30 days of autism: day 3

Morning routine...even though Javin is six, he doesn't have the capability to dress himself yet. He does, however, have strong opinions as to what he will and will not wear! I have him practice getting dressed on weekends when we aren't on a time schedule and he takes for.evvv.errrrrr!! 

30 days of autism: day 2

Boogie always doesn't feel well when a new tooth comes in. Right now it's the adult front tooth and the baby hasn't come out. It's not loose enough to pull either. I took a pic of it but my phone camera stinks and it's blurry. I asked him if his mouth hurts and he said, "yeah it feels gummy". :( 

This is the photo that I was able to get...went to the dentist's office to show it to them. They still don't want to pull it... it looks so painful to me!

Well you all know about Javin's dinner (fish nuggets) and usually for lunch he has PB&J but I was out of bread so I made homemade "spaghetti-o's". He gobbled them up when I made it last week and today he doesn't touch it. Argh!! 

30 days of autism: day 1

Day 1: Javin's "well-rounded" dinner: mac-n-cheese, crackers, fish nuggets, and dried blueberries. (He gobbled up the fish and blueberries before I even sat down). This has pretty much been his dinner for the past week. He's got sneaked in pumpkin in his mac though (shhh!). He gets stuck on a food kick (right now it's the fish nuggets) and he refuses to eat anything else for awhile.

30 days of autism

Today starts the month of autism awareness. I know that many people are "aware" of autism nowadays, there has been a lot of information put out over the past few years to explain autism (which is awesome). I do my best to share experiences with my son, Javin (Boogie) on FaceBook and on my blogs (when I think of it) so that you can get a better sense of Javin as a person, not JUST autism. This month I will again do the 30 Days of Autism photos. I got a lot of positive feedback from it last year. Rather than quotes about autism or facts, I post photos each day with a background story so that you can get a better glimpse into our daily life...the good, the funny, the ugly...I show it all. This month, I celebrate Javin!

The photos will be posted on this blog as well as Facebook and Instagram. If you'd like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me as: javinsmama

(c) 2013 Joy-Jasmin Brunnelson All Rights Reserved

boogie is almost famous...

I am so excited to announce that Javin was selected to be the model for Bowling Green State University's 12th Annual Autism Summit!! Check out my sweetie (and register to go if you're in the area!) at: http://outreach.bgsu.edu/autism2013/

a ranting we will go...

Here is the article that I am so angry about:

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2013/02/22/feds-aba-insurance/17346/


You all know that I do not post political things very often but this really ticks me off. I'm not surprised that Obama dropped the ball on this and at first I was sad and disappointed but the more I think about it, the angrier I get. THIS IS RIDICULOUS...Our community takes another hit. I mean really- first they change the DSM creating a world where there "isn't an autism epidemic" so now many kids will no longer qualify for much needed services and the Obama administration can turn their heads and pretend it doesn't exist. And now this??

You are telling me that substance abuse treatment is mandated and ABA therapy for autism is not? REALLY? We're just left to flounder on our own with no help whatsoever? I'm not asking for a handout, I'm asking for the administration to acknowledge autism as a neurological disorder (as defined by NIH) and have the already proven most effective therapy to help create a future for these kids covered by insurance.

You (Obama) don't get to change the rules based on what is convenient for you and expect not to hear from me. I am an angry mom with a son who has autism. We aren't invisible just because you choose to ignore us. I will not allow you to impress upon my son that he isn't important. That he doesn't matter. That he isn't worthy of acknowledgement based on who he is but would be if he chose to be an alcoholic instead. And then as another slap in the face, you are leaving it up to the states and pretending that it's an answer when (currently according to Autism Speaks) only 26 of them currently cover treatment for autism. So these kids can only receive help if they live in the right areas? Unbelievable.

I am so grateful for my faith in God because this world's priorities are unbelievably backwards and without my faith, I would be crushed.  You will be hearing from me Mr. President. I will be a thorn in your side.

~Joy

(c) 2013 Joy-Jasmin Brunnelson All Rights Reserved

this is autism

~Joy
(c) 2012 Joy-Jasmin Brunnelson All Rights Reserved