Katie's Crazy Kids

Deven has not had a hair cut for close to 2 years today he made the choice to cut it off, he is 7 and man did that hair cut age him up....and mama only let one tear fall so it's a win in my book

Happy new year to everyone, can't wait to see what this year brings to our crazy life

Merry Christmas to all, this mama is whooped time for a little sleep before the kids get up....

The Christmas sprit has made its way into our house even if it took a week....the tree is up and so pretty, they even got Bosco in on the festivities

25 days of Autism- Day 15 a photo of your child doing a fall activity

These photos were taken at the same farm 7 years apart.

The day of the first photo I chased him, he screamed as we tried to pick a pumpkin, he cried and I cried.

You see I always dreamed of pumpkin picking, fall pictures, cider and donuts....all the things that families do in the fall.

The people were to much, there were way too many pumpkins to choose from, and many other things I didn't know at the time.

Over the years I have learned some ways to make it work for all of us.

Last year we took the second photo after we went through the corn maze and he found every token.

Something I thought could never happen came true...

It's worth the hard work to get to these goals, for anyone in the place I was the day the first photo was taken just know there is hope.

Finding Cooper's Voice Autism adventures with Alyssa Coop's Troop

25 days of Autism- At age 3

Age 3 was hard for us but it was also one of the best times in my life.

Jayden was hard but also so sweet.

The meltdowns were in full swing, and then I didn't know what it was.

3 was when I really started to questions things

We lived with friends at the time and they had a son that was just a little older.

It pointed out just how different he was at times.

He wouldnt eat what they ate, he wouldn't play when they wanted to, he would seek them out at the oddest times.

He spent a lot of time off playing alone.

But he was happy for the most part, and his smile would light up the room.

On the other hand there was laughter, smiles, and lots of snuggles; something I don't get anymore.

To be honest that time frame was one of the only he sought out my physical affection and I loved ever minute of it.

3 was sometime ago and mostly a distant memory I remember being worried for him.

Some things I still worry about to this day.

Join us or follow some of the pages that are participating, we are trying to educate and no 2 stories are the same on this path.

Finding Cooper's Voice Autism adventures with Alyssa

25 Days of Autism Photo Prompt- Day 12

Post a photo of your child on a holiday. Do holidays look different for your family?

These 2 photos are from the same Halloween, it's kinda a big deal around here.

And Jayden loves it, it's the one holiday we all enjoy equally. The others are usually hard.

He would stay out all night if we could.

He was 5 this year, preschool doesn't allow creepy costumes.

I tried everything he loved to get him to change his mind but a zombie is what he wanted to be.

I was just going to keep him home for the party if I had to, but 2 days before he told us he wanted to be a tow truck driver.

Um kid that's not a costume you can buy easily.

My fiance worked as a wrecker driver at the time and hand made the tow truck and got a hat for him to wear.

He had a great party at school and won a costume contest.

Then for Trick or Treating he got to be a zombie....

Jay teaches me things all the time, even if I don't see it in the moment. And that year he taught me it was OK to conform a little if you still get what you need in the end.

And that year we needed a zombie.

Finding Cooper's Voice Autism adventures with Alyssa Coop's Troop

25 days of Autism- Day 9- Something that makes your child unique

Jayden has always enjoyed rocks from the time he was a toddler we where taking them away.

Pre-school came along and and it started. He would go off on the play ground and collect rocks.

We tried tee-ball, he played in the dirt and collected rocks.

Every where we went he collected at least 1 rock. Most of the time many.....

They were everywhere, pockets, backpack, shoes, cupboards, my washing machine, and every place I could think to stash them.

Even as the years have passed and the want for friends has grown. He is still content to be alone sometimes.

Collecting his rocks.

This day all my other kids where out swimming, it was just him and me for a few moments.

He showed me every pea sized rock he had collected, some where beautiful, some where dingy and broken.

He loved them all the same.

I have learned many things in my life. Some from books, some from professors or peers.

But some of the most valuable lessons have been taught by my children.

And this day that little rock collecting boy of mine taught me something better.

In a ton more words, he basically said you don't love the looks you, you love the result. (Earth worked hard to make them)

By the way I am saving for a rock tumbler for him this year for Christmas so he can see the hidden beauty.

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Finding Cooper's Voice Autism adventures with Alyssa Coop's Troop

#25 days of Autism- day 7 post a photo of your child with another family member....

This is my grandfather, Jayden's great grandfather. There are no words to describe this man and I have no idea where I would be without him and my grandmother.

This is one of my favortie pictures in the world, Jayden is 2 in this photo. Grandpa was the world...he always said "grr...papa". Grandpa didn't come til many years later with some help of speech therapy.

Jayden has the relationship with my Grandpa that I wish Jayden and I could have.

They talk, they don't, they work in the shop, he teaches Jayden skills no one else could.

And he lets Jayden drive the go cart, something that terrified me to no end but grandpa was sure he could do it; it all started with a power wheel and a race track.

My grandfather doesn't race anymore but those days in the pits created a bond that is unbreakable.

He has been Jaydens words of wisdom, he talks like he is 80 sometimes and I know that is everything grandpa has instilled in him.

When he is mad at me he wants to go to their house, they are his safe space and for that I am so thankful.

They have their fights and grandpa gets frustrated with him...but at the end of the day they make up and are best friends off to get a sodie the next morning.

Relationships are strange in Jayden's life, but then there are some that only the lucky ones get to have and my son is one of them.

Join Finding Cooper's Voice , Autism adventures with Alyssa, my self, and a bunch of others in this challenge.

Day 6- A time you were at you lowest, and no one knew

This was the hardest promt for me yet...in a way I was dreading it the most of them all.

I don't ever tell people when I am low; well I don't have anyone to tell really.

See I isolated myself long ago when Jayden was little, the behaviors where bad and no one would listen to me.

I have my wonderful fiance but he has a ton of burdens of his own so I don't load it on him. Then there is my teenager and I would never let her in that dark place.

And my grandparents, Jayden's rock and my outlet usually but this day they are what set me down the path I try to stay off.

You see we don't see eye to eye on a lot when it comes to Jayden and we were on a family trip in Flordia with them and had a disagreement.

It was a hard week before we left, he had been aggressive, violent, and hateful towards me. It happens quite often around here but this time was different.

You see it was the first time I ever thought he may have to be placed in a home at some point. On this road I have had a ton of hardships but this was force to be reckoned with.

I spent a lot of time thinking and questioning every decision I have ever made when it came to Jayden on this trip. And a lot of time in a dark space in my thoughts beating myself up.

I was determined it was not going to ruin our time there, and it didn't my kids had a blast and memories made to last a life time.

Oh and I got one of my favorites of my boys even if it was highly staged and I had a meltdown afterwords.

If you made it this far let me know what you thought, would love some feedback. Thanks a million times over to Finding Cooper's Voice and Autism adventures with Alyssa for this 💕Today's got me way out of my comfort zone and I so hope ot helps another mama out there.

Day 5- At age 2

Jayden is not quite 2 in this photo it was taken in the middle of summer, so thankfully we had AC.

This was one of the first times I questioned his behavior. He wouldn't take this winter coat off. He rubbed the inside soft part and loved the feeling of having it on. No matter how hot and sweaty he would get. This lasted a week before we hid it and that was the first true meltdow I recall.

Even though this photo brings up those memories it is still one of my favorites because he was happy even if I didn't understand it then I do now and that's the beauty of this life as his mom I get to see things his way even if it takes me a little time

Join us in this challenge, share and open up a discussion about Autism. So glad I decided to participate.

Finding Cooper's Voice Coop's Troop Autism adventures with Alyssa

Day 4- A milestone

To many this is just two brothers having a sleep over to me this was the best sight ever.

Many people think walking, talking, running, or riding a bike when they think of milestones. In my world milestones are so much more than those things.

You see Jayden has never liked Deven. They play on and off but it almost always ends in a fight and nasty words said to little brother.

From the time Deven was big enough to walk he has wanted to sleep in his bothers room. Always to be told no, this night it was different.

I was so worried that they would fight; and to my surprise they both feel asleep with out an issue.

Deven was about to turn 6 when this was taken....that is years of waiting and it has never happened again; that was almost a year ago.

We will always keep working towards Jayden's "milestones" even if they aren't the ones the doctors are concerned about. I am glad he hit all of those even if they were delayed, but we have more important things on our plate.

Finding Cooper's Voice and Autism adventures with Alyssa

Day 3-Back to School

Last year we made the choice to switch to all online schooling with k12...covid helped with the choice; but it was something I been considering prior because most of his struggles related to all the other kids in one way or another and he was just being passed along in my opinion.

It was harder than I imagined it would be, he hated the change and missed his friend. But as the year went on it got better. I started to see growth that I had never seen before.

I knew that he could read, I knew that he could write, and I knew that he was a math wiz. Without all the stimulation of a brick and mortar school he could finally shine. Well that and mom had the time to commit to making sure he did.

Last school year he gained a grade level and half in reading skills and went from a 2.5 in math to a 4.

This year he is thriving....yesterday I got a text from his teacher saying he was a leader in class and read outloud in his small group. I was sitting there and knew this but that feeling to know he is comfortable and learning is the best after so many years of struggle.

Finding Cooper's Voice Autism adventures with Alyssa

Today is the start of a challenge I am going to try and participate in. 25 day of Autism with Autism adventures with Alyssa each day for the next 25 days I will be posting a picture to go along with the prompt and a little glimps inside Jayden's world.

Day 1: Pre-diganosis

Jayden was not diagnosed until age 9.5 and it was a long road to get there. You see he talked and didnt show any stereotypical traits. But the signs were there and it was like I was the only one that could see them. By time Jayden started pre school I knew there was something.

He was rigid, only played with 3 toys even though he had a room full of things. He didnt like to be bothered with interaction of other people even though he could speak, could not be comforted in normal ways, and was extremely repetitive in his behaviors.

At the same time there was this articulate, intelligent, talkative boy who wanted to save the world that you would have thought he lived a 100 years in.

So for years I fought for the answers and when that day came it was a whirl wind of emotions everyone you can think of hit like a storm.

This photo is my boy to a T. The one that loves the water.....but only with his goggles on.

This is our life in a picture, outsiders.....

See this time it's a height restriction; lucky me he is getting better at under standing that. We are not always that lucky.

His little brother is playing on the equipment in the center of the room but it is for smalls only, we were waiting to go into Lego Land and the excitement was high.

What you cant see in this photo is him repeating that he wishes he could go over there too. You see there was tons of older siblings around all involed in their own lifes shopping eating ect. And my son may never do those things he is happy to play with the littles. I snapped the photo and then we went for a walk while sissy watched brother.

While we walked I thought how different our lifes are and how people just dont see it. Some times these sad feelings creep up on me in the middle of the best day we have had in a long time.

We enjoyed the rest of the day without any meltdowns and everyone having fun. Those are the days I live for.

Just remember sometimes in the middle of the fun there is always those who feel like outsiders...

Took a trip to the Aquarium and Lego Land it was a good day for all no melt downs and everyone had fun. Jayden has always loved sea creatures so it was his time to shine like my own little tour guide. It always nice when we have good family days that's hard to get in our world sometimes. 🥰

This boy and his watermelon, he will eat it til it makes him sick....came out of the bathroom to him like this watching tv at least he loves healthy snacks

Had a rough day yesterday....and then this today but on a good note he showered without a fight; just missing something. Always have to find a positive.

Anyone know how long it takes for eyebrows to grow back?

Today is our first day of in-home therapy; there is a little hope that this is what we need and I am trying so hard to hang on to that. On the other hand, this mama has been trying anything and everything for years to help my son have a great life; and I'm just a little worried this will be the same dead-end we are used to.

The point of this is no matter how many dead ends I run into I keep the hope that the next path will be the one that leads us to the help he so needs to have the life he deserves.

This week has been a rough one but on a good note, Jayden no longer has overdue assignments, Deven is about to complete 2 of his course early, and Leigha gets to sign up for her senior classes today.

Deven said "look mom even big bird has a mask, take my picture"......hearing test passed 😊

Today is our first World Autism Awareness day...this is my guy it has been a long road to get to where we are now and to get his diagnosis.

Jayden is almost 11 and has been though so much in his years, you see most people think autism has to be non verbal or stims or anything else that is stereotypical and that is not Jayden.

He was delayed in his speech but now talks like a man in his 50's. He verbally stims but over the years has learned to mask this as it drew to much attention and that's the last thing he wants. His younger years were the hardest now he is finding his own way on his own path. We struggle mostly with social and emotional outburst, anger and agression, risky behaviors, and violent outbursts.

He asked me once if I would take away his autism if I could. I quickly wanted to answer him with a NO; but instead I said would you? He said he would and his why killed me.

He just wants people to talk to him and not outcast him, he wants friends, he wants other children to know that hes not bad he is just different. And the hardest one of all....

"I want the kids to play with me mom not just use me for my pool, they dont like me cuz I'm loud and not like them they just like my pool."

These words will forever be burned in my brain, I strive everyday to tell myself people need to be educated.

My response to his was;
"I would never take it away buddy, it makes you who you are the kid that cracks jokes, hates his brother but loves his sister, grandmas boy, collector of all the things, the boy that could dig to China, and run back home. I would never change you.....

He looked and me said nothing and off he went but my heart knew he understood, and you see that is the beauty of this world of autism you get to see the little things love the little things take the time to be in the moment. Yes it's hard it's the hardest thing I have ever done in my life; but it so worth it.

One of the many reasons to love k12.....sissy had an appointment and brother still get his learning in, no more missing out on lesson because of a doctor appointment for my kids

We are officially half way through our first year with k12....on our way to have a good time pics to come...also thinking of doing a half way through "review" with the kids who would be interested in that?

Happy 6th birthday to this full of imagination, dino loving, loud and wild boy of mine. Loving this journey with you and so happy to be your mommy. Keep on loving the mud kid it's always good to get dirty sometimes.

Am I doing this whole wine and cheese thing right???🤣🤣🤣🤣 I have fallen in love with a couple wines latley and it had never been my thing. Sure did pair nicely🥰