YIKES!!

We haven't written in such a long time!  Mami got a job doing medical transcription from home...something that I used to do a bit ago, and thankfully, I got the opportunity to do again!  


Pajamas, any hours desired, sitting on my butt at home, kissing boys with my headphones on and a sweet boss...it is the ultimate for Mamas!


Needless to say, I haven't had much time for typing anything other than doctor's orders...but I am craving to express my own ideas, so hopefully, I will start back on the blog soon!


Ro has been creating some AMAZING digital art on the computer, and I am going to be listing it on his etsy site soon.  Also, for Christmas, he is taking requests for canvas and acrylic paints and brushes.  More art coming!  Yay!


Here is a sample of his genius...

HOW COOL IS THIS KID?

The Loudon of the Day

I is ALL growns UP!!!  Mami say, "WAH!"

I don't think I can take not having any babies anymore :(

AUTISM INSURANCE BILL IN MA - IT'S BOSTON, MAN, COME ON!!!

I love AFAM! Check out their site in the link below..

Did anyone go to the State House in Boston today?

Mama is already broke paying for things that weren't covered in our 7 year journey!!!

I hope, with all my might, that they pass this bill already!!!!!

**AUTISM AWARENESS OF THE DAY**

More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes & cancer COMBINED!

Ugh, they better get on that...quick.

1 IN 100 ...BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

Autism Rate Now 1 in 100, Federal Government Says

In a conference call, the government just confirmed that 1 in 100 American children has an autistic spectrum diagnosis. They're still saying they don't know why, or whether the increase is real. And HHS Secretary Sebelius showed where the government is still going wrong by talking about "more research in the genes underlying autism." The rest was bureaucratic blah-blah-blah. -- Dan Olmsted

HI, THIS IS AUTISM...I MEAN, RONAN.

A repost from our old blog about labels and autism.  Just revisiting the subject...

http://ronanjames.wordpress.com/2009/03/31/hi-this-is-autism/

THE LOUDON OF THE DAY

(Incredulous) "Mom!  I can't say that word anymore, because it is MISSING from my brain now!  Even the letters that spell that word are gone!" - when asked to say "sorry" to his brother after hitting him.

Look!  Mama can even see the devil in his eyes! lol

 

**AUTISM AWARENESS OF THE DAY**

Autism is a neurological disorder. Most people believe, mistakenly, that it is a mental disorder.

THE LOUDON OF THE DAY

Come...bathe with me!

Are my sisters and I the only ones who remember that SNL skit?

The Best Day Ever

I'm pretty sure I have another post entitled, "The Best Day Ever", but I am blessed with so many of them...what the hell - another Best Day Ever!!!!

We have been witnessing more "brain explosion" here lately. This is how I like to refer to Ronan's super learning periods, in which he acquires a huge amount of comprehension in a short span of time.

He's always advanced like this. I remember two straight years of fervently testing various methods of teaching him how to use the computer mouse (something he desperately wanted to do) and really having no success at all.

Then, one best day, I looked over at him at the computer table. There he was pointing and clicking like he had been doing it as a career his entire life.

It clicked.

And with Ronan, sometimes you can try to help for years, and with every method you can think of, read or learn about, but still...when it clicks, it clicks.

Sometimes, it's a certain word that turns the click to his understanding, and sometimes it's just time. Whatever the reason, when a skill that you have been trying so hard to get him to comprehend clicks, it's just the best day ever.

And not because I want him to be more "normal" or "typical", but because I know he gets such relief and joy from being able to express his thoughts and feelings to others.

How do I know this?

Well, this is what made the best day ever!

Recently, Ro has been passionate about the Universe. Planets, stars, galaxies, moons...all of it. Did you know about the moon called Callisto? Well, Ro will tell you 10 details about it in 10 seconds!

Anyway, being such an artiste, he decided that he wanted to draw pictures of planets, then scan them, and THEN iron them onto t-shirts for himself and The Loudon to wear. Needless to say, they are awesome, as are all of his creations.

We did a Jupiter shirt for him last week. He was so in love with it, he could barely contain himself - this is something I love so much about Ronan. It's just so fun to watch him in his excitement over something that others might find so insignificant.

Ronan: MOM!!! I LOVE MY JUPITER SHIRT!!! LOOK AT IT, MOM!!!

Mom: I love it, Ro!!! You did a great job drawing it!

Ronan: (pausing...wheels visibly turning) MOM!!!!!! (quietly incredulous and sighing with relief)...I can TALK to you now, Mom. I can tell you about my feelings. I can tell you how I love Jupiter so much!!!!

Mom: ...she isn't speaking, because she's crying.

I'm so glad that makes you so happy, Ronan James.

THE BEST DAY EVER!