Stimming - What is it?

What is stimming? Stimming is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses. In psychiatry stimming is known as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement. Classic stims such as hand flapping and rocking are pretty well known due to the film industry portraying many autistics this way. Many people with autism do not stim at all, it is just one of the many symptoms that effects people on the autism spectrum.

Here is a stiming list. The senses being stimulated are visual, auditory, tactile, vestibular and taste & smell.


My grandson did some stimming when they first fostered him until he was maybe three. I never saw him flap, but my daughter did a couple times when he was overstimulated. He would rock, and watch the wheels on trucks & cars as he moved them along the floor. He was obsessed with opening and closing doors. His mom couldn't take him through the freezer section of the grocery store because of his compulsion to stay there all day and open & close the doors. His stimming gradually decreased and we never thought much of it until recently when he started Kindergarten. His preschool lost their special education license so all special needs kids had to leave. My daughter tried her utmost to find another placement, but everything had a waiting list, so Michael started school a couple months late. They switched him from one classroom to another, and switched one-on-one aids that was assisting him. As Michael's stress level increased guess what came back, his stimming. He began to flap, and clap and rock. It broke my heart. Believe it, stress will have a major effect on the autistic child and the amount of stimming they do. I'm happy to report that the stress has been reduced and so has the stimming.

What are your thoughts on stimming? Does it drive you crazy? Do you accept it and allow it? At home? In public? Feel free to share a stimming story in the comments.

flyingrandma02

My id for my Northwest Flying Miles will soon be changing. When I began using the card I had two grandchildren and now I have three, but by the end of the year this card id will be flyingrandma05. Yes, we are expecting our fifth grandchild late November.

Although as Ashley said, the baby is now about the size of a sesame seed, they are over joyed. This will be Miguel's parents first grandchild and they are beyond ecstatic. Miguel's mom is a nurse, so I'm sure she'll be keeping a watchful eye over our Ashley through this pregnancy.

In July, Ashley will be coming home for two weeks, we'll have to have a get-to-gether for her and an early baby shower. Baby showers are not common in Mexico and Ashley will want to celebrate and experience this happy time with loved ones here in the U.S.

05.....that number is going to take a bit of getting used to. I must say though that I am excited with the prospect of having a brown-eyed baby in the family. None of the girls have my brown eyes.

Miguel and Ashley went to pick up her VISA yesterday and applied for permission for her to marry a Mexican. They are going back on Wednesday to pick it up and hopefully they just have a little bit more paperwork to do and they can get married. The civil ceremony date is May 8th. A whole lot of Congratulations are in order for this happy couple.

Today's Weather

This was the forecast and see pictures below for what we got


... Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 8 PM EDT this
evening...

A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow remains in effect until 8
PM EDT this evening.

Snow... heavy at times... will continue across the area today. High
snowfall rates may reach two inches per hour at times and will
cause rapid accumulations despite warm ground temperatures. The
snow will gradually tapering off late in the day. Accumulations
of 5 to 8 inches can be expected this morning along a line from
Chelsea... to Pontiac... to Sandusky... with lesser amounts of 4-
6 inches as you approach the city of Detroit.

Periods of snow showers will continue through the day... bringing
storm total accumulations within the highest band to 6 to
10 inches. It may even be possible for a few isolated locations
to see snowfall totals approach one foot. North to northwest
winds will also increase today with gusts to 30 mph or more.

Precautionary/preparedness actions...

A Winter Storm Warning for heavy snow means severe winter weather
conditions are expected or occurring. Significant amounts of
snow are forecast that will make travel dangerous. Only travel in
an emergency. If you must travel... keep an extra flashlight...
food... and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.



In front of Cammy's House.



Wright Road Intersection.



On the way to work. Papa drove me, we had a few problems, but he managed to keep it on the road.







Sure looked pretty, but isn't this suppose to be SPRING!

The prize package

This package was delivered to my house today. It's the Prize Package from playing the Master of All Seasons Random Act of Kindness Game over at Hot Coupon World. Click on Master of All Seasons and it will explain how I won the contest. Here's my original post on finding the Hot Coupon World website.




















The postage was over $10.00 to mail it and the box contained 30 items. Holy Toledo!
I wasn't expecting a $50 Prize Package. What a nice suprise. All for jotting down some ideas of things to do to enjoy the four seasons. Thank you, Arasic! Thank you, Hot Coupon World!

Do I have to like this guy, now?

James Eugene Carrey (born January 17, 1962), best known as Jim Carrey is a two-time Golden Globe Award-winning Canadian-American actor and stand-up comedian. He is probably best known for his manic and slapstick performances in comedy films such as Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, Liar Liar, and Bruce Almighty.

My family can attest to this. I do not like this guy! I hate the "silly-stupid" humor he so well known for. The guy seriously gives me the creeps. I know Jenny McCarthy has called him the "autism whisperer" and talks about how good Jim has been with her son,Evan; so maybe I won't bash him like I used to. But I still don't like him. He can stay on his side of the street and I'll stay on mine.


I've read Jenny's book Louder Than Words. She uses bad language, BEWARE! She made a promise to God that if he healed her son, she would spend the rest of her life helping other families rescue their children from the grips of autism. She was on Oprah a few weeks back and yes, he joined them for a few minutes. Spare me, just because he's famous I don't think he deserves the attention he's getting on this. There are hundreds of Dads, grandpas, uncles, teachers etc. out there in the trenches everyday, making a difference in autistic kids lives.... Plu-eeze don't get me started. I'd of liked the program better if they would have left him out of it. Sorry, back to the topic of the books.

I haven't read Mother Warriors yet, (but plan to) I've heard very good reviews on it. If you've read it, please leave a comment.

A step in the right Direction

Sensory Friendly films

AMC Entertainment (AMC) and ASA (Autism Society of America) have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program.

If you follow the link above (clidk on Sensory Friendly films) it will take you to the website, where it explains what they do to make the environment more sensory friendly for people on the autism spectrum. It sounds really cool; I wasn't aware that they even provided this opportunity. I think it's awesome!! A step in the right direction. They allow the kids to sing along, get up and dance and you can bring in your own special dietary needs snacks at these special times also.

My daughter, went to see a school play of a patient of hers, but ended up watching the performance from a glass window outside the main auditorium, because Michael couldn't handle the intensity of the noise level of the program. He is a child that would benefit from this program. Thank you AMC Theatre's! Give them your business and let them know you appreciate what they are doing.

What Kind of World Do YOU Want?

Link to help fund autism research. These parents did an awesome job making this video, you HAVE TO check it out, here.

I want that kind of world they talk about in this video. The kind of world where you read about autism in history books. How do we get there to that world? We fight for services for early intervention, excellent services across the board; no matter which state you live in. Research, research, research! We educate everyone we can about autism and how it effects those we love and every person in an ever widening circle around them like ripples when a stone is thrown into water. I wish I had a "Package full of Wishes" or a "Magic Wand", but I don't. What do I have? I have a voice, here on this blog...

"Don't look the other way". "Tomorrow's calling". "History starts now".

Start now - view this video, it will help you understand the urgency I feel in my head and in my heart. Video is here.