Huge Accomplishment for Greyson

Greyson has been taking karate for several years now at MATI in Huntersville.  He has been going twice a week for most of that time and has worked very hard at advancing through the belts.  He started as a white belt and moved through all of the colors until this past April he made it to Red Stripe, the last belt before black.  Once he made red stripe he had to spend the next 6 months preparing for his black belt test. For the last 5 weeks every Sunday from 2-4 was spent doing extra training to prepare him even further for what he would face on his test.  He had a partner and mentor who was a black belt already and she helped him during this time.  Each red stripe had someone to help them along in there quest for black belt.  I was so very worried that he may not be able to have the proper coordination to pull it off.  He knew all he needed to know, but it didn't necessarily look pretty.   Michele and I both were worried too because he seemed to be burnt out on karate too.  He has wanted so badly to quit the past 4 months but we would not allow it.  I didn't want to push too much but I didn't want him to think he could just quit easily either.  So.....we forced him to at least go until he achieved black belt.  this past Saturday morning, October 23rd, 2010 @ 10 am he did just that.  He, along with 5 other classmates successfully passed their black belt exams.  we could not be prouder of him.  He not only passed his test, but he did it while feeling bad.  He has a terrible cold and possibly an ear infection yet he managed to pull it off.  What a guy.  He never ceases to amaze me in the things he can accomplish.  He is always protesting going somewhere or doing something and acting like he is totally uninterested, then he will freak us out later by showing that he was absorbing or interested the whole time.  He wanders around in circles and looks like he could care less but is taking in everything.  I don;t get it but that is how he works.  He does the same thing at school.  It has always driven me somewhat mad but I am trying to realize it is his way of coping in new or fearful situations.  You see, he is a perfectionist so new things pose a threat to him.  That's where the fear comes from.  So...anyway...I digress.  He received the amazing achievement of black belt. We will allow him about 5 months off and then as spring approaches we will continue again, hoping he will want to do some of the new things that he will be allowed to try now.  Flips, rolls, weapons and so on.  I am hoping that the new challenges will spark an interest again.  Next October he will go back to the karate award ceremony to receive his certificate form the Shorinji Kempo Karate Association. Way to go Greyson. You are unbelievable. Thank you for being such a blessing to us and teaching us to be the best parents we can be each and every day.

Halloween approaches...much to my dismay

Last Halloween picking a pumpkin at the Corn Maize...Pumpkin Carving=fun   Corn Maize=near meltdown for Greyson (see the love on momom's face?) hahahaaaaaa
So....that being said...
Halloween is a horrible time for Greyson.  As it is for most children with Autism.  The whole damn thing is a sensory overload full of scary scary things in their eyes.  He nearly took out a lady in Target running away from the Halloween display with his hand over his face trying to escape the horrors there.  Poor guy.  Even his favorite TV channels focus on the event  and he inevitably get s the crap scared out of him right before bedtime.  This results in him having a panic attack and needing the TV on (on NICK Jr.) late into the night.  He becomes inconsolable and is totally freaking out once he has seen or heard something "scary".  Zombies, skeletons, werewolves, devils, etc...are not his friends.  Fake or not...And he loathes spiders which everyone seems to think are a good idea to hang on their homes this time of year...great big ones that cover the entire front porch!  Our lives become a living hell in October.  To top it off, Michele loves Halloween.  She wants to trick or treat with Greyson, mostly for his candy, and go look at all the scary stuff.  He on the other hand will tell you. "Can't we just skip on to thanksgiving and eat some turkey legs!"  hahahahaaaaa this is the first year he has spoken up and said, "NO trick or treating!" :( poor momom... I will have to buy them bags of candy to eat to make up for it. So....we plug along.  No scary stories, no scary house decorations, no scary trick or treating...No sir reeeeee! I would go to a carnival in the day time...but people still dress scary there.  If I could just convince all of Charlotte to dress in Star Wars attire and keep the houses decorated like Tattoine, Degoba or Mustafar we would be golden.  We all know that ain't happening.  haahahaaaaaaa "Go trick or treating...we will not" as Yoda would say. Come on November...it's Greyson's birthday, turkey leg time and the ghouls will be gone.  (Until next year anyway.) Yay!

Mommy is struggling

Well here it is October and I can't seem to keep up with my postings on here.  I like keeping updates of how things are going etc...and I find the days turning into weeks, months and so on.  Where does the time go?  Right now things seem to be going well for Greyson.  At school he is doing well, at home, OT, play therapy, everywhere really.  I find myself worrying though.  He has been taking karate for approximatley 2years and he has finally reached the big one.  He tests for his black belt on October 23rd.  he has been working very hard for the past 2 years and now it is down to the wire.  He is burnt out on karate and wants to quit.  We will allow that but first he must try for his black belt.  He has come to far to throw in the towel now.  Karate has been a blessing for his self esteem, focus, self control amoung other things.  He has accomplished so much and I want to see him succeed.  I worry though because I know his overall coordination isn't the best.  This test will be tough.  He has spent 2 hours every Sunday for the past 5 Sundays preparing for it.  This coming Sunday will be his pre-test.  If he can't pass that he will not be allowed to go to the big test. His instructor has given him compliments saying he had worred the most about him and has been very proud of him.  He said he has done the best at learning and remembering all of his 10 formal techniques.  It makes me proud but I do not want him to fail.  I worry about it and think about it.  It makes me want to cry.  I know he can do it.  Either way we will love and support him but I so want to see him cross this next hurdle.  I am going to cry either way, belt or not.  He has accomplished a great deal and has come so far.  I couldn't be prouder of him if I tried.  We truly have been blessed to have him in our lives and I cherish the moments we have.  I love you Greyson.  You are a black belt in my eyes already sweet boy!

Catching up on our world...

Greyson has been working really hard lately at school and at karate.  His black belt test is coming up so he has spent the past several weeks on Sundays at his karate dojo preparing to take his exam.  He spends two hours every Sunday working on his techniques, kicks, blocks, punches, strikes and his kata. He has alot of stuff to remember to be able to qualify to test.  It has been more nerve racking for me than for him I believe.  I know he knows this stuff but his coordination isn't as great as most kids his age and that is where my worry comes in.  He so badly wants to get his black belt so he can quit for a while and we agreed to that.  He is very focused and trying his best so that is all I care about.  Whatever happens will happen.  Part of me does worry though and fret that his coordination may limit his ability to do what needs to be done.  We shall see.  It will break his heart if he isn't able to pass this.  He has worked so very hard.  To be honest, my heart will be broken too.  He deserves it and I hope he can pull it off.  I have confidence that he can if his nerves don't get the best of him. He has a great older girl as his mentor and black belt coach/partner.  She plays a part in his performance of the 10 formal techniques and she has been a blessing to us.  Thank you Mary Stewart for being such a light and positive force for Greyson in his quest for the black belt.  At school his teacher has been wonderful and he is in great hands.  We have alot of homework but we do what we can without causing him a complete breakdown.  He has made a good friend who also loves Star Wars. They have had some play dates and done very well together.  He still misses his pal that left for home schooling but he has done great in adjusting.  At OT he has been doing a phenomenal job with Ms Mary Alice his OT.  She continues to brag on his growth socially and physically.  We couldn't be prouder of him and his accomplishments these past few years.  He continues to prove to us he is an awesome guy capable of almost anything when he puts his mind to it. Hooray for Greyson.  You can do it son...we believe in you!