Sam has Autism

http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/  answer today is ROLL UP RAMP  the voting goes until may 11th.    Thanks for voting!

don't forget about Sonya's surgery!!!!!!   You can give directly & read about their family!!!!!   http://www.gofundme.com/78kap0
or send a check to Grace Church 7060 Berry Road, Zephyrhills, Florida 33540



Well we got some news today.....
 Sam got diagnosed as Autistic...can't say I'm shocked but I am some.... We had taken him for an evaluation when he was about 4 and was told he was "just" visionally impaired and mentally retarded. But this new neuro was with us for like 5 minutes and said "he's been diagnosed autistic right?" When I told him no he was shocked. He said Sam's repetitive movement and self injuring (...he bites both of his pointer fingers till they are calloused) are huge signs   Sam also wants things a certain way at a certain time ( me too!) So he gave us a script for Prozac- a light dose, he thinks that will help Sam. We are a bit concerned about giving it to him because of side affects, one being his liver. Sam is missing a tumor inhibitor in his liver so we are so careful when it comes to certain things But we'd love for some of his tension to be relieved......

The doctor was pleased at how emotionally bonded Sam is and how he behaves when told to sit down and quit pulling things down.   He said to keep working with him so he doesn't become violent towards us, help him continue to learn boundaries.  With Sam it's more about how he stresses about things.   If things aren't perfect and in order he gets upset.  He has such a need for order (as I do also!) 

So I've read about Prozac and I'm ok with him taking it.  If there are issues, we'd stop.  I like this doctor and feel safe with him.  I asked him what he'd do if it were his child and he said he'd use Prozac to help him. 

This has just drained me for some reason, it's not like I'm crying, it's something we've suspected for a long time but I feel wasted tonight. 

Sam is so dear to me, to Jon....he was a gift from God for our marriage's renewal.  We've given everything to help him over the past 10 years, traveled thousands of miles, taken him to the best doctors....slept in hospital rooms for him....  I gave up my career (and retirement LOL) for him.....and I'd do it all again for him in a heartbeat. He's worth more than anything to us.  Sometimes reality and confirmation of things we've thought is hard.  Sam is the same kid he was last night when I was rubbing his back while watching tv.  Nothing has changed but now we know that there are some things he won't grow out of....somethings that we may have to face in the future that might be a bit different than we thought ....  sometimes as a parent of a very special needs child (children) you just have to take a breath, put it all back in God's hands and then go on....  I'm at the breathing stage right now......


Thanks for your prayers and concern.  I really love connecting with you all, even if we don't agree 100%  I have the nicest readers:)

God's Not Dead!

In today's church's offering another $140 came in for Sonya's surgery so the grand total we've raised is $1002!!!!!!  I'm so happy!  I know another check is coming from a dear online friend in Australia....  We still have a few more days you can give on line   http://www.gofundme.com/78kap0
or send a check to Grace Church 7060 Berry Road, Zephyrhills, Florida 33540!  I wonder what the final tally will be???  I'd be thrilled if we could make it to $1500!  


The voting hit 10,000 votes for Selah's van!  Our dear Sunday School teacher and his wife hit the 10,000 mark for us!  http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/
Please keep voting, you can vote daily, from anywhere in the world.  Each day there is a chance to win an extra vote by answering a question.  The answer for today is BOTH A & B



Last night we went and saw the movie "God's Not Dead"  it was great1  Usually I don't care for "Christian" movies (just being honest) so I went just to have something to do with the family.  It didn't take long for me to see this movie was different. I LOVED it!  I'd encourage you go see it if you haven't already!  Both Steve and Shad were affected by the movie.  Shad stood outside with me last night in the garden as we watched the fireflies and talked to me about it.  One of the main characters is a young Chinese man who makes a stand for Christ.  It really touched his heart.  I know it really touched him and helped him because he had a chance today to not tell the truth about something, and he told the truth knowing he might get in trouble.  I believe that movie inspired him to live more closer to God! 

One of the most amazing things happened towards the end of the movie, a Christian group, the Newsboys, were singing "God's not dead" and Sarah began clapping her hands above her head.  she was sitting on Jon's lap and she clapped and clapped.  It seemed so holy, a spiritual thing.  Sarah is blind, very mentally delayed with an IQ in the 30's but she responded in a way we've never seen her do.  She did it appropriately as if she were responding directly to the message.   We just watched her in amazement.  We've seen her clap a few times in church, and it's always been in just the right spots, maybe towards the end of a song but we've never "trained" her to do something like that.  last night she just keep clapping vigorously with no prompting or encouragement from us.  In fact I was so moved, I was fighting to hold in the tears. It was like this little girl, understood the mystery of God.  It was a moment I will treasure in my heart. 

Tonight on 60 Minutes I watched a segment  shown here http://www.cbsnews.com/news/saving-the-children-during-world-war-11-60-minutes/    about a man Nicholas Winton who saved over 600 children.  It is such a touching story.  I had tears streaming down my face about the story, the gumption of this young 29 year man and the love of the children's parents.  Winton is now credited with saving over 15,000 IF you include the original children he saved, their children, their grandchildren and now even their great grandchildren who would have never been born without the original children being saved from death!   Now this 104 year old man is opening homes for the mentally challenged  and elderly in England!  I want to be like him!  What an inspiration, God bless him!!!!

Hope you have a great week ahead!  We have some fun things planned for this week that I'm looking forward to doing.  

God in the Good AND Bad times

So I'm at the library, obviously they have much better Wi-Fi than we have satellite and I hoped it would enable me to be able to load all our pictures and clean up my blog some:)  It did!  WOOHOO!

So now let me blog about somthings that have been on my mind......


As you can imagine I get a lot of blogs and Facebook pages sent my way.  So many people caught in life altering situations.  Some have cancer, a disability, disease, accidents etc....they all are sad.  I feel bad for anyone who is facing anything like that or who has a love one who is.

But I see things, I can't help but see things.  There are people who have no regard for God at all until they face a tragedy.  Then they are crying out to Him for help.  They may not change their lifestyle or ask him to be the Savior of their life, but they want help from Him right then!  God can use circumstances in a person's life to remind them of their need for Him (I'm NOT saying God puts things on people but life happens......)  

We get calls all the time, the church line rings in our home.  It's always someone asking if we (the church) pays for electric bills, water bills etc....  I always tell people that we do help out members of our congregation and that they should ask their church for help.  Some say that they don't go to church, some get angry....  NONE have every said they've asked their church and been told no.  Why?  Because there are people who want things from God ( or God's people) but they don't want to have to give anything, they don't want to give their lives to God, they don't' want to participate within a body of believers,  they want to take but not to give anything.

Ok by now you've decided I'm a hard hearted women, I've been called worse.....   You are wondering about my Christianity.

The bible teaches us throughout the Old and New Testament to take care of the poor and needy, the REAL poor and needy.  It also tells us if a man won't work, he should not eat.  It talks against laziness all throughout scripture.  Yes, anyone could have a tragedy and need help, I'm all for raising money for a situation like that.  I LOVE to give towards good and worthy things. 

It seems so much like people want to seek God's hand, what He will give them rather than to seek His face. 

I don't want to be like that.  I want to follow God no matter what comes my way.  I want to serve Him in the GOOD times, then I know He'll be there in the Bad times.  I'm not perfect for anyone who thinks I think that!  But I knew who God was BEFORE tragedies  hit my life, it makes life much easier!  I'm not saying God won't hear someone during their hard times if they aren't serving God before that time, but it is so much easier to walk through life, with God. 

Let me encourage you to draw close to God today, don't put it off until a tragedy strikes or a need arises. 

Spring pictures and Steve's graduation pictures

 

 

My friend Kandi who owns Twisted Oak Photography

813-368-4853

did this photography shot for us.  She is amazing and really got the pictures that express our family.  Here is a few of the over 1000 we took yesterday:)  As you can imagine I 100% recommend her for family/graduation/parties/Christmas/baby (and anything else you can think of) photography shots!  she has great rates and great ideas to help you personalize your event.

 

 

 

 

 

Ok this picture just almost brings me to tears....I LOVE my Sarah so much!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jon and me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selah did so good, sweet girl!

 

 

 

 

My men

 

 

 

Shad on his tire swing

 

 

 

 

 

My girls!

 

 

 

my monkey:)

 

 

 

Sam!

 

 

Our Brownie

 

 

Brownie with my other baby (the garden) in the background)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All of the above pictures were taken at home to make it easier on Selah.

Then we went to the Town Train Depot Museum for some pictures

 

 

 

 

 

 

this is my favorite one of Steve!  Love this!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then on to Hillsborough River State Park, one of our family's favorite places in the world!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't worry we checked out the stump GOOD to make sure there were no critters in it! 

When we first got to the park, we were walking down the trail to the river and a snake went under our feet.  I usually do NOT wear sandals to the woods, but had them on, let's just say, everyone was more afraid of getting trampled by me than getting bit by the snake!  LOL!  Once we got a good look at it, we saw it was just a garden snake but when someone yells "SNAKE" and you have flip flops on, it's best to get your feet off the ground LOL!!!!

 

So this is just a few of the ones she took, I'm sure I'll be posting more:)  Hope you enjoy them, we just love them, they are precious!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally Friday

Today we got a check in for $200, so we are at  $862!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
my goal is $1000 for her operation.  Go and read about her at
http://www.gofundme.com/78kap0   you can give through the site or through our church
Grace Church
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl
33540
mark it: Sonya's surgery!

http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/selah-clanton-zephyrhills-fl/todays' answer is rear and side entry....  we are close to 10,000....please vote and help us hit the 10,000 mark!


Today one of my best friends, Kandi who is also a photographer- spent hours of her last day of Easter break taking family and Steve's graduation pictures.  They are just amazing!  There is one of me and Sarah that almost makes me cry:)  She took over 1000 pictures and most of them are just great!!!!   I can't wait to get them and start putting them up-promise not all of them LOL

We did family pictures here at home, then she did some of Steve at the train station and at Hillsborough River State Park.  They are just amazing pictures!!!! Can you tell I'm excited?

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This morning I was reminiscing with Shad about how my Aunts & granny used to cook...my grandmother would have LOVED to have cooked for my kids-ALL of them love to eat! Even Sarah with her puréed food-she's the first one to the table LOL. I didn't want to eat when I was a kid cause i wanted to play then as a teen I was afraid of gaining weight I never appreciated their cooking. My kids do NOT have that problem!!!!! 

Yesterday I cooked a small breakfast, then a LARGE Brunch and as soon as the kitchen was cleaned up, one of my kids was asking me what was for supper....  I said why can't the kids be like pythons or gators who only eat once a week!   I swear all they think about is FOOD!  FOOD!  FOOD!

This week I spent a lot of time working on various kinds of paperwork.  UGH hate paperwork and still have so much more to do.  I really need a secretary. 

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Update on Katie....she is responding!!!!!!!  Please keep praying for her!

Bad Blogger

I've been a bad blogger!  It's been hard for me to focus lately, so let me get caught up!


First Sonya!  We are still at $662, my goal is $1000 for her operation.  Go and read about her at
http://www.gofundme.com/78kap0   you can give through the site or through our church
Grace Church
7060 Berry Road
Zephyrhills Fl
33540
mark it: Sonya's surgery!

Don't forget to vote for Selah!  We are at 9570 votes!  We still have the rest of this month!   You can vote once every day from any country!  You can also try for the extra vote daily  Today's answer is FALSE- it's actually one in every 5 elderly people have mobility issues. 



We've been busy this week.  Today I took Selah to an appointment with Neurology. Doctor is convinced she is having seizures. He had her have an EEG in the office. It showed there are times when she has a lower brain wave than others which could mean she had a small seizure, and her mind is responding to it. I'm NOT convinced at all. She will have an MRI and we will see if there is any brain loss since the last one. If there is, that could be proof she is having seizures. He did put her on a low dose anti seizure med that also makes her not as stiff so I agreed on that for 6 weeks to see if we see any difference.

Sarah continues to have POOP, lots of it.  she is scheduled to have an xray this week to see if the blockage is gone.

Sam continues to be bad:)  He gets everything down and makes a mess and is so cute I can hardly stand it!

Shad has Easter break this week!  WOOHOO  love having Shad-Man home!

Steve is studying for the ACT test (college entrance exam)  He has a lot of good things going on right now and is HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY:)

That's our quick update.  Sorry the pictures are "wooky"  I LOVE that word LOL  I'm going to the library one day and see if I'm at a regular Wifi place , maybe I can fix them.  We live in the county on satellite....

Update on Katie who tried to commit suicide....she is doing better finally.  She is able to squeeze hands in response to questions!  she swallowed today.  Please keep praying for this precious young lady! 

Also Luke who had a car accident is also doing better.  Please keep praying for him

Both of these young people come from homes where their parents are in the ministry.  Their parents have been so faithful to God over the years. 

Hope you all are having a great week.  I really want to get back to blogging, real blogging but I'm feeling overwhelmed with my life once again.  I've got like all kinds of paperwork to do yet again and that just stops me in my tracks completely.  Hate this feeling.  So I'm not feeling too creative right now! 

Easter Pictures

HAPPY EASTER!

Hope you can see the pictures.....