This Deserves a Post of its own!

Yahoooo!  An amazing happy thing just happened! 

I was putting Wyatt to bed  (yes, all three kids are in bed and it is 7:30... They were so exhausted and delirious after being up most the night last night, that I almost put them to bed at 5 :)

Anyways, Wyatt wanted me to swing him around so I did.  Then he wanted me to tickle, so I did.  Then he wanted me to "kiss" so I did.  In the midst of the silly kissing, Wyatt scratched me on my face with his fingernail and it hurt!  I let out a yell and said "Ouch Wyatt, that hurt Mama". 

Wyatt then did the most AMAZING THING!  He looked right at me and said "Are you ok?"  It was the cutest thing I have ever seen!  Now once in awhile if he hits his own head or gets hurt he will cry and say "u ok? Which is really cute and I think he learned it from a movie?  However, the fact that he saw that I was hurt and read my body language (which most of these kids cannot do) and asked if I was okay is a WONDERFUL WONDERFUL thing! 

I find it truly amazing (although not surprising) that even though Wyatt has not officially started Brain Balance and has only been working on his reflex exercises - that we have already seen so many glimpses of what is to come.  They are small things, but so HUGE. 

My official daily post is coming soon!

A Week Ago Today

A week ago today I was living in my home in Nevada with my three kids, my husband, my sister and my mother in law.  It was such a fun bunch!  Last Saturday I baked pumpkin muffins, made bread and homemade crackers while the kids ran around the backyard, jumped on the trampoline and played with their toys.  Then my husband and mother in law took all three kids to see a movie while I cleaned and packed (and maybe snuck in a 15 minute power nap between muffins baking...)  Later that night, we went on what will probably be our last date for 6 months.  We went to dinner with my cute sister and her cute boyfriend.  We talked and ate and it was a happy night.  I don't think I even remember what else happened that night, I assume I slept but you never know. 

This Saturday was a lot different.  I was awakened by Brody and Hazel pretty early.  Shortly after I heard Wyatt up who had wet the bed again.  At that point I thought it would be fun to wake up Paige since she got to sleep in yesterday :)

We started breakfast which of course consists of multiple supplements and medications mixed with peanut butter on toast or mixed with applesauce - yummy.   Some day they will learn to swallow pills, but I can't blame them since I couldn't until I was 14.... 

After that we started the reflex exercises.  We have to do them 6 times a day per enrolled child (2) (although Hazel likes to join in sometimes....)  It has been really hard to fit everything in, but we found out yesterday that we can lump them together.  So rather than doing 6 different times per child per day, we did Brody's in 2 sets of 3 and Wyatt's in 3 sets of 2.  Really made it easier.  After the first sets, we were off to the park.  It takes about a 10 second golf cart ride since it is in our community.  We played there for awhile and then headed home to talk to Papa on Facetime. 

The kids LOVE talking to their Papa and being able to see him on the computer.  They told him stories, screamed, danced, showed him their toys, etc. etc.  My favorite part was that their Dad was able to be just as silly and crazy and playful through the computer as he is at home.  (okay, almost...)  They had so much fun with him and I hope we can do that everyday.  In talking to him we realized that we haven't even been here a week and it seems like a month.  I am hoping it doesn't always feel like that long, or this 6 months is going to feel like years.  However, we both agreed again that this is the right place for us right now and that the sacrifices we are making are well worth it. 

After that we were off to the Pool.  Definitely a disappointing part of the day for me.  The kids loved it but I don't enjoy swimming at all - but that is beside the point.  This pool was in a big dome that appeared as though it can be removed in the summer.  When you walked in, it was hotter than a sauna and the smell was less than pleasant.  It was strange because it wasn't just the heat in there that was uncomfortable, but it really felt like there was no air and it was hard to breath.  There was one lap pool and one pool for the kids.  However, compared to most "kid" friendly pools around these days:  There was no beach entry.  There was no slide.  There was no diving board.  There was no buckets dumping.  There was no guns to squirt.  Nothing.  On top of that, you are not allowed to use noodles, floaties, tubes, other flotation devices including a LIFE JACKET!  Yes, I have heard of pools not allowing floaties because they are not actual life saving devices, but they still allow life jackets.  In fact, some supply them.  When I told them I didn't like that rule and asked what their reasoning was the answer was "I don't really know but I think they don't want people thinking that they don't have to watch their kid because they have a life jacket on".  Okay - really?  Weather your child has a life jacket on, floaties, a tube or nothing at all, parents are going to watch their kids or they aren't.  I watch my kids like a hawk - or worse - at all times - especially by water regardless if they have any sort of flotation device.  Some parents don't pay attention at all - again, regardless of flotation device.  They told me that they have life guards so I didn't need to worry.  Ha ha.  There was one lifeguard there watching the whole pool.  Are they SURE that they can watch every kid the entire time?  Are they sure that one won't slip under that they can't see?  Would they not rather have a little backup by at least allowing children that can't swim to wear a life jacket?    Apparently not.  We swam in the smelly sauna pool for a bit while Wyatt jumped in and ran around (getting yelled at every time) THINKING that he had a life jacket on.  We had to stay right on him the whole time and after awhile, it is just too much so it was time to go.  

So, I am not a negative person by nature, but after $20 for 45 minutes, I am not looking forward to EVER going there again.  Sadly, as far as I can tell there are no other pools around besides the ones in the apartment communities.  Ours is beautiful, free and will open in April, so lets hope we can hold the kids off on swimming until then...

After that came showers, dinner, medicine, Target for returns and much needed tissues, towels and Almond butter. 8 loads of laundry at the on -site laundry facility which were only completed an hour ago.  I cant wait to have our rental washer and dryer installed.  Not only is it WAY more costly to do it at the on site laundromat, but it is not all that convenient to put all of that laundry and blankets, etc. in the storage bins we call laundry baskets, load them on a golf cart, drive them to the laundromat, carry them in one by one and then go back 5 times to change, check, fold, pick up, etc.

Okay, here is my new plan.  Each day, if only for myself, my husband, my family and my posterity, I am going to write an update about each child individually.  If you are not interested, you have my permission to skip these updates :)   It will include the good, the bad, the better and the worse.  I will list bullet points of anything that happened in the day.  It may be a strange behavior, a good behavior, an improvement, a set back, a funny story, or anything else I want to remember.  I really want to be able to track their progress throughout this program which was really the point of this blog.  I want to be able to watch them grow and change and to be able to go back and say "remember when Wyatt used to lick windows and now he doesn't anymore?" Those will be good times that I know are ahead.  

Although Hazel is not enrolled in Brain Balance, she is right in the middle of it every day, so I will be including an update on her as well.   I think she started to feel left out because the boys were always doing exercises and going to Brain Balance with mama and she wasn't.  The other night while I was at my nutrition consult the kids were supposed to all be asleep but Paige heard a noise so she went in to check.  She found Hazel laying on the floor doing the "Lizard".  This is the hardest of all of the exercises the boys do.  Paige asked what she was doing and she replied "I'm just doing Brain Balance, this is just all I want to do right now".  It was SO cute.  So Paige did some more of the exercises with her and then she went to bed happy.  These are the things I want to remember and want my kids to be able to read when they are all grown, have gone to college, gotten married and had kids of their own.  Yes, that is all happening. 

Brody:

• He was overall pretty good today.  Maybe less hyper than usual.  Maybe less emotional than usual.  
• He was helpful as usual.  He is such a good sweet boy. 
• He had a good time swimming and was talking with other kids and was throwing a ball with them.  I didn't see him catch any although he may have but I did see him throw some and he seemed to be throwing better than I have seen him before.  
• He ate pretty good today and didn't complain about the shredded chicken or green beans.  
• He had fun playing at the park whereas yesterday at the park he kept saying he was bored and wanted to go home.  
• He seemed to play pretty good with Hazel and they were sharing pretty good.  
• He was walking around the kitchen in circles over and over and I had to tell him to stop. 
• He was eating a toy necklace and had to be reminded that it wasn't food. 
• Still had to be reminded multiple times to do things he was asked. 
• Did great on his exercises and loves that we are combining three sessions into one!
• He totally remembers directions and which way we have gone.  In fact, the other day when we had only been to Brain Balance one time and I was taking him back for the next time I couldn't remember which way I had gone on the winding paths we take and so I asked him what way we had gone earlier.  He told me and I followed and he was right.  At one point I asked him if we were even going the right way and he said "yes, because I remember seeing those pool chairs in that backyard".  We had driven by those houses ONE time.  It just amazes me that he notices things and remembers them.  I call him my navigator.  
• This morning we found out that the Bouncy house place was closed on Saturdays yet open on Sundays.  He was really upset by this "rule'.  He thought it was so strange and just didn't understand why they would close today but open Sunday.  (Hence why we had to do Swimming instead).  Anyways, so when he said the prayer on the food today he blessed that they would do good at Brain Balance, that Hazel would stop whining and that the bouncy place would change the strange rule and not be open on Sunday.  
• He says the funniest and cutest and smartest things I have ever heard.  I really am blown away by the way his mind and vocabulary work.  Example:  Driving on the cart path the other day we came to a main road where we have to stop and wait for cars to pass before crossing.  It even has a "cart crosswalk" and a "cart crossing" sign.  Too cute.  Anyways, I didn't hit the breaks quite fast and hard enough and we ended up slightly onto the road so I just reversed a bit and waited until I could cross.  What was Brody's comment?  "Mama -why do you get us into these situations?" Also, if you didn't see it on my Facebook already,  his comment from our first night here was "I can handle really cold weather, but this is ridiculous!"  There are many more where those came from. 
• Brody is the sweetest boy.  He really doesn't know how to be mean.  He is kind, loving and tender.  He always says please and thank you and means it.  He is so cute and is growing up so fast.  He is nice to EVERYONE and will go up to anyone and talk to them and make friends. He is a great older brother and just a fun kid to be around.

Wyatt:

• Sucessfully climbed the back patio fence and was going to make a break for it.  Luckily Paige saved the day and grabbed him before he took off.  He hasn't tried to jump that fence the whole week - not sure why today was the day.  
• The last two days he has wanted sandwich after sandwich after sandwich. Is he starving?  What is the deal?  This is coming from a kid who three days ago didn't like or eat sandwiches. 
• He also doesn't like his crackers anymore at all.  Won't even eat them. 
• Loves cookies and is even taking bites of them instead of putting the whole thing in his mouth or making us break them into pieces.  
• Loved swimming of course although he wandered around trying to find the slide.  I think he may have been as disappointed with the pool as I was..... 
• Tried to eat the concrete sides of the pool.
• Drank the pool water - of course.
• Loves riding in the golf car and NEVER tries to get out of his seat belt -Just sits and enjoys the ride. 
• When at target, he was pretty good in the cart until the end.   He was pushing open the part of the cart that moves when the carts are pushed together and tried to escape which resulted in the breaking of a $5 jar of organic peanut butter. 
• He has been much more assertive lately (since starting BB).  Knows what he wants and tries to get it.  Is less compliant that he used to be which is actually a good thing because that means he is thinking for himself and not just doing what he has been taught over and over - make sense?  So I like that his brain is changing and his personality is coming out, but it just makes it harder.  Example:  at the store he never really used to try to get food items from the shelves.  Maybe because he didn't pay attention or maybe because he knew he couldn't have them.  However, lately, he is not only trying to eat things at the house that are not allowed, but he was saying "chips" and "pretzels" at the store today when he saw them and also tried to get a bag of marshmallows off the shelf.  In fact, when we were at a burger place the other day he ran and tried to eat some fries off the table next to us.  Luckily we caught him first.
• Told him to say "Hi Papa" when we were talking on the computer  and instead, he said "Hello". I thought is was really cute and also shows that he is not just repeating what we say but actually saying what he wants to say. 
• Did okay on his exercises.  Does better with reinforcement.  He is starting to do some on his own, but then is also pretty lazy on some and doesn't do them well even though he can. 
• Has been looking at himself in the mirror a lot lately and always looks in his mouth.  Not sure why, but just seems like he is discovering that he has a mouth and teeth, a tongue, etc.  He is also squeezing his nose with his fingers like he has newly discovered that as well.   
• He got a hold of his Thomas trains again a couple weeks ago so they made the trip with us.  Since then he has been obsessed.  He plays with them all day.  He wants to watch Thomas movies and steals my phone or Paige's phone multiple times a day trying to get on youtube to watch Thomas videos.  Note to parents:  The majority of the time, if your child is overly obsessed with something - certain foods, certain TV shows or characters, etc. It usually is not good for them.  Example:  When Brody was 4 he was OBSESSED with Strawberry milk.  That is all he wanted all day long.  He would ask over and over again.  I realized that this was probably a problem so I cut him off completely.  He hated water at first but then it became all he ever wanted.  Almost immediately, his hyperactivity went down 3 levels.  He had better behaviors and of course later we found out that he was intolerant to casein.  Next example:  Wyatt and Brody are both right hemisphere delayed.  That means that we need to really work hard at stimulating the right brain and NOT stimulating the left brain because that is what keeps creating an even greater imbalance in the brain.  So guess what stimulates the left brain?  Watching Television and movies, watching/playing on the computer, playing on an iPhone.  All of the things that he and Brody want to do all day.  In fact, these are the things that when they have to stop doing they get very upset or we see bad tantrums.  So - after this weekend, we are saying goodbye to Thomas once again.  We will have to hide everything Thomas related and it will break my heart to see him look for the trains, but he will adjust soon and then spend his time doing other things - like swimming at the sauna pool...  ** Note:  maybe tomorrow I will do my post about each hemisphere and what they are responsible for.  I find it VERY interesting and enlightening. 
• He is so cute, loves to be tickled, loves music and singing songs, is happy an loves to have you kiss him all over his face and neck.  He says "kiss" and then you kiss like crazy and he laughs and then says "kiss" and we start again.  He is so smart is is crazy.  I can't wait to see all of that smartness continue to come out in the coming months.
• I think there is more, but can't think of it so it may end up on tomorrows update. 

Hazel:

• She has turned into the whiniest girl in the world the last month or so.  So bad.  Whines and throws fits about everything.  Attention?  Tired?  
• Wants treats and candy and sugar all day.  What does that tell me?  Yep.  Starting Monday, me, Hazel and Paige are all joining the boys on their diet.  Probably will be the hardest thing I do.  No sugar.  No Dr. Pepper when I am tired and having a hard day.  No carbs. No sugar.  Wait, did I already say that? 
• She is very helpful at watching Wyatt.  She yells if she sees him doing something he shouldn't.  
• Loves to stay up late with the girls and comes out of the room 100 times...
• Eats three grapes for breakfast and then says she is full, but then for dinner eats pickles, grapes, chicken, orange juice and a pb&J...
• Held on to me swimming very tight.  She seemed very scared and wouldn't let me let go of her at all.  She was fine if I was holding her but there was no letting go. 
• I had to comb her hair after her shower which she HATES and cried the whole time.  Yet, as soon as I was done she said "thank you mom".  She is good at saying thank you, but not so much please....
• Very, very cute and happy and silly and sweet and dramatic. Loves to talk to just about anyone and loves to tell crazy stories.  Takes care of her older brothers which is so funny.  Today we were getting ready for swimming and we told Wyatt to get his swimming suit on.  He hadn't done it yet so Hazel proceeded to take Wyatt by the hand and say "put on swimming suit".  She followed through until he put it on.  She also does that when he is supposed to eat.  She takes him to his plate and says "eat food".  He takes a bite and she says "good job".  Thanks for your help Hazel!

Paige:

• She is amazing and great and wonderful and we are so grateful that she is here.  There is NO WAY - repeat: NO WAY that I, or anyone , could do this alone.  Paige is SO great with the kids and she is patient and loving and truly wants them to succeed and get better as if they were her own kids.  She works very hard and deserves 10 times the pay we can afford to give her.  Just don't tell her that ;)  She knows how much we appreciate her because we tell her every day and just in case she has forgotten - You are great Paige and we love you!

As for me, I am great.  I am happy that we are here.  I am tired, so tired.  My back kills worse than it has in the last month - maybe from my time spent at the computer writing this blog.  I miss my husband a lot.  He is the most amazing husband and father.  I don't know many that would make as many huge sacrifices for his family and kids - especially willingly.  We can't wait to see him!

I am off to bed!  An hour earlier than lately.  None of us are really adjusted to the three hour time change yet.  However, tomorrow may be the hardest.  We have 9:00 a.m. church which is 6:00 a.m. our old time.  We are probably somewhere in between the 3 hours so far, but still not totally switched over.  We will need to get up early, get ready and leave 45 minutes early to make our 3.5 mile trek to the church in our golf cart.  It is the first time going there so I hope I don't get lost...

A week ago tomorrow I stayed up most of the night packing for what I believe will be the hardest, greatest most rewarding journey our family will ever take.   

Tammy

End of the First Week

Okay so we haven't been here a whole week, but it is the end of our first week at Brain Balance.  Officially we have only been here 4 days, but it feels like a month.  Don't really know why?  Things are great and exciting, just very overwhelming and some days are just easier than others. 

We are still not unpacked  - which has partially to do with the fact that we have had NO time and partially because we have nothing to unpack into.  We have no dressers and no hangers!  Hopefully this weekend we will have more time to get settled and organized as best we can with what we have.  We still have a total of 12 sets of reflex exercises to do per day as well as cooking, baking, sensory motor activities - reading, paperwork, schedule making and then any other household things a "normal" family would do.   I need to start going to bed earlier :)

Tonight was my nutrition consultation.  My family has been on the Specific Carbohydrate diet for almost 2 years, so most of the information he had was not new to me.  However, there were quite a few things that I learned.  He said that the SCD diet was, in his opinion, by far the best diet for any child with ANY neurological problems.  In fact, it would be great if all families and kids could be on it, but most Americans don't want to give up there Soda, fast food and sugar...

Again, I will have to go into more detail later but here are the basics:

1.  The food that our children eat is toxic - literally.  There are so many toxins, harmful chemicals, additives, preservatives,  etc.  To adults, these things aren't going to kill us (at least not quickly) but for little children with Developing brains, they are VERY harmful.  People seem to think that people like me are nuts, but when you really do some research into what your family is eating, what the ingredients are, what those ingredients are made of and what harm they can do to your child, then you will definitely think twice before you feed it to them.

Example:  High Fructose Corn Syrup.  It contains Mercury.  That is the same mercury that they have "removed" from vaccines (even though they replaced it with toxic aluminum..)  The same mercury they tell you not to consume while you are pregnant by way of tuna or other seafood but recommend you have injected into you by way of  a flu shot.  Again this is the same mercury that they call in HAZMAT to clean up even though the amount spilled was less than what is in a flu shot.  How does any of that even make sense?    It doesn't.  Mercury is a toxic metal.  It damages the brain and has many terrible side effects- especially for little children and developing brains.  Please read below and take note of every detail (especially the paragraph in bold)

Symptoms of Mercury Poisoning

By the Environmental Protection Agency

• Impairment of the peripheral vision
• Disturbances in sensations ("pins and needles" feelings, numbness) usually in the hands feet and sometimes around the mouth
• Lack of coordination of movements, such as writing
• Impairment of speech, hearing, walking;
• Muscle weakness
• Skin rashes
• Mood swing
• Memory loss
• Mental disturbance

Mercury Exposure

Health problems caused by mercury depend on how much has entered your body, how it entered your body, how long you have been exposed to it, and how your body responds to the mercury. People are at risk when they consume mercury-contaminated fish and when they are exposed to spilled mercury.

Elemental (metallic) mercury and its compounds are toxic and exposure to excessive levels can permanently damage or fatally injure the brain and kidneys. Elemental mercury can also be absorbed through the skin and cause allergic reactions. Ingestion of inorganic mercury compounds can cause severe renal and gastrointestinal toxicity. Organic compounds of mercury such as methylmercury are considered the most toxic forms of the element. Exposures to very small amounts of these compounds can result in devastating neurological damage and death.

For fetuses, infants and children, the primary health effects of mercury are on neurological development. Even low levels of mercury exposure such as result from mother's consumption methylmercury in dietary sources can adversely affect the brain and nervous system. Impacts on memory, attention, language and other skills have been found in children exposed to moderate levels in the womb.

This is only one TINY bit of information that is out there on Mercury.  Google it and you will find it.  Point is - do any of us KNOWINGLY want to feed our children something that WILL do the things described above?  No.  The problem is, a lot of people have NO idea how toxic the foods are that they are eating and feeding their kids.  Also, these toxins and chemicals are in EVERYTHING.  All of the stuff that is quick and easy and that your kids love probably contains something bad for them.  Sorry to break it to you - but it is true. I am just a mom, but you can go and talk to a nutritionist, and do your own research and reading and they will tell you the same.

Here is an article that talks more about the foods that contain High Fructose Corn Syrup which contain mercury as well as other information.  washingtonpost.com

Here is a facebook page that discusses getting HFCS removed from the market because of how bad it is- and they don't even mention the mercury part of it.  It is just bad in general.  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/BanOfHFCS

Okay, so it is midnight again and I only got to one toxic food, but you get the picture.  Check your labels.  If you can't read the word and don't know what it is, don't eat it.  If it has HFCS (like your ketchup - yes, go check your label - unless you specifically bought the newer ones without it, it will say high fructose corn syrup).  HFCS also has many different names to disguise it.  As does Nutrasweet (also called aspartame, sucralose, to name a few..) which is also very harmful ESPECIALLY to children.  Food dyes, MSG, etc. etc.  There are so many and it is so sad that these foods are out there for our consumption even though they are known to be harmful.

Wow I really didn't get very far and didn't even talk about fast food, all the good foods our kids are NOT getting and going organic, etc.   That will have to be for another time.

For those of you that think I am crazy, I am - but that is beside the point.   But the information that I put on here is true.  It is in my words, but you can go and read it for yourselves.  It is in books, online, etc.  If you really do your own research and not just read what the media tells you, then it is obvious.

Wow - done with my rant.  More upbeat blog post tomorrow.  I think we are going swimming!  The kids LOVE it and I hate it.  The things we do for our kids.....

Assesments are Complete!

Brody's Assessments were already done when we got here, but Wyatt had is academic assessment on Tuesday and his Sensory Motor assessment today.  They said that he did great!  They seemed very impressed with some of his skills and think he will do great!  I will have my meeting with them on Monday to go over the final results and to see where he is at.  He will officially Start the Pre Brain Balance Program on Monday! I was given the news that I need to continue to do the home exercises 6 times a day - per child!  As well as other items they gave us to work on.  Then at week 3 we will be given MORE Home programing.  We are going to be very VERY busy.

I will maybe discuss Brody's assessment results another time when it is not midnight, but basically they confirmed that he is right brain delayed.  They also informed me that his reading comprehension was at a 7th grade level!  There were many more strengths that he had as well.  That is what is so amazing about these kids and what so many people don't understand - They are Geniuses!!  They are so smart and partially because one side of their brain has developed much faster than the other (creating the Brain Imbalance).  Also, because one side is stronger, they continue to favor and use that side more frequently which in turn stimulates that side even more creating an even greater imbalance. 

Anyways, I need to go into more detail about a lot of things later and I can post information with studies, science, etc. backing up this program.  I will also just explain the basics of what it is and how it works.

Bottom Line:  Just from my short experience so far and from my readings, talking with other parents, etc. I KNOW this program works and can work for every child to varying degrees.    So, if you have a child or know of a child with Autism, Aspergers, ADHD, OCD, Tourettes, Dyslexia or Learning Disabilities, you should look into this program.  Really.  Read, research, ask questions, get the book  Disconnected Kids (link takes you to amazon where you can buy the book or download it for your kindle or Kindle iPhone app) by Dr. Robert Melillo and read it.  So, so many kids are affected by these problems and so SO many parents don't even realize their child has a problem, let alone know that there is help out there. 

Okay, I am done for the night since it is almost midnight and was totally going to go to bed at 9:00 tonight... 

Just wanted to post a few photos of the kids during their first week here.  I will post some later of our new place and the giant bug that was in our apartment tonight!!!  yuck.

Thanks for all of those who support us and help us and pray for us throughout this journey.   We love you!

Tammy

Hazel Trying to buy everything in Target.  Yes friends, we have one in walking distance :)

Brody in front of the Brain Balance Center.  It is very far away, but he wanted the sign in the picture!

Wyatt LOVING the tiny back patio.  He just loves to be outside and takes his food, trains, books, etc out there and just hangs out.  We just have to keep a really close eye.  I am waiting for him to jump the little fence and take off running!  So far he hasn't tried... 

Night Night everyone!

Counting our Blessings - LIterally!

Okay - So I don't have a lot of free time.. and it is 11:51 pm.  So rather than give you every last detail, I am going to list out the main points (blessings) of the past 2 weeks.

1. Not being able to find a place to live in Colorado
2. Finally finding the "perfect" place and having it fall through
3. Realizing that although the people and program there were awesome, that there was another program that was better for Wyatt and would give us a much higher chance of success. 
4. Finding out that this new location had not only one, but two spots open
5. Finding a perfect three bedroom that fit our needs in the FIRST phone call that I made
6. Finding good prices on flights with only a weeks notice.
7. Finding someone to ship my golf cart for a decent price in a perfect time frame.
8. That someone agreed to take 5 large storage bins of kitchen appliances, toys, shoes, etc. that I would not have been able to ship because of cost, but I desperately needed them!
9. Having amazing friends and family help me pack, etc. so we could get ready to go.
10. Having the lady at the airport check 3 extra bags at no cost (we had already checked 10!)
11. Having a great shuttle driver that picked up 5 people (at a great price) at 5:15 am and also stopped at Mcdonalds drive through because we were starving!
12. Having people from our church bring us meals and furnish our empty house with beds, tables, chairs, toasters, dishes, etc.
13. Finding out that our apartment just HAPPENS to be the only unit here that has an alarm system installed so that when the doors open it beeps and says "front door", etc.  Just like we have at home!  This is the most amazing thing since we weren't sure how we were going to keep track of little Wyatt!
14. Knowing that this is exactly where we should be and what we should be doing for our boys.
15. Having the most amazing friend agree to move across the country with me to help our family out on our newest adventure.
16. Having a wonderful, hardworking, husband who is willing to do whatever it takes for his family, not matter how hard it may be.  
17. Having a loving Heavenly Father who knows exactly what we need and guides us daily and blesses us continually. 

There are probably many more, but it is late and I can't count that high!

We are SO excited about what the next 6 months holds for our family and hope that this blog will help others interested in Brain Balance get answers to their questions.

We made it!

No time for a long post, but just wanted to let you know that we made it to our destination without too much trouble given the circumstances.  We had quite a few nice folks that helped us out and some other blessings along the way. 

I have already taken Wyatt for his first assessment and I will update about that as well. 

As for now, it is 3:30 and we haven't had breakfast or lunch so we are headed out for some food and supplies to get our new household running. 

For those interested, I can have the blog email you when something new is posted so you don't have to keep checking back all the time.  I know that most of you will spend your day refreshing the page to see what happens next in our story :)

More details tonight!

The Journey Begins

Today - Monday March 14th, I am relocating with our three children to a new City across the country for our two boys to attend a Brain Balance Center. My amazing husband will be staying home so that he can work to support this new adventure. He has been willing since day one of diagnosis to do whatever it takes to help our children and family have a better quality of life and hopefully be free of Autism.

I didn't want to make this blog private because I want other parents who are searching for answers, options, and help to be able to find it and that it may be of some help to them or someone they love. If you would like more information or details or have questions, feel free to leave comments and leave your email address and I would be happy to answer questions and help in any way I can.

Please watch the videos I have on the sidebar as well as look at the links, etc. for more information. I will be updating this blog daily to keep our family and friends updated as well as anyone else that would like to follow it and see the progress that our boys make by attending a Brain Balance Center.

Here is the great news! In starting some of the home program they taught me, we have already seen results in 3 weeks! It has been absolutely amazing!

I will give more detail later, but for now I have to pack because I have to be on a plane in 12 hours! So, I need to go pack everything I will need for the next 6 months. Simple task right?

We will miss all of our friends and family, but feel like this is without a doubt the right path for us right now.

Post for Day #1 will be tomorrow - so stay tuned!