Woot Woot! Someone likes me ;)

  Stay at Home Crazy has donned me with the Liebster Award. How cool is that??? I feel so honored. She must really like me because last year she gave me this award too. (If you want to check that post out and see if anything has changed in a year, CLICK HERE.)  So now, in return, I have to follow through on what comes with the award.

                                                   And here is what the winners must do:

1. Thank the Liebster Award presenter(s) on your blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who presented it to you
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.  
4. Present the award to 5 or 11 blogs that deserve to be noticed.
5. Let them know they've been presented with the Liebster Award.
6. Answer 11 questions posed by the presenter. 
7. Eat some dark chocolate.  It has anti-oxidants in it.  It will cure what ails you.  Unless you are allergic to chocolate.  Then skip 7. 

So here goes........
   1) A huge thank you and much love to Stay at Home Crazy for this award. Muah!!!! Thanks to this award, I have a reason to blog..... Well I guess I have many reasons to blog, but lately putting my thoughts together is just not happening. I blame my gabapentin and FMS for this horrible brain fog!

2) ↑ I did that above, click her AUSOME blog name ↑

3) Yup, did that too. (see top of blog)

4) And now for my list of blogs: Wow, I have met so many wonderful ppl in just the last year of this.... So this list may be a bit long!

• Four Sea Stars
• Homestyle Mama with a Side of Autism
• Deciphering Morgan
• Spouse, Kids and Special Needs Aren't Things Issued in a Seabag
• To Autism With Love
• Captain Jacktastic
• Autism Family Circus
• Autism Art Project
• Fasten Her Seat Belt

5) I guess I will do that when I finish this post!

6) Here goes, bear with me!

       

1.  What, if anything, is completely off limits as far as blog topics for you?  NOTHING! I post what comes to mind, and about our life. I do leave my inlaws out of posts out of respect for their privacy. Other than that, it's fair game here!
2.  What is your favorite sound? That's easy! The sound of Liam ASLEEP ;) Or rain on a tin roof, I love that sound too!
3.  If you could go back and talk to your 15 year old self, what one piece of information/advice would you share? Don't talk to your parents like that! You will be a parent one day, and you will realize they aren't being "mean" they are loving you and doing what is best for you. You will HATE it when your child speaks to you like that! 
4. How did you end up doing what you do today? (If you're a SAHM, what made you choose that vs. going back to work? If you work a paying job, how did you end up in the field you are in?)  At first it was by choice. I was a SAHM while pita worked. Then he became injured and now I was a SAHM and a nurse. Then the older Liam got, and the more his behaviors increased there was no choice but for me to stay home. Especially once he wasn't able to attend public school. I then took on the role of his teacher as well. Now with my health problems, I really can't work. So I am a SAHM, a teacher and a nurse. My plate is FULL!
5. What is your guilty pleasure? A Nap! I love to take naps, and there are days I HAVE to nap bc the chronic fatigue part of my illness makes me unable to stay awake. I always feel guilty when I need to take a nap. Like I may miss something cute that Liam does, or I'm not giving him enough attention. (I know, cray cray!)
6.  What's your favorite candy? Anything chocolate! I LOVE chocolate! 
7.  What prompted you to start your blog? Our life. When the Dr. said Liam had autism, pita and I were blown away. It just wasn't on our radar. Then certain people started complaining I was using facebook too much to vent, ( I unfriended those a holes) so I started my blog so I could speak my mind. It actually was a great release for me at first. Free therapy ;)
8.  Do you have a favorite food? If so, what? Hawaiian Pizza, Pizza Hut stuffed crust supreme and chinese food ;)
9.  If you had to pick 1 thing to change about yourself, what would it be? My weight. Due to my illnesses I have put on a lot of weight. They are working to get my thyroid under control, but even then I am so tired and weak I don't leave my chair much unless it's housework or something Liam needs.
10.   What physical attribute do you like most about yourself? Seriously??? I have to answer this??? I guess my smile. I once had someone tell me that when I smiled, my whole face lit up..... So I guess if I had to chose, that is my choice :)
11.  Do you still live where you grew up? If not, how far away are you from your hometown? No, well kinda. I live about 20 minutes away from the first town we lived in. In the 5th grade we then moved to a neighboring town (where my parents still live) so I live about 35 minutes from there :) I would love to move back to Florida though. Living only 20-30 minutes from Clearwater beach was so nice! I miss it very badly!

That is it for me. And so I pass on the torch :)

                                                                          ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Don't Mess with Smokey!!!

  Smokey the Bear. An iconic mascot for our all of our state parks, was created in 1947. Growing up, Smokey taught us that "Only YOU can prevent forest fires." Well, to Liam "Moktey" (that's how he used to say Smokey) was a symbol that fun was ahead. Smokey stood at the entrance of our fave state park. When we would pull in, there stood Smokey, looming high above. To Liam, this meant we were there, fun would now ensue. Until the last time we went to the park......

2011

2012

(I have more, (they aren't on this computer) bc EVERY TIME we go, Liam MUST get his pic taken with Smokey!)

  We pulled up the road, and there was NO Smokey. Immediately Liam yelled, "Mama!!!! Where is SMOKEY!" He was NOT a happy camper. One thing we all know is how our kiddos rely on consistency. Change is NOT cool for them, and so, not cool for us as their parents. Thankfully Liam had a friend with him, so he somewhat controlled his anger over Smokey not being there to greet him. (The day however went on to get worse, as we waited for 3 hours, and NEVER got to swim due to thunder in the area.)

  So long story short, Liam was livid! Smokey wasn't there to greet him. Swimming wasn't allowed due to thunder. The whole day was a bust! Thankfully a very good friend of ours that lives close by let us bring the kiddos over for a swim, so that made Liam feel better.

  Jump ahead to yesterday. We have a family reunion at Mt. Pisgah. So as we pull up the road, Liam looks, and yells, "Mama! Smokey is back!!!!!" Wait for it......wait for it..... "MAMA!!!!! That is NOT MY Smokey!" You see, apparently Parks and Recreation felt Smokey needed to be updated. Don't they know that this spells trouble for autistic kids??? I mean, COME ON. How dare they think Smokey could get a make over and that would be cool!!!!! Liam was pissed to say the least. We skipped the photo opp and went to our picnic. Later, when we came back down to enjoy a swim, pita asked Liam if he was ready to get his pic with Smokey. "NO! That is NOT MY Smokey!"

  Pita and I went on to explain that it's the same Smokey, he just looks different. Well, that made no difference. Now he got upset because, "Do you mean that isn't MY Smokey? Because, that doesn't look like MY Smokey. He looks all different! I thought you said Smokey was REAL??? Well if he is, how come he doesn't look the same?????" Ugh, why does this kid have to pay so much attention to detail??? You can't pull wool over Liam's eyes!

  I told him Smokey is "real" in that he is the mascot for Parks and Recreation. He is a friend to all, and he just looks different because he wanted a make over. I don't think he bought it, but he did get out to get a pic with Smokey and Bubby......

As you can see by the look on his face.... he was NOT a happy camper!

I guess the lesson I learned from this incident, is that no matter how hard I try to control situations (as far as planning) and make sure Liam knows what is going on, and what is going to happen; (so he isn't caught off guard by change) sometimes, things happen that are out of my control, and he needs to learn how to roll with the punches. Dare I say it??  Pita was right!!!!  (I did, but shhhh, don't tell him)

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥