
Friday, 18 June 2010
Cell Phones: Luxury or Need?

Thursday, 24 September 2009
A Reflection of Us...

We met when we were just 18 and 20 years old; like most other young adults we were young and full of ambitious dreams. One of our favorite past times was camping; we spent many clear nights under the stars and moon laughing and chattering about our future together.
Never once did the word “Autism” enter our starlit dreams and midnight conversations.
No, instead we painted an ideal about our life together and our future children… They would be perfect, a combination of the two of us. They would have their father’s wit and my compassion splashed with our analytical natures.
…In the shadow of our youth, our relationship would be challenged as we faced autism together, but like anything else lay in our path we faced it together and became stronger than before it existed.
We no longer go camping in nature as there are too many obstacles that threaten our daughter’s safety. Instead, we pitch the tent in our backyard, with the comfort of home at our finger tips. Just this past Labor Day weekend, we lay awake under the moon in our backyard with our youngest daughter obsessively reciting scenes from Dora the Explorer.
I laid there listening to the non-stop chattering that has become comforting to me, thinking about how we have had to redefine our dreams and plan for an uncertain future. I am certain there are other couples who have been drafted into the autism journey that are no longer able to identify with the life they had before autism too. As often as I say the autism doesn’t define us, it has become a part of our identity, our lifestyle, and our future.
Today, I reflect on a young couple naively entering the journey of their lives with an uncertain future. Yet… through the hills of this journey we continue to adore each other. We still have quiet passion and humor. I am so relieved to share this journey with my best friend and lover. It is he who keeps me strong after days of no sleep, or hours of worry… it is he would supports me unconditionally to move forward with not only the autism, but anything I decide I want to explore and put my attention to.
I am grateful I can participate in life with this man of integrity, passion, and strength. And I know that if there is anyone who is going to help me conquer this thing in our life called autism, it is my husband. Together we unite and are better because of it…
Sunday, 13 September 2009
A Hidden Treasure.... Indian Run Falls

As I have said before, I love the metro-parks in the Central Ohio area. Here is another hidden treasure that is in our backyard that I had no idea existed until yesterday.
Indian Run Falls, Dublin Ohio.
Although we really ventured there to see the waterfall, it happened to be dry yesterday. Without realizing it, we ended up hiking on the limestone shelves that should have been rushing with water. We were in the middle of the path of a waterfall, the energy was incredibly peaceful. What an experience! How often do you get to walk where a waterfall should be rushing?
After exploring this hidden treasure, we ventured up to the path and walked around the cliff embankments. Now, we understood that the fall itself was to be 25 feet… but don’t let that mislead you (like it did us). The cliffs are Hocking Hill sized cliffs with limited fencing. The trail had observation decks to sit and enjoy the scenic view.
After hiking around the horseshoed path we ended up in the Indian Run Falls Historical Cemetery which was established in 1813 and restored in 1975. The family and I were able to walk around each weathered stones with reverence and fascination. I love walking in cemeteries... They are full of history, energy, and they just offering a feeling of comfort to me.
We were able to hike the path back with less angst then the first time around knowing that the cliffs were there. And with that knowledge, attention to where the kids were at all time came easier. I look forward to being able to take them back when the water flows on the fall...
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Ice Skating, Girl Power, and Unconditional Love

I have to say my favorite summer tradition is our annual ice skating outing. Yes, ice skating in August! Can you think of a more creative way to beat the dog days of summer? Neither can I.
The girls and I dug out our winter hats and mittens, put on our jeans and headed over to the Chiller Skating Rink. Being August, it wasn’t very busy today… maybe 20 skaters, at best, including 3 pro hockey guys in their getup.
Sahara was glued to the wall, which was fine with me… she stopped at each bench and penalty box while her sister periodically came up from behind to say, “Hi” and offer a helping hand. It took Sahara 45 minutes to do one lap then she hesitantly stepped off of the rink. She amazed me as she walked on her skates without wobbling, which according to her IEP she shouldn’t be able to do.
(LEAPS AND BOUNDS!)
After she removed her skates we went to the balcony to watch Emily skate with confidence, pink cheeks, and a faint smile of pride. Emily twirled and sped across the ice with grace, not a common trait in this kid.
(Another moment of ACCOMPLSHEMENT filled me.)
As we headed to the car, Emily declared she was hungry. After lunch we headed over to the department store to get a jump start on school shopping. As we pulled up to the stop light, I had this urge I just had to heed to. I rolled down my window and freely yelled, “GIRLS ROCK!” Emily’s eyes got big and I heard a faint giggle…
“1, 2, 3… GIRL POWER!”
…we were laughing, shouting, and enjoying our girlhood to the fullest. Sahara participated from the backseat laughing as much as her sister did as she repeated “Girl Power”. For that moment we had no diagnosis in the car, no constraints from society, and no peer pressure… we were just innocently enjoying a mom and me outing celebrating our girl-ness.
We talked about how girls can do anything a boy can do (psst, sometimes better). This is something I think young girls often are not encouraged to do, but not today… today I told them they could be, do, and experience ANYTHING they decided to.
We talked about it being awesome that Emily loves science and math, and that girls can have those types of careers too. I even discovered that Emily secretly thought it would be really neat if her and her sister grew up to be Paleontologists working together on excavations.
HOW COOL IS THAT!?!?
Most siblings want to get as far away from each other as possible, but not my girls. I suppose that this is Emily’s way of saying that I shouldn’t worry about Sahara’s future. She often declares that Sahara and she will live together when they leave home, and sometimes I think that just might be the case.
This was evident half way through the store when Emily (out of the blue) declared, “I LOVE MY SISTER!!!” I looked over at her and smiled faintly, “I know you do and she loves you…”
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
The ABC's of Innis Woods Metro Park (by Emily and Mommy)

Amazing Adventure
Bridges
Chipmunks
Deer
Ebbing water
Families
Grey squirrel
Hills
Investigation
Joggers
Kalology (study of beauty)
Labyrinth
Meadow
Nature
Oobambulate (to wander about)
Pine Trees
Quality time
Red Cardinal
Spider
Toads
Uliginoud (a swampy, slimy place)
Violets
Windmill
Xenial (hospitality towards guests… from ranger.)
Yellow Daisies
Zeta (a small room with nature displays)
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Barefoot and Naked... Is There Another Solution To Those Seams?!?!

Crisis resolved.
Soon we found ourselves on a 1.7 mile nature trail. We were enveloped by nature and I have to admit it felt liberating! Emily was eager to declare that she thought she saw a deer everywhere she looked. I am not so sure she saw even one the whole way, but she will adamantly deny that. Sahara wanted to pick up every stick and smack every leaf with it. Emily tried to rush her sister, "Come on! Look it’s beautiful!" I am certain she didn't mean anything in particular, but it successfully motivated Sahara ahead another 20 feet before another stick caught her attention.
As she bent over to pick it up, she suddenly plopped down on the dirt path to pull at her sneakers, "Sahara, our shoes need to stay on if we are going for a walk." She huffed and puffed, stood up, and took another few steps before she sat down and tried to get them off again. "Sahara, our shoes and socks need to stay on if we are going for a walk."
Emily thought she heard a baby deer and went running to the observation deck. Sahara and I followed, but by the time we got there Emily was ready to head back up the nature trail. Sahara stopped, sat on the bench, and had her socks and shoes off before I could intervene this time. I convinced her to put the socks back on inside out. I was hoping the seams being off of her toes would put her at ease.
Another mile to go….
I had to place my hand on Sahara’s back to keep her moving, but it was maybe another several yards before the socks and shoes were off again. I persuaded her to put back on her shoes; the socks ended up in my backpack. This lasted for a bit, then the shoes were off again and she was on my shoulders for the last 1/2 mile.
After an hour and a half we found our way back to the jeep and made it home safely. As I reflect, I am grateful that we could connect with nature without incident. But, I also am acutely aware that the whole sock and shoe issues disrupted the flow of the hike. Having a child who experiences sensory issues brings all sorts of challenges.
Certainly, fuzzy socks and rough seams go unnoticed by many. But, for a child with sensory issues, it is like sandpaper on your toes or your unmentionables. (Can you imagine?) Most days, regardless of the time of year, my daughter is barefoot and naked in order to be comfortable. We have, however, recently discovered that she will wear a dress without underwear and that seems to have adverted the whole unmentionables issue (for now).
I have, also, recently connected with a company, SmartKnitKIDS, on twitter that make seamless socks. I have to admit I haven’t tried them yet, but plan to place an order after we move. (I don’t want something that precious to get lost in the mail.) SmartKnitKIDS also just let me know that are working on a prototype for underwear. I have to admit that I have never been so excited about ordering underwear and socks!
If any of my readers have tried SmartKnitKIDS products please let me know your experience. I look forward to ordering both products in the near future and will be certain to write a product review. In the meantime, I am excited about the potential that Sahara may be able to wear these necessary clothing items with freedom from the inevitable seams that interfere with her daily activities!!
(PSST…they are offering a Back To School Contest you might be interested in. )