Yo Gabba Gabba!

This is one of Griffin's fantastic creations and if you happened to have seen "Yo Gabba Gabba" then you will recognize these characters. I do not know if he is just interested in them because they offer something different than what he is accustomed to or what but lately he has become very enthusiastic about them. Griffin has been drawing and painting quite a bit lately, spending much more time being artistic than ever before and the likeness of what he creates is amazing.

His verbal skills have improved tremendously and he has expanded his vocabulary as well. Today we went to see the free movie, " The March of the Penguins" and he sat so still and really seemed to enjoy it. I was surprised because it is a documentary and there are no climaxes or exciting parts to it, but it did have sad parts of course since it was a true story of the life of the penguins in Antarctica.

My Fibromyalgia has been kicking my behind lately and each day is different just as every night is different as well. I saw the rheumatologist last week and all he did/could do was to increase my meds and to give me a cortisone shot in my back where there is a knot in my back that hurts constantly. The pain I have had for so many years (and worse too I might add) but it is the fatigue that gets to me so bad and there is nothing that the doctor can do about it except to try to give me the right meds in an attempt to get me to sleep through the night and hopefully feel refreshed in the morning. That has not happened yet, typically I get up around 5:00 a.m. I try to stay up because if/when I go back to sleep I feel horrible and wake up I feel absolutely miserable. Maybe the tweaking of the meds will eventually help me somehow. With all the years of experience that I have had for so many years, I have little faith in what is available (medically) therefore, I must be strong and just tough it out. I tried Lyrica but it had some horrible side effects such as really bad sleepwalking and running into walls with absolute confusion, it was as though I was on some kind of hallucinogen and when I woke I felt like someone had used my body as a punching bag. Oh well, life goes on!

I am preparing for September and I am very excited, I have been doing so much research and reading faster than I think that I ever have and loving it. I am looking forward to lots of new things coming into our lives with tons of progress, higher self-esteem, and renewed confidence in his abilities. Griffin's intellect along with his excellent skills and talents will be further recognized/revealed and built upon while he begins to excel in certain areas and learn new coping mechanisms with his sensory needs. The areas in which he does not necessarily thrive in will be made simpler for him in order for him to not lose interest in them and actually have fun doing what he was once fighting against.

No longer will I have to worry about what my child is doing while away from me for so many hours nor will I have to depend on someone else to do what they are supposed to do and in the process leaving me out of the loop. I guess that you could say that I do not have that kind of trust anymore as I once had because I have been failed but more so, he has been failed and I do not accept that which is totally unacceptable.

Learning for Life

Griffin loves going to gymnastics so much as you can see here as he laughs and smiles the entire time. It is so funny when he stops in the middle of something and says that he is tired but then he keeps on going doing things his own way most of the time. The exercise is so good for him especially since he does not get much at home. We have no yard here at home because it is just woods so it is important/essential that he has other outlets in which to exert himself. Today we have swimming and of course that is one of his most favorite activities in the whole world. Since being out of school he has shown some great progress in many areas and the one that is so significant is that he has had practically ZERO meltdowns or negative behaviors. All I have to do is to talk to him and be sure that he understands what his boundaries are and he has been such a great listener. If only he had that opportunity while in school he would have behaved so much better..........I believe. If only had good reports of his behaviors perhaps I would have been able to help him out by pointing out what was appropriate vs. what is not. The issue that I have with his schooling is that I never knew what the heck was going on with him for the better part of the day and being in the dark about my child does not please a pro-active mother such as myself.

I have made a decision but I am not going to share what it is until the people who need to be notified find out first. It is necessary that they learn what has gone so wrong and how that has helped me to come to this final decision that I have. I am very excited about all the possibilities and all the creativity that is involved. This venture in which we are about to partake is very significant and the future looks so bright now. I know that deep down inside that I am doing what is in Griffin's best interest and because of that I will feel confident that he is safe and thriving in his life. He will learn all that is important in life and how to be an independent individual who is not afraid of making choices because they might be wrong. I did not teach him that so I do not know where he got it from but for sure I am going to fix it! That is something that could stick with him for the rest of his life and cause him to have low self-esteem. Griffin is my treasure and my teacher and he deserves to have only the best in life.................Period!

Life is beautiful especially when one feels that she has changed what she is able to, accepted what she cannot change, and has the wisdom to know the difference. I am eternally grateful for my precious child and there is nothing more significant than his achievements and growth. Griffin deserves to have the opportunity to reach his full potential in all areas ergo he will have all that is humanly possible, all that is within my reach to share with him.

Kitty Dot Com

Here is Griffin's new kitty, her name when we got her (from the animal rescue shelter) was "Dot" and later on that day he told me that her name was, "Kitty Dot Com". I thought that was so funny that he thought of something so clever all on his own, he is such a bright big boy.

As I write in my book each day I enjoy reading about the progress that he has made over the years and all the great memories that we have of Alaska. Just recently I read from 2005, how much everyone at Griffin's school loved him so much and was so kind and non-judgmental of me, always showing me respect, never treating me like I was just an incidental in Griffin's life. Both schools that he went to were stellar in every way and I miss that so much. I truly miss the people of Alaska because they were so nice while at the same time they minded their own business and were too busy to gossip and worry about what other people would think or what somebody might say about something.

Have a great summer to all of you who so devoutly read and comment on my blog. Thanks for all the support that you have given throughout the years. Hugs to all of you!