oh I guess it is fixed...just takes a LONG TIME to upload pics on Blogger

Noah at the Abraham Lincoln traveling exhibit.....

issues with Blogger

I will update once I get the bugs worked out. I have not been able to post pics now for over a month

Dear Noah...trying to decide about your high school years....

and what to do ...whether to stick with online virtual school or go back to doing it on our own. You are currently enrolled and have been since about 4th grade in an online public charter school...and now are already almost complete with your 8th grade, as well as 2 high school courses during this year that you will also get credit for...Math and English.

The high school courses and curriculum change CONSIDERABLY, however, and a lot of the "flexibility factor" we need and loved about this particular online school  is pretty much gone in high school. Needless to say we have a lot to think about and decisions to make.

Meanwhile you have really enjoyed your new laptop and meeting and making NEW friends from around the world who also enjoy playing similar games you do. You are using Skype to hook up with them and talk...and I have to say you have become quite the social  butterfly....

Otherwise, winter seems about over and we are heading into spring. You plan on helping me mow this summer. I hope we can manage it okay.

I love you...cannot believe you are growing up so fast.

Mom
XOXOX

Dear Noah....ongoing toiletry issues, voice cracking and no cures please...

Noah:

Even at 14 years of age you still have some toiletry issues...which I will not go into since you are now 14 years old...but suffice to say you have made great progress...and likely will always have some issues to deal with in this regard..but you definitely need to always remember to GO when you feel the urge to go! This would eliminate most if not all of your issues my little man!

You submerged headlong into puberty a few years ago...and your voice has been very deep for a long time now...but recently it has started to "crack" quite a bit...which you asked me last night if that was "normal." You were comforted knowing that yes, it is.

Last night you walked into my office and told me that some people were trying to come up with a "cure" for "autism" and you did not understand that....very loudly expressing to me (and perhaps to our neighbors) that you were NOT interested in any cure....and WHY did anyone want to CURE you or get rid of your autism...that you LIKED how you were. In your way of thinking...the only reason you could come up with for someone trying to find a "cure" to "change" you into becoming more like them was the same reason the teachers in the public schools always tried to "change" you to be "like everyone else"...to make their lives easier...so they would not have to put in the extra time or extend themselves a little out of their own comfort zone to just work with you as you are and accept you for who you are and just deal with it.

You informed me that many times just because someone has autism you are singled out and treated unfairly or given "crap" jobs. I think that is what you called it. Basically something less than anyone else would normally be offered....merely because you are different.

We talked about this for a while. I am so thankful you have learned to just EMBRACE who you ARE and not try to change to become what someone else thinks you need to become. I did tell you that many are discriminated against in the world, not just autistic people, but yes they are definitely included and have their own share of issues to deal with..but also overweight people, black people, some white people, Asians, Indians, disabled people..etc...and ALL usually merely because of ignorance and the fact that the person doing the discriminating is the one who is "uncomfortable" with those discriminated against persons being in their world. Such a slippery slope mankind has weaved here to try to determine someone else's value in the world by their own personal biases.

I did tell you there are some autistic people who have it really severe and usually combined with many other issues making their lives very challenging, and maybe some of them would like to change some things to be able to lessen those challenges or eliminate them altogether, but most every autistic person I have ever spoken with, usually feels as you do (if they are aware of their being and surroundings) and have no desire to change just to be in "my" world for example.

SO...stay strong my little man....go boldly as colorful and "different" as you can in expressing yourself and your desire to be accepted as you are, not letting anyone tell you ever that you are not good enough, strong enough, smart enough, "valuable" enough to just even be alive in this world...just as  you are.

I love you Noah....just as you are...always have and always will.

Mom
XOXOXOX

Dear Noah....your Christmas surprise and 14th birthday

Noah...well...you were very fortunate to have Secret Santas make your wish of a laptop come true for you this Christmas. I think that has been the biggest highlight for you...and you got some nice gifts and many gift cards to Pizza Hut...and a Mastercard...and lots of extra cash for your birthday, which you want to open a bank account and put in the bank. All in all we were very blessed this Christmas.  We were surprised on Christmas Eve by other secret santas delivering presents and a huge rubber tote filled with foods and goodies and gift cards. I was fortunate to also receive gift cards to Krogers...we have been truly blessed and provided for this year. I am so thankful and thankful for you too Noah. I love you...very much...Mom XOXOXOX

Dear Noah....getting ready for the holidays...

Well you our officially out on school break...which means I too am out on school break. That is nice...we will have a little more free time.

I had no idea it had been nearly 2 months since I posted last. I remember a time I posted nearly every day...I think because back then we had  more things to deal with than we do now. Now that you are older and homeschooled life is a lot easier thank goodness.

Raining hard today...and windy. Supposed to turn to snow and be more wintery later tonight and into tomorrow. Then warm up again.

Last night we went rail fanning...but only saw 1 train in 3 hours. We also drove through a park in Indiana to see 3,000,000 lights on display! It sure was pretty.

Otherwise you are very anxious for Christmas. I know you are hoping beyond  hopes for a laptop. We will see what the day brings...but I have prepared you for NOT receiving anything like that. I will be late in hanging a stocking for you this year too since money has been tight. You have handled this all pretty well..but it makes me feel badly that financially we are in the mess we are in. I am doing all I can to try to work that all out...even went and applied for benefits including FOOD stamps/card...just to see what we might qualify for if anything..to help us over the hump. We will see.

Anyway...I love you so much Noah. SO VERY MUCH...you have brought so much light, happiness and joy into my life.  I loved spending time with you yesterday my little man. Your 14th birthday is coming up next week too. Cannot believe you will be turning 14. Time goes by so quickly.

I love you to the moon and back again Noah...again and again and again..to infinity and beyond..forever I will.

Mom
XOXOXO

Brumbaugh's Fruit Farm...and the pumpkin patch

Every year we try to make it out to Brumbaugh's Fruit Farm to look around if nothing else. We stopped by one day to pick up some apples and apple fritters before going to grandma C.'s house...and you wanted your yearly pic taken in the picture posing pumpkin patch area..so we stopped and I snapped a few. So, my little man, here you are 2012....compared to prior  years you can see you are growing up so fast!

I love ya!

Mom
XOXOXOX

Dear Noah..artwork....

 getting you to do any artwork these days is like pulling teeth. You fight me the whole way....never want to do it...I think because you do not feel like you CAN do anything "good enough" or like everyone else your age might do things. I try to tell you to just LET GO and CREATE..to do ANYTHING....there are no limits in artwork and being creative. You finally AGREED to come out to the table and paint...

 We had been talking about ABSTRACT art in art class so you decided to just let loose and do something more abstract....

this is your creation. I love the colors and movement in the painting and you seem pretty proud of yourself which I am happy about! Hopefully this will build some confidence in you!

I love you!

mom
XOXOX

Dear Noah....follow-up cardiology visit....

 My little man is growing up.....getting tall and lanky....

He still loves to sit in this position for most everything. He reads like this...will eat at the table like this....do a lot of things like this. (this is the same position he used to use on the toilet which took years to break him of....lol)