Gracie goes to kindergarten.

My girl went off to school with the big kids today. More importantly, she went off to school with the "typical" kids.
That's the term they use today instead of "regular" or "normal". But that doesn't matter. What does is that she is accepted at a regular school.
We spent all last week walking the school with Grace's Tss, Miss Heather. She seemed comfortable most of the time we were there. We got to meet her teachers, who seemed very interested in what we are doing with Grace.
SO the big day came. Naturally her sleep pattern is off so she was up at 5 and was grumpy when I woke her at 7:30. Naturally, there were behaviors but I was confident (or I tried to be) that they would subside when we got to school, like they did during the kindergarten trial sessions. And that is exactly what happened. I was able to walk her to her room with Miss Heather and Miss Rachelle, and I even got a hug before she went in to class. I did manage to get away without tears because I think I was so relieved to have gotten her there without stress that I didn't have time to process it.

with Miss Heather

I was hoping we would get to take pictures at the bus stop with the neighborhood kids, but that would have probably caused more harm than good anyway. I still have yet to learn that the Gracie way is not like anyone else. We don't do the same things. We do different things and that's ok.

with Miss Rachelle

Just the fact that she is in that school is a huge accomplishment. She has had so many great people supporting her and helping her along the way.
Her BSC, Miss Rachelle is rock solid and knows everything and Miss Heather has been with Grace since we started with ABA therapies. And all the other people who were and are apart of those therapies have been amazing. I also don't think we would be where we are without the support of her Aunt Angela, who also knows everything about special needs and education. We just hope that she will find the same kind of support at the school.
Of all the books I've read about kids with autism, the parents always say the most important thing is that the child has a good relationship with the people they work with at the school. Here's hoping we are on our way there.

Big Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow my Gracie goes to Kindergarten. Just like any other child.

That is all I can ask for.

And I am not nervous about it.

We have taken her to school every day this week and I think she likes it.

I think she will be good and I think she will do good.

And I love her so much!

Bronies, ponies and the Spectrum

So, what is a BRONY?

A brony is a fan of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic that is outside the target demographic of little girls. Most bronies are friendly teenagers and young adults that simply aren't afraid to admit to enjoying a show that is innocent, colorful, and funny.

We went to BronyCon this past weekend. Yes, Joy is a brony. There were around 8000 Bronies in Baltimore this weekend too. All ages, guys and girls.

It's like any other fandom: The Avengers, The Walking Dead, Star Trek, Star Wars. They watch it for the characters and the plot. They get together to talk about what they like. There were a lot of artists and video makers and music makers and that is what Joy is all about right now.

This year, however, I noticed something that I missed last year.

There were a lot of BRONIES on the AUTISM SPECTRUM.

and though I've never been to COMIC CON, I am pretty sure I would see a lot of the same there.

When you live with autism everyday, you learn to see the signs that someone else might not notice, or relate to autism.

But the thing that impressed me most is that these kids, autism or not, were out there together, enjoying themselves, regardless of what anyone else thought of them.

There was one boy at a concert (yes, Bronies have concerts too)

he was weaving in among the crowd sideways without touching anyone. ( Autism, yes?) A lot of them kept to themselves but were still out there with all the other Bronies. For an autistic person, this is a big feat.

The shows are well written and funny and they all have a message about friendship- and the characters are great! SO Is it bad if people outside of the targeted demographic like the show?

If we go again next year, I am going to do a study or at least question the Brony psychologist( yes, there is a brony psychologist) . Love and Tolerate is the Brony motto. They are very supportive of each other too. So I am glad to be a brony mom for as long as her interest continues. Who knows , Joy may end up as a creator for a Generation 6 or 7 animated series!

Participating in the " Tri 4 Inclusion "

On Saturday we joined in The Tri 4 Inclusion- A Triathalon for Inclusion through Mykayla's Voice- an organization that helps special needs kids find inclusion in typical schools.

Kim Resh, Mykalya's mom and organizer of the event, was able to get us a bike to use in the event. A company in Silversprings Md brings the bikes to events like this just so they can be available to kids who need them. The company's name is Bullitt but unfortunately I did not get his name. He said they don't rent them, they just have them available for kids to use when they need them, like if we wanted to use one at the beach. Just awesome.

The other special bonus that Kim provided for us was a volunteer to help Gracie through the Tri.

Her name was Leah- she's 18 and headed for Muhlenberg in the fall and she is amazing. She rode the actual bike part for us ( Chris and Gracie were unofficial- because we didn't know if they'd be able to bring the bike) She had actually participated in a Tri before ( as well as a marathon) so she knew what she was doing.

Joy and Leah then helped Gracie do the Run part of the race.

The only part of the race that Grace balked at was the swim. It was too loud in the pool for her so we waited while Chris did the laps.

That is our Team Gracie finishing the race. It was all about finishing the race. That's all.

It was a great day and a great learning experience. So many kids with different issues all being like everyone else for a day- with a little help from their friends.

Gracie "graduates" Pre-School

Waiting in the wings with Miss Norma

Gracie "graduated" pre-school today. Miss Norma helped her navigate the "ceremony" and she went up to get her "diploma" with the rest of her classmates. Aunt Peewee and Uncle Roger came to cheer her on. It was such a normal thing but such a big step for her. She was included just the way she is.
Mrs. Linda Reinbold, director of the Children's Learning Center, put together a really nice program that actually brought a tear to my eye. The showed pictures of all the kids when they were babies, in the beginning of the year and in their "graduation gowns".
I must thank Mrs. Reinbold, and Gracie's teacher, Ms. Kathy and Ms. Felecia for doing so much to include her and allowing her to be just a regular kid. I also want to thank Gracie's school Tss, Miss Heather, and her home Tss's , Miss Sharon and Miss Lindsay, along with the special ladies that guide them, Miss Rachelle and Miss Norma for all the time and talent they give to us!

First Miracle League Game!

Today we had our first experience with Miracle League and it was AWESOME!!
We weren't sure what to expect with Gracie but she did so well. Before the game started, she INDEPENDENTLY
said HI to someone and asked me for water. She was even the first person to bat( YIKES!) But the angels helped her and she hit the ball! Everybody cheered and we tried to get her to run but she just took a nice stroll down to first base! Her first angel was named Shannon.
For anyone who doesn't know ( like me), each child is assigned an "angel" to guide them. And there are "head angels' who pitch and help swing. The kids get two times to bat and two times "in the field." They bat till they get a hit and do whatever they feel like in the outfield. Some play catch, some wander like Grace. But they all seem to have a good time.

It was truly heartwarming to see the kids get a chance to be like other kids. Gracie did all the things that everyone else did. She batted , went to the field, hit again. She came in early in the second inning and we went to the playground. Even at the end they all lined up to shake hand or high five and she went right down the line.
WITH ALL THE OTHER KIDS!.

It may seem like a small thing- playing with other kids- going along with a different experience. But to Gracie and to us these are HUGE steps! We are thankful to all the people who help make these games possible!!

Today is your birthday!!!

Today, our Gracie Girl turned 6!! She woke up in her birthday suit (as usual) and came downstairs to find her birthday present!

I got her a princess dress- because that's the only thing besides naked that she really like to wear!
WE took her to the Disney Store and they treated her like a princess!

I wanted to find a way to make the day special for her. Though most of our relatives were busy with their everyday lives and weren't able to come for cake, we gave her her drums and her dress and she enjoyed "shopping" at the Disney Store, where they gave her all her favorites; a button, stickers and something that lights up!
She deserves for everyday to be special. All kids do but Gracie more than most. After all she went through, the rest of her life should be happy ever after. But it's not. It's going to be hard. So I will have to find ways to sprinkle fairy dust in her daily routine. I think I succeeded this year (don't know how I will top the drums). She REALLY looked at me several times during the day and smiled. So my heart tells me she enjoyed her day!

Gracie's 1st birthday invitation.

Before we get into details, Gracie ate dinner OUT at the diner WITHOUT NUTELLA last night!!!
I forgot the nutella!! Chris and I didn't know if we should just go or try it and stay. So we tried it. We got her chocolate pudding as a substitute, but she didn't really like it. But she ate oatmeal and applesauce anyway.

SO today we went to Gracie's first friend's party. One of her little friends from preschool, Elijah, gave her an invitation last week. Luckily, it was at BOUNCE U so I knew it would be ok. SHE LOVES it there so she was glad to go. She was hesitant to sit with the kids for the introduction video so she sat with Joy and I. Then when we went in she knew what to do.

Wether she knew it was different from any other day at Bounce U, I don't know. Only 1 of her little girl friends was there and Elijah was the birthday boy so she just ran around on her own. She loves the big slide. Elijah's mom was awesome! She told me that when she asked him who he wanted to invite from his class, he really wanted to invite Gracie. Her little classmates are so sweet. They love her.

She didn't do so well when the party moved in for cake. She sat at the table with the kids for maybe 5 minutes. She was watching them to see what they were doing.They were blowing on kazoos and that got her attention and when I gave her hers, she knew what to do with it. But once that was done, she was done. She gave me the all done sign. I made her wait. Tried to get her something to drink. But it was too loud and too crowded. She gave me the all done sign two more times with a vocalization .So I said our goodbyes to Elijah's mom , who was really sweet and we made our way out with 2 cupcakes from Elijah's gram.

I think I was just as stressed as she was. Everyday I hope for her to be like the other kids.

Sometimes, it just breaks my heart when she doesn't get to experience things like typical kids. But I didn't want to force her and end up in a melt down, so I thought it best to just exit without a scene. But she should be able to sit and have cake, like the others. She has to work SO HARD for EVERYTHING.

Anyway, she came home and relaxed a while but at the end of the night we had a full fledged melt down because I made her stop using YOUTUBE( she likes the drum videos) . We haven't had one of those in a LONG time. I think she was just over stimulated, and stressed because it was something new.

Then I was stressed when we got home. We play off of each other.

My baby girl deserves a break but we just have to keep working.

Amazing Grace, again and again

I am so blessed to have the family that I have. Because of my awesome, hardworking husband , we were able to get two beautiful daughters from China. Our oldest daughter is funny and smart( though she doesn't know it yet) and everyone has told me she truly is a Joy.
But our biggest blessing, ( and our biggest challenge) is our Gracie. Not saying that she is a bigger blessing than Joy but that we are blessed by her "specialness",because that is the best way to describe her uniqueness. She is whip smart. She is a great problem solver, in other words, when she wants something, she won't let anything stand in her way to get it.
Some days, we are not up to the challenge. But then we recover and then she always manages to bring smiles to the day!