So Andrew started fourth grade this morning. I say fourth grade, but really, it’s all sort of ambiguous when you have a special needs child with as many developmental delays as he does. He’s more like in PreK1234th grade. But that’s for another day. Instead, I come to you today to tell you that my…
Andrew’s iPad2 is Here!
Thanks to Gary James over at A4cwsn, Andrew received his iPad2 in the mail yesterday. If you haven’t heard about Gary, then let me be the first to introduce you to a true miracle worker. A father who has special needs children of his own, Gary is truly making a difference in our children’s lives…
Parenting a non-verbal child can suck sometimes.
It’s been a strange few weeks here at the Ashline household. Andrew’s been fluctuating between intense frustration and euphoric joy and none of us are getting a full night’s sleep due to his erratic night schedule. Mikey is operating on fumes and I’m close behind. Andrew has started stimming a lot, squinting his eyes, laughing…
An Uneasy but Altogether Necessary Conversation
We walk you and I, hand in hand and I begin to talk as if you can understand me It’s something I really struggle with still. (Among other things, *sigh*) Often I find myself censoring what I say to you because I figure, what’s the point Isn’t that terrible? It is. It…
Autism Studies Reveal a Bunch of Crap Most of Us Already Knew
So there were two studies released on Monday, July 4th, 2011 regarding Autism, genetics, and environmental factors. Both studies claim that environmental factors should not be ruled out when it comes to determining the causes of Autism. Um. Duh. Honestly? I don’t think we should be ruling anything out at this point. Especially when it…
A Lesson Learned
I could hear the boys playing in their rooms when Andrew began to whine. I gave it a minute. Then two. By the third minute I could feel my jaw begin to clench. “Ian, is everything okay? What’s going on with your brother?!” I called from the kitchen. I was starting to feel the familiar…
Shut.Up.
He is wiggling in his seat and not the good kind of wiggle It’s the kind that let’s me know all hell is about to break loose “It’s okay baby,” I purr as we pull out of the driveway but his wiggles turn to whines and I turn to the deep breathing I…