Happy Anniversary Autism Diva Help

It's been a year now since I started Autism Diva Help.  Looking back, I remember a scared mom, wondering if she can make a difference of any kind in this corner of the world.  I honestly didn't think I could do this.  My friend Dani on the other hand, never doubted me.  She kept telling me to do this, and I tried (well, kind of) and just kept giving up.

See, I kept thinking that it was so easy for Dani to tell me to "just do it," as she is an amazing writer, and she's not only a blogger, but a published writer.  She can do things on a computer that would "google" your mind.  When I watch her work, I literally see smoke come off her laptop.  I miss my friend dearly.  She lives a seven hour drive away from me, yet she helped me start Autism Diva Help through that distance.  She encouraged me every time I felt like giving up, and kept telling me to just keep going, going, going...  She is my Nemo, and I am...  what's my name again?

Anyways, without Dani, there would be no Autism Diva Help.  I would have quit a long time ago, or never had started it in the first place, so for that, I must thank my good friend Dani, as well as you guys...  Autism Diva Help has had over 22, 800 hits in one single year. Holly cow!

As for my goals...  I will let you look back at one of my earlier posts and let you score my goal list...  Here it is:

http://autismdivahelp.blogspot.com/2011/03/if-you-bungle-raising-your-children-i.html

Goal 1:  Finding a better school, one that can handle Dayton's disability...  I haven't switched to another school, but the school that Dayton has been attending got a new principal and Dayton has a new teacher and aid...  what a difference!  We're having a much more successful year thanks to their efforts, without one single suspension!!!  I would have to say that I have met this goal, what do you say?

Goal 2:  Finding daycare...  Yeah, that's a literal impossibility in this area of Winnipeg.  Instead of finding a daycare, I'm using my respite hours to work...  Now the challenge is finding a good respite worker that is available for me to be able to work like regular people out there instead of the split shifts that I have been working...  I would say I've met this goal 50% - at least I'm using my respite, something I haven't really used  before.  Will I find a daycare for Dayton before he turns 12?  Hmmmm, probably not likely.  I'm going to have to re-evaluate this goal and fine tune it to finding a respite worker who is able to watch Dayton after school.  Sounds good to me, what do you think?

Goal 3:  Finding a play group for Dayton...  I've created PACE with the help of SuperDad, and we've had two successful play dates so far:  one at a McDonald's and the second one at our new home that we got a week and a half ago.  We're doing our third gymboree tomorrow night!  I say mission accomplished with this goal!

Goal 4:  Checking out the YMCA for programs for the two of us.  A family membership is $75.00 a month...  Ouch.  Met the goal as I DID check it out, but not joined as it's too expensive.  Goal met.

Goal 5:  Not bringing work home to take time away from Dayton.  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!  I've found a better job, one that requires me to leave home, but once I do get home, I don't bring work with me.  I'm all Dayton's!!!  And the best part, I LOVE MY NEW JOB.  I actually get to interact with my colleagues, my employer is fantastic, and I get to do what I've been teaching for the last three years.  I'M NEVER LEAVING PHARMACY AGAIN!!!

The road has been bumpy, with lots of twists and turns.  Thank goodness I wore my seat belt for this drive, as it's been full of missions!

I just have to remember the pictures of success:

Consider yourselves hugged,

Lou

On The Mend

It's been an uphill battle with my kidney stone issue.  The little bugger got blasted two weeks ago today, and let me tell you, I don't wish this pain on my worst enemy, not even on the people who have discriminated against my boy.  I've passed some of the broken stone since my lithotripsy procedure (a whole new world of pain there), but there is still a chunk left in my left ureter.  The little bugger won't go away even after being pulverized.  A true pain in the side like this deserves a name of its own...  I think I'll call it Glenda.

Anyways...  thank God for grandparents.  I had been hospitalized for nearly a week, so Dayton had to go spend some time with grandma Karen and grandpa Hans.  Glen, Dayton's daddy, forgot to give Dayton his medication for two nights in a row, then calls me at the hospital to ask me what he should do.  After giving him advice, he decided to do the complete opposite of what I told him to do.  Wonderful.  Mental note:  mothers are not allowed to get sick.

When I tried to explain my home situation to Doogie Howser MD, and how Dayton needs his momma to get home ASAP, and that Dayton doesn't really care if I'm in pain or feeling sick, or am taking a naked jog through a busy mall on Boxing Day slapping people in the head screaming "you are healed,"...  His needs don't stop, so neither can I.  "Give me some pain meds and send me home, fix me already!!!" The young pup of a urologist looked at me as though I had a third eye growing out of my forehead.

I am home now, and I thank you all who have been kind enough to email me with your concern about the inactive state of Autism Diva Help.  I apologize for neglecting my readers.  I'm feeling a bit better and feel my mind is a wee bit clearer without the fog of pain medications.


Consider yourselves hugged,

Lou