” and Dads we’ve encountered along the way are all amazing!!! Moving Upward and beyond!!!!

So now that the fundraiser and the walk are done, I am hoping to be able to get some down time. A moment to exhale. But instead I have been plagued by nightmares and sleepless nights. Donomite’s sleep patterns have been off and so he is going to sleep late and waking up between 3:30 and 4 am!!! This usually happens when there is a disruption in his routine or schedule, and neither have occurred.

Donomite’s sporadic sleep pattern isn’t what troubles me the most. My nightmares and insomnia are what bothers me. Looking for some relief… Wishing for Sweet Dreams

Last Friday, I hosted my Team’s Second Annual Karaoke Fundraiser to benefit children with Autism.  Although we didn’t surpass our goal from last year, it was still an Awesome Success! 

I believe that we achieved all that we set out to do.  My main goal was to spread awareness to our community.  I also wanted parents who are just starting out on this journey to meet and pick the brains of those that have already begun their journey.  A way for them to be able to learn more and know that they are not alone. 

When I began my journey into the world of Autism, I was pretty much alone and had to fend for information on my own. Along the road, I have met some amazing people.  I am truly grateful to them all.  Because of all the love, support, and knowledge I was given, I want to be able to do the same for others. 

Yep mama said there would be days like this and I knew that she was telling the truth! Cause my mama ain’t no liar, But it doesn’t make these days less difficult to manage or handle. With all the heads up it still throws you for a loop when you are faced with a situation or situations where you feel like you’ve failed or that things aren’t what you’d like them to be.

Being a working mom and having 3 young children, one with special needs and a toddler of 3 years old, it is really difficult to keep it all together. There are days like today where you feel like everything is caving in on you. I’m still scratching and clawing my way thru it all, but I can’t help but fantasize about me being swept away to a tranquil location off the radar for a bit. I cant help but wish there was such things as fairies or fairy godmothers that can wave their magical wands and sprinkle their pixie dust and make it all grand!

Instead I’m stuck with reality, sick from eating a batch of bad chicken and having to clean my house and fold like 20 loads of laundry and put it all away. Thank God dinner is done but now I have to serve the children and get them ready for bed. Bedtime is like 4 hour process of trying to get them to sleep in their own beds only to have them all in my bed at 4 am.

Thank you for blogs that allow you rant about your gripes so that you don’t have a major meltdown