50's Sock Hop

My little girl Samayah turned 5 in December but her bday was the day before my father passed away.  So out of respect I decided to postpone her birthday celebration at least a month later and after the 1 month anniversary of my fathers passing.


So Saturday we got together at our local bowling alley and had a 50's Sock Hop Bowling Party for my babygirl!

Here is the bday girl in full sock hop costume

Big sis Gabi...I think that was a yawn...lol

Samayah and her bff Xavier who was the coolest Greaser!!!!

She has found a new picture pose (lord help us...lol)

Xavier, Samayah and the other Greaser Simon

her friend Regina tryin  at bowling

Cool dude!

Simon & his big sis Alicia

Who said Greasers can't bowl???

Brianna testing out the ramp method

Simon & Alicia

Samayah's friend Duff

Bday girl is ready to bowl

Big sis helpin out with a ramp technique

Samayah & her buddy Regina

The cake table

Pink favors for the girls - Mini Coca-Cola glasses...stuffed with pink cotton candy and pixie stix.  

Boys party favors...yep same dose of pure SUGAR!

Our handmade bowling alley cake from our wonderful family friend Liza, who is also Xavier's mama.

There is the Cake Lady now!!!!

Samayah showing off her cake!

Waiting for the 50s food...hot dogs, cheesburgers, hamburgers and good ol pizza. lol

Chow time!!!

Samayah and 2 of her older siblings Adelina & Alexander

At home..present time...we love to read!!!!

Cool clothes, pajamas and tons of Disney princess stuff!

Since she turned 5....I decide this year we would have a party outside of the house.  Thought it would be less stressful...................turns out NO!  Im just OCD when it comes to party planning, but I like the no clean up part of it so I might keep this tradition!

Thank you to everyone who came out and made our little girls bday special!!!!

SATURDAY STYLE......

My little rockstar

PREPARING FOR TOMORROW......WALK FOR AUTISM

Many of you that know me also know that my 4 year old was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the age of 2.   We have come a long way dealing with evaluations and therapists in the past 2 years.   I can sympathize with families that have children who are more severely autistic than Samayah.   She is a "high functioning autistic child" is what we have been told, and we are dealing with it as best we can.   Giving her the tools, support and love that she needs to succeed in life.

When people her the word Autism they think 2 things....either Rain Man or Temple Grandin.   And I can't blame them because they probably don't know.  I didn't until she was diagnosed and as crazy as it seems she is a little of both.   Very intelligent with a ridiculous memory and ability to do things children her age usually can't.   She can read, and I mean street signs, posters in doctors offices, televisions commercials and even the Sunday paper.


Tomorrow we are Walking for Autism with an organization called P.O.A.C (PARENTS OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN).   They are a wonderful organization in New Jersey that provide FREE training to teachers, parents, siblings and anyone else who is interested in learning more about Autism.   They also host events for families of autistic children who sometimes arent able to do public amusement activities with their child or family.

This is our daughter SAMAYAH

Here is what I'm working on today for our team.    We are SAMAYAH'S SESAME STREET CREW...my family and I will all be wearing tee shirts in the colors of our favorite Sesame St character.  Im working on pins for the adults to wear.

Here are the almost finished pins w/ bottle cap centers.

This is what my dining room table looks like right now.

I would like to thank a fellow Etsian who I ordered these fabulous Sesame Street Bottle Cap magnets from....her name is Jennifer and her shop is Bottle Cap Jen.  Im using them as the centerpiece of my pin.   The parents can then pop it off and use it on their fridge to hold notes and artwork.    

Also some Sesame Street Domino necklace for the kids to wear.    We have a great support team and Im looking forward to tomorrow.   Of course I will be posting pictures from the walk and all of our great friends and family that are coming out to support our daughter Samayah and to Walk for Autism!

SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW......LEARN WHAT YOU DON'T!!!!

TODAY'S MY DAY OFF....NOT REALLY

IM TAKING THE DAY OFF TODAY FROM BLOGGING TO PREPARE FOR THE AUTISM WALK NEXT WEEKEND AT MY DAUGHTER'S SCHOOL.  IT'S SPONSORED BY A GREAT ORGANIZATION IN NEW JERSEY  P.O.A.C. THAT PROVIDES FREE TRAINING TO TEACHER'S, PARENTS, SIBLINGS.

THIS IS MY DAUGHTER, ALTHOUGH YOU WOULDNT KNOW IT....SHE IS LIVING WITH AUTISM....AND WE ARE WALKING FOR HER AND ALL THE OTHER CHILDREN LIVING & GROWING WITH AUTISM.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE INFO ON THE WALK OR HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT AUTISM....CHECK OUT POAC (PARENTS OF AUTISTIC CHILDREN) SITE

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A DONATION....CHECK OUT THIS PAGE SAMAYAH'S SESAME STREET CREW


HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL FRIENDS, FAMILY & BLOG FRIENDS WHO HAVE DONATED ON-LINE ALREADY.

ESPECIALLY EXQUISITE HAIR DESIGN ( MY HAIR SALON) FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATION IN SAMAYAH'S NAME.   THEY WANTED TO WALK WITH OUR CREW...BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO MAKE THE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD BEAUTIFUL! XOXOXO

APRIL IS AUTISM AWARENESS MONTH

SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW, LEARN WHAT YOU DON'T

VOTE FOR SAMAYAH

Hey Everyone....


Ive been a busy bee this week.  New Year has brought new focus and Ive been networking on some sites for moms.   So during the day I came across a kiddo contest and of course I had to enter Samayah.   She's such a ham and we figure why not?

I HAVE A CHILD WITH AUTISM!

I was over visiting Stephanie Lynn from Under the Table and Dreaming http://www.bystephanielynn.com/.  She has a video on her blog and I just had to post it.   You see Stephanie Lynn and I have somethings in common besides the love of all things crafty.  We have children diagnosed on the Autism Spectrum.    Now I'm sure most of you have heard of it, it's not the end all.   But for some families it is.   There is such a range of severity in this illness that its now a spectrum because no 2 autistic children are alike.   1 in 150 children is diagnosed on the Autism spectrum.

My daughter (a.k.a Maya) was diagnosed on 9/11/09 so we just completed 1 year.    Fortunately for me, my pediatrician asked me to have her tested around 18 months old but I didn't because my husband was deployed in Iraq and there was just so much going on and he didn't really push the issue or mention Autism.   Well when my husband returned we started the process...we took her to Children's Hospital of Mountainside, NJ and she was diagnosed on her visit.

We were shocked, stunned to say the least.  I cried the whole way home!  I blamed myself for putting her in front of the television and leaving her to play independently (or so I thought).   Now I'm still confused on the checklist and I do realize that she has some of the symptoms...but like I said this disability is so varied in symptoms and abilities.  She was diagnosed as a very high functioning autistic.....basically saying she very intellegent but is lacking in her socialization skills.

So we started Early Intervention program, basically its a free program and therapist come into your home and give intense therapy to your child in their enviroment.   My daughter received speech and occupational therapy from 2 wonderful ladies (Jaime and Maria from JFK Early Intervention in NJ)   When the child turns 3 they age out and are transitioned into the public school districts program (basically special education pre- school).

I also enrolled her in a local library program run by our township.   The first day was horrific she was in an older class due to her intellegence but couldn't handle the structure.  So I pulled the teacher aside and explained she was Autistic....we decided to put her in her age group and it was also smaller class.  She thrived in this 12 week class and grew to love her little friends and Ms. Dee (she is a wonderful person and was so patient and understanding with Maya).  At the end of the 12 weeks she finally got Maya to sit on the parachute with the other kids instead of walking with the Mommies and spinning it as she did for prior weeks.

On December 20th, Maya had her 1st day of preschool (actual school, not daycare).  I wont mention her school for security but its a great school and they have a great support system in the P.A.C.E's parent organization.   Its the Program for the Advancement of Children's Education.....I am a member along with other parents of children with special needs.  So.....  The short little yellow bus came to the house to pick her up.  I cried my eyes out (there are so many stereotypes about the little buses with kids).  She has now started her 2nd year and is doing amazingly well in her language based class (she was not placed in an Autistic class due to her academic capability and fear of regression if placed in non-verbal classroom).   She receives speech 3x a week with her therapist Ms. Vicky and also Physical Therapy and Occupational therapy 1x a week.  She only attends school from 9-11:30 am so that is her intense time and when home I let her relax and we focus here and there on things.   The goal is to have her main-streamed into a regular population class by Kindergarten.  Im confident that she will succeed and I will make sure she has the tools to do so.

I know this is alot to read ladies, but its important that you do and you realize the next time your out to dinner and there is a little kid screaming or wont sit still.  It doesn't mean they're misbehaving, ill-mannered or brats.....they just might very well be Autistic.

The next time your in the mall and a kid has thrown themselves on the floor and is kicking and screaming, don't judge the parenting skills.  Realize that this might be an every hour occurance for this parent and thats all they can do it watch.  Their child might be Autistic.

Please don't judge, educate yourself and your family.  Especially your children!  I know sometimes my own get frustrated if my daughter repeats herself 5-10 times or cant get a sentence out and starts over 2-3 times.  But teach them patience and to help instead of judging.

God is good.  He has a plan for us all, and this is just something else I believe I was put here to do.  Help Maya be the best she can be in everything she does.  She is amazing and if you spent the day with her you would tell me just like everyone else that she isn't Autistic, but the reality is that she is and my job is to help her live the most full life that she can here with her family.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Cheese!