From birth to present...

Life begins and ends with breath. Breath is the foundation of our soul and spirit. Without breath, we are nothing. This journal is an attempt to heal and rejuvenate the spirit of my children, specifically my oldest son Frances. He is 5 years old. When he was 3 1/2 he was diagnosed with Autism. He has come so far. At 3 1/2 he began going to a special day class preschool, and intense occupational therapy. At 4 1/2 we started floortime therapy. Frances always had speech, it just did not seem functional. Through speech therapy and occupational therapy his communication skills have improved. Often when a child is diagnosed with autism he/she may also have sensory processing disorder. He is blessed with SPD. Sometimes I struggle with the diagnoses of autism versus SPD. He has spatial issues, and is sometimes unable to sit still and focus. Lights, sounds and pictures can easily over stimulate him. He has some crazy obsessions that truly give him his unique flavor. He loves Ambrocombie and Fitch store. Mostly for the music and the pictures on the walls. He with often re-create the store at home with music and pictures. He loves music, drums and Bob Marley. He can feel the soul of the singers and sing from his gut, very loudly. Right now he is on a general education kindergarten class with an aide to assist him. He has had some difficult afternoons at school, but over all he is dong great. The staff at his school seem to be very supportive and as a team we have come up with some ways to help him cope when he does become over stimulated.

Today is Oct 16, 2009. There is no school today and Frances is home with me. We have done some art projects, made a tambourine and Frances is now jamming on the bjimba with his tambourine. Through music, art, breath, love, kindness and yoga, we (as a family) will learn to relax, take a breath and rejuvenate our souls.