Blogging for Autism Awareness

Happy April 1st cookie peeps!

 

For some, April 1st means April Fool's Day,

but for me, it marks the first day of a

very special month.

 

April is Autism Awareness Month!

 

 

For me, Autism Awareness is EVERYDAY.

 

For those of you new to

The Cookie Puzzle,

and don't know about my son,

I want to take some time to

introduce you to him,

his Autism,

our life,

our struggles,

and something very special

going on this month on this blog.

 

First,  about Collin.

 

Collin is almost 18.

 

His Birthday is April 11th.

 

He is my entire life.

 

He is a blessing.

 

But this post is about his Autism so let's get to it.

 

 

Collin was a dream baby!

He ate and slept very well, right from the start.

He met all the typical milestones while a baby and toddler,

walking, talking, eating...he was right on target.

 

It was not until he was 3.5, when I enrolled him in

preschool, that it was brought to my attention,

that something was a bit "off" with my perfect son.

 

There were signs, plenty of them,

but as a mom, you kind of  "overlook" them.

 

I majored in Early Childhood Education for

two years in College.

 

I worked in two preschools.

 

When I was pregnant with Collin,

I was a nanny for triplet girls.

 

I knew young children.

 

I would have KNOWN if something was

wrong with my child.

 

But, I did not SEE it,

he was not very social, but I thought it

was because he was an only child.

 

He was slightly obsessed with sticks

but, that is what boys do, right?

 

The director of the preschool, asked if she could

contact the local school district to see if they

would come and evaluate Collin.

 

That simple request, changed our lives forever.

 

Within a few short days, things moved fast.

 

The Director of Special Services came to the

preschool and observed Collin.

 

After a meeting, we decided that Collin should

move to the preschool, at the local public school.

 

Collin attended preschool, five days a week

for two years.

 

Then he started Kindergarten, and at the

end of the year, we decided that he was not

ready to move on, and we had him repeat Kindergarten.

Looking back, it was one of the best decisions

we ever made.  Collin needed that, and I had

to put aside my 'stigma' of repeating a

grade, for what was best for Collin.

 

During these first years of Collin being in

"the system", he was tested,

tested A LOT!

 

We knew something was "off" but getting

a firm diagnosis is hard.

 

It is not like you can take some blood and do a test,

and get a diagnosis.

 

When Collin was first diagnosed,his

diagnosis was

 

PDD-NOS

Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified

 

We suspected that Collin was on the

Autism Spectrum, but could not

get firm test results.

 

It is hard to get accurate test results,

because, at least with Collin,

he had trouble testing, he could not

understand the questions,

he could not understand what

the evaluator was asking of him.

 

Finally...when Collin was about 6,

we got the educational diagnosis.

 

Collin was moderately-servery Autistic.

 

 

I remember that day like it was yesterday.

 

I remember the room, the smell, the people in the room,

what I was wearing, the look on the evaluator's face.

Everything from that day is engraved on my brain.

 

"Based on tests, observation, and results,

Collin is Moderately-Severely Autistic"

 

WOW!

 

Did not see that coming.

 

I have to wonder how other parents feel when they

hear those words?

Do they cry?

Do they scream?

Do they deny?

 

What are they feeling?

 

I can tell you, that beyond a shadow of a doubt, that for me,

it was one of the best day's of my life.

 

Why?  How can that be a good thing?

How can any mother, who loves her child, want to hear

that her child is Autistic?

Was I a monster?

Did I NOT love my child?

 

NO!

 

For me, it was a relief!

 

For me, it was the confirmation of a diagnosis.

 

For me, it was a gift.

 

Finally!

 

Finally!

 

I had what we had been searching for.

 

I listen to the test results, and the words that came out of my

mouth shocked everyone in the room.

 

" Good, now we have the key. We have the key to

unlock Collin's mind.  We know what we are

battling, and now,

armed with that key, we can help Collin"

 

And so it was.

 

I would love to tell you, that from that

day forward, it was smooth sailing.

 

But that would be a lie.

 

I would love to tell you,

that everything we tried worked.

 

Again, that would be a lie.

 

The thing about Autism is,

it is a Spectrum Disorder.

No two children are the same.

 

Every child is unique.  What works for one, does not work for others.

 

Heck, what works on Monday, might not work on Thursday.

 

Welcome to my crazy life!

 

It is crazy, but I am so blessed.

 

Collin, has grown into a fine young man.

 

For years, with therapy, and an amazing staff at the

school, Collin has met goal after goal,

milestone after milestone.

 

But...just when we think all is well,

we will hit a road block.

 

Sometimes those are simple little

detours.

 

Sometimes, they totally

rock our world.

 

And we find ourselves, shaking our heads,

crying, searching, praying for an

answer, a solution, to bring us

back to "our normal"

 

That is the thing, we embrace

"Our Normal".

 

It works for us.

 

Collin has his little "quirks"

And we play off of those,use them as

tools to teach him, motivate him, love him.

 

Collin is not a "touchy feely" type of person,

but praise him verbally, and his face lights up.

 

He is a very picky eater, but what he does eat,

has kept him healthy.

 

He has never been on antibiotics...EVER.

For years he would not take medicine, as a result,

when he was sick, he got fluids and rest.

 

He has an immune system that is out of this world.

 

Three years straight of perfect attendance at school!

 

It took years to get Collin to enjoy reading,

but once it clicked, there was no stopping him.

I can not keep him in books.

 

Right now, as Collin is ending his Junior year in High School,

and preparing for his final year, and life after school, things are HARD.

 

Collin is scared, he is worried, and he is confused.

School is like a second home for him.

He has been there so long, he does not want to leave.

He sees is classmates planning their futures, and he is

confused.  He thinks he needs to make plans, but

he does not like change.

 

He knows life will change for him, but scared to

try to plan for life after high school.

 

We have been meeting with people, people who

can help Collin get a job, and maybe, one day,

live independently, but he does not like them, or

I should say, he will not give them a chance.

 

He seems to think that once school is over,

he has to move away, and get a job.

 

No matter how many times we have told him, he

can stay with us forever, he is still scared that

he has to leave us.

 

This too will pass, in time, I hope.

 

 

Sooooo....let's get to

Blogging for Autism.

 

I started baking cookies for Collin, for him to take to

school, as a treat, for parties.

 

And Collin, quickly became obsessed with them,

he wanted cookies all the time, he wanted

cookie cutters, he looked at designs online.

 

It was something that he was

passionate about, he was

as obsessed with cookies as I was.

 

So...as I started doing them more and more,

I decided to call myself

 

The Cookie Puzzle

 

The puzzle is the universal symbol of Autism,

you will learn a lot about that this month.

 

Why?

 

Glad you asked.

 

I wanted to do something

 

BIG

 

For April, since it is Autism Awareness month.

 

But, well, I work full time, have to manage

a home, Collin, and once in a while,

give my husband a little home cooked meal,

laundry...all that jazz.

 

So...I turned to my friends.

 

I asked for help.

 

I sent emails,

I sent texts,

I sent messages.

 

And the response was

 

OVERWHELMING!

 

So many wanted to help.

 

This month, EVERYDAY of the month, I will

have a post on Autism on this blog.

 

Not written by me, but

guest post from some of the

most incredible people I know.

 

You will NOT be disappointed.

 

These ladies, and one gentleman,

knocked it out of the park.

 

They researched Autism

they created fun projects,

they shared their hearts,

their time,

and for just a brief moment,

my passion for Autism.

So each day this month, there will be a
guest post, written by people, who have joined me
in bringing Awareness to Autism.

I hope you enjoy them, and take the time to
visit each blog or Facebook page, and tell them
thank you for joining me in a great cause.

So...enough with the chatter..how about seeing some cookies?

Ok....here we go...finally.

As you know, the 1st of every month,
I join with Melissa  of Simply Sweets by Honeybee

 and Stephanie of Ellie's Bites Decorated Cookies
in their monthly "Inspiration Challenge"

This month, the theme is
April Showers.

So....I made

April Shower cookies!

 

 

 

 

and here on

The Cookie Puzzle

 

 

it is raining puzzle pieces!

 

 

Here at

The Cookie Puzzle,

it is raining Autism Posts!

 

 

Here at

The Cookie Puzzle,

it will be raining

Autism Posts all month!

 

 

So make sure you come back each and every day

this month to see the amazing post that

guest bloggers have done.

You will love them all, I did,

in fact...they all made me cry!

 

 

Every day this month has been filled with a blogger,

who has volunteered to post this month

about Autism Awareness, however, if you are a blogger

a parent or loved one of someone with Autism, or

someone who simple wants to join the cause,

please contact me at

 

thecookiepuzzle@gmail.com

 

because EVERY day should be

AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

and I will gladly put your

project and post onto this blog!

 

 



 

Until tomorrow......

 

 

 

Hugs