Thursday, June 6, 2013

extreme

Four years ago tomorrow I thought I pee'd myself while I was walking the dogs...

And now, four years later my heart has been broken wide open...which hurts but also lets in lots more room for love. I see milestones pass before my eyes... first steps, first word- Wow, the first moment I laid eyes on him... some not so typical- the moment I realized that it was Autism...The day he was diagnosed, and then the moment I realized I couldn't stop it, or fix it or change it.

It's all so beautiful and all so painful...

Life...


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I was right there... I could see the Finish Line... I laid down in my bed...newly changed sheets...and breathed in the fresh smell of mountain fresh poo... Greyson- guilty party of 1...

I scour the house for wipes, grab a diaper and while I change Greyson I tell him- Thank you for allowing me to change your diaper this evening sir, but my shift is ending now. Please don't poop again tonight.

Last night at 3:45 am Greyson awoke. I sat up in the bed despite the thick groginess filling my brain. I remember some coughing- and then feel warm throw up all down the front of my shirt in the pitch black room. He starts to throw up again and I attempt to catch it in my hands as to not soil the bed...I am only partially successful. Enter the remainder of a night with little sleep, changing sheets and doing laundry...

And today I entered the realm of Extreme Parenting... Day 5 of my solo flight. I thought I hit the home stretch. Some kind of flip switched in my brain and I went full throttle. Extreme Parenting is absolutely embracing the hard...smothering it with kisses making it your Friend and finally deciding to stop fighting it.

Being a human is hard. Period.

Being a human responsible for other humans is CRAZY hard.

Today wasn't hard. I wouldn't let it be. I didn't give myself the luxory of tired or stressed or hard. I just showed up and I did- all day long. I treated it like I was on a game show- like Survivor- and I was gonna kick ass and win the prize at the end. I simply had to complete each given task without judgement or label until Life handed me the next assignment...

Extreme parenting means when I walked into the play room and saw this- I couldn't get sad.
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Screw sad today- I just didn't have the energy for it. I know Parker is Autistic. If he was given a diagnostic evaluation now he would meet the criteria for Autism (Our regional center offers services to those that qualify until the age of 3- but do not diagnose until then). Many kids with Autism do something called Visual Stimming- which can include rolling eyes, moving objects closely in front of their eyes, or turning their head sideways to look at objects. It's a way they process their world with their senses that are often out of whack.

And although I know what I know about Parker- there are still moments that are so hard and surprise me...and when I walked into the play room and saw him doing this- my heart dropped... I just stopped and stood there... frozen... But then I said- You are Extreme Parenting- There is no sad in Extreme parenting... Grab your camera, take a picture and educate others in the hopes that it might help someone some day instead of feeling self-pity...




The more I did today- the more I felt capable to do.

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Laundry? no problem!

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Straighten and vacuum... (I can't do vacuum lines though. It's a God-given talent that wasn't bestwoed on me... My lines are always uneven and wonky- which are probably called squiggles- not lines.)


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I was looking forward to relaxing with Grey and watching movies all day...



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But apparently, he had other things in mind...where does he get his energy?


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Extreme parenting means no showering...Sunblock and teeth brushing is the beauty regime. My makeup doesn't even recognize me any more. I haven't worked out since last weekend. I haven't showered since...wait- I'm going to stop trying to remember because I think it's been a really long time... Tuesday maybe?

Extreme parenting is like Extreme Sports which are activities perceived as having a high level of inherent danger and often involve speed, height, a high level of physical exertion, and highly specialized gear.

Here is the gear for Extreme parenting...

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CA- you have NO idea how bright of a light you shined on my day!!! Thanks for dropping off the caffeine!!!!


Later in the afternoon I was given a prize from Heaven. A wonderful Friend picked up Doodle to get him out of the house for a couple of hours...

And this happened at the same time...

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And for an hour I didn't do a single thing...

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This evening we passed the remaining time outside...


Over the past 5 days Parker has thrown a million rocks in the pool that I had to fish out... And in the middle of fishing I look up to see Parker...

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Chilling... He always makes me laugh...

When you are at the end of your rope- try the Extreme... Extreme Teaching, Extreme Menopause, Extreme Chemotherapy, Extreme Autism Diagnosis... Power through and find a way to love the lesson it brings.

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Just dive right in...


Greyson wants one thing for his birthday. I can't give it to him - but you can...


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Awareness... Please share a link to our blog with everyone you think could relate... Put it on your Facebook page with a personal rec from you. Say you are Helping your Friend Greyson change the World...

Have a wonderful weekend...

Greyson's Mom...

Chrissy

8 comments:

  1. Happy Birthday to Greyson. He is such a handsome boy.

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  2. Love this today. LOVE the picture of Parker in the pool - Hey ladies, wanna chill in the pool? How U doin ;)
    Love & happiness & maybe an immunity idol to you sweet Extreme mama. Jennifer

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  3. <3 HaPpY BiRtHdAy BeAuTiFuL BoY <3

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  4. Extreme Autism Parenting here I come!! Thanks for the encouragement :)

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  5. Happy happy birthday Greyson!!! ~From your birthday buddy Evie

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  6. Your boys are extremely lucky to have you and your beautiful outlook on life! Wish we lived closer!

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  7. Your boys are extremely lucky to have you and your beautiful outlook on life! Wish we lived closer!

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