On Saturday we took part in the Veterans Day parade in Clarksville, TN with my son’s Cub Scout Pack. It was great to see so many people out and about watching our float go by.
Make sure to head on over to Twitter and follow #milbizrox and #theconcertforvalor to hear about the Concert for Valor going on in Washington DC tonight 🙂
This is what the behavioral doctor said to us after three months of testing. We were not surprised.
This was in 2012 and now they have eliminated Asperger’s as a diagnoses but from what I understand, Drew is grandfathered in and is still considered to have it.
We started to think something was a little off when he was four. He started preschool for the first time and was having a lot of trouble with it.
His older brother had been diagnosed with a developmental delay when he was three. This was something that our world seemed to be revolving around when Drew was born. As he grew and started to talk, I thought he was okay. He was saying more when he turned two then his brother was at four. He had to be okay.
He walked late, at 15 months but that isn’t something to be concerned about. He hit all the milestones he was supposed to.
Before we moved back to the US he had only been in childcare a handful of times. So at first, I thought that was it. He just wasn’t used to being in that setting. Once he got going with it he would be fine. When I brought it up with his regular doctor, that is what she said too. Â But he wasn’t fine. He didn’t want to do what he was supposed to do. He would get mad when it was time to change from one thing to another. I started to cringe when I would walk into his room to pick him up wondering what he might have done that day.
I started taking him to hourly care on post which was great. The staff there figured out how to work with him a little bit. So if I wanted to go to PWOC or MOPS I would put drew in hourly since I knew they would have less issues with him there. I would also prep him a lot in the car on the way there. We would go over what was expected and how he should act.
It was then I started having this feeling like something was off. We had an almost four-year old and in a lot of ways he was acting like a two-year old. He would act like a kid who was never told no in his life and that clearly wasn’t how we were raising him. It was so frustrating for us. In the back of my head I knew something wasn’t right. Then we talked more with the teachers and knew we should have him be seen.
I have always believed that moms always know. I knew something was going on with Daniel. I have talked to other moms and they just “know” something is going on with their kids. If you think something is off with one of your children, go in and see if you can find out more. What is the worst that could happen? And the sooner you can find out what is going on, the sooner you can help them.
So we started the process in October of 2011 right before he turned five. During the few months we had different appointments and filled out a lot of paperwork. The doctor met with us, heard our concerns. He met with Drew. He had his teachers fill out a lot of paperwork and Ben and I did as well. Then he met with us again. During the months while we waited for the diagnoses I started reading a little bit about Asperger’s. I was drawn to this as the reason my son was acting the way he was. I didn’t know too much about it other than hearing stories from friends. I then read a little bit of Look Me in the Eye by  John Elder Robison. The first chapter talks about how as a child he would hit his friends for “not playing right.” BINGO! That was Drew. He would get so mad if another child didn’t play right.
By the time we went for the diagnosis. I already knew. My son had Asperger’s. My son had Autism. I knew because he had trouble with no. I knew because he had a “list” in his head of how his day should go and anyone who told him differently was mean. I knew because he was different from the other kids. I knew because he liked to talk over and over about Star Wars or Legos or whatever it was in he was into. I knew because one day he played with a Lego car on the stairs all day long. I knew because he liked certain foods a certain way. I knew because he had his chair and didn’t want anyone else to sit in it. I just knew.
And these days, as we work through the issues we need to work through, I can see more and more how Asperger’s affects his life. How it will make it harder for him and how we as his parents have to do things a little differently because of it. He has come a long way from his preschool days. We have worked hard with ABA , at home and with his school. I know we have a lot of challenges ahead but I am thankful for that diagnoses because it helped us know exactly how to help our son do what he needs to do to get through each day.
Do you have an Autistic child? Did you know they were before they were diagnosed?
As a Military spouse I am always excited when I hear about a company or an organization that is giving back to the Military. This Veterans Day Hair Cuttery is giving back to the Military in a special way. What is Hair Cuttery? It is the largest family owned and operated chain of hair salons the country, with nearly 900 company-owned locations on the East Coast, in New England and the Midwest. A full-service, value-priced salon, Hair Cuttery offers a full complement of cuts and styling, coloring, waxing and texturizing services with no appointment necessary, as well as a full line professional hair care products. Hair Cuttery is a division of Ratner Companies, based in Vienna, VA.
So what is it that they are doing?
Well, they have started the Share-A-Haircut program to give back to the Military community.
The Share-a-Haircut program was created by Hair Cuttery to give free haircuts
to underprivileged community members, specifically kids in need as they head
back-to-school. Since then, they’ve expanded the program to touch people of
all ages. In its 15th year, Hair Cuttery is proud to say that the program has
reached more than 1,000,000 children and adults in need through haircut
certificate donations, valued at more than $13.5 million!
How does the Share-A-Haircut program work this Veterans Day?
With every adult haircut purchased on Tuesday, Nov. 11, a free haircut
certificate will be donated back to a veteran in need, right there in communities
local to Hair Cuttery’s almost 900 locations. How cool is that?
How will the Veterans receive their free haircuts?
In each market, Hair Cuttery will partner with local veterans’ organizations reach those in need through the donation of haircut certificates. They are hoping to reach at least 25,000 Veterans this year! How great would that be? A haircut might not seem like a lot but as the spouse of a Military man, I know they can add up.
How do you know if there is a participating salon in your area? Just click here to find out where you can participate in this program.
You can keep up with Hair Cuttery on Facebook and Twitter at @HairCuttery.
* Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Snacks! It is always nice to find a new snack. One that is yummy and is rather healthy for you. That is why I was excited to try some of the Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps. When I got the box in the mail I was happy to see so many flavors. When I am looking for a new snack, it needs to taste good or I am not going to eat it again.
I like that there are so many flavors because most people will find one that they enjoy. I think out of the ones I received, my favorites are the Caesar and the Black Pepper ones but especially the Black Pepper.  I think I could have finished off a whole bag in one afternoon!  You can also find them in Lightly Salted and Wasabi Ranch. You can find the Lentil Snaps in Tomato Basil and Onion Thyme.
I found them all to have their own taste with a similar texture which is nice because it means there really is something for everyone. I had a friend tell me that even though she doesn’t like snap peas she loves these.
I really like how light they feel. You can eat a bunch of them, fill up and not feel so bloated or like you overate. I hate that feeling.
These snacks are baked, gluten-free, high in fiber and protein, low in sodium and fat which is nice. I am not on a gluten-free diet but it is nice that they are for people who are. It is one more thing they can feed to their family.
Sometimes I get really hungry between lunch and dinner and I am trying to stay away from sweets. These will be a good snack to have on hand during the afternoons.
Harvest Snaps is a great snack that I think most of you would enjoy!
Have you every tried these before? What was your favorite flavor? How would you like to win your own sample pack? Just enter the giveaway below 🙂
This post was created in partnership with Harvest Snaps. I have been compensated for this post. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
A couple of weeks ago I joined my parents, brother and sister-in-law in Colorado for my cousin’s wedding. I ended up flying in about 15 mins after my parents did so I just met them at the baggage claim.
My mom has been dx with Guillain Barre. Because of this she is receiving treatments once a week. If she does not get these treatments, she starts to feel very weak and eventually would not be able to get up on her own, walk and it would not be good. Luckily, she was able to work it out to get a treatment a few days before she left and ended up having an overall good trip.
After I met up with my parents we got the rental car and headed to our hotel. The next morning we picked up my brother and sister-in-law at the airport and headed to downtown Denver.
We had a great time at the rehearsal dinner which was in a restaurant downtime. Italian food and lots of it. I think we all rolled out of the place.
The next day was the wedding day! My Sister-in-law who does hair and makeup professionally did my mom and I and also my cousin’s makeup. It was lovely.
The wedding and reception was very nice. It was great to see my cousin marry the man of her dreams. It was a great wedding and I had a lot of fun with my brother and sister-in-law. I only wish Ben could have been there too.
The next morning we headed to Boulder to spend time at my aunt and uncle’s house. It was lovely there. Fall had already begun and the colors were amazing.
My friend that had moved from Ft. Campbell to Fr. Carson came up to see me. We went to lunch and walked around Pearl Street. It reminded us of California in some ways. We even found a used bookstore.
The next day I flew up and my trip was over. I had such a good time. Colorado is a lovely state and nothing beats time with family. I haven’t spent that much time with my aunt and uncle the last 10 years so it was good to do that too. And it is always nice to spend time with my family.
Becoming a military spouse means that you serve your country almost as much as your spouse does. Military families often move once every few years, and some families might find themselves moving as frequently as once a year or once every few months. Whether this is your first move or you move so often that it feels like old hat to you, you can still benefit from advice from other military families. Those families often discuss the importance of cleaning their homes before moving.
Go Through Rooms One at a Time
Military families generally get a few months’ notice before they need to move. While you might feel tempted to instantly jump to work and get your home ready, this can do more harm than good. You might find yourself packing things that you need prior to your move and keeping things that your family no longer uses. Start with the rooms that you use less frequently and slowly work your way up to the other rooms in your home. Working on one room at a time gives you the chance to focus your attention.
Keep Boxes and Bags Handy
When cleaning your home and getting ready for your next move, you need to keep bags and boxes nearby. Use the bags for trash and things you no longer need, including broken toys and stained clothing. Set aside a few boxes for items that you can donate to other military families and local charities, including clothing that it still in good condition and toys that your kids no longer want. The more items that you throw away or give away, the less you will have to pack and unpack later.
Don’t be Sentimental
Leaving your emotions at the door is the best piece of moving advice for military families. While you likely want to keep as much as you can, taking everything from one house to the next puts more strain on your marriage and your relationships with your kids. As much as you want to keep everything in your home, you need to know how to let go. Place possessions you’re unsure of in a box and tuck it away in a closet. If you still want to keep those things after a few weeks, go ahead and pack them. You might find that once those items leave your sight, you realize what is and isn’t important.
* Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to post it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I  believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
A long time ago, when I was about 19 years old, I read a book series called When Calls the Heart by Janette Oke. I can’t tell you very many details about it since it was a long time ago, but I remember liking it a lot. That is why I was excited to hear they were making it a TV series on the Hallmark channel.
Here is some more information about it :
From the Television Series inspired by the writings of Janette Oke
Nashville , Tennessee- When Calls the Heart, Produced and directed by Michael Landon Jr. and inspired by the best-selling books by Janette Oke, tells the story of Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), a young woman of privilege, working as a teacher in a prairie town in the Western Frontier.  The local Mounty Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing), has began courting the high society teacher, but new orders have taken him away from the town, Abigail Stanton (Lori Loughlin) has trouble of her own, their forced to confront the most powerful man in town in a battle that may ruin her deceased husband’s reputation.
When Calls the Heart- “Second Chances” is a feature length film from the episodes of the When Calls the Heart television series. The When Calls the Heart television series debuted on the Hallmark Channel to more than 3 million viewers, making it the No. 2 for the night on all of cable for the primary telecast at 9 p.m and No. 3 overall in households.  Distributed by Word Entertainment, previous DVD’s are available to purchase in Christian Retail.
Synopsis– Jack finally gets Elizabeth to agree to join him for a dinner date just as Elizabeth’s younger sister, JULIE THATCHER, arrives in Coal Valley, surprising Elizabeth. Julie is accompanied by Mountie PATRICK O’REILLY, the man who has been sent to inform Jack of his new posting, and become the new Constable of Coal Valley. Jack had already forgotten that he sent in a request to transfer the week he arrived in Coal Valley, and the news takes him by surprise.
Michael Landon Jr. – Director: Michael Landon Jr., son of the late television legend Michael Landon, has been in the film business for over 25 years. With two of the highest rated films in the history of the Hallmark channel, and several top ten releases targeted to the Christian market, Michael has become known for creating heartfelt, inspiring films that connect to the family. He has developed and/or produced, directed, and written screenplays for Fox, CBS, NBC, Disney, Sony, Lifetime, and others.
 Brian Bird- Writer/Producer : Brian Bird is co-founder with partner Michael Landon, Jr., of Believe Pictures, a film and television production company. He was co-executive producer and writer on the successful television series, Touched by an Angel. Adding to Brian’s success, he had also written and produced episodes of Evening Shade, Step by Step and The Family Man. Most recently, Bird wrote and produced Gametime, a two-hour television pilot for NBC, The Shunning, inspired by the novel by best-selling author Beverly Lewis, for the Hallmark Channel, and Not Easily Broken, adapted from the novel by T.D. Jakes and released theatrically by Sony/TriStar.
About Word Entertainment: A leader in the music industry for over 60 years, Word Entertainment, a Warner/Curb company, is a unique, comprehensive entertainment company comprised of multi-faceted artist service departments including publishing, merchandising, booking, and online initiatives. Word Entertainment represents some of the top names and brands in music, including Meredith Andrews, Chris August, BarlowGirl, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Jason Castro, Patrick Ryan Clark, Everfound, for KING & COUNTRY, Group 1 Crew, Love & The Outcome, Dara Maclean, Point Of Grace and Sidewalk Prophets and is home to 25 Entertainment, Word Distribution (representing Curb Records and Big Idea/VeggieTales among others), Word Print, Word Films, Word Music Publishing and Word Label Group’s Word Records, Word Worship and Fervent Records.
If you are an Army Wives fan, you will recognize Erin Krakow from that show. She was Specialist Tanya Gabriel. In this show, she plays the main character Elizabeth.
I was able to review the When Calls the Heart:Â Change of Heart DVD. It was a great episode. I had seen a few other episodes before and I enjoyed this one as well. The story was interesting and kept you wondering what would happen next.
I love historical fiction stories and this is a great addition to that genre. If you enjoy Inspirational Historical fiction, you will like this show. It is also something older children might enjoy too. I am not sure how closely it keeps to the books but it is fun to see the characters come to life on the screen.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned below for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
This post contains affiliate links!
My husband and I had a date today. We usually have dates during the day when all the kids are in school so we don’t have to pay for a babysitter.
We decided to go vote! Ben will be starting school next week and the kids have off on election day so we figured that voting early would be a smart thing to do.
We both vote now in TN because that is where we live and we intend to be here for a while. As a Military spouse, I had been voting in KY until I switched it even though I only lived there one year. The local elections meant nothing to me. I wanted to have more of a say over what is happening locally. As a smart friend pointed out, when you have kids in school, it is a good idea to be able to vote in that area.
This November we get to vote for mayor and I am excited about that. I actually have an option about it because I am actually voting where I live. It is nice!
I know this isn’t something all Military members and spouses decide to do. A lot of people have ties back home either to their state or hometown. As much as I love California, I haven’t lived there since 2005 so I really don’t want to be voting there either.
After every election, there is always a lot of complaining. Not everyone wins so that is expected. But I wonder, how many of those people voted? How many times do we hear about an issue as a Military spouse and get frustrated over what the people in Washington DC are doing? Â And I am not even just talking about the President. I think so many times we focus on who is in that role and forget about congress, even though they have so much power.
This November 4th we will not be voting for a new President but we will be voting on a lot of other things. We will be voting on congregational elections, gubernatorial elections as well as different amendments for different states. Here in Tennessee, we are voting on abortion rights.
This election really matters! This is not something any of us should be ignoring, Military or Civilian. 
Yes, the Presidential election is important but everyone should be voting in the non-presidential elections too. Do what you can to get registered and then research the candidates. Find out what is going on where you will be voting and make a decision about it.
I think if more people did that, we would have a better system. If only 50% of the population votes, how do we really have the men and women the people wanted in office? If we as Military spouses want some changes made, one step is voting for the right people to get the job done. We can’t just sit back and let someone else have a say. We have the right to vote, we should be doing it, each and every election.
Even if the person we wanted doesn’t win, we at least did what we could to try to get them into office.
As a Military family, you can vote absentee if you don’t live where you are registered. This is great because you can vote from anywhere, I did it from Germany.
Here are some resources that can help: