Trinity absolutely loves the dance shows.   Me too.   Our favorite show of the summer is "So You Think You Can Dance."    She gets so excited when they are performing.  Runs around trying to do whatever the dancers are doing.    She remembers the dances names...Her favorites anyway.   Katie and Joshua.   She also knows the ex. producers name!!!   Nygel Lythgoe...She amazes me with this.   You never know how deep a river runs.... 

I would love to get her into dance this fall.   I have no idea how this might work out.   I don't want her singled out and set aside while the other kids are dancing...I don't want her made fun of...I just get this big knot in my stomach thinking about it.   I have asked her if she would like to take a dance class, and she said YES!    

Guess this one will require prayer.    She should have this opportunity.   Send us your prayers ,if you will , that we will find the right place to do this.

Goodmorning all...  I finally got around to putting up a picture.   This is me and Trinity.   My grandson took it on his camera phone yesterday.   It's not the greatest quality, but it will do for now.      She will get a kick out of it when she sees it.   She likes to sit with me and watch while I type.   I hope she learns how to use the internet in the near future.   Writing is a challenge for her.   She knows her alphabet and how to write all the letters, but putting them together to make words is progressing slowly.   

She has computer experience from school.   Her teacher says she has "mouse" trouble.    I think that is because she is VERY left handed.   The mouse, like so many things in life, is geared for right handed people...of which I am one.    The good news is...she has a very good memory .   She is always surprising me with recall.  

Last night we were watching "Americas Got Talent"...and she said....."Can David sing?"    (The Militello boy from last weeks show.)   I had to explain that he wasn't going to be on this weeks show.    She was disappointed.   She really likes him.     Me too. 

Trinity is doing something that is confusing and unsettling.

She has, just recently, started to walk with a wierd, arm slinging , motion.   (I call it quirky, jerky).

She doesn't do this all the time, but whenever we get ready to do something that requires an action on her part.  Along with this, she has commented to me several times that she wants to "take her feet off"?   

This is just so different.  Anyone  had something like this happen with your kids?    I am just trying to understand it.

She doesn't take any medication.

Good Morning all.... did anyone else happen to see America's Got Talent last night?  The final performance of the night was from a charasmatic 9 year old named David Militello, from Atlanta, Ga.   

He was sooooooooo precious!  He also happens to have autism.   His first 3 years were non verbal, then he began to sing.  His Mother said that he actually sang before he even said Mom.   

He was treated with respect on the show, not condescention.    He was sent through to Vegas.   I am looking forward to seeing more of this little blessing from God.  Hope ya'll (oohhh, my southerness is showing)  get to see and hear him also.  

Hello all.... Here's that positive story I need to share with you.

Trinity repeated first grade this year. Because of last years upset with a neighbors child..(earlier blog) I kept thinking about going to class with her and talking to the kids...I was reluctant. FINALLY, I got brave. It's funny...my husband and I used to be musicians and singers for a living. I fronted our show....Talking is what I did best. But, talking to all those 6 year olds was scary!!

I asked her teacher if I could come and talk with the class and she was happy to have me do it. This is what happened.

I took Trinitys favorite book...."I Love You Stinky Face"...(by the way, I recommend this highly) All the children made a half moon around me and Trinity...I read to them to get their attention. The book reassures children that no matter WHAT...we will love them. When I finished, I asked if any of the kids knew anthing about autism. A couple of hands went up. These children were REALLY paying attention. I explained to them that this is what Trinity has. I went on to say that she was just like them, even when she acted different. I told them that she loved school and friends and her family and all the things they liked. I told them that her brain processed information and language differently, so sometimes she would not respond in a proper way .

I asked these little people to have patience with her and redirect her when necessary. In short...to be her friends. The teacher was grateful for my visit and said she now had a much better understanding of Trinity.

These beautiful little people stepped up like you wouldn't believe!! They had unlimited patience and resolve with her. They included her in every way they could. They enjoyed standing by her in line and eating at the lunch table with her. They WERE HER FRIENDS! I saw it in action many, many times.  read more »

I was thinking earlier about how insensitive some people can be in regards to our special needs children.  Thought I would share a story of mine.  I'm sure we all have some of these to share.

Trinity was 7 last year and in the public school system, mainstreaming...she has special ed classes and classes with "typical" children..(I hate that word "Normal"...how many of us actually are??!)   Trinity loves school...she loves her classmates.  This probably annoys some kids and this was brought to my attention in a callous way.

A neighbor of mine had a little girl in first grade with Trinity.  Trinity talked about this child and would say..."I love her".  One day this neighbor came to my door to use my phone because hers was on the fritz....As she was leaving, I mentioned to her how much Trinity loved her little girl...At which time whe commented..." Yes..I've heard from Mary..."  then she went on to say that Mary found Trinity annoying because she always wanted to stand in line beside her and sit beside her in the lunchroom..  Then she said..rather matter of factly..." I told her to have the teacher move her."   I just stood there thinking   , why?   Why couldn't she have just told her little girl that Trinity was a little different, but to just be her friend.?  Why did she have to react like it was something she might catch??  

The absolute clincher for me was this.......This adult woman, with two kids of her own...had absolutely NO IDEA that she had offended me!!  She walked away with a "have a nice day attitude."   I said nothing....then sat down and cried...I SHOULD have told her I was offended, I guess...but really....If you have to TELL someone that....would it really matter?   I found myself angry with her child....irrrational, I know.  read more »

Good morning.. My girl., Trinity, is having a stressful week. She is taking steroids and antibiotics for a chest infection and this has her sooo uptight. As you can imagine, everyone else, including me, is uptight too! Think I'm going to try some soothing music this morning and see if that helps. Any other ideas are welcome.