Autism Speaks

Even before I had children of my own, I worked as an ABA therapist for young children with Autism. Over the course of 10 years, and with six different families, I've watched parents give more of their time, energy, and resources than they had to spare so that their child could have the early intervention that would promise a fuller life. I have seen siblings sleep 4 to a room so that a bedroom could be devoted to therapy sessions. I've been awed by the tenacity with which a mother will pursue the best treatment for her child, regardless of cost or personal sacrifice. More children are diagnosed with Autism each year than cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. Yet the cause is still unknown, a cure elusive...and the effective treatments and interventions that have been found are NOT covered by insurance! I think it's high time we change that: Find the Cause, Find the Cure , and Fund the Treatment.

The Band Five for Fighting will donate $0.49 to Autism research each time this video is viewed, so please take a minute to watch.
http://www.whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com/videos/view/id/408214

When you're done watching, you can follow this link to the Autism Speaks website to find out who your representative is, and how to email them with a request to support legislation that will give children with Autism a running start--by funding early intervention and compelling the insurance industry to cover the treatment of such a prevalent disorder. These little ones have such deep, beautiful, old souls. It would be a travesty to allow them to continue to struggle, when we as a society have the power to intervene.

Update: 10 pm
I just emailed my representative as well as Sen. Mel Martinez and Sen. Bill Nelson. Just 4 minutes to add one more voice.

Predictability

11:46 pm. Headed to bed, with the promise that tomorrow I will see my Thomas a few minutes after 6:30, and way before the sun is up. He will grab the sheet of our bed, reach his other hand for mine, and laboriously pull himself up next to me. With a little grin he'll tuck his chilly toes under my knee as I pull our covers up under his chin. Then, just as he has done in all the mornings of the past month, he'll announce the presence of a monster, an alligator, or (oh, dread) Katschai , the ogre from his favorite Little Einstiens DVD. Well, what's a girl to do with such creatures about?! Make a tent, of course! So I'll stick my leg up like a tent pole as we pull the covers over our heads, compelling Aaron to join in. And Tommy's delighted little giggle will be the perfect start to the day. It's always nice to know what you have to look forward to, isn't it?

Been Tagged

My Bosom Buddy Angela tagged me with this little quiz on her blog. So, here you have it, Angie.
What is your husband's name? Aaron
How long have you been together? One month shy of 11 years
How long did you date? Met the first Sunday in February, engaged in mid March, married in July. You get to do the math.
Who eats more? Aaron wins by volume, but I spend the entire day grazing so it probably evens right out.
Who said I love you first? He did, and I cried
Who is taller? I used to be 5'9", but Aaron is 5'8", so now I'm 5'8" and we're the same height, as long as I shun any shoe thicker than a moccasin.
Who has more speeding tickets? Don't those drop off of your record after a while? I've only ever gotten one, for 6 miles over the speed limit, and that's the most recent. Aaron used to have quite a little speed issue, but it's been a very long time. He knows he's needed here and takes good care of himself for us.
Who is smarter? oh, Aaron for sure. He can remember the things he's read, word for word. I can't even remember what day it is.
Who is more sensitive? sensitive to what? He's more thick skinned, but more sensitive to my feelings than I am to his, more often than not.
When there is a fight, who usually wins? In order to fight there has to be a mutual lack of respect for eachother's views and feelings. We disagree a lot more amiably than that. But usually Aaron is the one who comes around to my way of thinking. I kinda like it that way...
Who does the laundry? I do, but as in everything else, he'll do anything I ask.
Who does the dishes? When I'm pregnant, Aaron does the dishes through the 6 week post-partum. Otherwise it's a matter of who bats their eyes at the other one first.
Who sleeps on the right? No set arrangement, where ever you fall, that's where you lay.
Who pays the bills? Aaron win's the bread, I butter it and make it feed us all.
Who mows the lawn? Aaron for the most part
Who cooks dinner? Usually me, but we go through periods where he is the menu planner, shopper and cook.
Who drives when you are together? I like to drive so I won't stress over his vigilance. "Look over your shoulder, that's a stop sign, oh-oh-oh that car's stopping" I think he prefers for me to drive so I will leave him alone, poor man!
Who is more stubborn? Neither of us are incredibly stubborn, though I hear he used to be.
Who kissed whom first? He kissed me, and I really did plan to tell him I didn't kiss boys until way after the first few dates, but when the moment arrived, I really didn't want to tell him that. So I didn't.
Who asked who out first? He asked me.
Who proposed? He did.
Who has more siblings? I do. He has two brothers, but I've got 2 brothers and a sister.

So there you have it, all the info that is vaguely interesting without being very informative. And thanks, Angela, for my first tag. I promise never to call you Angie again (but that's only if I remember that I promised).

Tag to Cari http://www.carizolli.blogspot.com/ and Cheryl http://www.g-money-crackerbarrel.blogspot.com/

Your Persistence Has Paid Off

For your continued faith and diligence in checking this Lazy blog over it's fruitless past 4 months, you have earned ONE very long, not completely thorough, catch-up post:

My sister, Shannon, hosted Thanksgiving at her house, and we were joined by Grandma and Papa Dean.

We feasted, played the Great Dalmuti, jammed to Grandpa's Guitar and watched my brother-in-law, Darren entertain the kids with silly songs and dances.

The Day after Thanksgiving we set up our Christmas tree and held our traditonal Christmas Eve festivities.

Since Christmas would be in New Mexico we thought we'd celebrate early with the folks, and get to have our traditions despite the travel later in the season.
We set up the advent calender, Emma topped the tree, Aaron lit a fire in the fireplace, Grandpa read the nativity from Luke, and we roasted marshmellows. Wouldn't be complete without the customary chili or oyster stew dinner.
Next day we woke up and had "Christmas at Thanksgiving" with Grandma and Grandpa (aka Papa Dean).

Our Tommy-boy Turned Three at the end of November.
Thomas, Finley and I spent the morning at the zoo and we had a rip-roaring party at home that evening.

December 10th I loaded the Spraguelings into our mini-van a-la cartop carrier, and drove caravan style with my sister to New Mexico.

We had a great trip, and the kids were very good to me. The roads stayed dry, the weather fine, until after we arrived at my brother's houses in Albequerque. We woke the next day to little voices exclaiming excitedly that snow was falling...such as it was. It didn't take much white stuff to delight these Florida kids, and they played in it until it disappeared.

Our entire trip was filled with together time. This was the first time in ten years that the four of us siblings were together. (That's my little brother William next to me, then Shannon, and our oldest brother A.J. on the right.) I got to see my Grandpa Johnny, my Mom's father, while we were down in Roswell. I got the chance to see my aunts Greta, Kay, and Zelma. The time spent with Will gave me the chance to get to know his sweet fiance' a little more.

It was beautiful to have time to just Be Together. Eating, playing card games, rocking Guitar Hero on the Wii. Aaron joined us on the 21st,

and Christmas morning at William's house found us all together under one roof to see the 6 kids greet Christmas Day.

Gifts were abundant, as were smiles and awed expressions.

Granny is to thank for these sweet girlies in matching Christmas dresses. Enough to make a mama's heart twitter. That's Shannon's little Amelia on the left, my Finley Grace in the middle, and my own Emma Kate looking dreamy on the right.

Aaron and my Dad made the return trip with me and the littles. We braved what this Florida girl will call a blizzard, were thankfully/unfortunately saved by/stranded in a dive motel with leapord print sheets for the night while my sister and her family had a scary snow-related accident in their truck pulling the camper. No one but the pretty truck was hurt, and we all made it home for New Years.

Our Finley Gracie turned ONE on January 3rd,

and started crawling her own stylized version of a crawl the next day. One knee down, foot tucked in, one let out, hobble bummy scoot. The girl's got style. Groovy!

In honor of her beloved snuggle duck, she had a chocolate Duckie cake. But not before covering herself in spaghetti and green beans. Dinner was good, cake was great, but Finley was DELICIOUS.

There now, we're all up to speed and I can stop avoiding the blogosphere. Chime in on the comment section so I know you haven't given up on us. We'll come around more often now that we don't feel like such slackers. love to you all...