Cameron vs Camp Pendelton

Looking down the barrel of the gun

Cameron left yesterday with his JROTC class for four days at Camp Pendelton in Southern California.  I read out loud to Mike everything that we are signing away on the release form, and Cameron was loving it: (injury from but not limited to) flying projectiles, explosions, flying and motor vehicles, live munitions...  The list goes on.

Activities involving massive weaponry would make any mom worry.  Not me so much. Instead, I worry about the military base surviving Cameron.  I think we should have had the administration on the base sign a waiver releasing us from lawsuits as they are bringing Cameron onto their field...

My dad introduced Cameron to real firearms when Cameron was quite young.  We wanted to ensure that Cameron, as well as all our boys--even with autism, knew how to use and respect guns. Consequently, my dad has taken the boys to a shooting range. Since then, Cameron has been working on marksmanship randomly, and he loves it.  He has decorated his room with the paper from his target practices.

I am not sure where Cameron's interest grew.  Perhaps, video games and movies have inspired and enticed him.  He has joined the marksmanship club at school, so he continues to learn about the weaponry as he practices.

Cameron has found a hobby he likes, and he is quite good at it. Through the JROTC, he should learn the self discipline necessary to handle the dangers presented.  Of course, they don't use live ammunition on campus, but guns still demand to be treated with care and maturity.  Cameron can be quite "spirited and enthusiastic" when given an opportunity to be unleashed!

Cameron is thriving on it all!

Here's a link to Cam at target practice:  http://sherylscript.blogspot.com/2014/07/in-spirit-of-second-amendment-learning.html

Hugs

My sister-in-law wrote, "Never under estimate the power of a hug. This simple gesture is not really simple at all. Its complexity in action and response makes it one of the strongest forces in the world, making it heal almost anything!"

A hug is how we found out about deep pressure, which helps relieve sensory meltdowns when my boys were young.  It was one of those days when I was hanging onto sanity by a thread.  Ryan couldn't talk at that time.  He wanted something and was going into a ballistic tantrum.  I couldn't figure out what he wanted.

At the same time, Nick was hungry and needed to be fed.  Both kids chimed out, "MAMA!"

I gave Nick a quick snack, so I could focus on Ryan.

I was in tears, trying to figure out what Ryan wanted.  I couldn't solve the mystery.  I ended up just hugging him really tight. At first, Ryan resisted.  He didn't like to be touched, let alone hugged.  There were dents in the wall from Ryan leaning backwards to get away from people who wanted to hug him.

Within a few moments, we both calmed down.  Then he hugged me.  He was about four years old.  I received my first hug from Ryan.

Later I mentioned this to Ryan's adaptive PE teacher.  She said they have weighted vests to help keep the kiddos calm.  The physical therapist also said that deep pressure helps.  She showed me how to apply it, and it worked every time.

Picture This: Growing Up with Autism

This last week, when I couldn't sleep, I sorted the boys' school pictures.  I laid them out side-by-side.  I was treated to smiling faces and seeing my sons grow into young men.

Except for when Ryan and Nick were four year old.  In those pictures, Ryan and Nick don't smile.  They look stoic, blank, and empty, as if they were in pain.  I was surprised to see how the autism symptoms manifested themselves.  Although we noticed loss of communication when Ryan and Nick were two years old, they were totally emerged into their individual worlds by the age of four.  They loved being left alone doing their own rituals or form of play.  (There is a slight pause at these photos of Ryan and Nick at age four.)

Then the pictures reveal how the boys slowly emerged, relating to the world around them.  Cameron took the video of the pictures, as evident at the end via his somewhat humorous self-identification.

An Accomplished Young Adult with Autism

Mike with Nick at Senior Night

As the football season comes to a close, so does the marching band season.  Tis bittersweet for Nicholas, as he loves the camaraderie of the marching band. However, we have a reprieve!  The football team is in the playoffs, so the marching band continues to perform.

A few weeks ago, the marching band celebrated senior night.  My husband and I escorted Nick in front of the football stands during halftime.  As we walked, the announcer voiced Nick's goals after high school--to study music and math.  Nick beamed.  He gave me a rose and a big hug.

Before giving roses to moms

I cherish these moments. Memories of his challenges as a youngster with autism are never far from me. Memories of Nick struggling with loud noises, and now playing in a marching band. Memories of Nick trying to express himself in words, and now expressing himself musically. Memories of Nick overcoming so many issues...  Nick is now emerging as an accomplished young man with autism.

This is a moment to celebrate in the life of Nick!