Just a Spinning

I hate to admit it. But Matthew is starting to show more of the stereotypical signs of autism. They say autistic kids tend to spin, flap their hands, and stack things. Well Matthew never really did any of those things. That was why they had a hard time telling he had autism until he finally started talking. They seen the repetitiveness in his speech about "butterfly dinosaurs" and the constant talk of dinosaurs in general. Over Christmas, I've really noticed Matthew doing a lot of spinning. Sure he does the usual spinning in a computer chair, but that's kind of fun for kids. Now he's standing in the middle of the room and spinning around and around. Almost has been a daily occurrence now.

Merry Christmas

Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

Love,

Matthew Zane, Tammy, and Sean

Snow Snow Snow

What a weekend for a blizzard. We are snowed in, not much to do.

Happy Thanks-forgiving!

According to Matthew, yesterday was Happy Thanks-forgiving day! :) Hope everyone had a great time with family and friends. Our dinner was very good.

No Black Friday shopping for me at crazy hours of the night, I'm not into all of that, I can't stand the craziness!

Matthew's Mommy is Getting Married

That's right. I'm getting married. Matthew's dad, Sean, and I have had a bit of an off and on relationship for about 7 years now. He has always been around when I have needed him. He was there when I got the diagnosis for Matthew's mild Autism. He was also there when I didn't get the diagnosis and had put Matthew through some rigarous testing. He's been there for birthdays, holidays, movies, conferences, other various doctor appointments etc. I always told myself, I can do this on my own just fine, but a little help would be nice. I had decided that I would NEVER put Matthew into another man's life. He is too precious and special to me. No other guy would ever understand my situation. I have never dated anyone else since Sean I originally broke up before Matthew was even born.

So during the fall of 2009, Sean and I decided we would be together forever, one happy family. Matthew loves spending time with both of his parents. He has really come a long ways with Sean in his life as well.

Sean proposed to me with Matthew at his side on March 17th of this year and we are getting married March 17th, 2012.

Summer Happenings

Over the summer, we were fortunate enough to take 2 mini vacations during the break I had between Summer and Fall classes at school.

First we went to the Omaha Zoo on August 15th, and then we went to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival on August 21st.

Both Matthew and Phoenix had a great time at both. They really enjoyed the big zoo compared to the zoo we have in Sioux Falls.

Matthew was not scared to ride the SkyFari thing they have at the Zoo either, which looks like a ski lift and takes you about 30-40 feet above the zoo.

Phoenix also had the opportunity to take a picture with Cpt. Jack Sparrow! :)

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from Wolverine aka Matthew Zane!

Last year of Early Childhood Education 2010-2011

Matthew is now entering his 3rd and final year of Early Childhood Education. He will be onto Kindergarten next year.

All is Well, then Bam!

Well for the most part, most days I don't even know Matthew has Autism. Until TODAY. Oh boy.

He got to go shopping with Grandma today and she bought him a transformer. He really loves those things.

He is so fixated with those things he won't even let us look at them, and when he does he's literally shaking until you give it back. It appears like you have his whole life in your hands in that toy that he just can't handle it.

It had a major meltdown today because I told him that his transformer turned into a FIRETRUCK. Which it does, it says FIRE on both sides. To him, that wasn't true at all. So had him take a time out and had him lie down for a bit. He was so into those transformers that he couldn't even look anyone in the eye for quite awhile upon speaking to him. Finally, he snapped out of it.

That was rough. He's normally not much for eye contact anyway, and I am used to that, but today was just DIFFERENT.

So when I think all is better and that he doesn't appear affected by this, it all goes to hell in a hand basket in just a few minutes.

To me, it just keeps me aware that he continues to deal with this so that I don't let my guard down in case I think he is fine. Overly protective mother? Yes. I would have been that with or without the Autism but it just keeps me on my toes a little more.

Happy 5th Birthday Matthew!

Today is Matthew's Birthday! The big one! 5 years old!

Hope it's a good one for you buddy!

Love you!

:-) Matthew Zane (-:

:-) 8/14/05 (-:

:-) 6 lbs 11 oz (-:

:-) 19 inches (-:

:-) 12:51Pm (-:

Best Mom Ever

The other night, Matthew said "you're the best mom ever," just out of the clear blue. It brought tears to my eyes and touched my heart. What a wonderful little boy after having all this trouble for a few years to say that to me without prompting!

Another Good Quote

"A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity; it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path" -Agatha Christie

My little Firecracker (Happy 4th of July!)

Good thing we live in the country, Matthew is very interested in peeing outside this summer. Here's a quick picture from yesterday, 7-4-10. Last year, or any previous year for that matter, Matthew couldn't stand being outside. And the idea of dropping his pants and going potty would never happen.

Funny how a year can change a young man.

We had a great time shooting off fireworks this year. The boys spent about 100.00 in a matter of minutes. My gosh, if the sky was the limit, they could have easily spent a 1000.00.

This year, Raquel happened to have a spare pair of earplugs that Matthew used. Otherwise, like last year, he didn't care to partake in any festivities because loud noises really bother him.

Everyone had a great time I think.

Jesse James Days

1st face painting ever: a fish (his choice)


riding in the "plane train"

Last night

Last night the weather was pretty crappy. I had put my truck awhile because there was severe thunderstorms heading our way. A few days prior, Matthew had been out in the little swimming pool splashing around for about an hour. He'd been bitten up by mosquitos pretty good. So I'd been keeping a close eye on them.
We did the Jesse James Days' thing out in Garretson, the boys had a pretty good time despite the 95 degree temp. Played in the tumble bus, played some games, and went on a horse drawn wagon ride. I'd been watching another bite that had sprang up a couple days later on Matthew's left calf. Last night it was getting worse. It was very hot and the redness around the bite and expaneded to the size of a golf ball.
I don't usually mess around with this type of thing because when Matthew was 9 months old, he'd had a bite that just oozed nasty stuff out of it. At the time we weren't sure what it was. It was the size of a baseball on his little leg, and when I took him in, we were immediately rushed from acute care to the hospital. It was a MRSA. A very penicilian resistant staph infection that kept him hospitalized for 2 days.
So sure enough, it looks like he was developing one again yesterday. He's had a few here and there since MRSA, but we treat them at home.
So in the pouring rain we go. I couldn't believe how bad it was, I could barely see the road. Sean told me to just drive slow, the streets were very flooded. Finally we make it to acute care. No one was there, and the nurses were outside under the awning watching the storm. We got right in.
I had some "staph infection" cream that I was using on him and the Doc said to keep using it but said it was looking bad so he figured out how to dose him. Basically Matthew needed a double, double dose and then some. This isn't like treating a urinary tract infection, it's much worse.
So the only Pharmacy open is the 41st/Louise Walgreens, so we head down there. It is nervewracking driving in that much water. But we made it. Got our medicine, Matthew got a megatron transformer, and we headed home. The sky was a lot lighter and the rain had subsided.
On the way home we seen a power line pole on our road almost ready to break off, and then there was a cotton wood tree blocking the road as sheriff's were redirecting traffic. Our neighbors tree was uprooted and fell across the creek. Today there is so much water running thru the creek. Wow. It'll be interesting to see what happens if we get more rain.

So Matthew will be on his meds for 10 days. He's feeling a lot better today so hopefully this stuff will help him. Poor guy. He has the worse luck.

Nonstop

T A L K I N G

It's amazing that a couple years ago, that Matthew didn't say anything at all... and now he WON'T STOP TALKING!!!!

It's not just jibber jabber stuff, it's coming up with stories, using his imagination with his cousin Phoenix, saying "please mom, PLEASE."

It is really quite something! :)

Matthew's 1st camel ride

@the Great Plains Zoo today.

The walk went great!

Matthew's walk for Autism went great. He made it the entire mile with a few pit stops during the laps to grab prizes from a booth set up. It was a little rainy that day but it did not dampen our spirits!

We raised a total of $1155.00

Thanks to all who supported/donated to us.

And especially to the walkers:

Matthew,

Mommy,

Daddy,

Phoenix,

Mikey,

Kelli,

Mike,

Steve,

Kamie,

Josh,

Maren,

Griffin,

Maddy,

and Kyle.

compliment

I got quite a compliment from Matthew's teacher Kimberly. When he came back to summer school, he told her had a nightmare (probably just a dream), and gave her details of Phoenix, and a tractor and stuff. So she shared it with me and was quite impressed.

09-10 School Year- Pizza and Pj party

Beginning of year photo:

(only 3 in his class)

WALK NOW FOR AUTISM SPEAKS

A few months back, I decided to do the walk for Autism Speaks. In March, Matthew, Sean and I attended the kick off dinner at Westward Ho and got some materials to help us start raising money. As the team captain, I set a goal of $500. Its been incredible to see the amount of support and donations we've received from people. We are currently at $1155!!! Amazing!

I want to thank these people for your help and support and prayers:

Matthew, Sean, my mom and dad, Raquel (Raquel has even done special client photography sessions and donated to us that way), Steve, Sarah, Nancy, Maren, a bunch of co-workers at Hot Stuff Foods, and Matthew's teacher-Kimberly.

The walk is schedule for June 12th, we can't wait. I've even designed t-shirts that we will be wearing!

What a wonderful organization Autism Speaks is. They are doing so much to help families like me!

Mother's Day '10

For Mother's Day, Sean got me the movie Rainman. Never seen it and always wanted to. Mom told me it was made in the 80's about a guy having Autism when not much was known about Autism back then. It was a good movie. I think I liked the temple Grandin movie better because Claire Danes did an AMAZING job, but I'm glad I finally got to see it. I got another lunch bag that I like, and overall it was a good day. Made kabobs on the grill, they were yummy. Dad took us all out for supper Friday night prior and that was sooooo good too. Matthew told me over and over "Happy Mother's Day." That was nice to hear.

Lately, he's been yelling "mom", and tell me he loves me without prompting. :)

Circus - April 2010 - Matthew

Pony Ride

Elephant Ride

Matthew May 2010

And He Gave Me To You

And He Gave Me To You
Ever wonder why you're the lucky one?
The one who came to be?
The oh so very lucky one,
Who was chosen to care for me?
It may not be obvious sometimes,
But you have all I need.
I need someone with patience.
I need someone who is kind.
I need someone who is strong
And not quick to lose their mind.
I need someone who is special.
Someone very special indeed.
I need someone who will care,
Someone to care for me.
You may never know my thoughts.
You may never know my voice.
Just please be reassured,
That was not my choice.
God knew what he was doing
When he gave me to you.
He knew you could handle me.
He knew what you could do.
You see, I am very special.
Someone very special indeed.
I need someone who will care
Someone to care for me.
I know that I am not perfect.
And that I make you cry.
That was not my intent,
I'm just your little guy.
One day you will know me.
The way you want to know
But for now I'm just me
No matter how hard that may be
But I am a special person.
Someone very special indeed.
You'll never know how glad I am
That God gave you to me.
You see you are not the lucky one
The lucky one is me.

By Christine Quiroga

Matthew Update

I had to take the boys to school today because Phoenix didn't want to ride the bus. So I get there and Phoenix goes out to play. Matthew takes me through his morning routine. He hangs up his coat, and bookbag and puts his folder in a bin. Then he has to take his worm on a clothespin with his name on it and put it on a big apple. Wow, he just picked his name right out of the batch! During his first year of Early Childhood he was unable to pick out his name at all. Now he can spell his name M-A-T-T-H-E-W to me all the time! What an improvment. He's going to do summer school then he'll be going to the afternoon class this fall. One more year then he's onto kindergarten. :-(

Fish

Temple Grandin on HBO

Wow, watched the Temple Grandin movie on HBO this weekend, and let me say, Claire Danes did a FANTASTIC job at it to. Temple was a girl who had Autism back in the 60's. Amazing, incredible movie. She really broke the barrier and showed what she could with her Autism. I pretty much cried throughout the entire movie. So many things reminded me of Matthew.

Christmas 2009

For Christmas I got quite a surprise from my sister. I knew it was something special because that's what I'd been hearing for a few weeks. When I opened this nicely wrapped, large box, I found a picture frame. At first I thought it was a picture of some little boy in there, you know when you buy a picture frame you have to take out the "fake" picture and put in a real picture. The boy had on a shirt that I didn't recognize, so I was thinking oh what a cute little boy, then I realized it was my boy. Matthew was in those pictures....

here it is:

© Raquel Leeper Photography

Thanks Raquel!

She had taken Matthew one day I was at work to an abandoned house and shot these great images of him. I can never have too many pictures of Matthew! haha

Finally! A diagnosis!

Matthew has MILD Autism! What a relief it is to finally know. I couldn't take another "developmental delay." I just needed to know!

CCHS finally gave him the diagnosis that we were looking for!!!!

Another opinion

Yet again, here we go again. Matthew's statewide coordinator isn't sold on the developmental delay, so Jan 11th, here we come. Hard to say if they'll use the term autistic or not. I'm leaning toward no. But you never know.