Touched by Autism

I've got a few topics swirling in my head. I guess it would help if I posted more often... At least there would be no swirling because I'd be emptying my brain on a regular basis! So I'm going to empty gradually, I hope, and start with the most important first.

As you may know, April is Autism Awareness month. This month has a great deal of significance to my family because of my beloved daughter K3.

If you've never met K3, you're missing out on one of the best experiences of your life. She's shy, genuine, sweet, a lover of animals and blessed with a fabulous sense of humor. In spite of her autism, she totally gets Monty Python and Mel Brooks and can recite huge chunks of dialog from many of their movies. She gives awesome hugs and listening to her laugh is one of my greatest joys. It's the kind of laugh that pulls you right in and makes your lungs clench (mine anyway) from laughing with her!

Yes, it's been a tough path. And I spent years learning what she needed and how to advocate for her and disputing the opinions of the "experts" when they didn't jive with my maternal radar. But I wouldn't change a thing. Being K3's mom has enriched my life in ways I couldn't have imagined and frankly don't know how to express to you. It's just good. And it's created a bond between the two of us that feels unbreakable.

I tell you all this for a reason. Autism continues to touch our family's life.

My little Benny, my grandbaby is now recieving therapy for autisum. That my friends, is a damn hard sentence to type.

It has awakened many of the feelings I had when K3 first started developmental therapy. And I see the path K1, Benny's mama is going to walk with him. I feel protective, empathetic and at the same time powerless. There's nothing I can do to alter the journey they're about to take. It is what it is.

But I know what it isn't. It isn't genetic, it isn't due to vaccines, it isn't about glutton or vitamins or allergies. We don't know what causes autism. We just know it's effects. And we know they vary child to child.

K1 has the advantage of watching K3's journey. That's more than a lot of parents of newly diagnosed autistic toddlers have. She also has the support of her family and friends as well as any resources I can get her as part of my job at a disability agency.

As part of autism awareness month, I encourage you to learn what you can, read, reach out, donate... whatever works for you. Because you never know who is going to be touched by autism.

AG out

Marginalized

I try to keep things pretty light here in Thoracic Park and usually do a good job of it. But in the last month, I have to admit I've been gritting my teeth and counting to ten a lot. A lot. Yesterday I finally felt like it was time to speak and really... what better place than my own blog. I knew I kept this thing around for a reason. 

Before I start, I would just like to preface my remarks by saying that I'm accustomed to being an advocate for the marginalized. 10 years ago, I might not have said that... at least the marginalized part. But really, why do you need to advocate for someone if they're NOT marginalized. I have been my daughter's advocate (she has autism) since she was 6 months old. I will be her advocate til the day I die. You do not want to attempt to marginalize my daughter or try to make her needs "less than." I am well aware of her rights and mine as her mother/guardian. And I have already been quite vocal about the drastic cuts to Medicaid and other funding streams for people with disabilities. It has gotten to the point where my daughter, even after being hit by a truck in front of her special needs program, wouldn't be eligible for funding because there is just not enough and what there is must go to people who are more disabled than her. This is the funding that always gets cut first.

That being said, what irks me lately, is the willingness to see all sorts of views and populations marginalized, particularly women or the poor. Whether it's a presidential candidate's naive statement that he's not worried about the poor because they're okay, or congress' bullheaded arguing over whether they ought to sustain a middle class tax cut or impoverish the rich by arguing over the difference between them paying 1.1 million or 1.2 million in taxes. Dear God. Or a radio personality's slandering of a woman testifying on behalf of birth control coverage, and then apologizing for the words he used but not the intent of his statement. Please.

And don't me started about why we're wasting our congressional hours by having a hearing on birth control coverage. Did we have a hearing on Viagra coverage? No. Any man in America can get as much as he wants and we all know what he would use it for. No congressional hearing there. But let a woman testify on coverage of birth control, which by the way serves other medical needs than family planning...

Slut!

Marginalizing women much?

Teeth gritted. Counting commenced.

Yesterday, I heard the statement that made counting to 10 not worth my time. A political strategist actually stated that the women of this country were not going to be distracted by the "media hoopla" around birth control issues or "misstatements about the poor." They were actually going to go back to "Kitchen Table Politics" and worry about what was really important... like the cost of putting food on the table and vote accordingly.

Really?

Why don't you just come right and call her The Little Woman and keep her in the kitchen barefoot and pregnant so she doesn't have to worry her pretty little head about issues that menfolk talk about.

Marginalizing women much?

I could never vote for a candidate with no empathy for the poor or the disabled, or one that didn't display public outrage over some of the statements made that marginalize either... I could never support a candidate that thought I shouldn't be the main (or only) decision maker in the care of my own hoo haw or other assorted Girlie Parts. I could never support a candidate that wouldn't support cancer screening and treatment for the poor, whether prostrate or breast.

Not only will I advocate for my daughter and her needs as a person with autism, I'll continue to vote my conscience in terms of health care for women in general and my daughter's and grand daughter specifically.

The way I figure it, war and inflation will always be around the corner. I have to vote for the things that count. And hopefully leave a legacy that my daughters will continue... caring about what's truly important and not letting some talking head on television tell them what they should worry about.

AG out

Reflections

It's not like me to miss a month of posts. In fact I never have. Regrets all around but no excuses.

Life has been and continues to be... vibrant. I'm theorizing that this very vibrancy added some time to my recovery from January's asthma abyss. But with February behind me, March finds me very buoyant and able to make plans and enjoy the journey now that my head is indeed above water again!

With plenty of time to reflect on my silly asthma, my family and my job, I find I'm able to enjoy the moment more. And certainly to treasure all the blessings in my life. I think there's a mental healing as well as a physical healing after a medical downturn. And I am letting it proceed at it's own pace.

And I'm positively savoring new things. Whether its a new recipe or a new water bottle or a new photo op, I'm feeling refreshed. I'm enjoying my new ipad, with which I took the above picture... and I'm renewing my love affair with my trusty Nikon, which I drug all over the UK last year.

Now, if only I could take such a refreshing approach with filing my taxes or cleaning my house!

 Hugs!

Ice and Snow

I snapped a number of pictures of our ice and snow last week in the Northwest. It was both an epic and beautiful storm. It was a lot more beautiful if you had power. Today there are still a number of people that don't. We were fortunate and other than a 24 hour stretch with no cable or internet, we came through unscathed.

Unfortunately, some of the storm was unplanned, like the additional 3 inches of snow we got after the ice storm. Please note my ice coated raspberry plants... poor things.

Here's a better shot of them. They took it in the shorts. We'll see how hearty they are come spring.

Here's our neighbor's ice and snow coated tree draped over our fence.

This is the top part of the tree that fell behind our house. You would not believe the noise it made coming down! All you can see in this shot is it's ice coated branches. It fell perfectly between the building and our fence harming neither. Other trees in the area were not so polite and fell on houses, fences and cars.

I'll end with this shot of a lovely old tree in front of my employer's, Even a sturdy old soldier like this was no match for the weight of ice and snow this storm brought.

Here's hoping this storm loses ground as it heads east. We are happy to see it go but hoping it doesn't do our neighbors like it did us!

Warmly,

AG

It's not easy...

It's not easy being a Chihuahua in the snow.

It's hard to find a place to go.

"Hurry up, Maddie," says my Mum.

But every time I lower my bum...

BBBRRRRRRRRRR!

xoxo

Maddie the Chilly Chihuahua

Snow Day

There have been rumblings in Seattle Media about the snow coming! We haven't had any yet this winter, so there was quite a bit of anticipation! And it actually did snow!

During a break in the snowfall, Maddie and I went out front to get her perspective...

She pronounced it Chilly! (this is her abused look)

Apparently Chihuahuas aren't on board for 34 degrees and snow. Who knew?

Wishing you a beautiful day in your neighborhood!

Warmly, AG

Heavy Duty

The Old Goat and Madeline did some heavy duty nursing over the past week.

As did K2 and the rest of the Brute Squad.

And K3 of course.

Thank goodness for nurses, both 2 legged and 4 footed.

Warmly, AG

PS ~ special shout out to the lovely MPM who has her own nurses that are making a difference!

The Pharmacy

Since Thursday. Some tried, some discarded, some continued....

And still I woke up this morning at 4:30 with horrid breathing.

Back to the Dr. today.

Looking for my optimism. I think its around here somewhere. Probably hiding behind one of those dang bottles.

AG

The Happy Place

I'm just working on finding my happy place right now.

Thank goodness for TOG and his patience and support as we work through this lung festival.

I don't know what I'd do without him.

In the last week, we've gone past so many benchmarks we thought my asthma would never hit. We have definitely had to rethink how we treat my lungs. I'm realizing that it will take me a long time to recover and be able to walk any distance much less ride my bike or hike into the hills. But it's a happy thought right now and I'm going to hold it close.

Dreams are good.

There goes my alarm to take more meds. Reality. Such as it is.

Warm hugs,

AG

Ruins

 I love this picture. This was taken at the Aryn Islands off the west coast of Ireland. At first glance, it appears to me as a New England village by the sea might look. But what made this island unique were the beautiful ruins up on the hill as well as the fact that there were no trees. Although we only toured the third and largest island, all three islands shared the treeless aspect. While they were beautiful islands with sweeping views, the lack of trees made their beauty rather stark and dramatic.

Using the Ruins analogy, I will note here that my lungs have been in ruins since Thanksgiving. Breathing has been an exhausting chore and the asthma bag I pack each day to go work has been getting heavier and heavier.

There was a bit of a crescendo yesterday that had my doctor sending me to the ER. After a heavy dose of IV steroids, oxygen and breathing treatments, my lungs finally perked up. 12 hours later, I'm wide awake at 4 am thanks to the steroids, but without the chest pain and shortness of breath.... again thanks to the steroids.

I have to go back to see my doctor today for a long term plan, but I'm really hoping that this current level of breathing can be sustained and built upon. I look forward to being able to set goals for the year instead of just trying to get through each day.

Being a ruin has it's glamorous aspects, but it's not all it's cracked up to be!

Wishing you a day of deep breaths and beuatiful moments!

Warmly,

AG