New Year 2008-2009 Jeep trip to Florence, AZ (Martinez Canyon)

My family!

I would really like to get very involved in this blog, but as you all know, I can't possibly focus on one thing! lol No doubt in my mind where my kids got it.

Every year for the past 7 or 8 we've always gone to the dunes for New Year's. Well, not this year. We met up with my old roommates back in the day (a very long time ago) and it turns out that one of them turns in the same circles and we never even knew it. Very weird. I haven't seen them in maybe 12 years and we have the same friends.

They were talking about going jeepin' to Florence over New Years and we were quick to invite ourselves. It's about a 1/2 ride from our house and we'd rather go jeepin' than go to the dunes. (at least I do).

So there turned out to be a pretty big showing of people. The kids did spectacular. All day trips in the desert. In and out of the jeep, eating out of a cooler and peeing on the rocks. We had alot of fun!

We had some breakdown time, special thanks to Si which was quickly remedied with no help from Kyle. ;o) They repaired his problem and we were on our way.

We have some cute pics of the kids mixed in. I will only post some spectacular sites. The rest of the trip pics are in my Flickr on the right. Here we go. . .

Trailhead "Highway to Hell"

Si! Right before we heard the "CLUNK".

Ok, this pic is kinda funny! Kyle and Mike are doing the work and Si is drinkin' his beer.

Mike's turn!

New Years morning in the AZ desert.

Spectacular views! Jeep trail at bottom of pic.

This was on our third day trip to Martinez Canyon! Absolutely beautful!

Here we are after max calls out "Load 'em up!"

I think Max enjoyed climbing in and out of the jeep "awh by myself" more than anything.

This is an old abandoned mine! How they got all this stuff out there is just amazing!

Ok, this is the trail out of the canyon. If you look closely at the very center of this pic, you'll see vehicles at the bottom.

Million Dollar Puzzle Pieces for Autism Awareness

Ok, so I've totally blown off blogging about our Jeep trip. I will, it will just be out of order. ;o)

April is Autism Awareness month and it is right around the corner. Autism Research has started to put together the . . .

Million Dollar Puzzle, and you are the missing piece!

About the project: The Million Dollar Puzzle is an extraordinary initiative to fund research with the Autism Research Institute.

We will build the world's largest puzzle - linking villages, towns, cities, states and countries. Every Puzzle Piece will personally represent your sons, daughters, grandchildren, neighbors and friends.

The goal is to raise 1 Million Dollars and increase public awareness of the current Autism Epidemic.

Every penny of every dollar will be donated to ARI and help champion their mission. "Autism IS Treatable and Recovery IS Possible!" We will, as a globe community, find the missing pieces.

~ 1 in 150 U.S. births now affected by autism.

~ Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability, now affects more children than childhood AIDS, cancer and diabetes combined.

~ American Academy of Pediatrics now urges physicians to screen for Autism twice by age two.

~ Autism is a national health crisis, growing at an alarming 10-17% per year. The prevalence of Autism could reach 4 million Americans in the next decade!

~ What does the future hold? The growth rate of Autism appears to be doubling every two years!

~ The Autism Epidemic is global:

United Kingdom: 1 in 86 children are diagnosed.

Quebec, Canada: 1 in 167 births are affected.

Brisbane, Australia: The treatment of Autism and related conditions such as Aspergers and ADHD ar costing the Australian economy about $5.8 billion per year.

~ Autism IS Treatable!

~ Children ARE recovering!

As a Rescue Angel for Generation Rescue and a devoted fund raiser mom of a couple ASD kids, I'm distributing personalized Puzzle Pieces for a donation to Autism Research Institute.

Ask me how you can get yours today! If you'd like to help raise that $1,000,000., let me know that too.

God be with you all,

Gina

Max's ability to speak quite well!

Ok, we took a really nice trip this past weekend (Rockcwalin' as Max would say) and I really need to blog and share some pics. Absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, I don't have time to do it right now. I have something SPECTACULAR to blog about.

Mister Millian has been on a Vitamin/Mineral study with ASU for about 6 weeks now. It is a double blind placebo study but I know he got the real stuff. He has always been a great responder so this is just confirmation.

Since starting the study, we've seen some great advances in speech, cognitive ability and not so much behavioral. He has also been sick twice with runny nose and sinus congestion. Whenever he gets sick, it holds him back a tad from advancing into our world.

Well, this past weekend, we left on New Year's Day to go camping with friends and do some wheelin'. Both kids did exceptionally well since we had really long days out in the desert and in and out of the Jeep. Mister started spouting words and comedy. He's a really funny kid now that he's able to express himself. The things he says are just amazing. He's been blowing our minds.

He rode his quad around camp with a flashlight bungy corded to the front end for a headlight. He had an adventure with his shadow and "was after" Si's (a friend of ours) shadow.

Sunday night after getting home and unloading and starting the LAUNDRY adventure, he seen the laundry basket on my bed. He says to me "Mom, can I borrow this for a second to take to the living room to use as a boat?" OMG! I just stood there and stared at him.

1. He asked without screaming
2. He asked at all
3. He put together that entire thought process
4. He was able to verbalize his thought process
5. He was doing pretend play
6. I understood each and every word
7. He had emphasis where it needed to be.

OMG! My son is really there! I was speechless! Yes, I know, hard to believe, but I was completely speechless.

He has been like a blooming flower since starting this study. Now, if we could just get him to sleep. He was up again the past two nights every hour from 12:30 to 2:30 before I finally took him to my bed (both nights). There ~ He Sleeps!

Also, WE FOUND A PROVIDER! Yea! I'm so darned excited and I love her. She's a mom herself of a little boy with an ASD so she totally gets it. She's going to be spending Wednesdays and Fridays with Mister working on goals that he still needs to achieve.

Update on Bobo: Got his wisdom teeth pulled last Friday. Was chipmunk cheeks for a bit, but this morning seemed all good. He was surprised to wake to no pain. ;o) He started a new semester and of course I'm having to hammer on his Case Manager to provide him assistance. I asked him "Do you think anythings changed in a month?" They wanted to put him in all mainstream classes again. Oh, forgot. His report card: (Get this)

In October he was in the 20% for all of his classes. By the end of December and report card time, he finished with 2 A's, 1 B, 1 C, 1 D, and 1 F. We still haven't finished online bowling. He takes his final next week, but right now he's getting a B. There's much to say about diet and supplements.

And you all know I have plenty to say.

Stay healthy, eat whole foods!

~ If God didn't make it or you can't shoot it to eat it ~ DON'T! ~