Tuesday, July 10, 2018

Totally Teen!

It's happened!  There's a teen boy running around the house!  Austin turned 13 the other day!  He's so tall and turning into quite a character!  He did well in school this year and is going to Grade 8!  We are so proud of you Austin!

All the best!  *HUGS*

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Pre-Teen Times

Goodness, it's been a while since I have posted!  Many changes and still challenges with Austin. He's changing a lot physically too, he's getting very tall, 5'8" and only 12 years old!  He's taller than Momma!

Austin graduated Elementary School and started Junior High School.  He's never really had to study too much, so we decided to let him figure out his own way for the first term, that, didn't go so well!  His grades dropped severely!  He didn't fail anything but he certainly never brought home grades like that before. We started a new system with him and we must go over everything and I help him study for tests and exams.  The report cards for term 2 come home soon!  I hope things will be better for Austin this term.

We got a puppy at the end of August, a Texas Heeler, her name is Piper!  She loves Austin!  I thought it would be good for him to have a dog.  Many people told me that dogs are great with kids on the spectrum.  She sure is fantastic with Austin!  She jumps up on his bed every morning and kisses him until he wakes up!  It's so sweet!  He walks her everyday too with his sister, he handles that responsibility very well!

Austin is still struggling socially.  Not as much as elementary school, but there are still a lot of challenges.  I feel badly for him.  He doesn't seemed bothered to eat by himself (it doesn't happen everyday, he usually eats with his buddy) or not have a lot of friends.  He still hangs out with a couple of boys that he's known all the way through elementary.  I'm hoping as he matures, social things will get a little easier.  I try to help him as much as possible.  There are other options through his Psychologist for help if needed, that's an option were keeping open since Austin does talk about girls and having a girlfriend eventually ... a few years from now!

Austin also loves his XBox!  He's a gamer for sure!  I blame his Auntie!  She's a gamer too! 😂  He doesn't get it from me, that's for sure!

I've been dealing with Austin's tone, not all the time mind you, but he definitely has the pre-teen hormonal attitude surfacing.  He's easy to correct it but oh my!  It's hard to think that it seems like yesterday he was only 3, now, he's taller than me and on his way to being a teenager.  He's grown so quickly!  Lots and lots of changes.  Overall, he's doing great!  I'm so grateful for that!  He's still a very good and sweet boy, he does have a few moments here and there ... he always says "It's not my fault, it's my hormones Mom!"  Sigh ...

All the best! *HUGS*

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

ATYPICAL

I watched the entire season the other morning, starting at 4:00 a.m. because I woke up early.  I couldn't believe how much I could relate to in this show.  I thought it was really well done!  A definite must see!

All the best!

*HUGS*

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Science Star! ✨

I can't express in words how PROUD I am of Austin!  This boy has achieved so many fantastic things!   He's a great child!  I'm truly blessed!

I love Science!  So does Austin!  He has excelled in Science and this year took home an award for Outstanding Achievement in Science at his graduation in June!  I could be prouder of Austin and so happy for him!

All the best!  *HUGS*


Tuesday, June 6, 2017

The Wasp

The other night, I was watching TV with my husband when there was a terrifying shriek that came from Austin's room.  In an instant, Kaleigh came running to the living room with her hands over her ears.  She yelled about Austin being screaming.  I was up on my feet already and ran to Austin.  The screams were so horrible I thought he had been seriously hurt!

I got to his room as fast as I could.  I found him on the floor, terrified, TERRIFIED ... screaming at the top of his lungs, "THERE'S A WASP ON ME!!!  THERE'S A WASP ON ME!!!  GET IT OFF!!! GET IT OFF!!!"  My husband had followed me to the room and got the wasp off of Austin.  I was trying to calm Austin down as best as I could, it took a few minutes.  Oh my!  My heart just dropped! When I saw him, my mind flashed back to when Austin was three, he had the same terrified look on his face, as he did then when he became frightened.  It broke my heart ...  I checked Austin to see if he was okay, he complained of pain in his elbow, he had been stung.  I got him some ice and Tylenol and he calmed down.  I couldn't believe how hysterical he became.  Poor guy!

I hear very frequently, your son doesn't look autistic.  Well, my son does have autism and he does react to certain situations.  He has social and motor skill challenges.  He gets distracted and can lose focus easily.  He does have autism and it is part of what makes him Austin.  I love you buddy!  I'm very proud of you, everyday!

*HUGS* All the best!

Monday, May 8, 2017

The Wheels on the City Bus!

Austin is growing so much and changing all the time.  (He's taller than me, my baby!)  He's a big guy, and taking the city bus!

I started working at the daycare at my school last year.  Austin and Kaleigh had to start afternoon daycare.  Austin liked it more than Kaleigh but eventually he decided, being a senior now, it wasn't as much fun.  My husband and I discussed it and decided Austin should come home on the city bus. (There's no transportation from the school since Austin is a boundary transfer; he goes to a school out of our neighbourhood.)

We both spoke to Austin about taking the city bus and he was very excited about the idea!  Me, not so much.  I know that he needs to be independent but everyone that knows me knows how protective I am of my children.  I gave in and Austin is taking the bus everyday after school.

Interestingly enough, Austin's bus stops right at the school I work at and I'm outside supervising a recess when he gets off the bus.  One of the first days, the bus was late, a bus drove by and didn't stop!  I FREAKED!  I was panicked!  It wasn't Austin's bus (it passed so fast that I couldn't see the number), I was dialing the school, my husband ... then, a bus pulled up and stopped, there was Austin.  Thank goodness!  I could feel my heart beat again!  Austin, oblivious to the confusion or how scared I was, said "Mom, the bus was 7 minutes late".  Needless to say, I filled in Austin on how frightened I was when the first bus drove right passed me!  He gave a little smile, told me it was "okay" and he was on his way home.  A very short walk from the school to our house.

I can't believe it.  It seems like just yesterday I was at playgroup with him, a toddler then, singing "The wheels on the bus go round and round ..."  Now, he's on public transportation and I'm wishing we were still in circle time.  Sigh ...

So PROUD of you Austin!  I LOVE you Dude!  OXOX

All the best!  *HUGS*

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Buddies

I'm so happy to blog about Austin and his buddies he has made at school.  He has had one friend since first grade who has always been so supportive and great!  There are two more boys that Austin spends time with everyday.  I have gotten to meet them and think they are great boys!  They were together at the Halloween Dance a few nights ago and I got a picture of three of them together; smiling and having fun!  I can't express in words how happy this makes me!

All the best!

*HUGS*