Autism-Through A Sister's Eyes

MacKenzie has had a very hard summer this year. For some reason Tyla just wants to pick on her and torture her. It breaks my heart into several pieces and after all is said and done MacKenzie loves Tyla more then anything. A Friend sent this to me and said "this must be how Kenzi feels" and yes I couldn't agree more!
Autism, a six letter word here meaning "a neurological disorder that can change lives and wreak much havoc" has taken residence in my home for years. Both of my siblings have been diagnosed with high functioning autism. Autism certainly isn't easy to live with. I share a room with my seven year old sister, a feat that requires much patience at times.

How do you explain that at 8:00 in the morning, you don't yell at the cat to get out of the closet? (Who cares that the cat is wearing a tiara? I'm trying to sleep!) How do you explain that you can't understand someone when they are yelling at the frequency of a car alarm? How do you explain that you are busy and can't play with plastic toys? Again and again and again and...

When they wake up at 3 in the morning because they had a bad dream or they sob their heart out because they miss the cats that died in a fire...when they ask "why God?"... when you yourself ask "why God?" When you meet someone new and they ask "Is she five?" and you say "No, she's almost eight" and it breaks your heart...when she's excluded from a group of kids, and you see the parallels between seven-year-old girls and high school cliques, and big-sister syndrome kicks in which makes you immediately want to go make it better, but you know that, sooner or later, you just won't be there...When you are having a bad day, and she comes up, wanting a hug, and you snap at her to leave you alone, and her face crumbles, and you feel lower than the bacteria that live on bacteria that live on a piece of dirt...And when you apologize and she forgives you like nothing ever happened, that's autism.

And when all is said and done, yes, she still has autism, but she is your sister, and she does need to be loved. Autism is just one aspect of her, not what defines her. And, as hard as that is to remember, it makes all the difference.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go love my sister.

GFCF= Gluten Free Casein Free

I have been getting a lot of questions on the GFCF Diet so I thought I would post about it just in case some of you were curious! I took Tyla to her friend from schools birthday party last week and as usual I call the Mom ask her exactly what kind of food they are having so I can prepare Tyla's food as close as possible to what all the other kids will be eating. I had several Mom's ask me about Tyla's diet and they would say they want to do the diet but just think it is too hard and that their kids would starve so they don't do it even though they really want to. All I can say is Mom's- it is much harder on you than it is on your child! If your child is left with no other choice they will eventually give in and EAT! I put Tyla on this diet and everyone noticed changes drastically! It was crazy! There have been a couple incidences where she would get reach of something she shouldn't eat and I knew right away! It is so crazy! So why do I do this dietary intervention? I believe Tyla has been exposed to some sort of of predisposition that has triggered some sort of event- a vaccine, toxin or virus which can cause a "leaky gut". This can cause wheat and dairy to metabolize opiates. If wheat and casein are eliminated I find that the gut can heal. This diet has helped lessen her from stimming and has helped her behavior. It has increased focus and it has helped her gastro-intestinal distress.

This diet has been so hard and stressful as a parent, but it is also so rewarding as a parent to see what a difference it can make. I also get questions on where Tyla gets her nutrition since she doesn't drink milk. The answer is she is on supplements everyday and if you have any questions on that I would love to help.

GIRLS NIGHT OUT ANYONE???

I am considering having a jewelry party with this bead diva who has anything and everything and it is absolutely amazing! Would any of you come?? It is so much fun! all you do is come, pick you beads and make your own jewelry with the help of this diva and you have the cutest jewelry ever and most likely no one else has it because you designed it to fit your likes! Click here I have already made some necklaces from her and every time I or my girls wear them I get compliments from Moms begging for me to make one for them!

WICKED!!!

This guygot to take these two blonde bombshells on a date to see WICKED at Gammage! front row, center stage! (We are so spoiled)



Kenzi took this picture of us aren't we so cute together??
We took this picture of ourselves while riding on a bike on our way to WICKED. We were totally running late because we were having too much fun at Toby's and lost track of time! Good thing for the lift!
It has been a very long night and it is definitely time for bed! I am wearing my Wicked shirt that I got in New York and Kenzi is wearing her Popular shirt that she bought with her allowance tonight! Good choice Kenz aren't you glad that you didn't spend all you money in Cali??

Last year Jeff and I went and saw Wicked in New York and I told him we have to take MacKenzie to see this someday. Jeff was able to get us front row, center stage at Gammage! We went to Toby Keith's new Restaurant at Riverview and then headed to the show! We had so much fun!

Newport Highlights

Every night we would go down the street to Balboa's Fun Zone and we would ride the carousel, ferris wheel and play at the arcades. We would also ride the ferry to Bolboa Island and go to the fun shops and ofcourse get their famous frozen banana's dipped in chocolate YUMO!

Yes Ryker was with us on this trip!



We got to go spend the day with our favorite boys (Brody, Case and Ledger Felstead)they were staying at the Hyatt in Huntington and there hotel had tons of pools and waterslides. The girls had so much fun going on the waterslides over and over again!

Whitney and Hannah came to stay with us a few days and the girls had so much fun with them. Ryker loved being surrounded by all these girls he would go back and forth looking at each of us and he would smile so big, he is already a big flirt! I love it! It was so fun having these girls stay with us I swear we are taking them with us on all our future vacations!





This pretty much sums up our fun trip to Newport!

Newport Beach July 2009

We were fortunate to get a beach house for 8 days at Newport Beach. It is so nice to feel like your at home with a totally furnished house with a kitchen and our own BBQ's and sit on the front patio and look out at the beach and watch all the families play! The kids would play at the beach come home eat lunch and back to the beach again. There is nothing better then staying right on the beach!There is something about looking out at the ocean that is so relaxing it was so nice. Here are a ton of random pictures from the week.

This time a year ago I was in New York on my honeymoon with Jeff. It was the best vacation I had ever been on! We had so much fun and I want to go back so bad!

For any of you "Gluten Free" Mamas out there. I found this at Target!

Blog Problems

Ok, I hope someone can help me on these. First, my blog is going back private, but I had to take it off because over half the people I invited said they didn't get invited and I had the right emails and tried over and over and it didn't work. Does anyone know what I could have done wrong?

Second, I have decided to do separate blogs for each of my children so it could be their journal/scrapbook so to say. The problem is I did it under my email that I have for my blog and so now when I leave comments on other peoples blog it says it is from MacKenzie not me. Does that make sense? Does anyone know how to have just one google account, but have all my kids blogs on there? Help!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

PINK!

Holy crap this color looks so different on the wall! I don't know if I can go through with this color. I don't know what to do!!

MacKenzie left this morning for the cabin with YaYa and Papa and when she left Tyla kept saying "I go with YaYa" it was sad so what better to do then go get Gelato play with Mickey Mouse Bubbles and going swimming at Nana and Papa's house! We will miss Kenzi this weekend, but there will be a huge surprise waiting for her when she returns...

Stay tuned...

12 Weeks Already!

I can't believe my little chubs is already 12 weeks! He is getting so big! I love it! He is starting to smile alot especially at his Mommy (definately a Mama's Boy). I can't imagine my life without this little boy! He is so much fun! He sleeps all through the night and he is so happy in the morning and likes to hang out in his crib with no clothes on and he just grins from cheek to cheek! He gets fussy later in the afternoon and he wants to be held all the time. He loves his baths at night and he sleeps in his swing. We adore him so much especially his big sisters. I think he will be one spoiled little boy! We love you Rykers!

P.S. I want a new camera so bad! All my pictures suck due to my crappy camera!