Rainbows

Weather can be pretty sporadic. Some days the meteorologist can tell you exactly what the day will be like ( waking up to low clouds that will quickly burn off, mid 80's by lunch time and cool in the evening) so you know exactly how to prepare for you day. We are generally grateful for knowing what to expect- if we need to grab a sweater on our way out the door, an umbrella might be useful later when walking to your car from the store, flip flops are great any time so definitely throw those on. But what about those days with unexpected weather - the sudden rainstorm that came in quicker then predicted (you've seen those people who don't know what in the world to do with rain- their chin drops to their chest, shoulders reach up to their ears, arms wrap tightly around the chest and they walk- quickly - as though all of that is going to keep them from getting wet LOL), the heat wave that zaps any and all energy you have and leaves you feeling sticky and lethargic? How do you prep yourself for those days?
The truth is - you cant. Not fully anyways. Even the meteorologist who has gone to school and gets paid good money cant always predict what the weather will be like (and yet he still gets to keep his job! Must be nice) and so we try to plan ahead for the unexpected - either by keeping an umbrella in the purse or a swimsuit and sunscreen in the trunk - we try to plan for the unplanned.

And so is life with Mr M. There are some things you know wont go over very well and so if possible, you try to avoid them. Outings with live music or performances, going to the zoo at night when there are new noises that cant easily be seen, fireworks, long days that put him in bed a little late. All things that have been a pattern for long enough that we now know what to expect and if need be - prepare for.

But what about the sudden unexpected things - like the new fear of hair cuts, or the magician at the park who starts blowing his whistle and yelling for everyone to gather round when we are standing right behind him, or the unknown fire/earthquake drills at school that sends him screaming terrified for the the door and takes the teacher and another mom to calm him down? Those are the parts of life that are harder to prep for. Those are the things that you hope you packed your 'umbrella' for so you can quickly take cover and avoid being soaked.

So you plan the best you can, try to stay as observant to the changing 'weather patterns' and pray that you have what is needed for the unexpected. And then you remind yourself - you cant have a rainbow without some rain - and you keep in your memory the fun times that follow the downpour. And hey- sometimes the most fun is when you put on your boots and stomp in the puddles and look up at that beautiful rainbow.


(we will soon have a total of three evaluations lined up - the school has our official request and they are obligated to move quickly with that. Kevin put a call in to the San Diego Autism Clinic last week, they have started a file on us and a social worker (why does that title invoke such a horrible image?) will contact in about 2-3 weeks to talk to us and hopefully get things scheduled there. And then we also will be on the waiting list (sometimes takes a few months to get an appointment) with Rady's Children's Hospital - they have an autism/ aspergers clinic and can also help. So our hopes is that by mid Oct- we will have three dates scheduled and have more clinical help coming. I'm excited, nervous, and have a little doubt within myself if this is what is needed or if we should be looking at something else as a cause for his problems. But nonetheless, if this isn't what it is, then the doctors will be able to tell us that and point us in the right direction)

-Katie