LIVE NOW - NO OPPORTUNITIES WASTED!!! LIVE in the NOW!

Every day more and more children in South Africa are born with Autism.



Cullen was born 15 September 2006...



Children with Autism dont show emotion, dont make eye contact, dont play, dont interact, often have problems with Speech and fine motor control...



Cullen continues to challenge himself and conquer all of this...



The Challenge - SPEECH and FINE MOTOR CO-ORDINATION, MORE PLAY, MORE INTERACTION...







Follow our journey, our challenge, our triumph, our lives...



Tuesday 31 May 2011

SLEEPING SIDE BY SIDE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

HORSIE has never really enjoyed sharing "his space" with anyone other than his nana, mamma, and dadda when it comes to sleep time!

THIS IN ITSELF IS proof of A MIRACLE!!!!!!

Ladybug and Horsie sleeping within an inch of each other  - calm, BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

So Blessed!!!

POOP scooping

Ok so I am laughing my ass off...

My hubby is scooping Horsies poop from his nappy into a REALLY SMALL container to be analysed. with every scoop he is gagging...I would normally do it, in fact I did do it the first time two years ago...but my tummy was a little "dribbly" as my sis calls it and so delegated the poop scooping to hubby dear.

I am standing behind him...sniggering...laughing...I mean here he is in our kitchen (not very hygienic I know - but where else is there such good light and airing) scooping 5 scoops of our boys PUNGENT SULPHOROUS poop...eeeeuw in this maybe 2cm tube thing...

He gets it done...with both of us howling with laughter at the RIDICULOUSNESS of this scenario...poop scoopers...another job we never ever thought we would be completing...unless we decided to become dog trainers/walkers or the like.

We then spend the next 5 minutes arguing as to whether the poop sample should go in the fridge or the freezer?  My thinking - eeeeuw I dont his microbe (forgive me Horsie you are my beautiful boy but your poop still has microbes, etc in it) poop sitting next to the Wollies organic bananas, newly mixed gluten free wheat free sugar free flapjack mix nor anything else for that matter. Hubby's thinking - the INSTRUCTIONS SAY IN THE FRIDGE IF COLLECTED for courier next day OR in FREEZER IF COLLECTED ON A WEEKEND and to be couriered more than 24 hours later. YES the caveman - men are from mars - technical brain - NOW decides he is going to follow instructions!!!!!! TIMING...its all in the TIMING.

Anyway I LOST and he nestled Horsies poop sample (Ok airtight in a sample container within another jar thing within a zippy bag) between the condiments....yes CONDIMENTS...at least they are closed and not influential or partial to microbial anything....

Why are we collecting poop?

Our boy got to see Dr Lousie Lindenberg from Cape Town last week Thursday - and wow what any amazing lady. Calm, super smart, and best of all made me feel like the BEST Mommy EVER with all that we have done so far with Horsie.

So...
 Poop collection it is... for analysis - to look for candida in particular - which affects many many many children with Autism, and can be easily sorted for clearer more focused brain functioning.

Then BLOOD TESTS....oh man...how I am dreading those. We did bloods two years ago too...and that was TRAUMATIC!!! With Horsie now being 27kg and 4 and half years old, he is much bigger and stronger than his 2 and half year old self.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Therapy is another of Dr Lindenberg's strong suggestions...got that started under our belts too. I have been for 2 sessions - to get used to the pressure involved (15m below sea level with 90% oxygen pumped in at that level) and the small confined SUBMARINE feel (so to speak) before we even try to get Horsie in there. (thats an entire different blog entry)

SO here is to poop scooping, blood taking and pumping oxygen...sounds all too scientific/technical/alien - BUT willing to do whatever it takes if it means our boy IMPROVES albeit tiny baby steps...

Tuesday 24 May 2011

IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING

CULLEN's ACTION FOR AUTISM GOLF DAY 17 MAY @ Roodepoort Country CLUB was a COMPLETE AND UTTER BLESSED SUCCESS!

A huge thank you goes out to all the sponsors including Le Morgan, Powercare, Optus Brands, Imperial Toyota Park Town and Strijdom park, Plasser Rail, Phakamisa Industries, Mimmos, Mikes Kitchen (Gordon Rd), West Peak Spur, Impala Fruit and Flower, Red Bananas Distributers, KSB Industries, Golfer's Warehouse, BRYANSTON Country Club, Roodepoort Country Club, Golfer's Shop Fourways, Landrover Fourways, Gardenia, Kodak Express Northcliff, Zena Jacobson Optometrists, Wayne Pringle, Dominic and Deidre Khourie, Adele Wybourn and Family,Bernadette from Burnies and Family, Boris & Shirley Gerhard and family,Tarryn Gandy, Simon Baldree, Jonothan Eager, Jeanette and Donovan Walker, Shane Macgregor, Sharmane Majendie Kennedy and Family, Christine Mansour and many other private wonderful donors.

Without the sponsors, prizes donated and the players who played the day would not have been half the success! 3 ra ra ra ra ra ra CHEERS to you all!!!

This will be an annual event and we are hoping that it becomes even bigger and greater and more memorable every passing year.

WEDNESDAY 11 MAY pre GOLF DAY was miserable but then...we decided...impossible is NOTHING and what a success and beautiful day it turned out to be!

Thanks to all involved again!

PICS to follow shortly...

CAN YOU SAY EXHAUSTED!!!!!!

Well well...its been far too long! This month of May has literally left me feeling completely wrecked!!!
I feel like nothing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING I do  - can help to ease this EXHAUSTION!!!!

Work, crazy long hours work, no domestic helper for 4 weeks and kiddies will do that to you but wow - really moeg!!!

Any suggestions - anyone?

On the up side - just last nite whilst trying to get kiddies to bed - we lay on the couch cuddling.
Ladybug has since my going away to conference decided nope - NO MORE GOING STRAIGHT TO BED IN HER ROOM - SHE IS GOING TO SLEEP ON THE COUCH!!!

So begins our nightly ritual, pillow and blanket to couch Lady bug on couch - oops then she remembers that school is teaching her to pee pee in the toilet before sleeping - so off the couch - take nappy off pee pee in the toilet - put nappy back on - re dress - back to couch - oops - lets read a book - off the couch - back on the couch - read book and so on and so on and so on...that little stint in itself (JUST WRITING IT MAKES ME TIRED) is exahausting. so just when I thought I had one kiddiwinkel sorted sleep wise (well at least going to sleep)....that big bubblegum bubble has popped and splattered all over my face.

Anyway back to the story - so we lay on the couch and Horsie decides to cuddle up to his little ladybug and makes himself comfy by pulling the blankie over - and then to my amazement - he turns toward ladybug and holds her hand!!!!

I mean holds her hand - and she ofcourse was thrilled and smiled ear to ear - and said Cully hold hand hold hand. It was the most precious few seconds we have had this week.

      ...and in that moment the TIRED DISAPPEARS...

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