He Loves a Parade

Anthony, watching the parade on Thanksgiving morning. He slept in this morning and woke up pretty happy. And hungry! He's eaten two waffles, an ice cream sandwich, and a soft pretzel.

I am thankful for so many things, especially when it comes to Anthony. We are thankful he went to summer camp for the first time this year, that we started (and are continuing) toilet training. I'm thankful he has a team at school right now that really work great with Anthony. He is going to change program managers here soon, and his new program manager used to work with him as a therapist and we all love her, so that's exciting. I'm thankful that he has come so far. I'm thankful that we live in Indiana and he has to be allowed to have health insurance which covers his treatment for autism.

NY State recently passed an autism mandate and it's extremely painful to read stories about what financial people think of such mandates. There is a STRONG sentiment that it's NOT FAIR and NOT WORTH IT to treat these children, especially children like Anthony, who are more profoundly affected. First of all, guess what? Insurance itself isn't really fair - it is a giant corporation who wants to take your money, and then wants to screw you over if you ever DARE to want or need to collect. Ask people affected by Katrina, people who lost everything, if they think the way they were treated by their insurance company was FAIR. Life isn't fair. It's not fair that Anthony is so affected by autism, so I have no sympathy for some jackass who doesn't want to PAY for Anthony's therapy. We pay an ever-rising premium every month so that Anthony can have insurance and yes, Anthony's therapy costs more than what he pays into it. But I have paid my WHOLE LIFE into health insurance and I have rarely used ANY OF IT, same with Mike, same with our other kids. Thank God, Anthony is extremely healthy, he has only ever had ONE ear infection! Why is no one bitching because insurance covers tubes in kids' ears? They have to pay for that too, but I guess it's easier to pick on kids who can't talk for themselves. Jerks.

Um, but this was about gratitude, right?

I am grateful for my family, and Anthony's family, for being so loving and supportive of Anthony. I'm grateful that Anthony is ours, we couldn't love him more. Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday

Tantrum, scream, scream, howl, maniacal laughter, removal of clothes, repeat, repeat, crash, cry, tantrum, accident, cry, yell.

Flying

He really likes to jump off stuff. I wish he weren't so crazy, I'd get him a bigger trampoline. I'm afraid he'd break his neck, though. He's jumping off the couch, here. I was nursing the baby and couldn't get up but I could record it, ha! It's blurry but he never stops moving. He's had a good week, a pretty good toilet training week. He dressed up as a rock and roller for Halloween and won best costume! We wanted to take advantage of his hair. Don't tell him but I bought him a small swimming pool and some ball-pit balls for Christmas. I'm going to give it to him for his room and I hope he'll enjoy it before he goes to sleep. He loved the one they had set up at his camp this summer. He still has some rough mornings and some behaviors but it's kind of the new normal, right? We are just plugging away, he is so sweet and cute I can't stand it. He's doing well in school, we are doing our best. Well, ha, he is, I can't speak for myself.

Autistics Speaking Day

Today is Autistics Speaking Day.  Oh, how I wish I could ask Anthony what he wants to say about it.  I guess I could ask him but chances are very, very good that he wouldn't answer me.  It has been a long road, these six and a half years of Anthony not talking to us.  I think about it so much, for not just Anthony and me, but I think about it regarding Maria, and Veronica and even Felicity, now, because not only does SHE not talk, but she doesn't even look at me.  Something no one tells you is how LITTLE CHARM babies have when they are less than six weeks old.  She is way more like an alien life form than like a human at this stage.

Anyway, I don't know what Anthony would say he wants people to know about him.  My heart tells me that he would want what any other person would want.  That he wants people to know that he is smart, and sweet, and so lovable.  That he is trying so hard, every day, to just live his life and be happy.  That just because he doesn't sound like everyone else doesn't mean that he deserves any less.  But that could be me.  :)  Anyway, happy Autistics Speaking Day to Anthony and to everyone who has autism.  I hope that we can all express ourselves in the way that we want to, and that we can all be heard.