Downs and ......

This in NOT the face of a happy camper. We went to our church for pictures for a church directory and  the girls were dressed up in their Easter dresses ( because, silly me, I thought I might actually be abel to get a nice picture of them together in them) and we were all ready to go. AND THEN...

 And then, half of the lights were off in the church basement and that must have done it. She wanted to leave RIGHT away. Her headphones and music didn't help at all. Nothing was working. We took her on the elevator, she just wanted to leave by a different door. The photos below were taken while trying to calm her and get her prepared for the photo. Mind you, we have had these kind of photos taken before and nothing LIKE THIS occurred.

 So daddy decided that we were going to take the picture no matter what Gracie was doing. This wasn't my choice(reschedule) but I did it anyway. So now there will be a photo in the church directory and people will look at it and see "the Kulps and their autistic daughter." I  am torn between 1) ok, we did it- we did what we had to do this is the way it is-end of story  ,or do it again and say, see it CAN be done just like the rest of you, or maybe then , no, it can't be done and this is how it is. Does that make sense? 

I guess what I am trying to say is do we try to be "TYPICAL" ( the new progressive word for NORMAL) or 

do we just be what we are. Is it better to just get out there in public and be who we are or put on a front that we are something other than that.

I want a copy of the picture, I guess mostly because I can say this is who we are and it's OK. To help show other families living with autism to say it's OK. This is who we are.

Lehigh Valley Autism Walk 2013

TODAY we walked in the Lehigh Valley Walk for Autism Awareness. There was a lot of people at Dorney Park for the walk. We put Gracie in a wagon with all her toys and books and stickers.  It was just our family and Joy's Bff Kyra and my friend Sheila. Our other friends the Johnson- McCormicks were with us in spirit because their boys had baseball. But they made a great effort to raise funds for the walk and we appreciate them so much!

It was a little rough for Grace at the beginning , but we kept her moving and she adjusted really well.

IT WAS SO COLD! Mostly because of the wind but it was great to see so many people out to 

 promote and support kids with autism.

 This year we were small but Mighty but I hope next year we are able to get more supporters to come with us. Grace is doing so well because of her therapies we would like to be able to encourage others to become aware of what this kind of therapy can do to help these kids.
 We managed to raise $425, just $75 from our goal. If anyone reading this wants to support Gracie and this great cause you can still go to:
http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/lehighvalley/graciezmom
Thanks to everyone who already gave to support her!

RainMan.

I had to put Grace to bed before 7pm tonite. There is only so much you can do to keep her awake sometimes and she seemed very tired early in the afternoon. I found "Rain Man" on one of the HD movie channels. I remembered it watching it years ago, PAA, (pre Autism Awareness.) My awareness. I found myself wanting to smack Tom Cruise's character, Charlie Babbit, for the way he treated his autistic older brother (played by Dustin Hoffman).
Then I thought of myself when I first saw this movie. I remember people making fun of Raymond, the Rain Man. 1988 seems many moons ago. Pay phones, bad hair, no personal electronics. Another world.

Needless to say, I thought of Gracie when I saw Raymond. She is doing amazing things right now. Her learning process has been ignited and she is on a wild ride. But, as a parent, you can't help but wonder... What will things be like for her in her future? How will others treat her? How will other school kids treat her for that matter?

When that happy face looks at me and smiles proudly:
When she actually looks in my eyes for approval:
It just amazes me.
It just takes a little extra effort,
                  a little extra patience,
                                                to understand.
When Charlie took the time, he began to understand Raymond. He began to love him.
How many people are willing to take that time?
Many more people are aware of Autism today. But that doesn't mean they understand it.
You don't, do you, unless you live it.

Talk Talk

Gracie is starting to mimic SOUNDS and Actions. This means she is starting to form WORDS.

She said MAMA and pointed to me. 

Repeatedly.

(there really are no more words after that)

But she is saying MOUTH

NOSE

HAIR

HAND

EYES

MORE

MILK

She is watching the movements of our mouths so closely!

She is so quick to pick up on making signs, mimicking actions.

It's amazing to watch.

We are so blessed to have the great therapists that we do to work with her!

AMEN.