The Autism Journey begins but I prepared Snacks

So after the revelation on my last post I've had some time to digest and I in a really good place.

My son is beautiful and will always be a shining light in my life and all I know is we'll be taking a different route to his amazing-ness that the path trod by neurotypical children (yes I learnt a new word ooh fancy),

Learning and help that is the way I going to get this autism thing down, and that is what has been happening, which in turn is making me so positive.

Just need to give a big shout out to my Nursery and Kent County Council and they have been so so so so so helpful.

We're already had a meeting with the areas Education person (can't remember her full title) that the problem with having Dyslexia and Dyspraxia we sometimes find it hard taking new information in and with getting a autism diagnosis there is a lot to take in - lucky I have my darling Hubby about to help where I forget.

so we had a really positive meeting about his education needs, we've with mega help from His Nursery applied for SCARF (Sever and Complex Accessibility Resource Funding)

Oh yes now learning a whole new vocabulary as everything is an anagram, think I'm going to need to write my own dictionary on it.

Also talked about starting the application process for EHC (Education, Health and Care) plan - if you want to find out more about it the .GOV.UK website has some great info: although if you're outside the UK reading this I'm sure a quick google search will help ☺☺

Then we had a meeting with a Speech and Language Therapist and they going to start him on PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) really looking forward to that, as my son is non verbal. I am hoping it becomes a way for us to communicate better with each other. Although just a hug between us can say a thousand words.

I have also been proactive I have joined a parents group and attended two course in a local special school resource centre - Strategies for Kids with Speech and Language Difficulties and Starting the Autism Journey.

Both have been so informative and just being able to meet other parents and know I am not the only one going through this and finding out about why he does thing and getting a small glimps into how they think and process things is truly amazing and so helpful.

It's true what they say Knowledge is Power and it this case it the Power to feel positive, to Feel no so helpless and to feel that you will definitely be able to do this.

This is the power I so needed right now, so now turning into Dyslexic cooking Mum - Autism armchair specialist!

My new found positivity is spilling over into other things I've started training again as I am going to run the Hackney Half marathon this April.

Although I still have other things going on in my life that are not so positive (won't bore you with my work related stuff nightmares) at least my personal part of my life is looking a lot better.

I've also gone back to trying to eat health and decided to make Potato Cakes. Now I know I did this before but I have rehashed the recipe a bit - to add some Super Speed food - yes I am back on Slimming world but also some other ingredients to make them a bit more filling.

I took: 

2 potatoes

1 bag of Sprouts

4 rashes of reduced fat bacon - or normal bacon with all the fat cut off before cooking

2 tbs of Quark

Boil up the potatoes and the sprouts.

Mash together.

While the potatoes and sprout are cooking get your 4 rashers of bacon

And cut into pieces

Add the cooked bacon and the quark to the mashed up sprouts and potateos

Then once the mixture is all combined roll into balls

Place on a baking tray then cook in a 200 degree oven for 25 minutes.

Now you can either eat these fresh straight from the oven or let them cool and use them as a fab snack for picnics or anywhere really.

All I know is there healthy and tasty.

Just so glad I got to find time to do a bit of cooking and share it with you all.

As with everything going on it nice to share my passion for cooking.

Sadness, happiness and Cinnabon

Going to start off my Blog this week with a recipe as I might get a bit maudlin later on as I went to a funeral so if you're just looking for tasty recipe I made Char-grilled vegetable with Turkey on a bed of rocket.

so simple just char-grill any vegetables you want. I had Courgette, Tomatoes, Onions and Mushrooms. Stir Fry some Turkey with a bit of 5 spice then layer the rocket Veg and Turkey you can add a bit of Soy sauce if you like.

But it super health and super yummy. 

I also got to visit Oxford Street last week in between meetings. I got to go to one of my Favorite places the Disney Store and found Wandering Oaken Trading Post - unfortunately they weren't having a big summer blow out :)

I did how ever pick up two lovely Mickey one just a standard plush toy and the over a baby comforter for my friends little 4 month old. The staff were also extra lovely I did tell a manager how nice everyone was. As normally people only complain in stores. I think if I get bad service I'll complain I must on the flip side mention when I get outstanding service. 

Then when I went to get to the Tube at Bond Street Station, I found a Cinnabon concession stand. I don't think you understand how excited I was. I love these little fellows and consider it a major treat when I visit the USA.

My Favorite Cinnabon store is the one on Universal Studio Orlando City Walk. Every time I visit Universal Studio I have to pop in there for a sticky Bun. So now I have a place in England to go. Also as I'm not up Oxford Street very often it will still remain a treat food. As I could eat my body weight in these if given the chance. 

I got myself a Mini Chocolate one and very please to say it was a nice as the one in Orlando. Although did get some disparaging looks while scoffing it down on the Tube.

We also after the meeting have cake at work. As I had the Cinnabon I did not partake but they did look lovely and thought they deserved a picture :) 

Right Fun part over now for the sad part of my week. I had to attend a funeral don't want to go into too much detail as it's not fair for me to share others grief. Just to say it was for two people one of the had a good long life the other one didn't.

The thing that struck me was just how sad it was. I know funerals are sad but why. As death is the only thing in life that we can guarantee will happen. We've had thousands and thousands of years of the great circle of life you would think by now we would cope with it better.

I was crying along with the rest of the attendees so I just as bad as everyone else. I assume we're mostly sad about not see the person again or wrestling with our own mortality.

I personally am not scared of dying: although would like another 50-60+ years before it comes along. I just wish there was a way of it being less or a traumatic experience and we could deal with it better as a society. 

 I also was so upset for my friends as they were effect by two losses and when I saw how upset they where my heart broke. Empathy plays a big part in these processes.

I think I just want a change so it  takes away peoples pain. I would hate to cause my friends and family so much distress when I pass away.

Well that's Life I suppose and change nature of it, as the next day I went to visit my friends 4 month old that I bought the Mickey's  for. He was so cute and I got lots of cuddles even though my little was very upset with his mummy having hugs with anyone but him.

So a weeks of ups and downs and lots of thinking about life. I know I'm lucky alright there's thing I want to change like having more money and a better job, don't we all. But I am amazingly blessed and I just need to remember that more as we all need to enjoy life while we can ;)