Lately life has had a mind of its own, and I’m just along for the ride. Coincidence or not, right around the time of Ryan’s official diagnosis of autism, life switched to turbo mode. It has just been one thing after another! Evaluations for Ryan, six month progress update with his therapists and the coordinating agencies, my birthday, Dan’s sisters spending a few days with us, three day vacation to the shore, a day at Dorney Park, and several dinners out, mini-golfing trips and days at the swimming pool sprinkled before, in between and after. My blogs, Flickr and Twitter are all being sadly neglected. I’d say that Twitter is getting the most attention, and that’s only because it’s relatively easy to send updates to it via TinyTwitter or Twitterfone. I’m kind of forgetting what it’s like to pick up my camera and go crazy with shots. That’s scary, since not too long ago I could easily snap 200 photos in a day.
But just to prove (if only to myself), that I haven’t lost my touch…
Taken on July 4th.
I’m trying to get back into the swing of things, but I’m overwhelmed with all of the non-work stuff I need to get done online (blogging, putting up a new layout for jenn.nu, catching up on the blogs I read, installing a few mods for Lavish, just to name a few!), and every time I get a few moments something else comes up. Like this past weekend, I thought for certain I’d have free time. Nope. With the exception of going swimming on Saturday and having Jason over for dinner on Sunday night, I worked, straight on through until 4am Monday morning. Ick.
I finished The Autism Sourcebook, and passed it onto Dan. It was a really good read, though it was sad to read the heartbreak, fear and frustration another mother experienced with her toddler, both before and after he was diagnosed. I’m kind of reaching those points, I think. When Ryan’s diagnosis was first confirmed, I was optimistic and operating in tunnel vision mode: okay, we know A, and we need to do X, Y and Z to take care of it as best as possible. Now? I’m overwhelmed with how much there is to do, and with all of the issues Ryan might potentially face.
You know, he is going to be two in three weeks, and he doesn’t say a single word. He imitates ba-ba-ba, ma-ma-ma and da-da-da, and recently picked up “uh oh”, but he says the sounds because he likes how they sound, not because he understands them. 
I just keep going with using the same words, day in and day out, repetitively, consistently. As soon as my head stops spinning with everything that’s going on I’m going to get started on PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System).
Back to books: I finally updated my GoodReads. Today Dan and I went to B&N, and I purchased three new books, including Autism 24/7: A Family Guide to Learning at Home and in the Community. Needless to say, I’m trying to soak up as much information and advice on autism as possible, both from the therapists and my own research online and with books.
Going out with Ryan seems to be one of the most challenging areas for me. He hates to be sitting or standing still for more than a few seconds. Shopping can be kind of difficult when you need to keep moving the shopping cart. Today we managed to hit up Staples, Office Max and B&N with Ryan, but it took car keys, a sippy cup, a pack of pens and M&M’s to keep him relatively calm. On Saturday he was at the pool with me, and it took five minutes of rocking and crying before he settled down enough to enjoy the water, and even then I still had to pull out an arsenal consisting of sippy cup, pacifier, toothbrush (FYI, toothbrushes don’t float) and splash balls.
So. Besides reading and working and being on the go almost every single day, not much is going on. July 4th kind of fizzled out. It rained, I had a headache, and my plans for a nice chicken barbecue didn’t work out. We celebrated my brother’s 13th birthday, had pizza and watched Independence Day, but there were no fireworks. Hopefully we’ll do them on Tuesday night!
Awww *hugs*. I’ve been busy too so I kinda understand that but I can’t imagine what kind of stress you must be under with all you have to do with Ryan.
We forgive you for being gone.
Of course we forgive you for being gone! You’re a very busy women. I hope things start to get better for you soon.
Your a very busy lady. I can fully understand being away and having a hectic crazy time in your life.
When I was a support worker to an severely autistic child we used picsymbols (PECS) I have a few websites that have some great everyday images. If you want it I can let you know and then you can print them up yourself. Just let me know.
It sounds really overwhelming right now with everything going on and adjusting to Ryan’s needs as well. Take it slowly, you can’t rush progress you know? You’re doing as much as possible to help him.
I got the gift card btw, thank you!!
If you weren’t normal, you wouldn’t be immersed with your family and everything that’s going on, so it’s OKAY that you have neglected your blog and other stuff online. Hopefully the overwhelming stuff will subside a little bit and you can enjoy Ryan’s birthday and everything else. It sounds like you’re doing everything you can for Ryan and that’s really all you can do, you know?
I had no idea Ryan is autistic! I guess I missed that. Understandably, you’re busy. best of luck!
Wow, I hope you get a day soon where you can just sit and relax. My nerves would be frazzled by now, too.
Just remember you’re doing all you can with Ryan and that in itself is great.
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I just don’t know how you are doing it. I’d be so overwhelmed. I think the most important thing to remember in all this is for you and Dan to make sure you have ME time and time for each of you to enjoy yourselves alone. I love alone time, when the fits have been thrown all day and Sydney is impossible 15 minutes makes all the difference. And yes, an all day rampage just does me in so I can’t imagine what you are going through with this 24/7.