Why sleep when I can blog?

I really should be sleeping, but I find that when Johns not home I don’t do much sleeping.

I am thinking more and more about quiting smoking. I had a pack with 4 cigarettes in it at 7 pm and ran out by 11pm. I put off going to the store until about 20 minutes ago, and I was going crazy with cravings. It seems so ridiculous to know all we know about smoking and still do it, but then again it truly is an addiction. Aidan keeps coming to me saying today is No smoking day, or tomorrow Mommy, no smoking. I think my grandma is putting him up to it, but still they are right, I need to quit. I have already decided that if I am ever going to have another child I will quit before we try to conceive. John has been hinting pretty heavily that he wants to here in the next year or so. Me, I am mixed – I want another baby, but there is so much that goes into it besides the desire. OI am thinking about financial readiness, time. The boys already consume most of my time when I am not working, how would make enough time for them ( especially to work with Rowan) if I had a newborn?

At any rate, I still need to quit. I’m thinking of seeing a doctor to discuss option for quiting. I have a brother-in-law who quit recently using a combination of the patch and a nicotine inhaler. I’m not so sure about the patch – I have a bad track record with patches, bad allergic reaction, but the nicotine inhaler might help.

In other new I just found out today I am going to be made an Auntie again! My lil’ sis Lee just found out shes pregnant – probably about a month along. I hope its a girl!!!

My big project right now is helping to organize a Autism Awareness Information Fair with BACH Parents Of Autistic Children Support Group. What we hope to do is get the community out, especially teachers, doctor and law enforcement to inform them what it is like to Autistic. We want them to know about the early warning sign, treatment support option, etc. Lately in the news there has been an upsurge of news specials on Autism, but in my humble opinion they seem to regurgitate the same old information and perpetuate the stereotypes, rater than put out much needed new information.

People need to know how to find an advocate to help in dealing with ARDs and IEPs, they need to know about sensory integration, PEC, floor-time. They need to know to really important things like the warning signs. Society and doctors needs to quit telling parents who bring up a concern in their lightning round – 3 minute well-child visits, that their kids are just late bloomers, don’t be a hypochondriac, oh he/she will out grow it.

I can speak for anyone but myself, but when I get really honest with myself, I knew way back when Rowan was a little baby no more than 6 months old that their was something different with him. I was too afraid of being panicky mother to admit it, and I knew nothing about Autism. I rationalized away the things I saw until he was 2 1/2 and I had begun to get defensive when people asked me about Rowan and his differences. I didn’t have answers, and they ones I came up with where no longer sufficient to explain it. What really burns me up was that the people who questioned me, where the same people who behind my back said “Oh I thought all along he was Autistic”. They didn’t tell me because they were afraid I would get mad.

f there is any one piece of advice I could give people it would be this – If you have any suspicions of something being wrong in the development of your child – or any child you know – seek help, don’t let the fear of making someone mad or offended, or taking up too much time from your doctor stop you. The sooner you know the better you can help the child. It might be nothing, or it might be serious, but wouldn’t you rather know you have done the best and all you could do to make sure that he/she is getting everything needed to help them grow up happy and healthy. If you thought your child had cancer you wouldn’t wait, would you? Well, Autism isn’t an illness or life threatening and its not “curable”, it more of a very special way of being, but along with it is a host of other issues that can be treated and helped, and the sooner the better.