This is a photo of approximately 1 month of the items my daughter needs on a daily basis except the B12 injections which are every 3rd day. Digestion issues, healing the gut, controlling the stemming, improving brain and nervous system function, providing adequate nutrition...just a few things daily that an average autistic child needs on top of the basics like feeding, clothing, bathing as well as quality time that all humans need and that is crucial to a child such as my Arianna. To ease the stress that comes with a non-stop schedule 7 days a week, I do allot of prep work. Sunday is my "prep" day but we took a few hours out to go visit with some new friends which was allot of fun and a much needed break from the usual routine. Caregivers also need time to talk to other adults and just visit, vent, compare stories, treatments, therapies...LIFE.
Since Arianna and I eat the same foods pretty much each day, I spend an hour or so cooking her lunch and dinner for daycare as well as my lunches for 3 days at a time. I pay the same fee for daycare as everyone else except Arianna's snacks and meals are provided by me and that is by choice because - #1 we're vegetarians and #2 I want healthy and organic if at all possible and #3 she has a specific diet to follow which is not provided. Even at school the gluten free options for breakfast and lunch are NOT GF/CF, therefore...I will continue to provide all food items every day and every year. Getting Arianna's supplements all measured and into containers for AM and PM also helps...I do those for 4 days and nights to save on time and to make sure that I won't forget should we have a crazy busy day (morning is ALWAYS hectic!) and such as our coming Wednesdays with 4 different therapies on that day in particular - WHEW!! I may have to move at least ONE therapy to my other day off work Friday to not drive to Troy in the morning, Allenton by 3 pm and then back over to Birmingham by 5:30 before heading home around 6:30 pm...my bank account is drained just THINKING about the gas alone but if that's what I've got to do, I'll do it.
One more week and then THIS mom has a much needed week off...from my job anyhow. A trip is planned to the west side of the state to visit a water park and amusement park for a few days and we are praying for nice weather for our mini vacation. While we don't get to do things such as vacations very often, you CAN make the most out of your time going anywhere!! On our drive to therapies we turn that into our SPEECH therapy time! We talk about what we see, colors of houses, road signs, flowers - - anything involving talking and having interaction. Believe it or not YOU are the person your child wants to talk to the most! Take every chance you get to talk to your child, cuddle, lay next to each other, play hide and seek, splash in the tub.....SMILE and LAUGH! Not only will your child enjoy that time YOU will as well.
This tired out mom is off to relax for a few before settling in for some sleep. Hope you've had a good weekend and God Bless!
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