Autism Awareness Ornament is back!!!

It's back!!! The perfect gift for a parent, teacher, therapist, friend, grandparent, etc.!

My original plan was to create a new design this year, realizing that most every family member or friend we have purchased one of these last year. However, our network has grown enormously since then. We've met people from all over the United States this year who have been affected by Autism, so I wanted to make this design at least one more season since it was so well received.

On Tuesday, August 17, 2010, we sat in that office and heard the words. A month later, I designed this ornament. It was an emotional, heart-wrenching time for us. We were searching constantly for the right therapies and trying to meet other parents we could relate to. To be honest, making these ornaments was therapeutic for me. My house was a complete disaster with paint, ornaments, brushes, etc. scattered everywhere. It was not very organized (and neither was I), but it was healing! I had no idea that so many people would really want one. I sold A LOT of these last year, and I was completely amazed by the support. Support from Memphis, Tennessee...Los Angeles, California...Pelzer, South Carolina...Boston, Massachusetts...Orlando, Florida...cities across Georgia and Kentucky...the list goes on and on and on.

I also had planned to start early this year on making these, as I was working right up to the last minute last year to get them done. But, as most of your know, right after the holidays, our family experienced a major shock when Liam was hospitalized and diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Our lives were turned upside down again, in a completely different way than before. So, eight months later, we are regaining ourselves again, and I am ready for this challenge.

The statistics are staggering. 1 in 11o children. 1 in 70 boys. In 2011, everyone knows SOMEONE affected by autism.

As so many have given to us, I want to give something back. The ornaments are $8, with $1 of each purchase going straight to an autism charity. I am still contemplating the charity, as I want the benefit to be direct and immediate. As soon as I decide, you'll be the first to know! If you order through paypal, shipping will be calculated for you. I am also happy to take orders through email and you can mail a check. In this case, I will estimate shipping based on your order. Feel free to combine your order with friends/family so they can all ship together to save you money!

The ornament is simple - it is either a round plastic ball or a flat disc ball. (The one pictured is a flat disc ball, which I personally love.) I don't order through a big supply company - so I use what I can get from the craft store. I'll do my best to make the one you request, but keep in mind that I may run out of one for a while and have to use the other :) I have hand painted the puzzle piece, and it is tied off with the puzzle piece ribbon. I can personalize the back with either an Autism message (Embrace Autism...Embrace Differences...etc.) or a name/year...just let me know! These are all a little different...just like our children :)

To order, use the Paypal link on the right of the page. If you're local (or in Kentucky where I can get them to you), please send me a message and I can send you a special invoice without shipping. I can be reached at Leighlally3@aol.com.

Last but not least, I am anything but a business person. I am just a mom, working my tail off to embrace the things that come our way. Liam is so incredibly special to us, and we will spend every penny and every second doing what we have to do so that he can be everything he wants to be. I know you all would do the same.

We thank you for your support.

Heather, William, & Liam Lally

Liam - Surfers for Autism with amazing instructor, Sushi!

Life IS a beach.

Be aware.

This will be my first Autism Awareness Month since Liam's diagnosis with Asperger's in August. If we didn't have the diabetes to combat, as well, I would probably be doing MANY things across the community to spread awareness. But, I am starting simple this year. I have a whole lifetime to spread awareness ;)

This weekend I'll be setting up an Autism Awareness section in the local library. I am very excited about this and have been working a little each day to gather information.

As I was searching, I stumbled across this article and thought it was so profound. Many times, even before the official diagnosis, parents of children on the spectrum start to feel isolated even within their own family. Even in the best family situations, the parents will feel just a little different because of their...well...differences. But take a family that already isn't supportive and it can really make things even more difficult. Because, like it or not, parents of the children with any Autism Spectrum Disorder, are NOT going to apologize for what they do or don't do with their child. They are the experts, and every professional working with children on the spectrum will be the first to tell you that. Aunt Sue and Cousin John, no matter how many people they've met with Autism, cannot come close to understanding what your life is like. And if they happen to never come to your house in the first place, even just to drop in and visit, they certainly shouldn't even open their mouths to tell you what you need to be doing differently.

It's the ones that just acknowledge our efforts, or the ones who look and smile, as if to say, "I know you're doing your best," that really help us make it through the day. Saying something like, "Just don't take your kid to the grocery if they can't handle it!" does NOT help. How is a mother never to go to the grocery? And how exhausting to TRY when the lights, sounds, and people are often too much for him to take?

If family and friends want to know how to "Be Aware" - this covers just about everything :)

Be Aware – For Families and Friends

April 2, 2010

[This is Part II of today's three-part series, along with Be Aware - For Parents and Be Aware - For Everyone, for World Autism Awareness Day.]

Be aware that you don’t need to tell us that everything will be OK; just tell us that you’ll be there for us.

Be aware that being a supportive family member or friend will mean doing a lot. You have to read and listen and work at learning and gaining experience.

Be aware that we do the research, the work, and the living it all day every day; we know the effort it requires, and honestly it will be impossible for you to compete with that. That’s OK; no one expects you to. Be aware that it’s not how much you absorb but how much you want to help and support us that matters most.

Be aware that we are thankful beyond words for all that you do for us.

Be aware that we often feel wounded by many kinds of criticism. Treat our perspectives and feelings with respect and seek to work as partners with us.

Be aware that your logic and sense of how our kids should do things don’t apply here. Our kids experience the world differently, sometimes so much so that it’s like trying to communicate in completely different, exotic languages. Be aware that there are no shortcuts to figuring things out.

Be aware that we probably don’t seem like the same people we used to be, but don’t overanalyze this. Accept us as we are, and let’s move forward to overcome the challenges and rejoice in the gifts.

Be aware that all the energy we focus on our kids and our daily lives may mean that what you think is important doesn’t register with us. It’s not personal; these are just the limitations of who we are.

Be aware that we don’t need anyone’s pity. Be aware that what we do need are advocates, cheerleaders, and teammates, and that our kids need all the support they can get to grow and learn.

Be aware that many times the most supportive response is to just be quiet and let us talk it out.

Be aware that the journey we are on is often far different from the lives of other parents. Be aware that our children develop in their own way in their own time. And be aware that when you try to compare our kids with your neighbors’ kids or other relatives or us with other parents, it gets infuriating – fast.

Be aware that unless someone has a special needs child, they can’t really have any idea what we’re going through. That’s OK because no one expects them to. Be aware that it only becomes a big problem when people act like they know.

Be aware that what you read or hear in the media about autism is about .001% of what the complete reality is, and sometimes what they tell you is either distorted or plain wrong.

Be aware that if you even think of ever criticizing the state of our house, your next action better be to leave a couple dozen donuts and a couple of pounds of top notch coffee beans at our door.

Be aware that holidays, family events, and most anything remotely public or social can be very hard on us. It’s like planning an expedition or a military campaign every time we leave the house. But also be aware that we want to have social and family time – believe me – and we do wish it were easier.

Be aware that we do not need additional drama in our lives. We have very limited, if any, reserves of energy. Usually these are depleted before 9am. Don’t contribute to our stress.

Be aware that sometimes we fire first and engage in diplomacy later. We are tired, stressed, exhausted, afraid, confused, angry, etc. Much of the time, we just can’t manage those situations as well as we’d like.

Be aware that our primary allegiance is with our children, and no one can compete with that.

Be aware that our children are even more awesome than you can imagine.

And be aware that I still wouldn’t trade my life for anything.

The House That Love Built

So today is Ash Wednesday. I almost cannot believe that we are already into the month of March - nearly halfway through it. It seems for our family, winter just passed us by (not that it's a bad thing, as Spring does give us so much hope). We barely got through Christmas, really. Liam woke up the day after Christmas with coughing and wheezing, and he went from that illness to the onset of diabetes. From that moment, everything just stopped, or started, depending on how you look at it.

This time last year, I was giving up sugar and red meat. But this year, choosing to give up something just didn't seem like enough, or like the right thing to do. Our eating habits have changed tremendously since Liam's diagnosis, so it isn't even a sacrifice at this point. It's a must.

When Liam was in the hospital, we were kindly offered a room at the Ronald McDonald House, just a block or two from the hospital. The thing to know is, Macon was hit with a terrible ice/snow storm the morning Liam was admitted. So, driving back to Jackson to get belongings (as we had NO idea we were at the ER the night before with a diabetic child and wouldn't go home for days!) just wasn't possible. Before checking in to the RMH, I had no idea what to expect. I had visited the one in Louisville for a college assignment, but other than that, I had not really experienced the house. When we arrived, we were given a quick tour (and I can't tell you how anxious I was to be away from Liam for that 30 minutes, but I think the STAFF understand, so they make the process very quick and efficient). I was blown away with the services they provide, completely free of charge or by donation. Even during the tour, amidst all the emotions of that first day, I knew I would be back to GIVE back.

During the tour, I observed the enormous kitchen, fully stocked with anything and everything you could ever need. Their goal at the RMH is to have a hot meal every night of the year. That's a big goal, really. I mean, think of all the weather-related issues there can be, or the holidays, etc. to have a group or individual committed to cover each evening. It's a big deal. But even during that snow storm, they were preparing ahead and bringing in TONS of extra food in case of an emergency. Churches were bringing in extras. It was amazing.

So, each night, an individual or a group comes in and gladly prepares a meal. One night it was 4-5 different soups and grilled cheeses - perfect for the cold weather. The day we checked out, the counter was full of Stauffer's enchilada dinners thawing out with bags of rice to make a Mexican dinner. Sweet tea is brewed all day so there's never a shortage. All the comforts of home. And all of it is done with love.

So, this Lent, we immediately knew what we wanted to do, and that was to give back to those families staying at the RMH. The meal was so appreciated when we were there, but more than that, the friendly, smiling faces we saw each night after a long day at the hospital meant so much. You just can't put a price on that. They would genuinely ask about our child and how he was doing. And they really cared.

So, we are committing ourselves to going once a week during Lent and hopefully thereafter to cook a (hopefully) delicious, hot meal. This is a house that is built by donations and volunteers, but most importantly, love. There is a full laundry facility, a library, a playroom for siblings, a game room, a treadmill, a dining room, living room, quiet room...the list goes on and on.

In a time of great trauma for our family, it quite possibly saved us.

There was the dream...

Special Delivery!

The highlight of our week has been that, so far, every day this week we've received numerous care packages for Liam :) And he is THRILLED!!!


On Monday, he received his care kit from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, complete with a backpack full of materials and fun stuff for Liam. But the best part about this package is Rufus the Bear. Now the neat thing about Rufus is...he has diabetes, too! He has patches all over his body for blood sugar checks and injections! And they are in all the right places - back of the arm, bottom, thighs, etc. What a wonderful invention!


And he even wears a medical ID bracelet, just like the one Liam will have!

I've never seen a kid get so excited over a blood glucose monitor!

More to come!

My eyes are to the hills.

I really don't know how anyone gets through life without a faith. I mean, times can be REALLY difficult, and tempting as it can be to lose faith, not having it must be a thousand times worse.

God has been with us our whole lives. God cradled Liam in his arms that night in the ER, and he has continued to cradle our entire family through the ordeal.

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. -Psalm 121:1