Blackberry Picking

As you know, I haven't been feeling the best, so weekends have been pretty lazy around our house.

Because of that, I decided it was time for us to go do something fun as a family. I planned a trip to a local "pick your own" farm to pick some blackberries. The last time we went to pick blackberries, Andy was 16 months old, and he loved it! He was eating them faster than we could pick them. By the time we left, he was stained from head to toe with blackberry juice.

With that memory in mind, we drove to the farm to have some fun. From the instant we got there, Andy was grumpy.

It was too hot. He didn't want to wait for the tractor to take us to the fields. He didn't want me to take his picture.

Nate, meanwhile, was thrilled as pie. He was so excited to ride on the tractor. He couldn't wait to pick blackberries.

We got out to the blackberry fields and there were beautiful, ripe blackberries everywhere. Nate, my husband, and I started picking the blackberries as fast as our hands would let us.

Andy didn't want to pick the blackberries. He didn't like the way the blackberries felt. He didn't like the way the juice squirted on his hands. He didn't want to taste the blackberries.

And, he didn't like the bees. Ok, so there were a few bees around. Usually they stayed out of sight, and it's not like they were killer bees waiting to attack. But, with Andy's supersonic hearing abilities that come from his SPD, he could HEAR the bees. That in and of itself was enough to scare the beejeebies out of him.

Oh, and it was too hot. Did I mention that?

The rest of us were laughing, we were eating blackberries, we were yelling, "Look how big this one is!" and "This is going to be a sweet one!"

Andy just stood there and sulked. So I called him grumpy. That went over well.

After a few more minutes of Andy acting miserable while the rest of us had the time of our lives, I said to him, "Andy, sometimes happiness is a choice. If you want to choose to be grumpy, that's fine, but we are happy and having a good time. We're not going to stop just because you're grumpy."

That didn't work either. He continued to be grumpy.

We picked blackberries until our hands and nails were stained with juice and our buckets were overflowing. Then, and only then, did we agree to be done.

Do I feel bad that Andy was so unhappy? Yes, and no.

I feel bad that he could hear the bees that we couldn't. I feel bad that he felt the heat more than we did. I feel bad that he didn't have fun.

But I don't feel bad that we allowed ourselves to have fun anyway.

Sometimes you have to choose to not let SPD rule your life. This was definitely one of those times.

Sorry it's been a while...

I've been feeling under the weather. Don't worry, though. I'm not ill.

I'm just pregnant.

That's right...we have a baby on the way. It's an "unplanned miracle" that I wasn't quite ready for.

In fact, I had come to terms with the fact that there would be no more babies in my future. I had talked to my pediatrician, and my husband and I had discussed it for hours on end. We felt that with Andy's issues it might be better that we not have any more children.

Once we came to that decision, I cried, I grieved, and then I felt at peace. That was in April.

So imagine my surprise when I found out that God had a different plan for us! The shock has now worn off and we are ecstatic and very happy about this gift we have been given.

However, the nausea has been horrendous, and I've had a few other minor issues. It's been enough that I just haven't had the time or the energy to keep up with my blog. But, I'm hoping things will be a little more calm here in the next few months and I can jump back in the action.

So, that's what is new with us. I will try to update more regularly.

It's a really, really, good day...

Andy's evaluation was today. First of all, I can't say enough about the Knights of Columbus Developmental Center. What a great group of really knowledgeable people. They whisked us right back, started the evaluation right on time, and answered all of my questions with clear, concise answers.

Best of all, they concluded that Andy does NOT have Asperger's Syndrome. And I believe them.

Yes, I know this is the same thing that the jerk of a neurologist said a few months ago. However, I didn't believe the neurologist when he said it because he had no explanation and had no answers to my questions. He formed his decision after talking to Andy for 5 minutes.

Today, two different professionals spent an hour and a half each with him. They explained that he didn't have the speech/language deficits that an Asperger's child would have. They explained that his IQ test didn't exhibit the variances that it would have in an Asperger's child.

They instead concluded that he is highly gifted, has severe anxiety, and sensory processing disorder. Luckily, none of those was a surprise.

They suggested that some of Andy's social awkwardness is due to his giftedness, and his inability to relate to his peers because of it. Makes sense to me.

So, that's where we stand. We are very excited to finally know FOR SURE that it isn't Asperger's. And now we know the reasons why.

He's just too darn smart for his own good. Plain and simple. And THAT I can handle.

Tomorrow's the big day...

We have our appointment at the Developmental Center tomorrow. I can't wait.

That probably sounds weird since I will most likely get an Asperger's diagnosis for Andy, but it will be a relief to finally have some answers.

Sorry I've been neglecting my blog, but life has been, well, busy. I've got a lot to catch you up on, and hopefully will in the next few weeks.

Until then, keep us in your thoughts, and I'll try to update you all tomorrow evening on the results of our evaluation.

The best news I've had all week...

I got the best phone call today when I was in a tiny dressing room trying on some clothes at Old Navy.

It was a lovely lady from the Devopmental Center that we are on the waiting list for. She was calling to schedule Andy's appointment for his evaluation for Asperger's Syndrome.

We now have his appointment scheduled. WooHoo!! We are scheduled for June 30th. No more waiting list.

NO.MORE.WAITING.

I'm beyond excited. Thrilled is more like it. I just can't wait to sit down before this panel of experts and finally get some answers.

Can you feel my excitement??????

Andy and his "hesitation"

This morning Andy was swinging in our net swing like he does every morning. Sometimes we talk, sometimes he has a million questions, sometimes he's very quiet.

Today we talked a bit, then he got very quiet and closed his eyes. After a few minutes, I whispered, "Are you sleeping?"

"No, Mom, I'm just hesitating," he said.

"What?" I asked.

"I'm hesitating. If I close my eyes and relax I can feel the blood flow through my fingers. It feels cool," he said.

"What do you mean when you say hesitating?" I asked.

"You know...hesitating! Like when you cross your legs, put your hands in your lap and close your eyes," he replied.

Now I understood! "You mean MEDITATING?" I said.

"Oh, yeah. That's what I meant. I thought it was called hesitating. It's cool though because it makes me relax and I can feel my blood pumping through my body," he answered.

It's truly amazing the things that he can feel that I don't. Just like he smells things that I don't smell, and hears things that I don't hear.

I guess some things about SPD aren't quite so bad.

Andy tried a new food...

Most of you SPD Mommies have been through the ever popular food battles that often occur with our SPD kiddos.

Andy has never been a good eater. Well, I take that back. He was a GREAT eater until around his second birthday. Then he stopped eating most everything.

His list of appropriate foods is limited. He does not try new things. If it doesn't look right/smell right/feel right, he isn't going to eat it.

On Monday, we went to a neighbor's house to swim. She said, "I put some toasted raviolis in the toaster oven for the kids."

I just politely smiled. No way was he going to eat that.

It's frustrating to deal with these food issues on a daily basis. We can't go anywhere without planning ahead. Will they have anything that he will eat? Do we need to bring something else for him? Do we need to replenish our stock of Uncrustables?

I'll admit most people probably think it's kind of weird for me to show up to a birthday party or other event and take out a pbj for my son while all the other kids are enjoying hot dogs. But that's just the way it is.

The worst part is the "looks" people who don't get it give me when I whip out whatever I brought for my SPD kiddo to eat. There are looks of shock, surprise, and disgust. I've been told more than once that I should just force him to eat, he will eat it if he's hungry enough, I'm enabling him by offering something different, etc. My favorites are the people (mostly in my family) who try to guilt him or trick him into trying something he doesn't want. Not a good idea.

Luckily my neighbor gets it. She also got out some grapes and cherries because she knew Andy liked grapes. Then when he complained because the grapes were touching the cherries, she hand picked all of the cherries out of the bowl for him. I wouldn't have even done that. LOL!

When they were done cooking, I put the toasted raviolis on a plate and put them in front of the boys. Andy picked one up, looked at it strangely, and asked me what the "black flecks on top of it was". I told him it was spices.

To my surprise, he picked it up, licked it, then he took a bite. Then he took another. About that time, after the second bite, he got to the meat that was inside. He grimaced, shuddered, and put it down.

"There's something in it, Mom!" he said.

I said, "I know. It's meat."

He hates meat. There are only a few types of meat he will eat. I thought for sure this was the end of the toasted ravioli.

He stared at it for a minute, and I could tell he was deep in thought.

Then he picked the ravioli back up, said, "I like it anyway" and finished it off.

I was shocked. Granted, he didn't eat any more of them, but for him to try something new like that was amazing!

I'm not sure he will eat them again, but I'm so, so proud of him for at least trying them.