Guest guest Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 Dear Joan, I loved reading this snapshot of Andy!! My heart smiled. And I gained a bit of hope & reassurance on several levels. Thank you for this. Since joining this group, I have gained valuable insights, strengths & many many moments of heartsmiles AND heart tugs for others on the list. Ya'll may not realize how very much wisdom & acceptance is found here. I don't have family or a caseworker being or even therapists in our lives. When I joined this list, it was one of those " Oh thank god moments " & continues to this day as I learn from EACH of you-and especially so from those with kiddos older than my DJ. Because of this collective wisdom, experiences & acceptance, I am more...and I am less. I am less " lonely-alone " or " scared " or fried or uninformed. I am more as an advocate, as a parent, as a warrior, as a human bean. And because of this, because of each one of you-my DJ is both less and more. With grateful heart, Kris > > HI all. > > As promised, here is my update and post about Andy and our family. > > IT's been a long 3 years; almost a year since my Mother, Andy's best friend, died. We've been through many ups and downs. The gaping hole in Andy's life is not filled, but we are adjusting. > > After Mom died, we established an award at the NW Quilters Association Show in her honor. We, my father, brother, and I, recently judged over 30 quilts for that award. I began to feel that we were well into healing in that activity. It was fun, we remembered Mom, and we felt like we were carrying on something she would enjoy. > > Anyway. > > Andy is doing pretty well. Three years ago I would have told you that my goal for htese years was to have his " adult life " and schedule (or the first rendition of it) figured out and ready to go long before he was done with school. For good reason, we're not there, but I still have a good handle on where we're heading. We used a person-centered planning process to really think about the essential structure that Andy enjoys. So we have a raw schedule put together that seems to work. We jsut need to work on the activities. > > We've found an adult physician for him, so we'll begin the transition process this summer. That will take a bunch of photos, films, and so forth to accomplish, but I'm pleased to know that there's someone willing to work with him and me for his health. > > Probably the most fun I've had with Andy in the last year was this past October. He's been riding a Rifton Trike at school for years. Always INSIDE the building. Last year we took it home for Spring Break and he rode it outside for the first time. We took it up to the MIddle School a few blocks away to ride. What did he do? He tried to go inside the building over and over and over! LOL. We kept saying, " No, it's not open! " Slowly he learned to ride around what was once the auto shop (when I went to high school there). And he loved it. This past October, we signed him up for a family ride sponsored by the group that helps me gather support for him. He absolut4ely loved it! And, he saw Mom whipping around on her bike to get photos. You could just SEE the light bulbs go on! He loved the start with all the other people - being one of a huge crowd, doing the same thing. It was a great day because he was showing that I really DO listen to HIM. He was doing what I thought he'd do. > > I found a lady who puts together " crisis packs " of GF (or GFDF) foods in single servings for nursing homes, schools, and hospitals. Andy now takes the cupcake and some of the bread mixes to school here and there and cooks his own. I'll post the link to Ronni's site later. But she's done a great job of giving Andy something he can make and have ready in 5 minutes for a birthday party! All you need is water and a microwave. We're still learning to cook GF - but loving that his Celiac Disease is well managed. The dark circles are gone. Sneaky stuff that CD. > > In other news, I saw Donna last week for lunch before I headed home. I gave her some hand-made truffles that look like ladybugs. My goal? To see which would win with Maddie: chocolate or getting rid of the ladybug eyes. Will she turn it over and eat it upside down? I can't wait to find out. > > We're still big into visual strategies and are trying the proloquetogo or whatever it is taht works on the Ipod touch. Just got it approved on his ISP. I'll keep you posted. He loves to watch pre-teaching videos on the ipod touch, which has also been a life saver at times. It also makes those " unbelievers " gasp watching him navigate, watch, and then go do what is on the video with only a few repetitions of the video. > > I love FLIP and Ipod touch! > > Now....what about all of you? > > Take good care, > Joan > Andy's Mom - he's 21. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2010 Report Share Posted March 24, 2010 joan, this post has just given me an emotional boost. what a trooper and mentor you are in this post on a day when I'm feeling pretty down.  Imagine riding a trike in a family ride. Great!!!!  How did you teach him to pedal. Do you remember? And steer too? We have worked on this for ten years now and still can't get any flow. Turning the jack in the box is difficult . I totally rejoice with you and thank you for lifting my spirits. Jay ps. sympathy in the loss of your Mom, may you find continued joy in celebrating her memory and love for all of you.   ________________________________ To: Sent: Tue, March 23, 2010 10:05:10 PM Subject: Andy is now 21.  HI all. As promised, here is my update and post about Andy and our family. IT's been a long 3 years; almost a year since my Mother, Andy's best friend, died. We've been through many ups and downs. The gaping hole in Andy's life is not filled, but we are adjusting. After Mom died, we established an award at the NW Quilters Association Show in her honor. We, my father, brother, and I, recently judged over 30 quilts for that award. I began to feel that we were well into healing in that activity. It was fun, we remembered Mom, and we felt like we were carrying on something she would enjoy. Anyway. Andy is doing pretty well. Three years ago I would have told you that my goal for htese years was to have his " adult life " and schedule (or the first rendition of it) figured out and ready to go long before he was done with school. For good reason, we're not there, but I still have a good handle on where we're heading. We used a person-centered planning process to really think about the essential structure that Andy enjoys. So we have a raw schedule put together that seems to work. We jsut need to work on the activities. We've found an adult physician for him, so we'll begin the transition process this summer. That will take a bunch of photos, films, and so forth to accomplish, but I'm pleased to know that there's someone willing to work with him and me for his health. Probably the most fun I've had with Andy in the last year was this past October. He's been riding a Rifton Trike at school for years. Always INSIDE the building. Last year we took it home for Spring Break and he rode it outside for the first time. We took it up to the MIddle School a few blocks away to ride. What did he do? He tried to go inside the building over and over and over! LOL. We kept saying, " No, it's not open! " Slowly he learned to ride around what was once the auto shop (when I went to high school there). And he loved it. This past October, we signed him up for a family ride sponsored by the group that helps me gather support for him. He absolut4ely loved it! And, he saw Mom whipping around on her bike to get photos. You could just SEE the light bulbs go on! He loved the start with all the other people - being one of a huge crowd, doing the same thing. It was a great day because he was showing that I really DO listen to HIM. He was doing what I thought he'd do. I found a lady who puts together " crisis packs " of GF (or GFDF) foods in single servings for nursing homes, schools, and hospitals. Andy now takes the cupcake and some of the bread mixes to school here and there and cooks his own. I'll post the link to Ronni's site later. But she's done a great job of giving Andy something he can make and have ready in 5 minutes for a birthday party! All you need is water and a microwave. We're still learning to cook GF - but loving that his Celiac Disease is well managed. The dark circles are gone. Sneaky stuff that CD. In other news, I saw Donna last week for lunch before I headed home. I gave her some hand-made truffles that look like ladybugs. My goal? To see which would win with Maddie: chocolate or getting rid of the ladybug eyes. Will she turn it over and eat it upside down? I can't wait to find out. We're still big into visual strategies and are trying the proloquetogo or whatever it is taht works on the Ipod touch. Just got it approved on his ISP. I'll keep you posted. He loves to watch pre-teaching videos on the ipod touch, which has also been a life saver at times. It also makes those " unbelievers " gasp watching him navigate, watch, and then go do what is on the video with only a few repetitions of the video. I love FLIP and Ipod touch! Now....what about all of you? Take good care, Joan Andy's Mom - he's 21. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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