Other Brodys

I have been neglecting this blog very much lately. I hope to keep it updated regularly over the summer as Brody and I spend  the summer together.

I just wanted to blog about something that has been on my heart lately.  A few weeks ago, I had a random dream about finding another child just like Brody (he was even identical to him in this strange dream) that lived in the area I teach. However, this "other Brody" was not being cared for and loved like our Brody. In my dream we adopted this child and raised him with our Brody. I woke up in tears and my heart breaking for all the "other Brodys" out there that are not loved and cared for.

I recently expressed a desire to Jeffery (my fiance and Brody's father) that I wanted to foster or even adopt a child with special needs like Brody. He said I was insane and I have to admit it would be quite the handful to raise another special needs child when our own son is so demanding. However, my heart is still so heavy as I think about all the other Brodys in the world and I hate to think that our own Brody that might have been born into a family that was not equipped to handle him.

But for now, I must be content with raising and loving my own Brody.

Here are few shots of what Brody bear has been up to:

Watching his dvd player with little brother:

Easter Egg Hunting:

Jumping on the trampoline at a local carnival:

To A Sweet Shop We Go...

Today we took a little trip to a local sweet shop that just opened up. Brody was in heaven! However, he also tried to open the case to get to the brownies. Then, when that didn't work he tried to go around the counter to the other side. Good heavens, that boy loves sweets! And his daddy indulges him too much. Three brownies later, I wonder how he will sleep tonight....:D

Oh goodness...right as I was about to post this, Brody wandered into the living room and sat on the couch beside me. When I looked over at him his hands were covered in blood and he had been picking at a really bad sore on the back his leg. Needless to say, I freaked a little and called for Daddy, who have course came to the rescue.

To sum up this post, Brody loves sweets and has a HIGH tolerance for pain to the point of injuring himself further.

Happy Wednesday!

Getting a Haircut...and Sully!

Today was such a fun day! I was off work and the boys were out of school. So, we decided to take the boys and do some shopping. Unfortunately, my Ipad charger died halfway through the day so I missed capturing some of the best moments.

We started the day at Walmart. The  boys desperately needed haircuts. We usually take them to a local barber shop, but we felt like being spontaneous and the lady seemed able to cut Brody's hair. So here we go:

In the chair...doing good!

Whatcha got in there?

Tapping his foot the whole time!

And I'm Done!

Daddy to the Rescue!

Still Upset!

Little Brother's Turn

Pushing the Buggy through Walmart!

Loving on Sully from Monsters Inc, his favorite movie.
I did good when I spotted this toy!

And Sully is Ready for the Next Adventure!

Brody did so well at Walmart! We think the trick was letting him push the buggy. It kept him occupied and the store was not very crowded.

After leaving Walmart, Jeffery insisted on going to Academy Sports even though I reminded him of how much Brody hated the place last time we were there. He said it was a fluke so off we went. About three minutes into the store, Brody started crying and pulling us away and toward the door. I really think it is the smell of the store. It has an almost rubbery smell and apparently does not appeal to Brody's senses.

Finally, we went to Red Lobster for lunch/dinner. Brody had his token onion rings, chicken fingers, and fries. He did very well at the restaurant, too! I figured out about two months ago how much he loves onion rings or Bloomin' Onions, any variation of fried onion rings. We order that for his appetizer and he gets a little greasy, but he can wait for his food that way.

The day was a blast! I just wish I had my charger and could have captured more moments of the day! Now Brody is standing in front of me flapping his arms and playing with a piece of Blake's race car track that he tore off months ago. Love this kid!

Just stepped in....

Pee...yep a big puddle of pee. Do I have a dog? A cat, maybe? Nope.

It all started when I was sitting at the kitchen table and heard what sounded like water being poured out onto the floor in the bedroom. I raced in there to catch Brody standing on top of the dresser hurriedly pulling up his underwear. I felt the wetness under my feet and it didn't take long to put the pieces together. He had stood on top of the dresser, and peed on the floor...where I was now standing....oh joy!


I am going to try to update this blog more often as a journal of sorts! Hopefully one day I will look back on this blog and laugh at the way things used to be. Or I can read this to him one day.

Here is Brody and Daddy playing golf in Gatlinburg, TN last week.

Giving Himself a Bath...Koolaid Style!

As I was typing the "Meet Brody" post, he ran by where I was sitting with a thin blanket. His destination was the bathroom and because he had his blanket I assumed he was going to do #2 (he likes to cover his head with the blanket). The dryer was running in the bathroom, the T.V. was on, and the air was running. With that being said, it took me a while to notice the water running in the bathroom. When I noticed, I assumed he was turning it on to attempt to wash his hands or to even give himself a bath, which he has done before. To my surprise (and I wonder how I am even surprised anymore!), I walked in to see him giving himself a koolaid bath! He had taken his cup of Hi C drink that his dad had gotten him at Wendys and dumped it in the bathtub. He then filled the tub up with water, creating a red mess of water! He was happily swimming away in the tub. I laughed a little, drained the tub, rinsed him off, and then ran him a nice normal water bath. Sweet child...he never ceases to surprise me with his antics!

Meet Brody

Sent from heaven, I often refer to Brody as an angel. He is an eight year old boy with moderate to severe autism. His IQ is unknown to us as he is labeled "untestable." He is completely nonverbal and his receptive language skills are virtually nonexistent. Sweet and loving, he is passive and non agressive for the majority of the time. He prefers to spend his time mostly alone, swinging on a swing outside, playing with string or a beaded necklace. He loves to take rides down the road in a car, any car. In fact, he will go with anyone as long as he can go for a ride! He is an extremely picky eater: only eating finger foods (chicken fingers and biscuit bottoms are his favorite). To say he has a sweet tooth would be an understatement! He love debbie cakes, skittles, suckers, etc. As previously mentioned, he is extremely passive, but not when it comes to three things! Food, Daddy, and Movies! He has been known to throw several fits because he wants some type of food (or he simply wants ALL of it), he misses or wants to be with his Daddy, or his movie has stopped or is messed up.

In regards to hygiene, he must be bathed by myself or his Dad. He is "semi" potty trained. He often still urinates in his underwear, in the floor, on chairs. He is unable to wipe himself and will stand up while doing his business.

He has several other quirks which I will mention as I attempt to blog about my journey with our autistic angel, Brody.

Brody on the first day of school this year.

Me and Brody!

Brody and his "little, big" brother, Blake!