Thanks for being there!

Clearly yesterday was a bad day. I'd say I hit rock bottom.

Myssie- THANK you for suggesting that I blog. It has helped me a lot and I've connected with all of you because of it. Blogging in many ways has kept me from insanity and depression. I'm so thankful for that!!!!

I was afraid of posting my "real" feelings for fear of offending you. I don't think I realized that others shared the same feelings and that in itself gave me comfort (seems wrong somehow- but it did just the same) I felt your Love and Hugs and I really needed those yesterday- Thanks to all you for being there for me. This RTS journey is challenging and difficult and trying at the best of times, somedays are just so bad though. Although those days are less frequent now, when they do come they "hit" really hard. That was yesterday for me.

Thank you for being there and listening. I love you all!

I'm jealous!

I've debated talking about this on my blog, but I view my blog as my therapy and so therefore I am going to blog about it. I in no way mean to offend anyone but the reality is, this is how I feel right now (perhaps some of this may be hormonal) regardless my feelings are true:

I have a sad heart because I feel like my little Nathan is so far behind. I know we aren't suppose to compare, I know each kid is wired differently, I know each kid will do it in his own time BUT that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt and that this journey isn't a hard mountain to climb.

I've seen my RTS mom friends go through a lot, I've seen them go through pain and frustration but I've also seen so much progress with their kids. Many eat by mouth now, many sign, some talk, some play with toys (actually play with them) not chuck them across the room, read books, identify colours, numbers and do puzzles.

Nathan is 31/2 years old and NONE of that is happening here. He has made a few sounds and has said " Mum Mum" a total of five times in his entire life. I have not heard him say it in months and no new sounds are developing. Only 1/3 of RTS sweeties are programmed to talk and realistically I don't believe Nathan is one of them. Okay fine- so he can learn sign or use PECS or communication devices- How do you even begin with all that?? Hasn't happened yet!

I've been working on signs with him for well over a year and he has yet to sign back. I just don't see how any communication is gonna work. If I ask him something, he doesn't engage in the conversation, not even with eye contact. He's not interested in reading books with me - he just pushes them aside. I know that he doesn't know his colours, he doesn't know the alphabet, he doesn't know numbers etc.... Then theres eating...

We have had NO progress in the eating department. A good friend, once told me, "Christine- there are no known RTS adults with feeding tubes- Nathan will eat- he will." I want to believe that but as each day passes it gets harder and harder to believe that. I think Nathan will be the first EVER RTS adult to be fully 100% tube -fed. I feel like giving up!! ( I know your all thinking Don't, be persistent, he will ) Well at what point is worth stressing him and me over eating??? Food is not anything he cares about. Food ALWAYS ENDS UP ON THE FLOOR. he doesn't even want to touch it. He will lick every surface on earth EXCEPT food. So again... tell me what the hell am I suppose to do?

I'm frustrated and jealous of the progress of all these other wonderful RTS kids, I just want one of them to be Nathan- Today I feel absolutely alone within my RTS family- I feel like we don't fit in. I'd like to say that I am a stronger person and a better person but TODAY I am jealous of you. I am jealous of your childs progress. TODAY- I HATE RTS with a PASSION- I just wish it would go away!!!!!!

Nathan Kneebouncer

Respect- Something EVERYONE deserves

Why do people feel that they can dismiss me as being over sensitive and taking things too personally when I ask that they please not refer to someone as "being retarded".
Calling someone a "nigger" is taboo or not politically correct. It's not accepted.
Saying "Oh my god" can be offensive to someone who is religious or swearing can be understood as offensive at anytime but when it comes to retarded, no one even bats an eye.

Yes the word retard is a word but to some of us it's much more than a figure of speech. According to Websters dictionary it can sometimes be offensive and means : slow or limited in intellectual or emotional development or academic progress. So many people used the word "RETARD" without thinking about it. Well I am asking you today, Think about it, think about what you are doing everytime you use that word in the ways that it was not intended!!

Think about people like Nathan because he falls in this category, think about all those other people out there who are being victimized and hurt. This is not about being a sensitive special needs mom, this is about standing up fro what i believe in and explaining to all of you who may never have thought about it this way:

When the word " retard" is used to degrade another person or essentially say that they are worthless or not as important that's hurtful.

Please be respectful. I'm only asking that you think before you speak, sometimes a simple word can have so much more meaning than you think.

Remember: It's not the word that is offensive, it's how it's used that is.